ORG:The Extent of the Flood: Local or Universal?

   There are two files that contrast the pros and cons of a local flood
and a global, or universal, flood. These charts are taken from the book
"Chronological Charts of the Old Testament" by John H. Walton. They are
set up to be viewed as two files. Part 1 is the Universal (global)
Flood theory. With it are rebuttals of the Local Flood theory. Part 2
is the Local Flood theory with rebuttals of the Universal Flood theory.

   It is important to realize that both these views are held by
christians. Believing in one does not exclude a person from being a
christian. It is a trifle. Salvation in Christ is the important issue,
but for the sake of knowledge...I present these files for viewing.

   It is important to know what you believe! And what you do not
believe!

   Take note that these views are not necessarily 100% correct either
theologically or scientifically. They are theories, and therefore
subject to change as Science, knowledge, and revelation by God
continues.

   EXTENT OF THE FLOOD:

UNIVERSAL FLOOD: EVIDENCE      |   LOCAL FLOOD: REBUTTAL
-------------------------------|-------------------------------------
The language of the account,   | The account is from the viewpoint of
over and over expresses        | the narrator, and from his perspective
totality (Gen. 7:18-24)        | it is total. "All" doesn't always mean
                               | "all"(Gen. 41:57; Deut. 2:25 1 Kings 18:10)
                               |
                               |
If 150 days were needed for the| A large-scale local flood could take that
water to recede, it must have  | long and, even with wind drying it, a
been universal.                | universal flood would take much longer.
                               |
The size of the ark indicates  | A large ark was needed because of the
that this was no local flood.  | number of animals it had to house; the size
                               | is not related to the extent of the flood.
                               |
If the flood was only local,   | That is the way God chose to save. Building
why was the ark necessary at   | the ark gave Noah an opportunity to preach.
all?                           |
                               |
The purpose of the flood was   | God could have made certain all flesh was
the punishment of world-wide   | destroyed without flooding the entire
sin. A local flood would not   | globe.
do; some could have escaped.   |
                               |
There are universal traditions | Many accounts do not claim the flood was
of people with accounts of a   | universal in nature; the differences allow
flood.                         | for a local flood.
                               |
There are world-wide traces of | Evidence is scattered, inconsistent, and
the flood. A universal flood   | unsubstantial.  There is no conclusive
is geologically supportable.   | geologic evidence for such a catastrophe.
                               |
The promise of no future floods| Though local, it still could have been
(Gen. 9:15)would be false if it| greater than any since.  Also, the
had been only a local flood.   | promise is for no flood "to destroy all
                               | flesh"; intent is stressed.
                               |
A universal flood is the       | Scientific evidence against universal
clearest meaning of the text   | flood is of such an extent that secondary
and has priority.              | reading of the text is necessary.
                               |
Ending ice ages, dissolving    | This argument is too theoretical and it
canopies, continental drifting,| is unknown whether phenomena is sufficient.
and/or changes in the angle of | Also they do not explain everything.
the earth were all used to     |
create necessary conditions.   |
                               |
The mountains of Ararat are    | The ark did not land on a peak of the
high and since water seeks its | mountain, but somewhere in that chain.
own level and the ark came to  | Noah and his family could not have
rest there, they must have     | gotten down from a peak.
been covered.                  |


LOCAL FLOOD: EVIDENCE             | UNIVERSAL FLOOD: REBUTTAL
----------------------------------|----------------------------------
                                  |
A local flood is indicated by the | God's guiding hand has accomplished
fact that the ark came to rest    | things more remarkable.
within 500 miles of its started   |
point.                            |
                                  |
To flood the entire globe would   | It came from an atmospheric source
need 8 times the amount of water  | (canopy theory), but not that much
now available in our system. No   | was needed because the land was much
miracle is mentioned. Where did   | lower, mountains were raised after
it come from?                     | flood.
                                  |
Mixing of fresh and salt water    | We don't know the adaptability of
would be disastrous for fish.     | fish at that time, but even if most
                                  | were destroyed, God could easily have
                                  | preserved 2 of each species.
                                  |
If 8 times our present amount of  | The earth had much less water in its
water rained down, there would    | system before the flood, and salt
have been a detectable dilution   | water was much lower in saline content.
of salt waters.                   | Salt content would quickly equalize.
                                  |
The amount of water required for  | Enough plant life would have survived
a universal flood would have      | by floating and by preserved seeds.
totally destroyed most plant life.|
                                  |
There would be great difficulty   | It is suggested that most, if not all,
not only in storing enough food,  | of the animals hibernated to some extent.
but in the actual caring for the  |
animals.                          |
                                  |
The biblical record concerns      | The biblical record implies that the
itself only with those peoples    | earth was populated by the descendents
interacting with Israel. Other    | of Noah(see also Luke 17:26-30 and
lands were not involved.          | 2 Peter 2:5).
                                  |
Noah did not go to Africa, China, | We are nowhere told that Noah spoke
etc., to preach repentance.  The  | to everyone affected by the flood.
tone of the passage is local.     | Noah alone found favor in the eyes of
                                  | the Lord.
                                  |
The fossil sequence in geologic   | The sequence is often reversed. Also,
strata world-wide show little     | fossil sequencing is based on the
variation from what would be      | evolutionary model, which is here
expected.  A universal flood      | rejected.
would have caused hopeless        |
shuffling.                        |

ORIGIN: LIGHTSPEED BBS
