HOW OLD IS THE EARTH & UNIVERSE?
BLOG 43
December 9,2025
By: Bill Watson
Direct Comments to:
In today’s Christian community, there is a controversy over the age of the earth. There is a segment of Christians who firmly believe that the earth and universe are only 6000 years old, while another group believes it could be billions of years old, as evolutionists would have you think. Frankly, this is one of the compelling and underscoring reasons the young-earth Christians support a young-earth hypothesis–to differentiate themselves from evolution. But do we have to go to such an extreme to counter the theory of evolution and “cross swords” with science?
Does the Bible have anything to say about this? Does the Bible address this question? Can we answer this by using scripture? Or is this one of those questions that cannot be answered except by theorizing or hypothesizing about what the answer MIGHT or COULD be?
Believe it or not, embedded in the Bible’s narratives are scriptures proving that the earth is considerably older than just 6000 years! But to understand this, we must go back to Genesis, chapter one, and begin at the beginning to obtain some historical back-story.
The Bible says: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” [Gen. 1:1]. This is a fact. It’s undebatable and without question––God did it––period! But the question is, was it 6000 years ago or billions of years ago? Let’s continue: “And the earth was (became) without form (worthless, confused, wasted), and void (ruined, empty, chaotic); and darkness was upon the face of the deep” [Gen. 2:2].
Now this is an interesting piece of information. The earth “became” worthless, wasted, ruined, and empty. This is what is described when using the original Hebrew words. The word “was” comes from “hayah,” and “worthless and wasted” comes from “tohu,” while “ruined and empty” comes from “bohu.” What we’re led to believe is the earth was something else before, and then “BECAME” wasted and ruined! How did that happen– this damage and destruction? Surely God didn’t create it in this condition?
Actually, when God originally created the earth and the heavens, we are told the angels shouted for joy and in praise. Notice: “Whereupon are the foundations (of earth) thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars (angels) sang together, and all the sons of God shouted (triumphantly loud) for joy” (Job 38:6-7). It makes no sense the angels triumphantly shouted for joy about a creation that was originally made wasted and in ruin! That is just absurd! Furthermore, it “became” that way. The indication is that something caused it to “become” empty and worthless.
The prophet confirms it was not created in this condition originally. Notice: “For this says the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he has established it, he created it “NOT” IN VAIN (tohu–means worthless, wasted, empty), he formed it to be inhabited…” (Isa. 45:18). This is a clear and plain statement from God’s word, through the prophet Isaiah that what we see described in Genesis 1:2 is NOT the original condition of how God created the earth. So, what happened between verses one and two? Does the Bible explain what might have happened?
Some will explain the missing time as the GAP THEORY. But theories are “suppositions of ideas intended to explain something independent of the thing to be explained.” In other words, it’s something that is possible or plausible, but actual evidence is missing. However, in this case, there is evidence to prove that this has happened.
Notice what Isaiah says about a particular event. “How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How are you cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations” (Isa. 14:12)! In Ezekiel, we are told this anointed cherub became proud, corrupted, and defiled (Ezek. 28:13-19), and in Revelation we are told his tail influenced 1/3 of all the angels and they were thrown out of heaven and into the earth (Rev. 12:1-9). And Jesus claims He saw Satan fall from heaven at some point (Luke 10:18).
With all this in mind, it’s logical to understand that this conflict happened at some time in the history of our universe. This war of rebellion, when viewed in the light of the desolated planets, had to have been enormously destructive, because we see the damage all around us. It left the condition of what was, to “become” tohu and bohu––wasted, ruined, empty, and worthless. And so in the beginning, the record of creation commences with a globe covered in water. Notice, “…and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:2). From here, we see the scriptures tell us that God “renewed” the face of the earth!
That’s right–RENEWED! “You sent forth your spirit, they are created: and you “renewed” (Heb./ chadash; means repair, rebuild) the face of the earth” (Psalm 104:30). It’s understood that God’s spirit “chadash” the earth, repairing and rebuilding it as He moved upon the water. We have the description of how He did that over seven days.
Clearly, the facts are embedded in the scriptures. There is no need to contradict the findings of science through archeology and attempt to develop a narrative of a “Young Earth” to prove evolution is incorrect. Unquestionably, believing the Earth and universe could be billions of years old doesn’t eliminate you from being a creationist. Actually, it substantiates a “prehistoric period,” before Adam and Eve, that existed, and of which was something even the angels shout triumphantly in joy!
But Lucifer’s rebellion and conflict with God and His angelic realm damaged so much of what was created during that prehistoric time, and he has yet to be held accountable for his “act of mass destruction.” But justice is coming, and he will ultimately be punished as the Day of Atonement illustrates in the layout of God’s Holy Days.
Yes, the Earth is billions of years old, but it was remodeled some 6 thousand years ago to accommodate a reproductive salvation plan God had in mind for sharing His immortal existence with other immortals, embodied like Him for all eternity! Wow, what a destiny humanity has, to inherit eternal life as immortal sons of God (Rom. 8:16-25)!