I spent a large portion of my Christian walk in complete ignorance to the ministry of deliverance.
I knew about demons from the Bible, and had heard of demons being cast out of people, but I had not considered it a subject of personal relevance.
Now, I am more aware of demonic bondage and the need to be free, but how can we tell if there’s even a need for deliverance?
Besides direct discernment through the Holy Spirit, here are seven signs you can use to detect the work of an unclean spirit.
Problems with the Thought Life
Mental health problems and feelings of torment should cause you to take a second look for demonic influence. That’s because demons can create disturbances in your thought life.
Things like confusion, indecision, memory loss, procrastination, and mental torment, are probably not just you. If you suffer from anxiety, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, you could be dealing with an unclean spirit.
Suicidal ideations and hearing voices you cannot seem to shut out, are definitely things to address in deliverance.
Problems with the Tongue
A friend of mine many years ago shared how she could hear demons using curse words in her mind during a time of demonic attack. Ever since then I became very suspicious of curse words.
But curse words aren’t the only speech problem demons can cause. Trouble controlling the tongue, being known as a gossip, and compulsive lying, are likely connected to demons.
Other speech problems to be suspicious of are blasphemy, criticism and mockery.
If you find you can’t seem to control these speech issues, your behaviours may have their root in an unclean spirit.
Problems with the Emotions
We are emotional beings, but our emotions can experience disturbances that persist abnormally or keep recurring.
For example, in grieving the death of a loved one, you should be able to accept the loss and gradually move on. When grief is so long lasting and severe that you have trouble resuming your own life, that might not be natural.
If you have been struggling to rise above negative emotions like bitterness, hatred, anger, rejection, depression, and worry, you may be dealing with an unclean spirit.
Sexual Perversions and Excesses
A struggle with masturbation even from childhood is a clear sign of needing deliverance. You might also have a secret porn-watching habit. Maybe you want sexual satisfaction eight days a week, and you cannot control mentally undressing every woman who passes by.
If you can identify with most or all of the above, I can assure you there is some type of spirit of sexual perversion.
Other sexual problems that should make you think twice about an evil spirit at work are fantasy sex experiences, homosexuality/lesbianism, incest, fornication, prostituting, exposure and flirting.
It’s time to say goodbye to those spirits!
Physical Infirmities
The Bible mentions a spirit of infirmity in Luke chapter 13 verse 11:
“And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.”
An unclean spirit could be the cause of the physical ailment you are dealing with. So whether it is migraines, asthma, skin problems or cancer, don’t rule out the presence of a demon.
It needs to be cast out!
Then, you may also need to pray for healing from whatever damage the demon caused.
Religious Error
Any involvement in religious error can attract demons, including use of false religious literature and associated physical objects.
Your or your family’s involvement in any of the following can require a demon to be cast out:
yoga and other types of Eastern exercises
Christian cults
seances
witchcraft
magic
Ouija boards
levitation
palmistry
handwriting analysis
automatic handwriting
ESP (extra-sensory perception)
hypnosis
horoscopes
astrology
divination
(And that includes when you did it at the county fair one time as a joke!)
Addictions
If you are using a substance to feel good or to cope, you are treading on thin ice. When a substance impairs your day-to-day functioning, or if you can’t function optimally without it, check if that’s an unclean spirit. If you are aware you have a problem but can’t seem to stop even if you want to or try to, that strongly suggests that there is an unclean spirit at work. Chances are you are under the influence of a spirit of addiction. The most common addictions are to nicotine, alcohol, illicit drugs, medications, caffeine – and let’s not forget food!
Final Thoughts
You will always have your carnal nature to crucify daily, so deliverance from demons won’t free you from that! But if you’re doing your best to walk with the Lord and just can’t have the victory over certain habits and behaviours, you may be dealing with a demon. Claim your authority in Christ and seek deliverance.
Blind Bartimaeus desperately wanted physical sight. He was marginalized and suffered because he could not see. But there is a blindness that creates an even greater disadvantage. Spiritual blindness restricts our access to what God has for us. Here are eight of the things we miss by being spiritually blind.
1. God’s Provision
Genesis 21:14-19.
Hagar and Ishmael entered a wilderness with nothing but bread and a bottle of water. When the water ran out, so did Hagar’s hope, and she abandoned her son to a death she assumed was imminent.
Although there was a well, Hagar could not see God’s provision right there. God had provided an entire well to refill their bottle several times! She would have missed this provision, and her son would have died, had God not opened her eyes.
2. God’s Protection
2 Kings 6:8-17.
Elisha was a prophet led by God, but his servant was spiritually blind and carnally driven. So, when the Syrian army surrounded Elisha, all he saw was the demise of himself and his master.
Though fiery chariots and horses were abundant, He did not share Elisha’s confidence. Thankfully, after merciful prayer was offered on his behalf, he could finally appreciate God’s protection.
3. God’s Presence
Luke 24:31.
After three and a half years with Jesus, the disciples seemed to forget Him in three days. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus drew near to two disciples who did not recognize Him. It was only when “their eyes were opened” that they knew Him.
The number of years since our conversion does not guarantee revelatory knowledge of God. He alone can usher us into intimacy and worship. Without His gracious opening of our eyes in a church meeting or our quiet time, we will miss God’s presence just like those two disciples.
4. God’s Direction
Numbers 22:1-33.
Balaam was on a mission of self will, but only his donkey could see God’s opposing angel. Three times the ass saved the misguided prophet; three times he insisted on continuing. It was only after God opened Balaam’s eyes that he finally saw the angel.
Balaam almost died because of spiritual blindness. His lack of spiritual sight prevented him from discerning when God was saying ‘no’. His spiritual blindness caused him to miss God’s direction.
5. The Devil’s Devices
2 Corinthians 2:11.
When we are spiritually blind, we are ignorant of Satan’s weapons and intentions – and an enemy undetected cannot be effectively resisted. Spiritual blindness gives the enemy an advantage over us.
We need spiritual vision so that wherever Satan is at work, he will be recognized and his plans foiled – we won’t walk blindly into traps or entanglement.
Interestingly, Paul mentions this in the context of forgiving a brother who had fallen into sin, and who needed to be restored.
6. Our Spiritual Condition
Revelation 3:17.
The Laodicean church thought they had everything. Jesus thought they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. What a difference in opinion!
Could Christ be saying the same thing about churches and individuals today?
We need spiritual eyes to acknowledge our real condition. Spiritual vision is a critical need for recognizing our true state before God and to repent. Without spiritual vision, we miss out on who we really are, and fail to identify where we need to turn.
7. Biblical Revelation
Psalm 119:18.
In Psalm 119:18 the writer asked God to open his eyes. He was not referring to his physical eyes, because it takes spiritual perception to appreciate, understand and delight in the word of God. It is possible to read the Bible without revelation, and sadly, some Christians find the Bible boring!
“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law,” is what our prayer should be. If we fail to see the truth and joy in the Bible, we are missing out on fellowship with the Lord, and will certainly lose out on spiritual growth.
8. True Leadership
Luke 6:39.
If you offer to help a blind man cross the street, he takes for granted that you are able to see. Otherwise we have a really undesirable situation. Hence, Jesus taught that if the blind lead the blind, both will end up in a ditch.
Spiritual leaders owe it to their followers to have open eyes. We miss out on being able to offer true spiritual leadership to others when we ourselves are blind. The final result is detrimental to both the leader and the one being led.
Closing
If we consider how valuable our physical sight is to our safety and independence, then we will understand the necessity of our spiritual vision. Abundant spiritual blessings coupled with a real enemy make having spiritual sight nonnegotiable. Let us press into this prayer: Lord, open my eyes!
“Truly I say to you, this generation shall not pass away until all these things are fulfilled.”
Matthew 24:34 sounds clear, right?
But many Bible teachers say Jesus didn’t mean that generation—He meant a future generation, possibly ours, 2,000 years later. Some even teach Jesus was wrong. But that would make Him a false prophet, deserving death by the very Mosaic Law He came to fulfill.
So which generation was Jesus talking about? The one He was speaking to? Or some distant future generation?
Let’s let Scripture answer.
The Pattern
Every single time “this generation” appears as a direct statement in Scripture, it means one thing: the generation being addressed.
Not a future generation. Not a “type” of generation. That specific generation.
Matthew 11:16: “To what shall I liken this generation?”—Jesus’ contemporaries.
Matthew 12:41: “The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation”—first-century Israel.
Matthew 23:36: “All these things shall come upon this generation”—the generation hearing Jesus speak.
Luke 11:50-51: “The blood of all the prophets…shall be required of this generation”—that specific generation.
In the New Testament, the phrase appears 17 times outside the Olivet Discourse. In every instance where Jesus or the apostles directly use “this generation”, it refers to their contemporaries.
What About Hebrews 3:10?
Critics point to Hebrews 3:10, where “this generation” refers to the wilderness generation, not the first century:
“Therefore, I was angry with this generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart…’”
But Hebrews 3:10 is quoting Psalm 95—God’s past statement about the Exodus generation. It’s not a direct address to Hebrews’ audience.
The pattern still holds: When “this generation” is used as a direct statement, it always refers to the generation being addressed.
In Matthew 24:34, Jesus is directly addressing His disciples—not quoting ancient history.
Why would Matthew 24:34 be different?
Other Objections
Does “this generation” mean the Jewish people?
Some argue “this generation” means the Jewish race or people that won’t pass away until all is fulfilled.
But genea doesn’t mean “race” in this context—it consistently means “generation” throughout the Gospels. If Jesus meant “race,” He would have used genos. Jesus wasn’t making a vague promise about ethnic survival; He was giving a specific timeframe.
“All these things” didn’t happen in the first century, did they?
Others claim “all these things” (Matthew 24:33) controls the meaning—since the events didn’t happen in the first century, “this generation” must be future.
But this is circular reasoning. It assumes the events didn’t happen, then uses that assumption to redefine “this generation.”
History tells a different story, however. Josephus documents the tribulation, the signs, the temple’s destruction—all happened within 40 years, exactly as Jesus predicted.
“This generation” alludes to the final generation alive at Jesus’ Second Coming.
Still others say Jesus meant “the generation that sees the signs will see all of them”—referring to the future, final generation who will be alive when Jesus returns at the end of earth’s history.
But Jesus said, “You will see”, 18-24 times throughout His Olivet Discourse (depending on which Gospel). He did not say, “They will see”, or “That generation will see”; He said, “You.”
Additional Evidence
Internal Timestamps
Jesus gave multiple time markers pointing to His contemporaries:
Matthew 16:28: “Some standing here will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming.”
Matthew 10:23: “You will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
John 21:22: “If I want him to remain until I return,” implying John would live to see Jesus’ return.
These examples all point to that generation’s lifetime and were confirmed when Jerusalem fell in its 70 AD “day of the Lord” judgment 40 years later.
“This generation” in Matthew 24:34 isn’t isolated. The New Testament contains around 100 urgent time statements including “near”, “at hand”, “about to come”, “shortly”, “soon”, “last hour”, and “the time is short”. These aren’t vague temporal expressions that can be stretched to equal thousands of years. They’re urgent warnings to first-century believers.
Early Church Fathers Agreed
For centuries, the Church understood Matthew 24 was fulfilled in 70 AD—including Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Eusebius. John Chrysostom (375 AD) put it plainly:
“Did all the vengeance come upon that generation? It is quite plain that it was so, and no man gainsays it.”
The modern reinterpretation—stretching “this generation” across 2,000 years—is relatively recent.
The Truth About “This Generation”
Biblically, “this generation” means what it always means: the generation being addressed.
When we spiritualize “this generation”, we ignore every other use of the phrase. We dismiss 100+ time statements. We disagree with centuries of Church fathers. We overlook Jesus saying, “You will see” throughout His Olivet Discourse.
Jesus spoke to His disciples in the first century. He warned them of signs they would see. He told them judgment would come within their generation, within 40 years, and it did; Jerusalem fell in 70 AD. Prophecy became history. Jesus’ words were vindicated as His prophecy was fulfilled exactly as He said it would happen.
Want to dig deeper into understanding biblical prophecy? Check out the Prophecy Course, for Bible prophecy made clear.
Chrysostom, John. Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew. Translated by George Prevost and revised by M. B. Riddle. In Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, vol. 10, edited by Philip Schaff. New York: Christian Literature Company, 1888. https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2001.htm.
Eusebius of Caesarea. Ecclesiastical History. Translated by Arthur Cushman McGiffert. In Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, vol. 1, edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. New York: Christian Literature Company, 1890.
Origen. The Commentary of Origen on the Gospel of St Matthew. Translated by Ronald E. Heine. 2 vols. Oxford Early Christian Texts. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018.
(genea) – “generation”: Refers to people of a particular time period or age, consistently used throughout the Gospels to denote contemporaries of the speaker.
(genos) – “race” or “kind”: A distinct term from genea, used to denote ethnic or familial lineage rather than temporal generation.
So here we are again. Another rapture date has come and gone, and—plot twist—you’re still here reading this article. Don’t worry, you’re in good company! Millions of Christians throughout history have found themselves in this exact predicament. In fact, missing rapture predictions has become something of a tradition.
Whether you sold your house, quit your job, euthanized your pet, or simply posted embarrassing countdown videos on social media, here’s your recovery checklist:
FINANCIAL RECOVERY
Make Your Next Mortgage Payment
Remember when you stopped paying bills because the world was ending? Yeah, about that. Your bank called—they’re still very much in business and would like their money.
Historical Precedent: In 1988, Edgar Whisenant was so confident in his “88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988” that he famously said, “If there were a king in this country and I could gamble with my life, I would stake my life on Rosh Hashana 88.” After his September prediction failed, he simply revised to October. Then 1989. Then 1993. Then 1994. We’re guessing he kept making those mortgage payments.
Pro Tip: Next time someone claims certainty about the world ending, ask if they’ve paid their mortgage for that month.
Retrieve Your Belongings from “The Heathens”
Remember when you gave away all your possessions to non-believers because you wouldn’t need them in heaven? Awkward. Time to have some uncomfortable conversations.
Historical Precedent: Dorothy Martin’s 1954 UFO cult convinced followers that a flood would destroy the northwestern hemisphere. Members quit jobs, abandoned studies, ended relationships, gave away money and possessions for a flying saucer rescue that never came. The resulting study became the famous book “When Prophecy Fails.”
Pro Tip: Maybe keep your earthly possessions for now. Even Jesus said we don’t know the day or hour.
Return to Your Job (If They’ll Have You)
“So, about that ‘world ending’ notice I gave last month…”
Historical Precedent: Trinity Broadcast Network interrupted regular programming with “rapture preparation instructions” for Whisenant’s 1988 prediction, then quietly returned to normal broadcasting. When the Jehovah’s Witnesses promoted 1975 as the likely end, many followers made drastic life decisions, only to face the awkward aftermath.
Pro Tip: Employers generally prefer employees who plan to show up for work next month.
Cancel Your Apocalypse Subscriptions
All those prophecy YouTube channels, Telegram groups, and ministries you sent money to? Time to unsubscribe and reclaim that mental space—and your wallet.
Historical Precedent: Harold Camping’s followers spent upwards of $140,000 promoting his May 21, 2011 message. His Family Radio network spent millions on billboards worldwide. After the date passed, the money was gone but the bills remained.
Pro Tip: If a ministry’s entire focus is date-setting and fear-mongering, it’s not a ministry—it’s a business model.
RELATIONAL REPAIR
Apologize to Everyone You Told
This includes:
Family members you condescendingly warned
Your church small group
Your boss (especially if you quit)
Your neighbors (double-especially if you gave them all your stuff)
Anyone you blocked on social media for “not being ready”
Historical Precedent: When Harold Camping’s prediction failed, he retreated to a motel with his wife, later admitting, “If people want me to apologize, I can apologize.” He died in 2013, but the apologies couldn’t undo the financial and relational devastation.
Pro Tip: A sincere “I was wrong” goes a long way. Try it! It’s surprisingly freeing.
Check on Your Pets
Did you… did you really euthanize Fluffy because you thought she’d suffer during the tribulation?
We can’t help you with this one. We’re so sorry.
Historical Precedent: Some of William Miller’s Millerite followers in 1844 made similar tragic decisions, certain the end would come on October 22. The resulting “Great Disappointment” was named appropriately.
Pro Tip: Your pets are part of God’s creation too. They’ll be fine.
Reconnect with Your Church Community
Remember when you stopped attending your home church because they “weren’t taking the end times seriously enough”? Time to humbly return to the fellowship that tried to warn you.
But what if your ENTIRE church fell for it?
If your whole congregation got swept up in the rapture mania, that’s a much bigger problem—and you’re probably not alone in feeling betrayed, confused, or spiritually homeless right now.
Historical Precedent: After the Great Disappointment of 1844, Millerite churches experienced public backlash—some were burned or vandalized, and one congregation in Canada was tar and feathered. Many disillusioned believers fell away from faith completely, while others sheepishly returned to their previous churches.
More recently, a Ugandan church went viral in September 2025 for their ecstatic frenzy as they waited for the rapture in a nearby forest. When nothing happened, an entire congregation had to collectively process the failure of their leaders’ teaching.
If your church leadership led you astray, consider:
1. Evaluate the Response
Did your pastor/leadership immediately acknowledge the error and apologize?
Or are they making excuses, revising dates, or doubling down?
A humble “we were wrong” is a sign of healthy leadership. Defensiveness is a red flag.
2. Ask the Hard Questions
How did this happen? What safeguards failed?
Who challenged this teaching, and were they silenced?
Is the leadership willing to study Scripture more carefully going forward?
Will they commit to avoiding date-setting in the future?
3. Decide Whether to Stay or Go
If leadership repents and commits to better biblical teaching: Consider staying and rebuilding together.
If leadership refuses accountability or continues sensationalist teaching: It may be time to find a healthier church home.
If the entire church culture is built on end-times speculation and fear: You probably need a fresh start.
4. Find a Church That Teaches the Whole Bible Look for a church that:
Preaches through entire books of the Bible, not just favorite prophecy passages
Has accountability structures and doesn’t revolve around one charismatic leader
Values historical Christian teaching, not just novel interpretations
Encourages questions rather than demanding blind loyalty
Focuses on discipleship, not just eschatology
Pro Tip: A healthy church will welcome your questions and doubts after this experience. An unhealthy one will make you feel guilty for having them. Choose wisely.
SPIRITUAL RESET
Update Your Social Media
Time to delete those “See you in heaven!” posts and the countdown timers. Maybe change your bio from “Ready for the Rapture!” back to something less… specific.
Historical Precedent: RaptureTok 2025 created millions of TikTok videos about the September 23-24 rapture based on South African pastor Joshua Mhlakela’s vision. When the date passed, the internet receipts remained. Forever.
Pro Tip: Screenshots are eternal. Think before you post prophetic certainty.
Actually Read Your Bible This Time
Not through the lens of YouTube prophecy teachers, blood moon theories, or mystical mathematical calculations. Just… read it. Especially the parts about humility, testing everything, and no one knowing the day or hour.
Start with Acts 17:11: “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
Historical Precedent: Literally every failed prediction in history stemmed from misreading Scripture, taking verses out of context, elaborate mathematical calculations, or “newspaper exegesis” that ties modern events to ancient prophecies.
Pro Tip: If your prophetic interpretation requires a calculator, a lunar calendar, and a conspiracy theory about global elites, you might be doing it wrong.
Join a Support Group
You’re not alone. There are literally millions of people throughout 2,000 years of church history who have experienced rapture prediction disappointment. Some helpful groups include:
“Exvangelicals” who experienced rapture anxiety as children
People recovering from religious trauma syndrome
Anyone who survived Y2K hysteria, blood moon predictions, or Mayan calendar panic
Historical Precedent: The Great Disappointment of 1844 was so traumatic that researchers have documented its psychological effects across generations. Modern psychologists now recognize “rapture anxiety” as a legitimate form of religious trauma, with symptoms including PTSD, panic attacks, and hypervigilance.
After Harold Camping’s failed 2011 prediction, clinical social workers reported clients who were “very dysregulated, very distressed, hypervigilant, fearing that this is the end times.”
Pro Tip: Therapy is good. Trauma is real. Get help if you need it.
Find a Theologically Sound Teacher
If you’re genuinely interested in understanding biblical prophecy, find teachers who:
Prioritize historical and literary context over sensationalism
Acknowledge mystery and say “I don’t know” when appropriate
Don’t claim special revelation or insider knowledge
Study Scripture seriously rather than cherry-picking verses
Focus on living faithfully rather than date-setting
Historical Precedent: From early church fathers to modern televangelists, bad teachers have led millions astray with confident predictions. Meanwhile, sound biblical scholars have consistently warned against date-setting for 2,000 years.
Pro Tip: Check out resources like Prophecy Course that teach prophecy with humility, context, and caution rather than charts, calculations, and certainty.
PRACTICAL WISDOM
Raid Your “Left Behind” Survival Stash
All those canned goods, water bottles, Bibles, and laminated instruction cards you stockpiled for your unsaved loved ones? Guess what—they’re yours again! Silver lining: you’re well-prepared for the next hurricane.
Historical Precedent: Before Harold Camping’s 2011 prediction, followers prepared laminated notecards detailing their beliefs, wrote letters to remaining loved ones, and purchased dozens of Bibles from the dollar store. Some prepared canned foods and survival gear for family members who would be “left behind.”
Pro Tip: Donate the extra Bibles to a prison ministry. They’ll actually be used.
Learn from History (Please)
Here’s a condensed timeline of epic rapture failures to remind you this isn’t new:
500 AD: Early church fathers (wrong)
1000 AD: Pope Sylvester II (wrong)
1284 AD: Pope Innocent III (wrong)
1524 AD: London astrologers cause 20,000 to flee to higher ground (wrong)
1844 AD: William Miller and the Great Disappointment (wrong)
1994, 2011: Harold Camping (wrong, then wrong again)
2011, 2014-15: Blood moon prophecies (wrong)
2012: Mayan calendar (wrong)
2020: Pandemic rapture predictions (wrong)
September 2025: RaptureTok (wrong)
Notice a pattern? 100% failure rate.
Historical Precedent: All of them. Every single one. Two thousand years of confident predictions. Two thousand years of being completely wrong.
Pro Tip: When someone says “This time it’s different,” remember: that’s what they ALL said.
How to Spot the Next Rapture Scam
Before you get caught up in the next viral rapture prediction, watch for these red flags:
? Claims secret knowledge or special revelation ? Uses elaborate mathematical calculations ? Ties ancient prophecy to today’s news headlines ? Requires financial commitment or donations ? Creates urgency and fear rather than hope ? Discourages questioning or testing their claims ? Has backup dates ready when the first fails ? Insists “this time is different” from all previous failures ? Attacks anyone who expresses doubt or caution ? Isolates followers from their church communities
Historical Precedent: Every single failed prediction in history exhibited multiple items from this list.
Pro Tip: If it sounds too certain, it’s probably too wrong.
What Should You Actually Do?
Instead of date-setting, try this radical approach:
Live faithfully as if Jesus could return today—or in 1,000 years
Love your neighbor (even the ones you gave your furniture to)
Study Scripture in context, with humility
Serve the Church instead of scaring it
Trust God’s timing instead of your calculations
Remember what Jesus actually said: “It is not for you to know times or dates which the Father has fixed by His own authority” (Acts 1:7).
Final Thought
Missing the rapture isn’t the end of the world.
But repeatedly predicting it—and being wrong every time—does damage to the witness of the Church, traumatizes believers (especially children), and makes Christianity look foolish to a watching world.
So next time someone posts a confident rapture date on social media, maybe just scroll past. Better yet, send them this article.
After all, as the Mayans taught us: If you don’t finish something, it’s not really the end of the world.
This article is written with humor, but the pain behind failed rapture predictions is real. If you or someone you love has experienced trauma from apocalyptic date-setting—whether financial loss, broken relationships, or lasting anxiety—please know that recovery is possible. The damage done by these false predictions can be profound, affecting faith, mental health, and trust in Christian community. Seek help from a trauma-informed counselor, reconnect with a grace-filled church family, and remember: God’s love for you isn’t dependent on getting prophecy right. Healing takes time, and you don’t have to walk that path alone.
“The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven…”
Sounds like the end of the world, right?
What if I told you this “cosmic collapse” language appears throughout the Bible—and it’s not actually about the literal end times?
The Pattern
When God judges nations in the Old Testament, He uses dramatic deconstruction language. Consider Babylon’s judgment, foretold in Isaiah 13:9-10:
“The stars of heaven will not give their light… the sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will not shed its light.”
Later, Edom’s day of the Lord judgment is declared in Isaiah 34:4:
“All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and the heavens rolled up like a scroll… all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.”
And then there’s Egypt’s judgment in Ezekiel 32:7-8:
“I will cover the heavens and darken their stars… all the bright lights in the heavens I will darken over you.”
These are just a few of the examples in the Old Testament. This is poetic judgment language! NOT cosmic collapse!
Understanding the Style
Think of it like poetry or political cartoons:
Mountains represent kingdoms and governments.
The sun, moon and stars represent the ruling class and authorities.
Earthquakes denote political upheaval.
And darkness declares judgment and chaos has come.
When Babylon fell in 539 BC, the stars didn’t literally fall.
When Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD, the sun kept shining.
But God’s judgment was real in both cases.
Jesus Uses the Same Language
In Matthew 24, 29, Jesus said, “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…”
Here, Jesus is speaking about Jerusalem’s judgment in 70 AD using the same prophetic language the Old Testament prophets used for other national judgments.
In Matthew 24, 34, Jesus said, “This generation will not pass away…” and He was right. Jesus prophesied this judgment between 30 and 33 AD, and sure enough, one biblical generation later (as in, within 40 years), Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD by Roman legions under Titus Vespasian.
Key Take-Aways
Prophetic judgment language in Scripture is:
Symbolic: It uses cosmic or heavenly imagery in forecasting earthly events.
Consistent: These same patterns are seen again and again throughout the Bible.
Fulfilled: When understood properly, we find many prophecies we might imagine are looming right around the corner, in our near future, have already been completed historically.
And powerful: Understanding this language gives us a larger view of God’s sovereignty over the nations.
WARNING! Missing this “day of the Lord” pattern leads to endless speculation about future cosmic catastrophes that have already been fulfilled!
Understanding judgment language transforms how you read prophecy.
The Bible’s judgment language isn’t meant to confuse us… it’s meant to show us God’s faithfulness to His promises throughout history.
Want to learn more about prophetic patterns and judgments? Turn to the Prophecy Course, for biblical prophecy made clear.
I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build My church [ekklesia – called out ones], and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:18-19)
Jesus’s public ministry began at His baptism, followed immediately by His temptation in the wilderness. While still ministering in Galilee, He introduced the principle of kingdom life, proper behavior in the kingdom of heaven. It meant a radical change in the laws given at Sinai, those commandments that focused on the public activities of the believer. The Sermon on the Mount was intended to focus attention on the private, inward life. In the beginning, Jesus centered on the inward convictions that would result in blessings of the kingdom.
In the above passage, Jesus told Peter that he would be the one given the keys to the kingdom of heaven to introduce the church age at Pentecost. The church would define the spiritual kingdom Jesus came to proclaim, empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who would guide the believer into all the truth (John 16:13). The church would represent whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. When Jesus gave this power to the apostles, he meant that whatever they forbade in the church should have divine authority; whatever they permitted or commanded should also have divine authority, that is, should be bound or loosed in heaven. Believers would be guided in the church by the Holy Spirit and the truth of the teaching of Christ.
Raised from the Dead
“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men [Romans] and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again,putting an end to the agony of death since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. (Acts 2:22-24)
Just as Peter had stood up among the 120 in the upper room in Acts 1:15, waiting for Pentecost after Jesus’s ascension, Peter is now proclaiming to the large gathering in Jerusalem the fulfillment of prophecies of the Messiah’s death and resurrection. Jesus had proven His identity through many signs and wonders performed in the midst of many. His life was the fulfillment of the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God. He had demonstrated this plan by overcoming death. In Hebrews 2:9, But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. His victory over death was not just for Him but for everyone. He was providing deliverance to believers who, through fear of death, were subject to slavery all their lives (Hebrews 2:15).
Return to Your Rest
The cords of death [mawet – death occurring by both natural and violent means] encompassed me, and the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I beseech You, save my life!” Gracious is the Lord and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate. The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For You have rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I believed when I said, “I am greatly afflicted.” I said in my alarm, “All men are liars.” (Psalm 116:3-11)
We are not sure who wrote the above psalm, but it expresses praise and service to God because the author had been delivered from impending death and his days had been lengthened out upon the earth. King David wrote many Psalms (i.e., Psalms 18, 22, and 38) about his fears of death, asking God for deliverance and reminding himself that the Lord has dealt bountifully with my soul. Many are prophetic of the coming Messiah and the rest He will bring from all enemies, including death itself. When the writer says, I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living, he was speaking of a total belief that he would live before the Lord, as in his presence, in his service, and enjoying communion with Him. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).
The Jewish mindset at the time of Jesus was a weariness of being controlled by other countries, some more severe than others. There had been 400 years of silence, no prophet speaking to the people since their return from Babylonian captivity. They were tired of having to submit themselves to rulers who sometimes did not allow them to freely worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Old Testament gave many prophesies of the coming Messiah who would establish His kingdom and His rule. However, they had no concept that Messiah would come twice or that He would die for the sins of the world.
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
On that day, some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to Jesus and questioned Him, asking, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘IF A MAN DIES HAVING NO CHILDREN, HIS BROTHER AS NEXT OF KIN SHALL MARRY HIS WIFE, AND RAISE UP CHILDREN FOR HIS BROTHER.’ Now there were seven brothers with us, and the first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother; so also the second, and the third, down to the seventh. Last of all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.” But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’? [Exodus 3:6]. He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching. (Matthew 22:23-33)
Jesus made it a point to quote a Scripture from the five books of Moses since the Sadducees only recognized Moses’ writings as authority. There were other verses He could have quoted. It was because all classes regarded the Pentateuch as the fundamental source of the Hebrew religion and all the succeeding books of the Old Testament as developments of it. Our Lord would show that even there, the doctrine of the Resurrection was taught. He selected this passage as being not a bare annunciation of the doctrine in question but as expressive of that glorious truth out of which the Resurrection springs. The Resurrection means that, although physically dead, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are alive and well, living in the presence of the Almighty.
Introducing the Holy Spirit
“Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. And so, because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE,he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY [Psalm 16:10]. This Jesus, God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.” (Acts 2:29-33)
In John 7:37-39, Jesus referenced the Holy Spirit on the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles, or Shemini Atzeret, in Jerusalem when He said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’’ John tells us in Verse 39 that Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit, whom those who believed in Him would receive. The Spirit would come after Jesus was glorified. “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you, but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).
The Right Hand of the Lord
The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. I will not die but live and tell of the works of the Lord. The Lord has disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death. Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous will enter through it. I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have become my salvation. (Psalm 118:15-21)
When Peter confirms that Jesus had been exalted to the right hand of God, he is speaking of the full approval and authority of God, that Jesus has been given full authority to bring victory over sin and death. “Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy” (Exodus 15:6). David recognized that his consistency was directly related to his willingness to set the Lord continually before his face because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken (Psalm 16:8). The right hand of God represents the manifestation of God’s power to fulfill all of His promises. The Holy Spirit symbolizes the right hand of God within each believer.
Repent and Be Baptized
Therefore, let all the house of Israel [both northern and southern kingdoms] know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now, when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart [katanusso – deeply moved] and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent [metanoeo – change the mind, implies pious sorrow for unbelief and a turning to God], and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:36-38)
Peter’s declaration of the Lordship of Christ was a call to action on behalf of those who heard Peter speak since they were deeply moved. Peter defined that response as repent and be baptized. According to Robertson’s Word Pictures, metanoeesate, first aorist active imperative means. “Change your mind and your life.” “Turn right around, and do it now.” “You crucified this Jesus. Now crown him in your hearts as Lord and Christ.” “And let each one of you be baptized.” Note the change of grammatical number from plural to singular and the change of person from second person to third person. This change marks a break in the thought here that the English translation is not preserved. The first thing to do is make a radical and complete change of heart and life. Then let EACH ONE be baptized after this change has taken place, and the act of baptism be performed “in the name of Jesus Christ.”
Knowing Him
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing [gno sis – knowledge by experience rather than intuition] Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law [self-righteousness], but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attainto the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:8-11)
The Apostle Paul, a former devout Pharisee, recognizes in the above passage that the real treasure of this relationship “in Christ” is the experience of knowing Him beyond the Law of Moses he had previously treasured. The Law was the avenue that allowed him to succeed as a Pharisee and Jewish leader since he could perform to earn recognition. He understood that all his abilities and accomplishments through the Law were rubbish and an impediment to knowing Jesus Christ as Lord. This word gnosis emphasizes understanding rather than sensory perception and embraces every organ and mode of knowledge (i.e., seeing, hearing, experience, etc.). This type of knowledge implies verification by the eye or other objective observation. Ultimately, it speaks of the deepest kind of relationship, a connection to the righteousness that comes from God based on faith.
Out of Faith into Faith
Paul further explains in Romans 4:4-5 that the righteousness of God cannot be earned but must be received as a gift based on faith. Now, to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor but as what is due. But to the one who does not work but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. God justifies or declares the believer righteous; man’s role is to accept God’s standards of living. God’s righteousness produces a life defined by integrity and blameless conduct. According to Romans 1:17, For in it [the gospel], the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” The original Greek could be better translated as “by or out of faith into faith.”When the believer exercises his faith in a given situation, it leads to another opportunity to trust God.
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)
