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Updated: 9 July-08 – An Overview –
Before the beginning of the universe there existed two very powerful beings, God and the Word (John 1:1-4). These beings had existed from eternity, which is to say they had no beginning, they had no parents or ones who created them. These beings are self existent; they are not subject to time or any other physical influence. They are life itself.
These two beings not only decided that they wanted company, they decided that they would reproduce themselves (that is to say, beings of their own kind) – they would create a family. Gen 1:26 "...And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:..." [KJV]. Gen 1:27 "...So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them..." [KJV].
The greater of the two beings would become the Father (John 14:28), the Word would become the Father’s firstborn son and humans would be created to be transformed into brothers and sisters to the firstborn.
From this pivotal decision we can begin to comprehend both our reason for being and the reason for why ALL else exists – it is because of us! Earth, the universe and the angels would not exist except for us. They were created because the Godhead decided it wanted the company of its own kind. However, before creating beings with similar awesome powers to their own, it would be necessary to allow these beings (us) to go through what we call "experiences", to make decisions for ourselves culminating in the big decision of whether or not we wanted to be part of God's family and live His way of life. This necessitated creating an environment fit for beings made physical so we could experiment and make mistakes. Creating mankind as fragile physical beings and allowing us to have free will had inherent dangers, necessitating creating angels (perfect from the beginning) to be guides (ministering spirits). Also necessary would be laws, penalties and a redeemer to deliver mankind from the ultimate penalty of death, should any ever commit a single sin. This decision by the Godhead resulted in the whole plan of creation, which, although is a spirit creation (creation of spirit beings with Holy righteous character) physical creation is currently part of that plan. The physical part of the plan involves mankind and while still being part of the overall plan of creation, this part of the plan is also known as the plan of salvation, because mankind needs to be saved from the penalty of sin – that penalty being death (Rom 6:23): “…For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord...” [KJV].
Accordingly, man was NOT an after-thought; indeed, man was the reason for God's plan being set in motion!
To initiate this great plan of creation the Word created all of the angels as perfect spirit beings. In Heb 1:14 God tells us that the role of angels is that of ministering spirits (see Barnes' Notes and Adam Clarke's Commentary) to watch over and help humans as we go through our process of conversion until we are finally born into the family of God (being transformed into the heirs of salvation).
How much training the angels underwent prior to God creating the physical universe is not known, but it was only the first phase of their training.
The Word then created the physical universe and made Earth a special place fit for habitation by physical creatures. So special and beautiful was Earth in comparison to the rest of the physical creation that the angels sang for joy (Job chapter 38) when its creation was completed. While science does not acknowledge creation by divine fiat, it does acknowledge that the universe came into existence pretty much instantaneously. Astronomers have called this event the “big bang” and have calculated that it took place about 13.7 billion years ago, while Earth has been calculated to be about 4.55 billion years old. From a Biblical perspective there is no reason to doubt these calculations, as there is an unspecified gap in time between Gen 1:1 and Gen 1:2 (that is to say, between the original, physical creation and when Earth was devastated). In Ezek 28 we are given an indication of what happened during this gap, but no indication of how long it lasted.
After creating Earth, God placed a third of the angels (under archangel Lucifer) here to watch over it and the rest of what God created on Earth. The exact date as to when this responsibility was given to Lucifer and his third of the angels is not known, but according to the fossil record the first multi-cellular life on Earth appeared about 540 million years ago (the period in geologic history known as the Cambrian age).
In Ezek 28:15 we are told that iniquity was found in Lucifer and the reason for this is considered to be that he did not like the idea of mankind being given the opportunity of becoming members of the God family, that he did not like to be a ministering spirit to lowly human beings who were going to be subject to enormous flaws in character. He wanted primacy for himself. Thus, he rebelled and the ensuing angelic war resulted in him and his angels being cast back down to Earth (Ezek 28:16).
As to why Lucifer and his angels rebelled, the answer is almost spelt out for us. God does everything for a purpose and everything in His creation has a purpose. For the angels that purpose was to aid mankind in ascending to the God family. Heb 1:14 “…Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?...” [NKJV]
This was their purpose; their vocation; their reason for existence; a purpose for which they were ideally suited and one which a loving God ensured would give them satisfaction. God does not say "They became ministering spirits...", there is the simple and plain statement that this is what they are – just as we never became the "heirs of salvation", it is what we are. However, they threw aside what God had given them (their purpose in life) and craved what was reserved for mankind. God says in Jude 1:6 “…And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day…” [KJV]
Saying they “kept not their first estate, but left their first habitation” gives us an insight into what they had abandoned by trying to steal what belongs to mankind. Their God-given vocation was more than just a job; it was in their very being and something that made them comfortable like a home or place of belonging, which is why it is described as "their first estate". It was unnatural for them to want to do or be anything else.
However, Lucifer engaged in slander and trafficked his bitter way of thinking throughout the third of the angelic host under his command and succeeded in turning them against God and turning them into the same twisted beings of which he was the figurative father (since he was responsible for the formation of their wrong attitude towards God and subsequent insurrection). God calls things and people what they are and He changed Lucifer’s name to the devil (slanderer) and Satan (the adversary). Satan’s angels became known as demons (destroyers). Lucifer was going about spreading malicious dissatisfaction with God and His plan among his charges until all were convinced of God's unfairness – this is the essence of Ezek 28:16: “…Through your widespread trade [Lucifer traded in slander] you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones…” [NIV]
We are not told how long Lucifer’s attitude festered, or his slanderous behaviour persisted until war broke out, or how long the actual war lasted, but the effects definitely are evident. Peace is one of God’s characteristics and Christ has the Title of Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6). This peacefulness even extends to the animal kingdom when God is in direct control and is evidenced in the Millennium when wild animals now known as carnivores will be co-existing peacefully with all other animals (Isa 65:25). In Eph 2:2 Satan is called “the prince of the power of the air” and that title is believed to do with his power to broadcast hostile and all manner of anti-social attitudes. In this capacity he even has the power to veil the truth of God from the minds of ordinary people (2Cor 4:4), so the ability to broadcast hostile attitudes is considered to be only a small part of this power. Accordingly, if there were wild and carnivorous dinosaurs in the Jurassic age, then we know that Satan’s attitude was influencing the animals at least as far back as that time. From a Biblical point of view, the destruction of the dinosaurs and the rest of the world and the ensuing ice ages would be considered consistent with the angelic war at the time when Satan tried to seize control for himself and bar God. Ultimately, the result is seen in Gen 1:2 where it is recorded that total confusion reigned on Earth.
Earth Re-created and Firstfruits Predestined
A little less than 6,000 years ago God, through the Word, performed a re-creation upon the earth. It was made habitable, all physical life was restored and mankind was created (Gen 1:3‑31 and Gen 2:1-3) with the intent of preparing humanity for birth into God’s family (see Barnes' Notes for a more detailed explanation of the re-creation).
However, before the family of God can be enlarged God has decreed that there will be structure, meaning that the family of God will also be a kingdom, a government. We are told in Romans 1:20 that we can know God by His creation, “...For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse...” [KJV].
From the visible universe we can see that God does everything in perfect order, even setting a hierarchy. For example, we see a hierarchy in the astral bodies in the way that they are anchored to each other in terms of size – from moons to planets to stars to galaxies. From Christ’s teaching in the New Testament (NT) we see that different positions with varying degrees of authority will be given to different ones in the Kingdom of God. In the NT, the people to whom God is addressing His messages are those called to be firstfruits, which is to say those who will take part in the first resurrection and be granted these positions of responsibility. The first resurrection, or resurrection of the first fruits, is the smaller of the two resurrections and will be comprised of those who will qualify to help Christ rule through the coming seventh millennium since the re-creation; past the second resurrection and on through the great white throne judgement.
God says we were predestined, that is chosen in advance to be used for a particular purpose (Rom 8:29-30 and Eph 1:5, 11). What this means is that God has created positions in His Kingdom and those positions will be filled to form the basic structure of His administrative system, following which the Kingdom will be ready to accommodate the rest of humanity.
God likens this process to constructing a building. In 1Cor 3:9 we are told that we are God’s building, which is to say something that He built. In Eph 2:21 we are told that we are “fitly framed together” to form an even greater building. This is the master builder at work – the builder of the universe. In chapters 38 and 39 of the Book of Job God challenges Job to understand the greatness and detail of His work in building the universe and the earth. God is indeed the master builder and any builder of basic skills selects his materials before commencing to build. God would hardly do less. Accordingly, any predestination (selection of material for His building) would have been done no later than the creation of mankind. For we know that Abel is the first named of the faithful mentioned in Heb 11:4 and is called “righteous Abel” in Matt 23:35. God never makes such statements about people unless they will be in His Kingdom, therefore Abel will be part of God’s building referred to above.
However, in Eph 1:4 we are told, "...According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:..." [KJV] What is meant by "before the foundation of the world"? Here, the Greek word translated as "world" is Kosmos and although generally means the orderly arrangement or decoration of everything could mean either Earth or the entire universe. The word "foundation" comes from the Greek katabolee and means a founding or place where a building will be constructed, which is literally a foundation. Since Christ was the lamb “…slain from the foundation of the world…” (Rev 13:8) we can conclude that the time God predestined all of His people who were to be called as first fruits was beforehand, because they were predestined "before the foundation of the world". This clearly means a time prior to the setting in order of the plan of creation, which was prior to the creation of the angels as "...ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation..." (Heb 1:14). In John 17:24 we are given absolute confirmation of minimum time for predestination when, during Christ's blood-sweating prayer to the Father, he uses the exact same phrase, "...Father, I will that they also, whom you have given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which you have given me: for you loved me before the foundation of the world..." The Father loved the son (then the Word) from eternity. Accordingly, the wording in Eph 1:4 reveals that the plan of creation (the plan to create more beings of the “God kind” through human beings) was conceived in the ages before time began and so too was our predestination.
A builder will select ALL of his material from the outset; he will not wait to see what may come along to meet his requirements after construction has commenced. God has certainly shown that He would do no less!
However, the testing of materials for suitability is a separate matter and must come after the materials have been selected. This is exactly what happens in the life of called-out ones and how successful we are in the testing process is what determines whether we are called and chosen, or just called. This subject is covered in greater detail in the article entitled "Meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles".
In Old Testament (OT) times it seems that far fewer people were called compared to the last 2,000 years. However, even though there were fewer we do not have any indication as to actual numbers, which may be greater than we have imagined. This becomes clear when during one of the occasions when the prophet Elijah became depressed and thought he was all alone God told him that there were 7,000 others who were still loyal to Him (1 Kings 19:18).
Holy Spirit Available to All Mankind
The Scriptures can be divided into two broad parts loosely known as the “before time” and the “after time.” There are references in the OT to a time called the “latter days,” but a more accurate translation of the Hebrew would be the “after time” which refers to the time after the Messiah. In this period of the “after time” we are told that God would pour out His spirit on all mankind (Joel 2:28). In Acts 2:16 we are told that this prophecy was to apply from the time when the disciples received the Holy Spirit on the first Day of Pentecost after the death of Christ. So, for the past 2,000 years (approximately) we have been living in the “latter days.”
Viewing these statements about the Holy Spirit from our point in time it is easy to see the intent was not for the Holy Spirit to given to every single human being, but rather was to be given to selected (predestined) humans from all nationalities. Other conditions to be met prior to receiving the Holy Spirit include repentance, acceptance of Christ as our saviour and baptism (Acts 2:38).
When a person meets the conditions mentioned above they commence what is known as conversion. Conversion is a life-long process of striving to live God’s way of life. The best way of looking at conversion is remembering the example of Jacob when he wrestled with Christ, then known as the Word, all night until dawn. He was commended for his efforts and renamed Israel by God. There was no way a human was ever going to win a wrestling match against the one who created the entire universe. However, God wanted to see if he would continue to strive even in the face of knowing that he could never win. The same goes for Christians. As humans we can never hope to defeat our carnal nature, but God wants to see if we will continue to strive anyhow and call on the sacrifice of Christ to atone for what we have not overcome. Paul explained the situation very well in Rom 7:7-25. Having lived a life striving against sin a Christian can look forward to life in the family of God, which is the spiritual rest pictured by the weekly seventh-day Sabbath and the seventh millennium (“Millennium”). God “rested” on the seventh day of re-creation, to show that the seventh-day Sabbath represents something completely non-physical, life in His kingdom following completion of His plan of salvation. God had no need for actual rest because He never gets tired, thereby showing us that the Sabbath "rest" pictures a time when we also will never become tired.
This aspect will be covered in far greater detail when the "restoration of all things" is addressed, so only a brief note will be given here.
The first 6,000 years are almost ended and when Christ returns near the end of this time he will set up rule on Earth and rule a physical world in peace for the following 1,000 years. After that 1,000 years the rest of the dead will be resurrected in the second or great white throne resurrection (Rev 20:5 “...But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished...”). For most, this will be their first chance at really knowing God and Christ and understanding God’s plan of salvation – creating children after His own image as His literal sons and daughters. When people are given this first real choice between Satan’s way of life and God’s way of life it is understood that the overwhelming majority will choose God’s way. Those who do not wish to live God’s way will simply be destroyed completely and instantaneously by a merciful God, who can destroy both body and spirit (Matt 10:28). There will be no suffering for eternity by those who choose unwisely – they will simply cease to exist. This is the way of a loving and merciful God.
The articles to follow will be addressing, in detail, the whole of God’s plan of salvation through the symbolism revealed in the annual Sabbaths and other commanded observances.
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Next Article: Passover Observance is for the purpose of remembering that we have accepted God's OFFER of Christ’s sacrifice of suffering and death as atonement for our sins, thereby being reconciled to God. This sacrifice is claimed upon agreement to live God’s way of life.
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