Pastor Mark has used this great analogy, tying road signs warning of danger ahead, with blood moons. Imagine that the tetrad of 2014-15 and the recent blood moon which occurred on November 19 were like road signs, warning of something ahead that we need to be aware of. In other words, something is coming down the road, that you can’t see yet, but it will impact you, so get ready now. Could the 2014-2015 tetrad have been a warning telling us to get ready for the next 7 year cycle? Is the latest eclipse re-confirming this warning? Next Rosh HaShanah, we will a enter a new seven year shemitah cycle. The word shemitah can mean release, but it can also mean shaking, fall or collapse. The tribulation will be a 7 year cycle. Are we seeing signs in the heavens to warn us?
The recent blood moon took place on the 15th of Kislev on the biblical calendar. Why does this matter? In the month of Kislev the rains of Noah’s flood continue to fall until the 24th day of the month. The flood waters were judgment on a violent generation who had turned their back on G-d. G-d caused the recent blood moon to occur in Kislev. It was the longest blood moon in the 21st century, and the longest in some 600 years. These things are not coincidence. At the end of the flood G-d hangs a rainbow in the sky – a sign – saying He will never again destroy the earth with a flood. Then Chanukkah begins, and light once again shines in the temple. We know nothing happens by coincidence. There is a pattern here. Are we seeing the pattern? Are we remembering that darkness comes before light?
Add to all this that Benjamin is the tribe represented in the month of Kislev. When Rachel was birthing Benjamin, she was dying and called his name BenOni – meaning son of my sorrow. But Jacob said, No, his name will be Benjamin – son of my right hand. And so it was. We know the Messiah has many names throughout the Scriptures. In Isaiah 9:6 for instance, we see several names: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Contained within Benjamin’s two names we see foreshadowing of Messiah’s 1st and 2nd coming. First He comes as the Son of sorrows, and at His 2nd coming, He is the Son at G-d’s right hand – the one who will rule and reign. It is amazing that this sign would be given in the very month of Benjamin’s birth, Kislev. Is G-d signaling that His 2nd coming is at hand? We serve an amazing G-!. He places warning signs in our very paths and hangs them in the skies where they cannot be manipulated.
And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, ‘YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.’ This expression, ‘Yet once more,’ denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:26–28
