2. AN ANCIENT VIEW OF THE UNIVERSE In one form or another, from prehistoric times to today

3. Death, underworld “Hades, souls of the dead” evil spirits, demons “Depth” Rebellious angels, demoted gods (immortal) “The Powers,” Fate, “Thrones,” “Rulers,” highest “gods,” highest angels, “stoicheia” The heavens stars planets “Height” Earth, the visible world Invisible life: spirits, demons, angels, “gods” All visible life (mortal)

4. Death, underworld “Hades, souls of the dead” evil spirits, demons “Depth” Rebellious angels, demoted gods (immortal) “The Powers,” Fate, “Thrones,” “Rulers,” highest “gods,” highest angels, “stoicheia” The heavens stars planets “Height” “Fullness” GOD Earth, the visible world Invisible life: spirits, demons, angels, “gods” All visible life (mortal)

5. Death, underworld “Sheol, souls of the dead” evil spirits, demons “Depth” Rebellious angels, demoted gods (immortal) “The Powers,” Fate, “Thrones,” “Rulers,” highest “gods,” highest angels, “stoicheia” The heavens stars planets “Height” “Fullness” THE LORD, GOD OF ISRAEL Earth, the visible world Invisible life: spirits, demons, angels, “gods” All visible life (mortal) Israel: Law

6. THE GOOD NEWS IS VERY GOOD NEWS!

7. Death, underworld “Hades, souls of the dead” evil spirits, demons “Depth” Rebellious angels, demoted gods (immortal) “The Powers,” Fate, “Thrones,” “Rulers,” highest “gods,” highest angels The heavens stars planets “Height” “Fullness” GOD Earth, the visible world Invisible life: spirits, demons, angels, “gods” All visible life (mortal) JESUSexalted Lord Israel: Law

8. Death, underworld “Hades, souls of the dead” evil spirits, demons “Depth” Rebellious angels, demoted gods (immortal) The heavens “Height” “Fullness” GOD JESUS, exalted Lord “the sons of God” Earth, the visible world All visible life (mortal) “In Christ” The Reign of God “The Powers,” Fate, “Thrones,” “Rulers,” highest “gods,” highest angels Invisible life: spirits, demons, angels, “gods” planets stars

9. Death “Hades” evil spirits, demons “Second Death” Rebellious angels, demoted gods (immortal) New heavens “Fullness” New Earth “The Powers,” Fate, “Thrones,” “Rulers,” highest “gods,” highest angels Invisible life: spirits, demons, angels, “gods” rebellious humans All life (immortal) “In Christ” New heavens New earth JESUS, exalted Lord “the sons of God” (all redeemed humans) “Fullness” GOD

10. Death, underworld “Hades, souls of the dead” evil spirits, demons “Depth” Rebellious angels, demoted gods (immortal) The heavens “Height” “Fullness” GOD JESUS, exalted Lord “the sons of God” Earth, the visible world All visible life (mortal) “In Christ” The Reign of God “The Powers,” Fate, “Thrones,” “Rulers,” highest “gods,” highest angels Invisible life: spirits, demons, angels, “gods” planets stars

11. COMING “INTO CHRIST” 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3.26-28 3 … all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? … buried with him through baptism into death so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead … we too may live a new [kaine] life. 5 … united with him in a death like his, … united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 … our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6.3-11

12. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the right for the unright, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. In that state He went to the depths and proclaimed victory to the imprisoned spirits — to those who were rebellious long ago when God waited patiently, in hope, in the days of Noah. Jesus proclaimed God’s ultimate victory over evil’s ultimate rebellion! Jesus was raised up from the deepest place, to the highest place: now, with angels, authorities, and powers in submission to Him. Baptism saves us: by it we enter into Jesus’ resurrection and rising over all.” Adapted from 1 Peter 3.17-22