This 10-hour study examines the fundamentals of what God says about the heavens and earth He has created. Overall Series Themes:
- Earth is at the center of God’s creation
- Three heaven concept
- Biblical revelation supersedes observable science with its limitations
- God as Creator knows the “how’s” and “why’s” that science cannot answer
- This is introductory level material with potential for advanced courses
- Foundation for understanding both earth science and astronomy from biblical perspective
The series establishes that God’s word provides the authoritative framework for understanding the structure and operation of the heavens and earth, going beyond what observable science can determine.
Table of Contents
Lesson 1
Introduction to Biblical Earth Science and Astronomy
- Clarifies what the series is NOT about: geology, rocks, minerals, chemistry, periodic table, climatology, oceanography, or typical academic earth science topics
- Explains what it IS about: what God says about the earth and heavens He created
- Emphasizes this is “Biblical Earth Science and Astronomy course 101” – introductory level
- Notes there may be future 201 or 301 level courses for more advanced topics
- Establishes the foundation that God communicated information in His word describing what He was doing
- References Job’s response where morning stars sang together and sons of God shouted for joy at creation
Goal: to gain appreciation for God’s knowledge about earth and heavens, causing us to sing and shout for joy
Lesson 2
More Building Terminology
Main Theme: God as Builder of the Earth
- God’s Questions to Job: God will ask Job questions starting with His creation of the earth
- Building Concept: God talks about creation as “building something” – specifically building the earth as a residence
- Biblical Foundation: Consistent with passages in Proverbs 8, Psalm 104, and other scriptures
Key Biblical Passages Discussed
Job 38:1-4:
- God answers Job out of the whirlwind
- Challenges Job’s knowledge: “Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?”
- Central question: **”Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?”**
Foundations of the Earth Concept
- Psalm 104: Previously examined passage about earth’s foundations
- Isaiah 24: References the LORD’s day of wrath after this dispensation of grace
- Future Events: Windows from on high will open again (similar to the flood, but with additional elements)
Earth’s Structural Integrity
- Earthquake Imagery: Buildings in earthquakes shake, move off foundations, and crumble
- Earth as Structure: The earth itself will quake as one big object during God’s day of wrath
- Biblical Description: Earth will “reel to and fro like a drunken” (Isaiah 24:20)
- Cause: The earth’s foundations will shake
Key Point
- God’s Perspective: God built the earth with foundations, just as human buildings have foundations
- Future Judgment: These foundations will be affected during the LORD’s day of wrath
Lesson 3
Basic Illustrative Structure for Creation
Main Focus: Building Upon Previous Lessons
- Continuation: Building on concepts from Psalm 104 and further amplification
- Additional Passages: References to Job 38, Proverbs 8, Psalms 95 that amplify creation details from Genesis 1
- Foundational Text: Genesis 1:1-3 as the basic framework
Key Biblical Passages
- “Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty”
- “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: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind”
Genesis 1:1-3:
- “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth”
- “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep”
- “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters”
Current Study Focus
- Specific Emphasis: Verse 2 and first part of verse 3 of Psalm 104
- Synopsis Function: These verses provide additional description of Genesis 1:1-2
- Basic Structure: Understanding the general structure of creation and how God wants us to view the heavens and earth
God’s Chambers and the Waters
- Future Focus: Will examine the earth itself in detail later
- Key Concept: God “laying the beams of his chambers in the waters”
- Connection: This describes what’s happening in Genesis 1:1-3
- Spirit’s Activity: When the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, He was laying the beams of God’s chambers in those waters
Lesson 4
Key Topics Covered:
The Three Heavens Structure:
- Open Firmament of Heaven – The atmosphere around Earth where birds fly
- Closed Firmament of Heaven – What we call “outer space,” which is off-limits to mankind
- Third Heaven – God’s realm where He dwells, outside the realm of creation
Main Points:
- The Closed Firmament – Though not explicitly called “closed” in Genesis, it’s evident that the realm beyond where birds fly is considered closed to human access.
- The lesson suggests mankind shouldn’t spend time trying to access outer space due to dangers there that humans cannot handle.
- God’s Realm (Third Heaven) – This is not a “vast wasteland” or unreal place, but actual “real estate” – God’s estate with many locations and places, just as there are chambers in the closed firmament.
- Paul’s Experience – References II Corinthians 12 where Paul was “caught up into the third heaven” (God’s realm) and specifically into “paradise” (a particular place within the third heaven).
Scripture References:
Psalm 104
Genesis 1
Job 37
II Corinthians 12
The lesson emphasizes understanding the biblical structure of creation and God’s design for different realms within His creation.
Lesson 5
Earth Designed as God’s Residence
- Isaiah 45:18 – the earth’s entire purpose is habitation
- Jacob’s vision at Bethel, Gen 28:10-19
- Rev 21 – New Jerusalem descends out of heaven from God landing on the prepared earth
- The six days of creation systematically replicate the environment of the 3rd heaven
- Earth is being prepared not merely as a temporary stage but as the eternal site of God’s reign in the dispensation of the fulness of times
Lesson 6
The 3rd Heaven Replicated on Earth (cont’d)
- Satan’s rebellion, Isa 14, Ezk 28
- Materials of the Heavenly Jerusalem, Rev 21
- Moses’ tabernacle as patterned precisely after the heavenly original
- Rev 4 – the throne room
- Psalm 148:4 – the waters above above the closed firmament are a literal feature of the 3rd heaven
Lesson 7
Paradise and the Garden of Eden
- Eden is not merely an earthly garden – it originates in the 3rd heaven as God’s own paradise & is replicated on earth
- Ezk 28:13 – Satan was in Eden, the garden of God in the 3rd heaven
- Gen 2:4-8 – the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden (Eden is the larger district)
- Geographical parameters; the 4 rivers (Pishon. Gihon, Hiddekel/Tigris, Euphrates)
- Ecc 2:4-6 _ “pardes” (paradise) used of a king’s garden – a place of rest.
- The Flood dramatically altered the earth’s geography, eliminating the original garden design
- At the cross, paradise was relocated – moved from the heart of the earth
Lesson 8
Key Focus: Genesis 1:2 and God’s Purpose for Earth
Main Scripture: Genesis 1:2 – “And the earth was without form, and void”
Core Teaching Points:
- Earth’s Initial State vs. God’s Intent:
- The earth was initially “without form and void” (empty, uninhabitable)
- This was NOT God’s final intention for the earth.
- References Isaiah 45:18: “he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited”
- The Six Days of Creation Process:
- God didn’t leave earth in its formless, void state
- The six days involved “creation, making, forming and shaping”
- By day seven, God had completed His work (Genesis 2:3)
- Addressing the “Gap Theory”:
- Some suggest there’s a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 where something catastrophic happened
- Argues this misses the point – the account shows God’s progressive work
- Day one began with earth “without form and void,” but God used that day plus five more to transform it
- Purpose for the Angelic Realm:
- The creation process demonstrated to angels that this earth was special
- God was preparing it to be inhabited – specifically by Himself
- Before God takes residence, He populates it with creatures similar to those in the third heaven
Key Insight: The earth was designed from the beginning to be God’s dwelling place, and the six-day creation process was the forming and shaping needed to make it suitable for His residence and similar to His heavenly environment.
Lesson 9
Biblical Astronomy and the Heavenly Places
- Focuses on Biblical Astronomy after covering earth science through lesson 8
- Deals with the closed firmament of heaven – the second heaven
- Covers the three heaven concept with earth at the center of creation
- Addresses the structure of the universe according to biblical revelation
- Notes they don’t discuss specific stars, Mazzaroth, Pleiades, etc. but lay foundation for future study
- Emphasizes this is fundamental and basic study
- Mentions the spheroid shape of creation and completing their diagram
- References the ordinances of heaven and how they keep stars and planets in place
- Explains the firmament has strength, substance, and solidity despite modern “vacuum” concepts
Lesson 10
Changes and Alterations
- Final lesson in the series dealing with changes and alterations in heaven and earth
- Covers alterations that took place at the time of the flood judgment
- Discusses future changes that will occur in the day of the Lord
- Addresses preparation for the new heavens and new earth
- Mentions the dispensation of the fullness of times
- Provides “respectable conclusion” to the series
- Notes there’s much more that could be covered but focuses on fundamental issues essential for further development
- Emphasizes these are foundational concepts that more advanced studies can build upon