05.06. The Septenary Arrangement..

6 The Septenary Arrangement of Scripture There remaineth therefore a rest [’Sabbath rest’] to the people of God (Hebrews 4:9).

Hebrews 4:1-11 deals with a rest which will be realized by "the people of God" during the seventh millennium dating from the restoration of the earth and the creation of man in the first chapter of Genesis. Teachings surrounding this rest, textually and contextually, are based on three portions of Old Testament Scripture: 1) The experiences of the Israelites under Moses, and later Joshua (Hebrews 3:2-19), 2) God’s work and subsequent rest during the seven days of Genesis 1:1-31; Genesis 2:1-25 (Hebrews 4:4), and 3) the Sabbath given to Israel which the nation was to keep week after week following six days of work (Hebrews 4:9).

The experiences of the Israelites under Moses, and later Joshua, during a past dispensation form the type; and the experiences of Christians under Christ during the present dispensation form the antitype. Then teachings surrounding a rest lying before both the Israelites in the type and Christians in the antitype are drawn from the rest which God entered into following six days of work in Genesis 1:1-31; Genesis 2:1-25. And the Sabbath was given to Israel to keep the whole overall thought of that which occurred in the opening two chapters of Genesis ever before them (cf. Exodus 20:8-11; Exodus 31:13-17).

Teachings drawn from Genesis 1:1-31, Genesis 2:1-25 form the key to the entire matter, and a correct understanding and interpretation of these opening chapters is not something which should be taken lightly. Scripture is actually built upon a structure which is laid down in these two chapters, and an individual’s understanding and interpretation of numerous things throughout the remainder of Scripture will be governed by his understanding and interpretation of this opening section of Scripture.

If one understands these opening verses correctly, he will understand how God has structured His revelation to man, allowing him to grasp numerous things which he could not otherwise understand. However, if one fails to understand these opening verses correctly, the opposite will be true. He will have gone wrong at the beginning, and he will remain wrong the remainder of the way.

The preceding, for example, is the reason many individuals fail to see the proper relationship of the Sabbath rest in Hebrews 4:9 to God’s rest following six days of work in Genesis 2:2-3. They attempt to relate this rest to something which Christians enter into during the present day and time, which is a time prior to the seventh day, a time not even in view (except possibly by way of a secondary application). Or this is the reason many individuals attempt to understand 2 Peter 3:8 in the light of Psalms 90:4, when, contextually, 2 Peter 3:8 must be understood in the light of the opening two chapters of Genesis (cf. 2 Peter 1:16-18; 2 Peter 3:5-7).

With these things in mind, the remainder of the material in this chapter will deal with the structure of the Hebrew text in parts of especially the first chapter of Genesis -- particularly verse two -- and the testimony of the remainder of Scripture insofar as the opening two chapters of Genesis are concerned.

One MUST understand what is revealed at the beginning first. This is the key. Only then can an individual be in a position to move forward and properly understand the remainder.

"Was" or "Became"

It would go without saying that there has been a great deal of controversy over the years among theologians and Christians in general concerning exactly how the opening two chapters of Genesis should be understood. And it would also go without saying that, resultingly, confusion has reigned supreme in Christian circles concerning not only these chapters but the general tenor of the remainder of Scripture as well.

There are actually two major schools of thought surrounding these two opening chapters, though there are a number of variations within that held by those in each school. Those in one school (probably the position held by the majority today) view the six days in the first chapter as time revealing God’s creative activity from verse one, and those in the other school view these six days as time revealing God’s restoration of a ruined creation seen in verse two.

Then there is a somewhat popular third school of thought which views Genesis 1:1 as other than an absolute beginning. Most of those holding this view see verse one as an opening statement dealing with restoration, not creation. That is, they see the verse dealing, not with God’s creation of the heavens and the earth in an absolute sense (as most view the verse), but with the beginning of God’s restoration (reforming, remolding, refashioning) of a previously perfect creation which had fallen into a state of ruin.

Much of the controversy surrounding these different views is centered in the linguistics of verse two. Grammarians go back to the Hebrew text and deal with two areas: 1) the relationship to verse one of the three circumstantial clauses making up this verse, and 2) the meaning of the Hebrew word hayah (translated "was"). And good Hebrew grammarians reach different conclusions in both realms.

1. The Three Circumstantial Clauses

The three circumstantial clauses in Genesis 1:2 are simply the clauses which form the verse: a) "And the earth was without form, and void," b) "and darkness was upon the face of the deep," c) "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

In the Hebrew text there is what is called a "waw" beginning verse two (a conjunctive or disjunctive particle, translated "And" in most English texts). Some grammarians view this particle in a conjunctive sense (showing a connection between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2), and others view it in a disjunctive sense (showing a separation between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2). Normally the context determines how the particle is to be understood.

(The Hebrew text of the Old Testament uses the "waw" more frequently in a conjunctive [and] rather than a disjunctive [but] sense. Of the approximately 28,000 usages of this particle, some 25,000 appear to be conjunctive and some 3,000 disjunctive.)

Those viewing the "waw" beginning Genesis 1:2 in a conjunctive sense would see the three circumstantial clauses as inseparably connected with verse one, and those viewing the "waw" in a disjunctive sense would, instead, see a separation between these two verses.

If there is an inseparable connection of the clauses in verse two with verse one, and verse one describes an absolute beginning in relation to the heavens and the earth (God’s actual creation of the heavens and the earth in the beginning), then verse two would have to describe how God created the earth in the beginning (i.e., "without form, and void"). Understanding the structure of the Hebrew text after this fashion would necessitate viewing that which is described at the beginning of verse two as the condition of the earth at the time of the action described in verse one. Then the six subsequent days would have to be looked upon as time in which God, step by step, performed and completed his work of creation introduced in verse one.

The preceding view of the structure of the Hebrew text is the reason for the position held by some that Genesis 1:1 describes the beginning of God’s restorative work rather than an absolute beginning. Those holding this view see the three circumstantial clauses in verse two as inseparably connected with verse one, but they also see that Scripture teaches a subsequent ruin of the creation following God’s creation of the heavens and the earth in the beginning (e.g., cf. Genesis 1:2 and Isaiah 45:18 [the Heb. word tohu, translated "without form" in Genesis 1:2 is translated "in vain" in Isaiah 45:18; and this verse in Isaiah specifically states that God did not create the earth tohu, i.e., after the fashion in which it is seen in Genesis 1:2]).

Thus, those who see God’s perfect creation undergoing a subsequent ruin but also view the three circumstantial clauses in Genesis 1:2 as inseparably connected with verse one are forced into a particular position concerning the interpretation of the opening verses of Genesis. They are forced into the position of seeing the actual creation of the heavens and the earth, and also the ruin of the heavens and the earth, as occurring at a time prior to Genesis 1:1, events which they would see as not being dealt with per se in the opening verses of Scripture at all.

Then there are those grammarians who see the "waw" beginning verse two as disjunctive (similar to the Greek "de," which is used both ways in the New Testament [cf. Matthew 1:2-16; Matthew 25:31, ASV]; also the Septuagint [Gk. translation of the O.T.] uses "de" in a disjunctive sense beginning Genesis 1:2). And, viewing the matter after this fashion, there would be no connection between the first two verses of Genesis. Rather, a separation would exist instead. Within this view, one would normally see verse one revealing an absolute beginning, with verse two (along with the verses following) revealing events occurring at later points in time.

(Most holding this linguistic view see verse two as a description of God’s perfect creation [from verse one] being brought into a ruined state, separated from verse one by an unrevealed period of time; and they would, accordingly, see God’s activity during the six days as activity surrounding the restoration of this ruined creation. Some holding this linguistic view though still see the six days as time revealing God’s creative activity. They view verse one as describing a "grand summary declaration that God created the universe in the beginning." Then they view God’s activity during the six days as a revelation concerning how God accomplished that which He had previously stated in verse one.)

2. The Hebrew Word "Hayah"

Hayah is the Hebrew word translated "was" in most English versions of Genesis 1:2 ("And the earth was..."). The word is found numerous times throughout chapter one and about 3,570 times in the entire Old Testament.

The etymology of the word is somewhat questionable (most look at the probable primary meaning of hayah as "falling" or "to fall"). Hebrew scholars though see the word used over and over in the Old Testament in the sense of "to be," "to become," or "to come to pass." And through attempts to trace the etymology of the word, comparing the Hebrew with the Arabic (a related Semitic language), and seeing how the word is used in the Old Testament, many scholars have come to look upon the word in the sense of a verb of being ("to be"). But scholars also recognize that it is not completely valid to equate the word with the English verb of being after this fashion.

The word is translated different ways in English versions -- e.g., "was" or "were" (Genesis 1:2-3; Genesis 1:5; Genesis 1:7-9; Genesis 1:13, etc.), "be" (Genesis 1:3; Genesis 1:6; Genesis 1:14; Genesis 1:29, etc.), "became [or, ’to become’]" (Genesis 2:7; Genesis 2:10; Genesis 3:22, etc.). But that’s in English versions. In the Latin Vulgate there are thirteen instances where hayah has been translated in the sense of "became" in Genesis, chapter one alone (the word appears twenty-seven times in this chapter); and in the Septuagint there are twenty-two such instances in this one chapter.

The first use of hayah in Scripture is in Genesis 1:2 -- the verse under consideration in this study. But going beyond this verse for a moment, note how the word is used elsewhere in chapter one.

Hayah appears twice in Genesis 1:3, translated "be" and "was." And translating, "Let light be [or ’become’]: and light became," would actually best convey the thought of that which occurred.

Then note Genesis 1:5, Genesis 1:8, Genesis 1:13, Genesis 1:19, Genesis 1:23, Genesis 1:31. The word hayah appears two times in the latter part of each verse (both translated in the English text by the one word, "were"). Translating literally from the Hebrew, using "was" in the translation, the text would read, "...And there was evening and there was morning, [comprising] the first day...the second day...the third day," etc.

Actually though, "became" would really better convey the thought surrounding that which occurred, for evening and morning came to pass, "became," comprising each of the six different days. Leupold appears to capture the overall thought quite well in his commentary by translating, "...Then came evening, then came morning -- the first day...the second day...the third day," etc.

Then note the words, "...and it was so," at the end of Genesis 1:7, Genesis 1:9, Genesis 1:11, Genesis 1:15, Genesis 1:24, Genesis 1:30. "Was" in each reference is a translation of the word hayah, and it is easy to see that "became" rather than "was" would really provide a better description of that which occurred in each instance, translating, "...and it became so" (cf. "Let there be [a translation of hayah]..." [Genesis 1:3, Genesis 1:6, Genesis 1:14]).

Though hayah has been translated "was," "were," or "be" throughout the first chapter of Genesis, the word is actually used mainly throughout this chapter in the sense of "be," "became," or "had become." Attention is called to this fact because numerous individuals look at the translation "became [or ’had become’]" as so rare in the Old Testament that serious consideration should not be given to the thought of translating Genesis 1:2, "And [or ’But’] the earth became [or ’had become’]..." But the rarity is in the English translations, not in a literal Hebrew rendering or in certain other translations (e.g., in the KJV there are only 17 instances in all of Genesis where hayah has been translated "became [or, ’...become’]" [Genesis 2:7, Genesis 2:10; Genesis 3:22; Genesis 9:15; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 19:26; Genesis 20:12; Genesis 21:20; Genesis 24:67; Genesis 32:10; Genesis 34:16; Genesis 37:20; Genesis 47:20, Genesis 4:26; Genesis 48:19]; but in the Septuagint there are at least 146 instances [and some 1,500 in the entire O.T.]).

3. The Hebrew Text Alone

Can linguistic questions surrounding the first two verses of Genesis be resolved from the Hebrew text alone? Can one determine from the Hebrew text alone whether the "waw" beginning verse two is conjunctive or disjunctive? Or can one determine from the Hebrew text alone how the word hayah should be translated in verse two? Or can one determine from the Hebrew structure of verse two alone how the remainder of the first chapter should be understood in an overall sense?

Some Hebrew scholars would answer in the affirmative, but because of the different ways a number of Hebrew scholars view the matter at hand, the issue could only be resolved within their minds and possibly within the minds of others who follow their same line of reasoning. And note that the issue would be resolved by different scholars after entirely different fashions, all based on their understanding of the grammatical structure of the Hebrew text.

However, there is another way to approach the matter; and that other way is to see how the whole of Scripture deals with the issue at hand. If the whole of Scripture can be shown to support one view alone -- which it can -- then the correct linguistic understanding of Genesis 1:2 and the corresponding correct interpretation of chapter one can easily and unquestionably be demonstrated.

This is not to say that Genesis 1:2 or Genesis 1:1-31 as a whole cannot be understood correctly apart from first going to the remainder of Scripture, for that cannot be the case. God would not have begun His revelation to man after a fashion which man could not have understood apart from subsequent revelation (requiring approx. 1,500 years to complete). But this is to say that the correct linguistic position for Genesis 1:2 and the correct corresponding interpretation of the entire chapter -- which can be shown by going to the remainder of Scripture -- is a position which God would have expected man to see as evident when he began reading at this point in Genesis, though man many times does not do so.

Thus, in this respect, a knowledge of the way in which the Hebrew text is structured is really not going to resolve the issue at hand. And time has been spent in the Hebrew construction of Genesis 1:2 and other related passages, not in an attempt to resolve the issue, but to demonstrate two basic things: a) There are good, reputable Hebrew scholars who hold varying views on the opening verses of Genesis, which are many times based strictly on their understanding of the structure of the Hebrew text, apart from contextual considerations; and b) though the linguistics of the Hebrew text (within the different ways scholars understand the text) will support any one of these views, all but one are out of line with the remainder of Scripture and are, consequently, wrong.

That is to say, though different views can be supported from the structure of the Hebrew text alone, different views cannot be supported when the remainder of Scripture is taken into consideration -- with or without the Hebrew text. Scripture will support only one view, and that one view is the position alluded to in the opening portion of this chapter (see also Chapter V).

Scripture will support "Creation" (an absolute creation [Genesis 1:1]), a "Ruin" of the creation (which means that the "waw" beginning Genesis 1:2 must be understood in a disjunctive sense [’But’], and the Hebrew word hayah must be understood in the sense of "became [or ’had become’]" [Genesis 1:2 a]), a "Restoration" of the ruined creation (performed entirely through Divine intervention [Genesis 1:2-25]), and "Time" (six days of restorative work, followed by one day of rest [Genesis 1:2-31, Genesis 2:1-3]).

And to illustrate this is not difficult at all. In fact, the opposite is true. It is a very simple matter to illustrate, from other Scripture, exactly how the opening verses of Genesis must be understood.

Days in Scripture The structure of God’s revelation to man will be set forth briefly under three headings, and material discussed under these three headings will relate specifically to how particular sections of Scripture handle the matter at hand. Then attention will be called to other related Scriptures outside these sections to better present the overall picture from the whole of Scripture.

1. The Sign of the Sabbath

The Sabbath was a sign of "a perpetual covenant." God stated concerning the Sabbath, "It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed" (Exodus 31:16-17). When giving the Sabbath to Israel (cf. Exodus 20:11) or referring to the Sabbath rest awaiting the people of God in Hebrews, in each instance, for a very good reason, God called attention to that which occurred in Genesis 1:1-31; Genesis 2:1-25. There is a latter work of restoration, followed by rest, which is based on the former; and the Sabbath was given to Israel to keep this thought ever before the nation.

That is, though the sign of the Sabbath concerned a present work and future rest, it was based on a past work and rest. God worked six days to restore a ruined creation in the opening chapter of Genesis; and on the sixth day, along with the completion of His work of restoration, He brought man into existence to rule over the restored material creation. Then God rested on the seventh day. But a ruin ensued once again. Man, an entirely new creation in the universe, fell; and, as a result, the restored material creation was brought under a curse, leaving God with two ruined creations: man, and the material creation.

With that in mind, how did God, in the Genesis account, set about to restore these two ruined creations? The answer is not only clearly revealed but it is also very simple. According to Scripture, God set about to restore the subsequent ruined creations in exactly the same manner as He had restored the former ruined creation in the opening chapter of Genesis. He set about to restore the ruined creations over six days of time, and He, in accord with Genesis 2:2-3, would then rest on the seventh day.

The latter restoration must occur in complete keeping with the former restoration. A pattern has been set in the opening verses of Genesis which cannot change. The latter restoration must occur over a six-day period. And also in accord with this pattern there must be a day of rest following the six days of work.

The Sabbath was given to Israel to keep the thought ever before the nation that God, in accord with the opening verses of Genesis, was going to once again rest for one day following six days of work to effect the restoration of that which is presently in a ruined state (both man and the material creation). The Sabbath was a "sign," and a sign in Scripture points to something beyond itself. The Sabbath points to a seventh-day rest which God will enter into with His people ("the people of God" in Hebrews 4:9) following six previous days of restorative work.

Each day in the former restoration and rest was twenty-four hours in length, but each day in the latter restoration and rest is revealed to be one thousand years in length (2 Peter 1:16-18; 2 Peter 3:3-8; cf. Matthew 16:28; Matthew 17:1-5). Based on the pattern set forth in Genesis 1:1-31; Genesis 2:1-25, God is going to work for six thousand years during the present restoration and then rest the seventh one-thousand-year period.

Scripture begins by laying the basis for this septenary arrangement of time in the opening verses (Genesis 1:1-31; Genesis 2:1-25), this is something seen throughout Scripture (Exodus 31:13-17; Numbers 19:12; Hosea 5:15; Hosea 6:1-2; Jonah 1:17; Matthew 17:1; Luke 24:21; John 1:29; John 1:35; John 1:43; John 2:1; John 5:9; John 9:14; John 11:6-7; Hebrews 4:1; Hebrews 4:4; Hebrews 4:9), and this is the way God concludes His revelation surrounding time immediately prior to the eternal ages (Revelation 20:4-6).

Scripture deals with 7,000 years of time -- time extending from the restoration of the earth and the creation of man to the end of the Messianic Kingdom. Scripture has very little to say about what occurred prior to these 7,000 years, and it also has very little to say about what will occur following these 7,000 years. Scripture is built on this septenary arrangement of time, which is based on the opening two chapters of Genesis; and this is an evident fact which must be recognized if one would correctly understand God’s redemptive plans and purposes which He has revealed in His Word.

2. The Signs in John’s Gospel

The Gospel of John is built around seven signs; and, as in the sign of the Sabbath, the signs in this gospel point to things beyond the signs themselves.

It is the Jews who require a sign (1 Corinthians 1:22); and these signs, taken from numerous signs which Jesus performed during His earthly ministry, are directed (as was His ministry in that day) to the Jewish people. Jesus performed such signs for one central purpose: "...that ye [the Jews] might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20:30-31; cf. John 2:11; John 5:46-47; John 6:14; John 6:21; John 11:45).

Six of the seven signs in John’s gospel were performed in connection with particular days, all in perfect keeping with one another, all in perfect keeping with the sign of the Sabbath, and all in perfect keeping with the septenary arrangement of Scripture. And all of the signs refer, after different fashions, to the same thing. They all refer to Israel’s coming salvation and restoration. The first sign, in John 2:1-11, has to do with Jesus turning the water in six waterpots to wine ("six," man’s number; the waterpots made from the earth, as man; filled with water [the Word]; and through Divine intervention a change ensues). This sign, pointing to the future salvation of Israel, occurred on the seventh day (John 1:29, John 1:35, John 1:43; John 2:1), which is when Israel will be saved yet future.

The second sign, has to do with the healing of a nobleman’s son. This sign occurred after Jesus had spent two days with the Samaritans, on the third day. It will be after two days visiting "the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name," on the third day, that Jesus will return to the Jewish people and the nation will be healed (cf. Hosea 5:15; Hosea 6:1-2; Acts 15:14-18).

The third sign, in John 5:1-9, has to do with a man being healed. This occurred after thirty-eight years, on the Sabbath (John 5:5, John 5:9). The reference (in the type) would be to the healing of the nation through the second generation of Israelites being allowed to enter the land under Joshua after thirty-eight years (dating from the overthrow at Kadesh-Barnea), referring to that time (in the antitype) when the nation will be healed and be allowed to enter the land under Christ, an event which will occur on the seventh day, the Sabbath.

The fourth sign, in John 6:1-14, has to do with bread being provided for the multitudes; and the sign occurred in connection with the Passover (John 6:4). Jesus is that "bread of life" which will be provided for the nation yet future (John 6:35), and the Passover is the festival in Leviticus 23:1-44 which has to do with the future salvation of Israel, when the nation will receive the true "bread of life." Israel has slain the Lamb (cf. Exodus 12:6; Acts 2:36; Acts 3:14-15), but the nation has yet to appropriate the blood (cf. Exodus 12:7; Exodus 12:13; Zechariah 12:10; Romans 11:26).

The fifth sign, in John 6:15-21, has to do with Christ’s departure, a storm, His return, the disciples’ attitude toward Him at this time, and the geographical location in which they subsequently found themselves. It points to Christ’s departure from Israel two thousand years ago (John 6:15), the coming Tribulation (John 6:16-18), Christ’s return (John 6:19-20), the nation receiving Him (John 6:21 a), and the nation’s restoration to the land (John 6:21 b). This is the only sign giving no specific reference to particular days, but the chronology must be understood in the light of the other six signs.

The sixth sign, in John 9:1-41, has to do with the healing of a blind man, on the Sabbath day (John 9:14). This points to Israel’s future deliverance from her blindness (Romans 11:25), which will occur on the seventh day, the Sabbath. Or, as in Luke 24:13-31, it will occur after two days (dating from the crucifixion), on the third day (John 9:21).

The seventh sign, in John 11:1-44, has to do with the resurrection of Lazarus. This resurrection occurred after Jesus had been out of the land of Judea two days, on the third day (John 11:6-7), after Lazarus had lain in the grave four days (John 11:17). This points to Israel’s future resurrection (Ezekiel 37:12-14; Daniel 12:2) after two days, on the third day; and at this time Israel will have been in the place of death four days, dating four millenniums back to Abraham.

3. The Structure of II Peter

II Peter parallels Jude in the sense that both deal with the Word of the Kingdom and apostasy after a similar fashion.

Both epistles begin the same way. 2 Peter 1:1-21 taken up with that which is stated in one verse in Jude (Jude 1:3). Then the matter of apostasy is dealt with throughout most of the remainder of both epistles. However, there are things dealt with in the first and third chapters of II Peter, showing the septenary structure of the epistle, which are not dealt with at all in Jude.

Peter exhorts his readers to make their "calling [pertaining to the kingdom] and election [’selection’ for a position of power and authority in the kingdom] sure" (2 Peter 1:1-15); and Jude states the same thing in Jude 1:3 when he exhorts his readers to "earnestly contend for [’strive with respect to’] the faith" (cf. 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7-8). Then the thought of apostasy relative to "the faith" comes into view in both epistles.

However, Peter does something which Jude does not do. Before beginning his dissertation on apostasy he calls attention to that which occurred on the Mount in Matthew 17:1-8 (2 Peter 1:16-18), which has to do with the Son of Man coming in His kingdom, after six days, on the seventh day (cf. Matthew 16:28; Matthew 17:1).

Then toward the end of his epistle, Peter, unlike Jude, moves from thoughts surrounding apostasy to thoughts surrounding the existence and subsequent destruction of the heavens and the earth at two different times -- a) at a time following the creation of the heavens and the earth ("the heavens...of old" and "the world that then was [the world existing at the time of ’the heavens...of old’]" [2 Peter 2:5-6]), and b) at a time following the restoration of the heavens and the earth ("the heavens and the earth which are now" [2 Peter 2:7]).

The destruction of the former is seen in Genesis 1:2 a ("But the earth had become without form, and void; and darkness [the sun had ceased to give its light] was upon the face of the deep [’the raging waters’]"), and the destruction of the latter -- a destruction by fire -- is seen in succeeding verses in II Peter (2 Peter 3:10 ff).

Peter then draws the entire matter to a climax by stating that "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8). Understood contextually, the verse is self-explanatory. "The heavens and the earth, which are now" (2 Peter 3:7) must cover the entire septenary period from chapter one (2 Peter 3:16-18), else 2 Peter 3:8 would be meaningless. And each day in this period is revealed to be one thousand years in length -- six millenniums of work, followed by one millennium of rest, based on the opening verses of Genesis.

Concluding Remarks:

Viewing the whole of Scripture, the correct interpretation of the opening verses of Genesis can be clearly and unquestionably presented through the typical nature of Old Testament history (1 Corinthians 10:6; 1 Corinthians 10:11), as it is set forth in the very evident Divinely established septenary arrangement of Scripture. And these opening verses, providing the Divinely established basis for that which follows, must be understood accordingly.

The Bible is a book of redemption; and only a correct view of the opening verses of Genesis can reflect positively, at the very outset, on God’s redemptive message as a whole (the restoration of a ruined creation, performed in its entirety through Divine intervention, for a revealed purpose).

An incorrect view can, on the other hand, only have negative ramifications. Creation alone, apart from a ruin and restoration of the creation, fails to convey the complete message; and Restoration alone (viewing the opening verse as other than an absolute beginning), apart from a record of the preceding creation and ruin, likewise fails to convey the complete message.

It is as F. W. Grant stated years ago: "The thought of a ruined condition of the earth succeeding its original creation...is...required by the typical view [man’s creation, ruin, and subsequent restoration paralleling the earth’s creation, ruin, and subsequent restoration]."

Accordingly, the opening verses of Genesis cannot deal strictly with Creation; nor can these verses deal strictly with Restoration. Either view would be out of line with the whole of Scripture, beginning with the central theme of Scripture, the message of redemption.

The only interpretative view which will fit -- at all points -- within the Divinely established septenary arrangement of Scripture (which has it basis in these opening verses) is...

Creation (an absolute creation [Genesis 1:1]).

A Ruin of the Creation (Genesis 1:2 a).

A Restoration of the Ruined Creation (Genesis 1:2-25).

Rest (in the type -- six days of restorative work, followed by a day of rest; in the antitype -- six thousand years of restorative work, followed by one thousand years of rest [Genesis 1:2-31, Genesis 2:1-3]).