Written by Kent Hovind
Written: October 29, 2009
Posted: April 27, 2010
Miscellaneous Questions
Dear Bryan,
Thank you for your letter. It was just received by me last night. I’m glad you enjoyed our video series. It is a great blessing to know that God is using our feeble efforts to help others get closer to Him. You asked a lot of questions! I don’t know that I or anyone has an answer to all of them, but I will give you what insight I have. Maybe God will lead you to find the missing info and then share it with me! I will paraphrase your questions.
1. If there was no death before the fall, then why do some fossils show teeth marks?
There is no question that some fossils are found with teeth marks. You are right. There are several things to consider:
A. Just because God told Adam what he was to do obviously does not mean Adam was doing it. He disobeyed God in a perfect world. His fall may have introduced chaos and rebellion into the animal kingdom as well. God told the animals to eat plants (Gen. 1:29-30) but 1600 years later they may have been “filled with violence” just as mankind was.
B. If we assume that it took several months for the flood to kill everything, the slowly rising waters would make the shrinking real estate still above water more valuable. The animals that survived a few months may have been fighting for high ground or desperate for food by then.
C. The fossils with teeth marks may be post-flood. It is rare but fossilization can still occur today. We don’t see it in any great areas like the fossil beds testify to, but it can happen, as the fossil pickle, sack of flour, charcoal briquettes etc. show in the Dinosaur Adventure Land fossil collection. (I think finding pre-fall bones with teeth marks would not be possible; however, finding pre-flood bones with teeth marks may be possible.)
2. How did Adam know what God meant by death if it wasn’t already happening?
A. Adam came pre-programmed straight from the hand of God. His PC was fully loaded with the ability to walk, talk, name all the animals and get married—all on the first day. I don’t see a problem with him understanding God’s “threat” anymore than a child understanding his dad’s threats if they disobey.
B. God may have explained it even further to Adam in their walks in the cool of the day but those chats are not recorded for us in the Word of God.
C. Adam may not have fully understood the extent of the results of his sin just as most people today do not fully understand the coming Judgment Seat of Christ or the Great White Throne Judgment. However, these judgments will take place regardless of our understanding. It is more our job to try to understand what God wants than it is His job to keep telling or explaining. We should ask questions if we don’t understand (James 1:5).
3. If there were no carnivores before the fall wouldn’t the herbivore population get out of control quickly?
The earth today is 3% habitable. God designed it to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18). The pre-flood world would have had smaller seas, greater fruiting capacity and been mostly livable. It could have handled a population many times what we see today. Even still, your question is valid—eventually they will “fill the earth” as God commanded them (Genesis 1:22, 28). Since God said part of Eve’s punishment was that He would “greatly multiply” her sorrow and conception (Genesis 3:16), maybe we can conclude that not only would she have pain in childbearing but it could happen more frequently. What if the pre-fall fertility cycle was once every seven years instead of every 28 days? (Most women would love that as well as most men!) Maybe the same applied to the animals?
I read about a study done with deer in captivity. I’m limited in my resources here so can’t cite it for you, but maybe you can find it and send it to me. They had pictures of deer and models of deer all around the enclosure. They also showed movies of deer on screens if I recall. The results were that the deer “thought” it was too crowded so they never went into estrous and did not reproduce. Maybe the earth would have had a natural point at which it was full and this would have happened to all types of animals.
4. How do bacteria and viruses fit in to a perfect world?
The simple answer is that obviously many bacteria serve very useful purposes in things like digestion. If we assume that plants are not “alive” in the Biblical sense (see Seminar Part 7), then bacteria breaking them back down for reuse is just part of the world wide 100% efficient recycling program. Viruses may have come in with the thorns as part of the curse or both may be recessive traits in the original creation waiting for opportunity to be expressed. God knew the future and planned a way to redeem man, so maybe He foreknew the need for viruses. Mushrooms and fungi may also be part of the 100% recycling plan from the beginning. Many are edible and maybe all mushrooms and fungi were originally edible.
Toxic and poison features in plants, animals, and insects may be from the fall or a recessive trait that became dominant after the fall. There could have been a beneficial function as originally created as well. Some venoms are used as medicines in diluted forms today. I met a lady who had cobra venom injected into her neck due to a spinal injury. She said it helped greatly.
5. Why did God create insects? Did the Venus Fly Trap eat them?
Insects serve to pollinate plants world-wide. They also serve as a base for the food chain. I don’t know that I could prove from scripture if insects are “alive” in the biblical classification of things or not. Since God told Noah to bring two of all living things into the ark “in whose nostrils was the breath of life” (Genesis 7:22) and insects don’t have nostrils, maybe they can be considered a “self-replicating, complex food source.” Possibly fish fit into the same category. The “food chain” in some instances is just an efficient recycling plan if they are not alive in the biblical sense. There are scores of great creation web sites. Maybe someone has already researched this issue and given a scriptural answer.
6. Was Adam created “immortal?” Why did God have to keep him from the tree of live so he wouldn’t live forever?
Adam was designed to live forever but that does not mean he did not require such things as air, water, and food. To me, “immortal” implies not capable of dying. I suspect if Adam had not taken in water, air, and food he would not be able to sustain life. I think the definition of terms is the problem here.
Did the tree of life in the garden contain some super nutrients, vitamins, minerals, or oils that would keep him alive forever? I don’t know. We’ll have to watch the video in Heaven to answer that one. He was kept from the tree for some good reason, and the tree as well as the entire garden was destroyed by the flood.
7. What about cats? Is there a cat like ancestor to all cats like tigers, lions, and saber-tooth tigers?
Noah brought two of each “kind” or “sort” into the ark (Genesis 6:20). I know that lions, tigers, and several other large cats have been crossbred into a wide variety of hybrids, most of which are sterile. Maybe there were originally five basic cat kinds, and therefore, Noah had ten “cats” on board. Getting all the cats alive today from ten or even from only two cats, is a very minor accomplishment compared to the evolutionist’s belief that all cats came from a rock! We need to keep this in view at all times when discussing perceived problems or unanswered questions in the creation world-view.
I hope this gives a platform for more research to answer your questions. While there are many things about God’s creation and His Word that I do not understand, these do not bother me nearly as much as the things I do understand! I do understand what He expects of me and don’t always do that! Keep studying and searching for answers but focus more on the bigger picture—use what we do know to win souls (Proverbs 11:30; Daniel 12:3)!
Keep in mind that if you could answer every question some atheists give you, they still would not believe. Some don’t want to believe (II Peter 3) and are a waste of time (Proverbs 14:7). If I had to plant a garden to feed my family for the winter and half my land was good soil and half poor or rocky soil, I would plant the good ground first, then, if I have time, work on the rocky ground. Same with dealing with skeptics, scoffers, and atheists. Go to those who want to hear first. There are millions of those!
In Christ,
Kent Hovind
Brother Kent, good to see you firing on all cylinders
I first noticed this story on Queensland’s Creation Ministries International website:-
http://creation.com/is-it-noahs-ark
Next today’s raptureready website has this link
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/7639853/Noahs-Ark-remains-discovered.html
Today the CMI website is also carrying this link
http://www.noahsarksearch.net/big5/
I am quietly hopeful that this is the real deal
The timing sort of fits a personal theory on what is happening in Baja
http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Maps/115-33.html
it is a personal pet theory that this current quake swarm is being driven by a fresh magna intrusion. Perhaps these next few weeks shall prove the point.
on another recurrent-personal theme I have been turning over: “what’s the difference between a nation calling itself a superpower and a shipping company calling its pride of the fleet ‘unsinkable’”
answer: I don’t think there is any difference.
This will realy help me in witnesing!
Thank You!!!
Dear Dr.Hovind
Day of prayer. (Also I was having a hard time logging on, this is why I have not been encouraging you) Here is a link to a article I did in my Daniel site. http://web.me.com/yocuzwaasup/Daniel_11_32/DANIEL_Blog/Entries/2010/4/1_Unlocking_Secrets_of_the_Universe_Ha_Ha%2C_Ha%2C_Ha%2CHa_….html Any comments?
I’m half asleep watching your blue series dvd # 4 (My favorite). I’m thinking of taking my equipment and showing it in Washington DC. I have to see what the laws are.
Well Bro. I love you and am praying The LORDS strength for you. I have some more comments in Daniel I may have to change my Sephardic and Ashkenazi Hebrew point of View.
Well Be blessed Night
Just one thing, Kent.
“evolutionist’s belief that all cats came from a rock”.
NOONE thinks that this is what has happened. It’s like an atheist saying that Christians think Jesus was born of a virgin octopus.
Dr. Hovind … I was thinking about you answer concerning “dear gestation”, and your lack of resources …
If you go to my my Daniel site I’ll make a special “Resource page”, for you? (Daniel’s Main page: ( http://web.me.com/yocuzwaasup/Daniel_11_32/Welcome.html )
I’ll just “ADD” “Subjects” and the site Google address’ or if they filter at your facility, just copy and paste it to the page.
Looking up “gestation”, it had a nice chart, which I was not able to place in your blog. This will be my first project
This is what I was able to “Copy and past” ….
Gestation |jeˈstā sh ən|
noun
the process of carrying or being carried in the female between conception and birth.
average gestation periods of selected mammals
• the duration of such a process.
• figurative the development of something over a period of time : various ideas are in the process of gestation.
DERIVATIVES
gestational |- sh ənl| adjective
ORIGIN mid 16th cent. (denoting an excursion on horseback, in a carriage, etc., considered as exercise): from Latin gestatio(n-), from gestare ‘carry, carry in the womb,’ frequentative of gerere ‘carry.’
Wow, gives a better understanding of Baby, “carriage” or “mis-carriage”?
I remember a documentary on, “Loins”. When a young or “New” Lion takes over, “The Pride” … If the old male lion had any offspring … The winning Male lion would KILL those young cubs, to quicken the, “Gestation” process of the female. This was to pro-create his line. After that “Documentary”, a thought came to my mind. “God … WHY, would you refer to JESUS … as “The Lion of the tribe of Juda, (Revelation 5:5) if Lions are so “vicious”? Well, in looking up the original word origins …
“Vicious”-ORIGIN Middle English (in the sense [characterized by immorality] ): from Old French vicious or Latin vitiosus, from vitium ‘vice.’ Other than the FACT, Jesus is (God) (NOTE): “The only “God BORN son” on this ball we call earth” (End Note) … God is characterized by “IMMORALITY”. Let’s keep going back deeper into the root word, and see how we can, “Biblically .. “Connect the dots”.
From “Vice”-ORIGIN Middle English (denoting a screw or winch): from Old French vis, from Latin vitis ‘vine.’ Jesus said … John 15:1-2
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. … And if we go back to Daniel 2 and “Understand that”, the leader, the ruler of the world of the time was “Nebuchadnezzar” A historical figure, Today it is “Modern Iraq”. Think of this king’s administration. (Thats what we would call it today right?) In it was “Daniel”. As the Bible goes on to say …Nebuchadnezzar “dreamed dreams” … God gave this “Leader” this Loin, (and the next 5 kingdoms that would come over the next 2500 years …) Rule, authority and Right, (Not so much, “Power” as I believe Greed, and Pride is what is leading these future leaders.) Anyway, if you read all of Daniel 2, when you get to verse 44, you see, a fifth “Kingdom” (administration) step in …
(Verse 44), And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, (administration) which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Just like The New Loin, destroyed the cubs of the Old lions administration … God one day, will Daniel 12:1 … Save ALL THOSE New cubs & (Old) … every one that shall be found written in the book.
If I didn’t connect the dots that you understood it correctly … God is far better than any “Lion”, or any creature He created including, “MAN”. But His LOVE for “His Bride” far outweighs any disobedience or Knowledge, His bride lacks. His love, or anger, can be compared or shown in the attributes of His creation But GOD BEING GOD, made the way to save part of His creation. We know Him as Jesus.
See … There will be a time, “A time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. Is your name … In the Book? We are in that time NOW … How do I know … Daniel 11:32-33, but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. One of the Hebrew words for “captivity” is prisoners. You who have follow the Dr. Hovinds case, Know HE WAS STEPPING ON TOES “Masonic, Secret Society, banker” TOES Read you “News papers”. This “NOW” administration … all Money, All “Wall Street” affiliates starting with the Treasury Sec. A former Federal Reserve operative. Reading his Bio … like the President Obama, is he even an American? Timothy Geithner http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Geithner
Well, Dr. Hovind as you stated, in one of your lectures… “You couldn’t believe it if we make it past “5 years” … well your fulfilling part of the last days prophecies, I hope all those see, “NOT THE LIES OF THE SO-CALLED administration / Parties, but Gods revealing of “HIS WORD” Man is fulfilling Gods 2500 year old WORD as we speak. 33% of our income to live Just in our house? What dod they think were idiots? Yes … http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/video/exclusive-timothy-geithner-9770573
Anthony
Tim Hendrix….
It is a fact that evolutionst say everything came from a primordial soup. This soup supposedly formed from the water and rocks (or whatever material no one seems to know) that formed the surface of the earth.
Evolutionist believe that all living creatures on Earth came from this. So yes even though they don’t want to admit to such a ridiculous statement. Evolutionist actualy believe all living creatures came from a “rock” This is part of the absurdity of evolution.
Believing that Jesus was born of a virgin octopus is a riduclous statement that an evolutionist might believe and it has to be admited they believe even more ridiculous things than that.
So either you have to look at what evolutionist really believe and admit it is ridiculous or you can defend a mentally bankrupt position that all life evolved from the rocks and water of the earth.
Mr. Hovind,
I had a question that I would like to get your take on. Do you think that animals from this world will be in Heaven? The statement you made on insects made me think about it. I have heard someone state that they think animals will be in Heaven, but that it will be new animals that God creates, and not the animals here. Also, what about whales and other animals that live in the sea? In Revelation John says that there was no ocean, so what about them? Thanks and God Bless you! In Christ, Stacie