And there shall be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea, and of the waves:
και εσται σημεια εν ηλιω και σεληνη και αστροις και επι της γης συνοχη εθνων εν απορια ηχουσης θαλασσης και σαλου
11 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 12 commentaries
He states that there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. As the creatures undergo transformation, a new order will emerge within the elements. Among the nations, there will be despair, characterized by sorrow intertwined with confusion in all aspects of life.
He then shifts His discourse from this topic to the end times, declaring that there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars, and on the earth, leading to distress among the nations in confusion; the roaring of the sea and its waves reflecting the departure of souls; with dread and anticipation of the calamities approaching the world, for the heavenly host will be disturbed. As creation appears to undergo transformation, an indescribable fear will engulf the earth's inhabitants, ushering in a time of great tribulation and the departure of souls to death. The overwhelming terror of what is to come will be enough to cause many to succumb to death.
The prophecy illustrates even more distinctly the impending times of captivity, as He declares: When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand (Luke 21:20). He then shifts His message to the end of times, stating: And there will be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars, and on the earth, nations will be troubled by the roaring of the sea and its waves, when people will be fainting with fear and anticipation of what is approaching the world, for the heavenly powers will be shaken (Luke 21:25-26, Ep. Cassian). The creation, in a way, appears to be unraveling, poised for transformation, and instilling immense terror among the earth’s inhabitants, which is a profound anguish and a perilous sorrows. The overwhelming dread of what lies ahead will lead many to perish.
Matthew elucidates these signs more explicitly, stating, “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven" (Matthew 24:29). This suggests that many will turn away from the worship of God, and the illuminating faith will be obscured by the shadow of disbelief. For me, the celestial sun reflects my faith's intensity, which can either shine brightly or dim. As the sun of this world can appear lessened or intensified depending on the observer's perception, so too does spiritual light reach an individual based on the strength of their faith. Likewise, just as the moon can be eclipsed by the earth, reducing its brightness, the holy Church cannot access the divine rays of Christ’s glory when the distractions of the flesh intercede.
The moon serves as a symbol of the Church. In times of trial, the affection for worldly existence can obscure the divine light.
"The stars will fall" (Matt. 24:29). The stars, which radiate with the splendor of resurrection, represent those who, as beacons in the world, hold the word of life (Philippians 2:15-16). They are the individuals prophesied concerning Abraham, whose descendants would shine like the heavens and the stars (Genesis 15:5; Daniel 12:3). With the rise of intense persecution, the patriarchs will diminish among the populace, and the prophets will falter. This outcome is necessary and will persist until virtue is perfected within the Church, allowing the faithful to be tested and the fearful to be revealed. The suffocating heat and fever will drain every spirit, and the awareness of numerous transgressions, along with the dread of impending judgment, will cause the refreshing waters of the holy spring to wither within us. Unbelief leads to desiccation, while faith provides nourishment.
He refers to His return in glory. Examine Matthew similarly to understand the passage, "And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven," and the continuation, and you will uncover this as well.
Our Lord and Savior, dear brethren, in His desire to find us prepared, warns us about the tribulations that are destined to arise in this transient world, aiming to dissuade us from our attachment to it. He reveals to us in advance the upheavals that must occur before His imminent return, so that we may at least feel a sense of trepidation concerning His approaching judgment if we choose not to revere Him in peace. In the passage from the Holy Gospel that has just been shared, the Lord proclaims: “nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Yet, the faint-hearted will flee to secure places (Luke 21:10).
After reflecting briefly, He continues with what you have just heard: there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars, along with great distress on earth due to the chaos of nations and the roaring of the sea. Many of these occurrences we can observe as having already come to pass, while others loom before us with an air of inevitability. Today, we witness more than ever the discord among spoken words, echoing throughout the earth than what we find in written records. The devastation caused by earthquakes, which often ravages numerous cities, is something we hear of frequently from distant lands. The plagues afflicting us persist without ceasing. Although we have yet to clearly discern signs in the celestial bodies, we can infer their nearness from the atmospheric changes we experience. Yet, prior to Italy's surrender to the destructive hands of pagan forces, we indeed witnessed luminous points in the sky, stained by the blood of humanity that would later be spilled. The tumult and chaos of the seas are certainly not a novel occurrence. However, if countless prophecies have already come true, we can be assured that those which have yet to be realized will likewise be fulfilled, as the certainty of future events is anchored in the realization of those that have already occurred. We express this, dear brethren, to stir your souls to greater vigilance, urging you to avoid complacency and to resist the allure of ignorance. Instead, may you remain continually stirred by a holy fear and bolstered by a commitment to righteousness, particularly as you contemplate the words of our Redeemer that lie beyond this warning.
Following the tribulation of those days, when the time of the Gentiles concludes, remarkable events will take place both on earth and in the heavens. The sun will be darkened, the moon will cease to shine, the stars will fall from the sky, and the celestial powers will shake, disrupting the established order. The earth will resemble the calm before a storm, marked by despair, confusion, anxiety, and fear. The sea will roar in fury.
Observing that the Lord's prophecy about His future return is closely tied to the prophecy concerning Jerusalem's downfall, and that the vivid expressions used by ancient prophets to describe the world's end—like the darkened sun and moon and fallen stars—often metaphorically represent the collapse of kingdoms and cities, leads some to speculate if all of Christ's current prophecies refer to the same matters: the destruction of Jerusalem, while the anticipated second coming of Christ may serve as a prophetic-ideal illustration of the accompanying calamities, the suffering and scattering of the Jewish people, and the triumph of Christianity.
To dispel this seemingly reasonable but fundamentally erroneous notion, it is essential to distinguish between the language of ancient prophetic revelation and the direct words of Jesus Christ. An unclear, allegorical method was least appropriate for Him, especially when He sought to caution His followers against misconceptions regarding forthcoming events. Furthermore, upon examining the previously mentioned expressions of the ancient prophets, it becomes evident that they indeed spoke allegorically; whereas the declarations of Jesus evoke a profound sense of clarity and urgency.
Additionally, in every other instance where Jesus comments on His return, it is interpreted as a concrete occurrence. It would be particularly peculiar for this instance to shift towards metaphor, especially since the historical context of His statements is so evident. It would require imposing an unnatural interpretation on subsequent parables, and particularly, the allegory connected with Jerusalem's destruction does not align with the vision of the world's judgment that concluded His discourse. Moreover, it is crucial to remember that in the letters of the Apostles, the ultimate culmination of the world and the glorious return of the Lord are depicted unequivocally and literally; thus, it would be inconsistent to dismiss this prophecy found in the Gospel, which will undoubtedly resonate in the teachings of the Apostles.
Another concern arises when reading in St. Matthew that the end of the world and the coming of the Lord will occur suddenly following the tribulation of those days; that is, after the calamities linked to Jerusalem’s fall. This has led some to believe that the God-Man implies His return will happen sooner than anticipated, and therefore, there exists some uncertainty in His prediction. However, this misleading thought is dispelled when we consider St. Luke’s account. He indicates that between Jerusalem's destruction and the Lord's coming lies the entire period of the Gentiles, during which Jerusalem will be trampled by the uncircumcised and the Jews will be in subjugation to all nations.
The extended duration of the times of the Gentiles is clear from the term “times” itself, as well as from the events expected to unfold within this period. The Apostle Paul reinforces the length of these times in his letter to the Romans, discussing the blinding and subsequent dispersal of Israel, which must continue until the full number of the Gentiles enters (Rom. 11:25). Such a scenario cannot occur in less than many centuries. Thus, neither Jesus nor His disciples had cause to expect the realization of future events sooner than is fitting.
What, then, should we make of the term "suddenly" in the Gospel of St. Matthew? It serves as a prophetic abbreviation, capturing extensive epochs within its context. It could be inferred that, as we compare accounts from the Evangelists, we do not possess a complete record of Jesus’ utterances, as prolonged discussions would naturally have been punctuated by the inquiries, opinions, and movements of His disciples. The discourse itself contains indications that the conversation was shaped by the disciples' questions. Therefore, the discourse would have been clear and precise for those present. Now, as this dialogue has been distilled into a written narrative, inevitable gaps arise; disparate subjects are brought together, and the future is depicted in a cohesive, illustrative manner. However, for anyone who can grasp the true perspective, the narrative becomes distinctly clear, presenting its subjects in separation and detail.
After describing a series of terrifying events, the Lord particularly emphasized the imminent divine judgment concerning Jerusalem. He stated, regarding Jerusalem, that its impending devastation is inevitable; as foretold by Daniel, the abomination of desolation will manifest in the sacred place. Therefore, anyone striving for salvation must flee from Judea without delay. Those who remain will endure a tribulation unmatched since the world's inception. Additionally, there will be false messiahs; however, do not place your trust in them. The Son of Man will come forth like lightning, not confined to any specific location, but as God’s ultimate judgment. He will be revealed in the fullness of His glory at the culmination of time.
The conclusion of the current age will entail the total annihilation of its existing state, accompanied by a profound alteration and metamorphosis (see 2 Pet. 3:10, 12, 13). When this fearsome disruption in the visible realm begins, marked by signs emerging in the celestial bodies and the tumultuous state of the seas (Lk.), there will be distress among the nations and confusion on earth as people are gripped by fear and anticipation of the impending disasters affecting the cosmos (Lk.). “Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven,” and all the tribes of the earth will mourn (Matt.), as their consciences weigh heavily with guilt.
To the believers, the Lord reassures: “when these things begin to come to pass, then bow down and lift up your heads, for your deliverance is at hand” (Luke). The very return of Jesus Christ will mirror His ascension into heaven (Acts 1:2, 11). The gathering of His followers will be orchestrated by angels, depicted (Matt.) as the faithful being called forth by the sound of a loud trumpet—an imagery well-known to Christ's audience, as in ancient times, especially among the Jews (Lev. 25:2, Num. 10:2, Judg. 3:27), trumpets were typically used to summon people to gatherings.
And at once, following the trials of those days, the sun will be obscured, the moon will cease to shine, the stars will tumble from the skies, and the powers of the heavens will be disturbed. These statements should be interpreted as referring to the events that will occur after the trials of that period, specifically after the desolation of the temple and Jerusalem; however, the exact timing remains uncertain. The conclusion of the age will be heralded by remarkable natural phenomena: the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its reflective glow, the earth will be shaken to the extent that it may seem as though stars are falling from the firmament, and the very powers of the heavens will tremble.
It is unclear from the Savior’s words whether this signifies the end of the entire universe, or just the terrestrial realm; thus, various interpretations may arise. Nevertheless, the Lord Himself indicated that the consummation of the age would coincide with the Final Judgment of humanity dwelling on the earth. If this end pertains solely to the inhabitants of the earth, then it is reasonable to deduce that it will not signify the cessation of the universe but rather the conclusion of life on our planet or the totality of its existence as a habitable world. This, however, is solely known to God. Based on the Lord’s statements, it seems more plausible that this will pertain to the end of earthly life, prompting me to contemplate, from the perspective of an earthly being, the phenomena that will precede it. Therefore, I assert that the upheavals affecting the earth will appear to its inhabitants as if stars are falling from the skies. In truth, stars cannot descend from the heavens to the earth because the earth is minuscule compared to all of them, even to each star individually. Moreover, the Lord assures that when these events unfold, He will proclaim, “Lift up your heads” (Luke 21:28), for you will behold the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30). From these words, we gather that the heavens, encompassing the entire universe aside from the earth, and the clouds will persist, continuing to fulfill the will of the Almighty Creator. What fate awaits the globe we inhabit? Will its orbit around the Sun be disrupted, causing it to be drawn in and seemingly consumed by the Sun? Or will the Sun itself cool to the point of ceasing to emit light and warmth? Or will there be another transformation within our solar system? These inquiries remain unanswered, and their resolution was not necessary for the Apostles to comprehend the signs of the end. It sufficed for them to understand that such occurrences would precede the revelation of the Kingdom of Heaven and the new joyful Eternal Life. These extraordinary events, coupled with unparalleled turbulence in the seas, will leave people in confusion and stupor; when they finally grasp the weight of the calamities approaching them, they will weep in despair, be filled with dread, languish, and even perish in hopelessness.
The exact moment of the Lord’s return and the culmination of this age remains a mystery even to the heavenly beings. However, there are indications that can help us discern the approach of these significant occurrences. In that time, the sun and moon will lose their brightness, and stars will tumble from the sky like autumn leaves, causing the celestial powers to tremble. The entire order of creation will experience a profound disruption, after which Christ will dispatch His angels with trumpets to gather His elect from all corners of the earth.
And there will be signs in the sun, etc. Until now, the focus has been on the destruction of Jerusalem and the disasters that accompanied that tragic event. However, from this verse onward, while it still seems to reference those same disasters, the imagery expands in a way that hints at something even more significant. When we examine the analogous passages from the Savior's teaching in the Gospel of Matthew, it becomes clear that alongside the fall of Jerusalem, there is also an allusion to the second coming of Christ, which His disciples questioned about. The signs in the sun and so forth are more explicitly detailed in Matthew 24:3. The phrase ‘the despondency of the nations and perplexity’ is a unique expression found only in the Gospel of Luke and the verses that follow.
This despondency and confusion overwhelm people as if it were an instinctive reaction, evoking a dark, restless sense of impending doom, something fearful and decisive. The image of ‘the sea shall make a tumult and be troubled’ depicts the greatest chaos in humanity; disasters will descend upon the earth like a flood, akin to a turbulent sea.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 21 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS