"In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth"
In the Hebrew (if you actually believe in God one should know their HEBREW) , verse 1 of Genesis 1 absolutely means there is a period of time called the "BEGINNING," and during this time period God created the heavens and earth (as in 100% complete).
Here is an explanation from a Hebrew/Jew point of view on the correct way to interpret Genesis 1:1 and 1:2...
(What exactly does the book of Genesis tell us? That YEHOVAH God created the universe -- the heavens and the earth -- in a period of time called, simply, "the beginning." How long ago that primeval creation occurred we are not told anywhere in the Scripture. To determine that, YEHOVAH God has given us brains and intellect!)
Verse 2 represents a separate recreation not connected to verse 1 "the Beginning."
(Verse two of Genesis, chapter one, continues:
"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep" (King James Version).
Is this verse describing the ORIGINAL creation as being formless and void? If so, it would seem a contradiction. Verse one tells us YEHOVAH created the heavens and the earth. When YEHOVAH creates something, it is beautiful, grand, and majestic. In the 38th chapter of the book of Job, we read:
"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof? When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (vs. 4-7).
***If the original earth had been created a chaotic ruin, formless and void, the angels would not have "sang together" or have "shouted for joy.")***
It cracks me up to read/hear so-called preachers claim they know the word of God. But, do preachers actually know the Hebrew better than the Jews? It's a tragedy knowing on Sunday's and Wednesday's, true followers of God are being misled by ignorant men who actually believe what they preach is the absolute truth. And these men don't even have the first clue to what the Hebrew means throughout the Old Testament!!
It will be a very sad day when we all gather before Christ and have to give an account of just HOW STUPID SOME OF US REALLY ARE AND WHY WE MISLED PEOPLE TO UNTRUTHFUL KNOWLEDGE!!