PART ONE REVIEW

To quickly review, we said that some think that the Earth is now somewhere in the neighborhood of 6000 years old. Yet, archaeologists have dug up remains of animals and also man-like creatures that have scientifically tested to be many thousands, and in some cases, millions of years old. And so there seems to be a conflict between science and theology. In Part One we began our attempt to Biblically explain and reconcile this tremendous difference of time between the two beliefs.

In Part One we presented two basic Biblical principles which are absolutely necessary to learn in order to correctly understand our subject " Creation", and understand it both scientifically and Biblically.

First, we learned about the existence of time gaps within the scriptures. We went to the book of Isaiah and saw in the 9th Chapter where there was a gap of time of about two thousand years within one verse of scripture. Then we saw a similar time gap in Zechariah the 9th Chapter, and another one in the 61st Chapter of Isaiah. We learned that there are also additional time gaps ---- in Hosea 3, Daniel Chapters 9 and 11, Amos Chapter 9, and so on. Actually there are numerous time gaps throughout the scriptures. There are indeed time gaps in the Bible - sometimes right in the middle of a verse, and sometimes between two or more verses.

Then we learned a second Bible principle --- namely: "Sin always brings about judgement". We know that it was because of sin that the following destructions took place: The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire; The World during Noah's time was destroyed by a flood; and The Children of Israel were expelled from the land that God had given them. We also believe that because of the abundance of sin worldwide, God will soon be bringing judgment upon the entire Earth --- upon the children of disobedience and unbelief --- but not upon those who belong to God. As God's children, we have not been appointed to partake of His wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Everyone who has been washed in the blood of Christ will be removed from this Earth just prior to that most terrible seven years of all times (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

In Part One I said that it is my belief that a time gap exists between the first two verses of the Bible --- between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 --- a gap of time of unknown and indeterminable length. There is no way for us to calculate scripturally just how many years this gap covers, but most likely it consists of millions of years. I stated that I also strongly believe that during this gap of time between these first two verses there was a flood. And I said that prior to that flood dinosaurs, wooly mammoths, mastodons, and some type of man-like creatures were living on this Earth. But because of total sin and their corrupt leader, Lucifer, they were all completely destroyed by this Pre-Adamic flood. There were no survivors. This flood was different from that of Noah’s time which took place many years later. During Noah's flood both man and animals survived. But this Pre-Adamic flood yielded no survivors whatsoever where man and beast are concerned.

Scientists used to think that those pre-historic man-like creatures came along much later in time than the dinosaurs. But at Glen Rose, Texas, they have discovered footprints of these man-like creatures right along with the dinosaur's tracks. This could only mean one thing. They both existed and lived in the same area at the same time.

Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth." We saw in Part One where the King James English word "created" was translated from the original Hebrew word "Bara," (Ba-ra'). And we found out that Bara means, "to originate from absolutely nothing." Now this word "bara," or "created," is very important to our subject, and so we'll need to keep that in mind, because we're going to talk in more detail about it again. It's going to really mean something to us a little later on in this lesson.

Now here's what I want you to see, and I’m going to try to prove it by the scriptures. The statement I want to make is this: I believe that there was a pre-Adamic world which existed between the first two verses of the Bible, and that all of its life forms were destroyed by a global flood upon Earth which came because of Godly judgement which came because of sin. Because of this flood, (and this is pure speculation) a volcanic eruption or something took place that caused there to be dust or smoke or maybe steam or vapor or something in the air which came between the sun and the Earth so that the sun, the moon, and the stars could not be seen from Earth, nor did they shine upon Earth.

Now there was no one on the Earth during this period of time following that Pre-Adamic flood that I'm talking about. But if a person had been on the Earth, they would not have been able to see the sun or the moon or the stars because of this volcanic dust or smoke or steam or vapor or whatever in the air. The book of Joel says that during the last days there will be "vapor of smoke" and, as a result, the sun will be turned into "darkness". Joel 2:30-31 says, "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the Earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come." Sounds like a replay, doesn't it? When will the "day of the Lord" come (or begin)? At His second coming. So these conditions as mentioned in Joel will come to pass just prior to the second coming of Christ to Earth.

Now that's what the Bible says, and Joel is telling us about the coming judgment just before Jesus returns the second time. As we've already mentioned, judgment always follows sin. Job 9:7 says that because of God's anger, He "commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and (He) sealeth up the stars".

Do you realize how fast it would become cold, and how cold it would get if the sun instantly stopped shining on Earth? Couldn't this be the scriptural explanation for what science refers to as the "Ice Age"? In recent years, wooly mammoths, which are not common to us, have been discovered up north, in the Arctic area. They were still frozen and very well preserved. They were so well preserved that they still had their cud in their mouths! It’s as if they were instantly frozen!

I ask a friend of mine about this freeze situation. My friend worked in the cryogenics lab and later with lasers for over 30 years with the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in Los Alamos, New Mexico, so I figured he knew what he was talking about! I asked of him this question: "If the sun suddenly stopped shining on the Earth, how cold would it get on Earth and how fast would it get cold?" His answer was, "Very cold - - - Very fast!!!"

I believe that’s what happened. Sometime in the past, during that time gap period between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2, immediately following the pre-Adamic flood, God caused the sun to cease shining and these Pre-Historic animals were frozen instantly! Frozen so fast that the very food they were eating was still in their mouths!

Sin always brings judgement (worldwide flood), and darkness is a result of and follows judgment (no sunlight) Darkness is never a result of creation. Light, on the other hand, is always associated with creation. After all, God is light. Amen? So, we should now be able to relate and apply this principal of judgement and the resulting darkness back to that first pre-Adamic flood --- the flood that took place between the first two verses of Genesis.

Genesis 1:1 is not a summarization statement of the verses that follow! Verse 1 is merely the introduction to the whole Bible and all history. It also marks the birth of time and sets the boundary between time and eternity. "In the beginning (of time --- not eternity) God created the heaven and the Earth".

Notice that this scripture mentions "heaven" first and then "Earth", while all subsequent verses mention "Earth" first. Also note that verse 1 mentions "heaven" --- singular —(not heavens). Verse 1 means the first heaven which is the air and atmosphere immediately surrounding Earth. Why? Because that's where mankind is ordained to reside.

In 2 Corinthians Chapter 12 the Apostle Paul talks about being caught up unto the "third heaven". As I said, the first heaven is the air and atmosphere immediately surrounding Earth. The second heaven is what you and I refer to as "space". The third heaven which Paul mentions is where the New Jerusalem and the throne of God are presently located.

What the Bible is trying to reveal to us here in Verse 1 is about how God created the Earth and its surrounding atmosphere way back in time, possibly millions of years ago. Even though the rest of the Universe is included, the Word doesn't specifically mention it because that's not where Adam and his descendants (that's us) are supposed to abide. God made the Earth and all of its many blessings for mankind --- not Mars, or Venus or some other planet! Amen?

So verse 1 is referring to the original creation of Earth and all the following verses are referring to the Earth's "restoration" from its flooded and frozen stage which was brought about because of sin and resulting judgement. Next, Verse 2 tells us about the Earth's condition following the Pre-Adamic flood.

Then verse 3 and the following verses are referring to the Earth's restoration back to an inhabitable state once again, similar to the way it was before that Pre-Adamic flood.

Psalm 104:30 says, "Thou (meaning God) RENEWEST the face of the Earth" Now that word "renewest" is the Hebrew word "Chadash" (pronounced Khaw-dash') and it means, "to re-build." You see, to make new is one thing, but to "renew" means to make it new again! Amen? Now let's take a look at the book of Isaiah in Chapter 45. I want to show you something that might surprise you.

Now what about that phrase "not in vain". What does that really mean? Like I said during Part One, this is 1611 English and we don't talk like that any more. If we had been there ourselves, back in 1611, and had read this, we would have perfectly understood what God was saying. Listen to how some other versions state this verse.

Now think about this! Is there anything so difficult for God that He has to do whatever He does several times in order to get it right? Can we associate confusion and chaos with God? I don't think so! As a matter of fact, 1 Cor. 14:33 says, "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, ...." James tells us in James 3:16 that confusion is the result of envying and strife and every evil work! Envying and strife and evil work doesn't sound like God to me. The Greek word for "confusion" in both of these scriptures means "instability" and "disorder". Does that sound like God to you? Of course not!

As God's children, we ought to know that whatever He does, He does it right and complete the very first time. After all, He's all powerful, all knowing, and omnipresent. He's not limited in knowledge and power as we are. So then He's not in the "creating a mess" business, Amen?

Go back again to Genesis 1:1-2. "In the beginning God created the heaven and Earth. And the Earth was without form and void." Well, after saying all we just said about God and confusion and chaos, it looks like we've found a contradiction here between Isa. 45:18 and Gen. 1:2. Verse 2 says that "the Earth was without form and void". But we just read over in Isaiah 45:18 where it says that the Earth was not formed a chaos-- not formed as a mess.

Well, it looks to me like we've either found a contradiction in the scriptures, or we've got a problem for ourselves! But every good Bible student knows that there are no contradictions in the Word. Amen? So it looks like we've got ourselves a problem. How are we going to accept both of these scriptural statements, both of which were inspired by the Holy Spirit, to be the absolute Truth?

Well, once again, I submit to you that God has given us the clue in the very first verse --- in verse 1. In other words, God says, and I'm paraphrasing "Look, if you want to know the story about how I created everything, I told you all about it in verse 1 - and that's it. That's my statement. In the beginning of time, out of nothing, I created planet Earth and its atmosphere. When I originally created Earth, I created it a perfect planet so that it could be inhabited. I did not create it a mess! But, the free-willed inhabitants sinned to the extent that I had to destroy it with a flood as an act of judgment. That flood destroyed all original life forms. The rest of the story of Genesis Chapter 1 is how, after many years later, I restored the World, in six literal 24-hour days."

Well, let's see if we can back up these statements with the Word of God. Let's see what the Bible really teaches about the six days. You see, there had better be a time gap between those first two verses in the Bible, or we've got a contradiction in the scriptures! And we're going to have to make up our minds right now. Either the Bible (on occasion) does contradict itself, or it doesn't. How do you vote? My vote says "it doesn't"!

Now everyone knows the lights mentioned here are the sun and the moon. Amen? And you'll notice on down in verse 19, it says, "And the evening and the morning were the fourth day." But back in verse 16, it says, "God made two great lights".

If we were reading the original Hebrew text here, we would understand that the word "made" in verse 16 literally means "to make visible; to make to appear." It is not the same Hebrew word which is used for the word "created" back in verse 1. It's not the Hebrew word "Bara", and it's not a word which means "original creation".

Now concerning the sun, moon, and stars, I believe this is what happened: When that Pre-Adamic flood took place, something had come between these heavenly lights and the Earth, and on the fourth day of "restoring" the Earth, God removed this barrier --- this dust or smoke or steam or vapor or whatever, and allowed the sun and moon and stars to RE-APPEAR. God simply made them visible AGAIN, just as they had been before that pre-Adamic flood and just as you and I see them now!

Before we continue, here's a very important and vital bit of information. We need to understand that the Hebrew word "Earth" in English means "dry land". So please keep that in mind as we continue. Now lets go back again to Genesis Chapter 1, and verse 9. Follow me closely now, or you'll miss it!

You see, we've always read this verse as if it said, "let the land appear dry" haven't we? But that's not what this says, is it? No - it says, "Let the DRY LAND appear."

Now I have a question for you. How would "dry" land appear if it had never been dry in the beginning? It couldn't have. You see, initially, in the beginning, it was dry --- BEFORE that Pre-Adamic flood took place! But now, here in verse 9, the Pre-Adamic flood has already happened and Earth (the dry land) is under the water and the water is being gathered into one so that the originally dry land might once again appear! Are you beginning to catch on? Can you see it?

The Earth or "dry land" had previously been dry (before the flood) but now it was under water, wasn't it? So since the Hebrew word in verse 16 means "made" or "let there be" instead of "create", then it's talking about an act of restoration, or restoring. Take a look at verse 10. According to verse 10, the "dry land" was named what? It was named "Earth". Who assigned that name to this planet? Almighty God Himself! So lets go back now to the very first verse once again and re-read it with that in mind. Verse 1 -"In the beginning God created the heaven and the dry land." Doesn't that make better sense now? Can you see it?

When God first created the Earth, in the beginning, it was created dry to begin with. It was later on that it became wet because of that Pre-Adamic flood that took place during that time gap between the first two verses of the Bible. But that's not all! When the Earth became flooded and covered with water, and then if the sun's heat was no longer reaching Earth, what would happen? The Earth would immediately become frozen, wouldn't it? Yes! And I also believe that the Earth remained in that frozen state and condition for quite some time.

And then, in the latter part of verse 2, many, many years later, when the Spirit of God (Who is light) began to move upon the face of the frozen floodwater that covered Earth, and a few verses later when the sun's heat once again began to reach Earth, the ice began to melt. Then God gathered all that water (melted ice) into one place and called it "seas".

Well, how long did it take God to do all this? A lot of people believe it took God six thousand years to do all this. But I made a rather rash statement when I said that God "restored" the Earth in six literal 24-hour solar days. Is that in the Bible? Well, let's see if it is.

First we should know that the Hebrew word for "day" is "yom." "Yom" can mean almost any segment or period of time, such as a day, a week, a month, or an hour. How about YOM Kippur? Sound familiar? Sure! That's the Jewish DAY of Atonement that comes around once every year. So did Earth's restoration take place in six days as I say, or six thousand years as many others believe? Please permit me to present my case.

I don't know if you ever thought about this or not, but every good scientist knows that before you can have vegetation, you've got to have sunlight. If that's correct, and I believe it is, then we have a problem here in the scriptures. Boy, what a mess! God must have really goofed! Why? Well, because He caused the grass, the herbs, and the vegetation to come forth on the third day but He didn't restore the sunlight until the fourth day! Do we have a problem here? Only if those days were a thousand year days! If you're one of those who believe it took six thousand years, you have a problem!

If you have ever studied botany, which is the study of plants, you know that most plants have a small pocket in their make up which we refer to as chloroplast. This small pocket or chloroplast contains the plant's chlorophyll, and a plant that has chlorophyll must have sunlight to live. So a non-believing scientist would likely say, "God got it backwards. He should have restored the lights first and then brought forth the green vegetation." WRONG! This might be news to some people, but God knows what He's doing! So why did He do it the way He did? He was merely giving us the clue as to the timing of this whole restoration process! He wanted us to know that it was six literal solar days!

When the sun goes down tonight, will all the vegetation and all the trees and all the grass die before the sun comes back up in the morning? No, of course not. On the other hand, what if the sun doesn't rise for a thousand years? I say that those who advocate that it took six thousand years to restore Earth have failed to rightly divide God's Word in that area. They haven't looked at the Word closely enough. There's no way that vegetation could live for even one year without sunlight, much less a thousand years. When God says, "The evening and the morning" --- why don't we just believe Him? The simple proof and way that you and I can truly know that these were literally 24-hour solar days and not a thousand years here in Genesis, besides the fact that God Himself says so, is the fact that the vegetation remained alive.

Did you know that not very many men in history have ever dared to claim that dominion ability? Daniel claimed it in the den of lions, didn't he? And because he did, God sent him an angel. David also claimed it. As a young boy, a lion came against him. I believe David might have said, "Father, I've been reading my covenant, and You said that I have dominion over all the wild beasts. So this lion problem is Yours, not mine. I roll this care over on You. You've got to do something about that lion." Since God always honors His covenants, I believe He enabled David to slay that lion.

Remember now, pre-Adamic man, those man-like creatures who had lived in the "World that was before", were completely wiped out - - - no survivors. But this time the Word says that God created man in His image (in looks) and in His likeness (with the potential to have divine attributes and character)." I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure that pre-Adamic man was not created in God's image and in God's likeness.

Several years ago I saw on the evening TV news where some German scientists did DNA testing on the remains of a Neanderthal body. Their findings indicated that Neanderthal's DNA fell completely outside the parameter of the DNA of today's modern man. Their conclusion? Neanderthal is not modern man's ancestor! Well, we knew it all along, didn't we? At least we should have! If we'd only read the Word and believe it!

Take a look at that word "replenish" in this verse. The only way Adam and Eve could have re-plenished the Earth would be if the Earth had previously been plenished to begin with? How does one re-build a house if the house has never built in the first place? Webster's Dictionary defines that word "replenish" this way: "To make full or complete again; to supply again". Re-plenish --- Re-store --- Re-appear!! Are you seeing it now? In some of your Bibles that word "replenish" may have been translated as "fill" the Earth. But that's not a good interpretation.

And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the Earth.

The Hebrew word used here in verse 1 as translated "replenish" is exactly the same Hebrew word that's used back in verse 28 of Chapter 1. You see, God told Noah to "replenish the Earth." He did so because the Earth had already been "plenished", back in Adam's time. The Earth had already been inhabited and occupied by Adam and his descendants. So since God told Adam the same thing, ("to replenish the Earth") then we have to conclude that at some time in the past, BEFORE ADAM, the Earth must have been acquainted with some type or form of man-like creatures. Amen?

Now let's go back to Chapter 1, verse 2, and the first part of which says, "and the Earth was without form and void." The word we want to look at now (and you never would have guess this) is "was."

It's rather interesting that the Hebrew word for "was" here in Chapter 1, verse 2 is the very same Hebrew word as you find on over in Chapter 2, verse 7, where it says, "And the Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul." The word "was" in verse 2 of Chapter 1 is the same Hebrew word as the word "became" here in verse 7 of Chapter 2.

So without any violation, if we were reading the original Hebrew, we could read the second verse of the Bible like this: "and the Earth became without form and void." You see, it's like I said a few minutes ago. The Earth wasn't originally created by God as a a mess. It wasn’t originally created by God without form and void! It BECAME that way because of a flood - that pre-Adamic flood we've been talking about! By the way, that same Hebrew word is translated "became" sixty-six times in the Old Testament!

Still not convinced? OK. Another place this shows up is in Genesis Chapter 19 and verse 26 where Lot's wife turned and looked back, which she had been told not to do. The Word then says that she "became" a pillar of salt. Again, it's the same Hebrew word. I have no idea why the King James people translated that Hebrew word as "was" instead of "became" in Genesis 1:2.

You know, God really does love man! When He breathed the breath of life into Adam it was almost as if He kissed Adam right in the mouth. To show you just how smart we really are, we only recently (as time goes) found out about artificial respiration, or resuscitation. If we'd been on our toes and done our Bible study as we should have, we would have known how to breathe life into someone who wasn't breathing as long time ago! You know - the Bible really is an amazing book, isn't it?

God is telling Judah something like, "I did all this to earth once upon a time - I brought judgment on Earth, and because I'm a just and righteous God I must also bring judgment upon you." But then God qualifies this just a little.

Again paraphrasing, God says, "Unlike the first time when I brought judgment upon Lucifer, the earth, and all of its inhabitants when every form of living thing, of man, of animals, and of vegetation completely perished and was destroyed, yet I will not make a full end in your case. I've already spoken it, and won't change my mind. It will happen."

So here, we see a picture of the pre-Adamic World led by Lucifer, with Lucifer's kingdom and his subjects (Earth’s inhabitants) and then the final judgment. This judgment caused Earth to become "without form". It had no form because it was completely covered with water to the extent that the mountains and valleys could not be seen. And it was void - - - void of light, mankind, birds, fruitful places, and even cities.

And all this happened because of the judgment which came because of sin - sin from the top (Lucifer) on down to the least inhabitant of planet Earth. It had gone to total wickedness, --- the very same direction that mankind seems to be going today! And I submit to you that judgement is at our doorstep, even as you read this!

Click on "Creation - Part Three" for the conclusion of this subject and the answers to these questions: What Are Demons?; Where Do Demons Come From?; Are Angels And Demons The Same Thing?

By: Gerald D. Benbow