Question: Do you believe that dinosaurs became extinct millions of years ago?

Because only the secular worldview’s interpretation of these incredible beasts has been taught for the past several decades, most people answer, “Yes”. Our beliefs, and our answer to the question, are a result of which worldview—Biblical or secular—we use to examine the evidence. Yet upon reflection, one can see that Christians cannot both believe the Bible word-for-word AND believe dinosaurs died out before man was created! If death existed prior to man’s original sin it means the Bible is not true when it claims that man’s sin allowed death to enter God’s creation. This also implies that the separation from God, due to the original sin, did not take place and that Jesus is not the Redeemer He claimed to be. As you can understand, dinosaurs have been used to create a huge stumbling block for the Christian faith.

But does the secular view really have the best facts about dinosaurs or does the Biblical view have the better evidence? The answer is that both worldviews have the exact same evidence! The real issue is:

Which worldview best interprets the evidence?

The Biblical view holds not only that these amazing creatures were made on the same day that God made man, but also, “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (I Corinthians 15: 21-22) This means that there was no death in the world before Adam and the fall, and it shows mankind’s need for a Savior in order to be brought back to God and eternal life. However, the secular view teaches that dinosaurs “DIED OUT 65 million years ago”. This not only places death in the world before man even appeared, but also eliminates mankind’s separation from, and need to be redeemed with, our Creator! No wonder Jesus Christ told us that if we don’t believe Moses we will have trouble believing Him. (John 5:47)

Proverbs 18:13 tells us, “He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him.” So, since we have been taught the secular interpretation of the facts, let’s open our minds and see how the evidence looks through the Biblical worldview which teaches that man and dinosaurs lived together in the recent past.

Dinosaurs in the Bible

A generic dinosaur, possibly apatosaur, most consistent with the name “Behemoth” in Job.

In Job 40, God told Job of “Behemoth, which I made with thee” (on day six). Some well-meaning theologians, believing that these dinosaurs have been gone for millions of years of time, try to explain this critter away as an elephant or hippo. Reading further we see that its tail is like a cedar tree. This certainly isn’t describing any animal alive today. Behemoth is also referred to as “the chief of the ways of God” which translates to the largest of God’s creatures, fitting the description of the cedar-like-tailed Sauropods, the largest known animals ever to have lived. Behemoth was a dinosaur and God deserves the glory for having created them!

Dinosaurs in secular history

The word dinosaur was invented in 1861. Prior to that they were called dragons—and ancient history books are filled with “dragon stories”! Alexander the Great, Apollonius of Tyana, Pliny the Elder, Marco Polo and St. George all wrote of their dragon encounters. The historical records support the Biblical view.

Though dinosaur bones were not recognized until 1821, one to two thousand year-old drawings and carved implements have been found depicting dinosaur-like creatures. A Cambodian temple, dedicated 850 years ago, has a Stegosaurus carved into one of its stone walls! The archaeological findings support the Biblical view.

Fresh dinosaur meat!

Recent discoveries of non-fossilized dinosaur bones with soft tissues, amino acids, red blood cells and Carbon-14 (which decays away in about 60,000 years) have old-earth believing scientists trying to refute their own discoveries! But the problem isn’t with their evidence; it is with their faulty worldview. These facts fit the Biblical worldview of a young earth which was judged with a global flood perfectly!

I suggest we put our faith in the non-compromised Word of God which tells us, “…be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” (Ephesians 4: 14)

NOTE: Russ Miller is the Founder of Creation, Evolution & Science Ministries. See his live messages and learn of his Grand Canyon tours, books and more at www.CreationMinistries.Org.