Divine Rebellions

 This is another great sermon by Dr. Michael Heiser, on the Unseen Realms.  Read with enjoyment.

If you ask the average Christian, ‘Why is the world so depraved?’  They’ll say, ‘It was the Fall in Genesis 3.’ But if you asked the first century Jews the same question, you would get ‘There are three reasons.  The first was the Fall, because the sin of Adam and Eve was the entrance of rebellion into God’s good Creation, which broke mankind from close fellowship with God; and death for all of us arose because of it (Romans 5:12 is a great verse on that, but first-century Jews would have to come up with a different verse).  The second was the rebellion in Genesis 6:1-4 with the sons of God; and the third reason was what happened at Babel.’  Our question for study is, How did these other two sources of depravity factor in, and why did their consideration disappear in current theology? 

The first source of depravity was the Fall. I agree that Adam and Eve's sin had a world-shaking effect, but I cannot comment on Dr. Heiser’s sermon portion on that.  By excluding his treatment, I am definitely not saying it is a lesser cause for depravity.  The reason for my exclusion is, he talks about the serpent, about the Garden of Eden, and many others, as metaphors.  he's doing bit of Origen, for the astute.  He’s saying that it might not have been a snake, it might not have been Eden.  Those terms have mystical, broader meanings instead.  My problem with this is, you’re moving away from an interpretation of Scripture as history, which I don’t want to see happen.  Keep in mind, we don’t know the appearance of the serpent before it was cursed, and for all we know, or maybe Adam knew, maybe it looked like a snake and maybe he thought a snake could talk.  Maybe Adam did not know language was only for humans; but, after all, elsewhere in Scripture a donkey talked (the joke was, that Balaam argued back),  so anything’s possible, especially in a brand-new world as Eden was. I am certainly not suggesting Dr. Heiser is spreading lies; he is extremely knowledgeable on Scripture and he opened up a secondary way to look at verses that presented a different look to their meanings; and what he says elsewhere makes sense.  My previous blog on him proves that. 

So let’s move on to his second reason for the causes of depravity in the world. This too is all explained in another blog, so I will be brief here. Genesis 6:1-5, we proved, was the sexual union between fallen angels and earth women. Since all creatures produced after their own kind, that meant that humans, with particular DNA structures, were supposed to procreate only with other humans.  But the fallen angels defied that.  Being immortal, they had a different DNA than humans, who are mortal. So their sexual union with human women produced an aberrant offspring--giants, called Nephilim.  Other Scripture supports that. This led to violence, and a gigantic corruption of genes. 

Also, the ancient book of Enoch has more details about the wicked Nephilim. No, the book of Enoch is not part of God's Word, but it has great credibility.  Enoch, as Genesis 5:24 proves, was perhaps the godliest man living at the time.  His writing was valid, because he is quoted three times in Scripture (Jude, II Peter, and John).  His writing showed that the Nephilim helped to proliferate sin in man by teaching men (1) skills and technologies for warfare—how to make swords and knives and spears; (2) about plants and herbs that have healing properties, as well as mind-altering properties--which led to people  becoming psychologically addicted; (3) about astrology (not astronomy), which in effect made them turn into idolatry—worshipping the sun, moon, and stars, trying to control their future; and (4) cosmetic arts of seduction which led to sexual immorality. The results of all this "wonderful technology" they taught were broken homes, bloodshed, and worship of demons, some of that through altered consciousness.  These were all horrors, all accelerating men’s skill in perverting themselves as individuals and as society. All this helped the proliferation of sin that left God frustrated enough to declare an end to mankind in Genesis 6:5. 

The third major reason for man’s depravity was the tower of Babel. That is where I have more to say. Genesis 11:1-9:

Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. ² And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. ³ And they said to one another…“Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” ⁵ And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. ⁶ And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. ⁷ Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.” ⁸ So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. ⁹ Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth

The purpose of the tower "with its top to the heavens" was to worship another god.  Our God judges sin; they wanted a god who would let them express their ego and pride, "to make a name for ourselves."  As a result, they stayed in one place, so they could build the tower, possible only with a large group.  They defied God's instruction to fill the earth (God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." Genesis 1:28). 

To understand further why God did this dispersion, other Scripture will help. Let's look at Deuteronomy 32:1b, 4b-6, 8-9, ESV:

 …hear, O earth, the words of my mouth…4…A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he;
They have dealt corruptly with Him;
    they are no longer his children because they are blemished;
    they are a crooked and twisted generation. ⁶ Do you thus repay the Lord,
    you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you…
    ⁸ When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance,
    when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples, according to the number of the sons of God ⁹ But the Lord's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage.

Note:  In case your version translates "sons of God" with a different word in v.8, keep this in mind:  the Dead Sea Scrolls proves that the correct phrase in v. 8 is “sons of God;” it even uses the word Elohim (see my last blog, "God and gods").  It’s not sons of Israel (which wasn’t even a nation yet!), nor sons of Adam, as other translations say.

We can assume that God might have thought, “This is the opposite of what I commanded.  I want a human family, I want the Edenic mandate (to fill the earth) to be fulfilled. I love you, I want the best for your lives, so please obey my commands, and you’ll get your best life. And your response?  ‘No, we’d like to build a tower, worship another god.’ 

The tower was a ziggurat, built to offer sacrifice and barter with whatever god they believed in. It was tall so they could more likely make their god hear their pleas and desires, and see them offering things to him in exchange.  This was unacceptable again, since our God did not work that way.  So God probably thought, ‘You refuse to be loyal to me, so you want another god; so I will give you what you really want:  a 'divorce’ from my love for you (see Deuteronomy 32:5 above, "no longer His children").  I will disinherit you. I’m still going to disperse you, divide you up (Deut. 32:8), and assign one spirit to command each of your nations--namely, each of you gets one of the sons of God to worship (Deut. 32:8 above). These fallen angels, these demons who wish to be worshipped as gods, can be your new rulers.  You can be under their corrupt command, since you want to worship other gods. Let’s put you under their thumb.’ This is the Old Testament equivalent of Romans 1:18-25, wherein God “gave (humankind) over” to their persistent rebellion.  God thought, ‘Hopefully you will grow tired of this god, this demon, and his rule over you.  Hopefully you will change your mind and let Me lead you; you will find that I love you. Perhaps you will turn back to Me.'

God still wanted a loyal, witness nation, a society who loves Him, to show  how what His leadership could do to bless a loyal nation.  He had His eyes on one man of great faith and godliness, Abram, and his wife Sarai (their grandson was Jacob, referred to in Deut.32:9 above.  They became renamed Abraham and Sarah, but they couldn’t have kids, they were too old--so they were perfect to start a godly nation with.  You say, how is that?  Because God wanted them to see His power and love when He performs a miracle and they have a child together. Then they will teach their children of His power and love. God then hoped they would continue a loyal family descending from that.  And every nation around them will hear of this power of God, too.  Besides the Biblical proof I’ve bolded and alluded to in Deuteronomy, why do I think this was the order of God’s thinking?  Because right after God’s language curse, the people began dispersing (as God wanted in the first place), grouping with people who spoke the same language in Genesis 11, and immediately God covenants with Abram in Genesis 12:1-3 to form and rule His nation!  Here it is:

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country (Note: Ur) and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. ² And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

“All the families” meant God was thinking of the lineage of Abram eventually going through David, then eventually to Jesus, Christ the Redeemer, who would truly bless all the families on earth. (Galatians 3:16).  God also wanted to show the world, who worshipped other gods, how His love would bless the Hebrew people.  This testimony would draw more people to Him, and be blessed as well.

The chosen nation Israel was supposed to finally be Yahweh’s family, starting from the godly Abraham.  They’re even called a “kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:6).  Since a priest is a mediator between God and men, Israel was, through its godliness and witness, supposed to be a mediator between Yahweh and all the nations.  A witness of a great God, with the people having a great testimony.

The sons of God that were to rule over the other nations, of course, failed God’s command to be just, as He knew they would—they were corrupt (Psalm 82:2-7—from my previous blog).  As a result, the lack of testimony meant people were blind about our real God; so now they were lost in the ugly power of sin in their lives.

There was a solution for this blindness and powerless, beautifully hinted in Psalm 82:8, where God gives hope through all our failures—through His Son, Jesus:

Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!

 The word for ‘arise’ is the same as the word for ‘resurrection.’  Sin’s death cannot defeat us, if we turn in faith to Jesus, who showed us that resurrection will defeat sin and have a new life in heaven when we die. 

I hope you’ve appreciated these nuggets from Scripture from Dr. Heiser, as much as I have.

God and gods

 Dr. Michael Heiser’s You tube on this subject is just too good to pass up.  Here’s the Cliff Notes version of one session.  Let’s begin with Psalm 82:1-7, using the English Standard version:

God has taken his place in the divine council;
    in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
² “How long will you judge unjustly
    and show partiality to the wicked? 
³ Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
    maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
⁴ Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

⁵ They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
    they walk about in darkness;
    all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

⁶ I said, “You are gods,
    sons of the Most High, all of you
⁷ nevertheless, like men you shall die,
    

The first word of the Psalm, God, is Elohim in Hebrew; this is the standard word for God.  But Elohim is also used for “midst of the gods” in verse 1, and “you are gods” in verse 6.  Interestingly, whoever these mystery beings are, are also called “sons of the Most High” in verse 6 as well.  The thing that disturbs us is, in these second and third use of Elohim, the surrounding Hebrew words definitely say it is plural.  So now it looks like a pantheon, Greek and Roman mythology stuff, doesn’t it? Our God, and the mystery gods.

In this Psalm, who is God talking to?  Who are these ‘gods?’  They seem to be in a ‘divine council’ with our God—and they are His sons!  (Before you get carried away, the word “sons” here simply means “direct creation by God.”  Adam was a son of God.  Angels were too–including Satan.)  To reconcile the use of Elohim in all these verses, some have suggested, ‘It’s the Trinity.’ But God is not talking to the other members of the Trinity, because He is chastising them for corruption; nor are any of the Trinity sentenced to death! So God is rebuking them and predicts His judgment upon them, yet they are also called ‘sons of the Most High.’  Hmmm.  Could these be angels–since we know that some angels are corrupt–namely, those led by Satan, who was once an angel.  Isaiah 14:12ff gives the event that they fell. 

Modern commentaries suggest that God is talking to people, either Jewish elders or members of the Sanhedrin. But that can’t be; He calls them ‘gods,’ but God's Word is not suggesting that man becomes godlike.  Also, Jesus never says or implies that men are actually ‘gods,’ somehow the same as Jesus (as some apostate religions teach today).  So, the verses are not men either.

Look at Psalm 89:5-6, to learn more:

Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord,
    your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
⁶ For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
    Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord,
⁷ a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,

The “assembly of the holy ones” or “heavenly beings,” or the “council of the holy ones,” or our “divine council” in Psalm 82 earlier—they are all “sons of God,” or “sons of the Most High.”   And they’re also “gods;” and “gods” are all translations of Elohim in Hebrew, which we usually associate to our good God.  And they are counseling with God Most High, in the heavenlies, “in the skies.” So, we’re thinking, who are these guys? How do they get a position in council with Him?

 Well, here’s some thoughts an expanded brain might see. For those who ask, why does God need a council anyway? He’s omniscient.  In our response, we might first ask, why did God create Man?  He didn’t need us either; He’s not deficient for knowledge or lonely.  The best guess is:  He must like our company; maybe He liked the angels’ company–even after they became corrupt. If that seems hard to believe, consider: He has love for us–and we’re corrupted in sin.  

I Kings 22:19-25 adds to this subject, but first a little background:  The Jewish kingdom at this time was divided—Israel in the north, under Ahab, and Judah in the south, under Jehoshaphat.  Ahab is trying to persuade Jehoshaphat to join him in conquering Ramoth-Gilead.  Ahab asks his own prophets about the battle, but these are an ungodly Baal-worshiping bunch that, of course, predict his victory (whatever he wants to hear–just like many of our pastors today).  But Jehoshaphat persuades Ahab to bring forth a godly prophet, Micaiah. So let’s pick it up at verse 19:

And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; ²⁰ and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-Gilead?’… ²¹ Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ ²² And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And He said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ ²³ Now therefore behold, (Micaiah said), the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; (but) the Lord has declared disaster for you.”

God is again partnering with likely a council of fallen angels in the heavens, this time called “the host of heaven.”   But this group is not to be confused with the ones that serenaded the shepherds in Bethlehem.  In this case, they are deciding how Ahab is going to die, to be judged for his life of evil.  The fallen angels are evil spirits in His presence. They are ready to deceive Ahab.

Dr. Heiser concludes, after all this, that God has a heavenly council of spirits, made up of His first creation of “sons,” (remember, the Hebrew is defined as "direct creations") which were called ‘angels.’  But since some of them turned evil, these verses must be after some angels fell.  Yet they are allowed to participate with Him, and they are correctly translated“ gods” (from Elohim) and “sons of God,” since they are a direct creation by our God. All under the term Elohim. But clearly, we can determine by things that are said, who the real God (also Elohim in singular) is; He is Higher than they are, and judges them as well. So clearly everyone in council knows that there is not an equality in the council.  There are several verses that confirm that Yahweh, our God, is “God of all gods” (Psa 86:8, 95:3 for instance). 

So evil gods—angels, after they fell— are all called Elohim, like our good God. We, as Westerners, like to associate unique, and good, attributes with the term Elohim—like omniscience and omnipresence, terms of a God who loves us–and we like to ignore any other possibilities. We also want to make Elohim in a singular context only–our God. We’re “used” to having only one God; and we get creeped out when the word is plural.  And we wonder why God would allow His enemies to be present in heaven, even participate, in divine counsel. But, as we can see with Scripture (if we use an open mind), they plainly did. The Biblical writers were evidently unfazed by these gods, this expansion of the definition of the Hebrew Elohim—we have to believe they simply knew their Scriptures better than we do. Don’t forget, God is the ultimate writer of all Scripture, so we cannot doubt its truthfulness. 

Elohim, as it turns out, is used for three different things that are not our God of the Bible:  (1) The mysterious “council” in heaven, as we have already seen; (2) gods of the nations, called Elohim in I Kings 11:33–they are named, such as Asherah, Ashtaroth, Chemosh, and Milcom—each of which really was a powerful demon (the "best" demons ruled nations) worshipped and ruled, each as god of a nation close to Israel. While we’re on that, it seems to me, given the terrorism gripped in a nation like Iran, that the fallen angels still have a role as powerful demons over nations. 

The third use for "Elohim" is demons.  For proof: A relative word, "shedim," in Deuteronomy 32:17 is translated correctly as “demon” in the ESV (the bold word below).  The thing I want you to note, is that it is the same creatures translated “gods,” Elohim.  

They (Ed. note: Israel) sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded.

This Hebrew word shedim, gives us another bit of knowledge about demons. Shedim literally means ‘territorial entity.’ Compare that to “the gods of the nations” (Elohim), in #2 above, and we conclude that demons are ruling in different sizes of playing fields. This suggests a hierarchy of demons.

The above #3 example for Heiser’s sermon is in I Samuel 28:13, which is the story of Saul needing a medium (or witch) to prophesy the winner of his upcoming battle with the Philistines. When he approached her, she says, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” (speaking of a physical appearance of the dead. But she doesn’t really believe it will happen. She probably plans on producing a hazy mist of smoke and then convince him it’s Samuel).  He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” (Samuel had died, don’t forget). She was totally surprised when Samuel actually appeared and spoke. (His appearance could have been an artifice of a body, too). She was afraid.  Saul said, “Do not be afraid.  What did you see?” She said, “I saw a spirit…”  The Hebrew word for spirit is Elohim. Another proof that Elohim is also used to describe disembodied human dead, as well. 

Thus we conclude that Elohim is not simply used only for our God, with all His good attributes.  There are lots of Elohim, in these cases demons, because there are lots of spirit beings. All are called Elohim.  But no other Elohim is like Yahweh—simply by reading the text, you can deduce that. He is the Creator, He is sovereign over all. There is a judgment day coming for the other Elohim.   

Let’s give another Scripture.  In Daniel 4:13-24 we read of a vision of Nebuchadnezzar.  Daniel interprets it. The king learns that his vision was predicting God’s decree of temporary insanity upon him (because of his pride), such that he would be wandering in fields eating grass for food.  These verses start with Nebuchadnezzar’s words:

“I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. ¹⁴ He cried aloud and said…”And let him graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth.
¹⁶ Let his heart be changed from that of a man,
Let him be given the heart of a beast, And let seven (years) pass over him.

¹⁷ ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order that the living may know
That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men…

²⁴ (Ed. Now Daniel speaks): This is the interpretation,  O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king…

The Bible is consistent, as always.  This decree was pronounced by the ‘holy ones,’ the fallen angels, but this time they are called the ‘watchers.’  Yet the decision was made by the Most High (our God).  But there is still council participation … again allowed by God.  He evidently likes to do that.  We surmise that when He created spirits, He wanted children who were part of the family. The angels rebelled. But so have we. He feels that way toward us Christians, only stronger, because those of mankind who are saved will stay with Him; the demons will all end in the lake of fire.  (I might surmise that God, for the angels who were left on His side after the angel rebellion, took away the good angels' free will so that no new dark angels will arise. Unfortunately, the evil angels are immortal like the good angels).  God gives us the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20) to have us participate in giving Him more children. 

This has given me another thought: this might explain another strange Bible verse that had left me puzzled.  I’m talking about God creating Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:26-27:

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea… and over the livestock over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  27 So God created man in his own image,  in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

How does your Study Bible explain the plural “our”?  Mine says it’s like a single king sovereignly using the plural to explain his individual action.  So that "explanation" says, “God was taking counsel, and talking with Himself.” Sounds fishy. Or, it could be that God was speaking with the other members of the Trinity.  But why couldn't it be, He was speaking to His heavenly council?  If you take that view, note that when he is done speaking with the council, He creates us in His singular “image.” So it’s our God doing it, nobody else–we’re created in His image. The same wording is also in Genesis 11:7 at the tower of Babel, by the way.

And we can’t avoid Job 1:6 and 2:1, which start out with “the sons of God:”  One of them is Satan.   It seems shocking that He gave him permission to speak his accusations of God’s favorite child, Job:

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them…. 

So, it’s clear that Satan had access to the heavenlies. This further adds to our proof about these beings are fallen angels in the Elohim council. Thank God, someday He will no longer have to listen to these accusations. Scripture says He will banish him from His presence, and later throw them down to hell.

Yet my brain thought another question about “sons of God.”  You may have asked this: How is Jesus the ‘only begotten’ son of God (John 3:16, King James) now that we know that other sons of God exist?  

A different issue is raised, too: Some religions also say Jesus can’t be eternal if He is ‘begotten,’ which suggests His life began when He was born.

The answer to both questions is this: The problem phrase is the mistaken ‘only begotten,’ which was based on a study of ancient Greek manuscripts that had been dug up and were available in the 1600s.  The Greek word the Apostle John wrote was ‘monogenes,’ but the word fell out of use and, 1500+ years later, men were uncertain as to its meaning. It was guessed that it was made up of two words, monos, or ‘only,’ and ‘gennao,’ or ‘beget, bear.’  But according to more accurate koine Greek (from earlier parchment found by recent archaeological digs), it should be ‘monos,’ or ‘only,’ and ‘genos,’ which means ‘class or kind.’  Thus, the ‘only begotten’ translation was wrong–it should be ‘one of a kind,’ or ‘unique.’  Jesus was/is eternal, a definitely unique characteristic. Jesus was the Immanuel, God with us.  His uniqueness separates Him from the angels and demons. He WAS God, as other Scriptures prove. 

There is still another interesting verse that raises yet another question: Hebrews 11:17:

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son (ed. note: “only begotten” is a KJV translation, which is when they were still guessing its meaning.  In the more recent ESV,  it is translated as “only son”)   

But neither ‘only begotten son’ nor ‘only son’ can be an accurate translation, since Isaac was preceded in birth by Ishmael.  But it is correct
if we substitute the correct words, “his unique son” (ESV should have translated it that way).  And Isaac was unique, unlike Ismael; born from a freewoman, Sarah, born when his parents were 100 and 90 years old, an impossibility. He was a child of promise, instead of a child of a slave woman (Hagar). In the same way, Jesus is ‘unique’ in John 3:16: Yes, because Jesus is God!  Philippians 2:6 (NIV) says:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage…

"Equality with God" is accurate, since Jesus was God.

Back to Dr. Heiser.  He finishes his session by clearing up another difficult phrase, in John 10:33-36, when the Jews were ready to stone Jesus because He claimed to be God:

 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? (Ed. Note: He is quoting Psalm 82:6, our head-scratching verse at the beginning of this paper) ³⁵ If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— ³⁶ what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?  ³⁷ If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; ³⁸ but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”

Jesus, to defend His claim of deity, is saying, “Look, doesn’t Scripture have God speaking to other gods?  So, Psa 82:6 asserted there are other gods, and sons of god, who are real. So, since our own Scripture says that category exists; therefore when I say that I’m more than a man, it’s possible. You can’t just assume I’m blaspheming if I make such a claim. So you only have to decide if I’m a fallen angel ‘god’ or God’s unique Son. If you want to condemn me, you can’t have as your ‘proof’ that I’m a mere man, and committing blasphemy. Your real proof of what I am can only be by my works. Do I do works of God?  Or do I do works that demons do?  

 Was Jesus a great debater? Of course. 

Let nobody say that Jesus did not claim to be God.  He did! 

I hope you enjoyed this paper and Dr. Heiser. I’ve got more from this knowledgeable man later.

Was Creation Done in Six Days?

 There are huge debates that flare up in Christendom about Creation.  IF you believe that the Bible is the Word of God, it is very clear in what it says:  God created and populated our planet with life, ending with the crown of creation, Adam and Eve, in six literal days.  The very first words of the Bible, Genesis 1:1 says:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

Then He says, at the end of the First day,

So the evening and the morning were the first day.

It uses the word ‘day,’ with "evening" then "morning," which has to be implying 24-hours literally.  Then He repeats this exact phrase after each day of Creation: ….evening …morning …second day, and so on.  This repetition of 24-hour parameters supports the literal meaning of the word ‘day’ being 24-hour periods. In Exodus 20:11, at the time the Ten Commandments were given, it says this:  

For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

It plainly says “six days.” It’s also true that the Sabbath day is, of course, one 24-hour period, in a week of 24-hour periods. Exodus 31:17 says the same thing, except it says that “on the 7^th day He (God) rested.”  Does it make sense to stretch the word ‘day’ to millions of years on the seventh day?  Does it take millions of years for God to get up enough strength to continue on? There’s a rule in Bible hermeneutics that says, use the literal meaning if at all possible. Many theologians have violated that rule.  But  given God’s omnipotence, it’s certainly possible He created all this in 6 days.  He could have created the earth to look old. Or, the Flood (since it reached mountaintops in depth) unleashed in rapid fashion a gigantic compression of weight, and a layer-upon-layer of mud in a disaster that could explain what has been found—but we never hear about that.  The problem is, science won’t seriously considered that idea; the experts evidently ignore those “wacko Christian scientists”--because, they say, their explanations are Biblical, not scientific, in origin. Is it possible for something to be Biblical and scientific? Why not look up Institute for Creation Research, at ICR.org, or visit the narratives on the walls around Noah’s Ark in Kentucky for some real facts?  The Bible is scientific, too. Today, though, "smart" people put no belief in the supernatural--also in the Bible. But given the “findings” of science, and their theories on evolution, we’re supposed to expand the word “day” in Genesis 1 to mean millions of years to allow their “science” of evolution to be assimilated into Scripture. Too many theologians and pastors compromise on Scripture and bow to the world's science when the Bible has legitimate theories of explanation. These men will pay their due. 

Even modern commentaries of Scripture often cave, and say ‘Yes, the word “day” in Genesis 1 could mean (or even "likely means") millions of years.’ So here we have a translation of a simple Bible word, “day,” bandied out for political purposes and redefined simply because science says so.  Our pastors and theologians are intimidated.  Some pastors are even mind-lamed enough to accept evolution.

Dr. John MacArthur has some wise words on this.  As before, I will Cliff Notes them, changing several phrases so as to offer explanation--but I have changed nothing of his ideas, or most of his words.  Read with enjoyment: 

No one gets past the first verse of the Bible without facing the test of submission to Scripture.  Is the ‘day’ actually a day?  It isn’t unclear--it is crystal clear that it is a day.  But that’s hard to swallow.  So you never get past the first chapter of Genesis without declaring whether you submit to Scripture being God’s Word.  You either accept it or reject it--but you don’t have the right to alter it by changing the meaning of "day" beyond what is clearly before you.  There are times when the literal meaning of "day" is not the meaning—such as hyperboles, anthropomorphisms, prophecies, poetry, idioms—but God wouldn’t start the Bible out in fuzzy words, and none of the examples I just gave are implied in Genesis.  So you must fall back on a literal day.

Flat out, there is no evolution in Genesis 1, 2, or 3—or anywhere else in the Bible. Our God is a God of truth, and of unbelievable power and knowledge.  In all the debates on inerrancy of original Scripture being passed down accurately or with error, the archeology over the centuries hasn’t dented one thing that has any real importance being in error—and no scholar has suggested that translations of Genesis 1-3 have been altered any over the millennia.  So, we’re faced with those words being the words God wanted to tell us. Do we believe that God created ex nihilo, out of nothing?  He did.  But evolution maintains that something came out of nothing, yet without God.  That requires more faith than belief in God!  Those that would argue that ‘God used evolution’ have no Scripture to stand on—only ‘science,’ so called.  Which would you choose?  The current word of science?  Or the Word from God?

Keep one important thing in mind as you consider:  “Creation science” is an oxymoron (i.e., words that have opposite meanings in a phase, and can’t go together).  Science is a study of natural law; but Creation is supernatural.  No scientific method has the tools to study Creation. Scientists are supposed to rely on observable repetition. But the only one who knows how Creation happened is the One Who was there—God.  So a critical proof of science—‘observation’—has nothing to say. So when people say, ‘Don’t we have to apply science to the Genesis account?’  The fact is, you can’t apply science to a miracle.  So, you Christians out there, you don’t have to apply scientific methodology to explain Creation.  You can’t.  Because all science is based on observation, and verification by repetition.  But Creation has no observers, can’t be verified, and isn’t repeated.  It cannot be described by any predictable facts that science are used to.

So you can believe God, Who always tells the truth, or you can believe Charles Darwin.  He’s pretty convincing, apparently, because 99% of the universities are Darwinian in their "science" department.  Of the National Science Academy members who were self-described atheists, 100% of them believed in evolution.  It is our belief that they backed into atheism from how they interpreted biology to suit their own needs.

You should know that moving from Biblical Creation to Darwin is apostasy—a defection from God's Word, His truth, and the Christian faith. This means a bad eternal ending for its believers. Take a look at other people who move away from the Bible to teach other ‘acceptable’ doctrines--like Karl Marx (founder of socialism and communism), and John Dewey (founder of secular humanism).  Though Darwin was later than these other two men who did everything they could to shred Christianity, his theories were, like theirs, a way to explain the universe without God.  Apostate scientists looking for pseudo reasons to reject Christianity and God finally found an acceptable theory in Darwin. It’s what they want. (That shows an unscientific predisposition). If God can be separated from origins, then we could be separated from God; and if we could be separated from God, then we don’t have to worry about sin, and guilt, and judgement—and we’re free to do whatever we want.  So evolution is not a logical door that you enter and accept it; no, you back into it amorally (or immorally) because you want to get rid of God, and do whatever sin you want.

That is the baggage you’re accepting with Darwin.  Here’s some more baggage:  He believed in eugenics and even genocide (Editor’s note: see my blog on Margaret Sanger). Historians say he was a sadist and took great enjoyment in torturing and killing animals as a child.  He loved to kill birds by pounding on their heads with a hammer. Grown up, he carried on one voyage several guns, and hoped that he might be able to ‘kill cannibals’ (his quote).  Reliable historians wrote that he, as an adult, suffered from depression, agoraphobia (fear of crowds), insomnia, vision alterations, hallucinations, malaise, vertigo, shaking tachycardia, fainting spells, shortness of breath, trembling, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, muscle twitches, spasms, tremors, cramps, bloatings, headaches, nervous exhaustion, skin blisters, tinnitus, sensations of loss of consciousness, and fear of impending death!  So said his doctors. I suspect much of this might have been brought on by more than a little guilt.  For assaulting God!  Now if you want to pick Darwin for your hermeneutical genius to interpret Genesis, you just need to know that. And yet, his book has redefined the worldview. But those who believe in it are using faith—because no one has an explanation for the Very Beginning.
 But as I proved before:  Creation had no observable beginning; so choosing it is totally by faith. Why not believe the revelation of the Creator? He is the only one who was there. All that’s left for you is, are you going to believe Scripture, or are you not?  But don’t come and layer Charles Darwin in God’s Holy Word. “Well,” somebody says, “couldn’t God have used evolution?” That’s an irrelevant question; that’s an irritating question.  He didn’t, because He told you what He did. He said He made everything in six days.  If you really believe in the attributes of God, are you going to argue with Him?  

Turn to Job 38; Job and his friends are searching for an explanation of why God has made him sick and poor when he has served God all his life.  Here is part of God’s response to him:

 “Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
³ Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.⁴ “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.⁵ Who determined its measurements? Surely you know!

God goes on like this for 4 chapters. This is in response to His sovereignty under attack. We of finite minds cannot question the infinite mind of God --his mind is not our mind.  We can't begin to understand some things. This is a beatdown; poor Job— hurry, hit the count of 10, the beatdown is over.  Finally Job says (Job 42):

I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. But now my eye sees You.⁶ Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”

This is what the evolutionists in this country need to do. Who do we think we are, rejecting God’s Word of what He has created, or rejecting His power?

Yes, God is sarcastic and seemingly unfeeling in Job.  But there are at least three truths we learn.  (1) God is omnipotent and His motivation is past understanding; (2) He does bless Job abundantly later in his life; and (3) Job, because of sin, is not beyond suffering in the world, as we all do.  This is supposed to motivate us to seek heaven beyond this troubled life. My point here is, questioning God is a serious situation to be in—because it shows a lack of faith in Him.  Consider Hebrews 11:3: 

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. 

Evolution proposes that what you see was made from something else that you see.  But God’s Word says that what you see was made out of nothing.  

Some people say, “We have to accommodate science, go easy on it so we don't appear strange;” so they came up with Intelligent Design (ID) as a “safe” middle ground of moderation. Truth is, this is done so the “Christian” scientists who encourage this “cop out” don't have to name God to their peers. They avoid embarrassment. Truth is, they don’t have the faith that God will honor them someday for standing up for Him. And without faith, we cannot please Him, as Hebrews 11:6 says. Their refusal to name God as Creator is essentially a rejection of God. They are naming an impersonal force of intelligent design--but that’s not God; He is not impersonal.  They are denying His attributes.  For the Intelligent Design people, here is a word:  "lukewarm." Consider the moderation exercised by the “lukewarm” “believers” in Revelation 3:15-16:

 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 

What is the effect of Jesus vomiting them out of His Body?  Being out of His Body means your place for eternity is the only other location—Hell. Same place as the evolutionists, who are really trying to escape God, unless they repent. They want to avoid accountability, morality, and God’s judgment. Effectively, the ID people have the same witness as the evolutionists.  Please go all the way with Christ in standing up for Him.

Here's another weak testimony.  A president of an  international Christian denomination was sent a question on his organization beliefs on Creation.  His response:

 The organization takes no stand on creation, avoiding such secondary issues; our efforts are designed to bring people together, based on the historically essential doctrines of orthodoxy. Creation falls into the category of non-essentials like spiritual gifts, eternal security, and the rapture.

Amazing response…secondary issue?  So it doesn’t matter how life started (or how it ends, for these guys). These are not ‘secondary;’ they are primary.  Clearly by the ‘list of avoidable topics for taking a stand,’ this leader hates controversy. 

Think about this before giving money for the Lord's work. You want to know about whether a ministry truly stands up for the Bible?  Just call the head of the ministry PR and ask:  “Do you believe in a 6-day Creation as revealed in Genesis?”  If they say, “no,” then they don’t believe Scripture there, and they may also have other areas they feel like backing away from (or will in the future).  

Think about your stand on Genesis 1 and 2.  Our answer to Genesis 1 and 2 also reveals our attitude toward Scripture everywhere else.  But those who pick and choose "acceptable" subjects to discuss or take a stand, this amounts to judging God on what we like and what we don’t like in His Word. It's also to avoid seeming peculiar.  If we allow the culture to win over Christians on Genesis, then the culture can win over the Bible anywhere else.

A few years ago there was a report done by the Christian Coalition who had polled 105 “Christian” colleges on the subject of Creation, among others. Only 5 (five!) believed in the literal Genesis account! I have a blog that shows their compromises. In God’s plan of events, Creation is a primary issue in the Gospel.  I Corinthians 15:22 tie Gospel and Creation together, when it says for the first man created (not evolved):

 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 

Adam and Christ—the first and the last—the created and the Creator--are also explained in Paul’s Gospel teachings in Romans as well as other New Testament Scriptures.  These comparisons of Adam and Christ are important salvation opposites.  Consider belief in Christ a "restart" button, creating a new life--since you are born again (John 3), and a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17), you get to start over, repenting from the old ties to the world, and live a righteous life.

What is the purpose of Creation—for us?  It glorifies God for His creation power.  The comparison of Adam and Christ points to God’s redemptive purpose; God is gathering a bride for His Son. God determined Redemption before the world began.  Then He performed Creation.  While we’re on earth, we know we are accountable to God.  We have forgiveness for our sins.  We are the Church, to display His grace and mercy, His compassion and kindness.  A redeemed humanity will glorify God and Jesus Christ forever, and will always stand up for His Word.