There have been disagreements between factions of Bible believers about the time period that the first few verses the Bible covers and particularly how long the earth has been here. Young Earth Creationists think that the Earth is only about 6000 years old and that the first verse in Genesis demonstrates that God brought the earth into existence around 4004 BCE. The Gap Theory thinks that the Earth was created an indefinite time period ago and that the first verse could have occurred billions of years ago (mainstream scientists say 4.5 billion). The second verse takes place again around 6000 years ago around a desolate and void earth. This likely is caused by Satan's rebellion that brought one third of the angels with him against God. However, there is scriptural proof that shows a strong case for the Gap Theory by comparing the other days of creation and seeing that God's work is perfect, plus other references later in the Bible such as Deuteronomy 32:4 showing His perfection. A formless and ruined world would not fall into the pattern that God has set.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, establishing the foundation of all that exists. After this initial creation, the earth became without form and void, shrouded in darkness over the face of the deep, likely due to a great destruction from a prehistoric rebellion of Helel and his angels against God's authority, causing debris and dust to block sunlight. Then, the Spirit of God hovered over the waters, initiating the refurbishment of the earth to make it suitable for habitation. On the first day, God commanded light to appear, clearing the debris so sunlight could reach the earth's surface, dividing light from darkness to establish day and night. On the second day, God further adjusted the atmosphere, though heavy clouds still obscured clear visibility. By the fourth day, God diminished the cloud cover, making the sun, moon, and stars visible from the earth's surface for signs, seasons, days, and years, though these heavenly bodies had been created long before. Through the fifth and sixth days, God created living creatures and finally human beings, the pinnacle of His physical creation, for whom He had prepared the earth. On the seventh day, God rested, creating the Sabbath as a memorial of His great work in refurbishing the earth for life.

The account of creation in Genesis reveals a profound truth about the earth's history. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, an event that may have occurred millions or billions of years ago. However, the earth became without form and void, a state of waste and ruin, as suggested by the Hebrew words tohu and bohu. Isaiah 45:18 declares that God did not create the earth in vain but formed it to be inhabited. Job 38:4-7 describes the angels shouting for joy at the earth's initial beauty, yet this beauty was marred when the archangel who became satan rebelled and was cast down to the earth, as noted in Isaiah 14:12-15 and confirmed by Jesus Christ in Luke 10:18, who saw satan fall like lightning from heaven. This catastrophic event led to the earth's desolation, necessitating God to re-form or renew it, as referenced in Psalm 104:30. God accomplished this renewal in six literal 24-hour days, resting on the seventh, as affirmed in Exodus 20:11, where He states that in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them.

The Bible reveals that there was a previous world of immense duration over which angels were given rule, which ended in chaos and destruction due to their rebellion. God did not create the world as a chaotic wasteland, as stated in Isaiah 45:18, for He formed it to be inhabited. Following the destruction, a week of re-creation took place, during which, on the sixth day, God created man and endowed him with human spirit. Fossils accurately dated older than 6,000 years would be from the pre-Adamic era, before this re-creation of the earth.

The earth was originally a perfect creation, as God is not the author of confusion but of peace and order. In the beginning, as described in Genesis 1:1, God created the heaven and the earth, implying a perfect and beautiful system, not chaos. However, Genesis 1:2 reveals that the earth became chaotic, waste, and empty, a condition not present at its initial creation. Isaiah 45:18 confirms that God did not create the earth in vain or waste, but it became so due to a subsequent event. This chaos resulted from the rebellion of angels led by Lucifer, a created cherub who was placed on a throne to administer God's government over the earth. Lucifer, perfect in wisdom and beauty, allowed vanity and self-desire to corrupt him, leading to a rebellion against God with a third of the angels. This sin of the angels caused the physical destruction and chaotic condition of the earth before the time of Adam. During the six days described in Genesis, God remade and reshaped the earth, creating human beings upon it. Adam was given the opportunity to replace Lucifer and restore God's government but failed, yielding to the adversary. Christ, as the second Adam, will soon return to displace the devil, take over the rule of the earth, and restore God's laws, bringing order and peace at last.