Signs in the Heavens - Now! by Andrew Strom

How many Christians know that there have already been BLOOD-RED AND 'SACK-CLOTH' MOONS over Jerusalem in 1996 and 1997, precisely on the Passover Sabbath and other important Feast days? What does this mean? And how many know of the other heavenly signs that are occurring at the moment - obviously pointing to significant end-time events? References Acts 2: 20; Revelation 6:12; Revelation 8:12.

Some Christians seem to view the concept of 'signs in the heavens' as being somehow akin to godless astrology or pagan superstition. However, the Bible makes it very clear that God Himself very often employs such celestial signs, to prepare and warn His people of imminent earth-shaking events. We are told in Genesis that God created the sun and the moon "for SIGNS and for seasons" (Gen 1:14). "And I shall show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath..." (Acts 2:19).

The Bible declares that this will be particularly true of the Last Days. Jesus Himself warned of this 'End-time' period: "And great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and GREAT SIGNS shall there be from heaven... And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars" (Mt 21:11,25). The Bible even talks of the moon being "turned to blood" as a sign that we are nearing the very end of the age. (Joel 2:31, Rev 6:12).

Significantly, there has already been ONE BLOOD-RED MOON AND ONE 'SACK-CLOTH' MOON (caused by lunar eclipses) over Jerusalem in 1996 and 1997, falling precisely on major feast-days of the Jewish calendar. The first of them came on the evening of 3 April 1996, which was the beginning of the Feast of Passover. The second came on the evening of 26-27 September 1996, which was 'Erev Hag HaSuccoth' (the Eve of the Feast of Tabernacles). And there will also be two such eclipses in 1997, falling precisely on the feast-day of 'Purim' (23 March 1997 - a 90% eclipse) and also in the middle of the 'Days of Teshuva (Repentance)' on 16 September 1997. The next total lunar eclipses over Jerusalem took place on 21 January 2000.

The chances of such a string of eclipses occurring over Jerusalem precisely on these significant dates surely has to be far more than coincidence. It is also worth noting that if we take the Jewish month of Nisan as being the first month of the year, as the Jews were commanded in Exodus 12, then the first three of these eclipses all occurred within the space of just ONE BIBLICAL YEAR. (April 1996 to March 1997).

But what causes some eclipses to turn the moon blood-red? Well, the answer is as follows: A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon is full, and the earth passes between the moon and the sun, thus blocking the sun's light and casting a shadow on the moon for a time. However, often during a total lunar eclipse, the moon is not completely dark, but is faintly illuminated with a red light refracted by the earth's atmosphere which filters out the blue rays.

The three most important Feasts that God instituted for the Jewish people were, of course, Passover, Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles. Significantly, Jesus the Messiah was killed exactly on the Passover nearly 2,000 years ago, with the details of His death corresponding precisely to symbolic Passover rituals (the slaying of the sacrificial lamb, etc).

And fifty days later, precisely on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was outpoured upon His disciples for the first time, thus beginning the Christian church.

Many Christians today believe that the last great move of God before the end - the last great "harvest" - will somehow be tied directly to the coming of the third one - the Feast of Tabernacles (which is a Festival celebrating the "first fruits" of harvest).

It was actually during the Feast of Tabernacles that Solomon dedicated the Temple, and while the musicians "lifted up their voice with trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord", suddenly the cloud of God's glory filled the Temple (2 Chronicles 5: 3-14). Might it not be the same in our day also?

These blood-red and sack-cloth moons are by no means the only spec-tacular "signs in the heavens" that have occurred in recent times, however. In July 1995, the comet Hale-Bopp was discovered by two amateur astronomers from America.

What fascinated astronomers at the time was that while it was still far beyond the orbit of Jupiter, the comet could actually be seen with small telescopes. Leading astronomers admitted to being astonished at the discovery. "It is unheard of for a comet to be visible by small telescopes while so far away," said Dr Brian Marsden of Harvard University, an expert on comets.

This giant comet has now been estimated to be about as large as a mountain (between 25 and 100 miles across), making it probably the biggest comet ever discovered. The last time it visited the inner solar system was probably about 4000 years ago.

And amazingly, the day that it made it's closest pass to earth was 23 March 1997 - the very Feast Day ('Purim') when there was to be another blood-red (or sack-cloth) moon over Jerusalem. (More on the meaning of this particular Feast in a moment). In fact, the comet was visible on the very night that the eclipse itself occurred.It is interesting to note that when it was first discovered, this comet was located right inside the drawn "bow" of the archer in Sagittarius.

Those Christians who are familiar with the 'Divine witness of the stars' will be aware that Sagittarius is known to signify the Redeemer's triumph. The figure is that of a mighty warrior with a bow and arrow, riding forth majestically. Most importantly, the barbed arrow in his bow is aimed at the heart of the Scorpion.

In the Apocalypse, the apostle John sees the same mighty conqueror going forth: "And I saw, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering, and to conquer" (Rev 6:2). Of course,there is nothing new in God using such "signs in the heavens" toalert mankind to spiritually significant events.

As everybody knows, it was just such a sign that enabled the wise men to locate the newborn Messiah, Jesus, almost exactly 2000 years ago.According to the traditions of the Jewish Talmud, it is especiallyalarming to have a comet pass through the constellation of Orion (which is exactly what Hale-Bopp is doing): "There is a tradition that it never passes through the constellation of Orion, for if itdid, the world would be destroyed..." However, the Jewish Feast of 'Purim', which is clearly being drawn to our attention in the most obvious way by the above signs, actually celebrates a very signifi-cant DELIVERANCE in the history of Israel.

If you read the book of Esther, you will see that this was the day that the king's right-hand man Haman had purposed for the exiled Jews to all be put to death. The holiday is called Purim after the selection process which Haman used to select the date of the Jews destruction: a lottery (or a "Pur"), using astronomical forecasting . This method was supposed to result in the date that the Jews were most vulner-able to attack.

In fact, this was astronomically true - the Jews WERE most vulnerable on the 13th of Adar. One of the miracles of Purim was that Esther - godly Bride of the king - was given theability to totally reverse the astronomical implications of the day so that the Jews would instead be victorious. Because of this miracle which came about through the lottery - the "Pur," the holiday is called Purim. Interesting that God is so clearly point-ing to this particular Feast-day at this time, isn't it?

The following is a very significant set of dates that have been crucial to the successful formation and survival of modern Israel:(a) 1897. The first Zionist Conference in Europe, led by Theodore Hertzl. (Two-thirds of the delegates were Messianic Jews). Crucial to the eventual formation of Israel.

TWENTY YEARS LATER: (b) 1917. The British Generals Gordon and Allenby (a Christian) and their armies take Jerusalem without firing a shot. When camped outside, after praying about the situation and getting a Scripture about a "flock of birds", they decided to send biplanes over the city and drop clay tablets bearing the words: "Leave the city now, signed Allenby." The Turks thought the word 'Allenby' resembled 'Allah', and they fled the city, surrendering Jerusalem entirely without a fight!

THIRTY YEARS LATER: (c) 1947 (- November). The United Nations officially declares Israel to be a recognized state. (It took the Israelis another nine months to defeat the Arabs who were occupying the land).

TWENTY YEARS LATER: (d) 1967. The Six-day War. Against all odds, the vastly outnumbered Israels are completely victorious, and now occupy the whole of Jerusalem, Gaza, the West Bank and the Sinai, etc.

THIRTY YEARS LATER: (e) 1997. Blood-red moons over Jerusalem. Who knows what will eventuate for the nation? It is interesting to note the Revivals and significant trends that began in the church at around the same time that things were happening in Israel. And this "foreshadowing" has become even more pronounced in recent years, I believe.

After a relatively quiet (and in the church, 'stagnant') 1980's, the 1990's are again proving to be a tumultuous and eventful period for both Israel and the church.

I have been amazed at what has been occurring in the political scene in Israel over the last few years or so. I believe that it was quite significant symbolically that the Jewish Prime Minister Rabin (who had really been buying peace by giving away Israeli land to the Arabs) was killed at a peace rally in 'Kings of Israel Square' in Jerusalem in late 1995, and was replaced by Mr Peres, whose name is literally part of the "writing on the wall" where it says: 'Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and the Persians' (Dan 5:28).

The very man who continued Rabin's policy of giving away Israeli land had a name that Biblically carried the sense of a kingdom being taken away and divided! And I find it interesting also that Mr Peres was replaced as leader by Benjamin Netanyahu, whose first name means 'Son of the right hand' and whose last name means 'Beloved of God'.

To conclude this article, I would just like to return again to the fact that AT THIS VERY TIME - IN OUR DAY - there are awesome Scriptural prophecies being fulfilled, which have implications that are almost too vast to take in all at one time. WE ARE LIVING IN THE VERY LAST DAYS - the very 'time of the end' that the Bible speaks of. RIGHT NOW. And God is sending His "signs in the heavens" to warn us of what is about to come upon this generation. References Acts 2: 20; Revelation 6:12; Revelation 8:12.

The question is, what will you, what will I, do about it? Will we allow apathy to continue to dominate our lives? Will the church "laugh and party" it's way into the next millenium? Or will we allow God to bring true Reformation - beginning with us? To me, one of the most frightening Scriptures in the entire Bible is the one that speaks of people in the End-times, "eating, drinking, partying, marrying", etc, blithely ignorant of what is coming upon the earth. But isn't much of Christendom in our day largely in the same 'bless-me, bless-me', inward-looking state? Church awake! Clothe yourself with righteousness and Truth. The "happiness club" days are gone. It is surely time now to get serious with God.

Surely only those who are seeking Him with all their heart can expect to make it through the dark days that lie ahead.