Hitchcock - Blood moons rising: Bible prophecy, Israel, and the four blood moons

I FIRST HEARD about the relationship between blood moons, the feasts of Israel, and the end times in the early fall of 2008 at a prophecy conference. During his presentation, one of the other speakers presented the view that a coming blood moon (lunar eclipse) that fell in close proximity to the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles signaled the soon coming of the Lord. Careful not to be labeled a date setter, the presenter constantly hedged his bets, yet he all but said this was a harbinger of the end or that the even more significant blood moon occurrence in 20142015 would signal the end.

Then, in October 2013, I had the privilege to speak at the largest annual prophecy conference in the United States, and questions about the relationship between the four blood moons in 20142015 came up several times in the question-and-answer session and while talking to individuals.

About the same time, John Hagees book Four Blood Moons was released, becoming an instant bestseller. By the time this book is published, Mark Biltz will have released his book Blood Moons: Decoding the Imminent Heavenly Signs. In 2007 Pastor Biltz first discovered the correlation between when blood moons fell on Jewish feast days and key historical world events involving the Jewish people. He claimed to have found the divine link or intersection between biblical prophecy, historical events, and heavenly signs.

Being a student of Bible prophecy, I was of course interested, so I watched several videos of Mark Biltzs teaching about the blood moons prophecy and the Jewish feasts and read Four Blood Moons to learn what the furor was all about. I agree with many things in John Hagees Four Blood Moons about Gods future plan for national Israel, the Rapture, the Second Coming, and our need to be ready at any time for the Lords return. I also deeply appreciate his commitment to the Jewish people and passion to bless them, in keeping with Genesis 12:1-3. Yet when it comes to his analysis of the four blood moons and their relationship to Scripture, history, and the end times, I disagree with his interpretation of some Scriptures and the conclusions he draws from the historical data. My view is that much of what people are saying today about blood moons is based on speculation and a misinterpretation of Scripture.

Blood Moons Rising will examine in the light of Scripture the view that many well-known prophecy teachers are presenting. In this book I will disagree with fellow believers, but my disagreement is not intended to be personal. I appreciate others who give their lives to ministry for Christ and His body, and I dont claim to have it all figured out when it comes to end-times prophecy. When I disagree, I hope to do so in an irenic spirit.

My goal is to present what I believe Scripture says about the end times, examine the historical evidence for the blood moons prophecy, and leave you to make your own decision. I used to be an attorney, so I want to make my case, present the evidence, and let you render your own verdict.

My prayer is that the Lord will use this book to help bring greater clarity about what lies ahead as we await the coming of the Lord, and stir within each heart a readiness for that day.

Mark Hitchcock

EDMOND, OK

JANUARY 2014

Chapter One

THE FINAL FOUR?

What a time to take the news of the day in one hand and the Bible in the other and watch the unfolding of the great drama of the ages come together. This is an exciting and thrilling time to be alive.... It is not just Christians that sense something is about to happen. The world knows that things cannot go on as they are. History has reached an impasse. This world is on a collision course. Something is about to give. With increasing frequency, commentators from secular media speak of Armageddon.

BILLY GRAHAM, THE REASON FOR MY HOPE

IN A PEANUTS comic strip, Snoopy is sitting on his doghouse, typing a novel. He begins his story the way he always begins his stories, with the words It was a dark and stormy night.

Lucy comes by and puts in her two cents. In her assertive, blunt way, she scolds him: Thats a terrible way to begin a story. Its so trite! Once upon a time... thats the way all the good stories begin. Lucy lectures him more and then leaves.

The last frame of the comic shows Snoopy starting over on his story. This time he types, Once upon a time, it was a dark and stormy night.

Snoopys first line is an apt description of how many feel today. Its a dark and stormy night. The constantly escalating tempo of life in combination with cataclysmic natural disasters, wars and rumors of wars, unrest in the Middle East, terrorism, and mushrooming financial uncertainty have given the entire world a sense of impending crisis. People today are asking questions about the future as never before solemn,