Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 13:25

"and the stars shall be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken." — Mark 13:25 (ASV)

Verses 24–27 form a unit and relate to the End. They are set off from the previous verses by the strong adversative alia (“but”; GK 247). Whereas the preceding verses (5–23) point to both the destruction of Jerusalem and the end times, vv.24–27 speak only of the end times. “In those days” is a common OT expression having eschatological associations (cf. Jeremiah 3:16, 18; 31:29; 33:15–16; Joel 3:1; Zechariah 8:23).

The coming of the Son of Man will be associated with celestial phenomena.

The imagery and language are derived from the OT descriptions of the Day of the Lord (cf. Isaiah 13:10; 24:23; 34:4; Ezekiel 32:7–8; Joel 2:10, 30–31; Ezekiel 3:15; Amos 8:9). It is difficult to know whether the poetic language here is to be understood literally or figuratively. The repeated assertion in Scripture that the end times will be accompanied by cosmic disturbances seems to imply that there will be unprecedented celestial disturbances of some sort that are literal (cf. 2 Peter 3:10). The fallen world will share the same fate of judgment as sinful humans. But out of it, a new world will be born.