Question: How can a literal reading of Genesis be reconciled with an old Earth?
Whenever this subject is debated, the participants quickly form into groups of varying opinion, which usually are the well-known, well worn 'ideas'. There are many 'theories' as to the origin of the Earth and the Universe, but the two main ones are:
1) The Big Bang Theory, (spontaneously).
2) Creation by God.
(See link "For the Atheist and the Evolutionist")
As regards the 'Big Bang', this has been discussed and taught very ably by its proponents, that any comment here would be disregarded as unlearned, which is quite true; as the writers do not study in depth any subject considered superfluous to Truth! The evidence for and against it is well documented, and can be studied by any person at will. Drawing conclusions on these recorded writings is not possible as the factors are so insecure, and eventually the person is left with the choice (as with Science) of accepting or rejecting; and from then on either being fixed minded or open minded to further information.
As regards Creation by God (the God of the Bible), in the context of the Bible, it is Truth! The major problem is the many wrong interpretations of what is written in the Bible, and what it is actually saying! See: Age of the Earth Controversy: (study)
Extracts and comments from Revelation Chp. 1:3(a)
1.3
(c)Happy is he that reads (a)and those that hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in, for the (b)time is near.
(a) Those that hear and see, this indicates that this writing is probably pre. Acts 28:28. However, we feel strongly that it is pre. AD 70, as at no time is the sacking of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple mentioned. (The majority view of the dating of Revelation is one of the Christian persecution periods. Nero's persecution between AD 54 - 68. Vespasian's persecution between AD 69 -79. Domitian's persecution between AD 81- 96). The whole emphasis is the Lord's return, and the Judgement of God on the Nations, and the re-establishment of Israel to the original promises to Abraham and the Patriarchs.
The fact of the rejection of Jesus by Israel at Acts 28:28, means a later fulfilment. However, Christ came "at the end of the Ages", (Heb. 9:26, the C. of E. translators show "end of the world", again to suit their dogma. The Greek states "completion of the Ages" Interlinear, Strongs, Comp.) the length of which is too immense for our comprehension. So, whether 20 years as would have applied in the Acts period, if the Jews had accepted Christ, or 2000 years or more, these times are infinitesimally small, by comparison with, "Age times", as defined by the Almighty which can be millions or even billions of years, as we understand time.
Science, with its own criterion (probably justified); states recently that the Earth and Universe are between 5.5 and 14 billion years old, this is an increase, as the earlier estimates were between 4.5 to 5.5 billion. These are huge, almost impossible to grasp time spans, and make the last 2,000 years the blink of an eye by comparison! See: Age of the Earth Controversy:
This also is a classic double fulfilment, or fill-full (completed), of which there are many in Scripture. Because of the wrong translation of the Bible by the Churches over hundreds of years (Roman, C of E, and others), see: Corruption of the Bible Text: to suit their dogmas, care must be taken by the reader to determine the original meaning. A common example is "end of the world". Almost every case in the New Testament should read "end of the Age". An example is Matt. 12:32, "neither in this world, or in the world to come". This should read "neither in this Age, or in the Age to come". The implications as to meaning are enormous, as our Lord only ever talked about the Kingdom Age and at that time to Israel only! The current Churches talk about and teach a world ending calamity! See also Rev. 14:1(c).
Also see:
A Comment on Evolution (By Philip Johnson, Professor of Criminal Law, Berkeley, USA)
The Genesis 1:1 Enigma (study)
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