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The Christian Perspective on the Old Testament

Unfortunately, too many Christians have allowed themselves to harbor extreme views with regard to the role which they permit the Old Testame...

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Part II of "God is not working on plan B"

The Scriptures clearly indicate that God’s plan was designed to be failsafe. Mankind was given the ability to accept or reject a definition of right and wrong based on Divine revelation. We have free will. Nevertheless, God knew that it would be possible for man to sin. As a consequence, He/She provided the means to redeem mankind if that happened. In the book of Revelation, we read that the Lamb (Christ) was “slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8) God’s plan was strong. It was not subject to happenstance or failure!
The Bible reveals that God created mankind in his own image and likeness and gave them dominion over this planet we call earth. (Genesis 1:26-28). The author of the letter to the Hebrews expanded on this theme. Quoting David, the author wrote: “But one in a certain place testified, saying, ‘What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet.' For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now (currently) we see not yet all things put under him.” (Hebrews 2:6-8) The author then goes on to explain that Christ had to take on the nature of humankind to triumph over death and make sure that they qualified to assume control over ALL THINGS. (Hebrews 2:9-15) The thought concludes, “For verily HE TOOK NOT ON HIM THE NATURE OF ANGELS; BUT HE TOOK ON HIM THE SEED OF ABRAHAM.” (Hebrews 2:16) Brethren, it should be abundantly clear to all of us by now that God gave this earth to humankind and offered US the potential to assume an even greater role throughout the universe!
Having set the record straight on that score, we are forced to reexamine the issue of precisely what caused the angels to sin, what that sin was and the consequences that it evoked. From the scriptural evidence available to us, we can agree with Mr. Armstrong on one point: angelic sin was intimately associated with their rejection of their God ordained purpose.
In beginning to untangle this theological mess, we need to look more closely at the scriptural evidence regarding the angelic host. If the angels were not given this earth or offered the physical universe to reign over, where was their original abode or home? In the twelfth chapter of Revelation, we read that there was a war in heaven between Michael’s angels and the Dragon’s angels. (Revelation 12:7) Moreover, we are told that the Dragon’s team was defeated and “NEITHER WAS THEIR PLACE FOUND ANY MORE IN HEAVEN.” (Revelation 12:8) John continued: “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: HE WAS CAST OUT INTO THE EARTH, AND HIS ANGELS WERE CAST OUT WITH HIM.” (Revelation 12:9) That seems pretty clear to me. The entire angelic host was originally headquartered in HEAVEN, and they lost their place there and ended up on the earth as a consequence of being defeated in an angelic war!

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