Hi Rick
No, I don't believe souls are eternal. Eternal would signify that souls never had a beginning. Only God is eternal. The verse I previously quoted from Isaiah 57 states that God created (made) all souls. Therefore, souls had a beginning.
RickD wrote:Could you clarify what you mean by this?
I will try.
Jer 1:5 (KJV)
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
How did God know Jeremiah before he formed his flesh body in his mother's womb? Evidently he knew his soul from before he was born.
Job 38:4 (KJV) Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
When did the morning "stars" sing together and all the sons of God shout for joy? In the age previous to this age, when we existed as souls.
Gen 1:2 (KJV) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
The phrase 'without form' and the word 'void' are the Hebrew words pronounced Tohuw and Bohuw. Tohuw means a desolation. Bohuw means an undistinguishable ruin; emptiness.
Isa 45:18 (KJV) For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
The word 'vain' in this verse is the same as the phrase 'without form' in Gen 1:2, the Hebrew word Tohuw, from Strong's concordance. Since God claims He did not create it 'Tohuw', that is, as a desolation, in the above verse, it appears to be a contradiction because in Gen 1:2 it claims it "was" Tohuw. The Hebrew word "hayah" transliterated as the English word 'was' in Gen 1:2 should really be transliterated as 'became'.
In other words, God did not create it as a desolation, it "became" that way. Why did it become that way? Because of Satan's rebellion in the beginning age, when he deceived a third of God's children (souls, stars of heaven). It claims that in Rev 12, which is a paranthetical chapter, covering a greater span of time than any chapter in the Bible..
Rev 12:4 (KJV) And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Because of Satan's rebellion, God destroyed that age as described in Jer 4:23-26 (KJV) and created this second age, beginning in Gen 1:3. The ages (eons of time) are highlighted in 2 Peter 3
2Pet 3:6 (KJV) Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: (first age, the age that was)
2Pet 3:7 (KJV) But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (second age, our present age)
2Pet 3:13 (KJV) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (third age, the age to come, the eternity)
Dr. E W Bullinger does a good writeup of it in the following link.
The Foundation of the World.
http://www.angelfire.com/nv/TheOliveBra ... nd146.html
Professor John Lennox has a new book out entitled, 'Seven Days that Changed the World'. He covers the different creation views, including what he calls the "day/age" or gap creation model which I believe in. You should probably give it a read. Lennox is an OEC btw.
Hope that helps.
