Omen

An omen is a phenomenon or incident regarded as a prophetic sign. Formal divination seeks out omens. Some chance omens are generally recognized; meteors, comets, eclipses, and the like are extremely ominous. Omens of a publicly witnessed nature give rise to religious hysteria in societies where such superstitions are still prevalent. Large numbers of Christian people are in daily expectation of the omens or signs of the Parousia or Second Adovent, or apocalypse, and any startling celestrial phenomena may cause confusion.