According to Les Feldick, the event that destroyed the pre-flood earth was a catastrophic worldwide flood judgment — a planet-wide cataclysm of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and the broken-up fountains of the great deep that turned the earth 'inside out.'
Les teaches that the destruction was not merely rain falling from above. He describes the whole planet going into convulsions from volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, with the fountains of the great deep broken up so that water covered even the highest mountains [Clip 1, Clip 5, Clip 6]. Because the earth in Genesis 1 was originally covered with water — with part of it suspended in the atmosphere and part gathered into seas — the flood returned that water to cover the planet once again [Clip 2]. The result was the complete destruction of the pre-flood civilization and the total renovation of the planet, so that today's mountains, rivers, canyons, and ocean beds all date from this judgment [Clip 3, Clip 4].
Genesis 7:11 — The Bible names the precise mechanism of the destruction: the breaking up of the fountains of the great deep and the opening of the windows of heaven.
Genesis 6:13 — God declares He will destroy man 'with the earth,' showing the judgment fell on the planet itself, not just on its inhabitants.
Genesis 1:2 — The original Genesis 1 earth was covered with water — the source to which Les traces the floodwaters that destroyed the pre-flood world.
In the opening of Scripture, the earth is described as covered with water: 'And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters' (Genesis 1:2). Centuries later, God announced the flood judgment to Noah: 'The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth' (Genesis 6:13). The means of that destruction is described precisely: 'In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened' (Genesis 7:11). The waters prevailed so greatly that 'Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered' (Genesis 7:20). The biblical record thus presents the destruction of the earth as accomplished by a worldwide flood.
Les Feldick teaches that the destruction of the pre-flood earth was brought about by the catastrophic flood judgment of Noah's day. He is emphatic that the flood was far more than rain. He asks his listeners to imagine that 'all around this planet there was volcanic eruption everywhere. And along with the volcanic eruptions, tremendous earthquake. This whole planet went into convulsions' [Clip 1]. He identifies the biblical phrase 'the fountains of the great deep' with volcanic explosions — 'What do we normally think of when the deep explodes out above the surface? What do we call it? Volcanoes' [Clip 5] — and he multiplies that single eruption by 'thousands and thousands of other great volcanoes' with underwater earthquakes, so that 'the planet is in convulsions' [Clip 6]. Les traces the floodwaters back to the original Genesis 1 earth: 'originally in Genesis 1, the earth was covered with water, and God removed half of that water, or at least a portion of it, put it up in the atmosphere, and the rest He made seas, and then it all came back down and covered the planet totally' [Clip 2]. He notes that Scripture says even the highest point was 15 cubits under the surface [Clip 2]. Above all, Les stresses that the judgment destroyed the planet itself. Commenting on Genesis 6:13, he says, 'Now watch that last prepositional phrase. He's not just going to destroy man. In other words, it isn't just a matter of killing the life, but He's going to destroy the planet. The whole surface of the earth is going to be totally, I like to use the expression, turned inside out' [Clip 3]. The result, he teaches, is that the pre-flood civilization was destroyed and the planet completely renovated — 'everything that's on the scene tonight, everything, our mountains, our rivers, our canyons, our Grand Canyon, our ocean beds, everything is the result of Noah's flood' [Clip 4]. Yet this was no accident: 'God in control. He's sovereign' [Clip 4].
Les Feldick says the flood was not just rain. He points out that the people of the pre-flood world 'couldn't comprehend water just coming down from above. They'd never had it rain' [Clip 5]. The rain was the first sign to them that Noah had been right, 'but before they had time to even react to that thought, all the fountains of the great deep were broken up' [Clip 5]. Les asks what we call it when the deep explodes above the surface: 'Volcanoes' [Clip 5]. Along with the volcanic eruptions came tremendous earthquakes, so that 'the whole planet went into convulsions' [Clip 1].
The Bible records that 'all the fountains of the great deep [were] broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened' (Genesis 7:11). Les explains the source of so much water by going back to Genesis 1: 'originally in Genesis 1, the earth was covered with water, and God removed half of that water, or at least a portion of it, put it up in the atmosphere, and the rest He made seas, and then it all came back down and covered the planet totally' [Clip 2]. He adds that Scripture says even the highest point was 15 cubits under the surface of the water [Clip 2], and the flood was accompanied by 'tremendous volcanic and earthquake activity' [Clip 2].
Les Feldick stresses that God did not simply kill the inhabitants — He destroyed the planet. He draws attention to Genesis 6:13, where God says, 'I will destroy them with the earth': 'Now watch that last prepositional phrase. He's not just going to destroy man. In other words, it isn't just a matter of killing the life, but He's going to destroy the planet' [Clip 3]. He describes the judgment as instantaneous [Clip 1] and continuing 'for months' [Clip 1], so that 'the whole planet is completely turned inside out' [Clip 1]. The result of this total renovation is that everything we see today — mountains, rivers, canyons, the Grand Canyon, and the ocean beds — 'everything is the result of Noah's flood' [Clip 4].
Les Feldick says the destruction came after a long and sophisticated age. 'From Adam until the flood was about 1,650 years,' he notes, and in that time the world went 'from the perfect couple all the way down to a planet filled with people' [Clip 7]. He is of the opinion that there were 'probably as many at the time of the flood as there are on the planet today, possibly even more,' with 'tremendous technology' [Clip 7]. Yet in those 1,600-plus years 'there was no civil government, there was no organized worship, and as far as we can see from Scripture, there wasn't religion' [Clip 7]. The corruption and violence of this civilization is what brought God's destructive judgment (Genesis 6:13) [Clip 3].
What Happened Between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2? (The Genesis Gap Explained)
And after each half-hour taping, we have a coffee break, and that's why you see the coffee cups on the table, there's a reason for it all. And we're here from various denominational backgrounds, and we've got people here from—mostly from Tulsa, of course. We've got people from Muskogee and McAllister, and of course Iris and I are from the big city of Kinta.
The Flood as a Global Cataclysm
Les describes the flood as a global cataclysm: volcanic eruptions everywhere, tremendous earthquakes, and the whole planet going into convulsions. He emphasizes that the judgment was instantaneous and that the planet was completely turned inside out.
The Source of the Floodwaters
Les traces the floodwaters back to the original Genesis 1 earth, which was covered with water. God put part of that water in the atmosphere and made the rest into seas, and the flood brought it all back down to cover the planet, even 15 cubits above the highest point.
God Destroyed Man 'With the Earth'
Les highlights God's words to Noah that He would destroy man 'with the earth.' He argues that God was not just killing life but destroying the planet itself, turning the whole surface of the earth inside out. He also offers his opinion that a civilization such as Atlantis existed and was removed.
The Planet Completely Renovated
Les teaches that the pre-flood civilization was destroyed and the planet completely renovated. Today's mountains, rivers, canyons, Grand Canyon, and ocean beds are all results of Noah's flood, and God was sovereignly in control throughout.
The Fountains of the Great Deep as Volcanoes
Les says the pre-flood people had never seen rain, and the first rainfall was the initial sign that Noah was right. He then identifies the breaking up of the fountains of the great deep as volcanoes — the deep exploding above the surface.
Volcanoes and Earthquakes Worldwide
Les multiplies the volcanic scenario by thousands of volcanoes worldwide, combined with underwater earthquakes. He describes the planet in convulsions, with all living things dying as a result.
The Pre-Flood World's Long History
Les provides background: about 1,650 years from Adam to the flood, a planet filled with people, a population possibly equal to today's or greater, and tremendous technology — yet no civil government, no organized worship, and, as far as Scripture shows, no religion.
Genesis 1:2: And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Describes the original Genesis 1 earth as covered with water — the state Les says the floodwaters returned to.
Genesis 6:13: And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
God's own announcement that the judgment would destroy man together with the earth — the verse Les points to for his 'turned inside out' teaching.
Genesis 7:11: In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
The precise mechanism of the destruction: the breaking up of the fountains of the great deep, which Les equates with volcanic eruption.
Genesis 7:20: Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.
The floodwaters covered even the highest points, matching Les's statement about the planet being completely covered by water.
Les Feldick says God was not just killing life — He was destroying the planet itself. He points to the phrase 'with the earth' in Genesis 6:13 and says the whole surface of the earth was 'turned inside out' [Clip 3]. Everything on the modern scene, he says, is a result of Noah's flood [Clip 4].
According to Les Feldick, the pre-flood people had never experienced rain — 'they'd never had it rain' [Clip 5]. When the rain began, it was the first sign to them that Noah's warning was true, but before they could react, the fountains of the great deep broke up [Clip 5].
Les Feldick equates the breaking up of the fountains of the great deep with volcanic eruptions: 'What do we normally think of when the deep explodes out above the surface? What do we call it? Volcanoes' [Clip 5]. He multiplies that by thousands of volcanoes and severe underwater earthquakes, with the planet in convulsions [Clip 6].
Yes, according to Les Feldick. He says 'everything that's on the scene tonight, everything, our mountains, our rivers, our canyons, our Grand Canyon, our ocean beds, everything is the result of Noah's flood' [Clip 4].
Les says it was about 1,650 years from Adam to the flood [Clip 7]. In that time the world went from the perfect couple to a planet filled with people — possibly as many as on the earth today, or even more [Clip 7].
Watch the Teaching: What Happened Between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2? (The Genesis Gap Explained)