2. Matthew 24:29 If the stars literally fall we wouldn't survive. Are the stars "churches or leaders" or what?
"the stars" (Greek: οι αστερες ) "hoi asteres".
Although the word was generic, applying to any heavenly body other than the Sun, obviously the Sun is technically a star, while asteroids (having the appearance of moving stars) are not real stars, as in heavenly objects millions of miles in diameter.
The falling 'stars' would naturally be described in Greek (and most other languages) by such familiar words, even though an astronomer or physicist might prefer a more technical term that distinguished between large and smaller celestial objects.
The object of the writer (John the Seer, Matthew etc.) is to make plain the message, and so they use words familiar to their hearers, rather than modern technical or scientific terms.
The idea is not to involve hearers in long astronomy lessons, but to quickly and clearly warn them of immediate danger. Even if the "stars" (asteroids) are in fact not "stars" in the modern sense (large burning suns light years away), they will nonetheless have the APPEARANCE of "stars" (dots of light in the sky).
Even though the falling objects will be only a tiny fraction of the size of a star like the Sun, the consequences of their striking the earth at high speed will be devastating.
One particular asteroid hitting the sea is predicted to kill a third of all living things. This would be an asteroid less than a 1/4 mile in diameter, but utterly devastating.
That could be any day now.
peace,
Nazaroo
