Stories of Creation and Birth

The first five chapters of Genesis are scarcely a preface to the events that actually took place during the first thousand years of this earth’s existence. They are probably the most incomplete and mysterious chapters of the Bible. Vast amounts of historical knowledge have been lost pertaining the creation and beginning years of man and his surroundings on this earthly sphere.

The great men who lived during that time walked and talked with God, and they knew many secrets of life—many untold secrets of the universe. They must have been near to immortality, because we read that Enoch “walked with God” (Gen. 5:24) and Noah “walked with God” (gen. 6:9). They knew the secret of long mortal lives, for during that period of time men lived to be nearly a thousand years old. Seth lived to be 912; Enos was 905; Cainan, 910; Mahalaleel, 830; Jared was 962; Methusaleh lived 969 years; Lamech, only 777; an Enoch fell behind with a mere 365 years of age. It is interesting to imagine the tremendous knowledge of these Godly men regarding the creation of earth and man, whereas now we have only a few clues.

A little further light on the creation is available from the New Testament. We read there a different story of Adam’s creation, for it says he was “the son of God” (Luke 3:38)—hardly fitting the description of a man who was made like a mudball. Either the story of an adobe-man creation is symbolic, or Luke, a disciple of Christ, didn’t know what he was talking about.

However, it stands to reason that Adam had a Father. Furthermore, the “fall” was planned before the creation, and Christ would make an atonement for that fall. The scriptures say that Christ was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8); therefore, the atonement was planned and instituted before the fall of man. This fall and redemption hinged upon the work of both Adam and Christ.

Only through the light of revelation can the mysteries of the ages be recovered. The suppositions, philosophical meanderings, and man-made doctrines presented by over-enthusiastic ministers today leave us more confused and in the dark than ever.