Flat Earth and Other Such Things

There is a really good reason for Christians not to teach the Flat Earth Theory and other such things that are foolish in the eyes of the world. I really don't care what people think on this, if they believe on Jesus, but what we say to others is a different matter, which I will get to later. I was sent a video of this theory and have briefly thought on it and shared my thoughts with the one who sent the video and we are at perfect peace. It is spreading on the Internet, along with many detractors also. Some others are competitive and critical with one another. What can we learn from this? For one, don't discuss controversial things with people who have this kind of problem.

I am not sharing this to be critical of anyone. I am no scientist either, so please forgive my ignorance. Certainly, I give people the right to disagree with me. I will share a few of what I think are common sense things that came to me from past experiences, including a good lesson for us.

In the video, the man is on a hill and above the trees looking 60 miles away at a city on another hill. He is looking across a valley. Of course, he can see it because this negates the curvature of the earth. But he says this proves a flat earth. Actually, it only proves you can see that far on a clear day. If the earth between him and the city were flat, except for the minor curvature, with him standing on the flat, then you could not see the base of the city because of the curvature of the earth. The guy whom he says started researching this stuff was pictured in a canal watching a helper with a flag in a boat going away from him. It wouldn't matter if he was going upstream or downstream. He says since he can still see him at a distance the earth is flat. But he appears to be looking up at a man on water that is flowing from a different level. He is looking at the man who is not on the same level as himself. Of course he can see him and his flag either because he is higher than the man or the man is higher than him.

BUT water in the ocean is not restrained by banks or uneven ground level to flow from one level to another. It seeks the common level because the oceans are connected. It follows the curvature of the earth perfectly because it is not contained and because of gravity, which can only be on a round earth as we will see. This is the only way that this test can be honest. Any horizon on land can go up on both ends, making it appear flat. When they looked at the ocean there was a cloud bank on the horizon. And he was looking down from a hill so you can see a long way like that because it negates the curvature. Also, if the cloud cover is closer to you in the middle, it could appear flat because it covers a portion of the earth at the horizon. So this is no test at all.

Stan Patton who has a science background and critiqued my article said, "There is eight inches of curvature for every mile. If the horizon that you're looking at is 20 miles across and, say, 30 miles away, it would be really tough to see a curvature of 20 X 8 = 160 inches from 30 miles away. 160 inches is about 0.01% of 20 miles. It is really hard for the eye to detect that small of a variation from a straight line!"

Those who use a transit and level surveying instrument or even a laser surveying instrument know and work around the curvature of the earth. The man with the surveyor stick cannot go 1000 feet from the surveying instrument without dropping below level, proving the curvature of the earth. You can't fool a level just like you can't fool the water in the ocean; that shows the curvature. If your scope is level, the farther the man with the stick moves away from you the more he sinks below the scope sighting, proving the curvature of the earth. As Stan pointed out, the surveying stick falls due to a curvature of eight inches for every mile from the surveying instrument, proving the earth to be a globe.

Another similar proof is FM radio waves as opposed to AM radio waves. FM radio waves are line of sight, so the distance it will travel is very limited because of the curvature. You must have a tall transmission tower or be on a mountain or your signal will go off into space quickly. If you were broadcasting on ground level, you would be good to reach your neighbor because the earth is round. AM radio bounces between the atmosphere and the ground and back to the atmosphere following any curvature and so it will go much farther. This is clear proof of a globe.

On the oceans where the water seeks its own level because all the seas are connected, if you, in a boat, travel away from the dock, it will slowly sink below the horizon before you are very far out. If you are on the seashore and a boat leaves, it will slowly sink below the horizon before it is very far away, proving the curvature of the earth. If it returns to the dock, proving it was floating on top of the water the whole time, then you absolutely have a round earth.

Much of the foundation for this theory is, "We cannot trust NASA because they never went to the moon and therefore all their pictures of the globe from above are deception, too". Well, if we give them the point that they did not go to the moon, saying that this proves all pictures from above the earth showing a globe must be deception is a big stretch of the imagination. Anyone going up in an airplane on a clear day can see the curvature of the earth. Anyone standing on a high mountain on a clear day can see the curvature.

In longer distances, as we look through the atmosphere toward the horizon, there is refraction. Have you ever seen the moon on the horizon when it looked extremely big? If it was in fact that big we would be dead. Why does it appear that big? Because the atmosphere is curved like a lens in glasses and it magnifies the moon's apparent size many times. And you do not know where the moon is in relation to the horizon exactly because of the refraction. When I was a kid and used to shoot fish in the water, I learned that when you look at a fish 10 feet away in a foot of water you have to aim below the fish to hit it. If you aim right at it, you will never hit it. This is because of refraction. The water acts like a lens to bend the light so that what you see is higher than it actually is. The atmosphere does the same thing to objects. It may appear you are seeing something right in front of you but you are actually looking around the curvature of the earth because of the lens effect. The more atmosphere between you and the object viewed, the more refraction and magnification is possible. When you're looking at the moon when it's close to the horizon, you're looking through a lot more atmosphere than if the moon was straight up.

If the earth is flat and the sun is on you, it is on everyone on the whole earth. There would only be day, no night. Even if the sun was going around the earth, it would only be day on earth as long as the sun is up and there would be no dateline. Since there is daylight and dark on the earth at the same time, the earth is round. As the sun spins around and you see the same sunspots come around again, does that not prove it is round? In relation to the sun, the polar ice caps are on opposite ends of the globe because the equator is closest to the sun and takes a direct hit rather than at an angle the way the poles are hit. If the earth was flat, the poles would melt. This again proves a globe and not a flat earth.

Flat earth theory believes the Antarctic ice shelf which rises 300' above the sea goes around the perimeter of the earth with the arctic in the center of the earth. In this way the earth can hold 300' of extra water. But the Word says the flood covered the tallest mountains and the tallest is 33,476 feet and the waters continued 15 cubits above this, so where would the extra 33,176' plus 15 cubits of water go? It would have drained very quickly. No wonder all flesh died as they would have been washed off the flat earth along with the ark and there would be no humanity.

Stereo before and stereo behind satellites look at the sun from different angles. They would know immediately if it was a flat disk. But according to them, we cannot believe in the satellites because NASA cannot be trusted. There are billions of stars and planets up there for telescopes to look at. And multitudes of independents who have telescopes. How come no one has ever seen a flat one? Flat earth folks seem to believe only the flat side of all these bodies is turned toward them, so you can't see that they are flat. What? Do you think God's angels make sure every heavenly body is facing in the right direction? Why would God try to deceive us? That takes a lot of faith, more than I have. No matter where you are on earth the moon looks round.

Without gravity, we would float off the earth because there is no gravity in space, unless you are near a round planet or star. I was told, "No, you don't need gravity because you are on the top of the flat earth". There is no "top" or "up" in space. The reason you are stuck to the earth is because of gravity. It doesn't matter if you are down under because of gravity.

Stan Patton's note: "There is gravity because the earth has a lot of mass (it's a big sphere of mass) and all mass has the property that it attracts all other mass in the vicinity to itself. If the earth were a flat disc, it would have very little mass and everything on it would just float away".

The reason the earth is a round stator with a round inner rotor core is to create the magnetic field, or magnetosphere, which serves to deflect most of the solar wind, whose charged particles would otherwise strip away the ozone layer that protects us from harmful ultraviolet radiation. It is even worse when there is a coronal mass ejection. This earth generator works the same way an electric motor generates a magnetic field, with a round stator and a round rotor. The earth has a round outer stator while the round inner core rotates at a different speed, making the magnetic field. If the earth is not round and spinning, you would fry from the radiation. Then you would float away.

What about the people who have sailed or flown around the earth while their compass is showing always east or always west and they return to where they left? In other words, they were not traveling in a circle as in the Flat Earth Theory but straight. Does that not prove a round earth? Have any of them or anyone on earth ever seen the outer edge of our planet? NO! What about the satellites that can look at Earth? This is not a secret that can be hidden. Their answer is that magnetic north, which changes constantly, is the real center of the earth and we are simply going around this like a ship tethered to a pole with the Antarctic all around the outside of the earth. Except that if you followed the southern ice shelf all the way around it would, in the Flat Earth model, have to encircle the entire body of land on the earth which is many, many miles farther than the length of the ice shelf actually is.

The scripture being brought up to prove a flat earth show no knowledge of the nature of the spirit of the Word, rather than the letter that kills. Their scriptures show no knowledge of the poetic, prophetic and parable nature of Old Testament verses. One was the "four corners of the earth". I point out that this doesn't describe a disc but a square, so if we take it literally we now have a square earth? But we know that four corners merely point to the north, south, east and west, or the completeness of the earth.

[.] As Rob Miller points out about "the pillars of the earth" verse: "If the earth is hanging upon nothing, what purpose do pillars hold? {Job26:7} He stretcheth out the north over empty space, And hangeth the earth upon nothing. (David: It reminds me about the old Indian theory of very big elephants holding up the earth and under them is a much bigger turtle. I haven't heard the explanation of what holds up the turtle. The earth is held between centripetal force and the gravity of the sun, so it is held there by nothing visible, just as God says in this verse.)

Rob also said, "In every drawing of a flat earth that I have seen, the North pole is directly in the middle of the earth, so I doubt anyone will be dwelling there :o) {Eze.38:12} ... against the people that are gathered out of the nations, that have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the middle of the earth. (David: It seems that the middle of the earth spoken of here is between the poles where people live and not at the Arctic, as this theory says.)

This is not to be critical of those who believe this but in my opinion the devil is trying to make Christians look foolish in the eyes of the world so that the gospel they speak will have no credibility. Then the devil's children will look righteous for persecuting them. Even if the Flat Earth Theory was right it would destroy the credibility of the Gospel to most who believe the flat earth was a product of the Dark Ages. The facts are that very few believed this and almost none of the educated did. This is going to make Christians look stupid to the world, just like the false revival spirits with their mooing and barking and clucking and hissing like animals. These things are certainly not being weak to the weak for the Gospel's sake, as we are commanded by the Lord through Paul: {1Co.9:22} To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. {23} And I do all things for the gospel's sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof. Weak to the weak is the gift to come down on their level and gradually pick them up to your level.

I once knew a person who shared with the lost or unlearned the deepest revelation they had heard. For this reason they had zero success in evangelism. For this reason alone, faithfulness to the desire of the Lord would have us drop this theory and a lot of other things like it quickly, especially when they cannot be proven anyway. Let us concentrate on souls who are dying, as commanded by Jesus in the Great Commission. We are the only ones on this earth who have their answers. We must not get distracted by politics or religion when speaking to the unenlightened or they may turn us off before we get started.

It is forbidden for us to get into arguments that don't promote the Gospel but rather make enemies. {2Ti.2:14} Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear. ... {23} But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse, knowing that they gender strifes. {Rom.12:18} If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men.

There is an abundance of things not considered by this theory. I haven't the time to study things that don't promote the Gospel or prove where we are prophetically. The things above came to me as I thought on things the Lord was bringing to my remembrance from past experiences. One search on the Internet brings up many things against this theory. Please disregard any critical spirits.

Rob found these:

https://www.smarterthanthat.com/astronomy/top-10-ways-to-know-the-earth-is-not-flat/

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNqNnUJVcVs

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35UQVcY0_qw

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmGRRxOf6dU

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YzeGRFDIms

httpss://www.youtube.com/user/fiveredpears/videos

The Lord through Paul taught us not to judge one another over such things because they matter little. The important thing is that we live in peace with one another so we can grow up in Christ. {Rom.14:1} But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples. {2} One man hath faith to eat all things: but he that is weak eateth herbs. {3} Let not him that eateth set at nought him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. {4} Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? to his own lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand; for the Lord hath power to make him stand. {5} One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike . Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. {6} He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he that eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. {7} For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself. {8} For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. {9} For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. {10} But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? or thou again, why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of God.

{11} For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, And every tongue shall confess to God. {12} So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God. {13} Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock in his brother's way, or an occasion of falling. {14} I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself: save that to him who accounteth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. {15} For if because of meat thy brother is grieved, thou walkest no longer in love. Destroy not with thy meat him for whom Christ died. {16} Let not then your good be evil spoken of: {17} for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. {18} For he that herein serveth Christ is well-pleasing to God, and approved of men. {19} So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another. {20} Overthrow not for meat's sake the work of God. All things indeed are clean; howbeit it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. {21} It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth. {22} The faith which thou hast, have thou to thyself before God. Happy is he that judgeth not himself in that which he approveth. {23} But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

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