Christians: What is the purpose of the universe beyond the Earth?

Question

Why does the rest of the expansive known universe exist if Earth is the only planet with life and is a gift from a god?

If you are Christian and believe there may be life on another world somewhere, please tell how you came to that thought and if it has any biblical reference.

If you DO have a reason WHY there is this expansive universe please tell how you came to that thought and if it has any biblical reference.

Thanks in advance and please just answer the question/questions asked. If you would like to ask me a question, post it as a question in the forum.

god's glory eh? How does god's glory work? What IS god's glory??

Answer 1

It was made for God's glory.

Answer 2

"IF" the Earth is the only planet with life and is a gift from a god?

Of course it is not the only planet with life, to suggest that would be silly.

If you read other religious scripture outside the Torah and the old testament, you will read that there are actually many material universes that make up 1/4 of Gods kingdom (but are isolated from the 3/4 of spiritual domain)!

Although I can't remember the OT mentioning specific planets (whom amoung those in antiquity would have been able to see or concieve of them anyway), there is a reference to the prophet Isiah being lifted into the clouds. Where did he go?
Examples of flying objects in the bible exist in multitude:

Answer 3

Jesus made an exciting assertion in John 3:12 - "If I somewhat have informed you earthly issues and yet you have not got faith, how are you going to suspect if I inform you heavenly issues?" If we gained't decide a thank you to stay peaceably on earth, honoring our writer, Jehovah God, and his Son, Jesus, looking after our fellowman, and being stewards of the earth and its bounty, its no ask your self we haven't been given the information for the point of something of the universe. we gained't cope with the understanding we've in a perfect way. they're there for a particular reason. And after we've the "earth" under administration, i'm useful we would be conscious of something in time.

Answer 4

Simple:

Psalm 19:1-6 states:

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun. Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it; and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof”.

Answer 5

Good question but the answer may not be simple.

The visible universe stretches as far as the quasars, the most distant celestial bodies we know. What lies beyond is anybody's guess.

What about life on other planets in our or other galaxies? There's no way of knowing it since the nearest star is about 4 light years away. The Bible does say that God created the stars too (Gen.1:16). There is mention in the book of Job that when the earth was created "the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy"(Job 38:7). That means we are not the only intelligent creatures around. But the "sons of God" are thought to be angels who are spirit beings and so won't require a physical place to live.

The closest I can come to showing there are people in other worlds is a description of one writer, Ellen White, who was shown in a vision a glimpse of other worlds. By its description it appears to be a physical world but whether in our visible universe or elsewhere I don't know. But it agrees with the picture the Bible paints about sin and salvation.

The Lord has given me a view of other worlds. Wings were given me, and an angel attended me from the city to a place that was bright and glorious. The grass of the place was living green, and the birds there warbled a sweet song. The inhabitants of the place were of all sizes; they were noble, majestic, and lovely. They bore the express image of Jesus, and their countenances beamed with holy joy, expressive of the freedom and happiness of the place. I asked one of them why they were so much more lovely than those on the earth. The reply was, "We have lived in strict obedience to the commandments of God, and have not fallen by disobedience, like those on the earth." {CET 97.3}

Then I saw two trees. One looked much like the tree of life in the city. The fruit of both looked beautiful, but of one they could not eat. They had power to eat of both, but were forbidden to eat of one. Then my attending angel said to me, "None in this place have tasted of the forbidden tree; but if they should eat, they would fall." {CET 98.1}

Then I was taken to a world which had seven moons. There I saw good old Enoch, who had been translated.

On his right arm he bore a glorious palm, and on each leaf was written "Victory." Around his head was a dazzling white wreath, and leaves on the wreath, and in the middle of each leaf was written "Purity," and around the wreath were stones of various colors, that shone brighter than the stars, and cast a reflection upon the letters and magnified them. On the back part of his head was a bow that confined the wreath, and upon the bow was written "Holiness." Above the wreath was a lovely crown that shone brighter than the sun. I asked him if this was the place he was taken to from the earth. He said, "It is not; the city is my home, and I have come to visit this place." He moved about the place as if perfectly at home. I begged of my attending angel to let me remain in that place. I could not bear the thought of coming back to this dark world again. Then the angel said, "You must go back, and if you are faithful, you, with the 144,000, shall have the privilege of visiting all the worlds and viewing the handiwork of God." {CET 98.2} (Christian Experience and Teachings)

Answer 6

ah yes the question of the universe. well the bible makes it clear that there are two heavens. the bible doesn't say that this is the only place with life it only has reference to god creating this man in his own image, him creating the heavens and earth, it also says he will have his own secrets and it is not ours to question we are to walk in faith. if god wanted another race in a distant galaxy why would he feel the need to share it with us? we have an impossible time just keeping ourselves straight without worrying about another race. the secrets of the universe and the unknown are his, not ours to question!

Answer 7

so that when we meet intelligent life in space, the more zealotous Christians can try to convert them.

This is not mere sarcasm; I recall one televangelist venomously preaching against the Prime Directive of Star Trek, not to interfere in other civilizations. He said that Christians should be preaching to aliens.

My concern is, what if these hypothetical beings opted for an extremely literal interpretation, and used scripture as an excuse to slaught us, the way Europeans slaughtered aboriginal peoples? Food for thought.

Answer 8

Christians have conflicting views on the age of the Earth (6000) and quasars thousands of light years away.

So they stick their heads in the sands of dogma.

Their Bible provides them with proverbial cheesy poofs to plug their ears when confronted with the fragility of their "theories".

Answer 9

Pretty lights to look at

Plus it gives us something to waste our time trying to explore