The Bible clearly states that there was no death of humans, or animals (including dinosaurs) before Adam sinned. It teaches that the actions of one man, Adam brought death into the world and that the entire creation has suffered the consequences.
Evolutionists, on the other hand believe that death has been going on for millions of years. It requires the death of billions of animals slowly evolving to bring humans into existence.
Many (not all) who believe in evolution don't believe there is a God, they don't believe man was created, and they don't believe there is any such thing as sin.
If Evolution is true then death is a natural process that has been happening for billions of years before man was on earth.
If the Bible is true, then Death is the great enemy, the last to be destroyed when Christ returns.
"The last enemy to be destroyed is Death" (1 Corinthians 15:26)
The Bible says that God hates Death. He calls it his enemy. Surely it was not part of the original Creation. Death is a foreigner, an intruder in God's perfect world. The Bible says that death is a result of mans sin.
The Bible also says that that when Christ returns, all things will be restored. There will be no more sin or death.
Because it was man who brought death into the world, a man must also defeat death. Christ is the only man who could do this because he was without sin.
I Corinthians 15:20 says:
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept [ the first to rise from the dead ]. For since by man [Adam] came death, by man [Christ] also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be alive."
You should not look at today’s sin and death filled world and think that this was Gods intention or the end result of his Creation.
Death entered after the Creation was finished. And when God was finished he said his Creation was "very good" (Genesis 1:31).
If Lions were ripping apart zebras, and animals were brutally killing each other at this time, then surely God would not have declared his Creation "very good". This brutal fight for survival had not yet begun.
God created man with a free will and gave him a choice. God placed one limitation on mans freedom and told him not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. For God knew that in the day Adam ate it he would die spiritually and be separated from God eternally.
But Adam also began to die physically. Adams sin caused his body to slowly break down and eventually result in the death of his physical body.
Romans 5:12
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."
James 1:14 says:
"But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his lust , and enticed. Then when lust is conceived, it brings forth sin, and sin when it is finished brings forth death".
This does not mean you should be afraid that if you sin that God will strike you dead with a lightning bolt from the sky. It just reaffirms that it was Adams sin that brought death into all the world.
The damage was already done 6,000 years ago. A spiritual and physical law was set in motion and can not be stopped except by God himself.
The basis of sin and death is covered in the book of Genesis. Unfortunately this is the book most often misunderstood and compromised. And an understanding of Genesis and the consequence of the original sin is foundational for all of the rest of Scripture.
For if death is not the result of sin, then Christ’s sacrificial death was unnecessary and did not pay the price for our sin.
Unfortunately many atheists understand this better than the Christians do, as is evident from this quote from self proclaimed Atheist G. Richard Bozarth
"It becomes clear now that the whole justification of Jesus' life and death is predicated on the existence of Adam and the forbidden fruit he and Eve ate. Without the original sin, who needs to be redeemed? Without Adam’s fall into a life of constant sin terminated by death, what purpose is there to Christianity? None."
quote from G. Richard Bozarth, "The Meaning of Evolution", American Atheist, 20 Sept. 1979, p. 30 (source=AIG)
If you believe dinosaurs and other animals died millions of years before man and sin entered the world, then you have undermined the entire Gospel and the very reason Christ’s death was necessary.
There was no death of animals or humans before sin entered the world, and death through sin.
Romans 6:23 says: "The wages [penalty] of sin is death"
Either Adam had to die, or an animal had to die in his place to atone for sin. This was only a temporary covering however, and later Jesus Christ died to not just cover our sins, but cleanse them. He died in our place, and suffered for us.
The Bible even tells us when the very first animal died. This is in Genesis 3:21 when God killed an innocent animal to cover mans nakedness and mans sin.
The death of an innocent animal also demonstrated to Adam the seriousness of his sin. For the first time ever an animal had to die to "atone" (temporarily cover) for Adams sin. If animals had been dying for millions of years, Adam wouldn’t have taken it as seriously. It would be just another animal. But to look down and see the lifeless body, a death caused by your sin would always stay in Adams mind. Reminding him of the seriousness of sin.
The death of the first animal served as a temporary covering until Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God (the perfect sacrifice) could come to earth to die in our place. Once and for all paying the price for our sins.
The Genesis account tells us that man tried to cover his own sin and his own nakedness by sewing fig leaves together to cover himself.
But this was not adequate, for Genesis 3:21 says:
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them."
This shows us that mans own efforts to cover or atone for sin are inadequate. God knew that death was the natural consequence of sin, and He provide a temporary substitute until Christ Himself died.
This is also demonstrated when Abraham was told to sacrifice his own son, and after God saw his willingness, He sent an angel to stop it. God then provided an animal to sacrifice in the boys place. (see Genesis 22:13)
Later Christ Himself became the perfect sacrificial "lamb".
"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot"
- 1 Peter 1:19
The Role and Purpose of Death
Why does God allow death?
It is sometimes hard for man in his fallen state to understand why God does certain things. It is sometimes difficult to see any "good" come out of the death of an animal or a fellow human being.
But without physical death, there could be no spiritual life. There would be, and could be no Redemption.
God was wise in placing the consequence of death from sin. For without it, we would be eternally separated from God.
Through this Curse of Death comes a Blessing. The opportunity to be united with a God who loves us. There is reconciliation with God for those who trust in His son Jesus.
Christ has reconciled himself to us. We need to reconcile ourselves to Him by asking Him to be our Savior and to Save us.
This is not to say that there is anything good about the way in which a man or animal dies. Often death is a long process of sickness, heartache and suffering.
God foresaw the devastation that would be caused by sin (and death) which is why he warned man (Adam) so strongly against it (the original sin). This is why God set up such strict limitations on our actions.
It is a cruel God who allow suffering without comfort, or death without purpose. But we have a God willing to comfort us, who has a purpose for our lives, and in our deaths. We have a God who wants a personal relationship with us.
Death is not God's best for man. It was not part of His Creation. If it was, or if you believe in Evolution, then death is meaningless.
But to the Believer death is the only way back to God.
Too bad Charles Darwin didn't understand this. Look at this quote below:
Death extended to the animal kingdom because sin had effected the entire Creation. Including the animals man had dominion over.
Romans 5:14 "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned. After the similitude of Adams transgression."
This verse again states that death started when Adam sinned, and nothing died before Adam sinned(including the dinosaurs). Clearly this refers to the animals that man had dominion over. Animals are without sin, yet are effected by the consequence of sin. Animals did not die before sin entered the world. Death entered the world when Adam sinned.
Romans 8:20 speaks of the whole Creation being made subject to the universal laws of death and decay. The whole universe began with organized complexity, but is now deteriorating.
This is the opposite of what evolutionists claim. They believe everything started simple and became more organized and complex on its own. Even though all known laws of Science disprove this, they still believe it. The only other option is that God created the world. But this is an option that many of them are not willing to entertain.
If there was no death of man or animals before sin entered the world and death through sin, then what did man and animals eat?
In the Garden of Eden no animals were eaten, nor did the animals kill each other. Man and animals ate plants. The Bible tells us that animals will once again live together peacefully when Christ returns For these passages please see my page on "Vegetarian Animals in the Garden of Eden"
Question from a reader:
"You say that no death came before Adams sin but wouldn’t adam or eve had stepped on a bug sometime in their life?"
"Gil" 7/28/01
Answer:
Only Adam, Eve and God know the answer to this. Ken Ham has some answers for this in his book "The Lie: Evolution".
If God used evolution, then why did Jesus heal the sick? It is obvious that evolution is contrary to the ministry of Christ - he could have said - "Sorry, I can't heal you. It's natural selection - the weak die- the strong carry on to pass on their genes."
He didn't do/say this. He had mercy on these people and healed them.
If you have any questions on Creation, Evolution, or just want to say "Hi" please feel free to email me.
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