The Knowledge of Good AND Bad...

For an updated version of this please goto www.godsfirstcreation.com 

Definition of ALWAYS:

1:  at all times : invariably

2:  forever, perpetually

3:  at any rate : in any event <as a last resort one can always work>

Examples of ALWAYS(human perspective)

·         He always tries, but he doesn't always succeed.

·         It's always a pleasure to see you.

·         This area is always filled with tourists.

·         Things won't always go as planned.

·         You're always welcome to stay with us.

·         He has always been a good friend to me.

·         Life won't always be this easy.

Have you ever tried to comprehend what it means that God has “always” existed?  I’m sure we all have, and after doing a mental trapeze for a while we all come to the conclusion that it is simply incomprehensible, only to come back every now and then to ponder some more.

Typically, when we use the word “always” in our daily conversation, we are not using the word in the eternal context, but rather from the human perspective, which is limited in itself.  In fact, just looking at the examples above we can see that “always” usually follows the first definition of the word meaning “at all times”.   (See examples above). 

Since we use the word “always” from a human perspective 99% of the time, whenever we use the word to describe Gods eternalness, or foreverness, as in the second definition above, we fail to comprehend what the word “always” means in relation to Gods existence.  In doing so we are placing limits on our understanding of Jehovah.  

To illustrate, if we look at a timeline and start with the present day and go backwards, we can say that “God has always existed” and the line would continue back for eternity, or infinity (∞) 

Typically, when pondering on the foreverness of God, a person will begin from their present day, and then try to think back as far as the imagination can conceive, and again we just cannot comprehend such an existence.  This usually represents how most people try to perceive Gods eternal being, as though from the present day and moving backwards, in that he has “always” existed. 

               ∞◄▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬● 

                                                        Gods Existence                                       Present Day

    

However, when always is used to describe the foreverness, or eternalness of Gods existence, it isn’t just a one way street, so to speak, that goes back for eternity from our present day.  When we say that God has “always” existed, it means we must also see him as existing forward for eternity from our present day as well.

God always, or rather All Ways, exists.  There is no beginning OR end of his being.  He has NO limits.  Psalms describes him perfectly (Ps 90:2) “… Even from time indefinite to time indefinite you are God.”  Since God is timeless, a more accurate time line denoting the context for “always” as it relates to Gods existence would be closer to this.  The line symbolizing his existence would run forever in both directions from our present day, and not just backwards.       

Gods existence is from time indefinite to time indefinite, or in other words it is timeless. 

                                                                                 
                                               Gods Existence(Timeless)

                         ∞ ◄▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬► ∞

 
   

                                                  Creations Timeline
Beginning  of  Creation ●———————————————————●Present Day

and start of Timeline.                
              (Prov 8:22-23)

Creations existence however is completely separate and definable by time, having had a start and an end that is continually moving forward; the present.  Because of this we can say that creation occurred somewhere “inside” the existence of God, which the timeline above very roughly tries to show. 

The beginning of creation, with Jesus Christ, marked the beginning of time for our timeline; just as the verse below in Proverbs tell us that it was “from the start”. 

(Pr 8:22-23) 22 “Jehovah himself produced me as the beginning of his way, the earliest of his achievements of long ago. 23 From time indefinite I was installed, from the start, from times earlier than the earth.”

(Isa 46:9-10) “. . .“ Remember the first things of a long time ago, that I am the Divine One and there is no other God, nor anyone like me; 10 the One telling from the beginning the finale, and from long ago the things that have not been done; the One saying, ‘My own counsel will stand, and everything that is my delight I shall do’”

Our existence is limited to the present, as we cannot go forward or backward on our timeline.  Jehovah however is not constrained by time, and is able to see our timeline at any point he chooses because he is completely separate from it.  This is no doubt how he is able to predict the future, and see events before they actually happen, because he has already existed for an eternity past our present day.  Essentially ANY event that happens on our stream of time Jehovah can see before it occurs, if he chooses to do so, simply for the reason that it happened on our stream of time. 

                                       
                                                   Gods Existence

∞◄▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬►∞          

                                                            

        ●▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬●▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬●▬▬▬▬▬►∞

      Beginning of Creation                             Present Day                    Great Tribulation

Any prophecy in the bible is an example of this fact.  For example, the Great Tribulation, because it eventually occurs on the timeline, even though it hasn't happened yet, Jehovah is able to see it as already occurring. 

Now, even though God does have the ability to see anywhere on the timeline of creation, he has chosen not to use this ability when it relates to the use of free will by his creation(angels, humans).  One way of describing this would be to say it is filtered out.  

For example, we can look at a map on the computer and filter out/in certain things we want to see.  We can see densely populated areas, high growth areas, high crime areas, high/low land values etc, etc.  Essentially any kind of information we want from a map can be obtained, or filtered out, as long as we have the information to it.  In the case of our timeline, past and future, God has every piece of information at his disposal if he so chooses to use it, because he has already existed for an eternity past it. 

In the case of our free will, and the choices we make, Jehovah can filter these out of the equation when looking at the timeline.  This filter is evident when we look at books such as Revelation, how so?  Although many events are foretold to occur in Revelation, the people who are responsible for, or are a part of those events, are not predetermined by God looking at those specific events.  This helps us to understand one of the reasons why Revelation was written in symbolic terms, for each of the symbolic events prophesied to occur represent real events that are yet to occur on our timeline. 

If Jehovah had related to us the events on the timeline of creation from a realistic point of view, that is to say by not applying a symbolic filter, he then would have also seen the people, and the choices that were made that were part of that event, thus nullifying the free will of those people.  However, by allowing the events to be represented by images and symbolic meaning, free will(human/angelic) is filtered out of the equation, giving Jehovah only the events that occur in our stream of time.

Take for example the seven headed beast that represents the Kingdoms of the World throughout history.  Obviously the eighth king/beast who stems from the seven headed beast(Rev 17:11) has not taken power yet, however Jehovah has already told us that the 8th king will be an event that happens on our timeline.  If Jehovah had looked at the timeline from the standpoint of what actually happens, without the filter of symbols and images, he would then see the individuals/group making up the 8th King, thus predetermining the choices of the individuals/group, and thus nullifying free will.

Therefore, by seeing the event on our timeline through a filter, which in this case is the image of a beast, he is able to foretell the future event to us without seeing who is actually a part of the event.

To clarify further, consider the two witnesses in Revelation as an example(Rev 11:3).  If Jehovah used his ability to look at our timeline, again without applying the filter, and then saw WHO the two witnesses represented, he would thus nullify the free will of those individuals/group who were to eventually become the two witnesses.  Instead, through the filter of images and symbols, Jehovah is able to look at our timeline and relate it to us before it happens, WITHOUT going against, or nullifying free will.   

The same is true of all the other prophetic events as well(seals, horseman, chosen ones etc..etc).  Each symbolic event prophesied to occur represents an actual event on the timeline, yet in order not to nullify the free will of those who will represent, or be a part of those events, Jehovah uses the filter of images and symbols to relate them to us. 

Using this reasoning we can see that God IS able to look at events on the timeline WITHOUT predetermining our choices, or who is going to be part of that event which would undermine the persons free will.  

This is very important to understand as it also relates to the sin that would occur in the Garden of Eden by Satan...

                                           ------Part 2---------

Ecclesiastes 3:14 . . .I have come to know that everything that the [true] God makes, it will prove to be to time indefinite. To it there is nothing to add and from it there is nothing to subtract. . .

Before continuing on, it is very important to understand this point about Gods purpose. Gods purpose was, is, and always will be the same(Ec 3:14).   It will never change, period!  And just as the verse in Ecclesiastes brings out, there is nothing to add or subtract from what he has created; it was complete the moment he rested.  

Another point that cannot be emphasized enough is that Jehovahs purpose existed BEFORE he began to create.

Entailed in this purpose was the giving of Free Will to those who would be created in his image.  Jehovahs creation would have the ability to decide on their own whether they would live according to Gods purpose, or not.  Free will was truly the greatest gift Jehovah could give his creation, and was entirely motivated by the love that defines him, and his purpose for us, which is to simply love him in return because we want to, and to show this love by living according to that purpose.  (Pr 2:20-21)

We must understand that up until the first sin was actually committed, free will was essentially just a theory.  Jehovah no doubt told the angels they had free will, but that required faith on the angels part to accept it.  How did the angels truly know they had the ability to go against Gods purpose, or question his authority, if it had never been done before?    

The fact that no sin had ever been committed before the original sin meant that only one path had ever been taken, the right one.  If sin, which is using the choice to go against Gods purpose had never manifested, that would mean that free will had NEVER been used to its full potential.  That full potential being the ability to not only make a right decision, but also a wrong one as well.

It’s easy to imagine the arrogant angel thinking to himself, ”how do we really know if we have free will unless we are truly able to choose to go against Gods purpose?”  Of course the only way to PROVE that all creation did indeed have free will was to make the choice to sin. 
Because of Jehovah’s ability to see events happen on the timeline, without nullifying the free will of his creation, Jehovah was able to identify when the sin would occur on the timeline, without actually seeing who committed it.  All he had to do was wait, and as time progressed it would become evident who would incite the rebellion against his purpose, and have to prove to themselves that free will did exist.

Just as a parent can see a rebellious attitude manifesting in their child, Jehovah was no doubt able to see the rebellious attitude that the beautiful Cherub was displaying.  Jehovah is a reader of hearts (1Sa 16:7) , and when one’s heart has become as prideful, and arrogant as the Cherubs had, it would have been clear as to who would be the first to sin.  Undoubtedly, Satan had not come up with this idea overnight, but had thought long and hard about what he was considering to do.

The very nature of free will presupposes that if a choice can be made it eventually will be, as there are only two basic choices to following Gods purpose, and eventually both of them would be chosen; the choice of good AND the choice of bad.  But how does this relate to the first sin by Satan in the Garden of Eden? 

We define knowledge as:  a fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association.  Satan obviously had knowledge of good, as that was all he had ever done or seen, yet he didn't have a true knowledge of bad.  Yes, he knew what bad was, but he had never experienced it, or could associate it to an actual event.  It was only until the angel sinned that he truly had a Knowledge of Good and Bad.

The Trees in the Garden of Eden were much more than just trees, but represented symbolically the choice of sin, or not to sin.  We can see that the same symbolic filter was used to represent when the original sin by Satan would take place in the stream of time.  By filtering out the free will of his creation, just as he has done in Revelation, and throughout the scriptures, Jehovah used the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad to represent that which would eventually become the event of sin on the timeline(Gen 3:4-5).  

As sure the name given the tree symbolically to be the Knowledge of Good and Bad, once Satan had sinned, and used his ability to choose bad by lying to Eve, free will was no longer a theory, but now a full blown PROVEN truth, and the actual event as symbolized by the name of the Tree was fulfilled.  Free will, or the Knowledge of Good AND Bad, had now fully been accomplished and realized by Satan. 

But how do we know that the Tree OF Knowledge of Good and Bad was meant to represent the original sin by Satan, and not Adam & Eves sin?  We know this because even after Satan had sinned, and now had knowledge of good AND bad, Adam & Eve still had the choice to not partake of the fruit.  Had they not eaten from the tree, the tree would have still been called the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad because that which it represented, sin on the timeline, had already occurred.  The tree did not represent Adam and Eves fall, it represented Satans at the very first sin, at the very first moment that not only good, but bad, was now also known.

We are now living through the results of that choice.  Proverbs 16:4 states “Everything Jehovah has made for his purpose, yes, even the wicked one for the evil day.”   No, Jehovah didn’t create the cherub to one day become evil, but he knew that the full definition of free will would eventually be accomplished, in that the choice to sin would most certainly be made.

To help illustrate the matter we can look to our master teacher Jesus Christ.  Jesus taught us that a builder calculates his expense before construction begins to ensure that he completes the task.  Since this principle comes directly from Jehovah (John 8:28), we can be sure that God did the same thing when he began to construct.  Just as a builder contemplates any problems that may occur, Jehovah was able to contemplate that his purpose to give free will had only one potential problem, sin. 

Luke 14:28  “For example, who of  YOU that wants to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expense, to see if he has enough to complete it?”

Because we know that God is able to see events on the timeline without predetermining the free will of the individuals choices, as shown in part one, Jehovah was able to foresee when the sin would eventually happen on our timeline, and therefore was able to prepare in advance the solution to the problem before it ever occurred.

Jehovah would not stop the sin from happening, for that would mean that he would have to alter the use of free will, which he has from the beginning chosen not to do.  Therefore, he created the solution to the sin beforehand, and when sin manifested itself, he would then administer, or implement it into action.  The solution to the sin IS the Sacred Secret.  The following scriptures support this understanding, and help us to see the outworking of Gods purpose in regards to guaranteeing its success. 

Remember...Jehovahs purpose existed BEFORE he began to create.

Eph 3:9-11 “. . . and should make men see how the sacred secret is administered which has from the indefinite past been hidden in God, who created all things.  [This was] to the end that now to the governments and the authorities in the heavenly places there might be made known through the congregation the greatly diversified wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose that he formed in connection with the Christ, Jesus our Lord,”    

Eph 1:8-11 “. . .This he caused to abound toward us in all wisdom and good sense,  in that he made known to us the sacred secret of his will[purpose]. It is according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself  for an administration at the full limit of the appointed times, namely, to gather all things together again in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth. [Yes,] in him,  in union with whom we were also assigned as heirs, in that we were foreordained[predestined] according to the purpose of him who operates all things according to the way his will counsels,

2Ti 1:9 “He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not by reason of our works, but by reason of his own purpose and undeserved kindness. This was given us in connection with Christ Jesus before times long lasting,” [before the beginning of time, ASV]

Rom 8:28-29 “. . .Now we know that God makes all his works cooperate together for the good of those who love God, those who are the ones called according to his purpose;  because those whom he gave his first recognition he also foreordained to be patterned after the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. . .”

1Pe 1:1-2 “. . .Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the temporary residents scattered about in Pon´tus, Ga·la´ti·a, Cap·pa·do´ci·a, Asia, and Bi·thyn´i·a, to the ones chosen  according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, with sanctification by the spirit, for the purpose of their being obedient and sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ: May undeserved kindness and peace be increased to YOU.”

1Cor 2:7 “. . .But we speak God’s wisdom in a sacred secret, the hidden wisdom, which God foreordained [destined, purposed] before the systems of things for our glory.”

Ephesians 2:10 “. . .For we are a product of his work and were created in union with Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for us to walk in them.”

Jehovah clearly had a purpose before he began to create, these scriptures above testify to that truth.  These scriptures also show that the sacred secret, comprised of Jesus Christ, and eventually the 144,000 chosen brothers of his, was created and prepared in advance (Ep 2:10).  The Sacred Secret is the solution to the problem that Jehovah knew would eventually present itself, that being sin.  Specifically the sin that Satan would eventually commit in the Garden of Eden, the original sin.  The origin of all sin that exists today.

------

I hope that with these truths, we can come to a closer understanding of the many hidden mysteries contained within the scriptures, and will allow us to draw closer to our incredible God, Jehovah.
 
  

(Col 1:26) “. . .the sacred secret that was hidden from the past systems of things and from the past generations. But now it has been made manifest to his holy ones,”

(Isaiah 46:10) . . .the One telling from the beginning the finale, and from long ago the things that have not been done; the One saying, ‘My own counsel will stand, and everything that is my delight I shall do’. . .

-----------