The Gap Fact by Michael Pearl - A Rebuttal

A Rebuttal to Michael Pearl's 27 page booklet called: “The Gap Fact”

Why I am responding to "The Gap Fact"

“He that is first [the one who presents his case first] in his own cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him [examines him thoroughly]. ” - Proverbs 18:17

Before we start I want to discuss what I think is going on in Michael Pearl's booklet “The Gap Fact”. Michael Pearl has the ministry called No Greater Joy (www.nogreaterjoy.org). I believe Michael Pearl has fallen in love with a doctrine that has no solid Biblical support and has promoted his doctrine adamantly calling it a solid unshakable fact.

Michael Pearl is very convincing in his booklet it even caused me to evaluate what I believe which is a good thing for healthy Christians. I questioned whether his teaching was true and in all honesty I gave him the benefit of the doubt. But in all of this the Holy Spirit reminded me of the following verse:

“He that is first in his own cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. ” - Proverbs 18:17

When reading “The Gap Fact” I cannot help but be reminded of gold miners who would go into the hills and find a bit of gold, lay claim to the land and start mining. Some of these miners would find a little here and there believing there was a vein of gold producing the fragments they were finding. They would spend the rest of their lives mining and proclaiming there was a vein of gold in their mine whether there was or not. The term for this was called falling in love with the vein. I do believe that is what has happened in this case.

I would like to say that I have learned a few things from Michael Pearl. I believe he is my brother in the Lord. So it is not my desire to attack my brother but to balance his approach to this subject.

Remember my approach to the scriptures is as follows:

1. My God, of the Bible, says what He means and means what He says.

2. The Bible is an integrated whole: The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed. The Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.

3. Nothing is trivial: All things are for our learning (Romans 15:4)

4. Every detail is the Bible by design (Matthew 5:17-18). The Holy Spirit as an artist guided every detail of scripture and hovers over every detail.

5. God is His own interpreter. The best Bible commentary is the Bible itself.

Your job:

Acts 17:11

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

The Holy Spirit is telling you not to take my word (or anyone else's) for it but to study it out for yourselves.

This is what I believe:

When God originally called the everything into existence it was “unformed and empty” as Genesis 1:1-2 clearly states in a plain reading of the text apart from Michael Pearl's fallible human interpretation. KEEP IN MIND the creation was not perfect (which means complete or finished) until God said it was perfect (complete, finished) at the end of the six days (Genesis 2:1-3) which fits very well with a plain reading of the whole text.

Remember Proverbs 8:8-9 as we go through this study:

"All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge."

Please understand I am open to altering my understanding of all of this to conform more accurately to God's Word but as I have studied this issue the gap theory is not very convincing.

These are the reasons why I reject “the gap theory” in any form:

1. If there was a gap in the Bible between Genesis 1:1 and 1:3 why is it not clearly taught anywhere in the scripture without much assumption, implication, and special knowledge? The God I serve does NOT relegate such enormous amounts of information (two creations, Lucifer's flood, death before Adam, etc.) to assumptions, implications, and special knowledge that requires special interpretations. My God is the God of Proverbs 8:8-9.
   

2. If God had intended us to understand there was a gap in Genesis 1:1-2 involving so many details about Satan, sin, judgment, punishment, re-creation you think He would have mentioned it to the author of Genesis when Genesis was written instead of just implying it happened.
   

3. Jesus personally comments on every major doctrine in Genesis and never mentions any previous heavens and earth. In Mark 10:6 Jesus talks about the beginning of the creation and made no mention of re-creation or a previous world. Jesus never mentioning it is reason ALONE for me to reject the false doctrine of the gap theory and all it's sub-doctrines. Because according to the Bible Jesus is the creator and He existed before all things. But for the sake of those who are weaker in faith and have to argue with the brain I will continue. I only pray that I am not throwing my pearls to swine in this effort.

4. ALL the New Testament writers refer to Genesis 1-11 (except chapter 8) and always take it for what is says plainly. None of them mention anything about a gap between Genesis 1:1-1:2 or any of the doctrines that go along with with it (Lucifer's flood, death before Adam, re-creation, or a previous world).
   
   

5. What will the creation be restored to as Acts 3:21 declares if death, disease, suffering, and evil existed in the creation before Adam? Will the creation be restored to death, disease, suffering and evil as was this supposed "original creation"?
   

6. The first 3 days of creation develop realms that the last 3 days of creation are filled by objects and creatures that utilize each realm. Day 1 is a realm for light and darkness, Day 4 is that realm filled with objects that utilize the laws established in Day 1. Day 2 is a realm for the skies and seas, Day 5 is filled with creatures that utilize that realm. Day 3 is a realm for the earth and the creatures that utilize the earth are created Day 6.
   If God created a physical universe before the six days of creation why did He fill it with spiritual beings (angels and Cherubim) that do not utilize the physical universe? AND WHY would God attempt to drown spiritual beings in water in the so called “flood of Lucifer”? Yes Michael has a response to that last question and we will deal with it.

7. If one molecule of the cursed world that existed before the 6 days of creation existed in the new creation then God would be a liar when He said it was very good, because it was built on something and out of something that was not good. The word “very good” is meod tov which indicates perfection, a complete absence of evil of any kind. The existence of anything evil in the creation of God is absolutely denied and the gap hypothesis is entirely refuted.
   
   If death, disease, and evil existed in the creation before Adam then Romans 5:14, and 1 Corinthians 15:20-24, are inaccurate.
   
   We know from other places in the Bible that Adam's sin effects all of the creation therefore this new world had to have been tainted and therefore was not very good. Either God is lying (which is not possible) or re-creationists have “fallen in love with the vein”.

8. When is this god of the gap going to get it right? This god created a physical universe for spiritual beings, and it had to be destroyed. He again creates another world that must be destroyed because physical beings in a physical universe mess it up. So when we have our glorified physical bodies when the New Heavens and New Earth come on the scene are we looking at another screwed up creation that we have to suffer through again? Kind of reminds me of a cosmic reincarnation (gotta do it until we get it right).

9. Gap theorists assume Genesis 1:1 describe a perfect earth and that Genesis 1:2 is that perfect earth destroyed as the result of Satan's sin (point to a verse that clearly teaches any of this).
   
   So if everything is based on assumptions why not assume what is clearly consistent with the rest of the Bible that Genesis is straightforward. The proper way to interpret Genesis chapter one is to simply allow it to convey what it wants to. We must accept the fact that it was meant to say exactly what it says. Really, the only proper way to interpret Genesis Chapter 1 is not to interpret it at all. WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE OF SCRIPTURE MAKES COMMON SENSE, SEEK NO OTHER SENSE!

10. If Satan fell before the new creation why was he allowed to destroy the new creation also? The Bible seems to indicate that the only reason things continue in the fallen state is to separate those who want to dwell with God from those who do not want to dwell with God.

11. I am not going to limit God in what He did in the creation, I am going to limit myself to believe what He clearly (plainly) said He did and not tell Him what He did.
    

Why I believe what I believe:

It really comes down to a choice as does all Biblical doctrines:

1. Do I want to believe a group of doctrines that the Bible does NOT clearly come out and declare?
   
   OR

2. Do I want to believe God says what He means and means what He says which is not vague and based on fallible human interpretation?

Because my rebuttal to: “The Gap Fact” is by no means dealing with every word of the booklet it is important for you to obtain a copy of the booklet yourself. BUT I do not recommend it for the Biblically illiterate as Michael is very convincing.

By the way I have permission from Chuck Joyner of No Greater Joy Ministries to quote from the booklet: “The Gap Fact” as I have done.

Michael Pearl's statements from: “The Gap Fact”

And the responses

From the No Greater Joy Web Site concerning the booklet: “The Gap Fact” http://shop.nogreaterjoy.org/product_info.php/products_id/269 “The Bible clearly declares that the Earth existed before the 6-day creation. Don’t let well-meaning creation scientists cloud this Biblical truth for you. Study it for yourself.”

I initially compared this statement from the No Greater Joy website to the Bible. Those who read his booklet were frustrated with me because Michael supposedly answered my response in his booklet. After looking at the texts that Michael "answered" we will see if his response is adequate for us to re-interpret the plain teachings of the following texts:

“For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” - Exodus 20:11

“It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” - Exodus 31:17

“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. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” - Genesis 1:1-5

Obviously there is a contradiction between what Michael Pearl says and what the Bible plainly (clearly) says. The following is Michael's response to the clear teaching of the Bible.

The Gap Fact page 9-12 by Michael Pearl Two Words --- Created and Made Now let us examine the text more closely and see if the Holy Spirit has left us any evidence. There are two different words used in regard to God's creative words---created and made ...bara...is used exclusively for acts of God in creating something out of nothing...asah...carries the meaning of making something out of that which previously exists. The Holy Spirit was careful to make a distinction by employing two different words... Notice the clear pattern in the way the two words are used. God created the heavens and the earth originally (Gen.1:1). Then he made the firmament from the chaotic earth and atmosphere (Gen. 1:7). He made two lights to rule the day (1:16) He created great whales and every living creature and winged fowl (Gen. 1:21). The life (souls) of living creatures cannot come from previously existing material. He caused the earth to bring forth living creatures. Their bodies were made from previously existing material just as was Adam's. (Gen. 1:25). God created man in his own image (Gen. 1:27). The soul of Adam did not come from previously existing material, so he was created out of nothing. His body was made from the soil. God made the herbs and plants upon the earth (Gen. 1:31), for they were formed entirely from previously existing materials. Then the text summarizes the whole work of creation by using both words---created and made: 'And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens' (Gen. 2:3-4). God made every tree to grow out of the ground (Gen. 2:9). God took a rib from Adam [previously existing material] and made a woman (Gen.2:22) Both the soul and the body of Eve came from that which previously existed---Adam's body and soul. ...In answer to those who would claim that these two words are just synonyms, the text uses the two words together, expressing their differences and similarities. Genesis 2:3-4 'And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.' Genesis 5:1 'This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;' ...the Holy Spirit...makes it a point to tell us again that he had both created and made. The soul of man was created in the image of God, but his body was made from dust, so both words apply to Adam. Likewise, the heavens were originally created and then at a later time were made as we now know them today. Answering the critics: That brings us to two passages used by the 'young earth' theorists, to refute the gap fact. Exodus 20:11 'For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.' Exodus 31:17 'It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.' Having come to understand God's use of the two words---created and made---you can now understand the passage. In six days God made, not created, the heaven (singular) and earth. That is exactly what he did. He took the previously existing material and made the heaven (the atmosphere containing clouds and birds, called the first heaven) and earth.”

His response is not the “silver bullet” to the contradiction between himself and Genesis 1:1-5, Exodus 20:11, and 31:17. Because there is still no clear verse in the Bible that says there is a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2.

What I am saying is he really has not proven anything with all of this. He has NOT established a “gap fact” by saying Exodus 20:11 & 31:17 use the word “made” instead of “create”. He has simply made a point that God created some things and made other things out of what He created.

Though his reasoning doesn't back his gap it may have some merit in understanding verse 1:2 concerning how things were created then made.

The following verse flies in the face of Michael's reasoning that God is not making a general statement in 1:1 and gradually becoming more specific throughout the narrative.

• “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” - Genesis 1:27

Michael's quote:

“God took a rib from Adam [previously existing material] and made a woman (Gen.2:22) Both the soul and the body of Eve came from that which previously existed---Adam's body and soul.”



So using Michael's reasoning he is forced to contradict verse 27. He said Eve was "made" not "created" from Genesis 2:22 the word "made" is not used at all in verse 27.

A possible response could be: “Genesis 1:27 is a general statement and Genesis 2:22 is a specific statement about how Eve was formed.” Oh really? That sounds familiar to the “anti-gap” teachings concerning Genesis 1 how the text becomes more and more detailed. Let's see what Michael has to say about that.

The Gap Fact page 7-8 by Michael Pearl I have heard some try to explain away the implications of the text by saying that Genesis 1:1-2 are just summary verses, a prologue to the details that follow. Such an argument demonstrates little respect for the text. They would have us believe that God is a sloppy writer, not able to articulate his thoughts. You have five elements present at the same time in the first two verses: The existence of the heaven (singular), The existence of the earth, Darkness covering the earth, Water covering the earth - no land appearing, The Spirit of God moving on the face of the dark waters. It is impossible to fit those five things at the same time into any point in the six days of creation. God creates light on the first day, so after that first act of creation the conditions of verses 1-2 never exist again. Those conditions must precede the six days. To call verses one and two a summary is to suggest that the Holy Spirit did an extremely poor job of summing up a beautiful creation. I ask you: where in the six days is land, water, and darkness created? Where is space created---dimension, time and atoms, the substance of all things? These things are assumed to exist from the beginning, before the six day creation.

Michael is saying because God doesn't fit into his brain and his way of thinking that he cannot accept that Genesis 1 starts out with general statements that are more and more detailed as you read more and more of the narrative.

Personally I am not comfortable in judging God in how He chooses to reveal truth. I think of it as: "If I don't understand something in the Bible it is because I am backwards not because God is backwards."

Another place:

The Gap Fact page 6 by Michael Pearl “The anti-gap theorists claim that verse one is indeed a prologue, and then they turn to science to “prove” it.”

In all my discussion concerning this issue I have ONLY used the Word of God. In all my research on this issue I have not seen anyone use science to prove the "prologue" of verse 1. I believe Michael is setting up a false argument to convince his readers that he has the corner on truth in this issue (which by the way is a sign of false teaching) and everyone who opposes his thinking can only do so with extra-biblical materials.

Let's look at a portion of his previous quote:

“It is impossible to fit those five things at the same time into any point in the six days of creation.”

Guess what?

With man made theology this is impossible; but with God's simple Bible teachings all things are possible.

Michael's impossibility exists only if you reject the clear teaching that this all happened on day 1. Which takes us back to our original verses that keep haunting “the gap fact”.

“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. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” - Genesis 1:1-5

Throughout Genesis 1 every time frame is CLEARLY established. There is NO demarcation around the Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. This is VERY inconsistent if God was trying to make a point of 1:1 and 1:2 being yet another time frame when in EVERY SINGLE INSTANCE a time frame is clearly laid out.

All this reminds me of the following quote from Genesis 3:1: “Yea, hath God said,”

“Yeah hath God said: 'the first day'?”

Yes Satan, God did say: “the first day” and He meant what He said.

When does "first day" mean "first day"? Anywhere in the Bible except Genesis 1:1-5 at least to those who have a gap agenda.

Let's look at some of Michael's other arguments for “the gap fact”. Michael specifically says to have any credibility rejecting the gap the following statement (in bold, which is my emphasis not original to the text) must be answered.

The Gap Fact page 13-14 by Michael Pearl Why a gap Why is there a gap between the original creation and the six-day creation? What happened to cause the earth to become without form and void? Let's look at the clues the Bible gives us as to the history of the universe and its inhabitants. Genesis1:2 describes the chaotic earth as “without form and void.” The Hebrew word behind without form is tohuw, which means formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness, wasteland, wilderness, chaos. Though the earth was 'without form and void' (tohuw) before the six-day creation, Isaiah tells us that it was originally not created that way. Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain (tohuw), he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. The Hebrew word tohuw, used in Genesis 1:2 and in Isaiah 45:18 occurs 20 times in the Hebrew Scripture and is translated in the Authorize Version as 'vain' four times, 'vanity' four times, 'confusion' three times, 'without form' twice, 'wilderness' twice, 'nought' twice, 'nothing' once, 'empty space' once, and 'waste' once. This is an amazing revelation! Isaiah 45:18 tells us that the earth was not created tohuw, yet Genesis 1:2 tells us that it was in fact tohuw before the first day of re-creation. So something must have happened between the time it was created not tohuw and the time when the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the tohuw planet. If you are going to have any credibility rejecting the gap, you must answer this argument.”

This is a classic example of what is called pretexting. It is something false teachers (Mormons, Jehovah's Witness, etc.) use when they take a non-biblical teaching and find places in the Bible that back what they are trying to “prove”. That is why when you do a Bible study with Jehovah's Witness they jump all over the place to “prove” they are right.

What is the context of the verse? The answer is that God had a definite purpose for the earth and that it would be a place inhabited. Is the context of the verse detailing the events of the creation? Is it detailing the so called events between Genesis 1:1-2? Is the context detailing all the doctrines that go along with the gap theory in any way?

The context is simple in it's plain reading. When God originally created it was “unformed and empty” as Genesis 1:1-2 clearly states in a plain reading of the text apart from Michael Pearl's fallible human interpretation.

KEEP IN MIND the creation was not perfect (meaning complete, finished) until God said it was perfect (complete, finished) at the end of the six days (Genesis 2:1-3).

The assumption is that God did not create the earth tohu that it must have become tohu. Again show me in the Bible where this assumption on the part of gap theorists is clearly taught! This text DOES NOT stand to prove a gap between Genesis 1:1-2 without a great deal of assumption that has NO clear Biblical teaching anywhere in the Bible. But as stubborn as the gap theorists are objective reasoning may prove to be futile (remember the Bible says to worship God in spirit and in truth, that means you have to use your brain).

Here is another instance of a similar issue that Michael uses to “prove” his “gap fact” (through assumption of course. Isn't that how you come up with proof and facts through assumptions?).

The Gap Fact page 15 by Michael Pearl 'Jeremiah 4:23-26 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form [tohuw---same word used in Genesis 1:2], and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld , and lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger' This passage must be more far-reaching than Israel, for the earth itself, not just Israel, was without form. To say that there was no light from the heavens fits the original chaotic earth but not Israel. There was never a time when Israel had no man and no birds, but it was true of the earth in Genesis 1:1-2.”

In context God is talking to Israel. The word "earth" in this passage is eretz in Hebrew and does not have to mean earth as a whole but actually has the following meanings: From an unused root probably meaning: “to be firm” the earth (at large, or as a portion a land): - eretz common, country, earth, field, ground, land, eretz nations, way, + wilderness, world.

The context itself dictates that eretz is talking about the land of Israel not the earth as a whole.

Michael's statement:

“There was never a time when Israel had no man and no birds, but it was true of the earth in Genesis 1:1-2.”

Never is a pretty strong word. How about right after Noah's flood? I am not implying that is what the text is saying I am simply pointing out that Michael is setting up an argument based on his use of the word “never” which in turn is based on assumptions. All because he has “fallen in love with the vein” and he is seeing the gap all over the place when the Hebrew word tohu is used.

The Gap Fact pages 16-18 by Michael Pearl “Angels preexisted the earth We know that there is a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:3 because angels were present when the earth was created and they were already associated with the stars before the six days of re-creation. God wanted to humble Job, so he asked him a series of questions about basic facts of the earth's origin, which no man has ever answered, nor will they. These things could not be known other than by Divine revelation. Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 'Sons of God' found five times in the O.T., all five times referring to angels. Following are two examples. Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. Job 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. [This occurred on the third day (Genesis 1:9).] 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. 9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, [tells us how the earth came to be covered in darkness.] 10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? [Here is a description of God separating the waters and the dry land on day two (Genesis 1:6).] 12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring [first light of day] to know his place; [The sun was given a place to light the earth after it had been swaddled in darkness.] The series of impossible questions God directed at Job are chronological, in keeping with the events of Genesis 1, revealing that the earth was not originally created without from, but came to be in that condition by direct act of God---no doubt when Lucifer sinned upon the earth, which brings us to additional texts. Psalm 82:1-7 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods... 5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. 6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. These gods were not men, but they were “children of the most High” which could not be said of sinners, and these gods would die like men.

Job 38

I will have to say that this is one area that I needed to fine tune my own belief in. Job 38 seems pretty straightforward that the angels existed at the time of the creation of the earth. This does not HAVE to be a long time before land appears in Genesis 1:9 so again another assumption is made to say the angels existed in some fantasy kingdom that existed prior to the re-creation of Genesis 1:3.

Is there an alternative?

I did find one argument that may or may not be valid:

There seems to be some emphasis on judgment in Job 38:13-15, 38:17, 38:23. Notice that there are clouds in Job 38:9 compare that with what Genesis 2:5-6 which says: "For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth...but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground." There is good reason to believe (from the Bible text and scientific study) that clouds did not exist on the earth before the flood.

Would the foundations of the earth need to be fastened because of a flood in Noah's day?

Noah's flood wasn't too far in the past from Job's perspective maybe even only 200 years earlier.

Would an earth that probably originally had most of it's water under the crust (based on Genesis 2:9, 7:11, 8:2) which was drastically changed and now had most of it's water on the crust need a cornerstone laid?

Job 38:8-10 seems to have a description of waters coming from the earth and waters coming from the skies as is recorded in Genesis 7. Job 38:11 corresponds with Genesis 8:3 quite comfortably.

If all this is at all possible then the angels singing when this happened would have nothing to do with the original creation of Genesis chapter 1 but rather the flood of Noah in Genesis 7-8. Therefore the angels rejoicing would not be at the creation but at the flood. Proverbs 8:22-31 also describes what is obviously the creation and singing angels are NOT mentioned ("clouds" in Proverbs 8:28 is not the same as in Job 38:9).

All this is also an assumption but one that is at least based on clear Biblical reading of texts as opposed to vague ideas that have NO CLEAR (plain) teaching (reading) in the Bible anywhere.

Apart from all of this conjecture one thing is certainly VERY questionable with Michael's argument. Giving Michael what he wants with this argument in Job 38, how can you determine which creation the angels sang at? The "original" creation or the "re-creation". Can you see the confusion extra-biblical doctrines introduce into the text?

Remember Proverbs 8:8-9

"All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge."

“they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.”

Michael is trying to make the point that this statement ties these “gods...children of the most High” to Lucifer's flood. But let's see who the “gods” and “children of the most High” are:

“Ye are gods”

Remember the best interpreter of the Bible is the Bible itself. What does the Bible have to say about “Ye are gods”? Jesus Himself interprets this let's see if it lines up with what Michael Pearl says:

“The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?” - John 10:33-36

“Ye are gods” is a title Jesus is using in the sense of being able to rightly judge as magistrates. Over and over in the Old Testament God is getting after the Jews for allowing their magistrates to judge unjustly.

This is Jesus quoting from Psalm 82:6 and His commentary on it. Michael is now arguing with the Lord which I believe the whole argument of: “The Gap Fact” comes down to. My heart is very sorrowful for those who have been caught in the middle of this argument.

Therefore again Michael is at odds with the clear teachings of Jesus Himself as he is searching for scriptures to back up (pretexting) his love for: “The Gap Fact”. I may not continue on because if you don't have enough faith to see the problem here no amount of arguing from the brain is going to convince you as you have chosen to believe something that is at best shaky and at worst a reason to reject clear Biblical teachings about the creation. This heads down a road that is not so different than those who are blinded by the god of this world that believe in the religion of evolution.

Michael is trying to say that angels died as mere men (referring to Lucifer's flood). I want to cry to think of the damage Michael is causing by all these false doctrines. Oh God deliver all that have been caught in this battle and deliver Michael from his arguments against You and stop the flood of this heretical literature! In Jesus' Name.

“children of the most High”

Just reading Michael's booklet you would get the impression that this statement could only apply to angels as they are the sons of God all throughout the Old Testament in the sense they are a direct creation of God not the offspring of an original creation.

But this term is NOT a term that is isolated to the sons of God in fact they are two different Hebrew statements.

Israel gets blasted many times in the Bible for the offenses that God describes in Psalm 82 before they go into captivity under the Babylonians.

“How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:2-4

“But ye shall die like men”

The Bible says Adam (not God or Satan) is the author of death (1 Corinthians 15:21); therefore, no race brought death before Adam’s time. Not until man deliberately rejected the known will of God did death make it’s first appearance on this planet (Romans 5:12).

OTHER ISSUES

The Gap Fact page 2 by Michael Pearl This anti-gap theory is a new doctrine in the church that has come into popularity only in the last 40 years... To not believe in a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:3 is not only contrary to clear Scripture, it is not in keeping with historical positions of both Judaism and Bible-believing Christianity.

History Versus Michael Pearl:

From http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v2/n1/mind-the-gap

In 1814, Dr. Thomas Chalmers, a respected Scottish Presbyterian minister began to advocate the idea of a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. The reason for this was not theological—it was geological. By interpreting the first two verses of Genesis in this way, Dr. Chalmers felt that he could accommodate the views of the geologists of his day who were teaching millions of years, while at the same time maintaining a literal interpretation of the Genesis account of creation.

Michael's Rebuttal to this as he quotes from Augustine.

The Gap Fact page 3-4 by Michael Pearl Furthermore, well before Darwin came along, and before backslidden Christians sought to make time for evolution, Bible believers knew and proclaimed that the earth existed before the six days of Genesis. One example will suffice. Everyone is familiar with 5th century Augustine. He wrote in his Confessions that which was commonly believed in his day. 'Chapter VIII---Heaven and Earth were made “In the beginning;” afterwards the world, during six days, from shapeless matter. For very wonderful is this corporeal heaven; of which firmament between water and water, the second day, after the creation of light, Thous saidst, Let it be made, and it was made. Which firmament Thou calledst heaven; the heaven that is, to this earth and sea, which Thou madest the third day, by giving a visible figure to the formless matter, which Thou madest before all days. For already hadst Thou made both an heaven, before all days; but that was the heaven of this heaven; because In the beginning Thou hadst made heaven and earth. But this same earth which Thou madest was formless matter, because it was invisible and without form, and darkness was upon the deep...' The Jews of old recognized this obvious truth, that the earth was created sometime before Genesis 1:3.

Augustine is known among all serious Bible students to have a few great quotes but some horrible and heretical theology something I am sure Michael Pearl is aware of and has very likely countered Augustine's theology in other writings. I was actually surprised that this serious Bible scholar used Augustine to back this “gap fact”.

Even Augustine is not clearly describing a gap. Michael's attribution to Augustine is as much of a stretch as all his pretexting in the Bible.

I would like to see some solid evidence that the Jews of old believed this “gap fact”. Why is there no references to any Jewish works in Michael's booklet? We have to take Michael's word for it. Something I am not willing to do as “he has fallen in love with the vein”.

The Gap Fact page 4 by Michael Pearl When I open up a commentary, unless it was written in the last thirty five years, I know that it is going to assume the reality of a 'gap'. I went through the ones in my library and all but one recognized the gap. They are: The Critical and Explanatory; The Wycliffe Bible Commentary; Jamieson, Fausset and Brown; and Bible Believer's Commentary. None of them sought to insert evolution into the gap.

This doesn't prove anything. The church has not been free of heresy. In fact much of the church grabbed on to the gap theory because of the false prophet named Darwin.

The Gap Fact page 5 by Michael Pearl Let me be absolutely clear. By believing that the earth existed before the six days of creation and that it was inhabited by angels and cherubim, complete with plants and animals much like it is today, we are not suggesting that the earth is millions of years old or that God needed a great deal of time to bring about creation. The earth may be just ten years older than the six days of remaking. It could be thousand or ten thousand years older. It is probably no more than 100,000 years older, but then that is only a 'scientific' guess by one who is not a scientist. Certainly the earth was created with the appearance of age, no matter how old it is. This author is nothing more than a student of the Bible. The Bible doesn't suggest that the earth is old. It just states that it existed prior to the six days of re-creation.

So much to say but so little clear Bible text to back all his words.

The thing is if you accept this “gap fact” it is no problem for you to step into millions of years or a pre-Adamic race.

The Gap Fact page 7-8 by Michael Pearl Note that on the fourth day (1:14-19) God created the sun and moon. This was after light already existed on the earth from day one. That light did not come from the sun. It came from the stars. Verse sixteen adds an amendment, just to assure us of their origin, '...he made the stars also.' Notice carefully, it does not say, 'and God said let there be stars in the heavens' as it does of the sun and moon. It just informs us that he was also the author of the stars. The stars already existed when the earth was created---long before the six days, for we read, 'Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? ...When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?' (Job 38:4-7).

“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:” - Genesis 1:14

D. James Kennedy had an interesting way to point something out here.

This verse is kind of like an IQ test as four things are mentioned, which one is out of place?

1. Signs – unlike seasons, days years

2. Seasons – like days and years unlike signs

3. Days – like seasons and years unlike signs

4. Years – like seasons and days unlike signs

Signs - are specifically talking about the signs in the stars. Again Michael is at odds with the scripture to “prove” something the Bible simply does not teach. Is it really worth it to call God a liar?

The Gap Fact page 9 by Michael Pearl “Why fight the truth? Why does the Word of God trouble your views? Let's all say it together, “I believe in the gap fact.”

No matter if the whole world says it with you Michael, even if they all say it a million times in a chant it does not make it a fact. This is an embarrassing display of subjective reasoning. God does not ask us to check our brains out at the door when we worship Him. In fact He commands us to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

Conclusion:

After hours and hours of studying the issue. I found NO gap theorist (whether young earth or old earth) who could clearly point out even ONE the following doctrines in plain reading of Bible texts:

Re-creation, Satan's Flood, death and curse before Adam, death of angels etc.

Again, again and again Michael finds himself at odds with the clear teaching of the scripture to back an opinion that is not taught in the Bible.

While reading “The Gap Fact” booklet one is overwhelmed by many gross arrogant statements of Michael Pearl. The Bible is clear in many places that arrogance and pride are all signs of rebellion against God.

“The Gap Fact” is at best a “hypothesis” and does not even qualify to be a “theory”. How much less is it solid unshakable fact as Michael Pearl proclaims. I do not believe Michael has studied all the arguments against his “fact” as he claims to have done, as many of his arguments are easily dismissed. It concerns me a bit because No Greater Joy Ministries has a good women's ministry. But from now on I am going to always be questioning Michael's “facts”.

The Gap "Theory" is nothing more than man's attempt to marry the pagan doctrines of the religion of evolution to the Bible something the Church of Pergamos was known for in Revelation chapter 2. There is instruction on how to remove pagan doctrines from the Church 1) through proper usage of God's Word OR 2) God's sword against you.

This cross-examination of Michael's “Gap Fact” is by no means exhaustive as it became very exhausting to fight someone who calls God a liar at every turn. I simply stopped arguing after page 18. If someone wants me to address any other issues after page 18 let me know and I will publish them one at a time.

Keep in mind the rationalizations for Michael's "gap fact" have been pretty consistent on his part. Any further study of the booklet won't be much different than what has already been discussed. But I will do it as a servant to those who need it.

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” - Acts 17:11