AND IN THE MOON, AND IN THE STARS
By John Henry
July 23, 2017
GOD'S WORD ON THE SIGNS IN HEAVEN:
"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: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so." (Genesis 1:14-15)
"These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORDS passover. ... The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD." (Leviticus 23:4-5, 34)
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” (Psalm 19:1-6)
”Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? 32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? 33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?” (Job 38:31-33, cf. 9:9; Isaiah 13:10; Amos 5:8. Note: The Mazzaroth is the 12 major constellations from Leo to Virgo, and their 36 associated minor constellations.)
“Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.” (Jeremiah 10:2; Note: The Hebrew word translated dismayed here is also translated afraid, affrighted, amazed, broken, confound, discouraged, scarest, terrify, etc.)
"And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:19-21; cf. Joel 2:30-31)
"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring. ... And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Luke 21:25, 28)
INTRODUCTION:
I have been saying for several years now that since the 1949/50 and 1967/68 tetrads fell when Israel was reestablished and when Jerusalem was captured that the next piece of the puzzle required for the fulfillment of Bible prophecy would have to do with the 3rd Temple. With Israel having taken control of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem this month it seems that we are one step closer to the fulfillment of Daniel 9:27.
"A hundred years ago, a number of French skeptics, gathered together a collection of all the numerous ancient mythologies of various peoples of the world, and demonstrated that these showed a remarkable and astounding correspondence to the teachings concerning Christ and his salvation. They said that since these mythologies - which often involve interpretations of the constellations of the zodiac - very clearly long antedate the [Bible] and the coming of Christ into the world, it was obvious to them Christianity was … borrow[ed] from pagan mythology, dressed up in Hebrew dress and pawned off on a credulous world. … [However] none of the skeptics were able to tell whence came these ancient mythologies, and particularly this understanding of the zodiac - constellations of the sky. Where did these signs come from? These scholars discovered that their antiquity cannot be ascertained; no matter how far back we go, they are always still there! ... According to Arabic tradition, the signs came from Seth; and [Enos]. This tradition is interesting since it links these signs to the grandson of Adam and says that [Enos] and his father Seth (both men of faith) were the founders of this ancient understanding of the heavens. … Therefore, from the very beginning, God has given a story of salvation from which have come most of the ancient mythologies and ancient traditions. The signs [of the zodiac] are describing the salvation that would be wrought by Christ, and was given by God to Adam in the Garden of Eden." [Kennedy, James D., The Real Meaning of the Zodiac, CRM Publishing, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 1993, pp. 10, 11, 12.]
Following are the names and meanings of some of the brightest stars, and of the twelve signs that mark the divisions of the year:
The names of some of the brightest stars with their meanings:
* Toliman - The Heretofore and the Hereafter (Revelation 1:8)
* Sirius - The Prince (Isaiah 9:6)
* Vega - He shall be exalted (Isaiah 52:13)
* Arcturus - He comes (Job 9:9; Revelation 1:7)
* Regel - The foot that crushes (Genesis 3:15)
* Procyon - The Redeemer (Job 19:25)
* Altair - The Wounded (Zechariah 13:6)
* Pollux - He who comes to suffer (Psalm 22:14-16)
* Deneb - The Judge (Psalm 9:8)
* Regulus - Treading underfoot (Genesis 3:15)
The 12 signs of the Mazzaroth (Job 38:32) with their meanings, and the true message they convey:
* Virgo - The Seed of the Woman. Speaks of the virgin birth of “the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-35; Matthew 1:18-25; Revelation 1:8)
* Libra - The required price paid. Speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ’s blood sacrifice of His own self on the cross as the redemption price for sinful men (Isaiah 53; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-21).
* Scorpio - The mortal conflict. Pictures the Lord Jesus Christ and Satan in battle. Satan bruises the Lord’s heel, but Christ wins by crushing his head (Genesis 3:15; Hebrews 2:14-15; Psalm 22:16; Revelation 12:2-9).
* Sagittarius - The final triumph. Portrays the Lord Jesus Christ as the exalted victor over death, and Satan (1 John - 3:8; Ephesians 4:8-10; Revelation 20:10).
* Capricornus - Life out of Death. Portrays the Lord Jesus Christ’s judgement against sin, His death for our sins, and His resurrection from the dead (1 John 3:5; Romans 4:25, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10; 1 Peter 3:18).
* Aquarius - Blessing out of victory. Speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ sending the blessed Holy Spirit with all His benefits for His people (John 7:37-39, 1 Corinthians 12:13).
* Pisces - Deliverance out of bondage. Pictures the saved. Winning others to Christ, and Christ, the King, coming to deliver the redeemed from their bondage (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:15-17; Jude 14, 15, 22, 23; Revelation 3:11, 19:11-16, 22:12-17).
* Aries - Glory out of humiliation. Portrays the humble Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, Slain for the sins of the world, and victorious over Satan (John 1:29; 1 John 2:1-2, 4:10; Revelation 20:1-3, 10).
* Taurus - His glorious coming. Foretells the Lord Jesus Christ’s second coming in judgement upon a sinful world and upon Satan (Isaiah 34:1-8; Revelation 6:12-17, 12:7-9).
* Gemini - The coming Prince and Saviour. Speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ’s duality as 100% God, and 100% man. The Lord is Ruler and Judge, and at the same time He is the wounded Seed who serves others (Philippians 2:5-8; Genesis 3:15; Acts 5:31).
* Cancer - His possessions held secure. Assures us that God will protect those He has redeemed, and bring them safely home to Heaven (John 10:11-17, 27-30; Hebrews 12:22-24, 13:20-21; 1 Peter 2:25, 5:1-4; Jude 1; Romans 8:38-39).
* Leo - His enemies destroyed. Prophetically assures us that the Lord Jesus Christ shall be victorious over sin, the world, Satan, and death (Genesis 49:8-12; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 55-58; Hebrews 2:14-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-10; Revelation 1:13-16, 5:1-10, 14:14-20, 20:10).
Almost seven years ago, in 2011, I heard about an astronomical phenomenon called a tetrad on the late Dr. J. R. Church's Prophecy in the News program. A tetrad is when there are 4 total lunar eclipses in a row without partial eclipses in between them. There have been 56 tetrads since the time of Christ to the one that passed in 2014-2015. Tetrads consist of 2 eclipses a year for 2 years. However, this is not the only qualification for our purposes, but all 4 eclipses must also fall on the first and last of the seven feasts of the LORD during two consecutive years, namely Passover and Tabernacles. I researched it and found that there had been 7 tetrads since the time of Christ that fell on the feasts of the LORD of Leviticus 23. I checked it on the NASA website and against the Hebrew calendar, and found that it was absolutely true. Since that time an 8th Tetrad passed in 2014/2015. There will be no more tetrads on the feasts of the LORD for 549 years from that date.
A very important fact to be noted here is that the basic meaning of the Hebrew word translated “seasons” in Genesis 1:14 and Leviticus 23:4 (above) is “set time” or “time appointed” and it is translated as such (Gen. 17:21, 18:14, 21:2; Ex. 9:5, 23:15; Josh. 8:14; 1 Sam. 13:8; 2 Sam. 20:5; Job 14:13; Ps. 102:13). In Leviticus 23:4 the Hebrew word is translated both as “feasts” and “seasons” in the same verse (see verses at top), and is translated “feast” 21 additional times in the Old Testament as the feasts of the LORD are held at appointed times.
Two additional feasts were added after the days of Moses that are detailed in Daniel and Esther, namely, Hanukkah and Purim. Both of these feasts have to do with the Israelites defending themselves against evil men that would murder them, and Hanukkah concerns the dedication of the Temple after it had been defiled by a Greek prince that sat in it claiming to be God. It was on Hanukkah that the Lord Jesus Christ preached His great “I am the door” sermon (John 10:1-2, 7, 9). There it is called, “… the feast of the dedication, and it was winter” (John 10:22). Purim was instituted in Persia after the Jews’ victory over Haman and those throughout the provinces of the Persian Empire who would try to murder them (Esther 9:20-32). There are also the days of mourning for the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in the Hebrew month of Av (July/August time frame).
Since finding out about the tetrads on the Biblical feast days, I have discovered other astronomical phenomenon that have fallen on the feasts of the LORD. The most recent of which prompted this article. It has been dubbed the Revelation 12 Sign, because it follows the description of Revelation 12:1-2 exactly. There it says:
“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: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.”
Brief review of recent signs in the heavens that fell on Biblical fast and feast days:
1. August 1, 2008 had a total solar eclipse on the 1st of Av, during the days of mourning.
2. July 22, 2009 had a total solar eclipse on the 1st of Av, during the days of mourning.
3. July 11, 2010 had a total solar eclipse on the 1st of Av, during the days of mourning.
4. October 8, 2011, the Feast of Atonement: Comets Elenin & Honda appeared together. There was also a meteor shower coming from the direction of the Constellation Draco (Latin for dragon) that day.
5. 2012: This year had no astronomical phenomenon on the Biblical feasts. The Mayan calendar ended on December 21, 2012 without the fulfilment of the pop culture’s fantasies. People listen to whatever the media and Hollywood plants in their mind; and continue to say, "Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:4)
6. November 28, 2013, Comet ISON made perihelion (closest point to the Sun) on Hanukkah
7. 2014 saw the first 2 total lunar eclipses on the feasts of Passover and Tabernacles of this Tetrad.
8. 2015 saw the last 2 total lunar eclipses of the last Tetrad on the feasts of the LORD for 549 years.
9. December 31, 2016, Comet Honda made perihelion on Hanukkah. It was New Years eve.
10. September 27, 2017 will be the sign of Revelation 12 in the Constellation Virgo.
SOLAR ECLIPSES ON THE 1ST OF AV IN 2008, 2009 & 2010:
"And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month [Av]." (Numbers 33:38)
"And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month [Av], separating myself, as I have done these so many years? Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying, Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves? Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?" (Zechariah 7:3-7)
The 9th of Av on the Jewish calendar is a day of fasting and mourning for the destruction of both Temples, first by the Babylonians in 586 B.C (9th of Av), and again by the Romans in 70 AD (9th of Av). The Jews still observe 21 days of mourning from 17 Tammuz to 9 Av in commemoration of the Roman General Titus' breach of the outer walls of Jerusalem on 17 Tammuz, and his order on the 9th of Av to levelled the Temple to the ground (4 Aug 70 AD). The Nine Days are the darkest days on the Jewish calendar. They are the final 9 days of the days of mourning.
Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 began crashing into Jupiter on the 9th of Av:
It is interesting that on the 9th of Av 1994 (20:13 UTC, July 16, 1994) that the first of 21 fragments of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 began striking Jupiter. Jupiter had captured the Comet into orbit around it. These fragments crashed into Jupiter's southern hemisphere between July 16 and July 22, 1994 at a speed of approximately 134,000 mph. To me this seems to be a picture of a lost person who is broken in repentance and trusts in the Lord Jesus. He drew us to Himself (Isa. 45:22; Matt. 11:28), but it was our sins that scarred the Lord! (Psalm 22:16; Isa. 53:5; Mark 15:17, 19; John 19:34, 37, 20:27; Rev. 1:7)
There were total solar eclipses for 3 years straight on the 1st of Av during 2008, 2009 and 2010:
The NASA web site records that total solar eclipses occurred on the following dates:
August 1, 2008 (1st of Av 5768 began at sunset on August 1st and ended at sunset on the 2nd)
July 22, 2009 (1st of Av 5769 began at sundown on July 21st and ended at sunset on the 22nd)
July 11, 2010 (1st of Av 5770 began at sunset on July 11th and ended at sundown on the 12th)
NOTE: Biblical days observed by the Jews begin at sunset and end at sunset the following day.
It was on the 1st of Av that Moses' brother, Aaron, the first Levitical Priest, died (Numbers 33:38-39)
Tragic events that have occurred on the 9th of Av (Tisha b'Av):
1. Jewish tradition says that it was on Tisha b'Av (9 Av 1312 B.C.) that the Jewish fathers were not allowed to enter the Promised Land, because the people rebelled against the LORD, Moses, and the 2 true spies, Joshua and Caleb. They believed the 10 unbelieving spies. The sin of the 10 spies caused God to decree that the Children of Israel who left Egypt would not be permitted to enter the land of Israel and so they wandered for 40 years till they died (Numbers 13 & 14, 32:11-14).
2. The Roman army plowed Jerusalem with salt on 25 July 71 AD (9 Av 3831).
3. The destruction of Simeon Bar Cochba's army on 5 Aug 135 AD (9 Av 3895).
4. The First Crusade was declared by Pope Urban II on July 20, 1095 (Av 9, 4855), killing 10,000 Jews in its first month and destroying Jewish communities in France and the Rhineland.
5. Anti-Jewish rioters stormed a castle in York, England - 500 Jews died as a result on 14 July 1190. (9 Av 4950).
6. England expelled all Jews on 18 July 1290 (9 Av 5050).
7. During the Spanish Inquisition after centuries in Spain some 200,000 Jews were expelled on 11 August 1492 (9 Av 5252). The following 2 years, 1493 & 1494, experienced a series of 4 lunar eclipses (blood moons) on the first (Passover) and last (the Feast of Tabernacles) of the seven feasts of Israel (Leviticus 23; cf. Joel 2:30-31; Acts 2:19-20; Rev. 6:12).
8. World War I was declared on 1 August 1914 (9 Av 5674). Russia launched persecutions against the Jews on the same day.
9. Mass deportation of Jews at the rate of six to ten thousand per day from the Warsaw Ghetto to the Treblinka Death Camp began on July 23, 1942 (9 Av 5702).
10. The 9th of Av was the day of the destruction of both Temples: first by the Babylonians in 586 B.C, and again by the Romans in 70 AD.
One of the names for the 7 year Tribulation in the Bible is, the time of Jacob’s trouble:
“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” (Jeremiah 30:7; Note: God also gave Jacob the name, Israel.)
2011 COMETS ELENIN & HONDA:
These comets that flew by in 2011 were interesting Biblically for the following reasons:
1. Earth, Elenin, the Sun, and Mercury were in alignment on September 28 and 29. From the evening of 28 September to the evening of the 29th was the Biblical Feast of Trumpets, a foreshadowing of the Rapture (Leviticus 23:23-25; cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Furthermore, the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly was in session from September 28th to 30th. They discussed whether to unilaterally declare a Palestinian state. The Bible gives this parting of the Land of Israel as a reason for God's judgment on the nations during the 7 year Tribulation. In the Book of the Prophet Joel God states:
Joel 3:2: "I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land."
Revelation 11:3-4: "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth."
Then on 8 October there was a Draconid meteor shower: “The International Meteor Organization reported an outburst of Draconid meteors on October 8, 2011 as predicted earlier this year by a Canadian astronomer. That outburst came despite a bright waxing gibbous moon. Preliminary counts suggest a peak rate of 660 meteors per hour at 20:10 UT; 3:10 pm CDT.” (October 8, 2011 Draconid meteor shower a winner! EarthSky.org by Deborah Byrd, October 9, 2011.)
3. When Elenin was closest to the Earth on October 16, 17 & 18, at 22 million miles, it was right in the middle of the Feast of Tabernacles, a type of the Millennial reign of Christ, and the eternal state after that (Leviticus 23:33-43; cf. Revelation 20:1-6, 21:1-7).
THE TEMPLE & COMET ISON’S ARRIVAL ON HANUKKAH IN NOVEMBER 2013:
Comet ISON made its closes point to the Sun (perihelion) on Hanukkah, November 28, 2013. ISON was a sungrazing comet discovered on 21 September 2012 by Vitaly Nevsky and Artyom Novichonok using the 0.4-meter (16 in) reflector of the International Scientific Optical Network (ISON) near Kislovodsk, Russia.
Hanukkah is an eight-day festival commemorating the victory in 165 BC of the Maccabees over Antiochus IV Epiphanes (215-164 B.C.) and the cleansing and rededication of the Temple at Jerusalem. Antiochus had set an image of Zeus in the Temple, offered swine upon the altar, and proclaimed himself to be God. Antiochus was a forerunner, a type, of the Antichrist Beast who is to come (Revelation 13). The Prophet Daniel prophesied of Antiochus in Daniel 8, and the Prophet Haggai gave the date of the yet future feast (Haggai 2:10-22). Hanukkah is called the feast of the dedication in John 10:22.
It is very interesting that near the end of WW I on November 2, 1917 the British issue the Balfour Declaration supporting a Jewish Homeland, and then on Hanukkah of that year (9 December) British General Edmund Allenby liberated Jerusalem from the Ottoman Turks without firing a shot by dropping surrender leaflets on the city from biplanes never before seen by the Ottomans fulfilling Isaiah 31:5 to the letter. It has been said that WW I prepared the Land for the Israelites and WW II prepared the Israelites for the Land.
Isaiah 31:5: As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.
"[In March of 2013, incoming Construction and Housing Minister,] Uri Ariel said, 'Is someone in this building already drawing construction plans for the Third Temple?' The response was a round of applause, and a quip from [outgoing Construction and Housing Minister Ariel] Attias. 'I think Obama would have to authorize that.' Uri Ariel responded, 'I think it's a higher power who is in charge.'" (Jerusalem Post, March 20, 2013; [Brackets] mine.)
“The Israel Minister of Housing and Construction, Uri Ariel on Friday [January 24, 2014] expressed his wish to see the construction of a Third Temple in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Al-Quds (East Jerusalem). Uri Ariel said, The first Temple was destroyed in 586 BCE, the second Temple in 70 CE, and ever since the Jews have been mourning its loss. Al-Aqsa Mosque is currently in place of the temple, despite the temple being much holier than it. Al-Aqsa Mosque is only the third most holy mosque in Islam." (Worldbulletin News, Istanbul, January 27, 2014; [Brackets] mine.)
Israel was re-established as a nation in 1948, and She regained Her Capitol in 1967 (both years under Tetrads) and now all that is left is the building of the third Temple. A key prophecy speaks of this in the Book of Daniel:
"And he [the Antichrist Beast] shall confirm the covenant [to build the Temple] with many for one week [7 years]: and in the midst of the week [3 & ½ years later] he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease [break the covenant and proclaim himself God as Antiochus did], and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." (Daniel 9:27; Brackets mine; cf. Matt. 24:15-21; Rev. 6:1-2, 13:1-9, 19:20; 2 Thess. 2:1-7)
THE 2014/2015 TETRAD ON THE FEASTS OF PASSOVER AND TABERNACLES:
Two very important events in the history of Israel occurred with the passing of the 2 prior tetrads to this one, namely the reestablishment of the Nation of Israel (May 14, 1948), and the capture of Jerusalem (June 7, 1967), Israel's ancient Capitol.
Generally unknown to most there were also 2 partial lunar eclipses on Passover and Tabernacles in 1948 in addition to the 1949/1950 Tetrad.
The 1967/1968 Lunar Tetrad fell during the capture of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount during the Six-Day-War of June 5-10, 1967. For the first time in nearly 1900 years Israel was in control of their Capitol. Six weeks before the war, the first eclipse occurred on Passover of 1967; and 666 days after the start of the Six-Day-War was Passover of 1969, plus the Knesset enacted the law to establish the Jewish Quarter Development Company (JQDC) to rebuild Jerusalem that day. The final eclipse of this Tetrad fell on the Feast of Tabernacles on October 6, 1968. This final eclipse was exactly 5 solar years before the Yom Kippur War of 1973.
During the Lord Jesus’ last week before His crucifixion some of the apostles asked Him, “… Tell us, … what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matt. 24:3) The Lord Jesus’ answered in His great prophetic Olivet Discourse, he stated:
“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:32-36)
The word of God explicitly gives the “fig tree” as a symbol for the Nation of Israel (Hosea 9:10; Joel 1:6-7; et. al.). With the “fig tree” standing for Israel, the reestablishment of Israel is a key factor pointing to Christ second coming. Another factor is “all these things” which include the things He enumerated in the preceding verses, namely false christs, wars and rumours of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, iniquity and cold heartedness abounding, false prophets, and all nations hating believers for Jesus Christ's name sake (cf. Matt. 24:4-11). We are clearly in the “generation” that the Lord Jesus spoke of here!!!
Speaking of false prophets: four days before the last blood moon of the 2014/2015 Tetrad of September 28, 2015 ABC News reported Pope Francis as saying, “The cross shows us a different way of measuring success. Ours is to plant the seeds. God sees to the fruits of our labors. And if at times our efforts and works seem to fail and not produce fruit, we need to remember that we are followers of Jesus Christ and his life, humanly speaking, ended in failure, the failure of the cross.” (Excerpt from ABC News article, "Read What Pope Francis Said at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral" by Emily Shapiro quoting Pope Francis, Sept. 24, 2015, 8:37 PM ET)
Humanly speaking, if one does not come to the spiritual realization that Jesus’ death on the cross was the greatest success of all history, without which that one; and all mankind, will burn in Hell fire for eternity! Jesus Christ ended His life on the cross with these words of triumph, “… It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30) Shortly before this Jesus has said to one of the thieves crucified along side of Him who had just trusted in Him, "... Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)
With the last 2 tetrads (1949/1950 & 1967/1968) marking the reestablishment of Israel and the capture of Jerusalem, there is one significant element still lacking, namely the Temple Mount and it's Temple. Fifty days after it's capture in 1967 Israel gave control of the Temple Mount back to Jordan for peace. However, as I was writing this article there have been events on the Temple Mount that could lead to compromizes concerning the Temple. The building of the 3rd Temple and the Rapture, not necessarily in that order, are the next 2 major prophetic elements soon to come. This is what the 2014.2015 Tetrad and the Hanukkah comets (ISON & Honda) point to!
THE 2016 RETURN OF COMET HONDA ON HANUKKAH:
Comet Honda was first discovered by Minuru Honda on December 3, 1948. We saw above that it flew by in 2011 with Comet Elenin. Honda returns every 5 and 1/4 years and in 2016 it reached it's closes point to the Sun (perihelion) on Hanukkah which was also New Years Eve (December 31, 2016).
Again, remember, Hanukkah speaks of the cleansing of the Temple after it had been desecrated by Antiochus IV Epiphanes (215-164 BC). Hanukkah is an eight-day festival commemorating the Israeli Maccabees’ victory over Antiochus in 165 BC. It is the rededication of the Temple. Antiochus had sat in the Temple proclaiming himself to be God and had set an image of Zeus much like the Antichrist will do at the mid-point of the Tribulation.
Revelation 13:4-9, 15-18: “And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If any man have an ear, let him hear. … 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”
THE SEPTEMBER 23, 2017 SIGN OF REVELATION 12:
“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: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. … 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” (Revelation 12:1-2, 5)
This wonder in heaven will occur 2 months from this writing on September 23, 2017 in the Constellation Virgo. The Constellation Leo is above Virgo’s head and has 9 bright fixed stars. In additions to these 9, Venus, Mars and Mercury will also be above the Virgin’s head making 12 stars (v. 1). The Sun will be on her left shoulder, and the Moon under her left foot (v. 1). To complete the picture Jupiter will be positioned to the right of the fixed star named Spica in the belly of the virgin symbolizing the man child. (v.5).
The Revelation 12 Wonder falls on the day after the Feast of Trumpets, which is a picture of the Rapture.
This Revelation 12 sign comes 50 days short of 100 years after Jerusalem was liberated on Hanukkah in 1917 by General Edmund Allenby near the end of World War I after 400 years of Ottoman Turk control. Jerusalem was taken by Israel in the Six Day War in 1967, a few months short of 50 years after Allenby liberated it in 1917.
Who are the Woman and the Man Child of Revelation 12?
"And he [Joseph] dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? 11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying." (Genesis 37:9-11)
Joseph’s dream was literally fulfilled in his own day, but it interprets Revelation 12 for us too. Here in Genesis 37 it clearly shows us that the sun, moon, 11 stars plus Joseph himself definitely symbolize the Nation of Israel. In Revelation 7 the 144,000 of the tribes of Israel take over the soul winning work where the Church Age saints left off at the Rapture. However, there work is accomplished by the mid-point of the 7 year Tribulation, and they are seen in heaven with the Lord directly after the middle of that terrible time (Rev. 14:1-5). The fact that they are Israel is also seen in Micah 5:
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.” (Micah 5:2-3; cf. Revelation 7:2-10, 14:1-5)
We know that verse 2 of Micah 5 above speaks of the Lord Jesus’ birth. However, verse 3 says that the Lord will “... give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth.” After much of Israel rejected the Lord Jesus, God gave up on them for the most part, but He will again work through “the Woman” mightily during the Tribulation. Micah 5:3 interprets our Revelation 12:1-2 passage for us. When we compare it with Micah 5:3 we can see that the symbolic "Woman" "which travaileth" is Israel, and this fact is born out in the rest of Revelation 12 also. The “remnant of his [Jesus'] brethren” of Micah 5:3 are the 144,000 Israelites from the 12 tribes who are sealed for service in Revelation 7 and who are seen with Jesus directly after the middle of the Tribulation (Revelation 14:1-5, cf. Mid-Trib chapters 11, 12, & 13). This "remnant of his brethren" are the Man Child of Revelation 12:5. So all Israel is symbolized by the Woman, and the 144,000 are symbolized by her Man Child.
Therefore, I believe this is the interpretation of the Revelation 12 Sign: Virgo is Israel, the 12 stars are the individual tribes of Israel, the Sun is Jacob, the Moon is Rachel, and Jupiter is the 144,000, 1,200 from each of the 12 tribes.
The 144,000 will be rulers under Christ during His Millennial Reign and beyond (Rev. 12:5; Dan 7:22) as likewise the Church Age saints will be also (Rev. 2:26-27, 5:10; cf. 20:6, 22:3-5).
“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” (Jeremiah 30:7)
CONCLUSION:
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-57)
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; “PREVENT, v.t. [L. proevenio …] To go before; to precede.” -- Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” (Matthew 24:42-44) “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-10)
“The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. 15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, … 1 Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; 2 Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you. 3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.” (Zephaniah 1:14-15, 2:1-3; cf, 1 Peter 2:9)
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (2 Peter 3:9-14; cf. Revelation 21:1-8)
“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 25:13)
“And he [Jesus] said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8)
“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.” (Luke 21:36)
“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8)
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