Prophecy - 26

Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. (KJV)


Lexicon--
be cleansed
tsadaq (tsaw-dak')
to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense) -- cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just(-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be turn to) righteous(-ness).

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Made right.
Be justified.
Be turned to righteous.
Shall be cleansed.


On an earthly level there had been set up a very special day to cleanse all the people and the sanctuary. One day out of a year God's people were to afflict their souls while the High Priest went about a very lengthy, very involved, very thorough cleansing ritual that when all was said and done- all the people and all the sins they'd committed throughout the entire year would be cleansed from the sanctuary.


Remember this…


'Goat for Azazel The Kohen Gadol left the Haichal and walked to the east side of the Azarah (Israelite courtyard). Near the Nikanor Gate, he leaned his hands (Semikha) on the goat “for Azazel” and confessed the sins of the entire people of Israel. The people prostrated themselves when he pronounced the Tetragrammaton. While he made a general confession, individuals in the crowd at the Temple would confess privately. The Kohen Gadol then sent the goat off “to the wilderness.”'

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Let's read it directly from our Bibles-


Lev 16:5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
Lev 16:6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.
Lev 16:7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Lev 16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
Lev 16:9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
Lev 16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.


First the High Priest had to offer a sin offering from himself - making an atonement for himself and his house.
Then there were two goats. Lots were cast upon them. One lot for the LORD's goat and one for the scapegoat.
The LORD's goat was offered for a sin offering.
The scapegoat was sent into the wilderness alive.


Sin offerings, the daily offerings for the people of Israel involved a sacrifice, the shedding of blood. Where there is no shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.


Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission

Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.


Yet here we have a scapegoat offered for an atonement. A scapegoat that would be left to live. A scapegoat that would be led out into the wilderness far, far away never to return. And that living sacrifice symbolized what exactly? He was offered for an atonement, yet his blood wasn't shed. He was led into the wilderness to wander but not required to be killed according to scripture.


Lev 16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.


Presented alive before the LORD.
Presented alive to make an atonement WITH HIM.
To let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.


Not sacrificed. The whole entire sacrificial service performed daily revolved around daily sin offerings. The lambs would be killed. The lambs would be sacrificed. Never was a sin offering made without the offering being sacrificed. A live offering was not allowed to live- the live offering was sacrificed. And all this sacrificing symbolized the fact that sin causes death.


Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.


In the day of disobedience to God's command death would enter. Flesh that had been made to be incorruptible, immortal, was now subject to death- cut off from its source of sustenance- the Tree of Life given by God.


Death entered with sin. And death could only be conquered by the death of the Innocent Lamb of God. Symbolically man was taught this through the sacrificial system. Man offered animal sacrifices- innocent animals were killed after the sin was symbolic transferred to them. God's people knew that every day as sin offerings were brought to the temple they were seeking the forgiveness of God. The hope was one day all sin would be done away with and God's people would be fully restored to Him. This would only occur through the greatest sacrifice of all. Jesus Christ.


The day of atonement had a LORD's goat and another goat - an escape goat, a scapegoat, ‛ăzâ'zêl.


The LORD's goat would be offered as a sin offering- killed, it would die for the sins of all the people.
The other goat would be offered as an atonement and taken out into the wilderness no longer to ever be a part of God's people. That goat would go off, left to live and die of its own accord, but NEVER be reconciled to God's people. There is a STARK contrast between the two goats.


Why the wilderness?


Zep 2:13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.


Mal 1:2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
Mal 1:3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.


Amo 2:10 Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.


Led THROUGH the wilderness, not LED to and left in the wilderness, but let THROUGH.


Hos 2:3 Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.


Make her as a wilderness- dry, waterless- death inducing.


Eze 20:21 Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.


The wilderness is NOT symbolic of God's love but rather being brought THROUGH the wilderness is symbolic of God's love. Having the wilderness changed into something life sustaining reveals God's love. Being condemned to the wilderness forever was a death sentence. The wilderness did not symbolize God. It did symbolize a testing ground, even Jesus went into the wilderness.


Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.


The wilderness is NOT symbolic of good.


Psa 107:4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
Psa 107:5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.


Wilderness wandering is NOT a good thing by any reckoning. So here we have a goat that is used to make an atonement- making an atonement meant making a sacrifice, a blood sacrifice, a death sacrifice, and yet another aspect to making an atonement was what?


You couldn't make an atonement if you didn't confess and repent of your sins. When sin offerings were made, when daily sacrifices were offered they were made and offered with the intention of a sin being forgiven, a confessed sin. Once the sin was confessed and repented of and a sacrifice was slain for that sin it was forgiven. We are only forgiven by the sacrifice that our Savior made for us. If we don't confess and repent we are not forgiven of Jesus any more than a person was forgiven of their sins when an animal sacrifice was made if they didn't confess their sin putting it onto that animal.


They were symbolically putting their sin on that animal and that animal would then die for them so they could live in a forgiven state, an atonement was made by that sacrifice. When we offer a living sacrifice we are doing so with our Savior as our Sacrifice and He did not live, He was NOT symbolic of the goat led off to the wilderness.


Our Savior died, He was sacrificed for us and then He rose to life again and He was NEVER led off to the wilderness, banished there to be seen no more, not ever. The goat wasn't being taken to the wilderness temporarily, but permanently. The goat wasn't being sent off as a testing period to see if it could survive the wilderness onslaughts. The goat was once and for all, forever led to the wilderness to go and perish, to die in the wilderness, left without any resources for survival. A goat brought up and tended to by people. A goat given water and food so it could live was now taken to the wilderness to fend for itself. And lest people believe any animal could be taken to the wilderness and some how manage to survive by instinct alone, that's a fallacy. An abandoned animal does NOT always find a way to survive and it sickens me to think about it but…it's true. This goat…


' But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. '


…this goat was presented before the LORD to make an atonement with him -- yet where was the atonement? There was no sacrifice as there was with the sin offering. Where was the atonement? Was it made? It was to make an atonement with. The sins were confessed upon this goat and then it was sent off into the wilderness. What was being symbolized here? That sins live on? That sins that were placed over the year upon the temple- sins that were confessed to God, sins that had been covered in the blood of sacrifice, were being CLEANSED from the sanctuary, but truly if those sins for all the entire year for all the people were being cleansed by just another sacrifice aren't they being placed right back on the sanctuary?


So that they aren't being placed right back on the sanctuary they have been placed on this wilderness appointed goat so that symbolically the goat is taking the sins away and EVERYTHING, everyone is pure in that moment. The sanctuary is pure in that moment as all sin is taken away.


When in our beliefs, in the word of God, is sin taken away completely from everyone to no more rise again?


Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.


Death- the result of sin is gone forever and ever and ever, never more to be. Sin is gone. The world is freed from sin and all its results. The devil is destroyed, burned up, gone forever to be no more. All the sins that ever existed from the moment sin entered the world by the father of lies is once and for all - gone. All those sins that stem from the father of sin, all those sins that resulted from Satan are wiped out. Sinners, sin, the father of sin all of it is gone and forever more, for eternity, for a time without end there will never be sin again- it's gone. That sin hasn't been covered up by blood, but that sin has been destroyed. There is no more a need for another sacrifice, the sacrifices made were sufficient and the blood covered sins put upon Satan so that the world can be cleansed and made perfect, were all destroyed- gone forever.


That goat that was sent out into the wilderness to disappear forever, that goat had no sacrifice made for it as it carried symbolically the sins of all God's people. It was left to carry those sins off into the wilderness and perish there. The sanctuary was cleansed and it was cleansed through a day long process, not by one act. The cleansing took time. And as we are told in Daniel 8:14- 2300 days (years) then shall the sanctuary be cleansed… then shall that process of cleansing begin. It didn't say 2300 years and then the sanctuary is cleansed. It's -SHALL the sanctuary BE - denoting action to be taken- cleansed. The final cleansing of sin was being made. The process by which sin will once and for all be taken away was under way. This cleansing process was not being done on earth in an earthly sanctuary but where did the temple stand? In heaven. The temple that we would NO longer need ONLY when the earth is made new and new Jerusalem comes down from heaven to earth. Until that happens that temple is there to serve a purpose- it is NEEDED. If something is needed then it is serving a purpose beyond mere show. The heavenly temple was not a mere symbolic place to gaze upon and think of Jesus there with His Father. The temple would NO longer be needed one day. There had to be a reason it would be needed up until that point, to think otherwise would be to believe that God is just a show man putting on a fancy show and my God is not like that at all! My God came up with a plan of salvation and that plan was enacted. That plan included an earthly sanctuary based upon the heavenly sanctuary. When the earthly sanctuary was no longer in effect the heavenly sanctuary became the place we were to look to. In that heavenly sanctuary our Savior has ascended from earth and for a purpose. If all were accomplished- then there would have been NO need for earth to continue on with sin ruling under Satan, but it did continue because all hadn't been finished, that temple in heaven was still needed for a purpose.


Daniel was told that His vision would be closed for a long, long time- but that it would be opened. It's been opened for those who are not too blind to see, for those not caught up in the deception of Satan.


In 1844 the cleansing began and when that cleansing is finished, when sin is no more, when death, hell, and Satan are destroyed never to be again, that is when our new life begins without any need for a temple whatsoever!


We are told to watch and pray. We are watching and we are praying. We know that God sees the long view and offers us glimpses into that view. Will we be alive when it is finished? Only God knows. But we, as with all that are His, understand that being prepared for Him whether or not we are privileged with that blessing- that gift of immortality without tasting the first death- is a must. That a life spent with our gaze heavenward is the life we are called to.


By His amazing grace and love!


More tomorrow on that once a year cleansing of the sanctuary, and by the Lord's grace and through the Holy Spirit's enlightenment may we see His plan for us more clearly.


Amen!

Prophecy - 25

Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.


The Sanctuary.


Psa 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?


God's way is in the sanctuary. The plan of salvation was and IS in the sanctuary. A temple will no longer be needed only when the new earth is instituted- remember this--


Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God


Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.


Prior to this…


Rev 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.


There IS a temple in heaven!


We CANNOT deny that there exists a temple in HEAVEN, a temple upon which the earthly temple was figured. A temple that will exist until the New Jerusalem come from God out of heaven.


So we have to ask ourselves a few questions. If according to prophecy we've been able to amazingly, with great accuracy fit prophecy puzzle pieces into history and know beyond a doubt that this 2300 year prophecy is telling us that in 1844 something happened- something in connection with this verse--


Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.


Then we KNOW that after those 2300 years then the sanctuary shall be cleansed, made righteous, made just. And we know from our Bibles that only through atonement was something made righteous. Only by sacrifice, only by offering, only by our Savior was something made righteous. So we HAVE to look at all this cleansing, all this atoning more closely. PLEASE take the time to read all this, even if it takes an hour, or two hours, or half a day to get through it all, please pray and read. God wants to give us His truths from His word and only by studying does this happen. We need to be prepared. We need to know what we are watching and praying for and not in an abstract- oh, I'm watching for Jesus to return. Jesus wants us to heed His signs, His warnings, and to listen to His prophets and His prophets have given us so much to study.


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Exactly what is being cleansed from the sanctuary? We must look at the earthly sanctuary because God gave to Moses the example of things in heaven and set them up on earth for His people to use. We have to look to what was given to Moses.


How was the sanctuary made right with God? Because that word cleansed up there refers to making the sanctuary righteous. Let's take a quick glance at the word used-


tsâdaq
Total KJV Occurrences: 41

(((And the following shows the meaning used for that single word in each case below))))


justified, 12
Job_11:2, Job_13:18, Job_25:4, Job_32:2, Psa_51:4, Psa_143:2, Isa_43:9, Isa_43:26, Isa_45:25, Jer_3:11, Eze_16:51-52 (2)
righteous, 10
Gen_38:26, Job_10:15 (2), Job_15:14, Job_22:3, Job_34:5, Psa_19:7-9 (3), Eze_16:52
justify, 7
Exo_23:7, Deu_25:1, Job_9:20, Job_27:5, Job_33:32, Isa_5:23, Isa_53:11
just, 3
Job_4:17, Job_9:2, Job_33:12
justice, 2
2Sa_15:4, Psa_82:3
justifieth, 2
Pro_17:15, Isa_50:8
justifying, 2
1Ki_8:32, 2Ch_6:23
cleansed, 1
Dan_8:14
clear, 1
Gen_44:16
righteousness, 1
Dan_12:3


Justify, righteous, just, clear, cleansed.


For us to be made right, for us to be just with God we need an atonement to be made, right?


Atonement Dictionary Def--

Theology . the doctrine concerning the reconciliation of god and humankind, especially as accomplished through the life, suffering, and death of Christ.
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Our Savior made an atonement for us so that we may be reconciled to God, so that we made be righteous through Him. We are never righteous on our own. All our righteousness are as filthy rags. Before our Savior came, the sanctuary which served as an example of heavenly things pointing to our Savior, and it included a once a year special atonement for the sanctuary and the people. Why do you suppose this was? Seriously.


People want to believe it doesn't mean anything, that we should just forget all that stuff because Jesus did away with it all. And that is true, the earthly sanctuary and all its services were no longer binding, but the services had a purpose. What exactly did the once a year atonement for the sanctuary and the people mean?


The following is...
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Temple service


The following summary of the Temple service is based on the traditional Jewish religious account described in Mishnah tractate Yoma, appearing in contemporary traditional Jewish prayerbooks for Yom Kippur, and studied as part of a traditional Jewish Yom Kippur worship service.[15]


While the Temple in Jerusalem was standing (from Biblical times through 70 C.E.), the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) was mandated by the Torah to perform a complex set of special services and sacrifices for Yom Kippur to attain Divine atonement, the word "kippur" meaning "atone" in Hebrew.


These services were considered to be the most important parts of Yom Kippur because through them the Kohen Gadol (((high priest)))) made atonement for all Jews and the world. During the service, the Kohen Gadol entered the Holy of Holies in the center of the Temple, the only time of the year that anyone went inside. Doing so required special purification and preparation, including five immersions in a mikvah (ritual bath), and four changes of clothing.


Seven days prior to Yom Kippur, the Kohen Gadol was sequestered in the Palhedrin chamber in the Temple, where he reviewed (studied) the service with the sages familiar with the Temple, and was sprinkled with spring water containing ashes of the Red Heifer as purification. The Talmud (Tractate Yoma) also reports that he practiced the incense offering ritual in the Avitnas chamber.


On the day of Yom Kippur, the Kohen Gadol had to follow a precise order of services, sacrifices, and purifications:


§ Morning (Tamid) Offering The Kohen Gadol first performed the regular daily (Tamid) offering — usually performed by ordinary priests — in special golden garments, after immersing in a mikvah and washing his hands and feet.


§ Garment Change 1 The Kohen Gadol immersed in a special mikvah in the Temple courtyard and changed into special linen garments, and washed his hands and feet twice, once after removing the golden garments and once before putting on the linen garments.


§ Bull as Personal Sin-Offering The Kohen Gadol leaned (performed Semikha) and made a confession over the bull on behalf of himself and his household, pronouncing the Tetragrammaton. The people prostrated themselves when they heard. He then slaughtered the bull as a chatat (sin-offering) and received its blood in a bowl.


§ Lottery of the goats At the Eastern (Nikanor) gate, the Kohen Gadol drew lots from a lottery box over two goats. One was selected “for the Lord,” and one “for Azazel.” The Kohen Gadol tied a red band around the horns of the goat “for Azazel.”


§ Incense Preparation The Kohen Gadol ascended the mizbeach (altar) and took a shovel full of embers with a special shovel. He was brought incense. He filled his hands and placed it in a vessel. (The Talmud considered this the most physically difficult part of the service, as the Kohen Gadol had to keep the shovelful of glowing coals balanced and prevent its contents from dropping, using his armpit or teeth, while filling his hands with the incense).


§ Incense Offering Holding the shovel and the vessel, he entered the Kadosh Hakadashim, the Temple’s Holy of Holies. In the days of the First Temple, he placed the shovel between the poles of the Ark of the Covenant. In the days of the Second Temple, he put the shovel where the Ark would have been. He waited until the chamber filled with smoke and left.


§ Sprinkling of Bull's Blood in the Holy of Holies The Kohen Gadol took the bowl with the bull’s blood and entered the Most Holy Place again. He sprinkled the bull’s blood with his finger eight times, before the Ark in the days of the First Temple, where it would have been in the days of the Second. The Kohen Gadol then left the Holy of Holies, putting the bowl on a stand in front of the Parochet (curtain separating the Holy from the Holy of Holies).


§ Goat for the Lord as Sin-Offering for Kohanim The Kohen Gadol went to the eastern end of the Israelite courtyard near the Nikanor Gate, laid his hands (semikha) on the goat “for the Lord,” and pronounced confession on behalf of the Kohanim (priests). The people prostrated themselves when he pronounced the Tetragrammaton. He then slaughtered the goat, and received its blood in another bowl.


§ Sprinkling of Goat’s Blood in the Holy of Holies The Kohen Gadol took the bowl with the goat’s blood and entered the Kadosh Hakadashim, the Temple’s Holy of Holies again. He sprinkled the goat’s blood with his finger eight times the same way he had sprinkled the bull’s blood. The blood was sprinkled before the Ark in the days of the First Temple, where it would have been in the days of the Second Temple. The Kohen Gadol then left the Kadosh Hakadashim, putting the bowl on a stand in front of the Parochet (curtain separating the Holy from the Holy of Holies).


§ Sprinkling of blood in the Holy Standing in the Hekhal (Holy), on the other side of the Parochet from the Holy of Holies, the Kohen Gadol took the bull's blood from the stand and sprinkled it with his finger eight times in the direction of the Parochet. He then took the bowl with the goat's blood and sprinkled it eight times in the same manner, putting it back on the stand.


§ Smearing of blood on the Golden (Incense) Altar The Kohen Gadol removed the goat’s blood from the stand and mixed it with the bull's blood. Starting at the northeast corner, he then smeared the mixture of blood on each of the four corners of the Golden (Incense) altar in the Haichal. He then sprinkled the blood eight times on the altar.


§ Goat for Azazel The Kohen Gadol left the Haichal and walked to the east side of the Azarah (Israelite courtyard). Near the Nikanor Gate, he leaned his hands (Semikha) on the goat “for Azazel” and confessed the sins of the entire people of Israel. The people prostrated themselves when he pronounced the Tetragrammaton. While he made a general confession, individuals in the crowd at the Temple would confess privately. The Kohen Gadol then sent the goat off “to the wilderness.” In practice, to prevent its return to human habitation, the goat was led to a cliff outside Jerusalem and pushed off its edge.


§ Preparation of sacrificial animals While the goat “for Azazel” was being led to the cliff, the Kohen Gadol removed the insides of the bull, and intertwined the bodies of the bull and goat. Other people took the bodies to the Beit HaDeshen (place of the ashes). They were burned there after it was confirmed that the goat “for Azazel” had reached the wilderness.


§ Reading the Torah After it was confirmed that the goat “for Azazel” had been pushed off the cliff, the Kohen Gadol passed through the Nikanor Gate into the Ezrat Nashim (Women’s Courtyard) and read sections of the Torah describing Yom Kippur and its sacrifices.


§ Garment change 2 The Kohen Gadol removed his linen garments, immersed in the mikvah in the Temple courtyard, and changed into a second set of special golden garments. He washed his hands and feet both before removing the linen garments and after putting on the golden ones.


§ Offering of Rams The Kohen Gadol offered two rams as an olah offering, slaughtering them on the north side of the mizbeach (outer altar), receiving their blood in a bowl, carrying the bowl to the outer altar, and dashing the blood on the northeast and southwest corners of the Outer Altar. He dismembered the rams and burned the parts entirely on the outer altar. He then offered the accompanying mincha (grain) offerings and nesachim (wine-libations).


§ Musaf Offering The Kohen Gadol then offered the Musaf offering.


§ Burning of Innards The Kohen Gadol placed the insides of the bull and goat on the outer altar and burned them entirely.


§ *Garment change 3 The Kohen Gadol removed his golden garments, immersed in the mikvah, and changed to a new set of linen garments, again washing his hands and feet twice.


§ Removal of Incense from the Holy of Holies The Kohen Gadol returned to the Holy of Holies and removed the bowl of incense and the shovel.


§ Garment Change 4 The Kohen Gadol removed his linen garments, immersed in the mikvah, and changed into a third set of golden garments, again washing his hands and feet twice.


§ Evening (Tamid) Offering The Kohen Gadol completed the afternoon portion of the regular (tamid) daily offering in the special golden garments. He washed his hands and feet a tenth time.


The Kohen Gadol wore five sets of garments (three golden and two white linen), immersed in the mikvah five times, and washed his hands and feet ten times.


Sacrifices included two (daily) lambs, one bull, two goats, and two rams, with accompanying mincha (meal) offerings, wine libations, and three incense offerings (the regular two daily and an additional one for Yom Kippur).


The Kohen Gadol entered the Holy of Holies three times. The Tetragrammaton was pronounced three times, once for each confession.[15]



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One has to ask what the daily sacrifices meant compared to this great day of sacrifices.


'The Temple was the place where offerings described in the course of the Hebrew Bible were carried out, including daily morning and afternoon offerings and special offerings on Shabbat and Jewish holidays. Levites recited Psalms at appropriate moments during the offerings, including the Psalm of the Day, special psalms for the new month, and other occasions, the Hallel during major Jewish holidays, and psalms for special sacrifices such as the "Psalm for the Thanksgiving Offering" (Psalm 100).

As part of the daily offering, a prayer service was performed in the Temple which was used as the basis of the traditional Jewish (morning) service recited to this day, including well-known prayers such as the Shema, and the Priestly Blessing. '

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'Korban, Qorban (In Classical Hebrew), or Qarban (In Sephardic Hebrew (Arabic ?????) and Mizrahi Hebrew) (Hebrew: ???????? "sacrifice"; plural: korbanot or qorbanoth ???????????), in Judaism, is the term for a variety of sacrificial offerings described and commanded in the Torah. '


'Such sacrifices were offered in a variety of settings by the ancient Israelites, and later by the Jewish priesthood, the Kohanim, at the Temple in Jerusalem. A Korban was usually an animal sacrifice, such as a sheep or a bull that underwent shechita (Jewish ritual slaughter), and was often cooked and eaten by the offerer, with parts given to the Kohanim and parts burned on the Temple mizbe'ah (altar). Korbanot could also consist of doves, grain, wine, or incense.

The Torah narrates that God commanded the Hebrews to offer korbanot on various altars, and describes the offering of sacrifices in the Tabernacle and in the Temple in Jerusalem until the First Temple was destroyed and resumed with the Second Temple until it was destroyed in 70 AD.'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korban


A bit more information on - Yom Kippur - The Day of Atonement--


'Jewish people. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days (or sometimes "the Days of Awe").

Yom Kippur is the tenth day of the month of Tishrei. According to Jewish tradition, God inscribes each person's fate for the coming year into a book, the Book of Life, on Rosh Hashanah, and waits until Yom Kippur to "seal" the verdict. During the Days of Awe, a Jew tries to amend his or her behavior and seek forgiveness for wrongs done against God (bein adam leMakom) and against other human beings (bein adam lechavero). The evening and day of Yom Kippur are set aside for public and private petitions and confessions of guilt (Vidui). At the end of Yom Kippur, one considers oneself absolved by God.

The Yom Kippur prayer service includes several unique aspects. One is the actual number of prayer services. Unlike a regular day, which has three prayer services (Ma'ariv, the evening prayer; Shacharit, the morning prayer; and Mincha, the afternoon prayer), or a Shabbat or Yom Tov, which have four prayer services (Ma'ariv; Shacharit; Musaf, the additional prayer; and Mincha), Yom Kippur has five prayer services (Ma'ariv; Shacharit; Musaf; Mincha; and Ne'ilah, the closing prayer). The prayer services also include a public confession of sins (Vidui) and a unique prayer dedicated to the special Yom Kippur avodah (service) of the Kohen Gadol in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

As one of the most culturally significant Jewish holidays, Yom Kippur is observed by many secular Jews who may not observe other holidays. Many secular Jews attend synagogue on Yom Kippur—for many secular Jews the High Holidays are the only recurring times of the year in which they attend synagogue,[1]—causing synagogue attendance to soar—and almost four-fifths fast.[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur


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More texts on the Day of Atonement--


Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Lev 23:28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.


Lev 16:16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place
Lev 16:17 And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel
Lev 16:18 And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.
Lev 16:19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.


Lev 16:30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.


Lev 16:33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.


Lev 16:34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.

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There is absolutely NO DOUBT that there was significance beyond the daily sacrifices at the temple connected with the once a year sacrifices to atone for so much.


We'll pick this up tomorrow by the grace of God. By His mercy and if it's His will we will study even more of this and see if we cannot fit more prophecy puzzle pieces together. Only by the grace of God may we do this, only by His love, His righteousness as we pray not to be led astray, not to be deceived, but rather that we are enlightened and guided by the Holy Spirit unto all truth in Him!


Amen.

Prophecy - 24

Sanctuary being cleansed.


The 2300 day (year) prophecy of Daniel said this--


Dan 8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
Dan 8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
Dan 8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Dan 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?


Remember studying this before? The historic knowledge of Medes Persia, Greece, Roman, and out of the Roman Empire the Roman Papal power that was so strange and diverse, so different than the other powers.


Remember discussing the host of heaven were cast down under the Roman rule when the Savior was born. Jesus was born, lived, and was crucified all under the Roman rule. We know for a fact that Papal Rome was formed as the counterfeit church deceiving many and that Satan behind the scenes ruled this little horn power. The truth was definitely cast to the ground. Transgression lived in the heart of the deceptive powers that morphed from pagan Rome into papal Rome.


How long… how long would this vision which included the daily sacrifice being taken away, which included the desolation of all that God had set up upon earth as His ways. How long would the sanctuary and those of God be debased, demeaned, abused?


We have to consider what the sanctuary meant to God's people. The sanctuary and all its services came into being out of a covenant God made with His people. God would be their God and they would be His people and they would obey His commands and He would be with them. Even as soon as that covenant was made, or rather not much longer after it was newly enacted and accepted by God's people, then God's people broke that covenant. Rather than destroy the people Moses stepped in and pleaded for their lives. God knew that a system would have to be set up that would symbolize a mediation between Him and His people. Back when Abraham was alive God called for Abraham to offer up His only son Isaac. A symbolic event forever afterwards. When man sinned- animals were first sacrificed to make them coats of the animal skins. Abel the second born son of our first parents offered up an animal sacrifice to God. The idea of there needing to be a mediator between man and God was not a new one, it was ancient, it existed from the moment sin entered the world. A way had to be made for man to be reunited with God again.


Under Moses' leadership the wilderness sanctuary was set up. David, beloved of God, wanted to erect a permanent sanctuary so that God could dwell with them in the land God had given to them to be theirs forever. Solomon, David's son was allowed to build the sanctuary and they called it Solomon's Temple. All the rituals involved with the sanctuary were kept there in that temple for many, many years.


Built in 957 BC and totally destroyed in 586 BC - For 371 years that sanctuary was used for the ritual sacrificial services that God required of His people.


457 BC saw the final call to finish rebuilding the sanctuary and the call for the Jewish people to return there and begin their services once more. Then in 70 AD, 527 years later it was completely destroyed once again and has never been rebuilt since then.


The sanctuary and it's services were all precursors pointing to the realized sacrificial act found in God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, the Messiah. So of course, after our Savior died the temple veil was torn in two, and the need for the earthly sanctuary was no longer.


But tell me something-- this sacrificial system which in all reality had its start the moment sin entered the world, was it over? Was sin gone? The only way for the entire sacrificial system- the only way for the need of sacrifice to be removed would be if sin was no more.


God has taken mankind step by step through a process that points solely to the Savior and us finding forgiveness in Him and Him alone without any other person involved. The Way was pointed to, the Way was realized.


Read this-- talking about the New Jerusalem that will exist after our Savior comes again and then ultimately brings His people back to earth and makes it new--


Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.


The Way realized, then and only then when no temple would be needed any longer. Until that day there would be a temple, there would be a sanctuary. But if that sanctuary which was such a huge part of the life of God's people was no longer of significance upon earth when our Savior died, where was the sanctuary that would be trodden underfoot 2300 years?


Where was the sanctuary at before it was erected upon earth under Moses' guidance?


Exo 25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.


Exo 26:30 And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.


Heb 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man


Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.


If our Savior did away with the need for an earthly sanctuary it was because HE became the only sacrifice needed from then on. Our Savior - all of the sacrificial offerings ever made pointed to His great sacrifice- HIMSELF. No earthly sacrifice, no symbolic sacrifice was ever needed again because our Savior died for us becoming that Sacrifice. From then on faith alone in that Sacrifice of Christ's would be needed. And our Savior left earth after His resurrection and went to the HEAVENLY SANCTUARY!


Something was to begin to happen in the HEAVENLY sanctuary after the 2300 year prophecy was up, but what? How is it significant to us here on earth? To understand this we HAVE to understand what was meant by the cleansing of the sanctuary.


The cleansing of the sanctuary-


Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.


More study on this tomorrow by the grace of God our Lord and Savior!


Amen.

Prophecy - 23

Prophecy -

proph·e·cy
–noun, plural -cies.
1.
the foretelling or prediction of what is to come.
2.
something that is declared by a prophet, especially a divinely inspired prediction, instruction, or exhortation.
3.
a divinely inspired utterance or revelation: oracular prophecies.

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Divinely inspired predictions.


Daniel was given divinely inspired predictions and told to write them down. Jesus referred to Daniel's predictions. We are studying Daniel's predictions in an effort to understand all that our Savior would have us understand.


First we were given an overall picture- the broad picture- the wide view.
Secondly we were given a deeper understanding.
Thirdly we were given an even deeper understanding.
Fourthly … it is safe to say that all through the book of Daniel we are being given more understanding of the future He has planned for us. A future that ultimately ends with us living with Him in a world without any sin, in the purest love ever.


Sin had a beginning, sin will have an end. We have to believe that. We have to believe that we aren't suffering under the curse of sin without any hope. If we truly believed that there was no hope of a life without sin then how depressing life would be. How senseless life would be. If there were no hope then when God sent the flood to destroy all of mankind but 8 people, He would have left the 8 to perish as well. But with the creation of the world, with the creation of humanity there was a plan for our salvation. A great plan that would once and for all and undeniably reveal the depths and horrors of sin and the reason for it to be eradicated. No question would remain anywhere in anyone's mind about God's love and from that love the need for obedience.


Predicting that sin would have an end, that all the earthly kingdoms would be completely destroyed and God's kingdom set up, was a gift to us from God. Unwrapping this wondrous gift and putting the pieces into place as they've been revealed through history is an amazing thing.


Remember how I mentioned we have been putting together a prophecy timeline? Well I'm going to try and set it up for us now in a picture timeline.

This basically shows the things we've studied concerning the prophecies we've found in Daniel.

Yesterday we left off with the realization that our 2300 year prophecy would have it's fulfillment in 1844 AD.

So what happened in 1844? Here's one very remarkable thing--


October 22 – This second date, predicted by the Millerites for the Second Coming of Jesus, leads to the Great Disappointment.

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I say it's remarkable because of this--

Rev 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
Rev 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.


We've looked at this Revelation prophecy before. That little book we remarked about then and are going to remark about now is the fact the little book of prophecy that goes hand in hand with Revelation IS the book of Daniel. Now let's read these verses again…


Give me the little book. Help me understand this little prophecy book finally. It's the time of the end, it's been a couple thousand years since the prophecy was given, it is time for understanding. Let me have this and eat it… understand it.


The angel said- Take it and eat it- it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.


Take it, eat it- it'll make your belly bitter, after you've eaten it you're going to feel sick, but ohhhhhhhhh while you're eating it you'll taste the sweetness of it just like honey.


The ability to suddenly piece together the prophecy of Daniel has hadn't been so fully done before was amazing leading up to the year 1844. There was a great, great movement as more and more people- learned people too not just silly fanatics, not the lunatic fringe, not the feeble minded, not the sad, ignorant people that everyone wants to imagine people who believe in prophecy movements must be. In fact we just recently had a man and his followers predicting the world would end in May of this year 2011 and that didn't happen. People sat back and laughed, they ridiculed these people, the press really gave it to them making them laughing stocks, and yes- those crazy people. At this time in 1844 people weren't aroused to that sort of belief there were many, many believing in this prophecy only it ending up that the understanding of the prophecy was wrong. While William Miller was predicting Christ would come in 1844, and people were believing Him whole-heartedly there was a HUGE disappointment so much so it is known as the Great Disappointment.


'The Great Disappointment was a major event in the history of the Millerite movement, a 19th-century American Christian sect that formed out of the Second Great Awakening. William Miller, a Baptist preacher, proposed based on his interpretations of the prophecies in the book of Daniel (Chapters 8 and 9, especially Dan. 8:14 "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed"), that Jesus Christ would return to the earth during the year 1844. A more specific date, that of October 22, 1844, was preached by Samuel S. Snow. Thousands of followers, some of whom had given away all of their possessions, waited expectantly. When Jesus did not appear, October 22, 1844 became known as the Great Disappointment.'

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This describes PERFECTLY the sweet honey taste of the believe that the Savior was going to come soon to the bitterness in the belly after it is realized that no, this isn't what this prophecy was predicting at all.


Sweet to bitter. A perfect prophetic interpretation of those verses in Revelation.


Rev 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.


So this begs the question- what was meant by the 'Sanctuary being cleansed'? Because this is such an amazing prophecy it needs a study all it's own and we'll start that tomorrow.


By the grace of God we will be able to understand more and more and in understanding more and more we will grow ever closer to our Savior. His love is in all these prophecies for us, His amazing love.


By His grace always!!!!


Amen.

Prophecy - 22

Recap time. Putting pieces into place. We've already discussed how we've arrived at these conclusions so we're not going to discuss this again at any great length. Please, go back and read any of the prophecy posts you might have missed if you find this confusing. It's by the grace of God that we can understand at all. So pray, pray, pray!

Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

70 weeks- 490 years

Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

457 BC to 27AD
(483 years)

Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

From 483 years to 490 years we have 7 years (one week)

After those 483 we have 7 years left, during those 7 years the Messish would be cut off.

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Here is that week that 7 years we are discussing now.

The covenant would be confirmed for one week (7 years) and in the midst of that 7 years the sacrifice and oblation will cease. Did this happen?

Here we are at 27 AD add half of that 7 years to that number and we get 31 1/2 AD. Do you remember our earlier study about Jesus' death? What year did we arrive at? 31 AD ! The prophecy is fitting into place! Yet again we can see how the great prophecy puzzle pieces fall into place.

So when we say He (the Messiah) would confirm the covenant with many for one week and Jesus died after half that time, what happened at the end of the next 3 1/2 years?

Acts 6-7 describe his trial. He was stoned to death (c. A.D. 34–35) by an infuriated mob encouraged by Saul of Tarsus.[2] Stephen's final speech was presented as accusing the Jews of persecuting prophets who spoke out against their sins:
"Which one of the Prophets did your fathers not persecute, and they killed the ones who prophesied the coming of the Just One, of whom now, too, you have become betrayers and murderers." (7:52)

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Not a coincidence! After Stephen was martyred what happened?

Act 7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

Act 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Act 8:2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
Act 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Act 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Act 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Act 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Act 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Act 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Saul became Paul an undisputed champion of God! And Paul was the man of God who brought the word of God to who? The Gentiles!

Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Until Stephen's death the gospel was exclusively being given to the Jewish people, not the Gentiles. When Stephen was stoned to death the Jewish people as a corporate whole sealed their fate- denying the gospel. The gospel was then to go to the Gentiles. The covenant had been confirmed for one week (7 years), in the midst of that 7 years Jesus was crucified, at the end of that 7 years the Jewish people ultimately denied the gospel of our Savior and that covenant was over. The new covenant, the new Israel, those being grafted onto the True Vine were under way.

This prophecy fits perfectly into our history! Perfectly!

*
Now we need to remember that Gabriel came to Daniel to explain what? The 2300 year prophecy. We know beyond a doubt it was 2300 years not literal days or half days etc, because that time passed between Gabriel giving that vision and His return to explain that vision that had Daniel so consumed with the need to comprehend. Daniel wanted it to make sense! Jeremiah's 70 years was coming to a close, that had been a prophecy given and understood over Daniel's lifetime, and Daniel wanted this new prophecy to be understood. Daniel understood the previous vision of Nebuchadnezzar's dream statue and he lived to see Babylon overthrown by the Medes and Persians, he could comprehend this prophetic succession of ruling kingdoms. If one part of the prophecy had come to pass then the rest of it would as well beyond a doubt. Daniel knew from another vision that Grecia would over throw the Medes and Persians and He wasn't lacking understanding with that - not one bit. The rest of the vision was what Daniel just couldn't fathom because he wasn't being asked to simply understand that one kingdom after another would come into play, but he was being told this--

Dan 8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
Dan 8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
Dan 8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Dan 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

Dan 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Dan 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
Dan 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Dan 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

Now we know from previous studies that the Roman Empire would come after Greece and out of that Roman Empire- part of what would remain of the Roman Empire- would be the Roman Papal rule. We learned that this power would live until Christ's second coming. We learned that the Papacy fit all the prophet markers of this little horn power- and we know that the papacy still exists today as a unique power. We know that Satan would be in control of this very deceptive power - for deceit is just that something that is all but undetectable in its ability to trick. It would do NO good for Satan to have a hand in something that wasn't deceptive. Satanists prove that, don't they? Satan deceive more people by appearing as close to the truth as he can, not by announcing his evil. We know that Daniel was given visions and that so much of his prophetic visions have come true that there is NO way that the rest of his visions will fail. We know that so far in our study that we've been able to account for 490 of the 2300 year prophecy. So let's do some more math.

Of the dates we've been given that match perfectly what has been prophesized we've been able to arrive at 34 AD. Our starting date beyond a doubt is 457 BC. 490 years are accounted for up to the 34 AD.

Taking our 2300 and subtracting 490 we are left with 1810 years.

Add that 1810 years to the 34 years we come up with the final date of the 2300 year prophecy and that is 1844 AD.

As we've done in the past we have to look at history along with our Bibles for an answer as to what happened in 1844.

We'll begin that study tomorrow, again taking this little bit by little bit.

It's fascinating how all this fits together so perfectly.

Maybe we can't understand every thing, maybe we're are not meant to understand every thing. We are meant to understand all we need to in order to be saved. Some might argue at this point that all we need is the gospel and no more. It is true that we are only saved through the forgiveness, through the sacrifice of our Savior. And if we accept the sacrifice of our Savior then we have to accept all of Him don't we? We have to accept all He says, not pick and choose what is pleasing to our senses. We can't just accept the feel-good parts and ignore that it was Jesus Himself who told us to WATCH and PRAY.

This studying is part of that watching Jesus wants us to do.

Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Those were Jesus' words! Jesus talking about Daniel the prophet! We can choose to ignore this, it is our right to do so, or we can choose to take heed and study- watching and praying.


By His love!
By His mercy and grace!
In His righteousness forever!
Through His forgiveness!


Amen.

Prophecy - 21

Today we're going to be undertaking a lot of prophetic time- in fact creating a sort of prophetic timeline.
We need all the prayer we can get, all the enlightenment the Holy Spirit can give us as we delve into these times, figuring the numbers. We need to do this NOT in order to pinpoint the day of Christ's return! NOT to do that ever! But because we were given these times to figure for a reason. God wants us to know beyond a doubt that HE is in control of all things. God knows the BIG picture. God has a timeline and it's NOT a timeline of our making but a timeline that He has allowed so that ultimately all sin will be wiped out and God's love and truth will prevail. There is an end to the insanity of life and NO ONE can tell me there isn't an insanity to our world the way it is now with sin reigning. And again, no one can tell me sin isn't reigning in our world- just pick up a newspaper, just open a news browser, just listen to the news for a short while and you'll know beyond a doubt that sin is paramount, ruling and running this world.

There is a plan for ridding the world of all evil. God's plan. And God has outlined that plan so we can know all along the way that He is in control. Especially now when we are living in the end time had people have come to believe that Christ will never return because it's been close to 2000 years since His death. We are blessed by these prophecies, blessed to be allowed to see how God's plan is unfolding, knowing if so much has already unfolded then NOTHING will stop the rest from unfolding, nothing!

So let's just do an overview of things then by the grace of God start putting pieces together.

*
Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

*
We are told this- KNOW therefore and UNDERSTAND from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem.

There would be a commandment given as a starting point. Does our Bible tell us when that happened?

Ezr 7:11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
Ezr 7:12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
Ezr 7:13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
Ezr 7:14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
Ezr 7:15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
Ezr 7:16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:
Ezr 7:17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
Ezr 7:18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
Ezr 7:19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
Ezr 7:20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.
Ezr 7:21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
Ezr 7:22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
Ezr 7:23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
Ezr 7:24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
Ezr 7:25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.
Ezr 7:26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
Ezr 7:27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:
Ezr 7:28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

So…. When did this happen?

Ezr 7:6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
Ezr 7:7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
Ezr 7:8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
Ezr 7:9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
Ezr 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

In the 7th year of the king (Artaxerxes)

Ezra thereby left Babylon in the first month of the seventh year (~ 457 BC) of Artaxerxes' reign, at the head of a company of Jews that included priests and Levites. They arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month of the seventh year (Hebrew Calendar).

Pasted from

457 BC

We have a starting point for the prophecy-

Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Seven weeks and three score and two weeks-

7 weeks = 7 * 7 = 49
60 weeks = 60 * 7 = 420
2 weeks = 2 * 7 = 14

49 + 420 = 469 + 14 = 483

So jumping from BC to AD let's see where that brings us.

483 - 457 = 26

26 AD but… we have to account for the transition year don't we? Seriously. Transition year being the 0 year. We have the year 100, 200, 1000, 2000 and we consider the year 2000 a millennium year, yes? But it's not 2000 years if there was never a zero year- a transition year. Our birthdays highlight this fact really. When we are 1 year old we've already lived 1 year and are entering our 2nd year. Anyway, people will contest this and have, but it makes sense, it really does in a 'time' sense going from a BC to an AD. We counted down to 1 and went right to 1? Even in our numerical lines there is the -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1+ 2+ 3+, right? This isn't a ludicrous idea here at all, so let's continue.

For the sake of this prophecy let's look at both 26 AD and 27 AD and note any momentous events concerning the Messiah.

In 27 AD our Savior was baptized by John and began His ministry. Our Savior was anointed. The Holy Spirit in the shape of a dove came down upon our Savior.

Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Does this fit with prophecy?

Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Jesus began His ministry in 27 AD.
God said this--

Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

This was a MOMENTOUS occasion! Jesus had come! Jesus had begun His work for the salvation of mankind! What could have been more notable in that year? Nothing!

So if this prophecy is figured out correctly and the date is 27AD- it fits like a glove doesn’t it? And if this part fits the rest should fall into place too, right?

We'll study more of this tomorrow though, bit by bit is how it has to be, digesting it all slowly.

It's my sincere prayer the Lord continues to bless us fully as we strive to understand the messages He has for us who are living in the time before his second coming. We have to watch, we have to pray!

In His love!

Amen.

Prophecy - 20

Dan 9:20 And whiles 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
Dan 9:21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even 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.


Gabriel touched Daniel as he prayed right about the time of the evening oblation. Gabriel was familiar to Daniel, it was Gabriel who came to him at the beginning. It was Gabriel who had been told to give Daniel understanding before, and stopped short of giving a full understanding because time needed to pass to suit the Lord's design.


How much time passed between the vision and Gabriel RETURNING to bring more understanding?


Various historians have come up with different answers to this over the many, many years since that time. Some believing that it was a quick succession from Belshazzar and Darius-


Dan 8:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
Dan 9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans


But the truth is Cyrus took over directly after Belshazzar/Nabonious. This is history here and we MUST look at history. History cannot be rewritten. History cannot be altered to suit OUR purposes. History is what it is and God's design is perfect in His prophecies and their fulfillments.


Factually from all I could discern in my own studying using the vast internet resources available this is what I found--


550 BC - 3rd yr Belshazzar
521 BC - 1st yr Darius


Between those two happenstances were 29 years.


Now like I said, others have come up with 11 years and still others no time at all, just 3rd year of Belshazzar and then immediately 1st year of Darius. When we read the Biblical account and then history it's not readily discerned how they go hand in hand, but we need to remember that for the sake of prophecy here what comes to pass DOES come to pass. What was said to have come to pass, came to pass.


There is only one pinpoint here of concern about the time passing and it's not really a concern so much as an interesting point to look at.


The 2300 day prophecy in Daniel 8 that Daniel was unable to comprehend and left sick after not understanding is something that we need to discuss.


Is that 2300 days literal- 2300 days?
When we read about the vision in the case of the 2300 days it means- evening and mornings NOT evening to evening. Evening and morning is a half day not a full day. So are 2300 days really 1150 full days which equals 3.194 years? Or are they 2300 literal days which equals 6.38 years? OR… are they 2300 prophetic days- a day for a year being 2300 years?


Looking back at history with the passing of years between Daniel's vision and Gabriel returning to give understanding 3.194 years AND 6.38 years passed and that vision of 2300 days was NOT fulfilled. Daniel was still captive in Babylon, Jerusalem was still desolate, the sanctuary was still not rebuilt to even be cleansed. Daniel was looking at Jeremiah's prophecies and knew that it wasn't time for the 70 years to be up yet. Daniel knew that and he wanted understanding about that 2300 days, and you know I don't blame him. It troubled so that it made him sick for a bit. Then there were several years between the angel Gabriel's visits. Remember the angel Gabriel was the angel that herald Jesus' birth! This was an important angel, and this was a VERY important prophecy. So many things point to its importance and we have to pray earnestly for understanding, just as Daniel prayed. Let's continue on now and read what Gabriel came to reveal to Daniel about the prophecy.


Dan 9:22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
Dan 9:23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.


Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.


Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.


Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.


Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.


Did you read all that? If not please go back and read it, it's soooooo important!


Just for the sake of doing so jump now to verse 26 and read that again --


Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.


'SHALL THE MESSIAH BE CUT OFF'


The MESSIAH! We know who the Messiah is, we know that He was 'cut off and not for himself'. Gabriel was revealing this to Daniel in the year 521 BC!!! The very angel who would in the future herald the Messiah's birth was prophesying of His death!


There is so much incredible information here! So much and we can understanding it by the grace of God.


What year was Jesus 'cut off'?


Date of the Crucifixion- let's look at some scriptures.


Joh 2:13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem
Joh 5:1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Joh 6:4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.


Going up to Jerusalem for the Passover feast was something very important for the Jews. There is mention in the book of John of four Passover feasts. At the last Passover, our Savior was crucified.


Jesus began His ministry in 27 AD then there was--
1 Passover John 2:13
2 Passovers John 5:1
3 Passovers John 6:4,
4 Passovers John 13:1.


27 AD- Ministry began
1st 28 AD
2nd 29 AD
3rd 30 AD
4th 31 AD


Christ was crucified in 31AD


Now because there is so incredibly much for us to comprehend here we are going to take this in baby steps.

For now we've seen that this prophecy of Daniel's is super important. The angel Gabriel the same angel who was there to announce the Savior's birth was the angel bringing the understanding to Daniel. The message Gabriel was bringing contains a lot of time references and one of those reference was the Messiah being cut off- the Savior's death. We need to find some time references to figure this all out and that is one of them.


Tomorrow when we continue our study we will delve deeper into this VERY important prophecy, all by the grace of God.


It's the love of God that matters above all and God would have us know His love, know His will. People think that life is just a fluke, that things that happen do so willy nilly without any rhyme or reason. God has a purpose for us all and I know, I know that people will start citing occurrence after occurrence of things that make absolutely no sense to them, no reason they can fathom for them happening and so because they don't know the reasons they believe there can't be a reason. God knows. God has all the reasons and because we don't means nothing at all whatsoever. What God allows us to know is very important and if we choose to ignore it we do so at a risk to ourselves.


Please Lord help us! Help us to understand your will in all things! We need your love, your forgiveness, your mercy, your grace! Please Lord, please.



Amen.