Rightly Dividing (Interpreting) the Word, Part II
In reading my blog article, concerning the ramification of the fall of man
, a reader wrote that the third passage from the Koran I used about recreating the earth after its death was not a recreation of the earth. Instead, the reader wrote that after a drought the rainfall brings back to life the vegetation on the land. In this way the land is restored. The passage in question is:“Know that God restores the earth to life after its death (1).”
The death of the earth, of course, is considered to be a drought. This seems like a good explanation of the passage. If that is what it means why doesn’t the Koran state that the earth produces plant life after a drought when it rains?
In Holy Scripture God is more precise in what He says. Consider, in the Holy Bible, where Job asks for God to reveal Himself; finally He does out of a whirlwind. God says to Job in front of his friends: “Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of water, or a way for the lighting of thunder; To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is, on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth (2)?”
Here God is definite about supplying water to desolate and waste ground in order to cause the herbs to grow even where no people dwell. One does not have to guess at what the God of Scripture is saying. He speaks plainly. Another passage speaks plainly about what God does.
“He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase (3).”
God makes it very clear that He can change the climate of a place as He chooses based on the conduct of the people which inhibit the land. If they do evil, He can cause drought. If they do good, He can bring sufficient rainfall. There is also a verse which deals with renewing the face of the earth.
You send fourth your Spirit; they (animals) are created: and you renew the face of the earth (4).
This is not referring to the original creation, because for the context speaks of animals dying when God takes their breath away. I am not aware of any animals being created after creation except when Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fishes (5). God renews the face of the earth with His Spirit. Again, this is not the original creation, nor is it the new heaven and or a new earth, but it is renewing the face of the existing earth by His Spirit. This happens whenever necessary and at God’s choosing. Actually, this may take place during the 1,000 year reign of Jesus on earth (6). During this time there will be fish in the Dead Sea. The water of life will flow out of the Temple into the Jordan River and into the Dead Sea (7).
You may wish to reign with Jesus on earth. I’m sure you would not enjoy the alternative, hell. However, you must believe that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. You must believe that He was born of a virgin, that He was born sinless, and that He lived a sinless life. You must also believe that He was crucified for your sins and that He received the wrath of God for your sins. Further, it is essential that you believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead. Then you must confess to God you are a sinner and invite Jesus into your life. A sample prayer is, “Lord Jesus Christ forgive me of my sin and come into my life.”
REFERENCES
1. The Koran Page 382 Paragraph 57:17
2. The Holy Bible, Job 38:25-27
3. The Holy Bible, Psalm 107:33-36
4. The Holy Bible, Psalm 104:30
5. The Holy Bible, Matthew 14:15-21;15:14-39
6. The Holy Bible, Revelation 20:4-6
7. The Holy Bible, Ezekiel 47:1-12
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