The Gap Principle
Created For His Glory
Is there a principle, in scripture, that God uses previously unrevealed information to teach us something?
Genesis 1:1, 2 (Gap Between verse 1 and 2?)
Is There a gap? Are there other gaps?
This is a controversial topic, but it deals with rebellion and has nothing to do with evolution. I do not believe in biological, geological evolution. This is not about evolution or death of a pre-Adamic race of people, nor to answer questions about dinosaurs.
Does God use information revealed later to help place information “gaps”? Yes
Does believing in the “gap” mean you believe in death before Adam or evolution? No
2 Corinthians 4:6 - Subsequent Revelation Narrative Information - Intercalation
The Bible is a story of restoration using “new” things.
Creation testifies to a glorious purpose.
Why would the earth be without form and void? God put Adam in a finished work.
It was not a progressive development. All other objects (Sun, Adam, Trees, animals, etc) were created spontaneously, instantaneously in a fully formed developed state. Fully formed capacity to glorify God.
Why is the earth covered in water? - Amos 9:6 Judgment using water.
Genesis 1:1 God created the heaven and earth, notice it does not say hell there.
Genesis 1:2 The earth was without form and void.
If we can see there is information to explain a gap, we can see there must be a gap.
Are there other gaps that we know exist?
There are gaps between verses.
Psalm 2:6-9 (:7 Resurrection
(:8, 9 2nd Coming
Psalm 22:21, 22 (:21 Suffers on Cross
(:22-31 Millennial Kingdom - Hebrews 2:12 quotes verse 22
Daniel 2:18-47 = Times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24, Romans 11:25
Daniel is given a “secret” (Daniel 2:30) about Gentile Dominion between the Babylonian captivity and the kingdom. Vision is given to a Gentile, the interpretation is given to a Jew.
Daniel 2:32 = Past
GAP
:33 = Future (Anti-Christ
:39 = Past
GAP
:40 = Future
Daniel 7:6 = Past
GAP
:7 = Future
Daniel 8:8 = Past
GAP
:9 = Future
:22 = Past
GAP
:23 Future
Daniel 9:26 = Messiah Cut off =
GAP
:26 = People of the Prince = Antichrist
Daniel 11:4 = Past
GAP
:5 = Future
Isaiah 40:3 = John the Baptist
GAP
:4 = Kingdom
Isaiah 61:1, 2 (Luke 4:17-19 Gap within the same verse.
:2 = Acceptable year of the Lord = 1st Coming
GAP (DELAY)
:2 = And the day of vengeance = 2nd Coming
Matthew 13: “Mysteries of the Kingdom”
Jesus reveals details (Mysteries) about the end times, the delay of the Kingdom
Prepares His disciples for his absence.
Greatest Gap of all = Dispensation of Grace
1 Corinthians 2:7
Ephesians 3:9
2 Timothy 1:2
Romans 16:25-27
Colossians 1:25-29
Are there other gaps? Yes! This is something God has done throughout scripture. Those of us in Mid-Acts dispenstaionalism should have the clearest understanding of the gap principle. Not only should we know it, but we should be able to teach it and defend it.
Daniel 9:24-27
Here we have Gabriel reveal a timeline to Daniel concerning the people of Israel and the city. There are seventy (70) weeks of seven (7) years epr week.
Daniel 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself … This is a reference to the crucifixion. Timing word (AFTER) the 69th week, Jesus Christ will be crucified. That creates a gap before the crucifixion. The 69th week ends and then “after” that, Messiah is cut off. The crucifixion takes place in a gap of time created by the revelation of this information from Gabriel. So, from before the crucifixion (triumphal entry) we have a gap of time. The extended year from Acts 1 -7 takes place in this gap and so does the dispensation of grace. Then the people of the prince that shall come.
Seven weeks - Sixty-two weeks - (Cross - One year extension - (Dispensation of Grace)) Seventieth week.
God created a gap after the 69th week and before the 70th week. Then created a gap within that gap called the Dispensation of the grace of God.
This brings us to the issue of rebellion or fall. Where does the Bible prove there was a fall? This is the key issue we are really studying. When was the fall of Lucifer? Did he fall? Yes! When?
Create - Fall happens based on the free will of Lucifer and the angels that followed him.
Exodus 19:5, Isaiah 45:17, 18, Ezekiel 36:21-26 Possessor of heaven and earth Genesis 14:19, 22 God is not finished with Israel on the earth.
Numbers 14:21, Isaiah 11:9 Glory in earth, knowledge.
Genesis 1:1 God created the heaven and earth for His glory.
Luke 10:18 Satan, not Lucifer. His name is no longer Lucifer.(2 Peter 2:4 - Angels chose, of their own volition to sin.
When? Jude 6, 7
Genesis 6
John 8:44
Angels can and did fall - they were not created in that state.
Yes, Lucifer fell along with other angles. He, nor man, was created in a fallen state. We have had people ask why did God create Satan? He did not. He created Lucifer and he fell and became Satan.
We know there was a “fall” = Neither Satan nor man was created in a fallen state.
Lucifer was created as the Son of the Morning with Brightness, then he was corrupted and polluted by the sin of pride
When did the rebellion take place?
Before Genesis 1:1 = Weak = Job 38:7 All of the sons of God shouted for joy
During the “6 days” = before Genesis 3 Can we move it back before Genesis 3?
Genesis 1:1 H/E (Bible is written for man's benefit not Satan.
Isaiah 14:12-15
Ezekiel 28:12-18
God’s creation was fully formed with the capacity to glorify God. Lucifer fell because of pride, then he fell. Man fell because Eve was beguiled due to ignorance and Adam chose to sin. God shows mercy and longsuffering Gene 3:13, Numbers 25:18, Joshua 9:22, 2 Corinthians 11:3, Acts 3:17, 17:30, Ephesians 4:18
Layout of the Heavens and Earth
Heaven Revelation 12:7-9
Heaven Job 4:18-19, 15:15, 16, 25:5, 6
Earth Genesis 1:2, 3
Darkness and without form - language associated with judgment and wrath.
Matthew 25:30, 2 Peter 2:17, Revelation 16:10-11, Job 5:13, 14, Isaiah 5:30, Deuteronomy 28:28, 29, Nahum 1:8, Joel 2:31
How did God create darkness?
Judgment - Isaiah 45:7, 12 Christ on the cross Matth 27:45
Without Form = Jeremiah 4:23-26, Isaiah 45:18 (Wrath) Darkness = Deep = Water - No Light Psalm 22:6, Job 25:6, Isaiah 41:14, Mark 9:44, 46, 48
Genesis 1:6-8
2 Peter 3:5-7
Job 38:1-11, 29-30, 9:7-9
Sea = Revelation 20:11, 21:1, 2
Job 26:5-13
Amos 5:8, 9:1-6
Isaiah 27:1
Ezekiel 32:2
Proverbs 8:22-31
Isaiah 24:18
Earth/Mt Zion
Psalm 132:13-14, 78:59, 125:1, *68:16
John 1:1-5, 1 John 1:5
Christ on the cross - Psalm 22
Light of His Presence - Psalm 104 - Clothed with a garment of light.
Water hasted away (quickly) not 150 days like in Noah’s day.
Light of Darkness - Genesis 1:1-5 (Not celestial = 1:14-19
Darkness = Battleplan
Light = God’s Response
Use of man to give dominion and crown Psalm 8:5
2 Corinthians 4:6 (:3-8) = New beginning - new plan exposed
Just as God’s answer in Genesis 1:1
New Creation - Adam = Earth
Body of Christ = Heaven
Greatest Gap - Dispensation of Grace
Isaiah 24:21
Lord draws Satan to battle on the earth
Joshua 8:20, 21
Judges 20:38, 40
Original - Revelation 4:1 Restored Revelation 21:1
Romans 8:22 (:20 God in wisdom cursed
Genesis 1:1 God created the earth.
Genesis 1:2 The earth is covered with water. God poured water out onto the earth to cover it and into the universe to fill it.
Genesis 1:3-5 God said, Let there Light. There was no place from whence the Light came. The Light shown in darkness, in spite of darkness. Evening and Morning were the first day and the light was called “good”.
Genesis 1:6-8 God created the firmament which separated the waters from the waters.
There are waters under the firmament and above the firmament. Evening and Morning were the second day. The only day that God does not say that everything is good.
The water is separated instantly not gradually like the flood with Noah. It took 157 days for the water to recede after Noah’s flood. Genesis 8:3, 5, 13.
There is no more sea after Revelation 21:1 Job 9:8, 9
Amos 9:6 Judgment 38:30-33
Amos 5:6-8, 13 Judgment
Reference to cosmic activity
Job 38:1-11 “decree” “place” Psalm 132:13, 14
Psalm 104:1-7 Fled - Hasted away 78:69
Job 26:5-13 125:1
Psalm 148:4 68:16
Isaiah 27:1, 24:18 / Ezekiel 32:2 / Proverbs 8:22-31
Darkness - Judgment
Water - Genesis 1:2, Exodus 15:4, Hell
God created man out of dust of the earth.
Evolution says man came from the water.
Where did the swine go when Jesus cast them out Matthew 8:30-32
Luke 8:33 Lake (5:1
Luke 16:19-28
Genesis 1:1
Genesis 1:2 Dark on Face, no light
Isaiah 45:7 = Darkness is the absence of light, cold is the absence of heat.
Darkness = Why?
The Glory of the Gap
The Waves
Psalm 33:6, 7 “Storehouses” - Waves gathered Job 9:8
Held in reserve as an armory
Job 38:22, 23, 38:8-10, 29-32
Cosmic Sea - No more Sea = Revelation 21:1, Genesis 1:1, Job 38:8-10, 29-32, 9:8-10, Amos 9:1-6, 5:6-8