God’s Desire to Dwell with Humanity and Judge the Angels: From Creation to New Creation

Correlations Between Genesis and Revelation Series

From the beginning, it is clear that God’s desire has always been to commune with humanity. In Genesis 3:8, we see God walking in the Garden of Eden, seeking fellowship with Adam and Eve. This paints a picture of the intimate relationship He intended to have with mankind from the very start. Yet, sin entered the world, and that communion was broken. However, God's plan for humanity never wavered. He always sought to restore that relationship, and we see this fully realized in Revelation 21:3 where God declares, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.”

A significant aspect of this divine plan involves humanity’s role, not only in relationship to God but also in relation to the angels. Scripture shows that humanity is exalted even above the angels. In 1 Corinthians 6:3, Paul reveals this surprising truth: "Do you not know that we are to judge angels?" This statement signifies a level of authority and responsibility given to mankind that surpasses that of angels, setting the stage for potential animosity among the heavenly hosts.

The rebellion of Lucifer (Satan) was rooted in pride, but it is possible that it also stemmed from a jealousy and a fundamental misunderstanding of God’s unique relationship with humanity. Isaiah 14:12-14 describes Lucifer’s fall: “How you have fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!...For you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God… I will make myself like the Most High.’” Lucifer’s desire to be like God led to his rebellion, but his pride may have also been fueled by his failure to comprehend why God would create and love mankind so deeply, eventually exalting them to judge even the angels.

Scripture hints that angels didn’t fully grasp God’s redemptive plan for humanity. 1 Peter 1:12 tells us that the mysteries of salvation are things “into which angels long to look.” While angels serve God and minister to humanity, they are not participants in redemption the way humans are. This could have led to confusion or even frustration among some angels, making them vulnerable to Lucifer’s deception.

Lucifer, in his rebellion, could have exploited this lack of understanding, twisting the truth about humanity’s role and causing other angels to question why God would place such emphasis on human beings. In doing so, Lucifer manipulated this misunderstanding and perhaps sowed discord by pointing to God’s seemingly “unfair” treatment in elevating humanity above the angels. This may have laid the groundwork for a larger angelic rebellion, with some following Lucifer in his prideful revolt against God's divine order.

We know that angels are powerful, and they have a specific role in serving God and ministering to His creation (Hebrews 1:14), but they were not created in God's image as humanity was. Genesis 1:26 declares, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness,” which shows the unique way God created man to reflect His nature. This, coupled with God’s intimate relationship with humanity, could have sparked confusion, jealousy, and even resentment among some of the angels, opening the door for Lucifer to manipulate this misunderstanding.

Lucifer's rebellion and fall, along with the eventual entrance of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, likely reflect more than just his personal pride. Revelation 12:7-9 describes a war in heaven where Satan and his angels are cast down to the earth. This implies that there was division among the angels, with some aligning with Lucifer’s distorted vision of God’s plan.

Lucifer's manipulation of Eve in the Garden was driven by a desire to corrupt God's beloved creation, further separating humanity from the Creator and proving that mankind, whom God valued so highly, was flawed.

Jealousy may have played a critical role in this rebellion. Psalm 8:4-5 says, “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than the angels and crowned him with glory and honor.” Despite being “lower” than the angels for a time, mankind is crowned with glory and destined for honor, a fact that perhaps sparked jealousy within the angelic hosts. I dive deeper into this subject in my article: Angels and Humans: Unveiling the Unique Roles in God’s Creation

In the end, what was lost in the Garden through Satan’s deception and man’s fall will be restored through Christ. Revelation 21:3-4 shows that God’s ultimate plan for humanity will be fulfilled as He dwells with His people for all eternity: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’”

This reveals that God's plan from the very beginning, despite angelic rebellion and human sin, has always been to restore communion with humanity and to bring them to a place of eternal fellowship with Him. Through Christ, humanity will not only be redeemed but will also fulfill its destined role of reigning with Christ, even judging the angels, as God's perfect plan is completed in the new heaven and new earth.

I don't believe that we, as humanity, can fully comprehend the depth of love and the intimate relationship that God passionately desires to have with us. Throughout all of history, despite our constant rebellion, failures, and turning away from Him—both in the pages of Scripture and in the world today—He has never given up on us. His heart has always been for us, relentlessly pursuing us through every age. Everything He has ever created was for our benefit, and His desire for relationship with us has been unwavering. As we look toward the fulfillment of His promises in Revelation, it becomes clear that what He has in store for us will be nothing short of breathtaking. The day when we dwell with Him in perfect unity will be a glorious, unimaginable culmination of His eternal love for us.

© 2024 Amanda Allen. All rights reserved.

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