After the publication of Hal Lindsey’s -Late Great Planet Earth’ in 1970, a renewed interest in all things about the second coming of Christ was inaugurated.
The only unfortunate aspect of the renewed interest in prophecy was that it produced what came to be known as -prophecy buffs.’ Prophecy is not something we can approach like a hobby, it is one of the most serious aspects of scriptures and covers about one third of the entire bible. God wants his people to be well prepared not just happy to share their latest opinion or speculation.
In the early days, when it became the most talked about subject among the Christians one of the most oft repeated statements heard had to do with the splitting of the Mount of Olives as Christ descends back to earth.
The scripture clearly says that the Mount of Olives will be split and part will move northward and the other part will push off to the south.
-And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.- (Zec 14: 4)
Christians would often remark that a rift or a seismological fault line had been discovered running across the Mount of Olives from east to west. It is true, that scientist discovered one of the largest tectonic plate fault lines on earth running from the Jordan Valley all the way to Africa’s Zambezi River, a distance of over 4,000 miles.
Does God need or require help from geography, science or natural occurrences to fulfill his plans?
To mention the great -Valley Rift’ was to lend credence to the prophecies of Zechariah. Who would doubt the prophecy about a splitting mountain if science had discovered a fault line? Now, God had help from nature and science – how could he fail?
This nonsensical deduction was repeated often to the chagrin of those who had far less trouble discerning the fullest meaning of the word omnipotent. God does not need help from nature. Nature depends on God.
The God who created this world in seven days (contrary to Darwin’s disciples) would hardly need a fault line to crack a mountain. In fact, at the second coming of Christ, topographical changes will be made across the face of the earth. Prior to the millennial reign of Christ, (1,000 years) the earth will be changed to produce food for billions more than it supports today.
-And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.- (Rev 16: 20)
The all-important difference between astronomy and astrology applies to the Blood Red Moons
Interest in the upcoming blood red moons in 2014 – 2015 (tetrads) is reaching a crescendo among prophecy teachers and devotees. Pastor John Hagee has written his book entitled -Four Blood Moons,- and has been interviewed by Fox News and other media sites which are now beginning to tune in to the second coming doctrines of the bible. So what is the problem?
Actually, there may be no problem at all if the prophecies turn out to line up with the second coming prophecies. If they do not; what we have is a repeat of the Harold Camping debacle and far worse, we will have more cause for scoffers to dismiss the warnings of scripture to a lost and dying world that Jesus Christ is about to return in power to judge the quick and the dead.
Here, is where we must resort to the power of definitions. The definitions of astronomy and of astrology are both very simple, but they are worlds apart. The American Astronomical Society has one of the best explanations that can be found.
-Astronomy is a science that studies everything outside of the earth’s atmosphere, such as planets, stars, asteroids, galaxies; and the properties and relationships of those celestial bodies. Astronomers base their studies on research and observation. Astrology on the other hand, is the belief that the positioning of the stars and planets affect the way events occur on earth.-
The most familiar example to use is the belief that in 2012 the Age of Aquarius began as the vernal equinox point moves out of constellation Pisces and into Aquarius. Then a new age of peace and harmony is said to follow. It is purely astrological in nature and mostly pure baloney in fact.
Astronomy is an exact science, whereas astrology is the business of making predictions and prognostications based on the alignment and movements of the planets and stars. It is largely just nonsense, arguments to the contrary notwithstanding, but one thing is certain for all Christians, using or practicing astrology is strictly forbidden in the bible from one cover to the next.
Solar and lunar eclipses and any other movement of celestial bodies is open to the scientific examination of astronomers, but when predictions about the future of entire civilizations or individuals is derived from these movements, we have passed into the realm of astrological prognostication.
Taking note of the upcoming blood moons makes for interesting conversation, but when it is used to predict, we may want to re-visit the following scriptural passage.
-You are wearied with your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you. Behold, they are like stubble; the fire consumes them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. No coal for warming oneself is this, no fire to sit before- (Isa 47: 13-14)
Those who are seeking understanding and are drawn to these natural signs are not doing anything wrong, but to the degree that they are used to guide, defer or completely engage believers to make choices based on them, it stands out as a means to fall into error.
Anything considered extra-biblical must be handled carefully and the general rule is that if it is supplemental it is good, but extra-biblical materials must never be substitutional or in direct conflict with scriptures.
In the scriptures, much more has to happen prior to the blood moon and much more happens following that event as well, to wit:
-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; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?- (Rev 6: 12-17)
Taking a wait and see attitude with the prophecies of Rabbi Kaduri
Famed and highly venerated, the late Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri predicted that after the death of former prime minister Ariel Sharon that the Messiah would be revealed. Sharon died Saturday January 11, 2014.
A book and a movie are available entitled -The Rabbi Who Found Messiah.- Here also we must issue a cautionary note as Kaduri’s prophecies now begin to unfold – or not.
Three very important factors must not be ignored when considering Kaduri’s prophetic disclosures.
1. The Jewish people including Rabbi Kaduri have been in unbelief until this day. They do not believe their Messiah has come and certainly they do not think Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of their messianic biblical prophecies. Because Kaduri said that the messiah he saw may not know at first that he is messiah is cause for some to think he may have seen the false prophet or the antichrist. If Jesus Christ doesn’t know he is the Messiah by now we are all simply sunk.
2. With or without the Kaduri prophecies so many last days’ prophecies have been fulfilled that the shear preponderance of those biblical signs means that Christ could appear at any moment. The bible doesn’t need a Kaduri prophecy and the fact that we are on the cusp of all last days events is recognized by every major prophecy teacher of the day.
3. Kaduri has given the impression that the messiah he saw would be a man of the day, born of a women and residing among the living of this day. Christ will not be born of women again and when he comes he will be seen by every human being in the entire world. There will be no mistake about just who he is or what he is up to, to wit.
-Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.- (Rev 1: 7)
These warnings are not meant to dismiss, deny or dis-credit the aforementioned prophecies or signs; they are a call to caution. Christ was himself the first to issue such warnings.
-Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.- (Mt 24: 23-27)
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