BLOOD MOON DEBATE

Are ‘Blood Moons’ a Biblical Sign

Apr. 15, 2014 2:23pm Billy Hallowell  

 

Are specific celestial events, including Tuesday’s “blood moon,” really evidence that the end times are upon us or that, at the least, something profound is on the horizon concerning Israel?
It’s the latter claim that’s being made by Texas pastor John Hagee, whose 2013 book, “Four Blood Moons: Something Is About to Change,” detailed the supposedly prophetic signs Hagee believes God is sending mankind.
Hagee contends that these messages are coming through tetrads — rare series of four total lunar eclipses that occur over two-year periods. These “blood moons,” named for the reddish color that results when the Earth comes between the sun and moon, are tied to major events involving Israel, he says.

“It is rare that scripture, science and history align with each other, yet the last three series of four blood moons have done exactly that,” reads a description of Hagee’s latest book. ”Just as in biblical times, God is controlling the sun, the moon and the stars to send our generation a signal that something big is about to happen.”
In an interview with TheBlaze last year, Hagee said the premise of his theory is “confirmed by NASA” data. He argued that a series of four blood moons have appeared on Passover and Sukkot, also known as Feast of Tabernacles (Passover celebrates the Jews’ liberation from Egyptian slavery and Sukkot commemorates the Jews’ 40-year wandering in the desert).
And each time, he said, something significant has happened concerning the Jewish people.
“This has happened only three times in over 500 years, so it’s a very rare thing,” Hagee said, adding that the dates during which the tetrads fell always began with “tears” and ended in “triumph.”
While there have certainly been other sets of four blood moons, only eight times in the past 2,000 years have all four in a series fallen on the two Jewish holidays consecutively.
The Historical ‘Blood Moons’ Narrative
In 1492, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella “issued an edict of expulsion” kicking the Jews out of Spain, Hagee told TheBlaze. This happened during the Spanish Inquisition, which began in 1478 in an effort to rid the region of Jews and Muslims.
According to NASA data, there was a tetrad from 1493 to 1494 (there were three preceding tetrads that century as well, but they did not fall on Jewish holidays).

Photo credit: Shutterstock

And that’s not the only series of blood moons Hagee links to Israel, as NASA data shows that yet another tetrad unfolded between 1949 and 1950, a key time for Israel’s modern-day manifestation.
“In 1948, that’s the year Israel became a state,” he explained. “The thing that happened prior to that was the tragedy of the Holocaust, which ended in the rejoicing of statehood.”
Another tetrad happened between 1967 and 1968, a period which saw the Six-Day War — a moment of “triumph” when Jerusalem was reunified and became “the eternal capital of the Jewish people once again,” Hagee said.
NASA data also shows that four blood moons emerged between the years 1909-1910, 1927-1928 and 1985-1986, but these also did not fall on the Jewish holidays.
The Current Tetrad
NASA says the current tetrad of blood moons that started early Tuesday morning will last until Sept. 28, 2015. The last tetrad to occur happened between 2003 and 2004, though it did not fall on Jewish holidays.
Hagee said that there would “not be anymore four blood moons in the future” that fall on these holidays, so he says the current tetrad could indicate the start of some major, earth-shattering events.
NASA data does appear to show six others will happen this century, but none appear to have all four blood moons fall on both Passover and Sukkot as they do in 2014 and 2015.
“When you think about the precision that God has to perform in getting the sun, the moon and the Earth in perfect alignment and to produce that exactness on passover and Feast of Tabernacles … the random probability of that just runs off the charts,” Hagee told TheBlaze.

Pastor John Hagee (Image source: YouTube/Worthy Publishing)

“I think the thing that people will take away from this is that it means, based on past history, that something is about to change in the Middle East concerning Israel that will affect the nations of world and everyone on planet Earth,” he said. “No one knows for sure what it will be, but based on the pattern of the past it will involve Israel. It will begin with tears and end in triumph and change the course of history forever.”
Is There a Scriptural Basis for the Theory?
Hagee took TheBlaze through biblical scripture that he said shows that God has traditionally communicated with mankind through celestial means and that “God is sending planet Earth signals from the heavens.”
He cited Joel 2:20-21 in the Old Testament and Acts 2:19-20 and Luke 21:25-28 in the New Testament; Revelation 6:12 also references a red moon, though Hagee didn’t mention this verse to TheBlaze.
The verses he did mention read as follows (the verses from Acts are not presented below, as they generally reference the words of Joel, though they can be read here):

Joel 2:20-21: “I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke.The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”
Luke 21:25-28: “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Critics Speak Out
Not everyone accepts Hagee’s theoretical paradigm.
Christian expert Hank Hanegraaff, the “Bible Answer Man” who is no stranger to speaking out against certain end-times prophecies, is among the many critics of Hagee’s end-times philosophy.
He called the theory of the four blood moons “appalling” and “deplorable,” flatly dismissing it in a recent interview with TheBlaze.
“What these purveyors of blood moon theology [are doing] is taking the natural use of the stars, which God ordains, and perverting it with superstitiousness which God disdains,” Hanegraaff said. “The heavenly bodies are used for separating the night from the day … [for] marking seasons, from giving light on the Earth and so forth.”

 

Photo credit: Shutterstock

Hanegraaff examined the verses Hagee cited, noting that while Peter references Joel 2:20-21 in the verses invoked in Acts 2:19-20, there’s no evidence that these scriptures are to be taken as future predictions in the modern era.
“Peter talks about the ultimate day of judgement … it pertains to the coming of the Lord … coming in judgement on Jerusalem and ultimately it pertains to a second coming as well, but there’s no word whatsoever for taking the language of Joel and suggesting that somehow or other you can read from that language what is going to happen in the modern epic,” Hanegraaff said.
He also noted that the Spanish Inquisition began 15 years before the 1493 tetrad, though it is true that it wasn’t until 1492 that the Jews were expelled from the region.
Hanegraaff also pointed to some one-year differences as gaps in time that didn’t make the tetrads reliable in terms of connecting them to biblical prophecy. Consider, for instance, that Israel was founded in May 1948, but the tetrad didn’t start until 1949.

SEE VIDEO HERE (copy and paste this link in your browswer)

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/insideisrael/2014/February/Divine-Sign-for-Israel-Hagee-Explains-Blood-Moons/

Hanegraaff added: “Lunar exclipses are associated with Jewish events anyway. There should be no real surprise that you find these kinds of events happening.”
Kenneth L. Waters, associate dean and a New Testament professor at California’s Azusa Pacific University, agreed that it’s not entirely surprising that these dates would fall on Passover and Sukkot.
“[T]here is nothing particularly extraordinary about these holy days coinciding with a full moon,” he wrote in a CNN op-ed. “Jewish holy days are based upon a lunar calendar. Passover is always celebrated the first full moon after the vernal equinox and the Feast of Tabernacles is always the first full moon after the autumnal equinox.”
Ken Ham’s Answers in Genesis provided an overview of how the calendar works, agreeing that there’s nothing astounding about the dates lining up with Jewish holidays.
The group even provided tables to show that it’s not unique that eclipses sometimes fall on Jewish holidays, considering the Jewish calendar follows the moon (still, some will contend that it’s curious to see that this set of four consecutive blood moons has only unfolded on holidays eight times and is purportedly not set to happen again after the 2014-2015 tetrad).
Waters also made the point that the blood moons theory essentially sets a timetable, quoting Jesus in Matthew 24:26 saying of the end times: “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.”

The blood moon was not visible from Israel on April 14. (Image source: NASA)

Dr. Danny Faulkner, an astronomer with Answers in Genesis, also noted that there are some limitations concerning where these blood moons are visible from during the 2014-2015 season.
“There also is a question of from what portion of the earth one ought to view these eclipses for them to constitute a sign,” he wrote. “One might think that Jerusalem would be a key site, but the first three total lunar eclipses in 2014–2015 won’t be visible from there, and only the beginning of the final eclipse will be. One must ask whether a sign that few people notice is much of a sign.”
Here’s a video attempt at debunking the theory that was put together by blogger and online radio host Chris White:

 A spokesman told USA Today this week that Hagee “has not associated the blood moons with the end of days” and only believes it in relation to Israel.
Watch Glenn Beck and Billy Hallowell discuss the four blood moons theory below:

MASTEROLOGY

E.M.D. - 1992

"Pay attention so you don't have to rewind me

You'd cry too, if you could only see what I see...

I'll flick a star through space just to watch time fly

I'll drop meteors, just to hear planets cry...

Through Masterology, you will gain philosophy

but with parapsychology, comes mysticology

you ask what is this force that created me

it's the realms of energy

the potion of humanity."

Everyone has their idea of a perfect world as close to Heaven as they can get it. Problem is, no human alive today has ever seen the One True Heaven and has never experienced life without the moral and intellectual fall of humankind, so it would be pretty hard to say it's "perfect." We can only say it is our idea of Paradise. In a "perfect world", the world would be one government, one form of economic exchange and life, liberty and individual contentment would be universal to all. This - is my utopia, as it stands today. Not to say my view will not change tomorrow, but as of today, this is where I would like to see our world progress to, at least with some degree of understanding that we cannot change the human nature of others, we can only change ourselves. This is just a snapshot of a few of the larger issues facing our world today. Of course to address every little detail would require a blog the size of the Internet itself. So let's just take a look a few of the basic necessities. 

-De'Master Thomas

HEALTH CARE - Universal is ideal, but only if the culture it serves is already healthy from eating healthy, getting proper exercise, maintaining a healthy nutritional intake and maintaining a positive mental attitude. Well, in the "perfect world", this is attainable for all. If there is a need for health care services, payment is pretty simple: no deductibles. $10 copay for medications, $20 for regular physician visits and $100 for hospital and operative visits. But what about the poor? You say, we will address that in the economic balance section. 

TAXES - This is no longer the worst word in the economic vocabulary in the "perfect world", because in the "perfect world", taxes are not seen as theft by the government, instead is it called, "Contributory Support." This is not a spin on words to make stealing people's money sound better. It is exactly what it says! All people contributing to a universal system of infrastructure, education, technology, security, military, global and interplanetary progression and development. No longer will there be a system of inflation and greed. It is an equal, 10% of one's earnings and a 10% maximum sales and interest assessment. No more, no less. For the whole world. Reminding you before you say, "this is stupid and wouldn't work!" Remember, this is global economics on a planet with one currency, no stock exchange, no bonds, security, etc. Only a well oiled, perfectly balanced budget that all the world puts into and all the world benefits from because there is no fraud, abuse, embezzlement, greed or theft.

INFRASTRUCTURE - In Paradise, all public access bridges, roads, highways and transportation services are provided at no additional excess cost to the responsible, contributing citizen. You already paid your Contributory Support Assessment, so why would there be a need to ask for more money if the money collected is managed to perfection! Imagine no tolls on expressways or bridges, no "pay-for-parking" in public access areas and no additional fees for anything related to public access transportation? It's possible and attainable today! We just have to want it bad enough to implement the well balanced local, county and state diets and then maintain and elevate the healthy bodies of government and services for all to enjoy for years to come.

 ALL BUSINESS IS BIG BUSINESS - Yes, the power of small business is back! In Paradise, every person who chooses to own a legitimate, regulated business, will not be required to pay any taxes on their business profits. They will be able to employ, buy, sell and trade on the open market with confidence and security without the threat of buyouts, financial ruin, and loss of income to excessive fees and penalties applied out of greed and theft. If you want to open a business, just file a $25 license with your local area obtain your health and practices certificate after passing the fair but necessary requirements and that's it! Open your doors, web site, gallery, store, shop, market, practice, studio, whatever it is, and enjoy sharing your talents and gifts with the world all while making a profit. All insurances are mandatory in order to operate anything, much like it is now, but remember, you will get your rate based on your risk and your risk alone! Not the risk of every person in your area. This means paying only for what you indemnify, if at the end of your policy period, you have not used any of the funds saved up for your loss risk, you get your money back! You use only what you put in. All forms of insurance will be for loss coverage only, there is no damages awarded above and beyond the cost of the loss. Thereby lowering the overall cost for everyone and remaining profitable. Welcome to Paradise! Where you literally, never have to worry about your butt being covered!

POLITICS - Who would have thought, politics actually can play an important role in a healthy, strong, prominent viable society! That's right. In the "perfect world," government does exactly that - GOVERN! That's it. No legislation is done from the bench because the judge follows the law, not their personal opinion about the situation or circumstance of the case. Government regulates, legislates, enforces and protects. Government protects all rights of all peoples and ensures that all operations, great and small, social or otherwise, are mandated and controlled and restrained. There is no fraud, crime or corruption. There is no deception, intimidation, backstabbing or degradation. Public service is exactly that - service to the public. Salaries are fair, honest and equal to private sector work and all the laws that apply to the average citizen applies to the public official - there is no one person of greater importance than another. All public servants strive to maintain and elevate the greater global good. There are small reflections I must highlight, in Paradise, every registered person can vote! Period. That's it. There can be no slander or slam ads against an opponent, every person appointed to a position of public service obtains the position on their own merit, not by smearing the other person. There are no borders in a Universal - One World Civilization. Therefore, no walls of separation of country, nation or continent. WE ARE ONE. No exceptions. There are no parties, only people.

ECONOMICS- Now we can get to the "root of all" evils - the world's God, the world's Savior, the world's Anti-Christ, the world's Living Satan - MONEY. This is simply not a true statement. No matter how many times you hear the phrase, the root of all evil is money, it will still be wrong, wrong, wrong!! The root of all evil is SIN! Money does not cause the sin, sin causes the abuse of money. In the "perfect world," economically sound, fiscally responsible and progressively efficient, money is a tool for the exchange of goods and services that are not bartered or traded. It is not the "end-all, be-all" to everything that this current world made it out be. It is, exactly as the other horrifically abused phrase states, just something that grows on trees. MONEY IS MADE FROM PAPER - PAPER IS MADE FROM TREES - ERGO - MONEY GROWS ON TREES!! Buying a home or automobile or any other once considered, large ticket item, would be the same as buying a shirt at the mall or a burger at a restaurant. The price on the sticker is the price you pay. Period. There are no additional fees or assessments of any kind. There are no property taxes - you already paid that in the Contributory Support Assessment. There are no fees - you already paid that in the price of the item. It is yours - enjoy. By incorporating a Universal Currency, eliminating stock exchanges and all forms of extraordinary banking systems designed for theft and greed, there is no longer a need to weigh one form of currency against another. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS BROKE POCKETS OR EMPTY WALLETS - ONLY BROKEN MINDS AND EMPTY HEARTS.

 SOCIAL STRUCTURE/HUMANITARIANISM

Last but certainly not least, the benefit of a perfect harmony of social structure and humanitarianism. This is where YOU come in. No world is a perfect world without an individual who is willing to be the best person they can be - unlock their true potential and allow their talents and gifts to be shared and embraced with the world around them. Each one of us has to look inside ourselves and say that we are our neighbor's keeper, what I do has a direct reflection and reaction on myself, my family, friends, peers and colleagues. We must choose to be wise in our steps, intelligent in our accomplishments, compassionate in our care for ourselves and others and most importantly-lead our lives in love. Love first. And the rest will follow. In this perfect world, you are the light in the misty darkness. You are the cure for a world in need. If everyone on the planet decided to stop sinning and start loving all at the same time, this little post in the small blog would become the greatest cornerstone of peace on earth known to man right after the Second Coming of Christ. Universal peace, prosperity is only a choice away.

~De'Master A. Thomas

The Poetry Corner

Dreams transcend space and time. 

In our dreams, we leave the body and explore the mind. 

We go where the imagination takes us.

This is the poetry corner. 

Phone Call To God

by: Fiji, 12 yrs old

Hello God, I called tonight to talk a while.

I need a friend once again who’ll listen to my trials.

You see, I can’t seem to make it through one day on my own.

I need your love to guide me so I’ll never feel alone. 

I want to ask you please to keep my family safe and sound. 

Come in and fill their lives for whatever fate they’re bound. 

Give me faith dear God to face each hour throughout the day.

And not to worry over things I can’t change anyway.

I thank you God for always taking my calls.

I thank you for giving me advice and catching me when I fall.

Your number, God, is the only one that answers every time.
I never get a busy signal and never had to pay a dime.

So thanks God again for easing my sorrow.

Good night, I love you, too. And I'll talk to you tomorrow :-)

***
I know. Twelve years old and she could write like that. I was impressed. It was amazing. She said she wrote this poem while watching the sunset out her window after dinner one evening. She pictured her father's face and her mother's tears and it made a lump in her heart. With every line, there was stillness and then with every breath of God's name, there was a soft crash against the rocks from the ocean. It was as if she was speaking to the ocean and the ocean responded with subtle joy.
***

***

A young man in his late 20's, serving a 20 to life sentence in a Southwestern prison, wrote this poem for me to take back and share with my readers. I remember how his face and mannerisms expressed his pain. He was deeply hurt, incredibly disturbed, but quite articulate and passionate about his faith. We talked briefly about his rhymes. He was going to be a rapper before he got locked up. He said his raps spoke his true language: love. This was the last rhyme he wrote before he committed suicide in his cell.

***

I'm Free

by: E.M.D., 5/24/03

The memories I paint ain't picture perfect.
I'm holding on but it's not enough to even scratch the surface.

The mind is troubled but I'm seeing double in my spirit.
Can't wake the evil deep inside because I fear it.

It's the penitentiary my soul is screaming freedom.
They give me books to read for free but I don't need them.

I'd rather lie awake at night and bang my head through the wall.
Wishing hoping praying that anybody would call.

I'm writing letters for the pleasure of watching the pen.
Release the pressure of the fact that I'm dying in sin.

Will I ever see my mama 'nem laughin' again?
Will I ever be the shoulder for the pain of my friends?

And will I ever feel the love of a woman again?
Or will I die leaving behind this depression I'm in.…

It ain't worth it asking questions, I already know.
The only way to truly be free is dying on the row.

I'm tired of people telling me that it's all gon' change….
I know this but until then I'm drowning in rain.

Everyday I'm looking for a way to hide from the shame.
I'm getting older and I'm running out of people to blame.

No one left to talk to so I cry to Jesus.
Please help me out this hole of hell I'm digging it deeper.

Every time I try to pay you back I'm making it worse.
Don't need a reason-I understand that you loved me first.

The voice is getting louder the closer I get.
To the hour I'm relieved from the hate and regret.

Arms and legs shackled-plate strapped to my head.
Thought I would die crying but I'm smiling instead.

I was burdened by my destiny and laws of the state.
But now I'm breathing with a reason as I pass through the gates.

Rest in Paradise, E.M.D. Here's your song:

***

The next piece is not a poem. It is an excerpt from a conversation I had with a bartender in Indiana. We talked over dinner and drinks at MacNiven's Restaurant and Bar. I will never forget him because he was the funniest looking little man with a crooked smile, a wise mind and a heck of an eye for politics. We were talking about how some people wanted to take "one nation under god" out of the Pledge. I asked him what his thoughts were on the matter and I could not agree more.
***

     "As a citizen and a Christian I am extremely concerned with the views our political leaders have regarding the bible’s definition of government. It is imperative that today’s heads of government realize that every move they make must be in accordance to the will of the Highest Law. Our country was founded on these laws but unfortunately fell away from their true meaning and creed of "one nation under God." According to the Bible, those of leadership positions or heads of government must recognize the original position of its council and departments. They are there to serve, honor, protect, and provide for the nation in which they govern. It is not the intent of the governmental head to provoke war, ignore famine and poverty and operate a country without the guidance of Divine Law. This country could be easily cured of ninety percent of its problems simply by turning to the Bible for answers. It is the duty of the political leaders to obey God's will in ruling and acting as head of counsel but if the political leaders refuse to acknowledge, learn, read, study and fully accept and enforce the teachings and commandments of the Divine Law, the head and body of government and society will surely fail in its efforts to survive and will eventually die completely. Our society will fall ruin to operation and ruling without God's Law as the center focus and purpose of structure and the world in whole will continue to create more and more ways to destroy itself until one day it's too late. This is why I feel that our political leaders should return to the origin of governmental structure and find out what it truly means to be a leader of nations. The answer to all of their problems is in the top drawer of every hotel in America."

 Top drawer of every hotel in America, eh? That phrase sounded familiar. Oh yes. It was mine.

***
Being that I'm left-handed, yes a southpaw, I couldn't help but laugh a little on this next poem. But it was a very serious poem and held sentiment for the author, (who just happened to be right-handed.)
***

Left- Handed Curse

I can see the chewed brass knob,
Mangled from something that clawed
To get down there.
My fingers reach to open the door,
Shaking hands with it.
I would pray that the beasts behind it might go away.
I used to make my mom sit at the top of the stairs
And talk to me, while I crept down to get a load of hot laundry
Or check the wood stove.
I knew that if I heard her voice, I was still alive.
Once I heard the charred wood settle into itself
And the painful groan of the dryer,
I knew something was down there,
Remembered where I was, bolted up the stairs
Three at a time, making sure the hands couldn't get me.
Two stairs from the top, I took a quick glance behind me,
Expected to see a foaming beast, inches from my ankles.
But instead there was nothing but a cascade of brown carpet

And ahead of me stood Mom, hands on hips,
Shaking her head, not understanding my fear.
I had escaped once again from my imagination's grip.

***

This next poem was written by a woman near and dear to my heart. She was a middle school teacher from Wisconsin. Her words were as strong as her love and it showed. Let me share one of the poems she shared with me. I was moved by her conviction. There is a place for you in peace.

***

Rapture, (A.E.M. 83199)
He will come
The thief in the night
The Son of Man
Clothed in power and glory
Hair of lamb's wool
White and blameless
They will be gone,
The stoned and the mocked
The jailed, abandoned who walked
To become fishers of men
From the lips of which flowed honey
Saved from God's wrath
And you whisper
Wiping it from the mind
Will He come for you
Lost and dancing with the world?
Narrow is the Path
Wide is the gate to death
Open are the arms of Perfection
Nailed to a cross
Bleeding and crushed
God's anger poured out
On His only Son
Broken for you.

***

Of course I have to wonder at times if my own notes are worthy of poetic justice, but I know it is not the poetry in motion that sets the mood for the content, it is the message. So here is a little blurb of my own that I shared with the National Science Foundation at a seminar in 2004.

***

"Since the dawn of man and technology the question has been asked, is science and religion the same or different? Experts in both fields offer many opinions and theories, but have never truly reached an agreement on an explanation of the relationship between the two. Taking a fresh approach to the debate over science vs. religion requires removing oneself from either bias. Let us take a moment to consider this. If indeed religion is simply a study of beliefs, it in fact, really has nothing to do with one's faith in a particular deity."

"In all actuality, religion has very little to do with God or the Bible or any other doctrine for that matter. Religion is simply something one does in a repeated, habitual manner. We associate faith with religion because of historical connotations. Faith is used in Scripture so often to support and describe belief in a Divine Deity, that we naturally associate one with the other. When in reality, there is no physical evidence, only a hypothesis or idea that the end result will eventually come to pass. Doctrines of all have considered a basis of faith because the deity in which they truly seek and the works thereof are the end result-yet to come."

"Now science, in simpler form, is the study of what is and the possibility of what could be. It is formed around the idea of what already exists or what could exist and again, a hypothesis is drawn, a conclusion is devised and studies are founded on evidential results. At is at that moment, the two become one. Science and faith rely on the same ingredients in order to exist. Science and faith have the same purpose and goal: the repetitious study of one or more ideas, driven by the need to reach undeniable end results. Therefore, science is merely the explanation of faith. They are one in the
same. The science of faith is a religion and the faith of science is a practice of humanity."

So. Must science leave room for faith? Of course. One cannot exist without the other."

Revelation: a poem

020491

The force of Ra has been released containing the realms of energy the potion of humanity
The core of mother Earth expectorating the souls of hundreds of years
The enemy of M'Kaddesh awakens thrusting through the veins of nature
Hellacious blazes of rolling flame appear
Burning the spirits that range the sky
Aftermath gives birth to the new world
The light bearer comes forth
Beneath her feet is blood stained soil
The third eye wept tears of glistened lustrium
Dead seas bathed in blood. Desolate lands settled in infested pits
The sundial shadows the end of time
The eternal quest is fulfilled disturbing the restlessness
It has been done
Shalom

-DeMaster Thomas

The New Earth: Only 20 light years away

Found 20 light years away: the New Earth

Last updated at 19:20 26 April 2007

 It's got the same climate as Earth, plus water and gravity. A newly discovered planet is the most stunning evidence that life - just like us - might be out there.

Above a calm, dark ocean, a huge, bloated red sun rises in the sky - a full ten times the size of our Sun as seen from Earth. Small waves lap at a sandy shore and on the beach, something stirs...

This is the scene - or may be the scene - on what is possibly the most extraordinary world to have been discovered by astronomers: the first truly Earth-like planet to have been found outside our Solar System.

The discovery was announced today by a team of European astronomers, using a telescope in La Silla in the Chilean Andes. If forced bookies to slash odds on the existence of alien beings.

The Earth-like planet that could be covered in oceans and may support life is 20.5 light years away, and has the right temperature to allow liquid water on its surface.

This remarkable discovery appears to confirm the suspicions of most astronomers that the universe is swarming with Earth-like worlds. We don't yet know much about this planet, but scientists believe that it may be the best candidate so far for supporting extraterrestrial life.

The new planet, which orbits a small, red star called Gliese 581, is about one-and-a-half times the diameter of the Earth. It probably has a substantial atmosphere and may be covered with large amounts of water - necessary for life to evolve - and, most importantly, temperatures are very similar to those on our world.

It is the first exoplanet (a planet orbiting a star other than our own Sun) that is anything like our Earth. Of the 220 or so exoplanets found to date, most have either been too big, made of gas rather than solid material, far too hot, or far too cold for life to survive.

"On the treasure map of the Universe, one would be tempted to mark this planet with an X," says Xavier Delfosse, one of the scientists who discovered the planet. "Because of its temperature and relative proximity, this planet will most probably be a very important target of the future space missions dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial life."

Gliese 581 is among the closest stars to us, just 20.5 light years away (about 120 trillion miles) in the constellation Libra. It is so dim it can be seen only with a good telescope. Because all planets are relatively so small and the light they give off so faint compared to their sun, finding exoplanets is extremely difficult unless they are huge.

Those that have so far been detected have mostly been massive, Jupiter-like balls of gas that almost certainly cannot be home to life. This new planet - known for the time being as Gliese 581c - is a midget in comparison, being about 12,000 miles across (Earth is a little under 8,000 pole-to-pole).
It has a mass five times that of Earth, probably made of the same sort of rock as makes up our world and with enough gravity to hold a substantial atmosphere.

Astrobiologists - scientists who study the possibility of alien life - refer to a climate known as the Goldilocks Zone, where it is not so cold that water freezes and not so hot that it boils, but where it can lie on the planet's surface as a liquid.

In our solar system, only one planet - Earth -lies in the Goldilocks Zone. Venus is far too hot and Mars is just too cold. This new planet lies bang in the middle of the zone, with average surface temperatures estimated to be between zero and 40c (32-102f). Lakes, rivers and even oceans are possible.
It is not clear what this planet is made of. If it is rock, like the Earth, then its surface may be land, or a combination of land and ocean.

Another possibility is that Gliese 581c was formed mostly from ice far from the star (ice is a very common substance in the Universe), and moved to the close orbit it inhabits today.
In which case its entire surface will have melted to form a giant, planet-wide ocean with no land, save perhaps a few rocky islands or icebergs.

The surface gravity is probably around twice that of the Earth and the atmosphere could be similar to ours. Although the new planet is in itself very Earth-like, its solar system is about as alien as could be imagined. The star at the centre - Gliese 581 - is small and dim, only about a third the size of our Sun and about 50 times cooler. The two other planets are huge, Neptune-sized worlds called Gliese 581b and d (there is no "a", to avoid confusion with the star itself).

Just because Gliese 581c is habitable does not mean that it is inhabited, but we do know its sun is an ancient star - in fact, it is one of the oldest stars in the galaxy, and extremely stable. If there is life, it has had many billions of years to evolve. This makes this planet a prime target in the search for life. According to Seth Shostak, of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute in California, the Gliese system is now a prime target for a radio search. 'We had actually looked at this system before but only for a few minutes. We heard nothing, but now we must look again.'


By 2020 at least one space telescope should be in orbit, with the capability of detecting signs of life on planets orbiting nearby stars. If oxygen or methane (tell-tale biological gases) are found in Gliese 581c's atmosphere, this would be good circumstantial evidence for life.

Dr Malcolm Fridlund, a European Space Agency scientist, said the discovery of Gliese 581c was "an important step" on the road to finding life. "If this is a rocky planet, it's very likely it will have liquid water on its surface, which means there may also be life." The real importance is not so much the discovery of this planet itself, but the fact that it shows that Earth-like planets are probably extremely common in the Universe. There are 200 billion stars in our galaxy alone and many astronomers believe most of these stars have planets.

La Silla, Chilean Andes, Telescope Range

The fact that almost as soon as we have built a telescope capable of detecting small, earth-like worlds, one turns up right on our cosmic doorstep, shows that statistically, there are probably billions of earths out there. As Seth Shostak says: "We've never found one close to being like the Earth until now. We are finding that Earth is not such an unusual puppy in the litter of planets."


But are these alien Earths home to life? No one knows. We don't understand how life began on our world, let alone how it could arise anywhere else. There may be an awful lot of bugs and bacteria out there, and only a few worlds with what we would recognise as plants and animals. Or, of course, there may be nothing. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute uses radio telescopes to try to pick up messages sent by alien civilisations.

Interestingly, Gliese 581c is so close to the Earth that if its putative inhabitants only had our level of technology, they could - just about - pick up some of our radio signals, such as the most powerful military transmitters. Quite what would happen if we for our part did receive a signal is unclear.
"There is a protocol, buried away in the United Nations," says Dr Shostak. "The President would be told first, after the signal was confirmed by other observatories. But we couldn't keep such a discovery secret."

It may be some time before we detect any such signals, but it is just possible that today we are closer than ever to finding life in the stars.

William Hill said it had shortened the odds on proving the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence from 1,000-1 to 100-1. Spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "We would face a possible eight-figure payout if it were to be confirmed that intelligent life of extra-terrestrial origin exists. We felt we had to react to the news that an earth-like planet which could support intelligent life had been discovered - after all, we don't know for sure that intelligent extraterrestrial life has not already been discovered."
The new planet, so far unnamed, is 20.5 light years away and orbits a red dwarf star called Gliese 581.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-450467/Found-20-light-years-away-New-Earth.html#ixzz1dpd2YyfS

Science IS Religion? Yes.

Science and Religion

We all need to take a moment and step back and really examine why we choose to do what we do. We are all influenced in one way or another by our history, religion, science, culture and society we live in. The reality is science is the explanation of religion. On all points. The creator of the universe and everything in it is NOT a magician, but a scientist. Case in point: the mind and body advances through technological and medical sustenance. This same scientist also happens to be of a natural infinite energy, completely self-sustaining, which furthermore supports the fact the spirit that dwells within every human being needs the same amount, if not more, of nurturing development, attention and care. 

In an effort to bring the two together, I had meetings with pastors and leaders of various churches as well as scientists of independent laboratories that specialized in everything from stem cell research to the cure for the common cold. Needless to say, neither side would agree with the other completely, leaving with exactly what we came in with; an agreement to disagree. But all is not lost. This is good. This means that both sides will continue to do as they always have and furthermore prove my point. They were both correct in believing that we as a species need both in order to be complete. 


You see, the ability to think, feel, create and innovate are all natural elements you are born with as religion explains. The outcome of the decisions, the responses to the feelings, the results of the creations and the benefits or consequences of the innovations are all natural elements of science. One cannot exist without the other. They are relative whether you choose to believe this or not. They are attached in design whether you choose to accept this or not. Religion is the concept: Science is the reality. 

Existence and everything we have come to know about it, is proof that this statement is true. The idea of a planet that will support life started as an idea. Science made that idea a reality and here we are. Religion will continue to play an intricate role in our daily lives, no matter our personal position on any specific point such as god, devil, extraterrestrial biological entities or any other debatable topic we can find. Everyone from atheists to mainstream religious followers all have one thing in common: they exist! They exist as human beings, living completely by permission of each other in free will. We have the ability to collectively accomplish anything we set our minds to. Our literal "religion" - our set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of life, is only accomplished, achieved and realized through our literal "science" - our knowledge and understanding of the components of our natural world. So without a doubt and without contest, science is a religion for what its worth and the two will always coexist as a compliment to the other. 


Just because you do not believe in something does not mean it does not exist. Every question has an answer. How you feel about the answer does not change the facts. For example: place a pencil under a piece of paper. The pencil becomes invisible. It does not mean the pencil does not exist. It simply means you cannot see it. Like the air we breathe-like the wind; it's there even though you can't see it. By choosing not to believe in air is not going to take it out of existence; just like choosing to believe the pencil is not under that piece of paper is not going to take that pencil out of existence. If the temperature gets cold enough, the air is revealed. The same as if you move that piece of paper, you will find the pencil is still there. Fact is fact; regardless of how you feel. You can say, I don't believe in pencils, but that pencil is still going to be there regardless. 


Another example: I don't believe in paying taxes either, but that doesn't make the I.R.S. go away and poof them out of existence. Just because I don't believe in it, doesn't mean they're going to stop taking deductions out of my paycheck. In other words, even if you choose to believe or not believe; it does not matter to the factual reality, because that is the just the way it is.

Now to address the other side of this, you have free will. You have the ability to accept or deny any factual basis you encounter. In other words, you can choose to use that pencil and write on that paper or you can choose to use a pen or some other implement that you believe in. You can choose to pay your taxes or you can choose not to and put your money into something you believe in. It is your world coexisting with the real one you live in. One of the best lines I heard in a movie was from "Bruce Almighty" when Bruce asks God, "well can I ask 'why' and God says yes, you can! That's the beauty of it!" So for now, you may not agree with everything that was, is or is going to happen before, during or after you are gone from this life, but you are completely entitled to think, feel and respond in any way you choose during your stay here at the fabulous five star Hotel de' Existence.
-DeMaster Thomas

 

TRUTHFUL PROGNOSTICS FROM EGYPT:

found in the library of Dr. Plein Horatio, Astronomer of  the Khedive of Egypt.
Is it superstition or fact?

(Decode Clue: Un Zero Poate)

Out of {42} days of the entire year are unfortunate days:

January - 1,2,6,11,17,18

February - 8,16,17

March - 1,12,13,15

April - 3,14,17,18

May - 8,10,17,30

June - 1,7,10

July - 1,5,6

August - 1,3,18,20

September - 15,18,30

October - 15,17

November - 1,7,11

December - 1,7,11

dat 2011

It is hereby noted:

1. If one is sick on one of these days mentioned, they will not easily recover.

2. A child born on such a day will not live long and if it lives, it will be poor health and vigor.

3. If persons marry on any of these days, they will be apt to separate and live in quarrel and poverty. 

4. If a person commences a voyage on such a day, they will generally return home sick or met with an accident in body or goods.

5. During these mentioned forty-two days, five days are especially unlucky days.

DO NOT TRAVEL ON: MARCH 3, AUGUST 17, SEPTEMBER 1, 2, AND 30

One who sheds blood on April 1, August 1, December 1; will die within seven to eight days thereafter. 

(Dr. Horatio explains why he believed based on his scientific data, these supernatural things would happen)

APRIL 1 - biblical Judas the traitor was born on this day.

AUGUST 1 - biblical Satan was rejected from Heaven on this day.

DECEMBER 1 - biblical Sodom "to" Gomorrah were destroyed.

(Now it is crucial for the sake of accuracy that we stop here and explain this largely misunderstood fact. While indeed Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, it is imperative to mention it was not just those two cities caught in the crossfire of judgment. The cities of Admah, Zeboim and Zoar were also included. These five cities, also known as the "cities of the plain," were situated on the River Jordan plain in the southern region of the land of Canaan. The Jordan River plain has been compared to that of the Garden of Eden,^[Gen.10:13] being a land well watered and green, suitable for grazing livestock. Divine judgment by Yahweh was then passed upon Sodom and Gomorrah along with two other neighboring cities that were completely consumed by fire and brimstone. Neighboring Zoar was the only township to be spared during that day of judgment.^{[Deut.29:23][Gen.10:19]}

 

In Christianity and Islamic traditions, Sodom and Gomorrah have become synonymous with impenitent sin, and their fall with a proverbial manifestation of God's wrath.^{[Jude 1:7][1]} Sodom and Gomorrah have also been used as metaphors for vice and homosexuality viewed as a deviation. The story has therefore given rise to words in several languages, including the English word "sodomy", used in so-called sodomy laws to mean basically any sexual act deemed unnatural.^[2]

^{Whoever is born on any of these unhappy days will die of a violent death or will be disgraced before the world and seldom reaches old age.}
-DeMaster Thomas