Blood moons and prophetic confusion

The prophetic significance of the four lunar eclipses occurring on Jewish biblical feast days in 2014-15 has become a recent focus on the internet and even a best seller on Amazon. A few voices are suggesting that the so-called ‘blood moons’ are a portent of earth-shaking prophetic significance regarding the Jewish people.

The first of these ‘tetrads’ (a grouping of four – in this case, four lunar eclipses) kicks off on the first night of Passover next week. Here are some reflections on this subject.

How many tetrads?

Though only four specific eclipses are the main focus of these discussions, there are actually hundreds of examples of these tetrads available, and nearly all of them are passed over in silence by the advocates of the current ‘blood moon’ teaching, since 99% of these do not even come close to any major events in Jewish history.

Which major events in Jewish history are marked by ‘blood moons’?

Jewish history has seen many tragedies and victories. Haman’s potential campaign of Persian genocide, the destructions of the First and Second Temples, the defeat of the Syrian Greeks by the Maccabees, Bogdan Chmelniecki’s massacres of Ukrainian Jews, the Holocaust – these were all events of great magnitude. None had blood moon authentication or warning.

The three events currently being focused on in most of the ‘blood moons’ discussion concern –

-- the Jewish aspects of the Inquisition (beginning in 1478 in Spain, and 1536 in Portugal, and continuing until 1821-26) with emphasis on the exile of Spanish Jewry in 1492,

-- the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948,

-- the liberation of Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967.

Why these three events are chosen seems clear: they are the only major Jewish events that fall somewhat close to lunar tetrads.

Are these ‘blood moons’ really connected to any major events in Jewish history?

The lunar tetrads in question actually appeared after the events described – between ten months and sixteen years later! Therefore these ‘blood moons’ were not warnings at all but, as it were, ‘prophecies after the fact.’

The advocates of the current ‘blood moons’ teaching use special pleading in arguing why a lunar eclipse in 1949 is actually connected to 1948, or why a ‘blood moon’ in 1494 is connected to 1492, etc.

This non-professional use of Jewish history reveals a lack of precision and care, as well as a sensationalist and inaccurate ‘proof-texting’ regarding the issues of prophetic fulfilment. There is much smoke but little fire here. It indicates a grievous lack of discernment among some believers.

Mystical misunderstanding concerning the biblical Jewish calendar

The only calendar given by YHVH is what is commonly called the Jewish calendar; “YHVH spoke again to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, YHVH’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations – My appointed times are these’” (Leviticus 23:1-2). The telling of time was based on the lunar calendar (Number 29:6), and one feast (Trumpets) falls on the new moon while Passover and Tabernacles falls on or close to the full moon (“Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob”; Psalm 81:3-4)

So it is not surprising that a full moon might occur on a Jewish feast day. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of lunar eclipses do not fall on Jewish feast days and have nothing to do with significant events in Jewish history. Once one inserts these facts into the discussion, there is nearly no more need for intelligent discussion on the matter.

Are these ‘blood moons’ connected with a fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy?

The prophetic passages dealing with the moon turning to blood are Isaiah 13:9-11; 24:21-23; Ezekiel 32:1-10; Joel 2:10-12, 28-32; 3:12-17; Matthew 24:29-30; Acts 2:12-21; Revelation 6:12-16. One of these is specific to a localized judgment on Egypt, but the rest of the contexts deal with the final events on Planet Earth immediately preceding the return of Messiah Yeshua.

The context in these passages involves:

-- An international time of severe judgment known as “The Day of the Lord”

-- The darkening of sun, moon and stars – a simultaneous total blackout or gray-out

-- The moon turning as red as blood

-- A full multinational anti-Jewish military invasion of Israel

-- Worldwide earthquakes of unprecedented magnitude

Next week’s miniscule pinkish-orange discoloration of the moon falls way short of the stunning biblical context described in these scriptural texts.

Is this truly a sign to Israel if the ‘blood moons’ are not visible in Israel?

According to NASA the lunar tetrads will not be visible over the skies of Jerusalem. So how then could these possibly be a sign to Israel?

One wag once said, “A specialist is someone fifty miles away from home.”

A fly in the ointment

One of the individuals associated with the ‘blood moon’ theory has had many of his teachings recorded and broadcast on public media. For some years he has denied that Yeshua ever claimed to be the Messiah; therefore the Jewish leadership of Yeshua’s day never rejected His Messiahship (he claimed). He also is on public record as stating that the Jewish people already have a covenant with God, and therefore do not need to accept the Messiah that Christians preach.

“Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink. So a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.” (Ecclesiastes 10:1)

Biblical perspectives on the moon

The Scriptures have some helpful things to say about heavenly signs and even about the moon,

“Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth;’ and it was so. God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also. God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day” (Genesis 1:14-19).

“He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down” (Psalm 104:19).

God’s sovereign creative power and order is seen in the created heavens: “Yours is the day, Yours also is the night; You have prepared the light and the sun. You have established all the boundaries of the earth. You have made summer and winter.” (Psalm 74:16-17).

The existence and procession of the moon through the skies is a spiritual sign that the nations recognize: “They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs. You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy” (Psalm 65:8).

The phases of the moon are a nearly incredible expression of His power and glory: “He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it … How faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?” (Job 26:9-14).

The constancy of rhythm of the moon is seen as a prophetic reflection of God’s covenant faithfulness to David and to his dynasty: “I will not take My love from him, nor will I ever betray My faithfulness. I will not violate My covenant or alter what My lips have uttered. Once for all, I have sworn by My holiness – and I will not lie to David – that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun. It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky” (Psalm 89:33-37).

The moon is not only a stopwatch marking out God’s time and His order; it is the basis of the biblical calendar and an expression of God’s majesty. It is a sign in the heavens that causes us all to wonder.

Some in the world are wondering about what the ‘blood moons’ may mean this Passover. They do not mean a fulfilment of Joel, nor do they specifically portend powerful eschatological events concerning the Jewish people. About those the Bible already has a huge amount to say.

Finger-pointing and prophecy

An ancient Chinese sage once spoke a parable concerning the dynamics of apprehending truth. He noted that when someone points at an object with his finger, people tend to focus on the finger before they focus on the object in question. Some even develop an obsessive focus on the finger and do not benefit from learning what the finger itself is pointing at.

In the same way, unbalanced emphasis on the ‘blood moon’ teaching could end up skewing important biblical focuses – for instance, the amazing process of restoration of Israel to their Promised Land and their Messiah; the rising violent opposition of the nations to the Jewish people, their restoration and their God; the final harvest of the nations; the coming judgment of God and the return of David’s Greater Son the King of the Jews.

As we enter into the Passover season, let any fears we may have about cataclysmic blood moons subside, and let us wait on God for Him to reveal His mighty hand and outstretched forearm – even as did Moses and the Sons of Israel on the shores of the Red Sea,

For further background I encourage you to listen to Chris White’s helpful 12 minute link on YouTube at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=--kA2-5z2zI&sns=fb

Your prayers and support hold up our arms and are the enablement of God to us in the work He has called us to do!

In Messiah Yeshua,

Avner Boskey

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Drowning with Pharaoh’s army

As Passover quickly approaches, Jewish homes are filled with preparation – removing leaven, buying matzot and holiday food, girding up for the festive onslaught of guests. Visions of films like The Ten Commandments and Prince of Egypt dance through the heads of many Jewish boys and girls, while others dread the thought of having to gulp down more gefilte fish and horseradish.

The old spiritual “O Mary don’t you weep” (www.lyrics.net/lyric/18506566) recalls the nail biting moment when the cream of Pharaoh’s army got buried in the roiling waters of the Red Sea (In Exodus 15:4 the Hebrew word yam suf is used – the Reed Sea). This climactic moment made a deep impression on the prophet Isaiah. In his biblical scroll he describes waters at least twelve times – both to prophesy God’s future judgments on Israel’s enemies, as well as to declare how YHVH will use the splitting of the seas to accomplish mighty works of deliverance for His Jewish people.

Pressure on Israel continues to increase from the nations. This includes –

attempts to shrink Israel’s borders, causing her to retreat before her enemies
activist campaigns to boycott and sanction Israel (shades of Nazi days!)
attempts to chill and confuse Christian affection for the restoration of the Jewish people to their Promised Land

It would be beneficial to chew on Isaiah’s words at this season in the Spirit.

Sky of blue and sea of green

In ancient days the sea was a symbol of anarchy, spiritual evil and rebellion against God’s created order, a place where potentially mortal danger lurked. Isaiah even connects the satanic dragon’s (Revelation 12:9) home base with the sea: “In that day YHVH will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent with His fierce and great and mighty sword – even Leviathan the twisted serpent. And He will kill the dragon who is in the sea” (Isaiah 27:1).

Those who are wicked and rebel against God and His ways are described as muck and slime on a raging sea, “But the wicked are like the tossing sea, for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up refuse and mud. There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked” (Isaiah 57:19-20).

The raging of the nations against the God of Israel is prophetically contrasted to the waves of an uncontrolled sea storm, “Alas, the uproar of many peoples who roar like the roaring of the seas, and the rumbling of nations who rush on like the rumbling of mighty waters! The nations rumble on like the rumbling of many waters, but He will rebuke them and they will flee far away, and be chased like chaff in the mountains before the wind, or like whirling dust before a gale” (Isaiah 17:12-13; also Psalm 65:7).

Stir it up

The God of Israel, YHVH, is the Creator of all, and all is subject to Him – including the seemingly uncontrollable sea (Revelation 10:6). When God established His divine order over this planet, He established divine boundaries and creative order. “Should you not fear me? declares YHVH. Should you not tremble in My presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail. They may roar, but they cannot cross it” (Jeremiah 5:22; also Job 38:8-11; Psalm 93:3-4; Proverbs 8:29).

Yet God not only absolutely controls the seas and the raging nations; He also stirs them up for His own strategic purposes at His own calibrated times. “For I am YHVH your God, who stirs up the sea and its waves roar (YHVH of armies is His name). I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’” (Isaiah 51:15).

Daniel’s prophetic dream says much the same thing: “I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another” (Daniel 7:2-3). God uses His angelic messengers to stir up the nations and to even raise up beastly superpowers to wreak havoc on the earth.

Out of the sea comes the anti-Messiah of the superpowers, commonly known as the beast. “And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority” (Revelation 13:1-2).

Put your hand in the hand of the Man who stills the waters

When evil powers (whether Assyrian, Babylonian or modern) rise up to destroy God’s chosen people and lay waste their land, the Sovereign Lord prophesies that He will dry up their rebellion and anarchy, even as He dried up the Red Sea in the days of Moses and Pharaoh (Isaiah 63:11-13):

“Therefore thus says YHVH of armies, O My people who dwell in Zion, do not fear the Assyrian who strikes you with the rod and lifts up his staff against you, the way Egypt did. For in a very little while My indignation against you will be spent and My anger will be directed to their destruction. YHVH of armies will arouse a scourge against him like the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Orev; and His staff will be over the sea and He will lift it up the way He did in Egypt” (Isaiah 10:24-26).

“I YHVH am the Maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by Myself and spreading out the earth all alone, … confirming the word of His servant and performing the purpose of His messengers. It is I who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited!’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built.’ And I will raise up her ruins again. It is I who says to the depth of the sea, ‘Be dried up!’ and I will make your rivers dry… (ed. It is I who) declares of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built,’ and of the Temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’” (Isaiah 44:24-28; also Isaiah 50:2).

This is the biblical background of Yeshua’s Messianic miracle of stilling the waves. For who indeed can do such a thing except YHVH the God of the Exodus? (Matthew 8:23-27)

The Second Exodus

The God of Jacob’s deliverance from Pharaoh was not only one of the most powerful events in history. It is also a prophetic paradigm of how YHVH will deliver the Jewish people from the hatred of Satan, the cruelty of the nations and the indifference of slumbering believers. A Second Exodus for Israel, one even greater than the first, is yet in store and is fast approaching. It will also involve mighty miracles and earth-shaking deliverances.

“Awake, awake! Put on strength, O Arm of YHVH! Awake as in the days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not You who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon? Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep – who made the depths of the sea a pathway for the redeemed to cross over? So the ransomed of YHVH will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion, and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” (Isaiah 51:9-11).

“Then it will happen on that day that YHVH will again recover the second time with His hand the remnant of His people, who will remain – from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And He will lift up a standard for the nations and assemble the banished ones of Israel, and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth … And YHVH will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt. And He will wave His hand over the River with His scorching wind. And He will strike it into seven streams and make men walk over dry-shod. And there will be a highway from Assyria for the remnant of His people who will be left, just as there was for Israel in the day that they came up out of the land of Egypt” (Isaiah 11:11-15).

Don’t look back

Isaiah comforts his people by declaring that the same God who protected Israel in Moses’ day and led her out of Egypt with signs and wonders, will soon bring the Jewish people out of soporific Exile among the nations. He will fully restore Israel to the Land of Promise (see also Micah 7:15-17).
The prophet assures us that this future reality can be depended on with absolute certainty. In fact, this Second Exodus and accompanying Restoration will one day even eclipse the Mosaic Exodus.

“Thus says YHVH who makes a way through the sea and a path through the mighty waters, who brings forth the chariot and the horse, the army and the mighty man – they will lie down together and not rise again; they have been quenched and extinguished like a wick – Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new. Now it will spring forth. Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. The beasts of the field will glorify Me, the jackals and the ostriches – because I have given waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert to give drink to My chosen people. The people whom I formed for Myself will declare My praise” (Isaiah 43:16-21).

Now you sea it, now you don’t

After the entire Jewish nation returns to its land (Ezekiel 39:28-29), Messiah Yeshua will rule over them and over all the nations for a thousand years, sitting on the Throne of David (Amos 9:11) in Jerusalem. At the conclusion of the Messianic age, mankind will then enter into the eternal order (the time of the New Jerusalem), where all rebellion ceases. Interestingly, the prophet tells us that in that day there will no longer be rebel nations and there will no longer exist a churning and thrashing sea. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea” (Revelation 21:1).

In light of all these amazing promises, let us pray:

Pray for the Jewish people right now at this significant Passover season – that the God of Israel will reveal Yeshua (His mighty Arm – Isaiah 53:1) to His people as they sit around the Passover seder table next week

Pray for the leaders of your nation who by pressuring Israel may be bringing a curse on your land – that YHVH would grant them revelation concerning His sovereign and mighty hand, and both clarity, commitment and courage to follow the God of Israel and His ways in the challenging days immediately ahead