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| Photo by Abajar 2018 |
A few days ago the earth experienced a conjunction of lunar
phenomena so rare that it has not occurred since 1866 – a blue moon, supermoon,
and lunar eclipse, or blood red moon, all on the same day!
As the phrase, “once in a blue moon” implies, a blue moon
is relatively rare in and of itself. It refers to the occurrence of two full
moons, instead of the usual one full moon, in a single month, which happens
about once every three years. The year 2018 will be further distinguished by
two blue moons, once in January and once in late March, which will not occur
again for another 19 years, should the Lord tarry.
A lunar eclipse can occur only during a full moon, because
the sun, earth and moon must be aligned exactly, with the earth in the middle.
It is called a blood moon because of its reddish hue, caused by direct sunlight
completely blocked by the earth's shadow, with the only light seen being refracted
through the earth's shadow. For the same reason that the sunset looks red, this
light looks red because of scattering of the more blue light.
The supermoon is so named because it appears to be 14
percent larger and 30 percent brighter than normal, resulting from the full
moon being at its closest point to earth while travelling on its elliptical
orbit. This occurs approximately once every 14 months and is expected again in January
2019.
All of these signs in the sky are relatively uncommon, but
the co-occurrence of all three, termed a Super Blue Blood Moon, is particularly
unusual, and has not happened for more than 150 years! Jesus told His disciples of signs of His second coming, including
signs of the times (Matthew 16:3),
which should alert us to keep looking up for His return (Luke 21:28).
There are three Biblical references to a blood moon, all
referring to the second coming of Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and Lord of
Lords (Revelation 19:16),
bringing judgment on those who rejected Him and attacked Israel, and yet
offering salvation through His mercy, love and grace (Ephesians 3:8-9).
The first reference to a blood moon is the Old Testament
prophecy of Joel 2:31: The
sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great
and terrible day of the Lord come. This blood moon heralding the Lord’s
return will occur around the same as a solar eclipse, another relatively rare
event that occurred last August, visible across most of the United States,
Preceding this verse in Joel,
the chapter speaks of trouble and destruction to the enemies of God’s chosen
people, and great blessings to His favored nation, provided Zion repents and
returns to worship, love and serve Him alone. Then He promises to fill His
people with His Spirit, empowering His sons and daughters to prophesy, while
the old men dream dreams and the young men see visions (v. 28-29).
He promises wonders in the heavens and earth, blood, and
fire, and pillars of smoke (v. 30)
with deliverance for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord (v. 32; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13).
Even today, the Name of Jesus Christ is the only Name by which we can be saved
(Acts 4:12).
The blood moon prophecy of Joel is repeated nearly verbatim
in Acts 2:20, in Peter’s
sermon on the day of Pentecost, except that the word “terrible” is replaced by
“notable.” Here the context is God’s judgment on those who rejected and
crucified His Son Who rose from the dead, and yet the salvation and
Spirit-filling of all who trust in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins (v. 21-38)
The final Biblical occurrence of a blood moon is in Revelation 6:12, describing the
sixth seal judgment during the Great Tribulation, accompanied by a solar
eclipse and great earthquake. The great day of God’s wrath is also heralded by
stars falling from the heavens, moving of all the mountains and islands, and
terror among all men (v. 13- 17).
Jesus said that no man or even angel would know the day or
the hour of His return (Matthew 24:36;
25:13; Mark 13:32), but that we should be vigilant and look
up, for each day that passes means that our ultimate redemption is one day
closer! We should follow the signs of the times, not to predict a date, but to
find joy in prophecies being fulfilled and in those yet to come.
Surely we can see in current events many of the signs of
the end that Jesus referred to in His Olivet discourse: false Christs and
false prophets who deceive many, wars and rumors of wars, famines, epidemics,
earthquakes, persecution and hatred of Christians, widespread sin, and coldness
and wickedness instead of love (Matthew
24:5-12).
May those who have not yet trusted Jesus Christ as their
Lord and Savior do so before it is too late, believing in His death, burial and
resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
as the only way to Heaven (John 14:6).
And may those who are His children serve Him joyfully, knowing that He could
return at any moment, blessing us with glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:35-54), and eternity in Heaven with Him and
our loved ones in Christ!
© 2018 Laurie Collett
