But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
The LORD today begins in Mark 13:24 & 25, the title verses, speaking of the moment, referring us to the context of Isaiah 13:10 & 34:4, from where He is here quoting. The above is followed by His saying, THEN (once it’s understood there is no light, no understanding, in the church {sun}, or in civil government {moon}, or in God’s people {the fallen stars of heaven}) SHALL THEY SEE the son of man coming in the clouds (where understanding is held after its elements left the earth, and from where it’s returned in this latter rain) with great power and glory.
Mark 13
19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
20 And except that the LORD had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he has chosen, he has shortened the days.
21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ [when they shall say to you, “my preacher is anointed, and he speaks for God”]; or, lo, he is there; believe him not [because they are all fallen stars]:
22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise [have risen], and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
23 But take you heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened [is now seen as ignorant – without light], and the moon shall not give her light [there is no understanding in civil government],
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall [because they have been taught and mislead by those without light, and they have therefore fallen from their fixed positions in heaven], and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken [and removed].
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds [sending understanding from there as this latter rain] with [manifesting God’s] great power and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels [the first fruit of the elect, with His true words], and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves [budding as Arron’s rod budded, as the almond tree, the first to bud after winter {after the long sleep}], you know that summer is near:
29 So you in like manner, when you shall see these things [do you see these things now shown to you as only the LORD can] come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
30 Truly I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
In this context, understand this word of the LORD, through Isaiah, as He speaks of this time when the son of man must be lifted up, and through him the voice of the LORD exalted. This is the time when His great power and glory are manifested to those who see and hear Him.
Isaiah 13
1 The burden of Babylon [the land of confusion produced by the misleading of false prophets and deceivers], which Isaiah [who Jehovah has saved] the son of Amoz [by returning His strength to them] did see [understand].
2 Lift you up a banner [nec – the pole upon which the brazen serpent is raised, so all can understand and be saved from the deadly venom of the wicked deceivers among them] upon the high mountain, EXALT the voice [qowl] unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.
3 I have commanded my sanctified ones [the gathered elect], I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.
4 The noise [qowl- the voice of understanding] of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise [qowl – the voices of deception and confusion] of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts musters the host of the battle.
5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
6 Howl you; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt:
8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travails: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light [none of God’s people shall have this knowledge]: the sun shall be darkened [the church shall be in a state also ignorant of this time] in his going forth, and the moon [the civil governments shall also be ignorant and without the ways and ideas of the LORD, His peace, and true civilization] shall not cause her light to shine [nagahh].
11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
12 I will make a man more precious [yaqar – referring us to Psalms 139:17, telling us what makes a man precious, saying, “How precious also are your thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!”] than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove [ra’ash – be shaken] out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
14 And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man takes up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.
15 Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword.
16 Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.
17 Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.
18 Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children.
19 And Babylon [the confusion, by deception, turned mass-delusion controlling the world], the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency [those who use their words to deceive, manipulate, and control the world], shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian [those who have brought the darkness and who trust in their power to do so] pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.
21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls [those who hunt souls in the darkness] shall dwell there, and satyrs [sa’iyr – the devils as misleading he goats among God’s people] shall dance there.
22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons [those who devour with venom hidden in their words] in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.
As we know, Isaiah 34 is one of the three places the Hebrew words tohuw and bohuw are used together. They are there rendered “confusion” and “emptiness” in telling of the LORD measuring the earth’s condition and finding these as its foundation and upon it what is built. They are rendered “without form, and void” in Genesis 1:2 and Jeremiah 4:23, both telling of the condition of the world, without light, before the LORD again sends it as His Spirit moves upon the darkened waters.
Jeremiah 4
20 Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.
21 How long shall I see the standard [nec – upon which the son man has been lifted up], and hear the sound of the trumpet [and the voice of the archangel]?
22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form [tohuw], and void [bohuw]; and the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.
27 For thus has the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
Isaiah 33
20 Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: your eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.
21 But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.
22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.
23 Your tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail [nec]: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.
24 And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.
Isaiah 34
1 Come near, you nations, to hear; and hearken, you people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.
2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he has utterly destroyed them, he has delivered them to the slaughter.
3 Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcasses, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falls off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
5 For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea [Edom – the enemies mixed among us], and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.
6 The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah [among His flock, to separate them from the enemies mixed among them], and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea [the government of Edom {Esau} who are mixed among God’s people. These are the dead mixed among the living, ruling us by their ways of death: their pillars of deceit and violence].
7 And the unicorns [rulers] shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.
8 For it is the day of the LORD’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.
9 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.
10 It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up forever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it forever and ever.
11 But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion [tohuw – without form], and the stones of emptiness [bohuw – and void].
12 They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.
13 And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be a habitation of dragons [tan], and a court for owls.
14 The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr [sa’iyr – the misleaders, he-goats, devils] shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.
15 There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.
16 Seek you out of the book of the LORD, and read: not one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it has commanded, and his spirit it has gathered them.
17 And he has cast the lot for them, and his hand has divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it [hell] forever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.
The word tan only appears four times, three in Isaiah, and once in Lamentation 4:3, rendered “sea monsters.” It says these dragons feed their young, but God’s people have become cruel, not providing for theirs, like the ostrich in the wilderness, referring to Job 39.
Job 39
13 Gave you the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?
14 Which leave her eggs in the earth, and warms them in dust,
15 And forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labor is in vain without fear;
17 Because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding.
Lamentations 4
1 How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
3 Even the sea monsters [tan] draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4 The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaks it unto them.
5 They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
6 For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.
7 Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:
8 Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaves to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.
9 They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.
10 The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11 The LORD has accomplished his fury; he has poured out his fierce anger, and has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has devoured the foundations thereof.
12 The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.
13 For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,
14 They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.
15 They cried unto them, Depart you; it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there.
16 The anger of the LORD has divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favored not the elders.
17 As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.
18 They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
19 Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
20 The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.
21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom [enemies mixed among us], that dwell in the land of Uz [of misleading advice]; the cup also shall pass through unto you: you shall be drunken, and shall make yourself naked.
22 The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry you away into captivity: he will visit your iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover your sins.
The name Uz is from the two times used word ‘uwts, meaning to consult. It’s the word rendered “take counsel together” in Isaiah 8:10 when God is with us, and instead of taking His advice, His people are listening to the wizards that peep and mutter. These are the misleaders among us, enemies intentionally leading God’s people to their own destruction.
Isaiah 8
…O Immanuel [into this God has manifested His presence, through this {His} word, His sound advice, which His people refuse to hear].
9 Associate yourselves, O you people, and you shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all you of far countries: gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces.
10 Take counsel together [‘uwts], and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us [O Immanuel].
11 For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way [derek] of this people, saying,
12 Say you not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear you their fear, nor be afraid [as it is obvious is their objective, which they have now almost in totally accomplished].
13 Sanctify [separate yourselves to] the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary [the safety of those who do come to Him]; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem [because they stumble and are offended at this word].
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
16 Bind up the [this] testimony, seal the law among my disciples [as in Revelation 7 where we are told of the elect remnant who have now been sealed].
17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hides his face from the house of Jacob [the houses of those who still unknowingly wrestle with God and His word – as many will continue, to their own destruction – 2 Peter 3:16 saying this is their perdition {apoleia}], and I will look for him.
18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwells in mount Zion.
19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits [whose advice is the way to death], and unto wizards [this world’s so-called experts broad-casting spells] that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? [Should they be looking] for the living to the dead?
20 [Or] To the law and to the testimony[?]: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light [understanding] in them.
21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.
The word “confederacy” is the Hebrew word qesher, meaning, “an (unlawful) alliance,” as in conspiracy or treason.
As we know, these later meanings describe what we are experiencing. There is a treasonous conspiracy among the Democrat Communists, the never-Trump so-called conservatives, most news media, education, entertainment, etc.; to overthrow the President, and more to destroy us and our unique CHRISTIAN culture of better ideas. These men are empowered by God’s people now fallen into a powerless state by following false prophets and false teachers who’ve led them into separation from God and into darkness (ignorance).
These men’s works are the confusion and emptiness the LORD stretches a line upon, His assessment, His good judgment, which God’s people refuse to accept. Because of this refusal, His word isn’t given to those who need it. These are those who hold God’s people down [katecho] in captivity, who will hold them down until they are taken out of the way, so His word has free course.
The word “stretched,” in Isaiah 34:11, is the Hebrew word natah; the same word used by the LORD, in Job 38:5, as He questions Job about his understanding of the foundations of the earth.
Job 38
4 Where were you when I laid the foundations [yacad] of the earth? declare, if you have understanding.
5 Who has laid the measures thereof, if you know? or who has stretched [natah] the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,
10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shall you come, but no further: and here shall your proud waves be stayed?
12 Have you commanded the morning since your days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
Psalms 136
1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures forever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endures forever.
3 O give thanks to the LORD of lords: for his mercy endures forever.
4 To him who alone does great wonders: for his mercy endures forever.
5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endures forever.
6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endures forever.
7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endures forever:
8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endures forever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endures forever.
10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endures forever:
11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endures forever:
12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endures forever.
13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endures forever:
14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endures forever:
15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endures forever.
16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endures forever.
17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endures forever:
18 And slew famous kings: for his mercy endures forever:
19 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endures forever:
20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endures forever:
21 And gave their land for a heritage: for his mercy endures forever:
22 Even a heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endures forever.
23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endures forever:
24 And has redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endures forever.
25 Who gives food to all flesh: for his mercy endures forever.
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endures forever.
