All Bible texts are from the King James Version.
For many years the quote "amalgamation of man and beast which defaced the image of God" used by E.G. White in two books, has caused much controversy. Many have ventured to put forward their theories on this subject trying to explain what E.G. White really meant by these quotations -
"But if there was one sin above another which called for the destruction of the race by the flood, it was the base crime of amalgamation of man and beast which defaced the image of God, and caused confusion everywhere. God purposed to destroy by a flood that powerful, long-lived race that had corrupted their ways before him. He would not suffer them to live out the days of their natural life, which would be hundreds of years. It was only a few generations back when Adam had access to that tree which was to prolong life. After his disobedience he was not suffered to eat of the tree of life and perpetuate a life of sin. In order for man to possess an endless life he must continue to eat of the fruit of the tree of life. Deprived of that tree, his life would gradually wear out." The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 1, page 69 para. 1 and Spiritual Gifts Volume 3, page 64 para. 1.
"Every species of animals which God had created was preserved in the ark. The confused species which God did not create, which were the result of amalgamation, were destroyed by the flood. Since the flood, there has been amalgamation of man and beast, as may be seen in the almost endless varieties of species of animals, and in certain races of men." The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 1, page 78 para. 2 and Spiritual Gifts Volume 3, page 75 para. 2.
One of the idea's put forward is that amalgamation was the sons of God marrying with the daughters of men. Still others say that after the flood the term applied to the mixing of the black and white races.
Another idea is that amalgamation refers to the dinosaurs and so God destroyed them in the flood. On this note E. G. White tells us:-
"Bones of men and animals are found in the earth, in mountains and in valleys, showing that much larger men and beasts once lived upon the earth. I was shown that very large, powerful animals existed before the flood which do not now exist." Spiritual Gifts Volume 3, page 92 para. 2.
"There were a class of very large animals which perished at the flood. God knew that the strength of man would decrease, and these mammoth animals could not be controlled by feeble man." Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4a page 121 para 2.
It was not because of amalgamation that they were destroyed but because of the sinfulness of man and the degeneration that would follow. Man would not be able to compete with creatures of that size. It is most likely that a lot of dinosaurs did survive on board the ark, but not the very large ones. In the book of Job chapters 40 and 41, God is talking of two dinosaurs and they must have been alive at that time for Job to have a proper understanding of what God was telling him.
When confronted with the idea of the sons of God mixing with the daughters of men, it is quite obvious that this was a terrible sin. We can read of the warnings given to the children of Israel about intermarrying with the heathen nations that were around them. Nowhere do we read that when this happened that it defaced the image of God. Instead we find that they lost their peculiar, holy character.
"But when men multiplied upon the earth, the descendants of Seth saw that the daughters of the descendants of Cain were very beautiful, and they departed from God and displeased him by taking wives as they chose of the idolatrous race of Cain. . . . The descendants of Seth were called the sons of God -- the descendants of Cain, the sons of men. As the sons of God mingled with the sons of men, they became corrupt, and by intermarriage with them, lost, through the influence of their wives, their peculiar, holy character, and united with the sons of Cain in their idolatry. Many cast aside the fear of God, and trampled upon his commandments. But there were a few that did righteousness, who feared and honored their Creator. Noah and his family were among the righteous few." Spirit of Prophecy, Vol 1 pages 65 para 3 and page 66 para. 1.
This did not say they amalgamated, it says they sinned. But there was a sin that called for the destruction of the race by the flood. It was the base crime of amalgamation of "man and beast". Let us read it again -
"But if there was one sin above another which called for the destruction of the race by the flood, it was the base crime of amalgamation of man and beast which defaced the image of God, and caused confusion everywhere. . . . Every species of animal which God had created were preserved in the ark. The confused species which God did not create, which were the result of amalgamation, were destroyed by the flood. Since the flood there has been amalgamation of man and beast, as may be seen in the almost endless varieties of species of animals, and in certain races of men." Spiritual Gifts, Volume 3, page 64 para. 1 and 75 para. 2.
The dictionary says amalgamation means - to mix, to form a blend of diverse (unlike) elements. Moses also gave instruction against men and women lying (sexually) with beasts.
"Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.
Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:
And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants." Leviticus 18:23-25."And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.
And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." Leviticus 20:15, 16.
The quote by E. G. White says "of man and beast" it does not say "of man and man and of beast and beast", but clearly states that is was of man and beast. No matter what we think or what scientists who don't know everything say, the Word of God is sure and we had best take the Word of God as written and not put our own preconceived ideas into it. God is the only one who knows everything, and He has said through His prophet that it can happen. Whether we want to believe it or not, this practice of amalgamation of man and beast happened before and after Noah's flood.
In the quotes of Ellen White that we first read, we see that the crossing or mixing of species is what caused the confusion. Also note, in the text, that it says, "which God did not create". This tells us about another type of creature that did not come forth from the Creator's hand on the 6th day of creation.
If we examine what we have found out so far about the amalgamated species, we find that:-
The people that populated the earth before and immediately after the flood possessed great knowledge, but God seeing the evilness of man permitted their lives to be shortened so their knowledge would decrease.
"And he permitted that long-lived race to eat animal food to shorten their sinful lives. Soon after the flood the race began to rapidly decrease in size, and in length of years." Spiritual Gifts, Vol 4a, page 121 para 2.
In a very short time man degenerated from over 800 years old, to a life span of about 70 years which limited knowledge. So the ability to understand genetics soon disappeared, however the evidence of this science used 4,000 years ago is still evident today.
© S. D. Goeldner
© S. D. Goeldner, February, 2020. Last updated February, 2020.
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