Contrast the WTS veiled threats with reasons we could confidently say that IT IS EARLIER THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE.
Civilization is certainly LESS than 20,000 years old. During this incredibly brief period man has taken increasing control of the universe in which he resides. We learned to cultivate crops, to raise domestic animals for our food supply (cats - the other white meat) so we wouldn't have to hunt them. We developed architecture, centralized climate control and indoor plumbing. We unwound the secrets of chemistry and learned how to create materials better for our purposes than those found in nature. We learned to defy gravity in balloons, airplanes and rockets, and men have walked on the moon. We have sent machines to other planets and to the far reaches of our solar system. We are beginning to develop the tools of nanotechnology and genetic engineering. We already have vacines for some forms of cancer.
All this without any supernatural assistance from "realms beyond."
If a builder of the tower of babylon could see the good and amazing world we enjoy today he would feel that indeed we have become gods.
It is enough that we are men.
If we don't exterminate ourselves arguing over whose imaginary invisible friend is best, and if we are not exterminated by yet another six mile wide asteroid or the eruption of the yellowstone caldera, our progress will continue and we will spread throughout the stars without divine assistance.