Was the Earth really created in six 24 hour days?

[david]

Quote

Dear Mannequins, Don't you think the whole Genesis Creation story is allegorical? Do you really think the creation of the universe could be put down in a few verses to people with no knowledge of physics and science without resulting to oversimplification and symbolism?

–cato.

Yes Cato, the creation of the universe could be put down in a few verses, and especially would it be put down in “few verses” to those “with no knowledge of physics and science.”
It's not a science thesis. And it's not attempting to explain any physics. It's just telling us what God did and the order he did it, and in extremely simply terms.

[david]

Quote

God has seen every thing from the beginning to eternity.

Well that's no fun. I could fastforward the movie to the end to see what the ending will be, but where's the fun in that.

Having the power to do something (ie: know the future, or even control events so the future becomes what you want) does not mean one has to excersice those powers. Does it?

[david]

Quote

Morning and evening, means to me morning and evening a 24 hr. day,

–Irene.

Irene, if one were to take out those words, morning and evening, there wouldn't be the slightest question that it is not referring to epoch's of time.

All the things Mannequins asked, they all indicate that this is not 24 hour days. I'd be interested in your response to his points.

There are many definitions of “day.” In the day of my grandfather. In the day of the dinosaurs. (This use of the day refers to much larger time periods.)
Judgment day, I believe is also a much larger time period.
One definition of “day” is “epoch” or a time when extraordinary things happened. That definition fits the genesis days.

Also, what do you make of Gen 2:4. That day cannot be 24 hours, because it encompasses all the days mentioned.

Although it isn't usually done today, sometimes, people do speak of the “morning of their life” or the “evening of their life.” Sure, it's mostly poets. But we understand what they mean.

We really have two choices. We can hold to “evening” and “morning” as referring to the evening/moring of a literal day, but then we have all these other contraditions, or we can take them to be somewhat poetic expressions.

david

[seekingtruth]

Quote (Nick Hassan @ July 03 2008,09:18)

Quote (Irene @ July 03 2008,13:01) Quote (Nick Hassan @ July 03 2008,10:02) Hi Irene, Is the day of the Lord one day? Can the morning and evening by 24 hr time be shown when the Sun is yet to be created? Nick  If you are referring to the Millennium it is a thousand years. The sun and the moon were created for our orientation, so that we can tell time and season, not for God. Irene Hi Irene, A thousand years is as one day. So why should God need time?

I tend to agree with Nick, why would it be any different for God whether it's 24 hours, 1000 years or a million years. I don't believe we need to try and make it easier for God, He called all things into existence and it could have been done instantly but I believe He built everything in it's order

Day 1 created sun and started earth rotating
Day 2 created dry land
Day 3 created vegetation
Day 4 clear atmosphere allowing clear view of the third heaven
Day 5 created animals, mammals, etc.
Day 6 created man

Each day supported the creations on the following days.

In my opinion – Wm

[Irene]

Quote (Nick Hassan @ July 03 2008,14:18)

Quote (Irene @ July 03 2008,13:01) Quote (Nick Hassan @ July 03 2008,10:02) Hi Irene, Is the day of the Lord one day? Can the morning and evening by 24 hr time be shown when the Sun is yet to be created? Nick  If you are referring to the Millennium it is a thousand years. The sun and the moon were created for our orientation, so that we can tell time and season, not for God. Irene Hi Irene, A thousand years is as one day. So why should God need time?

I answered that. I said that time was created for us and not for God. God does not need time.
Irene

[Anonymous]

Hello!  Funny that you all think I am a male!  I am actually female and still learning about bible concepts, but it doesn't take a genius to see that God is not referring to literal 24 hour days in the beginning of Genesis.  If so, there are too many contradictions.  And we know the bible does not contradict itself.  It is so hard for someone who has been set in their ways for so long, to grasp the concept that what they have always thought to be true may not actually be so.  In fact, it can be quite a blow to a person.  But, when you look at scripture and look at all of the facts, you see that for Jehovah to have been referring to 24 hour days is just impossible.  Also, I do think the sun and moon were already formed and in their places, I just do not think they were visible to man until the third day when God chose to let them be seen.

[Irene]

Quote (seekingtruth @ July 03 2008,16:21)

Quote (Nick Hassan @ July 03 2008,09:18) Quote (Irene @ July 03 2008,13:01) Quote (Nick Hassan @ July 03 2008,10:02) Hi Irene, Is the day of the Lord one day? Can the morning and evening by 24 hr time be shown when the Sun is yet to be created? Nick  If you are referring to the Millennium it is a thousand years. The sun and the moon were created for our orientation, so that we can tell time and season, not for God. Irene Hi Irene, A thousand years is as one day. So why should God need time? I tend to agree with Nick, why would it be any different for God whether it's 24 hours, 1000 years or a million years.  I don't believe we need to try and make it easier for God, He called all things into existence and it could have been done instantly but I believe He built everything in it's order Day 1 created sun and started earth rotating Day 2 created dry land Day 3 created vegetation Day 4 clear atmosphere allowing clear view of the third heaven Day 5 created animals, mammals, etc. Day 6 created man Each day supported the creations on the following days. In my opinion – Wm

God does not need time but we do. Therefore He created time for us too.
That is why all are in order and it was a 6 day 24 hr. period.
to create all.
The first day God said let there be light, and He seperated the light from the darkness and He called the light day and the darkness night.
On the fourth day He created the Sun and the Moon in the Heaven for our benefit, so we can tell days, month's and years.
On this we can tell that God meant a 24 hr. Period, when He created all.
Before then there was no time yet.
You are right about all the days you mention, but Nick does not believe this. You have to look at His previous posts to see that.
Peace and Love Irene

[gollamudi]

Quote (Nick Hassan @ July 03 2008,08:25)

Hi IM4, Some interesting but bizarre speculation

Hi Nick,
This is what you throw at others the mud.

[NickHassan]

Hi GM,
Why should anyone get personally hurt
when counselled that they should prove things before they begin to teach them?

Is there not safety in abiding in the Word?

[NickHassan]

Quote (Nick Hassan @ July 03 2008,08:25)

Hi IM4, You say “God did in fact create a beautiful earth, with all kinds of vegetation, trees and animals on it, which did caused the angels to shout for joy, Job 38:4+7. Angels were created to live forever, not being dependent on food or water or air. God also gave them a free will to make choices. To see if the angels were loyal and obedient to him, he had to test them, and this earth became the proving ground. Lucifer, God’s masterpiece of creation was put in charge. There are no specifics given in the bible, as to what his duties were, but his name, Lucifer, is somewhat revealing, “bringer of light”. Light is symbolic for truth; Jesus said he was the light of the world, John 8:12. Jesus brought us the light that leads to everlasting life, Lucifer was to do the same to the angels, teach them God’s way. While hear on earth, administering his responsibilities, something happened to him, he became jealous of God, he felt he should be worshiped. Over time, the bible does not say how long, he convinced himself that he could overthrow God. He revealed his plan to the angels, and convinced a third of them to follow him in his rebellion.” Some interesting but bizarre speculation

Hi Gm,
You do not accept that there is speculation in this post?
]
Then please show me where these things marked with a ? are shown in scripture.

“God did in fact create a beautiful earth, with all kinds of vegetation, trees and animals on it, which did caused the angels to shout for joy, Job 38:4+7. Angels were created to live forever, not being dependent on food or water or air. God also gave them a free will to make choices. To see if the angels were loyal and obedient to him, he had to test them,[?] and this earth became the proving ground.[?] Lucifer, God’s masterpiece of creation[?]was put in charge.[?] There are no specifics given in the bible, as to what his duties were, but his name, Lucifer[?], is somewhat revealing, “bringer of light”. Light is symbolic for truth; Jesus said he was the light of the world, John 8:12. Jesus brought us the light that leads to everlasting life, Lucifer was to do the same to the angels[?], teach them God’s way[?]. While hear on earth,[?] administering his responsibilities, something happened to him, he became jealous of God,[?] he felt he should be worshiped.[?] Over time, the bible does not say how long, he convinced himself [?]that he could overthrow God.[?] He revealed his plan to the angels,[?] and convinced a third of them to follow him in his rebellion.”  

Thanks

[942767]

Quote (david @ July 03 2008,14:16)

Quote believe that we are still in the sixth day rather than the 7th. hi 94.  As far as I can tell, of each of the six creative days concludes with the statement: “And there came to be evening and there came to be morning” a first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth day. (Ge 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31) The seventh day, however, does not have this ending indicating that this period, during which God has been resting from his creative works toward the earth, continued on. And BY THE SEVENTH DAY God came to the completion of his work that he had made, and he proceeded to rest ON THE SEVENTH DAY from all his work that he had made. 3 And God proceeded to bless the seventh day and make it sacred, because on it he has been resting from all his work that God has created for the purpose of making. But the seventh day is certainly not finished.  When it is finished, all will be complete.  The earth will be as God purposed. Quote In the sixth day in Genesis, God stated: “let us make man in our image”.  The first man was made a living soul, but that was not the perfected man, and so this is an ongoing process as we are perfected as we learn to apply the Word of God in our daily lives.  The last Adam was made a life giving spirit. I think some have sometimes been confused by the first couple chapters. Chapter 1 to chapter 2:4 goes over the days, ending with the seventh day of rest beginning and then, 2:4 says: This is a history of the heavens and the earth in the time of their being created, in the day that Jehovah God made earth and heaven. So, that's the history.  But then, we go back and focus in on what's important, Adam and Eve.  It's not a continuation, but it goes back and gives more detail concerning this.  We know this because in 1:27 he already created the man.  Then in 2:7, he's creating the man again.   It's 2:4 that is so important.  It tells us that the preceeding verses formed the history of the heavens and earth in the time of their being created.  But, that doesn't mean we can't then focus in on certain important aspects of that creation–man. david

Hi David:

I thought I would post the following scriptures which might help us to arrive at the truth:

When Jesus was accused of working on the Sabbath day, he said:

Quote

Jhn 5:16 ¶ And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. Jhn 5:17  But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Jhn 5:18  Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

God was to have rested on the seventh day, and here Jesus states:  “My Father works…”

Also, the following scripture:

Quote

Jhn 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

And so, what I am suggesting is that the Morning of the sixth day has come but the evening has not.  For humanity God has set the example of six work days and then a seventh day of rest.  There are many weeks along the way.  The seventh day is the 1000 years commonly referred to as the mellinium.  This is prophetic.  God has said that the works were finished from the beginning.

Quote

Hbr 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Quote

Hbr 4:4  For he spake in a certain place of the seventh [day] on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

Quote

Hbr 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. Hbr 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his. Hbr 4:11 ¶ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Anyway, just some food for thought.

[gollamudi]

Quote (Nick Hassan @ July 04 2008,07:29)

Hi GM, Why should anyone get personally hurt when counselled that they should prove things before they begin to teach them?   Is there not safety in abiding in the Word?

Hi Nick,
Sorry again to bother you, I was not comenting about the contents of the post but the way you have reacted to it. Ofcourse now I have learnt not to react in that way. One thing you have to remember is that every one of us here have certainly crossed through such imaginations about the creation of this universe don't you? But it doesn't give us right to comment in such way to our senior brothers like I'm4Truth husband of our dear sister Irene.
Peace to you
Adam

[GeneBalthrop]

946727….> I believe if you check out the word created you will find it derived it meaning from the Hebrew word (fatting) , also the word used is not in the past tense in the original, it should be read, God creating them is in his image, which shows a continuing process, this might be the reason in Hebrews there is this idea of entering into that rest which is yet to come. I have not really dug into that to much, but that would be a interesting subject.

peace……..gene

[NickHassan]

Quote (gollamudi @ July 05 2008,04:05)

Quote (Nick Hassan @ July 04 2008,07:29) Hi GM, Why should anyone get personally hurt when counselled that they should prove things before they begin to teach them?   Is there not safety in abiding in the Word? Hi Nick, Sorry again to bother you, I was not comenting about the contents of the post but the way you have reacted to it. Ofcourse now I have learnt not to react in that way. One thing you have to remember is that every one of us here  have certainly crossed through such imaginations about the creation of this universe don't you? But it doesn't give us right to comment in such way to our senior brothers like I'm4Truth husband of our dear sister Irene. Peace to you Adam

Hi GM,
We should not stand in awe of any man for any reason.
We all present speculations but we should say they are just such.
All posting must allow their ideas to face scrutiny according to the Word.
That is how truth is found.

[gollamudi]

Thanks for such understanding.

[Irene]

Hi gollamudi, and thank you.

Nick; you are always quick to answer, and you have added a lot of “?” to my post. Why not share your wisdom with us, and answer the questions that I ask in my post.

IM4Truth

[Irene]

For Nick

[NickHassan]

Hi Im4,
I find few questions there.
Can you clarify what you mean?

[Irene]

Nick, in my post “the earth”, the ones with a “?” behind it.

IM4Truth

[theodorej]

Quote (Cato @ July 02 2008,23:18)

Dear Mannequins, Don't you think the whole Genesis Creation story is allegorical?  Do you really think the creation of the universe could be put down in a few verses to people with no knowledge of physics and science without resulting to oversimplification and symbolism?

Greetings Cato….Sure it can….For one thing, God is Timeless and six days could be as six thousand years,and let us not forget he rested on the seventh day….The knowledge of physics and science is a gift from God to man so that man could see God and understand,but ,because of mans vanity and pride,science has become the instrument man has chosen to use for the purpose of deminishing Gods gifts and creation…

[Author]

Posts