END-TIMES EVIDENCE: FOUR BLOOD MOONS (Part II)

END-TIMES EVIDENCE: FOUR BLOOD MOONS (Part II)

Arguably, the most salient and significant of end-times portents are those signs which could not possibly be observed or understood in the absence of modern technology.  It may well be that such signs were earmarked exclusively for our generation 1) so that we might truly appreciate the awesome accuracy of biblical prophecies presented centuries ago, and 2) so that we might be made completely aware of our close proximity to the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Many prophecies fall into this category, but three will be highlighted here.  The first prophecy predicts the appearance of two witnesses who, according to end-times theologians, could be the physical return of Enoch and Elijah who never experienced a traditional death. (Genesis 5:24 and II Kings 2:11)  These two witnesses will be given power over water and weather; and, they will be brutally slain by the antichrist after witnessing in Jerusalem for 3½ years.  However, after three days, they will be divinely resurrected and they will ascend into Heaven.  The scriptures reveal that all “people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall SEE their dead [and resurrected] bodies.” (Revelation 11:3-12)  The simultaneous global viewing of these two witnesses is only possible in the presence of modern telecommunications technology.

The second example of end-times prophecies that could not be fully understood before our time is one offered by Jesus Christ, himself.  In the absence of modern-day technology, there would be no means of knowing about or tracking “earthquakes in diverse places.” (Matthew 24:7)  The Richter Scale, which documents the size and scope of global earthquakes came into being in 1935; and, only during the past century or so have scientists developed the technology and instrumentation to monitor worldwide seismic activity.

The third example of end-times prophecies that could not be fully apprehended before our time is the subject of this devotional message.  It is the intriguing phenomenon that is known as the Four Blood Moons.  Let’s examine it closely.

Pastors Mark Biltz and John Hagee have done extensive research on this specific sign, which constitutes clear and definitive evidence that we are now living in the end-times and Christ will soon return.  JESUS CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN…REALLY SOON!  These prophetic facts are powerfully presented in John Hagee’s book, “Four Blood Moons: Something is about to Change.”

But first of all, we need to offer a definition.  Biblically speaking, what is a BLOOD MOON?  In the Old Testament, the Prophet Joel states, “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.” (Joel 2:31)  In the New Testament, Jesus Christ declares, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light…and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:29-30)  The Apostle Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost (the birth date of the Church) echoes Joel’s prophecy: “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood and fire and pillars of smoke.  The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.” (Acts 2:19-20)  Each of these scriptures specifically refers to the phenomenon known as the BLOOD MOON.

Scientifically speaking, what is a BLOOD MOON?  The science of the ‘blood moon phenomenon’ is fairly simple.  A blood moon (a moon that is bright red in appearance) is actually the result of a partial lunar eclipse.  When the Earth’s shadow covers the moon completely, a total lunar eclipse occurs.  When a partial lunar eclipse occurs, the Earth’s shadow covers only a portion of the moon.  Here is what happens to produce the reddish look of the moon during a partial lunar eclipse: The earth’s atmosphere bends light around its edges.  It scatters the short-wavelength light (green through violet), and highlights the long-wavelength light (red through orange) in the Earth’s shadow.  This is also the scientific reason why sunsets and sunrises generally appear reddish in color.  But it is important to note that the miracle of the BLOOD MOON is not in the natural phenomenon, in and of itself.  the miracle of the BLOOD MOON is in its timing.

The Book of Joel describes solar eclipses, followed by partial lunar eclipseS, as signs of the coming of the Day of the Lord, i.e. Christ’s return to earth to judge mankind.  Since these partial lunar eclipses (blood moons) are biblical signs, it would seem important to check out the astronomical calendar for past and future occurrences of these partial lunar eclipses.  Pastor Biltz and Pastor Hagee examined nasa’s tables for solar and lunar eclipses (National Aeronautic and Space Administration) and they discovered an important series of lunar and solar eclipses happening in the years 2014 and 2015.  This phenomenon will not occur again for the remainder of the 21st century.

REMEMBER: the miracle of the four blood moons is in its timing.  During the next two years, on the Jewish Passovers (April 15, 2014 and April 4, 2015), and The Feasts of Tabernacles (October 8, 2014, and September 28, 2015), there will be a series of four blood moons.  These blood moons will be prophetically distinctive because they will line up on the calendar with two major covenant feasts of Israel: The Passover, which celebrates the Messiah’s sacrificial atonement for our sins and The Feast of Tabernacles (The Feast of Trumpets), which scripturally herald’s the Messiah’s second coming. 

It is also important to note that blood moons (partial lunar eclipses) have occurred often in human history.  They are not uncommon, in and of themselves.  But what is important here is the fact that these four blood moons (back-to-back over a period of two years) line up precisely with the covenant feasts that GOD instituted for His people, Israel.  This bears repetition because it is very important.  Our focus will be on the occurrences when the four blood moons line up precisely with the covenant feasts that GOD instituted for His people, Israel.

Only seven times in the past 2,000 years (since the birth of Jesus Christ) have these four blood moons lined up precisely with The Covenant Feasts that God instituted for His people, Israel.  Only three times in the past 500 years have these four blood moons lined up precisely with The Covenant Feasts that God instituted for His people, Israel.  The very next time this will occur (during 2014 and 2015) will be the EIGHTH TIME it will have occurred since the birth of Christ. 

the number 8 is highly significant, both scripturally and spiritually.  EIGHT represents new beginnings. 

Almighty God created the universe in 7 days and He rested on the 8^th day…new beginnings.  The 8^th man, Noah, with a total of 8 people, was graciously spared from the destruction of The Great Flood.  God instituted circumcision as a covenant sign for His people, and circumcision was commanded to be done on the 8^th day of life.   Sacrificial offerings for the cleansing of lepers were to be made on the 8^th day.  The Feast of Tabernacles was observed for 7 days, with a Holy Convocation of God’s people convening on the 8^th day.  On the 8^th day, John the Baptist was presented, named and circumcised in The Temple.  Paul described himself as a Hebrew of the Hebrews, circumcised on the 8^th day.  Even the Resurrection of Jesus Christ takes place symbolically on the 8^th day…the day after the Sabbath, which is the 7^th day, plus one.  According to the calculations of Biblical scholars, time (as we know it today) began on Creation morning (approximately 7,000 years ago), and humankind is now positioned to enter into the 8^th day …for one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years are as one day.  And, though we know not the exact date (nor shall we attempt to identify one), we know by the signs and seasons in which we live…that our Redeemer is coming again…on the 8^th day of human history!  So the 8^th day, the day of new beginnings is especially significant to God.  These events which we will now describe in detail have happened only 7 times since the birth of Christ…and in 2014 and 2015 they will occur for the 8^th time!  Something significant is about to happen! 

You will find the next part of this study to be entirely fascinating.  In order to fully appreciate how significant these prophetic occurrences are, we will take an in-depth look at the 3 times they have occurred during the past 500 years.  Only 3 times in the past 500 years have the Four Blood Moons lined up with the God-ordained Covenant Feasts of Israel.  Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.  Until then, sisters and brothers, be continually blessed!