Are Dinosaurs Real?
Those who have collected dinosaur remains in the Midwest plains of Canada and the United States or in the Colorado Plateau region have no lingering doubt concerning their reality. Thousands of specimens have been found and excavated, thereby debunking the first theory that dinosaurs were made up to support evolutionary theory. However, simply because we acknowledge the existence of dinosaurs does not mean we must accept that it took millions of years for their appearance/disappearance. The second theory comes from those who see the dinosaur bones, but feel there is no direct Biblical supporting evidence for their creation. The third theory, is one that is rather plausible and even supported in the Bible, which we will discuss in detail below.
Did God create dinosaurs?
Would God have created dinosaurs? Why is there no mention of dinosaurs in the Bible, especially the creation account? In Creation, there are many creatures that were not mentioned by name that do exist. When thinking of dinosaurs, most first thoughts are of gargantuan, ferocious lizards. It makes it hard to believe that God would create something so monstrous for the Garden of Eden.
Actually, the fossil remains indicate that they were indeed a highly diversified group, ranging in size from that of a rabbit to tremendous beasts 20 feet height, 85 feet long, and weighing up to 50 tons. It appears that some were relatively light-footed and had bipedal locomotion, while others were quadrupedal and moved about in a slow and cumbersome manner. Some were carnivores and others herbivores. Certain types were well suited for aquatic habitat while other remained on land. However, most dinosaurs were relatively the size of humans.
Not only that, something to be considered is that humans at the time of Adam up until Noah lived hundreds of years. Adam died at 930 years, Methuselah died at 969, Noah lived 950 years. With such longevity, isn’t it only logical to believe that mankind grew larger and taller? True, it might not be the size of a 20-foot dinosaur, but perhaps proportional to how one experiences the grandiose size of a blue whale compared to the modern average human.
What about the large ferocious teeth? How would a “T-Rex” fit into the picture of paradise? If one can imagine a lion in heaven eating grass like a cow, perhaps a Tyrannosaurus Rex in the Garden of Eden is no longer a stretch of the imagination.
Isaiah 11:6-7 shares this picture of heaven:
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall east straw like the ox.”
Predators of our world today were not predators at the start of Creation. Lions used to eat straw and wolves didn’t eat lambs. It was not until sin came in and corrupted animals, bringing in death, predation, and “survival of the fittest”. Is it very possible that dinosaurs once were peaceful creatures?
Are dinosaurs mentioned in the Bible?
There has been much discussion on the topic specifically involving verses in Job 40-41. Job is considered to be the oldest book of the Bible. Scholars, in studying Job’s longevity (he lived up to 140 years), descriptions of his wealth and household, believe he was most likely alive after the time of Noah, but before the time of Abraham.
Behemoth: Job 40
Job 40:15-24 speaks of a “behemoth”. No one is really sure what it is, but read its description:
15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.
16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.
17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.
19 He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.
20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
21 He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
23 Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
24 He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.
The way the “behemoth” is described, it almost sound like a dinosaur? Perhaps one of the sauropods? Some will argue these verses are referring to the hippopotamus or elephant. However, they run into the problem of explaining verse 17, since the tails of both animals are…well, far from looking like a cedar tree (let alone moving like one). Their tails more resemble switches.
Leviathan: Job 41
In Job 41:1-2, 7, 12-32, the “Leviathan” is another creature described that has been hard to find a modern equivalent:
1Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?
12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
13 Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?
14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
18 By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.
23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.
25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
26 The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
27 He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
30 Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.
31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
Some have translated the Leviathan to be a “crocodile”, because of the large number currently present in the region. However, the crocodile pales in comparison to the description given to the Leviathan. Do crocodiles really raise themselves? Aren’t the underbellies of crocodiles smooth rather than “sharp potsherds”? Does the crocodile really move fast enough and graceful enough to leave a “shining wake” trail behind him in the water? The Leviathan is also mentioned in the following verses: Psalms 74:14, 104:25-27, Isaiah 27:1.
Why are dinosaurs not alive today?
The sudden extinction of the dinosaurs, as shown by the geological record, is a mystery that evolutionary paleontologist have considerable difficulty explaining. What happened to wipe out the dinosaurs so quickly? A change of temperature? A change in the plants? Blasts of heat from a meteor? Mammals eating dinosaurs eggs? A change in oxygen concentration? Overspecialization? Senility? All these have been offered as explanations by evolutionary scientists. The dominate theory at present is that a large object from space hit Earth and blasted up so much dust that the sun was obscured for months. Plants and animals died. However, there are problems with this theory. If this happened, why was the extinction selective? Why did some plants and animals, including some more fragile than dinosaurs, not become extinct?
Were dinosaurs on the ark?
Some say, ‘yes’. Those that take this view say that they went extinct shortly afterwards for the condition of the Earth was much different and there may not have been enough food.
Other’s will say, ‘no’. From a biblical perspective, which is the most likely explanation for the extinction of the dinosaurs is the worldwide Flood described in Genesis 6 and 7. Soon after the flood, mankind began to rapidly decrease in size and in length of years. There was a class of very large animals which perished at the flood. God knew that the strength of man would decrease, and these mammoth animals could not be controlled by feeble man. Not only would mankind degenerate overtime, but the animal and plant kingdom would too.
Dinosaurs and the Bible
Ironically enough, by trusting the Bible, Christians have no need to “explain away” dinosaurs and do mental gymnastics to try and disprove their existence. The Bible even leaves the door open for Christians to discover dinosaurs alive today. Should a dinosaur exist today and ever be discovered roaming around deep in some jungle, it would not really affect our understanding of the Bible or our faith. On the other hand, evolutionist would have to restructure their entire system of thought if a dinosaur appeared alive on today’s scene.
Additional Resources:
Southern Adventist University: https://www.southern.edu/media/docs/academic-sites/faithandscience/origins_5_dinosaurs.pdf
Geoscience Research Institute: https://grisda.org/?_gl=1*12q8lsk*_ga*NjgwNzMwMzUwLjE2NDEyNTg0NjU.*_ga_2VBYH6KEBQ*MTY0MTI1ODQ2NC4xLjAuMTY0MTI1ODQ2NC4w&_ga=2.119578700.5344719.1641258465-680730350.1641258465
Seeking Understand (video) – By: Dr. Arthur Chadwick – Research Professor of Biology and Geology at Southwestern Adventist University. A stunning dig and must see video. Click here: https://www.grisda.org/audio-visual-media?album=3055947&video=561597629
Earth History Research Center: https://origins.swau.edu/index.html
Online Fossil Museum: https://fossil.swau.edu/
Educational Online Museum: https://dinosaur.swau.edu/
Beyond, Is Genesis History? Arthur Chadwick, PhD – Taphonomist and Del Tackett, DM:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S63KlCsaxmg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcUsooi4vDo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC_YlyYHo40
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