The second question is one of those that will short-circuit your brain if you think about it too long!
When did forever begin and how was God just there?
Eternity (forever) is not something that has a beginning or end. It is infinite or boundless, meaning that no boundaries can be placed around it. Eternity exists outside of the boundaries that time exists within. In fact, the Bible teaches us that God is eternal, which means He had no beginning, has no end, and dwells outside of the boundaries of time. As part of God’s creation it is very difficult (actually impossible) for us to fully understand this attribute of God. From birth we are taught that everything around us came from something. And for everything except God, that statement is true. Genesis 1:1 tells us, “In the beginning God.” The Bible never talks about the “beginning” of God because He had no beginning. God has no origin (beginning) and it is this concept of no-origin that distinguishes that which is God from that which is not God (cf. Colossians 1:15-17; John 1:1-3).
Moses prayed in Psalm 90:1-2, “O Lord, you have been our protector through all generations! Even before the mountains came into existence, or you brought the world into being, you were the eternal God.”
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Where did these questions come from? In early April 2010 I was invited to join our Engage youth (junior & senior high student ministry at Geist Community Church) for a Q&A session. The students had been given the opportunity to anonymously submit questions that they wanted me to attempt to answer. The quality (and quantity) of the questions that were submitted really impacted me in a big way. The questions they asked are questions that people have wrestled with for centuries, if not longer. In fact, the questions were so good that I decided to spend time interacting with them on my blog. While I may not have time (or the knowledge) to fully answer each question, my hope is to at least point us in the right direction in Scripture so that we can continue to dialogue and seek the truth.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Question #1 - Why can Satan still go into God's presence?
This past Sunday evening I was invited to join our Engage youth (junior & senior high student ministry at Geist Community Church) for a Q&A session. For the past couple of weeks the students have been given the opportunity to anonymously submit questions that they wanted me to attempt to answer. The quality (and quantity) of the questions that were submitted pleasantly surprised me. The questions they asked are questions that people have wrestled with for centuries, if not longer. In fact, the questions were so good that I decided to spend the next several weeks interacting with them on my blog. While I may not have time (or the knowledge) to fully answer each question, my hope is to at least point us in the right direction in Scripture so that we can continue to dialogue and seek the truth. Take a look at question #1:
If heaven is a perfect place where no sin can enter, why could Satan go into heaven?
Let’s start with what we know to be true from the Bible. First, we know that Satan and the fallen angels (demons) were cast down to earth at some point in history when they rebelled against God in heaven. Revelation 12:9 says, “the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world – was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him.” Currently, he is roaming around the earth “like a roaring lion…looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) We also know that Satan indeed enters the presence of God. In Job 1:6-7 we read, “the day came when the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves before the Lord – and Satan also arrived among them…‘from roving about on the earth’.” Back in Revelation 12:10 we also see that Satan (literally “the accuser” or “adversary”) is before God day and night accusing believers.
The real difficulty in answering this question is the complex nature of the term ‘heaven.’ The Jewish rabbinic idea of ‘heaven’ involves a multiplicity of ‘heavens,’ usually in the neighborhood of seven different heavens. Again, however, we must look at what Scripture teaches. Heaven is sometimes used to refer to the expanse of the sky above the earth. (cf. Gen. 1:14-16) Heaven is also frequently referred to as the dwelling place of God. (cf. Dt. 26:15; 1 Ki. 8:30; Jon. 1:9) Believers are encouraged by our Savior, Jesus, to “store up treasures in heaven” (Matt 6:20). We are also told we have been given an inheritance in heaven which can never perish, spoil, or fade. Still other passages such as Isaiah 65:17, 2 Peter 3:10-13, and Rev. 21:1 tell us that God will create a “new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”
Based on that very quick survey of Scripture, there are at least 3 primary uses of the term heaven.
(1) the sky
(2) the current dwelling place of God and his host of angels (current heaven)
(3) the future eternal home of God, the ‘good’ angels, and all believers (new heaven)
In order to answer our original question, we’ll focus on the second use of heaven: “the current dwelling place of God.” Biblical language certainly alludes to the fact that heaven is a place of perfection (and it must be in order to be the dwelling place of the perfect God). However, as we have already established, Satan is still clearly given access to heaven. How can the great “accuser” be given access to a place that is perfect? The only answer can be…GRACE. God’s amazing, wonderful grace.
Yes, God is holy and can have nothing to do with sin. (cf. Lev. 11:44) He is also a God of justice and promises to judge sin and eternally punish those who have not trusted in the work of His Son, Jesus Christ, to save them. (cf. Psalm 11:7, 89:14; Revelation 20:11-15) While sin has already been defeated through the work of Jesus Christ (cf. Rom. 6:8-10), the ultimate judgment of sin by God has yet to happen because God is also a God of great patience (cf. Rom. 2:4; 9:22). 2 Peter 3:9 is perhaps the clearest picture of his patience: “The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
Why does God allow Satan to still enter His presence? The same reason Adam and Eve didn’t die the exact moment they first ate the forbidden fruit. Grace. Yes, Adam and Eve both immediately died spiritually (separated from God) and eventually died physically. However, it was purely God's grace that they didn't immediately drop dead when they disobeyed God's command, because the "wages of sin is death."
Of this we can be sure: Satan’s eternity in the lake of fire is sealed and his reign on this earth is quickly coming to an end (cf. Rev. 20). God will bring His justice to heaven and earth. Remember, justice delayed is not justice denied…it’s grace.
If heaven is a perfect place where no sin can enter, why could Satan go into heaven?
Let’s start with what we know to be true from the Bible. First, we know that Satan and the fallen angels (demons) were cast down to earth at some point in history when they rebelled against God in heaven. Revelation 12:9 says, “the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world – was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him.” Currently, he is roaming around the earth “like a roaring lion…looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) We also know that Satan indeed enters the presence of God. In Job 1:6-7 we read, “the day came when the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves before the Lord – and Satan also arrived among them…‘from roving about on the earth’.” Back in Revelation 12:10 we also see that Satan (literally “the accuser” or “adversary”) is before God day and night accusing believers.
The real difficulty in answering this question is the complex nature of the term ‘heaven.’ The Jewish rabbinic idea of ‘heaven’ involves a multiplicity of ‘heavens,’ usually in the neighborhood of seven different heavens. Again, however, we must look at what Scripture teaches. Heaven is sometimes used to refer to the expanse of the sky above the earth. (cf. Gen. 1:14-16) Heaven is also frequently referred to as the dwelling place of God. (cf. Dt. 26:15; 1 Ki. 8:30; Jon. 1:9) Believers are encouraged by our Savior, Jesus, to “store up treasures in heaven” (Matt 6:20). We are also told we have been given an inheritance in heaven which can never perish, spoil, or fade. Still other passages such as Isaiah 65:17, 2 Peter 3:10-13, and Rev. 21:1 tell us that God will create a “new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”
Based on that very quick survey of Scripture, there are at least 3 primary uses of the term heaven.
(1) the sky
(2) the current dwelling place of God and his host of angels (current heaven)
(3) the future eternal home of God, the ‘good’ angels, and all believers (new heaven)
In order to answer our original question, we’ll focus on the second use of heaven: “the current dwelling place of God.” Biblical language certainly alludes to the fact that heaven is a place of perfection (and it must be in order to be the dwelling place of the perfect God). However, as we have already established, Satan is still clearly given access to heaven. How can the great “accuser” be given access to a place that is perfect? The only answer can be…GRACE. God’s amazing, wonderful grace.
Yes, God is holy and can have nothing to do with sin. (cf. Lev. 11:44) He is also a God of justice and promises to judge sin and eternally punish those who have not trusted in the work of His Son, Jesus Christ, to save them. (cf. Psalm 11:7, 89:14; Revelation 20:11-15) While sin has already been defeated through the work of Jesus Christ (cf. Rom. 6:8-10), the ultimate judgment of sin by God has yet to happen because God is also a God of great patience (cf. Rom. 2:4; 9:22). 2 Peter 3:9 is perhaps the clearest picture of his patience: “The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
Why does God allow Satan to still enter His presence? The same reason Adam and Eve didn’t die the exact moment they first ate the forbidden fruit. Grace. Yes, Adam and Eve both immediately died spiritually (separated from God) and eventually died physically. However, it was purely God's grace that they didn't immediately drop dead when they disobeyed God's command, because the "wages of sin is death."
Of this we can be sure: Satan’s eternity in the lake of fire is sealed and his reign on this earth is quickly coming to an end (cf. Rev. 20). God will bring His justice to heaven and earth. Remember, justice delayed is not justice denied…it’s grace.
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