<p> Genesis/Revelation Bible Study Week 1</p><p>Ground Rules (2 nd Timothy 3:14-17) (Psalm 12:6-7)</p><p>1) The Bible is the ultimate authority for this study. Our own feelings, traditions, instincts, (Pro 14:12) must not rule over scripture. We will find out just how hard this is sometimes. Facts must be coherent and non-contradictory. 2) We will study the logic and coherence of scripture, but we must never forget the Spirit of what is intended throughout the scripture. We must involve matters of the heart to understand the truth of what we are learning and that the supernatural is difficult to always put into a nice, neat tidy, box. 3) There are no pointless, filler, or non-value added statements in the entirety of scripture. I believe God put it all in there for a reason and that reason is for completeness. We just haven’t figured it all out yet. 4) Many different Bible translations will be used, but understand that the original language and its usage may have the exact meaning that we must critically search for when the occasion arises. For example, the words that Jesus spoke were in Aramaic, but the text was written in Greek, and that was translated into English. I believe that Scripture is basically without error in any translation, especially key points regarding salvation, but our understanding may be improved by doing some word studies along the way. 5) We will be challenged by, “Figures of speech,” and usages of text that are not common in today’s spoken languages. We must consider that a figure of speech such as, “Getting into hot water…” might have a different meaning than the literal translation. The Companion Bible has an Appendix of certain figures of speech and their meaning. http://www.therain.org/appendixes/app6.html 6) You are encouraged to question, disagree, or view something from a different perspective. In fact, you should do as the Berean’s in Acts 17:11; to verify that those things taught are true. However, we must always refer back to Rule #1.</p><p>Genesis Chapter 1Verse 1</p><p>In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.</p><p>When? Answer: In the beginning. (so important – there was a beginning) Who? God or elohiym: Plural for God? Interesting? Holy Trinity What? Heavens and Earth How? Doesn’t say. How can nothing become something? Man’s science is clear that nothing begets nothing. Already we see the proof of God, the first sign of a divine being that can create something out of nothing more than his WORD. Did he do it using a Big Bang? Who knows, maybe, but it is important to realize that the smartest people in the world in astrophysics (Steven Hawking included) can’t get past the simple truth that the universe had to have a beginning if its there – even if it is a singularity of a point in time. Why? That is why we are here to study his word. Read John 1:1-3; Nothing was made that wasn’t made by Him Question: Is this inconsistent with science in any way?</p><p>Something to Contemplate: Over 80% of Astronomers believe in God. Before TV and city lights, how much time do you suppose people spent looking up into the night sky wondering and contemplating how it all came into being. Before distractions of the INTERNET, computers, TV shows, books, soccer games, etc… did most people stop and try to fathom the “why they are here,” question. It’s interesting that we will listen to 60 minutes of “scientific” talk on the discovery channel and accept it as basic truth and think we are enlightened, but it never feeds the spirit of why we are here and what we do. Do they ever answer satisfactorily how the heavens and the earth came into being? What force placed it there? If it was an inconceivably large mass that exploded into stars and planets, what created the mass? “In the beginning,” is answered only by God, and everything we see is a testimony to his creation. Scientific fact is different than scientific theory and we must discern the difference.</p><p>Rom 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. NASU</p><p>Key Points to take home. 1) Take time to simply think about creation, to look at the stars, to consider life and its complexity. In other words, slow down and don’t become too busy. 2) Take everything you witness back to the beginning and see if any explanation other than a Creator God really has merit. 3) When claims are made in the world such as evolution, or creation, or anything for that matter, ask – where is the evidence for; and what is the evidence against. </p><p>The Letter to the Readers in the 1611 KJV Bible made many interesting points. Its not fun reading, but 2 points that stick out in my mind were, 1) The Church (Catholic) was not interested in the masses learning scripture for themselves because it could lead to freedom to worship without organized religion, and 2) they recommended that the original text and words used in the manuscripts were the only way to glean a deeper understanding. Here is a link that might be of interest and some highlighted passages on page 2 that you may find interesting..</p><p> http://www.bibleword.org/kjvlet.html</p>