- Feb 14, 2005
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Yeah, I know this sounds strange. Bare with me.
I was watching a show on Discovery about other solar systems and our search for earth-like planets. There are many astronomers that don't believe we'll find a planet that can sustain life. There's just too many things that can go wrong. If that's the case, a philosophical/theological question arises. Why would God create such a vast lifeless universe that no one can enjoy? Recently we've been able to look at some of these other worlds close up and they are actually quite beautiful (close up, that is, as telescope technology advances). Yet until recently, no one could enjoy them, and our abilities are still very limited. So what was the point? In some ways, it fuels the atheistic notion that everything is just the product of chance random processes.
Then I started thinking about angelic beings and how the Bible describes them. While they're spirit beings, they have the ability to materialize (so it would seem) such as Abraham's visitors in Gen. 18 who walked on the physical ground and even ate physical food! There are also several mentions of angels being cast to the earth such as Rev. 12:9. This of course implies that angels dwell somewhere besides earth that is physically above earth. This is of course supported by Paul where is says,
Eph. 6:12 because we have not the wrestling with blood and flesh, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, with the spiritual things of the evil in the heavenly places;
(Young's Literal Translation)
In Genesis, God called the expanse, where He put the Sun, Moon and Stars, Heaven. They are the hosts of Heaven.
It make sense the God would populate Heaven, just as He did the land and sea. In fact angels are often called "stars" in scripture, implying they dwell in the Expanse with other illuminating objects, planets, etc. (Remember, "star" in Hebrew is not an exact match to the english word. It simply refers to an illuminating object in the sky that is not the Sun or Moon).
I guess what I'm saying is, is it so farfetched to believe that the vast universe, with its vast array of planetary solar systems that contain much beauty both from a distance and close up, are filled with created spirit beings like angels? Since angels have the ability to interact in the physical realm (according to the Bible), doesn't it make sense that the physical worlds in outer space were formed for them, to be inhabited by them?? Perhaps we view outer space as lifeless, because we're looking for the wrong kind of life?
They may not have been intended for physical creatures, but this doesn't mean they weren't intended for any creatures.
I'd appreciate any input, especially those that see a theological or biblical problem with the above. Thanks in advance.
I was watching a show on Discovery about other solar systems and our search for earth-like planets. There are many astronomers that don't believe we'll find a planet that can sustain life. There's just too many things that can go wrong. If that's the case, a philosophical/theological question arises. Why would God create such a vast lifeless universe that no one can enjoy? Recently we've been able to look at some of these other worlds close up and they are actually quite beautiful (close up, that is, as telescope technology advances). Yet until recently, no one could enjoy them, and our abilities are still very limited. So what was the point? In some ways, it fuels the atheistic notion that everything is just the product of chance random processes.
Then I started thinking about angelic beings and how the Bible describes them. While they're spirit beings, they have the ability to materialize (so it would seem) such as Abraham's visitors in Gen. 18 who walked on the physical ground and even ate physical food! There are also several mentions of angels being cast to the earth such as Rev. 12:9. This of course implies that angels dwell somewhere besides earth that is physically above earth. This is of course supported by Paul where is says,
Eph. 6:12 because we have not the wrestling with blood and flesh, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, with the spiritual things of the evil in the heavenly places;
(Young's Literal Translation)
In Genesis, God called the expanse, where He put the Sun, Moon and Stars, Heaven. They are the hosts of Heaven.
It make sense the God would populate Heaven, just as He did the land and sea. In fact angels are often called "stars" in scripture, implying they dwell in the Expanse with other illuminating objects, planets, etc. (Remember, "star" in Hebrew is not an exact match to the english word. It simply refers to an illuminating object in the sky that is not the Sun or Moon).
I guess what I'm saying is, is it so farfetched to believe that the vast universe, with its vast array of planetary solar systems that contain much beauty both from a distance and close up, are filled with created spirit beings like angels? Since angels have the ability to interact in the physical realm (according to the Bible), doesn't it make sense that the physical worlds in outer space were formed for them, to be inhabited by them?? Perhaps we view outer space as lifeless, because we're looking for the wrong kind of life?
They may not have been intended for physical creatures, but this doesn't mean they weren't intended for any creatures.I'd appreciate any input, especially those that see a theological or biblical problem with the above. Thanks in advance.
