[_ Old Earth _] The earth is a sphere.

[John]

Atheistic critics of the scriptures often attacked Christianity by falsely exclaiming that the bible actually declares that "the earth is flat." They have quoted 2 scriptural passages that simply express normal bible colloquial expressions about the earth including the phrase, "the four corners of the earth" which appear in both isaiah 11:12 and revelation 7:1 For example, the prophet isaiah wrote" And he shall set up ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of isreal, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth " This common expression "four corners of the earth" also appear in the text of the New testament in the book of revelation, where the prophet john wrote, "And after these things i saw 4 angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the 4 winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. Revelation 7:1

The expression was common in ancient times and is still used today by many educated individuals in a colloquial manner without ever intending to express the ridiculous view that critics foolishly suggest implies that the speaker actually intended to express his belief in a "flat earth"

The truth is that god actually inspired the ancient prophet Isaiah to revel that our planet was a globe. The fact that our earth is a shpere was scientific knowledge that was far in advance of what the men living 2500 years ago actually knew. However, the prophet isaiah wrote about god's creation of the sphere of the earth as follows: It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth , and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that strecheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in. Isaiah 40:22

The expression "the circle of the earth clearly refers to the earth as a sphere or globe

Food for thought:

Even thus shall it be in the day when the son of man is revealed Luke 17:30

Several versus later Jesus again described the same event by saying Christ will come at night.

I tell you, in that night there shall be 2 men in one bed; the one shall be taken and the other left. Luke 17"34

To the logical mind of a reader in the first century, Jesus words must have sounded like a contradiction, but then many years later scientists discovered that the earth was indeed a sphere or globe , so whenever that day is when Christ returns, it will be day for some and night for others.

 

[Dunzo]

It's a nice change to see a straight forward, relatively logical post on here.

I think the Bible is ambiguous on this matter. I'd just like to point out that you've demonstrated yourself that the Bible contains contradictions. Well done.

While your first quote:

It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth

is fine, the following ones aren't so convincing:

Food for thought:

Even thus shall it be in the day when the son of man is revealed Luke 17:30

Several versus later Jesus again described the same event by saying Christ will come at night.

I tell you, in that night there shall be 2 men in one bed; the one shall be taken and the other left. Luke 17"34

To the logical mind of a reader in the first century, Jesus words must have sounded like a contradiction, but then many years later scientists discovered that the earth was indeed a sphere or globe , so whenever that day is when Christ returns, it will be day for some and night for others.

Ehhh, I'm not buying it. Far too ambiguous in nature.

 

[Heidi]

It's a nice change to see a straight forward, relatively logical post on here.

I think the Bible is ambiguous on this matter. I'd just like to point out that you've demonstrated yourself that the Bible contains contradictions. Well done.

While your first quote:

It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth

is fine, the following ones aren't so convincing:

Food for thought:

Even thus shall it be in the day when the son of man is revealed Luke 17:30

Several versus later Jesus again described the same event by saying Christ will come at night.

I tell you, in that night there shall be 2 men in one bed; the one shall be taken and the other left. Luke 17"34

To the logical mind of a reader in the first century, Jesus words must have sounded like a contradiction, but then many years later scientists discovered that the earth was indeed a sphere or globe , so whenever that day is when Christ returns, it will be day for some and night for others.

Ehhh, I'm not buying it. Far too ambiguous in nature.

It's only ambiguous to the man without the Holy Spirit as 1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us. So you prove the bible right that one can't understand the bible without the Holy Spirit.

And as far as first century knowledge of the earth, you'll notice that the people of the bible knew the earth was round long before "scientists" ever did. ;-) I wonder why that is? ;-)

 

[John]

Dunzo please explain why that is a contradiction, when Jesus comes its gonna be day on one side of the earth and night on the other.

 

[Dunzo]

Dunzo please explain why that is a contradiction, when Jesus comes its gonna be day on one side of the earth and night on the other.

That's not the explicitly contradictory part. The contradictions come in "Four corners of the Earth" and the "Circle of the Earth". See the incongruence there?

I just found the day and night quotes to be ambiguous as there's no explicit mention of the opposite sides of the world.

 

[Heidi]

Dunzo please explain why that is a contradiction, when Jesus comes its gonna be day on one side of the earth and night on the other.

That's not the explicitly contradictory part. The contradictions come in "Four corners of the Earth" and the "Circle of the Earth". See the incongruence there?

I just found the day and night quotes to be ambiguous as there's no explicit mention of the opposite sides of the world.

When the bible refers to "corners" it's referring to directions. The four corners symbolize as far as anyone can go in any direction, north, south, east or west. So you can't have tunnel vision when you read the bible or you'll miss most of it.

 

[John]

Dunzo please explain why that is a contradiction, when Jesus comes its gonna be day on one side of the earth and night on the other.

That's not the explicitly contradictory part. The contradictions come in "Four corners of the Earth" and the "Circle of the Earth". See the incongruence there?

I just found the day and night quotes to be ambiguous as there's no explicit mention of the opposite sides of the world.

"The expression was common in ancient times and is still used today by many educated individuals in a colloquial manner without ever intending to express the ridiculous view that critics foolishly suggest implies that the speaker actually intended to express his belief in a "flat earth"

with all the other valid scientific things mentioned in the bible, do you really think one can be so stupid as to believe the earth is flat?

 

[Dunzo]

Dunzo please explain why that is a contradiction, when Jesus comes its gonna be day on one side of the earth and night on the other.

That's not the explicitly contradictory part. The contradictions come in "Four corners of the Earth" and the "Circle of the Earth". See the incongruence there?

I just found the day and night quotes to be ambiguous as there's no explicit mention of the opposite sides of the world.

"The expression was common in ancient times and is still used today by many educated individuals in a colloquial manner without ever intending to express the ridiculous view that critics foolishly suggest implies that the speaker actually intended to express his belief in a "flat earth"

with all the other valid scientific things mentioned in the bible, do you really think one can be so stupid as to believe the earth is flat?

While I doubt that the term was used in ancient times, there's still the example of "Pillars of the earth" from 1 Samuel 2:8.

 

[John]

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them.


These appear in the description of Solomon's Temple, 1 Kings 7:15-22 and 2 Chronicles 3L14-17. The pillars are named Boaz (severity) and Jachim (mercy).


world can mean people in general; especially a distinctive group of people with some shared interest, it does not have to be the earth.

the pillars of the "earth" = mercy,severity (pillars being figurative)
and he set "us" upon them

No? that was just on the top of my head, i will dig deeper into his tomorrow, its late here *yawn*

 

[Free]

Before things get carried away in here, "in the day" or "in that day" does not at all necessarily mean "in the daytime". It's a a phrase used to indicate that there will be a point in time when such and such will occur.

And no, there is absolutely no contradiction between the "four corners of the Earth", the "circle of the Earth", or the "pillars of the Earth"--these are metaphors. We all use such metaphors for a variety of things and yet we wouldn't think we are in contradiction.

 

[Dunzo]

Oh, I see. So it's a metaphor when it's wrong when taken literally. Makes sense now.

 

[freeway]

# Psalm 103:12
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Here is another quote from the bible that I believe proves that man prior to knowing the earth was round was told it was round. Now just by reading pass this passage one does not give it much thought, but if you really study it and look at it closer you find this... all scripture is given to man from God, so with that in mind lets look. if you start at the north pole how far do you travel until you are going a different direction? answer of course when you reach the south pole, then you start your journey back up toward north. Now if you start in California and start heading east how far can you go until you are heading in a different direction? never you are always facing east! so if scripture is not given by God, then how would this man know this, if man thought the world was flat as some say, then you could only go so far and then north south east and west would end..the point is did this man know the earth was round, or did he get his info from God, and of course God knows..

 

[Jayls5]

So in a nutshell, the bible shouldn't be taken literally?

 

[John]

So in a nutshell, the bible shouldn't be taken literally?

Literally first, figuratively second.

 

[Guest]

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[Dunzo]

Actually I was referring to the "four corners of the Earth" and the "circle of the earth" parts. They're obviously contradictory.

 

[John]

Actually I was referring to the "four corners of the Earth" and the "circle of the earth" parts. They're obviously contradictory.

I already struck down the "four corners of the earth" claim

 

[Dunzo]

Actually I was referring to the "four corners of the Earth" and the "circle of the earth" parts. They're obviously contradictory.

I already struck down the "four corners of the earth" claim

Not without claiming it must be taken figuratively while the entirety of the rest of the bible must be taken literally. Bit hypocritical, no?

 

[John]

Actually I was referring to the "four corners of the Earth" and the "circle of the earth" parts. They're obviously contradictory.

I already struck down the "four corners of the earth" claim

Not without claiming it must be taken figuratively while the entirety of the rest of the bible must be taken literally. Bit hypocritical, no?

i siad it should be taken literaly first, figuratively second. Besides many figurative scripture can be allpied to literal occurances.

 

[Jayls5]

Because analytically, logically & scientifically, since our solar system do not contain two (2) suns, the Earth is spherical & as a result photonic sun light can not shine upon it 100% of the planet simultaneously (currently we have 24 times zones upon Earth), therefore when the rapture (or, the "caught-up") call occurs the Bible (Matthew 24:40 & Luke 17:36) declare(s) & physics, etc dictate(s) that, there will be +1½ on the planet receiving photonic sun light & -1½ not receiving photonic sun light, everytime that there's daytime on one (+1½) half, or side of the Earth there's also nighttime on the other one (-1½) half, or side of the planet.

Why are you saying 1.5 sides of earth receive sun while 1.5 sides don't? There are 3 sides?