The Time Of The End Is Yet, Near At The Door!
There must be a very good reason for God to have made the finding of the clues that unveil the end times a difficult task. In our men Bible study groups one of the conclusions was that if Christians had understood all there is to know about how the end times would unwrap and be in agreement with one another then most exegetically, likely they would have done everything possible to oppose it not realizing that God has a time appointed for all things. Clues are available as to the timing of the rapture of the Church in Scripture but not in the sense of days and years of the calendar, but in the sense that we are to be watching for the return of Jesus Christ for us. But he also said more than that in that he has uncovered clues in the sky that we must seek to discover that which he has revealed. Let us cut to the chase now.
The Lunar Tetrad 2014/2015 and the Solar Eclipses.
This is a an important topic in revealed eschatology. We know that these tetrads occur in specific feasts of the Lord's days and these feast days are moeds or dress rehearsals, practicing that which is to come. They are typological in that they are representative, but a shadow of the antitype that is to come, not the thing itself nor identical in essence. A lunar eclipse simply means that the earth is between the sun and the moon such that the sunrays deflected by the earth shine around the moon giving it a red appearance, hence blood moon. A solar eclipse is when the moon is located between the earth and the sun such that at a geographic site and time the sun will be made dark, not seen transiently. In neither case do these luminaries (the moon reflects the sun's rays) cease to emit their light. In bible verses on the end times we are dealing either with eclipses by planetary interpositions as just described or as atmospheric changes that preclude the light from piercing through so that we can see it on earth. We can never have simultaneously a solar and a lunar eclipse, for that is an astronomical impossibility. Nothing could be simpler.
The Key To The Puzzle Is In The Stars
In all occasions but one the biblical descriptions lets us determine whether the context refers to the changes in the the atmospheric conditions as conducive to blockage of the lights or whether the issue is one of solar and lunar eclipses, and may I remind you that these can not occur concomittantly but one can follow the other one subsequently. There is just but one single verse in which the the context refers to eclipses and the rest of the verses they refer to atmospheric clouding. And how can we discover that? Let us uncover this now: when the verses in context allude to the stars not giving their lights the clue is that the atmosphere is too heavy with clouding of the lights to pierce through and be seen, thus the darkness is obstructive and not ecliptic. And furthermore note that in every occasion when an obstructive phenomenon occurs there are verses that describe events such as an earthquake (flattening of the hills) or an eruptive volcano (smoke, fire and brimstone or large hail) or continental shifts (the island flee), for all these cause such earthly disruption that clouding of the lights occurs.
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places (Rev 6:12-14) (note that the description involves a great earthquake, and the heaven departed as a scroll when it is is closed and not readable, indicating an obstructive clouding of the atmosphere. Note too that v. 16,17 indicate that these are judgments of the wrath of God and of the Lamb, so that the wrath of God is present at this point already. Finally the description of Revelation 6:12-17 finds its parallel OT passage in Isaiah 2:12-22 where we come to know that this is an event of the day of the Lord)
Another verse that literally tells us that the phenomenon is obstructive of the lights and not ecliptic is Rev. 8:12
And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. (It can not be argued that the principles do not hold for when one looks at v.5 it tells us that there were voices, and thundrerings and lightenings and an earthquake, and this latter is the reason for rarefication of the atmospheric clouding, and the stars neither could give their light).
And when we begin to read Rev 9 we read of an angel with the key opened the bottomless pit:
2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit (Rev 9:2) (here we find once again atmospheric clouding due to the opening of the furnace of the pit being the reason for the lack of light coming through).
Now we continue to Rev 13-21 where we find the parallel content to that we read in Joel 2:1-11. We find fire and smoke and brimstone that issues from the mouths of these described (demonic) entities (v.18) but it is not till we visit the Joel context that we are told that what and wh blocks the lights;
Joel 2:2,10 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: (Read the context and find that this is the parallel passage to that in Revelation 9, a midtribulation event that pertains to the invasion of Israel by a demonic army whose soldiers fall on swords and are not wounded. The starlights can not penetrate through the atmosphere due to clouds and thick darkness).
To follow comes the events of the great tribulation and the outpouring of the vial or bowl judgments so that we are going to be in Armageddon next. But to show the event that will destroy the literal base of operation of the beast/antichrist, the seat given to him by the Dragon and Satan (Rev 13:2), we start first showing the burden on Babylon of Isaiah 13, described in verses 9 and 10 and the entire burden is detailed in Jeremiah 50/51:
9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine (This is Isaiah 13:9,10 describing the destruction of Babylon, noting the the lights of the constellations, of the stars, is obstructed)
18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: (And this is the parallel passage in Rev 16:18-20 on the destruction of great Babylon (not Babylon the great which is the mother of harlots). We know this is Armageddon and we learn from Matthew 24:29 that immediately after the final day of the great tribulation 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (here we see that immediately after all the calamities of Armageddon, the thick darkness will prevail while the Son of man will be seen in his luminous majestic glory by all the world. But this is not the only end-times verse, there is one more in Joel 3, but wha I wanted to uncover for you is that the darkness is not ecliptic but obstructive due to the greatest battle that will even be seen).
Joel 3:14,15 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: (here again we see that all that which happens in Armageddon or valley of decision (of Jehoshaphat, 3:2) is accompanied by the thick darkness described above that prevents the starlights from shining through, thus it is obstructive and not ecliptic. And it is an end times event, at the closing of the great tribulation. So Joel 2:1-11 is a midtribulation event, then Joel 3 is an end tribulation event. We have one to go in Joel still)
For some reason or I suppose for a good reason if one is of a persuasion other than that of the pretribulation, one finds confusing the description of Joel 2:30,31 which is:
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call. (see Acts 2:16-21 for confirmation).
This verse in Joel 2:30,31 is the only one that does not include the obstruction of the starlights, and the reason is that it it the only place where the ecliptic concept is found. These are eclipses of the sun and the moon, no stars are mentioned at all in the wonders of the heavens while it is mentioned in every occasion where the sun is turned to darkness and the moon as blood.
What most fail to see is that the passage has just finished telling us in Joel 2:18-29 that the Lord will answer the cry of his people (Isaiah 30:19) for their saviour, and in victory he will gather his people, restore the nation (the remnant of Israel) and afterward pour his Spirit on them (v.28,29). Ezekiel says the same thing in 39:29 29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God. See Zech. 12:10**!
The conclusion then is that Joel 2:30,31 is not the continuation of v.18-29 but an insertion by God of his revealed wonders in the heavens that will occur before the day of the Lord begins. The subtle clue is that the darkness in these verses is not accompanied with darkness of the starlights, so that these are sugestive of being related to eclipses that do not involve the stars, which give their light by night. But it is critical to understand that the outpouring of the Spirit on the remnant (Zech 12:10) occurs when these see him come in glory in the clouds, after that the great tribulation is over when they mourn over Him that they have pierced (Zech 12:11-14, Matthew 24:29). The remnant that believe the Lord God will have to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour! First they are regathered, then they are regenerated (born of the Spirit) and then the nation is Restored. So then again the wonders in heaven happen before the day of the Lord begins and then the Spirit of God is outpoured on the remnant after that the great tribulation is over. The day of the Lord is not just a day but begins when the tribulation starts soon after the rapture of the Church which is the time (day of Christ) when the restrainer is taken out of the way (2 Thess 2) to allow iniquity to rule and then that wicked (AC) is revealed. And according to NASA there are not going to be more lunar tetrads eclipses for quite a few years to come so that we must consider that the present revelation in the sky is the answer given by God and not of men that the present age is about to see the promise of his coming!
So then the tribulation does not begin until after the rapture of the church to the clouds to meet Jesus in the air (1 Thess 4) and it is then, after that, when the Holy Spirit steps out of the way of wickedness that all hell will brake lose. Read, 'So then what is the day of the Lord' under the prophecy banner above.
The Lunar Tetrad 2014/2015 and the Solar Eclipses.
This is a an important topic in revealed eschatology. We know that these tetrads occur in specific feasts of the Lord's days and these feast days are moeds or dress rehearsals, practicing that which is to come. They are typological in that they are representative, but a shadow of the antitype that is to come, not the thing itself nor identical in essence. A lunar eclipse simply means that the earth is between the sun and the moon such that the sunrays deflected by the earth shine around the moon giving it a red appearance, hence blood moon. A solar eclipse is when the moon is located between the earth and the sun such that at a geographic site and time the sun will be made dark, not seen transiently. In neither case do these luminaries (the moon reflects the sun's rays) cease to emit their light. In bible verses on the end times we are dealing either with eclipses by planetary interpositions as just described or as atmospheric changes that preclude the light from piercing through so that we can see it on earth. We can never have simultaneously a solar and a lunar eclipse, for that is an astronomical impossibility. Nothing could be simpler.
The Key To The Puzzle Is In The Stars
In all occasions but one the biblical descriptions lets us determine whether the context refers to the changes in the the atmospheric conditions as conducive to blockage of the lights or whether the issue is one of solar and lunar eclipses, and may I remind you that these can not occur concomittantly but one can follow the other one subsequently. There is just but one single verse in which the the context refers to eclipses and the rest of the verses they refer to atmospheric clouding. And how can we discover that? Let us uncover this now: when the verses in context allude to the stars not giving their lights the clue is that the atmosphere is too heavy with clouding of the lights to pierce through and be seen, thus the darkness is obstructive and not ecliptic. And furthermore note that in every occasion when an obstructive phenomenon occurs there are verses that describe events such as an earthquake (flattening of the hills) or an eruptive volcano (smoke, fire and brimstone or large hail) or continental shifts (the island flee), for all these cause such earthly disruption that clouding of the lights occurs.
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places (Rev 6:12-14) (note that the description involves a great earthquake, and the heaven departed as a scroll when it is is closed and not readable, indicating an obstructive clouding of the atmosphere. Note too that v. 16,17 indicate that these are judgments of the wrath of God and of the Lamb, so that the wrath of God is present at this point already. Finally the description of Revelation 6:12-17 finds its parallel OT passage in Isaiah 2:12-22 where we come to know that this is an event of the day of the Lord)
Another verse that literally tells us that the phenomenon is obstructive of the lights and not ecliptic is Rev. 8:12
And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. (It can not be argued that the principles do not hold for when one looks at v.5 it tells us that there were voices, and thundrerings and lightenings and an earthquake, and this latter is the reason for rarefication of the atmospheric clouding, and the stars neither could give their light).
And when we begin to read Rev 9 we read of an angel with the key opened the bottomless pit:
2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit (Rev 9:2) (here we find once again atmospheric clouding due to the opening of the furnace of the pit being the reason for the lack of light coming through).
Now we continue to Rev 13-21 where we find the parallel content to that we read in Joel 2:1-11. We find fire and smoke and brimstone that issues from the mouths of these described (demonic) entities (v.18) but it is not till we visit the Joel context that we are told that what and wh blocks the lights;
Joel 2:2,10 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: (Read the context and find that this is the parallel passage to that in Revelation 9, a midtribulation event that pertains to the invasion of Israel by a demonic army whose soldiers fall on swords and are not wounded. The starlights can not penetrate through the atmosphere due to clouds and thick darkness).
To follow comes the events of the great tribulation and the outpouring of the vial or bowl judgments so that we are going to be in Armageddon next. But to show the event that will destroy the literal base of operation of the beast/antichrist, the seat given to him by the Dragon and Satan (Rev 13:2), we start first showing the burden on Babylon of Isaiah 13, described in verses 9 and 10 and the entire burden is detailed in Jeremiah 50/51:
9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine (This is Isaiah 13:9,10 describing the destruction of Babylon, noting the the lights of the constellations, of the stars, is obstructed)
18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: (And this is the parallel passage in Rev 16:18-20 on the destruction of great Babylon (not Babylon the great which is the mother of harlots). We know this is Armageddon and we learn from Matthew 24:29 that immediately after the final day of the great tribulation 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (here we see that immediately after all the calamities of Armageddon, the thick darkness will prevail while the Son of man will be seen in his luminous majestic glory by all the world. But this is not the only end-times verse, there is one more in Joel 3, but wha I wanted to uncover for you is that the darkness is not ecliptic but obstructive due to the greatest battle that will even be seen).
Joel 3:14,15 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: (here again we see that all that which happens in Armageddon or valley of decision (of Jehoshaphat, 3:2) is accompanied by the thick darkness described above that prevents the starlights from shining through, thus it is obstructive and not ecliptic. And it is an end times event, at the closing of the great tribulation. So Joel 2:1-11 is a midtribulation event, then Joel 3 is an end tribulation event. We have one to go in Joel still)
For some reason or I suppose for a good reason if one is of a persuasion other than that of the pretribulation, one finds confusing the description of Joel 2:30,31 which is:
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call. (see Acts 2:16-21 for confirmation).
This verse in Joel 2:30,31 is the only one that does not include the obstruction of the starlights, and the reason is that it it the only place where the ecliptic concept is found. These are eclipses of the sun and the moon, no stars are mentioned at all in the wonders of the heavens while it is mentioned in every occasion where the sun is turned to darkness and the moon as blood.
What most fail to see is that the passage has just finished telling us in Joel 2:18-29 that the Lord will answer the cry of his people (Isaiah 30:19) for their saviour, and in victory he will gather his people, restore the nation (the remnant of Israel) and afterward pour his Spirit on them (v.28,29). Ezekiel says the same thing in 39:29 29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God. See Zech. 12:10**!
The conclusion then is that Joel 2:30,31 is not the continuation of v.18-29 but an insertion by God of his revealed wonders in the heavens that will occur before the day of the Lord begins. The subtle clue is that the darkness in these verses is not accompanied with darkness of the starlights, so that these are sugestive of being related to eclipses that do not involve the stars, which give their light by night. But it is critical to understand that the outpouring of the Spirit on the remnant (Zech 12:10) occurs when these see him come in glory in the clouds, after that the great tribulation is over when they mourn over Him that they have pierced (Zech 12:11-14, Matthew 24:29). The remnant that believe the Lord God will have to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour! First they are regathered, then they are regenerated (born of the Spirit) and then the nation is Restored. So then again the wonders in heaven happen before the day of the Lord begins and then the Spirit of God is outpoured on the remnant after that the great tribulation is over. The day of the Lord is not just a day but begins when the tribulation starts soon after the rapture of the Church which is the time (day of Christ) when the restrainer is taken out of the way (2 Thess 2) to allow iniquity to rule and then that wicked (AC) is revealed. And according to NASA there are not going to be more lunar tetrads eclipses for quite a few years to come so that we must consider that the present revelation in the sky is the answer given by God and not of men that the present age is about to see the promise of his coming!
So then the tribulation does not begin until after the rapture of the church to the clouds to meet Jesus in the air (1 Thess 4) and it is then, after that, when the Holy Spirit steps out of the way of wickedness that all hell will brake lose. Read, 'So then what is the day of the Lord' under the prophecy banner above.