Members of several faiths believe Sunday night’s blood moon may portend catastrophe.
Yes, the combination of a supermoon and a “blood moon” has some people freaked out about the possible end of the world.
Two astronomical phenomena: A supermoon and a lunar eclipse
The event, which will happen overnight Sunday, is basically the convergence of two astronomical phenomena: A supermoon, which happens when the moon reaches its closest point to Earth, and a lunar eclipse. With direct sunlight blocked, the moon appears to take on a reddish hue… The Blood Moon.
The last time this combination of sky events happened was in 1982 and the next will only take place in 2033.
End of times?
A lot of people are seeing these phenomena as a sign of the end of times, of the Apocalypse.
The idea is that the blood moons are the fulfillment of prophecy from the New Testament, with Revelations 6:12 among the oft-cited passages:
[…] And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood. […]
4 blood moons in series: The Tetrads
When there is a series of four blood moons within two years, it’s called a “tetrad.” Saturday’s blood moon will complete a tetrad, having followed previous lunar eclipses in April and October of 2014, as well as April of this year.
Each of the recent blood moons have also happened on Jewish feast days, which believers see as significant.
Pastor John Hagee is one of the highest profile figures connecting the upcoming blood moon to prophecy and, potentially, disaster. And look at his freeky video:
Others from various factions of both Christianity and Judaism have connected to the blood moon to an array of other events from natural disasters to the return of the Messiah.
Astronomers have rejected the idea that the supermoon lunar eclipse is a sign of coming destruction, but that hasn’t stopped the topic from spreading online in Facebook posts and YouTube videos.
OMG, do you really think we all die tomorrow?
[…] And the moon will turn blood red tonight! […]