I received an interesting question from one of my students.
I was at youth group tonight (mine meets on Monday nights) and I was thinking about something that you had said in the Harry Potter class. At least I think it was in the Harry Potter class. Maybe it was another class. Maybe it wasn’t even something that you said. But I think it was you who was talking about how the average lifespan was on a downward spiral and as soon as Jesus Christ came, it started going back up to where it is today. Was this you? If so, did you find this in an actual scientific study or was it just observation and googling? I’d love to know where you were coming from on that point. And if it wasn’t you, what do you think of this phenomenon?
Here is my reply:
It was me.
Understand that many, many Christians would disagree with me on this. I, myself, am still trying to figure some of this stuff out.
But, yes. I believe the book of Revelation was a warning to early believers. I believe it was a warning of the coming destruction of Jerusalem. I came this by studying Roman history and I especially came to this conclusion after reading The Jewish Wars by Josephus. Here is the book on Amazon if you want to read it: https://amzn.to/2RPMTCY
I believe the ancient world was dark and getting darker.
Then, Christ showed up. A bright light pierced the darkness.
Since Christ, the gospel has spread. With the spread has come much that has been good for the world. I believe this will continue.
I am not the only one to recognize this phenomenon.
Here is someone else who talks about this all the time: https://singularityhub.com/2016/06/27/why-the-world-is-better-than-you-think-in-10-powerful-charts/
Here is an article by him on human longevity: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-diamandis/evidence-of-abundance-10_b_5774856.html
Before the flood, people lived very long lives. After the flood, the numbers began dropping.
Noah lived 350 years after the flood.
Abraham was 175 years old when he died.
Moses was 120 years old.
David wrote in the Psalms that most people get 70 years. Some of us get 80.
By the time of Christ, average lifespans had dropped to about 35 years.
On this side of Christianity, lifespans are slowly increasing.
When I was a kid, almost no one made it to 100. These days, it’s not uncommon. We are hearing more and more about people living to be 105, 110, 115 and some even make it to 120.
I continue to research this topic whenever I have the time. One of these days, I am going to teach a class on the subject. One of these days…. Maybe when I’m 90. 🙂
There are still problems ahead. There will be conflict. There will be wars. There will be disasters. In other words, life will go on.
But, one thing has been true since the days of Rome. Christianity will continue to spread. Lifespans seem to be getting longer. The world is getting better.
Many people don’t like this idea. Doesn’t matter. You can’t stop it. I can’t stop it. Those who hate Christianity can’t stop it.
Philip Jenkins wrote about this back in 2011 in his book The Coming of Global Christianity.
Get used to it:
Here’s another:
