For some Christians, a solar eclipse signals the second coming of Christ
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Eric Vanden Eykel, Ferrum College
(THE CONVERSATION) Does the upcoming solar eclipse signal the second coming of Jesus? In all likelihood, no, but that hasn’t stopped people from speculating that it does.
The New Testament is peppered with references to Jesus’ “second coming,” the time when Christians believe Jesus will return to Earth, the wicked will be judged, and the righteous rewarded.
The Apostle Paul writes about it in his letters, and the Gospels portray Jesus speaking about it.
The upcoming solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, which will be visible over parts of North America, has brought with it a slew of predictions that Jesus might be returning sooner rather than later.
I am a scholar of early Christian literature whose research focuses on how people read, understand and sometimes misunderstand biblical texts.
Religious theories surrounding this eclipse are part of a larger pattern of attempts to find...