'People fainting with fear'

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26).

I’m not a global warming aficionado, so I don’t necessarily see last week’s 30 inches of snow in New England as a proof of global warming. But I am a Bible reader, so it does give me pause when on a single day a meteorite fireball singes the town of Chelyabinsk, Russia, and an asteroid plays chicken with Earth at 17,100 miles away and jams my friend’s internet service.

This is because it is the Lord Jesus who said to pay attention to these disturbances in the heavens. When Jesus gives a prophecy for the preparation of His people, it is a very serious thing to call anyone a fanatic who takes it to heart. Let us ask point blank: Is a day coming when the stars will fall—or not? Jesus says yes. And He notifies us because He wants us to know:

“So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:33-34).

It is both terrifying and exciting to see the nearness of the Lord. Terrifying for His enemies, exciting for those who will be found in Christ. All those who have been slain for the Word of God are eager (Revelation 6:9-11).

The world has to end somehow. Even unbelievers must realize that. God has divulged His secrets to His children:

“… the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime. … [P]ut on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Romans 13:11-14).

For no one knows when the warning trickles we see on YouTube will become the hail of raining stars.