The Bible does not go into great scientific detail about astronomy, as its purpose is to reveal God and His plan of salvation, not to describe the natural world comprehensively. However, it does make some key points about astronomy that give us insight into how God views the heavens and their relationship to Him.
The heavens declare the glory of God
Several verses describe the heavens as glorious, majestic, and declaring the glory and handiwork of God. Psalm 19:1 states that “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Psalm 8:3-4 says “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” These verses indicate that the heavens reveal the glory, power, and creative ability of God.
God created the heavens
The Bible clearly teaches that God created the heavens, along with the earth and the rest of the universe. Genesis 1 describes God’s creation of the heavens on the second day. Nehemiah 9:6 states that God made the heavens and all their host. The prophets often refer to God as the one who made the heavens, stretching them out by His understanding (see Isaiah 42:5, Jeremiah 10:12). Astronomical objects like the sun, moon, and stars are said to be placed or established by God (Psalm 8:3, Genesis 1:16-17).
God rules the heavens
In addition to creating the heavens, the Bible often speaks of God ruling over them sovereignly. Psalm 103:19 states that “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.” God’s throne is symbolic of His authority and reign over all creation. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 praises God’s eternal kingdom and states that “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours.” God’s rule is eternal and supreme over the heavens He created.
The heavens and earth will one day perish
While the heavens reveal God’s glory and handiwork, the Bible also teaches that one day the heavens and earth will perish and be destroyed. 2 Peter 3:10-12 describes that “the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved.” Hebrews 1:10-12 quotes from Psalm 102, saying that God will “roll them up like a robe” and “change them like a garment.” However, those who trust in the Lord will inherit “a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28). The current cosmos is not eternal but temporary, being destined for future transformation.
Astronomical events as signs or judgments
Certain astronomical phenomena are mentioned in the Bible as portents or signs of God’s work in the world. Comets, eclipses, meteor showers, and the darkening of celestial bodies can be signs of God’s coming judgment or evidence of His control over the cosmos. Joel 2:10 says “The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.” Jesus said future astronomical signs would be indicators of His second coming (Luke 21:25). At the same time, astronomical events are not to be used for astrological divination or fortune-telling (Isaiah 47:13-14).
The heavens are incapable of containing God’s glory
While vast, the physical heavens cannot contain the infinite glory and presence of God. When Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, he acknowledged that “behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you” (1 Kings 8:27). Early Christian creeds echoed this, stating that God “made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them.” Our finite cosmos cannot limit the transcendent Creator who reigns over it.
Heaven as God’s dwelling place
In addition to the literal, physical heavens, the Bible uses the term “heaven” to refer to the dwelling place of God. Jesus spoke of His Father who is “in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Heaven is portrayed as God’s throne (Isaiah 66:1), the source of help and blessing (Psalm 121:1-2), and the destiny of the righteous who will dwell with God forever (John 14:2-3). While intertwined, this spiritual heaven that is God’s dwelling transcends the astronomical heavens of the natural universe.
Astronomical objects not to be worshipped
Since the heavens reveal God’s glory, celestial objects were not to be worshipped in the place of God. Deuteronomy 4:19 instructed Israel not to be ensnared into worshipping the sun, moon, stars or other heavenly hosts, but instead to remember that “the Lord your God allotted these to all the peoples under the whole heaven.” Jeremiah warned against serving and worshipping the “signs of the heavens” (Jeremiah 10:2). The Bible condemns the worship of created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).
God named the stars
The Bible indicates that God named and catalogued the stars. “He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names” says Psalm 147:4. Similarly, Isaiah 40:26 states “Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name.” Astronomers may discover and classify stars, but the Bible suggests that God determined their number and names them Himself, indicative of His intimate knowledge of and authority over His creation.
The heavens display God’s majesty and power
Multiple passages emphasize how the heavens reveal the majesty and power of God. Psalm 8 marvels that God would care for humans when He has created something as vast as the night sky. Calling God “the King of Glory,” Psalm 24 pictures God as the mighty Lord over all heavenly forces. Job 26 describes God’s “great power” and wonders like the skies being spread out “hard as a cast metal mirror.” The cosmic scale of the heavens displays God’s abilities and might far beyond man’s capacity.
The stability of the heavens displays God’s faithfulness
The regularity of astronomical patterns and cycles serve as a testimony to God’s faithfulness in sustaining the world. Jeremiah 33:25 states “Thus says the Lord: If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, then I will reject the offspring of Jacob.” God appointed the sun, moon and stars “for signs and seasons” (Genesis 1:14). The heavens’ clockwork motions give continual evidence of God’s trustworthy upholding of the universe.
Jesus created all things, including the heavens
Several New Testament verses speak of Jesus Christ as the Creator who made the heavens along with the rest of the cosmos. John 1:3 says “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Hebrews 1:2 states that through Jesus “also he created the world,” while verse 10 addresses Jesus as “Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands.” Colossians 1:16 declares “all things were created through him and for him,” including “all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.”
Astronomical events accompanied Jesus’s death and resurrection
The Gospels record astronomical phenomena occurring in conjunction with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. At the crucifixion, Luke 23:44-45 describes darkness coming over the land from the sixth to the ninth hour as Jesus died. Matthew 27:51 states that at that moment “the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” At His resurrection, Matthew 28:1-2 records that “there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.” These cosmic signs testified to Christ’s supernatural work of atonement and victory over death.
Astronomical cataclysms are foretold to accompany Christ’s return
The second coming of Christ will also be accompanied by dramatic heavenly signs and upheavals in the cosmos. Matthew 24:29 says “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Luke 21:25-26 predicts “there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world.” 2 Peter 3:10 foretells that “the heavens will pass away with a roar.” The cosmos itself will be radically altered upon the return of Jesus to judge the earth.
A new heaven and new earth are coming
The book of Revelation provides the most detail about the culmination of God’s purposes for the cosmos. It foretells the creation of a “new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away (Revelation 21:1). 2 Peter 3:13 also speaks of “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” Though the present heavens and earth will perish, they will be replaced by renewed and perfected heavens and earth that will endure forever, full of righteousness and the presence of God.
In summary, while the Bible is not intended to serve as an astronomy textbook, it provides us critical revelation about astronomy that helps us understand our place in the universe God has made. We learn that the heavens declare God’s glory and that one day they will be transformed when Christ returns to usher in the fullness of His eternal kingdom.