This is an article that was written for the April issue of "Focus On Christ" the official newsletter of Christ Lutheran Church.  For more information go to to our You Tube channel Blackberry Pulpit  and our website christlutheranstovermo.com 
Of particular interest, I bring up the subject of biblical interpretation.  Here we get to see how none other than St. Peter himself, interprets the Old Testament passage from Joel, and applies it to his day.

Blood and fire

By Rev. Tom Tuura

Pastor of Christ Lutheran Church

The Easter season has begun. What a huge event. Where do we go from here? Well something else happened, or has begun, namely the Tetrad. What is a tetrad? It is the series of four total lunar eclipses occurring through September, 2015. The dates are April 15, (just two weeks ago), October 8, 2014 Then next year, April 4, and September 28, 2015.

The tetrad is particularly spectacular because the moon turns red. These are all visible in all, or part, of the USA according to NASA.

Scientists and secularists are emphatic that these are merely celestial events. Some continue to state even disappointment in “superstitious” attribution of any significance to their occurrences. They maintain that primitive people attached significance to comets and earthquakes. Being that we now have news reporting of disasters in remote parts of the earth, it appears, they allege, that these phenomena are increasing.

However, from their own reports they write, that in the 21^st century there are 9 separate tetrads, (lunar eclipses) alone. CNN in an April 11 '14 story puts it this way, “In the 21st century, there will be many tetrads, but look back a few centuries, and you'll find the opposite phenomenon”. That story is taken directly from the NASA report on the same subject, which I also read.

What? Did you catch that? Is that understated? In our present century there will be none other than NINE--that's right, nine. Whereas in the previous 300 years, exactly ZERO.

Again, CNN, “That would mean that neither Sir Isaac Newton, Mozart, Queen Anne, George Washington, Napoleon, Abraham Lincoln nor their contemporaries ever had a chance to see one. I love quoting from CNN on this. Could it be an all out campaign to downplay these phenomenon?

There is another matter that needs mentioning. Does the Bible prophecy anything about this? What does the Bible say? Well yes. I'll let you ponder whether this for yourselves. Read carefully, and maybe grab your Bible. (Another interesting lesson on interpretation, perhaps.)

Prior to the Lord's ascension into heaven He instructed the disciples to “tarry ye in Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke24:49). Then in Acts 2:1, it happened; “When the day of Pentecost had fully come...”. Peter, explains to the locals, and us reading 2000 years later, what's going on, namely the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as given by the Lord Himself, and predicted in John 14-17.

Here are verses 17-21: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;” then a few sentences later, continues, “I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in he 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.” (Acts 2)

Here is what is interesting. We get a glimpse of Peter's interpretation of Scripture. He is quoting from Joel 2:28-32, and interpreting that prophecy. He is going much further, stating that Pentecost is the fulfillment. However while the first part was fulfilled literally, the second part about the “blood moons” wasn't.

What is a blood moon? It is a total lunar eclipse. We are having four.

One more insignificant detail according to David Emory in urbanlegends.about.com, April 10, '14 “Some Christians attribute a prophetic significance to the Blood Moon of April 15, because it will be the first of a lunar tetrad — four total lunar eclipses in a row — occurring in 2014 and 2015, and because each of those eclipses will fall on an important Jewish holiday, Passover or Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles).

Again, What? They fall on an important Jewish holiday? Yes that's right. They all fall on Jewish holidays. Significance? Only our Heavenly Father knows. But I believe we have an obligation to take notice.

And there is one last thing to mention. The prophecy in Joel and as Peter quotes it in Acts is directly connected to Christ's return. So in addition to the specific occurrences of these eclipses on Jewish holidays, they are connected to the “great and awesome day of the Lord”.

The statement continues, “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...”Acts 2:19,20. So we have to ask the question, are we seeing any of these other signs? Blood...fire...vapor of smoke...sun turned to darkness...moon to blood. I believe we are. Could the blood be terrorism, martyrdom, shooting sprees? Fire—unfortunately yes. Vapor and smoke—sure, have you heard of pollution, soot, etc. Are all these unique, or have they existed through time? Certainly. But are they getting worse? Well that is debatable. But while we are not to know the day or hour, we are to pay attention, and that is my purpose here. You and I at a minimum need to get this on our radar.

Jesus' admonition to His followers was “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is...And what I say to you, I say to all; Watch!”

Mark 13:32-37

That’s my view from the Blackberry Patch Pulpit

Pastor Tom

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