Many world religions predict an end to this world. Christianity does, too; however, it emphasizes the futility of trying to predict doomsday’s timing and instead instructs all humanity to focus on living in a way that is pleasing to God. In many doomsday predictions—such as the December 21, 2012, date based on the ancient Mayan calendar—“the end” simply represented the time when the whole cycle of creation started over. But according to Christian thought, the end of this world will usher in a completely new creation where those who have trusted in Christ to pay for their sins will live with God in eternal paradise.

What are the two most dangerous geometric figures?

A vicious circle and a firing line.

Okay, so the joke is awful, but it highlights the two different ways people throughout history have viewed time. Most ancient Near Eastern religions viewed time in a cyclical fashion where the performance of New Year festivals and rituals “reactualized” the original cosmology. In stark contrast, Christianity describes a universe operating under linear time. The universe starts “in the beginning” and will come to a final end.

One ancient culture’s calendar sparked lots of speculation regarding the possibility of a December 21, 2012, doomsday. Historically speaking, the date marks the end of a 5,125 cycle on a calendar used by the Mayans. Various fringe groups have used this “ending” to argue for doomsday scenarios or New Age spiritual transformations. One scenario even inspired a movie (a marginal one, in my opinion) where the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts and destroys all life except for the passengers aboard a few arks built in Tibet.

While I am confident that December 21 will come and go without the world ending or the occurrence of significant spiritual transformations, I do think it worthwhile to highlight a number of chronological things that validate the biblical view of the universe and the end times.

The Biblical Chronology
The Bible opens by describing the creation of the universe: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Yet, up until the early 1900s, most scientists believed the universe had existed forever into the past. Major scientific discoveries over the last 100+ years have confirmed that the universe had a beginning. Einstein developed the theory of general relativity. Hubble discovered the expansion of the universe. Penzias and Wilson discovered the cosmic microwave background radiation. Hawking and Penrose developed space-time theorems (based on general relativity) showing that the universe had a cause outside of itself. Borde, Vilenkin, and Guth extended those theorems to show that even the multiverse (if it exists) had a beginning.

Genesis 2 continues by describing the creation of the first humans, Adam and Eve. Numerous lines of evidence from bioinformatics, genetics, and linguistics support the idea that all humanity originated from one pair. This first couple decided to disobey God’s direction and, consequently, all people were separated from God by sinful nature.

Then, over 2,000 years ago, Jesus, the second person of the Triune God, “became flesh” and lived among us. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for human disobedience. In a spectacular affirmation of His divinity, Christ rose from the grave on the third day.

Thinking about End Times
The creation of the universe, humanity’s creation and fall, and Christ’s death and resurrection provide a testable chronology that affirms the Bible’s veracity. Since Scripture passes all those tests, it follows that its description of an end to this universe will prove true as well.

Specifically, the Bible describes at least five things that will happen at the end of the world. First, Jesus will come again to Earth. Second, all humans who ever lived will rise from the dead. Third, Jesus will judge all human beings. Fourth, all humans will enter their final eternal state. Those who trusted Jesus to pay for their sin will enter his presence with glorified human bodies. Those who rejected Jesus will suffer consciously the wrath of God as punishment for their sins. Fifth, God will destroy this cosmos and create a new heaven and new earth for all who belong to Him.

The Bible makes it clear that no one knows or can predict when the end will come. Every Christian who has tried to calculate the end has been wrong; Harold Camping provided the most recent public example. (It bears mentioning that, even though many people today have taken the Mayan calendar as a doomsday prediction, the Mayans themselves did not treat it this way.)

Rather than focusing on questionable predictions or on how the end times will look, the Bible commands us to be prepared for whenever it comes. Matthew 25 assures us that the end will come, but, again, it mainly illustrates the importance of being prepared. Therefore, let’s live in holiness, anticipating Christ’s return. To show gratitude to God for his precious gift of redemption, let’s exhibit works that promote goodness, peace, and justice. Let’s be “salt and light” to the culture in which we live and do our part to fulfill the Great Commission by delivering the gospel message to all people.

Many world religions predict an end to this world. Christianity does, too; however, it emphasizes the futility of trying to predict doomsday’s timing and instead instructs all humanity to focus on living in a way that is pleasing to God. In many doomsday predictions—such as the December 21, 2012, date based on the ancient Mayan calendar—“the end” simply represented the time when the whole cycle of creation started over. But according to Christian thought, the end of this world will usher in a completely new creation where those who have trusted in Christ to pay for their sins will live with God in eternal paradise.

What are the two most dangerous geometric figures?

A vicious circle and a firing line.

Okay, so the joke is awful, but it highlights the two different ways people throughout history have viewed time. Most ancient Near Eastern religions viewed time in a cyclical fashion where the performance of New Year festivals and rituals “reactualized” the original cosmology. In stark contrast, Christianity describes a universe operating under linear time. The universe starts “in the beginning” and will come to a final end.

One ancient culture’s calendar sparked lots of speculation regarding the possibility of a December 21, 2012, doomsday. Historically speaking, the date marks the end of a 5,125 cycle on a calendar used by the Mayans. Various fringe groups have used this “ending” to argue for doomsday scenarios or New Age spiritual transformations. One scenario even inspired a movie (a marginal one, in my opinion) where the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts and destroys all life except for the passengers aboard a few arks built in Tibet.

While I am confident that December 21 will come and go without the world ending or the occurrence of significant spiritual transformations, I do think it worthwhile to highlight a number of chronological things that validate the biblical view of the universe and the end times.

The Biblical Chronology
The Bible opens by describing the creation of the universe: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Yet, up until the early 1900s, most scientists believed the universe had existed forever into the past. Major scientific discoveries over the last 100+ years have confirmed that the universe had a beginning. Einstein developed the theory of general relativity. Hubble discovered the expansion of the universe. Penzias and Wilson discovered the cosmic microwave background radiation. Hawking and Penrose developed space-time theorems (based on general relativity) showing that the universe had a cause outside of itself. Borde, Vilenkin, and Guth extended those theorems to show that even the multiverse (if it exists) had a beginning.

Genesis 2 continues by describing the creation of the first humans, Adam and Eve. Numerous lines of evidence from bioinformatics, genetics, and linguistics support the idea that all humanity originated from one pair. This first couple decided to disobey God’s direction and, consequently, all people were separated from God by sinful nature.

Then, over 2,000 years ago, Jesus, the second person of the Triune God, “became flesh” and lived among us. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for human disobedience. In a spectacular affirmation of His divinity, Christ rose from the grave on the third day.

Thinking about End Times
The creation of the universe, humanity’s creation and fall, and Christ’s death and resurrection provide a testable chronology that affirms the Bible’s veracity. Since Scripture passes all those tests, it follows that its description of an end to this universe will prove true as well.

Specifically, the Bible describes at least five things that will happen at the end of the world. First, Jesus will come again to Earth. Second, all humans who ever lived will rise from the dead. Third, Jesus will judge all human beings. Fourth, all humans will enter their final eternal state. Those who trusted Jesus to pay for their sin will enter his presence with glorified human bodies. Those who rejected Jesus will suffer consciously the wrath of God as punishment for their sins. Fifth, God will destroy this cosmos and create a new heaven and new earth for all who belong to Him.

The Bible makes it clear that no one knows or can predict when the end will come. Every Christian who has tried to calculate the end has been wrong; Harold Camping provided the most recent public example. (It bears mentioning that, even though many people today have taken the Mayan calendar as a doomsday prediction, the Mayans themselves did not treat it this way.)

Rather than focusing on questionable predictions or on how the end times will look, the Bible commands us to be prepared for whenever it comes. Matthew 25 assures us that the end will come, but, again, it mainly illustrates the importance of being prepared. Therefore, let’s live in holiness, anticipating Christ’s return. To show gratitude to God for his precious gift of redemption, let’s exhibit works that promote goodness, peace, and justice. Let’s be “salt and light” to the culture in which we live and do our part to fulfill the Great Commission by delivering the gospel message to all people.(RTB,JZ)

***Will Myers

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Most Christians are convinced that people will know each other in heaven. This belief brings great comfort to believers as they watch loved ones pass on. But as popular as this belief may be, many Christians would be hard-pressed to produce much support for it. The tough question is this: How can Christians be sure that people will know each other in heaven? What kind of support, biblical or otherwise, can be found for the widespread belief that believers will recognize each other in heaven?

First it is necessary to establish whether humans retain their identities after death. Whether at the final judgment or in heaven, will we be the same people that we were in this life?

A good theological support for the idea that we will be the same people is based on the justice of God’s judgment at the end of history. At the final judgment, every human being will be raised from the dead and stand before God. It is clear that each person God judges at that time must be identical with the person who performed the deeds being judged. How can God be just if those He punishes are not the same people who actually committed the sins? How can God be just if those He rewards are different from those whom He chose before the creation of the world and saved by His free grace (Romans 8:28-30)?

One important biblical support for the belief in personal identity after death comes from Mark 12:26-27 where Jesus said, “Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him [Moses], ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Jesus explained that even though these patriarchs had been dead for centuries when God spoke to Moses, God meant that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob still existed as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob during Moses’ time. God’s words further imply that these men still exist as themselves today. Abraham and the others retained their identities after death. Even after physical death, they kept the relationships with God they had enjoyed during their earthly existence. Jesus therefore assured believers that death does not end human existence or personal identity.

In Luke’s account of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter, James, and John saw that “the appearance of [Jesus’] face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus” (Luke 9:29-30). Not only were these prophets still spiritually alive, but they also retained their identity as Moses and Elijah!

Additional biblical support for a belief in the continuation of personal identity after death is found in the accounts of Jesus’ appearance to His disciples following His resurrection. When Jesus appeared to the disciples on the evening of His resurrection, He spoke to them and showed them His wounds (John 20:19-23). John 20:20 says that “The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” The risen Christ the disciples encountered in the upper room was the same Jesus they had known before His death on the cross.

These Scripture passages demonstrate that humans survive physical death with personal identity intact. Thus, we can reasonably infer that people will know each other in heaven.

Dr. Ronald Nash is professor of philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida and at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He has published over thirty books including Life’s Ultimate Questions and When a Baby Dies, many of which are available from http://www.amazon.com. (RTB,N)

*** Will Myers

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A review article published in Science a few weeks ago makes some remarkable assertions. Regarding a commonsense psychology, the authors highlight a “promiscuous teleology” among children:

…children naturally see the world in terms of design and purpose. Additionally, when asked about the origin of animals and people, children spontaneously tend to provide and prefer creationist explanations.

They continue and note that:

Another consequence of people’s common-sense psychology is dualism, the belief that the mind is fundamentally different from the brain. This belief comes naturally to children.

According to the authors this commonsense psychology appears universal among children. Interestingly, the authors then argue that these psychological biases cause a resistance to science that can extend into adulthood if reinforced by sources deemed trustworthy.

They choose evolutionary biology to illustrate this resistance to science. While the theory of evolution clearly falls within the realm of science, declaring it the final answer on the origin and development of life on Earth seems premature. I would argue that sound scientific reasoning leads to skepticism regarding evolution, especially considering the numerous scientific controversies that may turn out to be fatal for the theory.

Even more surprising, the authors argue that

The strong intuitive pull of dualism makes it difficult for people to accept what Francis Crick called “the astonishing hypothesis”:
Dualism is mistaken—mental life emerges from physical processes.

The scientific case on this issue is far from resolved. Additionally, dualism stands as one of the most hotly contested philosophical issues of today. Even if the theory of evolution and the astonishing hypothesis are correct, there remains a huge philosophical problem. Why should we expect the inferences drawn from our brains to be rational when the processes responsible for our brains do not possess that quality? Remember, natural-process evolution would have produced the “false” psychology universally observed in children.

The authors conclude that “resistance to science, then, is particularly exaggerated in societies where nonscientific ideologies have the advantages of being both grounded in common sense and transmitted by trustworthy sources.” I would argue that the resistance arises not against the science but against the undergirding naturalistic philosophy that denies the existence and activity of God in the world.

In fact, the psychology described fits perfectly in a Judeo-Christian worldview. God created man in His image with a capacity to relate to God—primarily through his mind. It follows that man sees the world in terms of design and purpose and instinctively knows that his mind extends beyond the physical processes of his brain. That we can, as adults, suppress this capacity to see God gives new meaning to Jesus’ admonition to “receive the kingdom of God like a child”.

*** Will Myers

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Are big-picture belief systems or worldviews—like fighters in
boxing—vulnerable to knockout blows? Can certain issues or
problems prove so intractable that they render a worldview unviable
as a belief system?

Christian thinkers over the centuries have generally viewed the
deductive problem of evil as a potential defeater for Christian theism. Thus Christian philosophers and apologists have worked vigorously to show that the presence of evil is not logically incompatible with God’s attributes of omnibenevolence and omnipotence. Even today some atheist philosophers concur.

What is known as “the hard or intractable problem of consciousness,”
however, may now stand as a potential defeater for the secular
worldview of naturalism. A number of leading naturalistic philosophers have candidly admitted that the so-called mental phenomena of the cosmos are quite mysterious and pose substantive challenges to a purely physicalist explanation of nature.

Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature is Almost Certainly False,
eminent philosopher Thomas Nagel concludes that Darwinian
materialism has failed as a comprehensive scientific explanation
for reality. Nagel rejects both reductionistic and emergent physical
explanations for consciousness, stating that “consciousness is the
most conspicuous obstacle to a comprehensive naturalism that relies
only on the resources of physical science.” An ardent atheist with no predilection toward theism, Nagel also states: “On a purely materialist understanding of biology, consciousness would have to be regarded as a tremendous and inexplicable extra brute fact about the world.”

Thomas Nagel is a notable academic scholar at New York University
and an authority on the philosophy of mind. His words carry weight.
Concerning the grand evolutionary theory that purports to explain
all life through solely natural means (appealing to the workings of
physics, chemistry, and biology), Nagel declares: “It is an assumption governing the scientific project rather than a well-confirmed scientific hypothesis.” Later he says about materialistic Darwinism: “I find this view antecedently unbelievable—a heroic triumph of ideological theory over common sense.”6 And he insists: “I would be willing tobet that the present right-thinking consensus will come to seemlaughable in a generation or two…” Theism’s Better Explanation.

Unwilling to entertain a theistic explanation for consciousness, Nagel instead prefers the rather mystical view of panpsychism––the mind or soul are universal features in all things.8 However, a powerful theistic case for consciousness can be made. Contrary to physicalism andmysticism, Christian theism and the existence of the biblical God provide a rational explanation for the presence of conscious being in the universe.

Assuming the worldview of atheistic naturalism, one must conclude
that the conscious mind of human beings (with capacities such as
personal mental states and intentionality) ultimately came from a
source that is (in and of itself) mindless and nonconscious. From this view, the natural cause of humans’ mind, personhood, reason, and conscious awareness itself lacked these qualities. In other words,
humans, the personally conscious effect, can reflect back on the
nonpersonal, nonconscious universe (the cause), but it cannot reflect
on us. Thus we can know the cosmos in a way that it cannot know us.
This effect would be exponentially greater than its cause.

One can see why the attempt to explain personal self-awareness
from a naturalistic perspective has apparently reached a dead
end. As Nagel’s book informs us, naturalistic philosophers of mind
admit they have no idea how personal consciousness emerged from
nonconscious matter. Therefore, it is safe to say that consciousness—
whether conceived as reductionistic or emergent—does not fit in the
purely physical world of naturalism.

How does the Christian theistic worldview better account for
consciousness? Christian philosopher Gregory Ganssle offers a
succinct explanation:

If God exists, then the primary thing that exists is itself
a conscious mind of unlimited power and intellect. This
mind has its own first-person perspective, and it can think
about things. The notion that such a mind, if it creates
anything, would create other conscious minds that have
their own first-person perspectives and can think about
things is not a great mystery.

Thus, while naturalism faces the inexplicable mystery of
consciousness, in a theistic world self-conscious awareness is
an anticipated and common feature. In fact, the God of historic
Christianity is understood as being super-personal (one divine What
[essence] and three distinct Whos [persons]). He is the source of all
personal consciousness—which is a far more robust explanation than
nonpersonal physicalism or impersonal mysticism.

When considering the human mind, person hood, reason, and self awareness,
it is much more reasonable to conclude that these
features ultimately stem from a source that possesses all these
incredible qualities exponentially. And it is important to recognize
that this proposed theistic explanation for the world’s conceptual
realities is not a god-of-the-gaps form of reasoning. Rather, it is
an inference drawn from the worldview that best fits the data and
possesses greater explanatory power and scope.

When considering the human mind, person hood,
reason, and self-awareness, it is much more
reasonable to conclude that these features
ultimately stem from a source that possesses all
these incredible qualities that this proposed theistic explanation for the world’s conceptual realities is not a god-of-the-gaps form of reasoning. Rather, it is an inference drawn from the worldview that best fits the data and possesses greater explanatory power and scope. (RTB)

*** Will Myers

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I remember the time that if I was hospitalized, than I could count on being given adequate pain-killer. Now, THEY say that I can not have adequate pain-killers because I might become addicted to pain-killers. So, I must suffer excruciating pains for two weeks twice a year on the average while adequate pain killer set on the selves of the pharmacys. Why are THEY denying relief from misery and pain? Most people follow THEM.

Crime is at an all time high. Even people living in exclusive neighborhoods needs protect. A gun is usually the choice for protection, but THEY say that we live in a civilized society and there is no place for guns. THEY work to make our guns illegal. Most people want to be like THEM; so they follow.

The U.S. Constitution guarantee freedom of religion to the extent that government can not pass laws in regards to the church. THEY say that government must not allow church to have their symbols and effects on government establishes. God is not allowed on the campus of public schools. People follow THEM even though we all have the same rights as THEM.

Everyone seems to know that THEY AND THEM are notorious liars, but we continue to follow THEM and THEY. With all the videos taken of UFO’s, THEY say that UFO’s don’t exist. Knowing that THEY are capable of a cover up (bald face lie), we still follow THEM. Most people don’t believe their lying eyes, but continue to follow THEM who are liars.

We all know that you can’t put anything pass THEM, but we accept what THEY say.
THEY say that there is no GOD; although, THEY all were created and born into this creation.

The resolve of this chronic problem is to “Listen to every Word from the Mouth of God and Obey.”

*** Will Myers

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In the past all commoners that was Christians had a mediator that taught the group. It was like every member of the group being on a ship with one Captain. Afterwards, we have Martin Luther, famed theology of Germany in the 16th century, who taught that each member should read the bible for themselves and talk with God concerning their individual lives. After much controversy, this became the norm with all Christians.

This changed the role of all the little gods of religion to being help mates to the Spirit of Christ as defined in the New Testament, our Blood Covenant and last Covenant with our Creator, our Heavenly Father. Jesus, the Son of God, brought us this covenant which has much better promises in order to live an abundant life with joy and happiness.

Most Christians today is stuck in the 16th Century, and follows the group of Christians. This is a fallacy in that each soul is accountable to God. The group can not get one into heaven. They can depart knowledge to the individual and encouragement. What the Word of God does say is “…don’t forsake the gathering in my name.” This is for the edification of each person.

At this stage of Christianity, we are to read the scriptures and contemplate them, and pray and ask God in the name of Jesus to reveal farther interpretations. Each person should continueously transform into God’s Kingdom. Jesus, the Son of God, is the king.

While acquiring knowledge and transforming unto the Kingdom, each individual must continue to seek the Kingdom. There must be a private conversation with God at all times because He is closer to you than a brother.

Now, I state the main belief in which justifies our personal relationship with God: Jesus is God among us in the flesh. All thoughts (form) and matters and human affairs is founded in Him. Jesus is the reason and purpose for the way God made things to work. Jesus, the Son, is in God’s Will always and forever.

Jesus brought the Holy Spirit to the world and established an office for all to find and be saved by God’s Supernatural Holy Spirit. This is heaven in Earth.

Speak in tongues, your heavenly language, in which satan can not hear; only the mediation of the Spirit knows your deepest emotional needs and material needs. Pray without ceasing, and God shall answer all of your prays in the name of Jesus.

1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Matthew 11:11
Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

The Model Prayer: While speaking, LISTEN for God to move in your life because this prayer is unto life.

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

*** Will Myers

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General Relativity: Well-Tested and Standing Strong

General relativity represents the best description known to humanity of how the universe behaves. It explicitly incorporates the idea of constant (in both space and time) physical laws. It also generically predicts a dynamic nature to spacetime such that space expands and the whole universe begins to exist. Such results comport well with biblical descriptions of the universe.
****
When Albert Einstein first introduced his general theory of relativity, it revolutionized the way scientists viewed space and time. First, it explicitly codified the notion that the laws of physics were constant and consistent throughout the universe. Second, general relativity revealed that space and time comingle in a dynamic fashion (rather than existing as distinct, absolute, static, and eternal entities) such that space expands and time exhibits a boundary in the past. Stated more directly, tracing the history of the universe backward in time ultimately leads to the conclusion that time, space, matter, and energy all began to exist. All this follows from general relativity. And both constant laws of physics and a cosmic beginning bear a remarkable resemblance to the biblical description of the universe.
Scientists seek to verify the validity of general relativity and the latest results affirm its accuracy. One difficulty in testing general relativity arises from the fact that its most “natural” descriptions apply to regions of extreme velocities and/or gravitational fields. Costs and technology prohibit fabricating such environments so scientists utilize powerful telescopes to locate these environments in the cosmos.
More extreme environments permit more stringent tests. For example, the pulsar PSR J0348+0432 resides in a tight binary orbit with a white dwarf. Most pulsars have a neutron star mass around 1.4 times the mass of the Sun. However, PSR J0348+0432 contains a neutron star with two solar masses. Furthermore, a white dwarf orbits the neutron star with a 2.5-hour period. This configuration provides a way for scientists to test general relativity with gravitational binding energies 60 percent larger than previous tests. The precise timing that resulted from pulsar observations allowed astronomers to calculate the energy radiating away from the system, and the data matched predictions from general relativity.1
Such results really come as no surprise because previous tests of general relativity repeatedly demonstrated its reliability. Those tests included:
the precession of two pulsars in a binary system;
the orbital characteristics of two massive blackholes in a distant galaxy;
desktop-sized experiments using precise atomic clocks;
the Sun’s deflection of radio waves from a distant quasar; and
many others.
Researchers even tested whether the results of identical experiments might vary from location to location.
Scientists know that general relativity must break down at some point because it does not incorporate quantum mechanics into its framework. Finding environments where general relativity fails will help determine how the theory needs modification. RTB expects that even a more complete theory of general relativity will continue to comport with the biblical description of the universe and affirm the Bible’s accuracy. (RTB)

*** Will Myers

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Greek mythology notwithstanding, it seems impossible that God could assume the nature of a horse or a dog and yet somehow remain divine.1 Why? Categories of being are fundamentally different between God and animals. And while it is deeply paradoxical and mysterious that God could take a human nature and live on Earth as the God-man as historic Christianity affirms, it seems from a biblical perspective that human nature was specifically created in anticipation of this extraordinary event.

God in Human Flesh

The Incarnation stands at the heart of historic Christianity and is celebrated around the world during the Advent season.2 This biblically derived doctrine teaches that the eternal Word, the second person of the Trinity, took on a human nature (became man) without in any way diminishing his deity (John 1:1, 14, 18; Philippians 2:5–6; Colossians 2:9; 1 John 4:1–3). Christian orthodoxy therefore views Jesus Christ as a single person who possesses both a divine and human nature. The two natures find their union in the one person of Christ (referred to theologically as the “hypostatic union”). This theological understanding of the Incarnation led ancient Christians to refer to Jesus Christ as the theanthropos (Greek: the “God-man”).

The Incarnation in Light of the Imago Dei

The Council of Chalcedon (AD 451) officially defined the doctrine yet did not attempt to explain exactly how the two natures that Christ possessed were united with his personhood. But it seems biblically correct to infer that humankind’s creation in the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27) at least anticipated the Incarnation. It would appear that by making humans in his divine image, God also made it possible for himself to take a human nature. In this way, the image of God (in Latin:imago Dei) creation status of human beings foreshadows and even facilitates the Incarnation.

Theologian Anthony Hoekema asserts that “it was only because man had been created in the image of God that the Second Person of the Trinity could assume human nature.”3 In other words, God made humans in his image because he planned to become one at the Incarnation in order to redeem lost sinners (2 Timothy 1:9–10). In the atonement, Christians believe that Jesus Christ could reconcile God and man because he represented both parties by nature.

Though still mysterious and beyond comprehension, the human nature of Christ that resembles God in a relative way (imago Dei) was specially adapted to accommodate the union with the divine nature. Thus, in accord with Chalcedonian orthodoxy, Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man but remained a single person. Hopefully, identifying this connection between the doctrines of creation and the Incarnation will provoke Christians to think about and be grateful for the grand, mysterious truth at the core of the faith.

*** Will Myers
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God is always right. God created all including science and math. So, we can represent some things of God through mathematics.

∫d3p2π3{12Ep→e−ip⋅(x−y)|p0=Ep→+1−2Ep→e−ip⋅(x−y)|p0=−Ep→},
∫d3p2π3∫dp02πi−1p2−m2e−ip⋅(x−y).
Resp0=Ep→{−1(p0)2−(Ep→)2e−ip0⋅(x0−y0)}=12Ep→e−iEp→⋅(x0−y0),
Resp0=−Ep→{−1(p0)2−(Ep→)2e−ip0⋅(x0−y0)}=1−2Ep→eiEp→⋅(x0−y0).
(pμγμ+m)ψ(p)

“What difference does it make? As long as I’m not hurting anyone else, I should be able to live with my girlfriend.”

“I never loved my wife. Don’t I deserve to be happy?” “I needed that money more than he did, so it’s okay that I took it. Besides, he owes me for the time when…” Justification for sin comes easily to most people—including Christians. However, conscience has an ally: physics. Observation and personal experience suggest that physical laws work on the side of obedience to God’s laws.

When I began studying physics at the age of seven a particular dilemma plagued my mind. I wanted to know why the laws of physics were set up in their prescribed manner. In spite of serious study over the following twelve years, no satisfying answers came forth. Not until I became a Christian at age 19 (the year I also began formal education in classical and statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism theory), did I recognize that the physics of the cosmos reveal not only God’s existence but also God’s delight in elegance and beauty. Through the physical design of the cosmos, God richly endows a home for humanity.

This answer helped resolve some of my questions about the structure of physics, but it still left me with some major unanswered perplexities. Why didn’t God create a different kind of cosmos for humanity—one elegant and beautiful in its design yet without the hard choices, pain, and suffering produced by evil? God does, in fact, promise a radically different, perfectly wonderful home for humanity after His final judgment against evil (referred to in Revelation as The Great White Throne Judgment).1 So why didn’t He make the universe “perfect” in the first place?

These questions led me to search the Bible for God’s expressed purpose(s) in creating the cosmos. I found these three, among others:

1.God chose to express His glory through creating the universe, creating life in general, and creating humanity in particular.
2.The whole of the universe and all life on Earth were created for the benefit of humanity.
3.God chose to initiate an eternal love relationship with humans.
As a corollary to these three purposes, God gives humans every assist and incentive to turn away from evil’s empty enticement (autonomy) and toward His love. This corollary helps explain why Genesis 1-3 identifies this world and Eden not as God’s “perfect” creation, but, rather, as His “good” or “very good” creation.

Many Christians (and others) believe the Garden of Eden was perfect and that God will one day permanently restore people to an Eden-like paradise.2 An inability to imagine anything better than what Adam and Eve enjoyed in the Garden of Eden (before they sinned) makes this viewpoint understandable. However, the Bible reveals a transcendent Creator who made the universe of matter, energy, space, and time from beyond the universe, completely unconfined by it. Therefore, belief in a transcendent reward becomes a reasonable consideration.

Because of Satan’s rebellion, and because free will must be real for love to be real, the potential for sin necessarily existed in Eden. That potential alone made Eden an insecure environment and, therefore, an imperfect one. The “new heavens and new earth” described in Revelation 21 and 22 remain perfectly secure, because no possibility for sin exists there. This transcendent reward awaits Christ’s followers (see the “New Laws for the New Creation”sidebar).

Advent of Sin—and Physics
The idea that sin (rejection of God’s rightful authority) began with Adam’s rebellion in Eden ignores the fact that at least in one context the fall into sin predates Eden. Satan clearly fell into sin before he entered Eden to beguile Eve. Exactly how much before that time the fall of Satan occurred is unclear. Job 38:7 states that the angels watched as God laid down the foundations of the Earth. Therefore, Satan likely existed at the time when Earth was formed some 4.6 to 3.9 billion years ago.3 His rebellion against God could have occurred either before or after this event.

Advent of Physical Laws
Adam and Eve’s fall into sin, which brought estrangement from God, others, and self, occurred some time after Satan’s rebellion and impacted the entire human race and, thus, the world. Genesis 3 explains that sin leads to more work and more pain, implying that Adam and Eve experienced both work and pain before their rebellion against God. Genesis 2 explicitly states that Adam worked and ate in Eden before he sinned.Such work—including the digestion process—implies that the physical laws of gravity, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics took effect before Adam’s fall. These same physical laws remain in effect today.4

Are work and pain inherently bad? I think not. According to the book of Ecclesiastes, God designed work to be productive and enjoyable. Sin, however, destroys both the productivity and joy of work. This destruction forces individuals to work much harder than would otherwise be necessary. Pain has value, too. It is a necessary partner to physical pleasure. Pain also warns of impending danger. The introduction of sin, however, causes every person to experience more pain than would otherwise be necessary. More work and more pain were part of sin’s curse on humanity.

The existence of stars both before and after Eden tells me that physics did not change as a result of Adam’s sin. Those laws were already in place, prepared in advance to fulfill their important role in God’s grand plan. According to Genesis 1, stars predated the creation of humanity. Stellar burning involves virtually all the laws of physics and is extremely sensitive to the constant and continual operation of those laws.5 Even slight changes or interruptions in those laws mean that stable burning stars of the type necessary for the support of physical life cannot exist, and metabolic reactions, protein synthesis, and protein function become impossible. According to Revelation 20-21, the replacement of the laws of physics (see sidebar, “New Laws for the New Creation”) occurs at that moment when evil is finally and permanently eliminated (the Great White Throne Judgment). This timing suggests that the physical laws were intended to be part of God’s strategy for conquering sin.

Spiritual Purpose of Physical Laws
God’s design of gravity, electromagnetism, strong and weak nuclear forces, and thermodynamics yields this result: the more a person sins, the more work he must perform and the more pain he must experience. All of these laws contribute to the breakdown of a person’s body and the breakdown of everything he builds (e.g., a home, a relationship, or a career). Gravity results in increasing sag and stress over time. Electromagnetic radiation corrodes the surfaces of all structures. Nuclear laws cause change in the fundamental building blocks.

Because of their propensity to defy God, individuals need discipline. God’s act of ejecting Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden to the world outside, where they had to plant their own gardens and deal, for example, with “thorns and thistles,” helped set in motion the discipline they needed to understand that God’s ways are best. The propensity to do things their own way (as opposed to following God’s wisdom), consigned Adam and Eve and their descendents to experience much more work and much more pain.

The second law of thermodynamics guarantees that whatever a man organizes, whatever he designs, and whatever information he accumulates becomes increasingly disordered. However, sin speeds up the breakdown. For example, if a man abuses his tools, they become less productive and wear out faster, leading him to experience more pain and more work when he uses them. If he abuses his animals, his employees, or a woman who might become his spouse, their response to the abuse causes him more work, less pleasure, and more pain.

God designed the laws of physics to gently but firmly encourage humankind to depart from sin. As Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 5 and 6, not all sins bring identical harm. Some sins defile more than others. The way God designed the laws of physics, the more defiling the sin, the more pain and/or work it generates. And the more sin an individual commits, the more pain and work he experiences. The laws of physics, unlike parents, teachers, and supervisors, allocate consistent and timely retribution. Moreover, physics discipline never misses, never forgets. By God’s design, it is neither too much nor too little.

Universality of the Physical Laws
Jeremiah speaks about the fixity of the laws that govern the universe.6 Paul, in Romans, states that the entire creation has been subjected to the law of decay,7 an apparent reference to the second law of thermodynamics. Because the space-time dimensions of the universe are inextricably woven together, the time dimension of the universe cannot be separated from its space dimensions.8 Or, to put it another way, the geometry of the universe is such that time behaves as a space dimension subjecting the entire universe to the law of decay. This fact implies that the entire universe from its very beginning, from the beginning of time itself, experienced decay.

Many references elsewhere in the Bible confirm 1) the ongoing expansion of the universe from the beginning, 2) solar and stellar burning both before and after Adam’s fall, and 3) metabolic function in plants and animals.9 All of these phenomena are physically impossible without the continual operation of the second law of thermodynamics.

Gravity and electromagnetism, too, must be in continual operation since the cosmic creation event. The Bible states that the Sun, stars, Earth, and moon existed both before and after Adam. Likewise, Scripture states that electromagnetic light existed from the beginning of creation and remains the same. It also implies that the Earth and Sun maintain a stable configuration with respect to one another.

Straightforward astrophysics demonstrates that the kinds of stable burning stars essential for physical life cannot exist in this universe unless both gravity and electromagnetism retain their current values and operation for the entire history of the universe. Similarly, stable orbits of planets about stars and of electrons about the nuclei of atoms require the stability and constancy of both gravity and electromagnetism. Physical life also requires that all galaxies, stars, and planets, in fact, all matter and energy in the universe be situated on a three-dimensional surface. That surface must be very large and rapidly and continuously expanding. And thermodynamics require the complementary action of gravity and electromagnetism.

The fact that gravity, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics have continuously functioned since the cosmic creation event implies that God prepared, or preprogrammed, the universe to deal with sin. This occurred billions of years before sin became an issue in the physical universe; that is, billions of years before God allowed Satan to invade Eden. Further evidence, both scientific and biblical, suggests that God’s plan works in the most efficient manner possible.

The nature of the universe and the physical laws limit the maximum longevity of the human species on planet Earth as several thousand years only. Natural phenomena such as supernova eruptions, asteroid and comet collisions, accelerated cosmic expansion, and the inevitable termination of the silicate-carbonate cycle10 guarantee a relatively rapid extinction of the human species. In fact, scientists now see evidence that the pursuit of education and technology, crucial elements in the rapid advance of civilization (thus in fulfilling Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations) actually shortens the extinction time of the human species by escalating the deleterious mutation rate.11 And, increasing affluence produced by educational and technological advances has a negative impact on the human birth rate.

Extent of Sin’s Impact
The connection between the laws of physics and sin explain sin’s far-reaching impact. The groaning of creation in anticipation of release from sin has lasted fifteen billion years and affected a hundred billion trillion stars. The effective and efficient conquest of sin mandates a certain set of physical laws. These physical laws dictate that the universe manifests a certain space-time manifold and an even more highly specified expansion rate. That space-time manifold and expansion rate serve to limit the geographical realm for humanity. With great effort humans can make forays into different parts of this solar system. Visiting planets around other stars, however, is out of the question.12 Likewise, the physics of this present universe put a severe constraint on the window of time in cosmic history during which human existence is possible.13

Sin’s impact extends beyond the space-time manifold (or envelope) of the universe. For about four billion years (at least) of Earth’s history, at least a hundred million angels have witnessed the damage wrought by sin.14 This patient witness is part of God’s teaching the angels about His grace. Given their unique perspective on the breadth and depth of sin’s devastation, the angels can see and understand—more than you and I yet can—how costly Christ’s redemption of humanity is.

When God planned for His ultimate love relationship with humans, He chose to open Eden’s gate to Satan, the most magnificent and powerful of his angelic creations. After facing and—by God’s grace—overcoming Satan’s temptations, humans will never encounter a greater foe. Humanity’s exposure to sin (as devastating as it has been and continues to be) paves the way for Christ’s followers to receive and enjoy the rewards of the new creation and to fulfill their roles there. Without the training and maturation offered by exposure to sin and its consequences, humanity could look forward to nothing better than paradise, the pleasures of Eden. While paradise may seem wonderful compared to this sin-marred universe, it utterly pales in comparison to the future home provided by God for all who choose the redemption from sin Christ makes available through His death and resurrection.

Better Than Eden
God promised His worshippers a reward far beyond what anyone can imagine or comprehend.15 This second creation of God will one day (on an eighth creation day) supplant the first creation. (See “New Laws for a New Creation” sidebar.)

The Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and subsequent journey to the Promised Land offers a helpful analogy. Paradise (Eden) may be likened to Egypt at Moses’ time. Humanity’s journey through life’s trials and temptations resembles Israel’s wilderness (Sinai) wanderings. The new creation is roughly analogous to the land of promise (Canaan). Just as the Israelites struggled to imagine and anticipate the blessings of the Promised Land, people everywhere struggle to imagine and anticipate the rewards of the new creation.

The Israelites grumbled about their suffering in the wilderness and yearned to return to Egypt. People today complain about the training and discipline of this life and long for a return to Eden. Egypt was a land of plenty but also a land of slavery. Eden surely seems idyllic, but it holds humanity captive to electromagnetism, gravity, etc. During the aging process, individuals observe that joints and muscles gradually lose the battle against gravity. Skin and other cells break down under long-term exposure to electromagnetic radiation.

On a spiritual level, perpetual insecurity plagued Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. At every moment they were capable of the willful choice that would shatter their unique oneness with the Creator. In the new creation, everyone who has a relationship with Jesus Christ will forever enjoy perfect security. People will live safely beyond the severe testing of their free will, the testing faced in God’s first creation. It is past. No tougher test can confront them.

Adam and Eve and all humankind had to be confined to a single time dimension, one that can neither be stopped nor reversed so as to limit the fallout from their sin, including the number of people damaged by it. All who enter the new creation will be free from such time restrictions. The time confinement that limits each individual to just a few close relationships will be lifted.

Jesus often refers to believers in the new creation with singular nouns and pronouns.16 Those who join Him in the new creation are called His bride, and He says that all who live there will be one as He, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are one. The aspect of the oneness of God is illustrated in that the Father, Son, and Spirit are in continuous communication and fellowship with one another.17

For humans to experience this type of oneness, each person will be granted continuous communication and fellowship with one another. It appears somehow that all individuals will possess the capacity to communicate and relate simultaneously, intimately, and harmoniously with billions of others.

Our current dimensional limits (and sinful nature) make such communication and fellowship impossible. And yet for now, such limits are essential. One time dimension (in which time can neither be halted nor reversed) currently confines the impact of humans’ sin to only a limited number of people for a limited time. (In the equivalent of two time dimensions or more, a person’s sin could simultaneously impact billions of other people in an undiminished manner for an unlimited period of time.) With the new heavenly capacity for knowing and being known, loving and being loved by all other human beings simultaneously, the need for marriage and the nuclear family will be fully satisfied.

Whether God grants the capacity for continuous simultaneous communication and intimate fellowship with all other believers through the equivalent of two time dimensions or some other dimensional or transdimensional means is not revealed. However, we can know that with the elimination of sin, shame, embarrassment, and physical, mental, and spiritual defects, intimacy becomes safe and enjoyable in a manner impossible in this creation. The risk of being hurt or damaged in relationships will be gone forever.

People will no longer need to focus relationship resources on only one marriage partner, one nuclear and extended family, and a few dozen friends. Continuous enjoyment of all other members of the heavenly family provides something far superior to the pleasures of the very best of earthly relationships, including marriage.18 All this, and much more, awaits.

One day God will release humankind from the “playpen” of this universe with all of its restrictive dimensions and physics. He will usher those who worship Him into a new creation replete with physics and dimensions or transdimensions that permit ultimately satisfying relationships with Him and with one another. We will be rewarded to a degree far beyond what anyone can yet think or imagine.19 Until that time, each person can thank God for the discipline of physics.

Sidebar: New Laws for the New Creation
Revelation 21 declares that the law of decay (i.e., the second law of thermodynamics) will no longer exist in the new creation. The apostle John records that death, mourning, crying, and pain—four consequences of the decay law—will have no place in the new creation.1 In the new creation, people will apparently consume without incurring cost, further evidence of decay’s absence.

The description of a new Jerusalem suggests the absence of gravity (as we know it) in the new creation. This “city” (or structure) measures roughly 1500 miles long by 1500 miles wide by 1500 miles high, and it has corners.2 Thus, the New Jerusalem’s shape (a cube or pyramid) violates the law of gravity. Gravity forces any body larger than about 150 miles across into a spherical shape.

With electromagnetic radiation, light casts shadows and eclipses. In the new creation hot bodies such as the sun and the stars, the primary sources of light in the present universe, will no longer exist.3 Light will pervade all of the new creation, but not electromagnetic light, for there will be no darkness, no shadows.

The limitations of the space-time manifold of the universe are lifted in the new creation. Relationships are nonlinear (see subhead, Better Than Eden, and the paragraphs that follow). Nor will people be geographically limited as they are in the present universe. Physics and space will no longer confine individuals to the environs of one tiny planet. The common yearning to be in more than one place at a time as well as to be unrestricted by time will be fulfilled. (RTB)

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*** Will Myers

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