Lunar/Solar Eclipses

The Hebrew calendar is based upon lunar cycles. Each new month begins with the New Moon. Therefore, the Full Moon always occurs in the middle of the Hebrew month. The natural result of the lunar calendar is that lunar eclipses always occur on the 15th day of the month, when the Moon is full.

Again, it is also natural that solar eclipses always occur when the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, and with a lunar calendar this always occurs on last day of the preceding month or the first day of the current month. Therefore, solar eclipses always occur on the last day, or the first day of a Hebrew lunar month.

There are two Hebrew Holy Days, or holidays, that take place on the 15th day of the month; Passover (Nisan 15) and the Feast of Tabernacles (Tishri 15).

By using solar and lunar eclipse tables prepared by NASA, I have found several occasions where a lunar eclipse occurred on Passover (Nisan 15) and was joined by a solar eclipse within two weeks. Then these were followed in the same year by another lunar eclipse on the Feast of Tabernacles (Tishri 15) and then with a solar eclipse within two weeks. Frequently, the solar eclipse fell on the Feast of Trumpets (Tishri 1) which precedes the Feast of Tabernacles. This combination of lunar and solar eclipses occurred in three sequential years three times in the Twentieth Century, resulting in twelve eclipses in a three year period. This happened in 1902-04, 1948-50 and 1967-69.

Rabbis and Jewish scholars believe that lunar eclipses have significance for Israel, and solar eclipses signify something remarkable for the world. What I have found just may confirm this.

The 1902-04 series may portend the many terrible events of the Twentieth Century. The 1948-50 series of eclipses clearly marks the beginning of Israel as a state on May 14, 1948. Likewise, the 1967-69 series marks the famous Six Day War, June 1967. In this war Israel captured Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, 1,897 years after the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. Until 1967 the Temple Mount was in the country of Jordan! It appears that the rabbis were correct. The eclipses do have significance.

Because some of the lunar eclipses in these groups are partial eclipses, some may not consider them to be of value. But the events they mark are incredible.

There is a three year combination of lunar and solar eclipses coming soon. Beginning in 2014, again with lunar eclipses falling on Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles, with solar eclipses occurring within two weeks, there are a total of twelve eclipses. Perhaps these twelve eclipses also mark an event of significance. We will not have to wait long to find out!

May the Name of the Lord be praised always!

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