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Verse 25: "And there shall be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows".

After the times of the Gentiles have been fulfilled, then will begin their judgment, the forerunners of which are those very things which are predicated in this and the following verse, and through which a way will be laid down for the liberation of natural as well as spiritual Israel. Sun, moon, stars, sea: these expressions are figurative. The sea, in accordance with the usage of the prophets, signifies the confused and disturbed state of the world; and the sound of the sea and the tossing of the waves signify warlike tumults of every kind. Thus, in Daniel, four worldly kingdoms are represented as great beasts which come out of the sea (ch. 7:3), by which it is signified that those kingdoms will be produced from wars, and will be formed and built up with great shedding of blood.

Verse 26: "For the powers of heaven shall be shaken" -- that is, there will be very terrible wars and changes of kingdoms through arms and wars.

Verse 27: "And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud, with power and great glory". After the signs and afflictions, mentioned above, shall have lasted for some time, they shall see the son of Man coming for the glorious liberation of his people.

Verse 28: "Lift up your heads". When you shall see the disturbed, sad state everywhere in the world, do not lose heart because of it, but think that the time of your liberation is near.

There is in this statement a metaphor taken from those who with great longing and weariness await someone about to come from afar, and when already some fore-runners are approaching, they look with upraised head, straining to see whether or not he himself also will soon be at hand, and will be close behind. Paul in Romans 8:19 calls this "anxious expectation", performed as it were with an erection of the head. 288