Speaking of the end of the age, Jesus said, And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars . . . (Luke 21:25). The Greek word translated "sign" in this passage is semeia, and it refers to a "miraculous sign."
Semeia, for example, is the word used for miracles that Jesus performed, such as the turning of water into wine and the multiplying of the loaves and fishes. It is the word used by Luke in describing the miraculous healing of the man who had been a cripple since birth (Acts 2:16). In its definition of the word, Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon, calls it "wonders and miracles" and "signs portending remarkable events about to happen.”
Does the April 8 Eclipse Meet this Criterion?
The solar eclipse that occurred at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus was a miraculous sign. According to both Luke 23:44 and Mark 15:33 this eclipse lasted for three hours--from 12 noon to 3 p.m. There is no natural explanation for this extended time of darkness. It was truly a miraculous sign.
By contrast, the solar eclipse that occurred on April 8 lasted only four minutes, just as predicted by the astronomers. If it had lasted for even 15 minutes the world would have been aghast and I would have been asking, “God, what is going on here?” Everything about the April 8 eclipse can be explained by the natural movements of the sun, moon, and earth. It was not a miraculous sign.
If this is the case, then why all the messages and warnings from Christians about this eclipse being a sign and warning from God? I am sure many people are very sincere in their speculations about the eclipse, but I am made to wonder if some of the more bizarre theories were formulated to get more followers and clicks on Facebook and Twitter. Could it also be that we need to guard against "superstition" in our modern Pentecostal and charismatic churches?
Solar Eclipses and Superstition
From the dawn of human history, people have looked in wonder, awe, and fear at solar eclipses, comets, meteor showers, and other celestial phenomena. The ancients considered such phenomena to be omens of good fortune or of impending disaster and death.
Kings and emperors would go to war or make peace depending on how they interpreted such phenomena. According to the historian, Herodotus, a battle between the Medes and Lydians was interrupted by a solar eclipse in 585 B.C. Both sides interpreted the darkness as a sign the gods were displeased, so they made peace.
The Roman historian, Dio Cassius, tells how a bright comet with a long tail streaked across the sky in a.d. 79. Such a phenomenon was considered a sign of the death of a king and Cassius considered it an omen portending the approaching death of the emperor, Vespasian.
When this was mentioned to the emperor, who was sick at the time, he brushed it off and said the omen was for the Parthian king with whom he was at war. Alluding to the comet's long tail, Vespasian insisted the omen could not be for him, for he was bald. Nonetheless, he died shortly thereafter.
This human fascination with the heavenly bodies, and superstition as to how their movements affect mankind, is the root of all modern horoscopes, zodiac signs, and astrological tables, which hold millions in bondage and fear
We Are Not to Live in Superstition and Fear
This sort of superstition and fear of heavenly phenomena was not to be a part of God’s people. God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah, Thus says the Lord, “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven for the Gentiles are dismayed at them” (Jeremiah 10:2). God wanted His ancient people to trust Him and not live in fear of heavenly signs as did the heathen.
The following prophecy by Isaiah was given in regard to the approaching fall and destruction of Babylon. The Babylonians were known for their study of astronomy, which they mixed with astrology and superstition. This prophecy shows that God was not impressed with their astrological activity. He spoke through Isaiah,
You are wearied with your many counsels; let now the astrologers, those who prophesy by the stars, those who predict by the new moons, stand up and save you from what will come upon you. Behold, they have become like stubble, fire burns them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame (Isaiah 47:13-14; NASB).
The only star we are to follow is the “Bright and Morning Star,” which is a designation for Jesus in Revelation 22:16.
The Star of Bethlehem
Yes, the magi (wise men), who were probably Babylonian astrologers, were led by a “star” to the new-born Messiah (Matthew 2:1-2; 9). Some have surmised that this was a comet. This cannot be for there is no natural explanation for the description of how this “star” behaved in guiding them to the newborn Messiah.
Matthew, for example, says, The star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child lay. A comet, as we know them, would not guide someone to a specific location and then remain stationary. This was a miraculous sign for these seekers of truth from the East, letting them know they had found the Messiah.
This was God’s supernatural GPS system leading these pagan truth-seekers to the precise location where Truth had been born. This was not an affirmation of their astrological practice, but simply a demonstration that God honors honest seekers of truth.
Keep Your Eyes on the Son
I believe that when the “signs” of Luke 21:25 begin to occur it will be obvious for all the world to see, for there will be no natural explanation for them. So, I advise against trying to predict the future based on a naturally occurring eclipse, comet, or meteor shower. We will get a much better sense of the future and God's will for our lives by prayerfully reading our Bibles, listening to the Holy Spirit, and letting Jesus be our example and guide. As my friend, Pastor Myles Holmes, says, "Keep your eyes on the Son, not the sun, moon and stars."
Dr. Eddie Hyatt is an author, revivalist, and Bible teacher with a passion to “Save America.” His book, 1726:The Year that Defined America, documents the influence of the Great Awakening on the founding of America and the ending of slavery on this continent, and is available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.
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