Why is there all the evidence for an earth, and life on earth, more than 100,000 years old?

Question

Why is there all the evidence for an earth, and life on earth, more than 100,000 years old, and for the relationships between living things, and why were we given the intelligence to reach those conclusions?


Why should the wondrous events described in sacred writings be given naturalistic explanations?
Why does the plain reading of nature seem to support conventional science?

Answer 1

First consider some scientific estimates or guesses. Not all scientists are going to agree. The Universe or heavens 20 billion years old. The Earth 4.6 billion years old. The Moon 200 to 300 million years younger than the Earth. Dinosaur extinction 65 million years ago. The Ice Age 2.5 million years ago. Oldest evidence of flesh man 7000 to 14000 years old.

There are 3 earth ages (II Pet.3:5-7), same earth but different ages. We are now in the 2nd earth age. Between Gen.1:1 and Gen.1:2 is a vast amount of time, if time existed. Between these 2 verses is Satan’s rebellion (Rev.12:3-4) and “his tail” drew 1/3 of God’s children. Between these 2 verses also belongs all fossils and remains, such as Dinosaurs.

In Gen.1:2 we have the of the end of the 1st earth age and the beginning of the 2nd. For clarity Gen.1:2 needs to be divided (see below).

(A) Gen.1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.

(B) Gen.1:2 And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

In (A) Gen.1:2 the first occurrence of the word “was” has been corrupted and is “became”. It reads “And the earth became without form, and void”. The end of the 1st earth age.

In (B) Gen.1:2 we have the beginning of 2nd earth age, the one we live in now. Man did not exist in flesh till this earth age.

Between (A & B) Gen.1:2 is also a vast amount of time, if time existed. Between (A & B) Gen.1:2 is; a global flood (not Noah’s which was a local flood), the destruction of Atlantis, the breakup of Gondwana Land, and the Ice Age.

Time means nothing to our Father. He is very patient and loves His children. Instead of destroying Satan and 1/3 of His children, He destroyed that first earth age. Now in this 2nd earth age we all are born innocent in the flesh. Father came in the flesh Himself, Jesus Christ, and paid the price for all. Father defeated Satin, that is death, legally. So now His children have a decision, to choose life or to choose death. It’s your decision. Choose life!!

Answer 2

I think that there is a hullabaloo about the age of the earth because of people trying to put God into the same strata as themselves.
Take a look at the story of creation in the Bible.
He created two lights in the heavens, one to keep night, the greater to keep day.
This is undoubtedly the reference to the moon and the sun.
If these were created on the 4th day how did you keep time before then?
We keep time by the rising and the setting of the sun.
A day to God is whatever He wants it to be.
Not what we want it to be.
It also states that a day to the Lord is as a thousand years.
Perhaps this is where they get 7000 years to the creation.
To ignore science, and say the earth is 7000 years old and that it is not any older is ridiculous.

Answer 3

The earth was created by an eternal being. Physical time and space were also created. Even science realizes that the universe is winding down and thus required an initial "winding up". So how in the world can we accurately measure with our puny instruments an event that took place in those dimensions? And based on what constant? There is no constant that entropy is not effecting.

Answer 4

1) Because it's real

2) Where is the evidence that we were "given" intelligence? Does it not naturally occur with existence + study + experience?

3) Because some people will perform contortions -- including phrases like "vast amount of time" -- in order to argue that parablistic writings are literal truth. Why, I cannot explain.

4) Because science is based on and in nature and what can be proven.

Answer 5

Actually, life has existed for hundreds of millions of years on earth. Based on where in the geologic strata fossils have been found and also on dating processes using the known decay rates for radioactive elements, we can figure out with a fair amount of accuracy when an organism was alive.

Answer 6

(aka Deborah W)

Maybe because God actually invented the natural laws by which the universe works?

Maybe if people would quit trying to use their Bible as a science textbook, or a "how to create a universe in six short days" manual, they might understand that science is not our enemy. After all, God created science. Let's quit confusing what is physical from what is spiritual.

There is no conflict between God and science. The conflict is between arrogant theologians who think they know it all, and big headed scientists, who are sure they do.

Answer 7

Radiocarbon dating says that the Earth is 4.5 billion years old in a universe that is pushing 14 billion years old. It's a simple and reliable method. Unlike religious text that believes in one thing and one thing ONLY and does not want to be put to the test. Science is evolving and beautiful.

Answer 8

You answered your own question.

"This research shows that life on Earth began during the first approximately 700 million years after the formation of the planet, placing an upper limit on the time needed for the creation of life on Earth, or on the time period available for it to arrive here from elsewhere"
-- Federation of American Scientists

Answer 9

I agree with Mainworry in his answer. (With the exception of the references to the mythical Atlantis, and Gondwana Land) (?) The GAP theory, the indeterminate time between Genius 1:1 and 1:2 is a more than adequate explanation for allowing all these events and creatures to have taken place, without altering or twisting, the text of the Bible. The Bible, contrary to popular public opinion, does not offer an exact time line for earth's creation. To attempt to do so, ends up with all kinds of silly errors, like we now see foisted upon the Christian community by fundamentalists, in the name of Biblical inerrancy. A time line was never was needed by those for who the Book was originally written. I cannot image Moses even thinking that there would come a time when man would question the existence of YHVH, let alone every facet of YHVH’s creation, though a process called scientific inquiry. That YHVH knew of such folly is without doubt, but He allowed it so that the Scripture could be fulfilled regarding the foolishness of man and his puny attempts at negating the veracity of His Scriptures, of disproving His existence or reducing Him to a manageable god. People need this type of contrived controversy to justify their unwillingness to submit to the supreme moral spiritual authority of the Universe, YHVH. It is easier to find a scientific justification to deny God, than to submit to the moral standards of Christ, which are so high they are unable to meet them. And they are so full of themselves and sin to be willing to admit their need of a Savior to meet these standards, that they are willing to wager their very eternal existence on the Straw Man of a false debate. YHVH does not ask us to discard our minds to enter the thresholds of faith, nor discard our faith at the alter of science, but rather humbly come to Him body, soul and spirit and allow Him to give us the tools of a new heart and new spirit to serve him all the days of our lives and through all eternity.

Answer 10

Even more exciting, from an oldsters point of view, is that you can get fungi that's from about 180,000 years ago (found in deep-sea sediment) and culture it!
And it's not uncommon to find bacteria preserved in amber that's at least 25 million years old.
Why, I'm feeling young again!