Determining the Date of Day 2
Day 2 is the day when God separated the waters above from the waters below. The implication is that there was a time when the waters in the sky were connected to the ocean. God then removed that connection, creating a discernable space where there wasn’t one. The question is whether there ever was such a time that can be established scientifcally. The answer is yes.
It is generally believed among the scientific community that the oceans were first created when the clouds became overly saturated with water that had outgassed from a combination of meteor strikes and volcanic activity during the formation of the earth’s crust. Combined with the cooling effects of the atmospheric moisture, there ensued a deluge of water that rained nonstop for a time spanning anywhere from thousands to millions of years. This rain was more than just a storm; it was a world-changing event, during which there was no separation between the world-wide ocean and the clouds that could be discerned. It describes the perfect setting for Day 2 of creation. And just as the Genesis recording of Day 2 implies, that rain stopped and left a firmament separating the waters below (the ocean) from the waters above (clouds). But, even after establishing that there was a time in the past matching the events of Day 2, dating it is a more difficult task.
Before the discovery of 4.4 billion year old zircon crystals, it was thought that the ocean formation described above occurred about 3.7 to 3.9 billion years ago (Ga), which is right after the earth stopped experiencing meteor strikes that once prevented the earth from having a light sky. But, the zircon crystals tell us that that the initial ocean formation happened 500 million years prior. Does that mean Day 2 happened 4.4 Ga? Well, I’ve already suggested that Day 1 happened 3.9 Ga, so I either have to abandon the historicity of the Genesis sequence or find another event similar to the formation of the ocean. Thankfully science provides us with such an event… the re-formation of the ocean.
As a result of the final large meteor strike that occurred 3.9 Ga, it is believed that much (if not all) of the ocean was vaporized. The impact would also have raised the temperature enough to keep the water vaporized for quite some time. Eventually, with more time and outgassing, the temparature fell enough to finally rain down all of the water to reform the oceans. Eventually, this rain ended. It is the Geocreationist view that this is in fact Day 2.
But, what’s the date?
If Day 1 was 3.9 Ga, and life first fossilized 3.85 Ga (Algae in Greenland), then the date should fall somewhere between there.
January 2nd, 2007 at 12:21 pm
[…] geocreationism.com Geo-Creationism - Showing harmony between mainstream science and scripture « Determining the Date of Day 2 […]
January 24th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
I am been having a wonderful time studying your views. I am not even close to being done. Thank you for your efforts. Naturally, I still have a ‘few’ questions . . .
The idea of the Holy Spirit choosing to move to the other side of the earth to experience the day is still difficult for me to grasp. The Holy Spirit is spirit (duh!). He is everywhere at once if I understand the concept of omnipresence. Now, much greater minds than mine have been wrestling with Genesis for thousands of years. Nevertheless, what about this?
Daniel’s 70 weeks clearly have a ‘gap’ between weeks 69 and 70. I am sure that many would shudder at the use of the word ‘clear’ in this context. Let me just say it is clear to me. When God spoke to Daniel, He chose not to mention the gap. Could this be the message of the creation week with the days that are called out actually being 24 hour days that were spaced in time quite a bit? Forgive me if this is just one of the many explanations that others have already shot down. It’s new for me.
One more thing and then I’ll stop bothering you. Most of the English translations have God ’separating’ the light and darkness in Genesis 1:4. The word that is translated as ’separate’ may also be translated as ‘distinguish.’ A literal translation of the words in the verse could be “and distinguished - God - between - light - and between - darkness.” The very next set of words has God naming the light and darkness. Having defined for us what constitutes a day/night, God could now start the count by calling out the first 24 hour day of the creation week. Could it be that Scripture is interpreting Scripture here by telling us how God distinguished, by naming, light and darkness, day and night, for us?
January 25th, 2007 at 12:23 am
Dave,
> I am been having a wonderful time studying your views.
Wow. Thanks!
I thought your questions were excellent, and that the response was of general interest. I have therefore posted my response as my latest blog entry, here: http://geocreationism.com/2007/01/25/the-holy-spirits-omnipresence-and-the-first-day-of-creation/
July 29th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
[…] Recalling our Creation Time Line, Day 1 occurred 3.9 Ga, and Day 2 shortly after. Day 3 didn’t occur until 2.4 Ga, and so we see that the first life forms were appeared some time during Day 2, or overnight between Days 2 and 3. […]
July 29th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
[…] Recalling our Creation Time Line, Day 1 occurred 3.9 Ga, and Day 2 shortly after. Day 3 didn’t occur until 2.4 Ga, and so we see that the first life forms appeared some time during Day 2, or perhaps overnight between Days 2 and 3. […]