THE CREATION
And he that sat upon the throne said, behold, I make all things new
Revelation 21:5
HOWARD BARNETT
We are living in a generation that has spent a lot of time debating the issue of creation verses evolution, each side offering seemingly solid evidence to support their particular viewpoint. Difference of opinion or contention is necessary, many times, to allow truth to be made manifest. Without a valley, would we appreciate a mountain top? Without evil, would we appreciate good?
God, knowing the nature of man, allowed him access to the knowledge of good and evil, along with the principles of reward and chastisement. By rewarding us for good and chastising us for evil, God teaches obedience to his children.
What does the Bible say about creation and evolution? The major point is that creation comes from a creator, while evolution suggests a continual change with each event conditional on a previous event. One then wonders how evolution could differ from creation, since new things were continuing to be created, by God, based upon his previous creation, which fulfill his plan or pattern for man. The apostle John made it clear that Jesus was the creator of all things past, by identifying Him as the word (see John 1:1). And continuing with the knowledge that "all things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:3) John also quoted the word of the Lord, with the statement ". . . Behold, I make all things new . . . " (Revelation 21:5). This implies that there is a new creation, on going, through Him. This continuing creation could be misinterpreted as evolution without the knowledge of the "Creator". Therefore, the first step in understanding creation is quite simple. Get to know the Creator.
The New Creature
The apostle Paul said, in his letter to the Galatians, that in Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing, but a new creature (see Galatians 6:15). This obviously places a greater emphasis on the new man in our relationship with God, rather than who we were in our natural birth. This new creature, which the Bible also says is neither male nor female (see Galatians 3:28), has access to the new heavens and the new earth as they are being recreated by Him. Jesus made it clear when he said (Mark 2:22) "And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles."
Isaiah prophesied of the coming of this new creature, (Isaiah 6:17-18) "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem (the new heavens) a rejoicing, and her people (the new earth) a joy." Also, "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain." (Isaiah 66:22) "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou has created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."(Revelation 4:11) This on going creation of Jesus has been marching victorious down through the ages. In each generation the old man has perished, but the new man has been renewed day-by-day. But the Lamb has marched forward, building his kingdom and loosing the curse. The psalmist in the 102nd Psalm declared, "When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory."(Psalm 102:16,18) "This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord." From this scripture the enlightened saints know when Jesus will appear and where He will appear. When Zion is builded up and where His glory is. The psalmist declared that "For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it."(Psalm 132:13-14) God has chosen to tabernacle in His church. We are the dwelling place created for His rest. We are also the focal point of all " . . . that which may be known of God . . . " "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse."(Romans 1:19,20) His on going creation will show plainly His power and majesty to the vain imaginations that have thought themselves wise. "And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man (people are looking for a natural man), and to birds (to many the Holy Ghost is a dove), and four-footed beasts, and creeping things." "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever . . . "(Romans 1:23,25).
"But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."(Ephesians 4:20-24) We who are led by the spirit, compare spiritual things with spiritual, and we die daily to the carnal mind which is an enmity against God. For Jesus ". . . hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature."(Colossians 1:13-15)
This creation, that has put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of the one that created Him, measures nothing by the flesh. We know by our renewed knowledge that the spiritual clock has nothing to do with worldly time. Our day is as a thousand years. For the light of God knows no darkness. We are those who follow the Lamb, not a man. For there was no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, who was found worthy to loose the seals (see Revelation 5:1-4). This Lamb with the seven spirits of God (seven being the number of fulness), the seven spiritual fires, each manifesting in the new earth power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing, causes all of creation to honor He upon the throne and the Lamb for ever and ever (see Revelation 4:5, 5:6 and 5:12-13). The Lamb (the Christ of God) is bringing the new man out of the bondage of the old man. This on going creation that follows the Lamb is seeking His righteousness.
Peter in his writing spoke of the beginning of the creation (II Peter 3:4), then revealed (II Peter 3:7)". . . the heavens and the earth, which are now . . . reserved unto fire against the day of judgement . . . " He continued in the 9th verse, that God was ". . . not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." But the time table was not to be measured by man’s time. In fact, this 1000 year day "will come as a thief in the night" and during this 1000 year day the "old heavens would pass away with a great noise" (see II Peter 3:10). It seems like everyone adds a little to the noise when those natural minded ideas are being replaced with the spiritual mind and revelation from God’s spirit. God says that these old heavens will be dissolved by fire and that the elements shall melt with fervent heat (see II Peter 3:10). But God also revealed that during this 1000 year day (the day of the Lord), that this time was a time of travail, as upon a woman with child (see II Thessalonians 5:2-3). And we all realize labor, once began, ends with the birth of a child.
Now, elements (the orderly arrangement of parts) and the heavens (spiritual dominions) are to be changed by fervent heat (heavenly fire). The earth also and the works that are there in, shall be burnt. "Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is" (I Corinthians 3:13). The old Babylonian systems of religion, with their orderly arrangements of the things they call God, are to be tried by the heavenly fire. The hay and stubble, chaff and tares will be visited by the eyes of the Lamb. The anointing (the fire light) as it is poured into the earth by this level of the sevenfold presence of the Lamb was seen by Isaiah as a pleading with all flesh. "For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many" (Isaiah 66:15-16). Isaiah also revealed "A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompense to his enemies" (Isaiah 66:6). Each measure of fire light will be accompanied by a many membered anointed voice (trumpet) from the temple of God (you are the temple of God). And these thunders (voices) that follow the lightening (fervent heat) will be as well as the heat seven fold. (Verse 7-8) "Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? (". . . eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." I Corinthians 2:9) Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children."
Paul saw that the ". . . Jerusalem which is above is free," and ". . . the mother of us all" (Galatians 4:26). And that the women would ". . . be saved in childbearing . . . "(I Timothy 2:15). But in Romans 8:19 and 21 ". . . the creature (that which is created by the Creator) waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." For Jesus is coming "in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe . . . "(II Thessalonians 1:8-10).
John saw the new Jerusalem (the Lamb’s wife) coming out of heaven (see Revelation 21:9). But the only heaven left was the new heaven for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away (see Revelation 21:1). This new Jerusalem was coming to the new earth and the voice out of the new heaven was declaring, ". . . behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end."(Revelation 21:3-6)
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