General Christianity
Mark 13:24–27 — darkened sun and falling stars
[24] But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, [25] and the stars shall be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken. [26] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. [27] And then shall he send forth the angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
On the timeline
All 28 dates for this reading
- Approximately 30–33 CE · narrative settingJesus’ discourse is set shortly before his death Prophecy given or recorded
- Around 70 CEEstimated composition of Mark’s Gospel Prophecy given or recorded
- Approximately 80–90 CEEstimated composition of Luke’s Gospel Prophecy given or recorded
- Around 85 CEEstimated composition of Matthew’s Gospel Prophecy given or recorded
- Around 85 CEEstimated composition of Matthew’s Gospel Prophecy given or recorded
- Around 85 CEEstimated composition of Matthew Prophecy given or recorded
- Era 838 · 800 CEBeatus: the sixth age ends in the Era 838 (800 CE) Predicted date · stated 784 (Era 822)
- 1780-05-19New England Dark Day Proposed fulfillment
- 1831 · Joseph Smith’s revision of MatthewJoseph Smith revises Matthew’s discourse Prophecy given or recorded
- 1833-11-131833 Leonid meteor storm Proposed fulfillment
- 24 October 1841 · prayer on the Mount of OlivesOrson Hyde dedicates the land for Judah’s gathering Interpretation recorded
- 1861–62 · composition of the workBahá’u’lláh writes the Kitáb-i-Íqán Interpretation recorded
- 29 March 1868Preparing for Christ’s coming through everyday duties Interpretation recorded
- October–November 1881 · Zion’s Watch Tower“And the Door Was Shut” in Zion’s Watch Tower Interpretation recordedResponds to Barbour: Christ comes and restores the earth before the close of 1873 (By the close of 1873).Responds to Miller predicted Christ’s return within this period (between March 21st, 1843, and March 21st, 1844).Responds to Zion’s Watch Tower, December 1880: the saints changed “probably by, possibly before, the fall of 1881” (By the fall of 1881 · could be sooner).
- 7 December 1884 · George Q. Cannon’s sermonCannon: the time is near, but no day, hour or year is revealed Interpretation recorded
- 14 December 1884 · John Taylor’s sermonTaylor: as in Noah’s day, and Enoch’s Zion will descend Interpretation recorded
- 1911Ellen G. White connects the Dark Day with Mark 13 Interpretation recorded
- 1911Ellen G. White connects the Leonid storm with falling stars Interpretation recorded
- 1914 · end of the 2520 yearsPaton, 1880: Gentile dominion ends and God’s kingdom becomes universal in A.D. 1914 Predicted date · stated 1880
- 1956 · copyright dateArmstrong’s 1975 in Prophecy! Interpretation recorded
- 1965–1972 · “probably”Armstrong: drought begins the Great Tribulation, probably between 1965 and 1972 Predicted date · stated 1956
- 1970 · first publishedHal Lindsey publishes The Late Great Planet Earth Interpretation recorded
- 1980 · copyright; Bantam edition March 1981Hal Lindsey publishes The 1980’s: Countdown to Armageddon Interpretation recorded
- 1981, before 14 May · Calvary Chapel teachingChuck Smith teaches on Hosea 5–9 Interpretation recorded
- by 14 May 1981 · seven years before 1988Chuck Smith: the rapture may still come by 14 May 1981, seven years before the end of the 1948 generation Predicted date · stated 1981, before 14 May
- April 2004Oaks urges preparation despite an unknown return date Interpretation recorded
- October 2020 · conference addressAndersen describes the gathering at Christ’s return Interpretation recorded
- April 2025 · conference addressRenlund interprets the sheep and the goats Interpretation recorded