What is the “Gap Theory?”

Question:

Could you please send me information on the “Day-age Theory” and information on the “Time-gap Theory” — anything you have on the periods of time involved in creation?  Thank-you.

Answer:

The “Day-Age Theory” and the “Gap Theory” were theories thought up by professing Christians to try and answer Charles Darwin’s “Theory of Evolution.” In their day, it seemed like the theory of evolution was a scientific fact, the way that scientists were talking about it. Darwin’s theory would require more time than the Bible teaches there has been upon earth since its creation. Believing the Bible chronology would mean that our earth is about 6,000 years old; whereas the evolutionists say it is millions, and possibly billions of years old.

The “Day-Age Theory” was thought up to allow for more time in the Bible since creation. The theory states that the days of the Creation Week were not literal 24 hour days, but long periods of time. Their proof verse? II Peter 3:8, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” They were taking this verse out of context. If you will read II Peter 3, you will find that the reference to one day being with the Lord as a thousand years, is not in reference to “creation,” but in reference to “judgment” that is going to fall. And it deals with God’s great mercy and patience with man, that he might repent and be saved. II Peter 3:8-12 says, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is LONGSUFFERING TO US-WARD, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”

To say that the Lord created matter, and then had to use millions, and possibly billions of years to form His creatures through mutations is absolutely ridiculous. Luke 1:37 says, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Genesis 18:14 says, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” Jeremiah 32:27 says, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”

To say that God used evolution to create everything would outright contradict Scripture. In Genesis chapter one, seven times it says that what God created was “good” or “very good.” You cannot say that of evolution and its mutations. It is a cruel theory that leaves people and animals to suffer through millions and billions of years of mutations and handicaps. It is interesting that when Jesus came in the New Testament, those were the exact people that He had compassion upon and healed.

Matthew 9:20-22 says, “And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood TWELVE YEARS, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And THE WOMAN WAS MADE WHOLE FROM THAT HOUR.” She had suffered just 12 years, but Jesus had compassion upon her, and did not let her suffer another hour.

Matthew 20:29-34 says, “And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. And, behold, TWO BLIND MEN sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So JESUS HAD COMPASSION ON THEM, and touched their eyes: and IMMEDIATELY THEIR EYES RECEIVED SIGHT, and they followed him.” We do not know how long they had been blind, but Jesus had compassion upon them, and healed them immediately. Think how long that people would have been blind in the theory of evolution — for millions and millions and millions of years.

John 5:5-9 says, “And a certain man was there, which HAD AN INFIRMITY THIRTY AND EIGHT YEARS. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And IMMEDIATELY THE MAN WAS MADE WHOLE , and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.” The man could not walk for 38 years, and Jesus had compassion and healed him immediately. Think how long that people would have been unable to walk in the theory of evolution — for millions and millions and millions of years.

So the theory of evolution directly contradicts the account of the creation week in the Bible, when it says that everything that God created was “good,” and “very good.”

The “Gap Theory” was also thought up by some, to try and reconcile the supposed facts of evolution (that the earth was supposedly millions, and possibly billions of years old). The theory states that there is a “gap” (of millions of years, or whatever it takes) between Genesis 1:1, and Genesis 1:2. It was the same idea — somehow make the Bible compatible with evolution.

The Bible is very clear that God created everything in 6 literal 24 hour days. First, because each time it gives the number of the day (the first day, the second day, etc.) Secondly, because it states “the evening and the morning.” That is letting you know that it is a literal day.

The Bible is very clear in other places that God did not create everything over a long process of time, but immediately. Psalm 33:6,9 says, “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. For HE SPAKE, AND IT WAS DONE; he commanded, and it stood fast.”

Both theories (the “Day-Age Theory,” and the “Gap Theory’) are false and absolutely unnecessary. The “Theory of Evolution” is totally false, and has never been supported by true science. The word “science” means “knowledge,” and evolution has never been supported by true scientific data. True science has always supported the Bible. From the thickness of the dust on the moon, to the size of the sun — all support an earth about 6,000 years old. I would encourage you to order a series of video tapes on creation and science from Dr. Kent Hovind, in Pensacola, Florida. The series will give you more information on the subject, than you could get in four years of college classes. His Web Site is “http://www.drdino.com”.

And now what will we do? Will we make the same mistake as some in a previous generation? Or will we trust the Bible that it is true? I Timothy 6:20,21 says, “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and OPPOSITIONS OF SCIENCE FALSELY SO CALLED: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.” Some professing Christians have foolishly erred by believing that evolution was true science. Make sure that you do not fall into the same trap. Who knows what other theories man will invent to try and rule God out of the picture or contradict His Word? Make sure that you read the King James Bible, and believe it. Psalm 119:160 says, “THY WORD IS TRUE from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”