As we look over 2014 and now 2015 we see cataclysmic events occurring: the Ebola pandemic, fears of nuclear proliferation in Iran, concerns about the impending destruction of Israel, a falling stock market, an army of Islamic terrorists called ISIS creating chaos, ferociously killing all those in their path in their attempt to create an "Islamic Caliphate" in Syria and throughout the Middle East.
An apocalyptic event may soon be happening in our world and affecting our lives, now and into the future. It was marked by an omen - a rare astronomic event: a series of blood moons called a Tetrad, produced when a total Lunar Eclipse occurs four times in a row. From the year one to 2010 we've had 54 Tetrads. The years 2014-15 have now produced the 55th Tetrad. Even more ominously, this eclipse occurs in the middle of the Shemitah Jewish Year. In the Jewish religious tradition, this is a sign of bad things to occur in the nations of the world.
What may be happening - has been foretold by Jonathan Cahn, a messianic rabbi and biblical scholar who authored the best-selling Christian book, "The Harbinger" in 2012. In his book, he predicted that America will come under God's judgment in the wake of the horrendous 9/11 attacks that occurred in 2001 (another Shemitah year).
He states that rather than being humbled and repentant, the U.S. has continued to displease God by continuing its unrepentant ways, citing abortion, pornography and removal of prayer as examples. (Note: a more complete list of offenses were well covered in Pope Francis' address to congress. These offenses to God include the greed of worshipping money, allowing homelessness and poverty, insufficient healthcare to those in need, not taking care of God's planet by ignoring the science that says climate change must be addressed; and, an irresponsible congress that has acted selfishly - not in the interests of it citizens to solve their problems.)
Cahn discusses God's coming judgment in his 2014 book, "The Mystery of the Schemitah," saying that the Shemitah judgment year was kicked off on September 25, 2015 in accordance with the seven-year cycle that correlates with the Hebrew calendar. He says that God's judgment will bring bad news to come. So, what is the "Shemitah" all about?
What is the Shemitah?
According to the Bible, in Leviticus chapter 25, God commands his people not to plant the fields on the seventh year. This is to be a Sabbath Year to rest and honor God. During this year all debts are to be forgiven, slaves set free, the land is to rest, and the economy of the land will be reduced. Shemitah Years can bring down economies, kingdoms or nations that do not follow God's will. If the people follow God's Laws the nation is blessed at this time; if not it, can mean bad times for a nation.
In his book, "The Mystery of the Shemitah," he documents the many unique and important events that have happened in American and world history on Shemitah Years.
List of "Shemitah Year" Events in the Twentieth Century: The Rise & Fall of Nations
1917- America rises to power ending World War I. The rising of the Communist State of the Soviet Union.
1917- The defeat of Germany. The fall of the Czar of Russia. The fall the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. The fall of the Turkish-Ottoman Empire.
1938- German Nazis attack Jewish businesses and burn Jewish Synagogues on Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass.)
1945- Nazi Germany is defeated. The Atomic bomb is dropped on Japan thus ending World War II. Japan signs peace treaty the same week of the end of the Shemitah year.
1945- The United States becomes a military super power. The U.S. dollar becomes the world standard currency. The United States is the richest country in the world, and the world's largest lender nation.
1973- The United States Supreme Court declares that America's can kill their unborn babies.
1973- The World Trade Center is completed which is a symbol of America's economic strength.
1973- America loses its first war to Vietnam. Nixon takes America off the Gold standard. This sets in motion the decline of the U.S. dollar.
1980- The U.S. Supreme Court bans the posting of the Ten Commandments in Public Schools. Thus God is now completely banned from our public schools in America.
2001- The World Trade Center buildings (the symbols of America's economic strength) are destroyed by an Islamic terrorist attack. One week later Wall Street has one of its greatest collapses on the last day of the Jewish Shemitah Year.
2008- Exactly seven years later, Wall Street suffers its largest decline. America is now the world's largest debtor nation.
2014-2015- In Sept of 2014 we start a new Shemitah Year. This happens in connection with a Tetrad of 4 Blood Moons which all occur on Jewish feast days. As the United States has turned away from God and endorsed many sins, it is very possible that God's judgment will fall on America during this year of the Shemitah.
*Above list from Rabbi Jonathan Cahn's book, "The Mystery of the Shemitah."
How Will the USA Be Affected?
We can only speculate in what ways the USA will be affected during this Shemitah. It's very possible this Shemitah could bring us a financial catastrophe based on the huge debt and uncontrolled spending by our government. In his book, Cahn points out that all five great economic crashes of the past 40 years: 1973, 1980, 1987, 2001 and 2008 have occurred in Shemitah years (i.e. every 7th year).
An economic crash, huge debt defaults and loss of confidence in the US dollar could shatter America's superpower status in the world. It's also possible that a collapse in the American dollar, as the premiere reserve currency in the world, could lead to a new global financial currency system.
With all the world tensions created by ISIS, and military conflicts in countries such as Syria, Iran, Israel, Russia and South Korea, we could see the judgment of the Shemitah in the form of a terrorist attack or a war. In his book, "The Harbinger," Cahn points out that in 2001 we had the Twin Towers attack and an economic crash. Then, seven years later in 2008, we had the infamous Wall Street stock market crash. Both coincided precisely with the exact end of the Shemitah year.
Ultimately, big changes will be occurring in our world. Let us hope that this Shemitah year is one of redemption, where we finally have leaders who come together in the spirit of goodwill to address our problems, taking to heart Pope Francis' words, "Let all men live by the Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Whether you believe in the Shemitah or not, why not learn how the planets may be affecting you now by going to the Free Transit Calculator and enter your birth date. And, if you're curious to learn more about your personal Horoscope and what it says about your love relationships, career, investments and health in: Order your customized Report: Your Horoscope & Future in 2015-16. Or, a report on - Your Love Compatibility.
Larry Schwimmer is an astrologer in private practice. For private consultations, contact him at: Larry@astrodecision.com or go to www.AstroDecision.com
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Larry Schwimmer is president of Astrodecision.com, a San Francisco-based consulting company. The firm uses planetary cycles analysis to counsel individual and corporate clients on picking the "best dates" to make successful decisions of all types: personal, marketing, financial, and political. Schwimmer is an internationally known business consultant, life coach and astrologer (with a Fortune 500 M&A background). Visit his website: AstroDecision.com