The Tetrad of 6th Seals ... Messages from God

From the New American Bible - The Official Bible of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Revelation 6:12-13 12* Then I watched while he broke open the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; the sun turned as black as dark sackcloth* and the whole moon became like blood."e" 13The stars in the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs* shaken loose from the tree in a strong wind.
USCCB FOOTNOTES:
* [6:12] Dark sackcloth: for mourning, sackcloth was made from the skin of a black goat. 
* [6:13] Unripe figs: literally, “summer (or winter) fruit.”

RELATED SCRIPTURE:
"e" Joel 3:4 The sun will darken, the moon turn blood-red, Before the day of the LORD arrives, that great and terrible day."b"
"b" Joel 2:10 Before them the earth trembles; the heavens shake; Sun and moon are darkened, and the stars withhold their brightness.

Regardless of what the so-called prophets say, we are in the midst of the Tribulation.  You can read my first book "TRIBULATION by G.R. MILLER" and my next book, "GOD'S FURY". You can view my illustrations with descriptions at: http://www.tribulation7.com/illustrations.html.
And you can view my posts on Twitter (@tribulation7) and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GRMillerTribulation). 

The 3 synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) below describe the moments immediately after the Tribulation, leading to the Rapture.  The Rapture, which prefaces the First Judgement, is described throughout the New Testament, particularly in Mt.24:40-41, Lk.17:34-35, 2Cor12:2, 1Thes4:17, Rev.12:5, & Rev.20:4-6. From the Latin verb rapiemur, has come the idea of “the rapture,” when believers will be transported away from the woes of the world; this construction combines this verse with Mt 24:40–41 // Lk 17:34–35 and passages from the Book of Revelation in a scheme of millennial dispensationalism. 

Mt.24:29-30 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Mk.13:24-26 24“But in those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26* And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, 27and then he will send out the angels and gather [his] elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

USCCB FOOTNOTES:
* [13:26] Son of Man…with great power and glory: Jesus cites this text from Dn 7:13 in his response to the high priest, Are you the Messiah? (Mk 14:61). In Ex 34:5; Lv 16:2; and Nm 11:25 the clouds indicate the presence of the divinity. Thus in his role of Son of Man, Jesus is a heavenly being who will come in power and glory.

Lk.21:25-28 The Coming of the Son of Man. 25“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”

The Book of Revelation describes the events during the Tribulation leading up to the Rapture: The 7 Seals (Chapters 6 and 8), the 7 Trumpets (Chapters 8-9, 11), the Angel with the Small Scroll and the 7 Thunders (Chapter 10), the Two Witnesses (Chapter 11), the First and Second Beasts (Chapters 13 and 17), the 7 Bowls and Plagues (Chapters 15 and 16), The Destruction of Babylon and Pagan Nations and The Harvest of the Earth (Chapters 14, 17 - 19).

The 6th Seal, described in Revelation 6:12-13 above, has occurred 4 times since 2010: 

• The latest occurrence (see the illustrations above) started with a partial Solar Eclipse ("the sun turned as black as dark sackcloth") on Sunday, Sep. 13th.  

• Several significant earthquakes occurred starting on Sep. 12, 2015, along the San Andreas Fault, through the Gulf of California Rift Zone and down the Peru-Chile Trench. On Sep. 12th, a M4.8 quake occurred in Lebu, Chile followed by M4.0 quake  in Tanner, WA.  In Mexico on Sep. 13th, a M6.6 quake occurred in Topolobampo. This series of quakes along the west coast of the Americas culminated with a tremendous M8.3 event in Illapel, Chile on Sep. 16th at 8:54 p.m. EST. As of Sep. 17th, it had been followed by 54 major aftershocks ranging from M4.4 to M7.0. Another M5.0 quake occurred late last Wednesday local time, up the coast in Putre.

• The fourth lunar eclipse ("Blood Moon") of the 6th Seal Tetrad is set to begin with a penumbral eclipse at 8:11 p.m. EST on September 27 and end at 1:22 a.m. EST on the 28th...5 hours, 11 minutes [1,2].  God speaks to us with numbers.  The Word of God is a series of 73 Books with numbered chapters and numbered verses and in the case of the soft copy New American Bible, 1722 pages.  So let's look at the Chapter 5's with verses 11's found 17 times in the New Testament:

1. Mt.5:11 The Beatitudes. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me.
2. Mk.5:11 The Healing of the Gerasene Demoniac. Now a large herd of swine* was feeding there on the hillside. * [5:11] Herd of swine: see note on Mt 8:30. [In this case, the resting place of demons.]
3. Lk.5:11 The Call of Simon the Fisherman. When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Him.
4. Jn.5:11 Cure on the Sabbath. He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’” [This is one of 4 times where Christ defied Mosaic Law.]
5. Acts 5:11 Ananias and Sapphira. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. [Lying and testing the Holy Spirit resulted in the death of Ananias and Sapphira.]
6. Rom.5:11 Grace and Life through Christ. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. [We as sinners can obtain forgiveness for our sins and reconcile with God and the Church.]
7. 1Cor.5:11 But I now write to you not to associate with anyone named a brother, if he is immoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard, or a robber, not even to eat with such a person.
8. 2Cor5:11 The Ministry of Reconciliation. Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we are clearly apparent to God, and I hope we are also apparent to your consciousness. [We as sinners can obtain forgiveness for our sins and reconcile with God and the Church.]
9. Gal.5:11 Be Not Misled. As for me, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case, the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. [St. Paul referred to "Christ crucified", as a "stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles".  Even though a former Jew and now a Christian, St. Paul still practiced some aspects of Mosaic Law, as many Christians do today.]
10. Eph.5:11 Duty to Live in the Light. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them [Paganism and the occult discussed in Lev. 20:6-8, Dt.18:9-14, Is.2:6, Is.8:16-20, Jer.27:9-11, Jer.50:36, Micah 5:11, Rev.2:6,14-16, Rev.9:20-21 and Rev.22:15]
11. 1Thes.5:11 Vigilance. 11Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.
12. 1Tim.5:11 Rules for Widows. But exclude younger widows, for when their sensuality estranges them from Christ, they want to marry. [St. Paul defines true widows as not less than sixty years old, married only once, with a reputation for good works, namely, that she has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the holy ones, helped those in distress, involved herself in every good work.]
13. Heb.5:11 Exhortation to Spiritual Renewal. 11* About this we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, for you have become sluggish in hearing. * Those to whom the St. Paul directs his teaching about Jesus’ priesthood, which is difficult to explain, have become sluggish in hearing and forgetful of even the basic elements.  [Very applicable to today's world. In Rev.3:1-4 God says: 1“To the angel of the church in Sardis, write this: “‘The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: “I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you. 4However, you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; they will walk with me dressed in white [the 1st Judgement], because they are worthy. The meaning of “I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.": The Church in Sardis can be compared to some of the “denominational offshoots” of the 4 “branches” of the Protestant Reformation. Many of these Churches defined the term “Evangelical Christians”. “The reputation of being alive, but you are dead” means: You’ve gone from your Pulpits and your Pews being alive with the Word of God, to now dead, with the words of politicians and right-wing groups. Sardis needs a revival of faith.]
14. Jas.5:11 Patience and Oaths. Indeed we call blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, because “the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”
15. 1Ptr.5:11 Advice to the Community. To him be dominion forever. Amen. 
16. 1Jn.5:11 Faith is Victory over the World. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
17. Rev.5:11 The Scroll and the Lamb. I looked again and heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless* in number, *Countless: literally, “100,000,000 plus 1,000,000,” used by St. John to express infinity. [The Infinity of Heaven.]

A meteor shower is last event of the 6th Seal Tetrad are the "stars in the sky falling to the earth like unripe figs".

The Draconid Meteor Shower, whose peak times will probably be on the evenings of October 8 and 9.  On a celestial chart this shower originates from the northern constellation Draco the Dragon which borders both Ursa Major (Great Bear) and Ursa Minor (Little Bear), while wrapping around Ursa Minor.   A prominent group of seven stars in the constellation Ursa Major, known as the Big Dipper, contain the pointing stars that indicate the direction to Polaris, the North Star.  In Ursa Minor, the tail of the constellation may also be seen as the handle of a ladle, hence the name Little Dipper.


The origin and history of the Draconid meteors? 
This annual meteor shower results when the Earth in its orbit crosses the orbital path of Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. Debris left behind by this comet collides with the Earth’s upper atmosphere, to burn up as Draconid meteors. 
This comet has an orbital period of about 6.6 years. It’s about 6 times more distant at its farthest point from the sun than at its nearest point. At aphelion – its most distant point – it’s farther out than the planet Jupiter. At perihelion – its closest point to the sun – it’s about the Earth’s distance from the sun. [3]

Draco the Dragon Constellation

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​Relevant Scripture to the constellations above? 
​
Rev.12:1-18  The Woman and the Dragon. 1* A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman* clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.* 3Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon,* with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. 4Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. 5She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.* Her child was caught up to God and his throne. 6The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God, that there she might be taken care of for twelve hundred and sixty days.* 7* Then war broke out in heaven; Michael* and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, 8but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,* who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it. 10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser* of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night. 11They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. 12Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them. But woe to you, earth and sea, for the Devil has come down to you in great fury, for he knows he has but a short time.” 13When the dragon saw that it had been thrown down to the earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle,* so that she could fly to her place in the desert, where, far from the serpent, she was taken care of for a year, two years, and a half-year. 15The serpent,* however, spewed a torrent of water out of his mouth after the woman to sweep her away with the current. 16But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth and swallowed the flood that the dragon spewed out of its mouth. 17Then the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus.* 18It took its position* on the sand of the sea.
USCCB FOOTNOTES:

• * [12:1–12:17] This central section of Revelation portrays the power of evil, represented by a dragon, in opposition to God and his people. First, the dragon pursues the woman about to give birth, but her son is saved and “caught up to God and his throne” (Rev 12:5). Then Michael and his angels cast the dragon and his angels out of heaven (Rev 12:7–9). After this, the dragon tries to attack the boy indirectly by attacking members of his church (Rev 12:13–17).
• * [12:1] The woman adorned with the sun, the moon, and the stars (images taken from Gn 37:9–10) symbolizes God’s people in the Old and the New Testament. The Israel of old gave birth to the Messiah (Rev 12:5) and then became the new Israel, the church, which suffers persecution by the dragon (Rev 12:6, 13–17); cf. Is 50:1; 66:7; Jer 50:12. This corresponds to a widespread myth throughout the ancient world that a goddess pregnant with a savior was pursued by a horrible monster; by miraculous intervention, she bore a son who then killed the monster. 
• * [12:2] Because of Eve’s sin, the woman gives birth in distress and pain (Gn 3:16; cf. Is 66:7–14). 
• * [12:3] Huge red dragon: the Devil or Satan (cf. Rev 12:9; 20:2), symbol of the forces of evil, a mythical monster known also as Leviathan (Ps 74:13–14) or Rahab (Jb 26:12–13; Ps 89:11). Seven diadems: these are symbolic of the fullness of the dragon’s sovereignty over the kingdoms of this world; cf. Christ with many diadems (Rev 19:12). 
• * [12:5] Rule…iron rod: fulfilled in Rev 19:15; cf. Ps 2:9. Was caught up to God: reference to Christ’s ascension. 
• * [12:6] God protects the persecuted church in the desert, the traditional Old Testament place of refuge for the afflicted, according to the typology of the Exodus; see note on Rev 11:2. 
• * [12:7–12] Michael, mentioned only here in Revelation, wins a victory over the dragon. A hymn of praise follows. 
• * [12:7] Michael: the archangel, guardian and champion of Israel; cf. Dn 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9. In Hebrew, the name Michael means “Who can compare with God?”; cf. Rev 13:4. 
• * [12:9] The ancient serpent: who seduced Eve (Gn 3:1–6), mother of the human race; cf. Rev 20:2; Eph 6:11–12. Was thrown down: allusion to the expulsion of Satan from heaven; cf. Lk 10:18. 
• * [12:10] The accuser: the meaning of the Hebrew word “Satan,” found in Rev 12:9; Jb 1–2; Zec 3:1; 1 Chr 21:1; he continues to accuse Christ’s disciples. 
• * [12:14] Great eagle: symbol of the power and swiftness of divine help; cf. Ex 19:4; Dt 32:11; Is 40:31. 
• * [12:15] The serpent is depicted as the sea monster; cf. Rev 13:1; Is 27:1; Ez 32:2; Ps 74:13–14. 
• * [12:17] Although the church is protected by God’s special providence (Rev 12:16), the individual Christian is to expect persecution and suffering. 
• * [12:17] It took its position: many later manuscripts and versions read “I took my position,” thus connecting the sentence to the following paragraph.

The origin of the Draconid meteors, coming from Draco the Dragon, is Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner which has an orbital period of about 6.6 years. It’s about 6 times more distant at its farthest point from the sun than at its nearest point.[3]  

Rev. 13:1-8, 18 The First Beast.* 1Then I saw a beast come out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads; on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads blasphemous name[s]. 2The beast I saw was like a leopard, but it had feet like a bear’s, and its mouth was like the mouth of a lion.*  To it the dragon gave its own power and throne, along with great authority. 3I saw that one of its heads seemed to have been mortally wounded, but this mortal wound was healed.* Fascinated, the whole world followed after the beast. 4They worshiped the dragon because it gave its authority to the beast; they also worshiped the beast* and said, “Who can compare with the beast or who can fight against it?” 5* The beast was given a mouth uttering proud boasts and blasphemies, and it was given authority to act for forty-two months.* 6It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling and those who dwell in heaven. 7It was also allowed to wage war against the holy ones and conquer them, and it was granted authority over every tribe, people, tongue, and nation. 8All the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, all whose names were not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life, which belongs to the Lamb who was slain. 18*  Wisdom is needed here; one who understands can calculate the number of the beast, for it is a number that stands for a person. His number is six hundred and sixty-six.
USCCB FOOTNOTES:

• * [13:1–10] This wild beast, combining features of the four beasts in Dn 7:2–28, symbolizes the Roman empire; the seven heads represent the emperors; see notes on Rev 17:10 and Rev 17:12–14. The blasphemous names are the divine titles assumed by the emperors. 
• * [13:2] Satan (Rev 12:9), the prince of this world (Jn 12:31), commissioned the beast to persecute the church (Rev 13:5–7). 
• * [13:3] This may be a reference to the popular legend that Nero would come back to life and rule again after his death (which occurred in A.D. 68 from a self-inflicted stab wound in the throat); cf. Rev 13:14; Rev 17:8. Domitian (A.D. 81–96) embodied all the cruelty and impiety of Nero. Cf. Introduction. 
• * [13:4] Worshiped the beast: allusion to emperor worship, which Domitian insisted upon and ruthlessly enforced. Who can compare with the beast: perhaps a deliberate parody of the name Michael; see note on Rev 12:7. 
• * [13:5–6] Domitian, like Antiochus IV Epiphanes (Dn 7:8, 11, 25), demanded that he be called by divine titles such as “our lord and god” and “Jupiter.” See note on Rev 11:2. 
• * [13:5] Forty-two months (3.5 years or 1260 days. The length of the Tribulation): this is the same duration as the profanation of the holy city (Rev 11:2), the prophetic mission of the two witnesses (Rev 11:3), and the retreat of the woman into the desert (Rev 12:6, 14). 
• * [13:18] Each of the letters of the alphabet in Hebrew as well as in Greek has a numerical value. Many possible combinations of letters will add up to 666, and many candidates have been nominated for this infamous number. The most likely is the emperor Caesar Nero (see note on Rev 13:3), the Greek form of whose name in Hebrew letters gives the required sum. (The Latin form of this name equals 616, which is the reading of a few manuscripts.) Nero personifies the emperors who viciously persecuted the church. It has also been observed that “6” represents imperfection, falling short of the perfect number “7,” and is represented here in a triple or superlative form.

Rev.1:1-3 1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show his servants what must happen soon. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2who gives witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw. 3Blessed is the one* who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near. 
USCCB FOOTNOTES:

• * [1:1–3] This prologue describes the source, contents, and audience of the book and forms an inclusion with the epilogue (Rev 22:6–21), with its similar themes and expressions. 
• * [1:3] Blessed is the one: this is the first of seven beatitudes in this book; the others are in Rev 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14. This prophetic message: literally, “the words of the prophecy”; so Rev 22:7, 10, 18, 19 by inclusion. The appointed time: when Jesus will return in glory; cf. Rev 1:7; 3:11; 22:7, 10, 12, 20.

The Seven  Stars in His Right Hand [Little Dipper] 
Rev.1:9-20  The First Vision.* 9I, John, your brother, who share with you the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus, found myself on the island called Patmos* because I proclaimed God’s word and gave testimony to Jesus. 10I was caught up in spirit on the Lord’s day* and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, 11which said, “Write on a scroll* what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” 12* Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands 13and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man,* wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest. 14The hair of his head was as white as white wool or as snow,* and his eyes were like a fiery flame. 15His feet were like polished brass refined in a furnace,* and his voice was like the sound of rushing water. 16In his right hand he held seven stars.* A sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth, and his face shone like the sun at its brightest. 17When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead.* He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, 18the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.* 19Write down, therefore, what you have seen, and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards.* 20This is the secret meaning* of the seven stars you saw in my right hand, and of the seven gold lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
USCCB FOOTNOTES:

• * [1:9–20] In this first vision, the seer is commanded to write what he sees to the seven churches (Rev 1:9–11). He sees Christ in glory, whom he depicts in stock apocalyptic imagery (Rev 1:12–16), and hears him describe himself in terms meant to encourage Christians by emphasizing his victory over death (Rev 1:17–20). 
• * [1:9] Island called Patmos: one of the Sporades islands in the Aegean Sea, some fifty miles south of Ephesus, used by the Romans as a penal colony. Because I proclaimed God’s word: literally, “on account of God’s word.” 
• * [1:10] The Lord’s day: Sunday. As loud as a trumpet: the imagery is derived from the theophany at Sinai (Ex 19:16, 19; cf. Heb 12:19 and the trumpet in other eschatological settings in Is 27:13; Jl 2:1; Mt 24:31; 1 Cor 15:52; 1 Thes 4:16). 
• * [1:11] Scroll: a papyrus roll. 
• * [1:12–16] A symbolic description of Christ in glory. The metaphorical language is not to be understood literally; cf. Introduction. 
• * [1:13] Son of man: see note on Mk 8:31. Ankle-length robe: Christ is priest; cf. Ex 28:4; 29:5; Wis 18:24; Zec 3:4. Gold sash: Christ is king; cf. Ex 28:4; 1 Mc 10:89; 11:58; Dn 10:5. 
• * [1:14] Hair…as white as white wool or as snow: Christ is eternal, clothed with the dignity that belonged to the “Ancient of Days”; cf. Rev 1:18; Dn 7:9. His eyes were like a fiery flame: Christ is portrayed as all-knowing; cf. Rev 2:23; Ps 7:10; Jer 17:10; and similar expressions in Rev 2:18; 19:12; cf. Dn 10:6. 
• * [1:15] His feet…furnace: Christ is depicted as unchangeable; cf. Ez 1:27; Dn 10:6. The Greek word translated “refined” is unconnected grammatically with any other word in the sentence. His voice…water: Christ speaks with divine authority; cf. Ez 1:24. 
• * [1:16] Seven stars: in the pagan world, Mithras and the Caesars were represented with seven stars in their right hand, symbolizing their universal dominion. A sharp two-edged sword: this refers to the word of God (cf. Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12) that will destroy unrepentant sinners; cf. Rev 2:16; 19:15; Wis 18:15; Is 11:4; 49:2. His face…brightest: this symbolizes the divine majesty of Christ; cf. Rev 10:1; 21:23; Jgs 5:31; Is 60:19; Mt 17:2. 
• * [1:17] It was an Old Testament belief that for sinful human beings to see God was to die; cf. Ex 19:21; 33:20; Jgs 6:22–23; Is 6:5. 
• * [1:18] Netherworld: Greek Hades, Hebrew Sheol, the abode of the dead; cf. Rev 20:13–14; Nm 16:33. 
• * [1:19] What you have seen, and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards: the three parts of the Book of Revelation, the vision (Rev 1:10–20), the situation in the seven churches (Rev 2–3), and the events of Rev 6–22. 
• * [1:20] Secret meaning: literally, “mystery.” Angels: these are the presiding spirits of the seven churches. Angels were thought to be in charge of the physical world (cf. Rev 7:1; 14:18; 16:5) and of nations (Dn 10:13; 12:1), communities (the seven churches), and individuals (Mt 18:10; Acts 12:15). Some have seen in the “angel” of each of the seven churches its pastor or a personification of the spirit of the congregation.

The Life Giving Waters [Big Dipper and Little Dipper] 
Rev.21:5-8 5The one who sat on the throne* said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then he said, “Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.” 6He said to me, “They are accomplished.* I [am] the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. 7The victor* will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son. 8But as for cowards,* the unfaithful, the depraved, murderers, the unchaste, sorcerers, idol-worshipers, and deceivers of every sort, their lot is in the burning pool of fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” 
Rev.22:1-5, 10-21 1Then the angel showed me the river of life-giving water,* sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2down the middle of its street. On either side of the river grew the tree of life* that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month; the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations. 3Nothing accursed will be found there anymore. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4They will look upon his face,* and his name will be on their foreheads. 5Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever and ever. 10Then he said to me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words of this book, for the appointed time* is near. 11Let the wicked still act wickedly, and the filthy still be filthy. The righteous must still do right, and the holy still be holy.” 12“Behold, I am coming soon. I bring with me the recompense I will give to each according to his deeds. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”* 14Blessed are they who wash their robes so as to have the right to the tree of life and enter the city* through its gates. 15Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the unchaste, the murderers, the idol-worshipers, and all who love and practice deceit. 16“I, Jesus, sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the root and offspring of David,* the bright morning star.” 17The Spirit and the bride* say, “Come.” Let the hearer say, “Come.” Let the one who thirsts come forward, and the one who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water. 18I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19and if anyone takes away from the words in this prophetic book, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city described in this book. 20*  The one who gives this testimony says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! 21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.
USCCB FOOTNOTES:

• * [21:5] The one…on the throne: God himself; cf. Rev 4:1–11. 
• * [21:6] They are accomplished: God’s reign has already begun; see note on Rev 20:1–6. Alpha…Omega: see note on Rev 1:8. Life-giving water: see note on Rev 7:17. 
• * [21:7] The victor: over the forces of evil; see the conclusions of the seven letters (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). He will be my son: the victorious Christian enjoys divine affiliation by adoption (Gal 4:4–7; Rom 8:14–17); see note on Rev 2:26–28. 
• * [21:8] Cowards: their conviction is so weak that they deny Christ in time of trial and become traitors. Second death: see note on Rev 2:11. 
• * [22:1, 17] Life-giving water: see note on Rev 7:17 For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” 
• * [22:2] The tree of life: cf. Rev 22:14; see note on Rev 2:7. Fruit…medicine: cf. Ez 47:12. 
• * [22:4] Look upon his face: cf. Mt 5:8; 1 Cor 13:12; 1 Jn 3:2. 
• * [22:10] The appointed time: see note on Rev 1:3. 
• * [22:13] Christ applies to himself words used by God in Rev 1:8. 
• * [22:14] The city: heavenly Jerusalem; see note on Rev 21:2. 
• * [22:16] The root…of David: see note on Rev 5:5. Morning star: see note on Rev 2:26–28. 
• * [22:17] Bride: the church; see note on Rev 21:2. 
• * [22:20] Come, Lord Jesus: a liturgical refrain, similar to the Aramaic expression Marana tha—“Our Lord, come!”—in 1 Cor 16:22; cf. note there. It was a prayer for the coming of Christ in glory at the parousia; see note on Rev 1:3.

The 3 other 6th Seal Tetrads have occurred in the last 5 years:

2015

On March 20, 2015, there was a Total Solar Eclipse in the Faroe Islands and Svalbard (Norway), and a Partial Solar Eclipse in Europe, northern and eastern Asia and northern and western Africa. The eclipse started at 02:41 EST and ended at 06:41 EST.

On March 29, 2015 at 18:48 EST A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 rocked the South Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea. It was followed by a 5.7-magnitude aftershock and a 1.5-foot-high tsunami.

On April 4th at 06:16 EST, the shortest lunar eclipse (blood moon) of the 21st Century occurred. It lasted just four minutes and forty-three seconds (Chapter 4, Verse 43) completing at 06:20 EST.                
Luke 4:43 But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” 
John 4:43 *After the two days, he left there for Galilee. 
USCCB FOOTNOTES:                                     

• * [4:43–54] Jesus’ arrival in Cana in Galilee; the second sign. This section introduces another theme, that of the life-giving word of Jesus. It is explicitly linked to the first sign (Jn 2:11). The royal official believes (Jn 4:50). The natural life given his son is a sign of eternal life.

The Lyrids Meteor Shower were from April 16th to 25th 2015. 

​On April 25, 2015 at 2:11:26 AM EST, powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck Nepal killing more than 8,000 people across a swath of four countries as the violently shaking earth collapsed houses, leveled centuries-old temples and triggered avalanches on Mt. Everest. It was followed by a 7.3 magnitude earthquake again in Nepal on May 12, 2015.

2014

A powerful magnitude 7.4 Earthquake occurred on Apr. 13, 2014, 111km S of Kirakira, Solomon Islands @ 8:36 a.m. EST.   

A lunar eclipse (blood moon) occurred on April 15, 2014 at 3:46 a.m. EST, 43 hours,10 min (Ch.43, Verse 10) after the earthquake.
Gen.43:10 Had we not delayed, we could have been there and back twice by now!”                                                                                                 
Sir.43:10 By the LORD’s command the moon keeps its appointed place, and does not fade as the stars keep watch.  
Is.43:10 You are my witnesses*—oracle of the LORD— my servant whom I have chosen To know and believe in me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, and after me there shall be none.   
USCCB FOOTNOTES:

• * [43:10] You are my witnesses: Israel’s role as chosen people now takes a new turn as they are given the active role of bearing witness before humankind to the Lord’s role in history by proclaiming events beforehand and bringing them to pass; see also 44:8. The false gods, on the other hand, cannot produce such witnesses (v. 9; cf. 44:9). I am he: this formula of self-identification, repeated in vv. 13 and 25, is used here to support the assertion that the Lord alone is God; see also 41:4; 46:4; 48:12; 51:12; 52:6. This expression in part may be behind the self-identification formula used by Jesus in John’s gospel (cf. Jn 8:58). Before…after: another example of the same assertion, that the Lord alone is God; see also note on 44:6.   

Jer.43:10 Then say to them: Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I will send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. He will place his throne upon these stones which I, Jeremiah, have set up, and stretch his canopy above them. 
Ez.43:10 As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel so they are ashamed for their sins. Let them measure its layout. 
            
An annular solar eclipse occurred on Apr. 29, 2014 with its peak at 1:00 a.m. EST.  

A Lyrid Meteor Shower took place between April 16th and 25th. 

2010

A powerful magnitude 6.5 Earthquake occurred in Iran on Dec. 20, 2010 @ 1:41p.m. EST.

A lunar eclipse (Blood Moon) occurred on Dec. 21, 2010 @ 2:41 a.m. EST, exactly 13 hrs. (Rev.1:3) after the 6.5 Earthquake. 
Rev. 1:3 Blessed is the one* who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near
USCCB FOOTNOTES:

• * [1:3] Blessed is the one: this is the first of seven beatitudes in this book; the others are in Rev 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14. This prophetic message: literally, “the words of the prophecy”; so Rev 22:7, 10, 18, 19 by inclusion. The appointed time: when Jesus will return in glory; cf. Rev 1:7; 3:11; 22:7, 10, 12, 20.

A Geminid Meteor Shower occurred on Dec. 13, 2010. An Ursids Meteor Shower occurred on Dec. 21, 2010.

A partial solar eclipse occurred on Jan. 4, 2011 with its peak at 3:50 a.m. EST.                                                                                                                         


All of my statements and illustrations above are supported by Scripture.

And now comes Pastor John Hagee. 
If you read My 15th Blog – The Apocalyptic Moons of Blood, you were introduced to Pastor Hagee. He is author of the bestselling book Four Blood Moons and is the senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, a non-denominational megachurch with more than 20,000 active members.  In his 2005 book Jerusalem Countdown: A Warning to the World, Hagee interprets the Bible to predict that Russia and the Islamic states will invade Israel and will be destroyed by God. This will cause the antichrist, the head of the European Union, to create a confrontation over Israel between China and the West.

I wrote this 24th Blog as a voice of reason and sanity to contradict Hagee's "greed-ploy" contention that the 4th in a series of lunar eclipses (Blood Moons since 2014 Passover) on Sep. 27th and 28th will culminate in an apocalyptic war in the Middle East. Just as former V.P. Dick Cheney was a war profiteer (and should have been tried as a war criminal in the Hague), Pastor Hagee is a "strife profiteer" and the majority of Republicans in Congress are "hell-bent" on destroying an international nuclear non-proliferation agreement with Iran.  Hagee's comment regarding the non-proliferation agreement: "I have said it many times and I say it again: the day America turns its back on Israel will be the day God turns his back on America, and the day we validate this Iran nuclear deal as signed, sealed and delivered, will be the day we stick our finger in the eye of God." 

That's heresy! Read James 3:16-18, 4:1-3 below. None of these war mongers would be willing to stand at the back of a C-130 and watch the flag-draped coffins roll off.  They are cowards, all.

ISIL and other Islamic State terror organizations are the true threats in the war between good vs evil.  ISIL stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Levant is defined as Cyprus, Egypt, ISRAEL, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian territories, Syria, and Turkey.

While the right wing politicians in the U.S. say their motivation is protecting Israel, inductive reasoning based on their radical beliefs and greed says they also want to drive up the price of oil with a war against Iran, rather than letting the Iranians increase oil sales on the world market, as sanctions are lifted. (Remember Operation Iraqi Freedom, Dick Cheney and Halliburton.)


Here are what the descendants of Abraham think about greed:

It says in both the Bible and the Torah, Numbers 11:33-34:
33But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it could be chewed, the LORD’s wrath flared up against the people, and the LORD struck them with a very great plague. 34So that place was named Kibroth-hattaavah,* because it was there that the greedy people were buried. 

USCCB FOOTNOTES: 
* [11:34] Kibroth-hattaavah: means “graves of greed.” 

It says in the Quran سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara (The Cow), Chapter #2, Verse #96:
Thou wilt indeed find them, of all people, most greedy of life,-even more than the idolaters: Each one of them wishes He could be given a life of a thousand years: But the grant of such life will not save him from (due) punishment. For Allah sees well all that they do.

Without a peaceful resolution, Iran would continue its nuclear weapons program.  Hardliners from lawmakers in the U.S., Iran and Israel begin to beat the drums of war.  The depressed price of oil and embargoes on Iranian oil exports would further cripple the Iranian economy.  A preemptive strike against Iran could destroy its command and control structure; thereby paving a way for ISIL to enter sovereign Iran and turn it into a killing field against Shia Muslims and a breeding ground for the next generation of Jihadists.  A generation requiring winning the hearts and minds of young people and teaching them peace, rather than terror. Not always an easy task in the midst of chaos.

We’ve seen so many images of ISIL destroying Iraqi (Babylonian) and Syrian (Assyrian) antiquities that it appears they want to destroy any record of early civilization in Iraq, Iran and the Levant, i.e. Biblical history.

The Quran سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, (The Cow) Chapter #2 reads as follows:  v.47 Children of Israel, remember how I blessed you and favoured you over other people.

In the 14th book Surat Ibrahim (Abraham) of the Quran, it addresses ISIL's abhorrent behavior from Satan vs the peaceful behavior from God for the vast majority of Muslims: 14:22-23. "22.When everything has been decided, Satan will say, 'God gave you a true promise. I too made promises but they were false ones: I had no power over you except to call you, and you responded to my call, so do not blame me; blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I reject the way you associated me with God before.' A bitter torment awaits such wrongdoers,23. but those who believed and did good deeds will be brought into Gardens graced with flowing streams, there to remain with their Lord's permission: their greeting there is 'Peace’.

The Book of Psalms reads as follows:
Psalm 98:1-3 Coming of God. A psalm. I Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has done marvelous deeds. His right hand and holy arm have won the victory.* 2The LORD has made his victory known; has revealed his triumph in the sight of the nations, 3He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
USCCB FOOTNOTES:

• * [98:1] Marvelous deeds…victory: the conquest of all threats to the peaceful existence of Israel, depicted in the Psalms variously as a cosmic force such as sea, or nations bent on Israel’s destruction, or evildoers seemingly triumphant. His right hand and holy arm: God is pictured as a powerful warrior.

The theme we need is coexistence between the nations:
In the Book of Isaiah 2:4 He [God] shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.

In 2007, Hagee stated that he does not believe in global warming, and he also said that he sees the Kyoto Protocol as a conspiracy aimed at manipulating the U.S. economy. He has condemned the Evangelical Climate Initiative, an initiative “signed by 86 evangelical leaders acknowledging the seriousness of global warming and pledging to press for legislation to limit carbon dioxide emissions. I wonder if Pastor Hagee knows that his beloved state of Israel is a participant in the Kyoto Protocol or if Hagee is discounting our sins from Isaiah Ch. 24 which are resulting in climate change.  Is Hagee open-minded enough, based on the descriptions in Rev.8:8-9 (the 2nd Trumpet – Deepwater Horizon Disaster) and Rev. 16:8-9 (the 4th Bowl – Climate Change/Global Warming) to see that these respective events have occurred or are occurring as we speak...evidently not.

Rather than relying on the above Scripture quoted by me, Pastor Hagee has decided to "roll back the clock" to the Book of Genesis and attempt to build a puzzle of Old Testament Scripture, intertwining Creation with the Prophet Joel, all with the intent of initiating a war in the Middle East. The Book of Genesis is NOT a prophetic book of the Bible and Hagee appears to cherry-pick the Book of Joel squelching verse 2:10 (see above), which lists events similar to the 6th Seal. In Gen.1:14 it says; Then God said: Let there be lights in the dome of the sky, to separate day from night. Let them mark the seasons, the days and the years. Hagee says God is using the sun, moon and stars to send signals to mankind. For God's sake, the Almighty is discussing creation, not prophesy.  Just as Christ questioned Mosaic Law in a transition from the Old Testament (Mosaic and Priestly Covenants) to the Gospels and Epistles (New Covenant), Old Testament prophesy (good examples are Daniel and Isaiah) is enhanced and updated by the New Testament, particularly The Book of Revelation.  You must have a a "great earthquake", a solar eclipse and a meteor shower in conjunction with a lunar eclipse (Blood Moon) to satisfy the 6th Seal and symbolize the coming of the great day of the wrath from God and the Lamb (Rev.6:17). As it says in Rev. 22:18 I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19and if anyone takes away from the words in this prophetic book, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city described in this book.  Pastor Hagee has officially been "put on notice".

If the top 10 publicly traded oil companies are collectively the 1st Beast in Revelation Chapter 13, then Hagee and others (clergy, politicians, companies and their minions) who deny the Book of Revelation, particularly Climate Change, are collectively the 2nd Beast, also known as the False Prophet, so we must use logic and reasoning to Test the Spirits to determine motive in what they say:

1Jn4:1-6 Testing the Spirits.* 1Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God, 3and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus* does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world. 4You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5They belong to the world; accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world, and the world listens to them. 6We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us, while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.
USCCB FOOTNOTES:

• * [4:1–6] Deception is possible in spiritual phenomena and may be tested by its relation to Christian doctrine (cf. 1 Cor 12:3): those who fail to acknowledge Jesus Christ in the flesh are false prophets and belong to the antichrist. Even though these false prophets are well received in the world, the Christian who belongs to God has a greater power in the truth.

Sources:
[1] The Christian Science Monitor: Blood Moon Doomsday Prophesy: The Science Behind The Hype by Olivia Lowenberg, Staff. Sep. 1, 2015. 
(http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2015/0901/Blood-moon-doomsday-prophesy-The-science-behind-the-hype?cmpid=FB)
[2]Total Lunar Eclipse 2015 Sep - NASA (http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot2001/LE2015Sep28T.pdf)
[3] EarthSky’s meteor shower guide for 2015. By Bruce McClure and Deborah Byrd in TONIGHT |  ASTRONOMY ESSENTIALS | SPACE. Sep 07, 2015 (http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/earthskys-meteor-shower-guide)

Rev.4:7 The first creature resembled a lion, the second was like a calf, the third had a face like that of a human being, and the fourth looked like an eagle* in flight.
USCCB FOOTNOTES:
* [4:7] Lion…calf…human being…eagle: these symbolize, respectively, what is noblest, strongest, wisest, and swiftest in creation. Calf: traditionally translated “ox,” the Greek word refers to a heifer or young bull. Since the second century, these four creatures have been used as symbols of the evangelists Mark, Luke, Matthew, and John, respectively.

St. Mark - The Lion

St. Luke - The Calf

St. Matthew - The Man

St. John - The Eagle

I've been sitting under this stained glass in St. Patrick's Cathedral for 4 years and never really noticed its true meaning. St. John was the "Beloved Apostle", the Evangelist and the Seer of the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible. He was the last apostle to die. In Rev.4:7, the Eagle refers to St. John and it's the reason he's referred to as the Eagle of Patmos in some writings. The other 3 Evangelists: St. Mark (Lion), St. Luke (Calf) and St. Matthew (Man) are the photos above St. John.


Sep. 20, 2015 - Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 
Lectionary: 134
1st Reading Wisdom 2:12, 17-20
12 Let us lie in wait for the righteous one, because he is annoying to us; he opposes our actions, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. 17Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him in the end. 18For if the righteous one is the son of God, God will help him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. 19With violence and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. 20Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.”

2nd Reading James 3:16-18, 4:1-3 
16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. 17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.
Causes of Division. 1Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? 2You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. 3You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.


Gospel According to St. Mark: Mark 30:37
The Second Prediction of the Passion. 30 They left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. 31He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise.” 32But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. 
The Greatest in the Kingdom. 33They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. 35Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” 36Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, 37“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”

From today's readings: 
“If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” - Jesus in this case is referring to St. Peter. The Vicar of Christ is coming to the United States and I'd rather welcome him in Spanish!!! Papa Francisco, Bienvenidos a Estados Unidos! La gracia de Jesucristo sea con todas las personas!!!