Continued from last...
ASTRONOMY:
Earth as a Sphere
Much of world history held to the notion that the world was flat. The earliest extra-biblical reference to the world's spherical shape is generally considered to have come from a Greek mathematician named Pythagoras, about 500 B.C. This was not scientifically proved until 230 B.C. by another Greek mathematician named Erotosthenes. It was not until "in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue" that all questions of the world being flat were forever answered (even though some groups of fools still try and argue that the world is flat). What did the Bible have to say about the shape of the Earth hundreds of years before these mathematicians were even born?
"It is He who sits above the [circle] of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in." Isaiah 40:22
The word translated "circle" here is the Hebrew word chuwg (תוג),
which, literally translated, means "sphere" or "ball". It is used in
ancient Hebrew literature to describe the ball that a child plays with.
Expanding Universe
Science has recently concluded that space is racing (expanding) in every direction at a speed of approximately 216,000 km/hr (or about 134 miles/hr). This has been verified through experiments performed by the Hubble Telescope and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. This rate of expansion of the universe is referred to as the "Hubble Constant". Isaiah speaks of God's stretching forth the heavens in the verse above and also in chapter 42 and verse 5. It is interesting to note that a number of verses speak with regard to God stretching forth the heavens (expansion of the universe), and they do so in the present tense, which is precisely what we witness today. The universe continues to expand! The author of the following Psalm wrote over 1000 years B.C.:
Science has recently concluded that space is racing (expanding) in every direction at a speed of approximately 216,000 km/hr (or about 134 miles/hr). This has been verified through experiments performed by the Hubble Telescope and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. This rate of expansion of the universe is referred to as the "Hubble Constant". Isaiah speaks of God's stretching forth the heavens in the verse above and also in chapter 42 and verse 5. It is interesting to note that a number of verses speak with regard to God stretching forth the heavens (expansion of the universe), and they do so in the present tense, which is precisely what we witness today. The universe continues to expand! The author of the following Psalm wrote over 1000 years B.C.:
"Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, Thou art very great; Thou art clothed with splendor and majesty, Covering Thyself with light as with a cloak, Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain." Psalm 104:1-2
Suspended Earth
"Throughout the centuries philosophers, theologians and scientists have speculated about the resting place of planet earth. Upon what or whom the earth is resting became an important part of mythology in many ancient cultures. To the ancient Greeks the candidates were Atlas or Hercules. The Hindus believed that elephants or turtles were the pillars upon which the earth rested.
"Throughout the centuries philosophers, theologians and scientists have speculated about the resting place of planet earth. Upon what or whom the earth is resting became an important part of mythology in many ancient cultures. To the ancient Greeks the candidates were Atlas or Hercules. The Hindus believed that elephants or turtles were the pillars upon which the earth rested.
The
fact of a free floating earth was apparently foreign to most ancient
cultures. In a world where all objects fall rapidly to their
destruction, such a suggestion must have been terrifying. However, in
the book of Job, commonly believed to be the oldest book in the Bible,
we find an astonishing piece of scientific foreknowledge. While speaking of the incredible power of God, Job states of the earth."
(Cosmology Rediscovered)
"He stretches out the north over empty space, And hangs the earth on nothing. He wraps up the waters in His clouds; And the cloud does not burst under them. He obscures the face of the full moon, And spreads His cloud over it. He has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters, At the boundary of light and darkness." Job 26:7-10
Sun's Rotation Around Milky Way
For decades, skeptics used to point to the verses below and say that the sun does not travel on a circular path—only the planets do this.
For decades, skeptics used to point to the verses below and say that the sun does not travel on a circular path—only the planets do this.
"The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course. Its rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat." Psalm 19:1-6
"We now know that the sun moves in a 'circuit' or circular course, at speeds approaching 600,000 miles per hour, within one of the spiral arms of the Milky Way Galaxy. In turn, the Milky Way is hurtling through space at an estimated 2,000,000 miles per hour!"
(Cosmology Rediscovered)
Constellation Disposition
In this century alone, we have recently discovered that the stars of Pleiades are gravitationally bound. They used to be called the "Seven Sisters" by constellation buffs. We have also only recently learned that the stars of Orion are not gravitationally bound. Imagine, 4,000 years ago the book of Job had these words to say:
In this century alone, we have recently discovered that the stars of Pleiades are gravitationally bound. They used to be called the "Seven Sisters" by constellation buffs. We have also only recently learned that the stars of Orion are not gravitationally bound. Imagine, 4,000 years ago the book of Job had these words to say:
"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, Or loose the cords of Orion? Can you lead forth a constellation in its season, And guide the Bear with her satellites?" Job 38:31-32
To be continued...