The Three Time Periods

Creationists generally have three positions regarding the time frames required in how the creation event took place as described in Genesis.  The first is known as the “Day-Age Theory”.  This theory proposes that the six days of creation as given in the Bible relate to periods of time that can be designated as “ages”, “eras” or “eons”, and do not have to be interpreted as literal 24 hour days.  This theory most easily fits in with the geologic ages that are overall supported by the scientific community.  

The second view is known as the “Gap Theory”, which implies that earth was created well before the six day period known as the Pre-Adamic Era, which is located between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2.  This is followed by six 24 hour days that incorporate creation, re-creation and restoration.  This theory is favored among many, although creation scientists still see many discrepancies with it on the basis of science.

Lastly, there is the “Literal-Historical Theory” which states that the creation of the universe, earth, and life all takes place in exact 24 hour six day periods followed by God resting on the last day, the seventh day, also a 24 hour day.

The Hebrew Word Meaning “Day”

The Hebrew word for day is the transliterated word yowm in English (many writers use the pronounciated spelling -“yom”).  In Hebrew, it can actually can mean one of four time frames.  The first is the period of time from sunrise to sunset (day).  The second is from sunset to sunrise (night).  A third time frame can relate to a segment of time without reference to solar days, often relegated to several years.  For example, the Day of the Lord can be interpreted as the actual day Jesus comes to earth or it can refer to seven years of Tribulation (Jacob’s trouble) as described in the book of Revelation in combination with His coming.  And the last time frame for yowm can relate to an age or epoch.   Hence, there is definitive precedent that the Hebrew word, yowm, may refer to various time frames and not just a 12 or 24 hour period that we most often call a “day” simply due to its English definition.

Another unique anomaly in the Bible is that the seventh day in Genesis 1 and 2 is not “closed out”, or articulated similar as the other days. For example, of the first six creation days in Genesis the writer says, “there was evening, and there was morning – the Xth day”(NIV).  This provides finality of the day being completed since it had a beginning and an end.  However, no such finality is given in the seventh day.  This strongly suggests that this day has not yet ended.  This is exemplied in Hebrew 4: 4-10 where the writer states that, “On the seventh day God rested from all His work….It still remains that some will enter that rest…..Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest.”  An interpretation can definitively be made that the seventh day has not yet ended and is still ongoing as it refers that there are still those who need to enter into the seventh day rest before it comes to an end.

Finally, the Apostle Peter states in 2 Peter 3: 8, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”  This can refer that the Lord has the omnipresent power to be present in one day as well as one thousand years all at one time (previous chapters have noted His unique multi-dimensional ability to do so) as well as the same time. Therefore, for the Lord of creation, one day can engender a thousand years, again allowed in the Hebrew definition of yowm.

Understanding Genesis 1:1

The first bible verse found in Genesis tells us God created the heaven and the earth.  The Hebrew word for create is “bara”, which means to bring something into being (usually from nothing).  This is an actual act of God creating something out of nothing (ex-nihilo: latin term meaning “out of nothing”).  The word “bara” is used a total of seven times in chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis.  All other times, the Hebrew word “asah” is used which means “to make” or “to let”.  Biblical translation scholars have noted that “asah” actually means a process of reintroduction, restoration or remodeling of something already created. An example would be remodeling a house as opposed to building it from scratch. Yet, all English bible translations from the earliest (King James) to the latest use the one English word “create” for both “bara” and “asah”.  What is noteworthy is that our language does not differentiate between the act of creating (“bara”) as opposed to a restorative act of God from something He has already created (“asah”).   Simply due to this lack of distinction because of linguistic limitations, much disagreement and incorrect conclusions have come about.  It is completely understandable why significant controversy has surrounded the explanation of Genesis.  Moreover, it can be seen that misunderstanding of the scriptural meaning can occur simply based on misinterpretation of the language, although no fault of the individual’s interpretation.

In Hebrew, heaven can either mean the clouds that move in the visable arch of our sky or the ether (cosmos) where the celestial bodies of stars and planets exist.  Because verses seven and eight of Genesis 1 describe the creation of the clouds that move in the sky known as the “firmament”, by process of elimination, we see that heaven in Genesis 1:1 relates to the creation of the universe.  Therefore, between verse one to verse two, we have an unknown time frame of creation as no time frame is spoken of.  This time frame of unknown length is often times referred to the Pre-Adamite Era as found in the Gap Theory. It is called the Pre-Adamite Era because it constitutes a unknown period of time that occurred before the creation and re-creation (restorative, remodeling) that takes place during days 1 thru 6.  Again, we need to emphasize that this verse signifies the creation point of the universe and earth (“bara”), and does not correspond to the beginning of the six day creation-restorative event as given from verse three on (i.e. beginning of day one).

During the creation phase between verse one and two (“bara), the earth is created in total perfection along with the other celestial bodies.  This perfection is pointed out in Isaiah 45:18, where Isaiah states, “God Himself formed the earth and made it, He established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited…”.  It should be noted that this description is totally opposite of verse two of Genesis 1 which states the earth was without form and void.  The contrast between these scriptures clearly implies that the earth was inhospitable and not fit to be inhabited.  Not only that, but Genesis 2:4 indicates an unknown ‘generation’ of time occurred between the creation of the heavens and the earth.  As Gen. 2:4 so pointedly states, “These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.”  This is certain proof that there was a great expanse of time between the creation of heaven and earth and its restoration within the following six – 24 hour days.  Certainly if God created the heavens and our earth all in six consecutive 24 hour days, He would not have described them as generations as it relates to time.  This is a critical point of distinction, giving significant support to either the “Gap Theory” or “Day Age Theory”. Therefore, it is clearly written that there are ‘generations’ of unknown periods of “days” (which are identified as ages, eons or epochs) between the time of the creation of our universe (which includes earth in its formative stages) and the beginning of the six day restoration/creation period.  As a result, it is possible to agree with science that our universe was created approximately 14 billion years ago, with the most recent estimates stating our earth to be about 3.8 billion years old. It should be pointed out that the scriptures do not in any way refute these scientific claims.  Although evidence can be elucidated to indicate a young earth, they are often based on a steady state creation event which has been pointedly disproven as written about in the chapter VI, the “Creation of Space and Time”.

As can be ascertained, you can see that I embrace the “Day-Age Theory” of creation, restoration and remodeling.  It best fits the evidence that we have before us as well as being confirmed by the scriptures.   One significant benefit of this theory is that it most likely will win a majority of science adherents and lovers to the Gospel whereas the other viewpoints most likely will turn them away.

Another important distinction needs to made with the “Day-Age Theory”.  The Day-Age Theory does not refute God being able to either create (“bara”) or restore (“asah”) within a 24 hour period of time (“yown”).  A perfect example would be the creation of Adam and Eve.  I firmly believe, as many others do, that God created the physical bodies of Adam and Eve as two unique human beings.  And I believe He created them in His image.  However, they were created from the dust of the earth (the chemical ingredients that make up mud) and when God breathed in the nostrils of Adam, he came to life. I also believe Eve was created exactly as the Bible says, where God placed Adam in a deep sleep, took a rib and from him and thereby created Eve.  And I believe God did this all within one 24 hour day.

Finishing Genesis

Before Satan become known as the devil, he was an angel of God whose name was Lucifier (Ezekiel 28:14). As an anointed cherubim (type of angel) before his fallen state, Satan was a heralded angel, that covered (from the Hebrew word “cakak”; meaning to defend, cover, overshadow) the Garden of Eden which God had given him rule and reign over.  As his habitation was in the Garden of Eden on earth, the Bible states the Garden was filled with the most precious stones known to man (Ezekiel 28:13).  Lucifer was also full of wisdom, perfect in beauty and was endowed with musical instruments to worship God (Ezekiel 28:12, 13).  The Bible also states Lucifer walked upon the holy mountain of God as a high priest and communed with God as indicated by the manner in the way he walked in the midst of the stones of fire (Ezekiel 28:14).  In short, Lucifer was a perfect angel and had earth as his possession from the time it was created to the time it was made desolate immediately after his fall, often designated in the period of time known as the Pre-Adamite Era.

At some unknown time during the Pre-Adamite Era, Lucifer began to worship himself apart from God.  He filled himself with iniquity (Ezekiel 28:15) by the abundance of the merchandise God gave him and filled himself with violence because of it.  During this time, he also lifted his heart above God because of his beauty and corrupted his wisdom by his own splendor (i.e. pride).  Finally, the greatest blasphemy and boast any created being could make was when Lucifier said, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God and I will sit on the mount of the assembly and make myself like the Most High (God Himself)”, as given in Isaiah 14:13,14.  This self exaltation to make himself as God is what brought God’s judgment and wrath upon him and thereby caused God to cast him down from his appointed position on earth to the second heaven; that spiritual place where Satan now dwells and operates from.  Most scholars believe that the second heaven not only incorporates the spiritual atmosphere that surrounds our earth such as our atmosphere, but also hell, which is the abode where Satan and his cohorts (demons) dwell.  In other words, the second heaven is a spiritual abode that exists in and around our atmosphere and the hollows of the earth. The Old Testament calls this place Sheol, Hades and Gehenna, the place of torment for all who are banished there.  The modern interpretation is Hell.  We need to keep in mind that Satan and his cohorts, the demons, operate in the physical space of our atmosphere and depths of the earth, however as spiritual beings.

Therefore, one of the greatest controversies regarding the age and beginning of our planet is now confirmed as we see science and the Bible come into agreement.  For example, we find that Isaiah 45:18 (on the right) renders additional substantiation for a pre-existent earth well before the creation of Adam and Eve, as indicated by the scripture. The scripture above states that God did not create earth to be a worthless waste.  Yet, upon inspection of Genesis 1:2 (on the right), we see quite a contrast upon the earth as we read:

These two scriptures could not be at greater odds from another.  Based on the Pre-Adamite Era of time, following the fall of Lucifer who had been given earth as his abode, the earth had to have been rendered inhospitable.  If we go back to the Hebrew Old Testament, we find that the Hebrew equivalent to the English translation of “without form” is “tohuw” and is defined as; a worthless thing, desolation, waste, empty place, etc. The translation of the English word “void” to Hebrew is “bohuw” which means emptiness or an indistinguishable ruin.  Therefore, the descriptions as given in Hebrew are much more indicative to the totality of earth’s devastation than the English words portray.  For example, the translation of our English word “darkness” into Hebrew means misery, destruction, death, wickedness, etc.  Would we be accurate in surmising that when Lucifer fell from his abode on earth in the Garden of Eden, that utter darkness and wickedness came upon the earth that is so representative of Satan and the realm of darkness God assigned to him?  Could it be that the period of time between Lucifer’s possession of earth as God’s anointed angel and thereafter his fall could constitute a great span of time?  Correspondingly, is it possible that from the fall of Lucifer to the six day creation/restoration event on earth there could exist a great span of time as well?  Is it possible that God, through His wrath upon Lucifer to become Satan, brought total darkness, destruction and misery to earth as well?

Let’s return to the creation/restoration event where the second verse in Genesis indicates that the earth was covered completely with water and there was darkness over the surface of the deep.  That the earth was completely covered with water is proven in the next sentence that states the spirit of God was hovering over the waters.  We see a completely flooded earth where there exists no light.  Interestingly, we have a very similar condition seen with Noah and the Great Flood.  Often when the sun is obscured and there exists darkness, it’s often a result of God’s judgment.  It is interesting to note that Jesus often referred to darkness as that place where there is death and evil (Matt. 4:16, John 3: 19-21, Luke 23:44, Eph. 6:12).  Therefore would it not follow that the earth was in complete darkness and defilement after Lucifer imparted sin on the earth by his transformation to Satan?  A flood of the entire earth usually alludes to the need of cleansing of sin, wickedness and so forth – much in the same way such was needed during Noah’s Flood.  This is indicative and an anti-type of water baptism, where water is used to symbolize the washing away of sin.

Let’s Move On, Day after Day

As we noted in our previous section, there was gross darkness upon the face of the earth.  Therefore, the first act that God performs on the earth is to allow or permit light to dwell thereupon.  It should be understood that God is not creating light, but simply restoring it.  We should also realize that the place where light is being restored is specifically on earth and not upon the solar system or cosmos since the cosmos has already been created.  Moreover, we need to keep in mind that the Hebrew word “asah” is operative here, as the English word “let” implies an action of allowing the light “to appear”, “make visible” or “to manifest” that which already has been created.  This light is the Lord’s own light which is the shikinah glory light of the Lord, which exists in God’s kingdom of heaven and will constitute the light of the new Jerusalem following the Millennial reign of Christ as spoken of in Rev. 21: 1,12 and 23.  This can be the only possibility because during the fourth day of earth’s restorative/creative acts, verse 14 states, ‘Then God said, ”Let there be lights in the expanse of the heaven for the purposes of signs, seasons and for the days and years…”’ Later, verse 16 states, ‘And God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also.’  Following the chronological order of the scriptures, it is evident that the light from our sun is made for the day and the light of the night comes from the moon, planets and stars.  Subsequently, this confirms that the light brought forth between day one through day three is not the light of the sun and other cosmic light sources, but the light of God.  Then, on the fourth day God replaces His Own glorious light with the lights from the sun, moon, stars and universe.

In the second day of creation and restoration we read that God makes the oceans/seas and skies and separates the oceans/seas to form the land mass. Again, we should note God is not creating but restoring. For example, presently God makes the clouds as part of our sky by the collection of water vapor from the waters below which produces rainfall and thereby gives us our oceans, lakes, rivers, etc. Scientifically, clouds are nothing more than banks of water vapor. Rain, from where it is derived, is nothing more than a large volume of condensed water vapor. It is not that we see the substance of water created by the advent of rain, but rather the conversion of water vapor condensing to form water which we call rain. In a way we can consider this as an act of “asah” which is a “remodeling” of water.  This hopefully will give us some understanding to the different meanings that can be elucidated from the words “create”, “make” and “let” as distinguished in Hebrew.

Continuing with verse 6, the firmament (or expanse as given in other Bibles) is the area that divides the water that covers the earth and the atmosphere which form our clouds. In other words, it is the separation of liquid water that exists in our oceans, rivers and lakes from the water vapor known to us as clouds as part of our sky. The wording, “…and let it divide the waters from the waters.” is understood by some to mean the waters that existed over the earth and a water vapor canopy that existed in the sky before its collapse during the Great Flood with Noah and the ark. We find that Genesis 2:6 speaks of this very type of canopy, “But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.” We find that the Garden of Eden had such a water vapor canopy during the time of Adam. Therefore, the act of “letting” means separating the waters over the earth from the water vapor canopy of the sky. Verse eight also designates the sky to be called heaven, specifically, the first heaven. The usage of the pleural for heavens means that God created more than one heaven. Most biblical scholars agree that there exists three heavens. The Apostle Paul refers to a man he knew that was caught up into the third heaven, as given in 2 Corinthians 12:2 (interestingly, Paul is actually referring to himself when he physically died at his stoning in Lystra). Therefore, the third heaven would be the location of the kingdom of heaven (of God), the second heaven refers to where Satan and his fallen angels (demons) exist and operate while the first heaven (or mid-heaven as referred to in Revelation) means either the earth’s sky/atmosphere or the cosmos (which specifies the physical realm and is not spiritual). 

Beginning on the third day, verse 9 indicates God redirecting the water that was covering the earth below the atmospheric heaven into bodies of water known as oceans, seas, etc. From this redirection, dry land appears. We should note that this sudden appearance of land comes about by the emergence of land by catastrophic upheavals and/or removal of water as provided by natural physical processes and/or the supernatural power of God. 

We see in verse 11 that God allows the earth to sprout vegetation, plants and fruit trees, remembering that the Hebrew word “asah” is operative here in that God said “’Let’ the earth…” which infers a restorative or remodeling act. Again, we ponder the implications of this word usage. Is it possible that when Lucifer ruled and existed on earth (in the garden of Eden) that the plants and herbs were created at that time and flourished in abundance and incredible beauty?  The Bible is not clear on this point, but certainly could be alluded to by the word usage of “asah”.  However, during the period of Genesis (specifically as stated Genesis 2:5,6) God provides a water canopy of mist that waters the whole surface of the ground for vegetation to abundantly grow, for He had not yet sent rain upon the earth.  

Today, more direct evidence supports the biblical statement that vegetation preceded the proliferation of animal life, especially the proliferation identified as the Cambrian explosion.  In fact, land plants likely existed for hundreds of millions of years before the Cambrian event.  In 2009 two biologists reported in Nature the discovery of isotope evidence indicating that photosynthetic life was as abundant on continental landmasses for the 200 million years prior to the Cambrian explosion as it was for the 200 million years after.(1)  God has now completed the third day. 

On the fourth day, light is restored to earth from the celestial bodies of our sun, moon, stars and planets as indicated in verses 14-19. In this case, heaven is referred to the cosmos where the celestial bodies revolve. Therefore, the greater light that rules our day is obviously the sun whereas the lesser light to rule the night is our moon and stars. Verse 16 concludes the scripture by stating that God made the stars also, which not only associates this day to the restoration of light for earth by the celestial bodies but also that He is the Maker of all the stars and points of light in the universe.

On the fifth day, the Hebrew Bible states that God created the great whales and every living creature that moves in the waters and every winged fowl, using the Hebrew word “bara”. Different Bibles substitute great whales (as given in the King James translation) with the term “sea monsters”. The Hebrew word tanniyn as given in the Hebrew Old Testament is identified as a marine or land monster, sea-serpent, jackal, dragon or whale. Therefore, it is impossible to surmise that this specifically refers to a monster such as may be related to dinosaurs or actually meaning a whale. Nonetheless, this scripture points out that every living creature that moves in the water was created at this time. Whatever the case, it still infers that all sea life; whether whales, sea monsters and fish, were created by God.

The fossil record testifies that for the first 85% of life’s history on Earth there were no creatures we would refer to animals. Then, suddenly, in shallow seas and continental shelves, life-forms manifesting nearly every conceivable body plan appeared. In both the Avalon explosion (375 million years ago) and the Cambrian explosion (543 million years ago) swarms of diverse sea animals abruptly emerged.  For the first time in Earth’s history of nearly 3.8 billion years, creatures supported appendages, limbs, skeletons and specialized organs. In fact, of the 182 mathematically possible skeletal designs conceivable for physical life, 146 show up in the fossil record of the Cambrian explosion event.(2)

Again, these “explosion events” of life appearing suddenly in great quantity and diversity has even led evolutionary scientists mystified.  One of the most vocal and popular antagonists to God and the Bible is Richard Dawkins.  He states in his most popular book, The Blind Watchmaker….

“For example the Cambrian strata of rocks, vintage about 600 million years, are the oldest one in which we find most of the major invertebrate groups.  And we find many of them already in an advanced state of evolution, the very first time they appear.  It is though they were just planted there, without any evolutionary history.” (3)

On the sixth day, we see the final combined creative and restorative processes induced by God, representing certain land creatures and the creation of man and woman. We note in verse 24, as it relates to land creatures, that God uses the restorative process of “let”, but rectifies it in verse 25 as being “made”. Is it possible that some creatures God restored may have been initially created and existed during the Pre-Adamite Era and thus restores their existence upon the earth during Genesis?  There could be a correlation as this possibility was noted earlier when Lucifer’s abode during the Pre-Adamite Era in the Garden of Eden may have already contained various plants, fruit trees and other vegetation.  The Bible is not clear on this, therefore I offer this as a speculation.

In the case of newer creatures that did not exist during the Pre-Adamite Era, God would have had to create a new life entity that did not already exist before. As noted, God uses a transmutation process where the dust of the earth is used to bring forth these creatures. This is verified in Genesis 2:19 where it states, “And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air…”. This also correlates with the first man, Adam, being both made and created from dust. As we read the scriptures, it is of interest that God gave man the right to subdue the earth and have dominion over all fish, fowl and every living thing that moves upon the earth, as noted in verse 28. Naturally, this dominion should be exercised with care, balance and restraint. It was never meant that individuals like Wild Bill Hickcock were in proper dominion when he decimated the buffalo herd to near extinction. Yet at the same time, it shouldn’t prevent man from hunting for purposes of survival. Also of importance, Genesis 2:7 states that God made man as a living soul, thereby identifying the triune nature of man; being of spirit, soul and body.

Conclusion

Origin-of-life researchers now know that life originated on Earth within a geologic instant of time without the benefit of prebiotic building block molecules.  No prebiotic soup and little or no time eliminate the possibility of a naturalistic origin of life taking place on earth (i.e. evolution). As for life arriving from outer space, the environment of the early Earth and extra-terrestrial sites, the more we see the necessity of divine intervention to initiate life.  Given the observational data and the fundamental principle of cause and effect (effects cannot be greater than their causes), the necessity of supernatural intervention seems inescapable.  And that’s the story Genesis 1 tells us. (4)

The most important feature the Genesis 1 creation/restoration story tells a clear, simple and straightforward presentation of crucial, life-relevant data, which we can now verify.  What’s more, it demonstrates what scientists call predictive success.  It conveys details only recently known and understood to be factual.

Genesis 1 correctly identifies four initial conditions of the planet in the era before life appeared.  It accurately describes ten major transitional events (creation events) and places all ten in the correct chronological order.  None of the non-biblical creation accounts come close to this level of accuracy.  The Babylonian creation account titled the “Enuma Elish” comes closest, but it strays far into the fictional realm.

As if in anticipation of modern skepticism, Genesis lies open to testing against advancing knowledge of science and history.  Although widely publicized misinterpretations of Genesis 1 clash with accepted fact, no problems remain when biblical (and scientific) rules of interpretation are applied.  This openness to testing – testing for validity, testing for human limitations and biases – commands attention.  The Genesis creation account cannot be dismissed as irrelevant or inconsequential.  If the certainty of its “supernatural” truthfulness can be sustained, then we must indeed face its spiritual implications. (5)

As we have shown throughout this book, with all the proof and evidence that has been provided, either the Holy Bible is truly the word of God or it’s a humanly crafted fraud.  The most critical element to our life is believing that Jesus did come to earth, died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected from the dead for our benefit.  That benefit is to believe that our best days are yet ahead of us,  that we will forever live with Jesus in the dimension that He calls heaven or paradise.  Based on those who have been so blessed to experience a glimpse of heaven, wouldn’t it be just a shame not to believe in their testimony?

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church and stated that if Jesus Christ has not risen from the dead, then all our preaching is empty (futile) and your faith (speaking to the church body) is also empty.  Not only this, but we are found to be false witnesses of God (liars).  Worse, if we then have hope in Christ, we are of all to be most pitied. For if Christ is not risen, our faith is futile; and we are still in our sins! (1 Corinthians 15:13-19).  God forbid!

All the contributors that have made it their mission to test the Holy Bible can now collectively join that band of theologians at the top of the mountain and bless them with the “mountain” of evidence and proof of what they believed before such was ever available.  We most certainly need to thank God that He has so providentially provided us with such a great amount of evidence to His reality and truth.  No doubt, this is the grace of God exemplified.

Eight days after Jesus had risen from the dead, He appeared again into the upper room where the disciples were staying.  This time Thomas, one of the disciples who is well known for his doubt, was with them.  It seemed as though Jesus came specifically for Thomas when He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into my side.  Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”  Thomas answered and said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”.  Jesus replied, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. (John 20:27-29).

My prayer for you is that you will be super blessed by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to believe, even if you haven’t seen them personally!   It is my greatest hope and desire that with all that you have read, you would be persuaded to believe in the name that above all names, Jesus Christ! (NEXT CHAPTER)