The Gap Theory

[Adrift]

I've heard it said that the "gap theory" is considered outdated, and that not many people hold to it anymore. I'm wondering why this is, and if folks can give me the pros and cons of this theory. The one major issue that bugs me about the gap theory is that it doesn't really seem to give a satisfying answer for why death would occur before the fall... although, with a little imagination I suppose I could come up with a few reasons.

[rHarryr]

Adrift;

Are you refering to the gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2, or the gap between the 69th and 70th week in the prophesy in Daniel. Or, both. If it is the one in Genesis, I have a post on my blog about that. If it is the on concerning the prophesy in Daniel. There is on good indication of that, when Jesus entered the synogog and started to teach, He stopped in mid sentence indicating that He was only there to fulfill that part at that time. The rest will be accomplished when He returns. I don't remember the exact spot in the Gospels where He does this, but the verse he read was in Isaah.

rHarryr

[timspong]

Adrift;

Are you refering to the gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2, or the gap between the 69th and 70th week in the prophesy in Daniel. Or, both. If it is the one in Genesis, I have a post on my blog about that. If it is the on concerning the prophesy in Daniel. There is on good indication of that, when Jesus entered the synogog and started to teach, He stopped in mid sentence indicating that He was only there to fulfill that part at that time. The rest will be accomplished when He returns. I don't remember the exact spot in the Gospels where He does this, but the verse he read was in Isaah.

rHarryr

luke 4.18-19 as compared with Isa 61, 1-2.

I think this is probably only applicable though if you hold to a premil view, same as the daniels 70th week one. In say a partial preterist view this Gap theory would be unnecessary.

I have heard of the Genesis one but I really don't know much about it or the specific application.

[Adrift]

Adrift;

Are you refering to the gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2, or the gap between the 69th and 70th week in the prophesy in Daniel. Or, both. If it is the one in Genesis, I have a post on my blog about that. If it is the on concerning the prophesy in Daniel. There is on good indication of that, when Jesus entered the synogog and started to teach, He stopped in mid sentence indicating that He was only there to fulfill that part at that time. The rest will be accomplished when He returns. I don't remember the exact spot in the Gospels where He does this, but the verse he read was in Isaah.

rHarryr

I'm referring to the Genesis 1:1, 1:2 gap. Thanks, I'll check your blog.

[John Goddard]

I've heard it said that the "gap theory" is considered outdated, and that not many people hold to it anymore. I'm wondering why this is, and if folks can give me the pros and cons of this theory. The one major issue that bugs me about the gap theory is that it doesn't really seem to give a satisfying answer for why death would occur before the fall... although, with a little imagination I suppose I could come up with a few reasons.

The problem for me is it imagines a whole Bible, similar from Genesis creation to Revelation destruction, somewhere between 1:1 and 1:2.

When there is no reason to think that it is anything other than giving a summary introduction of all of Genesis 1 here:

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And actually beginning the story here:

Genesis 1:2 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.

[Adrift]

The problem for me is it imagines a whole Bible, similar from Genesis creation to Revelation destruction, somewhere between 1:1 and 1:2.

When there is no reason to think that it is anything other than giving a summary introduction of all of Genesis 1 here:

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And actually beginning the story here:

Genesis 1:2 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.

What about this concept. A "story" does not have to exist for the gap to be true... only that there may be a period of time between 1:1 and 1:2 that we have little to no direct information on? Is the concept of unaccounted time between these two verses credible?

[rHarryr]

In the prophecy in Daniel, it speaks of 70 weeks. Now the one whom I learned this from, could read the ancient Hebrew as well as the other languages used in the Old Testament. The 70 weeks mean 70 weeks of years, or 7x70. At the end of 69 weeks, Messiah (Jesus) was cut off.
The 70th week is the week in which there will be 2 ½ weeks of peace, then 2 ½ weeks in which the false prophet, anti-Christ and the devil will rule. At the end of which Jesus will return to usher in the millennium of His rule. Since the second part hasn't yet, this tells me that we are at present in the gap between the two.

According to what I was taught, Genesis 1:2 and also a certain verse in Jeremiah that happens to have the same letters and words, could just as easily be translated “and it became a waste and a desolation. In connection with other words in Jeremiah where he was talking about the past, which can just as easily be translated “and there were dwelling places of intelligent beings. This is a good indication that there was a space of time between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2.

rHarryr

[John Goddard]

What about this concept. A "story" does not have to exist for the gap to be true... only that there may be a period of time between 1:1 and 1:2 that we have little to no direct information on? Is the concept of unaccounted time between these two verses credible?

I don't see any gap, I see an introduction of the entire chapter in 1:1 -- God created heaven and earth -- then with 1:2 I see it start to tell about that process in detail.

[rHarryr]

Sorry;

I left off half of one of the verses, it should have said "and there were dwelling places of intelligent beings, but there were no people".

rHarryr

[John Goddard]

Sorry;

I left off half of one of the verses, it should have said "and there were dwelling places of intelligent beings, but there were no people".
rHarryr

Do you mean:

Jeremiah 51:37 And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.

like:

Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

[rHarryr]

No John;

That's not it, It is in Jeremiah 4:23 through 26.

rHarryr

[Adrift]

I don't see any gap, I see an introduction of the entire chapter in 1:1 -- God created heaven and earth -- then with 1:2 I see it start to tell about that process in detail.

Is that because you're not familiar with the "gap theory" or because you are familiar with the theory, but you just don't accept it?

[John Goddard]

No John;
That's not it, It is in Jeremiah 4:23 through 26. rHarryr

Jeremiah 4:23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

Jeremiah 4:24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.

I see. It likely describes the end time, since it is dealing with Israel which didn't exist yet in Genesis 1.

Revelation 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

Revelation 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

Revelation 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

[John Goddard]

Is that because you're not familiar with the "gap theory" or because you are familiar with the theory, but you just don't accept it?

I don't accept it since as I said 1:1 looks like nothing more than an introduction.

I guess if you are like an adherent to Lemuria/Atlantis/etc. beliefs you would have no choice but to put a gap in there, but I'm not into all that really.

[rHarryr]

John;

That's pretty much understandable, it's what most people see in the Bibles available today. If you can't read the original Hebrew, you need to find someone who can. You'll find it reads a little bit different. If I remember correctly, the first verse is pretty close. It's the second verse that makes the difference. And, believe it or not, it has nothing to do with Lemuria or Atlantis. It has to do with the original text. By the way, did you deliberately leave out verses 25 & 26, or did you just not read them. You might have to get an Hebrew scholar for this too. Jeremiah is having a vision of the earth before man. It has nothing to do with the end time. Find someone that can read the original Hebrew before you completely dismiss it.

rHarryr