Gary Varvel: The solar eclipse is not the Apocalypse

Relax and enjoy the miraculous sign

Apr 08, 2024

APRIL 8TH SOLAR ECLIPSE

My home in Indianapolis is in the path of the April 8 solar eclipse. Is it a sign of God’s judgment on America? An omen of a coming earthquake in the New Madrid fault? The rapture?

After all, this eclipse will move over 7 towns or cities named Nineveh. And Nineveh was warned by the prophet Jonah that in 40 days God would destroy them. The Bible says that whole city repented and God relented.

Spoiler alert: Within a 100 years Nineveh was destroyed.

But before you buy into the Nineveh hype, look at the NASA map above. There are only 2 Nineveh’s in the path of the eclipse, (Indiana and Ohio) not 7.

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The Bible is Israel-centric. It focuses on the history and future of the Middle East and specifically, Israel and its capital city, Jerusalem. And since the Bible is Israel-focused, it doesn’t mention America.

It’s true that the Bible says in Genesis 1:14 says: “And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for; signs and for; seasons.”

While the Bible does say that the lights in the sky are for “signs,” it doesn’t specify that they are always omens of doom. And where the Bible is silent, it’s best to be silent.

In Matthew 24:29, Jesus said, ““Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light…”

But Jesus was not talking about a total solar eclipse which happens somewhere on the earth every 18 months. He was quoting Isaiah 13:9-10, which will happen during the “Day of the Lord” also known as The Great Tribulation period which will happen after the rapture of the church.

Many people have also made the point that the 2017 total solar eclipse passed over 7 cities named Salem which means peace. I don’t know if that is true but even if that is so, what does it mean?

The 2017 and 2024 eclipses form an “X” looks like the letter, “Tav” which is the last letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Jesus said that he was the First and the Last.

Plus, the 2017 and the 2024 eclipse will cross in Carbondale, Illinois — a place known as Little Egypt. So does that must mean the plagues of Egypt are coming to America?

And then there is this fun fact. The 2017, 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses form an “Aleph” which is the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet. While fascinating, I don’t know of any verse in the Bible that describes what this means.

Sign of Jonah?

In Matthew 12 and Mark 8, the pharisees asked Jesus for a sign. Jesus responded that a “wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” (Matthew 12:39)

Some people on the internet claimed that the sign was a total solar eclipse that happened on June 15, 763 BC. And that this eclipse plus Jonah’s preaching is what caused the people to repent. See the NASA map below.

But that is NOT what Jesus said. Jesus never mentions a solar eclipse as being the sign of Jonah. He describes the sign of Jonah in Matthew 12:40:

“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

In other words, Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection was going to be the sign the pharisees were given.

At the American Minute website, historian Bill Federer wrote an interesting history record of solar eclipse paths crossing different countries and events that followed. But some of the bad events of the past happened years after the total eclipse.

Conclusion

I have written about the wrath of God described in Romans 1 as being the abandonment of God’s protection over America because of our sins. But there Jesus said that He was going to return some day. Therefore each one of us should prepare to meet God by repenting of our sin and asking Jesus to save us.

Then go and enjoy the perfect alignment miracle of the moon which is 400 times smaller than the sun passing in front of the sun which is 400 farther away making them appear as the same size. What are the odds of that happening by chance?

VIDEO -This fascinating animation explains how and why total solar eclipses are so rare. This is a purely scientific look at the alignment of the sun, moon and earth. This video doesn’t mention it but the obvious question is how did this perfect alignment happen? Could it be God?

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Great logical analysis, as always!

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1 reply by Gary Varvel

Brad Morrison

Apr 9, 2024

Nothing but the studied truth and reality from Gary. The bonus is his sense of humor and excellent cartooning and satire. He truly cares about God’s children’s souls. Make Jesus your Lord and Savior, learn the Bible and evangelize like Gary.

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Gary Varvel: The solar eclipse is not the Apocalypse

Relax and enjoy the miraculous sign

APRIL 8TH SOLAR ECLIPSE

Be sure to click the like button. It helps me reach more people.

Be sure to click the like button. It helps me reach more people.

A new HUMOR ME cartoon coming Tuesday

My Israel essay series:

My essay series on America’s spiritual war:

My Series of Essays on God’s Timeline

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