Symbolism of the Sun, Moon and Stars

So far in Revelation 6 we've looked at the four horses and the souls under the altar. Today we will look at the at the sun, moon and stars being darkened or cast from heaven to earth.

Revelation 6

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Let’s compare these verses to the creation story in Genesis 1

Genesis 1

14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven…

15 And let them…give light upon the earth…

God created the sun, moon and stars to give light upon the earth.

In Revelation 6 we see the opposite to this, the sun and moon are darkened, the stars fall from heaven to earth.

Therefore what we see is a de-creation process that continues into chapters 8&9. 

Would you agree that Revelation is a book of symbols? 

If it were not, a literal beast would have to rise from the sea (Rev. 13), a literal dragon would need to be cast from heaven to earth (Rev. 12).

If we agree that Revelation is a book of symbols what does that tell us about the creation story in Genesis chapters 1&2?

Over the last few weeks my studies have led me to look at the creation story with fresh eyes.

Rather than it just being God’s log-book of what he created each day, I’ve begun to consider the symbolism it contains. 

What are the sun, moon and stars symbolic of?

In Genesis 15:5,17:7, 22:17 & 26:4 God promised Abraham that his seed would be as “the stars of heaven” and that he would establish an “everlasting covenant” with them.

In Genesis 37:9&10 Jospeh has a dream in which the sun represented his father (Israel), the moon his mother, the stars his brothers…the 12 tribes of Israel.

The creation story is reflected in the design, fabric and furniture of the Tabernacle of Moses. Even the priestly garments.

God made the sea, land and sky. He planted a garden with the tree of life in the midst.

The Tabernacle of Moses was divided into three parts. The outer court, holy place and most holy place with the ark of the covenant in the midst.

Only the high priest could enter the most holy place once a year with the blood of an animal to make atonement for the sins of the children of Israel.

According to first century historian Josephus, his blue outer garment represented the sky, his breastplate the land, his girdle the sea. 

Upon each shoulder sat a sardonyx stone with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel engraved into them. These stones represented the sun and moon. (Antiquities of the Jews 3.7.7)

The sun, moon and stars are symbolic of Israel, God’s chosen people, in Covenant with him.

Let’s go back to Genesis chapter 1.

Genesis 1

14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night…

15 And let them…give light upon the earth…

Israel was meant to be a light in the world.

16…the greater light to rule the day, and -- the lesser light to rule the night…

Israel was meant to exercise spiritual authority.

14…and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years…

Israel was meant to understand the signs and seasons, the appointed times in which prophesy would be fulfilled.

In Revelation 6 we’re seeing the de-creation of Old Covenant Israel/Judah including the sacrificial system and Levitical priesthood.

We’re seeing a power-shift as the kingdom of God is “taken” from the Pharisees and “given” to a nation bringing forth fruit (Matthew 21:43&45).

The POWERS of the heavens were shaken. The religious “vipers” of Jesus’s day lost their authority.

Matthew 24

29-- Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

The book of Hebrews describes the transition from the Old to New Covenant and also mentions a great shaking.

Hebrew 12

26…Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

28…we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

The New Covenant kingdom can not be shaken or moved.

According to Daniel it is an everlasting kingdom.

Daniel 2

44…the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed…it shall stand forever.

Daniel 7

14…his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

27…the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom…

Towards the end of Revelation, we see this everlasting Kingdom in all its glory and and an invitation to be part of it. 

Revelation 22

17…the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

This invitation is on-going. It is relevant for you today. Will you repent from sin? Put off your old man and enter the New Covenant kingdom of righteousness that can never be moved, shaken or destroyed?

God bless as you study to show yourself approved.

Souls Under The Altar

In the book of Revelation we see God pour out his judgement…but WHY, WHEN and upon WHOM was it poured out?

The 5th seal in Revelation 6 reveals the main reason for God’s judgement, it was to avenge the blood of the martyrs.

Revelation 6

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

The martyrs “cried with a loud voice” from under the altar.

In Genesis 4:10 Abel’s blood cried unto God from the ground

In Matthew 23 the scribes and pharisees were warned that ALL the righteous blood shed upon the earth ALL the way back to righteous Abel would come upon them in judgement.

Matthew 23

29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!

31…ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

34…I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zechariah son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon THIS generation.

The pharisees were filling up the measure of their fathers.

In Revelation 17&18 we see Babylon’s cup full to the brim with the blood of the martyrs.

Rev. 17

6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus…

Rev 18

6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

If we connect Revelation 17 and 18 to Matthew 23 we must conclude that it was the scribes, pharisees and hypocrites that were responsible for killing God’s servants, even his son, therefore they were Babylon! 

Judgement was poured upon them in 70AD when their house was left desolate, their temple “thrown down” by Roman soldiers (Matthew 23:37&38, 24:2).

Why in Revelation 6 are souls under an altar? What altar are we talking about?

If we turn to Leviticus we see a description of two alters in the tabernacle of Moses. The brazen altar of sacrifice sat outside the holy place and the golden altar of incense sat in the holy place against the veil to the holy of holies.

Blood from a sacrificed animal would be placed upon the four horns of the alter of incense and the remaining blood poured around the bottom of the altar of sacrifice. 

Leviticus 4

5 And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood…

7 And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour -- all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

The souls under the altar therefore are a reference to how animal blood was poured around the bottom of the brazen altar.

Those slain for the Word of God and their testimony cried with a loud voice “how long O Lord, holy and true, does thou not judge and avenge our blood?” 

Did their cries move God to take action?

There are other places in the bible where this happened.

Exodus 3

7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen -- the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard -- their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know -- their sorrows;

8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians…

What can we take away from Rev. 6:9-11? 

God is just, he sees everything, he cares deeply for his people and our heart-felt cries move him to action.