Church of God News

What are blood moons? Are four blood red moons going to happen as the result of lunar eclipses in 2014 and 2015? Are they really to occur on biblical holy days or Jewish holidays? Does NASA teach about blood moons? Can Jesus return in 2015? Is ‘the rapture’ going to happen in 2015? What does the Bible teach about blood moons? Can the Day of the Lord begin in 2015? What about the Great Tribulation?

In October 2013, the Protestant Pastor John Hagee released a book with his understanding of some prophetic events. That was a factor in producing this video (although I had posted about blood moons and prophecy as far back as 2008). John Hagee attempted to tie some events in with the biblical Holy Days, but got the dates off a bit, as well as misapplied some scriptures.

Some are focused on the coming blood moons as they believe that they show something will come to pass, because of Jewish tradition and some historical events (essentially, the claim is that there have been three sets of tetrad blood moons on in the Spring & Fall Holy Day seasons in the past 500 years, and either those years or the year thereafter, something significant has affected the Jewish people).

Here is something from the Talmud of Jewish traditions:

Succah 29a Our Rabbis taught, When the sun is in eclipse, it is a bad omen for the whole world. This may be illustrated by a parable. To what can this be compared? To a human being who made a banquet for his servants and put up for them a lamp. When he became wroth with them he said to his servant, ‘Take away the lamp from them, and let them sit in the dark’. It was taught: R. Meir said, Whenever the luminaries are in eclipse, it is a bad omen for Israel since they are inured to blows. This may be compared to a school teacher who comes to school with a strap in his hand. Who becomes apprehensive? He who is accustomed to be daily punished. Our Rabbis taught, When the sun is in eclipse it is a bad omen for idolaters; when the moon is in eclipse, it is a bad omen for Israel, since Israel reckons by the moon and idolaters by the sun. If it is in eclipse in the east, it is a bad omen for those who dwell in the east; if in the west, it is a bad omen for those who dwell in the west; if in the midst of heaven it is bad omen for the whole world. If its face is red as blood, [it is a sign that] the sword is coming to the world; if it is like sack-cloth, the arrows of famine are coming to the world; if it resembles both, the sword and the arrows of famine are coming to the world. If the eclipse is at sunset calamity will tarry in its coming; if at dawn, it hastens on its way: but some say the order is to be reversed. And there is no nation which is smitten that its gods are not smitten together with it, as it is said, And against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments. But when Israel fulfill the will of the Omnipresent, they need have no fear of all these [omens] as it is said, Thus saith the HaShem,’ Learn not the way of the nations, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the nations are dismayed at them, the idolaters will be dismayed, but Israel will not be dismayed. Our Rabbis taught, On account of four things is the sun in eclipse: On account of an Ab Beth din who died and was not mourned fittingly; on account of a betrothed maiden who cried out aloud in the city and there was none to save her; on account of sodomy, and on account of two brothers whose blood was shed at the same time. And on account of four things are the luminaries in eclipse: On account of those who perpetrate forgeries, on account of those who give false witness; on account of those who rear small cattle in the land of Israel; and on account of those who cut down good trees.

Although this is a Jewish tradition, it needs to be understood that it is simply a tradition. Remember that Jesus sometimes chastised Jews who believed their traditions above what the Bible teaches:

9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. (Mark 7:9)

Thus, Christians should be careful not to believe Jewish traditions or other teachings if they are in conflict with the Bible. There were not world wars or massive famines every time there were certain eclipses, blood moon or not.

Some have claimed that because there was a blood moon in 1967 (and some other years) this shows that various events affecting the nation of Israel happen when there is a blood moon.

Now I am not disputing that events affecting the nation of Israel happened in 1967, as, for example, the 6 Day War is was an historical events. Yet, this does not mean that Jesus will return in 2015 or that the Day of the Lord will begin in this year either.

On the other hand, I do believe it is possible, if not likely, that we will see significant events that will affect the nation of Israel in  2015 or 2016. We may see some of the fulfillment of Daniel 9:27 then. But the Bible itself DOES NOT tie the agreement in Daniel 9:27 in with blood moons.

Here is a link to our video: Blood Moons & Prophecy.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Blood Moons and Prophecy There were four ‘blood moons’ expected for 2014 and 2015. Do they signal the Day of the Lord or the return of Jesus Christ? A related YouTube video is also available: Blood Moons & Prophecy.
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2024, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂 In the Spanish/Español/Castellano language: Calendario de los Días Santos. In Mandarin Chinese: 何日是神的圣日？ 这里是一份神的圣日日历从2013年至2024年。.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2022 or 20xx? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.