Bible Brain Teaser

In Isaiah 43:10-11 these words are recorded; "Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour."

The question is drawn from the latter clause of verse 10; "before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me."

First of all, it's important to understand that these words are spoken by Yahweh Himself. He uses the words "before me and after me," Does this suggest that there was a time before God existed, or more importantly will there be a time when He no longer exists?

If this is in fact the case then how is Psalms 90:2, 106:48, Isaiah 40:28, John 1:1-3, I Timothy 1:17, Revelation 22:13 and several other Scriptures which declare God's eternal, everlasting and immortal nature explained?

The answer is very simple. Under no circumstances has God ever not existed, neither will He ever cease to exist. As Doug Potter says, He is Pure Actuality, essentially the Uncaused Cause. He causes all things to exist out of His pure and eternal actuality.

The word "before" in Hebrew means face (or presence) which is to say, in God's face, or in front of Him, or in His presence, there was no God formed. The word "before" here does not suggest a time that predates God.

The word "after" in Hebrew means behind (or hinder part). Which means that as our God is from everlasting to everlasting, He will always exist. A time "after Him" will never come, neither will there ever be a God (god) that will follow behind His hinder parts, for He is unmatched and nothing is equal to Him.

"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:"

Isaiah 45:5