The Flat Earth Theory
Is the Earth flat? Is the shape of the Earth a salvational matter? What does the Bible say? What counsel has God revealed to Ellen White about the flat earth theory?
What Was Ellen White Instructed by God to Say to Those Who Believe the Earth is Flat?
“When at one time a brother came to me with the message that the world is flat, I was instructed to present the commission that Christ gave his disciples, ‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations. . .and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end.’ In regard to such subjects as the flat-world theory, God says to every soul, ‘What is that to thee? follow thou Me.’ I have given you your commission. Dwell upon the great testing truths for this time, not upon matters that have no bearing upon our work.” EllenG. White, Gospel Workers (Washington, D. C.: Review and Herald Publishing Assn, 1915), 314.
“I learn by letters from New York that Brother Brown has accepted and is now preaching the flat world theory. Is it possible that this theory has been brought by Brother Wilcox from England and that you have accepted it and are teaching it? My brother, our work is to teach the third angel’s message. Stick to the message. It is a weakness of Elder Wilcox to get hold of hobbies and to stick to some things that he had better let alone.” 21MR 412.6
“I am pleased to tell you the Lord strengthened me on Sabbath to bear a decided message. To His name be all the glory. I know the impression was made by His Holy Spirit. On Sunday afternoon I urged the truth with more decided firmness and power. A man was present who had expressed a desire to see me and talk with me in regard to the round and flat world. I sent him a message that when Christ gave my commission to do the work He had placed upon me, the flat or round world was not included in the message; the Lord had taken care of His house, His world here below, better than any human agency could care for it, and until the message came from the Lord, silence was eloquence upon that question. I then said to the congregation that I had to present to them the science of higher education. Luke 10:17-24.” 21MR 414.2-4
“I had one come up to me and want me to give information about a round or flat world. Said I, I have no such burden on my soul at all. I have nothing to say to you or to anybody else about a round or a flat world. What we want is a round character. We have altogether too much of a flat character, and we want now to think of building a character that shall be round and perfect, as our Father which is in heaven is perfect, and we want that every talent that you have should be in exercise. Grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, that you may go forth, and—what says Christ? Teach them all things about a round world? No. That I have commanded you. That is what we are to teach. Teach the lessons that Christ gave in His life practice. And I want to tell you that somebody will rush up every little while with something new and strange, as though that was to take your minds captive. Tell them that you have the old, old story of the cross of Christ, of the life of Christ, and when it comes to these little items that they shall bring out, we have the solid foundation for our feet. It is the solid platform that we want. If you work with Christ, Christ will work with you, and we are getting ready, fitting up for the future, immortal life. Jesus says, I will be with you to the end of the world. Then we will believe Him, and we will work diligently for Him.” 19LtMs, Ms 155, 1904, par. 79-19LtMs, Ms 155, 1904, par. 80
“I was shown that, although Brother [M. G.] Kellogg has not the experience in addressing the people, or the tact in discussion as Brother Cornell, yet his labors taken as a whole are more valuable than the labors of Brother Cornell, for his spirit is kind and tender, he is benevolent and self-denying, and his exemplary deportment wins the hearts of all. His influence is constantly to build up, while Brother Cornell will build up, and then tear down. Brother Kellogg stumbled over the question of the round world, yet God would not leave him in confusion because he was honest of heart. His hand upheld him, and swept back the cloud of unbelief which had confused his mind. The whole transaction was the work of the enemy to destroy Brother Kellogg. But the Lord overruled the matter to disappoint the enemy and get glory to His own name.” Lt 29a, 1872, par. 62
“Merritt Kellogg’s freak on the round world turned a number from the truth who were the very best ones, apparently, in the cause of God. But he has, since he became again settled in the truth, tried to bring back these he had [caused to] stumble. But this could not be done. They stand as living witnesses of the fearful results of a man having his own way and serving the enemy while feeling fully confident he is right and doing God service. Oh, men who have filled responsible positions, men who have a knowledge of the truth and divine will, ought not to act like unreasonable children, fractious and petulant. Satan seizes every instance of weakness manifested by God’s servants and presents them in the worse light to inexperienced, faltering souls and they are thrown into doubt and discouragement.” Lt 16, 1875, par. 27
Is Ellen White's Counsel on the Flat Earth Her Own Opinion?
“If the preconceived opinions or particular ideas of some are crossed in being reproved by testimonies, they have a burden at once to make plain their position to discriminate between the testimonies, defining what is Sister White’s human judgment, and what is the word of the Lord. Everything that sustains their cherished ideas is divine, and the testimonies to correct their errors are human—Sister White’s opinions. They make of none effect the counsel of God by their tradition.” —Manuscript 16, 1889. . 3SM 68.2
Is the Shape of the Earth Salvational?
“I have had matters presented to me to give to our people. An urgent request came to me from a man who desired to discuss with me in regard to the round world, to him a very important matter. My answer was, I have a message to this people in regard to the life they must live in this world, to prepare them for future life which measures with the life of God. We have nought to do with the question whether this world is round or flat. [The important thing] is to serve God with full purpose of a renewed heart, sanctified and made holy by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.” {Ms 145, 1904, par. 3}
“I hope Brother Wilcox will be a truly converted man. This is his great need at the present time. He wants meekness, he wants humility, he wants genuine piety, and without it he is as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. His soul and your soul need the indwelling of Jesus. Whether the world is round or flat will not save a soul, but whether men believe and obey means everything.”–Letter 43, 1887.
“The great question is, What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? This is the science of what constitutes the higher education, and when this question is properly adjusted, the capabilities of the whole man are called into full exercise. There will be no agitation of the question whether the world is round or flat, but the whole burden of the soul is: What shall I do to inherit eternal life? We need now to make every talent that God has given us to be employed to His name’s glory.” — 21MR 414.5
“Every issue will be brought in in various places by some persons who are not worked by the Spirit of God. Last night the Lord gave me words to speak to the people. Satan has a multitude of questions to bring in through various minds and ingenuity as all-important. Take the Word, plainly stating the truth for 1904; and the messenger that was sent of God had a message the same as the people need now. He was John the Baptist. –21MR 421.4,5
“There will be no agitation of the question whether the world is round or flat, but the whole burden of the soul is: What shall I do to inherit eternal life? We need now to make every talent that God has given us to be employed to His name’s glory.” {21MR 414.5}
What Did Ellen White Say About Earth's Revolution and Orbit?
“God’s glory in the heavens, the innumerable worlds in their orderly revolutions, “the balancings of the clouds,” the mysteries of light and sound, of day and night—all were open to the study of our first parents.” PP 50.3
“It is not by inherent power that year by year the earth yields its bounties and continues its march around the sun. The hand of the Infinite One is perpetually at work guiding this planet. It is God’s power continually exercised that keeps the earth in position in its rotation. It is God who causes the sun to rise in the heavens. He opens the windows of heaven and gives rain.” MH 416.3
“The hand of God is continually guiding the globe in its mysterious march around the sun. The same hand that holds the mountains and balances them in position guides and keeps in order the respective planets. All these wonderful glories in the heavens are but doing the work appointed them.” (Manuscript 92, 1898)
“An unseen hand guides the planets in their circuit of the heavens.” (Education, p. 99, par. 1)
What Did Ellen White Say About the Shape of the Earth?
“In the matchless gift of His Son, God has encircled the whole world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air which circulates around the globe.” SC 68.1
“Jesus opened the fountain of life in the midst of the world and every soul who knoweth the Father and the Son are to be laborers together with God and to repeat the words in fullness and power, “Come.” All are to stop their fretting with one another, all are to combine their living, sanctified influence, and with one voice, say “Come, send the word along.” “Come,” all along the lines a chain of living voices united with determined effort ring around the globe, and the whole church is to awake from the death like slumber and say, “Come,” and to act in character the invitation they make, “Come.” 7LtMs, Ms 2, 1891, par. 13
“God rested on the seventh day, and set it apart for man to observe in honor of His creation of the heavens and the earth in six literal days. He blessed and sanctified and made holy the day of rest. When men are so careful to search and dig to see in regard to the precise period of time, we are to say, God made His Sabbath for a round world; and when the seventh day comes to us in that round world, controlled by the sun that rules the day, it is the time in all countries and lands to observe the Sabbath. In the countries where there is no sunset for months, and again no sunrise for months, the period of time will be calculated by records kept… The Lord accepts all the obedience of every creature He has made, according to the circumstances of time in the sun-rising and sun-setting world. . . . The Sabbath was made for a round world, and therefore obedience is required of the people that are in perfect consistency with the Lord’s created world.”–Letter 167, 1900. {3SM 317.1,2}
“God rested on the seventh day, and set it apart for man to observe in honor of His creation of the heavens and the earth in six literal days. He blessed and sanctified and made holy the day of rest. When men are so careful to search and dig to see in regard to the precise period of time, we are to say, God made His Sabbath for a round world; and when the seventh day comes to us in that round world, controlled by the sun that rules the day, it is the time in all countries and lands to observe the Sabbath. In the countries where there is no sunset for months, and again no sunrise for months, the period of time will be calculated by records kept… The Lord accepts all the obedience of every creature He has made, according to the circumstances of time in the sun-rising and sun-setting world… The Sabbath was made for a round world, and therefore obedience is required of the people that are in perfect consistency with the Lord’s created world.” – Letter 167, 1900. {3SM 317.1,2}
“As the rays of the sun penetrate to the remotest corners of the globe, so God designs that the light of the gospel shall extend to every soul upon the earth.” ChS 18.5-ChS 18.6
“As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the false sabbath, the people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her example”. 6T 18.2
“In the days of Christ, selfishness and pride and prejudice had built strong and high the wall of partition between the appointed guardians of the sacred oracles and every other nation on the globe.” MB 42.2
“Christ is working in their behalf in the heavenly courts, sending out His messengers to all parts of the globe, to the assistance of every suffering one who looks to Him for relief, for spiritual life and knowledge. ” 7BC 968.2
“The weakness of our Government is fully open before other nations, and they now conclude that it is because it was not a monarchial government, and they admire their own government, and look down, some with pity, others with contempt, upon our nation, which they have regarded as the most powerful upon the globe.” 1T 259.1
What Did the Seventh-day Adventists Pioneers Believe About the Shape of the Earth?
JAMES WHITE:
Is it one of “the latest assured verdicts of science” that the earth did not rotate on its axis till the fourth day? If the earth did rotate, did it not do so once in twenty-four hours, as it still does; or did it then go so slow that it took it ages upon ages to make one rotation? The latter cannot be so, as we believe that it is “the latest assured verdict of science” that it is entirely to its rotary motion that the earth owes its oblate-spheroidal form.” SITI December 16, 1886, p. 759.4
“The universality of a kingdom could be no more strongly asserted in human language than is this dominion of the king of Babylon. No spot on the round globe, where an animate being dwells, that is not included in his ample dominion.” {ARSH May 30, 1854, p. 145.10}
JN ANDREWS:
“The earth continues its revolution on its axis, and in its orbit; the moon also, and the planets continue their usual course, impelled by the power of God; the rain falls, vegetation continues its growth as usual, and God watches over, and preserves the lives of men.” JN Andrews, RRCS 20.6
“The days of the week are measured off by the revolution of our earth on its axis; and hence our seventh day, as such, can come only to dwellers on this globe.” JN Andrews, SITL 6.2-SITL 6.3
“The wisdom of God has given to our earth a globular form, and has caused it to revolve upon its axis. So far is this from presenting any real difficulty in the way of those who keep the definite seventh day, it is actually that without which such observance would be impossible. For if our earth stood still, one side would have perpetual day, and the other side unending night. There could be in that case no succession of day and night, and no such thing as a seventh day. But by the divine arrangement of a revolving globular world, the definite seventh day comes to all the inhabitants of the earth, and they can observe it, if they have a heart to obey God. Even the dwellers within the polar circles, where for a season it is all night, and for another season all day, can readily determine the revolution of the earth upon its axis, and can, if they are so disposed, observe the Sabbath of the Lord.” DSD 11
“God, who made our world, made it of a globular form, and made man to dwell on all the face of it.” DSD 15.3
“And thus we read of our globe: “And the earth was without form and void.” Its materials now existed, but they had no order. They were without form, a strong indication that even gravitation was not in existence at the moment of their creation; else it would at once have given the earth a globular form. And the earth was void, i.e., destitute of living creatures and even of living plants. Darkness reigned supreme. Not one ray of light mingled with its utter blackness.” SOSL 6.1 (Sermons on the Sabbath and the Law)
JOSEPH BATES:
“Is it not plain then that this same earth and sea, which constitutes the whole dominion of Jesus, will as regularly and as precisely, and minutely continue to make one thousand revolutions round the sun, (in accordance with this prophecy,) as it has the six thousand in the past.” SLG 11.1
“When this earth shall have performed six thousand revolutions around the sun, man will have had 313,071 holy days, or 857 years of holy days set apart and sanctified by God for his special benefit.” SLG 22.1
WILLIAM MILLER:
“Night, in the natural world, is that portion of time in which the face of the natural sun is hid from us, or that part of our earth on which we dwell, in accordance with certain infallible laws of nature, such as light and the vivifying influence of the sun, or the revolution of our earth upon its axis.” MWM 384.11
EJ WAGGONER:
“The day is not made by the sun but by the revolution of the earth on its axis, and the earth could revolve if the sun and moon, it did not shine, the language indicates that this was the case. There was “the first day,” “the second day,” and “the third day.” Each of these days was composed of a period of darkness succeeded by a period of light, but the sun did not shine. And the sun and moon were made to be light-bearers, to rule the day and night. The sun was made to rule the day. What day? The day which was already formed by the revolution of the earth on its axis, and which could henceforth be more distinctly marked than before.
“It is a mistaken idea that the sun was not created till the fourth day. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The sun and moon were created “in the beginning,” on the first day, but were not made to be light-bearers until the fourth day. And probably they were not made to assume their present shape until that time.” SITI May 26, 1887, p. 311.4-SITI May 26, 1887, p. 311.5
“But the question is presented, “How could there be days before there was any sun?” Such a question implies ignorance, or at least forgetfulness, of what forms the day. The day is made by the revolution of the earth on its axis. Each complete revolution makes one day. As a matter of fact, the sun has nothing whatever to do informing the day. If it should suddenly become a body of darkness, instead of a body of light, it would be days just the same, and they would be just the same length that they now are. So there were days before the sun was appointed to rule the day. This appointment was not made until after the earth had completed three revolutions, or until three days of time had passed. The very statement that God set the two great lights in the firmament, “to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness,” shows that there were days independent of the sun. These great lights were to rule in the day and then the night, which had been arranged before they were given their office.” SITI December 29, 1887, p. 795.2
“Notice now the steps by which the Sabbath was made: First, God made the heavens and the earth in six days,—six days such as we are familiar with, composed of a dark part and a light part, caused by the revolution of the earth upon its axis, and each completed in twenty-four hours. Second, God rested on the seventh day. Third, he blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because that in it he had rested. Then it became God’s holy Sabbath day.” FACC 350.3
“In the question under consideration, however, the claim is that since the calendar has been changed, it cannot be known with certainty which day is the Sabbath. To this it is only necessary to say that no change that man may make in the calendar can affect the revolution of the earth on its axis, which alone governs the division of time into days.” PTUK November 24, 1898, p. 739.7
“This succession of light and darkness is caused only by the revolution of the earth on its axis.” SITI March 17, 1887, p. 168.13
“It is only by means of our senses, after all, that we are able to realize the fact that the earth is round, and that it revolves on its axis and moves through space.” SITI July 21, 1887, p. 438.6
“Astonishing! But we would like to ask if the day has been measured by the revolution of the earth around the sun at any time since the sun was created. If we are correctly informed, the day is measured by the revolution of the earth on its own axis, without reference to the sun, and that could be done before the sun was made as well as afterwards. The sun was made to rule the day that already existed; but the earth would revolve on its axis once in twenty-four hours, forming the day, if the sun did not shine at all. Who has the next astro-geological “reason” to bring against the commandment of the Lord?” SITI September 29, 1887, p. 608.13
JH KELLOGG:
“The earth turns upon its axis at the rate of seventeen miles a minute, while it moves in its orbit around the sun at the rate of nineteen miles a second. Think of this! Try to comprehend the meaning of this enormous speed – the earth revolving upon its axis at the rate of seventeen miles a minute – seventeen times as fast as the lightning express, and we clinging to its surface like flies revolving on a spinning top. But this is a slow rate compared with the rate at which it moves through its orbit, more than sixty times as great… The sun travels faster that the earth. It travels at the rate of twenty-seven miles a second. And the earth and all the planets are traveling with it. So here is another still more rapid movement in addition to the earth’s movement on its axis and in its orbit. Not only the earth and the sun, but every sun in the universe (and all the stars are suns), with their planets revolving about them, are moving, doubtless, at equally rapid rates. The mind staggers at the thought of the immense expenditure of energy necessary to keep all these gigantic suns and worlds in orderly movement.” GCDB February 19, 1897, p. 82.1,3
AT JONES:
“Neptune receives only one-thousandth as much as we do but the wonder is that it receives any at all. Again: these all revolve round the sun, and they not only revolve round it, but the sun with his whole system, revolves round other grand central systems, and systems of systems till we are overwhelmed with the immensity of the firmament, and these planets and systems rolling in their orbits at a rate of speed that is almost incredible. The earth revolves on its axis at the rate of more than one thousand miles an hour it rolls forward in its course round the sun sixty-four thousand, eight hundred miles in an hour, more than one thousand miles a minute, eighteen miles in a second.” SITI April 18, 1878, p. 113.8
“It was by believing that the earth is round, against the dogma of the Catholic Church that it is flat, that Columbus ever discovered Cuba and the western continent. Of course every American schoolboy knows that before Columbia discovered America the Catholic Church insisted that the earth was flat. But it is too sadly true that along with this the impression is left, if not actually inculcated, upon the minds of the school-children that at that time all the world supposed the earth to be flat. But that is a great mistake. All except the Catholic world knew then that the earth is round. The ancients knew that the earth is round. The Jews knew it always. Aristotle taught it; so did Ptolemy the Geographer. Indeed, this was a familiar truth among the people of those times. It was the church fathers who, with the many other falsehoods of the great apostasy, brought in the dogma that the earth should be flat. The chief of the church fathers, and the chief author of the dogma that the earth was flat, was Augustine—the father also of the Inquisition—tho in point of time Lactantius preceded him in advocating the dogma. Lactantius lived in the time of Constantine, and was one of the important factors in forming the union of Church and State, having so much of the favor of Constantine that Constantine gave him a place in the imperial family as tutor to the emperor’s eldest son. Augustine lived from 354 to 430. He became a churchman in 386. Thus the period in which lived Lactantius and Augustine was the very period in which the church of the apostasy got full control of the power of the State, and used that power to compel all, even to the penalty of death, to conform to her dogmas, Augustine consecrating the whole scheme by his final proposition that it is “by the rod of temporal suffering,” that dissenting parties “attain the highest grade of religious development.” The apostasy having full control of the imperial power, and compelling all to conform to her teaching, and two of the chief factors in the creation of this Church-and-State combination being the chief authors of the dogma that the earth is flat; thus in that time and onward through the consequent Dark Ages, the truth that the earth is round was forced out of all the realm which the church controlled.” {SITI January 11, 1899, p1.3-9}
PERCY T. MAGAN:
“These are the things with which the Saracens occupied themselves, while Christendom sat in squalor and superstition. While Rome was asserting the flatness of the earth, the Spanish Moors were teaching geography from globes. To say that the earth was globular in form was held to be heretical by monks and patristic teachers. They said in the words of Lactantius: “Is it possible that men can be so absurd as to believe that the crops and the trees, on the other side of the earth, hang downward, and that men have their feet higher than their heads?” They taught that the edge of the sea was protected by a wall of weeds in order to keep the ships from tumbling into space.” PRUS 46.2
URIAH SMITH:
“The record stands in its native strength and simplicity. The six days of creation were such days as we now have, ruled by the sun, determined by a revolution of the earth upon its axis. The seventh of these was devoted by the Creator to rest.” SYNPT 74.2
“The second vial throws the sea into the most infectious and deadly condition that can be conceived of; it becomes like the blood of a dead man. If this applies to the oceans of our globe, as there seems to be no reason why it may not, each one’s imagination may be left to grapple with the problem, what the condition of the earth would be with three quarters of it enveloped in this deadly substance.” LUJ 253.5
“It is said that in Germany the ladies are rather ignorant of the geography of the earth. One of them in conversation asked if Christmas did not occur in the summer in the United States, as it came in the winter in Germany (if my memory is correct). This reminds one of the objections some people raise against the Sabbath, on account of the spherical form of the earth.” ARSH July 3, 1860, page 55.3
GEORGE STORRS:
“There are many points of doctrine that a few years ago passed for truth, that are now rejected. That this is the case in science, generally, no one will doubt. How long is it since men were satisfied that the world is round and revolves on its axis? Those who advocated such a theory, no doubt, were thought to be stark mad! – To the minds of their opponents, it was as clear as the light, that the world was flat – their fathers had always believed so; and all the reservoirs of water would have been emptied long ago, if the world turned over! – Copernicus, it is said, was compelled, by public opinion, to keep his discovery of the true solar system to himself more than thirty years. And Galileo, for avowing his belief in the same system, was cited to appear before the Pope, and condemned to prison, while his writings were publicly burned in the streets at Rome.” SSII 122.2
ELDER C:
“But the days are measured off just as accurately as here, and the week has its apportioned place, together with the Sabbath, which can be found and kept in the arctic regions, if any one wants to keep it there. The north star and the ‘dipper’ give the earth’s revolutions as plainly as the sun does to us.” – “Tabernacle Lectures,” p. 178. RCASDA 43
Doesn't the Bible Refer to the "Ends of the Earth?"
“the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth;“
1 Samuel 2:10
What does the Bible mean by “the ends of the Earth?”
“But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” Romans 10:18
“For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;” Job 28:24
“He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” Psalms 72:8
“From the ends of the Earth” = “into all the earth… unto the ends of the world,” “under the whole heaven” and “from sea to sea.”
The “ends of the Earth” is not to imply the Earth has “ends” but is a poetic expression incorporating the entirety of the world as the phrase “the ends of the world” is used synonymously with “all the earth.” (Rom 10:18)
When we read the Bible, especially poetic books like the book of Psalms, we need to understand the poetic expressions are just that—poetic expressions or personifications of inanimate things. Those who advocate the earth is flat may not like it when others recognize many of these verses as poetic expressions because they must understand the texts literally in order to support their view. But, if we take the verses in a literal manner we must be consistent and believe that the Lord is a literal “rock” and that He is literally “clothed with majesty” and “strength.” If we take these expressions literally who knows what kind of clothing that might look like. In the book of Psalms alone we see that the seas “clap their hands” (Psa 98:8) and that the sun has a tent (Psa 19:4) and if we put our tongues to the two tables of stone we will find them “sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” (Psa 19:10) In Psalm 22:6 David identifies himself as a worm and in Psalms 65:13 we read the pastures and valleys “shout for joy, they also sing.” In Ecclesiastes 1:5 the sun must be a person because the personal pronoun “he” and “his” is used, saying “The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.” Many more examples could be cited, but we recognize them as poetic expressions not to be taken literally. It is equally as dangerous an error to take a literal text as symbolic such as Daniel chapter 11. It is imperative therefore, that we understand poetic expressions in a figurative manner and literal texts in a literal manner. It is just as dangerous to take literal texts figuratively as to take figurative texts literally. We must have discernment and objectivity, or we will lead ourselves to misinterpret the texts to suit our pride of opinion and wrest the scriptures to our own destruction.
Does the Bible Say the Earth is Stationary?
Proof Texts Used to Support the idea the Earth is Stationary:
“The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.” Psalms 93:1
“Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.” Psalms 96:10
“Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.” 1 Chronicles 16:30
“Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.” Psalms 104:5
With these texts removed from the their context and surrounding verses it does seem as though God means the earth does not move. But when we consider the context in which these verses are given an entirely different meaning emerges. Let’s look at them one by one.
“To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.” (Psalms 92:15-93:2)
When we read this scripture again with the surrounding context, we see the context refers to God’s reign, for “the LORD reigneth” and the text brings to light His majesty and strength and we read “thy throne is established.” So the context is the reign and throne of God—or we might say His government. It is within this context the statement is made “the world also is stablished.” In these verse there are two things that are established—”the world” and “thy throne.” In Hebrew parallelism a thought is expressed one way, and then the same thought is repeated again though expressed using different words to re-emphasize the point. This is what we see here—the world is stablished and His throne is established. If we understand this statement within the context, we see it does not mean the world is stationary, but that God’s reign and “throne” is established in the world and that it is God’s “throne” and reign over the world that cannot be moved. If there is still any uncertainty that this is the meaning, we will see the same context in the other Bible verses cited that supposedly mean the earth is stationary. Let’s now look at the context of Psalms 96:10:
“O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.” Psalms 96:9-11
Here again we see the context referring to the Lord’s reign, for “the LORD reigneth” and God’s government for “he shall judge the people…” Within the context, we see again that it is the Lord’s reign and government or authority over the world that shall not be moved. Often times the word “world” does not mean the earth itself, but by implication the people upon the earth. For example in Revelation 13:3 we read “and all the world wondered after the beast,” but no one presumes the world itself has the capacity to worship—but we understand intuitively that reference to the word “world” refers to the people upon it. So too in Psalms 10 we understand the Lord’s reign shall be established over “the world,” or the people upon it, and that is why we then read “he shall judge the people righteously.” Now let’s look at 1 Chronicles 16:30 in its context:
“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.” 1 Chronicles 16:29-31
Here again we see the same context now that we know what to look for, for the verses end with the words “the LORD reigneth.” (1 Chronicles 16:31) Additionally the fact the use of the word “world,” refers not to the planet but to the people upon it becomes clearer for we see “fear before him, all the earth,” which does not call the earth itself to fear God, but the people. Likewise the phrase “let the earth rejoice” does not refer to the earth itself, but to the people as the next part of the verse then clarifies in the words “let men say among the nations, the LORD reigneth.” Here is a call for the multitudes living upon the earth to acknowledge “the LORD reigneth.” So again, the context shows the meaning of the phrase “the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved” refers to the reign of the LORD over all the people of the earth and that the LORD’s reign and government and authority over the world shall not be moved, or usurped by any other. Now let’s look at the context of the last verse, Psalms 104:5.
“Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.” Psalms 104:3-7
Unlike the previous verses, this passage does not mention the LORD’s reign or judgment. And unlike the other verses it is a description of the physical characteristics of the earth itself. The context reveals descriptions about God’s power and that the elements are under his control, for “at thy rebuke they [the waters] fled,” etc. The questions “who layette the beams of his chambers in the waters” and “who taketh the clouds his chariot” and “who walketh upon the wings of the wind” are made in a rhetorical fashion, inferring that God alone is the one who can do these things which demonstrates His power. And so the question is made “who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.” (Psalms 104:5) The inferred answer is God—and that is the point. Only by God’s power were the foundations of the earth laid, and that the foundations of the earth were laid so well that no one else could ever move them. What are the foundations of the earth? We are not told in this text—as that is not the point. Nor is the point that the earth is stationary and doesn’t move. The text does not say the earth doesn’t move, but that “it should not removed….” This means the foundations of the earth were laid so well by God’s power, that none but God can alter the foundations. To infer the verses are meant to mean the earth is stationary in space is an inference and an inference only. JN Loughbourough wrote:
“An inference should not be made the basis for an argument. Great Scripture truths are plainly stated, and it will not do for us to found a doctrine on inferences, contrary to positive statements in the word of God. If the Scripture states in positive terms that God is a person, it will not answer for us to draw an inference from the text which says “God is a Spirit,” that he has no body.” ARSH September 18, 1855, page 41.12
Though the context is different, the principle is the same. It would not be an honest approach for a Bible student to take a verse that refers to no one being able to remove the foundations of the earth that God has laid—to make it mean the earth is stationary.
After considering the context of the above verses, we see the verses are not intended by God to mean the earth doesn’t move, but that His authority and reign over the people of the earth shall not be moved or usurped.
Space and Planets: The Cosmology of Ellen White
Are the planets and stars really nothing more luminous spots of light projected on a dome like a great planetarium?
The flat earth model posits that there is no such thing as outer space as we know it, and that what we understand to be planets and stars are nothing more than spots of light on the dome above the flat earth. Consistency and logic demands that if flat earthers do not believe in space or other planets, neither can they believe in the inspiration of Ellen White. For she wrote at length about other worlds and planets with unfallen beings. Believing in the flat earth and the inspiration of Ellen White at the same time is an utter impossibility.
“August 30th, 1846 I was married to Elder James White. In a few months we attended a conference in Topsham, Me. Bro. J. Bates was present. He did not then fully believe that my visions were of God. It was a meeting of much interest. But I was suddenly taken ill and fainted. The brethren prayed for me, and I was restored to consciousness. The Spirit of God rested upon us in Bro. C.’s humble dwelling, and I was wrapt in a vision of God’s glory, and for the first time had a view of other planets. After I came out of vision I related what I had seen. Bro. Bates asked if I had studied astronomy. I told him I had no recollection of ever looking into an astronomy. Said he, “This is of the Lord.” I never saw Bro. Bates so free and happy before. His countenance shone with the light of Heaven, and he exhorted the church with power.” (Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 2, p. 83, par. 1)
“The effects of the curse which he [Satan] has caused, he can enjoy through the 1000 years. Limited alone to the earth, he will have no privilege of ranging around to other planets, to tempt and annoy those who have not fallen.” (Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, p. 211, par. 2, brackets added)
“The satanic delusions of the age must be met clearly and intelligently with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The same unseen Hand that guides the planets in their courses, and upholds the worlds by His power, has made provision for man formed in His image, that he may be little less than the angels of God while in the performance of his duties on earth. God’s purposes have not been answered by men who have been entrusted with the most solemn truth ever given to man.” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, p. 415, par. 2)
“He speaks to the proud ocean, “Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further;” and the waters are prompt to obey his word. The planets are marshaled in perfect order, obeying the laws which God has established.” (The Review and Herald, March 1, 1881, par. 16)
“God has finished his creative work, but his energy is still exerted in upholding the objects of his creation. It is not because the mechanism that has once been set in motion continues its work by its own inherent energy that the pulse beats and breath follows breath; but every breath, every pulsation of the heart, is an evidence of the all-pervading care of Him in whom we live and have our being. It is not because of inherent power that year by year the earth produces her bounties and continues her motion around the sun. The hand of God guides the planets, and keeps them in position in their orderly march through the heavens.” (The Signs of the Times, March 20, 1884, par. 6)
“The Lord has given me a view of other worlds. Wings were given me, and an angel attended me from the city to a place that was bright and glorious. The grass of the place was living green, and the birds there warbled a sweet song. The inhabitants of the place were of all sizes, they were noble, majestic and lovely. They bore the express image of Jesus, and their countenances beamed with holy joy, expressive of the freedom and happiness of the place. I asked one of them why they were so much more lovely than those on the earth. The reply was—“we have lived in strict obedience to the commandments of God, and have not fallen by disobedience, like those on the earth.” Then I saw two trees, one looked much like the tree of life in the city. The fruit of both looked beautiful; but of one they could not eat. They had power to eat of both, but were forbidden to eat of one. Then my attending angel said to me—“none in this place have tasted of the forbidden tree; but if they should eat they would fall.” Then I was taken to a world which had seven moons. There I saw good old Enoch, who had been translated. On his right arm he bore a glorious palm, and on each leaf was written Victory. Around his head was a dazzling white wreath, and leaves on the wreath, and in the middle of each was written Purity; and around the leaf were stones of various colors, that shone brighter than the stars, and cast a reflection upon the letters, and magnified them. On the back part of his head was a bow that confined the wreath, and upon the bow was written Holiness. Above the wreath was a lovely crown that shone brighter than the sun. I asked him if this was the place he was taken to from the earth. He said, “It is not; but the city is my home, and I have come to visit this place.” He moved about the place as if perfectly at home. I begged of my attending angel to let me remain in that place. I could not bear the thought of coming back to this dark world again. Then the angel said—“you must go back, and if you are faithful, you, with the 144,000 shall have the privilege of visiting all the worlds and viewing the handy work of God.” (Broadside2 January 31, 1849, par. 8)
“I saw that the powers of heaven are the sun, moon and stars. They rule in the heavens. I saw that the powers of earth are those who bear rule on earth. I saw that the powers of heaven will be shaken at the voice of God. Then the sun, moon, and stars will be moved out of their places. They will not fall or pass away, but be shaken by the voice of God. Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other; the atmosphere parted and rolled back, then we could see the open space in Orion from whence came the voice of God. I saw that the Holy City will come down through that open space. I saw that the powers of earth are now being shaken. The Lord showed me that things came in order—war, and rumors of war—sword, famine, and pestilence are first to shake the powers of earth, then the voice of God will shake the heavens and earth,—the sun, moon, and stars and this planet also. I saw that the shaking of nations in Europe is not the shaking of the powers of heaven as some teach, but it is the shaking of the powers of earth.” (Letter 2, 1848)
“God’s government included not only the inhabitants of heaven but of all the created worlds; and Satan thought that if he could carry the intelligences of heaven with him in rebellion, he could also carry with him the other worlds.”
— The Review and Herald, March 9, 1886, par. 4
Conclusion
We are counseled by the Lord, “Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain ‘Thus saith the Lord” in its support.'” (RH June 7, 1906, par. 5) In all of the Bible and the writings of Ellen White there is an absolute absence of a single solitary “thus saith the Lord,” that the earth is flat. Yet, people believe it and teach it, even to such a degree as to infer one cannot understand obey or give the three angels’ messages without understanding the shape of the earth—all without a single “thus saith the Lord.” Brethren, we have been warned off this ground. The shape of the Earth that God will recreate after the millennium is not of loyalty God has called man to make. The Sabbath, the memorial of creation that remembers the fact that God by His power created the Heavens and the Earth is the test. The Sabbath that identifies the worship of the True God is the test. Our observance of the Sabbath rest which shows that we are resting in the right-doing (righteousness) of Christ as our only hope—is and has always been the test. The last crisis that will determine the fate of the souls of men is not a knowledge of any aspect of creation, but a recognize of the fact that God created.
“Those who would labor in word and doctrine, should be firmly established in the truth before they are authorized to go out into the field to teach others. The truth, pure and unadulterated, must be presented to the people. It is the third angel’s message that bears the true test to the people. Satan will lead men to manufacture false tests, and thus seek to obscure the value of, and make of none effect, the message of truth. The commandment of God that has been almost universally made void, is the testing truth for this time. The Sabbath of Jehovah is to be brought to the attention of the world, whether they will hear or whether they will forbear. The word of the Lord, by the prophet Isaiah, declares to the men of this time, “Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.” The Lord has said that the Sabbath was a sign between him and his people forever. The time is coming when all those who worship God will be distinguished by this sign. They will be known as the servants of God, by this mark of their allegiance to Heaven. But all man-made tests will divert the mind from the great and important doctrines that constitute the present truth.” (RH May 29, 1888, par. 5)
The people of God must recognize in the promotion of the flat earth theory—a false test designed by Satan to divert the mind from the test that will decide their eternal fate and thereby cause them to be lost. The people of God must also recognize that not only is there not one single “thus saith the LORD” that the earth is flat, but that the acceptance of the flat earth doctrine puts them at odds with the inspired counsel that has already been given. “Whether the world is round or flat will not save a soul, but whether men believe and obey means everything.” (Letter 43, 1887) To embrace the flat earth doctrine one must disregard and make void the counsel of the Lord’s messenger, Ellen White, disregard the writings of the Pioneers God has led, and misapply the Bible scriptures and thereby erect a false test that will lead to the destruction of souls. We therefore would warn any earnest soul that desires to please God off this enchanted ground.
“They do not make right applications of Scripture, they wrest the Scriptures to sustain their own ideas. Whatever may be the claims of those who draw away from the body to proclaim theories of their own invention, they are in Satan’s service, to get up some new device to divert souls from the truth for this time.” (1MR 353.2)