What is a pterosaur?

Pterosaurs (pronounced “TARE-uh-sores,” from the Greek meaning “feathered lizard”) are flying reptiles of the order Pterosauria.  Their wings are formed by a membrane of skin, muscle, and other tissues that stretch from the ankles to a greatly lengthened fourth finger.  Some species have long, fully toothed jaws and long tails, while other species have a highly reduced tail, and some lack teeth.  Pterosaurs are said to have lived from a period of evolutionary age called the “Triassic” to the end of the “Cretaceous” period, or in alleged evolutionary years, about 220 – 65 “million years ago.”  Why do we say “alleged”?  First, there are many evidences from true science that expose as a fairy tale the “millions or years” idea about the age of the earth.  Just one example is the method that was used to date samples of dacite taken from the growing bulge inside the crater of Mt. St. Helens, a volcano that erupted in 1980.  The samples were dated from the 100’s of thousands of years to the millions of years, for rock that was less than 25 years old! Check out more on this here.

In short, all of the radiometric dating methods that are used to date the rocks have fatal flaws in the assumptions that are used for the process.

Numbers of creatures once thought to be extinct (all dead) have been discovered alive today.  The study of cryptozoology literally means the “study of hidden living things.”  For instance, the okapi (oh-KAH-pee), a creature that appears to be a cross between a horse, a giraffe, and a zebra, was thought to be extinct but was found alive in the Congo!  (We have more on this topic in our “bigfoot” info.) 

Are pterosaurs mentioned in the Bible?

Twice in the book of Isaiah are descriptions of a “fiery flying serpent”:

Isaiah 14:29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.

Isaiah 30:6 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent.

While “flying snakes” do exist, these are similar in design to what is called the “flying squirrel.” Neither snakes nor squirrels “fly” like a bird.  Rather, both have ‘extra’ flaps of skin which are used to assist with gliding through the air.  In general, flying reptiles (e.g. pterodactyls) called “pterosaurs” (meaning “flying lizards”) include a variety from the smaller Rhamphorhynchus (ram-FRINK-us) to the HUGE Quetzalcoatluswhich was the size of a small airplane!  For more on the Bible and pterosaurs, click here and here.

What about the “fiery” description? 

For a number of years there have been accounts of unusual flying creatures in Papua, New Guinea.  Eyewitnesses even claim they can glow in the dark!  This aspect is called “bioluminescence” and is common with even insects like fireflies (or “lightning bugs”) or creatures that exist in the deep oceans.  We were blessed to interview someone who visited New Guinea and saw some interesting things!  It was quite intriguing to hear him tell what he saw. (Click here for audio excerpts.) Another blessing from our travels was an opportunity to meet some folk in 2008 who described to us something they saw here in the United States (see video below). It is even interesting that Wikipedia has an article about this. 

The Old Serpent

It is interesting that “flying serpent” goes along with “that old serpent”, a reptile in the Genesis 3 account of the Bible.  (See also Revelation 12:9.)  For some reason, Satan chose to use the serpent in his effort to tempt man to disobey the Creator’s command to not eat the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Don’t believe the Biblical account?

It is up to each person whether or not he or she is going to accept the Bible for what it claims to be:  the Word of God.  While numerous facts from true science and history point to the accuracy of the Bible, DNA studies have provided amazing evidence that affirms the historical accuracy of the Bible.  Tracing mitochondrial DNA (the “powerhouse” of the cell) through the female, scientists came to only one female ancestress for the human race, and that she lived only thousands of years ago!  They called her “Mitochondrial Eve.”  Find out more about this study here. 

Why do bad things happen?

The “serpent” in the Bible reminds us of danger and evil.  Most people fear snakes since many of them are dangerous.  This brings us to the question: why do bad things happen?  Recent killings of innocent people at a school shooting in Connecticut and a bombing in Massachusetts remind us that evil is alive and well on planet earth.  The answer to this question lies in the Bible.  In this history book that takes us back to “In the beginning,” we are told that Adam and Eve’s sin of disobedience to God’s law brought punishment upon all mankind:

1 Corinthians 15:22 “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

This bad news is that we all of go back in history to the first man, Adam, who sinned against God and brought judgment from the holy Creator upon the human race.  That judgment includes the fact that everyone since Adam would be born with a sin nature, an innate desire to go against God.  That nature to rebel against God’s design is what all human beings have, and this is why evil exists in the world.  Even “bad things” in nature are due to the “fall.”

Genesis 3:17-19 “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast …eaten of the tree…cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee”

However, there is good news!  We all go back to the first man, Adam, but Jesus Christ, “the Last Adam,” died on the cross for the sin of Adam. 

1 Corinthians 15:45 “…it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”

All who are “in Adam” can be forgiven and receive eternal life through total trust in Christ the Creator who paid for our sins on the cross!

1 Corinthians 15:22 “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

Are you “in Adam” or “in Christ”?