“The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.”

Heaven and the created earth hides their eyes from the bloody scene of mass destruction.

The created order obeys its Lord and Maker and becomes darkened like the hearts of the people who have turned against their Lord and God. The emancipation of creation is at hand. After the long centuries of groaning under the weight and effect of sin, it will finally be free.

“The fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars; so that one third of them would be darkened, and the day wouldn’t shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way.”

Revelation 8:12

The darkness seems to prevail for a short time. The ungodliness of the human has taken hold of the inhabitants of earth and the outworking of justice is about to unfold. The people of God return to the earth with their Lord and ride on white horses, robed in white linen as the sign of the inner righteousness that they now possess. The darkness does not affect them, as all fear is past for them and only joy remains.

There will be those that shine brightly and their star never goes out. They stand in contrast to the seething mass of suffering humanity and know that the justice they love is finally meted out. Those who shine like the heavens do so with the radiance of the Lord Jesus, who has bought their freedom at such a great price. They have suffered for Him and now stand as bright stars in the temple of the Lord in voluntary glory in His person. They shine with the righteousness that they embraced on earth and the sacrificial joy by which they willingly laid down their lives for their Lord.

“Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.”

Daniel 12:3

The lights go out on human history, but are shining brightly, forever, in the kingdom of God. Joy reigns supreme and the light of God brightens the way of the redeemed and never goes out…