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Written by Chris Perver
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Saturday, 09 February 2008 |
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 Please note, I have designed this chart based on my own thoughts on the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation.
It could be wrong!
Click here to view a larger version of the chart.
Download an Access 2000 database to calculate Daniel's timeline for yourself. A few days ago I published an article in which I tried to explain my thoughts on the timing of the tribulation period, and how the dates for the beginning, middle and end of the seven year period may well fit in with the remaining unfulfilled Jewish feasts. Namely Rosh HaShanah - the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement and Sukkot - the Feast of Tabernacles. I believe that there is a good possibility that the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to the air for His Bride the Church (1st Thessalonians 4:16) may well be fulfilled on Rosh HaShanah, and the Second Coming of Christ to the earth (Zechariah 14:4) could be fulfilled on Yom Kippur. I also noticed that the Feast of Passover falls in the middle of the seven year period, which could be used by the Antichrist to stage a false resurrection (Revelation 13:3), giving credibility to his claim to be God (2nd Thessalonians 2:4). In the first article I made a mistake in working out the date for Rosh HaShanah, as I took it that the seven year period is split evenly into two halves of 1260 days each. I made this mistake because the Bible seems to indicate that the last half of the tribulation period will be exactly 1260 days long (Revelation 12:6). While a seven year period of 2520 days may divide equally into months of 30 days each, this is not the way the Jewish calendar works. I have spent the last two days studying the Jewish calendar dates from 2008 to 2020. Most Jewish months have either 29 or 30 days each. A Jewish year usually has a total of 354 or 355 days. This is a lot less than the actual solar year, which is around 365.25 days long. In order to stop the seasons from drifting and ensure Jewish holidays are celebrated at the correct time of year, the Jewish calendar has a system of leap years, similar to our own Gregorian system. The Jewish calendar runs on a cycle of nineteen years, seven of which are leap years. A Jewish leap year has an extra 30 day month inserted into it, named Adar Rishon. In addition to this, some Jewish months may also have individual days added or removed, in order to ensure the calendar stays as accurate as possible. We are now entering the month of Adar Rishon. I received this from the Temple Institute several days ago. Quote: "For what reasons do we invoke the thirteenth month? Today it is for the purpose of ensuring that the Passover commemoration of our miraculous emergence from Egypt is observed in its appointed season: the time of Aviv (ibid 13:4), when the flax and barley are ripening (ibid 9:31), after the vernal equinox. During the days of the Holy Temple the Sanhedrin could declare an Adar Rishon when it was clear that the winter rains had caused damage to the roads and bridges, or erased traces of burial sites. In order to ensure that every Jew could complete his pilgrimage to the Holy Temple and participate in the Passover offering, the extra month was declared, granting extra time for the roads and bridges to be repaired and the graveyards to be clearly marked so that travelers would not inadvertently tread over them. To repair the broken paths and bridges that separate us from G-d - this is the proper way to spend this timeless month of Adar Rishon! To use this time to reflect on those who came before us, and to honor them as we mark our own path to the Holy One, Blessed be He - this is a fitting way to engage in G-d's creation and to bring it to a purposeful conclusion! In my previous article I had postulated what the Gregorian dates would be for the beginning, middle and ending of the tribulation period, were it to begin in the next Jewish year. On the Jewish calendar the feast days are fixed, so no matter what year the tribulation period actually begins, the theory that Daniel's seventieth week could fulfill these Jewish feasts is still credible. But from studying the Jewish calendar dates, I did notice that depending on the way the leap years fall, the length of the seventieth week can be different. A seven year period can cover either two or three leap years. If the tribulation period began in 2009 instead of 2008, it would cover three leap years and last for thirty days longer. Each half of the tribulation period would be 1290 days and not 1260. This is important to note, because the Bible seems to mention two conflicting periods of time in regard to the length of the tribulation period. Daniel 12:11
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Revelation 12:6
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. Why the difference? We're not told in Scripture. I started to draw a chart for the period 2009-2016, which had 1290 days for each half of the seven year period. This seemed to match in with this verse in Daniel quite well. But when I looked at the passages in Revelation concerning the 1260 days, I had a problem. The 1290 day version also has a problem with the prophecy concerning the 1335 days (Daniel 12:12). For if you count 1335 days from the Feast of Passover, you no longer come to Chanukkah, but fall 30 days short of it. So I opted for drawing a chart based on the traditional 1260 day period of Jacob's trouble, with 1290 days for the first half of the seven year period. Why 1290 days? According to the Jewish calendar, it is not possible to have a seven year period with just 2520 days in it. And in this version of the chart, the Feast of Passover does not fall exactly in the middle of the seven year period. I must admit that is another problem I haven't found a solution to. So according to this version of the chart, the abomination of desolation is placed in the Temple by the False Prophet, and remains in the Temple for an extra 30 days after Christ returns. I don't know why this is. My friend Jim Clint suggested that perhaps it takes time for the Temple to be cleansed after it has been defiled. Another possible reason for this may be, that the house of Israel could be in mourning for the fact that they crucified their Messiah at His First Coming, and so perhaps the Temple wouldn't be cleansed until the period of mourning had ended (Zechariah 12:10). Unfortunately we are not told in Daniel the reason for the 1290 day period. So the Temple is defiled for 1290 days, and according to this chart, the first half of the seven year period also lasts for 1290 days. Here we have another problem. Some prophecy scholars assume that because the two witnesses prophesy for 1260 days, that this must be happening simultaneously with Israel's exile in the wilderness. But a problem I have with this is, after the two witnesses are killed by the Antichrist, their bodies lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three and a half days. And Revelation makes clear that Christ has not returned by the time they finish their testimony (Revelation 11:3-14). We are not specifically told when the two witnesses begin their testimony, but perhaps it may occur in the first half of the tribulation period. In any case, 1290 days is plenty of time for them to prophesy, be killed, and be raised again from the dead. We are told in Scripture that they prophesy for a period of 1260 days. This would leave 30 days free at the beginning of the seven year period, if the first half of the tribulation period lasts 1290 days long. I don't know what the reason for this is. There is the possibility that this period could be taken up with sealing the 144,000 Jewish believers (Revelation 7:2-3). Now I'm not saying this is how it will actually happen, I am just trying to understand in my mind how everything will come together when the tribulation period begins. I don't know if this theory is right or not. I have created a chart to explain my thoughts. If anyone has a solution to the 1260/1290 day issue, please let me know. |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 02 May 2008 )
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Written by Olli-Pekka Tuikkala
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Saturday, 19 January 2008 |
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Maybe we should keep a close eye to this gentleman. When Home Secretary in the early 2000, Nicolas Sarkozy's tuff policy against illegal immigration brought him reputation of an emigration oppressor. But the Muslim minority had also given him credit. For it was Sarkozy, who broke it through, that a National Muslim Council was established. Previously the Muslims did not have common advocate when negotiating with the French government – contrary to the Jews and Christians. Quote: "We have to watch Nicolas Sarkozy when he travels," the outspoken left-wing magazine Marianne commented. "Outside our borders, our president can reveal himself to be a passionate missionary for Christ, as he did during his papal visit. Travelling in Arab lands, Nicolas Sarkozy has transformed himself into a fanatical zealot for Islam." The recent turbulence all started latest Dec. 20th. When visiting Vatican, Sarkozy spoke volubly of the "Cristian roots" of France. Sarkozy himself is Catholic, see. But the debate really broke loose this week. In Riad, Saudi-Arabia, Sarkozy spoke nicely about the positive stature of religions, although reminded of the dangers of fundamentalism. Sarkozy reminded of "the transcendent God who is in the thoughts and the hearts of every person" - of the common God of the Christians, Jews and Muslims. ... one, two, three, four-it-won't-help-a-bit-to-try-and-count-it away ... Do we truly have same God? Let's take the Jews first into consideration. There simply is no such thing than a Dual-Covenant existing, where Christians will make it to Heaven through Christ, and for the Jews it would be enough just to stay in the first order of God - "fulfill the Law". Every a person, sincere to himself, knows by heart, that he won't make it. Never. Only that precious One could do it. To the Jews of today it is also said: "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious" (1 Pet. 2:4). In other words, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved". No other Way is provided anymore for Jews either. And the New Covenant from that same God Almighty says: "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 Joh. 5:12). Case closed. Then the big question just for the world today: is Allah of the Quran really the same God Almighty of the Holy Bible? We shouldn't make no mistake about it. According to the Prophet of Islam, Muhammed, Allah has no son. The Quran says, that Jesus was only a prophet, son of Mary, and the ones that believe, that the son of Mary is God are unbelievers (Surah 5:19). Thus, Christians believing in the Son-God, the Second Person of that same Triune God Almighty, are out of the discussions. Quran further describes, that Jesus Christ was never crucified, but the disciples only just thought so, and after those event Jesus travelled to the East - His grave still to be found in India, according to some hear-says. Another writing has described, that it was either Judas Ischariot or Simon the Cyrenean who was crucified there, and Jesus was taken directly to Heaven by Allah. How do we Christians clutter all this into our descriptions in the Bible? The Holy Spirit, the Third Person of that same Triune God Almighty, according to Islam, is nothing but an executive force or some spirit being, thus our One God in Three Persons, Elohim - Father, Son and the Holy Spirit cannot by any means be combined with "one God with no son nor nothing else" -belief. And, surah 5:7 claims those ones being unbelievers, who say that God is one of three - for there is no God but one and only Allah. The Quran commands to believe only in Muhammed as the messenger of Allah (Surah 4:135). And it says that placing anything other on the side of Allah for worshiping, is a sin unforgettable. The suras 4:51 and 4:116 say, that Allah is one, Allah is everlasting, he is not born and has not given birth and there's nothing to match him. Surah 6:16 puts Jesus and John the Baptist on the same level; forerunners of the coming Messiah. Quran says, that Jesus claimed Himself that He has come to proclaim the good news of a coming messenger after Him, whose name is "Ahmad" ("hmd"). Surah 5:76 also claims Jesus' saying that the Children of Israel should serve Allah, His master and their master - and if somebody puts anything on par with Allah, then Allah forbids Heaven for that person and his whereabouts will be in fire. Allah said to Muhammed (surah 5:3) that he has chosen Islam to be their religion. Would there thus be any chance for a Christian to join in with the belief of the Muslim godhood? And what about the most important issues: "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." (2 Cor. 5:19). If it was not Jesus, as Islam too believes, who was crucified on the middle cross of Golgotha, then no propitiation for our sins has ever taken place, we are still in our sins and firmly on our way to Hell. And if we forget ourselves Christians for a moment or two, and try and combine the Jews and Muslims then, it is not getting any easier either. Quran says, that the Jews are infidels and heretical in their doctrines thus enemies of the right faith and Allah, too! Surah 61:5 states, that Allah has cursed the Jews because of their unbelief. But we, true Christians, don't curse the Jews but pray for them instead, of which, according to the Holy Bible, comes blessings abundant. And I guess we have the right to ask, "Why then does the Quran say, "fight and slay the pagans (or infidels or unbelievers) wherever you find them?" (surah 9:5), if it should be understood in some other way. According to Islam, Allah has however given to Muhammed the very last revelation, which supersedes all the previous revelations. Thus, all those divergences between the Bible and Quran should be counted on behalf of the Quran. The Bible-believing Christian finds this totally impossible to accept. As the Jews were recently reminding a Christian, president George W. Bush, just before his visit to Israel, "Bush, read your Bible!", we EUteers should be reminding another Christian president - now when he has also this summary available - "Sarkozy, read your Bible!". For, "what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" (2 Cor. 6:15). Since, in this universe - in everything that is existing everywhere - is only "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph. 4:6). And especially, to us true Christians, "there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him." (1 Cor. 8:6). Amen! |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 19 January 2008 )
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Written by Kelly
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Saturday, 05 January 2008 |
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The Jewish religion doesn't follow the New Testament and if any Jew is found to follow it and believe they are persecuted. A few weeks ago we had a guest speaker, Mr. Atwood , come to our Messianic congregation. He spoke of witnessing to the Jewish people and also spoke about translating the New Testament into Hebrew and distribuing it to the Jews. Mr. Atwood felt that he was called by G-d to have the New Testament translated into Hebrew, published and made available for non-believing Jews. He thought that this was a crazy idea considering that the Jewish people don't agree with the New Testament. But, he followed through and did what G-d told him to do. He has now been able to distribute copies of the New Testament written in Hebrew to 40 countries.
He was telling us that it is amazing to see what is happening. He told us about a time recently that he was in a jewelry store in Philadelphia and the owner of the store recognized who Mr. Atwood was. The owner of store came running over to him asking Mr. Atwood if he had "the book" (they won't refer to it as the Bible immediately). Mr. Atwood told the store owner that he does have "the book" and the store owner got all excited. When Mr. Atwood gave the Jewish store owner a copy of the New Testament, the store owner started running around the store praising G-d and screaming "I got the book, I got the book". About this time a couple of Hassidic (spelling ?) rabbi's came into the store and wanted to know what the commotion was. The store owner told them that he got "the book" at that time the rabbis and the store owner huddled together and began to read the New Testament! Mr. Atwood said you could literally see their eyes being uncovered to the truth. The next day the same Hassidic rabbis came to Mr. Atwood and requested to receive 50 copies of the Hebrew New Testament so that they could hand them out to people in their synagogues! Mr. Atwood said that the Jewish people are welcoming the translated New Testaments at an alarming rate especially here in the US.
It was a truly amazing experience listening to Mr. Atwood and to hear that the Jewish people are having their eyes uncovered by G-d. Just like in Acts 17:10-12 "The Jews of Berea searched the scriptures daily...therefore many of them believed." The Bible states that Jews have been blinded to the truth by G-d but in the end times they will begin to see and cry out "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord". |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 07 January 2008 )
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Written by Jim Clint
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Tuesday, 18 December 2007 |
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Israel ישראל Israel is mentioned in almost every news bulletin. Why is this tiny little nation so newsworthy? Why is there continual conflict between Arab and Jew? Why do many world events now seem to relate back to the actions and even existence of Israel? How will it end? In order to answer these questions we need to look at God's plan for Israel. Israel's Origin and Purpose Abram (later called Abraham) was called by God to go from his home in Ur of the Chaldeans and travel to a land that God would give to him and his descendants. That land was Canaan, the area we now call Israel. God told Abram that his descendants would become a great nation and that through this nation all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Gen 12.1-7). Later God confirmed this promise by a covenant: '"I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you ... I will give to you and your descendants ... all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."' (Gen 17.7,8) '"By Myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have ... not withheld your son ... I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens ... in your seed, all the nations of the earth will be blessed ..."' (Gen 22.16-18) The covenant between God and Abraham was now unconditional; God had sworn it by Himself. It was certain that from Abraham would come a great nation and a great blessing to the nations, and Abraham's descendants would be given the so-called 'Promised Land' of Canaan (Israel) as an everlasting possesssion. Why? God's plan was to create a special nation (Israel) to be His witness to the nations: 'But now, says the Lord, ... He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear ... I have called you by name; you are Mine! ...You are My witnesses ... and My servant whom I have chosen ..."' (Isa 43.1,10) Things Didn't Go Quite To Plan Things went wrong when Abraham listened to his wife instead of believing in God's promise of a 'seed'! Abraham followed her suggestion (and custom of the day) and he took his female servant Hagar, an Egyptian, as wife (Gen 16.3). She bore him a son, Ishmael, but this was not God's plan for Abraham. When Abraham asked God to bless Ishmael as a servant of God, he was told "No"! God had other plans. In fact, Ishmael was prophesied to be a violent man 'with his hand against everyone' (Gen 16.12) This separation of the blessing is crucial to the understanding of the modern-day Arab-Israeli conflict. God said: '"No, Sarah your wife will bear you a son (even though she was old), and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him ... as for Ishmael, I have heard you; ... I will bless him, and make him fruitful ... and I will make him a great nation ... but My covenant I will establish with Isaac."' (Gen 17.19-21)) Here we see the birth of two great peoples; Israel and the Arab nations. But the covenant promises of blessing and the land of Canaan went with Isaac, not Ishmael. Abraham subsequently gave all that he had to Isaac, but to Ishmael and his other sons he gave gifts and sent them 'to the land of the east' (Gen 25.5,6). Having said that, God instructed Israel to care for the stranger in their land; they were not to expel them: '"When a stranger resides with you in your land, you should do him no wrong ... (he) ... shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself ..."' (Lev 19.33,34) So we have the concept of national Israel, a special nation in their God-given land, embracing all strangers who happen to live in the land. This again is a crucial factor in today's Arab-Israeli conflict. Strangers should be welcomed, but they must accept the existence and land-rights of national Israel. Despite man's failings, God continued His covenant plan and we find a line of descent from Isaac, through Jacob, Judah, David and eventually to the Messiah Yeshua. Paul takes the reference to Abraham's 'seed' as a reference to Yeshua (Gal 3.16), whose genealogy is traced back to Abraham in Matthew's gospel (Mat 1.1-17). This is the first reference to the gospel that would be proclaimed as good news to the gentile nations as well as to the Jews. Yeshua's offer of salvation for all through His death and resurrection was the promised blessing to all nations. Christ brings 'good news to the afflicted, binds up the brokenhearted, and gives liberty to captives' (Isa 61.1). Abraham's 'seed' also refers to the nation of Israel itself. In line with His promise to Abraham, God renamed Jacob 'Israel' and said: '"The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your descendants after you."' (Gen 35.12) The descendants of Jacob (Israel) are of course the 12 tribes of Israel, and so modern-day Israeli's claim the land of Israel to be theirs through God's covenant with Abraham. In Old Testament times this land was to extend from 'the river (brook) of Egypt to the river Euphrates' (Gen 15.18). Abraham's failing with Hagar was not the only thing that didn't go according to God's plan! The 12 tribes were subsequently split into a southern kingdom (called 'The House of Judah', embracing Judea and Jerusalem) and a northern kingdom comprising 10 tribes (called 'The House of Israel', or simply 'Israel') see Jer 11.10. The latter had a succession of godless kings and despite repeated warnings from the prophets, they rebelled against God. Eventually God's warnings gave way to judgement and He uprooted them from the Promised Land and scattered them throughout the nations: '"I will scatter you among the nations ..."' (Ezek 22.15) From hereon The House of Israel ceased to be a kingdom, and the Babylonians and others settled in the cities of Samaria in their place (2 Kings 17.24). The scattering was complete around 722 BC. The House of Judah was also rebellious and eventually suffered the same judgement. Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed around 597 BC and by 586 BC all of the southern kingdom had been deported to Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar. Apart from a remnant of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi which returned to rebuild Jerusalem, the whole of national Israel was now dispersed amongst the nations (James 1.1) and Jerusalem was occupied by Gentile nations. The Restoration of National Israel It would seem that God's covenant with Abraham has only been partially fulfilled. Whilst the seed of Abraham was fulfilled in Messiah, God's flagship nation and chief witness had lost its identity aongst the nations. It was scattered in disgrace and some maintain that the New Testament Church has now replaced Israel as God's witness. But since God gave Abraham an unconditional covenant, then national Israel must one day fulfil its role as God's witness and return to the Promised Land (this is also required by other key prophecies). Infact, God did not destroy national Israel, He simply gave her a 'writ of divorce' (see for example Jer 3.8) - and there are many prophecies of the re-gathering of national Israel and her 'remarriage' to her God. For example: '"Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone ... and bring them into their own land ..."' (Ezek 37.21) 'I will say to the north,"Give them up! ... bring My sons from afar and my duaghters from the ends of the earth"' (Isa 43.6) 'And (the Lord) will lift up a standard for the nations, and assemble the banished ones of Israel, and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth' (Isa 11.12) In fact, the regathering started in the late 19th century. Consider a few facts: 1. 1882: First wave of emigration (first Aliyah or ascent) to Palestine, particularly from Russia and Romania 2. 1917: General Allenby liberated Jerusalem from the Turks, giving Jews access to the city 3. 1948: State of Israel established; David Ben Gurion became the first Prime Minister 4. 1950: Law of return passed by Israels Parliament opening Israel to Jews from over 60 countries 5. 1967: Jerusalem came under Jewish rule 6. Population Growth (whole country): 1900: 0.5 million; 1935: 1 million; 1958: 2 million; 1983: 4 million; 2007: 6.5 million Note that 1967 saw all Jerusalem returned to the control of national Israel (after some 2500 years). This was direct fulfilment of Yeshua's prophecy: '"Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles unitl the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled"' (Lk 21.24) Note also that the population growth of Israel corresponds to an amazing 1200% increase since 1900! Today, Israel has highly developed banking, health, and University systems, and her industries include high-tech electronics, textiles, food processing, mining, agriculture and forestry. Since the birth of the State of Israel in 1948, she has been in continuous conflict with the surrounding Arab nations and the so-called Palestinian Problem is continually in the media. It is interesting to observe that God's covenant with Abraham included the phrase: '"... and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies"' (Gen 22.17) Here 'seed' clearly refers to the nation of Israel, and the implication is that God has given Abraham's descendants the ability to conquer their enemies. The concept of 'divine protection' also appears elsewhere. For example, in relation to Israel God says: '"Whoever assails you will fall because of you ... no weapon that is formed against you will prosper"' (Isa 54.15,17) '"I will be a wall of fire around her ... he who touches you, touches the apple of (the Lord's) eye"' (Zech 2.5,8) Certainly, the evidence to date is that each time Arab nations attack Israel, their end-state seems worse than their first! |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 18 December 2007 )
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Written by Chris Perver
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Friday, 14 September 2007 |
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I'm sorry I haven't updated the site today, but apart from the Jewish Feast of Rosh HaShanah, there has been absolutely nothing happening in the world today. I scanned the news before work, during lunch and tonight, nothing... And some days there are so many things happening, it's hard to choose which article to comment on! Even some Jewish sites such as Arutz 7 have shut down over the holiday period. Rosh HaShanah, the civil New Year, commences a 10 day period of reflection and repentance for Jews. The Jewish people believe that during this period three books are opened in heaven, and that God judges every man according to his works. If repentance is forthcoming before Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement, a person's name is written in the book of the living. If a person's deeds are evil, their name is written in the book of the dead. A third book contains the names of the people who's deeds are neither righteous nor wicked. They are given 10 days to repent, and if repentance is not forthcoming, their names are written in the book of the dead. The Scriptures teach us that there are at least three books in heaven. One contains the deeds of all those who haven't trusted in Christ for salvation. Another, called the Book of Life, contains the names of every living person on earth. As far as I know, it was this book that Moses requested the Lord blot his name out of, for the sake of the children of Israel. A third book, a Book of Remembrance, is also mentioned in the Bible (Malachi 3:16). Exodus 32:31-33
And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. The Psalmist David also prayed that the names of the wicked would be blotted out of the Book of Life (Psalm 69:28). And according to Revelation, those who have trusted in Christ for salvation have a special promise from God, that their names will not be blotted out of the Book of Life... Revelation 3:5
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Jesus Christ told His disciples to rejoice that their names were written in heaven (Luke 10:2). There is another book in heaven, which contains a record of every sin ever committed by every person that has ever lived. For those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation, their sins are blotted out of this book forever, never to be remembered again. As a result of Christ's work on the cross, God is just and able to forgive those who believe in Him and accept His offer of salvation. Isaiah 44:22
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
But for those who have not trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, they will be judged according to the contents of this book. Many people believe that after they die, God will weigh up their good deeds and their bad deeds, and if the good outweigh the bad then He will let them into heaven. I always bring this false teaching up in my Sunday School class, for sadly it is so prevalent in my country today. The Bible states that "by grace we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves: it is the gift of God", Ephesians 2:8. But in a way, there is some truth in this false teaching, for the wicked will be judged "according to their works"... but they won't be justified by them (Galatians 2:16). Those that have spurned God's offer of salvation will be left completely without excuse. Everything they have ever done will be read out before them, and will show them to be utterly condemned. As the Lord said, in the day of judgement men shall give an account for every idle word (Matthew 12:36). A final search will be made to see if their names are recorded in the Book of Life. Those whose names have been blotted out will be cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. So as we can see, Rosh HaShanah, the Days of Awe and Yom Kippur all foreshadow a coming day, when Christ shall return to judge this world in righteousness. Have you trusted in Him for salvation? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31). Source Bible Prophecy Research
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 15 September 2007 )
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