By Douglas V. GibbsThe buzz about the coming of four blood moon events has stirred religious prophecy, and an interesting science observation, into a mixed bag for an event that happens rarely, and will decrease as time passes because of Earth's less eccentric orbit with each passing century. Historically, the "Tetrad", or four successive blood-red eclipses, have been accompanied by Earth shattering events regarding Israel. The alignment of Mars, Earth, and the Sun happens about every 778 days, but four dark red 'blood moons' is a rare event, which, according to NASA, begins April 15, and will finish on September 28 next year. The 'Tetrad' is four successive total 'blood-red' lunar eclipses each followed by six full moons. The incredible alignment has only happened a handful of times in the last two thousand years. "NASA has confirmed that the Tetrad has only happened three times in more than 500 years - and that it's going to happen now."
Some Christian scholars are attempting to attach the event to the "End of Days," a rapture event, or as a marker regarding Revelation's Tribulation Period -- but I must remind everybody that as a Christian, I do not subscribe to the "timed" prophecies of religious events coming ("The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD comes," [Joel 2:31]), because Matthew 24:36 clearly states, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."
In other words, I suppose it is possible there will be religious significance to this event, and the chaos in Syria, and the rising forces of Islam against Israel, points to that possibility, but I don't believe if such a thing happens it will be "because" of the Tetrad. The Tetrad is an interesting astronomical event, but I don't believe the prophetic "signs" many Christians are searching for are something we can predict or nail down on a timeline. The verse in Joel, I believe, refers to a supernatural event that causes a red moon, not a scheduled astronomical event.
Yes, I understand, that according to many biblical scholars, remarkably each of the last three occasions of Tetrads have coincided with globally significant religious events. As I stated, it is possible we may see a historical religious event, but I don't want to place heavy importance on the Triad because it is not for us to rely on signs, or things, but for us to rely on the Lord, and to know in our hearts that when His timing is upon us, it won't be because of anything other than that it is His timing.
However, for the sake of relaying the information, let's take a look at history, and how the Tetrad has coincided with important biblical events:
The first Tetrad since the Middle Ages, in 1493, saw the expulsion of Jews by the Catholic Spanish Inquisition, which rocked western Europe. Remember, that event was originally a response to Islam, and an attempt to unify Spain under the rule of Ferdinand and Isabel.
The second coincided with the establishment of the State of Israel - after thousands of years of struggle - in 1949.
The last Tetrad occurred in 1967 - far earlier than expected - precisely at the time of the Six-Day Arab–Israeli War.
As for this event, according to Pastor John Hagee, ""The first of the four blood moons will come on April 15 this year, during Passover. The second will be on October 8, at the time of the Feast of the Tabernacles. On April 4 2015, during Passover, we will have another blood moon. Then finally, on September 28, during next year's Feast of the Tabernacles, the fourth blood and final moon will dawn."
The second coincided with the establishment of the State of Israel - after thousands of years of struggle - in 1949.
The last Tetrad occurred in 1967 - far earlier than expected - precisely at the time of the Six-Day Arab–Israeli War.
As for this event, according to Pastor John Hagee, ""The first of the four blood moons will come on April 15 this year, during Passover. The second will be on October 8, at the time of the Feast of the Tabernacles. On April 4 2015, during Passover, we will have another blood moon. Then finally, on September 28, during next year's Feast of the Tabernacles, the fourth blood and final moon will dawn."
The coincidences, according to Hagee, are not coincidences, but have significant spiritual influence.
With all due respect, I recognize that Hagee is not saying these events are timeline markers of prophetic events, but signs they are coming. "There's a sequence of prophetic events that the Bible says will happen. It does not, ever, give a timeline. It just says 'when you see these signs' - and four blood moons is a very significant one - 'the end of this age is coming."
Professor Gary Shogren, a former pastor who studied the New Testament at Aberdeen University, says that the coincidences may not be as coincidental as thought. "An eclipse on Passover night seems wildly improbable, but we should remember that lunar eclipses only happen on full moons and that Passover by definition always takes place on a full moon. Sukkoth (The Feast of Tabernacles) also by definition coincides with a full moon."
If anything, whether these events carry with them yet another time of biblical significance for Christians, and yet another set-back and then victory for the Jewish people, or not, it will be interesting to look to the sky and observe these moons. I love science, and especially astronomy. I can't wait to pull out the telescope. If all hell breaks loose while it is going on, we will adjust to the events. If not, it will be a helluva astronomical show.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
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