What does it mean in Romans 8:20 that creation was subjected in hope?
Romans 8:20 means creation was subjected to vanity and the curse not by its own will, but by God, who immediately provided hope. That hope is the promised remedy through the Redeemer, the Son, and the seed of the woman, ensuring the day is coming when the curse will be lifted.
Les teaches that all of creation is aware it was subjected to the curse, but it also knows the day is coming when the curse will be lifted. Paul writes by inspiration that the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who subjected the same in hope. Les explains that as soon as the curse fell, God came back and said He had a remedy. That remedy would come through the Redeemer, through the Son, and through the seed of the woman. So the subjection was not hopeless; it was accompanied by God's promise of future deliverance.
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,