I think nearly all of us Seventh-day Adventists have been taught, and believe, that the plan of salvation was laid before this world was ever created. The phrase "from the foundation of the world" in referring to the Lamb that was slain in Revelation 13:8 gives credence to that belief, if the word "foundation" is not carefully considered. 1Peter 1:20 "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you," This sounds even more emphatic that God had the plan of salvation before this world was created.
This verse in Luke, tho, shows that "foundation of the world, can just mean - "from the time around the beginning of the world" - Luke 11:50 "That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;"
What about the original, 1858 edition of the Great Controversy? Does it have anything to say about the plan of salvation?
Chapter 3 The Plan of Salvation
Sorrow filled heaven, as it was realized that man was lost, and the world that God created was to be filled with mortals doomed to misery, sickness and death, and there was no way of escape for the offender. The whole family of Adam must die. I saw the lovely Jesus, and beheld an expression of sympathy and sorrow upon his countenance. Soon I saw him approach the exceeding bright light which enshrouded the Father. Said my accompanying angel, He is in close converse with His Father. The anxiety of the angels seemed to be intense while Jesus was communing with his Father. Three times he was shut in by the glorious light about the Father, and the third time he came from the Father, his person could be seen. His countenance was calm, free from all perplexity and trouble, and shone with benevolence and loveliness, such as words cannot express. He then made known to the angelic host that a way of escape had been made for lost man. He told them that he had been pleading with his Father, and had offered to give his life a ransom, and take the sentence of death upon himself, that through him man might find pardon. That through the merits of his blood, and obedience to the law of God, they could have the favor of God, and be brought into the beautiful garden, and eat of the fruit of the tree of life.
That makes much more sense to me. Isn't Jesus omniscient and omnipotent? Does he know the future, or not? I understand he does not know the exact date when he will return to this earth to take us home, but it seems like he willingly gave up that knowledge in order to do his work as a high priest in the heavenly sanctuary.
So if the plan of salvation was all laid out before this world was created, and the Father and Jesus clasped hands and said IF anything goes wrong, Jesus will give up his life to pay the debt of sin, then they are just playing games up in heaven, as they both knew what was going to happen. So are they "wink, wink", let's do this little role playing game of IF......? Or are Jesus and the Father really not sure about the future? Or did they do it just like the 1858gc says, and make the plan of salvation right after Adam and Eve sinned?
