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The Firmament
The grandest and most important element of the Creation of heaven and earth is the formation of the Firmament of heaven. And what is the Firmament? A hard, solid, transparent structure which towers above the earth with the aim of holding the massive layer of water that God has divided from the earth’s surface.
We read about this dividing of the waters in Genesis chap. 1:
“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 God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.” Gen. 1:7-9.
Simply said, the Firmament is a solid structure that holds up part of earth’s waters which God took from the surface of the earth (or the deep).
The Hebrew word for “firmament” used in Genesis is Raqia (H7549) and it means: “The firmament or (apparently) visible arch of the sky.” Of the usage of the word in the Bible, it is said: “The term Raqia refers to the expanse or firmament that God created to separate the waters above from the waters below. It is often understood as the sky or the heavens, serving as a dome-like structure that encompasses the earth.”
In the Greek translation of the Septuagint, all the 72 translators chose the Greek Word Stereoma which renders exactly the same sense as the original word Raqia.
What does the Bible tell us about the Firmament?
It is a strong and solid structure:
“Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?” Job. 37:18.
“Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel…” “And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.” Ex. 24:9-10.
It is stretched out, like a metal piece is hammered down into a thin layer:
“Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month… that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.” “And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.” Ez. 1:1, 22.
“Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters…” Ps. 104:2-3.
“It is he… that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:” Isa. 40:22.
“I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.” Isa. 45:12.
“The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.” Jer. 10:11, 12.
The nature of the Firmament is such that – like a supporting structure – it is suited to uphold the heavy amounts of waters that are above it:
“The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.” Pr. 3:19.
“He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.” Jer. 51:15, 16.
The waters above the Firmament
We are plainly told in tbe Scriptures that there are waters that are ABOVE the Firmament.
“Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.” Ps. 148:4.
In contrast to the popular notion that it is just thin air, the Firmament is a visible, tangible creation, a work of God’s hands that shows the greatness of His power:
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” Ps. 19:1.
“Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.” Ps. 150:1.
“The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.” Ps. 97:6.
The Lord is said to dwell above the heaven, building His chambers (dwelling place) above the Firmament:
“It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.” Am. 9:6.
Since the Firmament is a solid, crystalline structure, we can specify that something is above or under it, unlike any notion of just atmosphere, mist or fog.
“For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven…” Job 28:24.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.
Another fact which proves that the Firmament is a solid, supporting structure is the fact that it has openings through which have flowed massive amounts of water during the Flood (i.e. the water that God has put above the Firmament). The Bible says:
“In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.” Gen. 7:11.
The opposite thing happened at the end of the Flood:
“The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained…” Gen. 8:2.
In the end, after the whole trouble that is going to come upon the world, the wise are going to shine with the brightness of the Firmament:
“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Dan. 12:3.
From the following scriptures we understand that the throne and the presence of God are above the Firmament of the heaven, and not at a distance of thousands of light years from us. God is close to us. More specifically, God is near above us. In Job we read:
“Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!” “Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.” Job 22:12, 14.
“The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.” Ps. 29:3.
The earth is God’s footstool
“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?” Isa. 66:1.
The Lord is looking down upon the world and its inhabitants:
“God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.” Ps. 53:2.
In Ezekiel Chap. 1 and 10 we are given the clearest picture of God’s dwelling place. Through this vision of Ezekiel, we see the literal presence of God above the Firmament that is above the earth. There we also learn about the constant and active involvement of the angels. We read:
“… the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God… And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire…
“And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above… And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it… As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.” Ezek. 1:1, 4, 22-28.
And also in Ezekiel 10 we read:
“Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.” Ez. 10:1.
In this vision, the word Raqia (for the Firmament) is used four times – the same word that is used in Genesis chap. 1. Ezekiel began his account by saying: “The Heavens were opened.” Can something that does not exist (meaning the purported vacuum of space around the earth) be opened? Or, has God done or said something that is not truth?
The heavens opened
In his last speech before the Sanhedrin, before he was put to death, Stephen declared:
“Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me?” Acts 7:47-48.
“But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” Acts 7:55-56.
Did you notice what happened after the heavens opened? There were seen God and His Son. So, their dwelling place is just above that spot where the heavens were opened. The same happened to Jesus Himself. We read:
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matt. 3:16-17.
Jesus admonishes us with these words:
“But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool…” Matt. 5:34.
Peter was at the rooftop of a house in Joppa when he was taken in vision. Then he saw the heaven open and the voice of God was heard. Acts 10.
John also received a vision in which he saw heaven opened and Jesus riding on a white horse:
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True… And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” Rev. 19:11-13.
The heaven will depart as a scroll
Just before the Second Coming of Christ, as a part of the natural events that are going to occur then, we read of the heaven being rolled up and moved out of its place:
“And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb…” Rev. 6:14-16.
What happens here when the heaven is rolled together? The immediate glory of God is revealed and the ungodly are terrified and they want to hide from it.
God’s dwelling place is above the Earth
Can heaven be opened if the earth is a globe. There can be no Firmament above a globe.
“The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.” Ps. 113:4.
“For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.” Ps. 97:9.
John hears a voice from heaven as the voice of many waters:
“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” Rev. 19:6.
“The Lord sitteth upon the flood [i.e. the great waters]; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.” Ps. 29:10.
Notice how many times it is reported that God is above the great waters that are above the Firmament. The Lord is just above us, above this solid, crystalline structure that is called in the Bible “heaven”.
To those who rejected the words of Moses, Jesus said: “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” Let us believe the Word, let us take the Creation account from Genesis Chapter 1 as truth and let us embrace every word that comes out of the mouth of God, so that we may give glory to our Creator for the wonderful works He has made.
Articles for further study:
Does The Earth Move or Rotate?
Dangers and Effects From the Acceptance of the Human Theories of Space Instead of the Bible Creation