Any Day Now Blog

(Continued from Article III)

The following website gives an excellent documentation of the next ruler of note: Antiochus. (https://www.gotquestions.org/Antiochus-Epiphanes.html)

 “Antiochus, was a Greek king of the Seleucid Empire who reigned over Syria from 175 BC until 164 BC. He is famous for almost conquering Egypt and for his brutal persecution of the Jews.

Antiochus Epiphanes was a ruthless and often capricious ruler. He is properly Antiochus IV, but he took upon himself the title “Epiphanes,” which means “illustrious one” or “god manifest.” However, his bizarre and blasphemous behavior earned him another nickname among the Jews: “Epimanes,” which means “mad one.”

“An altercation between Antiochus Epiphanes and a Roman ambassador by the name of Gaius Popillius Laenas is the origin of the saying “to draw a line in the sand.” When Antiochus brought his army against Egypt in 168 BC, Popillius stood in his way and gave him a message from the Roman Senate ordering him to stop the attack.

 Antiochus responded that he would think it over and discuss it with his council, at which point Popillius drew a circle in the sand around Antiochus and told him that, if he did not give the Roman Senate an answer before crossing over the line in the sand, Rome would declare war. Antiochus decided to withdraw as Rome had requested.”

By “withdrawing” Antiochus conceded utter defeat.

“But the most famous conflict connected to Antiochus Epiphanes is the “Maccabean Revolt”. During that time of history, there were two factions within Judaism: the Hellenists, who had accepted pagan practices and the Greek culture; and the Traditionalists, who were faithful to the Mosaic Law and the old ways. Supposedly to avoid a civil war between these two factions, Antiochus made a decree outlawing Jewish rites and worship, ordering the Jews to worship Zeus rather than Yahweh. He wasn’t just trying to Hellenize the Jews but to totally eliminate all traces of Jewish culture. Of course, the Jews rebelled against his decrees.”

“In an act of brazen disrespect, Antiochus raided the temple in Jerusalem, stealing its treasures, setting up an altar to Zeus, and sacrificing swine on the altar. When the Jews expressed their outrage over the profaning of the temple, Antiochus responded by slaughtering a great number of the Jews and selling others into slavery. He issued even more draconian decrees: performing the rite of circumcision was punishable by death, and Jews everywhere were ordered to sacrifice to pagan gods and eat pig flesh.”

“The Jewish response was to take up arms and fight. In 167—166 BC, Judas Maccabeus led the Jews in a series of victories over the military forces of the Syrian-Greeks.

“Antiochus Epiphanes is a tyrannical figure in Jewish history, and he is also a foreshadowing of the coming Antichrist. The prophet Daniel predicts an atrocity in the temple in the end times (Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11).

 Daniel’s prophecy (9:27) concerns a coming “ruler who will cause the offerings to cease in the temple and set up “an abomination that causes desolation.” While what Antiochus did certainly qualifies as an abomination, Jesus speaks of Daniel’s prophecy as having a still-future fulfillment (Matthew 24:15–16; Mark 13:14; Luke 21:20–21). The Antichrist will model Antiochus Ephiphanes in his great pride, blasphemous actions, and hatred of the Jews.”

 The Temple had to be cleansed and the defiled altar rocks were moved to the east outside of the Temple called (Solomon’s portico/porch/colonnade) in the year B.C.. (Later on Jesus met there at times with his disciples, John 10:23.) In the midst of the cleaning, there was only enough oil to light the Temple for one night, but the light burned for eight nights – considered a miracle. This caused the Israelites to declare a festival called Hanukah/Chanukah.

 Many Gentiles often think Hanukah is the Jewish Christmas, however, Orthodox Jews do not celebrate Christmas, since they feel the Messiah is yet to come.

 Since Greece had “cursed” Israel, based on Genesis 12:1, God then disciplined Greece and there was no longer a Greek Empire.

 Greece was conquered by the Roman Empire led by the General Titus. General Titus also led his army to completely destroy Jerusalem and the Holy Temple exactly as Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) had prophesied (Matt 24:1-2) with not a single brick being left undisturbed. This brought about the Jewish “Diaspora” with Jews fleeing in all directions around the known world, this dispersal lasting for about 2000 years.

 Roman extreme Anti-Semitism changed the name of Israel to Palestine, which is derived from the root word Philistine. However, even though the few Jews left in the area, accepted the change in name, there never was, nor ever will be a Palestine, except to those who hate the God’s people.

 The Watering Down of the Sabbath in the First 300 Years

The Christian’s (mostly Jews) during the apostolic era, from about 35 to 100 A.D., kept Sabbath on the designated (by Almighty God) seventh day of the week.  For the first 300 years of Christian history, when the Roman emperors still regarded themselves as gods, (which they had for centuries) Christianity became an “illegal religion,” and God’s people were scattered abroad (Acts 8:1).

 Judaism, however, was regarded at that time as “legal,” as long as they obeyed Roman laws. Thus, during the apostolic era, Christians found it convenient to let the Roman authorities think of them as Jews, which gained them legitimacy with the Roman government.

 Prior to Constantine becoming Emperor he found he needed votes to come into power. He noticed the Christians in Rome had no political affiliation. He then asked them if they would vote for him. The Christians replied in the affirmative. 

 Due to the help of the Christian vote Emperor Constantine, a pagan sun-worshipper—came to power in A.D. 313. He legalized Christianity and made the first Sunday-keeping law. His infamous (to Christians) Sunday enforcement law of March 7, A.D. 321, reads as follows: “On the venerable Day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed.” (Codex Justinianus 3.12.3, trans. Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, 5th ed. (New York, 1902), 3:380, note 1.)

 Emperor Constantine, along with all other Roman Emperor’s considered himself divine. He stated “I am the Pontifact”, i.e. First Pope. John 14:6 was not considered, nor was John 3:3.

 The Sunday law was officially confirmed by the Roman Heirarchy, who felt however that Peter was the first Pope.  Breaking a Commandment of the Creator God, who wrote the The Ten Commandments in stone, the Council of Laodicea in A.D. 364 decreed, “Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday but shall work on that day; but the Lord’s day they shall especially honour, and, as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no work on that day, (Note: Initial AntiSemitism by the “Christian” Church).  If, however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ” (Strand, op. cit., citing Charles J. Hefele, A History of the Councils of the Church, 2 [Edinburgh, 1876] 316).

 For some strange reason, Protestants still attempt to justify Sunday worship even though it was instituted by a Sun god worshipper.

According to www.religioustolerance.org/sabbath.htm#move:Protestants use several scriptures to justify Sunday as a worship day: John 20:19 describes events on what we would call Sunday evening. “The disciples were gathered together”. Some have speculated that this might have been the first Sunday worship service.

 Others suggest that the text seems to imply that they were gathered together for their own protection, out of fear of attack by the Jews.

 Acts 20:7: Paul is described as preaching on a Sunday evening. It was evening, because the passage refers to lamps being lit. Some “Christians” promote this text as demonstrating that Paul held a religious service on a Sunday. Others suggest that he gave the teaching on what he would call Sunday evening but we would call Saturday evening; the first day of the week started at sundown on Saturday in 1st century AD Palestine.

 If Paul considered Sunday to be the Sabbath then he would not have set out on foot to Assos on Sunday morning. Walking on the Sabbath was forbidden.

 1 Corinthians 16:2: Paul instructs the “Christians” at Corinth that each of them is to lay aside some money every Sunday that would later be collected for the “Christians” at Jerusalem. Some interpreters believe that this might refer to a collection of money at a Sunday religious service.

 Others suggest that the text implies that the money was to be laid aside by each believer separately and privately, and to be saved up by each person independently.

 Primarily the following two scriptural texts are used by Christians to justify Sunday worship: Colossians 2:16-17: Paul writes: “…do not let anyone judge you…with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (NIV).

 Some people interpret the reference to “Sabbath” in this passage as authorizing “Christians” to celebrate (or not celebrate) the weekly Sabbath in any way that they wish. Others suggest that the “Sabbath” in this passage apparently refers to the Ceremonial Sabbaths, not the Weekly Sabbaths.

The verse in Colossians duplicates the text of Ezekiel 45:17 which reads: “…at the festivals, the New Moons and the Sabbaths – at all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel.”

 Romans 14:5: Paul writes: “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” Some people interpret this passage as allowing “Christians” to either recognize or ignore the Sabbath, – or perhaps to select any day as the Sabbath.

 But others suggest from a reading of the subsequent verses that Paul is discussing fasting here, not religious observance. They would suggest that verse 1 of this chapter indicates that the passage relates to “disputable” matters (such as when or if to fast); the day of the Sabbath was not a disputable matter; it was a commandment from God.

 The phrase “considering every day alike” might mean that every day from Sunday to Friday were treated the same, as in the passage describing the collection of manna in Exodus 16:4

 There seems to be no internal evidence that would justify the “Christian” church changing the day from that commanded in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament)-the 7th day or Saturday. However, in later centuries, moving from Saturday to Sunday certainly was beneficial if for no other reason than to improve the security of “Christians” by distancing “Christianity” from Judaism in the eyes of the government.

 The discussion, although perhaps pointless, (since God seems to appreciate worship on any day) goes on and on.

(More to Come)

(continued from Article II)

The first four Kingdoms as described by Daniel have come into being and have eventually fallen. Historical review reveals the blessings coming to these Kingdoms as they blessed Israel and the ending of these Kingdoms as they cursed Israel – see Genesis 12.

 The biblical book of DANIEL is a extensive revelation and a complete description from God of every event to take place in the history of Israel (with resultant “spillover” to Gentile nations), to the end of this age. It was of course a prophecy, i.e. these events had not yet happened at that time.

 This writer had a particular problem in understanding Daniel Chapter 9 and was always left with 490 years after reading verse 25. After looking through  20 or so books on Daniel and the End Times, and after several months of off and on searching the Internet, the answer was finally found on the following non-christian Internet question and answer site:: https://www.quora.com/In-Daniel-9-25-why-are-the-69-weeks-broken-up-into-7-weeks-and-62-weeks?share=1

 Unfortunately the answer is simply to large to include here and must be placed as Addendum I at the end of this writing – (Article III).

A condensed summary of the seven seven’s – (missing years) as per www.quora.com would be:

 1) Malachi, a Prophet speaks of Messiah (Mal 4:4–6) and the first Seven Seven’s (which God is “silent” about) end.

2) After Malachi’s prophecy there are 400 Prophetic Years of Silence.

3) An angel announces a “Deliverer and Redeemer” (Yeshua/Jesus – like unto Moses who – Deut 18:15 who IS God’s Son and “as God”) and a Prophet (John the Baptist – an Elijah to come – Mal 4:4–6; Mat 11:14) who was his “brother” (cousin)… like Aaron was to Moses! They are both blood relations! (See Luke 1)

 This Midrashic Pattern then connects the Tanakh (Old Testament) to the B’rit Chadasha (New Testament) in the exact same way that God connects Genesis to Exodus!

(Note: According to the freedictionary.com, a Midrashic Pattern is:

1. an early Jewish interpretation of or commentary on a Biblical text.
2. (cap.) a collection of such commentaries, esp. those written in the first ten centuries A.D.) Also see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midrash

 Back to Daniel:

Scripture: “Da 9:1 In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom– (Writer insert-Babylon had been conquered).

2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.”

Daniel (first noted above as a dream interpreter), understood the time of Israel‘s captivity to be over.

 Daniel correctly regarded the prophecies of Jeremiah as coming directly from God. Daniel (who was now about 90 years of age) began to pray and fast. He repented personally and nationally for Israel and was visited by the Angel Gabriel, who provided him with many prophetic future happenings for the Israelites.

 The Three-In-One God is a God of numbers, who (to this writer), apparently uses the number seven extensively.  This numbering very possibly began with the creation of this Universe in seven days. However, confusion is often found in those who come across Daniel and the seven sevens, as it did to this writer.

 It should be noted God excludes times of discipline to His people in measuring time on earth. In addition these are God’s Lunar years of 360 days per year or 30 days a month. To obtain the correct year for Yeshua (Jesus) to proclaim Himself as King of the Jews, (see Dan 9:25). 62 weeks of years is prophesied = 483 years (from the time of a final decree to rebuild Jerusalem) which is the exact time Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey that had never been ridden before. (see complete scripture – below).

 Why did Jesus ride on a donkey?: A reputable website (https://amazingbibletimeline.com/blog/why-did-christ-ride-a-donkey-on-his-triumphant-entry/)  states the following:  

“One: Smaller than horses and gifted with cautiousness, that can sometimes be mistaken for stubbornness, donkeys were not usually used during times of war. Zechariah 9:9 prophesied the coming of a king “righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Second, in the ancient Biblical world, a leader rode on a horse if he was coming in war and a donkey to signify peace.

Third, Jesus used the donkey to connect with the common people.  Life was also not easy for a Jew living under Roman rule in the 1st century—more so for the poor. But Jesus embraced the poor and sick people during his time here on earth. His choice of a donkey instead of a horse was God’s way of saying that he came as a King who will serve and save the oppressed.”

 In the sixth century BC, God was giving Daniel a timeline for what was going to come and the amount of time that it would take.  Today, we have an advantage in looking at these words through the lens of history and understand, as noted above, that some of this prophecy has already been fulfilled.

 Scripture: “Da 9:24 “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.

 25 “Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.

 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off (writer insert context=cut off meant killed at the time) and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.

 Question: Who destroyed the city and the sanctuary (vs.26)?  Answer: The Romans.

Question: Who of potential Roman descent is the ruler who will come?  Answer: The Final Antichrist.

 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”(NIV)

Note: “the Anointed One” refers to Yeshua (Jesus) as do the words Messiah/Messhiah and the Greek “Christos” or (English = Christ, all of which mean the same thing: Anointed One.

 SUMMARY OF EVENTS:

The Jews were disciplined with God allowing them to be taken to Babylon.

God worked through a pagan King called Cyrus to issue a decree to release the Jews back to Israel. Eventually after some other Kings, another decree was given with finances, materials, soldiers for protection and complete authoritarian help. The reader may now skip to page 13.)

 Upon the proclamation of release, first by Cyrus (Persian Empire) after he had conquered Babylon, a number of delays occurred. Eventually a King named Artaxerxes issues a proclamation to build both the Temple and the walls of Jerusalem. According to the following website: (https://www.gotquestions.org/Artaxerxes-in-the-Bible.html,) “this King was a son of King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) and is often referred to as Artaxerxes I Longimanus.

 Two other Prophets of God named Ezra and Nehemiah both traveled from Persia (now called Iran) to Jerusalem from the court of Artaxerxes. Although he saw several insurrections over the course of his reign, Artaxerxes’ rule is generally regarded as a peaceful one. Due to his tolerant policy toward the Jews in his realm, Artaxerxes played a key role in the rebuilding of the temple and the wall of Jerusalem.”

Prior to this Cyrus returned the articles Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had stolen from the temple, and he also decreed that the Israelites be given generous gifts from their Persian houses (Ezra 1:4–11). When some of the Israelites arrived in Jerusalem, led by Zerubbabel, they immediately began to rebuild the temple and surrounding city (Ezra 3).”

 “In the seventh year of his reign, Artaxerxes allowed Ezra the priest to take as many Israelites as he wished back to Jerusalem, even providing gold and silver for the people to purchase offerings and whatever else was needed for the temple” (Ezra 7:11–20). In addition, he decreed that it was unlawful for anyone to levy any taxes on the Levites, priests, or any others serving in the temple.” (Note: Temple – not Walls).    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Artaxerxes-in-the-Bible.html)

 Up until this time as the Israelites worked on the repairs, “they faced great opposition from people in the surrounding lands (Ezra 4:1–5). This adversity continued up to King Artaxerxes’ reign” (Ezra 4:5–6). At that time, dissenters by the names of Bishlam, Mithredath, and Tabeel wrote a letter to Artaxerxes, leveling accusations against the Jews and claiming that the Jews would no longer pay taxes to the Persian Empire. Concerned, Artaxerxes immediately ordered that the repairs be halted and allowed the dissenters to send their forces to Jerusalem.”

 Some commentators assume the Artaxerxes mentioned in Ezra 4 was actually a different person from the Artaxerxes mentioned in Ezra 7. “According to this theory, the first Artaxerxes was a usurper to the Persian throne and identified in other historical records as Smerdis, who only ruled for eight months. The main problem with this theory is that there is no known historical document that identifies Smerdis with Artaxerxes. A more likely explanation is that Artaxerxes simply had a change of heart toward the Jews, based on evidence of the Jews’ peaceful intentions in Jerusalem.”

 Historically there were at least two and possibly three Kings named Artaxerxes, which meant (One), or in today’s vernacular “Number 1”.

 In the twentieth year of his reign, Artaxerxes noticed that his trusted cupbearer, Nehemiah, was downcast.

 Servants were to maintain a pleasing countenance in the king’s presence, and so Nehemiah was technically breaking the law by looking sad. But Artaxerxes was merciful and asked Nehemiah to explain why he was troubled (Nehemiah 2:2). Nehemiah may have been born in Persia, but his heart belonged in his homeland, and he was grieved when a report reached him saying that Jerusalem’s walls were still in rubble almost 100 years after Cyrus had allowed the Israelites to return to their land (Nehemiah 1:1–4).

 After consulting the Lord, Nehemiah spoke to King Artaxerxes and requested leave to go repair the walls. Artaxerxes not only granted Nehemiah’s request, but he also wrote letters to ensure Nehemiah’s safe passage.” Why did Nehemiah “consult the Lord”? Answer: To see if he would be killed for coming into the King’s presence without a smile.

 The rebuilding is also chronicled in the book of Nehemiah.

 Various writers  seem to feel the Israelites had become “rooted” in their often fairly comfortable captivity in Babylon and no longer felt the pride of living in their own land given to them by God.

 If the words “RETURN FROM BABYLON TIMELINES” are used these timelines can be found on the Internet.

 The gap between the 483 years and the “still to come”  last seven years of the age, is often referred to as “the Time of the Church”.

 Why is there a “Time of the Church”?  The vast majority of the Jews rejected Jesus as Messiah (having been taught of Messiah coming only once) and after the pagan Roman Empire conquered Israel, destroying the Temple and capturing a considerable number of Jews as slaves, God scattered the majority of the Jews throughout the nations of the earth. This is often referred to as the Diaspora.

 As noted above, using the Jewish custom of a 360-day Lunar year, 483 years after 445 B.C. places us at A.D. 30, coinciding exactly with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-9). Or 33 to 33.5 years per other sources, “context” showing one could not be called Rabbi or Teacher, unless one was at least 30 years of age.

 After observing Passover for the last time with His disciples, (as per Matthew, Mark and Luke), Jesus was quickly handed over to the authorities and crucified. This latter is noted in Daniel 9:26 “the Anointed One will be cut off” – killed.

The next line speaks of the Romans destroying Jerusalem and the Sanctuary as prophesied by Jesus.

 However, prior to the destruction of the Temple, not all Jews rejected the only way to Paradise, (John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”.) The disciples waited as Jesus instructed them, prior to His ascension, and exactly fifty days after the resurrection  Holy Spirit God was poured out on these disciples and they all spoke in different languages (tongues). At this time a  religious holiday was being observed – (Feast of Weeks -fifty – also called Pentecost (Greek for five to the 10th power-Pente), Peter began to speak to the Jews who had come from all over the world to Jerusalem to observe the festival (commanded by God in Exodus 23, Exodus 24, Leviticus 16, Numbers 28, and Deut. 16. 

 “Context” in examining the Scriptures is an absolute necessity. It was a Jewish custom at the time for the bridegroom to give the father of the bride-to-be, a dowry, or in the current American culture an “engagement gift”. Assuming the bride-to-be said yes to the bridegroom, depending on the financial condition of the bridegroom, a great gift would be given, at times a lifetime of the prospective bridegrooms wages to take care of his fiancé if he were killed.

The engagement gift of Jesus to His bride (those who follow/believe in Him-John 3:3) was Holy Spirit God, who lives in each believer. Also see Luke 11: 11-13 which seems to instruct the disciples to ask the Father God for this Holy Spirit.

 Upon hearing Peter speak in the natural amphitheater of the Temple proper, (Acts 2) 3000 Jews believed, were filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke in tongues, repented, were baptized with water as a sign of repentance using about 100 “Ritual Bathing” baths available near the Temple Mount. These baths were necessary due to the “RULES of God” found in Leviticus 11:28; 14:1-9; 15:1-31, Deuteronomy 23:10, 11.

 Notable is the fact the 3000 Jews who heard were from all over the world:

Ac 2:7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?

 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?

 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome

 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs– we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

 Kindly note verse 10 above – visitors might mean Jews or proselytes to Judaism. In any case the knowledge of the first coming of Messiah (and His gift of the Holy Spirit) was taken back to pagan Rome as well as all the nations listed.

 Looking back to Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream  as given to him by God, the next (third) Kingdom would be the one of Bronze, which was Greece. Xerxes The Great, (another Persian ruler) insulted Greece with various invasions and eventually the Persian Empire was conquered by Alexander the Great.  

 Scripture: Da 11:2 “Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will appear in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.

When Alexander The Great visited/conquered Jerusalem, the high priest showed him the Bible prophecies Da 11:3 “Then a mighty king will appear, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.”  The priest told  Alexander, “these prophecies are about you!”

Alexander left Israel alone, with only minimal requirements.

 Alexander The Great died very young and his Kingdom was divided between four of his General’s.

ADDENDUM I (see end for referral site)

In Daniel 9:25, why are the 69 weeks broken up into 7 weeks and 62 weeks?

Michael Harris

Minister (2007-present)

Updated July 28, 2019

This is a great question and one which is overlooked! Why didn’t God just say there would be Sixty-nine Sevens? This is what everyone teaches. Why the “Seven Seven’s and Sixty-two Sevens?” The prophecy simply does not say why these first “Seven Sevens” are there! And, as best I can see the question is still not being answered here, but rather it is being avoided because no one wants to say, “I don’t know.”

 Again, the plain truth is… God does not say. He just throws the time of “Seven Seven’s” out there. Yet, this is clearly very important! It is likewise designed to attract our attention and be an event that would not be missed by the Jews.

 One could even say it would be of epic proportion! In fact, God didn’t need to say what would fulfill this time because there was no way it would be missed! The fulfillment of the event should also somehow link to, mark and identify Israel‘s true Messiah. It should, therefore, be prophetic in nature. So also, when the truth of this fulfillment is discovered, it should harmonize with all of Scripture and provide further truth which explains things which we did not understand.

 The date that you start this prophecy from… will determine what time you look for this answer. If you start it in 456 B.C. (as put forward by some), you will be searching for an answer in 407 B.C. (456 – 49 = 407) which is 49 years or “Seven Sevens” from the date it began. What you will then discover, is that there is nothing of any historical or Scriptural significance there! So, we are left without explanation based on the theory of the Seventy Sevens having begun in 456 B.C. and ending in A.D. 28 (69 Sevens or 483 Years using 365 day years).

 While there are many issues with this dating and the “command” of Cyrus marking the beginning of the prophecy, that is not the question here before us and we are going to focus on the question at hand… “Why are there Seven Sevens?”

 There are numerous speculations surrounding this question. However, every speculation we have encountered has been completely lacking any scriptural or historical support. Some say, “The building of Jerusalem was completed” or “The building of the temple was completed.” But, when is any city ever “complete?”

 And the temple would be considered “complete” once cleansed and put into use… which occurred long before this time. In the same way, many speculate that the final Seventieth Seven began in the first century… or was even completed in A.D. 70. Such “theories” (and there are many) utilize non-literal “spiritual” or “allegorical” methods of interpretation to create such fulfillment. Such interpretations violate Scripture… for all prophecy must be literally fulfilled in the sight of men (Deut 18:22).

 This is the first law of interpretation (Pashat) as held by all the Hebrew sages dating back thousands of years and is never to be violated. The B’rit Chadash (New Testament) confirms this in telling us that no prophecy is a matter of private interpretation (2 Pet 1:20).

 So, here is an interpretation of the first Seven Seven’s which will accomplish the following seven things: 1) Literal and uses independent verifiable dates (they are not our dates), 2) Finds a fulfillment that is in harmony with the prophecy (in this case “Silence” is the key), 3) Provides the REQUIRED verifiable “Midrashic Pattern” for all prophetic fulfillments (Ecc 1:9–10, 3:15), 4) Uses the Hebrew Gematria to show harmony and support, 5) The proposed fulfillment explains other things in Scripture which were mysteries (Truth always reveals more truth), 6) adds nothing to… or takes anything away from Scripture, and 7) it confirms and/or reveals the Messiah in a way not seen before. Most other theories have failed at #1 and we have only been able to accomplish all of the above in one known theory…

 Sir Robert Anderson’s theory of the “Sixty-nine Sevens” begins on Nissan 1, 445 B.C. and is found in Nehemiah 2. Here, Anderson uses the 360-Day “prophetic” year of the Genesis Flood… and arrives in Nissan of A.D. 32 at the time of Passover for the completion of the “Sixty-nine” Sevens. Now, Anderson never considered the first Seven Sevens of the prophecy, but in examining all of the various theories of the “Seventy Sevens Prophecy” we did!

 Using Anderson’s proposed theory the first “Seven Seven’s” would have brought a termination to this time in 396 B.C. And, according to two sources we located (The Annals of the World, James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh 1658, and C.I. Scofield, The Scofield Bible, Reference Notes, 1917), a very, very interesting thing occurred at this exact time… the prophet Malachi spoke and recorded his final words in Malachi 4… completing and closing the Tanakh (Old Testament)! Now, it may not seem like it at first glance, but this was, in fact, an “Epic” event for the Jews… you see… Malachi is the last prophet of the Tanakh (Old Testament) to speak.

 For the Jews, God has been silent ever since! The question is, “Are Ussher and Scofield correct about this date?” Many other scholars would dispute this based on what they think… with some believing that “Malachi” was actually written by Ezra and there was no “Malachi.” Who is correct? We believe that the proof of the truth always lies in prophecy and in Scripture itself. And with this, we can say…

 This is what fulfilled the first Seven Sevens… and in fact, it is a perfect fit on many levels. God was “silent” about what would fulfill the first “Seven Sevens” and that “silence” is, in fact, marking God going “silent!” However, it gets much much, much better!

 For believers in Yahusha (Jesus) this is not so. They see God as speaking again 400 years later through a prophet known as John the Baptist! This is where the B’rit Chadasa (New Testament) begins! And, here we find something very interesting. We find the SAME angel (Gabriel) who delivered the Seventy Seven’s prophecy to Daniel now announcing the birth of John the Baptist to John’s father Zacharias… and again a very interesting, odd thing occurs… Zacharias doubts Gabriel and Gabriel then renders Zacharias mute!

 Why not “blind” because Zacharias refused to see… or “deaf” because Zacharias refused to hear? Why mute? Now, angels do NOTHING which God has not commanded, so therein lies the reason. Gabriel had already been told by God what Zacharias would say… and he was told by God what to do about it. Zacharias was to be “silenced” and remain “silenced” until after John was born… for the prophetic time of “God’s Silence” would not be complete until that time! You see, what connects the Tanakh (Old Testament) to the B’rit Chadasha (New Testament) is a Midrashic Pattern which was an “Epic” event for Israel… and now we will explain why God prophesied “Seven Sevens”… which was an event Israel could not miss!

The book of Genesis closes with a final prophet (Jacob) speaking in Genesis 49. This is the prophecy that identifies two Messiah’s… or two coming’s of Messiah.

 One, the Hebrew sages called “Messiah ben David” of the house of Judah. The other they called “Messiah ben Joseph.” While they saw this prophetically established in Genesis 49 they did not understand how God would bring this about.

Truly, this is the primary objective of the B’rit Chadasha (New Testament). It explains how God was (and is) fulfilling Genesis 49:8–12 (Messiah ben David – Judah’s desired King) and Genesis 49:22–26 (Messiah ben Joseph – the Suffering Servant rejected by his brothers).

 With Jacob (Israel) the final prophet speaking, God then goes silent for 400 prophetic years. This is the period that was foretold to Abraham in Genesis 15:13. After these 400 prophetic years of silence, we arrive at the Book of Exodus and we find an “angel” speaking to Moses (a deliverer and redeemer) and sending him to deliver Israel from her bondage in Egypt. However, Moses resists God… and God then appoints his brother Aaron as “a prophet” who will speak for Moses and Moses will be “as God” to Aaron and to Pharaoh (Ex 4:16, 7:1). So, here is the pattern…

 We have:

1) “A Final Prophet Speaking of Messiah Coming (Gen 49)”

2) “400 Prophetic Years of Silence by God” and

3) “An Angel Speaking with a Deliverer and Redeemer (Moses – who is “as God” to Aaron and Pharaoh) and a Prophet (Aaron – his brother) being sent to deliver and lead Israel out of bondage.

 This 400 years connects the close of the Book of Genesis to the opening of the Book of Exodus. And, THIS is EXACTLY what we find in the prophet Malachi… now compare!

 We have:

1) Malachi, a Final prophet speaks of Messiah (Mal 4:4–6) and the first Seven Seven’s (which God is “silent” about) end.

2) There are 400 Prophetic Years of Silence by God.

3) An angel announces a “Deliverer and Redeemer” (Yahusha/Jesus – like unto Moses who – Deut 18:15 who IS God’s Son and “as God”) and a Prophet (John the Baptist – an Elijah to come – Mal 4:4–6; Mat 11:14) who was his “brother” (cousin)… like Aaron was to Moses! They are both blood relations! (See Luke 1)

 This Midrashic Pattern then connects the Tanakh (Old Testament) to the B’rit Chadasha (New Testament) in the exact same way that God connects Genesis to Exodus!

 The purpose of the “Seven Sevens” was to provide the prophetic connection from the Tanakh (Old Testament) to the B’rit Chadasha (New Testament). The purpose of the “Seven Sevens” was to show Israel that it truly was God speaking again to them in the B’rit Chadasha via the Midrashic Pattern. The pattern is truly that clear. The purpose of the “Seven Sevens” was for God to once again point at His true Messiah, Yahusha… as “Messiah ben Joseph,” the prophesied Son of David and literally the “Son of Joseph” (Messiah ben Joseph).

 In all of this, do not forget one thing we mentioned earlier… it confirms what we are saying. God rendered Zacharias mute (Lk 1:1–20) at Shavuot (Pentecost) and the reason He did this was that the 400 prophetic years were not yet completed. God could not allow Zacharias to come out of the temple and speak. It would have broken the pattern. Gabriel then announces to Mary that she will give birth to Israel’s Messiah, but tells no one. Gabriel also tells her about Elizabeth having conceived. Mary then goes to Zacharias and Elizabeth (her relative) and yet still “a Redeemer” is not announced.

John is born at the time of Passover and the 400 prophetic year period of silence ends. Zacharias (the one whom God silenced) now has his speech divinely restored… and he says… “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and REDEEMED His people.” (Lk 1:68). This is not a prophecy of John… but is a prophecy of Yahusha (Jesus).

 Even God’s silence can be prophetic… truly remarkable… and “Epic!” which is exactly what the first “Seven Seven’s” actually were.

 Note on the Numbers and Sequence: From a time perspective, the Holy Scriptures themselves are written in a Midrashic Pattern and actually contain three “Testaments” by God.

 The pattern is: Adam to Jacob [then, 400 Prophetic Years of Silence] Moses to Malachi [then, 400 Prophetic Years of Silence] Yahusha to the End of Time.

 “Genesis” is the 1st Testament, Exodus to Malachi is the 2nd Testament… and Matthew to Revelation is the 3rd Testament. The Hebrew Gematria (Meaning of Numbers in Scripture) would mark Genesis (Testament 1) with “Holiness and Separation,” Exodus to Malachi (Testament 2) with “Division” and Matthew to Revelation (Testament 3) with “Gathering and Resurrection.” As to the “400” years… where “40” is the number of “Testing to the Next Great Expansion” “400” is “Testing to the Next Great Expansion Multiplied and Magnified” and it is this number which separates each of the “Testaments.” And truly, this is exactly what takes place between the three testaments.

 Overall, this marks the Holy Scriptures with the number “3” which again is “Gathering and Resurrection” which is the ultimate goal and great promise of the Scriptures.

 As to the “70” Sevens. “70” is the number of “The Kingdom of God” and “7” is the number of “The Divine Completion of Time.” The first “7” Sevens, therefore, are pointing at a significant “Time which is Completed.”

 That “time” was the completion of the Tanakh (Old Testament). The “62” Sevens would point at the “Division of Fallen Man Multiplied” at a “Divine Completion of Time.” In this, the work of Yahusha (Jesus) is certainly in view… the Jews were absolutely “divided” as to who He was.

 As to the final “1” Seven, this points to “Separation to Holiness” at the “Divine Completion of Time” which is the ultimate stated goal of the “Seventy Sevens Prophecy” with “everlasting righteousness brought in” via “The Holy most Holy” (Messiah the Prince Yahusha/Jesus) being “anointed”… and crowned King of Israel… ruling and reigning on Earth.

 We firmly believe that the last part of the prophecy in Daniel 9:24 which speaks of “everlasting lasting righteousness” is a reference to the Messianic King who is called “The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jer 23:6, 33:16). The “anointing” of the “Holy most Holy” is also likewise a reference to this King being crowned on Earth… as God has His chosen kings “anointed.” 

 This act of anointing will end the final Seventieth Seven. “Messiah the Prince” was to be “cut-off” at the end of the 62 Sevens, which Yahusha (Jesus) literally fulfilled on Earth. We can… and must… understand that His being crowned King on Earth is an essential component of this prophecy that has not taken place… and lies yet in the future.

 The above has been excerpted from “This Final Generation, The Foundations of the Last Time, (C) 2007 Aman Ministries – All Rights Reserved. It is being used here by permission.

 We hope this helps all who read this to understand how all branches of prophecy consistently unite and join together to reveal the truth… which is why we have coined the phrase… “Prophecy is the proof… of the truth!”

 (See https://www.quora.com/In-Daniel-9-25-why-are-the-69-weeks-broken-up-into-7-weeks-and-62-weeks?share=1 for additional “answers”.

Why is all this stuff happening?

God chose a man named Moses (age 80 years) to lead his people out of Egypt to the land God had taken for Himself, which included Jerusalem.

 RULES:

     God told Moses to tell his people certain rules that eventually totaled 613.

 PARTICULAR NOTABLE RULES

De 15:1 At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.

Le 25:8 “‘Count off seven sabbaths of years– seven times seven years– so that the seven sabbaths of years amount to a period of forty-nine years.

 9 Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land.

 10 Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan.

 11 The fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines.

 12 For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields.

 13 “‘In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to his own property.  Everything returns to it’s original state of being just as the Jews have been called back to Israel since 1948 when it became a Nation.   Applying this same principal to Christianity, Christians will return to their first spiritual state of being. As Jonathan Cahn (1) describes it, “we will witness a departure of Western civilization from its biblical foundations, a departure from the faith that defined it, a departure in spirituality, in morality and ethics, in culture and worldview”. “Just as Israel returns to its original state –of being pagan — so the Western world will become pagan once again”.

Continuing what appears to be a giant circle, followers of Yeshua (Jew or Gentile) will return to the spiritual state/time of the first Yeshua Messiah Pentecost and there will once again be a massive spiritual explosion.

 “In the beginning of the age, true believers used the Hebrew name of Yeshua (Jesus) and it is being spoken again. In the beginning of the age, Jewish and Gentile believers were one. This too is repeating.

 BLESSINGS: 

 After the promises of many blessings, Moses stated:

 De 28:1 If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.

 2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:

 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

 4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock– the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

 5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

 6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

 7 The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

 8 The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

 9 The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways.

 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you.

 11 The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity– in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground– in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you.

 12 The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.

 13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.

 14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

CURSES – 

 15 However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

 16 You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.

 17 Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed.

 18 The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

 19 You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out.

 20 The LORD will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him.

 21 The LORD will plague you with diseases until he has destroyed you from the land you are entering to possess.

 22 The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish.

 23 The sky over your head will be bronze, the ground beneath you iron.

 24 The LORD will turn the rain of your country into dust and powder; it will come down from the skies until you are destroyed.

 25 The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven, and you will become a thing of horror to all the kingdoms on earth.

 26 Your carcasses will be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away.

 27 The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors, festering sores and the itch, from which you cannot be cured.

 28 The LORD will afflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of mind.

 29 At midday you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you.

 30 You will be pledged to be married to a woman, but another will take her and ravish her. You will build a house, but you will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but you will not even begin to enjoy its fruit.

 31 Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will eat none of it. Your donkey will be forcibly taken from you and will not be returned. Your sheep will be given to your enemies, and no one will rescue them.

 32 Your sons and daughters will be given to another nation, and you will wear out your eyes watching for them day after day, powerless to lift a hand.

 33 A people that you do not know will eat what your land and labor produce, and you will have nothing but cruel oppression all your days.

 34 The sights you see will drive you mad.

 35 The LORD will afflict your knees and legs with painful boils that cannot be cured, spreading from the soles of your feet to the top of your head.

 36 The LORD will drive you and the king you set over you to a nation unknown to you or your fathers. There you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone.

 37 You will become a thing of horror and an object of scorn and ridicule to all the nations where the LORD will drive you.

 38 You will sow much seed in the field but you will harvest little, because locusts will devour it.

 39 You will plant vineyards and cultivate them but you will not drink the wine or gather the grapes, because worms will eat them.

 40 You will have olive trees throughout your country but you will not use the oil, because the olives will drop off.

 41 You will have sons and daughters but you will not keep them, because they will go into captivity.

 42 Swarms of locusts will take over all your trees and the crops of your land.

 43 The alien who lives among you will rise above you higher and higher, but you will sink lower and lower.

 44 He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him. He will be the head, but you will be the tail.

 45 All these curses will come upon you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the LORD your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you.

 46 They will be a sign and a wonder to you and your descendants forever.

 47 Because you did not serve the LORD your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity,

 48 therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the LORD sends against you. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you.

 49 The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle swooping down, a nation whose language you will not understand,

 50 a fierce-looking nation without respect for the old or pity for the young.

 51 They will devour the young of your livestock and the crops of your land until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain, new wine or oil, nor any calves of your herds or lambs of your flocks until you are ruined.

 52 They will lay siege to all the cities throughout your land until the high fortified walls in which you trust fall down. They will besiege all the cities throughout the land the LORD your God is giving you.

 53 Because of the suffering that your enemy will inflict on you during the siege, you will eat the fruit of the womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters the LORD your God has given you.

 54 Even the most gentle and sensitive man among you will have no compassion on his own brother or the wife he loves or his surviving children,

 55 and he will not give to one of them any of the flesh of his children that he is eating. It will be all he has left because of the suffering your enemy will inflict on you during the siege of all your cities.

 56 The most gentle and sensitive woman among you– so sensitive and gentle that she would not venture to touch the ground with the sole of her foot– will begrudge the husband she loves and her own son or daughter

 57 the afterbirth from her womb and the children she bears. For she intends to eat them secretly during the siege and in the distress that your enemy will inflict on you in your cities.

 58 If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name– the LORD your God–

 59 the LORD will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses.

 60 He will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will cling to you.

 61 The LORD will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed.

 62 You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left but few in number, because you did not obey the LORD your God.

 63 Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please him to ruin and destroy you. You will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess.

 64 Then the LORD will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods– gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known.

 65 Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart.

 66 You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life.

 67 In the morning you will say, “If only it were evening!” and in the evening, “If only it were morning!”– because of the terror that will fill your hearts and the sights that your eyes will see.

The First Covenant/Old Testament, shows a back and forth movement of the nation of Israelites i.e. first a blessing, then after awhile a falling away from God’s rules followed by the resultant curses, followed by repentance and a pleading to go back to the blessings.  God did not want His people to suffer and often sent warning through Prophets, Judges, and certain people He would choose to lead the Israelites back to Him. Finally, a King named Saul was allowed, followed by the well known King David.

 The curse often mentioned in biblical teachings was the Babylonian captivity. God told His Prophet, Jeremiah, the Israelites were to be taken captive by Babylon. There were three conquests. The first brought the young, the intelligent, the sons of “Nobles”, and others including Daniel and three other young men renamed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Two more conquests brought a majority of the remaining Israelites. They were marched naked (men, women, and children) from Israel to Babylon, and were in essential captivity there for 70 years. The Israelites had not kept the 7 year rule (see Rules-Exodus 23:11.)

However, God chose to keep them safe there, essentially blessing them to a degree, and they prospered.

 God knew He could work with the King of Babylon at that time named Nebuchadnezzar. During the beginning of the seventy years God caused Nebuchadnezzar to have a dream concerning the five kingdoms of the world that would come into being.

God through his servant Daniel (who was taken as a young slave to Babylon) was blessed by God to interpret dreams). Daniel gave God’s interpretation of the dream, thereby providing all people, a prophecy of the nations to come into power even up to the end of this age.  

 The dream revealed a statue showing the future five kingdoms of the earth. These were Gold-Nebuchadnezzar, Silver-Persian, Bronze-Greece, Iron-Rome and lastly -Iron mixed with clay between the toes, (thought by today’s scholars, to be a revived Roman empire), post Roman dispersion to lands now called Europe, on down to England, and from those areas eventually over time – to America via ships of the day. America is also considered the possible “revived Roman Empire“.

 Scripture: Da 2:40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron– for iron breaks and smashes everything– and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.

 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay.

 Daniel’s interpretation (which he received from God) reward was to be installed as the head of all the “wise men” of Babylon.

(More to Come)

Part I:

There was war in Heaven. Lucifer and his followers lost, (See Ezekial 28 and Isaiah 14) and were thrown down to the earth’s “atmosphere” in their existing spirit forms. Just as God is spirit, so all heavenly created beings are spirits. From this war also came the Ephesians 6:12 warning of principalities and powers attacking humankind in every way they can.

 God created the earth, and everything on it, including animals. God created man (Adam) (whose first job apparently was to name all the animals), and then saw that man needed companionship so He created woman, (Eve). Lucifer lied to Eve and caused her and Adam to doubt God. They did what God said not to do and caused a curse to come upon them as well as the entire Universe. One of the curses was physical death.

 Scripture:

“Ge 3:23 So the LORD God banished him (Adam) from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken” (including Eve).

 24 After He drove the man out, He placed Cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden  –  and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

 Mankind became extremely evil and God decided to destroy all living beings on earth except for one person named Noah and his family ( a total of 8).

 Scripture:

Ge 6:5 The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

 6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.

 7 So the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth– men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air– for I am grieved that I have made them.”

  God destroyed all living things via a flood with water coming from below and above the earth. Noah and his wife had three sons and from their wives all the nations of the earth came to be.

 Scripture:

Ge 11:1 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.

 2 As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.

 3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar.

 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

 5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building.

 6 The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.

 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” (Insert: The Father God was not talking to Himself.)

 8 So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.

 9 That is why it was called Babel –because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.” (Insert: Babel would be modern day and historical Babylon)

 At the time of confusing the languages, God told specific people go into certain areas. God defined the geographical areas and told the people to stay in those areas and speak their new language. God then picked a certain Gentile man named Abram to be the first of his “chosen people”, later called Israelites or Jews.

 Scripture:

“Ge 12:1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.

 2 I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

 God changed the name of Abram (Noble Father) to Abraham (Father of Nations).

  God chose Abram (Abraham) to be the first of his “chosen” people. Gen. 12:3 illustrates God’s infinite patience and mercy, because historically the angels following Lucifer had rebelled. Adam and Eve rebelled. The descendants of Noah’s son’s rebelled and tried to build a temple to heaven.

 Abraham was told by God he would have a son.  However, since both Abraham and Sarah grew older. Abraham’s wife thought she would help God out a little and gave Abraham her slave/handmaiden to produce offspring. Abraham then was the father of Ishmael  Ishmael was not held in high regard by God (not part of God’s plan) and eventually God told Abraham to send Ishmael away. Abraham prayed for Ishmael and God listened –  blessing Ishmael with twelve sons. The majority of Ishmael’s descendants first lived in the area now called Saudi Arabia.

 As seen in Scripture, at the age of around 100 years God caused Abraham and Sarah to have the necessary physical youth to birth Isaac. Isaac was the father of Esau and Jacob born as twins. God’s did not hold Esau in high regard (not part of God’s plan).

 Jacob had to leave home because, due to his actions, his brother Esau would most likely have killed him. Jacob eventually was called Israel and had twelve sons. Esau had a number of wives, and his descendants were called Edomites. Jacob (Israel)  married two women, Leah (whom he did not love) and Rachel. Jacob loved Rachel but eventually having already birthed Joseph, she died birthing Benjamin. Leah (or one of her attendants) birthed all of the remaining ten sons of Jacob. 

 The timing was as follows: The first four of Jacob’s children belonged to Leah, and she later bore him two more sons and a daughter—seven children total. The last two of Jacob’s children belonged to Rachel. In between were two sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s maid) and two sons of Zilpah (another maid of Leah).

 Jacob’s most favorite son Joseph was secretly sold as a slave by his brothers and eventually became the number two ruler of Egypt under Pharaoh. Eventually Jacob/Israel ended up in Egypt due to a famine in the land and were given all they needed by Joseph who repaid his brother’s evil with good. The years went by. New Pharaoh’s came to be in charge and made the Jews slaves for about 430 years.

 {Let the reader understand, the above is a massive condensation of the events of that time.}

(To Be Continued)

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