“For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:20-23).
There are two issues: Who submitted creation? And when was it submitted? Christians say that the devil was the one who submitted creation, but this statement lacks proofs. Those who endorse this hypothesis base it on Luke 4:5-8. Here in the temptation of Jesus the devil said that the kingdoms of this world are in his hands, and that he gives them to whomever he wishes. Nevertheless, in this passage the devil says, “it has been handed over to me”. The one who gave them to the devil is the one who subjected creation. Someone bigger than the devil handed the kingdoms of this world to his hands. Who did it? The book of Job proves that the devil, or Satan, was in complete submission to Jehovah. In that occasion Satan tempted Jehovah saying that Job would blaspheme against God if he were put under adversity. Jehovah then said: “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him” (Job 1:12). If Jehovah was the one who handed Job in the hands of the devil, it means that there was no other authority higher than himself, and that the devil was submissive to him. Jehovah had great consideration for Satan, otherwise he would not have given the righteous Job in his hands. When Satan tempted Jesus, Jesus told him to go away (Luke 4:8). This proves that Jehovah honored the devil, and that Jesus rebuked him and sent him away. It proves also that until the time of Job, who lived around the time of Moses, creation was in the hands of Jehovah, who loudly declared, “See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me; it is I who put to death and give life, I have wounded, and it is I who heal; and there is no one who can deliver from My hand” (Deut. 32:39). “And there is non who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?” (Is. 43:13). We will mention texts of the Bible that prove that creation was submitted to Jehovah up until the times of Jesus Christ.
- Jehovah reigned over the nations. “For Jehovah Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth” (Ps. 47:2). “God reigns over the nations” (Ps. 47:8). “The earth is Jehovah’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it” (Ps. 24:1).
- Jehovah is the judge of all the earth. “He is Jehovah our God; His judgments are in all the earth” (Ps. 105:7). “But, O Jehovah of hosts, who judges righteously, who tries the feelings and the heart, let me see Thy vengeance on them” (Jer. 11:20). Jehovah, the judge of all the earth, judged and condemned to death the men who lived before the Flood. “And Jehovah said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals” (Gen. 6:7).
- Jehovah was placed above all gods. “For Thou are Jehovah Most High over all the earth; Thou art exalted far above all gods” (Ps. 97:9). Jehovah would annihilate any false god overstepping his rights. Jehovah was El Shaddai, the God Almighty. Almighty is the one who rules over everything and everyone (Gen. 17:1).
- Jehovah god made the devil, which is the one thought to be responsible for subjecting creation and creatures. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which Jehovah had made” (Gen. 3:1). In the book of Job we read, “By His breath the heavens are cleared; His hand has pierced the feeing serpent” (Job 26:13). The serpent, or the devil, or Satan, for these three names refer to the same person, was at the service of Jehovah; therefore it was under Jehovah’s orders. “And though they hide on the summit of Carmel, I will search them out and take them from there; and though they conceal themselves from My sight on the floor of the sea, from there I will command the serpent and it will bite them” (Amos 9:3). The devil was under the discernment of Jehovah.
“In that day Jehovah will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, with His fierce and great and mighty sword, even Leviathan the twisted serpent; and He will kill the dragon who lives in the sea” (Is. 27:1). Leviathan, serpent, dragon, devil and Satan are names of the same person (Rev. 12:9). While the devil, or Leviathan, works, Jehovah seems to be idle. This is what Ps. 104:126 suggests. The angel of Jehovah has the power to take on the form of Satan, and this proves that Satan was at Jehovah’s service. “And the angel of Jehovah said to him, ‘Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me’” (Num. 22:32). All of these passages prove that Satan has never submitted creation, for he was in submission to Jehovah, the almighty.
Whoever submitted creation and makes it groan under the pains of childbirth is the one who has the power over plagues and sicknesses. “I will appoint over you a sudden terror, consumption and fever that shall waste away the eyes and cause the soul to pine away” (Lev. 26:16). “Also every sickness and every plague which, not written in the book of this law, Jehovah will bring on you until you are destroyed” (Deut. 28:61).
Whoever submitted creation has the power over evil. “Behold I am fashioning calamity against you and devising a plan against you” (Jer. 18:11). “If a calamity occurs in a city has not Jehovah done it?” (Amos 3:6).
Whoever submitted creation has the power over wars, and sets one kingdom against another. Jehovah is the lord of the wars (Ex. 15:3; 2 Chr. 32:8). Jehovah is the lord of the armies, because the armies of all the kingdoms obey his command (Jer. 27:3-8).
Whoever submitted creation sends the evil spirits or demons. “Now the Spirit of Jehovah departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Jehovah terrorized him” (1 Sam. 16:14).
Jehovah also declares that whoever does not agree to submit to him will be violently forced into doing it. “If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready. He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons; He makes His arrows fiery shafts” (Ps. 7:12-13). Job, the faithful, did not escape the fury of Jehovah; and he also declared, “For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; their poison my spirit drinks; the terrors of God are arrayed against me” (Job 6:4).
We are blessed by the fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross to free us from the terrors, the plagues, the poisoned darts, the pestilences, the evil spirits, and from all the curses of Jehovah, the usurper of the name of God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is also our Father of love and kindness, whose love saved us in Christ.
By Pastor Olavo Silveira Pereira