Alpha News Daily
Weekly News Update
12/23/08
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This weekly news update is being sent because the Bible tells us to know the prophecies and to "watch" for their fulfillment (which can only be done by learning and knowing what is going on around the world) ... yet, many churches and synagogues today ignore and deny Bible prophecy (which in itself is a major fulfillment of Bible prophecy) ...
Now, a short Bible prophecy lesson to help show how close we are ...
+ Israel back in the Land as a nation (this started the clock ticking ...)
+ Iran and allies threatening war against Israel
+ Russia rising ... and acting as a 'guard' for Iran
+ China armed with weapons capable of quickly destroying 1/3 of mankind
+ Nations of the ancient Roman Empire (Europe?) reuniting and rising in power
+ Teachings of false 'Prophets' leading many
+ A Generation 'morally corrupt' and 'filled with violence'
(The Bible uses the word 'corrupt' - like smelly, rotting meat)
+ 'The falling away'... churches and synagogues no longer teaching or enduring sound doctrine
+ Israel and Jerusalem . . . trouble, troubles, and more trouble
+ All nations turning against nation Israel . . .
= The Generation of the ... Rapture ... the 'Apocalypse' ... Armageddon ... and Messiah's Return.
For the first time in history this prophetic 'equation' is nearly complete . . . and all in this generation!!!
That Tiny Red 'Dot' is Israel ... God warns, 'Israel is His'...'Allah' and his vast armies (green) keep trying to prove Him wrong
The 'God of Israel' and the Bible . . . or . . . 'Allah' and the Koran . . . The Bible Warns One Is True . . . and One Is False
The coming Battle of Armageddon ('Hill of Megiddo') . . . Armageddon lies right in the center of that tiny Red 'Dot'
"I (God) will bless those who bless you (Israel) and will curse those who curse you". . . (Genesis 12:3)
Top Stories . . .
(Click on the headline for the full news story ... Click on the blue link for the Bible prophecy)
--Pravda (Russia) (Prophecies: The US will be "neutralized"... then Russia, Iran, and allies will attack and invade Israel)
Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu Warns Iran Is The "Greatest Historical Challenge" Facing The World ...
--Jerusalem Post (Prophecies ... The coming "Rapture") (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel) The time draws near ... the Bible warns Iran (Persia), with Russia ('Magog'), and a coalition of allies (including Turkey and Sudan) will attack and will invade Israel. In Ezekiel 38-39 the Bible warns this coming war between Iran (Persia) and Israel will take place sometime after Israel has been re-gathered into Her land as a nation (which was fulfilled on May 14, 1948) ... this prophetic war has never yet taken place ... the only time in history Persia (Iran) has ever gone to war against Israel was to help Israel throw off the yoke of the Byzantine Empire around 614 AD. The Bible warns the US will NOT defend Israel. According to the Bible, Israel must stand alone ... with God. For when this coming war does finally start, the United States (for reasons yet unknown) will be unable or unwilling to help Israel defend herself. Although the Bible warns the invading armies will be ultimately destroyed by God, it will be a devastating war for both Israel and the whole world. Bible scholars are divided as to whether this coming war is part of the prophetic battle of Armageddon or will just precede the battle of Armageddon in order to prepare the path for the coming Antichrist (a coming 'world leader' who will enforce a 'peace plan' upon Israel). All people of the world should be sitting on the edge of their seats with white knuckles watching this terrible prophecy slowly start to unfold ... while believing Christians (followers ... both Jew and Gentile ... of Jesus (Yeshua), the promised Messiah) are told to "examine" themselves in the Word and in faith to insure they are not just 'almost' Christians (Matthew 7:21-23) who are "lukewarm" in their faith in Jesus (Yeshua) and God's Word (Revelation 3:14-16) ... for Jesus (Yeshua) the Messiah warns all to, "Watch, therefore, and pray always (not just sometimes), that you will be counted worthy (through His worthiness) to escape all these things (the terrible events of the coming 'Apocalypse') that will come to pass" ... (Luke 21:36) ... for the Bible promises believing Christians (faithful and sincere believers in Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew) who are alive at that time and have endured in their faith in God's Word are not "appointed" to this coming time of "God's wrath" that will be "poured out" upon the whole world ... (1 Thessalonians 1:10 ... 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)
--NewsMax (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war) (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel)
--Ynet (Israel) (Prophecies ... The coming "Rapture") (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel)
U.S. Warns Russia's S-300 Advanced Missile Sale To Iran Marks Israel's "Decision Point"...
--Debkafile (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel)
U.S. Warns Russia Against Selling Missiles to Iran ...
Russia Hands Lebanon 10 Advanced MiG-29 Fighter Jets... For Free!
--Drudge/London Times (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel) (They are prepping a Northern Front ...)
White House "Shocked" By Lebanon Fighter Jet Deal With Russia ...
--World Tribune (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel)
From Russia: USA Needs A Nuclear Explosion To Turn The World Into A Dictatorship ...
--Pravda (Russia) (Prophecies ... The coming "Rapture") (Prophecies ... The coming Antichrist) (Prophecies: The 'Apocalypse' and Armageddon)
Iranian-Hamas Uses "Ceasefire" To Get More Weapons Into Gaza ...
--DavidHocking.org (Prophecies: "Gaza will be forsaken" ...) (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel)
One World: Israel Repeating Failure In Gaza ...
--Jerusalem Post/Caroline Glick (Prophecies: "Gaza will be forsaken" ...) (Prophecies ... Israel and Jerusalem after becoming a nation)
--Debkafile (Prophecies: "Gaza will be forsaken" ...) (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel)
Israeli Security Chief Warns Iranian-Hamas's Rocket Range Now Extends Further Into Israel ...
--Israel Nat'l News (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war) (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel)
Crowded Israel Shopping Center Takes Direct Iranian-Hamas Rocket Hit From Gaza ... Injuries
--Debkafile (Prophecies: "Gaza will be forsaken" ...) (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel)
UN Security Council vs. Israel and Israel's Netanyahu ...
--DavidHocking.org (Prophetic Warning Signs: 'Apocalypse' ... We will know when we are close)
Israeli Government Backs Down Again As Gaza Missile War Boils Over ...
--Debkafile (Prophecies: "Gaza will be forsaken" ...) (The Bible links Gaza to the coming Day of God's "anger" and "wrath"...)
Russian Warships Arrive In Cuba ...
--Drudge/AP (Prophecies: The US will be "neutralized"... then Russia, Iran, and allies will attack and invade Israel)
Russia and Nicaragua "Intensify" Bilateral Contacts ...
--Itar-Tass (Russia) (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel)
Nicaragua's Ortega Begins Russia Visit ...
--AFP (France) (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel)
Philistinian (Palestinian) Leader Abbas In Moscow ... Welcomes Russia’s Role In Middle East
--Itar-Tass (Russia) Bush-Rice's "peace partner" Abbas was educated and trained in Moscow and speaks fluent Russian ...
Georgia In Secret Talks On Restoring Russia Ties ...
--AFP (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel) (Georgia's seaports would help Russia against Israel ...)
Russia Bids For Purchase of Israeli Military Spy Drones ...
--Debkafile (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel) (As you will note from this article, one reason Russia is interested in acquiring this military technology from Israel is because the Israeli spy drones were successful against Russia during the Georgia war ... somebody in Israel must take into consideration that Russia is the main weapon-supplying and technology-providing ally to the sworn enemies of Israel ... Israel should limit access to its proprietary military technologies ... a long time ago an Israeli king proudly opened up Israel's secret vaults to some friendly-looking Babylonian "emissaries "... and it turned out to be a very bad mistake.)
Russia To Purchase Israeli Spy Planes and Arms ...
--Pravda (Russia) (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel)
New Weapons Out of Russia and China ...
--NewsMax/Charles Smith (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will invade Israel) (Prophecies...China, allies will destroy 1/3 of mankind)
Russia: We'll Sell Iran "Defensive" Arms ...
--Jerusalem Post (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war) (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel)
--Debkafile (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel) (Prophecies ... The coming "Rapture")
Russia To Deploy New Missile Systems "By 2020"...
--AFP (France) (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war) (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel)
--Ynet (Israel) (Prophecies: A coming "Peace Plan" for Israel will change the world ... forever!!!) (Prophecies ... The coming Antichrist) Don't ignore this ... the time draws near ... this means the people of Israel and Israel's next administration would have no say in this ... and unless we reverse our insane course of trying to divide the Biblical Land of Israel, God will decree His own "resolution" causing the deep divisions which are now causing much distress in America to become as open sores and "irreversible"...
"Do not be deceived,
God is not mocked;
for whatever a man (or nation) sows,
that he will also reap."
(Galatians 6:7)
--Koenig Int'l/UN.org (Prophecies ... The coming "Rapture") (Prophecies ... The coming Antichrist) (Prophecies of Messiah's Return)
--Jerusalem Post/Michael Freund (Prophecies: The US will be "neutralized"... then Russia, Iran, and allies will attack and invade Israel)
--Jerusalem Post/Caroline Glick (Prophecies ... Israel and Jerusalem after becoming a nation)
From Israel: Time For A Modern Hanukka Miracle In Gaza ...
--Jerusalem Post/Michael Freund (Prophecies: "Gaza will be forsaken" ...)
Britain's Intelligence Chiefs Fear Attack ... Receive "Mobile Fortresses" In Preparation
--WND (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war) (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel)
Gladiators to Return to Roman Coliseum After 2,000 Years ...
--Fox News (Prophecies ... 10 nations of the ancient Roman Empire will reunite and rise in great power) (Prophecies ... The coming Antichrist)
This Week's News Headlines . . .
(What to do in times of trouble ... Trust in the Lord, draw near to Him, earnestly pray for His guidance and direction, and seek His Will in your life.)
Finding Hope and Comfort ... For Those Going Through Difficult Times
--Alpha News Daily (Finding Hope and Comfort in Times of Trouble ...) (God's Promise ...)
Weekly News Update ... with Weekly News Archives ... (More Added)
--Alpha News Daily (Read earlier "Weekly News Updates" from Alpha News Daily)
How To Get Eternal Life In Heaven (With Audio) ...
--Focal Point Radio/Compass Bible Church (The most important Bible prophecies ... Heaven or Hell ... it's not too late!!!)
Photo: free-stockphotos.com
The "Promise"... (prophecies of the Messiah written long before Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew) was born ...)
"Behold, the virgin shall conceive
and bear a Son,
and shall call His Name Immanuel"
(Isaiah 7:14) (Immanuel means "God with us"!)
"For unto us a Child is born,
unto us a Son is given, (The Messiah of Israel)
and His Name will be called Mighty God ..."
(Isaiah 9:6)
--WND (Prophecies ... Believing Christians will be hated) (Prophecies: The Generation of Armageddon) (Prophecies ... The coming Antichrist)
--WND/Janet Porter (Prophecies of the Messiah) (Prophecies of Messiah's Return)
Survey: Most British Don't Believe Biblical Nativity Story ...
--WND/London Telegraph (Prophecies: A generation of evil will rise ... the Generation of Armageddon") (The Bible predicts a "falling away" from Biblical doctrine about the time of Armageddon ... just a generation ago England was still producing some of the greatest Bible teachers, hymns, and missionaries ... today, over 6000 churches in England have been converted into Islamic mosques ... England's spiritual decline parallels the rise of corruption within the "official" Church of England and the Royal Family.)
In Canada 7 Students Suspended For Refusing "Anti-Christian" Class ...
--WND (Prophecies ... The coming Antichrist) (Prophecies ... Believing Christians will be hated)
Mocking God: Amsterdam's "Live Nativity" Christmas Pageant Has Homosexual Man Playing "Mary" ...
--WND/AP (Bible Warnings: Homosexuality and Abortion) (Prophecies: A generation of evil will rise ... the Generation of Armageddon")
Minnesota Democrat Senate Candidate Al Franken Now Out In Front ...
--Fox News (Prophecies ... "Evil men (and women) will wax worse and worse"... "deceiving (lying), and BEING deceived")
--WND/Ann Coulter (Prophecies: A generation of evil will rise ... the Generation of Armageddon")
Democrat Al Franken Miraculously "Surges" to 200-Plus Vote Lead in Minnesota ...
--Fox News (Prophecies ... "Evil men (and women) will wax worse and worse"... "deceiving (lying), and BEING deceived")
--WND/Ann Coulter (Prophecies: A generation of evil will rise ... the Generation of Armageddon")
--Fox News (Prophecies ... "In the last days"... "evil men will wax worse and worse"... lying, "deceiving and BEING deceived") (Hmmm ... have you noticed over the past few elections that often when Republicans win close elections, they always seem to somehow lose after the "recounts?" This is where the massive illegal voter registrations come in ... Democrats can provide each district with a "surplus" of available votes that can "magically" appear, if and when necessary. That is also why the Democrat Party rejects any laws that might require voters to simply show a drivers license (like we all have to at the airport) or any kind of ID to vote. The Democrat Party now has the ability to "fix" elections in many cities and states ... and apparently the honest citizens of this nation (who would not mind showing some form of identification to protect the integrity of our elections) no longer have anyone they can look to or count on to stop this criminal activity which is designed to wrest control away from our Constitutional freedoms and republic form of democratic government.)
Obama's ACORN and Putin-Ally Billionaire George Soros Linked to Franken Vote Grab In Minnesota ...
--NewsMac (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war)
US President-Elect Barack Hussein Obama Named TIME Magazine "MAN OF THE YEAR"
--Drudge/Time Magazine (Prophecies: A generation of evil will rise ... the Generation of Armageddon")
Obama "Then" (Drudge Report/TIME Inc.) Obama "Now" - Pravda ... (Yes, he still smokes)
From Russia: The Mysterious Shadow ..."Code Name Obama"
--Pravda (Russia) (Prophecies ... "Evil men (and women) will wax worse and worse"... "deceiving (lying), and BEING deceived")
From the article . . .
"This document alone raises a big question. It is his (Obama's) registration in the State of Illinois for his license to practice Law. The document has a space to list any other names that have been used. Even though he has used other names, this shows, “None”. The other names he has used, that we currently know are: Barack Hussein Obama, Barry Soetoro, Barry Obama, Barack Dunham and Barry Dunham . . ."
Earlier: TIME Magazine DC Chief Named Obama V.P. Biden's Spokesman ...
--Drudge/Politico (CNN, Time, NY Times, MSNBC ... a small group of people control the political content of our media.)
US Supreme Court Refuses To Consider 2nd Challenge To Obama's Constitutional Eligibility ...
--WND (As long as our nation continues to mock God's Word our divisions and painful troubles will grow much deeper and harsher ...)
--Drudge/ABC News (Prophecies: A generation of evil will rise ... the Generation of Armageddon")
Russians Assail New Putin-Government "Treason" Bill ...
--Drudge/AP (Prophecies ... Russia and allies will go to war and will invade Israel) (Obama's administration will also move in this direction ...)
Photo: free-stockphotos.com
The "Gift" ...
"For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him (Jesus-Yeshua) (means fully "trusts" in Him alone)
should not perish (in Hell)
but have everlasting life (in Heaven).
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world through Him might be saved (into Heaven).
He who believes in Him is not condemned (to Hell);
but he who does not believe (in Jesus-Yeshua)
is condemned (to Hell) already" (The implications of this verse are staggering!)
(John 3:16-18)
"But He (Messiah) was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes (whip lashes) we are healed.
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity (sin) of us all."
(Isaiah 53:5-7)
"The next day John (the Baptist) saw Jesus-Yeshua coming toward him,
and said, "Behold!
The Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world!"
(John 1:29) (Our "Passover" Lamb ... who was lovingly sacrificed for our sins so we might live in Heaven ... forever!)
"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew)
and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved (from your sins and from Hell ... and welcomed with tears of joy into the Kingdom of Heaven)."
(Romans 10:9)
“Jesus said to her,
‘I Am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes (trusts) in Me,
though he may die (the first 'bodily' death),
he shall live (forever ... in Heaven).
And whoever lives and believes in Me
shall never die (the second death ... "Hell").
Do you believe this?’" (This is the question every man and woman must answer)
(John 11:25)
Islamics Drive Christians Out of Nineveh (Ancient Assyrian Capital) In Northern Iraq ...
--WND (Prophecies ... Believing Christians will be hated) (A note on Islam ...) ("Allah"... Was the Babylonian-Arabian Moon god) For many years arrogant and self-righteous "intellectuals" and "scholars" mocked the Bible's description and history of Nineveh (as described in Jonah, etc.) ... at least until modern archaeologists found the city of Nineveh exactly as the Bible described ... don't let anybody convince you to question or doubt the integrity of the Bible ... every generation has tried to prove it wrong ... and every generation has failed. You have to either believe all of it or none of it ... there is no "in between." (The assurance of life in Heaven ... it's NOT too late!!!) As a note, "embedded" in modern day Iraq are two ancient civilizations ... Assyria (northern Iraq) and Babylon (southern Iraq) ... and BOTH have yet unfulfilled prophetic futures ... one GOOD (Assyria will be blessed after Messiah returns) and one BAD (Babylon will be utterly destroyed).
Islamic Court Rejects Divorce Plea For 8 Year-Old Girl Married Off By Father To 58 Year-Old Man ...
--AFP (France) (A note on Islam ...) (Prophecies ... False Prophets would rise and lead many) ("Allah"... Was the Babylonian-Arabian Moon god)
Nine More Men Decapitated In Southern Mexico ...
--AFP (France) Gaining power through spreading fear (terror) is a political tactic of Islam (and backed by Russia) ...
Russia's Putin Says "Cheap Gas Era" Is Ending ...
--BBC News (Prophecies ... Russia, Iran, and allies will go to war and will invade Israel)
From Russia: World To Face Super Oil Price Shock That Will Scuttle Any Economic Recovery In 2009 ...
--Pravda (Russia) Hmmm .... Russian officials "predicted" a catastrophe just before 9/11 and again just before our current crisis.
Bank of Spain Chief Warns World Faces "Total'" Financial Meltdown ...
--Drudge/AFP (Prophecies ... 10 nations of the ancient Roman Empire will reunite and rise in great power) (Prophecies ... The coming Antichrist)
With US Economy In Shambles ... Democrat Controlled Congress Gives Itself A $4700 Per Year Raise
--Drudge/The Hill
More California Towns Face Bankruptcy...
--Drudge/Wall Street Journal
US Dollar Falls Sharply On World Markets ...Biggest One-Day Slide Against Europe's "Euro"
--Drudge/Financial Times (Prophecies ... 10 nations of the Roman Empire will reunite in great power) (Prophecies ... The coming Antichrist)
US Offers Automakers $13.4 Billion Lifeline ...
--AFP (The UAW (United Auto Workers) labor union has killed any chance of US automakers ever becoming strong and healthy again ...)
Earlier: Communist Party Hails The Role of "Labor Unions" In Obama Win ...
--WND (Prophecies: A generation of evil will rise .. The Generation of Armageddon)
NY Governor (Democrat) Proposes A Staggering Number (88) of New Taxes and Government "Fees" ...
--Drudge/NY Daily News Marxist-Socialist Democrat Party at work ... this heavy yoke on the working middle-class would include burdensome new taxes on sporting events, alcohol, Internet downloads, shopping, taxis, soda pop, movie tickets, iPods, and cable TV.
New York Governor's (Democrat) Tax Shocker ...
--Drudge/NY Post (Our nation was founded upon freedom from government ... we will end up with a tyranny worse than England.)
Ice Age ... Bitter "Bone Numbing" Cold With High Winds Spreads Across Large Parts of Nation
--Drudge/AP
CNN Meteorologist Says Manmade Global Warming Theory Is "Arrogant"...
--Drudge/BusinessandMedia (Prophecies ... "Evil men (and women) will wax worse and worse"... "deceiving (lying), and BEING deceived")
Snow In Malibu ... Snow Closes California Freeways
--Drudge/Fox News
Heaviest Snow Storm To Hit Las Vegas In 30 Years ...
--Drudge/Las Vegas Journal
Comparing A Prophecy By Jesus Christ With Today's "Doomsday Scientist" Predictions ...
--WND/Hal Lindsey The Bible warns of great atmospheric and weather upheaval during the coming "Apocalypse"... both global cooling and global warming lie ahead for mankind (men and women) ... all those who are left on Earth after the coming "Rapture" ...
There will be a great plague of snow and hail coming upon the Earth ...
"Have you entered the treasury of snow,
Or have you seen the treasury of hail,
Which I (God) have reserved for the time of trouble,
For the Day of battle and war?" (the coming "Apocalypse")
(Job 38:22-23) (Prophecies: The 'Apocalypse' and Armageddon) (Prophecies ... The coming "Rapture")
"And great hail from heaven fell upon men, ("mankind".. men and women)
each hailstone about the weight of a talent. (A "talent" = 85 - 114 pounds!!)
Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail,
since that plague was exceedingly great."
(Revelation 16:21) (Interesting ... chronologically Job and the Revelation are the first and the last books written in the Bible ...)
And, there will be a great heat from the Sun which will scorch the people on Earth ...
"Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the Sun,
and power was given to him to scorch men with fire.
And men (mankind ... men and women) were scorched with great heat,
and they blasphemed the Name of God who has power over these plagues;
and they did not repent and give Him glory."
(Revelation 16:8-9) (Prophecies: The 'Apocalypse' and Armageddon) (Prophecies ... The coming "Rapture")
And, there will be unimaginable and exceedingly great storms and hurricanes ...
"And there will be signs in the Sun, in the Moon, and in the Stars;
and on the Earth distress of nations, with perplexity,
the sea and the waves roaring"
(Luke 21:25) (The assurance of life in Heaven ... it's NOT too late!!!)
Photo: free-stockphotos.com
The "Hope"....
"He will swallow up death forever,
And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces ..."
(Isaiah 25:8)
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;
there shall be no more death,
nor sorrow,
nor crying.
There shall be no more pain,
for the former things have passed away."
(Revelation 21:4)
"The City (Heaven ... the "New Jerusalem")
had no need of the Sun or of the Moon to shine in it,
for the glory of God illuminated it.
The Lamb [is] its light."
(Revelation 21:23)
"And he showed me a pure river of water of Life,
clear as crystal,
proceeding from the Throne of God and of the Lamb."
(Revelation 22:1)
"And there shall be no more curse, (of death, sorrow, crying, or pain)
but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it,
and His servants shall serve Him."
(Revelation 23:3)
" ... but only those
who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life."
(Revelation 21:27) "... and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved!")
--DavidHocking.org (Prophecies of the Messiah) (Prophecies ... The coming "Rapture") (Prophecies of Messiah's Return)
From the article . . .
It seems
that this question is given to us every year about this time (celebrations
of Hanukkah and Christmas). With all the secularism and commercialism of our
day and the continual ignoring of the Biblical nativity story, believers are
trying to cope with all these attacks upon the birth of our Lord Yeshua and
are often confused. While this article may be a bit different from what you
have heard previously, it is our hope and prayer that it will receive some
careful consideration by Bible students everywhere.
In my university days, Ancient History was of great interest to me and
became one of my major fields of study. I was especially interested in Rome
because so much of our Bibles are related to that period of time. Here are a
few facts that may help you in trying to answer the question "When was
Yeshua (Jesus) born?" We will begin with Luke 2:1-14 where in verse 1 we
learn that Caesar Augustus made a "decree that all the world should be
taxed."
1. CAESAR AUGUSTUS ruled from 43 BC to 14 AD. His real name was Octavian and he was the grandnephew of Julius Caesar. It was under his reign that the Pax Romana (the Roman peace) was declared throughout the empire beginning in 30 BC.
2. CYRENIUS (Quirinius) is called the "governor of Syria" in Luke 2:2 and we are told that "this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria." The Greek text actually says that Quirinius "was governing" in Syria. Flavius Josephus refers to a census in 6 AD when Quirinius was the actual Governor. But, at this point (Luke 2:2) Quirinius was merely handling administrative duties on behalf of Varus, the actual Governor. Egyptian records state that a census was done by Rome every 14 years and that it took several years to accomplish it.
3. HEROD THE GREAT was alive at the time of the Messiah's birth according to Matthew 2:1. One of the problems which scholars have had in dealing with the time of our Lord's birth is a reference in Josephus where he records an eclipse on March 13, 4 BC and says that it was "shortly before Herod died." According to the account in Josephus (Antiquities 17:6:4) Herod had a high priest killed, and Josephus says that this very night was a Jewish fast day when the eclipse took place, the only fast day would have been March 13 which took place during the Purim celebration.
Apparently this March 13th eclipse of the moon was a "partial" eclipse, not a total eclipse that happened on March 23, 5 BC. Josephus says that Herod died before the Passover of 4 BC (Antiquities 17:9:3).
Time between the birth of the Messiah and Herod's death is necessary since Joseph and Mary with the baby fled to Egypt and did not return until after Herod's death according to Matthew 2:18-21. If Josephus is correct, then Jesus would have been born before 4 BC. However, we do have evidence of additional "eclipses" (both partial and total) that would bring us down to later date for Herod's death. Historians, however, have long held that Herod died before the Passover in 4 BC. If this is correct, then the date of the birth of Yeshua could have been as early as 6 BC or 5 BC.
SOME HISTORICAL PROBLEMS TO FACE
1. TERTULLIAN, church leader and historian, said that the birth of Jesus was 41 years after Augustus began his rule, and that Augustus died 15 years after the birth of Jesus. The actual date of the death of Augustus Caesar was August 19, 14 AD. It is interesting to note that Tertullian also said that Jesus was born 28 years after the death of Cleopatra who died in 30 BC.
2. IRENAEUS, a disciple of Polycarp who was a disciple of the Apostle John, says that Jesus was born in the 41st year of the reign of Caesar Augustus. Eusebius, a great church historian, also says about the same thing. The 42nd year of Augustus ran from the autumn of 2 BC to the autumn of 1 BC.
3. ZACHARIAS, the father of John the Baptist, was a priest "of the course of Abia (Abijah)" according to Luke 1:5. There are 24 courses (divisions) of priests according to I Chronicles 24. Abijah's course (division) was the 8th course among the 24 courses. When the Jewish Temple was destroyed by the Roman Governor Titus on August 5, 70 AD, the first course of priests had just taken office. By tracing back carefully, the 8th course would have ended their duties on July 13, 3 BC. The birth of John the Baptist would be 280 days later, around April 19-20, 2 BC (which, interestingly, was Passover that year!). The birth of Yeshua (Jesus) would have been six months later (Luke 1:36) which would place it in the fall of 2 BC. The very interesting fact in all this is that the actual date in the fall of 2 BC would have been Tishri 1 on the Jewish calendar, which is Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of Trumpets!
Our conclusion (if we have gotten all the facts straight!) is that
the Messiah, our blessed Lord Yeshua could have been born on September 29 in
2 BC (later view than most historians), The commonly accepted view based on
the remarks of Flavius Josephus would be in the fall of 5 BC (possibly as
early as 6 BC),
Personally, I am happy to celebrate the birth of the Messiah on any date of the year you wish it to be! The good news is that in the city of Bethlehem, ISRAEL, the city of King David, the Savior was born, and He is "Christ the Lord", Messiah, KING of kings and LORD of lords!
"When you see these things happening,
know that it (the 'Apocalypse') is near -- at the door!
Assuredly, I say to you,
this generation will by no means pass away
till all these things take place."
(Mark 13:29)
"Before the decree is issued,
before the day passes like chaff,
before the LORD'S fierce anger comes upon you,
before the day of the LORD'S anger comes upon you!
Seek the LORD,
all you meek of the Earth,
who have upheld His justice.
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
It may be that you
will be hidden
in the day of the LORD'S anger."
(Zephaniah 2:2-3) (Prophecies ... The coming "Rapture")
Jesus (Yeshua) commands us to watch and be ready .....
"Watch therefore,
and pray always
that you may be counted worthy to escape
all these things
that will come to pass . . ."
(Luke 21:36) (The assurance of life in Heaven ... it's NOT too late!!!)
... for He promises to protect and shelter all those who are found waiting in faith from the coming 'time of trouble.'
Finding Hope and Comfort In Times of Trouble >>>
What Happens Next? Heaven or Hell ... >>>
Prophecies of Messiah's Return >>>
Prophecies of the Coming 'Rapture' >>>
Prophecies of the Coming Apocalypse and Armageddon >>>
A Remarkable Mathematical Prophecy ... Messiah Revealed >>>
Another Remarkable Mathematical Prophecy ... Israel Back As A Nation >>
For daily news updates go to www.alphanewsdaily.com . . .
Grace and Shalom,