What hope did God give creation right after He subjected it to the curse?
God subjected creation to the curse in hope, immediately promising a future time of restoration and redemption when the curse would finally be lifted from the planet. Creation did not participate in Adam's sin, yet God's promise assured all creation that a day of deliverance and restoration is coming.
Les explains from verse 20 that creation was made subject to vanity—the curse—but not willingly; it had nothing to do with Adam's sin. Yet God subjected it "in hope." As soon as Adam sinned and the curse fell, God immediately promised the time of restoration. All creation is constantly looking for the day when the curse will be finally lifted. Les ties this to the coming seven terrible years, which are designed to bring the earth to delivery, the delivery of the planet from the curse. From the very day it was subjected to the curse, God has promised a coming day of redemption for it.