God's Created Earth

6/1/2017

JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THEM, YE DO ERR, NOT KNOWING THE SCRIPTURES, NOR THE POWER OF GOD. MATTHEW 22:29

Can He say this to us?

This is a brief study on what the Bible teaches about the world that we live in; for an in-depth study, I encourage you to go on yourself from here and study to show yourself approved before God, with openness of mind and willingness of heart. Although this topic in and of itself may not have any great weight in the plan of salvation between God and His Son for humanity, the process of becoming one in our minds with every word, concept, and teaching that proceeds from the mouth of God is crucial to coming out of this world in our hearts and becoming new creations in God our Father.

In an effort to avoid the added tension of opinions and current worldly science, we are going to put both away and look only at the Word of God alone. But aren’t the Bible and science supposed to go hand in hand, since the Bible is truth? Yes, but note that it is only true science which corresponds with the Word of God, and do not forget that the worldly science which we are taught today also teaches us Evolution in an effort to discredit the Bible and Creation. Remember that true science and worldly science are two very different things.

Does the Bible Even Teach About These Things?

Can we gather a literal explanation about the created world we live in from various verses and passages in Scripture? Before we study too deeply, let us first make sure that we can—within Godly reason and context—take such instruction to heart as literally intended by Inspiration from God.

TALK NO MORE SO EXCEEDING PROUDLY; LET NOT ARROGANCY COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH: FOR THE LORD IS A GOD OF KNOWLEDGE, AND BY HIM ACTIONS ARE WEIGHED. 1 SAMUEL 2:3

GRACE AND PEACE BE MULTIPLIED UNTO YOU THROUGH THE [KNOWLEDGE #1] OF GOD, AND OF JESUS OUR LORD, ACCORDING AS HIS DIVINE POWER HATH GIVEN UNTO US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE AND GODLINESS, THROUGH THE [KNOWLEDGE #1] OF HIM THAT HATH CALLED US TO GLORY AND VIRTUE: WHEREBY ARE GIVEN UNTO US EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES: THAT BY THESE YE MIGHT BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, HAVING ESCAPED THE CORRUPTION THAT IS IN THE WORLD THROUGH LUST. AND BESIDE THIS, GIVING ALL DILIGENCE, ADD TO YOUR FAITH VIRTUE; AND TO VIRTUE [KNOWLEDGE #2]… 2 PETER 1:2–5

The word ‘knowledge’ in 1 Samuel literally means knowledge, in a general sense. God is a god of knowledge, and in consequence His Word will reflect Him in all that He says. 2 Peter chapter 1 elaborates even more fully, where it uses two different words with the same English word ‘knowledge’ has two definitions, one meaning recognition in verses 2 and 3, and the other meaning knowledge/science in verse 5. Let’s read these verses again, with words closer to the original Greek meanings:

GRACE AND PEACE BE MULTIPLIED UNTO YOU THROUGH THE [RECOGNITION] OF GOD, AND OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, ACCORDING AS HIS DIVINE POWER HATH GIVEN US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS, THROUGH THE [RECOGNITION] OF HIM THAT HATH CALLED US TO GLORY AND VIRTUE: WHEREBY ARE GIVEN UNTO US EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES, THAT BY THESE YE MIGHT BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, HAVING ESCAPED THE CORRUPTION OF THIS WORLD THROUGH LUST. AND BESIDE THIS, GIVING ALL DILIGENCE, ADD TO YOUR FAITH VIRTUE, AND TO VIRTUE [KNOWLEDGE/SCIENCE]. 2 PETER 1:2–5

So by this verse we see that when we recognize or acknowledge God and His Son, it must be according to the fact that He has indeed given us all things having to do with life and godliness, and desires us to add to our faith not only virtue, temperance, patience, and godliness, but also a knowledge which reaches forth deeply and enlarges the intellect to know more perfectly even the things of true science.

Is this to say that we can know everything perfectly? Not at all, but we can strive to know more perfectly the things pertaining to life as He humbles our hearts and lifts us up closer to Himself in all things. (See James 4:10)

The Creator's Account of the World He Created

IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH. AND THE EARTH WAS WITHOUT FORM, AND VOID; AND DARKNESS WAS UPON THE FACE OF THE DEEP. AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED UPON THE FACE OF THE WATERS. AND GOD SAID, LET THERE BE LIGHT: AND THERE WAS LIGHT. AND GOD SAW THE LIGHT, THAT IT WAS GOOD: AND GOD DIVIDED THE LIGHT FROM THE DARKNESS. AND GOD CALLED THE LIGHT DAY, AND THE DARKNESS HE CALLED NIGHT. AND THE EVENING AND THE MORNING WERE THE FIRST DAY. AND GOD SAID, LET THERE BE A FIRMAMENT IN THE MIDST OF THE WATERS, AND LET IT DIVIDE THE WATERS FROM THE WATERS. AND GOD MADE THE FIRMAMENT, AND DIVIDED THE WATERS WHICH WERE UNDER THE FIRMAMENT FROM THE WATERS WHICH WERE ABOVE THE FIRMAMENT: AND IT WAS SO. AND GOD CALLED THE FIRMAMENT HEAVEN. AND THE EVENING AND THE MORNING WERE THE SECOND DAY. AND GOD SAID, LET THE WATERS UNDER THE HEAVEN BE GATHERED TOGETHER UNTO ONE PLACE, AND LET THE DRY LAND APPEAR: AND IT WAS SO. AND GOD CALLED THE DRY LAND EARTH; AND THE GATHERING TOGETHER OF THE WATERS CALLED HE SEAS: AND GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD. … AND GOD SAID, LET THERE BE LIGHTS IN THE FIRMAMENT OF THE HEAVEN TO DIVIDE THE DAY FROM THE NIGHT; AND LET THEM BE FOR SIGNS, AND FOR SEASONS, AND FOR DAYS, AND YEARS: AND LET THEM BE FOR LIGHTS IN THE FIRMAMENT OF THE HEAVEN TO GIVE LIGHT UPON THE EARTH: AND IT WAS SO. AND GOD MADE TWO GREAT LIGHTS; THE GREATER LIGHT TO RULE THE DAY, AND THE LESSER LIGHT TO RULE THE NIGHT: HE MADE THE STARS ALSO. AND GOD MADE TWO GREAT LIGHTS; THE GREATER LIGHT TO RULE THE DAY, AND THE LESSER LIGHT TO RULE THE NIGHT: HE MADE THE STARS ALSO. AND GOD SET THEM IN THE FIRMAMENT OF THE HEAVEN TO GIVE LIGHT UPON THE EARTH, AND TO RULE OVER THE DAY AND OVER THE NIGHT, AND TO DIVIDE THE LIGHT FROM THE DARKNESS: AND GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD. AND THE EVENING AND THE MORNING WERE THE FOURTH DAY. GENESIS 1:1–10, 14–19

Here’s the very first Biblical account of the world as was being created for us to live in. With the minds of babes in Christ on this topic, there are several things significant to us:

Before much of the creation work began, the “earth” area was a mass of deep waters (vs. 2).
Light was next in sequence and was divided by God from the apparent darkness, thus rendering Day and Night divisions (vs. 3-5).
Then the firmament/Heaven was created to separate the mass of waters, rendering the waters of the deep—below the firmament—and the waters above—over the firmament—(vs. 6-8).
The waters under the firmament were then collected into one place below and called Seas, while dry land/Earth was spoken into existence to appear in the same locality. (vs. 9-10)
After the vegetation on the dry land’s surface appeared, the heavenly lights—the sun, moon, and stars—were spoken into existence and placed within the firmament. The sun was made the greater light to rule over the Day/light division and the moon was made the lesser light to rule over the Night/dark division. (vs. 14-15)

Let’s understand these 5 points more thoroughly. First, we must understand the literal nature of this entire account of the Creation story. God revealed to Moses a knowledge of exactly what He did, not a metaphorical re-telling or anything else. Now, approaching the Scriptures with a mindset of openness, illustrate these aspects of Creation in your mind as we go along and give the Word of God an opportunity to teach us as little children.

According to Scripture, the area or site where our world was about to be created was initially a large mass of deep waters. Both the phrases ‘face of the deep’ and ‘face of the waters’ literally mean an abyss or mass of water in Hebrew. After the divisions of light were created and distinguished as Day and Night, the firmament (or what we understand as our heaven or sky) was created, however the purpose for it’s creation is more interesting. It was set in place as a dividing wall between two great masses of water, that which was above and that which was below. Then the waters below were collected into more of a contained area and were properly called Seas, and after this, what we understand to be the Earth (or dry land) was spoken into existence. So far, we have several specific layers/levels: a massive, collective body of water called the Seas, then the dry land/Earth, then the sky/firmament, and finally the massive realm of water which was divided to be above the sky/firmament.

The next few verses contain information that has to do with and which relates to our sky. Something to recognize is that the English word ‘firmament’ replaces the original Hebrew phrase/understanding ‘firm and solid arch of the sky’. This means that God tells us that the sky He created us is actually a solid, rounded expanse, a fit and necessary protective covering for us from the abyss of waters above us. After the creation of the surface of the dry land was finished, the heavenly lights were spoken into existence. The language used to represent their placement shows that they indeed were placed by the Creator inside of the firmament.

These verses say so much about our world: we know, out of the mouth of the God, that we are cushioned above and below with water, that the edge of our sky is encapsulated in by a protective solid dome, and that the lights which bring us day and night are actually within the dome of our sky and not outside of our atmosphere. Let’s look at a few other verses to both simplify and solidify the Genesis record.

THICK CLOUDS ARE A COVERING TO HIM, THAT HE SEETH NOT; AND HE WALKETH IN THE CIRCUIT OF HEAVEN. JOB 22:14

Eliphaz speaks to Job of many things factual and relating to the nature of God, and in verses 12-14 he continues in the same matter-of-fact way. In verse 14, he notes that even though thick clouds may cover Jehovah, it is as if He doesn’t even see them, and His judgements remain steadfast in spite of the covering, in addition to walking upon the circuit/circle of the sky. This indicates that the sky definitely does have a circle or roundness to it.

WHEN HE PREPARED THE HEAVENS, I WAS THERE: WHEN HE SET A COMPASS UPON THE FACE OF THE DEPTH… PROVERBS 8:27

The Bible also says that God put a compass upon the face of the deep. This is the same Hebrew word as above, indicating a roundness which was applied to the collective depths of waters below the land mass (refer to Genesis chapter 1).

IT IS HE THAT SITTETH UPON THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH, AND THE INHABITANTS THEREOF ARE AS GRASSHOPPERS; THAT STRETCHETH OUT THE HEAVENS AS A CURTAIN, AND SPREADETH THEM OUT AS A TENT TO DWELL IN… ISAIAH 40:22

Again, the same Hebrew word and meaning used here for the word ‘circle’ was used in the last two verses, but this time it’s used in reference to the structure of the earth itself, or the land mass. It may appear that since the word for ‘earth’ in the verse can mean either the world at large or a piece of land, that it can only mean one piece of land which is round. This would be an incorrect presumption, however, due to the fact that the heavens as a whole are referenced in the following conjoined phrase, which would be contextually inconsistent.

THUS SAITH GOD THE LORD, HE THAT CREATED THE HEAVENS, AND STRETCHED THEM OUT; HE THAT SPREAD FORTH THE EARTH, AND THAT WHICH COMETH OUT OF IT; HE THAT GIVETH BREATH UNTO THE PEOPLE UPON IT, AND SPIRIT TO THEM THAT WALK THEREIN… ISAIAH 42:5

More Inspiration from Isaiah testifies that that Jehovah not only stretched out the heavens out as a tent or tabernacle over the earth, but that He also spread forth the earth’s surface whereon we dwell. Originally this phrase ‘spread forth’ refers to a pounding out, a stamping, to overlay, and to make broad. A very well-fitting piece of knowledge about our earth if we are to understand it as the foundation/surface beneath the arched, tent-like covering of heaven.

Looking again at Isaiah 40:22, the ending phrase contains an interesting description. It shows how the sky or firmament can be likened to being draped over the earth as a tent or curtain. The word ‘heavens’ here originally denotes the entire arch wherein the clouds and celestial bodies dwell and revolve at differing levels—levels which are contained within the overspreading curtain structure of the firmament heaven, not outside in a vast outer space area. Especially interesting is when we notice how Scripture uses the depiction of a tent or tabernacle describing the structure of our heaven/firmament as it relates to us and the earth beneath.

THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD; AND THE FIRMAMENT SHEWETH HIS HANDIWORK. DAY UNTO DAY UTTERETH SPEECH, AND NIGHT UNTO NIGHT SHEWETH KNOWLEDGE. THERE IS NO SPEECH NOR LANGUAGE, WHERE THEIR VOICE IS NOT HEARD. THEIR LINE IS GONE OUT THROUGH ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE END OF THE WORLD. IN THEM HATH HE SET A TABERNACLE FOR THE SUN, WHICH IS AS A BRIDEGROOM COMING OUT OF HIS CHAMBER, AND REJOICETH AS A STRONG MAN TO RUN A RACE. PSALM 19:1–5

Here, David speaks of how our firmament declares God’s glory and creative works in a unique way, and again he also likens it to a tabernacle, or a tent-like structure, under which we and our celestial bodies reside. David—while under the Inspiration of God—also points out that the sun is mobile, and even compares the sun to a strong athlete in a race as far as its mobility and movement is concerned.

THEN SPAKE JOSHUA TO THE LORD IN THE DAY WHEN THE LORD DELIVERED UP THE AMORITES BEFORE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND HE SAID IN THE SIGHT OF ISRAEL, SUN, STAND THOU STILL UPON GIBEON; AND THOU, MOON, IN THE VALLEY OF AJALON. AND THE SUN STOOD STILL, AND THE MOON STAYED, UNTIL THE PEOPLE HAD AVENGED THEMSELVES UPON THEIR ENEMIES. IS NOT THIS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF JASHER? SO THE SUN STOOD STILL IN THE MIDST OF HEAVEN, AND HASTED NOT TO GO DOWN ABOUT A WHOLE DAY. JOSHUA 10:12–13

Above is Joshua's record of the time when he commanded both the sun and the moon to cease from their continual movement and stand still.

FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN UNTO THE GOING DOWN OF THE SAME THE LORD'S NAME IS TO BE PRAISED. PSALM 113:3

Psalm 113 is one of several verses which uses specific language to depict the sun’s daily movement. Both terms which indicate ‘rising’ and ‘going down’ stem from verbs—actions—as their Hebrew origins. When the Inspired record of Scripture uses these terms, it uses them solidly, contextually, and factually, resulting in a constant theme which is supported by the Word as a whole.

IN MY DISTRESS I CALLED UPON THE LORD, AND CRIED TO MY GOD: AND HE DID HEAR MY VOICE OUT OF HIS TEMPLE, AND MY CRY DID ENTER INTO HIS EARS. THEN THE EARTH SHOOK AND TREMBLED; THE FOUNDATIONS OF HEAVEN MOVED AND SHOOK, BECAUSE HE WAS WROTH. 2 SAMUEL 22:7–8

THEREFORE I WILL SHAKE THE HEAVENS, AND THE EARTH SHALL REMOVE OUT OF HER PLACE, IN THE WRATH OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, AND IN THE DAY OF HIS FIERCE ANGER. ISAIAH 13:13

The book of Samuel records another Inspired song of David’s, where he praises God for delivering out of the hand of all his enemies. In very literal language he depicts his situation whenever he calls upon God and is saved. He goes into detail over the process of God hearing David's voice go up to Him, showing that after his voices ring through God's temple, the earth itself shook and trembled and the foundations of the firmament were moved by God’s fury. Isaiah also records that God in His righteous fury will shake the earth out of its place, indicating that it does indeed have a fixed position otherwise. In both verses the fact that the earth, heaven, and foundations were moved was recorded as notable and extraordinary, showing that it is not a common situation.

GIVE UNTO THE LORD THE GLORY DUE UNTO HIS NAME: BRING AN OFFERING, AND COME BEFORE HIM: WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS. FEAR BEFORE HIM, ALL THE EARTH: THE WORLD ALSO SHALL BE STABLE, THAT IT BE NOT MOVED. LET THE HEAVENS BE GLAD, AND LET THE EARTH REJOICE: AND LET MEN SAY AMONG THE NATIONS, THE LORD REIGNETH. LET THE SEA ROAR, AND THE FULNESS THEREOF: LET THE FIELDS REJOICE, AND ALL THAT IS THEREIN. THEN SHALL THE TREES OF THE WOOD SING OUT AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, BECAUSE HE COMETH TO JUDGE THE EARTH. O GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD; FOR HE IS GOOD; FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOR EVER! 1 CHRONICLES 16:29–34

In confirmation to the previous texts, 1 Chronicles declares that when we worship and fear the LORD in the beauty of holiness, the created works also rejoice and come to be as they were created to be. This includes not only the rejoicing of the heavens, the roaring of the fulness and of the seas, the singing of the trees, but also the stability of the earth itself and the fact that it does not move.

From the texts studied thus far, 100% of the language and context has been literal and should be taken literally, for there has been no hint of metaphorical/figurative aspects being employed. Thus, although our study has been brief and there is yet an abundance of verses that need your attention and examination from this point on, it has been sufficiently thorough and can supply us with a sure foundation on several points:

Yes, the Bible does indeed teach us literally and realistically about the world we live in.
The earth, heaven, and the surrounding abyss of waters as they come in contact with our world's structures are all indeed round and circular in shape.
Our heaven is to our world as a tent is to the ground, it drapes/bows over to contain its contents within and upon a solid, spread-out surface.
While we are regularly stationary—unless moved out of place by Jehovah Himself—our heavenly lights are regularly in motion above us.

Praise God for an understanding that is according to His Word and not man’s!

Once again, although this study is built on several verses, it is yet very brief and not meant to include the remaining hundreds of verses within Scripture through which Inspiration seeks to give us understanding of our world. This work up to you: to continue to seek and search and prove all things in this regard with openness of both mind and heart. The intent of this study is only to inspire you to open your mind to a holier understanding of God’s Word, no matter how much it may differ from the world.

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