Genesis Framework Part 3

Genesis Framework

GF 03 Genesis 1.1
July 12, 2015
Part 03

Scripture

Genesis 1.1

NKJ Genesis 1.1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1.1 account is the beginning point of origin for all things, visible and invisible.

NKJ Colossians 1:16

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

This is actually Paul’s exposition of Genesis 1.1 in terms of Christ and His role. So here Paul is trying to do justice to the Son who is the Logos.

He rephrases what he finds in Genesis 1.1 and he attributes it to the Son, he emphasizes that along with the visible, the Son created the invisible things.In fact, these are the things he emphasizes: the thrones, dominions, principalities and powers are the very ones you should find in Genesis 1.1

NKJ Nehemiah 9:6
You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host, The earth and everything on it,
The seas and all that is in them, And You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.

In Nehemiah’s prayer reflecting on the Genesis 1.1 creation account, he finds the only possible reference there to the invisible heaven and the angels. The Scriptures confirm the interpretation of the “heavens” of Genesis 1.1 as the invisible heavens. A correct interpretation of Genesis 1.1 will affirm that this “beginning” time is the witness to the origins of the cosmos as a whole, visible and invisible, and that the absolute act of origination is creation ex nihilo, without a context of prior created reality.

Proverbs 8.22,23, which you have been studying, identifies “the beginning” in Genesis 1.1 as a time prior to (not coextensive with) the developments described in verse 2 and following.

Then, from this “earth” of verses 1 and 2, God eventually derives not only the land and seas, but the visible heavens.

From this point forward I want to present a line of exegetical evidence that comes from the work of the biblical-theologian Meredith Kline. This particular presentation of a two-register cosmogony is from a paper written by Kline in March of 1996, entitled “Space and Time in the Genesis Cosmogony”, and is basically a updated restatement of his original exegetical case, presented 30 years prior for a framework interpretation of the Genesis creation account. I have no intention of presenting Kline’s work in a formal manner, but will instead be integrating my own observations, lines of reasoning, comparisons, examples, and analogies with his work so as to avoid the bogs of formality, and to keep the flow of it moving along.

In this regard, to the extent that I am presenting and teaching his concepts and echoing his content in a way compatible with our established message format here at Craighouse, the listener may assume that I am in full agreement with Kline’s conclusions pertaining only to the material I am submitting. Anyone interested in a more academic presentation of Kline’s theology can refer directly to his formal works.

So, let’s get started…

Kline has succeeded in encapsulating a central biblical revelation of the relationship of God, whose dwelling place is heaven’s glory, to man on earth, into a framework terminology he calls a two-register cosmogony.

So, what is a two-register cosmogony all about?

First off, it’s really not as complex as it sounds. You will begin understanding what this means as we continue.

cosmogony- study dealing with the origin of the cosmos

A two-register cosmos is a picture of the entire cosmos( created world), as consisting of heaven( God’s dwelling place) and earth( man’s dwelling place).

As we inch our way into an understanding of what Kline is talking about, one way to think of a two-register creation is as the scene of the biblical drama, which features constant interaction between the upper and lower registers. So the two-register idea is that of an upper register and a lower register.

The upper register is heaven creation, where God dwells; and the lower register is earth creation, where man dwells.

Why use the distinction of upper and lower?

Because its very biblical to do so.

The upper register is heaven creation, where God dwells; the Scriptures always uses this kind of spatial figure “above” based on a natural analogy between what is physically higher and what is more exalted in dignity and honor than the lower register of earth creation, where man dwells.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

Seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

You must be born again ( from above).

From man’s reference point; the heavenly register where God dwells, is the invisible realm of the divine glory and angelic beings.

Heaven and earth relate to one another from a much closer proximity than is usually thought of. Heaven is not to be thought of as occupying a separate place far off at a distance from the earth or even outside the earthly cosmos.

What biblical evidence gives us even a hint that heaven is actually closer than we think? ...like the objects in your right rear-view car mirror! When earthlings experience the opening of their eyes by God to enable them to “see” into the heavenly realm, they see that at the very spot where they are is the gate of heaven, and at other times filled with heavenly chariots of fire.

For example…

Genesis 28.16,17
Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!"

NKJ 2 Kings 6:17
And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

From man’s reference point; the earth creation consists of all things which are visible( concrete), or function in such a way as to produce effects which are concrete. Visible space itself is divided after the same analogy, into heaven and earth. The visible heavens consist of the star-studded space above and far beyond, with the clouds and the waters that are above the earth.

When the heavenly Glory is revealed in visible theophany, it is a manifestation in clouds and related phenomenon.

theophany- a visible manifestation of God
to shine, to appear

Psalm 104:2-4
Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters,
Who makes the clouds His chariot,
Who walks on the wings of the wind,
Who makes His angels spirits,
His ministers a flame of fire.

The association given in Scripture to God’s dwelling place and actions with the visible heaven, is so close, that at times it may be difficult to determine whether “heaven” refers to the visible or invisible heaven, or both at once.

The opening verse of Genesis 1.1 states that God, in the beginning, created both the upper and lower spatial spheres, as “the heavens and the earth” respectively.

NKJ Genesis 1:2
The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

The focus of verse 2 is upon the lower register( the earth), which is described at its early inchoate( not yet clearly formed) stage, it also points to the God of the invisible heaven, present above the darkness-enshrouded waters of the earth below, as He prepares for the account that follows of how this uninhabitable world was transformed into a paradisiacal home for man. The Spirit referred to here is the heavenly epiphany which is known in its manifestation within the visible world as the Shekinah, the theophanic cloud of glory. Genesis 1.2 includes the Spirit-Glory of the temple in heaven along with the earth below, so verse 2 carries forward the two-register cosmology in verse 1. This creative Spirit-Presence is depicted in a
fluttering-bird metaphor hovering protectively above the not yet clearly formed world.

Deuteronomy 32.9-12
For the LORD's portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance.
"He found him in a desert land And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye.
As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings,
So the LORD alone led him, And there was no foreign god with him.

Next week, I hope to more thoroughly provide Scriptural evidence that will lead us to discover that this manifestation of the Spirit of God likened to that of an eagle hovering protectively over the earth in its state of unbounded deep and darkness is the same specific Glory-Presence of God functioning as Creator-Protector who appears numerous times, surprisingly more times than most of us may have realized, throughout the historical revelations in the Bible.

Many will be surprised on the Day of Judgment when they discover that it was just as the Word of God says; only the righteousness of Christ is able to save you.All men are sinners and no one can save himself. God is just, so He must punish sin; but He is also merciful, moreover gracious, and offers His Son as the perfect sacrifice in order to purchase a place for you in heaven, which He offers to you as the free gift of eternal life.

Jesus is God Incarnate

In order to pay the debt of our sins, He came from Heaven, having been sent by the Father, where He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father even unto the shameful death upon the cross in order to pay the debt of your sins.This gift must be received by faith, believing that Jesus’ perfect life and Cross Work was His complete and necessary Atonement for your sins, in your behalf.Faith is a gift that comes by the Power of God the Holy Spirit working in a person’s innermost being. The Holy Spirit has the authority and power to quicken your dead spirit, to make it come to life. If you have not done so before this moment, ask Jesus to forgive you your sins, tell Him you’ve stop trying to be your own savior, and ask Him to come into your life right now, and to give you eternal life. Then, in faith believing, thank Him for the gift that He is giving you, the one He paid for in full in your place, in Jesus’ name,AMEN

Bibliography

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