The Divine Council

By: CK Quarterman

What Was Before Nothingness?

God existed. I remembered suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, Genesis 1:1. In the beginning God. Before anything was, there was God, and then he created the heavens and earth. Before nothingness, there was God. A time in the eons past when nothing existed but God and His Council (Assembly).

Only a small record of this time is left to us in the Hebrew Old Testament. It seems likely that most of the records have been destroyed by Lucifer and the fallen angels in order to conceal themselves, but in the oldest of writings, there is some record of this time and the events which took place. Imagine, if you can, twenty-four elders sitting upon thrones, and in the center a larger throne, with the host (angels) in attendance as witnesses. The congregation is unnumbered because of the multitudes in attendance.

God standeth in the Congregation of God (El)
In the midst of gods (elohim) He judgeth” (Ps. 82:1)

The Syriac version renders it, “In the congregation of angels“.

In this psalm, we see God take His place as the leader of the divine council. The psalmist pictures God standing in the “assembly of El” where he accuses the “gods” (‘elohim – Angels) of failing to promote justice the on earth, and carrying out the responsibilities He has assigned to them. God pronounces sentence upon them, announcing that they (‘elohim – Angels) will die like men. Their fate for unfairness and wickedness will be to “die like men” , and since clearly all men will die, attempting to apply this Scripture to human rulers, as some scholars do, is illogical.

I saw a throne in heaven, and the Ancient of Days sat upon the throne. The throne was similar in appearance to jasper and rubies, and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw the twenty-four elders sitting, in white robes; and on their heads were crowns of gold. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, voices and thunders.

Seven torches of fire were burning before the throne; and before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living beings.

The first living being was like a lion, the second living being was like a calf, the third living being had a face of a man, and the fourth living being was like a flying eagle. And the four living beings, each one having six wings apiece, were full of eyes around and within. And before the throne was a golden altar.

This is called the Congregation (assembly). The name arrives from the many which stand before it, a number unnumbered because of the multitudes in attendance. This Council is mentioned several other times where it is called the Congregation.

Here we see an example of the Divine Council:

And the Ancient of Days said, “Who shall entice this king that he may go and be defeated at Ramoth Gilead?” And one said on this manner; and another said on that manner. And there came forth another, and stood before the Ancient of Days, and said, “I will convince him.” And the Ancient of Days said to him, “Wherewith?” And he said, “I will go, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.” And he said, “You will convince him, go now, and do so” and one said, on that manner and another. (1Kings 22)

These were members of the counsel. Not that the Ancient of Days needs advice, he doesn’t, but none the less he chooses to surround himself with others.

Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left”. (2Ch 18:18 KJV)

Here we see mention of the “host of heaven” (tzeva’ hashamayim) which stands before the Ancient of Days. Clearly this is speaking of angelic beings, including those on the heavenly divine council. So in this time before time began, which we refer to as from everlasting to everlasting, there was the Ancient of Days, the Logos, and they were sitting at the head of the Council with the twenty four elders and others.