Learning from Athens

From Athens the USA gleaned the “one man, one vote” concept for government and the legal courts.

During the Persian Wars, an ambassador from Persia came to Athens to determine if the city would willingly subject themselves or fight to remain free. After heated discussion among the male Athenian land owners, each man put a stone into the pot: white to fight, and black to submit. They chose to fight for their freedom, and they also chose to ally themselves with their old enemies in Sparta to do so. As the great city-states of Greece combined, they were able to defeat the overwhelming forces of Xerxes I in 479 BC. Bas-relief squares along the top of the Parthenon depicted the victory.

The American people voted for president Obama fully knowing of his laws and goals for “morning after pills” and abortion. To me that means more than half of the country follows idols instead of King Jesus. The primary idol is Molech (which means king) who demanded child sacrifice. The ancients would burn their infants in the arms of the Molech statue; our society burns preborn children with saline solution during an abortion. It's a choice of sexual sin and human sacrifice to Molech instead of monogamous marital sex and raising children in obedience to King Jesus.

Some in Athens recognized their idolatry when presented with the good news of Jesus Christ, but others didn't. Paul's message to them seems appropriate for our day.

“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seems to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached to them Jesus, and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him to Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof you speak, is? For you bring certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) Then Paul stood in the middle of Mars' hill, and said, You men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, him declare I to you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he gives to all life, and breath, and all things; And has made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. For as much then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like to gold, or silver, or stone, graven by are and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent: Because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; whereof he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear you again of this matter.” (Acts 17:16-32)

It is the LORD who raises up nations and sets their borders and time of existence. Regardless of who the leader is, “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1).

The appointed day of God's judgment of the world is drawing closer, and those who mock Jesus' resurrection will be asking the rocks to fall on them to hide them from the “wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:16-17). But if you're not sure your friends have really understood the “Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), find a cultural connection like Paul did to explain Jesus' gift of eternal life to them.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;” (II Peter 3:9-10a)

New Tabernacle, New Temple, New Jerusalem

The earthly tabernacle and temple were built upon the pattern of the heavenly tabernacle. Upon their earthly completion and dedication, the shekinah glory of the LORD filled them so that no one could go in. There is also a heavenly completion of God's judgments prior to the last plagues of His wrath when His glory fills the heavenly tabernacle so noone can enter; and I believe we are nearing that time.

The Tabernacle

“And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud stayed thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:33-35)

Solomon's Temple

“And all the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. . . . And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD to his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim. . . .And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD. . . . When your people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against you, and shall turn again to you, and confess your name, and pray, and make supplication to you in this house: Then hear you in heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land which you gave to their fathers. . . . For you did separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be your inheritance, as you spoke by the hand of Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O LORD God. . . . That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. . . . And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath to the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days. On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.” (I Kings 8:2-66)

Solomon bringing up the ark into the temple began on Tishri 1, Feast of Trumpets, and lasted a week. Then they held solemn assembly for the week of atonement with Yom Kippur on the tenth. Then they dedicated the Temple during the 8 days of the Feast of Tabernacles, Tishri 15-22, and sent everyone home on the twenty-third of Tishri according to II Chronicles 7:10.

Heavenly Tabernacle

“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are your ways, you King of saints. Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? for you only are holy: for all nations shall come and worship before you; for your judgments are made manifest. . . . And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.” (Rev. 15:2-8)

I see a pattern to the times the LORD's glory filled the tabernacle/temple after completion of work which brought about a successively greater period of worship from the first earthly tabernacle and temple to Ezekiel's temple built in the new earthly Jerusalem to the heavenly New Jerusalem which has no need of a temple.

After Jesus comes with all the saints who have died and His Bride still alive meets them in the clouds (I Thess. 4:14-17) and we aid Him in destroying the wicked (Psalm 149:5-9), then the Earth and space junk will be destroyed with fire and recreated (II Peter 3:7-14).

New Heaven and Earth

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” (Rev. 21:1-3)

Though Jesus will “tabernacle with us” (John 1:14), He will yet build the temple He revealed to Ezekiel in the new earthly city of new Jerusalem.

Ezekiel's Temple

“In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was on me, and brought me thither. In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me on a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.” (Ezekiel 40:1-3)

On Yom Kippur, Tishri 10 in 572 BC, Jesus showed Ezekiel the temple which will be built during His millennial reign.

“And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house. And I heard him speaking to me out of the house; and the man stood by me. And he said to me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the middle of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their prostitution, nor by the carcasses of their kings in their high places. . . . Seven days shall you prepare every day a goat for a sin offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish. Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves. And when these days are expired, it shall be, that on the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings on the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, said the Lord GOD. ” (Ezekiel 43:4-7; 25-27)

The priests are to cleanse the temple with many animal sacrifices during the Feast of Tabernacles as in the days of Solomon.

Heavenly New Holy Jerusalem

“And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God . . . And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.” (Rev. 21: 10-23)

It's dimensions are too large to rest upon the Earth [pictures], so it will orbit the Earth like a glowing space station. After Christ's millennial reign and His final Great White Throne judgment, He will remain in the heavenly Jerusalem as the nations continue on His edenic Earth no longer encumbered by a sin nature or a Satan or a mortal body. Wow.

His Word is everlasting, and He has given us all the history and instructions needed for the 7,000 years of man's struggle against sin on Earth until the ultimate victory.

400 Year Judgment

The Amorites

“And he said to Abram, Know of a surety that your seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come here again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, To your seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates: The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.” (Genesis 15:13-21)

 [The map is from Wikimedia Commons under GNU license.]

The LORD (YHWH) lists 10 tribes which the descendants of Abraham were to drive out of the promised land between the Nile and the Euphrates rivers, but makes a special reference to the wealthiest of those tribes, the Amorites. The land of Amurru was north of Canaan, roughly from Tyre and Damascus north to Aleppo. Those who traded at their major ports for cedar and their unique dyes of purple and crimson (phoinos in Greek) called the area Phoenicia. A tribe of Amorites also lived in the lands west of the Jordan river. The first pharaoh of the fourth dynasty, Sneferu (1977-1953 BC), bought cedars from Byblos. Yahweh's promise to Abram came in 1921 BC when He decreed 400 years for the sins of the wealthy city-states of Amurru/Phoenicia to reach their peak of wickedness.

Exodus 12:41 and Galatians 3:16-17 reference the exodus as being 430 years from the Genesis 15 promise which was given to Abram on Nisan 14, 1921 BC. But the actual 400 years is from when Ishmael, the half-Egyptian son of Hagar, mocked Isaac when he was weaned in 1891 BC. The exodus occurred during the reign of Ramesses I on Nisan 14, 1491 BC.

The United States

The Amorites/Phoenicians avoided war and were the wealthiest nation of the old world. The United States of America have had unprecedented peace, and have been the wealthiest nation of the new world for most of its existence.

On April 29, 1607, a group from England erected a seven-foot cross at Cape Henry (now Virginia Beach), and Rev. Robert Hunt prayed the following: 

“Almighty God, by your great mercy we have reached this land, which we now claim and establish for Thy eternal purposes. We ask thee to open hearts and enlighten the understanding of the peoples of these shores to comprehend the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.” (see CBN's First Landing the Movie)

The King James Version of the Holy Bible was completed in 1611, and Pilgrims brought it to America in 1620. Our country had every physical and spiritual advantage, but each generation must choose to love and obey King Jesus and disciple the next generation. Our heavenly Father graciously sent spiritual revivals and great awakenings to renew people's faith in the land.

Although no decree was made regarding the USA (unless you believe it is “mystery Babylon”, I certainly see a pattern which would signify the judgment and soon collapse of the United States.

Bridegroom Delays His Return

“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 12:11-12)

677 + 1290 = 1967 677 + 1335 = 2012

The Al-Aqsa Mosque was completed between 675 and 679 AD; an “abomination” “set up” on the Temple Mount and banned Jews from the city, making them “desolate”. In 1967 during the 6-day War the Jews regained the Temple Mount with the hope of removing the Muslim desecrations upon it. “The deity” (al-illah or allah in Arabic) who placed His Name upon the Temple Mount is Yahweh (YHWH), the Creator of heaven and earth who gives eternal life through His Son Yahshua; not the moon-god of the Arabs who has three daughters but no son. 

Wise Servant and Virgins 

“When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoever reads, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: . . .and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. . . . Therefore be you also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes. Who then is a faithful and wise [phronimos] servant, whom his lord has made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? . . . But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delays [chronizo] his coming; . . . But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried [chronizo], they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet [apentesis] him.” (Matthew 24:15-16, 30c-31, 44-45, 48; 25:4-6)

I've noticed that the Lord's “tarrying” was apparent to both “evil” and “wise” servants,

The evil servants turned back to evil lifestyles (violence and drunkenness) in Matthew 24, and in Matthew 25 the “foolish” virgins were unprepared for Christ's delay and turned back because they were only religious and didn't have a personal relationship with Yahshua/Jesus. Sadly, there are many “evil” and “foolish” people in American churches today who will not be “taken” or “caught up” and received into Christ's fellowship when He returns.

The “wise” [phronimos] are cautious in thought and deed. The “wise” faithfully continue to serve in their God-given station. The “wise” prepare for the Bridegroom's delay, and prepare to “go out” to “meet” Him. “Meet” [apentesis] means to officially welcome a newly arriving dignitary which is also in I Thess. 4:17 in which we are “caught up” to meet Him in the air. Though King Jesus is returning on a white horse, He will also have the amazing New Jerusalem to transport His Bride to the wedding; much as King Solomon made a lavish palaquin lovingly built and embroidered for his bride.

“King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon. He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the middle thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem. Go forth, O you daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown with which his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.” (Song of Solomon 3:9-11)

Muslim attempt to annihilate Israel with be thwarted by the real God

It was clear to me that King Jesus should return in 2012 on the Feast of Trumpets, and though I knew my interpretation could be incorrect, I should have been better prepared for the Bridegroom's delay.

The Muslims have lost every war they've fought against the new nation of Israel because Yahweh is on their side doing miracles to deliver them. Muslims don't want to recognize Israel or Israel's God, but Yahweh will prove He alone is God and kick Allah into the ash heap of idols. As Israel defends itself against the world, it might look pretty bleak until King Yahshua/Jesus intervenes to fight for them.

Solstice or Christmas return of Christ?

Signs in the Heaven

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:29-31)

Solar and lunar eclipses occur quite frequently. Recently there was a total solar eclipse on Nov. 13^th was viewed from Australia. There will be a partial lunar eclipse on Nov. 27^th viewed from most of Africa and Asia. Meteor showers are named according to the constellation they appear to be coming from. The 2012 meteor showers: Perseids were August 11, Orionids were October 20, Taurids were November 9, Leonids will be November 17, and Geminids will be December 13. Usually the Perseids and Geminids provide the best display.

The “powers” (dunamis) with be “shaken” (saleuo). Dunamis could be translated forces or wonderful work. Saleuo come from a root meaning to vibrate, and could be translated waver, agitated, disturbed, or destroyed. Since the sun, moon, and stars were already mentioned in the passage; these “forces” might be gravity, radiation, or something like dark energy.

Winter Solstice: December 21^st

December 21, 2012 is the winter solstice and the end of the age for the Mayan long count calendar. The winter solstice has been important to humans since Noah's flood as evidenced by Stonehenge [picture by Mark Grant] and other similar monuments oriented to it. Most cultures worshipped the sun at some time. The Roman festival of Divalia was held on December 21st, in honor of the goddess Angerona, in which sacrifices were made in the temple to the goddess of joy and pleasure.

Roman Festivals during Jesus' time

Caesar Augustus, who ruled from (33 BC while Antony remained triumvir) 28 BC to 14 AD during time Christ was born, established an obelisk and pulvinar at Circus Maximus in Rome. He brought the obelisk, which honored Egyptian Sun-gods, from Heliopolis and erected it along the dividing barrier. The obelisk reminded everyone of his victory as general Octavian over Egypt's Cleopatra and Mark Antony, which gave him the name Augustus in 30 BC. The pulvinar was a bench from which Roman idols could watch the chariot races. On August 28^th races and games were held at the Circus Maximus in honor of Sol and Luna. Since Julius Caesar name a summer month July after himself, around 8 BC Caesar Augustus renamed the next month as August after himself. Hence I suggest Augustus required the census to coincide with August 28, 3 BC to honor his name and reign as caesar for 25 (or 30) years, and the 750^th year of Rome. Then Messiah was born a few days later on September 11, 3 BC on Tishri 1, the Feast of Trumpets; and then his family resided at a home for the rest of the fall holidays until the magi came in December the next year.

Under Augustus, Saturnalia was celebrated (and businesses were closed) from December 17th to 19^th, and Larentalia was held on December 23^rd. Since Larentia was the nurse of Romulus and Remus, Augustus ordered Larentalia, which included gift giving, to be observed twice a year. I suggest the second observance was on August 28^th when he received the “gifts”/taxes of the people.

Brumalia was an ancient Roman celebration of merriment for thirty days from November 24th to December 25th. This is akin to US holidays lasting from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

Christmas: December 25^th

Some folks are getting dreams and visions of King Jesus returning this Christmas. I think it would be the greatest gift the Father could give us since the first time He sent His Son.

Because of the amazing astrological signs which occurred during one and a half years prior to Christ's birth, the magi followed the "star" to “the house” to offer King Jesus gifts of worship sometime between December 4^th and 30^th in 2 BC when Jupiter would have been visible. Hanukkah in 2 BC was December 22-30, and I'd like to think the wise men were at the house of Mary and Joseph during that season of dedicating the Temple which originated on Kislev 25 in 165 BC during the Maccabees.

Hanukkah this year begins the evening of Dec. 8^th (Kislev 24), and lasts until sunset on Dec. 16^th.

“As it was in the days of Noah . . .”

“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” (Luke 17:26-30)

Tishri was the first month of the year; then Yahweh established the spiritual calendar which began in Nisan at the exodus. Prior to Noah's flood, a year was 360 days, and a month was 30 days.

Yahweh sent the animals to enter the ark on the 10^th of the second month of Mareheshvan which is close to our October (as Tishri usually falls in September), and gave the people seven last days to repent.

The deep burst open and the rains fell on the 17^th of Mareheshvan and the rains lasted 40 days until the 27^th of Kislev (which is Dec. 11^th this year). Hanukkah this year begins the evening of Dec. 8^th, and lasts until sunset on Dec. 16^th.

I think we are living in “. . . in the days of the Son of man” when most people are living life oblivious to the season of the Lord and His merciful judgments trying to get us to turn (repent) towards Him before He returns with total destruction.

“Therefore wait you on me, said the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour on them my indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call on the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.” (Zephaniah 3:8-9)

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hastening to the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. Why, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (II Peter 3:10-14)

I am “looking” forward to Christ Jesus' return at any time: Hanukkah, the winter solstice, or Christmas; any day would be just fine with me. I feel like one of the maidens who fell asleep awaiting the Bridegroom while He "tarried".  Come quickly, Lord Jesus.