The Storm Gathering while the Sun Shines

I took the photograph at work last week. Although it was sunny, the heavy black clouds gathering in the north heralded a downpour. Those looking straight up would not have noticed them. That same week, we studied the thirteenth of Mark, wherein the Lord Jesus warns His followers to watch, to heed and to see the signs of His coming:

For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand. But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.

The sun and stars shine as ever before, but the horizon is certainly darkened by the shadows of false christs and false prophets. It may be sunny now, but there’s a terrible storm in the distance.