Personally, though I tend to fall in with the YEC crowd, I believe there is room for debate on some of the points you are bringing up. The well-known 6,000 year chronology of the Bible only takes us back to Adam, the first man. Beyond that, we have a few paragraphs of Genesis, and some other assorted verses with which to try to patch together what occured before the era of man.
It seems obvious to me that the angels were created before man, yet I do not know exactly when this occurred. Yet, as Satan appears in the Garden, seemingly fulfilling the role of “the Accuser” in the earliest days of man, it seems sensible to believe his fall occured before the 6 days of creation, which I believe are literal days and not eras.
If there seems to be some history regarding God’s angelic creation that is not yet fully revealed to us, and if we can make a reasonable assumption from Scripture that some important events involved in that creation occured before the era of man, then I don’t see grounds to condemn anyone simply for speculating about the possibilities of previous creations or cataclysms.
However, I think, even if one theorizs some life may have existed before the Genesis creation event, that life must surely (excluding the angels) have been extinguished before the current creation. So, I believe those who attempt to use “gap theory” to give a more ancient lineage to man or beasts currently living, must be mistaken in that regard.
I agree the closest 'date' we can affix with what information we are given is how long ago 'the' Adam was formed. But remember what we are told about 'the' Adam's forming, he was not alive until the 'breath of life' which means soul, was breathed into his nostrils. We are not told when 'the' Adam's soul/spirit was formed/created. And given what other writers penned, and Christ Himself said regarding the existence of the soul/spirit before it gets place at conception in the 'flesh', comes from 'above' and when the flesh dies the soul/spirit returns to the Maker that sent it.
It seems obvious to me that the angels were created before man, yet I do not know exactly when this occurred. Yet, as Satan appears in the Garden, seemingly fulfilling the role of “the Accuser” in the earliest days of man, it seems sensible to believe his fall occured before the 6 days of creation, which I believe are literal days and not eras.
No one can state with a certainty when 'Lucifer' was created, but as Ezekiel 28:-12- describes him to have been created in the full pattern of beauty. And Revelation 12:4 "And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven,......" is history that took place that led up to what we are told in Genesis 1:2. Paul references this time period in Ephesians 1:4 According as He hath chosen (election) us in Him *before* the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. 5)Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.
So *before* the foundation of the world, which is actually a verb meaning 'casting down' - 'overthrow' some were chosen/elected as the word predestinated means foreordained.
Paul describes this 'predestination' in Romans 9:11-13, as Paul is not describing the flesh of Jacob and Esau but their soul/spirit before then were born in flesh.
If there seems to be some history regarding God’s angelic creation that is not yet fully revealed to us, and if we can make a reasonable assumption from Scripture that some important events involved in that creation occured before the era of man, then I don’t see grounds to condemn anyone simply for speculating about the possibilities of previous creations or cataclysms.
I am reminded of the children fresh out of Egypt were afraid to see the face of the Heavenly Father because that to them meant they had died. And yet when the situation required the Heavenly Father sent 'messengers' to get His WORD to the flesh. One more example of the Heavenly Father telling us about what we cannot physically see unless He intends for us to see is found in IIKings 6:11-19 in particular verse 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see." And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
However, I think, even if one theorizs some life may have existed before the Genesis creation event, that life must surely (excluding the angels) have been extinguished before the current creation. So, I believe those who attempt to use “gap theory” to give a more ancient lineage to man or beasts currently living, must be mistaken in that regard.
Personally the phrase 'gap theory', is not a term/phrase that comes to my mind in referencing 'time' before or even after Genesis 1:3. Over the years in my studying what the WORD instructs, I cannot find the Heavenly Father had any gaps. What I have found is that He planted the seeds of His truth through out the WORD, and none of it is a contradiction.
The Gap theory may be a ploy of evolutionary religious people to justify their belief that their ancestors were warthogs and such; but as I pointed out in post #62, there is indication of a 'gap' where the heavens and earth that once were, were destroyed, along will ALL physical life that may have existed...
We know that the 'prince of this world' was cast out of heaven and seeks who he may devour on this earth...We don't know when he was cast out...
Anyway, that's the Gap theory that I am referring to...NOT evolution...But life in some form that existed on earth before Gen. 1:2 that was completely destroyed and became without form and void...
Interestingly, the KJV translators with respect to Noah in the command to start over used the term replenish the earth...They used the same term when speaking of Adam...Replenish the earth...Fill again...
But like I said, it's a theory...It sure would help explain a lot of things...