"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hand," Psalm 19:1. Genesis 1:14 adds, "Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years."

Today is Friday, March 20, 2015--the first day of spring.  I love the beauty and warmth of spring! This day is also significant in that it leads into the first day of the annual Biblical religious calendar this evening, according to the Word of God--called Nisan 1. But, what sets this day apart even more is that today is exactly halfway through the Shemitah Year, possibly on our way to a Jubilee Year that runs from September 2015 to September 2016. Also, today there will be a partial solar eclipse, casting a shadow over Europe. According to Jewish tradition, a solar eclipse on Nisan 1 can be a sign of judgment, and this has certainly been true in the past. For example, there was a solar eclipse on Nisan 1 in 70 AD. Later that year, the Romans attacked Jerusalem and completely destroyed the Temple. 

Two weeks from now on April 4th, the third of four 'blood moon' lunar eclipses will take place that fall on the Biblical Festivals two years in a row--a rare event indeed. A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in the shadow of Earth, and appears red due to light refracting differently and hitting its surface. There will also be a partial solar eclipse on Passover - September 13, 2015, followed by the last of the four blood moons, known as a "tetrad", two weeks later on the Feast of Tabernacles - September 28, 2015. The previous two occurred last year on Passover - April 15 and the Feast of Tabernacles - October 8, 2014. The 'blood moon prophecy' two years in a row is a sign that momentous prophetic events are on the horizon, and there's history to prove it.

There was a "tetrad" of blood red moons that fell during Passover 1967, the Feast of Tabernacles 1967, followed the next year by Passover 1968 and the Feast of Tabernacles 1968. And, of course the 1967 war during which Israel took full control of Jerusalem took place during that time period. There was also a "tetrad" of blood red moons that fell during Passover 1949, the Feast of Tabernacles 1949, with the following year again at Passover 1950 and the Feast of Tabernacles 1950. If you know your history, you are already aware that the Israeli War of Independence ended on July 20th, 1949, a year after Israel declared itself a nation again after 2,000 years. So, prophetically speaking the blood red moon tetrads of 2014 followed by 2015 could signal that we are entering a period that will lead to the finality of the Great Tribulation and the return of the King of kings.

Although not planned, the content of Lesson #3 fits precisely the events of today's solar eclipse and the start of the religious calendar--Nisan 1, because we are launching into the Biblical calendar that begins today, focusing on God's annual Festivals and how they forecast future and final events. You see, God's plan is to give signs in the skies as warnings, pointing us to be watching. Jesus said, "What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'" Mark 13:37. Why? In the years ahead prophetic events foretold in the books of Daniel and Revelation could occur on God's Festival days as noted on The Kingdom Calendar. If and when this happens... lift up your head, our redemption is drawing near! 

Keep Looking Up!