The Gap Doctrine

[Proof from scripture that the gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 is a fact, not a theory.]


“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

“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 date of the original creation is not given.

Here in Genesis 1:1, heaven is singular in contrast to "the heavens" of Genesis 2:1, proving that verses 1:2-31 are not a description of 1:1. In the first verse, there is only one heaven, but after the renewal of the face of the earth (verses 2 to 31), there are three heavens. The first heaven, where fowl fly above the earth, is in verse 20. The second heaven, where the sun, moon, and stars are (verses 14-18) is between two great bodies of water (verses 6-8). The third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2) is in verse 1.

Some have made the claim that "the beginning of the creation" (2 Peter 3:4-6) was the six day time period in which God created Adam because of Mark 10:6 where Jesus said, "But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female." This claim is staked in order to prove that there could not be a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. This denial of the gap may seem to be supported by Mark 13:19, where Jesus also said, "For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be." This definition of "the beginning of the creation", however, becomes a problem when you see that the Lord Jesus Christ, himself, is called "the beginning of the creation of God" in Revelation 3:14.

In order to more perfectly understand "the beginning", we must search the scriptures. We will find that some scriptures that mention "the beginning" will match Genesis 1:1 and some will not. I find only seven verses that mention "the beginning" which match Genesis 1:1. They are 1 John 1:1; John 1:1; Psalm 119:160; Proverbs 8:22,23; Isaiah 40:21; and Hebrews 1:10. If you try to put any others into the Genesis 1:1 context, you will have trouble reconciling them with the rest. For example, where was Abram’s tent in the beginning? (See Genesis 13:3). "In the beginning was the Word [“the Word of life" (1 John 1:1)], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God [the word which "is true from the beginning" (Psalm 119:160)]. The best definition of "the beginning" is found by comparing Genesis 1:1 with Isaiah 40:21 and Hebrews 1:10. " In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. " " Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? " " And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: " The definition of "the beginning" is: when God laid the foundation(s) of the earth.

Again, comparing scripture with scripture will provide essential information. We now must look at matching verses for "the foundations of the earth" (Job 38:4; Psalm 82:5; Psalm 104:5). From Job 38:4-7, I learn that when God laid the foundations of the earth, there were morning stars singing and sons of God shouting for joy and also that the original earth had a cornerstone. I feel safe in guessing that it was a head cornerstone, just as Jesus Christ is the head cornerstone of the household of God (Luke 20:17; 1 Peter 2:6-8; Ephesians 2:19-22), and was shaped like a pyramid. I would also guess that, having a head cornerstone, the earth was a precious jewel made of gold, silver, and precious stones (Proverbs 20:15; 1 Corinthians 3:12; 1 Peter 2:4-5; Revelation 21:10-21). This is a good explanation of why Lucifer was covered with every precious stone (Ezekiel 28:13)...

Continuing to compare scripture with scripture, looking at matching verses for "the foundations of the earth", I see in Psalm 82:5 that "all the foundations of the earth are out of course". How could this be? What happened to make the earth "without form and void"? Psalm 104:5-6 says, "Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment:" (Compare Hebrews 1:10-11)

Now, before going any further, some facts must be established by comparing scripture with scripture. We must look at the indications from some other verses. The word "replenish" is in the Bible only two times. Once it is in Genesis 9:1 after a flood. The other occurrence of the word is in Genesis 1:28 [obviously after a flood]. The phrase "without form and void" is in the Bible only two times. Once it is in Jeremiah 4:23 in a context of God's judgment. The other occurrence of the phrase is in Genesis 1:2 [obviously in a context of God's judgment]. Also, the phrase "the face of the waters" is in the Bible only two times. Once it is in Genesis 7:18 during a flood. The other occurrence of the phrase is in Genesis 1:2 [obviously during a flood]. To make it absolutely clear, look at Psalm 104:30 (a verse that nobody even mentions when discussing the gap doctrine). "Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth." The context is animals and creatures of the sea. Psalm 104:30 says that the creation, which included the creation of the animals, was a renewing of the face of the earth not the original creation.

References for "the deep": Genesis 1:2; 7:11; 8:2; 49:25; Job 38:30; 41:31-32; Psalm 104:5-6; and Proverbs 8:28.

References for "the face of the waters": Genesis 1:2; 7:18; Job 26:7-10; 38:30; 37:18; Revelation 4:6; and 15:2....

Ezekiel 28:12-17 describes Lucifer before his rebellion against God. Verse 14 says, "Thou art the anointed". He was an anointed Christ, Messiah, and King. ["He is a king over all the children of pride." Job 41:34] Verse 14 continues, "Thou (Lucifer) wast upon the holy mountain of God". Since this is before Lucifer's fall, it would do well to search the scriptures for this "holy mountain of God".

"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." Psalms 48:1-2

"And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God," Rev 21:10

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." Isaiah 14:13-15

The "holy mountain of God" is "the city of God" in the sides of the north. That great city, the holy Jerusalem, is "in the sides of the north". The north - the farthest north, the third heaven is obviously where the holy city of God is (Galatians 4:25-26). The city, called a mountain, is shaped like a mountain or pyramid. New Jerusalem is God's replacement for the original earth and will be the home of born again Christians from the church age who are replacements for the angels who have fallen and those who will fall and follow Satan. Sons of God (angels) were the inhabitants of the original earth and sons of God will be the inhabitants of New Jerusalem.

Now back to Psalm 104:5-6, notice that verse 5 says that the foundations of the earth were laid "that it [the foundation of the earth] should not be removed for ever". Psalm 125:1 says that mount Zion "cannot be removed, but abideth for ever". Mount Zion (the holy city, new Jerusalem) was the cornerstone and foundation of the original earth.

“And the earth standing out of the water and in the water” (2 Peter 3:5). When God covered the earth with the deep (Psalm 104:6) - when the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2), the earth was pushed down into the deep (waters), but the foundation stayed.

“Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished” (2 Peter 3:6). “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” (Genesis 1:2)

"Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away." Psalms 104:1-7

God rebuked the waters in Genesis 1:6, saying, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." When God made the firmament, the waters hasted away from the earth unlike the floodwaters of Noah's time. Notice that in making this firmament, God did not say that it was good like on the other days

This firmament is the Heaven in which God placed the sun, moon, and stars (verses 14-19). Waters - see Psalm 148:4 and Job 41:1, 31-32. The Exodus through the Red Sea is a picture of the rapture when the Christians will go through the sea onward to heaven. [See also Ecclesiastes 9:12; Habakkuk 1:14; Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17.]