Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxi.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!ihuxi!rcj1 From: rcj1@ihuxi.UUCP (Ray) Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Can a thinking man accept the Bible? (part 2) Message-ID: <896@ihuxi.UUCP> Date: Thu, 31-May-84 14:31:05 EDT Article-I.D.: ihuxi.896 Posted: Thu May 31 14:31:05 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 2-Jun-84 08:34:39 EDT Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 69 ******* Let's start with this. One of the great misconceptions which has haunted the human race teaches that the Bible cannot be reconciled with the discoveries of science. This kind of proof is given: We are told that the Bible teaches that the earth is only a few thousand years old. Then we are told that geological discovery with the atomic age tool of radioactive carbon dating has proved that the earth is actually millions of years old. Thus we are told that the Bible is wrong! But the fact is, the Bible DOES NOT say the earth is only a few thousand years old. It doesn't say how old the earth is. Genesis 1:1-2 says, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and the earth was without form and void". Most scholars agree that there was a great time lapse between verses 1 and 2. God did not originally create the earth "without form and void". He created it a thing of beauty, a prolific planet. But it is evident that there were some extensive geological overthrows which took place, causing it to become "without form and void". Science bears this out, and has given us names for these various ages prior to the creation of man--Genozoic, Mesozoic, Jurasic, Cambrian, etc. The Bible is in total harmony with true Science! There was a time when some scientists challenged the Bible story of a major, world-wide flood. But now geology is uncovering much evidence that present continents were at one time submerged. We have discovered ancient writtings from every continent and virtually every civilization. All tell of a great flood which destroyed man off the face of the earth. Many bear striking resemblance to the story in the Bible. The amazing thing about the Bible it that it is as up to date today as it was one thousand years ago. In 1861 the French Academy of Science published a book stating fifty-one "scientific" facts that seemed to contradict the Word of God. It was very impressive when published. Yet today, every one of these fifty-one "facts" has been found to be unscientific! There isn't a scientist alive who believes them. And the Bible stands! The Bible has proven to be history written in advance. Could you imagine a newspaper publishing next years additions today with uncanny accuracy? Here's just one example...there are hundreds! The Prophet Ezekiel lived 600 years before Christ. One of his unbelievable prophecies was against Egypt. He said the land would lie utterly waste and desolate for forty years. Then, they would return to their land. But, they would never exalt themselves as a truly great nation again. Ezekiel 30:13 said God would take the family of Pharaoh off the throne. From then on, Egypt would be ruled by foreigners. Babylon the Great arose. King Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt. For years the land lay desolate. Later, the Egyptians returned, but true to prophecy, never became a great nation again. And what about Ezekiel's prophecy that, "There shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt"? Since the Persians conquered Egypt, there has never again been a native Egyptian King! First the Greeks ruled. Later, the Romans. Then the Mohammedans, then the Turks, then the French, then the British. Today, the rulers of Egypt are not native Egyptians, but ARABS. God said a prince of Egypt would never sit on the throne again. And for 2,500 years the prophecy has held true! ( to be continued ) Ray Jender ihnp4!ihuxi!rcj1