Author's notes on The Ninth Generation

In the writing of The Ninth Generation, while taking the reader on a mysterious and unique adventure, one of my purposes was to explore an area of the Bible, the understanding of which has become clouded by unprovable scientific assumptions - the beginnings (Genesis). The pre-flood earth has also held a strong fascination to me personally as to its appearance and inhabitants.

Research was difficult, especially for the time period before the great flood. While I recognized the need to call it fiction up-front, I still aspired that everything be anchored in truth and within the realm of possibility. Henry Morris’s The Genesis Record was invaluable, both thorough and well-documented. The Book of Enoch, though outside the canon of Scripture, was of some help and had been quoted in part within the Bible (Jude). And in Mayer’s, The First Fossil Hunters, some of the strange creatures, thought as mythological, were at least allowed the possibility of reality. Other resources were used, many from the internet.

Perhaps the area of greatest controversy was that of the sons of God in Genesis 6, the ones that took wives from the daughters of men. There were several interpretations that required exploring and on which much has been written. Conservative commentaries and resources were consulted in an attempt to avoid doctrinal error. Though some will disagree, my conclusion is that the Hebrew language, “bene elohim”, translated “sons of God”, strongly supports the angelic view. Most objections seem to center on the comment by Jesus that angels in heaven do not marry and are spirit beings, thus could not physically reproduce with human women. However, in context, Jesus was referring to heaven, not earth; and the angels mentioned in Jude had left their proper abode, their transgression compared to the Sodomites that went after “strange flesh”, for which they were bound in chains. Furthermore, wherever angels are mentioned in the Bible, they always seem to be males, with powers to take on human characteristics. Writings of the early fathers support this view. Lengthier study may be pursued by those interested.

Some readers may take objection that early man does not seem primitive enough, in keeping with evolutionary theories. If I had found evidence of such a state, then perhaps my characters would have sounded and appeared differently; however, the best historical record of ancient life, the Bible, portrays man as a separate and complete creation from the animals, in the likeness of God, and able to operate at full God-given potential. Every attempt by evolutionists to show that man descended from ape-like beings has, in time, resulted in a scientific embarrassment, and often found to be an outright fraud. Rather than advancing, it seems that man is in a state of decline, mentally and morally.

Another questionable area may be the coexistence of man with dinosaurs. Rather than getting into the discoveries that show archeological links of both within the same strata, I prefer to point to Scripture, especially the Book of Job, chapters 40 and 41, animals referred to as Behemoth and Leviathan. The descriptions reveal gigantic creatures that no longer exist, apparently placed on the earth as a sign of the Creator’s power. The ability to breath fire finds scant evidence today except within the insect world, where the bombardier beetle displays the unique feature of a chemically-explosive, defensive discharge.

Curiosity being part of our nature, I would expect that some readers will want to explore creation science, and the Biblical record for themselves, to see if these things are so. A topical Bible dictionary, or concordance may help. Others - small groups - may want to use the chapters of The Ninth Generation as launching points for discussion. But the most important issue for today is our spiritual readiness for the return of Y’Shua (Jesus). For there is no fiction in the fact that the Son of God came to earth to save man. Truly, “there is no other name under heaven (than Jesus), given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) He alone is our ark of refuge and has promised to carry the believer safely through, having borne the waves of judgment.