Question:
Where does the Bible state that God created the earth inhabited (with angels)? Aren’t you assuming that God created the earth inhabited from Isaiah 45:18 where it says God created the earth not in vain? If the universe is millions or billion years old before man came on the earth, when did God create and place the stars and the sun in the heavens? Verse 17 of Genesis says that on the fourth day God set them (the stars which includes our sun) in the firmament of the heaven. If the fourth day is the time that God set the lights in the heavens, how could the creatures and plants of earth survive without these lights for millions or billions of years? If God was that light, did the earth move (revolve) around Him for all those millions or billions of years? Since God did not set them (the stars) in the heavens until the fourth day, are you saying that the earth is millions or billions of years old while the sun and the stars are about 10,000 years old?
Answer:
The light of the Sun, moon and stars became visible in the atmosphere on the fourth day. They were created in Genesis 1:1 billions of years ago. Darkness covered the earth at the Judgment of Satan described in Genesis 1:2. The word ‘made’ used on the fourth day means ‘to ordain or appoint’ for a purpose. On the fourth day the sky clear enough that you could see the light sources. THE EARTH-HOW OLD? I spoke to a skeptic who said, “I can’t believe the Bible because it teaches that the earth was created six thousand years ago.” I replied, “Where does the Bible say that?” He said, “In Genesis.” I remarked, “Show me.” Of course he couldn’t show me. He was poly-parroting what he thought that the Bible taught. So many times people reject the Bible because of what they think it says. Often times they have never read the Bible. Unfortunately many Christians don’t know what the Bible teaches, and therefore are not ready with an answer. God invites the thinking reasoning person to examine what His Word does say. “Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” As to the creation of the earth God does not set a date. God says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) This could have been billions of years ago, sometime in the dateless past. In fact, nothing in the Biblical record contradicts known fact. On the contrary, the Bible record gives us an amazing account of how the earth came into being and it’s future destiny. First of all, the earth was created in the dateless, countless past, then later judged and became void and without form. The seven days in Genesis chapter one were really a recreation of the earth and God making it inhabitable again. In type this is a beautiful picture of the new birth, a new creation where once was all chaos and ruin. The creation of the original earth was “In the beginning.” It was doubtless a most beautiful earth, covered with vegetation and inhabited with fish, fowl, and animal life. How long it continued in this condition we are not told, but an awful catastrophe befell the earth–it became “formless and void,” and submerged in water and darkness.” (Genesis 1:2) It is clear from Scripture that the earth was not void when originally created as seen by Isaiah 45:18. Notice, “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, (translated “void” in Genesis 1:2), He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” Comments on Genesis 1:2 by Dr. C.I. Scofield in the Scofield reference Bible say, “Jeremiah 4:23-26, Isaiah 24:1 and 45:18, clearly indicate that the earth had undergone a cataclysmic change as the result of divine judgment. The face of the earth bears everywhere the marks of such a catastrophe. There are not wanting intimations which connect it with a previous testing and fall of angels. See Ezekiel 28:12-15 and Isaiah 14:9-14, which certainly go beyond the kings of the Tyre and Babylon.” (Scofield reference Bible, page 3, footnote 3). Contrary to popular thought, Satan lived on the earth and not in heaven. Lucifer (Satan’s name before the fall) was ruling over the original earth. All of God’s angels were living on the original earth. In Isaiah chapter 14 we have the five “I wills” of Satan. This passage reveals that when Satan fell he was ruler here on the earth. Satan said, “I will ascend into heaven.” He was obviously not in heaven. Satan said, “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.” He was a ruler and was below the stars on the earth. Satan said, “I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the side of the North.” The Bible hints that heaven is in the North and Satan wanted to go there. Satan said, “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.” Satan was below the clouds on the earth. Also, II Corinthians 4:4 identifies Satan as the “God of this world.” God judged the earth (Genesis 1:2) when Lucifer took one-third of God’s angels in a rebellion against God. The earth was flooded and submerged with water and was in darkness. Scientists tell us that if our sun’s light were cut off from the earth for as little as 72 hours that our earth would quickly become frozen. Perhaps this would explain the ice ages. Perhaps this might explain the mammoths found quick frozen in Siberian earth with undigested vegetation still in their stomachs. Petroleum is the fossilized remains of animal life. Coal is the fossilized remains of plant life. Was this from the original earth? Perhaps many fossils are from the animal life from the original earth created prior to Adam & Eve. Genesis is the book of beginnings. It records not only the beginning of the heavens and the earth, and of plant, animal, and human life, but also of all human institutions and relationships. Here we have the new birth pictured. Just as the earth was created, it was judged. Then a new creation was necessary. In seven days, as described in Genesis 1:3-31, God remade the earth and placed man in dominion over the earth. Adam was created, he sinned, and then he was judged. A new birth became necessary. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) A new birth is the only way into heaven. Human works and effort are all ruled out. As sin brought judgment, in the case of the earth and Adam, only God could provide redemption. Jesus told how to receive the new birth in John 3:14-16. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Unless you trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you will perish. Trust Christ and receive the gift of God—eternal life (Romans 6:23).