Initially, man was created to live eternally; there was no death in the world before Adam sinned. However, after man sinned, death entered the world and God gradually reduced the lifespan of man from:

· being infinite,

· to about 900 years,

· to about 120 years,

· to about 70 to 80 years.

Death Entered By Sin

Romans 5:12 (KJV) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Unto Dust Shalt Thou Return

Genesis 3:17 (KJV) And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Genesis 3:18 (KJV) Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

Genesis 3:19 (KJV) In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Live For Ever

Genesis 3:20 (KJV) And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

Genesis 3:21 (KJV) Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Genesis 3:22 (KJV) And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the TREE OF LIFE, and eat, and live for ever:

Genesis 3:23 (KJV) Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

Genesis 3:24 (KJV) So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of THE TREE OF LIFE.

1st Reduction - On Adam's Sin (About 900 Years)

After Adam sinned, man lived to be about 900 years old. Adam lived to be 930 years and Methusaleh (the oldest person recorded in the Bible) lived to be 969 years old.

Adam

Genesis 5:5 (KJV) And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

Methuselah

Genesis 5:27 (KJV) And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.

2nd Reduction

The Decline

Before Noah's flood God began the process of shortening man's lifespan to 120 years. The shortening of man’s lifespan continued up until Joseph.

Genesis 6:3 (KJV) And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

Before this statement man's average lifespan was around 900 years. After this statement we see the gradual decline of the age of mankind in the following verses.

600 - SHEM (100 + 500)

Genesis 11:10 (KJV) These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:

Genesis 11:11 (KJV) And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

438 - ARPHAXAD (35 + 403)

Genesis 11:12 (KJV) And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:

Genesis 11:13 (KJV) And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

433 - SALAH (30 + 403)

Genesis 11:14 (KJV) And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:

Genesis 11:15 (KJV) And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

473 - EBER (43 + 430)

Genesis 11:16 (KJV) And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:

Genesis 11:17 (KJV) And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.

239 - PELEG (30 + 209)

Genesis 11:18 (KJV) And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:

Genesis 11:19 (KJV) And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.

239 - REU (32 + 207)

Genesis 11:20 (KJV) And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:

Genesis 11:21 (KJV) And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.

230 - SERUG (30 + 200)

Genesis 11:22 (KJV) And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:

Genesis 11:23 (KJV) And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

148 - NAHOR (29 + 119)

Genesis 11:24 (KJV) And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:

Genesis 11:25 (KJV) And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.

205 - TERAH

Genesis 11:26 (KJV) And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Genesis 11:32 (KJV) And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

175 - ABRAHAM

Genesis 25:7 (KJV) And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.

180 - ISAAC

Genesis 35:28 (KJV) And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.

147 - JACOB

Genesis 47:28 (KJV) And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.

The Leveling Off

For about 470 years, from Joseph up until Moses, the average lifespan of man was 120 years.

110 - JOSEPH

Genesis 50:26 (KJV) So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

123 - AARON

Numbers 33:39 (KJV) And Aaron was an hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor.

120 - MOSES

Deuteronomy 34:7 (KJV) And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

110 - JOSHUA

Joshua 24:29 (KJV) And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.

So, we see the gradual reduction of man's age to about 120 years from the time right before the flood up until Joseph. The time period from Joseph up to Moses was about 430 years. For about 470 years, from Joseph up to Moses, it appears that the average lifespan was about 120 years.

Exodus 12:40 (KJV) Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

Exodus 12:41 (KJV) And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

The children of Israel were in Egypt for 430 years and then they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. 430 + 40 = 470

Joshua was contemporary with Moses and lived about 120 years (110 to be exact). After Moses, man's lifespan began to be reduced to about 70 to 80 years.

3rd Reduction

Psalm 90 is a Psalm written by Moses. It discusses the shortness of life of humans and shows states that the average lifespan is 70 to 80 years.

Psalms 90:10 (KJV) The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

An inspection of man's life after Moses shows that the lifespan had been reduced to about 70 to 80 years.

2 Samuel 5:4 (KJV) David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. (70 years)

The Dual Views Of Genesis 6:3

The Controversy

Genesis 6:3 (KJV) And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

This verse has two views for its meaning:

1. in 120 years the world would be destroyed by a flood

2. man's lifespan would be shortened to an average of 120 years

So, we look at the scriptures to see what can be determined for certain about each claim.

The Data

500 Years – Birth Of His 3 Sons

Genesis 5:32 (KJV) And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

We see that Noah was 500 years old when he began having 3 of his children, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

600 Years – The Flood Came

Genesis 7:11 (KJV) In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

950 Years – He Died

Genesis 9:28 (KJV) And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.

Genesis 9:29 (KJV) And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.

The Analysis

We see that Noah lived 600 years before the flood and 350 years after the flood for a total of 950 years. He was 500 when he had the 1st of his 3 sons that got on the ark with him. His sons were around 100 years old (and younger) when they got on the ark. Shem was 98, see Genesis 11:10.

Viewpoint 1: Years Till The Flood

The 1st view (that there would be 120 years until the flood) is a common view point and may be correct. However, there are not any other supporting verses in the Bible that verify that view point. There is no reference with the age of Noah or any other contemporaries of Noah that refer to that statement. So, we can't know for certain that it means specifically "120 years and then the flood will come."

Viewpoint 2: Reduction Of Man’s Lifespan

The 2nd view (that man's lifespan would be shortened) can be verified by inspecting the genealogy of Noah's descendants. This viewpoint is verified by the scriptures as listed above. This viewpoint is correct for certain because we can see, in the scriptures, the reduction of man's lifespan down to 120 years.

Consider this: If Genesis 6:3 did not exist in the Bible, it is still evident that man's lifespan was shortened from:

· being infinite,

· to about 900 years,

· to about 120 years,

· to about 70 to 80 years

based on all of the other scriptures in the Bible.

Man Will Once Again Live For Ever

River Of Life

Living Water

John 4:4 (KJV) And he must needs go through Samaria.

John 4:5 (KJV) Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

John 4:6 (KJV) Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

John 4:7 (KJV) There cometh a woman of Samaria to d raw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

John 4:8 (KJV) (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

John 4:9 (KJV) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

John 4:10 (KJV) Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee LIVING WATER.

John 4:11 (KJV) The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

John 4:12 (KJV) Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

John 4:13 (KJV) Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

John 4:14 (KJV) But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 4:15 (KJV) The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

Rivers Of Living Waters

John 7:37 (KJV) In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

John 7:38 (KJV) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

John 7:39 (KJV) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

John 7:40 (KJV) Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

John 7:41 (KJV) Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

John 7:42 (KJV) Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

John 7:43 (KJV) So there was a division among the people because of him.

John 7:44 (KJV) And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.

River Of Water Of Life

Revelation 22:1 (KJV) And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Revelation 22:2 (KJV) In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:3 (KJV) And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

Revelation 22:4 (KJV) And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

Revelation 22:5 (KJV) And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Bread Of Life

I Am The Bread Of Life

John 6:28 (KJV) Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

John 6:29 (KJV) Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

John 6:30 (KJV) They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

John 6:31 (KJV) Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

John 6:32 (KJV) Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

John 6:33 (KJV) For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

John 6:34 (KJV) Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

John 6:35 (KJV) And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 6:36 (KJV) But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

John 6:37 (KJV) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 6:38 (KJV) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

John 6:39 (KJV) And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

John 6:40 (KJV) And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

I Am That Bread Of Life

John 6:41 (KJV) The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

John 6:42 (KJV) And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

John 6:43 (KJV) Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

John 6:44 (KJV) No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:45 (KJV) It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

John 6:46 (KJV) Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

John 6:47 (KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

John 6:48 (KJV) I am that bread of life.

I Am The Living Bread

John 6:49 (KJV) Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

John 6:50 (KJV) This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

John 6:51 (KJV) I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

John 6:52 (KJV) The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

John 6:53 (KJV) Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

John 6:54 (KJV) Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:55 (KJV) For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

John 6:56 (KJV) He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

He That Eateth Of This Bread Shall Live For Ever

John 6:57 (KJV) As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

John 6:58 (KJV) This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

John 6:59 (KJV) These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

Tree Of Life

Genesis

Genesis 2:9 (KJV) And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 3:22 (KJV) And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Genesis 3:24 (KJV) So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Revelation

Revelation 2:7 (KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 22:2 (KJV) In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:14 (KJV) Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.