In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1

God`s first declaration to his created children, it is an emphatic statement with a period. and does not declare when or how long ago he created it , it was just in the beginning.

God`s second declaration to his created children, it to is an emphatic statement and gives no reference to time.

Gen. 1:2   And the earth was without form, and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

The word( form) #8414 in the Hebrew is the first destruction and (void)#922 in the Hebrew , translates to the meaning :to be empty; a vacuity ,an undistinguishable ruin: emptiness ,void. (darkness) #2822 in the Hebrew dictionary , translates figuratively to; Misery,destruction,death,ignorance,sorrow,wickedness ,dark(-ness), night obscurity.              

We were on earth with God , until satan rebelled and drew one third of us into believeing he was a god Rev. 12:4 , the stars of God are his children.  The dragon is satan Rev.20:2, some of his other titles in name are there as well, yes he was the serpent in the garden of God,known as the tree of knowledge of good and evil.   See men as trees walking.  This is a figurative statement trees are men , Christ has made it clear  Mk. 8:22-26 

The earth is ancient and so are our created souls , let us go to Isaiah and see what God has to say about how he created this world.    Isa. 45:18   For thus sayeth the Lord that created the heavens;God himself who formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it (not in vain) he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord and there is none else.

Is God in contradiction?, Genesis 1:2, where it indicates the world was without form and void?         go to your strongs and translate (was)# 1961 which is the prime root in the Hebrew, as it pertains to this verse and you will find that the word translates in meaning to( become or became) , so the answer is no he is not contradicting himself, There was a world age before this flesh age we are in at this time, as we dig deeper into God`s word the heaven and earth ages will be taught , but for now the seed is merely being planted regarding the eternal process we are involved in, based in reality of a living God and a God of the living.  

If one understands that the first destruction which came upon the world and is the discription of the world as read in Gen.1:2

This is the destruction we find in Jeremiah chapter 4:22-27 God declares to his children which would be( us ) that he thinks we are sottish (stupid) and foolish for not ( truely ) knowing him, he says we are wise to do evil,but when it come to doing good (his way) we have no knowledge.

Jer. 4:23 is Genesis 1:2 and since the world became that way,  God has declared he created the world to be inhabited, and we are eternal beings, it only makes sense that we were in our spiritual bodies in the first world age , flesh is perishable and is not designed for eternal use.

You have two bodies  1st Corinthians 15:40 this chapter teaches of the four fleshes and the terrestrial (clay body) and the celestial (eternal spiritual body)  these are know as the green tree and the dry tree bodies, Luke 23:31

Jeremiah 4:24 God causes earthquakes, Jeremiah 4:25 God caused the entire earth to be flooded from above, hang onto the thought of flooded from above if you do not understand , we will get to that soon. Also take note that in 4:25 there is no man and no birds (no Noah)      No none, and the reason being it was the destruction of the first world age and we were here.

 God created the world to be inhabited a fruitful place, the age was destroyed, yet he did not make a full end to all of us or the world because he loves us and wishes that not one soul perish  2nd Pet.3:9  ,as I indicated before about the 1st destructive flood coming from above, it is clear to see, if you visualize 2nd Pet. 3:5-6 , also the three world ages are found,but most are willingly ignorant of,that by the word of God the heavens were of (old ) strong`s greek  #1597  you will find that it means: of a long time,long ago,for a long while ,abundantly above ,exceedingly.   This would be the first world age, it explains alot of the unexplained sites on earth that predate flesh man.

But the heavens and the earth which are (now) Strong`s greek #3568  translates : present or immediate, this would be the flesh age of testing we are in (now).

The third heaven and earth age begins at the change (all) will participate in in 1st Corinthians 15:51-52 , it is called the Lord`s day and you will find it 2nd Pet.3:10

There is simplicity in God`s truths and when the first resurrection occurs , at the beginning of the Lord`s day, which is a thousand year teaching period Rev. 20:6 ,  Know that God is looking forward to your being there , so he can call you blessed.

Pastor Matthew, encourages all to dig deep and in all your getting get understanding and make knowledge of God a priority in your lives, remember he does not wish one soul to perish , but there are some already sentenced to perish, satan and his fallen angels , that is why satan is called the son of perdition 2nd Thess. chap 2:3, perdition means to perish.

Comfort your hearts,and establish yourself in every good word and work. 2nd Cor. 2:17         Peace to you and knowledge from above.

God`s creation is ancient, you are part of that creation and were created a spiritual being , eternal in nature and you were put into the flesh by God and delivered through the womb of woman,when we die and return to God, it will be in the spiritual body.

It grieved God to have to put us into flesh,because he knew it would be very difficult for us. Genesis 6:6    God declared:  And it repented the Lord that he had made man on earth, and it greived him at his heart.

Do not be decieved, all pass through the flesh to be tested for content of character, you are appointed to the flesh but once.  Hebrews 9:27    

We are eternal spirirtual beings and flesh is temporary, perishable, and corruptable in nature. Luke 24:39  Christ makes it very clear to all who read;    Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit ( hath not) flesh and bones, as (you) (see)me have.

Again we have two bodies, one spiritual and one flesh .  Christ said look at his hands and feet,which means he was in his spiritual body at the time of the teaching, he even told them to touch him so they could see and feel he was of substance and able to be handled. Then he taught that a spiritual body is not made up of flesh , as they could (see and feel) for themselves.  

2nd Jn. verse 7 , Christ came in the flesh body or green tree, Luke 24:39 was after he had risen and he came in his spiritual body or dry tree.    Luke 23:31 is his crucifiction and 24:39 he has risen.