In neither of these senses, however, does the passage point to any destruction of the visible universe. If we take it in its outward reference to the Jewish nation, then the darkening of the sun and the withdrawing of the moon, together with the other parts of the description, can only be representative images of their multiplied distresses. This view of the subject is taken by most of those who have commented on the words. "The sun shall be darkened," "that is, (says one,) all their glory and excellency shall be eclipsed; all their wealth and prosperity shall be laid waste;--the whole government, civil and ecclesiastical, shall be destroyed; and such marks of misery found upon them, as never were seen upon a people."[7] But among the believers of the tenet in dispute, we presume there is not one more highly celebrated for learning than Dr. Adam Clarke; yet he, in commenting upon this passage, gives up all idea of a literal destruction. The following is the doctor's explanation: "'Immediately after the tribulation.'--Commentators generally understand this and what follows, of the end of the world and Christ's coming to judgment. But the word _immediately_ shows that our Lord is not speaking of any distant event, but of something immediately consequent on calamities already predicted; and that must be the destruction of Jerusalem. The _Jewish heaven_ shall perish and _the sun_ and _moon_ of its glory and happiness shall be darkened,--brought to nothing. _The sun is the religion of the church; the moon the government of the state_; and _the stars_ are the _judges and doctors of both_. In the prophetic language, great commotions upon earth are often represented under the notion of commotions and changes in the heavens. The fall of Babylon is thus represented by the constellations of heaven withdrawing their light, and the sun and the moon being darkened:--the destruction of Egypt by the heaven being covered, the sun enveloped with a cloud, and the moon withholding her light: the destruction of the Jews by Antiochus Epiphanes, is represented by _casting down some of the host of heaven_ and _the stars_ to the ground. And this very destruction of Jerusalem is represented by the prophet Joel, by showing wonders in heaven and in earth,--_darkening the sun, and turning the moon into blood_. This general mode of describing these judgments, leaves no room to doubt the propriety of its application in the present case." (_Commentary on Matthew._)