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 21^st 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. Continue reading “What Do the Blood Moons Mean to You?”