https://youtu.be/emfCeWmA9iU
In our verse-by-verse study of Romans we are in Rom 8:21; at the phrase translated "that the creation itself also will be set free."
We noted that this refers to amazing changes that will occur in nature when Jesus returns.
The creation that is the material universe receives the action of the verb at the second advent of Jesus Christ at the beginning of the Millennium.
The indicative mood is declarative representing the verbal action from the viewpoint of future historical reality.
Then a prepositional phrase, "apo" (from) plus the ablative of "douleia" (slavery or bondage) with the genitive of reference singular from "phthora" (corruption) plus the definite article "ho" (the).
So we have "The creation itself also shall be set free from the slavery to the corruption." The corruption is monadic so it specifically refers to Adam's original sin as the source.
The corruption is the trend toward sin, good and evil. The material universe or nature shares the slavery of Adam and the entire human race to the sin nature.
In spite of that the creation under the curse still points mankind to the existence of God; Rom1:20.
However, the creation's slavery to corruption results in man having to work for a living. Man must eke out an existence from digging the ground or hunting or herding animals on the ground for food. The creation shares man's condemnation because of Adam's original sin.
This is why the plants have thorns and there are dangerous fish, wild animals, and reptiles. This also explains the crown of thorns that our Lord wore during His crucifixion.
Because the creation is now in slavery to corruption it becomes necessary for God to provide laws for nature just as He has provided the laws of Divine establishment for corrupt humanity.
Rom 8:21;"Into the glorious freedom of the children of God." -
The preposition "eis" (into) plus the accusative singular from "eleutheria" (freedom or liberty) with the article 'ho" (the), "into the freedom or the liberty" with the descriptive genitive singular from the noun "doca" (glory or splendor) again with the article "ho" (the) making it monadic so it refers specifically to the same glory described in verse 18.
And a genitive plural of reference "teknon" (children) with the article "ho" (the) so we have "with reference to the children," believers in the process of learning God's Word of Truth under the authority of God the Holy Spirit.
Next we have the possessive genitive singular of "Theos" (God) with the article "ho" (the).
The phrase "into the freedom of the glory with reference to the children of the God" referring to believers in ultimate sanctification with a perfect resurrection body with no old sin nature who are returning to the earth with Jesus Christ at the Second Advent.
Church age believers following Jesus in His return will not only have a resurrection body but will be revealed as God's royal family and the bride of Christ.
During the Tribulation the Church as God's royal family is being evaluated and at the Second Advent the church in full regalia is revealed as the children of God.
Expanded Translation Rom 8:21; "That the creation also will be set free from the slavery to the corruption into the freedom of the glory with reference to the children of the God."
We see here that the creation not only shares the condemnation of mankind but at the Second Advent it also shares in the glorification of mankind.
Just as God's justice turns cursing into blessing for mankind, God's justice also turns cursing into blessing for the creation that is a perfect illustration of undeserved suffering for blessing from God.
Christ is the glory of God. The mature believer is the glory of Christ and at the Second Advent the creation is the glory of the glorified believer in Jesus Christ.
The creation shares in man's condemnation and corruption so the creation will also share in man's glory at the redemption of his body and it's revealing.
The elevation of the believer through the principle of ultimate sanctification means the elevation of the creation through ultimate restoration that is restoration to the pristine glory that existed between the time the Holy Spirit restored the earth up to the time of man's fall.
The corruption of the creation reveals the corruption of mankind; the future glory of the creation reveals the future glory of regenerate resurrected mankind.
The beauty of the creation at present is analogous to the beauty of the mature believer and the principle of undeserved suffering and yet both have a fantastic beauty that comes out of the process.
So just as the beautiful creation suffers as personified in the groaning described in verse 22, likewise the beautiful mature believer suffers as described in verse 23.
Rom 8:22; "For we know that the whole creation groans" begins with the explanatory use of the postpositive conjunctive particle "gar" (for), plus the perfect active indicative mood of "oida" (know) that is used for perception.
Perception of doctrine has occurred in the past and is emphasized as a present reality. From this perception comes the personification.
The active voice: Paul and believers produce the action of the verb when they understand the principle of undeserved suffering in spiritual maturity.
The indicative mood is declarative for the reality of doctrinal fact that turns cursing into great blessing. The conjunction "hoti" (that) references the content of what is known.
Then the nominative feminine singular adjective "pas" (all or the whole) plus the nominative subject "ktsis" (creation), referring to the entire material universe and all of the animals, fish, and reptiles in it.
With the present active indicative of "sustenazo" (groans together (susj = the preposition sun, meaning together with; susodin = to groan), means to groan together with someone else.
It means more than one thing or person is involved in the suffering. It doesn't mean to groan in unison but it means to be under the same affliction. "For we know that the entire creation groans."
The present tense is a static present representing a condition that exists perpetually until the Second Advent and the Millennium. The material universe shares in the condemnation of man that is described in Gen 3:17;
Rom 8:22; The groaning of the creation started when Adam fell. The active voice: the creation produces the action of the verb. The indicative mood is declarative representing the verbal action from the viewpoint of reality.
"And suffers the pains of childbirth together until now" - the present active indicative from "sunodino" (to suffer the pains of child birth), with "sun" as a prefix it means along with others who are suffering intense pain. The customary present tense is what habitually occurs until Jesus returns at the beginning of the Millennium.
The creation is described as being like a woman in labor; she is in pain until the child is delivered. The birth occurs at the Second Advent; in the meantime the creation is suffering in intense pain.
The active voice: the creation produces the action of the verb. The indicative mood is declarative for the reality of this condition and the fact that the creation illustrates the principle that is described is seen in the following verses.
The improper preposition "achri" (until) with the genitive of the definite article 'ho" (the) and the adverb of time "nun" (until the present or until the now).
Expanded Translation Rom 8:22; "For we know that the entire creation groans along with us and suffers the pains of child birth together with us until the now."
We see here that from the fall of man to the present time the creation has undeservedly shared in man's condemnation that occurred at the fall. The devil rules the world of corruption.
That means that the devil rules the world of corrupted people living in a corrupted creation. Compared to the perfect environment that Adam had the devil rules in a demolished disaster area.
The creation shares the curse of mankind undeservedly. But since God the Holy Spirit designed the creation to be the glory of man, when man lost his glory at the fall the creation had to go along with it.
The creation will continue under the curse throughout the remainder of the Church Age and the Tribulation.
When Jesus returns at the Second Advent the creation will be redeemed for the perfect environment of the Millennium because the creation is the glory of man.
Therefore while the groaning of the creation looks back to the fall of man the travailing, or the pains of childbirth, look forward to the Second Advent.
Once the mother gives birth to the child the birth pains stop. The birth is related to the Second Advent and the Millennium when the creation will be redeemed and restored to pristine perfection.
Once the Second Advent occurs the creation's curse and suffering are permanently terminated.