Restoration of Paradise

We have already in prior posts noted that the original paradise was one of God’s purpose and plan – but not a paradise that would rival heaven on earth. We have also acknowledged that the Garden of Eden was a very special place especially planted by God. It is very probable that this garden was a complete paradise on earth. Yet we know that mankind did not stay there.
CAT states: There is a wonderful hope for the future, an essential part of the ultimate promise of the gospel. One day the Creator is going “to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets” (Acts 3:21, NIV) (CAT-18)

We need to be careful here. What does it mean to “restore everything” or restore all things. As incredible and as wonderful as Eden was – is this really all that we can expect for eternity?

Hugh Ross in “A Matter of Days” (which is the follow-on to his book Creation and Time which is the subject of CAT) wrote:

The book of Revelation, the intriguing and challenging conclusion to the Bible, presents a stunning glimpse of the new heavens and earth, including the “new Jerusalem.” The text establishes the time frame: after the Great White Throne Judgement, which permanently and irrevocably does away with all sin and evil (Rev 20:11-15. From careful reflection upon the descriptive details offered by the apostle John, the reader can gather that the laws of thermodynamics, gravity, electromagnetism, will no longer remain in effect. Key indicators include the absence of shadows, night and day, pain, sorrow, death, hunger, and thirst, and so forth. The image of an enormous cube or pyramid – metaphorical or otherwise – gives a further hint about gravity’s absence. (Gravity forces all physical objects larger than a few hundred miles across into spherical shapes.) The picture that emerges from Rev 21 and 22 fits consistently with other New Testament passages indicating that the first creation, introduced in Gen 1 and 2, will cease to exist when God’s purposes for it, including the redemption of humanity and conquest of evil, are fully accomplished.

In this context the permanent restoration of an earthly paradise, even one as wonderful as the Garden of Eden, is not God’s ultimate goal. The heart of the gospel message is that Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection from the dead secure (for those who receive it) deliverance from the consequences of sin and, ultimately even from the presence and possibility of sin – deliverance to eternal life with God in this indescribably glorious realm. A creation limited by the cosmic space-time dimensions and the familiar physical laws is not sufficient to hold that reward. A significant doctrinal point here is that this entire universe and the “very good” conditions of the Garden of Eden before Adam’s fall into sin are inadequate to contain the wonders God has planned for His people.

By contrast, most leaders of young-earth creationist ministries teach that the universe was perfect – without decay, suffering, disorder, and death – before the Fall. They describe the new creation as a restoration and revamping of the original [1]

There is debate in the Christian community on the millennial kingdom.[2] For the moment lets assume that following the return of Christ there will be a literal 1000 year kingdom on earth. Many YEC advocates claim that the millennial kingdom will be a restoration of Eden. Rich Deem explains to the contrary:

Yes it is true that God will do away with animal death in the millennial kingdom.[3] However, none of these verses indicate that this is the way it was in Eden. The connection to this idea comes through a common young earth doctrine that claims that God will restore paradise back to the way it was in Eden. There is no biblical support for restoration theology. In fact, the Bible says that God will completely burn up the earth and its elements[4] and create an entirely new heavens and earth.[5] The new heavens and earth will be vastly different from Eden. For example, Eden was not without pain[6] and temptation to sin.[7] Although the original creation was very good,[8] it was not perfect, with even part of it being described as "not good."[9] The Bible indicates that we will be delivered from paradise into a kingdom that is eternal and perfect. [3-9]

PEACEFUL VEGETARIANS
The animals will again be vegetarian and at peace with one another (Isa 11:6-7,9) (added emphasis)

If all animals were originally vegetarians, then the word "again” in this quote is OK. That is the YEC interpretation and that is fine. However the Isaiah quote does not imply that this is going back to some perfect state of the animal kingdom. This is eisogesis – the reading of an interpretation into the scriptures.

RESTORATION TO WHAT?
If Progressive Creationism is true, what kind of world can we look forward to in the restoration? A world of continuing animal death, mutations, extinctions, volcanoes, earthquakes, asteroid impacts, disease, and struggle? The Bible teaches the contrary. We look forward to paradise.

Yes the Bible does teach to the contrary. I have tried to put forth a most congenial attitude in my response to CAT. Yet I am repulsed and saddened by the sarcasm and condescending attitude expressed by CAT at this point. No Christian (YEC or OEC) believes that any of these things will continue in the new heaven and new earth. No we believe that God will consume this present world in a fervent heat and will cease from His creative 7th-day rest and will create again – this time it will be the perfect paradise.

So what will heaven be like? I heartily recommend a wonderful article on heaven at:
http://www.godandscience.org/doctrine/heaven.html

NOTES:

[1] Hugh Ross, “A Matter of Days” pgs 111-112. Note that an extensive list of YEC citations on the perfect universe and the restoration and revamping of the original is given in the end notes for this chapter of A Matter of Days – not duplicated here.

[2] The contributors to this blog do not necessarily agree on millennial eschatology – but the important thing to remember is that this is a non-essential doctrine of the faith and it is imprudent and even sin to divide over issues like this. Likewise the age of the earth is a similar non-essential (or as CAT would say “trivial”) This is why we are addressing this chapter of CAT because whether OEC or YEC – we have the same mandate – to share the glorious gospel of Christ and to glorify and honor Christ in our lives – not to convert everyone to a certain age of the earth view or millennial view.

[3-9] Items [3]-[9] notes come from an article by Rich Deem at
http://www.godandscience.org/youngearth/death.html (accessed 7-17-07)


[3] And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:6-9)

[4] But the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:7)But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! (2 Peter 3:12) "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished." (Matthew 5:18) "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." (Mark 13:31) "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." (Luke 21:33) And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN." And this expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, in order that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. (Hebrews 12:26-27)

[5] ”For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. (Isaiah 65:17) But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:13)And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. (Revelation 21:1)

[6] "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, In pain you shall bring forth children; Yet your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you." (Genesis 3:16)

[7] God allowed the pure evil (satan in the form of the serpent) to tempt Eve.

[8] God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31)

[9] Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." (Genesis 2:18)