Okay, in review, we have said that angels and mankind were endowed with free will. I need to add here, that whilst both the angels and man chose to abuse that free will and reject God, only to mankind was the offer of salvation provided. In Hebrews we read that the Angels look on as surprised and awestruck witnesses of all that God did to provide for man's salvation. As the Bible says, only to man did he give the image of God, the ability for salvation and angels look on and stand amazed in wonder at the depth of God's love for created man.
So, the next part of the story is played out now in the human realm, but the ultimate end will affect both the physical and spiritual realm.
God chose two men of faith to set his plan in motion. The first was Abraham, who lived in 2000BC. God took an ordinary man and made a covenant with him, promising amongst other things, a seed that would bless all nations. Paul in Galations 3:6-16 identified this seed as Jesus Christ. The seed of Abraham would bring redemption to mankind, reversing the effect that Adam's choice had had on all creation.
Then to fulfill his kingdom purpose God chose David out of the same linage around 1000BC and made a covenant with him that a royal seed would produce an everlasting kingdom of which there would be no end. (2 Samuel 7:12-16). This king would not only rule over the house of Israel, but over the entire world (Amos 9:12, Zechariah 14:0). The demonic realm and it's kingdom of darkness would be destroyed and God would rule the world in righteousness.
Now it's interesting that when talking of Jesus Christ, Matthew begins his genelogy in chapter one by saying of Christ that he was the "Son of Abraham, Son of David". Matthew's gospel was written as a witness to the Jews of the Messiah, and he used very Hebrew symbols to show the connection between Jesus and the much looked for Messiah by bringing together Abraham and David and their individual covenants.
It's interesting to note, that in both cases, God himself organised the covenant agreement and in neither case was anything required of David and Abraham. God Himself had spoken, and set in place an irrevocable covenant plan.. man's frailty would not prevent the purposes and promises of God from being accomplished.
Now let's be more specific and see how scripture ties together these two plans and brings them to their ultimate conclusion in Christ.
The entire old testament was preparing the way for the coming of the messiah. God's dealings with Israel were in keeping with his purpose that through Israel all nations of the earth would see and know the creator of God. It was not that she was a special nation, it was that with blessing comes responsibility and though she knew blessing, she often rebelled against it and was shown the full extent of God's judgement.
Yet, despite all the demonic attempts to prevent the coming of the seed that would bring the fulfilment of the plan into being, Galations 4:4 states
"But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law so we might receive the full rights as sons."
The lamb slain before the foundation of the world as described in Revelation now enters the human arena.
Elsewhere in the forums I showed how Jesus was not killed by anyone, but that he gave up his life once all was completed. His cry on the cross immediately before He "gave up his spirit" was "IT IS FINISHED". What was he referring to.. it was all that was required for the final destiny of both the demonic rebels who hed up the kingdom of darkness, and man's redemption. To see this we need to look at two verses in particular
Colossians 2:15
"He disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of the, triumphing over them by the cross".
In Matthew 4, Satan had offered Jesus all the power and glory if Jesus would but bow and worship him. After the cross, Jesus took back the kingdom and his resurrection broke not only sins power over human beings, but Satan's power over the earth.
This kingdom struggle is again seen in Revelation 13 when he will again attempt a final deception but this is as a defeated foe and his final end is seen in Revelation 20 when the devil and his angels are cast into the eternal lake of fire.
In Romans we see the story of the redemption of man and how the death and resurrection of Jesus cancelled out the penalty of sin which is death. The whole purpose of the coming of Jesus is seen in Revelation 21 :3
"I saw the Holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be His people and He will be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.... I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End."
Chrisitianity begins and ends with Jesus Christ because He is the God who put it all into action and He is the one that the entire earth and all creation will bow down and worship. He is the one who himself came and died on the cross for our sins. God who became man and dwelt amongst us, part of His perfect plan, devised before the foundation of the world, to ensure we could have free will, respond to him in love and yet not be at the mercy of our own rebellious choices. As it says in John 3:16
"God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life".
Why don't Christians need Muhammad? Because Jesus's death and resurrection finalised all the requirements for God's plan for the redemption of mankind and the destruction of the demons and reclaiming of the kingdom on the cross.
You and I daily make free will choices to reject God and His right to our worship and that condemns us as much as it did Lucifer and Adam and Eve. God's plan of redemption was as much for you and for me personally as it was for Adam and Eve and the Nation of Israel.
All that Jesus did on the cross, was the plan that was set in motion even before man was created to deal with those choices. We don't need any more prophets.. God come in the flesh as Jesus Christ points the only way to God... so he is able to say "I am the way the truth and the life and no man comes to the father but by me."
I have tried to keep this discussion general as you didn't want bible verses, but please there are holes in these posts as a result so ask more questions and looking forward to your responses.
Peace and a good weekend be yours