The Flood and Daniel 7: 9-15

Biblical criticism advanced several methods for filtering the veracity of the Bible since the 18^th century. Most of the critical devices turned out to be logically incomplete. Even so one may reasonably consider the Genesis story of the flood in several interpretive paradigms when one adds what is known of history to the mix. Before Columbus discovered the New World most people did not think of the world as being round. Kopernik/Copernicus developed a heliocentric theory published in 1543.  Copernicus started looking in 1504 for sun-centred mechanics in 1504. After Magellan expedition sailed around the world 1519-1522 the heliocentric theory was doomed to acceptance even among scientists.

It is quite possible that people of 2000 B.C. did not think of the world as referring to a round Earth either. People capturing the gist of the story in 3^rd millennium B.C. Sumer perhaps didn’t use geographic concepts that wouldn’t make much sense to people for another 3 or 4 thousand years. Hence the history of the flood story may refer to a local event in Mesopotamia. That seems consistent with other facts related in the narrative.  Some anti-Christians tend to read today’s meaning of the word ‘world’ into Genesis and dismiss the timing due to evolution theory paradigmata. Without considering the meaning of the terms of Genesis much people may leap to wrong conclusions and be satisfied with their subjective epistemology; bad choice.

Considering that Abraham of Sumer brought the flood story with him in moving to Zion circa 2000 B.C., and that his knowledge of the story of the flood was the same story from the same place as related in the Tale of Gilgamesh, according to modern skeptical criticism it is probably true. Geography and the history of sea level rise and global warming at the end of the Wisconsin Glacial era support the concept that a proto-civilization also known as the whole world to the people of the region actually was subsumed by a catastrophic flood. Noah's home town might have existed under today's Persian Gulf anytime since the ending of the Wisconsin Ice age perhaps 25,000 years ago.

Noah of course survived the flood being prepared with a vessel able to ride out the storm surge and flood. Maybe the proto-civilization was below sea level and protected by a dirt barrier that was overcome suddenly. That happened in the history of the Black Sea very long ago too. The Bible relates that Noah’s sons went out to found peoples-and they didn’t do that alone. Genesis seems to indicate that local women were already living in Egypt, Cush etc. That makes sense. A local flood wiped out the first civilization and the sons of Noah journeyed to start new civilizations. They had the advantage of knowledge.

Some very conservative literalists will demure with the theory above saying that the entire book of Genesis originates with Moses through revelation. That is partly true. Moses as a son of Israel perhaps learned Jewish history from those that went with the Jews into Egyptian captivity. The captive Jews learned that from Abraham’s line. Moses as a prince of Egypt new hieroglyphics and learned the Jewish language of the day-Hebrew. In the 40 years wandering in the desert Moses was able to synthesize/invent the first phonetic alphabet-the aleph beth, and the Ten Commandments appeared carved in stone-so much better than on just paper or a digital medium for durability. All of the aforementioned was divinely inspired. Some can quibble about how much and what form the divine guidance affected the construction of the history of the chosen people. I should mention that this theory is only one way of interpreting the content of Genesis-others exist. Neither is it necessary that there is only one right interpretation for the meaning of Genesis and the Flood story. Maybe it can be said that divine guidance is the necessary criterion.

This was written by the Prophet Daniel about 550 B.C.

Daniel 7:

^“9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

¹⁰ A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

¹¹ I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

¹² As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

¹³ I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

¹⁴ And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

¹⁵ I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.”

Christians believe the above refers to God the Father and Jesus Christ. There is a teleology (purpose and divine plan) for the people of the world leading to heaven or hell. One may be saved from the latter with faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. It is an important choice to make.