The Great American Eclipse - It's a Timing Thing!

The internet and You Tube sites are overflowing with "tabloid-style" hype about the upcoming "Great American Eclipse" and the "Revelation 12" September 23 sign in the sky.  Unless you're living under a rock in the Amazon River, I suspect you've been hearing it all and wondering what it all means.  If you pay attention to the media, you will probably conclude that August 21st will be the end of the world, and if you've reached that conclusion, then you have gone into a state of fear and panic.

Take a deep breath! I've been writing this blog for over eight years now and most people who have continued reading it can testify to the fact that I do not participate in fear-mongering.  The Bible clearly tells us that we who are in Christ do NOT have a spirit of fear - but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). 

Way back at the beginning of the Bible in Genesis 1:14, we learn that God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, AND LET THEM SERVE AS SIGNS TO MARK SEASONS AND DAYS AND YEARS."  Our awesome God is using the moon, the sun, and the stars not only to mark time, but also for SIGNS.  "Signs of what?" you may ask.  And I would point out that Yeshua (Jesus) clearly answered this question when He said, "When these things begin to take place, LOOK UP AND LIFT UP YOUR HEADS - BECAUSE YOUR REDEMPTION IS DRAWING NEAR."

To see a sign in the sky, we must look UP!  Apparently several million people are now buying their special "eclipse glasses" so that on August 21 (9 days from now) they can all be looking UP at the sun as it is totally ecipsed by the moon, something that has NEVER happened just across this nation in its history.  So the one thing we can be certain of is that God is trying to say something to us.  Here is what Psalm 19 has to say about it:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world.

This wonderful psalm helps us to understand that the signs displayed by the sun, moon and stars (the heavens) are "speaking" to us - bringing us a message.  And I want to submit to you that God's eternal message to His people is the same message that He brought through His prophet, John the Baptist:  "REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM  OF HEAVEN IS NEAR!"
  
Matthew 3:1-3:  In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: 'A voice of one calling in the desert, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'"

So why would I say that a total eclipse spanning the United States of America in 2017 has anything to do with the message of John the Baptist over 2000 years ago?  IT'S A TIMING THING!  It has everything to do with the TIMING of this message in the heavens this August 21.  That just happens to be the 1st day of the Hebrew month ELUL.  And the 1st of Elul just happens to be exactly 40 days before the holiest day of the year in the LORD's calendar: Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).  So, it appears to me that our God, who is the Master Mathematician and Scientist, who created the earth and who set the great lights in the expanse of the galaxies, and who operates in perfect cycles and seasons every year since Creation, is still speaking in the same language and patterns He has always used.  He does not change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  And His message always has been and always will be consistent, because of His great love.  The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but EVERYONE TO COME TO REPENTANCE."  (2 Peter 3:9)

When Moses came down from the mountain, he found the people worshiping a golden calf, a man-made idol, and he was filled with the anger and grief of the Holy One of Israel. He smashed the tablets to the ground, and then ascended back up the mountain to pray for the Israelites, who had so easily forgotten their God, the One who had delivered them out of slavery in Egypt.  Moses was on the mountain for 40 DAYS - and Torah scholars have found that he ascended that mountain on the 1st of Elul - coming back down to the people with a second set of tablets, inscribed by the finger of Yeshua, ON THE DAY OF YOM KIPPUR. 

Another startling, consistent scenario occurs when the prophet Jonah comes out of the belly of the whale and, finally resolving to be obedient to God, he enters the wicked city of Nineveh, (which is modern-day Mosul, Iraq by the way) on the 1st of Elul, and according to Jonah 3:4-5: He proclaimed, "FORTY MORE DAYS AND NINEVEH WILL BE DESTROYED." The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth."

Forty days Jonah preached to the sinful city of Nineveh, and the people responded. By Yom Kippur then (the Day of Atonement), the people had repented of their sins, and they were saved from destruction.

Today we know that our atonement is in Yeshua our Messiah (Jesus Christ). We know that He has paid the ultimate price for sin on the Cross.  And yet - this nation has forsaken God on so many levels, that it is time for Him to put a sign in the heavens on the 1st of Elul, calling this nation to repent and return to Him over the next 40 days. This is His great-heartbeat; that every American witnessing this great sign in the heavens would surrender their lives, give up their selfish and sinful ways, and come into a powerful, loving relationship with Him - before it's too late. 

The month of Elul is known in Jewish thought as "the month of repentance" - because it is preparation for Yom Kippur.  Will we respond to this great sign with our genuine surrender to Yeshua? He is returning soon and His Kingdom is nearer than when we first thought. If you know of someone who truly doesn't know Him or understand these things, please forward this blog, or print it out and use it as a witness to others to open their eyes.  In tears I am praying that all who cover their eyes with eclipse glasses will not hide their eyes and ears from the message of the "speech that is pouring forth from the heavens!"
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