A Divine Plan or God’s purpose in creation

In the previous chapters we have seen that God is working on a consistent plan. Already from the beginning of times God let His creatures know about His Plan. The men He asked to write down His Words also gave the designation of origin in the book of Genesis. We also already reported that the gospel was preached to Abraham and that Christianity was not a new religion but merely the next stage in God’s plan.

That brings us to the question of what is actually God’s purpose for His creation. That goal is not first and foremost the eternal salvation of His creatures. And certainly not the set of ethical standards for those creatures, for that He had no need to create them. His goal is to be glorified in and through His Creation, and the salvation of man is only a means to that end. If he has redeemed his people out of Egypt, and they are tested in the desert, He assures them that the universe shall have to be filled with glory of the Most High Adonai.

Numbers 14:21 The Scriptures 1998+  (21)  but truly, as I live and all the earth is filled with the esteem of יהוה {Jehovah},

He assures with an oath that that is His goal to earth. And please note that it is not about the land of Israel only; the whole earth be filled with His glory. He repeats this in the prophecy of Isaiah. In the famous chapter where he speaks about the coming kingdom of peace, were there shall not be hurt nor destroyed in all His holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 9:1 The Scriptures 1998+  (1)  But there is no gloom upon her who is distressed, as when at first He humbled the land of Zeḇulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward more heavily oppressed her, by the way of the sea, beyond the Yardĕn, in Galil of the nations.

And again in the prophecy of Habakkuk:

Habakkuk 2:14 The Scriptures 1998+  (14)  for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the esteem of יהוה {Jehovah}, as the waters cover the sea1! Footnote: 1Isa. 11:9.

It is clear that in God’s Plan the earth shall not being filled with the glory of Babylon as it might be now in the present time or in the system of things. But it shall carry the knowledge of the glory of the Elohim Hashem Jehovah as comprehensively as the waters cover the sea (cp  Numbers 14:21; Psalms 72:19; Isaiah 6:3; 11:9; Jeremiah 31:34). This has yet to be. It refers to the ultimate destruction of Babylon in the Last Days (cp Revelation 16:1–18:24). As such it can impossible be talking about the worldwide Christendom we are seeing today. There may be a worldwide spread of Christendom or Christianity in the form in which it presently is the case. The expression

“Full … as the waters cover the sea”

must mean much more than that.

That is yet future. It is God’s ultimate goal. And the fact that He repeats it three times means that it is established by Him (cf. Genesis 41:32). Human beings have the unspeakable privilege to have received the invitation to play a role in that process. But not salvation of man as such is God’s purpose, but the fact that He will be glorified in the redeemed man, although that is also the highest for that man that he could ever imagine. The apostle Paul writes to the church at Rome:

Romans 5:1-6 The Scriptures 1998+  (1)  Therefore, having been declared right by belief, we have peace with Elohim through our Master יהושע  {Jehshua} Messiah,  (2)  through whom also we have access by belief into this favour in which we stand, and we exult in the expectation of the esteem of Elohim.  (3)  And not only this, but we also exult in pressures, knowing that pressure works endurance;  (4)  and endurance, approvedness; and approvedness, expectation.  (5)  And expectation does not disappoint, because the love of Elohim has been poured out in our hearts by the Set-apart Spirit which was given to us.  (6)  For when we were still weak, Messiah in due time died for the wicked.

In the Bible we can see and hear about that Most High Who is a God of patience Who grants us who want to accept Him as our Divine Creator to be united in the same mind following the example of Christ Jesus, that with one accord we may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And a few verses later the apostle Paul says that God’s purpose is that the Gentiles (non-Jews) will glorify God. The apostle let us know that the once-mortal believers can come to be “holy ones”  (the set-apart ones) (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2;  16:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Colossians 9:1; Philippians 1:1; Colosians 1:2; 1:4; etc) and let us know that the sent one from God, Jeshua (Jesus Christ) shall come on that day to be glorified in his saints [the redeemed believers], and to be admired in all who have believed. When he talks about the time of the end, and God’s purpose, he writes to the church in Thessalonica:

2 Thessalonians 1:10 The Scriptures 1998+  (10)  when He comes to be esteemed in His set-apart ones and to be admired among all those who believe in that Day, because our witness to you was believed.

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Preceding:

Disobedient man and God’s promises

Divine Plan and an Imperfect creation

Dutch version: Een goddelijk Plan #5 Gods doel met de Schepping

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Additional reading:

1. Babylon is fallen
2. Believing in the send one and understanding that one does not live by bread alone
3. The Song of The Lamb #3 Daniel and Revelation
4. Jerusalem and a son’s kingdom

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