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Early Wednesday, tens of millions of Americans up in the wee hours will have the opportunity to see a rare astronomical phenomenon. And one American pastor, the man who discovered the "blood moons phenomenon," is urging those looking to the sky to understand it's God's invitation to get on His schedule.
Pastor Mark Biltz, who discovered the "blood moons" link to holy days celebrated by Jews and many Christians, says America needs to be on God's schedule, and this "is his heavenly invitation."
A total lunar eclipse – which will be especially pronounced over the Western United States – will happen early Wednesday.
Biltz, the author of "Blood Moons: Decoding the Imminent Heavenly Signs," told WND the astonishing sequence of events that make up a tetrad, a series of four eclipses that this year and next are on holy days, "are vital to understanding the importance of God’s timetable and calendar."
The eclipse, a "blood moon," is the second in the series.
NASA says tetrads have occurred previously, but they are rare, and even more so when they occur on the biblical holidays of Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, as they will in 2014 and 2015.
The current series started April 15, Passover.
For many, the events will be nothing more than a powerful alignment of the heavens. Others believe the astronomical activity could align with biblical prophecy.
"We are on the verge of witnessing something historic," said Biltz, who discovered the blood moons phenomenon in 2007.
According to EarthSky.org, the eclipse will be visible in each U.S. time zone on the following schedule:
Eastern Daylight Time
Partial umbral eclipse begins: 5:15 a.m. EDT
Total eclipse begins: 6:25 a.m. EDT
Greatest eclipse: 6:55 a.m. EDT
Total eclipse ends: 7:24 a.m. EDT
Partial eclipse ends: 8:34 a.m. EDTCentral Daylight Time
Partial umbral eclipse begins: 4:15 a.m.
Total eclipse begins: 5:25 a.m. CDT
Greatest eclipse: 5:55 a.m. CDT
Total eclipse ends: 6:24 a.m. CDT
Partial eclipse ends: 7:34 a.m. CDTMountain Daylight Time
Partial umbral eclipse begins: 3:15 a.m. MDT
Total eclipse begins: 4:25 a.m. MDT
Greatest eclipse: 4:55 a.m. MDT
Total eclipse ends: 5:24 a.m. MDT
Partial eclipse ends: 6:34 a.m. MDTPacific Daylight Time
Partial umbral eclipse begins: 2:15 a.m. PDT
Total eclipse begins: 3:25 a.m. PDT
Greatest eclipse: 3:55 a.m. PDT
Total eclipse ends: 4:24 a.m. PDT
Partial eclipse ends: 5:34 a.m. PDT
For the Eastern United States, a very rare event which is not supposed to be scientifically possible will also happen at the same time as the eclipse.
Called a "selenelion," the refraction occurring in earth's atmosphere will make it look like the sun is rising in the east while the fully eclipsed moon sets in the west. For those further west, the moon will be in its full form as it goes down during the eclipse.
The eclipse, expected to last for one hour, will be most visible in the Western United States.
Lunar eclipses historically have been seen as omens. Calendars such as the one used by Jews are based on the lunar cycle, and many of their feasts and observances track with the movements of the moon.
WND Books released "Blood Moons" March 18. On the same day, WND Films released the companion documentary, also featuring Biltz.
It documents the extraordinary chain of events in the heavens that began this past Passover.
When tetrads have occurred in the past on these holidays, they have coincided with momentous events in the history of the Jewish people. The 1967 Six-Day War and the 1948 resurrection of the nation of Israel are two examples.
As Passover neared this year, millions of people around the world watched with anticipation for the moon to turn blood red with the first eclipse.
Biltz, the founder of El Shaddai Ministries, is a well-known commentator on the feasts of the Lord who has spoken in Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Canada and throughout the United States.
"All these signs, coming together at one time, are potentially the culminating signals that God is closing this chapter of human history," Biltz said. "This could be the final curtain call before the Great Tribulation mentioned in the Bible. God has always wanted to warn His people, and the rest of the world, before He intervenes. What better way to communicate to us than through the universal language of heavenly signs that speak to every tribe, tongue, and nation?"
He said: "In the Old Testament, the prophet Joel states: 'The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come' (Joel 2:31). In the New Testament, Jesus is quoted as saying: 'Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light … And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory' (Matthew 24:29-30)."
Media interested in interviewing Pastor Mark Biltz should email [email protected].