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The History of Hanukkah Foreshadows the Reign of Antichrist!

19 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by Just Pray NO! in Bible Prophecy, Feasts & Festivals

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antichrist, Antiochus IV, Chasidim, Epimanes, grecian, Hanukkah and the antichrist, history of hanukkah, human-rights, Jerusalem Temple, Madman, middle-east, Modein, politics, religion, The Thummim, theology

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?

THE POWERFUL PRAYER OF JABEZ

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by Just Pray NO! in Scripture Studies

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1 chronicles, 1chronicles 4:9-10, blesssing of jabez, faith, israel, jabex, meaning of jabez, middle-east, name of jabexz, politics, power in jabz, prayer of jabex, prayer of jabez, religion, theology

THE POWERFUL PRAYER OF JABEZ

1Chronicles 4:9-10 reads:

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from evil so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

The data of Israel’s history was organized and recorded by the Chronicler to address the exiles who had returned from Babylon. The first nine chapters of First Chronicles are devoted to the genealogies which span from the time of Adam to the generation that returned to rebuild Jerusalem after seventy years of captivity.

These two verses concerning Jabez stand out in stark contrast to the mere recording of name upon name which characterizes most lineages. Although it is evident that Jabez descended from the tribe of Judah, unlike the others whose names are recorded, there is no clear reference to Jabez’ clan or family. Obviously, this account of Jabez was not included to focus upon his lineage, but to emphasize the impact that his prayer had upon his life.

Keil, in his commentary, supposes that these verses are a record of a vow made by Jabez. Keil goes on to suggest that the vow was so significant and its fulfillment so apparent that it has been handed down.

More importantly, we must remember that the information recorded in the Books of the Chronicles are not only historic fact, but are the inspired Word of God. The account of Jabez has been preserved by God to teach us spiritual lessons and to help us draw nearer to Him.

His mother named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”

Jabez’s mother named her son a name which sounds like the Hebrew word for pain or suffering. It also can be translated as sorrow maker. Biblical names are very significant. Some names have been prophetic, such as the name Jesus which means Savior. More often they expressed some outstanding personal characteristic. Abram, which means exalted father, had his name changed by God to Abraham, which means the father of many. Abraham’s grandson was named Jacob which means he grasps the heel or figuratively means the usurper or deceiver. After Jacob spends twenty years being deceived by his uncle Laban, he returns home. On his journey home, he spends a night wrestling with the Angel of the LORD.  Jacob is renamed Israel which means he strives with God or having power with God.

It can be assumed that Jabez, who was named the sorrow maker, harmed others, and in turn, his life was filled with pain.

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel …

Jabez descended from Judah, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel who had seen the misery of His people during their Egyptian bondage. The LORD God heard as Israel cried out because of their harsh taskmasters.

“Oh, that you would bless me indeed …

As a Jew, Jabez was circumcized as a sign that he was a partaker of the Abrahamic covenant. Jabez knew that God’s gracious covenant with Abram was full of blessings. Because Abram was obedient and left his country, his people and his father’s house in order to follow God, the LORD promised the following to him:

“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”  Gen 12:2-3

Jabez understood that God is a God of love and grace who desires to bless His people.

… and enlarge my territory!

Jabez knew that when the Israelites were finished with their wilderness experience and entered into the promised land that the LORD said to Joshua:

“I will give you every place where you set foot, as I promised Moses.”  Joshua 1:3

The God of Israel also promised that if Joshua obeyed the Law handed down through Moses, that Joshua would be successful wherever he would go. Joshua was encouraged to be strong and courageous in battle because the LORD’S hand would be with him. So Jabez prayed:

Let your hand be with me …

Jabez desired to be blessed and his territory enlarged. Jabez realized that in order for his sphere of influence, his personal wealth, and his impact for God’s kingdom to increase, it would take the grace of God, the power of God and the presence of God’s Spirit – the hand of God –  to accomplish it.

… and keep me from evil so that I will be free from pain.”

Jabez cried out to God “keep me from evil.”  Just as the children of Israel fervently cried out to God to be delivered from their physical bondage and physical pain, Jabez fervently cried out to be delivered from his spiritual bondage and emotional pain. He was named the “Sorrow Maker.” Jabez caused others to suffer pain. Jabez wanted to be kept from evil so that he could be free from pain. Doing what is evil is sin. All wrong doing is sin. Sin not only breaks our relationship with God, but also harms others as well as ourselves.

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.

Why is a man named pain who had to cry out to God, “keep me from evil…” called more honorable than his brothers?  Because Jabez wanted to turn from his painful ways and knew from whom to seek help.

I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Ps 121:1-2

The LORD is translated from the Hebrew Yahweh – the covenant name of the God of Israel. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel for deliverance and blessing. Jabez was not more righteous than his brothers because of his noble character or actions, but because he humbled himself, repented of his sins, and trusted in the grace of God for forgiveness and blessing.

His mother named him Jabez …

Jabez came from a disfunctional family. He was cursed from birth by his own mother who labeled her newborn as a pain maker. He may have been ridiculed by other children and even by his own brothers. Jabez may have even tried to live up to his name. But we have no record of the names of the brothers of Jabez. Although he was named “Sorrow Maker,” the Scripture refers to him as an honorable man.

And God granted his request.

Jabez was blessed indeed. Jabez’s wealth, influence and impact for God’s kingdom remarkably increased. God presence and power was with him. Jabez was kept from evil and free from pain.

Have you come from a disfunctional family?

Are you burdened with the guilt of pain that your misdeeds have wrought?

Do you want to experience true forgiveness?

If you desire the power and presence of God in your life, then be encouraged by the following passage from Romans 10 verses 9-10:

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Pray this simple prayer of faith and accept God’s gracious gift of salvation:

“Lord Jesus Christ,

I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to earn my way to heaven. Although I deserve God’s wrath, by God’s mercy, I accept your free gift of eternal life by faith. I believe that You were born of a virgin and died on the cross to pay the price of my sins. I believe you were buried, rose again on the third day, have ascended into heaven, and will soon come again.

Lord, please forgive me of my sins, come into my heart and take control of my life.” AMEN

If you have just prayed this prayer then go to:

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Hagar Will Bear Abram a Son and the LORD Named Him Ishmael

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by Just Pray NO! in Genesis

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100 years old, abraham, children, current-events, genesis 16, God, hagar, hagar in genesis 16, in what chapter hagar, ishmael, maidservant, politics, promise, religion, theology, ur of the chaldeans

Hagar Will Bear Abram a Son and the LORD Named Him Ishmael

Sarai bore Abram no children, so she gave Hagar to him. When Hagar was pregnant, she despised her mistress & was mistreated. Hagar fled to the desert.

Genesis Chapter 16

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Genesis 16:1-2a

Children are a blessing from God. It is apparent that Sarai is displeased with the LORD because He has caused her to be barren. She tells her husband Abram that he should sleep with her handmaid Hagar. Probably Hagar was one of the servants that they had acquired when they went down to Egypt during the time of the famine in Canaan. The child of a female slave would then become the property of the slave’s mistress. Sarai reasoned that she could build a family though her maidservant.

Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. Genesis 16:2b-4a

Abram had left the Ur of the Chaldeans when he was 75 years old. His wife Sarai was ten years his junior. The trip along with the stop at Haran to replenish the livestock was approximately a year long. After living in Canaan ten years Sarai was about 76 years old. Both Abram and his wife probably believed that Sarai was beyond child bearing age.

Abram had already demonstrated that he was a great man of faith. The account of Genesis chapter 12 informs us that Abram did not question the LORD when asked to leave his home and country. Abram faithfully obeyed and embarked on a 1,000 mile journey to an unknown land. In Genesis chapter 15, the LORD reassured Abram that he would indeed have a son coming from his own body and that Abram’s offspring would be as innumerable as the stars in the sky. Abram had believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith. Yet when Sarai desired to give her handmaiden to him, he did not inquire of the LORD but slept with Hagar to please his wife. The phrase “to be his wife” is merely a euphemism for sexual intercourse. Abram did not take Hagar as his wife but Sarai gave her maidservant to him for the purpose of bearing a child for her.

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.” Genesis 16:4b-5

Hagar, who was Sarai’s handmaiden, treated her mistress as her inferior and with contempt by reproaching her for her barrenness, as Peninnah did Hannah before the birth of Samuel. Hagar’s actions were not only prideful but ungrateful, since it was because of her mistress that Hagar was given to Abram so that she may conceive. Although the plan to build Sarai’s family though Hagar was her own idea, Sarai shifts the blame to her husband for the mistreatment that she is suffering. Perhaps Sarai thought that it was Abram’s duty to make sure Hagar knew her rightful place in the household. In any case, Sarai believed that her cause is so just that she declared, “May the LORD judge between you and me.”

“Your servant is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. Genesis 16:6

Abram did not attempt to mediate between Sarai and Hagar as if they held equal positions in his household; instead he told his wife Sarai to do whatever she thought was best in dealing with her contemptuous slave. Sarai mistreated Hagar. In the original language of Hebrew the intent is that Sarai afflicted Hagar to humble her. Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that Hagar fled from her mistress.

The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. Genesis 16:7-8

It is important to note that the text does not say that an angel found Hagar but records that “The angel of the LORD” found Hagar near a desert spring. The account in Genesis 16:7 is the first time that the Bible records the appearance of “The angel of the LORD.” There is a phenomenon in the Bible which theologians refer to as “The Law of First Mention.” The very first time any significant word or symbol is mentioned in the Bible, Scripture gives that word its most complete and accurate meaning. This not only serves as a “key” in understanding the word’s Biblical concept, but to also provide a foundation for its fuller development in later parts of the Bible. The encounter between Hagar and the angel of the LORD will enable us to identify this unique being.

Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.” Genesis 16:9-10

After Hagar answered the angel of the LORD’s questions, he commanded Hagar to go back to her mistress Sarai and submit to her. Then the angel of the LORD said that he would increase Hagar’s descendants. No created being could fulfill that promise. It is also interesting that the language used and the promise made is strikingly similar to the promise of numerous descendants made by the LORD to Abram earlier.

The definition of the “Angel of the LORD” by Louis Goldberg is cited in Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology:

“(Hebrew – mal’ak yehwah). Supernatural being who bears a message on behalf of God. In many passages in the Old Testament, the angel of the Lord is identified with God, while in other instances a distinction is made between the Lord and the angel. In general, however, the terms “the angel of the LORD, “ “the LORD,” and “God” are interchangeable.The angel of the Lord is the messenger of both good and evil. He comes to Hagar after she has fled from the abusive Sarai (Genesis 16:7-14) to assure her that God has heard about her misery and that her descendants will be too numerous to count. She names him “You are the God who sees me” (verse 13).”

In chapter 18 of the book of 2 Kings is the record the of Sennacherib king of Assyria whose army attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. In response, Hezekiah king of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: “I have done wrong. Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me.” The king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace.

Although Hezekiah had paid tribute to Sennacherib, the king of Assyria sent his supreme commander, his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. In 2 Kings 18:31-35, the field commander spoke to Hezekiah’s officials and said:

“Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern, until I come and take you to a land like your own, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life and not death!

“Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

The supreme commander of the Assyrian army purposed to dishearten Hezekiah’s officials. The commander intended to make them fearful, so that they would abandon their king and surrender their fortified city.

In the first verse of chapter 19 of 2 Kings we read: When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord.

We also read in verses 14-19:

Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.

“It is true, O Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by men’s hands. Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God.”

Then Isaiah the prophet sent an encouraging message to Hezekiah saying that the LORD, the God of Israel had heard his prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria. Isaiah also prophesied that the LORD would defend Jerusalem and save it, for His sake and for the sake of David His servant.

That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. 2 Kings 19:35-36

Although Yahweh declared that He would defend the city, the angel of the LORD executed judgment on behalf of the LORD. He put to death 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in their camp, thereby saving Jerusalem from decimation.

Continuing with Louis Goldberg’s entry on the “Angel of the LORD”:

“The angel of the LORD both commissions and commends God’s servants. The commander of the LORD’s army commissions Joshua to undertake the LORD’s battles for Canaan, just as Moses had been commissioned to confront Pharaoh (Joshua 5:13-15; cf. Exodus 3:5). The angel of the LORD appears to Abraham. He stops Abraham from sacrificing Isaac and commends him because he has not withheld his only son from God (Genesis 22:11-18). Abraham identifies the angel as God, calling the place The LORD Will Provide.

The angel of the LORD carries out a ministry of reconciliation. He asks how long God will withhold mercy from Jerusalem and Judah (Zechariah 1:12). The connection between the angel of the LORD and the preincarnate appearance of the Messiah cannot be denied. Manoah meets the angel of the LORD, and declares that he has seen God. The angel accepts worship from Manoah and his wife as no mere angel, and refers to himself as “Wonderful, “ the same term applied to the coming deliverer in Isaiah 9:6 (Judges 13:9-22). The functions of the angel of the LORD in the Old Testament prefigure the reconciling ministry of Jesus. In the New Testament, there is no mention of the angel of the LORD; the Messiah himself is this person.”

The angel of the Lord also said to her: “You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” Genesis 16:11-12

Ishmael means God will hear. The son Abram’s concubine will bear will be named Ishmael for the LORD heard Hagar’s misery. The 12 sons of Ishmael, and his Egyptian wife, became princes and progenitors of as many tribes. The region occupied by these Ishmaelites included most of central and northern Arabia.

The wild donkey lived a solitary existence in the desert away from society. Ishmael’s descendents would be free-roaming or nomadic. Bedouins are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arabian ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes, or clans. The Arabic term badawi derives from the word badiyah which means semiarid desert. The term “Bedouin” therefore means, “Those in badiyah” or “Those in the desert.”

All Arabs, following Mohammed’s example, claim descent from Ishmael. … his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him. In an effort by the Muslims to destabilize and take control of more and more territory, everywhere in the civilized world there are Islamic insurgencies and senseless acts of terror. There is no where on earth where Islam has ever brought peace, unless you define peace as the slaughter of all dissenters. Islam cannot bring peace because the god of Islam is Satan himself disguised as the moon god, Allah.

… and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers. When the Ummah (the worldwide Muslim community) is not busy slaughtering infidels, it reverts to slaughtering itself. The prophesied hostilities of brother against brother are evidenced by conflicts between different sects of Muslims such as Sunni against Shia, and Sunni and Shia against Sufi.

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. Genesis 16:13-14

The angel of the LORD had spoken to Hagar, yet Hagar gave this name to Yahweh who spoke to her, El Roi “You are the God that sees me.” Again the angel of the LORD speaks but is identified as God himself. Hagar’s son will be named “Ishmael” which means “God will hear.” Hagar testifies that not only will God hear our cries and petitions, but He is a God that sees our difficult and troubling circumstances. Hagar had fled to a spring in the desert. After she encountered the angel of the LORD, she and named that well, “Beer Lahai Roi” which means “Well of the Living One who sees me.”

So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael. Genesis 16:15-16

Hagar returned at the command of the angel of the LORD, believing the promise that God had made to her. Abram named his son Ishmael according to the command given to Hagar. Since it was the LORD who chose the name, Abram may have believed that Ishmael was the fulfillment of the promise of an heir from his own loins. It would be 13 more years until it would be revealed to Abram that he would father the son of the promise through his wife and not her hand maiden.

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The Revelation of Jesus Christ

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