Dr. Don Clark of Creation Moments discusses, along with Jim and David, an article from the Institute for Creation Research that examines some of the differences between young earth and old earth proponents who happen to be Christians, and pertaining to whether Adam was an historical man, when death began and whether Neandertals were fully human after all …
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:44 — 41.0MB)
Thanks Charles for you post. Yes I am saying that the animals did not die before the Fall. Man and the animals were plant eaters so of course the plants died and many plants go through annual cycles of life and death anyway. The Tree of Life in the Garden was a physical representation of the Tree of Life mentioned in Revelation 22 which is referring to Jesus Christ. He is our eternal life. There must have been some substance in the fruit of the Tree of Life that renewed the life of those who ate it, in this case Adam and Eve. Our DNA can only replicate a certain number of times thus limiting our life span. If this substance removed this limitation on DNA replication, then Man could live forever. I believe this was God’s original intent since God placed death as a condition of sin. Thus before Adam sinned there could be no death. This helps explain why death for man didn’t enter in before sin but what about the animals?
As is stated in Genesis 1:30 God gave every green plant to the animals to eat. Note that they were not eating each other. God also initially created the Earth and universe to be perfect (it was very good). There was no disease to kill the animals. Without the animals eating each other and without disease in a perfect environment the animals did not die either. So Adam’s sin brought not only death to man but also to the animals (Rom 8:22). It effected all of creation.
While this may not seem to be a significant point and one might allow death of animals before the fall, death is a major requirement for evolution. Without death evolution can not take place because there would be no trial and error. with the weaker dying off and the stronger surviving. And at what point in the evolutionary scheme of things does a pre-human undergoing cycles of death and evolving become a non-dying man describe in Genesis 1 and 2? It doesn’t make sense. So again, animals must not have died before the Fall.
I trust this is has been helpful. Dr. Don
If I understand what your are saying, “There is no death on the earth until Adam sinned?” You are saying no plant or animal died before Adam sinned? Or was it just animals that didn’t die? If that’s the case, why was it necessary for Adam and Eve to eat of the Tree of Life if they wanted continuing life? Weren’t angels posted to prevent Adam and Eve from the Tree of Life? It seems that death is built into creation or the Tree of Life wouldn’t be necessary. It seems the statement that no animals died until Adam and Eve sinned is a belief statement that has no basis. Why would that be necessary if I believe the Genesis account? Apparently I don’t understand your position. cb