Asteroid Apocalypse: What Does the Bible Say?

Some fear that a giant asteroid will someday destroy all life on the planet. Are those fears warranted? I discuss what the Bible says about the possibility for an asteroid or another space object to destroy all life on Earth in this article.

I believe there is no need to worry about an asteroid/comet/meteor destroying all life on Earth in the future. The reason is that the Bible does not talk about a future event that wipes out all life on Earth. In fact, the Bible actually talks about conditions on Earth actually becoming more conducive to living longer during the Millennium (which comes after all the chaos during the end times) in Isaiah 65:19-20:

“(19) And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. (20) There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.” (Isaiah 65:19-20)

I believe the closest thing Earth may see to a major asteroid/comet/meteor collision in the future is the third trumpet judgment. The third trumpet judgment calls for a “great star” named “Wormwood” to impact Earth, particularly Earth’s water sources:

(10) And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; (11) And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.” (Revelation 8:10-11)

The poisoning of the water will kill many people, but mankind will not become extinct by this event. We know that life will not be completely wiped out because an angel says “Woe, woe, woe, to the inhibiters of the earth” after the sounding of the fourth trumpet (there would be no reason to mention the inhabitants of the earth if there no longer was anyone alive).

“(12) And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. (13) And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!” (Revelation 8:12-13)

Similarly, there will still be people alive to endure the rest of the trumpet judgments, the vial judgments, etc. The worst of the Apocalypse won’t result in the end of life on Earth.

I am not saying that it is impossible for Earth to be hit by a significant object from space in the future. I am saying that it is virtually impossible for all life, including human life, to be completely eliminated by a significant object from space. The Bible suggests that there will still be life on Earth even after the planet endures God’s judgments during the end times, including the judgment that features Wormwood. Therefore, people should not get caught up in any speculation/hype that all life will cease to exist if/when a major space object collides with Earth or comes close to colliding with Earth.