Introduction
Four great facts of Creation are being
increasingly denied by both secularists and professed Christians:
(1) The True God — the God of the Bible — created
all of the universe. (2) He created it by His Word without using
pre-existing material. (3) He created this world and everything in it in
six literal 24-hour days and then rested on the Seventh day, which He then
dedicated as the weekly Sabbath that all of His worshipers are to forever
keep. (4) That first week, which we call "Creation Week,"
occurred about 6,000 years ago. This means that there has only been
approximately 6,000 years since this world and all that it contains was
brought into existence.
In addition to Bible chronologies, which help fix the
time of Creation Week, here are some additional statements regarding
God’s creation of this world:
The Bible
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the
earth." — Genesis 1:1.
"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." — Psalm 33:6-9.
"For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens;
God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He
created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited." — Isaiah
45:18.
God the Father created all things by Christ
His Son.
"For by Him [the Son] were all things created,
that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether
they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things
were created by Him, and for Him." — Colossians 1:16.
"All things were made by Him and without Him was
not anything made that was made." — John 1:3.
"God. .hath. .spoken unto us by His Son, whom He
hath appointed heir of all things, by whom He made the worlds; who being
the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and
upholding all things by the Word of His power." — Hebrews 1:1-3.
In all the works of His Creation we see
overwhelming evidences of His wisdom and power.
"The heavens declare the glory of God and the
firmament sheweth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night
unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their
voice is not heard ." — Psalm 19:1-3.
The facts of Creation are proof to
infidels, to all false gods, and to all false worship.
"For the invisible things of Him from the creation
of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are
made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without
excuse." — Romans 1:20.
"Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have
not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth,
and from under these heavens." — Jeremiah 10:11.
"0 come let us worship and bow down; let us kneel
before the Lord our Maker." — Psalm 95:6.
The Spirit of Prophecy
What does the Spirit of Prophecy teach us in regard to
the facts of creation? First, was everything in this world made in six
literal days of Creation Week?
"The Great Jehovah had laid the foundations of the
earth; He had dressed the whole world in the garb of beauty and had filled
it with things useful to man; He had created all the wonders of the land
and of the sea. ln six days the great work of creation had been
accomplished. After resting upon the seventh day, God sanctified it, or
set it apart, as a day of rest for man. Following the example of the
Creation, man was to rest upon this sacred day, that as he should look
upon the heavens and the earth, he might reflect upon God’s great work
of creation; and that as he should behold the evidences of God’s wisdom
and goodness, his heart might be filled with love and reverence for his
Maker.." — Patriarchs and Prophets, 47.
"God made the world in six literal days, and on
the seventh literal day He rested from all His work which He had done, and
was refreshed. So He has given man six days in which to labor. But He
sanctified the day of His rest, and gave it to man to be kept, free from
all secular labor. By this setting apart the Sabbath, God gave the world a
memorial. He did not set apart one day and any day in seven, but one
particular day, the seventh day. And by observing the Sabbath, we show
that we recognize God as the living God, the Creator of heaven and earth.
There is nothing in the Sabbath that restricts it to any particular class
of people. It was given to all mankind." — Testimonies to
Ministers, 136.
It is clear that this world and everything in it was
made in six literal days of 24 hours each. And it is equally clear that
that fact is closely tied to God’s great Memorial of Creation: the
Seventh-day Sabbath, which He gave to mankind as the day they are forever
to worship Him upon. But "science falsely so-called," which is
nothing more than wrong conclusions based on scientific evidence, claims
that everything in Creation simply made itself over a period of time.
"Inferences erroneously drawn from facts observed
in nature have, however, led to supposed conflict between science and
revelation; and in the effort to restore harmony, interpretations of
Scripture have been adopted that undermine and destroy the force of the
Word of God. Geology has been thought to contradict the literal
interpretation of the Mosaic record of the creation. Millions of years, it
is claimed, were required for the evolution of the earth from chaos; and
in order to accommodate the Bible to this supposed revelation of science,
the days of creation are assumed to have been vast, indefinite periods,
covering thousands or even millions of years." — Education, 128.
"The work of creation can never be explained by
science. What science can explain the mystery of life? The theory that God
did not create matter when He brought the world into existence is without
foundation. In the formation of our world, God was not indebted to
preexisting matter. On the contrary, all things, material or spiritual,
stood up before the Lord Jehovah at His voice and were created for His own
purpose. The heavens and all the host of them, the earth and all things
therein, are not only the work of His hand; they came into existence by
the breath of His mouth." — 8 Testimonies, 258-259.
"In dwelling upon the laws of matter and the laws
of nature, many lose sight of, if they do not deny, the continual and
direct agency of God. They convey the idea that nature acts independently
of God, having in and of itself its own limits and its own powers
wherewith to work. Vital power is attributed to matter, and nature is made
a deity." — 8 Testimonies, 259.
Only in the Inspired Word of God can we
find a correct understanding of the facts of Creation.
"The Bible is the most comprehensive and the most
instructive history which men possess. It came fresh from the fountain of
eternal truth, and a divine hand has preserved its purity through the
ages.... In God’s Word alone we find an authentic account of
creation." — 5 Testimonies, 25.
In addition to the above information, we
also know that this world was brought into existence shortly after the
fall of Lucifer in heaven.
"Then there was war in heaven.... Not a taint of
rebellion was left in heaven. All was again peaceful and harmonious as
before.... The Father consulted His Son in regard to at once carrying out
their purpose to make man to inhabit the earth. He would place man upon
probation to test his loyalty before he could be rendered eternally
secure. . The Father and the Son engaged in the mighty, wondrous work they
had contemplated - of creating the world. The earth came forth from the
hand of the Creator exceedingly beautiful . . After the earth was created,
and the beasts upon it, the Father and the Son carried out their purpose,
which was designed before the fall of Satan, to make man in their own
image." — Story of Redemption, 19-20.
Although the creation of this earth was completed
during Creation Week, yet without His continual care life would cease to
exist, and even the earth itself would leave its orbit and be destroyed.
"As regards to this earth, Scripture declares the
work of creation to have been completed. ‘The works were finished from
the foundation of the world.’ But the power of God is still exercised in
upholding the objects of His creation. It is not because the mechanism
once set in motion continues to act by its own inherent energy that the
pulse beats, and breath follows breath. Every breath, every pulsation of
the heart, is an evidence of the care of Him in whom we live and move and
have our being. From the smallest insect to man, every living creature is
daily dependent upon His providence." — Education, 130-131.
"All
created beings live by the will and power of God. They are dependent
recipients of the life of God. From the highest seraph to the humblest
animate being, all are replenished from the Source of life."
— Desire of Ages, 785.
"Not by its own inherent energy does the earth
produce its bounties, and year by year continue its motion around the sun.
An unseen hand guides the planets in their circuits of the heavens."
— Education, 99.
A truth especially denied is the fact that this world
is only 6,000 years old. Modernists place the creation of the earth
millions of years in the past — because they do not believe that
our world and everything on or in it was created in six literal days. Thus
the 6,000 year truth stands beside the Creation Week truth. And together
they guard and protect the origin of the Sabbath truth.
On the last two pages of this tract we will look at
this major fact of Creation that is being denied. Bible chronology
indicates 4,000 years from Creation Week to the time of Christ (and
secular history verifies nearly 2,000 years from Christ’s time to ours).
This fact of approximately 6,000 years since the creation of this world
took place is strongly supported by the Spirit of Prophecy, as we shall
see on pages 3 and 4 of this tract.
Just below, we will mention a related fact that helps
buttress the great truth that our world is no more than 6,000 years old:
The Inspired statement that the Sabbath is as old as our planet! The earth
itself cannot have existed for millions — or even thousands — of years
prior to the six-day creation recorded in Genesis 1, since the Bible
Sabbath, which itself began at the end of Creation Week, was given to us
at the time that this entire planet was brought into existence.
"Infidel geologists claim that the world is very
much older than the Bible record makes it. They reject the Bible record,
because of those things which are to them evidences form the earth itself,
that the world has existed tens of thousands of years. And many who
profess to believe the Bible record are at a loss to account for wonderful
things which are found in the earth, with the view that creation week was
only seven literal days, and that the world is now only about six thousand
years old." — 3 Spiritual Gifts, 92.
"Against this argument it was shown that the
Sabbath and its observance were more ancient and widespread, even as old
as the world itself, and bearing the sanction both of angels and of God.
When the foundations of the earth were laid, when the morning stars sang
together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy, there was laid the
foundation of the Sabbath." — Great Controversy, 455.
"The Sabbath institution, which originated in
Eden, is as old as the world itself." — P atriarchs and
Prophets, 336.
Conclusion
How very thankful we can be for God’s creative power,
wonderful love, and tender care for all His creatures! Let the great facts
of Creation continually remind you of your heavenly Father’s love for
you.
"If it were possible for created beings to attain
to a full understanding of God and His works, then, having reached this
point, there would be before them no further discovery of truth, no growth
in knowledge, no further development of mind or heart. God would be no
longer supreme; and men, having reached the limit of knowledge and
attainment, would cease to advance. Let us thank God that it is not so.
God is infinite; in Him are 'all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’
And to all eternity men may be ever searching, ever learning, and yet they
can never exhaust the treasures of His wisdom, His goodness, and His
power." — 5 Testimonies, 703.
"In the heavens above, in the earth, in the broad
waters of the ocean, we see the handiwork of God. All created things
testify to His power, His wisdom, His love." — 8 Testimonies,
265.
We are repeatedly told that on the Sabbath day we
should with our children go out amid the scenes of nature and observe and
study it. If you would like an excellent example of such nature
instruction, read Mount of Blessing, page 95-98, and Steps to
Christ, page 85-86. Throughout all eternity, we shall ever study the
depth of God’s wisdom and power as we study His created works, and that
study should begin now.
"The education begun in this life will be
continued in the life to come. Day by day the wonderful works of God, the
evidences of His wisdom and power in creating and sustaining the universe,
the infinite mystery of love and wisdom in the plan of redemption, will
open to the mind in new beauty. ‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love Him.’ Even in this life we may catch
glimpses of His presence and may taste the joy of communion with Heaven,
but the fullness of its joy and blessing will be reached in the
hereafter. Eternity alone can reveal the glorious destiny to which man,
restored to God’s image, may attain." — Patriarchs and
Prophets, 602.
On
the next two pages wlll be found every Spirit of Prophecy statement on the
most controverted Creation topic in our ranks: the age of the earth.
How long ago was
the earth created? This is a question that Christians will answer with
less certainty in our day than in former centuries when Christians based
their conclusions on Bible chronology and historical records.
Bible chronologies — from Creation down to Moses,
David, and Christ, — plus historical records since that time, clearly
indicate that this earth was created about 6,000 years ago.
But modern Christians have decided that the
speculations of "science falsely so-called" (1 Timothy 6:20) and
the erroneous conclusions of men who key their calculations to the
foolishness of evolutionary theory — must now be placed on an equality
with, if not higher than, the plain statements of the Word of God.
Therefore you will now hear of 10,000, 50,000, and
100,000 years to Creation. You will also hear of Christians (including
teachers in our own colleges and universities) who are quietly suggesting
time spans of millions of years to the creation of this world.
And if you listen closely, you will find that
frequently those educated men are more certain about the millions of years
of earth prehistory — than they are about a Divine Creation that
began it.
This present study is composed of a Spirit of Prophecy
compilation on the Age of the Earth, And such a study is needed to
safeguard the humble followers of Christ who still want to place Scripture
above the pronouncements of evolutionists and modernists.
We are living in a time when many of the
highly-educated in our church are moving away from belief in a 6,000-year
creation of this earth.
Fortunately, though men may blow this way or that in
order to be in line with the current fads of scientific premises,
Scripture standeth sure. If we will learn it, stand by it, and defend it,
— we will be safe in the days just ahead. And we will have encouraged
many others to stand true to those Biblical facts and principles also.
— vf
ABOUT
SIX THOUSAND YEARS FROM CREATION TO OUR DAY
1864 3 SG, 92 (1 SP, 87 [1870]; ST Mar. 20, 1879).
"And many who profess to believe the Bible record are at a loss to
account for wonderful things which are found in the earth, with the view
that creation week was only seven literal days, and that the world is now
only about six thousand years old."
1868 Test. No. 16, p. 71." He holds
mortals in his snare at the present time. He has lost none of his skill
and his shrewdness during his experience of nearly six thousand years. All
this time he has been a close observer of all that concerns our
race."
1872 Test. No. 22, p. 15 (HR Nov., 1872 11872]).
"God endowed man with so great vital force that he has withstood the
accumulation of disease, brought upon the race in consequence of perverted
habits, and he has continued for six thousand years."
1875 Test. No. 25, p. 42 (3 T, 492[1885])."The
continual transgression of man for six thousand years has brought
sickness, pain, and death, as its fruits. And as we near the close of
time, Satan’s temptation to indulge appetite will be more powerful and
more difficult to overcome."
1875 HR Aug., 1875. "But slaves to
appetite will fail in perfecting Christian character. The continual
transgression of man for six thousand years has brought sickness, pain,
and death, as its fruits. (Quoted in Te, 16)."
1877 2 SP, 93 (ST Nov. 15, 1887). "Six
thousand years has this arch-enemy been warring against the government of
God, and continued practice has increased his skill to deceive and
allure."
1881 RH Dec. 13, 1881 (CTBH, 7[1890]).
"Man came from the hand of his Creator perfect in organization, and
beautiful in form. The fact that he has for six thousand years withstood
the ever-increasing weight of disease and crime, is conclusive proof of
the power of endurance with which he was first endowed."
1884 ST May 8, 1884 (GC, 518 [1888, 1911])
"The great controversy between Christ and Satan, that has been
carried on for almost six thousand years, is soon to close."
1884 4SP, 371. "Thus under a new disguise
the great rebel still carries forward his warfare against God, begun in
Heaven, and for nearly six thousand years continued upon the earth."
1885 2T, 172. "He holds mortals in his
snare at the present time. During his experience of nearly six thousand
years he has lost none of his skill and shrewdness. All this time he has
been a close observer of all that concerns our race."
1885 3T, 138. "God endowed man with so
great vital force that he has withstood the accumulation of disease
brought upon the race in consequence of perverted habits, and has
continued for six thousand years. (FE 22; HL, 45)."
1886 HS, 133 (ST Sept. 29, 1887). "Ever
since he succeeded in overcoming our first parents in their beautiful Eden
home, he has been engaged in this work. More than six thousand years of
continual practice has greatly increased his skill to deceive and
allure."
1888 GC (f), author’s preface."For six
thousand years that master-mind that once was highest among the angels of
God, has been wholly bent to the work of deception and ruin."
1888 GC, 656 [1911]. "For six thousand
years the great controversy has been in progress; the Son of God and His
heavenly messengers have been in conflict with the power of the evil one,
to want, enlighten, and save the children of men."
1888 GC, 659 [1911]. "For six thousand
years, Satan’s work of rebellion has "made the earth to
tremble." He has made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the
cities thereof."
1888 GC, 659. "And "he opened not
the house of his prisoners." For six thousand years his prison-house
has received God’s people, and he would have held them captive forever,
but Christ has broken his bonds, and set the prisoners free."
1888 GC, 673 (ST June 11, 1902 [1902,1911].
"Satan’s work of ruin is forever ended. For six thousand
years he has wrought his will, filling the earth with woe, and causing
grief throughout the universe. The whole creation has groaned and
travailed together in pain."
1890 PP, 51 (VI April 16, 1907). "The
laws and operations of nature, which have engaged men’s study for six
thousand years, were opened to their minds by the infinite Framer and
Upholder of all. (Also in CE, 207, [1893])."
1890 PP, 342. "Not only man but the earth
is redeemed, to be the eternal abode of the obedient. For six thousand
years, Satan has struggled to maintain possession of the earth. (AH,
539)."
1890 CTBH, 154." The continual
transgression of man for over six thousand years has brought sickness,
pain, and death as its fruit. And as we draw near the close of time,
Satan’s temptations to indulge appetite will be more powerful, and more
difficult to resist."
1898 DA, 413. "For six thousand years,
faith has builded upon Christ."
1898 DA, 413. "For six thousand years the
floods and tempests of satanic wrath have beaten upon the Rock of our
Salvation; but it stands unmoved."
1899 Ms., 174. "Those who are destroying
the earth have had a long probation. For six thousand years God has borne
with the ignorance and wickedness of men."
1909 ST Dec. 8, 1909." The spirits deny
the divinity of Christ, and place even the Creator on a level with
themselves. Thus under a new disguise the great rebel still carries on his
warfare against God, begun in heaven, and for nearly six thousand years
continued upon earth."
1911 GC (x), author’s intro. "For six
thousand years that mastermind that once was highest among the angels of
God has been wholly bent to the work of deception and ruin." (1911
ed. a revision of the 1888 ed.)
1911 GC, 552-553." The spirits deny the
deity of Christ and place even the Creator on a level with themselves.
Thus under a new disguise the great rebel still carries on his warfare
against God, begun in heaven and for nearly six thousand years continued
upon the earth."
1911 GC, 659. And he "opened not the
house of his prisoners." For six thousand years his prison house has
received God’s people, and he would have held them captive forever; but
Christ has broken his bonds and set the prisoners free."
1913 . CT, 467. "The continual
transgression of man for nearly six thousand years has brought sickness,
pain, and death as its fruit"
ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND YEARS FROM CREATION TO
THE TIME OF CHRIST
1874 TC, 30 (RH July 28,1874; ST June 11, 1874).
"The Son of God humbled Himself, and took man’s nature, after the
race had wandered four thousand years from Eden, and from their original
state of purity and uprightness."
1874 TC, 30 (RH July 28, 1874; ST June 11, 1874; ST
Feb. 22, 1883; ST Feb. 18, 1913). "Christ, in the wilderness of
temptation, stood in Adam’s place to bear the test he failed to endure.
Here Christ overcame in the sinner’s behalf, four thousand years after
Adam turned his back upon the light of his home."
1874 TC, 33 (RH July 28, 1874; ST June 11, 1874; ST
Feb. 22, 1883; ST Feb. 18, 1913). "Satan had succeeded so well
in deceiving the angels of God, and in ruining noble Adam, that he thought
he should be successful in overcoming Christ in His humiliation. He looked
with pleased exultation upon the result of his temptations, and the
increase of sin in the continued transgression of God’s law, for more
than four thousand years."
1874 TC, 44 (RH Aug. 18, 1874; ST July 9, 1874)."
Four thousand years he had been warring against the government of God, and
had lost none of his skill or power to tempt and deceive."
1874 TC, 46 (RH Aug. 18,1874; ST July 9, 1874).
"Four thousand years had Satan been at work against the government of
God, and he had obtained strength and experience from determined
practice."
1874 TC, 46 (RH Aug. 18, 1874; ST July 9,1974).
"Fallen men had not the advantages of Adam in Eden. They had been
separating from God for four thousand years."
1874 TC, 80 (RH Mar. 18, 1875; ST Feb. 25, 1875).
"For four thousand years, ever since the declaration was made to Adam
that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head, he had been
planning his manner of attack."
1877 25P, 88 (ST Nov. 15, 1877). "What a
contrast to this perfect being did the second Adam present, as he entered
the desolate wilderness to cope with Satan, single handed. For four
thousand years the race had been decreasing in size and physical strength,
and deteriorating in moral worth; and, in order to elevate fallen man,
Christ must reach him where he stood."
1884 4SP, 366-367 (ST April 16, 1885). If for
four thousand years the righteous had gone directly to Heaven at death,
how could they be said to perish, even though there should never be a
resurrection?"
1888 GC, 327 (GC, 327-328 [1911]). "With
the great sacrifice offered upon Calvary, ended that system of offerings
which for four thousand years had pointed forward to the Lamb of
God."
1888 GC, 547 (GC 546-547 [1913]). "If for
four thousand years the righteous had gone directly to Heaven at death,
how could Paul have said that if there is no resurrection, "they
which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished?" No resurrection
would be necessary."
1897 Ms. 43, 1897. "He, the pure,
spotless Lamb of God, was presenting Himself as a sin-offering; and as He
now ate the Passover with His disciples, He put an end to the sacrifices
which for four thousand years had been offered." (5 BC, 1139).
1898 DA, 49."It would have been an almost
infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man’s nature, even when
Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the
race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin."
1898 DA, 117. ""For four thousand
years the race had been decreasing in physical strength, in mental power,
and in moral worth; and Christ took upon Him the infirmities of degenerate
humanity. Only thus could He rescue man from the lowest depths of his
degradation.
1898 DA, 652. "He, the spotless Lamb of
God, was about to present Himself as a sin offering, and He would thus
bring to an end the system of types and ceremonies that for four thousand
years had pointed to His death."
1898 DA, 759. "Satan led men into sin,
and the plan of redemption was put in operation. For four thousand years,
Christ was working for man’s uplifting, and Satan for his ruin and
degradation."
1900 ST May 16, 1900. "He, the pure and
spotless One, was about to offer Himself as a sin-offering for the world;
and as He ate the Passover with His disciples, He put an end to the
sacrifice which for four thousand years had been offered."
1902 ST Dec. 3, 1902."For four thousand
years the race had been decreasing in physical strength, in mental power,
in moral worth; and Christ took upon Him the infirmities of degenerate
humanity. Only thus could He rescue man from the lowest depths of
degradation."
1908 ST May 27, 1908 (ST Dec. 9, 1913).
"It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God
to take man’s nature, even as it was when Adam stood in his innocence in
Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity as weakened and defiled by four thousand
years of sin."