The Curse on the creation changed it in such a way that it was no longer perfect and friendly. That change affected the whole creation, which means the whole universe.
As a result of the rebellion by the first humans against the Creator’s commandment to not eat of the Tree of Knowledge the whole creation was cursed and that meant catastrophic changes. Here I examine some aspects of what that meant to the underlying physics of creation.
Though there must have been some supernatural changes in DNA instructions in living organisms on Earth, the effects of decay and corruption, include cancer, disease and death, became manifest as the Creator withdrew some of His sustaining power, His fifth force. See The Sustaining Power of the Creator.
After the Curse the withdrawing of the Creator’s sustaining power is seen in the universe and on Earth. However the known laws of physics governing the universe did not change. What changed was the sustaining power of God.
Effects of the Curse in the Cosmos
As the Creator withdrew some of His sustaining power, the decay processes were not being restored and for the first time aging and death became normal. The incorruptible put on the corruptible.
It is common to speak of the death of stars when they go supernova in a brilliantly bright flash of light and then fade out. See Fig. 1. However aging and death is not directly applicable to stars! You cannot ascribe anthropogenic characteristics to stellar bodies. They were never alive and hence in that sense they do not die.
Supernovae and the natural changes stars go through are all part of the natural order. Those changes are a result of the laws of physics governing the stars.
But before God withdrew His sustaining power, which was reversing the effects of the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics on stellar bodies, the stars had the potential to be there shining forever. Like with the burning bush from which God spoke to Moses (Exodus 3:2-3), if God had not withdrawn His sustaining power it would have continued to burn forever.
When He withdrew some of His sustaining power the changes in the stars followed their natural course. Their natural course may have led them to go supernova. Others just whimpered out, without any light show. The vast majority are still shining since there has been very little time passed since creation.
10 And, You, Lord, in the beginning have laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens [including the stars] are the works of your hands: 11 They shall perish; but you remain; and they all shall wax old as does a garment;
Hebrews 1:10-11 quoting Psalms 102:25-27 AKJV
After the Curse that inexorable decay in all physical systems is unavoidable. So, how can the universe be anything but temporary? Surely, science tells us that it will ultimately decay, and hence it cannot be eternal. On the other hand if the universe is eternal, what must the Creator do to maintain it?
In the 24th chapter of Matthew’s gospel we read:
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Matthew 24:35 AKJV
Yet also we read in the Psalms:
3 Praise you Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars of light! 4 Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters that be above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created. 6 He has also established them for ever and ever; He has made a decree which shall not pass.
Psalms 148:3-6 AKJV
The latter is a clear reference to a created, yet an eternally existing, universe. That is, a universe that was created in the finite past yet exists eternally, never to vanish or be eviscerated. The Sun, the Moon and the stars are specifically mentioned; that they will exist “for ever and ever”. It is by decree of the Creator and that decree will never be cancelled.
Then when speaking of God’s promise to the offspring of David, that is, Christ and His longevity and His rule on His throne, King David was inspired to write:
It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven.
Psalms 89:37 AKJV
The promise of God here is established forever, in the same way that the Moon is established forever.
These verses from the Psalms are not intended as allegory, or just poetry but are stating facts regarding God’s creation. That is, that the Sun, the Moon and the stars in the cosmos are to be there forever. The Hebrew word used in both Psalms 89:37 and 148:6 is עוֹלָם (`owlam), which generally has the meaning of ‘time out of mind (past or future)’, but practically means ‘eternity’ and is frequently translated as ‘always’.
Therefore, how do we interpret Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away”?
This is actually a verse supporting the fact that the cosmic heavens, the Earth, the Moon and the Sun will be preserved forever. The text is saying that God’s words will be preserved longer than the heavens and the earth.
That may seem to be the opposite of what Matthew 24:35 seems to be saying from the English translation, but we can get clarity and a correct understanding of the intent of Jesus’ statement from the equivalent verse in the gospel according to Luke. Jesus said:
17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass [away], than one tittle [tiny stroke of a letter] of the law [the Word] to fail.
Luke 16:17 AKJV
Jesus did not actually say heaven and Earth will pass away, but that it would be easier for them to do so than it would be for God’s words to fail. Since the Word of God will never fail, it will be preserved forever. Contrasted to that are the heaven and the Earth, which are more likely to pass away, yet will be preserved for a very long time. This is a figure of speech.
And that length of time is an eternity, which we know from Psalms 148:6 and Psalms 89:37. These Psalms are not in any way allegorical or symbolic, but are clear statements of facts.
There are yet other verses, in particular Isaiah 65:17 and Revelation 21:1, which on the surface seems to be stating that the heaven and the earth (the universe) will be destroyed if God is going to make “a new heaven and a new earth”. Yet I would argue that those verses are prophetic and therefore are subject to the details of your eschatology, as to what they actually mean.
I have formed my own view about that and believe that based on the evidence of the scriptures the “new Heaven and new Earth” are, in terms of the physical environment, no more than a renovation or refurbishment of the current Earth and its atmospheric heavens. See Do the Heavens Literally Pass Away or Don’t They?
So my argument here is that based on Psalms 148:6 and 89:37 God will preserve the starry heavens forever, i.e., for an eternity. This is a promise of God’s intention. See Our Eternal Universe.
There is no reason then why He could not bring back the full strength of His sustaining power to the whole universe. This means that it becomes an eternal universe once again.
It follows from this that the 2nd Law means the natural processes in stars lead to some supernovae. And these brilliant flashes of light can be seen from Earth at very great distances.
My argument is that the Creator withdrew some of His sustaining power that allowed the stars to explode in a brilliant flash of light. That means the supernovae are an effect of the Curse visible in the cosmos. But that tells us something else.
By being able to see the effects of the Curse in the cosmos at extremely great distances that strengthens the argument I made in regards to the physics of creation on Day 4, that all creation is seen in the present ‘now’, that everything, all stars and galaxies, which we see in the cosmos is seen in real time, in the present now.
This is critically important to understand. The light from those supernovae did not take billions of years to reach Earth but arrived instantly. When we saw the event was when the event occurred. See The Effects of the Curse Visible in the Cosmos Present Another Biblical Creationist Starlight Travel-Time Problem.
And I must repeat that supernovae are not representative of death but a natural result of the laws of physics guiding the universe from creation. However they are representative of decay and corruption.
In a similar way that decay and corruption is seen on Earth also.
Effects of the Curse on Earth
One aspect of the Curse that many comment on is a change in the animals.
14 And the LORD God said to the serpent, Because you have done this, you are cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; on your belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life:
Genesis 3:14 AKJV
It would seem that before the Curse snakes had legs because only without legs could they now push forward their bodies by slithering along on their bellies.
The generalisation of this is that all animals suffered genetic changes and therefore changes in their features. We can only conclude that this was a supernatural change in the DNA code, which meant for some a functional change in the use of existing structures, i.e., teeth or legs. In the case of the snakes, serpents, they lost their legs and in the case of carnivorous animals their diet changed.
Thus many of the “terrible lizards”, the dinosaurs, and other animals became carnivores. Though some animals remained as herbivores. It also could be that God had inbuilt into their DNA programming features that could be turned off or on and this meant at the Curse these changes were put into effect.
What about the poisons in snakes and other poisonous animals and plants? That seems that it might have needed a supernatural input of new genetic information. So probably there was a range of mechanisms used by the Creator, some of which were repurposed structures that had not been dangerous or toxic prior to the Curse.
17 And to Adam he said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it: cursed is the ground for your sake; in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to you; and you shall eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return to the ground; for out of it were you taken: for dust you are, and to dust shall you return.
Genesis 3:17-19 AKJV
The plants also changed and many became toxic. Thorns and thistles symbolise all the noxious weeds and plants that grew and made life more difficult for mankind in growing food from the ground. Yet before the Flood the environment was still much more suited to grow food than it was after the Flood.
16 To the woman he said, I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in sorrow you shall bring forth children; and your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you.
Genesis 3:16 AKJV
Other effects of the Curse meant changes in the human DNA and the concomitant structures in the human body. One of those involved childbirth. Perhaps pre-Curse it was a breeze, but after the Curse it became more difficult, with much pain, and some mothers and babies died in childbirth.
20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
Genesis 3:20 AKJV
Yet, Eve was the founding mother of all humans. So she obvious was able to give birth to many children. We do not know how many. Yet all of them would eventually die.
2 And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.
Genesis 2:2-3 AKJV
But because Adam and Eve did eat of the forbidden fruit God said “to dust shall you return” (Genesis 3:19).
Death of the living (Hebrew: nephesh chaya) was the single most major consequence of the Curse. The whole creation changed, especially with some animals now becoming carnivores.
However because humans still lived to nearly 1000 years of age Adam and Eve and those who followed them would have had many children, which was necessary to populate the world, to obey God’s commandment to “be fruitful and multiply”.
The mindset of Adam and Eve also changed. They lost their innocence and had knowledge of good and evil.
21 To Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Genesis 3:20 AKJV
To cover their shame, because they now knew they were naked, God made them clothing. We can conclude then that some animals had to be sacrificed for this to happen. From this time on they wore clothing made from animal skins.
22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from from where he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Genesis 3:22-24 AKJV
Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden and God placed an angel there to prevent them from going back in. This was to prevent them access to the Tree of Life. If they had continued to eat its fruit they would have lived forever. There is a significant connection between the Tree of Life, symbolising Jesus Christ, and eternal salvation not only in soul but also in body.
The Tree of Life is again seen in the New Heaven (Revelation 22:2). But only through salvation in Jesus Christ can one get there. In the New Heaven and New Earth the Curse is revoked and God’s sustaining power turned back on to full power. The effects of the Curse will then be rendered void.
In their sin-cursed bodies the first two parents of all humans would eventually die and return to the dust from which God made their bodies. All humans have inherited that state from our parents and as such we all suffer waiting for the redemption, not of our souls, but our bodies.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:18-25 ESV
All living species die and decay. Like the supernovae seen in the cosmos we see death and decay all around us now. God made the world “red in tooth and claw” with carnivores killing other animals for their flesh. By God withdrawing some of His sustaining power the repair mechanisms do not maintain perfect bodies and all creatures age and given sufficient time eventually die.
The pre-Curse world was beautiful and perfect. There were no errors in the genomes of anything living. There were no deformities or toxins in plants or animals. There was no disease, no cancer or death.
The post-Curse world was not so beautiful or perfect. Genetic changes occurred and genetic errors in all genomes began to accumulate.
Before the Curse Adam and Eve had the potential to live forever. We could say their longevity was a quality factor of their lives. Thus their quality factor was infinite. See Age as a Quality Factor of Human Life After the Flood.
But after the Curse, they still had long lives, nearly 1000 years. But that means the quality factor of their lives was reduced to a value less than 1000. The same was true for their offspring. In Fig. 6 I have plotted the ages of the patriarchs as a function of time of birth from the creation.
The exponential decrease in ages tells us that something else happened around the time of the great deluge. The full effect of the changes in humans and the rest of creation did not kick in until the Flood.
For sure the world changed at the Flood. Prior to the Flood the natural world would still have been very lush and productive even though subject to the Curse. As part of the Flood judgment God may have abruptly withdrawn more of His sustaining power and genetic and other effects acted quickly on human life spans as shown in Fig. 7.
Restoration
Eventually in the kingdom of God, at the end of the age, the Creator will reverse the decay process completely and restore the creation to be incorruptible again. That means turning up the force of His sustaining power to fully restore all things.
50 And I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood are not able to inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I tell a mystery to you: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed.
52 In a moment, in a glance of an eye, at the last trumpet; for a trumpet will sound, and the dead ones will be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal one must put on immortality.
54 But when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal one shall put on immortality, then will come to pass the Word, the one having been written, “Death was swallowed up in victory.” Isa. 25:8
55 “O death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?”1 Corinthians 15:50-55 KJ3
Death will be vanquished in the new Heaven and the new Earth.
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death shall be no longer, nor mourning, nor outcry, nor will there be pain still; for the first things passed away.
5 And the One sitting on the throne said, Behold! I make all things new. And He says to me, Write, because these words are faithful and true.Revelation 21:4-5 KJ3
The Creator is going to restore His glorious creation where there is no death or mourning or pain. That means the Curse imposed on creation was literally real because when God brings back His sustaining power, which only He can do, it will prevent any effects of the Curse happening in the new Heaven and new Earth.
God said that He would make all things new. He is saying He will restore the creation to its former perfect glorious state.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2 Peter 3:10 AKJV
In the new Heavens and the new Earth the damage of the Curse to creation will be undone. The planet Earth and its surroundings will be renovated. The Creator will destroy the rulers of darkness, melt the products of human sin and remake and restore the current Earth into a new creation. But He will not destroy the fabric of creation down to the subatomic particles as some have suggested.
The universe is eternal and once the Creator brings back His sustaining power all creation will be redeemed from the corruption of the Curse.
Related Reading
- The Sustaining Power of the Creator
- Do the Heavens Literally Pass Away or Don’t They?
- Our Eternal Universe
- The Effects of the Curse Visible in the Cosmos Present Another Biblical Creationist Starlight Travel-Time Problem.
- Age as a Quality Factor of Human Life After the Flood
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