Genesis 1:2
“And the earth was 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.”
“But the earth was in disarray, and empty; and spiritual darkness was upon the face of the demonic realm.”
I
am guilty of having read this verse too superficially. Dr. Missler
discusses the “Gap Theory”, a concept first proposed Thomas Chalmers in
1814, based on a reinterpretation of the Hebrew in Genesis 1:2. Missler
shared this view, but made it clear he was not necessarily endorsing
it. At first I took the idea on board, but upon reading the notes in
Mum’s Hebrew-Greek study Bible was duly corrected. A discussion with my mother later this afternoon gave me the insight I was looking for.
The Gap Theory
I
previously assumed that when God created the heaven and the earth
(Genesis 1:1) he simply created a ball of unformed and empty mass, and
then proceeded to give it form and order in Days 1-6 (Genesis 1:3-31).
It is true the Earth we know today was formed in the “creation week”,
but is this the entire history of the origin of our world?
The
“Gap Theory”, suggests the angels were created “in the beginning”
(Genesis 1:1), rather than during or after the creation week, and that
Satan and his angelic (demonic) followers fell prior to Genesis 1:2.
Chalmers grounds this theory in the reinterpretation of words used in
Genesis 1:2, and their relationship with other passages of scripture.
And the earth was without form, and void;
Vav..Erets……hayah..tohu…………..bohu;
and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
….choshek………………………tehown
The word for “was” – hayah – is the same word used in Genesis 19:26 where Lot’s wife was (hayah) turned into a pillar of salt. The implication is that the word hayah is not simply descriptive, but is active. Furthermore, the word “vav” for “and” can also be read as “but”
depending on the context. In the Septuagint it has actually been
translated this way. Thus Genesis 1:2 could, or should, read;
“But the earth became (or “had become”) without form, and void”.
“Without form, and void“ has been translated from the Hebrew phrase “tohu vav bohu“. The words tohu and bohu are also found in Isaiah 34:11, but is there interpreted differently;
Isaiah
34:11 “But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also
and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the
line of confusion (tohu) and the stones of emptiness (bohu).”
Thus “tohu” can also mean “confused“, and “bohu” can mean “empty”. “Confused” and “without form” share in common a lack of order, in a place where there should be order. Perhaps, then, the text could be read as follows; “But the earth was in disarray, and empty“.
Jeremiah 4:23-26 also uses the phrase “tohu vav bohu“, as follows:
“I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form (tohu), and void (bohu);
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.”
You will notice that this verse describes the Earth as it would have been at the time of Genesis 1:2;
1. The Earth is described as “formless and void” (or “in disarray and empty”)
2. There was no man
3. There were no birds
What
is interesting, though, is that it refers to cities, and what’s more it
seems these cities had received judgment from The Lord – “all the
cities thereof were broken down (in disarray) at the presence of the
Lord, and by his fierce anger”. Perhaps these cities represented the
homes of the angels who had fallen.
The word “choshek” has been interpreted as “darkness“, and when we read it we assume this is a natural darkness (i.e. before the creation of natural light), but the word “choshek”
is also used in Exodus 10:21 to describe the darkness The Lord brought
upon Egypt, which was so dark it could be felt. The word “tehown” has been translated as “the deep“, but is in fact the same word (Greek abussos – abyss) used to refer to the home of demons and evil spirits, the place from which the anti-Christ emerges.
Thus, again, Genesis 1:2 could be read
“But the earth was in disarray, and empty; and spiritual darkness was upon the face of the demonic realm.”
Problems & Solutions
My Mum’s Hebrew-Greek study Bible, however, shows the Gap Theory to be flawed. Connsider the words of Exodus 20:11;
“For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them”
Further, in Job 38:4-7 The Lord asks Job;
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone-
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?”
It
is clear, then, that the angels were created before “the beginning”,
and that Genesis 1 is not a history of the origins of the entire
cosmos, but just of our world – the “physical realm”. Nonetheless, I
believe the reinterpretation of Genesis 1:2 above still has relevance.
Consider
this; “Christ came to redeem us of our sin, so that we could qualify
for eternal life in heaven, in the presence of God”. A classic
evangelism line that we all believe. Now consider this, if Satan and
his followers have rebelled against The Lord, then they have sinned.
They can no longer be in his presence and thus they have “fallen from
the sky like lightning”. Where did they land when they fell?
The
Lord cast Satan and his followers into a hell from which he withdrew
his presence. “The earth was in disarray, and empty; and spiritual
darkness was upon the face of the [demonic realm]” – does this not
sound like a description of what Hell could be like? It would seem to
me, and my Mum, that The Lord created Earth and withdrew his presence
from it, but then upon this he created the Earth we know, as is
described in Days one to six. Thus Satan and his followers live in the
deep, the abyss, the demonic realm, “underneath” the good but fallen
creation we inhabit.
source: http://ajchesswasbibleblog.blogspot.com/2005/06/genesis-12_20.html
You are absolutely correct in your assumptions and believe me I agree with you and I have been studying this for many years now. It is clear that those “believers” in the past thought as I do that the earth is very old indeed and Chalmers made this “discovery” when most main stream scientists and researchers were “believer” which shuts up those who believe the gap theory, day age theory, and theistic evolution are ways we believers try to combine evolution with creation. Think of it! He proposed this a Anglican priest and scientist in 1814! We were at war with Britain! Anyway, I believe that angels have and maybe still do inhabit this earth. Read Hebrews 13:2 Take strangers to your home and care for them. Some people who have done this found out the strangers were angels. Also, read Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. What was there first estate? Earth? The earthly realm or cosmos? And finally, Genesi 6:1-4 When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that these daughters were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with [a] human beings forever, for they are mortal [b]; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of the human beings and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.
Who were these “Nephilim”? Why were they on earth? Did and do angels and man coexist? Tell me what you think.
Sorry it took so long to answer, but I have been very busy at my regular job!!!!
Let me clear a few facts up:
1) YOU SAID: Anyway, I believe that angels have and maybe still do inhabit this earth. Read Hebrews 13:2 Take strangers to your home and care for them. Some people who have done this found out the strangers were angels. Also, read Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
My comment: These passages are very misunderstood! Angels do and always have appeared on earth, as a) Angels or B) persons/humans. They can look like a human being at anytime, and Paul makes it clear that the homeless bum that you give some food to may be an Angel sent from God to test us. As for the Jude quote, it is talking about the Demons who left their first estate (heaven) and is now imprisoned here ON EARTH!
2) Your comment— Gen 6:1-4 When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that these daughters were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with [a] human beings forever, for they are mortal [b]; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of the human beings and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.
Who were these “Nephilim”? Why were they on earth? Did and do angels and man coexist? Tell me what you think.
My answer – Angels are NOT made in the image of God. Man is. Neither Angels or Demons can mate with human females. They are not of the God species! Man is. “Let US make man after OUR image”. The “sons of God” who mated with the “daughters of men” are those Godly people, who worshiped the true God, started intermarrying with PAGAN women, something that God condemns! God does not want His Holy people marrying Pagans! He also does not want races inter-marrying, or even tribes inter-marrying! A Danite is supposed to marry a Danite and not even one from the tribe of Judah, let alone a Canaanite! That’s all it means. The “giants” born to them? Well that has 2 meanings. One, this is Satan’s world, and the leaders of this world, the GIANTS of politics, industry and religion all belong to Satan— that is what the Bible says! The second meaning is also the physical stature of the sons of Cain were was bigger than, the sons of SHEM! Nimrod, Goliath were 10 feet tall! They were the sons of Cain (and yes, both Cain and Abel’s line did live thru the flood!!!!!!! I will write about that later!)
Bob Barney you made a great point brother concerning the son’s of God and their correlation as being man. Yet the only flaw in that is that when God laid the cornerstone the the morning stars and the Son’s of God all sang together
PRECIOUS PEOPLE OF GOD PLIZ UNDERSTAND THIS!!. they is a very great time between Genesis verse 1 and 2. NOTICE VERSE 1 IS PERFECTION_ VERSE 2 IS DESTRUCTION.They was a human race before Adam was ever created. God gave the earth to Lucifer (the annointed cherub)EZEKIEL28:14 who ruled the earth together with a 3rd of Angels that were under him. EZEKIEL 28:18 tells us that Lucifer was also a Priest. Lucifer’s office was to take the word of God and preach it to the Race that existed before Adam, then take the praise of the human race ON THE EARTH to God. instead Lucifer corrupted & twisted God’s word so that the Race on earth worshiped him instead of God, then instead of takin the praise to God, Lucifer kept it. so when Lucifer eventually invaded heaven he was cast out_ Luke 10:18. Then Genesis 1:2 God destroyed the earth in anger. The corrupted Human race that existed before Adam was destroyed they are the DEMONS of today. Job 9:5-7 that is when the Ice Age occured, that is when the dinasaurs died. Notice God says in Genesis 1:3 Let there be light_ “LET” is not a word of creation “LET” is a word of permission, [let the light resume] read Job 9:7. so now God was restoring the Sun back. then for the first time ever God created man in his own image. Genesis 1:26 the Gen1:28 replenish NOT plenish but REPLENISH meaning refill, then God says subdue the earth! subdue means there is an enemy. qtn to you now_ Subdue from who? from Satan who was once Lucifer + his demons. Adam never took those words to heart, so Satan cheated Adam & Eve then regained all power over the earth even more power than he had when he was still Lucifer. read Luke 4:5-7
Satan had authority up until Luke 10:19. the English version is a translation that is losing meaning. the Englisg say Gen 1:2 the Earth ‘WAS’ without form instead of ‘BECAME’ without form. the Greek and the Hebrew say ‘BECAME’ (hayah)
The Bible in no way suggests that there were human beings before Adam, or that any human being on earth today did not come from Adam and eve. The Bible does suggest that there was a world before this present age, under the authority of Lucifer, but the Bible is silent on anything that lived on earth, other than Satan and his demons (then, angels). The Bible is only concerned with Israel’s children (not even Abraham’s!) and the eventual reward of all mankind through one of those children, being Jesus Christ; the LORD of the old testament, along with the Father God.
To say that humans lived before Adam is not Biblical, very improbable in that Jesus is the “second” Adam, showing that Adam was the first created in God’s image.
Hi Mr Barney, can you please tell me where in the Bible it says that angels are not formed in the image of God? Also, I thought Ester and Ruth intermarried; Ester being Hebrew married a Median-Persian king, and Ruth being a Moabite married a Hebrew man. Finally, I thought “sons of God” referred to angels. The “sons of God” is used at least 4 times in the Old Testament and are referred to as angels: Dan 3:25 (the fourth appeared as a son of God in the furnace); Job 38:7 says sons of God shouted for joy when the earth’s foundation was laid; Job 1:6 says angels (in Hebrew, it’s sons of God); and, Job 2:1, the same. The only human in the Old Testament that was referred to as a son of God was Adam but his descendants were referred to as sons of men in the Old Testament. The “Giants” are described as actual physical beings as written in Num 13:33 in which, “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes and we looked the same to them.” (Nephilims?) Thank you for taking time to explain everything. I love learning and studying about God’s Holy Scriptures, too.
#1-Nowhere in the Bible does God say, Let US make man in OUR image. That is only used for humans.
#2- Man is superior to ANGELS! Psa 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Hbr 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
#3- Although angels CAN look like a person, their heavenly image is NOT what God looks like! SEE EZEK chapter 1 for what an angel looks like, and what GOD (JESUS) looks like.
#4- Angels can be called sons of God because in HEBREW “Ben” means son of- here is the concordance look at the different uses: (******* are from ME)
http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1121&t=KJV
1) son, grandson, child, member of a group
a) son, male child
b) grandson
c) children (pl. – male and female)
d) youth, young men (pl.)
e) young (of animals)***********
f) sons (as characterisation, i.e. sons of injustice [for un- righteous men] or sons of God [for angels]******
g) people (of a nation) (pl.)
h) of lifeless things, i.e. sparks, stars, arrows (fig.)*********
i) a member of a guild, order, class *******
4) The Ruth question. There has been intermarriage between peoples. Joseph married and Egyptian. Noah is the Father of the 3 races (the obvious here is that he had 3 wives of the 3 races). God allows intermarriage at certain times, but with believers. In fact, the Jews of Judah divorced their foreign (pagan) wives in the book of Ezra-Nehemiah. Pagan is the key. God does not want believers marrying unbelievers, but God does forgive and accept the outcast!
–Jer 30:17—For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, [saying], This [is] Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
5) God only calls Adam a son ONLY because he has given us up to the Devil, and spiritually now, we have become children of the devil (John 8) and unless we become Christians, we are in the Devil’s world. But as Christians, we are again children of God! That is why we call one member of the Elohim (Godhead) FATHER!
—- Gal 1:4 — Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
6 Nephilims in MY opinion are giant beasts and not humans. They existed at the time when the God of men married the daughters of men(pagans).
here are some interesting theories (against mine): (good reads)
http://doctor.claudemariottini.com/2006/03/nephilim-again-response-to-joe-cathey.html
http://www.gnmagazine.org/issues/gn46/profilesfaithnoah.htm
I think nephilim were dinosaurs. I may be wrong, but here is an intrep. of Genesis :
“Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.
Then the Lord said, ‘My spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty (120) years.’
The Dinosaurs were on the earth in those days {AS WELL}, . . ., when the sons of God came into the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the STRONG men who were of {THE} old {WORLD}, men of Great fame. Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
thanks
Hi, my name is John. How are you? I have a few questions I want to ask:
Could dinosaurs come from fallen angels having sex with animals?
Could the water that covered the earth before God created separation between water and air be the reason why the theory of life coming from the ocean exist?
Does the phrase, “…I will never again flood the earth…”, point to previous global flooding?
Is there a theory that says that there has been creations (plural) for all eternity, since God is eternal? What was there before the,”…Beginning…?” Or is that word there for our benefit since we can’t comprehend eternity?
I saw a show that stated Darwin observed birds on islands in the Galapagos that had beaks specific to food on their respective islands. He felt God would not have done this on purpose so they must have grown to adapt.
Is this an accurate portrayal of Darwin’s story, and why wouldn’t God pay close attention to these needs the birds would have? This seems to be a limited view of God’s abilities. Did Darwin suffer a great loss prior to his trip that would cause him to question God in such a way?
Thank you for your time.
Hi John, let me try and answer, as best I can your comments:
Q — Could dinosaurs come from fallen angels having sex with animals?
A– No. Both God and science agree that species give rise to the same species. Cows give birth to cows, horses to horses, etc. Man was made in the GOD KIND and not after the MANKIND! This is why God could impregnate Eve!
The Bible makes it clear in Gen: 1 that the world was RECREATED from an earlier world (google tohu bohu)that may have consisted if other creatures like dinosaurs.
Q— Could the water that covered the earth before God created separation between water and air be the reason why the theory of life coming from the ocean exist?
A— The Bible says that ANIMAL life originated in the seas. Plant life preceded animal life by 2 days, and on day 5 God says: “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” Implying sea creatures were first (maybe just by minutes however!- It depends how long the day was)
Q—Does the phrase, “…I will never again flood the earth…”, point to previous global flooding?
A– YES! There was a world before this world!
Q—-Is there a theory that says that there has been creations (plural) for all eternity, since God is eternal? What was there before the,”…Beginning…?” Or is that word there for our benefit since we can’t comprehend eternity?
A- None that I know of. The earth was created- so it did have a beginning, GOD always existed.
Q—-I saw a show that stated Darwin observed birds on islands in the Galapagos that had beaks specific to food on their respective islands. He felt God would not have done this on purpose so they must have grown to adapt.
Is this an accurate portrayal of Darwin’s story, and why wouldn’t God pay close attention to these needs the birds would have? This seems to be a limited view of God’s abilities. Did Darwin suffer a great loss prior to his trip that would cause him to question God in such a way?
A— Darwinism is junk science. Yes there is adaption among species, but not evolution. Look at the story of the camel I posted Saturday. Could a camel evolve such abilities? Why not just “roam out of the desert!” and move to a better climate! As for Darwin himself, he was not the originator of evolution! He stole it from the Greeks! Darwinism is just another form of paganism, under the veil of science!
Thanks
Don’t worry about the problem of the earth being “made” in six days because to make something is to take something that already exists and make something else out of it. To create is to create something from nothing. That’s why creation is summed up in Gen. 1:1 and only used in that context. Gen 1:2 makes since anyway of God’s judgment in Job 9:5-8 took place. That’s what Job was talking about.
This is so true! Darwinism is just another form of paganism, under the veil of science!
“In the beginning” is the beginning of this universe, or this group of parallel universes. The angels, of which there are different kinds, were created, each kind, in its own universe. All the universes are so different that even the term “different” doesn’t have any meaning. They all went through “stages” in their respective universes, and either joined God, or do not exist any longer. All explanations like this really have no meaning, because the universes of the angels are/were so different from ours and from each others’ that nothing can relate between them, not even the term “nothing.” It is only through a translation done by God that the angels exist here.
———-
Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall from Heaven like lightening.” [Past]
“And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” [Past]
“Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.” [Past]
In all these things, there is overlapping of time, and jumping back and forth in it. In the Revelation, there is a mixing of John’s personal as-he-was-watching timeline with the jumping back and forth in their own times of the events taking place.
The point is that many of these things happened between the time of the beginning and the time of the Genesis first day. “The earth became formless and empty.”
Who are the third of the stars that the dragon’s tail flung to the earth?
———-
Note in the sequence of the 6 days of creation, that, except for the light, all “substances” come from the mass of whatever it is that is called “earth” – “The earth (this universe?) became formless and empty.”
———-
Ezekiel 28 – second half – not really the king of Tyre. Not really the earth of this creation formation.
“‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God…
… You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. …
… So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. …
… and I reduced you to ashes on the ground
in the sight of all who were watching.”
So great was the battle in Heaven between Michael (God’s ambassador/general) and Satan, that “The earth became formless and empty.”
But, who was it that were there watching?
———-
She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.”
Do you know for a fact, ever, what will happen even in the next second? The people of Hiroshima were mid-stride, knowing exactly where their foot would fall when it came down. And then, with hardly a hint of warning, they were, simply, gone.
Part of the iron scepter is that, this whole universe operation is set, has already been determined and set in place. Thanks be to Him, the One Who holds our freedom open so that we can be free, and partake with Him in the setting of this Creation… so that we can have true freedom even though we are ruled by the “iron scepter” of cause and effect, action and reaction, that has long ago determined what will happen.
Thanks be to HIM, the One Who upheld the whole Universe when the tail of the dragon swept a third of its operational laws out of practical operation.
Thanks be to Him, the One Who holds us in mercy and grace so that we have a time to decide, with Him, whether or not we will abide with Him forever… and once again take up practical operation.
Thanks be to Him, the One Who, in mercy and grace, set up the “re-creation” of the 6 days so that many of those who were swept from the sky by the dragon’s tail might be rescued.
———-
How great, far beyond understanding, is the awesome power and majesty of the Almighty.
Name something besides the Earth the God created formless, void; that indicates God created something that needed more work. God’s creations are always perfect, but sin comes in and God needs to do some restoration. The Bible seems to indicate the Earth will again be remade in the future.
God creates a baby in the womb formless and void at first. The language GOD uses in describing Creation is likened many times to a baby being created in the womb…”forming” us Literally means to mould into a form; especially as a Potter.(Isaiah 45:18). Its the same word FORMED GOD uses here (and other places describing how HE created us.
Isaiah 45:9 And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb [to be] his servant,
Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee;
He even says HE placed a garment (cloud) on the earth and wrapped it in a swaddling cloth as if it had come out of the womb!
Job 38:8-9 Or [who] shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
The GAP Theory is a fraud, fabricated by “christian” men trying to blend science (evolution / old earth) with GOD’s WORD
I think their first estate was allegiance to God.
The article although having traces of a possible alternate view becomes blurred when the commentator associates Jeremiah 4:23-26 as pre-creation for these scriptures are most definitely speaking about the time after the second coming when the world is thrown into Armageddon and nuclear war.
No, it is the Hebrew words here that match in Genesis. The term is for the translation of the Hebrew. The Earth BECAME formless and void. Yes, the earth will become formless and void again, but these are the two places that the Hebrew is translated. That’s the important factor.
I Googled “Genesis” because I wanted to verify what God showed me in a vision. And Wow! I came across this page by God’s grace! The truth I wanted to know was; Did the devil fall before Genesis? ans the first few paragraphs on this page answered yes.
God showed me Genesis 1:2. This is what I saw in a vision:
I was taken by the Spirit back to Genesis 1:2. The Earth was covered with water – deep clean waters, and the ocean was so calm. I then saw the Spirit of God hovering on the surface of the waters. I looked from deep within the waters, and I saw the darkness. From the deep, the spirit of death arose to the surface of the waters, and instantly I saw Jesus, and Jesus turned and said to the spirit named death;
“Your time is coming, and you shall NOT rule over lives anymore.”
[Note that at that time there was no life on earth yet]. Then Jesus forced-push the spirit down to the deep where it came from.
Then I saw what Jesus meant by “Your time is coming, and you shall NOT rule over lives anymore“. Jesus meant what is happening today.
I saw as we pray for people to be saved, that same spirit that I saw being pushed back to the deep, it checks out of those people’s lives. I saw the people I have been praying for their salvation for, their souls are too tired and hungry, but they don’t know it. I saw how that evil spirit tortures
their souls while still on earth, but as soon as we ask God to save them, the first thing Jesus does is cast out the spirit of death in them. Then He starts changing them with time.
Note that Jesus came to earth to brake the power of death, and now the chains are loose, by believing in Him and trusting in Him as we do the will of the Father in our lives…
Be very careful with “visions” as they can also be from Satan.. Test all spirits…
Um….AFTER the Second Coming….? Probably not.
Sorry but I have to disagree with you on this. Jeremiah could not be talking about the time after the second coming in this passage. Even though it will be a cataclysmic event with nuclear war during Armageddon, the earth will still have inhabitants during this time and still have a “form”. Jeremiah clearly states that there was “no man” and that the earth was “without form and void”. The only other place we see this passage in the Bible is in Genesis 1:2. the passage also states that there were no birds and no light in the Heavens (since heaven is plural here it would seem to refer to not only the earthly sky/ atmosphere but the cosmos also) Are you saying that the sun, moon and stars will cease to exist also during Armageddon?
How will the earth become formless and void again?
Matter cannot be destroyed, and we know that the present universe is going away, and a new heaven and earth will be reformed out of the formless and void condition that the earth and universe will be in, after the millennium.
I have some ideas for the early creation days:
I think in Genesis, God is giving us a simple explanation to how our UNIVERSE was actually created, long before any science could have explained it. Most of it is written in parable, and not meant literally, so as to make it easier for us mere mortals to understand. For example, early on in Genesis, the word “earth” is used to refer to the Universe, and in the first verse or two, it referes to physical existence BEFORE our universe. Our universe is made of space-time, but that universe exists inside of what one might called the “physical realm”. The physical realm is where God created our universe, and is separate from the other realm that I call the “spiritual realm”. The spiritual realm is where God exists (and the angels, and everything else that is spiritual/supernatural, including the sub-realms of heaven and hell, into which souls are sent based on whether they are Saved or not). And it is from this spiritual realm that He reached out and created a new realm, the physical realm, which is a “container” (so to speak) inside of which He later created our universe (or universes, plural, if you believe modern science, though our universe is the only one we need to be concerned with, so in the rest of this post I’ll just refer to our universe by the phrase “the universe”).
Below I give my interpretation of the first few sentences in the Book of Genesis.
Where it says: God created the heavens and the earth.
I think this refers to God’s designing and setting into existence the fabric of the cosmos and laws of physics into which God could produce physical creations. That is, it represents God’s creation of a “physical realm” (as opposed to the “spiritual realm” which is where God and all things spiritual dwells) into which God could in turn place our universe, which in turn is where God would place all matter and energy.
Where it says: And the earth was without form and void.
Is a description of what God created, but using “parable” terminology that we mere mortals could understand. However no planet existed at this point. Rather it is an accurate description of the now empty “physical realm” which God had just created
Where it says: And God moved on the face of the deep.
I believe that this is again a “parable” to us mere mortals, who are be unable to understand the spiritual nature of a VERY SUPERNATURAL phenomenon that is being described. That is to say I don’t believe there is literal water here, as at this point our universe has yet to be created, let alone a planet with water. Rather this is describing God “moving” through the new realm he just created, inserting his presence into this new realm, so that He would be physically present alongside His creations (a situation that changed drastically after Adam and Eve committed their first sin, and God withdrew His presence from all who chose to not believe, and also from the spiritual sub-realm of Hell, where all evil was to be placed for eternity).
Where it says: And God said “let their be light”.
This refers to the moment of creation of our universe (the “Big Bang” as it is is commonly called in the scientific community). And indeed it would have been a big bang, and indeed involved A LOT OF LIGHT, as it was a massive explosion full of matter denser than at the core of stars, and energy including heat and light greater than produced by anything since. This enormous discharge of energy is the “light” referred to in this verse. At the moment of this event, the fabric of space-time (the universe) was created and was full of massive amounts of energy, and began to expand at many times the speed of light, only later to cool off over billions of years. In fact this cooling off of the universe, when matter began to condense out of the energy, is what I believe Genesis refers to when it mentions the separation of light and dark (even before the sun’s creation).
Below listed are several other portions I’m interpreting based on my view (this is a list, but not necessarily sorted in the order in which they are mentioned in Genesis):
When it refers to a separation of the earth from the heavens, this refers to the condensing of matter from the early solar system (filled with clouds of dust and gas) to form the planets (specifically the earth).
And when it refers to the sun’s creation it refers to the moment that fusion reactions ignited in the sun’s core.
Separation of the land from the water refers to seismic activity that caused upheaval of the land masses such that they protruded from oceans, which were previously covering the ENTIRE earth’s surface (in fact if you took all the uneven terrain today, and flattened it out to the average height of all the terrain, you’d find that ocean water would cover the entire earth’s surface to a depth of thousands of feet).
In an atomic explosion, matter is tuned into energy. That matter longer exists.
Educate yourself.. Matter can not be destroyed.
http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=4837
Jim…
In an atomic explosion matter is turned into radiation. Fission is the breakdown of one material to make another, different material. In the process a great deal of heat and light is also released as a byproduct of that breakdown. There is no net loss because all matter is simply energy in potential. So no, the matter does in fact still exist, as energy. If you had even the most basic understanding of the 4 laws of Thermodynamics you wouldn’t have made such a patently ridiculous statement.
Well put! Thanks
Essentially what I was taught and from my reading of the Bible always holds true, is that God always says what He means and means what He says. If God is speaking in a parable it will be cllearly stated in His Word, otherwise all scripture would be subject to parable interpretations.
Big Bang theory says “two chemicals came out of no where. We don’t knob where they came from. They just hooked up and something happened. Pow!!! Explosion. Here we are . Earth!” Is it possible? Can it be proven? Yes, but only through the manipulatory hands of man and his machines he uses in science.
Creation from the biblical stance says “there was a dude who used words or gestures or thoughts to created worlds and planets. And here we are. Earth!” Can it be proven? Is is possible? Yes! In but only through the minds of the believer.
Bottom line. We are here and we have two unique tools “spirit and matter” and they are both capable of creation.
That’s why God always wins in the end.
the most important thing about the scriptures is obeying them .Learning about creation is great but obeying the Word Of God is a must.What good is knowing how God made the world when you are heading for hell? I myself will do well to realise this. Repent people and ask forgiveness.
“if my people who are called by name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways I will hear from heaven forgive their sins and heal their land ” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
To me; I am a scientific researcher, and have my own theory about the origin of the universe!!!…, which is this: “The bible says that: the invisible of GOD, turns to visible form His Word in the Creation”…so, to me, when god said, let the light be, then immediately the Higgs boson, or the god particle was created and nuclear fusion took place. Then, after millions of years, or the second creation day, the first black hole was created. So, to me, the universe is NOT expanding, rather it is rotating around that initial black hole. And, because scientists says that black holes eats other smaller ones and also eats white matter, the universe is rotating around this black hole being pulled by it as a whirlpool. This means to me that the universe is the CLOCK GOD is using to measure HIS creation end time. Once all matter will be consumed Jesus will come back to Earth and human history will end. And, to me, the black’s hole point of NO return, where matter disappear, is the limit or border of the physical world and god’s kingdom!!!…
Space and time have NO existence. Those are wrong terms used by scientists!!. Space, if it exists it would have to be part of the Creation, and the term itself means: “that matter is not in it or it is not matter!!. A perfect vacuum does NOT exist, so, for space to be part of the matter, it have to be matter too. And space, is full of energy, and energy is matter according the Einstein theory. To me this is a wrong term thought in science by school teachers. Time is another wrong term used by scientists. Time is only the rotational movement of planets, measured by men and for men interests. Days and nights are the same, day for light and night for darkness or light absence!!!…same to the term “year’, the exact moment the Earth completes its movement around the sum in the same point it started. So, to me those are different states of the human mind!!. The age of the people should NOT be measured by days or years, but by the genetic code or inheritance, and have NOTHING to do with men’s time!!..Einstein equation teaches matter and energy, and say nothing about space. So, the equation is INCOMPLETED, it doesn’t mention space, which should be also matter to be completed.
satan ruled the earth but wanted to exalt his throne above the stars of god. Was kicked out to the earth with a third of gods creations. God destroyed that world, dinasaurs and all. Read 2nd peter 3:5on. Jeremiah saw what the earth had become void and without form Jeremiah 4:23-28. There was a world and heavens that then was, the world and heavens that is now, and the world and heavens when this one is burned up. All the same earth that was originally for us when we were watching god place the earth in the heavens mentioned in job. If lucifer had never sinned genesis 1:2 and onward might not have been necessary. God chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Who decided to make man in our image, after our likeness? Us! and God. In the beginning there was a heavens and an earth existing before god put anything into the heavens or on earth. Somewhere before the earth was void and without form is when lucifer wanted to run the whole show and not be content with running the earth. He wanted to be like the most high. Just an observation. God Bless.
The entire universe came from the perfect Mind of God. From perfection comes perfection not the opposite. All that God created was complete and instantaneous. But,what God creates can and did ‘fall’ into sin and ruination like man,and I believe the universe and earth,etc.
Peter says under inspiration ‘…the world or cosmos [Gk.] that then was[Gen.1:1]being overflowed with water was ruined (Gen.1:2).'(ll Peter 3)
‘Cosmos’ in Greek means well- ordered or perfectly arranged, but it fell into ruin or destruction from a massive flood of water. In Gen.1:2 the word ‘deep’ is tehome and means a gigantic mass of ‘raging waters.’ This is not the flood of Noah which came in Gen.7! Where did all this water come from? The word ‘heavens’ in Gen.1:1 means ‘uplifted waters.’ It was this water that Satan and his now fallen angels used when they fell to destroy this universe in Gen.1:1 as well as this earth.
NASA has proven conclusively that Mars, for example, was at one time flooded to some degree with water all over its surface. The same for the moon. Water flowed on the moon in the distant past.All that water eventually evaporated, but the universe shows signs of a great catastrophe. As far as one can go into the universe there is evidence of water even as ice on the moons of Saturn for example.
The gap theory Gen.1:2 is castigated because it shows’ millions of years’ of time and some believe the earth is 6,000 years old. But, the massive destruction from water could have been cleared by God within, say, 40 days or the number of judgment and probation. This earth was ‘reconstructed’ as given in Gen.1/2 in 24 hour days 7 days in total. There is no positive 100% accurate method of dating the earth and the heavens at this time. We do know based on Biblical chronology-genealogy man has lived about 6,000 years on this planet.
I have carefully researched Hebrew and Greek as well as the significant words in Genesis and since 1963 and it shows that the original creation fell into ruin by water just as Peter says in ll Peter 3. He is not talking about the flood of Noah if one is fair in their contextual and word analysis,etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_discoveries_of_water_on_Mars
This goes with my treatise about there being water all over Mars at one time.
I certainly agree that God formed me in the womb and also made to become like Him. That’s just awesome! Yes, I was created physically formless, but I was born and grew and matured into a man (mechanical engineer). But there came a time, as a man, when sin came into my life, and God made a plan that if I would die to self, He would give me a new life, His life. Sounds kinda like Earth’s history. God created me perfect, God created the Earth perfect. Sin came into my life and destroyed me, sin entered the Earth and it became formless and void. Jesus came and gave me newness of life in Him, God took 6 days to restore the Earth. Jesus will return, change my body to be like His so I can live in His world with Him as King, Jesus will return and destroy this Earth and create a new Earth with Him as King. (We may have different views on end time events but I think you get my drift). I think it is unfortunate that you and I grew up in an era with evolution as a dominate theory. It can make it easy for some who are uninformed to label a brother as “christian” and not a Christian, a Brother in the Lord. Do I believe the Earth is old? Yes, I think so. But do I believe man evolved from apes? No. God created man, lions, monkeys, fish, birds, bacteria: all life. I do not necessarily believe all the comments on this site, but I encourage you to read them again. I don’t think any of them believe in ape/man evolution. Belief in an old Earth does not make one a believer in evolution. May you and I both grow in our knowledge Him who made us.
You are right. #1 is to draw close to God. He then promises to draw close to us. WOW. DOUBLE WOW! But maybe #2 or #7 or #…. should be to study His word. Maybe #57 should be to study Gen.1 to learn more about our God, how and why He does things. Hey! lets study about the feasts on Israel. It’s not #1, but maybe it’s got some value in teaching us about God. Maybe by studying about how and why God made the Earth, I can learn more about Him. God put Jeremiah and 2 Peter in His Word for us (that includes you Tony). God you bless Tony, but give God a chance to grow and mold you. The goal of His mold is the same for us all, but His process is uniquely designed for each soul. David said “My times are in Your hands.” You stunt your personal growth in Him when you deliberately choose to ignore parts of His Word. I am 69 yrs old and spent large parts of my Christian life believing parts of the Bible were less important. You can trust the Holy Spirit will emphasize portions of the Word for a time, but He never says this or that portion is unworthy of your time and study. Remember, it’s ALL God’s Word and, you have His Holy Spirit to co-ordinate all your times and study (Genesis to Revelation). OH OH Wait! Most scholars think Job was the first book written and was available to Moses when he wrote ….., but…… that’s another subject.
One more large falling rock would do the trick. I believe that there were multiple extinction events in the past. The last one was 65.5 million years ago. I think the the creation events in Genesis have occured since that time. Genesis 1:2 as written in the Tinsdale bible that predates the KJV said that the earth became formless and void. Look at the footnote at the bottom of the first page in the NIV version to find this account. The NIV translation reduces this to a footnote out of fear that the NIV might not be generally accepted. The translaters simply made a mistake that became accepted over the ages.
Yes the right translation is BECAME…. Here is a link to the Bible I published: http://theplaintruth.websitetoolbox.com/post/get-you-own-copy-of-the-plain-truths-new-red-letter-bible-for-2-99-6695321?pid=1281605388#post1281605388
it has that wording…..
Read Genesis for free from Amazon…
I will definitely buy this if it were to be paperback!
I enjoy your comments very much, and they seem quite open to discussion rather than spiky and contentious.
It’s clear that you jumped into false conclusion,Angels were indeed created in Genesis 1:1-Look at the order it was heavens and then only earth.God should have created angels along with heavens or before or after that,but before the creation of earth in Genesis 1:1.
Angels were created in Genesis 1:1 according to Job 38:4-7 –The Lord asks Job;
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone-
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?”
See here God has started the creation of earth only,heavens and angels have already been created.Read again Genesis 1:1-In the begining God created Heavens and the Earth.Only after God created Heavens and Angels he laid the foundation for Earth.That is what Job38:4-7 says.
So it’s clear that God created Heaven,Angels and Earth in that order in Genesis 1:1 and that Gap Creationism/Gap Theory is the only correct explanation for origin of universe-Heavens and Earth.
It is clear, then, that the angels were created in the beginning” at Genesis 1.1, and that from Genesis 1.3 onwards re-creation and restoration works of God starts which shall only be completed by Revelation 22:21-That is the time of eternity of New Heavens,New Earth and New Jerusalem.
Existense of heavens and the way they were created are also fundemental to Gap Creationism/Theory.So let us examine it.
Scriptures speak about 3 heavens-1-Earths Atmosphere-Sky.
2-Outer Space-Angelic/Satanic realm.
3-The real Heaven-Dwelling place of God.
Genesis 1:7 says-“And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.”
Here the Bible is saying that God established a three-heaven structure between the Earth and the heavenly abode of the Ancient of Days. The firmament is the abode of the sun, moon and stars, and the galaxies. In other words, it is speaking of the entire physical universe. And the Bible says that God placed waters above that firmament. In doing so He placed a “Sea” between the footstool of His heavenly throne and the less than pure physical universe down below.
Also make note that in Genesis 1:8 the Lord God says nothing about this being good. Although God says, “it was good” concerning days 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 He does not say that about the work of the second day. Ever wondered about that? The reason is very simple. Although this division was not good, it was necessary to protect the creation from the flaming glory of God’s Holiness. Nothing impure can stand in His presence, and even the presence of a regenerated heavens and earth was not completely pure before God (see Job 25:5).
Also read 2 Peter 3:5-7-“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”
Notice that in the passage that the earth is said to be “standing out” of the water and “in” the water(2 Peter 3:5).
In our English language, these descriptive terms suggest that these particular waters were not confined to the surface of the planet; they overflowed the entire planetary system. The Bible says that part of the planet was “standing out” from these waters. That is to say, the sphere of the planet was partially “overflowed” and the location of the bulk of the waters was external to the Earth itself. The Bible says the planet was “in the water” of this particular flood (think of a round fishing floater bobbing in a lake). In other words, part of the Earth is protruding from the waters and not simply just covered by waters on the surface. The literal English wording of this passage does not describe a flood event confined to the Earth’s surface. This passage describes a deluge that raged across the solar system, and beyond. Our solar system and outer space are the Second Heaven of the Bible’s three heavens.
Try to draw this mental picture: Think of a dark and ruined solar system with water strewn throughout it like one big messy galactic spill. That is what Genesis 1:2 is speaking about. And imagine the planet Earth drifting awash in this roaring and rolling, formless mess and orbiting around a dead star. Where would such waters have come from? Well, it is an established scientific observation that aging stars create and give off lots of water. Certainly there must have been lots and lots of stars in the heavens that were “of old” and, if something had caused the entire cosmos to have gone dark and all the stars died, then there would be excessive water everywhere throughout space. If that was indeed the case, then all those extinguished stars would need to be reignited to be seen in our present heavens.
Scientists find existense of a great amount of water on the edge of our universe-Black holes-www.wired.com/2011/07/black-hole-h…
Modern science consider Black Holes as the borders of our physical Universe.We are seeing only 3 or 4 dimensions( “4” if Time is included as a dimension).But Science today has discovered up to 8 more dimensions in compressed form-F theory/Father theory making a total of 12 dimensions.
Scientists consider black holes as the edge/border of our physical universe into something outside were all dimensions exist.What is important is that scientists have found out existense of water in these borders of our universe known as black holes,not some water but trillions of trillion times water than that of all the earths oceans and water systems combined as this link will show you-www.wired.com/2011/07/black-hole-hol…
So let it be ,as in Psalm 148:2-5-
2 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! 3 Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! 4 Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created.
Only those who are holy can see God.We are made holy not by our merit ,but by the sinless blood of Lord Jesus Christ shed on the cross for our sins.Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of all mankind shedding his sinless blood to wash away the sins of all those who will trust in him.And all those who trust in Lord Jesus Christ can have eternal life.
Scriptures speak of our eternal residence not on this heaven or earth now ,but in New Jerusalem,New Heaven and New Earth.
Revelation 21:1,2-
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
I would suggest you read this link: http://www.kjvbible.org/gap_theory.html and I think the idea that the earth is 6,000 years old is easily debunked….
Yes i agree with you and i commented after reading it.
However one thing to not is Job 38:4-7 donot make the Gap theory flawed on the contrary it reinforces Gap theory as the only correct explanation of Biblical Creation.This is because in Genesis 1.1 God creates Heavens first and then only earth.Since Job 38:4-7 says,Angels were already created when God laid the foundation of earth we can conclude that God created Angels either before ,after or along with his creation of heavens.
Most probably it could be before the creation of Heavens that Angels were created because otherwise God would have mentioned in the creation order of Genesis 1.1,also because Angels are spirit beings like ourselves and live/die forever-Revelation 20:10.
God bless you.
Gap Creationism-Origin of Universe
Gap creationism (also known as Ruin-Restoration creationism, Restoration creationism, or “The Gap Theory”), is a form of Old Earth creationism that posits that the six-day creation, as described in the Book of Genesis, involved literal 24-hour days, but that there was a gap of time between two distinct creations in the first and the second verses of Genesis, explaining many scientific observations, including the age of the Earth. In this it differs from Day-Age creationism, which posits that the ‘days’ of creation were much longer periods (of thousands or millions of years), and from Young Earth creationism, which although it agrees concerning the six literal 24-hour days of creation, does not posit any gap of time
Gap creationism became increasingly attractive near the end of the eighteenth century and first half of the nineteenth century, because the newly established science of geology had determined that the Earth was far older than a literal interpretation of Genesis and the Bible-based Flood geology would allow. Gap creation allowed religious geologists (who comprised the majority of the geological community at the time) to reconcile their faith in the Bible with the new authority of science. According to the doctrine of natural theology, science was in this period considered a second revelation, God’s word in nature as well as in scripture, so the two could not contradict each other.
Gap creationism was popularized by Thomas Chalmers, a divinity professor at the University of Edinburgh, founder of the Free Church of Scotland, and author of one of the Bridgewater Treatises, who attributed it to 17th century Dutch Arminian theologian Simon Episcopius. Other early proponents included Oxford University geology professor and fellow Bridgewater author William Buckland, Sharon Turner and Edward Hitchcock.
It gained widespread attention when a “second creative act” was discussed prominently in the reference notes for Genesis in the influential 1917 Scofield Reference Bible.
In 1954, a few years before the re-emergence of Young Earth Flood geology eclipsed Gap creationism, influential evangelical theologian Bernard Ramm wrote in “The Christian View of Science and Scripture”.
The gap theory has become the standard interpretation throughout hyper-orthodoxy, appearing in an endless stream of books, booklets, Bible studies, and periodical articles.
Canadian physiologist Arthur Custance has argued that the belief of Gap creationism can be traced back to biblical times, citing the Targum of Onkelos (2nd c. BC), Akiba ben Joseph’s Sefer Hazzohar (1st c. AD), Origen’s De Principiis (3rd c. AD), and Caedmon (7th c. AD).
Interpretation of Genesis
Gap creationists believe that science has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the Earth is far older than can be accounted for by, for instance, adding up the ages of Biblical patriarchs and comparing it with secular historical data, as James Ussher famously attempted in the 17th century when he developed the Ussher chronology.
To maintain that the Genesis creation account is inerrant in matters of scientific fact, Gap creationists suppose that certain facts about the past and the age of the Earth have been omitted from the Genesis account; specifically that there was a gap of time in the Biblical account that lasted an unknown number of years between a first creation in Genesis 1:1 and a second creation in Genesis 1:2-31. By positing such an event, various observations in a wide range of fields, including the age of the Earth, the age of the universe, dinosaurs, fossils, ice cores, ice ages, and geological formations are allowed by adherents to have occurred as outlined by science without contradicting their literal belief in Genesis.
Biblical support
Because there is no specific information given in Genesis concerning the proposed gap of time, other scriptures are used to support and explain what may have occurred during this period and to explain the specific linguistic reasoning behind this interpretation of the Hebrew text. A short list of examples is given below:
The word “was” in Genesis 1:2 is more accurately translated “became”. Such a word choice makes the gap interpretation quite easier to see in modern English.
God is perfect and everything he does is perfect, so a newly created earth from the hand of God shouldn’t have been with form and void and shrouded in darkness-Deuteronomy 32:4, Isaiah 45:18 1 John 1:5
The Holy Spirit was “renewing” the face of the earth as he hovered over the face of the waters- Psalms 104:30.
Angels already existed in a state of grace when God “laid the foundations of the Earth”, so there had been at least one creative act of God before the six days of Genesis-Job 38:4-7
Satan had fallen from grace “in the beginning” which, since the serpent tempted Adam and Eve, had to have occurred before the Fall of man. Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:11-19, John 8:44.
Space, time, water, and the rock which constitutes the main body of the earth, existed before the period of six days began in Genesis 1:3.
Commonly called the “Gap Theory” or Ruin-Reconstruction interpretation, it is a theological interpretation much older than Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. It is based on the Scriptural fact that in the second verse of Genesis, the Holy Bible simply and clearly states that the planet Earth was already here (but in a ruined state) before the Divine process described in those six days even begins. Understanding this Biblical mystery begins with the precise wording of this New Testament cross-reference:
“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”
(2 Pet 3:5-7 KJV)
Contrary to popular interpretation, the above passage is not a reference to Noah’s flood. And the only other place in the Bible where the Earth was covered in waters is Genesis 1:2. The ramifications are obvious: The literal wording suggests that the “heavens and the earth, which are now” (made during the seven days) was not the first-time creation of all things as is traditionally assumed. The Word of God appears to be telling the reader there was a previous populated world on the face of this old Earth before God formed the present world of modern Man. This invalidates the popular Doctrine of Young Earth Creationism.
The Bible itself provides insight into a great mystery in Earth’s natural history at what is known as the Pleistocene – Holocene boundary. Science remains at a loss to definitively explain the Ice Age and the anomaly of the mysterious mega fauna extinctions across the face of the Earth about 12,000 to 10,000 Radio Carbon years ago. Geologic evidence from that period indicates extraordinary global massive volcanism, gigantic tidal waves, seismic activity on a vast scale, and extreme temperature swings on the Earth over a geologically brief period of time. It is no coincidence that the Bible at Genesis 1:2 describes the Earth as flooded, desolate, and in darkness in the timeframe closely corresponding to these catastrophic events in the Earth’s natural history. Clearly, these two mysteries are linked.
Why the old “world that then was” ended, and why God made a new world and modern Man, requires a study into the ancient origins of Satan and the Angels. The Earth has an ancient natural history that can be deciphered from the geologic record, but it also has an equally important ancient spiritual history that can only be deciphered from Rightly-Dividing the Holy Bible. Knowledge of both is required to correctly reconcile Geology and the Book of Genesis. We pray you will find this material useful in your study of God’s Holy Word.
Gap Creationism is an ancient idea. The first theologian who thought of such an idea was St. Justin Martyr. He was born in the year 100 and coverted to Christianity in the year 130 of our Lord. He was pesecuted for his faith and was beheaded in the year 165. St. Justin Martyr supposes an indefinte period between the Creation and the first ordering of all things. This puts the idea of gap creationism 1,700 years before the scientific data of geology gave it credibility. Another great theologian and philosopher that believed in gap creationism was St. Augustine of Hippo. He was born in the year 354 and died in 430. He believend in a considerable interval between the Creation related in the first verse of Genesis and of an account given in the third and following verses.
There is a great space of time since gap creationism was taught in our history. The reason was that many false teachings of our Lord and Savior came into existence by falsely lead believers, and much time was spent straightening out such false doctrines. Also, the Dark Ages entered into the existence of the world, and education was frowned upon. After the Dark Ages, the gap theory was traced to a man named Simon Episcopius who was born in 1583 and died in 1643, and who was a theologian and scholar of his time. In the works of Episcopius, the gap theory of creationism show up in more detail. Thus, the gap theory of the old-earth theory predates the present-day geology by 200 years.
The gap theory has been portrayed as an attempt to change the Word of God as a way to appease the scientific discoveries. Scientist have gotten its idea of an age-old universe from ministers of the Word of God years before geological evidence came into existence. How is it possible then to claim that the gap theory compromises the Word of God? Also, present-day evolution was not coined until after the writings of Charles Darwin. By the way, Charles Darwin was a minister of the Word of God who graduated in the top ten of his theology class. Some major changes were made to his work for approval by the unbelieving scientists of the time. Darwin believed in God as the creator of the universe.
Charles Darwin has been misunderstood by both religion and science. His teaching have been misrepresented by science and condemned by most believers in God when it ought not to be the case. The word evolution is not even in his writings, but some geologist insist that we come from apes. It is a historical fact that many modern-day geologist believe in evolution, but the early geologist were Christians, and they believed in a vast amount of years for the Creation to occur. Evolutionists have taken the geological evidence and twisted these facts to promote evolution of the species. No such evidence is seen in geological formations. Rev. Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), a mathematician and a respected minister, was a leader in the Free Church of Scotland. Thomas Chalmers became one of the most popular preacher of his time. He taught the gap theory, and it was accepted by many.
Rev. Thomas Chalmers, in a review of Cuvier’s Theory of the Earth, taught that there was a vast period for the formation of the geological ages and the organic ages to have occurred after Genesis 1 when God created out of nothingness. Genesis 1:2 was a period, which life became void and formless; and the sun, the moon, and the stars were temporarily extingushed. Genesis 1:3 was to be preserved as the natural twenty-four-hour periods and the restoration of the old heavens and the earth. Science in this author’s opinion has made a terrible mistake. They have taken the fact of the geological ages, the fossils of vegetable and applied those fossils to the idea that man must have developed just the same way without any fossils of man evolving from apes. Man was made in the image of God so he could have not evolved from apes, your are implying that God himself has evolved, for man was made in his image. Man was far more superior to the plants or beasts of the field.
Dr. John Pye-Smith (1774-1851), who was a good acquaintance of Thomas Chalmers, had almost the same view as Rev. Chalmers. In the Congregational Lecture Sixth Series, Scripture and Geology in 1840, he gives a brilliant defense of the gap theory of creation and a scholarly offence for the promotion of that theory. This man’s credibility was attacked by ignorant believers in God and also by geologists.He wrote more extensively on the subject of gap creationism than most others who believed in this gap theory. Rev. Denis Crofton was another advocate for the gap theory of creation. In his book Genesis and Geology printed in 1853, he gives many scriptures on the gap theory and biblically defends the theory with boldness and brilliance. There were many other ministers that defended such a theory.
Yet many evangelical Christians tell us that they all changed their minds about the gap theory of creation, which simply is not true. This is a misrepresentation of the historical fact of the gap theory of creation. Rev. William Buckland was the first to read rock formations and the first to find a lizard that was considered a dinosaur. He was the first to find a complete skeleton that predates Adam. He believed that it was the minister’s duty to study what the creator has created and to learn more about God. In 1820, he published a book The Connection of Geology with Religion explained. William Buckland believed in a gap-theory catastrophe. In 1823, he published a book Observations on the Organic Remains Contained in Caves, Fissures, and diluvial Gravel and Other Geological Phenomena, Attesting the Action of a Universal Deluge. When you read this book, you can see the subtleties against the young-earth concept. Other geologists agreed with the age-old theory of creation.
Hugh Miller in his 1857 book The Testimony of the Rocks states both sides of the issue of young-earth and old-earth theory of Creation. He personally makes a stand for the old-age earth theory though it is different than gap creationism, and it is stated in this book although we are told that he believed otherwise. Also, reverend and professor of geology, Edward Hitchcock defends the concept of the old-age earth and gap creationism with scripture and geology. In his 1851 book Religion of Geology and Its Connected Sciences, he clearly states the gap of time between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. The list continues to grow while I do my research and buy rare book on the gap theory of creation. These are just a gew of the major players in the old-earth concept.
Why do we not teach this concept anymore and pretend that the great minds of Christians from the past are insignificant? These are just a few prominent individuals that believed in the gap theory of creation. Creationists have labeled them as compromisers of the Word of God. Compromisers believe in scientific evidences in geology and say that the world is old, and the scriptures do support those ideas, Creationists believe in a literal six-day Creation and believe the universe is no older than 10,000 years and say the scriptures do not support the universe as being old. Therefore, creationists have given those that believe in the gap theory of creation a negative label to discourage others from believing in the same way as gap creationist.
Our best expositors of scripture, Rev. David King of Glasgow says that it seem to be now pretty generally agreed, that the opening verse in Genesis has no connection with the verses that follow. They think it may be understood as making a separate and independent statement regarding the creation proper, and that the phrase in the beginning may be expressive of an indefinitely remote antiquity. On this principle the Bible recognizes, in the first instance, the great age of the earth, and then tells us of the changes it underwent at a period long subsequent, in order to render it a fit abode for the family of man. The work of the six days was not, according to this view, a creation in the strict sense of the term, but a renovation and restoration of preexisting.
All based upon scientific theories masquerading as laws, which are really brilliant and work most of the time, but which, like man, are subject to error. I find your faith in science disturbing.
A brilliant (And I’m sure time consuming) explanation of (I dislike the term) “Gap Theory”. I prefer to think of it as simply the correct interpretation of God’s word.
Something else I am sure would interest you is the word “Foundation”. Not all, but some Greek interpretations of this word is “Katabol” which is a casting down. Many believe this was Satan’s overthrow which took place btwn Gen 1:1 and 1:2 when the earth became void and w/o form. There have been Mammoths found under the frozen tundra in Siberia with buttercups still in their mouths! I.E. they died “in situ”, or suddenly. Many believe that this was an era where the temperature remained the same from the equator to the poles; there was no jet stream, and then Satan’s casting down happened.
Also, Job talks about a time when “All the stars sang for joy, and the angels shouted for joy”. I believe this is simply God’s children before the Katabol happened. I.E. before Satans overthrow, we all were of one accord and lived in harmony until Satan messed it all up by wanting to sit in the mercy seat. This was when Gen 1:2 happened. He wasn’t happy to just guard it (He was a “Covering cherub” (which is depicted on the ark of the covenant. Two cherubs on each end of the mercy seat covering it with their wings)he wanted more power (Pride was his downfall).He wanted Christ’s position (as we see all through the bible; Satan tries to copy Christ. Christ is called “The morning star” Satan also assumes that moniker. In the song of Moses, it is written “He is the rock but not OUR rock”. He also imitates Christ at the sixth trump. In Revelation 6:2: “he who sat on the white horse wore a bow”. This word “Bow” in Greek is “Toxon” which is a cheap fabric imitation of the real Shekinah glory that the real Christ will have on His crown upon His return. Sorry for going on…
It means the Greek and Viking and other mythologies were real. They thought the angels were gods because of their special poweres and their children birthed by human mothers were more than mortal. It makes sense if you think about it. It’s why israel was instructed to destroy utterly some civilizations. They weren’t totally human. God wasn’t cruel just saving us
Absolutely NOT TRUE. It is impossible for a horse to father a cow. Angels cannot father human children. God can (Jesus as example) because we are made after the GOD KIND. Angels were not made in the order of God. They look like CREATURES, not like humans. They can take the appearance of humans, but that is not what they look like in the spiritual form. It is true that humans saw these angels and demons (hence were mythology of giant CREATURES come from) but all humans are humans. GOD ORDERS the death of humans for failure to follow the LAW! It’s the Plain and Simple.
What about the rest of the verse? “and the Spirit of God was moving over (hovering) the surface of the waters” I’m confused as to where the Holy Spirit would be hovering if this in connection to being close to the darkness and the surface of the deep seeing as you have connected it to demonic realm.
Is the darkness being spiritually dark and where the demons realm exists in connection to why Adam and Eve experience Satan tempting them to eat from the tree that they are commanded not to?
Where are the other verses that can help shed more light onto the rebellion before creation, the forming of the earth, etc.? (I see some of your Job verses which are credible.)
Forgive me, I don’t understand your question. The Spirit of God can certainly be in darkness! The Bible is full of instances where God appears at night, even wrestled with Jacob at night. If you are honest with yourself and realize that during creation week, every day ENDS in the morning (Thus the new one starts), then you will see that Light = day That simple.
Just a couple thoughts: 1) from the Arthur Custance book, Without Form and Void; the GAP theory is much older than Chalmers in 1814 as noted. I did very much enjoy your article.
See http://www.custance.org/Library/WFANDV/app_i.html
I am reminded of the great Lewis S. Chafer quote: “Measureless evil has arisen through the suppposition that because a man is well advanced in the “wisdom of this world,” that his opinions are of value in spiritual matters. The “natural man,” with all his learning and sincerity, will find nothing but “foolishness” in the things which are revealed by the Spirit. The knowledge of science cannot be substituted for the indwelling of, and right relation to, the Holy Spirit of God. Apart from the Spirit, there can be no regeneration and the “deep things of God” are unknowable.”
Yup, excellent overview, thank you!
Very wonderful spiritual content . Am quite confused though.. As you continue reading the following verses, it says God separated the darkness from light. So we had the day and night, a lot is now ringin in my mind about the “darkness” is it still spiritual darkness or physical darkness
Just read the words… The Light He Called DAY the darkness He Called NIGHT…. Sounds like Day and night to me!
Why God created Earth and for whom?? For human beings or for satan and it’s angels Isaiah 14 :12 it is written”how you are cut down to ground”
This is very good. Moses explains too little regarding earth prior to mankind’s BEGINNING. Creator God renewed earth that HAD BECOME NULL & VOID and I’ve wondered what kind of creatures inhabited it and WHY all life had been destroyed. I’ve wondered if different forms of life were created on other planets before our Creator decided to come back to bring this earth to life again with new foliage, creatures, and mankind. Excavations have unearthed amazing things that prove to be much older than we can even begin to imagine.
There is another site I found to be very good and explains more about the renewal of earth and beginning of mankind. http://WWW.propheticrevelation.net/logos is quite long and was first written in 1984. It’s in 4 parts and gives a very good understanding or explanation of “the Mystery of God in Christ”
The Gebers were hybrids, the giants that were offspring from fallen angels and Eve, and God used the flood of Noah to destroy them because they weren’t natural and according to God’s plan.
There are no such thing. Angels are not after the “God Kind” – Humans are. Angels can not mate with humans, just like cattle cannot mate with humans. Angels are not made in the image of God.
So, does this mean that you reject Genesis 6:1-4? The Bible clearly states that the angels mated with human women and had giant children with them. Those verses are critical to understand because it sets up the rest of the Old Testament. The giant bloodline was in existence throughout the entire Old Testament. They were the races that God’s people had to fight and eliminate in order for them to move forward with God’s plan for them and us, if you can see the great big picture! Because of the extreme evil that came from this demonic race, God cleansed the Earth with the flood, but they were still here after (Gen 6:4), but not the way it was before the flood. They may have survived the flood through Noah’s sons wives. This explains the exterminations and blood shed of the Old Testament, which makes perfect sense! If not, we have a problem on our hands because the Bible states that God instructed His people to eliminate, who? Gentiles? No, that is not the God we serve! The Bible DEMANDS our attention to detail and careful study, meditation, prayer and after the Lord brings revelation. It is also wise for serious students of Biblical studies to explore extra biblical texts, non biblical texts, such as historical evidence, and scientific study that if looked at with an open mind tends to agree with Biblical truth. I pray that the events of Genesis 6:1-4 are looked at and studied more profoundly by those who read this post. Allow the evidence to speak and God to Reveal! God bless you all!
Yes, you are correct! It took me a very long time to see that in the Scriptures.
Greetings, I submitted a post yesterday in response to an older post you had published. I noticed it is not on your website. Was it deleted? It would be very helpful to have frank discussions about these things. Wouldn’t you agree?
The Bible does not clearly state humans mated with angels. In fact, angels do not seem able to reproduce, as they were not created to do so. They are not in the image of God, as mankind is. God can supernatural “mate” with humans, but cattle, for example can not. Human’s were created after the God kind. The traditional explanation seems correct: Sons of the godly committed the sin of intermarriage with the women of the Cainite culture because of its outwardly cultural superiority (based on violence and conquest, as the names of the Cainite kings shows). The prophecy of Enoch, summarized in Jude 14-15 shows when this started (i.e., during his days). Enoch says that their actions were against what it means to be on God’s side, to be sons of God. They were “un-Godly,” a word he uses four times in one sentence. Jude’s letter is precisely written against apostates who are leaving the Christian church. That is what Enoch was prophesying about, and that is who the messengers who departed from their calling in Jude 6 were.
Second, the sin of the Sethites, compromise or intermarriage, was the sin against the Spirit, who strove with men to cause the sons of God to marry the daughters of God – Godly women (Genesis 6:3). The Spirit is the Divine Matchmaker, the Love who unites Father and Son and who draws together true marriages, such as the marriage of Christ and the Church. The Spirit’s striving has nothing to do with preventing angels from marrying (or raping) human women. That is simply off the charts.
All I can say in response to your post is that I encourage you, as a believer,to conduct further research along with much prayer. Your view does not line up with the Scriptures, which are in agreement with countless historical accounts, biblical and non-biblical. Your view causes a misrepresentation of what occurs after Gen 6: 1-4 throughout the entire Old Testament. It creates conflict in understanding the struggles of the Israelites and the direction God led them in and why. I am not here to argue with you, not at all, I would just like to kindly encourage you to further investigate with an open mind and seek the Lord as you do. We carry a very heavy burden when, as followers of Christ, we are given a public platform to present others with the truth. We must always be careful to present truth that has been carefully and prayerfully studied, allowing God to ultimately be the One Who whispers in your ear and brings revelations that only He can give. There is a very fine line between what we think is correct and what is actually correct. We must be very diligent in our studies and careful as to how we present it to others. We Never want to be found guilty in a Heavenly court of misleading those that are sincerely seeking truth. There is a great penalty for that! In reading your responses, I gather that your conflict lies in the term “Sons of God.” I urge you to read Psalm 82, and research the many times it is mentioned in the Bible–consider the context, who is speaking and why! The original wording of this text is “Angels of God,” but I will let you read up on that. I also strongly recommend you read “The Unseen Realm,” by Michael S. Heiser. It will open up your understanding to mainly the spiritual occurrences throughout the Bible. We must never reject the supernatural nature of our God, and more importantly, we must never put Him in a box to fit our own beliefs and understanding. Again, I am not here to argue with you and I am not looking for a senseless back and forth debate on our opinions. My purpose at this moment is to encourage you to open your mind just a bit and allow the Holy Spirit to show great and mighty things that you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3). Peace be with you!
Your response to my original post better suits the readers if my post accompanied it. Your choice, but ultimately the readers are the ones we are trying to reach. Peace be with you!
Thank you for leaving my response up on your site. I appreciate that!
One last thought:
The Book of Enoch is referenced in the New Testament enough times that it makes you seriously wonder why it was not included in the Bible. If it were not believed to be valid and truthful, I am sure the Apostles would have never used it in their writings. Due to the fact that it is mentioned and the record of his life in the Old Testament was of a person that had the ability and privilege to “walk with God,” the book attributed to him deserves our attention and study. There are also verses that you can read, like 2 Peter 2:14 and Jude 6 that discuss the angels that sinned and where they are now. I am sure you can argue that these verses are talking about Satan and his rebel following, but that theory collapses under the weight of the significant amount of evidence found throughout the Bible and in the extra biblical, non-biblical and historical accounts that are readily available for us to use so that we may draw more accurate conclusions. Peace be with you, friend!
The Book of Enoch is not canon. Maybe there is a reason. Today, Christians use other sources to make a point, but that does not make it completely and accurate source, does it. The idea that the Bible quotes from the book may not even be accurate: here is a good read on the subject:
http://www.refuteit.com/the-book-of-enoch-debunked.html
Don’t fall into Satan’s Traps!
Ditto!
No one here, unless I missed it, has considered the 6 days of creation according to God’s time:
2Peter3:8 “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Some say this refers to us in Heaven when we’ll be with Him & yes that is ALSO true…however, remember this one thing we can ALWAYS count on…God NEVER changes! He is the same:Hebrews 13:8 & He never lies to us
Numbers 23:19
Also notice that Peter states, “….be not ignorant….” which would indicate to me that this 1,000 years is a day with God is VERY important.
With this I stand firmly that it took God 6,000 years NOT to create the earth but to make it habitual again for the life he was about to place on it. Therefore, based on what I have studied & asked for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, I believe THIS EARTH AGE is approximately 6,000 years old but the planet itself is ‘eons’ old.
As far as the life He was about to place on it? In short, it was His plan to allow those that rebelled with Satan to have another chance to choose Him or Satan.(except those that have all ready been condemned to destruction) That is what THIS EARTH AGE is all about. I believe those that did NOT rebel & follow Satan are here as “the elect” to help bring about Gods work. Why? Because He knows He can trust them to the things that MUST follow His plan for they stayed true in the first Earth age during Satan’s rebellion.
Last, I respectfully present what I said as food for thought but not to aggravate, irritate or ‘nick’ anyone off. I have searched for many years to learn what God’s book of Love….the Bible…can tell me about how we came to be here, who He is, why I should follow Him & to understand as much as I can about His Word so I am ready for His return & to take as many as possible with me.
If some of us disagree, to me that means we have much to learn, much to grow & friendships to BUILD rather than destroy. We can all be PEACE FILLED in our decisions because God’s Word tells us to: “Love one another” & to find common ground as in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.
Peace & blessings to all that seek to grow & learn in His ways.
While I do not agree with what you present, I love the depth to which you have gone to form your belief. I also love your attitude. Your depth of study prompts me to want to meet you somehow. Would love to compare notes. Keep the study going.
Well Thanks… God willing!
Not only to Lauren King but to all, remember Deuteronomy 29:29
Absolutely fabulous commentary!
Well done indeed!!!
I have read what you said. It’s very interesting but it sounds as if you have taken soon yourself to add to the scriptures. Nowhere in the scriptures does it say “the elect” were here in a prior life. When the scriptures says that to God one day is as 1000 years it is not specifically saying that a day is 1000 years but if you continue reading you will note that it is using the comparison to state that God’s timing can be trusted because in God’s timing He is not slow in His response.
Interesting article TPT. Fascinating subject as I have always believed- words mean things. Learning that translations have strayed from the truth, whether purposefully or not, causes me to dig deeper into Truth and see passages that make more sense when translated properly. It also brings a bigger and much clearer picture into focus. The Latin Vulgate mistranslated the word “lucifer” one time, and a doctrine of man was created in direct opposition to the very Bible it has been written in. Errors are easily exposed since the mistranslators did not do their due diligence to corrupt EVERY use of the word wherever it is used. It is the wisdom of God to hide the Truth in plain sight!
Anyone commenting that anyone else needs to “read, understand, pray, and meditate” until you see things their way, even surrounded by flowery sounding compliments which really read as vile contempt, need to take that passive aggressive hostility back home.
None of us are Winston. This is not 1984, and room 101 does not exist, especially in this website.
Thanks again for the thought provoking article.
Actually they are mentioned that they were chosen before the foundations of the world there are 3 dispensations or epochs whichever you wanna call them dig deeper God give us his wisdom in jesus name many blessings
In order to understand the word of God in its’ entirety, we have to look at the context. I am referring to the original text which is the Hebrew or Greek. The word of God is not religious, (Man’s opinion and interpretation of God) hence my opinion does not count. The study of the word in its’ original text is simply the undiluted word of God. This article was refreshing and it blessed me because that is what truth from God’s word does.
Thank you Walter!
This is a thought provoking comment and God bless you for it. What we need is love, love God, love one another and love ourselves, seek the souls that are perishing with love and bring them to Christ. We are to study to show ourselves approved and this study is right on point. We pray for the Holy spirit to reveal the truth of God’s word to us daily. Blessings
I am joyful I just found this post, and your comment also is a blessing, because I know you could never realized you would post it on my birthday. Just one more confirmation I’m on the correct path. Shalom.
We don’t find saving faith in the Bible, even though we often think we do. Rather, we read and hear the Word, and the Holy Spirit works faith in us from it. Revelation 19 talks about the rider on the white horse. He has a name written on himself that only he knows. His name is the Word of God. Only he knows it.