October 2005 - Vol 1, Issue 6

In this issue...
-- "A Wonderful Creationist Heritage" – Part II
-- Hear Dr. Whitcomb speak this month
-- Location changed for Second Annual Day with Whitcomb Ministries
-- Dr. Whitcomb to end conference day with VCY Rally
-- Dr. Whitcomb's story told in biographical article

"A Wonderful Creationist Heritage" – Part II
By Dr. John C. Whitcomb

In our previous Monograph I introduced the basic goal of our Second Annual Day with Whitcomb Ministries, entitled, "Creation: The Christian’s Vital Heritage," to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 5, at Calvary Baptist Church, Menomonee Falls, Wis. That goal is to honor the Creator Himself - our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To the glory of God the Father, all things in the universe (angels, galaxies, planets and people) were created through the Word of God’s Son. "All things were made by Him [the Word, that is Jesus Christ, cf. 1:14]; and without Him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). In fact, "He was in the world [2,000 years ago], and the world was made by Him, and the world [with tragically few exceptions] knew Him not" (John 1:10).

How can anyone in this age of naturalistic evolutionism really understand the creation record in Genesis 1 and 2? It is not by rationalistic arguments and evidences, because "the natural [unregenerate] man," however brilliant, "receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God." In fact, "they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14).

We thank God for the enormous avalanches of recently-discovered evidences of supernatural design in the universe above us, and the living world around and within us. Even more amazing are discoveries of the recent origin of our oceans and fossil-filled rock strata – and even radioactive elements – by creation scientists.

But to truly understand the timing, the order and the manner – and thus the true significance – of Genesis 1 and 2, we must first know who the Creator Himself really is.

Consider first, the timing of creation. Could Christ our Creator have completed His creation work in less than one week? Watch Him performing sign-miracles in the Holy Land at His first coming. Every sick and crippled person He healed was healed instantly! Every dead person He brought back to life was raised immediately! Lazarus was not dragged out of the tomb half-dead, needing months of recuperation (John 11:44). Likewise, it took no time at all for the Son of God to create our first parents, Adam and Eve.

Secondly, the order of creation events is profoundly significant. Why were the sun and moon created after the earth (Gen. 1:14-19), and even after plant life? Answer: To demonstrate once for all that the sun is not the source of life (as in evolutionism) or a god to be worshipped (as in most of the ancient world). Job understood this: "If I beheld the sun when it shined... and my heart hath been secretly enticed... this also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge, for I should have denied the God that is above" (Job 31:26-28).

No, the sun was not here first. The Son of God was here first, and He alone is to be worshipped by men and angels. "I form the light, and create darkness... I the LORD do all these things" (Isa. 45:7).

Thirdly, what about the manner in which things were created? This, too, can only be understood by observing how Christ confirmed His true deity during His public ministry. He created highly complex, organic substances with a superficial appearance of age. At a wedding feast He created the juice of grapes without the use of grapes. As a result, “His disciples believed on Him” (John 2:11).

To feed 5,000 hungry men and their families, He created thousands of full-grown, dried fishes. These fishes had never hatched from eggs, never grew, and never dried, because they were never wet. They were created with an appearance of history which they never had. As a result, the people said: "This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world" (John 6:14).

So, we should not be surprised to find Him creating full-grown "fruit tree(s) yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself" (Gen. 1:11). Likewise, the first human beings were not created as babies or even teenagers, but as full-grown adults ready to be married before they were one day old (Gen. 2:22-23; cf. 1:26-28).

How can a person become convinced of such vital truths of creation events apart from knowing who the Creator really is? As the chief of the apostles expressed it, before we "give an answer to every man that asketh [us] a reason of the hope that is in [us]," we must first "sanctify [that is set apart, honor, respect] the Lord God in [our] hearts." Then, and then only, are we truly "ready always to give an answer... with meekness and fear" (1 Pet. 3:15).

If you cannot join us for this one-day conference on Nov. 5, or even the VCY Rally at the Waukesha Expo Center that evening, please pray with us that Christ our Creator and Lord and Savior will be truly honored that day, and throughout the world, until He comes again. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20).

Hear Dr. Whitcomb speak this month
Dr. Whitcomb began the month of October with two weeks of teaching at the Word of Life Bible Institute of Pottersville, N.Y. He followed by speaking at the The Church of the Open Bible in Burlington, Mass., The Cornerstone Church of Warwick, R.I., and the Evangelical Baptist Church of Bucksport, Maine.

This weekend, Dr. Whitcomb will speak at the Bible Baptist Church of Wilton, Ala. For more information on these services, call Pastor Tom Hammett at 205-665-2939.

On Wednesday, Nov. 2, Dr. Whitcomb will preach at the Calvary Baptist Church in Sun Prairie, Wis. He will also speak in the Calvary Baptist Christian School chapel on Thursday, Nov. 3. For more information on these services, call Pastor Scott Estell at 608-837-1000.

On Thursday, Nov. 3, Dr. Whitcomb will teach a module at the New Tribes Bible Institute in Waukesha, Wis. For more information on this class, call Mr. Thomas Freeman at 262-542-9411 ext. 1328, or visit www.ntbi.org.

On Friday, Nov. 4, Dr. Whitcomb will be the guest on the "Crosstalk" radio program on the VCY America network. To find a station where you can hear this program, or to listen over the Internet (either live or through the archives), visit www.vcyamerica.org.

On Saturday, Nov. 5, Dr. Whitcomb will speak at the Second Annual Day with Whitcomb Ministries and the VCY Rally, both in the Greater Milwaukee Area. For more information on these services, see the other announcements in this Monograph.

On Sunday, Nov. 6, Dr. Whitcomb will preach at the First Baptist Church of Hartland, Wis. For more information on these services, call Pastor Paul Bowser at 262-367-6796, or visit www.fbchartland.org.

Please pray for Dr. Whitcomb’s continued health and strength in these busy days, and be sure to check to see if he is coming to speak at a conference near you.

For additional details about these and other upcoming events, please visit our web pages at www.whitcombministries.org and www.sermonaudio.com/whitcomb.

Location changed for Second Annual Day with Whitcomb Ministries
Due to circumstances beyond our control, the location of the Second Annual Day with Whitcomb Ministries has been changed to the Main Campus of Calvary Baptist Church, N84 W16971 Menomonee Ave., in Menomonee Falls, Wis.

The Main Campus is 1.3 miles east of the West Campus on Menomonee Avenue. As you look at the color conference brochure with the map to the church on one of the inside folds, the Main Campus would be to the right of the star marking the West Campus on Menomonee Avenue.

The theme of this year's conference is "Creation: The Christian's Vital Heritage." It will feature the teaching of Dr. John Whitcomb and Dr. Terry Mortenson (speaker and author for Answers in Genesis), and the music of Mrs. Sherry Trainer and Miss Betsy Pabon.

If you would still like to register for this conference, but do not have a brochure, call 920.623.0257, or email conference@whitcombministries.org.

We apologize for any inconvenience that this change in location may cause, and thank Calvary Baptist Church in Menomonee Falls for all that they have done to make this conference possible.

Dr. Whitcomb to end conference day with VCY Rally
Dr. John Whitcomb will also speak at the VCY Rally at the Waukesha Expo Center on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m., where he will again be accompanied by sacred vocalist Sherry Trainer. Dr. Whitcomb’s topic for this evening session will be, "How Did the Human Race Begin?"

Please pray for this rally, which should provide a lively conclusion to a memorable conference day. It is now being promoted heavily on radio and television on the VCY America network.

For more information or directions to the rally, or to find out how to listen over the Internet, visit www.vcyamerica.org.

Dr. Whitcomb's story told in biographical article
A brief version of Dr. John Whitcomb's life story is told in the Fall Quarter 2005 issue of "Gospel Herald and The Sunday School Times" magazine.

The article, written by Paul J. Scharf, is entitled, "Dr. John C. Whitcomb: Hero of the Faith."

For ordering information on this excellent, enduring magazine from Union Gospel Press, write The Incorporated Trustees of the Gospel Worker Society, Union Gospel Press Division, 2000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44109-5812, or visit www.uniongospelpress.com.

Watch for a special conference edition of the Monograph, which will come to your email box in addition to this regular October issue.