The Sun, Moon, and Stars Symbolize Israel

by Stephen Otto

The Bible reveals that the terms “sun,” “moon,” and “stars” symbolize Israel. Below are a few scriptural references that reveal their symbolic identity. In Genesis 15:5, God promised Abram, whose name He would later change to Abraham, “...Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” After that, Abram fathered Isaac, whose name God would later change to Israel, and Israel fathered Joseph, who was a dreamer of dreams. In Genesis 37:9-10, Joseph shared one of his dreams with his brothers. He said, “...Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” Obviously, Israel understood the connection between the sun, moon, and stars and his descendants, the twelve tribes of Israel. Later, the prophet Jeremiah wrote, “Thus says Yehovah, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (Yehovah of hosts is His name): “If those ordinances depart From before Me, says Yehovah, Then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever” (Jer. 31:35-36). Finally, the Apostle John wrote, “Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars” (Rev. 12:1; cf. Ps. 89:34-37; Gen. 22:17; 26:4). Of course, the woman symbolizes Israel.

The reason the sun, moon, and stars symbolize Israel is that, just as the sun, moon, and stars illuminate the earth, Israel’s purpose is to illuminate mankind through the preaching of the gospel. The Apostle Paul states, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Messiah, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). 

While the gospel was to be preached to Israel first, the Prophet Isaiah prophesied that there would come a time when Israel would reject the gospel and, as a result, Israelite believers would carry it to the Gentiles. Isaiah 49:6 states, “I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Notice that Israel was prophesied to be a spiritual light, just as the sun, moon, and stars are natural lights. Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled in Paul’s day. Acts 13:44-47 states, “On the next Sabbath, almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then, Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. “For so Yehovah has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Thus, since the light emanated by the sun, moon, and stars symbolizes the gospel, it follows that the sun, moon, and stars, the source of the light, symbolize Israelite believers.

Now, let's take a look at Israel in prophecy.

The sixth sign of Yeshua's Olivet prophecies states, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn..." (Matt. 24:29). 

This prophecy has two parts. The first part, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken pictures Israel, hidden in the symbolism of the sun, moon, and stars, during a time of mourning. The second part tells us that afterward, "...all the tribes of the earth will mourn."

The corresponding prophecy of Revelation 6:12-17 states, "I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” ( Rev. 6: 12-17).

This prophecy also has two parts. The first part states, “…The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the moon became as blood. The stars of the heavens fell to the earth...." Like the first part of Yeshua's Olivet Prophecy regarding the sun, moon, and stars, this prophecy also pictures Israel, hidden in the symbolism of the sun, moon, and stars, during a time of mourning.

The second part states, “Every mountain and island were moved out of their places. The kings of the earth, the princes, the commanding officers, the rich, the strong, and every slave and free person, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. They told the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” It also tells us that after Israel mourns, "...all the tribes of the earth will mourn."