'...and there is nothing new under the sun.'

     The wisest man on earth during his time wrote the title line in the book of Ecclesiastes.

     “That which has been is what will be... and there is nothing new under the sun.”  Ecclesiastes 1:9

     Numerous times the Bible reveals pre-determined truth that was declared before the foundation of the world, or before time began.  Therefore, there is nothing new.

     The Hebrew word for ‘reveal’ in the Old Testament has several synonyms including ‘disclose’ and ‘uncover.’

     The Greek meaning for ‘reveal’ in the New Testament similarly means to remove the veil of that which was previously hidden.  Again, the content of any revelation was pre-written, but kept hidden until the exact pre-determined time set by God before the creation of man. 

     Let’s examine several truths about God’s progressive revelation of Himself relating to the preparation of His highest creation for eternal life.

     Shortly after redeeming His chosen people from Egyptian bondage God began to reveal His required standard of conduct.

     “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”  Deuteronomy 29:29

     This passage explains what God would reveal to man; in this case His law or standard of righteousness is to be observed forever.  It is also stated that God’s ways and thoughts are not the same as for those created in His image, and He reveals only that which is necessary for man to fulfill His plan and purpose.

     Very early in man’s odyssey he failed to live up to God’s required standard.  Such disobedience required an act of deity to reinstate man in God’s purpose.

     The remedy for fallen man required a Savior who could satisfy God’s standard.

     Such a Savior (Substitute) was revealed numerous times, generations before His appearance.

     “Thus says the LORD: ‘Keep justice, and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come, and My righteousness to be revealed.’”

Isaiah 56:1

     God told the Israelites to maintain the effort to obey His law; however, knowing man’s impotence He announced the future arrival of the Savior.  Notice that salvation for man was to be revealed.  The Savior had been pre-ordained before the foundation of the world but wasn’t revealed until the exact pre-determined time.

     And so it was.

     “…when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law…” Galatians 4:4

     Several significant points: the Savior would be born under the law which would enable those under the law to be freed from the law’s condemnation.  The Greek word for ‘fullness’ is also significant with synonyms including ‘complete,’ ‘accomplishment,’ and ‘end.’  The fact that God’s Son would be ‘born of a woman’ fulfills the declaration made in the garden that the ‘Seed’ of the woman would destroy the devil.

     Matthew recorded Jesus thanking His Father for the revelations concerning Himself which would manifest truth to believers but remain hidden to the worldly wise.

     “…I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.”

Matthew 11:25

     Paul confirmed that the righteousness of God had been revealed in Christ.  Note again ‘revealed.’  Recall revealed means unveiling truth that was kept a mystery from the beginning.

     “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…For in it the righteousness of God is revealed.”  Romans 1:16-17

     And Christ was foreordained to be the Passover Lamb from the foundation of the world.  The following verse describes those who have not been written in the Book of Life.

     “All who dwell on the earth will worship him (anti-Christ), whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”  Revelation 13:8

    

     This column has focused on the dual issues of Solomon’s words in the title and confirmed by progressive revelations of God’s truth thru the ages prepared before time began.

     More next week.

    

  

   

Universal Resurrection

     After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they were banished from the garden.  Their banishment included the curse that their lives would end, and they would return to the dust of the earth.  The beautiful garden was off limits, which also meant they had lost access to the Tree of Life.

     What a sad day for mankind; it seemed as if all hope was lost.

     But as time passed, God began to reveal His immutable redemptive plan for mankind which He had devised from the foundation of the world.

     Recall that God had revealed part of His majesty to Abraham as He tested his faith by instructing him to offer his only son Isaac as a burnt offering.  Abraham didn’t hesitate or question God’s instructions.  He was totally confident that both he and his son would return thereafter.

     Approximately 600 years later when God began to reveal His law to Moses and the Israelites, He detailed seven feasts, or celebrations.  The third such feast was called the “Feast of Firstfruits.”

     “When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest…and you shall offer on that day…a male lamb of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering to the LORD.”  Leviticus 23:10, 12

     The offering of the firstfruits represented a promise of the whole harvest to God at the time of the entire harvest.  ‘Firstfruits’ does in fact mean ‘first’ and ‘beginning.’

     Paul, in his first letter to the Church at Corinth, confirmed the resurrection of Christ.  He also confirmed that universal death came upon all men because of Adam. 

     “For in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” 

1 Corinthians 15:22

     Death is a universal fact, but when Paul stated ‘in Christ all shall be made alive, ‘all’ refers to those who were in Christ.  However, we’ll see shortly that resurrection is universal; except the destination of the resurrected is not universal.

     The doctrine of resurrection was confirmed by others in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.

     David believed in the resurrection, as did Daniel.  Daniel also realized there were two destinations for the resurrected.

     “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.”  Daniel 12:2

     In the present context, the Hebrew word for ‘many’ means ‘all.’

     Jesus confirmed the significant truth that universal resurrection is a fact.

     “…for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

John 5:28-29

     ‘Done good’ means having committed to the gospel message, while ‘those who have done evil’ refers to those who rejected the gospel message.

     As Paul was defending the gospel message in Rome he stated:

     “I have hope in God…that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.”  Acts 24:15

     Many others in the Old Testament spoke of the resurrection of the dead which was confirmed by New Testament writers.

     “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death.  O Death, I will be your plagues!  O Grave, I will be your destruction!”  Hosea 13:14

     Hosea was speaking of God’s grace towards repentant Israel in the latter days.

     Both Peter and Paul quoted the above verses.

     Therefore, the resurrection of God’s people is glorious, but the resurrection of the rejecters is eternal suffering.  They are both beyond comprehension by the finite mind.

     John describes the eternal future of those resurrected who have rejected Christ and His grace. 

     “…he...shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God…he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone …and the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever…”

Revelation 14:9-11

     Such words as these should cause Christians to humble themselves and fervently reach out to all with the message of Christ’s redemptive grace.

     Resurrection destination is the most important decision in life.