Gap Theory

[disciple-ofjesus]

Our pastor believes this. I don't really understand what it is. Can someone please explain this to me and how they come to that conclusion?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Yeah .. have no idea .. something to do with an empirical measurement in the king james bible a space somewhere between one passage and another .

 

[SavedByGrace3]

The term "gap" comes from the alledged "gap"that occurred between Gen 1:1 and Gen 1:2.

The principles are these:
In Gen 1:1 God created the heavens and the earth... they were created perfect, and inhabitable. There were cities, creatures, even some sort of human like beings.

In verse two we see that this creation "became" without form and void. Hence the gap. The "gap" is the answer to the question "what happened" between verse one and verse two that caused the earth to get all messed up from it's former condition.

And of course "what happened" was the rebellion of satan and the resultant war that destroyed the earth and the fall of the angels.

In this senario, the rest of Genesis 1 is not a creation... it is a restoration. The earth is being restored back to it's former state. Men are told to "replenish the earth." Satan comes in and mucks up the works and man falls. So here we are.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

A few resouces:
Dakes Bible
Dakes book "God's plan for Man"
The old book "Dispensational Truth" by Clarence Larken
"Earth's Earliest Ages" by G. H. Pember

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Thank you didaskalos for sharing the theory . perhaps some will come forward with variants later but here are my thoughts on what was presented .

Legend of my thoughts:
Yes .. that part is written ..
Not in the Scripture
Out of context passage usage
Conclusion based on false/questionable premise

The term "gap" comes from the alledged "gap"that occurred between Gen 1:1 and Gen 1:2.

The principles are these:
In Gen 1:1 God created the heavens and the earth... they were created perfect, and inhabitable. There were cities, creatures, even some sort of human like beings.

In verse two we see that this creation "became" without form and void. Hence the gap. The "gap" is the answer to the question "what happened" between verse one and verse two that caused the earth to get all messed up from it's former condition.

And of course "what happened" was the rebellion of satan and the resultant war that destroyed the earth and the fall of the angels.

In this senario, the rest of Genesis 1 is not a creation... it is a restoration. The earth is being restored back to it's former state. Men are told to "replenish the earth." Satan comes in and mucks up the works and man falls. So here we are.

Regarding the war in Heaven and the fall of the angels . this is not in context of the bible because Job shows that even Satan could enter heaven and talk to God . And later on in revelation it is shown that he would accuse the brethren day and night . Now in relation to the passage that is written in Revelation 12 about this war . both the context prior to the passage and the sentence itself speaks of the Christ being ascended . Which would not have happened prior to the creation . interesting story however . but not biblical .. if that's what the theory is going for . Otherwise, it makes an interesting basis for a campfire story .

 

[Faulty]

Our pastor believes this. I don't really understand what it is. Can someone please explain this to me and how they come to that conclusion?

Is this what you are referring to? The Genesis account?

Or are you more discussing dispensationalism?

 

[disciple-ofjesus]

Is this what you are referring to? The Genesis account?

Or are you more discussing dispensationalism?

The Genesis account. Our pastor believes there is a gap between Gen. 1:1 and 2. I am not so sure...just wanting to find out.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

hmm

Formless and Void: Gap Theory Creationism | NCSE

"Origin of the Gap Theory

The gap theory became increasingly attractive during the end of the eighteenth century and first half of the nineteenth century, as the new scientific discipline of geology made it increasingly obvious that Earth was far older than a straightforward, literal interpretation of Genesis and the Bible-based Flood geology would allow. The gap theory provided an attractive escape from this dilemma, allowing religious geologists to preserve both their faith in the Bible and in the new authority of science, which, according to the doctrine of natural theology, was now considered a second revelation—God's word in nature as well as in scripture. The two revelations could not contradict each other; some means of reconciliation had to be found. (Another popular approach was simply to denounce science, and geology in particular, as being atheistic and impious. But most geologists of this era were good Christian believers who were convinced that God's truth was discoverable in nature.)"

 

[Faulty]

There indeed could be a gap there of some sort that would explain a lot.

For example, in the Genesis account, you read the following sequence:

1. God made Adam
2. God formed the garden
3. Then God placed Adam in that garden

But in Isaiah, we read about the Garen of Eden being also where Lucifer was placed in a position of authority prior to the angelic fall, but when?

A pre-existant version of the garden would clear this issue up easily. Otherwise, instead of a gap in Genesis 1, you now have a gap in Genesis 2:8 between the formation of the garden, and Adam's placement there.

It's not inconceviable that God would have an angelic civilization here before us, then after they fall, He then regenerates the Earth to make it all new again, as a Gap theory would suggest.

After all, when we read our own scriptures, we read that will be the exact thing He will do at the end of our age as well. He wraps up the age of our fall with regenerating His Earth once again. Whose to say He hasn't done that before.

That said, I haven't completely bought into that theory myself at this moment, but it is something viable to consider.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Here's an interesting conversation ..

Gap Theory? | Facebook

btw the mike referred to in the conversation is not me .

hope that helps in the brainstorming process .

 

[Gregory Thompson]

There indeed could be a gap there of some sort that would explain a lot.

For example, in the Genesis account, you read the following sequence:

1. God made Adam
2. God formed the garden
3. Then God placed Adam in that garden

But in Isaiah, we read about the Garen of Eden being also where Lucifer was placed in a position of authority prior to the angelic fall, but when?

A pre-existant version of the garden would clear this issue up easily. Otherwise, instead of a gap in Genesis 1, you now have a gap in Genesis 2:8 between the formation of the garden, and Adam's placement there.

It's not inconceviable that God would have an angelic civilization here before us, then after they fall, He then regenerates the Earth to make it all new again, as a Gap theory would suggest.

After all, when we read our own scriptures, we read that will be the exact thing He will do at the end of our age as well. He wraps up the age of our fall with regenerating His Earth once again. Whose to say He hasn't done that before.

That said, I haven't completely bought into that theory myself at this moment, but it is something viable to consider.

Another thing i've considered is the days of creation are based on the first morning and evening not the fourth day and evening .

this would allow for the conditions of the "Pangea Paradigm" to have happened

 

[Faulty]

Another thing i've considered is the days of creation are based on the first day and evening not the fourth day and evening .

this would allow for the conditions of the "Pangea Paradigm" to happen

Sounds to me like a point of view known as "Day-Age", which I am also very favorable towards.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Our pastor believes this. I don't really understand what it is. Can someone please explain this to me and how they come to that conclusion?

You can get opinions from those who oppose, but I suggest a google and finding someone who actually supports it. If all you get is people who oppose it, then naturally you will not get the full picture.

 

[Faulty]

You can get opinions from those who oppose, but I suggest a google and finding someone who actually supports it. If all you get is people who oppose it, then naturally you will not get the full picture.

There hasn't really been any opposition to it here.

I've mentioned this here before that I'm 50.1% young earth and 49.9% day-age (which can or cannot contain a gap theory as defined here as well). It's multiple issues, including like the one I described earlier that keep me leaping one way or the other for sure.

 

[disciple-ofjesus]

Yeah, I haven't seen any against it either. I have googled it, but still...not so sure. I see the validity in it...stuff to ponder anyway.

 

[lismore]

Our pastor believes this. I don't really understand what it is. Can someone please explain this to me and how they come to that conclusion?

The gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 as some people have said.

I have encountered two reasons why people believe this, I'll comment on one, when it's a modern teaching, specifically designed to fuse some modern ideas with scripture.

I heard this teaching once from a AOG pastor's wife. It's also popular in the Roman Catholic Church now that Pope John 2nd has said that a Catholic can believe in evolution, my last experiences with Catholicism were arguing to gap theory with two Catholics.

I believe {from hearing that teaching in AOG and the RCC} that the Gap theory is required for Christians who want to believe in evolution, the gap allows billions of years of monkeys turning into people to be slotted into the bible. A compromise position between evangelical Christianity and evolution. However the New Testament says that death came by adam. No pre-adamic race, if there was death before Adam then Jesus didnt have a mission.

But there is another reason why someone could teach the gap theory, without trying to push evolution.

My advice, check out why your pastor is teaching this. It can be a doorway to other teachings.

 

[disciple-ofjesus]

He hasn't taught it. He just mentioned it in passing one day, and this was a while ago...and it peaked my interest. I am leaning toward it not being true. Fascinating as it is, I can't reconcile it.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Bless you for seeking .

 

[SavedByGrace3]

The Genesis account. Our pastor believes there is a gap between Gen. 1:1 and 2. I am not so sure...just wanting to find out.

There is a lot more to support the concept than what I would want to provide here. Start a thread in the WoF forum where people can talk in peace and I will show you a few things.

 

[disciple-ofjesus]

Mods, could you move this thread to the WOF area please. TY