Ages (Part II)

Lesson Content

II The Angelic Period: In the beginning God created the heaven and all things therein which includes the angels. This was long before the creation of man. The angels were created full of wisdom and perfect in beauty (Ezek.28:12). They were created to be ministering spirits to man who was to inhabit the earth and inherit salvation. That is why it is written that the angels rejoiced when the foundation of the earth was laid (Job 38:4-7).Before God created man and placed him on the earth, the angels were kept on the earth for a period of trial (Ezek.28:13). In that period, some angels fell because they became proud of their beauty. Another group was l ifted up because of all that God had given them and hence they also fell. When these angels fell they became devils (Ezek.28:12-17; Isa.14:12-15). Therefore the earth became without form and void. God then renewed the earth, created man and placed him in t he garden of Eden. The angels which were faithful and victorious in their trial, continue to be ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation. III The Period of Innocency: The period from the creation of man to his fall due to his disobedience, is known as the Period of Innocency. The earth that was without form and void, due to the fall of the angels was renewed or reformed by God. In this earth, God created man in His own image and likeness. When God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, man b ecame a living soul. God gave him dominion over fishes, fowls, cattle and other living creatures. The trees in the garden of Eden were sufficient for the growth of his body and soul. In the midst of the garden was the tree of life, and it was God’s plan th at man should eat of the fruit of the tree of life and grow in life or attain perfection. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was also in the midst of the garden. The Lord had commanded him not to eat of it and said that on the day that he ate of it he would surely die (Gen.2:17). Eve was made out of the rib of Adam and given as a help meet for him. They enjoyed the presence of God and had fellowship with Him. The earth was blessed and no curse or evil was seen in it. There were no thorns or briers. God walked in the garden and communed with them. There was perfect peace between God and man, between man and man, between man and animals and between animal and animal. Man was given a free will and therefore he is a higher creation than animals. God had made man upright. But when he ate of the forbidden fruit, he lost all the blessings of God and the perfection which he should have

attained. The earth also came under a curse (Gen.3:17-19) and Satan became the prince of this world.

Moral

If God spared not the angels who sinned, nor the first man Adam for his act of disobedience, we who have received the higher teachings of perfection will have no way of escape if we neglect so great salvation. We should therefore walk as obedient children.