The Veil of Time

[myrthman]

I had this thought as I woke up yesterday morning: the ancients didn't have a full picture of God because the Bible had not been completed (not too sure that we have THE FULL picture in our own time, but I digress). I coined this idea the Veil of Time because it's almost like God was hiding all of Himself from them. The prophets had glimpses of His fullness but that's about it. Since the Bible has now been completed and Jesus has been resurrected, the Veil has been torn (as in the temple between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies).

There's the premise. Now, add a time machine or portal. Would it be irresponsible or irresistible for a modern-day believer to travel back in time to share the Gospel with the Hebrews? Do you think they'd run you off as a heretic or just stone you, like they did to several of the prophets? Is it possible that this is what really happened and the "angels" recorded in Scripture are actually people from the future ("messengers") who are not in correct alignment with the space-time continuum of "back then" and so appear as translucent beings of light? Would there be the possibility of subverting the plan of God through salvation at the Cross? Or maybe even staying Eve's hand just before she reached out and took the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Would there be any point to going back at all?

Lot's of questions more than anything else. Any thoughts? Plot ideas?

[garysensei]

I recently had a plot idea I call "The Darkest Path." A theological student realizes that when Jesus was on the cross, all the sins of man move through time and space in both directions for Jesus to atone. Hence the darkness that covered the land was due to the physical presence of all that sin. Then he thinks, "If I can hitch a ride on a sin, I could travel through time and go to the foot of the cross, or from there to any place or time that a sin was committed." Unfortunately, that mode of travel results in some particularly nasty seatmates. This is my first post (I've been lurking for quite a while) and I realize this topic hasn't had much activity. Anyone have any reactions out there?

[myrthman]

First of all, Gary, welcome! I look forward to reading your ideas, especially if they continue in this vein. I love the concept of time travel via a cross-bound sin (heh, like the 9:23 cross-town flyer). I haven't ever heard of anything like this. Tell us more, tell us more!

[Grace Bridges]

Both great ideas, guys! Keep at 'em, and write on! I want to see these

[Kristen]

Very intriguing, guys. Myrthman, in your story, I don't see that a messenger from the future could subvert the work of the cross by going back to the BC era. He would, as you say, be treated like other prophets who spoke of the Messiah. I don't think it would be possible for a person to subvert the work of the cross -- delay it, maybe, by assassinating Judas or something. But the will of God can't entirely be subverted by human beings. As for preventing the fall ... yikes. That's a big one. Doing so would undo the entirety of human history. A guy would have to be some kind of megalomaniac to take on that kind of responsibility.

[myrthman]

Kristen, I'd rather have that in fiction than in reality...