Or, the Church is the sun, moon, and stars, to which it is said, “Fair as the moon, bright as the sun. Then shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,” [Song of Songs 6:10] because in that ungoverned fury of wicked persecutors, the Church shall not be seen.
“Then shall the stars fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken,” because many, who seemed to be shining in God’s grace, shall give way to their persecutors, and shall fall, and even the stoutest believers shall be shaken. And these things shall be “after the tribulation of those days,” not because they shall happen when the whole persecution is overpast, but because the tribulation shall be first, that the falling away may come after. And because it shall be so throughout all those days, it shall be “after the tribulation of those days,” yet on those very days.
Reproduced in full. Translation: Oxford 1841 (Newman), public domain (Public domain).
Also cites: Ep. 199, 39