Meteorology In The Bible

It’s rainy in Bowling Green Kentucky and you know what that means! Well, maybe you don’t. Either way, we’re diving into the water cycle— found in the Bible. 

Dale Pollard

 It’s rainy in Bowling Green Kentucky and you know what that means! Well, maybe you don’t. Either way, we’re diving into the water cycle— found in the Bible. 

 Long before meteorology became a science, the Bible described the natural water cycle with remarkable (but unsurprising) accuracy. Those ancient writers—without access to modern instruments—somehow came up with a process that closely mirrors our modern understanding of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Of course, if you believe the Bible is God’s word, you know exactly how they came to this knowledge. 

 Check out these Biblical Descriptions of the Water Cycle: 

 1. Ecclesiastes 1:7 (ESV) “All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again.” This verse depicts the hydrological cycle—rivers flow to the sea, water evaporates, and returns again as rain. Amazing. Or what about…

 2. Job 36:27–28 “For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain, which the skies pour down and drop on mankind abundantly.” This description sounds a lot like the process of condensation. The vapor forms into raindrops, which then fall back to earth. Nice.

 3. Amos 9:6 

“Who builds his upper chambers in the heavens and founds his vault upon the earth; who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out upon the surface of the earth—the Lord is his name.” 

 Just one more text describing evaporation and rainfall, linked to one great cycle all under divine control. The Bible has a little bit of everything in it and always proves itself to be of heavenly origin.

Ancient Phenomenon Of Grip Lock In Battle

Throughout history, soldiers have been remembered for their courage and skill — but sometimes, a warrior stands out for their extreme endurance. In high stress situations, combatants have been known to grip their weapon so tightly that their fingers can’t release them— even after the danger is gone.

Dale Pollard

Throughout history, soldiers have been remembered for their courage and skill — but sometimes, a warrior stands out for their extreme endurance. In high stress situations, combatants have been known to grip their weapon so tightly that their fingers can’t release them— even after the danger is gone. This phenomenon is known as “grip lock” (or, in death, cadaveric spasm) and it appears in sources from the Biblical record to various other battle chronicles.

The Biblical Case of Eleazar 

One of the earliest recorded examples comes from 2 Samuel 23:9–10 (10th century BC). Eleazar, one of David’s “mighty men,” fought the Philistines long after the rest of the army had retreated. His effort was so great that “his hand clung to the sword” after the battle — an epic but physiologically accurate description of “sustained tetanic muscle contraction” from hours of exertion and an extreme adrenaline overload.

More Military Accounts 

Battle of Marathon (490 BC) – Herodotus records Athenian hoplites whose hands were “welded” to their spear shafts after the fight.

Battle of Cannae (216 BC) – Polybius describes Roman infantry unable to drop their shields or swords, even in retreat, with some death grips preserved in fallen soldiers.

Boudicca’s Revolt (AD 60–61) – Tacitus notes Briton warriors locked to their chariot rails or spears, requiring force to release them.

Battle of Stiklestad (AD 1030) – Norse sagas speak of hands “frozen to the sword like ice to iron.”

Physiology 

Modern science explains grip lock as a combination of:

Adrenaline surge – The sympathetic nervous system floods the body with epinephrine and norepinephrine, boosting muscle contraction power.

Full recruitment of fast-twitch fibers – Grip muscles in the forearm contract at maximal force, overriding fine motor control.

Loss of inhibitory signals – The brain suppresses “release” commands in favor of survival-driven holding or pulling actions.

Muscle fatigue and tetany – After prolonged strain, the muscles seize in a sustained contraction, sometimes lasting minutes or hours.

Eleazar’s hand that refused to let go eliminates any chasm between a myth and medical reality. The Bible is accurate down to the finest details and it teaches us more than just history; it shows us the future (Rev. 22, 1 Thess. 4.16-18, Matt. 24.42-44).

“…..but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead”

I Samuel 23:10

Chaos

The argument is often made that biblical writers ripped off much older myths and adapted them for a monotheistic faith. The problem with this is that, while creation order and chaos are indeed reflected in many of these legends, that’s basically where the similarities end.

Gary Pollard

“Chaoskampf” is a prominent theme in the myths of Babylon, Egypt, Canaan, Greece, and even the Norse sagas. It’s also in our Bible, but with obvious differences. In the Babylonian tablets collectively called the Enuma Elish, creation begins with a great battle. Marduk defeats Tiamat, a sea goddess who represents chaos. He fashions the heavens and the earth from her remains after defeating her in battle. In Canaanite myth, Baal battles Yam, the sea god, also a symbol of chaos. In Egyptian stories, Ra must overcome the serpent Apep every night—a coiling monster of darkness and disorder (and don’t forget Osiris/Seth). In Norse mythology, at the edge of the world lies Jörmungandr, the world serpent, who they said will one day rise in Ragnarök, the day of final chaos. In Greek mythology, the Titans battle the Olympians and the victors reorder the destroyed world. 

The pattern is the same: a divine being, representing order and stability, faces the chaos of the sea, often personified as a serpent. Genesis 1 is greatly simplified and much cleaner — “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” The great patriarchs were raised in these traditions: Abraham was from Ur of Babylonia, and Moses was raised and educated in Egypt. Asaph wrote, “With your great power you split open the sea and broke the heads of the sea monster. Yes, you smashed the heads of Leviathan and left his body for the animals to eat. You make the springs and rivers flow, you make the rivers dry up. You control day and night. You made the sun and moon. You set limits for everything on earth, and you created summer and winter” (Ps 74). 

The argument is often made that biblical writers ripped off much older myths and adapted them for a monotheistic faith. The problem with this is that, while creation order and chaos are indeed reflected in many of these legends, that’s basically where the similarities end. Unlike other cultures, whose myths are all about cosmic battles between gods, Moses and Asaph speak of the unchallenged power of the God who tamed the seas and chaos with just his words

Revelation ties this theme up nicely. John says, “Then I saw a new sky and a new earth. The first sky and first earth had disappeared. Now there was no sea. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God, down from the sky.” The detail about the sea might seem out of place, but it’s not. “Sea” was often synonymous with chaos, violence, death, and fear. It was personified as a great enemy that had to be defeated. On New Earth, tehom — chaos, the abyss, Tiamat, Leviathan, the sea — is finally gone forever.

Three quick things: 

  1. Chaos is nothing to panic over. We serve the God who calmed the seas with a word (Mk 4). 
  2. God can and does bring order from chaos. Our life might feel “formless and void” but God will ultimately bring order and beauty (Rom 8). 
  3. God has already won — the sea is on borrowed time, Leviathan has lost. 

Latest News: Noah’s Ark

While skeptics might claim that the formation is made up of natural limonite, counter evidence such as the uncanny alignment/shape, subsurface architecture, ancient marine traces, and organic soil signatures prove to be an ensemble unlikely to occur by chance. Yes, I was looking for an excuse to use the word “ensemble.”

Dale Pollard

LATEST NEWS: NOAH’S ARK 

Shrouded in snow and a little suspicion, the Durupınar Formation is a mysterious boat-shaped mound just over 18 miles south of Mount Ararat, is at the center of a groundbreaking (ha!) discovery.

CAPTURING THE PAST 

Soil samples collected after 2021 by a collaborative team from Istanbul Technical University, Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, and Andrews University put its dramatic past on display. These samples contain clay-like sediments, marine deposits, and mollusk shells, dating between 3,500–5,000 years ago—coinciding with the biblical “Great Flood” era. Some coincidental findings, if you believe in coincidences. 

MULTIPLE DECKS 

At approximately 538 feet long, the formation mirrors the ark dimensions (300 × 50 × 30 cubits). However, the real juicy discoveries lie beneath the surface: re‑analyzed 2019 ground‑penetrating radar (GPR) scans reveal angular structures, central corridors stretching 234 ft, and a tunnel measured at 13 ft—features that align uncannily with the arks multi‑deck design (Gen. 6.16). 

WE FOUND SOME WOOD 

Inside the formation, the vegetation tells its own story—grasses grow with altered color and vigor, tied to elevated organic matter, higher potassium levels, and lower pH readings. These soil anomalies suggest the decay of ancient wood remnants. The author is no scientist, but old wood sounds good. 

The project, led by Andrew Jones and William Crabtree of Noah’s Ark Scans, aims for a carefully controlled excavation—delayed until non‑invasive scans, thorough soil mapping, and site preservation methods are fully in place. When? Who knows! 

SKEPTICS & EVIDENCE 

While skeptics might claim that the formation is made up of natural limonite, counter evidence such as the uncanny alignment/shape, subsurface architecture, ancient marine traces, and organic soil signatures prove to be an ensemble unlikely to occur by chance. Yes, I was looking for an excuse to use the word “ensemble.” 

What Comes Next? 

• Continued GPR and radar surveys,

• Core drilling for deeper context,

• Last but not least, a permitted excavation under strict guidelines.

MAN RIDES A TRICERATOPS

A carving on a temple wall shows an animal with a row of vertical plates along its back, sharply resembling a Stegosaurus. Some arguments have been levied against this claim but they’re hardly worth covering as most, upon seeing it, know exactly what’s being depicted. It’s not a porcupine. 

Dale Pollard

The Ta Prohm Temple Stegosaurus

Location: Angkor, Cambodia

A carving on a temple wall shows an animal with a row of vertical plates along its back, sharply resembling a Stegosaurus. Some arguments have been levied against this claim but they’re hardly worth covering as most, upon seeing it, know exactly what’s being depicted. It’s not a porcupine. 

In addition to that well-known stegosaurus carving, the existence of a second, lesser-known relief can be found in the same complex. This carving is larger and more eroded but the features of a stegosaurian dinosaur are clear enough. A bulky body, dorsal plates, and tail are easily made out— along with something else. Interestingly, the head appears elongated and slender in comparison to the first making it more realistic, but it’s what’s on the head and neck that you’ll find amazing. 

An unusual feature around the neck shares uncanny similarities to a bridle or harness— suggesting domestication. The work that could (hypothetically) be done with an animal of that size is fascinating to think about. Perhaps it could even explain the massive amounts of stone which were moved to complete the temple it was carved into. Many don’t realize that the volume of stone used at the Angkor Wat complex is greater, proportionally, than even the largest pyramid on Giza plateau in Egypt. But back to the stegosaurus bridle. The evidence is mainly that it mirrors other carvings around Ta Prohm depicting bridles on horses, elephants, and oxen in the same manner. 

The Triceratops Rider 

Location: Acambaro, Mexico 

A clay sculpture depicting a human figure riding a Triceratops was discovered in 1944. This piece is part of a larger collection of around  33,000 ceramic figurines near Acámbaro, Guanajuato, Mexico, by a German man named Waldemar Julsrud.

In the 1950s, Professor Charles Hapgood investigated the site and supported the idea that the artifacts were genuine. Apparently, thermoluminescence dating was done in the 1960s and 1970s (don’t ask me how that works) and the results indicated that the figurines might have a pre-Columbian origin. 

Could it be that the mainstream evolutionary timeline is that blatantly false? The author obviously believes that to be the case. Humans and dinosaurs walked the earth at the same time. While some were predators that our ancestors feared (Job 40-41), it seems that some were also tamed and used in a ways not unlike the ox or horse. Could you imagine?

Answering An Argument Against God

Andy Wright

In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, Paul reminds his readers that, though we live in the world, we don’t fight the same way the world fights; instead, he says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…”

In that spirit, I want to share an argument that I’ve come across somewhat recently that argues against God, and how to counter it.

The argument goes as follows: First, God knows all things; therefore, He knows what He can say or do that would convince any particular person to believe in Him. Second, God can do all things; therefore, He is able to do whatever would convince any particular person to believe in Him no matter how hard it may seem by human standards. Finally, God has stated in the Bible that He wants “all men to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). However, not everyone believes in God; therefore, He either doesn’t know what can convince someone, can’t do what would convince someone, or is lying about His desire for everyone to come to the knowledge of the truth.

At first, it can seem like a strong argument, but there are cracks in its façade. First, it’s true that God does know all things. In fact, He knows more about people than they know about themselves. Richard Dawkins used to say that he would only be convinced that God was real if he ever heard that trumpet call and saw Jesus coming down from heaven with the angels and the resurrected saints on the Day of Judgment. Nowadays, he says that even if he saw that, he would assume he was hallucinating. I saw another prominent atheist, when asked if there were any evidence that could convince him of God’s reality, ultimately responded that even if he were to see the stars in the sky move and arrange themselves to spell out “Believe in me, John,” that he would more likely believe that aliens were messing with him. There are some people who will refuse to believe no matter what evidence is presented, and in those cases, God will allow people who don’t love the truth to exchange it for a lie (Romans 1:25).

Furthermore, God is interested in something far deeper than some mere mental assent. He doesn’t want people to simply believe that He exists or even believe that He is powerful or even good and just leave it at that. Adam and Eve believed that God exists and must have been convinced of His power (He had made the world) and even His goodness (He had given them everything), but did that stop them from sinning? Cain talked with God, but still murdered his brother. The Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai were convinced of God’s existence and power, but they still made a golden calf to stand in for the Lord of heaven and earth (and that against His express command). Even the demons believe in God as James tells us, but God wants more than our acknowledgment. He wants our love and He wants our faith. And He deserves it, too!

Because the second point is that God can do all things, and He has done the unimaginable just to prove how much He really loves us. He became flesh and blood. The infinite God wrapped up in a finite, mortal shell. I can’t understand any better than I could understand turning myself into an ant. And then to sacrifice Himself to save us from our own sins!

The people who demand that God prove His existence to them in some miraculous way are arrogant. It reminds me of the Pharisees who, after Jesus had done numerous miracles, still asked for a sign. God wants everyone to come to the knowledge of the truth, and He has done everything necessary to show that. The ball is now, so to speak, in your court.

Beauty

Gary Pollard

This week’s question is a new one for me: What is beauty? A follow-up question some of you may ask is, “What does that have to do with Christianity?” More than we might think! Beauty is a powerful evidence of intelligent design, an aspect of reality that inspires both fear and wonder. 

God shows us what he’s like through what he created. As Paul puts it, “There are things about God that people can’t see — his eternal power and all that makes him God. But since the beginning of the world, those things have been easy for people to understand. They are made clear in what God has made, so people have no excuse for the evil they do” (Rom 1.20). 

Inquisitive minds have marveled at the beauty/symmetry of nature for millennia. A pattern is obvious in so many seemingly-unrelated things! The “Golden Ratio” under various names has been important to our study of reality for thousands of years. It can be seen in the number of leaves on a stem, in the pattern of a nautilus shell, and even the proportions of our faces.1 Not all of us are remotely mathematically minded (at least I’m not), but I don’t need to understand the properties of Φ to appreciate its role in nature’s beauty! I have eyeballs and some level of consciousness, so it’s self-evident. 

The question wasn’t, “Why is beauty important to a believer?” Some consider this topic irrelevant or unimportant or even repulsive, but beauty plays such a powerful role in showcasing God’s unlimited power and love!

So what is beauty? In nature, it is symmetry and something that inspires awe. Snowcapped mountains and roaring seas each have their own beauty (see I Cor 15.40-41 for other examples). Awe is fear with beauty, the goosebumps we might get when we see something truly incredible or terrifying.2 God made nature and people beautiful as an expression of himself! From almost the very beginning, humanity’s enemies hijacked beauty to interact with it in ways God never intended. There’s nothing new under the sun — beauty is just one of a few things God created for good that have potential for abuse. 

In the abstract, beauty is (at least in part) whatever we might call “good” or “beneficial”. When someone helps another person we call that “beautiful”. When a person’s actions and disposition align with what is good, we call that “beautiful”. It is difficult to describe, but God has written a moral code in each person’s heart. Some listen to it, many do not. But we don’t have to delineate this code to know when something is beautiful! Anything done by that ethic is beautiful. 

So God created humans in his own image. He created them to be like himself. He created them male and female. God blessed them and said, “Have many children. Fill the earth and take control of it. … God looked at everything he had made. And he saw that everything was very good” (Gen 1.27-28, 31). 

 1 Examples of the golden ratio you can find in nature. (n.d.) Sacramento State University. https://www.csus.edu/indiv/m/mirzaagham/math1/SQ5.pdf
2 See also Mcphetres, J. & Zickfield, J. (09.2022). The physiological study of emotional piloerection: A systematic review and guide for future research. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 179 (pp. 6-20). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2022.06.010

185,000 Soldiers Killed By Angel

Dale Pollard

Account: Isaiah, 37:36-38; 2 Kings, 19:35ff; 2 Chronicles 32

A Serious Assyrian Threat: 

Sennacherib is on a campaign to control all routes across the Syrian Desert leading to the Mediterranean Sea. Assyria  had already carried the Northern Kingdom of Israel off into captivity and invaded the southern kingdom of Judah. 

Jerusalem is now under threat of attack and king Hezekiah sends his servants to the prophet Isaiah to ask for prayers on behalf of the people. Yahweh, through Isaiah, tells the people to not be afraid. For as unlikely as it seemed to the surrounded inhabitants of Jerusalem, their salvation would come in the middle of the night. 

“That night the angel of the LORD went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. When the surviving Assyrians woke up the next morning, they found corpses everywhere” (2 Kings 19.35).

Sennacherib Cylinder Evidence: 

Sennacherib left behind a record of his campaign against Judea and it can still be seen in the British Museum today.

Here’s a translation of his inscription, 

“As to Hezekiah, the Jew, he did not submit to my yoke. I laid siege to 46 of his strong cities, walled forts, and to the countless small villages in their vicinity.  I drove out of them 200,150 people, young and old, male and female, horses, mules, donkeys, camels, big and small cattle beyond counting and considered  [them] spoils. Himself I made a prisoner in Jerusalem, his royal residence, like a bird in a cage.”

Sennacherib claims he conquered all of Judea except Jerusalem.  He also claims that he surrounded the city of Jerusalem with his army, and trapped Hezekiah “like a bird in a cage.” 

Curiously, that’s where he chose to end the story. To continue any further would mean to either fabricate or include a loss of such magnitude that it would tarnish the reputation of a proud Assyrian king.

Dozen Thousand

Gary Pollard

It’s so encouraging that many public figures (by extension, many of their audiences) have rejected outright atheism and godless evolution! Even those who would never consider themselves believers have rejected some of the main pillars of evolution. Among them are people like Joe Rogan, Randall Carlson, Graham Hancock, Jordan Peterson (who does describe himself as a believer in some capacity), Ben Van Kerkwyk, and many others. 

What have they rejected (minus Peterson)? Gradualism/Uniformitarianism — a belief (it is a belief) that current processes are sufficient to explain how things were in the past. Uniformitarianism is the foundation supporting a belief that our earth is billions of years old, that geological processes take millions of years, and it serves as the bias behind radiocarbon/radioisotope dating. 

So what’s the problem? These same proponents of catastrophism (the belief that geological processes are best explained through natural disasters rather than gradual changes over long periods of time) still view the earth as being billions of years old. They still have an evolutionary view of our timeline. Progress is progress, so I don’t want to be harsh in discussing these people! 

But I would like to remind myself (and whoever may read this) of why I don’t believe the earth is any more than (at most) 12-15,000 years old: 

  1. Population of earth — We double in population every couple of decades. Allowing for disasters, if humans (or humans-ish, as evolutionists say) came onto the scene 1,000,000 years ago, we’d have something like 1×105000 people on earth today. The known universe couldn’t hold anywhere near that many people, much less our one planet. Since the current population of earth is around 8.02 billion (according to commerce.gov), we can safely assume that we’re no older than 12-15,000 years. 
  2. Sediment layers across our ocean floors are far too “thin” to support an age of hundreds of millions of years. Sediment should be “choking the oceans” if the oceans were that old. The salinity (saltiness) of the oceans is another problem for old-earth proponents — it has been convincingly proven that our oceans are getting saltier with time (rather than remaining constant). Based on current salinity, our earth is no more than several thousand years old. 

Many other brilliant authors have written much more than can be contained here. I recommend perusing the Institute for Creation Research’s website, as well as Apologetics Press and Answers in Genesis for more proofs. While the secular world is still off on quite a few things, we shouldn’t overlook the fact that progress is being made

At least for right now, there does seem to be a positive trend in society’s thirst for meaning! Let’s make the most of this by showing God’s love even more. Let’s prove to the world that there’s no better life than a Christian life! Our God is coming back — when he does, the entire world will see him. Let’s show them that we believe in him enough to love like Jesus!  

1  Butt, K. (2001). Fighting the crowd over a young earth. ApologeticsPress.org. https://apologeticspress.org/fighting-the-crowd-over-a-young-earth-882/

2  Tomkins, J.P. & Clarey, T. (2021). The oceans point to a young earth. Institute for Creation Research. https://www.icr.org/article/oceans-young-earth

A Tower Reaching Heaven (And Comparative Mythology)

Dale Pollard
Babylon’s Babel 

Sumerian culture talks about a ziggurat dubbed “Etemenanki” and it was hailed as the “House of the Foundation of Heaven and Earth.” It was dedicated to Marduk, a serpentine/dragon deity, and the patron deity of Babylon. It was said to have measured three-hundred feet tall and featuring seven stacked levels.

Famed Assyriologist, George Smith (1840-1876), provided a translation of some Sumerian clay tablets and here’s his brief summary of the inscription: 

“…we have the anger of the gods at the sin of the world, the place mentioned being Babylon. The building or work is called tazimat or tazimtu, a word meaning strong, and there is a curious relation, lines 9 to 11, that what they built in the day the god destroyed in the night.”
(The Chaldean Account of Genesis, 1876, p. 162).

Egypt’s Babel 

A portion of the Qur’an makes a few claims that resemble the legendary biblical tower— save a few key differences. In the Islamic story, the event takes place in Egypt and the Pharaoh orders a minister named Haman to build a tower that reaches the heavens.

Mexico’s Babel 

Pedro de los Rios, writing sometime before 1565:

“Before the great inundation which took place 4,800 years after the erection of the world, the country of Anahuac was inhabited by giants, all of whom either perished in the inundation or were transformed into fishes, save seven who fled into caverns. When the waters subsided, one of the giants, called Xelhua, surnamed the ‘Architect,’ went to Cholula, where, as a memorial of the Tlaloc which had served for an asylum to himself and his six brethren, he built an artificial hill in the form of a pyramid. He ordered bricks to be made in the province of Tlalmanalco, at the foot of the Sierra of Cecotl, and in order to convey them to Cholula he placed a file of men who passed them from hand to hand. The gods beheld, with wrath, an edifice the top of which was to reach the clouds. Irritated at the daring attempt of Xelhua, they hurled fire on the pyramid. Numbers of the workmen perished. The work was discontinued, and the monument was afterwards dedicated to Quetzalcoatl.”
(Mexico as it is and was, 1844, Brantz Mayer, p. 28)

Non-Canonical Coincidences 

In the Greek Apocalypse of Baruch (written between the 1st-3rd Cen.) we find a description of the condition of Jerusalem after the sack by Nebuchadnezzar.

The Greek Apocalypse details a vision of Baruch ben Neriah and in it he sees the punishment of the builders of the “tower of strife against God,” which sounds remarkably similar  to the Tower of Babel.

Abydenus (a Greek historian of the mid-fourth century B.C.), as quoted by Eusebius, spoke of a great tower at Babylon which was destroyed. The record notes:

“[U]ntil this time all men had used the same speech, but now there was sent upon them a confusion of many and divers tongues”

Josephus, the Jewish historian, quoting from an ancient source, records these words:

“When all men were of one language, some of them built a tower, as if they would thereby ascend up to heaven, but the gods sent storms of wind and overthrew the tower, and gave every one his peculiar language; and for this reason it was that the city was called Babylon”

(Antiquities of the Jews, 1.4.3).

THE TRUTH BEHIND THE TOWER 

While we don’t need the extra biblical evidence and anecdotes to prove what God already told us, it’s certainly interesting and faith-building to discover. We shouldn’t forget the main message of His account. When humans are united we’re either powerfully wicked or powerfully righteous. The top of our metaphorical towers will either touch heaven or hell and the end result depends on what we’ve decided to unite under. If Christ is on the banner we fly then we’ll find success. If pride, greed, or any other selfish ambition brings us together— that tower will inevitably fall.  

The Birth of Behemoth-Buildings 

First to Scrape The Sky: 

The first skyscraper was built in Chicago by William LeBaron Jenney in 1885. While that nine story structure no longer stands, many skyscrapers from that time period remain.

King of the Towers: 

The Burj Khalia in Dubai is the tallest building in the world— standing at 2,717 feet tall. 

Jenney’s “Home Insurance Building” (demolished in 1932 to make room for a larger building)

GIANTS IN THE BIBLE (AND BEYOND)

Dale Pollard

“The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them; the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.”

 (Gen.6.4).

“And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak who come of the Nephilim; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”

(Num.13.32-33).

                                                           A HUGE HISTORY

The Sumerian culture has become famous for their giants. However, nearly every ancient culture had legends and records of either a co-existence with giant races or knowledge of them. Some of their megalithic structures were even allegedly built by them, with many ancient cultures indicating that they were ruled by giants. The Norse, Egyptians, Greeks, Native American, Mesopotamian, and South American cultures represent just a fraction of the ancient societies whose legends and early mythology are dominated by tales of giants.

                                                          SUPERSIZED SIDE-BY-SIDE

GOLIATH – 11th Cen. BC – Height: 9’9”

KING OG – 11th Cen. BC – Height: ~12’

KING GILGAMESH – 26th Cen. BC – Height: 18’

ENOCH’S GIANTS – 200-300 BC – Height 450’

The following accounts and descriptions come from a Newspaper published in 1905 called the Lawrence Daily Journal (03, JUN, Pg. 3)

ROUEN GIANT

“In 1830 one of these giants, who was exhibited at Rouen, was ten feet high…

FANNUM

“…lived in the time of Eugene II., was 11 feet in height.”

TENERIFFE GIANT

“The Chevalier Scrog in his journey to the Peak Teneriffe found in one of the caverns of that mountain the head of a giant who had 60 teeth and who was not less than 15 feet high.”

KENTOLOCHIS REX

“In 1623 near the castle in Dauphine a tomb was found 30 feet long. 16 feet wide and eight feet high. on which were cut in gray stone the words “Kentolochis Rex.” The skeleton was found entire and measured 25¼ feet high, ten feet across the shoulders and five feet from breastbone to the back.”

FARRAGUS

“Slain by Orlando, the nephew of Charlemagne, according to reports, was 28 feet high.”

ISOLENT

“In 1814 near St. Gernad was found the tomb of the giant who was not less than 30 feet high.”

HOGSHEAD

“Near Magrino, in 1816, was found the skeleton of a giant of 30 feet, whose head was the size of a hogshead and each tooth weighed 5 ounces.”

SICILY GIANTS

“Near Palermo, Sicily, in 1516 was found the skeleton of a giant 30 feet high, and in 1559 another 44 feet.”

                                                         What Happened To The Giants?

The post-fall and post-flood world began the slow decline in height and strength of the giant races. Thoughtful theories and speculations are proposed such as the deterioration of their DNA through genetic lines, radical changes in earth’s atmosphere, and possible health-related issues. While the more scientific explanation(s) could shed light on their decline and ultimate disappearance, the philosophy of Occam’s razor says that the most simplistic answers are the closest to the truth.

The simple answer? Many accounts describing giants depict them as mighty warriors. Their heads were highly coveted trophies of war and any giant-slayer was surely bound to be immortalized in history. The harrowing attempts to kill a giant on the battlefield were successful and those men reached legendary status— their stories told for thousands of years (2 Samuel 23.8-38).

While the regional and genetic factors play a part in the shrinking stature of giants in the archeological record, it seems that their height may also give one an indication of their age and placement on the historical timeline. The closer to the present day period, the smaller they became. The days of lumbering 40’ tall terrors were numbered and their descendants were born with heads much closer to the ground.

Non-Canonical Coincidences

JOSEPHUS 

Ist Century Historian Flavius Josephus writes in his Antiquity to the Jews, “For which reason, they (Israelites) removed their camp to Hebron; and when they had taken it, they slew all the inhabitants. There were till then left the race of giants, who had bodies so large, and countenances so entirely different from other men, that they were supposing to the sigh and terrible to the hearing. The bones of these men are still shown to this very day, unlike to any credible relations of other men.”

THE BOOK OF ENOCH 

Extra-biblical texts such as the famous book of Enoch and its accompanying Book of Giants serve as valuable supplementary material backing the biblical claims of giants and their existence. While mere fragments were recovered from the Qumran site in the 1950s, the texts are fascinating. Here’s a portion from the manuscripts translated by Dr. H. B. Henning, a German scholar and expert in Iranian languages:

“Thereupon the giants began to kill each other and [to abduct their wives]. The creatures, too, began to kill each other. . . before the sun, one hand in the air, the other . . . whatever he obtained, to his brother . . . . imprisoned . . . . . . over…To the angels . . . from heaven. to . . . threw (or: was thrown) into the water. Finally. . . in his sleep saw three signs, [one portending . . .], one woe and flight, and one . . . annihilation. Narīmān saw a gar[den full of] trees in rows.”

TIMELINE OF ACCOUNTS 

1519 – Diaz Castillo sees the remains giants who once roamed the land in ancient Tlaxcala, Mexico. In his book, “The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz Del Castillo,” he recalls, “They (the Tlaxcalan tribe) said their ancestors had told them that very tall men and women with huge bones had once dwelt among them. But because they were very bad people with wicked customs they had fought against them and killed them, and those of them who remained had died off. And to show us how big these giants had been they brought us the leg-bone of one, which was very thick and the height of an ordinary-sized man, and that was a leg-bone from the hip to the knee. I measured myself against it, and it was as tall as I am, though I am of a reasonable height. They brought other pieces of bone of the same kind, but they were all rotten and eaten away by soil. We were all astonished by the sight of these bones and felt certain there must have been giants in that land.”

1520 – Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition chronicler writes about a race of giants they encountered while in Patagonia, “But one day we saw a giant who was on the shore, quite naked, and who danced, leaped, and sang, and while he sang he threw sand and dust on his head. Our captain [Magellan] sent one of his men toward him, charging him to leap and sing like the other in order to reassure him and to show him friendship. Which he did. Immediately the man of the ship, dancing, led this giant to a small island where the captain awaited him. And when he was before us, he began to marvel and to be afraid, and he raised one finger upward, believing that we came from heaven. And he was so tall that the tallest of us only came up to his waist. Withal he was well proportioned…” Interestingly, the name Patagonia means “Land of the Bigfeet.”

1608 – Captain John Smith explores the Chesapeake Bay and Lower Susquehanna River where he runs into a tribe of giant Indians. He describes them as “…a giant-like people. They measured the calf of the largest man’s leg, and found it three-quarters of a yard about (twenty-seven inches), and all the rest of his limbs were in proportion.”

1857 – Chief Rolling Thunder of the Comanches, a tribe from the Great Plains, gave the following account of an ancient race of white giants. “Innumerable moons ago, a race of white men, 10 feet high, and far more rich and powerful than any white people now living, here inhabited a large range of country, extending from the rising to the setting sun. Their fortifications crowned the summits of the mountains, protecting their populous cities situated in the intervening valleys.”

1881 – Prof. Timmerman was exploring the ancient ruins of the Isis temple on the banks of the Nile— sixteen miles below Najar Difard. It was here where several tombs dating back to the year 1043 B.C would be excavated for the first time. Inside, not one, but sixty giant skeletons had been buried. The smallest skeleton was an astonishing seven feet and eight inches in length, the largest being eleven feet and one inch. Many stone memorial tablets were also discovered, but there was no record that indicated that they were in memory of the giants. It’s believed that the tombs date back to the year 1043 B.C.

1899 – Horatio Bardwell Cushman penned the following in his book, History of the Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Natchez Indians,

“The tradition of the Choctaws did tell of a race of giants that once inhabited the now State of Tennessee, and with whom their ancestors fought when they arrived in Mississippi in their migration from the west. … Their tradition states the Nahullo (race of giants) was of wonderful stature.”

1907 – Friar Alonso de Espinosa travels to Tenerife, the largest island of the Canary Islands, to convert the natives. In Espinosa’s book he writes about the locals, “This people had very good and perfect features and well shaped bodies. They were of tall stature, with proportionate limbs. There were giants among them of incredible size; and that it may not appear fabulous, I will not repeat what is said on the subject. Of one it is generally said, as verified and ascertained fact, that he was fourteen feet high and had eighty teeth in his mouth. It is said that the great body is in Guadamoxete, the ancient burial place of the Kings of Guitar, whose nephew he was. He fell in a battle with the King of Tegueste, and they say that, having been killed by the enemy, one of his lineage took his banot (a kind of weapon) to avenge his death, which he did.”

The “God-Shaped Void” And Ontological Argument

Brent Pollard

The debate between creationists and atheists is probably not new to you. This heated debate frequently takes the form of verbal duels, with each side trying to persuade onlookers to take their side. Unfortunately, these arguments rarely convince their opponents to change their minds. In most cases, they are speaking to an already confident audience.

Since I hold a creationist worldview, I frequently read works that reinforce that view. Unfortunately, the strategy used to make the case for God’s existence often comes off as bland and unpersuasive. These tactics wouldn’t have influenced me had I not already convinced myself.

Ultimately, faith is the deciding factor. We can’t provide indisputable evidence since we weren’t around for the “Big Bang” or creation. We found our faith in the evidence that we found most convincing, be it ancient fossils or direct revelation from God. This truth leads me to an essential aspect of my approach when discussing my faith.

When asked about my faith, I usually explain why I think there must be a higher power, pleading only for tolerance and acceptance. I want to debunk the myth that people who believe in God are stupid. To this end, allow me to provide two fundamental arguments that offer compelling evidence of a Creator.

First, I’d like to discuss the concept of a “God-shaped void” in every person’s soul. Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis, a theologian born roughly 320 years after Jesus of Nazareth, is widely credited with developing this idea. However, the French mathematician Blaise Pascal may be a more likely originator. Pascal’s perspective gives us much to ponder.

According to Pascal, the search for and disappointment in material happiness are signs of a more profound spiritual longing. He contended that only something infinite and unchanging, like God, could fill this gaping chasm. This void brings us to an intriguing point about our universal need for worship.

We can’t help but wonder if there is a universal, hardwired urge to worship. How come religion is so pervasive? What accounts for the universality of references to spiritual phenomena like ghosts and ghouls? How do some people discover spirituality in the great outdoors? These occurrences point to an innate desire to worship. Skeptics, however, might have a different take on this.

Skeptics may write off religion as the product of neuroses, thereby tagging the vast majority of humanity as mentally ill. The paradox here is apparent: It takes neurosis or paranoia to believe you’re the only sane person in the room. Interestingly, skeptics themselves seem to show a form of devotion.

Even skeptics have their form of religious devotion. Non-believers hold science in high regard and defend its tenets with great zeal. Like accusations of heresy in religious contexts, challenging their scientific beliefs can elicit strong reactions. This reaction has led me to question the source of our knowledge.

While I value science’s role, I am skeptical of its origins. Believers credit their knowledge to God or a higher power. Atheist scientists rely heavily on human-made discoveries and theories with inherent flaws. Changes in academic science are possible and frequent. However, God’s Word does not change. This immutability brings me to another critical argument I wish to present.

The ontological argument is my second piece of evidence for God’s existence. Anselm of Canterbury first advanced this line of a priori knowledge-based philosophical reasoning in 1078. Here’s what Anselm proposed:

Anselm theorized that God must exist because He is “a being than which no greater can be conceived.” This argument may seem complicated, but it claims that God must exist because everyone can imagine a supreme being and that having a physical presence is one measure of greatness. The universal nature of belief in God provides further credence to this argument.

The fact that people all over the world believe in God lends support to this claim. It resonates with the concept of a “God-shaped void,” implying a global recognition of a supreme entity Whom men desire to worship. With these points in mind, what do I conclude about the existence of God?

Is there a God? Yes, I think so. I suggest you give that idea some thought, too. Perhaps you already know about God but still, feel something is missing. Seek Him out; you won’t regret it. I believe that you can find Him because I have found Him.

Details

Reality’s Architect

Wednesday’s Column: Third’s Words

Gary Pollard

We’re impressed by the intricacies of craftsmanship or artistry. A well-made instrument or diorama or painting can sell for thousands or more. Watching the process of those things coming to life leaves an even more profound impression of the talent required! I’ve lost track of time while watching hyper-realistic dioramas take shape (by other artists, not me). The sheer effort involved is incredible.
While those artists are very, very talented and impressive, they’re nothing compared to reality’s architect! Hours, weeks, or months are invested in breathtaking artwork, yet those pieces come from extant materials and are based on extant concepts. Humanity cannot create anything new.
It took God less than a week to fabricate an unfathomably large universe. We explore and investigate our world, only to be blown away by its complexities. Even the simplest life forms require highly intelligent minds and sophisticated equipment to understand. The more we discover, the more we understand how little we know.
For several years, science has been adopted by many as an explanation for reality. Besides the fact that science is merely our observations of what already exists, it still leaves plenty of questions unanswered.
For example, look into how many medications say something like (paraphrased, of course), “We don’t know how this works, but we think it…” We can perform complex surgeries using robots, but we can’t cure the common cold. We can explore our galaxy, but we’re not sure how exactly some antidepressants work to alleviate symptoms. Humanity has accomplished some amazing things, but even the most “basic” issues continue to evade our understanding.
Therefore, it isn’t entirely unreasonable to assume that something or someone intelligent was responsible for our incredible existence. Our greatest accomplishments pale in comparison to the magnitude of our universe. Every great piece of art has an artist behind it. Every piece of groundbreaking technology has a design team behind it. Our universe must have also had an immensely powerful, creative, compassionate designer.
Far from somehow disproving the existence of God, our greatest accomplishments merely highlight how powerful God really is. He gave us a beautiful world and way more than we need to survive. The sheer beauty of this planet alone should tell us that our God is a loving God.
“I look at the heavens you made with your hands. I see the moon and the stars you created and I wonder, ‘Why are people so important to you? Why do you even think about them? Why do you care so much about humans? Why do you even notice them?’ But you made them only a little lower than angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You put them in charge of everything you made. You put everything under their control…Lord our Lord, your name is the most wonderful name in all the earth” (Ps 8.3-9)!

The Truth Is Out There

Wednesday’s Column: Third’s Words

 

Gary Pollard

I believe that God exists. I believe that He communicated with His creation by direct contact, messengers, and a series of ancient texts. I believe that He wants His human creation to be with Him after they die. I believe that He expects those who claim to be His to act within the guidelines He set in those ancient texts. I believe that there is life after death and that where we go depends on whether or not we follow this God.

Why do I believe this, though? What reason do I have to believe in something I cannot experience with my senses? I was not there thousands of years ago when the prophets and Hebrews talked to God. I was not there when God came here to teach. I was not there when the authors of the original texts delivered their writings to the early church. The ancient texts translated into English sometimes do not effectively communicate the emotion of the words and concepts in the original language. So why do I believe these things? Why do you believe these things?

Think about this carefully. From Genesis to Revelation the message is clear: God wants His people to exist with Him after time is destroyed. This message was communicated to an impossible variety of people, sometimes separated by hundreds of years, thousands of miles, culture, kingdom, race, and language. There are tens of thousands of manuscripts of these ancient texts in many, many different languages. There are some 25,000 New Testament manuscripts or fragments that are separated by about a thousand years, at least 8 different languages, thousands of miles of geography, and many different cultures. Yet, they are at least 95% accurate to each other. The remaining 5% do not contain a single contradiction; rather, they are spelling errors, slips of the pen, writing on the wrong line, or minor variances (“God said” vs. “He said” or “and” vs. “but”).

Of the rich libraries we have of ancient literature, none can hold even the dimmest candle to the profound accuracy and unity of the scriptures. They could not have been produced by man alone. There had to be Someone not confined by time supervising each person as they wrote. Keep in mind, these ancient cultures did not have the advantage of modern communication. They were almost totally isolated from each other and would have known little of the others’ existence, much less what they experienced or wrote from God. Our Bible has supernatural origins and its contents reveal the nature of our Creator. What I believe comes from this book because I know it is God’s message to mankind. I encourage those who have not already done so to do an in-depth study of the origin of scripture. It is one of the most faith-building studies anyone could undertake. When you know with certainty that what you are reading contains the actual thoughts and desires of God, it bolsters your faith in ways I could not begin to adequately describe.

Noting God’s Glory on a Cold Day 

Friday’s Column: Brent’s Biblical Bytes

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Brent Pollard

“The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.” (Psalm 19.1 NASB1995)   

A cold wind bit my exposed skin as I walked to the mailbox. Three cats wove between legs desiring a petting. I wanted to hurry back to the house but feared inadvertently kicking one of the lovable, purring furballs. I carefully made my way from the shadow into the direct sunlight. I felt the warming rays of the sun on that same exposed skin. I closed my eyes but could still sense the bright light of that gaseous ball some 92 million miles away. As I coaxed the cats back up to the house, I contemplated our life-sustaining star.  

How is it that we happened to find ourselves in the “sweet spot” in our proximity from this sphere of hot plasma? Were we any closer, the conditions on earth might prove too hot to support life. Were we any further away, the conditions on earth might prove too cold to support life. If you do any searching into this happenstance, you will encounter the expression “Goldilocks zone.” You may recall Robert Southey’s story of the titular Goldilocks who decided to make herself at home in the house of three bears. She tried the food, chairs, and beds of the absented creatures, finding the baby bear’s things to be “just right.” 

Somehow we found ourselves on a planet in that spot, which is just right. Atheists say that this is the result of chance. I was reading a site contributed to by those departing the Christian faith as they discussed this very topic. The original poster to the forum said that this habitable zone’s existence was a remaining hurdle for him in his desire to cast off the reality of God. Commentors threw out what I would consider a straw man argument, stating that life is possible elsewhere; it is just that evolution would produce a different result. Thus, some other lifeforms would be having this same discussion about how their planet was in the “right spot.”  

Of course, that does nothing to explain how we found ourselves in just that right spot. It was an explosion from nothing (i.e., Big Bang) that scattered the known universe’s material. Gravity also resulted from this explosion somehow. This gravity enabled the cosmic debris to coalesce into the Earth, Sun, and all the tiny dots of sparkling light observable in the night sky. Yet, despite its chaotic beginning, the earth was situated at the proper distance from the sun to allow life to get sloshed together inside primordial oceans.  

Those simple lifeforms, defying every observation today that things go from a state of order to disorder, managed to grow more complex over eons of time. Yes, there were untold dead ends in which mutation brought about disastrous results. But finally, homo sapiens (“wise man”) emerged at the animal kingdom’s apex, the hairless primate, to ponder his existence. With his technology, he created machines that enabled him to communicate over much distance instantly about how the Goldilocks zone is just the illusion of an Intelligent Creator.   

Call me crazy, but I think it takes more faith to believe that pure chance put us into the sun’s sweet spot. It is much easier for me to accept an Omnipotent God created us and placed us inside the Goldilocks zone He made. Thus, the perfect proximity from our star declared God’s glory to me! As such, as I felt the sun’s warmth on a cold day, rather than think of it merely as a hot ball of gas heating me, I could imagine those sun’s rays were the arms of my Heavenly Father holding me in His loving care.   

 

“Created for His Enjoyment? “

Friday’s Column: Brent’s Biblical Bytes

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Brent Pollard

While in college, I accompanied a friend to Chattanooga to pick up her car from her parents. Both of us were from rural Appalachia and shared a love for nature. Thus, learning that the Tennessee Aquarium was our rendezvous point did not surprise me. It was my first visit to this establishment, and I was impressed. Among the permanent exhibits, there was a temporary one featuring jellyfish. I thought that was lackluster from the sound of it. As I discovered, jellyfish can be quite beautiful. 

There were varieties of jellyfish (i.e., comb jellyfish) looking like UFOs, filled with running lights. I felt like I was watching a science fiction movie as the jellyfish slowly moved through the water. If you have seen Close Encounters of the Third Kind, you may recall the scene where the aliens converge on Devil’s Tower in Wyoming. The “men-in-black-types” atop Devil’s Tower used musical tones associated with colored lights to “communicate” with the extraterrestrial visitors who replied with the same notes and colors. That is what I recalled watching those jellyfish.  

I suppose there may be a sense in which I was watching ambassadors from another world. These are creatures that humanity does not usually get to see, outside of a documentary such as the BBC’s Blue Planet. I suppose prey are attracted to the light. However, a blind mechanism, like evolution, would not have given them the beauty I witnessed. Intelligence must have designed them this way since a single glowing color would be sufficient to attract their meals. Jellyfish would not need a rainbow of colorful lights. Indeed, these comb jellyfish spoke to me of an unseen God (cf. Romans 1.20). 

Isaiah 43.7 informs us God created Israel for His glory. I wish to treat this passage with great care since Christians sometimes use it to give rationale to God’s creation of all humanity. Yet, God made it clear that He picked an insignificant group on purpose (Deuteronomy 7.7). To what end? He could show the world His power and bring salvation through their seed (cf. Genesis 3.15; 22.18). That said, we may safely conclude that God created everything with a purpose. When one can view amazing spectacles, usually observed only by an omnipresent God (cf. Psalm 139), it is hard not to suppose God made things also for His enjoyment.  

In addition to these alienesque gelatinous animals, God has other interesting “sights” to which only He has a regular vantage. Beneath the arctic ice, for example, one can find coral with, admittedly, more subdued colors than their kin in warm, tropical waters. Yet, here is something beautiful and unexpected no human typically sees. But God does. What about other aspects of creation that suggest they exist for God’s enjoyment? Some people say platypuses show God’s “sense of humor.” Consider the amalgamation of creatures one sees within the platypus. The platypus is a mammal but lays eggs. Like an avian, platypuses have duckbills and webbed feet. A platypus has a tail like a beaver and otter-like fur. Male platypuses are even venomous! Platypuses are so odd, in fact, that the first scientists examining them felt someone was pranking them. (“platypus”1)   

Yes, God created the universe and all that is in it per His Will. Maybe God makes nations that can show His glory like ancient Israel. Perhaps, God creates organisms for no other reason than His enjoyment, like comb jellyfish and platypuses. But we know God created humanity so He could have a relationship with us. That is why the Father intervened by sending His Son (Isaiah 53.10-11; John 3.16), and why we find our purpose in doing God’s Will (Ecclesiastes 12.13-14).   

Works Cited 

1 “Platypus.” National Geographic, National Geographic Partners, LLC., 21 Sept. 2018, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/p/platypus/.  

God Revealed (poem)

Neal Pollard

The mighty arm of creation, brooding or building
The hand that tipped the canopy, drowning sinners
The finger that stirred the languages, babblers yielding
The heart that made the heirs of Abram winners

The Majesty presented in a bush, resilient though burning
The Master who through plagues made Pharaoh submit
The Merciful One who longed for Israel’s returning
The Measuring Rod whose justice sin did not acquit.

The everlasting to everlasting, whose word’s a holy knife
Inhabitant of the heavens, swaddling Incarnate babe
Kindling Spirit, Father, Son, the way, truth and life
Perfect in character, with power the obedient to save.

Gatekeeper of heaven, consigner of the wicked to hell
Served by angels, ruler of the living and the dead
Spirit, love and light, divinest nature not one part frail
Eyes all-seeing, mind all-knowing, power unlimited.

Hope of the hopeless, joy for the tearful mourner
Source of strength for the heavy-laden soul
Lifter of the penitent fallen, all-glory adorner
Author of salvation who one day will call the judgment roll.

Since He is and is rewarder, let not one refuse His order!
If Satan’s power you’d have repealed, obey the God the word’s revealed!

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The Ankgor Wat Dinosaur

Neal Pollard

I have been to the Ankgor Wat temple complex, near Siem Reap, four times. It’s a fascinating tourist attraction, but there is one carving, among literally thousands, that stands out above the rest. It is found at Ta Prohm Temple. The temple was built between the late-1100s to early-1200s by King Jayavarman VII and dedicated to his mother. Today, it is “shrouded in dense jungle” and “fig, banyan, and kapok trees spread their gigantic roots over stones, probing walls and terraces” (tourismcambodia.com). “It took 79,365 people to maintain the temple including 18 great priests, 2,740 officials, 2,202 assistants, and 615 dancers” (ibid.). But it’s that stone carving that it most unforgettable.  One particular trip, which I made in 2009 with two elders, three deacons, and my oldest son, Gary, stands out in my mind.

I asked our guide, hired out by the Kazna Hotel in Siem Reap and of the Buddhist faith, what he thought this particular creature was. He said he had no idea what it was and added, “They must have had a really good imagination.”  The question such a response raises is, “How did they know to imagine that?!”

Well, a group from Canada was following close behind our group of seven from Denver, Colorado.  A son asked his father for an explanation of the carvings on the pillar, and dad replied with some authority, “Son, that was their version of a geological timetable.”  Of course, it begs the follow up, “How did 12th-Century Khmer people, well before Darwin and others planted their geological seeds, know of such a timetable?”  Furthermore, this “timetable” looks nothing like anything you will ever see in a textbook–a man above it and a monkey below it.  Based upon what fossil evidence did they create their carving?  There must have been hundreds of fellow “explorers” viewing these temple ruins with us in the few hours we were there.  Some of the fascinated people spoke in languages I cannot understand, but body language was pretty telling.  Others, Americans, British, Australians, and Canadians, all seemed to see that carving for what it most apparently was.  No one said, “That’s a rhino or pig.”  They called it a Stegosaurus.

How many other similar discoveries await reclamation from jungle vegetation, archaeological excavation, and geographic exploration?  In the different disciplines of science and history, man uncovers gems like Angkor Wat’s Ta Prohm from time to time.  Such clear, incontrovertible evidence from a time before our modern “war” between evolutionists and creationists begs to be examined with unprejudiced eyes.  While some may never change their mind regardless of how many items are offered into evidence, I believe that there are a great number of people out there who are honestly, objectively looking for truth.  The Stegosaurus at Ta Prohm near Siem Reap, Cambodia, might be the item that convinces many!

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Gary standing next to the column. Notice what/who else is in the carving with the Stegosaurus.

A TRUTH IN THE MIDST OF TRANSIENCE (poem)

Neal Pollard

Waters vast and oceans deep create a marvel and wonder
By its volume and power but also the creatures that you’ll find thereunder.
The stars and planets, galaxies, the universe, the vastness of outer space
The finest particles and smallest molecules, the most infinitesimal place.
The power of the greatest man who rules upon the land
The lowliest person who grovels around unseen and far from grand.
The outward beauty and loveliness of the Lord’s most fair person
The inward workings and intricate details of us all makes this so very certain.
To look upon the mountains high, whether green or rocky or tall
To investigate the tiniest plant and the creatures so delicate and small
Look afar or microscopically, dig and search, uncover
Test it, taste it, see it, smell it, here’s what you’ll discover
Locked within our DNA or viewed from light years away
You see the same truth, over and over, a fact that’s here to stay.
We are the evidence of a Being whose power and knowledge are unending
Who makes what is made extraordinary, through His infinite nature expending
But making what’s made and doing what’s done, His resources are not depleted
Because He is God, He’s never without. He never needs completed.
He’s worthy and mighty, He’s wonderful and true, the God we worship and serve
He’s faithful and ingenious, active and gracious, from perfection He cannot swerve
As you walk through the day and make observations, what you see or happens to you.
Whatever may change, crumble, fall, or fade away, God will still be faithful and true.

                             Endothelial cells viewed under a microscope

IF THESE THINGS ARE TRUE, HOW DO WE EXPLAIN THE FACTS?

Neal Pollard

  • If the theory of evolution is true, why haven’t they found any transitional fossils?  Charles Darwin, on page 413 of his tome Origin of Species, said, “Why is not every geological formation and every stratum full of such intermediate links? Geology assuredly does not reveal any such finely-graduated organic chain; and this is the most obvious and serious objection which can be urged against the theory.” Almost 150 years of archaeological digging and an incredible volume of fossil-findings later, the objection should be even stronger!
  • If the documentary hypothesis is true, why can’t they find even one copy or fragment? The idea that later scribes and penman wrote the first five books of the Old Testament, some almost 1000 years after the time Moses lived, is widely believed among liberal religious scholars. That there are no copies or fragments of these post-Moses writers has not done much to defuse the zeal of those who teach it.  Neither is any attempt given to explain or rebut the many statements in the Pentateuch claiming that Moses wrote them (cf. Ex. 17:14; 24:4-7; 34:27; Num. 33:1-2; Dt. 31:9-11).
  • If the idea of being genetically predisposed to homosexuality is true, where is the genetic evidence of it? The study most supportive of “the gay gene,” conducted in 1991 by Baiiley and Pillard, found 52% of the pairs of identical twin brothers studied were homosexual.  A much larger sample size, in an Australian study released in 2000 by Bailey, Dunne, and Martin, found only 20% concordance in identical twin males and 24% among identical twin females. Bearman and Brucker, in 2002, found less than 10% concordance (via Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(3): 524-36; Archives of General Psychiatry, 48 (12): 1089-96; and the American Journal of Sociology, 107: 1179-1205).
  • If the idea that a “fetus” is part of the mother is true, why does that unborn one have its own unique genetic code? Not only that, but the unborn can be a different blood type, gender, race, hair color, eye color, and more.
  • If the big bang theory is true, what did it and why?  Whether it is thought to have been highly concentrated matter, energy, or combination, what force acted upon it? It was there, presumably for an eternity.  Why didn’t it “bang” before it did? Why did it bang when it did? How did mind emerge from matter? How did morality emerge from non-morality? How did an explosion or expansion form such order out of chance and chaos?
  • If it is true that making moral judgments about others’ behavior is wrong, why is that moral judgment not wrong?

None of these questions is intended to exhaustively address any of the theories or world-views they represent.  Yet, so many unquestioningly and blindly accept these premises as fact when they are far from it.  Seemingly, the last resort, if ever taken, would be to accept and follow what the Bible says.  However, that is the fundamental dividing line.  Hebrews 11:6 puts it well, that “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”