THE PROPHECY OF VENUS

You may have recently noticed the third brightest object in the sky - the planet Venus. It has been shining brightly above the western horizon, reaching its greatest brilliance on April 27th. Its present location in its orbit qualifies it to be known as the Evening Star, but the same planet is also the Morning Star when its orbit positions it to appear in the east. Jesus Christ is given the title of “the morning star” in regard to His millennial rule (Revelation 2:27-28; 22:16), and He is called “the day star” in His role as the indwelling Saviour (in the person of the Holy Spirit) inside the body of the believer (II Peter 1:19).

Although Venus continues to approach closer to us, less of the illuminated portion of the planet is now visible from Earth. The bright side is toward the Sun, and more of the dark side is toward Earth. Venus receives its light from the Sun, even as Jesus receives His glory from the Father (John17:24).

Could it be that during the worst of a global pandemic, God used a type of His Son to remind us of His presence, power and glory? Even though the light appears to be diminishing, picturing the inability of the world to recognize or acknowledge the Lord’s coming (II Peter 3:3,4), Venus will close the distance to us by another seventeen million miles over the next month and a half. It would be just like the Lord to time the secret rapture (I Thessalonians 4:13-18) with the movement of the Bright and Morning Star.

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars: and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring: And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:25,28). The direct application of the verse is about the second advent and not the rapture of the church, but there are certain similarities between the two which should not be ignored. Prior to the rapture, the world will be in great distress to pave the way and authority of the antichrist; preceding the visible return of the Saviour, the world will once again be experiencing total chaos before the arrival of the God of light…Jesus Christ (John 1:6-13)!