The Bible gives it even greater significance.
After a "tribulation" that would nearly wipe out the Jewish people, Jesus said there would be unusual events in the heavens and troublesome waves on earth -- as part of the sign that his Second Coming was near.
Human history never saw the like of modern space probes or the recent deadly waves.
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A comparison of the accounts by Matthew and Luke shows that it
would happen "after" the great tribulation: "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 KJV) "signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves" - Luke 21:25 The parallel accounts explain what Great Tribulation Jesus was speaking of: "For then shall be great tribulation" - Matt. 24:21 - "great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people...led away captive into all nations" - Luke 21:23-24 KJV These parallel passages show Jesus referred to a centuries-long Tribulation on the Jewish people. Jesus told the inhabitants of Judea to flee to the mountains when they saw 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel (Matt. 24:15-16; Mark 13:14), which the parallel verse in Luke's account reveals to be when they saw "Jerusalem surrounded by armies" (armies of the Roman Empire). Luke 21:20 Jesus added, "and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (Luke 21:24 KJV) The Tribulation would continue a VERY LONG TIME from 70 A.D., and would climax in the Holocaust. It would end when the "times of the Gentiles" would end, and Israel would be restored to the Promised Land and regain control over Jerusalem. Jesus said, "except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved." (Matt. 24:22 KJV) A million Jews were killed by the Roman Empire, and then six million by the Third Reich. "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 KJV) After the Tribulation's climax in the Holocaust of 1941-1945, the heavens lost their power as men began to rocket into space. The heavenly bodies figuratively fell from the sky, as they came within mankind's reach. With satellites circling overhead, Mars rovers exploring the Red planet, and an international space station, we have been seeing the foretold "signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars" for some time now. And the recent tsunami disaster brought "distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves" to complete the picture. "Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near," Jesus added. - Luke 21:28 See also ww7.com WhyBelieveBible.com 1260days.com BibleForetoldHolocaust.com |