The Confines of Heaven and Earth

In the globe model, the earth is a sphere which, on all of its surface of 360 degrees, does not have one spot that can be perceived as “up” or “down”, “beginning” or “end”.

The heaven above and the earth beneath

However, in the Bible, we are told about the directions up unto heaven and down on earth as real directions of the earth and the firmament above it.

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” Ex. 20:4.

The same text is reiterated in Deut. 5:8 – the heaven above and the earth beneath, and also under the earth.

“And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.” Deut. 4:19.

Heaven is also said to have definite ends, or bounds (as opposed to the boundless open space of modern theoretical astronomy with an ever-expanding universe):

“For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?” “Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.” Deut. 4:32, 39.

The Firmament above

The heaven is just above us and the earth is beneath it, also contained within it, founded upon the great deep:

“Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.” Jer. 31:37.

“He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.” Ps. 18:16.

Let us now notice a sad but instructive story. This is the story of the greatest deceiver and of one of his greatest lies – the spinning globe, without a firmament in a boundless, open space. Let us see what earth Lucifer came to when he fell from his high estate.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Isa. 14:12-14.

Lucifer fell from a place that is above the heights of the clouds and even further, above the stars – the dwelling place of God just above our heavenly firmament.

The ends of the Firmament

As we continue with our study, we see that the earth is said to have ends, and the same is reported of the heavens, and it is the sun that circles above it, to the ends of it.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge… 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. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” Ps. 19:1-6.

Considering the directions up and down, and also the width of the earth – from one end of it to the other, we see that both horizontally and vertically the earth is confined within the firmament and it is an enclosed system.

The ends of the earth

The next element we are going to consider is that the Bible declares that the earth has ends, which can happen only with an object having a plain surface (or a face) that can be measured.

“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?” Job 38:4-5.

The earth is also reported to have corners, or in other words to be divided into four quadrants:

“And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” Isa. 11:12.

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.” Isa. 40:28.

Bible evidence

Here are a few verses that plainly speak about the earth having ends:

“The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Isa. 52:10.

“God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.” Ps. 67:7.

“He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” Ps. 72:8.

“Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.” Ps. 135:6, 7.

“For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven…” Job 28:24.

The four quarters of the earth

In the book of Revelation, we are told of four angels that hold the four winds, standing at the four quarters (or quadrants) of the earth:

“And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.” Rev. 7:1.

At the Second Coming, the redeemed shall be gathered from the four corners of the earth, and the passage mentions not only the ends of the earth but also the ends of heaven. We read:

“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.” Mark 13:24-27.

This passage declares that all will see the Lord. There is no way for all to see Him in the twinkling of an eye if they are on a globe. Some would inevitably happen to be in the opposite direction, wouldn’t they? This is something worth considering because a true belief in the Bible account unmasks the lie of Satan who will appear in the likeness of Christ just before His coming to deceive the nations into worshiping him. Matt. 24:23-25.

The stars are to fall on earth

The stars shall fall. How do stars fall if they are a numberless host, moving around in the open space? And all this must happen upon an earth of which the Bible says that it has four corners – from one end of it to the other!

Regarding the face of the earth, in Genesis, we read that God gave Adam and Eve permission to eat of every herb that is upon it:

“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” Gen. 1:29.

The face of the earth

Of the face (or the plain surface) of the earth, we read also in the following passage:

“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation…” Acts 17:24-26.

In conclusion, we would confidently affirm, with the Word of God to sustain us, that: 1) there is a foundation beneath; 2) the heaven is above; and 3) everlasting bounds of ice cover the deep below the heavens.

Related articles:

The Bounds of The Waters on Earth

“Sanctify Them Through Thy Truth” – the Truth About Our Earth