July 4, 2005
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Continued: Notes from prophesy conference – First entry was Saturday.
There will be instant communication around the world.
Revelation 11:3, 7, 10 v.3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. (3 1/2 years) v.7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. v.10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
It is easy to see how this could be broadcast almost instantaneously around the world with news channels and live telecasts.
Revelation 9:16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. This occurs when the angels stop holding back the Euphrates River, and they were released to kill 1/3 of mankind.
It is quite possible that the numbers of horsemen in this amount could come from China where they have the population to form such an army.
Zephaniah 3:9 For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord.
Pastor Don pointed out that Hebrew is the only language that was restored after being dead for thousands of years. There is no one who speaks Hittite, or Jebusite, etc. It was due to one leader (whose name I did not catch) who insisted that when the Jews returned to Israel, that they spoke Hebrew. This is a direct fulfillment of Zephaniah 3:9
In 1984 and 1991 there was the return of the Ethiopian Jews to Israel.
Zephaniah 3:10-11 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshippers, the daughter of My dispersed ones, shall bring offering. In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds in which you transgress against Me; For then I will take away from your midst those who rejoice in your pride, and you shall no longer be haughty in My holy mountain.
It was not believed that there could be Jews in Ethiopia, but when the blood was tested, it showed that there was a direct blood line. And the rituals of the Jewish people were being practiced there. That led for a search across the globe for other dispersed Jews, and they were found all over the globe, including in China.
There was an appearance of a red heifer after 2000 years in May 1997. It is a funny story for someone in Ohio had a perfect heifer, and called Israel. They flew over to examine it and the heifer was without spot or blemish, but the owner had put an ear clamp on it, and thus ruining the heifer by a mark. But then red heifers were born in Israel.
Numbers 19:2-7 talk about the red heifer if you care to look that up.
A red heifer is required to purify the water that the priests would wash in before they could serve in the temple. So there can’t be a sacrifice without a red heifer.
Someone wondered why a red heifer (cow)? And did an analysis of the ashes of a red heifer (for the heifer was sacrificed and burned, and the ashes were used for purification). It turns out that it has germ killing properties.
Some of the slides at the conference were shown so fast that I could not take down the notes. I tried to get the website address, or what facts I could.
Someone did research to see what people felt was morally acceptable.
gambling 61% felt that was ok
abortion 45%
sexual fantasies 59%
profanity 36%
homosexuality 30%
prescription drug taking not prescribed by physician. 17%
(there were more but I did not get them written down)
It is funny that in this day and age that only 17% felt that it was ok to take prescription drugs, much lower than sexual fantasies or gambling.
A faith commitment impacts the view of the above behaviors.
For acceptable behavior evangelicals believed that items in the above list were ok was less than 1 in 10 of the items were ok. Christians in general felt that 1 in 10 of the activities were ok, atheists and agnostics felt that 9 out of the 10 behaviors were acceptable.
There is a marked moral decline in our society. Revelation 13 talks about he beast from the sea, and how people will begin to worship him.
Often we take the easy way out, but freedom is a responsibility that comes with a cost.
The way our society is causing us to back down right now is with the word TOLERANCE. This is being preached all over the place, that we have to be tolerant of this behavior and that behavior. Meanwhile, they are not tolerant of our beliefs and we keep giving moral ground away.
It comes down to a lie of proximity. The way they attack our views and beliefs is gradually. Pastor Don gave an example. He told someone to sit in the chair. The person then asked if they could stand, if they stood still. Pastor Don said no, but the person then persisted in asking until Pastor Don gave them the permission to stand. The person stood for a bit, then said that Pastor Don was being UNFAIR because they stood quietly, they should be allowed to take one step, just one step. Of course one step led to another and another and another. And the demands escalated until all ground was given.
Many of the things we are asked to be tolerant about are things that years ago would not have been an issue. Why do we keep giving ground?
It has gotten so bad that our school boards, government, and even some religious leaders have been sucked into this tolerance stance.
Pastor Don then talked about the UPC code. (here is a website that seems to confirm this http://www.av1611.org/666/barcode.html) but apparently now if you want to buy or sell anything in a store you must pay $32 and get a UPC code. This is a world wide phenomena. If you look at a code, you will see that there is a 0 followed by some lines without numbers, then a series of numbers, then two lines without numbers, a series of numbers,lines without numbers and an 8. Pastor Don asked the company what the lines without numbers were. It turns out that they have the value of 6, and there are three of them (666). It apparently is part of a computer code that causes things to be executed.
Then he went through current newspapers to find articles that seemed to fit with end times prophesies. There were many.
Bush says the sacrifice is worth it in Iraq
China and its economy
Holy Heists, religious statues stolen (more focus will be given to idol worship.
A careful reading of the newspaper will give much fodder for thinking.
This was the end of day one. The rest of the two days gave information, some of it repeat, so I will only share what is new to this.
Happy July 4th.
Heather
Comments (16)
Happy Fourth of July.
Hello, my Xanga friend. Glad to see that you have seen my blog on “Acceptance”. I hear you about your varying feelings, thoughts, spiritual understanding and such about your childhood pain. I have dealt with childhood pain too. It is really a lifelong process in how we heal. I must say that ‘acceptance’ is not something we slap on our forehead…in an attempt to hurry or bypass the grief process. I hear you about ‘furious’. Yes, why should a child be treated that way!! and any variety of feelings. I would like to interact with you further over email if that would be of interest/help to you. Blessings on this 4th of July.
Oh, I also want to mention that if you get the book… the first part about choosing joy can be a slow read. You may want to jump to the middle on some chapters like “Advantages in Disadvantages”, “Peace in the Midst of Pain”, etc.
And to think that it’s going to get worse before He comes back…
Hey, you can put the answers to those right in with the normal comments… There’s a new one up if you want to play that one… Sorry, I was slow today. Once I post the winners I usually put up a new question and close out the other one. You had the same answer as almost everyone else did!!! And because it was more of an interpretation question, if anyone played for real, then I would link them. I’ll add you to the list!!!
Thank you for playing!!!! I’m pretty sure you’re going to know the answer to the new one I have up!!!
I found it very interesting what people thought was morally acceptable. What is your pastors view on Iraq???
Thanks for your comments on haircolor. It is interesting that people can have such feelings on something so cosmetic…
Happy 4th!!!!!
Most of the things that are described in the book of Revelation are now possible.
The hardest thing is trying to get that ground back. Great entry!
Steve
Wish I could take credit for the poem, but I am not a poet nor am I a writer. Thanks for asking. =) Debbie
Thanks for the kind words while I was sick last week.
Yeah, the doctrine of “Tolerance” is hypocritical at best. I love interacting with relativists and others who preach tolerance. They’re actually fun to mess with.
“You shouldn’t say that!”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s wrong. You should be more tolerant.”
“Are you saying that I shouldn’t impose my morality on anyone else?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you trying to impose yours on me? In fact, if that’s what you believe, you’re in violation of your own morals by telling me what I should or shouldn’t do. But, if I on the other hand believe that I can and should tell others what they should and shouldn’t do I would not be in violation of my moral code. If it’s all relative, then I’m perfectly moral while you are immoral since you’re in violation of your morals.”
That’s when you see the wheels start turning…..
Then he went through current newspapers to find articles that seemed to fit with end times prophesies. There were many.
Hmmm. There’s a problem with this sort of thinking. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’ll find it. For example, those who would condone homosexuality and approach the scriptures with that as their agenda will come away telling us that David and Jonathan were homosexual lovers and that Sodom and Gamorrah were destroyed for their lack of hospitality.
danthetheologian – Everything in Revelation (or any other book of the Bible) has always been possible, or do you serve a different God than I do? I didn’t think so. Part of the problem with trying to correlate the Revelation with what is possible (in the eyes of man) or what is going on geo-politically is that we tend to read into the text our own biases rather than let the text be what it is and let God speak to us through it. This is true of any scripture and any doctrinal presupposition.
Fascinating stuff about the Jewish people. I worked with Jews for Jesus for a semester during college, so I know God is doing great things among them. Imagine a group of Jewish people on the streets of Berlin telling the Germans about Jesus!
My comments on av1611.org would not be charitable toward those who might be fellow believers, so unfortunately I can’t say it. But I wouldn’t quote it as a trustworthy website by any means.
The red heifer isn’t usable. They found a white hair in its tail. They’re still working on this. Sorry!
http://www.snopes.com/business/alliance/barcode.asp
http://www.virtualsalt.com/barcode.htm
u might want to read these sites as well for a better explanation of bar codes and the actual spaces and representations. i was disappointed that ur pastor was presenting some internet rumor like that as a fact.
jana
Thanks for the info on the barcodes. I looked up the site posted myself. Pastor Don got his information by talking to someone who was selling the barcode number.
Heather
Hey girl…….interesting comments! Revelation is facinating! We can’t figure it all out! Have to put your trust in God and His word….and not man!
Heather, very interesting stuff! Thank you.
Have you ever heard though, the idea that the primary meaning of Revelation related to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD?
Of course, scripture has multiple layers of meaning, and it can mean all of these other things too relating to the end of the world. But the connections with the destruction of Jerusalem are amazing.
Also quite interesting is the link between the Book of Revelation and the Divine Liturgy (known to most Catholics as Mass), as practiced in Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and other high churches. Have you heard of this at all?
Dear Carlos, when we look at the Bible and try to find exception, then that is error because we must accept the whole counsel of the Bible. But even Jesus was amazed that the Priests and Scribes of His day had not read the signs of the times, and did not recognize that Christ was Messiah. I do not think it is in error to keep our eyes open, scan the news and see where we are on the clock of prophesy. That, as far as I can see, is being one of the virgins with enough oil, and awake waiting for the master. It does not mean that the work of Christ does not go forward, that we do not still reach out to souls, we most certainly do not walk around with signs saying the end is near, for we do not know the time. But it is good to be aware, and to use that awareness to further the Kingdom.
Heather