Introduction
I grew up as an American in the latter half of the 20th century. I learned basic astronomy, which identified the Sun, Moon, and planets as part of our Solar System while the stars are balls of exploding gas a lo-ong way away. I also grew up in church, which teaches that, over six 24- hour days, Yahweh created the Sun, Moon, and stars above; the Earth beneath our feet; and plants, animals, and humans. I learned that people have been fighting for centuries over these competing explanations from Science and from the Bible. Given what I have learned in the past few years, I ask, “Why fight over biblical cosmology?”
Scientific Cosmology
This explanation of the Sun, Moon, and stars started as early as Copernicus and Galileo with the unbiblical assertion that the Earth is not the center of all things. Astronomers studied the Sun, Moon, and stars and collected data. From these, cosmologists created scientific explanations of how things are and how they came to be. For nearly a century, they taught that the Universe began with a Big Bang and coalesced into the stars, planetary systems, and galaxies. These are ever- expanding away from each other. This process, of course, has taken place over many billions of years. The astronomers have scientific ways of measuring this. Recently, these theories have been found to be lacking in truth.
Biblical Cosmology
That is very different from the ancient Middle Eastern and Israelite understanding of how the Sun, Moon, and stars came to be. Ancient Israel’s literary explanation is that the Creator made four realms: the heavens, the seas, the land, and under the land. He made a dome, raqia, to separate the waters above the Earth from the waters on the Earth, with the sky between.
Along with the rain waters above the raqia, the Creator made spirit beings like Himself. They are the Sun, Moon, and stars, and they rule in the heavens, marking seasons and announcing major events on the Earth. After all, didn’t the coming of Halley’s Comet announce the coming of William the Conqueror’s invasion of Saxon England? Certainly, a star announced the birth of the Messiah in Judea during the reign of Herod the Great (Matthew 2:1-12).
I have recently learned that these spiritual beings make up the Creator’s divine council. They were given reign over the scattered nations of the world (Deuteronomy 32:8-9).
Paul taught that Jesus, the Son of God and Son of Adam, came to take back that reign over all of Humanity. He disarmed the principalities and powers (Colossians 2:15). Paul taught that God’s people, in ecclesia, are meant to bring the reign of King Jesus into and over all the nations of the Earth. Isaiah and John in the Revelation – if not other Jewish prophets – taught that the world will return to Eden- like living in sync with the Creator. The Sun, Moon, and stars will fall from the heavens (Isaiah 34:4). All will have the provision they need and want. None will steal from or hurt others. Wild animals will not harm vulnerable humans (Isaiah 11:8-9). And humans will together reign on the Earth again.
Living with Both Cosmologies
As far as astronomy and scientific cosmology go, I have no problem believing most of what Science says about the creation of the heavens and the Earth. This has no effect on my life. As a believer in King Jesus and the stories of the Bible, I have no problem believing in the biblical, literary explanations of Creation. They give a picture of the spiritual realm.
I believe in the divine council and the temporary reign of spiritual beings over the nation (Gentiles) of the Earth. I also believe in the mission of God’s people in ecclesia to dethrone the rebellious principalities and powers. We are to rule over cities, states, and nations under the reign of King Jesus.