10 Verses That Will Make You Appreciate the 2017 Eclipse Even More

Updated August 21, 2017

In light of recent astronomical events, Christians are wondering what to make of occurrences like eclipses. Do they have Biblical significance outside of the awe and wonder they instill? In order to judge if the movement of celestial bodies truly bears any weight, we can begin by looking at the Word of God.

Here are 10 verses to give you a Scriptural framework as you look forward to the coming marks in the skies:

1. The sun, moon and stars were given as markers of time.

"And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years..."

Genesis 1:14

Aside from the normal rhythms of days and seasons, would this include unique times as well?

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2. God obscured the sun during the plagues of Egypt.

Exodus 10:21-23 presents us with a fascinating example:

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered with a darkness so thick you can feel it.” So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days. During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived."

Whether this was an eclipse (or can be proven as different astronomical phenomenon), it is clear that God was using the skies as a sign of His hand over the nation.

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3. You can see another event during Jesus' crucifixion.

Mark 15:32-33: "Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him. At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon."

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4. Eclipses make a stunning appearance in several prophetic Scriptures as well (Isaiah 13:10)

Isaiah 13:10: "The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light."

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5. Joel 2:31

Joel 2:31: "The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD."

A "blood moon" is an occurence we know today as a lunar eclipse.

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6. Mark 13:24

Mark 13:24: “But in those days, following that distress, “ ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light."

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7. Matthew 24:29

Matthew 24:29: “Immediately after the distress of those days “ ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’'

8. There is significance whenever God "brings darkness" in the skies (Jeremiah 13:16)

Jeremiah 13:16: "Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings the darkness, before your feet stumble on the darkening hills. You hope for light, but he will turn it to utter darkness and change it to deep gloom."

9. Ezekiel 32:7-8

Other passages causing interference with the constancy of the moon to foreshadow great events can be found in Scipture as well:

Ezekiel 32:7,8: "When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you; I will bring darkness over your land, declares the Sovereign LORD."

10. Revelation 8:12

Revelation 8:12: "The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night."

See also:
"Entry for 'MOON'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.
"What is the Biblical Significance of the Upcoming Solar Eclipse? 8 Christian Leaders Explain"

Compiled by Cristina Rutkowski. Cristina is the editor of BibleStudyTools.com.