Blog

by John Holbrook Jr.
A Biblical View, Blog #036 posted March 13, 2017, edited March 9, 2021.

In my blog of February 20, 2017, I commenced a four-part series on natural history in the Bible. The first two parts were devoted to a discussion of the cosmology in Genesis 1:1 – 2:4, which  I call the Creation Chronicle. The third part was devoted to a discussion of D. Russell Humphreys’ cosmological theory, which accounts for the events in that chronicle. This fourth part will be devoted to how the geologic column might fit into a 6,000 year history of the earth.

The geologic column was developed by geologists who were committed to the theory that the earth is millions (later hundreds of millions and still later billions) of years old.  Consequently, they believed that the geologic strata were laid down over long periods of time, and they associated them with time periods and gave them names like eon, era, period, epoch, and age. I believe, however, that the Biblical record is accurate, that the earth is 6,000 years old, and that the geologic strata were laid down in relatively brief periods of time by cataclysms that divided those 6,000 years into eras and sub-eras, depending on the severity of the cataclysms involved. Thus, with the exception of the Ice Ages, I associate the geologic strata with events, not with the time periods between the events.

Suggesting that the age of Universe needs to be reduced from 20 billion years to 6,000 years may raise some questions about my sanity, but I do so nonetheless. First of all, I believe that the Word of God is trustworthy. Second, there are already serious questions about the dating methodologies by which cosmologists and geologists base their estimates of age, and I expect that we are about to see precipitous drops in their figures.

3977 BC – CREATION WEEK  – See last week’s blog. I only need to add one thing. On the third day, God created the lithosphere, the upper portion of which probably consists of the HADEAN, ARCHEAN, and first two phases of the PROTEROZOIC STRATA (i.e. the PALEO-PROTEROZOIC & MESO-PROTEROZOIC STRATA).[1]

It was followed by

ERA 1 – THE EDENIC WORLD (3977-3977 BC = less than a year) = the Ancients’ Primordial Age. Decay, disease, and death had not yet entered Universe. It was ended by

3977 BC – THE ADAM DISTURBANCE – a universal cataclysm, which was caused by God’s Curse on Creation – In the year of Adam’s creation, at the time of the Fall, God changed the fabric of Universe, after which all things became subject to disorder and decay and plant and animal life became subject to disease and death (all effects that are captured in the 2^nd Law of Thermodynamics). It probably laid down the NEO-PROTEROZOIC STRATA,[2] which contains the remains of plant and animal life.[3] It was followed by

ERA 2 – THE ANTEDILUVIAN WORLD (3977-2321 BC = 1656 years) = the Ancients’ Golden Age. It was ended by

2321 BC – THE NOAH DISTURBANCE – a global cataclysm which is also called Noah’s Flood  – When Noah was 600 years old, torrential downpours from the sky and profuse up-gushing from subterranean reservoirs covered the land with water and drowned all men, animals, and birds with the exception of the passengers on the Ark. It probably laid down the entire PALEOZOIC STRATA.[4] Earth was covered by water from two sources: the precipitation of a vapor canopy above and the up-gushing of geysers from below. Rising water trapped life in the following order: In the (1) CAMBRIAN STRATA and (2) ORDOVICIAN STRATA, invertebrates dwelling on the ocean bottom were engulfed by sub-marine mud flows, magmas, and precipitating limestone from carbon-dioxide rich waters. In the (3) SILURIAN STRATA, free-swimming fish living near shorelines were over-whelmed by eroding material and rising waters. In the (4) DEVONIAN STRATA, large, free-swimming fish and shoreline plants were overwhelmed by eroding material and rising waters. In the (5) CARBONIFEROUS/ MISSISSIPPI STRATA and (6) CARBONIFEROUS/ PENNSYLVANIAN STRATA, land plants were overwhelmed by eroding material and rising waters. In the (7) PERMIAN STRATA, amphibians were over-whelmed by eroding material and rising waters. All other species fled to high ground, but were eventually drowned, leaving no traces.[5]  It was followed by

ERA 3 – POSTDILUVIAN WORLD (2321-1464 BC = 857 years), the first phase of which was
—Phase 3A of the Postdiluvian World (2321-1870 BC = 451 years) = the Ancients’ Silver Age, the first period of which was
——-Period 3A(1) – The Initial Settlement and Migrations (2321-2221 BC = 100 years). The drier, warmer climate favored “primitive” plants and reptiles and suppressed more efficient “modern” plants and mammals. It was ended by

2221 BC – THE PELEG DISTURBANCE – a global cataclysm which caused the Division of the Land – When Peleg was in his mother’s womb, a tectonic upheaval broke up the single land mass into the continents and major islands that exist today. The disturbance probably laid down most of the EARLY TRIASSIC STRATA.[6] It was followed by

——-Period 3A(2) – The Rise of Babylon (2221-2070 BC = 151 years) – It was ended by

2070 BC – THE BABEL DISTURBANCE – a cataclysm which caused the Confusion of Language and the Destruction of the Tower of Babel – A blast from heaven confounded the Babylonians’ ability to speak in a common language, destroyed the tower of Babylon, and probably devastated much of the surrounding region. The disturbance probably laid down the MIDDLE AND LATE TRIASSIC STRATAS. [7] It was followed by

——–Period 3A(3) – The Rise of Civilizations (2070-1870 BC = 200 years) – It was ended by

1870 BC – THE ABRAHAM DISTURBANCE – a global cataclysm, which caused the Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah – When Abraham was 99 years old, a thunderbolt or volcanic explosion destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, eliminated the Vale of Siddim, and caused the African Rift or its greater expansion. The disturbance probably laid down the entire JURASSIC STRATA. [8] It was followed by

—Phase 3B of the Postdiluvian World (1870-1464 BC = 406 years) = The Ancients’ Bronze Age = the archaeologists’ Early Bronze Age, the first period of which was
——Period 3B(1)– The Pre-Job Period (1870-1667 BC = 203 years) – the archaeologists’ Early Bronze Age 1A. It was ended by

1667 BC – THE JOB DISTURBANCE – a regional cataclysm which caused Job’s First Trial – Job’s children died amidst raining fire, wind, and earthquakes. The disturbance probably laid down the entire CRETACEOUS STRATA.[9] It was followed by

——Period 3B(2) – The Post-Job Period (1667-1464 BC = 203 years) – the archaeologists’s Early Bronze Age 1B. It was ended by

1464 BC – THE MOSES DISTURBANCE (Venus Contact #1) – a global cataclysm, which terminated the Middle Kingdom of Egypt – When Moses was 80 years old, the comet Venus approached the earth after its perihelion. Its tail, which was repulsed by the sun, preceded it and engaged the earth first with dust, then pebbles, then boulders, and then heat from the molten comet, which together produced the ten plagues of Egypt which are described in both the Bible and the Papyrus Ipuwer. The disturbance culminated in a contact between the space charge sheaths of the two bodies (Earth and Venus), which remained intertwined for approximately six weeks. The disturbance enabled the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt, created a whirlwind or tornado which appeared as a Pillar of Cloud by day and a Pillar of Fire by night and accompanied the Jews on their journey down the southeast coast of the Sinai Peninsula, parted the Red Sea at the Strait of Tiran, enabling the Jews to cross from the Sinai Peninsula to Midian, and then reunited the waters, thereby drowning the last pharaoh of the 13^th Dynasty and his army. The disturbance probably laid down the entire TERTIARY STRATA.[10] This cosmic encounter also caused tremendous volcanic activity, which enveloped the earth in a dense cloud layer that prevented normal insolation for years. The lack of warming sunlight precipitated the 1^ST NEBRASKAN = GUNZ ICE ADVANCE.  It was followed by

ERA 4 – THE TURBULENT ERA[11] (1464- 665 BC = 799 years) = the Pleistocene Period (JH), better known as the Ice Ages, the first phase of which was
—Phase 4A of the Turbulent Era = The Reign of Venus (1464-c. 1008 BC = 456 years) = the Early Pleistocene Epoch (JH) = the Ancients’ Missing Age = the archaeologists’ Middle Bronze Age, the first period of which was
——Period 4A(1) (1464-1413 BC = 51 years) = Ice Age 1. As the volcanic ash slowly precipitated out of the atmosphere and insolation increased, the 1^ST NEBRASKAN = GUNZ ICE ADVANCE gave way to the 1^ST AFTONIAN ICE RETREAT. It was ended by

1413 BC – THE JOSHUA DISTURBANCE (Venus Contact #2) – a global cataclysm which occurred during the battle between the Israelites and the Amorites at Beth Horon – Meteorites fell on the battlefield. Either the earth’s axis shifted or the earth’s rotation ceased, causing the Sun to stand still in the sky and thereby prolonging the day in the Middle East and the night in the Americas. This cosmic encounter caused tremendous volcanic activity, which enveloped the earth in a dense cloud layer that prevented normal insolation for years. The lack of warming sunlight precipitated the 2nd NEBRASKAN = GUNZ  ICE ADVANCE. It was followed by

 ——Period 4A(2) (1413-1261 BC =  152 years) = Ice Age 2. As the volcanic ash slowly precipitated out of the atmosphere and insolation increased, the 2nd NEBRASKAN = GUNZ  ICE ADVANCE gave way to the 2nd AFTONIAN ICE RETREAT. During this period, the comet passed closely by the earth c. 1363 and c. 1312 BC, but there is no record of encounters on these dates. It was ended by

1261 BC – THE DEBORAH DISTURBANCE (Venus Contact #3) – a global cataclysm in which the stars fought, and flooding rains discomfited Sisera’s army. This cosmic encounter caused tremendous volcanic activity, which enveloped the earth in a dense cloud layer that prevented normal insolation for years. The lack of warming sunlight precipitated the KANSAN = MINDEL ICE ADVANCE. It was followed by

——Period 4A(3) (1261-1058 BC = 203 years = Ice Age 3. As the volcanic ash precipitated out of the atmosphere and insolation increased, the KANSAN = MINDEL ICE ADVANCE gave way to the YARMOUTH ICE RETREAT. During this period, the comet passed closely by the earth c. 1210, c. 1160 BC, and c. 1109 BC, but there is no record of encounters on these dates. It was ended by

1058 BC – THE SAMUEL DISTURBANCE (Venus Contact #4) – a cataclysm in which meteorites fell on the Philistines, accompanied by a great thundering in the sky. This cosmic encounter caused tremendous volcanic activity, which enveloped the earth in a dense cloud layer that prevented normal insolation for years. The lack of warming sunlight precipitated the ILLINOSIAN = RISS ICE ADVANCE. It was followed by

——Period 4A(4) (1058-1008 BC = 50 years) – Ice Age 4. As the volcanic ash precipitated out of the atmosphere and insolation increased, the ILLINOSIAN = RISS ICE ADVANCE gave way to the SANGAMON ICE RETREAT. It was ended by

1008 BC – THE DAVID DISTURBANCE – a global cataclysm which was caused by Venus Contact #5 – In David’s time, an angel (comet or planet?) nearly destroyed Jerusalem. The cosmic encounter caused tremendous volcanic activity, which enveloped the earth in a dense cloud layer that prevented normal insolation for years. The lack of warming sunlight precipitated the IOWAN ICE ADVANCE. It was followed by

—Phase 4B of the Turbulent Era = War in the Sky (1008-754 BC = 254 years) = the Middle Pleistocene Epoch (JH) = the Ancients’ Heroic Age = the Mycenaean Age. During this phase, the comet returned five times and participated in three cosmic battles involving it, Mars, and the moon. It was divided into three periods, the first of which was
——Period 4B(1) (1008-957 BC = 51 years) = Ice Age 5. As the volcanic ash precipitated out of the atmosphere and insolation increased, the IOWAN ICE ADVANCE gave way to the POST-IOWAN ICE RETREAT that lasted throughout this phase and into the next. It was ended by

957 BC – THE SOLOMON DISTURBANCE (Cosmic Battle #1) – In Solomon 24, the comet returned to the vicinity of earth and produced a battle in the sky involving it, Mars, and the moon. If this event affected the earth, its consequences were minor. It was followed by

——Period 4B(2) (957-855 BC = 102 years) = Continuation of Ice Age 5. As the volcanic ash continued to precipitate out of the atmosphere and insolation increased, the POST-IOWAN ICE RETREAT continued. This period was ended by

855 BC – THE JEHORAM DISTURBANCE (Cosmic Battle #2) – In Jehoram 7 and Akhnaton 6, the comet returned again to the vicinity of earth and produced a battle in the sky involving it, Mars, and the moon. Although the Bible does not record any ill effects associated with it, it was probably the cause of the plague or other affliction that struck Egypt and caused the oracles to maintain that an unacknowledged and un-atoned for patricide existed in the land. It was followed by

——Period 4B(3) (855-754 BC = 101 years) = Continuation of Ice Age 5. As the volcanic ash continued to precipitate out of the atmosphere and insolation increased, the POST-IOWAN ICE RETREAT continued. This period was ended by

754 BC – THE AZARIAH DISTURBANCE (Cosmic Battle #3) – In Azariah (Uzziah) 24, the comet returned again to the vicinity of earth and produced a battle in the sky involving it, Mars, and the moon that propelled it (Venus) into its current orbit (the ancients believed that Mars had vanquished Venus). The disturbance was also known as the Commotion in the Days of Uzziah. It probably included a titanic earthquake that affected the entire Middle East and a blast from heaven (a celestial thunderbolt, not a terrestrial lightning bolt) that struck in Italy near Vosnium. It was followed by

—Phase 4C of The Turbulent Era – The Reign of Mars (754-665 BC = 89 years) = the Late Pleistocene Epoch (JH) = the Ancients’ Iron Age = the Early Archaic Period, which was divided into three periods, the first of which was
——Period 4C(1) (c.754-695 BC = 59 years BC) = Continuation of Ice Age 5. During this period, as the volcanic ash continued to precipitate out of the atmosphere and insolation increased, the POST-IOWAN ICE RETREAT continued. Also during this period, Mars passed close by the earth c. 740, c. 724, and c. 709 BC, but there is no record of encounters on these dates. It was ended by

 695 BC – THE AHAZ DISTURBANCE (Mars Contact #1) – In a global cataclysm in Ahaz’s regnal year 15/16, the day on which Ahaz died, the day was shortened by ten degrees on the sundial. This cosmic encounter caused tremendous volcanic activity, which enveloped the earth in a dense cloud layer that prevented normal insolation for years. The lack of warming sunlight precipitated the TAZEWELL ICE ADVANCE. It was followed by

 ——Period 4C(2) (695-680 BC = 15 years BC) = Ice Age 6, during which, as the volcanic ash precipitated out of the atmosphere and insolation increased, the TAZEWELL ICE ADVANCE gave way to the POST-TAZEWELL ICE RETREAT. It was ended by

680 BC – THE 1^ST HEZEKIAH DISTURBANCE (Mars Contact #2 ) – In a global cataclysm in Hezekiah’s regnal year 14, the day was lengthened by ten degrees on the sundial, thereby correcting the previous displacement. This cosmic encounter caused tremendous volcanic activity, which enveloped the earth in a dense cloud layer that prevented normal insolation for years. The lack of warming sunlight precipitated the CAREY ICE ADVANCE. It was followed by

——Period 4C(3) (680-665 BC = 15 years) = Ice Age 7. As the volcanic ash precipitated out of the atmosphere and insolation increased, the CAREY ICE ADVANCE gave way to the POST-CAREY ICE RETREAT. It was ended by           

665 BC – THE 2^ND HEZEKIAH DISTURBANCE (Mars Contact #3) – In a global cataclysm in Hezekiah’s regnal year 29, a thunderbolt emanating from Mars destroyed the Army of Sennacherib during the night. This cosmic encounter caused tremendous volcanic activity, which enveloped the earth in a dense cloud layer that prevented normal insolation for years. The lack of warming sunlight precipitated the MANKETO ICE ADVANCE. It was followed by

ERA 5 – THE EARLY HISTORIC WORLD (665-2 BC) which I divide into four non-temporal parts: Part 5A–The Occident, Part 5B–The Middle East, Part 5C–The Orient, and Part 5D-Sacred History.[12]
—Part 5B – The Middle East, which was divided into four minor periods: 5B(1)-Late Archaic Period, 5B(2)-Classical Period,  5B(3)-Hellenistic Period, and 5B(4)- Roman Period BC.
——Period 5B(1) – Late Archaic Period (665-487 BC), which began with Ice Age 8. As the volcanic ash precipitated out of the atmosphere and insolation increased, the MANKETO ICE ADVANCE gave way to the BOREAL ICE RETREAT. When temperatures returned to normal at the end of the Boreal Ice Retreat, probably decades after the 2^nd Hezekiah Disturbance, the Late Pleistocene Epoch (JH) ended and the Holocene Period (JH) began with the Atlantic Epoch (JH).[13]  

© 2016 John Holbrook Jr.

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[1] These strata are associated with the Hadean Eon, Archean Eon, and Proterozoic Eon, which together comprise the Pre-Cambrian Super-eon (formerly called the Cryptozoic Eon) in the orthodox geologic column, about which geologists know very little. The reason, of course, is that the severity of the global flood in 2321 BC, which followed 1656 years after creation in 3977 BC, erased most of what had existed during prior to it, and the global cataclysm at the time of the Exodus in 1464 BC, which followed 857years after the flood, further confused the geologic record.

[2] These strata are associated with the third and final phase of the Proterozoic Eon in the orthodox geologic column.

[3] The end of the Antediluvian Era marked the end of the Primary System, which was called the Azoic, the Cryptozoic, and the Pre-Cambrian in the early years of geologic study.

[4] These strata are associated with the first phase of the Phanerozoic Eon in the orthodox geologic column.

[5] See Setterfield, Barry, Geologic Time and Scriptural Chronology, Barry Setterfield, Blackwood Australia, 1987.

[6] These strata are associated with the first phase of the Triassic Period, which is the first phase of the Mesozoic Era, which is the second phase of the Phanerozoic Eon in the orthodox geologic column.

[7] These strata are associated with the second and third phases of the Triassic Period, which is the first phase of the Mesozoic Era, which is the second phase of the Phanerozoic Eon in the orthodox geologic column.

[8] These strata are associated with the second phase of the Mesozoic Era, which is the second phase of the Phanerozoic Eon in the orthodox geologic column..

[9] These strata are associated with the third and final phase of the Mesozoic Era, which is the second phase of the Phanerozoic Eon in the orthodox geologic column.

[10] The Tertiary Period was the first phase of the Cenozoic Era, which was the third phase of the Paleozoic Era, which was the first phase of the Phanerozoic Eon in the orthodox geologic column. It contained the 1-Paleogene/Paleocene Epoch, 2-Paleogene/Eocene Epoch, 3-paleogene/Oliogocene Epoch, 4-Neocene/Miocene Epoch, and 5-Neogene/Pliocene Epoch. It also began the 1^st Nebraska=Gunz Ice Advance.

[11] This era probably encompasses the entire PLEISTOCENE EPOCH, which was the first phase of the Quaternary Period, which is the third phase of the Cenozoic Era, which is the third phase of the Phanerozoic Eon.

[12] Era 5 – The Early Historic World is followed by Era 6 – The Late Historic World (2 BC – present), but the latter does not figure in this hypothesis.

[13] I consider the Holocene to be period 4 of the Cenozoic era, of which the Atlantic is its first epoch, because I believe that the cause of the ice ages, close encounters among the inner planets, ceased in 665 BC and the Boreal Ice Retreat brought the Quaternay=Pleistocene Period to an end.

by John Holbrook Jr.
A Biblical View, Blog #035 posted March 06, 2017, edited March 9, 2021.

In my blog of February 20, 2017, I commenced a four-part series on natural history in the Bible. The first two parts were devoted to a discussion of the cosmology in Genesis 1:1 – 2:4, which  I call the Creation Chronicle. This third part will be devoted to a discussion of D. Russell Humphreys’ cosmological theory, which accounts for the events in that chronicle.

Preamble

Any cosmological theory purporting to explain the biblical account of creation must meet certain criteria:

→ The theory must allow for something without form or substance – i.e. primordial chaos – appearing ex nihilo – i.e. out of nothing.

→ The theory must allow for this something becoming impressed with structure that determines first what is possible within it, then what is probable within it, and finally, what is first actual within it – i.e. Universe.[1]

→ The theory must allow for Universe becoming a sphere which consisted of a giant globe of water at Universe’s center and a spherical shell – i.e. 2^nd heaven – of unknown composition above and surrounding it.

→ The theory must account for the giant globe of water being divided into three parts; (1) a small globe of water – i.e. a watery earth – at Universe’s center, (2) an intermediate, spherical shell of water – i.e. the firmament or 1^st heaven – above and surrounding the watery earth, and (3) an outer spherical shell of water – i.e. the upper waters – above and surrounding the firmament.

→ The theory must account for the watery earth being divided into three parts: (1) a solid globe of minerals – the land – at its center; (2) a spherical shell of water – i.e. the sea – above and surrounding the land, and (3) a spherical shell of air – i.e. the atmosphere – above and surrounding the sea.

→ The theory must account for the interface between the land and the sea being adjusted so that the surface of the earth consists of a single continent surrounded by the sea.

→ The theory must account for the firmament being vastly expanded and populated with astronomical bodies and objects, starting with the sun and the moon.

→ The theory must account for all of the above occurring within a period of six 24-hour earth days roughly 6,000 earth years ago.

The resulting spatial organization of Universe would be the following: (1) the earth at its center, (2) interstellar space – the 1^st heaven – above and surrounding the earth, (3) the upper waters above and surrounding the 1^st heaven, and (4) the 2^nd heaven above and surrounding the upper waters. The outer limit of the 2^nd heaven would be the boundary of Universe. [2]

Humphreys’ Theory

The only cosmological theory that satisfies the above criteria, which I have found, is the one developed by D. Russell Humphreys which he describes in his book, Starlight and Time.[3]

Introduction

Humphreys starts by asserting that scientists today generally agree that Einstein’s General Relativity Theory (GRT) “…has been well-established experimentally and is the physical framework for all modern cosmologies.”[4]

One characteristic of GRT is something called gravitational time dilation (not to be confused with the better known “velocity” time dilation in Einstein’s Special Relativity Theory [5]). Gravitational time dilation predicts that clocks at low altitudes tick more slowly than clocks at high altitude. It has been confirmed by many scientific measurements.

Humphreys examines the application of GRT to the cosmological problem. Four possible scenarios emerge. If Universe is unbounded (Condition A) – i.e. it has no outer boundary; it is spatially “infinite” – there are two alternatives: a big contraction (Scenario A1) in which Universe is collapsing into a Black Hole[6] or a big expansion (Scenario A2) which must have commenced with a Big Bang. If Universe is bounded (Condition B) – i.e. it has an outer boundary; it is spatially finite – there are also two alternatives:  a big contraction (Scenario B1) in which Universe is collapsing into a Black Hole or a big expansion (Scenario B2) in which Universe is moving out of an event horizon [7] (Scenario B2 is the reverse process to Scenario B1; Humphreys calls Scenario B2  “White Hole” cosmology).

Observations have established – at least to Humphreys’ satisfaction – that Universe is currently expanding. Distant astronomical objects appear to be receding from the earth. That would appear to eliminate scenarios A1 and B1.

Now, any cosmological theory purporting to explain the biblical account of creation must account for the vast dimensions of interstellar space, which cannot have been traversed by the astronomical bodies and objects within it during a time period of 6,000 earth years at the currently accepted maximum speed in Universe – the speed of light.[8] Interestingly, in an expanding Universe (Condition B), GRT implies that, in early Universe, while a few days were passing on earth, billions of years would have been available for light to travel to the earth from distant stars.[9] The two frames of reference (earth and interstellar space) must be measured by different clocks.

That brings us to the choice between an unbounded Universe (Condition A), with its expanding Universe (Scenario A2) and a bounded Universe (Condition B), with its expanding Universe (Scenario B2).

Humphreys points out that current advocates of the Big Bang Theory assume that Universe is unbounded – i.e. spatially “infinite;” an immortal voyager could travel in any direction “forever” – and they call their assumption the cosmological principle. Humphreys insists that this assumption is arbitrary. He suggests, however, some plausible psychological reasons for it. First, atheistic materialists are uncomfortable with a finite Universe because it would create an opening for asking the question, What or – even more disturbing – who might exist outside Universe? [10] Second, atheistic materialists are uncomfortable with a center because, if it turned out that the earth lies near it, that would imply something special about the earth and its inhabitants and create an opening for asking the questions Why? and Who put the earth there? [11]

So, Humphreys argues, Universe can be just as reasonably be considered bounded – i.e. spatially finite – with a center. In a bounded Universe, it would have a center of mass and be subject to the time-distorting effects of gravity on a massive scale.

A White Hole will have an event horizon. Inside an event horizon, light and matter will expand and pass through the event horizon. Since the radius of an event horizon is proportional to the amount of matter inside it, it will shrink as the matter passes outside of it until it reaches a vanishing point – literally; it will disappear. All that will be left will be a center point with zero radius., at which point the expansion of matter outside of it will cease.

Assume that the earth was once located at the center of an event horizon. As the radius of the latter contracted, it would eventually have reached the surface of the earth, at which point time would have stood still for a terrestrial observer. Thus during an earth day, objects on earth would not have aged, but distant astronomical objects would have aged by billions of years.

Application of White Hole Cosmology to the Bible’s Creation Story

Based on the above, Humphreys imagines the following scenario:

On Day 1 of Creation, God created a large, three dimensional space with a radius of 500,000 light years. At its center lay a rotating ball of water – the “deep” – with a radius of one light year, which was large enough to contain all the matter in Universe. At its periphery was an event horizon with a radius of 500,000 light years. The deep’s concentration of mass created an immense gravitational force, more than 10¹⁵ “g”s. This force compressed the deep very quickly, rendering it very dense and hot. The intense heat ripped apart the water molecules, atoms, and even nuclei into elementary particles.

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.” (KJ21 Genesis 2:3).

A thermonuclear fusion reaction began, forming heavier nuclei from lighter ones and liberating huge amounts of energy. As a consequence, an intense light illuminated the interior and then broke through to the surface. As the compression continued, however, the force of gravity became so strong that light could no longer reach the surface, which became dark again. At this point, the Holy Spirit began hovering over the surface of the waters, thereby becoming a source of light on one side of the globe only and thereby separating the light and the darkness.

On Day 2 of Creation, God marked off the globe of water into three parts: (a) an inner globe which he called the waters below the firmament (v. 1:7), (b) a middle, spherical shell of water which he called the firmament or expanse (v. 1:6), and (c) an outer spherical shell of water which he called the waters above the firmament (v. 1:7). Then God began stretching out space[12] – a process of expansion that would last until at least the end of Day 4. The Black Hole became a White Hole. The change in dynamics affected the three parts differently.

The globe of water maintained its integrity, but expanded until gravity and temperatures at the globe’s surface reached roughly present values, thereby becoming liquid water beneath an atmosphere. Meanwhile, heavier atoms formed beneath the surface waters, thereby producing the minerals with which God would form earth’s mantle and core.

The firmament was stretched out into a vast expanse now called interstellar space, where matter was distributed in irregular clusters of hydrogen, helium, and other atoms that were formed by the nuclear processes on Day 1. Since the Sun and other stars had not yet been created, the Holy Spirit continued to provide a source of light to the globe below.

The upper waters also maintained their integrity, but as the expansion continued, they reached the event horizon and passed through it. As the amount of matter within the event horizon began decreasing, the event horizon began shrinking.

On Day 3 of Creation, the core and mantle below the surface water cooled and solidified, thereby “…laying the foundations of the earth” (Job 38:4). Meanwhile, if I understand Humphreys correctly, rapid radioactive decay near the surface of the globe produced heat that cooked the earth’s crust and rendered it buoyant relative to the mantle rock below it, thereby causing “the dry land appear” (v. 1:9) above the waters. God then created vegetation on the dry land.

On Day 4 of Creation, early in the morning, the shrinking event horizon reached earth. During this day, billions of years of processes occurred in distant, interstellar space. Gravitational forces compacted the clusters of hydrogen and helium atoms into stars, planets, etc. that were organized into galaxies and other astronomical objects.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day and the night….And God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. (v.1:14-16)

Under compaction, the earth’s sun and the other stars underwent thermonuclear fusion[13] and emitted light.

The light from distant stars required billions of years to traverse the still expanding firmament (interstellar space) and exhibited increasing red-shift as the distances from their sources to earth increased.

God stopped the expansion of Universe when the event horizon reached its vanishing point – which certainly occurred no later than the end of Day 6. – for on Day 7 God rested from his creative work.

Concluding Remarks

I hope that I have portrayed Humphreys’ proposal accurately. I don’t know if it is correct or not because I lack the necessary, sophisticated mathematical ability to understand GRT fully or to detect errors in hypotheses based on GRT. What I do know, however, is that Humphreys has followed the correct procedure for investigating Universe scientifically. First he examined God’s Word to see what it says about the phenomena under investigation and then he formed an hypothesis that conforms to what God’s Word says. As I have maintained consistently throughout my writings, any scientific hypothesis that cannot accommodate what God’s Word says is wrong and represents an enormous waste of time, effort, and often resources – to say nothing of its being deceptive, encouraging people to doubt the trustworthiness of God’s Word.

© 2017 John Holbrook Jr.

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[1] See my previous blog of February 27, 2017.

[2] Outside Universe is the Third Heaven. Its content and extent are unknown. It has not been detected; its existence is established by the biblical account (2 Colossians 12:2).

[3] Humphreys, D. Russell, Starlight and Time, Master Books, Colorado Springs CO, 1994.

[4] Ibid, p. 11.

[5] Ibid, p. 11.

[6] A Black Hole is an astronomical object within which the gravitational force of its matter is so strong that light rays cannot escape from it – hence the name. Its existence is predicted by GRT. Astronomers now believe that one out of every thousand stars that form are massive enough to become a black hole and thus that Universe contains billions of them.

[7] The boundary surrounding a black hole is called an event horizon. From the point of view of an observer inside the black hole, any object approaching the event horizon will appear to slow down and never quite pass through it, and any light radiating from the object will be further and further red-shifted. From the point of view of the traveling object, however, it will actually pass through the event horizon in a finite amount of time.

[8] The diameter of our galaxy alone is roughly 100,000 light years.

[9] Humphreys, Op. Cit., p.13.

[10] I would add that Big Bang advocates misapprehend the nature of infinity. INFINITY is an operational concept, not a numerical concept which can be applied to a concrete referent. It states that, in principle or theoretically, in any series of numbers, the operator can add another number to the series – going forward or backward. In actuality, any finite being, which every creature in Universe is, cannot live long enough to produce anything but a finite series of numbers. That raises the issue of eternity. ETERNITY is also an operational concept, not a temporal concept. It states that, in principle or theoretically, in any series of temporal intervals, the operator can add another interval to the series – going forward or backward. As I have already pointed out, however, no finite being in Universe lives forever. At some point, the operator’s adding stops. Thus Universe (in general) or anything within Universe (in particular) is finite – i.e. it is bounded in space and time (or more accurately space-time). It cannot be either infinite or eternal.

[11] I would add that scientists maintain that everything else in Universe has a center – its center of gravity – from an atomic particle to a galaxy. Why would the whole be so categorically different from its innumerable parts?

[12] Humphreys is convinced that Universe has expanded by a factor of at least 1,000 since its inception, which derives support from biblical verses such as “Have ye not known? Have ye not heard? Have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth,…who stretcheth out the heavens like a curtain and spreadeth them out like a tent to dwell in” (KJ21 Isaiah 40:21-22).

[13] Here I differ from Humphreys. I believe that the stars are probably powered by electromagnetic activity, not nuclear reactions.

by  John Holbrook Jr.
A Biblical View, Blog #033 posted February 20, 2017, edited March 9, 2021.

In today’s blog, I commence a four-part series on natural history in the Bible. The first two parts will be devoted a discussion of the cosmology in Genesis 1:1 – 2:3.

Preamble

The Bible records God’s creation of Universe in seven days in Genesis 1:1 to 2:3. I call this record the Creation Chronicle.

The contents of the Creation Chronicle must have been revealed to man by God, because man was not present to observe most of the activity which it describes. The most logical person to have been the receiver of this revelation and thus the author of this record was Adam.

I believe that the Creation Chronicle was divinely inspired and thus is accurate history.

 Verse 1 – Summary of and introduction to Creation

KJV Genesis 1:1 – 1 In the beginning God created the Heaven[s] and the earth.

The first verse of both the Bible in general and the Creation Chronicle in particular appears to be a summary statement. First, God did not gather the materials with which he formed the earth until the second day of creation week, and he did not form the earth as we know it until the third day. Second, the verse refers to heavens (plural),[1] but God made only one heaven[2] on the first day. Third, providing a summary of creation in verse 1:1 before providing a more detailed account in verses 1:2-2:4 is similar to providing a summary of man’s creation in verses 1:26-27 before providing a more detailed account in Genesis 2.

Although the first verse deals ostensibly with creation, its implications go far beyond creation and give us an inkling of the depths which lie below the surface of this account and of the entire Bible.

• Consider what this verse says: “In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth” (verse 1). Henry Morris[3] observes the following:

– “God” – The word in Hebrew is Elohim. It is plural with a singular meaning. It conveys the nature of the Divine Trinity, in which three persons (God-the-Father, God-the-Son, and God-the-Spirit) make up the Godhead, which is a unity.

– “created” – Only God can create something out of nothing; man can make or re-form things using something, but he cannot create something out of nothing.[3]

– “the heaven[s]” – The word conveys space.

– “the earth”– The word conveys matter.

– “in the beginning” – The phrase conveys time.

– A legitimate paraphrase of Genesis 1:1 would be, “The transcendent, omnipotent Godhead called into existence the space-mass-time Universe.”

• Consider what this verses implies: Henry Morris[4] points out that all of man’s false philosophies concerning the origin and meaning of the world are wrong:

– Atheism – the belief that there is no God – because this verse indicates that God created Universe.

– Dualism – the belief that there are two principles or gods, one good and one evil – because this verse indicates that God alone created Universe.

– Evolutionism – the belief that simple particles evolved into ever more complex particles and eventually developed into everything that we see today through eons of time – because this verse indicates that God created all things.

– Humanism – the belief that man is the pinnacle and arbiter of Universe through his ability to reason – because this verse indicates that God, not man, is the ultimate reality.

– Materialism – the belief that matter is the only reality and has been in existences forever – because this verse indicates that a spiritual being created matter; matter had a beginning.

– Pantheism – the belief that Universe is god (i.e. Universe’s forces and laws are the equivalent of god) – because this verse indicates that God is transcendent (i.e. above or outside Universe).

– Polytheism – the belief that there are many gods – because this verse indicates that the Godhead is a unity.

• Consider what this verse omits. This verse makes no attempt to prove or even to persuade the reader of its truth. Likewise, it makes no attempt to refute the philosophies which contradict it. It merely presents this account of God’s creation as truth. It must be accepted as truth by faith. In doing so, it exhibits a principle which runs throughout the Bible. God never explains himself. Think of how he answered Job when Job asked him to explain the things that were troubling Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the world?”[5] God has set things up in such a way that accepting his word by faith is a precondition to learning the truth about anything, “For without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

• Consider what this verse conceals: An intricate numerical pattern is buried in this verse. In the original Hebrew, this verse consists of seven words made up of twenty-eight letters. Since each letter of the Hebrew alphabet represents a number (aleph = 1, beth = 2, gimmel = 3, etc.) each word and the entire sentence carry numerical values. Ivan Panin[6] points out that this verse contains at least

– fourteen features of seven (the number of spiritual perfection) – chance, 1 in 6.67 x 10¹¹,

– sixteen features of four (the number of creation) – chance, 1 in 3.6 x 10⁹,

– fourteen features of thirty-seven (the common denominator of most references to God in the New Testament) – chance, 1 in 3.33 x 10²³, and

– seven features of seventy-three (the reverse of thirty-seven) – chance, 1 in 1.06 x 10¹³.

The odds of this composition occurring by chance are infinitesimal, and it is too complex to have been devised by a man, even in a lifetime of work. (Even more astonishing, the works of Panin, Max Luna,[7] Del Washburn,[8] Michael Leonard,[9] and others indicate that a highly complex pattern of numerical systems is evident in and running between the Old and New Testaments – but not the Apocrypha..

• When confronted with all of the above, reason demands that we face the fact that this verse and the entire “book of books” was inspired by God, as it itself claims: “Thy Word is true from the beginning….”[10] “Forever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in Heaven.”[11] “The grass withers, the flower fades: but the Word of our God will stand forever.”[12] “The unfolding of thy words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”[14] “Seek ye out the Book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail.”[15] “Every word of God is pure.”[16] “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God….”[17] “O earth, earth, earth, hear the Word of the Lord.”[18]

• One last thought about this verse: Henry Morris[19] points out that if a person accepts Genesis 1:1 by faith, he will not find it difficult to believe anything else recorded in the Bible.

In addition to being a summary, this verse serves as the introduction to Day 1. God is saying, “In the beginning, on the first day, I created everything (space, time, energy, and mass) out of nothing.”

© 2016 John Holbrook Jr.

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[1] Although it is singular in the King James Version (KJV), it is plural in the Revised Standard Version (RSV), the American Standard Version (ASV), the New King James Version NKJV), the New International Version (NIV), and the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

[2] As will become apparent, there are at least three heavens: (a) the first heaven is above and surrounding the earth – i.e. interstellar space – in which the sun, moon, and stars are located, (b) the second heaven lies above the spherical shell of water which is above and surrounding the first heaven, and (c) the third heaven lies beyond the second heaven, to which Paul referred in 2 Corinthians 12:2. God may have created all three during creation week.

[3] Clarification – To create anything, mankind must reform something that already exists. A potter can only make a pottery vase by reforming a lump of clay and then baking it. God, on the other hand, does not need preexisting material. He can create something using only his mind and his power, both of which are unlimited. In the past, people have described God as creating Universe ex nihilo (out of nothing in English), but that is only true if it is clear that ex nihilo refers only to something (some physical material), but not to someone (an omniscient, omnipotent, omnicompetent being such as God). Man needs some physical material (something) with which to create, God needs only someone – Himself – with whom to create. Nor can Universe spring into existence ex nihilo – i.e. out of nothing. The word “nothing” has no objective referent. There is no such thing as “nothing” – anywhere.

[4] Henry Morris, The Genesis Record, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids MI, 1976, pages 39-41.

[5] Ibid, p. 38.

[6] Job 38:4.

[7] Ivan Panin, An Introduction to the Principle of Bible Numerics (c. 1945), privately printed, p. 8 and following; see also Ivan Panin, Bible Numerics (1934), The Covenant Publishing Company, Ltd., London, Ivan Panin ed., The Numeric English New Testament (1934), The Book Society of Canada, Ltd., Agincourt, Ontario, and the pamphlets, Genesis 1:1, Verbal Inspiration Proved, Bible Numerics, The Inspiration of the Scriptures Scientifically Demonstrated, The Last Twelve Verses of Mark, Bible Inspiration, all undated and privately printed.

[8] Max Luna, The Number 7 in the Bible (1979), Bryan Press, City of Industry, California.

[9] Jerry Lucas and Del Washburn, Theomatics (1979), Stein & Day, New York. See also Del Washburn, Theomatics II (1994), Scarborough House, Lanham MD and The Original Code of the Bible (1998), Lanham MD.

[10] Michael E. Leonard, Bible Numbers (2002), Windham Hall Press, Lima OH.

[11] KJV Psalm 119:160.

[12] KJV Psalm 119:89.

[13] RSV Isaiah 40:8.

[14] RSV Psalm 119:130.

[15] KJV Isaiah 34:16.

[16] Proverbs 30:5.

[17] 2 Timothy 3:16.

[18] Jeremiah 22:29.

[19] Henry Morris, The Genesis Record, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids MI, 1976, p. 37.