A s we continue our p r o p h e tic series,. we find that after the judgment, the day star is about to arise. In Matthew 24:29, we read of this event. The metaphor is changed from stars and lightning (verses 27- 29) to a budding fig tree (32-34). “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be dark ened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken” (29). This is a very definite time change. The scene which has portrayed the disturbance of this earth moves now to heaven. The action is focalized in the solar system. The sun, being the source of light, is also darkened. It will not be due to the weakness of the sun iteslf, but as God intervenes in the judgment of earth so His hand will be on the powers of the heaven. The Bible tells us interestingly, “And the moon shall not give her light.” Of course, the moon has no light of its own. Is the Bible using “poetic license” here? In the Greek text the answer is fascinating. There are a number of words in the orig inal which have to do with light. The word used here about the moon could be properly given as, “the moon shall not give her sunlight.” That is to say, the moon gives the light which in turn has been given to it by the sun. If the sun is darkened, it only follows that the moon will have no light to give. This shows again the meticu lous care which the Holy Spirit has used to express His truth to our hearts. Looking further at the verse we find the word “shaken” really means “to be shaken violently.” This great heav enly display will usher in the coming of our divine Lord. That is why the warning is given. All of the universe will welcome His coming. For in the brightness of His glory the bright
ness of the sun will be far outshad- owed. In verse 30 we read, “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn.” It ie in teresting to note that the heavens be speak His glory while earth bespeaks its gloom. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork.” At the ap pearance of the Lord Jesus, nature will intensify its glory and sing to gether His praises. Man, of course, has been in rebel lion against God. When he sees the Lord appear, then it is a day of trag edy and gloom. “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather to gether his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (verse 31). The “elect” here are not the same “elect” which term is used to denote the true Church, the bride of Christ. They will be with the Lord in heaven. They will have been caught up to meet Him’ in the air (I Thess. 4:13-18). This will be the time, not only of Is rael’s redemption and restoration as a nation, but also when God will fin ish the confirmation of indignation, fulfilling His mighty Word. The world has evidence that what God has spok en He will make good. This will be a day of Israel’s great est jubilation. How we can rejoice with them as they anticipate their home, even as we anticipate our home in heaven with the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The presence of God is the future of the believer, even as it is that for Israel. * * * It is better never to have been born at all, than never to have been born again. * * * You can properly be content with what you have, but never with what you are. 6
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