The Vailan or annular theory: A synopsis of Prof. I. N. Vail's argument in support of the claim that this Earth once possessed a Saturn-like system of rings

by Stephen Bowers

DEMONSTRATED BY HISTORIC TESTIMONY.

In Gen. 1:7 God made the firmament and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament. According to the Hebrew the atmosphere became an expanse between two bodies of waters, and of course the upper stratum had to move round the earth. In Gen. 1:3,4 light came in and garnished the heavens before the sun was seen.

In the 10th. verse the waters on the earth were called seas, the water above the earth was called the deep, and the Spirit of God moved upon them. “And God said, Let there be light,” and light came upon the deep.

In Gen 1:14-19 the sun which existed for ages did not appear in the heavens until after the sun brought forth grass, etc. Then it is plain that some intercepting canopy cut off the direct rays of the sun.

The writer of Genesis did not say the sun and moon shone upon the earth, but he does say the stars did this. According to the Vailan theory this is true, but they shone in from polar regions.

The earth’s surface was not heated by the sun’s direct rays, but under the overcanopying vapors it must have been warmed, and its temperature equalized by transmitted and diffused solar heat.