Where Did Fossil Fuels Come From? (And When Did Dinosaurs Roam the Earth?) By Richard of Decatur This article presents the truth of God. This is my motto concerning truth: “Truth is based on two or more scriptures that are contextually verifiable, consistent, and applicable.” Jesus Christ called me in 1994 and gave mea mission to search His Word and find the Truth of God and share it with others. As you read this article, look up the scriptures that are mentioned. Most importantly, be sure you understand that they tell you the same thing I believe they are saying. Then if you also believe what the scriptures in this article say, you will have a foundation in faith based on the Words of God and not in the words of some individual who is just as fallible as you are and every other person who has or ever will live except for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Fossil fuels have powered the world‟s industries, provided energy to heat our homes, and power our transportation vehicles as far back as recorded history. Coal was one of the first fossil fuels used and even after thousands of years of mining and use; its massive reserves seem hardly touched. Oil has played an enormous part in fueling our engines,as it has been refined into gasoline and diesel fuels. Vast reserves seem to be found and exploitation begun every decade. Development and use of natural gas has grown dramatically that promises to not only supplement but also compete with coal and oil in meeting our energy needs into the future. If we were to begin researching about fossil fuelsto find out when and how they formed, we would immediately run into a literary battle between two groups of antagonist. One group pushes the theory of evolution, while the other group champions Creation. Even within those who believe in Creation there are several camps whose beliefs in regard to how Creation took place cause them to be hostilely at odds against each other nearly as great aswith Evolutionist.I totally disagree with Evolutionist in regard to the development of life on earth. Only God can create life; end of story. Yet, there seems to be scientific facts involving geology that conflict with the Creationist belief that all that exists on the earth began no more than approximately 6,000 years ago. This study seeks to find the truth regarding the timing of planet earth‟s initial creation, as I believe that this may be at a different time from what is considered the „Six Days of Creation‟ found in Genesis chapter one beginning at verse 3. I will present Biblical proof of what I believe later. But first, let us look at what geologists „believe‟ and whether the „facts‟ really support their views. We may search various reference books as to how and when fossil fuels were formed but all pretty much tell the same story as the following I copied from the internet. While various sources may vary a few million or even hundreds of millions of years from each other, the basic overall picture is much the same. There are three major forms of fossil fuels: coal, oil and natural gas. All three were formed many hundreds of millions of years ago before the time of the dinosaurs – hence the name fossil fuels. The age they were formed is called the Carboniferous Period. It was part of the Paleozoic Era. "Carboniferous" gets its name from carbon, the basic element in coal and other fossil fuels. The Carboniferous Period occurred fromabout 360 to 286 million years ago. At the time, the land was covered with swamps filled with huge trees, ferns and other large leafy plants, similar to the picture above. The water and seas were filled with algae – the green stuff that forms on a stagnant pool of water. Algae is actually millions of very small plants.

2 Some deposits of coal can be found during the time of the dinosaurs. For example, thin carbon layers can be found during the late Cretaceous Period (65 million years ago) – the time of Tyrannosaurus Rex. But the main deposits of fossil fuels are from the Carboniferous Period. For more about the various geologic eras, go towww.ucmp.berkeley.edu/help/timeform.html As the trees and plants died, they sank to the bottom of the swamps of oceans. They formed layers of a spongy material called peat. Over many hundreds of years, the peat was covered by sand and clay and other minerals, which turned into a type of rock called sedimentary. More and more rock piled on top of more rock, and it weighed more and more. It began to press down on the peat. The peat was squeezed and squeezed until the water came out of it and it eventually, over millions of years, it turned into coal, oil or petroleum, and natural gas.

Source: http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter08.html I made the text „bold‟ where certain information contained in this reference mentions the time in which fossil fuels were formed and I have underlined information related to the amount of time it took to form them. After reading the previous reference material, I wondered, how didscientist determinewhen these things occurred and how long it has taken fossil fuels to form from the rotting remains of vegetation and has it really been millions of years since dinosaurs were the predominate species that roamed the earth? I began reading various information sources and found out that scientist have experimented and performed extensive research in attempting to find the answers to the questions I raised in the preceding paragraph in respect to the formation of fossil fuels. They worked in laboratories full of equipment that simulated conditions of extreme heat and pressure. They tried to replicate conditions that impacted what had happened to vegetation (according to their theories)millions of years ago and continued for hundreds of millions of years. It is not possible for them to have run tests for millions of years for their equipment is only a few decades old and all research into this subject is not much over a hundred years old. So, how did they come up with those numbers? Based on the results of their findings they have extrapolated what they think would happen if their tests were continued for a very long period of time (such as hundreds of millions of years). Then they soughtto prove their theories on how fossil fuels were formed by studying rock formations and layers of sediment in various places around the world. Many natural formations were closely examined (such as the walls of the Grand Canyon and other cliff faces such as in Utah, Montana, and other places) as well as drill deep core samples into the mantel of the earth‟s surface. Mostscientists who believe in evolution use the same theories of sedimentary layers to look back possibly millions of years ago. However, these scientists had already made up their minds as to how these layers should stack up in order to fit their theories. Geologists whoare only interested in fossil fuels were somewhatpleased with very deep core samples. However, scientist who sought „proof‟ for their evolutionary theories related to animals and other life forms were not at all happy. As rock formations and core samples neared the time in which various types of animals were supposed to appear, they found the layers of strata were a helter-skelter mess. Layers that were supposed to be at the bottom were often on topor in the middle of not only exposed strata but also in various core samples. This would not do so they kept searching until they found numerous separate small samples they could use to patch together the progression of fossils according to their theory from beginning to the present. They willingly ignored the tens of thousands of samples that did not fit their theories. Finally, using only the select few samples they had patched together, 2

3 theypresented a picture of a continuous development of creatures from simple to complex and nearly all of the scientist of the world accepted this as scientific „proof‟ of evolution. While I cannot deny that there may be possible evidence of a vegetation-filled world that existed untold millions of years ago, theexistence of living creatures millions of years beyond the time mankind has been on the earth is not as clear or straightforward. As far as evolution, their scientific „proof‟ is a sham and no one has ever found evidence of any intermediary creatures between one species and another, nor have they ever been able to trace the systematic development of any creatures from simple to complex. There is absolutely no proof of any single cell creature developing into a two-cell creature as well as any other multi-cell creature. All the studies that involved untampered with deep earth core samplesconsistently reveal certain patterns of a separate period of vegetation and some dinosaur fossils totally apart from the periods that involve the remains of modernanimals as well as man. These findings appear to have been deposited significantly much longer in the past than six thousand years. Also, scientist have found that near the earth‟s surface, remains of creatures during periods of time in which the wooly mammoths and saber tooth tigers and even some dinosaurs cannot be separated from the existence of man, as we know him today. There can be no doubt that dinosaurs did live and roam the earth. When did this take place? Is it possible that some species of dinosaurs lived in a period long before man came on the scene while others lived contemporary with man? We find drawings of many animals, the shapes of which include some that do not represent mammals. In histories and myths from a few hundred years ago all the way back to the flood of Noah, we find tales of dragons and enormous creatures. I found a lot of interesting information on the internet concerning this subject, whichinsists that dinosaurs were created on the sixth day along with every other land dwelling animal and finally man. It also theorized that either it does not take hundreds of millions of years for fossil fuels to develop as carbon dating is not linear or that God created all fossil fuels on the first day mention in Genesis when He created the earth. The following reference provided a deep study of two possible ways in which coal, oil, and natural gas was formed and distributed deep and around the earth‟s outer mantel. You can go to the following website to read these theories. (https://answersingenesis.org/dinosaurs/dinosaurs-and-the-bible/) In support of dinosaurs being concurrent with man, I would like to note some very interesting information in the Biblical text of Job the 40th chapter, where we find mention of „behemoth‟. I believe this scriptural passage reveals the presence of dinosaurs during the time of man. The word behemothwas taken directly from the Hebrew (H930), whichis defined as a derivative of the Egyptian word for water ox, or hippopotamus or Nile horse. However, when you read the description of this creature in Job there is no question that it is something totally different. A hippopotamus has but a small tail and is not at all as large as this passage describes the behemoth. In the Biblicalpassage,we find a description of thebehemoth‟s tail; stating itis as large as a cedar tree (possibly a hundred feet long.) This beast is so great in size and strength only God who made it could reach or penetrate its skin with a sword. Its bones are as strong as bronze and its sides (ribcage possibly covered by scales) are impenetrable like they are made of iron. He is so large that even if the Jordan River floods it does not bother this creature in the least. Do not overlook where it says this creature was made at the same time man was created. Finally, notice where it says this creature lives. Just like the habitat that scientist say dinosaurs lived in, the behemoth lives among reeds and marshes. 3

4 (Job 40:15 - 24 NKJV) 15 “Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox. 16 See now, his strength is in his hips, And his power is in his stomach muscles. 17 He moves his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit. 18 His bones are like beams of bronze, His ribs like bars of iron. 19 He is the first of the ways of God; Only He who made him can bring near His sword. 20 Surely the mountains yield food for him, And all the beasts of the field play there. 21 He lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh. 22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade; The willows by the brook surround him. 23 Indeed the river may rage, Yet he is not disturbed; He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth, 24 Though he takes it in his eyes, Or one pierces his nose with a snare. Notice verse 19, it says, “He is the first of the ways of God;Only He who made him can bring near His sword.” This seems to indicate that this creature or others like him also predated other creatures mentioned in Genesis chapter 1 on the 5th and 6th days. The second part also suggests that only God who made him can bring him to his end and may have done so at least to those that were prior to the animals we find in Genesis chapter 1 involving the 5th and 6th days. We also find in Genesis chapter 1, that land animals were created on the 6th day while water animals and flying animals were created on the 5th day. On the 5thday,we read about “great seamonsters, and every living creature that moveth, wherewith the waters swarmed” but this seems to confine these animals to those that live in the water and not on the land. Before, further examining what this may portend, let us understand why most fossil remains of animals have been found in such a mixed up condition. As we consider the Biblical description of the flood in chapter seven of Genesis, we find the reason the layers of sediment near earth‟s surface are so mixed up and in such utter chaos. (Genesis 7:11 - 12 ASV) 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah‟s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 12And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. (Genesis 7:18 - 24 ASV) 18 And the waters prevailed, and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. 19And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high mountains that were under the whole heaven were covered. 20Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. 21And all flesh 4

5 died that moved upon the earth, both birds, and cattle, and beasts, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: 22all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, of all that was on the dry land, died. 23And every living thing was destroyed that was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only was left, and they that were with him in the ark. 24And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days During the flood, all land dwelling animals including dinosaurs that remained outside of the ark died. Yet, we find the presence of behemoth mentioned in Job. So, it looks like Noah had some dinosaurs on the ark.The website „answersingenesis‟ explains that there were really very few kinds of dinosaurs and it is logical that the ark could have held a pair of each kind that God wanted preserved. Recent discoveries have been made public that somescientists used fossilized bones of different dinosaurs and even mammals and by putting them together in different ways, they formed „new species‟ of creatures that lived in the past. Why were there no bones found of men mixed among the remains of dinosaurs? Most likely man‟s bones do not fossilize nor remain intact after death like dinosaur bones. Remember the description of behemoth in Job 40 where verse 18 says its bones are like beams of bronze and its ribs were like bars of iron? As these creatures were so „indestructible‟, mankind probably stayed far away from them. The world after the flood may have been noticeably different and it appears that the various species of dinosaurs that were saved on the ark slowly became extinct. We should note that occasionally, what was considered an extinct creature is discovered. Even today, possible myths continue about creatures that appear to be some kind of dinosaur (like the Locke Ness Monster.) What I have reference from the website „answersingenesis‟ supports thebelief that the creation of the world and everything thing else took place during the creation week of the first chapter of Genesis. Its writers believe that God created all the fossil fuels at that time. All the petroleum, natural gas, and coal that has ever been found, in their view, was fully formed and placed within the earth‟s mantle during those six days. No one wasthere butI will admit in my opinion it is entirely possible that the power of God could have done this. However, could it be possible that the creation of fossil fuels happened quite differently from what the writers of answersingenesis have detailed? Let us consider other possibilities. There is anothergroup of Creationist that believesGod used some aspects of evolution in His creative efforts. They believe that the days of the creation week of Genesis chapter 1 actually lasted for millions of years. Perhaps in their minds this bridges the gap between the theory of evolution and creation and makes sense of both. They do not accept the idea that God could have made things in an instant by merely speaking. From studying about the interrelated dependence of plants, insects, microorganisms, and animals,I find that each day of creation and placing of these things on the earth could not be separated by more than about 24 hours or many of these creatures and plant life could not survive. Therefore, the evolutionary creationistconcept in regard to the 3rd through the 6th day lasting for millions of years simply is not feasible or credible. Then is there no way to make sense of true scientific research and the Word of God? Or can we find Biblical evidence that allows for a period of time possibly involving hundreds of millions of years in which plants, and possibly some dinosaurs at some point in time, were on the surface of the earth. Could plants and later animals havelived, died, and then slowly begun to 5

6 decompose into fossil fuels? Could this have happened before the actual six days of creation we read about in Genesis chapter 1? Before dismissing such an idea, let us look into the Word of God and see what we can find that describes how God created the earth and everything else mentioned in Genesis chapter1. Let us also see if there are other scriptures that shed light on this subject. In the Genesis account of creation, I believe we find evidence of a „hands on‟ Creator directly and deeply involved in making and forming what the text also says He created. We find evidence that possibly God did not just „speak‟ and everything appeared complete and in its place.This is not conjecture but simply following what the scriptural evidence presents to us. Let us look more closely into God‟s Word to find out what we can about how God goes about making or creating things. First, look at the following two verses. 27 So GodH430createdH1254 manH120 in his own imageH6754, in the imageH6754 of GodH430 H1254 created he him; maleH2145 and femaleH5347 createdH1254 he them. (Genesis 1:27 KJV) 7

And the LORDH3068GodH430formedH3335 manH120 of the dustH6083 of the groundH127, and breathedH5301 into his nostrilsH639 the breathH5397 of lifeH2416; and manH120 becameH1961 a livingH2416 soulH5315. (Genesis 2:7 KJV) In Genesis 1:27 it says God created man in His own image. The word created comes from the Hebrew word bara (H1254) defined as: 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). In Genesis 2:7, it says God formed man of the dust of the ground. The word formed comes from the Hebrew word yatsar (H3335) defined as: yaw-tsar'; probably identical with H3334(through the squeezing into shape); (compare H3331); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively to determine (that is, form a resolution):— X earthen, fashion, form, frame, make (-r), potter, purpose. Clearly, the second statement explains how God actually created man. He did not just speak and „poof‟ man appeared fully formed out of nothing. The definition of the word formed tells us that God took dirt from the ground with His own hands and fashioned it like a potter shaping clay. He squeezed it into shape according to His purpose. Some individuals try to say when the Genesis account says „created‟ that was something totally different from when God „made‟ or „formed‟ something. That is not true. As we have seen from the preceding two verses, the terms can be used interchangeably. Is it possible that God created the earth in much the same way as He did man? Did He form and shape it with His own hands? Read the 38th chapter of Job. In its verses, we find the Creator describing how He made the earth. He did not just speak and it appeared fully formed out of nothingness. In creating the earth, He measured and shaped it from inside out and top to bottom. Here are just a few verses from the NKJV that reveal this truth. 4

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“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, “Or who shut in the sea with doors, 6

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When it burst forth and issued from the womb; When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band; When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors; When I said, „This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!‟ “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place, That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it? It takes on form like clay under a seal, And stands out like a garment. “Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths? Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this. “Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place, That you may take it to its territory, That you may know the paths to its home? Do you know it, because you were born then, Or because the number of your days is great? “Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail, Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war? By what way is light diffused, Or the east wind scattered over the earth? “Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, Or a path for the thunderbolt, To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, A wilderness in which there is no man; To satisfy the desolate waste, And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass? Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew? From whose womb comes the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth? The waters harden like stone, And the surface of the deep is frozen. “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion? Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? 7

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Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth? “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That an abundance of water may cover you? Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, And say to you, ‘Here we are!’? Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven, When the dust hardens in clumps, And the clods cling together?

I have included all these verses fromJob chapter 38 to show conclusively that this is more than a detailed account of the intimate knowledge God has concerning the earth. It is a description of a loving Creator whose very hands formed and whose will guided the workings of all the forces that move and interact from the depths of the sea to the farthest star. Let us not overlook the fact that God can move at the speed of light (1 Timothy 6: 16) and doing the things Job 38 says would not take the Creator a very long time. This passage certainly makes a point that making the earth was an intricate and detailed undertaking and involves a long and difficult set of tasks that the Creator God undertook with great care, love, and exact precision. As I try to present Biblical evidence that all Christians should consider concerning the creation, I recognize that some will not search the Bible nor begin to consider what the Bible really tells us about how creation took place. They have „strong‟ religious convictions or biasand generally rejectall scientific information on the formation of fossil fuels, as they cannot make it fit within the confines of their theology and beliefs. Their knowledge of the creation of the earth and universe seems to be limited to only the first chapter of Genesis. Any other scripture that directly relates to creation generally is either unknown or ignored by them. In their understanding, everything was created in six literal 24-hour days about six thousand years ago. While I fully agree that God created everything in the universe (and in the spirit realm as well) I believe that a more concise understanding of what the Bible tells us about creation can be found as we reference other passages that provide additional information of what took place in Genesis chapter one. I have already demonstrated this as Genesis chapter 2 further explains what took place in chapter 1 concerning the creation of man.God‟s Word requires that every truth be established upon two or three witnesses. (Six scriptures state this very thing: Deuteronomy 17: 6; Deuteronomy 19: 15; Matthew 18: 16; 2 Corinthians 13: 1; 1 Timothy 5: 19; and Hebrews 10: 28.) As we search for truth concerning the creation, there is much to learn from many other scriptures that provide additional information to what is written in Genesis chapter 1. I will often use the KJV with the reference number of the Hebrew words that were translated into the English words as we study various scriptures.Let us begin in the first few verses of Genesis chapter 1 and examine several key words and how they impact the timing of what is described as taking place. 1 In the beginningH7225 GodH430 createdH1254 the heavenH8064 and the earthH776. (Genesis 1: 1) Using the Hebrew definition of the noted words, we can read an expanded or amplified version of verse 1 as follows: 8

9 In the beginning or first place time order of things, the supreme God (Elohym’) absolutely created the lofty sky including the visible arch in which clouds move as well as the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve and the firm land called the earth. Note, in this verse we find created only the earth, the atmosphere wherein clouds were, and an empty space (remember the stars, sun, and moon were all created later) of the universe. Now is there another witness of this event? Remember there must be 2 or 3 witnesses. Yes, we have another scripture that speaks of this same event. 18

For thusH3541 saithH559 the LORDH3068 that createdH1254 the heavensH8064; GodH430 himself that formedH3335 the earthH776 and madeH6213 it; he hath establishedH3559 it, he createdH1254 it not in vainH8414, he formedH3335 it to be inhabitedH3427: I am the LORDH3068; and there is noneH369 elseH5750. (Isaiah 45:18 KJV) H1931

Notice in this passage where it says that God „formed the earth‟ and „he created it.‟ Again this shows that the words „created‟ and „formed‟ can be used interchangeably. Also, the second part of this verse where it states that God createdH1254 it not in vainH8414, he formedH3335 it to be inhabitedH3427. The words „invain‟ come from the Hebrew wordtohu (H8414) defined as: From an unused root meaning to lie waste; a desolation (of surface), that is, desert; figuratively a worthless thing; adverbially in vain:—confusion, empty place, without form, nothing, (thing of) nought, vain, vanity, waste, wilderness. So, we see that when God created the earth it was not created „in vain‟ or „without form‟ nor was it an empty desolate waste. [Perhaps we need to point out that the original Old Testament Bible book of Genesis was written in Hebrew, it did not have verses, nor did it have punctuations.] Now compare Isaiah 45: 18 with Genesis 1:1 - 2. So we can better compare these two passages I am going to copy the pertinent parts of them here. (Isaiah 45:18)GodH430 himselfH1931 that formedH3335 the earthH776 and madeH6213 it; he hath establishedH3559 it,he (God) createdH1254 itnot in vainH8414 (Genesis 1: 1-2) GodH430 createdH1254 the heavenH8064 and the earthH7762And the earthH776 waswithoutH8414 formH8414 [or better putAnd the earth becamein vain], and voidH922 Most people think these two passagesare describing the same event. However, one says God created the earth not in vain. Yet, the second seems to say, God created the earth in vain. Which scripture is correct? All scripture is correct. When we compare two scriptures we must be sure we are talking about the exact same subject and that both verses are applicable. To help us understand what we are reading in Isaiah 45 and Genesis 1, let us consider the following two verses. Isaiah 48:18 says,“God formedH3335 the earthH776”. In Genesis 1: 7 it says, “GodH430 formedH3335 manH120”. Notice in both verses the word formedH3335 is used. The word formed comes from the Hebrew word yatsar (H3335) defined as: yaw-tsar'; probably identical with H3334 (through the squeezing into shape); (compare H3331); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively to determine (that is, form a resolution):— X earthen, fashion, form, frame, make (-r), potter, purpose.

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10 Question, did God just partially „form‟ the man? Do any verses depict an unfinished man left on the groundjust a skeleton with some organs not completely made yet and with no skin or breath while the Creator sat „brooding‟ above him and then untold hours later began to finish making him? No, man was made complete and perfect in the image of his Creator who did not pause until He had breathed the breath of life into him thus completing man‟s creation. Now the word used to describe how God made man is the very same word used to describe how God made the earth. God did not stop partway through the process and leave an unfinished earth in a state of being a desolate waste covered with darkness and water for some period of time while He brooded over it as those who believe that Genesis 1: 1 and 2 are all part of the first day‟s creation. Just like when God created or formed the man, the same holds true when God formed the earth. He made it perfect and did not leave it as an unfinished or partially finished planet that was a desolate wasteland with darkness and water covering it. When God started forming the earth, He did not stop until it was complete and it was perfect and that was how the earth was created as stated in Genesis 1: 1 and Isaiah 45: 18. Genesis 1: 2 tells of God brooding over the surface of the earth covered with water and darkness. Something not mentioned in this passage seems to have happened after the creation of earth was first completed. We find in Genesis 1: 2 a different planet than it was in Genesis 1:1. A perfectly formed earth had become a vast and desolate wasteland covered in darkness and water. Some try to explain verses two and three as simply a repetition of earth‟s creation with more detail than given in verse 1like those thatwe find concerning the creation of man. The first mention of man‟s creation begins at Genesis 1: 27. Then the creation or making of man is repeated giving more details beginning in Genesis 2: 7. Does using this repeated account of man‟s creationreally seem somehow plausible when considering earth‟s creation? Consider when the account of man‟s creation is repeated that we do not find a partially completed man lying on the ground in the second account. I suppose most people have not paused to reason all this out and have simply believed others who dogmatically state that verses 1 through 5 are all part of a continuouscreation nonstop until it is completed in verse 5. However, I cannot ignore logic and reasoning along with scriptures that tells me that there is the possibility that something might have happened in verse 2 that changed things. What seems more plausible is that what we read in Genesis 1: 2 is not just an interlude between the beginning creation of earth by God mentioned in verse 1 and events mentioned starting in verse 3. In verse 3,what we actually find is God taking what was left of His perfect creation that had become a desolate wasteland in verse 2 as He begins to re-create what He had already completed in verse 1. Some call this „the Gap Theory.‟ (People love to put labels on things they cannot refute and rather than try, they revert to personal defamation to discredit those that oppose their ideas that are not as solidly grounded in facts as they think.) I must admit that since no man alive or dead bears witness to exactly what took place all ideas and concepts must be labeled „Theory‟ rather than fact. Still, some theories involve various facts and evidence and therefore seem more reasonable than others that lack such details.Rather than quibble, let us use the Word of God as evidence and search it find what seems to be more factual and what seems to be less. Since these verses in Genesis chapter 1 are supposed to involve the creation process if nothing is being made (created) then what is described is not part of the creation process. Verse 1 qualifies as it says, “In the beginning, God created”. In verse 2, we find the statement “2And the earthH776 was withoutH8414 formH8414, and voidH922; and darknessH2822 was upon the faceH6440 of the 10

11 deepH8415.” Then we read“the Spirit of God movedH7363 [was broodingH7363) upon the faceH6440 of the watersH4325. So, we find nothing creatively was happening in verse 2. So, verse 2 does not involve the creation process.Now in verse 3, we find God immediately is taking action (God said, Let there be light.)Consider, in verse 1, God is active. In verse 2, He is inactive. In verse 3 and all the remaining verses describing days, 1 through 6, He is active. 3 And GodH430 saidH559, Let there be lightH216: and there was lightH216. 4And GodH430 sawH7200 the lightH216, that it was goodH2896: and GodH430 dividedH914 the lightH216 from the darknessH2822. 5 And GodH430 calledH7121 the lightH216 DayH3117, and the darknessH2822 he calledH7121 NightH3915. And the eveningH6153 and the morningH1242 were the firstH259 dayH3117. On day 1 of the Creation Week, we find mention of what God did on that day. He made light. He divided light from darkness.How can anyone ignore the fact that it was necessary for there to be light and the light be separated from the darkness for there to be a day! He named light Day and He named darkness Night. This was the beginning of what is called the first day of the Creation Week.The first day of verse 3 is separated from verse 1 by whatever happened in verse 2. Consider what happened in verse 6 that reveals that God was reforming the surface of the earth. During day 2, we read that He divided the waters below and above the firmament. Remember, on page 9, we took the meanings of the Hebrew words in verse 1 that God „created the lofty sky including the visible arch in which clouds move…and the firm land called the earth‟But, here in verses 6 – 10 we find God again separating the waters so dry land could reappear. This again reveals that something happened in verse 2 that made this necessary and that the actual Creation Week begins in verse 3 not verse 1. 6 And GodH430 saidH559, Let there be a firmamentH7549 in the midstH8432 of the watersH4325, and let it divideH914 the watersH4325 from the watersH4325. 7And GodH430 madeH6213 the firmamentH7549, and dividedH914 the watersH4325 whichH834 were underH8478 the firmamentH7549 from the watersH4325 whichH834 were aboveH5921 the firmamentH7549: and it was soH3651. 8And GodH430 calledH7121 the firmamentH7549 HeavenH8064. And the eveningH6153 and the morningH1242 were the secondH8145 dayH3117. Beginning with verse 6, we find mention of God making the firmament or visible arch of the sky and dividing the waters above and below this arch thereby completing day 2. Day 3 begins with verse 9 describing the appearance of dry land separating the seas and then the earth brings forth vegetation. 9 And GodH430 saidH559, Let the watersH4325 underH8478 the heavenH8064 be gatheredH6960 together unto oneH259 placeH4725, and let the dryH3004 land appearH7200: and it was soH3651. 10 And GodH430 calledH7121 the dryH3004 land EarthH776; and the gatheringH4723 together of the watersH4325 calledH7121 he SeasH3220: and GodH430 sawH7200 that it was goodH2896. 11And GodH430 saidH559, Let the earthH776 bringH1876 forthH1876 grassH1877, the herbH6212 yieldingH2232 seedH2233, and the fruitH6529 treeH6086 yieldingH6213 fruitH6529 after his kindH4327, whoseH834 seedH2233 is in itself, upon the earthH776: and it was soH3651. 12And the earthH776 broughtH3318 forthH3318 grassH1877, and herbH6212 yieldingH2232 seedH2233 after his kindH4327, and the treeH6086 yieldingH6213 fruitH6529, whoseH834 seedH2233 was in itself, after his kindH4327: and GodH430 sawH7200 that it was goodH2896. 13And the eveningH6153 and the morningH1242 were the thirdH7992 dayH3117 I have presented the first 3 days of the creation week to call attention to what took place on day 3 and then compare it to what took place recorded a few chapters later in Genesis. 11

12 Notice, in verse 11 that God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree …etc., etc. This does not say God created the grass, herb, or tree nor their seeds at this time in this verse. Where did they come from and when? To answer these questions consider what happened in the time of Noah. Read chapter 8 of Genesis where it tells of Noah and his family and the animals on the ark waiting for the floodwaters to abate. Genesis 8: 11 tells of a dove returning to the ark with „an olive-leaf plucked off.‟ Where did the olive tree come from that the dove was able to pluck off a leaf? Chapter 8 tells of approximately 7 months passing after the waters began to abate off the land. In that time, vegetation began to grow again across the face of the earth. If you have ever seen massive flooding that covers thousands of square miles you would see after the flood waters depart, vegetation springs forth and grows like wild fire in the enriched soil left after the flood. This is what happened after the flood during Noah‟s time. Is this also what happened after the surface of the earth was covered with water and darkness mentioned in Genesis 1: 2? Again, verse 11 does not say God created, formed, or made the grass, herb, trees, or their seeds. This verse seems to reveal these were already there simply waiting for the dry land to appear just like what happened after the flood. Again, when were these things created, formed, or made by God? If not in verse 11, what about in verse 1 when God first created the heaven and the earth? The point to be made by this examination of the scriptures is that if verse 1 and verse 2 are not part of the 6-day creation week then 1. The time that the earth existed in perfect form in verse 1 and the time the earth spent in its desolate form in verse 2, could have been hundreds of millions of years. 2. This would explain where the grass, herb, trees, and seeds came from and that they had been created or formed in verse 1. 3. This allows the time needed for fossil fuels to form according to geologist. One of the reasons I believe that verse 3 is the beginning of the Creation Week is that God dwells in light not darkness (1 Timothy 6: 16). Jesus counseled Christians to follow His example and work while it is day for the night is coming in which no one can work (John 9: 4).I would like to call attention to the grouping of words in verses 3 to 5. First,God created light, then God divided the light from the darkness. Second, God calls light, Day and He calls darkness, Night. Notice in verse 3, God begins with light and He calls it Day. He does not begin with night and call it Day. Then He tells how a full day is determined. Now keep in mind that in order for a full day to be measured you must have something that says each portion has been completed (not started). It makes no sense to say these verses that say, “And there was evening and there was morning, the first day (or second or third, etc.)” is saying a day begins at evening and lasts until the next evening. If you were trying to tell how long a course was that reached its midpoint at 50 yards you would not say, „this course starts at 50 and the next measurement is 0 yards so that makes it a 100 yard course.‟ You would say, „this course reaches its midpoint at 50 yards and its end point at 100 yards so that makes it a 100 yard course.‟ In measuring or recording each day, the first thing we find that marks a completion is evening. What has been completed? The day portion of a full day. The next thing we find that marks a completion is morning. What has been completed? The Night portion of a full day. The American Standard Version translation expresses this a little better than the KJV.

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And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. Immediately, after stating „there was morning‟, it says this is „one day‟. It does not say there was morning and if you wait another 12 hours you will reach the end of the first day. Reference to evening and morning simply cannot be considered as beginning times. Notice the Hebrew word for Day first used in verse 5 after it says God called the light Day is the same Hebrew word for Day used at the end of the verse. 5

And GodH430 calledH7121 the lightH216DayH3117

And the eveningH6153 and the morningH1242 were the firstH259dayH3117 Now why would God flip flop all this around and start the day when it gets dark as Jewish Traditions teach? The truth is Jewish Traditionsare flawed but the Word of God, the Bible is truth. From the time of Genesis to the present, God starts each day with light when the sun comes up. Remember the words of Jesus Christ concerning the fallacy and error of following Jewish Traditions rather than the truth and Commandments of God. (Mark 7:7 - 9 ASV) 7 But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men. 8 Ye leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men. 9And he said unto them, Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your tradition. One of the reasons most do not understand that Genesis 1: 1 & 2 are not part of the Creation Week has come from the false Jewish Tradition of starting days at sunset rather than sunrise as the Word of God teaches. [Please study my Article: When Do Days Begin? To get an in-depth study of the Word of God on this subject.] Understanding the truth of when days begin helps us realize how Genesis chapter 1 is written as well as many other Biblical truths Jewish Traditions hide or distort. When you consider that these two verse are separate from the Creation Week, you can more readily see that something must have happened that is not mentioned in this passage for the earth we read about in verse 2 has changed from verse 1 and is now „without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.‟ And the earthH776was withoutH8414 formH8414, and voidH922; and darknessH2822 was upon the faceH6440 of the deepH8415. And the SpiritH7307 of GodH430 movedH7363 upon the faceH6440 of the watersH4325. 2

As you read thisverse, please note that words without a Hebrew reference number are not in the original text. They were added by the King James translators to bridge the Hebrew words and should be in context with the Hebrew words before and after them. The word „was‟ is not part of the Hebrew text. Let us look at the Hebrew words first and then see what connecting word fits the context. In verse 2, the words„without form‟ simply repeats the same Hebrew word (H8414) twice. We have already noted this word tohu(H8414) means an empty desolate waste. The fact that it is repeated twice emphasis that the desolation was encompassing and extensively covered the entire earth and not just a portion of it. Notice further the words „and void‟. The Hebrew word for this is bohu (H922) defined as: From an unused root (meaning to be empty); a vacuity, that is, (superficially) an undistinguishable ruin:—emptiness, void. This further seems to indicate that whatever was on the face of the earth in verse 1 is now goneand is under the waters that now cover the surface of the earth.Remember, we read from Isaiah 45: 18 that 13

14 when God created the earth he did not create it in vain (tohu) but now in Genesis 1: 2it has become in vain (tohu) and void (bohu). We cannot correctly use the word „was‟ in verse two as the conditions we read about have dramatically changed from verse 1 to what we find in verse 2. So, more correctly, this verse absolutely should have read, “And the earth became without form, and void. In my personal study Bible (The Companion Bible, The Authorized Version of 1611 with Structures and Critical, Explanatory, and Suggestive Notes and with 198 Appendixes, Published by Kregel Publications or Grand Rapids, Michigan); in the Notes for Genesis chapter 1, I quote it saying,

“The word „was‟ should be „became‟ based on the text of verse 1 and verse 2.” Perhaps the usage of the word „was‟; had a different meaning to the English translators in 1611 but today it has resulted in many not understanding that something very significant happened between verse 1 and verse 2. There is no question when based on facts that the word „was‟ is more correctly rendered „became‟ fully and completely following the context of verse 1 and verse 2. That verse 2 exists in the text emphasizes that something did in fact happen after the initial creation of the earth by God. In truth, we cannot know how much time elapsed in verse 1 or 2; it is conceivable that hundreds of millions of years could have passed during verse 1 as well as verse 2. During this time the earth could have been covered with vegetation growing in a primordial swamp that died, was buried, and then more grew over it and the cycle repeated millions of times. This would have formed the vast fossil fuel reservoirs mankind would tap into after his creation. That some forms of dinosaurs could have been present in this world is also possible and could explain what was meant in Job 40: 19, referring to behemoth, “He is the first of the waysH1870 of God;Only He who made him can bring near His sword.” The Hebrew word for ways is derek (H1870) which is defined as a course of life or mode of action. So, when God created the earth perfect and to be inhabited, following His course or mode of action, He could have placed creatures like behemoth upon it at any time: near the beginning, in the middle, or near the end. These creatures could have lived and died like the vegetation. The total amount of the remains of these creatures would have been quite small when compared to the amount of the decomposing vegetation. There are many possibilities to explain what took place to change this world from a thriving place of creatures and vegetation that could have lasted for hundreds of millions of years to a desolate wasteland covered with darkness and water that also could have lasted for hundreds of millions of years.So, we see that the time that passed from the initial creation of the earth and the time it remained a desolate wasteland could have provided the setting and time that supports those true scientific facts of the formation of fossil fuels and the existence of dinosaurs. It also provides the source of grass, herbs, trees and seeds that later filled the earth after the dry land appeared. Did God cause the chaotic changes we read about in verse 2?Did God allow asteroids to crash into the earth and resulted in fallout that blocked the sun‟s light for years and caused an ice age that killed the dinosaurs? Absolutely not! This is totally false because there were no other celestial objects created when the earth was initially created.There was no asteroids, planets, or stars in the universe except for the earth during the time of verse 1.

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15 Let me describe what I believehappened after verse 1 and which lead into verse 2 and why. At some point after the earth was initially created and covered with vegetation and living creatures (dinosaurs), a rebellion took place in heaven. A great archangel‟s name was changed to Satan and he led one third of the angels in rebellion against God. I believe that the war that was fought in heaven as described in Revelation chapter 12 spilled out of heaven and to the earth. Most theologians consider this chapter is an aside to the story flow we read about from chapter 1to chapter 11. The events of chapter 12 must have been in the past and is not some reference to a future event because right after man and woman have been formed we find in chapter 3, that Satan is mentioned as being in the garden of Eden as he tempted the woman to disobey God. Satan‟s evil influence corrupting mankind was the cause of the flood during the time of Noah we read about in chapter 7 of Genesis. So, the event mentioned in chapter 12 of Revelation must have taken place before Genesis chapter 3. I can find no other place in chapters 1 or 2 of Genesis where the rebellion of Satan could have takenplace other than between Genesis 1: 1 and Genesis 1: 2. That rebellion resulted in Satan and his angels being cast down to earthand that is what I believe caused to destruction that left the earth a wasteland that we read about in verse 2. (Revelation 12:7 - 9 KJV) 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Following the first two verses in chapter 1 of Genesis is where we actually begin the Creation Week. The very first thing we find where God took any kind of action after verse 1 is in verse 3 when God establish light and separate it from darkness. This means He started the earth rotating upon its axis. The other events during the creation week happened as the Bible states they happened during each of the 24-hour days from verse 3 onward. There are no other verses in the Bible to explain how fossil fuels could have been developed except as mentioned in verse 1 and 2 of Genesis chapter 1. Even the flood during the time of Noah did not last long enough for any fossil fuels to develop. Could God have created fossil fuels reserves when He first created the earth? Of course. But, the Bible does not say He did this and it does not say when these actually came into being. It is consistent with Biblical facts that the Creator God uses the forces He created to cause things to happen on the earth. He sent rain and „broke up the fountains of the deep‟ to flood the earth. He rained down fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah. He made man with His own hands from the dirt of this earth. We do not know how long the earth sat in its perfect state with vegetation and possibly dinosaurs in Genesis 1: 1. We do not know how long the earth sat as a desolate waste covered with darkness and water in Genesis 1: 2. But, I believe that it is a real possibility that God could have used what I have described as taking place between Genesis 1: 1 and 1: 2 so fossil fuels could have beenformed as geologist have said and in the time frame they have speculated involving millions of years rather than 6,000 years. Anyone would have to twist and misrepresent what I have written here to try to say this article supports the Theory of Evolution. That false theory is about the formation of life and the development from single cell creatures to multi-cell creatures. Its whole purpose is to try to disprove the need for a Creator God in the existence of everything we see in the universe 15

16 today.What I have stated is what the Bible says and is truth regardless if some Creationist disagree. Read their ideas, compare them with what I have written, and see which concept follows the Bible more accurately and completely. This Article does involve geological facts and scriptures that allow for the formation of fossil fuels over a time-period of hundreds of millions of years. There are many theories of how the universe came into being as well. God‟s Word tells us in Genesis 1: 14- 19 that God created all the celestial bodies in the universe. Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19So the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 14

Did God speak the word and „Bang‟ the stars and other celestial bodies exploded outward in all directions from the earth? Possibly, but any ideas of how God placed the celestial bodies in the universe is theory not fact. Let us all realize that we cannot dismiss or eliminate true scientific facts by ignoring them or saying they do not exist. Truth in any subject stands on its own merit and is independent of those who study it and their opinions. God‟s Word is Truth and its content affirms those things that are true in every aspect of the world and universe we live in as well as all living things past and present.

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