We live in a world of two opposing forces: good vs evil.
If we weighed all the evidence, what conclusion would we come to about whether God, heaven, and hell exist?
The battle over what is true is more polarizing than ever, complicated by the constant flow of untested information into our lives that tends to shorten our attention spans and cloud our judgment.
Jeff Walton stands for reality, not religion.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, he uses his experience from nearly 35 years of national security and federal law enforcement work to analyze and evaluate information that he passes on to you.
He believes a mountain of evidence exists that confirms there is an afterlife and we do have a loving, just and holy Creator. He also believes forces of evil are at work to suppress or distort the evidence.
Our level of awakening in this life will determine where we go in the next.
Jeff Walton feels an intense need to forewarn people about the consequences of failing to think deeply about the most important choice we’ll ever make – whether we believe in and follow God.
Divine Return picks up where award-winning Final Departure left off… A phone call from a dead friend? Dan Lucas never fully recovered from the shock. But in his former line of work, NCIS, Dan had learned how to brush off death and deception. Until now… Confronted with a man who’d mysteriously come back to life, he has to tell the world about the reality of life after death and the Kingdom of God. But on the way to trumpeting the truth, he gets pulled into the dark and evil world of the satanic elite. Can he save his friend's son, who’s marked for death? Can he convince a pastor of a failing church that he has to preach that the world is coming to an end to save it? Can he...more
Turned off by organized religion? Not sure that God exists? I had the same doubts and feelings not too long ago. That all changed in 2010, when I read a book that turned my world upside down. Suddenly, it was as if God had switched on the lights and I could see. When I looked at myself and realized how I had lived, I was shocked. I had turned my back on God and become totally self-centered. I didn’t know what to do, so I fell back on my training and experience from my NCIS special agent days and started to dig. I had to have answers. Was my newfound faith based on reality or just wishful thinking?
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The total solar eclipse that will take place on April 8, 2024, is attracting a lot of attention. Is the concern of some that the eclipse will be a sign of the end times approaching justified, or is all of the eclipse talk just a lot of blather and bluster for entertainment purposes? Why should we care about a couple of hours of darkness falling on a tiny sliver of the United States?
If you're a follower of Jesus Christ and study the scriptures that describe the end times, such as the book of Revelation or the book of Daniel, you're probably paying careful attention to the events unfolding around the world. You suspect something is up.
If you're not a believer, you should be aware that the Bible describes how the world as we know it will come to a chaotic end – physically and supernaturally – and be replaced by a new earth that will be home to a new heaven with Jesus Christ reigning as King.
Sound farfetched? Recall recent events such as the lockdown of most of the world during the COVID scare and the ongoing raging conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and you might develop an appreciation for the prophetic accuracy of the Bible. The Bible documents that the end times will be preceded by an increase in plagues, wars, rumors of wars, and other natural disasters such as earthquakes.
With the foregoing in mind, the coming April 8 total solar eclipse could signal the approach of the end times, in the opinion of many. I can think of no other impending event that has garnered so much attention from Christian scholars and teachers, as well as secular influencers.
The coming total solar eclipse is noteworthy for believers for various reasons. To appreciate the significance of the April 8 event, however, we first need to examine the previous total solar eclipse of August 4, 2017.
What was so unusual about the 2017 Great American Solar Eclipse, and why was it called the "Great American Eclipse?" Pundits created the name because it was the first total solar eclipse to touch the United States since a total solar eclipse occurred in 1776. The eclipse that took place during the year of our nation's birth lasted precisely one hour and thirty-three minutes.
Is the number 1:33 of interest? Interestingly, Psalm 133 is a call to unity: Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
Some would say that God was using the sign of an eclipse at the birth of our nation to urge us to unify as a God-fearing and God-worshipping nation.
The Great American Eclipse of 2017 cast a shadow of darkness over 350 cities. One of the first major cities it passed over was Salem, Oregon. From there, during its southeasterly trek, the eclipse also passed over Salem, Idaho; Salem, Wyoming; Salem, Nebraska; Salem, Missouri; Salem, Kentucky; and Salem, South Carolina.
The solar eclipses exit point in South Carolina was over Fort Sumter, where the American Civil War began.
Was it just a coincidence that it passed over seven cities – all with the same name – Salem? Does the name Salem have any significance?
Salem is the word for peace, and the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 proclaims Jesus Christ's title clearly: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Some might suggest that the total solar eclipse in 2017 was a warning from God to turn to Jesus Christ and make him Lord of one's life.
Does God use natural events such as an eclipse to send us messages and warnings?
In Genesis 1:14, we read, And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,
In Psalm 19:1-3 we read, The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day-to-day pours out speech, and night-to-night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.
Through the passages above, God gives us permission to look to the heavens for signs, information, and knowledge. He's telling us that He communicates with us via the stars as well as other methods.
In Luke 21:25 & 28, Jesus Christ is recorded as saying: "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,.. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
The sun went dark for three hours when Jesus Christ was on the cross on Golgotha. The darkness wasn't the result of an eclipse; God performed a miracle. God made a statement using the sun. Jewish scholars at the time recognized the darkness as the sign of Jonah the prophet – the meaning of which is detailed below.
As a side note, civilizations throughout history, including Native Americans, the Chinese, Hindus, and ancient Jewish cultures, all saw solar eclipses as evil and apocalyptic.
With that said, why is the April 8 solar eclipse significant? First, solar eclipses are directional and finite - similar to the beam of a flashlight. The discrete area of total darkness is called the umbra shadow. The full eclipse will be seen in a relatively narrow path – approximately 115 - 130 miles wide – through parts of Mexico, 15 U.S. states, and Canada, although it will be partially observable in areas adjacent to the eclipse's path, which will be for the entire Americas. Most will observe a sudden drop in sunlight, while the umbra shadow will bring complete darkness in the areas it touches.
As described by the Prophecy Watchers, Alexis Katz, author of The Great American Writing on the Wall, tells us, "While eclipses are not that uncommon, total solar eclipses often occur over the ocean rather than on land. Don't let anyone fool you into thinking the 2017 eclipse was nothing out of the ordinary. While people were watching, day was turned to night all across the United States… and having another total solar eclipse cross the entire United States again in 2024, just seven years later, is unprecedented.
Lunar eclipses (blood moons) are of prophetic significance for Israel, whereas solar eclipses are of prophetic significance for Gentiles. It's well known that the United States has been the wealthiest, most powerful, and most influential Gentile nation. It is also a giant ethnic melting pot and hosts a proto-world government in the form of the United Nations.
Two total solar eclipses spaced seven years apart, crossing the entirety of the United States that form an X over the largest and main Gentile nation on earth should not be ignored...
No one can manipulate an eclipse or its narrow path of totality. Nobody can change the orbital mechanics of the planets, only God."
A footnote to Alexis Katz's commentary that is important to point out is that the United States is also the largest Christian nation in the world. We should also note that the number 7 is the number of completion.
As the eclipse begins to darken American soil on April 8, it will first pass over Eagle Pass, Texas, the first American settlement on the Rio Grande and currently a hotspot for Texas' attempted enforcement of state immigration laws.
Is Eagle Pass significant from a Biblical perspective? In Matthew 24:28, when Jesus described what would be the signs of the end of the days, He stated: For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. (KJV) (Note: In a number of translations, the word vultures is used instead of eagles.)
Shelby Park, located in Eagle Pass, is so named because in June 1865, the Shelby Expedition, the last force of Confederate soldiers who refused to surrender to Union troops after the Civil War, retreated across Texas and made their way into Mexico. While crossing the Rio Grande near Fort Duncan, General Joseph Orville Shelby and his men ceremoniously buried a Confederate flag in the river.
Accordingly, the 2017 eclipse ended where the Civil War began – Fort Sumter, South Carolina, and the 2024 eclipse will start where the last act of the Civil War took place. As the Bible says in Matthew 20:16, So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
After passing over Eagle Pass, the eclipse will move northeasterly and pass over Jonah, Texas; Nineveh, Texas; Rapture, Indiana; Nineveh, Indiana; Nineveh, Ohio; Nineveh, Pennsylvania; Nineveh, NY; and Nineveh, Nova Scotia.
Some observers claim the eclipse will directly pass over only two Nineveh's, but other researchers disagree. Some say the umbra shadow will pass over eleven towns named Nineveh. I'll go with the majority that says the Umbra shadow will be close enough to enough towns named Nineveh to be noteworthy. I recommend you do your own research if you have doubts or questions.
Is the name Nineveh significant in any way?
Yes, in the book of Jonah, we read that God commands Jonah to travel to the city of Nineveh, where a cruel Assyrian King named Jeroboam II ruled at the time. God ordered Jonah to tell him and his subjects to repent of their evil ways within 40 days or face God's judgment. Of note, one of the Assyrian's accomplishments was the construction of a palace that glorified and memorialized the Assyrian army's slaughter of thousands of Jews. The city was considered to be one of the most evil in existence at the time.
As most know, Jonah initially refused to obey God, which led him to be swallowed by a whale after being thrown overboard from a ship at sea during a violent storm. The large mammal ultimately spit Jonah out, and, learning his lesson, Jonah proceeded to Nineveh and delivered God's message. Jonah's fear of visiting Nineveh was not without basis; Assyria was an arch-enemy of Israel at the time, and the city had begun to worship Ishtar, the goddess of immorality, sexual sin, prostitution, and adultery, around the year 2000 BC. For more information on Ishtar and her connection to the present conditions in the world, I suggest you check out my blog post, dated 1/23/24, entitled Idols of our Times.
Since a single angel dispatched by God had massacred 185,000 soldiers of the Assyrian army some years early outside of Jerusalem, the King took God's warning seriously and repented along with his people.
According to historians, Noah's journey took place in 763 BC. Was there anything else significant that happened in 763 BC? On June 15 of that year, according to NASA, a solar eclipse, known as the Assyrian solar eclipse, took place—the day that some Christian researchers identify as when Noah walked into the Assyrian palace and delivered God's warning.
Do we see parallels in today's world? What is the state of America today from God's perspective? Are we a God-fearing nation that rejects sin, or have we become a mecca for decadence and moral decay? I believe we are in the latter category - we have become the child trafficking and child pornography capital of the world.
How about April 8 or 4/8? Is there any significance from a Biblical perspective? Exodus 4:8 says, "If they will not believe you," God said, "or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign."
Hmmm! Might we apply God's word to current events?
Another fact that should be noted is that the point where the 2017 and 2024 eclipses cross and form an X is called Little Egypt. Recall that God used ten signs or deadly events to warn Pharaoh that Moses spoke for Him, and His message was to release his people from slavery.
A closer look at the crossover point of the two solar eclipses reveals a town called Makanda, Illinois. In the same area is Giant City State Park. Within the park is a unique rock structure called the Devil's Stand Table. Strange? You bet when considered with all of the other odd coincidences. At a minimum, the area's double exposure to a total solar eclipse within seven years should get our attention.
Where does the 2024 Eclipse exit the continental United States? On its way out to sea, it touches the towns of Magog, Vermont; Moscow, Maine; Orient, Maine; and Burnt Church, New Brunswick.
As some observers say, the preceding is undeniable data. How you interpret it is up to you.
Will other unusual events take place on April 8? Yes, NASA has announced that it will fire three scientific-sounding rockets into the moon's shadow on Monday, April 8, during the solar eclipse across North America.
What's so special about a few rocket launches?
According to a March 26, 2024, Forbes Magazine article, NASA named its rocket launches after the "serpent deity from ancient Egyptian mythology, nemesis of the sun deity Ra." The mission's name will be APEP, which is the name of an ancient Egyptian deity of unbridled anarchy, sheer evil, darkness, and destruction. In the ancient texts, APEP swallows the sun god.
Also on April 8, the CERN Large Hadron Collider will be fired up to perform atom smashing experiments in search of dark matter – also known as the "God Particle." For those interested in CERN and its potential Biblical connections, you can find more details about CERN in my information novel Divine Return: Death Is Never The End. Suffice it to say that previous CERN officials have publically stated that one of the goals of CERN is to open portals to other dimensions. Why choose April 8 – the day of the total solar eclipse – for such an experiment? Only God knows (outside of the CERN administrators), but we may find out the unpleasant truth in the not-too-distant future.
If the preceding events are not enough to pique your interest, consider that shortly after the April 8 solar eclipse, for the first time in 221 years, two gigantic broods of periodical cicadas are set to emerge from the ground simultaneously in the U.S. to engage in a raucous mating frenzy.
The rare double cicada brood will include two of the largest cicada broods, which will co-emerge in the billions after having lived underground for 17 and 13 years, respectively. Brood XIII is expected to emerge in the Midwest, mostly around north-central Illinois, Ohio, and Iowa. Brood XIX will cover parts of Illinois, as well as a wider geographic area in the southeastern U.S., including Louisiana, Virginia and North Carolina.
In addition to the above, other ominous events will occur on April 8, such as the appearance of the Devil's Comet and the anniversary of Aleister Crowley's supernatural encounter in 1904 with a disembodied voice that claimed to be a messenger of the Egyptian Sun God, Horus, who directed him to write down specific verbiage that became "The Book of the Law." Crowley was one of the most satanic occult leaders of all time.
Last but not least is the alignment of five of the eight planets of our solar system on April 8. Earth will line up with Venus, Neptune, Saturn and Mars. I cannot tell you the prophetic significance of the alignment, but I can tell you the alignment is rare.
So, what are we to make of all the coincidences surrounding the total solar eclipses in 2017 and 2024?
First, I don't believe we should make definitive declarations about God's intent. We have the scriptures – God's Word - as our road map, but beyond that, we don't know what God's intent is with respect to the eclipses.
We can confidently say that our nation has adopted laws and cultural practices over the past several decades that have most assuredly grieved Father God. God is not only loving but also holy and just. Therefore, His perfect character demands that He judge sin, and our nation is a nonstop sin factory.
To add insult to injury, President Biden just declared Easter Sunday to be "Transgender Visibility Day." Our nation's ostensible leader has now labeled the day we celebrate our Lord's resurrection as a day to celebrate a form of spiritual rebellion.
From abortion to child trafficking to outright Satan worship in our entertainment industry and our total exclusion of God from the public square, our collective actions as a nation must both sadden and anger our Heavenly Father.
The operative word to describe what we need to do as individuals and as a nation is repent.
We know from the Bible that God has a history of sending warnings to His people before taking action. Are those warnings about to end? Since we certainly deserve judgment, I recommend we pray for the following immediately:
· Pray to Father God that he forgives our nation for turning our back on Him and becoming disobedient. Pray that He convicts the hearts or our nation's elected leaders and our citizens who have turned their back on Him.
· Pray to Father God to have mercy on us for our past sins and allow us to turn from our wicked ways.
I also suggest that anyone reading this article who has not established a personal relationship with Jesus Christ do so now. Say a simple prayer of repentance for your sins and declare your true belief in the saving, redemptive power of Jesus Christ. Confirm your true acceptance of His sacrificial death for our sins.
Lastly, trust in the Lord for protection. Those who know the Lord personally will be protected from the harm that will surely befall our nation in the future. Pray that those who haven't made Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior do so before it's too late.