Vault of Earth
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The term "Vault of Earth" is often associated with the biblical concept of the firmament or the heavens as described in the Scriptures. This concept is rooted in the ancient understanding of the cosmos, where the sky was perceived as a solid dome or vault that separated the heavens from the earth. The idea of a vault is integral to the biblical cosmology and is reflected in various passages throughout the Bible.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 1:6-8 : "And God said, 'Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.' So God made the expanse and separated the waters beneath it from the waters above. And it was so. God called the expanse 'sky.' And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day." This passage introduces the concept of the firmament, which is often understood as a vault or expanse that God created to divide the waters above from the waters below.

2. Job 37:18 : "Can you, like Him, spread out the skies to reflect the heat like a mirror of bronze?" Here, the skies are described metaphorically as a mirror of bronze, suggesting a solid and enduring structure, akin to a vault.

3. Psalm 19:1 : "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." The heavens, often synonymous with the vault of the sky, are depicted as a testament to God's creative power and majesty.

4. Isaiah 40:22 : "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in." This imagery of God stretching out the heavens like a curtain or tent reinforces the notion of a vaulted structure encompassing the earth.

Theological Significance:

The concept of the "Vault of Earth" underscores the biblical portrayal of God's sovereignty and creative authority. The firmament, as a divine construct, serves as a boundary and a testament to God's order in creation. It reflects the ancient Near Eastern cosmology, where the universe was seen as a structured and purposeful creation, with God as the supreme architect.

Interpretations and Understanding:

Throughout history, interpretations of the "Vault of Earth" have varied, influenced by cultural, scientific, and theological developments. In ancient times, the firmament was often viewed as a literal, physical structure. However, with advancements in scientific understanding, many contemporary interpretations view these descriptions as metaphorical, emphasizing the poetic and theological messages rather than a literal cosmological model.

The "Vault of Earth" remains a powerful symbol within the biblical narrative, illustrating the grandeur and mystery of God's creation. It invites believers to contemplate the majesty of the Creator and the intricate design of the universe, as revealed through the Scriptures.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Vault of Earth

VAULT OF EARTH

See ASTRONOMY, sec. III, 1.

Library

Concerning the Heaven.
... Isaiah, Who hath established the heavens like a vault [1692] : and also because
when the sun, moon, and stars set they make a circuit round the earth from west ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter vi concerning the heaven.htm

Remarks on the Creation of the World.
... of, on account of the heaven which God made covering the waters and the earth like
a ... in these words: "It is God who made the heavens as a vault, and stretched ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xiii remarks on the creation.htm

"Behold the Man. "
... By his fingers for a dwelling. Was heaven's vault sublime upreared: Jesus suffered
when to save us. He as man on earth appeared. Lofty Angels! God-like spirits, ...
//christianbookshelf.org/morris/favourite welsh hymns/ii behold the man.htm

The Difficulty and Excellence of virginity; the Study Of
... the earth, not turning aside from their aim, until having, by swiftness of thought,
lightly bounded above the world, and taken their stand truly upon the vault ...
/.../chapter i the difficulty and excellence.htm

We have Now, Then, to Refute that Statement of his which Runs as ...
... on earth, would not be gods, but only certain demons, much inferior to those wise
men among mankind, who on account of their virtue ascend to the vault [4079 ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter ii we have now.htm

Thanksgiving to God for the Pardon Granted to the Offenders ...
... instance, hath remained immoveable, according as the prophet says, "He placed the
heaven as a vault, and stretched it out as a tent over the earth." [1505] But ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily xii thanksgiving to god.htm

Of the Burial of the Dead: that the Denial of it to Christians ...
... has well said: "He who has no tomb has the sky for his vault." [67] How ... formed anew,
all the members of it being gathered not only from the earth, but from the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 12 of the burial of.htm

The Oration. To-Day is the Festival of Our Great Emperor: and we ...
... itself, to him the heavens above, and the choirs beyond the vault of heaven ... The
everlasting ages which were before this heaven and earth, with other periods ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter i the oration to-day is.htm

Argument. --Novatian
... who has suspended the heavens in lofty sublimity, has established the earth with
its ... For in the solid vault of heaven He has both awakened the light-bringing ...
/.../a treatise of novatian concerning the trinity/chapter i argument novatian.htm

The Nativity
... Deep-rooted groves, whose heads sublimely rise,. Earth-born, and yet ambitious of
the skies; ... Thou azure vault where, through the gloom of night,. ...
/.../translations from the french of madame de la mothe guion/the nativity.htm

Resources
What is Hermeticism? | GotQuestions.org

Is the doctrine of preservation biblical? | GotQuestions.org

What is historical creationism? | GotQuestions.org

Vault: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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