Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus said, “if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse twenty-nine of his book, Matthew writes how Jesus told His disciples what happens to, “the sun, moon, stars and powers of the heavens” where we read:
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
The verse reads, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, ...” Matthew began with Jesus' word, “Immediately” which means “moreover, straightway and forthwith” “after the tribulation” which means “behind and following the pressing together, oppression, affliction, distress and straights” “of those days” which refers to “the days following the abomination of desolation when great havoc occurs on the earth” “shall the sun” or “will the sun in the sky that gives light in the daytime” “be darkened” which means “be covered with darkness, obscure and deprived of light”, “and the moon” or “the moon in the sky at night that reflects the light of the sun” “shall not give” which means “will not grant, supply, furnish or bestow” “her light” or “the moon's reflecting illumination”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the “sun and moon” will not provide “light” after the “tribulation”.
The verse continues, “... and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:” Matthew added the words, “and the stars fall” or “and the stars which are in the sky will descend and be thrust down” “from heaven” or “from the vaulted expanse of the sky and the sidereal or starry heavens”, “and the powers” or “and the strength, influence and ability” “of the heavens” which means “belonging to the vaulted expanse of the sky and the sidereal or starry heavens” “shall be shaken” or “will be agitated, caused to totter and disturbed”. Matthew shared how Jesus declared not only would the “sun and moon” be affected by the “tribulation of those days”, but also the “stars” will “fall” and the “powers of the heavens” will be “agitated”.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus knew the events which will occur in the “heavens and earth” after the “tribulation”. The “sun and moon” will not give off their “light” like they previously did, and the “stars” and “powers” of heaven will begin to “fall” and “totter”. In other words, “heaven and earth” will be altered greatly when the days of the “great tribulation” come. Jesus knows these things because He sees the future as though it is now, and they shall surely come. His desire is to “save” people from their “sinful ways”, instruct them in “righteous living” and rescue them from these horrific events. Let all who read these words imagine the “darkened skies”, both day and night, and the terror of the “stars” falling and the “powers of the heavens” tottering in the sky to move against a rebellious people who have rejected Jesus the “Savior” of all mankind.
Next time Matthew writes how Jesus declares, “then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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