The Plan of Redemption

Lesson #1- The Creation of Man and the Inhabitants of other Worlds

The focus of this study is the creation of this world and its ihanbitants, and the inhabitants of other worlds in the universe of God. We also want to know the divine purpose in the creation of man and what prospect was set before us by our Creator.

Before the assembled inhabitants of heaven, what divine purpose was announced by the Father relative to the work of creation?

Patriarch and Prophets, p. 36.2

“Before the assembled inhabitants of heaven, the King declared that none but Christ, the Only Begotten of God, could fully enter into His purposes, and to Him it was committed to execute the mighty counsels of His will. The Son of God had wrought the Father’s will in the creation of all the hosts of heaven; and to Him, as well as to God, their homage and allegiance were due. Christ was still to exercise divine power, in the creation of the earth and its inhabitants.”

After the war in Heaven, how was this divine purpose implemented?

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

Spirit of Prophecy, vo. 1, p. 22.3

“Angels in Heaven mourned the fate of those who had been their companions in happiness and bliss. Their loss was felt in Heaven. The Father consulted Jesus in regard to at once carrying out their purpose to make man to inhabit the earth…”

“The Father and the Son engaged in the mighty, wondrous work they had contemplated, of creating the world. The earth came forth from the hand of the Creator exceedingly beautiful.”

Further proof that Christ is the creator of all things

John 1:1-3

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same [word] was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him [the Word]; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Hebrew 1:8-10

8.But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

10 And, Thou, Lord [Jesus], in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

What was the last or final act in the work of Creation?

Genesis 1:26, 27

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 24.2

“After the earth was created, and the beasts upon it, the Father and Son carried out their purpose, which was designed before the fall of Satan, to make man in their own image. They had wrought together in the creation of the earth and every living thing upon it. And now God says to his Son, “Let us make man in our image.” As Adam came forth from the hand of his Creator, he was of noble height, and of beautiful symmetry.”

How do we know that Man was the crowning act of the Creator?

Patriarch and Prophets, p. 44.2

“After the earth with its teeming animal and vegetable life had been called into existence, man, the crowning work of the Creator, and the one for whom the beautiful earth had been fitted up, was brought upon the stage of action. To him was given dominion over all that his eye could behold; for “God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over . . . all the earth. . . . So God created man in His own image; . . . male and female created He them.”

Note: crowning adjective supreme, final, ultimate, sovereign, paramount, culminating, consummate, mother of all (informal), climactic the crowning moment of an illustrious career

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Was the earth the only world created by God?

Hebrews 1:1, 2

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds [plural];

Hebrews 11:3

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds [plural] were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

What parable of Jesus indicates that there are many other worlds in the universe created by God besides this world we are living?

Luke 15:3-7

3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

5 And when he hath found [it], he layeth [it] on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together [his] friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”

What does the ninety and nine sheep in the parable represents?

Acts of the Apostles, p. 471

“The Son of God stooped to uplift the fallen. For this He left the sinless worlds on high, the ninety and nine that loved Him, and came to this earth to be “wounded for our transgressions” and “bruised for our iniquities.” Isaiah 53:5. He was in all things made like unto His brethren. He became flesh, even as we are.”

What was represented by the lost sheep in the parable?

Christ Object Lessons, p. 190

“The rabbis understood Christ’s parable as applying to the publicans and sinners; but it has also a wider meaning. By the lost sheep Christ represents not only the individual sinner but the one world that has apostatized and has been ruined by sin. This world is but an atom in the vast dominions over which God presides, yet this little fallen world–the one lost sheep–is more precious in His sight than are the ninety and nine that went not astray from the fold. Christ, the loved Commander in the heavenly courts, stooped from His high estate, laid aside the glory that He had with the Father, in order to save the one lost world. For this He left the sinless worlds on high, the ninety and nine that loved Him, and came to this earth, to be “wounded for our transgressions” and “bruised for our iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:5.) God gave Himself in His Son that He might have the joy of receiving back the sheep that was lost.”

Are the number of unfallen worlds exactly ninety and nine in number?

Christian Education, p. 54:4

“He who upholds the unnumbered worlds throughout immensity, at the same time cares for the wants of the little brown sparrow that sings its humble song without a fear.”

Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students, p. 66.2

“Men living in this little atom of a world are finite; God has unnumbered worlds that are obedient to His laws and are conducted with reference to His glory. When men have gone as far in scientific research as their limited powers will permit, there is still an infinity beyond what they can apprehend.”

Education, p. 129.1

“In regard to the work of creation itself the divine testimony is, “He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalm 33:9. With Him who could thus call into existence unnumbered worlds, how long a time would be required for the evolution of the earth from chaos? In order to account for His works, must we do violence to His word?” {Ed 129.1}

Are the unnumbered sinless worlds inhabited by created beings?

Colossians 1:15-18

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Note: thrones, or Dominions, or principalities, or powers indicates that the worlds created by God are inhabited by intelligent beings.

Desire of Ages, page 833

“Then the portals of the city of God are opened wide, and the angelic throng sweep through the gates amid a burst of rapturous music. There is the throne, and around it the rainbow of promise. There are cherubim and seraphim. The commanders of the angel hosts, the sons of God, the representatives of the unfallen worlds, are assembled. The heavenly council before which Lucifer had accused God and His Son, the representatives of those sinless realms over which Satan had thought to establish his dominion,–all are there to welcome the Redeemer. They are eager to celebrate His triumph and to glorify their King.”

Note: Representatives of the unfallen worlds are on a small portion of the inhabitants of the unfallen worlds.

The Youth Instructor, December 30, 1897 par. 5

“There is but one world that has apostatized, but one flock of lost sheep. The inhabitants of other worlds are loyal and true to God. But shall he permit the one lost sheep to perish? Jesus says: “How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” This parable shows the merciful goodness of God toward fallen man.”

Do the unfallen worlds also have a forbidden tree whereby the loyalty and faithfulness of its inhabitants to God are being tested?

Early Writings, p. 40

“The Lord has given me a view of other worlds. Wings were given me, and an angel attended me from the city to a place that was bright and glorious. The grass of the place was living green, and the birds there warbled a sweet song. The inhabitants of the place were of all sizes; they were noble, majestic, and lovely. They bore the express image of Jesus, and their countenances beamed with holy joy, expressive of the freedom and happiness of the place. I asked one of them why they were so much more lovely than those on the earth. The reply was, “We have lived in strict obedience to the commandments of God, and have not fallen by disobedience, like those on the earth.” Then I saw two trees, one looked much like the tree of life in the city. The fruit of both looked beautiful, but of one they could not eat. They had power to eat of both, but were forbidden to eat of one. Then my attending angel said to me, “None in this place have tasted of the forbidden tree; but if they should eat, they would fall.”

Is the reason the inhabitants of the other worlds did not taste of the forbidden fruit was because Satan did not go there to tempt them to eat?

Early Writings, p. 290.2

“When Satan and his evil angels are imprisoned in the world for a thousand years the messenger of the Lord wrote, “I heard shouts of triumph from the angels and from the redeemed saints, which sounded like ten thousand musical instruments, because they were to be no more annoyed and tempted by Satan and because the inhabitants of other worlds were delivered from his presence and his temptations.”

Note: The statement that “the inhabitants of other worlds were delivered from his presence and his temptations” indicates that Satan visited these sinless worlds and tempted them also to eat of the forbidden fruit as EW 40 says, they did not eat of it.

After His expulsion from heaven, where did Satan sought to establish his own kingdom?

Desire of Ages, page 833

“Then the portals of the city of God are opened wide, and the angelic throng sweep through the gates amid a burst of rapturous music. There is the throne, and around it the rainbow of promise. There are cherubim and seraphim. The commanders of the angel hosts, the sons of God, the representatives of the unfallen worlds, are assembled. The heavenly council before which Lucifer had accused God and His Son, the representatives of those sinless realms over which Satan had thought to establish his dominion,–all are there to welcome the Redeemer. They are eager to celebrate His triumph and to glorify their King.”

What was God’s original purpose for the earth and man?

Review and Herald, Feb. 11, 1902

“All heaven took a deep and joyful interest in the creation of the world and of man. Human beings were a new and distinct order. They were made “in the image of God,” and it was the Creator’s design that they should populate the earth. They were to live in close communion with heaven, receiving power from the Source of all power. Upheld by God, they were to live sinless lives.”

What was the position of Adam in the kingdom of this world?

Genesis 1:27, 28 –

27 So God created man… male and female… and God said unto them,

28 Be fruitful, and multiply…and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

Amazing Grace, p. 40. 2

“Adam was crowned king in Eden. To him was given dominion over every living thing that God had created. The Lord blessed Adam and Eve with intelligence such as He had not given to any other creature. He made Adam the rightful sovereign over all the works of His hands.”

Among God’s intelligent creatures, who is the noblest, next to the angelic beings?

Review and Herald, Dec. 3, 1908

“Next to the angelic beings, the human family, formed in the image of God, are the noblest of His created works.”

Among the living creatures of God who was endowed with a superior mind?

Review and Herald, Feb. 24, 1874

“The Lord . . . had endowed Adam with powers of mind superior to any living creature that He had made. His mental powers were but little lower than those of the angels.”

Though the mental power of man is lower than the angels, what is written about its potential capability?

RH, February 24, 1874 par. 8

“Adam could reflect that he was created in the image of God, to be like him (God) in righteousness and holiness. His mind was capable of continual cultivation, expansion, refinement and noble elevation; for God was his teacher, and angels were his companions.”

Education, page 15

“Throughout eternal ages he (man) would have continued to gain new treasures of knowledge, to discover fresh springs of happiness, and to obtain clearer and yet clearer conceptions of the wisdom, the power, and the love of God. More and more fully would he have fulfilled the object of his creation, more and more fully have reflected the Creator’s glory.”

How long will man’s mental power remain lower than the angels?

Hebrews 2:6-8

But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing [that is] not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.”

Note: The word “Little” is from the Greek word brachus which means “a little while.”

What special opportunity was open for man due to the vacancies made in heaven due to the expulsion of the fallen angels?

Bible Commentary, vol. 1, 1082

“God created man for His own glory, that after test and trial the human family might become one with the heavenly family. It was God’s purpose to repopulate heaven with the human family.” —

Review and Herald, May 29, 1900

“The vacancies made in heaven by the fall of Satan and his angels will be filled by the redeemed of the Lord.” —

Before Man shall be rendered eternally secure and equal with the angels, what must be done first?

Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, page 23

“He would place man upon probation to test his loyalty, before he could be rendered eternally secure. If he endured the test wherewith God saw fit to prove him, he should eventually be equal with the angels. He was to have the favor of God, and he was to converse with angels, and they with him. He did not see fit to place them beyond the power of disobedience.”

Besides becoming equal with the angels, what else will man obtain after passing the first test?

Review and Herald, Feb. 24, 1874.

“Man was to be tested and proved, and if he should bear the test of God, and remain loyal and true after the first trial, he was not to be beset with continual temptations; but was to be exalted equal with the angels, and henceforth immortal.”

What simple test of loyalty was given to man?

Genesis 2:15-17

15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Though Satan did not succeed in getting all the worlds to join him in his rebellion, what did God foresee will happen to man through the deceptive work of Satan?

Desire of Ages, p. 22

“From the beginning, God and Christ knew of the apostasy of Satan, and of the fall of man through the deceptive power of the apostate. God did not ordain that sin should exist, but He foresaw its existence, and made provision to meet the terrible emergency.”

24. Did man passed the simple test?

Genesis 3:1-6

“Now the serpent …said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

What was Satan’s purpose in tempting Man to sin?

Desire of Ages, p. 25

“It was Satan’s purpose to bring about an eternal separation between God and man…”

Steps to Christ, p. 17

“(Man) was made captive by Satan, and would have remained so forever had not God specially interposed. It was the tempter’s purpose to thwart the divine plan in man’s creation, and fill the earth with woe and desolation. And he would point to all this evil as the result of God’s work in creating man.”

What did Christ asked the Father to do to counteract Satan’s purpose?

The Great Controversy, p. 483, 484

“Satan in his efforts to deceive and tempt our race had thought to frustrate the divine plan in man’s creation;but Christ now asks that this plan be carried into effect as if man had never fallen. He asks for His people not only pardon and justification, full and complete, but a share in His glory and a seat upon His throne.”