Marking Time: Forming Spirituality through the Christian Year

Ses s i on 1: F rom Ever l as t i ng to Ever l as t i ng 17

From Before to Beyond Time Adapted from Suzanne de Dietrich, God’s Unfolding Purpose . Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1976.

See also From Before to Beyond Time in the Appendix of this book.

A. Before Time (eternity past), Ps. 90.1-3

1. The Eternal Triune God, Ps. 102.24-27

2. God’s Eternal Purpose, 2 Tim. 1.9; Isa. 14.26-27

a. To glorify his name in all creation, Prov. 16.4; Ps. 135.6; Isa. 48.11

b. To display his perfections in the universe, Ps. 19.1

c. To draw out for himself a people for his pleasure, Isa. 43.7, 21

3. The Mystery of Iniquity: the rebellion of the Dawn of the Morning (Lucifer), Isa. 14.12-20; Ezek. 28.13-17

4. The emergence of the Principalities and Powers, Col. 2.15

B. The Beginning of Time (the Creation), Gen. 1-2

1. The Creative Word of the Triune God, Gen. 1.3; Ps. 33.6, 9; Ps. 148.1-5

2. The creation of the universe out of nothing (not from himself), Ps. 24.1-2; Ps. 50.12; Exod. 9.29; Exod. 19.5; Deut. 10.14; 1 Chron. 29.11; Job 41.11; Dan. 4.25; 1 Cor. 10.26