HIStory, Our Future: The Overview December 7, 2007
Posted by Watchman in Bible Prophecy, Fulfilling Prophecy, Israel, Study Tools.Tags: Christian, church, design, Future, History, Israel, predict, Prophecy, Spirit, Watch, watchman, Yahshua, YAHWEH
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I would like to share my reason I believe it will be this generation and that Herb Peters observations and reporting agree. I’ve shared the HIStory, Our Future Bible studies link over and over and decided recently to present the information in shorthand as far as the reason I believe it is significant based on the fact that God’s timeline of prophetic events always revolve around the nation of Israel. And God’s dealing with Israel cannot continue until previous judgments prescribed are completed.
I don’t believe in coincidence and that is what this would have to be if not God’s design spelled out from His Word, here a little and there a little. Isaiah 28:9-13 This is an overview without details in my own words. If you want to verify the individual studies, click the links.
The Church and The Menorah December 7, 2007
Posted by Watchman in Christian, Israel.Tags: Candlestick, church, Foreshadow, Light, Menorah, Seven, Symbol
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I just made a connection recently regarding the menorah that was a kind of “duh” moment for me, perhaps you’ve already thought of this. More here. Interesting this came as Chanukkah did, although the 9-branched Chanukkah candelabra is not the one in this study.
The seven golden candlesticks from John’s view of the temple in heaven found in Revelation 1 is the menorah! The bride of Christ was symbolized in the Old Testament by it. I then found another article called The Mystery of the Menorah by William F. Dankenbring that put more detail into it. I think his point on Zechariah 4:2 being 49 pipes is inaccurate as I read there are seven pipes going to the seven lamps, but a good study nonetheless. It’s kind of eerie because I began my personal study before finding this article and it brought up many of the same points that I had recalled to my mind for me when dwelling on the topic. A quick overview…
I find it interesting also because of Matthew 25:1-13 and the oil for the lamps needed to meet the bridegroom. Without the oil there’s just a lamp and a wick but no flame. Without the light from the flame there is darkness, but we are not in darkness. The oil needed for the lamp cannot be given by anyone but He that gives it, which Christ does upon our acceptance of Him and desire to live His ways.
Continuing the light/oil/anointing theme, the Bible is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. This is how we are not in darkness. It was written by the prophets led by the Holy Spirit. Likewise, we need the anointing of the Holy Spirit when reading it to fully understand it because of the way it was written by its Author. Isaiah 28:9-13
This eliminates personal interpretation because the Bible interprets itself and with the desire and guidance of the Holy Spirit given to us, we are reminded of all things Christ said to us and as He is the Word made flesh, the whole of scripture testifies of Him. The testimony of Yahshua is the spirit of prophecy!
Regarding the menorah’s seven candlesticks, I believe there is a correlation to the seven churches and recommend everyone read Chuck Missler’s study on the seven letters to the seven churches.
So bringing this all together regarding who we are as Christians, we are not of this world, but we are the salt and light of it. Our light comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who speaks and guides us in all things through God’s Word so that we, being anointed by His Spirit, can speak the Truth within us and share the knowledge of the source of our anointing and salvation, directing those with ears to hear to a personal relationship with Christ. Zechariah 4:10 describes the seven branches as “the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.” We are His hands and feet, His emissaries as His Spirit works through us.
I just think its cool that all these diverse aspects are connected by the symbolizm that fits with it all so well of light and dark and the requirements to come out of darkness and into His marvelous light! We know the Truth and the Truth has set us free and guided us to the peace that passes all understanding in Christ…and we were in His temple and the shadow of it on earth from the very beginning! Our God is an awesome God and His love is eternal! We’re in good hands.
As a side note, it is at the fullness of the Gentiles that Israel’s blindness is lifted. We also know that we provoke the Jews to jealousy. Romans 11 Now history hasn’t presented any good reason why the Jews would be jealous of Christianity, but what if our removal before God’s wrath and the witness of the two witnesses and the 144,000 leads Israel to the realization that the Gentile church is the bride and while the bride was taken and is attending the marriage, they remain to be refined through the fire? And looking at the popularity expressed regarding the menorah I wonder if realizing that symbology was pointing to the church that escaped will play any part??? I don’t know, it’s a thought I had.
The Escape of the Bride to the Marriage of the Lamb November 2, 2007
Posted by Watchman in Bible Prophecy, Christian.Tags: Bride of Christ, Christian, church, marriage of the Lamb, Marriage supper, rapture
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Matthew 25:1-13
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
This parable is representative of the rapture of the bride of Christ to the marriage. We can see upon examining some ancient Hebrew wedding traditions how these were physical foreshadows from earthly marriage to the future marriage of the church to Christ. As we will see, this study highlights the importance of obedience to God’s Word as true Christians living a life of selfless love toward God and others. It should also be noted that marriage to Christ is in the spiritual sense of two becoming one like marriage. The church is the body of Christ and He is the head of the church. The head gives direction to the body as God has done in His Word. We are promised to Christ now for a future time when we will be together in more than just spirit. The point of first meeting is upon being called out to meet Him at His coming.
This going out at Christ’s coming to meet Him can be placed in the timeline of prophetic events based on how Christ’s coming is described and a time we are promised escape from. Both Matthew 24:36-39 and Luke 17:26-30 associate Christ’s coming with sudden destruction like the days of Noah and Lot. Prior to both of those times coming, the earth was in a place of spiritual wickedness and ignorance to their impending destruction until it came suddenly and they did not escape. Likewise, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 describes a time when God’s wrath comes beginning the day of the Lord. This time comes suddenly like a thief in the night from which those caught by surprise will not escape. We are warned to not be caught up in the cares of this life and a life of ignorance so this day doesn’t also catch us off guard. Our point of escape from this destruction of God’s wrath is laid out in Luke 21:34-36 regarding a time coming on all them that dwell on the whole earth.
Luke 21:34-36
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Our escape coincides with Christ’s coming followed by sudden destruction. Ephesians 5:1-8 states that God’s wrath is for the children of disobedience whom we are not to be partakers with. So if God’s wrath is for the children of disobedience and we are removed prior to that wrath, a dividing line of obedience vs. disobedience to God is laid out determining who escapes when Christ comes to gather His bride and who does not. This highlights the importance in a Christian trying to remain obedient to God’s Word of selfless love for Him and others.
As you will see, this isn’t just an escape, but the point of departure to attend the marriage of the Lamb. Some interesting points of similarity are highlighted when we examine ancient Hebrew wedding tradition that I believe is relevant to understanding the details of this parable. There are two parts to the marriage according to tradition.
