2. The Time Before Creation

Prior to the point in history the Bible calls the Beginning, we have very little information about Jesus, but there is some. For example, one very well-known Christmas prophecy describes Jesus as One whose goings forth are from the Days of Eternity.

From you [Bethlehem] one will go forth for me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the Days of Eternity (Micah 5:2; NASB).

The star over Bethlehem which signaled the birth of the Son of God.

The NIV translates Days of Eternity as Ancient Times and the NASB offers the alternative translation Days of Old. These terms might not jive with your concept of eternity past, but it’s safe to say that the Biblical idea is along the lines of the Times before Creation. A comparable expression in the Bible is found in Job 36:26 where Elihu says of God: ‘… the number of his years is unsearchable’ (NASB).

Returning to the idea that our Lord Jesus’ goings forth are from the Days of Eternity—this prophecy from Micah 2 proves that Jesus was very active prior to the Creation of the World. What else could goings forth imply but that Jesus was very active? To say that Jesus had goings forth means that Jesus was running around doing things. He had business to attend to. What was it?

There were lots of things going on before Creation—and that’s very helpful for us to know because we tend to imagine that the time period we call Eternity Past was uneventful, boring, and somewhat dreary. It was not! There was a lot to do in the glorious Kingdom of God, and Jesus was busy doing much of it. So, to understand our Lord Jesus better, we need more information. In particular, we need who he was, what his relationship to God was, what exactly Jesus' status was, and what he was doing.

Let’s start with what we know.

1. Not the One God

Firstly, Jesus was not the One God before Creation. In fact, Jesus never has been the One God, nor will he ever be the One God. From that fundamental truth, and knowing Christ's greatness, we know that he had a most excellent relationship with the One God. We get an idea about his relationship with God during those Times of Eternity when we understand the basis of their relationship—subordination. Jesus was subordinate to God.

Jesus cares for the sheep God has given him, and will lose none.

Jesus’ subordination to God is a basic principle of the Bible which, unfortunately, many Christian teachers vehemently oppose. Many theologians, pegging it as subordinationism and have deemed it a heresy. It's something you can check online—but keep your Bible open if you decide to research it. We believe you'll find that the heresy is just the opposite! It’s heresy to deny that Jesus is subordinate to God. Jesus has been, is, and always will be subordinate to God. That's precisely how is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), in his faithfulness to God. Here are four passages to prove it:

• Jesus "has been" subordinate to God (before Creation):

I [Wisdom, Christ according to 1 Corinthians 1:30] was beside him [God] as a master craftsman; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him (Proverbs 8:30; NKJV).

• Jesus "has been" subordinate to God (during his Earthly ministry):

… the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing (John 5:19).

Jesus is our High Priest in Heaven now.

• Jesus "is" subordinate to God (in Heaven now):

… we have a High Priest such as this, who sat down at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in Heaven, a minister [servant] of the Sanctuary and of the True Tabernacle (Hebrews 8:1-2; LEB).

• Jesus "will be" subordinate to God (in the coming Kingdom):

… the End will come, when he [Jesus] hands over the Kingdom to God the Father… when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ… the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:24-29).

2. God Loved Jesus

Secondly, we know that God loved Jesus. Sound quaint? It’s not. It’s actually a powerful truth—the truth which offers us the most general concept and precise knowledge of what was going on before the Creation of the World.

I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the Throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" ... He [Jesus] went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the Throne (Revelation 5:1-2, 7)

Since so little is known about the activities of God and Jesus prior to Creation, let our basic concept of it at least be this: Everything Jesus did earned him God’s approval. That is to say, God saw in Jesus someone who was worthy of all his trust. Jesus proved himself worthy of God’s love by serving God faithfully. Because of that, God lavished his grace on Jesus. God loved Jesus by granting him equality with him!

Father, I want those you have given me to… see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the Creation of the World (John 17:24).

… [Jesus] existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped (Philippians 2:6; LEB).

3. Jesus Made the Angels

Thirdly, Jesus made the angels prior to Creation. That's evidence that lots of things were going on before "the Beginning." The Biblical proof that Jesus created the angels means not only that Jesus was active, but that living creatures inhabited the Kingdom of God before this Creation, and they were active too! Angels dwelled in the World that preceded the current World.

Angels are created beings like you and me. For someone to be a created being means that there was one point in time when God made them—and that they didn’t exist before that time. We are creatures, but God and Jesus are Creators. Angels are creatures, but the Holy Spirit is a Creator.

Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts… Let them praise the name of the LORD, for at his command they were created… (Psalm 148:2, 5)

[Speaking of Lucifer, God says]: You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created… (Ezekiel 28:15)

Jesus, prior to the Creation of the World, created all the angels.

The first passage of the two listed above say that Yahweh gave a command to make the angels. It says: ‘at his command they were created.’ Does that mean that God himself made them? No, it means that God gave the command. Certainly, he gets the credit for making them, but just as God was the Creator of the light by saying 'Let there be light," and Jesus made the light. And just as God was the Creator of the land, stars, sea, plants, and animals through Jesus, so was God the Creator of the angels through Jesus.

God gave the command, and Jesus did the work. We know this is true because the Bible tells us that Jesus created all things that have been created. We repeat: Jesus created all things that have been created. He is Creator of all creatures, and those creatures include angels.

Through him [Jesus] all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made (John 1:3).

… by him [the Son] all things were created; both in the heavens and on Earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things have been created by him and for him (Colossians 1:16; NASB).

This passage speaks specifically of thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. What are those? They are different kinds of angels! Indeed, these are different ranks of angels, indicating their different levels of power. Unfortunately, those positions of power, originally designed to be occupied by good angels, have been usurped by bad angels--demons.

… [we wrestle] against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this Age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12; NKJV).

Christ… is the head over every power and authority… having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them... (Colossians 2:10, 15)

Rightly did angels assist Jesus after his 40-day fast. He made them.

The point is that Jesus made the angels. He made them before the Beginning, that is, before he created the World. Jesus made angels because it was God's will. Jesus was subordinate to God and 'was beside him as a master craftsman.' Every day, Jesus was God's delight, 'rejoicing always before him.' Those were fun times, enjoyable times, enchanting times. The were the Times before Creation, the magnificent Days of Eternity.

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