Timeand the

Creation Account

Timeand the

Creation Account

The Evolutionist’s Contention

The Evolutionist’s Contention

Edwin Hubble's observations led to a mathematical quantity to measure the speed that galaxies travel apart. Known as the Hubble constant, this measurement provides the conversion factor between cosmological distances and cosmological redshift of galaxies. Using the Hubble constant and information about the expansion of the Universe from the Hubble Space Telescope, we have been able to measure the age of the Universe to between 12 and 14 billion years old.

Dr. Wendy FreedmanObservatories of the Carnegie InstitutionWashington D.C.

Evolutionary PresuppositionsEvolutionary Presuppositions• Universe created by natural means:

– “In the beginning there was a singularity. No time or space; our present physical laws did not apply.” (Earth and Environmental Sciences Syllabus, Columbia University)

• Age of Universe can be determined based upon the idea that the universe originated at one point, and physical laws are constant.

• Uniformitarianism (It all worked 13 billion years ago the way it works now)

The Evolutionist’s TimelineThe Evolutionist’s Timeline

Big Bang13 BillionYears ago

Beginning ofEarth-Moon System6.5 BillionYears ago

Life on earth3.5 BillionYears ago

Multi-cellularAnimal Life540 MillionYears ago

Cambrian Explosion

The Evolutionist’s Timeline540 Million Years Ago - Present

The Evolutionist’s Timeline540 Million Years Ago - Present

First Mammals on Earth265 MillionYears ago

Mass Extinction(90% of life on earth)250 MillionYears ago

Dinosaur Extinction65 MillionYears ago

Multi-cellularAnimal Life540 MillionYears ago

Present Period(Quaternary, of Cenozoic era)Began2.8 MillionYears ago

The Evolutionist’s Timeline2.8 Million Years Ago - Present

The Evolutionist’s Timeline2.8 Million Years Ago - Present

Recorded History (Use of language to record human history) 7,000 years ago

Homo Sapiens (Man)350,000Years ago

Present Period(Quaternary, of Cenozoic era)Began2.8 MillionYears ago

The Evolutionist’s TimelineThe Evolutionist’s TimelineBig Bang13 BillionYears ago

Man appears

The Creationist’s TimelineThe Creationist’s Timeline

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1)

Man appears: “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female...’” (Matthew 19:4; cf. Mark 10:6).

Mark 10:6Mark 10:6But from the beginning of the

creation, God ‘made them male and female.’

Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:1In the beginning God

created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1 (Days of Creation)Genesis 1 (Days of Creation)

1.Light (2-5)2.Firmament (6-8)3.Plant Life (9-13)4.Stars, Sun and Moon (14-19)5.Marine Life and Birds (20-23)6.Land animals and Man (24-31)7.God Rested (2:1-4)

Attempts to Reconcile Old Universe and Genesis Account

Attempts to Reconcile Old Universe and Genesis Account

• Gap theory (between 1:1 and 1:2)• Day Age Theory• Day Gap Theory• Genesis Account Not Literal

Note: Not our purpose in this lesson to discuss evidences and explanations for a young universe. Only to answer: “What does the Bible say about it?”

Arguments from ScriptureArguments from Scripture• Jesus contended that man and

woman were created “at the beginning”, days must be literal

– Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6

Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6(Matthew 19:4), And He

answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female.”

(Mark 10:6), But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’

Arguments from ScriptureArguments from Scripture• Jesus contended that man and

woman were created “at the beginning”, days must be literal

– Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6• “Evening and Morning” 24 hour

days and numbering of days (1-7)– Genesis 1:5,8,13,19,23,31

Arguments from ScriptureArguments from Scripture• Jesus contended that man and

woman were created “at the beginning”, days must be literal

– Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6• “Evening and Morning” 24 hour days

and numbering of days (1-7)– Genesis 1:5,8,13,19,23,31

• Gen. genealogies only allow for 1000’s of years, not 350 Million years (5,10,11)

Arguments from ScriptureArguments from Scripture• Jesus contended that man and

woman were created “at the beginning”, days must be literal

– Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6• “Evening and Morning” 24 hour days

and numbering of days (1-7)– Genesis 1:5,8,13,19,23,31

• Gen. genealogies only allow for 1000’s of years, not 350 Million years (5,10,11)

• Moses recognized the days of Genesis only 24 hour days

– Exodus 20:9-11

Exodus 20:9-11Exodus 20:9-11Six days you shall labor and

do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

ConclusionConclusion• The only reason to assert the universe

must be old is if you deny the concept of creation. It is the naturalist’s explanation.

• As Christians, we believe God created the universe. The view that the universe is young is tenable if God is in the picture.

• So, there is no reason for us to doubt, or seek to explain away what is clearly taught in scripture. God created the universe in six literal days, and the universe is young!