Catastrophe in the Heavens

By Clint Bishard

Jesus Created Ministries

Elsewhere, we discussed the exponential mathematical formula that predicts the average distance to many of the planets in our solar system.  Specifically, the orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto follow this formula known as the Titius-Bode Law.  However, the evidence for a clear pattern of design in our solar system was diminished with the discovery that Neptune (our 4^th largest planet) does not follow the formula.  Additionally, some unanswered questions remain concerning Ceres.  Should Ceres be considered a planet since it follows the formula, but is relatively small with a diameter of about 600 miles and is located with thousands (or even millions) of other smaller fragments known as the asteroid belt?

            To tackle the above issues, I want to point out that, Biblically; we could expect to see clear patterns of design (which we do) as well as evidence for catastrophe.  Initially, God created a perfect solar system.  For after the final day of creation, “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good” (Gen1:31).  This creation included our solar system on day 4 (Gen 1:14-19).  However, the description of the original perfect creation does not fit with many of the harmful objects we now observe in our solar system.  For example, the idea of meteorites hitting the Garden of Eden just does not harmonize with the paradise described in Genesis.  Yet, we see a history of meteorite impacts all over the earth, not to mention the moon and the other terrestrial planets.  However, this was not the case originally, for Rom 8:21-22 states “²¹because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ²²For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now” (Rom 8:21-22).  Therefore, we see from the Scriptures that the creation was originally very good, but now the whole of creation, including the solar system, groans and needs to be delivered from the bondage of corruption.  This corruption appears to have affected the solar system catastrophically as noted by the many dangerous objects in our solar system that have and still are threatening the earth.

            Biblically, the fall (Gen 3) and the Flood (Gen 6-9) are the two most likely times in our history for a catastrophe in our solar system.  God unleashed significant judgments as a result of man’s sin during these events.  It is likely that one or both of these judgments included effects in the heavens.  I believe the time of the Flood is the best fit for such a catastrophe.  Man’s lifespan was consistently long before the Flood, followed by an exponential reduction in lifespan that occurred after the Flood.  Additionally, we know that many of God’s creatures that were alive before the Flood (like dinosaurs), could not survive in the post-Flood environment.  This dramatic change in the environment of the earth could have been a result of a much larger judgment by our God during the time of the Flood.  It could have been that meteorite impacts on the earth were even the reason “all the fountains of the great deep were broken up” (Gen 7:11) at the beginning of the Flood.  Furthermore, the post-Flood earth shows signs of significant meteorite impacts that have not been equaled in our modern times.  This all appears to point to a catastrophe of “Biblical proportions” in our solar systems past during the time of the Flood. Lastly, there is significant evidence within our solar system that points to the catastrophic explosion of a planet that existed in the past.