Verses about God shaking the Heavens and the earth appear several places, in both the Old and New Testaments. For the most part, they speak of end-time events, although there is an indication here that there was at one time some type of foreshadowing event.
The Lord Jesus Christ led me to these verses a few nights ago and put them on my heart to share, contemplate, pray over, and investigate. I believe this is because the time for these events to occur is either upon us or is very rapidly approaching. We need to be ready for God is going to shake the Heavens and the earth!
Hebrews 12:18: For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the BLAST of a TRUMPET and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not bear the command, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a NEW COVENANT, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
Hebrews 12:25: See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.26 And HIS VOICE shook the earth then, but NOW He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will SHAKE not only the EARTH, but ALSO the HEAVEN.”27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
In Hebrews 12:26, we see that God’s VOICE has shaken the earth once before, and that HIS VOICE will once again shake not only the earth, but also the Heavens. When did God’s Voice “shake the earth” in the past?
God’s voice shook the earth when He came down on Mt. Sinai delivering the 10 Commandments to Moses. The author of Hebrews was referring to this event in verses 18-21 speaking of the whirlwind, the trumpet 🎺and the fear of the people around the mountain. This was obviously a VERY SIGNIFICANT EVENT!
God’s voice thundered through the thick cloud and shook the mountain causing the people to become very afraid. They trembled in fear as they witnessed the thunder of God’s voice, lightning, smoke, a thick cloud, and a very loud Trumpet Blast. I believe this would have been BEYOND dramatic! The people begged Moses to intercede for them because they were AFRAID! When Moses came down the Mountain, after meeting with Almighty God, the Bible says the skin on his face shone so much that the people begged him to cover his face (Exodus 34:35)!
Exodus 19:16 So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a VERY LOUD TRUMPET sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
18 Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. 19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. 20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up
At the base of Mt. Sinai, the Israelites AGREED to God’s Covenant Terms (Mosaic Covenant/Old Covenant). This was like a “marriage ceremony”, and at this time God considered ISRAEL IN COVENANT (married) to GOD. YHWH became their husband, and “Israel” His wife. God did NOT force His Covenant on Israel….they FREELY AGREED! However, HIS STORY tells us that Israel was an UNFAITHFUL WIFE.
Exodus 19: 3 Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. 5 Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”
7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the Lord had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken WE WILL DO!”
This was the FIRST TIME that GOD’s voice thundered and shook the earth. But the author of Hebrews is telling us that God’s voice is ONCE AGAIN going to shake not only the earth, but also the Heavens. Hebrews 12 makes it clear that everything that is created, the physical universe, will be shaken so that only those things that were not created (Kingdom of God) will remain. We get a picture of God putting the Heavens and the earth through a sieve, and all that is “earthly” or that has become disconnected from the vine, will be shaken, and ultimately, when it’s all over, only that which is of Heaven, that which is firmly connected to the vine, will remain. Jesus IS the Vine.
Hebrews 12: 26 And His voice shook (G4531)the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake (G4579)not only the earth, but also the heaven.” This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing (G3331)of those things which can be shaken (G4531), as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken (G4531)….
When first reading these passages, my thoughts went to earthquakes, tsunamis, natural disasters of various sorts. I do think that natural disasters and even war contribute to the “shaking”; however, there is something more here than meets the eye. Also, we see that both the Heavens and the earth will be shaken. Let’s look a little closer at some of the “key” words in these verses.
The Removal is a Transposition or Transferal
There are two Greek words for shaking in this passage (Heb.12:26), G4531 and G4579.
- G4531 saleuō means to waver, shake, and stir up.
- G4579 seiō means to rock, vibrate, shake, agitate, and cause to tremble.
In Hebrews 12:27, G3331 metathesis (denotes the removing of shaken things) is the noun form of G3346 metatithēmi (to transpose, transfer, transport, exchange). When God says He will REMOVE those things that are carnal, things that “can be shaken” (G3331 metathesis ), He actually means a transposition or transferal, an exchange.
This word for removal or transferal is only used two other times in the New Testament, both of which are also in Hebrews – Hebrews 7:12 (the priesthood changing from the Levitical priesthood to the order of Melchizedek) and Hebrews 11:5 (Enoch being transferred from living on earth to going directly to living in heaven, and all that entails). What do these have in common?
My first thoughts are that the Levitical Priesthood is an earthly Priesthood. It speaks of the flesh and yearly sacrifices to atone for sin, “Old Jerusalem”. The Melchizedek Priesthood speaks of Heavenly, speaks of Jesus, speaks of a single sacrifice that will cover mankind’s sin forever, “New Jerusalem”.
Hebrews 7:12: For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change G3331 metathesis also of the law. (G3331….transfer/transport/exchange)
Hebrews 11:5: By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation G3331
metathesis he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
They are being swapped – the old, worn out, and shakable version for one that can’t be shaken and which remains. Now we’re getting somewhere.
There are three similar passages in the gospels which say that the powers of the heavens will be shaken: Matthew 24:1-2 and Mark 13:1-2 connect the “shaking” of the Heavens and the earth to the Temple of God (Haggai 2). In-fact, Jesus’ own words when speaking of the last days in these passages, reflect our attention back to the words of the prophet Haggai.
Haggai 2: 15 But now, do consider from this day onward: BEFORE one STONE was placed on another in the TEMPLE of the Lord,
21 “Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying, ‘I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders will go down, everyone by the sword of another.’
Matthew 24: Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the TEMPLE buildings to Him. 2 And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one STONE here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”
In Haggai 2, the Israelites were upset because they recognized that the smaller rebuilt Temple did NOT even come close to the Glory of Solomon’s Temple. Haggai then reminded them of the Covenant that they entered into at Mt. Sinai and that the Lord’s Spirit was still abiding in their midst. The Lord promised to once again SHAKE the earth (like He did at Mt. Sinai), but this time He would also shake the Heavens. BEFORE one stone of the Temple was placed upon another, God would bless Israel through His Servant “Zerubbabel”, whom He would make like a Signet ring. As a seal of royal authority, the “signet ring” is a Messianic metaphor; therefore, this is a reference to Jesus the Messiah, not Zerubbabel the man who was governor of Judah in the days of Haggai. The Lord will shake the nations and they will come with the “Desire of all nations” and God will FILL THIS HOUSE with GLORY!
The “Desire of all nations” IS JESUS CHRIST, the MESSIAH! Haggai promised the people that the LORD would bless them through the Messiah and that HE would make the GLORY of the latter house (NEW TEMPLE) FAR GREATER than the former (Solomon’s Temple).
Haggai 2:7: And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
Haggai 2:9 ‘The LATTER GLORY of THIS HOUSE will be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the Lord of hosts.”
The people were skeptical because the 2nd Temple was small and not very grand. But the glory of the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem DID exceed the glory of Solomon’s Temple when Jesus, the Son of God, walked into the 2nd Temple. Jesus IS the Glory of GOD! But is there another “hidden” meaning here?
In Matthew 24, Jesus, Himself, said that at the time of the “shaking” not one stone of the Temple would be left upon another that would not be torn down. Of course, in a sense Jesus was speaking of the impending judgement against the 2nd Jewish Temple in 70AD by the Roman army. But was Jesus also referring to the Temple of our bodies, that the “corruptible” would put on the “incorruptible”, and the mortal would put on immortality?
Per the prophet Haggai, the glory of the latter house (Temple) would exceed the glory of the former. Jesus said “Not one stone would be left upon another that would not be torn down.” That which is “shakeable” will be removed (transformed/exchanged).
1 Peter 2: 5 you also, as living stones,are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
John 2: 19: Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 6: 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit🕊️ who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
Both Haggai and Matthew were referring not only to the rebuilt 2nd Temple, but also the Spiritual Temple of our bodies. God is going to SHAKE the Heavens and the earth ONE last time, in the last days. The Lord has been showing us is that the “shaking” is not a single day event, but a series of events that will result in a complete change of management, so to speak, in the Heavens and on this earth. God is shaking the NATIONS and overthrowing Governments! This “shaking” is going to culminate in what is known as “The Day of the Lord”, when God overthrows satan’s reign on earth in order to bring HIS RIGHTEOUS KINGDOM, the NEW JERUSALEM. God is going to punish both the hosts of Heaven (fallen angels) and the nations (mankind) who have aligned themselves with satan in his rebellion against the Most High God, YHWH Elohim.
Jesus said that not one stone would be left upon another. Jesus is completely REVAMPING the Temple of God! No longer does God’s Spirit 🕊️reside in a Temple made with human hands. Now, God’s Spirit lives inside of the HEARTS💕 of His Living Stones, His people! At the time of the “shaking”, God is going to redeem not only the spirits of His people, but also their bodies (flesh), and the Glory of “this house” will be far greater than the glory of any man-made Temple (Romans 8:23).
The shaking begins…
Let’s get a general idea of the order of events, at least the way that they appear in Scripture. It appears that the “kick-off” event to this shaking or transference from things carnal to things eternal BEGINS when the Trumpet sounds and the dead in Christ rise first. At this point, the mortal puts on immortality and the transference begins. This is the New Jerusalem that comes down out of Heaven as a Bride. This shaking then continues throughout the Tribulation period, as God Almighty OVERTHROWS KINGS AND KINGDOMS until until Jesus returns stepping His feet upon the Mt. of Olives, resulting in a great EARTHQUAKE, and HIS GLORIOUS KINGDOM coming to EARTH (Zechariah 14:4).
1 Thessalonians 4:16: For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
With all of this in mind, let’s also think about this idea of exchange, transfer, translate, transform that we saw in Hebrews 12 . God is making an exchange of what is “shakeable” with what is “unshakeable”. Always remembering that what is shakeable is NOT connected to the Vine and what is UNshakeable IS connected to the Vine (The Lord Jesus Christ).
God’s Joel 2 Army…sound the ALARM!
Joel 2...Blow a trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm on My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
For the day of the Lord IS COMING;
Surely it is NEAR,
Joel 2 draws us a picture of end-times events that occur just PRIOR to the Tribulation period. In Joel 2, we see a picture of the army of the Lord rising at the same time that the sun is darkened, the moon turns to blood, and the stars of the Heaven have darkened. Upon first glance, this army sounds “terrifying” and reminds us of the locusts in Revelation 9, but if we look carefully at Joel 2, we find that this army is carrying out God’s Word, they don’t appear to cause harm, and they enter through the windows like a thief. Who else enters like a thief to those who are asleep? JESUS!
Matthew 24: 42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.44 For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
1 Corinthians 15:50: Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
I believe the “Joel 2 army” are are the Dead in Christ who have RISEN. This supernatural event would definitely cause people’s faces to be “darkened with fear” because it’s not something that we’ve ever experienced before. The closest “event” to the dead in Christ rising would have to be at the time of Jesus’ resurrection the tombs were opened and the Saints rose from their graves literally and walked around (Matthew 27:52-53). Although only one small verse is dedicated to this monumental event, this would have been pretty shocking to those who were witnesses. The Dead in Christ rising first in 1st Corinthians 15 is not about the literal dead in Christ, but about the Redemption of the “dead” flesh RISING/changing/transforming to IMMORTAL bodies. Those who have literally died in Christ are not really dead, but have “fallen asleep”.
As the dawn is spread over the mountains,
So there is a great and mighty people;
There has never been anything like it,
Nor will there be again after it
To the years of many generations.3 A fire consumes before them
And behind them a flame burns.
The land is like the garden of Eden before them
But a desolate wilderness behind them,
And nothing at all escapes them.
4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses;
And like war horses, so they run.5 With a noise as of chariots
They leap on the tops of the mountains,
Like the crackling of a flame of fire consuming the stubble,
Like a mighty people arranged for battle.
6 Before them the people are in anguish;
All faces turn pale.
7 They run like mighty men,
They climb the wall like soldiers;
And they each march in line,
Nor do they deviate from their paths.8 They do not crowd each other,
They march everyone in his path;
11 The Lord utters His voice before HIS ARMY
Surely His camp is very great,
For strong is he who carries out HIS word.
8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
9 They rush on the city,
They run on the wall;
They climb into the houses,
They enter through the windows like a thief.
10 Before them the earth quakes,
The heavens tremble,
Joel 2 – A Call to Repentance
Joel 2:12: Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:”
The Joel 2 Army is often mistaken with the Revelation 9 army of locusts (satan’s army) because of the similar apocalyptic language used to describe them; however, when we see who is in charge of each army, we can easily tell that God’s army takes direction from only HIM. Satan has no new tricks and can only imitate and pervert the things of God. God will use HIS Army as a “pre-emptive strike” to call people to repentance, and LIFE BEFORE the Tribulation so that they might be blessed. Satan uses his army to harm all who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads DURING the Great Tribulation.
| Joel 2 | Revelation 9 | |
| blow trumpet, sound alarm | 5th trumpet, tribulation | |
| day of darkness,thick darkness | sun, air were darkened because of smoke from the pit | |
| Arise like dawn breaking | Come up out of smoking pit | |
| God (YHWH) is their commander | Abaddon/Apollyon is their “king” (satan or a demon) | |
| not wounded by the sword | power to hurt & torment men with their tail | |
| appearance as horses | locusts like horses |
At the time God calls up His army, something that has NEVER happened before, the heavens tremble, the earth quakes, the sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness, or they quit “shining”. No wonder men’s faces will show fear. Hmmm…This certainly could be a physical display IN THE HEAVENS AND ON EARTH, but this is ALSO something spiritual. Whenever we see the word “star” in the Bible, we know that this not only refers to the stars twinkling in the sky, but it also refers to the Host of Heaven, the Angels. Consider this: The stars lose their brightness. They are no longer shining. I believe that the Lord is referring to fallen angels who have rebelled against Him. Notice that this seems to occur at the same time that the Lord calls up “His Army”, the same time that the dead in Christ RISE.
Repentance is the GOAL
Before them the earth quakes,
The heavens tremble,
The sun and the moon grow dark
And the STARS LOSE THEIR BRIGHTNESS.
11 The Lord utters His voice before HIS ARMY
Surely His camp is very great,
For strong is he who carries out His word.The fig tree and the vine have yielded in full.
23 So rejoice, O sons of Zion,
And be glad in the Lord your God;
For He has given you the early rain for your vindication.
And He has poured down for you the rain,
The early and latter rain as before.
24 The threshing floors will be full of grain,
And the vats will overflow with the new wine and oil.Jude 1:14: It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, 15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him
Daniel 12: “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. 2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will AWAKE, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. 3Those who have insight will SHINE BRIGHTLY like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the STARS forever and ever.
Isaiah 60: 1:
Arise, SHINE; for your light has come,
And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 “For behold, darkness will cover the earth
And deep darkness the peoples;
But the Lord will rise upon you
And His glory will appear upon you.
3 “Nations will come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.1 Corinthians 15:50: Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on IMMORTALITY..
Joel 2, Daniel 12, Isaiah 60:1, Jude 1 seem to be speaking about the same group of people, God’s end-time army. The heavens will shake, the sun and the moon grow dark, and the stars (Angels) will lose their brightness (fallen angels). The fallen angels are no longer connected to the vine. All of God’s creation must remain connected to the VINE to have LIFE…both His Angels and His Saints. At the same time, God seems to be saying that those who have insight, those who are connected to the vine out of HUMANITY, God’s Firstfruit harvest, will SHINE BRIGHTLY LIKE the STARS of the Heaven (Daniel 12:3). They will “shine brightly” LIKE the Heavenly Host, LIKE the angels. We’re speaking of the mortal putting on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53). We’re speaking of the Dead in Christ rising first at the last Trumpet, which is the redemption of the flesh (Romans 8:23). These “events” in Heaven (shaking the Heavens ) and the earth (shaking the earth/nations) seem to happen on/around the same time, or PRIOR to THE TRIBULATION for the purpose of AWAKENING God’s people, sounding the alarm, and because a change in management is coming to the earth!
Transference…Exchanging the “old/worn out/shakeable ” with the “new/ “unshakeable”
1 Corinthians 15:50: Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
At this time the stars (fallen angels) are DARKENED…and the Saints are BRIGHTENED (Redemption of the flesh). The Dead IN CHRIST rise FIRST, which we discovered is the REDEMPTION of the FLESH! Once this happens, OUR FATHER will pour out HIS LATTER RAINS (NEW WINE), a HUGE OUTPOURING of the HOLY SPIRIT! The “former rains” began at Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus rose from the dead; however to close out the Church Age, our Father is going to pour out the LATTER RAINS to bring in the Great Harvest of souls prior to the Rapture and the Day of the Lord. God’s Joel 2 army will lead many to righteousness (JESUS) as the DAY OF THE LORD begins (the final 1000 years – Christ’s Millennial reign on earth). The Dead in Christ rise First and will be FILLED with NEW WINE (Latter rains), miracles, signs and wonders to close out the Harvest. This, in itself, would be enough to shake the Heavens and the earth!
Mark 2:22 No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into FRESH WINESKINS.”
The REVIVAL happens PRIOR to the Rapture. This is the beginning of the “Day of the Lord” that includes the final 7 years of mankind’s self-rule on earth culminating in Christ’s Millennial (1000 year) reign on earth. This is the Joel 2 army in whom the Lord says there has never been an army like this one nor will there ever be again. Jude 1 also speaks of an end-time army of the Lord that lead many to repent of their sins. Daniel 12 says that these “Saints” will lead many to Righteousness. This all occurs at the same time that the “stars are darkened”, the sun and the moon are darkened, and the Heavens are shaken. There will be physical and spiritual manifestations of the shaking (transference) at this time, including the supernatural change of the body to immortal, miracles, healing, etc.
There will also physical signs in the Heavens and the earth such as earthquakes, tsunamis (seas roaring), celestial signs, wars and rumors of war. God is about to JUDGE the fallen angels and the nations for their rebellion, but at the same time, He’s going to AWAKEN (transform) those who sleep in the dust of the earth (Dan. 12:2/human flesh/mirey clay) to help bring in the Harvest of souls before the Rapture.
The START of the “Day of the Lord” (FINAL 1000 YEARS).
Most people think the Dead in Christ rise at the time of the Rapture (same day), but I don’t think so. It seems more likely that the dead in Christ rise FIRST, prior to the Rapture for the purpose of assisting in the Harvest (Daniel 12, Isaiah 60, Jude 1, Joel 2). When the Dead in Christ Rise (Transform/change/put on immortality), the stars (fallen angels) will be DARKENED (no longer shining). This occurs at the time of the Joel 2 “latter rains” that KICKS OFF the Day of the Lord (final 7 years mankind’s rule + 1000 years Christ’s rule).
At the time of the Rapture (harpazo) the stars are not just “darkened”, but they FALL from the SKY! Matthew 24:29-31 shows us that this “event” happens at approximately the same time that the Saints are gathered together by the angels (God’s Holy Angels) and taken up to the Heavens (harpazo/rapture). Remember, the “host of Heaven” includes the “stars”, but here is primarily referring to the fallen angels.
And all the host of heaven will wear away,
And the sky will be rolled up like a scroll;
All their hosts will also wither away
As a leaf withers from the vine,
Or as one withers from the fig tree.
5 For My sword is satiated in heaven,
Isaiah 34 paints us a picture of the Host of Heaven, those who have participated in the Rebellion against THE CREATOR GOD, YHWH, ELOHIM withering up because they are no longer connected to the vine. They have seduced the nations, mankind, into following this rebellion. God is going to “judge” both His fallen angels and mankind (nations) at the same time.
John 15: 5 “I AM the VINE; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do NOT remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and WITHERS; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
Before the Day of the Lord, the angels of Heaven that took place in the rebellion have become disconnected from the branch. They are no longer shining brightly. They have led the nations into rebellion with them. But, the Saints, the “Dead in Christ who rise first”, will shine like the expanse of the Heaven and lead many to Righteousness. They will put off the corruptible flesh and exchange it with incorruptible. By the start of the Tribulation (final 3.5 years of mankind’s reign on earth), the shaking will be in “full swing”, the nations will be in turmoil, there will be natural disasters, the stars (fallen angels) will be thrown to the earth, no longer having any access to Heaven, and the Saints will be “caught away” (harpazo/rapture).
10 And, “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the works of Your hands;
11 They will perish, but You remain;
And they all will become old like a garment,
12 And like a mantle You will roll them up;
Like a garment they will also be changed.
But You are the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.”Psalm 102:25-27:
Of old Thou didst found the earth;
And the heavens are the work of Thy hands.
Even they will perish, but Thou dost endure;
And all of them will wear out like a garment,
Like clothing Thou wilt change them, and they will be changed.
But Thou art the same,
And Thy years will not come to an end.
Matthew 24: 29 “But 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 the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken (G4531..shake thoroughly, totter, overthrow, topple)
30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a GREAT TRUMPET and they will GATHER together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
Revelation 6: 12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13 and the STARS of the SKY FELL TO THE EARTH, as a fig tree casts its UNRIPE figs when shaken by a great wind.14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
The fig tree casts its untimely figs to the ground when shaken by a great wind. Revelation 6 is a reference to the fallen angels being cast out of Heaven. We know this because the verse compares the STARS FALLING to the earth AS A FIG TREE casts ITS UNRIPE FIGS..figs who are immature, did not ripen, NOT CONNECTED to the vine, would not follow JESUS the KING.
Matthew 24 and Revelation 6 both seem to be depicting the same event: the stars (fallen angels) being kicked out of Heaven occurring at/around the same time that the the Saints are being Raptured, Harpazo, caught away. Revelation 12 confirms this timing.
Revelation 12: 5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up (harpazo/rapture) to God and to His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,
Revelation 12:5 paints another picture of what we saw in Matthew 24/ Luke 21/ Revelation 6. Saints going up (Harpazo/catching away) at the same time that the angels, like unripe figs, are being thrown down to the earth. This is a part of that exchange, transfer that we saw in Hebrews 12. Everything that is not of the Kingdom of God, that is NOT connected to the VINE will be shaken. The nations who have willingly taken part in the rebellion against God, along with the fallen angels, will be shaken. Only that which is connected to the vine will remain (The Kingdom of God). This will culminate when Jesus steps His Feet upon the Mount of Olives at His 2nd coming and sets up HIS GLORIOUS MILLENNIAL KINGDOM!, the KINGDOM OF GOD on EARTH! All other nations will be thrown down, (overthrown). JESUS, the LION of the TRIBE OF JUDAH has OVERCOME! HE will SHAKE the POWERS of the Heaven and the earth. There is NEW MANAGEMENT coming down to this earth. The devil (prince of the power of the air) will be thrown into the bottomless pit for 1000 years. Those who are NOT connected to the vine will wither and die and will NOT be a part of the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom which will NEVER be shaken!
