PART 1 FROM CREATION TO NOAH he illustrations in this chapter are among Wolverton s finest serious work. Most of these were done from 1954 to 1955 while The Bible Story project was still in its formative stages. Most of these early illustrations measure 15 by 20 inches, intended to reproduce full-page, unlike the small versions eventually published in Plain Truth magazine beginning in 1958, as well as in The Bible Story books. Wolverton s original vision for The Bible Story project had called for large illustrations with minimal written material to carry the narrative. The captions used here are the originals longer than the ones that were finally published. The illustration of the creation of Adam on page 21 contains well over 1,000 dots, which Wolverton counted as he stippled (this is the original; the cover version has been colorized for this volume). Some have correctly observed that Adam bears a resemblance to Wolverton s comic character Spacehawk (1940 1942). Adam s hair was originally an inch or two longer. Plain Truth editors required that it be shortened. The nearly-visible body parts on pages 22 and 23 apparently did not bother them. God s hand touching the earth (page 29) was originally intended to appear in the sequence shown here. In the final publication, it was used much later probably because there were already two drawings of earth from space in the first chapter. The art on page 30 is printed here in its original form portraying a bald-headed Noah. When The Bible Story was finally published, Wolverton added hair to the figure and repurposed it as a portrayal of Abraham (see page 61 for the revised version). The violent rainstorm on page 42 was culled from the project by Wolverton, perhaps because the style is not consistent with the other drawings, although a caption was written for it. Nimrod (page 58), although little more than a footnote in the Genesis narrative, played an important role in Armstrong s institutional theology, as the alleged originator of most of the world s polytheistic religions. About the same time Wolverton was beginning production on The Bible Story, he was also turning out features for MAD magazine: What They re Saying Around the Solar System, (MAD no. 31, February 1957); Mad Hats (MAD no. 36, December 1957); Inside Story, (MAD no. 40, July 1958). A note for fastidious readers: in later chapters, where multiple illustrations appear on a spread, we have had to place a few drawings out of chronological order for design reasons. The order, however, should be clear from the captions. A long time ago God had a wonderful plan to create human beings. But he had to provide a place for them to dwell. He made the stars and planets and placed them in motion and in order in the vast realm we call the universe, and among them, he created the earth. 18
If you could travel out in space past the moon, earth would look very much as you see it here. But when it was first created it didn t look quite the same. God especially prepared the planet earth as the place for human life to dwell God caused plants and trees to grow out of earth s soil. He made creatures to live on land, in the air and in the seas. Then, from the dust of the ground he formed a man and gave him the breath of life. This was the start of his greatest creation. Genesis 1 20
God prepared a big, beautiful park for the first man, Adam, to live in, called the Garden of Eden. It became Adam s duty to help keep the park beautiful. The Creator also knew that Adam would be happier with a companion. He formed a woman for Adam, named Eve. Adam and Eve were very happy in the park. There was plenty of fruit to eat, the animals were all friendly and there was enough to do to keep every day full of fun and interest. Genesis 2-3 22
God gave rules to Adam and Eve. Among them was the command not to touch the fruit of the tree of life, nor the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil under penalty of death. But Satan, in the form of a snake, told Eve that God was wrong that they would not die if they ate the fruit. She went to the tree of knowledge of good and evil and took some fruit. Genesis 2-3 23
Eve brought the forbidden fruit to Adam. After they both had eaten it, their knowledge and understanding was increased, yet they also became ashamed and unhappy. God ordered them to leave the park, and set an angel with a flaming sword to keep them from returning and eating of the fruit of the tree of life. If they were to do this, they would live forever in unhappiness Adam and Even had cut themselves off from life in the Garden of Eden. From then on they had to work hard for food and shelter. Their first children were two sons Cain and Abel. Abel became a shepherd and Cain raised crops. One day they each brought offerings to God. God accepted Abel s offering of the best meat of his firstborn lambs, but he did not accept Cain s offering of fruit and grain. Cain was jealous of his brother, and murdered him. Genesis 3-4 25
As the years passed, humans multiplied. But without keeping in close touch with their Creator, humans were often mean and greedy. Instead of working for the things they wanted, many people cheated, robbed and even killed. Violence began to fill the earth Though God had given them the whole earth to spread out over and live in, humans chose to build cities and live huddled together in large numbers. This led only to more envy, strife and misery. They drifted so far from their Creator that they even began to worship lifeless things they had made with their own hands. Genesis 4-5 27
Living together led only to more envy, strife and misery. Humans banded together in small armies to take away the wealth of towns and cities. Larger armies were formed to defend the cities. So it was that wars started on earth. Man had become so evil that mass murder was something in which many loved to take part God looked down with sorrow on these things. At last he decided to blot man out of the world. If he were to allow people to go on in their wickedness, they would soon destroy themselves. Genesis 6 28