In Die Apostolaat van die Kerk J. van Wyk expresses the opinion that ``enige grondige bespreking en kritiek van Van Ruler se hele sisteem by sy werklikheidsbegrip moet begin.''5.23 According to Van Wyk, Van Ruler's claim of the complete identity of this world and the future world, as well as his repeated emphasis of the fact that there is only one reality, namely this tangible and visible reality in which we live and with which God is concerned in his saving works, leads to the conclusion that the `tangible' is simply raised to a theological fact. Thus Van Wyk states that Van Ruler's theology uncritically accepts empirical reality and therefore does not deal adequately with the final judgment and renewal that occurs at the `end of time'. Van Wyk states: ``Dit kom ons voor asof Van Ruler die skeppingswereld, die wesenlike wereld, te eenvoudig gelykstel met die sigbare wereld, waarin die kerk uiterlik beweeg.''5.24
It is true that Van Ruler asserts that there is a complete identity between this world and the future world but he denies that this world has its own essence over and against God. ``Deze bijbelsche leer van de schepping doet ons er oog voor krijgen, dat de categorie van het `zijn' een heidensche categorie is, waaraan we in bekeering en wedergeboorte hebben af te sterven. Er is geen zijn der dingen. Er is alleen geschapen, d.i. gestelde en wel door het Woord gestelde, dus geroepen, en dat uit het niets geroepen werkelijkheid.''5.25 There is no `essential' world, there is only this created, tangible world that has fallen under the curse of sin and which will have its salvation in Christ unveiled in the eschaton. This world returns in the eschaton, this world is resurrected in the eschaton.5.26 But first this world must die, it must be overcome by the forces of sin, death and destruction. These forces, however, do not have the final word. In a new act God will resurrect this world and destroy the powers of sin and death. Therefore there is a continuity between this world and the next - no nova creatio comes in the place of the old. This world is resurrected because God remains true to himself and to his creation. Thus this continuity does not lie in the object of salvation (this world), ``maar in den handelen Gods, die trouw houdt aan zijn schepsel, ook als hij het aan den dood en aan het einde, ja aan het niets prijs geeft.''5.27 Therefore this world goes through the radical judgment of death and the radical renewal of resurrection in which sin and death is done away with.
Once we have a correct understanding of the doctrine of the trinity we can understand the doctrine of the decrees of God. God is fullness of being and needs nothing outside of himself. Therefore his decree to create is absolutely free and based on his sovereignty and good pleasure. Certainly his decree refers to his essence but one could not say that his essence and his decree are exactly the same thing. Rather one must say that his decree is his essence in relation to his creation.5.28 Therefore God cannot be understood only in immanent trinitarian terms - these must be supplemented with the idea of predestination.5.29
The Bible understands God as the God who works according to his eternal counsel and who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will (Eph. 1:11). For this same reason creation is also to be understood only from the acts of God5.30 - creation is what God does with it. This is most certainly a rich source of comfort. ``Want daardoor weten wij, dat geen blind toeval, geen donker noodlot, geen onredelijke en onzalige wil, geen onafwendbare natuurdwang de wereld en de menscheid beheerscht, maar dat het regiment over alle dingen berust in de handen van een almachtig God en een goedertieren Vader.''5.31
The doctrine of predestination is also important because it maintains the distinction between Creator and creature. When understood according to the reformed confessions we clearly see this distinction as well as the centrality of the kingdom in the original and final intentions of God.5.32 With this, however, we are anticipating the next topic.