WHY THE BIBLE’S HISTORY IS SO IMPORTANT?

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Because the history in Genesis 1–11 is the foundation for everything, and it has a totally different account of origins than what young people hear at schools, universities, and nearly everywhere else, they have questions about the Bible’s history that need answers. They need to know that the Bible’s history is trustworthy. Evolution has been one of Satan’s best strategies to destroy belief in God’s word. We need the basic answers for the history in Genesis 1–11 because the devil wants to cause people to doubt and not believe this history because it is foundational to the Gospel message. In fact, Biblical history is foundational to all doctrine, to marriage, to gender, the origin of sin, pain and death and how to deal with racism, abortion, and the environment, just as it is foundational to the saving gospel message.

Creation in seven days is fundamental to how we need to live. God made it clear in His commandments:

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it, you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8-11

The Fall: a once-perfect world is cursed by God, and sin and death enter the world because Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command. They were deceived by a fallen angel, Satan, who is now the prince of this world and with his minions. other fallen angels continue to deceive the world.

Nephilim: Genesis 6:1–4 tells us that the Nephilim, which means “fallen ones,” were the product of copulation between divine beings (i.e., sons of God) and human women (i.e., daughters of Adam). The “sons of God” as referring to angels seems to be the most consistent interpretation of this phrase. The expression sons of God is employed in antithesis to daughters of men; it is clear that the former pertains to beings outside the human sphere. The Nephilim are known as great warriors and Biblical giants (see Ezekiel 32:27 and Numbers 13:33). This is the main reason why God had to destroy all human and hybrid angel/human life on Earth.

Noah’s Flood was a worldwide flood that destroyed all but the eight humans and the animals, insects, and birds that were on the Ark. The apostle Peter tells us that before Jesus returns, people will deny Biblical history about creation and the worldwide flood of Noah’s day. Biblical prophecy is once again being confirmed.

“For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of the water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these, the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.“ 2 Peter 3:5-7

God created the nations by confusing their language because the people were disobedient to His command to multiply and cover all the Earth. The world has not been able to come up with a reasonable explanation for the nations and their languages, yet they totally reject God as the miraculous source.

“Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there… Then they said, “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… 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… Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city (Babel). ” Genesis 11:7-8

God created a nation, Israel, to fulfil His purposes on Earth. Much of the Old Testament is about God’s interaction with His nation and the prophets that God appointed. These prophets are all told that a Messiah would arise to lead and save the nation. Even before Israel went into the Promised Land, Moses told them their entire history, including their being cast out of the land and scattered throughout the world.

“And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and He will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.“ Deuteronomy 30:1-3

“And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” Deuteronomy 30:5-6

The Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7) is the promise that God made to David that David’s heir would sit on the throne of Israel. Jesus is that heir, but He has yet to take His physical, political birthright.

The New Covenant: It outlines the promise that Israel as a nation will return to God and worship their Messiah. These covenants will be fulfilled during the 1000-year reign.

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke… For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Jeremiah 31:31-33

All of the O.T. is about this coming Messiah, JESUS. Biblical end-time prophecies are playing out in our day, so we know Jesus’ return to Earth is not too far off. Next on God’s agenda for planet Earth is Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom.

PERSECUTION COMES WITH THE TERRITORY

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Speaking your beliefs as a Christian now can result in a mixed bag of anger, frustration, hostility, and many people who decide they can “no longer associate” with someone like you.

Some of the beliefs that will trigger these sentiments are as follows:

1. Life begins at conception. Abortion is murder.

2. There are only two genders, and we don’t get to pick between the two.

3. Marriage is designed to be between one man and one woman and sex is confined to husband and wife. Homosexuality is an abomination to God.

4. Children deserve two parents — a mum and a dad — who are there for them.

5. There’s only one true God. There’s only one way to God, and it’s through Jesus Christ.

6. Jesus made it possible for our Heavenly Father to send the Holy Spirit to be our counsellor, teacher, helper, and comforter.

7. With the Holy Spirit and the word of God, we have all we need to live a Christian life. The word of God, being inerrant and infallible, is the source of all that is good, true, and beautiful.

Redemption, for the Christian, is the freedom we have in Christ. But it was not free, for it cost Christ His life.

Isaiah revealed to the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the religious leaders of the day 700 years before Jesus Christ, their Messiah was born that he would die so that their sins could be forgiven and this is not the end of the story read what else God revealed to Isaiah.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed... he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people… Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief… For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have ompassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer.” Isaiah 53:5-6, 8, 54:7-8

My concern is that just as the religious leaders of Jesus Day did not heed the prophecies of Jesus’ first coming, the religious leaders of our day are not heeding the many prophecies of Jesus’ second coming.

The Fall: Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden for disobeying God and eating from the tree of Good and Evil.

The Bible is full of these beautiful depictions of the reality of our redemption. We are free because Christ restored what was lost in “The Fall” through His death, burial, and resurrection! And so, with all this in mind, we understand what redemption is and can now rightly live out our faith.

Christians must understand how crucial it is to speak the truth in love. We’re called to extend a loving hand to our enemies. We must bring back healthy dialogue with our neighbours, and Christians should lead the charge! We were never meant to be silent or sit back in the face of adversity. Under a hostile government, we can understand the need to stand firm. 

MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD?

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“When God created man (Adam), he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.” Genesis 5:1-3

Adam is said to be made in the image of God but after The Fall things have changed such that Adam’s son is not described as created in God’s image but in fallen Adam’s image and likeness. This is a statement of theological significance confirmed in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15.

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned… ” Romans 5:12

“For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners,” Romans 5:19

“Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust,” 1 Corinthians 15:49

Adam’s image includes two things that God’s image did not include. It includes SIN and DEATH. All humans have become dead sinners because we bear Adam’s image. Sin is pollution, which is why Jesus describes the human heart as the source of all kinds of wickedness.

“What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Mark 7:20-23

Whilst we are no longer made in God’s image the good news is that Jesus is made in God’s image.

“He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” Colossians 1:15

“the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4;4

“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Hebrews 1:3

The entrance of Jesus Christ into world history was not a surprise. It was part of God’s plan to undo the Fall as prophesied in Genesis 3:15. These words were spoken to Satan.

“I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15

Jesus is the woman’s child. He will be injured (bruised heel). But he (Jesus) will destroy sin and death by crushing Satan’s head.

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5

This is important because sin and death are our problem, not God’s. It is on us to put it right, but it is beyond our power to put it right because it is against God. So the powerful God became man to put things right for mankind.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Scripture records that:

“For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

“so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9

Just before His death, Jesus said this astonishing thing in prayer.

“I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” John 16:4-5

ANCIENT SUMERIANS RECORDED THE DIVIDE OF HEAVEN AND EARTH IN ACCORD WITH THE BIBLE

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Before Adam ate the forbidden fruit, the heavenly (spiritual) dimension, and the earthly dimension were one realm— one domain, one plane of existence in which God, angels, and man had open communication and relationship; There was no separation between the spiritual realm, and the physical realm. There was perfect compatibility and agreement between them, an idea also found in Mesopotamian literature: “Heaven talked with Earth. Earth talked with Heaven.” (The Xianhua Wang Metamorphosis of Enlil (Satan) in Early Mesopotamia Pg. 152)

“Anu (the creator god) carried off heaven while Enlil carried off the earth and assumed most of An’s powers.” (Kramer, Samuel Noah The Sumerians The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1963. Pg. 37-41)

“Enlil … was at about the same time cosmologically considered the deity who separated Heaven from Earth and Earth from Heaven.” (Xianhua Wang The Metamorphosis of Enlil in Early Mesopotamia. Pg. 100.)

God walked in the Garden, and man could look at his face and endure God’s fire and lightning. Man’s transgression brought decay, degeneration, and death. God’s perfection and the fallen physical, earthly realm became incompatible. Now God’s fiery presence would scorch the ground like when He descended on Mt. Sinai (The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. Psalms 97: 5). Now man could no longer see God’s face and live. The Garden of Eden, where God, angels, and man could commune together was gone. Open, unveiled fellowship became impossible. This divide of heaven and Earth caused by Satan (Enlil) was recorded by the ancient Sumerians ( Kramer, Samuel Noah The Sumerians The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1963. Pg. 37-41).

After The Fall, when God came into the Garden in the cool of the evening, Adam and Eve were compelled to hide themselves. Why? The first sign of disconnect was when they realised they were naked. They had been clothed with light like God covers himself “with light as with a garment” (Psalms 104: 2). They observed the glow in which they had previously been clothed was fading. This reality was displayed after Moses spent forty days with God and upon coming down the mountain, he “did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him” (Exodus 34: 29). When the congregation saw him, “The skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him” (Exodus 34: 30).

After God announced the consequences of man’s actions, God had to remove Himself from his own creation, lest His fire destroy it. This removal is what the Scriptures call the veil. It is what marks the boundary between our earthly, physical domain and the spiritual domain. Isaiah first spoke of its removal: “And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces” (Isaiah 25: 7– 8). The prophet Isaiah also pined: “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down” (Isaiah 64: 1). Whatever the veil is, it can be torn and removed.

There are four other distinct places where the veil (heavens) was opened: “I saw the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God” (Ezekiel 1: 1). “Jesus came up … and the heavens were opened to Him” (Matthew 3: 16). Stephen: “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts 7: 55– 56). John: “I saw heaven opened … Jesus was on a white horse” (Revelation 19: 11).

Since The Fall the cosmos exists as two realms— the one in which we live, and the other where spirit-based beings live and where God’s presence is manifest. The one realm was split into two: the earthly dimension is what Satan rules, he is the god of this world; the heavenly or spiritual dimension is where God rules. (God rules all, of course, but Satan has authority in the earthly realm.)

God did not curse the ground because of Adam; rather, like a reporter, He simply presented the consequence of the degenerative decay-death reaction that Adam triggered (Genesis 2: 17). God said, “Cursed is the ground for your sake” (Genesis 3: 17).

God created Adam from the adamáh (earth); Adam was the earth-man, the federal head of creation. Adam and the adamáh were linked physically and hence their fates were linked. When Adam ate from the fruit, death, degeneration, and decay happened upon Adam and upon the Earth and material cosmos as well. Decay permeated the entire creation from the invisible world of cells and DNA to all the animals, birds, and fish that God had formed out of the adamáh. Degeneration began within all living and non-living matter; the atoms of every tree, flower, blade of grass, rock, mountain, planet, and star. The complete composition of all physical creation became incompatible with God’s fiery presence.

I have found it liberating to understand the true history of God and His Cosmos and that the ancient world like the Sumerians recorded it in accord with God’s Word. I hope you find it liberating as well.

The information in this post has been extracted from Douglas Hamp’s book, Corrupting the Image 2: Hybrids, Hades, and the Mt Hermon Connection. Eskaton Media Group. There is a third book in the series: Corrupting the Image 3: Singularity, Superhumans, and The Second Coming of Jesus. I have not read it as yet but I am sure I will find some gems in it.

ORIGIN OF EVIL/SIN

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The Bible reveals the origin of evil was before the creation of man. The story begins with the dysfunction of a mighty and beautiful angelic being referred to in the Latin translation as Lucifer (Morning Star). Also more commonly known as Satan or the Devil. Other names, Abaddon (destroying angel), Revelation 9:11, Apollyon (destroyer), Revelation 9:11, Accuser of the brethren Revelation 12:10, Adversary (opponent), 1Peter 5:8, Angel of light (messenger of light), 2Corinthians 11:14, Antichrist (possessed by Satan), 1John 4:3, Beelzebub (ruler of the devils), Luke 11:15, Dragon, Revelation 12:7, Father of Lies, John 8:44, God of this world (god of this age), 2Corinthians 4:3 – 4, Great fiery red dragon (serpent), Revelation 12:3, Man of sin (man of offense), 2Thessalonians 2:3, Liar (a falsifier), John 8:44, Power of darkness (power of obscurity), Colossians 1:13.

“You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created, they were prepared. You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire, you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade, you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. ” Ezekiel 28:12-17a

We are told Satan and the angels that followed him (1/3 of the angels) are eventually (God’s appointed time) cast into the Lake of Fire. As are unbelievers after the White Throne Judgement.

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground,
you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God
I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.” Isaiah 14:12-15

“I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade, you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you. All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.” Ezekiel 28:17b-19

The Bible, in eight of its chapters, records seven fascinating and distinct times Satan the devil has spoken. We learn a great deal about man’s greatest enemy right from his own mouth! The first instance the Bible records of the devil speaking is, of course, his tempting of Eve in the Garden of Eden. His subtle deceptions foreshadow the craftiness he will later display in his effort to get Jesus to sin.

Adam and Eve cast out of the Garden of Eden

“Now the serpent (the devil) was more cunning than any creature of the field which the LORD God had made. And he (through an animal who could speak) said to the woman (Eve), “Is it true that God has said, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?'” And the serpent (the devil) said to the woman (Eve), “In dying, you shall not surely die! For God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be like God, deciding good and evil” (Genesis 3:1 – 5)

The devil’s perverted thinking and rebellious spirit spread to the human race by enticing the first humans to think as he does. The apostle Paul wrote about how disobedience and suffering entered the world when he stated, “Therefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and by means of sin came death; and in this way, death passed into all mankind” (Romans 5:12).

God, as the all-powerful Creator, has a right to determine what is right or wrong (good or evil) for the entire universe. He told Adam (Genesis 2:16 – 17) and Eve (Genesis 3:1 – 3) that it was good to eat from the trees in Eden with the exception of just one tree and the consequences of eating from that tree was death. (Genesis 2:17). Adam and Eve’s test was whether they would believe what God had said or reject His instruction and sin by believing Satan, the Deceiver. We are suffering the consequences of their decision.

Thankfully, God knew beforehand the outcome and He already had a plan to redeem mankind from the curse of evil. It is 2020 years since Jesus our Redeemer came and from Biblical prophecy, we know His return to rule and reign for 1000 years is not too distant. During Jesus Millennial reign Satan is bound but when released is still able to deceive a multitude to mount an army to come against Jesus and the Saints.

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him so that he might not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be released for a little while.” Revelation 20:1-3

“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10

Significance of Jesus wearing a crown of thorns?

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Symbolism of thorns in Scripture

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As well as thorns and thistles being a very real physical component of the cursed world that we all now live in, they carry further symbolic negative overtones throughout the Bible, firmly pointing back to the Curse in Genesis. Their symbolic meaning also creates problems for those who do not read Genesis as a true historical account, as the negative biblical overtones associated with thorns and thistles are integral to their historical origin at the time of the Curse. Without the connection to their historical origin, their symbolic meaning becomes empty and vague.

The numerous references to thorns and thistles throughout the Bible remind us of the historical Original Sin and Curse that followed. The negative biblical overtones associated with thorns and thistles after Genesis 3:18 are demonstrated in their representation as obstacles, punishment, or serving as a reminder of sin and its consequences. For example:

  • In Numbers 33:55, God warned the Israelites that if they did not drive out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, allowing them to remain, the Canaanites would be an obstacle to them. They would be, “thorns in your sides”. Proverbs 15:19 again uses the imagery of thorns as obstacles, saying, “The way of the sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.”
  • The New Testament also uses thorns and thistles in reference to the inner workings of the worldly heart, corrupted by sin. In the parable of the sower, Matthew 13:3-8 some seeds “fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them” (v. 7). Also, the outward expression of that worldly heart which apostatizes from Christ is likened to a barren wasteland, which, “if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned” (Hebrews 6:8).

The ultimate fulfilment of the symbolism that thorns and thistles have in the Bible is found in Matthew 27:29:

“And twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ ”

Here the governor’s soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus’ head, to mock him as the King of the Jews. Oh, if only they had known both what they were doing and the symbolism that their actions entailed! Thorns were not present in the original very good world, but the Roman soldiers didn’t have any trouble finding thorns to place on Jesus head. Thorns that were a direct result of man’s original sin are now found in abundance in a world that is steeped in sin. What the soldiers unwittingly did was hugely significant. There is nothing random in the Bible; every word that has been written in its pages is significant. The crown of thorns vividly symbolised the curse of sin being placed on Jesus’s head. It immediately takes the reader back to Genesis, reminding us of why Jesus went to the cross, to take the penalty for sin on our behalf. He died as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, so that the Curse that God had pronounced upon this earth because of sin, can be removed for those that believe in him, and that ultimately creation itself can be redeemed. “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” Romans 8;20-21. Christ’s actions will blunt every sharply pointed thistle and thorn as well as the other effects of the curse. The Christian can shout, “O death, where is your sting?”

extract from article Why did Jesus wear a Crown of Thorns by and  www.creation.com