Category Archives: Bible Prophecy

The Stars Will Fall From the Sky

02 Friday Aug 2013

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…and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. Revelation 6:13

Asteroid comes from the Greek word Aster meaning star.

In 1801, while making a star map, Italian priest and astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi accidentally discovered the first and largest asteroid, Ceres, orbiting between Mars and Jupiter.

The King James Bible was completed in 1611, almost 200 years before the discovery of asteroids. Therefore, the translation in our Bibles of the Greek word astéras as “star” was made before asteroids were identified.

The asteroid belt is the region of the Solar System located roughly between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter. It is occupied by numerous irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids.

To understand why there is an asteroid belt so close to the earth, we must take look at the pre-flood conditions of Noah’s day.

In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights. Genesis 7:11-12

Evidently there were great subterranean chambers of water which belched forth their contents causing volcanism (volcanic eruption) and tectonism (faulting or folding or other deformation of the earth’s crust by plate movements) on a broad scale.

Just as the springs of the great deep were in place to pour our God’s judgment in the days of Noah, so are the asteroids ready to be used for God’s judgment upon the earth before the Lord returns.

I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Revelation 6:12-14

As we parallel the events depicted in Revelation to the words Jesus spoke on the Mount of Olives concerning the sign of his coming.

“Immediately after the distress of those days,” ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'”At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. Matthew 24:29-31

Immediately after the distress of those days:

1. The sun is darkened

2. The moon will not give its light

3. The stars will fall from the sky (asteroids/shooting stars)

At that time:

1. They will see the Son of Man in great glory

2. He will send his angels to gather the elect

The account in the Gospel of Luke tells us that there will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. Men will faint from terror. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud. When these things begin to take place stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

The signs of the coming of the Son of Man take place after the distress of those days (the Great Tribulation). The gathering of the elect by the holy angels takes place after a time of great persecution marked by the prophesied signs appearing in the heavens.

Ten Days Between the Rapture of the Church & Christ’s Return

01 Monday Jul 2013

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    In his First Advent, Jesus was hailed on the 10th of Nisan as King when He rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey as prophesied by Zechariah. What is commonly referred to as “Palm Sunday” was the day that the lambs for the Passover were selected and watched over until the 14th at twilight when they were slaughtered.
    Yeshua instituted the New Covenant in his own blood at the Passover. He was entombed on the Feast of Unleavened Bread and rose on the day after the Sabbath on the Day of Firstfruits. Fifty days later, on Shavouth (the Feast of Weeks), the Holy Spirit descended in power and the church age began.
    All 4 of the Spring Festivals were fulfilled during the same calendar year.
    WHY then do theologians insist that in the Second Coming, the Rapture occurs on Rosh HaShannah/Yom Teruah (New Year/Day of Trumpets) and that either 7 years later (pre-trib) or 3 1/2 years later (mid-trib) Jesus comes back to rescue Israel on Yom Kippur? Yom Kippur occurs 10 days after Yom Teruah.
    There are then ten days left between the Feast of Trumpets and Yom Kippur. Religiously observant Jews know these ten days as the Ten Days of Awe. Between Rosh HaShona and Yom Kippur, Jewish people worldwide wonder, will their names be inscribed in the book of life for the coming year?
   What is likely to happen during the Ten Days of Awe framing Christ’s return? –
    “I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” Zechariah 12:10
    If the Church is raptured on Rosh HaShona to meet a glorious Christ in the air (not a “secret rapture” as portrayed in popular Christian media), the Jewish people would literally look upon the one their leaders had pierced on the cross through conspiracy with Rome, astonished at their rejection of Messiah to open the days of awe and days of repentance. Christ will rapture His Church away for both judgments as to rewards and to celebrate at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 11:18; 19:9).
    The Lord will pour out His spirit of grace upon the remnant of Israel on those who have survived the tribulation, “Jacob’s trouble.” Jacob is the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. God’s spirit of grace upon the surviving remnant from the twelve tribes indicates that Jacob’s people in the future will be saved both physically and spiritually.
    A spirit of supplication will drive Israel to her knees in desperate and fervent prayer during the Ten Days of Awe. She will mourn because the true Messiah of Israel came only for those in the Church, Jews and Gentiles, and now is gone again soon after!
    Israel will be on Earth during the pouring out of the last seven plagues. All Israel will be saved, but the promise to redeem corporate, national Israel would not have occurred until the Day of Atonement.
    Doesn’t this make a lot more sense than 7 years or 3 1/2 years later after the rapture then Christ returns???

“Left Behind” – The Deception of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture

29 Saturday Jun 2013

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“Left Behind” or “Left Unprepared” for the Coming Persecution?

With tens of millions of books, tapes and videos being sold in America and around the world, the “Left Behind” series has convinced multitudes of Christians into believing that they will be raptured away before the time of the “Great Tribulation.” Christians have suffered persecution and martyrdom for nearly two millennia. Today in Muslim countries, under dictatorships, and under communism, untold numbers of men and women are facing jail, torture, and even death for their faith in Christ. But will those who have bought into the pre-tribulation rapture myth be ready for the persecution to come to Christians in our modern-day Western Nations?

Steven L. Sherman, author of THE LAST DAYS CALENDAR: Understanding God’s Appointed Times is a “watchman on the wall” who is willing to stand against the tide. He believes that we now live in the day that men no longer put up with sound doctrine. “Instead, to suit their own desires, they have gathered around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” Although there may be many who reject the message, Steven Sherman must sound the trumpet and announce that the coming tribulation is ordained by God as a refining fire for His people.

The Book of Revelation is a letter to all Christians. It is a call for patient endurance and exhorts the believer to stand firm until the end. Those who have placed their faith in the Messiah can take heart because Jesus has assured his followers of final victory. In order to better understand the Book of Revelation, as well as all the prophetic verses of Scripture, it is necessary to interpret these passages within the context of historic Judaism and with the knowledge of The Festivals of the LORD. God’s “Appointed Times” for Israel are not just historic ceremonies, but prophetic declarations which encompass both the First Advent and the Second Coming of Christ.THE LAST DAYS CALENDAR: Understanding God’s Appointed Times is a “must” read.

To order from the publisher by phone, call: 1 (877) 421-READ. To contact the author for a personal appearance, debate, or prophecy conference email: LDaysCal@aol.com  or call (727) 647-6467.

Fasting and Prayer: Spiritual Power to Set the Oppressed Free

22 Saturday Jun 2013

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Fasting and Prayer: Spiritual Power to Set the Oppressed Free

Fasting and prayer are powerful spiritual weapons that can set the oppressed free from every yoke and bondage of sin. Jesus himself fasted for 40 days.

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke… Isaiah 58:6

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit… Luke 4:14-21

Jesus had been baptized by John. This was not for the remission of His sins because He was sinless, but to fulfill all righteousness. And afterwards, as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. Full of the Holy Spirit, He returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he fasted and was tempted by the devil. Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.

These significant, historical events occurred in accordance to the liturgical cycle of Scripture readings in the synagogues. From the times of the Babylonian captivity to this very day, each Sabbath weekly portions of the Sefer Torah or scroll containing the Five Books of Moses is read in every synagogue throughout the world. Not only are the books from Genesis through Deuteronomy read annually, but portions of the Scroll of the Prophets are read each Sabbath as well.

The reading of the Haftorah dates back to the era of the Greek empire. The enemies of God’s chosen people recognized the vitality of the Torah and banned the reading of the weekly Torah portion. In response, the Rabbis of those days substituted the reading of a segment from the Prophets, commonly known as the Haftorah. They carefully chose specific sections of the Prophets which correspond to the sedra (weekly portion) and intended through this to capture the lessons of the weekly Torah portion. Although the Torah reading has been restored, the Haftorah remains an integral part of Shabbos (Sabbath) and Yom Tov (holiday) experience.

As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’ ” Luke 3:4-6

John was preaching from Isaiah 40:3-5. Isaiah 40:1-26 is the passage of Scripture read from the scroll of the prophets on the first Sabbath after Tisha B’Av. Tisha B’Av, the Fast of the ninth day of the fifth month, is a day of mourning to commemorate the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people, especially the destruction of the First and Second Temples. There are seven readings from Isaiah between Tisha B’Av and Rosh HaShana. These passages span from Isaiah 40 through Isaiah 63.

After Jesus’ baptism, His forty days of fasting in the desert, and time spent preaching in the synagogues in the Galilee, His return to His hometown synagogue in Nazareth would have marked the end of seven week period between Tisha B’Av and the Sabbath before Rosh HaShana.

The destruction of Solomon’s Temple by the Babylonians was a judgment of God due to the sin of the nation of Judah. More than a century earlier, the Northern Tribes were taken into captivity by Assyria for their idolatries. John’s crying out in the wilderness was a call to repentance and spiritual preparation for the coming Messiah Jesus. It was initiated on a day of great mourning and fasting.

Seven weeks later, Yeshua – Jesus, whose name means salvation, read from Yeshayahu HaNovi – Isaiah the Prophet, whose name means -G-d is Salvation. Jesus read from Isaiah 61 verse one and the first half of verse two. He proclaimed the year of the LORD’s favor, but did not go on to pronounce the “day of God’s vengeance.”

Rosh HaShana commences the Ten Days of Awe. These ten days are the most solemn and introspective on the Hebrew Calendar. They mark the days between the New Year and the Day of Atonement. Yom Kippur is the most holy, most solemn day for the Jewish people. It is the last day of the High Holy Days which began on Rosh HaShanah. Many Jewish people spend the entire day in the synagogue, praying and fasting in the hope that their sins will be forgiven and that they will be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life for the coming year.

Tisha B’Av was the day that John the Baptist proclaimed that he was a voice crying out in the wilderness. It was a day of mourning and fasting. It was a call to turn from sin. Jesus proclaimed that He was the Messiah on the Sabbath before the Ten Days of Awe.

These days of repentance culminated on Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is a day set aside to “afflict the soul,” to fast and pray.

Jesus is the Anointed On. He is the Messiah. He was anointed to preach the good news, the gospel. He was sent to set the captives free.

But first, in order to receive Him, the people’s hearts had to be readied through prayer, fasting and repentance.

Wake up, you drunkards, and weep!

Wail, all you drinkers of wine; wail because of the new wine, for it has been snatched from your lips.

Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly.

Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. Joel 1: 5, 14

The first time in Scripture that we see the LORD ordaining a fast is when the nation had turned from their God and were drunk with wine.

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4

Fasting and prayer are powerful spiritual weapons to demolish the strongholds of alcoholism and other drug addictions.

Knowledge of the synagogue liturgy and the Hebrew calendar bring new spiritual insight and depth of scriptural understanding to the student of the Word. To learn more, read: THE LAST DAY’S CALENDAR:  Understanding God’s Appointed Times.

Christ Who Was Born King of the Jews is Both Savior and Lord.

22 Saturday Jun 2013

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Christ Who Was Born King of the Jews is Both Savior and Lord.

Today, millions of people who profess to be followers of Christ acknowledge that the babe found lying in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes1 was born king of the Jews2. Yet, far too few realize that the roots of their religious beliefs are, and will always be, Jewish3. Most Christians view their faith as a new Gentile religion founded by the apostles Paul and Peter. In actuality, Christianity is the acceptance of the Jewish Messiah as both Savior and Lord4. In fact, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious5.

Some may contend that we are living in an age of grace, and therefore the Jewish Festivals no longer hold significance for the believer. For many it does not matter whether we choose to celebrate Easter and ignore Passover, or hang Christmas ornaments and neglect the observation of the Feast of Tabernacles. Of course what one chooses to celebrate is not an essential salvation issue, but has the church forgotten that our Savior is the Holy One of Israel6?

A millennium before the birth of Christ, the mode of Israel’s worship was ordained by the LORD. The tabernacle in the wilderness and the House of the LORD in Jerusalem were patterned after the heavenly temple7. When the Lord returns, He will rule the nations from Zion8 seated on His throne in His temple and the nations will go up each year to Jerusalem to worship the King9.

Not only did our Creator choose to incarnate as a Jewish baby and live his life as an observant Jew10 and rabbi, the King of the Jews11 was crucified and then gloriously resurrected as the eternal Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David12. When He returns, the LORD will be King over all the earth13.

For those who contend that there will not be a literal, earthly reign of King Messiah, please consider King Nebuchadnezzar’s prophetic dream found in the book of Daniel. The rock that was cut out, but not by human hands, smashed the great statue which represented literal, earthly empires. Then, that rock became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth14 (emphasis mine).

Jesus is coming back soon. When He returns all the nations will go up year after year to worship the King and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles15. Don’t be too disappointed, but when the God of Israel returns we probably won’t be searching for Easter eggs or hanging up stockings for Santa.

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Footnotes:

1Luke 2:12                                                                       

2Matthew 2:2                                                     

3Romans 11:18                                                   

4Romans 10:9-10                                                 

5Romans 11:11                                                   

6Isaiah 43:3                                                            

7Exodus 25:40; Acts 7:44; Hebrews 9:11    

8Psalm 2:6-8

9Zechariah 14:16

10Luke 4:16

11Luke 23:38

12Revelation 5:5

13Zechariah 14:9

14Daniel 2:35

15Zechariah 14:16

The Messiah is the Son of David

22 Saturday Jun 2013

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The Messiah is the Son of David

THE SON OF DAVID

Why do the rabbis who are experts in Torah say that the Messiah is the son of David (Moshiach Ben Dovid), when David himself, speaking by the Ruach HaKodesh (Psalm 110:1) declared:

“HaShem said to my Adonai:

‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’ ”

David himself calls him Lord (Adonai). How then can he be his son?

Answer: The Moshiach is both the “Root” and “Offspring” of Dovid Melech.

(The Messiah is both the root and offspring of King David.)

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.”

Isaiah 11:1

“In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples;

the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.”

Isaiah 11:10

The Messiah preexisted David. He is the both the Root (that which gave David’s father Jesse sustenance) and the Son (in the geneological line) of King David. Moshiach is both Adonai and Son of David. He is a Banner for the Goyim (nations).

Do you know of any other rabbi in history that millions of Gentiles have embraced as the Messiah (Greek – The Christ)?

The Tanakh offers much evidence that Messiah has already come. The following references are just a few scriptural proofs:

“Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary…”  Daniel 9:25-26a

Daniel was in exile in Babylon and the Temple built by Solomon was destroyed.  It is written that there will be seven ‘sevens’ (7 X 7 = 49 years) from the issuing of the decree to allow the exiles to return until the city of Jerusalem would be rebuilt. From the time of the restoration of the city and the building there would be sixty-two ‘sevens’ (62 X 7 = 434 years) until the Anointed One (Moshiach) would come and be cut off (killed) and then the Second Temple (the sanctuary) and Jerusalem (the city) would be destroyed.

Were the Second Temple and the Holy City rebuilt after the Babylonian exile? Yes they were. Were they built in times of trouble and according to the time table of Daniel? Yes they were. Were the sanctuary and the city destroyed a second time as prophesied? Yes they were. Did Messiah have to come and die before the destruction of the Second Temple? Yes, according to the Scriptures!

Following are some excerpts from the end of Isaiah 52 and Isaiah 53. These passages cannot speak of Israel because Israel cannot atone for her own sins. These are messianic prophecies that speak of a man. Read them with an open heart that is seeking truth.

“See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

Just as there were many who were appalled at him –

his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man

and his form marred beyond human likeness-

so will he sprinkle many nations,

and kings will shut their mouths because of him.

For what they were not told, they will see,

and what they have not heard, they will understand.”

The Gentiles did not have the Torah or Hashem’s prophets. They were not told about Messiah. Yet many Goyim have embraced the “Anointed One” who came while the Temple stood and then was “cut off” before the sanctuary was destroyed.

“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to his own way;

and the L-RD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Messiah came as a suffering servant to bear our sins, but He is coming again as the “Lion of Yehuda” to judge the earth.

The prophets spoke the Word of the L-RD. Are you listening?

Before Wheat is Gathered into the Barn, it Must be Threshed!

19 Wednesday Jun 2013

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After harvesting wheat to obtain the grain, milling or pounding is needed

to remove the husks. On threshing, the chaff breaks up, releasing the grains.

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:11-12

A threshing sledge was made of logs and had sharp flints embedded in the under surface. First, cut stalks of grain were spread on the threshing floor and a threshing sledge was pulled over the stalks by oxen. When the oxen dragged the sledge over the stalks of wheat on the threshing floor, the stones ripped the husk away from the grain. Threshing the wheat could also be accomplished by having the oxen walk over the stalks or by beating the stalks of wheat with heavy sticks.

The grain is heaped and then winnowed by the farmer whose winnowing fork is in his hand. The winnowing fork is a several-pronged pitchfork and is used to toss wheat against the breeze to free it from chaff and crushed straw. Since the grain is heaviest it falls straight to the ground. The straw is blown a short distance and collects in another heap, while the chaff is completely scattered by the wind.

John the Baptist proclaimed that Jesus the Messiah would come to gather his wheat into his barn but would burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. Jesus used the term wheat as a symbol for his true followers – the elect in Christ. He also spoke of the master’s barn as a picture of heaven. The chaff burning in unquenchable fire symbolizes the unregenerate sinner who will suffer eternal torment.

But before the wheat can be gathered into the barn, it must be threshed. Pounding the wheat, the heavy weight of an ox’s hooves or dragging a threshing sledge over the stalks causes great pressure to burst the grain free from the husks. The word for intense pressure in Greek is thlipsis. It literally means being crushed under a rock. The word, thlipsis is translated as hardship, trouble, persecution or tribulation.

Matthew 13:20-21

The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble (thlipsis) or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

2 Thessalonians 2:3

Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

There will be many who will fall away in the last days when they face persecution. They will be unprepared to stand firm because they were taught that the rapture would occur before the time of great tribulation.

Matthew 24:29-31

Immediately after the tribulation (thlipsis) of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And 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. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The Great Tribulation is an extended period of persecution of the saints, not the hour of God’s wrath. After the thlipsis of those days – the time of great persecution, there will be signs in the sky and the Son of Man will appear in great glory. He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call and they will gather the elect from the four winds (the Rapture).

This passage of Scripture so clearly states that the Rapture takes place after the Great Tribulation, that those who hold to the doctrine of the Pretribulation Rapture claim that the elect of Matthew 24 must refer to Israel. But the Apostle Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit tells us clearly who the term elect refers to when used in the New Testament:

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded … Romans 11:7

Israel could not obtain righteousness by observing the law but the elect did by receiving God’s grace by faith. In the New Testament, the elect means Jew and Gentile in Christ – the Church. After the distress of those days the Rapture of the Church will take place, not 7 years before. It is obvious that the term elect refers to believers – the church, and not to Israel who has experienced a hardening in part.

Before his wheat will be gathered into his barn, it will be threshed. The bride of Christ will be purified through the cleansing fires of persecution before the rapture takes place at the seventh trumpet.

The History of Hanukkah Foreshadows the Reign of Antichrist!

19 Wednesday Jun 2013

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The History of Hanukkah Foreshadows the Reign of Antichrist!

Hanukkah or Chanukah is an eight day festival to celebrate the ancient victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians whose leader typifies the Antichrist. This “Feast of Dedication” is popularly known as the “Festival of Lights.” This festival is associated with the miracle in which the lamps stayed lit for “eight” days while the Temple in Jerusalem was rededicated, although there was only enough oil to fuel the Temple’s lamps for only “one” day.

After the death of Alexander the Great, who died without leaving an heir to his throne, the Greek Empire was divided among his four generals known as the Diadochi. Nicator Seleucus took control of the eastern provinces. Antiochus IV, a later Seleucid king, named himself Epiphanes which means “god manifest.” But Antiochus’ brutality and megalomania was better expressed sarcastically by his subjects privately who referred to him as Epimanes – the Madman.

One of the smallest states of the Grecian world empire was the kingdom of Judea. It lay between two giant powers, Egypt to the south and Syria to the north. Egypt was ruled by the Ptolemies and Syria was ruled by the Selucids. Judea was surrounded on all sides by countries who had succumbed to Greek culture. This culture came to be known as Hellenism. People everywhere began to speak Greek, dress like the Greeks, embrace Greek philosophy and worship the gods of Greece. Only in Judea, did the people live in a markedly distinct fashion from their Greek oppressors.

The southern kingdom of Israel, though small and poor, was the corridor which linked Asia, Europe and Africa. Through it troops could be moved from one continent to another. The trade routes of commerce and caravans cut across it from east to west and from north to south. It was a highly prized territory and was buffeted back and forth between its greedy neighbors.

Daniel chapter 11 is a prophetic depiction of the future conflicts, wars and alliances between the kings of the Ptolemies to the south and the kings of the Selucids to the north. Judea and the holy city of Jerusalem were caught between these two warring factions.

The Selucid king, Antiochus Epiphanes was the prophesied evil monarch from Syria – the ultimate “king of the north” – who came down and defeated “the king of the south” and took possession of Judea (Daniel 11:21-30).

Antiochus had the Jewish High Priest assassinated, and installed a man of his own inclination in his place. He instituted Greek customs throughout the Jewish population and finally ordered the Jewish religion abolished completely and replaced it with his own pagan gods. Anyone who failed to abide by his decrees, he had executed. His forces desecrated the Jerusalem Temple and its altar of worship by slaughtering a swine on the altar and erecting a statue of Zeus with his own likeness in the sanctuary. Antiochus typifies the Antichrist who will set up an abomination (an idol of himself) that causes desolation (those who love the true God to flee Jerusalem).

A revolt started in Modein where Mattathias killed a Jew making a profaned sacrifice and then killed the king’s official who enforced such sacrifices. Mattathias fled to the hills with his sons. Seleucid troops from Jerusalem pursued the rebels and slaughtered a group of women and children on the Sabbath. His successor, Judas Maccabee, along with many pious Jews – called the “Chasidim” (pious ones) – joined the revolt. They would descend from the mountains and would strike the Syrians with swift unexpected attacks (Maccabee – “Battle hammer”). After three years of fighting against overwhelming odds, the Maccabees regained control of the Temple.

After cleansing the Temple, the lamps of the sacred lampstand needed to be lit. There was only enough oil found to keep the lamps burning for one day. It would take a messenger a week to bring fresh supplies, but no one wanted to wait that long to rededicate the sanctuary. Miraculously, they lit the lampstand and the oil lasted eight full days!

High Priest and Lampstand

‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” Haggai 2:9

Solomon’s Temple (the former house or first Temple) contained five glorious elements that were missing in the present house (the 2nd Temple rebuilt under Zerubbabel) of Haggai’s day:

· The fire from heaven on the altar

· The ark of the covenant

· The glory of the divine Presence (Shechinah)

· The Urim

· The Thummim

In addition to these missing spiritual elements, the physical structure of Solomon’s Temple was so ornate and elaborate than the 2nd Temple, that those who were old enough to remember it (the survivors of the Babylonian exile) wept aloud when the foundation was laid.

Why then was it prophesied that the glory of the physically inferior 2nd Temple which lacked the Shechinah glory and the Ark of the Covenant would be even greater than that of The Temple built and dedicated by Solomon? In addition, how did the LORD God give peace in this place (the 2nd Temple) if it was completely destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD? Why did the miracle of Hanukkah last eight days, when the oil could be replaced in seven days?

Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” John 10:22-24

The latter glory of the second house was greater than that of Solomon’s Temple because the glorious Son of God, the “Light of the World” had come into the Temple. Jesus came into the Temple during the Feast of Dedication. The Light of the World who filled the Temple with glory was asked, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” He had confirmed again and again that He was the Messiah by his signs, wonders and miracles. Even the eight day miracle of Hanukkah pointed to Yeshua the Messiah.

In Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament, as well as Greek, the language of the New Testament, each letter possesses a numerical value. Gematria is the calculation of the numerical equivalence of letters, words, or phrases. And, on that basis, Gematria helps to gain insight into interrelation of different concepts and exploring the interrelationship between words and ideas. Most Christians are familiar with the concept that the value of the name of the Antichrist is calculated to be 666.

By utilizing principles of Gematria, we can determine that the following numerical values can be determined in relation to Jesus:

TITLE TOTAL VALUE DIVIDED BY 8

Messiah 656 8 x 82

Lord 800 8 x 100

Son 880 8 x 110

Savior 1,408 8 x 8 x 22

Christ 1,480 8 x 185

Emmanuel 25,600 8 x 8 x 8 x 50

JESUS 888 8 x 111

During the Festival of Lights, the Menorah is lit by a servant candle. Although the “Shamash” is located above the other candles, it must bow low to light them. Jesus humbled himself, took on the form of a servant, and shared his glorious light with us.

The fulfilled prophecy of Haggai 2:9 is only one of over 300 prophecies fulfilled that confirm that Yeshua (Jesus) is truly the promised Messiah of Israel. The probability of one man fulfilling only 48 of the over 300 prophecies is one in 10 to the 157th power. Not only did the miracles that Yeshua performed attest to the fact that He is the Son of God, but the statistical evidence is proof beyond any shadow of doubt that Yeshua is Adonai (Jesus is Lord).

Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies concerning the suffering servant Messiah at the First Advent, when the Lamb of God was slain and gloriously resurrected. When Yeshua returns as the conquering king Messiah, He will sit on his throne in Jerusalem.

“The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place.

Daniel 11:36

During the time of the Maccabees, the arrogant murderous ruler Antiochus IV had defiled the Temple and set up an image of himself demanding that he be worshipped. After three years, his army was defeated and he was overthrown. The Temple was cleansed and rededicated to the worship of the God of Israel.

Revelation 13:18

This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.

There is literal fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel 11:36 still to come concerning the last world empire and the evil Antichrist king who will exalt and magnify himself. As the number seven represents heavenly perfection and completeness, the number six represents sinful man who is imperfect and incomplete. The number 666 may remind us that man falls short three ways—in body, soul, and spirit—of God’s glorious nature. Antichrist exemplifies this complete “triple six” sinfulness of mankind. He is totally corrupt and debased, carnally minded, blasphemous, and lives in spiritual darkness. He is the bond servant of Satan, numbered 666.

Revelation 19:19-21 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

After 3 ½ years, the Antichrist and his armies will be defeated and the Temple will be cleansed and rededicated to the worship of the God of Israel just like in the times of the Macabees. Jesus Christ will sit on his throne in Jerusalem and rule over the nations.

…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-12

Is He the Lord of your life?

Until the Rebellion Occurs

19 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by in Bible Prophecy, Revelation

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Until the Rebellion Occurs

2 Thessalonians 1-4

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

It is obvious from the above passage of Scripture that the church at Thessalonica had received a false prophecy, report or letter that told them that the day of the Lord had already passed them by. Those who believe in a pretribulation rapture attempt to use this passage of Scripture as a proof text for their position. Their argument is that the only justification for the agitation and confusion at Thessalonica was that the members of that church thought they had missed the pretribulation rapture. If they had missed the pretribulation rapture, then it was doubtful if they were truly saved. If they had missed the rapture and weren’t saved, then all of Paul’s teaching would have been suspect. Had they endured intense persecution for a false belief?

Paul letter clearly indicates that their false belief wasn’t in his presentation of the Gospel, but in their misunderstanding of the timing of the rapture. He tells the Thessalonians plainly that the coming of Christ for His church will not occur until the two following conditions are met:

1).That day will not come until the rebellion occurs.

The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him will not happen until after the rebellion occurs. The theological doctrine of “imminence,” which means soon to happen, has been misinterpreted to mean at any time. That day will not come until the rebellion occurs. Contrary to the pretribulation teaching that the rapture could have even occurred during the lifetime of the original apostles, Scripture proves otherwise. It was prophesied that Paul would testify in Rome as he had done in Jerusalem (Acts 23:11). Peter was promised that he would live to an old age before being crucified, bringing glory to God (John 21:18-19).

Since it is evident from the second letter to the Thessalonians that the rapture will not occur until the rebellion, it is important to establish the scriptural definition of the term “rebellion.”

Deuteronomy 13:5

That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he preached rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you.

The Law of Moses states that a false prophet that leads people to worship other gods is to be put to death for the sin of “rebellion.” The sin of rebellion is not only the sin of a false prophet. Any person that worships other gods, especially by bowing down before an idol or offering up a sacrifice to an idol, is guilty of breaking God’s commandments.

Exodus 20:3-5a

“You shall have no other gods before me.”

“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…”

Revelation 13:13-14

And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

The rebellion has to do with those who would be deceived (see – Thessalonians 2:2), by the “False Prophet” (the beast from out of the earth), and then would bow down before the image of the Antichrist.

Revelation 14: 8-10

A second angel followed and said, “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”

A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.

God’s fury is against those who take the mark of the beast and against the “Great Harlot.” The fury of God which is poured out by seven angels is described in detail in Revelation chapter sixteen. These final plagues which complete God’s wrath take place near the end of Daniel’s 70th week.

2).The man of lawlessness must be revealed.

Those who hold to the pretribulation rapture theory claim that although Israel will follow this false Messiah, true believers will know his identity before the Tribulation begins. But Paul, writing to the church and not unsaved Israel, explains when the Antichrist will be revealed:

He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Daniel 9:27

He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.

Since Israel follows the “False Messiah” for the first half of Daniel’s 70th week, the revealing of the man of lawlessness does not occur until mid-tribulation.

The faithful believers at Thessalonica were assured that they had not missed the rapture. Their belief in a pretribulation rapture was misguided. The day of the Lord would not come until the Antichrist would establish himself in God’s temple and the False Prophet would lead the world in rebellion. The gathering of the elect to the Lord occurs at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. At that time, it will herald both the gathering of God’s people to himself and proclaim the terrible day of God’s judgment upon the earth.

Gideon and the Midianites

19 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by in Bible Prophecy, Words from the LORD

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Gideon and the Midianites

Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.

When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath. Judges 7:19-22

When will there be a great shout, the blowing of trumpets (shofars) and these jars of clay (our bodies) opened up to reveal the light inside (treasure in jars of clay)?

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:16

The supernatural defeat of the Midianites is a prophetic picture of the Rapture!

Where did the battle take place in which God defeated the Midianites?

The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh (meaning teacher or teaching – where the ungodly are taught it is not by might or power that victory takes place).

The valley near the hill of Moreh is the valley of Jezreel which lies in the view of Megiddo – the location of the final battle of Armageddon!

The Midianites initially fled to Bet-shittah toward Zererah, (Shittah is the same acacia wood of which the ark was made).  So it could be translated: “the house of [acacia] wood of the tying/binding.” Or put another way, “the tying/binding of the house of the [acacia] wood.”

The army of the Midianites fled as far as Abel Meholah near Tabath, but in Hebrew it is: “Avel-Mecholah of Tavat” This can be translated: Avel = mourning, Mechola = affliction; and Tavat = slaying.  This can be put together as “the mourning of the afflicted one [on account of] the slaying.”

Then the leaders of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, Gideon pursued just past Sukkot toward the tower (migdal) Penuel.  So he was chasing these two kings from the place of the “booths/tabernacles” to the “watchtower [of the] face of God”.

The chronology –

1) The Midianites first fled to Beth Shittah (a picture of the First Advent):

“The house of wood of the tying/binding” – the crucifixion of the Messiah

(See – Genesis 22, known as the “Binding of Isaac”)

2) Then as far as Abel Meholah near Tabath (a picture of the Second Coming):

“The mourning of the afflicted one [on account of] the slaying” –

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.  Zechariah 12:10-11

3) Then Gideon pursued the leaders of the Midianites, Zebah and Zalmunna past Sukkot (a picture of The Millennial Reign of Messiah): “Booths/Tabernacles”

Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.  Zechariah 14:16

4) Finally the enemies of God’s people were pursued to the tower of Penuel (a   picture of the White Throne Judgment of the unrighteous after the Millennium):

“Watchtower [of the] face of God”

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence (the face of God), and there was no place for them.

Revelation 20:11

Gideon and the Midianites – AN INCREDIBLE PROPHETIC PICTURE!!