emergence series

Emerging Life

Historical Judging Error

Anachronistic FallacyMost importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.

They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”

2 Peter 3:3-4 (NLT)

everything has

remained the same

since the world was

first created

Some Think What Is Is What Was

Ancient humans found dragon bones, giant reptile skeletons, lying out in the open, but they were unlike the bones of any lizard or snake or amphibians that they knew. Their pelvic bones were very different; they closely resembled those of birds. The obvious conclusion: that meant these giant reptiles could fly! Moreover, their bones were made of stone! Impervious to fire! Putting two and two together, they knew that these animals must be the source of the fire that came down from the sky, setting forests on fire. They were fire-breathing. It all made sense. And the legends of dragons were born from this early attempt at scientific logic.

-Richard Muller, Prof Physics, UC Berkeley, author "Now, The Physics of Time"

These arguments don't mean that you can't name something a dragon, be it a Komodo Dragon, a Nile Crocodile, or a dragon fly. But the dragons of legend don't exist and never did.

-Muller

God’s Conversation with Job

“I want to emphasize Leviathan’s limbs and its enormous strength and graceful form.

Its scales are like rows of shields tightly sealed together.

When it sneezes, it flashes light! Its eyes are like the red of dawn.

Lightning leaps from its mouth; flames of fire flash out.

Smoke streams from its nostrils like steam from a pot heated over burning rushes.

Its breath would kindle coals, for flames shoot from its mouth.”

Job 41:12-21 (NLT)

Times Change

Creation Was Explosive with Variety

Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:20-21 (NLT)

Altogether

God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 (NLT)

And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day. Genesis 1:23 (NLT)

Creation Era Came and Went

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day. Genesis 1:31 (NLT)

Transition Era: From to Good to Bad

• Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! Genesis

1:31 (NLT)

• Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. Genesis 6:11-12 (NLT)

A Broken Cosmos

• Just as there are physical laws in the physical universe there are spiritual laws that govern our relationship with God. -Four

Spiritual Laws

• When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Romans 5:12 (NLT)

Foundation Era: New

Beginnings

The sons of Noah who came out of the boat with their father were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham is the father of Canaan.) From these three sons of Noah came all the people who now populate the earth.

Noah lived another 350 years after the great flood. He lived 950 years, and then he died.

Genesis 9:18-19; 28-29 (NLT)

Terah lived for 205 years and died while still in Haran.Genesis 11:32 (NLT)

Common Era: Familiar Present

Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. Psalm

90:10 (NLT)

Future Transition Era: Bad to Good

For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Romans 8:19-22 (NLT)

The Ark Zoo and You

Then God told Noah and his sons, “I hereby confirm my covenant with you and your descendants, and with all the animals that were on the boat with you—the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals—every living creature on earth. Genesis 9:8-10 (NLT)

A Mammoth Story

Evidence of Mammoth Existence & Extinction

• La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles, California

• The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota

The Dog Tree

The American Kennel Association recognizes 161 breeds of dog

Species

• More than 99 percent of all species, that ever lived on Earth are estimated to be extinct

• 1 trillion species are estimated to be on Earth today

• 1.9 million species are catalogued

• Some 250,000 valid fossil species have been described out of all the species assumed to have existed

Creation Was Explosive with Variety

Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:20-21 (NLT)

Get Ready

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. Revelation 21:1 (NLT)

How Ought We To Live?

• And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight…

• I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.

• Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:14-18 (NLT)