10,000 - 20,000 years is my range because:
1. it better harmonizes with anthropology and paleontology.
2. “ “ with history (written account)
3. “ “ with the many civilizations uncovered in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Egypt
4. “ “ with modern man/homosapiens
5. “ “ with the inhabiting of the Americas
Other evidence includes:
1. archeology goes further than 4,000 B.C.
2. Hebrews only lists 10 geneologies (possible gap in geneology)
3. one of the sons of Shem mentioned in Luke, is not in Genesis (possible gap in geneology)
4. I do hold that Jesus Christ resurrected on the 3rd day.
In doing so, the record of human history is contained in the Bible; and since God created a mature Adam, He certainly could have created a mature earth (and I hold this view).
I don’t think that is narrow minded. He either resurrected, or he didn’t. Based on the body of evidence readily available to everyone....I say he did.
So God decided to create the early 10-20,000 years ago, but make it look like it was 4 billion years old? And the universe 13.7 billion years ago?
Why?
To trick us?
He created dinosaur fossils, and ancient supernovae and genetic markers just to test our faith? Some vast joke?
Sorry, I worship an awesome God, not some clownish prankster.
“3. one of the sons of Shem mentioned in Luke, is not in Genesis (possible gap in geneology)”
In the thinking of Old Testament times, to “begat” someone simply meant to be their ancestor. So, I great-great grandfather could be said to have “begat” me without it being in error at all. It does not diminish the infallibility of scripture to say that gaps (by our reasoning) in geneologies exist.
I am curious....do you hold to a world wide flood...Noah’s Flood? It explains a great many things seen in geology.