Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Whereas I see no gap in the seventy weeks of Daniel in Daniel 9, I believe there are instances where gaps are to be understood in scripture. Perhaps Gen 1:1-2 is one of them.

Please help me narrow this down to its truth.

Genesis 1:1 says God created the heaven and earth. And verse 2 says the earth was void and without form.

When you research the Hebrew word for "without form" it is as follows:

The same word is used in Isaiah 45, translated as "in vain", and is also used in connection with the creation of earth.

So if Isaiah said God did not create the earth TOHUW, but Gen 1:2 says the earth was TOHUW, then how can we make any sense out of it other than saying a gap of time occurred after creation in Genesis 1:1 and before verse 2 when the earth was TOHUW?

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Well, Bro. Blume, from an authority that you dearly love :ursofunny in the Scofield Bible, there is a note at Genesis 1:2 which says:
"Jer 4:23-26; Isa 24:1 and 45:18, clearly indicate that the earth had undergone a cataclysmic change as a result of a divine judgment. The face of the earth bears everywhere the marks of such a catastrophe...."

I had read somewhere that the word "was" in Gen 1:2 (and the earth "was" without form and void) could actually be translated "became" (and the earth "became" without form and void). I thought that I had read that in the Scofield Bible but I did not see anything about that when I just looked. My Scofield has disintegrated and is just a pile of loose pages.

The "gap theory" can put the age of the earth just about anywhere and the story of the six "days" of creation can actually be a more recent "re-creation." Some see this as a compromise with "science so-called" while others see it as a way of getting away from the "young earth" theory.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Many believe that "The morning and the evening were the first day".

Actully refers to the first day of Jehova relating the things that were before to Moses.

The second day being the second day being the second day of Jevoha sharing these words with Moses.

The resaon God showed Moses his hinder parts was that Moses was to see that which was on the back side of God or time.

Tell me this why would God speak things into existance in 7 days?

I personally believe it took the Lord seven days to share this with Moses.

And on the 7th day the Lord rested...

Rested his case with Moses....

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Dakes Bible was an exponent of this theory.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

The late Dr. Ironside had a note in his Bible at Genesis 1:1 which says:
"The original creation --which was perfect but fell into chaos."

At Isaiah 45:18 he has a note which says:
"The earth not created a waste --bohu--void--in vain--see Gen 1:1,2"

I have a book titled,
"Dr. Ironside's Bible
Notes and Quotes
from the Margins"
It has a copyright date of 1955.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Perhaps what Isaiah meant is the final creation was not done in vain.

Gen 1:2 means that when God created the earth...not ended the finished creation, the earth was empty...not populated with life forums or vegitation

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

On the other hand, maybe there really is a sort of Karma. The earth is really really REALLY old and it has been populated once before, gone through all the events until God destroys the planet and starts over again and again and again. God is populating heaven or maybe even other planets with the faithful....

Welcome to a Mormon/Scientology meets Krishna hybrid

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

I have a book from the 1800's by GH Pember called EARTH'S EARLIEST AGES and he delves deeply into this theory.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

The idea goes on as follows:

Jere 4:23-26 Jeremiah describes a pre-Adamite destruction.

Jere 4:23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.


It is Pre-Adamite (before Adam) because we read it occurred when the earth was "void and without form". That fits Gen 1:2.

* WHEN were mountains trembling?
* WHEN was there no man?
* WHEN was the fruitfulness place a wilderness?
o ANSWER: When the earth was void and without form (Jeremiah 4:23).



LINK THIS WITH: Isai 14:16 -17

Isai 14:16-17 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

Jeremiah said these events occurred when the earth was void and without form- GEN. 1:2.

Who was this one who did the things Jeremiah said occurred when the earth was void and without form? Go back a few verses to see who God spoke about.

Look before the verses we quoted in Isaiah 14....


Isai 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

The Jeremiah 4 passage could be refering to a future time that we have not yet seen.

There are some who believe in a pre-adamic race of people. Some believe that the spirits of that group of people are the demons of today. I may be wrong but I think Derek Prince and Benny Hinn believe(d) that.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

A UPC preacher who has passed away believed that as well, AW Post, from New Brunswick, Canada. I personally disagree with it, though.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Here's the way I see it.

First there was literally nothing.
Then Gen 1:1 There was a mass of stuff, jumbled, and scattered.
Then Gen 1:3 There was light/energy added to the mix.
Then Gen 1:4 the light became separate, the energy became into a focused source.
Then Gen 1:6-8 Some form started happening and what we now know as atmosphere, stratosphere etc separated the liquid waters from the vapor waters.
Then Gen 1:9-10 The earth actually began to take shape in a form somewhat like what it is now, there was land, and there were seas, with a heaven surrounding it.
Then Gen 1:11-12 grass, tree's and their kind (vegetables, flowers etc being their kind) began growing.
Then Gen 1:14-18 This is when time as we know it began. Day, nigh, seasons, years. This is when the Sun, moon and starts formed in the heavens.
Then Gen 1:20-22 "life started forming in the oceans, whales, fish, and birds, and their kindbegan to form. (or "evolve" if you will.)
Then Gen 1:24-25 life began to evolve on earth and earth bound creatures started to multiply. Cattle and their kind creeping things, Beasts, and their kind(I believe this is where dinosaurs went through their phase, and many of the beasts and creatures that are now extinct, including apes "and their kind" ((cro-magnon, neanderthal etc.)) roamed the earth.)
Then Gen 1:26 A new creature came to be. Man, now roamed the earth, a being with the breath of God creating life, making him a soul.

Now there was a being that God would interact with, walk with, talk with, and one day ultimately save from their very own destruction.

Gen 2:4 explains that there are "generations" of the heavens and the earth and when they were created. "In the day that the lord created them.

I believe the "day" refers to the time period described as "the generations" of the creation of heaven and earth. The earth was thousands of "years" old (or "generations") long before time as we know it actually began.
That's why science shows the earth as far more than a mere 6 or 8 thousand years old. Earth was older than that before time began. Those beasts and their kind roamed and became extinct during the generations of creation before the seventh day when God rested, before man was even created.


Lets look at science, what does science say?


As I have long believed. Science does not contradict the Bible. Science CONFIRMS the Bible!

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Could it not also be a backwards timeline?
Seeing the creations in reverse as if going back in time through the stages of creation untill the time where the earth was without form, and void.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Sure, I'm not arguing that it has to be future. Just saying it might be future. Some times past, present, and future are woven together in prophecy.
God could be saying through the prophet, "I've seen the earth cursed and destroyed before and it could happen again."

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Interesting stuff

One guy told me once, that the earth was just as it was described in Genesis. He said that just like God made Adam into a man and not a baby -- he did the same with the earth. In other words, all this stuff that scientist date back so many years was formed by God to be that way -- without the passing of all that time.

That guy on TBN that has the museum in Texas has some interesting comments about this kind of stuff.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

We have the Creation Museum in northern Kentucky near the Cincinnati airport. They believe in the "young earth" theory and are not tolerant of any other opinions. It is a very worthwhile place to go and spend the better part of a day.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

I heard that, too. But there was a good purpose for God making Adam and adult and not an infant, which would not make sense in doing the same with the earth. :)

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Psalm 104 parallels Genesis first 6 days perfectly. But after it mentions the sixth day, it says this:

Psalms 104:30 KJV Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

Sounds like Genesis 1 was a renovation, not creation, except for verse 1 and except for life.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

The bible does say in Gen 1:28 "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."
One meaning for replenish is "to fill or build up again".
Could something have happened to mankind before the flood?

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

This TOTAL speculation, but God could have done that in order to test people.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

I see your point. But I don't see God doing that solely to test people. I think the earth is millions of years old, but there was no man before Adam, who seemed be created 6,000 years ago.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Excellent thoughts!

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

I believe the seven days were literally seven 24 hour periods God took to do what He did.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

I think I would enjoy doing that.

(Draw your own conclusions! :lol)

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

I believe Genesis 1 took place in the mind of God and in Chapter two God actually did the creative work in a single day.

I believe the earth existed already and was 'revamped' for the placing of Adam kind on it.

I believe other things as well, but this is enough for now.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

You definately show that you are capable of thinking outside the box.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Neck
Many believe that "The morning and the evening were the first day".

Actully refers to the first day of Jehova relating the things that were before to Moses.

The second day being the second day being the second day of Jevoha sharing these words with Moses.

The resaon God showed Moses his hinder parts was that Moses was to see that which was on the back side of God or time.

Tell me this why would God speak things into existance in 7 days?

I personally believe it took the Lord seven days to share this with Moses.

And on the 7th day the Lord rested...

Rested his case with Moses....



Excellent thoughts!


************************************************** **

I actually shared this with a member of a Public School board that I sold a 1.5 million dollar contact for new VOIP phones systems. To 31 Schools and admin offices.

I was sitting at lunch with the Main IT contact and board member.

They started talking about Evolution vs the idea of creation.

They both were saying they could believe that anyone still believed that the earth was 6500 years old.

I shared with them my thoughts on the 7 days of creation.

When we got done with the conversation.

They did not have a stance that the Christian faith was dead wrong.

Both of them told me that it was the first statements that they had heard that could put creation back into the equation.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Close to my beliefs.

I believe Gen 1 is the creation from the perspective of METHOD and Chapter 2 is the same creation from a perspective of PURPOSE highlighting Adam.

I believe the single Gen 1 and Gen 2 creation was a revamped earth done after the fall of satan caused a destruction that may have started and ended millions of years before the first day of Gen 1.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Hugh Ross has an interesting view on the age of the earth and man, old earth young man. Not so much a gap theory as a different view on the days, with each day representing a period of time and the phrase "evening and morning" reflecting the beginning and end of the period. That we currently live in the seventh day which will end with the destruction of the old earth and creation of a new heavens and earth.

He wrote a book about it I think it was called "Creation and Time".

Lots of great essays on his website by a wide variety of folks on a broad range of subjects.

www.reasons.org

http://www.reasons.org/resources/apo...n_vs_evolution

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

So how and when did the earth come to be?

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

This word heaven is singular

Genesis 1:8 "And God called the firmament Heaven... "

This is NOT the creation of the earth but rather the BEGINNING of God's plan for Adam man and his fellowship with God.

The Earth already existed and appeared to have some form of population.
Humanoid maybe, but Lucifer was definitely here (Isa 14:12-17; Luke 10:18).

Jeremiah 4:23 "I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was (became) without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light."

Jeremiah 4:24 "I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly."

Jeremiah 4:25 "I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled."

It appears that Lucifer was on the pipeline when God was going to make man and decided he wanted to be LIKE God (Not replace God) in that he wanted worship/adoration.

God's main point throughout scripture is that NO thing, creature, or man was to receive worship; God alone was to be praised.

Genesis 1:2 "And the earth was (Became) without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

Genesis does not deal with the creation of the Universe, it deals with the beginning God's plan for man and his fellowship with him.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

It's amazing how a subject can bring so many ideas and theory's. There are many study point in this thread and I will probably look at the ideas several times. Thanks for some interesting thought.

I do not think that a consensus will ever be reached, but it is interesting discussing the various ideas.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

This is a view I lean more towards.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

A consensus will be reached when we can ask God for ourselves.

Until then I think that the very process is good for stretching the mind beyond the man made boxes that traditional religion ties us into. We have already been freed of many.

These boxes come from pressure to live up to various interpretations rather than the Word itself. I remember one time I was talking about dinosaurs with a friend and our pastor roamed by while we were talking. The pastor said "You don't believe in dinosaurs do you?". I replied... well... they kinda found the bones. :)

But old school thinking held as hard to interpretations (or harder) as it did to the word itself. Our interpretations must always be up for review but the Word itself never need be up for such.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Like you, I beleive that we will understand it better by and by.

As you made mention of the dinosaur's, I have a question? Do you think that there was a dinosaur age on the earth before the creation of man or were they here on earth during time of the time of man before the flood.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

There are actually three main ages: The Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, all three of which make up the Mesozoic era. And no, none of these were during human times.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

I agree that the Mesozoic era (as the sceintific community has named it) existed before the creation of Adam. Now I insert a scripture:

Ge 6:4
¶ There were giants in the earth in those days; and also
after that, when the sons of God came in unto the
daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the
same became mighty men which were of old, men of
renown.

I know that this scripture has been debated many times, but the giants mentioned in the first line, were they men or something else?

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

The verse in Isaiah may be talking about after he had created the earth and the heavens and the sun and the moon and the stars, etc.

The Bible is silent on a "second" creation. That is why it is just a theory.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

If you get a copy of Creation vs. Evolution by Arlo Molenpah (sp?) I believe you will see clear evidence that man and dinosaur did coexist and are mentioned in Job as well.

Re: Genesis 1 gap theory
 

Thats an intesting theory but is not backed up by traditional understanding of the Mosaic writing.