Appendix A

A More Sure Word

Written history begins after the Flood, and more specifically, after the Tower of Babel dispersion. This book examines the world before that time and is called the antediluvian world, which means "before the flood." Secular historians draw upon the speculations of science for their commentary and refer to it as the prehistoric era. There is, however, a written record of that era - the Bible - and a new breed of scientists, called creationists, start with this record in making their scientific theories. With their great contribution of ideas, this book is able to reconstruct a plausible picture of that lost world.

That specific time after the Tower of Babel dispersion when writing began was with the Sumerians around 2200 BC. It is possible, however, that God gave the knowledge of writing to Adam by divine inspiration, of which Noah had taught his sons. The existing Sumerian records are merely the oldest surviving records from the last 4,000 years of secular history. The book of Genesis may predate the Sumerian records. Most orthodox critics regard the book of Genesis to have been written by Moses about 1500 BC. [1] It is the argument of creation scientist, Henry M. Morris,[2] that records from successive generations[3] were kept from Adam's time, then saved with Noah and continued by the patriarchs. Moses compiled the data into the text known as Genesis.

While his theory might be true it is just as possible that God gave the information directly to Moses by direct revelation. According to Morris, God wrote down the information of the creation then gave it to Adam. There is nothing in the Bible stating He did. The assumption of his theory is that at certain times when the narration says, "This is the generation of..." it means a new writer. The chart shows eleven "toledoths" up to Jacob, with Shem and Esau writing two each.

If Morris is correct, this natural answer to the recording of the Creation, provides an exciting possibility that the Bible (through Genesis) may be 6,000 years old and not "just" 4,000 years old! Creation scientists would have even greater confidence in basing their theories upon the Bible. But even it that is not true, we are convinced that every word in the Bible is chosen by God, true, and therefore a more accurate starting point in viewing the pre-historic era.

Secular scientists and historians completely leave God out of the picture. Yet God is central to all of human history. God has given us three resources in knowing Him and His work on Earth.

First, He has given a general revelation of His character and purposes through the inherent design of all creation. There is consistency in the physical laws and the orderly systems of life and ecology. Gravity is unchanging, growth of animals and humans have regular, consistent cycles for each species, and the interaction of plants, animals, and the environment all harmonize together in a unified whole. Indeed, modern science began in the Renaissance by Christians who assumed logic in creation because of their faith in the logic of the Designer! All this demonstrates the consistency and orderliness of God Himself.

Second, a special revelation of God has been given in the canon of Scriptures that we call the Bible. The word, "Bible," is Latin that means, "book" which is a legacy of the Catholic Church. Even American Jews call the Old Testament "the Bible." There are critics who think that it is not true because it is written by men. These critics don't understand the meaning of the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. Just because it is written by men doesn't mean the information is wrong. There are ample historical and archaeological evidences that support it's veracity. There is also the living witness of millions of Jews scattered around the world, that if one reads the prophecies concerning them, one can see its truth. Furthermore, the Bible is the most unique book ever written in recorded history: its writing spans 1,600 years (from 1500 BC to 90 AD); it was written on three continents (Asia, Africa and Europe); by 40 different authors from all walks of life; in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek); yet with a consistent theme of the redemptive work of Christ for fallen man. Only an eternal and omniscient God could direct such a work! The Bible's unique creation is a testimony to its divine inspiration.

Finally, there is the specific revelation of God by the man himself, Christ Jesus. Because of the personal experience of receiving the Holy Ghost when born again, which is available for anyone who wants Him (and is confirmed by the testimony of millions of Christians living today), personal trust in the Bible comes by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the resurrected and living Lord.

It is upon these three revelations of God: evidence drawn from the creation; the biblical record; and my personal experience with Christ; that my absolute confidence in the historical accuracy and inerrancy of the Bible is based in writing this treatise on pre-history.