Podcasts about Creation Ministries International

Science is all about reviewing data, hypothesizing, making predictions, and testing those predictions. If the prediction aren’t born out—if they don’t match reality—then the theory should be modified—or ultimately abandoned. So, how well does evolution hold up as a theory, when judged by its predictions? Does it match the real world? Join plant biologist Dr Don Batten as he scrutinises five major predictions of evolution. Is evolution as ‘scientific’ as people are led to believe?

DNA is supposedly millions of years old, but can it really survive that long? The evidence suggests otherwise. From genetic entropy showing species can’t survive endless mutations, to ancient DNA breaking down too quickly in the ground, to mitochondrial Eve and Y-chromosome Adam pointing to recent common ancestors — multiple lines of evidence challenge evolutionary timescales. DNA barcoding reveals another puzzle: species across the animal kingdom appear to be roughly the same age, as if some major event reset life on Earth. Dr Robert Carter explores how genetics supports a biblical timeline.

Could landmarks like the Grand Canyon and Mount Everest actually point to a much younger Earth than commonly believed? What if massive geological features worldwide share a common origin story that challenges conventional timelines? An experienced geologist examines five remarkable landmarks—from the Tibetan Plateau’s vast sedimentary layers to Uluru’s pristine feldspar composition—revealing patterns suggesting catastrophic formation rather than gradual processes. Geomorphologist, Dr Ron Neller, presents compelling geological evidence for rapid, large-scale formation of Earth’s most iconic features. Subscribe to Creation magazine ⇢

How did Noah fit massive dinosaurs on the Ark? Where did all the food come from? What about waste management for thousands of animals? Most people picture Noah’s Ark as a tiny bathtub with giraffes poking out the top. The biblical description reveals something drastically different—a colossal vessel measuring 450 feet long, stable enough to withstand 500-foot waves, and spacious enough for 102,000 sheep-sized animals. Dr Jonathan Sarfati addresses these practical questions with engineering precision, explaining everything from ancient preservation techniques to the Ark’s box-like design that made it nearly impossible to capsize.

Two out of three teens are leaving the church after high school—a statistic that should alarm every Christian parent. But why are they walking away, and what can be done to prevent this exodus? The root cause isn’t what most expect. While churches focus on entertainment and youth activities, the real issue lies in intellectual preparation. Students face evolutionary teaching daily but receive no scientific evidence supporting biblical creation. When faith meets academia, unprepared minds abandon belief. A revealing campus survey shows the stark reality: students equipped with creation answers stay faithful, while those without such knowledge leave the church entirely. Gary Bates shares decades of ministry experience and practical solutions for parents and church leaders.

Two genealogies of Jesus—one from Matthew, one from Luke—list different names. Why? And what does it mean for Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah? One approach suggests Matthew lists royal succession, not biology, while Luke follows a biological line through a different son of David. But a deeper dive reveals something even more intriguing. Could legal adoption, Levirate marriage, and repentance after exile explain how Jesus inherited both David’s bloodline and right to the throne? Dr Robert Carter offers a reconstruction that makes sense of it all—and reinforces trust in the Bible’s reliability.

Impact craters exist across Earth and the moon, but what do they reveal about our planet’s history? Explore how these cosmic scars challenge conventional theories about dinosaur extinction and instead provide compelling evidence for a global flood. The surprising arrangement of lunar craters suggests a catastrophic bombardment occurred rapidly, contradicting the millions-of-years timeline. Delve into the mystery of what really happened to dinosaurs after the Flood and why they don’t appear in certain rock layers. Dr Tas Walker explains how meteorite impacts during Noah’s flood reshaped Earth’s geology and reminds us of our planet’s vulnerability to cosmic catastrophes.

The book of Genesis poses many profound questions for every Christian. How long were the “days” of Genesis? Could there have been literal days before the sun? Would organisms have evolved and died before the Fall? What insights can be gleaned from the original Hebrew language of the text? Join us as we tackle these issues and more, exploring the implications that these have for our understanding of creation and how God’s redemptive plan plays out in history.

Ever wondered about the world's largest sand island? The mainstream narrative claims K'gari (Fraser Island) is hundreds of thousands of years old, but there's compelling evidence suggesting otherwise. Discover how distinctive features like coffee rock, perched lakes, and parabolic sand dunes reveal a fascinating post-flood history rather than requiring multiple ice ages to form. Learn why the island's unique soil profiles develop much faster than previously thought and how its remarkable ecosystems—from rainforests to heathlands—thrive on pure sand. The evidence points to a young island formed through two major sand deposition events, challenging the conventional timeline.

Discover the smallest motor in the universe—an astonishing molecular machine that powers all living cells with atomic precision. Explore why ATP synthase, with its near-perfect efficiency, challenges human engineering and evolutionary explanations. Dr Jonathan Sarfati explains how DNA’s replicating, repair, and detangling machines are vital for life. They are all encoded in the DNA, but the DNA can’t be decoded without these machines. This presents a “chicken-and-egg” paradox for naturalistic theories. DNA is also very unstable. Its presence in dinosaur bones undermine millions of years. RNA is 100× less stable than DNA, so could not be the first life. Evolutionists claim LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor) lived 4.2 billion years ago and already had 2.5 million DNA letters encoding 2,500 proteins. Life needed to start “very good” as Genesis 1:31 says. Otherwise, it would have crashed via error catastrophe.

The theory of evolution is widely taught in schools, but what if students aren't learning what they think they are? A surprising sleight of hand occurs in science classrooms worldwide. Students learn about natural selection—a process that can be observed and tested—but are told they've learned about evolution itself. While natural selection removes genetic information, evolution requires gaining it. Julie Neller, with 15 years of experience managing a school science laboratory, explains this critical distinction and why understanding it matters. Discover how parents can guide their children through these classroom challenges and equip them to think critically about what they're being taught.

What does it mean to be a man? Society offers conflicting answers, from outdated stereotypes to extremes of dominance or passivity. But what does the Bible say? Masculinity is more than appearances or achievements—it’s about integrity, humility, and servant leadership. A real man leads with compassion, exercises self-control, and strives to reflect the character of God. Scripture shows us flawed men—David, Moses, Gideon—who still pursued righteousness. It’s a call to resilience, repentance, and faith. Jeff Benjamin shares how these timeless principles challenge and inspire men to live as God intended.

For many, approaching strangers about faith feels intimidating. What starts as awkward religious debates can often drive people further apart rather than bringing them together. But what if there was a more natural way to discuss spiritual matters? Through stories of unexpected conversations in taxis, shops, and airports, discover how simple questions like “Do you have any spiritual beliefs?” can open meaningful dialogues. Learn how Creation Ministries’ resources help address spiritual questions many people are already asking, and explore practical tips for turning everyday encounters into opportunities for sharing faith naturally. Geologist and engineer Dr Tas Walker shares his journey from argumentative teen to thoughtful evangelist in this illuminating conversation.

This week we are joined by Joel Tay of Creation Ministries International to preach on the link between Darwinian Evolution and the sin of Racism.

To support Creation Talk and our ministry (mentioned at the end) visit: creation.com/donate What worldview best explains the human capacity to think and make rational inferences? According to the ‘argument from reason’, this is strong evidence for the existence of God, especially the Creator God of the Bible. If humans were created in God’s image and God designed our minds, it is unsurprising that they work and can perform impressive feats. But if atheism were true and humans were merely accidental byproducts of evolution, what is the likelihood such a blind process would produce creatures who can reason properly? To delve more deeply into this topic, Dawn Blount interviews Keaton Halley, an apologist with Creation Ministries International. They discuss rationality, consciousness, natural selection, randomness, and evidence for the soul. At the end of the day, it’s clear that reason requires God. As C.S. Lewis once noted, the human ability to think and reason is the “cardinal difficulty with naturalism”. ✍️ Links and Show Notes Monkey minds: How evolution undercuts reason and science Can evolution produce rational minds? The epistemic abyss of naturalistic evolution Memory, the brain, and the soul

*More On Biology w/"Prof" Dave: finally this week  Fred Williams and Doug McBurney offer RSR's "definitive" refutation of David James YouTube series allegedly debunking biblical creation.   *Holey Jeans: actually genes... and assumptions David James makes about their contributions to the origins of enzymes, including gene duplication and other evidence "thought to be" in support of evolutionary biology. Sal Cordova dropped the big hammer on such nonsense last May right here on RSR!    *Mutation as Design: Fred critiques the rank stupidity of asserting that genetic mutations produce lots of complex functions and that this can appear as design to the "unprepared" mind, (meaning the mind unprepared by evolutionary propaganda). Even David James' hell bound, fellow traveling, evolutionist fellows at the NIH and Nature know that gene mutations are overwhelmingly harmful!   *RNA from Nothing: Well, not exactly nothing, but David James' assertion that random DNA mutations are an ample source of functional RNA and peptides is equally absurd, and has been refuted by (among others) Rob Carter at Creation Ministries International.   *Haekel, Hox & a Million Bucks: When David "Professor Dave" James Farina condescends to defend, (and even show) Haeckel's hoax slides RSR declares an end to his career. And it's sad that it ended before he could earn the million dollars he bets against creation.      *Body Check: Find out the truth behind more of Professor Dave's "body" of claims at our Professor Dave FACT CHECK page!

TELETHON MONTH: We've got an exciting new announcement! With October being our telethon month, we're looking for 30 new sign-ups for Bob Enyart Subscriptions. These are the best of the best available only at ENYART.SHOP! Please do whatever you can to help us reach our telethon goal of 30 new sign-ups to keep the ministry alive and well!     *More On Biology w/"Prof" Dave: finally this week  Fred Williams and Doug McBurney offer RSR's "definitive" refutation of David James YouTube series allegedly debunking biblical creation.   *Holey Jeans: actually genes... and assumptions David James makes about their contributions to the origins of enzymes, including gene duplication and other evidence "thought to be" in support of evolutionary biology. Sal Cordova dropped the big hammer on such nonsense last May right here on RSR!    *Mutation as Design: Fred critiques the rank stupidity of asserting that genetic mutations produce lots of complex functions and that this can appear as design to the "unprepared" mind, (meaning the mind unprepared by evolutionary propaganda). Even David James' hell bound, fellow traveling, evolutionist fellows at the NIH and Nature know that gene mutations are overwhelmingly harmful!   *RNA from Nothing: Well, not exactly nothing, but David James' assertion that random DNA mutations are an ample source of functional RNA and peptides is equally absurd, and has been refuted by (among others) Rob Carter at Creation Ministries International.   *Haekel, Hox & a Million Bucks: When David "Professor Dave" James Farina condescends to defend, (and even show) Haeckel's hoax slides RSR declares an end to his career. And it's sad that it ended before he could earn the million dollars he bets against creation.      *Body Check: Find out the truth behind more of Professor Dave's "body" of claims at our Professor Dave FACT CHECK page!

DNA & Dark Matter, & the Pre-Flood World with Ryan Williams *Monster Millipede: Ryan Williams joins Fred in the studio to discuss the latest Creation Magazine from Creation Ministries International! Hear how the pre-flood world was home to GIANT millipedes, dragonflies, and scorpions! *Plasma NOT Dark Matter: The four states of matter in creation help define reality, and include plasma, which eliminates the necessity for  dark matter, dark energy, (or the tooth fairy) to explain galaxy rotation velocities.   *DNA Denies Evolution: The discovery of a DNA folding mechanism reveals the intricate programming of DNA and the challenges it poses to evolutionary models.   Short and Sweet: Check out the latest RSR video "short" showing how some people just can't handle the truth;  that the sophistication of the topoisomerase enzymes and the zinc finger protein refute evolution.   *Webb Upsets Hubble (again): The James Webb telescope continues to intensify the CRISIS in Big Bang cosmology, particularly in relation to the Hubble constant and the alleged rate of universe expansion. *Flesh Eating Wildcats: Listener discretion advised! (Especially cat lovers). But seriously folks... the extinction of the Scottish wildcat supports the biblical classification scheme of "kinds" and refutes secular assertions regarding the diversity of speciation. *Dolphin's Detectors: The dolphin's ability to detect electric fields is another in a growing list of observed evidence that refutes vestigial structures and organs, and supports the reality of sophisticated design in God's Creation. *Under Pressure: Data resulting from a scientist spending 93 days at the bottom of the Atlantic, raises interesting questions about atmospheric pressure before Noah's flood.  

DNA & Dark Matter, & the Pre-Flood World with Ryan Williams *Monster Millipede: Ryan Williams joins Fred in the studio to discuss the latest Creation Magazine from Creation Ministries International! Hear how the pre-flood world was home to GIANT millipedes, dragonflies, and scorpions! *Plasma NOT Dark Matter: The four states of matter in creation help define reality, and include plasma, which eliminates the necessity for  dark matter, dark energy, (or the tooth fairy) to explain galaxy rotation velocities.   *DNA Denies Evolution: The discovery of a DNA folding mechanism reveals the intricate programming of DNA and the challenges it poses to evolutionary models.   Short and Sweet: Check out the latest RSR video "short" showing how some people just can't handle the truth;  that the sophistication of the topoisomerase enzymes and the zinc finger protein refute evolution.   *Webb Upsets Hubble (again): The James Webb telescope continues to intensify the CRISIS in Big Bang cosmology, particularly in relation to the Hubble constant and the alleged rate of universe expansion. *Flesh Eating Wildcats: Listener discretion advised! (Especially cat lovers). But seriously folks... the extinction of the Scottish wildcat supports the biblical classification scheme of "kinds" and refutes secular assertions regarding the diversity of speciation. *Dolphin's Detectors: The dolphin's ability to detect electric fields is another in a growing list of observed evidence that refutes vestigial structures and organs, and supports the reality of sophisticated design in God's Creation. *Under Pressure: Data resulting from a scientist spending 93 days at the bottom of the Atlantic, raises interesting questions about atmospheric pressure before Noah's flood.  

Mr. Scott Gillis of Creation Ministries International -CMI-, spoke at the Puritan Reformed Presbyterian Church on May 19. His topic was, -Creation- Impacting our Culture.- A Q-A followed.--CMI demonstrated how the Gospel message is rooted in the book of Genesis and provide evidence to support the reliability of the Bible's record of origins.--PRPC and its denomination -rpcga.org- hold to a young-earth, literal 24-7 day view of the Bible's creation account in chapter one of Genesis. --About Scott Gillis- One of CMI's most popular speakers, Mr. Gillis' own faith grew as a result of a scientist friend showing him how Genesis and the evidential facts made the most sense when interpreted through the Bible. The author of numerous articles, he holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from Oregon State University and served in various capacities over 25 years as a youth pastor, council member, teacher, and speaker before serving as COO for Creation Ministries International -US- from 2010 to 2020. He is a native of Northern California where he resides with his wife, Lisa.--About CMI- The organization is a group of autonomous non-profit ministries in several countries formally unified as a federation under the banner 'CMI-Worldwide.' The role of CMI is to support churches in proclaiming the veracity of the Bible and its Gospel message by providing researched answers to the most-asked questions in the vital area of creation and evolution where the Bible is most under criticism today - the opening book of Genesis. CMI is apolitical and non-denominational. Visit www.creation.com

Mr. Scott Gillis of Creation Ministries International (CMI), spoke at the Puritan Reformed Presbyterian Church on May 19. His topic was, "Creation: Impacting our Culture." A Q&A followed.CMI demonstrated how the Gospel message is rooted in the book of Genesis and provide evidence to support the reliability of the Bible's record of origins.PRPC and its denomination (rpcga.org) hold to a young-earth, literal 24/7 day view of the Bible's creation account in chapter one of Genesis. About Scott Gillis: One of CMI's most popular speakers, Mr. Gillis' own faith grew as a result of a scientist friend showing him how Genesis and the evidential facts made the most sense when interpreted through the Bible. The author of numerous articles, he holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from Oregon State University and served in various capacities over 25 years as a youth pastor, council member, teacher, and speaker before serving as COO for Creation Ministries International (US) from 2010 to 2020. He is a native of Northern California where he resides with his wife, Lisa.About CMI: The organization is a group of autonomous non-profit ministries in several countries formally unified as a federation under the banner 'CMI-Worldwide.' The role of CMI is to support churches in proclaiming the veracity of the Bible and its Gospel message by providing researched answers to the most-asked questions in the vital area of creation and evolution where the Bible is most under criticism today — the opening book of Genesis. CMI is apolitical and non-denominational. Visit www.creation.com

A new MP3 sermon from Puritan Reformed Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Creation: Impacting our Culture (Speaker from Creation Ministries International) Speaker: Scott Gillis Broadcaster: Puritan Reformed Presbyterian Church Event: Special Meeting Date: 5/20/2024 Bible: 1 Timothy 6:20-21; Genesis 1:1-5 Length: 123 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Puritan Reformed Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Creation: Impacting our Culture (Speaker from Creation Ministries International) Speaker: Scott Gillis Broadcaster: Puritan Reformed Presbyterian Church Event: Special Meeting Date: 5/20/2024 Bible: 1 Timothy 6:20-21; Genesis 1:1-5 Length: 123 min.

Episode 264 – Evolution’s Deceptive Evidence – An Interview with Dr. Jonathan Sarfati Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The goal of Anchored by Truth is to encourage everyone to grow in the Christian faith by anchoring themselves to the secure truth found in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. Script Notes: With your wisdom and power you created the earth and spread out the heavens. The waters in the heavens roar at your command. You make clouds appear— you send the winds from your storehouse and make lightning flash in the rain. Jeremiah, Chapter 10, verses 12 and 13, Contemporary English Version God's eternal power and character cannot be seen. But from the beginning of creation, God has shown what these are like by all he has made. That's why those people don't have any excuse. Romans, chapter 1, verse 20, Contemporary English Version ******** VK: Hi! I’m Victoria K. Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. Today we are beginning the wrap up of the series that we call The Truth in Genesis. This series has been an examination of whether the latest contemporary science supports or refutes the traditional view of the Genesis text regarding creation. We’ve been led on this journey by Dr. Jonathan Sarfati. Dr. Sarfati is an internationally known author and the lead scientist for Creation Ministries International. He has written a number of widely selling books that bring an understandable, yet comprehensive, scientific perspective on what empirical observations tell us about the age of the earth and the origin of life. Dr. Sarfati has sold hundreds of thousands of books such as Refuting Evolution volumes 1 and 2, By Design, The Greatest Hoax on Earth and The Genesis Account. During this series Dr. Sarfati has been answering questions about a wide variety of topics that pertain the evidence that supports the historicity of the literal Biblical account. These topics have included methods of assigning dates to long past events, what we really learn from studying dinosaurs, and how life cannot exist without the complex information system that is embedded in the DNA of all life. Our approach to our discussions has been to use reason, logic, and evidence to examine whether the Bible and science are indeed at odds with each other as is often asserted today. Thus far we have seen that nothing could be further from the truth than the assertion that we have to either accept either science or the content of the traditional Christian faith. So as we begin our wrap up of this series, today we’re going see that many of the arguments commonly used to support the truth of evolution actually turn out to be evidence against it. But before we get too far into our discussion, Dr. Sarfati would you like to say a word of greeting to the Anchored by Truth listeners and give us some general comments on the whole subject of science and the Bible? Dr. Sarfati: - Thanks for inviting me. It’s a pleasure to be on Anchored by Truth today. Introductory comments. VK: Dr. Sarfati, During our last several episodes we have seen that there is a substantial body of scientific evidence that demonstrates that the age of the universe cannot be as old as conventional science claims. The earth and universe are far more likely to be several thousand years old than several billion years old. As such, even assuming inanimate particles could somehow aggregate themselves to form self-replicating molecules there is insufficient time for those molecules to be transformed into the vast diversity of plant and animal species that currently exist on the earth, much less create a logical, purposive, ethically animated being such as man. Could you give us a brief summary of some of the evidence that points out how life is too complicated to arise from non-life by blind chance? Dr. Sarfati: Comments on how life cannot arise by blind chance VK: Thank you for those observations. So let’s get right to the main subject for today’s discussion - . Question List: a. Darwin made much of the homological nature of certain vertebrate structures as evidence of common descent. What is homology and what information do we now possess that Darwin did not? Why does homology fail as evidence for evolution? b. Darwin acknowledged that the absence of transitional fossil evidence present in his time did not support his theory, but he appealed to future discoveries that he believed would come to his rescue. Have subsequent discoveries vindicated Darwin’s confidence that the fossil record would one day demonstrate that evolution is true? c. The revolution is molecular biology did not take place until almost 100 years after Darwin’s publication of Origin of the Species. How have advances in our understanding of the atomic and molecular attributes of the cell affected the validity of the evolutionary hypothesis? d. From a probability standpoint, what does the complexity of life imply about the likelihood that life could have arisen by chance? e. The conventional explanation for the origin of life requires the existence of a widespread pre-biotic primordial soup. Is there any evidence that such a “soup” ever existed? f. Some proponents of evolution have argued that we have been able to see “evolution before our eyes.” For example some have pointed to Richard Lenski’s decades-long experiments on bacteria as having demonstrated the truth of evolution. Did Lenski’s experiments show that single-celled creatures could turn into critics or creationists? g. Are there any scientists who affirm the Genesis account and who do research into biological questions from a Creationist perspective? h. In your opinion what are the three or four of the most important facts that Christians should keep in mind when reading articles about the supposed latest discoveries that support evolution as a viable explanation? i. What resources would you recommend for Christians who want to study more about the scientific deficiencies in evolution as an explanation for life and biodiversity? VK: So the big takeaway from our discussion today is that many of the traditional “proofs” used to demonstrate the validity of evolution actually demonstrate its unreliability as a scientific hypothesis. Homologous structures more often than not do not share a common embryological origin. The absence of transitional fossils really is evidence that transitional species do not exist and Darwin’s original concern for their absence has never been alleviated. And molecular biology, far from supporting evolution, has just presented even more perplexing challenges for the evolutionary hypothesis. Dr. Sarfati, we’d really like to thank you for joining us on Anchored by Truth today and throughout this series. Your insights have been invaluable and I believe will continue to be a source of inspiration for everyone who is committed to the inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility of scripture. Just as a reminder to our listeners, this show, as well as all Anchored by Truth episodes will be available by podcast shortly after the broadcast airing. So any listener today who has a friend or study group that could benefit from Dr. Sarfati’s depth of knowledge can go to their favorite podcast app and search on Anchored by Truth by Crystal Sea Books. Today for our closing prayer, let’s listen to a prayer for our nation, especially that the light of truth would once again shine in the hearts of all our friends and neighbors. ---- Prayer for the Nation. VK: We hope you’ll be with us next time and we hope you’ll take some time to encourage some friends to tune in too, or listen to the podcast version of this show. If you’d like to hear more, try out crystalseabooks.com where “We’re not famous but our Boss is!” (Bible Quotes from the American Standard Version) Jeremiah, Chapter 10, verses 12 and 13, Contemporary English Version Romans, chapter 1, verse 20, Contemporary English Version https://creation.com/the-evolution-trains-a-comin

What Convinced Dr. Ron Neller that the Biblical Flood was a Historic Event? Join Educate for Life Radio and Kevin Conover as he interviews Dr. Ron Neller with Creation Ministries International. Learn more about the details of the Global Flood and how he came to the conclusion that Noah's flood is true history.  This episode first aired May 7, 2024

Episode 263 – Life Requires Intelligence and Information – An Interview with Dr. Jonathan Sarfati Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The goal of Anchored by Truth is to encourage everyone to grow in the Christian faith by anchoring themselves to the secure truth found in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. Script Notes: Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. Psalm 147, verse 5, American Standard Version …for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him; and he is before all things, and in him all things consist. Colossians, chapter 1, verses 16 and 17, American Standard Version ******** VK: Hi! I’m Victoria K. Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. Today we want to continue our study of the origins of the universe and life with our series that we call The Truth in Genesis. To help us to understand not only what the Bible says but what the latest scientific evidence reveals we’ve invited Dr. Jonathan Sarfati to be our guest in the studio. Dr. Sarfati is an internationally known author and the lead scientist for Creation Ministries International. He has written a number of widely selling books that bring an understandable, yet comprehensive, scientific perspective on what empirical observations tell us about the age of the earth and the origin of life. Dr. Sarfati has sold hundreds of thousands of books such as Refuting Evolution volumes 1 and 2, By Design, The Greatest Hoax on Earth and The Genesis Account. During this series Dr. Sarfati has been answering questions about a wide variety of topics that pertain the evidence that supports the historicity of the literal Biblical account. Of course, we recognize that this can be a very controversial topic. So, our approach to our discussion has been to use reason, logic, and evidence to support all of the points that underscore the accuracy of the Bible text. Sometimes you will hear people say something like – “You have faith, but I have science.” This statement creates an artificial distinction between faith and science with the implication that the Christian faith requires the suspension of our trust in science. Nothing could be further from the truth, and that is one of the reasons that Dr. Sarfati’s books are so important. His books are filled with detailed explanations for how the creative process described in Genesis is amply sustained by empirical observations and the rigorous application of logic and reason. Specifically, today we’re going see that the existence of life in any form requires not just chemistry and biology but also information – and a great deal of it. But before we get too far into our discussion, Dr. Sarfati would you like to say a word of greeting to the Anchored by Truth listeners and maybe tell us a little bit about yourself and how you developed your interest and expertise in logical reasoning? Dr. Sarfati: - Thanks for inviting me. It’s a pleasure to be on Anchored by Truth today. Introductory comments. VK: Dr. Sarfati, During our last several episodes we have been discussing key points that point to the fact that a literal interpretation of Genesis is not only true but well supported by reason and evidence. First, there are significant scientific problems with the way dates have been traditionally been assigned to the age of the universe and the earth. Second, there is a considerable body of scientific evidence that supports the ages for creation and the earth derived from Genesis. Third, the Noahic flood dispels the need for a long-age uniformitarianism to explain the geological configuration of the earth. A young earth would be an arrow in the heart of evolution as that term is commonly used. In our last episode of Anchored by Truth we saw that there is another arrow that is fatal to goo-to-you evolution: cellular information. But another line of scientific evidence that pierces the evolutionary veil surrounds the origin of life. What are the major problems that are encountered when someone tries to explain how inanimate particles came to life through the random collision of molecules? Dr. Sarfati: Comments on how life cannot arise from random and chaotic activity VK: Thank you for those observations. Obviously, this is a topic that could easily consume hours of discussion but since we don’t have that kind of time today, let’s get right to some detailed questions. Question List: a. The existence of life requires specified complexity. It also requires what one scientist has termed irreducible complexity, aka functionality threshold. What do these terms mean and how do they relate to the ability of blind chance to animate atoms? b. The Urey–Miller experiments supposedly demonstrated that electrical discharges simulating lightning when sent through a mixture of gases could produce life sustaining amino acids. But we now know that the results of the experiments to explain the formation of life were wildly overstated. What did these experiments actually do and why did they actually not demonstrate how life could have formed? c. If the primordial atmosphere contained oxygen early organic molecules would have been destroyed by oxidation. If the primordial atmosphere did not contain oxygen there would have been no ozone layer to block ultraviolet radiation which is particularly deadly to organic materials. How do evolutionary scientists try to get around this simple barrier to life’s origin absent intelligent intervention? d. All life on earth is cellular based. But for a cell to live it must have a permeable membrane to enclose its protein machinery. But the protein machinery is necessary to build the permeable membrane. Isn’t this an absolute impediment to the validity of conventional evolutionary explanations for the origin of life? e. The center piece of cellular reproduction is DNA. We now know that DNA isn’t just an arrangement of chemically linked molecules that happen to have a particular arrangement, but it is actually more akin to the software that operates a computer. The cell’s proteins are dependent on the DNA for instructions, but the DNA is dependent on the proteins for its own existence and maintenance. Doesn’t this mutual dependence destroy any possibility that life could have arisen by chance? DNA is also very unstable (as per the Nobel Prize for Chemistry 2015), and RNA is even less stable. In fact, even the building blocks like ribose and cytosine are too unstable to last long in a primordial soup. f. In your opinion what are the three or four of the most important facts about the origin of life that scientifically support Biblical creationism and demonstrate the futility of evolutionary thought to explain the existence of life? g. What resources would you recommend for Christians who want to study more about why the complexity of life requires an intelligent cause? VK: So the big takeaway from our discussion today is that an intelligent cause is required to explain the specified and irreducible complexity present in life. Higher orders of animals are so complicated they point to a supremely intelligent Creator. This means that the conclusion we get from Genesis – that God created all life - is amply supported by empirical observations and scientific evidence. After all, all life demonstrates that it could not exist without an enormously complex information system. And the notion that a complex information system could arise randomly or chaotically is simply unreasonable in the formal sense of that word. The existence of life requires the organization of information. That points directly to a personal being – God – who had the intelligence and power to not only design the system but also bring it about. Dr. Sarfati, we’d really like to thank you for joining us on Anchored by Truth today. Just as a reminder this show, as well as all Anchored by Truth episodes will be available by podcast shortly after the broadcast airing. So any listener today who has a friend or study group that could benefit from Dr. Sarfati’s depth of knowledge can go to their favorite podcast app and search on Anchored by Truth by Crystal Sea Books. Today for our closing prayer, since there are so many places throughout the world where our Christian brothers and sisters are not free to practice their faith, how about today that we pray for those believers who live daily with persecution because of their faith? ---- Prayer for Persecuted Christians, radio version. VK: We hope you’ll be with us next time when we’ll continue our discussion with Dr. Sarfati. And we hope you’ll take some time to encourage some friends to tune in too, or listen to the podcast version of this show. If you’d like to hear more, try out crystalseabooks.com where “We’re not famous but our Boss is!” (Bible Quotes from the American Standard Version) Psalm 147, verse 5, American Standard Version Colossians, chapter 1, verses 16 and 17, American Standard Version https://creation.com/divine-engineer-sarfati-by-design-review https://creation.com/the-evolution-trains-a-comin

Episode 262 – Evolution: A Word in Doubt – An Interview with Dr. Jonathan Sarfati Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The goal of Anchored by Truth is to encourage everyone to grow in the Christian faith by anchoring themselves to the secure truth found in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. Script Notes: For the LORD is God, and he created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos. “I am the LORD,” he says, “and there is no other. I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the LORD, speak only what is true and declare only what is right. Isaiah, chapter 45, verses 18 and 19, English Standard Version You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased. Revelation, chapter 4, verse 11, English Standard Version ******** VK: Hi! I’m Victoria K. Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. Today we are continuing to explore the origin of the universe and the beginning of life with our series that we call The Truth in Genesis. To help us in our exploration we’ve invited Dr. Jonathan Sarfati to be our guest in the studio. Dr. Sarfati is the lead scientist for Creation Ministries International. He has written a number of widely selling books that bring an understandable, yet comprehensive, scientific perspective on what empirical observations actually tell us about the age of the earth and the origin of life. Dr. Sarfati has sold hundreds of thousands of books such as Refuting Evolution volumes 1 and 2, By Design, The Greatest Hoax on Earth and The Genesis Account. During this series Dr. Sarfati has been answering questions about a wide variety of topics that pertain the evidence that supports the historicity of the literal Biblical account. Of course, we recognize that the overwhelming view in our culture today is that the universe is billions of years old and that life somehow arose spontaneously by a process labeled as “evolution.” But, surprisingly enough, the science that supports life arising from non-living chemicals is not nearly as settled as is usually thought. Moreover, as we’ll learn today, evolution as a hypothesis is defined so flexibly that it is nearly impossible to find a consensus on what the term actually means. Today we’ll be looking at what the terms “evolution” and “natural selection” actually mean and how God’s provision for the adaptation of species has been misused in a way that violates the rules of logic and evidence. Specifically, today we’re going see that the concept of natural selection had actually been recognized by Biblical creationists before Charles Darwin ever put a pen to paper to publish his most famous book. But before we get too far into our discussion, Dr. Sarfati would you like to say a word of greeting to the Anchored by Truth listeners and maybe tell us a little bit about yourself and how you became interested in studying the subject of creation and biological adaptation? Dr. Sarfati: - Thanks for inviting me. It’s a pleasure to be on Anchored by Truth today. Introductory comments. VK: Dr. Sarfati, during our last few episodes we have been discussing several key points demonstrate that the earth and universe are much younger than conventionally assumed. First, there are significant scientific problems with the way dates have been traditionally been assigned to the age of the universe and the earth. Second, there is a considerable body of scientific evidence that supports the ages for creation and the earth derived from Genesis. Third, the Noahic flood dispels the need for a long-age uniformitarianism to explain the geological configuration of the earth. A long age time period is absolutely essential to placing any confidence in – as you put it - a particles-to-people concept of evolution. But there are other problems with the notion that life arose from non-life and blind, random forces produced all the brilliant diversity we see on the earth today. But before we get too deep into our discussion the term “evolution” is often given widely varying meanings. What does the term “evolution” actually mean? Dr. Sarfati: Comments on the varying ways “evolution” is used by its advocates VK: Thank you. That was very helpful. So let’s delve more deeply into some of the issues associated with natural selection and evolution. Question List: a. Can you comment a little more on the fact that Christian scientists had considered the possibility of natural selection as a mechanism for the creation of new species before Darwin wrote The Origin of Species? If so, what was Darwin’s contribution to science? b. What does “natural selection” mean and how does it operate? c. Is it fair to say that the critical factor that precludes random, undirected activity, even at the molecular level, from enabling simpler life forms to “evolve” into more complex life forms is the inability of random activity to create the additional information within the cell that enables all complex life to function? d. How can the loss of genetic information actually contribute to enhanced survival of a species in some circumstances? e. Can genetic mutations ever create new information? Would it ever be possible for a single-celled ancestor to create all the genetic information present in humans and other higher orders of animals? f. What resources would you recommend for Christians who want to study the scientific problems with evolution? g. In your opinion what are the three or four of the most important facts that Christians should know that demonstrate that particles-to-people evolution is not supported by actual scientific evidence? VK: So the big takeaway from our discussion today is that evolutionists consistently commit the logical fallacy of equivocation and use the term “evolution” to create a veneer of scientific respectability to defend an anti-supernatural secularism. This reinforces the conclusion that we have seen through this Truth in Genesis series. There are significant problems with common consensus that the universe is billions of years old and that the evolutionary hypothesis has been proven scientifically. Methods for assigning ancient days to long past events are not as reliable as normally thought. And the Genesis flood explains geological phenomena that are observed around the globe. So if a billions of years age for the earth is not necessary to explain either geological or paleontological discoveries maybe we should begin considering an alternative. This means that the conclusion we get from Genesis – that God created all the various “kinds” of animals – is amply supported by empirical observations and scientific evidence. Dr. Sarfati, we’d really like to thank you for joining us on Anchored by Truth today. Just as a reminder this show, as well as all Anchored by Truth episodes will be available by podcast shortly after the broadcast airing. So any listener today who has a friend or study group that could benefit from Dr. Sarfati’s depth of knowledge can go to their favorite podcast app and search on Anchored by Truth by Crystal Sea Books. Today for our closing prayer, since we may often be the only one who can be the voice of God to bring God’s truth to our friends, how about today that we pray for those friends? ---- Prayer for Friends, radio version. VK: We hope you’ll be with us next time when we’ll continue our discussion with Dr. Sarfati. And we hope you’ll take some time to encourage some friends to tune in too, or listen to the podcast version of this show. If you’d like to hear more, try out crystalseabooks.com where “We’re not famous but our Boss is!” (Bible Quotes from the English Standard Version) Isaiah, chapter 45, verses 18 and 19, English Standard Version Revelation, chapter 4, verse 11, English Standard Version https://creation.com/3-rs-of-evolution https://creation.com/divine-engineer-sarfati-by-design-review https://creation.com/the-evolution-trains-a-comin

Episode 261 – Dinosaur Duplicity – An Interview with Dr. Jonathan Sarfati Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The goal of Anchored by Truth is to encourage everyone to grow in the Christian faith by anchoring themselves to the secure truth found in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. Script Notes: Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox. What strength it has in its loins, what power in the muscles of its belly! Its tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are close-knit. Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like rods of iron. It ranks first among the works of God, yet its Maker can approach it with his sword. Job, chapter 40, verses 15 through 19, New International Version I will not fail to speak of Leviathan’s limbs, its strength and its graceful form. Who can strip off its outer coat? Who can penetrate its double coat of armor? Who dares open the doors of its mouth, ringed about with fearsome teeth? Its back has rows of shields tightly sealed together; each is so close to the next that no air can pass between. They are joined fast to one another; they cling together and cannot be parted. Its snorting throws out flashes of light; its eyes are like the rays of dawn. Flames stream from its mouth; sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke pours from its nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds. Job, chapter 41, verses 12 through 20, New International Version ******** VK: VK: Hi! I’m Victoria K. Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. Today we are pressing forward with our series that we call The Truth in Genesis. To help us in our exploration of one of the most fascinating – and controversial – parts of scripture, we’ve invited Dr. Jonathan Sarfati to be our guest in the studio. Dr. Sarfati is the lead scientist for Creation Ministries International. He has written a number of widely selling books that bring an understandable, yet comprehensive, scientific perspective on what empirical observations actually tell us about the age of the earth and the origin of life. Dr. Sarfati has sold hundreds of thousands of books such as Refuting Evolution volumes 1 and 2, By Design, The Greatest Hoax on Earth and The Genesis Account. During this series Dr. Sarfati is addressing a wide variety of topics that pertain to a proper understanding of scientific evidence that conflicts with the conventional view that the earth is billions of years old. Today we’ll be exploring some of the most fascinating parts of that evidence because we’ve devoted today’s show entirely to dinosaurs. Specifically, today we’re going see that recent discoveries about dinosaur fossils are at odds with the hypothesis that these fossils are tens or hundreds of millions of years old. But before we get too far into our discussion, Dr. Sarfati would you like to say a word of greeting to the Anchored by Truth listeners and maybe tell us a little bit about yourself and how you became involved with Creation Ministries International? Dr. Sarfati: - Thanks for inviting me. It’s a pleasure to be on Anchored by Truth today. Introductory comments. VK: Dr. Sarfati, in our first couple of episodes of our Truth in Genesis series you addressed some of the major problems that affect the validity of dating methods that are used to support the belief in an ancient earth. Last time we saw that the world-wide flood described in Genesis casts further doubt on the reliability of many of the popular claims about the old age of the universe and earth. Would you like to give us a brief overview of a few of the observations that you made? Dr. Sarfati: Review comments for evidence of a young earth VK: Thank you. That was very helpful. As we observed last time - it’s very important to note that the dates developed from geology depend entirely on the assumption that the current appearance of the earth reflects processes that have been consistent and continuous throughout the earth’s history. Yet this assumption is unproven and unprovable. But another problem is that geologists often look to paleontologists to corroborate their determinations. Ironically, though, paleontologists often do the reverse and look to geologists for date determinations. Do I have that correct? Dr. Sarfati: Introductory comments on the geology-paleontology circle. VK: So let’s delve more deeply into what we actually learn by studying dinosaurs. Question List: a. Do dinosaurs prove that the earth is billions or millions old? b. How does much of the evidence that is available from studying dinosaur fossils actually demonstrate that Biblical time frame is more accurate? c. How does the presence of blood cells, elastic blood vessels, intact cells, animal proteins and DNA, found in dinosaur skeletons demonstrate that such skeletons could not be as old as the conventional dating theories assert? d. Could dinosaurs have been present on Noah’s ark? Is there evidence to suggest that dinosaurs lived on the earth for some time after the flood waters had abated? e. Is there evidence to suggest that dinosaurs may have lived in proximity to people at one time? f. How do preconceptions affect paleontologists when they assign long age time periods to dinosaur skeletons? g. Are there any Christian paleontologists who support a literal reading of Genesis and what that mean about dinosaurs? That dinosaurs were created on the sixth day, accompanied Noah on the ark, and existed for some period of time before becoming extinct as millions of other species have. h. In your opinion what are the three or four of the most important facts that point out that Christians can view dinosaur skeletons without surrendering any belief in a literal genesis? i. What resources would you recommend for Christians who want to study more about what dinosaurs really tell us about the earth, it’s age and history? VK: So the big takeaway from our discussion today is that dinosaur remains and dinosaur skeletons do not provide evidence for a long dated age of the earth. This reinforces the conclusion that we saw last time: that the Genesis flood explains geological phenomena that are observed around the globe. So if a billions of years age for the earth is not necessary to explain either geological or paleontological discoveries maybe we should begin considering an alternative. This means that the conclusion we get from Genesis – that the earth is thousands rather than billions of years old – is amply supported by empirical observations and scientific evidence. Dr. Sarfati, we’d really like to thank you for joining us on Anchored by Truth today. Just as a reminder this show, as well as all Anchored by Truth episodes will be available by podcast shortly after the broadcast airing. So any listener today who has a friend or study group that could benefit from Dr. Sarfati’s depth of knowledge can go to their favorite podcast app and search on Anchored by Truth by Crystal Sea Books. Today for our closing prayer, since so many of our children study dinosaurs in school, how about if we pray a prayer for any of our kids who may be preparing to take a test. ---- Prayer before taking a test, radio version. VK: We hope you’ll be with us next time when we’ll continue our discussion with Dr. Sarfati. And we hope you’ll take some time to encourage some friends to tune in too, or listen to the podcast version of this show. If you’d like to hear more, try out crystalseabooks.com where “We’re not famous but our Boss is!” (Bible Quotes from the New International Version) Job, chapter 40, verses 15 through 19, New International Version Job, chapter 41, verses 12 through 20, New International Version https://creation.com/how-did-dinosaurs-grow-so-big https://creation.com/3-rs-of-evolution https://creation.com/divine-engineer-sarfati-by-design-review https://creation.com/the-evolution-trains-a-comin

Episode 258 – Disappointing Dating – An Interview with Dr. Jonathan Sarfati Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The goal of Anchored by Truth is to encourage everyone to grow in the Christian faith by anchoring themselves to the secure truth found in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. Script Notes: When Lamech was one 182, he had a son. Lamech said, “I'll name him Noah because he will give us comfort, as we struggle hard to make a living on this land that the Lord has put under a curse.” 0Lamech had more children and died at the age of 777. After Noah was 500 years old, he had three sons and named them Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Genesis, chapter 5, verses 28 through 32, Contemporary English Version But first you must realize that in the last days some people won't think about anything except their own selfish desires. They will make fun of you and say, “Didn't your Lord promise to come back? Yet the first leaders have already died, and the world hasn't changed a bit.” They will say this because they want to forget that long ago the heavens and the earth were made at God's command. First Peter, chapter 3, verses 3 through 5, Contemporary English Version ******** VK: VK: Hi! I’m Victoria K. Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. Today we want to continue our discussion series that we’re calling The Truth in Genesis and to help us do that we’ve invited one of the premier scientists and experts on the question of origins, Dr. Jonathan Sarfati, to be our guest in the studio for the next several weeks. Dr. Sarfati has sold hundreds of thousands of books such as Refuting Evolution, By Design, The Greatest Hoax on Earth and The Genesis Account. During this series Dr. Sarfati will be addressing a wide variety of topics that are pertinent to the question of the origin of the earth and the universe. During the series he will be providing us with insight into the extensive body of scientific evidence that supports the truth of the Genesis text. Along the way he will be addressing a number of subjects, including problems with conventional dating methods methodologies, affirmative evidence that the universe is actually fairly young, scientific challenges to life arising from non-living chemicals, and evidence that the earth’s surface provides abundant evidence of a world-wide flood. In our last episode we learned that, contrary to many claims, the text of Genesis is actually very clear that God created the entire earth and universe in just six, normal 24 hour days. We are well aware that this position is at odds with the claims of contemporary culture. Yet, surprisingly enough, there is an enormous body of empirical observations that reinforces the Bible’s declaration and refutes the cultural consensus. But before we get too far into our discussion, Dr. Sarfati would you like to say a word of greeting to the Anchored by Truth listeners and maybe tell us a little bit about yourself and Creation Ministries International? Dr. Sarfati: - Thanks for inviting me. It’s a pleasure to be on Anchored by Truth today. Introductory comments. VK: As I mentioned in our last episode of Anchored by Truth you addressed why the Genesis text actually rules out the possibility that God performed His work of creation in six successive stages of indeterminate duration. Would mind briefly reminding our listeners of the major points that you made? Dr. Sarfati: Review comments for the meaning of the Genesis text VK: Thank you. That was very helpful. It’s so important to be very clear about a proper understanding of the opening verses of Genesis is essential because any other view of the creative period would require the existence of animal and human death before Adam’s sin? This would undermine God’s declaration of the unspoiled creation being “very good.” It would also undermine the clear link scripture makes between sin and death. And there is no good reason for Christians to attempt to fit scripture into a framework that sees the universe as being ancient as opposed to being young, is there? Dr. Sarfati: Introductory comments on problems with conventional dating methods. VK: So let’s expand on the basic point that you’re making. Conventional dating methods have fatal flaws that compromise their reliability for assigning dates to the distant past Question List: a. Well then, what are the most common methods used to assign dates to geological and paleontological phenomena and materials? b. What problems are present in these dating methodologies? c. Why do these dating methodologies result in unreliable results? d. Are there examples of ancient dates that were assigned to rocks of known recent origin? e. If conventional dating methodologies aren’t reliable, are there any methods for assigning dates in which believers can invest confidence? f. How do preconceptions affect attempts to assign dates to long past events? g. Why is it essential that the conventional scientific establishment defend the billions-of-years age assigned to the universe? h. In your opinion what are the three or four of the most important facts that point out that the conventional age assigned to the universe is unlikely to be true? i. Could you briefly summarize the things Christians should keep in mind when they hear arguments supporting a billions-of-years age for creation? j. What resources would you recommend for Christians who want to study the scientific problems with a billions-of-years age for the universe? VK: So the big takeaway from our discussion today is that conventional dating methods have fatal flaws that compromise their reliability for assigning dates to the distant past. This means that the conclusion we get from Genesis – that the earth is thousands rather than billions of years old – is amply supported by scientific evidence. Dr. Sarfati, we’d really like to thank you for joining us on Anchored by Truth today. Just as a reminder this show, as well as all Anchored by Truth episodes will be available by podcast shortly after the broadcast airing. So any listener today who has a friend or study group that could benefit from Dr. Sarfati’s depth of knowledge can go to their favorite podcast app and search on Anchored by Truth by Crystal Sea Books. Today for our closing prayer how about if we pray for the restoration of the worship of the one True God throughout our land and world. ---- Prayer for the restoration of the worship of the one true God, radio version. VK: We hope you’ll be with us next time when we’ll continue our discussion with Dr. Sarfati. And we hope you’ll take some time to encourage some friends to tune in too, or listen to the podcast version of this show. If you’d like to hear more, try out crystalseabooks.com where “We’re not famous but our Boss is!” (Bible Quotes from the Contemporary English Version) Genesis, chapter 5, verses 28 through 32, Contemporary English Version First Peter, chapter 3, verses 3 through 5, Contemporary English Version https://creation.com/how-dating-methods-work

Episode 256 – Competing Truth Claims About Genesis Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The goal of Anchored by Truth is to encourage everyone to grow in the Christian faith by anchoring themselves to the secure truth found in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. Script: (Bible quotes from the New Living Translation) “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” Job Chapter 38, verses 4 through 7, New Living Translation “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see... Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together it.” Colossians Chapter 1, verses 15 through 17, New Living Translation ******** VK: Hi! I’m Victoria K. Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. I’m here today with RD Fierro, author, founder of Crystal Sea Books, and part-time interior designer. He arranges the books in the display case in the lobby. And speaking of arranging things, we have arranged a very special series on Anchored by Truth that will begin next week. Starting next week and for several weeks in a row we will doing a very special series and to help us do that we will have a VERY special guest. RD, do you want to tell us about this extra special series that we’re introducing today on Anchored by Truth? RD: I do indeed. Today we’re going to launch a series of shows I’m calling “The Truth in Genesis.” Obviously, Anchored by Truth is all about demonstrating that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. We start every show with that proclamation. But I think one of the big challenges that most Christians face today who believe that the Bible is the word of God is how to sustain that belief in a relativistic world and culture that bombards us constantly with the message that there is no such thing as absolute truth and that there is no way to know whether any book, including the Bible, can be shown to be the word of God. And certainly for Christians in contemporary culture one of the most immediate challenges that is placed before us is right at the beginning of the Bible in Chapter 1 where the Bible tells us that God created the heavens, the earth, and everything that exists on the earth including all living creatures and most especially, us. Supposedly, that claim is at odds with what contemporary science tells us about the universe and life. So, for a Christian to maintain their faith in the Bible today culture they must immediately confront the cultural challenge to the Bible’s proclamation about creation. VK: And your contention is that it is a cultural challenge more than a scientific one. Your view is that there is substantial scientific evidence that absolutely supports, as you are saying, the truth in Genesis. And that’s what this series of radio episodes is going to be about. We are going to review some of the scientific evidence that pertains to the age of the universe and earth and the origin and development of life. We believe that conducting this review listeners will be able to see how objective, scientific observations fit very well with a proper understanding of the Genesis text. And to help us do that for most of the shows we have a very special, invited guest to help. But before we provide the details about our upcoming special guest or get too much farther into our discussion about the serious stuff, we’d like to start by just reminding the folks about how the Bible tells us that God did go about creating the heavens and earth. To do that we want to play a portion of Crystal Seas’ upcoming poetic series called the Genesis Saga. For today, let’s listen to Part 1 of the Genesis Saga which we call Seven Days of Wonder. ---- SEVEN DAYS OF WONDER VK: I know I’m biased but I just love the simple beauty of the descriptions contained in that piece. The piece is visual and emotional but it also gives us a description of each day of creation that is absolutely faithful to Chapter 1 of Genesis. RD: And that was certainly our goal. In fact it’s always our goal at Crystal Sea and Anchored by Truth. We want people to always be drawn back to the Bible for their own inspiration and edification. Particularly when it comes to creation the best that we can do today is look at to evidence that can be found in the world around us and see where the evidence points insofar as origins are concerned. But the Bible provides us an eyewitness account of creation from the only One who was there when it all took place: God. Because God, in fact, was not only there, He was the One who did the creating. VK: But of course, that’s the part that’s to so much disagreement today or outright disbelief and criticism. Today, a great many people go to science to get their explanation for the origin of the universe, the earth, life, and people. RD: And in a certain sense that’s ok – provided we always remember that it’s the scientific evidence we should look to – as opposed to simply accepting certain interpretations of that evidence. Everyone – including you, me, and scientists approach the world with an established set of axioms, a lens if you will, through which we will view issues or evidence that comes before us. There is a tendency, however, in our day and age to somehow believe that - if someone calls himself or herself a scientist – that they have set aside all preconceptions and are somehow now operating in an objective, dispassionate fashion without such a set of preconceptions or axioms. While I don’t doubt that the vast majority of scientists are genuinely interested in trying to better understand the world and universe it would be a mistake to not understand that scientists are people complete with agendas, aspirations, and viewpoints that will affect how they approach evidence. VK: Can you give us an example of what you’re thinking about? RD: Sure. There are massive fossil beds - graveyards of thousands and even millions of fish, dinosaurs, and mammals that are found in North America, Europe, and Africa. The same is true of plants. From Utah-Colorado north to Alberta-Saskatchewan, Canada, thousands of dinosaurs are found in certain beds such as the Morrison Formation. These sites reveal that great quantities of animals were buried together rapidly. The rapid burial resulted in excellent preservation of the remains and the position of mammals suggests death by drowning. In Brazil there is a large plateau where fish fossils are found with the skin, muscles, organs etc. all preserved. The fish look like they had just been caught but they are petrified and hard as stone. They are abundant and distributed over several thousand square miles. The plateau where these fossils are found is well above sea level and a good 500 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. This is remarkable because experiments with fresh dead fish have shown that dead fish in water will disintegrate and their skeletons will fall apart in less than one week. Only catastrophic conditions would have enabled the preservation of such an extensive collection of animals and plants so exquisitely preserved. A world-wide catastrophe involving water is a very reasonable explanation for these observations. But a geologist or paleontologist who rejects the Biblical flood account will come to the same evidence but will provide a different explanation for the evidence. VK: Such as? RD: Well they might believe there have been catastrophic floods in the past, just not a world-wide one. They might believe in a more localized flood perhaps based on a catastrophe caused by an asteroid strike or an immense undersea volcanic eruption that caused a massive tsunami. VK: So your point is that different people can approach the same body of evidence and arrive at very different conclusions. And a part of their determination will be based on the set of axioms that they use to approach either life in general or in the practice of their profession. And we see that kind of variation in the results of decision making every day in the world around us. Two different financial analysts look at exactly the same set of financial statements or business presentations and one says a company’s stock is a buy and the other says it’s a sell. Two different forensic examiners look at the same evidence and one might say it points to the innocence of a defendant and the other believes it points to guilt. RD: Exactly. And that’s one of the reasons we wanted to do a series on the book of Genesis because so often today the only discussion people hear about the earth’s past is very one sided. Today, almost without exception, we are told that all scientific evidence points to a universe and earth that are billions of years old and that life on earth began without an intelligent cause – or as I would say God. So, we wanted to do a series of Anchored by Truth episodes that examine some of the latest scientific discoveries and see whether or not the only reasonable conclusion is that science contradicts Genesis. That’s the reason we’re calling this series The Truth in Genesis. VK: And to help us do that we’ve invited one of the premier scientists and experts on the question of origins, Dr. Jonathan Sarfati, to be our guest in the studio for the next several weeks. For those who aren’t familiar with Dr. Sarfati’s work we would encourage listeners to check out his impressive body of writing. He’s written a number of widely selling books that challenge the conventional views of what chemistry, geology, and paleontology say about the age of the universe and the origin of life. Dr. Sarfati has sold hundreds of thousands of books such as Refuting Evolution, By Design, and The Greatest Hoax on Earth. Dr. Sarfati will be addressing a wide variety of topics during this series including problems with conventional dating methodologies, affirmative evidence that the universe is actually fairly young, scientific challenges to life arising from non-living chemicals, and evidence that the earth’s surface provides abundant evidence of a world-wide flood. We will even be doing an entire show just on dinosaurs and what the latest dinosaur research actually tells us about the earth’s history. RD: I think this will be a truly amazing series especially for listeners who have never had the chance to do any personal investigation into what science actually reveals about the key questions of the age of the universe and how life on the earth began. And I’d like to emphasize that while we will not be shy about discussing the Bible in connection with these important topics, this series really will be top heavy with science. Dr. Sarfati’s title is the Lead Scientist for Creation Ministries International. He has a Ph.D. in physical chemistry and he is an internationally ranked chess champion. He’s well known for playing up to chess with up to 12 players simultaneously while he is blindfolded. VK: He sounds pretty impressive but what about your earlier warning that scientists are just people and that we shouldn’t necessarily accept their opinions just because they are scientists? RD: And I’m standing by that warning. I don’t think anyone should accept Dr. Sarfati’s analyses just because they come from him any more than I think that we should blindly place our trust in any human source. The point of my earlier observation is that we can and should listen to people who are acknowledged experts in their fields whether it’s a geologist, paleontologist, medical doctor, or auto mechanic. But we should always employ our own reasoning skills to examine what they’re telling us and make our own determination about whether what they’re telling us makes sense, especially if they start telling us that their point of view is the only reasonable or even possible one - which is something that evolutionary adherents have been saying for decades. VK: So what you’re saying is that when someone says, “Evolution is not a theory. It is a fact,” that what they’re really trying to do isn’t to examine the evidence for or against the evolutionary hypothesis. The real intent is shut down debate. They’re trying to avoid any need to consider evidence that doesn’t support their position. RD: Yes. All too often that’s what happens. Conventional science has embraced the evolutionary hypothesis for so long that a great many scientists, as well as their lay followers, are no longer willing to consider any alternatives. But despite these assertions, the truth is that “goo to you,” “particles to people,” “the sea to me” position on evolution is not a proven fact. So, people who believe in believe in Biblical creationism simply want to point out that since it is not a proven fact evolution as the solution for the origin of life should not be promoted dogmatically. But throughout the halls of schools and colleges everywhere as well as in the popular press and media it is. Phillip Johnson in his groundbreaking work Darwin on Trial devoted an entire chapter to discussing what Johnson called the “Darwinist Religion.” In other words, all too often today the scientific problems with evolution are simply dismissed because the evolutionary paradigm is deemed to be so sacrosanct no forms of dissent are tolerable. VK: But one of the ironies that we are going to cover during the series is the fact that some of the evidentiary elements that are often offered in support of evolution actually point in the opposite direction. For instance, the fossil record is often touted as demonstrating that there is empirical evidence for evolutionary development. But even Charles Darwin recognized that the fossil record at his time didn’t support his theory. He famously wrote, “Geology assuredly does not reveal any such finely-graduated organic chain; and this, perhaps, is the most obvious and serious objection which can be urged against the theory.” Darwin hoped that with further exploration gaps in the fossil record would be closed and so called “intermediate species” would be identified. Yet despite the fact that over 100,000 species are now known from the fossil record there are only a handful of truly viable candidates that are known to be possible intermediates. RD: And that’s just one example of the scientific problems that plagues the evolutionary hypothesis and it’s a great example of the kinds of topics we hope to discuss during the series. And since time is running out on this episode of Anchored by Truth I’d like to cover one final point. During this series we are going to be contrasting Biblical creationism vs. “molecules to men” evolution. I am well aware that there are various positions regarding origins and biological development that try to straddle the obvious gaps between those two positions. VK: Such as so-called theistic evolution where God created life but then used evolution to form the species that we see existing today? RD: Yes. Theistic evolution is an attempt to resolve the tension between Biblical creationism and evolution. Just like the Day-Age approach is an attempt to reconcile the differences in the time scales we get from the Bible and from conventional science. I think there are significant problems with both of those approaches and other middle-of-the-road type of strategies. For instance, one of the problems with theistic evolution is that it places death before sin in the chronology of the history and I think that’s problematic given the entirety of scripture. So, because of the limited time we’ll have for addressing a large variety of topics we’re going to concentrate on how science supports the orthodox view of Biblical creationism because that’s the view that gets the least time in most discussions about these issues. VK: And one of the biggest reasons we want to that is that we want to be respectful of our listeners time. All of us have a lot going on so we want to be sure that if listeners are kind enough to tune into the show or the podcast we want their time to be rewarded with information that will help them develop in their own investigation of scripture and development of their faith. Since we’ve begun a focus on the first chapter of Genesis, how about if today we hear a prayer of adoration for the Creator? ---- PRAYER OF ADORATION FOR THE CREATOR (radio version) VK: We’d like to remind our audience that a lot of our radio episodes are linked together in series of topics so if they missed any episodes or if they just want to hear one again, all of these episodes are available on your favorite podcast app. To find them just search on “Anchored by Truth by Crystal Sea Books.” We hope you’ll be with us next time as we are joined by Dr. Jonathan Sarfati to begin our in depth look at the truth in Genesis. If you’d like to hear more, try out crystalseabooks.com where “We’re not famous but our Boss is!” (Bible Quotes from the New Living Translation) The Book of Job, chapter 38, verses 4 through 7 The epistle to the Colossians, chapter 15 verses 1 through 17 https://creation.com/right-perspective-interpreting-data https://creation.com/gods-days https://creation.com/how-did-dinosaurs-grow-so-big https://creation.com/3-rs-of-evolution https://creation.com/divine-engineer-sarfati-by-design-review https://creation.com/the-evolution-trains-a-comin

Timothy Mahoney and Geneticist, Dr. Rob Carter, of Creation Ministries International conclude their discussion on Biblical Genetics.       Who were the Neanderthals? Were they subhuman ape-men? Or, has modern genetics revealed something startling about these enigmatic characters from prehistory? Could it be that Neanderthals are fully human and one of the people groups that spread out after the Tower of Babel dispersion? Learn what modern genetics and archaeology have shown about Neanderthals that affirms the book of Genesis.       Get Dr. Carter's new DVD "Ancient DNA" and equip yourself and your family with powerful answers, affirming the reliability of Genesis that refute evolution.       https://usstore.creation.com/product/2307-ancient-dna?q=/module/cmi_redirect/redirect       ➡️ HELP US FUND THE NEXT FILM

Episode 252 – Archeology and the Bible – Part 7 – Jericho Old & New Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The goal of Anchored by Truth is to encourage everyone to grow in the Christian faith by anchoring themselves to the secure truth found in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. Script: Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it. They completely destroyed everything in it … The men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. Joshua, Chapter 6, verses 20 through 23, New Living Translation ******** VK: Hello and welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. I’m Victoria K. This is our 7th episode in our series on archeology and the Bible. Throughout this series we have been talking about the large number of archeological finds that supply evidence that confirm that the history contained in the Bible is real history. It’s popular today, especially in academia and the media, to attempt to dismiss the long-standing relationship between the Bible and archeology. But when reviewed objectively the only fair conclusion is that archeology has been extremely supportive of the Bible’s trustworthiness. To help us continue to explore this topic, in the studio today we have RD Fierro. RD is an author and the founder of Crystal Sea Books RD, thus far in this series we have reviewed a number of specific archeological finds that have confirmed details of the Bible. But you said that today you wanted to switch things up a bit. What do you have in mind? RD: Well, thus far in this series we have mostly been talking about archeological finds and artifacts that came from places that today are in ruins. Some of the sites we have discussed were destroyed so thoroughly like Nineveh, the capital of the ancient Assyrian Empire, that they were lost to secular history or considered legendary. But today we are going to talk about a city that not only plays a prominent role in the Bible but also is still in existence today – Jericho. Jericho is one of the few cities that is mentioned early in the Old Testament and later in the New Testament. Most of the locations from that time in Bible history have turned into piles of rubble and most have disappeared beneath multiple layers of sand, rock, or dirt. But Jericho didn’t. It still exists today in the West Bank territory and according to recent estimates has about 20,000 occupants. But we must emphasize that while the city exists it is not on exactly the same spot as the Old Testament city mentioned in Joshua. VK: Some scholars believe that Jericho may be the oldest continuously occupied city in the world. And while the secular dating for how long Jericho has been around doesn’t conform with a Biblical view, pretty much everybody agrees Jericho is thousands of years old. Jericho is well known to students of the Bible and even in popular culture because of the popular incident that is related in chapter 6 of the book of Joshua. We heard a part of the description of the incident in our opening scripture. Just to refresh everyone’s recollection though, the book of Joshua is set in history just as the Israelites are ending the 40 years of wandering in the desert. Moses has died but before he did he named Joshua as his successor to actually lead the Hebrews across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land to begin their occupation of it. While it’s not evident today, Jericho was a very imposing obstacle in Joshua’s day. Its defensive walls were famous and since it was located near one of the fords in the Jordan River it occupied a strategic location. RD: Right. Both militarily and psychologically it was important for the Israelites to conquer Jericho if they were to have any hope of actually fulfilling the mandate they had received from God to take possession of the land of Canaan. It essentially confronted the Israelites just as soon as they had crossed the river. The big question for Joshua and the Hebrews was how in the world could they defeat it? Let’s remember that while the number of Hebrews that had come through the wilderness wanderings was sizeable – some scholars estimate as many as 2 million in total – they were not a well-equipped army. They were essentially a band of farmers, shepherds, and tradespeople who had little, if any, significant weapons. The only weapons the Bible mentions are personal weapons like swords and bows and arrows. VK: During their 40 years of wandering through the wilderness the Israelites were a nomadic people. They pitched camp whenever the Lord told them to and they moved when the Lord told them to. They were always accompanied by their “flocks and herds.” Their shelters were tents. The largest structure they ever built was their temple which was itself, just a large tent. In short, they didn’t spend any time, or have the opportunity to build a real army or develop the kind of weapons an army would need to take on a walled and fortified city like Jericho. Swords and arrows aren’t much good against walls that were, according to archeological excavations, up to 6 feet thick and as much as 40 feet, or more, high. Armies that would tackle fortifications like that would have catapults, towers, and siege engines. The Hebrews didn’t have any of those things. RD: Of course they did have God on their side. There’s an old saying that you never know that “You’ll never know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.” VK: Amen to that. RD: The point is that Jericho would have been an imposing obstacle to the Israelites who just entering the land God had told them to occupy. And, humanly, speaking they would have had no way to breach the walls. Fortunately, they didn’t have to. All the Hebrews had to do was obey God’s instructions and He said He would deliver the city into their hands. At this stage of their history the Israelites were still being obedient to God – which would change later on, sadly. VK: But, as you said, at this time the Hebrews under Joshua were still obeying God. God told them to march around the city once for six days. Then He told them to march around the city seven times on the 7th day. After their final circuit God told them that when they shouted the walls of Jericho would “collapse” and they would be able to charge straight into the city. They did exactly as told and the Bible tells us that the walls fell down and the Hebrews were able to take the city. The only people who survived was Rahab, the harlot, and her family who were with her because she had sheltered the Hebrew spies. It’s a dramatic story that has been popularized in various songs, books, and movies. So, naturally the question occurs as to whether there is any archeological evidence that supports the Biblical account. RD: And not surprisingly there is. The Old Testament city of Jericho is located at a site that is called Tell-el-Sultan today. Extensive excavations have been conducted at that site through the years. And we know from those excavations that the ruins that have been uncovered provide substantial confirmation for the Biblical account of the episode that is described in chapter 6 of the book of Joshua. VK: Well then let’s go through some of the evidence that has been uncovered. For our listeners’ benefit we want you to know that there are a couple of very good articles on the Creation Ministries International website that deal with the archeological work that has been done at Jericho. But for this episode we have also used material from Dr. Gleason Archer’s book, The Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, and the Archeological Study Bible. The Archeological Study Bible is a particularly helpful book for any Bible student that wants to explore the connection between the Bible and archeology. There are literally hundreds of articles, comments, maps, and pictures that demonstrate that the Bible is a book firmly set in place and time. And the fact that such a book can be produced for the Bible sets the Bible apart from all other ancient or modern books that claim to have divine inspiration. So, where do you want to start in talking about the evidence from archeology that supports the Biblical account? RD: Well, we can start with the fact that Jericho was strongly fortified. In fact excavations have shown that Jericho had two sets of walls. The mound of Jericho was surrounded by a great earthen embankment, with a stone retaining wall at its base. The retaining wall was about 12–15 feet high. On top of the earthen embankment was a mudbrick wall that was six feet thick and over 20 feet high. That means the Israelites standing on the outside of this lower wall would have been staring up at a wall that was close to 40 feet high. VK: In other words the attacking Hebrews would have been facing a wall that was close to 4 stories tall. That would have been both imposing and discouraging. RD: Absolutely. And that was just the lower wall. At the top of the embankment was a similar mudbrick wall whose base was roughly 14 meters (46 feet) above the ground level outside the retaining wall. This is what loomed high above the Israelites as they marched around the city each day for seven days. Humanly speaking, it was impossible for the Israelites to penetrate the impregnable bastion of Jericho. VK: Archeologists estimate that within the upper walled section was an area of approximately six acres. Based on an archaeologist’s rule of thumb of approximately 200 persons per acre, the population of the upper city would have been about 1,200. Archeologists estimate that the total area within the walls of Jericho including the lower walled portion was about 9 acres. We also now know, from excavations carried out by a German team that people were also living on the embankment between the upper and lower city walls. And it is reasonable to believe that as the Israelite army was approaching Jericho that Canaanites living in surrounding villages would have fled to Jericho for safety. Thus, it’s quite likely that there were several thousand people inside the walls when the Israelites came against the city. RD: Right. So, one element of the Biblical story that is attested to by archeology is that Jericho was strongly fortified and could have held enough people to be militarily significant. A second element that the archeology has shown us is that it was small enough for the Israelite army to march around seven times in one day. The Israelites wouldn’t have marched around right next to the walls – that would have made them vulnerable to rocks or objects tossed off the walls. So, let’s assume they marched far enough away to have a reasonable margin of safety. The distance they marched in a single trip would have been in the range of 3,500 to 4,000 feet. There are 5,280 feet per mile so even if they marched around a 4,000 feet perimeter 7 times that’s a total distance of about 5 miles. Certainly for people who had been used to trekking through the desert for the last 40 years a 5 mile walk would not have worn them out. They would have had plenty of energy to attack the city with strength when the falls finally fell. VK: The archeological excavations at Jericho have also revealed that the city’s free-standing inner and outer mudbrick walls collapsed outward. This means they fell down the slope and piled up at the base of the mound. This is consistent with how the Bible describes the walls’ collapse. The Legacy Standard Bible put it this way in Joshua, chapter 6, verse 5. “And it will be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down beneath itself, and the people will go up every man straight ahead.” Once the walls collapsed, this allowed the invading Israelites to go straight up and into the city. This is consistent with what the Bible says in verse 20 of the same chapter. RD: A third element of the archeological evidence that supports the Bible account is that a one-meter-thick layer of ash and debris, including jars of burnt wheat, was found in many sections of the city. Joshua, chapter 6, verse 24 says “Then [the Israelites] burned the whole city and everything in it …” VK: And the fact that the jars were full of burnt wheat is consistent with the Bible’s report that the attack took place just after the harvest. Joshua, chapter 3, verse 15 says that the Hebrews crossed the Jordan River just before attacking Jericho in the harvest season. Moreover, the fact that there was grain in the charred jars is evidence that the siege of Jericho was a short one. According to the Bible’s description the siege lasted just 7 days. If it had been a long siege the people who had fled into the city would have eaten the grain in the jars. Also, the fact that the archeologists found grain in the jars was evidence that most of the Hebrews complied with the Lord’s instructions to not take plunder for themselves from the city. In Joshua, chapter 6, verses 18 and 19 Joshua had said to the Israelites: “keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.” Grain would have been a valuable commodity to an attacking army. An army certainly would have taken any food stores in the city with them under normal circumstances. The fact that the grain was left shows that whoever sacked the city and set fire to it is unusual but it is entirely consistent with the Bible’s account. RD: And let’s mention one final piece of evidence of what was found at Jericho which is consistent with the Bible. The Bible explicitly says that the harlot Rahab’s house was built into the city wall. Joshua, chapter 2, verse 15 says, “So [Rahab] let [the Hebrew spies] down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall.” Well, as the archeologists were exploring the walls that had fallen they discovered a section of the lower city wall had not collapsed in the same way as the other parts of the walls. An article on the Creation Ministries website puts it this way: “The German excavation of 1907–1909 found that on the north a short stretch of the lower city wall did not fall as everywhere else. A portion of that mudbrick wall was still standing to a height of over …eight feet). What is more, there were houses built against the wall! It is quite possible that this is where Rahab’s house was. Since the city wall formed the back wall of the houses, the spies could have readily escaped. From this location on the north side of the city it was only a short distance to the hills of the Judean wilderness where the spies hid for three days.” VK: So, the main point of all of this evidence that we are citing is that there is ample archeological evidence to support the reliability of the Bible’s account the Israelites captured the city of Jericho. But I think some people might ask the question, “why does it matter whether the story - as told in the Bible - is true?” Some people might say that even if the story was an embellished account what difference does it make? Or, does it even matter if the story is just an amazing legend that was used to inspire generations of Hebrew children. RD: And the short answer to those questions is that it makes all the difference in the world whether the story is true. Let’s step back for a second and remember that the Bible is a single book about a single plan and that its content was selected by a single mind – the mind of God. God had a purpose for everything He chose to have included in the Bible. There is a lot of history in the Bible, such as the history found in Joshua, but none of that history is there by accident. God wanted and wants His people to learn things from the history He chose to include. VK: So, what are some of the things God wants us to learn from the Hebrew encounter with Jericho? RD: Well, remember where this encounter occurs in the larger plan of redemptive history. The Hebrews were coming out of a 40-year period of wandering in the desert after they had left captivity in Egypt. But the group that was entering the Promised Land was not the same group that had left Egypt. Except for Joshua and Caleb all of the Hebrews who had left Egypt had died in the desert because they had rebelled against the Lord in one way or another. VK: Even Moses had died. God had not permitted Moses or his brother Aaron to enter the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy, chapter 32, verses 50 through 52 God said, “There on the mountain that you have climbed you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites … in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites. Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel.” RD: Right. So, the group of Israelites that was entering the Promised Land, except for Joshua and Caleb was not the same group that had seen the miracles that God had performed in Egypt as part of delivering the Hebrews from bondage. This group might be wondering “how can we be sure that God is going to help us displace the Canaanites and enable us to take possession of the land?” Well, certainly be helping them to overcome the first major obstacle they encountered after crossing the Jordan was a powerful signal that though almost all of their previous leaders had died their God was still very much alive and in command. So, the miraculous conquest of Jericho was a dramatic signal to the Hebrews that as long as they were obedient to Him God was going to assure that they obtained the inheritance He had promised. VK: And the Hebrews experience at Jericho is still a valuable lesson for us. God had led the Hebrews to Jericho. They were in the center of His will as they were staring up at the walls. The fact that they were facing this huge obstacle as they were seeking to do His will wasn’t because they had done anything wrong – at least at that point. They were doing what God had commanded them to do. But that didn’t mean that they weren’t going to encounter obstacles and opposition. I think that’s a great lesson for us. Sometimes we are doing things that we feel led by God to do and just as soon as we start doing them we encounter opposition. That may make some people question whether God really wants them to do it. Obstacles in fulfillment of our purpose shouldn’t deter us or cause us to turn aside. RD: Right. Even if we are doing exactly what God wants us to do we can and should expect to encounter opposition from the world, the flesh, and the devil. Overcoming opposition is a part of fulfilling God’s plans for our lives. And that is why it matters that the story of Joshua’s conquest is true. Humanly speaking Joshua and his soldiers may or may not have been able to ultimately breach Jericho’s walls. But they sure weren’t going to do it in a matter of days – more like months or maybe years. And in the meantime they would have had to worry about counterattacks from the surrounding Canaanite cities and tribes. It was vital for Joshua to keep the momentum going. But he couldn’t do that on his own. He needed God’s help. And because the story in Joshua chapter 6 is true then we can be confident he got the help he needed. And it gives us hope we can receive help from that same God when we need it. VK: But if the story of Joshua’s conquest of Jericho is just a legend why would that give us any hope. We might be able to learn lessons from stories – Jesus used parable to teach - but if we want real hope we need examples, real examples, of when our God came to the aid of His people. That’s one thing we get from the story of Jericho. But we only get that if the story is real history. RD: Right. The story of Joshua and Jericho tells us that we don’t have to be discouraged when we encounter obstacles in our lives of service to the Lord and others. The Lord knows of the obstacle long before we encounter it. And the story of Joshua and Jericho tells us that it doesn’t matter whether, from our viewpoint, the obstacle seems insurmountable. As Jesus said in Luke, chapter 18, verse 27, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Joshua learned this lesson at the very start of the actual conquest of the land. This must have increased his confidence in what was coming next. And there was going to be plenty of continuing opposition as they moved forward. But right up front Joshua and the people – and we – learned that obedience to God produced delivery from the world. As you said, that’s a lesson we still need today – especially as we face a culture that is increasingly trying to build walls to keep the church and the gospel out of their walled cities and away from the things they treasure. We are not conquerors but we are more than conquerors when we don’t depend on our own strength but on the Lord’s. VK: And that is why we all need to be fully persuaded that the Bible is true. And verifying for ourselves that the Bible’s history is accurate is one step in that process of persuasion. And knowing a little bit about archeology can help us with that process. Archeology may or may not interest us as a subject. But we must know enough to be able to intelligently rebut the world’s claim that the Bible is a book that gets a few things right but most things wrong. Our faith may or may not hang in the balance. But the faith of our children, families, and friends may. So, we must do our part to be able to defend their faith from the assaults that will inevitably come. Knowing a little bit about archeology can help with this greater goal. This sounds like a great time to pray. Today let’s listen to a prayer for our friends. Most of us may not be called to be missionaries in far-away lands but we are all called to be missionaries to the people in our families and communities. ---- PRAYER FOR FRIENDS (JUNE) VK: We’d like to remind our audience that a lot of our radio episodes are linked together in series of topics so if they missed any episodes or if they just want to hear one again, all of these episodes are available on your favorite podcast app. To find them just search on “Anchored by Truth by Crystal Sea Books.” If you’d like to hear more, try out crystalseabooks.com where “We’re not perfect but our Boss is!” (Bible Quote from the New Living Translation) Joshua, Chapter 6, verses 20 through 23, New Living Translation The walls of Jericho (creation.com) Jericho archaeology after Joshua (creation.com)

In this exciting new 4 part series, Timothy Mahoney interviews Geneticist, Dr. Rob Carter, of Creation Ministries International, as they discuss the sometimes heated debate surrounding origins.       What led Dr. Carter from being an evolutionist to believing in a 7 Day Creation? With the different viewpoints surrounding the book of Genesis, why is a literal creation important to consider from a Scriptural and evidential perspective? What evidence has the scientific field of Genetics uncovered that points to the veracity of the creation account?       Tim and Rob discuss this and much more in this series. We hope you enjoy this first episode!       ➡️ HELP US FUND THE NEXT FILM

Episode 247 – Archeology and the Bible – Part 3 – Archeological Axioms Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The goal of Anchored by Truth is to encourage everyone to grow in the Christian faith by anchoring themselves to the secure truth found in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. Script: Noah was 600 years old when he went into the boat to escape the flood, and he did everything the LORD had told him to do. His wife, his sons, and his daughters-in-law all went inside with him. Genesis, Chapter 7, verses 5 through 7, Contemporary English Version ******** VK: Hello! Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. I’m Victoria K. Today we’re going to be doing the third episode in a new series that we are calling “Archeology and the Bible.” Some scholars estimate that there are over 4,000 different religions in the world. With that many religions out there it’s reasonable to ask whether we can be sure which of those religions, if any, is true. The good news is that we can reasonably differentiate among the competing truth claims made by the various religions using logic, reason, and evidence. And one source of evidence that demonstrates that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God is archeology. Archeology helps us to show an unbelieving world that that the Bible contains a large body of reliable history. So, to help us continue our discussion today in the studio we have RD Fierro, who is an author and the founder of Crystal Sea Books. RD, one of the big points that we are trying to make in this that archeological finds can be a valuable source of support for the accuracy of the history that the Bible reports. In fact, the Bible’s history has been shown to be accurate even when doubted by secular historians and we talked about that in our last episode of Anchored by Truth, right? RD: Right. But before I get to a reminder of what we discussed last time I would also like to say “hi” to everyone and welcome them to Anchored by Truth. At Anchored by Truth we often say that there are four lines of evidence, at a minimum, that will help people understand that the Bible may be differentiated from all other books that claim to be the word of God. Those four lines of evidence are reliable history, remarkable unity, fulfilled prophecies, and redeemed destinies. And one way we can show that the Bible’s historical reports are accurate is through archeological finds. And there have been some pretty graphic examples of the Bible getting history right even when skeptics for centuries dismissed the Bible’s report. A case in point is the Bible’s report on the existence of the ancient kingdom of Assyria and its famous capital city, Nineveh. Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire literally disappeared beneath the sands of time in the 6th century BC and for over 2,000 years physical evidence of the once-mighty empire was missing. VK: Nineveh disappeared so completely that a Greek writer, Lucian of Samosata ([who lived from] A.D. 120-180), once lamented: "Nineveh has perished. No trace of it remains. No one can say where once it existed" ... This lack of visible evidence caused many scholars and historians as late as the 19th century to doubt that the Assyrian Empire even existed, much less was once the dominant military power on earth. RD: Yes. But then all that changed. The online Encyclopedia Britannica has this to say about the rediscovery of Nineveh. “The first person to survey and map Nineveh was the archaeologist Claudius J. Rich in 1820, a work later completed by Felix Jones and published by him in 1854. … Sir Henry Layard during 1845–51 discovered the palace of Sennacherib and took back to England an unrivalled collection of stone bas-reliefs together with thousands of tablets inscribed in cuneiform from the great library of Ashurbanipal.” VK: But while secular history had lost sight of Nineveh and the Assyrians the one witness to their existence that never wavered was the Bible. The Old Testament books of Kings, Chronicles, Isaiah, Nahum, and Jonah always contained a clear record of the existence of the Assyrians even preserving names of some of its rulers and officials, the name of its capital, and even records of its conquests. Once the clay tablets were recovered from the great library by Henry Layard the Bible’s accounts were vindicated. RD: Right. No serious historian today doubts that the Assyrian Empire at one time dominated the Mideast, was a very successful military power, and posed a grave and mortal threat to kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The Bible always contained a plain record of those facts and today scholars worldwide accept those facts. So, one subject I want to discuss today is why – at one time – there was so much doubt about the Bible’s reports about Assyria and Nineveh despite the fact that the Bible record was true and accurate. VK: Well, I suppose many, maybe most people, would say “before Rich, Layard, and the others who unearthed the ruins of Nineveh from the Iraqi desert there wasn’t any evidence that the Bible’s account was accurate.” RD: I think you’re quite right –. VK: Thank you. RD: - And that’s what I want to talk about. Why do so many people doubt the Bible until one of the Bible’s accounts is confirmed by an extra Biblical source? The Bible is an ancient record – but there are a lot of ancient records from about that same time period. The Greeks in particular had some well-known historians such as Herodotus and Xenophon. The Romans had historians such as Tacitus and Pliny. The Jews had a particularly well-known historian called Josephus. But when secular scholars read those ancient historians they don’t automatically doubt their accounts unless another source or archeological find confirms it. But all too many people automatically doubt the Bible’s records unless there is an extra-Biblical source that comes along and shows the Bible is right. VK: Oh. I see the point you’re making. Even before Rich and Layard discovered the physical remains of Nineveh and the Assyrians there was in fact very good evidence of their existence - because the Bible contained a record of their existence. But today the tendency is to discount the Bible’s record as having evidentiary value unless another source is available to confirm what the Bible says. Your point is that among a lot of scholars today there seems to be an anti-Biblical bias that says, in effect, “Sure it’s in the Bible. But how do we know the Bible is true.” Yet, those same scholars don’t bring that same attitude to other historical records from the Biblical times. The way the academic community, the journalists, and the media treat the Bible is exactly the opposite of the way they treat other ancient sources. The skeptics and critics will regard other records as being accurate on their face but they regard the Bible as being inaccurate unless confirmed. This is either ironic because, in fact, the Bible is what inspired many, if not most, of those early Middle Eastern archeologists to go on their expeditions. They saw Bible as being true so they were willing to stake time and money to look for the ancient cities the Bible said had been there. If they had had the same attitude as many people today have they would never have set on their expeditions. RD: Right. A belief in the Bible’s accuracy inspired much, if not most, of the early archeological exploration in Egypt, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, etc. Some of the greatest finds in archeological history, such as the rediscovery of the city of Petra in modern day Jordan, might never have been brought to light if it weren’t for the fact that explorers knew it must be there because the Bible said it was. Petra in Greek means “rock like” or “stony” and it is, quite literally, a city carved out of rock. In the Bible that location is identified with Edom. The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, who was the brother of the patriarch Jacob (also known as Israel). Esau was red haired and the city occupied by his descendants was known for the distinctly red color of the stone in that area. So, it is interesting that when it was rediscovered so much of the Bible’s text was vividly confirmed. At any rate, the point is that there is often the tendency to doubt the Bible unless confirmed, whereas the opposite attitude is taken with respect to other ancient documents. The histories compiled by Herodotus, Xenophon, etc. are accepted as being generally reliable until inaccuracies are shown. VK: Well, as you say that wasn’t the case a hundred years ago or maybe even thirty or forty years ago. So, why is it that way now. RD: In my opinion it’s because of the concerted pushback that has been occurring against Christianity and the Bible in recent decades in the west. Christianity’s values and ethics have been under attack in the western societies for a wide variety of reasons. But to effectively dispense with Christianity’s values you must dispense with the source of those values: the Bible. So, there has been a concerted effort in academia, the media, and popular culture to characterize the Bible as being filled with myth and fairy tale. Once that idea is established, whether it is true or not, much of the Bible’s magisterial authority has been eliminated. VK: This is not only sad, it is dangerous. The Bible contains the special revelation that God has given to mankind. We can no more dispense with that revelation safely and without danger than the patient can ignore the mechanic who has just told him that he has an issue with his car or truck which he should attend to. The driver can ignore the mechanic’s advice but not without risking catastrophe. With respect to ignoring the Bible it’s even more dangerous. Mechanics are human. They can be wrong. The Bible was inspired by God and God is never wrong. RD: Well said. What people need to realize is that all people, all of us, approach our lives using a set of axioms. These axioms form a lens through which we see the world. Sometimes these axioms are obvious and reasonable. Most of us tend to see the advice given to us by professionals as being useful and helpful. This means we will accept and follow the advice. But not all people operate by this axiom. VK: Recent events in America and other western nations have unfortunately caused previous trusting people to begin to doubt the advice they previously wouldn’t have questioned. This may be medical advice, advice about nutrition and health, or prescriptions involving social, political, or cultural norms. Hmmm. I see why we need to talk about this. The widespread confusion over the virus and how to deal with it has caused a lot of people to no longer trust medical advice they once would have never questioned. And sadly, tragically, something similar has happened in our culture with respect to the Bible. 20, 30, or 40 years ago you could have settled a discussion by quoting the Bible. Today, if you quote the Bible people are quite likely to say “so what?” RD: Right. We all view life through a set of axioms. Quite often those axioms have put into our lives by our families or cultures and we don’t even question them. The set of axioms that surround us tend to shape what many scholars or theologians will call our worldview. I don’t want to spend too much time on worldview today - because that would be the subject for a whole show or even series. But the collection and aggregation of our foundational axioms form our worldview. For most of us the ideas that form our worldview are unspoken and un-thought-of. Most of them seem almost self-evident. Well, interestingly enough these unseen, unspoken axioms can have a powerful role in areas of study like archeology. VK: What are you thinking about? RD: Let’s take a specific example. Chapters 6 through 9 of the book of Genesis clearly describe a worldwide flood. Despite the attempts of some critics to say that this flood was a localized, limited flood, the Genesis language is pretty clear. The flood endured by Noah and his family was worldwide and essentially reshaped the entire surface of the earth. And based on the time periods that we can derive by studying the genealogies elsewhere in Genesis we can confidently say that this worldwide flood occurred about 4,500 years ago. VK: The Amplified Bible, Genesis, chapter 7, verses 19 and 20 say this: “The waters prevailed so greatly and were so mighty and overwhelming on the earth, so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered. [In fact] the waters became fifteen cubits higher [than the highest ground], and the mountains were covered.” RD: Yes. That’s pretty clear language. But, of course, despite the clarity of the language today there are a great many people, including scientists, who deny that such a flood ever happened. Deep time, uniformitarianism, and evolutionary thought rule the halls of academia, the discussions at most so-called science institutions, and popular thought. Thus, it has become a widely accepted axiom in archeological thought that the flood never happened. So, let’s think about this. If there was a worldwide flood about 4,500 years ago that reshaped the earth’s surface and deposited huge amounts of sedimentary material all of the earth then no structures that we can find on the earth today would be older than 4,500 years. VK: It’s not impossible that some artifacts or parts of buildings might be found in one of the layers deposited by all the water moving around – but with the kind of flood described in the Bible nothing would have survived intact. RD: Right. So, an archeologist who accepts the Bible’s flood account as being historical will rarely, if ever, be tempted to assign a date to ruins or an artifact older than 2,500 BC. One of the axioms which would form a part of their approach to their craft would include the presence of the flood in ancient history. They wouldn’t have any reason to try to put a date on an artifact earlier than 2,500 BC. But an archeologist who denies the historicity of the Bible’s flood account has no problem dating ruins or artifacts as being much older than 2,500 BC. And there are a number of sites around the world that have been assigned dates older than 2,500 BC. And similar older dates would be assigned to artifacts found in those ruins. Bible denying archeologists have an axiom in their worldview that says people have been around for hundreds of thousands of years and therefore ruins as old as 5,000 or 10,000 BC (or even older) are possible. The difference in the starting axioms between these two groups is going to lead to widely differing possibilities in assigning dates to ancient ruins, artifacts, or civilizations. VK: Let’s remind our listeners of something that we’ve talked about before. Historical science is not the same as operational science. In operational science hypotheses can be tested and results of experiments repeated and affirmed or refuted. One scientist boils water at sea level at 212 degrees Fahrenheit and other scientists around the world can replicate those results. That’s operational science. But that is not true for historical sciences like archeology, cosmology, paleontology, or the certain elements of geology that pertain to age. All any scientist can do is look at evidence available in the present and attempt to provide an explanation for what that evidence says about the past. And there is just about no way to dispositively confirm that explanation. The best scientists can do is provide explanations that can be tested against the evidence and determine whether that explanation is consistent or inconsistent with the evidence. RD: Agreed. Historical science can never reach the same level of certainty as operational science. Moreover – and this is really important – the number of scientists, historians, or archeologists who may accept a particular explanation does not determine the truth of that proposed explanation. VK: Or, said slightly differently, truth is not determined by majority opinion. We’ve talked before on Anchored by Truth that today geologists acknowledge that many of the great river valleys all over the world were created by truly epic floods. David R. Montgomery, a geology professor at the University of Washington, labeled the floods that created these river valleys “Noah-like” in a 2012 article for Discover magazine. But in that same article Montgomery noted that the first geologist to propose that the river valleys of eastern Washington were caused by such floods was J. Harlan Bretz. But when Bretz initially proposed his explanation in the 1920’s he was met with widespread. Yet the recognition that Bretz was correct is so widespread today that, at the age of 97, Bretz was awarded the Geological Society of America’s highest honor. When Bretz first proposed his explanation for the origin of river valleys in eastern Washington he was a minority of one. But today it is widely acknowledged that Bretz was right. RD: Exactly. And that same thing can be true for the axioms that archeologists or other scientists bring into their profession. Just because one, many, or most archeologists believe that there has never been a worldwide flood has no bearing on the truth of whether a flood actually occurred. What is important for listeners to note is that this rejection of the flood of Noah will greatly affect many of the explanations that flood-deniers offer. A specific instance of this that we will cover in greater depth is the ruins at Göbekli Tepe in south eastern Turkey. Secular archeologists date these ruins to about 11,000 – 12,000 years BC. Their assigned dating is largely due to the results of radiocarbon dating. VK: But there are well known problems with the accuracy of radiocarbon dating. Creation Ministries International has several excellent articles on their website that discuss these problems. So, we won’t go into them today, but we will mention one. Radiocarbon dating depends on a comparison between the amount of carbon-14 present in a sample such as a wood fragment with the amount of carbon-14 that is assumed to have been present when the sample was first formed. One basic problem is that we have no idea how much carbon-14 was originally present. The starting value to which the current amount is present is always an assumption. There is no way to know for sure what that starting value was. That’s one reason we say that dates to artifacts or ruins are always “assigned” not discovered. There is never any way to prove that assumptions that went into the assigned date are accurate. And it is quite common for different dating methods to differ widely in the assigned dates. RD: Yes. So, largely based on radiocarbon dating the ruins at Göbekli Tepe have been dated far older than possible when considering the date for the Noahic flood. This points out the importance of the date assigners underlying set of starting axioms. VK: So, how can we know who and what to believe? RD: By doing what we always recommend – consider the evidence and apply logic and reason. In the case of whether the Genesis flood occurred there is an abundance of scientific and historical evidence that it did. And we have covered that evidence in depth a couple of times on Anchored by Truth. And the series that discuss the flood of Noah are available from our website: crystalseabooks.com. In the case of the dating of the ruins of Göbekli Tepe one simple question to ask is whether the ruins are more consistent with a hunter-gatherer society (which is what secular archeologists tell us existed at that time) or a society that possessed some level of mathematical and construction sophistication. In the case of the ruins we now know that they were laid out with a level of mathematical precision that would be inconsistent with a society that had not supposedly even entered a settle agricultural phase. But they are consistent with a community that possessed the kind of technological sophistication described in Genesis chapters 4 through 6. VK: Let’s remember that in chapter 1 of the book of Genesis the Bible tells us that Adam was created with a sophisticated knowledge of many subjects. He possessed language, a knowledge of biology and botany, and the ability to reason and analyze comparative attributes. And, of course, Noah in the pre-flood environment was able to undertake a large naval architecture project. So, his descendants after the flood would have retained much of this knowledge. By contrast an evolutionary viewpoint says that man’s predecessors knew nothing of math and technology and had to discover everything? So, in this case what we know from the ruins is more consistent with a Biblical explanation than the alternative RD: Exactly. This line of reasoning cannot reach the level of absolute certainty but following it, in the case of the ruins at Göbekli Tepe we can make the case that the Biblical explanation for their existence and dating is at least as compelling as the flood-denying alternative. And that is what we wanted to point out in this episode. When people see reports of new and sensational archeological discoveries in the news or on the internet – that purportedly show how the Bible is wrong - they need to stop and think. They need to examine the worldview and axioms of the group making the discovery and they need to research and consider the Biblical alternative. When they do they are going to find out that the Bible holds its own in every situation. VK: Well, This sounds like a great time to pray. Today let’s listen to a prayer that all of us would receive the ability to discern truth from the Holy Spirit who is the only One that can truly illuminate the human mind. God created the human mind and it would be far better for us to receive the least little bit of his infinite wisdom to guide our lives than anything that world can provide. ---- PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT VK: We’d like to remind our audience that a lot of our radio episodes are linked together in series of topics so if they missed any episodes or if they just want to hear one again, all of these episodes are available on your favorite podcast app. To find them just search on “Anchored by Truth by Crystal Sea Books.” If you’d like to hear more, try out crystalseabooks.com where “We’re not perfect but our Boss is!” (Bible Quotes from the Contemporary English Version) Genesis, Chapter 7, verses 5 through 7, Contemporary English Version

The Journal of Current Biology has just announced something — something truly astounding! They have made the stunning move and have claimed that dinosaurs and human ancestors must have coexisted. In other words, it seems like the evolutionary timeline is getting more and more Biblical as new data comes in! But what if we take this a step further...is there evidence that modern humans and dinosaurs lived concurrently? Listen to this podcast episode to find out! You'll also get a special deal from Creation Ministries International for the book "Titans of the Earth, Sea, and Air" by Dr. Sarfati and Joel Tay!

Episode 228 – Seriousness of Sin – Part 7 – A Flood of Sin Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The goal of Anchored by Truth is to encourage everyone to grow in the Christian faith by anchoring themselves to the secure truth found in the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God. Script: The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. Genesis, Chapter 6, verse 5, New International Version ******** VK: Hello! Welcome to Anchored by Truth brought to you by Crystal Sea Books. I’m Victoria K. If this is your first visit with Anchored by Truth we want you to know that Anchored by Truth has a single focus – to restore a widespread understanding that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. For thousands of years God has guided His people with His special revelation. Those cultures and communities that have embraced His guidance have been blessed. Those who have rejected it have suffered. And while many in our culture think that they may safely dismiss the Bible’s transcendent truth they are wrong and our society is paying the price. That’s why we’re so happy that you are able to join us today on Anchored by Truth. We’re in the midst of a series we call “The Seriousness of Sin.” Thus far in this series we have talked about both the current and eternal consequences of sin, the reality and nature of hell and, most recently, the enormous consequences of the first sin in the Garden of Eden. As he has been throughout this series, to help us continue to think through hard truths that accompany sin’s existence, we have RD Fierro. RD is an author and the founder of Crystal Sea Books. RD, in our last two episodes of Anchored by Truth we talked about the consequences that arose because of that first sin in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. And today you want to point to another Biblical illustration of how seriously God treats sin. Where are we going today? RD: We are going to move forward in the book of Genesis and look at possibly the second most serious consequence of sin described in the Bible – the flood in Noah’s time. VK: Why do you say the 2nd most serious consequence of sin? Seems like a flood that wiped out all the people, birds, and land animals except for those on the ark is about as bad as it gets. RD: Because without a doubt the most serious consequence of sin in all of history – the most serious consequence possible – was the death of God’s only Son on the cross. The flood of Noah was about as serious as it gets on this earth, but the implications of Jesus’ death on the cross transcended space and time. VK: Well, the Gospel of Mark, chapter 15, verse 33 does say, “Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, … ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’” That is a fascinating verse of scripture. Jesus was God incarnate. How could God incarnate be abandoned by anyone much less someone He would address as “my God?” As you said the implications of the transaction that took place on the cross boggle the mind. RD: Right. As many Bible commentators have noted at that moment on the cross heaven and earth were once again connected by the Divine Being that had created both. Every sin committed by every human being was committed on earth. Yet every sin has heavenly implications because all sin is rebellion against a God who presides over heaven and earth. Jesus was both fully divine as well as fully human. He had to be fully divine for his death to be of infinite value. When a human sins against God they sin against an infinite Being incurring an infinite debt. A finite person can never pay an infinite debt. VK: Which is why finite people when they are consigned to hell must remain there eternally. Their punishment lasts eternally because they are there to pay an infinite debt. But they can’t. Only a being of infinite value can pay an infinite death. Because Jesus was fully divine as well as fully human His sacrifice was fully sufficient to satisfy our sin debt to God. When we place our trust in Jesus God applies Jesus’ righteousness to our account. It’s similar to an accounting transaction on earth. You or I may owe a debt that we cannot pay. Then our father walks into the office, takes out his wallet, and says “how much do my children owe?” It doesn’t matter how much we owe because when we accept Jesus as our Savior our Heavenly Father looks at Jesus’ account instead of ours. Jesus’ sacrifice is credited to our account. That’s why it is so important for us to engage in that transaction while there is still time. RD: Correct. Jesus paid the infinite sin debt that we owed when He died on the cross for all those who place their trust in Him. So, in terms of value, nothing can exceed the value of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. But, to get back to the topic of our series, the seriousness of sin, Jesus’ sacrifice would have been unnecessary if man had not sinned. That’s why we have to take note that the most serious consequence of sin was that it necessitated that God sacrifice His only Son to atone for sin’s consequences. If sin were not so serious, Jesus would not have had to die. But sin is serious. And one way we can see how serious sin is by looking at what happened when God surveyed the earth and could only find one righteous man on it. VK: We heard part of that portion of the Bible in our opening scripture. In verse 5 of the 6th chapter of Genesis we hear that “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” Verses 6 through 8 go on to say, “The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” I don’t suppose there can be anything much more serious than when human beings do something that causes the Lord to “regret” that He had made them. Wow. The human beings of Noah’s age were so wicked they gave the Almighty and Perfect King regret. RD: Well, a couple of notes are necessary here. When the Bible says that the Lord “regretted” that He had made people, that is what is called anthropopathism. VK: It’s a what? RD: Saying that God regretted making man is anthropopathism. The term “anthro” just refers to something pertaining to human beings. Anthropology is the study of human beings. The Bible in this case is depicting God in terms of human emotion and experience. God is omniscient. God knew that after Adam and Eve’s first sin the world would continue to descend into more and more wickedness. God was not surprised by the descent but He was saddened by the descent. God is a Personal Being and He experiences emotions and the Bible records these emotions from time to time. But, God continued to give warnings to people just as He had warned Adam and Eve not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. VK: The fall in the Garden of Eden is described in chapter 3 of Genesis. In chapter 4 we have the famous incident of Cain and Abel. Even before Cain killed his brother Abel God said to Cain “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” You might have thought that Adam and Eve’s expulsion from Eden would have been a severe enough punishment to make sure that they and their descendants avoided sin for decades or centuries. After all, they had just experienced, in a very real way, the consequences of sin. You might have thought the consequences of the very first sin would have been enough of a warning. But a gracious God continued to give explicit warnings to His children. RD: You might have thought that Adam and Eve losing paradise would have been enough of a warning, but, no. Sin begets sin. It did then. It does now. The very next chapter in Genesis we hear the Lord warning another human being, Cain, of the consequences of sin. But, of course, Cain didn’t listen. Cain killed his brother, Abel. And as a consequence Cain was also cast out from his homeland. VK: Verse 16 of chapter 4 says, “So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.” Adam and Eve sinned and were cast out of the Garden of Eden. Cain killed his brother and was even sent away from the region of Eden. Our first parents weren’t deterred by the seriousness of sin nor was their oldest son. RD: And things didn’t improve in succeeding generations. While Biblical scholars aren’t unified in their opinions on when the flood of Noah actually occurred, Dr. Jonathan Sarfati, the Lead Scientist for Creation Ministries International, places the date of the flood 1656 years after creation. Dr. Sarfati provides a detailed discussion of his calculations in his commentary on the first 11 chapters of Genesis, The Genesis Account. I would highly recommend serious Bible students have a copy in their personal library. So, taking Dr. Sarfati’s date, we know that for the next 1,600 years following Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden and Cain’s murder of Abel things just continued to get worse. They got so bad that the Bible uses the human emotion of regret to express what God felt about people continuing to engage in ever more sinful behaviors. VK: And just as with the first sin, consequences were going to follow this steady progression of sin. The first sin in the Garden of Eden brought death into the created order and caused mankind to lose paradise. Cain’s sin resulted in him being sent away from his family and home. But in Noah’s day sin had proliferated so much that expulsion was no longer appropriate. Mankind had pushed God from expulsion to extermination. RD: Yes. The flood of Noah which resulted of the death of all the people, animals, and birds except for those on the ark is, to say the least, a very graphic illustration of how seriously God treats sin. But God always precedes the consequences with a plain warning of the consequences. God warned Adam and Eve that if they ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil they would die. They didn’t listen and death entered creation. God warned Cain that “sin was crouching at this door” and he needed to “rule over it.” But Cain didn’t listen. He didn’t get a handle on his anger and it cost him his home and family. By Noah’s day this pattern of not listening had been going on for 1,600 years. We are not given the all the details of the progress of sin but its progression was so bad that there came a time when “every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” VK: We know that sin has multiplied in our culture in recent decades. Behavior that would never have been tolerated in previous times is now routinely featured on TV, in movies, on the internet, and sadly on our streets. We can see sin’s progression in our time and we know that things are bad now. I’m not sure we can envision how bad they must have been in Noah’s time for God to record in His word that “every inclination of human hearts was only evil all the time.” Yikes. RD: Exactly. The people of Noah’s day knew or should have known how serious sin was. Noah’s life span overlapped Adam’s great-grandson Cain’s life by as much as 300 years or so. It’s entirely possible that Noah was alive when Adam’s grandson, Enoch, was alive. Noah’s father, Lamech, and grandfather, Methuselah, were alive while Adam was still living. The knowledge of Eden and what happened in Eden was readily available. We have to get our knowledge of the first sin and its consequences from the Bible (and thank God we have it) – but there were a great many alive in Noah’s day who could have gotten it from Adam himself. VK: You know that’s something we never think about. In our world 1,600 years spans a lot of generations. But in the pre-flood world it wasn’t that way. Noah was only in the 10th generation down from Adam. As you said it was possible that Noah’s own father could have spoken to Adam face-to-face. And yet the availability of that personal knowledge did not stop sin from steadily escalating. RD: And that’s how dangerous sin is. That’s how serious sin is. Noah’s father and grandfather could have spoken personally with the very first sinner and obtained first-hand knowledge of how serious was. But for whatever reason they didn’t and they died in the flood along with everyone else. If they had been as righteous as their son or grandson they could have had a place on the ark. But they weren’t and they didn’t. They paid the price for their wickedness alongside everyone else of their generations. VK: That’s something we rarely contemplate. We see the names in the Bible, especially the ones in Genesis, and we think that all of those people must have been godly people. I mean they are in the Bible. But Noah’s own father and grandfather died in the flood that God sent into the world to punish the wickedness of that time. Most commentators think that it took Noah 50 to 75 years to build the ark. Now, we don’t know whether Noah built the ark near his father or grandfather but he might have. It’s an amazing thought that Noah’s father could have witnessed his son building this huge boat for 50 to 75 years and yet been so complacent about sin that he ultimately died even when salvation might have been right over the next ridge. RD: And of course that same observation could be made of everyone else alive on the earth at that time except for Noah and his family. They were so insensitive to the seriousness of the steadily increasing evil that they just kept partying right up to the point that God made it clear He won’t put up with sin forever. VK: Jesus observed in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 17, verses 26 and 27, “When the Son of Man comes, things will be just as they were when Noah lived. People were eating, drinking, and getting married right up to the day when Noah went into the big boat. Then the flood came and drowned everyone on earth.” That’s from the Contemporary English Version. RD: The phrase “when the Son of Man comes” is a euphemism for Jesus’ return. What Jesus said was that just as in Noah’s day there will be a time just before His return when sin will be so pervasive people a great many people will be indifferent to it even though destruction is right around the corner for them. VK: Why is that? RD: Jesus’ return will usher in the beginning of eternal bliss for His children but it will usher in eternal destruction for those who have rejected Him. Just as the people of Noah’s day could see Noah preparing a means to be saved from the judgment of the flood and rejected the means, people today are rejecting the only means of being saved from a coming worldwide flood of judgment. Let’s take a quick look at how God has always dealt with the human race. God initially created everything and then shaped it to be a perfect world for man to occupy. VK: Man was not created until day 6. By this time the sun was in the sky providing light and warmth, the oceans had been restrained so he was able to walk about, and their plants in place bearing edible fruits and vegetables. Moreover, the land animals had been created so Adam had the opportunity to be productive and creative right from the start. And Adam and Eve had each other so they had companionship. We hear all that in Genesis, chapter 1, verses 27 through 29 say, “God created humans to be like himself; ... God gave them his blessing and said: Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth. I have provided all kinds of fruit and grain for you to eat. … And so it was.” That’s the Contemporary English Version. RD: And let’s not forget that God had put them in the midst of a garden designed for them. They had everything they needed to live peaceful, joyful lives including the ability to add to their family. God created the world and shaped it for man to fulfill the purpose for which man was created. But man chose to ignore God’s warning and creation was blighted. God then immediately began a plan of redemption. Fast forward 1600 years. Man has, in fact, multiplied but not in a good way. Man’s increase has been accompanied by an even greater increase in sin. VK: So, God again issues a warning. The warning was given to Noah but all of Noah’s neighbors would have heard about the warning. Building a big boat for 50 to 75 years would surely have occasioned some neighborhood gossip. But no one but Noah and his family heeded the warning. The consequence about which Noah had been warned then occurs. The flood arrives and God reshapes the world by it. We don’t have time today to go into all of the reshaping that took place but even secular scientists agree that at one time in the past a super-continent was broken up into the configuration of the continents we see today. RD: The dispersion of the land masses around the world then helps promote the worldwide dispersion of animals and people. This is consistent with God’s initial instruction to “fill the earth.” We see, then, three major themes repeated through the flood that we saw when we looked at the very first sin in the Garden of Eden. First, God warns people about the consequences of sin. Then man sins and the consequences of the sin arrive just as God warned. But, second, God continues His plan of redemption just as He had purposed before the foundation of the world. And, third, God continues to bring about the original mission He gave to Adam. VK: Said slightly differently, man’s disobedience does not derail God’s sovereign ordination. This is a truly amazing thought. Man’s sin does not and cannot affect God’s sovereignty over the created order. Again, it boggles the mind how God can keep His plans on track regardless of whether man chooses to be obedient. RD: Yes. God never enacts consequences for sin without giving a warning first. We see that pattern repeated throughout scripture. When the Israelites were coming out of Egypt God promised them blessings if they were obedient once they arrived in the Promised Land and warned them they would fall into exile and captivity if they began worshipping idols. They did exactly what God warned them not to do and they were eventually conquered by the Assyrians and the Babylonians. VK: But through the Persians God kept His plan of redemption on track and the Jesus, the Messiah, was eventually born in the Promised Land just as God had ordained. The disobedience of the Israelites caused them to suffer but it did not derail God’s plan to bring a Messiah out of the nation descended from Abraham or His grand plan of redemption. God warned the people of Noah’s generation of the consequences of their continued wickedness. But, as Jesus observed, they ignored the warning completely – until they were destroyed. And one of the reasons we are taking the time to go through this history is to point out what happens when people don’t learn the lessons that God is trying to teach. We are all confronted with that same choice today. Obey God, accept Jesus, and be blessed for all eternity or disobey God, reject Jesus, and reap an eternity of condemnation. It’s a stark choice. RD: It is a stark choice. That’s how serious sin is. Unconfessed sin and sin for which we do not repent has consequences. It has consequences in the here and now and it has even graver consequences after this life is over. God gave us the example of the flood of Noah as part of the warning to our world and our generation. The wise among us will learn from the lessons that are contained in the Bible. VK: And just to be sure that those lessons were clear Jesus restated them during his earthly ministry. Most Christians, and even a lot of non-believers, know John, chapter 3, verse 16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” RD: But most people do not know John 3:18, just two verses later. “Whoever believes in [Jesus] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” Sin is serious. I don’t know how the Bible could convey that more clearly. In example after example in the Bible we see that we ignore God’s warnings at our peril. And, as this verse says, the biggest warning that the Bible conveys is the danger of ignoring Jesus. The people in Noah’s world ignored the warning that God was going to punish the widespread wickedness of the day. I’m sad to say that it appears that many in our generation are making the same mistake. VK: So, the big idea that we wanted to introduce today is that once sin began in the Garden of Eden it did not stop. Cain continued the sin by killing Abel. And as succeeding generations were added they continued adding to the warehouse of accumulating sin. Eventually, God saw only one righteous person left and so God reshaped the world by a flood to continue the progress of His plans. We cannot derail God’s plans but we can create suffering for ourselves and others by trying. Sin is serious in part because sin causes misery and suffering. We should imitate Noah and heed God’s warning to us by being obedient. Our obedience does not save us. That is accomplished by the blood of Jesus. But our obedience can keep us safe through the storms of life while those about us are perishing. This sounds like a great time to pray. Today let’s listen to a prayer for persecuted Christians – our faithful brothers and sisters who holding on to Christ’s promises despite the storms they are facing. ---- PRAYER FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS (TREY) VK: We’d like to remind our audience that a lot of our radio episodes are linked together in series of topics so if they missed any episodes or if they just want to hear one again, all of these episodes are available on your favorite podcast app. To find them just search on “Anchored by Truth by Crystal Sea Books.” If you’d like to hear more, try out crystalseabooks.com where “We’re not perfect but our Boss is!” (Opening Bible Quote from the New International Version) Genesis, Chapter 6, verse 5, New International Version

In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, we’re joined by Richard Fangrad of Creation Ministries International as we continue our series on issues facing the church. This week’s issue is theistic evolution. Richard explains what the theory is, where it came from, and what is at stake in the evolutionary debate. As we’ll see, our source of authority has real-life implications for the doctrine of God, the nature of man, ethics, worship, and much more. Get Ezra Institute Fellow Willem Ouweneel’s critique of evolutionist hermeneutics, Adam, Where are You?

In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, we're joined by Richard Fangrad of Creation Ministries International as we continue our series on issues facing the church. This week's issue is theistic evolution. Richard explains what the theory is, where it came from, and what is at stake in the evolutionary debate. As we'll see, our source of authority has real-life implications for the doctrine of God, the nature of man, ethics, worship, and much more.

In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, we're joined by Richard Fangrad of Creation Ministries International as we continue our series on issues facing the church. This week's issue is theistic evolution. Richard explains what the theory is, where it came from, and what is at stake in the evolutionary debate. As we'll see, our source of authority has real-life implications for the doctrine of God, the nature of man, ethics, worship, and much more.

In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, we're joined by Richard Fangrad of Creation Ministries International as we continue our series on issues facing the church. This week's issue is theistic evolution. Richard explains what the theory is, where it came from, and what is at stake in the evolutionary debate. As we'll see, our source of authority has real-life implications for the doctrine of God, the nature of man, ethics, worship, and much more.

In this episode of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation, we’re joined by Richard Fangrad of Creation Ministries International as we continue our series on issues facing the church. This week’s issue is theistic evolution. Richard explains what the theory is, where it came from, and what is at stake in the evolutionary debate. As we’ll see, our source of authority has real-life implications for the doctrine of God, the nature of man, ethics, worship, and much more. Get Ezra Institute Fellow Willem Ouweneel’s critique of evolutionist hermeneutics, Adam, Where are You?

A whistleblower from a government intelligence agency has testified in Congress to a giant “coverup” of an extra-terrestrial vehicle crash and recovery of “non-human” life forms. Could alien life really exist? Dr. Jonathan Sarfati of Creation Ministries International joins to discuss the scientific, mathematical, and theological implications!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Mark Bricker will take us Beyond his Notes from the last sermon on Sunday. Genesis - Foundations, Chapters 1-11 Resources Is Genesis History documentary (available in McGregor library) - https://isgenesishistory.com/ Noah's Ark: A Feasibility Study - https://a.co/d/c9Xb8hb Answers in Genesis - https://answersingenesis.org/ Creation Ministries International - https://creation.com/ Institute for Creation Research - https://www.icr.org/   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2023 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

Genome researcher Dr. Robert Carter of Creation Ministries International joins Eric Hovind and Marianne Pike on the Creation Today show. They delve into the subject of genetic entropy, explaining how mutations occurring in our genetic information provide an irrefutable defense against evolutionism! Or does it?Thanks to Shannon Q (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0qhPJh8DeoR-3JhMrIvw0g), Lois Edwards, Sara, RJ Downard (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRdnABwU9uUJw1k40LGYcQA) and Jackson Wheat (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC03A7S5CqhPqa2_H1s5UI1w).Follow me athttp://www.patreon.com/paulogiahttp://www.twitter.com/paulogia0http://www.facebook.com/paulogia0Creation Today Episodehttp://creationtoday.org/mutants-of-the-future-season-5-episode-06/Dr. Scott Buchanan's Examination of Genetic Entropyhttps://letterstocreationists.wordpress.com/stan-4/Dr. John Sanford's Rebuttalhttps://creation.com/genetic-entropySupport the show

Join us as Scott and Chris interview Scott Gillis from Creation Ministries International about the importance of the doctrine of creation. 

This presentation was produced for a conference at the Scandinavian School of Theology in Uppsala, Sweden. I was speaking as a representative of Creation Ministries International, but since this recording is similar to my talk The Historical Adam: theological conundrums and scientific implications,* which is free on the CMI store, by the way, CMI decided to not publish my new talk. Yet, I hated to let all that work go to waste, so I am putting it out on my Biblical Genetics platform. *If that link does not work in your country, go to Creation.com, click on “Store” in the header bar. Hover over Media tab that appears below the header and click on “Streaming Video”. Links and notes: A good article to explain the difference between historical and operational science: Batten D, It's not science!, creation.com, 28 February 2002. Sanford, J. et al., Adam and Eve, designed diversity, and allele frequencies, 8th International Conference on Creationism, pp. 200–216, 2018. Carter RW, The non-mythical Adam and Eve: refuting errors by Francis Collins and BioLogos, creation.com, 20 August 2011. Carter RW and Powell M, The genetic effects of the population bottleneck associated with the Genesis Flood, J. Creation 30(2):124 – 127, 2018. Carter, R., Effective population sizes and loss of diversity during the Flood bottleneck, J. Creation 32(2):124–127, 2018. Simons Genome Diversity Project 1000 Genomes Program Carter RW. Patriarchal drive in the early post-Flood population, J Creation 33(1):110–118, 2019. Carter R, How old was Cain when he killed Abel? Creation 36(2):16–17, 2014.

The Bible does not name the pharaohs with whom Moses interacted. Which Egyptian king was confronted by the biblical plagues and defeated at the Red Sea? Evidential clues suggest how biblical history and Egyptian history might best align. In this fascinating discussion, Gary Bates and Keaton Halley of Creation Ministries International talk about the evidence for the timing of the Exodus, and they put forward their proposed candidates for the pharaohs ruling in Egypt during the Israelite Oppression and the Exodus. The synchronisms are tantalising! This episode features Keaton Halley and Gary Bates. Creation.com Talk is produced by Joseph Darnell out of the CMI-USA studios. Become a monthly contributor at our donate page. Share your thoughts in the comments and share the video with your friends!  ✍️ Links and Show Notes  Egyptian Chronology–framing the issues   Were the Egyptian pyramids built before the Flood?  Time fears the pyramids? How they fit into the true biblical history   Why are there so many differences of opinion?   Was Pharaoh Shoshenq —the plunderer of Jerusalem?  

In the last few years, apologist William Lane Craig has attacked biblical (‘young earth') creation. However, he is not enamoured with many of the other compromise views. In 2021, he published a book, In Quest of the Historical Adam. He concluded that Adam and Eve were a real original couple who gave rise to all humans, and who committed the first acts of sin. But they were a pair of Homo heidelbergensis who lived perhaps 750,000 years ago. Dr Jonathan Sarfati and Keaton Halley of Creation Ministries International offer their analysis. This episode features Dr Jonathan Sarfati and Keaton Halley. Creation.com Talk is produced by Joseph Darnell out of the CMI-USA studios. Become a monthly contributor at our donate page. Share your thoughts in the comments and share the video with your friends! ✍️ Links and Show Notes Review of ‘In Quest of the Historical Adam' by Craig William Lane Craig on creation and anthropology The Non-Mythical Adam and Eve! W.L. Craig's ‘original' views on original sin William Lane Craig's intellectually dishonest attack on biblical creationists William Lane Craig contra The Genesis Account William Lane Craig flubs on the Flood ‘From the beginning of creation'—what did Jesus mean?