THE STARS SHALL FALL by FRANK HOPE

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 18, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 11.

"THE STARS SHALL FALL."

By FRANK HOPE

THE disciples once came to Christ and asked him the following question, "What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world." That was surely a momentous question, and Christ did not reprove them for it, or tell them that it did not concern them, but he just told them of certain events that would take place on the earth before the end. He told them of the coming destruction of Jerusalem, of the wars, pestilences, and famines that were only the beginning of sorrows. Then he spoke of the great tribulation that was coming on the elect; so great was it to be that "except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." History reveals this period to us in the "Martyrs' Age," commencing with the persecution of the Christians by the pagan emperor, Nero, and coming down through the fiercer persecutions of the Romish Church under the Inquisition, and culminating in the 1,260 years of the Papal persecution foretold in Dan. 7:25. These days ended in 1798, the persecution ending in 1776. This brief sketch of the history of the church, Christ gives in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew. Then he gives the unmistakable "signs" of his coming, for which his disciples asked.

He says in the twenty-ninth verse, "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, true to the prophecy, immediately after that persecution had ceased, the sun was darkened. Robert Sears's "Guide to Knowledge" says: "On the 19th of May, 1780, an uncommon darkness took place all over New England, and extended to Canada." This day is known in history as the "Dark Day." The following night the moon was supernaturally darkened. Thus Christ gave to his disciples two of the signs of his coming. But he says, also, "The stars shall fall from heaven."

On the 13th day of November, 1833, this also was literally fulfilled. Many are the accounts given of that wonderful day, but the following, from the work called "The Great Events of Our Past Century," may be of new interest to the readers of the SIGNS:—

"The display, as described in Professor Stillman's Journal, was seen all over North America. The chief scene of the exhibition was within the limits of the longitude of sixty degrees in the Atlantic Ocean, and that of a hundred degrees in Central Mexico, and from the North American Lakes to the southern side of the island of Jamaica."

"Over this vast area, an appearance presented itself far surpassing in grandeur and magnificence the loftiest reach of the human imagination. From two o'clock until broad daylight, the sky being perfectly serene and cloudless, an incessant play of dazzlingly brilliant luminosities was kept up in the whole heavens. Some of these were of great magnitude

and most peculiar form. One, of large size, remained for some time almost stationary in the zenith, over the falls of Niagara, emitting streams of light which radiated in all directions. The wild dash of the waters, as contrasted with the fiery commotion above them, formed a scene of unequaled and amazing sublimity. Arago computes that not less than two hundred and forty thousand meteors were at the same time visible above the horizon of Boston. To form some idea of such a spectacle, one must imagine a constant succession of fire-balls, resembling sky-rockets, radiating in all directions, from a point in the heavens near the zenith, and following the arch of the sky towards the horizon. They proceeded to various distances from the radiating point, leaving after them a vivid streak of light, and usually exploded before they disappeared. The balls were of various sizes and degrees of splendor; some were mere points, but others were larger and brighter than Jupiter or Venus; and one, in particular, appeared to be nearly the moon's size. But at Niagara no spectacle so terribly grand and sublime was ever before beheld by man as that of the firmament descending in fiery torrents over the dark and roaring cataract."

Thus was literally fulfilled the last of these signs that mark the near appearing of the Son of man. So striking and unmistakable was this sign that the people who witnessed that display recognized it as such. The same writer, after stating the terror it caused to the ignorant, says: "The more enlightened were profoundly awed at contemplating so vivid a picture of the apocalyptic image—that of the stars of heaven falling to the earth 'even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs.'"

"Now," says Christ, "learn a parable of the fig tree; when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." The generation that saw the last of these signs will see Christ coming in the clouds of heaven in power and great glory. That last sign occurred fifty-five long years ago; the men who saw it are becoming gray and bowed with age; yet, as sure as God's word is true, some will live through to see the climax. Just how long it will be, none can tell. This we know, that he is near, even at the door, and that his coming hasteth greatly. "Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."