The various end time speculations of 2012 never panned out, so it really should not surprise anyone that a replacement theory would now arise in order to sell new hype to people looking for a tribulation that fits their impatient unrealistic schedule. I am talking about the new hype that the blood moons of 2014 and 2015 could fulfill the blood moon talked about by Joel, and Revelation.
Pastor Mark Biltz of Tacoma Washington first came up with the theory and now Pastor John Hagee is running with the ball with his new book, “Four Blood Moons: Something Is About To Change”. Something is always about to change, John. However, if you are in any way implying that these blood moons in 2014 and 2015 have anything to do with the Joel or Revelation prophecy and the earth-shaking events that Jesus also referred to, you are 100 percent wrong. There are now hundreds of other “ministries” that have jumped on this blood moon bandwagon.
I have not read the book, so Hagee may not be saying this is any fulfillment of Joel prophecy, he probably is hedging his bets and speaking out of both sides of his mouth, but I know others are suggesting this. Just do a Google search and you will find them all over the Internet. They are as far off the mark as the Harold Camping’s of the world with endless speculations that try to convince others that the tribulation is upon us and the second coming of Jesus will be fulfilled before 2018.
The usual “Christian” media hucksters are also doing all they can to literally sell this latest hype to gullible Christians. There are always Christians out there willing to buy the next prediction; the main focus of their Christian life seems to be following the neo-Gnostic prognosticators.
I first should explain what the four blood moons that they are talking about are. They are nothing more than lunar eclipses. A lunar eclipse happens when the earth is blocking the light of the sun from being reflected on the moon. Most blood moons do not look red. I have seen several total lunar eclipses but saw nothing that looked red.
Keep in mind, that in a total lunar eclipse anything seen from the moon comes from light being refracted through the earths atmosphere. So what you see depends upon atmospheric conditions on the earth. At moonrise the moon often looks orange or reddish because it is shining through so much atmosphere. This is much the same, although an eclipsed moon would not be as bright as a moonrise. Obviously Joel is not talking about a lunar eclipse any more than he is talking about daily moon rises.
Blood moons can only occur at a time of a full moon when the moon is on the opposite side of the sun. The Jewish calendar is lunar, therefore, blood moons are going to occur around the 15th of a Jewish month because that is when the moon is full on the Jewish calendar.
When blood moons (eclipses) occur in the two equinox months of the year they also must occur on Passover and Sukkot because these two holidays are held on the full moon of the spring and fall equinox month. Therefore, on average, one in six blood moons will occur on either Passover or Sukkot, so it is not a rare event. It also is not unusual to have no blood moons for a few years followed by four blood moon in a two-year period. If you’re interested in why these variances happen read the link below.
This link will give many details about blood moons. And this link will give you even more information why this sequence is not all that significant. Thirty-seven times in just the 20th century these blood moons occurred on the full moon associated with Passover or Sukkot, so it is not as rare an occurrence as Biltz and Hagee make it out to be. And since blood moons are not rare, it is easy to backdate and find something significant that happened to the Jews around the time of a four sequential moon eclipses that could be viewed from somewhere on earth during Passover and Sukkot. Heck, I know people who can find something significant related to Israel every time we have a major storm in the U.S.
Anyway, blood moons happen often enough in history to make it clear that what was said by Joel and Revelation have nothing to do with these natural reoccurring events. Not only that, you would think that the blood moons that Biltz and Hagee are talking about should at least be visible from Jerusalem in a prophecy given to Israel. However, three out of four of the blood moons that take place in 2014 and 2015 will not even be visible from Israel at all.
Those are the scientific facts, but you really have to rip scripture out of its context and know nothing about the Day of the Lord to think that these 2014 and 2015 eclipses fulfill the prophecy in Joel and Revelation. Pastor Mark Biltz says the second coming of the Lord will occur on Sukkot and he implies 2015. That is impossible. We would have to already be in the 3 1/2 year Day of the Lord and the Jews would have already fled from the Antichrist. Of course, not everyone takes all Bible prophecy literally, some pick and choose only what fits their theory and they ignore or allegorize all the rest.
Let’s look at the scriptures that talk about blood moons:
Joe 2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Obviously blood moons do not cause wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke and the sun turning dark. Obviously something more is going on here than just a lunar eclipse.
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Again, we see a whole lot more going on here than just an eclipse of the moon. And all this occurs before the Great tribulation or the Day of the Lord even begins.
Jesus gives a parallel passage talking about the same events.
Luk 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
It is clear that this is talking about more than just blood moons. People are going to have heart attacks because of the fear of what they see coming upon the earth. This sounds more like a comet or large body called Wormwood in the Bible rather than any lunar eclipse blood moon. If the earth is influenced by a large body, the gravitational force could set off volcanoes and kick up dust into the atmosphere and this will turn the moon blood-red in color and darken the sun. Every eye will see what is coming upon the earth and small and great will hide in holes in the ground as Revelation says. This is not about people observing lunar eclipses. Most people on earth will not see or care about a lunar eclipse anyway.
In the Trumpet Judgments of Revelation, Wormwood hits the earth. That would account for the great earthquake, earth upheavals, and every island being moved out of its place. In other words, the whole crust of the earth is going to be moved and changed. A Lunar eclipse does not explain any of the catastrophic details given by the prophets or Revelation; it is lunacy to try to tie these natural reoccurring events to any fulfillment of Bible prophecy.
These three passages and a quote of Joel in Acts is all there is in the Bible about blood-red moons. From these passages people are claiming that 4 lunar eclipses that are not even seen in Israel are the fulfillment?? As John Stossel would say, “give me a break”! One might use some common sense here. A sign is not a sign if most people of the world never see it.
Something significant can happen in 2014 or 2015 in Israel, but it won’t be the start of the Day of the Lord. I can look at the situation in the Middle East and surmise that something significant is likely to happen in 2014 and 2015 but I don’t need any lunar speculations to figure that out. I suppose the main players promoting the 2014 and 2015 blood moons will now be seen all over the Christian Speculation Networks for the next two years.
Why do I get the feeling that many Christian are going to be sucked into a great deception. There are people found all over the Internet that claim to have great knowledge of end time prophetic events but they deny any pre-trib Rapture. Some of these now believe that we are already in the first half of the last seven-year period and the Antichrist is some Mahdi in Islam. They think Jesus will come in glory by 2017 or 2018 and they now think we have to physically hold our ground against the Antichrist until Jesus comes. They are ripe to be inducted into a holy war against Islam thinking that they are fighting for God instead of fighting for the pseudo Christian Western world order that will ultimately lead to the real Antichrist.
By 2018, a war against Islam may be fought and won but the real Antichrist could be leading the effort, or perhaps he still will not even be on the scene yet. Will some think the arrival of the Antichrist is the Christ that they are waiting for? With the strange mixing of aberrant theologies held by some of the people doing these prophecy sites and Christian talk circuits, I really do have to wonder.
Don, I know the jist of this was about the Blood Moons, but I have a question about something towards the end of it that has lately been driving me crazy(or crazier…take your pick). When did it become fashionable by the deniers of the Pre-Trib Rapture to use the rationale that “Why do Americans think they are so special and privileged to be whisked away instead of staying here to help us fight the AC and probably be decapitated, or avoid dying like all the maryters that died throughout the ages”. 1., we didn’t ask to be born in this time and place, 2., I thought we were advised to pray that we would be found worthy to escape that which is coming, and 3., whoever said anything about ONLY the U.S. being the only country eligible for the Rapture? Baldwin and the Coach are two names that come to mind right away. Like I said, I am a little confused. Help?
Hi Don,
I have followed your site for many years and have appreciated your many topics over that time. In saying that, this is the first time, however I have posted on your site, as it is a topic I have taken an interest in for many years.
I hadn’t previously thought much about your “kicking the dust up into the atmosphere” possibility before and it certainly seems feasible.
My own leanings (and they are not leanings that I rigidly hold to in the sense that “it has to happen this way and no other” mentality) have been with a total lunar eclipse in mind, to turn the moon red. In saying that, I agree with you that there has to be more going on than just blood moons.
Specifically, Rev 6:12 has been the focus of my interest. There has to be three events, one after the other (or perhaps simultaneous):
– Earthquake (that shakes the whole world at once – Rev 6:14)
– Black sun
– Red Moon
My own thoughts are that the red moon will be a lunar eclipse, the black sun will be a solar eclipse and the earthquake will be an earthquake.
As the moon is behind the earth, something else will need to be between the earth and the sun to create the solar eclipse. I suspect a foreign large object of some sort (comet etc). The foreign object will be close enough to the earth to shake it violently, hence the earthquake.
That’s how I think it may pan out.
As for the dates of 2014 and 2015, I had already made a mental note to keep those dates at the back of my mind, however, I agree that they are likely to be too soon. There are many more total lunar eclipse dates that will occur in the future. Maybe it will happen on one of them, maybe not.
Again, I don’t hold this view dogmatically, I just see it as something that COULD pan out this way.
On a scientific side-issue, I wonder how, during a lunar eclipse, the effect of the earth’s shadow would affect the colour of the moon (as seen on earth) if there was another object directly in line between the earth and the sun AT THE SAME TIME. Would it make the colour darker? I have no idea. Just a thought that I’ve always had.
On Joel:
I have not really focused on that passage when studying this area, but looking at it now, I’ve noticed one thing so far:
Joel 2:31 – “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, BEFORE the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.”
It says before, not on: The rapture (or second coming at the end of the tribulation, I don’t know which position people take on what the day of the Lord is, and I don’t have a position either way) won’t happen when the moon turns red and the sun black, it will happen after, if the word before means what it appears to mean here (unless there is some special greek word at play here that has been translated poorly into English).
Anyway, these are my opening thoughts. Happy to discuss them more with you if you wish. Again, thanks very much for your blog and all the best with it for the future.
JB
JB
The Day of the Lord is the same as the time of Jacob’s trouble. It is the last 3 1/2 years given to the Antichrist and is the time when the trumpet Judgments and the bowl judgments play out. There are plenty of Old Testament scriptures that speak of the events in the Day of the Lord and they are all about cataclysmic events taking place on earth.
The moon turning blood red is one of the signs that the Day of the lord has arrived. The Rapture has to happen before the day of the Lord and the signs in the sun and moon are not to the Church. They are to Israel. The Church is not appointed to go through the wrath of the Lamb (Trumpets) or the wrath of the Father (Bowls) and the wedding takes place in Heaven during this period of turmoil on earth so obviously the Church cannot be here.
Thanks for your feedback Don,
Hoping that I am not getting too far off topic here:
I agree that we (the church) won’t go through the trumpets or bowls as you’ve said. What about the seals? Do you think we miss that entirely, go through it entirely, or endure only part of it?
JB
Michael,
No need to be confused you have it correct and there are plenty of other arguments about why the last generation of Christians on earth will not be fighting the Antichrist. Heck, if we were here the Antichrist would still be bound from deceiving the world because He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world.
Chuck Baldwin and the Coach are totally confused about Bible prophecy. I like some of what they say, but they simply do not see the big picture for the Church. They are almost into a form of localized Dominion Theology. I emailed the Coach a couple of times about His straw man claims that most Christians today are looking to fly away before the trouble starts. It is total nonsense. His knowledge of our churches seems to be stuck in the 70’s. Where does he go to Church? Most people in our churches today live for today, they are not planning to fly off in the Rapture tomorrow. Nobody even teaches it anymore. To answer my own question. The Coach does not go to any Church and Baldwin only goes to the one he runs. That is the one that he started in Montana that is getting prepared for the 2nd American revolution.
J B,
I think the first five seals occur before the last seven years. In other words, they can play out at any time now. These are wars of men and the misery that world war brings on the earth. That will be followed by a general persecutions of believers (fifth seal). On the other hand, the Trumpets and the Bowls are acts of God carried out through angels. I think the last 7 years for Israel starts with the sealing of the 144,000 Israelites and the ministry of the two prophets of God for 1260 days. All this is explained in my Revelation Commentary (top bar).
I do not know how much of the seals we go through. This time of trouble on earth is not coming from God. It may be like a false tribulation where the revived Roman Empire fights against Islam for control of the world followed by persecution from the Vatican Harlot on all that will not agree with her authority over all religion. We very well might experience the first five seals. In fact, I think the wrath of the Lamb and the burning of the Harlot comes because of the persecution of the Church. So those that think the Church will escape persecution in these last days probably have it wrong. However, we will not go through the Day of the Lord.
Don,
I also think we will go through the first five seals (because of what happens in the fifth seal – persecution).
Interesting that the next seal (6th) is the topic of your post (blood moon etc) and that there are people wanting to date the rapture to this sixth seal.
I personally hope (selfishly, admittedly) that the rapture does not happen exactly when the moon, sun, earthquake thing happens as I would probably have to dismiss my theory (in my first post) about the moon, earth, foreign (comet-like) object and the sun all lining up (in that order) to create the Rev 6:12 events, because (my version of) it can be ‘date set’. We know that some people WILL do their rapture date setting thing at the drop of a hat when given a chance and we know we can’t date set the rapture.
Anyway, thanks very much for your feedback once again.
JB
Don
Actually, I just read your previous post and may have inadvertently put words in your mouth about us going through the first five seals. You said that “We very well might experience the first five seals”, not that we definitely will.
Sorry about that,
JB
America is removed from super power status (non-mention) before the first seal is broken (rider on the white horse). The rapture can happen at any time before the 6th seal is broken (blood moon, etc – announcement of the tribulation and it’s no wonder the populous is hiding in caves). Frankly, I’m looking to survive the judgement on America than expecting a “get out of jail free card”.
Approx. 20 years, give or take, to Armageddon and subsequent victory / return of Christ. Walking backward, 10.5 years, or more, to the breaking of the first seal. Meaning, America is out of the picture, so to speak, at some point this decade. Exactly how that occurs is a subject of speculation (see ‘immanent dangers’ link at top bar).
If you are in America and don’t survive the coming judgment, then it’s pointless to speculate about when the rapture shall occur. I don’t exactly put my chances at 100%. And so I “watch and pray” because that is something I can actually do (obey).
Getting back on topic, I have no idea how someone could move the 6th seal up to 2014 / 15. Way too much stuff has to happen before that. I believe that great / significant world turmoil / war must occur before the rider on the white horse, let alone the dreadful seals of 2 thru 5, before we even get to the 6th seal.
And, Don, correct me where I’m amiss.
Craig,
I would but you seem to have it right.
Good day to all. One thing I would like to add.
When we look back at the day of crucifixion, there were darkness over the earth for three hours. This is the time of full moon, which comes out at night, and as a result eclipses of the moon against the sun do not occur then. That was therefore an obvious ‘supernatural’ event. I believe we can definitely expect the same concerning Joel’s prophecy.
Don, I just watched an interview with John Hagee on Fox’s Spirited Debate. If anyone’s interested it’s under their ‘Breaking News headline.’ [About his new book.]
I have a question for you, Don. Isa. 13:13. “Therefore I will shake the heavens, And the earth will move out of her place. In the wrath of the Lord of hosts.” Could this be the great shaking that causes catastrophic events and does it mean Earth will leave its orbit? There’s no precedent about what would happen if Earth left its orbit. I’ve never seen this particular verse addressed on anyone’s prophetic timeline.
A Google search turned up the near impossibility of Earth leaving it’s orbit and if it ever did the speculation is all life would be destroyed.
Hi Don;
It is of no surprise to me that the book- selling sensationalist would take hold of this opportunity to “show us the moon”. Sometimes it is difficult to discern from these hucksters though. I am thankful for teachers like you Don for giving us solid scripture and sound advice. When I see things like this theory. I kinda get excited but then I try to look at it from different angles to get a better perspective. I know that I can count on you and many of those who blog on your site to help me think it through. Thanks Don and God bless.
Caitlin,
Sure, its all related to the judgment events but the real question is what causes the earth to shake or even change its orbit back to a 360 day year like is suggested in Revelation? I suggest that it is Wormwood or some unnamed body interacting with the earth. If the earth changed its orbit even slightly, or the rotation of the earth even changes slightly, or the degree of tilt changed, or the earth crust slipped, any of these could cause what the Bible mentions. I think more than one of theses things will happen due to an external force. In fact, I think it happened before more than once, with the latest being the days of Exodus, Joshua’s long day, and the sun dial moving backward in the days of King Hezekiah.
How that could happen is a long story, for the point of this post, it is something like this that will cause the blood moons. It will not be some eclipse.
Thank you Don. I agree that an eclipse couldn’t cause any of the phenomena of Revelation and also that it is a very long story. In my search about what could cause such a violent shaking of Earth or what it would take to knock it out of orbit, [a lot of the mathematical equations were over my head] I came to the conclusion that it’s beyond my imagination.
For those who find it difficult to visualize end time destructive events I would recommend Immanuel Velikovsky’s books on the past Biblical destructions.
Velikovsky is not a Christian but is a Jew who obviously believes in the historical record as portrayed in the Torah so although these books are a little speculative he uses his research to very great effect.
I recommend as interesting reading: –
“Worlds In Collision”
“Ages In Chaos”
“Earth in Upheaval”
“Mankind In Amnesia”
IF THEY ARE STILL AVAILABLE
Hi Brian,
I read Velikovsky’s books (the first three on your list) and I agree. We have had this gradualism theory fed to us by the evolution believers of academia but the truth is that things changed radically and rapidly on earth and some of those events are recorded in the Bible. Velikovsky did not get everything correct, but there is more truth in what he said about the earth’s past than anything coming from modern science.
Don,
I too very much appreciate your web sight and use it as a helpful guide to stay in tune with God’s word. I just wanted to mention a scripture that hasn’t been brought up here but seems related to me. In Matthew 24:29 Jesus says “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened…” Right before this verse Jesus is discussing the “great tribulation”. If this darkening is the same as that spoken about in the other scriptures then it seems pretty clear these heavenly phenomena occur during the 7 year tribulation period. Is this correct?
Hi Jon,
This appears to be a darkening of the Sun immediately after the great tribulation. Here it says the Moon shall not give her light. This might not be a blood moon, it might be a completely unseen moon because the Sun was actually darkened and not just dimmed because of dust in the atmosphere. (This could occur in a Nova. Remember that the fourth bowel judgment was poured out on the sun and great heat occurred from the sun.) It says falling stars will be seen so this is not likely to be a great darkening because of dust in the atmosphere. Apparently even our actual sun will be darkened to make the glorious coming of Jesus with His angels even more extraordinary brilliant. Like is said, every eye will see Him.
Haven’t responded here in awhile but still read your articles and comments. And usually when I heard of these incidents I come here to get your analysis. I do get email from Prophecy News Watch and they now have DVDs on the Blood Moon “theory” but I haven’t watch them so don’t know if is being debunked or otherwise in support of the prophecies.
But I would like your response on a subject my kids are asking about. They have recently been interested in why America is no where in the prophetic arena and I couldn’t really give them an intelligent answer except that America is just not mentioned and I’m not sure why. Even though I have learned from you, Hal Lindsey and a few other reliable end time teachers. A few times one has brought up Isaiah 18, the Denunciations against Cush (Ethiopia). So I thought I would do some more research so I could better comfort them with the truth. I did find online some teachings from Ken Power which I could not find him on Who’s Who in Bible Prophecy. He is a pre-trib and how he got an exegesis of Is 18 and modern day Ethiopia and compared it to America I am still working on the study. To me if E. could be compared to America, why not the other countries in the series such as Egypt, Moab etc…compared to other modern day countries. Know you are probably very busy so at your convenience I would appreciate your response. Thanks again for all you do.
http://futurehistory.yadayahweh.com/Future_History_11_The_Gap.Prophecy
It’s quite a long study so doing a word search on Isaiah 18 will take you there.
Ann S,
Why the United States is not named in Bible prophecy is speculative and off topic for this post. Let me just say that if America keeps going down hill, by the end of this decade she is not going to be much of a factor in the world. As for Isa 18, we cannot be sure who this prophecy is talking about. Most prophecy teachers don’t think it is about America but others try to build a case for it as you see. Doing that is really a stretch, but it is remotely possible. The prophecy is not talking about Ethiopia, it is talking about a nation beyond the rivers of Ethiopia. America cannot be compared with Ethiopia. Nor is she a latter day type of Ethiopia.
Brian, hi. I’m not sure whether you meant me or not but I’d like to clarify. It isn’t the destruction I can’t imagine, but the terrestrial body God uses to shake Earth from it’s orbital plane. When we get into mass, velocity, trajectories etc. I can’t grasp the magnitude of the numbers. I can’t imagine the distance in a light year although I know how fast light travels. The unlimited power of God is beyond my grasp, that is what I can’t imagine.
The books you suggest sound interesting. Thank you.
Hi Caitlin,
No it wasn’t any one comment particularly but I found Velikovsky’s books interesting and informative and thought the general subject of this thread might be ‘imagined’ more easily with his writings as a backdrop. “Worlds in Collision” is particularly interesting regarding the terrestrial aspects you mention.
Brian
Don,
Regarding your comments: “If the earth changed its orbit even slightly, or the rotation of the earth even changes slightly, or the degree of tilt changed, or the earth crust slipped, any of these could cause what the Bible mentions. I think more than one of theses things will happen due to an external force.”
An interesting article was posted today from NASA (http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/asteroid-2013-tv135-collision-earth/story?id=20622551) regarding an asteroid that could collide with Earth in 2032. That would be something pretty major that could cause what you describe. With your end times/rapture time line/predictions, we would hopefully be out of here before then.
Tim
Hi Tim,
I am aware of that, but I think that asteroid is a really big long shot. I tend to think it is not just an asteroid because of the signs that preceded it, like the water turning to blood. I think it will be a comet that will get caught in the earth’s orbit and will gradually spiral toward the earth with the dust coming first and the multi headed comet hitting last.
Hey Don, just found this. I have been studying end times now for about 12 years. I’ve read several books and of course, the Bible. I use to adhere to Pre-Trib teachings until a couple of years ago. I started really searching in the word and things didn’t fit. However one wants to divide up the Book of Revelation, the one thing is for certain – the gathering of the believers cannot happen until the Anti Christ is revealed and commits the Abomination of Desolation, the Jews flee Judea, and then the greatest of all tribulations begins. Then immediately after the days of that tribulation is over the sun/moon/star event takes place according to Matthew 24:29.
So my real question begins: In Daniel 12, it talks about a 3.5 year period being 1290 (which I think accounts for a “leap” month in the Jewish calender) and then also blessed are those who make it to 1335 days. I’ve heard it taught that the first half of the Daniel 70th week is 1260 and the second half is 1290. The 1335 day period overlaps the first half 1260 period and that the remaining 75 days is what is called that greatest tribulation period before the rapture and then the trumpet/vials judgment. I feel that Daniel 12 in that aspect is too vague to draw that conclusion. I am certain of Jesus speech in Matthew 24 which means that the rapture cannot happen in the beginning of the 7 year Daniel 70th week. And do the seals actually occur in that 7 year span? In Matthew 24 it seems Jesus follows suuccinctly the seals in Rev 6.
Hi Joseph,
This is a bit off the post topic so first let me tell you to read my commenting policy.
If the Rapture cannot occur before the Antichrist is revealed and before the Jews flee from the Antichrist we would know the timing of the Rapture. So your certain beliefs really do not line up with the scriptures that tell us to watch because it will come at a time that is unexpected.
The first half of Daniel’s week is 1260 days of the two witnesses and the second half is the 42 months of the Antichrist. The extra 75 days probably allows for the sheep and goat Judgment of the nations to determine who will be allowed into the Kingdom.
Matthew 24 is talking to Israel. The grafted in Church was a mystery that was not revealed by anything that Jesus said in this prophecy. Nothing in the Lord’s discourse is talking about the Rapture which is another mystery that is hid from Israel because it only applies to the New Covenant Church. This taking of the Church before the Judgment was only revealed through Paul who also said it was a mystery.
I take the position that the last seven years starts with the sealing of the 144,000 Israelis. That would mean most of the seals are opened before the last seven years.
I think part of your problem is that you are trying to make everything in Revelation happen in 7 years. I think it will be more like 10 1/2 years and when the world is expecting the Christ at the 7 year mark they will get the Antichrist.
Read my Revelation commentary (top bar) for a complete explanation of Revelation.
I’ve always loved science and I love seeing the events foretold in Revelation and do not see them as disjointed events but triggered by one unique event. Anything turning the sun dark would result in the moon being not visible at all UNLESS that something was something such as a new planet (maybe the new earth?) entering our solar system.
As it entered it would disrupt the earth’s orbit with its tidal pull creating earthquakes, massive waves, perhaps laying laying the earth in the path of the asteroid field resulting in the stars falling from heaven or dragging the asteroids with it into the path of the earth..
Imagine it passing between earth and sun eclipsing the sun while at the same time illuminating the full moon with the corona of the eclipse making it red. Such an eclipse of the sun and red moon would be visible for the whole earth to witness.
In the end it pulls the earth closer to the sun an the seas dry up while it takes its place in the new heavens with a new earth.
Anyway, that’s my take on it and I’ve not heard any others put it forth so I’m doing so now.
“Blood moons of Joel and Revelation not @ eclipses of 2014-2015.”(10/15/’13) Let me preface my remarks by saying that these eclipses are in all likelihood not those phenomena spoken of by the prophets and the Revelator. Also, I only know of Biltz in relation to the eclipses and I am no fan of Hagee. But, I must humbly and respectfully disagree w/you at a few points. No matter the significance (or lack thereof) of these eclipses to eschatology, they are unique, even rare. What you state as “…nothing more than lunar eclipses,” are more rightly called Levitical Feast Tetrads. They are TLE’s spanning 2 yrs. that occur on (or w/in a day, which you allow for in your article for eclipses) the biblical feasts of Passover and Sukkot. Sticking purely w/tetrads, the 20th century saw 5, but only 2 (1949/50,1967/68) were Levitical Feast Tetrads; in fact, of the other 12 TLE’s represented, only 2 were on Passover & Sukkot–Nisan 15 & Tishri 14 of 1986 (1985/’86 tetrad). And of the 8 tetrads of the 21st century, only the one of 2014/’15 is a Feast Tetrad. And of the other 28 TLE’s represented, only 4 are on Passover and Sukkot–Spring & Fall 2033 and 2061. In fact, in both centuries, TLE’s w/in tetrads fall anywhere from Veadar 13-Sivan 15 in the spring to Elul 13-Kislev 14 in the fall. Hardly “…on or w/in a day of Passover and Sukkot” as your link “details about blood moons” states. The upcoming Levitical Feast Tetrad is a rare astronomical event when coupled w/falling on Hebrew holy-days (only 7 times since Christ). What significance (if any) should be attached to them, I leave to the eschatological pundits. But the Tetrads stand on their own as unique events–whether or not they have implications for we who are “looking for that blessed hope.” The only real obstacle to truth is thinking that we already have it. May we all endeavor to be students of eschatological truth and , perhaps one day, we will be surprised to realize that it has found us!
.
Danny,
That all sounds good but nobody really knows where you get this from and most probably do not know what you are talking about. I find it very covenant for Blitz and Hagee to just gloss over the two Tetrad’s that they knew existed in their NASA inquiry but could not find any historical connection with Israel.
Here is an article that explains all that and more.
http://bibleprophecytalk.com/bpt-blood-moon-theory-debunked-and-more/
If you read it closely you should see that there really is nothing here here in those books. Like the author of that article, I find it very unlikely that God communicates anything to us in this manor. He would do that so people knowing about these eclipses can do what? And those not knowing about them cannot do what?
This obviously is not a fulfillment of any Bible prophecy, so why should these authors even pretend that it is? Looking for new revelation in natural occurring events is like looking for new Revelation in sun spots, tea leaves or mystical experiences. That is what hyper-Charismatics do. I will stick with the scriptures.
I’m just tired of people trying to predict the coming of the lord. because no one really knows the day we are going to be snatched away.But on the other hand there are a lot of people including pastors of churches that are in denial that its going to happen soon or just don’t want to talk about the subject , I mean how many services are about the rapture? The point is since the beginning of time people has said it’s going to happen soon , and there’s been people said it’s not going to happen soon.Fifty years from now we will still be having this same chat about war , earthquakes , lunar event , but again maybe we won’t be here to have the chat. I believe it’s sooner then later. The world is getting worst and not better. like the oh saying goes pray for the best , but prepare for the worst. 🙂
Robert,
There are many reasons to believe that the Church will be taken out soon and almost certainly before 50 years. Some of the top 100 articles on my sidebar explain why. For example:
https://www.thepropheticyears.com/wordpress/reasons-to-believe-why-jesus-will-return-before-2050-ad.html
So the author of this article has not read the Biltz’s book… Ok. I recently did read it and while he does come out and present some compelling information, he does not claim to say Messiah’s return is tied to these events. He even makes it clear in the end of the book.
Now are blood moons rare? No as plainly seen on the NASA web – however when they do occur they are found around key moments in history. 47-48 with Israel becoming a nation, the 1967 war, etc. What is interesting is that there have been only a certain number of instances where we have a blood moon on Passover, Sukkot in a year, then the same in the next year. That less common. Is it the final nail in the coffin? Time will tell – at best its something to watch. Regardless as we continue in this word we are getting closer to the Messiah’s return so we should be examining ourselves to see if we are in the faith, dying to self, spending more time with Him, etc.
Now an entirely different topic is how the Messiah fulfilled ALL the spring feasts of the Lord to the day & hour. If He completed the spring feasts, then we have to also agree He will also complete the fall feasts when He returns. From what I personally see in scripture, this will happen. Do the blood moons tie into this? Possibly.
What bothers me is that so many believers are like the parable of the virgins/bridesmaids in Matthew 5. All of them look and play the part but only some have oil in their lamps. Why didn’t the wise share their oil with the foolish? Simple – you cannot give away a personal relationship you have with someone, to someone else. I can tell you all ABOUT my wife but I cannot give you MY relationship with her. The same goes for the Messiah. Either you KNOW Him or you know ABOUT Him.
Regardless its time to study, grow and mature in the Lord.
Shalom
Steven,
Did you read the new link that I put up in the comments of this blog? Here it is again.
http://bibleprophecytalk.com/bpt-blood-moon-theory-debunked-and-more/
I bring it up because I think that article brings up some new arguments against the significance of the blood moons. For example, it points out how loose the date of the eclipses really were to the historical occurrences listed, and and how they just brushed over occurrences where they could not find any Jewish link.
As you said, Bliz’s may not tie in these things to tribulation events, but Hagee does and so do most of the people that are promoting these books or talking about these blood moons as if these eclipses are some fulfillment of Bible prophecy. They are not.
You say these blood moon could somehow tie into the fulfillment of the fall feasts but if they have nothing to do with tribulation events they cannot possibly tie in to any fulfillment of those fall feasts. All these fall feasts and the prophecies related to them are about the last seven years and the coming of Christ.
Your interpretation of the 10 bridesmaid parable is a oxymoron. If believers had no oil they would not be believers. Even you imply that half of them do not have a relationship with the Lord, yet you call them all believers. You might not grasp the true meaning of this parable. There has been a lot of conjecture about the meaning of this parable but I have yet to see the definitive argument. Having said that, the ten bridesmaids parable is not what this post is about, so we will leave it there.
It has always been time to study, grow and mature in the Lord but if people are not in the Lord it can’t happen.
Follow the money!
Anything on eschatology that sells books must be treated with caution, and especially if its a series… (unless you WANT your ears tickled and wallet lightened).
Sound teaching on eschatology is always freely available, but will do more than tickle the ears, it will be sweet to the ears because God is seen to be in charge, but will instil apprehension in the inward parts for the future of the world; or as Revelation 10:10 states “And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter”.
Ezekiel Chap 3 says much the same thing.
Don, thanks for the link, I will check it out.
As I said this blood moon stuff is interesting and we should always watch, pray and continue in the faith regardless. Now have bad things happened close to or on these blood moons in the past? Yes. Sometimes they have not. Now I’m not God and don’t know if for some reason He put some ahead of others or on the exact date of certain events; perhaps according to Him, He doesn’t have to have something bad happen every time a blood moon happens; I don’t know and can’t answer that. What I can see is the time is short and believers need to get serious about being hearers & doers of the word.
With that said here is Acts 2:20 “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.”
If you don’t see the blood moons playing any part, and its entirely possible, then how do you explain Acts 2:20? Just curious.
As for the bridesmaid stuff, there are lots of explanations but when the groom says to the those without oil, who are locked out and He say “I never knew you” its similar to those who claim “Lord, Lord didn’t we do great things in your name” and Jesus tells them “Depart from Me I never knew you!”.
So do you think we are close to the end? & if so how does Acts 2:20 play into all of it?
Hi Stephen,
What you miss is that Acts 2:20 is only part of a passage that is quoting Joel. Even in this quote in Acts, the very verse before adds “I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:” So do eclipses create fire and smoke? Obviously then, this is talking about something else.
If you then read Joel and what Jesus said in Matthew 24 and 25 and Luke 21 and what is said in Revelation you will get the full picture. Revelation says people will be hiding in holes of the ground for protection when they see these things coming upon the earth. Jesus said peoples hearts will be failing them for fear of what they see coming. These are not natural reoccurring events. The whole earth will be in upheaval and the upheaval will cause the smoke in the atmosphere that will darken the sun and the mood.
I have suggested it could be caused by gravitational forces of a great body that gets caught in the earth’s orbit. That of course is conjecture, but we do know from Revelation that great bodies will approach and hit the earth. One will be called Wormwood. It apparently opens the abyss and smoke and demons comes out of the abyss to torment those on earth.
Anyway, all that is a long story that I cannot get into here, read my Revelation Commentary for the details. What I am saying is that none of this has anything to do with naturally occurring eclipses of the sun and moon. Those peddling these eclipses as some kind of sign that the tribulation is upon us do not have any biblical foundation to stand on. None of the passages that talk about the moon turning to blood and the sun being darkened before the day of the Lord can possibly be talking about naturally occurring eclipses when reading them in their full context. (Pulling scriptures out of proper context and twisting them to make them fit someone’s conjecture is the major plague that is upon Christendom today.)
You ask if I think we are close to the end? The obvious answer is yes, and many of my articles say why, but Acts 2:20 does not in any way tell us how close we are to the end. Read my articles for further information on why this generation is living in the prophetic years.
As for the bridesmaid stuff, Jesus did not say that He never knew them in the ten bridesmaids parable. It appears that those without oil will not escape the tribulation. It is during the sheep and goat judgment that Jesus tells those that claim they did many wonderful works in His name that Jesus tells them that He never knew them. This judgment is after His coming in Glory. They are not the same events.
don i have been doing a bit of reading into your thoughts, and i must say i agree with a lot of what you have said here. these blood moons are in fact just natural events, as they have been happening for years already. and i want to toss in one interesting bit of information, another name for these blood red moons are called hunter moons. now i am a strong believer in our creator and our father the good lord and savior. but i do not believe, that in any way the one true being that created us would snuff us out. it is my belief, that in some point in time we will die. but not from anything that has to do with the bible, but with natural causes either from the sun snuffing out. or the moon moving to far away from our little blue planet. now again these are just my own opinions, but i figured i would throw it out there. we must not fear the unknown, but embrace it live our lives as our father wanted us to. when our numbers are up, they are up. and there is a good chance, that some of us may never see this end of the world, that everyone keeps bringing up. i mean there is a chance it could happen, but maybe not for years maybe hundreds maybe less.
anyways don thanks for letting me get this out, and thank you for putting up your thoughts for us to discuss. it really gives us a chance to be open, and honest about what we think.
Brandon,
This is a Bible prophecy website. It does not matter what you believe will happen because God already told us the future in the Bible. I suggest that you at least read the Bible once if you claim to be a believer. The Bible is quite clear that the wrath of God will be poured out on this fallen unbelieving world. Jesus came to save all that trust in Him out of this fallen world before that happens.
I am only 14 but, I am pretty sure that the rapture will come first. Anyway, I was wrong. I was really sure that the four blood moons/hunter moons would signal the apocalypse, so thanx for your article. One thing I can’t fit into all this stuff (end times) is that the bible says something to gist of the north and south will help bring destruction, or something to that end. <—- no pun intended;) anyway I just wanted to put that out there (if this is off topic I can't find the comment policy. I don't know this web site but I will ask anyway, I would realy like to understand more so if you could do an article over the afore mentioned thing about Russia and China I would be obliged thanks.
Hi Michael,
The commenting policy can be found on the top bar of the blog. And yeah, going down different Bible prophecy trails would take this post off topic. You can find out what I wrote on these or other issues by going to my website homepage (also on top bar). Near the bottom of the homepage you will find a search box. If you put in the appropriate keywords it will bring up the most relevant articles. I have written articles on Russia and China in Bible prophecy.
Don, I suspected as much when a friend loaned me the Hagee DVD’s. I am always skeptical when a Christian author publishes a set or series that comes in a gaudy halloween-esque cover. I know that’s off the issue, but when it becomes a necessity to sensationalize conjecture or at best a series of suggestions without anything concrete and then package it in glossy black with moons over the planet earth, the marketing angle becomes obvious. I am concerned, as you are, at the number of pastors embracing the preterist view, or something other than pre-trib. Astonishingly, many of them are the scholar-elite commentators and theologians held in such high regard that to question them is anathema. I suppose the angle with their eschatology that bothers me so much is that is totally disregards the ministry and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. As in the book of Acts where the Holy Spirit was totally involved and directing the young church, I must believe that the real church through the ages has been led by the person of the spirit. Why would the author and person leading the church, having been sent by Jesus himself to comfort it and lead it into all truth, allow it to be deceived for so many centuries? To disregard the spirit and dismissively suggest that by mere human error the bride of Christ has been following lies also accuses the Spirit of negligence, and that my friend is anathema to me.
Hi Mark,
I once wrote an article that expresses why the Holy Spirit is still leading those who listen.
Thanks Don, Just read it. Yes! So agree. Do you think/perceive/mull that one of the primary devices the enemy of this world is using to deceive its citizens is spiritual liberalism? No. I am not interjecting politics into discussion. It’s just my observation that the huge pillars of our society that have fallen in such a short amount of time almost seem to have been toppled by very organized spiritual forces. They may not call themselves religious but they are openly the enemy of Jehovah God and all things Christian. I do take comfort in knowing that these things MUST come to pass, but I am very saddened by the inevitable consequences that their (pillars) fall will usher in in the interim before Jesus returns for us. Like Lot, my spirit is vexed. I agree with your take on everything I have read thus far. I don’t agree with everything Larkin says, but do agree with him on the point that until you nail down the absolute certainty of of a pre-tribulation rapture, none of the rest of your eschatology will make any sense whatsoever. Blood moons….meh. There are so many signs and indicators right now, that if you aren’t waiting and watching….you probably never will be.
Mark,
I agree, we are going into ever increasing apostasy and it is a spiritual war against God’s truth. We are very close to the end of the age and the Rapture will come some years sooner so we should be ready.
From what I can gather the first ‘blood’ moon affected the Pacific basin. There was not a sign of it on the west coast, my side of Australia. Does that mean that Joel’s prophecy isn’t going to effect Western Australia? (Is there a tongue in cheek face to go with that)