Understanding the prophetic difference between a Blood Red Moon and a Darkened Moon is a special key that unlocks critical understanding of future events.
The blood moon in particular is a major key in Biblical Prophecy. A darkened moon, on the other hand, occurs more frequently and is thus harder to pinpoint to a specific event. We will examine the darkened moon that is accompanied by a darkened sun and darkened or falling stars in this post.
Both the blood and darkened moons are equally accompanied by a darkened sun and darkened or falling stars. Both announce a revealing of Jesus Christ, when the skies roll back as a scroll. The blood red moon occurs BEFORE the great and terrible Day of the Lord; darkness occurs DURING the Day of the Lord; a darkened moon occurs at the END of the Day of the Lord at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Blood Moon
The Blood Moon Sign is a special key unique to these 3 passages:
“And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. ” Joel 2:30-31 ESV
And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Acts 2:19-21 ESV
When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:12-17 ESV
While Joel 2 and Acts 2 prophesy that the Blood Moon Sign specifically comes BEFORE the Day of the Lord, Seal 6 announces the fulfillment of the Blood Moon Sign. With its appearance, the Great Day of Wrath has arrived. The Day of the Lord is about to begin.
Of great interest is the way Peter quoted Joel 2 in Acts 2. Through this passage, I believe he announces the beginning and end of the church age. The church age ends at the rapture, which is marked by the Blood Moon Sign. A discussion on this can be found here:
An additional key that connects to the blood moon is that during the blood moon, only the earth is shaken (not the heavens). That study is here: What’s Shaking? The Earth, the Heavens, or Both?
Darkened Moon
Now let’s examine a dark moon.
The entire Day of the Lord time period is described as a time of punishment, distress, darkness, and gloom:
The great day of the Lord is near—near and coming quickly. The cry on the day of the Lord is bitter; the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry. That day will be a day of wrath— a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness— a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. “I will bring such distress on all people that they will grope about like those who are blind, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath.”In the fire of his jealousy the whole earth will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth.” (Zephaniah 1:14-18 ESV)
While there is a lot of darkness off and on during the Day of the Lord, particularly during Trumpets 4&5 and Bowl 5, a specific Dark Moon sign accompanies the End of the Day of the Lord.
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days, “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ (Matthew 24 ESV) 24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. (Mark 13 ESV) 25 “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, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Luke 21 ESV)
“On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost. And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light.” Zechariah 14:6-7 ESV
The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. I will make people scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the Lord Almighty, in the day of his burning anger. Isaiah 13:10-13 ESV
The specifically darkened moon marks the end of the Day of the Lord and comes right before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The sign that accompanies the Dark Moon at the end of the Day of the Lord is that the heavens are shaking as well as the earth. That study is here: What’s Shaking? The Earth, the Heavens, or Both?
Summary
I hope that I have been able to show you that the moon cannot be described both as BLOOD and as DARK at the same time. These are two different prophetic events that we will continue to delve into. The blood red moon occurs BEFORE the great and terrible Day of the Lord; the darkness occurs DURING the Day of the Lord; the dark moon occurs at the END of the Day of the Lord (Second Coming). This difference is critical.
Further Resources:
Are you CERTAIN of your Salvation, beyond a shadow of a doubt? Do you KNOW that no matter when the rapture occurs, you will be counted worthy to escape? If not, please read What Must I do to Be Saved.
God’s Mosaic – A Whole Scripture Overview of Things To Come
Main Menu – God’s Mosaic Prophecy Model
The Bible is infallible. I am not. I am merely challenging traditional models and testing them against Scripture. I believe that traditional pretribulation teachings provide a solid backbone upon which to lay the musculature of details, some of which I think might need to be adjusted slightly. I encourage you to consider my thoughts as you also examine the scriptures to see if these things are so!
Red Moon Rapture 