Before the Fall, did God refer to the earth's surface as part of heaven?

Before the Fall, did God refer to the earth's surface as part of heaven?

  • Yes

    Votes: 6 26.1%
  • Perhaps

    Votes: 5 21.7%
  • I doubt it

    Votes: 1 4.3%
  • No

    Votes: 8 34.8%
  • I have no opinion

    Votes: 3 13.0%

  • Total voters
    23

Frank Ernest

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Genesis 1:1 says that God created THE heaven and THE earth.
Strong implication that heaven and earth were separate. He created heaven and then earth. (No time frame given.)
Genesis 1:2 says that the earth became without form and void, darkness on the face of the deep, etc.
Whatever is happening after that should be taking place from the perspective of someone who is on the earth, not someone at a remote site as in heaven.

I gather from that that what is commonly called the creation story is actually the replenishment story. For some reason the earth's surface was totally destroyed (no time given) and God decided to replenish and refurbish it and He came here to do it.

The New Jerusalem, I believe, is the prophecy and promise of Jesus Who returns to establish His Kingdom on earth and it becomes part of heaven.

Hope this might help rather than confuse.
 

Jefferson

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Originally posted by Frank Ernest
I gather from that that what is commonly called the creation story is actually the replenishment story.
Yes, Genesis 1:28 says, "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:"

He didn't say "fill" the earth or "plenish" the earth. He said to replenish it which suggests that it was previously filled.

I'm not saying I think it was previously filled. I'm just saying that verse has always made me wonder.
 
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Jefferson

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Originally posted by Bob Enyart

Hey Jefferson, no book is required reading (other than the Bible), but I'm wondering if you've read Walt Brown's In the Beginning.
No, but I'm familiar with it.

I went kicking and screaming, defending the Henry Morris view of the firmament and the vaper canopy's role in the flood.
Do you deny that there was a vaper canopy? If yes, then what do you think the words "the waters above the firmament" refer to?

Also, have you read much of the arguments that have turned a number of creationists away from the vapor canopy?
No. Bob, I don't deny that the waters under the earth could have caused the mountains to form rapidly. I just have a different theory as to what the "triggering mechanism" was. I don't think it had much to do with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil being cut down. If you're interested I'll post it here but it might take me a day or two to summarize it clearly.

When is your deadline for sending your copy to Walt Brown?
 

Frank Ernest

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Originally posted by Jefferson

Yes, Genesis 1:28 says, "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:"

He didn't say "fill" the earth or "plenish" the earth. He said to replenish it which suggests that it was previously filled.
That being the case, something must have happened between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2.

2Pe:3:3: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe:3:4: And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2Pe:3:5: For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old ([jesus]Gen 1:1[/jesus]), and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe:3:6: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
([jesus]Gen 1:2[/jesus])
2Pe:3:7: But the heavens and the earth, which are now ([jesus]Gen 1:3 and on[/jesus]), by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
([jesus]Revelation 21 & 22[/jesus])
 
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Lighthouse

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Originally posted by Jefferson

Yes, Genesis 1:28 says, "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:"

He didn't say "fill" the earth or "plenish" the earth. He said to replenish it which suggests that it was previously filled.
1] "Plenish" isn't a word.:nono:

2] I got this idea from an episode of Roseanne, of all places. It was Darlene's wedding. Her and David had written their own vows. One of the things Darlene said was about replenishing the earth, what we take from it. It sounds kind of hippieish, and it was meant that way on the show, but it made me think, especially after you brought up the fact that the verse said "replenish." What if God was merely telling them to replenish what they take? Especially since this was before they had to work the ground for food, and all that.
 

Jefferson

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Originally posted by Frank Ernest

That being the case, something must have happened between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2.f
You're going to have to elaborate on why you think 2nd Peter 3:3-7 has anything to do with a "gap" between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 because I'm not getting your point.
 

Lighthouse

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Originally posted by Frank Ernest

That being the case, something must have happened between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2.

2Pe:3:3: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe:3:4: And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2Pe:3:5: For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old ([jesus]Gen 1:1[/jesus]), and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe:3:6: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
([jesus]Gen1:2[/jesus])
2Pe:3:7: But the heavens and the earth, which are now ([jesus]Gen1:3 and on[/jesus]), by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
*coughfloodcough*
 

Frank Ernest

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Originally posted by Jefferson

You're going to have to elaborate on why you think 2nd Peter 3:3-7 has anything to do with a "gap" between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 because I'm not getting your point.
Genesis 1:2 says the earth became without form and void. God did not create it that way.
 

Jefferson

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Originally posted by Frank Ernest

Peter suggests a worldwide flood. The flood in Noah's time was not worldwide.
Do you have some scripture to back this up?
 

Frank Ernest

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Originally posted by lighthouse

Who says?
Genesis 8:9-12.
If the entire earth were flooded, it would be unlikely that the dove would return with a fresh olive leaf.

Unless you would like to tell me that Genesis 8:10 is another 7 literal days of yet another creation.
 

Lighthouse

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1] My KJV does not say "became."

2] The dove returned with the fresh leaf after the rain had subsided, and things had a chance to grow.
 

Frank Ernest

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Originally posted by lighthouse

1] My KJV does not say "became."
Great! Look up the Hebrew from which the translation comes.
2] The dove returned with the fresh leaf after the rain had subsided, and things had a chance to grow.
7days? That's pretty quick growth there, :Brandon:
 

Servo

Formerly Shimei!
LIFETIME MEMBER
Genesis 7:

4For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.

11In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 12And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights.

17Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 18The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters. 19And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. 20The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. 21And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. 22All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit[a] of life, all that was on the dry land, died. 23So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.
24And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days.
 
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