Signs in the Sun Moon and Stars

For the second year in a row on the 1st of Av the earth has experienced a solar eclipse. On July 22, 2009 the most people in the history of the world witnessed this eclipse over the worlds two most populous countries, India and China.

Because the Hebrew calendar begins with a new month and their calendar of months is based on the lunar cycle the dates compared with our calendar do not line up. Last year the first of the three eclipses took place on August 1, 2008, which was the 1st of Av on the Hebrew calendar.

Next year on July 11, 2010 will mark the third year in a row that a solar eclipse will fall on the 1st of Av on the Hebrew calendar. Also notice the paths of each of the eclipses from the far reaches of the northern hemisphere, through the most populous areas near the equator of the earth, and finally through the extreme southern reaches of the southern hemisphere.

It's as if the Lord is calling out to all people from the north to the south. Is the LORD speaking to all the nations of the earth through signs in the heavens? Is great darkness about to come upon the earth in the form of great tribulation, leading to the return of our Lord?

The month of Av is the darkest month on the Hebrew calendar. Especially the date of the 9th of Av. Here is a short list of dark events of the 9th of Av.

Approx 1450 B.C. on the 9th of Av 10 of 12 spies returned with bad report on the promise land and the LORD causes Israel to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.

586 B.C. and 70 A.D. both the first and second Jewish Temple are destroyed on the 9th of Av.

1290 A.D. Jews are expelled from England on the 9th of Av.

1492 A.D. Jews are expelled from Spain on the 9th of Av.

1914 A.D. World War I begins on the 9th of Av.

The month of Av is such a time of mourning, the book of Lamentations is read during the month. Is great trouble about to come upon the earth, being foretold in the three eclipses?

These eclipses may be a sign of coming judgment upon Gentile nations. The prophets Isaiah and Joel saw these signs in the heavens prior to the great and terrible day of the LORD, a reference to the seven year tribulation.

Here are just a few passages of warning;

"And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come" (Joel 2:30-31).

Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine" (Isaiah 13:9-10).

All four gospel writers reference these same things, Matthew and Mark in their gospels and Luke in Acts, while John records his in the book of Revelation. Are these the signs that are to appear in the Sun, Moon and Stars before the return of the Lord?