Matthew 24:29, commentary and pictures

Immediately after the long persecution of God's people through the 1260 years from A.D. 538 to 1798, the darkening of the sun and withholding of the moon's light was fulfilled on May 19, 1780, and the falling of the stars by the great meteor shower of November 13, 1833. The shaking of the powers of heaven is still future and literal, to take place at the voice of God just before Christ's advent, when sun, moon, and stars are moved from their places. Those who held the other view teach that the heaven to be shaken is the atmosphere around the earth, parting and rolling back like a scroll amid clouds, earthquake, and the seventh plague as the last sign before the Son of man appears. These signs in sun, moon, stars, and heavens mark the transition to the final event of earth's history, Christ's return in the clouds with power and great glory to gather His elect. They declare His coming is near, even at the doors, though the day and hour remain unknown, warning all to watch, prepare, and escape the coming wrath rather than be overtaken unawares.

Discourse Setting and Scope

Matthew 24:29 belongs to a discourse that describes both the destruction of Jerusalem and the coming of Christ at the end of the world. These two events are woven together in one prophecy, and the prophecy about Jerusalem reaches beyond that destruction to the final judgment of the world. The chapter also foretells events preceding the coming of the Son of man, and Jerusalem's destruction serves in it as a type of the world's final destruction by fire.

The prophecy briefly covers the whole dispensation from Christ's first advent to His second, introducing the history of the church through to its final redemption. It presents the church's warfare and sufferings as it moves toward its promised redemption. It was given on the Mount of Olives concerning Jerusalem, His return, and the experiences of His people before that return. Christ's followers will face persecution, humiliation, and suffering from the rulers of the world, as their Master did.

The darkening of the sun and moon and the falling of the stars are placed after the church's great tribulation under pagan and papal persecution, among the major events foretold between His first and second advents. After these events He speaks of His coming in His kingdom and of the two classes awaiting His appearing. The verse belongs to the setting of last-day distress and testing before the coming of the Son of man. It belongs likewise to the setting of last-days peril and testing for those who profess to look for the Son of man, without by itself giving further explanation of the sun, moon, stars, or shaken powers.

Meaning of Heavenly Powers

Heaven means literal heaven and earth means literal earth. The powers of heaven are the sun, moon, and stars that rule in the heavens, distinct from the powers of earth who bear rule on earth.
Their shaking is still future and takes place at the voice of God, when they are moved out of their places yet do not fall, pass away, or cease to exist. The order is fixed: war, rumors of war, sword, famine, pestilence, and the anger of nations first shake the powers of earth, which are now being shaken, and afterward the voice of God shakes heaven and earth together, the sun, moon, stars, and this planet also. Upheavals and wars among nations, including political shaking in Europe and the shaking of the angry nations, are the shaking of earthly powers and not the shaking of the heavenly powers. That voice comes through an open space in Orion, revealed when dark heavy clouds clash and the atmosphere parts and rolls back, and through that open space the holy city will come down.
The falling of the stars means meteors, recalled as numerous bright meteors crossing the sky and disappearing like unripe figs scattered when a fig tree is shaken, after which the starry host remained intact with none missing. That part received its striking fulfillment in the great meteoric shower of November 13, 1833, visible over the greater part of the earth's surface, coming last after the darkening of the sun and moon in 1780 within the setting of the 1,260 prophetic days or years of persecution beginning in 538 and ending in 1798, with the shortening of the tribulation in 1776.

Order of Shaking Events

The shaking of the powers of heaven is literal and still future, taking place before Christ's advent at the voice of God, after the falling of the stars and as the same event as the heavens departing like a scroll in Revelation 6:14. At that shaking the sun, moon, and stars are moved out of their places, shaken but not falling, not passing away, and not ceasing to exist. This final shaking occurs when the Lord roars from Zion and shakes heaven and earth, with heaven meaning literal heaven and earth meaning literal earth.

Events come in a fixed order: war, rumors of war, sword, famine, pestilence, and the anger of nations first shake the powers of earth, who are earthly rulers bearing rule on earth, and that shaking of the powers of earth is now being shaken. Afterward the voice of God shakes heaven and earth together, the sun, moon, stars, and this planet also. Upheavals and wars among nations, including political shaking and the shaking of the nations in Europe, are the shaking of earthly powers and of the angry nations, not the shaking of the heavenly powers, and the upheaval among nations is distinct from the shaking of the heavenly bodies.

The heaven that is shaken is the atmosphere around the earth, not Paradise, not the region of the sun, moon, and stars, and not the church on earth. It is brought by the seventh vial and the seventh plague with the voice of God from the throne, when the Lord roars from Zion. That time is marked by commotion in the sky, dark heavy clouds clashing together, the atmosphere parting and rolling back like a scroll, and a great earthquake, as the last literal sign before the sign of the Son of man appears in heaven.

The voice of God comes through an open space in Orion, revealed when the dark heavy clouds clash and the atmosphere parts and rolls back. Through that same open space the Holy City will come down.

Tribulation Timing and History

The tribulation of those days is the 1260 prophetic days or years of tribulation of God's people covering the Dark Ages under pagan and papal persecution. It began in A.D. 538 when the bishop of Rome was made Head over All the Holy Churches and Corrector of Heretics by Justinian's decree and the overthrow of the Arian powers. It continued to 1798 when Pius VI was taken prisoner and papal power over Europe was broken.

The active persecution did not fill the whole period but was shortened for the elect's sake. The shortening came by the increasing influence of the Reformation enlightening rulers and by the opening of the New World as a refuge where the earth helped the woman. This included the abolition of torture by Maria Theresa in 1776, Joseph II's toleration decree in 1781, and the United Colonies declared free and independent in 1776.

The signs occur immediately after the tribulation of those days, not after those days themselves. The tribulation ceased about 1776 while the days ran to 1798, leaving only about twenty-two years nearer the former date for the first sign. With the dark day in 1780 eighteen years before 1798, the fulfillment is shut up to the eighteenth century and no other darkening before or after meets the prophecy.

The verse thus fixes the time when the first heavenly sign shall appear, at the close of the great papal persecution.

Sun Moon Stars Fulfilled

The darkening of the sun and the withholding of the moon's light was fulfilled supernaturally on May 19, 1780, over the eastern portion of North America in a most remarkable darkening whose true cause is unknown. On that day cattle returned home and fowls went to roost, while men and women wailed and wept believing the day of Judgment had come. On the following night, although the moon was full it gave no light but was so dark that a sheet of white paper held within a few inches of the eye was as invisible as the blackest velvet, and at times when the moon did appear it was red as blood.

The darkening of the sun by day and the moon by night as promised declares that His coming is near and that the period of the revelation of the Son of man is approaching. The falling of the stars means meteors and received a striking fulfillment in the great meteor shower of November 13, 1833, when meteors appeared across North America and over the greater part of the earth's surface in extraordinary numbers and brightness. It comes last after the 1780 darkening within the setting of the 1260 years and the shortening of the tribulation, and it is the last of the signs of Christ's coming described here.

Fulfillment of the star-falling sign in 1833 directed people to prophecy, with many seeing it as a warning and forerunner of the coming Judgment and being led to heed the warning of the second advent. Because these heavenly signs have appeared and their fulfillment in sun, moon, and stars marks the nearness of the end, they show He is near, even at the doors, and His coming is now at hand for certain, warning that a great decisive event will soon take place.

Son of Man Coming Foretold

The verse turns from the tribulation linked with Jerusalem's destruction to the last event of earth's history, the return of Christ in majesty and glory. The darkening of sun and moon, the falling of stars, and the shaking of the heavenly powers come immediately after the tribulation and stand immediately before the appearing of the sign of the Son of man. That sign is followed by His coming in the clouds with power and great glory, by the mourning of the tribes of the earth, and by His sending angels to gather His elect. These belong to the answer about the signs of His coming and the end of the world.

The shaking of the powers of heaven takes place before Christ comes in power and great glory, in events that lie beyond worldly minds and human science. When He comes the second time the whole world will stand in two classes only, the just and the unjust, the righteous and the unrighteous. As budding trees show that summer is near, so when these signs are seen His coming is near, even at the doors, and the generation that sees them will not pass before these things are fulfilled.

His coming will not take place until after a mighty earthquake shakes the earth and after the voice of God is heard, bringing despair and trouble such as never was since there was a nation. Then come clashing clouds of heaven and darkness, and then a voice from heaven with the clouds rolling back like a scroll to reveal the bright, clear sign of the Son of man, which the children of God know. To endure that evil time requires partaking of the divine nature through divine power united with the human. As in Noah's time men carried on ordinary life without heed until the Flood came and destroyed them, so the coming of the Son of man will overtake the unprepared. The time of trouble must come before the coming of Christ, so every date set for the Lord to come will pass by unfulfilled, and every set time that passes only weakens the faith of God's people.

His second coming will not be wanting in glory, for He comes to triumph and nature will testify her triumph at His appearing. Signs and wonders in the heavens marked His first advent to the wise men in the East and to the shepherds on the hills of Bethlehem. At His death creation shrouded itself in darkness for three hours, the earth quaked at the tread of the heavenly throng, and the rocks were rent in sympathy with His sorrow and humiliation, and so nature will likewise bear witness with glory at His return.

Warning and Readiness Required

The darkening of the sun, the withholding of the moon's light, and the falling of the stars are signs that Christ's return is near, even at the doors, just as budding trees show that summer is near, yet the exact day and hour remain unrevealed and unknown. They warn the world of approaching judgment and herald the day of final destruction and Christ's coming in the clouds with power and glory to send angels to gather His elect, like the sign given before Jerusalem's destruction. Those who see them are therefore warned to watch and prepare and to escape the coming wrath rather than be overtaken unawares. These signs warn that Christ's coming is near and that the signs of the end are rapidly fulfilling, so that indifference to them is sinful and believers are to remain watchful and prepared for that day.

The verse belongs to the sure word of prophecy that is the foundation of faith, and to the signs and waymarks showing that the events foretold in Jesus' prophecy of His second coming will surely come to pass. Its predictions are fulfilling in the present time, and their unmistakable fulfillment shows that Christ's coming is at hand and calls the church to arouse. It is to be studied again and again and brought to the attention of all, both believers and unbelievers. Ministers and teachers are to present its prophecies to those they instruct, leaving out matters of minor consequence and lesser consequence, because its truths decide the eternal destiny of souls and settle questions of eternal importance. It is to be studied and taught together with the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation and with the saving work of Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and it places the signs of the times within the prophetic evidence that makes faith tangible and leaves a deep impression on those studying prophecy.

The foretelling was given for those who would afterward believe in this age of the world, so they could discern the times, reach a higher standard, and prepare for the great conflict. Its fulfillment should awaken people to their responsibility and spur them to action. The chapter outlines what is to come upon the world and describes the perils of the last days, when God is about to punish presumptuous wrongdoers who reject His commandments and warnings. It is therefore a warning that people facing these coming events must be reached with the last message of mercy, including cities whose inhabitants dishonor God and reject calls to repent, for the end is near. It warns those perishing in sin and calls those entrusted with the talent of means to give money to advance the work of giving the world the last message of mercy, instead of spending it in self-gratification to eternal loss, since eternal riches are obtained only through self-denial and giving all to Christ.

Readiness for the coming of the Son of man in the perils of the last days requires a tested and proved genuineness of faith through trial and most distressing perplexity, with sacrifice and separation from the corrupting influence of the world. Those who look for it cannot yield to the world, unite with unbelievers, or join picnics and other gatherings of pleasure and frivolous, empty conversation that separate from God and make children of the world and miserable examples to unbelievers. Only those who are self-denying and live in sobriety, humility, and holiness are true followers of Jesus prepared for His coming. Signs and wonders in the heavens come preceding the great sign of the coming of the Son of man and Christ's second coming.

On earth they are joined by disasters by sea and by land — unusually destructive fires, earthquakes burying cities and villages with their inhabitants, terrible railway accidents, tornadoes and floods destroying property and thousands of lives, vitiated air, pestilences such as cholera and unexplainable diseases and diphtheria gathering little ones, great mortality, greater crimes, weeping and lamentation and woe — together with disease and earthquakes as limited warnings. These calamities are drops and sprinklings from the vials of God's wrath let fall upon land and sea and the elements of the air because God has not restrained the powers of darkness. They are but faint representations and premonitory convulsions warning of what will come in the near future when the earth shakes and opens, terrible shocks come, the earth's crust is rent by elements concealed in its bowels, lordly palaces become heaps of ruins, wealth secured by oppression is swept away, and the religious world is terribly shaken, for the end of all things is at hand. The large cities will soon be visited by the judgments of God and terribly shaken, so that no matter how large or strong their buildings or how many safeguards against fire, when God touches them they will be in ruins in a few minutes or hours and ungodly cities will be swept away by destruction. The calamities now falling on immense buildings and large portions of cities show what will come upon the whole earth and mark that the coming of the Son of man is near, even at the doors.