The two thirds of the surface of the earth is covered with water, and among the planets in the solar system, only the earth has oceans and the seas. So, how were the seas formed and what did the earth look like in the beginning when the earth was first made?

Genesis chapter 1 describes God the Creator's process of creation of the heavens and the earth and all things in them. Genesis 1:2 shows the great detail of the earth in the beginning. It says, "The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters."


"The earth was formless and void"

When God created the earth in the beginning, the earth was not like the earth as of today. In the beginning, the crust and atmosphere of the earth were unstable. Geological movements such as plate tectonics, crustal disturbances and volcanic eruptions were actively taking place. All kinds of complex actions were also continually taking place in the atmosphere.

Scientists also surmise that there were active crustal movements on the surface of the earth and that there were various chemical activities in the atmosphere in the early phases of the earth. Scientists say that it was the process that the earth was undergoing after it was created in the "big bang". The fact is, however, that it was not by the 'big bang', but it was the process of God's creation of the earth taking place. It was when God created the earth in the beginning. He went through the process of laying its foundation along with active crustal movements and various reactions in the atmosphere (Job 38:4; Hebrews 1:10). Through the process, the earth came to have both the ground and the air; the proper environment for human beings.

Then, why did God the Almighty not create the earth perfectly from the beginning, but let the earth go through all these processes?
Even when people build a small house, the work of laying its foundation and putting up its frameworks is a must. This is the physical order of the fleshly world. Even though God is almighty, when He created the earth, He started with laying its foundation according to the physical order of the fleshly world. When God the Almighty created the earth, He laid its foundation, and it was His way of expressing His love for mankind.

Imagine that you are building your own house. The house is where you and your beloved family are about to live. Even if it takes a long time and requires much work, you will check every detail personally. You will actually be happy to do it.

God also created this earth with this kind of loving heart for a long period of time. This earth is the base ground for souls to be cultivated to become true children of God. That's why God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—the Triune God—earnestly laid the foundation of the earth and created the heavens over a long period of time. And He had the atmosphere develop and circulate through various stages to create the most proper environment.


"The Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters"

God Himself came down to the earth which is the base ground of human cultivation. While moving over the earth, He looked for what was necessary for the earth that he would make during the 6-day Creation. By the way, from the fact that "God was moving over the surface of the waters," we can see the earth was covered with waters back then. After God laid the foundation of the earth, He covered the entire earth with waters.

Then, where did the water that covered the entire earth come from? It was the water of life that flowed from the throne of God. Genesis 1:9 reads, "Then God said, 'Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear'; and it was so." 2 Peter 3:5 says, "By the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water." Simply put, the earth was originally under the water, and it came out of the water later.

Now, what is the reason God covered the entire earth with the water of life like this like a baby kept in amniotic fluid in its mother's body?
It was to create an environment on earth so that all the life forms including human beings could survive in it. The God of love let the water of life flow upon the earth and created the basic environment where the living things could survive.

The look of the earth that was covered with the water of life was like a baby kept in amniotic fluid in its mother's body. Thanks to this amniotic fluid that covers the baby, the baby's temperature can be controlled and the baby can be protected from any external shocks or infections. While covered with this amniotic fluid, the baby is provided with nutrients from its mother through the umbilical cord until it comes to have a complete look of a man. And when the time comes, it comes out and into the world.

By the same token, during the period when the earth was covered with the water of life, the basic environment for living things to live in was created. Here, we should know that all the living things including human beings cannot survive without water. This water is given by God. Therefore, we should realize that human beings can never survive away from God. The fact is that when He covered the earth with the water of life it was God's desire for all the souls to be able to receive eternal life.

Another thing in point, the water of life is so pure and clean. God the Creator wants all the souls to have a heart like this water of life after going through human cultivation. He wants us to become true children with a blameless and spotless heart that is as pure and clear as the water of life. In a fleshly manner, water cleanses all the dirty things. The Word of God, which is spiritual water, is also essential for us to keep our spiritual life, and it plays the role of cleansing us from the dirty and filthy sins.

Considering the earth of today, in the beginning how could God make the water of life cover the whole earth?

Following verses from Genesis 1:3 records that God created the heavens and the earth and all things in them in great detail.

On the second day of the Creation, God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse (Genesis 1:6-8). At this time, the entire surface of the earth was relatively flat with no high mountains or deep valleys. On the third day of the Creation, God caused a great depression like a huge pothole to form near the North Pole. God gathered the waters to the North Pole, and called the waters, "the seas." And He called the dry land, "earth."

On the fourth day, He created the sun, the moon, and stars and had the dry land divided into several continents and the sea into several seas through crustal movements. Then, the earth came to look like today's earth (Genesis 1:14-19).