In Eternity After the Beginning at the Creation of Heaven
The perfections of the Trinity are limitless and endless. Out of the abundance of Their own goodness and love they created a beginning. According to Genesis 1:1, the LORD’s first act of creation was in the making of the third Heaven
“I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
— Rev. 21:6, 22:13
The perfections of the Trinity are limitless and endless. Out of the abundance of Their own goodness and love they created a beginning. According to the LORD’s first act of creation was in the making of thethirdHeaven ( “the third Heaven” – ). We know this because God created the first and secondHeavens on Day #2 and Day #4 according to and The creation of the thirdHeaven included everything and everyone in it. Therefore, this was a significant undertaking. We are talking about a “heavenly country” in eternity An eternal place of unimaginable divine glory.
“Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in Heaven, and thou upon Earth: therefore let thy words be few.”
— Eccl. 5:2
Heaven is greater than Earth The invisible world of eternity is greater than the visible world of physical space and time Spiritual things are greater than physical things. This was demonstrated in the spiritual power of God creating the physical universe “God is a Spirit” All the Angels of Heaven are “spirits” And Heaven’s population of angels is greater than Earth’s population of mankind
Heaven is immovable and indestructible, while Earth is shakable, corruptible, and slated for destruction The Prophetic Calendar speaks for itself. The “treasures” of Earth are corruptible, fading, fleeting, uncertain, and vulnerable Men should therefore turn their eyes upon the invisible things of eternity; as Peter said, “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved inHeavenfor you” Earthlings have a lot to learn about this marvelous place of eternal glory, but not everyone will get to go there to see it for themselves.
The Throne, Temple, City, & Kingdom of Heaven
The Trinity created a seat of divine government there in the form of a glorious ThroneThe Throne is situated in a heavenly Temple The Temple is located at the center of a heavenly City called Jerusalem Innumerable “mansions” have been “prepared” for the people who would one day “inherit the Kingdom of God” and thus become the inhabitants of the heavenly City of Jerusalem The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are all glorified together there in a display of majestic splendor that defies human imagination. The beautiful sight of it alone is a sufficient reward for the righteous in the unspeakable bliss of eternity
“And now, O Father, glorify thou Me with Thine own Self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”
— John 17:5
“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which thou hast given Me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”
— John 17:24
“A glorious high Thronefrom the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.”
— Jer. 17:12
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to beRulerin Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
— Micah 5:2
Amazingly, the Son of God was fully glorified in Heaven “before the world was” even created The position of the Son of God in Heaven, as the beloved of the Father, was gloriously manifest “before the foundation of the world” This speaks volumes about the glory of Heaven predating the existence of the world! Long before redeemed mankind even knew about the Son of God, apparently, everyone in the high and holy place was beholden to His glory, and this means that the Son of God was an enthroned Ruler in eternity. Furthermore, one day, this “Ruler” was going to journey from eternity into time through the incarnation “to be Ruler in Israel” This is the only Ruler whose reign predated his birth into this world Speaking of this, Micah said, this is the only Ruler “whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting”
“And no man hath ascended up to Heaven, but he that came down from Heaven, even the Son of Man which is in Heaven.”
— John 3:13
“He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from Heaven is above all.”
— John 3:31
“And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.”
— John 8:23
Comprehending the eternal glory of Jesus Christ is moral man’s wisdom in the sight of God Seeing that God created Heaven, with everything and everyone in it, before the creation of the Earth, we can understand how the Son of God was fully glorified in Heaven“before the world” was even created Ultimately, God’s will is going to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven The Kingdom will come! The preincarnate Son of God, who was enthroned in glory in eternity past will be enthroned on Earth, even as the incarnated Son of God is enthroned in glory right now through the ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven
The enthroned presence of God is the glory and beauty of the LORD on Earth and in Heaven The majestic splendor of the Son of God as a King seated on a Throne is the glorification that Jesus Christ was remembering in eternity past and expecting in eternity future, even as He prayed in the High Priestly Prayer of
“For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in Earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.”
— Col. 1:16-17
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
— Heb. 1:1-3
Evidently, this glory has been restored to Jesus Christ in eternity right now, and it will be the everlasting spectacle of the redeemed in glory, as they join the angels in worship before the ThroneBefore time, an innumerable company of angels worshipped the enthroned presence of the Son of God in a preincarnate form . At the end of time, an innumerable company of redeemed men and angels will worship the enthroned presence of Jesus Christ
The Alpha and Omega of eternity, before and after time, should be of great interest to believers. Those who have read about the divine powers of sovereignty, foreknowledge, and predestination will be especially interested Amazingly, there are many Scriptures that shed light on what happened in eternity before the creation of the world! Things were said and done that deserve our attention. Decrees, ordinances, appointments, counsels, covenants, and promises were divinely spoken by the voice of omnipotence, and this greatly excited the Angels of Heaven to behold the forthcoming events of creation. Let the testimony of capture your admiration.
“Where wast thouwhen I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the Morning Stars sang together, and all the Sons of God shouted for joy?”
— Job 38:4-7
Literally, as God the Son acted to create the Earth, and the foundation of the world, myriads of holy Angels were present as witnesses of these divine exploits of creation, and throughout all the six days of creation, the stary host of Angels were singing and shouting for joy! Can you imagine it? gives us a glimpse into the glory of the Son of God described by Jesus Christ in In eternity, after the beginning, at the creation of Heaven, and before the creation of the Earth, the glory of the preincarnate Son of God can be comprehended in the testimony of & Holy angels, shining like stars, sang heavenly songs of worship to God during creation. Their singing was mixed with loud shouts of joy as the angels were beholden to the miracles of creation in real time! A diamond studded sky at sunrise couldn’t compare to this awesome scene. However, such beauty and brightness is ordinary in Heaven.
Holy Angels by Rank & Position in the Worship of Heaven
Somewhere up on high, at the peak of the slopes of glory, as one is going up on the sides of the north, there sits a King who is exalted above the Stars of God Innumerable Angels of every rank are continuously present around the Throne in a serious engagement of worship Above all, and first of all, the Angels were created to love God, and in loving God, these heavenly beings were fashioned to express their love by worshipping the LORD forever and ever.
“Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; Thou hast made Heaven, the Heaven of Heavens, with all their Host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the Host of Heaven worshippeth thee.”
— Neh. 9:6
The Angels are organized by rank in their position before the Throne The highest-ranking Angels, the Cherubim, are “in the midst ofthe Throne, and round abouttheThrone”, and they cry out continuously day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” This specific location is the Holy of Holies of Heaven! The Cherubim were “anointed” for this holy station
“The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: He sitteth between the Cherubims; let the earth be moved.”
— Ps. 99:1
The Cherubim are the loudest worshippers in the Host of Heaven. Their voices are the most powerful and commanding when it comes to proclamations, and their notes are the most captivating and beautiful when it comes to singing. Their abilities are unmatched in respect to all the musical instruments of Heaven! Speaking of this, God said of the Cherubim, “…the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created” The Cherubim were created to be worship leaders in the stary host of Heaven’s choir.
“And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty Elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crownsof gold. And out of the Throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the Throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”
— Rev. 4:4-5
The second rank of holy Angels is made up of 24 heavenly beings who look like agedmen in their countenance ( compare with ). Angels have been frequently called or mistaken to be men throughout history These angels are specifically called, “Elders” and this name is given to them as a royal title of rulership in Heaven. Elders were the rulers of Israel in the Old Testament Elders are also the rulers of the Church in the New Testament It comes as no surprise that the same title is used among angels in Heaven.
The twenty-four Elders are not positioned in the midst of the Throne of God like the Cherubim. Reflecting their rank, they are positioned further away from the Throne. On special occasions, when all the Sons of God are summoned to come and present themselves before the LORD the Elders can be seen sitting on twenty-four thrones that are located “round about”the Throne of God They wear “crowns of gold” on their heads as a representation of their authority over angels and men as “the Chief Princes” ( Note: even the principalities of hell wear crowns as a representation of their dark rulership according to & ).
“Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the Heavens: praise Him in the Heights. Praise ye Him, all his Angels: praise ye Him, all His Hosts.”
— Psalm 148:1-2
Each occasion before the Throne of God is mixed with various forms of praise and worship. Sometimes, throughout the procession of heavenly events, all twenty-eight of these high-ranking angels fall prostrate before the Throne of God as they make unanimous declarations of worship in perfect harmony Meanwhile, the angelic Princes can be seen casting their crowns before the Throne in a shocking display of subjection and humility! Sometimes, as the occasion requires, all these angels suddenly break-out in the singing of “a new song” before the Throne of God
Amazingly, these spontaneous songs of worship ring out symphonically in the presence of musical instruments. Every one of these angels are equipped with “harps” and “golden vials” for such occasions Literally, while they are all singing, the melodious sounds of heavenly harps join the loud chorus of angelic voices. Consequentially, worship fills the air of Heaven as an inescapable fragrance, even as the golden streets of eternity are continually resounding with the excellent sounds of holy adoration.
The last and final rank of holy Angels is positioned outside the border of the twenty-four thrones in every direction. An innumerable company of heavenly beings gather there when all the Sons of God appear before the LORD The crystalline sea of glass extends indefinitely providing sufficient space for the standing presence of hundreds of millions of Angels All the Angels of every rank and position are “round about the Throne” in a majestic scene of pure glory And, as each occasion requires, this innumerable company of Angels joins in concert with the leading Angels of higher rank, whether it be in the sudden acts of intense prostration corresponding to various proclamations, or in worshipping the LORD through the ministry of song. This is a beautiful situation However, all this is to say nothing about the dawning light of eternity that illuminates Heaven with divine brightness.
“…the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”
— 1 Tim. 6:15-16
“…Thou that dwellest between the Cherubims, shine forth.”
— Psalm 80:1
The heavenly situation of the Throne above is mirrored on earth through the symbolism of the Tabernacle and the Temple Golden images of the Cherubim stood 17.5 ft high on either side of the Throne in the Holy of Holies The mighty statues of these Angels had a combined wingspan of 35 feet wall-to-all in the Throne Room of God Their wings were outstretched to act as a “covering” to the Mercy Seat Literally, they acted to overshadow and coverthe Throne with their wings because the theater of typology is a miniature of the heavenly situation.
The Cherubim are much bigger in height and wingspan in reality. They have to be extremely large in order to act as a covering for the Great White Throne of Heaven Four Cherubim are positioned on each side of the Throne for an overshading in all directions Each Cherubim possesses six wings for the job The Daystar of eternity, exceeding the brightness of the sun, shines forth from behind the Cherubim in a dazzling display of glory Somehow, through refraction, the whole spectrum of light can be seen as a glow of brightness around the Throne “Blessed be the glory of the LORD from Hisplace.”
Vacant Mansions in the Kingdom of Heaven
Take a long hard look at these heavenly scenes of glory! This is the final destination of all the redeemed. The Son of God came from eternity into time through the incarnation The Man, Jesus Christ, then went away on a long journey via death to prepare a place for mankind in glory The only begotten Son died so that He might become the first to rise from the dead in a glorified human body ( “the Firstborn from the Dead” – ). The Lord then ascended to become the first to Man to enter the gates of Heaven in bodily presence
“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
— John 14:2-3
The sacred feet of Jesus Christ were the first human footsteps to walk the courts of the Temple of Heaven. As our heavenly High Priest after the Order of Melchizedek, the Lord went there to apply the blood for reconciliation and purification This is the preparation being spoken about in Jesus Christ is a forerunning trailblazer who made a “way into the holiest of all” Essentially, this opens the door for believers to follow the forerunner into Heaven
“Lift up your heads, Oye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, Oye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.”
Psalm 24:7-10 (Isa. 44:22-23)
Psalm 24:7-10 (Isa. 44:22-23)
As a warrior King who is mighty in battle, Jesus Christ conquered sin, death, and hell Victoriously, the Man lead captivity captive from the depths into the height of Heaven In an ultimate procession, the everlasting doors of heavenly Jerusalem were triumphantly opened as Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, led the whole host of redeemed souls out of Sheol and into glory all at once The inheritors, alongside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, finally possessed the Promised Land that they were looking for, and they found rest in the goodly “mansions” that were prepared of old
“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”
Matt. 25:34 (Isa. 64:4, 1 Cor. 2:9-10)
Matt. 25:34 (Isa. 64:4, 1 Cor. 2:9-10)
“For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
— 2 Pet. 1:11
Amazingly, the Kingdom of Heaven was “prepared” in the beginning, even though the earthly inheritors of it will not possess it in the flesh until the end Everything that was “prepared” of old is now “laid up” and “reserved” for the elect inheritors of the Kingdom in the End of Days Notwithstanding, according to the redeemed spirits of the dead are the happy citizens of heavenly Jerusalem right now! There is a curious twinkle in the eyes of those who gaze upward. Oh, to comprehend “the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” Remember, the “treasures” of Earth are corruptible, fading, fleeting, uncertain, and vulnerable Men should therefore turn their eyes to the riches of eternity; as Peter said, “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you”
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
— 1 Pet. 1:3-5
Did you hear? It’s all reserved in Heavenfor you! Literally, in eternity, at the beginning, in the creation of Heaven, and before the creation of Earth, the LORD constructed the supercity of heavenly Jerusalem to completion, with all of its glorious “mansions” for the elect and ever since then it has been “reserved in Heaven foryou” Why did God choose to create it all so early in the beginning? God is pleased to reveal to men and angels the divine powers of sovereignty, foreknowledge, and predestination For some perspective, consider the vantage point of the holy Angels in these heavenly events.
Can you imagine the curiosity of all the Angels as they observed millions of vacant mansions in the golden city of Jerusalem? Now see them gathering in an assembly before the Throne with great interest, as they desire to hear about what God is going to do next. Hear them wondering, “Who was all this built for?”, and “How is God going to fill the vacant mansions of the golden city in eternity?”. Now imagine the Angels gazing with wonder and expectancy upon the Great White Throne of the Son ofGod with the towering presence of a magnificent city in the background
As Christians, we too have a lot to learn about the government of heavenly Jerusalem. Curiously, Paul believed that the government of heavenly Jerusalem was responsible for the salvation of all the elect throughout all time! This is why the Apostle said, “Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Oh, Jerusalem! “Glorious things are spoken of thee, O City of God.” Evidently, a correct view of heavenlyJerusalemexplains the birthright of elect JewsandGentilesthroughout all time. Thenamesof every one of them are “written in Heaven”
“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels, To the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”
Heb. 12:22-24 (see Heb. 11:16, 13:14)
Heb. 12:22-24 (see Heb. 11:16, 13:14)
“His foundation is in the holy mountains. The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O City of God. Selah. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.”
— Psalm 87:1-7
The Kingdom of Heaven comes for the elect spiritually and physically in every generation. Remember, Jesus Christ boldly said, “My Kingdom is not of this world” Similarly, Christians are taught to pray, “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven.” The Kingdom of Heaven is advancing, and it will ultimately rule the world after it has harvested the souls of the elect throughout all generations The Angels are thoroughly absorbed into this purpose as noble officers of the Kingdom of Heaven. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” They plan an indispensable part in the grand scheme of things.
A Divine Preoccupation with Mankind in Eternity
The will, purpose, and pleasure of God was revealed in the form of decrees, ordinances, appointments, counsels, covenants, and promises being divinely spoken by the voice of omnipotence, and this greatly excited the Angels of Heaven to behold the forthcoming events of creation This is the language of foreknowledge, predestination, and determination. The voice of the Almighty could be heard calling out the names of those who were chosen in the election, and the names were then ceremoniously written in a book by an Angel with a heavenly pen and inkhorn ( Note: speaking of Angels with heavenly pens and inkhorns, an astounding correlation exists between the name written as theseal in the tribulation of Babylon and the names written in the Book of Life).
“The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.”
— Rev. 17:8
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works… And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
— Rev. 20:12, 15
“And thecity had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof…And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there…And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.”
— Rev. 21:23-27
The destiny of these people in time and eternity was predetermined based upon election, and the heavenly record of divineelection is the Book of Life. Remarkably, the names were already “written in the Book of Life” when the LORD acted to create the Earth in laying “the foundation of the world” This is an impressive demonstration of divine sovereignty! The power of divine sovereignty is put on display to men and angels in how predestination literally preceded everything in the physical universe. The Book of Life was written to completion before life on Earth was created.
Obviously, an omniscient God doesn’t need the Book of Life as a personal reminder. Hence, the record book wasn’t written for Him! Rather, the Book of Life was ceremoniously written for men and angels to comprehend this supreme event of eternity when the LORD foreknew, predestinated, and determined everything by election. Having a clear understanding of the rank and order of the assemblies of Angels in Heaven, we can better comprehend the procedures of the courtroom of Heaven when the decrees, ordinances, appointments, counsels, covenants, and promises of election were divinely declared.
Ordinances:
Will of God:
Promises:
Purposes:
Chosen:
Calling:
The glory of the Son of God seated on the Throne of Heaven was revealed to an assembly of holy Angels gathered at the center of a fully constructed heavenly Kingdom in eternity, “before the worldwas” and “before the foundation of the world” It is difficult to overstate the importance of this momentous occasion in eternity! Ordinances of salvation were decreed “before the foundation of the world” The will of God the Father for the Son of God was revealed in a “commandment” promises of love were made “before the world began” purposes of grace were given to the elect “before the world began”
All this happened when the chosen ones were foreknown and publicly elected in the Courtroom of Heaven“before the foundation of the world”“God hath from the beginningchosen[them] to salvation” Audibly, the voice of divine sovereignty called out the names of the elect for the record book, and hereby these souls were called unto the “eternal glory” of the “Kingdom” in Heaven The record book of divine sovereignty, the Book of Life, is a living testimony of predestination because the book was already completed “from the foundation of the world”
If God was so preoccupied with mankind in eternity, even before the world began, then the whole host of Angels in Heaven were absorbed into the same preoccupation. Shouts of joy were ringing out in eternity as the stary host heard and comprehended the plans of divine sovereignty! Clearly, the Angels didn’t know everything that God was going to do with mankind on Earth, but they knew enough to be stricken with longing to know more
These compelling revelations then led to the employment of the Angels as the ministers of the elect Their preoccupation with mankind is so intense that they take time to rejoice in Heaven at the repentance of every elect sinner on Earth No wonder. By virtue of hearing the decrees, ordinances, appointments, counsels, covenants, and promises of election being divinely declared, all the Angels in attendance on that fateful day of eternal glory acquired a bare minimum understanding of the proceeding scriptures.
The Son of God was Foreordained as a Sacrificial Lamb for an Atonement
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily wasforeordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”
1 Pet. 1:18-21 (Jn. 10:17-18, Acts 2:23, 4:28)
The Divine Promise to Give Mortal Man Eternal Life
“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie,promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;”
— Titus 1:1-3
Apparently, according to the Angels heard how the Son of God was “foreordained” as a sacrificial “Lamb” to accomplish an Atonement! It stands to reason that this ordination came with a public commandment in the courts of glory. Remember how the Son of God spoke of a “commandment” that He received of the Father? Remember how the Son of God was compelled to pray, “Thy will be done” Remarkably, according to this “commandment” is closely associated with the love that was being bestowed upon the Son by the Father
“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. Thiscommandmenthave I received of my Father.”
— John 10:17-18
It is a well-known fact that the Father speaks to the Son publicly before different audiences for the glorification of the Son of God Understandably, the Angels would have been shocked to hear about this plan for the second Person of the Godhead. Similarly, they would have been astonished to behold the love of the Father being showered upon the Son of God! As Jesus Christ said, “for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world” We can assume that this had something to do with the ordinances, commandments, and promises that were coming from the dread Sovereign of eternity.
The heavenly proclamation of these things would have been incomprehensible to the Angels without some degree of knowledge about the fate of mankind on Earth in the near future. Namely, how they would fall into sin and death, and that this would necessitate the incarnation and sacrifice of Jesus Christ as a Lamb However, even as the Angels came to understand something about the fall of mankind, in the same breath, the Angels came to know about God’s “promise” of “eternal life” to mortal man Amazingly, the Angels were witnesses to how this promise was audibly declared “before the world began”
Believe it or not, these ordinances and promises are enforced by the power of divine sovereignty. In real time, “thedeterminatecounselandforeknowledgeof God” conducted Jesus Christ to the Cross of Calvary This means that Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles, and the Jews cannot exclusively take responsibility for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. They all did their part, as it is written, “For to do whatsoever Thyhandand Thycounseldeterminedbefore to be done.” Can you believe it? Believers see the mighty work of divine sovereignty while acknowledging it as a mystery. Even this wisdom was “ordainedbefore the worldunto our glory” (1Co 2:7-8)
The Divine Purpose of Grace Given to the Elect
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his ownpurpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”
— 2 Tim. 1:9-10
Chosen for Salvation & Ultimately to Be with Christ in Glory
“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginningchosenyou to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto hecalled you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
— 2 Thess. 2:13-14
Chosen Ones Who Will be Holy & Blameless in Christ Before the Throne
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hathchosenus in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoptionof children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
— Eph. 1:3-6
A “promise” of “eternal life” to mankind would have been incomprehensible to the Angels without some knowledge of mortality, sin, and death. Similarly, a divine “purpose” of “grace” given to the elect “before the world began” would be meaningless without some knowledge of divine justice as it will be executed upon sinners for the satisfaction of eternal wrath Literally, grace is incomprehensible and nonexistent without accusations of justice demanding divine punishment! Hence, the Angels came to know that the “chosen” ones are elected for “salvation” to escape this punishment Their destiny, since “before the foundation of the world”, was to stand holy and blameless in Christ before the Throne of God in eternity
Divine Sovereignty Over the Heathen
The sovereignty of God rules over all! Nothing and no one is exempt. God “worketh all things after thecounselof His ownwill” Certainly, many things were spoken about in eternity. However, even more things were divinely planned and unspoken in the courtroom of Heaven. Scripture speaks of innumerable ordinances, appointments, determinations, and callings of divine sovereignty that pertain to heathen people worldwide.
“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed,and the bounds of their habitation;”
— Acts 17:24-26
Ordinances:
Appointments:
Determinations:
Callings:
The rulers of every nation worldwide were “ordained” by God The habitations, boundaries, and bloodlines of every race and nation were “appointed” and “determined” by God The lifetimes of sinners were “appointed” to everyone; literally, each person has been appointed a specific number of days that they will live upon the Earth All this and more was done for everyone who would ever live in every generation throughout all time The sovereignty of God over the heathen became especially clear when the LORD spoke to or about various heathen Kings.
Sennacherib King of Assyria
“Hast thou not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps.”
Isa. 37:26 (see Isa. 10:5-19)
Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon
“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I havepurposed it, I will also do it.”
Isa. 46:9-11 (see Jer. 27:1-13, Isa. 13:1-14:27)
Cyrus King of Medo-Persia
“Keep silence before me, Oislands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment. Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet. Who hath wrought and done it,callingthe generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the First, and with the Last; I am he.”
Isa. 41:1-4 (see Isa. 45:1-4)
God humbles these Kings by taking credit for thier actions and achievements. Divine sovereignty does not make void man’s responsibility, nevertheless, hearing God take responsibility for the mighty exploits of these heathen Kings is truly shocking. Meanwhile, in the same sentence, the LORD called the King of Assyria a hewing “axe”the King of Babylon a “bird” and the King of Medo-Persia a “shepherd” The King of Assyria is a tool in the toolbox of divine sovereignty. The King of Babylon is a pet in the cage of divine sovereignty. Being commission for a nobler task, the King of Medo-Persia is then referred to as a poor, base, and lonely sheep herder of the countryside. The divine point was coming through loud and clear. God, “the First”, is working and doing things in every generation after having decided upon the “calling” of everyone in each generation “from the beginning”
Divine Sovereignty in Callings and Elections
God wasn’t making things up in the process of time with each new up-and-coming generation. "Known unto God are all His worksfrom the beginning of the world." Through omniscience God can easily navigated through an infinite amount of information. Effortlessly, the LORD was fully decided upon the purposes of divine sovereignty "from the beginning of the world" This is especially relevant when it comes to the divine calling of the elect in every generation
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are thecalled according to his purpose. 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. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
Rom. 8:28-30 (Acts 15:18, Eph. 1:11)
Calling: See
Election:
Chosen:
Ordinances:
Appointments:
Foreknowledge:
Predestination:
The testimony of Scripture forces mortals to gaze upon the irresistible and unstoppable calling of divine sovereignty. Credit is given to divine sovereignty in the conversion of sinners to Christ through simply referring to them as “the called” These are “the Christians” in the New Testament It can also be said that these elect souls were sovereignly “called” through the “Gospel” The preaching of the Gospel came with power as it was accompanied with the Holy Ghost, and therefore these people were born again Hereby, Paul discerned the “election” of the Christians of Thessalonica The sealing of the Spirit is the token of election
“Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance;”
— 1 Thess. 1:4-5
“Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded”
— Rom. 11:5-7
“(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)”
— Rom. 9:11
All the results of soul winning can be traced back to divine sovereignty. When people get saved, “as many as wereordainedto eternal life believed.” “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” When people are unsaved, they “were before of oldordainedto this condemnation” These appointments are irresistible! They are for salvation and condemnation, or for obedience and disobedienceBlinded souls are unable to believe in theGospel, and persist in disobedience, because it is “whereunto also they wereappointed” “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” Let all mortal flesh be silent before the Potter of Eternity.
“Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, Oman, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the Potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrathfitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he hadafore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?”
— Rom. 9:19-24
The workmanship of the Potter in real time prevails upon the vessels. The hands of the Pottermold and form the clay. However, the sovereign purposes of the Potter were fixed and settled in eternity. Accordingly, some of the vessels were “fitted to destruction” Other vessels were “aforeprepared unto glory” The Potter of Eternity works on the wheel of divine sovereignty from age to age Speaking of this, Paul said, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” This humble vantage point of believers is an upward looking gaze to the sovereignty of God in eternity.
“Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.”
— Isa. 40:21-23
“Who hath wrought and done it,callingthe generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the First, and with the Last; I am he. The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.”— Isa. 41:4-5
“Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words. The First shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem One that bringeth good tidings.”— Isa. 41:26-27
“Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?”— Isa. 43:13
First of all, before the creation of everything else in the physical universe, the whole assembly of Heaven witnessed the majesty of divine sovereignty over all things. All of creation should stand in awe at divine sovereignty in eternity governing everything in time, even as the Angels of Heaven were made so to do. In eternity, at the beginning, at the creation of Heaven, and before the creation of the world, “the First” spoke the names of theelect of every generation. By interpretation, this means that in eternity, “from the beginning” at the creation of Heaven, “before the day was” the grand scheme of divine sovereignty was unveiled to the holy angels for the writing of the Book of Life. Subsequently, in time, many Prophets and Apostles arose and declared the matter in the ears of mankind, and Isaiah was chief among them.
God didn’t create mankind for the Earth. Mankind wasn’t an afterthought in the heart of God. Election motivated creation! God created the Earth for mankind. In Genesis, this can be observed in how the LORD subjected the Earth to mankind.
An eternity transpired before the beginning. An eternity! The stillness and silence of eternity was filled with God. The divine being of God inhabited eternity. Mortal men cannot fathom such greatness.
Are you a student of Theology? Do you admire the attributes of God in Christ? Suffice it to say, if indeed God can change his mind, then this ability within the Godhead should be incorporated
At first glance, Jeremiah 31:31-34 seems to settle the argument. It appears to plainly declare the fundamental difference between the Old Covenant & the New Covenant, namely that not everyone in Israel knew the LORD.
Salvation is by grace through faith apart from works, as stated in Ephesians 2:8-10. No true believer would disagree. No genuine recipient of saving grace would dare promote"works"as a means for justification before God.
I'm neither a Calvinist nor an Arminian. I am a Christian who Believes exactly what the Bible says. I believe that God is changeless, eternal, and irresistible, and I believe that God can change His mind
