And I saw, when he opened the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became like blood, and the stars of heaven fell to the earth, like a fig tree drops fig having been shaken by a mighty wind, and the sky was split open like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. Rev. 6:12-14.
Today's passage lists a series of six items. The first and last of the six are earthquakes, the latter being so great that every mountain and island shifts position, a truly cataclysmic event. In between the two earthquakes occur four heavenly signs: the sun darkens, the moon turns bloody red, the stars fall to earth, and heaven itself splits up.
The images are either literal or spiritual. I am not aware of a compelling case to treat the sun, moon, stars, and sky as symbolic here. So we should probably interpret them literally. In the Greek of this passage the word hos (in bold above translated "like") usually compares something literal with something figurative. The pattern is that the sun becomes black "like sackcloth of hair," the moon becomes "like blood," the stars fall "like a fig tree drops its unripe figs," and the sky splits open "like a scroll being rolled up." So we should take the sun, moon, stars, and sky literally and whet happens to them figuratively.
Events like the first three have taken place in the past. In 1780 an incredibly dark day spread across North America in which animals came home early, thinking the day was already over, and roosters crowed at odd hours. The event was so unusual that many people took note of it. Then in November 1833 a meteor shower was so spectacular that many people wrote their local newspapers announcing that the end of the world must be at hand.
God used the events to stimulate tremendous interest in the prophecies of the Bible around the world. But interpretation of this text cannot stop with the nineteenth century. The descriptions in verse 14 go way beyond anything history records. The sky ripping apart and every island moving out of its place are events not yet seen. They point to the time just before the return of Jesus.
We find the spiritual message of this text when we examine the Old Testament passages it echoes. "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed" (Isa. 54:10, NIV). The assurance is that no matter what, God will never forsake His people.
Lord, I crave a calm confidence that my whole life is sheltered in Your caring hands, no matter what the circumstances I may face today.
Today's passage lists a series of six items. The first and last of the six are earthquakes, the latter being so great that every mountain and island shifts position, a truly cataclysmic event. In between the two earthquakes occur four heavenly signs: the sun darkens, the moon turns bloody red, the stars fall to earth, and heaven itself splits up.
The images are either literal or spiritual. I am not aware of a compelling case to treat the sun, moon, stars, and sky as symbolic here. So we should probably interpret them literally. In the Greek of this passage the word hos (in bold above translated "like") usually compares something literal with something figurative. The pattern is that the sun becomes black "like sackcloth of hair," the moon becomes "like blood," the stars fall "like a fig tree drops its unripe figs," and the sky splits open "like a scroll being rolled up." So we should take the sun, moon, stars, and sky literally and whet happens to them figuratively.
Events like the first three have taken place in the past. In 1780 an incredibly dark day spread across North America in which animals came home early, thinking the day was already over, and roosters crowed at odd hours. The event was so unusual that many people took note of it. Then in November 1833 a meteor shower was so spectacular that many people wrote their local newspapers announcing that the end of the world must be at hand.
God used the events to stimulate tremendous interest in the prophecies of the Bible around the world. But interpretation of this text cannot stop with the nineteenth century. The descriptions in verse 14 go way beyond anything history records. The sky ripping apart and every island moving out of its place are events not yet seen. They point to the time just before the return of Jesus.
We find the spiritual message of this text when we examine the Old Testament passages it echoes. "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed" (Isa. 54:10, NIV). The assurance is that no matter what, God will never forsake His people.
Lord, I crave a calm confidence that my whole life is sheltered in Your caring hands, no matter what the circumstances I may face today.
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