Post by Charity on Jan 23, 2006 22:31:39 GMT -5
Outline of Earth History As Revealed in the Book of Genesis
I. INTRODUCTION
The Book of Genesis is the most important book ever written in the sense that it is the foundational book of the sixty-six books of the Bible, the inscripturated Word of God. It is the true record of primeval history and lays the foundation for every key doctrine of the Bible and the Christian faith.
An understanding of Genesis is prerequisite to any real understanding of the New Testament. The books of the New Testament contain over 200 quotations from or clear allusions to the Genesis record (see Appendix 11).
Jesus Christ Himself frequently quoted from Genesis (Mark 10:6) or alluded to its histories (John 3:14). In His Biblical exposition of all the "things concerning Himself" while walking on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection, He began in Genesis (see Luke 24:25-27). This constitutes an excellent example for us. We should, like He did, begin with Genesis.
II. AUTHORSHIP OF GENESIS
Moses is the traditional author of Genesis, as well as the other books of the Pentateuch. However, he was not living during the times recorded in Genesis, as he was during the times of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Therefore, as did authors of other historical books in the Bible (Kings), he probably incorporated previous records.
That is, the various sections of Genesis were actually recorded by eye-witnesses of the events described -- by Adam, Noah, Shem, Terah, Isaac, Jacob and others. Their respective tablets were then later compiled and edited by Moses into the present format of Genesis, with the various sections demarked by the recurring phrase: "These are the generations of . . ."
See the "Introduction to Genesis" for further discussion of this important subject. Supervising and guiding the entire operation was the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).
III. THE ONLY TRUE ACCOUNT OF ORIGINS
The false philosophy of evolution has led the modern scientific and educational establishments to develop elaborate naturalistic development scenarios for the universe and its many components, including human beings. The only true account of origins, however, is given in Genesis. In outline form, with Scriptural texts accompanying, the sequence of origins events as revealed in Genesis is as follows:
Fiat Creation of Space/Mass/Time Universe (Genesis 1:1).
Formation of Solid Earth and Biosphere (Genesis 1:9,10).
Origin of Stars and Solar System (Genesis 1:14-19).
Formation of Marine and Atmospheric Life (Genesis 1:20).
Creation of Conscious Animal Life (Genesis 1:21-25).
Creation of Man in Image of God (Genesis 1:26,27).
Origin of Marriage and Home (Genesis 1:28; 2:23,24).
Origin of Decay and Death (Genesis 3:17-20).
Origin of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (Genesis 4:2).
Origin of Urbanization (Genesis 4:17).
Origin of Technology (Genesis 4:20-22).
Origin of Nations (Genesis 10).
Origin of Different Languages (Genesis 11:1-9).
Origin of Chosen Nation Israel (Genesis 12).
IV. THE CHRONOLOGIC FRAMEWORK OF EARTH HISTORY
The major events in the history of the world and life are interpreted by evolutionists in terms of their system of naturalistic cosmology and geologic ages on Earth. The Biblical creationist framework of history is vastly different. These two chronologies are summarized below.
Evolutionary Framework
Matter and energy are either infinitely old or else originated in a quantum fluctuation from "nothing."
The present universe originated in a "Big Bang" as an infinitesimal particle of space/time about 10 to 20 billion years ago.
The solar system either condensed out of a cloud of cosmic dust or by an accumulation of colliding planetoids about 4.6 billion years ago.
Life evolved from complex non-living chemicals in a primeval soup about 3.5 to 4.0 billion years ago.
Multi-cellular life evolved in the ocean about one billion years ago.
Human life evolved from non-human animal life about 3 to 4 million years ago.
Culture and civilization evolved about 9 thousand years ago.
Man and civilization will continue to evolve in the unknown future.
Biblical Framework
Creation of the universe by divine fiat about 6000 years ago (possibly up to 10,000 years ago).
Completion of the perfect Creation in six days of same duration as modern solar days (Genesis 1:1-31; Exodus 20:8-11).
Curse on the whole creation, with suffering and death, because of man's sin (Genesis 3:14-18).
Cataclysmic deluge, destroying the primeval world-system and earth structure, in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:14-19).
Confusion of languages and dispersion of nations at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9).
Redemption of creation at Calvary (John 19 and 20; Colossians 1:16-20).
Future restoration of perfect creation and establishment of eternal order (Revelation 21 and 22).
Gap Theory
Evolutionary ages taken as completed before the Creation week, with the ages terminated by a global catastrophe followed by reconstruction.
Interpretive system: Dispensationalism (geologic ages relegated to a former dispensation not relevant to present human dispensation).
All three compromise theories have a number of variants, but all make the basic error of accepting the evolutionary ages of astronomy and geology as real history, then trying to find a place for the Genesis record of six-day Creation. This can only be done, however, by gross distortion of the plain sense of the Genesis record.
VI. FALLACIES IN ACCEPTING EVOLUTIONARY AGES AS REAL HISTORY
Biblical Fallacies
Permanence of created "kinds" (Genesis 1:25, etc., 1 Corinthians 15:35-44) does not accommodate theistic evolution.
Completion of Creation (Genesis 2:1-3; Hebrews 4:3,4,10) does not allow use of present natural processes to "create" or "make" complex systems.
New Testament accepts historicity of Genesis Creation and Flood accounts.
"Day" defined as literal day at first mention (Genesis 1:5).
Exodus 20:8-11 and 31:15-18 require literal days.
Contextual use of "day" in Genesis precludes figurative meaning (i.e., "day" defined by numerical sequence and bounded by "evening and morning" -- always literal in Old Testament usage).
No contextual basis for "gap" between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 (note Hebrew connective "and," beginning each verse in Genesis, indicating continuity for sequence of events).
No clear reference in Bible to pre-Adamic race or pre-Adamic cataclysm.
Theological Fallacies
Evolutionary ages are the most wasteful and cruel process conceivable by which to produce man.
Geological ages are identified specifically by their fossils, indicating global suffering, decay and death prior to entrance of sin and Satan into the world.
Evolutionary ages imply no purpose in Creation (why dinosaurs, for example).
Evolution and eternal pre-worlds characterize all pagan religions and philosophies
Scientific Fallacies
There is no legitimate scientific evidence of any kind for any form of evolution.
There are many more natural processes indicating a young earth than an old earth (see Appendix 5).
There are at least twenty-five discrepancies between the evolutionary order of events and the Creation order (e.g., plant life before the sun, earth originally covered by water, birds before land animals, fruit trees before fishes, earth before the stars).
Geologic ages assumed to be continuous with present, leaving no room for a pre-Adamic cataclysm.
The global cataclysm required by the gap theory would destroy all geologic evidences for the "ages."
www.csinfo.org/Outline_of_Earth_History_As_Revealed_in_the_Book_of_Genesis.htm
I. INTRODUCTION
The Book of Genesis is the most important book ever written in the sense that it is the foundational book of the sixty-six books of the Bible, the inscripturated Word of God. It is the true record of primeval history and lays the foundation for every key doctrine of the Bible and the Christian faith.
An understanding of Genesis is prerequisite to any real understanding of the New Testament. The books of the New Testament contain over 200 quotations from or clear allusions to the Genesis record (see Appendix 11).
Jesus Christ Himself frequently quoted from Genesis (Mark 10:6) or alluded to its histories (John 3:14). In His Biblical exposition of all the "things concerning Himself" while walking on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection, He began in Genesis (see Luke 24:25-27). This constitutes an excellent example for us. We should, like He did, begin with Genesis.
II. AUTHORSHIP OF GENESIS
Moses is the traditional author of Genesis, as well as the other books of the Pentateuch. However, he was not living during the times recorded in Genesis, as he was during the times of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Therefore, as did authors of other historical books in the Bible (Kings), he probably incorporated previous records.
That is, the various sections of Genesis were actually recorded by eye-witnesses of the events described -- by Adam, Noah, Shem, Terah, Isaac, Jacob and others. Their respective tablets were then later compiled and edited by Moses into the present format of Genesis, with the various sections demarked by the recurring phrase: "These are the generations of . . ."
See the "Introduction to Genesis" for further discussion of this important subject. Supervising and guiding the entire operation was the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).
III. THE ONLY TRUE ACCOUNT OF ORIGINS
The false philosophy of evolution has led the modern scientific and educational establishments to develop elaborate naturalistic development scenarios for the universe and its many components, including human beings. The only true account of origins, however, is given in Genesis. In outline form, with Scriptural texts accompanying, the sequence of origins events as revealed in Genesis is as follows:
Fiat Creation of Space/Mass/Time Universe (Genesis 1:1).
Formation of Solid Earth and Biosphere (Genesis 1:9,10).
Origin of Stars and Solar System (Genesis 1:14-19).
Formation of Marine and Atmospheric Life (Genesis 1:20).
Creation of Conscious Animal Life (Genesis 1:21-25).
Creation of Man in Image of God (Genesis 1:26,27).
Origin of Marriage and Home (Genesis 1:28; 2:23,24).
Origin of Decay and Death (Genesis 3:17-20).
Origin of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (Genesis 4:2).
Origin of Urbanization (Genesis 4:17).
Origin of Technology (Genesis 4:20-22).
Origin of Nations (Genesis 10).
Origin of Different Languages (Genesis 11:1-9).
Origin of Chosen Nation Israel (Genesis 12).
IV. THE CHRONOLOGIC FRAMEWORK OF EARTH HISTORY
The major events in the history of the world and life are interpreted by evolutionists in terms of their system of naturalistic cosmology and geologic ages on Earth. The Biblical creationist framework of history is vastly different. These two chronologies are summarized below.
Evolutionary Framework
Matter and energy are either infinitely old or else originated in a quantum fluctuation from "nothing."
The present universe originated in a "Big Bang" as an infinitesimal particle of space/time about 10 to 20 billion years ago.
The solar system either condensed out of a cloud of cosmic dust or by an accumulation of colliding planetoids about 4.6 billion years ago.
Life evolved from complex non-living chemicals in a primeval soup about 3.5 to 4.0 billion years ago.
Multi-cellular life evolved in the ocean about one billion years ago.
Human life evolved from non-human animal life about 3 to 4 million years ago.
Culture and civilization evolved about 9 thousand years ago.
Man and civilization will continue to evolve in the unknown future.
Biblical Framework
Creation of the universe by divine fiat about 6000 years ago (possibly up to 10,000 years ago).
Completion of the perfect Creation in six days of same duration as modern solar days (Genesis 1:1-31; Exodus 20:8-11).
Curse on the whole creation, with suffering and death, because of man's sin (Genesis 3:14-18).
Cataclysmic deluge, destroying the primeval world-system and earth structure, in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:14-19).
Confusion of languages and dispersion of nations at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9).
Redemption of creation at Calvary (John 19 and 20; Colossians 1:16-20).
Future restoration of perfect creation and establishment of eternal order (Revelation 21 and 22).
Gap Theory
Evolutionary ages taken as completed before the Creation week, with the ages terminated by a global catastrophe followed by reconstruction.
Interpretive system: Dispensationalism (geologic ages relegated to a former dispensation not relevant to present human dispensation).
All three compromise theories have a number of variants, but all make the basic error of accepting the evolutionary ages of astronomy and geology as real history, then trying to find a place for the Genesis record of six-day Creation. This can only be done, however, by gross distortion of the plain sense of the Genesis record.
VI. FALLACIES IN ACCEPTING EVOLUTIONARY AGES AS REAL HISTORY
Biblical Fallacies
Permanence of created "kinds" (Genesis 1:25, etc., 1 Corinthians 15:35-44) does not accommodate theistic evolution.
Completion of Creation (Genesis 2:1-3; Hebrews 4:3,4,10) does not allow use of present natural processes to "create" or "make" complex systems.
New Testament accepts historicity of Genesis Creation and Flood accounts.
"Day" defined as literal day at first mention (Genesis 1:5).
Exodus 20:8-11 and 31:15-18 require literal days.
Contextual use of "day" in Genesis precludes figurative meaning (i.e., "day" defined by numerical sequence and bounded by "evening and morning" -- always literal in Old Testament usage).
No contextual basis for "gap" between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 (note Hebrew connective "and," beginning each verse in Genesis, indicating continuity for sequence of events).
No clear reference in Bible to pre-Adamic race or pre-Adamic cataclysm.
Theological Fallacies
Evolutionary ages are the most wasteful and cruel process conceivable by which to produce man.
Geological ages are identified specifically by their fossils, indicating global suffering, decay and death prior to entrance of sin and Satan into the world.
Evolutionary ages imply no purpose in Creation (why dinosaurs, for example).
Evolution and eternal pre-worlds characterize all pagan religions and philosophies
Scientific Fallacies
There is no legitimate scientific evidence of any kind for any form of evolution.
There are many more natural processes indicating a young earth than an old earth (see Appendix 5).
There are at least twenty-five discrepancies between the evolutionary order of events and the Creation order (e.g., plant life before the sun, earth originally covered by water, birds before land animals, fruit trees before fishes, earth before the stars).
Geologic ages assumed to be continuous with present, leaving no room for a pre-Adamic cataclysm.
The global cataclysm required by the gap theory would destroy all geologic evidences for the "ages."
www.csinfo.org/Outline_of_Earth_History_As_Revealed_in_the_Book_of_Genesis.htm