13:24 “But in those days, after that suffering, 1 the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light; 13:25 the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 2 13:26 Then everyone 3 will see the Son of Man arriving in the clouds 4 with great power and glory.
1 tn Traditionally, “tribulation.”
2 sn An allusion to Isa 13:10, 34:4 (LXX); Joel 2:10. The heavens were seen as the abode of heavenly forces, so their shaking indicates distress in the spiritual realm. Although some take the powers as a reference to bodies in the heavens (like stars and planets, “the heavenly bodies,” NIV) this is not as likely.
3 tn Grk “they.”
4 sn An allusion to Dan 7:13. Here is Jesus returning with full judging authority.