I'm scratching my head Scott, because you've lost me! I've been trying to understand how you believe that physical life was never really the intent of God when He created man from the dust and formed the clay into a human with flesh and bone, then breathed the breath of life into them (spirit) and man became a living soul. Just as with every other living soul upon the earth mankind was physically created for eternity upon the earth. Why would God create humankind a physical being if He wanted them to be spiritual beings? For that matter, why create earth and all things if all that really matters to God is spirit?
If you stop and remember that God knew before creation what the outcome for humankind would be. That's why a plan was ordained in heaven before creation that God would send His Son in human form to the earth, and through Him, God's whole creation would be saved. God took on human form, and He was called Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior of the world. And that same Jesus in human form would return to this earth again when the spiritual Kingdom of God is complete in heaven.
Don't you realize that when Christ returns to the earth in human form and the physical form of every human that died in faith will be resurrected immortal & incorruptible physical form as it was when created, it will be to inhabit with Christ the whole earth that shall be made new again. God has a purpose for giving mankind physical bodies, and Himself becoming flesh & bone. It is to enjoy God forever in physical form without defect, sin or death on the new earth just as God had intended it to be. Then we shall be able to speak to God face to face, and to see and to know Him as He is.
One thing I try very hard to cling to when trying to understand biblical doctrine is this...my understanding must be logical, if it doesn't seem logical, I most likely have not rightly understood, AND my understanding must not force God to contradict Himself, the Bible never contradicts. Sorry, but in my opinion both could apply to your understanding here.
It is good that you respond with questions, at least in part, as there is a lot to cover. I will be brief.
First, understand that God being "
the same yesterday, today, and forever" ("
I AM"--not I will be), means that there was and is no actual chronology or sequence of events regarding a pre-creation plan, no foreseen human fall, and no pre-planned fix. If you continue to think chronologically (thinking as a man according to the terms of this world) rather than according to the clear terms of God, there is no possibility of understanding all that is true with God. Let me put it this way: you can continue to render all thing according to this world as unto Caesar, or you can render what is God's unto God. But do realize that leaning one way or the other, will cause the outcome and your understanding will be as different as heaven and earth...just as it has already.
If you are willing and able then, that makes void much of what you have just said. Which brings us back to your questions. If you are not able or willing--that's fine, but it greatly limits your ability to understand the fulness of what is written, in which case you are better to remain a babe, not make any claims about what is true and what is not, not indulge in conjecture, but put your head down and follow the flock until such things are made know at the end of days.
Now then, the earth and everything in it was not created as a new development of new physical life forms of things, creatures, and peoples. But is rather the revelation of all that was in God before the foundation of the world, made manifest in a way of showing both the good and the evil. Which does not actually exist on a timeline of chronology per se, but is as a book first written then read. In other words, the would-be timeline is actually
a storyline. Which is to say, the would-be timeline within the story that is written is not actual, but what is actual is the non-timeline of the Author. Contrastingly, God (who is perfect as He is) and the realm of God (heaven), as it is written, is "
without shadow of turning"--meaning without form where light and darkness are both clearly shown, and yet divided. The purpose of creating this world then, is to divide the light from the darkness, dissolving or destroying the darkness (evil), which is accomplished by destroying the form which causes the darkness to exist.
In addition, as a revealing of all things whether good or evil ("
there is nothing covered that will not be revealed"), the world is the eyewitness testimony and the last will and testament of all who are involved, and "
the man of sin revealed"--not of what is or shall be--but of what was "
before the foundation of the world."
"
Then comes the end."
And because God is perfect and is spirit, it is not wise to speak against the Spirit and what is spiritual.
As for Christ's return--He does not return in human form as you seem to believe, but rather as Paul feared to utter, saying, "
for me, to live is Christ." Which ought not to be unclear, as Jesus laid it out, saying "
Take, eat, this is my body" leaving it behind with the church, that we should be His "human" body. After which He did not commit His flesh "human" body to the Father, but only His spirit. Then by revelation He even explained just how His returning or "
come in the flesh" would occur, saying, "
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Which Paul also eluded to saying, "
but each one in his order."
All of which, granted, after 2,000 years of "
destructive doctrines" being taught and the "
believing of a lie" causing "
strong delusion" and great apostacy--is a lot to take in. The good news however, is that He also promised to "
lead us unto all truth" and to "
finish" all the mysteries of God before "
the seventh angel is about to sound."
PS, I do commend you for your discipline in attempting to logically understand what is written...just so you understand that our thoughts are low than His.
