Creation

God first came forth from the essential fullness of His Being to display His eternal power, wisdom, and Godhead glory.

"Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?" (Job 36:22²²Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? (Job 36:22)).

Ultimately He displayed His holiness, love, and grace, when redemption was accomplished on the cross of Christ.

"Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty" (Psa. 104:1¹Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty. (Psalm 104:1)).

Order of Creation Given in Psalm 104

1. "Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment" (Psa. 104:2²Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: (Psalm 104:2)).

Here, God for the first time was beginning to unveil Himself amidst the incalculable stretch of space. What a glory is His! With what splendor He covereth Himself!

"For whatsoever doth make manifest is light" (Eph. 5:13¹³But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. (Ephesians 5:13)).

2. "Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain" (Psa. 104:2²Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: (Psalm 104:2)).

"By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth" (Psa. 33:6⁶By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. (Psalm 33:6)).

The measure of God's power is the infinite glory of His person.

"O God, how wide Thy glory shines,

How high Thy wonders rise!

Known thro' the earth by thousand signs,

By thousands through the skies.

"Those mighty orbs proclaim Thy power,

Their motions speak Thy skill:

And on the wings of every hour,

We read Thy patience still."

(Little Flock Hymnbook #335)

3. "Who layeth the beams of his (upper) chambers in the waters" (Psa. 104:3³Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: (Psalm 104:3)).

These chambers are created dwellings. The angels have their dwellings in the heavens, some of which have been corrupted since creation but shall be renewed when the earth is renewed (Rev. 12:8⁸And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. (Revelation 12:8); Rev. 21:1¹And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1)).

4. "Who maketh the clouds his chariot" (Psa. 104:3³Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: (Psalm 104:3)).

Are we not told of His coming in the clouds?

"Then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds" (1 Thess. 4:17¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)).

"Behold, he cometh with clouds" (Rev. 1:7).

5. "Who walketh upon the wings of the wind" (Psa. 104:3³Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: (Psalm 104:3)).

"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting" (Acts 2:2²And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:2)).

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:4⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4)).

6. "Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire" (Psa. 104:4⁴Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: (Psalm 104:4)).

The heavens were completed before the angels who were to inhabit them were created (Rev. 12:7,8⁷And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, ⁸And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. (Revelation 12:7‑8)). The angels are "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation" (Heb. 1:14¹⁴Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Hebrews 1:14)). They are also ministers of judgment (2 Thess. 1:7⁷And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, (2 Thessalonians 1:7)).

7. "Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever" (Psa. 104:5⁵Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. (Psalm 104:5)).

This seems to be the last of the seven parts of the physical creation at this period. The earth was a special creation all of its own, prepared to be inhabited.

We are not told that any other heavenly body, star, or planet was created to be inhabited, and we know that there are no men dwelling on any other heavenly body, because Adam was the first man. The creation of earth was given a special place in the book of Job.

"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?" (Job 38:4⁴Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. (Job 38:4))

"When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:7⁷When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:7))

It is impossible for us to picture the tremendous display of glory as the myriads of angels viewed the earth coming into being. The light, the heavens, the chambers on the waters, the clouds, the wind, were already there when the angels were created.

What a sight to behold the newly created angels (the sons of God) shouting for joy as they experienced the creation of the special planet upon which God's counsels rest.

Who naturally would think that among all of the myriads of great stars (suns), our infinitesimal planet, earth, should have the honorable place where God's eternal counsels in Christ would be brought to light and secured?

"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" (Heb. 11:3³Through 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. (Hebrews 11:3)).

Sometime following the creation of the universe (Gen. 1), Satan, who was the highest in order and most glorious of angels, fell because of pride (Ezek. 28:11-19¹¹Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, ¹²Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. ¹³Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. ¹⁴Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. ¹⁵Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. ¹⁶By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. ¹⁷Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. ¹⁸Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. ¹⁹All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. (Ezekiel 28:11‑19)). This began "the mystery of God" in which He allows evil to continue unpunished for a season until it fully ripens (Rev. 10:7⁷But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. (Revelation 10:7)).

Earth Without Form Void

"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep" (Gen. 1:2²And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2)).

All was left a waste, covered with water and darkness. How long this condition existed we are not told, nor are we given details of this tremendous convulsion of the earth and sea, and perhaps succeeding ones.

"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever" (Deut. 29:29²⁹The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29)).

Marvelous underwater formations, the mountains, valleys, springs, lakes, rivers, meadows, hidden deposits of gems, minerals, etc., appeared at the great unveiling when God caused the waters to recede, and He set their bounds.

"Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?" (Job 38:8⁸Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? (Job 38:8))

"And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?" (Job 38:11¹¹And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? (Job 38:11))

The Present Earth

"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 (a waste), he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD, and there is none else" (Isa. 45:18¹⁸For 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, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:18)).

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork" (Psa. 19:1¹<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork. (Psalm 19:1)).

This present earth was formed in six literal days, which included the placings of the sun, moon, and stars.

"Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust" (Psa. 104:29²⁹Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. (Psalm 104:29)).

Whatever creatures and vegetation might have been created before that time succumbed in the cataclysm.

"Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth" (Psa. 104:30³⁰Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. (Psalm 104:30)).

The first man Adam was created on the sixth day in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26-31²⁶And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ²⁷So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. ²⁸And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. ²⁹And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. ³⁰And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. ³¹And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:26‑31)).

Out of Adam's riven side God formed the woman to be Adam's helpmate, giving a preview of God's counsels concerning Christ and the Church (Gen.

2:21-24). This took place before Adam's fall in the garden of Eden, showing that God had a plan before sin entered into the present earth.

There is a purpose with the woman, both in the first and the new creation. Adam, with Eve, was given a dispensation of headship over all creation on earth or sea (Gen. 2:18¹⁸And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (Genesis 2:18)). This typifies the last Adam (Christ) whose glory is above all dispensation.

In the counsels of God, Christ as Man is given headship with His wife over all created things in the universe. The first Adam's fall cost him his dispensation, but the last Adam's (Christ's) dispensation can never end.

"And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living" (Gen. 3:20²⁰And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. (Genesis 3:20)).

God has never left Himself without witness from the beginning of creation, as we see in Adam's act of faith.

"There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye (keenest in nature) hath not seen: The lion's whelps (strongest in nature) have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion (sagacious) passed by it" (Job 28:7,8⁷There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen: ⁸The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. (Job 28:7‑8)).

This path has always been available to man and will still be so until the Lord comes, the path of faith by the power of the Spirit of God. It was trodden by antediluvian saints, by Noah, and by Abraham, the father of faith.

The period without law (liberty of conscience) and that of the law of Moses prove the complete depravity of Adam's race.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Cor. 15:22²²For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)).

The epoch between the fall of Adam and the incarnation of Christ shows God's ways, not His purposes, except hints in the form of types, pictures, etc. (Psa. 103:7⁷He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. (Psalm 103:7)).