Monthly Archives: April 2014

Mining the Truth – Signs and Patterns

     In the passage of Scripture Exodus 18:1 through 19:25, there are two quick observations of which we would like to make mention. First, the ‘signs’. There were signs for the ‘believers’ – the people of Israel –and there were signs for the ‘unbelievers’ – those of the nations. And the ultimate sign – everything happened just as it was spoken by Father God. He ‘declared the end out of the beginning’ . . . Isa 46:10
     The concept of different ‘signs’ for different groups is an original concept founded in the Torah and the Prophets. And the trend continues. In Paul’s first letter to the congregation at Corinth he describes two types of signs – one for the believer and one for the unbeliever. God is consistent. He establishes patterns and then works within them, and it is for our benefit. We are supposed to pick up on the ‘pattern’ and then, hopefully, know what to look for.
      Well let’s take another quick glance at the ‘blood moons’ and ‘the signs in the heavens’. Jewish sages actually tell us the God of the Bible uses the moon for a sign for Israel and the sun as a sign for ‘the nations’. That is a very interesting theory. We find it compelling, to say the least, that these full lunar eclipses – blood moons – are falling precisely on two of the most significant high holy days of the Bible’s annual cycle of celebrations. The fact that this cycle repeats itself again in 2015 should not be underestimated. We have also mentioned the fact, based on the NASA website, these lunar eclipses are visible to some degree to the entire world over the two year period . . . except Israel proper and portions of the middle east. They only see the last blood moon of this four eclipse series.
      But the prophecies say there will be signs in the sun as well. Joel 2:30 and Revelation 6:12 speak of a darkening of the sun, becoming as sackcloth – a solar eclipse. Well guess what ? There will be two solar eclipses in 2015 that just happen to fall on two very interesting dates from the Scriptures. In Exodus 12:1-2 God begins to lay out the ‘Biblical’ calendar. And, lo and behold, a solar eclipse just happens to fall on the first day of the first month of that Biblical/Hebrew calendar in 2015, and two weeks later will be Passover 2015 and the third blood moon of this Tetrad series. And last but not least, there is projected a solar eclipse on September 13, 2015. What is significant about that day ? It is Yom Teruah, the Feast of Trumpets. Leviticus 23:24 reads this way – “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.” ( literally – a reminder, a warning or signal by blast or shout) It is the same day projected by NASA for another solar eclipse – a darkening of the sun like unto sackcloth, and two weeks prior to the fourth and final blood moon of this Tetrad series. Coincidence ? No, rehearsals. That’s one reason for the Feasts of the Lord of the Bible. They are the rehearsals for the ‘final act’. And what is that final act of this play, according to the Bible ?
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God:
Luke 21:25 ” And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
26 “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.
27 “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
      Interesting how all this just seems to neatly fit together . . . almost like it was planned. Shalom –

. . . So Now What ?

Well, here we are. Passover is past, the first ‘blood moon’ episode of the much publicized 2014-2015 Tetrad series has come and gone and here we still are. The ‘rapture’ didn’t ‘rapt’, the middle east didn’t explode into an inferno of war, Damascus didn’t cease to exist, nor did the global economy implode into chaos. So what’s up ? Were we all wrong in thinking there was anything substantive in all this ‘blood moon’ mania? Are these ‘moon signs’ just normal natural occurrences that carry no prophetic significance ? Or do they actually bear watching? If in these columns we are attempting to ‘Mine the Truth’, then let’s take a closer look at what the Bible says concerning the validity and timing of these ‘signs in the heavens’.
      Genesis 1:14 “And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs, to mark seasons and days and years . . .””
The word for ‘sign’ is the Hebrew word ‘ot’ which defined is ‘signal, distinguishing mark, warning’. The word translated ‘seasons’ is the word ‘moedim’, a term for ‘appointed time or place, meeting, set feast, appointed signal’. This pertains to much more than just Spring or Fall. They are the times set by the God of the Bible, times such as the advent of Messiah Yeshua, His death and resurrection, and His ultimate return. So the moon and the sun are, in fact, where they are to mark specific prophetic appointments.  Yeah, but nothing happened. How long is all this prophetic stuff gonna take anyway ? How do we know it’s actually gonna happen ?
      2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.”
      And those ‘prophetic appointments’ will come to pass in God’s timing, not ours.
So, can we know anything more about that timing ? 1 Thessalonians 5:4  “ . . . You, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief . . .”
Matthew 16:2 “He (Yeshua) answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say,‘fair weather, for the sky is red’;
3 and in the morning, ‘foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but not the signs of the times.’”
      So, what does all this mean ? This current progression of blood moons and solar eclipses are, in fact, markers on God’s calendar. Our job is to, based on the Word of God, watch and discern and discover what they mark, for they are for a purpose.
Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
Revelation 1:4 Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Thanks to our good friends Rosemary and Lewis for forwarding this on to us. This ‘blood moon’ as well as the next three will all be visible to some degree from the americas and most of the rest of the world. Israel proper and the middle east in general will only see the last.  hmmmm . . . . Shabbat shalom 

Is Passover for the Church ?

In the Gospel accounts of Matthew and Luke, Yeshua (Jesus) made this declaration – ‘ I have desired to eat this with you, but I will not again until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom’ (compiling Matthew 26:26-29 and Luke 22:15-20)
Paul makes this statement to the congregation at Ephesus – ‘ Messiah is our Peace’ – the ‘Shelem’, the reconciliation offering – (Eph 2:14) as well as this admonition to the congregation in Corinth – ‘Messiah is our Passover ( the slaughtered offering) , therefore keep the Feast . . .’ ( 1 Corinthians 5:7-8). To this same group Paul also speaks these words – ‘when you eat this bread and drink this cup you do declare the Lord’s death until He returns . . .’ ( 1 Cor. 11:26)
In Exodus 6:5-8 Father God (YHWH) declares what has come to be known as the ‘I will’s’ . . . “ I will bring you out; I will rid you of bondage; I will redeem you; I will take you to Me as a people; I will bring you into the Land . . .’
And later, in Exodus 12:14 and following, He commands a memorial of this by a Feast ‘throughout the generations’ . . . Some have even compared this ‘meal or feast’ to the ‘marriage supper of the Lamb’. So what is this meal, this feast, this declaration ? It is the Passover. And Passover and easter are not the same.
For hundreds of decades the church system has replaced the Biblically mandated observance of Passover with the man-made observance and tradition of easter, which deals with the death and burial and primarily focuses on the resurrection. Now please understand, we are not saying it is possible to overestimate the importance of the resurrection. Yet the Bible plainly dictates that we ‘declare His death’ and ‘keep the feast’ – referring to Passover – until He returns. So what’s the big deal ? What’s the big difference ? Aren’t we basically saying and keeping the same thing ? The answer to those questions are best answered by the Bible. By the way, we won’t take opportunity here to address the nonsense of bunnies and eggs and all the other manmade trappings that are contrary to God’s nature.
The Apostle Paul tells the congregation at Thessalonica of one who is coming – the ‘lawless one, the son of perdition’ – that will exalt himself above God in his own mind and attempt to do the same in the life and minds of the people. Daniel says this one will ‘intend to make changes in times and in the laws’ ( Dan. 7:25). That would be God’s times and laws, of which the keeping of Passover would be a part. Paul again speaking, tells the Thessalonians the mystery or ‘secret doctrine’ of ‘lawlessness’ is already at work, and that was 1900 years ago.
So, for me today, what is the Passover and how do I observe it according to the Bible ? The ‘blood on the lintel and doorposts’ was a one-time event and the observance of Passover today is to memorialize that event and the event it was to foreshadow – the death of Messiah and the application of His Blood. To memorialize is to ‘cause to remember, to recall or call to mind’, not only what has happened but what is to come. Basically, Passover is an event – a meal, if you will – that marks the beginning of the first day of The Week of Unleavened Bread, and an event which includes the Lamb, the ‘blood’, and the unleavened bread (matza) on a specific appointed time for a particular purpose.
What is this appointed time ? According to Scripture it is to be the evening of the 14th day of the first month of the Hebrew or Biblical calendar. ( Exo. 12:1-6) For us today, that would be the 14th day from the first new moon after the beginning of astronomical spring. For us this year, it actually happens to be Monday evening, the 14th day of April 2014.
The particular purpose ? To remember God’s deliverance for His people ‘with an outstretched arm and with great judgments’, and the expectation of the magnified repeat of that event in the last days. ( Jer. 16:14-15, Jer. 23:7-8)
And the ‘how’ ? That’s fairly simple. To come together as an individual family or corporate family of believers on the appointed time for the particular purpose and partake of the elements utililized and defined by Yeshua. Although He – Yeshua – did not partake of the Passover that He so desired to share with His disciples, He gave us an example to follow until His promised return when He will sit with His own and share in this event in the Kingdom.
There were many in Scripture that died and many were resurrected. But there is only One whose death and shed blood allow me to be a part of the Resurrection, another day of remembrance among the Feasts of the Lord . . . but that is another teaching.
Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Is Passover for the Church ? “For Messiah is our Passover, therefore keep the Feast . . .” May this aid you in your understanding and keeping . . . Shalom

This was posted on Larry’ Taylor’s Blog and we felt it not only timely but also, in the midst of the warning, it shows that silver thread of encouragement that lines up with what Yeshua says John 16:33 – ” . . . you will have tribulation . . . but rejoice, for I have overcome the world . . .” 

JACOB’S TROUBLES LION OF ZION V MARCH 13, 2004 I saw a stained, weathered looking gate. My first thought was that it could be either a door to a barn or outside building, or a gate to a garden. Soon a stone wall appeared on either side of the door. It reminded me of what a gate to THE SECRET GARDEN may have looked like. The gate was solid and strong, and unless opened, I knew I would not be able to proceed through it. As I thought about it’s strength, and wondered at it, the gate began to swing open. I heard a voice, “WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME IN?” I entered a walled garden and found myself following a curved path of round concrete stepping stones surrounded by fragrant tyme. I was unable to tell what kinds of vegetation were in the garden, as it seemed to be shrouded in a mist. The path was visible, so I curiously followed it. The path halted at a large, round, deep blue pool. The water was inviting and steps led into it. I was reminded of Jewish mikva pools, and longed to enter it and bathe and consecrate myself once again to my Savior. I walked down the steps and began swimming in the deep pool. I found myself swimming like a dolphin. I would swirl and dive, then come up for air. The water was cool and wonderfully inviting. I swam and swam with total abandon and joy. I did not get tired. Soon there was a movement in the center of the pool and a fountain began to rise. It vaguely resembled a Fluor de lea, but soon changed into a cross. The cross rotated clockwise. Water was coming out of the top, sides and most of the water was spraying out of the center. I heard the words: “ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT MY CROSS IS A FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATER FOR THOSE WHO WOULD COME TO IT?” Soon I felt called to climb up on the pedestal of the cross/ fountain. Then I was nudged to come up higher. I looked about and couldn’t see how to do that. Then my favorite LION was beside me and urged me to climb onto His back. I didn’t want to, as I felt it was dishonorable and disrespectful to climb on to the back of THE LION OF ZION. He urged me, and I refused and struggled. HE let out a sigh, and asked if I would be willing to fly on the wings of an Eagle? I replied to the affirmative, and a huge Eagle came and swooped me up. Soon I was ridding on His back, hugging His head with both arms. I looked down and saw the charred remains of a large city. It was a blackened and smoldering ruin. I knew it was one of our cities here in the US. I felt sick inside. The Eagle asked me: “DO YOU THINK YOU CAN WAGE WAR ON OTHERS WITH IMPUNITY?” * As the Eagle flew me over the land I saw chaos and images of war everywhere. Our beautiful nation was on fire! The National Forests were on fire! The National Parks were on fire! Everywhere I looked our nation was black and burning. Soon the Eagle swooped down into a deep, mountain valley where the trees were green, and signs of war were not evident. It looked like a valley in the Cascade, Sierra, or Rocky Mountains. The mountains surrounding this small valley were tall, jagged and snow capped. I asked, “What is this place? Why has the war not touched it here?” HE replied: “THESE ARE PLACES OF REFUGE WHERE MY HUMBLE ONE’S DWELL. THE ONES WHO DWELL IN MY REFUGES ARE THE ONES WHO HEARD MY VOICE AND HEEDED MY CALL. THEY DID NOT FIGHT WITH ME WHEN THEY HEARD THE SOUND OF THE SHOFAR. I WILL HAVE A REMNANT TO GREET ME WHEN I RETURN.” HE continued: “LET ME MAKE PLAIN TO YOU WHAT IS TO SUDDENLY COME UPON THE EARTH. JACOB’S TROUBLES ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN.AND WHO DID I TEACH YOU JACOB IS?” “Judah and Ephriam” I replied very soberly. “NOW YOU KNOW.” HE answered me. The Eagle landed and the LION was waiting to greet me. Once again HE urged me to climb onto HIS back. This time I was very grateful to comply. “NOW DO YOU SEE THAT MY FAITHFUL AND HUMBLE ONES WILL NEED TO BE CARRIED IN THE DAYS TO COME?” I had a thousand other questions. What time framework are we talking about? Are we talking days, months, years, centuries????? There was no answer given to my questions, and the vision faded away. ************************************************* * impunity – 1. exemption from punishment or penalty 2. immunity or preservation from incrimination, regret, or the like; escape from what is probable, certain,or just ** Places of Refuge I received the strong impression that the Holy Spirit has been whispering to a number of wealthy Christians to buy land both here and abroad and make it ready for an influx of refugees. I had the sense that some had said, “Yes!” and were secretly going about fulfilling His request. They were stocking the Places with food, water, etc. I also sensed that many had said “No Way!” and those Places were not being prepared as the LORD had requested. These impressions were felt by me during the vision, but not part of the conversation I had with the Eagle.