How Old is the Earth? Really??

[just-want-peace]

Could there had been a long time between creation of adam/Eve and all animals/plants before they fell?

Possible, but highly unlikely.
Consider the physical attraction between the two; how long before the first pregnancy????
My guess would be two months to a year. Otherwise, depending whether the sin nature would have been a part of #1 "DURING" pregnancy or if it had to be at conception, the first-born would/could have been born to sinless parents.

 

[righteousdude2]

You Make a Lot of Sense....

No one knows for sure exactly how old the earth is except the One Who created it. Does it really matter? .... I'm not too proud to admit that I don't have all the answers--just opinions.

That is wisdom!!!! :applause::applause::applause:

 

[Steadfast Fred]

There could have been....therefore, since the Bible does not say, one cannot be dogmatic. (Theoretically, it could have been 68 Trillion Years, and I defy any Hovind sycophant [this is what we have here] to demonstrate otherwise). That being said...I am a YEC...I think 6-7k years...and I do not believe that it was a long time at all. The Bible however, does not say how old Adam and Eve were or how long they were in the garden prior to the fall. I personally, however, do not think it was long at all.

The Bible says Adam and Eve were created on the sixth day of creation. The each lived over 900 years.

The Bible does say how old they were. Well, Adam anyway. It says God breathed in his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul. This happened on the sixth day of creation. Adam started living on the sixth day. The Bible further reveals that all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.

So we know exactly how old Adam was... he was 930. Though he was created as a man, he was no older than 930 years when he died.

 

[preachinjesus]

The Bible says Adam and Eve were created on the sixth day of creation. The each lived over 900 years.

It should be noted that ages only existed in the post-fall biblical narratives. The 900 years (which is interesting in and of itself) can be just as equally counted starting after the exile from Eden as at the moment of creation. I prefer, for lots of reasons, the post-Eden counting of age.

 

[Steadfast Fred]

It should be noted that ages only existed in the post-fall biblical narratives. The 900 years (which is interesting in and of itself) can be just as equally counted starting after the exile from Eden as at the moment of creation. I prefer, for lots of reasons, the post-Eden counting of age.

It cannot be counted post-exile for the main reason that the Word of God specifically states when man became a living creature... that was before the fall, thus before the exile.

Genesis 2:7 (KJV) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Genesis 5:5 (KJV) And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

Adam began living prior to the exile from Eden, and all the days he lived were 930 years.

 

[preachinjesus]

Or we could just point out that once the man and woman are placed in the Garden there is no discussion of the temporal constraints of time.

When we look specifically at the Genesis 2:4-25 section which describes the creation of man and woman along with the placing in this unique space (I suggest, ala Sailhammer it is unique not just in creation but in temporal state) we see that there isn't an association with time. Whereas the first creation epic 1:1-2:3 was all about time (likely because of its polemical nature) this second creation scene is unique and different.

I actually posit that the man and woman enjoyed an extended time in the Garden, a temporally different plane, while the rest of creation continued along and aging and maturing.

This isn't a big deal and I think there is a lot of room for discussion and polite disagreement here. We just don't know what happened in these two accounts and I'm okay with that.

 

[agedman]

The arguments of this thread seem to focus on "THIS" current heaven and earth.

However, None have "proved" in any way that the earth is young or old.

Rather most of the posts banter about the six days of creation and how long a day may have been. Below are six simple thoughts for the forum folks to consider.

First, God is the consummate creator.​

He didn't just create and not have created before. Christ said, that He was preparing a place for us, when that place is revealed in the Revelation, the Scriptures end. What next???? The Scriptures are silent. But the nature of God is to create. For one to think this earth is the one and only that ever existed is alarming. Such thinking limits the very Creator.

Second. The elements existed BEFORE "let there be light."
​

Certainly, the six days of creation were absolutely 24 hour periods of time. Time is not fixed by the "heavenly bodies" but the earth rotation. The complete single revolution of the earth upon its axis is a day. The day of earth is not the same as the day of any other planet that is known. The land, the water, the air, the nutrients, ... all were in place before "let there be light." Water covered it all over. (That disproves the "big bang" hot fiery gas thinking).

Third. God cannot create what is void and without form.​

That is totally out of the character and nature of God. If there is anyone who would contend the opposite, that person needs to reconsider the evidential and historical aspects God displays throughout both Scriptures and nature.

Fourth. It is myopic to have a God that has no eternity past or future in which we are an intricate part.​

The Scriptures begin with God, and end with eternity starting. Why is it that humankind must place all of eternity past and future as man centered. Only these millennium in which the Scriptures reveal are focused upon man and God's redemptive work. It is rather puffed up human limited rationalization to view God as never having accomplishing anything of significance before Adam and Eve. Just because He has chosen not to let us in on it doesn't mean things didn't happen before we arrived. That is child like thinking that nothing happened before they were born.

Fifth. I have a new car. The car was wrecked.​

Does anyone not see the significance of "was" in Genesis? The earth "was" wrecked. If God cannot create what is without form and void, then it "was" wrecked. Does anyone actually believe that the God who carefully orders and keeps subatomic particles in place would actually create what is void and without form. That is not even human rational thinking. The rabbinical teachers DO consistently translate the original as "was;" HOWEVER, the consistent view has been that the "was" is an event (something that happened) and that the earth certainly wasn't originally created covered with water and in darkness. God created the heavens and earth, and the earth "was" (not created "as" but suddenly "was") without form and void.

Sixth. God is light. "In Him is NO darkness."​

Yet, here is God BEFORE the six days, dwelling in darkness and moving about in the dark. One would have to proclaim that God created darkness for that to happen within the perspective of some teaching. Wrong thinking. In HIM is NO darkness. He separates the darkness from the light. He did not create darkness.

Seventh. God rested, and so will this post.
​

:sleep:

 

[righteousdude2]

How IRONIC...

The arguments of this thread seem to focus on "THIS" current heaven and earth.

However, None have "proved" in any way that the earth is young or old.

Rather most of the posts banter about the six days of creation and how long a day may have been. Below are six simple thoughts for the forum folks to consider.

First, God is the consummate creator.​

He didn't just create and not have created before. Christ said, that He was preparing a place for us, when that place is revealed in the Revelation, the Scriptures end. What next???? The Scriptures are silent. But the nature of God is to create. For one to think this earth is the one and only that ever existed is alarming. Such thinking limits the very Creator.

Second. The elements existed BEFORE "let there be light."
​

Certainly, the six days of creation were absolutely 24 hour periods of time. Time is not fixed by the "heavenly bodies" but the earth rotation. The complete single revolution of the earth upon its axis is a day. The day of earth is not the same as the day of any other planet that is known. The land, the water, the air, the nutrients, ... all were in place before "let there be light." Water covered it all over. (That disproves the "big bang" hot fiery gas thinking).

Third. God cannot create what is void and without form.​

That is totally out of the character and nature of God. If there is anyone who would contend the opposite, that person needs to reconsider the evidential and historical aspects God displays throughout both Scriptures and nature.

Fourth. It is myopic to have a God that has no eternity past or future in which we are an intricate part.​

The Scriptures begin with God, and end with eternity starting. Why is it that humankind must place all of eternity past and future as man centered. Only these millennium in which the Scriptures reveal are focused upon man and God's redemptive work. It is rather puffed up human limited rationalization to view God as never having accomplishing anything of significance before Adam and Eve. Just because He has chosen not to let us in on it doesn't mean things didn't happen before we arrived. That is child like thinking that nothing happened before they were born.

Fifth. I have a new car. The car was wrecked.​

Does anyone not see the significance of "was" in Genesis? The earth "was" wrecked. If God cannot create what is without form and void, then it "was" wrecked. Does anyone actually believe that the God who carefully orders and keeps subatomic particles in place would actually create what is void and without form. That is not even human rational thinking. The rabbinical teachers DO consistently translate the original as "was;" HOWEVER, the consistent view has been that the "was" is an event (something that happened) and that the earth certainly wasn't originally created covered with water and in darkness. God created the heavens and earth, and the earth "was" (not created "as" but suddenly "was") without form and void.

Sixth. God is light. "In Him is NO darkness."​

Yet, here is God BEFORE the six days, dwelling in darkness and moving about in the dark. One would have to proclaim that God created darkness for that to happen within the perspective of some teaching. Wrong thinking. In HIM is NO darkness. He separates the darkness from the light. He did not create darkness.

Seventh. God rested, and so will this post.
​

:sleep:

...that your moniker "agedman" would respond to this post. BTW - thanks for your thoughts...:thumbsup:

 

[freeatlast]

Could there had been a long time between creation of adam/Eve and all animals/plants before they fell?

Not if you believe the bible. The bible tells us how long Adam lived.

 

[freeatlast]

It should be noted that ages only existed in the post-fall biblical narratives. The 900 years (which is interesting in and of itself) can be just as equally counted starting after the exile from Eden as at the moment of creation. I prefer, for lots of reasons, the post-Eden counting of age.

No the ages cannot be counted from their exile from Eden. That is simply another excuse so as to deny what is written. There is absolutely no reason to hold that Adam's age that is mentioned in scripture is any different in how it is give then any other person who is mentioned. He lived 930 years from the date of his creation.

 

[Yeshua1]

Not if you believe the bible. The bible tells us how long Adam lived.

from the time he sinned against the lord and started to physical die, but NOT as to how long might have lived in a sinless state, as he would not have aged/decayed etc!

And just when do we place the rebellion of satan/war in heaven/on earth in Genesis account?

 

[freeatlast]

from the time he sinned against the lord and started to physical die, but NOT as to how long might have lived in a sinless state, as he would not have aged/decayed etc!

And just when do we place the rebellion of satan/war in heaven/on earth in Genesis account?

You are trying to make straw out of scripture. We have how long he lived 930 years, and that was from the time of his creation not some silly formula.

 

[Yeshua1]

You are trying to make straw out of scripture. We have how long he lived 930 years, and that was from the time of his creation not some silly formula.

Where does it actually state creation only 6000 years ago though?

 

[preachinjesus]

No the ages cannot be counted from their exile from Eden. That is simply another excuse so as to deny what is written. There is absolutely no reason to hold that Adam's age that is mentioned in scripture is any different in how it is give then any other person who is mentioned. He lived 930 years from the date of his creation.

Check my actual points above for more detailed interactions.

I guess the lingering question here is this: why, in a state and place so removed from present understanding/experience, would Adam and Eve even care about keeping track of ages/time when they experienced no decay, no aging, and no death?

 

[freeatlast]

Check my actual points above for more detailed interactions.

I guess the lingering question here is this: why, in a state and place so removed from present understanding/experience, would Adam and Eve even care about keeping track of ages/time when they experienced no decay, no aging, and no death?

Adam and Eve did not care, God does.

 

[freeatlast]

Where does it actually state creation only 6000 years ago though?

You can believe what you want. The accouint of the bible shows this is a young creation of about 6000 years.

 

[Yeshua1]

You can believe what you want. The accouint of the bible shows this is a young creation of about 6000 years.

I hold to a younger earth, as compared to old earth, but WHERE does it say is 6000 years old?

 

[Deacon]

In past years the date was included in the notes of many KJV's

Dr. John Lightfoot, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, and one of the most eminent Hebrew scholars of his time, declared, as the result of his most profound and exhaustive study of the Scriptures, that "heaven and earth, centre and circumference, were created all together, in the same instant, and clouds full of water," and that "this work took place and man was created by the Trinity on October 23, 4004 B. C., at nine o'clock in the morning."
A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom by Andrew Dickson White, 1896.

Rob

 

[freeatlast]

I hold to a younger earth, as compared to old earth, but WHERE does it say is 6000 years old?

The 6000 years is an estimate based on an accumulation of the generations that the bible gives in Genesis.

 

[Yeshua1]

The 6000 years is an estimate based on an accumulation of the generations that the bible gives in Genesis.

Do we know how long a generation was in pre flood times, and IF all of them were even given, or just ones we needed to know?