The darkening of the sun and moon, falling of stars and shaking of heavenly bodies is symbolic of apocalyptic language that signifies the coming of the LORD (Isaiah 24:21, Isaiah 24:23; Joel 2:10; Amos 5:20; Amos 8:9; Zephaniah 1:15).1 Drawing on Isaiah 13:9–10 and Isaiah 34:4 (Haggai 2:6), Jesus uses language that emphasises the fact that his return will be cosmic and obvious.2 Indeed, the coming of the Son of Man will put an end to the persecution and distress of believers and begin their glorious rule with Christ (see Daniel 7:8, Daniel 7:14, Daniel 7:20, Daniel 7:22, Daniel 7:24–25, Daniel 7:27).3
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.