Signals of Jesus' Return?

Found an article this morning that is quite interesting and intriguing. I'm sure that many Christians will be debating the validity of it all.

Blood moon eclipses: 2nd Coming in 2015?
Minister uses NASA forecasting to study signals of Jesus' return

Who says that science and faith can't be complimentary to each other?

Article excerpt:

Will Jesus Christ return to Earth in the year 2015?

And can studying NASA's website provide evidence for such a scenario?

A minister who promotes the Old Testament roots of Christianity suggests a rare string of lunar and solar eclipses said to fall on God's annual holy days seven years from now could herald what's come to be known as the "Second Coming" of Jesus.

"God wants us to look at the biblical calendar," says Mark Biltz, pastor of El Shaddai Ministries in Bonney Lake, Wash. "The reason we need to be watching is [because] He will signal His appearance. But we have to know what to be watching as well. So we need to be watching the biblical holidays."

In a video interview on the Prophecy in the News website, Biltz said he's been studying prophecies that focus on the sun and moon, even going back to the book of Genesis where it states the lights in the sky would be "be for signs, and for seasons."

"It means a signal, kind of like 'one if by land, two if by sea.' It's like God wants to signal us," he said. "The Hebrew word implies ... not only is it a signal, but it's a signal for coming or His appearing."

It is important to read the entire article. Of course, not all Christians will accept and/or agree with Blitz's analysis of the data.

The discovery of "tetrads" was especially exciting for me. I had not heard of them before!

Article excerpt:

Thus, Biltz began focusing on the precise times of both solar and lunar eclipses, sometimes called "blood moons" since the moon often takes on a bloody color. He logged onto NASA's eclipse website which provides precision tracking of the celestial events.

He noted a rare phenomenon of four consecutive total lunar eclipses, known as a tetrad.

He says during this century, tetrads occur at least six times, but what's interesting is that the only string of four consecutive blood moons that coincide with God's holy days of Passover in the spring and the autumn's Feast of Tabernacles (also called Succoth) occurs between 2014 and 2015 on today's Gregorian calendar."The fact that it doesn't happen again in this century I think is very significant," Biltz explains. "So then I looked at last century, and, believe it or not, the last time that four blood red moons occurred together was in 1967 and 1968 tied to Jerusalem recaptured by Israel."He then started to notice a pattern of the tetrads."What's significant to me is that even before 1967, the next time that you had four blood red moons again was right after Israel became a nation in '48, it happened again in 1949 and 1950 ... on Passover and Succoth. You didn't have any astronomical tetrads in the 1800s, the 1700s, the 1600s. In the 1500s, there were six, but none of those fell on Passover and Succoth."When checking the schedule for solar eclipses, Biltz found two – one on the first day of the Hebrew year and the next on the high holy day of Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the seventh Hebrew month. Both of these take place in the 2014-2015 year.

The sun's corona becomes visible during a solar eclipse

Biltz says, "You have the religious year beginning with the total solar eclipse, two weeks later a total lunar eclipse on Passover, and then the civil year beginning with the solar eclipse followed two weeks later by another total blood red moon on the Feast of Succoth all in 2015.""If you think that this is a coincidence, I want you to know that it's time!" exclaimed Prophecy in the News host J.R. Church. "There are no more of these for the rest of the century."

Wow! That's quite impressive! However, I realize that it is extremely important not to focus on anything that might not be biblical.

Article excerpt:

The prospect of eclipses pinpointing the time of Jesus' return is getting mixed reaction in Christian circles.

The article states that Hal Lindsey disagrees with Blitz. Plus, it is well known that Christians are not supposed to set specific dates and times.

Article excerpt:

During a second video interview, Biltz was presented with Bible quotes that many think suggest Jesus' return will be a complete surprise, or at least not specifically known.

The 25th chapter of Matthew features a parable where Jesus likens His kingdom to ten virgins all waiting for the arrival of their bridegroom.

Jesus said in the story, "ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Matthew 25:13)

Biltz says people need to examine the quote in its proper context."When He says you don't know the day or the hour, He's speaking to the foolish virgins, not the wise virgins," he explained.

Biltz was also asked about the famous statement in Matthew 24:36 when Jesus was discussing the signs of His "coming, and of the end of the world": "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (Matthew 24:36)

He responded by referring to the annual Feast of Trumpets holiday, saying Israelites never knew the precise moment it began, "because it was based on the sighting of the new moon."

"When He (Jesus) says you won't know the day or the hour, He's telling you it's the Feast of Trumpets because that was known as the feast where no one knew the day or the hour that it would begin," said Biltz. "So it's kind of like if I told you, 'I'm not going to tell you when I'm coming, but "Gobble, gobble, gobble,'" [pointing to] Turkey Day."

Church stressed despite the information suggesting 2015 could be a pivotal time, "We don't know that that will be the concluding year of the tribulation period ... so we're not setting a date and saying this is a warning. We're introducing the possibility of a watch."

Jesus himself told us to "watch" for His return! So, there is nothing wrong with "introducing the possibility of a watch."

In fact, haven't we been doing just that ever since Jesus' ascension to the Father?

Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Mar 14:60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what [is it which] these witness against thee?


Mar 14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?


Mar 14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

We can trust that Jesus will fulfill His promises!

1Cr 1:4 ¶ I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;


1Cr 1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and [in] all knowledge;


1Cr 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:


1Cr 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:


1Cr 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, [that ye may be] blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.


1Cr 1:9 God [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1Th 2:19 For what [is] our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? [Are] not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?


1Th 2:20 For ye are our glory and joy.


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What are your thoughts about the anticipated Second Coming of Jesus Christ?

I believe He could come at any time – I'm always watching for Him to return 40.32% (1279)


The Bible says no one knows the day or the hour – I sure don't 38.11% (1209)


Obsession over the Second Coming is a distraction from the weightier issues of living a righteous life and serving others 7.12% (226)


The minister's theory is an interesting one and worth further scrutiny 5.93% (188)


There have been countless theories throughout history about Jesus returning – and they've all been wrong 3.09% (98)


Jesus was a great teacher who showed us how to live and die – but He was just a man and He's not going to miraculously return 2.18% (69)


God doesn't exist – there was no first coming and there's not going to be a second one either 1.29% (41)


The minister who says lunar eclipses point to a 2015 date has nailed it correctly 0.88% (28)


I have no thoughts about it – I'm not a Christian so it doesn't affect me 0.66% (21)


Since the phrase 'Second Coming' is not found in the Bible, this is all meaningless speculation 0.41% (13)



TOTAL VOTES: 3172




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HT: World Net Daily