The Color of the Covenant

The garments of the high priest of Israel, according to the Bible, contained specific colors:

And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work. It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together. And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. (Exo 28:3-8)

And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue. (Exo 28:31)

And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses. And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. (Exo 39:1-2)

All blue cloth was also specified to be used to cover the furniture and utensils of the sanctuary of Moses when it was disassembled for transport to a new location.

And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it: And shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof. And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon: And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staves thereof. And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it: And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put it upon a bar. And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put to the staves thereof: And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put them on a bar: (Num 4:5-12)

In comparison, the garments of the high priest include the color blue, which is notably absent in the description of the woman of Revelation 17.

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: (Rev 17:4)

The Bible even tells us the spiritual meaning of the color blue:

Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. (Num 15:38-40)

In Numbers 15, the context for the blue tassels or ribbands is intentional sinning (Num 15:30-31) and breaking the sabbath commandment (Num 15:32-36). Note that there is no mention of repentance by the man who was gathering sticks, he was breaking the sabbath intentionally in open defiance of the law. For that he was put to death.

But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him. And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses. (Num 15:30-36)

This practice of blue in tassels survives today in the Jewish prayer shawl, known as a tallit. The tassel with the ribband of blue on the four corners of the tallit is called a tzitzit, and one is shown above.


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Earnestly Contending for the Faith Once Delivered to the Saints

Richard Rives, the author of Too Long in the Sun and Time is the Ally of Deceit, gives Just the Facts of Biblical Christianity in 3-minute insightful video clips.

Richard Rives site has moved to - http://www.wnd.com/author/richardrives/





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To select a video from the Playlist, mouseover the video while it's playing and click on the 'Playlist' button
Advance the Playlist by clicking the Right & Left arrows on the left & right sides of the window




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Ref. http://www.toolong.com/

The Prophecy With A Rabbinic Curse

There has been an resurgence in interest in Bible prophecy lately with all the movies and TV shows coming out of Hollywood, books and magazine articles and just plain current events. Most of the interest seems to lie in prophecies about what's upcoming in the future.


However, in order to understand future prophecies, often it's important to understand prophecies that have already been fulfilled. Through the exercise of studying what's known historically and seeing how those events were heralded years in advance, we learn how to apply Biblical principles to future prophecies.


Many prophecies, though, are difficult to understand and have been given multiple interpretations. But who would intentionally turn you away from a prophecy to the point of putting a curse on it? A curse from a prominent Jewish Rabbi.


The prophecy in question predicts the very year that Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was to begin his ministry here on earth. It has been confounded over the years through confusing interpretations and outright attempts to obscure it. Once it's properly outlined though, the year our Lord began His ministry is revealed.


But first, the curse!



From The Talmudic Anthology, pg. 277




A Sage said: "May the curse of heaven fall upon those who calculate the date of the advent of the Messiah, and thus create political and social unrest among the people."


It has been quoted in other places as,

"Blasted be the bones of those who calculate the end."

And as, “Cursed be he who calculates the End Times.”

So, you've been warned! Now on to the prophecy!

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(Daniel 9:24-27)  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.  (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.  (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.  (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.

The Hebrew word used here for "weeks" is Strongs H7620 - shâbûa‛ , Properly passive participle of H7650 as a denominative of H7651; literally sevened, that is, a week (specifically of years): - seven, week. So if we apply a Biblical principle, a day in prophecy equals a year in fulfillment, (Num 14:34; Eze 4:6) then we get the following:


"Seventy weeks" then, literally means, 70 times 7 years, or 490 years


"seven weeks" means, 7 times 7 years, or 49 years


A "score" equals 20 years so "threescore and two weeks" means 3 x 20 = 60 plus 2 = 62 weeks.


then "threescore and two weeks" means 62 times 7 years or 434 years


Now we just need to figure out what all this means and how to apply it. The prophecy says, "from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem" so we need to find when that decree was made.


King Nebuchadnezzar had invaded Jerusalem in 586BC and carried the Jews into captivity to Babylon for 70 years. You can read about this in 2Kings 24-25 and 2Chronicles 36 . I mention it only to set the stage as to why Jerusalem needed rebuilding, and for the decrees that were made to return the Jews to their homeland.



The Decrees



In 539 BC, Babylonian King Cyrus of Persia made the following decree:

"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,  (2)  Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah." (Ezra 1:1-2; 2Chron 36:22-23)

A sacrificial altar was re-built in Jerusalem that year and the laying of the temple foundation began the following year. But then Cyrus' successor was not as sympathetic toward the Jews. The Magian Pseudo-Smerdis, Aartxerxes I, usurped the throne, pretending to be Cyrus' younger son. As he restored the Magian faith, effecting a religious as well as political revolution, he readily gave ear to the enemies of the Jews whose restorer Cyrus had been.


In 528 BC,  Ahasuerus (Artaxerxes I) halted the building of the temple for 7 years:

Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.  (22)  Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?  (23)  Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.  (24)  Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. (Ezra 4:21-24) 

So all work on the rebuilding of the temple stopped. Then, Darius Hystaspes with six Persian chiefs overthrew the impostor (Artaxerxes I) and became king in 521 B.C. As soon as Darius was on the throne the Jews treated Smerdis' (Artaxerxes I) edict as null and void. This bold step is accounted for by Darius's own inscription at Behistun stating that in his zeal for Zoroastrianism he reversed Smerdis' policy, "rebuilding the temples which the Magian had destroyed and restoring the religious chants and worship which he had abolished."


After being reproached by the prophet Haggai (Haggai 1:1-10) on the 1st day of the month of Elul (6th month) Zerubbabel and Jeshua so counted on Darius' sympathy that they did not wait for his express edict and resumed building the temple. Their adversaries, Tatnai and Shetharbosnai, hoping that Smerdis had destroyed Cyrus' decree, informed the king of the Jews' proceeding and proposed that the archives at Babylon should be searched to see whether Cyrus had ever really given such a decree. Darius, found the original decree by Cyrus at Achmetha and further decreed the resumption of the building of the temple in 521 BC.

Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.  (2)  And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:  (3)  In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;  (4)  With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:  (5)  And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.  (6)  Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:  (7)  Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.  (8)  Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.  (9)  And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:  (10)  That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.  (11)  Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.  (12)  And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed. (Ezra 6:1-12)

The temple building itself was rebuilt and completed 5 years later on the 3rd of Adar. The Passover was kept the following month on the 14th of Nisan (Ezra 6:15-19). The rest of the temple buildings and grounds were completed much later, along with the completion of the wall (Neh 6:15).


So, the two decrees in question are the original one made by Cyrus in 539 BC and the one made by Darius in 521 BC when he reinstated the original decree. But which decree is Daniel talking about -  Cyrus or Darius?


We'll take the years the decrees were made and add the prophesied years from Daniel and see what year Messiah was to appear. Let's do the math. We'll take the weeks, translate them into years and add them to the years the decrees were made. Since the decrees were made in BC, future years count down, so we will actually subtract -


For example - 539BC - 434 years = 105BC; 539BC - 483 years = 56BC; and so on.

		Cyrus	Darius
Weeks	Years	539 BC	521 BC
62 weeks	434 years	105 BC	87 BC
69 weeks*	483 years	56 BC	38 BC
70 weeks	490 years	49 BC	31 BC

* The 69 weeks is derived by adding 7 weeks + 62 weeks (Dan 9:25)



Well, none of these work since they all result in years way before Jesus was even born! Now what?

Let's take another look at the prophecy again. If we read Daniel's prophecy carefully, we notice that it reads, "from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem", not the command to rebuild the temple. It's from the command to rebuild the whole city including the streets and the wall! The decrees of both Cyrus and Darius were about rebuilding the temple only.


There's another often overlooked decree that was made by Artaxerxes II also called Artaxerxes Longimanus, who reigned 464-425 B.C.

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.  (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.  (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.  (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; (Ezra 7:11-14)

This decree, made in 458 BC, was to not only build and furnish the temple but to take all the people back and restore the city of Jerusalem, just like the prophecy said. Let's apply Daniel's math to this decree -

		Cyrus	Darius	Artaxerxes
Weeks	Years	539 BC	521 BC	458 BC
62 weeks	434 years	105 BC	87 BC	24 BC
69 weeks*	483 years	56 BC	38 BC	26 AD
70 weeks	490 years	49 BC	31 BC	33 AD

Note: When crossing over from BC to AD there is no "year zero".

Why was Daniel's prophecy divided into 7 weeks, 62 weeks and 70 weeks? It took 49 years to rebuild the temple and the city of Jerusalem. That's 7 weeks! The building of the temple itself and out buildings may have taken 46 years. (See John 2:20)  The additional 3 years may account for the time to put the finishing touches on the out buildings and to build the wall. If we take the 7 weeks (49 years) and add the additional 62 weeks (434 years) of the prophecy waiting for Messiah to come, we arrive at 69 weeks total or 483 years from the decree of Artaxerxes to the beginning of our Lord's ministry at the age of 30 in 26AD! It was likely then that He stood in the temple on the Day of Atonement (one of God's sabbath days), Wednesday, September 11, 26AD and read the Jubilee Year proclamation from Isaiah 61:1-2 -

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

Afterward, Jesus stated, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." 

This account can be read in Luke 4:16-21, but notice He didn't read the entire verse. He stopped after, "To preach the acceptable year of the Lord". He left off the second half of verse 2 - "and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;".

Why? Because He did not come in vengeance the first time.

But the prophecy of Daniel was 70 weeks. From 458BC to 26AD is only 69 weeks. What about the last week, the 70th week?

That's another prophecy for another time!
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Ref. - Chronologies taken from The Reese Chronological Bible

Historical references from Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Ezra Sent to Jerusalem by Artaxerxes' Decree

Dazed & Confused

Have you wondered why everything seems to be more difficult lately and takes more time than it used to? Everyone seems so confused and exasperated. Why? The answer can be found within the pages of your own Bible. For an overview of what's happening and an overall "compare and contrast" between the way it is under God's blessing and the way it is without that blessing, read Leviticus chapter 26 and Deuteronomy chapter 28. It is amazing that man still thinks he can solve his own problems. He will not be successful. You cannot solve spiritual problems through political means.

What used to take only momentary attention now requires continual effort and followup. We are told that at the time of the end and Jacob's trouble there will be confusion and a confounding of the minds of the disobedient. Each and every one of the faithful still has to operate in that environment amongst a prevailing mindset of disorganization and confusion akin to the "fog of war" our fighting men experience though to a much lesser degree, I'm sure. How can we manage this on a day to day basis without succumbing to the melee around us? Here are a few passages that speak of the overall general confusion that seems so pervasive these days -
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Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces? (Jer 7:19)

O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. (Dan 9:8)

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. (Jas 3:16)

Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods. (Psa 97:7)

They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols. (Isa 45:16)

[In case you think we don't have idols today, think again - Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (Col 3:5)]

For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out. (Jer 9:19)

Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel. (Eze 36:32)

The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf. (Mic 7:16)

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2Th 2:10-12)
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We are not to be confused and confounded though -

Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction. (Jer 17:18)

In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. (Psa 71:1)

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1Co 14:33)

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (1Pet 2:6)
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We are to continually encourage and uplift one another. We are to help one another through these times, encouraging each other to keep the faith. There will be times when you feel strong; seek out someone to encourage. There will be times when we feel weak or discouraged; seek out someone who is stronger at that time. This same individual may need your encouragement come time when the roles are reversed.

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (1Ti 2:1-4)

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Heb 3:13)

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jud 1:3)

Take it one day at a time -

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Mat 6:34)

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. (1Th 5:14)

Be patient with those around you with whom God is dealing. Give them the benefit of the doubt. They have the same issues to deal with that we do but WITHOUT God's Holy Spirit. Can you imagine what that must be like? Cut them some slack, love them anyway. They may be looking for the hope that's tucked away in you and me and you may be the one person God has lead them to because He knows He can trust you with their fractured spirit and to lead them to the truth.

And as always, we must stay focused on Christ, the Rock of our salvation.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. (2Co 4:8-10)

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Rev 14:12)

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isa 26:3)

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (Joh 14:27)

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. (Psa 145:18)


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The Sun Dial of Ahaz and the Extra 40 Minutes!

For centuries man has been trying to construct a calendar that is precise and keeps track of time down to the second. Since God developed the original means for keeping track of signs, seasons, days, and years, man has been fascinated with the concept of time and precision has always been at the forefront of his mind. However, accuracy has escaped most civilizations.

Was it always difficult to mark time? Or did something happen to cause time to shift leaving those who don't understand or believe the explanation wondering what happened?



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(Gen 1:1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
(Gen 1:14) And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

When God originally designed the universe He put the stars and planets in place so that man could understand time - seasons, days and years. The relationship between the sun and the moon defined the months. God's calendar originally had 30 days in each and every month. How do we know this?

Genesis describes the time of the flood of Noah and gives us details as to when the flood started and when it ended.

(Gen 7:11) In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

(Gen 8:3-4) And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. (4) And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.

The flood lasted from the 17th of the 2nd month to the 17th of the 7th month. On the Hebrew holy calendar the 2nd month is Iyar (or Ziv) and the 7th month is Tishri which, generally speaking, on the Roman calendar in use today, this would have been roughly from the 17th of May to the 17th of October. On the Roman calendar this would be 153 days due to May, July and August having 31 days. But notice what the bible tells us in Gen 8:3.

(Gen 8:3) And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.

The bible says there were 150 days between the start of the flood on the 17th of the 2nd month until the 17th of the 7th month. If there's only 150 days that would be precisely 30 days per month.

What happened to the other 3 days?

In 712 B.C. Hezekiah was king of Judah and fell ill. The prophet Isaiah was sent to his bedside to tell him to set his affairs in order because he was not going to recover. Hezekiah wept and prayed to the Lord and reminded him how he had served Him in sincerity and truth. Since he became king, Hezekiah had spent his time tearing down the high places, groves, altars and idols to the false gods in the land. He had indeed served God.

(2Ki 20:5-6) Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. (6) And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

God heard his prayer and through Isaiah told him that he would -
1. heal him
2. he would appear in the temple on the third day
3. He would add 15 years to his life, and
4. He would deliver Jerusalem out of the hand of the king of Assyria.

Talk about answered prayer! But look how bold Hezekiah was in response -

(2Ki 20:8 ) And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?

After being granted all that, he had the nerve to ask for a sign! And the Lord granted it! Now here's where we get back to the calendar and how keeping track of time became more complicated.

(2Ki 20:9-11) And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees? (10) And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees. (11) And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.

So God altered the position of the sun such that time went backwards! This added time to that day and every day since. How much time? If you think of the eastern horizon to the western horizon as 180 degrees (half of a complete circle), then 10 degrees would be calculated like this -

If daylight is 12 hours then 180 degrees equals 12 hours.

12 hours x 60 minutes per hour = 720 minutes
720 minutes divided by 180 degrees = 4 minutes per degree
10 degrees that God moved the shadow backwards x 4 minutes per degree = 40 minutes!

So God moved the position of the sun such that time turned backwards by 40 minutes. Imagine you're lying on your bed as Hezekiah was and the sun has gone down. Suddenly, the sun appears above the horizon again after it has already set! Now that's a sign!

It doesn't tell us specifically that the sun had already gone down, though it could have, the movement of the shadow backwards on the sundial would have been just as dramatic.

Why the Sun’s Position Must have Changed, and Not the Earth “rotating” Backwards

For the shadow of the sundial to return backwards 10 degrees, this must be the sun's position moving and not the earth rotating backwards. If both the sun and moon moved, or earth rotated backwards, then there would be no change in the months. If both the sun and moon moved backwards together then there would be no change in their relationship, only the length of that day would be 40 minutes longer. As was the case in the Joshua "long day" (Josh 10:13), the sun and moon both stood still, and their relationship between each other did not change. The only thing that happened was a "long day" until the battle had ended.

For the 10 degrees to make a change in the months, there had to have been a change in the position of the sun in relation to the moon. This would change the length of the phases, which determines the length of the months. If both sun and moon didn't move, but the earth “rotated” backwards, this could not explain a change in the months either, as the relationship between sun and moon would still be unchanged. It would have only made that day 10 degrees/40 min longer. But it wouldn't have changed the months. The moon's phases and times would still have been the same since the moon is dependent only upon the sun for the timing of its phases, and not the earth.

The Jews have kept track of the months by observing one new moon to the next for centuries. The Hebrew calendar has 12 months of 29 1/2 to 30 days. Approximately every 3 years they add a 13th month. Does that correlate in any way with the 10 degrees/40 minutes?

40 minutes per day x 30 days per month = 1200 minutes difference per month
1200 minutes x 12 months per year = 14,400 minutes per year
14,400 minutes per year x 3 years = 43,200 minutes
43,200 minutes divided by 60 minutes per hour = 720 hours over 3 year period
720 hours divided by 24 hours per day = 30 days (the 13th month!)

This adjustment is required also to ensure the alignment of the feast days with the correct season.

Why Did God Choose How Many Degrees and not allow Hezekiah to choose?

(2Ki 20:9) And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?

Here we see that God gave Hezekiah the choice of 10 degrees forward or backwards but not how many degrees. Why did God choose how many degrees and not let Hezekiah choose? Because it could have affected God's sanctified holy Sabbath.

If God had let Hezekiah choose the number of degrees, we as men like to see spectacular and fantastic miracles. And as such Hezekiah might have chosen 30 or 40 degrees! What would that have done to the calendar? If a change was made, which caused more than 1 days loss in any month, we would lose the last Sabbath of that month, as the last Sabbath is the 29th day of the month on the Hebrew calendar. As it stands now, only the 30th day, is lost in some months. If we had lost two days instead of one, then we would lose both the 30th day, and the 29th day Sabbath, thereby destroying the 7 day weekly cycle, which God instituted in Genesis 2:3.

Could it happen again?
Isaiah gives an account of this same event but adds the word, "again" to the sentence.

(Isa 38:6-8) And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city. (7) And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken; (8) Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.

Since Isaiah is a prophetic book, is it possible that when Assyria besieges Jerusalem again, that God will restore the sun to its original position as one of many heavenly signs?

Only time will tell.

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Israel's Tribes Today

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Reuben (1) - “behold a son” - Leah - Gen 29:32 - sardius

France, Quebec Canada

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Simeon (2) - “hearing, answer” - Leah - Gen 29:33 - topaz

Scattered warriors

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Levi (3) - “junction, union” - Leah - Gen 29:34 - carbuncle

Scattered pastors, ministers and entertainers

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Judah (4) - “praised” - Leah - Gen 29:35 - emerald

Israel

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Dan (5) - “judge, lord” - Bilhah - Gen 30:6 - sapphire

Denmark

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Naphtali (6) - “wrestling” - Bilhah - Gen 30:8 - diamond

Sweden

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Gad (7) - “overcoming, victory, troop” - Zilpah - Gen 30:11 - ligure

Germany

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Asher (8) - “prosperity, happiness” - Zilpah - Gen 30:13 - agate

South Africa

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Issachar (9)- “reward” - Leah - Gen 30:18 - amethyst

Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

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Zebulun (10) - “dwelling” - Leah - Gen 30:20 - beryl

Netherlands

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Joseph (11) - “he shall add” - Rachel - Gen 30:24 - onyx

Divided into Ephraim and Manasseh in Gen 48

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Ephraim - “double fruit” - Asenath - Gen 41:52

Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand

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Manasseh - “causing to forget” - Asenath - Gen 41:51

United States of America

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Benjamin (12) - “son of the right hand” - Rachel - Gen 35:18 - jasper

Norway

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God Cares For You

“Does God care?”

It’s a question that’s plagued millions of minds for almost as long as man has had the capacity to think. The fact that you’re here on this page right now means you’ve probably asked the same question at some point in your life.

The answer is yes. Yes, God cares. And beyond just caring, He has a plan. It’s a plan that includes the entirety of humanity—a plan that includes you.

Whether you’re still searching for proof that God cares for you, or just looking to discover more about how God cares for you, the free articles and literature you’ll find on this page will aid you in your study.

Our world and the prospect of life itself can be a dreary concept when we remove God from the picture. But when we leave room in our conceptions for a loving God who cares for His creation, everything changes. That God is real, as is His love and care for you.

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(Micah 4:3)
And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

(Revelation 21:4)
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

(Jeremiah 29:11)
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

(Isaiah 65:16-25)
That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes. (17) For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. (18) But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. (19) And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. (20) There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. (21) And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. (22) They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. (23) They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. (24) And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. (25) The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

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Does God Exist?
Who is God?
10 Things You Should Know About God
Are your troubles so great, your loss so unbearable it seems God isn't working in your life?

Is it Wrong to Wish for Things or Events to Happen?

Is it a sin to say, "I wish for this thing or that thing?". I'm paraphrasing but it was a legitimate question sincerely posed by an individual, let's call him "Charles", who was just coming into the truth of God and was examining all aspects of his life and was striving to get it right. Charles then posed the question, "Is it okay to say that you've been fortunate?". Fortunate being the operative word and being derived from the name of the Roman goddess Fortuna. Would it be an affront to God to say that you have been fortunate when good things happen in your life?
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God has told us on several occasions that He wants things to go well with us and even wants to give us the desires of our hearts. (Deut 5:33; Psa 37:4; Mark 11:24) So it is perfectly natural and is not wrong to desire better things in life. God wants the best for His children.

We must be careful, however, that we don't reach the point of covetousness. (Exo 20:17; Joshua 7)

The Lord abhors those that covet (Psa 10:3), and wants us to appreciate that which He provides for us. Though the children of Israel were fed with manna in the wilderness, they provoked God's anger by murmuring that they had no meat. (Psa 78:18) God provided it but destroyed the complainers with a plague. (Num 11:33) We should be grateful for whatever God provides for us and be happy regardless of our state. (Php 4:11)

Using the word, "fortunate", to describe our "good fortune" is another matter. Our God is a jealous God (Exo 34:14) and is not pleased when we attribute His blessings to a false god or even to our own efforts (Amos 6:13). Who was Fortuna? Fortuna (equivalent to the Greek goddess Tyche) was the goddess of fortune and personification of luck in Roman religion. She might bring good luck or bad: she could be represented as veiled and blind, as in modern depictions of Justice, and came to represent life's capriciousness. She has even been traced back to the Egyptian goddess Isis from whom evolved many false gods and goddesses.

Much of our English language has been derived from Greek and Roman cultures, among others, and is rife with pagan references and origins. So if we were to attempt to avoid ALL such references our ability to communicate would be severely hampered. However, the use of the word "fortunate" to describe our blessings may be tenuous. All blessings come from God and to attribute them to any other source is to invoke His displeasure and possibly His wrath.

That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: (Josh 23:7)

We are also cautioned to be mindful of the words we speak as that which comes out of a man is what defiles him and we will all be held accountable for every idle word we speak. So we do need to let our words be few and choose them carefully. If we desire something we are to make our requests to God for it is He alone who can bring it about.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Php 4:6)

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4)

So it is not wrong to desire or wish for things, but it does matter from whom you expect the wish to be fulfilled.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3John 1:2-4)

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Denied! - Why Moses Was Not Allowed To Enter The Promised Land

Moses was chosen by God to lead the captive Israelites out of Egypt to meet with Him at Horeb and then on to the Promised Land. He put up with the people complaining and whining all along the way. He even interceded on their behalf when God wanted to destroy them for rebelling and making a golden calf idol while Moses was receiving the ten commandments from God. So Moses saw favor in God's eyes. Why then after all Moses had put up with did God deny him entry into the promised land?
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Was God unfair when He did not allow Moses to cross over the river Jordan into the promised land? Many have wondered what offense did Moses commit that was so egregious that even after confronting the Pharaoh of Egypt, the most powerful man in the world at the time, leading over a million people through the Sinai desert, and caring for them for 40 years all at God's command and under His divine providence, that when he finally reached the very brink of the land of milk and honey, he was denied access by the very God that called him to service. In fact, God lead him to the highest point from which he could see far and wide the whole of the luscious land that God was about to give to His people. There He reminded him of the offense and that he was not to cross over into that land but was instead to die on that very mountain from which he surveyed the promised land. Let's take a look at that fateful offense at Kadesh in the desert of Zin -

Num 20:7-12 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (8) Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. (9) And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. (10) And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? (11) And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. (12) And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

Wow, no wonder he was punished! Anyone who would do that must surely be put to death and completely denied access to anything great and wonderful. It appears to us at first reading that Moses did nothing wrong. God told Moses to get water from the rock and that's just what he did, so where's the offense?

A closer examination reveals an offense that truly was punishable by death but God was actually being merciful in letting Moses live as long as he did. First of all, God told Moses to "speak" to the rock, yet Moses struck the rock with his staff not once, but twice. Why strike the rock, when he was told to speak to it? The answer may lie in an event where Moses had performed this feat previously at God's command.

At Horeb, the children of Israel complained so bitterly to Moses about the need for water that they were at the point of stoning him. (Exo 17:1-7) This is the time where it is said that, "the people did chide with Moses" and "they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?". Moses was told to strike the rock, which he did as commanded and the rock brought forth water. So by the time Moses got to Kadesh, he had already seen that if he struck a rock with his staff, water would come out of it.

The children of Israel were a stiff-necked lot, disobedient at every turn and intent on returning to their slavery in Egypt if their every need were not immediately provided. One can only imagine what Moses must have felt after being recruited reluctantly, having to deal with this bunch of heathens whining, complaining and accusing him for every inconvenience. So the stage is set for Moses fateful offense.

As usual, the children of Israel were murmuring again against Moses and how he had brought them out into the desert only to die of thirst. Moses and Aaron went to ask the LORD for water and got their instructions as we saw above in Numbers 20. So in time of need he went to the LORD as he should but it was the implementation of His instruction that was his downfall. Notice what Moses said and did, exactly.

Moses "smote" the rock twice instead of "speaking" to it as instructed and he said, "Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" God's specific instructions were such that God would be sanctified and glorified by this miracle. Instead, Moses took the glory for himself in response to the vexation by the people and in anger called them "rebels" and struck the rock as he did at Horeb, once, then twice. "See here you heathens what I have to do for you?". So in a moment of anger, rather than obey God's precise instructions in humility so that God could be glorified in the eyes of Israel, Moses demonstrated a lack of faith and exalted himself in God's stead.

Num 20:12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

We are not to exalt ourselves -

Matt 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Only God is worthy of our praise and worship. We are not to worship God as heathens worship their gods but only in the manner God has instructed us. Moses surely knew this as he had witnessed Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, killed by God himself when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai.

Man's conflict from the garden of Eden to today has been one of trying to be like God or to worship God on man's own terms. Every struggle you have in this life is a struggle against God, your will against His will for your life. Yield to His will that it may be well with you.

Deut 5:33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.

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Unleavened! Now what?

Now that the Feast of Unleavened Bread is over and we have practiced removing leavened bread (sin) from our lives and have practiced putting unleavened bread (Christ) in, how do we keep sin out and righteousness (Christ) in? We have removed leavening from our homes (Lev 23:6; Exo 13:6-7) and our bodies (1Cor 3:16-17; 1Pet 2:5) but how do we continue to walk an "unleavened" path?

Mark 14:22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

Jesus told us that He is the bread of life and that bread is without sin (unleavened) -

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

We also are told that man shall not live (physically) by bread alone but (spiritually) by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God -

Matt 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

And that He is the Word -

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

So then it follows that if we are to continue feeding on the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1Cor 5:8), we must feed on the word of God daily.

Father, give us this day our daily bread. (Matt 6:11)



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