Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Prophecy - 10 Time, times, dividing of time

Let's do a recap here of what we've learned so far.


Daniel 2 tells of a prophetic dream and in that dream is a giant statue that portrays various ruling kingdoms of the Middle East and parts of what is now Europe. At the time of the dream the kingdom in control of Jerusalem was Babylon. Then the Medes and Persians took control of Babylon, after the Medes and Persians the Greeks took control then after that Romans. We then have the ten major areas that Roman was split into.


After that we find in Daniel 7 more information on this same prophetic message. We learned that out of the ten areas that three of them would be plucked up- their rule over the territories they'd taken from Rome would be taken away from them completely and they'd no longer have any power whatsoever to control what they once controlled. Not only that, we learned that a rising power different from every power up to that point in time would have influence over those three powers being displaced. The only logical power that was rising up at the time was the Papacy and that was most assuredly different than all the other military powers that had any sort of control by the governments- the ruling parties and their armies. This new influence came from the rise of Christianity and unfortunately its corruption. It was clear that Papacy was corrupt- God NEVER intended His true people to merge with the government in any way. Jesus wasn't of this world, and as a result those who are His are not of this world. Governments, those whose interest lies in ruling land and the people of it would flourish and even in our greatest democracies we have those who feel the need to be in control of the worldly power because even democracies are a controlling interest for the people of the land they are in.


Jesus did NOT set up a worldly kingdom for His people. Jesus KNEW that from the time of His life on earth bringing salvation to all who would be His, that there would NEVER again be any worldly kingdom that would be God's people. There would be Spiritual Israel and those of Spiritual Israel would be from all over- never congregated into a world power of any sort. Worldly power was not of God and will never be of God no matter how convincing the sheep's clothing the wolf is wearing may be and believe me… no… don't believe me… believe GOD, the evil will take on the appearance of good, the evil will be so incredibly deceptive that only those who would be God's will be kept from succumbing to that evil. If you doubt me that's fine, but don't doubt God.


Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.


Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.


Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.


We've talked before about deception but it bears discussing again because the Papacy today comes across as being reformed from their evil but in truth that can't happen, it won't happen. Prophecy remains true to the end. That *little horn* power rises corrupt and stays corrupt until it is destroyed.


Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Dan 7:26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
Dan 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.


Once we understand the truth of this as a reality there is much more that falls into place. We've had a couple thousand years of history between the first kingdom, Babylon, and God truly did map things out for us in so many ways.


I'm not a Biblical scholar and will never claim to be one. I'm not a historian and will never claim to be one of those either. I'm just a simple, average person praying for understanding, praying for guidance, praying for forgiveness, praying for God's leading in all I do, praying to have the Holy Spirit's enlightenment as God wills.


Remember we talked of a time, times, and dividing of time, just a brief note on studying it later, we're going to start that now because we are told that the saints would be given into the little horn's hand for a time, times and the dividing of time. Just how long would that be? We're going to find out.


There is another place we read about a time, times, and dividing of time.


Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.


It make sense doesn't it. Right off we know that the saints of God would be under the rule of and oppressed by the little horn power for a time, times, and dividing of time, so… here we have a woman who is given two wings of a great eagle so she could fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is kept safe for a time, times, and half a time (dividing of time).


A woman in the Bible can signify God's people- a church.


Jer 6:2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.


Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.


God's people would be oppressed, the woman- God's people - would be in the wilderness, nourished there in the wilderness while the little horn power was in charge.


We have one prophecy in Daniel, the other prophecy in Revelation- but they are speaking of the exact same thing. There is little doubt here. They're both saying that God's people would be oppressed for this period of time that we still have to determine beyond knowing it is for a time, times, and a dividing of (half of) time.


Let's jump to Revelation 12:6


Rev. 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days


1260 days.


Now that's not a long period of time in the grand scheme of things, remember we have had thousands of years between Babylon and now.


We need to look at more facts here.


There are 30 days to a Biblical month-

Gen. 7:11 17th day of 2nd month (Flood came)
Gen. 8:4 17th day of 7th month (Waters subsided)
Flood continued from 2nd to 7th month= 5 months
Gen. 7:24 'waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days'
150days/30days = 5mos.


So with 30 days to a month we have 360 days to a years.


A time is a year-


Antiquities of the Jews - a highly respected book by Josephus has this to say…


The day is coming when the wicked shall be cut down, and no hope will be left them. No mercy will be mingled with their punishment. They shall be destroyed both root and branch.


"Let seven times pass over him," was the decree. This simple expression is evidently to be understood literally. But how long a period is denoted by the words "seven times"? This may be determined by ascertaining how long Nebuchadnezzar, in fulfillment of this prediction, was driven out to have his dwelling with the beasts of the field. This, Josephus informs us, was seven years. [2] A "Time," here, then, denotes one year.
[2] Flavius Josephus, "Antiquities of the Jews," book 10, chap. 10, sec. 6, Works of Flavius Josephus, p. 316.


Dan 4:23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;


Dan 4:32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.


History records that seven times- was seven years.

So…


A time being a year would be… time= 1 year, times = 2 years, and dividing of time = 1/2 a year so that gives us 3 and 1/2 years.


1 year = 360
2 years = 720
1/2 year = 180


Total = 1260


Amazing isn't it?! Seriously amazing!


The time, times, and dividing of time is the same as the 1260.


This isn't all, we also have mentioned 42 months in bible prophecy.


Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.


What does 42 months amount to? 1 year- 12 months, 2 years- 24 months, 1/2 year- 6 months= 42 months!


These are NOT coincidences, not at all! We have to pay attention to this, we really do. It all goes together in the way God intended it to do and for the serious Bible student, for the sincere Bible student God will enlighten. We have to study this so much more but not all in one night that's for sure.


So, leaving it all here for the night it is my prayer that God bless us all so much. We need His blessing, we need His enlightenment. We need His love, His forgiveness, all He has to give to us we need so desperately.


Thank you Lord for your love and all that entails.


By the grace and mercy of God always!


Amen.

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