Doves,
There are a lot of claims the moon is out of place, the sun is rising or setting in the wrong place, etc.
But these are anecdotal claims, none of these people have actually taken the time to measure and verify these things. This frustrates me to no end, because these contagious memes spread fear amongst the ignorant and tarnish the image of Christian watchers.
It is also frustrating that some of the prominent names, writers, You-tubers and 'leaders' on the Internet don't verify what they learn in Youtube nor correct or clarify the situation when confronted with evidence to the contrary.
Yes, Doves, it's time to be wise as serpents here.
As Christians, we should always look to the Bible as our guide. Jesus did say there would be signs in the sun, moon, stars, etc. and He says the powers of heaven would be shaken, but let's have a look at Jeremiah 31:35-37 http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jer&c=31&t=NKJV&q=jeremiah
Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The LORD of hosts [is] His name)
If those ordinances depart from before Me, says the LORD, [Then] the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever.
Thus says the LORD: "If heaven above can be measured, And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel For all that they have done, says the LORD.
The word for ordinances is Strongs 2706 http://www.htmlbible.com/sacrednamebiblecom/kjvstrongs/STRHEB27.htm#S2706
from 'chaqaq' (2710); an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage):--appointed, bound, commandment, convenient, custom, decree(-d), due, law, measure, X necessary, ordinance(- nary), portion, set time, statute, task.
So, God is saying that if the prescribed paths of the sun, moon and stars were to be abandoned, so would He abandon Israel.
Will God abandon Israel? Of course not! The Abrahamic covenant is about to be fulfilled as promised some 4,000 years ago!
Therefore, the ordinances of the sun, moon and stars must remain...
The Moon out of place?
A few years ago, Pastor Mark Biltz discovered a series of eclipses on the Feasts of the Lord. Luis Vega made this excellent illustration:
How could these eclipses take place if the moon was out of sync?
The moon follows a very predictable pattern, if this pattern were to be disturbed, these eclipses would not occur on their appointed (ordained) days...
The Moon Rotated?
Imagine there's a poster on the wall in front of you. Now slide that poster up the wall, across the ceiling and down the other side. If you did it right, the poster is now up side down. The poster hasn't rotated, YOU have rotated.
The same thing happens with the moon and stars. In fact, the constellation Virgo stands when it rises, then sets up-side-down.
So, when the moon is on the Eastern horizon, its North pole points North. i.e. to your left. When the moon sets in the West, its North pole points North, or to the right.
Have a look at the picture of the moon on the Wikipedia site. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon
See the big white crater at the south pole? Now the next time you look at the moon you'll know which way is North! (Handy if you don't have a compass or mossy trees.)
Is the Sun rising too early?
This article was claimed proof by many that we are in the end times, and that the Earth is tilting due to planet X/Nibiru:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1346936/The-sun-rises-days-early-Greenland-sparking-fears-climate-change-accelerating.html
First, there's leap year. This can vary the solstice by 1 calendar day.
Secondly, if the sun rose too early this solstice, it means the Earth had less tilt this winter, not more.
Thirdly, there's ALWAYS been variation in the Earth's tilt, no doubt due to influences by the moon and Jupiter/Saturn.
http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/september-equinox.html
The heavenlies are predictable, but there is measurable variation. This variation is normal.
How to measure the Earth's tilt.
To find out for sure, you can measure the Earth's tilt. It takes a little effort, but if you really need to set your mind at ease, it's probably worth it.
What's neat about the Equinox, is that at Solar Noon (When the sun is the highest above you), the angle of the shadow is equal to your Latitude.
To measure at other times of the year, you'll have to calculate the angle of the Earth's tilt for that day.
I made some measurements last July.
July 2nd was 83 days till Sept 23rd.
The Max tilt of the Earth is 23.44 degrees. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solstice
83/94 = 0.883
23.44° x 0.833 = 20.7°
Then I measured the shortest shadow of the day, which indicated Solar noon.
Summer shadows are shorter, so we subtract this number from my Latitude:
47.75 - 20.7 = 27°
And my washer height is 46.3" above the board.
46.3" x sin(27°) = 21"
So, I should expect my shadow length to be about 21"
And I got about 21", exactly in the range expected. (Shadows are fuzzy)
No doubt this could be done more precisely, but clearly the Earth is tilted precisely where it should be. And if it's off, it's off by so little, that no one should be able to tell the difference without measurements more accurate than mine.
Conclusion
The heavenlies are in order. Their paths (ordinances) are ordained by God and have a purpose as discovered by Mark Biltz and Luis Vega and others...
Just as we are told to test the spirits, test the theories you find on the Internet and even those promoted by well known Christian watchmen.
What good is being a watchman if you cannot discern or take the time to verify what you see?
Speculation and wonder is OK, but promoting easily verifiable falsehoods is dishonest, be Berean and search to see if these things are true.
There are a lot of claims the moon is out of place, the sun is rising or setting in the wrong place, etc.
But these are anecdotal claims, none of these people have actually taken the time to measure and verify these things. This frustrates me to no end, because these contagious memes spread fear amongst the ignorant and tarnish the image of Christian watchers.
It is also frustrating that some of the prominent names, writers, You-tubers and 'leaders' on the Internet don't verify what they learn in Youtube nor correct or clarify the situation when confronted with evidence to the contrary.
Yes, Doves, it's time to be wise as serpents here.
As Christians, we should always look to the Bible as our guide. Jesus did say there would be signs in the sun, moon, stars, etc. and He says the powers of heaven would be shaken, but let's have a look at Jeremiah 31:35-37 http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jer&c=31&t=NKJV&q=jeremiah
Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The LORD of hosts [is] His name)
If those ordinances depart from before Me, says the LORD, [Then] the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever.
Thus says the LORD: "If heaven above can be measured, And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel For all that they have done, says the LORD.
The word for ordinances is Strongs 2706 http://www.htmlbible.com/sacrednamebiblecom/kjvstrongs/STRHEB27.htm#S2706
from 'chaqaq' (2710); an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage):--appointed, bound, commandment, convenient, custom, decree(-d), due, law, measure, X necessary, ordinance(- nary), portion, set time, statute, task.
So, God is saying that if the prescribed paths of the sun, moon and stars were to be abandoned, so would He abandon Israel.
Will God abandon Israel? Of course not! The Abrahamic covenant is about to be fulfilled as promised some 4,000 years ago!
Therefore, the ordinances of the sun, moon and stars must remain...
The Moon out of place?
A few years ago, Pastor Mark Biltz discovered a series of eclipses on the Feasts of the Lord. Luis Vega made this excellent illustration:
How could these eclipses take place if the moon was out of sync?
The moon follows a very predictable pattern, if this pattern were to be disturbed, these eclipses would not occur on their appointed (ordained) days...
The Moon Rotated?
Imagine there's a poster on the wall in front of you. Now slide that poster up the wall, across the ceiling and down the other side. If you did it right, the poster is now up side down. The poster hasn't rotated, YOU have rotated.
The same thing happens with the moon and stars. In fact, the constellation Virgo stands when it rises, then sets up-side-down.
So, when the moon is on the Eastern horizon, its North pole points North. i.e. to your left. When the moon sets in the West, its North pole points North, or to the right.
Have a look at the picture of the moon on the Wikipedia site. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon
See the big white crater at the south pole? Now the next time you look at the moon you'll know which way is North! (Handy if you don't have a compass or mossy trees.)
Is the Sun rising too early?
This article was claimed proof by many that we are in the end times, and that the Earth is tilting due to planet X/Nibiru:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1346936/The-sun-rises-days-early-Greenland-sparking-fears-climate-change-accelerating.html
First, there's leap year. This can vary the solstice by 1 calendar day.
Secondly, if the sun rose too early this solstice, it means the Earth had less tilt this winter, not more.
Thirdly, there's ALWAYS been variation in the Earth's tilt, no doubt due to influences by the moon and Jupiter/Saturn.
http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/september-equinox.html
The heavenlies are predictable, but there is measurable variation. This variation is normal.
How to measure the Earth's tilt.
To find out for sure, you can measure the Earth's tilt. It takes a little effort, but if you really need to set your mind at ease, it's probably worth it.
What's neat about the Equinox, is that at Solar Noon (When the sun is the highest above you), the angle of the shadow is equal to your Latitude.
To measure at other times of the year, you'll have to calculate the angle of the Earth's tilt for that day.
I made some measurements last July.
July 2nd was 83 days till Sept 23rd.
The Max tilt of the Earth is 23.44 degrees. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solstice
83/94 = 0.883
23.44° x 0.833 = 20.7°
Then I measured the shortest shadow of the day, which indicated Solar noon.
Summer shadows are shorter, so we subtract this number from my Latitude:
47.75 - 20.7 = 27°
And my washer height is 46.3" above the board.
46.3" x sin(27°) = 21"
So, I should expect my shadow length to be about 21"
And I got about 21", exactly in the range expected. (Shadows are fuzzy)
No doubt this could be done more precisely, but clearly the Earth is tilted precisely where it should be. And if it's off, it's off by so little, that no one should be able to tell the difference without measurements more accurate than mine.
Conclusion
The heavenlies are in order. Their paths (ordinances) are ordained by God and have a purpose as discovered by Mark Biltz and Luis Vega and others...
Just as we are told to test the spirits, test the theories you find on the Internet and even those promoted by well known Christian watchmen.
What good is being a watchman if you cannot discern or take the time to verify what you see?
Speculation and wonder is OK, but promoting easily verifiable falsehoods is dishonest, be Berean and search to see if these things are true.