Facts About the Solar Eclipse

Solar Eclipse in the Bible


Christianity Oasis Ministry provides this 10 Facts About the Solar Eclipse study asking if one may find the mention of a solar eclipse in the Bible. What time is the solar eclipse? What physical and spiritual precautions should one take when observing this phenomenon?



10 Facts About the Solar Eclipse

Solar Eclipse in the Bible

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This is our 10 Facts About the Solar Eclipse study researching things like; Can you find scripture about a solar eclipse in the Bible, What time is the solar eclipse and other fun facts about the solar eclipse.

#1. Indeed, there are several mentions of the phenomena we call solar eclipse in the Bible.

Probably the solar eclipse in the Bible that you may be most familiar with is this one, while our Lord and Savior was on the cross:

Matthew 27:45

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

Mark 15:33

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Luke 23:44-45

44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

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If you want to split hairs, and say that references to a solar eclipse in the Bible are not valid, as technically, a solar eclipse lasts merely minutes, we seek not to argue logic. However, Spiritually speaking:

Isaiah 9:2

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Matthew 4:16

The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Acts 26:18

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

John 8:12

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

#2. The first solar eclipse in the Bible was recorded in the Book of Joshua.

Joshua 10:12-13

12 Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

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This, if you will pardon the pun, was a miracle of astronomical proportions. Not only should we glorify God for His power, but thank Him for His generosity when we pray, remembering that we only need to have faith the size of a mustard seed.

#3. Another solar eclipse in the Bible.

King Hezekiah was deathly sick and prayed to God that he would not die. The prophet Isaiah was sent to tell Hezekiah that he would live 15 years longer and that God would show him with a sign. The sign was the going back of the shadow upon the sun-dial, making it appear as if time had reversed. God, the Father of all lights is the director of them and the only One who can turn back time.

Isaiah 38:7-8

7 "'This is the Lord's sign to you that the Lord will do what he has promised:
8 I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.'" So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.

#4. Is there mention of a solar eclipse in the Bible that refers to End Times? Absolutely.

There is plenty of prophecy about the sun, moon and stars that refer to end times. Here are just a few prophecies in scripture that mention the heavenly luminaries as signs of the end times:

Isaiah 13:10

For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

Ezekiel 32:7

And when I shall put thee out [extinguish you], I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.

Joel 2:10, 31

10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.

Joel 3:15

The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

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#5. Enoch was shown the 'laws' and secrets of the heavens.

If you would like to read something truly interesting about the sun and moon and how they work together, you will be fascinated by what Enoch was shown by an angel. Particularly, Chapter 2, The Luminaries.

#6. Do NOT look directly at a solar eclipse.

Undoubtedly, there are many more than 10 Facts About the Solar Eclipse that are sure to gain your curiosity when you set out to research this mysterious phenomenon. In fact, there may be many things that are tied to this occurrence than meets the eye. And speaking of meeting the eye ... It is true, you should NOT look directly at a solar eclipse!

ARPANSA an acronym for Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency explains it simply: Looking at the intense light from the sun even for just a few seconds can cause permanent damage to the retina (part of the eye directly responsible for vision). Exposing your eyes to the sun without proper eye protection during a solar eclipse can cause retinal burns (solar retinopathy).

#7. What time is the solar eclipse?

In the US, totality will begin in Texas at 1:27 pm CDT and will end in Maine at 3:35 pm EDT on April 8, 2024. For an interesting simulation of the path that the solar eclipse can be seen best from, GreatAmericanEclipse.com has a great animated timeline that shows all the data in easy to understand visuals and will answer the question, What time is the solar eclipse in your area.

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#8. How often does a solar eclipse take place? Answers vary.

According to Phys.org, total solar eclipses happen every 18 months, but viewing is limited with the path of totality often occurring over the ocean rather than populated areas, according to Baylor University. While solar eclipses occur about two to four times per year, NASA reports a total eclipse only happens once every 100 years or so in any given location on Earth. (Some other sources say that a total eclipse only happens once every 400 years.)

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#9. What is a solar eclipse?

NASA description: A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth. When the Moon completely blocks the Sun, it is called a total solar eclipse. When the Moon only blocks part of the Sun, it is called a partial eclipse. An annular eclipse is s special type of partial eclipse that happens when the Moon blocks all of the Sun except for a small ring around the edge. Sometimes a solar eclipse can appear as an annular in some places and a total in others as the Moon's shadow moves across Earth's surface. This is known as a hybrid eclipse.

#10. What will you see during a solar eclipse?

NASA description: During a total solar eclipse, you will see multiple unique features as the eclipse progresses.

  • Partial eclipse: As the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, at first it does not completely cover the Sun. The Sun appears to have a crescent shape.
  • Shadow bands: Shadow bands are rapidly moving, long, dark bands separated by white spaces that can be seen on the sides of buildings or the ground just before and after totality, though they can be very faint and difficult to photograph.
  • Baily's Beads: As the Moon continues to move across the Sun, several points of light shine around the Moon's edges. Known as Baily's Beads, these are light rays from the Sun streaming through the valleys along the Moon's horizon.
  • Diamond Ring: Baily's Beads will begin to disappear until eventually, only a single bright spot will remain along the edge of the Moon's shadow. This bright spot resembles the diamond in a giant diamond ring formed by the rest of the Sun's atmosphere.
  • Totality: Totality is when the Moon completely blocks the bright face of the Sun. This is the only stage of the eclipse that you can view with your naked eye. This stage can also reveal the chromosphere (a region of the solar atmosphere, appearing as the thin circle of pink around the Moon) and the corona (the outer solar atmosphere, appearing as streams of white light).

After totality, viewers will be able to experience the features they saw earlier in the eclipse again.

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If you have happened upon our 10 Facts About the Solar Eclipse Bible Study and never realized just how Spiritual this phenomenon actually is, we are glad you stopped by and pray that you are "enlightened." No matter how many various interpretations there are of what a solar eclipse in the Bible means, it's always a good idea to make things right between yourself and your Almighty God and Creator, the Father of lights. It only takes an instant if you're in darkness and are having a total eclipse of the heart, to sincerely invite Him into your life and enjoy the light.