Is the blood moon a sign from Heaven?

First, an explanation of the unique name for this phenomenon is in order. What we saw was called a “super moon” because it appeared larger than usual due to the nearness of its orbit to the earth. It was called a “blood moon” because of the red tint it takes on at the peak of the lunar eclipse due to the same refraction of light that tints sunrises and sunsets red. It was called “Wolf moon” because this is the name given by Native Americans to the first full moon of the year. It is the name “blood moon” that requires our attention.

There are three passages in the Bible that describe the moon turning to blood. The first is in the Old Testament book of Joel, the second is in the New Testament book of Acts where the Apostle Peter cites the verses from Joel. The final occurrence is in the book of Revelation at the opening of the sixth of seven seals of God’s judgment. Each of these passages associates the moon “turning to blood” with an event called the Day of the Lord. This Day of the Lord is a future point in time known only by God in which he pours out his wrath on an unbelieving world. The moon turning to blood is only one of several catastrophic events that will accompany that Day. There will also be a great earthquake, the sun will go dark, the stars will fall from the sky, the sky itself will be rolled up like a scroll, and mountains and islands will be displaced.

So, is the moon turning to red “a sign from the heavens” as those like Pastor Hagee suggest? The answer is yes and no. The Bible makes clear that God is sovereign over his creation, the sun, the moon and the stars and in times past he has directed them to display his sovereignty. Further, the Bible plainly states that on that Day of the Lord, the moon will turn blood-red, but it does not specify that the moon will turn red only on that Day. There can be up to five eclipses every year, though not all will be full. This “blood moon” phenomenon occurs every time there is a full eclipse. Whereas a handful of these so called “blood moons” have coincided with significant historical events, they’ve not all concerned the people of Israel as Hagee has suggested.

Like any natural phenomenon, our fascination with a blood moon should lead to praise for God’s glory manifested in his creation. When these natural phenomena bring great disaster in the world, it should remind us that God’s creation is yet subject to the corruption of sin, “groaning” until the day of its liberation (Romans 8) at the glorious consummation of God’s redemption plan. Such events remind us that the world is not yet right – but we know that on that Day, God will make the world right forever. Those who share this hope rejoice.

Rev. Michael Bannon

Navarre Press Faith Correspondent