[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for sharing your testimony and insights, dear marshmallow!

Prior to the Son taking on human form and coming to Earth, there was no Jesus.

God is not time-bound, we are.

Time is part of the Creation, not a property or restriction on the Creator.

For instance, Jesus is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. He is always the Lamb of God, thus His sacrifice is perfection. Unlike the blood of a mere mortal, His blood never fades, never fails, never runs out.

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. - Revelation 13:8

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. - Revelation 5:6

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. - Hebrews 10:14

My next remark could provoke a debate over ancient manuscripts and translations. That is not my intent, however, I must return to this Scripture because I mentioned it earlier:

And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: - Ephesians 3:9

In this translation, the Greek text upon which it is based and its derivatives over the years, Jesus Christ is specifically named (emphasis mine:)

Kai phōtizō pas phōtizō tis koinōnia mystērion ho apo aiōn apokryptō en theos ho ktizō pas dia Iēsous Christos

In another line of ancient manuscripts upon which the Vulgate is based and its derivatives, the Name of Jesus Christ is omitted:

et inluminare omnes quae sit dispensatio sacramenti absconditi a saeculis in Deo qui omnia creavit

To see all of them in contrast: click here

Notwithstanding translations, the bottom line is that God's Name I AM is Truth regardless of when, or in what language, He announced that Name to us mere time-bound mortal creatures.

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. – Exodus 3:14

Likewise His Name Jesus is Truth timelessly - regardless of when and what language He revealed that Name to Mary:

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. - Luke 1:31

Man is not the measure of God.

To God be the glory, not man, never man.

[marshmallow]

God is not time-bound, we are. Time is part of the Creation, not a property or restriction on the Creator.

God is outside of time but man is not.

Now Jesus is not only true God, He is also true man. Thus, when the Second Person of the Trinity took upon Himself our humanity, He was born into time. He was born "at the fullness of time", as Scripture says.

Jesus is not outside of time by virtue of His human nature. He did not exist from all eternity for it required Mary's "yes" to bring about that union of God and man. Without Mary's "yes", there is no Jesus.

Thus OT times "predate" Jesus. They do not predate the second person of the Holy Trinity who is one with the Father.