The Timelessness of God

 by Pastor George D. Cutler

Grace Gospel Ministry     

God is time-less rather than being eternally in time or being beyond time in the spirit. Time in and of itself was simply created by God as a finitely limited part of His creation for accommodating the workings of His purpose in His disposable universe. It was eternally the design of God’s purpose and decree to formulate the imperfections (corruptibility, decay, inevitable death) of the world, by which such is errantly structured to function in the so-called '”physical laws of the universe.” Clearly, God did not design anything to be perfect within the locale of space/time/matter but He in Himself is separate (Holy) in His perfection. In terms of where God dwells, He inherently self-exists in the separate (holy) sphere of eternity wherein His nature imbues perfection and timelessness! The only anthropomorphic analogy of this phenomenon must remain in mankind’s state of “curiosity,” which is enthralled in the '’limitedness dimensions of what-is.”

Thus God cannot exist within that which can be conceived of as “time” nor can He exist in some mythical “infinity of time,” as in the assumption of the concept of 'the ages of the ages,” which Scripturally does not imply timelessness at all. Time is finite and ENDS but God does not end. Also viewing God as a resident of time is problematic in light of the fact that “time” integrally involves temporal sequence and confined physicality. If one interprets existence as an absolute to the point of   timelessness, it goes arguably far beyond the extents of physical creation. God possesses changeless integrity and as a matter of fact, timelessness repels all that is hopelessly temporal. For occurrences to happen and remain, it is so essential for them to be imbedded in timelessness with God. In this sense, nothing outside of the eternal sphere implies timelessness at all, which dictates that human history as it is perceived with its temporal sequence will come to an end.

In light of this, a probing question is, when time does end, what will happen to the components of creation and its temporal beings? Also, can a temporal being ever become an atemporal being? According to the principles of timelessness, atemporal entities can't experience progression from before to after. That would be necessary to any process of "becoming" but it would be a contradiction if something “became” timeless. Also, what happened to Jesus? His incarnation was temporal manifestation-wise, in that Jesus seemingly ascended into heaven with a physical body and as previously noted, physicality requires time. This does not agree with what we know of the universe, as time and physical space are inseparable, in that they are both part of creation. Further, the entire concept of temporal sequence is relative. Thus, one would be taking an extreme step to suggest that sequence from before to after begin after the fall. Actually, the notion that man became temporal after the fall is just as contradictory as the notion that he will become atemporal; because “becoming” has no place in timelessness.

This is in fact the center of the controversy in that scripturally speaking, no specific ontological (conceptualization of existence) presence admits though physiology (functions and activities of physical life) any representation beyond natural purposes. Further, the concept of ontological special presence isn't incompatible within timelessness. It just isn't reflected, as physiology doesn’t in any sense address issues outside of time in terms of where only the present exists or is ontologically specific; as opposed to where the past, present and future equally exist with no real distinction. In this respect, it is a necessity to project a progression of ideas that are not spatially located. This mode of conceptualization abides above materialism and excels the characteristics of manifestation by sequence being relative. Clearly in this, the passage of time is not relative as the paradox of timelessness demonstrates but that has no effect on the issue of whether all of time exists.

However, illustrations of manifestations might otherwise show a slightly more complex view of what the present is and not be committed to the notion of an equally existent past and future. From the extent of the human-earthly vantage-point, the manifestation of time-travel is a hypothetical structure of space-time envisioned as a long thin tunnel with connecting points that are separated by intervals, which pose a threat to the enactment of the sequence of occurrences therein. In effect, all equations representing physiology are lacking the layer of reality that would demonstrate any palpability (capability as perceived by the senses) of this. At any rate, if physiology does indeed progress to the point where it evolves to a point of human perceived accuracy, it would simply suggest that it has to progress further yet to establish its cognitive authority to the highest point of acceptability.

Thus, to abide in the realm of reality and truth, is only possible from the Devine-Heavenly vantage-point, which embellishes the actualization of God’s eternal working in the sphere of timelessness. The only access to this plateau is by the Scriptures conveyed through the matured Gospel of Grace, which presents reality in its inherency of God, as contrasted from within manifested presence moving along in temporal progression. Changes in mankind’s place in time are expressed by anthropomorphic terminology exuding time, e.g., “God redeems, remembers, forms plans, has sequences of emotions and has a history and so on;” as all of these things represent only temporal entities. Contrariwise, timeless entities are exuded by God "who is, was, and is to come." To comprehend the relevance of this, one must understand that time and mankind are concomitant components of creation and thus had to be temporal or else man couldn't inhabit within them according to God’s purpose.

Temporal beings cannot escape corruption but some will be “exchanged” according to the Scriptures despite humanly perceived denial of this possibility.

I Corinthians 15:50-54 state, “And this I say, brethren that flesh and blood are not able to inherit the Kingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For it is necessary for this corruptible to (having) put on incorruption, and for this mortal to (having) put on immortality. But when this corruptible may have (having) put on incorruption, and this mortal may have (having) put on immortality, then will come to pass the word that has been (and is) written, Death has been swallowed up in victory.” Thus it is only in a manifested sense that Jesus was translated in spirit to stand at the right hand of God in Heaven. In like manner, the elect will be manifested, demonstrating the change from mortal mankind to resurrected sons of God, translated to spirit, made in God's image and no longer identified in human bodies.

Because God is timeless in His perfection, all corruption necessarily requires temporality. It makes sense that all temporality will be “exchanged” because it is absurd to speak of a temporal entity becoming timeless. But it is perfectly intelligible and coherent to speak of a temporal creature being purified and changed so it is no longer corrupt and yet also by nature, it is no longer a temporal creature. And what did God conclude (decree) of all this activity, some of which was essentially and explicitly temporal? God was (and is) eternally pleased that all He had actualized according to His plan, will and purpose was very good. God is SPIRIT in the sphere of timelessness rather than FLESH in the sphere of time!