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Signs in the
Sun, Moon and Stars
By
Brian Pepper
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Christ walked on this earth 2,000 years
ago. He visited men and walked and talked with them. But before
he departed, he gave a promise that he would return a second
time. In his great prophecy found in Luke 21 and
Matthew 24, he
told us that the sun, moon and stars would play a very important
part in announcing to this world
the approximate
time of his return.
In Luke 21:25 we read:
"And there shall
be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars and upon
the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the
waves roaring."
So we can definitely look to the heavens to warn us of the
nearness of Christ's Return. In
Matthew 24:3 we read,
"And as he sat on the Mount of
Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying. Tell us
when shall these signs be? And what shall be the sign of thy
coming, and the end of the world?"
The disciples had heard Jesus talking of the end of the world
and His second coming, so they asked Jesus privately to
tell them about it. First of all Jesus spoke about…
The Destruction of Jerusalem
Luke 19:43
says:
"For the day shall come upon thee, that thine
enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round,
and keep thee in on every side."
In A.D. 70 the Roman armies surrounded
the city of Jerusalem. The Jews gathered in large numbers in the
temple for safety. Titus the Roman leader invited them to come
out. This they refused to do. So the warfare was carried into
the temple. It was set on fire. Soon there were fires everywhere and Jerusalem
was taken with terrible slaughter. Next there was to follow a…
Great Period of Tribulation
Matthew
24:21,22 says: "For then shall be
great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the
world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days
should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the
elect's sake those days shall be shortened."
A great Tribulation came upon the Christian Church. The Caesars
of Rome had the Christians thrown to the lions, they were burned as
flaming torches to light the arena at night. After the Caesars had
passed from the scene, the church itself became a persecutor and
during the Dark Ages, millions were put to death.
Signs in the Sun
Mark 13:24 says:
"But in these days, after that tribulation, the sun
shall be darkened."
Just as Jesus indicated, a wonderful prophecy is fulfilled. Jesus said,
"In those days of Tribulation after the
persecution, the sun would be darkened."
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Matthew 24:29 says:
"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."
And sure enough the Dark Day came on time exactly as indicated by
the prophecy. The Days of Tribulation reached to 1798 A.D. The persecution ended in 1776. So somewhere between 1776 and
1798 the sun was darkened. And sure enough the Dark Day came on
time. On May 19, 1780 the sun began to grow dark as if night
were coming.
Historian William Little says,
"The dark day of New England …
came May 19, 1780. … Near eleven o'clock it began to grow dark … Men ceased their work, the lowing cattle came to their barns, the
bleating sheep huddled by the fences … the fowls went to their roosts
… A person could not see his hand when held up." (History of Weare, N.H. pg. 276)
It began to grow dark about eleven o'clock and the darkness
continued throughout the day.
Herschel the great astronomer wrote,
"The Dark Day in the
Northern America was one of those wonderful phenomena of nature
which will always be read with interest but which philosophy is at a
loss to explain." (Gages "History of Rowley, Mass")
Noah Webster says,
"The dark day, May 19, 1780 -so called on
account of a remarkable darkness on that day extending over all New
England … The true cause of this phenomenon is not known." ("Dictionary" 1869 edition)
Signs in the Moon
Revelation 6:12 says:
"And the moon became as blood."
Milo Bostwick says:
"The moon which was at its full, had the
appearance of blood. The alarm that it caused and the frequent talk
about it impressed it deeply on my mind." (Stones "History of Beverly, Mass")
Signs in the Stars
The next remarkable sign given by
Jesus was the falling stars.
Matthew 24:49 says:
"And the stars shall fall from the heaven."
This was fulfilled in November 13, 1833. People were startled by
the glare of light through their windows and rushing outside they
were amazed by the extraordinary spectacle of thousands of stars
hurtling toward the earth.
Elijah Burritt says:
"The most sublime phenomenon of shooting
stars (Nov 13, 1833) … covered no in considerable portion of the
earth's surface … covering the entire vault of heaven with myriads of
fire balls resembling skyrockets. ("Geography of the Heavens" p.157)
Revelation 6:13 says:
"And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth,
even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of
a mighty wind."
The fact that it was mainly observed in North America has quite
significance. For God chose to give it particularly to the nation
that was destined to play an important part in the last days of this
worlds history.
The
U.S.A.
The Pilgrim Fathers established a place where they could worship
in peace. J.A.Bingham says:
"The object of those who first sought this
shore was found, what the world had not seen for ages: viz a church
without a pope, and a state without a king."
It was in America that the Bible
could be studied and read without fear of persecution and
imprisonment.
Fearful Sights
Luke 21:11 says:
"… And fearful sights and great signs shall there
be from heaven."
Certainly we are living in a time when these words are being
fulfilled. Just exactly what Jesus meant by fearful sights we are
not sure. Could it be the Atomic bomb or the Cobalt bomb or any of
these terrible weapons? And what about the U.F.O's, those mysterious
objects that are baffling men. Luke 21:25,26 says:
"There shall be signs in the sun, and in the
moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth distress of nations, with
perplexity … Mens hearts failing them for fear."
Leland Stowe says:
"Hiroshima was 'atomised' on Aug 6 1945, with
that single act the nature of the entire world was changed … What we
have yearned for as a prelude to peace was suddenly transformed into
the preface to superwar; a door opened to global annihilation."
With the dropping of that atomic bomb
suddenly we were ushered
into a new and terrible age, the atomic age.
Leland Stowe continues:
"We have so very little time … Even in June,
1945, we had very little time. Then came the atomic bomb, the
all-powered alarm clock that rings for all humanity and against the
deadline of doomsday."
('While Time Remains' p.38.)
Signs in the physical world
Another thing Jesus mentioned in his prophecy was signs in the
physical world. Matthew 24:6,7
says:
"And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars
… but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom …"
Wars and rumours of wars
Wars and rumours of wars, they will be with us to the end of time. As a matter of fact,
this world's history will close with a war. Dr Harold C. Urey
(Nobel prize winner) says:
"As a scientist I
tell you there must never be another war." ('While Time Remains' p.334.)
It is frightening to think just what another war would be like
with and advanced technology of today. The apostle Paul gave a very
solemn warning to those living in the last days.
1 Thessalonians 5:3
says: " For
when they shall say peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh
upon them."
Paul tells us that those peace treaties are
not worth the paper they are written on.
Signs in the Economic
World
Now we look at the signs in the economic
world. James writes of these in
James 5:1,3,4:
"Go to now ye rich men, weep and howl for your
miseries that shall come upon you … Ye have heaped treasures
together for the last days. Behold the hire of the labourers who
have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud."
Bible prophecy indicates that in the last days men would pile up
fortunes very quickly. There will be accumulation of great wealth.
There are hundreds of people in our day that have made, or are
making a million dollars in one year. It has been said that there
has been more millionaires in this century then all other centuries
put together. Bible prophecy clearly indicates that in the last days
men would pile up fortunes very quickly. Notice the prophecy once
again.
James 5:1,3,4:
"Go to now ye rich men, weep and howl for your
miseries that shall come upon you … Ye have heaped treasures
together for the last days. Behold the hire of the labourers who
have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud."
There is also a very clear indication that
there would be a battle between capital and labour. In recent years
we have seen the most extensive and intensive labour troubles of all past history.
Also the most rapid accumulation of wealth the world has ever known.
Plus spiralling inflation that is crippling the economy of most
nations today.
Travel will Speed
Up
And now we will touch on something that is
nothing short of amazing.
Daniel 12:4
says:
"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal
the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro and
knowledge shall be increased."
Did you notice that at the time of the end knowledge shall be
increased and travel shall speed up. For centuries men depended
upon the horse and the cart in order to move from place to place. With
the introduction of the stagecoach one could hardly say there was
any great improvement. Then all of a sudden a change came. Man began
to find ways of travelling fast. And during the last 50 years we
have left
the steam train behind changing over to the powerful and fast diesel
engine. Suddenly the jet age was born enabling airplanes to travel
at speeds greater than sound. D.R Davies says:
"If the nineteenth century may properly be
described as 'the wonderful century', then the twentieth century can
only be thought of as ''The Incredible Century.'"
And how true it is! Bible prophecy indicates that in the
last days man would travel
very swiftly.
Daniel 12:4 says:
"… Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall
be increased."
Knowledge shall be
Increased
For centuries men had to depend on
the old oil lamp when it began to grow dark. Some brilliant person
thought up the kerosene lamp, which could be classified as an
improvement. Thanks to Thomas Edison, the world was given the most
wonderful lighting system of all, electricity. No more groping in
semi darkness. Cities lit up by thousands of bright lights. Colour TV a most remarkable invention plus
video tape recorders. It is
safe to say that a person who is 60 years old has seen a greater
increase of knowledge than all the people of the past generations
put together.
Notice the prophecy in Nahum 2:3,4:
"… the chariots shall be with flaming torches in
the day of his preparation, and fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
The chariots shall rage in the streets they shall justle one against
another in the broad ways, they shall seem like torches, they
shall run like the lightning."
Did you notice flaming torches and run like lightnings. Now isn't
that descriptive of the motor car? Now we will touch on another
prophecy and that is …
Signs in the Social
World
1 Timothy 3:1,2 says:
"This know also, that in the last days
perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own
selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy."
These are characteristics of people who are living in the last
days. There is quite a long list, notice a further list in 2 Timothy 3:3,4:
"Without natural affection, trucebreakers,
false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despises of those that are good,
traitors, heady high minded, lovers of pleasures more then lovers of
God."
We certainly see these characteristics demonstrated in modern
society.
Signs on the Earth
Matthew 24:7 says:
"And there shall be famines and pestilences and
earthquakes in divers places."
These are some of the signs on the earth. The text says there
will be disasters, such as earthquakes. Talking about
destructive
earthquakes in the …
| 1st
century A.D. |
15 |
| 16th
century A.D. |
253 |
| 18th century
A.D. |
640 |
| 19th century
A.D. |
2,119 |
| 20th century
A.D. |
? |
It has been estimated that there has been over 1,000,000
earthquakes in the twentieth century.
Perilous Times, Moral
Degeneracy and Decline of Religion
2 Timothy 3:1 says:
"This know also, that in the last days perilous
times shall come."
Matthew 24:12 says:
"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of
many shall wax cold."
Perilous Times
People are not safe anywhere these days whether
it is in the city or in the country. A recent report from the F.B.I
stated that we are losing the battle against crime, juvenile crime
is skyrocketing. Law enforcement officers are gravely concerned with
the disregard shown by the American people for the laws of the land.
What is causing the people of our time to be so lawless? Look
magazine analysed the situation correctly when an article stated
that there is no longer a moral standard to guide the modern
generation.
Take away the 10 Commandments and the result is chaos.
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All song lyrics from
the KJV Bible