All Our Yesterdays
"To the last
syllable of recorded time, and all our yesterdays. . ." (Macbeth V.v.)
A series of brief articles
dealing with Human Pre-existence
by Arthur & Rosalind Eedle.
9. Of gods and men
What is
life like in the heavenly dimension? What goes on there day by day? To ask a
hundred people for an answer might very well produce a cross-section of
information, based mainly on imagination, some of which might seem ludicrous,
whilst others appear plausible. We have to admit that, much as we would like to
know, we are for the most part quite ignorant. Furthermore we might be told
that we cannot know.
However,
ever as we have shown that the subject of pre-existence is found under the
surface in the Bible, in a number of places, so also I believe there is more to
be learned of a factual and reliable nature on the subject of the heavens than
most are aware of. If we look into the matter in this part of our study, it
will of course have a bearing on our theme.
Let's have
a look at Psalm 82. "A Psalm of Asaph. God stands in the
congregation of El. In the midst of the gods He judges. 'How long will you
judge unjustly, lifting up the faces of the lawless?' Selah.
'Vindicate
the poor and the orphan; do justice to the afflicted and needy; deliver the
poor and destitute; save them from the hand of the lawless ones.
They neither know nor understand; they walk in darkness. All the foundations of
the earth are shaken.
'I
have said, you are gods; you are all sons of the Most High. But you shall die
as man [i.e. a human death] and like one of the princes, you shall fall.'
Arise,
O God, judge the earth, for You shall inherit in all the nations."
I get the
distinct impression that we are being told about a heavenly congregation,
in which are found unjust judges. It looks as though they are
earth-bound, because the Lord argues with them about their careless and
unconcerned attitude towards the poor, needy, afflicted, and destitute. But a
careful reading shows that God is mingling with higher dimensional beings in
what is called "the congregation of El." This
is not on the earth.
Turning to
Isaiah 14, we read about
We are now
reading about "the mount of the congregation."
Furthermore its location is given as "on the sides of the
north." Lucifer is depicted first of all in the heavenly sphere,
then on earth, and finally consigned to Sheol.
Another
example of these gatherings is found in Job chapter 1. "A day
arrived when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, and
Satan also came among them. Jehovah said to Satan, 'From whence have you
come?' Satan answered Jehovah, saying, 'From going to and fro in the
earth, and from walking back and forth in it.'" (Job 1:6-7)
The
presentation was in heaven. But Satan spoke about his perambulations on earth.
The connection between the two spheres is important to our theme.
Our next
reference in this connection comes from Zechariah, where the Prophet received a
vision, in which he saw "Joshua the high priest standing before the
angel of Jehovah, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him." (Zech.3:1-2)
Joshua would not have been aware of this. However, in the heavens it was real
enough, and Zechariah was granted a "peep behind the curtain" to know
and understand what was transpiring in the heavens.
Our last
reference comes from Daniel. The Prophet had been mourning and fasting for
three weeks. Eventually a mighty angel visited him in vision. It was possibly
Gabriel, telling him that his prayers were heard on the first day he
prayed, but Gabriel was delayed because "the ruler of the
A synthesis
of the above passages is sufficient to tell us that in the heavenlies there are
angels, rulers, and those whom the Lord calls "gods", all of whom are
related in some way to the management of people on earth, and who exercise
unseen power over human activities. The congregations, assemblies, convocations
which meet on certain occasions are attended by these high-up ministers, many
of whom are unjust, and seek only to feather their own nests at the expense of
ordinary folk. The Lord remonstrates with them, showing that He has given them
freewill to act according to their own desires, but that HE ultimately controls
the whole world at every level. He tells the unjust ministers that a time will
come when they will have to pass through the valley of this world, and will die
like anyone else. Their exalted opinions, and self-seeking luxuries will be
exchanged for darkness and the pit.
Even
Lucifer, "Helel the son of the early dawn" to use his proper title,
will eventually be thrown down to this earth as a human being, then eventually
consigned to sheol at some future stage in the development of God's purposes.
The
interchange between heaven and earth has been going on throughout all history.
We see evidence of corruption in high places on earth, and know that some of
these people have occupied similar positions in the heavens beforehand, and
(unwittingly to them) are acting in accordance with some faint recollections
buried deep in their subconscious. But nothing is of a foregone conclusion.
Freewill still operates, and there are always opportunities for change,
repentance, and reconciliation with God.
These
snatches of insight, granted to us from the Scriptures, yield further
information about our subject of pre-existence. It is my considered opinion
that the truths of Universal Reconciliation, coupled with what
can be learned about Pre-existence, provide us with a greater
and more wholesome understanding of the great and mighty purposes of our
Creator, and Redeemer God, who will ultimately wind up all His affairs with a
New Heaven and a New Earth, in which righteousness will dwell.