Void and without Form

Let me open this study by making it perfectly clear that it does not matter to me if the earth is a sphere, or flat, round, bowl shaped or square. I believe that because of the popularity of this topic it has become a distraction. I can, however, imagine this earth sitting at the center of our solar system regardless of shape, which does not affect my faith or trust in the Creator.

I have ignored flat earth theorists longer than I put off tackling the calendar discrepancies, so now must be the time for me to dive in.

Genesis Chapter One

When MarYah began to create heaven and earth - the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from Yah over the water - He said 'Let there be light." He separated the light (Day) from the darkness (Night) and there was evening and there was morning, a first day.

Yah said: "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the water to separate water from water." The expanse He called Sky. Now there is water above the sky and below the sky. (2nd day)

He gathered the waters below the sky into one area (Seas) so that dry land (Earth) could appear.  The earth sprouted vegetation. (3rd day)

Yah said: "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate day from night; they shall serve as signs for the set times - days, years - and to shine upon the earth." He made the sun and the moon and the stars, setting them in the expanse of the sky. (4th day)

The waters brought forth swarms of living creatures and birds that fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky. He created great sea monsters, and all the living creatures that creep, which the waters brought forth in swarms, and all the winged birds of every kind. (5th day)

Now the earth brings forth every kind of living creature: cattle; creeping things; wild beasts of every kind.  Last but not least He creates man, male and female, He created them to master the earth. (6th day)

When Yahweh finished His work, He rested on the 7th day. He blessed the 7th day and declared it Set Apart. (7th day)

• Unformed defined:: not arranged in regular shape, order, or relations; undeveloped
• Void defined:: containing nothing :not occupied :vacant :not inhabited :being without something specified
• Expanse defined by Scripture = Sky 
• Expanse defined from the dictionary:: firmament: great extent of something spread out

Just a reminder that this description is how things were BEFORE the flood. So now we know where all that water came from, in the time of Noah, that covered the earth upwards to several feet above the tallest mountain.

In reading the first chapter in Genesis, I see no indication of shape in regards to the earth. It was without form, not inhabited and without any specifics to start with. Yahweh changed all that! He separated light from darkness; water from water; water from dry land; day from night. Then He set apart the 7th day.  

I accept Yah at His Word and am amazed at His awesome power! He exists in a realm we can only imagine, and I'm afraid it is our imagination that gets in the way from time to time. But who can blame us? Look at the world we've grown up in. 

Reading that He placed the sky between the waters does make one see in a linear way, but could this take place regardless of the shape of the earth? Think of concentric circles rippling outwards when a pebble is dropped into the midst of a puddle of water. A type of separation occurs in a circular pattern.

Flat Earthers believe that a dome covers a circular, flat earth, with its edge resting on the earth beyond the ice wall of Antarctica. The stars are affixed to this dome, while the sun and moon are above the earth but beneath the dome. 

If that is what they believe, how do they explain the reference 'the four corners of the earth', which is also found written in Scriptures... ?

The use of the phrase "four corners of the earth" is another picturesque use of language that usually means from a far distance, not actual corners of the earth.

Heaven is generally understood as being above us. Depending on the context, the word can refer to that which is immediately above us, where flying birds, clouds, and rain are. It also can refer to the realm of astronomical bodies. Finally, it often refers to the Spiritual realm of Yahweh Elohim. “Heaven” has all these meanings, both in modern use and in the Bible. Does the word 'firmament' also have all of these meanings?

Answers in Genesis

Nearly everyone understands that a sphere does not have an edge. Indeed, we can travel indefinitely around a sphere and never reach a boundary or edge. On the other hand, if the earth is flat, it must have an edge somewhere, unless the earth is an infinite plane. (end quote)

If I had a high-tech aircraft that could perform my experiment, and I took off from Phoenix Arizona, headed west and continued flying, would I run into this dome effect? Would I find Antarctica lying in the west? What if I went by boat, would I find this edge?  This brings to mind old world maps with sea monsters threatening sailing ships as they got too close to the edge of the 'known world'.

Let's move on.

Here are a couple of verses referencing the earth sitting upon pillars, which the flat earthers visualize as true structures resembling pillars.  I will keep the verses in context and highlight what has been picked out for their purpose. Taken as a whole, can you see the poetic choice of words to get the point across?

Job 9- Indeed I know that it is so; Man cannot win a suit against Yahweh. If he insisted on a trial with Him, He would not answer one charge in a thousand. Wise of heart and mighty in power-- who ever challenged Him and came out whole? He who moves mountains without them knowing it, Who overturns them in His anger; 9:6 Who shakes the earth from its place, till its pillars quake; Who commands the sun not to shine; Who seals up the stars; Who by Himself spread out the heavens, and trod on the back of the sea; Who made the Bear and Orion, Pleiades, and the chambers of the south wind; Who performs great deeds which cannot be fathomed, and wondrous things without number.

Psalm 75- We praise You O Elohim; we praise You; Your presence is near; men tell of Your wondrous deeds. At the time I choose, I will give judgment equitably. 75:4 Earth and all its inhabitants dissolve; it is I who keep its pillars firm. To wanton men I say, "Do not be wanton!" to the wicked, "Do not lift up your horns!"

Now over to 1 Samuel 2:8. To be fair and in context He was talking about people = the poor, the needy granting them seats of honor - they are the pillars of the earth, He has set His world upon them, guarding the steps of His faithful. (Probably where 'pillars of the community' came from.)

Pillar definitons:
:a firm upright support for a superstructure
:a usually ornamental column or shaft
:a supporting, integral, or upstanding member or part
:a fundamental precept

I think folks miss the 'poetic language' used many time throughout Scriptures to make a point. For example: Yahweh said His throne is Heaven and the earth is His footstool = which means He as the Creator has complete power over the spiritual and physical elements. It is not an attempt to confine our Creator in a physical shape or size. The word is used again in Hebrews 1:13- “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Would you think He was going to wad up a bunch of enemies and form them into a footstool? I don't 'read it' that way, but certainly enemies can be conquered,  and 'put under one's feet' - Yahweh is speaking figuratively.  

Isaiah 40:22- It is He who is enthroned above the vault of the earth, so that its inhabitants seem as grasshoppers; Who spread out the skies like gauze, stretched out like a tent to dwell in. 

Yahweh's throne is in Heaven, above the sky that we see, beyond our atmosphere, into His Spiritual Realm, another dimension. Again, this is not an attempt to place Yahweh into a physical shape or size so that we appear small as grasshoppers to Him.  How foolish does that sound? Yahweh performs great deeds which cannot be fathomed, and wondrous things without number. 

Quote from Mike Clayton:

No other passage of scripture has been picked apart and ridiculed as much as Genesis One. In this chapter we read of the creation of the heavens, the earth and all that is in them. We read the order of creation and the astounding words that it was done in six days. We then count from this time period using subsequent scripture and find all this was accomplished about six thousand years ago! Could that really be so? Could He really mean it as He states it here? Is this not merely code language for six million days or maybe six billion years? Did He really mean what He said?  "Did He really say?" 

Men have done their best through the years using junk science and fuzzy logic to ridicule and prove wrong the words of Genesis One. They have come up with evolution (which makes a monkey out of them), big bang theories and any number of ridiculous thoughts to place doubt in the words of Scripture. This so called teaching has produced a generation of Godless thought and Godless actions in the world around us. (end quote)

This may or may not be the subtle reason behind the Flat Earth Theory - to cause doubt, specifically to call Yahweh into question.  This is not a good thing.

I will leave this study as it is for the time being as there is more to research behind the idea of a flat earth. The Books of Enoch are used in part to support this theory and I do have copies of these books but I always use Scripture first in all things placing the Word of Yahweh above all. Referring to writings quoted in Scriptures (Enoch; Jasher) are worth investigating and can prove to add understanding in certain circumstances.

It is not a matter of importance to know the shape of the earth but it is important to absolutely trust Yahweh and the truth revealed by His Spirit.

(to be continued...)

Distractions

I have talked about distractions before but have recently experienced one that has opened up another look at this topic from a different angle.

I was attending to some work and watching a trash removal truck picking up the dumpster we use. The next thing I knew I was on the ground. I had stepped into a deep rut and it threw me to the rocky ground below. Just a few microseconds of wordless thought I interpreted as "What? How'd I get down here?" and I forcefully picked myself up, making note that nothing felt broken. I tried to brush off the dust as I continued on my way to meet with the driver of the truck. 

The palm of my hand was gouged, bruised and bleeding, there was a hole in my pant leg where my knee crashed into jagged rocks. I felt like I had been kicked by a mule, but I approached the driver as if nothing was wrong. We made arrangements to move the dumpster and he was to follow me as I drove up the hill to the new location. While the pain of being body slammed into the hard packed earth was making itself more noticeable, a couple drive up in their Kubota 4-Wheeler and I wince as I try to greet our new neighbors. I feel like I am going into shock but keep forcing myself to interact with these nice folks. The dumpster gets placed in its new location, the new neighbors drive off and I slowly hobble back to my truck and go home. 

First, I gave thanks to Yahweh for keeping my bones from breaking, keeping my glasses on my face and giving me strength to finish my obligation at that time. Secondly, I pondered those microseconds of wordless thoughts; feelings that my conscience recognized as words and interpreted for my brain. I knew what was 'being said' without any words. Thirdly, I washed out my wounds with peroxide, took a couple of aspirins and put an ice pack on my neck and shoulder.

If I hadn't been distracted I would have stayed steady on the path, would have recognized the threat that the rut posed and avoided it.

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One of the online Bible study groups I visit has members who like to share videos about various topics that I, too, had discovered back in the day, but now see them as distractions. "Learn it and move on" is my attitude now because so many get wrapped up in them that they cannot move on. I realize they are sharing remarkable information and it's worth knowing some of these things. I had been there and done that... Over the years I've read the same eye opening articles revealing the truth behind life as we know it from various people who have done their own research through the years on the Bilderbergs, Rothschilds, Illuminati, Aleister Crowley, the pope, the freemason, the jesuits and on and on.  
I was a Conspiracy Theorist long before it was cool 😉

The resulting truth is we've been brainwashed from birth! We've been given over to the world system run by the "Powers that Be" and it seemed all normal to us, until now. This knowledge of the lies that have been handed down through the generations is a powerful tool that we can use to set ourselves free in order come out of the world system (ie Egypt; Babylon; Slavery; False Religions). We can choose to unplug from the matrix, but to keep dwelling on the above mentioned discoveries is what becomes a stumbling block at best, and a snare at worst. The more time we spend in this "behind the scenes" realm, the less time we spend in the Word of Elohim.

What happens to many as they continue searching these topics looking for more, they get tempted by almost anybody's post, webpage, video or blog that uses some truth (as bait) then interweave their own doctrine, imagination and other theories of fantasies that have the potential to draw one deeper into nonsense. THOSE are the sites I strongly protest against. Those places I tie in with Yah's prophesied "Strong Delusion". 

When a believer shares one of those sources to prove something, or tie it in with Scriptures, I must point out the included deceptions and warn against sharing it with the 'group' or anyone else for that matter. When that believer becomes defensive, it is clear that they've been hooked. It's a responsibility to warn fellow believers when there is a threat, or a deception veiled in truth.  

Fifteen years ago it was a lot easier to surf the web and find reliable websites which provided accurate details from combined years of research on the Dark Side of life. There's a lot more junk to dig through these days causing several rabbit trails that lead nowhere.  The truth of the matter is, the truth is being pushed into the background of cyberspace. 

Bottom line is Yahweh provided everything we need to know but we won't know it unless we read it. If we won't read it His Spirit has nothing to work with and we won't get anywhere. We accept any 'truth' without question.

Scriptures contain the highlights and lowlifes of times gone by as an example for us so that we won't make the same mistakes they did. I feel I am acting in the same way when rebuking fellow believers who seem to get stuck in a rut: don't make the same mistakes I did. 

In my zeal I may appear overbearing to some. While I don't always express my feelings with the right words or the right words get taken in the wrong way, some think me unfair and lacking love for my brothers. In this I see how distractions really lay hooks in people's imagination that when presented with facts supporting the truth of the matter, they firmly choose to defend their version of things.

I'm not talking about new-comers to the Hebrew aspect of our faith. We know even Yahweh did not lay out all His rules, laws, regulations and teachings for His people on day one; how overwhelming that would have been! But when I am interacting with fellow believers who seem to be on the same page, who are on the 'same part of the Path', and when questionable activity of some sort arises, it is my responsibility to bring it to light: first with the person and then with a couple of others who understand what's going on. After that, it is the person's responsibility to see the error of his ways and change. Also, in this process, when I take the matter to the other 2 or 3 knowledgeable ones, they may point out the error of my way; then I humbly apologize and step away from the matter and take a fresh look at the topic at hand, and stand corrected. This method of correction applies to all Set Apart believers, and this is how we behave as One People with One God. If the person of interest cannot reconcile with the truth then that person must leave the camp for at least seven days, to search and study the Word. If that person still doesn't 'see the light' then they will be cut off from the assembly. Reason being, if that person was allowed to stay in the assembly it would cause a division and therein we have the foothold of Satan.

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The other facet of distractions is what Yahweh says and what people think is OK.

If Yah says this is the way I want it done, and I say OK but I'm going to do this this and this, too.... who do I think I'm kidding? I just disobeyed the Father. 

One of the examples of this concept are Nadab and Abihu, two sons of Aaron, who being trained as priests were given specific duties. They decided to add their own ideas along with Yahweh's Instructions. They died by a fire sent from Yahweh on the spot. (Leviticus 10) 

It is obvious to me that we are not to make unauthorized, foreign or profane offerings, thinking we are pleasing or even doing better than what our Creator clearly instructed.  This points to the traditions of man, doing what he will to the point of forgetting the rules laid out by Yahweh, even forgetting His Name.

My concerns are about folks who mix and mingle tradition with Yah's set times, thinking it is perfectly alright to do so, and providing quotes out of context to support their 'intentions'.  The Passover seder is one that comes to mind. Ten days of awe is another. Camping out anywhere USA is another, thinking we're celebrating Sukkot. Chanukah, Purim, just to name a few. His Instructions are clear and we have also been instructed not to 'add to' or 'take away from' His Truth, the Word of Elohim.

And so, to close this out: 
I removed myself from that online group of nice folks I mentioned earlier, and I will spend less time on the internet because of it, and get back to immersing myself in the Word of Yahweh. I will refresh my packet of seeds of His Truth and continue scattering them here in this blog and in my 'online' group which isn't really a group. It is a depository of useful information that I pray will be helpful to anyone in need.