July 5, 2026 · 10:00

Anticipating the Millennium

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Lately, I find myself musing about the thousand-year reign of Christ on Earth. I have written about end-times prophecy over the years in anticipation of the Rapture of the Church[1] and the following seven-year Tribulation.[2] However, other than affirming that there will be a coming thousand-year reign of Christ—the Millennium—I have not ventured much speculation on what that time will be like.

Scattered throughout pages of prophetic Scripture lie hidden hints of life on Earth with Jesus as Supreme Potentate over all the nations of the earth. That the reign of Christ on Earth for 1,000 years is a well-established fact in Scripture is beyond question. Revelation 20:1-7 confirms the timeframe as “a thousand years” no less than six times. Skeptics scoff, saying that the 1,000 years is figurative language signifying an undetermined long period of time. Others claim it refers to the current church age since Christ’s ascension. Yet that period has already stretched nearly 2,000 years, and earthly conditions hardly match the glorious descriptions in Scripture. No, the 1,000 years recorded in Revelation must be taken literally.

Christ’s Absolute Rule

During those 1,000 years, Jesus will reign on Earth. Revelation 19:15 says, “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (emphasis mine). Ruling with “a rod of iron” establishes His absolute authority, yet Isaiah adds this balance: “But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked” (Isaiah 11:4, emphasis mine).

The prophet Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the multi-metal statue representing successive kingdoms.[3] The final kingdom, symbolized by feet of iron mixed with clay and ten toes (ten kings), corresponds to the rulers during the coming Tribulation. “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, 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” (Daniel 2:44, emphasis mine). That kingdom, is the kingdom of Christ. Daniel later saw “one like the Son of man” receiving everlasting dominion (Daniel 7:13-14, 27). The Apostle Paul affirms that in that day, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11, emphasis mine).

Peace Among the Nations

In the Millennium, the nations (Hebrew: goyim; Greek: ethnos), i.e., all ethnicities, not of Jewish descent, will be subject to Jesus. Isaiah foretells: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it … and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:2-4, emphasis mine). The Prophet Micah[4] echoes this nearly verbatim, and adds, “But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it” (Micah 4:4, emphasis mine). Absolute peace will prevail.

A familiar Christmas passage points to the coming Messiah: “For unto us a child is born, … and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6-7, emphasis mine). When Jesus presented Himself as the expected king,[5] He was rejected and nailed to a Roman cross. His earthly kingdom is yet to come. “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one” (Zechariah 14:9, emphasis mine).

Jesus will reign over all the earth, but King David appears to hold a special role over restored Israel. Hosea prophesies that Israel will “return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days” (Hosea 3:5, emphasis mine). Ezekiel reinforces this: the Lord will set up “my servant David” as shepherd and prince over Israel (Ezekiel 34:23-24; 37:24-25). Ezekiel 37 presents the restoration of Israel through the dry bones vision [6] and the uniting of the two sticks (Judah and Israel).[7] Chapters 40–48 describe the Millennial Temple, where the Glory of the Lord returns—unlike its departure from Solomon’s Temple.[8] The prophet describes it like this:

And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house. And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me. And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places. (Ezekiel 43:4-7, emphasis mine)

Life in the Millennial Kingdom

Jesus will be King of Kings and Lord of Lords over all the Earth, but what will daily life be like in that Millennial kingdom? It will be a time of perpetual peace where men “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Micah 4:3). What else? Isaiah describes a restored Earth approaching Edenic conditions: “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind” (Isaiah 65:17). Lifespans will lengthen dramatically: “There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed” (Isaiah 65:20). Private property will be secure and fruitful: “And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands”  (Isaiah 65:21-22, emphasis mine). Natural-born survivors of the Tribulation will procreate, and “their offspring [shall be] with them” (Isaiah 65:23).

Even the animal kingdom will return to their pre-fall state. “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 65:25, emphasis mine).[9] Innocent children will play safely: “And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the [viper’s] den” (Isaiah 11:8).

Our Glorified Role

For those of us who have placed their trust in Christ, the Millennium holds even greater promises. First of all, at the Rapture, the Apostle Paul says that the those who died believing in Christ will rise from the grave and those of us who are living at that time will metamorphose into their glorified bodies and join the risen dead to meet Jesus in the air.[10] “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3:21, emphasis mine). Imagine that! To have a body like that of our Savior. After His resurrection, He was able to transport Himself at will from one place to another, even into rooms with locked doors.[11] He could also eat as before.[12] I suspect that our glorified bodies will be equivalent to that of a young adult of late 20’s to early 30’s. My reasoning comes from knowing that when Jesus rose from the dead, He was around 33 years old (humanly speaking). Also, when God created Adam and Eve, they were fully mature adults. Not only will we be eternally youthful, but we will be endowed with many of the same superhuman abilities demonstrated by the resurrected Christ in that “He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself ” – not to the same extent as the omnipotent Lord Jesus Christ, but certainly greater than what we know now.

Secondly, we will serve in His administration on Earth. The Gospel writher Matthew records Jesus’ promise to His disciples, “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28, emphasis mine). These would be the “tribes” that survive the Tribulation and enter the Millennium in their natural bodies. The promise is not just for the 12 apostles, but for all the saints,[13] those who were taken up in the Rapture and will return with Christ at His second coming. Revelation 19:11-21 describes Christ’s return at the end of the Tribulation, riding on white horse – symbolic of a conquering king – prepared to execute justice on sinful and rebellious world. “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean” (Revelation 19:14, emphasis mine). The fine white linen, as opposed to “white robes,” shows that these are the Bride of Christ who were formally joined to Him at the “wedding super of the Lamb.”[14]

Revelation 5 presents the scene immediately following the Rapture, where the saints are around the throne of God, and Jesus – the Lamb that was slain – receives the seven-seal scroll – the title deed to the earth. “And [the saints] sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10, emphasis mine). The Apostle Paul in writing to the Corinthian Church says, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” (1 Corinthians 6:2, emphasis mine). To Timothy he writes, “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:11-13, emphasis mine). The promise is sure!

As for the rest of life in the Millennium, the earth and animals return to Edenic conditions with perfect peace. Technology may advance far beyond today to serve the natural population boom, but glorified saints will have no need of such things. When I consider the beauty of our fallen and cursed Earth, I can only imagine the wonder of a fully restored creation. I am anxiously awaiting that time—I don’t believe it is distant.

Reader, if you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, this future is not for you, but it can be. Please read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”

Notes:

[1]  “The Rapture” https://erniecarrasco.com/2021/09/05/the-rapture/

[2]  “End-Times Overview: The Big Picture” https://erniecarrasco.com/2026/02/22/end-times-overview-the-big-picture/  

[3]  Daniel 2

[4]  Micah 4:1-4

[5]  Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19

[6]  Ezekiel 37:1-14

[7]  Ezekiel 37:15-28

[8]  Ezekiel 10:4, 18-19: 11:22-23

[9]  See also Isaiah 11:6-9

[10]  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

[11]  John 20:19, 26

[12]  John 21:9-13

[13]  “Saints” are not icons that are to be venerated. Rather, a “saint” (Gk. “hagios”) is a “most holy thing” who has been set apart for God – sanctified, consecrated, elect, etc. All true believers in Christ are “saints.”

[14]  Revelation 19:6-9

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March 22, 2026 · 10:00

A Mockingbird Tale

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

A few years back, on a Saturday morning, after a pot of black liquid motivation, I grudgingly dragged myself out to the back yard to tackle the unwanted, albeit necessary task of yard maintenance.  I know people, younger than I, who actually pay for someone else to enjoy this pleasure.  Imagine that! 

As I was donning my yard-working shoes, I heard something that sounded halfway between a screech and a squawk coming from the midst of my big Ash Tree.  At first, I was unable to see what kind of creature was making the noise, so I whistled.  All I got back was a screech/squawk.  This went on for several minutes until I finally spotted him – a single mockingbird flitting from branch to branch, oblivious to my presence or my feeble attempts to communicate with him.

Obviously, something had upset this little bird. I’m used to watching mockingbirds as they gaily (now there’s a word seldom used in this context!) dance high atop utility poles singing their endless repertoire of songs.  But the sound this bird was emitting was no song. 

Finally, I saw something move in the crook of one of the gnarly branches, something grey or white, maybe both.  I couldn’t tell.  The mockingbird kept hopping from branch to branch all around this mass as if to attack, but with some trepidation, squawking the whole time.

Soon, a second mockingbird showed up to join the fray.   Both went at the thing, which was either indifferent to its attackers or too scared to move.  The second mockingbird (I assume – they rather all look the same) directly left the battle and shortly returned with a third mockingbird to join the battle.  This had to be serious!  I went into the house and found a binocular to get a close look at what was causing these normally happy birds such agitation. 

When I returned, the cacophony of squawks and screeches was louder than before.  There were now five mockingbirds surrounding the cowering bulk.  It was difficult to aim my binocular to the right spot in the tangle of branches and leaves, but I finally spotted something rather large – larger than the mockingbirds – and feathery.  There were white feathers on the bottom and grey feathers with white spots on the back.  I couldn’t see the bird’s head, so I maneuvered under the tree to a place almost directly below the bird.  I was still having trouble training my binocular on the bird, so I located the branch on which he was perched and followed it up until I spotted it.  A hawk!  Not large compared to some I’ve seen in these parts, and its markings were unfamiliar to me.  I surmised that he was a fledgling just learning to fly.  He was probably out on a test flight and landed in my tree for a rest.  Now he was being attacked by these vicious hawk-eating mockingbirds, and playing possum was his best defense. 

But now there was another complication – me; I had spotted him.  He knew he had to do something or be eaten alive by a flock of angry mockingbirds or be captured or killed by the human below.  He found a branch with greater clearance to the open air and moved to it.  The mockingbirds, although never physically touching him, continued to circle, attack, and evade.  Soon, the little hawk took to the air with a line of mockingbirds on his tail.  He landed in a neighbor’s yard, and I don’t know what became of him after that.  The mockingbirds called off the attack and returned from wherever they came.  The original mockingbird returned to my ash tree, obviously satisfied that they had fended off the vicious predator.  My Saturday morning drama was over, and I still had yardwork to do.

As I thought about this experience, it occurred to me what a small number of individuals can do when united against a common enemy.  One sounds the alarm, another joins in agreement.  Then that one calls on another, and that one calls another, and then another until an army is built to confront the common foe.  One can screech and squawk until his voice is gone and nothing is accomplished, and he himself may lose his life. However, when others hear the call, perceive the common threat, and join in force, the enemy will be defeated and will flee.  We are living in such times.

Ecclesiastes 4:8-11:

8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

 

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February 22, 2026 · 10:00

End-Times Overview: The Big Picture

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (Revelation 1:3)

The Bible is filled with promises about the future, and understanding end-times prophecy isn’t just an academic exercise—it’s a source of hope, motivation, and direction for daily life. As David Jeremiah notes in The Book of Signs, “God in His providence has placed a number of critical signs along the highway we call human history. We often think of these signs as prophecies, and we have been made aware of them through the prophetic vehicle of Gods’ Word, the Bibles … [T]he Bible dedicates more space to the subject of prophecy than almost any other. There are over eighteen hundred prophecies in God’s Word concerning the first and second coming of Jesus Christ alone!”[1] with far more space dedicated to prophecy than almost any other topic.

Why dive into this? Let’s explore the reasons and get the big picture.

Why Study End-Time Prophecy?

Bible prophecy, especially unfulfilled portions, remains incredibly relevant today. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reminds us, all Scripture—including future-oriented parts—is God-breathed and useful for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. Unfulfilled prophecy equips us to stand against false teachings about the end times and prepares believers for what lies ahead.

More than that, it instills hope. Romans 15:4 tells us that everything written in the past was for our learning, so we might have hope through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures. “When we understand God’s plan for our future, we can live with hope even during our most difficult days. Prophecy is not intended to frighten those of us who believe but to encourage us.”[2] Paul urges in 1 Thessalonians 4:18 to comfort one another with these words about Christ’s return.

It also promotes holy living. Knowing Christ could return at any moment shapes our priorities. 2 Peter 3:11-12 asks what kind of people we ought to be in light of the coming day of God—living lives of holiness and godliness as we anticipate it. Jesus Himself emphasized readiness in Matthew 24:44-46, blessing those found faithful when the master returns.

Prophecy further compels evangelism. The imminence of the rapture (described in 1 Corinthians 15:52 as happening “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye”) stirs urgency to share the Gospel. As 1 Peter 3:15 instructs, we’re always ready to give a reason for the hope within us.

Finally, studying prophecy brings blessing. Revelation 1:3 promises blessing to those who read, hear, and keep its words. Yet Revelation 22:18-19 warns against adding to or taking away from these prophecies—a solemn reminder of their importance.

Christians have strong reasons to engage with prophecy: God devoted significant portions to it (about one-fourth of Scripture’s verses), including major sections in Old Testament prophetic books and New Testament works like Revelation, 1-2 Thessalonians, and Jude. Ignoring it means overlooking a huge part of God’s Word.

Prophecy reveals God’s nature and Christ’s exalted status—He will return with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30), as King of kings (1 Timothy 6:15), visible to every eye (Revelation 1:7), with every tongue confessing Him as Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).

It motivates evangelism and holy living—as 1 John 3:3 says, everyone with this hope purifies themselves. In a world full of evil and despair, prophecy offers hope, echoing Jesus’ words in John 14:1-3: “Let not your hearts be troubled… I go to prepare a place for you… I will come again and will take you to myself.”

Dispensational Theology: The Big Picture of World History

To understand end-times events, many turn to dispensationalism, a framework popularized in the 20th century North America, especially through the Scofield Reference Bible. “The dispensationalism delineated by Scofield suggested that God works with humans in distinct ways (dispensations) through history; that God has a distinct plan for Israel over against the church; that the Bible, especially predictive prophecy, needs to be interpreted literally; that the church will be secretly raptured from earth seven years prior to Christ’s second coming; and that Christ will rule with Israel during a literal thousand-year earthy reign. Contemporary, or progressive, dispensationalism remains thoroughly premillennial but rejects the ontological distinction between Israel and the church as two peoples of God, seeing them instead as two salvation-historical embodiments of a single people.”[3]

The dispensations include:

  • Edenic (Genesis 1-3): Innocence in the Garden.
  • Antediluvian (Genesis 4-8): Conscience after the Fall, leading to the Flood.
  • Post-Diluvian (Genesis 9-11): Human Government post-Flood.
  • Patriarchal (Genesis 12-50): Promise through Abraham and the patriarchs.
  • Legal (Exodus onward): Law given to Israel.
  • Ecclesiastical (Matthew to Revelation 18): The Church Age of grace.
  • Messianic (Revelation 19-20): The millennial kingdom.
  • Fullness of Time (Revelation 21-22): Eternal state in the new heavens and earth.

This structure helps see God’s overarching plan unfolding progressively.

Old Testament View of End Times

Old Testament end-times prophecy centers on Israel. Passages like Isaiah 66:22 and Jeremiah 33:16 highlight God’s enduring commitment to the Jewish people.

The diaspora—scattering of Jews—fulfilled prophecies in Deuteronomy 4:27, 28:63-65, Jeremiah 9:16, and others, as judgment for disobedience.

Yet God promised re-gathering and rebirth. Deuteronomy 30:3-5 foretells restoration from dispersion. Isaiah 66:8 speaks of a nation born in a day (many see this fulfilled in Israel’s 1948 establishment). Ezekiel 37:1-14, the valley of dry bones vividly pictures national revival.

The Tribulation for Israel, called the time of “Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7), involves intense suffering but ultimate deliverance (Zechariah 13:8-9; 14:2-4).

In the **Kingdom**, Israel enjoys peace, prominence, and blessing—nations stream to Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-4), the desert blooms (Isaiah 35:1-2), and God reigns (Zechariah 14:9).

The Millennium and End Times – Three Main Views

The “thousand years” in Revelation 20:1-7 sparks debate. Here are the primary interpretations:

  • Amillennialism (“no millennium”) sees no literal earthly 1,000-year reign. Millennial prophecies are fulfilled spiritually in eternity or the current church age, with prophecies about Israel applied to the church.
  • Postmillennialism views the millennium symbolically as the church age, where the Gospel gradually triumphs, Christianizing society and bringing peace. Christ returns after this “golden age” (sometimes linked to Kingdom Now theology).
  • Premillennialism holds that Christ returns before a literal 1,000-year earthly kingdom. Most evangelicals favor this, expecting a seven-year tribulation beforehand.
  • Variants of Premillennialism include:
    • Post-Tribulation Rapture: Church endures the full Tribulation, raptured at Christ’s return.
    • Mid-Tribulation Rapture: Rapture at the midpoint (3½ years).
    • Pre-Tribulation Rapture: (common in dispensationalism): Church removed before the Tribulation begins, ending the church age and ushering in judgment on earth.

These views differ on timing and nature, but all affirm Christ’s bodily return, final judgment, and eternal kingdom.

Studying end-times prophecy isn’t about fear—it’s about hope, holiness, and readiness. As we see signs aligning, may it draw us closer to Christ, living expectantly for His return. What aspect of prophecy encourages you most? Share in the comments below!

For more on this topic, see my page on Revelation.

Notes:

[1]  David Jeremiah, The Book of Signs, (W. Publishing, Nashville, 2019), pp.9-10.

[2]  Ed Hindson and Tim LaHaye, Essential Guide to Bible Prophecy, (Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR, 2012), p.18.

[3]  Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzke, Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, (InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, 1999), pp. 39-40.

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September 21, 2025 · 10:00

Unfounded Assumptions

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17)

Recently, I watched a podcast that I follow. The podcaster (I’ll call him “Primate,” similar to his actual handle) is a Christian whom I respect for his knowledge of Scripture and end-times prophecy. He is also on top of current events taking place all around the world. In the podcast I watched, he discussed Noah’s Ark, suggesting that Noah could not have built the Ark without a lot of assistance. He correctly pointed out that we are not given precise details in the Bible on what was going in the world when God commissioned Noah to build the Ark. We are only given this: “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose … There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown” (Genesis 6:1-2, 4). Biblical scholars have struggled with that over the years attempting to puzzle out what it really means instead of what it actually says, i.e., “the sons of God” (angelic beings) were messing around with human women and producing some kind of hybrids. However, the lack of detail leaves a lot of room for speculation, which is not usually the best way to study or interpret Scripture. Primate concluded that missing details like that were purposefully left out of the Bible by the compilers of our canon for our benefit, so as not to confuse us or perhaps to keep us from the temptation of experimentation in angelic arts.

Primate proposes that in order to fill in the blanks, we have other extrabiblical sources to clear things up for us, like the books of Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher, etc. I have read some of those books, and while some of their content may be true to some extent (and there is no way for us to know that for certain), I believe the Holy Spirit (the Author of our Bible) gave us all that we need to know in order to have a real and personal relationship with the Creator. The extrabiblical books are certainly interesting; however, they may or may not be factual. In any case, they are superfluous to the Bible alone.

However, that was not my main issue with the podcast. My main objection was to Primate’s comments on Noah, so I offered some alternative thoughts based on my several years of research on this particular topic. One of Primate’s arguments was that there were no trees in the place, supposedly the Middle East, where Noah built the Ark. Of course, he has no basis for that assumption. One must consider that the climate in Noah’s day was not like it is today. Genesis 2:5-6 tells us that it did not rain in those days, “But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.” The fossil record confirms that the pre-flood Earth was tropical everywhere. There is fossil evidence that Antarctica had tropical forests growing.[1] Lush vegetation was everywhere, including in the area of Mesopotamia. Evidence for this are the rich oil fields in the Middle East, which result from the decomposition of plants. That means that Noah did not have to go far to find “gofer wood” to build the Ark. (No one really knows what gofer wood is. It could be some kind of extinct tree, or some think that it could have been a method of cross-laminating timbers to strengthen the hull.)

Primate also suggested that Noah and his sons could not have built the Ark by themselves. He based that idea on the current degraded physical condition of modern humans. We should consider this: God made Adam and Eve perfect human specimens – no physical defects – their DNA was perfect – no mutations, which is why Cain could marry his sister.[2] Even as far as Abraham, the DNA had not degraded enough so that Abraham could marry his half-sister, Sarah. Prohibitions against marriages between close relatives did not come around until Moses and the Law. That suggests that pre-flood people were superhuman, unlike modern mankind. In support of that, consider what Scripture says about Noah. “These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9, emphasis mine). “Perfect” translates the Hebrew word “tâmı̂ym” which means “complete, whole, entire, sound.” “Generations” translates the Hebrew “dôr,” which can mean “generation (characterized by quality, condition, class of men).”[3] That suggests that Noah’s lineage had not been contaminated by the activities of the “sons of God.”[4] Primate suggested that because Noah was middle-aged at 500 years+, he could not have done the heavy work required to build the Ark. We should remember that Abraham was still fathering children at 145 years old[5] and Caleb was strong enough at 85 to conquer the hill country of Judah.[6] Primate’s assessment is based on the frailties of modern humans, but that does not apply to pre-flood humans.

Noah was 500 years old when is three sons were born[7] and 600 years old when the flood came[8]. He built the Ark in less than 100 years. John D. Morris, Ph.D., calculated that Noah and his sons could have built the Ark in just 65 years, without any help from angels.[9]

Another mistake people often make is thinking that the Middle East (all the Earth, for that matter) has always looked the same as it does now. Hence, they assume that the Euphrates River described in Genesis 2[10] is the same Euphrates River that we know today. Nothing could be further from the truth when one considers (and most geologists agree) that there used to be one supercontinent, Pangia, that broke up into the seven continents we have today. The Flood changed all of that! So, Earth’s topography was much different pre-flood than post-flood. We cannot assume that things then looked the same as they do today.

I completed the build of a 1:60 scale model of Noah’s Ark in December 2014 and delivered it to the Institute for Creation Research, where it now resides in the Discovery Center. The build took almost five years to complete, which gave me a lot of time to research and think about all that Noah might have included in the Ark. I wrote about that in an article entitled “Building the Ark.” That article covers more detail than what I covered here. It would do good if Christians would be more careful in their reading Scripture and not rely on baseless speculation. “Thy word is truth,” and that is all we need to rely on. Primate and others need to be more careful in how they handle the Word of God. It is sufficient – no need to speculate.

Notes:

[1] “Fossil Trees in Antarctica Preserve Ancient Proteins:” https://www.icr.org/article/fossil-trees-antarctica-preserve-ancient

[2]  Genesis 4:17

[3]  Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Definitions (Published in 1906; public domain).

[4]  Genesis 6:2

[5]  Genesis 25:1-3

[6]  Joshua 14:10-12

[7]  Genesis 5:32

[8]  Genesis 7:6

[9]   “How Could Noah Have Built the Ark All By Himself?” https://www.icr.org/article/how-could-noah-have-built-ark-all-by-himself

[10]  Genesis 2:14

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September 14, 2025 · 10:00

Charlie Promoted

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. (Psalm 116:15)

I did not know Charlie Kirk outside of his public persona. But one thing I knew about him is that his faith in Christ was real; it was genuine, and it was strong. How could I know that? We both have the same Holy Spirit dwelling in us that enables us to recognize those who are genuinely members of God’s family. Charlie Kirk was my brother.

This past Wednesday, September 10, 2025, I received a post on my Telegram app from Amir Tsarfati (Behold Israel) informing us that Charlie had been shot. That post was quickly followed by a graphic video showing Charlie’s neck being struck by the assassin’s bullet. A crimson fountain burst forth. Charlie slumped back in his chair and fell to the floor. I knew instantly that he would not survive in spite of the following reports saying that he was in critical condition. I knew that despite all the heroic efforts to save his life, he would not survive that shot. The bullet severed his carotid artery and probably his spinal cord. There was no way he could survive that shot. Sadly, I was right.

As I said, I did not know Charlie Kirk personally. He was a distant public figure that I admired for all the things for which he stood. So, I cannot explain the pain in my heart at the loss of this stranger’s life. As I continued to watch news reports (on the Fox News Channel), my throat tightened, my tears flowed, and my heart ached for the loss of this wonderful human being. “Why?” I asked myself. He is nothing to me. But that’s not true. He means a lot to me. He is my brother. He is part of my family – the family of God. That’s why I hurt.

Then the question that comes to all of us at one time or another: why did God allow this to happen to a young man who is arguably a mighty tool in God’s hand for the cause of Christ? Why didn’t God deflect the bullet? He could have. Why did God allow this deranged gunman, Tyler Robinson, to take the life of this young, godly man and leave his beautiful young bride, Erika Kirk, a widow and his two young children fatherless? Why? In times like these, I always lean on my anchor verse: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Erika cited that verse also.

What good can come of this senseless murder? Perhaps God is giving us a preview of things to come. Will we go forward with boldness or cower back and deny Christ? Perhaps God gave us an example of a courageous Christian for us to follow. Can we say with the Apostle Paul and with Saint Charlie Kirk, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth …” (Romans 1:16). We may never know this side of Glory. One thing we can know for certain is that God knows exactly what He is doing, and He has a purpose in all that He does and all that He allows. Nothing catches Him by surprise. We just need to trust Him, as Erika does.

It is Friday night as I write this, and I just finished watching a brokenhearted but courageous young widow give a wonderful tribute to the love of her life, who is in the arms of his Savior, Jesus. You can watch her remarks here.

Reader, if you don’t know Charlie’s Savior, please read my page on Securing Eternal Life.

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