Monday, May 13, 2024

Today Israel celebrates 76 years as a Jewish nation-state in modern times

The Jewish nation-state of Israel fulfilled this prophecy of Isaiah 76 years ago today.

"6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that renders recompense to his enemies. 7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. 8 Who has heard such a thing? who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once?  for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. 9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? said the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? said your God. 10 Rejoice you with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all you that mourn for her" (AKJ, Isaiah 66:6-10)

 Just as those who loved the Jewish people on May 14, 1948 rejoiced and then mourned with her during the First Arab-Israeli War; again we rejoice and mourn with the people of Israel.  Hamas has not ceased firing rockets into southern Israel since October 7th, 2023.  Hezbollah continues to fire rockets into northern Israel.  The rockets were paid for by Iran, who sent their own barrage on April 13, 2024.

Hamas still holds hostages, including 5 Americans, and yet my American government is denying ammunition for Israel to take out the last Hamas brigades and free the hostages.  I'm ashamed and outraged.  Billions of US taxpayer dollars and ammunition have been sent to Ukraine where no American lives are in danger.

I am praying for Almighty God to intervene, and so are millions of Christians and Jews in America.

Moses' blessing upon the children of Israel/Jacob before he died ends as follows:

"27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before you; and shall say, Destroy them. 28 Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be on a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. 29 Happy are you, O Israel: who is like to you, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, and who is the sword of your excellency! and your enemies shall be found liars to you; and you shall tread on their high places." (AKJ, Deuteronomy 33:27-29) 

AMEN

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Psalm 83 moon worshippers: Zebah and Zalmunna

Israel has been attacked by Iran's proxies for decades, launching small rockets and kidnapping individuals.  But on October 7, 2023 Hamas (in the land of Philistia, now the Gaza Strip) slaughtered hundreds of civilians and took hundreds of hostages.  Hezbollah (in Lebanon, where the city of Tyre is located) increased its rocket barrage in the north. Note verse seven.
"Keep not you silence, O God: hold not your peace, and be not still, O God. 2 For, see, your enemies make a tumult: and they that hate you have lifted up the head. 3 They have taken crafty counsel against your people, and consulted against your hidden ones. 4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. 5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against you: 6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assur [Assyria] also is joined with them: they have helped the children of Lot. Selah."
(Psalm 83:1-8)

"9 Do to them as to the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:

"11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yes, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: 12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession."
(Psalm 83:11-12)

On April 1, 2024 Israel's airstrike on Iran's embassy in Damascus, Syria killed two Iranian generals much like Gideon killed the Midianite leaders Oreb and Zeeb (Judges 7:24-25).

"11 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelled in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host; for the host was secure. 12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.. . . And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments [crescents] that were on their camels' necks." (Judges 8:11-12, 21b)

Many of the tribes in the ancient Middle East worshipped the moon and stars.  The hundreds of idols they made of them were housed in the Kaaba in Mecca.  Muhammed discarded most of them and added the black stone (now encased in a silver frame on the east side).  Muhammed's revelation from the djin (demon) in the cave was to forcibly unite the tribes under one god so they would stop fighting each other and fight together to gain territory, wealth, and women. 

On April 12, 2024 Iran bombed Israel using drones in retaliation for the deaths of the two generals. Israel now has every right to completely destroy all military installations in Iran.

Though many Muslims will die during this war they started, it is God's heart that they recognize the one, true LORD [YHVH].

"15 So persecute them with your tempest, and make them afraid with your storm. 16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek your name, O LORD. 17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yes, let them be put to shame, and perish: 18 That men may know that you, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, are the most high over all the earth."
(Psalm 83:15-18)

 

Sunday, September 3, 2023

"Pharaohs of the Bible (1003 B.C. - 70 A.D.)" is now published on Amazon

After 8 years, I've finally finished the second volume of "Pharaohs of the Bible". I produced a video covering some highlights. My chronologies of the pharaohs and the Bible are now complete. My chronology of the pharaohs is still available for free at www.pharaohsoftheBible.com. My chronology of the Bible is within the two books. If I get requests for a separate book of my Biblical chronology, I will consider producing it. How long will it take for my new chronology to be accepted, if ever; who knows.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Mystery Babylon



The Bible tells us about the first empire on earth after Noah’s flood.  I propose the area dominated by this original Babylonian Empire (known to scholars as the Uruk Expansion) is vital to our understanding of “mystery Babylon” in Revelation.  Erech=Uruk


And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: why it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. (Genesis 10:8-10)


Shinar into Sumer
Mesopotamia litterally means “middle river” in Greek, but is extrapolated to mean the land (khora) between two rivers. This land was called Shinar in the Bible from Genesis to the time of the prophets (Isaiah 11:11, Daniel 1:2, Zechariah 5:11). Shinar is a composite word of the Hebrew words for “two” (shenayim) and “river” (nahar); and also implies the “land” (erets). Thus Mesopotamia and Shinar are geographically equivalent. Shinar was derived from the Akkadian (Ancient Hebrew) word Shumeru, but scholars have shortened it to Sumer; exchanging /sh/ for /s/ as in Shemite to Semite. Over time the upper portion became distinct and was called the land of Akkad, while just the southern part retained the title of Sumer.  But neither Uruk’s empire nor “mystery Babylon” are limited to southern Mesopotamia  

Cush of Ur as Gishur/Gasher in Sumerian King Lis
Cush built the city of Ur and was known as Cush of Ur, or Gishur in the Sumerian King List.  Cush also built his capital city of Kish (a derivative of his name) and the biblical city of Erech which is called ancient Uruk by scholars.  I propose Cush gave his son Nimrod a small city to govern (later called Babel) before Nimrod overthrew his father’s kingdom.



Then Kish was defeated and the kingship was taken to Eanna. In E-ana, Mesh-ki-ang-gasher, the son of Utu, became lord and king; he ruled for 5 ges, 2 u, 5 dis years.
Mec-ki-aj-gacer entered the sea and disappeared. Enmerkar, the son of Mec-ki-aj-gacer, the king of Unug, who built Unug, became king; he ruled for 7 ges years. . . . (Sumerian King List)




Mesh-ki-ang-gasher is the “prince of measured earth, Cush of Ur,” who built Ur and Unug (Uruk = Erech in the Bible).  E-Ana was the ziggurat in Uruk which was most likely built by Cush to worship Inanna. Cush of Ur was the first ruler of Kish and reigned there for 100 years. Utu was the sun god (Ra/Re) whom Ham worshipped in Egypt. Cush of Ur then entered the sea and disappeared, and I propose that he sailed back to his kin in Africa in the land of Cush, later called Ethiopia.


In Sumerian en-me-er-kar2 mean the following: en is a lord (ensi is a city ruler), me is an office of responsibility or the phenomenal area of a diety's power; er is a lament, tears (woeful waters) or a complaint (whereas ur means warrior); and kar means embankment, harbor, or port authority. Most of these words seem appropriate titles for Nimrod. Together Enmerkar, “lord who storms fortresses,” was the epithet of Nimrod, who conquered all of Shinar and beyond.

Nimrod’s Religious Idolatry
Noah and his family worshipped Creator Elohim (Hebrew for God which is often shortened to El).  Nimrod’s first city was even called Bab-El, meaning ‘gate of God’.  But Ham later chose to worship the sun (Utu), and eventually Nimrod called himself Marutuk, derived from amar-Utu ("bull calf of the sun god Utu"),[i] later pronounced Marduk.  Marduk is often pictured with his snake-dragon.  Nimrod’s father, Cush, worshipped Inanna (in Sumerian, but Ishtar in Akkadian).  Marduk’s wife, Sarpanitu (‘shining one’) represented the moon; and together they usurped biblical Elohim as creator of the Earth.  Their new religion required extravagant offerings and sacred prostitution.  So, yes, the first religion of Babylon was a great whore and the mother of prostitution which spread to many nations and languages.

The waters which you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. (Rev. 17:15)
Uruk Expansion
During the Uruk Period, millions of bevel-rimmed bowls (BRB's) 


were mass produced likely to feed slave and corvee workers their daily rations of barley, and possibly to pay soldiers their ration of salt.  At Uruk strata IV-VI, BRB's are accompanied by an influx of cylinder seals; some of which depict scenes of the En (lord) presiding over torture, such as tying arms at the elbows behind the back, possibly inflicted on tax delinquents.[ii] These BRB's are found in abundance throughout Iraq (the Sunni “beast of the sea”) and Iran (the Shia “beast of the earth”).
         Uruk is #42, Judeida is #1, Hama(th) is #2


Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL)

. . . I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image . . . (Rev. 20:5)

These Muslims are following the Koran’s instructions.
“When your lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.” (Koran 8:12)
“Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), strike off their heads; at length; then when you have made wide Slaughter among them, carefully tie up the remaining captives: thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens.” (Koran 47:4)

                    Islamic State also controls portions of Yemen and Libya.

The empire of “Mystery Babylon” is the Islamic State.

And on her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus . . . (Revelation 17:5-6)




[i] Helmer Ringgren, (1974) Religions of The Ancient Near East, Translated by John Sturdy, The Westminster Press, p. 66.
[ii] Mark A. Brandes, Siegelabrollungen aus den Archaischen Bauschichten in Uruk-Warka, Freiburger Altorientalische Studien 3; Wiesbaden, Frank Steiner, 1979, pp. 17-166.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Don’t Look Back





“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (I Thess. 4:16-17)

The phrase “caught up” was sadly translated rapturo in the Latin Bible, from whence we get the term rapture.  The root of this word is “rape” which means to be taken against your will for sex.  This has led to the false belief that when Christ descends from heaven and the trump sounds, living Christians will automatically be swept into the clouds to meet Jesus.  But our BrideGroom is a Gentleman who will await our final consent as a member of His Bride.
Jesus taught there will be a moment of decision when He returns.


28Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31In that day, he which shall be on the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 32Remember Lot's wife. 33Whoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 34I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.” (Luke 17:28-34)

Besides the rampant sexual sins in Sodom, there was also much commerce.  Lot was rich prior to moving into Sodom (Genesis 13).  He continued to do well in business and was an elder who sat in the gate (Gen. 19:1).


“And while he lingered, the men laid hold on his hand, and on the hand of his wife, and on the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful to him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.” (Gen. 19:16)


The word “lingered” is maw-hah in Hebrew from a root meaning to question.  One angel took the hands of Lot and his wife, and the other angel took the hands of the two daughters.  That means each of the four only had one free hand to carry anything with them (possibly some provisions bundled up the previous night).  Lot’s delaying question might have been, “What more can we take with us?” to which the reply was “Nothing” as the angels grabbed their hands and pulled them out the door and out of the doomed city.

We’re not told why Lot’s wife disobeyed the angel’s command to not look back towards Sodom, but she did.  Jesus used her as a warning for us, that we should be ready at any time to give up all that we have in order to follow Him.  Our lives are hidden in Christ (Col. 3:3), and should not be so entangled with the world that we can’t separate ourselves from it (I John 2:15).  Even your closest Christian friends might not understand they can choose to hold onto something in this world instead of obeying the trumpet call.  Please share this message with them.

5th Seal of Beheaded Christian Martyrs



My 2009 understanding of the order and timing of Revelation might be all wrong, but it is apparent the 5th seal is currently taking place in the Middle East.  Who could have foreseen in our modern world with weapons of mass destruction, that the enemies of God’s people would literally behead them?


“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark on their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:4)


These Christian believers living in the Babylon of the Middle East are often given the choice to deny Jesus Christ and become Muslim, or die.  These martyrs are now pleading with God to avenge their blood.  The Lord tells them to rest a “little season” until all the martyrs join them.


“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11And white robes were given to every one of them; and it was said to them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brothers, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. 12And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, see, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every slave, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev. 6:9-17)

The sun became black, a total solar eclipse, on March 20, 2015, and a blood moon or total lunar eclipse occurred the evening of Passover on April 4, 2015.  Both were viewable from Israel.  But there was no major Middle East earthquake prior to them.  The Lyrid meteor shower can be viewed from mid to late April [link].  Verses 14-17 sound like a nuclear explosion and its aftermath, with people hiding in underground bunkers from radio-active fallout.