Looking up

 From today's podcast (entitled "Eclipse of the heart") by Fellowship Bible Church, Orlando, Fla.:

"This (CBN News) article notes that the eclipse will pass over seven American cities called Nineveh and one called Jonah, which makes him (the "expert" being quoted, Pastor Paul Begley, host of weekly telecast called Coming Apocalypse ) wonder, 'Is this America's Nineveh moment?"

"Now, when he says this event will fulfill a prophecy spoken by Jesus in Luke 21, he didn't give any specifics, which is suspect already.

"But here you have the destruction of the temple as being foretold. This is Luke's version of the Olivet Discourse and then you get to what I'm guessing what he means is verse 25:

[25] And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

"You think that's going to happen this afternoon? Ha ha. I have done this end-of-the-world (Bible-study) series, and have lots to say about Luke 21.

"If you really study the sun, the moon and the stars, and you look up all the references of the sun and the moon in Revelation--all that stuff--you'll notice a progression of the sun getting darker over the course of those seven years (during the tribulation).

"So as well with the moon. You have the moon turning blood red and then it disappears. And then you also have these references to the stars falling. I don't think all of that happens at once.

"I think that over the course of the seven years the sun and the moon progressively darken, and you look up at night and you'll see fewer stars than the night before. And it will be as if all of the universe is being rolled up like a scroll.

"And then it's when the sun is COMPLETELY dark--no more stars, no moon, no nothing . . . You've got this deep darkness . . . That's when men's hearts are really going to fail. They're going to literally die from heart fear and the saints are going to be going, 'Awesome, it's time to start looking up because He is coming back!'

"And because He has already told you that all of this would take place, and all of this would precede His coming, the foretelling of these future events gives comfort and hope to the Believers in the tribulation because they know, 'Aww, we're getting near. We're getting near.' "

The rest of the passage from Luke 21:

[26] Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
[27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
[28] And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.