Blood Moons pt. 2
What about those blood moons?
(with a correction regarding the meaning of a lunar eclipse)
Monday evening, April 14, 2014, is the beginning of Passover, this year, the 14th of Nisan on the biblical calendar, and the first of four consecutive blood moons on biblical feast days.
A “blood moon” occurs when there is a total lunar eclipse – the earth is positioned between the sun and the moon, the sun’s rays shine around the earth on to the moon, often turning the moon into a red hue. A total lunar eclipse can only occur with a full moon.
The potential importance of blood moons finds its origin in Genesis 1:14, God said that he had put the sun and moon in the sky “as signs to mark seasons and days and years. Later Joel prophesied and Peter affirmed, “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Joel 2:30-31 & Acts 2:20). Four blood moons (lunar eclipses) and two solar eclipses will take place during this year and next – all on significant biblical holidays.
On the 14th of Nisan this year (Passover, April 15 – biblical days always beginning the night before) the first blood moon will occur, the second on the 15th of Tishri (Tabernacles, October 9, 2014) of this year. Next year will bring precisely the same occurrence. A blood moon will take place on Passover, Nisan 14 (April 4, 2015) and again on the first day of Tabernacles (Tishri 15, September 28, 2015).
The last time four blood moons occurred on these feast days in two consecutive years was in 1967/1968 during the time of the Six Day War when Israel took possession of Jerusalem for the first time in many centuries.
The prior occurrence of four blood moons in consecutive years on these two feast days was in 1948/49 during the time of Israel’s War of Independence.
Before that time, we have to go back in history to 1493, the season of the Inquisition when the King and Queen of Spain were confiscating Jewish wealth, exiling or murdering Jewish people.
In the midst of these four total lunar eclipses are two solar eclipses to take place on the first day of the biblical calendar, Nisan 1 (March 21, 2015) next year, and on the first day of the civic year, Tishri 1 (September 13, 2015) next year.
Nisan 14, April 15, 2014 – Passover – “blood moon” lunar eclipse
Tishri 15, October 9, 2014 – Tabernacles – “blood moon” lunar eclipse
Nisan 1 – March 21, 2015 – beginning of the year – solar eclipse
Nisan 14, April 4, 2015 – Passover – “blood moon” lunar eclipse
Tishri 1 – September 13, 2015 – Feast of Trumpets – solar eclipse
Tishri 15 – September 28, 2015 – Tabernacles – “blood moon” lunar eclipse
(Remember biblical days begin the evening before)
What does all this mean? Is this God’s proclamation that something extraordinary is going to occur during or just prior to the multiplicity of eclipses? It would seem so, since that is what has happened in the past. Does this mean war in Israel and the Middle East? If so, will the outcome be good, as in the 1948 and 1967 conflicts? Or is greater hardship indicated as in 1493? We cannot know.
Some suggest this could mean the rapture of the church prior to the great tribulation, but I find no biblical proof that we escape tribulation, and Paul tells us that the antichrist will precede Jesus’ return? Do we escape the wrath of God? Yes (See Romans 5:9), but we are continually warned to prepare for hard times, (See, for example, John 16:33 and Acts 14:22, both of which use the Greek word sometimes translated “tribulation”).
So what are we to do? Keep walking strong, pray for victory for all of God’s people, and that millions will come into the kingdom both from Israel and the Jewish people, as well as the nations. Surrender to Jesus! Listen to and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit! Worship! Share the good news! Be prepared to stand strong whatever may come. We have the assurance that in the end all is well.
Blessings!
Don Finto
