Hey all,
I introduse this thread to consider what God is doing in the larger picture. Why did not the Kingdom of God which He created just continue eternally and everywhere? Why this little "outpost of rebellion" that we call "Earth?"
To me, the KoG began eons ago and is, so far as we are aware, been divided into 2 grand programs: 1) one for angels and 2) one for mankind.
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth..." began the program for what we now call angels or demons. We have circumstantial (?) evidence that creation occurred more than 7000 years ago and parallel biblical evidence of a unity of created beings for some period of time which also fell as became the case in the physical realm we live in now.
"...and the earth was without form and void" is the inauguration of the program for mankind. It is running in parallel with the program for the angels proving to them the wisdom and grace of God, 1Cor 2.
Both programs end in when the KoG once again reaigns over all the universes including that miniscule little place that angels and men following Satan think belongs to them -- Earth. And for a while, this must be the case in order to bring those who love God into the perfect kingdom.
skypair
"Programs" within the Kingdom of God
Discussion in 'Other Christian Denominations' started by skypair, Sep 30, 2007.
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You are right -
1. God creates the universe
2. God creates heaven, Angels etc.
3. Lucifer rebells and takes 1/3 of the angels with him
4. God creates this world, sun, moon, all life on this planet in six literal days. Adds a memorial day.
5. Adam and Eve in perfect unity and harmony with God.
6. Adam and Eve choose rebellion after beng tempted by Satan. God demonstrates His Gospel solution
God permits a system of rebellion to exist on earth for about 6,000 years and then ends it all with the 2nd Coming.
The saints are resurrected-raptured and taken to heaven. The wicked are destroyed.
The earth is left desolate for 1000 years.
7. The New Jerusalem comes down from heaven - the wicked of all ages are resurrected and tossed alive into the lake of fire. Sin and sinners eventually end.
8. God once again has one single harmoneous universe where all is joy and harmony.
So the question is WHY does God allow that 6000 year span of rebellion?
Answer -- a Free will universe where eternal security is based on choice and empirical data.
The experiment in Job 1 and 2 illustrates that point.
in Christ,
Bob -
skypair