ONE of the marvels of the creative
works of God is their almost endless
variety. Evolutionists believe that
this variety simply indicates
development and progression, which
fluctuates as one species evolves
into another. This continues, they
say, haphazardly and endlessly. The
Bible disagrees. The Bible teaches
that the great variety in creation
is by the Creator’s design and that
species are fixed.—I Cor. 15:39;
Gen. 1:24,25
The highest order, or species, in
God’s earthly creation is the human.
This is referred to by the Apostle
Paul as the “terrestrial,” which
simply means earthly. (I Cor. 15:40)
Man was created in the image of God,
and in his perfection he reflected
the glory of the Creator’s
character.—Gen. 1:26,27; Ps. 8:4,5;
Heb. 2:6,7
Man was not a blending of earthly
and spiritual natures. In all the
myriad creations of God there are no
hybrids, except as man has produced
them. While, as we shall see in a
later lesson, a very limited number
of God’s human creatures, upon
conditions of faithfulness in
following in the footsteps of Jesus,
will be exalted to a higher nature
in the resurrection, this does not
mean that humans are, by nature,
partly spiritual.—I Cor. 15:47-49
The perfect man was given dominion
over all the lower forms of the
earthly creations. In this respect
he was endowed with the official
glory of the Creator, who exercises
dominion over the entire
universe.—Gen. 1:28; Ps. 8:4-8
Because of disobedience to Divine
law, man not only lost life but he
also lost his dominion over the
earth. Because of this we do not see
the glory of God reflected in the
human race as it was possessed by
the first man, Adam. We see man
today fallen, imperfect and dying,
and unable to extricate himself from
the thralldom of sickness and death
into which he was plunged because of
his sin.—Ps. 14:1-3; 53:1-3; 49:7;
Rom. 3:10,12,23
But God has continued to love his
human creatures; he has made
provision to deliver them from sin
and death. (Ps. 102:19,20; John
3:16,17; 5:28,29, RSV)
God’s provision for the sin-cursed
and dying world of mankind, his
terrestrial human creatures, is
redemption through Jesus. So, while
today we see man dying and without
his dominion, by faith we see that
Jesus has already given his life
that man’s life and terrestrial
glory may, during the thousand years
of the messianic kingdom, be
restored to him.—Heb. 2:6-9
It is not the Divine purpose to
exalt the people of earth to a
higher plane of life but, through a
resurrection from death, to restore
them to life on the earth. This is
described by the Apostle Peter by
the word “restitution,” which means,
not exaltation, but
restoration.—Acts 3:21
What a glorious provision this is
for a sin-cursed and dying race!
Today the world is filled with
misery and woe, degradation and
sorrow, all of which will pass away
during the thousand-year reign of
Christ. Eventually not a stain of
sin will mar the peace and harmony
of humanity. There will not be an
ache nor a pain, nor any evidence of
the former reign of sin and death.
No longer will there be need for
doctors and undertakers. Hospitals
will be emptied of patients. Instead
of dying and going into the tomb,
the people will be returning from
death, the power of God being
utilized to restore them to life.
This is God’s loving provision for
man. This is the destiny for
humanity which has been made
possible through the redemption
which is in Christ Jesus. This will
be the restored glory of the
terrestrial.
STUDENTS’ HELPS
Questions
Explain the difference between the
evolutionist’s view of creation and
the truth set forth in the Bible.
What is the highest order of earthly
creation, and what is one of the
Bible’s words pertaining thereto.
Is man a blending of earthly and
spiritual natures? What was one
aspect of the glory with which Adam
was endowed by his Creator?
Is man able to extricate himself
from the result of his sin? Explain
God’s provision for the restoration
of man to life and to his lost
dominion.
What word does the Apostle Peter use
to describe man’s restoration?
Reference Material
“The Divine
Plan of the Ages,” pages 173-177
Summary of Important Thoughts
Man was created an earthly being and
is not a blending of earthly and
spiritual. Through the ransom and
resurrection, he will be restored to
life on the earth as a human.