It is creation's eager waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God—the day when believers' bodies are redeemed at the Rapture.
In Romans 8:19 Paul says the earnest expectation of the creature (creation) waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. Paul then says the whole creation groans, and believers themselves groan while waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Les Feldick teaches that this looks forward to the moment when believers are changed and go into Christ's presence.
Romans 8:19 — This is the verse where Paul explicitly identifies the 'earnest expectation of the creature' as creation waiting for the manifestation of God's children.
Romans 8:23 — Paul connects creation's waiting to the believer's hope for the redemption of the body.
Romans 8:18-23 describes the whole created order waiting with earnest expectation for the manifestation of the sons of God. Paul writes that the creation was subjected to frustration and that 'the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.' Then he includes believers themselves, saying they groan 'waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.' The passage directly identifies the 'earnest expectation' as creation's waiting for the day when God's children are revealed and their bodies are redeemed.
Les Feldick points out that the King James word 'creature' in Romans 8:19 should be understood as 'creation.' He teaches that believers already have redemption of soul and spirit, but they are still waiting for the redemption of the body, when the corruptible body suddenly becomes incorruptible. In his teaching, the 'earnest expectation of creation' is the anticipation of the whole created order for that moment when believers are changed and enter the Lord's presence, receive their reward, and later return to participate in His kingdom. He stresses that this event—the Rapture—is imminent and cannot be dated.
Les emphasizes that the KJV word 'creature' in Romans 8:19 is better understood as 'creation.' The context says 'the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.' Not only creation, but believers themselves groan while waiting for the adoption, that is, the redemption of the body. Thus all of creation is waiting for that day when God's children are manifested.
Les connects the earnest expectation of creation to the future redemption of the believer's body. He says believers already possess redemption of soul and spirit, but the body is still corruptible. When believers go up into the Lord's presence, the corruptible body will suddenly become incorruptible. After receiving their reward, they will come back and become active participants in the kingdom.
Les insists that no date can be set for this event. The Lord may come this afternoon, tomorrow, next week, or further down the road. It is imminent, meaning there is no set prophetic program that has to be fulfilled before the Church is taken out. Les also sees increasing persecution and battle against Christianity, and he teaches that believers will be changed at the trumpet call.
Why All Creation Groans — Romans 8:18-23 Explained
Hello, and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Creation, Not Creature
Les clarifies that the KJV's 'creature' in Romans 8:19 should be understood as 'creation,' which is what waits with earnest expectation.
Redemption of the Body
Les teaches that believers groan while waiting for the redemption of their corruptible bodies, which will suddenly become incorruptible when they go to be with the Lord and receive their reward.
Whole Creation Groans
Les shows that the whole creation, plus believers themselves, groans while waiting for the adoption—the redemption of the body—and that all creation is waiting for that day.
Imminent, No Date
Les says the Rapture is imminent; it may happen before the studio visit is over, and no date can ever be set.
Changed Without Dying
Les teaches that some believers will not die physically but will all be changed, making the coming of Christ for the Church an imminent expectation.
Rapture as Mystery
Les points out that the sudden change of believers is a mystery revealed to Paul, the same event described as the outcalling or rapture of the Church.
Persecution and Trumpet Call
Les describes increasing persecution and a coming trumpet call, when believers will be changed and taken out of this existence.
Romans 8:19: For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
This is the verse Paul uses to describe creation's eager waiting for the revealing of God's children.
Romans 8:22: For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Paul confirms that the entire created order shares in groaning and pain while it waits.
Romans 8:23: And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Paul connects creation's expectation to believers' hope for the redemption of the body.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Les uses this passage to explain the sudden change of believers that accompanies the redemption of the body.
According to Romans 8:19, it is creation's earnest expectation of the manifestation of the sons of God. Paul says the whole creation groans and travails until now, and believers themselves groan while waiting for the redemption of their bodies. Les Feldick identifies this as the hope of the Rapture, when believers are changed and enter the Lord's presence.
Les notes that the King James word 'creature' should be understood as 'creation.' The context speaks of the 'whole creation' groaning, and Les says not only other aspects of creation but humans as well are included in this waiting.
No. Les teaches the event is imminent and may happen before leaving the studio, tomorrow, next week, or later. Any attempt to set a specific date is wrong; believers are simply told to expect it at any moment.
Watch the Teaching: Why All Creation Groans — Romans 8:18-23 Explained