Heavenly Omen: The Comet as a Harbinger of Catastrophe
In the Old Testament, the described comet appears as a powerful and ominous sign, heralding impending calamities and divine punishment. The comet is not merely a cosmic phenomenon, but a sign of the end times, sending a warning about the coming destruction and changes in the world. For example, one source states:"This is one of the signs of the end times, when there will be dreadful phenomena and great signs from heaven (Luke 21:11). A hundred years ago, Bishop Ignatius Bryanchaninov noted 'the tendency found in modern Christian society to see miracles and even to perform miracles... Such a tendency reveals a self-deception rooted in vanity and conceit that dwells within the soul and rules it.'" (source: link txt)The appearance of such a celestial sign is associated with phenomena that deceive visual perception, creating illusions that intensify the feeling of dread before the inevitable events. Another biblical fragment speaks of the fall from heaven of "a great star, burning like a torch," which is perceived as a sign of destructive waters and the demise of people:"The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, burning like a torch, fell from heaven. It fell on the third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star was Wormwood. The third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from these waters because they became bitter." (source: link txt)Furthermore, in prophetic writings, the comet is linked with punishment and transformation, heralding the arrival of destructive forces, sometimes even directly associated with images of the Antichrist and demonic phenomena. As noted in another source:"The Old Testament is much harsher and more brutal than the New Testament. The comets mentioned in these texts also symbolize punishment and destruction." (source: link txt)Thus, in religious prophecies, the comet in the Old Testament serves as a celestial sign meant to instill fear, warn people, and signal imminent catastrophic changes. It is not merely an astronomical description but a potent symbol, calling on the faithful to heed the divine judgment and the inevitability of change in the world.