Hebrew Roots

Blood Moon Fulfilled: Four Blood Moons Debunked

April 25, 2014 By ELLIOTT NESCH

The Four Blood Moon Prophecy is a prophetic theory popularized in Four Blood Moons by John Hagee and originated with Mark Biltz, It states that a series of four consecutive total lunar eclipses, with six full moons in between, and no intervening partial lunar eclipses is a sign of significant things to come. Hagee points out that the eclipses in the tetrad coincide with the Jewish Feasts of Passover and Sukkot. Hagee and Biltz argue that the “rarity” of a tetrad is strong evidence a major change is about to happen for the nation of Israel and/or the Second Coming of Christ.

Since the first century AD, there have been 62 tetrads, eight of which have coincided with the feasts of Passover and Sukkot. Since the Jewish Calendar is lunar, their months begin with the first appearance of the crescent of the new moon. From this point, the fifteenth day of the month would coincide with a full moon every month. According to Leviticus 23, Passover is the fifteenth day of the first month and Sukkot begins on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. Thus, the Jewish feasts of Passover and Sukkot always take place twice each year on a full moon and always six months apart. So the fact that eight out of 62 tetrads coincided with both Jewish feasts is not that abnormal because lunar eclipses can only happen on full moons, one-sixth of which coincide with these two Jewish feasts.

Hagee’s book Four Blood Moons would be less suspenseful if it were called The Four Lunar Eclipses, thus illustrating that these total lunar eclipses are a naturally recurring phenomenon. Total Lunar Eclipses are regularly occurring events, hardly a unique and unusual signal to all the world as Biltz and Hagee imply. In fact there will be 85 total lunar eclipses in the twenty-first century.

April 14, 2015 is the first of four consecutive total lunar eclipses in 2014 and 2015 a series known as a tetrad. A tetrad is when a group of four consecutive lunar eclipses are all total eclipses, occurring at approximately six month intervals. The total eclipse of April 15, 2014, will be followed by another on Oct. 8, 2014, and another on April 4, 2015, and another on Sept. 28 2015.

Once again, these total lunar eclipses are normal. These are not rare events. Additionally, these eclipses are not visible from all parts of the earth. Would not God demonstrate an unordinary and universal sign to all if He were communicating to the world?

Before we properly exegete the Scriptures cited by Hagee and Biltz to build their cases, let’s consider the other tetrads of 1492, 1948 and 1967, which they say correspond to the most important dates in all of the history of the nation of Israel:

The expulsion of Jews from Spain took place in 1492.
Israel’s War of Independence War took place in 1948.
The Six-Day War took place in 1967. (source)

Biltz and Hagee don’t go to the Bible to prove their case about the specific signs of lunar and solar eclipses but they consult the Jewish Talmud. Resorting to the Jewish Talmud demonstrates how unbiblical the Blood Moon Prophecy really is. One article citing Biltz’s work states:

The reason for this can be traced to the Jewish Talmud, an important Jewish text used to define religious Jewish law and Moses’ five books known as the Torah. Tractate Sukkah 29a indicates that if the moon is in eclipse, it is a sign of wrath that will come upon Israel while solar eclipse of the sun is a bad omen for the world. In the case of a blood moon eclipse, the Talmud adds that: “If its face is as red as blood, (it is a sign that) the sword is coming to the world.” In summary, Lunar Eclipse = bad omen for the Jewish people and Israel; Blood Moon = sword coming; Solar Eclipse = bad omen for the world. (source)

While the lunar eclipse is described in the Talmud as negative signs for Israel, Hagee and Biltz link them to the 1948 independence of Israel and the Six-Day War of 1967, which are celebrated historic events in Israel’s history, not bad omens. Why are some of the tetrads denoting good events for Israel like the victory of the Six-Day War, while others bad events like the Spanish Inquisition?

Another problem is that the 1493–94 tetrad occurred after the 1492 expulsion of the Jews from Spain and discovery of the New World. Why would God send the sign after the event actually occurred?

Likewise, the 1949–1950 tetrad occurred after the re-establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. In no way do these tetrads serve as signs then as Hagee and Biltz are treating them today.

In addition to these three significant historical events for the nation of Israel, Biltz found other tetrad events which also coincided with the Jewish feast days, but there was no known historical significance attached to them.

Thus, the Four Blood Moon prophecy is very problematic and inconsistent.

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Filed Under: Abomination of Desolation, Blood Moon Prophecy, End Times, Hebrew Roots, Israel, Jewish Feasts, Jews, John Hagee, Judaism, Law, Olivet Discourse, Prophecy, Second Coming of Christ, Zionism

The Early Christian Attitude Toward Judaism and the Law of Moses

June 19, 2013 By ELLIOTT NESCH

By the term “early Christians,” I am primarily referring to the Christians who lived in the first two centuries of Church history prior to the Council of Nicea and Roman Catholic apostasy. The Apostle John was still living at the beginning of this early period. The first generation of early Christians were men like Polycarp who had been personally discipled by one or more of the apostles. The period ended with a man who was only one human link removed from John—Irenaeus, a pupil of Polycarp. The term “early Christians” DOES NOT refer to beliefs and practices of anyone labeled as a heretic by that church. For more information on early Christian beliefs, I recommend David Bercot’s books Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up, The Kingdom that Turned the World Upside Down and the Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs available here.

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Romans 11:20-21

Be not seduced by strange doctrines nor by antiquated fables, which are profitless. For if even unto this day we live after the manner of Judaism, we avow that we have not received grace. Ignatius: to the Magnesians (A.D. 35-105) ch.7

It is monstrous to talk of Jesus Christ and to practice Judaism. For Christianity did not believe in Judaism, but Judaism in Christianity, wherein every tongue believed and was gathered together unto God. Ignatius: to the Magnesians (A.D. 35-105) ch.10

But if any one propound Judaism unto you, hear him not: for it is better to hear Christianity from a man who is circumcised than Judaism from one uncircumcised. Ignatius: to the Philadelphians (A.D. 35-105) ch.6

In the next place, I fancy that you are chiefly anxious to hear about their not practicing their religion in the same way as the Jews… For whereas the Greeks, by offering these things to senseless and deaf images, make an exhibition of stupidity, the Jews considering that they are presenting them to God, as if He were in need of them, ought in all reason to count it folly and not religious worship. Letter to Diognetus (A.D. 125-200) ch.3

That the Christians are right therefore in holding aloof from the common silliness and error of the Jews and from their excessive fussiness and pride, I consider that you have been sufficiently instructed; but as regards the mystery of their own religion, expect not that you canst be instructed by man. Letter to Diognetus (A.D. 125-200) ch. 4

“But if some, through weak-mindedness, wish to observe such institutions as were given by Moses, from which they expect some virtue, but which we believe were appointed by reason of the hardness of the people’s hearts, along with their hope in this Christ, and [wish to perform] the eternal and natural acts of righteousness and piety, yet choose to live with the Christians and the faithful, as I said before, not inducing them either to be circumcised like themselves, or to keep the Sabbath, or to observe any other such ceremonies, then I hold that we ought to join ourselves to such, and associate with them in all things as kinsmen and brethren. But if, Trypho,” I continued, “some of your race (the Jews), who say they believe in this Christ, compel those Gentiles who believe in this Christ to live in all respects according to the law given by Moses, or choose not to associate so intimately with them, I in like manner do not approve of them.” Justin Martyr (A.D. 160) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.1 pg.218

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Filed Under: Early Church, Hebrew Roots, Judaism, Law, New Covenant, Roman Catholicism, Sabbath

The Hebrew Roots Movement Exposed

June 13, 2013 By ELLIOTT NESCH

The Judaizing false gospel is becoming more and more prevalent within Christendom today. We see many groups emphasizing Sabbath, Jewish feasts, dietary restrictions, tassels, circumcision and other ceremonial elements of the Law of Moses as well as the “sacred name” of Yeshua (Jesus). Many Messianic and Hebrew Roots groups are falling into the blatant error which the New Testament describes as another gospel. While there is nothing inherently wrong with using the name “Yeshua” or keeping Sabbaths or Jewish feasts, the New Covenant makes it abundantly clear that these are not obligatory for Christians who obey Jesus. See my article on The Sabbath. We read in the NT:

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment. (Acts 15:5-24)

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (Colossians 2:16,17)

Below is a preaching series which exposes many of these errors. While the preacher makes some lighthearted remarks and unnecessary tangents, the presentation is an overall helpful expose of what the Bible teaches on this topic.