CREATION
By
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1, KJV).
Earth and its beginning has intrigued mankind for millenniums, probably since the creation of man. From earliest recorded history, references have been made to the creation of the earth, a minute part of the universe. Many theories have been advanced down through the ages as to creation--how, when, by whom (if anyone), and in what condition the earth was created. Among the possible solutions advanced by those attempting to solve the mystery of the origin of the earth are (1) it spontaneously arose out of nothing, (2) it had no origin but has existed eternally, and (3) it was created.
Many support the theory that the earth spontaneously arose out of nothing. However, this theory is opposed by those who compare such an event to the likelihood of the components of a watch coming together spontaneously and working perfectly. Such an event is so unlikely as to be considered impossible. It is even more unlikely that the earth just happened to come into being, whether from nothing or from pre-existing components, with everything necessary to maintain life.
The creation theory is accepted by the Jewish and Christian faiths, but even those holding to this theory differ as to by whom, how, when, and in what condition the earth was created. The Jewish faith accepts the theory of creation by God but does not accept the Christian faith's New Testament teaching that all creation was done by Jesus Christ (John 1:1-14; Colossians 1:16-19).
2. TIME OF CREATION
3. THE CREATOR
If the earth did come into existence by a creative act, who was its creator? According to the Scriptures, God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1).
How did God create the heaven and the earth? According to Psalm 148:1-5, God spoke ("commanded") the worlds into existence.
Hebrews 11:3 (KJV):
"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."
4. THE ORIGINAL CREATION
According to the Scriptures, there is no reason to doubt that the original creation of the earth was a perfect creation. The Creator (all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present) created the earth for the purpose of habitation. God could not make anything imperfect if it was His purpose to make it perfect. Solomon agrees:
Ecclesiastes 3:14 (KJV):
"I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him."
Paul agrees:
I Corinthians 14:33 (KJV):
"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."
The order of the Bible proves that "God is not the author of confusion." An example of the power of God is the fact that the 66 books of the Bible (written over a period of approximately 1,500 years, by approximately 40 writers, separated by distance and generations, with different characteristics, educational backgrounds, and positions in life) do not have even one contradiction in their writings. These writers include David (king on the throne); Paul, the apostle (preacher in jail); Matthew (the Publican); and Luke (the physician).
The earth, as created by God, was a place of unparalleled beauty.
Job 38:4-7 (KJV):
"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"
Would a formless and void creation be something to shout about? Yet "morning stars" and "sons of God" (angelic beings who live with God in heaven and are constantly exposed to the beauty there) "sang together" and "shouted for joy" when the earth was originally created.
This, if one accepts the Scriptures, is convincing proof that the earth was beautiful at the time of creation--so very beautiful that the angels were prompted to sing and shout for joy! The earth, at the time of its original creation, was second only to heaven in beauty and still remains so. As Isaiah writes:
Isaiah 6:3:
"...the whole earth is full of his glory.
5. THE INHABITANTS
A search of the Scriptures proves, from a Scriptural standpoint, that the earth was not created in a formless condition (without form, and void, as described in Genesis 1:2) but in a condition fit for habitation.
Isa. 45:18 (KJV):
"For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain [TOHU: without form], he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else."
After the creation of the earth, and before the creation of man, the earth was apparently inhabited by angels and prehistoric birds and animals.
There are Scriptural references to the fact that angels inhabited the earth.
Jude 6 (KJV):
"And the angels which kept not their first estate but left their own habitation. "
Some interpret Jude, verse 6, to mean that the angels left their "condition" of habitation and married the daughters of men. According to Jesus (Matt. 22:29), those who teach this doctrine "err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God."
Matt. 22:30 (KJV):
"For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. "
See also Mark 12:24, 25 and Luke 20:35, 36. Paul, the apostle, records that it is impossible for man and other creations to mate (I Cor. 15:39-41).
In the King James Version of the Bible, Gen. 1:2, the Hebrew word "TOHU" is translated as "without form", and the word "BOHU" is translated "void" in describing the condition of the earth at that particular time. The American Standard Version translates "TOHU" as "waste". The New International Version reads: "Now the earth was formless [TOHU] and empty [BOHU]." A footnote states that the word translated "was" could possibly be translated "became" formless and empty. The translators thereby lend credence to the theory that the formless condition of the earth in Gen. 1:2 was not the original condition of the earth at the point of its creation in Gen. 1:1. Many readers interpret the first two verses of the first chapter of Genesis thus: "In the beginning . . . the earth was without form, and void", omitting a portion of the Scripture that is essential to the understanding of the condition of the earth at the time of creation. An analytical reading reveals that two distinct declarations are made. The first verse states, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." The second verse states, "And the earth was without form, and void." But these Scriptures do not state that the earth was created without form, and void -- only that the earth was "created" and that at some time after creation it "was" (or became) "without form, and void." As previously mentioned, Isaiah emphatically states that God did not create the earth in the condition of "TOHU" (without form, ruin). The expression "in vain", used in Isa. 45:18 (KJV), is the same Hebrew word (TOHU) translated "without form" in Gen. 1:2. That is, although the earth was in the condition of "TOHU" (without form) in Gen. 1:2, God had not originally created the earth in the condition of "TOHU" (without form). The translators of the Revised Standard Version state this even more clearly: These and other Scriptures establish the fact that, according to the Scriptures, the earth was not created "without form, and void" but indicate that some catastrophic event altered the face of the earth between the time of creation (Gen. 1:1) and the formless, void condition of the earth as described in Gen. 1:2. 7. CAUSE OF DESTRUCTION What caused the beautiful, perfect creation to become "without form and void"? The Scriptures indicate that Lucifer (Satan) and his angels, inhabitants of the earth, were not satisfied with their position ("angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation," Jude 6). This is described in detail by Isaiah and, hundreds of years later, referred to by Jesus. Jesus saw this happen. When lightning strikes, it disfigures whatever it strikes. Apparently, it was Lucifer's presumptuous desire to "be like the most High" that caused him (Satan) to fall as lightning to the earth from heaven, causing destruction as described by Jeremiah. Notice that before the world became "without form, and void" (the condition of the earth in Gen. 1:2), there were mountains, hills, fruitful places, cities, birds -- "but no man". Jeremiah stated that the birds "were fled"; therefore, birds had been in existence before the destruction of the earth described by Jeremiah. However, he simply stated that "there was no man". Living in a world inhabited by men, Jeremiah noted the fact that there was "no man". However, guided by the Holy Spirit, he made no attempt to explain this fact but stated it in such a way that it would be in harmony with the fact that man had not been created before the destruction of the earth between Gen. 1:1 and Gen. 1:2. Such harmony can only be explained by divine inspiration of the Scriptures. Now the original creation had become formless, and void, and the earth sank beneath the waters. Isaiah identifies the cause of this terrible destruction as Lucifer (Satan). When did Lucifer make the world as a wilderness and destroy the cities thereof? 8. PUNISHMENT OF SATAN AND HIS ANGELS According to Jude, Satan and his angels are punished for their rebellion. Peter also refers to these angels. Matthew speaks of the place of their punishment in discussing the eternal abode of the unbeliever. 9. THE RE-CREATION The recreation began with the moving upon the face of the waters by the Spirit of God as recorded in Gen. 1:2(b). For an account of the re-creation after the destruction that occurred between Gen. 1:1 and Gen. 1:2, read Gen. 1:3-31. The first creation was made of things which do not appear (Heb. 11:3). The re-creation was made of the devastated earth described in Gen. 1:2 as "without form, and void." In describing the re-creation, it is noteworthy that a new creative act of grass, herbs, and trees was not mentioned but a bringing forth "after his kind". The seed, apparently, had remained in the earth during the period of destruction, and now came forth. As the six days of re-creation were accomplished, "God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good". There is every reason to believe that the original creation, also, "was very good"! "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." 10. GOD'S CONCERN FOR HIS CREATION The great power of God has been mentioned briefly. It should be noted that Lucifer only desired to be "like the most High" because he knew it was impossible to be greater than God. God sits "upon the circle of the earth" (Isa. 40:22). Heaven is His throne and the earth is his footstool (Acts 7:49). God has "measured the waters" in the hollow of His hand and "meted out heaven with the span" (Isa. 40:12). God loves and cares for His creation, from the greatest to the least. Man has the honor of being created in the "image" and "likeness" of God. Man also was given the privilege of choice and, as a result, sin entered into the world. God made provision for man's sin.
6. DESTRUCTION OF ORIGINAL CREATION
Gen. 1:2 (KJV):
"And the earth was without form [TOHU], and void [BOHU]; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. "
Isa. 45:18 (RSV):
". . . he did not create it a chaos [TOHU], he formed it to be inhabited! . . . "
If, as the Scriptures state, God created the earth to be inhabited, it is readily apparent that the condition described in Gen. 1:2 as being "without form, and void" was not as originally created because, at that time, it was not in a condition to be inhabited.
Isa. 14:12-15 (KJV):
"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."
Luke 10:18 (KJV):
"And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."
Jer. 4:23-27 (KJV):
"I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form [TOHU], and void [BOHU]; and the heavens, and they had no light.
I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger.
For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end."
Isa. 14:16, 17 (KJV):
"They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?"
Lucifer did not do this in Noah's day because God flooded the earth with water in Noah's day. Such destruction of the earth has not occurred since Gen. 1:2. Therefore, the destruction described by Isaiah must refer to the destruction of the earth as originally created -- between Gen. 1:1 and Gen. 1:2.
Jude 6 (NIV):
"And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home -- these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day."
2 Pet. 2:4 (KJV):
"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;"
Matt. 25:41 (KJV):
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
Although unbelievers go to hell, they go as "intruders", in a sense, because hell was prepared for the devil and his angels who "kept not their first estate".
Gen. 1:11 (KJV):
"And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so."
Psalm 19:1 (KJV):
Matt. 10:29-31 (KJV):
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."
Rom. 5:12 (KJV):
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"
John 3:16-18 (KJV):
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
11. SUMMARY
Gen. 1:1 (KJV):
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
Isa. 45:18 (RSV):
"For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it a chaos [TOHU], he formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the Lord, and there is no other."
Gen. 1:2 (KJV):
"And the earth was without form [TOHU], and void [BOHU], and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."
