Christians, one day in heaven = X days on Earth?

Question

I have often heard Christians say the Earth appears older than the 6 day creation story because 6 days in heaven is more than 6 days on earth.

What Bible verse do you use to support this claim?

Answer 1

Hi ^^

I actually just responded to a question about relatively the same question. To really understand the mention of time in the creation is to understand the ancient times that it came from.

2 Peter 3:8-10 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.

Hope this helps. Have a happy day.
As always,
Seek,Learn,Discover,Love
Your Sister In Christ

Answer 2

The Bible verse is 2nd Peter 3:8 and I believe there are other similar ones in the Old Testament.
When God stretched out the heavens (Isaiah 44:24) and created the sun moon and stars on the 4th day (Genesis 1:16- 17)the gravitational field was maximal in the vicinity but minimal in the heavens being stretched out. Thus during a few moments from the vantage point of The word of God calling the heavenly bodies into existence on earth, billions of years of processing would have occurred from the standpoint of created objects in the stretching heavens. Similarly, the light from the distant heavens would have arrived on earth as the objects were coming into existence so that the Word of God could see them and declare them as "good". (Genesis 1:18) For more details, see: http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs/405.asp.

Answer 3

Whether or not heaven operates outside the scope of earth's time sequence, clearly the inhabitants of heaven track with events happening in time (Rev. 2-3). It is a hymn, not the Bible, which says "and time shall be no more." Revelation 8:1 speaks of "silence in heaven for about half an hour." Even the presence of music in heaven implies some sort of time duration, since meter, tempo and rests, which are intrinsic to music, are all time-related. (What is a half note or a quarter note without time?)

2 Peter 3:8 says, "With the Lord [it does not say "with believers in heaven"] a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." This is rooted in the fact of God's infinity—He exists outside of time and space, but there is no indication his creatures do.

Whether there is time in heaven or not, heaven clearly enters into the sequences on earth, right down to inhabitants rejoicing over conversions on earth (Luke 15:7) and martyrs looking for and anticipating judgments on earth (Rev. 6:9-11). The book of Revelation shows a continuous interaction of heaven with sequential events happening on earth. (This contradicts the notion that those in heaven are disconnected from or disinterested in what happens on earth.)

Answer 4

Time does not exist in heaven so there is no way to compare the two. The six days of creation were six literal 24 hour days as we know them today.

Answer 5

Ps 90:4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
I don't see any direct comparison.

Answer 6

Some of the above answerers need to wrap their head around the fact that the "simplicity" might be for unbelievers. As Christians we understand that we dont understand anything in the whole scheme of things, if we thought that what would there be to die for? As for time it is non-exsistent in heaven.

Answer 7

Time is not a factor in eternity. Time and space are creations of God and exist within God. When we pass into eternity, we will no longer experience the lineal nature of time.

Answer 8

it only took 6 days. those "Christians" said it because its hard to believe it took 6 days.

Answer 9

It's something about how a day to God is as 1000 years to us.

Answer 10

1 billion years