Did the "Great Flood" cover the whole earth, part of it, or none? Why?

Question

You know.... Noah and his family.... Did they really escape a flood that covered the whole earth?

Answer 1

http://home.mn.rr.com/classictv/Gilligan'sThemeSong.html

Answer 2

That's how the story goes.

Supposedly, before the flood, the entire Earth was covered by a firmament of mist that would descend at night and water the Earth and then evaporate back into the sky during the day.
And then something happened. Whether God triggered it, or a meteor triggered it, or God triggered a meteor which triggered it, a flood happened. If a meteor was to hit the Earth, it would kick up all kinds of dust, which would be kicked up into the air all over. Dust particles would attach themselves to the gaseous water in the air, and it would start to rain.
In the Bible, it says that rain was previously unknown, I think...
So now it's raining all over the place, this misty firmament is destroyed and coming down on everyone. That's where Noah comes in and builds an ark.

The flood would've covered most all of the Earth, high enough to cover the Ararat Mountains, where the ark is supposed to have landed, but did it cover higher peaks than those? Who knows?

LOTS of early cultures have a story about a great flood, like in the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Also, it's believed (by some) that a lot of the Grand Canyon was carved by the great flood, as some of the fossils found in DIFFERENT layers of the canyon have creatures that look like they were covered while being washed away.

EDIT: I was reading some of the other comments, one said that God wanted to scare people into behaving, but the Bible says he promised not to flood the entire Earth ever again, so that's out.

Answer 3

When one examines the biblical passages, it is clear that the flood was global. Genesis 7:11 states that "all of the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened." It is apparent from Genesis 1:6-7 and 2:6 that the pre-flood environment was much different from that which we experience today. Based on these and other biblical descriptions, as well as the fossil record and present geological findings, it is reasonably speculated that at one time the earth was covered by some kind of water canopy. This canopy could have been a vapor canopy or could have consisted of rings, somewhat like Saturn's ice rings. This, in combination with a major layer of water underground, both being released upon the land (Genesis 2:6) would have resulted in a global flood.

The clearest verses that show the extent of the flood are Genesis 7:19-23: "And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive."

In the above passage we not only find the word "all" being used repeatedly, but we also find phrases such as "and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered," "the waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered" (enough to allow the ark to pass over them safely), and "all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man," etc. If these descriptions are not meant to describe a universal flood covering the whole earth, I don't know how God could have made it clearer. Also, if the flood was only localized, why did God instruct Noah to build an ark instead of merely causing the animals to migrate and telling Noah to do the same? And why did He instruct Noah to build an ark large enough to house all of the different kinds of land animals found on the earth today. One might note that even dinosaurs start out small, and it would not have been necessary for Noah to have brought fully grown animals onto the ark.

God did instruct Noah to put two of every land animal (aquatic wildlife was excluded) onto the ark (Genesis 6:19-22) with the exception of ceremonial clean animals and for all birds, of which he was to have seven of each kind on the ark (Genesis 7:2-3).

Peter also describes the universality of the flood in 2 Peter 3:6-7 in which he states: "by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." In these verses Peter compares the "universal" coming judgment to the flood of Noah's time and states that the world that then existed was flooded with water. Also, God’s promise (Genesis 8:21; 9:11, 15) never again to send such a flood has been broken repeatedly if it were only a local flood. Further, all men in the world today are said to have descended from Noah’s three sons (Genesis 9:1, 19) and many later Biblical writers accepted the historicity of the worldwide Flood (Isaiah 54:9; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5; Hebrews 11:7). Lastly, the Lord Jesus Christ believed in the universal Flood and took it as the type of the coming destruction of the world when He returns (Matthew 24:37-39; Luke 17:26, 27).

There are many extra-biblical evidences that point to a worldwide catastrophe such as a global flood. The vast fossil graveyards found on every continent, the large amount of coal deposits that would require the rapid covering of vast quantities of vegetation, the fact that oceanic fossils are found upon mountain tops around the world, the over 270 flood stories from all parts of the world, and the large extent of geological formations showing vast layers of sedimentary deposits (including those found in the Grand Canyon) all lend credence to the occurrence of a global flood.

Answer 4

They escaped a flood that covered the entire Earth. There would not have been a flood if it covered none of the Earth. If the flood covered only part of it, there would have been those that found high ground, and would have survived. This only leaves that the flood covered every square inch of ground on Earth. Only a flood that completely covered the Earth could have destroyed all living things not in the Ark.

Answer 5

First, is not the idea of the whole earth’s being flooded too farfetched? Not really. Indeed, to some extent the earth is still flooded. Seventy percent of it is covered by water and only 30 percent is dry land. Moreover, 75 percent of the earth’s fresh water is locked up in glaciers and polar ice caps. If all this ice were to melt, the sea level would rise much higher. Cities like New York and Tokyo would disappear.

Other possible evidence of a drastic change: Remains of mammoths and rhinoceroses have been found in different parts of the earth. Some of these were found in Siberian cliffs; others were preserved in Siberian and Alaskan ice. In fact, some were found with food undigested in their stomachs or still unchewed in their teeth, indicating that they died suddenly. It is estimated, from the trade in ivory tusks, that bones of tens of thousands of such mammoths have been found. The fossil remains of many other animals, such as lions, tigers, bears, and elk, have been found in common strata, which may indicate that all of these were destroyed simultaneously. Some have pointed to such finds as definite physical proof of a rapid change in climate and sudden destruction caused by a universal flood.

Some have tried to discredit the Bible by saying it is inaccurate. However, in recent years archaeologists have dug into the ruins of ancient cities in Bible lands and have found inscriptions and other evidence proving conclusively that the persons and places mentioned even in the oldest Bible records actually existed. They have unearthed much evidence pointing to a global deluge, which the Bible says took place more than 4,000 years ago, in Noah’s day. On this point, Prince Mikasa, a well-known archaeologist, stated: “Was there really a Flood? The fact that the flood actually took place has been convincingly proved.”

Just as some people have scoffed about the Bible, others scoff about there being an Almighty God. They say, ‘How can I believe in God, since I cannot see him? Is there proof that an invisible Creator, higher than man, really exists? Does not God dwell in everything?’ Others say, ‘There is no God or Buddha.’ However, the Bible shows that just as all of us received life through an earthly father, so our original ancestors received life from a heavenly Father, or Creator, the same denial holds true in the belief of a flood.

Answer 6

1.) The bible says, concerning the waters: "They rose greatly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered." ~ Gen. 7:19

In spite of this, some Christians would like to claim that the flood was local.

To that we have

2.)Geographically, there is no way that a local, Mesopotamian flood could have occurred. Anything Christian arguing this must assume that a miracle occurred to keep the water in that area from spilling out.

In Love.

Answer 7

because of the fact the Grand Canyon grew to become into formed in approximately 5 minutes, at 5x the cost of sound... ok, honest sufficient.. i will play. Water on that scale does not freeze into chunks, such as you're suggesting with the polar ice cap concept, if it did freeze, the full of the sea may be ice, no longer in basic terms the ice caps. And besides, why is it on the factors on the globe and not everywhere else? Mountains: Mountains have been shown to be plenty older than 6000 years, plenty plenty older, they have been formed for the period of the "toddler" ranges of the earth, whilst magma decrease than the exterior compelled the plates jointly and "uplift" took over. (by utilizing the way, mountains are turning out to be larger and larger with each passing year, the Himalayas are growing to be at purely over 1cm a year) The Hawaiian Islands have been formed that way too, basically we can see islands and toddler mountains being formed immediately. the quantity of kinetic skill a international flood might want to conceal the full planet, might straight away vaporize something it touches. no longer in basic terms that however the stress from a six mile intense flood (sufficient to conceal the Himalayas) might weigh down something it comes into touch with. to no longer point out it would require 8x situations greater water that the full quantity on earth immediately. very final verdict: a international flood on the biblical scale might decimate the planet, yet here we are...

Answer 8

Yes, it is true and it covered the entire earth. every Continent shows evidence where it experienced a flood. Science teaches about it as a theory, so do biology classes. The land masses fit together the flood separated them.

Answer 9

The flood did not cover the whole Earth. It is possible that a populated area was flooded. It is likely that there was no flood, and the story in the Bible was created to scare people into behaving a certain way in fear that if they disobey God will drown them.

Answer 10

I think there was a flood in the area the Bible was written. Personally, I think the Bible and Koran are a bunch of fairy tales to scare people so they can get political and economic control.
Religion is the biggest con job ever. (Now watch the "holies" get all upset over this.)

Answer 11

Bible says it coverd the whole earth. and there is evidance of this. even scientist have proven there was a world wide flood. some just choose to not asociate it with the Bible it all.

as well as proof that the ark was big enough to hold every kind of animal that needed to be on the ark. as well as food. even enough room for dinos. as well as it was proven that the ark was a perfect shape to float even with storms.