One of the most interesting things about studying the ancient near east in seminary was finding links toward what people view as myth, religion, and science. With this particular topic, modern Christianity shows its roots of division as scholars have so many diverse opinions which they are absolutely rooted in, that any other possibility becomes impossible to fathom. What is important to remember is this time frame is not modern. It is not rooted in the beliefs of the Renaissance. It is however, rooted in a time period where supernatural occurrences were as common during the day, as running into your neighbor in the grocery store.
What if there was a different explanation for the pyramids of Giza, Stonehenge, or Easter Island? What if the Egyptian, Babylonian, Sumerian, and Greek gods, actually existed? What if the Old Testament accounts were taken as seriously by scholars as the Egyptian hieroglyphs, Babylonian cuneiform, or Sumerian tablets? As humans, we need answers that make sense, and in our minds, ancient supernatural activity is difficult to digest. That should be surprising given the growth of the occult, and the credence given to ghost hunting and other supernatural endeavors. It appears as if the only activity we try to disavow, is the kind related to God.
Through these next few blogs, let’s take a look at some other possibilities for the world as we know it. We may decide that it isn’t as big and complicated as we think. Let’s begin with historical records. Scientists take the ability to date things very seriously in creating a timeline of human events. I contend that timelines are sometimes adjusted accordingly in order to fit a predisposed idea. The danger is when those timelines are made so rigid that there is zero chance for flexibility to accommodate other possibilities. The American Civil War period offers a perfect example. If somewhere in the 22nd century, two archaeologists, working opposite ends of a civil war battlefield each unearth two rifles, they could come to very different conclusions.
At one end is discovered an old flintlock rifle, popular during the American Revolution in the 18th century. That scientist could then declare that based on evidence, the American Civil War must have taken place in the 1700s. At the other end, a repeating rifle is discovered. Developed during the civil war, the repeating rifle was still popular into the early 20th century, leading this scientist to declare that the war took place in the early 1900s. The point is, rigid timelines do not allow for the possibility of all realities, while potentially missing hundreds of years of important facts. I state this in context that will appear later in writings.
Most important right now is understanding cultures. Look at three or four communities right next to where you live. Suppose each of the communities only had one major difference from your own, and that was their religious belief system. Would you still be able to go there and understand how their lives function? Would their day to day events make sense if you walked into their town? Would their food look normal? Only with slight variations of how they lived, based solely on their religious beliefs differentiated the day to day culture of the ancient near east. So too, the accounts of historical events recorded in each civilization, that are also recorded in scripture should be viewed as evidence toward the existence of the event, not merely a story of the region. Point being that secular evidence is going to present itself to reinforce claims found in scripture, and if science continues to validate these ancient writings, then the same scriptural passages will need to be validated as accurate as well.
Ready to begin? Genesis 3: 14-15—(The Seed of Satan)14So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Genesis 3 is regarded as the first prophecy in scripture of the coming salvation of man. Note that the serpent will have offspring, and there will be enmity with the offspring of man. The serpent’s offspring is critical in the understanding of demons, and the torment they unleash upon mankind.
Next time….. The fall of the angels….
Troy P Zehnder 