This week, in the hours just before sunrise on Wednesday, October 8, most North Americans will be treated to the second lunar eclipse, or “Blood Moon” of 2014 and the second of the Four Blood Moons occurring on Jewish Feast days of Passover and Tabernacles during 2014 and 2015.

During a Lunar Eclipse the Moon turns blood red as the sunlight is reflected through the Earth’s atmosphere. It is as if the Moon, called the “Faithful Witness in the Sky” (Ps 89:37) and representing the believers, was covered in the Blood of Christ. Thus, the Lunar Eclipse is a picture of God’s grace and mercy extended to believers. It also reminds us that we overcome Satan by our witness and the Blood of Christ (Rev 12:11), and thus a Blood Moon can also be called an “Overcomer’s Moon” (See our Blog of 4/9/14 “The Overcomer’s Moon”)

The application of the Blood Moons to the Church is highlighted by the fact that the Blood Moon of October 8 occurs while the Moon is the constellation Pisces (The Fish), which represents the Church (See our Blog of 3/ 19/14 “The Celestial Fish Story”). In fact, the groupings of “Four Blood Moons” in modern history, 1493-94, 1949-50, and 1967-68 are all associated with significant events within the Church.

History tells us that the Evangelization of the New World began when Christopher Columbus set sail back to the Americas during a Blood Moon on the Feast of Tabernacles in 1493. It was during a Blood Moon on the Feast of Tabernacles in 1949 that Billy Graham became a household name, launching a revival in conjunction with the healing revival of those years and ultimately presenting the gospel to 2 billion people. The Blood Moon year 1967 saw the start of the great Charismatic Revival, which has produced 600 million believers, and also the beginning of the Messianic Jewish movement which many believe is preparing the way for Christ’s Return. Looking forward to the Blood Moons of 2014-15, we can expect that God will do something historic.

Another interesting aspect of this particular Blood Moon is the presence of the Planet Uranus only one degree from the Moon during the eclipse. As one of the outer planets hidden in the darkness far from the Sun, it reminds us that godless men who deny Christ are called “wandering stars” (i.e., planets) “for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever” (Jude 13). The Overcomers Moon assures us that the Godly will overcome, but it also reminds us that God still offers salvation to His enemies as He did during the prior Blood Moon revivals of 1493-94, 1949-50 and 1967-68.

The Lunar Eclipse will be at its height for about an hour beginning at 6:25 am (EDT), 5:25 am (CTD), 4:25 am (MDT), and  3:25 am (PDT). The planet Uranus will be about two Moon widths away, at about the 7:00 O’clock position, but it will be best viewed through binoculars or a telescope.

So get up early on Wednesday, October 8 and enjoy the Blood Moon Eclipse in the Church. Maybe you can find some of those Uranus people and bring them in out of the dark.