Good morning on this Saturday, August 8th. In Genesis chapter 10, a table of nations is provided which is the Biblical basis for the study of ethnology, the science of the division of human beings into races, origins, distribution, relations and characteristics. Researchers in linguistics, history, archeology, and anthropology have verified the accuracy of this record. The New Testament book of Acts tells us that from one blood God made every nation inhabiting the earth and determined the bounds of their habitation (Acts 17:26). Peoples were typically named for their ancient ancestor who settled them, i.e., Canaan the Canaanites, Israel the Israelites, etc. These origins are particularly important in identifying the nations mentioned in Biblical prophecy. The Genesis record lists a total of seventy sons which descended from Noah and his three sons. Shem and his descendants primarily were settled in the regions of the Middle East; Ham and his descendants primarily were settled in Northern Africa and the Middle East; Japheth and his descendants primarily were settled in Europe. From these regions their peoples migrated to other regions throughout the globe. Although their descendants have so intermingled with each other throughout the many ages which followed to produce the many peoples and nations found today, their original destinations and the nations which sprang from them provide an invaluable resource for students of the Bible, especially in the study of eschatology or things to come. Next week we'll delve deeper into the table of nations as they relate to prophecy. Tomorrow's message will be the fourth in the Prophecy Update 2009 series and is entitled, The Rise of the Antichrist. I'll look forward to seeing you there.
Mel Brown