The Sun and Moon Imagery in Scriptures
Repeated failures to predict the Return of Jesus and the end of the world by some of Christianity’s high-profile spokespersons are perceived as false promises based on false premises. These false promises are perceived as lies. We all would be well advised to take another look at what the Bible really says or does not say about the “end times”.
As failed prophets of a false premise, they have been continually trying to predict something that’s just not going to happen. It’s their timing of God’s judgment and their concept of fulfilled prophecy that is wrong.
The fact is that there is no clear statement in Scripture that teaches an end of the world, an end of time, or an end of human history.
New Testament writers, who were men inspired by the Holy Spirit 2 Timothy 3:16, John 16:13, NEVER anticipated an end to the human race or the demise of the planet Earth.
The Biblical Truth about the end of the world is contained in the Biblical phrase “world without end”. Ephesians 3:21, Isaiah 45:17, Psalms 104:5
The Bible says that the world had a beginning but is without end. The world and the present New-Covenant Age simply do not have an end. Jeremiah 32:40, Ezekiel 37:26
One of the most misunderstood subjects in the Bible is the imagery that God uses involving the sun and the moon.
The natural place to begin our discussion about the sun and moon is in Genesis 1:14-19 at their creation. Here we read about God creating two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.
Already we can see a sort of imagery when God assigned a position of authority to the physical sun and to the physical moon; the sun to rule the day and the moon to rule the night. We read about this same imagery in Psalm 136:7-9. Throughout the Scriptures, we also find the sun, the moon, and the stars all being used as images to symbolize the rise and fall of nations as well as levels of authority.
The first reference to these levels of authority can be found in Genesis 37:9-10. When Joseph told his father his dream, Jacob immediately recognized the implications of this dream. Jacob recognized that the bowing down of the sun, moon and stars was a metaphor depicting the complete upheaval of authority in his family.
Joseph, the second youngest son, was claiming that one day he would have authority over his father (sun), his mother (moon) and his eleven brothers (stars).
The Bible records that some 20 years later, Joseph became second in command under Pharaoh in Egypt. During the seven-year famine, his brothers did indeed bow down to him requesting to buy corn.
Around 739 BC, the prophet Isaiah prophesied about the complete destruction of Ancient Babylon using this same imagery. Isaiah 13:1, 9-10, 13
History records that in 539 BC, God stirred up the Medes to invade and destroy Babylon. The stars not giving their light and the sun and moon being darkened are symbols describing the judgment of God against Babylon.
There was a complete turnaround of political structure of the Middle East at this time.
Important note: the planet Earth was NOT destroyed, only Babylon.
In Amos 7:15, we read about God sending Amos to go and prophesy to Israel. Israel had become totally polluted with idol worship. Through Amos, God urged them to repent, but they refused. They chose to ignore and actually tried to silence Amos.
Because of their refusal to repent, God pronounced judgment upon them. The Lord declares, “The end has come upon my people of Israel.” Amos 8:2 The Lord also says, “All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword.” Amos 9:10
The Lord sent the armies of Assyria to destroy Israel. The disaster was so severe, the Bible describes it like the sun going down at noon and the earth being darkened in broad daylight. Amos 8:9
Important note: the physical planet Earth was NOT destroyed, only the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
In Ezekiel 32:1-2, 5-8, we read about a graphic description of the judgment of God against Egypt. Notice that the same terminology is used: the sun, moon, and stars were all darkened.
This prophecy was fulfilled when God sent the armies of Babylon to destroy Egypt in 587-586 BC.
Important note: the physical planet Earth was NOT destroyed, only the nation of Egypt.
This same vivid symbolic language involving the sun and moon were used by the prophet Joel in describing God’s judgment coming on Judah and Jerusalem in the last days. Joel 2:10,31, 3:15
Again, the darkened sun and blood moon are metaphors describing the total upheaval and destruction that was coming upon Judah and Jerusalem. Not only existing orders and authorities would be overthrown, but the Old Covenant was getting ready to vanish away. Hebrews 8:13
History tells us that the Roman armies destroyed Judah, Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70.
Important note: the physical planet Earth was NOT destroyed, only Judah, Jerusalem and the Temple.
On the Day of Pentecost, Peter, when asked, “What does this mean?” responded by quoting the prophet Joel. Acts 2:16-17 By saying this, Peter was making a very important time statement proclaiming that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost marked the beginning of the Last Days.
Peter quoted in Acts 2:20 this same symbolic imagery used by Joel. By quoting the prophet Joel, Peter was declaring that the judgment of God was drawing ever near. The Apostle John used this same symbolic language involving the sun and moon in Revelation 6:12-13.
Jesus also used this exact same imagery about the sun being darkened and the moon not giving her light. Matthew 24:29, Mark 13:24-25, Luke 21:25 This metaphoric language was very familiar to the Jews.
They understood that Jesus was saying something BIG was getting ready to take place. Their old heaven, the temple, and their old earth, their land was getting ready to be demolished.
These first-century believers never thought that the physical planet Earth was getting ready to be destroyed. Jesus said that He did not come to destroy, but to fulfil the Law and the prophets. Matthew 5:17
Many over the years have misinterpreted this verse by saying Jesus did not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets and go on to hammer home the point that IF he didn't come to destroy the Law then we ought to be keeping it.
As with most verses taken way out of context they will often skip the most important part of this scripture where Jesus said he came to "fulfil the law and the prophets".
In other words what Jesus said was he did not come to abolish, destroy or change anything about the already written Old Testament scriptures he came to be the fulfilment and to fulfil ALL prophecy.
Just like the Old Testament prophets, Jesus used these same Hebrew symbolisms and metaphors to convey the awesome majesty and power of God which was about fall upon the last wicked and perverse generation of Israel. Jesus was about to come to destroy Old Covenant Israel and to establish His forever New Covenant Kingdom. Revelation 21:1-3
Conclusion
In the Old Testament, when a nation is described as falling under the judgment of God, it is compared to the sun and moon going dark and the stars falling from the sky.
None of these depictions resulted in a literal collapse of the solar system or global destruction. When the same symbolic images involving the sun, moon, and stars are used in the New Testament, they also depict the falling of a nation under the judgment of God.
Today, many preachers believe and teach that these New Testament passages predict a future final destruction of all mankind, as well as the physical planet Earth and the solar system.
Such doomsday views are based on pure literalism which ignores the fact that the Old Testament prophets often used this same symbolic language to describe the devastating political, social and religious upheavals.
Actually, the Bible says just the opposite: the sun and moon He has established to be here forever and ever. Psalms 148:3-6 The Earth abides forever. Ecclesiastes 1:4
You too can be a part of this New Everlasting Covenant by obeying the Gospel of Jesus Christ and being born again. Acts 2:37-39, John 3:3,5,7
The invitation has been extended to whomsoever will respond. Revelation 22:17
Repeated failures to predict the Return of Jesus and the end of the world by some of Christianity’s high-profile spokespersons are perceived as false promises based on false premises.
These false promises are perceived as lies. We all would be well advised to take another look at what the Bible really says or does not say about the “end times”.
As failed prophets of a false premise, they have been continually trying to predict something that’s just not going to happen. It’s their timing of God’s judgment and their concept of fulfilled prophecy that is wrong.
We have only in this past month September and October of 2025 witnessed one man claiming to be a Prophet prophesy that the rapture of the church was going to happen on September 23–24, 2025 this of course did not happen (Surprise, surprise) so he then came up with an excuse that the reason was he was looking at the wrong calendar and that it would now take place on Monday 6 October, or Tuesday 7 October 2025.
Brothers and Sisters as I write this paragraph it is Wednesday 08th October 2025 and you guessed it NO RAPTURE!
When we start looking to the past in scripture and historical evidence and ask the questions:
What was written?
When was it written?
Who was it written to?
Where was it written?
Why was it written?
Then and only then will ALL answers be found in scripture and confirmed by historical evidence.
The fact is that there is no clear statement in Scripture that teaches an end of the world, an end of time, or an end of human history.
New Testament writers, who were men inspired by the Holy Spirit 2 Timothy 3:16, John 16:13, NEVER anticipated an end to the human race or the demise of the planet Earth.
The Biblical Truth about the end of the world is contained in the Biblical phrase “world without end”. Ephesians 3:21, Isaiah 45:17, Psalms 104:5
The Bible says that the world had a beginning but is without end. The world and the present New-Covenant Age simply do not have an end. Jeremiah 32:40, Ezekiel 37:26
One of the most misunderstood subjects in the Bible is the imagery that God uses involving the sun the moon and the stars.