swimupriver's Blog

"FIRMAMENT:

1. Fixed foundation; established basis.

2. The region of the air; the sky or heavens.

3. (Old Astron.) The orb of the fixed stars; the most remote of the celestial spheres" (Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary).



Ok here goes... "God said 'Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.' Thus 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. So the evening and the morning were the second day. Then God said, 'Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together under one place, and let the dry land appear'; and it was so" (Genesis 1:6-9).



WHAT IS THE FIRMAMENT!?



"Then God said, 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons , and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth'; and it was so. Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth..." (Genesis 1:14-17).



When I first started reading this the firmament almost sounded like a barrier above the earth that had water on it. But since it would be outside the earth's atmosphere the waters on the firmament would be exposed to the freezing temperatures of space. Therefore the water would freeze. This would stand for the theory in the earlier days of earth during the ice age that all the animas of the ice age like the mammoth and saber tooth tiger lived on top of the firmament in the cold weather. While underneath it was a warm tropical place, the firmament served like a greenhouse which would've allowed the dinosaurs and other animals to live. Then when global warming occurred the ice would melt, which would cause flooding over the earth and the firmament to crumble. The temperatures would then be too warm for the ice animals, which would now be on earth and they would die off. While at the same time the sudden change in temperature would be too cold for the dinosaurs and they would become extinct.



But then as I read on, God called the firmament Heaven, and placed the stars, sun and moon in it. This would make that idea not possible. Unless, the firmament was just a figure of speech and not actually existent. But then if the firmament surrounded our universe then some of the stars that our best telescopes and satellites can see that our outside of our galaxy would not be visible.



I am immensely confused!!!

Any ideas or theories what the firmament is or supposed to be?

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Informational Sites

(the first one is the best site! the second... not so much but it's there anyways)

http://www.sentex.net/~tcc/firma1.html

http://www.answersingenesis.org/tj/v13/i2/firmament.asp

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Biography

firmament. (n.d.). Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. Retrieved June 30, 2008, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/firmament



Precious Moments Bible. Gen. 1:6-9, 14-17. NKJV ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1985.

Quick thought...



It was never written in the Bible that the animals on Noah's Ark were adults. You would be able to fit many more on it much more easily if they were all babies.



Doesn't that make sense?

How many of you are totally confused? Meaning when your at school or job and you have an opportunity to share the love of Christ but dont or Christ is brought up in a conversation and you dont say anything; your history teacher gives a one sided view of Christianity and you dont give the other. You want to share, start to, and then change your mind. I've definitely been guilty of that and know there must be others.



There are many different types of people, each having their own reason to avoid speaking up. For those who are not outgoing and prefer to be silent find that there throat is suddenly dry. Or who cant be quiet and love to please the crowd; don't want to bring up a touchy subject. Im not making excuses, there are none. It is difficult for all people; all for different reasons. We each have our struggles/burdens that hold us back. Queasiness from large crowds; fear of being judged; not used to speaking up; or not being a talker, the list goes on and on.



Most people just dont like bringing up a touchy subject, one that might offend people or start an argument. But they dont get the point. Even if you share about the love of Christ and the person blows you off; you've planted a seed. And what happens to seeds after awhile? They grow. All they need is some sun and water.



Talking about the love of Christ with non-christians is touchy. But you eventually will. Its inevitable. A lot like that awkward, conversation with your parents about $%!!. That is also inevitable, awkward, and non avoidable.



I thought Id throw that in so that you could kind of get the picture that these types of conversations can't be avoided. So why not make it worth it and lead someone to Christ?

I absolutely love writing stories. The problem is that I can't figure out how to give God the glory with them. Writing fiction about life is easy... it's including God in the stories that is difficult. Have any wisdom to share?