“In the Twinkling of an Eye
Don’t miss the Signs”
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
PRAYER: -
SCRIPTURES: - Luke 21:25-28, Genesis 1:14, 1 Corinthians 15:52, Jeremiah 10:2 Joel 2:30-31.
OPENING: - This past Resurrection Sunday which is also known as Easter landed on March 31 this year which was a week and a half earlier than Resurrection Sunday last year in 2023 and is the 1st time in 8 years that it hasn’t been celebrated in April. Also, the Jewish celebration of Passover this year will be celebrated in late April starting on April 22 which is over 2 weeks later than the 2023 celebration. Both (Easter) Resurrection Sunday and Passover follow a schedule that aligns with the phases of the Moon and the Sun’s position known as the lunisolar calendar and the Farmers Almanac refers to these as movable feast and are based upon the first full moon of spring. We of the Western Civilization always celebrate (Easter) Resurrection Sunday the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring which happens shortly after the first day of spring known as the vernal equinox. The earliest it can occur is March 22 and the latest is April 25 this is why we celebrate it either in March or April because it follows the moons position and really has nothing to do with the date Jesus Resurrected, Easter is a pagan holiday that was incorporated into Christianity as a way to supposedly have Christianity accepted as the official religious system. When Jesus rose from the dead is NOT EASTER. However, the last time (Easter) Resurrection Sunday fell on March 31 was in 2013 and according to the U.S. Census Bureau the next time it will fall on this date is in the year 2086 and again in 2097. Now we have an explanation as to why Easter moves back and forth between March and April.
Now you may be wondering what this has to do with the Word of God since Easter is a pagan celebration and how is it relevant to me. Well, the Bible says in Genesis 1:14 “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years”. Luke 21:25 says, “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”. When God created the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars they were to be a sign to provide for the timing of days and nights, seasons, years and in Jeremiah 10:2 God says “Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them”. This is not Astrology is a form of divination and is forbidden in the Word of God, it is the belief that the heavenly bodies control our destiny, but Astronomy which is the science used to create calendars and the sun, moon and stars should cause us to look and wonder in awe at God’s wisdom, power, and endlessness. We should use the heavens to keep track of time, seasons, and God’s covenant keeping nature.
I truly believe that as people of God, Christians, those that are expecting the Blessed Hope the Rapture must pay close attention to the potentially prophetic significance of the signs in the Heavens as well as the distress of nations upon the earth. Someone may ask why we should be concerned with the signs in the heavens. First because Psalms 19:1-2 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge” and Second because Luke 21:28 says, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” and Third because Genesis 1:14 says, “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years”.
When we look at the condition of the world today and see all the things that are going on, the political uncertainty, wars, famine, pestilences, and the love of many waxing cold, the world is on a short fuse everywhere, people killing I do not believe that they are just shear coincidences but are in fact signs, signals, and indicators that God is using to get the attention of the people because He is soon to return.
Not setting any date as to the return of Jesus but I will say that the Word of God declares that signs in the heavens will precede the Day of the Lord Luke 21:25 says, “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”. I know this is talking about the return of Christ when He comes to set up His millennial Kingdom, but I also believe that He is letting us know that He is soon to come and Rapture, Harpazo us out of here.
WATCH THIS: - Exodus 31:18 the Bible says, “And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God”. Exodus 8:19 says, “Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said”. Luke 11:20 says, “But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you”. WATCH THIS: - The finger of God is a reference to the unlimited, Omnipotent power of God, it is unmistakable and no human device, magicians’ magical incantations, or AI generated technology can compete with what God does.
The finger of God wrote the Ten Commandments on stone Exodus 31:18. The finger of God is said to have brought the 3rd plague of lice on Egypt in Exodus 8:19. I wholeheartedly believe it is the finger of God that has been writing and will complete writing upon America in just a little while just like in Daniel 5 when the fingers of a mans hand wrote judgment upon the wall vs 25 says, “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN” vs 26-27 “This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL: Thou art weighed, and are found wanting”. I believe America has been weighed and found wanting and a warning is being sent to the people to repent and turn from your wicked ways.
Understand there is not a prophecy that needs to be filled, there is not a certain event that needs to happen, there is not a sign that has to be given the Rapture can happen at any moment in the twinkling of an eye, but I believe that God because He is merciful, longsuffering, and compassionate is giving warning that the time is rapidly approaching and we need to make sure we understand the signs of the times that are being not only played out but are being written by the finger of God.
In the Twinkling of an Eye - Don’t miss the Signs.
Genesis 1:14 says, “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years”. When God created the Sun, Moon and Stars it was to provide signs for the timing of extraordinary events, the appointed times, day, night and years. Understand this is the ancient way God communicated to His people and I believe that He still communicates to us, His people through the sun, moon, stars for the heavens declare His glory but we need to understand what it is He is saying. Declare is to say something in an emphatic and solemn manner. Biblically it is to make known or set forth.
PURPOSE: - The purpose of a sign in general is to serve to promote something, identify something, provide information, give directions and warning. The Hebrew word for sign is ‘ot (nyn) and means to guide and mark sacred times, to confirm divine directions, memorialize God’s miraculous protection and highlight sacred days and years, a warning, ensign, standard, distinguishing mark - Strong’s 226. The Greek word “semeion” means sign or miracle Strong’s 4592. So, one of the ways God speaks to us is with signs.
On tomorrow April 8, 2024, there will be a major celestial event that will happen it will be the first TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE to cross over Mexico, the United States, and Canada in the 21st century also the 8 planets of our solar system and the moon will form a straight line across the heavens, such an alignment is extremely rare and indicates the precision and order of God’s creation. At the same time 12P/Pons-Brooks, a comet in the sky should become visible to the naked eye, this comet has earned the nickname “the Devil Comet”. Joel 2:30-31 says, “And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come”.
This solar eclipse has been an event that has brought a lot of excitement to people and has caused schools to shut down in many areas, News and other Media outlets have been broadcasting and building up the hype concerning this event all though the event will only last 4 minutes and 28 seconds. There have been warnings telling people not to look directly at the eclipse because it can permanently damage your eyes and even cause permanent blindness. This eclipse has been named “The Great American Eclipse” and the path that it will travel will along with the path of the August 21, 2017, eclipse, known as the Salem Eclipse, will place a giant X on America and the intersection of the two paths and the spot of the longest duration for both eclipses is a place in Southern Illinois called “Little Egypt”. I will dive deeper into that “Little Egypt” and its symbolism shortly.
Now as you know numbers play a very important role in scripture the number 7 is God’s perfect number representing perfection and completeness, the number 8 is new beginnings, the number 10 is Divine Order, and the number 3 is fullness. Let me deal with the number 3 for a moment which is fulness. Past, Present, Future is the fulness of time, Death, Burial, Resurrection is the full gospel, Outer Court, Inner Court, Holy of Holies was the full Tabernacle, Spirit, Soul, Body is the fullness of mankind. There were 3 deaths at Calvary one died in sin, one died to sin, and one died for sin, the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. David was anointed 3 times, once to be King, second to be King of Judah, 3rd to be King of all Israel so you see 3 represents fulness. I just mentioned there are 3 events that take place on April 8, the Solar Eclipse, the alignment of the 8 planets and the Moon, and the visibility of the comet and I would say that is the fulness of the heavens declaring the glory of God. Well, there are 3 eclipses, and these 3 eclipses are being called the finger of God because of the mark they make across America. The Great American Eclipse which will be tomorrow April 8th, the Salem Eclipse, which was August 21, 2017, and there was as well on October 14, 2023, an eclipse called the Ring of Fire Eclipse and the path of all 3 eclipses will mark America with the Alef-Tav.
The Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and the Tav is the last letter. It is the placement of the Aleph Tav at strategic locations within many verses of scripture that expresses the understanding of a total completeness – REMEMBER 3 is the number of completeness. Aleph Tav is equivalent to saying “from alpha to omega, from A to Z, from the First to the Last, from Beginning to the End. Hebrew scholars agree that the first letter the Aleph means Strength and is given the pictograph of an OX head the Tav has an X as its pictograph or symbol which indicates the sign of Covenant consequently the Alpeh Tav together literally means STRENGTH OF THE COVENANT. It is believed that when the Children of Israel placed the Blood of the Lamb on the doorpost and on the mantel that the symbol was the Tav the X.
In the Bible especially the KJV Genesis 1:1 has 10 words (10 = DIVINE ORDER) there are 10 commandments, there were 10 plagues that came upon Egypt which is the Divine Order of God and there are 10 words in the first verse of the Bible - “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” if you can’t believe Genesis 1:1 there is no way possible you can believe anything else in the entire Bible for that is the foundation the corner stone for which everything else is established. The original Hebrew has 7 words (7 = PERFECTION & COMPLETENESS) on the 7th day God finished creation and rested the seven words of the Hebrew is “B-re’shiyt bara Elohim ‘et hashamayim v’et ha’aretz” that ‘et is an untranslatable word but are the Aleph Tav and expresses the understanding of a total completeness, also it is the 4th word in the verse and the number 4 represents creation and is the day God (Elohim) created the Sun, Moon, and Stars who purpose was not just to give light but to divide the day from the night thus becoming a basic demarcation of time and mark of the days, years, and seasons which are 4 Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. The Aleph-Tav is the Hebrew symbol used to represent God’s signature.
The 2017 eclipse was known as the Seven Salems Eclipse because its path crossed seven locations named Salem which is the Biblical name of Jerusalem and means peaceful, safe, perfect, and complete. The number 7 represents perfection and completeness. This eclipse on April 8th 8 meaning New Beginnings, there were 8 souls saved in the ark Noah, his wife, their 3 sons and their 3 wives. This eclipse on the 8th day of the 4th month will cross seven towns named Nineveh in the U.S and 1 in Canada for a total of 8 = New Beginnings. Along with the eclipse of October 14, 2023 will mark America with the Alef Tav – the signature of God.
WATCH THIS:-According to History an ancient solar eclipse called the Bur-Sagale Eclipse passed over the Assyrian capital of Nineveh in 763 BC this is the time when Jonah called the city to repentance and is believed to be part of the reason when he finally got to Nineveh that the people were serious and willing to repent because they experienced the eclipse and knew it was a sign from God Jonah 3. Matthew 16:1-4 says, “The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say it will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed”. So here we have a solar eclipse that will pass over 7 places named Nineveh in the U.S, with 7 representing perfection and completeness and then 1 in Canada making a total of 8 which is new beginnings it is not a stretch of the spiritual imagination to say I think God is trying to tell us something and that these Nineveh’s could be a sign.
Now remember this eclipse named “The Great American Eclipse” and the path that it will travel will along with the path of the August 21, 2017, eclipse, known as the Salem Eclipse, will place a giant X on America and the intersection of the two paths and the spot of the longest duration for both eclipses is a place in Southern Illinois called “Little Egypt”. Now let’s look at possibly another sign with this place called “Little Egypt”. There are many reasons as to why this place is called by this name for instance there is a river system that is reminiscent of the Nile Valley as well as cities around named Karnak, Cairo, and Thebes those are all names of places around Egypt also this area is where slavery was in place despite it being illegal in Illinois. In the 1800’s it is reported that there was a famine in Northern Illinois yet there was bountiful harvest in the Southern part of Illinois. It is stated that the people in the Northern part compared themselves to the Children of Israel who during famine went to Egypt to seek food and these people went to South Illinois “Little Egypt to seek food, so the region has been named Little Egypt.
Interestingly that is 3 things mentioned about Little Egypt and 3 is the number of fulness. Since this is the spot marked by an X and is also the symbol of the Tav and is the longest duration of the eclipse again it is no stretch of the spiritual imagination to say this is a sign from the Finger of God. The Tav being placed over America can be considered a sign of protection like the children of Israel when they placed the lamb’s blood on the door post and mantel of the door but also a sign of coming judgment. Just a little interesting fact the number of days between August 21, 2017, and April 8, 2024, is 2422 days 2+4+2+2=10 remember 10 is Divine Order.
Now the Salem Eclipse of 2017 and the Great American Eclipse of 2024 marks America with an X or Tav. However, the number 3 represents fulness so the Ring of Fire eclipse which happened October 14, 2023, and passed over the Eastern United States forms the Aleph Tav over America. Remember the Aleph Tav is considered God’s signature written with the finger of God.
Now I want to look at the timing of this Eclipse. It will happen on April 8 remember the number 8 represents New Beginning and April is the 4th month and the number 4 in creation is the day the sun, moon, and stars were created to be a sign for days, years and seasons. Also, something else I find interesting is 4+8=12 the number 12 means Divine Government and symbolizes God’s power and authority, there are 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles, 12000 from each tribe will make up the 144000 that will be sealed during the tribulation period for a special ministry purpose, 12 gates of pearl in the New Jerusalem.
April 8 on the Hebrew calendar is Nisan 1 and at sundown on April 8 by our calendar and Nisan 1 by the Hebrew calendar around 11:00 am Eastern Standard Time begins the time that Jewish people will be preparing for the Passover. Nisan 1 is the Ecclesiastical New Year based on God’s calendar, the date and day from which months and festivals are counted. Moses dedicated the Tabernacle after the Children of Israel left Egypt on Nisan 1 Exodus 40. Nisan comes from the word Nitzan meaning bud or Nissim meaning miracles both suggest physical and spiritual resurrection in our lives. Nisan 1 is the Biblical New Years Day and the number 8 means new beginnings, Nisan is the start of the month of the Exodus out of Egypt. It is the first month used to count the festivals of the Hebrew calendar Exodus 12:2 says, “This month shall be for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the new year for you”. Another name or meaning for the month of Nisan is the month of Miracles, the Red Sea was parted during Nisan, the water came from the rock during Nisan, it is believed Abraham was born and died on Nisan 1 along with Issac and Jacob. So, Nisan 1 or April 8th can be a day of miracles.
Understand that an eclipse generally doesn’t mean too much and are very common occurrences for there are 2 eclipse seasons that happen every year in both fall and spring so because an eclipse happens doesn’t mean it is a sign or a warning. However, you must look at the past, world events, and the Bible to be able to discern the questions who, what, where, when, and why.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, “The things that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun”. Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” we can literally take these two verse to mean that God still speaks as He always had through the sun, moon, and stars. In Biblical prophecy the moon always symbolizes Israel, and the sun always symbolizes Gentile nations, this eclipse on April 8, 2024, is the total blocking of the sun and I believe it is God talking to the Gentile nation of America warning us to repent and look up for our redemption draws nigh.
Remember Luke 21:25-26 says “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; 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”. This eclipse comes literally at a time when America is truly ripe for judgment. Political corruption, wickedness, lawlessness, violence, hatred, racism, religious distain, apostacy, heresies, false prophets, witchcraft, adultery, emulations, strife, lasciviousness, murders and every diabolical abomination is running rampant, and America is literally walking on shaky ground, and these are the things that will bring God’s judgment. I believe that we as a people and we as a nation must look up for our redemption draws nigh. I believe God is sending a warning and as a watchman I must blow the trumpet and I pray that people hear the sound.
CLOSING: - This lesson barely scratches the tip of the iceberg when it comes to prophecy and certain events that are happening and if you search the internet, you can find a plethora of articles and videos that go into greater detail on the subject. It is my intention to grab your attention and cause you to seek to find out what thus saith the Lord. Proverbs 25:2 says, “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter”. I pray that you will seek out this matter and listen to the voice of God. The heavens truly do declare His glory and the eclipse tomorrow along with the previous ones in 2017 and 2023 will complete God’s signature by pacing the Aleph Tav on America.
I believe this is not just a coincidence but is in fact the Lord God pulling out all the stops to turn people’s hearts and desires back to Him and repent before it is to late. It is without a doubt His compassion, mercy, and long-suffering that He is warning people to get right before it is too late. As children of God, we must seriously consider the potential prophetic significance of this sign in the heavens. He warned in Luke 21:25 “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”.
He is coming back in a tinkling of an eye so don’t miss the sign.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
