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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: MAN AND EARTH’S TRUE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF HIS FALL EXPOSES FALLACY OF GODLESS EVOLUTION 

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

August 13, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

MAN AND EARTH’S TRUE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF HIS FALL EXPOSES FALLACY OF GODLESS EVOLUTION 

     “In the beginning God created the heaven and earth.”  “And God said, let us make man IN our image, AFTER our likeness…..So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him, MALE AND FEMALE created He THEM.”  Gen. 1:1, 26, 27, KJV.  (Read chapter 3:1-24 for the origin of the fall of man in Eden).

Resuming from last week’s quote from E.G. White’s Patriarch & Prophets, 67-8 (all emphases and bracketed words provided):

     “Adam, in his [yet-sinless] innocence, had enjoyed OPEN communion with his Maker; but sin brought SEPARATION between God and man, and the ATONEMENT of Christ alone could SPAN the abyss, and make possible the communication of BLESSING OR SALVATION from [the third] heaven to earth. 

     “Man [post fall] was still cut off from DIRECT APPROACH to his Creator, but God would communicate with him THROUGH CHRIST AND ANGELS. 

     “Thus was revealed to Adam important events in the [real] HISTORY OF MANKIND, from the time the divine sentence [of separation and death] was pronounced IN EDEN, to the FLOOD, and onward to the FIRST ADVENT of the Son of God [four thousand years after the fall in Eden]. 

    “He was shown that while the sacrifice of Christ would be of sufficient value to SAVE the whole world, MANY would choose A LIFE OF SIN rather than of REPENTANCE AND OBEDIENCE. 

     “Crime would INCREASE through successive generations, and the CURSE OF SIN would rest and more heavily upon the HUMAN RACE, upon the BEASTS, and upon the EARTH. 

    “The days of man [lifespan] would be SHORTENED by his OWN course of sin; he would DETERIORATE in physical stature and endurance, and in MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL POWER, until the world would be FILLED with misery of every type. 

    “Through the INDULGENCE of appetite and passion, men would become INCAPABLE of appreciating the GREAT TRUTHS OF THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION. 

    “Yet Christ, TRUE TO THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH HE LEFT HEAVEN, would continue His interest in [now fallen, sinful] men, and still INVITE them to HIDE their weakness and deficiencies IN Him. He would SUPPLY the needs of all would COME TO HIM IN FAITH. 

   “And there would EVER BE A FEW who would preserve the knowledge of [the true] God, and would REMAIN UNSULLIED [morally and spiritually guiltless; without guile; undefiled; uncompromising; uncorrupted by sin] amid the  prevailing iniquity.” (E. G. White, Patriarchs & Prophets, pp. 67-8).

To be continued next MWM, God willing.  Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: RESTORED AS PURCHASED POSSESSION BY PLAN OF REDEMPTION THE ORIGINAL DOMINION BECOMES ETERNAL HOME OF THE REDEEMED

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

August 6, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

RESTORED AS PURCHASED POSSESSION BY PLAN OF REDEMPTION THE ORIGINAL DOMINION BECOMES ETERNAL HOME OF THE REDEEMED 

What do you think? 

On their own, how many professed followers of Jesus Christ, “the way, the truth, and the life,” would have discovered and recognized the glorious truth “bridges” that connect the Bible’s grand “twin peak” truths of Creation and Redemption—all centered on and emanating from Christ,” the Word from the beginning,” God Creator, and then “the Word was made and manifest in the flesh and dwelt among us,” Christ the Son of man, the world’s Redeemer? 

Like all other “Scriptures we are to search that testify of of Him”, these are “spread abroad” in and throughout the Bible, both in “minor” and “major” prophetic books of the Old Testament and in the epistles and prophecies of the New Testament. 

In addition to intellectually and spiritually following its to own prescribed rules of Bible study given in Isa. 8:20; 28: 9-13; 1 Cor. 2: 9-14; 1 Tim. 2:15, etc., the gift of “the Spirit of prophecy, which is the testimony of Jesus” (Rev. 12:17; 19:10) has been entrusted to the commandment-keeping remnant saints clearly identified in Rev. 14:12. 

I must reiterate that it is from the  pen of God’s last-day messenger that we continue quoting from in this series, as in all others, past, present, and future. Continuing from last week:

    “When man [tAdam in Eden] became Satan’s captive [by yielding to temptation and disobeying God Creator’s command and word], the DOMINION [original earth] which he held, PASSED to his conqueror. Thus Satan BECAME ‘the god of this world’ (2 Cor. 4:4). He had USURPED that dominion over the earth which had been ORIGINALLY given to Adam.

    “But Christ, by His sacrifice, PAYING THE PENALTY OF SIN, would not only REDEEM MAN, but RECOVER THE DOMINION which he had forfeited [by his transgression]. All that was LOST by the first Adam will be RESTORED by the second. [God incarnate in human nature].”

Now notice what the “sixth of the so-called Minor Prophets” wrote during the times of the southern kingdom:

     “Says the PROPHET, O Tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee it shall come, EVEN THE FIRST DOMINION.’ (Micah 4:8). 

    “And the APOSTLE Paul POINTS FORWARD [where?] to the ‘REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION’ (Eph. 1:14). 

    “God created the earth to be THE ABODE of holy, happy beings. ‘The Lord formed the EARTH, and made it; He hath established it, He created it NOT IN VAIN, He formed it to BE INHABITED.’ (Isa. 45: 18). 

     “That PURPOSE will be fulfilled, when, RENEWED by the power of God, and FREED from sin and sorrow, it shall become the ETERNAL ABODE OF THE REDEEMED. ‘The righteous shall INHERIT THE LAND, and dwell therein FOREVER.’ ‘And there shall be no more curse [of sin]; but the THRONE OF GOD AND THE LAMB SHALL BE IN IT [earth renewed!]; and His servants [the redeemed saints] shall serve Him.’ (Ps. 37; 29; Rev. 22: 3).” – E. G. White, Patriarchs & Prophets, Pacific Press Publishing Asso., 1913, p. 67. 

It’s more than “high time to awake out of sleep” and quickly, humbly, and thoroughly “examine and prove ourselves whether” all the things we believed and taught as “Bible and Gospel truth” can truly stand the closest scrutiny of God’s Word which is “sharper than a two-edged sword.” 

To be continued, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: GOD’S PURPOSE: FALLEN EARTH RESTORED BY THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION 

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

July 30, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD’S PURPOSE: FALLEN EARTH RESTORED BY THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION 

One of the most astounding, concluding prophecies of the whole Bible that simply “circles right back to the beginning,” is this (emphasis provided):

     “And I (John) saw a NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH: for the first earth [and its ‘heaven’] were passed away. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the FORMER THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY.” Rev. 21: 1, 4, KJV. 

The earth made new after the millenium—not heaven which is the home of the angels— is the heavenly Canaan, the eternal Promised Land of the redeemed saints of God. To be sure, “the final recompense” includes all that “the eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the hearts of man what God has prepared for all those who love Him.” 

Creation and Redemption. Earth was created first to perfection before man was made on the last day of six-day creation week as the crowning act of creation. The Creator purposed the earth to be the kingdom-planet (world) of His vice-gerent-to-be of the whole earth and its sinless occupants as they “replenished the whole earth.” This was the original plan. 

Hence, Adam, the first man was “made in the image and likeness of God,” personally fashioned by the hands of the Creator from the dust of the ground of the earth, not from any material from heaven. This is one of the most fundamental truths of the Bible. Hence, at death, the dead return to the dust of the ground, not “return,” much less “instantly ascend to heaven” or elsewhere! This is part of Satan’s first lie!

When Satan, in disguise, succeeded by consummate craft, deception, lies, and temptation to cause Adam (and Eve) to commit the first sin— disobedience to God’s express command in Eden—Adam lost his delegated sovereignty over the dominion of planet earth to Satan. Lest we forget, since that fateful event six thousand years ago, the central power of earth is a demon. 

Now, we return to quoting from the inspired pen and how angels assisted Christ in unfolding the plan of redemption to the fallen first couple.

    “The sacrifice demanded by their transgression, revealed to Adam and Eve the SACRED CHARACTER OF THE LAW OF GOD; and they saw, as they had never seen before, the GUILT OF SIN, and its DIRE RESULTS. In their remorse and anguish they pleaded that the penalty might not fall upon Him whose love had been the source of ALL THEIR JOY; rather let it descend UPON THEM and their posterity. 

“They were told [by the angels] that since the LAW OF GOD is the foundation of HIS GOVERNMENT in heaven as well as upon the earth, even the LIFE OF ANGEL could not be accepted as a sacrifice for its transgression. Not one of its precepts could be ABROGATED OR CHANGED to meet man in his fallen condition; but the Son of God, who CREATED man, could MAKE ATONEMENT for him.

     “As Adam’s TRANSGRESSION had brought WRETCHEDNESS and DEATH, so the SACRIFICE of Christ would bring LIFE and IMMORTALITY. 

    “Not only man but the EARTH had by sin COME UNDER THE POWER OF THE WICKED ONE, and was to be RESTORED BY THE PLAN OF REDEMPTiON. At his creation, Adam was placed in dominion over the earth. But by yielding to temptation, he was brought under the power of Satan. ‘Of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought into bondage.’ (2 Pet. 2:19). 

    “When man became Satan’s captive, the DOMINION that he had, passed to his conqueror. Thus Satan became ‘the god of this world.’ (2 Cor. 4:4). He has USURPED that dominion of the EARTH which has been ORIGINALLY given to Adam. 

    “But Christ, by His sacrifice paying the penalty of sin, would not only redeem man, but RECOVER THE DOMINION which he had forfeited [by sin; transgression]. ALL THAT WAS LOST BY THE FIRST ADAM, WILL BE RESTORED BY THE SECOND [Christ, 1 Cor. 15: 45-48].”- (End quote from Patriarchs & Prophets by E. G. White, pp. 66, 67. 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: THE ROLE OF ANGELS IN FALLEN MAN’S REDEMPTION 

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

July 23, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE ROLE OF ANGELS IN FALLEN MAN’S REDEMPTION 

Here is a deeper and greater revelation of the little appreciated and often misunderstood and misinterpreted nature and work of holy angels, God’s “ministering spirits” to fallen man. It began before, but especially immediately after the fall in Eden. Notice, in continuation from last week’s quote (all emphases and bracketed words supplied: 

    “When Satan heard that ENMITY should exist between himself and the woman [Eve], and between his seed and her seed, he knew that his work of DEPRAVING human nature would be INTERRUPTED; that by some means man [fallen] would be ENABLED TO RESIST HIS [satanic, wicked] POWER.

    “Yet as the plan of salvation [or redemption] was more FULLY UNFOLDED, SATAN REJOICED with his angels. 

    Q. Over what  could they rejoice over so prematurely? 

    “He rejoiced in that, “having caused man’s fall, he could BRING DOWN the Son of God from His exalted condition. [He already understood what the mystery of incarnation would cost Christ the Creator]. Satan declared that his plans had THUS FAR had been successful UPON THE EARTH

[his revolt and war against God in heaven failed], and that when Christ should TAKE UPON HIMSELF HUMAN NATURE [in the mystery of godliness of the incarnation, 1 Tim. 3:16; John 1: 14], He also might be OVERCOME [like Adam and Eve], and thus the redemption of the fallen race might be prevented. 

     “HEAVENLY ANGELS more fully opened to our first parents the PLAN that had been devised for their salvation. Adam and his companion [Eve, the mother of mankind] were ASSURED that notwithstanding their great sin, they were NOT TO BE ABANDONED TO THE CONTROL OF SATAN.” 

     Q. By what means?

   “The [only-begotten] Son of God had offered [volunteered unsolicited] to ATONE, WITH HIS OWN LIFE, for their transgression [sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4]. 

     Q. How would this be carried out?

    “A PERIOD OF PROBATION would be granted them, and through REPENTANCE, and FAITH in Christ, might again BECOME the children of God.”

(End quote from Patriarchs and Prophets by E. G. White, p. 66). 

As with the Holy Spirit, do nothing to grieve your guardian angel who Christ assigned to each person from birth to death. He is also your recording angel, too. 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: ENMITY: KEY PART OF PLAN OF REDEMPTION

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

July 16, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

ENMITY: KEY PART OF PLAN OF REDEMPTION

Read Genesjs 3:15 for yourself (KJV or RSV). Enmity is translated from the Hebrew ‘eybah,’ meaning, “hostility; hatred.’ From ‘ayab,’ “be an adversary; enemy; foe.” (Strong’s Hebrew/Aramaic Lexicon). 

It is true and universally accepted that it is because of God’s mysterious, divine LOVE that Christ, “the only-begotten Son of God” and Creator, volunteered to be offered as the Father’s sacrificial Lamb, crucified on Calvary’s cross as fallen man’s substitute and surety—the central part of the plan of redemption, but certainly not its end. 

It is also equally true that divine HATRED against sin, transgression, “the mystery of iniquity,” and Satan, the author of all sin, “the father of lies and murderer from the beginning,” is as important as this love, where the plan of redemption is concerned. 

It was out of divine love, omniscience, and omnipotence that God Creator made the earth first, for man, the final and crowning act of His creative power, man being the first, last, and only creature “made in the image and likeness” of God Creator. There was no inherent, intrinsic, original propensities of any kind of “enmity,” hatred, animosity in the man, Adam. The sacred record simply says after man, formed from the dust of the ground, was made a living soul, “and God saw that everything that He had made, and behold, it was VERY GOOD. And the evening and the morning were the SIXTH DAY [last day of creation]” (Gen. 1:31)

That God’s character and nature from eternity past to eternity future LOVES righteousness and HATES SIN (iniquity; transgression of the law), is clearly stated thus: Heb. 1:1-13 introduces Christ as the Son of God and Creator. In verse 8 God the Father addresses Christ, His only-begotten Son, as God! “But unto the SON, He saith, Thy throne, O GOD, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Thy kingdom.” 

Then we read: “Thou hast LOVED righteousness, and HATED iniquity; THEREFORE God, even Thy God [the Father] hath anointed Thee with an oil of gladness above Thy fellows.” And, Thou, LORD, in the beginning hast laid down the foundations of the earth: and the heavens are the works of Thine hand.” (Heb. 1: 8-10, KJV.)

Gen. 3:15 is the first and foundation of all promises and prophecies thereafter in the Bible pertaining to God’s plan of redemption. 

So that when man fell by transgression in Eden, the plan of redemption “prepared before the foundations of the earth were laid,” immediately kicked in. It began with a sentence of enmity!  

Notice:

    “To man [Adam] the first intimation of redemption was communicated in the sentence pronounced upon Satan in the garden. The Lord declared, [Gen. 3: 15 quoted]. This sentence, uttered in the hearing of our first parents was to them a PROMISE. While it foretold WAR between man and Satan [not man against his fellowmen!], it declared that the POWER of the great adversary would FINALLY [not immediately] be BROKEN.

     “Adam and Eve stood as CRIMINALS before the righteous Judge, awaiting the sentence [of death!] which transgression [through disobedience] had incurred [as its ‘wages’]; but before they heard of the LIFE OF TOIL AND SORROW which must be their portion, or the decree that they must RETURN TO THE DUST [not to heaven], they listened to words that COULD NOT FAIL TO GIVE THEM HOPE. Though they must suffer the power of their mighty foe, they could LOOK FORWARD TO FINAL VICTORY.” (End quote from Patriarchs & Prophets, pp. 65, 66).

Without this new principle of enmity placed between fallen man and Satan immediately after the fall, the plan of redemption could not proceed to unfold thereafter, according to God’s wisdom and plan! 

Be sure to study carefully, harness and cherish this ENMITY without which victory over sin and Satan can never be achieved! It is never to be employed against our fellow fallen, finite, fellow mortals but against sin and Satan exclusively! 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: THE FIRST INTIMATION OF THE GRAND PLAN OF REDEMPTION 

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

July 9, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE FIRST INTIMATION OF THE GRAND PLAN OF REDEMPTION 

Sacrifice and intercession make up the two major working parts of the divine plan of redemption. The purpose of both is atonement, that is, the “at-one-ment” or reconciliation between God and man eternally separated by “transgression” or sin, whose “wages is death.” 

God’s law, the foundation of His everlasting kingdom of love and righteousness, and transcript of His character, which was transgressed and broken, would not only be restored but “magnified and made honorable” on earth, in heaven, and throughout the unfallen worlds of God’s universe! 

Let’s resume quoting from the inspired pen of God’s last-day messenger, “the lesser light that leads to and magnifies the greater light,” the Bible. (All emphases and bracketed words provided): 

    “Christ assured the angels that by His death, He would ransom MANY [only the sinners who would fully avail of His atoning sacrifice at Calvary, and  intercessory atonement thereafter as High Priest and Intercessor to the Father at the heavenly sanctuary], and would DESTROY him who had the power of death [but not of life; Satan, Heb. 2:14]. He would RECOVER THE KINGDOM [part of the comprehensive plan of redemption] which man [through Adam] had LOST by transgression, and the REDEEMED [only the ‘many’ who truly love Christ the Redeemer by ‘keeping His commandments.’ John 14:15) were to inherit it [the redeemed original kingdom] WITH Him, and dwell therein FOREVER.” Sin  and sinners would be BLOTTED OUT [not ‘burn in hell eternally’!], never more to disturb the peace of HEAVEN OR EARTH. 

    “He bade the angelic host [described as “the clouds of heaven”] to be IN ACCORD with plan [of redemption] that His Father accepted [Christ Himself originated, devised, and presented it to the Father!], and rejoice that, THROUGH HIS DEATH, fallen man COULD BE reconciled to God. 

     “Then [and only then, again after the first creation week] JOY, INEXPRESSIBLE JOY filled Heaven! The glory and the blessedness of A WORLD REDEEMED, OUTMEASURED EVEN THE ANGUISH AND SACRIFICE of the Prince of Life! 

     “Through the celestial courts [the ‘holy places’ of heaven] echoed the FIRST STRAINS of that song which was to ring out ABOVE THE HILLS OF BETHLEHEM [some four thousand years later],—‘Glory to God in the highest, and ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD WILL [of God’s gospel plan] TOWARDS [undeserving, fallen, sinful] MAN.’ (Luke 2:14). With a DEEPER GLADNESS now than in the rapture of the new creation [of earth], ‘the morning stars’ [the angelic hosts] sang together, and all the sons of God [same] shouted for joy.’ (Job 38:7).”- Ellen G. White, Patriarchs & Prophets, p. 65. 

Notice that the angels “sang and shouted for joy” with their voices; there were no “harps” or other musical instruments played for accompaniment (that is, as fallen mankind knows them) mentioned at that time, nor at Bethlehem. 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: ANGELS OFFERED THEMSELVES TO BECOME THE SACRIFICE FOR MAN’S REDEMPTION 

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

July 1, 2025

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

ANGELS OFFERED THEMSELVES TO BECOME THE SACRIFICE FOR MAN’S REDEMPTION 

    “The plan by which alone man’s salvation could be secured involved all heaven in its infinite sacrifice.” And heaven is the home of angels. As Christ the Creator (not yet incarnated into human flesh and blood nature) unfolded redemption’s purpose and plan to the angels, He explained that: 

    “When His mission on earth as a Teacher [and Prophet, comprehended in His work as the Messiah] would be ended, He must be delivered into the hands of wicked men [the Jewish nation and Rome in confederacy] and be subjected to every insult and torture that Satan could inspire them to inflict. He must die the CRUELEST of deaths—lifted up between the heavens and the earth as a GUILTY SINNER [‘who knew no sin’ and was ‘without sin’. ]. He must pass long hours of agony so terrible that ANGELS COULD NOT LOOK UPON IT, but would VEIL THEIR FACES from the sight. He must endure anguish of soul, the hiding of His Father’s face—while the GUILT of transgression—the WEIGHT of the sins of the whole world—should be upon Him.

     “The angels prostrated themselves at the feet of their Commander, and OFFERED TO BECOME A SACRIFICE FOR MAN. But an angel’s life could not pay the DEBT; only He who CREATED MAN HAD THE POWER TO REDEEM HIM. Yet the angels were to have A PART to act in the plan of redemption.

     “[As with Adam] Christ was [also] made to be made ‘a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death’. (Heb. 2:9). As He should take HUMAN NATURE upon Him, His strength would NOT be equal to theirs [angels], and they were to MINISTER TO HIM, to strengthen and soothe Him under His sufferings. They were also to be ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who should be heirs of salvation. (Heb. 1:14). They would guard the subject of grace from the power of EVIL ANGELS, and from the DARKNESS constantly thrown around them by Satan. 

     “When the angels should witness the agony and humiliation of their Lord, they would be filled with GRIEF AND INDIGNATION, and would wish to DELIVER HIM from His murderers; but they were NOT TO INTERPOSE in order to prevent anything which they should behold. It was A PART OF THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION that Christ should suffer the scorn and abuse of wicked men;  and He CONSENTED to all of this when He became The REDEEMER of man.” – E. G. White, Patriarchs & Prophets, 1913 ed., pp. 64, 65. (All emphasis and bracketed words provided). 

The angels are more interested and involved in God’s master plan to redeem us fallen man that we are of ourselves! They have been faithfully doing their part, how about us? 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION INVOLVES ALL HEAVEN IN ITS INFINITE SACRIFICE FOR MAN’S SALVATION

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION INVOLVES ALL HEAVEN IN ITS INFINITE SACRIFICE FOR MAN’S SALVATION

Heaven here means the three Persons of the Godhead and the innumerable angels, created before earth and man were, as His “ministering spirits,” not flesh and blood, sexless. Man alone was made in the image and likeness of God. 

But by that mysterious first experiment with disobedience to God by Adam and Eve in their Eden home, “sin entered into the world, and death,” “the wages of sin,” “passed into all men.” Since then “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Thus all were condemned to die eternal death. But God’s  love, mercy, wisdom, power, and righteousness had devised a plan “before the foundations of the earth were laid,” which alone could save fallen man without doing away with His immutable law; in fact, even “magnifying it and making it honorable the universe.

    “The plan by which ALONE man’s salvation could be secured, INVOLVED ALL HEAVEN in its INFINITE SACRIFICE. The angels [whose home is heaven while earth was created for man, and from which he was made and originated from]  not rejoice as Christ opened before them the PLAN OF REDEMPTION; for they saw that [fallen, sinful] man’s salvation must COST their loved Commander UNUTTERABLE WOE. In grief and wonder they listened to His words as He told them HOW HE MUST DESCEND  FROM HEAVEN.” 

Infinitely more than mainstream Christianity’s narrow focus and fixation on Christ’s crucifixion at Calvary and thus, myopic and stinted understandjng of what His sacrifice comprehends, which stretches from eternity past “as a Lamb slain from the foundation of the earth”, to eternity future, where “the plan of redemption will the science and song of the eternally-redeemer.” 

Here’s  a more detailed  “cost analysis”—to which no measurements and values can ever be attached—of the Creator’s condescending descent of His infinite sacrifice and from what: 

   1. “He must descend from heaven’s a) purity and peace b) its joy c) its glory d) its immortal life and 

    2. “Come in contact with: a) the degradations of [sin-cursed] earth 

    3. “To endure a) its sorrow b) its shame c) its death

    4. “He was to stand between the sinner and the penalty of sin; yet FEW would receive Him as the Son of God [starting with His chosen people, the Jewish nation]. 

    5. “He would leave His high position as the Majesty of Heaven, appear upon [fallen, sin-cursed] earth and humble Himself AS A MAN, and by His own experience ‘become acquainted with the SORROWS AND TEMPTATIONS which [fallen] man would have to ENDURE. 

     “All this would be necessary in order that He might be able to SUCCOR them that should be tempted (Heb. 2:18).” – Quoted parts from E. G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp.64-5. (All others, including emphases, provided).

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.