Are the sun, moon, and stars in Revelation in
reference to the literal sun, moon, and the stars (Revelation 6:12, 8:12, and
12:1)?
Day 10
B. Hodge, Biblical Authority Ministries, May 27, 2020
The
context indicates something that yields a metaphorical nature. Here are the
verses in question:
Revelation 6:12 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.
Revelation 8:12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of
the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a
third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the
night.
Revelation 12:1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman
clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland
of twelve stars. (NKJV)
Phrases
such as the “woman clothed with the sun”, the “moon became like blood”, the
“sun became black”, a “third of the sun was stuck and it only shown a third of
the day”, help us realize that this needs to be interpreted by other Scriptures
and not in a “wooden” literal sense.
Acts 2:20 nearly mimics where the “the sun shall be turned into darkness, And the
moon into blood”. The Gospel accounts in the context of tribulation and the Temple’s
and Jerusalem’s destruction say:
Matthew 24:29
"Immediately after the 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.
Mark 13:24-25
"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be
darkened, and the moon will not give its light; "the stars of heaven will fall,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Luke 21:25
"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; (NKJV)
But
this is still not the first metaphorical use of Sun, Moon, and Stars. Such
things were prophesied previously by Joel in 2:10; 2:31; and 3:15. Other
prophets use this imagery as well such as Isaiah in 13:10. So where is this
imagery from? The answer is in Genesis. The first use of a metaphorical nature
of the Sun, Moon, and Stars is:
Genesis 37:9-10
Then he dreamed still another dream and told
it to his brothers, and said, "Look, I have dreamed another dream. And
this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me." So
he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father [Israel] rebuked him
and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your
mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before
you?" (NKJV)
This
image of Israel (i.e., Jacob and the twelve tribes) were seen as the sun, moon,
and stars collectively. So the meaning reveals itself that Israel will be
darkened (e.g., Matthew 21:33-44, Matthew 23:31-39) and turned to blood as Jesus indicated would
happen with their destruction.
