That Which Has Been Will Be...

A few months ago, I came across some wild, quantum verses is Ecclesiastes...

'That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. 'Is there anything of which one might say, "See this, it is new?" Already it has existed for ages which were before us.' [Ecclesiastes 1:9,10]

'I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear [be in awe before] Him. That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.' [Ecclesiastes 3:14,15]

'Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with Him who is stronger than he is.' [Ecclesiastes 6:10]

The writer, Solomon, was the wisest man on the earth in his time. Although He was not born again, He had an anointing for wisdom from God. When reading Ecclesiastes, one gets the feeling that the author sees something but can't quite explain it...like he's got it right on the tip of his tongue but can't quite get it out.

From these passages it seems likely that he is seeing eternity and trying to describe it from a human point of view. It comes across a little like the concept of fixed destiny, or 'whatever will be, will be.'

But if there's one thing we know about God, He is a respecter of the free will of man. So what can this mean?

Seeing the End From the Beginning
I believe Solomon was seeing eternity and trying to put it in a linear, human perspective. What he was really seeing was what Paul describes in Hebrews 4:3, '...although His works were finished from the foundation of the world' and again in 4:10—'For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.'

God was showing him things from His point of view. In eternity, everything is already complete, not because of some locked-in, fatalistic destiny, but because time is not linear in eternity. Time is bound to the physical earth, dependent on the earth's cycles around the sun as well as her daily rotations. But in that other plane of existence, the realm of the Spirit, everything is already complete.

But it's not complete in a 'your-destiny-is-predetermined-by-God-so-why-fight-it' kind of way. It's just already happened and He can see the end from the beginning. He knows what you're going to do before you do it...if you change your mind, He sees that too! He sees the finished work, whatever you decide that will be.

Yes, His plan is also complete, finished, from before the foundation of the world. In Numbers 14:21 He says "...indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord." His works were finished from the foundation of the world [Hebrews 4:3] and He has already rested from His works [Hebrews 4:10] His plan is complete...whether you have chosen to fulfill your role in it or not. If you choose not to participate, it will get done some other way, but make no mistake about it, it is finished.

Forever Settled
Psalm 118:89 states 'Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven.' Isaiah 40:8 puts it this way: 'The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.'

Why is this good news? Because He said, eternally, that by His stripes, we were healed! [Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24] He said, eternally, that the well-being of our children would be great, that they would be taught of the Lord! [Isaiah 54:13] He said, eternally, that there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! [Romans 8:1]

He even said, eternally, that all things belong to us, and we belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God! [1 Corinthians 3:22,23]

Everything He has ever said is summed up in Jesus, The Word Who became flesh, forever—for us, to us, through us!

Jesus died once for your sin [1 Peter 3:18]—the ones you've already committed, the ones you're about to commit, and the ones you'll commit 20 years from now. That sacrifice is eternal—the sprinkled blood that speaks forever! [Hebrews 12:24] And He died for all—the saved, the about-to-be-saved, and those who will not receive Him. All is all, not only in quantitative measure, but in comprehensive, eternal reality.

Keys of the Kingdom
"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." [Matthew 16:19]

I always wondered about the tenses in this verse. The phrase 'shall have been' is a future perfect tense in Greek and stumped me, until I understood the implications from a Quantum Physics point of view.

Einstein is often quoted as saying 'Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.' We know that there is much discussion about the past, present and future residing in parallel, and that there is no time or space in the Spirit.

I think Jesus was confirming this. What we bind [or forbid] on earth shall have been bound [already] in heaven...what we loose [or allow] on earth shall have been bound [already] in heaven. These are definitely quantum ideas.

What does it mean? Well, consider this: we're already seated with Him in heavenly places [Ephesians 2:6]; we've already been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ [Ephesians 1:3]; and His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. [2 Peter 1:3]

Plus, we know that His works were finished from before the foundation of the world. From a quantum perspective, He told us to reign in life, and whatever that takes, He has already backed. It's sort of a quantum blank check...whatever it takes to perfom His word in our lives on the earth has already been accomplished in heaven! Hallelujah!!

The Eternal Perspective
God declares Himself to be I AM. In specific instances, He would follow that with a relevant attribute of His...I AM the One Who sees ahead and provides, I AM the Lord your righteousness, I AM the Lord your healer, etc.

Notice that He IS, eternally, in the present tense. In the ages before, HE IS. In the ages to come, HE IS. Not was, or will be...HE IS! And we are One with Him, in Him, and He's in us! Zoe—the life of God!

That which is has been already and that which will be has already been...As He said in Isaiah 55:11, "So will My Word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." In the Spirit, His Word—His commands or decrees—have already returned to Him fulfilled, because they are His Word. Every promise is fulfilled for you, now, according to 2 Corinthians 1:20. Even the seemingly far-fetched words that tell us to speak to inanimate physical objects like trees and mountains that they should obey us!

Believe God. Believe the Word. It is finished.

Speak from Rest

I heard, very clearly, "You can only speak from rest."
Hebrews 4:3 says 'We who have believed enter that rest...'
What is that rest, exactly? It is the finished work of Jesus Christ...payment for every sin, healing for every disease, victory for every challenge in life, every promise of God 'yes and amen' in Him.
And what's really interesting is that Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world! [Revelations 13:8] His finished work occurred in the Spirit before the world was created!
Hebrews 4:3 also says God's own works were finished from the foundation of the world...His plan of redemption for man, Jesus the sacrificial Lamb, slain before the foundation of the world in the Spirit.
Why? So that we may receive the ABUNDANCE of GRACE and the GIFT of RIGHTEOUSNESS to reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ! [Romans 5:17]
1 Corinthians 6:17 tells us plainly that we are one Spirit with the Lord—Paul says we were crucified with Christ, buried with Him in baptism, raised up together with Him and seated with Him in heavenly places! [Romans 6:6; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2; Colossians 2]
In fact, it was God's doing to place us in Him [Jesus], Who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption! [1 Corinthians 1:30]
So that place of rest is in the finished work of Jesus Christ and in our unity with Him. Once we truly understand the grace of God that has made us the righteousness of God in Him, we can speak with true power and authority. Created to reign in life through Jesus Christ.
Hallelujah!

Encouraging Words

These are wonderful, marvelous, encouraging scriptures. You'll get the most from them if you read them in your own Bible...I've got them all bookmarked in the Bible on my phone. All are New American Standard unless noted. They are wonderful to meditate and confess.

'For it is You Who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.' [Psalm 5:12]

'You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs [shouts] of deliverance.' [Psalm 32:7]

'The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear [revere] Him, and rescues them.' [Psalm 34:7]

"No man will be able to stand before you al the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. I will not fail you or forsake you." [Joshua 1:5]

'I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears...the righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles...Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all...' [Psalm 34:4,17,19]

'For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.' [Proverb 3:26]

'The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but then who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.' [Psalm 34:10]

'God is to us a God of deliverances; and to God the Lord belong escapes from death.' [Psalm 68:20]

'Your way was in the sea and Your paths in the mighty waters, and Your footprints may not be known.' [Psalm 77:19]

'For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you to guard you in all your ways.' [Psalm 91:9-11]

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with the righteous right hand. Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish." [Isaiah 41:10,11]

'But you will be called the priests of the Lord; you will be spoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, everlasting joy will be theirs.' [Isaiah 61:6,7] 

"Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says if going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, bleieve that you have received them, and they will be granted you. Whenever you stand praying forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father Who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgression." [Mark 11:22-25]

'If God is for us, who is against us? He Who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with him freely give us all things? But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him Who loved us.' [Romans 8:31,32,37]

"All things are possible to him who believes." [Mark 9:23]

"No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me," declares the Lord. [Isaiah 54:17]

'But thanks be to God, Who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.' [2 Corinthians 2:14]

'As He is, so are we in this world…' [I John 4:17]

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” [John 16:33]

'Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.' [Romans 15:13]

'Now the God of Peace, Who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus or Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.' [Hebrews 13:20,21]

'Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”—in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.' [Galatians 3:13,14]
Reference Deuteronomy 28:15-68 for some examples of the curse...v.1-14 outlines some of the blessings

'…the joy of the Lord is your strength.' [Nehemiah 8:10]

'How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! The are ever praising You. [Psalms 84:4]

'How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion! Passing through the valley of Baca [weeping] they make it a spring; the early rain also covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, every one of the appears before God in Zion...For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.' [Psalm 84:4-7,11]

'But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.' [1 Corinthians 6:17]

'For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.' [2 Corinthians 1:20]

'Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.' [Ephesians 1:2-4]

'But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.' [Ephesians 2:4-7]

'For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hears through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

‘Now to Him Who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.' [Ephesians 3:14-21]

'Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

‘Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if worthy of praise, dwell [ponder] on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.' [Philippians 2:4-8]

'For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. [Colossians 1:9-12]

'For we who have believed ENTER THAT REST, just as He has said, "As I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.' [Hebrews 4:3] Referring to those in unbelief in Hebrews 3:16-4:2