Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 115
Gary responds to a recent video by Pastor Jack Hibbs claiming that Christopher Columbus sought to prove the Earth was round. He connects the “flat earth” myth to how Hibbs and others understand Bible prophecy.
The story goes that Columbus single-handedly disproved the flat-earth myth, and that he stood alone against the learned men of the day who ridiculed his theory of a round earth. In addition, this legend falsely blames the flat-earth theory on Bible-believing Church leaders.
While a story about one man doing battle with the religious and academic establishment of his day makes interesting reading, none of it is true. First of all, the Bible does not teach that the earth is flat. Second, Columbus was not the only one who believed that the world was round; so did all the other educated people of his day.
Nowhere does the Bible teach that the earth is flat. In fact, it is those religions outside Christianity that invent outlandish views of the cosmos (universe). Pagan philosophers of the past have put forth many theories of cosmic design that are inaccurate and downright silly. An ancient Hindu text, called the Upanishad, claims, “All who leave the earth go to the moon which is swallowed by their breath during the first half of the month.”
There are no biblical references to a flat earth. Biblical descriptions of the world’s “four corners” and “four winds” are poetic phrases. There is nothing unusual or unscientific about depicting the earth as having four corners. The modern compass works in terms of a linear perspective, and flat maps have always been used to plot direction. When was the last time you took a globe on a trip? Why should we expect the Bible to describe reality any differently from the way we do?
Although the Bible has little to say on the subject of the shape of the earth, it nowhere contradicts what we see with our eyes. In fact, the Bible actually refers to a round earth in Isaiah 40:22: “It is He that sits upon the circle of the earth.” The most literal translation of the Hebrew is actually “sphere.”
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Buy NowGary explores the importance of understanding the historical context of biblical texts, as they were written for specific audiences at specific times. He debunks the myth that Christopher Columbus sought to prove the Earth was round, clarifying that educated people of his time already believed it. Similarly, modern eschatological interpretations rely on popular myths about the rapture, the antichrist, and more.