What Scripture Says about Pre-History and Post-History
2007 (Revised)
I have somewhat revised Paul's study as it was originally designed for a bible study using workgroups. The original paper, including its endnotes and appendices, can be found here as a pdf.
Introduction
When we have a deadline to meet, we are conscious of the passage of time. We are especially concerned that we finish before we are Out of Time. God, however, views the passage of time differently than we do. Complete the following verse: "In the beginning...." ...There are two possible answers. "In the beginning..."
- "...God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen 1:1).
- "...was the Word" (John 1:1).
Both these verses speak about pre-history, before man was around to keep records. How did we get this information if there were no witnesses? . . . As these verses indicate, God was there, and He passed on certain observations to people later. Today we will consider what scripture says about pre-history. . . and post-history.
Usually when we turn our attention to what lies outside the realm of history proper, we look only to the future. Systematic theology devotes an entire discipline to that aspect, called eschatology, the study of last things. We tend to focus on the future, in part, because we are less interested in the past, in "old news." Nevertheless, a study of pre-history provides an informative glimpse at conditions before the world existed and offers the encouragement of realizing God's concern for His people even before such a people existed. It also provides a point of comparison for what happens later, showing how post-history, on the one hand, continues pre-history and, on the other hand, includes some important innovations.
Pre-History to Post-History
We can divide pre-history and post-history in two periods each: Pre-history includes Eternity (past), before the universe existed, and the Beginning of the universe, events that start the clock of recordable time. Post-history includes the End of the universe, events that stop the clock of recordable time, and Eternity (future), after the universe, as we know it, no longer exists. The biblical writers distinguish these four periods with certain stock phrases.
The Terms for Pre- and Post-History
I. Pre-History
Some terms describe the period of...
A. Eternity (past)...1. Direct reference to the period before time
- Ps 93:2 Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.
2. Indirect reference, describing what preceded creation.
- John 17:5 Now, Father, glorify me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
3. Related NT terms also pertain to eternity (past).
- Rom 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to become] conformed to the image of His Son....
Other terms describe the period of...
B. The Beginning...1. Direct reference to the beginning of time
- Isa 40:21c Has it not been declared to you from the beginning?
2. Indirect reference, to the first events of that period
- Isa 40:21d Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
II. Post-History
Some terms describe the period of...Other terms describe the period of...A. The End...1. Direct reference to the end of time
- Man 24:13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
2. Indirect reference, to the final events of that period
- John 6:39 This is the will of Him who sent me, that of all that He has given me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.
B. Eternity (future)...1. Direct reference to the period after time
- Isa 45:17b You will not be put to shame or humiliated to all eternity.
2. Indirect reference, describing what follows the end.
- 1 John 2:17 The world is passing away, and [also] its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
All such expressions have a temporal orientation. They view events from within a time frame, from our perspective, because we, the biblical audience, live in such a frame. We are bound by time, whereas God—who exists outside the temporal frame—is free from time. We see events as sequential, one after another. God sees events as simultaneous, all at once. Hence, He knows the beginning and the end, whereas we know only a small segment between the beginning and the end.
The Bible has only two constants that appear in references to all periods, past and future:
The Bible has only two constants that appear in references to all periods, past and future:
- The primary constant is the person of God.
He has always existed, and there is no time when He did not exist or when He will not exist. Think about that.
- The secondary constant is the plan of God.
His intention to act in a certain way has always existed; it has and will never change. The biblical writers use some of the same phrases to describe the person and plan of God (see Ps 93:2 above). Because these divine aspects are immutable (unchanging), the biblical authors sometimes speak of them as spanning prehistory and post-history.
The Constants of Pre- and Post-History
I. The primary constant is the person of God.
A. He exists from the beginning to the end.
- Isa 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me.'
B. He exists from eternity past to eternity future.
- Ps 90:2 Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
Passages about the eternality of God are straightforward, but they are not simple. If you have never contemplated such verses, I recommend that you consider the meaning of eternity, even if you have no philosophical inclination.
- Step 1: Take stock of where you are at a given moment, then gradually let your thoughts expand until they reach the limit of what exists in space and time.
Although the only way to make such a comprehensive sweep is in the most general terms, the next step—at least for me—amounts to mental overload.
- Step 2: Once you have stretched your faculties to include all of creation, realize that God exists outside those boundaries.
It sounds like a simple, even pointless exercise, but it can be a mind-boggling experience. Sometimes, my brain refuses to consider what is obviously beyond its capacity and just shuts down. On rare occasions, though, a window opens and I get a brief glimpse of the possibility of eternity.., then the brain shuts down. We will not comprehend eternity, but we can contemplate it because God has instilled in us a realization that there is more to our existence than this time-bound frame.
Eccl 3:11 He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
Take a moment and consider the existence of God.
Today, I want to consider the other constant that appears in references to all periods, which is the plan of God, what He commences at the beginning and completes at the end. We may never fully understand His rationale—we certainly will not in this life—but He has revealed some of His intentions, and it is those we will examine. [....]
II. The secondary constant is the plan of God.
A. The plan in pre-history1. At the beginning of timea. God created the universe and man.
- Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
- Matt 19:4b He who created [them] from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,
b. God also created angelic beings, one of whom rebelled against Him. Satan brought death to mankind and was a persistent proponent of sin.
- John 8:44 the devil... .was a murderer from the beginning....
- 1 John 3:8a . . . the devil has sinned from the beginning.
Man sinned and broke his relationship with God, but God devised a way to restore that relationship.
c. God determined that the messiah would die for man's sin.
- Rev 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, [everyone] whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
d. God knew those who would accept His provision, and they would have life.
- Rev 17:8b And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.
e. God determined that His people would inherit a kingdom.
- Matt 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, You who are blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'
2. During eternity (past)God knew (1) that He would create people, (2) that they would sin and break their relationship with Him, and (3) that some would want to be restored.
a. God devised a secret (and wise) plan.
- Rom 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, [leading] to obedience of faith;
- 1 Cor 2:7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden [wisdom] which God predestined before the ages to our glory;
- Col 1:25 Of [this church] I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the [preaching of] the word of God, 26 [that is], the mystery which has been hidden from the [past] ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,
b. God determined to be gracious and to redeem men through the messiah, although he would suffer at their hand.
- Acts 2:23 this [Jesus], delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put [him] to death.
- 2 Tim 1:9 [God] has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted its in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
- 1 Pet 1:20 For he was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you
c. God knew and chose those who would be His people.
- Eph 1:4 just as He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.
- 1 Pet 1:1b To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2a according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood:
d. God determined to raise His people (as He had raised His Son), to adopt them (as sons themselves), and to give them eternal life.
- Rom 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to become] conformed to the image of His Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brethren;
- Eph 1:5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
- Tit 1:2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,
What aspect of God's plan in pre-history impresses you most? Why? . . .I find it amazing that the God of all space and time cared specifically about my welfare before I even existed. . . in fact, before anything existed.
Ps 8:3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 4 What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?
B. The plan in post-history1. At the end of timea. All will hear the gospel.
- Matt 24:14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Cf. Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people;NB: The gospel has always been the only plan of God.b. The living messiah will stand upon (return to) the earth and will raise the dead.
- Job 19:25 As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will take his stand on the earth.
- John 6:39 This is the will of Him who sent me, that of all that He has given me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I myself will raise him up on the last day
c. Those who have persevered (and obeyed) will be saved.
- Matt 10:22 You will be hated by all because of my name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
- Matt 24:13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
d. God's people (those who persevere and obey) will reign.
- Rev 2:26 He who overcomes, and he who keeps my deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;
2. During eternity (future)a. Life will continue (as a reward for sacrifice, faith, and obedience now; and as a gift and opportunity to know God).
- Luke 18:29 ...Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.
- John 6:47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
- John 17:3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
- Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- I John 2:17 The world is passing away, and [alsoJ its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
b. God's people will continue to enjoy the expressions of His favor they experience now (love and truth).
- Ps 100:5b . . .His lovingkindness is everlasting...
- Ps 1 17:2b ...the truth of the LORD is everlasting.
c. God's people will enjoy new expressions of His favor (pleasure, glory, understanding).
- Ps 16:11c In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
- 2 Cor 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
- Eph 2:6 and raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
d. God's people will reign.
- Rev 22:5 And there will no longer be [any] night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.
What aspect of God's plan in post-history impresses you most? Why? ...As a teacher, I am on perpetual quest for knowledge. John 17:3 and Eph 2:7 suggest that one day I will understand what God has done for me (= ultimate fulfillment of my quest).
God's purpose... is that in the eternal future.. .the grace of His ways with those once dead in sins should be declared and understood in all the grandeur of its exceeding riches. (Salmond 1967 3:288)
Conclusion
As you watch time march on, realize that you will one day be Out of Time. Having run your course, you will stand before God. At that point, what scripture says about pre-history and post-history will assume even greater significance for you than it does now. These passages we have considered do not exhaust what the Bible records about the plan of God. They confirm to us, though, that....
- He is not spontaneous, making it up as He goes along;
- He is not reactionary, waiting to see what we will do before He responds;
- He is intentional and methodical, having decided long ago what He would do and patiently directing events to accomplish His purpose.
This does not mean He determines every detail of our lives. On the contrary, He leaves many of the particular, everyday decisions up to us. God is sovereign enough to allow us freedom of will without that freedom in any way hindering or altering His plan. The question for us is: Will we get with the program of God? Will we make His goals our goals, His desires our desires, His ways our ways? Those who reject His plan will themselves be rejected in the end. Those who accept and adopt His plan will find themselves accepted and adopted in the end. More than that, He will reward them in the end. As you watch time pass, keep in mind What Scripture Says about Pre-History and Post-History, because eventually it will be good—very good—to be Out of Time.
The pdf of this paper, found here, contains, in addition to the endnotes, several informative appendices:
The pdf of this paper, found here, contains, in addition to the endnotes, several informative appendices:
- Appendix A: Pre- and Post-History References according to Phrase
- Appendix B: Pre- and Post-History References according to Content
- Appendix C: Additional passages
- Appendix D: A Comparison of Content for Pre- and Post-History
