The End Times, Bible Prophecy And Last Days: What Is Eternity Past?

As I study to prepare lessons on Matthew chapter twenty four, I was quickly reminded that eschatology (The theology of last things) is complex.

I hope that this lesson will be a complementary addition to our studies in Matthew 24.

I want to give you a simple, but accurate overview of the end times so that we can keep this in our minds as we study Jesus' teaching.

When did the end times start?

They began in eternity past. The phrase "eternity past" refers to the Godhead in eternity, before creation.

The opening words of scripture are "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

Before this beginning was eternity and the God who dwells in eternity (See Isaiah 57:15).

This beginning marked the creation of a space, time and matter continuum that we live in and are very familiar with.

God still dwells in eternity, not bound by space, time or matter.

Yet, throughout Bible history, God appeared to men starting with Adam and Eve, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Paul and many more.

He spoke with Moses as a friend, face to face (See Exodus 33:11).

Abraham was called the friend of God (See James 2:23).

This same God stepped into creation, time, space and matter in the person of Jesus Christ, when Jesus was born in the form of a man (See Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; Luke 2:1-38; Philippians 2:5-11).

This is why scripture declares that "God was manifest in the flesh" (See 1 Timothy 3:16).

This is why Jesus was named "Emmanuel" which means "God with us."

There are many possible answers to when the end times began, but I think that the most accurate one is that they started when God formally set His plan of redemption in place, before He created anything!

Once God decrees that something will happen, it will come to pass exactly as He said.

Christ was foreordained to be God's perfect Lamb before anything was created.

1 Peter 1:18-20  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 

The Father planned for mankind's salvation before He created the universe, before He created man and before sin entered into the world.

How can God do such a thing? Because He is God!

He is omniscient and can see the beginning and end of all things related to creation and man.

He knew before He created that Adam and Eve would fail to obey Him and that they would be tempted by the serpent.

He knew that sin would enter the world and death would come to all people in every generation. 

Thus, it was determined by the counsel of the eternal Godhead that the Son of God would be born with a human body, live a perfect life and die in our place on the cross (See Hebrews 10:1-18; Revelation 13:8).

This is why Jesus was born to die for the sins of all humanity for all time. 

His vicarious life, sufferings, death, resurrection and ascension were preordained by the Father in eternity past.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

This is why there is salvation in no other name except the name of Jesus Christ (See Acts 4:12).

This is why Jesus said "no man cometh to the Father but by me."

This is why Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life" (See John 14:6).

Ephesians 1:3-6  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 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, 6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 

The apostle Paul had much to teach us about God's plan of redemption being established and set in motion before He created anything.

This also teaches us about the vast love of God to save sinners like you and me.

Knowing that sin would enter the world and knowing that it would cost Him the sacrifice of His only begotten, beloved Son, the Father still created all things.

How can a believer, or saint or child of God be chosen for salvation, and predestined to it before the world was even made?

Acts 15:18  Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Because God knows the beginning and end of all His works from before He created anything.

Because God knows the soul of each individual who was ever born, or is presently alive or who will ever be born.

Right away, we are buried under the immensity of God's perfect omniscience and foreknowledge.

Simply put, God knows the entire arc of human history and of each person ever born, before it happens.

His foreknowledge means that God knew my own life, my upbringing, my sin and rebellion against Him.

He knew that in March, 1981 I would actually listen to gospel preaching and that I would call upon the name of the Lord to save me.

Therefore, knowing this about me long before I was ever born, God chose me to be in Christ, based upon my faith response to the gospel of Christ.

Some wrongly teach that predestination and election mean that God chooses some people to be saved while others He condemns to Hell.

Such wrong views bring God down to a level of false pagan "gods" who were capricious, mercurial and unstable in when dealing with humanity.

Remember the testimony of scripture: "God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (1 Peter 3:9).

Remember that the heart of God is to "have all men to be saved and the come to the knowledge of the truth" (See 1 Timothy 2:4).

2 Timothy 1:8-10  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 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, 10  But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Paul wrote his very last letter to young pastor Timothy to give him final encouragement to carry on the ministry when Paul was executed by Rome.

Our salvation and our calling to live a holy life for God's glory was established by God for each believer before the world began, before anything was created.

It was anchored upon the fact that Jesus was the virgin born Son of God, who lived a perfect and blameless life and satisfied God's holy law.

Jesus then voluntarily suffered in our place, dying for our sins and was raised from the dead to prove that He accomplished eternal redemption for all who repent and believe on Christ.

Summary of eternity past.

God's plan of redemption existed before Creation, based upon His omniscience and foreknowledge (See Ephesians 1:4; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2).

Jesus Christ was foreordained before Creation to be God's perfect Lamb who would die and pay for the sins of the whole world, all humanity for all time (See 1 Peter 1:20; Ephesians 3:11).

Salvation is through repentant faith in Jesus Christ alone and the gift of eternal life was promised to all who believe before anything was created. 

Psalm 33:8-12  Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9  For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. 10  The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 11  The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 12  Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. 

When God speaks, His Word is swiftly carried out.

He spoke all the universe into existence and He governs it with the word of His power (See Hebrews 1:3).

God's Word overturns the foolish counsel of His enemies.

His plans and counsel are eternal and will never fail.

Therefore, those who know God through repentant faith in Christ, are a blessed people indeed.

Isaiah 14:24  The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.

What God thinks will come to pass.

What God purposes to do will stand.

Neither the Devil, the fallen angels, or myriads of wicked sinners and hateful men can alter what God has purposed to do.

Thus in eternity past, God ordained a covenant of salvation based upon His omniscience, His foreknowledge and His good purposes.

In eternity past, God set all things in motion according to His good pleasure and good will and purposes (See Ephesians 1:5-9).

God's eternal will and purposes are firmly anchored in Christ in eternity past and they will never change. They will be carried out as God said they would (See Ephesians 3:11).

Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 

God's purposes for saving any and all who hear the gospel and respond with repentant faith in CHrist, are good purposes.

He has good thoughts for His children and His gospel brings peace into troubled hearts by removing the enmity that naturally stands between God and sinners.

His plans are good because He is good and He will bless those who confess their sins and put their trust in His Son.

God set His wonderful glorious and majestic plan of salvation in place in eternity past.

The gospel of Christ changes the lives of all who repent and believe.

Bob