An Interpretation of Matthew 24-25 (Part 24)
Dr. Thomas Ice
"But immediately after the tribulationof those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken." -Matthew 24:29
I have noted thatthis passage contains four descriptive phrases. First, the darkening of the sun; second, the moon notreflecting its light; third, stars falling from the sky; fourth, a shaking ofheaven powers. Previously we dealtwith the darkening of the sun and saw that both Jesus and Isaiah (Isa. 13:10)intended their readers to understand that these were physical events, notsymbolism denoting a non-physical event.
Hebrew Poetry
All too oftenopponents of literal interpretation will equate a biblical use of poeticstructure with non-literal interpretation. This is an improper belief.
I recall thatduring my college days, I took a class in the Minor Prophets. When we got to the book of Jonah myliberal professor said because the style of chapter two was poetic it meantthat the events depicted there should not be taken literally. Jonah 2 records the episode of Jonahand the great fish. Such nonsenseis clearly wrong when compared with Scripture itself. There are many historical events, both past and future, thatare recorded in the Bible using some kind of Hebrew poetic form. Many historical events are contained inthe Psalms. Yet, every Psalm iswritten using Hebrew poetry. Evenwithin American history some of our greatest literature uses poetic expressionto communicate historical events. One need only think of literature such as The Midnight Rides of PaulRevere, or Captain, MyCaptain. The Hebrew poetic genre can often bemore expressive or colorful than prose narrative, but this does not mean thatit cannot be historical. Did notthe Song of Deborah (Ex. 19) mention historical events that had just takenplace in the Exodus, even though it is in a poetic form? Just because Isaiah 13 and manyprophetic passages on the Day of the Lord are put found to be within a poeticform, does not mean that they do not speak of literal historical events.
No Moonlight
Christ says inHis discourse, that in conjunction with the sun not shinning, "the moon willnot give its light." This makesgood physical sense that if the sun has been darkened, that the moon will notshine, since the moon does not generate its own light, as does the sun, but itsimply reflects the light of the sun. Since the sun has been darkened, then this would mean in a physicalcause and effect that the moon would also be darkened. This fact argues for a literal intentby Jesus in Matthew 24:29. RobertGovett is on the mark when he says, "no proof is needed on the part of thosewho take them literally: reasonmust first be shown why we are to take them symbolically, before we need giveany proof of the contrary."[1] Another suggests that the descriptionshould be taken literally because, "Elsewhere in chapter 24 the dramaticevents-wars, famines, earthquakes-are intended literally."[2]
The basicapproach and arguments that were used to demonstrate that Christ's previousreference to the sun is of a physical nature are also applied to His use ofmoon in this context. Since sunand moon are linked together, as are all four of these descriptive phrases, ifthe sun is literal then so must be the moon. Leon Morris tells us:
There is to be no source oflight here on earth in that day. It accords with what will happen to sun, moon, and stars that thepowers of the heavens will be shaken.. . . Whatever functions they maybe exercising at the time will be affected by the great fact that the Son ofman is coming back to this earth to bring an end to the current system and toinaugurate the reign of God over all the earth.[3]
Star Power
The third of fourdescriptions that will take place "immediately after the tribulation of thosedays" will be "the stars will fall from the sky." These events are all in preparation for the second comingthat is described in verse 30. Aheavenly blackout that will provide a perfect background for the brilliantarrival of Jesus Christ back to planet earth to set up His thousand year rule.
Preterists, suchas Gary DeMar, do not think that this passage describes the backdrop for Christ'sbodily return to Jerusalem. "Whenthe tribulation of 'those days' is completed, the end of the temple and city isnear," claims DeMar. "As the timefor Jerusalem's judgment draws ever closer, certain other signs wouldappear. These later signs are descriptiveof the fall of the nations and kingdoms."[4] Concerning the stars in this passage,DeMar believes that they "represent people and nations. The people of Israel were representedas stars (Gen. 22:17; 26:4; Deut. 1:10)."[5] Once again, does Christ intend aliteral or figurative event. Evenif it a figure of speech, which I do not think it is, it would not necessarilyfollow that DeMar's understanding would be correct. Theoretically, stars could be used figuratively and stillrelate to the second advent. Whyshould this descriptive phrase also be taken literally, as have the sun andmoon?
Stars Falling to The Earth
The text says,"the stars will fall from the sky." It does not say in this passage that stars will fall to the earth. Yet, that is how DeMar attempts tofinesse the passage by trying to connect it with Revelation 6:13, which says,"and the stars of the sky fell to the earth." "How can starsfall to the Earth and the Earth survive,"[6]asks DeMar?
First, aster, the Greek word for star, can refer to physicalstars in the sky (Mat. 2:2, 7, 9-10) or it can be used figuratively as asymbol, referring to people and angels (Jude 13, Rev. 8:10-11; 9:1). Second, stars literally do fall fromheaven upon the earth. They arecalled "falling stars," "shooting stars," "comets," or "meteors." The Greek word for star can be used inthis way.[7] "The word 'star' (Greek aster) refers to any luminous body in the sky otherthan sun and moon."[8] Stars that fall to the earth oftendisintegrate and burn up as they enter the earth's atmosphere. Robert Gundry has said, "The falling ofthe stars refers to a shower of meteorites."[9]
A number ofcommentators see the falling stars as meteorites. Greek scholar, Kenneth Wuest translates Revelation 6:13 asfollows: "the meteors of the heaven fell to the earth."
Further, thedescription of the falling stars to the earth in Revelation 6:13 is not acomplete emptying of the heavens of all of their stellar components. It is a partial event as supported bythe part of verse 13 that says, "as a fig tree casts its unripe figs whenshaken by a great wind." RobertGovett explains as follows:
Not all of them are castdown; as the comparison appears to prove. For their fall is like that of the untimely figs of a fig-tree, muchshaken by a gale. The fruitintended is the winter-fig, that comes out too late in the summer to ripen, andloses its hold of the tree during the inclement skies of the end of the year;so as to be easily shaken off by any wind, which agitates to any considerableextent the branches of the tree.[15]
Falling stars arewhat cause the people of the earth to hide in caves in Revelation 6:12-17.
The six sealjudgment, which is being described this passage, is not a parallel passage toMatthew 24:29, even though there are some similar phrases in bothpassages. The context is totallydifferent. The six seal judgmentdescribes a partial judgment, which does not include the second coming. Matthew 24:29 describes a completeblackout of the sun, moon, and stars, followed by the second coming. Even though DeMar tries to equate thesepassages,[16] there aretoo many differences to justify such an understanding. Revelation 6:13 is the only passagewhich teaches that stars will fall upon the earth. The other passages referencing literal stars, which includesMatthew 24:29 and Mark 13:24, simply say that the stars will fall from the sky,not to the earth. Thus, it is inthis way that the sixth seal judgment will be fulfilled literally.
Revelation 12
DeMar alsoindicates that Revelation 12:4 is a passage that we believe refers to literalstars. It says of the great reddragon (Satan), "And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven." "Again, 'a third of the meteorites ofheaven' would have a devastating effect on our planet. Earth would cease to exist," DeMardeclares. "Scientists havespeculated that a single meteorite threw up enough debris upon impact withEarth that it 'ended the reign of the dinosaurs.'"[17]
It is notsurprising that DeMar uses an evolutionary hypothesis to defend hisnaturalistic interpretation. Nevertheless, we literalists do not believe that physical stars are inview in verse 4. I have alreadynoted above that the word star can be used to refer to the physical stars inthe sky or as a symbol referring to a personality. DeMar hides from his readers what is said a few verseslater: "And the great dragon wasthrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceivesthe whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were throwndown with him" (Rev. 12:9). Revelation12:4 uses "stars" as a symbol for angels (as in Job 38:7), in this case fallenangels, because verse 9 repeats what is said in verse 4 using the non-symbolicterm "angels." Robert Thomasnotes:
The stars must refer to angels whofell with Satan in history past. Thesimilarity of this verse to Dan. 8:10, where "the host of heaven" is anapparent reference to angels, shows this. Already in Revelation a star has pictured an angel (9:1). That factor along with the reference toSatan's angels in 12:8-9 adds credence to this explanation.[18]
Apparently DeMarmust obfuscate and misrepresent the views of others in order to make his ownappear to have some merit. Maranatha!
(To BeContinued . . .)
Endnotes
[1] Robert Govett, The Prophecy on Olivet (Miami Springs, FL: Conley & Schoettle Publishing Co., [1881] 1985), p. 64.
[2] W. D. Davies and Dale C. Allison, Jr., ACritical and Exegetical Commentary on The Gospel According to Saint Matthew, 3 vols. (Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1997), vol. 3, p. 358, f.n. 200.
[3] Leon Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992), pp. 609-10.
[4] Gary DeMar, Last Days Madness: Obsession of the Modern Church (Powder Springs, GA: American Vision, 1999), p. 142.
[5] DeMar, Last Days Madness, p. 143.
[6] DeMar, Last Days Madness, p. 142.
[7] Henry George Liddell and RobertScott, A Greek-English Lexicon (Oxford England: Oxford Press, 1968), s.v. "aster", p. 261.
[8] Henry Me. Morris, The Revelation Record (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1983), p. 122.
[9] Robert H. Gundry, Matthew: A Commentary on His Handbook for aMixed Church under Persecution, second edition, (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994), p. 487.
[10] Kenneth S. Wuest, The New Testament: An Expanded Translation (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1961), p.597.
[11] Grant R. Osborne, Revelation (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002), p. 292.
[12] Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 1-7: An Exegetical Commentary (Chicago: Moody, 1992), p.454.
[13] Kendell H. Easley, Revelation (Nashville: Holman Reference, 1998), p. 111.
[14] Morris, Revelation Record, p. 122.
[15] Robert Govett, Govett on Revelation, 2 vols. (Hayesville, NC: Schoettle Publishing, [1861] 1981),vol. I, p. 216.
[16] DeMar, Last Days Madness, pp. 142-43.
[17] DeMar, Last Days Madness, p. 143.
[18] Robert Thomas, Revelation 8-22: An Exegetical Commentary(Chicago: Moody, 1995), p. 124.