PLEASE read and study our Bible study lesson before attempting to answer the questions. At the end of study we have included semi-difficult to difficult true or false, multiple answer questions, and/or write your own answer to the questions with the answers at end of the questions. Hopefully we will make questions so people have to think and use inductive reasoning to learn more about God!
This study is about, “The ERA BEFORE time and history began:”
Genesis 1:1-3 IN THE beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth. [Heb 11:3.] 2 The earth was without form and an empty waste, and {total} darkness was upon the face of the very great deep {We MUST understand and accept that this darkness upon the face of the very great deep PREEXISTED BEFORE Genesis Chapter 1!}. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light; and there was light {which exposed this great area of darkness to light. I wonder IF this could have been what we call space?}. AMP
This total darkness covered an immense area which was actually the total area/ space for creation in ALL of the universe. As the God of Light was coming onto the scene, His light penetrated the darkness so that He inhabited eternity. I ask you to think about this because the triune God also inhabits the true believer. Consider how small we are in relation to this huge area of eternity. Does this give you any idea how GINORMOUS God is to how small and personal He can be as He resides in us?
1 John 1:5 And this is the message [the message of promise] which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you: God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in any way]. AMP
John 8:12 Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world {cosmos/universe}. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life. AMP
Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the high and lofty One {the triune God} — He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, but with him 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
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you {inhabits you}, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, 20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body. AMP
John 14:23 Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching {You MUST OBEY His Teaching for the following to happen!}]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him {and the true believer will be indwelt by the Trinity – God the Holy Spirit now joined by God the Father and God the Son, We now have a “oneness” with God!}. AMP
Just what might be the age of this “era?” Scientists guesstimate the age of the universe to be some 13-14 billion years old. This era that I am revealing is from FOREVER/permanently eternal BEFORE time and history began! It is AGELESS, it is eternity, and continues on through the end of the age into the unending future!
2 Corinthians 4:18 Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting {eternal}. AMP
The Spiritual Trinity existed during this era along with the Son of Man – Jesus Christ as revealed in Lesson 1. The Trinity is real and is easily revealed:
John 1:1-2 IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God {the Father and God the Holy Spirit}, and the Word was God {the Son} Himself. [Isa 9:6.] 2 He {God the Son} was present originally with God {the Father and God the Holy Spirit}. AMP
Psalms 2:7 I will declare the decree of the Lord: He {the Father} said to Me, You are My Son; this day [I declare] I have begotten You. [Heb 1:5; 3:5,6; 2 Peter 1:17,18.] AMP
The Trinity as declared by Jesus in the Great Commission:
Matthew 28:17-20 And when they saw Him {Jesus Christ}, they fell down and worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be). AMP
Let’s study some of the components of this era. Who, what, and where was/is the Third Heaven?
Those who study astronomy share with us that there are two heavens in our universe – 1. The Atmospheric Heaven – The First Heaven – the blue colored sky, our atmosphere and 2. The Celestial Heaven – The Second Heaven – we call it space with all of its life, but the Bible adds a third dimension called the Third Heaven which the Bible calls the home of God. God has always resided and continues to reside in the third heaven. The third heaven also contains “paradise.”
2 Corinthians 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows — was caught up to the third heaven. AMP
Luke 23:43 And He {Jesus} answered him {the repentant thief}, Truly I tell you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise. AMP
I believe the Trinity has a particular order for their ministry/work throughout time and history. How do they work together?
Romans 11:36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things {all thoughts and plans} originate with Him and come from Him {God the Father as the architect/designer of creation}; all things live through Him {God the Son as the creator/builder of creation} and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him {God the Holy Spirit as the operator of creation making sure that it functions as the Father planned and as the Son created it so all things come to their proper end}.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it). AMP
1 Corinthians 8:6 Yet for us there is [only] one God, the Father, Who is the Source of all things {the architect/designer of creation} and for Whom we [have life], and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through and by Whom are all things {as the creator/builder of creation} and through and by Whom we [ourselves exist]. [Mal 2:10.] AMP
The prepositions “from, through, and to” are necessary to figure out how God does His work and are defined as:
1) From – the origin – from the thoughts and plans of the Father. To put this in terms we know – God the Father is the planner/the architect of His creation.
Jeremiah 29:11a For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord,…… AMP
2) Through – God the Son’s sole involvement as the creator of creation from the beginning to the end.
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
3) To – The Holy Spirit’s ministry to bring to completion the Father’s original plans and the Son’s creation to make them mesh smoothly throughout time and history to completion and fruition.
Isaiah 34:16 Seek out of the book of the Lord and read {the Bible}: not one of these [{Words} details of prophecy] shall fail, none shall want and lack her mate [in fulfillment]. For the mouth [of the Lord] has commanded, and His Spirit has gathered them. AMP
Psalms 104:30 When You send forth Your Spirit and give them breath, they are created, and You replenish the face of the ground. AMP
Psalms 139:7-8 Where could I go from Your Spirit? Or where could I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol (the place of the dead), behold, You are there. [Rom 11:33.] AMP
I firmly believe God has “books” which contains ALL OF HIS THOUGHTS AND PLANS FOR ALL PARTS OF HIS CREATION although there are NO specific Scriptures that really support my belief!!! The Bible shares with us that God has “books” that contain His judgement for the dead which I would believe has to contain man’s interaction with His creation, BUT by using the “sound mind of Christ” we can figure out some of these mysteries!
Revelation 20:12 I [also] saw the dead, great and small; they stood before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is [the Book] of Life. And the dead were judged (sentenced) by what they had done [their whole way of feeling and acting, their aims and endeavors] in accordance with what was recorded in the books. AMP
Isaiah 55:8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. AMP
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
Titus 1:2 [Resting] in the hope of eternal life, [life] which the ever truthful God Who cannot deceive promised before the world or the ages of time began. AMP
Micah 4:12 But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither do they understand His plan, for He shall gather them as the sheaves to the threshing floor. AMP
Romans 11:33-34 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)! And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord and who has understood His thoughts, or who has [ever] been His counselor? [Isa 40:13, 14.] AMP
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. [Isa 40:13.] AMP
I believe The Lamb’s Book of Life is different from the Father’s Book of Life in that it contains ONLY the names of the truly redeemed:
Revelation 21:27 But nothing that defiles or profanes or is unwashed shall ever enter it {city of New Jerusalem}, nor anyone who commits abominations (unclean, detestable, morally repugnant things) or practices falsehood, but only those whose names are recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life. AMP
I believe there are two permanent thrones in the Third Heaven – one for the Father and the other for His Son. There may have been another throne in heaven that belonged to Satan but was removed when he sinned and was thrown out of heaven. My question, “Did Satan have a real throne or was it a figment of his rant/ imagination in his sin as wanting to be God?
Isaiah 14:13 And you {Satan} said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit upon the mount of assembly in the uttermost north {Satan said 5 “I will’s” in this text.}. AMP
Luke 10:18 And He {Jesus} said to them, I saw Satan falling like a lightning [flash] from heaven. AMP
There are numerous thoughts as to why there are only two thrones in the third heaven with many only recognizing God the Father and God the Son, but I think they are missing God the Holy Spirit and the absence of a Throne for Him because He has NO need for one – He is busy bringing to fruition the works of God’s creation and as Spirit is EVERYWHERE at once and does not need a Throne
Revelation 3:21 He who overcomes (is victorious), I {Jesus Christ} will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne. AMP
I believe the city of the New Jerusalem is almost completed and has been stored in the Third Heaven through time and history. This is interesting as we have studied that God the Son/Son of Man/the Word originally SPOKE all things into being and now we have the completed city of the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven at the end of the age that Jesus worked on:
Revelation 21:2 And I {John} saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, all arrayed like a bride beautified and adorned for her husband; AMP
Is there something yet to be revealed about just completed things that Jesus has been working on through time and history?
John 14:1-3 DO NOT let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. 2 In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 And when (if) I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. AMP
In this era BEFORE time and history began, we have found that this is when God wrote down in His Book of Life and other books all of His foreknown and predestined plans. How does His plans made 13-14 billion years ago come to fruition during all time and history? This brings me to the subject of “predestination” which many Christians have a difficult time in accepting, but I believe that when it is thought as God ordained, it is really quite simple.
In this era BEFORE time and history began, we have God the Father with all of His thoughts and plans – concepts – writing them in His books including His Book of Life. On our part, these mind boggling thoughts happening over billions of years ago are hard enough to fathom let alone throw in something called “predestination” i.e. how do they come to fruition throughout time and history, and all of the misconception that has evolved about it over the centuries.
The Biblical Dictionary definition of predestination is the doctrine that, “God foreordained and preplanned everything that would happen in His creation.” This is what I believe! Some definitions include, “If you believe in predestination, you believe that people have no control over events because everything has already been decided by a power such as God.” The problem with this definition is that God created man with an intellect, emotions, a free will, and a spirit which to me means that each person has the ability to choose his or her own path for their life. This is truly happening TODAY with a huge majority of the peoples around the world are truly inhibited in their knowledge, understanding, and belief in the only truly true living God! There is a Scripture that I want you to think about in regards to God’s foreknown journey with each sinner’s faith walk. What I do not know is how far His Grace over rides unrestrained sin i.e. a person calls on the Name of Christ as their Savior but like the three persons in the parable of the seed and the sower they do not get grounded in their new faith, they do not grow in their faith because of the cares for the world, or they do NOT produce fruit – new converts. The following Scripture from the Book of Romans makes this quite clear!:
Romans 1:18-32 For God’s [holy] wrath and indignation are revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative. 19 For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness, because God [Himself] has shown it to them. 20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], [Ps 19:1-4.]
21 Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves]. 23 And by them the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God were exchanged for and represented by images, resembling mortal man and birds and beasts and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their [own] hearts to sexual impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves [abandoning them to the degrading power of sin] {Is this why we are having the worldwide pandemic of Covid19?}, 25 Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever! Amen (so be it). [Jer 2:11.]
26 For this reason God gave them over and abandoned them to vile affections and degrading passions {homosexuality}. For their women exchanged their natural function for an unnatural and abnormal one, 27 And the men also turned from natural relations with women and were set ablaze (burning out, consumed) with lust for one another — men committing shameful acts with men and suffering in their own bodies and personalities the inevitable consequences and penalty of their wrong-doing and going astray {homosexuality}, which was [their] fitting retribution {Aids/HIV}.
28 And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or approve of Him or consider Him worth the knowing, God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent but loathsome, 29 Until they were filled (permeated and saturated) with every kind of unrighteousness, iniquity, grasping and covetous greed, and malice. [They were] full of envy and jealousy, murder, strife, deceit and treachery, ill will and cruel ways. [They were] secret backbiters and gossipers, 30 Slanderers, hateful to and hating God, full of insolence, arrogance, [and] boasting; inventors of new forms of evil, disobedient and undutiful to parents. 31 [They were] without understanding, conscienceless and faithless, heartless and loveless [and] merciless. 32 Though they are fully aware of God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them themselves but approve and applaud others who practice them. AMP
Simply put, I believe predestination literally means that God is able through His Sovereignty and Providence to bring all of His written plans that He foreordained during this era before time and history began {guesstimated at 13-14 billions of years ago} to fruition throughout time and history as preplanned and on schedule up through “TODAY” and on into the end of the age and on into the future. I believe this also means that God certainly has the Sovereignty and Providence to know who is redeemed and who is not, but He is limited by man’s “free will!”
I also believe that God foreknew everything that would take place in time and history in His creation. This includes sin and the need for His Savior, Jesus Christ.
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
Titus 1:2 [Resting] in the hope of eternal life, [life] which the ever truthful God Who cannot deceive promised before the world or the ages of time began. AMP
Almost all young Christians are correctly taught:
John 3:16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world {the cosmos/universe} that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. AMP
But what we are not taught is:
John 3:18 He who believes in Him {Jesus Christ} [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation — he incurs no damnation {Romans 8:1}]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence {Is this predestination? I believe NOT but rather it is by God’s Sovereignty and Providence that He can righteously do this.}] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.] AMP
The above text from Jeremiah 29 and Titus 1 plus numerous other Scriptures indicate God’s predestined love for man.
Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the high and lofty One {the triune God} — He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, but with him {a repentant sinner} 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 {to give new life} [bruised with sorrow for sin]. [Matt 5:3.] AMP
Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool {they shall be cleansed}. AMP
In closing this study, I firmly believe that if Christians were taught more about God, Who He is, and what and how He does it, it would take hold in the minds, hearts, and lives of True Believers to help us get back and keep on track with God!
AMEN AND AMEN!
Our next Bible Study will be on God’s foreknown knowledge and predestined plans for His creation of mankind both male and female in His spiritual image and physical likeness. I am going to ask you to insert yourself in the place of King David as he speaks to God so that you make the following claims for yourself, “Your eyes saw my unformed substance {Your concept of me put your name _________ }, 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” and watch and learn what happens as we trace your name and life from BEFORE creation, time, and history began through TODAY and into the future.
God’s Foreknown Knowledge Part 3
