Isaac Newton (1642-1727), who famously discovered the force of gravity, believed time was eternal. It was only during the 20th century that Einstein’s theory of relativity and the detection of cosmic background radiation, among other findings, indicated time actually had a beginning and was woven into the very fabric of space.
Moreover, all the known ancient religious books except for the Bible describe time as being eternal. Only the Bible claims there was a moment when time, as we know it, did not exist, and mentions this concept in several places. As the astrophysicist Hugh Ross points out: “Because humans are trapped in time, where time is linear and cannot be halted or reversed, the idea that anything could exist ‘before’ time defies imagination. Yet, both the Old and New Testaments, uniquely among pre-modern texts, refer to God’s activities ‘before the beginning of time’ (Proverbs 8:22-23; John 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 2:7; and 2 Timothy 1:9).
Biblically speaking, God “inhabits eternity” (Isaiah 57:15). It is His dwelling place from where He can intervene at will in the universe (Isaiah 46:10). You and I were created—to have an unending relationship with God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and all those whom They would eventually bring to a glorified state (Hebrews 2:10). The Bible speaks of “the hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began” (Titus 1:2). Eternal life means we will no longer be constrained by time. All of us have a beginning, but if we are faithful to God, we are promised a resurrection to an everlasting life in a glorious spirit body.
Love is the prevailing attribute of God the Father and Jesus Christ (1 John 4:8), who want to share this godly bond with us throughout eternity: “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!… Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:1-2).
God’s grace—His undeserved favor, including forgiveness through Christ—is something planned before time began. It involves calling people, leading them to repentance and forgiving those who accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for their sins, turn from an ungodly lifestyle and commit to obeying God’s holy laws. It also involves help to continue in obedience, great blessings in this life and future reward in God’s Kingdom. As 2 Timothy 1:8-9 says, “God…has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”
God created human beings with free will, giving them freedom to choose what to do with their lives. This meant they could choose to sin, which brings misery. But God also established, prior to the beginning of time, a way for us to be forgiven of our sins. As the Bible tells us, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Before we existed, God the Father and the Word who became Jesus Christ (John 1:1-3, John 1:14) were willing to pay the ultimate price—to have Jesus, beloved Son of the Father, sacrificed in suffering and death as a substitute for our sins: “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work….knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things….but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:18-20).
Our Creator’s plan of salvation for mankind is outlined by the annual festivals of God laid out in the Bible, which reveal seven main steps. It starts with the observance of the annual Passover, symbolizing Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. Then the seven Days of Unleavened Bread picture God’s people accepting that sacrifice of sin and determining to put sin out of their lives. The third step is depicted by Pentecost—when God’s Spirit was given to the disciples —so God the Father and Jesus Christ could make a dwelling place with us (John 14:23). The fourth step is the Feast of Trumpets, marking the second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth to reign as King of Kings over all nations. The fifth stage is the Day of Atonement, when Satan will be removed from being able to deceive mankind, and the world at large will be led to repentance. The sixth step is the Feast of Tabernacles, symbolizing the thousand-year rule of Jesus Christ over the entire earth.
Finally, the seventh stage of this plan of salvation is the last feast—the Eighth Day, also referred to as the Last Great Day. This marks the opportunity of salvation for all human beings, then resurrected, who were not called during their former lives. They will have a chance to accept Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for their sins. God is not a respecter of persons, and this vast multitude of human beings will at last have the “veil” of deception removed which blinded them from God’s spiritual truths during their lifetime in this age (Isaiah 25:7), and be given God’s Holy Spirit.
Through the annual observance of God’s Holy Days and the understanding of their meaning we can comprehend God’s plan for humanity and the gift of eternal life He is offering us, which He planned prior to the creation of mankind before time began. (Be sure to read our free study guide: God’s Festivals – Keys To Humanity’s Future (Bible Study Course: Lesson 12).
