Chapters
EPIPHANY
STUDIES
IN THE
SCRIPTURES
"The Path of the Just is as the Shining Light,
That Shineth More and More
Unto the Perfect Day."
SERIES II
CREATION
12,000 Edition
"The Invisible Things of Him since the Creation of the World are Clearly Seen, being Perceived through the Things that are Made, even His Everlasting Power and Deity" (Rom. 1:20).
——————
PAUL S. L. JOHNSON
PHILADELPHIA, PA., U. S. A.
1938
To the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
IN THE INTEREST OF
HIS CONSECRATED SAINTS,
WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION,
— AND OF —
"ALL THAT IN EVERY PLACE CALL UPON THE LORD," "THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH,"
— AND OF —
THE GROANING CREATION, TRAVAILING AND WAITING FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD,
THIS WORK IS DEDICATED.
"To make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the
beginning of the world hath been hid in God," "Wherein He hath
abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having
made known unto us the mystery of His will, accord-
ing to His good pleasure which He hath pur-
posed in Himself; that in the dispensation
of the fullness of the times He
might gather together in one
all things, under
Christ."
Eph. 3:4, 5, 9; 1:8–10.
THE AUTHOR'S FOREWORD
THE SUBJECT of this book—Creation—is one of compelling interest. No subject in nature, and very few in revelation possess more interest to universal man than it does. In its appeal it is far-reaching, inasmuch as it enlists the attention of the learned and the unlearned, the young and the old, the civilized and the uncivilized alike. And it is proper that it does command such interest and make such appeal; for next to the Creator comes Creation in the estimation of the average person, since it is continually attracting his five senses, knocking at the door of his perceptive faculties, challenging his reasoning powers and seeking an entrance into his affections. Moreover, as a part of Creation, universal man feels his relation to it, just because he is a part of it, which fact continually arouses his interest therein. But it is to the religiously disposed man that Creation, both as a process and as a product, makes the strongest appeal; for to him the subject is especially arresting, because it brings him into a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Creator, and thus brings him into closer touch with His wise, powerful, just and loving Maker. Thereby he reaches a condition of spirit that ennobles, enriches and elevates him. Thus God becomes more and more a living reality to him, and more and more the Goal of his endeavors. Our subject is a broad one; for, among other things, it embraces the field of the natural sciences: Here astronomy is brought to view. Here Physics asserts itself. Chemistry underlies it. Mineralogy is anciently a feature of it. Meteorology is a part of it. Botany marks it. Geology figures largely in it. Zoology in all its departments belongs to it. In its earthly feature it culminates in Anthropology and Sociology. Even Mathematics has in various of its branches a share in Creation. Yea, it rises above the domain of the material, and brings us into the sphere of the spiritual world with its varied orders of spirits. And, finally, it brings one to the science of Theology, in its narrow sense, as referring to the
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knowledge of God, especially as to His attributes of wisdom, power, justice and love, as these display themselves in creative work.
Having so broad a subject, we, of course, could not expect to give details on its many ramifications; for it is not our object to write a scientific treatise on the minute details of science as these are displayed in Creation. Rather, we content ourself with giving generalities on its details, especially as these are brought to our attention in Gen. 1:1- 31; 2:7, 21-24, additionally drawing into our discussion other pertinent Scriptures. Our endeavor has been to elucidate the Mosaic account of Creation and to show its harmony with the assured results of science. And as the mainspring of this endeavor our constant purpose has been to magnify and enhance our gracious Creator to the head and heart of the reader. If, as a fruit of this work, this purpose is attained, it will be the chief joy of the author.
PAUL S. L. JOHNSON.
Philadelphia, PA., U. S. A.
September 12, 1937.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL REMARKS.
THEIR NECESSITY. BIBLE PROOF FOR GOD'S CREATORSHIP. THE NATURE OF THE CREATIVE ACT. THE WORLD OF SPIRIT AND MATTER AS THE CREATIVE SPHERES. THE CREATIVE DAYS. THE LAWS OF NATURE. THE BEGINNING 9
CHAPTER II.
THE WORLD OF SPIRIT.
THE WORD—LOGOS—GOD'S SON. HIS PRE-HUMAN EXISTENCE. HIS CREATION. HIS RELATION TO GOD. HIS WORK. THE GOOD ANGELS. THEIR NATURE AND WORKS. SATAN. AUTHOR OF SIN. HIS EMPIRE. RELENTLESS PERSECUTION OF OPPONENTS. HIS CUNNING. OVERTHROW OF HIS EMPIRE. HIS FINAL REBELLION AND DESTRUCTION. THE FALLEN ANGELS 37
CHAPTER III.
THE WORLD OF MATTER.
Gen. 1:1
ITS IMPLICATIONS. ITS QUALITIES—UNITY, IMMENSITY, BEAUTY, SUBLIMITY, ORDER, WONDROUSNESS, COMPLEXITY 165
CHAPTER IV.
THE CREATIVE PROCESS.
Gen. 1:1
PROOF THAT ORIGINAL MATTER CONSISTED OF GASES, ORIGINALLY MOTIONLESS. CONDENSATION, THE CREATIVE PROCESS. ITS ALLEGED OPERATION UNDER THE NEBULAR THEORY. THE PLANETESIMAL OR CAPTURE THEORY. THE EXPLOSION THEORY FOR PLANETS, MOONS, ETC 265
CHAPTER V.
CHAOS.
Gen. 1:2
THE EARTH'S MOLTEN CONDITION. PROOFS OF THE EARTH'S MOLTEN CONDITION. "WASTE AND EMPTY." THE DEEP AND ITS DARKNESS. THE CANOPY THEORY AS SHOWN IN SCRIPTURE AND NATURE. THE SPIRIT'S HOVERING OVER THE WATERS. A REVIEW OF THE GROUND SO FAR TRAVERSED 293
CHAPTER VI.
THE FIRST CREATIVE DAY—LIGHT.
Gen. 1:3-5
THE NATURE OF LIGHT. A SPIRITUAL SUBSTANCE. ITS SOURCES. ITS MISSION. THE DIVISION OF LIGHT FROM DARKNESS. HOW "LIGHT BE" WAS SAID. LIGHT'S PRIORITY IN ORDERING THE EARTH. THE MOSAIC ACCOUNT OF CREATION INSPIRED 345
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CHAPTER VII.
THE SECOND CREATIVE DAY—THE EXPANSE.
Gen. 1:6-8
CONDITIONS DURING THE SECOND DAY. THE RAKIA—EXPANSE. LOGICAL ORDER OF THE SECOND DAY'S WORK. CREATION OF THE ATMOSPHERE. THE SECOND DAYS CREATIVE PROCESS. CONTINUANCE OF THIS PROCESS DURING THE REST OF THE CREATIVE PERIODS ENDING WITH THE FLOOD 361
CHAPTER VIII.
THE THIRD CREATIVE DAY—DRY LAND, SEA, VEGETATION.
Gen. 1:9-13
THE POINTS OF DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL. THE ANTECEDENTS OF THIS DAYS FIRST CREATIVE WORK. THE PERTINENT CREATIVE PROCESS. VOLCANIC AND EARTHQUAKE EFFECTS. THE PRESSURE EAST AND WEST RATHER THAN FROM NORTH AND SOUTH. THE PROCESS PROGRESSIVE THROUGH OTHER EPOCHS. IT WAS GOOD. THREE POETIC DESCRIPTIONS QUOTED FROM THE BIBLE. ORDER, KINDS AND FIXITY IN VEGETATION. GRASS. PLANTS. TREES. SOME PARTICULARS ON VEGETATION 377
CHAPTER IX.
THE FOURTH CREATIVE DAY—SUN, MOON AND STARS.
Gen. 1:14-9
LOGICAL ORDER OF THE FOURTH DAY'S WORK. SUN, MOON AND STARS NOT CREATED, BUT MADE TO SHINE THROUGH THE CANOPIES DURING THE FOURTH EPOCH. HOW THIS CAME ABOUT. THE FIVEFOLD MISSION OF THE SUN, MOON AND STARS AS TO THE EARTH. IT WAS GOOD. PERTINENT BIBLE TESTIMONY 403
CHAPTER X.
THE FIFTH DAY—AQUATIC AND WINGED LIFE.
Gen. 1:20-23
THE TWO PRODUCTS OF THE FIFTH DAY. CETACEANS. FISH. CRUSTACEANS. MOLLUSCA. ANIMALCULES. THE AQUATIC WORLD. THE WORLD OF FOWL. THE INSECT WORLD 419
CHAPTER XI.
THE SIXTH DAY—BRUTE LIFE.
Gen. 1:24, 25
THE EARTH THE MOTHER OF ANIMAL LIFE. DOMESTIC ANIMALS. WILD BEASTS. PRIMATES. CHEIROPTERANS. PREDACIOUS BEASTS. RODENTS. EDENTATES. UNGULATES. RUMNANTS. PACHYDERMS. MARSUPIALS. REPTILES. SAURIANS TORTOISES AND TURTLES 451