So, here’s my take on the upcoming Great American Solar Eclipse event coming on April 8: Should be an interesting astronomical show that declares the glory of God, as the heavens are wont to do, night after night. (Psalm 19).
Here’s why I think the rest of the things being said about the event are zealous but don’t hold up.
1) As far as this eclipse passing directly over every city named Nineveh in America, it is simply not true. Get the NASA map and compare with a map where the Ninevehs are marked.
2) The interpretation of the event is not in keeping with anything that is clear in Scripture. There is absolutely no proof that there was a solar eclipse when Jonah walked into Nineveh, nor is the sign of the prophet Jonah referred to by Jesus anything other than three days in the belly of a great fish, out on the third day, etc (Luke 11:29-32; Matthew 12:38-41).
IMPORTANT: Solid Christian theology looks for a plain reading of the text. If I have to become a mathematician and an astronomer to understand the Bible then we have gone past a plain reading.
3) Americans tend to see everything that happens in America as prophetic. A hurricane off the coast is God’s judgement if Christians are unhappy with the President, etc., but it means nothing anywhere else. People can be martyred in other countries for their faith but let it happen in America and surely the Day of the Lord has come!
GET YOUR CAN OF WORMS READY FOR THIS NEXT ONE!
4) For those using this eclipse to predict the Rapture, I say, “See you on April 9.” “Why? It’s not because I don’t believe in the Rapture. I do!!! I just can’t find a shred of evidence in Scripture for a pre-trib rapture. (I’m happy to discuss this but only if you are ready to bring chapter and verse and nothing else).
These are four reasons that I think a really interesting show in the heavens is upon us but I wouldn’t quit my job or head to the cellar. And I don’t mean that disrespectfully. There will come a day “…when He that shall come, will come, and He will not tarry.” Hebrews 10:37 KJV
Hebrews 10:37 (NASB95): For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.