Bible is a work of fiction

Let me start by pointing out that the bible does contain elements that are indeed faith based. That means that some things that you asked such as how long was he sitting there before he started making things is impossible to answer. Just like it is impossible to prove that the earth is made out of a molten core or that the law of gravity will never change. Second remember some of the things in the bible are metaphorical while others are not. Next let me point out that since God is super-natural some things he does can't be explained by science due to the fact that science is defined as "the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment." Since God is not physical nor is he natural he can't be explained by science. What I can give you is the leading theories. First when the bible talks about the earth being made in seven days it could be speaking metaphorically. This is especially likely with the first four days due to the fact that, according to Genesis 1, God didn't create the sun till day four. Also in the same chapter it hints that the earth as we know it didn't even exist when it said that "the earth was without form. Now God could have straight up said the earth never existed till he made it. But it's original readers would have been confused. As for day and night, as far as I know there is not a theory for that. As I said before lots of the stuff in the bible is faith based. As for what was there before, it would be the same thing that is at the ends of our universe. Absolutely nothing. The Bible does not say what created God. In fact it says that God is forever. It also hints that God is not of this universe meaning that time as we know it doesn't effect him. I personally am not a stereotypical creationist so I have no idea why they believe what they believe. But my objection to an eternal universe is the fact that the universe is expanding. So all you have to do is subtract how the edge is expanding each year from the the radius and you get the year the universe was created if the universe moved at a uniform rate. Now to the Garden of Eden, in short the reason God put that tree into the garden was because he needed the ability to give humans a choice due to his narcissistic nature. The first hint of evil in the bible is when God created angels. He created a certain angel named Lucifer. Now Lucifer was the most beautiful of the angels and was very influential. Then the power went to his head and he tried to lead a rebellion to overthrow God. When he failed he got sent to earth. God needed the tree so that humans would have a choice between Gods way or there way. As for the fruit that's faith based though tradition says they were supernatural apples. The serpent (not snake) was Lucifer in a certain form. The reason that people can believe that the bible is historical facts is the simple fact that the bible has never been proven wrong. Now lots of people like to point out the facts that defy logic but as I have said before God is supernatural and some things in the bible are metaphors. Now my question for you is why wouldn't you believe in the bible. According to Bayes' Theory there is a 67% chance that God exists. While there is a 2.41e^-179% chance that ribozymes would evolve the way that they did. This means if in fact you were to die you would most likely have to face some sort of Heaven and Hell.