Paul,
Thanks for this. For my response, please see my email to David Siemens.
Regards,
Vernon
PHSEELY@aol.com wrote:
>
> Vernon wrote:
>
> << Thanks for writing. Concerning the interpretation of the Hebrew word
> 'raqia' I have, at your suggestion, looked at Ezekiel 1:22 - expecting
> to find clear confirmation of your claim re the solidity of the
> 'expanse' or 'firmament'. Here are four English renderings of this
> verse:
>
> 1) AV:- "And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living
> creatures was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth
> over their heads above."
>
> 2) NASB:- "Now over the heads of the living beings there was something
> like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, extended over their
> heads."
>
> 3) NIV:- "Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what
> looked like an expanse, sparkling like ice and awesome."
>
> 4) Green's Interlinear Bible - Hebrew/English:- "And a likeness (was)
> over the heads of the living creatures, an expanse, like the color of
> awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads from above."
>
> Bearing in mind that the prophet is describing a heavenly vision here, I
> fail to understand why you are so convinced that 'as the colour of the
> terrible crystal', 'like the awesome gleam of crystal', 'sparkling like
> ice', and 'like the color of awesome crystal' necessarily demand the
> observed effect to emanate from a solid surface.
> >>
>
> Since the firmament is a divider and has a color, it has to be something.
> The most natural straight-forward reading of the text is that it is something
> solid. There is nothing in the text to suggest otherwise. Ezek 1:26 describes
> a throne in a very similar way to the way the firmament is described. But,
> who would suppose the throne is not something solid? The burden of proof
> would be on anyone saying the firmament or throne was not solid.
>
> Paul
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