(An image of the second eclipse in the current tetrad event. Photo: Adalberto Roque, AFP)

On this weekend, holy to Christians and Jews in the spirit of life and resurrection, there are those who can still find ominous portents. We have talked about it before- the occurrence of the Blood Moon Eclipse. This is the third of four linked eclipses that produce a unique reddish hue as the lunar disk is obscured. Predictably, some have associated recent events with those in the heavens.

I recall this series of four events is known as a tetrad- I think I wrote some drivel about it at the first instance last Spring. The one this morning is the third in this series.

A quick refresher this morning- as the event was in progress- revealed that “The Blood Moon Prophecy” is a theory studied and taught by some Christian ministers, such as John Hagee and Mark Biltz, which states that the series of four consecutive lunar eclipses—coinciding on Jewish Holidays—with six full moons in between, and no intervening partial lunar eclipses. Whew.

This series began with the April 2014 lunar eclipse, and according to Rev. Hagbee, is a sign of the impending End Times. That is described in more detail in the the Bible’s Acts 2:20:

“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come” (King James Version)

and Revelation 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;”

(Pastor and noted astrophysicist John Hagee, 2007)

On April 15, 2014, there was a total lunar eclipse. The next occurred on October 2nd, and the third this morning. The fourth of them will 28 September, and according to Rev. Hagbee that will be the money eclipse, since we are still here after breakfast, and 2014 seemed to have ended with a upsurge in mayhem but no catastrophe. There are eight more tetrads coming in this century, a function of completely predictable orbital mechanics.

I think the Pastor summed it up best in this homily, which I got courtesy of my pal Santa down in Pensacola, where they are having some times that are not ending:

“Brothers and Sisters: It is said that three blondes died and found themselves standing before St. Peter. He told them that before they could enter the Kingdom, they had to tell him what Easter was.

The first blonde said, “Easter is a holiday where they have a big feast and we give thanks and eat turkey.”

St. Peter said, “Nooooooo,” and he banished her to hell.

The second blonde said, “Easter is when we celebrate Jesus’ birth and exchange gifts.” Off to hell.

The third blonde said she knew what Easter was, and St. Peter said, “So, tell me.”

She said, “Easter is a Christian holiday that coincides with the Jewish festival of Passover. Jesus was having Passover feast with His disciples when He was betrayed by Judas, and the Romans arrested him. The Romans hung Him on the cross and eventually He died. Then they buried Him in a tomb behind a very large boulder?”

St. Peter said, “Verrrrry Good.”

The blonde continued, “Now every year the Jews roll away the boulder and Jesus comes out. If he sees his shadow, we have six more weeks of basketball.”

Go Spartans! Go Badgers!

Copyright 2015 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com
Twitter: @jayare303