Before we begin, I think it would be beneficial for us to learn two scriptural principles which are absolutely essential to this series of study. So lets begin by turning to the book of Isaiah.

Who is this talking about? Obviously, this is talking about Jesus, isn't it? The Child and the Son this is talking about has to do with the first coming of Christ which took place almost 2000 years ago. But what about this government on His shoulder part?

Question: When Christ came the first time, was the government upon His shoulder? No! It wasn't. As a matter of fact, the Roman government, in the natural way of looking at it, nailed the Son of God to a wooden cross. Well then, just when will the government be upon His shoulder? It will be when He returns the second time and comes as King of Kings and Lord of Lords --- when He comes to rule and reign on planet Earth for a literal one-thousand years. Amen? Revelation Chapter 20 tells us no less than six times that Jesus will literally reign this Earth from Jerusalem for a 1000 year period of time.

"Brother Benbow what's the point?" The point is this: Between the very first part of Isaiah 9:6 where it talks about a child being born and the latter part where it says the government shall be upon His shoulder, there is a time gap --- a gap of time which amounts to about 2000 years --- all within the same verse! Can you see it? The first part of verse 6 is talking about the first coming and the latter part is talking about a period of time following His second coming with a gap of time between the two of at least 2000 years. Is that somewhat unusual for Scripture to do that? No. There are other places in the Bible where we can see similar gaps of time. For instance, lets take a look at Zechariah 9:9.

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Zion (Jerusalem): behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having (bringing) salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

The scriptures reveal that Jesus literally fulfilled that prophecy as He rode in on a donkey through the eastern gate when He came and officially presented Himself as Messiah King - when He made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. But if you remember, previous to the triumphant entry that day, when Jesus would perform a miracle, He would say, "Tell no one, for my hour has not yet come." In other words, He was saying that it wasn't the right time yet for an official announcement to be made.

But when He rode into Jerusalem on Psalm Sunday, April 2nd, in 30 A.D., He fulfilled this prophecy here in Zechariah 9:9 and said, "Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem -- behold thy KING cometh unto thee!" What did He mean by that? In essence He was saying, "I'm your King. Either crown me as your king or kill me. Do one or the other, but for Heaven's sake, don't be lukewarm about me! Don't try to straddle the fence because it simply can't be done. Either crown me or kill me" (paraphrased).

Now look at the middle part of verse 10 where it says, "and He shall speak peace unto the heathen (nations), and His dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the Earth." Question: When Jesus first came, during His Earthly ministry, did He, in fact, have dominion from sea to sea? No, He didn't. Well then just when will this dominion from sea to sea take place? Won't it take place right after He returns --- right after His second coming --- when He sets up His millennial Kingdom? Yes! Then His dominion will be Worldwide, "from sea to sea".

So, once again we can see a gap of time - this time the gap is between two verses --- between verse 9 and verse10 of Zechariah Chapter 9 --- a time gap of about two thousand years. Even though it's somewhat subtle, we can now begin to see that time gaps do exist in the Word of God. I believe we can now concede that gaps of time are evident within Bible Scripture! Well, are there additional scriptures that contain time gaps? Yes, there certainly are! Go back once again to the Book of Isaiah, and Chapter 61.

Did you notice that Jesus's quote here in Luke is not exactly the same as it is in Isaiah 61? Take a close look at verse 19 here in Luke. Luke 4:19 reads "to preach the acceptable year of the Lord". That happens to be the last quote of Isaiah 61 that Jesus read that particular day in the Synagogue. But He left out the latter part of Isaiah 61:2 that says, "and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn." He omitted that part and it looks like He closed the book on a comma, doesn't it? I wonder why He did that! Why didn't He continue and finish it?

Because the first time Jesus came, He did not come "to proclaim the day of vengeance". He will "proclaim the day of vengeance" when He returns --- at His second coming. Amen? You see, at His first coming He came "to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord". He came 2000 years ago and said, "repent, for the Kingdom is at hand." So once again, we have a scriptural time gap --- a gap of about two thousand years in the 61st Chapter of the book of Isaiah.

The first time Jesus came, He came as the Lamb of God. When He comes the second time, He will be coming as the Lion of Judah. Amen? And it also says when He comes the second time, He'll have a two-edged sword in His mouth. This sword won't be made out of steel however. What's the two-edged sword He's going to be coming back with? THE WORD! HIS WORD! He'll be coming back quoting scripture - - - the same scripture that those men who'll be fighting at the battle of Armageddon have been rejecting down through the years.

But here's the point. We need to know and understand, that within the Word of God we have scriptures that contain gaps of time. Well, we could go on and on talking about time gaps --- For example there are gaps of time recorded in Hosea 3, Daniel Chapters 9 and 11, Amos Chapter 9, etc. Well, so what? What's the big deal about time gaps? Well, if we don't understand the Biblical principle of scriptural time gaps, then we'll have a difficult time trying to comprehend what this series is all about. We must be able to recognize these gaps of time in order to establish a foundation for understanding the subject of "Creation." So let's begin now at the Beginning of the Book!

In the beginning (of time - not eternity) God created the heaven and the Earth.

Before we continue, let me remind you that the Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew. So in order for us to comprehend the fullness of verse 1, it is absolutely necessary to research some original word meanings. If we were reading the original Bible, the one that God gave to Moses, what would verse 1 be saying to us? As good as the King James translation is, it's still not totally accurate with our today's English language because of the changes in the meanings of words which has taken place down through the years.

For example: Not so very many years ago the word "gay" meant to be happy and care free. "Coke" used to be something you drank. "Grass" was something that needed mowing every so often. The word "cool" used to have something to do with the temperature. "Bad" meant "not good". And we could go on and on, couldn't we?

Since 1611 A.D., when King James had the Bible translated, until today, many of our English words have changed in meaning--- some have changed several times. Also we have more accurate methods of translating other languages today then people had back in the 1600's. New scrolls have been found in recent years which give us much older and more accurate original texts. Also, the King James translation is several translations down from the original Hebrew texts. And the 1600's happened to be a Dark time in history. So we just simply see things more clearly today than they did in the 1600's. In other words, there happens to be more scriptural revelation today, than ever before. Praise the Lord!!

Another problem they had back in the 1600's was that the Church empire would not allow the people to think outside of its orthodox teaching. In fact, if this were 1611 today, I'd probably be burned at the stake for making some of the observations I've already made in this lesson!

Well, let's go back now to Genesis 1:1. I said all that, in order to say this: We need to take a good look at the word, "CREATED." If we fully understand the Hebrew meaning of the word for the English word, we'd find that it's not like our English word "C R E A T E D", as we know it today. The Hebrew word translated as "created" here in the first verse of the Bible is "B-A-R-A," pronounced Ba-ra'. It means "to originate from absolutely nothing."

So if we were reading the Book of Genesis in Hebrew today, we would have to decide here in Chapter 1, verse 1, if God caused the Heaven and Earth to exist from absolutely nothing except His spoken Word --- or, whether Heaven and Earth "evolved" as some would have us believe.

You see, that's the way our God operates. He causes us to make a decision right off --- right at the beginning of the Book --- hot or cold (not lukewarm) --- black or white (not gray). But here in America today, it seems that many have tried to explain it away by something they have classified and labeled as "good educated thinking." Sometimes it’s referred to it as "great scientific achievement."

It looks like we've arrived at our time in history believing that intellect and intelligence has finally arrived - - - with our generation! Have you noticed? Every generation tends to think it's more intelligent than any previous generation. In other words, we have got to be the smartest generation to ever come along! And our children and grandchildren are being taught that in public schools and universities!

But guess what? The Ur of the Chaldees where Abraham lived has now been located by archaeologists. Some people think the Bible was written for a bunch of illiterate shepherds who sat around campfires at night and told stories and that these stories got recorded in the Bible. They think that they are nothing more than fictional stories which were used for their entertainment. I don’t think so!!!! Did you know that those people who lived in Ur of the Caldees during Abraham's time had air conditioning!!?

Of course some people wonder how that could be so since they didn't have electricity back in those days. Well, that’s correct. They didn't have electricity then. But they sure had air conditioning! Archaeologists have found where they had water ducts running along the top of the roofs where water dripped down over curtains and the breeze blowing through those wet curtains cooled their rooms!

I’;m going to let you in on a secret: Intelligence didn't arrive with our generation. And knowledge is not wisdom. There's a vast difference beween the two! Seems like today we've got lots of computers, lots of knowledge, and lots of facts, but very little wisdom! Four thousand years ago in Egypt they were using trigonometry and algebra. How many of us know how to utilize those kinds of mathematical skills?

If we'd ever decide to just believe what the Word says, we'd be so much better off! For example, do you know how many years we operated on people and they died because of shock --- simply because we didn't put them to sleep? If we had just read and believed the Bible, we would have known to put people to sleep a long time ago. Isn't that what the Word says that God did when he operated on Adam and took out his rib to make Eve? Sure! The Bible says that He put Adam to sleep. With all its intellect Medical Science just found out about putting people to sleep about the time of the Civil War --- in the 1860's!!

What about the shape of the Earth? Isaiah 40:22 says "It is He (God) that sitteth upon the circle of the Earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:" The word "circle" in the Hebrew literally means "sphere" . What shape does a sphere have? It's round like a ball, isn't it? Isaiah wrote this in 690 B.C., or about 2000 years before the time of Columbus.

Did you know that Jesus also taught that the Earth was round like a sphere? Sure! You might not have been aware of it, but you've read it lots of times! He said, "when I come the next time, two will be in the bed asleep, one will be taken and one will be left. Two others will be working in the field -- one will be taken and one will be left."

Now think with me for a minute. If the earth had been flat like people thought it was when Jesus was here, when the sun came up it would be light everywhere at one time, wouldn't it? But Jesus said, "when I come, (speaking of His second coming) two will be in the field working and two will be in the bed asleep." Well then, since the Earth's shape is basically round, when Jesus comes again it will be light on one side of the Earth and dark on the other side, just like it always is. Amen? Therefore, when people are working on one side of the Earth, others are asleep on the other side. Jesus was a good scientist! Well, He ought to be - He created it all! Brothers and Sisters, that's true science!

Now here in Genesis Chapter 1 verse 1 God says, "Out of nothing except my Word I created everything that you see" (paraphrased). Before we finish this study, we'll see that the New Testament backs that up and says the very same thing. And that's what the Old Testament and the New Testament is supposed to do. They are supposed to agree, one with the other!

Actually this subject of creation is pretty simple. It's kind of like salvation. Salvation is so unbelievably simple that man tries to fight it. For some reason, man usually wants to "earn" salvation, but God says, "No. There's no way you could ever earn it. Did you request to be born? No. Did you have an opportunity to vote as to whether or not you would be born? No! Since that's obviously the case with everyone, some people have said, "God, nobody ever asked me if I wanted to be born or not. Now I'm told that I'm on my way to Hell because I arrived in this world in a lost condition. So if I ever intend to avoid Hell then I must somehow be changed. I can't see how that's fair at all."

God's answer to that is, I agree with you whole-heartedly. That's why I've made every provision for your salvation. Since you had nothing to do with your Earthly existence, I've already bought and paid, in advance, for everything you need to escape that awful lost situation. All you have to do is believe in, rely on, trust in, and cling to My Word as Truth, and receive my only (supernaturally) begotten Son, Jesus, as your Savior and Lord.

Now how about that? Now that's the kind of God we serve! He really, really does love and care about us! He's so loving that He would never send anyone to Hell. He gives us all the will and opportunity to make that choice ourselves. Those who end up in Hell have no one to blame but themselves. Now let's go back to the Bible and to Genesis.

And the Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

We've already talked at length about time gaps in the scriptures. Based on the Godly inspired scriptures and everything we presently know archaeologically, I strongly believe that we have another time gap between the first two verses of the Bible - - - between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. I believe we have a gap of an unknown length of time between these two verses. There's no way for us to determine just how many years of time this gap consists. But it is the first scripturally recorded gap of time as far as we know.

And I also believe that sometime during this first gap of time there was a flood. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that a flood between the these two verses couldn't be referring to the flood of Noah. No! I'm talking about a flood which would have occurred even before Adam and Eve ever came on the scene. How long before? I don't know, but I'm talking about a flood which completely destroyed all life forms that existed on planet Earth at that time. Unlike the flood which occurred during Noah's time, there were no survivors of this flood whatsoever!

Do we have any scriptures in the Bible that says or even indicates that the flood of Noah was the first flood this planet ever experienced? No. I don't think so. We've just assumed that it was the first because we've never seen this time gap between the first two verses of the Bible.

Before we finish this subject of creation, I hope you will be able to see, from the scriptures, that man-like creatures who were not made in God's image and likeness, and dinosaurs, and mastodons, and wooly mammoths and other animals not common to us today, lived and existed on this Earth during the era of this gap of time.

I also hope you will be able to understand, from the scriptures, that all these life forms have absolutely nothing to do with you and me, because they all died previous to Genesis 1:3. I believe that God says, The only thing that's important to you is --- why you were born a sinner, and how sin entered into the human race after I created Adam and Eve. They are your ancestors. In other words, these "scientific" man-like creatures whom science refers to as Neanderthal and Cromagnon have nothing to do with us as far as ancestry is concerned. You and I have no kinship to them whatsoever. We are related to Adam. Adam is the beginning of our ancestry.

Why did God completely destroy that pre-Adamic world with a flood? I believe the Bible answers that question, maybe not directly, but indirectly. It's my belief that God did it for the same reason that someday soon He's going to alter or change the Earth as you and I now know it. He promised, however, that He won't ever use a flood again. This next time the change will be accomplished by fire.

In the very near future, when Jesus comes back for the Church, this Earth and those who have rebelled against God will begin experiencing seven years of tribulation which, according to Jesus in Matthew Chapter 24, will be the worst time this Planet Earth has ever known or will ever know . That seven years of tribulation will be followed by a literal one thousand year reign of Christ when He will literally reign here as King of Kings. Following the 1000 year reign of Christ, this Earth will undergo a cleansing and a change. At that time the Earth and its atmosphere will be renovated and cleansed by fire.

And why is God going to bring the world, as we know it now, to judgment? BECAUSE OF SIN! Why did God bring Sodom and Gomorrah to judgment? BECAUSE OF SIN! Why did God destroy the world with the flood of Noah? BECAUSE OF SIN! Why were the children of Israel expelled from the land that God had given them? BECAUSE OF SIN! So here's our second Bible principle that we should know about which is essential to this study series. "Sin always brings judgment."

And so in summarizing Part One of this lesson on Creation, this is what I believe the Word of God reveals. I believe that this pre-Adamic flood was brought about as the result of total sin, with no possibility of redemption, and all those man-like creatures and all of the animal kingdom of that pre-Adamic time were totally and completely destroyed with absolutely no exceptions. I also believe that since those Pre-Adamic life forms fully perished , they have nothing to do with our ancestry, our sin, or our salvation. (See 2 Peter 3:6 . The word "perished" in verse 6 means "to fully destroy".)

It's as if God is saying to us, "Many years after that pre-Adamic flood I started life all over again and I began it with one man, Adam. This time I created him in my likeness and in my image, glory, moral nature and character which I did not do in that previous World. I've plainly told you in my Word that man is to be the glory of Me and that woman is to be the glory of the man. That's My will for you until I come again as King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords."

Click on "Creation- Part Two" for more on this subject, including these sub-topics: The Sun Shines Not; "Very Cold Very Fast"; Three Heavens; The Earth And The First Heaven; Earth After Pre-Adamic Flood; Re-Creation; A Bible Contradiction?; Meaning of "Earth"; Six Days Or Six Thousand Years?; God’s Image And God’s Likeness; Command To Replenish; First Recorded Artificial Respiration; Earth "Without Form And Void".