EPIPHANY STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES "The Path of the just is as the Shining Light, That Shineth More and More Unto the Perfect Day." SERIES II CREATION 12,000 Edition "The Invisible Things of Him since the Creation of the World are Clearly Seen, being Perceived throug h the Things that are Made, even His Everlasting Power and Deity" (Rom. 1: 20). PAUL S. L JOHNSON PHILADELPHIA, PA., U. S. A. 1938 To the King of Kings and Lord of Lords IN THE INTEREST OF HIS CONSECRATED SAINTS, WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION, —AND OF— "ALL THAT IN EVERY PLACE CALL UPON THE LORD," "THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH;" —AND OF— THE GROANING CREATION, TRAVAILING AND WAITING FOR THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD, THIS WORK IS DEDICATED. ________________ "To make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God," "Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known unto us the mystery of His will, accord- ing to His good pleasure which He hath pur- posed in Himself; that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things, under Christ." Eph. 3: 4, 5, 9; 1: 8-10. _____________ COPYRIGHT 1938 BY PAUL S. L. JOHNSON ii THE AUTHOR'S FOREWORD THE SUBJCET of this book—Crea—tioisn one of compelling interest. No subject in nature, and very few in revelation possess more interest to universal man than it does. In its appeal it is fa-rreaching, inasmuch as it enlists the attention of the learned and the unlearned, the young and the old, the civilized and the uncivilized alike. And it is proper that it does command such intere st and make su ch appeal; for next to the Creator comes Creation in the estimation of the average person, since it is contin ually attracting his five senses, knocking at the door of his perceptive faculties, challenging his reasoning powers an d seeking an entrance into his affections. Moreover, as a par t of Creation, universa l man feels his relation to it , just because he is a part of it, which fact continually arouses his interest therein. But it is to the religiously disposed m an that Creation, both as a process and as a product, makes the strongest appeal; for to him the subject is es pecially arresting, because i t brings him into a deepe rk nowledge and appreciation of th e Creator, and thus brings him i nto closer touch with H is wise, powerful, just and l oving Maker. Thereby he reaches a condition of spir it that ennobles, enriches and elevates him. Thus God becom es more and more a living reality to him, and more and mor e the Goal of his endeavors. Our subject is a broad one; for, among other things, it embraces the field of the na tural sciences: Here astronomy is brought to view. Here Physic s asserts itself. Chemis try underlies it. Mine raislo gy anciently a feature of it. Meteorology is a part of it. Botany marks it. Geology figures largely in it. Zoology in all its departments belongs to it. In its earthly feature it culminates in Anthropol ogy and Sociology. Even Mathematics has in various oitfs branches a share in Creation. Yea, it rise s above the domain of the material, and brings us into the sphere of the spiritual world with it s varied orders of spirits. And, finally, it brings one to the science of Theology, in its narrow sense, as referring to the iii knowledge of God, especia lly as to His attribu tes of wisdom, power, justice and love, as these display themselves in creative work. Having so broad a subject, we, of course, could not expect to give details on its many ramifications; for it is not our object to write a scientific treatise on the minute details of science as these ar e displayed in Creation. Rath er, we content ourself with giving generalities on its d etails, especially as these are brought to our attention in Gen. 1: 1-31; 2: 7, 21-24, additionally drawing into our discussion other pertinent Scriptures. Our endeavor has been to elucidate the Mosaic account of Creation and to show its harmony with the assured results of science. And as the mainspring of this endeavor our constan t purpose has been to magnify and enhance our gracious Creator to the head and heart of the reade r. If, as a fruit of this work , this purpose is attained, it will be the chief joy of the author. PAUL S. L. JOHNSON. Philadelphia, PA., U. S. A. September 12, 1937. iv CONTENTS CHAPTER I. GENERAL REMARKS. THEIR NECESSITY. BIBLE PROOF FOR GO'SD CREATORSHIP. THE NATURE OF THE CREATIVE AC T. T HE WORLD OF SPIRIT AND MATTER AS THE CREATIVE SPHERES. THE CREATIVE DAYS. T HE LAWS OF NATURE. THE BEGINNING. ......................................................... 9 CHAPTER II. THE WORLD OF SPIRIT. THE WORD—LOGOS—GOD'S SON. HIS PRE-HUMAN EXISTENCE. HIS CREATION. HIS RELATION TO GOD. HIS WORK. THE GOOD ANGELS. THEIR NATURE AND WORKS. SATAN. AUTHOR OF SIN. HIS EMPIRE . RELENTLESS PERSECUTION OF OPPONENTS. HIS CU NNING. OVERTHROW OF HIS EMPIRE. HIS FINAL REBELLION AND DESTRUCTION. THE FALLEN ANGELS. .................................................. 37 CHAPTER III. THE WORLD OF MATTER. Gen. 1: 1 ITS IMPLICATIONS. ITS QUALITIE-SUNITY, IMMENSITY, BEAUTY , SUBLIMITY, ORDER, WONDROUSNESS, COMPLEXITY. ................... 165 CHAPTER IV. THE CREATIVE PROCESS. Gen. 1: 1 PROOF THAT ORIGINAL MATTER CONSISTED OF GASES, ORIGINALLY MOTIONLESS. CONDENSATION, THE CRE ATIVE PROCESS. ITS ALLEGE D OPERATION UNDER THE N EBULAR THEORY. THE PLANETESIMAL OR CAPTURE THEORY . THE EXPLOSION THEORY FOR PLANETS, MOONS, ETC. .......................... 265 CHAPTER V. CHAOS. Gen. 1: 2 THE EARTH'S MOLTEN CONDITION. PROOFS OF THE EAS RTH' MOLTEN CONDITION. "WASTE AND EMPTY". THE DEEP AND IT S DARKNESS. THE CANOPY THEORY AS SHOWN IN SCRIPTURE AND NATURE. THE SPIRIT'S HOVERING OVER THE WATERS. A REVIEW OF THE GROUND SO FAR TRAVERSED. ............................................... 293 CHAPTER VI. THE FIRST CREATIVE DAY—LIGHT. Gen. 1: 3—5 THE NATURE OF LIGHT. A SPIRITUAL SUBSTANCE. ITS SOURCE S. ITS MISSION. THE DIVISION OF LIGHT FROM DARKNESS. HOW "LIGHT BE" WAS SAID . LIGH'ST PRIORITY IN ORDERIN G TH E EARTH. THE MOSAIC ACCOUNT OF CREATION INSPIRED. ........... 345 v CHAPTER VII. THE SECOND CREATIVE DAY—THE EXPANSE. Gen. 1: 6-8 CONDITIONS DURING THE SECOND DAY. T HREA KIAEXPANSE. LOGICAL ORDER OF THE SECOND DAY'S WORK. CREATION OF THE ATMOSPHERE. THE SECOND DAYS IVEC REATPROCES S. CONTINUANCE OF THIS PROCESS DURING THE RES T OF THE CREATIVE PERIODS ENDING WITH THE FLOOD. .............................. 361 CHAPTER VIII. THE THIRD CREATIVE DAY—DRY LAND, SEA, VEGETATION. Gen. 1: 9-13 THE POINTS OF DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL. THE ANTECEDENTS OF THIS DAYS FRIST CREATIVE WORK . THE PERTINEN T CREATI VE PROCESS. VOLCANIC AND EARTHQUAKE EFFECTS. THE PRESSURE EAST AND WEST RATHER THAN FROM NORTH AND SOUT H. T HE PROCESS PROGRESSIVE THROUGH OTHER EPOCHS. IT WAS GOOD . THREE POETIC DESCRIPTIONS QUOTED FROM THE BIBLE. ORDER , KINDS AND FIXITY IN VEGETATION. GRASS. PLANTS. TREES. SOME PARTICULARS ON VEGETATION. .......................................................... 377 CHAPTER IX. THE FOURTH CREATIVE DAY—SUN, MOON AND STARS. Gen. 1: 14 -9 LOGICAL ORDER OF THE FOURTH DAYS' WORK. SUN, MOON AND STARS NOT CREATED, BUT MADE TON ES HITHROUGH TH E CANOPIES DURING THE FOURTH EPOCH. HOW THIS CAME ABOUT . THE FIVEFOLD MISSION OF THE SUN, MOON AND STARS AS TO THE EARTH. IT WAS GOOD. PERTINENT BIBLE TESTIMONY. ........ 403 CHAPTER X. THE FIFTH DAY—AQUATIC AND WINGED LIFE. Gen. 1: 20-23 THE TWO PRODUCT S O F THE FIFTH DAY. CETACEANS. FISH. CRUSTACEANS. MOLLUSCA. ANIMALCULES. THE A QUATIC WORLD. THE WORLD OF FOWL. THE INSECT WORLD. .......................... 419 CHAPTER XI. THE SIXTH DAY—BRUTE LIFE. Gen. 1: 24, 25 THE EARTH THE MOTHER OF ANIMA L LIFE. DOMESTIC ANIMAL S. WILD BEASTS. PRIMATES. CHEIROPTERANS. PREDACIOUS BEASTS. RODENTS. EDENTATES. UNGULATES. RUMNANTS. PACHYDERM S. MARSUPIALS. REPTILES. SAURIANS TORTOISES AND TURTLES. . 451 vi CHAPTER XII. THE SIXTH DAY—MAN. Gen. 1: 26-31; 2: 7, 21-25 "LET US MAKE MA" NG. OD'S IMAGE NI MAN. ITS BIBLIC AL ASPECTS GODS' LIKENESS IN MAN. MALE AND FEMALE. MSA N' BLESSINGS. ADAM FORMED, EVE BUILT CREATIVELY . THE CREATIVE PROCESS USED ON MAN.'S ABDOADMILY CONSTITUENTS. HIS ALIMENTARY SYSTEM. THE BLOOD. THE MUSCLES. THE BONES. THE LUNGS. NATIEVLEI MI AN D REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. ...................................................................... 477 CHAPTER XIII. THE SIXTH DAY—MAN (Continued). Gen. 2:7, 21-25 THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. THE FIVE SENSES. MAN'S BODY SUPERIOR TO THAT OF EVERY OTHER ANIMAL. THE BREATH OF L—IV ES NISHMAT CHAYIM. NESHAMAH. NAPHACH. SA'ST ANTRIPEL FALSEHOOD AN EISEGESIS. RUACHPN—EUMA IN THE BIB LE. THEIR TWELVE SENSES, WITH PROOF PASSA GES FOR EACH. CERTAIN OF THEIR OCCURRENCES MORE CLOSELY EXAMIN ED. THE NATURE OF DEATH. VITALIZING THE BOD Y. TH E SOUL IS A SENTIENT BRING. THE THREE SENSES OF THE WORDS NEPHE SH AND PSYCHE—LIFE, SOUL AND DISPOSITION. TH E WORD SO UL MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR BY PERSONAL PRONOUNS, ET C. TH E SOUL IS NEITHER THE BODY NOR T HE LIFE. IT RESULTS F ROM THEIR UNION. ILLUSTRATIONS. DEAD SOULS, KILLING SO ULS, DEATH OF SOULS, KEEPING SOUL S ALIVE. A SUMMARY OF T HE DISCUSSION ON NEPHESH AND PSYCHE .................................................. . 503 CHAPTER XIV. EVOLUTION NOT THE CREATIVE METHOD. FIVE KINDS OF EVOLUTIONISTS. THE VOICE OF MATHEMATICS ON THE AGE AND POPULATION OF MAN. THE UNITY OF THE RACE, OF THE MAIN RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS, OF MA'SN ORIGINAL HOME , OF MANS' ANCIENT CIVILIZATION. MENDELISM AND BIOMETR Y. NO NEW SPECI ES EVOLVED DURING RECORDED H ISTORY. MATHEMATICAL PROBABILITY. NUMEROUS FACTS CONTRADIC T EVOLUTION. AGE OF THE SUN AND THE EARTH. HISTORY AND GEOLOGY. DISTRIBUTION OF PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE. DESIGN IN CREATION. EIGHT GULF S IMPASSABLE BY EVOLUTION. S OME UNANSWERABLE QUESTIONS. HYBRIDS. HONEY BEES AND ANT S MORE INTELLIGEN T THAN APES. THE MOSAIC C REATION ACCOUNT INSPIRED. EVOLU' TIONIASDTSMISSIONS. ANTI-EVOLUTION TESMTOI NIES OF ABLEST SCIE NTISTS. EVOLUTION FOUNDED UPON EXTRAVAGA NT AND INHARMONIOUS GUESSES. EVOLUTIONS ' PUERILE ARGUMENTS . ALLEGED MISSING LINKS. ANIMALS PAINTED IN CA VERNS. VESTIGIAL ORGANS. BLOOD TESTS. RECAPITULATION THEOR Y. INCREASE OF KNOWLEDGE AND INVENTIONS. EVO LUTION CONTRARY TO GOD'S WORD. EVOLUTION'S INDICTMENT. ........... 539 vii THE MUSIC OF THE SPHERES Hast thou not heard it, the universal music, The throbbing harmony, the old e'erlasting rhyme, In the wild billows roaring, In the mad torrent pouring, And keeping with the stars its beat and march sublime? Hast thou not heard it when the night was silent, And nothing stirred but winds amid the trees, And the star-orbits, strings of harps celestial, Seemed quivering to the rush of melodies? If in thy soul there pulse not some faint responsive echo Of that supernal, everlasting hymn, Thou'rt of the low earth, lowly, Or livest life unholy, Or dullest spiritual sense by carnal grossness dim. Hear it, O poet, hear it! O preacher, give it welcome! O loving heart, receive it, deep in thy inmost core, The harmony of angels—glory, forever glory, Glory and peace and joy, and love forevermore! viii CHAPTER I. GENERAL REMARKS. THEIR NECESSITY. BIBLE PROOF FOR GO'SD CREATORSHIP. THE NATURE OF THE CREATIVE AC T. T HE WORLD OF SPIRIT AND MATTER AS THE CREATIVE SPHERES. THE CREATIVE DAYS. T HE LAWS OF NATURE. THE BEGINNING. IN THE first volum e of the Epiphany St udies In The Scriptures we discussed Gods' Existence, God's Attributes of Being and Character and False Views of God. We desire in this, the second volume, to study 's GWodorks o f Creation. Before entering into the particulars of s God' creative works we desire to set forth some general remark s on God's works of creation, as introductory of the deta ils that we hope to give thereafter. These general remarks a re called forth for the most part, because there are so m any misunderstandings on Gods' creative works. We doubt not that the usual objections that many scientists make to what is alleged to be the Christian view of Gods ' creative works are due to this alleged Christian view of His wor ks of creation being neither Christian nor Biblical; bu t are creedal views largely the product of the D ark Ages and alien to the Old Testament, the New Testament and the assured results of scientific study. We hold that howe ver much variance there may be between the Biblical view of God's creative works and some of the theories, hypotheses , speculations and guesses of some scientists, real and alleged, there is no disagreement between the Bi blical statements on the subject under consideration and the assured results of scientific discovery of facts as such. Rather they dovetail into one another with marve lous harmony, which agreement cannot be asserted o f the creedal views of Go'sd creative works and the assu red results of scienti fic discovery of facts. It is this disagreement 9 10 Creation. that has made not a few scientists reject the Bible a s an authority on Go'sd creative works, under the mistaken assumption that its and the creedal view on the subject ar e identical, whereas on almost every point of fac t they are in disharmony with one another. This fact makes some general remarks on our subject necessary before proceeding to the particulars later to be brought out. But does the Bible set forth the though t that God is t he Creator and that His creative works are as extensive as the spiritual and material worlds? We claim no less than an affirmative answer to the question just asked for the Bible's teaching on the subjec t under study ; and our first gene ral remark on the subjec t will prove such to be the Bib lical view of it. So fa r as the creation of the material univer se, including this earth and its belongings, is concerned, this is set forth in many passages. The most detailed of these, of course, is that with which the book of Genesis begins. W e will first give a list of passages proving that God made th e universe—the heavens and the earth. Gen. 1: 1; 2: 1-4; Ex. 20: 11; 1 Sam. 2: 8; 2 Kings 19: 15; Neh. 9: 6; Ps. 33: 6, 7 ; 89: 11; 102: 25; 103: 22; 104: 2, 3, 5, 6; 1 21: 2; 124 : 8; 136: 5-9; 146: 5, 6; Prov. 3: 19; 8: 2269-; 16: 4; 26: 10 ; Eccl. 11: 5; Is. 37: 16; 40: 12, 26, 28; 42: 5; 44 : 24; 45: 12 , 18; 48: 13; 51: 13, 16 ; Jer. 10: 12, 16; 31: 35; 32: 17; 5 1: 15; Jonah 1: 9; Zech. 12: 1; Acts 4: 24; 7: 50; 14: 15; Rom. 1: 20; 1 Cor. 8: 6; Eph. 3: 9; Heb. 2: 10; 3: 4; Rev. 4: 1 1; 10: 6; 14: 7. Next we will cite passages wherein there is no mention of the earth as created by God, but tha t prove tha t God created the heaven—s the starry heavens above: Gen . 1: 14-19; 1 Chro. 16: 26; Job 9: 8, 9; 26: 13; Ps. 8: 3; 19: 1 . We now present a third list of passages, wherein is no mention of the heavens as created by God, but that pro ve that God created and ordered the earth: Gen. 1: 2, 9, 10; Job 26: 7; 38: 4; Ps. 24: 1, 2; 65: 6; 78: 69; 90: 2; 95: 4,