The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, Part 4

MARK TWAIN

About 35 miles west of Carbondale is the Mark Twain National Forest. I hadn't paid much attention to it until I began working on this map. The forest encompasses land in the 2017 path, the 2024 path, and the intersection of the two. I think that's significant.

I knew that "twain" was an archaic English word, which I thought meant between. It does not - it means two, as in "never the twain shall meet." To me, the meaning was pretty straightforward. Mark Two was telling us to take note of the fact that we have two eclipses, two population centers, two seismic zones and - just northeast of the two communities of Rapture and New Harmony - two Ninevehs in the umbral path. Furthermore, scripture tells us repeatedly that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter will be established. (Deuteronomy 17:6 & 19:15, Matthew 18:16, 2 Corinthians 13:1, etc.) It seems pretty clear that God has given us a strong confirmation of His message.

After telling my video producer Elliott of this new discovery (we were on the phone at 1:00 AM after I had spent a long day working on the SkyScroll website), he ventured . . .

"What if it means Mark 2?"

Immediately each of us grabbed his Bible and started scanning Mark 2. And there it was, in the last verse. Then Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” - Mark 2:27-28

So let's set the stage. In 2 Peter 3:8, we read, But do not overlook this one fact, beloved; that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. This is a New Testament restatement of Psalm 90:4, For a thousand years in Your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

That's pretty straightforward - God exists outside of time. Neither a day nor a thousand years mean anything to Him. But a few years ago while meditating on this verse, the thought popped into my mind, "What would it look like if you took this phrase literally?" Well, that would mean that we could consider a day as 1,000 years. And if the Lord regards the seventh day to be the Sabbath, and if He regards the seventh year to be a Sabbath, would it be at all surprising if He regarded the seventh millennium to be a Sabbath as well?

One can add up defined periods of years in the Bible to come up with an approximation of the time of Adam and Eve. Sir Isaac Newton did so and came up with something right at 4,000 BC. So if we add 4,000 BC to 2000 AD, we get 6,000 years. If this idea is valid, then that means that you and I sit on the very cusp of the dawning of the Great Sabbath Day!

But does that pass biblical muster? Throughout the Bible we are told that the Messiah will return to earth, clean house and reign on the throne of David. Revelation 20 specifically says that He will reign for a period of 1,000 years, after which comes the Great White Throne Judgment (where Jesus separates the sheep from the goats). Then God creates a New Heavens and New Earth, where we will live with Him for eternity.

Based on this understanding, I believe that the Day of the Lord represents not only the actual day of Christ's return, but also His 1,000 year reign on earth. I mentioned earlier that it looks (to me) as if the 2017/24 crossing represents the Day of the Lord. Seeing Mark 2 right there in the crossing is one more compelling piece of the message I believe God has given to us.

Now I want to go back to the two Ninevehs in the umbral path. Those towns lie northeast of Rapture, and (unsurprisingly) precisely fit the storyline.

A SECOND CHANCE

Even after Jesus comes for His bride (the Church), there is still opportunity for the lost to repent and be saved: the call of Jonah to the pagan nation of Nineveh sounds yet again for those who have ears to hear. Do the two Ninevehs represent two distinctly individual opportunities to repent? I don't think so. As postulated earlier, I believe that this represents two witnesses, given to firmly establish its truth (as previously discussed in, "Mark Two"). But whether it represents two separate chances or simply a second chance, I would strongly recommend not pushing the envelope!

As scripture says: “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart." - Hebrews 3:7-8

Moving on from Rapture, New Harmony and the two Ninevehs, the eclipse takes us across Lake Erie and Lake Ontario into Canada where we exit North America by way of the island of Newfoundland. Here too, we have a landscape pregnant with meaning.

THE NEW FOUND LAND

Newfoundland comes from the words “new found land.” It is known locally as “The Rock,” and by the French Terre-Neuve, or “New Earth.” On the far eastern side of the island, the centerline passes over Happy Adventure, Kings Cove, Terra Nova (also meaning new earth) and the Terra Nova National Park.

This terminology is fraught with imagery based in Revelation 20-22, the final chapters of the Bible where we see that the old creation has passed away and a new heavens and earth have come. Figuratively speaking, Adam (Hebrew for man) returns to Paradise, the garden from whence he came. Like - and very probably with - Adam, there we will walk with the Lord Jesus Christ: our Rock and Cornerstone.

As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,” and

“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

2 Peter 2:4-8

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable; as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

Revelation 21:1-8

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Revelation 22:20

The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, Part 4

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