Part
of our misunderstanding of who we are in this world comes from our exultation
of humankind over the creation and the Creator.
Recognizing that we are created beings just like creation puts a better
perspective on our universe. We were
created, just like the world was created.
In fact, the same Greek word explains us as creatures, and creation. But the creation is in agony. I’m not talking about environmental issues
and whether man can change things, but one day the creation will be made
right. Our universe is a violent place,
exploding stars, collisions of debris and planets, and our sun having solar
tantrums. One day this will all be restored. Something happened, and someone is responsible
for all the pain creatures and creation experience.
Within
the next few months our sun will flip its magnetic field. This is nothing to fear as it happens every
eleven years. When I think back to
eleven years ago, I can’t remember any effect from the sun’s magnetic
reversal. In 2002 we had cell phones, but
really they were basic phones that could play some games, but they didn’t have many
other features. Eleven years before
that, 1991, some people had car phones, but very few people. The internet was
in its infancy, there were hardly any websites. Most people didn’t even have
home computers, which were towers, and generally 286’s with 5-1/4” floppy
drives. Given that the sun has flipped
twice since then and humanity simply observed, it seems that humanity will
survive just fine. This is a fairly new
observation, and we are still learning about what a solar cycle flip does and
how it affects our universe. Keeping
this in mind, it seems once again that humans are not so great and wonderful
after all. An intelligent God created
things we are still so very clueless about.
The Living God will make it all right and that’s why we moan and groan
together now.
Romans
8 is a slightly rough translation, but what we will see is that creatures and creation are the same Greek word.
There are also a couple of Greek words that are only used once in the
Bible which is significant. Of interest,
is that we are standing united in pain together. While we may not be conscious of it, we are
companions in hardship with all the other created beings and creation.
Rom
8:18-24 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.19 For the earnest
expectation of the creature[2937] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of
God.20 For the creature [2937]was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by
reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,21 Because the creature[2937]
itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious
liberty of the children of God.22 For we know that the whole creation [2937]groaneth[4959]
and travaileth[4944] in pain together until now.23 And not only they, but
ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves
groan [4727]within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption
of our body.24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for
what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? KJV
NT:2937
ktisis (ktis'-is); from NT:2936; original formation (properly, the act; by
implication, the thing, literally or figuratively):KJV - building, creation,
creature, ordinance.
NT:2936 ktizo (ktid'-zo); probably akin to
NT:2932 (through the idea of proprietor-ship of the manufacturer); to
fabricate, i.e. found (form originally):KJV - create, Creator, make.
Only
Place used **
NT:4959
sustenazo (soos-ten-ad'-zo); from NT:4862 and NT:4727; to moan jointly, i.e.
(figuratively) experience a common calamity: KJV - groan together.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:4862 sun (soon); a primary preposition
denoting union; with or together (but much closer than NT:3326 or NT:3844),
i.e. by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession,
instrumentality, addition, etc.: KJV - beside, with. In composition it has
similar applications, including completeness.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:4727 stenazo (sten-ad'-zo); from NT:4728;
to make (intransitively, be) in straits, i.e. (by implication) to sigh, murmur,
pray inaudibly: KJV - with grief, groan, grudge, sigh.(Biblesoft's New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
Only
place used **
NT:4944
sunodino (soon-o-dee'-no); from NT:4862 and NT:5605; to have (parturition)
pangs in company (concert, simultaneously) with, i.e. (figuratively) to
sympathize (in expectation of relief from suffering):KJV - travail in pain
together.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:5605 odino (o-dee'-no); from NT:5604; to
experience the pains of parturition (literally or figuratively):KJV - travail
in (birth).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
It’s
not just people who are groaning but the earth as well. All of us, the people, the animals, the trees,
the plants, the planets, are moaning together in pain. This is not going to get
resolved if we stop polluting the planet, or if we eat healthy. While those things are important for us as
stewards of our lives and surroundings, the universe is in this state simply
because of sin. Not just yours or mine but the sin of all created beings as
well, like the other sons of God we rarely acknowledge. Collectively, sin is putting us all in pain.
If we remember when Adam sinned, the ground became cursed, and thorns and
thistles started to grow. Life
expectancy went from 1000 yrs to 80 years.
We have techniques to keep humans alive longer, but to what avail? Isn’t
the end result of death the same for every saint, which is a relief from pain,
whereas the unfortunate end for the unsaved is more pain forever? Trying to fix
our collective pain from outside resourses and processes hasn’t worked, however
the creatures and creation live better when there are more Holy Spirit filled
people in an area. Let’s look at this section of scripture from a few other
translations, The Message, The New Living Translation, and The International
Standard Version Bible
Rom
8:18-25 That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present
hard times and the coming good times. 19 The created world itself can hardly
wait for what's coming next. 20 Everything in creation is being more or less
held back. God reins it in 21 until both creation and all the creatures are
ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead.
Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens. 22 All around us we observe a
pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply
birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is
arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. 23 These sterile and
barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. 24 That is why waiting
does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We
are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. 25
But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our
expectancy. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible
in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
Rom
8:18-25 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal
to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when
God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation
was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks
forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from
death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the
pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also
groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future
glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We,
too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as
his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 We were
given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don't
need to hope for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don't yet have,
we must wait patiently and confidently.)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale
Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
Rom
8:18-25 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth
comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us. 19 For the creation is
eagerly awaiting the revelation of God’s children, 20 because the creation has
become subject to futility, though not by anything it did. The one who
subjected it did so in the certainty 21 that the creation itself would also be
set free from corrupting bondage in order to share the glorious freedom of
God’s children. 22 For we know that all the rest of creation has been groaning
with the pains of childbirth up to the present time. 23 However, not only the
creation, but we who have the first fruits of the Spirit also groan inwardly as
we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For we were
saved with this hope in mind. Now a hope that can be observed is not really
hope, for who hopes for what can be seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not
yet observe, we eagerly wait for it with patience. ISV
Paul
goes on to say that nothing created can separate us from the love of God.
Rom
8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39 Nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature [2937], shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.KJV
While
we are waiting for the redemption of the whole creation, we are struggling in
our bodies. Simply the point of living on earth is not to be super human, never
having any sickness. The point is to
make known to others that one day we will have new bodies and that is better
than eternal torment.
2
Cor 5:1-4 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were
dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in
the heavens.2 For in this we groan[4727], earnestly desiring to be clothed upon
with our house which is from heaven:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not
be found naked.4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan[4727], being
burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality
might be swallowed up of life.KJV
NT:4727
stenazo (sten-ad'-zo); from NT:4728; to make (intransitively, be) in straits,
i.e. (by implication) to sigh, murmur, pray inaudibly:KJV - with grief, groan,
grudge, sigh.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:4728 stenos (sten-os'); probably from the
base of NT:2476; narrow (from obstacles standing close about):KJV -
strait.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
A
strait is a situation that is
difficult and involves hardship, therefore it is normal to be in straits, and
normal to moan and groan through the hardships.
But as in Romans, we should not lose hope.
Jeremiah’s
vision of what happened when the earth became formless and void and dark is
interesting. As we have studied this a
while ago, something happened to mess up the way the earth was created. Logically no one creates something to be a
mess that would not be a finished work as created
implies. We create something to be wonderful and useful, yet if an enemy comes
in and messes up what we created it can become a waste. Here are the past blogs as a refresher.
Jer
4:23-27 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the
heavens, and they had no light.24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they
trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no
man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.26 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.27 For thus hath the Lord
said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.KJV
Something
happened to destroy the prior world, which is why history and science point out
the world is much, much, older than the six thousand or so years from the time
of Adam. What ever happened, messed up
the ground, the people, the animals, and the cities. This is why we find large
cities underwater and remains of many large structures that date back further
than six thousand years.
What
we also know is that Lucifer had corrupted his place, where he merchandised and
trafficked his people and corrupted his sanctuaries. We also know that Rahab, the probable planet
of Lucifer, was destroyed and caused a huge calamity in the universe, which is
the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Let’s look at a few related verses
before we get back to Jeremiah.
Isa
14:16-17 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;17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities
thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? KJV
Isa
14:20-21 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast
destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be
renowned.21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their
fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the
world with cities.KJV
Ezek
28:16 By 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. KJV
Ezek
28:18-19 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine
iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; 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.19 All they that
know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror,
and never shalt thou be any more. KJV
After
Lucifer destroyed his habitation and its inhabitants, he then stole the title
deed of earth from Adam, and is now “in charge” of what is going on here. This is why all of creation, all the
creatures and humans and vegetation all stand groaning together. We all ache for the future time to come.
2
Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which
believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image
of God, should shine unto them. KJV
Eph
2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in
the children of disobedience: KJV
When
people say “God is punishing that city” or “this disaster was an act of God” we
need to stop and ask which god? The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is
not punishing the world, instead he is seeking out unbelievers for their
benefit. The wrath of God will be during
the second half of the tribulation, not during this age of the Holy
Spirit. The god of this world, the
prince of the power of the air has control now, so if one were to say God is
punishing the good and the bad with natural disasters that would be the god of
this world, not the Living God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The question of a person mistakenly accusing
the Creator of destroying His own creation during this age of the Holy Spirit
is crucial in understanding why the entire creation, the habitation, the
inhabitants, as well as the created sons of God all groan in pain
together. There are simply two entities
that use the same title, one is The Creator, and the other is the subjugator,
the devil. If we remember, Lucifer wanted to be called God, and now he is being called god.
The destruction of the creation happened before in the past and will happen
again in the future when the tribulation starts. At the end of the tribulation the fallen
angels will be punished, and satan will be bound.
Isa
24:19-23 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the
earth is moved exceedingly.20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard,
and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be
heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.21 And it shall come to
pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are
on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.22 And they shall be
gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up
in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.23 Then the moon shall
be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount
Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.KJV
This
is the apocalypse that those who reject Jesus are in fear of. One day the host of the high ones, the fallen
angels, along with the kings of the earth will be thrown in the pit, the lake
of fire. But the earth will wobble like a sloppy drunk, and the sun and moon
won’t shine. This is the great and
notable Day of the Lord. Let’s come back
to Jeremiah 4.
Jer
4:28-31 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because
I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn
back from it.29 The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and
bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city
shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.30 And when thou art spoiled,
what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou
deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with
painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee,
they will seek thy life.31 For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail,
and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the
daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe
is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.KJV
Just
as in Joel 2:4-ff, the armies of the Lord will come on the apocalypse, the Day
of the Lord, but the daughter of Zion will wail. By the time the anti-christ is revealed
halfway through the tribulation and sits in the Holy of Holies, the true
Israelites will know they have been duped.
They will be persecuted by the beast and the whore, and many will lose
their earthly lives. Yet after the wrath
of the Lamb, satan will be thrown out of heaven, losing his access to the
heavens. Jesus will be crowned King of
kings and Lord of lords, then the wrath of God will come on the earth, and
lastly Jesus will come back with His armies.
Then Jesus will establish His kingdom on the earth. The creation will be partly restored during
Jesus’ reign and after 1000 years, after satan is destroyed forever, a new
heaven and a new earth will be the home of all those who love the Lord Jesus. Until then everything groans. Until then everything is in pain together.
Until then we all suffer as in labor before delivery.
So
that we do not end in despair, I am reminded of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians
12 and would like us to consider what he said. This is an Aramaic translation
by Victor Alexander.
2
Cor 12:7 And so as not to get elated by the abundance of revelations given me,
I was handed this thorn in the flesh, an angel of satan, to keep me from
abandoning my faith (to beat me [over the head] so I will not rise [too high.])
8 And over this I prayed to my Lord to rid me of him, 9 And He told me, “my
grace is all you need. For my power is developed through illness.”Thus I am
gladly proud of my tribulations (sickness), that the power of the Messiah may
descend upon me. 10 Because of this I am pleased (satisfied) with my
afflictions and curse, rejections and tribulation, and turmoil, on behalf of
the Messiah. For when I am thus afflicted, I am formidable. (The Aramaic New
Testament, translated by Victor N Alexander, 2010, pg 370)
While
we wait for the perfect timing of the Creator, the Living God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, to rescue us from this age, may the power of the Messiah
descend upon us, makings us terrifying to the ones who would oppress us. We are a formidable enemy when we are being
beaten down because the power of the Messiah, His Grace, is developing inside
of us. In the Spirit, we probably look
really frightening as we are not perishing because of all of our hardships, but
instead we are getting stronger.
