What the Sun, Moon, and Stars Reveal About Christ and the Church

Throughout Scripture, many objects are used symbolically to represent deeper spiritual truths. One of the most profound examples of this is the use of celestial bodies—the sun, moon, and stars—which often carry spiritual meanings that transcend their literal existence. In this blog post, we will explore the symbolic meanings of the sun, moon, and stars in Scripture and how they relate to believers today.

The Sun, Moon, and Stars as Symbols

Many objects in the Bible are used symbolically to represent something greater. For instance, the Holy Spirit is symbolized as a dove, fire, and oil in various passages (for more on these symbols, see this article on Got Questions). With this in mind, could it be that the sun, the moon, and the stars also symbolize something significant in Scripture?

The Stars as Angels

In some passages of Scripture, stars are explicitly or implicitly used to represent angels. For example, in the book of Revelation, stars are linked to angels:

• Revelation 1:20 (ESV): "As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches."

• Revelation 12:4 (ESV): "His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it."

In Revelation 12:4, the stars represent the angels who fell with Satan during his rebellion against God. Many scholars interpret this as Satan leading a third of the angels into rebellion. This imagery of stars as angels is crucial in understanding the celestial symbolism in the Bible. Here is a reference if you’d like to learn more: https://www.gotquestions.org/one-third-angels.html

Joseph's Dream: The Sun, Moon, and Stars

Before we dive deeper into the symbolism of the sun and the moon, let's look at a dream Joseph had in the book of Genesis. In this dream, Joseph saw the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowing down to him:

• Genesis 37:9-10 (ESV): "Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, 'Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.' But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, 'What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?'"

In this dream, Joseph’s father, mother, and eleven brothers are symbolized by the sun, moon, and stars respectively. While Joseph’s brothers represent the stars, it is his father and mother who stand out in this vision. Joseph’s father is depicted as the sun, and his mother as the moon.

The imagery here is not just a simple reflection of family dynamics but a profound spiritual symbolism that points to the union between Christ and the Church. In Scripture, marriage is often used to represent this sacred union:

"For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. ... 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:23, 31-32 ESV)

Here, we see that the husband symbolizes Christ, and the wife represents the Church, which is the bride of Christ. In the same way, Joseph’s father (symbolizing Christ) is represented as the sun, the ultimate source of light and authority, and his mother (symbolizing the Church) is depicted as the moon.

Now, let’s consider the symbolic meanings of the sun and moon, as reflected in this dream.

The Sun: A Symbol of Christ

In Scripture, Jesus is often symbolized as the "sun." For instance, the book of Malachi refers to Jesus as the "sun of righteousness":

• Malachi 4:2 (ESV): "But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall."

This image of the "sun of righteousness" is not a mistranslation but an intentional metaphor to depict the Messiah’s radiant righteousness that brings healing and restoration. Furthermore, in the book of Revelation, we read about the glory of Jesus:

• Revelation 21:23 (ESV): "And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb."

• Isaiah 60:19 (ESV): "The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory."

These verses emphasize that in the eternal kingdom, the presence of the Lamb (Jesus) will illuminate the new Jerusalem, rendering the physical sun and moon unnecessary & night will be no more:

·         Revelation 22:5 (ESV): 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

In Revelation 1:16, John describes his vision of Christ:

• Revelation 1:16 (RSV): "In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth issued a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength."

Here, Jesus is depicted as having a face "like the sun shining in full strength," symbolizing His divine radiance and glory.

The Moon: A Reflection of Christ's Righteousness

While the sun symbolizes Christ, the moon represents the Church. Interestingly, the moon doesn’t produce its own light; instead, it reflects the light of the sun. Similarly, as the Church, we do not possess righteousness on our own; we reflect the righteousness of Christ.

• Daniel 12:3 (ESV): "And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."

• Matthew 13:43 (ESV): "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear."

The moon’s appearance of brightness is due to the light it reflects from the sun. In the same way, we, as believers in Christ, reflect His purity and righteousness. Our deeds are only pure because we reflect the holiness of Christ, much like the moon reflects the light of the sun.

In the Bible, the purification and righteousness of believers are often depicted with imagery of being "white" or "pure."

• Isaiah 1:18 (RSV): "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."

• Revelation 19:8 (RSV): "It was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints."

• Revelation 3:18 (RSV): "Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see."

Just as the moon reflects the sun's light, we as the Church reflect the righteousness of Christ. The Church, like the moon, is not pure on its own but is made pure through the righteousness of Christ.

Let Your Light Shine

As believers, we are called to reflect Christ's light to a dark world. Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun in the night, we are to shine in the darkness of the world, bringing the hope of Christ to those around us.

• Genesis 1:14 (RSV): "And God said, 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.'"

• Matthew 5:14-16 (RSV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

We are called to be the light of the world, reflecting the light of Christ. As we shine with His righteousness, others will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

The Final Trumpet

When the time comes for Christ to return, He will gather His bride, the Church, and bring judgment upon those who have rejected Him. This return will be announced with the sound of a trumpet, symbolized by the festivals of the Old Testament:

• Psalm 81:3 (RSV): "Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day."

This prophetic image is clarified in the New Testament:

• 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (ESV): "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."

This is a glorious future that awaits us, where Christ will return to take His bride, the Church, to Himself and judge the world.

Conclusion

In the Bible, the sun, moon, and stars symbolize deep spiritual truths. The sun represents Christ, the source of all righteousness and light, while the moon reflects His light, symbolizing the Church. As believers, we are called to reflect Christ's light to the world. Let us shine brightly, letting others see His righteousness in us, until the day when He returns to claim His bride and bring about final judgment for those who have not received Him.