Genesis 1.1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.?

Question

"quotes" from the KJ version.
Q1. I believe that "the earth" is this planet that we live on. But what and where is "the heaven"?
Q2. Verse 2. ....."And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Where did the waters come crom since there is no mention of them up to this point... (verse 2) Was the earth and the water all together "without form, and void;")? or what.
Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

Interesting set of questions, of which I have asked myself many years ago. Christians should know what they believe in. But if we're told amiss, and lies, and lead astray, how then can we know the truth that God tells us in His Word?
The phrase, "In the beginning, Heb. resheyth, means, at the first order, or first fruits, the beginning,etc Only recently have scientist confirmed that the universe indeed had a beginning. A beginning that all Christians who read Genesis 1:! knew long,long, centuries ago!!!
The heavens mentioned in Genesis 1:1 can be referring to the stars, planets, comets, moons, galaxies, etc. or it can be referring to the atmosphere or sky. Ask yourself this question: If the earth is said to be, 'without form and void' could not the heavens be the same way? In which case, the atmosphere or sky would definitely be the correct way to interpret the Heb. shamiyah, if I've spelled it right here.
Scientists (planetologist) tell us that earth possibly got most of its water from the many thousands of comet collisions in the distant past with earth! But i feel in my studies of the early earth, that the earth was like a dirty snowball itself! And when the different elements separated, like iron and other heavy metal sank to the center of the earth, the snow and ice melted and eventually filled earths deep basins! That's just my theory . . it's free, no extra charge.
At any rate, God did it, whether he created it in one 24 hour day, which I personally strongely doubt, or each 'day' of Genesis is a time period of perhaps tens of millions of years, which I believe . . . After all, look at how long day seven of creation is going on . . it is still going on to this day!!!

Answer 2

Harold: Great questions ! There are 3 heavens ! The first being the atmosphere surrounding this orb we live on; the second being the cosmos (sun, stars, galaxies etc.) and the third one being the place where God dwells (see: II Corinthians Chapter 12, verse 2 of the New Testament).
Although the real Beginning of this earth is mentioned in the Book of John, Chapter 1, verse 1 of the New Testament, what you are reading in the opening chapter of Genesis is of a earth already in existence for countless millions of years but became in a state of wreck and havoc re:"without form and void" (the original Hebrew text renders this as a state of chaos and ruin) ! The earth was undergoing a make over by God, to accommodate the "human being" phase of God's, Devine Plan, starting with Adam and Eve. The "waters" were the left overs from the age prior to this one. Later; the earth became flooded again (Noah's Ark) after the human creation had dissipated into continual, evil thoughts and actions! God promised that He would never again, destroy the earth with flood waters but He never assured us, that the earth would not degenerate into a state of evil and total selfishness; whereby, He would have to step-in and regenerate the earth again. It seems to be the tendency for the human race, as it becomes degenerate through sin and evil, to become selfish and to destroy the earth - hence, "Global Warming" - co-incidence ?

P.S. Water is used to symbolize a cleaning process - a type of sancitifcation like the Holy Spirit given at baptism to a person being drawn to God, the Father through Jesus Christ.

Answer 3

In the Bible there are three different "heavens" referred to. The sky, with the clouds, etc is referred to as "heaven". It is also used for "outer space", the sun, moon, and stars and planets. It can also refer to the spiritual realm in which God the Father, angels, etc have their residence.

There is debate over what "heavens" were created in Genesis 1. It is possible that it refers only to the formation of a "breathable atmosphere" on the earth, allowing for the existence of the rest of the universe for millions of years before that (as science currently theorizes). It may refer to the entire physical universe, but not to the spiritual heaven (allowing time for a fall of satan and other events in God's "heaven" before the creation of man), or it may refer to all three being formed at once.

If you continue to read in Genesis 1, there was no "earth" on earth. The whole planet was originally covered with water. On the second day, God separated the water and allowed the dry land to appear. So the water was there at the beginning of creation.

Answer 4

Answer 1. Heaven is beyond our view. Whether one wishes to call it another "dimension" or "invisible." One could also say that it borders on the edge of our Universe. That is the best I can say.

Answer 2. I would say that "the waters" was the best way for God to describe nothingness to the small mind of man. Or it could be space or just that water. God could have created it and did not tell us as the Bible is to guide us and show us how and why we were created. It is not a "How" book, though there is plenty therein.

Without form and void would tell me that there was not even a dust mote out there. God created from scratch. This is the best I can do. I am sure you could google out some reference books and let the scholars earn their keep.

Answer 5

Yes, the earth is our planet, the "physical" heavens are the stars out in space.
When God created the earth, He created it with both land, and water, first the land, then the water. And, I believe that before He made them the heavens, the earth, the waters, the animals and plants, were without a "physical" form, but not without a spiritual form.
It's my belief that it all existed on the same plane of existance.

Answer 6

Yes the world was created with land and water together, in Genesis 1vs 2 that's what the face of the deep is water. The heaven he refers to is the air and sky. I used The Strongs Concordance to find the original Hebrew word(heaven) and it's meaning : the word is "shameh" it means to be lofty , as in the sky, alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move and even beyond that as in space. Hope that helps

Answer 7

Q 1: I am told there are three heavens. Here on earth, the sky above, and the space above that. All in different dimensions from ours.

Q2: I don't know. I've never thought about it. Excellent question.

Answer 8

Heaven is the City of God or Zion....described in Revelation...streets of gold, gates of pearl etc....but it never says where it is other than above the earth.

Yes the water and the earth was all together without form and void.

Answer 9

Heaven is up above the firmament. The firmament is where god embedded all the lights that we call the sun, moon, planets, and stars. Do not believe those "astronomical theories" about there being other heavenly bodies. The only other heavenly bodies are angels.

As far as how high up heaven is, the bible never clearly says but you can climb up to it with a long ladder (Jacob) or a tall tower (Babel).

Answer 10

heavenS... shamayim from the Hebrew is plural. Here is the dictionary definition for the word:
region above the earth: the heavens: place of the stars, sky, air; heaven: the invisible realm of God

The word includes BOTH what we think of as "space" with its stars and planets and the "heavenly realm" of God, which is NOT a physical location in our universe.