Future History 101 Part 2: The Foundation

Future History 101 Part 2: The Foundation PRESUPPOSITION 1 + Jesus Christ will return to setup his eternal kingdom on the earth, and He will judge both the living and the dead. PRESUPPOSITION 2 + This has not happened yet. ETERNITY + Eternity is tenseless in regard to time It is improper to say there is an eternity past. Eternity is infinite and is therefore, tenseless. Eternity Past is an illogical fallacy. Eternity can never be lost, lessened, added to, or past. When we say God is eternal, we are saying that God is tenseless. God cannot be confined to a past, present, or future. God simply is. God the Father is Tenseless: God replied to Moses, I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you. -Exodus 3:14 HCSB God the Son is Tenseless: Jesus said to them, I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am. -John 8:58 HCSB + Only an eternal being could bring about the beginning of time The fact that the universe had a beginning, forces us to ask, Why does it have one? No question is more sublime than why there is a Universe: why is there anything rather than nothing. Derek Parfit, Why Anything? Why This? Whatever begins to exist has a cause. The universe began to exist. The universe has a cause. William L. Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview p. 468

CREATION In order to create/begin time, one cannot be bound by time. No natural cause could begin time, the beginning of time necessitates a supernatural cause. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Revelation 22:13 HCSB + The Trinity is eternally in perfect fellowship. God the Father is the planner of salvation Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. Ephesians 1:3-4 HCSB (emphasis added) God the Son is the accomplisher of salvation The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the One I told you about: After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because He existed before me. -John 1:29-30 HCSB (emphasis added) God the Holy Spirit is the applier of salvation Now it is God who strengthens us, with you, in Christ and has anointed us. He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment in our hearts. -2 Corinthians 1:21-22 HCSB (emphasis added) There is one God. There are three different persons who are one God. + Jesus, to the Glory of God the Father, spoke all things into existence 6 The heavens were made by the word of the LORD, and all the stars, by the breath of His mouth. 9 For He spoke, and it came into being; He commanded, and it came into existence. -Psalm 33:6, 9 HCSB In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. -John 1:1-3 HCSB Jesus is the Word of creation. From the beginning, God spoke, and He is still speaking. Future History 101 Powell 2

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together. -Colossians 1:15-17 HCSB + Time began Time had a beginning. Because God speaks from both before and within time, He is both inside and outside of time. Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity. -Micah 5:2 HCSB + The introduction of the Biblical Worldview In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. -Genesis 1:1 HCSB Biblical Worldview: God created Heavens and Earth. The material and spiritual worlds were both created good by a good God. Heavens = Spiritual world or invisible world God created the Heavens good. For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things have been created through Him and for Him. -Colossians 1:16 HCSB The heavens were created first, followed by the earth. The spiritual beings of heaven (angels) were created before the physical creation of the earth. On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? -Job 38:6-7 NIV Angels are created beings. Angels are not eternal, but they are immortal. 2 Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts. 5 Let them praise the name of Yahweh, for He commanded, and they were created. -Psalm 148:2, 5 HCSB (emphasis added) The spiritual world and spiritual beings are immaterial (not made up of physical matter) Future History 101 Powell 3

See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. -Luke 24:39 NASB (emphasis added) Earth = Material world or visible world God created the earth good. The material world is contingent (upon God the creator) In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him. The Son is the radiance of God s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. -Hebrews 1:2-3a HCSB (emphasis added) The material world is limited (within an infinite God) For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring. -Acts 17:28 HCSB (emphasis added) The material world is temporary (it is passing away) Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. -Matthew 24:35 HCSB But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. -2 Peter 3:10 HCSB God created both the heavens (spiritual) and the earth (material) good, and He will one day restore both to perfection and merge both realities by His presence. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. -Revelation 21:1-3 HCSB (emphasis added) Future History 101 Powell 4

MAN WAS IN PERFECT FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD + Adam and Eve were created in the image of God Of all creation, God did something special in man. God made man both a material and spiritual being. Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. -Genesis 2:7 HCSB (emphasis added) God created man to exercise dominion over creation, and to spread His image throughout the earth. God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth. -Genesis 1:28 HCSB + Eden was a literal, material, and physical place The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there He placed the man He had formed. -Genesis 2:8 HCSB Eden was a place on the earth where man a woman dwelt with God. Adam walked and talked with God in Eden. If we misunderstand the literalness of Eden, we will misunderstand the literalness of Christ s future kingdom reign on the earth. EVIL WAS INTRODUCED TO CREATION BY WAY OF THE DEVIL + Sin entered the spiritual world through the decision of the Devil Satan fell from heaven He said to them, I watched Satan fall from heaven like a lightning flash. -Luke 10:18 HCSB Shining morning star, how you have fallen from the heavens! You destroyer of nations, you have been cut down to the ground. -Isaiah 14:12 HCSB Even before the disobedience of Adam and Eve, sin was present in the angelic world with the fall of Satan and demons. -Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology p. 493 Future History 101 Powell 5

+ In Eden, Satan was already at war with God Satan was in the Garden because he had been cast out of heaven You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every kind of precious stone covered you: carnelian, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and emerald. Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold; they were prepared on the day you were created. You were an anointed guardian cherub, for I had appointed you. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the fiery stones. From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways until wickedness was found in you. Through the abundance of your trade, you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I expelled you in disgrace from the mountain of God, and banished you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud because of your beauty; For the sake of your splendor you corrupted your wisdom. So I threw you down to the earth; I made you a spectacle before kings. -Ezekiel 28:13-17 HCSB Knowing full well, that there was no way he could dethrone God in heaven, Satan sought to dethrone man (God s ordained ruler) on the earth. Thus, the serpent spoke to Eve. Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, Did God really say, You can t eat from any tree in the garden? -Genesis 3:1 HCSB SIN ENTERED THE HUMAN RACE BY THE DECISION OF A MAN + God is not the author of evil God can neither tempt with nor be tempted by evil. The Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are entirely just. A faithful God, without prejudice, He is righteous and true. -Deuteronomy 32:4 HCSB Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly. -Job 34:10 HCSB No one undergoing a trial should say, I am being tempted by God. For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn t tempt anyone. -James 1:13 HCSB + God created Adam and Eve with a will Adam and Eve, having no sinful nature, were tempted and chose to disobey God. Future History 101 Powell 6

EDEN WAS LOST And the LORD God commanded the man, You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die. -Genesis 2:16-17 HCSB (emphasis added) God did not force man s decision, but He was sovereign over man s decision. + The fellowship was broken Upon sinning, Adam and Eve felt the shame and guilt for the first time. Their sin caused them to try to hide themselves from God. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. -Genesis 3:7 HCSB + Death began its reign of terror For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. -1 Corinthians 15:21 HCSB (emphasis added) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned. -Romans 5:12 HCSB + Mankind was cursed by a just God God is just and must punish sin. Won t the Judge of all the earth do what is just? -Genesis 18:25b HCSB He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children in anguish. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you. And He said to Adam, Because you listened to your wife s voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, Do not eat from it : The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust. -Genesis 3:16-19 HCSB (emphasis added) Future History 101 Powell 7

+ All material creation was placed under a curse A WAR WAS DECLARED The world as we see it was drastically different before the Fall of man. All creation was subjected to the curse of sin and death. For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in the hope. -Romans 8:19-20 HCSB + From Eden, the spirit of Anti -Christ sought to destroy the work of God ANTI = NOT CHRIST = Messiah (God s Anointed One) The Not -Christ sought to ruin the will of the Father. The Christ sought to fulfill the will of the Father. Then the LORD God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. -Genesis 3:14-15 HCSB (emphasis added) A PROMISE OF RESTORATION WAS GIVEN + God promised the destruction of Satan s Antichrist kingdom The seed of the devil (the antichrist) who is the manifestation of Satan s kingdom will be crushed by the seed of the woman (Jesus Messiah.) The head of the antichrist kingdom (Satan) will be judged and damned by Jesus Christ. The Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. -Revelation 20:10 HCSB + A Redeemer was promised Adam, the first man, had lost his crown of dominion, but God promises He will send a redeemer and restore man to his throne of dominion on the earth. Future History 101 Powell 8

I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. Genesis 3:15 HCSB Genesis 3:15 is called the protoevangelium Protoevangelium = First Gospel + Mankind was cursed, but Satan was doomed Those who see you will stare at you; they will look closely at you: Is this the man who caused the earth to tremble, who shook the kingdoms? -Isaiah 14:16 HCSB THE RETURN TO EDEN BEGAN + God the Father prepared the world for the revelation of the Messiah The Old Testament is not primarily the story of the building of the Hebrew nation. The Old Testament is the story of God preserving His seed for the revelation of the Messiah. In the fullness of time (see part 4) When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. -Galatians 4:4-5 HCSB + The countdown clock for the setting up of the Messiah s Kingdom began to tick On a day and an hour known only to God the Father. Jesus the Messiah from heaven is going to tear open the Eastern sky and set up His everlasting Kingdom on the earth. In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, and this kingdom will not be left to another people. It will crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself endure forever. -Daniel 2:44 HCSB Future History 101 Powell 9