Angels in Heaven, Before the Rebellion
21
being in all the universe that could enter into all the counsels and
purposes of God.—
The Great Controversy, 493
.
Before Sin Arose, God Had a Plan
God and Christ knew from the beginning, of the apostasy of Satan
and of the fall of Adam through the deceptive power of the apostate.
The plan of salvation was designed to redeem the fallen race, to give
them another trial. Christ was appointed to the office of Mediator from
the creation of God, set up from everlasting to be our substitute and
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surety.—
Selected Messages 1:250
.
Known unto God are all His works, and from eternal ages the
covenant of grace (unmerited favor) existed in the mind of God. It is
called the everlasting covenant; for the plan of salvation was not con-
ceived after the fall of man, but it was that which was “kept in silence
through times eternal, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures
of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God,
is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith.”
Romans
16:25, 26
, A.R.V.—
The Signs of the Times, December 15, 1914
.
The plan for our redemption was not an afterthought, a plan for-
mulated after the fall of Adam. It was a revelation of “the mystery
which hath been kept in silence through times eternal.”
Romans 16:25
,
R.V. It was an unfolding of the principles that from eternal ages have
been the foundation of God’s throne.... God did not ordain that sin
should exist, but He foresaw its existence, and made provision to meet
the terrible emergency.—
The Desire of Ages, 22
.
Creation of the Angels
The Father wrought by His Son in the creation of all heavenly
beings. “By Him were all things created, ... whether they be thrones,
or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by
Him, and for Him.”—
Patriarchs and Prophets, 34
.
Before the creation of man, angels were in existence; for when the
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foundations of the earth were laid, “the morning stars sang together,
and all the sons of God shouted for joy.”
Job 38:7
. After the fall of man,
angels were sent to guard the tree of life, and this before a human being
had died. Angels are in nature superior to men, for the psalmist says