Nobody knows the day or the hour, EXCEPT ME!

Catchy title to the new book! NOT! There is so much confusion about the statement, "Nobody knows the day or the hour" that I thought it best to write about it, today. People basically put their head in the sand and say, "I can't know when Jesus is coming so I won't look at the signs of His coming.

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The reality is that there are two comings of our Lord. A secret coming called the rapture where no one on earth will see Him and then the actual second coming where every eye will see Him.

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Every instance of not knowing the day or the hour is a reference to the secret coming, the rapture. Two instances refer to the coming of the "New heaven and new earth" described in Revelation 21:1 and of that event Jesus said, "not even the angels of heaven know, nor the Son, but only the Father knows" (Matthew 24:35-36, Mark 13:31-32).

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However, every other instance of not knowing the day or the hour is referenced to the rapture. Why is that important? Because once the tribulation begins, the Bible is clear that we are seven years from the return of Christ. The seven year tribulation is described as two periods of 42 months, two periods of 1260 days, two periods of time, times and dividing of time. From the time when Antichrist shall make firm a covenant with many it is seven years until the return. So any kindergartner should be able to calculate the return of the Lord.

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However, of the rapture the Bible says, no one knows the day or the hour. This is a direct reference to the feast of trumpets which is celebrated by Jews around the world over two days because they say of that feast, "no one knows the day or the hour". Jesus' repeated reference to this phrase regarding the rapture points to the fact that the rapture will take place over the two day feast of trumpets which corresponded with what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians and the church in Corinth.

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"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up [harpazo - seized out by force; it's from the Latin that the word derived for Rapture comes - rapio] with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord." - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

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"Behold, 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, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." - 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

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Even John the Revelator wrote that the first thing to take place after the seventh church age was the sound of a trumpet and a call from heaven to come up here. He wrote:

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"After these things I looked, and behold a door stand open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here!" - Revelation 4:1

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Feast of Trumpets is the first of the three fall feasts which all have yet to find prophetic fulfillment. Each of the seven feast [or appointed meeting times] from Leviticus 23 have a fulfillment in Jesus Christ. In the first coming fulfillment took place with the death, burial, and Resurrection of Passover, Unleaven Bread, and First Fruits. Then with the Holy Spirit coming on the day of Pentecost this fulfilled the early summer feasts. And it will be with the return of Christ that the fulfillment of the three fall feasts will take place, first with Trumpets and the rapture, then Day of Atonement and the actual second coming, and finally Feast of Tabernacles and the thousand year reign of Christ.

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I will close today by listing out the references made to the rapture through the passages that say "no one knows the day or the hour" all pointing to a catching away on an upcoming Feast of Trumpets.

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"Then there shall be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming." - Matthew 24:40-42

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"For this reason you must be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will." - Matthew 24:44

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Parable of the faithful and sensible slave, ends with... "The master of that slave [the evil slave] will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know." - Matthew 24:50

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At the end of the parable of the ten virgins which is definitely a parable about the rapture, ends with; "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour." -Matthew 25:13

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"Blessed are those slaves whom the mster shall find on the alert when he comes... And be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming he would not have allowed his home to be broken into. You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect." - Luke 12:37, 39-40 (the slave doesn't know the day or the hour)

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Faithful and Sensible Steward Parable ends with, "the master of that slave [who beat the other slaves] will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour he does not know" - Luke 12:46 (again another reference to a coming at a day or hour he does not know, a reference again to Feast of Trumpets)

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"Be on guard, that yoru hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all time, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. - Luke 21:34-36

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Other references to a coming day which no one knows the day or the hour tied to the rapture:

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"Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life." - John 5:28-29 [reference to the dead in Christ who will hear the sound of the trumpet and the voice of God - rapture]

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"Do not greive the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." - Ephesians 4:30 [sealed until day of redemption of our body described in Romans 8:23]

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"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ." - Philippians 1:6, 9-10 [day of Christ which no one knows the day or the hour]

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"Do not forsake the assembling together of yourselves as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:25 [what day? the day of the rapture which no one knows the day or the hour]

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"But you, brethern, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober." 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6

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"Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a theif, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you." - Revelation 3:3

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Here what I know, "I don't know exact day or the exact hour, but I know it is the day and the hour which no man knows, its the Feast of Trumpets!" Grace and Peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!

The "Magnificat"

Mary's song of Praise, which is called the "Magnificat" after the first word of the song in the Vulgate version, is her humble response to God for His display of grace in her life. Twice the angel Gabriel addresses Mary as the recipient of God's grace.

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So as Mary visits Elizabeth and is prophesied over as Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit:

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"Blessed among women are you, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord."

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As these prophetic words filled the ears of Mary, she exclaimes, the "Magnificat":

"My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. for He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His mane. AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THIGNS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever."

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Let us remember the faith of a young girl who God blessed to carry our Lord! Who said to the angel Gabriel, "Let it be done to me according to your word."

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Blessed is the God who shows Mercy to the humble and exalts those things which are weak!

My eyes have seen Thy Salvation!

The coming of our Lord had been prophesied all the way back to the time of Adam, the first man. Why would the prophesies about Him end with His birth?

On the eighth day, Mary and Joseph, took Jesus to the temple in Jerusaelm to present Him to the Lord.

"And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the LORD's Messiah. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

"Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; For my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all people, A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Thy people Israel."

And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said [prophesied] about Him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother,

"Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise [resurrection] of many in Israel, for a sign to be opposed--and a sword will pierce even your own soul--to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with a husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. And she never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:25-38).

The prophesies did not end with His birth. They continue even until today, as the testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Prophecy" (Revealtion 19:10). This Christmas let us remember our Lord, the greatest gift ever given to mankind. Salvation has come and all who believe shall live forever. Meditate on the wonder of His Love.

The tribulation which shall soon come upon the earth for all the sin and bloodshed. It does not come from God because He is unloving or unmerciful. Instead it comes upon all who have rejected His Love and His Mercy. Jesus Christ is God's Love and His Mercy! Today accept His Love and His Mercy!

The Blind Side

Went to the movies today and saw what I thought was the Best Picture of the Year. It is the movie "Blind Side".

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I am amazed at how many people pass up great wholesome movies either to watch something demonic like "New Moon" or be entertained by the appocolyptic film "2012" which may be a glimpse of what you will see if you miss the rapture.

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But Blind Side is something entirely different, it is the true story of Michael Oher who was homeless on and off from age 7. Through a number of God ordaned incidences, he finds his way into a private Christian Academy. Shortly after his arrival while walking the streets of Memphis looking for shelter on a cold November night the Touhy family take him into their home.

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They discover what I have also just learned, "You can take people out of homelessness, but it is more difficult to take homelessness out of people." But the Touhy's succeed with the help of God, Christians teachers from the school, a tutor, and a lot of love. In just one year of High School football Michael Oher quickly becomes a highly sought after recruit for college football.

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Out of his love and to honor his new family who adopts him as their own, Michael attend Old Miss where both Leigh Anne & Sean Touhy graduated. He goes on to become an all-american offensive lineman and was drafted in the first round this last spring in the NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens.

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This is an absolutely wonderful story of love and compassion, showing that people, no matter where they come from or what their circumstance, are not trash. The greatest investment anyone can make is into the life of another human being who can in no way pay you back.

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That's what Jesus did! He traded his life from the life of human beings who had no way to repay them and when they succeed and overcome obsticales like drugs, alcohol, hatred, or any of the miriad of things that darken our souls, He rejoices in heaven. We can only overcome those things with His blood and His grace! Go check out a great Christian flick! Two Thumbs Up!

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The Touhy's lived out the words of Jesus; "When you five a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and repayment come to you. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous" (Luke 14:12-14). The Touhy's even lived out the word prophesied by Isaiah; "Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:6-7)

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So this holiday season, hear the call of God and love someone who can't love you back! Feed someone who can repay you! Clothe someone who is without! Bring the homeless into your home! Pray and then take risks!

He's returning!

This is just a good word for today! I love how the words of Jesus just transcend space and time. He said:

"Let not your hearts be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know" (John 14:1-4).

I love Thomas because without him one of the most famous verses in the Bible would be missing. So in the next verse he says, "Lord, we do not know where You are going; how can we know the way?" And Jesus replies with one of the most famous verses in scripture which begins, "I am the way..." See the way is a person. If you want to find your way to the very gates of heaven and into His presence, you won't do so by rules or religious acts. The way is a person. The way is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. It is a relationship with this person named, Jesus.

Jesus is returning, Arnold Schwarzenegger was not the first person to say, "I'lll be baaaacch!" General Douglas MacArthur from WWII was not the first person to say, "I shall return!" No Jesus made that promise two thousand years ago. Jesus taught about the rapture before Paul ever wrote about to the church in Thessalonica (1 Thes. 4:16-17) or the church in Corinth (1 Cor. 15:51-53).

Jesus taught; "I tell you in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said to him, 'Where Lord'?"

That should be everyones question; "Where Lord?" Then Jesus almost answering in code says, "Wherever the body is, there will the eagles be gathered together" (Luke 17:34-37). After reading His answer some of us are still saying, "Where Lord?"

Let's walk through this, the body in the original Greek, means the whole body. And the church those who are believers in Him are called His body (1 Corinthians 12:27). So where the body of the Christ is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Eagles gather in the air above the peaks of mountain, even above the area controlled by the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2, 6:12). The body of Christ is going to meet the Lord in the air, that what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, where the eagles are gathered, to be forever with the Lord.

When, well "no man knows the day or the hour" but it will be "In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet" (1 Corinthians 15:52). It will take place prior to the seven year tribulation, that why Jesus says, "Watch and Pray always that you might be counted worthy to escape all these things that are about to take place and stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21:36).

The rapture is basically an invitation to a party that is out of this world (Revelation 19:7). Jesus gave a half dozen parable that make mention of a wedding feast or a great banquet or dinning at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Don't miss this party, you need to RSVP. You know the way!

Jesus conquoring the world one heart at a time!

One of the great military leaders of the 19th century was exiled on the rock of St. Helena. There Napoleon Bonaparte reflected on his life and accomplishments. He then called Count Montholon to his side and asked him, "Can you tell me who Jesus Christ was?" The count could not, so Napoleon said:

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"Well then, I will tell you. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I myself have founded great empires; but upon what did these creations of our genius depend? Upon force. Jesus alone founded His empire upon love, and to this very day millions will die for Him... I think I understand something of human nature; and I tell you, all these were men, and I am a man: none else is like Him; Jesus Christ was more than man...have inspired multitudes with such an enthusiastic devotion that they would have died for me... but to do this it was necessary that I should be visibly present with the electric influence of my looks, my words, of my voice. When I saw men and spoke to them, I lighted up the flame of self-devotion in their hearts... Christ alone has succeeded in so raising the mind of man toward the unseen, that it becomes insensible to the barries of time and space. Across a chasm of eighteen hundred years, Jesus Christ makes a demand which is beyond all other difficult to satisfy; He asks for that which a philpsopher may often seek in vain at the hands of his friends, or a father of his children, or a bride of her spouse, or a man of his brother. He asks for the human heart; He will have it entirely to Himself. He demands it unconditionally; and forthwith His demand is granted. Wonderful! In defiance of time and space, the soul of man, with all its powers and faculties, becomes an annexation to the empire of Christ. All who sincerely believe in Him, experience that remarkable, supernatural love toward Him. This phenomenon is unaccountable; it is altogether beyond the scope of man's creative powers. Time, the great destroyer, is powerless to extinguish this sacred flame; time can neither exhaust its strength nor put a limit to its range. This is it, which strikes me most; I have often thougt of it. This it is which proves to me quite convincingly the Divinity of Jesus Christ.

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What a testimony of Jesus Christ! John the Revelator wrote; "The testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of prophecy" (Revelation 19:10). Truly all who sincerely believe in Jesus do experience that remarkable supernatural love toward Him! He does demand completely and unconditionally that your heart is His.

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Jesus looked into the hearts of those who desired to follow Him and called out the things in their lives that would be an obstical to a relationship with God. For each person it is different, for some it is their money, others it is prestige, others it is family and other worldly obligations. Christ has to be above all things of the world, if not that obstical must be removed.

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On man came running to him desirering to be a follower, but Christ saw that money was more important in his love, so Jesus said, "Sell all you have and give it to the poor."

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Another wanted to follow Jesus, but first wanted to collect the inheritance of his dead father, to him Jesus said, "Let the dead bury the dead."

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Another man also wanted to become a follower, but Jesus looked into his soul and saw that his home was more important, and to him Jesus said, "Foxes have holes, birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head."

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To others who own families where the center of their life, Jesus said, "Whoever, does not hate his father and his mother and his wife and his children, even his own life, cannot be my disciple."

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Jesus demands to be the center of our lives, to be number one in our life. Nothing short will do. To this I say:

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Yes, My God, it is You that elevates my soul and inspires me with hope. You, Jesus, are the God of my heart. When I am good it is You that makes me so. My Lord, it is You who animates my soul and my soul animates my body. You, O Lord, gave me my "self" therefore you require that I love You more than it!

God has been declaring "the end" from the beginning!

This one question is on the mind of everyone, "Is this the end?" NASA is doing public service announcements regarding it. Today opening across America, "2012". I even heard that teenagers are committing suicide rather than be killed on December 21, 2012.

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So this is no joke. And it is the question on everyones minds. What's going to happen in 2012? Is this the end?

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The prophet Isaiah wrote:

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"I am the LORD, that is My name;

I will not give My glory to another,

Nor My praise to graven images.

Behold, the former things have come to pass,

Now I declare new things;

Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you."

- Isaiah 42:8-9

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"Who among them can declare this

And proclaim to us the former things?

It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed"

- Isaiah 43:9, 12

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"And who is like Me?

Let him proclaim and declare it;

Yes, let him recount it to Me in order,

From the time that I established the ancient nation.

And let them declare to them the things that are coming

And the events that are going to take place.

Do not tremble and do not be afraid;

Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it?

And you are My witnesses.

Is there any God besides Me.

Or is there any other Rock?

I know of none."

- Isaiah 44:7-8

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"Who has announced this of old?

Who has long since declared it?

Is it not I, the LORD?

And there is no other God besides Me,

A righteous God and a Savior;

There is none except Me.

Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth;

For I am God, and there is no other.

I have sworn by Myself,

The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness

And will not turn back,

That to Me every knee will bow,

every tongue will swear allegiance."

-Isaiah 45:21-23

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"Remember the former things long past,

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 things which have not been done,

Saying, My purpose will be established,

And I will accomplish all My good pleasure;

Calling a bird of prey from the east,

The man of My purpose from a far country.

Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.

I have planned it, surely I will do it."

- Isaiah 46:9-11

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"I declared the former things long ago

And they went forth from My mouth, and I proclaimed them.

Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.

Therefore I declare them to you,

Before they took place I proclaimed them to you,

Lest you should say, My idol has done them,

And my graven image and my molten image have commaned them."

- Isaiah 48:3, 5

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"Come near to Me, listen to this:

From the first I have not spoken in secret,

From the time it took place, I was there.

And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit."

- Isaiah 48:16

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Grace and Peace, Today! May God grant you eyes to see and ears to hear!

He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple

The eyes may be the window of our soul, but our ears are the windows to the Spirit realm and the voice of God.

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I am in love with this passage;

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"The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples,

That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.

He awakens Me morning by morning,

He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

The Lord GOD has opened My ear;

And I was not disobedient,

Nor did I turn back."

-Isaiah 50:4-5

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Each of the seven letters to the seven churches of the book of Revelation ends with these words; "He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says!" (Revelation 2 & 3).

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How many times did Jesus say, "He who has ears let him hear"? Five!

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He also said, "If anyone has an ear let him hear!" another four times!

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Why all this focus on ears and hearing God, because, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17).

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Even the book of Revelation opens with "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near" (Revelation 1:3).

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God is a speaking God, incline your ear toward heaven and hear what the Sovereign Lord says. The Lord commands, "do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). How are your transformed, by the renewing of your mind, by hearing His Word.

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Here are just a few more passages to meditate on:

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"Apply your heart to discipline, And your ears to words of knowledge" (Proverbs 23:12).

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"My ears Thou hast opened" (Psalm 40:6).

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"O God, we have heard with our ears" (Psalm 44:1).

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"Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world" (Psalm 49:1).

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"Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable" (Psalm 78:1-2).

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"Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live" (Isaiah 55:3).

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Shut your eyes and open your ears to the Lord. Meditate on His voice and Hear what He is saying, take a break and remember, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4, Deuteronomy 8:3).

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Grace and Peace today, shut your eyes to the things of this world, open your ear to the things of the world to come!

Your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God

How are we made back into the image and likeness of God? To answer that question I must first examine; how did the devil become our father? And how did we fall from being in the image and likeness of God?

We fell with our eyes!

The devil said, "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5).

So Eve turns from God and to believing the lie of the devil and the bible records; "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and gave also to her husband with her, and he ate" (Genesis 3:6).

She saw, then it was a delight to the eyes and it was desirable. Then what happened; "Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked" (Genesis 3:7). It was with the eyes that man fell away from God and began chasing after the things of this world.

Look throughout history, "Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan" (Genesis 13:10). Lot ended up in Sodom because his eyes led him there. David ended up in bed with Bathsheba because, "he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance" (2 Samuel 11:2). During the time of the judges; "there was no king in Israel, every man did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6 & 21:25).

Our eyes seem to search out evil, but the eyes of God are much different. Habakkuk wrote; "Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, and Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor" (Habakkuk 1:13). The eyes of God approve righteousness and not evil. "The eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may support those whose heart is completely His" (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Jesus taught us; "If you eye causes you to sin, pluck it out, and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into the fiery hell" (Matthew 18:9). Jesus taught us that the eye is the window of our soul. He said, "The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and dispise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:22-24).

When your whole body is full of darkness, it is deep darkness. Peter wrote that some were "having eyes full of adultery and that never cease from sin" (2 Peter 2:14). John wrote; "Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world" (1 John 2:15-16).

Our eyes betray us. They lead us to the place of sin. Jesus even told the lukewarm church of Laodicea with "eye salve, anoint your eyes, that you may see" (Revelation 3:18).

I love how the writer of Hebrews put it; "Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:1-2).

The eyes did betray God in the garden but God provided us with a window back into His presence, next time I will talk about this important organ.

Grace and Peace, from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ!

Sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh

Yesterday, I began a new series of blogs about the image and likeness of God. Asking questions like, "Are we born today into the image and likeness of God, as Adam was created in that image?"

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The answer is a sad, no! We are all born into the likeness of sinful flesh. What is even more amazing is that Jesus did not come to the earth in the image and likeness of God. I know this sounds almost heretical but listen to the words of Paul:

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"For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh" (Romans 8:3).

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To the church in Philippi, Paul wrote about Jesus, "But emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:7).

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The writer of Hebrews also wrote about Jesus coming in the likeness of sinful man. He wrote, "Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins fo the people" (Hebrews 2:17).

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Jesus was made into the likeness of man. The world did not recognize Him. He likeness was like that of sinful man. "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:9). And although Jesus came and was found in the likeness of man, "He existed in the form of God" (Philippians 2:6).

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Jesus was both the likeness of man and the image of God. The Bible says Jesus is in the image of the Father, saying "He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature" (Hebrews 1:3). I love the way the writer of Colossians puts it, he wrote about Jesus, and said, "And He is the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15).

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Here's what Paul wrote in his second letter to the Corinthians, "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

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There is hope to be remade into the image of God. Believers have this hope. It says in the first letter to the Corinthians, "And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly" (1 Corinthians 15:49). We won't fully bear the image of the heavenly until we are changed, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Corinthians 15:52-53).

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This will happen at the rapture of the church. John wrote; "We know that, when He appears [at the rapture], we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is" (1 John 3:2). But I love the following verses:

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"And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He appeared [the first coming] in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared [the first time] for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous. Do not marvel, brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderere has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth" (1 John 3:3-18).

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Amen and Be Blessed, today and everyday, in Christ Jesus our Lord!

The Image and Likeness of God

On the sixth day, God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness." What does the image and likeness of God look like? Did that image and likeness of God pass from Adam to all his descendants? Are we today in the image and likeness of God?

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Adam was created in this image and likeness but he sinned prior to procreating a son. Genesis 5:1 says, "In the day when God created man [Adam], He made him in the likeness of God." But, "When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth" (Genesis 5:3).

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Seth was not in the image and likeness of God but instead was in the image of his fallen father Adam. Each one of us was born into the same sinful image and likeness. The Psalmist wrote; "I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me" (Psalm 51:5).

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The only way for man to be remade into the image and likeness of God is through Jesus. This all takes place on the inside. The Psalmist understood this and wrote; "Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part Thou wilt make me know wisdom... Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:6, 10).

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This is exactly what the New Testament teaches, "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). How does God do this? By His Spirit! Ezekiel foresaw that when Messiah would come we could receive His Spirit. Then the Lord declared; "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances" (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

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Today you can begin your journey to being remade into the image and likeness of God through Christ, "being transformed into the same image [of Christ] from Glory to Glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Contradictory statements in the Bible that turn out to be true

I got a post on my facebook from a friend who had been out evangelizing and had run into someone who said, "The Bible is full of contradictions." My question was, "Could I have a list of them please?" My experience is that when you find an apparent contradiction that it usually turns out not to be.

This week my personal study has included literary and rhetorical writing devices. And as I studied one that popped out was the literary device of the paradox. A paradox is two contradictory statement that cancel one another but at the same time are both true. The most famous paradox in literature is found in the book 'A tale of two cities'. The opening line of the book reads, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." These two contradictory statements do not cause us to take the book and chuck it in the trash. This is still required reading at schools all over this country. In fact, with these two apparently contradictory statements the author begins to write about how both are true.

Let me give you a couple of examples of paradox in holy scripture; In John 5:31 Jesus says, "If I alone bear witness of Myself, My testimony is not true." Then three chapters later, in John 8:14, Jesus says, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true." These two statements at first glance are apparent contradictions. But I say to you further study will reveal that they are paradoxical statements instead.

The first statement, "If I alone bear witness of Myself, My testimony is not true" is a true statement, the Torah teaches that, "Everything shall be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses" (Deuteronomy 19:15). According to the Torah if a person bears witness alone, their testimony is not true. However, Jesus later says, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true; for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from, or where I am going."

The reason Jesus can bear witness of Himself is because He is God, the second person of the Godhead, and God can bear witness of Himself. So in fact, both statements are true and instead of contradiction we have a paradox. And just like the book 'A tale of two cities' we are not going to through out the book because of a paradoxical statement, we should read and study it further.

Here is another one in the next two verse in chapter 8, Jesus says, "You people judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true" (John 8:15-16). Now if this is not paradoxical enough look at John 9:39, Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world." Then three chapters later Jesus says, "I did not come to judge the world" (John 12:47)

Again both statements are true! Maybe I can explain scripture with it. Jesus said earlier in John 3:17-19, "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil."

Jesus both came into the world to judge the world, being that those who do not recieve the light are judged because they love darkness, and at the same time Jesus didn't come into the world to judge the world but instead to save the world. Both statements are true and both statements are tough to wrap your mind around, that why they are paradoxical.

Next time I will write about another apparent contradiction in the Bible which in fact turns out not to be one and just further goes to prove the perfection of God's Word. A paradox is just two contradictory statements that cancel each other out but in fact turn out to be true.

The enemy has been defeated, Genesis 3:15 fulfilled!

The companion constellations of Leo spell the end for that serpent the devil. This dragon whose tail sweeps through a third of the heavens, as in Revelation 12:4. This serpent that deceived Eve and was prophesied over by God Himself, "your seed shall bruise His heel, but her seed shall bruise your head." (Genesis 3:15)

This serpent will see his end by the foot of the Lion. Hydra means he who is abhorred. The brightest star Al Phard means separated and put away.

The second constellation is Crater which is the cup of God's Wrath. The brightest star Al Ches means the cup. Pointing to the cup of His indignation from Revealtion 14:10.

Lastly, Corvus the Raven, are the birds which shall devour the serpent and His army at the battle of Armagedon. (See Revelation 19:17-18) The brightest star in the Corvus the Raven is Chiba or Al Chibar which means the accursed. The second brightest star Al Goreb means the raven; while the third brightest star Minchar al Gorab means the raven tearing to pieces.

The time quickly approaches when the Gospel of the heavens will be fulfilled. The kingdom of heaven is going to invade the earth and the enemies of the kingdom will be slain. God place each star in its place none is missing and He knows them each by name. The heavens do declare the glory of God, day after day they pour forth speach, night after night they reveal knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their words have gone out through all the earth. Their utterances to the ends of the world. And they proclaim one thing; "JESUS IS LORD!"

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah!

From the earliest times in history from Egypt to India, Leo as been a lion in the heavens. The tail of the Lion represents the beginning and the end of the Zodiac. The beginning because the head of Virgo and the end because of the tail of Leo.

The Hebrew name for this constellation is Arieh which means the Lion. There are six Hebrew words for lion but this one means a lion hunting down his prey. I also love the Arabic name of this constellation; Al Asad means a lion coming with vengeance, leaping like a flame.

The brightest star in Leo is the King star Regulas. Amazingly this king star and Jupiter the king planet came into conjunction three times between Sept of 3 B.C. and May of 2 B.C. Normally this happen once every twelve years, but this set of conjuctions told wise men from the east that a king had been born. Not any king, but the King of Kings!

Regulas marks the heart of the lion, hence it has been called Cor Leonis, the heart of the Lion. It's name actually means treading under foot. The Beta star, Denebola, means the Judge or the Lord who comes. While the third brightest star Al Giebha means the exaltation. And Zosma means shining forth.

All these stars tell the story of our Lion of the tribe of Judah. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, He is going to come forth leaping like a flame with vengeance upon His enemies. He will tread under foot the serpent. He will judge the earth and is the Lord who is coming. He comes shining forth in His exaltation. Praise and Glory to our King!

The sheepfold carried off are now safe at home!

The compannion constellations of Cancer direct us home. Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you. I go prepare a place for you, and if I go prepare a place. I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am you may be also, you know the way." (John 14:2-4)

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Our first companion constellation is the little bear Ursa Minor. Which contains one of the most famous stars in the heavens our North Star. The Bible points to heaven and God's throne room being located in the sides of the north. See Isaiah 14:13 and also Psalm 48:2 which says; "The joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King."

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The Sheepfold waits for their King who promised to return and take them to where He is. The Alpha star of Ursa Minor our pole star is Al Ruccaba which means the turned, hence those who turned. Repent actually means to turn. Another name for the North Star is Arctos which we derive the term Arctic regions means a travelling company. But it is the second brightest star that hold some really cool meaning. It's name Kochab means waiting for Him who is coming.

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Our second companion constellation Ursa Major. The name Acturus comes up as the Hebrew name for the Bear. The Lord asked Job; "Can you show Arcturus and his sons the way?" I can almost hear Thomas answer for Job; "What way?" (John 14:5) But the way is not a set of religious rules its a person, Jesus answered Thomas, "I am the way!" (John 14:6)

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The Arabic name for the Bear is Al Naish which means the assembled together. The brightest star Dubhe means the herd or the flock. Our second brightest star Merach in Hebrew also means the flock, but the Arabic name means the purchased. This second constellation points to the flock of the Redeemer.

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Our third companion constellation is Argo the ship. It is a picture that resembles the ark of Noah, hence the righteous being saved from the wrath to come upon the earth. Isaiah saw the redeemed as they are taken from the earth to the heavenly Mount Zion located in the sides of the north. He prophecied; "And the ransomed of the LORD will return, and come with joyful shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." (Isaiah 35:10)

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The ship Argo carries the great company of travelers. It's brightest star Canopu means the possession of Him who is coming. Again Isaiah seems to see this gathering together in the midst of darkness upon the earth. The lights of the world are saved from the darkness of the tribulation. Isaiah prophesies; "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear upon you. Lift up your eyes round about, and see; They all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be carried in the arms. Then you will see and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you. All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you, the rams of Nebaioth will minister to you; They will go up with acceptance on My altar, and I shall glorify My glorious house. Who are these who fly like a cloud, and like the doves to their lattices [lit. windows]? Surely the coastlands will wait for Me; and the ships of Tarshish will come first, to bring your sons from afar." (Isaiah 60:1-2, 4-9)

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This passage goes from the darkness that shall cover the earth in the form of the seven year tribulation and ends with the millennial reign of our Lord. It is an amazing chapter and the heavens first told the story.

The Messiah holds His redeemed possessions (Cancer)

The ancient Arabic name for this sign is Al Sartan which means who holds or binds and my be from the Hebrew word Asr [strong's H631] which means to bind together. The Greek name Kerkinos means holding or encircling.

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Within the center of the constellation is a bright cluster of stars which can appear to look like a comet this cluster is called Praesepe and it's name means a multitute or offspring.

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The bright star in the tail is Tegmine which means holding. While the brightest star is Acubene which in both Hebrew and Arabic means the sheltering or hiding-place. Another Arabic name for this star is Ma'alaph which means the assembled thousands.

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This reference to the assembling of the righteous reminds me of the words of Zephaniah; "Gather together, gather together, nation without shame, before you are cispersed like chaff which disappears in a day; before the burning anger of the Lord overtakes you. Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth, who obey his commands. Seek uprightness, seek humility; perhaps you will be hidden on the day of the Lord's anger." (Zephaniah 2:1-3)

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Isaiah also foresaw this same hidding of the saints; "Come my people, enter your rooms, shut the door behind you, hide yourselves for a little while until the indignation has overpast. For the Lord emerges from his dwelling place to punish the inhabitants of the earth of their guilt; and the earth will reveal the blood shed on it and no longer hide its slain." (Isaiah 26:20-21)

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Cancer refers to the Messiah's redeemed while Leo refers to the Messiah's enemies. The compannion constellations of Cancer refer to the redeemed as His flock and even a hint to the rapture of the saints prior to the Lord pouring out his wrath on His enemies.

The enemy under foot, the coming Prince of Princes, our redeemer exalted!

Long time no see. Just need to finish these constellations up that tell of both the first and second comings of our king, Jesus!

These companion constellations of our two fold two coming messiah, Gemini, tell of His enemy being defeated. The Hare, Lepus or the Enemy is under the feet of Orion. The brightest star is Arnebo [in Hebrew] which means the enemy of Him that comes.

The Psalmist captures this in Psalm 60:12 where it says; "And it is He who will tread down our adversaries."

The second companion constellation is Canis Major or Sirius the Prince. The name from Danderah ancient Zodiac means coming forth, coming swooping down, like a hawk. The brightest star is one of the brightest in the heavens its name being Sirius, the Prince. It's Hebrew name is Sar as in the Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6. The Second brightest star is Mirzam which means the prince or ruler. While Wesen the third brightest means the bright and the shing one. Another bright star is Adhara which means the glorious. These give us a great description of our coming king, confirming what Isaiah prophesied;

"And the governement will rest upon His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6

Our third star in this set of constellations is Canis Minor, the Socond Dog, which means the exalted Redeemer. The brightest star in this constellation is Procyon which means Redeemer. Telling us that the glorious Prince is none other than the one who was slain. The second brightest star confirms it further, its Arabic name is Gomeisa, means bearing for others.

Shortly the final days of this age shall come and these words from Isaiah will be fulfilled; "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him, And the Redeemer shall come to Zion." (Isaiah 59:19-20).

Two Messiahs: Ben David and Ben Joseph

It is perfectly appropriate that Gemini would represent the tribe of Benjamin in the heavens. Remember at his birth is the first mention of Bethlehem. He was born and as his mother is dying she names him, "Ben-oni" which translates Son of Sorrows, but the Son of the Right Hand "Ben-jamin".

These names would reveal the two natures and comings of Jesus. The first coming, Jesus was Messiah Ben Joseph (the son of Joseph) and He came as the suffering servant or Son of Sorrows. His second coming, Jesus comes as the one who sits at the right hand of the Father, the Son of the Right Hand, Messiah Ben David.

This is the picture that we have in the constellation of Gemini. The Latin names for the two brightest stars of the twins is Castor Pollux and is the name of the ship Paul sailed in Acts 28:11. The alpha star known as Apollo or Castor means ruler or judge. The Beta star Hercules or Pollux has a name that means who comes to labor or suffer. The coming Prince of Peace did come and labor and suffer and returns quickly to rule and judge.

Safety for His sheep but Wrath for His enemies!

Taursus begins our tour through the heavens which describes the return of our Redeemer. Orion may be one of the most famous signs in the heavens. It is the picture of our coming Prince of Peace. Oarion is the ancient name coming from the Hebrew root for Light. The ancient Akkadian name was Ur-ana which means the light of heaven. The biblical name is Chesil which means a strong one, a hero or giant.

The brightest star in this constellation of Light is Betelgeuz, this star is so large it is twice the size of the orbit of the earth around the sun. If the earth were the size of a golf ball, the sun would be fifteen feet in diameter, Betelgeuz would be the size of six Empire State Buildings on top of each other. Betelgeuz name means the coming of the branch.

The Beta star Rigel is one of the brightest in the heavens. It name means the foot that crushes. While the third brightest star is Bellatrix which means quickly coming or swiftly destroying. Al Nitak is the fourth brightest star and is found in the belt of Orion and it means the wounded One.

Eridanus is the second companion constellation of Taurus and it is the River of the Judge or the River of Wrath that breaks forth on His enemies.

The last of the three constellation is Auriga the Shepherd who provides safety for the redeemed in the day of wrath. Reminding us of the what Isaiah penned so long ago, "Behold, the LORD God will come as a mighty one, and His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd, He shall gather the lambs in His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that give suck" (Isaiah 40:10-11).

Auriga is from the Hebrew root which means shepherd. The brightest star in the body of the goat being head by the shepherd is Alioth which means a she goat. The Beta star which can go by the Maaz means a flock of goats.

Malachi gives us great insight into what we see in the heavens and the coming day of the Lord. "Behold, the day cometh, it burns as a furnace; and all the proud, and all that work wickedness, shall be stubble: And the day that comes shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall, and you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I do this, says the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 4:1-3).

Messiah coming back to rule and reign!

The sign Tauraus begins our signs that tell of the second advent of our Lord where He comes to rule and reign on the earth.

The Hebrew name Shur is at it's root a word which means, coming and ruling. The Alpha star has the Chaldian name Al Debaran which means the leader or governor. Reminding us that "unto us a child was born and unto us a son was given and the government will be upon His shoulders and He shall be called; Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

The Beta or second brightest star is El Nath which means wounded or slain. All this giving further insight that the one who is coming to rule and govern was first slain as a sacrifice.

Also within the neck of the Bull there is a cluster of stars known as the Pleiades or the seven sisters. Their name means the congregation of the judge of the ruler. The Hebrew name Kimah means the heap or accumulation and its named in the Bible four times. The brightest star Al Cyone means the center and tradition is that it is the center of our universe. The Syriac name for the Pleiades is Succoth which means booths, this is also the name of the seventh and last biblical feast.

Interestingly, these seven stars may in fact represent the seven stars held in the hand of Jesus in Revelation Chapter 1. In Revelation the stars in the right hand of Jesus represent the angels of the seven churches of Asia. But amazingly, these seven churches are all located in an area known as the Taurus mountain. It is a strange coincidence that these stars represent the congregation of the ruler, and the churches represent the congregations of the ruler. This both implies and confirms that Jesus will return with ten thousand times ten thousand of his saints. (Jude 14)

Another group of stars located in the face of the Bull is known as The Hyades which means similarly the congregated. Revelation 19 shows that the Lord shall return with His armies of His saints which were caught up off the earth prior to the seven year tribulation.

The captive is now enthroned, the enemy bound, all by our redeemer!

Cassiopeia is one of the most famous signs in the heavens. It appears in the northern heavens traveling around the pole star opposite of the big dipper, very easy to see in the heavens as it looks like a W. In the constellation of Pisces the woman Andromeda is chained, now we see she is free and sitting on a throne.

The first of our three companion constellations, Cassiopeia tells the story of the ekklesia, the church. Although once held captive by the devil she was bound but not set free and is enthroned with her redeemer.

The Arabic name of this constellation is El Seder which means the freed. The Egyptian Zodiac gives this constellation the name Set which means set up as queen. An ancient name passed down by Albumazer says that this constellation was called the daughter of splendour. The brightest stars in Cassiopeia helps confirm the story. First the Alpha star Schedir in Hebrew means the freed. While the Beta star bears the Hebrew name Caph which means the branch. please notice she is holding the branch of her King in her right hand. She is enthroned in the heavens near her King Cepheus.

The second companion constellation is Cetus, the Sea Monster or the great enemy who is bound. Revelation 19 shows the bride of Christ dinning at the marriage supper of the Lamb, while Revelation 20 the enemy is bound for 1000 years. The ancient Egypian name for this constellation is Knem which means subdued. The brightest star in Cetus is Menikar which means the bound or chained enemy. The Beta star is Diphda which means overthrone or thurst down. Then there is the amazing star Mira which means the rebel. This star brightens and dims in the heavens being seen at its brightest for 334 days then dims until it disappears from sight before brightening again. This may be the star that is spoken of in Job 41:1-10.

Our last companion constellation is Perseus, the breaker, the one who delivers the redeemed. The Hebrew word is Peretz which we find in Micah 2:13, "The Breaker goes up before them... So their king goes on before them, and the LORD at their head." The ancient Egyptian Zodiac of Denderah calls him Kar Knem which means Him who fights and subdues.

The brightest star in Perseus is Mirfak which means who helps. Another bright star this one in the right shoulder is Al Genib which means who carries away. While the bright star in the foot Athik which means who breaks.

The greeks where unaware of Hebrew roots to this constellation named the head Medusa, while the Hebrews named it Rosh Satan, the head of the adversary and in Arabic Al Oneh which means the subdued or Al Ghoul which is the evil spirit. The star Al Gol in the head is continually changing in brightness but instead of once a year it does so every 3 days. The name means rolling around, just as Peter described him, "like a roaring lion, seeking who he may devour" (1 Peter 3:8). And beware as you the devil can transform into "an angel of light (2 Corinithains 11:14).

Our last third of the way through the heavens is coming, but let us look back beginning at Capricornus, the prophecy of the Promised Deliverer. Aquarius, the results of the work done in grace. Pisces, the results of the work enjoyed in conflict. And finally, Aries the fulfilment of the promised deliverance.

Aries, the Lamb slain and prepared for victory!

"Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (John 1:29, 35). The Hebrew name for Aries is Taleh which is a lamb. The Arabic name for this constellation is Al Hamal which is the sheep, gentle and merciful. The ancient Akkadian name may be the most revealing, the name Bara-ziggar. Bar means alter or sacrifice while ziggar means right making. This is exactly what the Lamb of God is. He is the sacrifice that makes all things right or the sacrifice of righteousness.

The Alpha star is El Nath which means wounded or slain. While the Beta star is Al Sheratan which means the bruised or the wounded. And the third brightest star is Mesartim which means the bound. All three stars proclaim the same message, that the Lamb of God is bruised for our transgression, wounded for our iniquity, and slain for our transgressions.

This is why ten thousand times ten thousand gather round His throne and sing, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing" (Revelation 5:12).

Through bound, they are freed, by their King!

The first of the three companion constellations of Pisces is the band which ties the two fish together. The Arabic name is Al Risha which means the band or the bridle. The Egyptian name U-or means He comes. This coming one speaks of his relationship to the fish, He is the coming redeemer of the fish. The band not only holds the fish but is tied to the sea monster Cetus.

Our next companion constellation is Andromeda the woman chained, but the deliverer is near, He is Cepheus, the Crowned King and Redeemer the coming one who breaks the chains and all things that bind the oppressed. The ancient Egyptian Zodiac of Andromeda is Set which means set, or set up as a queen. In Hebrew her name is Sirra which is the chained.

The brightest star in Andromeda is Al Phiratz which means the broken down. The Beta star is Mirach which means the weak. The third brightest star is Al Maach or Al Amak which means struck down. These stars all describe the future bride of Christ, the broken down, the weak, the struck down. Isaiah prophecied about this woman who is the bride of our Lord. "The Lord is your husband... Oh thou afflicted, tossed in tempest... In righteousness you shall be established" (Isaiah 54).

Our last companion constellation of Pisces is Cepheus who is the Crowned King, the broken's redeemer. The Egyptian Zodiac gives us the name Pe-ku-hor which means the one coming to rule. The Greek name Cepheus is from the Hebrew and it means branch but is also called the king. The three brightest stars tell us all we need to know about Cepheus; first the alpha star Al Deramin means coming quickly. The second brightest star Al Phirk means the Redeemer and the third brightest star is Al Rai which means who bruises or breaks. This is our King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

I find it facinating that two of the largest stars we have found are in this constellation they are Mu Cephei and W Cephei. They are very similar in size both are capible of hold our solar system from Saturn into the Sun within them. These stars are so huge for light to travel around their equator would take 8 hours traveling at 186,000 miles per second. Light can travel around the earth 7 times in one second at 186,000 miles per second. We are talking some huge stars and they are found in the King Constellation Cepheus, that's just cool!

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a net cast into the sea!

Pieces is our seventh sign in our story and it is the first one that does not directly point to our redeemer. This sign is of two fish represent the multitude who where bound by the enemy and are freed by the redeemer.

The ancient Egyptian Zodiac calls this sign Pisces Hori which means the fishes of Him that comes. The Hebrew name is Dagim which means the Fishes. The Syriac name of Nuno means the fish, lengthened out as in posterity. The fish point to a great multitude of fish as in Ezekiel 47:9 that is healed by the great waters from the throne of God.

Fish has been closely tied to the followers of Christ. Peter was told to follow Jesus and he would become a fisher of men. The first symbol of Christianity was a fish. Jesus even said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and gathered of every kind; and when it was full they pulled it to the shore and gathered the good into the vessel and cast the bad away; so shall it be at the end of the age; the angels shall come forth and seperate the wicked from the just" (Matthew 13:47-49).

The famous Jewish commentator wrote that Pisces always refers to the people of Israel, the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And all believers are no sons of Abraham. The world is full of fish, all have been bound by the evil one until Christ came and set them free. This idea and concept is further explained by the companion constellations.

The blessing come quickly while our blesser surely returns

The First of the three companion constellations of Aquarius is so connected to Aquarius that it is in it's illustration. Piscis Australis is the Southern fist receiving the blessings bestowed.

The One blessing pours out blessings upon the redeemed. The ancient name of the brightest star Fom al Haut which means the mouth of the fish.

Pegasus the second of the three companion constellations of Aquarius. Pega means the chief and Sus means the horse. The names of the stars within this constellation tell us the meaning of Pegasus.

The Alpha or brightest star has ancient Hebrew name of Markab which means returning from far away. While the Beta star Scheat means who goes and returns again. The next brightest star with the Arabic name Al Genib whose name means who carries as in the one who carries the blessings. Two other bright stars within this constellation are Enif which means the water and Marar which means who causes to overflow. Aquarius is the water bearer who causes his living water to overflow on the blessed.

Our last companion constellation is Cygnus the Swan, an ancient name from the Denderah Zodiac is Tes-ark which means the one returning from far away. The stars within this constellation will tell us its story. The brightest being Deneb means the judge, it also has another ancient name Adige which means flying swiftly. Jesus is coming back to judge the earth and He returns quickly. The Beta star Al Bireo means flying quickly; while another bright star is Sadr which means returns as in a circle. The stars in the tail are marked pi 1 and pi 2 hold the name Azel and Fafage which mean the one who goes and returns quickly and the gloriously shining one.

Aquarius tells of the blessing being poured out on the blessed, of His quick return, of the rivers of blessings, and of the earth being blessed by the glorious and shining one. This brings us half way through the heavens and the story the goes out to all the earth, there is no speach or language where it is not heard (Psalm 19).

The One who pours forth the Living Water!

The God-man Jesus came forth from the virgin, balancing the deficit of the amount deficient, crushing the head of the serpent, going forth to conquer although He is the offering slain. This is the story told in the heavens so far, bringing us to the One who has procured our blessings and pours forth Living Waters.

Aquarius is the water bearer who pours out blessings on the redeemed. The living water is poured and is unending in its flow. Representing the tribe of Ruben the man in the heavens. One of the ancient names of this constellation is Hupei Tirion which means the place of him coming down or poured forth. Notice the water pourer pours out on the fish and Peter was a fisher of men. These blessings are poured out on all men.

The Alpha star is Sa'ad al Melik which means the record of the pouring forth. While the second brightest star the Beta star is Saad al Sund which means who goes and returns or the pourer out. And the third brightest star is Scheat which means who goes and returns. All these star names point to what is behind the meaning of our constellation. Reminding us that those who drink regular water will thirst again but those who drink the water from our beloved Jesus shall never thirst.

Our illistration includes the Southern Fish (Piscis Australis) which is our first of three companion constellations of Aquarius. The Companion constellations will just further fill in our story of the Living Water poured forth by our Redeemer.

The death and resurrection of the goat of atonement

The three companion constellations of Capricornus are all clustered together in the heavens they add to the heavenly story of our fish-goat slain for the redeemed.

The first of the three is Sagitta, the Arrow, this is the arrow sent forth from God. It is God who is responsible for the piercing of the Son, Jesus Christ. God, the Father; God the Son and the Holy Spirit have sent forth the arrow that will pierce the Son.

The Godhead is completely responsible for the death of the Son. The Father, in Psalms 22:15 where the Son says, "Th dost lay me in dust of death." And again, in Romans 8:32, where Paul wrote, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" And who can forget the most famous of verses, John 3:16, where it says, "For God so loved the world that He gave, His only begotten Son..."

The Son takes responsibility for His piercing in John 10:17-18, where it says, "Because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one has taken it from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative, I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again." Paul confirms this in his letter to Galatia where he wrote, "I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me" (Galatians 2:20).

And not to be left out the Holy Spirit is also responsible for piercing the Son. The writer of Hebrews writes, "How much more will the blood of Christ (cleanse and sanctify), who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:14).

So Sagitta is the arrow God sent forth to pierce the Son. The Hebrew name is Sham which means destroying or desolate.

The second of our three constellations is Aquila, the eagle, representing the smitten one falling to death. The effect of the arrow is the piercing, wounding, and dying of our Saviour. The names of the stars of Aquilla bear this out. The Alpha star is Al Tair in the Arabic and it's name means, the wounding. The Beta star is Al shain means the bright, but the Hebrew root means scarlet colored as in the scarlet thread used in the story from Joshua 2:18. Another bright star is Tarared which menas the wounded or torn. While Alcari in the lower wing means the piercing. Finally Al Okal in the tail means wounded in the heel, just as our Genesis 3:15 prophesy reveals.

Psalms 147:4 reveals that God "counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them."

Our final constellation is Delphinus, the Dolphin, which means the dead one rising again. The ancient Hebrew name is Dalaph which means pouring out of water, as in the living water which saves us from death. Amazingly all three in the Godhead are responsible for the resurrection of Christ. The Father in Acts 2:24 and again in Romans 6:4; The Son in John 10:17-18; and the Holy Spirit in 1 Peter 3:18 and Romans 8:11 all take credit for the raising of Christ.

Capricornus is the dying goat, while the falling eagle is also dying, all this from an arrow sent forth of God, but to complete the story we need Delphinus. For Jesus died, but rose again. The bible says, "For Jesus was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:4). Appearantly, it not only says it in scriptures but also in the heavens!

The Goat of Atonement slain for those redeemed!

Capricornus is the fish-goat, the ancient Egyptian name is Hu-penius which means the place of sacrifice. The Alpha star of Capricornus is Al Gedi in the Hebrew which means the kid or goat. Another bright star in this Deneb Al Gedi which name means the coming sacrifice.

Capricornus prophesies of a coming sacrifice of the Son we know is from a Virgin. And the bible says, "When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem them that were under the Law" (Galatian 4:4).

The three companion constellations of Capricornus tell us the death of this sacrifice and of His living again.