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A Sign of the End Times? Another Blood Moon Appears July 27

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According to astronomers, there will be two bodies in the heavens at the end of July which will both appear as red at the same time -- the planet Mars and Earth's moon.

On July 27, Mars will appear brighter in the night sky and it will appear brighter than it was in 2003, the website Space.com reports. Mars will be 35.98 million miles from the earth and will be 10 times brighter than usual

On the very same day, Earth's moon will also appear red, but only for a couple of hours.  According to astronomers, it will be the longest total lunar eclipse of the century lasting 1 hour and 43 minutes.

The eclipse will best be seen in Africa, the Middle East, southern Asia and the Indian Ocean.  

Space.com reports the moon will remain in the earth's shadow for nearly 4 hours total.

Lunar eclipses occur when the moon passes into the Earth's shadow, directly opposite of the sun.  Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to view. You don't need special lenses or a box -- just your own eyes.

According to Space.com, the event known as a Blood Moon occurs when the moon moves completely into the deepest part of Earth's shadow, known as the umbra. The moon turns red instead of going black. The red color comes from some of the sunlight going through Earth's atmosphere. The sunlight bends and falls onto the moon's surface. (Earth's air also scatters shorter-wavelength light — think of colors such as blue or green — which leaves behind red at the longer-wavelength end of the spectrum.)

The time of greatest eclipse will be 4:21 p.m. EDT (2021 GMT) on July 27, according to EarthSky.org. The total eclipse will last from 3:30 p.m. to 5:13 p.m. EDT (1930 to 2113 GMT).

More lunar eclipses are on the horizon.  The next total lunar eclipse visible from North America will occur on Jan. 21, 2019, favoring viewers on the West Coast, Space.com reports. The total phase will last about 1 hour and 2 minutes. Later that year, on July 16, there will be a partial eclipse. July 16, 2019, also happens to be the 50th anniversary of the launch of the first moon landing mission, Apollo 11.

The news about the Blood Moon appearing at the end of the month has some Christians excited. They believe the Blood Moon is a direct sign from God and a biblical fulfillment of prophecy.

The Blood Moon is foretold by the Bible in the book of , "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come."

Also in , "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:"

And, in the book of Revelations 6:12, "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;"

All of the scriptures refer to the moon turning blood red as a heavenly sign the end times are fast approaching.

Numerous "Blood Moon" events have occurred throughout history, since those passages were written, but some believe the Blood Moon prophecy is just as relevant as ever. Some preachers claim the large number of Blood Moon eclipses in recent years are just one of many signs that the end of the world is drawing closer and could happen in the near future.

Paul Begley is one pastor that stands by his belief that the Blood Moon is a biblical sign of the last days. 

According to the UK's Express Newspaper, in a recent online broadcast from Indiana, he said: "Just take a look at this. Look at this prophetic sign, look at the era we're in, look at what the Bible says in Acts Chapter 2:16-21 and recognize the realization I am prophesying to you that the coming of the Lord is soon."

"No I don't believe it's July 27," Begley stated. "I repeat. July 27 is not the end of the world, but prophetically the events that are taking place are being prophesied to you, not only from the world of the Lord, not only from the prophetic voices of today's modern-day watchmen but also prophetically being revealed to you in the heavens above."

Students of biblical prophecy point to other historic events like the founding of the modern state of Israel in 1948, the return of millions of Jews to the Holy Land, and potential precurors to the biblical mark of the beast as further signs of the end times.

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READ: 'Aliyah' Fulfilling Bible Prophecy: Anti-Semitism a Factor in New Wave of Immigrants to Israel

READ: Why Thousands of Swedes Have Inserted Microchips Under Their Skin

 

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About The Author

Steve Warren is a senior multimedia producer for CBN News. Warren has worked in the news departments of television stations and cable networks across the country. In addition, he also worked as a producer-director in television production and on-air promotion. A Civil War historian, he authored the book The Second Battle of Cabin Creek: Brilliant Victory. It was the companion book to the television documentary titled Last Raid at Cabin Creek currently streaming on Amazon Prime. He holds an M.A. in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a B.A. in Communication from the University of