Is There a Relationship Between Christian Views on Creation and Christian Views on Eschatology?
This is an interesting topic. Please vote! What view do you hold? I’d like to do some research on this and perhaps write a short semi-scholarly paper on the results.
DEFINITIONS
Young Earth Creation - God created in six literal, consecutive days less than 10,000 years ago
Gap Theory - God created in six literal, consecutive days less than 10,000 years ago, but there was a backstory of billions of years
Day Age - The days of Genesis 1 are long eras corresponding with geological time
Evolutionary Creation - Macroevolution was the means by which God created
Premillennial - Christ will return and inaugurate a 1,000 year reign before eternity
Amillennial - The Rapture, Second Coming, final judgment, and new heavens and new earth will be one simultaneous event
Postmillennial - There will be a Christian golden age before Christ returns
I don’t know how to vote because based on the definitions, all options are true!
Young is relative – the earth is young compared to the universe. By “literal” the Creation days do have defined start and stop points (you didn’t say that they have to be 24 hrs.) – and they are consecutive. The 6th day of creation was completed about 2,000 years ago (Time of Christ):
Creation Day Timeline Compared to Earth History
Creation Day
Time Span (Approximate)
Major Geological & Biological Events
Day 1
4.5 – 2.3 bya
Formation of the Earth (~4.54 bya); Heavy bombardment, formation of oceans; Earliest life (simple bacteria, ~3.8 bya); Photosynthesis begins (~3.5 bya); Great Oxygenation Event (~2.5–2.3 bya)
Day 2
2.3 – 1.8 bya
Stabilization of atmosphere; Early eukaryotes (cells with nuclei) appear; First signs of more complex life processes
Day 3
1.8 – 1.3 bya
Multicellular life begins to emerge; Supercontinent cycles (Columbia, Rodinia); Beginning of green algae (precursor to plants)
Day 4
1.3 – 0.87 bya
More complex multicellular organisms; First sexual reproduction; Cryogenian Period near end (Snowball Earth); Increase in sunlight penetration in oceans (symbolic of God placing “lights in the sky”)
Day 5
0.87 – 0.41 bya
Cambrian Explosion (~541 mya): sudden burst of complex animals – Development of eyes, gills, limbs – First fish, early coral reefs; By ~400 mya: first flying insects
Day 6
410 mya – time of Christ
Rise of land plants and forests; Amphibians, reptiles, and dinosaurs dominate; Mammals and birds after extinction events; Humans appear (~300,000 years ago) – Early civilizations, agriculture, written language
Day 7
Time of Christ – 365 million years into the future
Sabbath rest (millenium): symbolic of spiritual completion; Humanity’s stewardship and rest in God’s plan; Potential for transformation, restoration, or a new age
See above and indeed there is a gap of at least 8.8 bya between Gen 1:1 (Most distant starlight 13.3 billion light years away) and 1:2 (formation of Earth 4.5 bya)
Again see the chart above which includes geologic correlation.
Of course! “Let the earth bring forth…”
His first return was on the Day of Pentecost 50 days after the Resurrection. The 1,000 year reign is based on 2 Pet 3:8 – A day with the Lord is as a thousand years (1,000 x 365 (days per year) = 365,000) and a thousand years with the Lord is one Day (365,000 x 1,000 = 365 million years)
The 365 million years is the Millenium (1,000 years) which is the one Day of the Lord.
The “Rapture” and the “Second Coming” are both the indwelling Holy Spirit that was sent on the Day of Pentecost. We are raptured because we are still in the world (this current heavens and earth) but are not of it. Chaos and “Judgment” ensues around us but we have Peace.
Rom 5:1-5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
This part of your definition of Amillennialism I believe is wrong though. The “new heavens and earth” are still after the current Millennium that we are in.
Yes, the “Christian golden age” is the Millennium and while Christ has already returned, its also both now and not yet.
Rev 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” -Colossians 4:6
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