by David Phillips
In addition to the “Gap Theory”, which we discussed in the last bulletin, we should note that there is significant controversy over how long the days of creation were. In an attempt to compromise with evolutionary thought, some have insisted on the possibility that each day of the Creation period was an age of millions of years.
Perhaps some are confused by a misunderstanding of 2 Peter 3:8- But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. This verse is NOT telling us that God’s days are a thousand years long. The point is rather that time is of no consequence to God. The next verse, 2 Peter 3:9, indicates that God’s patience will wait as long as possible for men to repent. His timetable is not based on human timekeeping, and He alone knows what His schedule is. In the matter of how long the Creation days were, there are a couple of points that should be observed:
First, there is no reason to conclude that the days of Creation were different from any days the Bible mentions. In fact, the KJV uses the word “day” 71 times in Genesis and not one single time does it indicate or even imply that anything other than a normal day is under consideration. The word always refers either to a 24-hour period of time, or of the “daylight” portion of that period. Never to a multi-year “age”.
Secondly, notice Exodus 20:8-11: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God…For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. Doesn’t it seem that the six Creation days referenced here were just like the six days Israel was authorized to do their work in? 24-hour days!