How do you explain the incredibly long lifespans in the OT?

Question

People living to be 500, 900, etc yrs old. And why did they shorten drastically after the flood?

Answer 1

scientists believe there was a warm, tropical canopy over the earth at that particular time period. this canopy blocked out UV rays, which are major contributors to the death of most humans. this effectively extended the lifespan of most human beings during that time period.

Answer 2

.

Genesis 1:6-7 mentions “waters above,” a “canopy” of water that surrounded the earth. Such a “water canopy” would have created a “greenhouse effect” on the entire earth, and would have blocked much of the radiation that now hits the earth. This would have resulted in ideal living conditions on the earth. This seems especially so considering how quickly the lifespans began to shrink after the Flood. Genesis 7:11 likely indicates that, in the Flood, the “water canopy” was poured out on the earth, ending the ideal living conditions. Compare the ages before the Flood (Genesis 5:1-32) with the ages after the Flood (Genesis 11:10-32). Immediately have the Flood, the ages decreased dramatically.

Another factor to consider is that in the first few generations after Creation, the human genetic code had not developed many defects. Adam and Eve were created perfect. They were surely highly resistant to diseases and illnesses. Their descendants would have inherited these advantages, albeit to lesser degrees. Over time, though, as a result of sin, the human genetic code became increasingly corrupted, and human beings became more and more susceptible to death and disease. This would have resulted in a drastically reduced lifespan.

Recommended Resource: The Answers Book by Ken Ham.

Answer 3

People lived long lives in those days because sin was basically still in its infancy and second it would not be possible to populate the world if people lived shorter life spans. After the flood sin was no longer in its infancy as indicated by the fact God had planned to destroy most of humanity as a result. The Earth had sufficient people to populate the entire planet according to God's plans to Adam and Eve. Also when Abraham asked of God why his descendants were captive in Egypt for 400 years, God replied that it was until the iniquities of the Ammorite had reached its fullness. After this Israel went through the dessert and began the destruction of the Ammorite nations starting in Jericho. Also before Jesus ascension he told the disciples that one of the signs of His return would be the fullness of the iniquities of the Gentile's. So as you can see, that sin has different stages of development in the sense that when it overflows the cup, God moves immediately in judgment. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

First of all there was no flood we know that for a fact, and for people living to 900 years simply not true, even the Vatican knows it was all a lie, and the only reason they haven't told the truth is cataclysmic financial destruction.

Answer 5

Earlier sources discovered by archeologists suggest that the "image" imparted by the ilu to the adamu was genetic. The home planet of the ilu, Nibiru, takes 3,600 years to orbit our sun. That means just a year for them. Biorhytmns here, because of our shortened year, made them old. One of them, Marduk, may have been still here, aging too fast, when the Bible was written. The genetic strain simply faded in our case but if we discover the right gene, we might emulate them somehow.

Answer 6

There are theories that before the flood, the earth was like a terrarium.
It was at the center of a globe of water and that water was a good part of the water of the flood.

In this theory the earth was very compact and all the tectonic plates were one. The flood waters that came up burst through the plates dividing them and spreading them out.
The water from above and the water from below are still spreading the tectonic plates.

This terrarium effect protected the people from the effects of the sun's radiation.

Answer 7

Could have been a loss of a water canopy over the earth. It could have been a drastic change in the DNA structure. There also could have been the loss of a particular nutrient due to the flood. Science think they have found what that is, but I forget the scientific name.

Whatever it was, it seemed to be pretty drastic reduction from pre-flood to post-flood.

Answer 8

I don't think people had 24 hr days or a 12 month calendar back then. They may have considered a year to be an end of a season or a day to be 12 hrs. I think the years shortened when the Romans came up with the 12 month calendar.

Answer 9

Perhaps their concept of time was somewhat skewed. The Bible also claims that God created the Heavens and the Earth and all that in like 6 days...including the creation of man. We all know many creatures were here long before man so as far as I'm concerned all timing in the Bible is messed up.

Answer 10

By the way i heard Melissa Scott explain it, that when man was first created, he was made to live forever....it was after the "original sin" that the degradation of the body began.....it was a very long and slow process....

Dont quote me on this, but i am sure if you need more info, you could look up DrGeneScott.com

Good luck to you and i hope you find what it is you seek...

)o( Trinity

Answer 11

Adam was never suppose to die.

Took about 1000 years for satan to kill him.

Then, GOD Limited Mans LifeSpan to around 120 Years. Probably after the Tower of Babel where GOD Changed the DNA and Languages of the People.