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Someone on another thread raised the question if the Genesis 1 creation is literal, or just a general story or mythical description. Most often Genesis 1 is taught as being the literal creation of the universe, and of man. There is a deeper view of that though which some pastors and Hebrew scholars are familiar with. And it actually comes from study of Genesis 1 in the Hebrew, along with other related Bible Scriptures. Some call it the Gap Theory.
In short:
Genesis 1:1 = God's original perfect creation of the earth and universe. The time of the dinosaurs and fossil evidence of the whole earth being a literal paradise, even the poles being in a tropical state (as shown by the fossil evidence). This was a 1st world earth age.
Genesis 1:2 = the earth laying in a wasted and ruined state with flood waters covering it, from God's destroying that old world. Something happened in between Gen.1:1 and Gen.1:2 to cause God to destroy that old world. Do you know when it was that Satan first coveted God's throne?
Genesis 1:3 forward = regeneration of the earth to the state of vanity it is in today. Apostle Paul described this vanity state of the creation in the Romans 8 chapter. God also described it in the Jeremiah 4:23-28 Scripture (which is an insert among warning to Judah through Jeremiah).
This points to an unknown Gap of time between the Gen.1:1 and Gen.1:2 verses.
I've asked pastors about this idea, whether they were aware of it, and to my surprise several of them said yes. One pastor looked me straight in the eye and told me that no man showed it to him, that only God showed it to him. I then asked if he taught it to his congregation and he said no, that only a few would understand. So that tells me there are more pastors out there aware of this, but they don't teach it simply because it is not popular, or is controversial. I feel that brethren need to at least know about it.
The Jeremiah 4:23-28 and Romans 8:18-25 connection:
In Jeremiah 4:23, the "without form, and void" statement from Genesis 1:2 is repeated. But there it is describing a ruined state of the earth from a destruction by God's anger. Some just pass that off as God warning rebellious Judah in Jeremiah's day of His destroying Jerusalem and Solomon's temple by the king of Babylon. But no, that Jeremiah 4:23-28 Scripture is covering a lot more than that...
Jer 4:22-28
22 For My people is foolish, they have not known Me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
26 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.
27 For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
KJV
There was no man? Certainly not the state of Judea after the king of Babylon's destruction, as some of the poor were left in the land, and a remnant of the house of Judah would return.
Did you notice the repeat of that, "without form, and void" phrase from Genesis 1:2? Now link that idea to verse 26 above, with the earth having become a wilderness, and all the cities being broken down at God's fierce anger, and you'll be close to what really did... happen upon this ancient earth which caused God to bring a flood of waters upon it at Genesis 1:2.
In short:
Genesis 1:1 = God's original perfect creation of the earth and universe. The time of the dinosaurs and fossil evidence of the whole earth being a literal paradise, even the poles being in a tropical state (as shown by the fossil evidence). This was a 1st world earth age.
Genesis 1:2 = the earth laying in a wasted and ruined state with flood waters covering it, from God's destroying that old world. Something happened in between Gen.1:1 and Gen.1:2 to cause God to destroy that old world. Do you know when it was that Satan first coveted God's throne?
Genesis 1:3 forward = regeneration of the earth to the state of vanity it is in today. Apostle Paul described this vanity state of the creation in the Romans 8 chapter. God also described it in the Jeremiah 4:23-28 Scripture (which is an insert among warning to Judah through Jeremiah).
This points to an unknown Gap of time between the Gen.1:1 and Gen.1:2 verses.
I've asked pastors about this idea, whether they were aware of it, and to my surprise several of them said yes. One pastor looked me straight in the eye and told me that no man showed it to him, that only God showed it to him. I then asked if he taught it to his congregation and he said no, that only a few would understand. So that tells me there are more pastors out there aware of this, but they don't teach it simply because it is not popular, or is controversial. I feel that brethren need to at least know about it.
The Jeremiah 4:23-28 and Romans 8:18-25 connection:
In Jeremiah 4:23, the "without form, and void" statement from Genesis 1:2 is repeated. But there it is describing a ruined state of the earth from a destruction by God's anger. Some just pass that off as God warning rebellious Judah in Jeremiah's day of His destroying Jerusalem and Solomon's temple by the king of Babylon. But no, that Jeremiah 4:23-28 Scripture is covering a lot more than that...
Jer 4:22-28
22 For My people is foolish, they have not known Me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
26 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.
27 For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
KJV
There was no man? Certainly not the state of Judea after the king of Babylon's destruction, as some of the poor were left in the land, and a remnant of the house of Judah would return.
Did you notice the repeat of that, "without form, and void" phrase from Genesis 1:2? Now link that idea to verse 26 above, with the earth having become a wilderness, and all the cities being broken down at God's fierce anger, and you'll be close to what really did... happen upon this ancient earth which caused God to bring a flood of waters upon it at Genesis 1:2.