Jewish
Rabbis teach that blood-red moons signify trouble for Israel. The Jewish Talmud
(book of tradition) records: "When the moon is in eclipse, it is a bad
omen for Israel... If its face is as red as blood, it is a sign that the sword
is coming to the world...” Since
the time of Jesus’ first coming there have been exactly seven back to back occurrences
of blood-red moons which occurred on the Jewish feast of Passover first and
then on the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). We know from history that each of
these occurrences signaled momentous events happening for Israel and the world.
For example: 1492 marked the
end of the Spanish Inquisition in which thousands of Jews were killed or forced
to convert to Christianity. Interestingly, it also marked the time when Columbus
set sail from Spain to discover the new world!; the 1948 heavenly event marked
the re-establishing of the state of Israel amidst war and bloodshed; and again
in 1967 blood-red moons marked the taking back of Jerusalem by Israel for the
first time in 2000 years.
The eighth occurrence of back-to-back
blood-red moons on Passover and Sukkot will happen in 2014/2015. What does this
mean? Why are the feasts of Passover and Sukkot signified? If God created the
heavens and the earth and if He set in them heavenly signs to mankind, which I
believe He did, then what are we to learn from this event?
The Feast of Passover
forever highlights the favor of God towards sinful man in that God has provided
a way of rescue to those who will receive it. So a blood-red moon on Passover
signifies to mankind that there is but one way to escape the trouble that is
coming on the earth and that is through acceptance of God’s sacrificial Lamb,
Jesus Christ.
In the Feast of Tabernacles
there are several themes at work. It was the time of harvest, both gathering
the new and thanking God for His past favor. It was also the time of taking
water from the Pool of Siloam and pouring it out on the Altar as a drink
offering thanking God for the rain both given and promised, without which there
would be no harvest. As the priests were conducting this water ceremony on the
seventh and last day of the feast, Jesus stood in the crowd of worshippers and
declared loudly, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes
in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living
water.” He was of course referring to the Holy Spirit whom He later would
send from the Father.
This ceremony was done after
sundown and it was accompanied by an impressive ceremony of lights. It was
during this time that Jesus declared “I am the light of the world! He who
follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”
Now that we know something
of the background of Passover and Sukkot, how do they help us understand why
these blood-red moons occur at this time? My advice to you is to heed the James
admonition, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to
all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5).
For what it is worth, I
think God may be warning us that we are entering very momentous and troubling
times and only those who trust in His ark of safety, the Lamb slain from the
beginning of the earth, Jesus the Christ, will safely navigate these deep
waters. Thus the first occurrence is on Passover.
The second blood-red moon
falls on Sukkot which represents the ingathering of the harvest. It is a signal
to those virgins who have oil in their lamps to go out into the darkness with
their lights shining, showing the lost the way to safety. Jesus declared He was
the Light of the world but He also told us we are lights as well – this is the
time to shine forth amidst the darkness.
I also believe that those
who trust in God alone are about to witness a great outpouring of water (rain) –
the Holy Spirit. As James wrote: “Therefore
be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits
for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives
the early and latter
rain. You
also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
(James 5:7, 8). The farmer referred to here is none other than the Lord Jesus and
those who receive salvation are the precious fruit of the earth.
May we all be prepared.
