Joshua, I completely see the way you are looking at the verses. I don't want to dissuade you, not that it would, but I don't see it from that perspective. You see, I believe God is in his rest right now, an ongoing rest that will eventually end with more creative works no doubt. I believe that Gen 2:1-3 clearly says that he finished what he was creating, his Kingdom, and after Eve was created he completed it and rested from his creating. What didn't exist before, now existed. Heaven, earth, animals, plants, man, etc, all these didn't exist before, and now they did. That is what was complete(Gen 2:1,2). Gods Kingdom was complete and perfect, and there was nothing that could prevent it from succeeding, even sin. Jehovah had done everything he needed to do to guarantee it's success(Isa 55:11). And that is why he could rest, because it was perfect. I've gone about as far on this path as I can, and choose to consider other things now that are more pressing for me personally. I will poke my head in now and then, but considering things that I don't feel are true takes more time away from things that I feel are. These are my feelings is all, I respect yours and understand you are on a mission to find the hidden treasures, I just hope they aren't pulling you away from truths that you already know. As a farewell of sorts on this topic, I leave you with just a few considerations regarding your recent post. Actually the word used at Heb 4:3 is: γενηθέντων (genēthentōn) — 1 Occurrence meaning: Having been finished The transliteration of the word you gave ginomai has many meanings. to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen of events to arise, appear in history, come upon the stage of men appearing in public to be made, finished of miracles, to be performed, wrought to become, be made Although the works were finished (καιτοι των εργων γενητεντων — kaitoi tōn ergōn genēthentōn). Genitive absolute with concessive use of the participle. Old particle, in N.T. only here and Acts 14:17 (with verb). From the foundation of the world (απο καταβολης κοσμου — apo katabolēs kosmou). Καταβολη — Katabolē late word from καταβαλλω — kataballō usually laying the foundation of a house in the literal sense. In the N.T. usually with απο — apo(Matthew 25:44) or προ — pro (John 17:24) about the foundation of the world. This, Gods Kingdom, was the foundation upon which everything else would be built in the future of our existence. Also, since 'world' means people, the creation of Adam, and then Eve, was essentially the founding of the world since they were the beginning of people. Not sure why you think Gen 3:15 is that founding since people had already existed prior. Even if they are not resurrected, we still benefit from their existence because they are the reason we exist. The only reason we are alive today is because they existed first, they were the foundation of the people in the world are they not? So it doesn't matter if they are resurrected, or not, because they were the beginning of the world, and also Gods creative works to create things that never existed before was now complete. Thats the difference between his creative works and works. Creative works brings something into existence that had not yet ever existed prior, and that is what he was complete with. All his other 'work' that he continues to do is separate from that distinction. “. . .Thus the heavens and the earth and all their army came to their completion. 2 And by the seventh day God came to the completion of his work that he had made, and he proceeded to rest . . .” Ge 2:1-2 I wish you the best in your search, no doubt Jehovah reads your heartfelt desire to learn the deep things of God, God bless....
Greetings brother... I thank you for the continued conversation. I learned many years ago that this forum isn't about agreeing or persuading anyone; it's about sharing differing views. This forum never had many members from the beginning, but many here dropped off because others wouldn't accept their view as the only truth. I Believe knowledge is a journey, not a light switch, and these things take time. So as iron sharpens iron, our conversation has benefited me, as I hope it has you. I will leave you with one thing as it relates to the foundation of the world. You might ask yourself why the lamb was slaughtered before the founding of the world, before sin. "And bow before it shall all who are dwelling upon the land, whose names have not been written in the scroll of the life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world;" Rev 13:8 (YLT) "All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world." Rev 13:8 (NIV) "He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake." 1PT 1:20 (NIV) "even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love" Eph 1:4 (ESV) I certainly hope you join in other posts that are here, brother; I have appreciated your insights. Joshua PS: And keep in mind genēthentōn doesn't mean finished as in something was completed, but rather something began, or came into being, or had been made. It's the same Greek word used in John 1:3 when saying "all things were made through him." It means came into being. Just as a foundation of a house is the beginning, yet the house is not complete. And translators only use this word (finished) to make it seems as though the creation days were in the past. That is how they answer the paradox... All love...
In reality, the first day does not have to begin with the creation of Eve. Since the sixth day has nothing to do with the creation of Eve, but only that of the end of the age, the first day begins at the beginning, Gen 3:15. Even though Eve had not been named yet, and apparently they had not consummated their marriage, the narrative simply tells us that sin entered the world when Adam at the start of the first day. Since God did not rest after Eve was created, the first day begins at Gen 3:15, regardless of when Eve was created. Gen 3:15 is the beginning and the foundation of the world.
The foundation of the world started when Abel died faithfully to Jehovah too what what I can understand of Luc 11. 50,51 in Christ Love. Regent
Click this thread here: In the Beginning Keep in mind Luke doesn't say Abel's death was the beginning of the world, but rather he was just one since the beginning till Jesus' time.