What is the Universe?

Biblical Cosmology 

This subject describes the origin, structure, and ultimate destiny of all creation from God’s perspective. The Bible is not a scientific textbook but a theological framework centered on God as the eternal Creator. The Bible presents the “universe” primarily as the “heavens and the earth” (the visible and invisible created order), with a three-tiered view: the heavens above, the earth, and the realm of the dead below. 

Everything exists by God’s sovereign will, and the story moves from;
original creation → fall and judgment → final renewal.

1. What is the universe?  
The universe is everything God created, visible and invisible, out of nothing (“ex nihilo”). It includes the heavens (sky, outer space, and the invisible) and the earth, all sustained by and created by Christ.

The Hebrew in Genesis gives us a lot of information here’s just a fraction of it.
Genesis 1:1 ESV
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית (Bərēʾšîṯ)
“In the beginning” (or “In the beginning of…”)

Cosmic importance: This is not a localized “day one” reorganization of Earth. It declares the origin of the universe (including time). Nothing in the universe pre-existed God’s act.

בָּרָ֣א (Bārāʾ) – “Created”

Key distinction: In the Hebrew Bible, בָּרָא (bārāʾ) is used only with God as subject (never humans or other gods). It describes divine creation of something fundamentally new—often implying ex nihilo (out of nothing) when no raw material is mentioned. 
Cosmic importance: No prior “stuff” (chaos, water, or matter) is referenced. The verb + context rules out mere rearrangement or ordering of pre-existing material. God originates the raw materials of reality itself. This sets biblical creation apart from pagan myths where gods battle chaos or reshape existing matter. 

הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ (haššāmayim wəʾēt hāʾāreṣ)
 “The heavens and the earth”

Crucial figure of speech: This is a merism (a common Hebrew literary device using two extremes “heavens” = everything above; “earth” = everything below) to express totality. It means “the entire universe,” “all creation,” or “the cosmos in its entirety” (matter, energy, space, and time). Biblical scholars across traditions widely recognize this as the standard meaning when the pair appears together. 

Colossians 1:16-17 
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

2. Where does God come from?
God has no origin. He is eternal, self-existent, and uncreated. He existed before anything else and is the source of all reality.

Psalm 90:2
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

Isa 57:15 
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

3. What is the highest heaven? Eternity
Heaven is the dwelling place of God and His holy angels. Righteous believers who die are present with the Lord there in the intermediate state before the resurrection. Ultimately, heaven and earth are renewed together, so the final eternal home is not a disembodied “heaven” but a physical new creation where God lives with His people. We’ll get back to that.
After Christ’s resurrection, the Bible indicates that believers who die are “with the Lord” in heaven. see Philippians 1:23 and 2 Corinthians 5:8

What about before the resurrection?

4. What is Abraham’s bosom and Hades?
These terms describe the intermediate state of the dead before the final judgment and resurrection.

Abraham’s bosom (or “Abraham’s side”) is the place of comfort, rest, and fellowship with the righteous dead (symbolized by being near Abraham, the father of the faithful). It’s also referred to as paradise in several passages.

Hades is the realm of the dead. In the parable below, it refers specifically to the place of conscious torment for the unrighteous. A great chasm separates the two sides.
These are both illustrated in Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus:
Luke 16:22-23 
“The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.” 
The unrighteous remain in Hades until the final judgment.

5. What is the lake of fire?
The lake of fire is the final place of eternal, punishment (the “second death”). It is prepared for the devil, his angels, and all whose names are not written in the book of life. Death and Hades themselves are destroyed in it.

Revelation 20:10 
“…and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

Revelation 20:14-15 
“Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

6. What is the New Heaven and Earth?
The new heaven and new earth is a central promise in the Bible, described most vividly in the New Testament but rooted in the Old Testament. It represents the final, eternal state of creation after God's judgment, the return of Christ, and the renewal of all things; where sin, death, suffering, and the curse of Genesis 3 are completely removed, and God dwells directly with His people forever.

Isaiah 65:17 (and 66:22): “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” 

This prophecy envisions a restored creation with joy, long life, peace (e.g., wolf and lamb feeding together), and the end of sorrow. It originally pointed toward hope beyond Israel's exile but is seen by New Testament writers as pointing to the ultimate future.

2 Peter 3:13: “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

Revelation 21:1: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” 

The chapter continues with the New Jerusalem descending, God wiping away every tear, no more death or pain, and the declaration: 
“Behold, I am making all things new!” (Revelation 21:5).

In this renewed reality, the curse is lifted (Revelation 22:3), creation is liberated from its “groaning” under bondage to decay (Romans 8:19–23), and the dwelling place of God is with humanity on the new earth—literally bringing heaven to earth.