Question: Christians say that the earth is only 6,000 years old, because of the genealogies given in the Bible, but in acts 2:17 it says that they were in the last days almost 2000 years ago. How could they be in the last days 2000 years ago if the earth is 6000 years old?
Profile: Male, North America, 26–35, New Christian
Answered by: Fritz Awig, who has been a volunteer with us since January, 2009.
Answer: Today, one would consider “last days” as a reference to a relatively short period of time before a significant event takes place. For example, one could say I am writing this answer in the “last days” of the year 2022 before a new year starts. The definition of “last days” from a Biblical perspective, however, is different because, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8).
“Last days” is a phrase used eight times in the Bible, three times in the Old Testament and five times in the New Testament. Some of these verses describe characteristics of the “last days” – hoarding wealth (James 5:3), following evil desires (2 Peter 3:3), terrible times (2 Timothy 3:1) – which don’t provide a specific time period; in fact, because of man’s sin nature they can be attributed to any period of time in history.
But one of the verses give us a hint as to the timing of the “last days”. In Hebrews 1:2 we are told that “in these last days [God] has spoken to us by His Son”. Most scholars agree that this defines the last days as the period of time from Jesus’ first advent – His birth – until His return at the Second Coming; a period that has lasted over 2,000 years (and counting).
But it still seems odd that Luke believed he was living in the “last days” if he knew that they would last another 2,000 years. I would answer that this way: when Jesus was taken up into Heaven after His resurrection, the Apostles were told, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). They were not given a date when this would happen; they were simply told to be ready for His return. And since Christ’s return can happen at any time (there are no prophecies that need to be fulfilled before Jesus returns at the Rapture), Luke believed His return was imminent and therefore he was living in the “last days.” The same is true for Christians today: Christ’s return is imminent and therefore we are living in the “last days.”
Thank you for your question and may God bless you!
** This response addresses the question directly, is written with logical flow, uses helpful examples, and maintains a kind tone. **
Question: A common objection to Noah’s ark is about how if there was only two animals then wouldn’t they die out because of genetics and have a limited amount of genes in the gene pool?
Profile: Male, North America, Under 19, Christian
Answered by: James Whiteside, who has been a volunteer with us since April, 2004.
Answer: Thank you for your question. The “founder effect” is when part of a population becomes isolated from the rest of the population and thereby loses access to genetic information that is not present in the breakaway group. This can be problematic but isn’t necessarily so.
To see how this can be a problem, consider sickle cell disease. Most people inherit two healthy hemoglobin A genes, one from each parent. If someone inherits the healthy hemoglobin A gene from one parent but they inherit the abnormal hemoglobin S gene from the other parent, then this person is said to have “sickle cell trait”. But that does not mean that they have sickle cell disease. If someone inherits the abnormal S gene from both parents, then they will have sickle cell disease.
Now, if people with sickle cell disease became isolated from the rest of the population, then they would lose access to the healthy hemoglobin A gene, and all subsequent generations would have sickle cell disease. That would be a problem. But this goes both ways. If people with only healthy hemoglobin A genes become isolated from the rest of the population, then their progeny won’t be in danger of inheriting sickle cell disease because that genetic information won’t be available to them (unless of course the mutation that caused the S gene in the first place occurred again sometime down the line).
The point is that it all depends on the genetic quality of the group being isolated. If their genes are good, then genetic isolation won’t be a problem. To see this in action, consider dogs. There are hundreds of different dog breeds, and most of them are the result of human breeding efforts that began in the 1600s. We have tiny little Chihuahuas, massive Great Danes, and everything in between. All of these are isolated gene pools. That’s what a “breed” is.
Some dog breeds have inherited health problems. For example, German Shepherds are known to suffer from hip dysplasia. So, it would be better for the offspring of German Shepherds if healthier hip genes were reintroduced into that population. But other breeds are healthy and robust. It all depends on what genes are being isolated out and what genes are being isolated in.
As for Noah’s ark, if all of the animals that were selected by God for preservation had sub-optimal genetic profiles then this could have been a problem down the road. However, if God selected candidates with optimal genetic profiles, then there wouldn’t have been a problem. Again, genetic isolation isn’t a problem in-and-of-itself. It’s all about what genes are being isolated out, and what genes are being isolated in.
Also, one last thing. Genetic problems accumulate over time as new mutations occur within a population and don’t go away. Given that the flood occurred only 1600 years or so after creation, the number of genetic issues present at that time would be far fewer than what we see today. The genetic profiles of the animals preserved on the ark would likely have been better than even the best of what we see today.
