- SPIRITUAL TIME, SPACE, MASS, LIGHT AND ENERGY
(Last updated
8/20/00)
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The "Spiritual Dimensions" section is a very deep
area of study, but one that is key to understanding some of the most difficult
areas of Scripture, such as those verses in Revelation where the text seems to
shift between events on earth and in the heavenlies, as well as not follow a
linear time line.
Consider the following quote:
Time is an accident consequent upon motion and is
necessarily attached to it. Neither of them exists without the other. Motion
does not exist except in time, and time cannot be conceived by the intellect
except together with motion. And all that with regard to which no motion can be
found, does not fall under time.
A brilliant insight from Albert Einstein,
perhaps?
If you answered "probably," you're only off by about
700 years.
In as much as the above quotation sounds like a 20th
century theory of Einstein, it is actually from Maimonides, the great Jewish
Torah scholar of the twelfth century. (1)
Actually, Einstein and his colleagues probably were inspired
by Maimonides' writings, which were well ahead of their time.
The last sentence of Maimonides' quote actually
pertains to God Himself. As "motion" (as well as space) imply measurement and
can only apply to physical objects, and as God is not corporeal, then He is not
confined by time or space. Time was created by God, for us. He operates beyond
time as we know it.
TIME
AND SPACE IN
OUR
3-DIMENSIONAL WORLD
There are many ways that "time" and "space" can be
shown to have a relationship. A simple example is found in the game of chess.
Chess strategy involves interplay between space (how many of the 64 squares of
the board you control), and time (how many moves that you are ahead or behind
your opponent). Experienced players often "trade" space for time, having to use
their intuition as to whether they are getting the "better end of the deal."
Only after a beginner understands this "dimension," of the game, can he move
forward to becoming an advanced player.
In mathematics, there are complex equations that
cannot be solved without introducing a "4th dimension" (something beyond the X,
Y and Z coordinates in 3-dimensional space). Again, without "expanding" beyond
the elementary and obvious, one cannot advance to the next level of
understanding.
Physics has shown that there are relationships
between things like energy and mass, as well as time and space, Einstein's
famous equation, E=mc2 (Energy equals
mass times the constant of the speed of light, squared) was one of the first to
link two such elements. Experiments have been done sending atomic clocks through
the atmosphere in different directions, arriving at the same destination at the
same moment -- however when the clocks were checked, the times were different,
thus showing that speed through space affected time.
FIVE SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS
The concepts we call, "time" and "space," as well as,
"light," "mass," and "energy," are all part of God's creation and may be
considered a "reflection" of His attributes. As God is consistent in what He
does, when studying the Scriptures, we should not be surprised to find that
there are corresponding elements in the spiritual realm. The study of these
spiritual elements plays a key role in understanding who God is, who we are,
what is to come, and how we are to get there.
The following are offered for
consideration:
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spiritual time, represented by
repeated "events" not constricted to the physical linear aspect of time, i.e.,
the Moedim (including Shabbat, Shemitta and Yovel years, and the seven "Feasts
of God"). Many of these are associated with events in the Millennium or Olam
Haba (the world to come).
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spiritual space, the
dimension(s) beyond our physical one, including aspects of those set on earth
for us (i.e., the Tabernacle/Temple, a place where God could "reside" among us
on this sinful earth.) Spiritual space is necessary for God's spiritual light to
be transmitted, just as physical space is needed for physical
light.
-
spiritual light, God's word
and/or perfect will, either of which is a constant. "You are the light of the
world," is an admonition for God's people to teach others His Torah, which is
His light. (Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a
light unto my path. - Psalm 119:105.) The glory of God is also
represented by "light" in Scripture.
-
spiritual mass, any entity whose
function is to implement the will of God (i.e., angels, the Ruach Ha Kodesh
(Holy Spirit), Messiah or the Shekinah). This would also include "evil angels"
(demons), including haSatan, who also ultimately serve God's
purpose.
-
spiritual energy, the result of
the work of; angels, the Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit), Messiah the Shekinah or
demons -- i.e., miracles or revelation
The Sabbath is shown to have a time-transcending
character, as seen in the mystical teachings of the Zohar, and is directly tied
to the Millenium/Olam Haba:
Soncino Zohar, Shemoth, Section 2, Page 88a - Therefore
the Sabbath is more precious than all other times and seasons and festivals,
because it contains and unites all in itself, whereas no other
festival or holy day does so.’ Said R. Hiya: ‘Because all things are found in
the Sabbath it is mentioned three times in the story of Creation: "And on the
seventh day God ended his work"; "and he rested on the seventh day"; "and God
blessed the seventh day" (Gen. II, 2, 3).’
Soncino Zohar, Shemoth, Section 2, Page 88b - The unique
character of the Sabbath is expressed in the words: "Between Me and the children
of Israel." And because the Faith is centred in the Sabbath, man is given on
this day an additional, a supernal soul, a soul in which is all perfection,
according to the pattern of the world to come. What does the
word "Sabbath" mean? The Name of the Holy One, the Name which is in
perfect harmony at all sides.’ [Tr. Note: This idea is based upon the
mystic significance of the three letters of the word Sabbath, shin, beth,
tau.]
Soncino Zohar, Shemoth, Section 2, Page 205b - ‘The
prayer offered by the holy people on the Sabbath is of three parts,
corresponding to the three Sabbaths, but being in essence only one. [Tr. note:
i.e. the Sabbath of the Creation, the Sabbath on which the Torah was given, and
the Sabbath of the Millennium.]
Our definition of spiritual space has to do with a
place (and means) by which God can "reside" among His creation -- especially in
their sinful state.
The first place we see the idea of God creating
"spiritual space," is in creation. According to mystical Jewish tradition, the
purpose of creation was to provide God with a "dwelling place in the lower
realms." Eden was a place where man walked with God, in the spirit (ruach) of
the garden. This "space" was corupted by the sin of Adam and Even, and they were
banished from it.
God's process of redemption brings us to Mount Sinai,
where once again, sin (the golden calf) gets in the way of the plan. In order
for God to reside among his people, He needs to create a spiritual space that is
not tainted by sin -- first, the Tabernacle, and later, the Temple.
Recall that Moses built the first Tabernacle and its
elements according to a heavenly model. The Zohar
(3) states that God made everything in this
"lower" world along the same pattern as that in the "upper" world. A similar
thought is expressed in Midrash Rabbah:
Midrash Rabbah - Genesis II:2 - NOW THE EARTH WAS TOHU
E.V. ‘UNFORMED’, etc. R. Abbahu and R. Judah b. R. Simon [gave the follow-ing
illustrations]. R. Abbahu said: This may be compared to the case of a king who
bought two slaves on the same bill of sale and at the same price. One he ordered
to be supported at the public expense, while the other he ordered to toil for
his bread. The latter sat bewildered and astonished: ‘Both of us were bought at
the same price,’ exclaimed he, ‘yet he is supported from the treasury whilst I
have to gain my bread by my toil!’ Thus the earth sat bewildered and astonished,
saying, ' The celestial beings [sc. the angels] and the terrestial ones [sc.
man] were created at the same time: yet the celestial beings are fed by the
radiance of the Shechinah, whereas the terrestial beings, if they do not toil,
do not eat.
We are taught in Scripture that our bodies are the Temple of God's Spirit.
Just as the Tabernacle and Temple were constructed according to an image given
by God, we ourselves are created in the image of the same God. God's
"characteristics" are consistent and can be seen in all He does. By studying
God's Temple (as commanded in Ezekiel) and properly keeping His Sabbath, we
actually learn more of how to restore our personal relationship with Him. Such
"wisdom" is considered greater than prophecy in Jewish tradition.
As Paul said, these things are indeed a (wonderful) shadow of what is to
come, and don't let anyone "trouble you," if you choose to study and do them in
faith (Colossians 2:17).
A
UNION OF
TIME AND SPACE
It is reasonable to assume that we can look for His
"pattern" throughout any part of His creation. As we find the Temple and Shabbat
closely linked in the Torah (when they are formally given to us, i.e. Leviticus
19:30), and coming to their fullness together in the Millennium, it is sensible
to look for a connection involving spiritual time and space between the
two.
Besides the weekly Shabbat, the three pilgrimage
feasts of Pesakh, Shavuot and Succot were also called "sabbaths" and related to
the Temple:
Deuteronomy 16:16 - Three times in a year
shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall
choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the
feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
The Jewish scholar Nachmanides (12th
century), taught that all 613 commandments of the Torah are related in some
fashion to the Temple and Shabbat (2),
making the Temple and Shabbat as critical to understanding God's revelation (His
Torah) and the spiritual world, as the study of physical time and space are to
understanding the "reality" of our physical world.
Science proclaims that our present reality is
dependent on the relationship between space and time. Reality is made up of the
three aspects of the dimension of space (height, width and depth -- or "X," "Y'"
and "Z" coordinates) along with the single dimension of time. (i.e., If you want
to know the "location" of something on this earth, you need to know the three
aspects of where it was/is and the single aspect of when it
was/is.)
The consistency of God's rules would apply to the
reality of the spiritual realm. As the Millennium is the return of spiritual
reality to its "proper state," we should view the union of of the Temple with
Shabbat at that time in such terms, keeping in mind the three aspects of
space and one of time. (We will also see later in this study, that there is
a "fifth dimension," a spiritual/moral one, that indicates a status of:
good/evil, clean/unclean, holy/unholy. This, like the others, is also not
"static," (i.e., things that are clean can become unclean and
vice-versa).
As we go through this study, we will find that
"space-related" things such as; the structure of the Temple, the terms of the
Besorah ("Gospel") and the New Covenant, are interwoven with the "time-related
items" of; Shabbat, Yovel Year (Jubilee) and Yom Kippur.
Physical time and space are indeed a shadow of their spiritual
counterparts:
"Space by itself and time by itself, are doomed
to fade into mere shadows."- Herman Minkowski, a
contemporary of Einstein, in a scientific address given September 21,
1908
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an
holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of
things to come ..."
- Sha'ul's letter to the Colossians, chapter
2, verses 16 & 17
"HaMakom V'HaZman Echad Hu" - "Time and Space are
One"
- 16th century Jewish saying
"Mehitabut ha'orot, nithavu hakelim -"From the condensation of the lights,
were the vessels brought into being."
- Ancient Jewish
mystical saying
1. The Fifteenth Premise, from Maimonides'
The Guide of the Perplexed, Introduction to the Second Part. A study of
any of Maimonides' works is very beneficial to understanding deep Biblical
concepts. Much of his material can be found on Internet bookstores such as Amazon.com. His work, The Guide of the
Perplexed, is an outstanding piece of literature and recommended for
understanding the Jewish Scriptures.
2. Nachmanides commentary on
Leviticus
3. Zohar, commentary on Exodus
3:1
http://www.yashanet.com/studies/revstudy/rev4.htm
