Creation vs Evolution - Lesson #3
Fossils and the Geological Time Table
-Introduction
-In each of our first two lessons in this series, I have begun with 1 Pet 3:15.
-We need to be able to make a defense of - and therefore provide evidence for - the
reason of our hope. Therefore, we need to be able to defend (provide evidence for)
our faith - to be able to explain why we believe, teach and practice what we do.
-Without proper Christian evidences, it is difficult to build a solidified faith.
-Last week, we discussed the Biblical age of the earth.
-The theory of evolution claims that the earth is 4.6 billion years old. However, we
saw last week that the scriptures reveal something entirely different - a much
younger earth that is actually several thousand (approx 6,000) years old.
-However, I stated last week that those who support the theory of evolution would
simply discard all the information I presented last week. Why? - because it comes
from the scriptures.
-Since they don’t believe in the existence of God, they certainly don’t believe that
the Bible is the inspired word of God.
-So, we’ll continue in our series this morning by looking at some information outside of
the scriptures.
-This morning, we’ll focus on fossils and the geological time table.
-Science vs. False Claims
-The word “science” comes from a Latin term that simply means “knowledge.”
Therefore, science is to be based upon what is known - not based upon theory.
-In true science, conclusions are to be drawn based upon what the evidence supports.
-Therefore, evolution is not a real science. It is a false theory and to present it as a
fact is nothing else but deception - because it is not supported by the evidence.
-Again, from the biology book that I borrowed from the school (Biology, Miller, Kenneth
R., Levine, Joseph S., © 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. as Pearson Prentice Hall, Boston,
Massachusetts 02116): “What scientific explanation can account for the diversity of life?
The answer is a collection of scientific facts, observations, and hypothesis known as
evolutionary theory. Evolution, or change over time, is the process by which modern
organisms have descended from ancient organisms. A scientific theory is a well-supported
testable explanation of phenomena that have occurred in the natural world” (pg 369).
-Again, I’m not speaking of evolution (change, adaptation, diversity) within species
but am talking about the theory of evolution in terms of the origin of life - the idea that
“modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms.”
-Notice how the text book intertwines the words “facts,” “observations,” “testable” with
the theory of evolution.
-Consider another quote from the text book, Biology: “By Darwin’s time, scientists knew
that fossils were the remains of ancient life, and that different layers of rock had been
formed at different times during Earth’s history. Darwin saw fossils as a record of the
history of life on Earth. Darwin…proposed that Earth was many millions - rather than
thousands - of years old…Since Darwin’s time, the number of known fossil forms has
grown enormously. Researchers have discovered my hundreds of transitional fossils that
document various intermediate stages in the evolution of modern species from
organisms that are now extinct. Gaps remain, of course, n the fossil records of
many species, although a lot of them shrink each years as new fossils are discovered.
These gaps do not indicate weakness in the theory of evolution itself. Rather, they
point out uncertainties in our understanding of exactly how some species evolved” (pg 382-383).
-On page 421, the biology books contains a chart for the Geologic Time Scale showing
the various layers of rock and the dates evolutionists have assigned to them in terms of
millions of years.
-What Does the Evidence Show?
-Based upon the claims of evolutionists, we should find small, simple organisms in the lower
(oldest) layers of the earth. There should then be a gradual development of more complex
and larger organisms/creatures spread out over the vast periods of time in a progression as
we move into the more shallow (younger) layers of the earth. Is that actually what we find?
-Geologic Time Table
-In the book, The Mythology of Modern Geology - A Refutation of Evolution’s Most
Influential Argument, ((c) 1980, Apologetics Press, Inc., Stockton, CA), Wayne Jackson
notes this: “The geologic time table is nothing more than a graphic conglomeration
of assumptions, wistfully conceived and arbitrarily thrown together, in an attempt
to prove the unprovable hypothesis of organic evolution. The concept of the geologic
time table is in direct conflict with both the inspired record of the Bible, and the factual
evidence of earth science” (pg 4). “Undoubtedly it comes as a real shock to many students
when they learn that the geologic column nowhere exists in fact. It is only a paper column!...
[I]f found assembled together in any one location, it would span a depth of approximately
130 miles…The earth’s crust is only twenty-five to thirty miles thick” (p10)!
-There are gaps within the strata found in many locations throughout the world. In other
words, layers that are said to have represented millions of years are simply missing.
-In some parts of the world, layers are found in different sequences. In other words, some
layers said to be millions of years older are actually on top of layers that are said to be
millions of years younger.
-Fossil Record
-If we subscribed to the theory of evolution, we certainly would expect the fossil record
to reveal a slow, gradual progression from simple forms of life to more complex forms.
-However, Wayne Jackson reveals that the fossil record reveals an “…explosion of life [with]
every major invertebrate animal group…found in the so-called Cambrian level - with no
observable ancestors” (Jackson, Wayne, The Bible and Science, (c) 2000, Courier
Publications, Stockton, CA, pg 46).
-In Reason and Revelation (Sept. 2002), we find the following: “Hayden” [staff writer of the
U.S. News and World Report article referred to earlier in the article] “also noted, however,
that ‘many creatures still appear quite suddenly in the fossil record.’ He went on to admit
that the first animals appearing in the fossil record are ‘complex animals…Paleontologists…
have searched far and wide for fossil evidence of gradual progress toward these advanced
creatures but have come up empty.’”
-“There are fossil graveyards in many areas of the world which contain the preserved remains
of all sorts of creatures, wildly thrown together in massive burial sites, and quite obviously
interred very quickly. Moreover they are grossly distorted, suggesting that they died
rather violently. In his book, The Fundamentals of Geology, George Price has an entire
chapter titled, ‘Graveyards,’ in which he documents these extensive fossil burial grounds -
worldwide - which argue for rapid burial” (Jackson, The Bible and Science, Courier
Publications, Stockton, CA, pg 50-51).
-Again, from The Bible and Science: “If evolution were the great fact of history, one should
find fossilized organisms in various stages of development - from the incomplete to the
complete - with the gaps filled in. But that is not the case; every organ and structure is
complete. Not a single fossil has been discovered with half-formed features” (pg 47).
-The claims by evolutionists of “transitional fossils” reveals their attempt at deception,
their creative imagination, their hardness of heart toward God and/or their ignorance.
Such claims are not supported by evidence.
-There is no evidence of “missing links.” The fact is, they are missing because they do
not exist - Gen 1:11-12, 21, 24-25
-Charles Darwin stated that missing links were perhaps “…the most serious objection which
can be urged against the theory” (Jackson, The Bible and Science, pg 48).
-In addition to these things, human artifacts have been found in coal deposits across the U.S.
Yet, evolutionists would have us to believe that the coal was formed millions of years before
humans. Obviously, their theories and hypotheses are seriously flawed.
-Summary and Invitation
-The theory of evolution is a false theory. Evidence supports the scriptures - the account of
creation and the account of the flood in the days of Noah.
-Heb 11:1, 6
-Let’s not allow the theory of evolution to shake our faith. Let’s consider the evidence and
realize that once again, it supports the scriptures and rejects the theory of evolution.
-It is in God and His word that we are to put our trust and confidence. How about you?
-Have you trusted in Him & His word enough to be obedient? If not, believe (John 3:16,
8:24), confess (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), repent (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30), be baptized
(Mar 16:16, Acts 2:38), Walk in Newness of Life (Rom 6:4, Eph 4:22-24)
-If you’ve previously obeyed the Gospel, have you remained faithful? If not, confess
your shortcomings, repent and pray from God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24).