For Signs And For Seasons: The End Time

“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:” -- Genesis 1:14

Although they are a subject that has been studied in light of the bible for many years and discussed among Jewish sages for ages, interest in the phenomenon of blood moons and signs in the heavens has increased in recent times. Some modern theologians have come out declaring blood moons an ominous warning of war, bloodshed, and famine. Among ancient Jewish sages, however, blood moons have been regarded as only being a bad omen for the nations, but a good sign for Israel. For most others of course, the occurrence of blood moons holds no significance as they are dismissed as merely a natural occurrence with a scientific explanation.

And indeed, there is a scientific explanation for blood moons, as there is also for rainbows. But does a rainbow, or any other sign given in nature have no meaning or purpose simply because there is a scientific explanation for how it comes about? Many scientists, feeling they must choose between God and science reject God by failing to realize God is the Greatest Scientist. God works scientifically. Understanding God’s work and the hidden truths and meanings behind all things he created is not based on superstition or belief in the magic of a mythical God. God created all things scientifically. Consider Proverbs 3:20 which states: “By [God's] knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew”. So then, the creation of God came about, not by magic, but by knowledge, and not without purpose.

It was by scientific knowledge that the fountains of the deep were broken up and the rains fell and the flood waters converged upon the earth. Afterward, God made a covenant that he would never again destroy the earth with a flood, and scientifically, he created a rainbow as a sign and witness to the covenant which he made. But the wicked take God's signs and wonders, and misappropriate them by inventing other meanings to pervert the true meanings and obscure God's word and his promises. Reveling in the lust of their own flesh, they worship the creature rather than the Creator, turning nature into an idolatry of their own devises.

Everything God created was specifically designed. Just as a rainbow was designated as a witness to a promise, all the wondrous works of God have purpose and meaning. Each creation is a teacher of knowledge. They all speak, and do so in every language. When God placed the Sun, Moon, stars and luminaries in the heavens, he said they shall be for, signs and seasons, days and years. He gave them both purpose and meaning.

In the bible, the moon is an often used symbol of femininity, sometimes for: a woman or a wife, and metaphorically as The Bride (God’s chosen) with whom he becomes one. At night, the Moon gives us light in darkness; which although, having no light of its own, reflects the light of the Sun. So also, Yeshua (Christ) reflects his light upon his chosen vessels, to give Light to the world in his absence. When he was in the world, he was the light of the world.

There is no life without the Sun. There is no warmth on earth. So also, we too are dependent upon the presence and Light of God. Being created of earth, we have no warmth in our hearts without his spirit; as it is written, “..because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold”.

A full Moon expresses fullness in Christ. To the contrary, when the earth comes between the Moon and the Sun, it creates a lunar eclipse and the Moon is darkened. Likewise, when this world comes between God and his church, the church is darkened. The light of the church is diminished when earthly things separate the church from God. This includes embracing the world, or inventing worldly gospel that would conform to the world to find more acceptance. Worldly self-righteousness is a darkness parading as light. Jesus in speaking of this said:

"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [the world]. - Matthew 6:22-24

There is also the opposite of a lunar eclipse when it is the Moon that comes between the earth and the Sun. This creates a solar eclipse wherein the light of the Sun is blocked from the earth. In this case, it is the Moon interfering with the light of the Sun. The Moon is to reflect the light of God upon the earth at night. When false teachers coming in the name of God, place themselves between humanity and God with false teachings, they obscure the light of God, as when the Moon blocks the light of the Sun from the world.

In so doing, false teachers bring darkness upon the world with their false doctrines which they call light. During a total eclipse the moon turns black and blocks out the light, symbolizing a replacement of God with religion. A total eclipse of the Sun's light was held by Jewish sages as an ominous warning of impending judgment, wrath, destruction, and of being cut off, separated from God.

On March 20th, 2015, a total solar eclipse occurred. It took a path which directly over the North Pole where it ended. As of now, no nation owns the North Pole; under international law the area is under administration of the “International Seabed Authority”. Under the Seabed Authority, the North pole is considered common property of all nations. Could the total eclipse of the Sun directly atop the whole world been given as a sign to all nations—a sign of the world’s rejection of God and impeding judgment? Without the Sun, the world ends. How much more can only destruction follow in the absence of God’s Light and mercy.

Christ, proclaimed himself to be the “Light Of The World”. If indeed we understand the Bride and Bridegroom metaphor and the Moon as a feminine “help mate” to the Sun, we understand the relationship of believers in bringing the Light of Christ into a world of darkness in his absence. Remember Yeshua’s (Jesus) words:

“I must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” - John 9:4-5

In scripture we find physical things used as examples to convey understandings of spiritual things. The Sun is no exception and we find it used in connection to Messiah in a number of passages. Certainly we are not in any way to worship any created thing such as the Sun, but when comprehended as a tool of the Teacher wherein lies truth, we can understand and worship God with greater understanding. The Sun is the Greater Light, and the Moon the lesser “help mate”—a symbol of marriage between bridegroom and bride; the figure of Adam and Eve, and of Christ and his Bride.

Also in September of 2015—the Shemitah cycle, or "Rosh Hashanah," fell on Sept. 13th—the same year as the total solar eclipse ended directly atop the world. A super blood Moon then followed which appeared over Jerusalem on Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) on the 27th of September. The next year of the Shemitah cycle arrives in 2022.

God said in reference to lights he created in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night, “...let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years”. If the total solar eclipse over the North Pole was a sign of impending Judgment upon all nations, what then is the significance of a super blood Moon directly over Jerusalem?

In light of the Moon being in a figure a similitude of the Bride, could not the appearance of a super blood Moon over Jerusalem on the Feast of Tabernacles be considered a sign of the greatest significance and a comfort to all God's chosen who are washed and covered by the blood of the Lamb? Judgment is coming; are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?

I have personally spent way too much time focusing on the end times prophecies and attempting to determine “when”. I have since come to the conclusion that I should be far more focused on my own situation and my own personal “end time”.

This change in my personal view was prompted by the belief that ALL of the prophesies in the Bible will be fulfilled in accordance with God’s plan. With that, I could then look to a specific, easily determined prophesy, and if not yet fulfilled, I would know that the end times are still of in the future and that it would be far more likely that my own death would come first.

To that end, I setteled on the prophesy known as the Burden of Damascus found in Isaiah 17

“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” Isaiah 17:1 KJV

So I believe that until Damascus is a ruin/pile of rubble, this prophecy is yet to be fulfilled. Thus, my own personal death is more likely to come first.

With that in mind, I struggle to live my life worthy of the name “Christian” .... every day, every hour .... I personally fail often, but I ask for both forgiveness and strength to do better the next day. Let the end times come when God wants them to.

" If Jordan falls to a bogus authority, Israel could declare the Jordanian rule of the Temple Mount invalid."

That is an interesting thought that I had not considered. It also could give not only and occasion for Israel to do so, but a valid reason that would be justified.

As far as conjecture goes, the information that one is working with certainly is not always the same as another, usually not. With caution we should consider and always watch with patience to see what will transpire.

“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” Isaiah 17:1 KJV
So I believe that until Damascus is a ruin/pile of rubble, this prophecy is yet to be fulfilled. Thus, my own personal death is more likely to come first.

Old Damascus – one of the longest inhabited cities in the world – 5,000 years of history come alive.

Damascus has been destroyed over and over again

For example, in 1860 when Syria was under occupation by the Ottoman empire, the quarter of Bab Tuma in the north-east of the city was ransacked. More than 3,500 houses, churches and monasteries were comprehensively looted and set ablaze. Hundreds of people were killed and thousands were displaced.

Again, on 18 October 1925, the city was bombed by the French army in an attempt to quell a revolution against French rule. As a result, the western district – known at that time as Sidi Amoud – was mostly destroyed. Several traditional masterpieces were burnt or damaged, and hundreds of lives were lost.

Most recently it was close to destroyed by the Islamic state forces

Jesus always spoke in parables using physical examples of spiritual things.

March is the month named for Mars, the month that "comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb", as of course the different charactaristics describe the same month at different times. At first it's a lion, then becomes a lamb.

I point that out because the pattern emerges in Revelation 5 as well, when the lion worthy to open the little book somehow morphs into a lamb.

And then there is King David himself, who was told he couldn't built the Temple because he had made great wars and shed much blood...

...basically the same description as Mars the god of war, for whom the month and the planet are named.

The third day (Tuesday, Martes Day) is also named for Mars, so every Sol on Mars is the "third day" -- a Mars-Day -- because that's the place of that day, every day.

A Sol is a Mars-Day.

Presently, there's the cute little MarsHeli up there nicknamed Ginny (which is a name more commonly short for Virginia).

Ingenuity, birthed from the belly of Perseverance ("Percy"), is getting ready to fly.

Ingenuity is being described (perhaps "disguised" is a better word) as a "technology demonstration".

Jesus always spoke in parables using physical examples of spiritual things.

>>>

The sole mission of Ingenuity, a technology demonstration, is to conduct flight tests in the thin atmosphere of Mars; the helicopter carries no science instruments. Within 30 Martian days, or sols (a Martian day is 24.6 hours), on the surface, Ingenuity will complete its testing, and Perseverances scientific exploration of Jezero Crater will kick into high gear.

Our 30-sol test schedule is frontloaded with exciting milestones, said Teddy Tzanetos, deputy operations lead for the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter at JPL. Whatever the future holds, we will acquire all the flight data we can within that timeframe.

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-mars-helicopter-survives-first-cold-martian-night-on-its-own

Oh, just a little weather experiment.

(Looking up!)

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