In the time in which we live, it is getting ever harder to determine whether something is indeed fact. There is so much deception that is indeed going on that it makes it difficult for some to wade through information and make a decision for oneself about the verity of a matter. The internet is a useful tool, as information is indeed at one’s fingertips, but the problem is also exacerbated by the worldwide web, as nefarious people supply the innocent with deceptive information and make all information suspect.
I try to stay out of online arguments. I learned very early on when social media finally wormed its way into my life that people are not out to learn, but to proliferate what they know, whether they have actual knowledge or not.
One subject that is probably among the most often debated these days is the shape of the earth. Before, I wrote that I really don’t care what people think about the actual shape of the earth, as it is not a salvation issue. It is indeed not a salvation issue. But, someone that would dismiss empirical evidence without the basic knowledge of the subject has to be warned. If one can be deceived over such an issue, about what else might one be deceiving himself? Self deceit is the worst. So, to dismiss years and years of science just because some science is indeed not science [evolution, vax, etc], is irresponsible and illogical.
There are probably those that, no matter what information is offered, will never change their mind. That is o.k. But, there are a couple of points that have been made as to why some say that the earth is flat, after having been proven scientifically for centuries, even millennia, that we live on a globe. Those are the issues I want to address. I ask only that the reader note that this is independent study, and not drawn from any ‘pro-globe’ propaganda.
Of late, people are saying that the idea of a globe came about with the advent of evolution.
That is simply not true. The ancient peoples were not dumb, as many suppose. They were, in fact, brilliant people who gave us the basis of all math. I am not a mathematician, and it was not my favorite subject, but, having been in the AE field in the U.S. Navy, I was forced to learn higher math in order to be able to do triganometric calculations for fire control of torpedoes, and other disciplines in order to do logic in computers. I also had to learn statistics in order to do a particular plot during battle stations, and I became the best in the Pacific Submarine fleet, according to my Captain. In doing that job, I learned that numbers do not lie!
Our whole infrastructure has been built on the mathematics and natural philosophies of the ancients. We would not have many, if not most, of the scientific advancements that we have, if our math were ‘off’. Ancient societies and wonders of the world would not exist. Roads and bridges, religious sites, religious buildings, etc, would be absent from us if the math did not work. Many ancient societies, through scientific observations and math decided millennia ago that we live on a sphere. Yes, the dark ages came along, and Europeans deviated from that knowledge, as they rejected it for myths and traditions, but that did not change the history, that already existed. The globe is not a product of evolutionary thought: quite the opposite.
1. Ancient Celts and Greeks:
Ancient civilizations like the Celts and Greeks observed celestial phenomena and decided well before the modern age that the Earth was round. The Greek philosopher Pythagoras (6th century BCE), and later Aristotle, (4th century BCE) provided some of the earliest recorded arguments for a spherical Earth based on observations of the stars and the Earth’s shadow during lunar eclipses.
- Observation of the Stars: Aristotle observed that different constellations were visible at different latitudes on Earth. For instance, stars and constellations visible in Greece were not visible in Egypt and vice versa. This indicated to Aristotle that Earth’s surface is curved rather than flat.
- Shape of the Earth’s Shadow during Lunar Eclipses: Aristotle noted that during a lunar eclipse, when Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, the shadow that Earth casts on the Moon is always round. The shape of this shadow could only be explained if Earth were spherical.
There’s a famous story associated with the Greek philosopher Eratosthenes (276-194 BCE), who used a well in Aswan, Egypt to measure the angle of the Sun’s rays at noon on the summer solstice. He observed that the Sun cast no shadow on the bottom of a deep well in Aswan [Ancient Syene] at noon on that day, indicating that the Sun was directly overhead. At the same time, in Alexandria, Egypt, which is north of Syene, Eratosthenes observed that the Sun cast a shadow. By measuring the angle of this shadow and knowing the distance between Syene and Alexandria, Eratosthenes calculated the circumference of the Earth with remarkable accuracy, thereby providing indirect evidence for a spherical Earth.
The ancient Celts did not leave behind written records or systematic treatises on the shape of the Earth like the Greeks did. However, there are some indirect references and cultural practices that suggest their understanding of celestial phenomena, which could imply a recognition of the Earth’s spherical shape.
One aspect that is sometimes referenced is the Celtic reverence for nature and celestial bodies. They had a deep connection to the cycles of the sun, moon, and stars, which played significant roles in their religious and cultural practices. For instance:
- Solar Alignments: The Celts, like many ancient cultures, built monuments and structures that aligned with the movements of the sun. These alignments, such as those seen in Stonehenge and other megalithic structures, suggest an awareness of celestial mechanics and the apparent movement of the sun across the sky, which would be consistent with an understanding of the Earth’s spherical shape.
- Mythology and Cosmology: Celtic mythology often included references to the sun’s journey across the sky and its seasonal variations. This could imply a conceptualization of the Earth as a spherical object orbiting the sun, although these myths are more metaphorical than scientific.
- Druidic Knowledge: Druids, the Celtic priestly class, were known for their deep knowledge of natural phenomena and astronomy. They observed celestial events and likely made calculations based on these observations, although specific records detailing their understanding of Earth’s shape are not preserved.
While there isn’t direct textual evidence or explicit references to the shape of the Earth in Celtic sources, their reverence for celestial bodies and their understanding of seasonal changes suggest a level of astronomical knowledge that could support an implicit recognition of Earth’s spherical shape. This aligns with broader cultural and intellectual trends observed in other ancient civilizations around the world.
In “The Discovery of Middle Earth”, Graham Robb implies that the ancient Celts of Europe did know about the curvature of the earth, demonstrated in the fact that they had a very advanced system of surveying and mapping their territories. They used landmarks, natural features, and celestial alignments to navigate over long distances, which implies a practical understanding of the Earth’s geography and the movement of celestial bodies. Certain measurements they took seem to indicate a knowledge of the curvature of the earth.
2. Explorers and Navigators:
During the Age of Exploration (15th-17th centuries), explorers like Ferdinand Magellan circumnavigated the globe, providing practical proof that the Earth is not flat. Magellan’s expedition demonstrated that one could sail continuously in one direction and eventually return to the starting point, which is only possible on a spherical surface.
3. Kepler
The discovery of the elliptical orbit of the Earth around the Sun is credited to the German astronomer Johannes Kepler(1571-1630). Kepler formulated his laws of planetary motion in the early 17th century based on meticulous observations made by Tycho Brahe. Kepler’s first law states that planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one focus of the ellipse, which replaced the previously held notion of circular orbits.
Kepler’s laws were groundbreaking in the development of modern astronomy and physics, laying the foundation for understanding celestial mechanics and ultimately influencing the work of scientists such as Isaac Newton.
4. Isaac Newton and Gravitational Theory:
Isaac Newton’s theory of universal gravitation (late 17th century) provided further evidence for a spherical Earth. Newton showed that a large mass, such as Earth, would naturally form into a sphere due to gravitational forces pulling matter toward the center. This understanding aligns with the spherical shape observed in celestial bodies.
5. Modern Space Exploration:
In the 20th and 21st centuries, space exploration has provided irrefutable visual evidence of Earth’s shape. Satellites, space missions, and images from space clearly show Earth as a spherical object. Astronauts orbiting the Earth have also directly observed its curvature.
While I do not know any astronauts myself, some of my best friends and family live/lived near NASA, and fellowshipped with Astronauts, several of whom are believers. They have been to space. They are not part of a wider, worldwide illuminati deception, but testify frankly that the earth, as seen from space, is a sphere.
6. Geodetic Surveys and Measurements:
Geodetic surveys and measurements confirm the curvature of the Earth’s surface. The science of geodesy precisely measures Earth’s shape and size, accounting for variations due to factors like gravity and topography. These measurements consistently support the spherical model.
7. Spherical Geometry and the Tracking of Time:
We have been accurately predicting time for centuries—perhaps longer. We do so based on how long it takes the Earth to rotate once (24 hours) and how long it takes to complete one orbit around the sun (a year). Today, we’re pinpoint accurate with these calculations.
Every month, I build a calendar for our congregations, based on the predicted times of sundown, moonrise, the phases of the moon, and more. I check scientific websites for these values, and every time, they are accurate—down to the second.
These sites rely on spherical geometry—the math based on Earth’s known size, its rotational speed, and the distances between the Earth, moon, and sun. That same geometry was used by ancient scholars like Eratosthenes to estimate Earth’s circumference over 2,000 years ago.
We observe the accuracy of this system daily. When the sun sets, it quite literally dips below the horizon. And if we wait twelve hours and turn to the opposite direction, the sun rises again. We can predict these events to the minute.
I remember as a high school senior, after moving to a lake house, friends and family joined me to watch the sunrise over the lake—exactly as predicted.
In every flat Earth model I’ve seen, the sun is said to move laterally or in a circle above a flat plane, dimming as it moves away. But no successful math exists to predict the sun’s behavior under this model. The geometry doesn’t work.
Meanwhile, spherical geometry consistently predicts sunrise, sunset, moon phases, eclipses, and equinoxes. It works not just in theory—but in real life, every day.
Yes, in our current model, the Earth spins, and from our perspective the sun appears to move. That’s observational language, not scientific error. But the science aligns with what we observe.
Flat Earth proponents often say the sun dims and disappears due to distance. But after nearly 60 years of life, I’ve observed something different: the sun stays equally bright as it sets—it just drops below the horizon, out of view, just like a light source behind a curved surface would.
And then there’s the matter of shadows. The ancients used sun dials, which worked based on the angle of sunlight hitting a curved Earth. Those angles don’t make sense on a flat plane, nor do they work with the same predictive accuracy.
When I moved to Washington state, I had a moment I’ll never forget. Lying in my barracks bed around 9:45 PM, I saw the sunlight hit me through the blinds. Curious, I peeked out—and the sun was still up. Why? Because in summer, the tilt of the Earth’s axis angles the North Pole toward the sun, extending daylight hours. The farther north you go, the longer the daylight.
At the poles, there can be sunlight at midnight. This is impossible on a flat Earth, which lacks poles entirely. A sun on a flat disk can’t illuminate both sides at once—and light travels in straight lines.
And finally: look up. The sun is not a flat disk. The moon isn’t. The stars and planets aren’t. Every heavenly body we’ve observed—by telescope or naked eye—is a sphere. Why would Earth be the only exception? The physics of a flat Earth don’t match anything else we observe in the universe.
So yes—time, which God created for us, using the sun, moon, and stars, bears witness to the shape of the Earth. Through timekeeping, prediction, and observation, we’re able to see that the Earth is indeed a sphere—fearfully and wonderfully made, and exquisitely ordered.
8. Natural Phenomena and Observations:
Natural phenomena such as the way ships disappear hull-first over the horizon, the shape of the Earth’s shadow on the Moon during eclipses, and the way constellations change with latitude all provide empirical evidence of Earth’s curvature and spherical shape.
Why are we not able to ‘see’ the curvature?
The inability to perceive the curvature of the Earth, even from an airplane, is primarily due to the vast scale of the Earth relative to the altitude at which commercial airplanes typically fly, as well as the limitations of human vision.
- Scale of the Earth: The Earth is incredibly large compared to the height at which airplanes fly. Commercial airplanes typically cruise at altitudes ranging from 30,000 to 40,000 feet (9,000 to 12,000 meters). At these altitudes, the curvature of the Earth is relatively subtle. The radius of the Earth is approximately 6,371 kilometers (3,959 miles), which means the curvature is gradual. The horizon appears flat because the curvature is only noticeable over much larger distances than those visible from an airplane window. One would have to be very near ‘outer space’.
- Field of View: Human eyes have a limited field of view and can only perceive a small portion of the Earth’s surface at any given time. Even from the cruising altitude of an airplane, the horizon may appear flat due to the limited perspective provided by the window and the relatively small angle of view.
- Atmospheric Effects: Atmospheric conditions such as haze, cloud cover, and the Earth’s atmosphere itself can obscure the visibility of the curvature. These factors can reduce the contrast between the sky and the Earth’s surface, making it difficult to discern the curvature visually.
- Visual Acuity: Detecting the curvature of the Earth requires precise observation under optimal conditions. Human eyes are not sensitive enough to easily discern the slight curvature from a typical airplane window, especially when the horizon line appears distant and relatively flat due to the Earth’s large size.
To actually see the curvature of the Earth, one would need to be at a much higher altitude, such as in the upper reaches of the stratosphere or beyond, where the curvature becomes more apparent due to the larger field of view and the contrasting blackness of space against the Earth’s surface. This perspective is typically achieved by astronauts in orbit around the Earth or on missions beyond Earth’s orbit.
9. Scripture supports a sphere:
“It is He that sits above the ‘circle’ of the earth…”
That is Isaiah 40:22. The word for circle there is ‘khug’/חוּג , and it means ‘circuit’, ‘compass’, implying roundness. In some flat earth arguments, the poetic ‘four corners’ of the earth have caused them to surmise that we sit on a flat square. That is debunked immediately here. A ‘circuit’ implies a trip around something, as does a compass. And the spherical geometry matches the idea of ‘circuit’ and ‘compass’, because that is the math used in ‘navigation’, successful navigation for centuries, before computers, based on spherical geometry.
This is similar to the verse in Proverbs 8:27-28:
“When He established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle/חוּג upon the face of the deep, When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might…”
So, the waters that ‘couch beneath’ are encircled; again, a ‘circuit’ is a ’round trip’.
Flat earth proponents like to say that the square thing we live on is set up on pillars, because there is a verse that says, “the Pillars of the Earth belong to יהוה , and He has set the world on them.” You’ve probably seen the drawings by now. The problem is, that is a poetic reference. Job says that “He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing.” [26:7]
Yeshua may have given us the best clue, and it relates to our spherical geometry giving us the ability to predict ‘time’.
He tells us concerning the natzal, the ‘rapture’, or the ‘catching away’ of His obedient remnant, that it will happen both at day and at night:
34I say to you that in that very night two will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other forsaken. 35And two women will be grinding together; one will be taken and the other forsaken. 36Two will be in the field; one will be taken and the other forsaken.” [Luke 17]
Think about this. This is three different times of day! The natzal is one big event, when the groom comes for his bride, and in Matthew 25 that ‘hour’ is midnight; and that midnight hour is likely relevant to Israel, as Messiah’s Bride is Jewish first, and then Gentile.
It is interesting to me that Yeshua gave us three times. Morning, noon, and night!
As stated, the midnight hour of Matthew 25 is implied when people are sleeping in one bed. If that is Jerusalem/Israel, then the two women grinding at the mill are being ‘caught up’ at the same time as those in bed. But, they are grinding at the mill, which was one of the early tasks of women, to make the daily bread; they grind the grain in the morning. That puts these women in East Asia!
And the two men who are out in the field, this is likely referring to our hemisphere, as it would, at Israel’s midnight hour, be about 5 in the evening in New York, 4 in the afternoon and 2 in the afternoon in central US and the west coast, respectively. Farmers would be in the field in every location.
So, Yeshua seems to be giving us support for a spherical earth, because the calculations of time are only possible under spherical geometry.
Conclusion:
The evidence supporting a globe-shaped Earth spans millennia and comes from a variety of disciplines—ancient philosophy, exploration, physics, astronomy, and modern space science, and the Bible, including Yeshua Himself. The cumulative weight of observations, theories, and practical demonstrations overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that the Earth is spherical. This understanding not only aligns with scientific consensus but also with the accumulated knowledge and experience of human civilizations throughout history. This is not a late conspiracy by the elite in order to deceive the ignorant masses.