I have a question for those of you who hold the gap theory. I just want to make sure I understand your position correctly. Is it your opinion that "in the beginning" represents a period of undefined and unqualified time before the creation events of chapter one, and that the events of chapter one are separated by eons of time from "in the beginning?"
My
Understanding is that time isn’t specified until God specified it in the context of the common work day of man.
That during that unspecified time the earth sat awaiting the potter’s hand if and when rebellion arose among the angels.
The thing about the earth having created at the same time heaven was is that it proves that nothing the rebellious brought up as justifiable reasons for unbelief towards God caught God unprepared. The earth was created to be created the legal means of establishing God’s historical proofs of his creation ability, and his eternal truths as well.
I suspect that the Devil questioned whether God was the most high God, solely on the basis of “might makes right”, and whether the love of God was true love and not feigned for manipulative reasons. As men on earth question whether God created all things, and whether the history he presents is true.
Interestingly, 1 John 5:7 is a very important verse, which Satan sought to remove from ever being in the completed Holy Bible, as well as others that he got scholars to doubt the varacity of. That verse reveals that God has no legal need of witnesses because they already exist in the godhead.
The understanding of the Godhead isn’t that it just is. It is the understanding that God, as one LORD, as a godhead, is in need of nothing. He never was lonely and needing companionship, he never needed someone else to love, and the Word and the Holy Ghost are free and independent persons that qualify as legal witnesses of all that God, has ever said and done, and witnesses of all others in the preview of God.
This truth means that God created without hidden alterior motives that are contrary to his written word. God created angels and man to share his love, his life and all his benefits and wealth besides. God is not simply almighty God. God is worthy to be the Almighty. There’s no one else to trust. No one as gracious as he.
Good leads to eternal life and perfection in the corse of time for all who trust God with their life.
Evil leads to its own destruction. Angels such as Satan probably thought themselves beyond destruction or suffering damnation being as they are, spirits with heavenly bodies that can walk in fire. But evil destroys eternal spirits as well as the souls of men. According to God we haven’t ever truly had life until we live become the sons of God born of his Spiri, and abiding in his love and truth.
God’s original plan was not to magically, or robotically produce a perfect and perfectly obedient world. God’s plan is to perfect creatures by means of love and truth.
It turns out that evil is slavery unto eternal death if no one saves the evil person.
But, love, that Satan thought weak and a but a nicer form of slavery, is in truth freedom forever.
Once the evil is proven to be evil before all eyes, and good is proven good, and all creatures make their eternal decision of whom to trust their eternal live with, then the new earth and heaven and its perfection and eternal growth will come to pass.