Currently, there is an issue making many religious people look up at the sky in wonderment. This phenomenon is called "Blood Moons". I was intrigued, and wanted to know more, and why so many are getting excited about them.The reason is this: It is a series of four lunar eclipses and a solar eclipse within a two-year span. The first lunar eclipse was on April 15th this year during the Passover. The second one this year will being during the Feast of the Tabernacle in October.
Then, on April 29th, (which is the day after which I am typing this blog post) the solar eclipse will be visible in Australia. In 2015, the lunar eclipses will occur again on the same Jewish holidays. The last time this happened was over a thousand years ago.
Many in the religious world are saying that this is a sign of Jesus' imminent return. They reference this verse:
"...and I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs in the earth below, blood and fire, and vapor and smoke; The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon into blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day." (Acts 2:19-20, Joel 2:30-31)
So, here's the question: Based on these verses, is this a sign of Jesus' return? Probably not. Here's why: This has already happened before, for one. As already stated, this happened over a thousand years before. Last time could have very easily been the end as well, since it was after the start of the Lord's church.
Second, I find it highly doubtful that an event so spread out would signal His arrival. Could there be a sign in the sky at the time He comes? Absolutely, the bible even says so, in the verse above and a few others (Mark 13:24). There will be things happening in the sky, but scripture points to everything happening in that moment. The bible says that "He will come as a thief in the night" (1 Thess. 5:22)
and "at an hour at which you do not expect" (Matt. 24:44).
We won't know until the event is completely upon us.
As for the timing of these events, I will admit that it is highly interesting. What these blood moons do for me, more than anything, is make me fill in awe of my Creator. Time and time again I left wondering how in the world someone couldn't believe in God! I love astronomy, and the more I learn about it, the more convinced I am of His existence. I just can't see how this all happened by accident. I can't.
Everything is so fine-tuned and timed-it is God's creative symphony. The universe is music that we can touch, see, taste, feel, and hear. It all works together seamlessly and beautifully. Comets blaze across our sky in a timed gravitational dance, as are the planets and the sun. Everything in the universe is a part of this dance, as well.
Apart from the gravitational part, I feel that the Blood Moons may be just one of those things a part of our system's clockwork.
Genesis 1:14 says, "And God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day and night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years."
As stated in this verse the universe is set up to tell time. You may have never thought about it before, but, time wouldn't exist without the sky. There wouldn't be days. We wouldn't know what time we were to meet up with friends. There would be no clocks or calendars. Our life would be completely unorganized and even more uncertain than it already is.
Maybe the blood moons (since they fall on the Jewish holidays so perfectly) are marking an interval for something we don't know about. Or, they could just be another thing in nature to help us believe in Him.
Romans 1:20 says, "For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that are made, so that they are without excuse."
I believe that we shouldn't wait for 'signs' that Jesus is coming back. At that point it could be too late. The only sign you need to start living for Him and obeying Him are the words of Jesus himself: "Take up your cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
