Here is the way I see it: Genesis chapter 1 In the beginning there is this entity, GOD; he is huge, enormous.
He was many universes large.
There were many others of these entities with him and they filled him but inside he still felt dark and void.
These radiant beings about him gave him joy but he needed something more.
In his mind and his thoughts (because all things start as thought and are then manifested into being) he started to imagine a different type of being, a being that would be in his likeness but different, a being that would be like those radiant beings around him but different even still.
This being would fill him with light, because he would make him a light.
This being would fill him with vegetation and other living organisms that would make him feel full and alive.
There would be light but still a time of temporary darkness that would give him a season of rest.
There would never really be complete darkness again.
He would make it so that there was always some type of light available.
As he started to see these things manifest in his heart and thoughts, he began to know what it would feel like and he began to speak it.
"Heaven - Earth", but there was still darkness and no form and his, [Genesis 1:2] spirit (1) life force) hovered over the waters.
"Light" - Nice.
Day one, he paused for a moment and maybe he thought, "This is even better than I imagined".
Beginning to visualize again he spoke out, "the waters should be separated".
He saw the colors, blue above, blue below.
The Sky soothed him, and day two-he paused.
Again he spoke, "The waters don't need to be all over, I think it should be gathered here and there and the land should be shown through in some places.
Yes, that feels right".
"Vegetation, trees, grass and fruit, yes" - Day three, he paused.
He maybe began to feel full and with the things that had taken place he didn't feel so dark anymore.
Maybe the light was a little too much and realizing this he decided to make a BIG light for the day and smaller lights for the night.
He spoke it and it happened, manifesting his thoughts over and over.
Day four and he paused.
The things in his mind were really starting to expand; he was starting to feel his thoughts flourish into something beautiful.
He saw so much more now.
I can see him talking to the radiant beings around him, explaining his vision and how he would fill himself with the things he saw.
He explained how it would affect them and that things would change but it would be better.
I can imagine some of them being OK and accepting the changes to take place and I can imagine that others were, not so much.
He spoke, "animals in the water, birds in the sky.
Big, small and they shall grow in number, fill the earth, fill the waters and fill the skies".
Day five and he paused.
The empty spaces were filling, he didn't feel so void anymore; but he still wanted more.
He spoke again, "The land should bring forth animals, livestock, and wild creatures on the ground".
And it was on this day that he said, [Genesis 1:26] "let us make man in our image, in our likeness" You could write an entire novel on just those ten words.
There are so many interpretations, so many thoughts on what God could have been speaking on, who he could have been speaking to.
What about image and likeness? Are they one in the same? Was there something different meant by each? Does it mean man would look like God or just have the mind and thoughts of God, maybe both? What about the solidity of form, flesh and blood or density - air? What if he is all and is in all because he is the heavens and the earth and it all resides inside of him, like your heart, lungs, blood etc.
resides inside you? It could be that he was a pure Spirit, Genesis 1:2 does state that" his spirit hovered over the waters".
Also, we know from John 1:14 that the son of God became flesh when he came down and dwelled among us.
2) John 1:14 (KJ21) 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only Begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.
So for something to become something else it would mean it was not that thing before, YES?? So now where does that leave us? "US" He could have been talking to his son.
"In the beginning was the word and the word was with God" John1:1 but then it goes on to say, "and the word WAS GOD".
This could mean his son was there or it was just him and because he is the word, the word was with him.
However, remember that John 1:14 does say the WORD became FLESH and walked among us, this was indeed Christ.
So the son was there.
What about the radiant beings, the angels? It really doesn't mention the angels in Genesis but does it have to? I mean are we really going to argue that point? So we have God - who we can clearly say is not flesh, the Son - who we know did not become flesh until later and the radiant beings - well OK, duh! And just for those of you who are thinking it the Holy Spirit and again I digress to - Duh! So no matter who we decide were there, of the ones we can put together that were there, there was no flesh.
So let's go with the word Likeness for right now.
This leads us to believe that the facts are, although the Bible states that man was formed of dirt/sand/clay; if it was in the likeness of the possible suspects; no flesh.
I hear you, so in Genesis 2:21 he put Adam to sleep, took a rib, closed up his flesh.
That is so for another time, but broaden - maybe the interpretation of the word.
Maybe it was flesh but not flesh as we know it.
Maybe man was flesh from the beginning in order to be in the likeness and portray the image of the US/OUR, again I digress and back to the subject at hand.
Also as part of the Likeness, are the thoughts, mind, and the freedom to think and choose.
This would not be something that would be considered an image.
So of course I believe that the image and likeness are two separate things, not one in the same.
Likeness is more of an internal and the image external.
Look at a child to his/her mother or father.
The child may look like either and then again acts like either.
I think this was the reference that was being made.
We are in the similarity of the look of the US/OUR and have the characteristics, thoughts, mind, abilities etc.
(likeness) of the US/OUR.
So with that said it just may be safe to say that when we look at ourselves we are looking at God or an image of God.
It can also be determined that our thoughts, mind and ability to discern, also of God or in the likeness of God.
So on this day, the sixth day; God made Man and Woman, Male and Female.
I like the Living Bible Translation, [Genesis 1:27] "So God made man like his maker.
Like GOD did God make man".
He gave them rule over everything, Dominion over all.
There was only one thing they could not take part in; only one thing in all of this that they were not to touch.
Parents, what eventually happens when you tell children NO? That's right.
OK, so we all know that right? And as it is understood we are made in the mind of God, in the image and likeness of God.
If it works that way now, how do you believe it worked then? Yes!! But let's not loose site of our direction, we will revisit here at a later date.
Here are man and woman in this beautiful place, which is under their rule.
These divine creatures governed by the [man and woman] the most divine creatures, made by and in the image of the most superlative divine beings [God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit] of all.
WOW! When you really sit back and take that all in, it takes your breath away.
So God told them to multiply and fill the earth [fill me], have dominion [KJV], be masters [LBV] and rule [NET Bible].
Again, I like the Living Bible translation, "BE MASTERS".
We have dominion [ruling power and control], we are masters [Encarta Dictionary: 8.
Original copy 9.
Leader] Do you understand that this is not something that was just given to Adam and Eve? This is you, me, your sister, brother, mother, father.
This is your friend, your associate and your enemy as well.
Even with sin in the world, even as Adam and Eve falls, even as we are right now.
We have NEVER been changed from the Masters of the earth.
We still are all in the image of God (look at yourself, look - what you see is an image of greatness).
In the likeness of God, expand and renew your mind.
Dig deep into your thoughts, hear the freedom, freedom of choice, freedom of life, freedom of dominion, freedom of peace.
Day six and he paused.
And on the seventh day he was so full of joy, glory and awesomeness, that all he could do is release.
So much gladness and celebration was welled up inside him that he, [Genesis 2:2] blessed this Day Seven declaring, that all was good.
(exhale) Can you feel it? I can feel it, inside what joy he must have felt.
Tears of joy fill me when I think of him standing there looking over all that had been done and taking deep breath after deep breath, in awe of it all.
What had quite possibly been just a thought such a short time before this, had been manifested into all of this beauty, glory and majesty, breath taking aroma and masterful color just filling his soul.
Now all that needed to be done was to sit back, relax and take it all in.
Absolutely amazing! Expand your mind, walk in dominion over the earth and be the master you were born to be.
References of Bible Scripture were taken from biblegateway.
com Definitions were taken from the Encarta Dictionary
He was many universes large.
There were many others of these entities with him and they filled him but inside he still felt dark and void.
These radiant beings about him gave him joy but he needed something more.
In his mind and his thoughts (because all things start as thought and are then manifested into being) he started to imagine a different type of being, a being that would be in his likeness but different, a being that would be like those radiant beings around him but different even still.
This being would fill him with light, because he would make him a light.
This being would fill him with vegetation and other living organisms that would make him feel full and alive.
There would be light but still a time of temporary darkness that would give him a season of rest.
There would never really be complete darkness again.
He would make it so that there was always some type of light available.
As he started to see these things manifest in his heart and thoughts, he began to know what it would feel like and he began to speak it.
"Heaven - Earth", but there was still darkness and no form and his, [Genesis 1:2] spirit (1) life force) hovered over the waters.
"Light" - Nice.
Day one, he paused for a moment and maybe he thought, "This is even better than I imagined".
Beginning to visualize again he spoke out, "the waters should be separated".
He saw the colors, blue above, blue below.
The Sky soothed him, and day two-he paused.
Again he spoke, "The waters don't need to be all over, I think it should be gathered here and there and the land should be shown through in some places.
Yes, that feels right".
"Vegetation, trees, grass and fruit, yes" - Day three, he paused.
He maybe began to feel full and with the things that had taken place he didn't feel so dark anymore.
Maybe the light was a little too much and realizing this he decided to make a BIG light for the day and smaller lights for the night.
He spoke it and it happened, manifesting his thoughts over and over.
Day four and he paused.
The things in his mind were really starting to expand; he was starting to feel his thoughts flourish into something beautiful.
He saw so much more now.
I can see him talking to the radiant beings around him, explaining his vision and how he would fill himself with the things he saw.
He explained how it would affect them and that things would change but it would be better.
I can imagine some of them being OK and accepting the changes to take place and I can imagine that others were, not so much.
He spoke, "animals in the water, birds in the sky.
Big, small and they shall grow in number, fill the earth, fill the waters and fill the skies".
Day five and he paused.
The empty spaces were filling, he didn't feel so void anymore; but he still wanted more.
He spoke again, "The land should bring forth animals, livestock, and wild creatures on the ground".
And it was on this day that he said, [Genesis 1:26] "let us make man in our image, in our likeness" You could write an entire novel on just those ten words.
There are so many interpretations, so many thoughts on what God could have been speaking on, who he could have been speaking to.
What about image and likeness? Are they one in the same? Was there something different meant by each? Does it mean man would look like God or just have the mind and thoughts of God, maybe both? What about the solidity of form, flesh and blood or density - air? What if he is all and is in all because he is the heavens and the earth and it all resides inside of him, like your heart, lungs, blood etc.
resides inside you? It could be that he was a pure Spirit, Genesis 1:2 does state that" his spirit hovered over the waters".
Also, we know from John 1:14 that the son of God became flesh when he came down and dwelled among us.
2) John 1:14 (KJ21) 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only Begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.
So for something to become something else it would mean it was not that thing before, YES?? So now where does that leave us? "US" He could have been talking to his son.
"In the beginning was the word and the word was with God" John1:1 but then it goes on to say, "and the word WAS GOD".
This could mean his son was there or it was just him and because he is the word, the word was with him.
However, remember that John 1:14 does say the WORD became FLESH and walked among us, this was indeed Christ.
So the son was there.
What about the radiant beings, the angels? It really doesn't mention the angels in Genesis but does it have to? I mean are we really going to argue that point? So we have God - who we can clearly say is not flesh, the Son - who we know did not become flesh until later and the radiant beings - well OK, duh! And just for those of you who are thinking it the Holy Spirit and again I digress to - Duh! So no matter who we decide were there, of the ones we can put together that were there, there was no flesh.
So let's go with the word Likeness for right now.
This leads us to believe that the facts are, although the Bible states that man was formed of dirt/sand/clay; if it was in the likeness of the possible suspects; no flesh.
I hear you, so in Genesis 2:21 he put Adam to sleep, took a rib, closed up his flesh.
That is so for another time, but broaden - maybe the interpretation of the word.
Maybe it was flesh but not flesh as we know it.
Maybe man was flesh from the beginning in order to be in the likeness and portray the image of the US/OUR, again I digress and back to the subject at hand.
Also as part of the Likeness, are the thoughts, mind, and the freedom to think and choose.
This would not be something that would be considered an image.
So of course I believe that the image and likeness are two separate things, not one in the same.
Likeness is more of an internal and the image external.
Look at a child to his/her mother or father.
The child may look like either and then again acts like either.
I think this was the reference that was being made.
We are in the similarity of the look of the US/OUR and have the characteristics, thoughts, mind, abilities etc.
(likeness) of the US/OUR.
So with that said it just may be safe to say that when we look at ourselves we are looking at God or an image of God.
It can also be determined that our thoughts, mind and ability to discern, also of God or in the likeness of God.
So on this day, the sixth day; God made Man and Woman, Male and Female.
I like the Living Bible Translation, [Genesis 1:27] "So God made man like his maker.
Like GOD did God make man".
He gave them rule over everything, Dominion over all.
There was only one thing they could not take part in; only one thing in all of this that they were not to touch.
Parents, what eventually happens when you tell children NO? That's right.
OK, so we all know that right? And as it is understood we are made in the mind of God, in the image and likeness of God.
If it works that way now, how do you believe it worked then? Yes!! But let's not loose site of our direction, we will revisit here at a later date.
Here are man and woman in this beautiful place, which is under their rule.
These divine creatures governed by the [man and woman] the most divine creatures, made by and in the image of the most superlative divine beings [God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit] of all.
WOW! When you really sit back and take that all in, it takes your breath away.
So God told them to multiply and fill the earth [fill me], have dominion [KJV], be masters [LBV] and rule [NET Bible].
Again, I like the Living Bible translation, "BE MASTERS".
We have dominion [ruling power and control], we are masters [Encarta Dictionary: 8.
Original copy 9.
Leader] Do you understand that this is not something that was just given to Adam and Eve? This is you, me, your sister, brother, mother, father.
This is your friend, your associate and your enemy as well.
Even with sin in the world, even as Adam and Eve falls, even as we are right now.
We have NEVER been changed from the Masters of the earth.
We still are all in the image of God (look at yourself, look - what you see is an image of greatness).
In the likeness of God, expand and renew your mind.
Dig deep into your thoughts, hear the freedom, freedom of choice, freedom of life, freedom of dominion, freedom of peace.
Day six and he paused.
And on the seventh day he was so full of joy, glory and awesomeness, that all he could do is release.
So much gladness and celebration was welled up inside him that he, [Genesis 2:2] blessed this Day Seven declaring, that all was good.
(exhale) Can you feel it? I can feel it, inside what joy he must have felt.
Tears of joy fill me when I think of him standing there looking over all that had been done and taking deep breath after deep breath, in awe of it all.
What had quite possibly been just a thought such a short time before this, had been manifested into all of this beauty, glory and majesty, breath taking aroma and masterful color just filling his soul.
Now all that needed to be done was to sit back, relax and take it all in.
Absolutely amazing! Expand your mind, walk in dominion over the earth and be the master you were born to be.
References of Bible Scripture were taken from biblegateway.
com Definitions were taken from the Encarta Dictionary
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