For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
The whole creation groans and travails together in pain, held in bondage under a curse of misery and suffering that the human mind cannot fully grasp. That groaning embraces all together, humanity with animals, the earth itself, sea and air, cattle and beasts, fish, trees and grass. Pain, disorder, decay, disease and death entered through human transgression of God's law beginning with Adam, who forfeited dominion and let rebellion spread through nature, which is the woe of Satan's six thousand years of ruin. The infinite Father is pained in sympathy and afflicted with His creatures from the very inception of sin, and to destroy sin and its results He gave His best Beloved, putting it in human power by cooperation in preaching the gospel to hasten and bring to an end this scene of misery. The travail lasts until Satan's work is forever ended and God's creatures are forever delivered, when in cleansing flames the wicked are destroyed root and branch, justice is met, groaning ceases, and the whole earth at rest breaks forth into singing with praise from the whole loyal universe.
Scope of the Groaning
The whole creation groans and travails together in pain, held in bondage under the curse of misery and suffering brought by disobedience to God's law from the beginning and continuing through the ages. The groaning is together and universal, embracing humanity, the animals, the earth itself, the sea, cattle and beasts, the fish of the sea and all flesh, the trees of the forest, the grass of the field, and even the air breathed. The curse rests broadly upon the whole creation because of transgression of God's commandments, and the animals suffer under the same curse as human beings who departed from those commandments. As transgression becomes almost universal the curse is permitted to become as broad and as deep as the transgression.
The world under this bondage has become a vast hospital and lazar-house, a scene of suffering too terrible for the human mind to fully realize. Sin brought curse and blight upon the earth and changed nature so that it is marred and defiled, bears only an imperfect testimony about its Creator, cannot reveal His character in perfection, and no longer reflects the unspoiled brightness it had before transgression. The world that was once wholly lovely now has a blight upon it, suffers under sin's curse and is in decay, though traces of its original beauty remain and in itself it is still good and beautiful. It groans under the weight of accumulated guilt because man has become sensual and depraved and embittered against God, and wicked human deeds defile it and keep people from enjoying it as intended.
Present fruit and flowers share in this marring and are nothing in comparison with what they will be in the earth made new. The whole creation groans under the curse now, and nature's present fruit and flowers fall far short of their future perfection.
Cause Under the Curse
Pain, disorder, decay, deformity, disease and death entered through human transgression of God's divine, natural and moral law, beginning with Adam's transgression and continuing through the ages. While Adam stayed loyal all nature acknowledged his kingship over the lower creatures, but when he transgressed he forfeited that dominion and let in a spirit of rebellion that spread through the animal creation. So not only human life but beasts, trees of the forest, grass of the field, and even the air he breathes share the effects of sin and continually teach the sad lesson of the knowledge of evil and remind of the lost dominion.
The groaning is the woe brought by Satan's work of ruin, who for six thousand years has filled the earth with woe and caused grief throughout the universe. After six thousand years of transgression the earth has been torn by the curse, humanity has degenerated, and moral darkness has enveloped creation, in contrast with Eden's delights before sin entered. The earth groans under the burden of accumulated guilt and rebellion and under the continual transgression of its inhabitants, and the curse increases as transgression increases. Because of transgression the curse of God rests upon the whole creation together, upon the earth itself, upon cattle and beasts, upon the fish of the sea, and upon all flesh, and there is no peace to the wicked. As transgression becomes almost universal the curse is permitted to become as broad and as deep as the transgression, and it makes itself more decidedly felt every year.
Its evidences abound everywhere in the broken face of nature in cleft rocks, mountains and precipices, with storms raging with destructive violence bringing harm to man and beast and property, and with famine, calamity by sea, and pestilence following. Decay and barrenness increase as the earth remains under the curse, the cursed land became harder to cultivate and requires more labor, and sin as a blight defaces and mars the world. The falling leaves and drooping flowers showed Adam that the beautiful world made for humanity was deteriorating, and this loss grieved him, while the first fallen, decaying leaf was evidence of this decay and brought sorrow to those who feared God. Men abused God's gifts, forgot the Creator and transgressed His law, so God punished the wicked transgressors, first by the Flood that broke up the foundations of the great deep and buried earth's treasures, and still by removing His defense because men continue to transgress.
Since Adam's transgression poverty, sickness and every kind of suffering have become the portion of his descendants, replacing the health and abundance of blessings originally given to humanity. The human race suffers under a weight of accumulated woe because of the sins of former generations, especially indulgence of appetite and passion, luxurious living, wine, tobacco and stimulants, which corrupt the blood, inflame passion and produce disease. Intemperate parents transmit to children inflamed blood, disease, inclination to evil, licentiousness, imbecility, enfeebled intellect and polluted morals from father to son and generation to generation, bringing anguish and suffering as a repetition of the fall, a burden the present generation increases by surfeiting and drunkenness and leaves as a legacy of disease to the next. The suffering reaches beyond those who do evil, for mortals suffer misery caused by unrighteousness and innocent wives and children also endure the consequences of others' sins. This is seen when disease in cattle is contracted by men from eating diseased flesh sold in the markets, so there is no safety in eating the flesh of dead animals and in a short time milk and everything coming from the animal creation will be unsafe to use. God would bring His people to where they will not touch nor taste the flesh of dead animals, and those who take God at His Word and obey His commandments with a whole heart will be blessed and have Him as their shield of protection, while distrust and disobedience place the sinner where God cannot give divine favor.
God's Sympathy and Remedy
The groaning and travailing together in pain is the condition of a world become a vast hospital and lazar-house of suffering and misery too terrible for the human mind to fully realize. The heart of the infinite Father is pained in sympathy with that groaning, grieved and afflicted with His creatures, feeling it all from the very inception of sin. To destroy sin and its results He gave His best Beloved. He has put it in human power by cooperation with Him in preaching the gospel to hasten the end of this scene of misery and bring it to an end.
While creation groans under the curse, Christ is constantly working to restore the moral image of God in man. Even now the sick may find health and gladness and joy in field and orchard amid marred present fruit and flowers that are nothing in comparison with what they will be in the earth made new. For the leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of believing, repenting children who use the blessing to be found in tree and shrub and flower.
Ending of the Groaning
The whole creation is now held in the bondage of the curse and suffers together under it, but the ransomed will be forever set free from that condition when they are safely gathered into the heavenly Canaan, rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory once Christ's work of atonement for men is completed and their sins are forever blotted out. The groaning and travail continue until Satan's work of ruin is forever ended and God's creatures are forever delivered from his presence and temptations. That woe was brought by Satan's work of ruin, who for six thousand years has filled the earth with woe and caused grief throughout the universe, and creation has groaned and suffered under the ruin caused by sin.
The end comes in cleansing flames on earth where the wicked receive their recompense and are destroyed root and branch, Satan the root and his followers the branches, with the full penalty of the law visited and justice met. Then groaning ceases, the whole earth is at rest and quiet and breaks forth into singing, and praise ascends from the whole loyal universe.
Adam's transgression involved the entire future of the human family and brought the curse of God upon all creation, so that all nature is confused because God forbade the earth to carry out the purpose He had originally designed for it. The earth groans under its inhabitants because their sins have brought a curse upon it, and idolatry, violence and other evils deepen human misery and crime while the earth's suffering accompanies the judgment God is preparing to bring upon its sinful inhabitants. There is no peace to the wicked, and the curse makes itself more decidedly felt every year, yet God is moving slowly in His great purpose for the benefit of the righteous, though soon the vials of His wrath will be poured out. As He would not have destroyed Sodom if ten righteous persons had been found there, hearts must now be made right with God so He will be a defense in the time of trouble.
Health and Daily Living
Suffering and death came upon animals as well as upon the human race through man's transgression, so the pain borne by God's creatures is the weight that man's sin laid upon them. Man therefore has no right to add to that suffering by harsh treatment or cruel exaction. He ought instead to lighten it by kindness to animals.
The whole created world, including the animal creation, groans in sickness and suffering under the diseases that curse the earth because of the iniquity of the fallen human race. Its groaning is part of the earth's present condition under the curse, and the increasing spread of disease among animals makes this suffering especially evident. Because the animal creation groans in this suffering, diseased condition, its flesh is not healthful for food. Sabbathkeeping canvassers and colporteurs who travel should for that health reason avoid meat eating and provide themselves with nourishing hygienic food instead, not because eating meat is regarded as sin but because it injures health. Where only food mixed with swine's flesh is offered they should plan ahead to nourish themselves with hygienic rolls, hot milk, and fruit instead of unwholesome food.
The very earth groans under its corrupted inhabitants, and the curse that came because of sin subjects every living thing to disease and death, with its evidences abounding everywhere. Disease is becoming more and more widespread and alarming among the animal creation, with cancers, tumors, and diseases of the lungs, liver, and kidneys existing among animals used for food in a variety never known before, living parasites peopling the tissues of swine, and tubercular consumption communicated to humans through meat eating. Out of whole herds only a few cattle are found with no apparent disease, so diseased meat and milk are becoming unsafe to use and there is no certainty which cattle are diseased and which are not. Soon there will be no safety in owning flocks or herds, and in a short time milk and everything coming from the animal creation will be unsafe to use. The curse of God rests upon the earth itself, upon the sea, upon cattle and beasts, upon the fish of the sea, and upon all flesh, and as transgression becomes almost universal the curse is permitted to become as broad and as deep as the transgression, seen in disease in cattle and in men contracting disease from eating diseased flesh sold in the markets. The only safe course is to discard flesh meats altogether, to learn to prepare food without milk or butter, to banish sinful cherished self-indulgences, and to have physicians be health reformers who never prescribe flesh meat or butter but prescribe bread and fruit instead. God would bring His people to where they will not touch nor taste the flesh of dead animals, for those who take Him at His Word and obey His commandments with a whole heart will be blessed and have Him as their shield of protection, while distrust and disobedience place the sinner where He cannot give divine favor.
This condition of all creation groaning under the curse calls God's people to seek sanctification of body, soul, and spirit and to turn from health-destroying indulgences. They must carefully guard the house they live in, the body, by a decided reformation in health reform with no backsliding, placing themselves where they will grow in grace, being sanctified body, soul, and spirit by the truth. Breaking away from all health-destroying indulgences gives a clearer perception of true godliness and brings a wonderful change in religious experience, while continued backsliding dishonors God by a great lack of spirituality. It calls for temperance in eating, drinking, and building, putting no confidence in drug medicine, seeking a deeper and more thorough reform, educating people in right habits of living, earnest heartfelt prayer, and closely considering habits and practices to banish sinful, darling self-indulgences.
The world in itself is good and beautiful, but the earth groans under the weight of accumulated guilt because man has become sensual and depraved and embittered against God. The world is a land of emptiness, full of infidelity, hypocrisy, pride and profligacy, groaning under sensuality and depravity. Those who follow God are left in it, not taken out of it, to cultivate firm principle in the midst of it.
The whole creation groans and travails together in pain, held in bondage under a curse of misery and suffering that the human mind cannot fully grasp. That groaning embraces all together, humanity with animals, the earth itself, sea and air, cattle and beasts, fish, trees and grass. Pain, disorder, decay, disease and death entered through human transgression of God's law beginning with Adam, who forfeited dominion and let rebellion spread through nature, which is the woe of Satan's six thousand years of ruin. The infinite Father is pained in sympathy and afflicted with His creatures from the very inception of sin, and to destroy sin and its results He gave His best Beloved, putting it in human power by cooperation in preaching the gospel to hasten and bring to an end this scene of misery. The travail lasts until Satan's work is forever ended and God's creatures are forever delivered, when in cleansing flames the wicked are destroyed root and branch, justice is met, groaning ceases, and the whole earth at rest breaks forth into singing with praise from the whole loyal universe.
Scope of the Groaning
The whole creation groans and travails together in pain, held in bondage under the curse of misery and suffering brought by disobedience to God's law from the beginning and continuing through the ages. The groaning is together and universal, embracing humanity, the animals, the earth itself, the sea, cattle and beasts, the fish of the sea and all flesh, the trees of the forest, the grass of the field, and even the air breathed. The curse rests broadly upon the whole creation because of transgression of God's commandments, and the animals suffer under the same curse as human beings who departed from those commandments. As transgression becomes almost universal the curse is permitted to become as broad and as deep as the transgression.
The world under this bondage has become a vast hospital and lazar-house, a scene of suffering too terrible for the human mind to fully realize. Sin brought curse and blight upon the earth and changed nature so that it is marred and defiled, bears only an imperfect testimony about its Creator, cannot reveal His character in perfection, and no longer reflects the unspoiled brightness it had before transgression. The world that was once wholly lovely now has a blight upon it, suffers under sin's curse and is in decay, though traces of its original beauty remain and in itself it is still good and beautiful. It groans under the weight of accumulated guilt because man has become sensual and depraved and embittered against God, and wicked human deeds defile it and keep people from enjoying it as intended.
Present fruit and flowers share in this marring and are nothing in comparison with what they will be in the earth made new. The whole creation groans under the curse now, and nature's present fruit and flowers fall far short of their future perfection.
Cause Under the Curse
Pain, disorder, decay, deformity, disease and death entered through human transgression of God's divine, natural and moral law, beginning with Adam's transgression and continuing through the ages. While Adam stayed loyal all nature acknowledged his kingship over the lower creatures, but when he transgressed he forfeited that dominion and let in a spirit of rebellion that spread through the animal creation. So not only human life but beasts, trees of the forest, grass of the field, and even the air he breathes share the effects of sin and continually teach the sad lesson of the knowledge of evil and remind of the lost dominion.
The groaning is the woe brought by Satan's work of ruin, who for six thousand years has filled the earth with woe and caused grief throughout the universe. After six thousand years of transgression the earth has been torn by the curse, humanity has degenerated, and moral darkness has enveloped creation, in contrast with Eden's delights before sin entered. The earth groans under the burden of accumulated guilt and rebellion and under the continual transgression of its inhabitants, and the curse increases as transgression increases. Because of transgression the curse of God rests upon the whole creation together, upon the earth itself, upon cattle and beasts, upon the fish of the sea, and upon all flesh, and there is no peace to the wicked. As transgression becomes almost universal the curse is permitted to become as broad and as deep as the transgression, and it makes itself more decidedly felt every year.
Its evidences abound everywhere in the broken face of nature in cleft rocks, mountains and precipices, with storms raging with destructive violence bringing harm to man and beast and property, and with famine, calamity by sea, and pestilence following. Decay and barrenness increase as the earth remains under the curse, the cursed land became harder to cultivate and requires more labor, and sin as a blight defaces and mars the world. The falling leaves and drooping flowers showed Adam that the beautiful world made for humanity was deteriorating, and this loss grieved him, while the first fallen, decaying leaf was evidence of this decay and brought sorrow to those who feared God. Men abused God's gifts, forgot the Creator and transgressed His law, so God punished the wicked transgressors, first by the Flood that broke up the foundations of the great deep and buried earth's treasures, and still by removing His defense because men continue to transgress.
Since Adam's transgression poverty, sickness and every kind of suffering have become the portion of his descendants, replacing the health and abundance of blessings originally given to humanity. The human race suffers under a weight of accumulated woe because of the sins of former generations, especially indulgence of appetite and passion, luxurious living, wine, tobacco and stimulants, which corrupt the blood, inflame passion and produce disease. Intemperate parents transmit to children inflamed blood, disease, inclination to evil, licentiousness, imbecility, enfeebled intellect and polluted morals from father to son and generation to generation, bringing anguish and suffering as a repetition of the fall, a burden the present generation increases by surfeiting and drunkenness and leaves as a legacy of disease to the next. The suffering reaches beyond those who do evil, for mortals suffer misery caused by unrighteousness and innocent wives and children also endure the consequences of others' sins. This is seen when disease in cattle is contracted by men from eating diseased flesh sold in the markets, so there is no safety in eating the flesh of dead animals and in a short time milk and everything coming from the animal creation will be unsafe to use. God would bring His people to where they will not touch nor taste the flesh of dead animals, and those who take God at His Word and obey His commandments with a whole heart will be blessed and have Him as their shield of protection, while distrust and disobedience place the sinner where God cannot give divine favor.
God's Sympathy and Remedy
The groaning and travailing together in pain is the condition of a world become a vast hospital and lazar-house of suffering and misery too terrible for the human mind to fully realize. The heart of the infinite Father is pained in sympathy with that groaning, grieved and afflicted with His creatures, feeling it all from the very inception of sin. To destroy sin and its results He gave His best Beloved. He has put it in human power by cooperation with Him in preaching the gospel to hasten the end of this scene of misery and bring it to an end.
While creation groans under the curse, Christ is constantly working to restore the moral image of God in man. Even now the sick may find health and gladness and joy in field and orchard amid marred present fruit and flowers that are nothing in comparison with what they will be in the earth made new. For the leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of believing, repenting children who use the blessing to be found in tree and shrub and flower.
Ending of the Groaning
The whole creation is now held in the bondage of the curse and suffers together under it, but the ransomed will be forever set free from that condition when they are safely gathered into the heavenly Canaan, rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory once Christ's work of atonement for men is completed and their sins are forever blotted out. The groaning and travail continue until Satan's work of ruin is forever ended and God's creatures are forever delivered from his presence and temptations. That woe was brought by Satan's work of ruin, who for six thousand years has filled the earth with woe and caused grief throughout the universe, and creation has groaned and suffered under the ruin caused by sin.
The end comes in cleansing flames on earth where the wicked receive their recompense and are destroyed root and branch, Satan the root and his followers the branches, with the full penalty of the law visited and justice met. Then groaning ceases, the whole earth is at rest and quiet and breaks forth into singing, and praise ascends from the whole loyal universe.
Adam's transgression involved the entire future of the human family and brought the curse of God upon all creation, so that all nature is confused because God forbade the earth to carry out the purpose He had originally designed for it. The earth groans under its inhabitants because their sins have brought a curse upon it, and idolatry, violence and other evils deepen human misery and crime while the earth's suffering accompanies the judgment God is preparing to bring upon its sinful inhabitants. There is no peace to the wicked, and the curse makes itself more decidedly felt every year, yet God is moving slowly in His great purpose for the benefit of the righteous, though soon the vials of His wrath will be poured out. As He would not have destroyed Sodom if ten righteous persons had been found there, hearts must now be made right with God so He will be a defense in the time of trouble.
Health and Daily Living
Suffering and death came upon animals as well as upon the human race through man's transgression, so the pain borne by God's creatures is the weight that man's sin laid upon them. Man therefore has no right to add to that suffering by harsh treatment or cruel exaction. He ought instead to lighten it by kindness to animals.
The whole created world, including the animal creation, groans in sickness and suffering under the diseases that curse the earth because of the iniquity of the fallen human race. Its groaning is part of the earth's present condition under the curse, and the increasing spread of disease among animals makes this suffering especially evident. Because the animal creation groans in this suffering, diseased condition, its flesh is not healthful for food. Sabbathkeeping canvassers and colporteurs who travel should for that health reason avoid meat eating and provide themselves with nourishing hygienic food instead, not because eating meat is regarded as sin but because it injures health. Where only food mixed with swine's flesh is offered they should plan ahead to nourish themselves with hygienic rolls, hot milk, and fruit instead of unwholesome food.
The very earth groans under its corrupted inhabitants, and the curse that came because of sin subjects every living thing to disease and death, with its evidences abounding everywhere. Disease is becoming more and more widespread and alarming among the animal creation, with cancers, tumors, and diseases of the lungs, liver, and kidneys existing among animals used for food in a variety never known before, living parasites peopling the tissues of swine, and tubercular consumption communicated to humans through meat eating. Out of whole herds only a few cattle are found with no apparent disease, so diseased meat and milk are becoming unsafe to use and there is no certainty which cattle are diseased and which are not. Soon there will be no safety in owning flocks or herds, and in a short time milk and everything coming from the animal creation will be unsafe to use. The curse of God rests upon the earth itself, upon the sea, upon cattle and beasts, upon the fish of the sea, and upon all flesh, and as transgression becomes almost universal the curse is permitted to become as broad and as deep as the transgression, seen in disease in cattle and in men contracting disease from eating diseased flesh sold in the markets. The only safe course is to discard flesh meats altogether, to learn to prepare food without milk or butter, to banish sinful cherished self-indulgences, and to have physicians be health reformers who never prescribe flesh meat or butter but prescribe bread and fruit instead. God would bring His people to where they will not touch nor taste the flesh of dead animals, for those who take Him at His Word and obey His commandments with a whole heart will be blessed and have Him as their shield of protection, while distrust and disobedience place the sinner where He cannot give divine favor.
This condition of all creation groaning under the curse calls God's people to seek sanctification of body, soul, and spirit and to turn from health-destroying indulgences. They must carefully guard the house they live in, the body, by a decided reformation in health reform with no backsliding, placing themselves where they will grow in grace, being sanctified body, soul, and spirit by the truth. Breaking away from all health-destroying indulgences gives a clearer perception of true godliness and brings a wonderful change in religious experience, while continued backsliding dishonors God by a great lack of spirituality. It calls for temperance in eating, drinking, and building, putting no confidence in drug medicine, seeking a deeper and more thorough reform, educating people in right habits of living, earnest heartfelt prayer, and closely considering habits and practices to banish sinful, darling self-indulgences.
The world in itself is good and beautiful, but the earth groans under the weight of accumulated guilt because man has become sensual and depraved and embittered against God. The world is a land of emptiness, full of infidelity, hypocrisy, pride and profligacy, groaning under sensuality and depravity. Those who follow God are left in it, not taken out of it, to cultivate firm principle in the midst of it.