Читать книгу The Genesis Cataclysm - W. Joseph Stallings - Страница 6

by John Marshall Crowe

My first two years of undergraduate work were at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC. One day in an Old Testament Survey course, the professor and I had a disagreement. He told us that the biblical story of the Flood was not true. I immediately put up my hand. When he called on me, I commented, “Sir, Jesus Christ and the Apostle Peter speak of the Flood in the New Testament as a historical event. I would not want to call the Son of God and his Apostle Peter liars.” Instead of responding directly to my comment, the professor made a sarcastic remark about his profound affinity for students “who know the Bible so well”—and then went on with class.

I wish that The Genesis Cataclysm had been written back then. If so, I could have presented a more complete argument. Within the bounds of Christian orthodoxy, Joe Stallings presents a systematic and thorough review of the issue. He rightly starts out with the claims of scripture, even going into the original languages, and tying it all into the final judgment upon the earth. I rejoice to see such a strong biblical stance from the start. Joe teaches that the scriptures hold the supreme place in the matter.

However, similarly to what he did in this book’s antecedent, The Genesis Column, he also teaches that the evidence gained from looking at nature, in concurrence with the revelation of Scripture, shows the plausibility of a global Flood. Moreover, he clearly presents that this is confirmed by the ancient Flood traditions across many cultures.

Joe Stallings concludes, in agreement with his previous book, that we live on an old earth. Thus, he sees Noah’s Flood as taking place before the Ice Age and, in fact, providing the conditions for its occurrence. One key point in this work is his ongoing emphasis that the Flood took place much further back in time than many others believe!

I highly encourage you to carefully read this book. I also recommend that you do so with an apologetic mind and an evangelical spirit! If so, the message will encourage your trust in the Scriptures and build stronger still your faithful witness for God.

John Marshall Crowe, DMin

Retired Clergy

North Carolina Annual Conference

The United Methodist Church

Greenville, North Carolina