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PART ONE: A Scriptural Summary: (This is a rewrite of a series I did some years ago. The early part of this series was inspired, in part, by reading DeVerne Fromke's "The Ultimate Intention" and my own studies of phrases such as "before the world began," "before the foundation of the world," etc.) One of the main reasons for the Church going off into Dominionism is that many used a wrong starting point concerning what God wanted to accomplish. The "restored" prophets went back to the fall of man to find, "restore," and implement "God's plan". But they didn't consider that God's plan went back further than the fall. The Apostle Paul knew that, before God created anything, He established His purposes in Himself. We have to look back to before the fall to find the true plan of God. EPHESIANS 1:15-17: PAUL'S PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH 15: Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16: Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: In verse 17, Paul prayed for the spirit of revelation in the knowledge of God. Paul DID NOT pray for just any general revelation. He prayed for a SPECIFIC revelation, a revelation that would be saturated IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. To King Agrippa, Paul said, "I was not unfaithful to the heavenly vision." He prayed for us to have heavenly vision also. That's what we want to look at: Paul's revelation compared to those of the modern apostles and prophets. It would be through Paul that God would make this mystery known to the Church, fulfilling the word of God. His complete plan would now be made known, and in His time, God would bring it all to fulfillment: COLOSSIANS 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26: Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints. THE FALL AS A STARTING POINT OF GOD'S PLAN Part of the reason for the present-day apostasy in the church is that the modern-day prophets have looked back to the fall and man's need to be saved as their starting point concerning God's purposes. But initial salvation and then restoration are only a part of the whole of what God originally intended. If we only look back to the fall, our perspective is basically this: History appears to be mainly redemptive; man fell and only God can restore him. But God DID NOT create man just so he could fall and be redeemed. He had something more in mind. Paul's heavenly vision was much bigger than that of the modern day seers. We see salvation as being mainly man-centered. Salvation is absolutely necessary, but this man-centered view of God's purpose has led to other gospels, such as the Health And Wealth Gospel, God as our healer, God as our problem solver, God as worker of signs and wonders, or the One who makes us gods. We must realize that making salvation the center of God's overall purpose for man is primarily based on what God can do for us. Man fell, but at THAT point, what was God's standard as to what to do about it? God had said, "Don't eat of it." But we did, and then He promised a Redeemer, but WHAT would His redeemer accomplish? And for what purpose would He accomplish it? To save man? For what purpose? The thing we have to realize is this: God's eternal purpose WAS NOT established at the time of the fall, or because of the fall. THE COMMISSION TO ADAM AS A FALSE STARTING POINT Another primary source of new revelations delivered by the new prophets and apostles is the commission God gave Adam before the fall: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it" (Gen. 1:28). This has left many with the impression that God's purpose for man after the fall was to save him and fill him with His power in order to form an army, conquer the world system and set up the kingdom of God on earth. This "new revelation" is based on man having lost dominion in the fall. We're told that we must take back what is rightfully ours and use what we regain to "bring in the Kingdom". But this doesn't explain why God created us. And what would be God's purpose in man setting up a kingdom? It is because of a false understanding of God's purpose for man that these two points in history (the fall and immediately after the fall) became the basis for all the "new" revelations in today's church. PAUL LOOKED IN THE RIGHT PLACE AS HIS STARTING POINT Paul looked BEYOND the fall and God's commission to BEFORE creation. He always started with God Himself BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. Paul said he delivered the WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD to the Church. What did he mean by that? Where did he get that Counsel? At the time Paul lived, there were only the Old Testament scriptures. Here is what Paul wrote in Romans 16:25: "Now to him that is of power What Paul referred to as the Whole Counsel of God was what God had determined and purposed in Himself before He created anything. The foundation for what God would accomplish and how He would accomplish it was laid BEFORE He created Adam. Paul's gospel and preaching of Jesus Christ came out of THIS REVELATION from God of THE MYSTERY that He KEPT HID IN HIMSELF SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN. THE PLAN GOD HAD HID IN HIMSELF BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN In the following paragraphs, I will list all the verses I could find that use the phrase "before the world began" or "from the foundation of the world," etc. These verses tell us WHEN God purposed to do what He purposed to do, and the details of His works that were finished before the world began. They tell us what He commanded and considered as done that put any other purposes to nought. They tell us His purpose that would endure through all generations. All these verses refer to the revelation God gave to Paul so we would have a proper knowledge of Him. This is the revelation that caused Paul to say, "I was not unfaithful to the heavenly vision," and "I am in chains for the gospel," and "Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel." HEBREWS 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2: For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3: For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. From the foundation of the world, God's works - what He had determined - were finished. They were set before the world began, and the Scriptures tell us exactly what they were. The fall and Adam's commission DID NOT alter God's purpose because He had established His purpose in Himself BEFORE the Fall. People in the current "move of God" are not resting in the finished work of God. There is much sweat and pushing and pulling to unite everybody for the purpose of "bringing in the Kingdom." ROMANS 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began 26: But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. Since the world began, God had ordained and kept secret a mystery that would be manifested through the words of the prophets and which would establish men from ALL nations in God's purposes. This is the faith delivered unto the saints once and for all (Jude 1:3). REVELATION 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Before the foundation of the world, Christ was foreordained as the lamb through whom we would be redeemed. He was manifested for us, meaning, we would have the opportunity for eternal life. 1 JOHN. 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2: (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3: That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. That which was from the beginning: The lamb that was foreordained by the Father to be manifested as eternal life to us, and that we would be brought into a fellowship with God. EPHESIANS 1:4 before the foundation of the world . . . . 9: . . . he hath purposed in himself: 10: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. Before the foundation of the world, God purposed in Himself to gather together all things in Christ. Ephesians 1:22 says Christ is to be the head over all things. TITUS 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2: In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3: But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour. Before the world began, God promised that we would be given the opportunity to gain eternal life by faith. This is done through preaching, not by demonstrating unity. 2 THESSALONIANS 2:13 . . . God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. From the beginning, God determined to choose those who would believe in Christ to be saved by sanctification and belief in the truth, not by works. EPHESIANS 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Before the foundation of the world, God chose us in Christ to be holy and without blame before him in love. This is god's desire for every man, Jew or Gentile. It is foundational. Also before the foundation of the world, God ordained that we who believe in Christ should be adopted as His children. As I gathered all of these scriptures, one thing was very noticeable: there is no wrath in God's hidden mystery. God expected men to accept His salvation. Wrath is not a result of God's planning, but man's rejection of what He purposed. 2 TIMOTHY 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Before the world began, God planned to save us and then call us with a holy calling (Eph. 1:4) according to his own purpose and grace. EPHESIANS 3:8 . . . that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9: And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. From the beginning of the world, within this mystery hid in God, was a fellowship that God wanted to bring us into. 1 CORINTHIANS 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory 8: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Before the world began, God ordained a "hidden wisdom," which would one day be for our glory. In this verse, we see His wisdom in not telling anyone about the mystery He hid in Himself: the spirits not of God did not know that if they instigated a plan to get rid of Jesus, that would be their defeat, not their victory. All they had to do was leave Him alone while on the earth and victory would have been theirs. The blood would never had been shed, and salvation impossible: EPHESIANS 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) In Christ, the Jew and Gentile believers would be made one, contributing ultimately to the gathering of all things under Christ. As one body, they would inherit the kingdom of God at His coming: MATTHEW 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34: Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. From the foundation of the world, God purposed that through a belief in His gospel, we would INHERIT the kingdom ALREADY PREPARED from the foundation of the world. GOD WOULD WORK ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL EPHESIANS 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. God has clearly stated His will in Scripture. There are no new agendas or strategies or revelations. He said it before the world began and He will fulfill it at the end of time, but His will is known. AFTER CREATION, GOD WOULD ONLY WORK EPHESIANS 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: GOD WOULD CALL MEN ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE 2 TIMOTHY 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Good works not ordained of God are as filthy rags. Only God-ordained works contribute to His purposes. All that He would do would further His purpose and His grace. GOD WOULD BRING ABOUT WHAT HE PURPOSED LUKE 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. SUMMARY OF THE ABOVE SCRIPTURES Before the world began, God hid within Himself a mystery. This mystery contained His purpose for Christ and the part of humanity that would accept Christ, the Church. He would bring about all which He purposed in Himself, after the counsel of His own will, and according to His own good pleasure. This purpose would be extended to the Church by grace alone in a way that was consistent with His purpose. God would establish salvation for all men who would be brought into one body through Christ. This body of people would then share God's Good News while waiting for Christ to return to establish a visible Kingdom on earth, not try to establish it without His visible presence. He alone would bring it about in God's time, by Himself, at the time of His fiery return when all things will become visibly in subjection to Him. MISCELLANEOUS SCRIPTURE: Before The World Began MATTHEW 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
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