Writings
Discerning Signs of the Times
Jewish Year of 5777, 5778
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: (Gen 1:14)
When God created the sun and moon on the 4th day, they were for signs and for seasons… "Signs" are defined as something manifested or seen to be interpreted as a signal, " as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc.: - mark, miracle, (en-) sign, token." (Strongs) This is a definition readily understood/accepted by our Western/Christian culture.
In contrast to our traditional understanding, the word "seasons" is not referring to our generally perceived seasons of Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. Rather, "seasons" in this biblical context is talking about YHVH's "moed" ("moedim") or appointed times - His "feasts." It is specifically referencing the seven Feasts of the Lord which were declared to be holy convocations i.e. Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Feast of Weeks, Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles. (Lev 23:4-44)
We are living in the day of many "signs" being declared by both the sun and the moon - as well as the stars. As I declared to you many months ago, the next two significant celestial events are:
1. Total Solar Eclipse visible only to the United States on August 21, 2017 and
2. Positioning of the heavenly bodies as referred to in Revelation 12:1,2
While these two events, and their potential meanings, are awesome and possibly fearsome in of themselves, the convergence of YHVH's fall "moed" (especially Trumpets and Atonement) and traditional Jewish practices (rehearsals), demand that we not only understand, but be obedient to the signs' callings, pray fervently, repent, and keep our spiritual eyes on what the Lord is saying/doing.
Many prominent preachers "went off" preaching "rapture" when the four blood moons of 2014-15 were linked out of context to biblical references. This time, most have stepped a little more softly on the impending signs in the heavens - or not mentioned them at all. When teaching on the Four Blood Moons (2013-15), I disagreed with that implication and stated that these were a warning and call to repentance (not rapture nor the beginning of Daniel's 70th week). However, I believed that these forthcoming signs warn of dire consequences (especially for the U.S.) if we don't respond to the visual evidences and biblical references before us.
Of course, the subject is so expansive, volumes have been written and spoken. Yet, the closer we get to the date, only a week from now, the more the Lord seems to be revealing from Hebraic background, historical records and prophetic revelation. The apostle Paul observed and wisely states:
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;(1Co 1:22-23)
These forthcoming events have both the manifested signs and the wisdom of God being evidenced, but are both a stumblingblock and foolishness because it requires faith of both Jew and gentile to receive the salvation offered in Messiah Yeshua, Christ Jesus. Since no amount of information can make one believe, or even eliminate all the possible stumbling blocks the devil would put in our way, I will only attempt to summarily list and briefly discuss only the most pertinent points.
1. Total Solar Eclipse visible only to the United States on August 21, 2017 - a path of total eclipse from Oregon to South Carolina
a. Total solar eclipses have often signified impending judgment
i. 15 June 763 B.C. the Bur-Sagale Eclipse (along with plagues and famine) enveloped and prepared Nineveh (modern day Iraq), months before Jonah's arrival on Elul 1.
ii. Christ's crucifixion - (12nn-3pm!: Mat 26:45, Luke 23:44,45, Mark 15:33 - with an accompanying earthquake)
iii. 21 Aug 1914 - across Europe - WWI (note: Arch Duke Ferdinand killed 28 June 1914)
iv. 8 June 1918 U.S. solar eclipse accompanied by 1918 flu pandemic that spread to the entire world. Estimates vary: 675,000 U.S. deaths, 50 - 100 million deaths worldwide.
b. Begins in the U.S. the very minute the sun sets in Jerusalem.
c. Is on the new moon, Elul 1= Moses went up Sinai to repent after the golden calf and Jonah arrived in Nineveh (according to Jews). (Some teachers also state that Yeshua went into the wilderness on this date as well.)
d. Following this sign is an exact 40 day count for repentance until the day of atonement! This 40 days of repentance is a "tradition" which the Jews have "rehearsed" in their observance of the Fall Feasts…"forever"! (This timing is the fact the Holy Spirit personally revealed to me that really drove the event home.) Will we, the church, repent and be restored. Or will we continue in our sin as we have been for the past many years and reap the consequences? It is not up to the heathen, but rather God's people!
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2Ch 7:14)
A seemingly significant fact relative to next week's eclipse is that there will be another total eclipse (traveling more South/North) in 2024 - 7 years from now (on Nissan 1). Thus, one might ask, "is this the "marker" (not necessarily beginning) of a seven year cycle prophesied in the scriptures?" (This conjecture is too complicated to address in this abbreviated forum, but is somewhat addressed in the suggested internet links featuring Mark Biltz on the Jim Bakker program1 .)
Another valid question some may ask, " why is there such significance regarding this eclipse? After all, there have been other previous total eclipses (many which have had obvious after effects - examples above) and some even hitting portions of the U.S." The attention to this particular eclipse is caused by the convergence of the many factors, including:
1. current and continuing decline of Godly morality
2. the interaction, rapid succession, and timings with other heavenly signs and YHVH's "appointed times" (moed).
3. the appropriate application of God's Word
4. similarity to prophetic historical events, conditions and consequences:
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is
that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. (Ecc 1:9)
Last week, in my early morning prayer and study time, the Spirit of the Lord reminded me that "many scriptures have been interpreted and taught by man's understanding/reasoning, not God's Holy Spirit." His ways and thoughts are far above man's (Isa 55:7,8) thoughts of vanity
(Psa 94:11). Thus, confusion, near sightedness (partial blindness), and deception cloud the ecclesia's understanding of (and belief in) the scriptures and the end times in which we live. Many teachers, evangelists pastors and rabbis have wrongly applied or twisted scripture to conform to theological positioning, thus leading to errant conclusions in God's timing. Thus, it is imperative that our spiritual discernment and scriptural studies (2 Tim 3:15) "rightly divide the word of truth."
Having said that, I would still like to direct your attention to a sermon on the subject at hand done by an Australian evangelist/pastor, Steve Cioccolanti, who is a "pre-trib" rapture theorist. (This is a theology which I learned, that I now believe wrongly interprets the Word and is dangerously errant to the church's biblical understanding and lifestyles.) He offers some speculative "maybes" and "could it be that" suggestions on the possible consequences of the present signs in accordance to his theology. However, his overall understanding, explanations, and visualization of the convergent relationships are good and more complete than I can offer in this written form today. His teaching may be seen at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZvIibUAY2o&app=desktop
2. Positioning of the heavenly bodies as referred to in Revelation 12:1,2
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. (Rev 12:1-2)
On September 23, 2017 this prophetic sign of the "twelve stars" in the constellation Virgo (The Virgin) will be evident in the sky. However, it is shrouded in mystery - mystery beginning with its very description.
This "great wonder" or sign (Strongs: 4592):
1. couldn't have and won't be seen in its totality by most of mankind! Because the sun blots out the stars and other planets during daylight, the naked eye is incapable of seeing this great wonder.
2. Thus, if it is only a sign or signal to those who can see it, to whom is it directed? Obviously, it is directed to those persons living in period of time that has the technology to track the heavens and view the sky with filters and block out portions thereof (i.e. masking the sun). It is directed to those living in a time that has powerful and sophisticated telescopes. It is directed to those of us living in the these end times!
3. So then, because most individual's won't be able to actually see it with the glory of the sun, it must be accepted that it is aligned in position (beginning September 23rd) with a little faith in the word of the astronomers, computer models, and only the partial picture of the night sky "stars."
4. But this mystery shroud deepens even further when one realizes that its appearance, at this time, does not align with the perceived chronological sequence of Daniel's 70th week generally held for nearly 2,000 years. Doesn't this suggest that an even deeper mystery lies behind the interpretation of the signal? (See "Conclusions and Conjectures.")
Although rare, this is not the first time the sign has occurred, thus prompting the question what makes this appearance so meaningful or applicable to the Revelation 12 prophecy? The answer is twofold:
1. In order to complete this prophetic sign, the baby's "star" (Jupiter) would have to
remain in the constellation Virgo 9-10 months - a newborn's gestation cycle.
a. It is the only time in nearly 6000 years (since man's beginning?) that it will
have been so displayed (according to computer models).
b. According to astronomy programs, it (Jupiter) will not be seen in a human gestation time frame until another 6000 years pass.
2. The convergence of signs and their relative intervals.
a. This sign occurs exactly 1260 days (3 ½ years) from the first of the blood moons occurring on 4/15/14 (Passover). This three and one half year interval is mentioned 7 times in the bible - generally referring to Satan's persecution of the saints: Dan 7:25, 12:7, Rev 11:2, 11:3, 12:6, 12:14, 13:5
b. The U.S. eclipse is 33 days prior to this sign to all the nations. Gematria:
THIRTY = "the perfection of divine order, as marking the right moment."
PLUS
THREE = "completeness" (source: E.W. Bullinger, Number in Scripture)
The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. (Psa 97:6)
Conclusions and Conjectures:
I know that this outline of the primary observations of the upcoming signs expect you, the reader, to have a spiritual depth and biblical background to comprehend the seriousness and complexities of the prophetic signs and scriptures. However, even in this abbreviated outline form, I believe the Holy Spirit will move a willing and called out people. God may be showing signs to the whole of humanity over the next few weeks, but His call is directed to His chosen ones. He is putting the "ecclesia," who have the righteousness of His son within, into account, to stay His judgment through repentance and turn from our sins and that of the nation's. The Lord was only looking for 10 righteous to spare Sodom. He was looking to the righteous so that He could extend mercy to the whole city. Why does God look to and make the church "responsible" for the nation? Because it is His Word and thus a "law" of the kingdom.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1Pe 4:17)
Is this the message/call of the 33 days between signs - a marker for the beginning of a divine, higher completion of perfection than where we are today? As the called out ones, have we truly come out of Babylon and its systems of the world? Have we stood for and defended righteousness in the affairs of men (i.e. government, law, commerce, etc.), turned away from the idols (i.e. money, status, power, beauty, etc.), believed and spoken forth the uncompromised Word, ceased speaking against God's chosen king (i.e. the President)(Dan 5:21 and Ps 105:15), ceased judging others (thereby joining the enemies' camp and setting ourselves up for judgment - Mat &:1,2), etc. Or, have we been deceived into compromising our value system and voice for the sake of compliance with an evil system, peace with evil doers or just to "be normal like everyone else"?
As I've said in my initial writing, I am not convinced that September 23 (or August 21st) is the beginning of Daniels' 70th week - the tribulation. While many things may point to that conclusion, there are several events indicated that have yet to occur before it starts. The events include a move of the Spirit, a peace treaty that Israel makes with its enemies, a war (or two), etc., and lastly the Rev 12 sign itself.
And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mar 13:7-8)
Additionally, a true heavenly "sign" is a manifest signal to those who have understanding. If the Revelation 12:1,2 sign begins on September 23, 2017 does it really become the prophetic sign, to be the warning we are looking for until its completion 9+ months later? Obviously not. So then, is there another non-traditional understanding to this mysterious/shrouded "great wonder?"
The sign has traditionally been interpreted as the a representation of Israel's (Virgo) birth of the child-king (Jupiter - known as the "king" planet), Messiah - and His subsequent return in the end times. However, could this vision, recorded by John nearly 2000 years ago and appearing at this time, be a sign with multiple meanings like so many other prophetic scriptures? As I pondered this, two thoughts came to me that I hesitate to bring forth because they too, not unlike the now appearing of the Revelation 12 sign itself, would be out of traditional perceived chronological order of end time happenings. These two thoughts would be the birthing or beginning, out of Israel:
1. the beginning of the fullness of His kingship through joining into one (Judah and Ephraim - Ezekiel 37:15-28) all Israel, by a move of the Ruach haKodesh among Judah - to recognize Yeshua as their Messiah. (Zech 12:9, 10)
2. the release of the 144,000 sealed from the tribes of Israel. (Revelation 7)
Consequences:
YHVH is a covenant God. Both Jew and gentile, began our spiritual heritage from God's covenant with Abraham. Christians are in covenant with God through His son, Messiah Yeshua, Christ Jesus. From the beginnings of the Mayflower Compact - to the settlers' landings, our nation was founded upon a covenantal relationship with God. Recently, a covenant sign - a double rainbow - held over the Trump White house indicating to many that God was still in covenant with this nation. God wants to forgive us for our errant ways.
Remembering the Sodom and Nineveh examples cited, the Lord's desire is to show man the error of his ways unto repentance so that Abba might show forth His mercy and grace, again. If the church heeds the warnings to the United States, God, "will forgive and heal" our land (2Ch 7:14) .
However, if we do not come humbly on bended knee (and heart), then His judgments may not be immediate, but they are certain and we will see a disastrous "event(s)" come to the U.S. shores. Although the Lord could move upon men's hearts to be so moved that such an event could be associated to the various fear headlines of a possible war, I would expect it to be more of a natural disaster like an earthquake, tsunami, or volcanic eruption. These events, controlled only by Him (not Satan's influence on man), would be a more clear signal.
The Call:
So what can we do is what we must do. We must fervently petition the throne room of God with a repentant and humble heart - now! Begin in your home. Then join with a friend(s) and then with the whole church to pray, intercede for forgiveness and ask for His mercy and forgiveness. Although I've suggested many specific areas of the church's failings above, you may wish to begin by agreeing the prayer offered up at the 65th National Day of Prayer and those offered up by our first President, George Washington:
America's 65th
**National Day of Prayer**
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come to you today as a humble people desperate for your supernatural intervention on behalf of our beloved nation. First, we thank you for all the blessings you have bestowed on our land, blessings that have allowed us to bring so much good and benefit to not only our own citizens, but also to the rest of the world. The very ideals upon which this country was founded were based on biblical truths, no matter how some try to rewrite history to deny that very fact today.
This is why our hearts are so broken over how you continue to be marginalized and dismissed by both our people and our institutions. We are also saddened by the fact that your people have contributed greatly to the spiritual apathy that now engulfs us. Our satisfaction in remaining religious without being fully committed to living out the truths of your Word has caused us to become co-conspirators with the forces of evil that are destroying us as a society (nation).
It is for this reason that we personally and collectively repent of our carnality and recommit ourselves to becoming visible and verbal disciples of Jesus Christ. Enable us, by your Spirit, to no longer be secret agent Christians, but rather to publicly declare and live out your truth in a spirit of love so that you feel welcome in our country once again.
Thank you for your promise to hear our prayers when we call to you with hearts of repentance and obedience, which is how we are appealing to you today, Father. On behalf of your church, we affirm afresh the priority you are to us, that you would fill every dimension of our lives as we seek to bring you glory through the advancement of your kingdom in our personal lives, our family lives and in the lives of our churches and government leaders. We confidently invite heaven's intervention into all the affairs of our nation and we praise you in advance for your answer:
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
George Washington's Prayer
For the United States of America
Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large.
And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
May the Lord bless your obedient response to the signs of heaven.
* * *
1 Messianic Pastor Mark Biltz guests on the Jim Bakker show to discuss the signs. While the program format may be challenging, Mr. Biltz's commentaries are worth the viewing. They can be found at:
https://jimbakkershow.com/video/gods-calendar-must-pay-attention-day-1/
https://jimbakkershow.com/video/gods-calendar-must-pay-attention-day-2/
Gateway to Freedom
August 14, 2017
The Day of Atonement is considered the holiest and most awesome day of both the Messianic Hebraic faith and traditional Judaism. It is preceded by Trumpets and the ten days of awe - a time of serious introspection and prayers of repentance. It is always celebrated on the 10th day of Tishrei, the seventh month. On this day, Jews of all backgrounds and beliefs attend the local synagogue, to ask Yahweh for forgiveness for sins committed during the past calendar year. Traditional Jews believe that this is the day when Yahweh determines once and for all who will live and who will die in the upcoming year. Traditional Jews remain in the synagogue most if not all of the day.
Has our Western mindset caused us to lose a blessing from the foundations of our faith as Paul taught? "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of ... the doctrine of baptisms, ..." (Hebrews 6:1-2)
In the body of believers the only ones that truly hear, or rather understand, and accept the Word of God coming through mere men are those who have the Spirit of God. Many of today's Christians are exactly like the Jews of Yeshua's time – they physically hear, but can't recognize, understand or accept the Word. Have today's called out ones become so like the Jews of old – steeped in religious but unbiblical beliefs, traditions, teachings and intellect – that the church is dull of hearing to the revealed Word for today?
Messiah is the "Ark" of our salvation, but let us be sure to steer our lives His way toward the straight gate that leads to life and life more abundantly. (John 10:10)
For The Love Of His Bride is a wonderful love story explaining how a Holy God can divorce an unfaithful wife and then remarry her while yet being faithful to His character/laws. It is the mystery of all ages simply revealed.
"Motivations to Sin" is the explanation of three fundamental incentives to sin which the enemy puts before the believer. Understanding his tactics can help the body of Christ be aware to resist and overcome the traps when we "see" these openings in our own lives.
Throughout the scriptures there are several layers of understanding from the obvious to the mystical. In Hebrew study this is represented by the acronym PARDES or simply PRDS if we leave out the vowel points. This synopsis will give the reader an overview of each level and a few examples for better understanding. This is a "must read" for any serious student of the scriptures.
Several years ago the Lord led me and my family into the practice of obeying the fourth commandment: remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. In the teaching that I shared on the subject, I only addressed the "whys" and not very many of the modern churches' "why not(s)" or reasons given for not keeping the commandment of the Lord under the New Covenant. In the brief explanation which follows, I would like to touch upon a few of the New Testament scriptures submitted as reasons why new covenant believers object to keeping the Sabbath at the time originally designated rather than Sunday, the first day of the week.
When I was asked to visit with you today, I initially wanted to bring you a teaching on the four levels of Hebraic study and understanding out of the first chapter of a new booklet I'm writing. It has a working title of "The Gospel in God's Festivals" and wonderfully demonstrates God's salvation plan in multiple dimensions of understanding through God's appointed "feasts" or festivals.