Dinosaurs
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Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs were created by God on day six of creation, approximately 6,000 years ago. Dinosaurs were originally vegetarian. During the global flood, many were buried and fossilized, but two of each kind survived on Noah’s ark. Dinosaurs eventually died out due to human activity, climate changes, or other factors.

Contents

When Did Dinosaurs Live?

Evolutionists claim dinosaurs lived millions of years ago. But it is important to realize that when they dig up a dinosaur bone, it does not have a label attached showing its date. The Bible states that God made the land animals, including dinosaurs, on day six (Genesis 1:24–25), so they date from around 6,000 years ago.

Types of Dinosaurs

Hypsilophodon foxii was one of the first dinosaurs discovered in 1849.

Tyrannosaurus rex, first described in 1905, this “tyrant lizard king” still holds the crown as the largest and most fearsome terrestrial predator ever discovered in North America.

The sauropods (“lizard feet”) included the largest land animals in history.

A newly uncovered dinosaur, Albertaceratops nesmoi, had horns about three–feet long (located right above its eyebrows).

Dinosaur next to water

Dinosaurs and the Bible

As you add up all of the dates in the Bible, you’ll come to the conclusion that the creation of the earth and animals, including the dinosaurs, occurred only thousands of years ago, not millions of years ago. Thus, if the Bible is right (and it is!), dinosaurs must have lived within the past few thousands of years.

Behemoth in the Bible

Two great creatures, Behemoth and Leviathan, are described by God in Job. Some commentators have suggested behemoth was an elephant or hippo, but the description simply doesn’t match (e.g., behemoth “moves his “tail like a cedar”). It appears God is describing a sauropod dinosaur and a fearsome now-extinct sea creature.

colorful dragon depiction

Leviathan in the Bible

Though technically not a dinosaur but rather a marine reptile that may have also been able to come up onto land (Job 41:25 and 30), Leviathan can correctly be called a "dragon" which includes terrestrial, aquatic, and aerial reptiles.

In the biblical book of Job, God challenges Job by questioning his ability to capture Leviathan and make it his servant (Job 41:1–4). Leviathan is not a creature that little children can play with (Job 41:5) and is too large for traders to sell (Job 41:6).

God reminds Job that if a man is even thinking of capturing Leviathan with harpoons or fishing spears, then he needs to consider the battle that will take place (Job 41:7–8). If he does engage in battle with Leviathan, it will be the first and only time. Leviathan cannot be subdued by any man: this is a false hope, as he “is laid low even at the sight of him” (Job 41:9).

colorful dragon depiction

Humans & Dinosaurs Together?

Biblical creationists believe that man and dinosaurs lived at the same time because God said that he created man and land animals on day six. There is historical evidence of dinosaurs and man living together, such as the petroglyph in Natural Bridges, Utah, legends and stories of dragons in Europe, and the dragon motif in China. But one striking artifact in Asia is the bas-relief picture of a dinosaur in the ruins of Angkor outside of Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Soft Tissue Found in Dinosaurs

Dr. Mary Schweitzer and her team caught the world’s attention with a Science paper in 2005 that described intact blood vessels and red blood cells in a T. rex bone. But in fact, secular scientists have been reporting soft tissue in dinosaurs for decades in sometimes seldom-read technical literature.

Dinosaurs on Noah’s Ark?

In Genesis 6:19–20, the Bible says that two of every sort of land vertebrate (seven or seven pairs of the “clean” animals) were brought by God to the ark. Therefore, dinosaurs (land vertebrates) were represented on the ark.

Although there are about 668 names of dinosaurs, there are perhaps only 55 different “kinds” of dinosaurs. Furthermore, not all dinosaurs were huge like the Brachiosaurus, and even those dinosaurs on the ark were probably “teenagers” or young adults.

Green Dragon Sculpture

Were Dragons Real?

Ancient historians and writers clearly believed creatures like dragons were real. They describe seeing them first hand—often in the context of other types of animals that still live today. Some historians even describe the fiery flying serpents as real creatures in regions near where Moses and Isaiah were and point out the winged nature of these flying serpents. Such things are a great confirmation of the biblical text.

Are Birds Evolved Dinosaurs?

Having a true bird appear in the fossil record before alleged feathered dinosaurs, no mechanism to change scales into feathers, no mechanism to change a reptilian respiratory system into an avian respiratory system, and no legitimate dinosaurs found with feathers are all good indications that dinosaurs didn’t turn into birds. The evidence is consistent with what the Bible teaches about birds being unique and created after their kinds.

Genesis is clear that God didn’t make birds from pre-existing dinosaurs. In fact, dinosaurs (land animals made on day six) came after winged creatures made on day five, according to the Bible. Both biblically and scientifically, chicken-eaters around the world can rest easy—they aren’t eating mutant dinosaurs.

Dinosaur Movies

Television programs, thousands of books, and countless hours of research by thousands of qualified scientists have been devoted to studying dinosaurs. Is there an answer to their “mystery”? Sadly, many of the materials produced on the topic of dinosaurs teach parents and children evolutionary ideas and lead them away from believing the Bible.

asteroid breaking apart

What Happened to the Dinosaurs?

After Noah’s flood, around 4,300 years ago, the remnant of the land animals, including dinosaurs, came off the ark and lived in the present world, along with people. Because of sin, the judgments of the curse in Eden and the flood of Noah’s day have greatly changed earth over the past 6,000 years. Post-flood climatic change, lack of food, disease, and man’s activities caused many types of animals to become extinct. The dinosaurs, like many other creatures, died out.

Conclusion: Dinosaurs as “Missionary Lizards”

As Christians, we can use dinosaurs as “missionary lizards.” We can take what is popular with the culture and show how God’s Word explains it better. For example, soft tissue, like blood vessels and red blood cells, has been found in dinosaur bones. This soft tissue couldn’t last millions of years. The fossils confirm a young earth. We can use dinosaurs to help people trust the history of the Bible and also trust in the message of Jesus Christ that is also found in God’s Word.

Dinosaurs Topics

  • Dinosaur Bones

    Dinosaur Bones

    The presence of soft tissue in dinosaur bones cries out for a young earth, not for millions of years. These not-so-dry bones support the Bible’s history!

  • Dinosaur Extinction

    Dinosaur Extinction

    An aura of mystery surrounds the extinction of the dinosaurs supposedly 65 million years ago—or does it? The Bible provides the true answer!

  • Dinosaur Footprints

    Dinosaur Footprints

    Dinosaur bones aren’t the only artifacts left behind by these creatures. Fossilized footprints point toward the watery cataclysm that buried the dinosaurs.

  • Dinosaur Movies

    Dinosaur Movies

    Dinosaurs enthrall society, and many movies are produced to feed this fascination. But how much of these movies is fact and how much is evolutionary fiction?

  • Dinosaurs and Humans

    Dinosaurs and Humans

    Contrary to popular evolutionary opinion, the magnificent dinosaurs, created on the same day as Adam and Eve, recently lived and walked with humans.

  • Dragon Legends

    Dragon Legends

    Echoes of dinosaur and human cohabitation still resound around the world in dragon legends and myths.

  • Feathered Dinosaurs?

    Feathered Dinosaurs?

    Did birds really evolve from dinosaurs? How should Christians understand the numerous claims of feathered dinosaurs used to support this idea?

  • Types of Dinosaurs

    Types of Dinosaurs

    Triceratops to T. rex, the many types of dinosaurs exhibit a great deal of variety. The design of these great reptiles calls out for a Creator.

  • When Did Dinosaurs Live?

    When Did Dinosaurs Live?

    Did dinosaurs live millions of years ago, or have these impressive creatures existed much more recently? Could some even be alive today?

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