“The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into
blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.” (Joel 2:31)
There are those who view the
series of four “blood moons” which began on April 15, and climax on September
28, 2015 as signaling the end of the age.
These are lunar eclipses where the earth’s shadow causes the moon to
take on a reddish hue. They are rare,
and much is being made that the first began on Passover, and the last happens
on the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles—and the linkage with these Jewish
festivals has led some to declare there is prophetic significance for Israel. The implication is that Israel is going to enter the
culmination of her suffering, worldwide cataclysm will come, all paving the way
for the Second Advent of Christ.
Perhaps…but, maybe not.
The problem with these lunar eclipses—unusual as they may
be, even in their timing—is that these are natural phenomena. The moon turning to blood as described in
Joel and the Book of Revelation also involve darkness for the sun and the
stars—the result of God’s wrath being poured out on the earth.
I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there
was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the
moon became like blood. And the stars of
heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken
by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded
as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out
of its place. And the kings of the
earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave
and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the
mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from
the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and
who is able to stand?” (Rev.6:12-17)
The volcanic ash and clouds of
dark smoke from fires, will fill the skies and blot out the sun and turn the
moon red. Asteroids and meteors will
plummet from space and their impact on the earth will rock the world and send
more dust into the air. This is what
makes that “blood moon” of the end times, which is certainly different than
what we are witnessing now.
If I understand prophecy
correctly—and certainly pray that I do—I am not planning on being around to see
these things first hand. I’m not looking
for a moon to turn red, but for the Son to come back!
How close are we to the rapture of
the church? I’m expecting Jesus to come for
His Bride at any moment. I need to be
prepared today, and not think I have until next year and the next lunar eclipse
to get ready to meet the Lord.
I think we are very close—but I
could be wrong. We are to watch for Him
to come today, but we are told that none know the date of Christ’s return (Matt.24:36).
The sensationalism and speculation
do fulfill prophecy, however. Like the
book I read, “88 Reasons Christ Must Return in ‘88” or the sequels in which the
author predicted the rapture in 1989, 1993 and 1994, and the late Harold
Camping’s proclamation that Christ was coming in 2011, give a skeptical world
more reason to ridicule the Christian faith.
If the “blood moon” predictions fall through, that is more fuel to the
fire—which by the way Scripture does predict, “knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking
according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?
For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the
beginning of creation.’ ” (2 Pet.3:3-4).
There is a convergence of things
happening in our world that seems to be speeding us toward the end. Events in the Middle
East, where the players in the final act are taking their place on
the stage, should capture our attention.
Prophecies that seemed so incredible, now appear plausible with the
advancement of technology we have witnessed in this generation. If you asked me, “Do you expect Jesus to come
in your lifetime?” I would answer, “Yes!”
If He wants to dispatch the Son during the “blood moon” of 2015, that’s
a Sovereign God’s call. He does what and
when He wants to do so—He is God.
I am not. God hasn’t given me a vote. Christ might come tomorrow—or it could be a
thousand years. What God has done is
give me an assignment. The angels issued
a promise and a mission for the disciples who watched Jesus ascend from the
Mount of Olives—the very spot where He will one day set foot again—“who also said, ‘Men of Galilee,
why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from
you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’ ”
(Acts 1:11). You can be a star-gazer or a
soul-winner! The Lord wants us to warn
people that He is coming back and Judgment Day is at hand, with a view of
winning them to faith in Christ.
If you want to buy a book about
“blood moons” you can. The money might
be better spent on giving to missions so that fewer are left unprepared for the
end time. But, don’t ever lose sight of
the Blessed Hope of the return of Jesus Christ!
He is coming again!
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
