Kerry Beck Page 1

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2 Kerry S. Beck, Skies of the Cross Easter Bible Verses & Study Guide Copyright 2012, 1 st edition by Kerry Beck All rights reserved. This book may be photocopied by the original purchaser for personal and household use only. Such reproductions may not be sold. Except for the above stated authorization to photocopy, no part of this book may be reproduced by any means without written permission from the author. RANGER PRESS & Curriculum Connection PO Box 4348 Bryan, TX Page 2

3 How To Use this Family Bible Study Your family can use this study in several ways as outlined here. Choose the way that works best for you and your children. Individual Study for Children Print a copy of this book for each child and let him work through it on his own. At the end of each section, discuss as a family. Family Bible Work through the study as a family. Print a copy of this book for each family member. When you gather for family devotions, be sure everyone brings their Bible. Take turns reading the comments & questions. Let each family member have a turn reading the Scripture, also. If you have children who are not reading, have a parent read the verse and let the child answer the corresponding question. After answering each questions aloud, be sure to allow time to write down your answers. Parent-Led Bible Parents work through the study on their own. Plan the items you want to share with your children. When you meet together as a family, parents will assign Scripture for each child to read. After reading the Scripture, parents ask corresponding questions. Page 3

4 Easter Skies Skies of the Cross Fast Forward to the end of Jesus life. Let s look at the skies & wonders on the Day of the Cross to gain a fuller understanding of Easter. First we will look at the Jewish calendar and traditions. Historical Background About the Times Read Jeremiah 17:21-22 What is the command for Jews on the Sabbath? Jews took the Sabbath as a day of rest. Today, we call this Saturday. Josephus tells us in Antiquities that the day before the Sabbath was Preparation Day. Families spent time preparing food & other needs on Friday so they could rest all day on the Sabbath. This will be important as we look for the date of the cross. Clues About Christ s Crucifixion All four Gospels mention the Day of Preparation in regards to Jesus death. If all four Gospels mention this time, it must be important in the life of Christ. What clues do you get in each verse about Jesus death. You may need to read a few verses before/after these to get the context. Matthew 27:62 Mark 15:42 Luke 23:52-54 John 19:14 John 13:1 Page 4

5 According to these verses, what time of the Jewish year did Jesus die? What day of the week was Jesus crucified? To read detailed, advanced historical information about the exact date & year of Jesus death, go to Dating the Crucifixion: We will continue to look at Scripture to discover what the skies were like during this Passover Feast, the year of Jesus death. Fast Forward The Jews celebrated Pentecost 50 days after Passover and the Crucifixion. Peter preaches an awesome message on the Day of Pentecost. On that day, we find more clues about Jesus death. What clues do you find from Peter as he recounts Joel s prophecy in Acts 2:14-21? When did these things take place? (hint: read Acts 2:22, the last phrase) Page 5

6 What astronomical events do Joel & Peter mention? To see when these events took place, first read a non-biblical source. "In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad [AD 32-33], a failure of the Sun took place greater than any previously known, and night came on at the sixth hour of the day [noon], so that stars actually appeared in the sky; and a great earthquake took place in Bithynia and overthrew the greater part of Niceaea," (Olympiades, by Phlegon Trallianus) Obviously, this is no ordinary event in the sky. What happens during 32-33AD? How does this compare to the following verses? Matthew 27:45-46, 50 Matthew 27:50-51 Mark 15:33-34, 37 Luke 23:44-46 What conclusion can you make, based on the clues above? What sources did you use to draw your conclusion? Page 6

7 What else happened on the day that Jesus died? What is a blood moon? Read astronomy books or search online. Write a short description of a blood moon. A blood moon occurs during a lunar eclipse. The moon is in the Earth s shadow and receives no direct light from the sun. The Earth s atmosphere refracts a dim light which produces a dull, red glow. A blood moon occurred at 3pm on April 3, 33AD. Day of the Cross: In Review Let s review the events of the day. The timing can be confusing to western minds because the Jews day starts when the sun rises, about 6am. What happens at each time listed below? 9am: Mark 15:25 (3 rd hour) 12noon: Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44 (6 th hour) Page 7

8 3pm: Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44 (9 th hour) Matthew 27:51, Luke 23:45 Matthew 27:46-50, Mark 15:37, Luke 23:46 The moon rises... blood red. You can imagine the concerns of those in the area. Imagine being there and seeing these wonders: Total darkness in the middle of the day Earth shattering earthquake Finally a moon rising that is blood red. Coming Full Circle in the Skies At Jesus birth, we see a new moon at the foot of Virgo (the virgin) as if birthed in the sky. At Jesus death, we see a blood moon returning to the foot of Virgo (the virgin). As Rick Larson says, A life fully lived, blotted out in blood. Page 8

9 Blood Moons Today NASA has scientific equations to determine blood moons in the past, as well as the future. You can discover astronomical events from watching these videos. After watching each video, answer the following questions. What do you call 4 blood moons that show up in the sky within a 2 year period? List the dates of historical & future tetrads. Include what happened in history on the past tetrads Page 9

10 Back during Jesus time, we find blood moons. Look at the images along with the 2 videos and draw a conclusion about the 32-33AD. Image: Blood Moon 32AD, along with video of moon turning red Page 10

11 Image: Blood Moon 33AD, along with video of moon turning red Page 11

12 God Uses Solar Eclipses Watch this video about lunar & solar eclipse. Answer the questions as you watch. ure=plpp_video What do you learn about solar eclipses in 70AD? What else happened in 70AD? How does God use a solar eclipse & a lunar eclipse differently? Lunar eclipse Solar eclipse Page 12

13 List the wonders in the skies during 2014 & Recently, we had total solar eclipses in back-to-back years. On what day in the Jewish calendar did these occur? What does the Old Testament record as happening on this day in history? List what happened during each year of these back-to-back solar eclipses What happened on the 9 th of Av (Jewish calendar) in the Old Testament? 9 th of Av is similar to a modern day Friday the 13 th. Page 13

14 What happened on the 9 th of Av during the following years? 586BC 70AD 1290 AD 1492 AD Does God continue to give us signals? Why or why not? Page 14

15 Learn More: Further Research About Solar & Lunar Eclipses Activity: Make a chart of all the tetrads found in history. Include years, dates and significant events. Draw your own conclusions from your chart. Page 15

16 Videos/Resources about Blood Moons & Eclipses Video: Mark Biltz research on blood moon, Very interesting video showing 4 blood moons in , , Video: Mark Biltz research on lunar & solar eclipse ure=plpp_video Page 16

17 Primer on the Jewish Calendar, including feast dates in Video: Blood Moon 32AD, along with video of moon turning red Passover eclipse Video: Blood Moon 33AD, along with video of moon turning red Crucifixion eclipse Page 17