Mistaken Chronology | The Institute for Creation Research

Mistaken Chronology

“Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?” (John 8:57).

The response of the Lord Jesus in the very next verse makes it clear that the claim made in our text was wrong. The Lord was very much older than fifty years. He was and is the great “I AM” of Exodus 3:14. Not only did He live before Abraham, but He was before time itself. Time is something our Lord created. There is irony in this. Creationists are frequently criticized for believing “young” vs. “old,” but here the supreme creationist corrects in the opposite direction.

This does not mean, however, that He, the Creator, holds to an older view of creation than Scripture—the notion that the original six days spanned aeons. He who was there at creation informs us that Adam and Eve, our first parents, though made on day six, were “at the beginning” (Matthew 19:4)—not millions or billions of years after “the beginning.”

Our first parents lived in a flawless world where everything was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). People today, living after the Fall and flood, stand on fossil remains of extinct animals and experience decay and disease, but there is no Biblical reason to believe that it was the same for Adam. Corruption and death came after they disobeyed the Lord.

He also corrects mistaken chronology in relation to our future. Many see physical death as final, but this also is wrong, for His life given to believers extends infinitely in the future. He said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).

Unbelievers of old and unbelievers today are confused about chronology; their perspectives exclude the Lord, the key to understanding time. May He who has shown grace and mercy to many in past ages extend, according to His good pleasure, similar grace and mercy to many who are confused about chronology today. PGH

The Latest
NEWS
July 2025 ICR Wallpaper
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome...

NEWS
Valued Longtime ICR Employee Mary Smith Retires
Mary Morris Smith, an employee of the Institute for Creation Research for many years, has retired. The second daughter of ICR founder Dr. Henry M. Morris...

NEWS
Man of Science, Man of God: George Washington Carver
Who:  George Washington Carver What: Father of Modern Agriculture When: 1864 or 1865 – January 5, 1943 Where: Diamond Grove,...

ACTS & FACTS
The Scopes Monkey Trial: A Battle of Worldviews
Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton, Tennessee, and its statue of William Jennings Bryan Image credit: M. Mueller The Scopes Monkey...

ACTS & FACTS
Long Non-Coding RNAs: The Unsung Heroes of the Genome
Evolutionary theory holds that all living things came about through random, natural processes. So conventional scientists believe the genome has developed...

ACTS & FACTS
Yosemite National Park, Part 1: Tiny Clues of a Grand Picture
Yosemite National Park in California is a sure source of stunning scenery. It’s no wonder that American naturalist John Muir persuaded President...

ACTS & FACTS
From Inference to Theory: A Common Design Case Study
Without a doubt, humans, chimpanzees, and other organisms share similar features. An early explanation was that these features reflect similar designs...

ACTS & FACTS
Creation Kids: T. rex
by Michael Stamp and Susan Windsor* You're never too young to be a creation scientist and explore our Creator's world. Kids, discover...

ACTS & FACTS
Entering By The Door
Recently, I hosted a visiting pastor from a large church at ICR’s Discovery Center. As I guided him through our Dallas museum, one conversation...

ACTS & FACTS
Creation Mission in Fiji
Michele discusses pages from Explore the World with boys at an orphanage Image credit: Brian Thomas In 2024 my wife, Michele,...