Mark 13 24

Mark 13:24 kjv

But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

Mark 13:24 nkjv

"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;

Mark 13:24 niv

"But in those days, following that distress, "?'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;

Mark 13:24 esv

"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,

Mark 13:24 nlt

"At that time, after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened,
the moon will give no light,

Mark 13 verses

Mark 13 24 Meaning

Mark 13:24 describes profound, dramatic cosmic disturbances that will immediately follow a period of great tribulation, signaling the imminence of the Son of Man's return. It foretells a radical disruption of the heavens – the darkening of the sun, the moon losing its light, stars falling, and the fundamental powers of the heavens being shaken. This imagery speaks to an unparalleled supernatural intervention that marks the end of an age and ushers in God's final judgment and establishment of His kingdom.

Mark 13 24 Context

Mark 13, known as the Olivet Discourse, presents Jesus' response to His disciples' questions about the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple and the signs preceding His second coming and the end of the age. Verses 5-13 describe initial tribulations and persecutions, while verses 14-23 detail the "abomination of desolation" and the "great tribulation" (or unequaled distress) that would be so severe it would necessitate God shortening the days. Mark 13:24 immediately follows this intense period, marking a temporal shift ("But in those days, after that tribulation"). It signifies a transition from human-caused tribulation and its specific markers to a definitive, divine, and cosmic display of power, serving as the final overture before the Son of Man's glorious appearance. It differentiates the preceding period of distress from the sudden, apocalyptic events signaling the climax.

Mark 13 24 Word analysis

• But: (Greek: Allá, ἀλλὰ) - Functions as a strong contrastive or transitional conjunction. It signals a shift from the description of the tribulation itself (vv. 14-23) to events that will occur after that tribulation. It indicates that the following cosmic signs are not part of the tribulation, but a subsequent, distinct stage.
• in those days: Refers to the period immediately succeeding the great tribulation. It's a general time marker for the end-time events.
• after that tribulation: (Greek: meta tēn thlipsin ekeinēn, μετὰ τὴν θλίψιν ἐκείνην) - Crucial temporal phrase. "Meta" clearly means "after." "Thlipsin" (θλίψις) signifies intense pressure, distress, affliction, or tribulation. This phrase definitively places the cosmic signs described in Mark 13:24-25 subsequent to the "great tribulation" mentioned in Mark 13:19, emphasizing a sequence of events. It is a specific temporal anchor for the signs of the parousia (coming).
• the sun: (Greek: ho hēlios, ὁ ἥλιος) - The primary source of light and warmth. Its symbolic importance transcends mere physics, often representing order, life, or divine presence in ancient thought.
• will be darkened: (Greek: skotisthesētai, σκοτισθήσεται) - Future passive verb. Indicates a supernatural act; it will be made dark. Not just covered by clouds, but its very light will fail or be supernaturally withdrawn, rendering it useless as a light source. This is a dramatic departure from the norm, indicating a break in the established cosmic order.
• and the moon: (Greek: hē selēnē, ἡ σελήνη) - The nocturnal light source.
• will not give its light: (Greek: ou dōsei to phos autēs, οὐ δώσει τὸ φῶς αὐτῆς) - Echoes the fate of the sun, reinforcing the complete cessation of light from the celestial luminaries. The loss of both sun and moon's light signifies utter darkness, a primordial chaos state returning, emblematic of divine judgment and the ending of the current order.
• and the stars: (Greek: hoi asteres, οἱ ἀστέρες) - All other visible celestial bodies.
• will be falling from heaven: (Greek: esontai ek tou ouranou piptontes, ἔσονται ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ πίπτοντες) - Literally, "will be falling out of the heaven." This suggests more than just meteor showers. It depicts a destabilization of the very fabric of the cosmos, a chaotic movement, perhaps even an unmooring of their fixed positions or a perceived plummeting as the celestial canopy itself is shaken. It signals a dramatic, unprecedented cosmic disarray.
• and the powers that are in heaven: (Greek: hai dynameis hai en tois ouranois, αἱ δυνάμεις αἱ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς) - "Dynameis" (δυνάμεις) means "powers" or "forces." In this context, it broadly refers to the fundamental structural or active forces that govern the cosmos or even the stability and influence of the heavenly bodies themselves (planets, constellations). Some interpretations also include spiritual authorities (angels or cosmic forces) that might preside over parts of the heavens. Given the parallel shaking imagery (Heb 12:26), it points to a profound cosmic disturbance, not merely of visible objects but of the very order and stability of the celestial realm. This suggests that the foundational order of the universe itself will be overthrown or deeply impacted.
• will be shaken: (Greek: saleuthēsontai, σαλευθήσονται) - Future passive. To be moved, dislodged, disturbed, agitated. It conveys a violent cosmic convulsion, not just a gentle tremor but a profound destabilization. This shaking points to God's direct and absolute intervention in the created order, overturning its established stability as a precursor to a new heavens and new earth.

Words-group analysis

• But in those days, after that tribulation: This phrase acts as a definitive temporal marker, differentiating these cosmic signs from the preceding tribulation. It emphasizes that these events immediately precede the Son of Man's return, occurring after the period of intense suffering described previously. It corrects any expectation that Christ's coming might occur during the tribulation or prior to it, making it post-tribulation in sequence.
• the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light and the stars will be falling from heaven: This collection of astronomical disruptions forms a unified picture of cosmic collapse. It speaks to a cessation of the normal order and function of the primary light-giving and stability-indicating celestial bodies. This is often linked to Old Testament prophetic imagery (e.g., Isa 13, Joel 2), signifying the "Day of the Lord" – a time of divine judgment and intervention. It represents not just a natural phenomenon but a supernatural dismantling of the existing physical heavens as part of God's redemptive plan.
• and the powers that are in heaven will be shaken: This climactic phrase transcends the mere visual disturbance of light and falling objects. "Powers in heaven" refers to the very essence of cosmic stability or potentially even spiritual entities or the fundamental laws governing the universe. Their shaking implies a profound, cataclysmic overthrow of the established cosmic order. It's a dissolution of the structure of the cosmos itself, signaling the imminent ushering in of a new heaven and new earth.

Mark 13 24 Bonus section

The imagery in Mark 13:24 strongly parallels Jewish apocalyptic expectations concerning the Day of the Lord, indicating that Jesus' discourse is rooted deeply in the prophetic tradition understood by His audience. This cosmic upheaval functions as an undeniable sign of divine action, dispelling any doubt or mistaking it for mere natural disaster. It sets the stage for the glorious and public appearing of the Son of Man (Mark 13:26), contrasting sharply with the prior warnings about false Christs and hidden activity (Mark 13:21-22). The phrase "the powers that are in heaven will be shaken" may also carry a nuanced meaning referring to angelic hosts or spiritual authorities that operate in the heavens, suggesting their position or influence will be utterly destabilized in preparation for Christ's reign. This underlines the complete triumph of God over all opposing forces, spiritual or physical.

Mark 13 24 Commentary

Mark 13:24 stands as a critical hinge in the Olivet Discourse, definitively positioning the cosmic signs and Christ's return after the climactic tribulation. This verse does not describe metaphorical changes but speaks to literal, profound, and universally visible supernatural disruptions of the cosmos. The darkening of the sun and moon and the falling of stars draw directly from Old Testament apocalyptic imagery (e.g., Isaiah, Joel, Ezekiel), where such phenomena symbolize the dramatic and terrifying advent of the "Day of the Lord"—a time of divine judgment and overwhelming display of God's power. The "shaking of the powers in heaven" elevates the scene beyond simple atmospheric or astronomical events; it implies a radical unmooring of the very structures and forces that maintain the stability of the universe. This is a dramatic, unmistakable divine intervention, a pre-arrival announcement, indicating that the current age is drawing to its supernatural conclusion and preparing the way for the majestic return of the Son of Man, not covertly, but in plain sight for all humanity. This immediate succession of cosmic chaos after the tribulation signifies the finality and inevitability of God's plan for His creation and history.