And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

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.

- Genesis 1:6-7

The same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

- Genesis 7:11b

But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

- Genesis 2:6

I do set my bow in the cloud.

- Genesis 9:1a

This theory is based upon the following biblical and scientific observations:

1. The pre-flood firmament separated "the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament" (Genesis 1:6-7). Today there are no waters above the atmosphere.

2. The passage of Scripture stating that "the windows of heaven were opened" (Genesis 7:11b), seems to picture an opening of the earth's atmosphere.

3. Rain is never mentioned in Scripture before the flood. "But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground" (Genesis 2:6). The post-flood atmosphere produced rain for watering the earth.

4. We do not read of a rainbow in the pre-flood world. After the flood, God testified, "I do set my bow in the cloud"