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One of the most significant signs concerning the Sun and the Moon are the signs
of the Day of the Lord. Let’s look at some of them. In Isaiah 13:10 the scripture speaks of the day of the Lord
and judgment of the sinners on the earth. Verse 10 says "For the stars in heaven and the constellations thereof
shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light
to shine." This scripture is typical of many others that speak of the day of the Lord but notice here that
the sun is referred to ‘his’ and the moon is referred to ‘her’. In part one of this study I mentioned that there
is good reason to believe that the sun is also symbolic of the Messiah and the moon is symbolic of the redeemed.
The redeemed is also known as the bride of Christ and thus the feminine expression of the moon. Besides the physical
darkening of the sun and the moon during God’s judgment of the earth there will be also a spiritual darkness that
covers the earth. The Messiah and the redeemed and the light they produced will be removed from the earth. Perhaps
this begins after the rapture.
In Ezekiel chapter 32 the Lord speaks against Pharaoh king of Egypt and tells of a terrible judgment coming against
him and the land. Verse seven says "And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars
thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light." The word ‘cover’
in Hebrew (kawsaw) also means to conceal or to hide. Again we see physical darkness but also spiritual darkness
as God hides the sun (Messiah) from Egypt which also represents the world. This chapter had partial fulfillment
during the time of the Babylonians but not totally, so complete fulfillment of this chapter is yet to come.
In Joel chapter 2 we see the horrible army of judgment coming upon the earth. In verse 10 it says "The earth
shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw
their shining." We do not know who this army is although some say it may be the redeemed. I doubt this because
it is during the Day of the Lord and of great destruction on the earth. The redeemed will not return until the
Messiah comes back which is after the terrible destruction. This would be a good time to mention that some writers
say that the sun, moon, and the stars are darkened because of man’s weapons such as nuclear bombs will cause debris
to fill the air and block the sunlight. This is a possibility but we must remember that Joel chapter two says that
the sun and moon turn dark when this supernatural army attacks the earth. I believe that the sun and moon will
turn dark because of supernatural events and not due to weapons of men. Another reason I believe this is because
of Joel 2:31. It says "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and
the terrible day of the LORD come." The sun being dark and the moon being blood red is a sign of the beginning
or just prior to the day of the Lord. Another thing to consider is that if the sun is made dark due to debris in
the sky, then there is no way that the moon will shine at all let alone blood red. The amount of debris needed
to completely darken the sun will certainly block any light from the moon. Now, why does one verse say that the
moon will be dark and the next says it will be blood red. Blood can represent judgment, persecution as well as
redemption. Maybe this is just another way the Lord is warning the earth of its judgment or perhaps to show the
redemption of the redeemed. It is interesting to note that in Revelation 6:12 the sun becomes black and the moon
becomes as blood. Chapter six of Revelation is the martyr chapter. So it is possible that the blood moon is also
an indication of the martyrdom of the tribulation saints. Verse 17 of the same chapter indicates that the wrath
of the Lamb has begun.
Joel 3:15 also says that the sun and the moon will turn dark when the inhabitants of the earth are gathered in
the valley of decision which is the valley of Jehoshaphat near Jerusalem. This happens just prior to the Lord’s
coming. Here the Lord will plead with the gentile nations over his people Israel whom they have scattered among
the nations and parted his land. This will be the final judgment before the reign of the Messiah. This could be
the goat and sheep judgment of Matthew 25.
Another possibility of the darkening of the sun and the moon is that the brightness of the coming of the Messiah
will blot out the sun and the moon. In Matthew 24:29, Mark 13:24, and Luke 21:25 we see that the sun and moon are
darkened just prior to the appearance of the Son of man coming with power and great glory.
So we see how the darkening of the sun and moon are signs of the Lord’s coming and judgment on the earth. What
other signs do we see in the sun and the moon?
The sun and the moon also represent the covenant of God. Psalm 89:34-37 says this, "My covenant will I not
break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto
David. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as
the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven." The sun and the moon are faithful witnesses to the promises
of God. The next time you are warmed by the sun or admire a full moon, remember His faithfulness.
In Isaiah 60:19-20 we read "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon
give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall
no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the
days of thy mourning shall be ended." The Lord will be our light in his kingdom and we will have no need of
light because he will provide all the light we will need. Notice that the sun and the moon will not move anymore.
Something supernatural will take place here. All time will cease. It appears that maybe the earth will stand still.
Spiritually speaking, if the sun represents the Messiah and the moon his redeemed, then their presence will always
be shining never taken from the earth even for a short while.
In the last part of the book of Revelation we are told that there will be a new earth and heaven. Actually, the
earth and the heaven above the earth will go through some changes. Isaiah 30:26 tells us that the sun and the moon
will go through some great changes. "Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and
the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach
of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound." The sun and the moon will be seven times brighter when
the LORD completes his deliverance and redemption of man. When the redeemed come into their glorified state they
will indeed shine as the stars in heaven. If the moon shines like the sun then it is saying it will be equal to
the sun. Remember what the Bible says, we shall be like him (1 John 3:2) and we will be joint heirs with him (Romans
8:17). The sun and moon will become as one. What a glorious time that will be. He has done the work for us and
will crown us with glory because of His love for us. The next time a new moon begins to appear in the sky, look
at the tiny sliver of light. It is like us when we first begin to believe. As the days go the moon gets fuller
and fuller and brighter and brighter. Again, as we abide in Him we get brighter and brighter until we reach our
fullness.
To sum up this teaching, we must remember never to boast, our light is only because of the Him. The moon without
the sun is dark.
The same is for us. "Without the Messiah, we are nothing but an empty dark body."
Shalom ~
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