Part 3
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Part 2: Discussion of Job 38:7:
B. Sons of God shouted for joy. It must be recognized that the “sons of God” here in Job 38 and Job, Chapters 1,2 are the angels that God had created. These are sons of God by creation, not regeneration. The “sons of God” in the New Testament are specified as such because of their relationship to the Lord. Notice John 1:12 which substantiates this: “But as many as received him (Christ), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
Not only did God create the stars; but, also, the angels were in existence prior to His creating the earth in Genesis 1:1. When God created the earth, the angels “shouted for joy.” Why would they shout for joy? Because God had created the earth for them. This beautiful creation of earth was to be their primary place of habitation. They were appointed an overseer, a leader who was to guide them in love, faithfulness and service to their Creator, God Almighty.
May I call your attention back to Isaiah 45:18 where God stated “…created it (earth) not in vain (a waste or desolation), he formed it to be inhabited.” To see how beautifully God had created the earth for the habitation of His angels, we find Ezekiel describes the earth as “…Eden the garden of God.” In Ezekiel 28:13,14, its description is beautiful.
“Thou (Satan) 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 thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.” (V. 13). “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth (i.e., overseeth); and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou has walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.” (V.14).
The ten beautiful mineral stones were created as part of God's original creation, and placed readily accessible for Lucifer's use. Whatever type of body he possessed, its coveriing would have been beautiful, being adorned with these precious gems! In Verse 13 of Ezekiel 28, God had said that, "every precious stone was thy covering." The saphire paved the streets whereupon Lucifer walked, giving off a glow from the sun as though it were of fire. Described just as God had said, "thou (Lucifer) hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire." After Lucifer's fall and God's judgment, leaving the earth in an upheaval, a ruined and chaotic condition, many of these precious minerals are now embedded in the earth.
How marvelous and magnificent was God’s earth that he created for the habitation of His angels as we know them today. As we have already seen from Job 38:4-7, the stars and the angels had already been created and were in existence and, then, God created the earth for their habitation.
In Isaiah 14:13,14 we have the five “I Wills” of Satan. Here is the record:
“For thou (Satan) hast said in thine heart I WILL ascend into the heavens, 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.”
Notice carefully that stars and clouds have already been created, and in existence, when the angels occupied the earth. This earth was Lucifer’s throne as God’s Anointed Cherub. “ I will exalt my throne above the stars of God” (V.13). was Satan’s ambition. The first “I will” was “to ascend into heaven.” The fifth “I will” was “to be like the most High.” At the very least, he would only settle for being co-equal with Jehovah.
In Ezekiel 28:15 we are told that, “Thou (Satan as Lucifer) wast perfect in thy ways form the day that thou was created, till iniquity was found in thee.” This verse is very interesting as it reveals some things we had not known and conceals some things we will never know this side of eternity.
What we know:
- We do know he was created. Satan had a beginning.
- We do know he was created with a free will.
- We do know that from his creation until he inhabited the earth, his ways were perfect.
- Iniquity was not found in him until sometime after he was appointed the “anointed cherub.” (Ezekiel 28:15) and given the earth as his throne (Isaiah 14:13).
What we do not know:
We do not know how long it was from the time Satan and the angels were created until they were given the earth (Genesis 1:1), which was designated as Satan’s throne.
We do not know how long Satan occupied the earth before iniquity (sin) was found in him.
We do not know the length of time from God’s creating the original earth beautiful, until He judged Satan’s sin; therefore, rendering the earth a waste, desolation and uninhabitable, being in total darkness and covered with water, as found in Genesis 1:2.
We do not know how long the earth remained in this desolation until God decided to remodel it for human habitation in Genesis 1:2b-23.
The "young earth" advocates do not want you to believe God's concerning this, as they claim this only supports the time needed for evolution and supports their opponents. This false philosophy of these “young earth” people fades into oblivion should they realize the following. When God pronounces judgment and rendered this earth a total waste, there was nothing alive on the earth to evolve from! Remember, the earth was completely covered with water and total darkness (Genesis 1:2), so that it was impossible for anything to live.
One of the “young earth” proponents is Mr. Ken Ham, Executive Director of “Answers in Genesis (AIG). Mr. Ham, in his statement of faith states that “The ‘gap’ theory has no basis in Scripture.” Also stated is, “The final guide to the interpretation of Scripture is Scripture itself.” AIG states the gap (i.e., a period of time) is a theory and not a fact based upon Scripture. In other words, he does not believe Isaiah 45:18, which states God did not create (bara) the earth in the desolation and waste condition, and covered it with water as found in Genesis 1:2. “And the earth was (became) without form and void…” It was not created that way. In Genesis 1:1, when God originally created the earth, Isaiah says it was “created to be inhabited.” Ezekiel 28:12-19 and Isaiah 14:12-15 clearly teach that Lucifer’s (Satan’s) throne and residence was here on the earth. His rebellion (sin) brought about God’s judgment on his residence, which was found “without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep.”, as Genesis 1:2 records. AIG does not believe these Scriptures; therefore, the Gap Period of Time is modified in their minds to a theory, instead of factual truth, supported by Genesis 1:1,2; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Isaiah 14:12-15.
Mr. Ham’s advice to all who will study the Bible is that we must allow Scripture to interpret Scripture; or, in other words, we must assess all Scripture pertaining to a certain subject or doctrine to arrive at the correct teaching of the Word of God. Mr. Ham’s advice is excellent! The sad commentary to this is, that what he advises others to do; he, himself, will not adhere to his own advice.
Many of you are well familiar with the name, Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe. He has been a noted Bible expositor for many years. He has pastured three churches including the great Calvary Baptist Church in Covington, KY, and the famous Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, IL. He has served as General Director and Bible Teacher of “Back to the Bible,” headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is Writer-in-Residence” at Cornerstone College in Grand Rapids, MI, and Distinguished Professor of Preaching in Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary. He is the respected author of many, many books, too numerous to mention. Here are his comments concerning the gap of time principle between Genesis 1:1 and Verse 2:
“It is held by many students that the original creation of the universe (Gen. 1:1) was followed by the fall of Satan (Isa.14:12ff) and the ruin of God’s handiwork. It is possible that there is a “gap” between 1:1 and 1:2; so that we may read Vs. 2, “And the earth became without form and void…” Isa. 45:18 states that God did not create the earth “in vain” (Hebrew “without form”) so that the chaotic condition of the earth must have been caused by judgment. Ezek. 28:11-19 suggests that Lucifer, the highest of God’s created beings in this original creation, wanted to take the place of God; and this brought about the judgment. We find Satan already at work in Genesis 3, so that his fall had to take place earlier. This means that the creative activities of Genesis 1 are really a restoration of the ruined universe.”
