The Biblewheel and Creation

[Abigail]

During a discussion I was having with someone on another site, I was suddenly reminded of the Biblewheel so I thought I'd share here what brought the BW to mind in order to test my thought.

The discussion was to do with claims that the ancient Biblical writers wrote in the way they did because they initially thought of the earth as flat with a huge hard dome for the sky. Verses like Job 26:10 were quoted "He has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters, At the boundary of light and darkness".

I was challenging this claim. The person I was dialoguing with said the expanse (raqiya) is beaten metal which clearly shows the ancient thinking of a hard dome. I looked up raqiya and also raqa and it seems to me that no so much the notion of metal stood out but more the sense of overlay (as in plates being expanded beaten out to overlay and cover something)

Anyway that was the gist of the discussion and that is when the Biblewheel suddenly came to mind as I got this picture of the earth (waters below) being overlaid with the expanse, the expanse inturn formed an underlay for the waters above so that the waters were divided.

1. Waters below - inner circle of BW
2. Expanse - middle circle of BW
3. Waters above - outer circle of BW

What d'ya all think? Waa aaa yyy off or interesting?

[Victor]

Hi Abigail! It is good to see you posting!

Your insight is not unfounded. The pattern of the Canon Wheel - the sevenfold canonical symmetry of the Bible Wheel - is based upon the pattern of the Seven Days of Creation! So we can expect that aspects of the structure of the Bible correlate with the God's created Cosmos.

As for the sky being viewed as a huge hard dome back in biblical times, I think you are on the right track. That's how the peoples back then viewed the Universe. Job 37:18 for example says:

Hast thou with him spread out [literally: beaten out] the sky, which is strong [that is, hard], and as a molten looking glass?

God used language that was appropriate for people that lived in those times - it is the Pedagogy of God's Condescension. God stoops down and reaches man using language that people can understand at their own time.

Here's a couple of depictions of the cosmological understanding of the ancients:






Of course a link with the Bible Wheel should not be missed. For example, Psalm 77:18 says that God's thunder "was in the heaven (= galgal, wheel)". So the round form of the structure of Scripture reminds of the vault of heaven described in Day Two of Creation.

You add your insight:

1. Waters below - inner circle of BW
2. Expanse - middle circle of BW
3. Waters above - outer circle of BW

This reminds me of a lot of things but I don't want to create any bias on your ideas now so I'd like you to share any additional insights you may have on this tripartite correlation between the Wheel and the Waters. Can you see any other link between it and the structure of the Bible?

[Abigail]

Hi there Victor

I actually dont believe that the Bible was written with an ancient cosmology in mind. I was challenging that claim . My counter claim was that though that view may be read into the text, that view is not necessitated.

The Job verse you quoted does give that view but IMO that was one of the people (Elihu) speaking 'words without knowledge' (Job 38:2)

As I said earlier, I looked up raqiya and also raqa and it seems to me that not so much the notion of metal stood out but more the sense of overlay (as in plates being expanded beaten out to overlay and cover something), and that's when I thought how viewing the round earth (waters below) overlayed with expanse and that expanse overlayed with waters above would look like a BW. If the middle wheel of the BW is seen as the expanse you have the prophets and the disciples and apostles as the bright stars (Daniel 12:3)

I havent really though too much about it yet - it was just a thought

[Victor]

Hi there Victor

I actually dont believe that the Bible was written with an ancient cosmology in mind. I was challenging that claim . My counter claim was that though that view may be read into the text, that view is not necessitated.

Ha! Now I see it. Well, my opinion is that God wrote the Bible with ancient cosmology in mind. The Bible's primary audience believed that and I think that God condescended when He employed language that was appropriate back then. It is a pedagogic tool. And He knows that we today are smart enough to know that. It's like when Jesus teaches that the mustard seed is "the tiniest of all the seeds". It actually is not, but His audience didn't know better and it would be pointless for Him to state otherwise.

The Job verse you quoted does give that view but IMO that was one of the people (Elihu) speaking 'words without knowledge' (Job 38:2)

Well, I and just everyone else I've heard of have understood that the one 'speaking words without knowledge' was Job, the one whom God was addressing, not Elihu, who spoke words of wisdom.

Even if it referred to Elihu, the point is that the moral content of the words was "withouth knowledge"; he wouldn't be rebuked by God for his views on cosmology!

And even if the words withouth knowledge of his were that the heaven was like a hard vault, we would still have the fact that that the OT is saturated with similar language. There are a few examples at the bottom of the first image above.

As I said earlier, I looked up raqiya and also raqa and it seems to me that not so much the notion of metal stood out but more the sense of overlay (as in plates being expanded beaten out to overlay and cover something)

Agreed. One way to see it is to think of firmament (raqiya) as looking like it is solid, with the implicit sense of overlay as to cover something.

And that's when I thought how viewing the round earth (waters below) overlayed with expanse and that expanse overlayed with waters above would look like a BW.

That reminds me of another passage where the firmament is depicted as being solid:

Ezekiel 1:22 And the likeness of the firmament (raqiya!) upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.

This, among other things, is a vision of the Bible Wheel, as Richard as documented with much supporting evidence. What makes it so interesting is that on the firmament there was God's Trone. (1:26) So raqiya is portrayed as something solid because it is the floor for God's Throne. And that in turn links to the Bible Wheel because God is "on top of" everything. He is the Aleph Tav at the top of the Bible Wheel.

And it further links to the Trinity:
Cycle 1: God the Father
Cycle 2: God the Son
Cycle 3: God the Holy Spirit

We can take your idea about the waters above and under the firmament and link it to the cycles:

Cycle 1: Waters above
Cycle 2: Firmament
Cycle 3: The Seas

It seems to integrate with the Trinity, because God is the Source of all there is (Mem, Water and "From", 1Co 8:6), the Son divides like a sword (cf Mat 10 and Luk 12), and the Spirit gathers the People of God (the symbolic Waters). And of course Cycle 2 is all about the Son: the Prophets speak of Him and His earthly life is recorded there. You can read more about it at The Trinity and the Three Cycles.

This rings a couple of bells, but there may be more.

If the middle wheel of the BW is seen as the expanse you have the prophets and the disciples and apostles as the bright stars (Daniel 12:3)

I havent really though too much about it yet - it was just a thought

I have always linked this verse in Daniel with the structure of the Bible. Daniel is on Division 4 of the Canon Wheel. And what does God create on Day 4? Sun, moon and stars! So the beautiful imagery of the saints as stars in the fourth canonical division is integrated with the Days of Creation of Genesis 1!

[Victor]

I would like to add that the Bible Wheel links to the structure of the Cosmos in that it is naturally divided in top/bottom by the two arms of the cross inscribed by the canonical divisions:



The colors were inspired on this Bible passage:

Exo 28:2ff And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. ... And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.

Richard and Rose wrote the following about the colors and their relationship with the concept of Cosmos (= Heaven and Earth):

It was not until about a year after she [Rose] completed these works that we realized it was not merely the colors, but their placement, that seemed so appropriate. The "heavenly" purples, like the evening sky, are at the top and the "earthly" reds (in Hebrew, "adamah" means both "earth" and "red") are on the bottom. Neither Rose nor I noticed this when she was making them; in all ways we are utterly indebted to the incomparable grace of God‘s guidance.

So that's another link between the Wheel and Creation: the top ten Spokes correspond to Heaven, the bottom twelve, to Earth. It is a "map" of the Cosmos.

[Rose]

I would like to add that the Bible Wheel links to the structure of the Cosmos in that it is naturally divided in top/bottom by the two arms of the cross inscribed by the canonical divisions:



The colors were inspired on this Bible passage:

Exo 28:2ff And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. ... And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.

Richard and Rose wrote the following about the colors and their relationship with the concept of Cosmos (= Heaven and Earth):

It was not until about a year after she [Rose] completed these works that we realized it was not merely the colors, but their placement, that seemed so appropriate. The "heavenly" purples, like the evening sky, are at the top and the "earthly" reds (in Hebrew, "adamah" means both "earth" and "red") are on the bottom. Neither Rose nor I noticed this when she was making them; in all ways we are utterly indebted to the incomparable grace of God‘s guidance.

So that's another link between the Wheel and Creation: the top ten Spokes correspond to Heaven, the bottom twelve, to Earth. It is a "map" of the Cosmos.

Hi Victor,

Another insight just came to me as I was reading your post and taking what you said one step farther.
The third cycle of the Wheel which corresponds to the epistles, is one solid color blue....which in relationship to the other cycles could be interpreted as now in the New Covenant age the earthly and heavenly are one in Christ, no longer having division between the two.

Rose

[Victor]

Hi Victor,

Another insight just came to me as I was reading your post and taking what you said one step farther.
The third cycle of the Wheel which corresponds to the epistles, is one solid color blue....which in relationship to the other cycles could be interpreted as now in the New Covenant age the earthly and heavenly are one in Christ, no longer having division between the two.

Rose

Exactly sister! I've had this same idea in my mind for quite some time. After the Cross Heaven and Earth become One! No more separation between Creator and creation. In Cycles 1 and 2 we still find heaven and earth delineated by purples and reds, but in the Gospel Age the Cross makes all things converge to Christ who is the All in All. And this very doctrine is expressely taught in the Third Cycle: many verses from 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, Phillipians, Colossians and Revelation flood my mind!

Here's the most significant couple of verses:

Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.

Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

There's so much more I could say about it! In the Third Cycle Heaven and Earth are united, just like the Third Letter of the Greek Alphabet is Gamma (like the Hebrew Guimel), which is phonetically related to Gamos, Marriage, the union of Husband and Wife, which in turn is a picture of the union between the Creator in Heaven and His creation on earth!

Gamma/Gamos is the root of words like amalgamated (joined, combined, united). The numeric value of Gamos is 314, which reminds of the number of the circle, Pi (3,14). And the Third Cycle is an undivided Circle.

But there's more: the Third Cycle coincides with the Seventh Canonical Division (Epistles). Just like Three unites, Seven completes. These are the two most significant numbers in Scripture. Seven is also related to union in marriage and consummation (e.g., Seventh Day, Seventh Commandment, etc, etc...).

The Structure of the Bible therefore literally reflects the teachings of its pages! Has anyone ever seen anything such as this?

[Richard Amiel McGough]

Exactly sister! I've had this same idea in my mind for quite some time. After the Cross Heaven and Earth become One! No more separation between Creator and creation. In Cycles 1 and 2 we still find heaven and earth delineated by purples and reds, but in the Gospel Age the Cross makes all things converge to Christ who is the All in All. And this very doctrine is expressely taught in the Third Cycle: many verses from 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, Phillipians, Colossians and Revelation flood my mind!


Here's the most significant couple of verses:

Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.

Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

There's so much more I could say about it! In the Third Cycle Heaven and Earth are united, just like the Third Letter of the Greek Alphabet is Gamma (like the Hebrew Guimel), which is phonetically related to Gamos, Marriage, the union of Husband and Wife, which in turn is a picture of the union between the Creator in Heaven and His creation on earth!

Gamma/Gamos is the root of words like amalgamated (joined, combined, united). The numeric value of Gamos is 314, which reminds of the number of the circle, Pi (3,14). And the Third Cycle is an undivided Circle.

But there's more: the Third Cycle coincides with the Seventh Canonical Division (Epistles). Just like Three unites, Seven completes. These are the two most significant numbers in Scripture. Seven is also related to union in marriage and consummation (e.g., Seventh Day, Seventh Commandment, etc, etc...).

The Structure of the Bible therefore literally reflects the teachings of its pages! Has anyone ever seen anything such as this?

Tremendous insights my brother!

The value of "gamos" (wedding) = 314 has many significant associations. It is also interesting how this word first appears in John's Gospel:

John 2:1-7 And the third day there was a marriage (gamos) in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage (gamos). 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill (gemidzo) the waterpots with water. And they filled (gemidzo) them up to the brim.

The verb "gemidzo" is based on the root gemo, which etymologists see as an Indo-European root that also is the basis of gamos (marriage). I have long felt that this was somehow connected with the Hebrew gama (Strongs 1572) meaning to "drink" and which first appears in the Bible in connection with gimel, meaning "camel" (which are famous for being able to drink large quantities of water):

Genesis 24:15-20 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. 16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled (male') her pitcher, and came up. 17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink (gama) a little water of thy pitcher. 18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. 19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels (gamalim) also, until they have done drinking. 20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels (gamalim).

It seems significant that this was the sign the led to the marriage of Isaak and Rebekah. Note also that the Hebrew word "to fill" (male', pronounced maw-lay), begins with the final two letters of gimel:

Gimel = Gimel Mem Lamed
Male' = Mem Lamed Aleph

There seems to be a very strong convergence of of symbols in these passages:

• The name of the Third Hebrew Letter Gimel and it's meaning as gamal (camel)
• The idea of Marriage (Gamos) which happend on the third day in John.
• The idea of "to fill" (GK: gemidzo, Hb: male')
• The idea of "to drink" (Hb: gama)
• The fact that in both cases the sign from God was connected with the drawing of water.

This is a very rich area to explore. Note also that the value of the Third Hebrew Letter Gimel is 73 which coheres with the theme of the Seventh Division filling the entirety of the Third Cycle.

Richard

[Victor]

There's so much to say!

You see, the idea of the union of Heaven and Earth is reflected on the symbolic meanings of Three, Seven and Marriage. I'm reminded of the Wedding Ring. Gamos (Marriage) = 314 => Pi => Circle => Wedding Ring.

Thus we read of (and visualize in the Canon Wheel) the union between Heaven and Earth in the Third Cycle, which corresponds to the Seventh Canonical Division, ending with the Marriage (Gamos) of the Lamb (depicted as Heavenly Jerusalem coming to Earth).


This image is prefigured in Genesis when Jacob dreams of a ladder that unites Heaven and Earth!

Gen 28:12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

But what does come next? Well, the next number that appears in the account is the Number Three:

Gen 29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
Gen 29:2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.

This is the background that sets the scenario of the Marriage between Jacob and Laban's daughter! And the Number Seven appears next!

Gen 29:20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

This sequence of images (Jacob's Ladder followed by a Marriage) is exactly what John repeats!

Joh 1:51 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.
Joh 2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee.

Therefore the structure of the Bible (Union of Heaven and Earth = Third Cycle = Seventh Division = Marriage) reproduces the pattern that is found in both Genesis and John! All the elements are there!

But it seems like there's an element missing. Where is the Number Seven in John to complete the picture (heaven, earth, three, seven, marriage)?

Well, if we read John attentively we'll notice a day count there:

Joh 1:29 The next day [so this is the second day of the account] John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Joh 1:35 Again the next day [so this is the third day] after John stood, and two of his disciples;
Joh 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
Joh 1:43 The day following [the fourth day] Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
Joh 1:51 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.
Joh 2:1 And the third day [three + four = seven] there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee.

So the marriage took place on the seventh day of John's account! The third day was also the seventh day! This strenghtens the link between the concepts of Heaven + Earth in the Third Cycle/Seventh Division.

It is an infinite wonder. Of course there's much more!

[Bob May]

There's so much to say!

You see, the idea of the union of Heaven and Earth is reflected on the symbolic meanings of Three, Seven and Marriage. I'm reminded of the Wedding Ring. Gamos (Marriage) = 314 => Pi => Circle => Wedding Ring.

Thus we read of (and visualize in the Canon Wheel) the union between Heaven and Earth in the Third Cycle, which corresponds to the Seventh Canonical Division, ending with the Marriage (Gamos) of the Lamb (depicted as Heavenly Jerusalem coming to Earth).


This image is prefigured in Genesis when Jacob dreams of a ladder that unites Heaven and Earth!

Gen 28:12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

But what does come next? Well, the next number that appears in the account is the Number Three:

Gen 29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
Gen 29:2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.

This is the background that sets the scenario of the Marriage between Jacob and Laban's daughter! And the Number Seven appears next!

Gen 29:20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

This sequence of images (Jacob's Ladder followed by a Marriage) is exactly what John repeats!

Joh 1:51 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.
Joh 2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee.

Therefore the structure of the Bible (Union of Heaven and Earth = Third Cycle = Seventh Division = Marriage) reproduces the pattern that is found in both Genesis and John! All the elements are there!

But it seems like there's an element missing. Where is the Number Seven in John to complete the picture (heaven, earth, three, seven, marriage)?

Well, if we read John attentively we'll notice a day count there:

Joh 1:29 The next day [so this is the second day of the account] John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Joh 1:35 Again the next day [so this is the third day] after John stood, and two of his disciples;
Joh 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
Joh 1:43 The day following [the fourth day] Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
Joh 1:51 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.
Joh 2:1 And the third day [three + four = seven] there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee.

So the marriage took place on the seventh day of John's account! The third day was also the seventh day! This strenghtens the link between the concepts of Heaven + Earth in the Third Cycle/Seventh Division.

It is an infinite wonder. Of course there's much more!

Hi Guys,
Big subject and lots of symbolism.
Here are a few things I've noticed.

The Firmament which divides the upper and lower waters is also the veil in the Temple dividing the holy place and the holiest of all. It was rent from top to bottom (implying that it was God's doing) at the death of Jesus.
Opening the way to the Holy of Holies.

This also made available the Grace of God. Grace means an infux from God.
The Waters are Spirit. The lower waters are Jesus words, the upper are a greater awareness of those words.

Heaven are the permanent planes above the "abyss" in the Qabala. The path on the middle pillar (the "Third Path" on the Tree of Life) that reaches from the Sepirah (shpere) Tipareth (Christ Consciousness) to the Sephirah, Kether above the Abyss (Ancient of Days) is symbolised by the High Priestess Tarot card and the letter Gimel .(camel)
It is said that this Path bears away the "Infux" of the entire Trinity to the lower Seven Sephiroth. This is Grace.
Behind the High Priestess on her throne is a VEIL covered with pomegranets.
From her gown flows a river that is the source of all the water flowing to each Tarot card in turn. Sometimes as rivers and in some, ponds or lakes.
It is that infux from across the abyss. (Grace)

The horizontal beam of the cross can also be looked at as this abyss or veil dividing heaven and earth. This division was done away with in Christ. We can get water Spirit from the upper now.

I did an ELS (Eqidistant Letter Code) search in the book of Genesis on the words Joshua (Jesus in the O.T.) and Mechizadek. The two words form a perfect cross in Gen. 14:2 and 14:18. Interestingly, this chapter is the one where Abraham meets Melchizadek and pays him tithes.
The vertical is the name Jesus (Joshua) and the horizontal is Melchizadek.

Seven means "Covenant" or "Oath". For the way across the Abyss to the Trinity was opened when Jesus was sacrificed. Both for US to rise up to God ( through Daath, "Knowledge" the invisible 11th Sephirah which sits astride that abyss.
And for God to pour out his full measure of Spirit (upper waters) to the lower Seven Sephiroth.
The lower 6 being Man and the last (the tenth), being earth.

Bob