All of creation is waiting because the manifestation of God's children — their glorification at the Rapture — sets in motion the final lifting of the curse and creation's deliverance.
When believers are manifested, they are revealed in glory and receive the redemption of the body — the Rapture — which believers expect at any time. From the day Adam sinned and the curse fell, God promised restoration, and the whole creation has been groaning under the curse, waiting for deliverance. The coming tribulation is the travail that delivers the planet from the curse, so creation's long wait ends when God's children are manifested and creation enters its glorious liberty.
Romans 8:19 — Paul states directly that the creation is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God — the exact event in the question.
Romans 8:20-22 — The passage explains that creation was subjected to vanity in hope and will be delivered from bondage, and that the whole creation groans until now.
The apostle Paul directly answers why creation is waiting in Romans 8:19: "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." Verses 20 and 21 go on to explain that the creature was made subject to vanity — the curse of sin — not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Verse 22 confirms that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Scripture also connects this cosmic waiting to the believer's bodily redemption. Romans 8:23 says believers themselves groan within themselves, "waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." Paul adds in 1 Corinthians 15:53 that "this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." The hope began immediately after the curse: in Genesis 3:15, God promised that the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent's head.
Les teaches that the manifestation of the children of God is the Rapture of the church — the event believers are expecting at any time. He explains that "manifestation" means being put under the spotlight: believers have a day coming when they will be revealed in glory and come into a place of renown, and all of creation is waiting for that day. Les emphasizes that creation was subjected to the curse not willingly, but in hope. The moment Adam sinned and the curse fell, God immediately promised restoration. All of creation — flowers, birds, trees, the animal kingdom, and even the rocks — is aware of the Creator and is groaning under the results of the curse. In Les's teaching, the coming seven-year tribulation is the "travail" connected with delivery: it is how the planet will finally be delivered from the curse. When believers are manifested, they receive the redemption of the body and go into the Lord's presence; then they will return with Him and become active participants in the kingdom, ruling and reigning, and all of creation will come under their rule as joint heirs with Christ. Meanwhile, believers themselves groan with creation, crying out, "Lord, come quickly."
Les defines manifestation as being put under the spotlight. He teaches that believers have a day coming when they will be literally placed in the spotlight and come into a place of renown. This is why all of creation is waiting — creation is waiting for the day God's children are revealed in glory.
Les connects the seven years of tribulation to what Jesus called the days of travail in Matthew 24. In his teaching, travail is always connected with delivery — and in this case it is the delivery of the planet from the curse. From the very day creation was subjected to the curse, God has promised that a day of redemption is coming, and all creation is waiting for that day.
Les stretches his listeners' thinking by insisting that the term 'whole creation' includes everything — the flowers, the birds, the trees, the animal kingdom, and even the rocks. He points to Jesus' triumphal entry, when Jesus said that if the crowd were silenced the rocks would cry out. Les concludes that all of creation is aware of the Creator, far more than most human beings, and all of it is waiting for the great day of deliverance from the curse.
Les points out that believers also groan within themselves, waiting for the adoption — the redemption of the body. The redemption of the soul and spirit is already complete, but the body is still corruptible. When believers go up into the presence of the Lord, the corruptible will suddenly become incorruptible, and they will later return with Christ to participate in the kingdom. Seeing the world falling apart, believers cry out, 'Lord, come quickly.'
The Rapture as the Church's Imminent Hope
Les opens the Romans 8 passage by connecting it to what believers are expecting at any time — the Rapture of the church — so the question is answered by seeing the manifestation as that very event.
The Tribulation as the Delivery of the Earth
Les teaches that all of creation is constantly looking for the day the curse is finally lifted, and that the seven years of tribulation are the travail that brings the planet to delivery.
Creation's Awareness of the Creator
Using Jesus' statement about the rocks crying out at the triumphal entry, Les shows that all of creation is aware of the Creator and is waiting for the great day of deliverance from the curse.
The Redemption of the Body
Les explains that believers groan along with creation, waiting for the adoption — the redemption of the body — the great transaction that ushers believers into the glorious rule and reign.
What 'Whole Creation' Includes
Les stretches his listeners to see that the term 'whole creation' means everything — flowers, birds, trees, the animal kingdom, and rocks — all waiting to be delivered from bondage.
Manifestation Means the Spotlight
Les defines manifestation as being put under the spotlight and teaches that all of creation is waiting for believers' coming day of renown, promised in hope from the moment the curse fell.
Believers Groan for the Lord's Coming
Les shows the believer's own groaning: watching the world fall apart and crying out 'Lord, come quickly,' while waiting for the redemption of the body.
Creation Under Our Rule and Reign
Les teaches that creation will be delivered from the curse and will come under the rule and reign of believers as joint heirs with Christ.
Romans 8:19: For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
The verse that directly asks the question: creation's earnest expectation is the manifestation of the sons of God.
Romans 8:20: For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Explains the curse ('vanity') that creation was subjected to, not willingly but in hope.
Romans 8:21: Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
The promise that creation will be delivered into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Romans 8:22: For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
The current state of the whole creation: groaning and travailing under the curse.
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.
Shows believers joined to creation's groaning, waiting for the redemption of the body.
Genesis 3:15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
The first promise of the Redeemer, given immediately after the curse fell — the basis of the hope.
Genesis 3:17: And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
The curse on the ground for Adam's sake, which subjected creation to vanity.
Matthew 24:8: All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Jesus' 'beginning of sorrows,' which Les likens to travail and delivery for the earth.
1 Corinthians 15:53: For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
The corruptible body's transformation, which is part of the manifestation of God's children.
Les teaches that the manifestation is connected with the Rapture, which believers are expecting at any time. At that moment believers receive redeemed bodies — the redemption of the body — and creation's long wait begins to reach its goal.
Because of Adam's sin, the curse fell on the creation. Scripture says it was not willing but was subjected in hope — and God immediately promised the Redeemer. From that day forward, creation has been waiting for restoration.
Les compares the tribulation to a mother's travail preceding delivery — it is the process by which the planet will be delivered from the curse. Jesus spoke of these days of travail in Matthew 24, and the whole idea is the delivery of the earth from the curse.
Les says the term 'whole creation' includes everything — flowers, birds, trees, the animal kingdom, and the rocks. He points to Jesus' triumphal entry, when Jesus said the rocks would cry out if the people were silenced, showing creation is aware of its Creator.
Watch the Teaching: Why All Creation Groans — Romans 8:18-23 Explained