25 And there shall be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and
upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring
of the sea and the billows; 26 men fainting for fear, and for
expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the
powers of the heavens shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see
the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28
But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up
your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.
Immediately before the return of our Lord, as the age draws to its close,
there are to be certain signs so definite, so startling, and so
terrifying, that they will leave no doubt that the predicted event is
immediately to follow. They are described, however, in terms which may be
largely figurative: “signs in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the
earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and
the billows; men fainting for fear ... for the powers of the heavens shall
be shaken;” then will occur the event toward which all the ages are
moving, for which the weary world has waited and by which the work of the
Church will be crowned and her hopes fulfilled, namely, the personal,
glorious appearing of the crucified, risen, ascended Lord. It may be a
time of distress for the impenitent but for believers it will be a time of
hope and expectation. When the signs of which Jesus spoke “begin to come
to pass,” then, according to the words of Jesus, his followers may
hopefully lift up their heads to greet their Deliverer, for their
redemption will be at hand. The coming of Christ will be an event
unexpected by the world, but Christians will be so definitely warned that
they can be looking for the promised deliverance and for the predicted
glory.