Post by venge on Sept 29, 2018 6:38:35 GMT -6
Good morning!! The last few weeks I have been pondering the usage of "stars" in the bible. This is a result of the prophecy in Rev 6:13 which states:
I think most people tend to look at stars as those bright lights in outer space that twinkle at night when you're outside of a city. If you have a telescope, at different times of the year, you can view them much closer than the naked eye and get a better picture of God's awesome power as he did create these things for His glory. But, even though stars ARE above us, I cannot imagine John seeing a planet crashing into earth. Now some will say meteorites do this. Rightly so, but where are meteorites described as stars? I cannot find any scripture though over 40+ verses but I will post what Wikipedia says:
With that analogy it would make sense. The issue now is, the rest of the original verse. As a Fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. Now take a look at Nahum 3:12:
In Nahum, the fortified cities are described as the fig tree and the mighty wind that shakes them is the incoming siege. Look at some commentaries on biblehub have to say:
When we look back to the stars falling to heaven to the earth even as a fig tree that cast its figs because of a mighty wind, we know from the previous passage that the mighty wind is war. How does war cause a falling star to fall? We can argue that because of War, God does certain things in His time. But the passage does not expressively say that. It is only mentioning that because of one the other happens; because a mighty wind comes which interpreted is an oncoming siege or war, that the stars fallen from heaven to the earth. So then, what is a star if it is not a meteorite?
In Numbers 24:17 we see a star is not a meteorite.
Christ is identified as a star because his light (goodness) shines bright in a dark world.
But Lucifer is also a star and not a meteorite.
Lucifer was a star as his light also did shine, but because he fell, there is only darkness. His title given to him here is past tense from his former glory. If Christ is a star and Lucifer was a star that fell (falling star), how are we to interpret Rev 6:13? is it pointing to angelic host?
If the morning star (Christ) arises in our hearts, can we who carry the star of Christ in us fall due to an oncoming war? I don't know. And this is the confusion. Look at Isaiah 34:4
In the first example, the stars fall to earth but here, they dissolve and they fall. A meteorite doesn't dissolve and fall and neither does an angel dissolve and fall. But what I find interesting is that the leaf falleth off from the vine. It is describing the act of falling away from its life source. Christ even calls himself the true vine and that he feeds us water of life. But in fairness, we are described as branches and not a leaf. Until we look at Proverbs 11:28
Is the falling of the leaf from the vine the falling of someone who trusts in the cares of this world over Christ?
Take a look what Benson's commentary says on the subject of the stars dissolving and falling down.
If stars can represent kings, empires and states as well as angels and our Lord Christ Jesus, who else can be known as a star?
Believers can shine as the stars of heaven and we are identified as like the stars. This is a result after our bodies are changed and resurrected as it is forever and ever. If believers can be like stars that shine forth our light and we are also like leaf's than can fall from the vine due to a mighty wind, then can we be as Rev 6:13 shows:
I would like to hear from some others with ideas without jumping to "it can ONLY be a meteorite." I think most are familiar with that interpretation and I am looking for others to think and dig deep into bible passages. Lastly, I want to leave this final verse. In Jude 1:12-13, Jude is talking about wicked men on the earth in the final days.
Wicked men are described as wandering stars who is reserved the darkness forever. Interesting that described it in such a way because we know that Christ says to the wicked "I will cast you into utter darkness, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Satan was a falling star, wicked men are shooting stars, believers can be like the stars, Christ is the morning star and the angelic host are described as stars.
and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.
A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or moon. When the object enters the atmosphere, various factors such as friction, pressure, and chemical interactions with the atmospheric gases cause it to heat up and radiate that energy. It then becomes a meteor and forms a fireball, also known as a shooting star or falling star;
All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.
Barnes:
So easy is their destruction on the part of God, though it cost more pains to the Babylonians. At the end of the world it shall be yet more fulfilled Revelation 6:13, for then God will use no human instrument, but put forth only His own Almightiness; and all strong-holds of man's pride, moral or spiritual, shall, of themselves, melt away.
So easy is their destruction on the part of God, though it cost more pains to the Babylonians. At the end of the world it shall be yet more fulfilled Revelation 6:13, for then God will use no human instrument, but put forth only His own Almightiness; and all strong-holds of man's pride, moral or spiritual, shall, of themselves, melt away.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown:
fig trees with the first ripe figs—expressing the rapidity and ease of the capture of Nineveh (compare Isa 28:4; Re 6:13).
fig trees with the first ripe figs—expressing the rapidity and ease of the capture of Nineveh (compare Isa 28:4; Re 6:13).
Gill's:
All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the first ripe figs,.... Upon them, or like them: "and the first ripe figs"; which are easily shook and gathered; and so easily should the fortresses and towers of Nineveh, in which they trusted for safety, be taken by the enemy, not only one, but all of them:
if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater; as such ripe fruit is very desirable, and the mouth of a man is open and ready for them;
All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the first ripe figs,.... Upon them, or like them: "and the first ripe figs"; which are easily shook and gathered; and so easily should the fortresses and towers of Nineveh, in which they trusted for safety, be taken by the enemy, not only one, but all of them:
if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater; as such ripe fruit is very desirable, and the mouth of a man is open and ready for them;
In Numbers 24:17 we see a star is not a meteorite.
I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
Rev 22:16
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Isaiah 14:12
How you have fallen from heaven, O Morning Star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations.
How you have fallen from heaven, O Morning Star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations.
2 Peter 2:19
19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
Psalm 1:3
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.
The sun, moon, and stars; shall be dissolved — We have frequently had occasion to observe, that, in the prophetic language, the heavenly luminaries represent kings, empires, and states: see note on Isaiah 13:10. The prophet here foretels the overthrow and dissolution of such states and kingdoms as were hostile to his church, whether under the Jewish or Christian dispensation. Or, alluding to a horrid tempest raging furiously, during which the heavens grow black, the sun disappears, and the stars seem to fall to the earth, and it appears as if the whole body of the heavens were about to be utterly dissolved, he intends to signify, that, during these destructive judgments, of which he speaks, the confusion and consternation of mankind would be as great as if all the frame of the creation were broken into pieces. Some, indeed, understand the words as intended of the day of general and final judgment, but the context preceding and following will not agree with such an interpretation. And it is very usual for the prophetic writers, both of the Old and New Testaments, to represent great and general changes and calamities in such words and phrases as properly agree to the day of judgment, and the dissolution of all things: as, on the contrary, they often set forth the glorious deliverances of God’s people by such expressions as properly and literally belong to the resurrection from the dead.
Daniel 12:3
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots,
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
Satan was a falling star, wicked men are shooting stars, believers can be like the stars, Christ is the morning star and the angelic host are described as stars.
