Monday, March 31, 2014

Mysterious Disappearance of Malaysia Airlines MH370 and Marvelous Life Lessons Learnt

Introduction

On 25th March CNN announced, “"We're not searching for a needle in a haystack," Mark Binskin, vice chief of the Australian Defence Force, told reporters.”We're still trying to define where the haystack is."” The same day the Malay premier declared that MH370 crashed into the South Indian Ocean and all 239 people onboard were presumed to be dead. 1

While one statement is distant to any conclusion whatsoever, the other statement pronounces a concrete closure to MH370 saga. Although it is difficult to understand this situation, the pain of the loved ones could be remotely felt. Their pain is unbearable. It is horrendous to be in such a situation.

However, this sad situation teaches us a few life lessons.

Fallibility of Man

            Although it is possible that MH370 has crashed and all onboard dead, conflicting media reports keeps us guessing the truth claim of that possibility. Then there are those who come up with conspiracy theories, so to keep skepticism and uncertainty alive and well.

When conflicting reports inundate us, truth and trust suffers. Who is speaking the truth? Who do we trust? Should our existence be immersed in skepticism?

Conflicting media reports cannot be trusted on its face value. All men cannot be trusted always; only some can be trusted more often than not. Those who can be trusted are those who have earned our trust over a period of time through the relationship we have shared in close proximity with each other.

In this case, the families of those onboard may find it difficult to trust those providing them with reports about missing aircraft. It’s quite plausible that the authorities are withholding information. Man has not given them any hope whatsoever.

Frailty of Science

            Science has offered us a privilege of always boarding an airplane with optimism. I have never smelt death while boarding an airplane. Significantly, there was not even one aircraft accident of the magnitude of MH370 in 2013. 2 This is science’s achievement. This is due to God’s gracious and active presence in this world. 

            In 2000, when President Clinton visited India, certain sections of media glorified the security offered to him. Apparently, the US satellites deployed to watch over the President had the ability to incessantly monitor the movement of the second hand of a wrist watch. Such was their power and precision to monitor the movement of even the smallest object in the vicinity of the President.

            If technology possessed such power and precision then, today’s technology should have been enhanced thousand fold. But why is science unable to trace the path of the aircraft, even after the plane’s transponders were switched off?

Why is science unable to provide common man with answers for an event that occurred on earth (we are not even talking about outer space)? Probably the common man would never know.

            If what’s been said is true - that the aircraft with 239 people onboard is truly unable to be traced, all I can conclude is that science is only in the process of conquering the greater challenges of life. While science is definite about certain subjects, it’s weak on other subjects.

But the fact remains; science cannot be relied and trusted in all circumstances. Science seems to have failed us in this situation.

Beauty of Love

            None of the 239 onboard MH370 may have been friends with us. However, we grieve as if we had always known them. This is the beauty of love.

            Man, made in the image of God, shares the love of God. Because he loves his unseen neighbor, he grieves his neighbor’s loss as if it were his own.

            But the beauty of love includes the hatred of evil deeds. If and only if the MH370 disappeared due to terrorism, one cannot expect man to love the evil deed of the terrorists. But terrorists are victims of their circumstances that are deep in deception. They possess the wrong ideology; they believe falsehood as truth, hence they practice evil.  

We are called to love our neighbors; the terrorists are our neighbors too (Mark 12: 31a). By the grace of God we can love the terrorists so to pray for their deliverance, and even their families, who may even be an unwilling part. But we cannot love their evil deeds.  This is the beauty of love.

Tragedy In False Accusations

Why did the pilot’s son defend his father’s innocence? 3

Some media reports blame the pilots for the disappearance of MH370. Unfortunately, the pilots’ families will have to bear the brunt of this attack. Although concrete evidences convicting the pilots are yet to be provided, some people may be totally impolite and insane to taunt the family members as if the pilots were the culprits.

False accusation is an incredible trial and a tragedy. How should the falsely-accused deal with false accusation? While we cannot discount God from the picture, God’s people will also provide the family with the much needed encouragement and comfort. These are people who continue to love, care, pray and provide for the family in times of their stress and distress.

We should not pronounce judgment, especially when the evidences against the accused are highly speculative in nature.  

Unpredictability of Life

            A poignant description of life’s uncertainty is marvelously expressed in these words, “How do you know what will happen even tomorrow? What, after all, is your life? It is like a puff of smoke visible for a little while and then dissolving into thin air” (James 4: 14, PHILLIPS).

            Our life is so unpredictable that we need to quickly, constantly and consistently maximize its potential. Are we focusing on accumulating wealth by discarding God to a particular day in a week or an hour in a day? This is gross injustice inflicted upon ourselves.

Our existence is intelligibly sustained by God. Thus it is irrational to relegate our existence to mere chance or fate, which has its feet firmly planted in midair.

Viewing our lives through the eyes of God – the maker of heaven and earth would help us understand life’s situations better.  Trying to make sense of MH370’s disappearance in light of God is a fruitful and not a futile endeavor.

But a more basic question is, “do we know the one true God?” If not, we ought to strive to know the one true and living God. To know, love and obey God is our life’s constant endeavor, so to gain peace and eternal security. Thus one can maximize his life through its unpredictability.

Reliability of God

            Of this I am sure – that humans are imperfect. There is no perfect man or woman – no, not even one. Man will fail us especially when we do not expect him to fail.

Think about the families of the 239 people onboard MH370. Think about the long duration they have to endure without knowing if their dear one is dead or alive. At the end of the day, they need answers to satisfy their questions. They remain dissatisfied for they have not received answers from man.

They are very sad. Maybe their friends can console them to partly heal them of their sadness. But it is also certain that man cannot entirely heal sadness, for sadness is a matter of our heart and soul. Man cannot heal the damage inflicted upon the heart and soul of his fellow being.  

But the families have deep questions. Why did their loved one die an early, sudden and a gory death? Why are they relegated to a state of uncertainty about the fate of their loved one? Questions of this nature are numerous.

Man or science cannot answer such deep questions of the soul. Only God can. Only God can touch the need of the human heart with HIS nail pierced hands. Only God can satisfy the needs of the human heart, provided man is humble and willing to hear from HIM.

Think about this. If I do not want to hear what you are trying to communicate, then I will not hear your statements. If I am only partially aware of your communication, I would only integrate the partial truth. This is precisely how the relationship works between God and man.

If man thinks that God is inadequate to answer his questions or if man does not trust in God, then man shuts God out of his life. Man has only himself to blame. Such a man does not love God. He rejects God. So he will always be longing for answers. Such a man will always remain dissatisfied.

Conclusion

Only God can answer man’s deep questions and heal his sadness. God will answer and heal, if man allows HIM to speak to his need. Man should also focus on receiving God’s truth, even when that truth may be unpleasant to his ears. Man should rely on God always.

May God heal the pain and sorrow of the families of those presumed to be dead and all the others who are suffering in various other predicaments. This is my prayer in Christ’s name. Amen.



Endnotes:

1 http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/25/world/asia/malaysia-airlines-plane/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_commercial_aircraft#2013

3 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/missing-malaysian-flight-mh370-my-father-would-never-have-crashed-on-purpose-pilots-son-insists-9219306.html

Monday, March 24, 2014

Soft Pornography in Public: Who is the Victim?

Wikipedia defines ‘soft porn’ as, “Softcore pornography or softcore is commercial still photography or film which has a pornographic or erotic component, but that is less [vague] sexually explicit and intensive than hardcore pornography. Softcore pornography is intended to be sexually arousing, and typically contains nude and semi-nude performers and sex scenes…”1

Miley’s “Wrecking Ball” video on YouTube, published on September 9, 2013, has 586 million hits, 2 million likes and 1 million dislikes. This video gets over a million hits every day - an indication of its popularity! Notwithstanding the dislikes, Wrecking Ball is a super hit video.2 Wrecking ball video belongs to the soft porn category, for it shows off a naked Miley.

Nicki Minaj isn’t far behind Miley. Her videos are equally provocative (e.g. Starships). And the lyrics, well let’s not even go there! Some lyrics of these celebrity singers are nauseatingly deplorable.

Several other celebrities belong to the category of Nicki and Miley. So Miley and Nicki are not the sole culprits.

A public domain video such as this would be watched by both the young and old, and Miley would have impacted the minds of her audience. Would this impact be positive or negative?

It is very likely that people would be divided over these performances. Some may consider these performances as utterly deplorable. Others may genuinely think, “There’s nothing wrong with this performance.” Yet another group may wonder whether these performances are right or wrong. This is the way of life.

These performances would be perfectly acceptable if they positively impact the audience. A positive impact is to help build one’s character towards goodness and progressively away from evil. A negative impact is to lead people into evil and greater evil.

There are two entities here – the performer and the audience. The performers’ performance primarily impacts the audience into motivating the audience to pursue either good or bad.

The audience can secondarily and responsively impact the performers. This secondary responsive impact occurs when the audience accepts or rejects the performer. In the case of the wrecking ball video, a majority of audience accept Miley. This is the impact of the audience on Miley. This impact can motivate Miley into similar performances.

The primary impact is of maximal concern. The reality of soft porn in the public domain impacts people adversely (negative impact).

Sadly soft porn is endorsed not only by the performer, but by the media and all those who play a role in the production of this performance. The presence of these entities deceives people into thinking that soft porn is legitimate. This deception lures people into disasters.

A person watching soft porn could get addicted to porn. Addiction to porn lands the addicted person into excessively dangerous situations. 

If a married person is addicted to porn, his / her marriage life could be threatened adversely. If an unmarried person is addicted to porn, he could even morph into a rapist, which in extreme situations could even lead him to be a serial killer.

Thus, the ramifications of soft-porn in public domain, apparently endorsed as acceptable, would adversely impact people and the society.

But why go to the realm of soft porn in public domain? There are other provocative storylines in videos doing their rounds in the public domain. 3

Apart from selling the commodity, the advertisement subtly persuades [young] men and women into promiscuous living. The storyline of this advertisement is of a mother being sexually attracted to the young man who is dating her daughter.

Would the message of this advertisement not lead young men to an obsession over the mothers of their dating partners?  We are living in a society that seems to not only recommend but also lead people into adultery (promiscuity). This is rank evil. 

Who then is the primary victim of the public domain soft porn? The audience, of course! The performer motivates the audience into sin.

Then there is another kind of evil resulting from soft porn in public.

In the past, Miley’s father Billy Ray Cyrus expressed his desire to save Miley from creating any negative impact on the society, “"I'm scared for her," Cyrus said of Miley. "She's got a lot of people around her that's putting her in a great deal of danger. I know she's 18 but I still feel like, as her daddy, I'd like to try to help. Take care of her just a little bit, to at least get her out of danger .” 4 

The very same father (Billy Ray Cyrus) who in the past desired to protect Miley from danger, and by implication, the audience, spoke recently to defend Miley’s public nudity. Billy defended Miley by saying, “… It wouldn't have mattered if Miley would have worn jeans and a flannel shirt ...a Tux ...or a nun's habit. The song's a smash ...and her performance vocally on the tune reflects her roots and sheer God given talent.”5

Billy Ray is known for his professed Christianity. This quote is attributed to him, “I think a lot of people think that Christianity is about always being perfect,” Billy Ray says. “It’s actually the opposite of that. It’s realizing that we’re all humans, and that’s why God sent his Son to this earth -- to save people like us.”6

Billy accurately states that Christianity is not about moral perfection in this world. But Christianity is also not about endorsing and promoting sins in this world.

However, Billy Ray seems to endorse Miley’s public nudity and the associated vulgarity – the sin. This is where Billy Ray is in troubled waters with his faulty belief (theology).

It is a greater evil when a parent either silently or vocally endorses the sin of the child.

When a parent’s theology is faulty, the child is bound to actively step into sin, and to adversely impact the society. Thus, the [celebrity] performer is also a victim – due to the parent’s faulty belief (theology).

How do we respond to this situation? Two situations need be addressed from within this context.

We should not endorse or promote soft porn in public or in private. We should learn and teach our children the dangers of soft porn.

It may be virtually impossible to perfectly protect or insulate ourselves or our children from these provocative advertisements or the soft porn videos that may surprise us when we are on the TV or the internet. While we should block soft porn videos, it may be challenging to switch off our TV as and when a provocative advertisement suddenly appears.

Therefore a solid education in moral choices is the need of the hour. We cannot dismiss these soft porn videos or the provocative advertisements easily. These powerful visuals will remain in our mind and will continue to tempt us to sin.

Discussions on moral choices are mandatory in the family and in the society. We ought to discuss the negative impact of these deadly visual viruses that lurk in the public domain. We can learn to be innately and spiritually motivated to switch off from these temptations.

It also goes without saying that remaining in Christ will give us the power to resist and overcome temptations. Only a mind that is totally convinced about the damage resulting from these deadly visuals will defeat temptation and stay clear of any sin. Only Christ can offer us this unblemished conviction. It is the desire to live for Christ that motivates a person to resist and overcome sin.

What about our belief? What about our faulty theology? Christians who subscribe to postmodern and liberal perspectives do not take sins seriously. For instance, postmodern and liberal Christians believe homosexuality is not a sin.

They fundamentally believe that there is no absolute or objective truth. In other words, anything goes. They also believe that the Bible is not dogmatic about anything.

So, on what basis would this Christian (who advises his community to support and promote homosexuality) mandate his community to avoid watching soft porn and even hardcore porn? Would not the audience respond to this Christian with the logic that pornography is not a sin?  

So as Billy Ray Cyrus defended his own daughter’s public nudity, these postmodern and liberal Christians would directly or indirectly motivate their children to sin and even defend the sins of their own children. This is terrible evil.

God said this to the parents who sacrificed their children then and will say the same now to these liberal and postmodern Christians, “And then you took your sons and your daughters, whom you had given birth to as my children, and you killed them, sacrificing them to idols. Wasn’t it bad enough that you had become a whore? And now you’re a murderer, killing my children and sacrificing them to idols” (Ezekiel 16: 20-21, MSG).

We should sincerely engage our postmodern and liberal Christian friends in discussion. But what if our postmodern and liberal Christian friends are not honest enough to discuss these matters with us?

Their dishonesty should not discourage us. We should strive to discuss these matters with those who are honest in their quest for truth.

More importantly we should continuously commit our life to the Lord Jesus by humbly and honestly introspecting our beliefs so to determine their truthfulness in the sight of our Lord. Only a humble heart will turn away from sins and move towards God. May that blessing be ours and those around us.

Meanwhile, let us also pray for the victims of soft porn. May they be liberated from evil and into Christ consciousness. Amen.


Endnotes:

1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softcore_pornography

2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My2FRPA3Gf8&feature=kp

3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mambpzvJyYM&list=PLE3003BFFE3B7895C&index=17

4 http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/473030/billy-ray-cyrus-hannah-montana-show-destroyed-my-family

5 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/11/billy-ray-cyrus-wrecking-ball-video_n_3909197.html


6 http://www.cbn.com/700club/Guests/Interviews/Billy_Ray_Cyrus060905.aspx

Monday, March 17, 2014

Should Christians Consult Astrology (Horoscope / Zodiac)?

Introduction

Years ago, I was requested to immediately counsel a young man on the verge of suicide. He was severely undernourished (a year ago, he had weighed 90 kgs / 198 lbs).

This young man was extremely troubled about his encounter with a roadside astrologer who read his palm. Apparently, the astrologer challenged this young man by boldly claiming to predict his future. The astrologer asserted his credibility by precisely stating the favorite color, favorite flower, and the date of birth of the young man.

Then the astrologer dropped a bombshell upon the unsuspecting young man saying that he would die within a year. The young man went into a depression and consistently lost weight and his emotional health. Thus he contemplated suicide.

This is astrology, in its evil glory. But by the grace of God, the young man was delivered and began to live a healthy life.

A concise introduction to Astrology is that “the exact alignment of the heavenly bodies (planets, stars) at a person’s birth greatly influence, if not determine, an individual’s life, including character, temperament, and accomplishments. People who practice astrology seek to discover their horoscope—a forecast of daily, monthly, or yearly events in light of their birth sign under the Zodiac. The practice of astrology can be traced as far back as ancient Mesopotamia and was a common practice among the ancient Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, and Romans.”1   
   
Does astrology truly play a role in man’s life?

Scientists Expose Astrology’s Deceit

Interestingly, scientists consider astrology as nothing but a waste of time and energy for man. They term astrology as a pseudo-science. Their strong conviction is that astrology plays no role in man’s life.

In 1975, a group of leading astronomers, astrophysicists and scientists that included 18 Nobel Prize winners denounced the pseudoscience of astrology through their publication, “Objections to Astrology: A Statement by 186 leading Scientists,” in the Humanist magazine.2   

Prominent non-Christian scientists Carl Sagan, Richard Dawkins, and Bill Nye debunk astrology. They deem astrology as a primitive belief system that places humans as the focal point of the universe.

They contend that astrology is as vague as it can be and has not considered the astronomical developments after 2 AD. They also declare that astrology refuses to consider the discovery of new planets and ignores the shift in the earth's rotation axis.

            You may watch these scientists debunk astrology in this video clip: 


Eminent Christian astrophysicist Dr. Hugh Ross describes astrology as that which…

“bases horoscopes on the moment of birth, not the moment of conception when, in fact, one's genetic characteristics are fixed;

ignores the gravitational forces of non-solar system bodies (e.g., the pull of gravity by the obstetrician on a newborn child is about six times greater than that of Mars);

treats the various nuclear, magnetic, and gravitational forces exerted by solar system bodies (e.g., the sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, etc.) as if they were of the same magnitude. In reality, differences of many orders of magnitude were long ago verified by research;

ignores significant solar system bodies, e.g., Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, asteroids, comets;

fails to take into account tidal forces, also gravitational differences resulting from the irregular shape of some solar system bodies;

ignores the motion of the sun with respect to other stars and with respect to the center of the galaxy;

ignores the wobble in the earth's rotation axis, which by now has shifted the astrological sun signs by one or two constellations (making a typical Leo in reality a Gemini);

omits two constellations along the ecliptic (the "path" of the planets and other bodies in our solar system);

fails to provide conclusive evidence of a direct causal link between celestial positions or "aspects" and human personality and interactions.” 3

Even the most secular American sitcom, Big Bang Theory, denounces astrology through its character Sheldon Cooper. Sheldon debunks astrology as, “…the mass cultural delusion that the sun's apparent position relative to arbitrarily defined constellations at the time of your birth somehow affects your personality.” That astrology is a “mass cultural delusion” is a strong statement!


Sheldon speaks here...


            It is interesting to observe the non-Christian scientists debunking astrology. This should motivate our non-Christian friends to sincerely reconsider their position on astrology, especially if they consult astrology and zodiac signs.

The Bible Condemns Astrology

More interestingly, quite a number of Christians consult astrology. Some even take pride in their zodiac signs!  

However, the Bible, in no uncertain terms, condemns astrology.

Astrologers are considered as God’s opponents and worthy of God’s judgment in Isaiah 47: 13-14.

The context of Deuteronomy 4 is to urge God’s people to follow HIM and tightly hold on to HIM amidst all temptations and distractions that tend to draw us away from God. In this context, God’s people are commanded not to worship or serve the sun, moon or the stars (Deuteronomy 4: 19).

The sun, moon and the stars do not offer anything to a Christian. It is futile for a Christian to follow and respect (worship) these heavenly bodies.

A Christian sins against God when he consults the heavenly bodies - sun, moon and stars.

There were days when I, while being a devoted Christian, stepped into my workplace and consulted the horoscope / astrology section in the newspaper as my first task for the day. The seemingly prophetic words in the horoscope either made or ruined my day even before the day began, so to speak.

It took me less than a minute to read and integrate that which was written for my zodiac sign. But those few seconds of consulting my horoscope was like injecting a slow poison into my veins.

I was a slave to astrology and my life was determined by the words that were in my zodiac sign for that day.

Instead of allowing God to lead my life and following God’s will for my life, I intentionally and mindlessly removed God from my life. Although God was in me, I did not recognize or respect HIS presence when it came to running the matters of my day to day life.

I did not worship God for I had more faith in astrology than God. I worshipped astrology and not God.

I was also imprisoned in another weird esoteric (mysterious) belief.

Since I belonged to the zodiac sign Pisces, I somehow believed that, by default, I would be friendlier with another Piscean. This mechanically motivated me to alienate myself from people who were supposedly antagonistic to a Piscean. What a great killjoy!

This imprisonment led me to disobey God’s second greatest commandment of loving my neighbor (Mark 12: 31). In other words, I loved a Piscean more than anyone else. In the process, I was being godless and walking away from the one true living God.

There are more Scriptural affirmations (Leviticus 20:6, Deuteronomy 17: 2-5, 18:9-13; 2 Kings 17: 16; 1 Corinthians 10: 21) that mandate us to avoid astrology in any form, manner or size whatsoever.

As the real life story narrated in the introduction suggests, astrology could also partner with the demonic. When astrology partners the demonic, the consequences are disastrously evil.

False Teaching in Christianity

“Gospel in the Stars” theory (GIS) is a good case in point. GIS was published in the mid 19th century by Ms. Frances Rolleston.

Minimally, GIS claims to have uncovered the gospel message present in the stars and constellations. Rolleston also claimed to have found many zodiacal connections in the Bible.

GIS in another instance of truthlessness for it contradicts the Bible through poor scholarship. Therefore there is no excuse for a Christian to seek the counsel of astrology.

Few online resources that satisfactorily debunk GIS are mentioned in the endnotes for those interested in a deeper pursuit of this theme.  

Conclusion

Christians sin against God if and when we consult astrology. A Christian should repent and seek forgiveness from God and discard astrology from his / her life totally.

If you are a Christian and if you still consider astrology as harmless, then I pray that you would see the truth spoken in God’s Word against astrology.

There is no mid-position in Christianity. As Christians we ought to realize that we are either for God or against HIM.

We either worship the one true and living God or worship the sun, moon and the stars. We either follow the counsel of the Spirit of God or follow the sun, moon and the stars.

These words are written in the context of the unpardonable sin, and I pray that these living words from the Bible would open the eyes of our heart and mind, “The man who is not on my side is against me, and the man who does not gather with me is really scattering. That is why I tell you that men may be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit cannot be forgiven” (Matthew 12: 30-31, PHILLIPS). Amen.

Endnotes:
1 http://www.reasons.org/articles/testing-the-claims-of-astrology

2http://americanhumanist.org/what_we_do/publications/Humanism_as_the_Next_Step/Chapter_9:_The_American_Humanist_Association
&
http://digilander.libero.it/astroitalia/cialtrones.pdf

3 http://www.reasons.org/articles/astrology-help-hoax-or-harm

Further reading to debunk GIS (Gospel In The Stars):
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v3/n1/gospel-in-stars  

http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/arj/v6/n1/gospel-in-stars-further-examination

http://www.equip.org/articles/is-there-a-christian-zodiac-a-gospel-in-the-stars/

Useful Read:
http://www.equip.org/bible_answers/what-is-wrong-with-astrology/

Monday, March 10, 2014

Four Blood Moons in 2014-15: Christ’s Second Coming & End Times or Israel’s Tragedy?

Introduction



In 2008, Pastor Mark Biltz of ‘Church For All Nations’ predicted that Christ’s second coming may occur in the Fall of 2015 (his book, “Blood Moons: Decoding the Imminent Heavenly Signs” is to be published on March 18, 2014). Subsequently Pastor John Hagee’s book “Four Blood Moons: Something is about to change” (published in October 2013) seems to endorse Pastor Mark Biltz’s prediction.

The four blood moon event is creating considerable interest in certain segments of Christianity that anticipate the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy about Christ’s second coming or the end times. The four blood moon event in 2014-15 is also predicted to bring a change / disaster upon the nation of Israel.

Blood moon is a reference to full lunar eclipse – the earth in between the sun and the moon. In a full lunar eclipse, earth’s shadow is cast on the moon so that the red light from the sun is reflected on to the moon making it appear red like blood - hence the term, ‘Blood moon.’

Four total lunar eclipses in a row are called ‘Tetrads.’


Significance of Tetrads Coinciding with Jewish Holy Days




NASA reports the following dates for lunar eclipses in 2014-15: 1

Table # 1: Lunar Eclipse in 2014-2015
Date
Eclipse
Jewish Holy Days 2
15-April-2014
Total Lunar
Passover
8-October -2014
Total Lunar
Sukkot (October 9)
4-April-2015
Total Lunar
Passover
28-September-2015
Total Lunar
Sukkot









                                                                                                                               
The oncoming tetrad in 2014-15 (row of four total lunar eclipses) coincides with Jewish high holy days – hence the connection to the nation of Israel.

NASA has seemingly confirmed the occurrence of blood moons on the first day of Passover and first day of Sukkot, seven times on back-to-back years since 1 AD. In other words, tetrads coinciding with Jewish holy days have occurred only seven times since the life of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Table #2 describes the dates and historical significance of the seven tetrads that coincided with Jewish high holy days:


Table #2: Dates & Historical Significance of Seven Tetrads Coinciding with Jewish Holy Days Since 1 AD

#
Total lunar eclipse
Jewish Holy Days
Historical Significance
1
162-163 AD
Passover & Sukkot
Severe elimination of Jews in 3 years by Antonine Plague, following the tetrad.
2
795-796 AD
Passover & Yom Kippur (?)
Establishment of a demilitarized zone (DMZ) between France and Spain, ending centuries of Arab invasions into Western Europe, by King Charlemagne.
3
842-843 AD
Passover & Yom Kippur (?)
Shortly after the eclipses the Vatican church in Rome was attacked and looted by an Islamic invasion from Africa.
4
860-861 AD
Passover & Yom Kippur (?)
Shortly after the eclipses the Byzantine Empire defeated Arab armies at the Battle of Lalakaon in Turkey and stopped the Islamic invasion of Eastern Europe.
5
1493-1497
Passover & Sukkot
Tragedy: 200,000 Jews expelled from Spain in 1492.
Triumph: America was discovered in the same year. Today America is the home for more than 5 million Jews (cf. Esther 4: 14à “…relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place…”).
6
1949-1950
Passover & Sukkot
Tragedy: Holocaust (1933-1945) – murder of 600,000 Jews and elimination of 5000 Jewish communities.3
Triumph: Israel’s war of independence - May 1948.
Israel became 59th member of UN – 11th May 1949.
7
1967-1968
Passover & Sukkot
Tragedy: Israel’s six day war – 5th June 1967.
Triumph: Jerusalem became a part of Israel.
(?) – There are references to these total lunar eclipses occurring on Sukkot.  




This video briefly outlines Pastor Hagee’s thoughts.





So there does seem to be an activity in the world during the tetrads that coincides with Jewish holy days. But we should also observe that the tetrads of 795-796, 842-843 and 860-861 have little or nothing to do with the Jews, although they coincide with the Jewish high holy days.

Significant ‘tragedy-to-triumph’ story for Israel have occurred in Israel during the previous three tetrads. These events around Israel are used by Pastor Hagee and Pastor Biltz to make significant claims.

        The Jewish Talmud, one of the central texts of the Jewish people, records the rabbinic teachings of 600 years, from 1 AD through to sixth and seventh centuries. The Jewish Talmud (Babylonian) states that it is bad omen for Israel when the moon is in eclipse. It also states that if the moon is as red as blood, there would be trouble in the world (Talmud - Mas. Sukkah 29a).4

Therefore there is a certain credibility built in the predictions that there could be trouble in the world with a possible localization to Israel during tetrads that coincides with Jewish high holy days.
        
        Must one be dogmatic in predicting a disaster upon the world or Israel during a tetrad? A report from NASA website states that there were other tetrads5 during the same periods as mentioned in table #2.

For instance, NASA website recorded a tetrad in 2003-2004: 16-May-2003, 9-Nov-2003, 4-May-2004, and 28-Oct-2004. None of these dates coincided with Jewish festivals.

Notably no major disasters were recorded around this period, except for a 6.6 magnitude earthquake on Oct. 23, 2004 in Niigata, Japan that killed 40, injured 3100, and affecting tens of thousands of people.6 This lone incident does not motivate us to claim that tetrads usher in disasters in the world, let alone Israel.

The Middle East is as similar to the other sensitive and potentially volatile parts of the world. The Middle East is a region with a definite possibility of escalation of unrest. The sectarian unrest in Islam – the Shia-Sunni tension, seems to escalate.

The sectarian unrests are escalating in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Iran and Syria are sensitive locations. So we cannot eliminate the possibility of anything in and around Israel anytime, let alone during the tetrads.

However, an assertion that something significant could happen in and around Israel when a tetrad coincides with Jewish festivals is not totally out of order. But an assertion that something significant will happen in the world during a tetrad seems totally and surely out of order.

Tetrads and Christ’s Second Coming & End Times

Pastor Hagee seems to make two contradictory statements. On the one hand, he asserts that no one would know when Christ would come. On the other hand, he confidently speculates the possibility of the oncoming tetrad ushering in the messianic age – the Lord’s second coming.
        
       In line with the second coming of Christ, the Bible articulates three thoughts:

        1. The Bible unequivocally speaks about the signs that would precede the Lord’s return (Matthew 24; Luke 21: 7 - 36). Lunar and solar eclipses are mentioned as signs - blood moons are presented as signs (Joel 2: 31; Matthew 24: 29; Acts 2: 20; Rev 6: 12).

So the tetrad coinciding with Jewish holy days in 2014-15 cannot be discounted as totally irrelevant, considering the previous three tetrads.

2. The Bible says that the Lord’s coming is near (Zephaniah 1: 14; James 5: 8). It has been 2000++ years since this was said. So as much as we eagerly await the Lord’s return, HIS return is nearer than before, for 2000++ years have elapsed since this statement was first made.

But knowing that one day is like a thousand years in the Lord’s sight (2 Peter 3: 8), any prediction about the season or the day of the Lord’s glorious return will always be in the realm of uncertainty. All we can say is that the Lord’s return is near.

3. No one knows the exact timing of the Lord’s return. Mark 13: 32 states, “But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”

It is quite interesting to observe Christ mentioning the shorter time period (hour), and the longer time period (day), while making this statement. The word “day” in this verse could mean a 24-hour time period or of time in general (cf. John 14: 20).

        Thus it would be wise not to speculate the hour or date or even the season in which Christ will return in all HIS glory.      

Conclusion:

1. Tetrads need not bring disaster upon the world.

2. Tetrads that have coincided with Jewish high holy days have not brought disaster or changed Israel’s political climate, every single time. Out of the seven occurrences (Table #2), the Jews were affected by four tetrads, and were unaffected by three tetrads.

3. The previous three tetrads that have coincided with Jewish high holy days did surely have an impact upon Israel.

4. The turbulent political climate in the Middle East at present does indicate a possibility of increasing unrest in the region in the near future. This may include Israel.

5. Although something could happen to Israel in 2014-2015, one need not be dogmatic to assert a sure possibility of such an event occurring. This is based on (2).   

6. With reference to the Lord’s glorious return, we can most surely assert that the Lord’s return is near, for the signs of HIS imminent return are in abundance. There is nothing wrong in eagerly expecting the Lord to return in 2014-15.

But in light of Mark 13:32 and the likes, it would definitely be unwise and futile to mention a timeframe for the Lord’s return.

7. Yes, we should be on the alert (Matthew 25: 13; Mark 13: 37), for the Lord’s return to judge the world is certain. But then our life in this world is uncertain, for our life is like a vapor – alive one day and dead the next (James 4: 14).

We could be dead even before we encounter the tetrad. But we would be safe, come what may, death or tetrad or anything, if we are with the Lord Jesus Christ – if we have accepted HIM as our God, and love HIM will all our life (cf. Romans 8: 38 - 39).

My prayer is that all who read this should be with the Lord Jesus forever and ever. Amen.


Endnotes:

Yom Kippur: Eight days after Rosh Hashanah, is the Day of Atonement, of Divine judgment, and of “affliction of souls” (Lev. 23:26-32), so that the individual may be cleansed of sins.

Passover (Pessah): Festival celebrating the Exodus from Egypt and liberation from bondage.

Sukkot: Described in Leviticus 23:34 as the “Feast of Tabernacles.” Begins 5 days after Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement & divine judgment (Lev 23: 26-32).

…the information on Israel high holy days is available at:
http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/IsraelExperience/AboutIsrael/Spotlight/Pages/Jewish%20Festivals%20in%20Israel.aspx

1 http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/lunar.html 

2 http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/?country=34

3 http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/history.html

4 Talmud - Mas. Sukkah 29a - http://juchre.org/talmud/sukkah/sukkah2.htm#29a

5 Other tetrads:
AD 162 – 163, 180 – 181, and 198 – 199
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEcat5/LE0101-0200.html
AD 766 - 767, 784 -   785, 795 -   796
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEcat5/LE0701-0800.html
AD 802 -   803, 813 – 814, 824 – 825, 842 – 843, 860 – 861, 878 – 879, 889 – 890
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEcat5/LE0801-0900.html
AD 1428 - 1429, 1457 - 1458, 1475 - 1476, 1493 - 1494
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEcat5/LE1401-1500.html
AD 1909 – 1910, 1927 - 1928, 1949 - 1950, 1967 - 1968, 1985 - 1986
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEcat5/LE1901-2000.html

6 http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0922878.html#ixzz2vI1F68O7


Useful Resources:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-25471361
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-25458755
http://redmoonrapture.com/portfolio/history
http://www.pray4zion.org/TheComingBloodMoons.html
http://blogs.christianpost.com/comets-of-god/four-blood-moons-19804/
http://www.voiceofrevolution.com/lineoffire/shows/line_of_fire_03_04_14.mp3