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The Gap Theory, What Do you Believe ?
Belief in a Pre-Adamic Creation
This doctrine also referred to as the "Ruin-Reconstruction Theory" has been included in a number of reputable Bible commentaries.
Like many Bible doctrines, the controversial Genesis gap teaching comes into dispute in some areas of its principles. There are, however a number of questions answered legitimately by this doctrine, that otherwise have no clear answers from a biblical perspective. (Bible quotes following are from the KJV version.)
The Genesis Gap in a Nutshell
This doctrine proposes that the creation of earth in Genesis chapter 1, that God gave Adam dominion of, was actually a “re-creation†and not the originally created earth. The original creation is mentioned in a single verse of the chapter (verse one) which states, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.â€
In verse two of Genesis chapter one, it states, “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.†The Hebrew word “hayah†that was translated “was†in this second verse has within its definition the meanings “became,†“to become†and “came to pass.†This can properly be interpreted to mean that the earth “became without form and void.â€
An early Aramaic Old Testament paraphrase called the Targum of Onkelos, written early in the second century, renders Genesis 1:2 as “and the earth was laid waste," revealing a possible time-gap between verses 1 and 2. The earth also appears to be in a chaotic condition with darkness and a flood of water covering it. Other ancient writers including 5th century Augustin also refer to an earth that was originally created and afterward in need of having order brought back to it within these two verses.
The Great Flood Before Adam
Bible scholars who recognize this destruction of the original earth, as being a flood that destroyed prehistoric life have found reference to a catastrophic flood mentioned in the scriptures that do not match Noah’s flood, as described in Genesis chapter 8, which receded off of the earth slowly. This earlier flood and/or destruction of the earth, is also believed to be referenced in the following scriptures:
Some Bible scholars believe that the rebellion of the angel “Lucifer†who became the fallen angel “Satan†and the angels that followed him caused the destruction of the pre-adamic earth. The Old Testament scriptures in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 are passages that have been believed for many centuries to be referring to the fall of this mighty, “anointed†angel. Both of them state that he fell due to “pride†and not because he tempted Adam in the Garden of Eden.
They also refer to his being “cast out of heaven, to the ground†and “into hell.†This compares with scriptures in 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6, Matthew 25:41 and Luke 10:18 that refer to angels falling and being placed into hell. It is important to note that many Bible scriptures refer to hell as being in “the heart of the earth†and “prepared for the devil and his angels†but there is no mention of its creation in Genesis.
Read on
Isaiah and Ezekiel were addressing both men who lived at the time and the evil spirits influencing these men. Many of the things attributed to them can only apply to angelic beings. The same principle is described in Ephesians 6 which states that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood†and it describes the “rulers of darkness†that influence human beings. At one point, Jesus rebuked Peter, saying, “get the behind me Satan,†referring to the evil spirit influencing him at that moment (Matthew 16:23).
Important Questions Answered
This doctrine answers the question as to whether the fall of angels believed to have become “devils†(demons) was pre-adamic or after the creation of Adam and his earth-dominion. It points strongly to this having been a pre-adamic event for the following reason, posed as a question and answer.
The question is: Isaiah, Ezekiel, II-Peter and Jude state that angels were cast down and incarcerated in hell, so if the temptation of Adam was the cause of that fall, why are they not still being held there and why was Satan the only tempter present in the Garden of Eden?
The answer? It's said that the fallen angels were in hell following a pre-adamic rebellion but Satan was loosed for a season to tempt Adam’s faithfulness to God. He will be cast into hell again and afterward "loosed for a little season" to tempt people born on earth during the future 1,000-year reign of Christ (Revelation 20:7-9). Adam’s submission to Satan’s temptation allowed-for the release of other fallen angels from their prison and in Satan gaining power on the earth (Romans 6:6, 2 Corinthians 4:4 and Matthew 4:9)
Some scholars reject the Genesis Gap due to belief that it takes away from the fact of Adam’s sin having been that which brought spiritual death to mankind. The fact is however that Satan in the Garden of Eden was a fallen angel accusing God of lying to Adam and Eve (“thou shalt not surely die,†according to Genesis 3:4).
Christians believe that had Adam not sinned, the sin of the angel both pre-adamic and that occurring in the Garden of Eden would not have passed spiritual death onto mankind. It's believed that it was Adam’s submission to the temptation and his resulting personal sin that led to man's mortality.
Sources:
NAS Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Concordance
The Wycliffe Bible Commentary
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance: Hebrew Dictionary
Chuck Missler Genesis Commentary
The Scofield Bible
Dake's Annotated Reference Bible
Clarence Larkin Dispensations
Read more at Suite101: The Controversial Genesis Gap Doctrine: Belief in a Pre-Adamic Creation | Suite101.com The Controversial Genesis Gap Doctrine: Belief in a Pre-Adamic Creation | Suite101.com
The Controversial Genesis Gap Doctrine: Belief in a Pre-Adamic Creation | Suite101.com
Belief in a Pre-Adamic Creation
This doctrine also referred to as the "Ruin-Reconstruction Theory" has been included in a number of reputable Bible commentaries.
Like many Bible doctrines, the controversial Genesis gap teaching comes into dispute in some areas of its principles. There are, however a number of questions answered legitimately by this doctrine, that otherwise have no clear answers from a biblical perspective. (Bible quotes following are from the KJV version.)
The Genesis Gap in a Nutshell
This doctrine proposes that the creation of earth in Genesis chapter 1, that God gave Adam dominion of, was actually a “re-creation†and not the originally created earth. The original creation is mentioned in a single verse of the chapter (verse one) which states, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.â€
In verse two of Genesis chapter one, it states, “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.†The Hebrew word “hayah†that was translated “was†in this second verse has within its definition the meanings “became,†“to become†and “came to pass.†This can properly be interpreted to mean that the earth “became without form and void.â€
An early Aramaic Old Testament paraphrase called the Targum of Onkelos, written early in the second century, renders Genesis 1:2 as “and the earth was laid waste," revealing a possible time-gap between verses 1 and 2. The earth also appears to be in a chaotic condition with darkness and a flood of water covering it. Other ancient writers including 5th century Augustin also refer to an earth that was originally created and afterward in need of having order brought back to it within these two verses.
The Great Flood Before Adam
Bible scholars who recognize this destruction of the original earth, as being a flood that destroyed prehistoric life have found reference to a catastrophic flood mentioned in the scriptures that do not match Noah’s flood, as described in Genesis chapter 8, which receded off of the earth slowly. This earlier flood and/or destruction of the earth, is also believed to be referenced in the following scriptures:
- Psalm 104:5-7, which says how God covers the earth with “the deep†and afterward removes it with a “thunderous rebuke.â€
- Genesis 1:9, which says that God commands “let the dry land appear.â€
- Jeremiah 4:23-27 says that Earth is "without form and void" and quaking but there is “no man†and the “birds of the heavens have fled.†God proclaims he “will not make a full end.â€
- 2 Peter 3:5-7 discusses how the heavens were “of old†and the earth was “overflowed with water and perished†– followed by the “heavens and earth which are now†existing.
- Isaiah 45:18 says that God did not originally create the earth in “vain†from the Hebrew “tohu va bohu†– the same term translated in Genesis 1:2 as, “without form and void.â€
Some Bible scholars believe that the rebellion of the angel “Lucifer†who became the fallen angel “Satan†and the angels that followed him caused the destruction of the pre-adamic earth. The Old Testament scriptures in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 are passages that have been believed for many centuries to be referring to the fall of this mighty, “anointed†angel. Both of them state that he fell due to “pride†and not because he tempted Adam in the Garden of Eden.
They also refer to his being “cast out of heaven, to the ground†and “into hell.†This compares with scriptures in 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6, Matthew 25:41 and Luke 10:18 that refer to angels falling and being placed into hell. It is important to note that many Bible scriptures refer to hell as being in “the heart of the earth†and “prepared for the devil and his angels†but there is no mention of its creation in Genesis.
Read on
- Old and Young Earth Bible Creationism
- Fallen Angels – the Tempters of Mankind
- Does the Bible Refer to Dinosaurs?
Isaiah and Ezekiel were addressing both men who lived at the time and the evil spirits influencing these men. Many of the things attributed to them can only apply to angelic beings. The same principle is described in Ephesians 6 which states that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood†and it describes the “rulers of darkness†that influence human beings. At one point, Jesus rebuked Peter, saying, “get the behind me Satan,†referring to the evil spirit influencing him at that moment (Matthew 16:23).
Important Questions Answered
This doctrine answers the question as to whether the fall of angels believed to have become “devils†(demons) was pre-adamic or after the creation of Adam and his earth-dominion. It points strongly to this having been a pre-adamic event for the following reason, posed as a question and answer.
The question is: Isaiah, Ezekiel, II-Peter and Jude state that angels were cast down and incarcerated in hell, so if the temptation of Adam was the cause of that fall, why are they not still being held there and why was Satan the only tempter present in the Garden of Eden?
The answer? It's said that the fallen angels were in hell following a pre-adamic rebellion but Satan was loosed for a season to tempt Adam’s faithfulness to God. He will be cast into hell again and afterward "loosed for a little season" to tempt people born on earth during the future 1,000-year reign of Christ (Revelation 20:7-9). Adam’s submission to Satan’s temptation allowed-for the release of other fallen angels from their prison and in Satan gaining power on the earth (Romans 6:6, 2 Corinthians 4:4 and Matthew 4:9)
Some scholars reject the Genesis Gap due to belief that it takes away from the fact of Adam’s sin having been that which brought spiritual death to mankind. The fact is however that Satan in the Garden of Eden was a fallen angel accusing God of lying to Adam and Eve (“thou shalt not surely die,†according to Genesis 3:4).
Christians believe that had Adam not sinned, the sin of the angel both pre-adamic and that occurring in the Garden of Eden would not have passed spiritual death onto mankind. It's believed that it was Adam’s submission to the temptation and his resulting personal sin that led to man's mortality.
Sources:
NAS Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Concordance
The Wycliffe Bible Commentary
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance: Hebrew Dictionary
Chuck Missler Genesis Commentary
The Scofield Bible
Dake's Annotated Reference Bible
Clarence Larkin Dispensations
Read more at Suite101: The Controversial Genesis Gap Doctrine: Belief in a Pre-Adamic Creation | Suite101.com The Controversial Genesis Gap Doctrine: Belief in a Pre-Adamic Creation | Suite101.com