The Day The Sun Goes Dark – Solar Eclipse 2024

Sermon Title: The Day The Sun Goes Dark – God’s Doing

Good News Statement: Jesus reveals to us his fulfilled promise of coming back

Preached: Sunday, April 07, 2024 at Dogwood Prairie and Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Matthew 24:29-31 Today’s scripture reading comes from the Gospel of Matthew. In this account, we read of total darkness, “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,” when the Son of Man returns. This event is sort of like the Solar Eclipse that will soon bring darkness and curiosity to our life. Let’s read Matthew Chapter Twenty-Four, verses Twenty-nine thru Thirty-nine. May the hearing and reading of this scripture add understanding and meaning to your life.

 

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁹ “Immediately after the suffering of those days

the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from heaven,
and the powers of heaven will be shaken.

³⁰ “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory. ³¹ And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

Introduction:

We are just a little over a day away from experiencing a moment in history that is out of this world. The last time we experienced something similar was in August 2017. In just a little over a day, the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and slivers of Michigan and Tennessee in addition to 32 million people will experience a few minutes of complete darkness during the afternoon. Overall, 652 million people (652,000,000) will be able to witness this historical event that won’t happen in the United States again until August 2044 and won’t pass directly over our area again until 2121. What is this event that I am talking about? It’s an event that many of us have been preparing for and hearing about for several months. It’s Solar Eclipse 2024: a Day that the Sun went dark.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, blocking all or part of the sun’s light from reaching Earth. These alignments happen because of the orbits of the Earth, moon, and sun, which periodically align in such a way that the moon’s shadow falls on Earth. Some areas of North America will be in the “path of totality” for the eclipse that will be taking place on Monday, April 8^th. That means people in those areas will experience a total solar eclipse. In a total solar eclipse, the moon completely covers the sun, casting a shadow on the Earth and plunging areas within the path of totality into darkness and cooler temperatures. Totality only lasts for a few minutes. But that small amount of time features big dramatic changes and sights.

Observers can witness the sky grow dark as if it’s nighttime during the daytime. When the moon is covering the sun, people can see the sun’s corona (the outer atmosphere of the sun) glowing brightly around the dark silhouette of the moon. Those who are watching the eclipse outside the path of totality will experience a partial solar eclipse, in which the moon covers only a portion of the sun’s disk. They will see a partial shadow on the Earth – depending on their location, which determines the extent of how much the moon covers the sun. Here, in our area, we will be blessed to witness a total solar eclipse.

Throughout human history, people have interpreted eclipses in a diverse variety of ways. In many ancient societies, people viewed eclipses as manifestations of spiritual forces of good and evil.[1] One of the earliest recorded accounts of attempts to predict solar eclipses dates back to the ancient Chinese Shang dynasty, starting with a solar eclipse that happened in 2137 BCE. Chinese astronomers meticulously documented celestial events—including eclipses—and associated them with the actions of cosmic beings. Eclipses were seen as omens of change, with their occurrence signaling shifts in political leadership or a society’s fortunes.

The ancient Mayan people also kept track of solar eclipses, and they saw eclipses as signs of the struggle between good and evil. In ancient Babylon, the people also kept detailed records of eclipses, which they interpreted as bad omens for rulers.[2] In ancient Greece, the historian Herodotus reported how the ancient Greeks stopped a battle between the Lydians and the Medes during a solar eclipse because they interpreted it as a sign from the gods. During medieval times in Europe, people often viewed eclipses as signs of God’s judgment or intervention.[3] Eclipses continued to captivate the imaginations of scholars, artists, and theologians throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance period. Leonardo da Vinci and Johannes Kepler both studied eclipses, seeking to understand their underlying causes and cosmic significance. Artists like Michelangelo and Raphael incorporated eclipse imagery into their paintings, using celestial events as symbols of God’s power and transcendence. In more recent history, eclipses have played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of the universe. British astronomer Sir Arthur Eddington famously observed a total solar eclipse in 1919, confirming Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity and revolutionizing our understanding of gravity.

Today, eclipses continue to spark curiosity and inspire wonder. The solar eclipse that will appear in the sky over North America on April 8, 2024, is a special celestial event that many people are anticipating with excitement. As we look forward to enjoying the 2024 eclipse, let us be reminded that any eclipse reflects God’s glorious creative power. The Bible declares in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” As Christian viewers of this event, we must ask ourselves, “What does a solar eclipse teach us about our faith and the works of God?”

Body:

As I stood outside on the campus grounds of where I attended undergrad, witnessing, with over 2,500 persons on a humid August day in 2017, the afternoon going dim, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Will I experience something like this again?” The temperature dropped, night conquered the day, nocturnal insects were heard near the slough, and there was stillness in the air. People of all races, ethnicities, political ideologies, differing backgrounds, and conflicting majors, stood as one common people looking up to the sky hoping to see something historical and out of this world. For a few minutes in August, a college campus was in unity.

Now, I will be honest with you, science isn’t my strong suit. Being in an astrology course at the time of the 2017 Solar Eclipse with those who were majoring in some varied form of science was truly a blessing. They were saying things that not even those broadcasting the event were saying. However, as some of my classmates were explaining, in great detail using scientific theories, about what just happened, literally, before their very eyes, all I could mustard together was, “That was really cool! The sun went dark! I’m glad I wore a sweatshirt today!” Even though I couldn’t explain in great detail what happened scientifically, I was able to explain how that event affected my life: it made me define something that caught my attention in terms that I could understand and not forget.

Even though I wasn’t a science major, I still wondered how the solar eclipse could be viewed through the lenses of another major. Being a religion and sociology major, I began asking myself, “Does the Bible record anything like this in which caught the attention of the people?” While the Bible does not specifically mention solar eclipses, it contains passages that speak to the significance of celestial phenomena like solar eclipses. This is what I found. The Bible presents phenomena in the sky as manifestations of God’s power and sovereignty over the natural world He has created. In the Old Testament, the book of Genesis describes God’s creation of the heavens and the Earth with order and beauty. Genesis 1:14-18 reports: “And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.’ And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.” This passage highlights God’s purpose for creating the sun, moon, and stars.

Some Bible scholars point to biblical passages that describe periods of darkness as possible references to solar eclipses. For example, in Amos 8:9, God mentions a day when “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.” Also, Joel 2:31 says: “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.”[4] The Gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion describe a period of darkness that enveloped the land, coinciding with our Savior’s death on the cross. Matthew 27:45 reports: “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.” This miraculous sign emphasizes the cosmic significance of Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity’s redemption.[5] So, while the Bible may not provide explicit commentary on solar eclipses, it does feature passages that show us the spiritual significance of celestial events such as eclipses.

Returning to the Gospel of Matthew, the Gospel of Matthew is often a text that is brought to the surface when we hear of any solar eclipse taking place. Why? Because Matthew notes that the “sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light” when, after those suffering days, Jesus will fulfill his promise left in the tomb by the folded cloth (John 20:7) when he returns to his people. People believe that every solar eclipse is a sign of Jesus’ Second Coming, of Jesus’ return. Ironically, this year’s solar eclipse will pass through several towns that are named Nineveh: that town that Jonah fled from but was led back to so save the people from their wicked ways; and it will complete the sign of the Alpha across the nation. As absurd as these coincidences may sound, maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the message or warning that comes when the sun is darkened and the moon does not give its light. Did Matthew encounter a solar eclipse? What is Matthew trying to tell us when the sun goes dark?

Movement One: The End of the Tribulation (v. 29).

Jesus begins by telling us when these events will occur; “Immediately after the suffering of those days . . .” or in other translations, “after the tribulation of those days. The “tribulation” that Jesus speaks of here is the period of time he described in detail in verses 15-28—that future period he called “great tribulation” in verse 22. It will be the time that the Bible describes elsewhere as one in which the “man of sin” (the Antichrist) will rise to world dominance; and which will be characterized by unprecedented suffering for both the Jewish people and for those who follow Jesus the Messiah. It’s a time that will be cut short by the return of our Lord, and by the outpouring of God’s righteous wrath on those who sinfully rebel against Him. Those who oppose the word of God, who sinfully rebel against Him, will experience darkness.

However, we are given a warning. As Paul tells us very clearly in 1 Thessalonians 5:9, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” But just a few verses before that, Paul also told the Thessalonian believers that they should not be shaken by the afflictions and persecutions they were undergoing; “for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know” (1 Thessalonians 3:3-4). We will suffer, but we will not suffer as much as those who continue to rebel against the wondrous works of God.

A solar eclipse is a reminder that suffering will be experienced in our life, the darkness will conquer our light, but that the Lord will come to remove our suffering as the light returns. Let’s commit ourselves to walking faithfully with Him, no matter what. And in it all, let’s remember what our Lord promises: that when the great tribulation is over, the time of His return will have come, his light will shine brighter than ever!

Movement Two: The Disturbance in the Heavens (v. 29)

He says; “Immediately after the suffering/tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” It’s almost as if, before he returns to this world, he pauses first to give the universe a vigorous ‘shake’ (see Haggai 2:6-7).

Now, these words are describing something astonishing. And many Bible teachers and scholars have assumed that they must be speaking of something figurative or symbolic. But I believe they are describing something very literal.

For one thing, the description our Lord gives is of something that seems to be mentioned in many different places in prophetic Scripture concerning the coming Day of the Lord. I find it hard to believe that something mentioned so often in Scripture—and often in nearly the same terms—is meant to be taken symbolically. For example, Isaiah 13:9-10 says, “For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine.” Similarly, in Joel 2:30-32 God says,

“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth….The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood….” Joel 3:14-16 also says; “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness…. The heavens and earth will shake….”

For another thing, Jesus speaks of the reaction to these remarkable events as if they were literal. Luke, in his Gospel, has it that our Lord said, “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26).

What Matthew writes about is not metaphorical, but something literal. And it’s fascinating that on April 8^th, what Matthew notes and what Isaiah and Joel prophesy will take place: the sun will go dark from our stand point and the moon will not shine. It will only last a few minutes, but in those few minutes is Jesus trying to tell us something?

Movement Three: The Appearance of the Sign (v.30)

Jesus tells us, “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven”—or, as it is in the New International Version, “in the sky”. The name “Son of Man” (Daniel 7:13) identifies Jesus not only as divine, but also as fully human. As the Son of God who took full humanity to himself (Philippians 2:7), he alone is worthy to be recognized as the divine Head of the human race—and thus to be the Son of Man.

But what is the “sign” that he speaks of?[6] Some of the early church fathers believed it would be something like what the Roman emperor Constantine said that he saw—the sign of the cross in the sky, with the words from God, “In this sign, you will conquer.” Others have suggested that it will be a kind of “banner”—much like what a conquering king would raise at the time of a conquest. Some others say that it is the cataclysmic events in the heavens that we just read about. And still others suggest that it is Christ himself—that he, in his coming, is his own “sign”: the revealing of himself.

In the end, no one can know for sure what this sign will be until it is finally revealed. But I have confidence that whatever it is, it will clearly be ‘his sign’. And no one will misunderstand its meaning—that the Son of Man is now about to appear on earth and begin His glorious reign. All the earth will know of His return. Could this solar eclipse be a sign of his returning? Could it be a sign for us to begin preparing for his return? After all, when the solar eclipses of 2017, 2023, and 2024 are mapped out upon the U.S., they form what is called “Aleph Tav” in Hebrew which means the “beginning and the end.” Maybe Jesus is giving us a sign through this solar eclipse that something is beginning, that his return is in the works?

Movement Four: The Wailing of the Nations (v. 30)

Perhaps it is something about the “sign” of the Son of Man that they see that causes the people of the nations to wail. But in any case, we’re told, “and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn . . .” I believe we should understand this “mourning” in at least two ways. In Zechariah 12:10, we’re told that, when the Lord makes His return to Jerusalem, “then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” So, for the Jewish people, this will be a mourning and wailing of repentance over having crucified their King.

But it won’t be a mourning of “repentance” for all. For the majority of the people of the earth, it will be a time of wailing in fear. The Apostle John, in the Book of Revelation, writes, “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood…. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’” (Revelation 6:12-17).

When the sun goes dark, people will mourn because they seek repentance and will wail in fear because the day has come. When the sun goes dark on April 8^th, don’t mourn and don’t wail in fear, but lift up your voice with joy knowing that those few moments of darkness aren’t enough to keep the sun from fully shining. Behind the moon, is a sun that shines brightly in your life. Those who mourn and wail don’t know where they are going when Jesus returns; but for those who rejoice they realize there is light behind the darkness, and that light is Jesus Christ who has come to take them home to the land of glory where the streets are paved with gold and the river flows through the tree of life. For this solar eclipse, stand in awe and joy as you remember that the light of Christ overcomes any amount of darkness. Although there are times for weeping and mourning, there are also times of gladness and celebrating.

Movement Five: The Arrival of the Son of Man (v. 30)

Verse 30 continues, the tribes of the earth, we’re told, then “we will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” “Clouds” are symbolic of Jesus’ heavenly majesty. We’re told that, when he was transfigured before His disciples on the mountain one evening, “a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5). Later, when he ascended to his Father as the disciples watched, “He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). In Daniel’s vision of the Son of Man, he appeared “coming with the clouds of heaven” (Daniel 7:13). And now, we’re told that he comes to this earth “on the clouds of heaven”! What majesty! What glory! What divine wonder! And note too that he comes “with power and great glory”.[7]

When he left this earth from the Mount of Olives two-thousand years ago, he left in great humility. But how different it will be when he returns to set foot upon it again! This upcoming solar eclipse is a glimpse into the glory, majesty, and divine wonder that surrounds Jesus’ return. Although Jesus will return to this earth “on the clouds of heaven,” we hope that there will be no clouds when the solar eclipse blesses our curiosity of God’s good works because we want to witness the glory and wonder of this historic event created within God’s eternal plan as a means for us to truly respect the majesty and serenity of how Jesus will return for his people. Jesus leaves in clouds, returns with clouds, and gives us opportunities to bask in his glory and majesty!

Movement Six: The Sound of the Trumpet (v. 31)

The text continues, Jesus says, “And he will send his angels with a loud or great sound of a trumpet . . .” What an affirmation of his own great authority! He doesn’t simply request that the angels go. He sends them. And he doesn’t simply claim to send “the angels”, as if they were not his. Rather, he says that he will send “His angels”! They go out at his command, accompanied with a “great sound of a trumpet”. And it’s with that trumpet blast that the saints become glorified. The saints who are asleep in their graves will arise; and those who live will be transformed. Paul tells us, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).[8]

For the Jewish people in the Old Testament times, the sound of the trumpet blast had a special significance besides being changed. It represented the announcement of the year of Jubilee. Every fiftieth year, on the Day of Atonement, “liberty” was to be proclaimed throughout the land (see Leviticus 25:8-9). All people who were in debt would have their debts canceled. All people who had lost their homes or their property were allowed to return and take possession of their inheritance once again. This trumpet blast will be a dreadful sound of judgment to many. But I believe it will be a joyous sound to the saints! Their Redeemer has come; and they are now about to enter into the joy of the inheritance of their Lord!

As much as some of you are praying right now that this solar eclipse is a sign of the Jubilee Year and because of this event your debts will be paid, I’m sorry to say that that is very unlikely to happen. But what is likely to happen is what the Jubilee allowed the people to do: it allowed the people, it called the people together from all parts of the nation, to celebrate and sound the trumpet of God’s working in their life. Prior to the moon coming between the earth and the sun, people are in a state of worry and chaos; during the darkness, people are praying to see the light; and once the moon is no longer between the earth and the sun, the people are celebrating that the light has returned and new life has been ministered to them. There is joy! There is celebration! There is awe! And there will be a Jubilee once the solar eclipse enters our life because it is invite us to sound the trumpets and praise God for returning the light.

Movement Seven: The Gathering of the Elect (vs. 31)

Lastly, Jesus says that he sends his angels with the great sound of the trumpet, “and they will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” He sends them forth into the north, the south, the east, and the west—unto every part of the globe. Not one of His saints will be forgotten—no matter where they are.

Although this soon to happen solar eclipse will pass over us, in our “neck of the woods,” it will be viewed by millions of people. People north of us will see it. People south of us will see it. Even people east and west of us will see it. Millions of people will witness, at different times of the day, this historical event that won’t happen again until 2044 and again in our region until 2099 and then again in 2121. Because of televised news, social media, and the internet, billions of people, around the world—unto every part of the globe—will see what we have been planning to witness for several months.

The solar eclipse, although regionally specific will be viewed all over the world. This solar eclipse is a powerful reminder that what God creates, what Jesus commands his angels to do, and what the Holy Spirit proclaims needs to be cherished in our heart and mind so that we can share about it with others in the future. People will be talking about this event, especially here, for decades to come; and when the chatter fades, people will talk about it again when the next one hovers above us. Not one of his saints will be forgotten. Even though this event will last a few minutes, in the grand scheme of things, it will last for many, many years. We need to treat the solar eclipse like we treat the word of God: receive it today and live it out and talk about it for many, many years, and making sure no one is forgotten. Everyone needs to witness the word of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

Solar eclipses make God’s awe-inspiring power evident. They serve as tangible reminders of our Creator’s power, creativity, and sovereignty over the universe. When we witness a solar eclipse, we are witnessing a celestial dance that God has choreographed with meticulous precision. The intricate alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth – and the perfect synchronization of their movements – reflects God’s wise design for creation.

The experience of watching a solar eclipse is humbling. Psalm 8:3-4 asks God: “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” Eclipses remind us of God’s great love for us, even though we are just small parts of the vast universe. As we look up to watch the upcoming solar eclipse, we can discover the wonder of God’s work in a dramatic way. The spectacle of the eclipse can inspire us to marvel at God’s infinite wisdom and creativity, reaffirming our faith in God as the wonderful Creator of the universe.

Witnessing an eclipse can move us to pray and meditate on God’s wonder. As Psalm 145:5 says of God: “They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty – and I will meditate on your wonderful works.” While we watch the upcoming eclipse, we’ll be filled with awe that can motivate us to move closer to God. An eclipse lasts only a brief moment in time. But the spiritual growth we can experience from moving closer to God afterward will benefit our souls for forever.

As we eagerly anticipate the upcoming solar eclipse, let’s approach it with a sense of reverence that helps us discover Jesus’ return in our life. The solar eclipse of 2024 is more than the moon passing in front of the sun and casting a shadow upon the earth. It is a reminder of how scripture tells us how Jesus will return: “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light….”It is a reminder that we, too, will go from living in the light, to being shadowed by Satan’s greed, to finding the light of Christ again. It is a reminder that no amount of darkness can keep us from experiencing today the returning of Christ’s redeeming light and love in our life. This will be a powerful reminder of what John tells us in his opening to his gospel about Jesus: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

Marvel at this wonderful creation. Glorify with those around you. And take to heart what this event tells you about Jesus’ return in your life. Jesus is coming, but are you ready? Maybe this solar eclipse, and those prior, are reminders that Jesus is still looking out for us and reminding us that he is still working miracles in our life. The Day the Sun goes Dark…what does it mean to you? Let it be so…

 

Communion Transition:

To remind ourselves of Jesus’ return, of his light conquering the darkness, let us remind ourselves of how we can experience the light of him in our life. Through his last meal with his disciples, Jesus offered a promise that our sins are forgiven and that he will be coming back. Please join me as I celebrate Holy Communion in the presence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

Benediction:

As the hours continue to get less and less until Solar Eclipse 2024, remember to take some time to think about how this historical event could be a reminder given to us by Jesus Christ that he is planning his return; and are you ready? In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, go living a life blessed by his light, embraced by his love, and encouraged by his return. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

[1] Solar eclipses have held profound significance for various cultures and civilizations, leading to the development of people who call themselves “Solar Eclipse Chasers”.

[2] Babylonian astronomers developed sophisticated mathematical models to track the movements of celestial bodies, laying the groundwork for modern astronomy.

[3] They sometimes interpreted the sudden darkness that accompanied a solar eclipse as a warning of impending disaster or a call to repentance.

[4] Some scholars interpret this verse as a prophecy of future apocalyptic events that feature celestial signs before God’s judgment and renewal. Furthermore, there had been darkness on the earth before. When God punished Pharaoh there had been darkness. It is a sign of God’s punishment. God shows us that we have done wrong. He sometimes uses physical signs to do this.

[5] However, there is no natural reason for this darkness, as some scholars propose. Jesus died during the Feast of Passover. This was a very important holy holiday for the Jews. They remembered the time when God rescued them from Egypt. The Feast of Passover always happened at the time of the full moon. An eclipse cannot happen at full moon. An eclipse is a rare event when the moon hides the light from the sun.  Also, an eclipse would not last for three hours.

[6] In the New Testament, “sign” (sēmeion) refers to a miracle that figuratively represents something else, such as the kingdom of God. The miracles of Jesus were signs, authenticating his ministry and revealing him to be the Messiah and Son of God. However, is the sign that Jesus is talking about a revealing of who he is?

[7] Revelation 19:11-16 describe His coming in these words: Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

[8] Elsewhere, he writes; For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).