Neghilim

NOAH'S DAY RETURNS1

Before the Flood, the entire earth probably had a rather subtropical climate, with no rain, snow, or seasons. Even the ocean waters would have been much warmer, and it is believed that powerful springs supplied the river waters in Eden. One theory which stands out from the rest is the theory that a vapor canopy covered the earth's atmosphere (referred to as "waters above the heavens" in Psalm 148:4). It would create a "greenhouse effect" which would prohibit extremes in temperature and prevent winds and storms. It may have contained roughly forty feet of water in the form of potential rain. However, it appears that there was considerably more water in the "fountains of the great deep" (Genesis 7:11). When the earth was formed, apparently large quantities of water were deposited between the mantle and the crust of our planet, in what renowned author Henry Morris would call "giant subterranean reservoirs". (His book The Genesis Record is an excellent resource for anyone studying the creation story!) Proverbs 8:24 and Job 38:16 may be referring to these waters. At the onset of the flood, there was likely a tremendous upsurge of volcanic activity which would break up the barriers and surge the vast quantities of water onto the ground above. Simultaneously the columns of volcanic ash could have collapsed the vapor canopy, and caused torrential downpours of formerly unseen rain from "the windows of heaven" (Genesis 7:11). Based upon a commonly accepted Biblical standard of 18 inches being equal to one cubit, the ark was roughly 1,400,000 cubic feet in size, made of gopher wood (some form of dense, hard wood). In our world today it is estimated that all the species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians number somewhat less than 18,000. Because some have become extinct since the days of the flood, one can only surmise that maybe there were upward towards 20,000 various species to board the ark. Though some were enormous, others were very tiny, so...