By Mike Oppenheimer
Let Us Reason Ministries
We have been hearing from a number of people on four Blood (red) Moons for 2014, making it is a unique and significant event. We are told the first of these four Blood Moons is to occur on Passover (Pesach) 2014 and through October (Sukkot) 2015. We are reminded by those pointing this out of Jesus saying there would be signs in the sky, specifically that the sun would be darkened and the moon would turn blood red.
Jesus’ statement on signs in the sky include far more than the sun being darkened and the moon turning. There are signs—plural.
Luke 21:11 “[A]nd great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”
V.25-26 “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”
Most have connected the predicted blood moons with Acts 2:19-21. “I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
We see both signs: in heaven – sun darkened, moon turns red
Signs in the earth – blood fire, vapor of smoke
And salvation to Israel (spoken elsewhere)
The whole thing on blood moons is completely blown out of proportion and speculation. Acts 2 is about the latter rain that takes place at the END of the TRIBULATION. This is when all of Israel that goes through the Tribulation and those who survive are saved as a nation (Zech.14). They call on the Lord, and Zech. 12:10 is fulfilled: see Joel 2:32.
Rom 11:25-26 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved.”
One of the purposes of the Tribulation is turn Israel back to know her God. Another purpose is to punish the nations that come against Israel and the Jews whom the lord has covenanted with.
Remember the sun is turned black at the same time, indicative of the day of the Lord.
The timing speaks against this being fulfilled in 2014 because the tribulation would have begun before this (I know many believe we are in the tribulation, many more than 10-15 years ago: we are not. If you are here, you will clearly know the Tribulation has begun).
Rev. 6:12 “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.”
Matt 24:29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken” (same event of Rev.6).
For something spoken of in prophecy to be fulfilled all the elements, the descriptions must be included. This means those points not just found in one particular scripture but others that also give information on the same event and time period. If the sun is darkened or the moon turns red it does not mean fulfillment has occurred unless the other points mentioned coincide. This is where prophecy teachers get ahead of themselves and make something out of near nothing. We should be careful not to say this will be fulfilled or is fulfilled when it is not.
Author Bio: Mike Oppenheimer is the founder and director of Let Us Reason Ministries, which began in 1994. He has been researching and writing about spiritual deception in the church for many years. His website has extensive information, articles, books, and DVDs. Mike was brought up Jewish, later spending many years in the New Age movement. He became a born-again Christian in the mid-’80s. You can read his testimony at: http://www.letusreason.org/testim.htm. For this and other important articles, visit Mike Oppenheimer’s website, Let Us Reason Ministries
Hi Margot,
It would probably depend on what those bylaws say. Can you email us a copy to look at?
My church has just updated our Constitution and Bylaws. At the meeting we were ask to sign a paper indicating that we agreed or disagreed with all that was in it. If you did not agree then you cannot be a member. Some people had been members there for years but did not agree with everything so now they are no longer members and therefore cannot serve in the church. This is a wonderful church, faithful to the preaching of the gospel. I find this disturbing….please help. Is my church headed in the wrong direction. Thank you, I appreciate your ministry.