It’s sad but true—dinosaurs are probably used more than anything else in an attempt to convince children and adults alike that evolution is fact. So much so, that for many, the words “dinosaur” and “evolution” are almost synonymous.
Over the years, I have been asked numerous times to explain how dinosaurs “fit with the Bible”. However, you don’t “fit” dinosaurs with the Bible. You see, what most people do is take man’s fallible interpretations of the bones that are found and somehow try to fit these into the Bible.
But the Bible is, among other things, a book of real history. God has revealed to us the major events of history from the beginning of time to enable us to build a way of thinking to understand the universe.
God has revealed to us the major events of history from the beginning of time to enable us to build a way of thinking to understand the universe.
When one accepts the history timeline as outlined in Scripture, it is easy to explain dinosaurs. When one understands that land animals (including dinosaurs) were made on the sixth day of creation—that there was no death (of animals or man) or disease (there are dinosaur bones that show evidence of diseases like cancer) before sin—that all the land animal kinds (including dinosaurs) were on the Ark—and that many animal groups (including dinosaurs) have died out since the Flood (because sin, the curse, and the Flood affected the world)—then it’s easy to explain the history of dinosaurs.
Also, there is a lot of evidence (such as carvings and paintings of dinosaur-like creatures)—and (unfossilized) dinosaur bone with red blood cells—that makes sense in the light of the biblical account of history. Did you know that a dinosaur may be described in detail in the Bible? Check out Job 40:15–19. And if the notes in your Bible state that this animal was an elephant or hippo, read the passage again to see that this can’t be so.
Did you know the word “dinosaur” was first invented in 1841? Dinosaurs were probably called “dragons” before that time. And the Hebrew word for “dragon” is used a number of times in the Old Testament. There are also dragon legends prevalent in cultures around the world. It’s possible these are accounts of encounters with beasts we today call dinosaurs.
The reason many Christians have been unable to give answers about dinosaurs is because they have tried to “fit” them into the Bible—instead of using the Bible and its true account of history to explain them. This is done in detail in my book The Great Dinosaur Mystery Solved!
In fact, at Answers in Genesis, we call dinosaurs “missionary lizards.” This is because we can show people that the Bible actually explains dinosaurs and makes sense of the evidence we find around the world. In thinking about dinosaurs, one also has to talk about death (after all, dinosaur fossils are dead!)—and thus, the origin of death because of sin. This leads into a discussion of the gospel.
As the topic of Noah’s Flood is discussed (a Flood that buried billions of creatures including dinosaurs—and thus the main cause of most dinosaur fossils), the vital matter of salvation can also be covered. After all, Noah’s Ark is a picture of salvation in Christ. Just as Noah had to go through a doorway to be saved, so each one of us must go through a doorway—the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said in John 10:9, “I am the door. If anyone enters in by Me, he shall be saved … .”
It’s so important that children, young people, and adults be informed on the truth of dinosaurs. This will then give them powerful answers to witness to a skeptical world. As non-Christians hear the Christian faith explain dinosaurs, many have been and will be challenged to listen to the rest of what the Bible states. We rejoice that many have been won to the Lord with this approach.
And what a difference it makes in the life of a Christian, young or old, when they have answers to enable them to stand tall in the midst of an unbelieving world.