Isaac said,
Whether it was traveling in the desert, or built to last like Solomon’s Temple, the ancient Temple was always set up the same way. The innermost room was the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. This space was 20 x 20 using a measure of the forearm, from fingertip to elbow.
Every name of God emanated from the Holy of Holies, each name in its own stream, flowing out into the world to fulfill its particular purpose. These streams flowed first through the sanctuary, then through the courtyards, and finally out into every place in the world.
A larger sanctuary encompassed and surrounded the Holy of Holies.
On either side of the doorway to the Holy of Holies sat two important items. On the right side was a special menorah with all of its lamps turned toward its center stem, which is regarded as the face of the menorah. On the left side, a golden table held a loaf of bread. This was to remind everybody of the blessings eternally bestowed.
In the center of this large sanctuary stood a square gold altar, and here only one kind of offering was burned, the highest offering, which was incense. Only the high priest was able to make this offering.
This altar, where the incense was burned, was considered the umbilical cord of the whole world, because this incense connected all human souls to the bliss of the divine flow, or “shefa.” In a sense all the bliss of the world was concentrated at this one place, at this altar.
Incense burns down, totally consumed by fire, with virtually nothing left over. In the same way the human soul is consumed by the Divine.
In Solomon’s Temple, this altar, the umbilical cord of the world, was placed on the same rock where Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac, which was the same rock where Jacob slept and saw the ladder of angels coming and going to divine realms. So this altar was connecting all realms to the human world. All human souls would receive this blessing of shefa (divine flow) from this very place.
Moving further through the Temple, beyond the large sanctuary, outdoors stood the higher and the lower courtyards. Here the archangels and angels would receive their blessings of shefa. Beyond the courtyards the blessings would spread throughout all the physical world.
Solomon was gifted with special sight to see all these streams of divine energy flowing everywhere. He could choose the best spot for a non-indigenous plant to grow, and it would thrive there. These courtyards were beautiful gardens with wondrous variety.
As we know, said Isaac, angels are born to serve God. When they fulfill their function, they’re finished. A human can become like an angel, running to serve God. After their season of being like an angel, the person will become human again, to enter into the deeper sanctuary and receive the greatest blessing, which is for human souls.
In our written records it says the third Temple will be built by God. Yet another passage says it will be built by people. Currently one of our Sages says it will actually be a holographic Temple that will appear, sent by God, and people will fill it in with the physical building. And it will be placed on the same site as Solomon’s Temple.
Apart from these traditional mystical teachings, the time is approaching when we may experience a new reality. Consciousness will change, and everything will look different to us. A shift will occur from the old wisdom into the “time of Keter.” The crown. We will understand that we are truly extensions of God. God is flowing through us and becoming all that Is. We are simply conduits.
At this point we will fully understand that I am you and you are me. There will be no doubt. It will be undeniable and obvious. Everything has consciousness. Birds, trees, rocks.
We will see God in everybody and everything. We will watch God’s will pouring through us, right into every aspect of our lives.
A person needs to be only two things: available and alert. Ready to serve the needs of the moment, whatever they may be.
This kind of readiness is more valuable than intelligence.
Our lives won’t change much. Daily life will play out as usual. We’ll still have challenges, but our perception will change. Our consciousness will deepen. We’ll be watching God pour through, everywhere we look.
There is no telling when this new understanding may arrive. It may take a long time yet. But here in our circle we may feel a little of it. It really depends on people. And this is the sort of teaching that, when you name it, you call it forth.
So said Isaac.
These are Isaac’s words from Chapter 59 of Volume 1, Walking the Bridge – With a Fearless Heart.
(Thanks to Mary Harrsch on Flicker for this image of Solomon’s temple.)