Sukkot 2015 and the Tetrad
Today, Sunday evening, 27 September 2015 marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, or better known as the Feast of Tabernacles. This year, Sukkot coincides with the much talked about and rare natural phenomenon – a combination of a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse. The combination causes the moon to appear red in colour and is therefore called a blood moon.
People younger than 33 years of age will see this phenomenon for the first time and it will only appear again in 2033. It is so rare that a whole generation has not seen it before.
Monday, 28 September 2015 is the 4th and last lunar eclipse in the tetrad, which started in April 2014. Many believe it is of prophetic significance that these blood moons coincide with Jewish holidays. Some Jewish rabbis also believe it is an ominous sign to Jewish people and Israel.
Although we don’t know what will happen or if anything will happen at all, it is certainly a good time for Jew and Gentile alike to reflect on our lives and to reconsider our purpose on earth.
Amid this time Jerusalem will again be flooded with people from the nations to celebrate the annual feast of Tabernacles. Thousands will walk in the streets of Jerusalem in solidarity with the Jewish people to give credence to the call to bless the people of Israel – a dress rehearsal for a future dispensation when all nations will be expected to attend the feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot).
It is also a fact that at this time, Israel is surrounded by enemies and is faced with multiple threats. The situation in Syria is a powder-keg and only one wrong move by one of the many parties in the conflict, could be the spark that ignites the already short fuse which could set the Middle East ablaze.
It is in a time such as this that we need to pray for mercy upon all God’s people, Jew and Gentile alike.