Yes Jesus Christ loves us, but that was not your question. In the beginning Jesus was the predetermined plan for the redemption of mankind (Acts 2:23).
When Greeks took control of Christianity they substituted Greek philosophy for the Hebraic foundation of the apostles and the prophets. In the mind of the Jews God created His word (Torah) before He created all that is seen and unseen. The Torah existed in God's mind and God created all that is seen and unseen by His word (logos), which God then manifested in Jesus Christ when He became flesh.
Now put Philippians 2:7 in its full context:
Philippians 2:1-11
2:1 If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. NAS
The Koine Greek word translated "form" is "morfee" or "morphe", which means "station in life" or "visible appearance". All mankind exists is the "form" of God since God "formed" man in His likeness. When you put verses 6 and 7 in context with the balance of what Paul was teaching these verses do not teach the preexistence of the Son they teach that we like Christ need to humble ourselves by taking on the "appearance" or "station in life" of a bond-servant.
Revelation 2:8 does not teach preexistence, it teaches that in God's plan Jesus is the first and last of that plan. Now in Hebrew society as well as other ancient cultures the oldest son had the same perogatives as his father. In Hebrew culture this is known as the "law of agency". When we study the Bible we learn that Jesus is God visible agent and as God's visible agent can and should receive worship. You appealed to Hebrews 1:1-5 in an earliet post so why ignore Hebrews 1:6
Hebrews 1:6
6 And when He again brings the first-born into the world, He says,
" And let all the angels of God worship Him." NAS
Also why Jesus is worshipped can be found in:
Philippians 2:9-11
9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. NAS
God's predetermined plan was that all will bow at the name of Jesus to God's glory.
Now as to Thomas' statement. Since Jesus and His disciples spoke Aramaic not Greek we need to ask what Thomas said in Aramaic. There are several words in Hebrew and Aramaic that are translated "lord" and "god" in Greek. 'Adonay was used primarily for God, while 'adown was used for men. Elohiym, which means god also means judges, messengers, angels, and etc. Therefore in order to understand Thomas' statement we need to understand that Jesus is 'adown not 'adonay and that in the mind of the Jews elohiym does not always mean Yehovah. We know the Messiah is 'adown from Psalms 110:
Psalms 110:1
The LORD says to my Lord:
"Sit at My right hand,
Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet."
NAS
The Hebrew translated "my Lord" is 'adown.
Just as God made Moses to be a god to Pharoah, Jesus is "god" to His apostles, since Jesus is God's agent in heaven and on earth.