A Present to His Royal Highness - The Prince of Wales — Page 16
16 All these signs have been fulfilled so clearly that no doubt has been left concerning them. As to the darkening of the sun and the moon and the falling of the stars and the shaking of the powers of Heaven, it might appear as if they had not yet been fulfilled. But those who reflect over sacred writings and are familiar with the working of Divine laws have no difficulty in arriving at the real meaning of these words. It is obvious that these words cannot be taken literally. If the Sun were to be really darkened, life on this planet would become extinct, as all life is dependent on the light of the Sun. If the stars fell from the heavens, this world would be annihilated, for every part of this Universe is dependent upon the other and cannot exist without it. Again, if the powers of Heaven were shaken literally, not only men but even angels would cease to exist. Jesus himself has said that after these things come to pass, the Son of Man will take away the Earth from the evil-doers and give the inheritance thereof to the righteous. But if the Sun and the Moon should cease to give forth light and the stars fall out of heaven, the coming of Jesus and the giving of the inheritance to the righteous would become impossible. It is clear, therefore, that this prophecy cannot be construed literally and that there is a hidden meaning in it, as is very often the case with revealed words; and that meaning is that the Sun and the Moon will be eclipsed in those days and meteors will fall in large numbers, and the power of religious leaders over their followers will be weakened, for in religious literature heavenly powers signify leaders of religion.