Genesis 1 -- Creation and a Gap?
Genesis 1:1-2
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 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.
KJV
See Genesis 1. Discuss and define your beliefs about the six days of Creation. Was this over a long period of time? Was it six 24-hour days? Was there a "gap" of unknown time between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2? If so, what occurred during this "gap"? If not, explain in as much detail as possible the fall of Satan and the entrance of sin into the universe.
So, Scripture focuses on Adam and sin and Jesus and salvation, not upon Satan. There is no theological need within the pages of Scripture to explain Satan. He simply exists. His sin of pride is the same as man’s sin, yet, in some fashion known only to God, the two are not identical and apparently not directly related. Satan’s sin will be punished as explained in the pages of Scripture, but Satan’s sin has no direct bearing upon the sin of mankind. Indeed, the prime purpose of the millennium appears to be directed at demonstrating mankind’s sinful nature without Satan’s influence. This period is the final proof of a lack of direct correspondence between Satan’s sin and mankind’s sin.
Without this direct relationship, the need for the Gap Theory fails. There is no reason to demonstrate any period such as the Gap Theory postulates for there is no need to allow time for the various events related to Satan. For mankind’s knowledge, sin and salvation are all related to Adam and Jesus. Scripture finds no need for any other explanations. God has provided all man needs to know within the pages of the Bible. The Gap Theory has no place within those pages.
The Gap Theory, like the generation-day theory and the literary framework theory, are all directed at man’s quest for scientific and logical knowledge in a world God has created. They represent man’s desire to “control” his world, in this case through knowledge and reason. All that is truly required is salvation knowledge. Nonetheless, when God speaks, He speaks with full truth and authority. When Scripture reports that God created the heavens and the earth within six days, there is no reason to doubt the truth of this statement. If mankind’s knowledge points to a different conclusion, then mankind’s knowledge is lacking.
And, in the final analysis, this is the real test of all these issues. A noticeable feature of the discussions found in writings on the generation-day theory, the literary framework, and, even, the Gap Theory, is a lack of discussion about the place of faith within these theories. The writings relate to theories or data accumulated by men. The theories themselves speak of man’s pride in his work. Is not pride the fault that brings Satan to his final resting place in the lake of fire?
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