Topical Bible: The Stars: (Withdrawing Their Light) Severe Judgments

◄ The Stars: (Withdrawing Their Light) Severe Judgments ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical literature, the imagery of stars withdrawing their light is often associated with divine judgment and cataclysmic events. This motif is found throughout both the Old and New Testaments, symbolizing the disruption of the natural order as a sign of God's intervention in human affairs.

Old Testament Context

The prophetic books of the Old Testament frequently employ cosmic disturbances as metaphors for God's judgment. In Isaiah 13:10, the prophet declares, "For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light." This passage is part of a larger oracle against Babylon, illustrating the totality of God's judgment against nations that oppose His will.

Similarly, in Ezekiel 32:7-8, the Lord speaks against Egypt, saying, "When I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you, and I will bring darkness upon your land, declares the Lord GOD." Here, the withdrawal of celestial light signifies the downfall of a powerful nation under God's sovereign hand.

New Testament Revelation

The theme of stars withdrawing their light reaches its apocalyptic climax in the New Testament, particularly in the Book of Revelation. In Revelation 6:12-13, during the opening of the sixth seal, John records, "I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind."

This vivid imagery underscores the severity of God's final judgment upon the earth, marking the transition from the current age to the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. The darkening of celestial bodies serves as a harbinger of the Day of the Lord, a time when God's justice will be fully realized.

Theological Significance

The withdrawal of light from the stars and other celestial bodies in biblical prophecy serves as a powerful symbol of divine judgment. It reflects the disruption of creation's order, emphasizing the seriousness of sin and the certainty of God's righteous intervention. This imagery calls believers to repentance and faithfulness, reminding them of the transient nature of earthly powers and the enduring sovereignty of God.

In conclusion, the motif of stars withdrawing their light in Scripture is a profound representation of God's judgment. It serves as a warning to nations and individuals alike, urging them to align with God's purposes and to seek refuge in His grace. As such, it remains a compelling element of biblical eschatology, pointing to the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan for creation.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 13:10
For the stars of 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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 32:7
And when I shall put you 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.
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Joel 2:10
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:
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Joel 3:15
The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
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Library

Abram's Horror of Great Darkness.
... which period there was more than the withdrawing of his ... Look now toward heaven and
tell the stars, if thou ... sometimes walk in darkness, and have their hours of ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon v abrams horror of.htm

Acts xii. 1, 2
... thou look to the heavens studded with its stars, as with ... "But this was done for their
sakes for ... Peter was delivered into his hands, not withdrawing upon the ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxvi acts xii 1.htm

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
... ears, and act and do by the judgments of others ... of his mouth, he saith, 'The stars
of heaven ... the constellations thereof shall not give their light' (Isaiah 13:10 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm

The Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Judgment:
... his dearest friends are weary of him, stop their noses at ... The light is the glory
of the sun, strength is the ... even as bright as the sun, the stars, and angels. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the resurrection of the dead.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... leave their country.' The same severe penalty was ... ministry, sequestered, driven from
their livings, excommunicated ... A little gleam of heavenly light falls upon ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

Footnotes
... Farewell sun, moon and stars. ... had of the works of that worthy author already come
to light, upon the ... the Synod lets the matter fall out of their minutes." Id. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/footnotes.htm