If you're a preterist or have any views on preterism it would be great to hear from you.

Genesis 1

Introduction

1Although the physical features of the "holy land" (Zech 2:12) were sometimes used in scripture to symbolise "spiritual" things, many Bible students agree that Genesis 1 is NOT merely a 'mythical', 'allegorical', or 'metaphorical' account. Nor is it a record of the origins of the Universe.

'Genesis - Tablet 1' (Gen 1:1-2:4a) briefly recounts the literal "preparation" of the "skies (shâmayim shâmeh)" and "land ('erets)" that Adam was to "rule over" as the first "head" of the "church" (Gen 1:26). No "spiritualisation" is needed to account for this.

And as with the "Sabbath", so with the "land": It was "prepared" for God's PEOPLE, not vice-versa (Mk 2:27).

2. Gen 1 recounts the events when God "blessed" a small parcel of "land" — most likely one of the "plains" bordering the Jordan (Gen 13:10); e.g. just east of Jerusalem — and made it bountiful.

By doing so the Edenic environment "typified" what awaited the LORD's PEOPLE in its heavenly "antitype" (Gen 2:9-10, Heb 11:16, Rev 22:2). The "skies" above their heads would give "rain in its season" (compare; Lev 26:4, Deut 11:14, 28:12) and the "land" beneath their feet would give its "increase" in "harvest" (compare; Deut 7:13). It would be a "land flowing with milk and honey" and the "glory of all lands" (compare; Ex: 3:8, Eze 20:6).

After "finishing" His "work", "..God saw everything He had made (or "performed"; 'asah), and indeed it was very good.." (Gen 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31).

3. From 'Genesis - Tablet 2' onwards, the cosmological features of the Edenic environment were often used to 'symbolise' events and PEOPLE. (A common literary practice both then and now.)

For example, in 'Tablet 2' we find mention of the "serpent" and his "temptation" (compare; Ps 58:4, 140:3, Isa 27:1), the "sea" (compare; Nah 1:4, Rev 22:1), the "stars" (compare; Dan 8:10), and the "animals" of the "land" (compare; Jer 4:25, 12:4, Ezek 38:20, Zeph 1:3, Hos 2:18, 4:3, Ac 10:12, 28).

The Edenic environment — God's "creation" (the "heavens and earth") — became synonymous with the theocratic Economy that governed it. An Economy that quickly became "corrupt" (Gen 6:11-12, Rom 8:20-21) but which God pledged to "renew" and "restore" by the promised "Seed" (Isa 9:6, 2 Pet 3:12-13).

4. The "spiritual" character (or landscape) of the theocratic Economy was inextricably bound to the "obedience" of the "head" of the "church" (Rom 5:19); both the "first" (Gen 1:26-27) and the "last" (1 Cor 15:45-47, Eph 1:22).

When Adam "sinned" (Rom 5:12, 19) that landscape became "corrupt", his "dominion" was lost, and all "rule, authority, and power" (1 Cor 15:24), passed from him to the "wicked one" who he inadvertently submitted himself to through his "wife" (Gen 3:6, Rom 6:16, 1 Tim 2:14). Thus, the 'Covenant Community' (God's "creation") began to "groan" under the weight of his "disobedience" (Rom 8:22) and they became dominated, NOT by principles of "love" and "peace", but by "principalities and powers" opposed to God's "rule" and once "holy" principles became "elements" of "oppression" (Matt 4:8-9, Lk 4:18, Jn 8:44, Eph 6:12, Heb 2:15).

Albeit, when the "rule" of the Kingdom was "renewed" in Christ (1 Cor 15:45) the landscape was "restored" and a new one "established" in "true righteousness and holiness" (Rom 3:22, 2 Cor 5:21, Eph 4:24, 1 Jn 3:8).

5. For thousands of years both the River Jordan and the "Dead Sea" it flows into (also known as the "Sea of Arabah"/"Salt Sea"; Gen 14:3, Deut 3:17, Josh 3:16, 15:2, Num 34:3; and the "Eastern Sea"; Ezek 47:18, Joel 2:20, Zech 14:8), have flooded their banks. Often in dramatic fashion. [ See video above right. ]

These "floods" can cover large areas of "land" (Deut 1:1, Josh 3:15, Jer 12:25, 49:19, 50:44), especially on "plains" such as the one "east of Jerusalem", which is only 15 miles from the "Dead Sea" (consider; Gen 13:10). Thus, it could be that the primitive language of 'Genesis - Tablet 1' describes nothing more than the "preparation" (bârâ') of the "holy land" after one such natural disaster. [ See "Eden". ]

Given the rest of biblical history and the prophetic scriptures, this provides a compelling argument.

Creation Week

The "creation" account could describe something like the following:

Day One (Gen 1:1-5): "In the beginning" of God's "work" of "preparing" a "land" for the first "head" of the "church" to "rule over" (approx. 4,000BC), the region He chose (possibly the "plain" that lies between Jerusalem and the Dead "sea") experienced a "flood".

Flooded River Jordan
This could have occurred suddenly at "night", which is often the case especially during Spring season (see, here). Flash-floods send up thick "mists" (Gen 2:6) into the "skies" that can linger for days (see image below left).

From an observers perspective the vapour would hide the night-sky and nothing would be visible as "deep" flood "water" covered the "land" and ripped up all vegetation ("green things") as it passed (compare, Rev 8:7, 9:4). The region would become "formless" and "void" of life.

When the first "morning" came after the disaster "mist" and vapour would still fill the "skies". Albeit, the morning "light" would start to make itself visible.

Day Two (Gen 1:6-8): On 'Day 2' the "light" of the "morning" would start to make the horizon visible through the "firmament". Thus, the "waters" below could be differentiated from the "waters" (vapour) above.

Mist-clouds "above" the "land"
Day Three (Gen 1:9-13): By 'Day 3' the flood "waters" would naturally start to recede and return to the (Dead?) "sea". "Dry land" would be visible again and vegetation would be free to grow. (Consider what happened when "dry land" appeared during another localised example; Ex 14:21.)

Day Four (Gen 1:14-19): By 'Day 4' vapour would have started to dissipate leaving the sun and night-sky to return "light" to the "land".

Day Five (Gen 1:20-23): By 'Day 5' "sea creatures" would have started to return to the "waters" and "beasts" and "birds" would have started to return to the "land".

Day Six (Gen 1:24-31): Once the "foundation" of the covenant "world" neared completion (Matt 25:34) God "prepared" (bârâ') the character of the first "head" of the "church" in "true righteous and holiness". [ See, "The Image of God". ] Adam was then "brought" to the heart of the "land" (i.e. the "Garden" [Gen 2:8] later known as "Jerusalem") and commanded to have "dominion" over it (Gen 1:26).

Simple Explanation

1Given what we now know about the richness of the "plains" bordering the 'Jordan' and 'Dead Sea" (Gen 13:10), as well as their history of "flooding", the above provides a simple, yet credible, account of the "creation" week.

This explanation doesn't require convoluted scientific 'theories' to support it nor does it need to manipulate or do violence to the "plain" sense of the Hebrew.

2. This interpretation also accounts for the limited geocentric language and knowledge of the author of 'Genesis - Tablet 1' and harmonises with the later limitations of the Noahic "flood" language.

By connecting the the "type" and "antitype" (i.e. the "land" and "holy city" to their "consummation" in the "heavenly country" [Matt 5:18, Lk 21:22] ), from a theological standpoint it also harmonises with "all" the prophetic scriptures.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH YOUR VIEWS. MANY THANKS TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY DONE SO.

If you're a preterist or have any views on preterism it would be great to hear from you.

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