Text: Matthew 24:29 "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."
Today, I'd like to give a message entitled "The Parable Of The Falling Stars."
In Matthew 24 there are written prophecies of the last days. It says, "after the tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven." From these scripture we know the tribulation in the last days has a connection to the darkening of the sun and the moon and the falling of the stars. What kind of relationship do they have? Let's try to find out.
First, let's examine whether the sun, moon and stars are literal ones or not. Some people interpret them literally, but I think these are allegorical or parabolic. Because some descriptions here can not be accepted as literal. For example, the falling of stars. If we understand it literally, we have to think that actual stars will fall upon the earth in the last days. If it is about a mere "falling star" as in an asteroid it could logically happen in the sky. But, if it is about the planets like Mars or Saturn, it would be difficult to conceive this kind situation. If a star like the North star were to fall to the earth, the planet would immediately be destroyed. Anybody should know that today.
Concerning the description of "the falling of the stars," we face a dilemma between our common sense and God's word. But, I think this is a hint given from God. God wants us to understand this word as a parable through this dilemma. Therefore, I regard this scripture as parable. Of course, there may be other interpretations. But, at this time, let's look at this scripture as a parable.
First, let's see what the sun, moon and stars figure as. The following scriptures are related to this imagery:
1 Corinthians 15:41 "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory."
Matthew 13:43 "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."
From above scriptures, we can understand that the sun, moon and stars figure as Christians. So, their shining brillians is indicative of their glory. Therefore, the darkening of the sun, moon, and stars indicates losing glory before God. It may indicate that they depart from the glory once given them from God.
Falling stars from heaven could meant that alhough a Christian's body lives in this earth, their spirit lives in heaven as per the description of Ephessians which says, "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." We are different from the people living in earth - this world. Therefore, christians' falling from heaven may mean falling from their faith. That is, they lose their faith in the tribulation.
It says, "the powers of the heavens shall be shaken." We are the spiritual offspring of Abraham as symbolized in Genesis as Abraham's seed was promised to be as the stars of heaven. But, the scripture says this power will be shaken in the last days. It talks about the days when the church will be shaken. We can see many similar expressions in the Bible.
Daniel 8:10-12
"10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven;
and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped
upon them.
11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the
prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and
the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
12 And an host was given him against the
daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth
to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered.。 "
Revelation 12:4 " And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born."
"The third part of the stars of heaven" may indicate one third of the Christian population. In the end time, this number of Christians will fall away from the faith.
Let's do the Lord's will in the end time.
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