Finishing the Race Human History, Life, and Race before Us

By Plammoottil V. Cherian

FINISHING THE RACE

Stimulating, theological, and packed with fascinating historical details of Human Race from a Biblical perspective, author's lively tour of the entire Bible traces the origin of human race from one man whose progeny spread to the entire earth, filled the earth, established their nations with set boundaries. Author establishes the historical account of creation challenging the concept of Darwinian Evolution which claims man is an evolutionary product.

Author stresses that there is only One God who created the universe--the cosmos, the planets, stars, life, and the multitude of living species of organisms with the command endowed in their DNA, when God said, to herbs, plants, and animals to multiply "according to its kind," "according to their kind," which is the basis for biological variation and speciation.

Whereas God's command to human beings was "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it," meaning there is only one single race of humanity. Author has a profound Christian vision of humanity's temporal and eternal destiny, and thus, he relates in Finishing the Race:

In an age when truth is relative, and vanishing conscience, the nations are the crossroads, confused about the true direction as nations are estranged from God.

The present culture is "as in the Days of Noah" quoting Jesus and citing world events and conditions as signs of the end.

An end time scenario of world and the second coming of Christ when a northern and a southern army will clash in fierce battle over Jerusalem, the Holy City of God, the capital of the Messianic Kingdom.

Not claiming any superiority, like many of the past and famous scientists like Galilei Galileo, Blaise Pascal, Isaac Newton, Louis Pasteur, Robert Boyle etc. Cherian attempt to convince his readers God is in control of human and world affairs, and natural events.

Heaven and hell are not mysterious realms of imagination but true physical entities invisible to human eyes and calls the nations to submit to God who only is the answer to national, and global unrest that we see now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886448597

Book preview

Preface

Human history is his-story. This book is about the history of mankind in relation to God from the day of creation in eternity past to finishing the race on earth, as I understand from the truth derived from science and theology. While the universe is 13.77 billion years old as precisely calculated by science, human history spans only approximately less than ten thousand years. God created the universe on set principles of physics and chemistry, and each celestial body created moves obeying every picosecond. A picosecond (abbreviated as ps) is a unit of time equal to 10−12 or 1⁄1 000 000 000 000 (one trillionth) of a second. That is one trillionth or one millionth of one millionth of a second or 0.000 000 000 001 seconds.¹ If they don’t obey this precise time and the physicochemical properties of atoms that makeup everything in the universe, the universe will collapse.

This book explains how humanity arose from one man and one blood having been spread to different parts of the planet and having occupied the territories they inhabit. The world has seen great civilizations, the rise and fall of great empires, the development of science and technology, and we have reached other planets in search of alien cousins. Man has reached the heights of the third heaven, which is the outer space. On the other side, as man reached the heights of heavens, nations have themselves alienated from God, the Creator, governing without guidance from God and thus, the world in chaos. Humanity has fallen from grace and fell short of the glory of God, which means the image of God in man is tarnished. Today, the world is only one miscalculation away from one picosecond by an unstable leader who may bring nuclear annihilation of human race. What is written in this book in the various chapters are true facts I gathered and analyzed from political events happening in the world, discerning the signs of the time, relating them with scientific discoveries that prove Bible facts. The world is in chaos and despair due to confusion, yet we are in the race to reach the finishing line.

The United States of America, which has been the bastion of democracy and the most powerful nation on earth who led the rest of the civilized world, is facing serious danger when political leaders are submerged in the murky waters of misinformation and falsehood, finding it difficult to swim back to the shore of truth and safety. While many claim to be Christians, they are far from Christ, and many others are liberalizing and accepting everything God considered abominations as way of life. Rejecting truth has become the political operative force these days.

While individuals and nations are expected to live and administer in obedience to God, humanity has come to the point where civilized people everywhere are ashamed of us as to what is happening. We have come to a stage in the present culture when nations keep God on the sidelines. Therefore, God asks, Are they ashamed of these disgusting actions? Not at all—they don’t even know how to blush! (Jer. 8:12 NLT). Because of the sickness of nations, the distress experienced everywhere, God also asks through Jeremiah, Is there no medicine in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people? (Jer. 8:22 NLT). When national tragedies happen in any part of the world, whether it is tsunami or earthquake, causing devastation to millions or pestilences like the present COVID-19 pandemic that has become a menace for the last three years (since December 2019), we must seek the counsel of the Lord to see if there is a warning sign.

Citing Russia’s war with Ukraine and tensions on the Korean peninsula, the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said, Today, humanity is just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation.² Is the UN chief echoing the prophecy in the Bible that the earth is kept for fire? But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly (2 Pet. 3:7 ESV). Recently, a Russian politician’s comment had gone viral on social media when he insisted Russia has the military capability to destroy America from coast to coast.³

The world has come to the point of realization of what Isaiah foretold,

Behold, the Lord will empty the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants. And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the slave, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the creditor, so with the debtor. The earth shall be utterly empty and utterly plundered; for the Lord has spoken this word. The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and withers; the highest people of the earth languish. The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. (Isaiah 24:1–5 ESV)

A true picture, indeed, as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one (Rom. 3:10; Ps. 14:1, 53:1). Is there no medicine or physicians in nations to heal the wounds?

In my view, the moral turpitude is the real cause of all unsolved and emerging sociopolitical problems in the world. After America’s great revival ministers of God such as Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Charles Finney, and Dwight L. Moody, it appears the prophetic voices in America are silenced as everywhere. Many current so-called evangelists are political evangelists taking sides with their party ideology. "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (Prov. 14:34 NKJV). By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked" (Prov. 11:11 KJV). How true it is? We must know that a nation’s true greatness consists not of wealth or military or artistic skill, but of the safety and protection of the Lord.

Winston Churchill in 1948 told the House of Commons, Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Today some people want to rewrite history and erase facts they do not like. We cannot pretend Civil War did not happen, we cannot erase the fact that our democracy was attacked in an attempt to overthrow the legitimate election result and the government (in January 2021) by a violent mob supported by several lawmakers elected to the Congress. Many in one political party is in the midst of not only an ideological revolution embracing falsities but also an outright revolt against history, truth, and God. Everything that has happened in our nation is not pleasant, and some were bad, but they are facts of truth and history. As Winston Churchill said, whether good or bad, we must learn from the history, and if our generations do not have the true facts of history, we are not only doomed to repeat the mistakes but wreck the nation by the hands of despots.

Erasing the facts of truth of history is the work of lawless one. Erasing history that we don’t like is not the remedy. Seeking forgiveness from the Lord, being faithful citizens (Christians as well as others), is the true remedy. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool (Isa.1:18 NLT). That is how we must rewrite history—by transforming oneself.

Christians cannot be namesake only. Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu, had a personal experience in South Africa where he was practicing law. Apart from being attached to the Christian faith, he intently studied the Bible and the teachings of Christ and was seriously exploring becoming a Christian, which led him to a small church in his locality. These strongly entrenched biblical teachings have always acted a panacea to many of India’s problems during her freedom struggle under Gandhi. After deciding to attend the church service in South Africa, he came across a racial barrier. As he entered the door, one voice sounded, Where do you think you’re going, Kaffir? an English man asked Gandhi in a belligerent tone (Kaffir = Black African or coolie). Gandhi replied, I’d like to attend worship here. The church elder snarled at him, "There’s no room for Kaffirs in this church. Get out of here, or I’ll have my assistants throw you down the steps." Gandhi stepped outside and sat on the steps and attended the service from outside.

When the service ended and congregants were leaving, one man asked, You were asked to go out but why are you sitting here? Gandhi replied, Christ told me to sit here on the steps, they don’t let me enter either. Gandhi always was good with a wit of barb. This infamous incident forced Gandhi to never again consider becoming a Christian but rather adopted what he found in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible.⁴ Can we imagine the impact India would have if Gandhi became a Christian?

Humanity is at the crossroads of lies, dishonesty, misinformation, confusion, and chaos, unable to see the path to truth. We need to wake up from our slumber. Apostle Paul warned the nations and the churches in his epistles to Romans and Ephesians, quoting from Isaiah, This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed (Rom. 13:11 NLT). Therefore, He says: Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light (Eph. 5:14 NKJV; cf. Isa. 60:1). We cannot be slumbering in America at these perilous times.

Of all the creations, only humanity has eternity put into human heart by the Creator (Eccl. 3:11). The world needs redemption from falsehood, dishonesty, and tyranny. No matter what others feel, truth matters and no one wins by deception. Only truth will set us free. The hour has come for America to wake up from our slumber to save our nation from the peril it faces and lead the rest of the world. Save our nation and the sacred democracy by seeking God of truth. I address America by name because it is my country and is the world’s leader, with a moral obligation to lead the rest of the world to finish the race set before us. As the world is coming to an end, let us finish the race in victory, giving glory that is due to God. With that call, I submit this book to the general public.

Part 1

Human History

Chapter 1

Introduction: The World in Chaos

And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

—Isaiah 32:17–18

The world is in chaos, and a death cross is on the horizon for world peace with distress of the nations, war, and pestilences looming everywhere. Mankind is facing nuclear threat of annihilation, unrest in many parts of the world, nations undergoing perplexing difficulties, and amazing scientific discoveries, which I link with current world events and biblical prophecies revealing the approach of Armageddon. The world wakes up every morning to certain realities that are not very pleasant these days. The latest awakening of distress of nations is the Ukraine War launched in February 2022, which causes an economic havoc globally and continuing threat of escalating it into a possible global war, which I am afraid may lead to Armageddon. Despotic leaders threaten that there could be a major global conflict on the horizon and that the world could be plunged into the abyss of a big war where there will be no winner.¹

Nearly three years after the COVID-19 pandemic transpired into a global multicrises and with the world market continuing to experience tremors, the road to economic recovery remains precarious. Moreover, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its aftereffects on global commodity markets, supply chains, and financial conditions have drastically deteriorated the growth outlook. The United States’ latest consumer sentiment data shows price increases unexpectedly accelerated since June of 2022, with consumer prices rising 9.1 percent year over year (as of July 13, 2022). The good news is that relief is on the way with the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act 2022. Though American economy is still strong despite the inflation, global economy is interconnected, and a tidal wave of world market will cause ripples globally.

We are living in revolutionary moments. Though fascism, socialism, and communism were believed to have ended in the latter half of the twentieth century, lately we see the surge of fascist authoritarianism and the rise of far-right extremists around the world. The United States had seen a surge in fascist and Nazi movement in an insurrection on January 6, 2021, a premeditated and well-coordinated attempt to overthrow the government of the United States in a coup d’état. The House Select Committee (bipartisan) started revealing (June 9, 2022) their finding of horrendous actions by leaders and elected members of Congress, and more dreadful and appalling revelations are revealed in their final report published on December 22, 2022. If this can happen in United States with the help of elected members of Congress under the incitement of a de facto leader who wanted to hang on to power, no doubt the world is in chaos. Whether Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a preamble to Armageddon must be examined in light of the prophecy of Ezekiel 38 and 39.

The world is in disorder and confusion because of dishonest and corrupt leaders, territorial aggression, wars, famine, violation of human rights; and persecution of Christians, hatred, famine, wars, and the rise of false prophets and apostasy are sure signs of end-time as foretold by Lord Jesus Christ.²,³ Many in the world are confused because of a strong delusion. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved (Matt. 24:10–13). There have been many in history who claimed to be the Christ but who had the spirit of Antichrists. Antichrist is not a single person. Apostle John warned that there are many Antichrists appearing in the last days two thousand years ago at his time: Even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour (1 John 2:18). The present generation almost everywhere is as in the days of Noah as Jesus foresaw of the end-time (Matt. 24:27).

A World of Corruption

The corruption perception index (CPI) ranks the countries around the world based on how corrupt their public sectors are perceived to be. The results are given on a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean. For 2020, CPI paints a grim picture of the state of corruption worldwide. The year 2020 was marked by the outbreak of a global pandemic, which profoundly reshaped the world. Yet research by CPI reports that corruption not only undermined the global health response to COVID-19 but also contributes to continuing crisis of democracy.⁴

Because of corruption and dishonesty, countries such as Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Libya, and Afghanistan cannot be stabilized. True stability requires transformation of the mind of leaders from the present mindset of deception, dishonesty, and tyranny and to free people from the indoctrination of religious fanaticism, authoritarian rules, religious radicals, and party ideology. Moreover, stability of a nation requires proper education of men and women, opportunity for jobs, total absence of corruption by cultivating honesty and truth. Western nations, predominantly the United States, have tried often spending billions of dollars for these states, including Pakistan during each administration in the past, but the aid given in dollars most likely ended up in the private account of leaders in different banks globally. Most recent example is Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who fled the country in August 2021 with $110 million in four vehicles and a helicopter full of cash, as reported by the Russian embassy in Kabul.⁵

On November 15, the UN General Assembly Third Committee approved by consensus a new resolution on disinformation. The draft resolution urges social media companies to review their business models and ensure that their business operations, data collection, and data processing practices are compliant with international human rights standards. The document speaks of the right to freedom of expression, the importance of free, independent, plural and diverse media, and the role "information plays in strengthening democracy, promoting pluralism and multiculturalism, enhancing transparency and press freedom, and countering disinformation. But the countries that cosponsored it (Pakistan, cosponsored by the Central African Republic [CAR], and the Russian Federation) are not defenders of democracy or human rights at home and are notorious for misinformation. Pakistan was eagerly fighting for war on terrorism," claiming they didn’t know where bin Laden was while secretly hiding him in a well-protected compound for several years when they were receiving billions of dollars from the US in aids. Nations ruled by authoritarians and fundamentalist Islamic terrorists are the sponsors of terrorism and centers of misinformation.

In many ways, the United States had the best intention in bringing stability to the Middle East, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. The US was committed to a full-scale military campaign to root out the Taliban and, on the heels of 9/11, had the popular support to remain in the country for long enough to help and rebuild the country to democratic reforms. However, since invading Afghanistan in 2001, the United States has spent $2.26 trillion on the war that includes operations in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Now, after twenty years, America had left the region in August 2021.⁶ While the decision to pull our troops from the region was the best and overdue, it was an investment that has yielded a chaotic and humiliating end to America’s longest war. To our diplomats and politicians of both party, it took twenty years to know the mind of operation of dishonest leaders.

Even some civilized democratic nations in the West have fallen several points on the corruption index scale, indicating the prevalence of corruption and instability. The United States was under attack in January 2021, the ripple effect of which still badly affects the nation. The United Kingdom is experiencing turmoil after Brexit, and several other nations are chaotic.

The staggering number of suffering people will undoubtedly increase over the course of time as long as war, ethnic violence, and poverty continue in several parts of the world. In 2013, 1.3 million refugees fled from Syria into neighboring countries of Iraq and Afghanistan. Recently, many millions of Ukrainians have been displaced due to the present war imposed by Russia. Many Africans escape poverty, ethnic violence, and persecution of minorities and Christians in Islamic extremist countries. Millions of people suffer in the world due to misconduct, dishonesty, and maladministration by bungling leaders who lack moral character.

That is the sociopolitical conditions of the world at present. Theologically, to those who want to seek the truth of the world at present, I dissect the daily events and the scientific discoveries, linking them with biblical prophecies that are coming true under our watch. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several prophecies have been fulfilled about the lockdown such as isolation and not being able to pay our last respects to dear ones who died of the pandemic, celebrate our children’s weddings, or mourn for the dead, all of which are described in a recent book.⁷ While the prophecies point to the end-times, many of them are being fulfilled, proving God is in control.

The Era of Disinformation

The world now is in a disinformation mode, fulfilling the prophecy. Disinformation is a deliberate attempt to falsify facts of truth, which is intended to mislead, especially propaganda issued by leaders and their deputies to confuse the general public and the world to stay in power. Disinformation is fabrication, deception, fiction, falsity, and barefaced lie. There are many nations and leaders that systematically manipulate with this tactic. Disinformation is the result of a strong delusion created by the lawless one prophesied in the Bible. The disinformation pandemic of lies that affects many nations at the preset time is prophetic fulfillment. The United States, the world’s oldest and strongest democracy, has now appeared on the center stage of disinformation platform for the last few years, which got worse during the 2016 and 2020 general election, spreading more swiftly than the pandemic of COVID-19. Unfortunately, while most microbial pandemic can be brought under control by antiviral or antibiotics, the disinformation virus rages uncontrollably by a strong delusion with no medicine.

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by his appearing and his coming. The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and with pretended signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore, God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false, so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thess. 2: 7–12 RSV)

Any information against truth is disinformation. On July 13, 2018, a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment against twelve Russian military intelligence officers for their alleged roles in interfering with the 2016 United States’ elections. In the United States, while the Muëller investigation has categorically proven it, his report was nullified by partisan politics. During the present invasion of Ukraine by Russia, under the very eye of cameras of many journalists when Russian tanks rolled down shelling buildings, health facilities, children’s hospital, maternity facility, bombing villages and cities, blocking refugees from fleeing, Russia spreads disinformation that they were done by Ukraine militias; however evidence show otherwise.

While lawlessness and dishonesty are signs of end-times, it will be a time of unparalleled misfortune for humanity and completely unrestrained wickedness that we already see around. Prophetic references to this period include Daniel 7:8, 9:27; Matthew 24:15; and Revelation.13:2–10. Note what the prophecy says, the mystery of the lawless one is already at work, when Paul wrote the epistle in AD 51 or 52. The lawless one has been further intensifying this tribulation, but the Holy Spirit restrains him from causing the dreadfulness to the faithful, and Christ shall remove him from the world scene soon. Believing and propagating lies is under a strong delusion created by Satan, who is the father of lies. Greed and selfishness of the uncaring rich in many nations add to the chaos. For the uncaring rich, the warning is: "As for the rich in this present world, instruct them not to be conceited and arrogant, nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" (1 Tim. 6:17, AMP).

Unprecedented Times

I believe we are living in an unprecedented time Daniel has prophesied. At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time; but at that time your people shall be delivered, every one whose name shall be found written in the book (Dan. 12:1). More intense suffering will continue for God’s faithful people in every nation due to leaders who do not administer in righteousness. Jeremiah also described the future in this way (Jer.30:7), as did Jesus (Matt. 24:21–51). Yet God tempers the great suffering of his people by a great promise of hope for the truly faithful. Archangel Michael is ready. Everyone whose name is written in the book, meaning everyone who has put his or her faith and hope in Christ and who is listed in the book of life, will be rescued. The role of Michael is fighting, contending, or standing against principalities and evil spirits to rescue God’s faithful as noted in the books of Daniel, Jude, and Revelation. And it appears the war is being waged already as we read, Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but they were not strong enough… (Rev. 12:7, 8).

Since 2012, scientists have revealed marvelous discoveries. Astrophysicists have proven the existence of dark matter and dark energy, the black hole, and that the universe is composed of only 5 percent of baryonic matter, and the remaining 95 percent remain still as dark matter, which I have explained as the darkness that prevailed over the precreation universe, as stated in the Bible, "The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters" (Gen. 1:2). I have also explained the nature, character, and location of the lake of fire according to the recent discovery of black hole.⁸,⁹

Many nations are undergoing distress. Russia, China Iran, Syria, and North Korea have common interest in destroying the Western democracy and civilization. The confusion and turmoil in the United States mirror what is happening in the rest of the world and are signs of distress in every nation big and small. The assault on our democracy by a fascist mob supported by many elected leaders in a lie-fueled attempt was seditious. Some party loyalists even called for declaring martial law to overthrow the government—all signs of distress of our nation pointing to end is near. According to press report, some of them even openly admitted that it was an attempt to disenfranchise millions of voters.¹⁰ Are they protectors of democracy or promoters of fascism and Nazism? Are they patriotic or seditious traitors of democracy? With all the news coming daily, there is no doubt the world is descending into chaos? Unfortunately, many do not recognize the real cause of what happens is delusion.

The National Intelligence Council (NIC) released the seventh edition of its quadrennial Global Trends report, Global Trends 2040 on April 8, 2021. A More Contested World is an unclassified assessment of the forces and dynamics that the NIC anticipates will likely shape our national security environment over the next twenty years. Global Trends 2040 identifies four structural forces that will shape the future—demographics, environment, economics, and technology—and assesses how they affect decisions and outcomes. It further describes five potential scenarios for the world in 2040 based on different combinations of the structural forces, emerging dynamics, and key uncertainties. It ends with a series of graphics displaying key demographic trends in nine geographic regions. Under the structural forces, the report indicates future global health challenges, environment, world economy, and technology. It concludes by noting four emerging dynamics for the next two decades: (1) disillusioned, informed, but divided societies; (2) states projected to have tensions, turbulences, and transformations; (3) the international scene projected to be more contested, more uncertain, and more conflict prone; and (4) a world adrift.¹¹ It is a realistic report of what we might expect in the next two decades.

A New World Order

Even nations whose millions live in poverty, even with poor sanitary conditions are spending billions of dollars for developing and stockpiling nuclear arsenals, including North Korea, Pakistan, Iran, India, and who knows who else. Many African nations are stricken with hunger and starvation and malnutrition, whereas in many nations, a lot of food is wasted after Epicurean eating philosophy. Feeding America Organization (www.feedingamerica.org., accessed on August 15, 2022) reports that America has more than enough food for everyone to eat. But each year, billions of pounds of perfectly good food go to waste. Meanwhile, 38 million face hunger in the United States, not to mention poverty and hunger in poor nations.

The new world scenarios include: Russia’s aggression of Ukraine and China having a reputation for currency manipulation and, with its economic strength, aspiring to take the world leadership for which