Signs in the Heavens...

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. - Psalm 19:1

  When was the last time you gazed into the sky? I frequently watch the sky. Sometimes when I go outside early in the morning to pray, I like looking at the constellations, and realize how small our little blue ball is in the grand scheme of things, and wonder at God's interest in us, so much so that He's even numbered the hairs of our heads. man made satellites pass silently through the sky and can be seen at the hours before dawn. My granddaughter and I look at the shapes of clouds and she tells me how some of them look like animals. "Grandpa, that one looks like an elephant, and that one looks like a bird" and so forth, as she discovers this new past time for herself. 
I might mention here that I've noticed for years now, that there are jets flying about, making clouds of their own that can turn a beautifully clear blue day into a cloudy covering better known as 'Chem trails,' but that as they say, is another story. 

My granddaughter was amazed when I explained to her that the stars are still in the blue sky of day, but "you just can't see them in the sun's brightness." Likewise, the Hubble Telescope has given us wonderful pictures of incomprehensible star clusters and billions of unknown galaxies where we once thought there were none. Is it any wonder that a Being so infinitely powerful and intelligent as the God of the Bible could plan from the beginning the movements of the stars and planets to signify to the world such events as the birth of His Son, or the birth of a nation? The Universe is His clock. 
 My wife and I happened to be camping in Death Valley in February of 2008 when we learned that there was going to be a total lunar eclipse on the 21st. We thought we'd go to Zabriskie Point because its terrain resembles a lunar landscape and that would be the perfect place to heighten the experience. We weren't the only ones...the little parking lot there was full. As earth's shadow crept across the surface of the moon, the landscape around us began to transform in appearance adding to the drama. Finally the moon "blushed" and took on an eerie glow as did the ghostly landscape around us. It was unforgettable. 

This most recent total lunar eclipse, (which is the first of a Tetrad of total lunar eclipses we'll experience) was slightly different, and much more significant. I set up chairs for my grand-kids on my driveway, turned my security lights off and got my binoculars out - and waited. Of course they had school the next morning, so as the night grew deeper, they had to go in and get ready for bed. So I turned on the NASA channel so they could see a live simulcast of the event. I preferred to go outside and watch. I was not disappointed, but alas, only the eldest stayed up long enough to witness the eclipse. As I watched the eclipse going full, my thoughts turned to the scriptures, their meaning and the exciting time we're privileged to experience. It was Passover and as I gazed through my binoculars, I could clearly see Mars about a hand-breadth above the moon. I remember how that many of the Ancients regarded Mars as the god of war. I thought about how Passover was the first of the four 'spring feasts or convocations of the seven God called His (Lev.23).' This blood moon was also the first of four blood moons to take place in 2014-15. Jesus fulfilled all four of the Spring feasts, leaving only three Fall feasts to be fulfilled. The first Fall "feast" is the Feast of Trumpets, (which coincidentally is also referred to as the Feast of which no man knows the day or hour." ).   This is reminiscent of Jesus' words: Mat 24:36 - "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."

That feast is marked by 100 blasts of the Shofar, a Hebrew trumpet traditionally made from the horn of a ram.  The most significant and longest trump is the 100th, calling all Jewish men to assemble as they were commanded.  In Bible college I was taught (and also subsequently taught) that the last trump was the seventh judgment trumpet of Revelation 11:15, but now I've come to regard that as incorrect. 


 It is undoubtedly (the trumpet of ) the LORD fulfilling the next convocation that Israel has been rehearsing for centuries. 
At that last trumpet blast, Jews would be in the field and would drop what they were doing and head toward the Temple.  Some non-Jewish strangers would continue working.  Jesus alluded to that in  Matthew 24:40-42 - 
 "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." 
One thing for sure, Jesus Christ really is coming soon - Watch and Pray - This September marks the end of a seven year period on the Hebrew Calendar, and the beginning of a new seven year period.  The first year of that period is known as a Shemitah Year.  On Our Gregorian Calendar it begins on September 25, 2014 to September 13, 2015.  Rabbi Jonathan Cahn spoke about it and the implications it will have on America when he was on CBN.