The Everlasting Covenant

The Covenant of God to redeem mankind, as presented throughout history.

SEARCH 

 

1.5 General Terms

by Hubert F. Sturges, www.everlastingcovenant.com, September 2009

 

In the covenant project, the use of terms is very important. Each term carries with it a certain connotation as to its meaning. At the same time different people will assign very different meanings to the same terms. The following is a list of terms used in describing the covenants with a brief annotation as to their usual meanings.

I have proposed terms that are preferred, some that are allowed, and those that should be avoided. This last category are terms that are often limited in their scope and are subject to controversy. I recognize that this listing is based on my proposals, and can only be a suggestion for others.
^ Return to Top

1. Bible
The Bible is a collection of “books” written by “prophets” over a period of about 1600 years; from 1400 bc to 200 ad. Prophets are people who were inspired by God to carry messages from God to humans. The Bible is a unique combining of the divine and the human. The message is from God, but He allows the human prophet to express that message in his own words.

Many books have been written by prophets, but the Bible is a collection of those books judged to be especially accurate in giving the message of God. There is remarkable agreement in what the different authors wrote. More than any other book, the Bible has been an influence for good, both for individuals and for nations as well.
^ Return to Top

2. Creation
The first two chapters of Genesis describe creation of this earth by God. Chronology developed from the Bible story places creation at about 6,000 years ago. The Bible story affords an explanation of where things came from and where this world and everyone on is going to. These concepts are challenged by the theory of evolution. The evolutionists have problems in the lack of evidence for many of the things they assume. At the same time Creationists have problems explaining observations in the sedimentary rocks and the fossil record.

Creationists take by faith the things that cannot be explained. This faith is based on evidence that the Bible is true and that the God of the Bible can be experienced and changes the lives of men.
^ Return to Top

3. Fall of Man
The Bible describes man as being created perfect in an ideal setting, the Garden of Eden. Man was created in the “image of God.” Being tempted by the devil, Man fell from his exalted state. Man has degenerated from that point to where we are now. Evolutionists describe life as becoming more and more complex and more and more perfect until we arrive at the technical excellence we see today. In their view, there was no fall of man. The increasing chaos we see in the world today supports the Creationists view.
^ Return to Top

4. God
The God of the Bible is beyond human knowledge. The Bible pictures Him as being intrinsically unlimited in power, knowledge, time and space. In our creation, God was willing to limit His power by giving men and angels free choice.
^ Return to Top

5. The Godhead
The Bible speaks of God as one. Yet He is also referred to by a plural noun. In the New Testament there is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The early church fathers developed rather complex theories about God. The Seventh-day Adventist church takes a very modest view referring to the “triune God” as three persons in one. One God. Three persons. One in purpose, action and love. Beyond this brief statement, “silence is golden.” See Article #2.1 Covenant Beginning References.
^ Return to Top

6. Messiah and Redeemer
This speaks of Jesus Christ, promised at the fall of man in Eden and prophesied throughout the Old Testament times. These prophecies were fulfilled in the life, ministry, sacrificial death on calvary, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the Gospel and the foundation for the Christian Church.
^ Return to Top

7. The Everlasting Covenant
The covenant given to Abraham is described as the Everlasting Covenant. This term is used sixteen times in the Bible. The covenant began “before the foundation of the world” and continues into the New Earth. The everlasting covenant can thus be considered to be the underlying covenant in all God’s repetitions of the covenant throughout the ages.
^ Return to Top

8. The New Covenant
While the Jews were in captivity in Babylon, it was prophesied that they would return to Jerusalem in seventy years. Jeremiah prophesied that at that time they would be given a “new covenant.” This new covenant would involve “writing the law on their hearts” rather than just having them inscribed in stone.

The New Covenant is also referenced in Hebrews chapters eight and ten. We will devote several articles to talking about the New Covenant.
^ Return to Top

9. The Old covenant at Sinai
There is the historic Old Covenant entered into at Sinai which was temporary. This term is not used in the Bible, but has come to be used to describe the efforts of men to save themselves by keeping the law of Moses.

This was especially true in Jesus’ time. By then the rabbis had tacked on hundreds of additions to the law and to the ceremonies. They continued the sacrifices thinking that there was merit in animal sacrifices. Most had forgotten that the sacrifices pointed forward to a Redeemer who would give His life for them (John 12:34).
^ Return to Top

10. Themes of the Bible
The Bible does not preach as much as you might think. It carries its messages more in stories. Stories of men and nations and how God worked with them. The purpose of the Bible is to tell the story of Jesus Christ, the second person of the Godhead. Prophecies through the old Testament told of the Messiah who would come to Redeem mankind. After He came and died on Calvary, the New Testament explains to us the meaning of this, and of His coming again.

The story of His sacrificial death on Calvary for the sins of all mankind is the “Gospel.”
This is also called “the Plan of Salvation.”
^ Return to Top

11. The Great Controversy
The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan is another theme of the Bible. Lucifer, the highest angel in heaven became proud and jealous of Jesus Christ. Lucifer, a created being, an angel was not satisfied with his position. He wanted to be a god, equal with Jesus Christ. In rebelling he became Satan and the devil. He persuaded one third of the angels in heaven to join his rebellion. There was war in heaven and Satan and his angels were cast out into the earth.

The Great Controversy has continued on this earth. Satan cannot now reach Christ, but he can torment and tempt mankind, whom Christ has made. The controversy will end when Jesus Christ comes the second time, and sin and sinners are destroyed in the lake of fire.
^ Return to Top

12. Salvation
The Bible gives us the background for the fact that we live in a world of sin. All mankind is subject to problems of all kinds, including disease and death. Salvation is the concept that God has a better plan for us. Through Jesus Christ there is hope that mankind can overcome sin now, and will eventually be restored to the perfect Garden of Eden again, where there is no more sin or sorrow.
^ Return to Top

13. Prelapsarian
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/prelapsarian
This term relates to the period before the fall of Adam and Eve. It also describes any carefree or innocent period.
^ Return to Top

14. Prolepsis
By Richard Nordquist, About.com
This describes when decisions and actions are taken as if an expected future event has already occurred. Specifically this describes the authority and action taken to redeem men on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary -- to occur many years in the future.
^ Return to Top

15. Millenialism
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Millenialism
http://www.shoaheducation.com/post.html
http://www.religioustolerance.org/millenni.htm

The following terms can be confusing as there is a welter of different beliefs. Rather than try to describe each in detail, I will make a brief statement about each:
^ Return to Top

16. Eschatology is the study of end time events and the second Coming of Christ.

Revelation chapter twenty describes a time when the saints sit on thrones of judgment and live and reign with Christ for 1000 years. Revelation 20:5 states that this is after the first resurrection, meaning that it is also after the Second Coming of Christ. The term Millenium is not in the Bible, but is used to describe this 1000 year period. Verse nine mentions the “beloved city,” the New Jerusalem, where the saints are with Christ for the 1000 years. Immediately after this, the wicked are destroyed in the lake of fire.

Rapture is also a term not in the Bible. It is used to describe a secret rapture of the saints before the tribulation. This belief is not compatible with the Second Coming of Christ as described in Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; and Matthew 24:27-31 where Jesus comes again in glory in the clouds of heaven, with the trump of God and the voice of the Archangel. Every eye shall see Him come.

Armageddon is the name for the last battle before Christ comes again (Revelation 16: 15-21). A “gathering” is described but the battle is never fought by men. Careful reading of this passage shows the spiritual implications of the battle, and the supernatural events of the battle itself. This is the last battle in the great controversy between Christ and Satan. Satan will have gathered all his supporters to destroy God’s people. But God Himself will intervene to deliver them.
^ Return to Top