If you’ve listened to the news recently, you’ve probably heard a lot of talk about the “Blood Moons.” I know when I first heard the term, I paid no attention whatsoever. But as I heard it talked about more and more, I quickly learned the term didn’t come from religious extremists spouting some fanatical theory, but is actually a term originally coined “Blood-Red Moon” by NASA. A Blood Moon is the total eclipse of the moon and happens when the earth comes in a straight line between the moon and the sun. All the solar rays are blocked, and as the sun shines through the Earth’s atmosphere, a red shadow is cast on the surface of the moon.
Most of us have likely seen a partial lunar eclipse, because they happen every once in a while. But TOTAL lunar eclipses are rare, with only 4 to 5 TOTAL eclipses appearing any place on Earth in a decade. But a lunar tetrad is even more rare.
Lunar Tetrad
A lunar tetrad is a series of four TOTAL lunar eclipses in a row with intervals of 6 months in between. They’re so rare that the 21st century (from 2001 to 2100) will only have 8 tetrads. And there were absolutely no tetrads in the 1600’s, the 1700’s, or the 1800’s! But what’s making the tetrad we’re in the midst of right now of such importance is the fact that each of the eclipses are occurring on a “Moed” (appointed time) of God’s Sacred Calendar. This has only happened eight times since the time of Jesus. In addition to the series occurring now, there have only been three others within the last 500 years! There are several reasons the lunar tetrads landing on God’s sacred calendar dates should demand our attention.
God’s Sacred Calendar
In Leviticus 23:1-2, “The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the LORD, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.” God then gave a list of seven festivals that were to be observed, complete with specific instructions on how to observe each of them. These festival periods are divided into two times of the year – the spring and the fall. But they all fall within a seven-month period of the year. When you look at the Hebrew meaning of the words translated “appointed festivals” and what God says about them, you can definitely understand how a tetrad series landing on these most sacred days might warrant a heads-up.
The words translated “appointed festivals” come from the Hebrew word ‘Moed,’ which according to Strong’s Concordance is defined as: a fixed time; set times; an appointed time. Just like when you look at our Gregorian calendar, and see the holidays, etc. (you may even have some circled), so it is with God’s calendar. One pastor I heard talking about God’s sacred holy days actually calls them “God’s Circle Dates.” Scripture has a lot to say about these dates, and helps shed light on their importance.
In Genesis 1:14, God says, “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 (word is moed)…” Psalms 104:19 says, “He made the moon to mark the seasons…” The word “seasons” is translated from the word “moed.” God uses the moon to mark God’s moeds, or “appointed times.”
It was understood by the Israelites, and is also understood by the Jews of today, that the 7 festivals (God’s circle dates) represent God’s plan of redemption for mankind, with each day having a very special meaning. In Colossians 2:16-17, when telling the church not to let people judge them in respect to food & drink, or in respect of a holy day, Paul said they were a “shadow of things to come.” So we see the holy days were set apart by God to be observed by his people, and they each have a very significant meaning in God’s plan of redemption for mankind. The sun and moon are used by God as signs and markers of the progression of things along the way, functioning like a billboard in the sky saying, “Heads up! Pay attention to what’s going on, something big is happening.”
First Four Tetrads
As previously mentioned, this is only the eighth TOTAL lunar tetrad landing on God’s sacred festival dates since the time of Jesus. The first four (162-163 AD, 795-796 AD, 842-843 AD, and 860-861 AD) coincided with the worst persecution of Jews and Christians in history by the Roman Empire, along with the rise and fall of various kingdoms. Each of the periods involved huge, world-changing events that heavily impacted the Jewish people and nations as they related to the Jews.
Last Three Tetrads
The last three TOTAL lunar tetrads landing on God’s appointed festival dates have all been within the last five hundred years. Let’s look at each, along with the significance of what happened in the world during those time periods:
The fifth tetrad since Christ occurred during 1493 and 1494 at the Passover and Feast of Tabernacles of each year. There was also a Total Solar Eclipse that fell between the first two blood moons on September 24, 1493.
It was during this time period that King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella consolidated the Spanish kingdoms into the nation of Spain. Their intense fear of Jewish influence led them to pressure the Pope to allow an ‘Inquisition’ in Spain. Spain took increasingly drastic measures against the Jews until they finally signed a decree on March 30, 1492, ordering all Jews to leave Spain by August 1. The Jews left in boats on the 1st and 2nd. The following day, with orders from the Queen, Christopher Columbus also set sail from Spain in his search for the Indies. His voyage was financed by the money confiscated from the Jewish people. Upon discovering the new lands, losing their largest ship, and encountering many problems, Columbus returned to Spain. But upon his return, he convinced Queen Isabella to finance a second voyage. He set sail October 13th, 1493. It was this second voyage that marked the start of colonialism in the New World!
This entire scenario changed the course of history. God caused Christopher Columbus to discover what would become America, a refuge to the Jewish people and all others oppressed by tyrants and dictators of the world. Beginning the year Spain kicked the Jewish people out, their wealth and position in the world plummeted. This was a world changing event as the mantle of prosperity was lifted from Spain and given to a brand new nation that became the United States of America. A blood moon tetrad surrounded this event – like a billboard sign saying, “Look, something big is happening!”
The sixth tetrad occurred during 1949 and 1950 at the Passover and Feast of Tabernacles of each year, with a Total solar eclipse between the last two blood moons. It was in 1948 that Israel proclaimed its independence, but within 24 hours, they were invaded by the surrounding nations of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. The war lasted 15 months. It wasn’t until January 25th, 1949, that Israel’s first permanent government took office. Imagine what it must have been like in 1949 to have that first Passover (with a full blood moon) in their official homeland after almost 1,900 years!
The seventh tetrad occurred during 1967-68 at the Passover and Feast of Tabernacles of each year, with a Total solar eclipse in the middle of the series. This tetrad coincided with the 6 Day War when Israel recaptured Jerusalem. This prophetic event was celebrated and highlighted in the heavens as the blood moons were on full display!
If you notice, each of these tetrads announced a time of trouble and tribulation for the Jewish people, not to mention other nations per their dealings with the Jews. But each time period ended with national triumph! We are now in the midst of another lunar tetrad that is falling on God’s Holy Days. This is the eighth holy-day tetrad since Jesus!
The 8th Tetrad!
The Jewish Talmud (book of tradition) says; “When the moon is in eclipse, it is a bad omen for Israel. If its face is as red as blood, the sword is coming to the world.” Interpretation:Lunar Eclipse = bad omen for the Jewish people; Blood Moon = sword coming; Solar Eclipse = bad omen for the world.
Because of the various facets of this tetrad series, it is considered astronomically rare. It’s a first of its kind. Not only is a rare tetrad occurring on God’s appointed festival dates, but there’s a Total Solar Eclipse in the middle of the blood moons. Some Jewish Christians also believe there may be great significance to the fact that this is the eighth tetrad since Christ. The number 8 means: new beginnings; commencement; and resurrection from the dead into eternal life. As a matter of fact, in Hebrew, the numbers 8 and 50 (the Jubilee year following seven Shemittah years) mean “first fruits from the dead.” Another very significant detail about this blood moon series is that a Shemittah year is in the midst of it all – accented by a blood moon at the beginning and the end of the Shemittah!
The Shemittah is a Sabbath year which occurs every seventh year. It was to be a year of rest and release for the land and mankind. Israel was to let their land rest that year, with all debt being canceled. Observing the Shemittah guaranteed abundance, while neglecting it led to judgment. If you examine the history of the Shemittah, America has always been affected by it. Most who are aware of this cycle believe it’s because America made a covenant with Almighty God when this nation was formed. George Washington made a proclamation and dedicated this land to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God blessed America and made her the greatest nation that’s ever existed on Earth. But as America turns her back on God, pushing Him out of every aspect of our lives, we are also taking ourselves out from under His protection. Just look at the last two Shemittah years and how America was affected:
The last Shemittah year was in 2008. This is the year of the greatest stock market crash in American history. The effects reverberated around the world. The previous Shemittah year was in 2001. America was attacked on our own soil on Sept 11, 2001. If you look at the history of our nation, the years of the Shemittah were very obvious – either in blessings – or judgments. It’s also worth noting that the effects normally build within the year, and manifest at the end of the Shemittah cycle.
What Do The Blood Moons Mean to You?
“He made the moon to mark the appointed times …” (Psalms 104:19). The eclipses of the sun and moon, along with the appointed Holy Days of God’s calendar, confront us with precise dates which cannot be manipulated. Nevertheless, we cannot use these signs as an attempt to set dates for the Second Coming of Christ, but rather see them as a wake-up call to be ready for what may happen in the near future. We don’t know precisely what is going to happen. But based on what has happened in the past, every time a blood moon tetrad occurred on God’s Holy Days, something of monumental proportion occurred during that time period. So, as one minister was quoted as saying regarding the blood moons, “Put it in your theological pipe and smoke it.”
Now is not the time to lapse into spiritual slumber like the foolish virgins in Matt 25. “And that, knowing the time, it is high time to awake out of sleep…” (Rom 13:11).
“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. You are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, or of darkness.Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thess 5:4-6).
Remember, we as followers of Jesus Christ are not appointed unto wrath (1 Thess 5:9). After Jesus explained to his disciples the signs that would precede his coming, he told them, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).
This is the most exciting time in history. The Kingdom of God is soon to be established on the Earth! Jesus Christ is coming soon to put a stop to all this craziness. Soon there will be no more war, no more sickness, no more pain and sorrow. Peace, joy, and gladness will spread over the Earth, and Jesus will be our King!
Come soon Lord Jesus!
ToHimBeTheGlory!
Categories: Dreams / Visions / Words
Diana Pulliam
Loren Pedersen
Patti Young
T. "Andrew" Farley
