There are so many public figures that try to explain earth being less than 10,000 years old. Why must it be so young? I take a literal viewpoint too and yes I can add up the ages of time since Adam I don't quite make it to 7000 but there the argument stops. Think Biblically for a second, does the Bible explain how and when God created the heavens and the earth? No, in fact the book of Job said that we would not know his power or how he created everything. Scripture does say he spoke it into existence.
"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. (5) Who determined its measurements--surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? Job 38:4-5 ESV
But notice this:
"For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the LORD, and there is no other."
Isa 45:18 ESV
Did you notice that it was not created empty and it was formed to be inhabited?
Ok so then take Gen 1:1-2 ESV,
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (2) The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Was the earth empty? I think so, when did it become empty.. well perhaps there is some division of time between Gen 1:1 and 1:2.
Some day there will be new heavens and earth,
"For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your offspring and your name remain.
(Isa 66:22 ESV)
This will actually be the same earth we are on today but it will be reborn through fire it was at least once destroyed through a flood (this may have been different than that at Noah's day)
and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.
(2Pe 3:6 ESV)
But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
(2Pe 3:7 ESV)
In these instances it talks about two different earths' both are the same planet but have been restored and re-created upon.
Barnes' notes says this about 2 Peter 3:7,
"The world that then was ... - Including all its inhabitants. Rosenmuller supposes that the reference here is to some universal catastrophe which occurred before the deluge in the time of Noah, and indeed before the earth was fitted up in its present form, as described by Moses in Gen. 1."
So what was the original creation like, that is beyond this scope. I will dare to dream that there may have even been some kind of pre-adamic man (maybe they were the angels present at the second creation event)
a quote from talmud:
Talmud - Mas. Pesachim 54a - Seven things were created before the world was created, and these are they: The Torah, repentance, the Garden of Eden, Gehenna, the Throne of Glory, the Temple, and the name of the Messiah. The Torah, for it is written, The Lord made me [the Torah] as the beginning of his way. Repentance, for it is written, Before the mountains were brought forth, and it is written, Thou turnest man to contrition, and sayest, Repent, ye children of men. The Garden of Eden, as it is written, And the Lord planted a garden in Eden from aforetime. The Gehenna, for it is written, For Tophet [Gehenna] is ordered of old. The Throne of Glory and the Temple, for it is written, Thou throne of glory, on high from the beginning, Thou place of our sanctuary. The name of the Messiah, as it is written, His [the Messiah's] name shall endure for ever, and has exited before the sun!
Good scientific refutation of young earth creationism can be found here: http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/Evidence_against_a_recent_creation
Blessings,
SF
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