The Crowd Of Creation

[dave c]

HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #131aai Re-Written 17JUN09

Save Me Today—Part Sixty One: The Crowd Of Creation

by rev dave c

Given Scripture’s allusions to the rebellion and fall of Lucifer with a third of the heavenly host during some era near Creation’s beginnings (Is 14:12-15/Ez 28:12-19/Lu 10:17&18/Re 12:3-9), angelic beings apparently once held a gift of freewill that bore resemblance to the volition we now exercise during our brief stay upon this planet. The Bible also tells us that the die is cast for Satan and his minions who face forever darkness in the deepest pit of Hell; a pit that is to be utterly devoid of all Godly comforting (Re 20:10). Although they are more powerful creatures, and they are our “older brothers” (so to speak), the opportunity to repent and regain the promise of eternal life in the presence of God has either passed the fallen angels by during a season deeper in the memory of creation than this time of man, or it was never an option. Consequently, they became the singular Devil with his multitude of demons (Mt 9:34). Like them, if God had not driven Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and blocked the way to the tree of life (Ge 3), perhaps our future would have been equally sealed. While this is conjecture, I do know that we each have only the opportunities allotted to us in this time and in this place to decide to ask Christ’s forgiveness for our sins, to commit to allowing Him to take over our lives, and so to spend eternity in heaven—or we will go to our first death without Him, and then face the second death forever in His absence (Re 2:11, 20:6&14, 21:8).

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work (1Jn 3:8b; NIV) is a succinct explanation of why the Second Person of the Trinity took upon Himself the likeness of humanity as the Second Man/the Last Adam some 2,000 years ago. Equally succinct is Christ’s description of what constitutes the devil’s work: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;... as opposed to the eternal purpose of the Messiah: ...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (Jn 10:10; NIV). In Hebrews we read: 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted (NIV).

In Genesis 1:26 God says, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground" (NIV). The Son of God became like His brothers in every way, and because we are flesh and blood, Jesus fully assumed the likeness of frail humanity (Ro 8:3). As the Son of Man, we know that He was tempted in all ways, just as we are, and that He suffered just as do we (He 2:18 & 4:15). In Colossians, however, we read: 1:15 He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (NIV). Hebrews also says: 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? (NIV). In the person of Jesus Christ we see the fulfillment of man made in the image and likeness of God. He is the singular perfected Man (Heb. 5:9), And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy (Co 1:18; NIV).

Hebrews 12:22 ...You have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." 27 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire" (NIV).

After this I [John] looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" (Re 7:9-12; NIV). Amen, and amen.