The Sun, Moon, and Stars

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis tells us that the earth was formless and void, with darkness covering the deep. Then, God said, “Let there be light,” and light appeared. God saw the light was good, separated it from the darkness, and called it Day and Night. That was the first day (Gen. 1:1–5).

Interestingly, during this first day, there were no sun, moon, or stars to mark time. The light we read about was not from these celestial bodies but from God Himself, the Father of Lights (James 1:17), who is light and in whom there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).

On the fourth day, God created the sun, moon, and stars—“greater and lesser lights” (Gen. 1:16)—to rule over the day and night and to mark signs, seasons, days, and years (Gen. 1:14). These lights were designed to serve as timekeepers in God’s creation, reflecting the light of their Creator.

The Nature of the Lights

But what exactly are these lights? Are they just burning balls of gas, as science tells us, or something more? Scripture often uses personified language to describe them, suggesting they are more than mere matter.

These celestial bodies are also symbolic. In Job 38:7, we read that when God laid the earth’s foundations, the “morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” This poetic parallelism shows that the “morning stars” and “sons of God” are not two separate entities but one and the same. These lights represent celestial beings—the sons of the Father of Lights.

Dr. Tim Mackie of Western Seminary explains that ancient people viewed the lights in the heavens as spiritual beings. The Israelites, unlike their Canaanite and Egyptian neighbors, didn’t worship the sun, moon, and stars but recognized Yahweh, the Creator behind them all.

The Darkening of the Lights

As the biblical narrative continues, we learn that these Sons of God, the timekeepers of creation, rebelled against the Father of Lights. They left their proper place, committing grievous sins like those of Sodom and Gomorrah, producing offspring known as the Nephilim (Gen. 6:1–4). In response, God flooded the earth, erasing the old creation. Only Noah and his family survived.

Whenever judgment falls, the imagery of darkened lights follows—the sun turns black, the moon to blood, and stars fall from the heavens (Isa. 13:10; Matt. 24:29; Rev. 6:12–14).

Israel as the New Lights

But the story doesn’t end there. From the flood’s waters emerged a new creation, and with it, new lights were fixed in the heavens. The descendants of Abraham, God’s chosen people, became the new timekeepers.

God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars (Gen. 22:17). Joseph, one of Abraham’s great-grandsons, had a dream in which his family was depicted as the sun, moon, and stars (Gen. 37:9–11). This vision symbolized Israel as God’s new timekeepers, replacing the fallen Sons of God.

James Jordan explains that the astral bodies symbolize those who are glorified and exalted, both angelic beings and human rulers. Israel’s role as God’s firstborn son (Ex. 4:22) was to rule over time, and their liturgical calendar—filled with feasts like Passover, Pentecost, and Booths—demonstrated this authority.

The Church as the New Lights

The story of Israel as timekeepers repeats itself in the New Testament. Just as the original Sons of God rebelled, Israel eventually failed in its role. When Jesus prophesied the destruction of the temple (Matt. 24), He spoke of a cosmic upheaval: the sun and moon would go dark, and the stars would fall. This judgment was fulfilled in AD 70 when the Roman army destroyed the temple, signaling the end of Israel’s old world.

With the old heavens and earth torn down, a new creation emerged: the Church. We are now the new temple, the new lights in the heavens (1 Cor. 3:16). Paul tells us that we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:6) and that we, as Sons of God, have the authority to rule over time.

Conclusion

As the Church, we are now the sun, moon, and stars—the timekeepers of the New Heaven and New Earth. This is why the Church has the authority to declare and celebrate holy days. We have inherited this role from Israel, and it is entirely appropriate for us to continue observing sacred times.

To those who argue otherwise, I’d simply say it’s time to grow up. God the Father has called His Sons into maturity. He has given us dominion over part of His creation, and it’s time to step into our role as rulers and timekeepers under His Kingly rule.