Luke 21:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The sea will roar and be greatly disturbed; people will be overwhelmed with fear and anticipation of the disasters that are approaching the world. The sea will make a loud sound, and fear along with confusion will descend upon them, causing individuals to breathe heavily in dread and expectation of the troubles that await the cosmos. This passage clearly references the conclusion of the age. Earlier, it was stated that Jerusalem would be besieged and overrun by non-Jewish forces, and now, calamities are spoken of that will affect the entirety of creation. He is discussing the end times, for the heavenly powers will be shaken. What do I mean (He asks), that with the transformation of all creation, mankind will find themselves in distress? Even the angels and the principalities will be shaken and filled with dread at such a monumental shift in all that exists.

He then shifts His discourse from this topic to the final days of the world, stating, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and in the earth, of distress to the nations that are in perplexity; of the noise of the sea, and of the tumult thereof, when the souls of men depart; of fear and expectation of that which is coming upon the world: for the host of heaven shall be shaken.” Just as creation appears to undergo transformation, instilling an indescribable dread among the earthly inhabitants, a significant and terrifying tribulation will precede the departure of souls to death. The overwhelming fear of the impending events will be enough to cause the demise of many.

The signs of the Gospel and the prophetic messages that have unfolded before us indicate the approaching return of the Lord. The signs of His arrival have been made known through the Gospel according to St. Luke: "And Jerusalem shall be trampled upon by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be ended" (Lk 21:24). This has indeed come to pass, and there is a collective assurance that it has occurred. It is clear that there is no nation or location in our era that remains unshaken or unaffected, as it is stated, due to the dread and anticipation of the tribulations that will affect the world (Lk 21:26). Moreover, the signs that the Gospel outlines in earlier verses have largely already been realized.

Perhaps we anticipate that this is the manner in which the Lord will arrive and dwell, not only within individuals but throughout all creation. The presence of Christ is assured in those who embrace Him wholeheartedly. It is likely that the heavenly hosts at the second coming of our Lord and Savior—who is also the Lord of Hosts (Psalm 23:10)—will experience an overflow of grace and be filled with joy at the profound divine presence drawn so close to them.

He refers to His promised return. Likewise, examine Matthew for the meaning behind the passage, "And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give its light, and the stars shall fall from heaven," and the subsequent verses, and you will discover this as well.

For the imminent return of Christ, remain vigilant regarding your life. Ensure that your lamps are kept lit and your preparedness is unwavering, for the moment of our Lord’s arrival is unknown. Frequently gather to reflect on what nurtures your souls, for the time spent in faith is of no benefit unless you are found complete in the latter days. In those times, the number of false prophets and deceivers will increase, turning the faithful into hunters, and love will be replaced by animosity. As lawlessness escalates, individuals will harbor hatred toward one another, betraying and persecuting each other.

What does the Almighty refer to as the celestial powers, if not as angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities, and authorities? At the arrival of the Just Judge, these beings will manifest before us to seek a detailed accounting of what the unseen Creator has graciously allowed us to undertake.

After illustrating a series of terrifying events, the Lord emphasized the imminent reality of God's severe judgment concerning Jerusalem. He stated, "As for Jerusalem, the certainty of its destruction approaches, for, in accordance with the words of Daniel, the abomination of desolation will be set up in the holy place. Then, anyone who wishes to escape the impending ruin must abandon Judea without delay. Those who choose to remain will face tribulation unlike anything the world has ever known." He warned of the emergence of false messiahs, urging not to believe in them. The Son of Man will be revealed like lightning, not confined to a specific location or appearance, but will embody the judgment of God (Matthew 24:15-28). His glory will be fully manifested when the end of the age arrives (29-31).

The conclusion of this present age will entail the thorough obliteration of its existing structure, leading to a total transformation (cf. 2 Pet. 3:10, 12, 13). As this profound disturbance of the visible world commences, signs shall manifest in the celestial bodies, and the seas will surge and be troubled upon the earth (Lk.). At that time, there will be distress among the nations and confusion; people will be overwhelmed with fear and anticipation of the disasters impending upon 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 are stirred by their sins.

And at that moment, following the trials of those days, the sun will be obscured, the moon will cease to illuminate, the stars will tumble from the heavens, and the forces of the sky will be disturbed. These statements must be interpreted as referring to the period after the temple's and Jerusalem's destruction; however, the precise timing of the end of the age remains uncertain and will be marked by striking natural phenomena: the sun’s light will fade, the moon will no longer reflect luminosity, and the earth will quake to the extent that it appears stars are falling from the sky, along with the shaking of the heavenly powers. It remains ambiguous whether this signifies the end of the entire cosmos or just the terrestrial realm; thus, various interpretations can arise.

While the exact moment of the Lord's return and the culmination of the age remain a mystery even to the heavenly hosts, certain indicators can help us discern how close these monumental events are. At that time, the sun and the moon will be obscured, the stars will tumble like autumn leaves, and the celestial realms will be disturbed. There will be a widespread upheaval in the established order of the world, and then Christ will dispatch His angels with trumpets to gather His elect from the four corners of the earth.

People will wear away: they will not physically perish, but rather find themselves in a state of deep discouragement, exhaustion, and a sense of despair as they await the ominous occurrences that are soon to unfold in creation. - The celestial forces will be unsettled: refer to the commentary on Matthew 24:29.