Iraqi City Captured by Iranian Invaders

In the territory that forms the borders of Iraq there was a massive invasion of a foreign army from the area now controlled by the Iranian militia. This army has invaded, crossed into the territory surrouding the city of Babylon and attacked. The army of Persians and Medes found a way into the babylonian city and captured the entire population. This event was Prophesized to occur and it has happened Exactly as Foretold in scripture...down to the name of the conqueoring General!

As it turned out there was another Prophet among the Jewish people before Daniel. His name was Isaiah. According to the first Chapter of the Book of Isaiah, this Prophet lived in Israel before it was defeated, the city and temple destroyed and the people carried away to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzer. In fact the very first verse tells us that he lived under the reign of the Jewish kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. The reign of these Kings was well before the reign of the Jewish King Jehoiakim, who as we are told in Daniel Chapter 1, was the leader taken away with the Jewish people into Babylonian Captivity. From this chronology therefore we find that Isaiah was indeed alive at the right time and made the following prediction more than 120 years ahead of the actual events:

Isa44:26-45:2 “confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof: That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut. I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron”

In this Prophecy the Prophet Isaiah forsaw the coming destruction of Jerusalem and his people carried into captivity by the Babylonians. Then he declares that this prophecy will “be confirmed” and prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that he is God’s messenger! The prophet says that Jerusalem will be rebuilt and where it has decayed and lay in ruin that God will restore it to the Jewish People by the hand of His servant “Cyrus.”

Here we see another amazing detail declared, well in advance, of how God would effect this restoration. Isaiah says that Cyrus will subdue nations and then in dramatic fashion the prophet declares how at least one of these conquests will happen:

“That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:”
… “I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut.”

So now the question is, who is this Cyrus and when did he defeat and conquer to effect the will of God as declared by the Prophet Isaiah? And what did he mean by “drying up the rivers” and opening the gates?

We need not speculate because it is a fact recorded in History.

Isaiah’s prophecy states that Cyrus would have Jerusalem and the temple rebuilt. The following account is from King Cyrus himself as found inscribed on a clay barrel, “The Cyrus Cylinder” on display in the British Museum of History.  The inscription tells how Cyrus conquered Babylon, returned the Jewish exiles to their former land, returned the articles of Jewish worship to the sacred city and how Cyrus commanded that the temple where the Jews worshiped be rebuilt. The Inscription reads:

 “The number of men in his army were so great, resembling that of water in a river, which could not be counted, marched forward, their weapons stashed away. Without engaging the enemy, he was able to enter Babylon without causing any damage to the city. Into my hands, Nabonidus was delivered, the king who did not worship him. To the sacred cities located on the other side of the Tigris river, I sent back to the ruins of their holy places, the articles which were used in their sanctuaries.  I also allowed to return to their homes the former citizens of the land. I also made an effort to repair their dwelling places.”

It is interesting how God preserved the record of these events for nearly 2000 years and allowed it to be confirmed by archeology and have it agree with what was written by the Jewish Prophet.
 
So how did Cyrus defeat Babylon? By the wisdom and providence of God? Maybe?

“Who says to the deep. Be dry! And I will dry up your rivers’. ..To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut. 'I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze.”

The fulfillment of this prophecy is confirmed by the words of the historian Herodotus: "The land of Assyria possesses a great number of cities, the strongest and most well known being Babylon.” Along the edges of the top walls, the Babylonians built single room structures each facing one another, leaving enough space between them to turn a four-horse chariot. One hundred gates, all of brass, with bronze lintels and side-posts made up the circumference of the wall. The city was divided into two sections by the Euphrates river running through it. At the rivers entry points to the walls of the city of Babylon were low gates in the fence that flanked the river, which were similar in design to the great gates in the outer wall, made of brass, and which opened toward the water.
       
Cyrus marched in the direction of Babylon. A short distance outside of the city walls, the Babylonian army was waiting to fight him. A battle then ensued, in which the Persian king defeated the Babylonians, who then fled into their fortress, the Babylonian city. Here the Babylonians shut themselves in, and even poked fun of Cyrus and his siege, because the Babylonians had prepared against an attack by storing up food within the city that would last for decades! They had seen Cyrus conquering nation after nation, and they were convinced that sooner or later he would try to overpower Babylon. With plenty of food, a river of fresh water running through the city, and archers posted on her walls, the Babylonians were safe and secure from any conquest. Yet the God of Heaven had other plans.
     
Cyrus next effected his plan. Putting a portion of his troops at the place where the river entered the city, and another group of soldiers at the back where the river exited the city, Cyrus ordered his men to march into the city as soon as the river became shallow enough for them to enter under the gates. Cyrus then withdrew back to a place upstream where he had his soldiers dig trenches and thus divert the Euphrates by a canal into an old lake bed, which at that time was low laying marshland. The river began to lower and soon it had lowered to such a level that it was now possible to cross. The Persian army at Babylon now entered the river, whose level now only reached midway up to a man's thigh, and they marched quietly, unnoticed by the Babylonian guard into the city that night.

The Babylonians were not aware of what Cyrus was up to because had they seen the danger, they could have killed the Persians entering the city and would have destroyed his army easily since all the Babylonians needed to do was close all the street-gates which looked upon the river. Then from the tops of the walls along both sides of the river they would have caught their enemy off-guard in a trap and killed them. Providentially for the Persians, the attack was a surprise to the Babylonians and they were able to capture the city. The Babylonians were so sure of the protection of their massive walls that the new Babylonian King called for a festival. In their false security they had failed to close the gates fully below the water at the entry and the exit. While the people were drunk with wine and pagan debauchery the armies of Cyrus entered Babylon unnoticed and captured the city without having to destroy any of its beautiful structures.

The account of the historian Herodotus verified that God allowed Cyrus to subdue many nations before him, dry up the mighty waters and enter Babylon’s open gates of bronze, all while Belshazzar, their King, was throwing what would be the last drunken pagan party of his life. These events are also recorded in Daniel chapter 5 and reveal the providential hand of God moving forward in world affairs.

Thus far from our study of the Jewish Prophets it would seem that Stock in the Prophetic Word is on the increase. Here Isaiah, another Jew, appears to have gotten it right.

Value of Israeli Stock Reaches Record High!

It would seem that some Stock in Israel is making a huge surge in value. The time to investigate and buy into it is now! Unlike the stock market disclaimers formulated by some sophisticated lawyers on Wall Street, it would be fairly reasonable to say that where Prophecy is concerned that “past performance is indeed indicative of future performance.” That is, if the Scriptures give utterance to prophetic prediction and that prediction comes true then some degree of credibility may be given it. If more and more prophetic predictions are given and still more come true then the value of Scriptural Stock goes up. If, of course, the reverse is true then the value of that stock goes down. Lets examine the Scriptural stock of the Jews and see if it is worth the paper that it is written on.

Lets start by examining one of the more extensive Prophetic Books of the Old Testament. We begin at the Book of Daniel. According to the Jewish Scriptures Daniel is a young Jew that is taken captive along with his nation by the conquering armies of Babylon. In the first Chapter of Daniel we find that Daniel is living in a school specially designed to teach the best students the mysteries of science and the ways of the Babylonian Kingdom. Daniel and other young Jews are being indoctrinated into the Babylonian ways by authority of King Nebuchadnezzer. They are even given new Babylonian names by the king. After three years of instruction and indoctrination Daniel is taken before the King and his knowledge is tested. Scripture says that Daniel and his Hebrew friends were found “ten times wiser than all the wise men of Babylon.” (Dan1:20). From henceforth Daniel and his comrades are labeled among the wisest men of the Babylonian kingdom.

In the second chapter of the Book of Daniel, we find one of the most dramatic and straightforward prophecies in the Scriptures regarding the successive coming kingdoms upon the Earth. Here, Scripture predicts the rise and fall of powerful earthly nations, beginning in Babylon's day and supposedly all the way to the end of time.

In Daniel 2:1, King Nebuchadnezzer has a dream. The dream is so intense that he wakes up completely startled, his heart racing. However, for some strange reason he can not remember what he had dreamed. He is agitated and troubled. Something is telling him that this dream is of vital importance and so he calls for his magicians and astrologers and demands to know what he had dreamed, and the interpretation of that dream. Of course this is completely impossible, and as the so-called wise men discussed this, the king became aware that he had a bunch of worthless pretenders in his midst: men who claimed to know spiritual secrets who were now shown to be no more than complete frauds when tested by the King. Enraged King Nebuchadnezzer decides to kill them all (verse 12). The captain of his army then gathered these men together, and then they came to get Daniel because Daniel was also numbered as one of the wise men. Daniel was surprised at such a hasty decree by the king and he quickly went to ask of the King for time to consider the king’s dream (verse 16). The King grants Daniel the time and Daniel goes home to pray to God for wisdom. As Daniel prays, God apparently reveals the king’s entire vision to him during the night (verse 19), after which Daniel goes back to the king to show him what God has revealed.

Now we pick up the story with Daniel standing in the presence of King Nebuchadnezzer in verses 26-27, "The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?" Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king?" Here Daniel pokes fun and speaks lightly of the king's astrologers and soothsayers, revealing their inability and ways as pure foolishness. In verses 28-29 Daniel then gives credit to God. "But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and He that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass."

Note that Daniel says this vision is for "latter days." Daniel now reveals the dream and its meaning to the king:

Verses 31-36, "Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken into pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king."

Notice that Daniel says “we” will tell the interpretation. Here Daniel is clearly stating that this knowledge that he has is from God and the credit is due to God and His Providence. Daniel is humble and takes no credit to himself for what God has revealed. Next the Scriptures interpret the dream and tell us what the head of gold. symbolizes? Verses 37-38, "Thou, o king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of Gold"

Daniel says that Nebuchadnezzer and the Babylonian Kingdom is the first kingdom symbolized in the vision; the kingdom of Gold. In examining this prophecy we must ask did Babylon exist and during what period? Any encyclopedia will give us the answer of this question as a fact of history. Clearly Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian kingdom ruled from 605 B.C to 538 B.C. It is recorded as being a kingdom filled and adorned with gold. Many of its buildings and temples glistened with the rare metal and radiated the rays of the sun in honor of the pagan sun god. The recorded history indicates that the Scriptures are at least accurate in naming Babylon as a real kingdom and Nebuchadnezzer a real King. So it is reasonable to assume that Daniel is a real person who lived in a real kingdom some 2500 years ago in a place called Babylon.

As Daniel continues we ask, so what do the breast and arms of silver represent? Daniel 2: 39 (first half), "And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee." The Breast and arms of silver represent a kingdom that will arise after Babylon.

Examining the historical record we find that the Kingdom that conquered Babylon was Medo-Persia. Medo-Persia overthrew Babylon in 538 B.C. and ruled until 331 B.C. Nearly all encyclopedias agree that Babylon was overthrown by Medo-Persia. In fact, we will examine a little later another Prophecy of the Jewish Scriptures whereby the name of the general that conquered Babylon was given by a Jewish Prophet and the unique method used to defeat Babylon was revealed some 120 years in advance of the historical event. Like silver is inferior to gold, Medo-Persia was inferior to Babylon. It was seen that the Medes and the Persians were lesser in riches and abundance among the people in comparison to the Babylonians. Upon conquering Babylon this condition did not improve.

Next, in the vision are the belly and thighs of brass. Verse 39 (last part), "and another third kingdom of brass, … shall bear rule over all the earth." History records that the third kingdom to rule the then known world was Greece. The historic record shows that under Alexander the Great, the Greeks quickly conquered Medo-Persia in 331 B.C. with a vastly extended empire and ruled until 168 B.C. As brass is inferior to silver so the kingdom of Greece, being stretched thin across the continents of Asia, Europe and north Africa, was inferior in the quality of life sustainable for the people to that of the Medes and Persians.

Next, we examine Daniel’s fourth prediction one that speaks of the metal iron. Verse 40, "And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise."

The fourth earthly kingdom found in the vision was Rome. It is a clear fact of History, acknowledged in any encyclopedia that Rome defeated Greece and ruled from 168 B. C. to 476 AD Rome was a powerful kingdom that for over 600 years ruled the world. Rome made use of iron in shields, swords and all manner of implements for warfare. In fact Rome is still known by historians as the Iron Kingdom. As Iron is inferior to Brass the Roman kingdom took riches and luxury for itself to the ruling class and left for the populace a state barely above poverty for the masses in a vastly extended empire that stretched from Asia Minor all the way to the British Isles.

In perfect fulfillment, predicted hundreds of years in advance, a Jewish Prophet by the name of Daniel foretold the rise and fall of world empires some 2500 years ago. We can look back and see today that there have only been these four world controlling kingdoms over God’s people since the days of Babylon ruling over the Jews and the tribes of the then known world. But now the prophecy gets even more amazing, and it would seem that God provides even more detail regarding events much further into the future well beyond the days of Daniel’s prophecy.

Verses 41-42, "And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken."

God apparently says through His Jewish Prophet Daniel that Rome, the fourth kingdom, will be divided. He does not reveal another conquering Kingdom but rather divisions of the Roman Empire. Like the feet and toes, some divisions being weak and some being strong. History confirms all of this; for when Rome fell in 476 A.D. it did not fall to another conquering world kingdom, but rather it fell apart from within by the Barbarian tribes that came from within the empire. It broke apart in civil war. Like the “toes” mentioned in verse 42, Rome divided into exactly ten smaller kingdoms!

Encyclopedias also confirm the following divisions to have occurred and many are still represented by the European nations existing today: The ALAMANNI (German), VISIGOTHS (Spanish), FRANKS (French), SUEVI (Portuguese), BURGUNDIANS (Swiss-Austrian), ANGLO SAXONS (English), LOMBARDS (Italian) and the HERULI, VANDALS, and OSTRO-GOTHS. Ten divisions that ultimately merge into the Holy Roman Empire.

Clearly this is an amazing fulfillment of prophecy predicted almost 1000 years ahead of time and yet upon further consideration it gets even more dramatic in precision!

Verse 43, "And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay."

Here God predicts that these kingdoms would intermarry in an attempt to reunite the kingdoms, but never do they unite. Looking back at history and seeing how many kings and queens throughout the ages have tried to prove God wrong and unite the European nations by marriage, we are amazed at the stunning precision of this prophecy. Looking back we can also plainly see the fulfillment of this prophecy in Charlemagne, the Kisers, Hitler, Stalin, Napoleon, and others all who tried to unite Europe by conquest. Yet all these men, with their mighty armies were stopped dead by seven words found in the Jewish Scriptures. "They shall not cleave one to another." It is an historical fact that the divisions of Europe have never been brought back together into one kingdom since the collapse of the Roman Empire over fifteen centuries ago; and, according to the Scriptures they never will be reunited under one flag.

It would seem that God in this prophecy has indeed given some evidence that perhaps He has given the Jews a special message. Perhaps the words given in scripture are inspired? The fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy would make it seem so. We will examine in the next chapter further prophecies in Daniel that supplement the prophecies just discussed. For now though let us continue with the details of Daniel Ch2 that show that God is in control and apparently has a divine plan. In verses 44-45 we are told what this plan is:

Verses 44-45, "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold: the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure."

Through Daniel, a humble and devout Jew held in Babylonian captivity some 2500 years ago, God reveals that in the days of these kings (the divisions of Europe), He will set up His kingdom, a Kingdom which will stand forever! According to Scripture everything seems to be in place. It would seem that the next world kingdom foretold will be God's! Could it be that He will be coming soon; sooner than we might think?

The inspired record, if you would now consider it to be inspired, tells how the great king of Babylon was humbled by the words spoken by the young Hebrew captive in his court. Nebuchadnezzer then acknowledged that all that Daniel had revealed by his God concerning the dream and its interpretation were absolutely true.

Dan2:46-47 “Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.”

Here we see that what had taken place was so remarkable that a pagan king with all his pride and power are stopped dead in his tracks by the mysterious ways that the God of Heaven chose to reveal Himself. The pagan king Nebuchadnezzer so in awe of the preference that God shows to Daniel by giving him the vision and its interpretation speaks praises to the “God of gods” and honors His servant Daniel to an exalted position within the King’s Empire! Apparently there was much truth in what God had foretold through Daniel. Truth that God ultimately uses to turn this fierce pagan king into a follower of the True God of Israel as we are informed in Daniel Chapter 4. An honest look at these prophecies and the recorded history shows that there was at least one Jew who got something right.

Hackers Break Revelation Code!

As incredible as it sounds a group has broken the ancient code encrypted into the Book of Revelation! This amazing breakthrough will inevitably yield new information regarding the mysteries of the ancient texts and perhaps clearly bring to light Prophecies that have been hidden from the world for centuries!

The Key to Breaking the code was determined upon discovering the following verse in new testament scripture: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation" (2Pet1:20). The key aspect was clear; allow the Bible to interpret itself! When the researchers looked into the Bible to see if the symbolic terms had been defined in other passages, they were amazed! Computer analysis of Bible Verses made this work exceptionally clear. The Code is decyphered and available below free of charge for sharing with all Sincere Christians Everywhere!


REVELATION'S PROPHETIC SYMBOLS DECODED:

Symbol: = ANGEL
Meaning: = MESSENGER
Scripture: Dan 8:16, Dan 9:21, Lk 1:19, Lk 1:26, He 1:14


Symbol: = ARK OF THE TESTIMONY
Meaning: = ARK OF THE COVENANT / MERCY SEAT WHERE GOD DWELLS
Scripture: Exodus 25:10-22


Symbol: = BABYLON
Meaning = RELIGIOUS APOSTASY / CONFUSION
Scripture: Gen 10:8-10, Gen 11:6-9, Rev 18:2-3, Rev 17:1-5

Symbol: = BALAAM, DOCTRINE OF
Meaning: = ADVANCING OWN INTERESTS, COMPROMISE, IDOLATRY
Scripture: Num 22:5-25

Symbol: = BEAST
Meaning: = KINGDOM, GOVERNMENT, POLITICAL POWER
Scripture: Dan 7:23, "The fourth beast…be the fourth kingdom"



Symbol: = BINDING OF SATAN
Meaning: = A SYMBOLIC CHAIN OF CIRCUMSTANCES
Scripture: Isaiah 14:12-20

Symbol : = BLACK
Meaning: = MORAL DARKNESS, SIN, APOSTASY
Scripture: Ex 10:21-23, Jer 4:20-28, Jer 8:21, Act 26:18,

Symbol: = BLOOD
Meaning:= LIFE
Scripture: Lev 17:11, Deut 12:23, Lev 17:14,

Symbol : = BLUE
Meaning: = COLOR OF OBEDIENCE, TRUE
Scripture: Exodus 24:10,12, Numbers 15:38,39

Symbol: = BOTTOMLESS PIT
Meaning: = EARTH IN CHAOS, TORN UP, DARK & EMPTY
Scripture: Gen:1-2, Jer 4:23-28, Isa 24:1-4,19, Rev 20:1-3,

Symbol: = BOW
Meaning: = SUCCESS IN BATTLE AGAINST EVIL
Scripture: Psa 7:11-12, Psa 45:4-5,

Symbol: = CORRUPT WOMAN
Meaning: = CORRUPT, APOSTATE CHURCH
Scripture: Eze 16:15-58, Eze 23:2-21,

Symbol: = CROWNS
Meaning: = KINGSHIP, VICTORY
Scripture: 1Chn 20:2, 2Ki 11:12, Eze 21:26-27, Jam 1:12, 2Tim 4:7-8, 1Cor 9:25

Symbol: = CUP
Meaning: = METED OUT SUFFERING AND JUDGMENTS
Scripture: Psa 11:6, Psa 75:8, Isa 51:17, Isa 51:22-23, Jer 25:15-17, Jer 49:12

Symbol: = DAY
Meaning: = LITERAL YEAR
Scripture: Eze 4:6, Num 14:34,

Symbol: = DOOR
Meaning #1: = OPPORTUNITY
Scripture: 2Cor 2:12, Rev 3:20,
Meaning #2: = PROBATION
Scripture: Luke 13:24-25,

Symbol: = DRAGON
Meaning: = SATAN OR HIS AGENCY
Scripture: Rev 2:9, Rev 20:2, Isa 27:1, Isa 30:6, Eze 29:3, Jer 51:34


Symbol: = EAGLE
Meaning: = SPEED, POWER, VISION, VENGENCE, PROTECTION
Scripture: Deu 28:49, Hab 1:6-8, Rev 12:14,

Symbol: = EATING THE BOOK
Meaning: = ASSIMILATING THE MESSAGE
Scripture: Eze 3:1-3, Jer 15:16,

Symbol: = EGYPT
Meaning: = SYMBOL OF ATHEISM
Scripture: Exo 5:2

Symbol: = EYESALVE
Meaning: = HOLY SPIRIT TO SEE TRUTH; DISCERNMENT UNDERSTAND WORD
Scripture: Eph 1:17-19, Psa 119:18, 1Jn 2:20,27 Jn 16:7-13,

Symbol: = FAITHFUL WITNESS
Meaning: = CHRIST
Scripture: Jn 18:37, Jn 3:11, Rev 1:5, Rev 3:14,
Rev 19:11, "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war."

Symbol: = FALSE PROPHET
Meaning: = APOSTATE CHURCHES, PREACHING FALSE DOCTRINE
Scripture: Rev 16:13-14, Rev 13:13-14, Rev 19:20,

Symbol: = FIRE
Meaning #1: = CONSUMING LOVE OF GOD, SPIRIT
Scripture: Heb 12:29, Rev 4:5

Meaning # 2: = CLEANSING/TESTING FIRE OF TRIAL & TRIBULATION
Scripture: Zec 13:9, 1Pet 1:7, Rev 3:18,

Meaning # 3: = EXECUTIVE JUDGMENT
Scripture: Rev 14:10, Re 16:8, Rev 17:16, Rev 18:8, Rev 19:20, Rev 20:9,



Symbol: = FOUR CORNERS OF EARTH
Meaning: = FOUR DIRECTIONS OF COMPASS
Scripture: Jer 49:36,

Symbol: = FOREHEAD
Meaning: = MIND
Scripture: Ro 7:25, Eze 3:8-9,

Symbol: = FORNICATION
Meaning: = ILLICIT CONNECTION BETWEEN CHURCH, PAGANSIM or WORLD
Scripture: Eze 16:15, Eze 16:26, Isa 23:17, Jam 4:4, Rev 14:4,

Symbol: = FOUR BEASTS OR LIVING CREATURES
Meaning: = HEAVENLY BEINGS WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Scripture: Rev 5:8-10, Rev 4:6-9, Rev 6:1-7, Rev 14:3, Rev 15:7, Rev 19:4,

Symbol: = GARMENTS
Meaning: = COVERING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Scripture: Isa 61:10, Isa 52:1, Zech 3:3-5, Rom 13:14,

Symbol: = GOLD
Meaning: = TRUE RICHES OF HEAVEN, FAITH, SCRIPTURE
Scripture: Psa 19:7-10, Gal 5:6, Jam 2:5, Job 23:10,

Symbol: = HAND
Meaning: = SYMBOL OF WORK
Scripture: Ecc 9:10, Deut 30:9, 2Kings 22:5, Neh 4:17, Job 37:7,
Micah 2:1,

Symbol: = HARLOT
Meaning: = APOSTATE CHURCH/RELIGION
Scripture: Isa 1:21, Jer 3:1-3, Jer 3:6-9,



Symbol: = HEADS
Meaning: = MAJOR POWERS, RULERS, GOVERNMENTS
Scripture: Dan 7:6,8 Dan 8:22, Rev 17:3,10

Symbol: = HIDDEN MANNA
Meaning: = CHRIST
Scripture: John 6:49-50,53, Mat 13:44,

Symbol: = HORN
Meaning: #1 = POWER AND STRENGTH
Scripture: Deut 33:17, Zech 1:18-19,
Meaning: #2 = KING OR KINGDOM
Scripture: Psa 89:17,24 Dan 8:5,21,22



Symbol: = HORSE
Meaning: #1 = SYMBOL OF BATTLE
Scripture: Exo 15:21, Isa 43:17, Jer 8:6, Eze 38:15, Zech 10:3,
Meaning: #2 = SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVES / ANGELS
Scripture: Zech 1:8-10,



Symbol : = IMAGE
Meaning: = A LIKENESS
Scripture: Exo 20:4, Gen 1:26, Gen 5:3, Deut 4:25, Rom 8:29,

Symbol : = INCENSE
Meaning: = PRAYERS OF GOD'S PEOPLE
Scripture: Psa 141:2, Rev 5:8, Rev 8:3-4

Symbol : = ISRAEL (Overcomer)
Meaning: = TRUE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST
Scripture: Romans 9:6-8, Romans 2:28-29, Galatians 3:29,

Symbol : = JEZEBEL
Meaning: = IMMORALITY, IDOLATRY, APOSTATE CHURCH
Scripture: 1Kings 21:25, Rev 2:20,

Symbol : = KEYS
Meaning: = MEANS, CONTROL, JURISDICTION
Scripture: Isa 22:22, Mat 16:19,

Symbol : = KEY OF DAVID
Meaning: = POWER TO OPEN & CLOSE THE SANCTUARY
Scripture: Rev 3:7-8, Isa 22:22,

Symbol : = LADDER
Meaning: = BETWEEN HEAVEN AN EARTH / THE MEDIATION OF CHRIST
Scripture: Gen 28:12, John 1:51,




Symbol : = LAMB
Meaning: = JESUS / SACRIFICE
Scripture: John 1:29, 1Cor 5:7, Gen 22:7-8,

Symbol : = LION
Meaning: = STRENGTH AND JESUS CHRIST
Scripture: Gene 49:9, Rev 5:4-9, Psalms 7:2,

Symbol : = LAMB'S WIFE
Meaning: = NEW JERUSALEM & INHABITANTS
Scripture: Rev 19:7-9, Rev 21:2,9,10,



Symbol : = LOCUSTS
Meaning: = DESTRUCTION / DESTRUCTIVE AGENCIES
Scripture: Joel 1:4, Deut 28:38,42, Psa 78:46,

Symbol : = LORD'S DAY
Meaning: = THE SABBATH (7TH DAY in GENESIS)
Scripture: Isa 58:13, Mat 12:8, Exo 20:10, Heb 4:4,9,10

Symbol : = MAN CHILD
Meaning: = JESUS
Scripture: Psa 2:7-9, Rev 12:5,

Symbol : = MARK
Meaning: = SIGN / SEAL / MARK OF APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL
Scripture: Rom 4:11, Rev 7:2-3, Eze 9:4,

Symbol : = MEASURING ROD
Meaning: #1 = GOD'S LAW
Scripture: Jam 2:10-12, Ecc 12:13-14, Jam 1:23-25,

Meaning: #2 = GOD'S WORD
Scripture: Isa 8:19-20, 2Tim 3:16-17,



Symbol : = MOON
Meaning: #1 = PERMANENCE
Scripture: Psalms 89:35-37,

Meaning: #2 = MOSES' SYSTEM FORESHADOWING TYPES AND SACRIFICES
Scripture: Hebrews 10:1,11

Symbol : = MYSTERY OF GOD
Meaning: = THE GOSPEL
Scripture: Eph 1:9-10, Eph 3:9, Eph 6:19, Col 1:26-27, Mk 4:11, Col 2:2, Col 4:3,

Symbol : = MORNING STAR
Meaning: = JESUS CHRIST
Scripture: Rev 22:16,

Symbol : = MOUNTAINS
Meaning: = POLITICAL OR RELIGIO/POLITICAL POWERS
Scripture: Isa 2:2-3, Jer 17:3, Jer 31:23, Jer 51:24-25, Eze 17:22-23, Dan 2:35,44,45

Symbol : = NEW JERUSALEM
Meaning: = THE HOLY CITY OF HEAVEN
Scripture: Rev 3:12, Rev 21:2,

Symbol : = OIL
Meaning: = HOLY SPIRIT
Scripture: Zech 4:2-6, Rev 4:5,

Symbol : = OPEN DOOR
Meaning: = UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITY
Scripture: 1Cor 16:9, Acts 14:27, Jn 10:7-9, Hos 2:15, Col 4:3

Symbol : = RAINBOW
Meaning: = TOKEN OF COVENANT KEEPING
Scripture: Gen 9:11-17,



Symbol : = RED
Meaning: #1 = SIN, CORRUPTION
Scripture: Isa 1:18, Isa 26:21, Psa 75:8, Jer 46:10,

Meaning: #2 = PERSECUTION, DESTRUCTION
Scripture: Eze 32:6,11 Jer 46:10, Nah 2:3,

Symbol : = REINS
Meaning: = SEAT OF WILL, AFFECTIONS
Scripture: Psa 7:9, Psa 16:7, Psa 26:2, Psa 73:21, Prv 23:16, Jer 17:10,

Symbol : = SECOND DEATH
Meaning: = LAKE OF FIRE
Scripture: Rev 21:8, Rev 20:14,



Symbol : = SERPENT
Meaning: = SATAN
Scripture: Rev 12:7-9, Rev 20:2,

Symbol : = SEVEN CANDLESTICKS
Meaning: #1 = 7 CANDLESTICKS IN HOLY PLACE OF SANCTUARY
Scripture: Ex 25:31-40,
Meaning: #2 = SEVEN CHURCHES
Scripture: Rev 1:20,

Symbol : = SEVEN HEADS
Meaning: = SEVEN POLITICAL POWERS
Scripture: Rev 17:9-10, Isa 2:2-4, Jer 17:3,



Symbol : = SEVEN LAMPS
Meaning: = JESUS, WORD OF GOD, SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD
Scripture: Jn 9:5, Jn 1:9, Psa 119:105, Rev 4:5,

Symbol : = SICKLE
Meaning: = SYMBOL OF HARVEST - END OF WORLD
Scripture: Mat 13:39, Rev 14:14,

Symbol : = SODOM
Meaning: = MORAL DEGRADATION
Scripture: Eze 16:46-55, Jer 23:14, Gen 19:4-14,

Symbol : = STARS
Meaning: = ANGELS
Scripture: Rev 1:16,20 Rev 12:4,7-9 Job 38:7,



Symbol : = SEAL
Meaning: = SIGN, MARK AND SEAL MEAN SAME THING
Scripture: Rom 4:11, Rev 7:2-3, Eze 9:4,

Symbol : = SUN
Meaning: = JESUS AND THE GOSPEL
Scripture: Jn 9:5, Psa 84:11, Mal 4:2, Mat 17:2, Jn 8:12,

Symbol : = SWORD
Meaning:#1 = GOD'S SPOKEN WORD
Scripture: Heb 4:12, Eph 6:17,

Meaning:#2 = BLOODSHED, DESTRUCTION
Scripture: Isa 3:25, Isa 13:5, Acts 12:1-2, Jer 48:2,

Symbol : = TESTIMONY OF JESUS
Meaning: = SPIRIT / GIFT OF PROPHECY
Scripture: Rev 19:10, Rev 22:9, 1Cor 13:2,

Symbol : = THIEF
Meaning: = SUDDENESS OF JESUS' COMING
Scripture: 1Thes 5:2, 2Pet 3:10,

Symbol : = TIME
Meaning: = LITERAL YEAR
Scripture: Dan 4:16,23,25,32 Dan 7:25, Dan 11:13-14, Rev 12:6,14 Rev 11:2-3,

Symbol : = TORMENT
Meaning: = TEST, PROVE BY TRIAL
Scripture: 1Cor 3:13, Heb 12:29,

Symbol : = TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS
Meaning: = A GROUP REDEEMED FROM EARTH
Scripture: Rev 5:9-10, Rev 7:9-14,

Symbol : = TWO-EDGED SWORD
Meaning: = GOD'S WORD - SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
Scripture: Eph 6:17, Heb 4:12, Mat 10:34, Isa 49:2,

Symbol : = TWO WITNESSES
Meaning: = OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS
Scripture: Jn 5:39, Zec 4:1-14, Psa 119:130,105 Jn 12:48,

Symbol : = WATERS
Meaning: = INHABITED AREA - PEOPLE, NATIONS
Scripture: Rev 17:15, "And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues."

Symbol : = WHITE
Meaning: = PURITY
Scripture: Psa 51:7, Isa 1:18, Rev 19:8,

Symbol : = WHITE ROBES
Meaning: = VICTORY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
Scripture: Isa 61:10, Rev 3:5, Zec 3:1-5, Rev 7:14, Gal 3:27,

Symbol : = WINDS / WHIRLWIND
Meaning #1: = STRIFE, COMMOTION, "WINDS OF WAR"
Scripture: Jer 25:31-33, Jere 49:36-37, Jer 4:11-13, Zec 7:14,

Meaning #2: = Judgment
Prov 10:25, Isa 40:24, Isa 66:15, Jer 30:23, Na 1:3,

Meaning #2: = Final Plagues
Jer 25:32-33, Jer 23:19-20,

Symbol : = WINE
Meaning: #1 = DOCTRINE / TEACHINGS
Scripture: Jer 25:15-18, Jer 51:7,

Meaning: #2 = JESUS BLOOD OF ATONEMENT
Scripture: Mat 26:21-29,



Symbol : = WINGS
Meaning: = SPEED
Scripture: Hab 1:6-8, Jer 4:13, Exo 19:4,



Symbol : = WOMAN, PURE
Meaning: = TRUE CHURCH
Scripture: Jer 6:2, Isa 51:16, 2Cor 11:2, Eph 5:22-33,



Symbol : = WOMAN, IMPURE
Meaning: = APOSTATE CHURCH
Scripture: Eze 23:2-21, Rev 14:4, Hos 2:5, Eze 16:15-58,

Symbol : = WORMWOOD
Meaning: = SORROW / BITTERNESS
Scripture: Jer 9:15, Jer 23:15, Lam 3:19,

Symbol : = WRATH OF GOD
Meaning: = SEVEN LAST PLAGUES
Scripture: Rev 15:1, "And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God."

MAY GOD BLESS YOUR STUDY OF HIS WORD!!!

Ritualistic Sacrifice Conducted!

Continued from Thursday...

In Thursday's post we examined the arrangement and Spiritual significance of the the Hebrew Sanctuary and some of the articles associated with it. We discovered that the symbolism declared by the scriptures point toward and represent things that are good, noble and desireable. We see in the Sanctuary construction a further and further zeroing in towards Holiness. Outside the fence is the sinner, in the outer courtyard an Altar of Sacrifice for sin where the Righteous wait upon the sinner to come and repent. Inside the Holy Place are the Lamp Stand, Shew Bread, and Altar of Incense for prayer. These items are representative of the Holy things that God has provided as reminders of our duty to Him. In the Most Holy Place we find the Ark of the Covenant and inside the Ark we find the Commandments. Sitting above the Ark we find the Mercy Seat and the Holy Shekina, Symbolic of the Throne of God in Heaven from where our Father reigns.

Notice the progression from the outside to the inside in the Sanctuary to the point that in the Holy of Holies we find not only the Presence of God and His throne but the foundation upon which He rests His Government and His Character. This foundation is upon the engraved rock. The Commandments are engraved upon rock to show their eternal nature. Yet Jesus is also called the Rock; He died in defense of the Commandments, and our Salvation is engraved upon His hands..."the Rock of our Salvation." Notice that one can not get more Holy than God and the foundation of His Character and His Government. "His Law is Perfect."

In the Ministration in the Sanctuary, because the Nation of Israel (Man) managed to sin on a daily basis, a method to atone for sin was provided. They had been trapped in a pagan culture with unGodly practices for nearly 400 years. Much of this had rubbed off on them. Sound familiar? Even though some tried to remain separate, the prevailing culture made certain that many would have feet soiled by the sinfulness around them. Scripture says that "Sin is the transgression of the Law" It also says that the "Wages of sin is death." Yet God in His mercy made a way of escape for the sinner without putting away the 10 Commandment Law that convicts of sin.

Each day the sinner in Israel would walk through the camp toward the sanctuary. He would bring with Him a sacrifice. For most this would require that for sin to be forgiven a Lamb would have to be sacrificed. Poorer people were allowed to bring doves for sacrifice. Either way, the act of bringing a sacrificial offering was to serve many purposes; among them was the cost of sin. It was not cheap to lose livestock or worse a family pet to the perversion of sin. It was also to serve as a reminder that for sin to be forgiven the blood of an innocent victim would have to be shed. It was to be a painful reminder of the consequnce of sin.

In the outer courtyard the sinner would confess his sin over the head of the Lamb. Then the Priest would hand the sinner a knife. The sinner was then required to kill the Lamb with his own hand to show that the sinner himself was responsible for the death of the innocent victim. The Priest would capture some of the blood of the Lamb into a bowl to take into the Holy Place. The Lamb was then roasted upon the Altar of Sacrifice. Inside the Holy Place the Priest would sprinkle the blood of the lamb upon the Altar of Incense and before the veil and the smoke of this sacrifice mixed with the prayer of repentance would ascend upward and over the veil into the Most Holy Place. The smoke would be lit with the Glory of the Shekina evidencing that God had heard the prayer of repentance. The glow would be seen over the veil.

This ministration by the Levitical Priest, in the Sanctuary and then later in Solomon's Temple, was conducted every day of the year. Then one day every year, on the Day of Atonement, the Sanctuary was cleansed of the sin that had accumulated within during the previous year. Ten days prior to this event Trumpets would sound indicating that a solemn time of soul searching and repentance was at hand. During this time the Israelite had to repent of all sin and seek forgiveness and strength from God to stay pure and undefiled.

Then on the Day of Atonement, the most solemn day of the year, two Lambs were brought to the Sanctuary. Lots were cast. The One on "Whom the Lord's lot fell' was then taken aside and the High Priest confessed upon its head all the sins of the nation of Israel for the previous year. Then the lamb was slain, the blood captured into a basin and the Lamb roasted on the altar of Sacrifice. The High Priest next went into the Holy Place and made an atonement prayer at the Altar of Incense for himself. Then the High Priest would, with humble trembling and contrite heart, enter into the Most Holy Place into the presence of God.

Entrance into the Most Holy Place was no trivial matter. It was done, only by the High Priest and only once per year. Scripture says that before God any sin will be consumed by His Glory. God's presence "is a consuming fire" to the unrepentant sinner. The High Priest was a man and had the same sinful nature as every man. So it was imperative that before entrance into the Most Holy Place that he forsake all characteristics that would be at war against the Law of God. A cord was actually tied to the ankle of the High Priest before he entered. Bells were hung from his garments so that those outside could hear him walking about. Should the High Priest come into the presence of the Shekina with unrepented sin, the "brightness" of the Lord would slay him and the other Priests holding the cord would have to drag him out.

Inside the Most Holy Place the High Priest would sprinkle the Blood of the Lamb upon the Mercy seat to make an atonement for the sins of Israel. The Blood mixed with the Glory of God would then fill the Sanctuary with such Brightness that the High Priest and Levites would have to quickly exit the Sanctuary. Once outside in the courtyard the other lamb, known as the Scapegoat, was brought before the Hight Priest. The High Priest then placed the sins of the people onto the head of the Scapegoat. This scapegoat was then taken away and led far out into the desert and left to die all alone.

When John the Baptist saw Jesus near the Jordan river he proclaimed "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!" The lamb upon which the Lord's lot fell was symbolic of the coming Christ. It was Jesus, Who Scripture says "Created All things" (including the Commandments) that all the Old Testament Prophets longed to see. It was He that the Sanctuary Service foreshadowed. The innocent "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

The Scapegoat represented the instigator of sin, Satan. In perfect harmony with the scriptures this Scapegoat was led out to a desolate place to live alone and then die. When the Lord returns this earth will be left a desolate and broken down wilderness where "every island will vanish away." For 1000 years Satan will be "bound" confined to this broken and void earth to contemplate the consequences of his war against God.

Yet the story of the Lamb does not end here. It does not end with the Lamb dead. It begins with the Lamb being slain and it continues with Him rising to life in triumph and standing in the place of the repentant sinner having already paid the price for repented sin. In faith the repentant sinner looks to the cross at calvary to the Lamb for redemption. In faith the ancient Israelite looked forward to the coming Messiah Who "Would cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease." Dan Ch9. Today both stand redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb, "Who ever lives to make intercession" for sinful man. The story in the Bible ends with this same Messiah returning as King of King and Lord of Lords to reclaim His territory for His people and to live and reign and fellowship with them forever and ever.

Do we owe Him our allegiance? Oh that men could all see that the answer to this question is yes! We should love Him because He first loved us, willing to die in our place that we might live. "No greater love does a man posess that He lay down His life for His friends." If you have not accepted Christ into your heart please do so now while His Spirit is calling. He is knocking at the door and waiting for you to invite Him in.

In our next post we will examine how the High Priest actually foreshadows the Ministry that Jesus is doing for us right now before the throne of our Father in Heaven as revealed in the Book of Hebrews. May God bless your study of His Word.

Mysterious Rites Revealed

Continued from Tuesday....

In the previous entry we began examining the customs of an ancient religion whereby sacrifices were made to God. Our examination of this culture comes from the dusty manuscripts that have been unearthed near the Holy Land and preserved in museums and private collections around the world. Now we continue from where we left off examining what these sacrificial rites entailed.

We saw in the last post that the first sacrifice took place in the Garden of Eden, whereby God made for Adam and Eve coverings of Skin. That skin came from the first sacrifice, the first death that Adam and Eve had ever seen, and it impressed upon them the repugnance of sin. Sin being the breaking of the Commandments. That first sacrifice foreshadowed the coming of a Savior Who would take the full penalty for sin upon Himself whereby the blood of lambs was only substitutionary for the sins of a repentant sinner. We note that the rites of the Hebrew Sacrifices written by the hand of Moses and put into a little Book, called the Book of the Law, gave details on how sacrifices were to be made for the remission of sins. The purpose of this ongoing blogspot is to show how each sacrifice foreshadowed the coming life of Jesus and His Ministry on our behalf.

The picture below shows the arrangement of the Sanctuary and the articles found inside. Exodus Ch25. An outer wall surrounded the Sanctuary and kept it separate from the nation of Israel. On the eastern side was the entrance. In the outer court was an Altar for the burnt offering and a Laver filled with water. The Sanctuary itself consisted of two compartments. The first compartment known as the Holy Place contained to one side the Table of Shew bread supporting 12 loaves of unleavened bread. On the other side was the 7 Branched Golden Lamp stand filled with oil, and next to the veil that separated the two compartments was the Altar of Incense. The veil separating the Holy from the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies) extended from the floor upward but not completely to the ceiling. The roof of the Sanctuary was made of Ram Skins.

Inside the Most Holy place, where only the High Priest was allowed to enter one day per year, was the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant, shown in the picture below, contained inside its lid the 10 Commandments written on Stone by the finger of God. In a side compartment to the Ark was housed "The Book of the Law" of the sacrificial ordinances written on parchment by the hand of Moses.

The layout of the Sanctuary and the rites performed inside were representative in symbol to the ministry of the Messiah Who would come. Here we will look at the symbolism of the Sanctuary; in the next post we will discuss the rites that took place inside the Sanctuary and their meaning in further detail.

The outer court represented the wall of separation that exists between sinful man and God. The Holy Place represents the first portion of the Messiah's Ministry. Inside the Holy Place the table containing the 12 Loaves of Shew Bread represents the Word of God. This bread was unleavened representing pure truth and it was given to the 12 Tribes of Israel for a witness. This unleavened bread, pure doctrine, the Israelite (meaning overcomer) was to share with others. On the south side of the Holy Place we see the 7 Branched Lamp stand containing oil with flames burning bright. Oil is symbolic of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. This oil of the Spirit is what produces the burning desire in the righteous to keep and share the Truth of God's Word. The seven flames represent the Seven Spirits of God. The light shed represents the life and example that the righteous are to lead and to share with others by example. On the wall next to the veil we find the Altar of Incense. On this altar the prayers of the repentant sinner, mixed with the blood of a sacrificial lamb was sprinkled. This mixture would burn and produce smoke that would ascend upward; symbolic of the righteous prayer going upward to Heaven to God.

Beyond the veil, in the Most Holy Place, was the Ark of the Covenant. Inside the Ark under the "Mercy Seat" was housed the Commandments of God. Two Carved Angels with wings open covered their faces from the brightness shining above the Mercy Seat. On this Seat, representative of the Throne of God in Heaven, shined forth the “Holy Shekina" or the visible presence of the Lord. When the Prayers of the sinner were offered on the Altar of Incense the smoke would ascend over the veil and into the Most Holy Place. When it came into the presence of God the light of God's presence would light the smoke and the entire Sanctuary would fill with the Glory of God as an expression that He had accepted the atonement for sin. On occasion this Glory shined so bright that the Priests had to exit the Sanctuary. The carved Angels veiled their faces from the Mercy Seat because the scriptures reveal that God's Presence is a "Consuming fire". The veil separating the Most Holy place from the Holy protected the Priest daily ministration from this consuming brightness.

Noting that the Israelites made this earthly sanctuary from the copy of the one Moses was shown in Heaven, what lesson can we see regarding God and the Holy Angels that stand in His presence ready to delightfully execute His will and sinful man's relation to them?

In our next post we will go into further detail and show how this and other symbolism pointed forward to the Messiah and how Jesus meets the test of Scripture.

Secret Temple Rituals Revealed!

The mysterious rites of an ancient culture have been uncovered. Archeologists have long sought the artifacts and writings of ancient peoples for study and debate. Their study of artifacts leads them to understand the cultures and civilizations that have gone before us. Now a group has examined and compared relics from a 3000 year old civilization and discovered hidden secrets of ancient temple rites where live sacrifices were actually once conducted!

In the dusty pages of an ancient parchment translated from the chaldean language it is revealed that at one time animals and agricultural products were sacrificed to the Hebrew God as an expression of worship, gratitude, dedication, and for the forgiveness of repented sin. Yet, did you know, that this sacrificial system was actually inaugurated when sin first entered the world long before there was ever a Jew or a Gentile? (see Gen 4:3, 4). That first sacrifice, when God made for the guilty pair garments of skin, served through the ages as a reminder that the wages of sin is death, the result of sin repugnant, and that pardon for sin would require the sacrifice of an innocent victim for guilty man to be spared eternal separation from a sinless universe.

Following the Flood, Noah and his family made sacrifices; but, as time went by men forgot about this custom which had been handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. In time, nearly all men forgot God just as they did in the days before the flood, and at Mount Sinai, with a grand and ominous display of majestic power, God provided a systematic provision that was written down in exacting specifics detailing the various types of sacrifices to be conducted by a chosen people. A people who were to tell the whole world about God and His desire to save all men from the penalty of death.

Investigation into the New Testament Scriptures reveals that every sacrifice or ordinance performed under the levitical system prefigured the sacrifice and ministry of the "Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The particlars of the sacrificial ceremonies of the Hebrew Service will be investigated in subsequent posts and each will be compared with the life and ministry of Jesus for revelation of their spiritual significance. The symbolism of the Hebrew Service detailed in the Old Testament was an amazing foreshadowing of the plan of salvation and the means by which all men might escape their own selfish and sinful natures, receive pardon, and obtain everlasting life through the blood of a Lamb.

Evidence of Resurrection Uncovered

Many have doubted the story of Jesus' Resurrection. Yet, clear evidence has been discovered that provides a compelling conclusion that Jesus of Nazareth died on a Roman Cross and rose to life on the third day!

The most compelling source providing for the establishment of the resurrection of Jesus is found in ancient manuscripts that document the event. A study of these texts reveals that of all the evidence uncovered to date, it was the change in behavior of His followers that third day after the crucifixion that strikes providentially as most compelling. Something very dramatic and completely unexplainable happened to Jesus' followers that made them turn from fearful and cowering to zealous and bold. The change is quite striking in comparing their behavior before and after the entombment of Jesus.

John 19:38-40 gives the account of His friends preparing the body for burial. "And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight." Obviously, they did this because they thought Jesus was dead never to be seen again.

Luke 23:55,56 "And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them." In this case, these followers are planning to finish preparing a corpse for burial. There's no indication they expected any resurrection at all.

Mark 16:10,11 "And she went and told them that had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that He was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not." Certainly this is not the behavior of those expecting the Lord to soon arise from the dead. They "believed not."

John 20:19 reveals that it in the evening the disciples are hiding, cowering in fear from the jews. This is not the way folks act if they are anticipating the resurrection of their leader in a day or two!

Then something amazing happens! Fear becomes bold! For some reason these people were suddenly filled with courage!

Acts 2 recounts a speech by a now very bold disciple named Peter. He is no longer afraid of anything! He is now portrayed as a Bold preacher of the Gospel shouting to all who will listen. In verse 32 he boldly confronts the Jewish Authorities, "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses."

Then the high priest had the apostles put in prison to silence their report, but an Angel of the Lord opened the jail doors. The word of their release spread rapidly. In anger and exasperation, the high priest proclaimed "ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine!" Acts 5:17-42. Peter and the apostles answered, "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, who you slew and hanged on a tree" Acts 5:30. Now that is holy boldness!

After this display, the jewish authorities plotted to kill the apostles and bring the matter to an end. However, Gamaliel, wisely offered the following legal advice. He said, "But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it; lest haply you be found even to fight against God" (Acts 5:39). From that point forward the disciples spoke the word boldly throughout all of Judea, then to the gentile regions around Jerusalem and into all the world beyond.

Even to this day we hear the triumphal announcement, "He is risen!" echoing through the halls of time. May we be just as bold in our faith and in our witness. May God bless your study of His Word.

Digging Sheds New Light on Magi

Some recent digging into the relics left behind used to recount the story of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem have been re-examined and some astonishing things have been discovered. Examination of the ancient manuscripts reveals that the story shown in many Nativity Sets may be in error. The first notable discrepancy is that regarding how many Wise men were present. Nowhere in the ancient texts does it reveal how many. The traditional Three Wise men seems to be based upon an assumption that each brought respectively gold, frankincense and myrrh. Yet the manuscripts do not tell us how many wise men actually came in search of the child. Another instance of assumption takes place when one recognizes that the wise men came from afar. They traveled from the east in search of the child having seen evidence of the star shining in the sky. In fact Herod asked them about the time they had first seen the star. Travel in those days was long and difficult. It is likely that the wise men did not arrive in Jerusalem for months and even years following Christ's first advent.

In fact, if one looks at the scenes depicted in many Nativity Sets one sees the presence of farm animals alongside the Magi. There is no mention of farm animals anywhere in the presence of the Magi when they arrive to see the boy King. Further evidence of the Magi's later arrival is supported by the fact that Herod, upon realizing that he had been eluded by the wise men, then ordered the killing of all male children under the age of 2. Surely if the child was just born then those under a few months or a few days of life would have been the subject of his murderous wrath rather than those up to a full two years. It is interesting to wonder about what other assumptions we have accepted as fact where there is no scriptural support for what really amounts to tradition rather than the Word of God.

Dead Speak in a Remote a Israeli Village !!!

As contrary to human reason and as amazing as this sounds, it has apparently happened. The leaders in Israel were startled and amazed at the revelation that an old testament prophet might actually be communicating through a medium in a remote Israeli Village. In fact, the group traveled in haste to the medium and conducted a seance; and, indeed a voice of a man spoke through a woman and they perceived that it was the Prophet Samuel !!! The things that were revealed to them about the coming future were absolutely stunning!

Samuel the Prophet died and King Saul and all of Israel lamented (1Sam28:3). Samuel was a Prophet and many times the leaders of Israel would consult the Prophets before going forth into battle. King Saul had long disregarded the ways of God and the exact instructions given him by the Prophet. Now the Prophet was gone and Saul was about to go into battle against the Philistines. Feeling a sense of dread encroach about him Saul became fearful of defeat at the hands of the Philistines. But why was he in doubt now? After all King Saul had gone to battle the Phillistines numerous times and had soundly defeated them. Saul had always won. The difference now was that Saul had chosen to ignore the expressed word of God to the point that God no longer communicated to him and now fear replaced the peace and confidence that once filled his soul. Saul had turned further and further from hearing the word of God until he came to the point that he could hear Him no more. A heart so hardened in sin that the still small voice of the Holy Spirit was undiscernable to him. Saul, who had been brought up to know the Commandments of God was now about to make his apostacy from God's Word complete. Saul then sought out the services of a medium; the Witch at Endor.

"Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her." 1 Samuel 28:7.

God had clearly commanded His people never to consult a witch or medium (Leviticus 19:31; 20:27), God even required those among the Israelite who practiced witchcraft to be put to death; but Saul now had little regard for God's explicit instruction.

Upon finding a woman in Endor who claimed to consult with the dead, the king disguised himself and went to see her. He said to the medium, "Bring me up Samuel." The witch went through her spells and enchantments until an apparition claiming to be Samuel the prophet appeared and gave the king an utterly hopeless message. It predicted that Saul and his sons would die in battle the next day! Saul was shocked. His heart sank and the dark spirit that had been looming over him seemed almost suffocating now. Saul believed these to be the words of Samuel the Prophet and went off to tell his sons and to go forth and die in battle.

The following day Saul's sons were slain by the Philistines, and afterward, wounded and discouraged the king fell on his own sword and took his own life (1 Samuel 31:2-4).

So who was it that spoke to Saul through the witch: a resurrected prophet of God, or a devil in disguise?

To answer this question, it might be good to answer this question first:
Do the dead really come back to talk with or to haunt the living?  
 
Job 14:21  "His sons come to honour, and he knew it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them." (doesn't see it).

Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10 "The dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory (their thoughts) of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun [in this life]. ... For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave."

The Bible is quite clear already about the dead. "The dead know not anything."

Psalm 115:17 "The dead praise not the Lord."
Psalm 6:5 "In death there is no remembrance of thee."
Job 7:10 "He shall return no more to his house."
Isaiah 38:18 "Death can not celebrate thee." (The dead cannot honor and worship God)
Psalm 146:4 "His thoughts perish."

The idea that we live on after death in some vapor like state is simply a continuation of the devil's first lie told in Eden "Thou shalt not surely die." And yet Adam and Eve surely died!

How do I know this to still be true? Because Jesus' Apostles don't lie. If anyone is in Heaven it is King David and yet the Apostle clearly says: in Acts 2:29:

"Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. ... For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, "

David is dead but he is not in heaven! At least not yet.

So who was this apparition that drove Saul and his Sons to lose their lives in this self fulfilling prophecy? None other than Satan! This is why God commands us not to speak to the so called dead or those that claim to be mediums. God was so serious about it that He had required that all such persons in Israel to be put to death lest they lead all the nation into the devil's hands!!!

Here, however, we run into a real question. If the dead sleep in Jesus, and they know not anything, then what about all we read and hear about dead people who seem to return and appear to others? What about the spirits of the dead that communicate with the living, and these spirit beings who channel messages? What about those who actively communicate with various loved ones who have died? If this is really our deceased loved ones and truly the dead who have come back, then the Bible is a lie.

Make no mistake about it, the devil can work miracles too. Revelation 16:14, "For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty."

2 Thessalonians 2:9, "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders."

The devil takes advantage of grieving hearts and knows people would do anything to see their loved ones, and he can impersonate them to make people believe his lie, that "you shall not surely die." All the spiritualism, the New Age, and witchcraft is based on this teaching.

Satan can deceive us unless we know the truth.
Saul fell on his sword and perished for lack of the truth.
Don't make the same mistake.
Heed this warning. Peace be with you.

Confessed Murderers Acquitted !!!

In a stunning turn around of unprecedented proportions, a group of defiant cold blooded murderers facing the death penalty have been pardoned! The group consists of male and female rebels from diverse backgrounds and multiple ethnic and cultural persuasions. Each perpetrator was actually sentenced to death; yet by a stunning turn of events the court and Ruler in Jerusalem pardoned them after each one made a heart wrenching confession and expressed deepest sorrow for their horrendous deeds.

In Jerusalem over 2000 years ago a man was nailed to a cross and murdered by a group of rebels bent on defiance in direct opposition to the Law. Yet, the Victim of this terrible crime allowed it to happen in order to save the very people who were guilty of the crime!

"And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself...in the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease" Daniel 9:26-27.

As was shown on Wednesdays entry, a week is symbolic of 7 years in bible prophecy. We also saw that Jesus came and was anointed exactly on the date foretold by scripture. Now the prophecy speaks regarding the "70th week determined" upon the Jewish nation and foretells that final week in amazing accuracy.

After His anointing in 27 AD (at the end of the 62 weeks, noted above) Jesus ministered for 3.5 years healing the sick, feeding the hungry, teaching others to be selfless and kind to one another. Then "in the midst of the week" exactly 3.5 years later, in the year 31 AD, Jesus Christ (Messiah) was "cut off, but not for Himself" by allowing Himself to be murdered on a Roman Cross. He did not die for Himself... He died for the sins of other men who were guilty of sins He himself had never committed! But why ?!

The bible tells us that sin is the breaking of God's Commandments and that all men have broken them. The bible declares that all who break God's Commandments are guilty of sin and ultimately are deserving of death and will reap death because that is what sin does to people. Not only do sinners die because of the degradation that sin causes but also because God can not allow selfishness to run unchecked in a unselfish universe. Ultimately selfishness, which causes sin, if allowed to go unchecked would result in a desire to take God's throne and position for ourselves. Satan the instigator of sin said "I will exalt my throne above the Most High" and those with the same sinful attitude ultimately would try to do just that! Selfishness feeds upon itself and others and is never satisfied.

The first chapter of the book of John says that Jesus "Created all things". All things include the Commandments by which sinners are judged and condemned to death. Christ, who created beings with intelligence and freewill, allowed Satan to continue in selfishness and allowed him opportunity to deceive man into sin. The results of that deception are evidenced by the death and decay that is now all around us. Christ, in allowing man to fall by the deceptions of the devil, allowed for a demonstration of the results of sinful selfishness in view of all the unfallen intelligences in the universe as a witness. Now, on the Cross, Christ revealed His Plan for saving fallen man from the sin that they had been tricked into becoming addicts to.

Only One equal to the Law condemning the sinner to death, the One Who created it, could truly stand in the place of the sinner and take the penalty for sin upon Himself. In this way the standard of the Commandments was raised high for its perpetual goodness, and the love and justice and mercy and selflessness of the Creator was shown to the entire universe. On the cross God's hatred of sin and his love for the sinner were made fully manifest.

Those that Jesus healed were told "go and sin no more." Jesus said "If you love Me keep My Commandments." If we had kept His Commandments, we never would have become addicts to sin, and He never would have had to die "cut off, but not for Himself" - murdered, by all of us and our selfishness, nailed to a Roman Cross. If we truly loved Him we would never have sinned and would never have condemned Him, our Creator, to death.

As the chart in Tuesdays entry shows, Jesus kept the covenant with the Jewish nation for the entire 70 weeks given in Daniel 9. In the midst of the week He died, the true Lamb of God had come to be the Sacrifice for our sins. No longer would the temporary substitutionary sacrifice of animals be needed or accepted as a profession of faith for the pardon given on the part of a repentant sinner. Henceforth, only faith in the death of the Messiah, His sacrifice, along with a contrite confession and sorrow for our deeds of selfishness, that had placed Him on the Cross, would be acceptable to the Creator for Pardon.

In the midst of that 70th week Christ died, slept silent that Saturday in a tomb, and arose to life the first day of the week to present Himself before The Father as the "sacrifice and oblation" for a lost people. After resurrection Jesus tarried with the Disciples and told them to preach the Gospel (Goodnews) to all the house of Israel "first for a witness." This was done for an additional 3.5 years that the 70 week prophecy be fulfilled. Then, in the book of Acts we are told that great persecution erupted against the Christians in Jerusalem and upon the stoning of Stephen the Disciples fled Judea into the gentile regions carrying with them the "Goodnews" of Jesus the Messiah and His Salvation.

In perfect harmony with Daniel's Prophecy the 70 weeks were kept with the Jewish Nation. In the midst of that final week the King allowed Himself to be executed in our place in order that we might go free and yet by doing so He establish the credibility of the Law to the universe and the penalty due Satan who in his pride will never humble himself to accept the righteousness of God and His Law Established for the good of all free and created moral agents.

"How many times shall I forgive my brother if he sins against me? Seven times?" asked the man. "Not seven but rather 70 times 7" replied Jesus, clearly referring to His own patience with the Nation of Israel for the 490 years given them by the prophecy in Daniel chapter 9.

Are you a murderer? Are you sorry for your selfish nature and sinful deeds? Are you sorry you are this way and do you wish pardon and power to change your ways from the Man You placed upon the cross? Then seek Christ and confess to Him; ask Him in all sincerity to forgive you and to change your nature from sinful to selfless and He will grant you pardon through His blood and healing by the power of the Holy Spirit to walk in newness of life. Speak to Him. He is ready to meet you where you are.