ONE of the most striking and dramatic of scriptural prophecies regarding the last days, before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, is this:
"And before the day of the Lord shall come, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon be turned into blood, and the stars fall from heaven," Doctrine and Covenants 45:42.
(The same basic scripture also appears in other places, like the New Testament, Matthew 24:29: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:")
This prophecy very likely has multiple meanings.
A total eclipse of the sun on Aug. 21, 2017, seems to fulfill a portion of it -- especially given how much media and public attention that this rare event received ...
Plus, the string of events -- a darkened sun, a bloody moon and stars falling could reference a future rogue and sudden series of events that catch the world unaware, like a thief in the night ... In other worlds, not a predictable eclipse of the sun, but more dangerous things.
In addition, through symbolism, the prophecy is surely already being fulfilled in a different sense:
Consider Genesis of the Old Testament, Chapter 37, verses 9-10, where it mentions one of the dreams that Joseph (who was eventually sold into Egypt) had -- and the three symbols used are the sun, the moon and the stars.
The sun is Joseph's earthly father; the moon is his mortal mother and the stars are his brothers.
-Here are the two verses:
"And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
"And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?"
Surely many fathers today have become blackened with sin and have gone "dark," as far as rearing their children -- given all the divorces today and the births out of wedlock, the single parent situations, etc.
Also, mothers today more frequently favor and indulge in abortions, which terminate life.
Finally, many brothers (and sisters) fall from the glory that Heavenly Father has promised and intended for them, given their rebellion and lack of both faith and morality.
All of the above and perhaps more are things to consider in this important prophecy of the last days.
