When God commanded Job to gird up his loins like a man and recall the day when the foundations of the earth were laid, "When ALL the sons of God shouted for joy," He was demanding that Job remember his own great anticipation that had vibrated across the universe on that prodigious occasion. He was also demanding that Job recall the ecstatic rejoicing in the hearts of those who were to inherit this new world as their abode. God was awakening Job to the recollection of his own reactions upon that glorious day of long ago.
And as Job was there on that momentous occasion so were the rest of us.
"Then the word of the Lord came unto me (Jeremiah) saying,
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou came forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." (Jer. 1:4-5).
In Philippians 4:3, is given an admonition by Paul for the Saints to be mindful of those who had labored with him, "Whose names are in the Book of Life."
This sacred "Lamb's Book of Life, written from the foundations of the world," is mentioned many times in the Bible.
In Revelations, 3:5, it was revealed that there are those whose names will be taken out of that Book of Life, if they fail to fulfill the Promises which belonged to them, before time began.
Then is given the information that there are many whose names were not written in that sacred record, "The Lamb's Book of Life!"
The names that were written upon that most sacred scroll were not placed there because some capricious god had a hobby of writing down names -- then later, along the unfolding of the centuries we were brought forth just to fill those names. THOSE WERE OUR NAMES! And they were engraved upon that hallowed record because we had earned the right to have them there. In exercising our free agency in the ages of the past some had proved more valiant, more obedient and more desirous of fulfilling the laws of their own progress. Some had proved themselves more trustworthy and more loving and gracious. Or as the Writer of the Odes of Solomon stated: "Love is of the elect and who can put it on except those who possessed it from the beginning?"
And there were those who were indifferent and slothful and negligent and even some who developed jealousies and dishonesty. And as it was said of Lucifer, "He was a liar from the beginning." These, of course, did not have their names written in that sacred record. These did not have the qualifications necessary to have their names written upon that scroll of honor and eternal Promise, simply because they had not earned it. And there were many of them.
In Revelations, chapter twelve and verse ten it states clearly that Satan or the Devil was "the accuser of his brethren" even before the foundations of the world, "That he accused them before the throne of God day and night." For even then he had developed the desire to rule over his brethren. He desired that man's gift of free-agency be withdrawn and he be given the power of dictatorship over all the children of God. Because of this there was of necessity an election, as all were given a right to voice their opinion. And in that election "CHRIST WAS CHOSEN BEFORE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE WORLD." And because of this "there was War in heaven" -- a war of ideologies. (Rev.12:7-9). The Book of Revelations also declares plainly that Christ was CHOSEN before the foundations of the world. And if He was chosen there had to be others to choose from.
And there were many who made no choice at all, or took no part in the great issue. These were not cast out with Lucifer and his rebellious hosts, but neither did they have their names written in that Holy Book of Life because they had not earned the right to be so greatly honored. (...) 1 (Mark 7:26).
In Ephesians one and four, is given this scripture: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." In verses five and eleven it speaks of having been "predestinated." This is inaccurately translated. From the original it states plainly that we were "fore-ordained." "Fore-ordained" means that we had a choice and still do. We were fore-ordained or chosen because of merits we had accumulated before we came to earth. "Predestinated" suggests that no choice had been or is given. Man has always been given a choice. This gift of free-agency is God's eternal gift to man. Only when the powers of darkness take over is man robbed of this right. "Satan's plan, from the beginning, has been to rule by undisputed dictatorship.
In the Odes of Solomon, that sacred writer has left us this record in the 8th Ode, 7-8 and 14-16: "For the right hand of the Lord is with you; and He is your helper:
8."And PEACE was prepared for you before ever your war was."
14."Love me with affection, ye who love:
15."For I do not turn away my face from them that are mine.
16."For I know them and before they came into being I took knowledge of them and on their faces I set my seal."
In the eighth chapter of Romans, starting with verse twenty-four, we are given the following information: "For we are saved by HOPE: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
"And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is in the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God.
"And we knoweth that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.
"For WHOM HE DID FOREKNOW, HE ALSO DID FOREORDAIN TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, THAT HE MIGHT BE THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN.
"Moreover WHOM HE DID FOREORDAIN, THEM he also called and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified them he also glorified."
With only these few references mentioned I must go on because there is not time or space here to make a longer discourse upon this great, eternal wonder of our pre-existence, for we too existed before the world was. This is not reincarnation. This is a statement of eternal fact and a brief reminder of our primeval, spiritual existence before the world was formed.
There is no living soul upon this earth who has not had the experience of meeting a seeming stranger and recognized in him or her, an old friend, though unremembered as far as earth memory is concerned. And there are those who, even among the members of their own families, have found themselves to be strangers. And there are neighbors, living side by side for years, who find no congenial contacts and who feel no warmth for each other. Whence came these ties of love and friendship -- and the lack of them?
With this brief mention or reminder of that long ago, I must go on to hold forth, for a moment, the wonder of that DAY when the foundations of the earth were laid and ALL THE SONS of God shouted for joy!
"Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind (after he, Job, had cursed the day he had been born with a violence of misery and self-pity so intense it almost held within it the power to destroy his soul).
Then it was that God's rebuke came forth full and without soft-pedaling: "Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare if thou hast understanding (or think you know so much.)
"Who hath laid the measure thereof, if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the line upon it?
"Where upon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner stone thereof;
"When the morning stars (daughters) sang together, and ALL THE SONS OF GOD shouted for joy!"
The command for Job, and all mankind for that matter, to live up to the divine expectations of that glorious DAY are summed up thus by God: "Deck thyself with majesty and excellence, and array thyself with glory and beauty!"
Or, as the writer of the Odes of Solomon expressed it: "I put off darkness and clothed myself in light, and my soul acquired a body free from sorrow or affliction or pain."
No man was meant to sit in the dump-yard and ashes of his troubles and intensify the suffering of his boils by holding his full attention upon them and his earthly affliction. This only establishes them more permanently.
On that DAY, so long ago, when the foundations of the earth were laid we were celebrating the most momentous experience of our existence. Nothing so great and so breathtakingly glorious had ever taken place before in the eons of our development and progression. A NEW WORLD was to be created for our future abode in which we could be given physical bodies and learn to handle tangible, physical materials. There was also the promised opportunity to thoroughly prove ourselves. That DAY held the reward for the past and also a promise and a challenge for the future. It contained all the things we had been preparing ourselves for from the beginning.
And as we gathered to take part in the breathtaking wonder of that celebration and the miracle of that greatest of all Days, we were celebrating all its PROMISES for it held all that we had ever been conditioned to hope for. It was a reward for the past. It was also a PROMISE for the future and a challenge to each of us. It contained all the things we had been preparing ourselves for from the cradle of our Spiritual inception as our individual personalities began to evolve toward our own leanings.
It is most assuredly true, "THAT WE WERE ALL CREATED EQUAL IN THE BEGINNING!" But since that beginning some had progressed far beyond others by their own efforts and interests and desiring and the exerted use of intelligence. We were no longer equal only in the fact that we could still make a choice in selecting our goals and in the development of our talents and gauge the speed at which we wished to travel. In that alone we were still equal. We come to earth with the developed degree of our own talents and intelligence that we ourselves expanded.
And as we gathered to take part in that most dynamic of all celebrations and to participate in the PROMISES OF ALL THAT IT HELD, our very souls rejoiced in a released gratitude of exultation that echoed across the universe in an elation so great it could help to hold the foundations of the earth firm as they rested upon our own exuberant, triumphant, delighted jubilation.
We were a very part of God's own plan. We were there to receive the fulfillment of past PROMISES as God Himself rejoiced and our own joy was full. And in that exotic celebrating God stood forth to speak His Words of PEACE and LOVE and DEDICATION and FUTURE PROMISES. And He sent His Words out in their primal, vibrating splendor of unspeakable beauty. And those Words were clothed in Light so perfect it held the perfection of all the Celestial music of Creation as His divine PROMISES rolled forth across the universe to embrace eternity. And each PROMISE was clothed in the wonder and the breathtaking power of God's own divine COVENANTS as they were contained in each pledge released.
His PROMISES were sent out on the wings of vibrating Light, across the heavens in an harmonious melody of everlasting grandeur. And every symphony since that time, that has been brought forth by the masters, is but a fragment of the whole carillon, pealed out on the bells of glory and echoed on the chiming cymbals of God's own WORDS sent out on the wings of LOVE ETERNAL AND EVERLASTING as they were carried on the vibrational glory of His Light. There are no words to describe it! I cannot possibly reveal it! I can only ask that you open your own hearts and souls to recall that breathtaking experience. It is your own as you remember and as you "Gird up the loins of your minds" to recall, and "Deck yourselves with majesty and excellence, and array yourselves with glory and with beauty!" Even as upon that DAY OF LONG AGO.
HIS WORDS flowed out to encircle and to enfold us and to vibrate out across the universe -- and then to come echoing back to find their resting place within the hearts of each of us. They were God's PROMISES TO US. And each PROMISE was enfolded in an holy COVENANT as they engraved themselves within the archived hearts of our throbbing souls. They belonged to us henceforth and forever! God Himself gave them to us on that great DAY OF DEDICATION SO LONG AGO. And the yearning for their fulfillment has been but the lonely longing cradled in the depths of our own beings since time itself began. All those inner longings, the loneliness, the desperate, unshed tears are but the whispered echo of that which our own souls are waiting to express as those PROMISES are fulfilled in us and brought forth in the completion of their glory.
And as those PROMISES, SENT OUT ON THE WINGS OF LIGHT, CAME ECHOING BACK TO US WE EACH RECEIVED AN INDIVIDUAL PORTION, or a special anointing according to that for which we had prepared ourselves. To those who were most worthy the greater were the Promises vouchsafed unto them and the responsibility for their fulfilling for: "TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS REQUIRED."
Nonetheless any PROMISE when taken hold of, as one lays claim to it as the "BEST GIFT" he personally can desire, will lead into the fullness of all the PROMISES -- the divine perfection -- the complete restoration of all that we ever did have plus the added rewards of all that we have attained to in the deep and intense schooling of this life.
Why have we not claimed the PROMISES before? Because they were hid up in the depths of our own souls "from the foundations of the world because of the blindness of our eyes, and the hardness of our hearts, and because of the gross wickedness of our unbelief." As we took upon us the privilege of mortality the things of the Spirit were more or less submerged and laid aside unto such time as we would awaken and lay claim to them again and thus regain our lost estate.
This PROMISE was also given: "That when we would rend that veil of unbelief, which caused us to remain in our awful state of wickedness and hardness of heart, every PROMISE God gave upon that sacred, holy DAY would be brought forth in us -- and be fulfilled. That is the reason that at last, those PROMISES can be unveiled to those who are in tune as they stir up the ancient HOPES and the glorified wonder of that long ago. And with that unveiling the power and reality of God's Everlasting Covenant will stand forth revealed and fulfilled. And it is to those who had their names engraved upon that sacred scroll, "the Lamb's Book of Life" who will be best prepared to comprehend the possibility of their own fulfilling as they become righteous in the truest sense of the word. And this "righteousness" can only be attained by those who perfect the divine and holy gift of LOVE.
God sent those PROMISES forth on the wings of celestial music. It was a symphony, glorious beyond man's power to express. No one person could gather it all back again unless he himself had fulfilled all things. But down the centuries there have been those talented ones, in tune with the divine, who, for a moment or long enough to reach out into the archives of eternity have brought back portions of that melody to us. And in hearing it we can partially recall the wonder of that DAY of DAYS!
Often in hearing the rendition of some inspired selection by those great masters, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven and any of those who have brought forth the haunting melodies for our souls to respond to with such infinite, inner longing or an exalted feeling of satisfaction are but giving a reminder of those ancient, forgotten memories.
And the prophets and the seers of the past, under the power of divine attunement have revealed those PROMISES -- and as the years went by they were dropped and hidden between the crowded passages of scripture gathering through the dust of the ages. The PROMISES, when revealed were so hidden in the verbiage of many words crowded around them no eyes could look upon their glory. And no heart opened to recognize the wonder of their revealing until this present day.
And at this wondrous time God commanded that I gather those divine and eternal PROMISES back into one -- and they have been placed by His command, in that sacred volume "Beyond Mortal Boundaries."
This is the Day of their unveiling. This is the day of their fulfilling. This is the time to complete the miracle and the wonder of that "DAY when the foundations of the earth were laid." This is the day when all those glorified PROMISES of Almighty God are unveiled as they stand forth revealed. This is the day when that veil of unbelief is to be rent. For the time is NOW!
This is the day when God has opened wide His Treasure House of PROMISES, and revealed the holy Covenant contained in each -- and the glory of their fulfilment. Man is now invited by the Most High Father of All Creation to open up his heart and lay claim to all that the Father promised before the world began.
Yes, "Deck thyself, now with majesty and excellence; and array thyself with glory and beauty!"
Reach your hands in and take hold of any of those most holy PROMISES, for they are yours! They were given unto you when the foundations of the earth were laid! Lay claim to them! The Treasure House of God is opened to you! Take hold of the jewels of PROMISE and bring them forth into reality as you implant your most sacred desires upon that divine element of Primal Matter, to bring into outward form the very glory and fulfilling of all that God can give -- or you can possibly desire, for it is given unto you by an unbreakable Covenant as you fulfill or Hope.
"Nothing is impossible to him who believes!" And "All that the Father has is yours!"
Then we are informed, by the very power and Word of God that, "God's Words cannot return unto Him unfulfilled or void!" This is true. In the volume "Beyond Mortal Boundaries" is given the information that only man himself can return those PROMISES or WORDS to God. God sent them out as they were echoed forth like glory upon that DAY, so long ago. But it is not for God to gather them up again. It is for us to whom they were given to return them back to HIM.
And so His Promises or Words or Covenants cannot return unto Him unfulfilled or void. It is up to us to lay hold upon them and return them to God -- FULFILLED. We are required to FULFILL THOSE PROMISES before they can ever be returned unto God as they become the everlasting Covenant of all fulfilling. We, as participants in His Holy Covenanting, are the members of that second party under which His pledge was given.
As we lay claim to those PROMISES only can they be fulfilled. And as we ourselves become the embodiment of His Words and Promises do we have right to lay claim to the Covenants they embrace as we thus return them unto Him -- OURSELVES FULFILLED. This is how we can return unto Him glorified. Thus we too become the WORD, the actual living Word of God, as it becomes our flesh.
In the thirteenth Ode of Solomon, verses eleven and twelve, it states: "For the dwelling place of His Word is man; and its truth is LOVE!"
The eternal archives of those PROMISES of Almighty God are in the hearts of the children of men. The Dwelling Place of His Word or Promises to God FULFILLED as the everlasting Covenants of God are claimed. The very power to fulfill those divine Promises is held out in that divine element of Primal matter as FAITH is generated to bring it forth full fashioned and complete. As we take hold of the information contained in this record we can use God's Power to bring forth. We can lay hold of that Primal Substance, the element of things Hoped for and transform it into tangible, visible elements. Thus we inherit the full realization of all that God ever PROMISED -- and MORE!
Dip your hands into the Treasure House of all that is possible to fulfill, according to your own power to envision. And hold firmly to your requests. Yes! "Lay hold of the best gifts" and they will become your own.
This is the very purpose for which the foundations of the earth were laid -- that in the receiving of physical bodies we could thereby learn to handle material, earthly elements. Or, as the plan was, that we could learn to transform the spiritual substance of HOPE or DESIRE into earthly tangibility. This is the purpose and the meaning of mortality.
I. Cor. 2:5-10, is revealed some of the great truths of that pre-mortal time, as follows: "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
"Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought.
"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.
"Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them THAT LOVE HIM.
"But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yes, the deep things of God."
And as one's soul searches that which is given to abide in him will be returned as a memory, beautiful and eternal, "for it is given to abide in you the record of heaven * * *."
"And he who is thankful in all things shall be made glorious, and the things of this earth shall be added unto him an hundred-fold, yea, more!"
The very vibrations of gratitude and appreciation places one in tune with the divine. And thanksgiving is the law of bringing forth from the universal substance of Primal matter, as FAITH swings into action to fulfill the needs, increase the supply or to create the magnificent glory of one's HOPES.
God never intended anyone to go through life in want and poverty and desolation, existing in shacks or hovels, clothed in the shabby rags of mortal misery or feeding on the crumbs of charity.
Without access to these divine powers of the Almighty even the rich man is living in a forlorn, forsaken condition of incomprehensible destitution, for God said: "Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art poor and wretched and miserable and blind and naked."
Just being clothed in mortality without contacting the true powers of creation is a desolating condition of inner anguish.
"Man is that he might have joy!" So declared God upon that Holy Day. Man was created to rejoice! As one advances in purity his understanding increases until he evolves into an exuberant glory of fulfilment and "ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR HIS GOOD!"
Christ Himself verified this to me when I had prayed so earnestly and constantly for the healing of my child that she would not have to live a life so marred with illness it would not be worth the living.
On that night, when I thought my child was dead, and in the tears of utter heartbreak I released her to God, I learned the power of prayer. Christ stood there and my child was brought back to life and healed. Then it was that Christ showed me the unspeakable wonder of His blessings, which my mind had never been conditioned to comprehend. He stood with his arms laden with the treasures of life and of eternity. They were PROMISED for this life -- for the NOW -- for the glory and the wonder of perfect, everyday living. And they were also for all eternity. I saw the gifts, though I could never explain how. I beheld them with my eyes. I gazed upon them with wondering incomprehension, unable to grasp the truth at that time for I had been trained to believe that only desolate suffering could claim any rewards.
But in Christ's arms was the gift of perfect health, of poise and majesty and peace and plenty and joy and happiness and power to rule one's life and control all conditions in a glory of sublime dominion. Man's true and full heritage is to "HAVE DOMINION OVER THE EARTH AND EVERY CONDITION UPON IT -- AND OVER HIS OWN LIFE!" There was not only the power to reach into eternity and help glorify the world beyond and use the essence of its glory fully and completely.
And Christ, the Beloved Savior, spoke these words in the vibrations of His eternal, glorious LOVE and understanding compassion and divine comfort: "These are the blessings I am so anxious and eager to bestow upon the children of men as soon as they are prepared to receive them!" And I who had been taught that only misery had any rewards, was at that time unable to receive the full import and glory of His message.
And now, in deepest humility, I bow my head and say, "Thank You Blessed Savior, Thou Son of the living God, for opening the way that mankind might be prepared to receive these everlasting blessings in their fulness as the eternal PROMISES and their divine COVENANTS are unfolded and fulfilled unto those who BELIEVE.
At last I have been given the privilege of sharing these wonders of creation and of fulfilling as His Dynamic TRUTHS and the power of their completion are unveiled.
And so it was that God blessed my "unbelief" as I struggled for many months to open my soul to understanding. And then, at last, the glory and the knowledge of those almost "unspeakable blessings" have been placed in my hands that I might share them with you. And this sharing is the greatest blessing of all, for it is time that these things be made known.
And God bless you forever! And may he give you the LOVE and the unselfishness to understand and to use the limitless powers of this divine, holy gift of Creation, through the exercising of your own FAITH, for it is the power of all fulfilling! And it is yours!
At the close of this work I pray that the writer and the writings be forgotten -- that the words of expression will be dissolved and disappear and only the revealed TRUTHS stand forth with the great power of Almighty God alone supporting them. Let the glory of these indestructible realities, these eternal principles of PROMISE never again be "hid up" and forgotten. Let TRUTH alone stand forth in all its dynamic power of witnessing. Let these everlasting blessings of glory be proclaimed and established and made known.
1. "(...)" represents the following sentence that was removed from the reading of Chapter 24, due to the possibility of inflaming any wrong feelings in any heart: "These inferior ones were assigned to inferior races, such as the Syrophenician woman, whom Christ designated as 'dogs'". The sentence is included here in the footnotes only to maintain an historical accuracy to this book by Annalee Skarin. return to paragraph →