Feast of First Fleece

Festival of Sheep Shearing on last day of Adar

“The first fruit also of your corn, of your wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, shall you give him.” (Deut. 18:4)

Festivals were created around these first fruit offerings. The festival for sheep shearing was held toward the end of the year in Adar.

". . . as is almost universal in a rural economy sheep-shearing was de rigueur the occasion for a good time, it was the Yom Tob of feasting and hilarity. Furthermore, it took place in those parts somewhere about March/April and thus more or less at the time of the Spring Equinox, generally the juncture for reckoning the New Year." (Wright, G.R.H., "Dumuzi at the Court of David," in As on the First Day: Essays in Religious Constants, Leiden, 1987, p. 53)

The Spring Equinox gives the most daylight for sheep-shearing. On our calendars it is usually March 20^th. The full moon after it is Passover (Nisan 14).

David

“And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. . . . And now I have heard that you have shearers: now your shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing to them, all the while they were in Carmel. Ask your young men, and they will show you. Why let the young men find favor in your eyes: for we come in a good day [tob yom]: give, I pray you, whatever comes to your hand to your servants, and to your son David.” (I Samuel 25:2-8)

David and his men protected the shearers while they were processing thousands of animals in Carmel (in Judah, not near Mt. Carmel). They asked for food on the “good day” of the festival. I suggest that day was the dark moon which ended the year on the last day of Adar based upon I Samuel 20. It was an annual celebration for families of sheep herders (I Samuel 20:6).

The festival of sheep shearing was one of imbibing which often led to drunkeness, deceit, and infidelity. Jacob used the time of sheep shearing to escape from Laban (Gen. 31:17-22). David used it to escape from king Saul (I Samuel 20). Absalom lured Amnon to the sheep shearing to kill him for raping his sister, named Tamar (II Samuel 13:23). Judah used the festival to justify having sex with a “harlot” who turned out to be his daughter-in-law, Tamar (Genesis 38:12-16). 

Judah 

Judah was born in 1771 BC in Harran in PadanAram, and helped Jacob tend Laban's flocks and herds. Jacob's daughter Dinah was born in 1754 BC, and Joseph was born in 1745 BC; so being almost 20 years older than them, he likely felt protective of his younger siblings. Jacob and his family escaped south to Canaan during sheep shearing in 1742 BC, and dwelt near Shechem (Gen. 33:18) and bought a field from Hamor. Maybe a year or so goes by before Dinah is raped by a son of Hamor who begs his father to get her as his bride. Jacob tells them he can accept the marriage if his village circumcizes all their men. Judah's older brothers, Simeon and Levi, took vengeance for the defilement of their sister by killing all the males of Shechem as they were healing.

“Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took each man his sword, and came on the city boldly, and slew all the males. And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out. The sons of Jacob came on the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field, And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house. And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, You have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?” (Genesis 34:25-31)

Though Simeon and Levi did the killing, all of the sons of Jacob partook in the spoil (according to most commentaries), and some unwisely obtained Canaanite wives. Jacob told his sons to give him all the idols they had taken, and he buried them in Shechem; and they all moved to Luz outside of (Jeru)Shalem and made an altar at elBethel (the house of God) where God kept them safe, not letting any retaliation take place (Genesis 35:1-7).

Joseph was sold into slavery in 1745 BC, and it is recounted in Genesis 37. Jacob and all his family of 66 persons, including the two sons of Pharez (Gen. 46:8-12), moved to Egypt in 1706 BC. Therefore the account of Judah and Tamar producing their son Pharez in Genesis 38:12-30 likely occurred after Joseph was sold, but Genesis 38:1-10 occurred prior. Genesis 38:1-11 gives the backstory of Judah taking a Canaanite wife (from the spoil?), and having three sons with her. Judah married his firstborn to Tamar, but God slew him because he was wicked. Judah's second born, Onan, refused to produce a son with Tamar for his brother; so God slew him too. Judah denied the wickedness of his own sons and blamed Tamar for their deaths, and so deceifully refused to let her marry his third son. Judah's wife died, and then we proceed to the ruse of Tamar during sheep shearing to obtain a child in Genesis 38:12-30.

“And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold your father in law goes up to Timnath to shear his sheep. And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him to wife. When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face. And he turned to her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray you, let me come in to you; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.)” (Genesis 38:13-16)

Timnath is the ruins of Timneh northeast of Abdullam. Three months later when Judah found out Tamar was pregnant, though she was engaged to his son, he sentenced her to be burned (Gen. 38:24). She then showed Judah the signet ring and staff he left with her, and he realized the child was his. Judah helped spoil the town of Shechem for treating his sister like a harlot, and now he had been caught using his own daughter-in-law as a harlot. But Judah repented, and he never had sexual relations with Tamar again (Gen. 38:26).

Obama's Inauguration Speech and God's Judgments on America

Barak Hussein Obama was inaugurated as president of the United States of America for the second time on Monday, January 21, 2013. In his speech, he noted, “Together, we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its people from life’s worst hazards and misfortune.” Yet Obama has passed the most onerous abortion mandate laws in US history. The 40^th anniversary of Roe V. Wade was the next day, but he requested the March for Life be suspended until Friday so as to not sully his inauguration with the truth that millions of “vulnerable” American babies in the womb had their lives legally terminated with the aid of taxpayer dollars through Planned Parenthood.

“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yes, they may forget, yet will I not forget you. Behold, I have graven you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” (Isaiah 49:15-16)

Abandoning or aborting children directly effects the “walls” or protection of a country. America's spiritual hedge of protection began to disintegrate forty years ago, and for the last decade it has also effected our physical barriers.

“We, the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity,” Obama continued; but only if the US government doesn't suspect that citizen of being a terrorist according to the drone memo.

Then Obama said, “The commitments we make to each other through Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, these things do not sap our initiative, they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great;” and was received with great applause.

Just one month prior, Michael at The Economic Collapse wrote the following:

"In 11 different U.S. states, the number of government dependents exceeds the number of private sector workers. This list of states includes some of the biggest states in the country: California, New York, Illinois, Ohio, Maine, Kentucky, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, New Mexico and Hawaii. It is interesting to note that seven of those states were won by Barack Obama on election night. In California, there are 139 "takers" for every 100 private sector workers. That is crazy! The American people have become absolutely addicted to government money, and it gets worse with each passing year. If you can believe it, entitlements accounted for 62 percent of all federal spending in fiscal year 2012." (http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/the-number-of-people-on-welfare-exceeds-the-number-of-people-with-jobs-in-11-states)

After Obama brought up the subject of Medicare and Medicaid, some were hoping his next sentence would refer to our responsibility to lower the debt for our children. But after Obama said, “We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity;” he directed American obligation towards resolving “climate change” and added “Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires and crippling drought and more powerful storms.” How about the overwhelming number of fraudulent emails on climate change from notable scientists (ClimateGate).

The change in weather is actually due to the weakening of the Earth's magnetic field (link) and the resultant movement of the Earth's magnetic north pole to Siberia (video) taking the polar jet stream with it; thus lowering the polar jet stream from it's typical 60 degree latitude to 50 degrees (link). The abnormal jet stream was also a contributing factor to the US Dust Bowl in the 1930's (Wikipedia). The uptick in devastating weather in the US is also God's judgment for our administration trying to divide Israel's land (link) as well as judgment for particular sins, like the hurricane in Mississippi today right before the lewd Marti Gras celebration.

Obama continued, “We will defend our people and uphold our values through strength of arms and rule of law;” but Obama wants to override the US Constitution and limit the kinds of weapons American citizens can use to protect themselves from a government which no longer abides by the US Constitution or American laws. What do you mean the Congress must pass a federal budget every year by the end of February? They've gotten away with breaking that law several years in a row already. What do you mean the federal government is constitutionally required to protect American borders? Instead Obama sends lawyers to sue state governments which try to protect their borders. When Obama seeks to “defend our people” he means other socialists and fascists like him. When Obama cites “our values”, he really means his liberal values; and he has and will continue to use the courts to try to force Christians to accept and pay for the sins of others.

Obama then turned to America's place in the world:

“America will remain the anchor of strong alliances in every corner of the globe. And we will renew those institutions that extend our capacity to manage crisis abroad, . . . We will support democracy from Asia to Africa, from the Americas to the Middle East . . . And we must be a source of hope to the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the victims of prejudice –- not out of mere charity, but because peace in our time requires the constant advance of those principles that our common creed describes: tolerance and opportunity, human dignity and justice.”

He's cutting back the military, so I guess he's talking about extending Planned Parenthood's global reach to manage crisis pregnancies, and ACORN International's ability to foment “change” toward fascist and Muslim dictators being “democratically” elected. As a former Muslim, Obama knows Islam will not tolerate homosexuality or women caught in adultery; and as someone who espouses Christianity, Obama dismissed the motivation of loving compassion in favor of a “common creed” that all are “created equal”. It's like the nightmare of Farenheit 451, Obama wants a world of economic and “principled” equality that only government can provide; and he's worked very hard toward diminishing America's wealth so that we could be on the brink of economic disaster like the rest of the world.

Obama read the introduction of the Declaration of Independence “that we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights” at the beginning of his speech, but now he transitions to calling the principle of being created equal as "the star that guides us still.” So according to Obama we're not being guided by our Creator, but by the principle of human equality; we are not to be guided by the Creator's instructions in the Holy Bible, but by what government says demonstrates human equality. This notion is supported by Obama's following words: “Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law — for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.” But I bet Obama's statement doesn't include holding homosexuals accountable under the law for their hate speech and slander and violence against conservative Christians. Obama is also promoting the lie that homosexuals are born that way, though scientific evidence proves otherwise (link).

Signal of coming World War

In his inaugural speech, Obama stated, “. . . peace in our time requires the constant advance of those principles that our common creed describes . . .” The notable phrase “peace in our time” was spoken by Neville Chamberlain on September 30, 1938 after he had witnessed Hitler's signature on a letter which stated there was no intention of Germany making war with England. Less than a year later, Hitler invaded Poland and refused to leave, so on September 3, 1939 England declared war on Germany; the actual fighting of WWII began a few months later.

One principle Obama seeks to advance is that of global economic equality, mostly by bringing America down to the level of chaos engulfing the world. The main principle Obama seeks to advance globally is that of himself leading a world government which assures his notions of human equality are realized. That can only happen if people subject themselves to government as sole provider. Bible believing Christians and Jews view Elohim as their sole Provider, and they have pesky religious notions that if an able-bodied man or woman refuses to work, then they shouldn't get free food (II Thess. 3:10).

Hitler viewed the Jews as the source of Germany's economic problems. I conjecture Obama sees the country of Israel as the stumbling stone to world peace. Netanyahu has not bowed to pressure from Obama's administration, and I pray he remains strong when Obama comes to Israel in mid-March. Most likely, Obama will reiterate that Israel needs to return to its pre-1967 borders and divide Jerusalem in order to make the two-state solution work.

“I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat [Yah judges], and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.” (Joel 3:2)

Yahweh has made it very clear to America that when its government calls for the division of Israel's land, He will send a disaster to American soil (link).

Be prepared for an “act of God” in the US during Kerry's visit to Israel around February 15^th and during Obama's Israel visit around March 20^th. March 20^th is the Spring Equinox and it is followed by a full moon on March 27^th, so during this period of high tides large earthquakes are expected around the ring of fire (link). Also, Nixon's 40 year treaty with OPEC to buy and sell oil in US dollars comes to an end on March 21^st. OPEC produces one third of the world's crude oil, so what will happen to the US economy if OPEC chooses to use the dinar as their “petrodollar” instead? Then maybe some Americans will follow the motto on our Federal Reserve IOU currency: “In God We Trust”.

Jubilee Years in History

A Jubilee is celebrated on the 50^th year according to Leviticus 25:8-13 which is announced on Yom Kippur (10^th of Tishri) with the blowing of the silver trumpets to release the land and its people from all indebtedness. The 48th year must have been an abundant crop so as to sustain the people through the next two years of not sowing the land and again through to the harvest of the year after the jubilee. After the seventh sabbath (49^th) year, the Hebrews were commanded to celebrate another special sabbath year called the year of jubilee. Any lands that had been sold were returned to the original owner or the ownership of their tribesmen. Those who had sold themselves into slavery were freed. All debts were canceled. All farmers took another 'sabbatical' from working the fields.

And you shall number seven sabbaths of years to you, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty and nine years. Then shall you cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall you make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. And you shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee to you; and you shall return every man to his possession, and you shall return every man to his family. A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be to you: you shall not sow, neither reap that which grows of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of your vine undressed.
(Leviticus 25:8-11)

There was no sowing during the jubilee year so it can not be counted as the first of the next set of seven years. The year after the jubilee year was the first year in the next set of seven.

Starting Year for Counting Jubilees

After years of research, I agree with Ussher's dating of Adam and Eve's creation on Tishri 1 of 4004 BC. The ages in which sons were born in Genesis 5 provide the year of the flood (2348 BC), and in Genesis 11 provide a chronology to Abram's birth year (1996 BC). Based on other Scriptures, the year of the exodus can be determined (1491 BC) which began on the first Passover (Nisan 15) with the crossing of the Red Sea seven days later on what would be called the Feast of First Fruits (Nisan 21).

The Israelites had a combined lunar-solar calendar which maintained the patterns of the seven-day week with a sabbath, and the forty-year generation. A 13th month of thirty days every six years until reaching the 36th year when the extra month was added to the 40th year. Thus it is likely Moses died on the first day of the thirteenth month of a leap year, and they mourned him for thirty days. Every forty years this ancient Hebrew 360-day calendar (360 calendar) reset to the original start day of the week, and it was in sync with the modern 365.25-day calendar. Their religious calendar began in the Spring with the first month of Nisan, and their civil calendar began in the seventh month of Tishri.

The day the children of Israel crossed the Jordan river and were circumcised was the tenth day of the first month (Nisan); the day they were to select a lamb for the Passover to be eaten on the fifteenth, a full moon. Miraculously all of the men were healed by then (as it usually takes a week to heal), and none of their enemies came upon them for fear of God (Joshua 5:1, 8-10). Seven days later Jericho's walls fell on the Feast of First Fruits, forty years to the day of the crossing of the Red Sea when YHWH destroyed Israel's slave-owners, the Egyptian army. So the Hebrews entered the Promised Land in Nisan of 1451 BC, a spiritual victory; but the civil year and counting of jubilees would be counted from the fall of 1452 BC of the Hebrew year 1452/1451 BC.  That Moses and the Israelites were already considering the jubilee count in Fall of 1452 BC could be construed from the dialogue between Moses and the daughters of Zelophehad:

  "And when the jubilee of the children of Israel shall be, then will their inheritance be added unto the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they shall belong: so will their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers. And Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of Jehovah, saying, The tribe of the sons of Joseph speaketh right. This is the thing which Jehovah doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them be married to whom they think best; only into the family of the tribe of their father shall they be married. . . . These are the commandments and the ordinances which Jehovah commanded by Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho."  (Numbers 36:4-6, 13)

Joshua Warred a "Long Time," and Caleb's Age  at Wars' End

"Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.  . . . So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said to Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war."  (Joshua 11:18+23)

"And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, see, I am this day fourscore and five years old. . . And the land had rest from war. " (Joshua 14:10+15)

Two years and two months after the exodus (Num 10:11-12) and another five weeks to get to Paran after burying the dead (Num. 11) comes to July of 1449 BC, when Caleb was forty years old and sent from Kadesh-barnea by Moses to search out the land of Canaan.  At the end of Joshua's wars in Canaan, Caleb was eighty-five years old (compare Jos. 14:10 with Num. 13:3-16, and Deut. 1:36); consequently the war ended by July or August of 1944 BC.  Joshua's wars began with the destruction of Jericho on (April) Nisan 21 in 1451 BC, so April to the end of August is five months plus the six Tishri years of 1451/1450 to 1454/1444 possibly ending in August comes to six years and six months of war.  Therefore, the land of Israel's first year of sabbath rest was (September) Tishri 1444/1443 BC; it was there seventh year in the land promised to them by their Deliverer. 

Parallels of Solomon's Temple and the Temple of Jesus' Body

Solomon's Temple construction began in the second month Zif in 1011 BC of his fourth regnal year 1012/1011 (1 Kings 6:1), and it ended in the seventh month Tishri in 1003 BC of Sabbath year 1003/1002.

Fall, 1004 Temple completed in the eighth month; furnishings 

(I Kings 7:40-50)

Fall, 1003 Temple dedicated in the seventh month during
Feast of Tabernacles

Fall, 1002 Ninth Jubilee began in the fall
 1452 - (9 X 50) = 1002

Hanukkah, 4 BC Jesus conceived (see video)

Tishri 1, 3 BC Jesus born 1000 years after Temple's dedication (hanukkah)

            Christ “tabernacled with us” (John 1:14), and referred to His body as a temple (John 2:19).  

      Hanukkah, 2 BC Wise men gave gifts to King Jesus on 29^th Jubilee year.

   The Jubilee year of 2 BC was followed by the first year of the next seven of Sabbath years. Because there is no year zero, the next Sabbath year was 6 AD, so the 30^th Jubilee year was 49 AD.

     BC 3   2  1  1  2  3  4  5  6 AD

count 49 50  1  2  3  4  5  6  7

   Therefore 1999 – 2000 AD was the 69^th Jubilee year. From 1996-2000 AD the sign of "Virgo birthing the moon" (Rev. 12:1-2) occurred each fall like it did on Tishri 1, 3 BC; and many sought the Lord's return in 2000 AD. I don't recall any Scriptures which state Messiah will return during a jubilee year. By my calculations the 70^th jubilee will be 2049-2050 AD, which I hope will be during Christ's millennial reign.

History of Intertestamental Sabbath Years

Herod the Great Captured Jerusalem 37 BC

Herod's brother Joseph was killed in his attempt to capture Jericho and its summer harvest in 38 BC. Herod heard the news and began attacking through Gallilean cities in his attempt to bring vengeance upon those in Jericho, but he was stopped by a “great storm” (Antiquities of the Jews XIV:15:11) according to Josephus “for a few days' time” (Wars of the Jews I:17:1-3); the storm was likely the kind of mini-hurricane often associated with the Sea of Galilee. As soon as his army could travel, Herod made haste to take Jericho. They captured Jericho, and burnt five little cities to the ground. “. . . upon the confidence of which victory, Herod had marched immediately to Jerusalem, unless he tad been hindered by the depth of winter's [coming on].” (Wars of the Jews I:17:6) Then they laid siege to Jerusalem for five months, and during this time Herod went to Samaria and married Mariamne (Antiquities of the Jews XIV:15:14). Herod rejoined his men in Spring, and by Summer his men broke through Jerusalem's wall and slaughtered many of the people (Wars of the Jews I:18:1-2). Herod stopped their slaughter and raiding, and gave his soldiers rewards from his own purse. Herod's capture of Jerusalem was in the Tishri-Tishri year 38/37 BC, which was the second sabbath year (14th year) from the jubilee year of Tishri 52/51 BC.

“They also erected new works when the former were ruined, and making mines underground, they met each other, and fought there; and making use of brutish courage rather than of prudent valor, they persisted in this war to the very last; and this they did while a mighty army lay round about them, and while they were distressed by famine and the want of necessaries, for this happened to be a Sabbatic year. The first that scaled the walls were twenty chosen men, the next were Sosius's centurions; for the first wall was taken in forty days, and the second in fifteen more, when some of the cloisters that were about the temple were burnt, which Herod gave out to have been burnt by Antigonus, in order to expose him to the hatred of the Jews. And when the outer court of the temple and the lower city were taken, the Jews fled into the inner court of the temple, and into the upper city; but now fearing lest the Romans should hinder them from offering their daily sacrifices to God, they sent an embassage, and desired that they would only permit them to bring in beasts for sacrifices, which Herod granted, hoping they were going to yield; but when he saw that they did nothing of what he supposed, but bitterly opposed him, in order to preserve the kingdom to Antigonus, he made an assault upon the city, and took it by storm;” (Antiquities of the Jews XIV:16:2)

Jubilee and sabbath years backwards from magi's Hanukkah

Joshua entered into Canaan in the Spring of 1451 BC which was part of the Tishri year 1452-1451 BC, so I count jubilee years every 50 years from Tishri year 1452/1451 BC.
 

Year

2 BC was the 29^th jubilee from Joshua's entrance into Canaan.

3 BC was the 7^th sabbath year from the 28^th jubilee of the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

10 BC was the 6^th sabbath year from the 28^th jubilee of the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

17 BC was the 5^th sabbath year from the 28^th jubilee of the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

24 BC was the 4^th sabbath year from the 28^th jubilee of the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

31 BC was the 3^rd sabbath year from the 28^th jubilee of the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

38 BC was the 2^nd sabbath year from the 28^th jubilee of the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

45 BC was the 1^st sabbath year from the 28^th jubilee of the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

52-51 BC was the 28^th jubilee from the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

53 BC seventh sabbath

60 BC sixth sabbath

67 BC fifth sabbath

74 BC fourth sabbath

81 BC third sabbath

88 BC second sabbath

95 BC first sabbath

102-101 BC was 27^th jubilee from the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

103 BC seventh sabbath

110 BC sixth sabbath

117 BC fifth sabbath

124 BC fourth sabbath

131 BC third sabbath

138 BC second sabbath

145 BC first sabbath

152-151 BC was 26^th jubilee from the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

153 BC seventh sabbath

160 BC sixth sabbath

167 BC fifth sabbath

174 BC fourth sabbath

181 BC third sabbath

188 BC second sabbath

195 BC first sabbath

202-201 BC was 25^th jubilee from the Tishri year 52-51 BC.

Maccabees

The Maccabees fought against Syria and their mercenary troops from 167-160 BC. A list of dates for the battles is at wikipedia. The Maccabees had retaken Beth Zur and Jerusalem in 164 BC when Antiochus IV died, but his generals fought back to retake the cities again.

I Maccabees 6:44-63 "And Eleazar the son of Saura saw one of the beasts harnessed with the king's harness: and it was higher than the other beasts: and it seemed to him that the king was on it: And he exposed himself to deliver his people and to get himself an everlasting name. And he ran up to it boldly in the midst of the legion, killing on the right hand, and on the left, and they fell by him on this side and that side. And he went between the feet of the elephant, and put himself under it: and slew it, and it fell to the ground upon him, and he died there. Then they seeing the strength of the king and the fierceness of his army, turned away from them. But the king's army went up against them to Jerusalem: and the king's army pitched their tents against Judea and mount Sion. And he made peace with them that were in Bethsura: and they came forth out of the city, because they had no victuals, being shut up there, for it was the year of rest to the land. And the king took Bethsura: and he placed there a garrison to keep it. And he turned his army against the sanctuary for many days: and he set up there battering slings, and engines and instruments to cast fire, and engines to cast stones and javelins, and pieces to shoot arrows, and slings. And they also made engines against their engines, and they fought for many days. But there were no victuals in the city, because it was the seventh year: and such as had stayed in Judea of them that came from among the nations, had eaten the residue of all that which had been stored up. And there remained in the holy places but a few, for the famine had prevailed over them: and they were dispersed every man to his own place. Now Lysias heard that Philip, whom king Antiochus while he lived had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus, and to reign, to be king, Was returned from Persia, and Media, with the army that went with him, and that he sought to take upon him the affairs of the kingdom: Wherefore he made haste to go, and say to the king and to the captains of the army: We decay daily, and our provision of victuals is small, and the place that we lay siege to is strong, and it lieth upon us to take order for the affairs of the kingdom. Now therefore let us come to an agreement with these men, and make peace with them and with all their nation. And let us covenant with them, that they may live according to their own laws as before. For because of our despising their laws, they have been provoked, and have done all these things. And the proposal was acceptable in the sight of the king, and of the princes: and he sent to them to make peace: and they accepted of it. And the king and the princes swore to them: and they came out of the stronghold. Then the king entered into mount Sion, and saw the strength of the place: and he quickly broke the oath that he had taken, and gave commandment to throw down the wall round about. And he departed in haste, and returned to Antioch, where he found Philip master of the city: and he fought against him, and took the city."

Eleazar died in the Battle of Beth Zechariah in 163/162 BC, so the sabbath year when Lysias could find no food in Jerusalem was most likely 160/159 BC.

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.