“Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:2).

Camp Meeting Notices: The 2008 WV Camp Meeting will be held June 10-14 at the Smyrna chapel. Contact us for more information. Seed of Truth Ministries is hosting their annual Pennsylvania Camp Meeting July 2-6. For directions and details, please contact them by e-mail seedoftruth@comcast.net, or you may call 814-676-8660. Please seek to attend these meetings.

Final Michael Sibanda Update: I regret to inform you that shortly after the good news of Michael’s release from death row to life imprisonment he died in prison on April 10, 2008, after a short illness. His mother, Melody Tshabalala and sister, Mercy, were able to see him just before his death. They are now grieving their loss and are faced with the expenses of the burial. If anyone would like to send sympathy cards, please contact Ephraim Nwgenya for more information at epsabakwena@yahoo.com. Please keep the family in prayer.

Our Amazing Solar System

by Lynnford Beachy

The Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). He did this by speaking everything into existence. “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth… For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalms 33:6, 9). God’s creative power is so great that He simply needs to speak, and whatever is said will immediately come to pass.

This creative power was demonstrated when Jesus was here. When encountering a lepar Jesus said, “Be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed” (Mark 1:41, 42). The lepar did not have to wait for an evolutionary period of time to get healed, but was healed immediately. Just as quickly, the world was created.

The Bible says the Sun, moon, stars, and our earth were created in six days. “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:11). The seven-day weekly cycle has its origin at creation, and the Sabbath was added to the week as a sign of God’s creative power.

Some leading Christians have compromised the reality of the six-day creation, claiming that God created the world in six indefinite periods of time, each period lasting from thousands to billions of years. This is done to try to be in harmony with the evolutionary theory of the origin of our planet.

Yet, evolution is not compatible with biblical Christianity. It strikes at the core of God’s redemptive power. Redemption is creation. God promises to create a new heart within us (Ezekiel 36:26). David pleaded, “Create in me a clean heart, OGod” (Psalms 51:10). David was not hoping for a long evolutionary process, but for an instant change in His life by the creative power of God. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

When God created the universe He was not limited to evolutionary processes, so He could create things any way He chose. He included some outstanding features in our solar system that confound the theory of evolution.

Recently I saw an amazing video about our solar system and learned some very interesting facts that defy evolution. I would like to share some of these things with you, in hope that it will bless you as much as it has me. Much of the information I am sharing with you came from videos entitled, “Our Created Solar System” and “Our Created Universe,” by Spike Psarris, available for free download at www.nwcreation.net/videos.

The evolutionary model for the formation of our solar system is that there was a cloud of swirling dust and gas that flattened into a disk and a central bulge formed our Sun. Smaller collections of material became the planets. This is known as the nebula theory. However, the Sun, and every one of the planets in our solar system, along with most of the moons, throw a monkey wrench into this theory.

The Sun

Our Sun was supposed to have formed as the center of a large swirling cloud of dust and gas. Yet, there is a huge problem with this theory that has never been answered. The problem is that it violates the law of the conservation of angular momentum. This law can be demonstrated by using a Yoyo (or any small weight attached to the end of a string). Swing a Yoyo around in a circle and then stick your finger in the center of the circle to allow the string to wrap around your finger. The Yoyo rotates faster as it gets closer to your finger. This is so because the energy must go somewhere when the length of the string decreases. The smaller the circle, the faster it rotates. If the Sun was formed when a swirling cloud of dust and gas condensed in the center, then as it condensed it would have to increase in speed. The nebula theory would require the Sun to be rotating at its equator at a rate of nearly 900,000 mph. Yet, scientists have observed that it is only rotating at about 4,500 mph. There has never been an explanation that accounts for this huge discrepancy in the nebula theory. This glaring inconsistency caused the theory to be rejected years ago, but for lack of a better theory this major inconsistency was ignored and the theory has been widely embraced by scientists even though there is no possible way it could have happened.

“It turns out that the angular momentum problem is one of the most important hurdles to be negotiated by any plausible theory for the origin of the solar system” (Dormand and Woolfson, The Origin of the Solar System: the capture theory, 1989, p. 14).

“During the 1970s the solar nebula concept became established as a fundamental assumption of astronomy, notwithstanding that its two-hundred-year-old problems had not been resolved” (Ibid., p. 47).

Another major problem with the nebula theory is the axis of the sun’s rotation. It is 7° off from the orbit of the planets around it. This may not seem much of a problem, but by the time you calculate that difference out to the distant planet, Neptune, it is off by 344,000,000 miles. That is a big difference.

The Sun is burning by thermonuclear reactions. Over time, this changes the composition of the core of the Sun which alters its temperature. If the Sun is 4.6 billion years old, it should have brightened by nearly 40% over this time. Life supposedly arose 3.8 billion years ago. Back then, the Sun would have been 25% dimmer than it is today. The average temperature of the Earth would have been about 30° F, which is below the freezing point of water. Earth would have been an ice planet at the time life is supposed to have arisen on the Earth. Yet evolutionists believe the average temperature of the Earth hasn’t changed much over the last few billion years.

Also evolutionists claim our Sun is just an average star. Yet amazingly it is very unique. It is the perfect size to sustain life. If it were much larger or smaller life could not exist on this planet. About 85% of all stars are arranged in groups of two which would not make the Earth suitable for life. Over 80% of all stars have violent bursts that would destroy life on their planets. So, certainly, our star is specially designed to support life.

Puzzling Features of the Sun: Evolution says it should be aligned with the plane of the eliptic rotation of its planets, but it does not. It should have almost all the angular momentum of the solar system, but it does not. It should have been faint early on, but it wasn’t. It should be an average star, thankfully, it is not. It was designed specifically to sustain life.

Mercury

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. Scientists were surprised when Mariner 10 space probe visited Mercury and measured the planet’s gravitational pull and discovered that it is the densest planet other than Earth. This is a puzzle for evolutionists. “The driving force behind previous attempts to account for Mercury has been to fit the high density of the planet into some preferred overall solar system scheme It has become clear that none of these proposed models work, and the high density is conveniently accommodated by the large-impact hypothesis, which makes Mercury unique” (Taylor, Solar System Evolution: A New Perspective, p. 194). To account for the density of Mercury it is presumed that a large meteor hit the planet removing the lighter material leaving behind the dense planet that exists today. Yet, the only proof that this took place is that if it didn’t it would disprove evolution.

Another surprise was that Mercury has a magnetic field, but according to evolution, it can’t. The only way for a planet that is billions of years old to have a magnetic field is for it to have a molten core. (Supposedly fluid motions inside the core can generate a magnetic field.) But, “Mercury is so small that the general opinion is that the planet should have frozen solid eons ago” (Taylor, Destiny or Chance: our solar system and its place in the cosmos, p 163). So the existence of a magnetic field on Mercury is a dilemma for evolutionists that even a meteor cannot fix. Some scientists have postulated an alternative explanation for a magnetic field on Mercury.

“A pure iron core would have frozen long ago, so the most likely candidate is an FeS [iron sulfide] core” (Taylor, Solar System Evolution: A New Perspective, p 191). But the nebula theory says that volatile elements like sulphur cannot be this close to the Sun. In trying to rescue Mercury for the evolutionary theory the entire theory is undermined.

Mercury truly is a small planet that causes huge problems for evolution.

Puzzling Features of Mercury: Evolution says it cannot be dense, but it is. Evolution says it can’t have a magnetic field, but it does. Trying to rescue evolution from the facts just makes the problems worse.

Venus

Venus is the hottest place in the solar system (except for the Sun) and it rotates backwards compared to the rest of the planets. This poses a significant problem for evolution. If all the planets in the solar system were formed by a swirling disk of gas and dust, then they should all be spinning the same direction. The savior for the evolutionary theory again is a meteor. Supposedly a meteor hit the planet so hard that it turned it the other direction.

Yet, the only evidence for such a collision is that if it didn’t happen, evolution would be disproven. In fact, Venus’ axial tilt is only 2° from perfectly perpendicular to the ecliptic plane. Also its orbit is the most circular in the solar system. Certainly if a meteor impacted Mercury so significantly that it reversed its rotation it would have also affected its axial tilt and the circularity of its orbit. Also, there should be some evidence on its surface of such a tremendous impact, but there is none.

Puzzling Features of Venus: Evolution says it should be similar to Earth, but it has no magnetic field, and its crustal structure is very different to Earth. Its surface is obviously young. It rotates the wrong way.

Earth

Earth is an amazing collection of variables calculated to sustain life. If any one of these variables would be slightly different, life could not exist. For example: if the rotation period of the Earth was slower, it would mean extreme temperature changes. If it was longer it would cause violent winds. Its axial tilt gives us moderate seasons. Its close to circular orbit gives us climate stability. Its atmosphere is perfect for life, protecting us from harmful Sun rays, letting in just the right amounts for life. It also is a perfect mix to provide air to breathe. Without water on this planet nothing could survive. If it were closer to the Sun it would be too hot, further away it would be too cold. The list goes on and on. The chances that all of these variables would just form by random chance are so great that we are almost compelled to acknowledge that someone designed it the way it is.

“God himself that formed the earth and made it;… he formed it to be inhabited” (Isaiah 45:18). The unique characteristics of the Earth that allow life on this planet required an intelligent designer.

One amazing feature of our Earth is its magnetic field. Since its first measurement in 1829, its total energy has fallen by 14%. It loses half its energy every 700 years or so. At this rate, the field could only be tens of thousands of years old, not billions. Evolution cannot explain these facts.

“Magnetism is almost as much of a puzzle now as it was when William Gilbert (1544-1603) wrote his classic text ‘Concerning Magnetism, Magnetic Bodies, and the Great Magnet, Earth’ in 1600” (Taylor, Destiny or Chance: our solar system and its place in the cosmos, p. 1).

“The mechanism for generating the geomagnetic field remains one of the central unsolved problems in geoscience” (http://earth.agu.org/revgeophys/roberp01/ node1.html, quoting the report from the National Geomagnetic Initiative, as of December 19, 2002).

According to evolutionary theory water should not exist on the Earth. It is too close to the Sun. To explain the existence of water on Earth, it is claimed that the Earth formed by evolution and a water-bearing meteor hit the Earth leaving us with vast oceans. Yet such an impact would certainly have left more evidence than just a lot of water. It is amazing how each of the evolutionary problems are explained by the impact of a very large meteor that left no evidence of its impact.

The water on Earth leaves its own evidence of creation. Each year the concentration of salt in the oceans is increasing. Rain runoff carries minerals, including salt, to the ocean, increasing its content of these minerals. At the current rate the oceans could only be a few thousand years old.

Puzzling Features of Earth: Earth is uniquely designed for life: its rotation period, axial tilt, orbit, atmosphere, water, and many other features all on one planet. There is plenty of water to bury the whole surface of the Earth in a worldwide flood. The magnetic field cannot be billions of years old. The ocean does not have enough salt to be billions of years old.

Earth’s Moon

The Moon is close enough to Earth that its gravity creates tides in Earth’s oceans. This prevents the oceans from becoming stagnant. But if the Moon was much closer the tides would be harmful to us.

Where did the Moon come from? There are three primary theories. They are the Fission Theory, the Nebula Theory, and the Capture Theory. The Fission Theory supposes that the early Earth was spinning rapidly and a chunk of material tore off and became the Moon.

Yet, tests have proven that lunar rocks are different than Earth rocks, particularly in the amount of iron they contain. Also, the law of the conservation of angular momentum disproves this theory. If the Moon originated as part of the Earth, then based on its current speed around the Earth, when it was part of the Earth the Earth would have been rotating at once every 2.6 hours. This just could not have been. If the Earth had slowed this much, the energy that would need to have been dissipated would have raised the temperature by 1,000° C. This would have boiled off all the water on the planet. The fact that we still have water proves this could not have happened.

Another theory is the Nebula Theory which claims that both the Earth and the Moon were formed from disjointed masses of dust and gas.  The likelihood of gas and dust collecting to form two bodies so close together is very slim. Also, the Moon’s core is proportionally smaller than Earth’s, yet if they formed in the same way we would expect them to be the same.  Also Moon rocks and Earth rocks are different enough to show they were not formed from the same dust and gas.

Another theory is the Capture Theory which says that the Moon was hurling through space like a meteor and came close enough to Earth to be grabbed into its magnetic field. The law of the conservation of angular momentum prevents this scenario from taking place. If the Moon was traveling fast enough to enter the Earth gravitational pull so fully that it would cause it to turn around, the momentum would have caused it to be slung back the way it came. There was nothing to slow down the Moon coming in.

One scientists laments, “In spite of everything that we have learned during the last few years, we still cannot decide between these three theories.  We will need more data and perhaps some new theories before the origin of the Moon is settled to everyone’s satisfaction” (Berian M. French, The New Moon: A Window on the Universe - Washington D.C.: NASA, 1975, p. 11).

A recent program on “The History Channel” proposed a fourth explanation, pointing out the scientific discrepancies of these other three theories. This fourth explanation is called the Giant Impact Theory. This is the idea that billions of years ago the Earth was completely molten, and an asteroid about the size of Mars hit the Earth causing some of the material from the impact to separate and become the Moon. This “historical” program pointed out that there is no sign of this impact on the Earth now, but since the impact occurred when the Earth was in a liquid (molten) state the Earth quickly returned to its spherical shape without any sign of an impact. The scientist proposing this theory admit that there is no proof for the theory and that there are certain discrepancies that cannot be explained. Yet, they say this theory is the most acceptable of anything that has been proposed.

Yet, unwittingly this theory disproves the argument to explain why water exists on Earth. If a meteor brought water to the planet when it was molten then the water would have evaporated. If it happened later, then there would be evidence of the hit, which, by the way, would have had to be a huge hit to bring all the water that exists on the planet. There is enough water on the Earth to cover the Earth’s surface 1 ½ miles deep if the surface had been flatter as the Bible suggests. After the flood “The mountains rose, the valleys sank down” (Psalms 104:8 RSV; please read 5-9).

Surely such a hit by a meteor that could deposit so much water would leave some evidence, yet scientists admit there is no evidence for a giant impact.

Also, scientists have discovered that the Moon is slowly receding from the Earth at a rate of 3.8 cm (1½ inches) per year. Based upon this rate, counting backwards, the Moon would have been touching the Earth just 1.5 billion years ago, yet evolutionists claim the Moon is over 4 billion years old. The dust on the Moon should be very deep if it is billions of years old, but there is only a very thin layer of dust, proving that it is young.

Puzzling Features of our Moon: Evolutionary theories have not been able to explain the origin of the Moon without leaving unanswered questions. Lunar recession says it can’t be billions of years old. The small amount of Moon dust also proves it cannot be billions of years old.

Mars

There has been much speculation about life on Mars, and evolutionists desire to have this be a reality, because it would help to confirm the possibility of evolution on Earth. Evolutionists have tried to find evidence of liquid water on Mars, since life cannot exist without water. There are many features on Mars that would suggest that water existed there at some time. For example, there is a canyon six times deeper than the Grand Canyon and much wider and longer. Other features seem to demonstrate water erosion. However, photographs have been taken before and after erosion within the last few year when no liquid water existed on its surface, proving that the erosion on Mars could have been caused by processes other than water erosion. Some scientists believe that these erosions were caused by liquid water coming to the surface and quickly causing the erosion before evaporating.

 The fact is liquid water cannot exist on the surface of Mars. The atmosphere is so thin that the boiling point of water is lower than the temperature on Mars. If liquid water did exist on the surface it would evaporate or freeze very quickly. In 2007 scientists reported that they had found standing puddles of water on mars, but this claim was quickly retracted when it was pointed out that the photographs from which they gathered their evidence were taken on the slope of crater. Small amounts of ice have been found at the north pole of Mars, but no liquid water on the surface, for this is impossible.

 Again, a meteor is called on to explain this. It is claimed that a large meteor hit Mars and stripped away the atmosphere causing the water to evaporate. Yet no evidence exists for such a catastrophe. Interestingly, some evolutionist scientists maintain that there was a global flood on Mars to try to support evolution. Yet, these same scientists ridicule Creationists for believing there was a worldwide flood on the Earth, for which there is much more evidence. This is hypocritical.

Puzzling Features of Mars: Evidence for surface water on Mars can be explained by other methods. Water is impossible to exist on the surface today. Whether water was there in the past or not, it still does not prove evolution, but could demonstrate that God is all-powerful.

Jupiter

Jupiter is huge in comparison to Earth, and is the largest of our planets. Despite its massive size it rotates completely in only 10 hours. At the equator the Earth is rotating at just over 1,000 mph. On its equator Jupiter is rotating at an alarming 30,000 mph. Random chance hits by meteors cannot explain this rapid rotation.

Jupiter has some amazing and varied moons. One of them, Io, is molten and has many volcanic eruptions that spue lava up to 200 miles above its surface. If it were billions of years old it would have frozen solid long ago. Next to this hot moon are two frozen moons, Europa and Callisto. Europa is the smoothest body in the solar system, while its neighbor, Callisto, is the most heavily cratered body in the solar system. Another of Jupiter’s moons, Ganymede, has some strange markings all over its surface and a magnetic field that shouldn’t be there according to evolutionary theory. Also, these moons are solid, while Jupiter is a gas planet. These features do not fit the evolutionary theory.

Puzzling Features of Jupiter: According to evolution Jupiter cannot possibly be spinning so fast. Its moon, Io, is young and hot. Its moon Ganymede should not have a magnetic field, but it does.

Saturn

Saturn is one of the most beautiful planets. There are millions of rings that rotate around it. These rings have been a puzzle for evolution. NASA scientists admit, “After all this time we’re still not sure about the origin of Saturn’s rings,’ says Jeff Cuzzi, a planetary scientist at the NASA Ames Research Center. Astronomers once thought that Saturn’s rings formed when Saturn did: 4.8 billion years ago as the Sun and planets coalesced from a swirling cloud of interstellar gas. ‘But lately,’ Cuzzi says, ‘there’s a growing awareness that Saturn's rings can't be so old” (http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/12feb_rings.htm).

Saturn’s rings pick up space dust every time it rotates around the Sun. This dust darkens the rings. Today the rings are still bright, demonstrating that they could not be billions of years old.

“Cuzzi speculates that some hundreds of millions of years ago a time when the earliest dinosaurs roamed our planet Saturn had no bright rings. Then, he says, something unlikely happened: ‘A moon-sized object from the outer solar system might have flown nearby Saturn where tidal forces ripped it apart. Or maybe an asteroid smashed one of Saturn’s existing moons.’ The debris encircled the planet and formed the rings we see today” (http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/12feb_rings.htm).

Again, a meteor is called to rescue the evolutionary theory, even though there is no evidence for the event. One of Saturn’s moons, Enceladus, is extremely active with huge geysers, showing its young age. Another of Saturn’s moons, Titan, has a methane atmosphere, a substance that is broken down by sunlight, so it could not last long, proving it is a young moon. Another oddity of Saturn is that one of its moons, Phoebe, rotates backward around Saturn, something that cannot be explained by evolutionary processes.

Saturn is a powerful planet. It radiates three times more energy than it receives from the Sun.

Puzzling Features of Saturn: Saturn’s rings are young, its moons, Enceladus and Titan, are young. Saturn’s rings have some odd phenomena that evolution cannot explain. One of its moons is rotating backwards from the rest. It is still geothermally active, emitting more energy than it receives. It must be a young planet.

Uranus

Uranus is truly an oddity. It is the only planet that rotates sideways. Its rings and moons also rotate sideways. This cannot be explained by evolution unless it was struck by a very large meteor that turned it on its side. Yet, why are all the moons and rings rotating sideways also? This would require the moons and rings to have been formed after it was turned on its side. Also, if it was hit with such a massive meteor that it would turn on its side you could predict that its orbit around the Sun would be affected. Yet, Uranus’ orbit is one of the most circular orbits of all the planets, and its rotation is closer to the ecliptic plane than all other planets except Earth. Its surface is also very uniform with no evidence of a giant impact. Again, the hypothesis that it was struck by a huge meteor is only maintained because if it was not hit it would disprove evolution.

Uranus’ magnetic field is another puzzle for evolution. “To the complete astonishment of scientists, the magnetic axis [of Uranus] is tilted approximately 60 degrees with respect to its axis of rotation. It is not known why” (Christiansen and Hamblin, Exploring the Planets, p. 406). As an added conundrum, the magnetic axis is offset from the center of the planet.

One of Uranus’ moons, Miranda, has some very strange charateristics. “No one predicted anything looking like Miranda” (Taylor, Destiny or Chance: our solar system and its place in the cosmos, p. 86). “The central problem in modeling the thermal histories of the uranian satellites is accounting for Miranda” (Croft, Uranus conference extracts, 5.10). Can you guess what theory is used to explain this oddity? A meteor!

“Scientists believe that Miranda may have been shattered as many as five times during its evolution. After each shattering the moon would have reassembled from the remains of its former self with portions of the core exposed and portions of the surface buried. Miranda's appearance can be explained by theories, but the real reason is still unknown” (http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/features/planets/uranus/miranda.html, January 15, 2002). “Although some sort of collisional disruption appears to be required, it is not obvious that the present terrain, with relief up to 20 km, would survive catastrophic disruption and reassembly” (Taylor, Solar System Evolution: A New Perspective, p. 261).

Puzzling Features of Uranus: Uranus should not be rotating sideways, Its magnetic field disproves evolution, it should be radiating energy but it isn’t, and its moon Miranda is a complete mystery.

Neptune

Neptune is 30 times further from the Sun than Earth and evolutionary scientists predicted that it would be old, cold and dead. Yet, it radiates more energy than it receives from the Sun, and it has the most violent wind storms in the solar system. Winds reach 1,300 mph, and the storms are changing. As on other planets, Neptune’s magnetic field becomes a problem for evolution.

“In 1986, Voyager discovered Uranus’ magnetic field was tilted and offset. Scientists suggested that Voyager had caught the field in the middle of a reversal (when the magnetic north and south poles switch places)” (Christiansen and Hamblin, Exploring the Planets, p. 424). “But then in 1989 Voyager discovered that Neptune’s magnetic field was the same way! It seems that the possibility of finding two planets both experiencing magnetic polarity reversals is small” (Ibid.). Creationist Dr. Russell Humphreys had successfully predicted the strengths of the magnetic fields of Neptune and Uranus years earlier, by basing his model on the Bible. (His predictions were 100,000 times greater than evolutionist predictions of these fields. He was right and they were wrong).

The very existence of Uranus and Neptune pose a huge problem for evolution. “Pssst… astronomers who model the formation of the solar system have kept a dirty little secret: Uranus and Neptune don’t exist.  Or at least computer simulations have never explained how planets as big as the two gas giants could form so far from the Sun.  Bodies orbited so slowly in the outer parts of the sun’s protoplanetary disk that the slow process of gravitational accretion would need more time than the age of the solar system to form bodies with 14.5 and 17.1 times the mass of Earth” (R.N., Birth of Uranus and Neptune, Astronomy 28(4):30, 2000).

“What is clear is that simple banging together of planetesimals to construct planets takes too long in this remote outer part of the solar system.  The time needed exceeds the age of the solar system.  We see Uranus and Neptune, but the modest requirement that these planets exist has not been met by this model” (S.R. Taylor, Destiny or Chance: our solar system and its place in the cosmos, p. 73).

“It’s clear that our level of sophistication of studying planet formation is relatively primitive… So far, it’s been very difficult for anybody to come up with a scenario that actually produces Uranus and Neptune” (Martin Duncan, Queens University, quoted in Astronomy 28(4):30).

Puzzling Features of Neptune: Neptune looks young with winds, storms and heat. Its odd magnetic field defies evolution. Evolutionary theories have not been able to explain how Uranus and Neptune can exist at all.

Conclusion

It is amazing how many unique features God created in our solar system just because He could do it that way. Some of the features seem to have been created in such a way to purposely prove that evolution could not have happened.

When we go beyond our solar system to galaxies and other phenomena in the universe God’s design is even more apparent. Did you know that nobody has observed the formation of a star? There has been observation of stars being destroyed, but not being formed.

“The origin of stars represents one of the most fundamental unsolved problems of contemporary astrophysics” (Charles J. Lada and Frank H. Shu, The Formation of Sunlike Stars, Science, May 4, 1990, p. 564).

It is supposed that when a star explodes to form a supernova the tremendous energy emitted is capable of reacting upon dust clouds to form new stars. There is no proof of this, but it brings up the age-old question, which came first, the chicken or the egg? If it takes old dying stars to create new ones, where did the first stars come from?

A look at the heavens leaves a person astounded at how great God is. David exclaimed, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the , and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,” (Psalms 19:1-4)

Our God truly is an awesome God.

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Something for the Young at Heart

This month we are continuing a series of crossword Bible studies that are based on a Bible Lesson printed by Richard Stratton of Philadelphia Press Ministries, PO Box 218, Florence, Colorado 81226. In order to maintain the flow of the study, this crossword puzzle is not split into Across and Down sections—Across or Down is indicated at the end of each line.

The Sacredness of Human Life

• “Thou shalt not ____.” Exodus 20:13.—10 Across

Note:    The Hebrew word xur, translated “kill” means “To murder, slay, premeditated, accidental.” (The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon).

• “Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and ____ him.” Genesis 4:8—18 Across

Note:    Long before the Ten Commandments were given on Mount Sinai Cain broke this law and was guilty. This demonstrates that when God gave His law to Moses 2,500 years after this world was created it was not the beginning of this law. Instead, it was a written revelation of the law that has existed when man was created.

• Jesus said, “Thou shalt ___ ___.” Matthew 5:21 (2 words)—3 Down
• “Whosoever is ____ with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” Matthew 5:22— 8 Down
• “Whosoever ____ his brother is a murderer.” 1 John 3:15—5 Down
• “How can ye, being evil, speak ____ things? Matthew 12:34— 13 Across
• “For out of the abundance of the ____ the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34—5 Across
• “The ____ can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:8—9 Across
• “Death and life are in the ____ of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21— 15 Across

Note:    The tongue is a terrible character assassin, and what form of murder could be more serious in its consequences than that which destroys the character, excluding a person from eternal life?

• “Whosoever shall keep the whole ____,...”  James 2:10—11 Down
• “...and yet offend in one point, he is____ of all.” James 2:10— 2 Down
• “If thou kill, thou art become a ____ of the law.” James 2:11—20 Across
• “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be ____ by the law of liberty.” James 2:12—1 Across
• Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to ____ the law,...” Matthew 5:17— 21 Across
• Jesus continued, “I am not come to destroy, but to ____.” Matthew 5:17—17 Across
• “Love your ____.” Matthew 5:44— 12 Down
• “____ them that curse you.” Matthew 5:44—16 Down
• “Do ____ to them that hate you.” Matthew 5:44—6 Down
• “____ for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44—19 Down
• “That ye may be the ____ of your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:45—14 Across

Note:    The positive phase of the sixth commandment is “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” It requires that we have our neighbor’s interests at heart so that we seek his welfare. We are not only to refrain from injuring or killing him or even shortening his life, but we are also to practice the golden rule in all our dealings with our fellow men, including our enemies.

• “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, ____ him.” Romans 12:20— 7 Down
• “If he thirst, give him ____.” Romans 12:20—4 Across

Answers for last month's Crossword

Waggoner on Romans — The Gospel in Paul’s Great Letter  (Part 25)    by Ellet J. Waggoner

(We are continuing a series of articles commenting on Paul’s epistle to the Romans. We pray that they will be a blessing to you.    Editor)

“PRAISE THE LORD, ALL YOU GENTILES!”

Chapter 15 

The fourteenth chapter of Romans presented to us our duty towards those who are weak in the faith, and who have excessively conscientious scruples with regard to things that are in themselves of no consequence. We are not judges of one another, but must all appear before [Christ’s] judgment seat. If we have more knowledge than our brother, we are not arbitrarily to bring him to our standard, any more than he is to bring us down to his. Our greater knowledge rather throws upon us the responsibility of exercising the greater charity and patience.

The sum of it all is contained in these verses: “For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God.”

The Duty of Helping One Another —Romans 15:1-7 

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Receiving One Another—The verses composing this chapter supplement the instruction given in chapter fourteen, and are a continuation of that. Thus, that chapter opens with the exhortation, “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye.” The last verse of our present study is, “Wherefore receive ye one another.”

How Are We to Receive One Another?—The answer is, “As Christ also received us.” This again emphasizes the statement that the apostle had not the slightest intention in any way of depreciating any one of the Ten Commandments when in the fourteenth chapter he said: “One man esteemeth one day above another; another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”

Christ did not in the slightest degree make any concessions in the commandments in order to accommodate those whom he would receive. He said, “Think not that I came to destroy the law, or the prophets.” (Matthew 5:17). Again, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:10). Christ’s commandments and those of the Father are the same, because he says, “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30). When a young man wished to follow him, he said to him, “Keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:17). Therefore it is evident that in making concessions for the sake of peace and harmony, no concession is to be made in respect to keeping the commandments of God.

How to Please Others—This is still further shown by the exhortation, “Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.” We are never exhorted to aid a brother to sin, in order to please him. Neither are we exhorted to close our eyes to a brother’s sin, and allow him to go on in it without warning him, lest we displease him. There is no kindness in that. The exhortation is, “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart; thou shalt in anywise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him.” (Leviticus 19:17). The mother who would be so fearful of displeasing her child that she would not stop it from putting its hand into the blaze, would be exhibiting cruelty instead of kindness. We are to please our neighbors, but only for their good, not to lead them astray.

Bearing Others’ Weaknesses— Going back to the first verse, we find this lesson still more strongly emphasized: “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” “For even Christ pleased not himself.” Compare this with Galatians 6:1, 2: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such on one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” In bearing the infirmities of the weak, we are fulfilling the law of Christ. But to bear another’s burdens does not mean to teach him that he can safely ignore any of the commandments. To keep the commandments of God is not a burden; for “his commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:3).

How Christ Bears Our Burdens —Christ bears our burdens, not by taking away the law of God, but by taking away our sins, and enabling us to keep the law. “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us.” (Romans 8:3, 4).

He Says “Come”—One blessed thing in the service of the Lord is that he does not say, “Go,” but, “Come.” He does not send us away to labor by ourselves, but calls us to follow him. He does not ask anything of us that he does not himself do. When he says that we ought to bear the infirmities of them that are weak, we should take it as an encouragement, instead of a task laid upon us, since it reminds us of what he does for us. He is the mighty One, for we read, “I have laid help upon One that is mighty; I have exalted One chosen out of the people.” (Psalm 89:19). “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.” “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4, 6).

Why the Task Is Easy—This is what makes it easy to bear one another’s burdens. If we know that Christ bears our burdens, it will become a pleasure for us to bear the burdens of others. The trouble is that too often we forget that Christ is the Burden-bearer, and, being over powered with the weight of our own infirmities, we have still less patience with those of others. But when we know that Christ is indeed the Burden-bearer, we cast our own care upon him; and then when we make the burden of another our own, he bears that too.

“The God of All Comfort”—God is “the God of patience and consolation.” He is “the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4). He takes upon himself all the reproaches that fall upon men. “The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.” Of the children of Israel it is said, “In all their affliction he was afflicted.” (Isaiah 63:9). The words of Christ are, “Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor.” “Reproach hath broken my heart.” (Psalm 69:19, 20). Yet in all this there was no impatience, no murmuring. Therefore, as he has already borne the burdens of the world in the flesh, he is fully able to bear ours in our flesh, without complaining; so that we may be “strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness.” (Colossians 1:11).

The Gospel According to Moses —It is this lesson that is taught us throughout all the Scriptures: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” In the book of Job this is made manifest. “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” (James 5:11). In the writings of Moses it is as clearly set forth. Christ says: “Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not the writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:46, 47). If the gospel according to Moses is neglected, it will be of no use to read the gospel according to John, because the gospel can not be divided. The gospel of Christ, like himself, is one.

How to Receive One Another—Finally, “Receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.” Whom does Christ receive? “This man receiveth sinners.” How many will he receive? “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

How will he receive them?—“All day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” And if they come, what assurance have they? “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Let us learn of him; and remember that, wherever you may open the Scriptures, they are they which testify of him.

Standing on the Threshold—Our study of the book of Romans, while there have been many articles, has not been exhaustive. Indeed, it is impossible to have an exhaustive study of the Bible; for no matter how thoroughly we study any portion of it, we shall still find ourselves but upon the threshold. The more we study the Bible, the more will our best study seem to be only preliminary to further study that will be seen to be necessary. But although we can not expect ever to exhaust the truth, so that we can say that we have it all, we may be sure that as far as we have gone we have only the truth. And this assurance arises not from any wisdom that we have, but solely from adhering closely to the word of God, and not allowing the alloy of human ideas to mingle with its pure gold.

“All Joy and Peace in Believing” —Romans 15:8-14 

Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises [made] unto the fathers: And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

“A Minister of the Circumcision” —Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision. Bear this in mind. Shall we learn from it that he saves only the Jews? By no means, but we must learn from it that “salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22. “Jesus Christ our Lord” was “made of the seed of David according to the flesh.” (Romans 1:3. He is the “root of Jesse,” which stands “for an ensign of the people,” to which the Gentiles seek. Isaiah 11:10; Romans 15:12. The Gentiles who find salvation must find it in Israel. None can find it anywhere else.

“The Commonwealth of Israel” —In writing to the brethren at Ephesus, Paul refers to the time before they were converted as the time when they were “Gentiles in the flesh,” and says, “At that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:11, 12).

That is, outside of Israel there is no hope for mankind. They who are “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel” are “without Christ,” and “without God in the world.” In Christ Jesus we are brought to God. But being brought to God we are “no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” (Vss. 18, 19). Therefore we have two things most clearly and positively taught, namely, That none are saved unless they are of the house of Israel; and, That none are of the house of Israel except those who are in Christ.

Confirming the Promises—“Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.” That shows that all the promises of God to the fathers were made in Christ. “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen.” (2 Corinthians 1:20). “To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” (Galatians 3:16). There was therefore never any promise made to the fathers which was not to be obtained only through Christ, and therefore through the righteousness which is by him.

Christ Not Divided—Jesus Christ is declared to be a minister of the circumcision. Suppose now we hold that the promises to the fathers mean the natural descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; we should then be shut up to the conclusion that only those natural descendants those who are circumcised can be saved. Or, at least, we should be driven to the conclusion that Christ does something for them that he does not do for the rest of mankind.

But Christ is not divided. All that he does for one man he does for every man. All that he does for any he does through his cross; and he is crucified but once. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Therefore since Christ is the minister of the circumcision to confirm the promises made unto the fathers, it is evident that those promises included all mankind. “There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him” (Romans 10:12). “Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also; seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.” (Romans 3:29, 30).

The “Tabernacle of David”—At the time when the apostles and elders were assembled in Jerusalem, Peter told how he had been used by the Lord to carry the gospel to the Gentiles. Said he, “God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” (Acts 15:8, 9).

Then James added, “Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up; that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world." (Acts 15:14-18).

That is, the house of David is to be built up only by the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles, and the taking from them of a people for God. And this was the purpose of God from the beginning, as the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43).

“The Blessing of Abraham”— Again we read that “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us;… that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:13, 14). The curse that Christ was made for us, was the cross, as is stated in the words omitted from the text just quoted.

Therefore we learn that the promises to the fathers were assured only by the cross of Christ. But Christ tasted death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9). He was “lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:14, 15). Therefore the promises made to the fathers were simply the promises of the gospel, which is “to every creature.” By the cross, Christ confirms the promises made to the fathers, in order “that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.”

“One Fold, and One Shepherd”— In the tenth chapter of John we find some of the most beautiful, tender, and encouraging words of the Lord Jesus. He is the Good Shepherd. He is the gate by which the sheep enter into the fold. He gives his life to save them. Then he says, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd.” Vs. 16. Therefore when his work is completed, there will be but one fold, and he will be the Shepherd. Let us see who will compose that flock.

The Lost Sheep—In the fifteenth chapter of Luke, that wonderful bouquet of blessed illustrations of the love and mercy of the Saviour, Jesus represents his work as that of the shepherd going to seek the lost and wandering sheep. Now who are the sheep that he is seeking? He himself gives the answer: “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24). This is emphatic. Therefore it is evident that all the sheep whom he finds, and whom he brings back to the fold, will be Israel. And so it is just as evident that the “one fold” will be the fold of Israel. There will be no other fold, since it is to be “one fold.” And he will be the Shepherd. To-day, as well as in the days of old, we may pray, “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubim, shine forth.” (Psalm 80:1).

The Characteristic of the Sheep —Those who are following Christ are his sheep. But he has “other sheep.” There are many who are not now following him, who are his sheep. They are lost and wandering, and he is seeking them.

What determines who are his sheep? Hear him tell: “The sheep hear his voice.” “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice.” “Ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice.” (John 10:3, 16, 26, 27). When he speaks, those who are his sheep will hear his voice, and come to him. The word of the Lord is the test as to who are his sheep. Every one therefore who hears and obeys the word of the Lord is of the family of Israel; and those who reject or neglect the word, are eternally lost. “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:29).

(To be continued)

(This article was taken from a series of articles printed in The Signs of the Times from October, 1895 through September, 1896. Some editing has been done for this publication.    Editor)

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