The Flood water came from the water God lifted above the atmosphere in Genesis 1, and it all returned to cover the planet.
Les Feldick teaches that in Genesis 1 the earth was already covered with water. God removed half of it, or at least a portion, placed it above the atmosphere, and made the rest into seas. When the Flood came, that water came back down and covered the entire planet, including the highest point that existed at the time.
Genesis 1:6-7 — God divides the waters with a firmament, placing part of the water above the atmosphere—the approach Les uses to explain the source of the Flood water.
Genesis 7:11 — The Flood begins with the breaking up of the fountains of the great deep and the opening of the windows of heaven.
Genesis 7:19-20 — The waters cover all the high hills under the whole heaven, supporting the universal nature of the Flood Les describes.
The Bible's account of the source of the Flood water begins in Genesis 1. There, the earth is covered with water, and God says, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters" (Genesis 1:6). Genesis 1:7 records that God made the firmament and divided the waters under the firmament from the waters above the firmament. This is the only place in Scripture that tells of water stored above the atmosphere. When the Flood arrives, Genesis 7:11 describes the event: "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 7:19-20 then says the waters prevailed and covered all the high hills under heaven, making the scope global.
Les teaches that the water for Noah's Flood did not come from unknown sources. He goes back to Genesis 1, where the planet was covered with water after an earlier judgment. God made a firmament between the waters and lifted a portion of the water above the atmosphere as a vapor belt, leaving the rest as the seas (Clips 3,6). That vapor belt stayed in place throughout the pre-Flood world and produced a constant spring-like climate; it never rained (Clip 1). At the time of Noah, the same vapor belt came back down and covered the planet entirely (Clips 0,3). Les is careful to say this was not a local Middle East flood; the whole earth was covered for 150 days at the deepest point (Clip 0). He also describes the Flood as cataclysmic—the planet erupted instantaneously, so it was not a quiet rain event (Clip 5).
Les's explanation begins with Genesis 1:6-7. The present earth had been flooded by a previous judgment, and God divided the water covering the planet. He moved half of it, or at least a portion, above the atmosphere and pictured it as a huge vapor belt in space (Clip 3). Les says the same vapor belt returned at Noah's Flood (Clip 3). At the same time, he describes the Flood as not a simple rising of rainwater but a cataclysmic, instantaneous eruption of the whole planet (Clip 5).
Les answers directly: the Flood was universal. Whatever the highest point was before the Flood, the water covered it, and there was no such thing as just part of the Middle East being inundated (Clip 0). The water remained at its deepest for 150 days. Les also points out that the pre-Flood land surface was far greater than today's planet, where 75 or 76 percent is water; before the Flood the earth was highly productive and heavily populated (Clip 7). The universal scope matches the biblical statement that the waters covered all the high hills under the whole heaven.
Les acknowledges this is a question people ask often. In these clips, he directs the listener back to the book of Job, saying that old book leaves no stone unturned (Clip 2). He also teaches that present-day river basins were all formed as Noah's Flood waters receded, and God established the seas (Clip 2). After the Flood, God made a covenant that He would never again destroy the planet with water; Les reminds us that before the Flood it never rained, so the rainbow was a new sign and a reminder that the Flood was literal but would never happen again (Clip 4).
The Flood Water Came Back Down
Les says the Flood water is easily explained: in Genesis 1 the earth was covered with water, God removed a portion into the atmosphere, and then that water all came back down and covered the planet completely.
The Upper Vapor Belt and Rainless World
Les pictures the removed water as a huge vapor belt in space, which gave the pre-Flood world a constant spring-like climate with no rain; Noah's warning of a great rain was unfamiliar to his generation.
Where the Flood Water Went
Les points to the book of Job for the answer to where the extra water went, and says present-day river basins were formed as the Flood waters receded.
God Divided the Water as a Vapor Belt
Les explains that in Genesis 1 God divided the water covering the planet, moved half of it above the atmosphere as a vapor belt, and that same vapor belt came back at Noah's Flood.
No Rain and No Rainbow Before the Flood
Les says before the Flood it never rained, so there was no rainbow; after the Flood weather, storm clouds and the rainbow appeared, and God promised never again to destroy the planet with water.
A Cataclysmic Planetary Eruption
Les teaches the Flood was not a quiet rise of rainwater; it was a cataclysmic, instantaneous eruption of the whole planet that removed most evidence of the pre-Flood civilization.
The Firmament Divides the Waters
Les connects Genesis 1:6-7 to the Flood, showing the present earth had been flooded from an earlier judgment and God separated the waters with an atmosphere, placing some water above it.
The Pre-Flood Earth Was Mostly Land
Les notes that before the Flood the land surface was much greater than today's 24-25 percent, making the universal Flood a covering of a different and more productive planet.
Genesis 1:6: And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
This verse names the firmament as the dividing barrier between waters below and above.
Genesis 1:7: And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
This records the actual separation, with part of the water stored above the firmament.
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.
This marks the moment the Flood begins, with both the deep and the heavens releasing water.
Genesis 7:19-20: And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.
These verses show the waters covered the highest hills, confirming the universal extent Les teaches.
Les teaches that before the Flood there was no weather, no storm clouds, and no rain. God watered the plant life from beneath the ground, and the huge vapor belt above the atmosphere gave the planet a constant spring-like climate.
No. Les says the Flood was not a simple rising of rainwater or a quiet flooding of everything. It was cataclysmic, and the whole planet erupted instantaneously, so rain was only part of a far greater event.
Les says the water was at its very deepest for 150 days—the five months referred to in the Flood account. During that time it covered the highest point that existed on the pre-Flood earth.
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