Originally posted by wolfgang59
But you have repeatedly said that the bible is literal and [b]not open to interpretation.
Its your quote ... just what are you expecting when stars fall from the heavens?[/b]
It is clear that some portions of the Holy Bible are not to be taken literally and need divine interpretation. But most of the Holy Bible can and should be taken literally. Difficult and seemingly contradictory information need more than just an individual interpretation because we could come out with a hundred different variations of the meaning of verses. An example of this is the JWs believe the "to abstain from blood" means "no blood transfusions" when the majority of the Christian churches believe that only applies to eating or drinking of blood sacrificed to idols of false gods. Then there is the interpretation of the Trinity doctrine that was defined by a council of Bishops from all the Christian Churches before the split. It is not for us to privately interpret such things without divine revelation.
This statement about the stars falling from heaven could refer the literal falling of stars that are like our sun, or to the appearence of stars falling, like shooting stars, or to heavenly beings or heavenly hosts falling to Earth, literally or figuratively, because this is a prophecy that needs divine interpretation, if it is to be correctly understood before the fulfillment.
Heavenly beings have been referred to as "morning stars" or heavenly hosts. For example: Isaiah seems to be speaking of the same incident as Mark 13:25, Matthew 24:29 and Revelation 6:13 when he says the following:
All the host of heaven shall be dissolved,
And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll;
All their host shall fall down
As the leaf falls from the vine,
And as fruit falling from a fig tree.
(Isaiah 34: 4 NKJV)