Time and the Creation Account

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 Freedman Observatories of the Carnegie Institution Washington D.C.

Evolutionary 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 Timeline Big Bang 13 Billion Years ago Beginning of Earth-Moon System 6.5 Billion Years ago Life on earth 3.5 Billion Years ago Multi-cellular Animal Life 540 Million Years ago Cambrian Explosion

The Evolutionist’s Timeline 540 Million Years Ago - Present First Mammals on Earth 265 Million Years ago Mass Extinction (90% of life on earth) 250 Million Years ago Dinosaur Extinction 65 Million Years ago Multi-cellular Animal Life 540 Million Years ago Present Period (Quaternary, of Cenozoic era) Began 2.8 Million Years ago

The Evolutionist’s Timeline 2.8 Million Years Ago - Present Recorded History (Use of language to record human history) 7,000 years ago Homo Sapiens (Man) 350,000 Years ago Present Period (Quaternary, of Cenozoic era) Began 2.8 Million Years ago

The Evolutionist’s Timeline Big Bang 13 Billion Years ago Man appears The 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 10:6 But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’

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

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 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 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 10:6 (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 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 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 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 20:9-11 Six 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.

Conclusion 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!