[Rick Shabi] There's been a lot of speculation about the total solar eclipse that will cross North America this April 8th. Perhaps you've heard some of the things that people are saying, "Will the world end that day? Will the Great Tribulation begin then? Does it mark the beginning of the end times? Is this a warning of impending doom?" In fact, the Bible does talk of a time when the skies will do unusual things and everyone will know there is God and that He is angry with the way men are. Let's read about that event in Revelation 6:12-17, "I looked..." John says as God gives him these words, "I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. The stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its late figs when it's shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave, and every free man hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?'"

That's reality. That day is coming when the heavens and earth will shake. God will show His power, and mankind will know He is real. He does exist, and our salvation and our future rely only on Him. Speaking of that time, God says in both the Old and New Testaments that this shaking of the earth and sky will happen. Let's look at an Old Testament verse back in the book of Haggai that's repeated in the New Testament in the book of Hebrews. In Haggai 2:6, God says this, "For thus says the Lord of hosts, once more, it is a little while, I will shake heaven and earth, the sea, and dry land, and I will shake all nations." That's repeated in Hebrews 12:26-27. Celestial heavenly signs will occur, and God will make His presence, power, and His displeasure with man known. He created this planet for us. He created and put us here for a reason. And mankind has not followed God or shown Him the gratitude He deserves. We will pay a price for our actions. But is this upcoming solar eclipse that time? Stay with me, and let me answer that question. But, first, let me give you some facts so you understand what this eclipse does picture and what it reminds us of.

Eclipses are not accidents. This event, while it is predicted, is of God. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, casting the moon's shadow on Earth. People located in the center of the moon's shadow when it hits the Earth will experience a total eclipse. If you're in the path of totality, the sky will be dark as night, the temperature will drop, and the stars may appear. It is indeed a rare and unique experience. It's really a miraculous event orchestrated by God from the beginning of creation. The reason solar eclipses happen is because of the ratio of size and distance between the Earth, moon, and sun. Listen to these numbers. The sun is 400 times larger than the moon, but the moon is 400 times closer to the Earth than to the sun. Astronomers and scientists refer to this ratio as the perfect ratio since it allows the sun and moon to appear about the same size in the sky. Complicating this is the fact that the Earth and moon orbit the sun in irregular paths with various tilts of the Earth and moon. Yet despite all these things, the sun, moon, and Earth can perfectly align to produce a solar eclipse. Isn't that amazing?

It's so complicated, yet scientists can tell us exactly when these eclipses will occur. And it's not just modern scientists that are able to do this. Ancient civilizations such as the Greeks, Aztecs, and Mesopotamians knew how to calculate these things, and they did it with amazing accuracy. God created the universe with perfection and reliability, and man was created with the ability to contemplate all of this. He is the only mortal being with that ability. Is that just an accident? I don't think so. Today we think of the solar eclipses as cool natural things to watch, and millions in America are making plans to travel to where the path of totality will occur. And many are circulating these rumors of impending doom or judgment that may accompany this unusual and rare event. Ancient civilizations did the same thing when they saw the power of God. And in this event, we should see the power of God too. Make no mistake about it, mankind and the kings, the rich, the commanders, and the mighty men have all of us on a collision course with destruction. Christ spoke of it. The Bible speaks of it in the Old and New Testaments. And if it were not for our Savior Jesus Christ, mankind would destroy this planet on which we live, and mankind would not survive.

Read Christ's own words in Matthew 24:21. Open your Bible, and read what He says, what will occur under man's rule. No government, no institution, no alliance of nations, no mighty man, no king, no commander, none of the rich or elite have the answers or solutions to this world's problems that we have created, only God, only Christ. People want to deny God, but God will make Himself known, take that to the bank and count on it. And that time is coming when the heavens and earth will shake in an unnatural, unexpected time as we read about earlier. But is that this eclipse? In a word, no. This eclipse is a miracle that God built into our universe so we are reminded of Him. It is a witness that He exists. Note what He says in the creation chapter of the Bible. That's Genesis 1 and note in verse 14, God says, "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, and for days, and years." God tells us that the sun and moon, the lights we see in the heavens, were not only created to separate night from day and light from darkness, but they were also created as signs. It is a miracle that makes us aware God exists. There is a time coming that we read about where the sky and earth will rock and roll in ways that are not expected. It will scare all of us and all the earth will seal it, feel it, and tremble at the presence of God. But this eclipse is not that time.

But don't miss this opportunity to learn and listen to God. When you look at the facts and see the absolute perfection of the miracle that will occur on April 8th across North America, we should stand in awe. Is this event just an accident? No. It's perfection. It's not an accident. You would have to be blind or just choose to be blind to think that what is going on and what is going to occur is an accident. This can only happen because there is a wise, all-present, all-knowing, loving God who created this universe and perfectly placed the sun, moon, and Earth in place. Perfectly placed and the perfect place for intelligent life to live. Think about it. Wake up. Get your mind off yourselves and realize and admit there is a God, a perfect, loving God who created the Earth, created man, and created them for a specific, eternal reason that you don't know today. You don't know because you refuse to hear Him or look into His Word, the Bible. On April 8th, America and the world, you have undeniable proof that God exists. He created this earth and mankind for a specific reason and future. It's all in the Bible if you will just take the time and get out of the attitude of resisting Him and thinking you have all the answers. Use this eclipse to recognize and admit there is God.

Now, when you do, the Bible and Christ will tell you what you must do if you want salvation. "Repent," Christ said. "Believe the gospel," Christ said. Believe the Bible, it is God's Word. It is the truth of how to live and what will occur. Remember what we read back at the beginning about yet once more God will shake the heavens and earth? Well, let's finish His Word and leave you with a question of where to find the answers to the questions that should be coming to your mind such as, "Why is the earth here? Why is there physical mankind on this earth? Is there a purpose and meaning to life?" There is, Hebrews 12:27-28 tell us. In Hebrews 12:27 says, "Now, this, 'Yet once more indicates,' the removal of those things that are being shaken as of things that are made that the things which cannot be shaken may remain." The things that cannot be shaken. Do you want to remain and be part of eternity? If you do, He tells us what to do. Verse 28, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom, God's way of life, which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." Serve God with reverence and godly fear. Listen to Him, turn to Him, obey Him, open your minds and see the truth. Use this time now to open your mind and let God give you the stability, purpose, meaning, and the vision that will propel you forward. Want to know more? I hope you do. Visit us at ucg.org, and type in, "Why were you born?" or, "Does God exist?"