Scientists believe there are billions of planets within our Milky Way galaxy. But until now they’ve struggled to find evidence of planets outside of our galaxy. They almost certainly exist—they’re just so far away it’s hard to detect them.

But new evidence released in The Astrophysical Journal Letters reveals that more than a trillion exoplanets could exist beyond our Milky Way! The study focused only on detecting planets wandering out of orbit—and even then it discovered a huge number.

National Geographic wrote in a February 5 article titled “More Than a Trillion Planets Could Exist Beyond Our Galaxy” (emphasis added):

Using information from nasa’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and a planet detection technique called microlensing to study a distant quasar galaxy, scientists at the University of Oklahoma found evidence that there are approximately 2,000 extragalactic planets for every one star beyond the Milky Way. Some of these exoplanets are as (relatively) small as the moon, while others are as massive as Jupiter. Unlike Earth, most of the exoplanets are not tightly bound to stars, so they’re actually wandering through space or loosely orbiting between stars.

Unlike Earth, which is tightly bound to our sun, these planets are actually wandering aimlessly through space! What scientists are discovering beyond our galaxy is that there are many planets out of orbit. This is an amazing discovery when you consider the parallels discussed in the epistle of Jude.

Jude 6 and 13 say: “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. … Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.”

In the Bible, God often refers to angels as stars (Revelation 1:20). Here, Jude describes the condition of these angels as “wandering stars” that have spun out of orbit!

As my father explains in his booklet on Jude, “Mr. Armstrong taught us all about this history of Lucifer and the angels. … Their ‘first estate’ was Earth, where they were sent to administer the government of God.”

These magnificent beings had the tremendous opportunity to beautify the entire universe! But as my father writes, “The fallen angels left their first estate of ruling this Earth with God’s law, and their potential to rule the universe.”

These demons have become wandering stars because they refused to submit to and orbit themselves around God. Creation demonstrates this in a very literal sense. Just like the desolate and wandering exoplanets, these demons are just staggering about doing whatever seems right in their own eyes. They wander about, without any discipline or subjection to God’s authority.

These rebellious angels refused to administer the law of God on Earth, and you only have to look at the state of the universe to see the results! Rather than beautifying God’s creation, these rebellious angels have caused destruction, waste and decay.

My father continues in the Jude booklet:

They failed, and that is why we are here today—to complete the monumental job they left unfinished. We are going to help restore God’s government on this Earth.

Look at your potential! Jude talks about stars to help us think in universe terms, and of all that God is offering us if we keep ourselves within a lawful orbit. We’ll be given the authority to rule ….

This is the key to realizing our godly potential. When we submit to God’s laws and government and keep ourselves in spiritual orbit, we can qualify to do what the angels failed to do! We will bring beauty, harmony and order to the entire universe!

Notice what it says in Romans 8:19-23 (Revised Standard Version): “For the creation [all the suns, planets, stars, moons] waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. We know that the whole creation [stars, suns and moons now in decay and futility] has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation but we ourselves [we Spirit-begotten humans], who have the first fruits of the Spirit groan inwardly as we wait for the [birth] as sons.”

Right now, the whole universe—all the stars, suns and moons—is in a state of decay and futility. But it will not remain this way. God has a tremendous plan to renew the entire universe—even these billions of planets unimaginably distant. If you would like to learn more about your awesome universe potential, please request our free booklet Our Awesome Universe Potential in conjunction with The Incredible Human Potential, by Herbert W. Armstrong.

On my Trumpet Daily Radio Show, I played several clips from one of my father’s recent Key of David programs, “Jude—Contend for the Faith.” If you haven’t yet listened to his program on this inspiring subject, I encourage you to do so.