And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:
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Bede
AD 735
wonders in heaven:
when with the Lord's birth a new star appeared, and when his ascending of the cross the sun was dimmed and heaven itself was covered with darkness (Mt. 2:2; 27:45).
Signs on the earth:
when, with the Lord's breathing forth of his spirit, the earth trembled violently, broke open tombs, split apart rocks, and brought forth alive again the bodies of many of the saints who had fallen asleep (Mt. 27:51-52).
I will show wonders These prodigies are commonly expounded of those that shall forerun the last day; or of the prognostics of the destruction of Jerusalem, which was a figure of the destruction of the world. (Witham)
Blood, fire These prodigies were accomplished at our Saviour's death, or before the destruction of Jerusalem. We must not expect in these prophecies, where the descriptions are so grand, pathetic, and hyperbolical, to find that the accomplishment of them is literal, and precisely according to terms. The sun shall suffer an eclipse, the moon turn red, like blood (Calmet)
