keyarch said:
The "firmament" referred to in Gen. 14-17 is within the space of the Upper Heaven. I don't see how the greater and lesser lights that are set in this Upper Heaven relate to the theory that you are putting forth, and how the properties of those elements would have a day and night cycle, not to mention the attributes of use for "signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years."
Additionally, the script was written so the people of the day could understand its meaning. I don't think that they would have taken it to have your meaning.
Yes, our models are very close, but I do think you're making the light issue too difficult, and it really doesn't need to be.
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It is obvious that you have thought a long time about the construction of the firmament.
Why consider another idea without a good reason?
Perhaps I can give one.
The upper heaven and the lower heaven as you have defined them touch at an elevation which I refer to as the flash point.
At this elevation a reaction occurs which generates light.
The upper heaven is 100% water in a form which may be water vapor, water liquid or some combination of the two.
The lower heaven is a mixed gas atmosphere which may contain water vapor but also contains other gasses.
The greater and lesser lights are not a round ball but the result of a reaction which occurs where the upper heaven and the lower heavens touch.
I do not believe this disagrees with your construction of the heavens except that in my description you may consider the "greater and lesser lights" in the upper heaven, the lower heaven or right on the line between them as the exact position is hard to define.
Now for the "good reason" to accept this idea.
If the re-creation week only indicates changes on the Earth between the water above and the water below we can say the following.
The Cosmos has an upper heaven, the Earth has a lower heaven.
The Cosmos has created beings called angels, the Earth has created beings called animals etc.
The Cosmos has THE God, the Earth has a god, for man was created in "Gods image".
The Cosmos has a sun, moon, and stars which spread to the farthest reaches of space.
The Earth has a greater light, a lesser light (and stars?) at the joint between the upper and lower heavens, which is at the farthest reaches of the lower heaven.
The Earth was designed to be a replica of the Cosmos, but not just a replica but a working model.
The destruction of the lower heaven, greater light and lesser light at the time of the flood predicts the coming end of this cosmos, the sun, moon and upper heaven.
The Earth after the flood is a foreshadow of a new Heaven and Earth which is predicted in Revelations.
So the creation of Earth is not only patterned after the creation of the cosmos but the Earths progression predicts the future of the cosmos.
We are a working model of what the cosmos has been, and what it will be.
If this can be accepted the information contained in the creation week is vast indeed.
In the re-creation of Earth the first event is the creation of light...
This indicates the creation of the Cosmos also started with the creation of light.
Was there life before the stars were created in the cosmos?...... Yes because the Earth contained life before day four when the greater and lesser lights were created.
Are there different kinds of angels? ....... Yes, there are even whole groups of types.
Some angels are similar to fish in some way.
Some angels are similar to birds in some way.
Some angels are similar to animals in some way.
And some angles are similar to plants.
Each of these angels were created at different periods in the progression of creation.
Are there different types of man? ..... No, only one.
The creation of the cosmos is divided into six parts similar to the Earths process of six days.
We are currently in the final period of the life of the cosmos which is represented by the sixth day.
No other created being of a higher order is to come after us and God will rest after we are completed.
So a question has been answered which has not been answered before.
Before we answered... Did God re-create the Earth in six days?... The answer is yes.
Now we have answered.... Why did God re-create the Earth in six days?
The answer is.... because God intended us not only to understand His Earth but His universe and what part we play in it as well.
If this is too different for you to accept, I understand.
One final comment on Bible text.
The Bible contains information which only God knows.
Every time I read it I find somthing new, but I will not find it all.
The Bible is not limited by the constraints of the human writer or reader.
Please accept my thanks for your interest and the information you gave as I intend to spend some time checking the material you mentioned.
Because your ideas are as new to me as mine are to you some time may pass before I comprehend them completely.
Duane
