Genesis 1:6, 7, 8
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. (Genesis 1:6)
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. (Genesis 1:7)
And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. (Genesis 1:8)
Key Words — firmament — heaven — waters
 Firmament is mentioned 9 times in 7 verses in Genesis 1. Nine is the number of completion in finality, as the last of the single digits, it is the end of a series, or the conclusion. The number 7 is again mentioned to remind us that it is God in His perfection who has set the time for the existence of our planet in all of it’s stages, and in tying these two numbers together through the context of these verses, and the placement of these verses, I would say that God has said the conclusion of the matter of the ‘firmament’ is to show forth His glories in the heavens. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (Psalm 19:1)
  It is through the last mention of ‘firmament’ that opens to us a bigger stage or understanding of firmament. (Genesis 1:20) And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. In the open firmament of heaven is the phrase that opens to us; notice it is ‘the open’ firmament. God called the firmament heaven, therefore, let us read this verse as, ‘in the open heaven of heaven.’ This heaven, our visible heaven is the atmosphere above and around us — the face of heaven, that which we see, that which is open to us.
  Heaven is mentioned 7 times in 7 verses in Genesis 1, again God’s number in perfection related to heaven. The doubling of 7 mentions in 7 verses, the doubling of God’s Divine order. There are 3 heavens mentioned in Scripture: 1, there is both the atmospheric heaven (Genesis 1:5-8), and the heavens of our solar system (Genesis 1:15,16,17,18). In Genesis 1:6-8 ‘firmament,’ is the firmament or heaven tied to the earth, the open firmament of heaven; and 2, there is the heaven that we call ‘space,’ the universe, the place of the stars, and the constellations. (Psalm 19:1) The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.; (Genesis 15:5) And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. (Isaiah 13:10) For the stars of heaven and the constellations . . (Psalm 8:3) When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; And lastly, the 3rd heaven is the universe or place of God’s throne. ( Psalm 123:1) Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. (Psalm 103:19) The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. It was the Apostle Paul who wrote of the 3rd heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2) I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
A side note: there is a method that I sometimes use to remember certain verses, when I want to remember that it is God who dwells in the heavens, and the heaven is the throne room of God, I use the numbers 1-2-3, the Godhead numbers; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; and in the Godhead they are united together as 1 — now I have the location of my verse planted into my memory — Psalm [the Songs – the praises of God] 123:1. ♦ End of Side Note.
  We are not through with the ‘open firmament (heaven) of heaven.’ Looking up during the day time we see a sky of blue, beautiful shades of blue, above us. This color is the reflection of our seas and the watery mists in the clouds. Our blue sky — which is water and light blocks out the blackness of space in the beyond that continually surrounds us. Day by day God witnesses to us of Himself in the blue reflection, that He is reflected to us through water and light. Every day the glory of Lord Jesus Christ, as God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit witnesses to us of themselves and the glory of God. Here again the created universe speaks to us of the spiritual universe; and the spiritual universe is reflected through the created universe. The Lord Jesus Christ is the giver of living water (that which is the eternal sustenance and life) and the Light. The living flowing water is the description of the essence and the working of God through God the Holy Spirit. Water is one of many types or symbols of God the Holy Spirit.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (John 4:7)
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (John 4:10)
The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? (John 4:11)
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: (John 4:13)
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)
The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. (John 4:15)
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38)
The Blue
  One of the many ways that God teaches us about Himself is through types, or symbols. A type is something that God uses to teach us spiritual lessons, a type can be a person, a number, an action, an activity, a color, a symbol, an analogy, or an example. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (1 Corinthians 10:11) (We will not go into more depths about types at this time, except for the color of blue.) I find that this color is fascinating in Scriptures. It is mentioned 50 times in the Old Testament, and it is not mentioned at all in the New Testament. The number 50 is the number of Jubilee or deliverance and rest, and relates to the nation of Israel; lands, and houses were restored, debts, service and servitude were fulfilled. During the 50th year there was no work, as food and preparations had been taken care of during the previous years, a rest for both man and beasts. (Leviticus 25:10-13) Blue is a color that symbolizes the goodness of God to us through His creation, the heavens; also blue, through the prism of water and light, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are revealed in the reflection of the blue sky. These 2 different types (color and numbers) blue and 50 are joined together to reveal God’s message to us and to Israel. Let us not forget that 50 is also the issue of (7²), after the completion of 49 then came the Jubilee in the beginning of the 50th year. To the Christian, the number 50 is also very important; for it was Pentecost, the 50th day after the feast of the Passover, that manifestation of the Person of God the Holy Spirit descended from the heavens above in two distinct and separate actions. He first appeared as ‘a rushing wind,’ and appeared as ‘cloven tongues like as of fire.’ (Acts 2:2-3) Then He indwelt within man. (Acts 2:4) Everything becomes intertwined, the thread of blue intertwines into a tapestry of God’s design in color and numbers.
  Why is the color blue not mentioned at all in the New Testament? This is another fascinating point. The colors in the Tabernacle were white, red, purple and blue. (This is another study in itself, but not for today). All the colors of red, purple, and white are mentioned in the New Testament except for the color of blue. I love the way God the Holy Spirit uses words, or chooses not to use a word; there are no accidents, or copyists mistakes in the Word of God.
Why is the color blue not mentioned in the New Testament?
  For the Christian, the ‘blue’ lives within us. The water and the light indwell the child of God. The water (the Spirit of God indwells the child of God), and the light (the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, Redeemer, and our eternal existence has made His presence in the children of God).
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:27)
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:23)
And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare [it]: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:26)
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11)
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:12)
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. (1 John 4:13)
Why is the color blue not mentioned in the New Testament?
  The color blue is not mentioned, because for the Christian, we are no longer tied to the earth, but our eyes, heart and spirit are now placed in Christ in the heaven above the heavens of heaven.
Why is the color blue not mentioned in the New Testament?
  The color blue is not mentioned because the heavens have opened to man, and God has manifested Himself to man. There is a rip in the heavens, as a door, a door in time, a door in space, and we can now approach God. As the veil in the Temple was torn from top to bottom at the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the heavens parted as a rip through God’s curtains in heaven; man now can approach God, man can now humbly go into the Holy of Holies, wherein the Ark of the Covenant dwells. For us, as Christians, the blue (the water and the light) reflects into our spirit and souls.
  The heavens are open to us, we are able to approach God through His Son.
And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: (Mark 1:10)
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (Mark 3:16)
And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. (John 1:51)
After this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. (Revelation 4:1)
  The heavens are open to us, we are able to approach God through His Son. We, as Christians, no longer have our eyes on the blue heaven above, but our eyes are on Him who sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high; we have been placed in the heavenlies with Him. This is a great thing that the heaven has been opened to us, we need no man, no priest, no hireling, no religious organization to approach God for us — heaven is open to us! The Lord Jesus Christ is that door to heaven for us.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. (Revelation 3:8)
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)
After this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. (Revelation 4:1)
  Heaven and the heaven of heavens — 5 times in the Old Testament we have the revealing of more than one heaven, and not just two heavens, but three heavens. The first heaven, or the face of heaven, the open heaven is the one that we can see from the earth, and the one that ties us to the earth, and separates us from the other heavens. Our open heaven is the reflection of the seas and the mists in the clouds. Well, you say, I can see the heaven above from the earth, and I have seen the heaven of space from pictures taken from space, so where is the 3rd heaven? Not so fast, let’s not jump past this 2nd heaven so quickly.
  This 2nd heaven is clothed in darkness; even though it is a universe of blackness, God does not leave Himself without a witness. The very condition of the universe is a witness of God’s glory by its vastness, beauty, and galaxies twisting and flowing as objects in an endless river; rich in its unsearchable mysteries. It is here that God reveals Himself through this beauty and vast expansion, ever growing and constantly moving, breathing and twisting in colors and sounds. Yes, even sounds. This heaven is only viewable with human eyes at night — when the reflection of the water and light is no longer; then only do we realize that we are surrounded with darkness. Do you not see the spiritual lesson here? When God the Son is no longer in our midst, and the Spirit of God is rejected, then we are enclosed with a darkness that can be felt. We are surrounded by the night and darkness; and yet, even in this darkness God still shows us that He is there through the beauty of His creation of His universe. (Isaiah 50:3) I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
  Now let’s proceed to the 3rd heaven as the Apostle Paul disclosed to us in the New Testament an unseen universe existing beyond our earthly senses. What saith scripture about this actual place?
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens [is] the LORD’S thy God, the earth [also], with all that therein [is]. (Deuteronomy 10:14)
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? (1 Kings 8:27)
But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who [am] I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him? (2 Chronicles 2:6)
But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built! (2 Chronicles 6:18)
Thou, [even] thou, [art] LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all [things] that [are] therein, the seas, and all that [is] therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. (Nehemiah 9:6)
  Only in the Old Testament do we see this phrase of ‘heaven, the heaven of heavens,’ mentioned 5 times in 5 verses (5 the number of grace).
What are some of the things that Scripture teaches us about heaven?
1. God dwells in the heavens, it is His home, His dwelling place, the place of His heavenly kingdom.
The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. (Psalm 103:19)
Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. (Psalm 123:1)
2. The heavens are like a curtain, they are spread out as a vast expanse, and they also can act as a separator. They separate one side of the curtain from the other side of the curtain: a divider, a division within the heavenlies. Also, a curtain can also act as a tent to dwell in and under.
It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: (Isaiah 40:22)
Who coverest [thyself] with light as [with] a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: (Psalm 104:2)
3. The heavens that we dwell in, exist in, and are familiar with, will one day be dissolved, it will all come to a catastrophic end by God.
Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. (Isaiah 13:13)
And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling [fig] from the fig tree. (Isaiah 34:4)
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:12)
4. God will create a new heavens and a new earth. Creation is His specialty.
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. (Isaiah 65:17)
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13)
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1)
5. The heavens belong to God, even though He has given man the title deeds to the earth, and given man the responsibility to care for His earth, He is still the Creator, and the owner of all.
The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)
6. The heavens, at various times in the past, have been opened for man to see within the veil or curtain. Christ has opened the door for us as Christians, and our dwelling place will be with Christ as the Bride of Christ for all eternity.
And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: (Mark 1:10)
And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. (Acts 7:56)
Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. (Ezekiel 1:1)
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Revelation 19:11)
7. There are armies in heaven.
And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Revelation 19:14)
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. (Revelation 19:19)
  This is just scrapping the surface of what the Scriptures reveal to us about the heavens, and the heavens, and the heavens.
WATERS
  Water completely enveloped the earth, pressing around it, weighing on it, pushing and  pulling with power and energy: effecting gravity, and all stratum, and all that which was above, and that which was below the surface. The preparation of the birth of our planet began in Genesis 1:6-8, and was much like a child in the womb surrounded and protected by fluid. This earth at its creation was perfect and good, because as Scripture confirms that everything God is, and everything that God made was perfect and good (until sin was brought into the universe and into our world by man). For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:18) Note the three words used in this verse in relationship to the creation; God created, God formed, and God made. The Holy Spirit doesn’t use empty words, when He repeats a single thought using different words or phrases, this becomes important to us. The beauty in the brevity of His words and the strength of His statements are beyond sublime. God created — out of nothing. God formed — as an artist takes something that is already existing and molds it, shapes it and gives it a particular shape; so too God formed from what He had already created. God made— as He made the earth ready for habitation, as He made ready all things within the earth for His coming purposes. He made ready the things that He had formed from the creation that He had created from nothing. Also read Isaiah 43:7 and compare it with Isaiah 45:18. The spiritual universe is revealed through the physical universe.
  In Genesis 1:1 we are made aware of the Creator. In Genesis 1:2 we are made aware of a state of ruin brought on by a violent cataclysmic event. In Genesis 1:3 we are made aware of God’s presence. In Genesis 1:4 we are made aware of the action of God’s presence — the good Light. In Genesis 1:5 we are made aware of a spiritual and a physical division, and the beginning of time, or space-time. In Genesis 1:6-8 we are made aware of one of the 4 basic elements — water, its spiritual energy and its physical force. The spiritual universe is revealed through the physical universe; in that, everything within the physical universe becomes a symbol or takes on meaning in the spiritual universe. Â
  The word ‘waters’ is mentioned 10 times in 8 verses in Genesis 1, what can be seen in these numbers? The number 10 signifies the perfection of Divine order, and 8 is often denoted as a new beginning. There is much more in the number 8, but we will not go into it at this time; nevertheless, in the context of Genesis 1:6-8 and tied to water, we see a new beginning in the birth of this planet, and God’s divine order is perfected through His re-arrangement of water. God divides the waters and places an atmospheric heaven between the waters on earth and the waters in the clouds of heaven.
The waters in the physical universe —
  In the physical universe water is not only key to our survival, but it was the external force of power that transformed the primitive planet into a state of ruin. And this is that state that we find this planet engulfed in water in Genesis 1:6, and then God moved by dividing the waters from the waters and placed a firmament between these waters; or we could use the word ‘heaven’ for firmament, because that is what God called the firmament, Heaven. Yes, water is a key element in our universe, and it is in abundance; but this is not an article to inform of the surprising scientific discoveries of the overwhelming abundance of water (not only on our planet), but in the universe; this is an article to show forth the abundance of the glories of God, the Creator of all. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. (Psalm 148:4)
  Our physical world of water teaches us much about the spiritual world. Our planet consists of 71% of surface water, that’s a lot of water that we are surrounded with, and don’t forget the water that we cannot see, that which flows beneath the surface, such as the aquifer, and flows through hidden channels not only under the earth, but also under the seas, plus the frozen waters in glaciers, and mountain tops, and the waters above in the mists and clouds.
  We are totally enclosed above, under and around with waters by waters in its 3 states: solid, liquid and gas (or vapor). God has again given to us a spiritual tool to be able to comprehend in a very small way who He is; and He uses the one thing that man cannot do without, the one thing that man needs to survive (besides air). Through these 3 states of water we have an limited understanding of the Godhead; God the Father (the vapor, He is Spirit, (John 4:24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.); God the Son (the solid, He is the manifestation of God, (Colossians 1:15) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:); and God the Holy Spirit (the liquid, He is all that water is, (Romans 8:10) . . . but the Spirit is life . . . ). Even our bodies (taking into account the differences of individuals) consist of 65% water. I’d say that water is truly an essential element in our total makeup and environment.
  God has provided man with what is essential for him to survive on a hostile planet; and this hostility was of man’s own making; but God, in His goodness, has given man the elements that are essential for man to survive. Man is such a thankless creature.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20)
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:21)
  God has given man blessings, and mercy far above what man deserves.
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Mark 5:45)
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. (Psalm 103:10
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. (Psalm 103:11)
© Copyright 2015, Mary Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJV)