Moons, Rainbows, and other really real Signs of the Times
Jun 1st, 2007 by Stephen Erastus Knudsen III
Did you see how red the moon was last night? I took this picture from my neighbor’s back yard. I think you all know that one of the signs of the times is that the moon will turn to blood (and I have never seen a more blood-red moon than the one I saw last night!). I keep track of all of the signs, as I am sure you all do as well, in my personal journal (as opposed to my public journal — yes, I keep more than one).
In related news, it has been 4 months, 8 days, 15 hours, 16 minutes, and 23 seconds since I last saw a rainbow (it was 42 miles away). Have any of you seen a rainbow more recently than that? Please let me know so I can update my calender.
What are some of the other signs you have seen? Are you also waiting for two apostles to go over to Iraq to preach any time soon? Please — I must know what signs you have seen. There is not much time left!
I must say that I am quite distraught that no one has yet commented on the signs of the times. Aren’t you watching vigilently? Don’t you know that the reason we are called “latter-day Saints” is because these are literally the “latter days?” I have never been more concerned for my brothers and sisters in the gospel than I am at this very moment.
“I have never been more concerned for my brothers and sisters in the gospel than I am at this very moment.”
Wait awhile. It will get worse.
By the way, do you live next door to Alastair Crowley?
Apostles in Iraq? Don’t you mean the valley of Megiddo? (i.e. Armageddon) Which is in Israel.
Personally, I’m keeping track of every nation that has at least a branch of the church within its borders as a way to monitor the gospel going to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. By my count, only about 30 countries have no Saints I’m aware of.
August 28, 2007 is the next time the moon will turn to blood. Trust me.
Followed by February 21, 2008…
I’m disappointed no one has challenged me on my dates for the moon turning to blood or asked me why I have those dates. Either no one cares or my basis for the statement is so well known that everyone knew the dates (or where to find them) in advance. Or the alternative is that everyone assumes I’m crazy and knows that it’s best not to engage crazies on their statements. Probably the latter explanation is the true one…
Fenevad,
All could be true! We might not care, AND the reasons might be so well known that we don’t comment AND we might assume you are crazy. I didn’t find any mutually exclusive propositions there. I, myself, personally, know you aren’t crazy (because I never see you at the meetings of the crazy cabal, although I guess you could be “less active”).
Fenevad - I didn’t ask cuz I thought the answer was supposed to be obvious and I didn’t want to look dumb. So what are the dates?
Lunar eclipses. A common metaphor in ancient Greek texts (and I believe in other languages as well) for a lunar eclipse was that moon turns to blood. At the time of full eclipse (in a dark enough sky, something rare to find now) the moon appears deep red. These times of the moon turning to blood were considered particularly inauspicious and dangerous. Thus the prophecy in Joel about the moon turning to blood could (emphasis on could) refer to a lunar eclipse.
At least one such lunar eclipse had a major impact on history. When the Athenians invaded Sicily in 415 BC at the height of their power, they were badly defeated in a long campaign. When they made to retreat (“run away! run away!”) a lunar eclipse occurred (on August 27, 413) and the Athenian commander decided it was an omen and that the Athenian army needed to wait out one more lunar cycle before departing. This delay allowed the combined Syracusean/Spartan forces to capture the harbor and utterly destroy the Athenian fleet and forces (less than 7000 of over 35000 troops returned home). The defeat was one factor that led to the end of Athenian democracy in 411 and its eventual defeat by Sparta in 404.