How old is the earth? Well if you listen to many in the field of science they will tell you it is approximately 4.5 billion years old. Programs on the Discovery channel and even in kid’s cartoons will state dogmatically that dinosaurs became extinct about 65 million years ago. Most science textbooks speak of millions and billions of years. This fits the prevalent evolutionary thinking of today.
However, the Bible knows nothing of such long periods of time since the creation of the earth. In fact the Scriptures reveal that the earth is only about six thousand years old. The Bible establishes the fact that God created Adam on the sixth day of creation. A thorough study of the genealogies in Genesis 5 and 11 reveals an unbroken chain of descendents from Adam to Abraham covering a time period of 2,008 years. (This is based on Terah having begat Abraham at the age of 130).
The Bible then records the births and deaths of Isaac and Jacob, Abraham’s son and grandson. (Gen 21:5; 25:26; 47:28) Jacob lived 147 years. Therefore, he would have died 2,315 years after creation. However, seventeen years before he died, Jacob entered Egypt with his family. (Gen 47:27) The Bible documents that the children of Israel lived there for 430 years. (Ex 12:40) Thus it can be established that the Israelites would have come out of Egypt 2,728 years after creation. (2,315 - 17 + 430 = 2,728)
The Scriptures then connect the exodus from Egypt with the fourth year of King Solomon’s reign. When King Solomon began to build the temple during the 4th year of his reign, it is recorded that it was 480 years after the Israelites had come out of Egypt. (I Kings 6:1) This would make Solomon’s fourth year 3,208 years (2,728 + 480) after the beginning of creation.
Solomon’s fourth year can be linked to the destruction of the temple in 586 BC. According to Scripture, the destruction of the temple occurred 381 years after Solomon’s 4th year (I & II Kings). This would make the temple destruction 3,589 years (3,208 + 381) after the beginning of creation.
Since the destruction of the temple in 586 BC is a historical date, it can be determined that there has been approximately 2,596 years from 586 BC to the present (586 + 2010). When these years are added to the years from creation to the temple destruction (3,589), a sum of 6,185 years can be calculated since God created the heavens and the earth. To put it in modern day terms, the year of creation would have been 4,175 BC. Because of variations in the calendar system over the centuries, there certainly is some flexibility with such a date. However, one must conclude that the Bible records a creation that happened only several thousand years ago and not millions or billions of years.
To Summarize:
Adam to Abraham……….2,008 years
Abraham to the birth of Isaac (100 years)……….2108
Isaac to birth of Jacob (60 years)……….2,168
Jacob lived (147 years)……….2,315
Jacob entered Egypt (17 years) before he died…….…2,298
Children of Israel lived in Egypt (430 years)……….2,728
4th Year of Solomon’s reign was (480 years) after the exodus…..3,208
4th Year of Solomon’s Reign to destruction of the temple (381yrs)…..3,589
Destruction of the temple to the birth of Christ (586 years)……….4,175
Birth of Christ to the present day……….2,010 years
Total years from Creation to present……….6,185 years