“The Order Of Prophetic Events” – ‘Part #1’

‘Age of The Law’

We need an overall picture of things to come so when we look at detailed prophetic events we will know exactly where to plug them in. So I am going to try and paint you a picture with words and hope you can see it. If a picture is worth a 1,000 words, then this one ought to be worth 37 anyway. 🙂 The first thing we see is, ‘Creation.’ In 1658, Archbishop James Ussher’s work was published in Welsh, and now we have it in English. He calculated from the ‘Biblical Genealogies’ that Creation occurred around 4,004 BC. Rabbi Yose ben Halafta in 120 AD, 1,500 years before Ussher also calculated Creation occurred around 3,761 BC, a difference of 243 years. (see Ussher’s appendix G for an explanation, or my blog where it is posted). Halafta basically compressed the Persian Empire into 30 years so Daniel 9:24-27 would point to Simon Bar Kokhba in 135 AD as the Messiah, according to Rabbi Akkiba, this is verified in the Encyclopedia Judaica.  Halafta used a lunar calendar and Ussher used a solar calendar, today the Jewish people use a solar/lunar calendar. The ancient Rabbis believed there would be 2,000 years without the law, 2,000 years with the law, 2,000 years with the Messiah and then the Kingdom. Isn’t that part of the Lord’s prayer, which we are to pray, “Thy kingdom come!” The Jewish calendar says it is ‘5772,’ if you add the 243 year error it would be 6015, like our 4004 BC plus 2012 AD equals, ‘6016’ and they too would be expecting their kingdom and praying, “Thy kingdom come!” You have about 2,000 years from creation to Abraham, then about another 2,000 years from Abraham to Christ, and about another 2,000 years from Christ till today, for a total of 6,000 years, waiting for the 7th thousand years or the kingdom of God or the millennium. You can read this in the “Encyclopedia Judaica” vol. 14, pg. 1091, art. “Seder Olam Rabbah” or in “The Annals of The World” by James Ussher, pg. 931-934, appendix ‘G’ – “Seder Olam Rabbah”. Now as we look at the order of prophetic events we will begin with the present and identify the ‘Ten Major Prophetic Events’ that will lead us right into eternity.

“The Age of Grace”

The first thing we see after the cross is the ‘Age of Grace’ or the ‘Church Age.’ We are to be making preparation right now for Christ’s return. In Luke 19:13 He said to His disciples, “Occupy till I come.” In other words, be busy, be pragmatic, stay occupied with the Masters work! Later we will see the ‘Signs of The Times’ which will indicate the, “Imminence of His Eminence!” The Greek word for ‘Church’ (ek-klay-see-ah) comes from two words, the preposition (ek) out of, from, or away from and (kal-eh-o) to call. To call out, or ‘The Called Out Ones.’ Before Yeshua/Jesus left this earth, He promised Peter he would personally build His church. An organism that would not be threatened by Satan or the evil forces of hell, Matt. 16:16-18; v.18 says, “And I say unto thee, Thou art Peter (petros – a stone, a rock, pebble) and upon this rock (petra – a cliff, ledge, huge rock, boulder) I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (over power it).” That promise began on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2 and will continue until we hear the trumpet in I Thess. 4:16. For almost 2,000 years, Christ has been calling out from the world those who have turned their hearts to Him; Jew and Gentile; Male and Female; Bond and Free; Adult and Child. We are living in the end of that era right now. I know you are ready to meet Jesus but are you prepared for His return? There is a big difference between those two things, being ready and being prepared! This is not a game of ‘Hide and Seek.’ He said, “Occupy (prag-ma) till I come!” To busy oneself, or one who gets the job done. There is a big difference between idealists and realists; dreamers and reapers. As one of my dear friends used to say, “I’m packed up, prayed up and ready to be picked up.” If He were to come tonight would He find you ready, packed, and your lamp full or do you need to go buy some oil?

“The Rapture or Harpadzo”

The next event on God’s schedule is the ‘Rapture of Harpadzo‘ the ‘Great Snatch.’ I Thess. 4:17, “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort/exhort one another with these words.” Kenneth Wuest said, “This Greek word, (harpadzo – caught up) has various meanings, to seize, snatch away, carry off, it is used proverbially to rescue from the danger of destruction.” The second coming of Christ will be in two stages; First, He will come ‘FOR’ His church in the clouds. I Thess. 4:13-18 gives us the event and I Cor. 15:51-53 gives us the two categories of the event: First the corruptible, the dead in Christ who must put on incorruption; second the mortal, the living in Christ who must put on immortality. Then later he will come ‘WITH’ His church from heaven, riding on a white horse, Rev. 19:11-16 to set up His kingdom and rule for 1,000 years. I Thess. 4:16-17 says, “The dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Christ is the ‘Firstfruits among many brethren.’ How did He go? How do you think the rest of His harvest will go? I Cor. 15:20-23. Everything is ready and waiting, just one more soul to be saved to complete the bride and that angel will blow that trumpet! What a motive for soul winning, how would you like to be the one to lead that last soul to Christ when that trumpet blows and we are out of here!!!! I don’t think He will leave His Bride here one extra second, do you? After the ‘Rapture’ two things will happen simultaneously. The ‘Bema Seat’ in heaven for believers and the ‘Great Tribulation’ on earth for unbelievers.

“The Bema Seat” 

The ‘Bema Seat’ is where believers will receive their rewards in heaven, II Cor. 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgement seat (bema) of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.” Rom. 14:10, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at naught thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgement seat (bema) of Christ.” Two things are going to be judged at this judgement; Your faithfulness in the realm of your gifts and abilities. In other words, what you did with what you were given, idealists are in trouble here; Second, your motives, ‘Why you did, what you did, with what you were given,’ realists could be in trouble here, because your motives will be judged. Rom. 14:10-12; I Cor. 3:11-15; I Cor. 4:1-5; II Cor. 5:10. This judgement is purely motivational and does not deal with salvation only with our rewards. This will happen in heaven for believers, raised at the rapture. Our life and conduct on earth will be evaluated in light of our obedience and rewards will be given to us (or not) by the Lord.

Here are the first four brush strokes of our snap-shot of these prophetic events we will be dealing with in greater detail. I hope you’re getting the picture of what we want to focus on. Make sure you take time to look up the verses and study these portions of Scripture and read, “…Between The Lines…”

“The Order of Prophetic Events” – Part #1 – 5/8/13

“Survey of Bible Prophecy” – ‘Part #6’

Yeshua/Jesus told His disciples that He would suffer, be killed, and rise again from the dead ‘ON’ the third day and His predictions soon came to pass to the very letter. Matt. 16:21 says, “From that time forth began Jesus to show His disciples, how He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” Matt. 17:22-23 says, “The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men; And they shall kill Him, and the third day He shall be raised again.” Matt. 20:17-19 says, “The Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes and they shall condemn Him to death and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify Him. And the third day He shall rise again.” Three times He told His disciples that He was going to be crucified, die and be buried and rise again on the third day, did they believe Him? No! Did that have any bearing on the prophecies? No! But you say, “I don’t believe God wrote the Bible!” That’s alright, He still believes in you, and His Word is still true! I don’t know if you picked it up or not but every time Yeshua/Jesus said He would rise from the dead, it was ‘on the third day’ not after the third day but on the third day. In fact all of His appearances immediately after His resurrection were on Sunday, the first day of the week. Matt. 28:1-10, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary; Mark 16:1-14; and Luke 24:13-32, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, in v.21 said, “today is the third day, since all these things were done.” Now at least three times Yeshua/Jesus warned His disciples of His execution and told them of His resurrection to follow, but they were not listening.

Don’t get to caught up with Jonah, his fish story and Matt. 12:40-41 and try to keep Yeshua/Jesus in the grave for 72 hours, you can’t have 72 hours, no matter how you calculate it. He died at 3 pm, and was buried before sundown and arose before sunrise on the first day of the week. I don’t care how you fix it you can’t put 72 hours, or three days and nights in there.  Besides, doesn’t Hebrews say, “The less is blessed of the Greater!” So, couldn’t Jonah have been thrown overboard about 5:00 pm on Friday, swallowed by a great fish (whale) and vomited up on a beach very early in the morning on Sunday, the first day of the week? Is that not possible? In Jewish culture and customs, any part of a day or night is considered a day and a night, even a fraction of a day or night. (Dr. Alfred Edersheim) In Genesis the evening and the morning constitutes a day and that is how Jewish people regulate their calendar. So, Thursday evening to Friday evening was the first day, the 14th of Nisan, and He gave up His spirit at 3:00 pm and was buried before sundown and in the earth, thus fulfilling part of the first day: Friday evening to Saturday evening was the second day, the 15th of Nisan, and He laid in the tomb the whole Sabbath, thus fulfilling the second day; Saturday evening to Sunday evening was the third day, the 16th of Nisan, and He arose very early in the morning before sunrise, thus fulfilling part of the third day. Therefore, He observed the Jewish custom that,  ‘any part of a day or night is a day and a night’ and He kept His word and arose, ‘the third day,’ and He kept the promise in Heb. 7:7, “And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.” (Who is better or greater, Jesus or Jonah?)

Yeshua/Jesus also warned His disciples before hand that Judas would betray Him before it happened, Matt. 26:24-25, “The Son of man goes as it is written of Him, but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, who betrayed Him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.” Judas knew it, but no one else believed it, why? Because he had the bag, he was the most trusted, the treasurer, the financial officer, the CFO. Even in the upper-room after Yeshua/Jesus washed their feet, and gave Judas the sop, and Satan entered his body and he went out to betray Him, they didn’t believe it, John 13:27-28. Psalm 41:9 says, “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who did eat my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” (Jn. 13:18-19)

Yeshua/Jesus said that all His disciples would be offended at Him, Matt. 26:31, “Then said Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of Me this night, for it is written, I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.” Zech. 13:7, “Awake, O sword, against My shepherd, and against the man who is My fellow, saith the LORD of hosts; smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.” Zechariah 9:1-9 is an amazing prophecy, take some time to read it and meditate upon it.

Yeshua/Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times the night of His trial before the cock crowed, Matt. 26:34, “Jesus said unto him (Peter) Verily I say unto thee that this night, before the cock crows, thou shalt deny Me thrice.” Mark 14:30 says, “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, This day, even in this night, before the cock crows twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice.” Luke 22:34 says, “And He said, I tell thee Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest Me.” John 13:38 says, “Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for My sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied Me thrice.” Interesting prophecy, Matthew says before the cock crows you will deny Me three times; Mark says, before the cock crows twice you will deny Me three times; Luke says before the cock crows you will deny Me three times; And John says before the cock crows you will deny me three times. They all say Peter will deny his Lord three times and all except Mark claim the cock will not crow until Peter denies Him three times. Mark was Peter’s secretary, was Peter privy to some private conversation with Jesus? I think so, that’s why Mark’s may be a little different. However, was the cock really a rooster crowing at sunrise or was it something else? Remember, Peter was warming himself by the enemies fire and he denied the Lord, the faith and the brotherhood in Luke 22:54-62 and the cock crowed. Then he went out and wept bitterly Luke 22:62, but it wasn’t day time yet when rooster’s normally crow.  There were four watches in the night; the evening watch 6-9 pm (opse); the midnight watch 9-12 am (mesos); the cockcrow watch 12-3 am; the morning watch3-6 am (proee). Many believe the ‘cockcrow watch’ sounds an alarm at 12 am and at 3 am, twice during his watch, at the beginning and end, which would fit Mark’s account.

Yeshua/Jesus also stated that Jerusalem would be destroyed in, Matt. 24:15-20;  Luke 21:20-24; Two sieges are in view in the ‘Olivet Discourse’ the one fulfilled in 70 ad by Titus and the other to be fulfilled at the end of the age. The difference is the ‘Abomination of Desolation’ in Matt. 24:15-20 and Mark 13:14-18 and the ‘Armies Surrounding Jerusalem’ in Luke 21:20-24. You need to take time to read these passages to get a better understanding of the differences between them. There are many other New Testament prophecies that have been fulfilled some we will see as we continue. However, there are innumerable New testament prophecies that are not yet fulfilled. John 14:3 for instance where Christ talked about His coming to receive us unto Himself. Matt. 24:15 & 21 where Christ speaks about the ‘Abomination of Desolation’ and the ‘Great Tribulation’ or the ‘Time of Jacob’s trouble.’ Or, Matt. 24:29-31 where Christ speaks of His coming in majesty and glory to reign on the earth. All these and many more are all in the future and the New Testament abounds with prophetic statements that await fulfillment. Not to mention the book of Revelation which is one giant prophetic event after the other and that is a study all by itself.

So, there are two basic areas of Biblical Prophecy in the Older Testament and the Newer Testament, ‘Fulfilled and Unfulfilled.’ The basic area of our blog will be ‘Unfulfilled’ in both Testaments, ‘That which has not come to pass as of yet.’ The accuracy of those that have been fulfilled, guarantees the accuracy of those yet to be fulfilled. This will allow us to view events of current history without alarm and face the future unafraid, and without fear, II Tim. 1:7. We may not know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future. It has been said, “There are only three kinds of people in the world; Those who are afraid; Those who do not know enough to be afraid; And those who know their Bibles.” Unbelievers or those who have not put their full faith and trust in Israel’s Messiah for ‘Eternal Life’ should sense, as they study prophecy that His return is imminent. They should turn humbly and quickly to Him for salvation before it is too late and you can wait too long. I am not a big fan of the ‘Left Behind Series.’  However, I do believe if you hear the gospel and don’t receive “the love of the truth” you will be “Left Behind,” of that I am a big fan, but I hope no one is left behind. II Thess. 2:1-12, “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.” So, until next time, we will see you, “…Between The Lines…”

“Survey of Bible Prophecy” – ‘Part #6’ – 4/8/13

“Survey of Bible Prophecy” – ‘Part #5’

The “Death, Burial & Resurrection” of the Messiah described and prophesied 800 – 1,000 years before His death. Isaiah 53:9 in the J.P.S. translation reads, “And they (plural) made (assigned) his grave with the wicked; (He was crucified with criminals so He would be buried with them, that was the law) and with the rich his tomb; Although he had done no violence; Neither was any deceit in his mouth.” For the sin of blasphemy they dug a grave in the ‘Valley of Hinnom,’ the garbage dump, polluted with pigs blood and threw their body in it with their cross member so they would bear their shame for all eternity. “Humanity vented its spleen in vicious treatment of God’s Holy One.” The criminals were not buried but thrown on the garbage dump to be eaten by the rodents and worms (rimmah – maggots) and burned by the fire that was never quenched. Thus fulfilling Isa. 53:9, “His grave was with the wicked but his tomb was with the rich.” In Matt. 27:57-60; Jn. 19:38-42 you have Joseph of Arimathaea, a rich man taking the body of Yeshua/Jesus down washing it, anointing it, wrapping it and pouring 100 pounds of spices on it and putting it in his tomb with Nicodemus, ‘The Teacher of Israel.’

Gehenna was in the ‘Valley of Hinnom‘ where in ancient times human sacrifices were offered, II Chron. 33:6; Jer. 7:31; and where continuous burning of rubbish illustrated for the Jewish people, unending punishment of the wicked. The word occurs 12 times in the Newer Testament and every time except once it is spoken by Yeshua/Jesus in the most solemn warning of the consequences of sin. He described it as the place where, “the worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.” Mk. 9:44. An expression identical in meaning to the, “lake of fire” in Rev. 19:20; 20:10, 14, 15.

Some have said to me, “Well Yeshua/Jesus only needed the tomb for the weekend so it wasn’t a big deal for Joseph.” I doubt the tomb was ever used again, but John 19:39-40 says, “Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.” Interesting, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes when He was born as a sign to the shepherds and in linen clothes at His death as a sign to His disciples. However, the key is in v.39;  Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes about 100 pounds weight, that’s about 65-75 pounds in our weight. Myrrh cost about $4,000.00/lb. at that time, so 65-75 pounds would have cost around, $200,000.00 without the tomb. Pretty expensive funeral, wouldn’t you say? ‘Don’t spend so much money on their funeral, they will never know!’ How about the woman in Mark 14:3-11, who broke an alabaster box of ointment worth 300 denarii, a full years wages, and poured it on Yeshua/Jesus in one selfless shot! His disciples complained, “Why this waste!” Waste, how can you waste for the Lord? He said, “Let her alone…She has wrought a good work on Me. She has come beforehand to anoint my body for burial.” A full years wages in one selfless shot, could you do that? Would you do that? This act of selfless love is what pushed Judas Iscariot over the edge, because he immediately went out and made his deal for Jesus’ price, at just 30 pieces of silver, 30 drachmas or 30 days wages. It could have been 30 tetradrachmas or 4 months wages, but compared to the alabaster box it was minute. Interesting if Christ was crucified on Friday, April 3, 33 AD as I believe, then this incident with Judas happened two days prior on Wednesday, April 1st (April Fools Day).

Some Jewish translations have, “And with the rich, in his death.” (ma-vet) death by violence as a penalty and it is an intensive plural, ‘DEATHS!’  This form emphasizes severe intensity and suggests a death so unthinkable that it is to be compared with dying again, and again, and again, and again…. Today we call this dying a “thousand deaths!” But He died a billion, no a trillion deaths! Just another glimpse into the infinite bitterness of the cup of Almighty God’s wrath the Messiah lifted with both hands in the ‘Garden of Gethsemane’ and drank to the very dregs for you and for me! There could be no accidental fulfillment of such a prediction! He was executed between two criminals, to make sure He would have a criminal burial, that was the law, but He was buried in a rich man’s tomb, wrapped in linen and $200,000.00 worth of spices, Jewish style! Try predicting your death and burial, and by the way you are penniless, have no where to lay your head, and the only thing you own is the shirt on your back and you are hated and hunted by the government and even your closest friends and family will forsake you. Got the picture, now write it out!

His execution by crucifixion was announced 1,000 years before it took place, which was never a Jewish method, ever! Read Psalm 22:1-18, in fact read the whole Psalm, all 31 verses it is quite moving. In Ps. 22 the ‘Good Shepherd’ dies for his sheep; In Ps. 23 the ‘Great Shepherd’ cares for his sheep; and in Ps. 24 the ‘Chief Shepherd’  rewards his sheep. However, in Ps. 22:6 He says, “I am a worm and no man, a reproach of men, and despised by the people.” There are two words in Hebrew for worm, (rimah – maggot) and (towla – scarlet, deep red) The technical name for this worm is, ‘Coccus Illicis’ a small wingless bug known as the “Scarlet Worm.”  It was from this worm that the ancients made their valuable scarlet dye to color their cloths by cutting them cut off the trees and grinding them to a powder. When the female “Scarlet Worm” was ready to mate the male would do his thing and fly away and she would climb a tree and attach her body to a tree permanently so she could never leave again. Her eggs were therefore protected until they were ready to leave and enter their own life cycle. As she died, she excreted a crimson fluid which the larvae ate, this stained her body and the wood around her. From the dead bodies of these (towla) or “Scarlet Worms” commercial scarlet dyes of antiquity were extracted. What a picture this gives of Jesus dying on the tree, shedding His precious blood, so we might live, that He might bring, “many sons unto glory.” Heb. 2:10. He died for us that we might live through Him! Job 25:6 has both Hebrew words for worm, “How much less man, who is a worm (rimah) and the son of man, who is a worm (towla)?” Isa. 1:18 says, “Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD; though your sins be as scarlet (towla) they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson (towla), they shall be as wool.”

His resurrection was prophesied 1,000 years before His death by King David in Psalm 16:8-10, “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in sheol (hell) neither wilt thou permit (suffer) thine Holy One to see corruption.” You can see the fulfillment of this in Acts 2:22-32; 13:35-37, Paul is preaching in Antioch about the resurrection of Christ and he is using these passages, v.35 says, “Wherefore, he said also in another Psalm, Thou shalt not allow thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption; But he whom God raised again, saw no corruption.” (He is speaking of Christ!)

His ascension was prophesied 1,000 years before it occurred in Psalm 68:18, “Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive. Thou hast received gifts of men, yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.” The fulfillment of this is in Eph. 4:8; Acts 1:9-11. There are so many prophecies in the Hebrew scriptures fulfilled in the birth, life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Christ, it is mind blowing. Some say as many as 333, others say as many as 456, predictive, precise, prophecies are fulfilled in Christ’s first coming. Over 558 references, listing over 109 qualities; the odds of just 8 being fulfilled in any one person are one in a 100 million! Even if you didn’t have a Newer Testament you could reconstruct large portions of Christ’s life based on what the Hebrew prophets foretold.

Read – Luke 24:25-27, & 44, “And He said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” There are many prophecies yet to be fulfilled. The prophets did not just prophecy about Christ’s sufferings on earth, but about “The glory that should follow,” I Pet. 1:10-11. The sufferings of Christ are past, His glory is still ahead. Read Psalm 2; Isaiah 9:7; 11:4-10; Micah 4:1-5; and Zech. 14:1-9. These passages still refer to events in the future, about Christ’s dramatic return for the battle of Armageddon and His glorious kingdom on earth. Many of these have not taken place yet but they are clearly laid out for us in the Hebrew Scriptures, and just as the prophecies of His first coming were precisely fulfilled, so will those of His second coming be fulfilled. Now that we have looked at the area or sphere of Older Testament prophecies fulfilled and unfulfilled we need to spend some time in the Newer Testament, but that will have to wait till next time. So, until then, I guess we will see you, “…Between The Lines…”

“Survey of Bible Prophecy” – ‘Part #5’ – 03/21/13

“Survey Of Bible Prophecy” – ‘Part #4’

Micah 5:2 tells us exactly where the Messiah would be born, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” This is precise, predictive prophecy. Why, Bethlehem Ephrathah? Because there were two Bethlehems, one 5 miles south of Jerusalem and one 7 miles north west of Nazareth in Zebulun, Josh. 19:15; Jud. 12:8. The scribes and priests knew exactly where their Messiah would be born when the Magi came to find the, ‘King of the Jews,’ in Matt. 2:2. Matt. 2:1-6 even says they quoted Micah 5:2 to them. Amazing isn’t it, what a coincidence!  No it is precise, predictive, prophetic, prophecy! This is not amazing, it is miraculous!

What is even more amazing is Micah 4:8, “And thou, O tower of the flock (Migdal Edar) the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.” Now remember the chapter divisions were added in 1221 by Stephen Langton the Archbishop of Canterbury and the verse divisions were added in 1551 by Robert Stephanus a printer, so before that it was just one continuous scroll. According to Alfred Edersheim  in “The Life And Times Of Jesus The Messiah,” in book two, chapter 6 it states, “This Migdal Eder was not the watchtower for the ordinary flocks that pastured on the barren sheep ground beyond Bethlehem, but it lay close to the town, on the road to Jerusalem. A passage from the Mishnah (Shekelim 7:4) leads to the conclusion that the flocks which pastured there were destined for Temple sacrifices…” In addition, Migdal Eder is also mentioned in the Jewish Targums and is translated, “The Anointed One of the flock of Israel.” Thus Targum Jonathan, cited by Rabbi Munk, paraphases Gen. 35:23 and Mic. 4:8, “He spread his tent beyond Migdal Eder, the place where King Messiah will reveal Himself at the end of days.”

The shepherds at the “Watch Tower” (Migdal Eder) were trained to raise sacrificial lambs for the Temple Festivals. They were educated in what was required so as not to hurt or damage a lamb when it was born and to wrap it in “swaddling clothes” immediately after its birth. They maintained a ceremonially clean stable for a birthing place for their ewes and the surrounding fields were those of the shepherds who grazed their flocks for the Temple sacrifices. These flocks had to be grazed outdoors 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and had to be in the field 30 days before being offered for sacrifice, but were brought into ‘Migdal Eder‘ to birth their lambs where they could be carefully cared for by the shepherds. It was to this place that Joseph brought Mary to give birth to Jesus when there was no room in the inn, how do we know? God said so in Micah 4:8. Read Luke 2:6-20, especially v.12 where the angel tells the shepherds in the fields outside ‘Migdal Eder‘ – “And this shall be “the sign” unto you: you shall find the babe wrapped in “swaddling clothes” lying in “the manger.” There was only one place these shepherds knew where to go, ‘Migdal Eder.’ Why, the ‘swaddling clothes’  were ‘the sign’ to them, they were used to wrapping their lambs in those same clothes. The Bible gives us more than a hint that Jesus would be born in Migdal Eder on the edge of Bethlehem, three miles south of Jerusalem. It is also the place where Rachel, Jacob’s wife gave birth to Benjamin and in birth she died and was buried there, Gen. 35:19; 29.  So, Migdal Eder is a place of life and death in the history of Israel. This is a blog, not a research paper, so much more could be said.

Isaiah 53, “The Crown Jewel” of the Older testament is just overflowing with predictive, precise prophecy. However, v.3-7 speak of the rejection and the suffering our Lord would endure 700 – 800 years before His birth. “He is despised and rejected of men (eesh)…” men of nobility, rank, prestige, status; like the Sadducees, Pharisees, Scribes, Priests, but not all, like Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathaea. Evidence that He was who he said he was! What a pregnant passage! He was acquainted with grief, introduced (yada) to it, to come to know it on intimate terms. He never knew grief before, it was like, “Messiah meet grief, pain, sorrow, humility; grief, pain, sorrow, humility meet Messiah!” He was “stricken & smitten” (naga – naka) like a leper, to strike violently! He was wounded, to literally pierce through or bore through to the other side, fatally! He was bruised or utterly crushed for our iniquities, like a worm under your shoe on the sidewalk! He suffered the infinite wrath of Almighty God, for you and for me! What does that mean, to have the cauldron of God’s almighty wrath poured out upon you? I don’t know, and I don’t ever want to know! But I do know this, He did all that and more for you on the cross of Calvary because He loves you. He took your hell so you could have His heaven. It wasn’t the nails that held Him on that cross, it was His love for you and me. He didn’t go to the cross because it was fun, He went because it had to be done! There simply was no other way to pay for your sin! Yet He was as silent as a lamb to the slaughter, silent as the grave! Whatever virtues Israel has, and they have many, suffering silently is not one of them, nor ours! The Warsaw Ghettos bears that out, both my grandparents were from Warsaw, one Polish and one Jewish. One sailed away with a new life and one ran away with just their life but both lost everything to a man named _______! If you want to hear about my Jewish grandmother come to our website and listen to her story, (olivetministries.com) and if you want more information on Isa. 53 check out our blog, (isaiahfiftythree.com). For now we are going to have to stop and pick it up next time when we will discuss the prophecy concerning the death, burial & resurrection of Israel’s Messiah. So until then, we will see you, “…Between the Lines…”

“Survey Of Bible Prophecy” – ‘Part #4’ – 3/21/13

“Survey of Bible Prophecy” – ‘Part #3’

Last time we said the meaning of  ‘Bible Prophecy’ was two fold; Proclamation, forth-telling and Prediction, fore-telling (to speak by inspiration in prediction (nabee). Also the purpose in our study is not to satisfy our curiosity but to sincerely know all God has to tell us about the future, especially as we seem to be living in the ‘Last Days.’ So, we can be better equipped to serve Him in the present! Yeshua/Jesus told His followers in Luke 19:13, “Occupy till I come.” The Greek word for occupy there is (pragma) and it’s where we get the word practical or pragmatic from. It’s one who gets the job done.  A “Pragmatic vs an Idealist” or “We did it vs We ought to do it!”

We looked at four things we want to seek in our study together: Information about God’s nature and will through current events; Inspiration to be devoted to Him, His word and His plan; Realization of the Divine unity and reliability of the Scriptures; Determination that the hour is late and our time is just about up, so don’t buy any green bananas. Several things you can do to benefit from this study; Remember God has not revealed all the details yet; Read the Scriptures and keep a ‘Prophecy Notebook;’ Concentrate on the crucial passages we will discuss; Get a clear picture in your mind of God’s prophetic time line; Pray for the Holy Spirit to use this time productively; Apply your convictions and this study to conduct that will glorify God. Also there are two areas of ‘Biblical Prophecy’ that we will concentrate on, “Fulfilled & Unfulfilled” in both Testaments or Covenants. However, our primary focus and concentration will be on ‘Unfulfilled Prophecy’ but we will deal with some ‘Fulfilled Prophecy’ as well.

First we will look at the area of  ‘Older Testament’ prophecies fulfilled and unfulfilled. The Bible is not a systematic treatise on Theology, History, Morals and Science but when it deals with those subjects it is infallible. It is a revelation of God about the fall of man, the way of salvation and God’s plan for the ages. It was written over a period of 1,600 years by 40 different authors; kings, priests, shepherds, statesmen, fishermen and fig pickers. It consists of 66 books, 39 in the Older Testament and 27 in the Newer Testament. They are not separate or distinct books, they are two parts of the whole. As someone once said, “The New is enfolded in the Old and the Old is unfolded in the New, or the New is concealed in the Old and the Old is revealed in the New.” Try that with any other book, even a medical journal written by medical doctors over 1,600 years and administer medicine to patients today and you would be locked up. Yet the Book that was written 6,000 years ago, 4,000 years ago or 2,000 years ago is as relevant and real today as it was the day it was written.

Many early prophecies were fulfilled before the Bible was completed and those add credibility to it and guarantee the future ones will also be fulfilled! Like Jer. 25:11, “And this whole land (Judah – the southern kingdom) shall be a desolation, and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” A few years later Nebuchadnezzer king of Babylon did exactly that. Read, II Kings 25:1-21 for a blow by blow account of this event. This prophecy was fulfilled to the letter just like Jeremiah said. Latter Daniel read this passage or Jer. 29:10 and knew the time of judgement was just about up. Dan. 9:2, “In the first year of his reign (Darius) I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of years, concerning which the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”

In Daniel chapter five, Belshazzar threw a feast for 1,000 of his lords and they were drinking from the gold and silver goblets his father or grandfather Nebuchadnezzer had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem when the fingers of a Man’s hand wrote on the wall over the candlestick, (probably the golden candle stick from the Temple) “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.” Basically telling him that his kingdom would be taken away and given to the, “Medes & Persians.” In Dan. 5:30-31, Belshazzar is slain and Darius the Mede takes possession of his kingdom that very night! Fulfilled to the very letter. There are many more like ancient Tyre in Ezekiel 26 destroyed by Nebuchadnezzer in 587 BC and completed by Alexander The Great in 332 BC which we will discuss later.

You also have Older Testament prophecies fulfilled in the Newer Testament like Isa. 7:14, “Behold, the virgin (ha almah) shall conceive (Heb. and still remain a virgin) and bear a son and call His name Immanuel.” Immanuel is not a name, it is a characteristic and is really three Hebrew words, “Im-Mannu-El” meaning ‘With Us God’ or ‘God With Us.’ There is much debate today over the Hebrew words (Bethulah and Almah) of course the LXX or Septuagint had no problem in 250 BC because the Hebrew scholars that did that translation used (parthenos) the Greek word for absolutely a virgin, no question about it! In Gen. 24 you have Eliezer going to get a bride for Isaac, and you have all five Hebrew words for woman used in that chapter, many used for the first time in the Bible. In v.5 you have (ish-shaw) woman; in v.14 you have (na-arah) damsel, or young woman; in v.16 you have (bethulah) young, virgin woman; but when Eliezer explained to Laban what happened at the well with Rebekah in vv.15-33 he used a different word for virgin in v.43 (almah) why? Rebekah took the ‘nose ring’ (nezem) and bracelets in v.22 and accepted the marriage contract and from that moment was betrothed to be married to Isaac, so she was no longer just a (bethulah) a young Jewish virgin, she was an (almah) a young Jewish virgin, contracted in marriage! The ‘Law of First Mention’ or the ‘Science of Etymology’ kicks in here. (Very Interesting)

This is proven to us in I Sam. 17:56 when David kills Goliath and King Saul, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit says, “Inquire thou whose son the stripling is.” The word stripling is the Hebrew word (elem) the masculine form of (alma) #5958 in Strong’s Concordance. What King Saul said was, “Whose little virgin boy contracted in marriage is this?” How could he say this? Well in v. 25, he said whoever kills the giant he would give his daughter in marriage to him and make his father’s house free in Israel. So the moment David killed Goliath, he was contracted in marriage and was an (elem) the masculine form of (almah).

Now did this ever happen in the Newer Testament? Matt. 1:22-23 says, “Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying, Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Then v.24-25 goes on to tell us Joseph took Mary as his wife and ‘knew her not’ until after she had brought forth her first born son, in other words he never touched her sexually, she remained a virgin till she bore Jesus just like it says in the Hebrew Bible. The ‘Virgin Birth’ of Israel’s Messiah was predicted by Isaiah the prophet 800 years before it became a reality. The ‘Virgin Birth’ is not Greek mythology, it is ‘Hebrew Theology.’ In fact Jer. 22:20-30 declares it to be so, stating that one half of the Messiah’s lineage would be cut-off making the ‘Virgin Birth’ absolutely mandatory. The Messiah was going to be without a mother or a father due to the curse on Jeconiah and you had to have a womb to be born. The name ‘Jeconiah’ means, “Jehovah does or will establish” or “Preparation of the LORD” but his name was changed to ‘Coniah’ and the “JE” was chopped off. What a powerful prophecy to link with the ‘Virgin Birth’ and there is a lot more that could be said about this prophecy including Christ’s lineage in Matthew through Joseph because of Jeconiah and His lineage in Luke through Mary. Because of the sin nature that is inherited from Adam through the male seed/semen, which puts the blood into the egg at conception. Jesus couldn’t have a physical father or He would have been born a sinner like you and I and He would have needed a Savior. There is not a drop of your mother’s blood in your veins, not a drop! This is one of the most beautiful prophecies in the Bible and it starts in Gen. 3:15 and women don’t have seeds, men do women have eggs, but we don’t have room to develop this. Get a copy of, M.R DeHann’s book, “Chemistry of The Blood” and read it, he was a surgeon who became a pastor, it’s just a paperback, you’ll love it. Oh my, I guess we have to stop, well till next time, I will see you, “…Between The Lines…”

“Survey of Bible Prophecy” – Part #3 – 2/24/13  

(Sorry we’ve had internet problems for two weeks 😦

“Survey of Bible Prophecy” – ‘Part #2’

What is the purpose of studying ‘Biblical Prophecy’ anyway? First let me say what it is not! It is not to just simply to satisfy your curiosity, at least I hope it’s not. To a degree that will happen but that should not be your main purpose. Your purpose should be, to sincerely and honestly learn all that the Spirit of God, the Rauch ha Kodesh, has to tell you about the future so that you can be better equipped to live and serve Him today, in the present. No one can really be informed about the things of God and His will unless he knows about the Past – I Cor. 15:3; The Present – I Cor. 6:19-20; (and) The Future – I Pet. 1:19-21. The purposes and plans of God are steadily being precisely fulfilled and ultimately every prophetic word in the Scriptures will be accurately fulfilled.

Our purpose will be to seek four things in our study of ‘Biblical Prophecy’ together: Information – about the nature of God, the will of God, and the meaning of current events; Studying prophecy will give us a wealth of valuable information. Inspiration – when we realize that God’s perfect will is being performed and we are part of His plan it should motivate us to greater devotion for Him, His word and His will. Realization – that fulfilled prophecy is a tremendous proof of the supernatural origin of the Bible. A study of ‘Bible Prophecy’ will give us a real sense of the Divine unity and reliability of the Scriptures. Determination – the clock is winding down, time is running out, human history is sounding its final strokes, and the little hand is on the 12 and the big hand left the 11 some time ago and our time is up! Yet billions have not heard the gospel yet, why? What part of ‘GO’ don’t we understand? America is the fourth largest unevangelized country in the world according to the ‘Center For World Missions.’ (Let that statistic sink in for a moment!)

So what should we seek as we study ‘Biblical Prophecy?’ Information about the nature and will of God; Inspiration to serve with greater devotion; Realization of the inerrant, infallible, inspired word of God; and Determination to reach a lost, hell bound, dying world before the ‘BIG’ hand strikes 12 and we are in the last seconds! As we study ‘Biblical Prophecy’ we need to allow the Holy Spirit to challenge us as never before with the lateness and the urgency of the hour! That is our purpose, if you are reading this for ‘blog’ any other reason I hope the Holy Spirit will change your mind and attitude before we are done and give you a burden for His lost sheep. There are some things you are going to have to do to make this time profitable for yourself, seven to be exact: Remember God has not revealed all the details of His will to us. In other words, He hasn’t chosen to tell us everything. (Deut. 29:29 says, “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” So we need to approach this study in the spirit of humility) Second, read the Scriptures!!! Read through your Bibles!! From Genesis to Revelation, D.L. Moody said, “This Book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this Book!” This is God’s love letter to you! Too many people have a misconception of ‘Bible Prophecy’ because they do not read their Bibles. Keep a personal notebook on the information you will glean. You will get far more from your personal study than from my personal study; Third, concentrate on the Prophetic passages I will be giving you like Psalms 2 & 22; Isaiah 7 & 9; Daniel 2 & 9; Micah 5; Zech. 14; Matt. 24 & 25; Rom. 11; I Thess. 4; II Thess. 1 & 2; I Cor. 15; Rev. 19-22; Fourth, get a clear conception of the prophetic order of the events and especially our present status in God’s eternal plan. (Which we will look at next time); Fifth, pray for the Holy Spirit to use the time you spend studying this ‘blog’ to help you to understand the Messiah’s coming and to help you love and expect it as never before! After all, what is the ‘Blessed hope of every believer?’ (Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.”); Sixth, apply your convictions concerning the Messiah’s coming into conduct that glorifies Him. A head-knowledge won’t cut it. What you need is a heart experience, you need open heart surgery, by the ‘Great Physician!’ Then transfer that new commitment to witness in His name. Seventh, read the Scriptures you will be given, all of them and meditate on them. Don’t leave all the digging up to me, lower your buckets, get out your shovels, and dive in for some pearls. You will get a lot more out of this study if you get involved in it.

We will be taking the literal, historical, grammatical approach to interpretation of the Scriptures. A 1,000 years equals 1,000 years; 7 years equals 7 years; 42 lunar months or 1,260 days equals, 42 lunar years of 1,260 days. If it says 7 years of ‘Tribulation’ we will take it to mean 7 years of ‘Tribulation.’ There is the ‘Literal Method’ of interpretation in the Scriptures and there is the ‘Allegorical Method’ where the basic authority ceases to be the Scriptures but the mind of the interpreter. (And that can become scary) The ‘Allegorical Method’ originated with Origen an early church father around 185-254 AD. It was also adopted by Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria and John Chrysostom and others. The ‘Allegorical Method’ of interpretation leads to a more hidden spiritual meaning which we saw earlier in, “Is The Church Spiritual Israel” which leads to ‘Replacement Theology’ and ‘Anti-Semitism or Anti-Judaism’ and ultimately to Auschwitz. In other words they say, “You can not take God literally when He spoke about Israel and of His promises to them.” He really didn’t mean it, He was only kidding. However, if there is one thing prophecy teaches us it is that, Israel is and always will be God’s chosen people; His peculiar treasure; The apple of His eye; His covenant nation; Why? Because He loves them, that’s why! It’s as simple as that (Deut. 7:6-8 says, “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God; the LORD thy God has chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all the people who are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people, for you were fewest of all people. But because the LORD loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers…”)

Any other method of Biblical interpretation other than the ‘Literal Method’ leads to spiritualizing the Scriptures. We must distinguish between, what is spiritual and what is spititualized. I am not one for ‘Sensationalism’ either, three rocks, two frogs, four sticks and a partridge in a pear tree doesn’t prove anything. However, a literalist does not deny the existence of figurative language like, “The Lamb of God.” We just deny that those passages should not be interpreted so as to destroy the literal truth intended by their writing. Literal truth can be learned through symbols too. So, if the literal sense makes common sense, seek no other sense.

In J. Dwight Pentecost’s book, “Things To Come” in his first section, ‘The Interpretation of Prophecy’ and ‘Methods of Interpretation’ his summary on pages 32 & 33 read as follows: “As this history of interpretation is summarized, it is to be noted that all interpretation began with the literal interpretation of Ezra. This literal method became the basic method of Rabbinism. It was the accepted method used by the New Testament in the interpretation of the Old and was so employed by the Lord and His apostles. This literal method was the method of the Church Fathers until the time of Origen when the allegorical method, which had been devised to harmonize Platonic philosophy and Scripture, was adopted. Austine’s influence brought this allegorizing method into the established church (R.C.) and brought an end to all true exegesis. This system continued until the Reformation. At the Reformation the literal method of interpretation was solidly established and, in spite of the attempts of the church to bring all interpretation into conformity to an adopted creed, literal interpretation continued and became the basis on which all true exegesis rests. It would be concluded, then, from the study of the history of interpretation that the original and accepted method of interpretation was the literal method, which was used by the Lord, the greatest interpreter, and any other method was introduced to promote heterodoxy. Therefore, the literal method must be accepted as the basic method for right interpretation in any field of doctrine today.” Especially, ‘Biblical Prophecy.’

Fulfilled, predictive, precise prophecy is amazing if not miraculous! There are over 31,000 verses in the Bible and about 8,000 prophecies. So, one out of every four verses is a prophecy or about 25% of the Bible. Some have calculated that there are 3,118 promises in the Bible and God has never failed one time to meet every one of them, the same is true of His prophecies. Ten leading seers or prophets made ’61’ major prophecies a few years ago and ‘zero’ were fulfilled! Can we trust them? A Biblical study of ‘Biblical Prophecy’ should lead us to live Biblical lives sanctified and consecrated to our personal Creator. There is only one purpose, and one reason for studying prophecy, “HOLINESS!” If while studying ‘Biblical Prophecy’ you don’t cry out like Isaiah in 6:5, “Woe is me, for I am undone and I am a man of unclean lips!” Or Peter in Luke 5:8, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” Then fall on your knees and stay there until you do, and you see the Lord high and lifted up, and you hear His voice and feel His breathe on the back of your neck saying, “Rise up!” Till next time we’ll see you, “…Between The Lines…”

“Survey of Bible Prophecy” – ‘Part #2’ –  2/9/13

“Survey of Biblical Prophecy” – ‘Part #1’

One generation ago a theologian wrote, “Eschatology is usually loved in inverse proportion to the square of the mental diameter of those who do the loving.” I have read that statement several times and I still don’t quite understand what he is getting at. The best I can do is that the liberals say, “If you are interested in ‘Biblical Prophecy’ you are an idiot!” Then what would that make God who wrote the Bible and majored in ‘Biblical Prophecy?’ There is a great interest in ‘Biblical Prophecy’ today as we see the final curtain of God drawing to a close. (Two world wars, a depression, inflation, social and moral evil is rampant, humanism, epicurianism, the wall and communism falling, the computer age, the return of the Jewish people to their ancient land, etc, etc.

As we begin to look at, ‘Biblical Prophecy’ we must remember two things; 1 – Be-Aware – of the signs of the times and the coming events so you can live a holy, zealous life for the Creator! 2 – Be-Ware – lest you get so caught up in ‘Biblical Prophecy’ that you forget the urgency of the Book and its central message and theme! “The just shall live by faith.” Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38. Heb. 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Actually in the Greek the word for impossible is (a-dunatos) (dunatos) being the word for power and the alpha privative before it negates that power.  So, Heb. 11:6 says, “Without faith we are absolutely powerless to please God!”  Keep that in mind as we continue. An understanding of ‘Biblical Prophecy’ should make us work like the Messiah is coming tonight and plan like He is not coming for another 1,000 years. Or as one writer put it, “Pray like it is up to God and work like it is up to you!” Biblical prophecy is literally, “History written in advance.” Someone once said, “After all, History is entirely ‘His -Story’ is it not?’ The key thing to remember is that, “The study of prophecy should lead you to holiness.” If it doesn’t stop, get on your knees and ask God, why? Stay there until He answers!

Biblical prophecy is accurate, reliable history because it is written by God the Holy Spirit, The Ruach haKodesh. Who is infallible, inerrant, inspired,and incredible, II Tim. 3:16. In fact the scriptures are more expired than inspired because they are God breathed (theop-neustos) God breathed out what He wanted written down. A study in ‘Biblical Prophecy’ can be very fascinating for several reasons; 1 – any thoughtful person would be interested in what the future holds; 2 – we are living in exciting times, many prophecies are being fulfilled right before our very eyes; 3 – God has chosen to draw back the curtain of the future and reveal enough of His heavenly plan for the Jewish people, the Gentiles, and the Church (I Cor. 10:32) to thrill our hearts and souls. Many prophecies have waited for this day for thousands of years; Israel lost their political freedom to the Babylonians in 586 B.C. and became a sovereign nation again May 14, 1948 A.D. after 2,534 years. God waited over 2,500 years to bring back His chosen seed into His land again, is He long-suffering and patient or is He not?

The theologian or Bible student who a generation ago, could either ignore prophetic questions entirely or treat them disdainfully, is out modded in his thinking if he adopts that same attitude today. You can’t ignore Israel, the computer age, chip implants, RFID’s, satellites, closed circuit T.V, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, etc. One fourth, 25% of the Scriptures are given to prophecy, 8,000 verses, 1 out of every 4 verses. The Bible speaks more about prophecy than any other subject, and what did that theologian say a generation ago, “Eschatology (the study of last things/days) is usually loved in inverse proportion to the square of the mental diameter of those who do the loving.”  Prophecy sets the Bible apart from every other religious book today, (Buddha, Confucius, Mohammed, Mormons, etc) The Koran/Qur`an, has one self-fulfilled prophecy, Mohammed would return to Mecca.

The word ‘Prophecy’ has two very distinct but related meanings: 1 – Proclamation, forth-telling, announcing or declaring the whole counsel and will of God. God very often revealed Himself and His plans to certain men, who in turn became channels or vehicles through which the information was transmitted to others. 2 – Prediction – fore-telling, events that had not happened or describing people who had not been born yet. The Hebrew word for this person is (nabee) and means to speak by inspiration in prediction. Some of God’s servants were both ‘Forth-tellers and Fore-tellers’ like Isaiah the son of Amoz, who proclaimed the purposes of God and predicted with great precision events and people yet to come. Like Cyrus the anointed Persian King releasing the Jewish people. This was predicted 150 years before his birth or the Persian empire. In Isaiah 43 Babylon is going to be destroyed and Israel is going to be redeemed and restored. Then in Isaiah 44:28-45:4 we have the prophecy concerning Cyrus, 150 years before he was born. Some say this is impossible, with man maybe but not with God, Mark 10:27. Compare I Kings 13:2, where Josiah is mentioned by name although I Kings was written two centuries before his birth. This is not possible, sorry; Luke 18:27 says, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Gen. 18:14 says, “Is anything to hard for the LORD?” By the way who said that? ‘The LORD did!’ Jer. 32:27 says, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is there anything to hard for Me?”

Isaiah wrote and lived from 740-680 B.C. in Judah, a period when Samaria was captured and Israel was carried away in 722 B.C. Then Judah was attacked by Sennacherib in 701 B.C. There is that year again, 701 B.C. when every major civilization in the world had to adjust their calendars from 360 days to 365 days and nobody seems to know why. However, I think you have a key in Isaiah 38, but I will leave that alone for now, I have books on this on my shelves, good luck! Oh, by the way, Noah’s flood was based on a 360 day year, Daniel’s prophecies are based on a 360 day year, though he lived in a 365 day year and the Revelation prophecies are based on a 360 day year but John lived in a 365 day year.  So, God will have to put this solar system back on a 360 day year or our Bible is in error, have fun! (701 B.C.) Cyrus captured Babylon in 539 B.C. which was 150-200 years later. He conquered Babylon, ruled the city and founded the Persian Empire. He was a great humane ruler who held an important position in ‘Biblical Prophecy’ and history. The end of II Chron. 36:22-23 and the beginning of Ezra 1:1-3 are the same, read them. Cyrus died in battle in 530 B.C.

As I said, many liberal scholars today say, “This is impossible!” Read, I Kings 13:1-3 this prophecy was given 200 years before Josiah’s birth. In II Kings 23 you have the reign and reformation of Josiah who became King at 8 years old and began his reformation at age 16. He overthrew idolatry, repaired the Temple, found the Law, re-instituted Passover, but it was all too late! The LORD would not turn from His wrath, II Kings 23:26. You can go too far, you can cross the line, America! Listen, when God’s Word says something you can take it to the bank, especially prophecy. Don’t try that with, Shipton, Cayce, Dixon, or Nostradomas. In 1952, 56, and 60 Dixon predicted the elections and missed them all and had a 50/50 shot. You didn’t have men and women running around making bold, prophetic statements in the Hebrew Scriptures. Why? Because if you made one and it didn’t happen exactly like you said, they killed you by stoning or burning, your choice, rocks or matches? A prophet was not even allowed ‘ONE’ mistake; Deut. 18:20-22. I guess that would clear up a lot of false prophets and predictions today.

Isaiah 46:9-10 gives us a good definition of prophecy, “Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me; Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.”  So, a prophet in the Bible can be either a ‘Forth-teller’ proclaiming God’s truth or a ‘Fore-teller’ predicting God’s events. Some people today label me a prophet or a prophetic speaker but that can be a dangerous title and very misleading. I prefer to be called or referred to as a teacher or a preacher. I’m not a prophet nor the son of a prophet. The problem with most prophets today is that they are looking for profits, $. When we refer to ‘Fore-tellers and Forth-tellers’ in this and further studies, we will be referring to a Biblical position or person. I hope you will join us next time as we look at the purpose for studying ‘Biblical Prophecy.’ So, until then I guess we will see you, “…Between The Lines…”

“Survey of Biblical Prophecy” – ‘Part #1’ –  1/27/13