1:1–2:3 This description of God creating heaven and earth is understood to be: 1) recent, i.e., thousands not millions of years ago; 2) ex nihilo, i.e., out of nothing; and 3) special, i.e., in 6 consecutive 24 hour periods called “days” and further distinguished as such by this phrase, “the evening and the morning.” Scripture does not support a creation date earlier than about 10,000 years ago. In the beginning. While God exists eternally (Ps. 90:2), this marked the beginning of the universe in