CREATION RE-CREATED

From

“Redemption Tidings”

adapted from an article by

David Rosevear

Ph.D., C.Chem.

Used with the kind permission of the Creation Science Movement, 50 Brecon Avenue, Cosham, Portsmouth, England, P06 2AW.

The word “creation” conjures up images of rolling hills, dark forests, majestic mountains, and mighty rivers flowing towards vast oceans. We think of a rich for variety of plants and animals, birds, fish, and insects. Originally, the world might well have been something like this. But then, as now, the totality of creation consisted of more. It is only by realizing the importance of the spiritual dimension that we can understand the physical realm perceived by our senses.

The Hierarchy in Creation

We learn in Job 38 that before God made the world He had created an order of angelic beings. We know of the archangel Michael from Daniel and Jude, and the angel Gabriel is mentioned in Daniel and Luke. Originally, Satan was an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), “the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 28:12). Cherubs, seraphs, and other powers and authorities were part of creation too, but we know relatively little of these beings.

Man, made a little lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:7), bears the image of God (Genesis 1:27). The three aspects of man - spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23) are paralleled in the three Persons of the Godhead - the Spirit, the Father, and the Son (Jesus Christ). When man was created, God instructed him to populate the earth and gave him the authority to subdue it. Man was told to rule over the fish, the birds, and the beasts (Genesis 1:28). “In putting everything under him [man], God left nothing that is not subject to him” (Hebrews 2:8). Since the Flood, man has been permitted to eat the flesh of animals - prior to that time, man was authorized to eat only from the vegetable kingdom (Genesis 9:3).

Thus, there was a hierarchy in creation. Man was made a little lower than the angels, but he was given authority over the plants and animals.

The Fall

When God had finished His work of creation, He pronounced it to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Yet the world we know today is fraught with violence, disease, and disaster. We know that many plant and animal species have been driven into extinction by environmental calamities, and the survival of still others is now threatened by the activities of mankind. Our world doesn't seem like the Biblical description of creation at all. How could it be called “very good”? What went wrong? Well, rather a lot.

It started with a rebellion amongst the angels, led by Lucifer (Satan). Two passages describing Satan and his cabal are found in Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:11-19. Lucifer wanted to make himself like the Most High. He became overweeningly proud of his beauty. Cast down to the earth, he became the prince of this world.

Man too wanted to disobey God and break with His ordained order. When he did so, he allowed decay to enter the physical world. Satan's temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden was, “you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). And just as Satan's pride cut him off from God, so man's sin has barred him from fellowship with his Creator (Isaiah 59:2).

Because Adam - the earth's steward - showed a preference for the word of Satan over the word of God, “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). Satan was able to offer even Jesus all of the kingdoms of the earth (Luke 4:5-6). Yet Satan's title, prince, denotes a subordinate authority. It is a position that can be taken away by the King. Fortunately, Jesus could make the unique claim that the prince of this world had no hold on Him (see John 14:30).

Spiritual death followed immediately upon Adam's sin, and all men have been dead in sin ever since (Romans 5:12). Physical death followed spiritual death, though in Adam's case it took hundreds of years to manifest (Genesis 3:19 and Genesis 5:5). Adam's relationship with Eve was also spoiled. God told Eve after her transgression that her pains in childbirth would be greatly increased and her husband would henceforth rule over her (Genesis 3:16).

After the Fall, man's ability to properly exercise his authority over the rest of creation was lost. Even the plant and animal kingdoms were corrupted by the Curse (Genesis 3:14 and Genesis 3:17). From then on, Adam would struggle to earn a living from the land, having to contend with thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:18). Indeed, since the Fall, “the whole creation has been groaning ... up to the present time” (Romans 8:22). Everything was, and still is, in “ bondage to decay” (Romans 8:21).

The Bible makes it clear we live in a fallen and corrupted world. Environmental hardships, such as extreme cold and drought, regularly threaten the survival of large numbers of plants and animals. Animals are given to eat other animals or they live in fear of being eaten. Who has not been anguished at the sight of a predator's attack on a harmless, often very young, creature? Added to these hardships are the destructive effects of disease on plant and animal populations.

As clever as he is, man is not exempt from the ravages of disaster, predation, and disease. And too often man adds to the problem by visiting harm on nature and on his fellow man. Life for most people is not an unremitting joy from beginning to end. Whether rich or poor, white or black, Chinese or Indian, most experience more emotional and physical pain over a lifetime than they care to remember.

Such is the state of the world that many people say, “God cannot be both all-loving and all-powerful, or He would not allow all this. He would do something!” Well, the good news is that God HAS done something!

Master Plan for Re-Creation

God knew that the power and authority given to man would not only make him capable of doing great things, but would give him the capacity for unspeakable wickedness, as well. Therefore, even before He laid the foundations of the world, He made plans for a new creation - a re-creation.

The Creator would become a man. The Eternal One would enter time and space. The Giver of life would subject Himself to death. The One Who is above all would allow Himself to be made a little lower than the angels to “taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). Adam, in his pride, wanted to become like God; yet God would humble Himself to become a man, to die for mankind on the Cross (Philippines 2:6-8). The apostle Paul put it well when he wrote, “[A]s in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Victory over Satan

The death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ affected the whole of creation - angels, men, beasts, plants, even the earth itself. Just before His crucifixion, Jesus said: “Now is the time for judgement on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out” (John 12:31).

His plan in becoming a man was to destroy Satan and his work. Christ shared in our humanity so that by His death He might free those enslaved by the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15) and destroy the work of the Devil (1 John 3:8). Lord told a parable about a strong man who was guarding all that was under his control. Then Someone stronger came along, bound the strong man, and plundered his possessions (Luke 11:21-22). By Christ's submission to the Father unto death and His subsequent resurrection by the Almighty, He disarmed Satan (Colossians 2:15) and was given “[a]ll authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18) The Lord Jesus has been given “the name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). He is now seated at God's right hand, “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given” (Ephesians 1:20-21).

Man Reconciled

Not only was the rebellion of angels dealt a death blow by Christ's triumph on the Cross, but fallen man was reconciled to God as well. “God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (Ephesians 2:4-5). God has raised up regenerate men with Christ. Adam's fall had brought death; Christ, by His death for us, brought life. Man, who was “far away” from God, was brought “near” by the sacrifice of Christ (Ephesians 2:13). In short, the effects of Adam's disobedience to God have been reversed by Christ's obedience to His Father.

The New Hierarchy

No longer “a little lower than the angels” (Hebrews 2:7), those who confess and repent of their sins and genuinely accept Christ's atoning sacrifice on the Cross are now “new creations” (2 Corinthians 5:17), re-created in Christ and seated with Him in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6). What a promotion!

The angels have become ministering spirits serving those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14).

Those in Christ are now far above Satan and his power and authority. When we submit to God and resist the Devil, “he will flee” from us (James 4:7). Sin does not have dominion over us (Romans 6:14). “[T]hanks be to God! He gives us the victory for our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). “[W]e are more than conquerors through Him who loved us ... neither angels nor demons... will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).

Creation Re-Created

And what of the rest of creation? Christ will return and rule for a thousand years. Then, and only then, will there be peace on earth. During this time, Satan will be prevented from interfering in the affairs of men or in the exercise of man's authority over creation (Revelation 20:2-6).

After this time of righteous rule, all men who have ever lived will be judged. The unrighteous will be banished to the lake of fire, along with Satan and his agents (Revelation 20:7-15).

For the righteous God will create a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13). “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has [viz., will have] passed away” (Revelation 21:4). The tree of life will be accessible again (Revelation 2:7 and 22:2-3). “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat... They will neither harm nor destroy ... for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:6-9). “Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow” (Isaiah 55:13). How different things will be when there is no more Curse.

Conclusion

In John's vision of heaven, those around the throne praise the Lord for creation, saying “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have there being” (Revelation 4:11). They also praise Him for re-creation. “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12). We who are seated with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus can do nothing more worthwhile than to add our voices to this chorus.

Scripture references are from the New International Version (NIV).