Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah

Many years ago, I was challenged to remember the Hebrew names of the three young boys that are mentioned with Daniel. I did, and it is something salted away. Sometimes I count this stuff as information that has no real purpose other than maybe pride. Boy, did I get a shock recently!

Let’s lay this out. When Nebuchadnezzar defeated King Jehoiakim of Judah, he carried away the treasures of the land to Babylon. Among the things also brought to Babylon were the nobles and royals. Also taken were the handsome and skilled youth. These would be trained for three years in the ways of Babylon and to eventually serve in Nebuchadnezzar’s court.

Now among them were of the sons of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, to whom the commander of the officials gave names. And he gave to Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

Daniel 1:6–7

We are introduced to four of the young ones; Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. In order to inculcate them in the ways of Babylon, their names were changed to honor Babylon’s gods. They became known as Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. As the account continues, Daniel is usually referred to by his Hebrew name. The other three youths eventually are not.

Perhaps there is something obscured in the details here. Maybe there is something else to find. Rarely might anyone think, what’s in a name?

God has Favored

And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams, and his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him. Then the king gave the command to call the magicians and the astrologers and the sorcerers and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. The king said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to understand the dream.”
Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever. Tell your servants the dream, and we will tell the interpretation.”

Daniel 2:1–4

After the introduction of the characters and setting, we come to an account of life with Nebuchadnezzar. As it goes, he is bothered by a dream. He calls for the magi to interpret the dream. They ask for him to recount the dream. But there is a less than gracious response.

The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The command from me is firm: If you will not make known to me the dream with its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces and your houses shall be made a dunghill. But if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”

Daniel 2:5–6

What stands out there is the king refuses to tell and wants the magi to both retell the dream and give the interpretation. It is an impossible task, or so it seems. The stark reality shows a lack of graciousness.

The magi plead with the king to tell the dream. The king will not relent in his indifference toward his servants.

The king answered and said, “I know of certainty that you are bargaining for time, because you see that the command from me is firm: If you will not make known to me the dream, there is but one decree for you. For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me until the circumstance is changed. Therefore tell me the dream so that I know that you can tell me its interpretation.”

Daniel 2:8–9

Things become dark quickly. The magi were despairing at the insurmountable ask from the king. And Nebuchadnezzar became angry and furious which made him rather more impatient. He commanded all the wise men to be killed jot quite grasping that his rash decision would be very costly to him personally.

But alas… Enter Daniel. With wisdom and discretion he asked the captain of the king’s guard about the urgency of the decree. When the guard replied, Daniel sought time from the king to provide an interpretation of the dream.

Daniel returned to his three companions, and asked them to pray for favor from the Lord. Daniel and his friends would be of the ones that would succumb under the king’s selfish decree. At night, the secret dream of the king was revealed to Daniel in a vision.

Daniel blessed God for revealing the dream and giving the interpretation of it. Urgently, he then sought the captain of the guard and an audience with the king. Daniel explained the dream and the interpretation of the dream.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and did homage to Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and sweet incense to him. The king answered Daniel and said, “Truly your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.”

Daniel 2:46–47

I think that Nebuchadnezzar learned of the graciousness of God toward him through his servant Daniel.

Who is What God Is?

The next account in the life of the king is probably the most familiar. It is the telling of the three companions of Daniel and the fiery furnace.

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

Daniel 3:1

The king had built a 90 foot statue of gold to represent himself. His kingdom would not be just the head as in his previous dream, but the whole thing would be his. It’s rather pretentious.

He called all of the government officials out. This signifies the power he holds over the kingdom. But then musicians are mentioned. And when the music started, all were to bow down and worship the statue. Nebuchadnezzar was exalting himself as king of the world and god of the world.

Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, you should fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”

Daniel 3:4–6

The punishment for not obeying the decree is an immediate and fiery death. The people dutifully worshipped when they heard the music. As it was, there is some intrigue as the three companions of Daniel refuse.

Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near and accused the Jews. They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever. You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music should fall down and worship the golden image. And whoever does not fall down and worship should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have not regarded you. They do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”

Daniel 3:8–12

Of course this infuriates the king. (I see the pattern.) But the rage is palpable. He calls for the three young ones to be brought before him.

Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the image which I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is that god who can deliver you out of my hands?”

Daniel 3:14–15

Who is that God indeed?

They don’t bow and Nebuchadnezzar becomes even more visibly infuriated. He calls for the furnace to be made seven times hotter. (Is it because his rage was likewise seven-times greater?)

Well, the three companions are thrown into the dangerously hot furnace. It was so hot that the men of valor who tossed them in died instantly. As before, the king’s rage wasn’t potentially costly, he now lost some of his best men.

Our heroes fell down in the furnace.

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spoke, and said to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”
They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
He answered and said, “But I see four men loose and walking in the midst of the fire, and they are unharmed. And the form of the fourth is like the Son of God!”

Daniel 3:24–25

It was pointed out recently that the Septuagint says these men were singing and praising God, and Nebuchadnezzar heard that. It is a blessing that I have access to a the Lexham English translation of the Septuagint. It was difficult to find a resource online, but I did. You can read the Septuagint version of Daniel 3 here. (I am only using that website as a reference for the work itself. It is not an endorsement of the site or teachings therein.)

Yet I digress…

The singing is fascinating, and very apropos as worship music is part of the vignette. Except now the praise and worship isn’t for the people to bow to the king. It is praise pouring all to God. The God who stood with these men in the fire.

As it is, the astonished king see the Son of God in the fire with the three young men. I can imagine the thought in his mind, “Who is that God?” If he heard the singing, he would have to know the answer.

He then calls to the three to come out. They came out alive. There was no evidence surrounding them that would lead one to think they had been in the midst of an exceedingly hot fire. There was not even the smell of smoke on their garments.

Then Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him. They have defied the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. Therefore I make a decree that every people, nation, and language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill, because there is no other God who can deliver in this way.”

Daniel 3:28–29

It seems as the more Nebuchadnezzar has personal experiences with God that his heart toward the Most High changes. We’ve encountered the changes in him and now see he acknowledges Who God is. He has yet to come to terms with his pride in himself.

God has Healed

Nebuchadnezzar the king,
to all peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you.
I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
How great are His signs,
and how mighty are His wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and His dominion is from generation to generation.

Daniel 4:1–3

The first thing I notice is the stark change in the attitude of the king toward the Most High God. He now has a personal testimony of what God has done for him. But as it is in this third account of the life of Nebuchadnezzar, he has an another dream.

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

Daniel 4:4–6

This seems to be a very similar situation to the previous dream. The vision besets him and he calls for the magi to help him with understand the dream.

Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.

Daniel 4:7

Unlike the first account, Nebuchadnezzar relates the dream to his wise men. He doesn’t threaten them. He’s not impatient. He seems to have learned a lesson of graciousness. Then Daniel comes before the king, who relates the dream. And the king asks Daniel to interpret the dream knowing there is none like Daniel’s God.

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream, or its interpretation, trouble you.”
Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, if only the dream was for those who hate you, and its interpretation for your enemies!

Daniel 4:19

There is palpable trepidation for Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar picks up on that. He encourages Daniel to speak anyway and to not be afraid. Daniel’s answer reveals that the dream is about the king and some unsettling things that will happen to him. Daniel’s gives the interpretation, which included a decree from God.

“This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: You shall be driven away from men, and your dwelling shall be with the wild animals. You shall be given grass to eat like oxen, and wet with the dew of heaven. And seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He chooses. Inasmuch as they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots, your kingdom shall be assured to you after you acknowledge that Heaven rules.

Daniel 4:24–26

For seven years, Nebuchadnezzar would be like an ox and eat grass. He would be like one of the lowliest of the animals. It is a lesson in humility that the king must learn. But there is hope of the horizon. He will be restored to his kingdom.

All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he walked on the roof of the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, “Is this not Babylon the Great that I myself have built as a royal residence by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”

Daniel 4:28–30

Life for Nebuchadnezzar continues. A year later, when he exalted himself in pride… The decree came.

While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven: “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you! And you shall be driven away from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be given grass to eat as oxen, and seven periods of time shall pass over you until you know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He wills.”

Daniel 4:31–32

After seven years of a lowly existence eating grass, Nebuchadnezzar comes to his senses. He blesses the Most High and praises Him. In the same instant, the king was healed and restored.

At the same time my reason returned to me. And for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. And my counselors and my lords sought me out. Then I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and those who walk in pride He is able to abase.

Daniel 4:36–37

The account of Nebuchadnezzar is fascinating. Here is the prideful king of the greatest nation to rule the world setting aside his pride to worship God. It wasn’t that God changed his heart. But brought him dreams and others around him to tell him about God. And God revealed Himself to Nebuchadnezzar in the midst of a few object lessons.

What is in a Name?

Everything in your Bible is there by design. There are no coincidences in it. The message it has is integrated within the text in various ways. The details that are in the first chapter of Daniel provide an introduction to who Daniel is. In the midst of that, we are introduced to some other companions of him. And we are told their names were changed. Daniel and his three companions are given new names.

Is there a corelating significance that we are also given three vignettes of the life of Nebuchadnezzar as king?

The Babylonian training of these young men lasted three years. I think the fact that there are three companions and three radical vignettes told in three chapters is there by design. And I think it has to do with the names given to those young men. No, not the new Babylonian names, but the Hebrew names they were given.

Daniel means God is my judge. In a sense, Daniel becomes the one who pronounces the judgment of God in the two dreams. And it is through Daniel that we learn of the judgment of God on Nebuchadnezzar.

In the first account of the first dream. Nebuchadnezzar is characterized as far less than gracious. But by the favor of God, he is provided an interpretation of a dream that frightened him. The name Hananiah means Yah has acted graciously. That is exactly what we see, God acting graciously toward Nebuchadnezzar. There is a stark change in the king to acknowledge that grace.

The first dream led Nebuchadnezzar to exalt himself as not only king of the world but God of the world. He demanded worship by decree and immediate death to those who don’t comply. In his tantrum he asks, “And who is that god who can deliver you out of my hands?” Mishael means who is what God is. The king had an answer to his question. He learned that there is no god like the Most High God.

The third vignette is set with another dream. The king’s fits of anger and fury have seemed to go away. He is grace to others is real. And he acknowledges God. But there is that kingly pride in himself that must go. A decree comes from God to make the king to suffer the lowliest of existences for seven years until he comes to his senses. Eventually he does and he is restored to himself and his kingdom. Azariah means Yah has helped. And the king knows God has restored him.

Four Truths

Nebuchadnezzar learned some things about God. As he did, the changes in himself become apparent. By his own personal testimony, the king could say about God:

He is Judge.

He acts graciously.

There is no other like Him.

He heals and restores.

Read your Bible. And be surprised at those things that are obscured just beyond your perception. They are there for a reason. Don’t be afraid to dig them out.

His Anger Kindles in a Flash

Now then, you kings, be wise;
be admonished, you judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear;
tremble with trepidation!
Kiss the son, lest He become angry,
and you perish in the way,
for His wrath kindles in a flash.
Blessed are all who seek refuge in Him.

Psalm 2:10–12

I am often fascinated by the idea that the God of the Old Testament is somehow different than Jesus. They are the same God, Jesus testified to the fact that had one known the Father they would have known Him. Here, Psalm 2 provides an interesting glimpse into an intimate conversation between two Persons as God.

I draw your attention to the closing stanza. Specifically to the idea that Jesus’ wrath kindles in a flash. How does that comport to the loving Jesus you know when His anger explodes instantly?

The more important point to weigh… Why would His anger kindle at all?

Could it be that when leaders don’t lead properly, that is pointing people to Jesus, there is trouble afoot?

Clearly, the stanza is addressed to kings and judges, generally the leaders of the people. These are instructed to worship Jesus before He becomes angry. These Psalm implies that there is a limit to the time available. Perhaps it points to when Jesus returns to vanquish His enemies. It is going to be a swift and rather brutal thing. Or it is just a general exhortation that God will not let you ignore Him forever. Nevertheless, it informs us that there is a time limit to His mercy.

Personally, I think there may be a bit more in view. Especially when considering that part of this is quoted in Hebrews.

For to which of the angels did He at any time say:
“You are My Son;
today I have become Your Father”?
Or again,
“I will be a Father to Him,
and He shall be a Son to Me”?

Hebrews 1:5

The Son is Jesus. The text is also speaking of the angels not being like Jesus. When looking back at Psalm 2, those kings and judges may very well include spiritual beings. The next verse in Hebrews 1 seems to point to an indicator of that.

And again, when He brings the firstborn into the world, He says:
“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”

Hebrews 1:6

The desire of God is that all angels worship Him. We know there are some that fell away. The Hebrews passage also cites another Psalm…

All who serve graven images are ashamed,
who boast in worthless idols;
worship Him, all you gods.

Psalm 97:7

In that last line, seeing the word gods, one can assume it is the Hebrew word elohim. Reading it for understanding, “worship Him, all you elohim.”

For some, this may be an introduction to something not considered. That is, the word elohim is not necessarily a name for God. It describes a class of being much like the English word god. When God is capitalized, we know it is the Most High. When not, it is any of the lesser gods. I want you to think elohim are spiritual beings.

There are plenty of resources available on this site and can be found by exploring the tags and categories. But for a deeper explanation, this article serves well enough.

It kind of makes sense that spiritual beings are included and encouraged to remain loyal to the Son. His anger would be kindled to those who do not, and consequently they cannot seek refuge in the Son having no kin relationship to Him.

But, the greater point is that we humans can take refuge in Him. As long as we are breathing, He is a place of safety and comfort no matter what you’ve done and where you are. If you’re running away, the way back to Jesus is easy. Just turn around!

And if you’ve never taken that step to worship Jesus, start now.

The offer will expire.

There is None Like Me

God, who at various times and in diverse ways spoke long ago to the fathers through the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the world. He is the brightness of His glory, the express image of Himself, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had by Himself purged our sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Hebrews 1:2–3

When recently reading this portion of Scripture, it reminded me of a recent conversation. The gist of which was an objection to this phrase, “Jesus is God.” The objection went something like, “Jesus was God, but not at this time.” As He is sitting at the right hand of God.

Granted, when discussing this issue, things become very difficult for our finite minds to grasp. Even my bride asked me recently about these things, and they are hard to explain. I think there are multiple reasons. One is our limited physical reality which inhibits film understand of spiritual things. Second, and probably most important, is that He says there is no one like Him. I think that means there is nothing akin to God as One.

Remember the former things of old,
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
declaring the end from the beginning,
and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying,
“My counsel shall stand,
and I will do all My good pleasure,”

Isaiah 46:9–10

I know that there are those who object to the idea that Jesus is God and is sitting at the right-hand of God because it doesn’t make sense. To cope with that, the explanation is as if somehow Jesus is separate from and takes off what it is to be God. The idea is rather difficult because there is nothing to like Him for comparison.

It’s a point that God says of Himself, He is not like anything else. He just is.

Considering that, I think the writer of Hebrews wants to convey the clear distinction between the Father and the Son… And how Each is no less God. (I would add ‘at any time,’ but that makes a mess of things because God is not encumbered by time.) I also think this portion of Hebrews lends help to enlighten a weird passage in the Torah. Which in turn helps to clarify the issue at hand.

Yes, the Father spoke though prophets, but then He sent His Son. The Son is Heir of all things. He is everything that God is. Yet there is a distinction. It is the Son Who Himself purged our sins. The Son then sat down at the right hand of Majesty. That hints that there is something significantly different about the Son… It is a term I think of as locality. It is also seems as if Jesus put Himself in the position of contingency to God. Paul indicates this in Philippians 2. He said that Jesus emptied Himself of what it was to be God and took on the form of a servant not considering equality with God as something to hold tight. This is instructive because Jesus has to rely on God, and in that way He becomes a model to follow.

The writer of a Hebrews will make the case that a body was prepared for the Son. A human body, conceived, gestated, born, grown to adulthood, and eventually wounded to death by sin. It’s the humility of the Savior submitting Himself to the penalty of sin, death. He is human in every way yet perfectly sinless. Death had no claim to Him and He took up His life again. Yet He still has a body, and is not like a spirit. He’s not like an angel at all. Therefore He has locality like any other human. Yet He is still God in every way.

He was made so much better than the angels as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
For to which of the angels did He at any time say:
“You are My Son;
today I have become Your Father”?
Or again,
“I will be a Father to Him,
and He shall be a Son to Me”?
And again, when He brings the firstborn into the world, He says:
“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
Of the angels He says:
“He makes His angels spirits,
and His servants a flame of fire.”

Hebrews 1:4–7

Jesus is far superior to the angels. He is Unique. The language reveals the conception of the Son. Humans conceive and beget children, angels do not. (Though the Bible speaks plainly that some of those left that estate and sought strange or different flesh.) It’s a precise idea being conveyed. Jesus is human, He has a body. Angels don’t have a body.

He is the Son and His position is clearly God as all the angels worship Him… At His birth, and even at the right hand of God. It is like God is talking to God. I write it that way because the Father is speaking to the Son, God to God. I’m certain this might just fry the thinking circuits of many. But God is clearly talking to God. He’s not talking to Himself, as there are two distinct Persons involved. The One speaking is God and the One being praised is God.

Don’t believe what I say. It is what the Bible says.

But to the Son He says:
“Your throne, O God, lasts forever and ever;
a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
And,
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the works of Your hands.
They will perish, but You remain;
and they all will wear out like a garment;
as a cloak You will fold them up,
and they will be changed.
But You are the same,
and Your years will not end.”

Hebrews 1:8–12

Your throne, Oh God… That’s the Son. Therefore God, your God… That’s the Father. It is crystal clear that God is talking to God. And it’s not like you or I when we talk to ourselves.

Now, it might all seem to be a game in semantics. But it is necessary to look back at the Torah for some contextual clues. I think there is one incident back in Genesis that is useful. It’s back when God calls Abram. God makes some promises to the patriarch. Promises that He alone will keep.

Genesis chapter 12 progresses from the first promises to chapter 15. This is where God again iterates the promises to Abram. Abram begins to boldly question God, not that He doesn’t believe but wants to know how it will be. God promises Abram the Promised Land as a possession. When Abram asks God how he will know God keeps His promises, this is the response.

So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
Then Abram brought all of these to Him and cut them in two and laid each piece opposite the other, but he did not cut the birds in half. When the birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

Genesis 15:9–11

Yeah, to me, that’s just weird. But this is how covenants were made in those days. Animals were slaughtered by cutting them in half. Each half was laid to one side of the pooled blood between them. The next animal in line would be likewise slaughtered, and so on. This created a blood path between them. The significance is that both parties walk through the cut animals on the blood path to testify that if they break the covenant they will be cut to pieces and shed their blood as these animals. In other words, the person breaking the covenant must die.

It’s here that I must say that I think the significance of this is barely understood. Not so much the covenant and ritual, but the precision of the details. The parties of the covenant are going to walk that blood path placing a curse upon themselves if the covenant is broken.

Back to the scene at hand, Abram was shooing away the birds of prey. As was the custom, the greater party went first. Abram was prepared to go through and waited on God. But, a deep sleep came upon him. Then something odd happened.

As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram, and terror and a great darkness fell on him. Then He said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will live as strangers in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. But I will judge the nation that they serve, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. As for you, you will go to your fathers in peace and you will be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation, your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.

Genesis 15:12–16

God gave Abram a satisfying rest. Just as Jesus says to come unto Him and He gives rest. That detail alone is important and points forward to Jesus. It also provides a clue as to Who is really here. There is a hint to the prophetic detail of this particular incident.

I do have questions. One, I want to ask why was God talking to Abram in that deep sleep?

Perhaps this is a way of how God gives visions. It’s recorded for our edification. Which begs another question… Does that mean God cannot work on me until I rest?

It would seem like it. Nevertheless, God gives Abram details about his progeny. But, it’s what comes next that is difficult to ignore.

When the sun went down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot with a flaming torch passed between these pieces.

Genesis 15:17

Abram is sleeping. God talks to him in his sleep. Then It got dark. I think many overlook the significance of the Entities making the Covenant. It’s often said that God made a Covenant with Himself. That almost sounds like crazy talk. But it’s not crazy to think that covenants exist between two or more parties. In this case, we have at least two Persons if not three.

The first is the smoking firepot. Representing the Father, the all consuming fire, the One Who descended on on Mount Sinai in exodus. The One Who led the Israelis in the wilderness by the pillar of cloud. And there’s that smoke which surrounds God much like the Holy Spirit does in John’s Revelation.

The flaming torch is the Light, Jesus. He is the Begotten. He is the Heir of all things.

These parties walked as equals on the blood path signifying that should the covenant be broken, their own blood would be shed in like manner. God doesn’t have blood. From Genesis 3:15, the idea of God having begotten Progeny is clear. The blood path is pointing directly at the incarnation of Jesus.

Furthermore, These Parties will keep the contract. Jesus inherits the land. Israel is established forever. This points forward to the sealed scroll in Revelation. There is no detail that is not important.

On that same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great Euphrates River—the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

Genesis 15:18–21

What God did was to signify to Abram, even if you break the covenant I will be cut to pieces.

Covenants aren’t single party. It wasn’t God promising Himself. It was the Spirit promising to the Father and the Son, the Son promising to the Spirit and the Father, and the Father promising to the Spirit and the Son. It’s Their covenant to establish and keep, not Abram’s. Even if Abram broke it, the consequences fell to the Parties in the covenant.

The Son promised to keep the covenant. As did the Father and the Spirit.

The throne of the Son is a forever thing. With a promised purpose…

But to which of the angels did He at any time say:
“Sit at My right hand,
until I make Your enemies
Your footstool”?

Hebrews 1:13

Jesus is God. He has never changed, nor never will.

After Hearing, After Believing, Sealed Forever

In Him you also, after hearing the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and after believing in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1:13–14

Like other parts of the Bible, this is a powerful passage. It debunks a majority of erroneous doctrines. Two that come to mind…

Regeneration before faith is impossible here. Hearing, believing, and sealed are ordered. The tenses of each verb in the Greek are all aorist. The aorist tense is best translated at perfect tenses in English. The best way to describe the tense is once and done, meaning it cannot be undone. After one hears, it cannot be undone. After one believes, it cannot be undone. Once one is sealed, it cannot be undone.

The latter idea is reinforced in the words that describe Who the Holy Spirit is. This debunks the other popular error, that one can somehow lose or forfeit salvation by free will.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me. For I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28–30

Jesus beckoned for all to come unto Him. He promised to give them rest. Not only is that rest from work, it is rest from persevering. It is also rest from worry because He keeps His promises and He keeps His own.

Just as Paul wrote to the Ephesians. If you’ve heard, and then you believed… You are delivered from death and judgment, being sealed by the Holy Spirit Himself. He is given as earnest money guaranteeing the fulfillment. You don’t have to guarantee the fulfillment by work, perseverance, or worry. He does.

There are now two witnesses from the Scriptures of this truth. There are more, but one particularly satisfying is from Jesus Himself as recorded by John.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me shall never hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst. But I told you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. All whom the Father gives Me will come to Me, and he who comes to Me I will never cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who has sent Me, that of all whom He has given Me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

John 6:35–40

Everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him. It’s not enough to see or hear about Jesus. One has to make the next step, believe in Him to have eternal life. What does that mean?

Jesus explained it to the Pharisees…

Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

John 8:24

Check the immediate context of that text. Jesus is making the case that He forgive sins. He is the Light. Things that Jewish folks only consider to be of the Father Himself. That is, He is God. That is exactly what He means when He says unless one believes they are still in their sins. Just like those who came to Him in John 6, they saw Him and the miracles… But they did not believe in Him as God.

See and hear of the Son. Then believe His testimony, trusting in Him as God to forgive sins. He will forgive, and give eternal life to anyone who does that.

The Seventieth — Jubilee!

Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a sabbath to the Lord. For six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruit, but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of complete rest for the land, a sabbath for the Lord. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard.

Leviticus 25:2–4

Most folks are already familiar with the Sabbath, which occurs weekly on Saturdays. When considering the entirety of the Torah, sabbath is more than an every Saturday occurrence. It is more than just a day, too. It is also more than just for humans. The passage above mandates a sabbath year of rest for the land. Just as God instructs Moses, he will pass on the information to the Israelis. They are to let the land rest every seven years.

With the seventh-year sabbath, God has further instructions for the Israelis that will be explored. These are instructions on counting years. As it is with the Word of God, some peculiarities deserve attention. These are encoded within these instructions.

Take the number six in this passage. Six days are given to humans to work the land. The seventh year is a sabbath for the land and for the Lord. It’s not that He needs rest, the land is to have rest, leading the people to the Lord to provide for them.

The numbers in the text are not there by mistake. The interplay of six and seven seems to be overt. The Bible tells us that six is the number of man in Revelation 13:18. Man was created on the sixth day. In the same manner, humans work the land for six years, giving the land rest on the seventh. Seven is the number of God. It almost sounds synergistic, because it is.

That which grows by itself from your harvest you shall not reap, nor gather the grapes of your unpruned vines, for it is a year of complete rest for the land. The sabbath produce of the land shall be food for you: for you, and for your male and female servants, and for your hired servant, and for your stranger who sojourns with you, and for your livestock, and for the wild animals in your land, shall all its increase be food.

Leviticus 25:5–7

The synergism between God and humans continues. While the land is cultivated by humans for six years giving them provision and sustenance, it rests for God on the seventh. Humans are instructed to not eat of their cultivation even the unpruned vines. What grows from the wild shall be sustenance for all. In other words, God will provide their needs.

Seven leads to God.

Seven Times Seven

You shall count seven sabbath weeks of years, seven times seven years, and the time of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years. Then you shall sound the horn blasts on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall make the sound of the horn throughout all your land. You shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all the inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee to you, and each of you shall return to his possession, and every person shall return to his family. That fiftieth year will be a Jubilee for you. You shall neither sow nor reap that which grows by itself, nor gather the grapes of your unpruned vines.

Leviticus 25:8–11

Six and seven are the prominent numbers in the previous text. The repertoire is now expanded to include ten, forty-nine, and fifty.

There is now a counting of years assigned to a different purpose. It marks the time of restoration for the people of Israel, which is called the Jubilee. There is much to learn about the Jubilee and restoration. Some of that will be explored, but it will not be comprehensive.

Jubilee is the time when sold land is returned to the owner, and it is the time when slaves are set free. Land was never really sold in ancient Israel. It was rented knowing it would be restored at the Jubilee. The indentured were also rented, knowing that release from their bondage came at the Jubilee.

Seven sets of seven years are counted. Seven is the number of God, and seven squared is forty-nine (72=49.) Forty-nine years are counted. The fiftieth year follows and is then consecrated and proclaimed when it begins. In addition to freedom and restoration, it is a sabbath year of rest for the land. There is more here that will be examined a bit later.

The Jubilee was announced on the seventh month on the tenth day. This is 10 Tishri. Tishri is the seventh month. As noted before, the number seven is the number of God. It signifies perfection and completion. Those meanings are gleaned from the creation narrative among other places. The number ten means completeness of order. This is also gleaned from the creation narrative where the phrase “God said” is used ten times. Ten is also the number of commandments given to Moses.

Seventh Month, Tenth Day

10 Tishri is also one of the moedim (feast days) given to Israel. It is the Day of Atonement solemnized by the selection of two goats, one offered for the presence of God and the other carrying sins away. The rituals prescribed for that day also signify the idea of freedom from the bondage of sin and restoration. In addition to that celebration, every fiftieth year Jubilee is proclaimed by the blasting of the shofar.

This combination of the seventh month and the tenth day has another obscured message. The numbers seven, perfection, and ten, completeness of order… It follows that this day marks the perfection of complete order.

It must be noted that Israelis observe more than one calendar. The sacred one is the most familiar. It begins in the month of Nisan. This one was instituted by God after the flood of Noah. The original calendar from Genesis had the new year on 1 Tishri, which is one of the moedim celebrated as the Feast of Trumpets. As seen in the text, Tishri is the new year for counting years and on the original calendar Noah used before it was changed.

I don’t mean this to be an exhaustive study of biblical numerology or Israeli calendars. But as I study and write, fascinating things come to mind; thoughts scatter, and I try to render some coherence.

Nisan/Tishri

Counting the seventh month from Nisan brings one to Tishri. The seventh month from Tishri is Nisan. Both Nisan and Tishri begin the new year on differing calendars. The difference in calendars is only which month is first. The order of them stays the same. Even more unsettling, six full months are counted to get to the seventh. The interplay of this pattern is repeated if one pays attention.

Now, consider that Noah’s Ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat on 17 Nisan (seventh month, seventeenth day, Genesis 8:4.) Coincidentally, 17 Nisan is the month and day of the resurrection of Jesus. Resurrection Day is three days away from the sacrifice of Passover on 14 Nisan. The Passover lambs were selected on 10 Nisan and brought into the home. Which is the seventh month and tenth day of the original calendar. Again as coincidence would have, 10 Nisan is the same day and month Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey.

Of course, I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe in the precision of the Bible. Every detail is there by design. There are multiple interplays of seven and ten that purposefully and overtly point to the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

Lunar Calendar

The Hebrew calendar is lunar. It has a year with 360 days. There are twelve months in most years. But there are also a thirteenth and a fourteenth month to accommodate the differences between solar and lunar calendars. Why a thirteenth and fourteenth month, though?

Consider the listings of the twelve tribes of Israel in the Tanakh. Each one is never the same, even the order of the names can be different. The tribe of Dan becomes obscured to the point of non-existence. Sometimes Ephraim and Manasseh are included in the lists. Obviously, there is also a thirteenth and fourteenth tribe of Israel.

I understand the unsettling nature of this information.

A similar pattern is present in the listing of the inner circle of the twelve apostles of Jesus. Like Dan above, a time came when Judas was gone. The lot fell on Matthias as his replacement. Jesus fell on Paul in Light on the Damascus Road making Paul an apostle. It follows that there is also a thirteenth and fourteenth apostle.

How do I assimilate that?

I know this all seems to get rather blurry. I think it allows for a greater degree of precision and design. Many will read past these, but God conceals things for His glory. And for those who diligently seek for those hidden things. When one encounters a listing, the names and their order become significant, and even a clue as to a hidden deeper meaning. Even the omission of one or more has meaning to explore.

Seven and Ten, Seventeen and Seventy

As has been shown, seven and ten are meaningful on their own. Added together they become seventeen. Seventeen is the day the Ark rested at Ararat. It is the day Jesus rose from the dead. Seventeen is the number of new beginnings, God vanquishes the enemy. (The last enemy to be destroyed is death.) Seventeen is complete order in perfection.

Seven times ten is seventy. And like seventeen above, it has significance. Seventy connotes perfection in complete order. Seventy members of Jacob’s family come to Joseph in Egypt. There are seventy elders appointed to help Moses with the affairs of the people. There are seventy Gentile nations. Seventy weeks are given to Israel. The number seventy is a complete set, or as the Hebraism is all of them.

When Jesus teaches about forgiveness, he says to forgive seventy times seven, it is more than hyperbole. The inherent meaning of the numbers is to forgive all of the sins of another completely and perfectly.

Correcting the Common Misconceptions

The counting of the seven weeks of years gives a forty-nine-year period. It is when the fiftieth year is announced and liberty is proclaimed that the cycle is complete. The common misconception in counting the Jubilees is they occur every fifty years, which is taken to count fifty between them. It is not fifty, but forty-nine. When the Jubilee is proclaimed the cycle completes and resets. It becomes the first year of the next cycle. This is just as God prescribed it. That concept may prove difficult to grasp, nevertheless, it is the reality.

There is another misconception about counting that may be easily overlooked.

Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a sabbath to the Lord.

Leviticus 25:2

Examine the text closely for the clue. Through Moses, God told the Israelis that the first year was a sabbath year. It would also mean it is the first year in the count to the forty-ninth year for the Jubilee.

For six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruit,

Leviticus 25:3

There is a slightly different way of numbering for the sabbath. It is not a count. The Israelis were to work the land for six years, and the seventh is a sabbath. It is a different system. Because the year Israelis entered the Promised Land is a sabbath, the next year is year one of six years of working the land. The seventh would be the sabbath year.

Say that Israel entered the Promised Land in the year 1406 BC. 1405 BC would be the first year of working the land, with 1400 BC as the sixth. 1399 BC would be a sabbath year. Following the pattern of sabbath years, 1392 BC, 1385 BC, 1378 BC, 1371 BC, 1364 BC, and 1357 BC. 1357 would then be the first Jubilee. It would be the fiftieth year from 1406 BC. The forty-ninth year, counting seven sevens would be 1358 BC. The next year was the Jubilee. It would also be the first year in our next count of forty-nine to the second Jubilee in 1308 BC. Do the math, 1357–1308=49.

The number of years between Jubilees is forty-nine in the way God instituted the count. The fiftieth year is proclaimed, and the next count begins. Meaning it is year one of the next count to forty-nine. The way it works is the Jubilees will always be in a sabbath year.

The count may seem confusing, but God has already given the precedent for this count.

Shavuot (Pentecost)

You shall count seven full weeks from the next day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf bundle of the wave offering. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord.

Leviticus 23:15–16

Counting seven full weeks after the Sabbath after Passover, each week beginning on Sunday and ending on Saturday. Seven full weeks brings us to Sunday… Not Saturday. Just as the Israelis were to count six years of working the land, these were full years, to arrive at the seventh. The forty-ninth day, Saturday, is part of the seven full weeks. The Holy Spirit provided error correction in the next way of counting. Counting 50 days from Sunday ensures the end day is always Sunday.

It is in this way that the count to Jubilee is related to the count to Shavuot. It also provides a foundation for understanding the meaning of the number fifty. It has already been shown that it signifies freedom and deliverance. It also leads directly to the Holy Spirit.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There appeared to them tongues as of fire, being distributed and resting on each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

Acts 2:1–4

The number fifty connects with the giving of the promised Holy Spirit at the birth of the church in the first century. The correlation between Shavuot and Jubilee is not a coincidence. Both occur on a celebration of the fiftieth. One of the fiftieth day, the other on the fiftieth year. Adding importance, Pentecost occurred on the fiftieth day from the resurrection of Jesus.

These numbers are all interlaced in meaning and concept. Seven times ten makes seventy. That number has precise biblical significance, too. Seventy is a perfect complete set.

What if there is a complete set of Jubilees for Israel?

The Complete Set in Daniel

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans, in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which were specified by the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the accomplishment of the desolations of Jerusalem, that is, seventy years. I set my face toward the Lord God to seek by prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

Daniel 9:1–3

The significance of the numbers seven and ten provided much to ponder. When adding seven to ten, it makes seventeen. To review, the number seventeen has significance and points to new beginnings and resurrection. Noah’s Ark came to rest on 17 Nisan, the same day and month of the resurrection of Jesus.

Seventy conveys the idea of perfection of complete order. As stated before, I like to say all of them as in a full set that matches the Hebraism.

In the text above, Daniel was reading a passage from the book of Jeremiah on the desolations of Israel being complete in seventy years. This was to repay the seventy years of sabbaths that the land of Israel never had. Daniel realized the release from captivity was soon and sought to pray about that particular text to understand its meaning. His prayer is recorded in the following verses of Daniel 9, along with the answer to it.

While I was speaking and praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, indeed, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. He informed me and talked with me, and said, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved.

Daniel 9:20–23a

I don’t want to summarize this. I find the reading of it exciting and so compelling that it needs no other simplification or amplification. God’s messenger Gabriel gave Daniel the understanding he prayed to have.

Therefore understand the matter and consider the vision:
“Seventy weeks have been determined for your people and upon your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make atonement for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.

Daniel 9:23b–24

I would point out that seventy weeks are given to the people. And seventy weeks are given to the city of Jerusalem. Hidden within the precision of the text is a hint at dual application. A dual application with a common consummation.

“Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the command to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem until the Prince Messiah shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks. It shall be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of trouble.

Daniel 9:25

It seems clear that the messenger is explaining the vision for the city. It will be rebuilt. There is also a precise calculation given, 69 weeks of years from the decree until the Anointed One comes. The order to rebuild the city, not just the temple, would be the impetus to start counting 483 years (69 weeks of years.) The command to rebuild Jerusalem was given by Artaxerxes Longimanus on 14 March 445 BC.

The math is precise. 483 years of 360 days corrected for leap years and there is no year zero takes us to 10 Nisan AD 32. That is the first Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem as King on the back of a donkey. (Seventh month, tenth day of the original calendar.)

Jesus was crucified on 14 Nisan, the day the Paschal lambs were slaughtered for observation of Passover. He was put in the grave that night. This tracks exactly what Gabriel said to Daniel.

After the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the troops of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall come with a flood. And until the end of the war desolations are determined.

Daniel 9:26

Messiah was cut off from His people. That’s a euphemism for the sudden death that is due for sins. The focus here turns to the city of Jerusalem and the Temple. The text also explains that both would be destroyed.

There is much controversy here. Much of that controversy comes about by not taking the time to examine the precision of the Scriptures and how they interrelate. They do, surprisingly and intricately. Jerusalem and the Temple are destroyed quickly. That is the meaning behind flood, swiftness of the action. The destruction of the temple and Jerusalem did come about swiftly in AD 70.

The understanding Gabriel gave Daniel didn’t end there.

And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one week. But in the middle of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator.”

Daniel 9:27

Implicit in the text is the assumption that there is a temple for sacrifice and offering to take place after it has been destroyed. The seemingly new temple is in place, it would have to be some time after the destruction previously foretold. This new temple would necessarily have to be in Jerusalem. These ideas have to be inferred to make sense of the text. Moving further along, those things are coupled with the language of destruction to the desolator, it is a consummation of the seventy weeks. It follows that the desolation is destroyed after there is a new temple. It all points to a time then yet future Daniel, and yet future to the destruction of the Temple then existing. That will be when the transgression is finished and the end of sins comes.

That’s the account of the seventy weeks for the city of Jerusalem. Is there one for the people?

Seventy Years of Jeremiah

It shall come to pass when seventy years are finished that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, says the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

Jeremiah 25:12

This is the text Daniel had concerns about. He knew the 70 years of captivity were nearing an end. The phrase perpetual desolations stands out as also connecting this to what Gabriel said. This also then hints at a long view yet future. This means Gabriel gave a longer view of the 70 years for the people (of the captivity.)

I will bring upon that land all My words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations. For many nations and great kings will make slaves of them, even them. And I will recompense them according to their deeds and according to the works of their hands.

Jeremiah 25:13–14

There is that promise of God, I will bring upon Babylon all My words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in Jeremiah’s book. God spoke many words to Babylon. Some of them were written many centuries after Jeremiah lived.

Standing far off for the fear of her torment, they will say:
‘Alas, alas for that great city,
that mighty city, Babylon!
In one hour your judgment has come.’

Revelation 18:10

If, as one reads in Jeremiah, all of the things pronounced against Babylon must take place, it must include those written in Revelation. Since there are things in Jeremiah which have not yet come to pass, and there are other things pronounced against Babylon that have not seen fruition… It follows that some of what is written in Revelation has not yet been fulfilled completely. God is promising that all of it will happen, and because it has not… These things point to events yet future.

In the Jeremiah text above, God also declares He will repay all of the nations that went against Jerusalem according to their deeds and according to their works. The idea of all nations being judged is spread through the bandwidth of the Bible. This is the apocalyptic language that points to the end times.

“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you know that its desolation has drawn near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the city depart, and let not those who are in the country enter it. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

Luke 21:20–22

As Luke records the words of Jesus, it is clear that His words connect to the ideas presented so far by both Daniel and Jeremiah. It is my clear conviction that the preponderance of the evidence indicates that these events are yet future.

But is there something else that may have been overlooked?

Going back to Jeremiah 25:12, God said it shall be when seventy years are finished that He will do these things. Well, all the things pronounced against Babylon have not yet happened. It means that those seventy years are not yet complete.

When examining the word translated into English as years, we encounter the Hebrew word sana. It is almost always translated as years, but the meaning of the Hebrew word has a much broader context. The meaning of sana encompasses the passing of seasons or cycles. A year encompasses a cycle of seasons, as does every fiftieth year encompasses the Jubilee cycle.

The Full Set of Jubilees

There is not an overt count of one set of 70 Jubilees in the Scriptures. It is hidden away in the text of Jeremiah as seen. Especially considering the difference between the precise English 70 years, to the less precise Hebrew 70 sana.

If this set of complete Jubilees exists, then there is some very specific math that can be applied. But that math requires an objective starting point.

Back a bit, I chose the year 1406 BC as the year Israel entered the Promised Land. There is much controversy over the dating of the sojourn of Israel in Egypt. Many of the secular scholars have purposefully excluded biblical data. We know the day and month from the Scriptures.

Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped at Gilgal, on the eastern border of Jericho.

Joshua 4:19

Israel entered the Promised Land on 10 Nisan, but what year?

The evidence points to 1406 BC. The selection of Passover Lambs in Egypt 40 years before brackets the wilderness wandering with the entrance into the Promised Land on 10 Nisan 1446 BC.

Why choose these dates?

I favor 1446 BC as the year of the Exodus based on the work of two individuals. The first is the book “Origins of the Hebrews: New Evidence of Israelites in Egypt from Joseph to Exodus” by Douglas Petrovich. The book presents compelling evidence for not only the Israeli sojourn in Egypt but also provides a detailed timeline. One that includes an exit year of 1446 under Pharaoh Amenhotep II. Mr. Petrovich maintains an academia.edu page where he has published other materials.

The second reason why I favor 1446 BC as the year of exodus is based on some of the work of Heather R. She maintains an academia.edu page, too. Her books are published there for free. Of particular interest is the book “The Jubilee and Ezekiel’s Temple” where she provides a comprehensive timeline of the Jubilee cycle complete with data and methods.

The count for the full set of Jubilees begins in the year 1406 BC. This is by the instructions given to Moses in Leviticus 25. With that start date, the complete set of Jubilees can be determined. With the last being the seventieth Jubilee. It will occur in AD 2025.

Big deal, right?

It could very well be. What else is there to learn?

Jesus and the Jubilee

There is an incident recorded in the book of Luke. Jesus is reading from the prophet Isaiah in a synagogue in Nazareth.

He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day. And He stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. When He had unrolled the scroll, He found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
because He has anointed Me
to preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed;
to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Luke 4:16–19

Jesus read from chapter 61 in the book of Isaiah. This is what Jesus said about this:

Then He rolled up the scroll, and He gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all those who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke 4:20–21

It’s brief. But what Jesus read has language that fits the idea of the Jubilee… Freedom from oppression and restoration. It would be awesome if this coincided with a Jubilee. It does not. And it’s not even close.

When examining what Jesus read, the last two lines are compelling, especially “to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” The definitive article (the) is not in Greek but is assumed for translation clarity.

When the passage in Isaiah 61 is examined, something else is unveiled.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me
because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor;
He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn,
to preserve those who mourn in Zion,
to give to them beauty
for ashes,
the oil of joy
for mourning,
the garment of praise
for the spirit of heaviness,
that they might be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord,
that He might be glorified.

Isaiah 61:1–3

It is what Jesus didn’t read, and precisely where He stopped. It was halfway through the passage. This implies He’s not finished yet proclaiming the acceptable year of the Lord. The next step in the program is to proclaim the day of vengeance of our God. That is a specific period of time. I also note that the acceptable time is a year, exponentially greater than the day of vengeance.

What can be gleaned about that?

Isaiah uses the phrase day of vengeance multiple times. It is apocalyptic in nature. It speaks to a time period that is referred to as Jacob’s Trouble.

Jacob’s Trouble

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book. For surely the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah. The Lord says, I also will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

Jeremiah 30:1–3

There is a time of restoration for the Israeli people, all of them. Note that God includes Israel, the northern kingdom, and Judah, the southern kingdom. Colloquially, the northern kingdom is spoken of as the lost tribes. It is a nod to the fact that these tribes have never been regathered into the land. It is my contention that all of Israel is being gathered into the land and for a while, now. The purpose is for restoration, but there is also trouble for both Israel and Judah. There’s a reason why both are named twice, that is both have to have returned to Israel. And tribulation looms for both.

These are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah. For thus says the Lord:
I have heard a sound of trembling,
of fear, and not of peace.
Ask now, and see,
can a male labor with child?
Why do I see every man
with his hands on his loins, as a woman in labor,
and all faces turned pale?
Alas! for that day is great,
so that no one is like it;
it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble,
but he shall be saved out of it.

Jeremiah 30:4–7

All of Jeremiah 30 is worth a read. God is pointing to a consummation of events in the latter days. Like Jesus said in Matthew 24:21, there is nor will be no other day like it. Ones in which, Jacob will be saved out of it. And as Daniel says, knowledge will be increased.

Look, the whirlwind of the Lord
goes forth with fury,
a continuing whirlwind;
it will fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.
The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return
until He has done it
and until He has performed the intentions of His heart.
In the latter days
you will understand it.

Jeremiah 30:23–24

These are the latter days. These are the days to understand it. There is the day of vengeance, that day. It is a period called the Tribulation. It is the time of consummation from Daniel 9 above when all things will be finished. It will be with the return of Jesus to vanquish His enemies. It is described graphically.

The Return of Jesus

“Who is this who comes from Edom
with dyed garments from Bozrah?
This one who is glorious in His apparel,
traveling in the greatness of His strength?”
“It is I who speak in righteousness,
mighty to save.”
“Why is Your apparel red,
and Your garments like him who treads in the wine vat?”
“I have trodden the winepress alone;
and from the peoples there was no one with Me.
For I will tread them in My anger,
and trample them in My fury,
and their blood shall be sprinkled upon My garments,
and I will stain all My raiment.
For the day of vengeance is in My heart,
and My year of redemption has come.
I looked and there was no one to help,
and I was astonished, and there was no one to uphold;
therefore, My own arm brought salvation to Me;
and My fury upheld Me.
I will tread down the peoples in My anger
and make them drunk in My fury,
and I will pour out their lifeblood on the earth.”

Isaiah 63:1–6

This is the end of the tribulation when Jesus comes. There is an order to things, Jesus stopped at the reading of the scroll of Isaiah. There is a long length of what is acceptable time for people to be saved. Which is followed by a day of vengeance. After which is to preserve those who mourn in Zion.

Who is this Who treads the wine press?

I saw heaven opened. And there was a white horse. He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written, that no one knows but He Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood. His name is called The Word of God. The armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Out of His mouth proceeds a sharp sword, with which He may strike the nations. “He shall rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury and wrath of God the Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 19:11–16

It truly is the Day of Lord!

Isn’t this still the acceptable year?

Lurking behind the English translation there is that Hebrew word sana again. It is most often rendered as year but has a broader meaning of a cycle of seasons. Perhaps that cycle is the complete set of Jubilees.

Conclusion

If all of this is true, then 2025 is significant in meaning. It is a Jubilee year. As demonstrated, it is probably the closing of the acceptable time. What does that mean?

Jubilee is about freedom from bondage. It connects with the giving of the Holy Spirit by the number fifty. It is the restoration of inheritance. It is resurrection. All of which happen in the acceptable time before the day of vengeance.

God does not restore people to take vengeance on them. So, it makes sense that those being restored will necessarily need removal from that vengeance. What is that?

Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible will put on incorruption, and this mortal will put on immortality. When this corruptible will have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then the saying that is written shall come to pass: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your sting?
O grave, where is your victory?”
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:50–58

Maranatha!

Your Good Father Doesn’t Allow Evil

I have witnessed many people saying things like “God allows evil things to happen.” That’s simply not true. It seems to stem from the idea that because God doesn’t stop evil from happening in every moment, it is somehow God’s permissiveness.

It is not.

People make all sorts of incorrect statements about God and what He does. When bad things happen, it is not because God allows them or causes them to be. It is also not true that He stands by and lets moral evils occur. That’s just NOT Biblical.

When Adam ate the forbidden fruit, he chose for the entire human race to know calamity and how to alleviate it. Adam fell as a result of insurrection by an enemy.

That enemy and his minions have a certain fate guaranteed by the work on the cross. The Bible says the demons tremble. That’s because they have no redemption. However, humans can be redeemed by the work of Jesus on the cross. They have a respite of punishment as the wages of sin is satisfied. It is a day of salvation whereby they can be snatched from a sure fatal end.

The choice for humans amongst the evil doings in this world is to be rescued or perish.

Evil happens. The kind of evil I speak of is moral evil, those heinous things that happen. There are many things that come to pass that do not arise in the mind of God nor happen because He decrees or commands them to be.

They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command them, nor did it come into My heart.

Jeremiah 7:31

As we see there, things happened that weren’t decreed, allowed, or even controlled by God.

God is also not standing by letting things happen.

Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed swiftly, the heart of the sons of men is fully set to do evil. Since one who sins may do evil a hundred times and extend his life, I also have experienced that it will be good for those who fear God when they have reverence before Him.

Ecclesiastes 8:11–12

He’s not powerless, nor standing by at all. Punishment doesn’t happen immediately because of the stay from the cross. Many mistake that respite as impotence, reluctance, or indifference. God is not powerless, nor is He disinclined to act. He sent Jesus to die! It proves God loves us and is intentional in that. There’s a reason why it seems punishment is delayed. He puts up with it maximizing the number of people who can be saved.

Do you despise the riches of His goodness, tolerance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Romans 2:4

Don’t be a person who despises His tolerance and patience. Those wrong ideas lead to making falsities about Him when the truth is supposed to lead us to repentance.

I suppose some of the fault comes because of teachers building on others’ error without taking the time to ensure a correct understanding. Sometimes these teachings are picked up by pastors and theologians because it sounds Biblical. Not because it is biblical.

Each of us has a responsibility to ensure what we are taught is really real. The blame rests squarely on the person who is not noble in understanding the things of God. It is painfully evident when one hears sad news about a person by a flippant “Hod is sovereign.” It’s like blaming the bad stuff on God.

Learn to do the noble thing like in Acts 17:11.

God is a good, good Father.

Covet the Greater Gifts

But earnestly covet the greater gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:31

Wait! I thought we were not supposed to covet.

Here, Paul is telling the Corinthian church to covet something. They are to covet the greater gifts. One might ask what are the greater gifts?

That could be a good question to ask here. But I think there is one far greater. That is, how often do any of us think about the gifts of the Spirit to even know which are the greater ones to covet?

When speaking of gifts of the Spirit, I am most certain that the first one that comes to mind for most is going to be speaking in tongues. This is foremost in many conversations about the gifts the Spirit gives. But, if Paul is tanking those gifts in an ordinal way, it might be shocking to discover how Paul ranks tongues.

God has put these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have the gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

1 Corinthians 12:28–30

Clearly, tongues lands as the last in the list. If the list is ordinal, tongue is the least desirable gift to covet. That fascinates me.

I do not hold to Cessationism. I do not think the Spirit has stopped bestowing these gifts. The gift of apostles, some say is still available today. Others think apostles have to be eyewitnesses of the resurrected Jesus. It might seem impossible for today, but there are lots of accounts from Iran and China where people are meeting Jesus. Those ideas are fantastical, yes. And apostles were sent out to plant churches. I am uncertain here, and don’t think it is plausible that there are apostles around today, as these would have been taught by Jesus in person. Consider the importance of apostles to the early church… Having been taught personally by Jesus and then sent out Toolan churches.

Setting aside that gift of apostles, look at the next. It’s the gift of prophets. Now prophets don’t predict things. They are not seers. Prophecy is not about predicting or laying out the future. It is simply relating the truth for what It is. To some, the way prophecy is delivered seems rude, curt, and impolite. It comes without ambiguities and subtleties. As one of my pastors called it… It is “forth-telling.” If the gifts are ranked, why would this one be second?

Then there is the gift of teachers. Many know those with this gift. I am one that thinks it abounds. In fact the gifts are given individually but may be shared by many in any one congregation. When thinking of teachers, do you partake of teachings led by others in your local church?

I think wanting and then using these gifts in a congregation makes it healthy and vibrant. What would it do to the faith of anyone who were eyewitnesses to a bona fide miracle?

Paul said there is a gift of miracles, then healings and helps. Healings is basically self-explanatory. Helps is a bit more vague, but consider that hospitality, facilities, and the like. These are the people that setup and clean up. These hold doors, welcome folks, are ready to speak with anyone. They readily engage and encourage others.

Then comes governments. ThatI makes me smile, because these are the leaders and decision makers that affect the entire congregation. In the ordinal rankings, this is second to last on this list. Could it be that this is God’s way of doing things?

He does say that the older shall serve the younger; the strong protect the weak; and the first is last. But on any organizational chart, governments are at the top. In God’s way of doing things, they are necessary, but rank as far less desirable.

Then there are tongues on the bottom.

I know the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given me. Some are on this list. Others are not. There are even gifts that I’ve asked for and received. Yes, I can think of a few I’ve asked just for myself. But others were a desire to share them with the body of believers. It took me over 30 years of being a Christian to get to that point of wanting gifts from God, and asking for them. What opened my eyes was the first thing I remembered asking God to give me. I even like the way He revealed it to me. That is one of those anchor points of my faith just as much as my salvation and baptism are.

My God is real! And He is lavish in giving. He gave His Son. He gave eternal life to any who would want it. And He gives a multitude of gifts.

This list cited so far is not all inclusive. There are additional gifts listed in this chapter. That list contains one gift I covet over the others. I want it because I think it is of utmost importance in these dark days. Our lives are ever-increasingly crushed by evil. The Church needs people that can prophecy. It needs people that can teach. It also needs miracles and healings. There will always be plenty willing to pitch-in, lead a project, and speak.

What would your church be like if there were regular workings by prophets, teachers, miracle-workers, and healers?

Have you ever given a thought to be one of those in your church?

The Deliverer of God’s People

He supposed that his brothers would understand that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand.

Acts 7:25

I stumbled across this while reading Stephen’s testimony to refresh my memory for another task. As God would have it, something caught the attention. This verse was a flashing neon sign that said, “Look at me!”

We know that Moses was chosen as the deliverer of Israel from Egypt. Stephen tells his audience that Moses knew his calling long before it was revealed to him by God. From where did Stephen get that idea?

In our small group, we are going through the book of Exodus verse-by-verse. In the part of the narrative to this point in Moses’ life, it is very difficult to even get a hint of that idea. That is, unless one pokes around the interactive of the Hebrew language and the cognates of the languages at the time.

It is intriguing to look into the origins of his name. In Hebrew, the name Moses is roughly spoken as Moshe. We get the terminal s from Greek language rules that do not allow a vowel to end a masculine proper noun.

Moshe

The underlying evidence is that whoever named Moses knew the Hebrew language well. The context in Exodus also provides some clue as to what the meaning of his name entails and how he received it.

Now a man of the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw him, that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. When she could no longer hide him, she took for him a container made of bulrushes and daubed it with tar and with pitch. She then put the child in it and set it in the reeds by the river’s bank. Then his sister stood afar off so that she might know what would happen to him.

Exodus 2:1–4

Clearly, there is intrigue. A Levite couple bore a Levite son. It was at the time the Egyptians forced infanticide on the Israelis for fear of the strength in their growing numbers. The baby was put in the basket and sent into the river. His big sister Miriam watched to see what would happen to the infant.

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river while her maidens walked along by the river’s side, and when she saw the container among the reeds, she sent her maid, and she retrieved it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying. She had compassion on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”
Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call for you a nursing woman of the Hebrew women so that she may nurse the child for you?”
And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the young girl went and called the child’s mother.

Exodus 2:5–8

There is more here than meets the eye of the casual reader. Miriam had to be very close to all of this. As she watched the Egyptian princess’ handmaiden draw her brother from the water, she witnessed the compassion of the young woman. Perhaps that is what drew her. She was close enough that she would even suggest summoning a wet nurse for the new baby.

The princess wanted it to be so, and sent Miriam.

Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away, and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him.

Exodus 2:9

It is the goodness of God that in such terrible circumstances when all Hebrew infants were brutally murdered, a mother was able to care for her own infant son and earn a paycheck for doing so. It is easy to see how God Himself lifts up motherhood and sees the importance of intimate bond between a mother and child.

Now the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”

Exodus 2:10

Moshe (Moses) would be under the care of his own mother until he was weaned. That would be somewhere between two and three years old. So now there is a bit of an understanding of the time that has elapsed until the naming of the child. The text says that the Egyptian princess names Moshe. The text also gives a hint to the meaning behind the name.

That is where the intrigue is. Moshe is more than just a name. Could it be that his Hebrew mother gave him his name?

The meaning of the name given in Exodus points to the Hebrew origin of the name. Exodus was written by Moshe. The text also hints at punnery. The meaning give makes it sound as if the word Moshe is passive in nature. Much like one drawn out (of the water.) To be etymologically correct, the word would be Mashuy. But the name Moshe has an active participle in it which changes it from passive to active. Thus the meaning of the name is one who draws (out of water.) Or better understood as the deliver.

Pharaoh’s daughter would Egyptianize the name with a cognate Mose. This word means child or offspring. In this way, Moshe’s name is prophetic. It is aligning directly from the promise given in Genesis 3:15 to the advent of Jesus. It is this (yet future) Child of the woman Who would be Deliverer.

It would be interesting to know if they had any idea of the eternal implications of what they were doing by living their own lives. Nevertheless, this is some tantalizing evidence that Moshe’s name pointed to him as deliverer of the Israelis long before God called him personally.

Mashah

The Egyptian princess claimed “I drew him out of the water.” This is in Exodus 2:10. The Hebrew word used for drew is mashah. That word is used only two more times in the Bible, both references are to being drawn out of the water.

He reached from on high and took me; He drew me out of mighty waters.

2 Samuel 22:17

He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.

Psalm 18:16

My mind reels at how similar those two separate verses are. They connect the idea that the Deliverer draws one out of the water. Biblically, water is symbolic of chaos.

Mose

Perhaps the Egyptian Princess used the name Mose because she thought it conveyed a meaning similar to being drawn out of the water, not quite understanding the nuances of Hebrew. On the other hand, maybe it was more of a claim of her naturally giving birth. The Egyptian word Mose derives from a verb that means to give birth.

Unlike any other Egyptian name, Mose is missing a theophoric element. That is the idea that a name contains a salute to a god. In Egypt, Ramose means born of Ra. Thutmose is child of Thoth. Much in the same way Michael and Daniel end in El. Which salutes the One True God.

Moses

The name Moses is quite unique. I think that tends to validate Stephen’s assessment of what Moses knew when this happened:

In those days, when Moses was grown, he went out to his brothers and looked on their burdens; and he saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers. He looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day, two men of the Hebrews struggled with each other; and he said to him that did the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?”
He said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Moses feared and said, “Surely this thing is known.”

Exodus 2:11–14

Could it be that the impetus for Moses avenging that Israeli by killing the Egyptian be a hint that even at that time he foreknew of his role as deliverer of God’s people?

Stephen, moved by God, said Moses did know at that time.

He Who Sits in the Heavens Laughs

Something that struck me from a text taught the other night. It speaks to the urgency of the time in which we live. Things are quickly coming to the point that God is going to establish His throne on Earth and set His Son on it.

Why do the nations rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord
and against His anointed, saying,
“Let us tear off their bonds
and cast away their ropes from us.”

Psalm 2:1–3

When considering the idea that human culture wants to be free from what they perceive as bondage that God puts on them, what does it mean?

Well, let’s just look at the last 70 or so years in the USA. Christianity, the Bible, prayer and God were removed from the schoolhouse. Those same things were also removed from the halls of the government. The people tend to not want influence from those things to enter the school, the government, nor the culture.

There has also been a movement that politicizes morality. What was once immoral now becomes legalized, so people can think it’s not wrong. This is part of the trickery of the age that ensnares people. It looks like hedonistic libertarianism, but without temperance it’s going to bring destruction. More people attempt to be free from constraints of old-fashioned Christianity.

We know God made man and breathed life into him. Science says man came from rocks, rain, and a zap in that primordial ooze that came from rain falling on rocks. Then from a long series of happenstance, humans evolved from that first life. Thats the laughable story science (so-called) crafts in order to loosen any ties to God. Humans don’t have to be bound to thinking of themselves as a creation (and possession) of God.

What else follows?

God established marriage as one man and one woman. That idea is considered too constraining. Marriage has been expanded by law, and is being pushed to extremes. The basic foundation and establishment of human community given by God is considered too narrow.

The blessings of sexual relations God have to be practiced within those boundaries of covenant marriage are another old-fashioned idea. It is considered wrong to confine sexual relations to just one man and one woman in marriage.

There is the issue of divorce. Because a lifelong commitment to one person is too restrictive. As a result the blessings of motherhood and fatherhood are also easily abandoned. Even more so with the availability of sterilization and abortion procedures.

Even the definition of love as selflessness is too restrictive. People are taught to look out primarily for themselves and their own fleeting pleasures.

There is even the idea that fathers can give birth because the binary basics of gender, male and female as God made them, are to narrow. Society is in the midst of freeing itself from that.

He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord ridicules them. Then He will speak to them in His wrath and terrify them in His burning anger: “I have installed My king on Zion, My holy hill.”

Psalm 2:4–6

Why would God laugh?

Because He watches the vain futility as humans to try to abandon God.

It is clear that this Psalm is giving us a time marker. It is like it is saying, when these things happen, guess what comes next?

These are the very times we live in and those which God laughs at.

If that is so, it seems that He is going to bring His burning anger to those who do these things. Some call this period of time the tribulation. That is when God’s anger comes upon the nations of the earth. What epitomizes that period of time is the return of Jesus as King. He comes back and rules the earth for 1,000 years from a throne in Jerusalem.

I will declare the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are My son; this day have I begotten you. Ask of Me,
and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession. You will break them with a scepter of iron; you will dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

Psalm 2:7–9

When Jesus comes again, who will be those broken by the scepter of iron?

Who will be those shattered to pieces like a broken vessel?

It will be the ones who have abandoned the old-fashioned idea of temperance is self-control. Loosing the bonds of God is an exercise in vanity. Christianity and morality, as given by God, are deemed too restrictive.

But there is an admonition to those who would hear it.

Now then, you kings, be wise; be admonished, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear; tremble with trepidation! Kiss the son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath kindles in a flash. Blessed are all who seek refuge in Him.

Psalm 2:10–12

My hope and prayer is that you are of those who honor God by honoring His Son. There is no other way to be truly free of the wrath of God other than seeking refuge in Him.

One Gets What They Give

I will make of you a great nation;
I will bless you
and make your name great,
so that you will be a blessing.
I will bless them who bless you
and curse him who curses you,
and in you all families of the earth
will be blessed.”

Genesis 12:2–3

Considering the things people are doing today, there are many chanting “From the River to the sea…” Not quite understanding the genocide inherent in the refrain. The ultimate goal there is the annihilation of the Israelis as a people.

Given the promise God made to Abraham and his descendants, there is blessing to those who bless. Cursing comes to those who curse. In other words, one will get in return what one gives to Israel.

That in itself is a practical personal application. There is a Hebrew word used in hermeneutics. It is remez, which generally means hint. Hint, as in there’s something else here. Knowing that, consider this:

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

Hosea 11:1

Israel was called out of Egypt by God. Moses led them through the wilderness and eventually to the Promised Land. The promise given to Abraham was kept by God. Along the way, those that treated Israel favorably got favor back. Those that didn’t received the unfavorable.

That verse in Hosea is prophetic. Matthew quoted it in his Gospel.

When he rose, he took the young Child and His mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod, to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called My Son.”

Matthew 2:14–15

Clearly Israel serves as not just a synonym for Jesus. The two terms are interchangeable. Some Christians even call Jesus the “Israel of God.”

That has grand implications. One of those may be unsettling to some. That Israel was to bring salvation to the world. What is true for One is true for the Other. Jesus did bring salvation to the world, as is true for Israel.

So… To come full-circle.

One will get in return what one gives to Jesus. Those that give Him their life receive life in return. Those that don’t, won’t. (What I mean is you will lose your life eventually, and when you meet Him after, you will not have life to give to Him.)

God explained the principle. I will bless those that bless Jesus, and curse those who curse Jesus.

The deeper application is to you. There is only so much time that is available to anyone… Why are you waiting to give Jesus your life?

It might not be there when you want to do it.