Was the plan of creation in the mind of God eternally?

Although the work of creation occurred within time, the plan of creation was in the mind of God from before the world was created and unto the world’s end. The creation is not coeternal with God.

Titles of God such as the Creator, the Orchestrator, the Carer for His creation, and the Lord of creation do not signify any change in the divine essence; for from eternity God is love, and the plan for the visible and invisible creation is just an expression of God’s love and goodness that have never ceased since eternity.

He created the world by His own free will, without creating any evil being or thing. At each stage of the creation, it was said: “And God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31). This phrase reveals that God did not create anything out of need or for His benefit, but only out of His goodness, motivated by love. He does not compel humanity to goodness, but grants us free will, for we are His image. When we abused this gift, He promised to remedy situation: “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet. 3:11–13).

The present world is very good, yet not perfect; so it will pass away, and the divine promise of a new heaven and a new earth will be fulfilled. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matt. 24:35).