I'm going to tell you a story. Think with me for a minute about God and the big picture. Allow me a little creative license.
God is holy, three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). He is not lonely or desperate or hungry. He is. He dwells in a beautiful place that we call "heaven," and he creates a beautiful race we know as angels. They are magnificent creatures. Heaven is populated with all sorts of creatures: fantastical beasts, cherubim, seraphim. I suppose all the variety are "angels."
The angels populate heaven, serving God and glorifying Him. There are three magnificent ones: Michael, Gabriel, and Lucifer. And one day Lucifer decides that being a mere angel is not enough. He rebels against his creator and is driven from heaven along with a third of the angel population.
After the dust settles, God suggests a new endeavor: "Let's create something that can be redeemed." Redemption? What is that?
"Well, redemption means that if there is a rebellion, I will restore the creation to Myself."
What?? This is crazy talk. Who could forgive rebellion? There is something about rebellion that inherently changes a creature. Look at Lucifer. There's no way he could ever come back to heaven. God is holy; this isn't possible.
"I will atone," says the Lord. What?? What does "atone" even mean?
"I will become like them. I will cross over to their state, and substitute My righteousness for their own. I will cover them with My holiness."
The angels are in. What a story this is going to be. They watch as the Father speaks, and a new world begins to come into existence through the Son. Pause to imagine it: the swirling gases, the compression of light, the forces of the universe coming into being. The tiny atoms that build a complexity so amazing it mirrors God Himself. The angels themselves are pretty amazing, so this creation seems in line with what they are used to seeing. Gorgeous and new, but a familiar new.
After a day of rest, God goes to visit with His creation. And wouldn't you know, Lucifer shows up, prowling around. Of course he would want to look into this--they are all curious. Michael wants to drive him away, but the Lord says no. There is a purpose in all of this.
But this has to be a mistake, because Lucifer messes everything up. He tempts the woman (the crowning achievement of this new creation) and she disobeys God, along with her husband. Great! Here we go again! The whole thing down the toilet at the very beginning.
But God isn't flustered. Righteously angry, yes. Clear regarding the consequences, yes. But something new is happening here. Revelation 13 tells us that Jesus Christ was slain from the foundation of the world. And Hebrews 13 speaks of the blood of the eternal covenant. Something in the very nature of God, part of this world from its very beginning, is being revealed: redemption.
When God curses the serpent, the embodiment of Lucifer, He says, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman,and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15). Rebellion and Redemption are going head on. Wait and see.
This the angels have never seen. God calling a people to Himself. Becoming incarnate, one of them. Letting them kill His Son, and then rising, establishing a new priesthood, a new creation. All those who come to Him are holy, washed clean from their rebellion and in right standing with God. His own Spirit inhabits them.
Lucifer, vicious and angry, is bent on destroying them. But he is just as puzzled by this "redemption" as any of his race. He knows a time has been set for his condemnation, but he is loose now. Surely the mess he began so long ago can't be undone. He's still loose, damn it.
Judgement is coming. Here we go.
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