Gen. 1:1 must be interpreted in the light of Gen. 2:4 – “These are the generations [descent, history] of the heavens [Heb. shameh] and of the earth [Heb. erets] when they were created, in the day that Yahweh Elohim made the earth and the heavens.” Careful reading of Genesis 1 reveals that “the heaven and the earth” that were formed in the six days of creation were “the firmament” and “the dry land,” rather than the universe and the planet earth. These latter have been around for a very long time. In Elpis Israel pg. 10, Bro. John Thomas explains that Genesis 1 is written from the perspective of an earth observer. He wrote – 1 “...but to man, as a constituent of the terrestrial system. This will explain why light is said to have Comments on the daily readings for January 2 been created four days before the sun, moon, and stars. To an observer on the earth, this was the order of their appearance; and in relation to him a primary creation, though absolutely pre existent for millions of ages before the Adamic era.” Failure to appreciate this fact can only lead to faulty interpretations. In Gen. 1:7-10 the heaven, the earth, and the seas are all identified as elements of the planet earth. In Exodus 20:11, the summary of the Creation week is also consistent with this: “For in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day” (cp. Acts 14:15; Rev.10:5-6). The term, “all the host of them” in Genesis 2:1, is thus equivalent to the “all that in them is” of this verse. Accordingly, the “heaven” is a reference to the “firmament” of V.6 and is confined to our Solar System, and is not a reference to the boundless space of the universe beyond.