16. Verse 1. In the beginning God created heaven and earth. The most ancient times of all are called 'the beginning', and are throughout the Prophets referred to as 'days of antiquity' and also 'days of eternity'. 'The beginning' also embodies within it that first Period when a person is being regenerated, for at that time he is being born anew and receiving life. Regeneration itself is therefore called a new creation of man. Almost everywhere in the prophetical sections 'to create', 'to form', and 'to make' mean to regenerate, though each of these verbs has a different shade of meaning, as in Isaiah,

Every one who is called by My name - I have created him for My glory, I have formed him, I have also made him. Isaiah 43:7

This is why the Lord is called Redeemer, One who forms from the womb, Maker, and also Creator, as in the same prophet,

I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. Isaiah 43:15.

In David,

A people to be created will praise Jah. Psalms 102:18.

In the same author,

You send forth Your Spirit; they are created; and You renewest the face ¹ of the ground. Psalms 104:30.

'Heaven' means the internal man, and 'earth' the external man prior to regeneration. This will be seen further on.

Fusnotat:

8150. 'And there were tertiary commanders over them all' means having been arranged into order under general headings. This is clear from the meaning of 'tertiary commanders' as general headings under which come particular aspects. The reason why 'tertiary commanders' has this meaning is that 'three', which lies behind the term 'tertiary', means something completed and entire, 2788, 4495, 7715, and commanders' means the things that rank first. And these together with the particular aspects constitute general wholes, for every single component of a series is arranged into order under a general heading. This arrangement into order under general headings enables individual aspects to act in unison, have form, and at the same time possess a particular quality. Regarding general headings, that they have particular aspects under them, and specific details under these, see 920, 2384, 3739, 4325 (end), 4329, 4345, 4383, 5208, 5339, 6115, 6146.