Signs in the sun, moon and stars

Sun, moon and stars are used as symbols for nations by the Old Testament prophets.

The destruction of ancient Babylon is described symbolically as the darkening of the sun, moon and stars:

Isaiah 13 verses 9 - 11

9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger; to make the land a desolation, and to destroy its sinners out of it. 10 For the stars of the sky and its constellations will not give their light. The sun will be darkened in its going out, and the moon will not cause its light to shine. 11 I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity. I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will humble the arrogance of the terrible.

Similar language is used predicting the end of Egypt as a superpower:

Ezekiel 32 verses 7 - 9

7 When I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens 
and make its stars dark. 
I will cover the sun with a cloud, 
and the moon won’t give its light. 
8 I will make all the bright lights of the sky dark over you, 
and set darkness on your land,” says the Lord GOD. 
9 “I will also trouble the hearts of many peoples, 
when I bring your destruction amongst the nations, 
into the countries which you have not known. 
 

The prophet Jeremiah talks about the end of the kingdom of Judah in similar terms:

Jeremiah 4 verses 23 - 26

23 I saw the earth, and, behold, it was waste and void, and the heavens, and they had no light. 24 I saw the mountains, and behold, they trembled, and all the hills moved back and forth. 25 I saw, and behold, there was no man, and all the birds of the sky had fled. 26 I saw, and behold, the fruitful field was a wilderness, and all its cities were broken down at the presence of the LORD, before his fierce anger.

The prophet Joel talks about the destruction of the enemies of Israel symbolically as the darkening of the sun, moon and stars:

Joel 3 verses 14 - 16

14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! 
For the day of the LORD is near, in the valley of decision. 
15 The sun and the moon are darkened, 
and the stars withdraw their shining. 
16 The LORD will roar from Zion, 
and thunder from Jerusalem; 
and the heavens and the earth will shake; 
but the LORD will be a refuge to his people, 
and a stronghold to the children of Israel. 
 

 

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