Page 16 - Foundations

Ephesians 1:9-10
He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed
in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up
of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth.

The English word “sum” is derived from the Latin “summa.” When the Romans would add together
figures they would put the total, the sum, at the top of the list of numbers. This is the opposite of how
people in English speaking nations do sums. The expression “to sum up” is a direct reference to the
Roman practice of placing the sum at the top of a list of figures. It is from the Latin summa that we
derive the English word “summit,” meaning the highest point.

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians he had the Roman practice of summing up in mind. Consider that
when we sum up a list of numbers that the sum necessarily encompasses and contains everything that
is being summed. The reconciliation of the heavens and earth will only be accomplished when all
that is contrary to the nature of God has been removed. All rebellion and all sin must cease. Those
who were angry with God, the rebels and the wicked, must repent and be purified by fire before all
can be summed up in Christ. There can be nothing unholy, and no rebellion, that is contained in the
Son of God.

Isaiah 45:23-24
“I have sworn by Myself, the word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn
back, that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance. They will say of Me, 'Only
in Yahweh are righteousness and strength.' Men will come to Him, and all who were angry at Him
shall be ashamed.”

The fact that these former rebels are ashamed reveals that repentance has come to them. That they
would freely confess that “Only in Yahweh are righteousness and strength” demonstrates that the
ministry of reconciliation has been fully accomplished by Yahshua, the Son of God.

Philippians 3:20-21
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Yahshua
Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory,
by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

When Yahweh’s plan of the ages has finished its course, all that came forth from the Son will be
reconciled to the Father. All things, whether in heaven or on earth that have been in a state of
rebellion and sin will be brought to a state of peace and righteousness. All will be subjected to, and
summed up in, the Son of God. He will in turn be subject to the Father so that He is “all in all.” This
is the glorious cycle of creation established by the Father. Solomon observed the cycle of creation
in that which is observable on earth.

Ecclesiastes 1:5-7
The sun rises and the sun sets; And hastening to its place it rises there again. Blowing toward the
south, then turning toward the north, the wind continues swirling along; And on its circular courses
the wind returns. All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers