The red moon versus the moon not giving it’s light at all…

Frank M. Keele

In the main sequence leading up to the coming of the Bridegroom we see a variation on the condition of the moon. It is characterized as either being red or as not giving it’s light at all. Because both conditions are part of the same sequence they are oft times used interchangeably in scripture.The purpose of today’s blog is to explain how these two signs are very different and distinct and yet a part of the same sequence. Let’s start with the red moon. In Rev. 6:12-13 we read:

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

We learn here that the red moon is to be manifest in the sixth seal but because it its part of the final countdown to the appearance of the Bridegroom, only months before, not years, it will be one of the very last of the sixth seal signs.

Some mistakenly claim that this sign was fulfilled at the opening of the sixth seal. However, this is a mistake that those of us in the church should not be making because in modern day revelation the Lord places this event as something yet to come. One example from D&C 29:

14 But, behold, I say unto you that before this great day shall come the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall be turned into blood, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and there shall be greater signs in heaven above and in the earth beneath;

Now let us discuss how the moon not giving it’s light fits into the sequence. First we go to Joseph Smith Matthew where we read:

32 And again shall the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, be fulfilled.
33 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken…
36 And, as I said before, after the tribulation of those days, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken, 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;

So there you have it, the moon not giving it’s light is associated with Christ’s actual appearance as the Bridegroom and this prevailing condition, darkness, is also one of the reasons he is said come as a thief in the night at this time. We get the same story in section 133 of the Doctrine and Covenants, it states:

46 And it shall be said: Who is this that cometh down from God in heaven with dyed garments; yea, from the regions which are not known, clothed in his glorious apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength?
47 And he shall say: I am he who spake in righteousness, mighty to save.
48 And the Lord shall be red in his apparel, and his garments like him that treadeth in the wine-vat.
49 And so great shall be the glory of his presence that the sun shall hide his face in shame, and the moon shall withhold its light, and the stars shall be hurled from their places.
50 And his voice shall be heard: I have trodden the wine-press alone, and have brought judgment upon all people; and none were with me;
51 And I have trampled them in my fury, and I did tread upon them in mine anger, and their blood have I sprinkled upon my garments, and stained all my raiment; for this was the day of vengeance which was in my heart.

So again we learn that “the moon shall withhold its light” at this time and that it will be a time of overall darkness for “the sun shall hide his face” as well.

The Lord’s manifesting himself to his elect, associated with great destruction and at a time of darkness is not without precedence. As we all know this same pattern was shown forth in the Book of Mormon, when the Lord spoke to the more righteous among the Nephites. In this case he says:

“I have trodden the wine-press alone, and have brought judgment upon all people; and none were with me; And I have trampled them in my fury, and I did tread upon them in mine anger, and their blood have I sprinkled upon my garments, and stained all my raiment; for this was the day of vengeance which was in my heart.”

Enoch also saw that darkness would prevail when the Lord came to gather out his elect “from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which” he would “prepare, an Holy City… a New Jerusalem” (Moses 7) said he:

61 And the day shall come that the earth shall rest, but before that day the heavens shall be darkened, and a veil of darkness shall cover the earth; and the heavens shall shake, and also the earth; and great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve;
62 And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.
63 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other;
64 And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years the earth shall rest.

So there you have it, the difference between the red moon and the moon not giving it’s light at all. Please feel free to leave a comment, like us on Facebook, share a link or subscribe to this blog…. Hope you have enjoyed this post, God bless!

1 thought on “The red moon versus the moon not giving it’s light at all…”

  1. Frank, thanks for explaining this. Ive had this question in my mind for a while, but never could see how to discover the difference.

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