Astronomy – The study of objects and matter outside the earth’s atmosphere.

Genesis Chapter 1:1-31.

The strongest affection and utmost zeal should, I think, promote the studies concerned with the most beautiful objects. This is the discipline that deals with the universe’s divine revolutions, the stars’ motions, sizes, distances, risings and settings . . . for what is more beautiful than heaven? (Nicolaus Copernicus)

As I began the process of researching, writing and putting together SURTSAstronomy, I realized that there were quite a few bible verses that someway…somehow…mentions directly or indirectly, items that qualify under the scientific study of astronomy.

SURTSAstronomy will be divided up into 5 sections:

Genesis 1:1-31

Old Testament Astronomy: Part 1

Old Testament Astronomy: Part 2

New Testament Astronomy and

Astronomy Yet To Come.

For this section of SURTSAstronomy…Genesis Chapter 1:1-31, I would ask that you consider the following…

For a book that is not intended to be a book on science, let alone astronomy, it is quite amazing, not only on the amount of science that is in there, but the validity of the references regarding astronomy, that are in there.

Based on the evidence presented, I would submit to you there is absolutely nowhere in the Bible where the astronomy topics are unfounded.  I would also submit to you that there is nowhere in the Bible where any scientific discovery since the Bible was put together, has yet to be proven false, regarding astronomy.

What is truly amazing is the fact that many of the facts above were already in the Bible before man and his science…and astronomy, ‘discovered’ them.  In multiple cases, by hundreds or thousands of years.

What other religious book has this record?

The point is this:
While the Holy Bible is of course a religious book first and foremost, clearly, it is much more than that. 

I wish to thank the authors of the following website for their ideas, concepts and inspiration, for SURTSAstronomy…Genesis Chapter 1:1-31:
https://www.openbible.info/topics/astronomy
https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Astronomy
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Bible-Verses-About-Heaven/
https://www.bibleref.com/

Want to learn more?

Welcome to SURTSAstronomy…Genesis Chapter 1:1-31.

Genesis Chapter 1:1-31:

1. Genesis 1:1	13. Genesis 1:20
2. Genesis 1:2	14. Genesis 1:21
3. Genesis 1:3	15. Genesis 1:22-23
4. Genesis 1:4	16. Genesis 1:24
5. Genesis 1:5	17. Genesis 1:25
6. Genesis 1:6-7	18. Genesis 1:26
7. Genesis 1:8	19. Genesis 1:27
8. Genesis 1:9-10	20. Genesis 1:28
9. Genesis 1:11-13	21. Genesis 1:29
10. Genesis 1:14-15	22. Genesis 1:30
11. Genesis 1:16-17	23. Genesis 1:31
12. Genesis 1:18-19

1. Genesis 1:1:

With all things being equal, the simplest explanation tends to be the right one. (William of Ockham)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:1:

1. I will refer you back to the above this picture from William of Ockham. After reading the quote from him and then reading Genesis 1:1, I would submit to you that yes…the creation of the heaven and earth could be…that simple;
2. Also consider the other theories regarding the creation of the universe and earth that have been discussed throughout the centuries. Have you actually read any of these creation theories? I would submit to you that every, single known creation theory of the universe outside of Genesis 1:1…violates the quote uttered by William of Ockham. Therefore please consider this;
3. That by using the quote of William of Ockham, maybe…just maybe, the creation of the universe and Earth…is really all that is needed for one to understand how the universe began.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 KJV)

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2. Genesis 1:2:

Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift. (Mary Oliver)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:2:

1. The next time you think about it, go outside when it is a cloudless night. Look up into the vastness of the universe all around you. Doesn’t it appear out there, at least in some parts of the universe, that there is some formlessness, void and some darkness up there? If any of that is true then;
2. Why would it be such a far stretch to believe that the formlessness, void and some darkness, could also have been possible, before you or I, were born?

² And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2 KJV)

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3. Genesis 1:3:

Let light shine out of darkness. (Anonymous)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:3:

1. I would submit to you that the next time you pass by a light switch that is turned off…turn it on. On the surface, it sounds quite simple and non eventful however, consider the potential, larger ramifications of turning that light switch on;
2. If you are able to turn light on, (and off for that matter), with the flip of a switch…why then, would it be so impossible to think that someone greater than you and I, was able to turn the light of the universe on…with a really, REALLY big, light switch?
3. Remember what William of Ockham said in Genesis 1:1?

³ And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (Genesis 1:3 KJV)

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4. Genesis 1:4:

Give light and people will find the way. (Ella Baker)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:4:

1. I would submit to you that without question, light is good. I mean, think about it…are you more awake or more sleepy…when the sun is out? I mean, after all, what have humans done for thousands of years, once the sun goes down? Sleep.
2. Isn’t having easy access to a light switch good…especially once the sun goes down at night, and you have a task to complete before the morning comes? In the kitchen…or the garage…or at work?
3. Can’t we all agree that humanity has forever, literally, benefitted from the sunlight and more recently, electricity and the light bulb?

⁴ And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:4 KJV)

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5. Genesis 1:5:

After darkness comes the light. (Cornelius Nepos)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:5:

1. So…the sun comes up, and it is light…it is day;
2. And then…the sun goes down, nowhere to be seen. At that point it is night…
3. I would submit to you that a day has just passed in our lifetime.

⁵ And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. (Genesis 1:5 KJV)

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6. Genesis 1:6-7:

Thoughts create a new heaven, a new firmament, a new source of energy, from which new arts flow. (Paracelsus)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:6-7:

1. I have seen different bibles and other secular books refer to the firmament as the: expanse, space, huge space, horizon, dome, vault, and canopy. (I am sure there are many more that I have yet to come across. However, in the end, aren’t all of the words ultimately synonyms of firmament? Are they all not a means to end, to tell someone the difference between the water on Earth and the sky above?
2. Isn’t water on Earth…clean water of course…blue? When you look up at the sky on a clear day, isn’t it also…blue? If both the water and the sky are blue…yet the water on Earth does not exactly look like the sky above, or the other way around, how else would you explain it?
3. In fact, how would you explain the blue water on Earth and the blue sky above to say, a 4 year old? How would you explain the differences to someone without access to technology like: cameras, planes, radar, rockets, satellites or telescopes?

⁶ And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. ⁷ 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 1:6-7 KJV)

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7. Genesis 1:8:

To one who has been long in city pent, ‘Tis very sweet to look into the fair And open face of heaven, —to breathe a prayer Full in the smile of the blue firmament. (John Keats)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:8:

1. I would submit to you that humanity has been aware that the concept of ‘Heaven’, although called by many different names by many different religions and cultures, is geographically up…in the sky, or firmament;
2. In the end, I would submit to you that humans in days past used this geographical distance to help explain the world around them…or more likely, above them, to better explain the stuff that is above them;
3. Whether that ‘stuff’ above them is called ‘sky’, ‘heaven’, or ‘air’, the thing that I find intriguing is that once this is created and completed, a day, or actually the second day, has been completed.

⁸ And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. (Genesis 1:8 KJV)

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8. Genesis 1:9-10:

Earth’s crammed with heaven…But only he who sees, takes off his shoes. (Elizabeth Barrett Browning)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:9-10:

1. I would like for you to think about a traditional, hour glass. Imagine looking at the top half of it, sand not necessary, and compare it to these verses in the first chapter of Genesis;
2. It appears, using our hour glass analogy, that the universe, or at least the happenings on planet Earth, are getting a little less vague and a little more detailed as on planet Earth, dry land can be seen separate from the waters;
3. The formless..void…and darkness, are gone. At least, for about half of a day on planet Earth anyways. (Night). Formless…void…darkness. It doesn’t get much more vague than that. As planet Earth continues its journey throughout time, it is becoming more distinct, already, that just a few verses ago;
4. I would submit to you that the reality regarding the world’s 4 oceans: Arctic, Atlantic, Indian and Pacific, is pretty amazing. They are ultimately all connected to each other, or I guess you could say, ‘gathered together unto one place.’

⁹ And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. ¹⁰ And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:9-10 KJV)

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9. Genesis 1:11-13:

The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit. (Moliere)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:11-13:

1. Again, going back to the hour glass analogy, notice how the land is taking shape…literally. Grass…herbs…seeds…and trees;
2. Have you ever heard the following: “Which came first? The chicken or the egg?” I am sure many of you have. Have you ever heard this one though: “Which came first? The sapling or the tree?” It appears that the tree came first. If that is the case then the question you need to ask is;
3. Who or what, put the tree there on the land on planet Earth, in the first place? Remember that according to William of Ockham, the simplest…tends to be right. (Genesis 1:1)

¹¹ And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. ¹² And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. ¹³ And the evening and the morning were the third day. (Genesis 1:11-13 KJV)

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10. Genesis 1:14-15:

The Spacious Firmament on high, With all the blue Ethereal Sky, And spangled Heav’ns, a Shining Frame, Their great Original proclaim: (Joseph Addison)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:14-15:

1. I guess an interesting question to ask yourself is: “If Genesis 1:3 and Genesis 1:4 both acknowledge that light was created on Day 1 which happened before the creation of the sun. How this is possible is as easy as this;
2. If you stand in a room with lots of windows during the day, and go to turn that light switch on, after say, walking past a table to get to the light switch, consider what you just did, only a more grand scale. To you it appears that you just turned on a light, in your room, just past the table. Think bigger though…think about this: The room represents…the universe. The light switch represents…the sun. The table represents…planet Earth;
3. Think about it, doesn’t someone who supports the ‘Big Bang Theory’, also believe by default verses 14 and 15? Isn’t this theory based off the idea that there was a ‘light’ that was really ‘Big’ and then had to really…’Bang’ second…and then the sun, and the stars, and the planets…appeared after all of that?

¹⁴ And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: ¹⁵ And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. (Genesis 1:14-15 KJV)

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11. Genesis 1:16-17:

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. (Buddha)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:16-17:

1. It is estimated that the Book of Genesis was written around 3,500 years ago, (as of 2020 AD. With that in mind, many cultures of the day worshipped the sun and moon as ‘gods’ themselves;
2. I would submit to you that the significance of how verse 16 is written was very intentional indeed: The greater light (sun), rules the day…while the lesser light (moon), rules the night. Verse 16 eliminates the need for humans to continue to worship the sun and moon as gods simply because they were created by someone or something greater than them;
3. The someone or something greater than the sun and the moon is quickly answered in Verse 17…This verse provides compelling evidence as to why worshipping the sun and the moon as gods are no longer necessary for humanity: 1) They did not make themselves, but were created by someone greater than them both and; 2) The creator of the sun and the moon created them for specific tasks…’to give light upon the earth.’

¹⁶ And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. ¹⁷ And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, (Genesis 1:16-17 KJV)

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12. Genesis 1:18-19:

We can only appreciate the miracle of a sunrise if we have waited in the darkness. (Sapna Reddy)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:18-19:

1. For the most part, Verse 18 is really just a variation of what was written in Verse 16, a kind of poetry focusing on the intent and purpose of both the sun and the moon for humanity on planet Earth;
2. It is this repetition and poetic feel to these verses that helps the reader to truly understand that the sun and the moon provide light in both the day and night for humanity, but at the same time someone put them there ultimately for our benefit;
3. Verse 19 compliments Verse 18 nicely in 4 ways: 1) The sun and the moon were spoken into being; 2) They were intentionally created; 3) The creator ‘stands back’ to observe what has just been created and finally; 4) The sun and the moon are blessed as the 4th day is completed.

¹⁸ And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. (Genesis 1:18-19 KJV)

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13. Genesis 1:20:

When the Sun of compassion arises darkness evaporates and the singing birds come from nowhere. (Amit Ray)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:20:

1. Think about both the logic and genius of the order of events during the past 4 days using the following flow: 1) Something is spoken; 2) It is then created; 3) Next it is then observed and then; 4) Blessed as ‘good’;
2. What then logically should come next?
3. Filling up the earth with ‘stuff’…like ‘the moving creature…and fowl’.

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. (Genesis 1:20 KJV)

14. Genesis 1:21:

Lots of people talk to animals…Not very many listen though…that’s the problem. (A.A. Milne)

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For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:21:

1. I would submit to you that the writer of the first chapter of Genesis is not done trying to convey the power of creation;
2. Now that planet Earth has pretty much all it needs: sun…moon…dry and water, the next logical step would be to fill the planet up with stuff;
3. What kind of stuff? Lots of stuff: ‘great whales…every living creature…every winged fowl…’;
4. Again, more poetic justice as Verse 21 ends with the fact that all that has just been: spoken and created and observed…is now considered ‘good’.

²¹ And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:21 KJV)

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15. Genesis 1:22-23:

An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language. (Martin Buber)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:22-23:

1. I would submit to you that logically what should happen next is to ensure that these creatures all have the ability to reproduce;
2. After all…if all of this: time, energy and resources, were all spent: speaking, creating, observing and finally calling it all good…
3. Exactly! That would be it? Nothing more? See the genius of the concept that all of these creatures be able to: ‘be fruitful, and multiply, and fill…multiply in the earth’.

²² And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. ²³ And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. (Genesis 1:22-23 KJV)

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16. Genesis 1:24:

Animals are such agreeable friends―they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. (George Eliot)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:24:

1. The order of events chronologically appears to go from putting stuff into the air and water and then putting stuff onto the land;
2. If you think about it, that makes perfect sense…After all, planet Earth is about 75% water and the atmosphere surrounding our planet has to be even bigger than the water…Working from big to little is what is appears to look like is happening;
3. ‘…and it was so.’ It really is that simple especially when you go back to William of Ockham. (Genesis 1:1)

²⁴ And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. (Genesis 1:24 KJV)

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17. Genesis 1:25:

Wild animals are less wild and more human than many humans of this world. (Munia Khan)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:25:

1. Here we are at Verse 25, and a lot has already happened in the first 24 verses, spanning 5 days. I would submit to you that one must step back to consider what has already transpired in this short amount of time;
2. So what exactly has transpired? Imagine a blurry object slowly coming into focus. (Or more specifically, a blurry object taking 5 days to come into focus.) What exactly is this blurry object? Earth;
3. Now consider how this ‘blurry object’ is coming into ‘focus’ during these 5 days: The formation of heaven and earth…earth that was formless to now that is formed…light and darkness…waters above and below, (sky and oceans and seas)…the formation of land…the land now with grass and seeds and fruit trees…the sun and the moon…and now filling up planet earth with creatures;
4. Indeed, a lot has happened in 5 days.

²⁵ And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:25 KJV)

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18. Genesis 1:26:

And the fox said to the little prince: men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:26:

1. As Genesis Chapter 1 comes to a close, what better way to wrap up getting the universe and more specifically planet Earth up and running, than with the creation of humans?
2. Humans are by default, are above everything else on the planet. In fact we humans are to have dominion over the fish, fowl, cattle…’and over all the earth…over every creeping thing.’ The words ‘all’ and ‘every’ are absolute terms;
3. This makes sense after all, due to the fact that it is humans, not the fish or the fowl or the cattle or the creeping things…that have any of the following, to my knowledge: language, morality, personality, purpose, and reason. It because of these particular traits, and perhaps many more, that not only separate, but in fact put us up at the top of, the comings and goings on planet Earth;
4. Once you understand the breathe and scope of the intent of Verse 26, I would submit to you that we has humans have a great responsibility and purpose here on planet Earth indeed.

²⁶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26 KJV)

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19. Genesis 1:27: 

A good marriage does not require a perfect man or a perfect woman. It requires only a man and a woman committed to strive together toward perfection. (Dallin H. Oaks)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:27:

1. This simple yet profound verse is quite clear in its intent: All humans have intrinsic value. This is not to be taken lightly;
2. Indicators of our value is evident again in some of the unique human qualities that separate us from all other living things on planet Earth: language, morality, personality, purpose, and reason;
3. In the end the question you need to ask yourself is, why would the ‘Someone’ who created us, give us all of these special qualities, separate from all other living creatures? There has to be something more…right?

²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27 KJV)

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20. Genesis 1:28:

Animals are more than ever a test of our character, of mankind’s capacity for empathy and for decent, honorable conduct and faithful stewardship. We are called to treat them with kindness, not because they have rights or power or some claim to equality, but in a sense because they don’t; because they all stand unequal and powerless before us. (Matthew Scully)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:28:

1. Like other living things, humans have been given the command, ability and expectation, to reproduce;
2. This is really part 1 in a 4 step process regarding human expectations on planet Earth: 1) Be fruitful; 2) Multiply; 3) Spread out and populate the earth and; 4) Have dominion/authority/management, over all the other creatures;
3. It appears that these items are not optional, they are expected of us here on planet Earth.

²⁸ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:28 KJV)

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21. Genesis 1:29:

The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness. (John Muir)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:29:

1. When reading Verse 29, it is interesting to note there is no mention of fish or fowl or cattle or crawling things that humans are to eat as meat. Perhaps there is a case to be made that humans were originally designed to be vegan?
2. Notice the mention of the word seed twice in Verse 29. I would submit to you that it is also clear that: ‘every herb bearing…every tree…tree yielding seed’, are designed to reproduce, and thus ultimately provide ‘meat’ for humans as well.

²⁹ And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. (Genesis 1:29 KJV)

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22. Genesis 1:30:

Dear old world…You are very lovely, And I am glad to be alive in you. (Lucy Maud Montgomery)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:30:

1. It appears on the surface that all of those on planet Earth are to co-existence in peaceful harmony;
2. It is possible to believe that: ‘every beast…every fowl…every thing that creepeth…there is life’, all of it, has been given: ‘green herb for meat’. In other words, there is a case to be made that all life on planet Earth, all had plant-based diets.

³⁰ And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. (Genesis 1:30 KJV)

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23. Genesis 1:31:

The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction. (Rachel Carson)

For your consideration regarding the connection between astronomy and Genesis 1:31:

1. Now, after 6 days in the making, planet Earth, it appears that pretty much all of creation has been completed and is being wrapped up;
2. After just 6 days…all things above, on, and in, are not just ‘so’ like in verses: 7, 9, 11, 15, 24 and 30;
3. And not just ‘good’ like in verses: 4, 10, 12, 18, 21, and 25;
4. But that everything, ‘it’ was…’very good’. I would submit to you that the: speaking, creating, observing and the final declaration that all of it is not just so…not just good…but very good.

³¹ And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31 KJV)

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