There is a passage in the Book of Matthew, typically referred to as “The Olivet Discourse,” where Jesus describes to His disciples the conditions that will precede His Second Coming. At the climax of this discourse, Christ highlights the central importance of a heavenly “Sign” that will immediately precede His return in glory:
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you…. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. 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: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matt. 24:3-4, 27-31, KJV, emphasis mine)
The exact nature of this mysterious “Sign” has eluded commentators to this day. However, as we shall see in this book, the answer to this mystery is actually quite logical, and neatly explains many of the more enigmatic passages in the Bible, particularly those having to do with the Creation, Nativity, and Second Coming. The history of this heavenly Sign stretches all the way back to the creation of Earth. It also held a central role in ancient Near Eastern religion, served as the central focus of the Book of Job, made a crucial appearance as the “Star of Bethlehem” event described in the Book of Matthew, and will make its final appearance as the Sign of the Son of Man and the end of the age.