Did you know that there was an earth age before this one? That the earth is really millions of years old? There was a time that we all lived on this earth in our spiritual bodies and everyone was happy. To find out what brought that to an end, read our study on the Rebellion of Satan. These two studies go hand in hand to explain why we are here and what brought the first earth age to an end. I'm not talking about reincarnation as we go though this earth age one time only. In this study we are going to take a look at the first earth age and how God destroyed it.
V1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
The word 'beginning' is Strong's number 7225 and means re'shiyth (ray-sheeth'); from the same as 7218; the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit).
The word 'created' is Strong's 1254 and means bara' (baw-raw'); a primitive root; (absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes): -choose, create (creator), cut down, dispatch, do, make (fat).
God does not give us a year when He did this, just that He did it "In the beginning". The earth is not 7000 years old as some Christians claim but many millions of years old. It is only the earth age we live in now, the second, that is about 7000 years old. The dinosaur bones and fossils that are found date back more than 7000 years and are from the first earth age.
V2 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.
The word 'was' is Strong's number 1961 and means hayah (haw-yaw); a primitive root [compare 1933]; to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary).
The words 'without form' is Strong's 8414 and means tohuw (to'-hoo); from an unused root meaning to lie waste; a desolation (of surface), i.e. desert; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain.
The word 'void' is Strong's 922 and means bohuw (bo'-hoo); from an unused root (meaning to be empty); a vacuity, i.e. (superficially) an undistinguishable ruin.
God did not create the earth without form and void but it became that way. God destroyed the first earth age because of the Rebellion of Satan.
V18 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: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
The word 'vain' is the same word that 'without form' is in Genesis 1:2 Strong's 8414. God created the earth to be inhabited but Satan's rebellion caused God to destroy that earth age. That was the first earth age and we now are living in the second earth age. The first earth age as well as the third earth age are spiritual ages meaning we just have our spiritual bodies. It is only in this second earth age that we have flesh and spiritual bodies. Just so you know, I'm not talking about reincarnation. We live in this second earth age one time and one time only. Some people may claim to have lived on earth hundreds or even thousands of years ago but they are possessed by evil sprits. That was going on a lot when Christ was on the earth and I feel it will be happening more and more until Christ returns again.
Now lets go to II Peter and read how God destroyed the first earth age.
II Peter 3:1-8
V1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
V2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
Peter wants to remind us of the things that where spoken about by others in the Bible.
V3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
V4 And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
The word "scoffers" is Strong's 1703 and means empaiktes (emp-aheek-tace'); from 1702; a derider, i.e. (by implication) a false teacher.
The word "lusts" is Strong's 1939 and means epithumia (ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah); from 1937; a longing (especially for what is forbidden).
There are many false teachers walking after their own lusts today. They teach the lusts of their own mind and not the true word of God. They teach such lies like Christ will rapture them away before the great tribulation or that the mark of the beast is a chip or tattoo. We also have people that say Christ will never return at all. Then there are groups of people that set a date for Christ to return and when it don't happen they get all bummed out and kill themselves. That just adds fuel for the people that say He is never coming back anyway. Be smart and do what Christ said. Watch and wait. Don't set dates because the only one that knows the date is God. Just get yourself ready for that day by reading God's word so you will not be caught off guard and deceived by Satan.
V5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
V6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
The word "perished" is Strong's 622 and means apollumi (ap-ol'-loo-mee); from 575 and the base of 3639; to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively.
Some people desire to be ignorant to the fact that the earth is more than seven thousand years old when there is scientific proof which God's word aligns with. The dinosaur bones that are found toady are from the first earth age when dinosaurs walked the earth. Satan likes to play a lot of tricks but this is not one of them. Dinosaurs are talked about in God's word by God Himself in the book of Job. Read Job 40:15-24 and all of chapter 41 We were on the earth in our spiritual bodies in the first earth age with the dinosaurs. Because of the rebellion of Satan God destroyed fully that earth age with a flood. This is not talking about Noah's flood which happened in this earth age because it was not destroyed fully.
I Peter 3:20
V20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
V7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
This is talking about the earth age we live in now and looking forward to the Lord's day.
V8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
God does not count time like we do. It takes a thousand of our years to make one day for God. In the story of creation, God took six days to do it and then rested on the seventh. So, six days for God would be six thousand years for us. The seventh day would be another thousand years to make seven thousand years total. The earth age we live in now is almost seven thousand years old. I'm I saying Christ will return soon? No. I'm not setting a date and you shouldn't either. This is just some food for thought that we all should be getting ready for the day that Christ does return.
Lets go to one more place where it talks about the flood of the first earth age.
V5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
As we read in Isaiah 45:18 God created this earth to be inhabited. We all walked this earth in the first earth age when we were in our spiritual bodies. We walk on it now in our flesh bodies and those that go to heaven will be on this earth in their spiritual bodies once again. This earth will never go away and heaven will be on this earth after the great white throne judgment of God.
V6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
V7 At Thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of Thy thunder they hasted away.
The word "hasted" is Strong's 2648 and means chaphaz (khaw-faz'); a primitive root; properly, to start up suddenly, i.e. (by implication) to hasten away, to fear.
We know that this is talking about the flood of the first earth age and not Noah's because in Noah's flood the waters did not hast away. In Genesis chapter 8 we read it took the water in Noah's flood months to dry up. In the first flood, God wanted the earth dry and it was dry, instantly.
V8 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which Thou hast founded for them.
V9 Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
God promised Noah and He is telling us again that He will never flood the earth again like He did in the past.
Now lets document from God's word that we lived in the first earth age. Lets go to the book of Job. Job's whole life fell apart as he was being tested by Satan and spent most of the book talking to his three friends. They all thought that they had the answers to why these things happened to Job. We are going to pick up the story with God's first address to Job.
V1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
V2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
V3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou Me.
God is asking Job why he listens to his friends when they have no idea what they are talking about. God is saying to Job, If you know so much, I'm going to ask you some questions and lets see you answer them. All of mankind put together knows very little compared to the wisdom of God.
V4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
V5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
V6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
God is asking Job where he was when He created the earth. This is something that happened many millions of years ago. God is taking us back to creation and the first earth age.
V7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Not many people shouting for joy now a days. This is looking back in time when we all where happy in heaven and everything was going great. This happened before the rebellion of Satan.
So now we know that there was an earth age before this one that we all lived in. There was no flesh in that earth age as we just had our spiritual bodies. God destroyed the first earth age completely because of the rebellion of Satan and that a third of His children followed Satan. He did that with a flood that covered the whole earth. By reading this study and the rebellion of Satan, you will know the answer to that age old question, "Why are we here?" I'll give you the answer now and it is we are being tested. God want's to know who loves Him and who does not. That's it, plain and simple.
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