Creationism - National Center for Science Education
Creationism - National Center for Science Education
Creationism - National Center for Science Education
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Heavenlies (1984). This book gives a thoroughly standard Gap Theory presentation,<br />
though Hinn is far more concerned with Satan and his demons than with geology or<br />
biology. Hinn received the Holy Spirit attending meetings of faith-healer Kathryn<br />
Kuhlman, and was miraculously cured of stuttering when he accepted the calling of the<br />
Lord to preach. Hinn, like most Gap theorists, believes that demons are the disembodied<br />
<strong>for</strong>mer inhabitants of the pre-Adamic world; it is because of this condition that they<br />
desperately seek to possess our human bodies. Satan’s fallen angels are not demons.<br />
Satan was cast out of the third heaven; he and his fallen angels still inhabit the second<br />
heaven (though “he visits here a lot”). Most demons are imprisoned in the Abyss, one of<br />
the five underworlds; relatively few are at loose on earth. The Hell of Tartarus, another<br />
of the underworlds, holds those fallen angels who have “left their own habitation.” Hinn<br />
explains that these are the “sons of God” who, leaving the second heaven, cohabited with<br />
women (the “daughters of men”) as described in Gen. 6; their offspring were the wicked<br />
giants (Nephilim) of the days be<strong>for</strong>e the Flood.<br />
Kenneth Hagin, well-known author, televangelist, and head of RHEMA Bible<br />
Church (a.k.a. Kenneth Hagin Ministries), includes the Gap Theory in his 1983 booklet<br />
The Origin and Operation of Demons (Volume 1 of his 4-volume “Satan, Demons and<br />
Demon Possession” series). Hagin is concerned with the same themes as Hinn: the<br />
“wicked spirits in the heavenlies”; their abodes in the various heavens, their natures,<br />
history, and classification. Like Hinn, he was miraculously cured; he was “almost totally<br />
paralyzed and completely bedfast from a de<strong>for</strong>med heart and incurable blood disease”<br />
when he answered the Lord’s call. Hagin has the ability to “discern what kind of spirits<br />
are in a locality.” He detects very many, and most are evil. Hagin believes that the only<br />
logical explanation <strong>for</strong> all these spirits is the pre-Adamic creation of the Gap Theory.<br />
They were members of Satan’s pre-Adamic kingdom on earth.<br />
The Gap Theory is taught in two volumes of Corvin’s Home Bible Study Course<br />
(1976) published by Jim Bakker’s PTL network (Bixler 1986:87n). Howard Estep, a<br />
televangelist whose World Prophetic Ministry is based in Colton, Cali<strong>for</strong>nia, concentrates<br />
on pre-millennialist Bible prophecy, but also teaches the Gap Theory in booklets such as<br />
Evolution: True or False? (1969), Jehovah—Adam—And You!, and Eons of Ages Ago!.<br />
Don Wardell, in God Created (1984), argues against young-earth creationism and<br />
Flood Geology. His Gap Theory presentation contains many of the usual arguments in<br />
simplified <strong>for</strong>m. He suggests, however, that some plants and animals—seeds and “living<br />
fossils”—survived the darkness and flood of Gen. 1:2 into the six-day restoration and<br />
recreation (1984:17,56-67). (Scofield and others had also suggested that seeds may have<br />
survived from the original creation.)<br />
Ronald Wlodyga, another follower of Herbert W. Armstrong, thanks Armstrong<br />
and Dankenbring (his publisher) <strong>for</strong> assistance with his book The Ultimate Source of All<br />
Super Natural Phenomena (1981). Wlodyga’s theme is that all supernatural phenomena,<br />
including all occult and paranormal manifestations, emanate from Satan—except <strong>for</strong><br />
God’s miracles.<br />
Based on certain scriptures, it seems evident that the earth was originally intended to be the dwelling place<br />
of a third of the angels. It appears that God placed them there as a training ground to see if they would<br />
accept the government of God. [1981:30]