This study is Part One of a two part study on the first sentence of the scriptures, "In the beginning"

In this first part, I want to look at only the first letter of Genesis 1:1, which is a Bayt (shown below):
[Hebrew is read right to left]

Each Hebrew letter has a name, a numerical value, and a specific meaning. In the case of "bayt," the letter means, house or tent.  
In Genesis 1:1, the letter "B" has received what is known in the Masoretic text as a "dages forte," which is the small dot that appears in the center of the letter. A dages forte is there to remind the reader to double the letter. 
[It could be loosely called  a form of shorthand] 

So the first word would have been written (in an earlier text) as "Bbereshiyth." (with two bayts, shown below).

In the syntax of Hebrew, this was done in order to harden the consonantal sound of the letter. 

[Notice also that the "B" shown in the first sentence from the Masoretic text (at the top of the page) is larger and bolder than the other letters.]

The question then arises, why should the sound of the first letter be hardened, when the word "bereshiyth" is already pronounced with a distinctive (hard) "b" sound (with aspiration). The stated reason (among scholars) is that there should be no aspiration between the bayt and the resh; the word should be spoken as "ber-a-sheet."

Still I'm left wondering, why then did the Masoretes make this "B" larger and bolder? 
Is it meant to be decorative (only), since it is the first letter of the scriptures? This is what some believe. 
Or, was this intentionally done to make the first letter a "stand alone Bayt" and not part of the first word bereshiyth? (as it is shown below):

Possible for the purpose of portraying the letter in its primary (and archaic) meaning, "house or tent," or more specifically, "Yahuah's house."  So as to say, before anything was created, at the commencement of creation; there was Yahuah's house (bayt). It always existed as such.
 
A picture of this can be seen in the Tent of Meeting (shown below) that Moshe was instructed to build. Not only is the Menorah present in the tent, but the design of the tent, how it was built, and the order in which it was raised and furnished reveals much more than meets the eye (during a casual reading). It also reflects the oneness of Yahuah, and his superior wisdom and intellect as revealed in his creation. 
By using the word "oneness," [echad]  I don't mean to imply in the sense of unity only, as in the singular plural word, "Ulheem." I also mean "echad" as being "the first," or in "the first place."

These were the instruction Moshe received from Yahuah; to build a replica of what exists in heaven.

And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it. Ex 25:8-9 NKJV


                                                              The Tent of Meeting (or The Tent of the Congregation)

[This layout is basically the same one King Solomon used as the Temple floor plan.]

You'll have to excuse my feeble attempt to make an illustration of the work of Yahuah; but this is the best I can do.

Consider the first bayt of Beresyith 1:1, to be a symbol for the House of Yahuah (shown in the table below):

Try to ignore the gray border I put around the space (labeled eternity). Infinity and eternity is boundless. It cannot have a border. [I'll remove the border in the next frame.]

In this place (Yahuah's bay-it) the Creator is "echad" (One). Think about this and contemplate what the Hebrews meant when they said that "Yahuah is One (UL)."
What is your understanding concerning the nature of the Creator? Is He One in the sense of unity only, existing as the Trinity, three separate and distinct persons? Many believers say, "I am not a Trinitarian," yet at the same time they believe that Yahuah and Yahuahshua existed together before the beginning, as co-equal "Ulheem" (or Mighty Ones). This belief is defined as Binitarianism, or the belief that "two gods" existed in the beginning. 
Hebrew thought dictates that Yahuah is echad, meaning one or first. They have always considered themselves to be monotheistic, believing in only one UL (the Creator).

Before Me there was no UL (Mighty One) formed, Nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am Yahuah, And besides Me there is no savior. 
Isa 43:10-11

This doctrine was taught to the disciples:

 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God (Yahuah). John 16:27

The word "came out" and "came forth" is NT:1831 exerchomai (ex-er'-khom-ahee); from NT:1537 and NT:2064; to issue (literally or figuratively): NT:1537, ek (ek) or ex (ex); is a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote). NT:2064 means to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively).

I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. John 16:28

I believe that by grammar and composition alone it can be shown that the Greek manuscripts were copied from Hebrew originals. The idea being expressed here is that the savior was "brought forth" (or formed) from the Father. 
To come forth and to bring forth is expressed by the Hebrew word "yaw-tzaw." [3318]. It is the same word used to describe the "bringing forth" of Adam, on the day he was made.

And Yahuah formed [yaw-tzaw] Adam of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Gen 2:7 KJV

Notice that Adam was formed of "the dust of the ground" before the dry land appeared. He was not formed from the soil (or clay) of the earth. This primordial dust of the world is described in Proverbs 8, as being brought forth before there was ever an earth. Just as Yahuahshua was brought forth from Yahuah (in eternity) before there was ever a creation, in like manner, Adam was brought forth from the dust before the Creation was set in order. 

Looking back at Yahuah's House in eternity (without borders); 

---

At this point, you could read Exodus chapters 35 - 39 to see a complete list of the items that Yahuah has told Moshe to have the Hebrews build.
To summarize:

Ex 35:4, Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which Yahuah commanded, saying,

Take ye from among you an offering unto Yahuah: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering to Yahuah of; gold, and silver, and brass; blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, and oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, and onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate. and every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the Yahuah hath commanded; the tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets, the ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the vail of the covering, the table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the shewbread, the candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light, etc...

In these chapters, we see that Yahuah has already planned for the finished product. He knows everything that is needed to build the Tent of Meeting, including everything involved in its administration. 
In the same way, before time began, he knew of everything that was needed to build his creation - in advance.  There were no surprises or something that just popped up unexpected. When he said, "it was very good," he saw it in its completed, redeemed form. 

---

I want to draw your attention to the simplicity and splendor that is being revealed, in the similarities between the Creation of the worlds (the earth and the heavens) and the raising of the Tent of Meeting.

Compare the stories of Genesis 1:1 with Exodus 40:1; 

Gen:1:1 -  In the beginning (bereshiyth) Yahuah created the Heavens and the earth.

Exodus 40:1-2 And Yahuah spoke unto Moses, saying, On the first day (ha ri'shown) of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

Both of the words, "reshiyth" and "ri'shown" come from the Hebrew root;  [OT:7218] ro'sh (roshe).

[OT:7225] re'shiyth (ray-sheeth'); from the same as OT:7218; the first, in place, time, order or rank.

[ OT:7223] ri'shown (ree-shone'); or ri'shon (ree-shone'); from OT:7221, the same as 7218; first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun).

Just as Creation begins with the first day of the first month (of the first year), in like manner, building the Tent of Meeting began on the first day of the first month (of a new year).

Continuing with Ex 40, verse 2:

.....set up the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting. [compare this to Gen 1:1 [...Yahuah created the heavens...] Yahuah created a place in eternity that is His tabernacle. Notice it has two rooms.

The Hebrew word "shamayim" is plural, and means " heavens." I believe the tabernacle represents the "heaven of heavens."  as referred to in the scripture below:

Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is Yahuah's thy UL, the earth also, with all that therein is. Deut 10:14 KJV

The first heaven (mentioned above) is the one that we see in space, in the physical universe. Spoken of in this verse:

Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now Yahuah thy UL hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude. Deut 10:22 KJV

The following verse describes the reason why I have left the first Bayt of Genesis 1:1 in the upper right hand corner of each of my illustrations. Because the heaven and the heaven of heavens, do not represent the totality of Yahuah's existance and reality: Outside of any boundaries or parameters of the known universe (or multiverse) there is - Yahuah.

[Solomon said] But will Yahuah in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built! 2 Chron 6:18 KJV

Just as the tabernacle had an inner and outer sanctuary, the heavens also have an inner sanctuary (known as the heaven of heavens).

Although I believe that Yahuahshua was always in the mind of Yahuah, and in that same sense (before the beginning of creation) He was with Yahuah in eternity; it is at this point that He "came forth" from Yahuah.
In the same way, Eve was brought forth, or taken out of Adam. Just as Adam and Eve were one, so are Yahuah and Yahuahshua - one.

Ex 40:3 And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vale.

As I wrote in the book, "A Beautiful Delusion," the ark represents the immortal body. This was the body prepared for Yahuahshua, who is the "lamb slain before the foundation of the world." [Rev 13:8] 

The Hebrew word for "vale" is; [OT:6532] poreketh (po-reh'-keth); the feminine active participle of OT:6531; and means  a separatrix, or " the sacred screen." The verb from which the feminine active participle is formed [OT:6531] is  "perek" (peh'-rek); from an unused root meaning to break apart; fracture, or "sever."

Just as Eve was "severed" from Adam; so was Yahuahshua "severed" from Yahuah. The verb "to sever" being used in the sense of "dividing by cutting or slicing," and not in its secondary form, " to put an end to (a connection or relationship).
Instead of using the word "divide," a much better term to use would be "to multiply." Just like in the biological sense of growth. At one time, cells used to be referred to as "dividing." But now, it is called cell "multiplication." Isn't that what we are talking about here? Eve's creation began the multiplication that would result in all human life; just as the Father's multiplication (in Yahuahshua) began the family of Yahuah.

The inner sanctuary (or Holy of Holies) was partitioned off (or severed) from the main sanctuary (or tabernacle) as a place to put the ark. It is the womb by which the immortal body of Yahuahshua shall be conceived, and "come into the world." (John 16:28)

This preparation was made for his body in fulfillment of the scriptures that Yahuahshua is, "the first born over all creation).

He is the image of the invisible Yahuah Ul, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the congregation of set-apart ones, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Col 1:15-18

Notice that Yahuah tells Moshe to "put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vale." This means that the ark was brought in from outside of the tabernacle (from eternity) into the Holy of Holies where it was separated from the tabernacle by a vale.

[In comparison to Gen 1] All of this has taken place while.....Yahuah created the heavens.........

Ex 40:4a - And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it;...

The table represents all of the physical realm (specifically the earth), along with all of the objects that are set on the table, which are about to be set in order. 

This corresponds to Gen 1, verse 1b and 2; (having created the first part of the heavens - plural) He then creates " the earth."  And the earth was without form (it was not set in order)* and void (empty of life); and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of Yahuah moved upon the face of the waters.

                                                                                              Ex 40;4b continues.....

.....and thou shalt bring in the candlestick (Menorah), and light the lamps thereof.         Compare this with Gen 1:3  And Yahuah said, Let there be light: and there was light. [More accurately He said, "Energy Exist!" And the light came forth from the energy.] And Yahuah saw the light, that it was good...

Ex 40: 5

And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.                                                        {Compare to] Gen 4b - ...and Yahuah divided the light from the darkness. This is what happened when he hung the curtain on the tabernacle [Shown in purple, scarlet, and blue]; It closed off the tabernacle where the light of Yahuah shines (symbolized by the Menorah) leaving everything outside of the tabernacle dark. And Yahuah called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.  And the evening and the morning were the first day.

You are all sons of light and sons of the day. 
We are not of the night nor of darkness. 1 Thess 5:5-6 NKJV
{Keep this verse in mind]

And Yahuah said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. This firmament is represented by the Molten Sea (or Laver) which was a large  30' in diameter bowl of water being supported by 12 oxen.

This firmament separates the first heaven (the heaven of heavens) from the heaven of the physical realm.
The Brazen Alter is the fire that was placed before the only doorway into the tabernacle of Yahuah.
This doorway is the east gate of the Garden of Eden.

So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. Gen 3:24

The Menorah, which was placed in the Tabernacle to give it light, symbolizes the spirit of Yahuah, which would come to rest upon the person of His Messiah. This prophecy by Isaiah presents a complete picture regarding the nature of His person;

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of Yahuah shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahuah. Isa 11:1-2 NKJV

 

Each one of the aspects of Yahuah's spirit is present in Proverbs Chapter 8, which records a list of chronological events that took place at the beginning of creation.

As a final note, consider this:

In Exodus 35-39, all of the Hebrews prepare and build everything in advance that was needed to construct the Tent
of Meeting. In light of the comparison I'm trying to make between Gen 1 and Ex 40, how does this relate to Genesis 1:1;
when before creation there was no one else who could prepare and make the things Yahuah would use to assemble Creation?
I think there is an analogy being made between the Hebrews that existed during Moshe's time, and the children that Yahuah knew in his foreknowledge, before there was a creation. The children whom he promised eternal life.

And this is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life. 1 John 2:25 NKJV

...in hope of eternal life which Yahuah, who cannot lie, promised before time began, Titus 1:2-3 NKJV

When the Hebrews left Egypt,  everything the Egyptians gave them was a gift from Yahuah. The Hebrews are merely giving back to Yahuah, that which He had already given them. In the same way, everything we have as his children, He has given to us. When we walk in agreement with Yahuah, in His way (Torah) we are only giving back that which he has enabled us to give,

I believe the example given in Ex 35-40 shows us that Yahuah knew from the beginning those who would receive His gift of eternal life. And in a very real sense, we were there with him. Now, whether we existed in the spirit as individuals, or in the foreknowledge of Yahuah alone, that is something that you will have to decide. Some of the Gnostic writers refer to our current mental and spiritual state as, "the forgetfulness." Implying that we once knew who we are - but that knowledge was lost when Adam and Eve sinned. 
Either way, the scriptures teach for certain, that Yahuah knew us.

And Yahuah said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of Yahuah, to do justice and judgment; that Yahuah may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. KJV

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Rom 8:29 KJV

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Jer 1:5 NKJV

One day soon,  the mystery of Yahuah will be revealed, and we will all meet in the tent of meeting, with our Father and Savior.

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