Why the Earth Is 7,000 Years Old

[WhoIsLikeGod?]

Most Biblical scholars say the Earth is about 6,000 years old. However, they use the Masoretic Text for the genealogy of Abraham, which subtracts a hundred years before childbirth from each descendant of Shem. The Masoretic Text was copied, edited, and distributed by a group of Jews known as the Masoretes between the 7th and 10th centuries AD. Doing this implies that Shem's descendants died well before each of their fathers, and places the great flood after the settlement of the four earliest-known civilizations: Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, the Aegean Civilization, and the Indus Valley Civilization. A better approach is to use the Septuagint (a Koine Greek translation made in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC) for this genealogy. This has implications when trying to determine a year for the rapture: the 7th millennium has already come and gone.

According to Ptolemy's Canon of Kings:

Tiberius reigned from AD 14 to 37.
Going all the way up to Nebuchadnezzar, reigning from 605 to 562 BC.

Solomon's Temple was destroyed in 586 BC. The wrongdoing of the house of Israel lasted 390 years (Eze. 4:5). This places Jeroboam's idolatry and the division of the monarchy in 976 BC (1 Ki. 12:25–33).

Solomon reigned 40 years (1 Ki. 11:42).
David reigned 40 years (1 Ki. 2:11).
Saul reigned 40 years (Acts 13:21).

However, inclusive numbering is appropriate (hence minus one) so their reigns were closer to 39 calendar years, not 40 regnal years.
A regnal year is a year of the reign of a sovereign, from the Latin regnum meaning kingdom, rule. Regnal years considered the date as an ordinal, not a cardinal number. For example, a monarch could have a first year of rule, a second year of rule, a third year of rule, and so on, but not a zeroth year of rule.

Jeroboam's idolatry (976 BC) + 3(39) years = Saul's accession (1093 BC)

God gave the Israelites judges about the space of 450 years, until Samuel the prophet (Acts 13:20 KJV). This places the conquest of Canaan at 1543 BC.

The time that it took for the spies to come from Kadesh-barnea until they crossed over the Wadi Zered was 38 years (Deut. 2:14).

The conquest of Canaan was considered complete 7 years later (Josh. 14:7–10). This places the arrival at the promised land in 1550 BC.

The sons of Israel walked 40 years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished (Josh. 5:6). This places the exodus in 1590 BC.

The Masoretic Text and Septuagint differ on Ex. 12:40, which, in the Masoretic Text, states that "the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was 430 years," while the Septuagint states that "the sojourning of the children of Israel, while they sojourned in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan, was 430 years." If the Masoretic Text is used, the 430 years (Ex. 12:40) would begin when Jacob reunited with Jospeh in Egypt, but noting the lifespans of Levi (Ex. 6:16), Kohath (Ex. 6:18), and Amram (Ex. 6:20), each of them would have had to begotten their sons an average of four years before dying at ripe, old ages of about 136. Since it was difficult for Abraham to beget a child when he was 100 years old (Gen. 17:17), it is highly unlikely that Levi, Kohath, and Amram all begot children at about age 132. Using the Septuagint, the 430 years began when Abraham entered Canaan with Lot. This makes the sojourn in Egypt only 215 years, which agrees with Gal. 3:17, and the enslavement of the Israelites about 125 years (Ex. 1:6–11), which agrees with Josephus' account of the Hyksos.

"Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, 'And to seeds,' as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, 'And to your seed,' that is, Christ. What I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise (Gal. 3:17)."

Exodus (1590 BC) + 215 years = Jacob moves to Egypt (1805 BC)

Jacob left Canaan and came to Egypt when he was 130 years old (Gen. 47:9).
Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to Jacob and Esau (Gen. 25:26).
Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him (Gen. 21:5).

Jacob moves to Egypt (1805 BC) + 130 years (Gen. 47:9) + 60 years (Gen. 25:26) + 100 years (Gen. 21:5) = Abraham's birth (2095 BC)

Then Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his father (Terah) died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living (Acts 7:4).

Abraham was 75 years old when he departed from Haran (Gen. 12:4). This places Terah's death at 2020 BC.

The days of Terah were 205 years; and Terah died in Haran (Gen. 11:32). This places Terah's birth at 2225 BC.

And Nahor lived 179 years, and begot Terah (Gen. 11:24 LXX).
And Serug lived 130 years, and begot Nahor (Gen. 11:22 LXX).
And Reu lived 132 years, and begot Serug (Gen. 11:20 LXX).
And Peleg lived 130 years, and begot Reu (Gen. 11:18 LXX).
And Eber lived 134 years, and begot Peleg (Gen. 11:16 LXX).
And Salah lived 130 years, and begot Eber (Gen. 11:14 LXX).
And Cainan lived 130 years and begot Salah (Gen. 11:13 LXX).
And Arphaxad lived 135 years, and begot Cainan (Gen. 11:12 LXX).
And Shem was 100 years old when he begot Arphaxad, the second year after the flood (Gen. 11:10 LXX).

This places the flood at 3327 BC.

Noah was 600 years old when the flood of water came upon the earth (Gen. 7:6). This places Noah's birth at 3927 BC.

Now Lamech lived 182 years, and fathered Noah (Gen. 5:28).
Now Methuselah lived 187 years, and fathered Lamech (Gen. 5:25).
Now Enoch lived 65 years, and fathered Methuselah (Gen. 5:21).
Now Jared lived 162 years, and fathered Enoch (Gen. 5:18).
Now Mahalalel lived 65 years, and fathered Jared (Gen. 5:15).
Now Cainan lived 70 years, and fathered Mahalalel (Gen. 5:12).
Now Enosh lived 90 years, and fathered Cainan (Gen. 5:9).
Now Seth lived 105 years, and fathered Enosh (Gen. 5:6).
When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth (Gen. 5:3).

This places the creation of Adam at 4983 BC. And since time is the observation of motion, time began to be observed in 4983 BC by Adam and Eve. Yet there were 5 unobserved days before their creation, and we put these in the previous year, 4984 BC.

Now on September 23, 2017, the sign of the Son of Man appeared in heaven: Virgo, clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, with a crown of 12 stars (Leo plus Mercury, Venus, and Mars) on her head, about to give birth (to Jupiter). And they said this sign has not appeared for 7,000 years.

Sign of the Son of Man (AD 2017) – 7,000 years – 1 year (BC to AD) = creation (4984 BC)

This places the year AD 2023 in the 7,006th year from creation.

 

[ViaCrucis]

I think the claim that most Biblical scholars argue that the earth is only 6,000 years old to be false. There are Christians who believe the earth is only 6,000 years old, but there are as many, if not more, Christians--and Christian scholars--who accept the scientific measurement of the age of the earth, which is closer to about 4.5 billion years.

Young Earth Creationism, the belief that everything was created only several thousand years ago, is a popular view among modern Evangelical Protestants, but it's just one opinion among many opinions which Bible-believing Christians have.

Other views include Old Earth Creationism, Gap Theory, and Theistic Evolution/Evolutionary Creationism; both of which accept to varying degrees that the earth/universe are quite old. In the early 20th century in the Fundamentalist-Modernist debates, the common view of the Fundamentalists was Old Earth Creationism. Young Earth Creationism only really began to gain popularity in Fundamentalist and Evangelical circles starting in the mid 20th century.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[WhoIsLikeGod?]

I think the claim that most Biblical scholars argue that the earth is only 6,000 years old to be false. There are Christians who believe the earth is only 6,000 years old, but there are as many, if not more, Christians--and Christian scholars--who accept the scientific measurement of the age of the earth, which is closer to about 4.5 billion years.

Young Earth Creationism, the belief that everything was created only several thousand years ago, is a popular view among modern Evangelical Protestants, but it's just one opinion among many opinions which Bible-believing Christians have.

Other views include Old Earth Creationism, Gap Theory, and Theistic Evolution/Evolutionary Creationism; both of which accept to varying degrees that the earth/universe are quite old. In the early 20th century in the Fundamentalist-Modernist debates, the common view of the Fundamentalists was Old Earth Creationism. Young Earth Creationism only really began to gain popularity in Fundamentalist and Evangelical circles starting in the mid 20th century.

-CryptoLutheran

Old Earth Creationism began to gain its popularity in the early 20th century, with Bertram Boltwood's research on uranium-lead dating. In 1907, he published results of analyzing ten mineral samples from different world locations, including a thorianite that measured 2.2 billion years old. This value was ten times greater than any previous estimated age of the Earth, and geologists did not originally accept the validity of radioactivity as a dating method. Before 1907, the largest estimate of the age of the Earth was 220 million years. Young Earth Creationism was the common view since creation until then. The age of the earth has only been getting greater and greater from people who can't accept the Bible as literal and inerrant.

An evolutionist/naturalist cannot report the original number of unstable atoms in a rock sample, nor can he promise that the rate of radioactive decay has remained constant, nor that there has not been any contamination. Studies have shown that the burning of fossil fuels even obscures radiometric dating.

My post is not intended to throw out Young Earth Creationists' estimates; my study just uses all Biblical dates and no archaeological relative dating.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Old Earth Creationism began to gain its popularity in the early 20th century, with Bertram Boltwood's research on uranium-lead dating. In 1907, he published results of analyzing ten mineral samples from different world locations, including a thorianite that measured 2.2 billion years old. This value was ten times greater than any previous estimated age of the Earth, and geologists did not originally accept the validity of radioactivity as a dating method. Before 1907, the largest estimate of the age of the Earth was 220 million years. Young Earth Creationism was the common view since creation until then. The age of the earth has only been getting greater and greater from people who can't accept the Bible as literal and inerrant.

An evolutionist/naturalist cannot report the original number of unstable atoms in a rock sample, nor can he promise that the rate of radioactive decay has remained constant, nor that there has not been any contamination. Studies have shown that the burning of fossil fuels even obscures radiometric dating.

My post is not intended to throw out Young Earth Creationists' estimates; my study just uses all Biblical dates and no archaeological relative dating.

Non literal interpretations of the creation story in Genesis have been around since the early centuries of the Church, by well-respected theologians such as St. Augustine of Hippo.

A literal interpretation of the creation story is not a litmus test on one's belief in the inspiration and divine authority of Holy Scripture.

Bible-believing Christians have had a diversity of opinions and interpretations on this subject for the last two thousand years, and it has never, historically, been a source of serious controversy. The idea that a literal interpretation of the creation story and subscribing to some form of Young Earth Creationism is a mark or test of orthodoxy is limited largely only to certain kinds of American Protestantism.

I personally subscribe to the Framework Hypothesis as a way to read and understand Genesis 1. And I would identify as an Evolutionary Creationist. I believe Scripture is divinely inspired and infallible and wholly sufficient in containing all things pertaining to salvation.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[WhoIsLikeGod?]

Do you believe the transcription of the word yom was infallible throughout the millennia? Everywhere in the Old Testament, when the Hebrew word for “day” (יוםֹ, yom) appears with “evening” or “morning” or is modified by a number (e.g., “sixth day” or “five days”), it always means a 24-hour day. Genesis is historical book, not poetic or metaphorical.

I would say the science that supports an old earth is not as comprehensibly accurate to variable change that continually happens in our ecosystem.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Do you believe the transcription of the word yom was infallible throughout the millennia? Everywhere in the Old Testament, when the Hebrew word for “day” (יוםֹ, yom) appears with “evening” or “morning” or is modified by a number (e.g., “sixth day” or “five days”), it always means a 24-hour day. Genesis is historical book, not poetic or metaphorical.

I don't have a problem with yom meaning "day" in Genesis 1. But I think the six days of creation are a framing device. The first three days and second three days parallel each other. The point isn't a literal week of creation but the use of a week to convey the orderliness of God's crreative work.

I would say the science that supports an old earth is not as comprehensibly accurate to variable change that continually happens in our ecosystem.

Geological science is, if you'll pardon the pun, rather rock solid. I see no credible reason to think that the earth isn't 4.5 billion years old--all evidence points in that direction, corroborated by multiple fields of study. If age were determined solely by one piece of evidence then that would be one thing, but all the evidence corroborates that the earth is billions of years old.

I suspect that there are things in the Bible that I take literally that you don't.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Yekcidmij]

I don't have a problem with yom meaning "day" in Genesis 1. But I think the six days of creation are a framing device. The first three days and second three days parallel each other.

In line with this idea, I'm becoming convinced that Gen 1-2:24 was temple liturgy that described creation as God's Temple/dwelling place and reenacted/commemorated/"maintained" creation through a liturgical cycle of worship in the Tabernacle and Temple.

https://academic.udayton.edu/trends/creation%20and%20liturgy.pdf

http://files.eshkolot.ru/weinfeld2.pdf

Mishnah Ta'anit 4:3

And the members of the non-priestly watch, who represented the entire community that week, would fast four days a week, from Monday until Thursday. And they...

www.sefaria.org

Wenham Sanctuary Symbolism Garden of Eden

Wenham Sanctuary Symbolism Garden of Eden

www.academia.edu

 

[Job 33:6]

Most YECs are completely unfamiliar with the ancient near eastern context of Genesis.

They think it's a geology textbook.

Meanwhile all the genealogies in Genesis 1-11 are divisible by 5, and they seem to act like they don't notice the improbability of such a thing.

evenly divisible by 5.
Adam - 930
Enosh - 905
Kenan - 910
Mahalalel - 895
Enoch - 365
Noah - 950

The exceptions in Genesis 1-11 have a single additional factor, the subtraction of the perfect and symbolic number 7.

Seth 912-7 = 905
Jared 962-7 = 955
Lamech 777-7= 770

And the ages of fatherhood also end in numbers evenly divisible by 5 too.

Adam - 130
Seth - 105
Enosh - 90
Kenan - 70
Mahalalel - 65
Enoch - 65
Noah - 500

Again, the only exception being the subtraction of 7
Jared 162-7 = 155
Mathesaleh = 187 -7 = 180
Lamech = 182-7 = 175

 

[Job 33:6]

Most YECs are completely unfamiliar with the ancient near eastern context of Genesis.

They think it's a geology textbook.

Meanwhile all the genealogies in Genesis 1-11 are divisible by 5, and they seem to act like they don't notice the improbability of such a thing.

evenly divisible by 5.
Adam - 930
Enosh - 905
Kenan - 910
Mahalalel - 895
Enoch - 365
Noah - 950

The exceptions in Genesis 1-11 have a single additional factor, the subtraction of the perfect and symbolic number 7.

Seth 912-7 = 905
Jared 962-7 = 955
Lamech 777-7= 770

And the ages of fatherhood also end in numbers evenly divisible by 5 too.

Adam - 130
Seth - 105
Enosh - 90
Kenan - 70
Mahalalel - 65
Enoch - 65
Noah - 500

Again, the only exception being the subtraction of 7
Jared 162-7 = 155
Mathesaleh = 187 -7 = 180
Lamech = 182-7 = 175

The number 7 was also commonly used in the bible and in other ancient near east texts as a number denoting completion or perfection.

And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. And God blessed the seventh day, and he sanctified it, because on it he rested from all his work of creating that there was to do.
Genesis 2:2‭-‬3

Then Yahweh said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” Then Yahweh put a sign on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him.
Genesis 4:15

If Cain is avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech will be avenged seventy and seven times.
Genesis 4:24

All the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years, and he died.
Genesis 5:31

When Kenan had lived seventy years, he fathered Mahalalel.
Genesis 5:12

And the ark came to rest in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat.
Genesis 8:4

When Terah had lived seventy years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Genesis 11:26

And Abram went out as Yahweh had told him, and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he went out from Haran.
Genesis 12:4

Now these are the days of the years of the life of Abraham: one hundred and seventy-five years.
Genesis 25:7

And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two persons. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came to Egypt were seventy.
Genesis 46:27

Forty days were required for it, for thus are the days required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.
Genesis 50:3

Here are just a few examples from Genesis, but the entire old testament excessively uses numbers in symbolic ways. 7 for example, in Hebrew, has the same root word as is used for "completion". It was a number that represents some form of fullness to the isrealites authors. And these patterns are also observed within the genealogies, suggesting that they are not literal ages.

For all of our days dwindle away in your rage; we complete our years like a sigh. As for the days of our years, within them are seventy years or if by strength eighty years, and their pride is trouble and disaster, for it passes quickly and we fly away.
Psalms 90:9‭-‬10

It has nothing to do with geology.

"Seven was symbolic in ancient near eastern and Israelite culture and literature. It communicated a sense of “fullness” or “completeness” (שבע “seven” is spelled with the same consonants as the word שבע “complete/full”)".

 

[Job 33:6]

The number 7 was also commonly used in the bible and in other ancient near east texts as a number denoting completion or perfection.

And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. And God blessed the seventh day, and he sanctified it, because on it he rested from all his work of creating that there was to do.
Genesis 2:2‭-‬3

Then Yahweh said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” Then Yahweh put a sign on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him.
Genesis 4:15

If Cain is avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech will be avenged seventy and seven times.
Genesis 4:24

All the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years, and he died.
Genesis 5:31

When Kenan had lived seventy years, he fathered Mahalalel.
Genesis 5:12

And the ark came to rest in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat.
Genesis 8:4

When Terah had lived seventy years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Genesis 11:26

And Abram went out as Yahweh had told him, and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he went out from Haran.
Genesis 12:4

Now these are the days of the years of the life of Abraham: one hundred and seventy-five years.
Genesis 25:7

And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two persons. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came to Egypt were seventy.
Genesis 46:27

Forty days were required for it, for thus are the days required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.
Genesis 50:3

Here are just a few examples from Genesis, but the entire old testament excessively uses numbers in symbolic ways. 7 for example, in Hebrew, has the same root word as is used for "completion". It was a number that represents some form of fullness to the isrealites authors. And these patterns are also observed within the genealogies, suggesting that they are not literal ages.

For all of our days dwindle away in your rage; we complete our years like a sigh. As for the days of our years, within them are seventy years or if by strength eighty years, and their pride is trouble and disaster, for it passes quickly and we fly away.
Psalms 90:9‭-‬10

It has nothing to do with geology.

Lastly,

Genesis is a temple text that parallels other ancient near East Temple texts. Other religions of the ancient near East also involved creation texts involving 7 days such as the baal cycle when Baals cosmic Temple was created in 7 days, or that of the gudea cylinders.

We also know that Genesis is a temple text because it parallels the construction of the tabernacle of Exodus, and the construction of Solomon's Temple and scripture of first Kings.

And you shall not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for it will take seven days to ordain you.
Leviticus 8:33

temple priest ordination in 7 days.

And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its parts, and according to all its specifications. He was seven years in building it.
1 Kings 6:38

The Temple constructed in 7 years.

And all the men of Israel assembled to King Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
1 Kings 8:2

Inauguation feast on the 7th month.

So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt, before the Lord our God, seven days.
1 Kings 8:65 ESV

Temple inauguration feast on the 7th day.

temple dedicated to God on the 7th day of the 7th month, after 7 years, and what does God do?

And I will dwell among the Israelites, and I will not forsake my people Israel.”
1 Kings 6:13 LEB

God rests.

genesis 1 split into 7 days to recognize the action of God taking presence in his temple. Kind of like a ceremony on which God prepares creation for His rulership.


- In the first month of the second year, on the first of the month, the tabernacle was set up.
1. And Moses raised the tabernacle, and he placed its bases, and he set up its frames, and he placed its bars, and he raised its pillars. And he spread the tent over the tabernacle; he placed the covering of the tent over it, above it, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.
2. And he took and he put the testimony into the ark, and he placed the poles on the ark, and he put the atonement cover on the ark, above it. And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and he set up the curtain of the screening, and he shielded the ark of the testimony, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.
3. And he put the table in the tent of assembly on the north side of the tabernacle outside the curtain. And he arranged on it an arrangement of bread before Yahweh, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.
4. And he placed the lampstand in the tent of assembly opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle. And he set up the lamps before Yahweh, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.
5. And he placed the gold altar in the tent of assembly before the curtain. And he turned fragrant incense into smoke on it, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.
6. And he set up the entrance screen for the tabernacle. And the altar of burnt offering he placed at the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of assembly, and he offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.
7. And he placed the basin between the tent of assembly and the altar, and he put there water for washing. And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet from it. At their going into the tent of assembly and at their approaching the altar, they washed, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.
-. And he set up the courtyard all around the tabernacle and the altar, and he put up the screen of the gate of the courtyard, and Moses completed the work.
Exodus 40:17‭-‬33 LEB

Let us go to his dwelling places; Let us worship at his footstool. Arise, O Yahweh, to your resting place, you and your mighty ark. For Yahweh has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation. “This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
Psalms 132:7‭-‬8‭, ‬13‭-‬14

and the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there.
Genesis 2:12

This is the offering that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze,
Exodus 25:3

onyx stones and gems to be set in the ephod and for the breastpiece.
Exodus 25:7

He drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim, and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life.
Genesis 3:24

You shall make two cherubim of gold; you shall make them of hammered work, at the two ends of the mercy seat.
Exodus 25:18

So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.
Genesis 2:3

You shall keep the sabbath, because it is holy for you; everyone who profanes it shall be put to death; whoever does any work on it shall be cut off from among the people.
Exodus 31:14

God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Genesis 1:28‭, ‬31

When Moses saw that they had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded, he blessed them.
Exodus 39:43

From Genesis to Exodus to Jesus: What Biblical Typology Might Say about Modern Day Israel

I have often read and taught on the temple-imagery in Genesis 1–2, where the Garden of Eden is portrayed by Moses as the prototypical tabernacle. I have also read and taught how the tabernacl…

davidschrock.com

He adorns Her with the covering of Her flesh.
She tears Her clothing.
On the second day
He adorns Her in the two rivers.
She sets a pot on the fire
A vessel on top of the coals.

Behold a day and a second,
The fire eats into the house,
The flame into the palace.
A fifth, a sixth day,
The fire eats into the house,
The flame in the midst of the palace.
Behold, on the seventh day,
The fire departs from the house,
The flame from the palace.
Silver turns from blocks,
Gold is turned from bricks.

baal cycle

And that's why God rests on seventh day, because he's taking up the throne in his temple.

And none of this has anything to do with geology.


YECs simply don't understand Genesis' context.

 

[ViaCrucis]

That Genesis 1 is a temple text is something I first heard from N.T. Wright, and it made a lot of sense to me. And it makes sense of the language of human beings created in the image of God and given dominion over the earth. Heaven and earth are to be God's temple, and God places His image in the midst of it, being human beings who, also, are tasked as priests to care over creation, to reflect God to the rest of creation and conversely reflect creation back to God in the form of worship.

The real God, as opposed to the false gods of the nations, is not something to be depicted in wood, stone, or gold in a house made by human hands; but the God who fills all things and is above all things and who made all things. He is the God who made us to have have a relationship with Him, to have communion with Him, and to be His image-bearers. We can't make images of God, because God already made His image--it's us, but not as objects of adoration but rather as the ones who adore Him. And to give voice to the praises of all creation. The trees and the rocks and the mountains declare God's glory, but we give voice to that praise of His glory. We are the ones who can declare Hallelujah.

And in the end, when God sets all things to rights, makes all things new, it shall be as it was supposed to be. All things in harmony and peace, the justice of God shall flow like a river, the earth will be full of the glory of the Lord, and all will declare the praises of God. When creation no longer groans in the pain of death, and God makes His habitation here with us, and He is all in all.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Diamond72]

I think the claim that most Biblical scholars argue that the earth is only 6,000 years old to be false.

God created Adam 6,000 years ago in the year 4004 BC.

 

[Diamond72]

The age of the earth has only been getting greater and greater from people who can't accept the Bible as literal and inerrant.

The Bible is still literal and without error. The idea that a single day could contain all of time, all ages and all of the mysteries of the universe reflects the Kabbalistic belief that all things are interconnected and that the divine is present in all aspects of existence. This tradition is said to go back to Moses, Abraham and Adam. There is nothing new or modern about this belief.

 

[EclipseEventSigns]

Here's my research with evidence of why we are living at the very end of the 6th day and only a few years away from the Day of the Lord (Sabbath). This is addressed as part of revealing the actual year of the Exodus from Egypt.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5hXmAa691127dO2GlNGSIDAT8xdEtU32

 

[The Hour IS AT HAND]

Young Earth Creationism, the belief that everything was created only several thousand years ago, is a popular view among modern Evangelical Protestants, but it's just one opinion among many opinions which Bible-believing Christians have.

"Bible-believing Christians", they believe the Bible, just not when it talks about creation?

 

[Michael Snow]

Most Biblical scholars say the Earth is about 6,000 years old. However, they use the Masoretic Text for the genealogy of...

First,-- "most Biblcal scholars" do NOT say such. (e.g. the evangelical scholars of the volume on Genesis in the NICOT and BSC commentaries; the editors of the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Moody Press....etc)

Second,--Genealogies do not tell us the age of Earth. They only relate to the age of man.

Apparently, many YECs assume that Day One of the week when God puts earth in order (disorder in verse 2) is "the beginning" which it clearly is not when reading the text in context.

Please learn to read in context.

 

[Michael Snow]

"Bible-believing Christians", they believe the Bible, just not when it talks about creation?

You assume that your opinion outweighs their honest reading of the Bible in context. Exegesis trumps eisegesis.

 

[ViaCrucis]

"Bible-believing Christians", they believe the Bible, just not when it talks about creation?

This is a Begging the Question fallacy. Bible believing Christians believe what the Bible says about creation, they just don't have a universal acceptance of what the Bible is talking about--it's a difference of interpretation. Literal interpretations of the creation narratives, in the treating them as woodenly literal-historical accounts of creation are not, and never have been, a litmus test concerning biblical fidelity. Young Earth Creationism, being used as a litmus test of orthodoxy, is a peculiarity of a subset of American Fundamentalism, not representative of the historic, and apostolic faith of the Church more broadly. That is to say: Just because you believe something doesn't make it the objective truth of the Christian religion.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[mindlight]

I think the claim that most Biblical scholars argue that the earth is only 6,000 years old to be false. There are Christians who believe the earth is only 6,000 years old, but there are as many, if not more, Christians--and Christian scholars--who accept the scientific measurement of the age of the earth, which is closer to about 4.5 billion years.

Young Earth Creationism, the belief that everything was created only several thousand years ago, is a popular view among modern Evangelical Protestants, but it's just one opinion among many opinions which Bible-believing Christians have.

Other views include Old Earth Creationism, Gap Theory, and Theistic Evolution/Evolutionary Creationism; both of which accept to varying degrees that the earth/universe are quite old. In the early 20th century in the Fundamentalist-Modernist debates, the common view of the Fundamentalists was Old Earth Creationism. Young Earth Creationism only really began to gain popularity in Fundamentalist and Evangelical circles starting in the mid 20th century.

-CryptoLutheran

If science were equipped to make such claims, beyond the scope of what can be proven with the scientific method, we could take these claims seriously. But it is perfectly possible that God simply created things as we see them now and damaged them at the fall and flood in such a way that the Book of Nature is essentially unreadable regarding the original dates.

 

[mindlight]

Most Biblical scholars say the Earth is about 6,000 years old. However, they use the Masoretic Text for the genealogy of Abraham, which subtracts a hundred years before childbirth from each descendant of Shem. The Masoretic Text was copied, edited, and distributed by a group of Jews known as the Masoretes between the 7th and 10th centuries AD. Doing this implies that Shem's descendants died well before each of their fathers, and places the great flood after the settlement of the four earliest-known civilizations: Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, the Aegean Civilization, and the Indus Valley Civilization. A better approach is to use the Septuagint (a Koine Greek translation made in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC) for this genealogy. This has implications when trying to determine a year for the rapture: the 7th millennium has already come and gone.

According to Ptolemy's Canon of Kings:

Tiberius reigned from AD 14 to 37.
Going all the way up to Nebuchadnezzar, reigning from 605 to 562 BC.

Solomon's Temple was destroyed in 586 BC. The wrongdoing of the house of Israel lasted 390 years (Eze. 4:5). This places Jeroboam's idolatry and the division of the monarchy in 976 BC (1 Ki. 12:25–33).

Solomon reigned 40 years (1 Ki. 11:42).
David reigned 40 years (1 Ki. 2:11).
Saul reigned 40 years (Acts 13:21).

However, inclusive numbering is appropriate (hence minus one) so their reigns were closer to 39 calendar years, not 40 regnal years.
A regnal year is a year of the reign of a sovereign, from the Latin regnum meaning kingdom, rule. Regnal years considered the date as an ordinal, not a cardinal number. For example, a monarch could have a first year of rule, a second year of rule, a third year of rule, and so on, but not a zeroth year of rule.

Jeroboam's idolatry (976 BC) + 3(39) years = Saul's accession (1093 BC)

God gave the Israelites judges about the space of 450 years, until Samuel the prophet (Acts 13:20 KJV). This places the conquest of Canaan at 1543 BC.

The time that it took for the spies to come from Kadesh-barnea until they crossed over the Wadi Zered was 38 years (Deut. 2:14).

The conquest of Canaan was considered complete 7 years later (Josh. 14:7–10). This places the arrival at the promised land in 1550 BC.

The sons of Israel walked 40 years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished (Josh. 5:6). This places the exodus in 1590 BC.

The Masoretic Text and Septuagint differ on Ex. 12:40, which, in the Masoretic Text, states that "the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was 430 years," while the Septuagint states that "the sojourning of the children of Israel, while they sojourned in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan, was 430 years." If the Masoretic Text is used, the 430 years (Ex. 12:40) would begin when Jacob reunited with Jospeh in Egypt, but noting the lifespans of Levi (Ex. 6:16), Kohath (Ex. 6:18), and Amram (Ex. 6:20), each of them would have had to begotten their sons an average of four years before dying at ripe, old ages of about 136. Since it was difficult for Abraham to beget a child when he was 100 years old (Gen. 17:17), it is highly unlikely that Levi, Kohath, and Amram all begot children at about age 132. Using the Septuagint, the 430 years began when Abraham entered Canaan with Lot. This makes the sojourn in Egypt only 215 years, which agrees with Gal. 3:17, and the enslavement of the Israelites about 125 years (Ex. 1:6–11), which agrees with Josephus' account of the Hyksos.

"Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, 'And to seeds,' as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, 'And to your seed,' that is, Christ. What I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise (Gal. 3:17)."

Exodus (1590 BC) + 215 years = Jacob moves to Egypt (1805 BC)

Jacob left Canaan and came to Egypt when he was 130 years old (Gen. 47:9).
Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to Jacob and Esau (Gen. 25:26).
Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him (Gen. 21:5).

Jacob moves to Egypt (1805 BC) + 130 years (Gen. 47:9) + 60 years (Gen. 25:26) + 100 years (Gen. 21:5) = Abraham's birth (2095 BC)

Then Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his father (Terah) died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living (Acts 7:4).

Abraham was 75 years old when he departed from Haran (Gen. 12:4). This places Terah's death at 2020 BC.

The days of Terah were 205 years; and Terah died in Haran (Gen. 11:32). This places Terah's birth at 2225 BC.

And Nahor lived 179 years, and begot Terah (Gen. 11:24 LXX).
And Serug lived 130 years, and begot Nahor (Gen. 11:22 LXX).
And Reu lived 132 years, and begot Serug (Gen. 11:20 LXX).
And Peleg lived 130 years, and begot Reu (Gen. 11:18 LXX).
And Eber lived 134 years, and begot Peleg (Gen. 11:16 LXX).
And Salah lived 130 years, and begot Eber (Gen. 11:14 LXX).
And Cainan lived 130 years and begot Salah (Gen. 11:13 LXX).
And Arphaxad lived 135 years, and begot Cainan (Gen. 11:12 LXX).
And Shem was 100 years old when he begot Arphaxad, the second year after the flood (Gen. 11:10 LXX).

This places the flood at 3327 BC.

Noah was 600 years old when the flood of water came upon the earth (Gen. 7:6). This places Noah's birth at 3927 BC.

Now Lamech lived 182 years, and fathered Noah (Gen. 5:28).
Now Methuselah lived 187 years, and fathered Lamech (Gen. 5:25).
Now Enoch lived 65 years, and fathered Methuselah (Gen. 5:21).
Now Jared lived 162 years, and fathered Enoch (Gen. 5:18).
Now Mahalalel lived 65 years, and fathered Jared (Gen. 5:15).
Now Cainan lived 70 years, and fathered Mahalalel (Gen. 5:12).
Now Enosh lived 90 years, and fathered Cainan (Gen. 5:9).
Now Seth lived 105 years, and fathered Enosh (Gen. 5:6).
When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth (Gen. 5:3).

This places the creation of Adam at 4983 BC. And since time is the observation of motion, time began to be observed in 4983 BC by Adam and Eve. Yet there were 5 unobserved days before their creation, and we put these in the previous year, 4984 BC.

Now on September 23, 2017, the sign of the Son of Man appeared in heaven: Virgo, clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, with a crown of 12 stars (Leo plus Mercury, Venus, and Mars) on her head, about to give birth (to Jupiter). And they said this sign has not appeared for 7,000 years.

Sign of the Son of Man (AD 2017) – 7,000 years – 1 year (BC to AD) = creation (4984 BC)

This places the year AD 2023 in the 7,006th year from creation.

As you say there is a controversy about dates between those who favor the Septuagint over the Massoretic texts. The Jews date creation much earlier than the Orthodox churches or Archbishop Ussher. Personally, I believe the universe is young (millennia rather than eons) but see no problem in hanging loose on the details, so long as there is such controversy between traditions.