Ah, yes gap theory. I was a supporter of the gap theory for a good while. Basically it is a kiss up to scientific theory. It is a random theory (Scofield was a supporter) where in Genesis 1:2 where it says "and the earth was form and void" could be translated, "and the earth became form and void", which indeed you could substitute the words given the hebrew roots. The claim goes further in that the hebrew word for day in Genesis 1, Yom, does not mean a specific 24 hour time period, but rather an extended, and some believe symbolic, period of time (2 Peter 3:8). So in effect, you can have as many years you want in that time, which would leave time for evolution and such, if you wish. God created the earth, it became void for X amount of years (preadamite theorists use this to support thier theory as well, that there was a civilization of pre-hominids before adam), and then He finished up on it. This all sounds good until you read Exodus 20:11: "For in six days the Lord created the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day." This would be the death sentence of the gap theory. It means that God did not break when He created the earth, but finished up the creation in six literal days. The word for day in this passage is not Yom, but a word that means what a day literally is as a specific amount of time. Interesting theory, nonetheless, and quite good in that many will still reject evolution and use this for their mysterious side of the bible, claiming this was when Satan fell, or when God created a race before Adam, etc. But because of scripture, you have to take literal six day. You will get hellfire and brimstone from evolution-based society, but hey, it is the bible.
blessings,
John
