Two Witnesses Establish a Matter

“. . . at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.” (Deuteronomy 19:15b)

At the birth of Messiah Yeshua, the angels declared it to some shepherds who went into Bethlehem to verify their message. The planets and stars also declared a mighty deliver was born (Ps. 19:1-3), and the magi of the east traveled to pay homage to the “king of the Jews” (Mat. 2:2). The astronomers knew the year, but not the day of His birth; whereas the Hebrews had blown the trumpet of the new moon and declared it “was consecrated” and celebrated Rosh HaShanah on the 1^st of Tishri in the evening of Christ's birth on September 11 in 3 BC. Yahweh provided two witnesses for Messiah's birth with full disclosure to the Hebrew witnesses and partial understanding to the Gentile witnesses.

On the 9^th of Tishri, Yeshua's parents circumcised him in accordance with the Law, and officially named Emmanuel (El with us) to be Yeshua/Yahshua (Yah saves); and then the Day of Atonement followed in which no work could be done.

The next month two Hebrew witnesses, Simeon and Anna, foretold Messiah's purpose to his parents in the Temple.  Yeshua would be the atoning salvation of the world (Luke 2:30-32) and their “redemption” (Luke 2:38).

Daniel was carried off to Babylon as a teenager in 606 BC, and Jeremiah prophesied that the nations would serve Babylon for 70 years (Jer, 25:11-12), and afterwards Yahweh would return His people to Israel (Jeremiah 29:10). In 538 BC Cyrus placed Darius as king over Babylon, and Daniel understood that Jeremiah's 70 years were almost over and so he repented for the sins of his people (Daniel 9:1-20). [We should heed his example.] While fasting and repenting for his countrymen, Gabriel appeared to Daniel and gave him the 70 weeks prophecy (Daniel 9:21-27). The traditional view is that Messiah the Prince was declared to be so by His Father at Yeshua's baptism on Elul 1, 29 AD, with the second witness being the Holy Spirit descending upon Christ as a dove. This is based upon 7 X 69 = 483 years elapsing from the decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus in his 20^th year of 455/454 BC. Thus Yeshua began His 3 ½ year ministry in Daniel's 70^th week and was “cut off” for our transgressions on Passover, and within a generation another 3 ½ years of war transpired until the temple was made “desolate” in 70 AD by Titus. So two Hebrews prophesied regarding 70 and all was fulfilled by 70 AD (as a third witness). Our Creator is LORD of time, and He established His feasts as historic and prophetic markers.

Paul taught Gentile believers about Messiah's feast fulfillments, how that Jesus was crucified on Passover and buried during Unleavened Bread (I Cor. 5:7-8) and rose from the dead on the third day which was First Fruits (I Cor. 15:20-23). Jesus walked among His disciples for 40 days, then after a week of prayer, Jesus sent His Holy Spirit on Feast of Weeks which we call Pentecost for being the 50^th day. (more at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UXaQYDYr6A)

In Spring of 33 AD during Yeshua's last days before His crucifixion, He told His disciples, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take you heed, watch and pray: for you know not when the time is. (Mark 13:31-33)

Most likely Saul became Christian Paul in Fall of 36 AD when Messiah Yeshua encountered him on the road to Damascus. Paul wrote of receiving revelations of the LORD fourteen years later in 50 AD (Gal. 2:1-2 and II Cor. 12:1-3 written in 53 and 57 AD respectively). I propose that in 50 AD Yeshua told Paul the “day of the LORD” in His glorious return and judgment would be on His birthday, Rosh haShanah, the Feast of Trumpets, the day of reckoning a king's reign, as a memorial of blowing trumpets to celebrate when Joseph received a bride upon becoming vizir to Ahmose I.

Paul's first letter was written to the Thessalonians in 52 AD. In his short time with them, I propose Paul taught them the “feasts of the LORD” and explained the ones Messiah already fulfilled. I suggest Paul also told them his revelation that Messiah would return on Feast of Trumpets and gather believers to Himself and then bring judgment on the wicked. The second Hebrew witness was John who received his revelation of Messiah “on the Lord's day” (Rev. 1:10 referring to Yeshua's birthday, not Sunday) regarding all the signs prior to Yeshua's return.

“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. Why comfort one another with these words. But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail on a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. You are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (I Thess. 4:16 – 5:6)

Traditionally, Hebrew grooms come after dusk to steal away their bride like a thief, though she and her family are fully aware of the custom and would go with him to his father's house to perform the marriage ceremony.

The LORD provided two different witnesses through Daniel to the special year of 1967 when the Jews regained Jerusalem. The first being 2300 years after Alexander the Great conquered Darius III in 334/333 BC (2300 – 333 = 1967; or 2300 – 334 + 1 for no year zero = 1967) according to Daniel 8:13-14, and the more difficult one to which Jesus alluded (Mat. 24:15).

“And he said, Go your way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” (Daniel 12:9-12)

The abomination “set up” on the temple mount was the Al-Aqsa mosque which was originally made of wood. Construction on the Al-Aqsa Mosque began between 670 and 674 AD. Bishop Arculf from Gaul visited Jerusalem for nine months in 678-679 AD, and described the completed mosque as able to hold 3,000 worshippers. Thus I surmise the Al-Aqsa mosque was completed in 677 AD. 1290 + 677 = 1967 But those who wait until 1335 + 677 = 2012 will be even more blessed.

The Jews had to regain Jerusalem before the following scripture could be fulfilled.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem . . . For I say to you, You shall not see me from now on, till you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.” (Mat. 23:37-39) 

Now there are many Messianic congregations proclaiming that phrase with expectation of the Messiah's return, which I expect to occur at midnight (Mat. 25:6) on September 16, 2012; about six weeks away.

Just like Messiah's birth, Yahweh provided Gentile astronomers with knowledge of the year, but not the day. The Maya ascertained correctly that 2012 would be the return of a god and a fiery destruction and transition.

Jesus commanded us to “watch”, and I have faithfully observed and proclaimed how all the signs in Revelation have occurred, though several were in ways I hadn't imagined. Jesus chided the Jews for not knowing the day of His visitation (Luke 19:44). We are not in darkness, but we know the day and should not be surprised. Elohim has provided Himself two witnesses throughout time who believe in Him: Hebrews/Jews and Gentiles. I believe their testimony. See you in the air with Christ.