I fully agree.
Allow me to share how I see this all unfolding: When Adam and Eve fell, their spiritual nature was collapsed, and their descendants (us) became deaf and dumb to the truth of the spiritual world. Their descendants, cut off from God, fell into ignorance about how, what and why God created us, about how we became cut off, about how God then works (has worked) to bring us back home to him. We lost our knowledge of Godly things. We lost ourselves - the Word.
In other words, human beings fell to a position, spiritually, lower even than our starting point, lower even than where we start and where Adam and Eve started when first conceived and born (aka neutral). Below that starting point is the realm of "hell".
So God has worked to build a foundation on which he could re-educate us, but gradually restoring our spiritual capacity, the core of which is the heart and the ability to receive and give God's love.
But he had to first restore humanity back to the starting point. How does God restore his people and his world? He does this by first identifying and raising a central point, either an individual, a family, a people, etc., then spreading that out and multiplying it out to cover all individuals, families, peoples, etc.
He made successive attempts to build that central starting point, getting different families to reverse in some form the mistakes of Adam's family. Finally, God accomplished the first step with Abraham and his family. So Abraham represents us getting back to the starting point, the neutral position, and then re-committing to God. That's why Abraham had to do all the things he did. He was being led by God to be able to be that central starting point.
On the foundation of Abraham (after a 400 year period to restore Abraham's mistake with his initial offering), through Moses, God brought back his Word in the first stage and expanded the foundation to a people - a nation - raising the people to receive and understand his Word in that first stage. Compared to all the other peoples in the world at that time, Israel was miles ahead, because they had God's Word, and were being led by God directly.
On the basis of the Word, he led them to follow a course wherein they could become ready, united enough to receive Christ. The plan being, that when Christ arrived, when Israel united with Jesus, that God would then expand that unity to the entire world, specifically via the network of the Roman Empire, prepared as the material conduit for Jesus and God's message).
However, when Jesus arrived, the people were still unprepared, despite all the work God had done. People have to CHOOSE to unite with God. He doesn't force them. So even though God led the descendents of Abraham for 2000 years, too often they turned away into sin. So when Jesus arrived, it wasn't viable for him to share all the Word fully. (NB1) And, he was impeded by Israel's lack of faith from raising them to the level God wanted, because despite all God had done, Israel was still unwilling. (NB2)
So, due to the lack of faith on the part of the people, the best Jesus could do at that time, was to win spiritual salvation via the crucifixion (sadly, the most painful way), offer that to humanity, and leave them the foundation for the Word in the second stage - the Gospels and the New Testament. (Jesus worked via Paul and others to establish the Word in the 2nd stage).
Because he knew it was not viable to accomplish the complete and full restoration that God desired at that time, Jesus promised to return. In my understanding, this is when he will reveal the third and final stage of the Word. It will raise our understanding of Godly things to the level Jesus indicated he always wanted to share. Guided by Jesus, Paul understood this (NB3).
(Consider: Paul is often revered as the greatest of the Apostles. His communion with Jesus formed the foundation of most of the Word in the second stage (New Testament), and set the course for Christianity, which Jesus set up as a people to replace the failed Israelite nation, who, even after 2000 years of work, failed to receive and embrace God's son. But even Paul recognized that he only understood the miracle of Jesus and God's providential work "dimly" and "in part".)
On the foundation of the Word in the 2nd stage, Jesus is setting up the world to the point where the entire restoration work can be completed, where humanity is restored back to God in both spirit and in the flesh, where the evil ruler of the world (Satan) is cast out - (aren't we seeing this happen in real time, right now? NB5) - - and where, on the basis of the Word in the third and final stage, God's kingdom will manifest through a world re-united with him, where He is the ruling sovereign, not the Devil, who has been the illegitimate sovereign since Adam and Eve first fell.
An important point of this viewpoint is the understanding that God restores humanity back to him through methodical, principled stages. First, establishing the basic unity. Then, raising us to the next level, then the next, then the next. First, a material foundation (Israel) then, a spiritual foundation (Christianity), then.... ?
God is not random. God is in fact a perfectly mathematical being, as the entire universe testifies. (NB6) This is not to say God is somehow robot-like. God's essential nature is heart and love. But God is also perfectly principled, methodical and yes, mathematical.
And, we also see in scripture how often God works via the number 3 (three stages): the trinity of Father-Son-Holy Spirit, the 3 blessings to Adam (fruitful, multiply, have sovereignty), the 3 archangels, 3 'levels' of Noah's ark, 3 flights of the doves after the flood, the 3 'levels' (birds, sheep/goat/heifer) of Abraham's initial offering, 3 day journey before offering Isaac, the 3 forty-year periods of journeying to Canaan by Israel under Moses, Satan's 3 temptations to Jesus, Peter's 3 denials of Jesus, the 3 days on the cross, etc, etc.
The only reason we have not understood the concrete details of the HOW (the methodology) that God uses is because we have not yet received and digested the Word in the third and final stage. We do not yet "know, even as we are fully known".
But, as scripture says, God reveals his work and secrets to his people at the right time (aka when we are ready, and when the correct foundation has been laid). (NB7) Is it not curious that God has allowed anons an insight into the reality of the world that most of the world is oblivious to?
Do we seriously think it is simply a coincidence that the biblical count of years from Adam to Abraham was approx. 2000 years, and the biblical count of years from Abraham to Jesus was approx. 2000 years, and that now, the historical count of years from Jesus to today is approx 2000 years? What is the biblical scripture telling us? Are we in that era when scripture indicates awakening will occur? (NB8)
My understanding is that we are standing at the point of the conclusion of the history of restoration (NB9), and that the Great Awakening is far, far more significant that we can imagine. There is a spirit of awakening breathing across the entire planet.
And God keeps his promises.
For reference and consideration
NB1: I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. John 16:12
NB2: Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Matt 23:37
NB3: For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Cor 13:12
NB4: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.
When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit. But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Again, he sent other servants, more than the first group. But the tenants did the same to them. Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?”
"He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.” ........ Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Matt 21:33-43
NB5: Comment: Satan works via his instruments in the spiritual realm and in the material realm. He has executed his illegitimate sovereignty throughout history based on compliance and unity from fallen human beings. When Satan's instruments on Earth no longer hold power, then Satan's capacity to interfere and rule over the world itself will be eradicated. Thus, the removal of Satan's instruments leads to the removal of Satan's grip on the world and the natural installation of CHrist as King and sovereign both in spirit world AND in the fleshly world.
NB6: For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made... Rom 1:20
NB7: For the Lord God doth nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7
NB8: In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Acts 2:17
NB9: Comment: I understand that these perspectives might conflict with some people's theological understanding and beliefs, but from a lifetime of prayer and reflection on the Word (Old and New Testaments), this is where I have come to. It is offered only for others reflection and consideration.
I fully agree.
Allow me to share how I see this all unfolding: When Adam and Eve fell, their spiritual nature was collapsed, and their descendants (us) became deaf and dumb to the truth of the spiritual world. Their descendants, cut off from God, fell into ignorance about how, what and why God created us, about how we became cut off, about how God then works (has worked) to bring us back home to him. We lost our knowledge of Godly things. We lost ourselves - the Word.
In other words, human beings fell to a position, spiritually, lower even than our starting point, lower even than where we start and where Adam and Eve started when first conceived and born (aka neutral). Below that starting point is the realm of "hell".
So God has worked to build a foundation on which he could re-educate us, but gradually restoring our spiritual capacity, the core of which is the heart and the ability to receive and give God's love.
But he had to first restore humanity back to the starting point. How does God restore his people and his world? He does this by first identifying and raising a central point, either an individual, a family, a people, etc., then spreading that out and multiplying it out to cover all individuals, families, peoples, etc.
He made successive attempts to build that central starting point, getting different families to reverse in some form the mistakes of Adam's family. Finally, God accomplished the first step with Abraham and his family. So Abraham represents us getting back to the starting point, the neutral position, and then re-committing to God. That's why Abraham had to do all the things he did. He was being led by God to be able to be that central starting point.
On the foundation of Abraham (after a 400 year period to restore Abraham's mistake with his initial offering), through Moses, God brought back his Word in the first stage and expanded the foundation to a people - a nation - raising the people to receive and understand his Word in that first stage. Compared to all the other peoples in the world at that time, Israel was miles ahead, because they had God's Word, and were being led by God directly.
On the basis of the Word, he led them to follow a course wherein they could become ready, united enough to receive Christ. The plan being, that when Christ arrived, when Israel united with Jesus, that God would then expand that unity to the entire world, specifically via the network of the Roman Empire, prepared as the material conduit for Jesus and God's message).
However, when Jesus arrived, the people were still unprepared, despite all the work God had done. People have to CHOOSE to unite with God. He doesn't force them. So even though God led the descendents of Abraham for 2000 years, too often they turned away into sin. So when Jesus arrived, it wasn't viable for him to share all the Word fully. (NB1) And, he was impeded by Israel's lack of faith from raising them to the level God wanted, because despite all God had done, Israel was still unwilling. (NB2)
So, due to the lack of faith on the part of the people, the best Jesus could do at that time, was to win spiritual salvation via the crucifixion (sadly, the most painful way), offer that to humanity, and leave them the foundation for the Word in the second stage - the Gospels and the New Testament. (Jesus worked via Paul and others to establish the Word in the 2nd stage).
Because he knew it was not viable to accomplish the complete and full restoration that God desired at that time, Jesus promised to return. In my understanding, this is when he will reveal the third and final stage of the Word. It will raise our understanding of Godly things to the level Jesus indicated he always wanted to share. Guided by Jesus, Paul understood this (NB3).
(Consider: Paul is often revered as the greatest of the Apostles. His communion with Jesus formed the foundation of most of the Word in the second stage (New Testament), and set the course for Christianity, which Jesus set up as a people to replace the failed Israelite nation, who, even after 2000 years of work, failed to receive and embrace God's son. But even Paul recognized that he only understood the miracle of Jesus and God's providential work "dimly" and "in part".)
On the foundation of the Word in the 2nd stage, Jesus is setting up the world to the point where the entire restoration work can be completed, where humanity is restored back to God in both spirit and in the flesh, where the evil ruler of the world (Satan) is cast out - (aren't we seeing this happen in real time, right now? NB5) - - and where, on the basis of the Word in the third and final stage, God's kingdom will manifest through a world re-united with him, where He is the ruling sovereign, not the Devil, who has been the illegitimate sovereign since Adam and Eve first fell.
An important point of this viewpoint is the understanding that God restores humanity back to him through methodical, principled stages. First, establishing the basic unity. Then, raising us to the next level, then the next, then the next. First, a material foundation (Israel) then, a spiritual foundation (Christianity), then.... ?
God is not random. God is in fact a perfectly mathematical being, as the entire universe testifies. (NB6) This is not to say God is somehow robot-like. God's essential nature is heart and love. But God is also perfectly principled, methodical and yes, mathematical.
And, we also see in scripture how often God works via the number 3 (three stages): the trinity of Father-Son-Holy Spirit, the 3 blessings to Adam (fruitful, multiply, have sovereignty), the 3 archangels, 3 'levels' of Noah's ark, 3 flights of the doves after the flood, the 3 'levels' (birds, sheep/goat/heifer) of Abraham's initial offering, 3 day journey before offering Isaac, the 3 forty-year periods of journeying to Canaan by Israel under Moses, Satan's 3 temptations to Jesus, Peter's 3 denials of Jesus, the 3 days on the cross, etc, etc.
The only reason we have not understood the concrete details of the HOW (the methodology) that God uses is because we have not yet received and digested the Word in the third and final stage. We do not yet "know, even as we are fully known".
But, as scripture says, God reveals his work and secrets to his people at the right time (aka when we are ready, and when the correct foundation has been laid). (NB7) Is it not curious that God has allowed anons an insight into the reality of the world that most of the world is oblivious to?
Do we seriously think it is simply a coincidence that the biblical count of years from Adam to Abraham was approx. 2000 years, and the biblical count of years from Abraham to Jesus was approx. 2000 years, and that now, the historical count of years from Jesus to today is approx 2000 years? What is the biblical scripture telling us? Are we in that era when scripture indicates awakening will occur? (NB8)
My understanding is that we are standing at the point of the conclusion of the history of restoration (NB9), and that the Great Awakening is far, far more significant that we can imagine. There is a spirit of awakening breathing across the entire planet.
And God keeps his promises.
For reference and consideration
NB1: I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. John 16:12
NB2: Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Matt 23:37
NB3: For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Cor 13:12
NB4: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.
When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit. But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Again, he sent other servants, more than the first group. But the tenants did the same to them. Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?”
"He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.” ........ Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Matt 21:33-43
NB5: Comment: Satan works via his instruments in the spiritual realm and in the material realm. He has executed his illegitimate sovereignty throughout history based on compliance and unity from fallen human beings. When Satan's instruments on Earth no longer hold power, then Satan's capacity to interfere and rule over the world itself will be eradicated. Thus, the removal of Satan's instruments leads to the removal of Satan's grip on the world and the natural installation of CHrist as King and sovereign both in spirit world AND in the fleshly world.
NB6: For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made... Rom 1:20
NB7: For the Lord God doth nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7
NB8: In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Acts 2:17
NB9: I know that this particular understanding might conflict with some people's theological understanding and beliefs, but from a lifetime of prayer and reflection on the Word (Old and New Testaments), this is where I have come to. It is offered only for others reflection and consideration.
I fully agree.
Allow me to share how I see this all unfolding: When Adam and Eve fell, their spiritual nature was collapsed, and their descendants (us) became deaf and dumb to the truth of the spiritual world. Their descendants, cut off from God, fell into ignorance about how, what and why God created us, about how we became cut off, about how God then works (has worked) to bring us back home to him. We lost our knowledge of Godly things. We lost ourselves - the Word.
In other words, human beings fell to a position, spiritually, lower even than our starting point, lower even than where we start and where Adam and Eve started when first conceived and born (aka neutral). Below that starting point is the realm of "hell".
So God has worked to build a foundation on which he could re-educate us, but gradually restoring our spiritual capacity, the core of which is the heart and the ability to receive and give God's love.
But he had to first restore humanity back to the starting point. How does God restore his people and his world? He does this by first identifying and raising a central point, either an individual, a family, a people, etc., then spreading that out and multiplying it out to cover all individuals, families, peoples, etc.
He made successive attempts to build that central starting point, getting different families to reverse in some form the mistakes of Adam's family. Finally, God accomplished the first step with Abraham and his family. So Abraham represents us getting back to the starting point, the neutral position, and then re-committing to God. That's why Abraham had to do all the things he did. He was being led by God to be able to be that central starting point.
On the foundation of Abraham (after a 400 year period to restore Abraham's mistake with his initial offering), through Moses, God brought back his Word in the first stage and expanded the foundation to a people - a nation - raising the people to receive and understand his Word in that first stage. Compared to all the other peoples in the world at that time, Israel was miles ahead, because they had God's Word, and were being led by God directly.
On the basis of the Word, he led them to follow a course wherein they could become ready, united enough to receive Christ. The plan being, that when Christ arrived, when Israel united with Jesus, that God would then expand that unity to the entire world, specifically via the network of the Roman Empire, prepared as the material conduit for Jesus and God's message).
However, when Jesus arrived, the people were still unprepared, despite all the work God had done. People have to CHOOSE to unite with God. He doesn't force them. So even though God led the descendents of Abraham for 2000 years, too often they turned away into sin. So when Jesus arrived, it wasn't viable for him to share all the Word fully. (NB1) And, he was impeded by Israel's lack of faith from raising them to the level God wanted, because despite all God had done, Israel was still unwilling. (NB2)
So, due to the lack of faith on the part of the people, the best Jesus could do at that time, was to win spiritual salvation via the crucifixion (sadly, the most painful way), offer that to humanity, and leave them the foundation for the Word in the second stage - the Gospels and the New Testament. (Jesus worked via Paul and others to establish the Word in the 2nd stage).
Because he knew it was not viable to accomplish the complete and full restoration that God desired at that time, Jesus promised to return. In my understanding, this is when he will reveal the third and final stage of the Word. It will raise our understanding of Godly things to the level Jesus indicated he always wanted to share. Guided by Jesus, Paul understood this (NB3).
(Consider: Paul is often revered as the greatest of the Apostles. His communion with Jesus formed the foundation of most of the Word in the second stage (New Testament), and set the course for Christianity, which Jesus set up as a people to replace the failed Israelite nation, who, even after 2000 years of work, failed to receive and embrace God's son. But even Paul recognized that he only understood the miracle of Jesus and God's providential work "dimly" and "in part".)
On the foundation of the Word in the 2nd stage, Jesus is setting up the world to the point where the entire restoration work can be completed, where humanity is restored back to God in both spirit and in the flesh, where the evil ruler of the world (Satan) is cast out - (aren't we seeing this happen in real time, right now? NB5) - - and where, on the basis of the Word in the third and final stage, God's kingdom will manifest through a world re-united with him, where He is the ruling sovereign, not the Devil, who has been the illegitimate sovereign since Adam and Eve first fell.
An important point of this viewpoint is the understanding that God restores humanity back to him through methodical, principled stages. First, establishing the basic unity. Then, raising us to the next level, then the next, then the next. First, a material foundation (Israel) then, a spiritual foundation (Christianity), then.... ?
God is not random. God is in fact a perfectly mathematical being, as the entire universe testifies. (NB6) This is not to say God is somehow robot-like. God's essential nature is heart and love. But God is also perfectly principled, methodical and yes, mathematical.
And, we also see in scripture how often God works via the number 3 (three stages): the trinity of Father-Son-Holy Spirit, the 3 blessings to Adam (fruitful, multiply, have sovereignty), the 3 archangels, 3 'levels' of Noah's ark, 3 flights of the doves after the flood, the 3 'levels' (birds, sheep/goat/heifer) of Abraham's initial offering, 3 day journey before offering Isaac, the 3 forty-year periods of journeying to Canaan by Israel under Moses, Satan's 3 temptations to Jesus, Peter's 3 denials of Jesus, the 3 days on the cross, etc, etc.
The only reason we have not understood the concrete details of the HOW (the methodology) that God uses is because we have not yet received and digested the Word in the third and final stage. We do not yet "know, even as we are fully known".
But, as scripture says, God reveals his work and secrets to his people at the right time (aka when we are ready, and when the correct foundation has been laid). (NB7) Is it not curious that God has allowed anons an insight into the reality of the world that most of the world is oblivious to?
Do we seriously think it is simply a coincidence that the biblical count of years from Adam to Abraham was approx. 2000 years, and the biblical count of years from Abraham to Jesus was approx. 2000 years, and that now, the historical count of years from Jesus to today is approx 2000 years? What is the biblical scripture telling us? Are we in that era when scripture indicates awakening will occur? (NB8)
My understanding is that we are standing at the point of the conclusion of the history of restoration (NB9), and that the Great Awakening is far, far more significant that we can imagine. There is a spirit of awakening breathing across the entire planet.
And God keeps his promises.
For reference and consideration
NB1: I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. John 16:12
NB2: Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Matt 23:37
NB3: For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
NB4: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.
When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit. But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Again, he sent other servants, more than the first group. But the tenants did the same to them. Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?”
"He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.” ........ Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Matt 21:33-43
NB5: Comment: Satan works via his instruments in the spiritual realm and in the material realm. He has executed his illegitimate sovereignty throughout history based on compliance and unity from fallen human beings. When Satan's instruments on Earth no longer hold power, then Satan's capacity to interfere and rule over the world itself will be eradicated. Thus, the removal of Satan's instruments leads to the removal of Satan's grip on the world and the natural installation of CHrist as King and sovereign both in spirit world AND in the fleshly world.
NB6: For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made... Rom 1:20
NB7: For the Lord God doth nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7
NB8: In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Acts 2:17
NB9: I know that this particular understanding might conflict with some people's theological understanding and beliefs, but from a lifetime of prayer and reflection on the Word (Old and New Testaments), this is where I have come to. It is offered only for others reflection and consideration.