CHAPT 2 – God’s Concept for Man Emerges.

I pray that you will know, understand, and believe God’s concept and plans for each naturally conceived person’s life including their spirit originated in ETERNITY from BEFORE time began and continues on throughout ETERNITY.  I also believe that not only are His complete plans written in His Book of Life but are also literally etched in ETERNITY making them permanent and unchangeable.

I would like to share a few thoughts about ETERNITY which also like God has no beginning nor end. Most Christians think about ETERNITY as to where I am going after death but NOT where have I come from? Have you ever thought about God and what part ETERNITY has in God’s foreknown and predestined plans? I cannot find Scripture that states that ETERNITY is without beginning nor end although that is the dictionary’s definition. To maybe help us better understand the concept of ETERNITY, we could loosely equate it with our modern knowledge of “space” both of which has “the dimensions of height, depth, and width within which all things exist and move and are contained.”

The closest example of ETERNITY that I can find in the Bible is in the very beginning in Genesis 1:1-3. In verse one, God just started the creation of the heavens and marked the spot for the earth in the heavens. In verse two, we have the “darkness upon the face of the very great deep” which I believe to be an unfathnable, immense, extremely flexible much like a huge soap bubble, and a totally dark area with immeasurable never ending boundaries i.e. ETERNITY/ space that was penetrated by the light that God as He commanded in verse three. I believe there was three sources of light in the beginning of God’s creation – God the Son, the stars, and the angels. 

In Genesis 1:3, God said, “Let there be light and there was light.” AMP, and Jesus Christ was introduced as the Light of the World.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah).  [Gen 1:3.] AMP

John 9:5 {Jesus Christ speaking} As long as I am in the world {cosmos}, I am the world’s Light. AMP

Hebrews 1:3a He {God the Son} is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine]. AMP

I also believe that at about the SAME time in early history God created the stars with their light,

Genesis 1:15-16 And let the(re) be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light upon the earth. And it was so. 16 And God made the two great lights — the greater light (the sun {a star}) to rule the day and the lesser light (the moon) {a planet} to rule the night. He also made the stars. AMP

Isaiah 40:26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He {God the Son} who brings out the starry {shining twinkling lights} host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. NIV

And then He created the angels with their light into His creation which was/is part of ETERNITY. I can find no Scriptures that make a direct reference to “the angels being light” meaning that angels have/are light. I believe the “Angel of Light” to be God the Son/Jesus Christ.  But there are indirect references to angels having “light.” If Satan can masquerade as an angel of light, there must be angels of light!

2 Corinthians 11:14 And it is no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light; AMP

Acts 12:7 And suddenly an angel of the Lord {a good angel} appeared [standing beside him], and a light shone in the place where he was. And the angel gently smote Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, Get up quickly! And the chains fell off his hands. AMP

Have you ever wondered about God and what part ETERNITY has in God’s foreknown and predestined plans? What is the definition of ETERNITY – it simply means that it has no beginning nor ending of time nor history in and of itself, BUT with God indwelling ETERNITY, He gives it light and life!

Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the high and lofty One — He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, but with him {remorseful man} also who is of a thoroughly penitent and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the thoroughly penitent [bruised with sorrow for sin].  [Matt 5:3.] AMP

So, what happened in ETERNITY? Why do I think it is so important to know what God was doing in ETERNITY BEFORE time and history began? I am always amazed and excited by how many answers we can find in the Bible to our questions about God. Scripture shares with us that God FIRST loved us. When do you think God first loved and acknowledged His concept {thoughts and plans} for man – for YOU?

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. AMP

How about BEFORE time and history began?! Study and combine the next two verses to see the connection:

1 John 4:19 We love Him, because He first loved us {When?}. AMP

Ephesians 1:4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own {adopted children [John 1:14]}] in Christ before the foundation of the world {BEFORE time and creation began}, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach {God’s plans are for ALL naturally conceived peoples to be saved/redeemed [cf. Isaiah 57:15b above]}, before Him in love. AMP

How does the triune God work? I believe the following Scripture contains the order, structure, and purpose of the triune God. Why is it important to know how God functions and operates in His creation?

Romans 11:36 For from Him {God the Father’s thoughts and plans bring order to His creation} and through Him {God the Son’s creation gives creation its structure} and to Him {God the Holy Spirit makes the Father’s plans and the God the Son’s creation have purpose} are all things. [For all things {plans} originate with Him and come from Him {God the Father}; all things live through Him {because they were created by God the Son according to the Father’s plans}, and all things center in and tend to consummate {be accomplished/to have purpose} and to end in Him {using the Son’s creation according to the Father’s plans administered by God the Holy Spirit}. To Him {God} be glory forever! Amen (so be it). AMP

I believe each Person of the Godhead has a specific work in creation which helps us to know each One more PERSONALLY.  I have put them in the context of planning and creating the universe and making it work. I believe God the Father’s plans make Him the Architect of His creation for ALL of the universe and its inhabitants {the galaxies, the stars, the black holes, the planets, the angels, and the earth with all of its occupants and whatever else is in the universe}. God the Son as creator of the universe is the builder/general contractor for God the Father’s plans, and God the Holy Spirit is the overseer/administrator/proprietor of God the Father’s plans and God the Son’s creation bringing them to their foreknown and predestined fruition. I believe God the Holy Spirit had with Him at the beginning of creation God the Father’s plans that He wrote in His Book of Life to use in His work of making creation function.

Genesis 1:2 The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters {preparing to implement God the Father’s plans to God the Son’s creation as found in the Father’s complete Book of Life}. AMP

All Persons of the Trinity are eternal and equal and were together in the Third Heaven BEFORE time began!

John 1:1 IN THE beginning [before all time {and history began}] was the Word (Christ{/Son of Man}), and the Word was with God {the Father and God the Holy Spirit}, and the Word was God {the Son} Himself.  [Isa 9:6.] AMP

But, we must start in an era when there was no time nor history with the Father in the Third Heaven making His plans for His creation from BEFORE time began and anything was. I believe He had with Him His Kingdom in the Third Heaven, His throne, and His complete Book of Life containing His plans/concept for ALL parts of His creation. In His complete Book of Life, I believe God foreknew, predestined, and wrote all of the names of all naturally conceived man from before time began with the goal of the hope of eternal life for ALL humans.

Psalms 139:16 {King David speaking} Your eyes saw my unformed substance {God foreknew and predestined [had the concept of] EVERY naturally conceived human from BEFORE time began}, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them {before time began}. AMP

Ephesians 1:3-5 May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm! 4 Even as [in His love {1 John 4:19}] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach {this can ONLY happen when a sinner is “Born Again”}, before Him in love {receiving our redemption through our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior}. 5 For He foreordained us ({pre}destined us, {pre}planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ {cf. John 1:12-13}, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]  AMP

1 Timothy 2:3-4 For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior, 4 Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth. AMP

God the Father’s complete plans were written in His Book of Life from BEFORE time began. Please note they contain the Gospel Message of our HOPE through Jesus Christ as our personal Savior for us to have eternal life with God.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you {man and including ALL of His creation}, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. AMP

Titus 1:2 [Resting] in the hope of eternal life, [life] which the ever truthful God Who cannot deceive {lie} promised before the world or the ages of time began. AMP

Psalms 139:16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them. AMP

God the Son as creator for everything that was created.

John 1:3 All things were made and came into existence through Him {Jesus Christ}; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. AMP

Colossians 1:16 For it was in Him {God the Son} that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. AMP

Hebrews 1:2 [But] in the last of these days He {God the Father} has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order]. AMP

God the Holy Spirit as He was hovering over the beginning of creation was waiting to use the Father’s Book of Life to administer the Father’s plans to the Son’s creation.

Genesis 1:2 The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters {What did He have with Him to give Him direction and instructions?}. AMP

John 16:13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. AMP

Please understand that while God specifically targets man and his salvation and redemption with His Love, we MUST also remember that He greatly LOVES ALL other parts of His creation. Christ’s blood also makes possible an all new and revitalized creation again at Christ’s Second Coming.

John 3:16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world {Greek uses cosmos as generally speaking for all of creation} that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that {specifically speaking} whoever {any and all humans AND angels who} believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. AMP

Romans 8:18-23 [But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us! 19 For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship]. 20 For the creation (nature) was subjected to frailty (to futility, condemned to frustration {death and decay}), not because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him Who so subjected it — [yet] with the hope [Eccl 1:2.] 21 That nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 We know that the whole creation [of irrational creatures] has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now.  [Jer 12:4, 11.] 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who have and enjoy the firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come] groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption (our manifestation as God’s sons). AMP

Isaiah 65:17 For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth. And the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.  [Isa 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev 21:1.] AMP

2 Peter 3:13 But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide.  [Isa 65:17; 66:22.] AMP