The Mystery of Creation (Part 1)
Pst Olumide Akinrinlola
The Bible states: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).
This indicates that prior to God’s creation, nothing existed. If we consider that God is both the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8), and that nothing was present before Him (Genesis 1:1), we are led to question: Where was God residing before He initiated creation?
The answer is straightforward: God transcends creation. He existed on a Throne known as the heaven of heavens. Isaiah 66:1 refers to this as God’s throne.
The concept of the uncreated Creator, including how He came into existence and the nature of His throne, remains an unfathomable mystery, which is part of what makes Him God above all.
However, the creation of the heavens and the earth described in Genesis 1 pertains to the atmospheric and stellar heavens, part of which is referred to as the firmament. “And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day” (Genesis 1:6-8).
Biblical scholars commonly categorize heaven into three types: the Atmospheric Heaven (First Heaven), the Celestial Heaven (Second Heaven), and the Heaven of Heavens (Third Heaven), which is believed to be the dwelling place of Almighty God.
The atmospheric heavens encompass the air we breathe and the space surrounding the earth. The second heaven consists of the stellar realm, including the sun, moon, and stars. The third heaven, known as the heaven of heavens, represents God’s throne (Isaiah 66:1).
In essence, the creation of Heaven in Genesis chapter 1 pertains to the atmospheric heavens, which include the air and surrounding space, as well as the second heaven (stellar heaven) that contains celestial bodies.
God existed on a throne, referred to as the heaven of heavens. Jeremiah 9:6 affirms that God created both heaven and the heaven of heavens, suggesting the existence of a higher heaven that predated the creation described in Genesis chapter 1.
Nehemiah 9:6 states: “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.”
This verse indicates that God created both heaven and the “heaven of heavens,” implying that a greater heaven existed prior to the creations mentioned in Genesis chapter 1.
However, our focus is not on the mystery of how the uncreated Creator formed Himself or where He resided before the creation of the heavens and earth. Instead, we aim to explore the creation and creatures, such as the firmament (heaven) and earth, as captured in the Holy Scriptures.
From Genesis chapter 1, we glean that something existed before the creation of heaven and earth. The terms “heaven” and “earth” in Genesis refer to a creation that emerged from an earlier substance.
What is this substance I am referring to? It is the deep waters, known in Yoruba as “Ibu Omi.” It was from these deep waters that God fashioned the heavens and the earth mentioned in Genesis 1. In summary, deep waters existed before the creation of heaven and earth by God.
Before any debate arises, let’s examine Genesis 1:2 and verses 6-8.
Genesis 1:2 states: “And 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.”
This verse confirms that the earth was originally formless, created alongside the heavens as part of the deep waters. Remember, Genesis 1:1 asserts that heaven and earth were created, marking the beginning of creation.
Genesis 1:2 further affirms that darkness lay over the deep, followed by the Spirit of God moving upon the waters. The reference to “deep” here pertains to the deep waters, as clarified in the subsequent phrase.
Genesis 1:6-8 elaborates on how God commanded the firmament, now known as heaven, to emerge from the waters, as described in the initial creation narrative of Genesis 1:1.
Let’s read Genesis 1:6-8:
“And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.”
These verses unveil the initial mystery of how the firmament, now named heaven, was brought into being through the presence of the waters.
Genesis 1:9-10 continues to describe God’s command for the waters beneath heaven to gather in one place, allowing dry land to emerge, which we now recognize as earth.
Let’s read Genesis 1:9-10:
“And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.”
This passage also reveals how the earth was formed from the waters, resulting in the emergence of dry land.
Moreover, the text indicates that the seas stand independently, as the gathering of waters is termed seas separate from the earth. This suggests that God viewed the seas as a distinct entity in the creation process.
This understanding aligns with Philippians 2:10, which states: “Every knee in heaven, on earth, and beneath the earth should bow at the name of Jesus Christ.” This verse reinforces the existence of living beings in four realms: heaven, earth, the oceans beneath the earth, and both paradise and hell, which reside beneath the earth—topics we will explore in subsequent chapters of our book, The Mystery of Creation.
As we examine these biblical references, it becomes clear that there are indeed four realms where living beings exist: heaven, earth, the seas (the ocean beneath the earth’s surface), as well as hell and paradise, both of which are located beneath the earth.
To be continued…
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