Genesis 1:6-8

In the second stage of God made a firmament or Heaven which divided the waters above the firmament from the waters below the firmament. This is ancient Hebrew poetic expression which is not easily converted into contemporary terms and meaning.

For the interpretation of this stage the artist has drawn upon a theory, the degassing theory, that seeks to explain the transition of earth from a dry, hard rock mass to an earth surrounded by a protective atmosphere and water by a rain cycle, this is an earth capable of supporting life. According to this theory the earth's water was first bound in chemical complexes in the rock geysers and volcanic eruptions to surround the earth with hot fog and steam. Then in periods of torrential rains this fog condensed and formed the seas and oceans. This process led to the rain cycle as we know it today.
 

(4) Here we see jagged silhouettes of stone extending into the clouds of steam. (5) This is a volcano rising out of the sea and emitting clouds of vapor. The sulfur discharged by the volcano has stained the surrounding sea yellow. The artist conceives that the early seas were multicolored from the chemicals discharged into the water. There is some pink and green coloring here also. (6) Here is the beginning of the rain cycle when water drawn from the sea is formed into clouds. (7) A triple bolt of lightning indicative of the thunder storms that bring rain is shown. (8) This area portrays streaks of rain coming down and the rainbow which is formed when water droplets in the clouds break up the sunlight shining thru them into its spectral colors.