Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/226

 Plan of the Agts.

In each of these three great dispensations, epochs or "worlds " God's plan with reference to men has a distinct and separate outline; yet each is but a part of the one great plan which, when complete, will exhibit the divine wisdom though these parts considered separately fail to show their deep design. Since the first "world" ("heav- ens and earth/* or that order of things) passed away at the time of the flood, it follows that it must hare been a different order from "this present evil world" of which our Lord said Satan is the prince; hence the prince of this present evil world was not the prince of the world that was before the flood, although he was not without in- fluence then. Several scriptures throw light on God's deal- ings during that time, and thus give a clear insight into his plan as a whole. The thought suggested by these is that the frst "world," or the dispensation before the flood, was under the supervision and special ministration of an- gels, who were permitted to try what they could do to recover the fallen and degenerate race. Doubtless, with. God's permission, they were anxious to try it; for their interest was manifested in the singing and shouting for joy over the works of creation, (Job. 38 : 7.) That angels were the permitted though unsuccessful rulers of that first epoch is not only indicated by all references to that pe- riod, but it may reasonably be inferred from the Apostle's remark when, contrasting the present dispensation with the past and the future, he says (Heb. 6:5), "Unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come,** No; that world is to be under the control of the Lord Je* BUS and his joint-heirs j and hence it will not only be & more righteous administration than that of "the present evil world/* but it will also be more successful than that of the first world or dispensation under the "ministration of angels," whose inability to reclaim the race is manifest

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