The Darkening of the Sun and the Moon in the Bible

First of all, the sun and the moon are very important because, in addition to their source of light, they are signs for the people of the earth about the passage of time and times (Genesis 1:14), i.e. eras, their changes, beginnings and endings. The darkening of the sun and the moon may therefore mean the beginning of a very dark period.

The darkenng of the sun and the moon is mentioned in the Bible a total of 11 times, 6 times in the Old Testament and 5 times in the New Testament. In six passages this is mentioned as taking place in connection with the Day of the (Wrath of the) LORD (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10), specifically before it begins (5, 10). At the same time with this event is also mentioned an earthquake (1, 4, 10), breaking down of the earth (2), earth’s displacement of its orbit (1, 2), the shaking of the (powers of the) heavens (1, 4, 7, 8a 8b), the rolling up of the heavens (10), the darkening of the stars (3, 4, 6, 11), the falling of the stars to the earth (7, 8a, 10), the roaring of the sea and the waves (8b) and the displacement of mountains and islands (10).

The probable cause of this phenomenon is the clouds (3, 4) and it is a sign (8b) of making the earth empty (1, 2) by exterminating its sinful inhabitants, so that only a few people remain (2) and of the transformation of the earth, because its inhabitants have defiled it by breaking the everlasting covenant (2). However, people are still urged to turn to God in repentance (4) and cry out for help in His name in order to be saved (5). The LORD then promises to be "hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel” (6) and is jealous in anger on behalf of his people, pitying, nourishing and protecting them (4, 6).

In the Book of Joel it is interestingly told that when the sun and the moon darken, a trumpet is blown to call the people to a solemn assembly. Then also the Bridegroom leaves his chamber and the Bride her closet (4). So they do not leave together from the same place. The reason for this event is that Israel is about to be attacked (4, 6). The LORD then roars in anger from his dwelling place so that the heavens and the earth shake (6) and the saved ones will be found in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem (5).

In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, the darkening of the sun and the moon is described as occurring after the days of the Abomination of Desolation (7, 8a) and (Great, 7) Tribulation (8a) or Distress (8b) and before the coming of the Son of Man in the clouds (7, 8a) or in a cloud (8b) to gather his Elect with the angels he sends (7, 8a). Matthew also mentions a Great Trumpet sounding at this time (7). Interestingly, Luke does not mention the Abomination of Desolation at all, but says that the escape of the Elect takes place when Jerusalem is about to be sieged and its destruction is near, and whence it will be given to the Gentiles to be trodden down until the times of the Gentile are fulfilled (8b).

In the Book of Revelation the darkening of the sun and the moon is mentioned twice, first at the sixth seal (10) and again at the sounding of the fourth trumpet (11). In the latter, the darkening affects only one-third of the shining of the sun and the moon per both day and night.

The darkening of the sun and moon at the sixth seal includes also other signs mentioned by the Prophets of the Old Testament and the Apostles of the New Testament and takes place at the beginning of the Day of Wrath of God and the Lamb (10), before the judgment of the earth with trumpets and bowls, and thus well in time before the Second Coming of Jesus to the earth. At the moment when the sixth seal is opened, every inhabitant of the earth will say in correspondance with the words of prophet Joel: ”who shall be able to stand?” (Rev. 6:17, Joel 2:11).

Conclusion:

The darkening of the sun and the moon in the Old Testament, the Gospels and at the sixth seal of the Book of Revelation are very likely descriptions of the one and the same event to which the other events of the End Times must be correctly propotioned.

Old Testament

1.

Isa. 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.

• Takes place in connection with the Day of the LORD (Isa. 13:9), the day of His wrath and fierce anger (Isa. 13:13), when God will "lay the land desolate: and … shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it” (Isa. 13:9)
• The shaking of the heavens and removing earth out of her place (Isa. 13:13)

2.

Isa. 24:23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

• Takes place in connection with the Day of the LORD, or "that day" (Isa. 24:21)
• Will devastate the earth, turn it upside down and disperse its inhabitants (Isa. 24:1) because they have defiled the earth and broken the everlasting covenant (Isa. 24:5)
• Only a few people will remain (Isa. 24:6)
• The windows from on high are opened and the foundations of the earth shaken (Isa. 24:18) so that the earth is dissolved (Isa. 24:19) and reels to and fro like a drunkard (Isa. 24:20)
• On that day, the LORD ”shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth” (Isa. 24:21) and they ”shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit … and after many days shall they be visited” (Isa. 24:22)
• Can be a reference to the New Heavens and Earth where God is the source of light (Rev. 22:5)

3.

Ezek. 32:7 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.

• Tells about the destruction of Egypt and its king, the Pharaoh (Ezek. 32:2), which will have a burial place with the numerous pagan nations that are slain with the sword (Ezek. 32:32)
• Cloud covers the sun, the stars are dark (Ezek. 32:7)

4.

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:

• Takes place in connection with the Day of the LORD, which is a day of clouds and thick darkness (Joel 2:1, 2) and on which the people are gathered and called for a solemn assembly (Joel 2:15, 16) by blowing the trumpet in Zion (Joel 2:1, 15)
• The Bridegroom leaves his chamber and the Bride from her closet (Joel 2:16)
• Because Israel is about to be attacked by ”a great people …there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it” (Joel 2:2)
• The stars will also be darkened, the earth will quake and the heavens tremble (Joel 2:10)
• It is said about the Day of the LORD that it is great and so terrifying that "who can abide it?” (Joel 2:11, cf. Rev. 6:17)
• People are ”also now”, when this event takes place, urged to turn to the LORD their God in repentance so that they could have mercy (Joel 2:12-14, 17)
• The LORD will be jealous for his land, protect his people and nourish them and have mercy on them in pity (Joel 2:18-20)

5.

Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

• Acording to the verse, takes place  before the Day of the LORD (Joel 2:31), when "whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered” and that the deliverance will be in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem (Joel 2:32)

6.

Joel 3:15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

• Takes place in connection with the Day of the LORD when Israel is about to be attacked (Joel 3:14)
• When the LORD roars from his dwelling place (Joel 3:17) so that the heavens and earth will shake (Joel 3:16) and the stars will withdraw their shining (Joel 3:15), but the LORD ”will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel” (Joel 3:16)
• Judah will be inhabited forever, but Egypt and Edom will be desolate because they attacked Judah (Joel 3:19-20)
• The LORD will cleanse the blood of Judah that he has not cleansed (Joel 3:21)

New Testament

7.

Matt. 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

• Takes place after the Abomination of Desolation (Matt. 24:15) and the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:21) before the appearance of the sign of the Son of Man in heaven and the coming of the Son of Man in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matt. 24:30) to gather his Elect with the angels he has sent while the sound of a great trumpet is heard (Matt. 24:31)
• The stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens will be shaken (Matthew 24:29)

8a.

Mark 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

• Takes place after the Abomination of Desolation (Mark 13:14) and after an uncomparable Tribulation (Mark 13:19) before the coming of the Son of Man in the clouds with great power and glory (Mark 13:26) to gather his Elect with the angels he has sent (Mark 13:27)
• The stars of heaven will fall and the powers that are in heaven will be shaken (Mark 13:25)

8b.

Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

• Speaks of signs instead of darkening, is comparable to Matt. 24:29 and Mark 13:24
• Takes place after the siege and desolation of Jerusalem (Luke 21:20) and after giving it to the Gentiles to be trodden down (Luke 21:24, cf. Rev. 11:2) and after the great distress in the land and the wrath upon Israel (Luke 21:23) and before the coming of the Son of Man in a cloud with power and great glory (Luke 21:27)
• Shaking of the powers of heaven (Luke 21:26) and roaring of the sea and waves (Luke 21:25)

9.

Acts 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

• Reference to the Book of Joel (Joel 2:31)

10.

Rev. 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

• Takes place when the Lamb opens the sixth seal (Rev. 6:12) in connection with the beginning of the great day of wrath of God and the Lamb (Rev. 6:16-17)
• Great earthquake (Rev. 6:12), the stars of heaven falling to the earth (Rev. 6:13), the heaven departing like a scroll being rolled together, every mountain and island moved out of their places (Rev. 6:14)

11.

Rev. 8:12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. 

• Takes place in connection with the soinding of the fourth trumpet and affects a third of the sun and the moon so that they do not give their light for a third of the night and day (Rev. 8:12)
• The stars also darken in a similar way (Rev. 8:12)