World and People BEFORE Genesis 1:1:
Psalm 9:5‑7
5: Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
6: O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and THOU HAST DESTROYED CITIES; THEIR MEMORIAL IS PERISHED WITH THEM.
7: But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
Psalm 18:7‑15
7: Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8: There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9: He bowed the heavens also, and came down: AND DARKNESS WAS UNDER HIS FEET.
10: And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
11: He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12: At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
13: The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
14: Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15: THEN THE CHANNELS OF WATERS WERE SEEN, AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE WORLD WERE DISCOVERED AT THY REBUKE, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
Psalm 104
1: Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
2: Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
3: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
4: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
5: WHO LAID THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE EARTH, THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED FOR EVER.
6: THOU COVEREDST IT WITH THE DEEP AS WITH A GARMENT: THE WATERS STOOD ABOVE THE MOUNTAINS.
7: AT THY REBUKE THEY FLED; AT THE VOICE OF THY THUNDER THEY HASTED AWAY.
8: They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
9: THOU HAST SET A BOUND THAT THEY MAY NOT PASS OVER; THAT THEY TURN NOT AGAIN TO COVER THE EARTH.
Ecclesiastes 1:11
11: THERE IS NO REMEMBRANCE OF FORMER THINGS; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
Isaiah 41:22
22: Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: LET THEM SHEW THE FORMER THINGS, WHAT THEY BE, THAT WE MAY CONSIDER THEM, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
Isaiah 43:9
9: Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: WHO AMONG THEM CAN DECLARE THIS, AND SHEW US FORMER THINGS? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
Isaiah 43:18‑19
18: REMEMBER YE NOT THE FORMER THINGS, NEITHER CONSIDER THE THINGS OF OLD.
19: Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert
Isaiah 46:9‑10
9: REMEMBER THE FORMER THINGS OF OLD: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
10: Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.
Isaiah 48:3
3: I HAVE DECLARED THE FORMER THINGS FROM THE BEGINNING; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.
Jeremiah 4:23‑28
23: I BEHELD THE EARTH, AND, LO, IT WAS WITHOUT FORM, AND VOID; AND THE HEAVENS, AND THEY HAD NO LIGHT.
24: I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
25: I beheld, and, lo, THERE WAS NO MAN, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
26: I beheld, and, lo, THE FRUITFUL PLACE WAS A WILDERNESS, AND ALL THE CITIES THEREOF WERE BROKEN DOWN AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, AND BY HIS FIERCE ANGER.
27: For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
28: For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
CLOUD
(kloud) (`anan, `abh; nephele, nephos):
I). Clouds in Palestine.‑In the Bible few references axe found of paticular clouds or of clouds in connection with the phenomena of the weather conditions. The weather in Palestine is more even and has less variety than that in other lands.
It is a long, narrow country with sea on the West and desert on the East. The wind coming from the West is always moist and brings clouds with it. If the temperature over the land is low enough the clouds will be condensed and rain will fall, but if the temperature is high, as in the five months of summer, there can be no rain even though clouds are seen. As a whole the winter is cloudy and the summer clear.
1). RAIN CLOUDS: In the autumn rain storms often arise suddenly from the sea, and what seems to be a mere haze, "as small as a man's hand," such as Gehazi saw (1 Kings 18:44) over the sea, within a few hours becomes the black storm cloud pouring down torrents of rain (1 Kings 18:45). Fog is almost unknown and there is very seldom an overcast, gloomy day. The west and southwest winds bring rain (Luke 12:54).
2). DISAGREEABLE CLOUDS: In the months of April, May and September a hot east wind sometimes rises from the desert and brings with it a cloud of dust which fills the air and penetrates everything.
In the summer afternoons, especially in the month of August, on the seacoast there is apt to blow up from the South a considerable number of low cirro‑stratus clouds which seem to fill the air with dampness, making more oppressive the dead heat of summer.
These are doubtless the detested "clouds without water" mentioned in Jude verse 12, and "heat by the shade of a cloud" (Isaiah 25:5).
II). Figurative Uses.‑The metaphoric and symbolic uses of clouds are many, and furnish some of the most powerful figures of Scripture.
1). YAHWEH’S PRESENCE AND GLORY: In the Old Testament, Yahweh's presence is made manifest and His glory shown forth in a cloud. The cloud is usually spoken of as bright and shining, and it could not be fathomed by man: "Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through" (Lamentations 3:44).
Yahweh Himself was present in the cloud (Exodus 19:9; 24:16; 34:5) and His glory filled the places where the cloud was (Exodus 16:10; 40:38; Numbers 10:34); "The cloud filled the house of Yahweh" (1 Kings 8:10). In the New Testament we often have "the Son of man coming on" or "with clouds" (Matthew 24:30; 26:64; Mark 13:26; 14:62; Luke 21:27) and received up by clouds (Acts 1:9).
The glory of the second coming is indicated in Rev 1:7 for "he cometh with the clouds" and "we that are alive...shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord" and dwell with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
2). PILLAR OF CLOUD: The pillar of cloud was a symbol of God's guidance and presence to the children of Israel in their journeys to the promised land. The Lord appeared in a pillar of cloud and forsook them not (Nehemiah 9:19). They followed the guidance of this cloud (Exodus 40:36; Ps 78:14).
3). BOW IN CLOUD: The clouds are spoken of in the Old Testament as the symbol of God's presence and care over His people; and so the "bow in the cloud" (Gen 9:13) is a sign of God's protection.
4. CLOUDS BLOT OUT: As the black cloud covers the sky and blots out the sun from sight, so Yahweh promises "to blot out the sins" of Israel (Isaiah 44:22); Egypt also shall be conquered, "As for her, a cloud shall cover her" (Ezekiel 30:18; compare Lamentations 2:1).
5. TRANSITORY: There is usually a wide difference in temperature between day and night in Palestine The days axe warm and clouds coming from the sea are often completely dissolved in the warm atmosphere over the land.
As the temperature falls, the moisture again condenses into dew and mist over the hills and valleys. As the sun rises the "morning cloud" (Hosea 6:4) is quickly dispelled and disappears entirely. Job compares the passing of his prosperity to the passing clouds (Job 30:15).
6). GOD’S OMNIPOTENCE AND MAN’S IGNORANCE: God "bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds" (Job 26:8) and the "clouds are the dust of his feet" (Nahemiah 1:3). Yahweh "commands the clouds that they rain no rain" (Isaiah 5:6), but as for man, "who can number the clouds?" (Job 38:37); "Can any understand the spreadings of the clouds?" (Job 36:29); "Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?" (Job 37:16). See BALANCINGS. "He that regardeth the clouds shall not reap" (Ecclesiastes 11:4), for it is God who controls the clouds and man cannot fathom His wisdom. "Thick clouds are a covering to him" (Job 22:14).
7). VISIONS: Clouds are the central figure in many visions. Ezekiel beheld "a stormy wind .... out of the north, a great cloud" (Ezekiel 1:4), and John saw "a white cloud; and on the cloud one sitting" (Revlation 14:14). See also Daniel 7:13; Revelation 10:1; 11:12.
8). THE TERRIBLE AND UNPLEASANT: The cloud is also the symbol of the terrible and of destruction. The day of Yahweh's reckoning is called the "day of clouds" (Ezekiel 30:3) and a day of "clouds and thick darkness" (Zephaniah 1:15). The invader is expected to "come up as clouds" (Jeremiah 4:13).
Joel (Joel 2:2) foretells the coming of locusts as "a day of clouds and thick darkness" which is both literal and figurative. Misfortune and old age are compared to "the cloudy and dark day" (Ezekiel 34:12) and "the clouds returning after rain" (Ecclesiastes 12:2).
9). VARIOUS OTHER FIGURES: Clouds are used in connection with various other figures. Rapidity of motion, "these that fly as a cloud" (Isaiah 60:8). As swaddling clothes of the newborn earth (Job 38:9); indicating great height (Job 20:6) and figurative in Isa 14:14, "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds," portraying the self‑esteem of Babylon. "A morning without clouds" is the symbol of righteousness and justice (2 Samuel 23:4); partial knowledge and hidden glory (Leviticus 16:2; Acts 1:9; Revelation 1:7). (from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1996 by Biblesoft)
People In the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve:
Please turn with us to the book of Ezekiel; to chapter 31 where we read:
1). "And it came to pass...that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2). Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?
3). Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar (A TREE) in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
4). The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees (PEOPLE) of the field.
5). Therefore his (THE ASSYRIAN) height was exalted above all the trees (TALLER THAN THE OTHER PEOPLE) of the field, and his boughs were multiplied (HAD MANY CHILDREN), and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.
6). All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations (countries).
7), Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches; for his foot was by great waters. (NOW WE CHANGE AND GO TO THE GARDEN OF EDEN)
8). The cedars (PEOPLE) in the GARDEN OF GOD could not hide him: the fir trees (people) were not like his boughs (SEE THE COMPARISON, THUS WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE THERE TO COMPARE WITH HIM), and the chestnut trees (their children ‑ or people) were not like his branches (HIS CHILDREN ‑ OR PEOPLE); NOR ANY TREE IN THE GARDEN OF GOD was like unto him in his beauty (SEE WE KNOW THE TREES IN THE GARDEN WERE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT LIKE THE ASSYRIAN IN BEAUTY ‑ BECAUSE THEY WERE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR, THEY WERE NOT WHITE. THAT IS NOT RACIST IT IS SIMPLY A FACT, EVEN IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT. FOR GOD HAS NEVER CARED WHAT WE LIKE OR DON’T LIKE WHEN HE SPEAKS, WE EITHER ACCEPT IT OR REJECT IT TO OUR HURT).
9). I have made him fair (WHITE) by the multitude of his branches (CHILDREN): so that ALL THE TREES (PEOPLE) OF EDEN THAT WERE IN THE GARDEN OF GOD, ENVIED HIM (TREES CANNOT ENVY EACH OTHER, ONLY PEOPLE CAN DO THAT).
10). Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart (TREES DO NOT HAVE HEARTS) lifted up in his height;
11), I have therefore delivered him (NOW GOD IS SPEAKING OF ADAM) into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen: he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out (DRIVEN ADAM OUT OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN, BECAUSE OF HIS DISOBEDIENCE TO ALMIGHTY GOD) for his wickedness.
12). And strangers (PEOPLE OF OTHER RACES), the terrible of the nations, have cut him off and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches (SEE HE IS AGAIN COMPARING HIM WITH A TREE) are fallen by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him (HERE IS WERE THE DEPARTING OF THE VARIOUS RACES LEFT THE GARDEN OF GOD ‑ THE GARDEN OF EDEN AND WERE SCATTERED ALL ACROSS THE EARTH, AWAY FROM ADAM AND HIS PEOPLE. THUS GOD SEGREGATED THE RACES FROM EACH OTHER, SO THEY COULD NOT MIX; WHICH IS AGAINST GOD’S LAW OF KIND AFTER KIND).
13). Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches (HERE GOD IS SAYING THAT ADAM’S CHILDREN WOULD ALWAYS BE ATTRACTED TO THE BLACK RACE ‑ THE BEAST OF THE EARTH);
14). To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death (ALL MANKIND WILL DIE BECAUSE OF ADAM’S SIN), to the nether parts of the earth (IN OTHER WORDS ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE, NO MATTER WHAT RACE WOULD DIE IN THEIR TIME), in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit (grave).
15). Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when he (ADAM) went down to the grave (PIT) I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees (PEOPLE) of the field fainted (HERE AGAIN TREES DO NOT FAINT, ONLY PEOPLE DO THAT) for him.
16). I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall (WHEN ADAM FELL ALL THE VARIOUS RACES AND NATIONS ON EARTH KNEW OF HIS FALL AND SHOOK WITH FEAR AND SADNESS), when I cast him down to hell (THE GRAVE) with them that descend into the pit; and all the trees of Eden (PEOPLE), the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted (HERE AGAIN TREES CANNOT BE COMFORTED) in the neither parts of the earth.
17). They also went down into hell (THE GRAVE) with him unto them that be slain with the sword (IN OTHER WORDS EVERYONE WILL DIE AND GO TO THE GRAVE); and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen (Here we are told that the trees of the Garden were people of other races, other than Adam who was a White Man, like it or not, love it or not).
18). To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees (PEOPLE) of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees (PEOPLE) of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth; thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. (NOW GOD GOES BACK TO PHARAOH WHOM HE IS COMPARING ADAM AND THE ASSYRIANS WITH) This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord God." (Ezekiel 31)