¹² It was revealed to (the OT prophets) that they were not ministering (prophecies) concerning themselves, but regarding those things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you in the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels earnestly desire to look into (1Pet1:12).

The superiority of the New Covenant

The featured verse relates to the point I was emphasizing in the previous post, that there are aspects concerning the New Covenant and the Good News (gospel) pertaining to it that wondrously transcend the provisions, promises and revelations provided to God’s chosen people under the Old Covenant.

In terms of spiritual provision, the sprinkling of animals’ blood has been replaced by the precious and powerful blood of the Lamb of God that ultimately shall rid the world of sin (cf. Jn1:29). For the present, the blood of sprinkling (previous post) is only able to both pardon and purge people God has chosen to be united with His Son (cf. Jn6:44). They are God’s elect who “have received the first fruits of the Spirit”. Even so, like Paul they groan within themselves, waiting eagerly  their adoption as sons, being the redemption of the body.” (cf. Rom8:23). Who are these “elect” – heirs to a throne? More than that, they are “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him” (Rom8:17).

A theology of glory?

I make no apology for such a theology of glory, both in terms of the Christian’s destiny and the salvific processes leading up to it. Yet both are entirely predicated by a theology of the Cross. It has everything to do with the Word who became flesh, suffered and died at Calvary, was resurrected and ascended to glory. What is more, if sin had not entered the world, and you and I were not by nature sinners, the only begotten Son of God would not needed to have taken on human flesh to remedy the situation. For it is as a result of our first parents’ disobedience that the One who was second only to God the Father was temporarily  made a little lower than the angels and became Man.

Firstborn and first fruits

Such divine condescension is the origin and ultimate reason for mankind’s glorious destiny – because the One who humbled Himself for our benefit has  become Prince of the Universe (Mt28:18). God’s elect are also described as “those whom (God) foreknew and predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son  so that (Christ) would be the Firstborn (forerunner/leader/representative) among many brothers and sisters” (Rom8:29).

Yet this elect, as the first fruit of God’s earthly creation (Jam1:18), are themselves depicted as “the Church of the firstborn” (plural) [Heb12:23]. First fruit and firstborn are expressions that are indicative of pre-eminence. But as with Christ (the Firstborn from the dead) and His people (the Church of the firstborn), it is an indication that more shall follow, and my book (linked below) sets out how such broader benign providence can be deduced from the whole of Scripture.

Resolving the mystery of evil

In view of the above, is it any wonder that the angels “earnestly desire to look into (these matters)? Yet some of their number, headed by Lucifer, had earlier rebelled on learning their Creator’s plans, especially His intention to elevate members of the human race into a familial, indeed  a marital relationship with One who is superior to the angels (cf. Heb2 vv5,11,16; Rev21:9). [This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the Church].

Lucifer, that former arch-angel of light whom we now know as the Adversary (Satan) believed he had gained his revenge at Eden. But as God well knew and recent posts have attested, the evil and suffering that resulted from his successful enticement of our first parents into sin were necessary ingredients and grist in the progression of mere children of dust to joint-heirship with Christ and an inheritance in the heavenlies (previous post).

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^{[These posts pertain to an expansive revelation concerning divine providence. It was the result of a prophetic insight received by the author, who believes the process he is involved with is itself a fulfilment of scriptural prophecy, both canonical and extra-canonical – more particularly Revelation chapter ten and two related passages from the Book of Enoch (ch93:8-10 and ch104:11-13 Charles edition numbering). The full picture is set out in “The Little Book of Providence”  and summarized in 95 theses HERE ]}