From, Before, or Since the Foundation of the World [Audio Version]

By: James Thomas Lee Jr

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Ten places in the Bible, mention is made about events and decisions that were made from, before, or since the foundation of the world. Four of those occasions were spoken by Jesus during His public ministry. One was written by the Apostle Paul. One was written by the Apostle Peter. Two occurrences were included in the book of Hebrews. Two occurrences were mentioned in the book of Revelation.

In chapters one through three of this text, two of the writings about events and decisions from the foundation of the world will be shared. First, Jesus taught secrets about the Word of God and secrets about the kingdom of heaven in eight separate parables. By speaking in parables, He intentionally limited the ability of the wrong kind of people to understand His message. The Prophet Isaiah many years earlier had written that the ungodly people would hear with their ears and see with their eyes. But they would not be able to understand or comprehend the message. In chapter four of this text, Jesus dined with a Pharisee and spoke to him about the blood of the prophets that had been shed from the foundation of the world. He also spoken about the blood of the apostles. But while His words may have seemed like their martyrdom was foreordained from the beginning, that was most likely not what He was saying.

In chapters five and six of this text, the verse that says that God had loved Jesus before the foundation of the world will be examined. That verse proves His deity and also raises a question about God choosing those people who will be saved and who will not saved. Those chapters will also look at the kingdom that was prepared from the foundation of the world and how someone can enter into it. Even though the passage relating to that discussion might imply that people are saved by their good works, the discussion will show that that is not the case. In chapters seven through eleven of this text, the death of Jesus being foreordained before the foundation of the world and His not suffering since the foundation of the world will be examined.

In chapters twelve and thirteen of this text, what God chose in Him before the foundation of the world and what was meant by the finished works from the foundation of the world will be examined. Finally, in chapter fourteen of this text, a review will be conducted about those names that were not written in the book of Life. Once again, do the two passages discussed mean or imply that God had already decided from the foundation of the world those people who would and would not be saved? Chapter fourteen will provide a biblical basis for better understanding that question.

There is one note, however, to be made with respect to the organization of this text before concluding this Introduction. Something that the reader might find useful is boxes throughout that show the different passages that are being referenced at the times and in the places where they are being referenced. That way, he or she will not have to jump all over the place or get into or out of the scriptures to locate a particular reference. Hopefully that inclusion will help the reader in trying to understand the various events and to also quickly put them into their right context. So it is hoped that that addition will make this text easier to read and that the Lord will receive the praise, honor, and glory that He rightfully deserves.