Creation and Restoration

The Original Creation

The time of the original creation by the Lord Jesus Christ is unknown. In Genesis 1:1, the word “created” or בָּרָא (bara) in the Hebrew means to create out of nothing. God the Son spoke a single word unknown millions of years ago and the universe was formed instantaneously. It took Jesus Christ less than a second. The original creation was made by God the Son out of nothing and was perfect and beautiful. Prior to God the Son’s action, nothing existed but God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit who are spirit, not of material substance.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1, NASB)

In Psalms 33:6, “by the word of the Lord” means it was instantaneous. In Hebrews 11:3 and 2 Peter 3:5, “the word of God” also means it was instantaneous.

“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.” (Psalms 33:6, NASB)

“By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” (Hebrews 11:3, NASB)

“For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,” (2 Peter 3:5, NASB)

The word for “God” in Genesis 1:1 is אלהים ('ĕlôhı̂ym) and means that each member of the Trinity had a role in creation and restoration. The Father planned the universe. 1 Cor. 8:6.

"yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him." (1 Corinthians 8:6, NASB)

God the Son created the universe. John 1:13; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:10.

"who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:13, NASB)

"For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him." (Colossians 1:16, NASB)

"And, "YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;" (Hebrews 1:10, NASB)

God the Holy Spirit restored the earth prior to the creation of mankind. Gen. 1:2; Psalms 104:30.

“The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2, NASB)

“You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the ground.” (Psalms 104:30, NASB)

A perfect God can only create that which is perfect. In Isaiah 45:18, the earth was “created” בָּרָא (bara) out of nothing by Jesus Christ to be inhabited by mankind, angels, in addition to prehistoric air, land, and sea creatures as well as plant life. Jesus Christ also “formed” the earth יצר (yâtsar). He established it to be inhabited.

“For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited), “I am the LORD, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:18, NASB)

Man was not created in the original creation. Jer. 4:23-26.

“I looked on the earth, and behold, it was formless and void; And to the heavens, and they had no light. I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were quaking, And all the hills moved to and fro. I looked, and behold, there was no man, And all the birds of the heavens had fled. I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a wilderness, And all its cities were pulled down Before the LORD, before His fierce anger.” (Jeremiah 4:23-26, NASB)

How old is the earth? It is as old as the heavens, the stars, sun, moon which were all created at the same time. What is your attitude toward original creation? Faith! You accept the Scriptural record. Heb. 1:3.

"And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," (Hebrews 1:3, NASB)

The Angelic Revolt Rendered a Perfect Earth Chaotic

The time of the earth’s ruin is unknown. This ruin rendered the earth uninhabitable and was due to the revolt of Satan. See category on Angelic Conflict, Three Falls of Satan and His Angels.

Satan’s revolt caused some angels to choose for Satan and revolt against God. These are called fallen angels or demons. The angels that remained with God are called elect angels. Matt. 25:41; 1 Tim. 5:21; Mark 8:38.

““Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;” (Matthew 25:41, NASB)

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.” (1 Timothy 5:21, NASB)

““For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”“ (Mark 8:38, NASB)

Following the revolt of Satan, he and the fallen angels that followed Satan in negative volition were cast down to the earth as part of God's judgment for their revolt. On this single planet, a state of war existed. This state of angelic war caused the earth to become uninhabitable. God's further judgment then covered the surface of the earth with water and then removed the source of light and heat, thus the earth became covered in ice and darkness. The angelic revolt and God’s judgment caused the perfectly created earth to become a ruin and uninhabitable. Isaiah 14:12-17.

“"How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! "But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' "Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit. "Those who see you will gaze at you, They will ponder over you, saying, 'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, Who made the world like a wilderness And overthrew its cities, Who did not allow his prisoners to go home?'” (Isaiah 14:12-17, NASB)

There are operational demons that are well organized. There are also those bound in Tartarus. Eph. 6:12; 2 Peter 2:4.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12, NASB)

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;” (2 Peter 2:4, NASB)

In Genesis 1:2, “formless” is תּהוּ (tôhû) and means devoid of value, ruined. “Void” is בּהוּ (bôhû) and means devoid of life (no dinosaurs or plants). Became “Darkness” is חשׁך (chôshek) and means emptiness, lifeless, devoid of light, a darkness in which there is absolutely no light. Thus, as a result of the angelic revolt and God’s judgment turned the earth into something formless, void, a complete ruin, barren and nothing but darkness.

"The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters." (Genesis 1:2, NASB)

In Genesis 1:2, the surface of the earth was covered completely by water. God sealed off the earth with water. Don’t confuse this with the Great Flood of Noah’s day. Millions and millions of years ago, God surrounded the earth with water, which then was turned to ice. Job 38:29-30.

""From whose womb has come the ice? And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth? "Water becomes hard like stone, And the surface of the deep is imprisoned." (Job 38:29-30, NASB)

The earth continued in an undetermined state of chaos after it was ruined. The earth could not improve itself and never can. The fallen angels could not improve it and never will. It takes the Holy Spirit to restore the earth. Psalms 104:30.

"You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the ground." (Psalms 104:30, NASB)

The Holy Spirit’s Restoration of the Earth

The earth was not originally created in six literal 24-hour days or six periods of time. The entire universe including planet earth was originally created by God the Son - Jesus Christ and He did it all instantaneously by uttering a single word. The earth was originally created perfect and beautiful. Satan and the angelic revolt ruined the earth and made it into an uninhabitable and chaotic dump. The time of the restoration of the earth by the Holy Spirit is unknown. Gen. 1:2; Psalms 104:30.

“The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2, NASB)

“You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the ground.” (Psalms 104:30, NASB)

In Genesis 1:2, “the Spirit of God was moving” is רָחַף (rachaph) and means to shake, to move. God the Holy Spirit moved over the earth warming and melting the ice pack that had surrounded the earth. This was the first step in the earth’s restoration. The Holy Spirit restored the earth in six literal 24-hour days. God the Holy Spirit restored the earth from existing chaotic materials, water, barrenness.

A principle of Hebrew syntax indicates that when the Hebrew word for “day” יום (yôm) is qualified by either a cardinal (1,2,3) number or an ordinal number (1st, 2nd, 3rd), it always refers to a literal 24-hour day without exception. Exodus 20:11.

“"For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:11, NASB)

This was the Holy Spirit’s restoration of the earth so it could become habitable by mankind to resolve the Angelic Conflict. The Holy Spirit’s work is to restore life. That is why the Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration.

Day 1 – Light and Darkness Separated

In Genesis 1:3, “God said” is אלהים אמר ('ĕlôhı̂ym 'âmar) is in the plural and refers to the Godhead, but amar is in the third person masculine singular and means that only one member of the Trinity - God the Father spoke these words. Although God the Holy Spirit was the primary agent of restoration, the other two persons of the Trinity had a part. God the Father spoke and God the Holy Spirit carried out the restoration work.

“Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3, NASB)

God the Holy Spirit created light, but not yet from any illuminating or light-reflecting celestial bodies. This light would sustain life on earth and prevent a complete refreezing as before the restoration began. God then separated the light from darkness. Gen. 1:4.

“God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1:4, NASB)

Darkness still existed and will exist until the Jesus Christ returns at His Second Advent and established the Millennial kingdom on earth where He will be the source of all light extinguishing all darkness. Rev. 22:5.

“And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:5, NASB)

In Genesis 1:5, “there was evening and there was morning” indicates that the earth had begun to rotate with respect to the source of the light that was above the earth. This unusual light was not yet localized by God into the sun, moon and stars. “One day” refers to a literal 24-hour day of earth’s rotation.

"God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day." (Genesis 1:5, NASB)

Day 2 – The Atmosphere Formed

During Day 2, God formed the atmosphere to surround the earth and made it separate from the surface waters. In Genesis 1:6-8, “expanse” is רקיע (râqı̂ya‛) in the Hebrew and means an extended surface or expanse. In Genesis 1:7, “made” is עָשָׂה (asah) and means to construct, to make it habitable, to restore out of existing materials.

“Then God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.” (Genesis 1:6-8, NASB)

At this point, the atmosphere existed between an upper layer of water and the surface waters. God had formed the atmosphere such that the combination of gases would support plant, animal and human life on earth. This ended Day 2 of restoration.

Day 3 – Land Separated from Seas and Plant Life Created

On Day 3, God caused the waters to be located within certain permanent boundaries and caused dry land to appear in certain places. He named the dry land “earth” and the waters “seas.” Gen. 1:9-10; Prov. 8:27-29.

“Then God said, "Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so. God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:9-10, NASB)

“"When He established the heavens, I was there, When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, When He made firm the skies above, When the springs of the deep became fixed, When He set for the sea its boundary So that the water would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth;” (Proverbs 8:27-29, NASB)

God then caused plant life to appear on the land that was able to reproduce and was intended to support animal and human life. In Genesis 1:11-13, “after their kind” is מין (mı̂yn) and means after their own species. They did not “evolve” to get to this level of perfection and complexity. God created them all instantaneously. This ended Day 3 of restoration.

“Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them"; and it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, a third day.” (Genesis 1:11-13, NASB)

Day 4 –Restoration of Light From Heavenly Bodies

On Day 4, God took the light He created on Day 1 and localized its sources to be from celestial bodies as we know them today - the sun, the moon, the stars and all of the other celestial bodies mankind has observed. In Genesis 1:14, “light” is the Hebrew word מאור (mâ'ôr) and means a luminous body or luminary. In Genesis 1:3, the Hebrew word for the non-localized light was אור ('ôr) and means illumination.

“Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so.” (Genesis 1:14-15, NASB)

The universe was created in an instant by our Lord Jesus Christ in Genesis 1:1. This creation included all that exists in the universe. Genesis 1:14-15 refers to the restoration of light from these celestial bodies. That means that their light from many light years distant was caused to be visible on the earth.

In Genesis 1:16-19, “made” is עָשָׂה (asah) and means to create out existing materials. These existing materials were part of the original creation of the universe of Genesis 1:1. God made the sun, moon, and stars and located where we see them today. The “greater light” is the sun and the “lesser light” is the moon.

“God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also. God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.” (Genesis 1:16-19, NASB)

God set the precise locations and precise levels of illumination of the sun, moon and stars from the earth such that life could exist on planet earth. This ended Day 4 of restoration.

Day 5 – Aquatic Life and Birds Created

On Day 5, God created all aquatic life from the single-celled organisms to the largest of sea creatures to fill the newly confined seas. He also created the birds to fill the newly formed atmosphere. Gen. 1:20-21.

“Then God said, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens." God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:20-21, NASB)

God then gave the aquatic life and the birds the ability to reproduce within their own species just as He had done for the plant life. Gen. 1:22-23. This ended Day 5 of restoration.

“God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.” (Genesis 1:22-23, NASB)

Day 6 – Land Animals and Man Created

On Day 6, God created all land animals and gave each the ability to reproduce within their own species just as He had for the aquatic life, plant life and the birds.

“Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind"; and it was so. God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:24-25, NASB)

God then created man following the creation of the perfect living environment on the earth. In Genesis 1:26, “created” is עָשָׂה (asah) and means to create or form out of existing materials. God created man’s soul in the shadow image of the essence of God. “Image” is צלם (tselem) and means resemblance, a representative figure, or image. “Likeness” is דּמוּת (demûth) and means likeness, pattern, resemblance. God created the soul of man in His image or as a pattern from God’s essence. The image of God makes mankind unique among the other creatures on earth. Man was created to rule over all other creatures on earth.

“Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:26-27, NASB)

In Genesis 1:27, “created” is בָּרָא (bara) and means to create out of nothing. God created the soul of the man and woman in the image or likeness of His own essence. God then created the bodies of man (from dust of the earth) and woman (from the man’s rib) and “breathed” נשׁמה (neshâmâh) into them physical life. They then became living beings. Gen. 2:7; Gen. 2:22.

“Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7, NASB)

“The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.” (Genesis 2:22, NASB)

Once created and alive, His instruction to them was to reproduce just as He had instructed the other living creatures and plant life. God also told them to subdue all of the living creatures and plant life on the earth. Gen. 1:27. In Genesis 1:28, “subdue” is כּבשׁ (kâbash) and means to subdue, to bring into bondage, to bring into subjection, to conquer. “Rule” is רָדָה (radah) and means to have dominion, to rule, to dominate. God created mankind to dominate the earth and to rule over all that lived upon it. Gen. 1:27-29.

“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;” (Genesis 1:27-29, NASB)

God had created plant life to be food for aquatic and land animals. At this point, all animals, aquatic life and mankind were herbivorous. There were no carnivores present until after the fall of mankind in the Garden. This ended Day 6 of restoration. God's work of restoration of the earth was completed. Gen. 1:30-31; Gen. 2:1.

“and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food"; and it was so. God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:30-31, NASB)

“Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.” (Genesis 2:1, NASB)

Day 7 - Rest

God had completed all creative and restorative work in the first six literal 24-hour days. All powerful God “rested” not because he was tired, but because His creative and restorative work was finished. “Rested” is שָׁבַת (shabath) and means to cease work, to rest from work. In Genesis 2:2-3, God set the precedent of resting from work on the seventh day or Sabbath by sanctifying the seventh day as a commemoration of God's grace provision.

“By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” (Genesis 2:2-3, NASB)

Man could thus live on the earth and resolve the Angelic Conflict. The Bible is not contrary to accurate scientific findings. The Bible is contrary to human viewpoint findings and associated conclusions. Col. 2:14-15, Hebrews 1 and 2.

“having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” (Colossians 2:14-15, NASB)

Biblical restoration is so constructed, along with the flood, that rationalism and empiricism to the exclusion of faith can lead down a blind alley. However, the Christian is not to be stupid. True biblical faith has evidence that support the faith. Therefore, faith in Jesus Christ is the issue first and then spiritual growth secondly. After that, an understanding of original creation and restoration.

God’s Future Destruction of the Existing Earth

Future destruction of the restored earth and the current universe is part of God's plan. 2 Peter 3:7.

"But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." (2 Peter 3:7, NASB)

In 2 Peter 3:8, the elapse of time does not hinder the faithfulness of God! A promise made 1,000 years ago is still good today. God’s faithfulness in provision of salvation is found in 2 Peter 3:9. Time is an element in man’s promises, but not in the promises of God.

“But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.” (2 Peter 3:8, NASB)

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NASB)

God’s faithfulness in future judgment is found in 2 Peter 3:10.

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10, NASB)

The New Heavens and New Earth

There will be a New Heavens and a New Earth created by Jesus Christ at end of the Millennium. 2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21:1; Rev. 21:5.

“But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13, NASB)

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.” (Revelation 21:1, NASB)

“And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”“ (Revelation 21:5, NASB)