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verses bear a more literal interpretation. Then shall "the sun be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be moved." [1] The sun will probably be obscured by volcanic ashes sent up from many places as the result of terrible earthquakes and eruptions of volcanoes. The veiled light of the moon will appear red as blood. Myriads of meteors resembling stars will fall to earth, kindling the whole world into flames. The heavens shall be rolled up as the scroll of a book. In other words, the atmosphere will be so obscured that the sun and moon will become invisible as at the beginning of creation. The mountains and continents shall be overturned and the whole world shall return to chaos. [2]

Comparing this description with the first chapter of Genesis we find the confusion of elements occurring in inverse order to that of their unfolding at creation. The faithful who witness these terrible convulsions of nature will prepare for the judgment of God. They shall be more terrified at the anger of God arid of His Christ than by the upheaval of the material world.

16, 17. "Then shall men wither away from fear and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world." [3] They will cry out in their terror: "O ye

  1. St. Matthew xxiv, 29; Isaias xxiv, 19, 20; xxxiv, 4.
  2. Cf. St. Matthew xxiv, 29 ss.; St. Luke xxi, 25 ss.
  3. St. Luke xxi, 26.