IN our Lord's great prophetic discourse, to which reference has already been made, as another notable sign in the heavens of the coming of the Lord, which was to follow the darkening of the sun and moon, is noted—
The Falling of the Stars
from heaven. The scripture reads, “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.” Matt. 24:29.
“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.” Rev. 6:13.
We are not to understand by the term “stars” that the fixed stars, or planets, are meant. Some of the fixed stars are many times larger than this earth, or even our sun; hence, it would be impossible for them to fall to the earth. Christ evidently had reference to the shooting stars, or meteors, adapting His language to the language of the people. We now oftentimes on a starry night see a meteor shoot through the skies, and we exclaim, “See that star!” making no reference to the stars or planets, which do not thus carelessly shoot out of their orbits.
From the description given of this event by Professor Olmstead, of Yale University, one of the world-renowned meteorologists of his day, we may obtain a fair idea of the extent and brilliancy of the display:—
Those who were so fortunate as to witness the exhibition of shooting stars on the morning of Nov. 13, 1833, probably saw the greatest display of celestial fireworks that has ever been since the creation of the world, or at least within the annals covered by the pages of history. In nearly all places the meteors began to attract notice by their unusual frequency as early as 11 o'clock, and increased in splendor and numbers until about 4 o'clock, from which time they gradually declined, but were visible until lost in the light of day. The meteors did not fly at random over all parts of the sky, but appeared to emanate from a point in the constellation Leo, near a star called Gamma Leonis, in the bend of the sickle. The extent of the shower of 1833 was such as to cover no inconsiderable part of the earth's surface, from the middle of the Atlantic on the east to the Pacific on the west; and from the northern coast of South America to undefined regions among the British possessions on the north, the exhibition was visible, and everywhere presented nearly the same appearance.
The Connecticut Observer of Nov. 25, 1833, copied from the Old Countryman as follows:—
We pronounce the raining of fire which we saw on Wednesday morning last, an awful type, a sure forerunner, a merciful sign of that great and dreadful day which the inhabitants of the earth will witness when the sixth seal shall be opened. The time is just at hand, described not only in the New Testament, but in the Old. A more correct picture of a fig tree casting its leaves when blown by a mighty wind, it is not possible to behold.
Many other testimonies might be adduced in further demonstration of the fulfilment of the prophecy in this event, but these will be sufficient to the mind of any candid reader.
The Shaking of the Powers of Heaven,
spoken of by Matthew, we understand takes place in immediate connection with the coming of the Lord. The powers of the heavens are the sun, moon, and stars. Their shaking will be by the voice of God when He comes at the last great day. Upon this point Isaiah thus testifies: “Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of His fierce anger.” Isa. 13:13. Of this same exhibition of divine power the prophet Joel says: “The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake; but the Lord will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” Joel 3:16; see also Heb. 12:26, 27; Rev. 16:17-21. Hence the shaking of the powers of heaven can not be considered so much in the light of a sign of Christ's coming, as an event in connection with that coming.
When the Son of man, with all the heavenly train, descends from His celestial abiding-place through the universe of God to this earth, the multitude of worlds will move for Him. Never before has His universe witnessed such an exhibition. Never again, perhaps, will such glory be manifested as when the Lord comes as King of kings and Lord of lords, to take to Himself a kingdom and to reign.
And that coming hastens on apace. The footsteps of the approaching God are heard in the portentous signs which He has given. May we heed the warning and so relate ourselves to Him that “the covenant of peace” shall be between us in that day.
FRANCIS M. WILCOX.