Does the Earth Stand on Pillars?

[Thing]

Opinions? Ideas? Arguments?

 

[Disciple4Christ]

Yes the wisdom of God not of the world. (Narrow Gate) (Sheep and Goats)(lukewarm) all really makes ya think Huh?

 

[Ignatius]

Opinions? Ideas? Arguments?

It is a form of speach referred to in the English language as a “metaphor”

Main Entry: met·a·phor
Pronunciation: \ˈme-tə-ˌfȯr also -fər
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English methaphor, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French metaphore, from Latin metaphora, from Greek, from metapherein to transfer, from meta- + pherein to bear

1 : a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (as in drowning in money); broadly : figurative language — compare simile

It is quite common and frequently used. I know English can be quite confusing if you have not had a good education in it or even if you have not grown up in a language rich environment. If you contact the local extended educatio department at your local intermediate school, they can help you get into the English as a second language courses. They are free and very helpful for non-native English speakers.

I hope this helps clear up your confusion.

 

[Ignatius]

It is a form of speach referred to in the English language as a “metaphor”

Main Entry: met·a·phor
Pronunciation: \ˈme-tə-ˌfȯr also -fər
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English methaphor, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French metaphore, from Latin metaphora, from Greek, from metapherein to transfer, from meta- + pherein to bear

1 : a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (as in drowning in money); broadly : figurative language — compare simile

It is quite common and frequently used. I know English can be quite confusing if you have not had a good education in it or even if you have not grown up in a language rich environment. If you contact the local extended educatio department at your local intermediate school, they can help you get into the English as a second language courses. They are free and very helpful for non-native English speakers.

I hope this helps clear up your confusion.

 

[Thing]

It is a form of speach referred to in the English language as a “metaphor”

Main Entry: met·a·phor
Pronunciation: \ˈme-tə-ˌfȯr also -fər
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English methaphor, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French metaphore, from Latin metaphora, from Greek, from metapherein to transfer, from meta- + pherein to bear

1 : a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (as in drowning in money); broadly : figurative language — compare simile

It is quite common and frequently used. I know English can be quite confusing if you have not had a good education in it or even if you have not grown up in a language rich environment. If you contact the local extended educatio department at your local intermediate school, they can help you get into the English as a second language courses. They are free and very helpful for non-native English speakers.

I hope this helps clear up your confusion.

Thanks for your help Igantius.
The pillars of the Earth in Job tremble. The Earth and all those therein melt in Psalms 74: Is it because He has established the pillars thereof; that of the Earth melting and all those therein? Did those pillars of the Earth melting and all those therein tremble in Job first?

 

[Ignatius]

It is a form of speach referred to in the English language as a “metaphor”

Apparently you are still having difficulty with this type of writing. You may want to reread the definition of metaphore, I’ve quoted it again above. If, after rereading it, the significants of metaphore in relation to this still eludes you, think about it this way: some of the things in the bible which are presented metaphorically, refer not to physical things. It requires thinking outside the box, beyond the bounds of physical and having your thinking expand inot the wider context of the metaphysical.

Hope this helps clear up your confusion. I know it can be difficult for some.

 

[Della]

I would think of it as a mythological description. (Mythological meaning understanding through archtypes rather than physical realities). For instance, even in our day we refer to the “four corners of the earth” knowing full well the earth is an orb with no corners at all. It’s a way of visualizing the invisible–what we can only imagine because it’s too big or too mystical for us to grasp in other ways.

Even so, the earth is built on “pillars” of rock floating on a planet wide sea of magma. We only experience what can be seen of the crust. The very fact that the Hebrews understood that the earth isn’t just a solid ball or a flat plain says a lot about the depth of their wisdom–the kind of wisdom that comes from God.

 

[lemondiesel]

Thanks for your help Igantius.
The pillars of the Earth in Job tremble.

pillars could easily mean foundation, so the foundations of Earth tremble . . . (earthquake?, land movement?)

 

[Della]

pillars could easily mean foundation, so the foundations of Earth tremble . . . (earthquake?, land movement?)

Yes, that’s what we can see/experience of the actions of the earth. The Psalmist wrote of the hills leaping and the mountain melting like wax. They are descriptions of physical events understood by people who had no scientific knowledge to speak of–not as we understand it, anyway.

 

[Thing]

Ignatius:

Apparently you are still having difficulty with this type of writing. You may want to reread the definition of metaphore, I’ve quoted it again above…Hope this helps clear up your confusion. I know it can be difficult for some.

Della:

I would think of it as a mythological description. …

lomondiesel:

pillars could easily mean foundation, so the foundations of Earth tremble . . . (earthquake?, land movement?)

Thanks guys, for your replies.

I’ll try to explain more clearly what I was thinking. Feel free to beat up this idea.
If I imagine the ‘pillars of the Earth’ which He established, as being that which is supporting a destiny.
This destiny is; ‘the melting of the Earth and of those therein’.
In Job the pillars of the Earth tremble.
Something has happened in that future point in which Job is lookig towards, perhaps inwardly.

1 And Job answered, and said: 2 Indeed I know it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God. 3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for a thousand. 4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath resisted him, and hath had peace? 5 Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not.

6 Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. 7 Who commandeth tile sun and it riseth not: and shutteth up the stars as it were under a seal: 8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea. 9 Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of the south. 10 Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.

5 Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not.

Reminds me of that line which said something like if you had faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mountain rise and throw yourself into the sea and it would be done.
Just curious that moving mountains was mentioned, there is one who can move mountains and the same who spoke of moving mountains.

7 Who commandeth tile sun and it riseth not: and shutteth up the stars as it were under a seal:

There is a Person in the New Testament also who spoke of the sun and the stars put away at a certain specific point in time at the end of time.

8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea.

I suppose the same Person did spread out the heavens and He did walk upon the waves of the sea.

10 Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.

And the same Person who did during His life do things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number; so many that all the books in the world could not contain them in fact.

6 Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

This same person in Job shakes the earth out of her place and the pillars thereof tremble.

But what are the pillars.

Job seems to say that in the time of this extraordinary person the pillars will tremble.

When this person died there was a great earthquake which rent the veil in the Temple. The pillars of the earth did tremble in this persons lifetime, but what did it mean. What did the pillars mean.
Pillars support something. The earth? Maybe, but maybe not.

In Psalm 74

4 The earth is melted, and all that dwell therein: I have established the pillars thereof.

Is a curious turn of phrase; a description -
The earth is melted, and all that dwell therein:

And a statement; I have established the pillars thereof.

If it was not a translation I would say that the destiny expressed as; ‘The earth is melted, and all that dwell therein:’
is supported by the pillars. The pillars support that destiny for the earth and all that dwell therein.

Then its back to Job again for the last time where he seens to be describing the life of a Person known to all and in that persons life the pillars of the above destiny for earth are for the first time shaken and the pillars tremble; the pillars which are supporting this particular destiny for the earth tremble at last.
So I’m just wondering if the pillars of the earth trembling marked the beginning of the end of the world, it began at Christs life on earth or at His death when that which was supporting the final destiny of the world was shaken and trembled and marked the start…

25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves;

26 Men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved; 27 And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with great power and majesty. 28 But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand. 29 And he spoke to them in a similitude. See the fig tree, and all the trees: 30 When they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh;

31 So you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. 32 Amen, I say to you, this generation shall not pass away, till all things be fulfilled.

 

[Della]

The Scriptures can be interpreted in 4 basic ways. The spiritual way is one of them and is perfectly fine. Of course, it’s not the only way.

So, what you’ve put forward here is perfectly sound, theologically speaking. I wouldn’t go so far as to say your idea is absolute, but it’s a good way of meditating on the meaning of Christ’s life.