Does John's "last hour" imply old earth?

[Roman57]

Since, 2000 years ago, Apostle John wrote "it is the last hour", maybe Earth is, in fact, 4.5 billion years old, which makes 2000 years only an hour on that scale? That would simultaneously address two questions:

a) Question about apparent contradiction between Bible and archeology: it would say it doesn't contradict it since Bible preaches old Earth too

b) Question about why Jesus didn't come the way John expected Him too: it would answer by saying that 2000 years "is", in fact, an hour on that time scale

Of course it doesn't answer everything completely: we still have to deal with Old Testament that adds to 6 thousand years. But there we can employ some gap theories.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Some years ago, I came to terms with the fact that the earth and creation are billions of years old. I believe Adam and Eve are more recent, as is the Garden of Eden and its story. But I see the "original" creation to be very old. It's probably as old as it looks in geology and cosmology. I do not think there is anything to fear from holding to this. You can believe in Theistic evolution and OE. That does not change the gospel and all that that entails. If I am just plain wrong and misreading science and scripture... that is not a make-it-or-break-it position.
As your question suggests, the concept of time is one of interest. Perhaps the passage and truth about time are one of those mysteries that may not be open to us. I think we can guess. However you resolve it, as long as it is of faith, I believe we honor God in it.

 

[trophy33]

No, it does not imply an old earth. Its a literary device used in common speech and nothing mathematical for determining the age of the Earth.

The apostle John was simply saying that the end was very near and that the antichrist (Nero) was soon to be revealed.

 

[d taylor]

-

​

The earth God created in Genesis 1:1 can not be aged. The earth (dry land) God brought forth after Genesis 1:2 in Genesis 1:9 is more than likely part of the earth in Genesis 1:1 that was flooded. So the actual age can not be determined, but the time from the earth (dry land) being brought forth in Genesis 1:9. Can be determined and it is not billions of years. but thousands of years.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Since, 2000 years ago, Apostle John wrote "it is the last hour", maybe Earth is, in fact, 4.5 billion years old, which makes 2000 years only an hour on that scale? That would simultaneously address two questions:

a) Question about apparent contradiction between Bible and archeology: it would say it doesn't contradict it since Bible preaches old Earth too

b) Question about why Jesus didn't come the way John expected Him too: it would answer by saying that 2000 years "is", in fact, an hour on that time scale

Of course it doesn't answer everything completely: we still have to deal with Old Testament that adds to 6 thousand years. But there we can employ some gap theories.

The " last hour" John is referring to is in their generation as Jesus Christ of Nazareth prophesied. The end of Temple Judaism was a turning point in Jewish history and should not be overlooked when interpreting eschatology.
Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

"Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."

Blessings

 

[Roman57]

The end of Temple Judaism was a turning point in Jewish history

But he connected it to the antichrist which is the future (unless you are preterist and say it's Nero)

 

[eleos1954]

Since, 2000 years ago, Apostle John wrote "it is the last hour", maybe Earth is, in fact, 4.5 billion years old, which makes 2000 years only an hour on that scale? That would simultaneously address two questions:

a) Question about apparent contradiction between Bible and archeology: it would say it doesn't contradict it since Bible preaches old Earth too

b) Question about why Jesus didn't come the way John expected Him too: it would answer by saying that 2000 years "is", in fact, an hour on that time scale

Of course it doesn't answer everything completely: we still have to deal with Old Testament that adds to 6 thousand years. But there we can employ some gap theories.

Earth Time is continuous .... there are not "gaps" in time.

The creation account in Genesis as written is not compatible with billions of years. (evening and the morning) six days

God is not constrained by time He is eternal .... He created time for mankind with purposes

Time is constrained to the earth .... anything outside of planet earth is considered eternity. Time is an illusion ... it does not exist unless there is an intelligent mind to comprehend it. Time works by measuring periods between the past, present and future (it takes and intelligent mind to measure it).

The genealogies of Genesis 5 & 11 teach a young humanity, and this lends itself toward a young earth ... calculates out to around 6,000 years ... people can do their own research on this.

Jesus affirmed the creation account as written in Genesis

Jesus affirmed the creation account as written in Genesis, treating it as historical fact and referencing events like the creation of Adam and Eve, the story of Abel, and the flood as real occurrences, indicating his belief in the literal accuracy of the Genesis narrative.

• Direct references to Genesis:
  Jesus frequently referenced stories from Genesis in his teachings, like mentioning "the beginning of creation" when discussing marriage (Mark 10:6) or referring to the blood of Abel as shed "from the foundation of the world" (Luke 11:50-51).
  
  
  
• Understanding of Adam and Eve:
  Jesus' teaches Adam and Eve were real historical figures, the first man and woman created by God.
  
  
  
• No indication of doubt:
  There is no recorded instance where Jesus questioned the accuracy of the Genesis creation story.

 

[Doug Brents]

Since, 2000 years ago, Apostle John wrote "it is the last hour", maybe Earth is, in fact, 4.5 billion years old, which makes 2000 years only an hour on that scale? That would simultaneously address two questions:

a) Question about apparent contradiction between Bible and archeology: it would say it doesn't contradict it since Bible preaches old Earth too

The Bible does not preach "old Earth". The language is very clear that from the instant that God made the first matter, time, energy, He created all the rest in six real, physical days. From there, it is easy to track, and I have, the birth and death records of the first 22 generations bring us from the day of Creation (3904BC) to the year 1709BC (when Reuben was born). (Send me your email by PM and I can email you the Excel spreadsheet into which I put all my research).

The idea that archeology and the Bible are contradictory is absurd. People's misunderstanding of what they find archeologically is to blame for the apparent contradiction. "Answers in Genesis" has some great videos that explain things like the Mt St. Helen's eruption that made a mini-grand canyon in less than a week (indicating that the Grand Canyon was probably also carved in less than a week), the formation of coal beds at the bottom of a lake near Mt St. Helen's in only 20 years, the formation of separate forests of trees stratified by species at the bottom of that same lake similar to the petrified forest, etc.

b) Question about why Jesus didn't come the way John expected Him too: it would answer by saying that 2000 years "is", in fact, an hour on that time scale

Jesus didn't return the way John, and many of the other Apostles also, expected Him to because they misunderstood His meaning. Jesus told them He was coming back, but He didn't tell them when. So they expected Him to return within their generation. This is not new. Many times in Scripture we see people expecting God to do things quickly, but He takes His time. Abraham is a good example in that God made a promise to give him a son from whom many nations of peoples would come. He was about 85 years old when God made that promise, but Isaac was not born until Abraham was 100 years old.

Of course it doesn't answer everything completely: we still have to deal with Old Testament that adds to 6 thousand years. But there we can employ some gap theories.

There are no gaps to theorize over. We can trace the age of the Earth from Creation to Joseph. And then we can link Joseph to the Pharaoh he served under (the famine starting in the year 1668BC). And from there we can count the years to present day.