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This is the feature article for The Open Scroll - March/April
97 . Permission to reprint for non-profit distribution is granted. This article is rather long and is thus divided
into two sections for easier viewing and printing. This is html document 1 of 2.
One of the things the Lord commanded us to do is to watch. To be on guard, alert and watching, awake and not asleep.
Be on guard! Be alert ! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It's like a man going away: He leaves his
house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
35 "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back-whether in the
evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you
sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone:
'Watch!' Mark 13:33-37
For what do we watch? The signs of the master's coming. Where do we look for these signs? They will be evident
both in heaven and on earth. The signs in the earth are being reported by many faithful watchers and the signs
in the heavens by a few. It is the signs in the heavens which are my particular interest.
There will be great earthquakes, famines
and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. Luke 21:11
If you are interested in the biblical basis for the interpretation of heavenly signs, or how the true and genuine
revelation of the celestial heavens is counterfeited by astrology (which is condemned by God), you may want to
read one of the other publications listed at the close of this article.
In this article, there are several signs which will be presented, evidence from a source beyond the reach of man
who would tamper with it if he could. The moon, sun, stars and planets were each set in motion by the Creator a
long time ago and no man has altered their courses in any way. Though the signs as I will note them are diverse,
their message is essentially one. Based upon the astronomical and historical facts, the range of interpretation
of these signs is very limited. The correct interpretations must synchronize harmoniously with the message of the
holy scriptures. As each of the celestial witnesses come forward, one after the other, a case is made very dramatically
for this great trial of our time.
If you have been unaware of the heavenly signs of the times, I pray that this article will make an impact upon
your life. Listen to the heavenly alarm clock - consider well its sound. The Lord is judging the world for sin.
You and I are living in an urgent time, my friend. The celestial prophets are proclaiming the soon coming of the
Judge of all the earth! Baruch Habar b'Shem Adonai! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
The Sign of the Red Moon
A red moon is noted in a number of scriptures relevant to the last days prior to our Lord's coming. The Apostle
Peter quoted Joel 2:28-32 in his address to those present at the opening event of this present church age. In this
discourse, he suggested the events at the close of the age.
And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit
on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. 30 I will show wonders in
the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the
moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 32 And everyone who calls on the name
of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said,
among the survivors whom the LORD calls. Joel 2:28-32
The book of Revelation contains another significant mention of a sign of the red moon.
I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of
goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a
fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. Revelation 6:12-13
There are a number of reasons the Moon would appear red. Viewing the moon through a very dusty or smoky sky would
cause it to appear this way. Heavy volcanic activity, an asteroid impact, a nuclear explosion or some combination
of these would cause such a phenomenon. In the scriptures noted above, the moon turning red is mentioned in conjunction
with the sun turning black, suggesting to me that the event which will cause this unusual discoloration of the
celestial bodies will be caused by an atmospheric condition.
The moon also turns red during a lunar eclipse. Although a lunar eclipse wouldn't cause the sun and stars to be
darkened, it is a rare enough celestial event to be noteworthy, especially as there have been so many of late corresponding
to the Holy Day calendar.
Lunar eclipse on Holy Day Schedule
· Pesach - April 15, 1995
· Sukkot - October 8, 1995
· Pesach - April 3, 1996
· Sukkot - September 27, 1997
· Purim - March 23, 1997 - As I watched this one from a favorite local viewing spot, the beautiful darkened
and slightly orange-colored Moon in eclipse (all but the top, making it look like it was wearing a yalmarke) was
in close proximity to the reddish planet Mars. On the other side of the sky, the comet Hale-Bopp was visible in
a glorious display near its closest approach to the Earth.
Another lunar eclipse will occur September 16, 1997, about two weeks before Rosh HaShanah, or, in the middle of
the time of preparation for the approaching High Holy day season that focuses upon personal reflection and repentance
(teshuvah).
The Meaning of an Eclipse
According to Jewish Rabbinic tradition, an eclipse should be interpreted according to the following: (Talmud -
Mas. Sukkah 29a) (The last pair are reversed in the minds of some.)
·
Solar: a bad omen for idolaters
· Lunar: a bad omen for Israel
· Red Moon at Lunar eclipse: a sword is coming for the whole world
· Black Moon at Lunar eclipse: the arrows of famine are coming to the world
· Both red and black moon: both sword and famine
· In the East: specifically for those who live in the East
· In the West: specifically for those who live in the West
· In the midst of heaven: for the whole world
· At sunset: the calamity will tarry in its coming
· At dawn: the calamity is forthcoming
I neither agree nor disagree with the above interpretations, but I wanted you to see that these are assigned such
meaning in the tradition of the religious leaders of Israel.
The Meaning of Comets
As with an eclipse, a comet is generally thought to be a bad omen. Is this concept valid or is it merely a superstitious
tradition? You can draw your own conclusion.
Much of what was prophesied by our Lord in Matthew 24 found a fulfillment in the first century. The temple was
dismantled to the extent that there was not one stone left upon another. Jerusalem was destroyed. Prior to those
events, numerous warnings had been given, among them many miracles involving the temple. In conjunction with the
miraculous, the comet we call Haley's made its appearance in 66 AD. Being a regular visitor every 76 years, this
would not have been particularly noteworthy but for the spectacular display that year which, as the historian Josephus
duly recorded, "stretched out over Jerusalem like a sword." The comet's appearance at that time may have
been a similar event as that which is described in I Chronicles 21:
David looked up and saw the angel of the
LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand extended over Jerusalem. Then David and
the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown. I Chronicles 21:16
The angel had been in the process of slaughtering the Israelites because of David's sin of taking a census of the
people. Seventy thousand of them died. Blood is the required payment for sin. The Lord is merciful, but there is
justice for those who reject the mercy he offers.
Then the LORD spoke to the angel, and he
put his sword back into its sheath. I Chronicles 21:27
Wrath will be poured out upon the inhabitants of the earth. Right now, in the spring of 1997, one year after the
dramatic Hyakutake, the comet Hale-Bopp stretches out over the land like a drawn sword. The hand of the angel is
stayed, the judgments are withheld for yet a short season. Due warning has been given.
The Solar Eclipse Comet Sign
According to the article by Gary Stearman in the April 1997 Issue of Prophecy in the News, there have been solar
eclipses during the visitation of a comet visible to the naked eye only four times in recorded history. Because
a solar eclipse is the eclipsing of the Sun by the Moon, it usually occurs on the last day of a month on the Hebrew
calendar - the very middle of the moon's dark phase. The first day of the month begins at sunset when the crescent
of the Moon first appears after concluding its dark phase. Please observe carefully the years in which these solar
eclipse comets occur.
The most recent just occurred on March 9, 1997. Visible in Mongolia, western Russia and parts of Alaska, the comet
Hale-Bopp was observed during the daytime!
In 1948, the year Israel was reborn as a nation, another occurred. Known as The Eclipse Comet, C/1948 VI (1948
XI), it appeared during the solar eclipse of November 1. As reported in the Sky & Telescope magazine (January
1997), the following report was given about those who had viewed it from the plains of east Africa. "...A
handful of astronomers huddled quietly around their cameras and instruments waiting for totality. When the last
spark of sunlight was extinguished, an unexpected celestial spectacle was revealed. Mingling with the diaphanous
coronal streamers was a comet with a long, curving tail and a head more resplendent than Jupiter. Humankind had
its first glimpse of the great Eclipse Comet."
One year earlier, the comet known as The Southern Comet, 1947/XII was visible during the total solar eclipse of
May 20, 1947.
The fourth and final solar eclipse comet was called Comet Wells, 1882/I. It occurred on May 17th and was viewed
from Egypt. That year, 1882, is significantly the year in which a very important aliyah in the modern era occurred.
Jews left Dharkov, Russia to settle Palestine - the land of their forefathers. The great dispersion of the Jewish
people amongst the nations of the world found a significant reversal.
If there is a trend which can be noted in regards to the celestial sign we call a solar eclipse comet, it may perhaps
be found in the following verse.
Assemble before me all the elders of your
tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to testify
against them. Deuteronomy 31:28
The assembling together into the land is particularly marked in the years 1882, 1947 (UN granted Israeli Jews self-determination)
and 1948. Although there were other years which have been significant, these were certainly very important years
involving the return of the people to the land. Heaven is bearing testimony to God's providence in these matters,
is it not?
As to the solar comet eclipse of March 9, 1997, perhaps it signifies the Lord's marking of the closure of the period
of assembling, for His intent and purposes. Based upon the events in Israel of late, I must say that the testimony
being brought against them is very evident.
The Shoemaker-Levy Comet Sign
A few years ago, the comet called Shoemaker-Levi broke into probably 21 pieces and crashed into the planet Jupiter.
Prior to this event, astronomers speculated wildly about what effect this would have upon Jupiter and indirectly,
upon the earth. The bombardment occurred over a five day period, beginning on the 9th of Av on the Hebrew Calendar.
(July 16-21, 1994)
This is a day of great infamy in Israel. The Mishna, an ancient Jewish commentary declares that when the spies
gave the report after returning from the promised land, the Israelites turned against Moses, Joshua and Caleb on
that day. (See Numbers 14) It was on this day that both the first and second temples (Solomon's - ~587 BC and Herod's
- 70 AD) were destroyed. At least five other disastrous events have been noted as occurring on this very day, which
have been very hurtful specifically for the Jews.
At the time of this remarkable event, Jupiter was in the sign Libra , popularly represented as "The Scales,"
or, perhaps more likely, "The Light." The adjacent constellation, Scorpio, "The Scorpion" was
also involved. The area of the sky where Jupiter was located during the bombardment is pictured as where "the
scorpion" is attempting to seize "the light." The scorpion is probably symbolic of Lucifer, whose
name means "light bearer" or his agent, the anti-messiah.
Jupiter is the King planet, symbolic of the King of Kings - the Jewish Y'shua HaMoshiach and possibly also symbolic
of the 12 tribes of Israel. The exact number of pieces of the comet which slammed into Jupiter is uncertain. Either
21 or 22, I'm not sure anyone knows the exact number. Twenty-one has been noted (Don Kistler) as being the number
which means "the exceeding sinfulness of sin." Twenty-two is the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet,
and also signifies Light/Making Manifest. For either number, the meanings are extremely relevant when considered
along with the symbolism of the celestial bodies involved in the incident, the area of the sky in which it occurred
and the history of the date of occurrence.
The comet's assault upon Jupiter in Libra beginning on the 9th of Av tells an intriguing story! Indeed, as noted
in Deuteronomy 31, heaven is bearing testimony against those responsible for misleading their own people and keeping
them from acknowledging their true Messiah.
The Orion Comet Sign
The Talmud records the oral tradition of the Jews (Berachoth 58b) which tells us that when a comet passes through
the constellation Orion, the world would be destroyed. The Comet Hale-Bopp would appear to be this sign. It is
expected to enter the region of the sky known as Orion on May 20, 1997 and exit on June 16, 1997. Should this be
cause for concern? Consider what we know about this mysterious comet from the historical record...
The Noahic Flood Comet Sign
According to recent orbital calculations by astronomers, this same comet we now call Hale-Bopp passed through the
inner solar system once before - about 4210 years ago. By my estimations, the Flood began 1656 years from Adam,
in the Fall of the year we probably know as 2238 BC. That was 4234 years ago. If the comet appeared somewhere around
4210 years, this brings us back to around the time of the great flood. According to what is recorded in the Seder
Olam Rabah, an ancient Jewish text, we may observe that a comet appeared at about the time Noah began building
the ark. It was probably the comet we know now as Hale-Bopp! Do you think that this comet may have been a sign
of the impending destruction of the world by water? I do!
According to our Lord's words in Matthew
24:37:
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
By the sign of the rainbow, God's promise not to destroy the earth again by water still stands. However, the Earth
will be destroyed by fire. What was evidently a portent of the first destruction could well be the same for the
next. Consider the following prophetic declaration.
"They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on
as it has since the beginning of creation."
5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's
word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of
that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being
kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. II Peter 3:4-7
The announcements made by such celestial messengers as comets are the judgments of the Highest Court and they will
be executed upon the earth and its peoples. Once again, I ask if the prophetic Jewish tradition about a comet's
passing through Orion should be cause for concern? Let's just consider it one witness' testimony. I fully expect
that further witnesses testifying to the forthcoming destruction will be brought forth with a concerted testimony
- with ever increasing drama!
As a matter of interest, on December 24, 1997 while Chanukah begins, Earth will begin to pass through the portion
of its orbit that has remnants of Comet Hale-Bopp's tail. Chanukah is called the festival of lights. Although it
probably won't, (because of the action of the solar wind) should particles from the comet's tail interact with
our atmosphere, there will be a festival of lights indeed!
Hale-Bopp/Hyakutake - X marks the spot!
If you think what you've been learning so far about this comet Hale-Bopp has been interesting, let me suggest to
you that "you ain't seen nothin' yet"! A comparison of the paths of the comets reveals some extremely
provocative information. When the paths of Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp are traced and charted, they can be seen to
intersect, as my friend Bob Wadsworth discovered just this last month. The place where their paths intersect has
a very significant meaning AND the interval of time between when each comet was at that intersection point is exactly
one solar year - to the day!
So, they were in the same meaningful place exactly one year apart - near the variable beta star Algol in the constellation
Perseus: Hyakutake on April 11, 1996 and Hale-Bopp on April 11, 1997. Of course, this might be just a coincidence,
but it seems far more likely that the Lord is directing our attention with this sign to focus upon both the date
and the designated location. I think its reasonable to infer that the meaning of that area of the sky and the meaning
of the indicated date are related and that these are in harmony with the general signification of a comet. The
doubling of the comets suggests to me that it is established and that it will happen without a long delay. (See
endnote #1)
If you superimpose the charted paths of the two comets, you see that an X is formed, the paths being nearly perpendicular.
The picture looks rather like the cross-hairs of a rifle scope, focused right between the eyes of what is pictured
in the sky charts as the severed head of the Gorgon, Medusa. Although the Greeks called that head being held by
Perseus, Medusa, the Hebrew name for it is Rosh Satan, "the head of the adversary" - Satan's head!
The paths of the comets intersect very near the beta star in Perseus, Algol, which means, "rolling round."
Another name for it is Al Ghoul, the evil spirit. The Starlore Handbook says that, according to tradition, Algol
is the most malevolent star of the heavens. This star is a variable star, cycling every 69 hours between a brightness
of the fourth magnitude and the second. According to Bullinger: "It is a most remarkable phenomenon that so
many of these enemies should be characterised by variable stars!"
The perpendicular intersection of the two comet's paths near Algol also appears like a cross; a cross, right between
the eyes or in the forehead of the head of Satan! That's rather ironic symbolism, isn't it? This leads us to view
this area of the sky as representing the lawless one, the anti-messiah beast. The appearance of the cross on the
forehead reminds me of the mark of the beast in the forehead if the followers of the beast. (See endnote #2)
The beast whose followers will have his mark in their foreheads will surely be as Satan's head in the earth. The
appearance of the cross speaks also of some association with the "Christian Church,' which is in keeping with
the foreshadowing of the unveiling of the lawless one shown by Judas Iscariot's coming out from among the 12 disciples
to betray the Messiah.
It would appear that this phenomenon of the crossing of the comet's paths is a sign given to indicate the coming
of the lawless one. The coming of this wicked one will itself be a sign to the church that it is about to be gathered
to the Lord. (See endnote #3) Because of this hope we have, a sign of the soon coming of the lawless one is a welcome
sign, but a sobering one. Here is what the coming of the evil one will be like.
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit
miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every
sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be
saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all
will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. II Thessalonians 2:9-12
Consider how that the people who have been involved with the Heaven's Gate group have fallen prey to this deception.
Lest you think that the people who will be deceived are a particularly gullible few, consider the testimony our
Lord related to us in Matthew 24:24.
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect-if
that were possible.
The implication here is that all but the elect will be deceived. That includes a majority of the people on the
planet! How do we avoid being deceived? Because any counterfeit is recognized only by having a familiarity with
the details of a genuine, to know the true Messiah intimately is our best preparation. To be familiar with what
the Bible says about the lawless one and the signs to be given is most helpful. I have written at some length (See
endnote #4) about the sign which is specifically given to signal the church when it is about to be harvested from
the earth, a sign which involves the lawless one. When he is revealed in a powerful anointing and display of power
and authority, this is the sign by which we will know the nearness of our departure to be with the Lord.
Let me show you how the date the two comet's paths intersected relates to this sign. One of the most important
things I learned about the revealing of the lawless one is that a particular date on the Hebrew calendar is highlighted
by the foreshadowing biblical types of the event. The Hebrew calendar date Nisan 13 is strongly suggested for the
event to occur. Because the Hebrew calendar is a lunar-based calendar, Nisan 13 corresponds to a different date
each year on our common solar-based "Gregorian" calendar. In 1996 and 97, the comet's paths crossed on
the same Gregorian date, April 11, but the corresponding Hebrew dates were Nisan 22 (in 1996) and Nisan 4 (in 1997).
I was curious about how closely associated April 11 and Nisan 13 might be, so I cross-checked the calendar years
for a thirty year period (from 1981-2010). April 11 coincides with Nisan 13 in only one year, 2006. As a plot of
all the dates would show, April 11 falls in a very random distribution across the whole month of Nisan. This approach
didn't produce the fruit I thought it might. However, when I ignored the Gregorian date and simply considered the
two Hebrew dates designated by the comets, (Nisan 22 and Nisan 4) I discovered that the mean date was indeed Nisan
13! (22-4=18. 18/2=9. 4+9=13. 13+9=22.)
It is a fact that the mean Hebrew calendar date of the crossed paths of the comets is the very date given in the
Bible when three (and four) distinct foreshadowing types are presented for the revealing of the lawless one. It
is a fact that the comets crossed paths in the area of the sky known in Hebrew as "Rosh Satan"- the head
of Satan; the nearest named star being traditionally known as the most malevolent star in the heavens. If there
really are signs in the heavens and the lights in the celestial heavens are given for signs and appointed times,
isn't it time we paid attention to their message?
The Prophet's Declaration
Prophetic messages have been given by some connecting the comet Hale-Bopp with the lawless one. John Leary recently
brought forth a message in this regard; on Thursday, March 27, 1997:
Jesus said: "My son, this comet that
you have seen tonight with your own eyes, is the sign of the Anti-Christ's coming. I have told you before to look
to the skies for the signs of things to come. I have also told you that I, and not the Anti-Christ, would produce
this sign of his coming. As you see the darkness come after, you will know his reign will be brief, but darkness
will have its day much like the men I allowed to crucify Me for your sake." (Thanks to Dr. William Zambrano for bringing this to my attention).
Although there are many who claim to be prophets and their testimonies are diverse, we have a directive (1 Thessalonians
5:20-21) not to treat prophecies with contempt and to test everything, holding on to the good. John Leary is a
Catholic. Many would automatically reject any message he brought forth on that basis alone. It's not my intent
to provide a blanket endorsement of all his prophecies and neither do I condone Catholicism, but we're going to
find that this very relevant prophecy passes the test!
John stated that Jesus said: "My son, this comet that you have seen tonight with your own eyes, is the sign
of the Anti-Christ's coming. That would seem to be confirmed by what we have noted thus far, would it not? The
date the prophecy was brought forth seems to be important because of the words Jesus was purported to have said
about the comet "that you have seen tonight with your own eyes." What was so special about Thursday March
27? It was "holy Thursday," the day before the day Catholic tradition asserts was the crucifixion day,
or, "Good Friday." According to the scriptural record, Jesus was crucified on the 14th of Nisan. March
27th relates to Nisan 13, then, in a manner appropriate to the prophet's own frame of reference - it is the day
before the crucifixion.
In my opinion, the prophecy passes the test. As a test of authenticity of any forewarning about the revelation
of the lawless one, the Nisan 13 connection continues to work, time and time again. Watch future anniversaries
of Nisan 13, friends. It looms darkly on the horizon.
Being now better informed of the facts, the traditional signification of a comet as that of a bad omen seems adequately
supported by the Hyakutake/Hale-Bopp concurrence, doesn't it?
Endnotes:
#1) Genesis 41:32: The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided
by God, and God will do it soon.
#2) Revelation 13:16: He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark
on his right hand or on his forehead,
#3) II Thessalonians 2:1-3: Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask
you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have
come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for
that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
#4) See The Open Scroll, Special Edition - March/April 1996
This is the end of the first of two documents comprising the article: Watch! - The Celestial Signs.
Bob Schlenker
The
Open Scroll
PO Box 620571
Orangevale, CA 95662
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