Excerpts taken from Our Created Moon by Don DeYoung and John Whitcomb, used by permission, Masterbooks, publisher.

During the past week, Mars has been a hot news topic.  With the landing of unmanned spacecraft on the surface of the planet, everyone has been talking about space travel. To add fuel to the fire, on Wednesday, President Bush is expected to announce details of his proposal to send Americans back to the moon and eventually on to Mars. 

How should a Christian react to talk of space exploration? As with any other topic, we should look for ways to turn the subject to God, and His care for mankind.  We should be prepared to answer questions that might be posed to us.  For example, Biblically, how would you answer these three questions?

How old is the moon?
If the moon is young, why does it look old?
What is the destiny of the moon?

Don DeYoung and John Whitcomb answer these question, among others, in their new book, Our Created Moon.  It is a sure thing that people will be talking.  Take time to prepare yourself!

How Old is the Moon? - click here to find out

If the moon is young, why does it look old? - click here to find out

What is the destiny of the moon?

Since only God can behold future events with perfect accuracy, it is fascinating to search His Word concerning the destiny of the moon.   Three future stages may be seen:  (1) the obscuring of its light during the Great Tribulation; (2) its availability for Israel's calendar of worship during the thousand-year Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ; and (3) its non-existence during the eternal state following the destruction of the heavens and the earth.

First, He told us that "there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matt. 24:29; as predicted by Isaiah 13:10 and Ezekiel 32:7).   From the perspective of earth dwellers, in the midst of the dust and smoke of collapsing cities (see Isaiah 2:10-21), the moon will look "like blood" (Rev. 6:12).  This was predicted by the prophets Joel (2:10,31) and quoted by the Apostle Peter (Acts 2:20) and Isaiah (24:23).

Second, the moon will serve as an essential clock/calendar for Israel during the thousand-year kingdom of Christ on Earth following His second coming.  During the present Church Age, observing "a festival or new moon" is not required (Col. 2:16); but in the Kingdom Age, monthly festivals (Ezek. 45:18, 21,25) and new moon observances (Ezek. 45:17; 46:1, 3, 6) will be prominent aspects of world worship.  Isaiah predicted that "from one New Moon to another . . . all flesh shall come to worship before Me" (Isa. 66:23).

Third, the moon will cease to exist at the end of the Kingdom Age.  The Apostle John saw in a vision "a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away.  And there was found no place for them" (Rev. 20:11).  Then, John tells us, " I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away" (Rev. 21:1).  As for the New Jerusalem of the eternal state, "the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it" (Rev. 21:23).  This would be the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.  "The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; but the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory" (Isa. 60:19).

Thus, the moon will have served its divine purpose for all mankind when it is darkened during the Tribulation and recognized during the Millennium.   During that Kingdom Age, for which our Lord taught us to pray ("Thy kingdom come . . . "), Solomon foresaw that "in His days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more" (Ps. 72:7).