Alpha News Daily
Weekly News Update
4/3/07
To Readers: If your e-mail comes through plain, with funny characters in headlines or without blue links go to:
www.alphanewsdaily.com/WeeklyNews.html
Bible prophecy allows both the diligent and the skeptical to test God's word. The Bible warns a single generation will see the fulfillment of many Bible prophecies beginning with Israel gathered back into her Land as a nation and ending with Armageddon. The Bible tells us prophetic warning signs are given so we will return to God and draw close to Him through Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew) before it's too late, for God will provide hope, comfort, and shelter for all who will sincerely receive it . . . the message found in the Bible is not trivial ... it is staggering!!!
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) ... many churches and synagogues today ignore and deny Bible prophecy (which in itself is a major fulfillment of Bible prophecy) ... here, Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew) commands all those who will follow Him to "watch" and be ready ...
"Take heed (to the prophetic warnings) ...
watch (what is going on) ...
and pray (see below);
for you do not know when the time is (the coming Rapture).
It is like a man going to a far country,
who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work,
and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
Watch therefore,
for you do not know when the master of the house is coming --
in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning --
lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.
And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"
(Mark 13:33-37)
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 Apocalypse ... Armageddon ... and Messiah's Return.
For the first time in history this prophetic 'equation' is nearly complete . . . and all in this generation!!!
This Week's News . . .
Click on the headline for the full news story ... click on the blue link for the Bible prophecy ...
And please search the Scriptures to see if all these things are true . . .
Note to Readers: "Easter"... "Feast of Firstfruits"... "Resurrection Day"... Below (following this week's News Headlines) you will find remarkable prophecies of the Messiah written by the prophets in the Old Testament (Tanakh) hundreds of years BEFORE the birth of Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew) ... so, when you see people around the world celebrating 'Easter' (a non-Biblical term) this coming Sunday, consider how accurately (and literally) all these prophecies (concerning Messiah's first coming as 'the Passover Lamb of God') were fulfilled ... although it may seem a little long ... whether Jew or Gentile you will find it fascinating and worth the effort to read . . . and remember God warns all the prophecies found in the Bible (including the few listed on this page) will be fulfilled just as accurately (and literally) . . .
"Surely the Lord God does nothing,
unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets ..."
(Amos 3:7) (Especially concerning His promised Messiah ... see the special prophecy section after the Weekly News Headlines)
Finding Hope and Comfort ... For Those Going Through Difficult Times
--Alpha News Daily (Finding Hope and Comfort in Times of Trouble ...) (God's Promise ...)
Blair: We've Got 48 Hours To Save British Hostages ...
--Drudge/ThisIsLondon (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies will invade Israel) (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war)
--Debkafile (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies will invade Israel) (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war)
Senior Russian General Warns The U.S. To Think Twice Before Attacking Iran ...
--Debkafile (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies will invade Israel) (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war) 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). Bible students 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 (followers of the Messiah) or 'lukewarm' in their faith ... for Jesus-Yeshua the Messiah warns all to, "Watch, therefore, and pray always (not just sometimes), that you will be counted worthy 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 believers and followers of the Messiah) 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)
From Russia: US Expands Its Military Might Around Iran Denying Preparation of War ...
--Pravda (Russia) (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies will invade Israel) (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war)
After More Than A Decade Turkey Decides On Major Military Procurement Projects ...
--Middle East Newsline (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies will invade Israel) (Turkey will join this 'coalition' of nations against Israel ...)
'Seismic Shift'... Europe Tops U.S. In Stock Market Value ... 1st Time Wall Street Behind Since WWI
--WND/Financial Times (Prophecies ... 10 nations of the Roman Empire will reunite and rise in great power) (The coming Antichrist)
Briefcases Stuffed With Cash and How The Clinton White House Sold Out to China ...
--NewsMax/Smith (Prophecies...China and allies will destroy 1/3 of mankind) (Prophecies...Wars and rumors of war)
Four Police Officers In Britain Confront School Boy Because He Used The Word 'Gay' In An E-Mail ...
--WND/Daily Mail (UK) (Bible Warnings: Homosexuality and Abortion) (The coming Antichrist)
--WND (Bible Warnings: Homosexuality and Abortion) (Prophecies: The Generation of Armageddon will be marked by immorality)
ITT ... Loral ... Compromising Our Top Military Secrets ... Chinese Spies Pay Off
--Newsmax/Smith (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies) (Prophecies...China and allies will destroy 1/3 of mankind) (Prophecies...Wars and rumors of war)
As Winter (of War) Approaches ...
--JR Nyquist (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies) (Prophecies... China and allies will destroy 1/3 of mankind) (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war)
--Debkafile (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies will invade Israel) (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war)
Iran, Syria, Hizbullah Preparing For War ...
--Jerusalem Post (Prophecies ... Damascus-Syria will be utterly destroyed) (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies) (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war)
--Debkafile (Prophecies ... Damascus-Syria will be utterly destroyed) (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies) (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war)
Israeli Intelligence Chief Predicts Iran-Hizbullah-Syria Attack On Israel This Summer ...
--Debkafile (Prophecies ... Damascus-Syria will be utterly destroyed) (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies will invade Israel)
Iran-Backed Hamas Readies For 'Coming' War Against Israel ...
--WND (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies will invade Israel) (Prophecies...Israel after becoming a nation) (Prophecies ...'Gaza will be forsaken')
Iran-Backed Hamas Recruits Young Children to Terror Squads Via TV Programs ...
--Israel Nat'l News (On Islam and ANY religion that converts 'by the sword') (Prophecies: 'The Generation of Armageddon will be marked by violence')
Israeli Court Prevents Groups From Sacrificing Live Animals at Temple Mount ...
--Ha'aretz (Prophecies...Israel after becoming a nation) (The coming Antichrist) (The Bible warns a new Jewish Temple will be built in Jerusalem ...)
King David ... Messiah ... Palm Sunday ... And The Dramatic Story Behind Jesus' Entry Into Jerusalem
--WND/Jay Baggett (Palm Sunday: A remarkable Mathematical prophecy of Messiah from the book of Daniel) (Prophecies of the Messiah)
How To Find If You Really Love God ...
--WND/Greg Laurie (God's Promise ...) (From the Bible: Heaven or Hell)
Christians Beaten And Taken Hostage By Hindus ...
--WND (Prophecies ... Christians will be hated) (Christians are the ones helping the poor, the sick, and the lepers in India because Hindus believe it's their 'bad karma'...)
--WND (Prophecies ... Church leaders will 'depart from the faith') (Bible Warnings: Homosexuality) (From the Bible: Heaven or Hell) "In latter times"... we are now right on schedule ... the generation who would see Israel back in her Land as a nation will see ungodly men (mankind... both men and women) creep into the churches (and synagogues) ... "departing from the faith" and "no longer enduring sound doctrine" ... we now see this in most churches and synagogues today ... Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish ... as many of you have found, it is now getting very difficult (exactly as the Bible warned it would) to find a church and church leader who will diligently teach all the Bible says (and warns) ... even when it opposes and stands firmly against today's prevailing (and now publicly enforced) standard of morality and unbelief . . .
“Behold,
the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD,
That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the LORD.
They shall wander from sea to sea,
And from north to east;
They shall run to and fro,
seeking the word of the
LORD,
But shall not find it."
(Amos 8:11-12)
"Now the Spirit expressly says
that in latter times some (churches and church leaders)
will depart from the faith,
giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons
(denying the truth of God's Word ... saying "all roads" lead to Heaven ... adding to or opposing what the Bible says)
speaking lies in hypocrisy, (like Satan they can appear knowledgeable and can appear nice ... yet can destroy our soul)
having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
forbidding to marry,
and commanding to abstain from foods . . ."
(1 Timothy 4:1-3)
"For the time will come (which we are now seeing)
when they (many churches, church leaders, and those who call themselves Christians)
will no longer endure sound doctrine,
but according to their own desires,
they have itching ears,
they will heap up for themselves teachers (ministers, priests, reverends, rabbis, pastors)
(who will tell them only what they want to hear and not what the Bible teaches)
and they will turn their ears away from the truth,
and be turned aside to fables. (Such as the 'DaVinci Code' and the 'Lost tomb of Jesus')
But you (simple, believing Christians) be watchful in all things,
endure afflictions,
do the work of an evangelist, (simply tell people the 'good news' that our sins can all be forgiven through Christ Jesus)
fulfill your ministry."
(2 Timothy 4:3-5) (God's Word is called 'living water' ... if someone mixes just 2% poison with 98% pure water we can die)
"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you
concerning our common salvation,
I found it necessary ('compelled') to write to you
exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith
which was once for all delivered to the saints.
For certain men (and women) have crept in unnoticed, (church leaders, ministers, priests, reverends, rabbis, pastors)
who long ago were marked out for this condemnation,
ungodly men (and women), who turn the grace of our God into lewdness . . .
(who poison it by twisting, ignoring, not believing, opposing, taking away or adding things to God’s Word in the Bible)
But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, (listen up Sabbath and Sunday school graduates ...)
that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt,
afterward destroyed all those who did not believe."
(Jude 1:3-6)
The 'falling away' ('apostasy') of churches and church leaders, the 'Rapture', and the rise of the coming 'Antichrist' are all closely related in Bible prophecy ...
"Now brethren, (Rabbi Shaul ... Paul ... is talking here to believing Christians ... which were mainly Jewish at the time)
concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew)
and our gathering together to Him ... (the coming 'Rapture')
Let no one deceive you by any means,
for that day (the 'Rapture')
will not come unless the falling away comes first ..."
(churches and synagogues turning away from the Word of God just like we are now seeing)
and the man of sin (the Antichrist) is revealed,
the son of perdition (another title of the coming Antichrist)
who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped,
(beware ... a powerful 'one-world' religion is coming)
so that he sits as God in the Temple of God, (a new Jewish Temple will be built in Jerusalem)
showing himself that he is God.
(Jesus warns this event will trigger the last half of the 'Apocalypse'... the 3 1/2 year 'Great Tribulation.')
Do you not remember that when I was still with you
I told you these things?"
(He was only with them for 3 weeks and still taught them about the Rapture, Antichrist, and the return of Christ-Messiah)
(2 Thessalonians 2:1-10)
The Bible tells us Jesus (Yeshua) is our hope ... our only hope for life in Heaven ... and our time draws near. Regardless of what a few men and women will try to have you believe, the Bible has never changed (some translations may vary from time to time, but the originals in the Hebrew and Greek have never changed) ... yet, for all those who reject God's Word those things now considered 'right' and 'wrong' change frequently like the blowing of the wind. The Bible is clear when it warns us this short life on Earth is simply a test to see who will be 'promoted' to eternal life in Heaven and who will be 'demoted' to eternal life in the darkness, loneliness, and torment of Hell ... the test is a 'True or False' test and the Question we all have to answer is whether God's Word in the Bible is true and can be trusted. If you answer 'True' and live your life accordingly through repentance (which simply means turning away from our sins and turning back to God), and in faith in God's Word, and love the One ... Jesus Christ ... who loved you enough to die and pay for all of your sins on the Cross ..."a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3) you will be 'promoted' and warmly received with open arms and with tears of joy into His eternal Kingdom of Heaven which is filled with eternal peace, rest, and beauty ... and it will be well worth all the difficulties, rejection, and pain you will suffer in this life ... for all the pain, the rejection, and the difficulty believers will find in this life is only temporary ... while the peace, the rest, the excitement, and the awesome beauty of life in Heaven will be permanent ... eternal ... forever!
For those who are being taught by those who deny, contradict, ignore, take away, or add to that which the Bible teaches, hear more of what the Bible says . . .
"For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him (Jesus-Yeshua)
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)
No other person (no matter how great or small ... male or female), nor riches, or thinking you are 'good enough' can save you into Heaven ...
Jesus-Yeshua said to him,
"I am the way (into Heaven), the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father (into Heaven)
except through Me."
(John 14:6) (We can only enter into Heaven by trusting in Jesus-Yeshua and believing He died for our sins and was raised from the dead)
"The Son of Man (Jesus Christ ... Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew)
will send out His angels,
and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend,
and those who practice lawlessness (sinning willfully … without repentance, seeking forgiveness, or remorse),
and will cast them into the furnace of fire.
There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
(Matthew 13:41-42)
"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world,
and is himself (his soul) destroyed or lost?
For whoever is ashamed of Me (Jesus Christ) and My words,
of him the Son of Man will be ashamed (on the day of Judgment) . . ."
(Luke 9:25-26)
Earlier: Church of England (Anglican-Episcopal) Backs Calls for Killing Disabled Babies at Birth...
--Drudge/Daily Mail (UK) (Bible Warnings: Homosexuality and Abortion) (Prophecies ... Churches and church leaders will 'depart from the faith'')
In the Bible we find God raises up evil nations to judge those who have turned against Him and His Word . . .
Iran Claims Two US Airships Violated Its Airspace ...
--Debkafile (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war) (Trouble ahead ... the US has turned its back on God and is divided with weak and corrupt politicians.)
War of Humiliation ... Iran Airs More 'Confessions' From Captured British Sailors
--Drudge/Sky News (UK) (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies will invade Israel) (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war)
--Fox News (An ignoble Royal Family + a ruling socialist Labor Party + A corrupted Church of England = A once noble Britain sinking into the sunset)
"Evil Americans vs Poor Mullahs"... Germany Siding With Iran Over the United States
--WND/Claus Malzahn/Der Spiegel (Prophecies ... 10 nations of the Roman Empire will reunite and rise in power) (Prophecies...Russia and allies) Who actually won the 'Cold-War'? For at least two decades the Socialist bumper-sticker has been 'Use Democracy to Destroy Democracy'... Gorbachev tore down the Berlin Wall ... then a generation of Russian-Marxist educated East Germans flooded the West German voter rolls ... pro-US German parties and politicians were quickly defeated ... and Germany swiftly turned toward Russia and away from the U.S. on all major global issues ... as a note, the current German Prime-Minister Merkel grew up in East Germany ... and Russian leader Putin once commanded the powerful East German KGB and he speaks fluent German. You will find 'Gomer' listed in this prophecy as one of the nations who will join the Russia-Iran led coalition of nations who will one-day attack and invade Israel. The ancient Roman-Jewish historian Josephus tells us 'Gomer' is the land those (the Romans and Jews) called 'Galatians' were from. The word 'Galatians' comes from 'Gaul' which we are told is the area around France and Germany. Encyclopedias will also specify 'Gomer' as the area around Germany and France. We also know the Galatians from the Apostle Paul's letter to the Galatians (written around 55 AD) ... we find from history an army of ancient Galatians left their homeland around Germany and France (Gaul) and (after a number of conquests and defeats) were brought over to the highlands of central Anatolia (now Turkey) as mercenaries around 300 BC (which is about 280 years after Ezekiel's prophecy was written), and there they formed their own 'colony' in an area the Jews and Romans called Galatia (which means 'Gaul of the East') and lived (and thrived) until the days of the Apostle Paul (Rabbi Shaul). It will be interesting to watch as Iran (Persia), Russia (Magog), and Gomer (France and Germany) now all have soldiers and/or sailors deployed (or hidden like the Iranian Revolutionary Guards who have infiltrated Lebanon with Hizbullah) along the northern border of Israel in Lebanon ... even though the numbers are now small, never before in the history of the world has this strange mix of armies and navies been deployed together along Israel's border.
While On Russian Television, Iranian Ambassador To Russia Warns British Sailors May Be Tried ...
--Drudge/AP (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies will invade Israel) (Since Lebanon, this war has been well planned by our enemies ...)
Act of War: Iran Broadcasts British Sailor's 'Apology' ...
--Drudge/AP (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies will invade Israel)
Tsunami Caused By Major Earthquake Kills At Least 8 In The Solomon Islands ...
--Drudge/AP (Prophecies ... Earthquakes in 'diverse' places) (This prophecy assumes there would one day be worldwide communications to report them ...)
Los Angeles Suffers Longest Dry Spell In At Least 130 Years ...
--Drudge/AFP
From Israel: The Myth of 'Land For Peace' In Israel Growing Thin ...
--Jerusalem Post/Caroline Glick (Prophecies...Israel after becoming a nation) (Prophecies ... Gaza!! ... 'Gaza will be forsaken')
American Investors In Bahrain Advised To Pack Up Business Operations And Leave ...
--Debkafile (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war)
--Debkafile (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war)
Russia Preparing New Generation of Advanced Strategic Submarine ...
--Pravda (Russia) (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies will invade Israel) (Submarines are designed to be 'first-strike' weapons ...)
Earlier: Russia Starts Construction of 'Fifth Generation' Fighter-Bomber Military Aircraft ...
--Pravda (Russia) (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies will invade Israel) (They feel it will be more advanced than our new Joint Strike Fighter)
CEO Nabbed for Exporting Missile Technology To India ...
--Fox News (Prophecies...Wars and rumors of war)
Russia’s Defense Cooperation With India To Bring Billions of Profit ...
--Pravda (Russia) (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies will invade Israel)
Christian Minister Beaten For Praying For The Sick In India ... Doctors Refuse To Treat Victim
--WND (Prophecies ... Christians will be hated) (Christians are the ones helping the poor, the sick, and the lepers because Hindus believe it's bad 'karma'...)
--WND (Prophecies ... Christians will be hated) (Prophecies: 'The Generation of Armageddon') (The coming Antichrist)
--Debkafile (Prophecies...Iran, Russia, and allies will invade Israel) (Prophecies ... Wars and rumors of war)
"Easter"... The Jewish "Feast of Firstfruits" ..."Resurrection Day". . . The following Bible prophecies of the Messiah were written in the Old Testament (Tanakh) many hundreds of years BEFORE Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew) was born ... and were also translated into Greek (in the Jewish 'Septuagint') over 250 years BEFORE Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew) was born. . .
First,
God warned He would one day make a 'New Covenant' (translated New Testament)
with the children of Israel . . .
"Behold, the days are coming
when I will make a NEW
covenant (testament)
with the House of Israel
and the House of Judah
..."
(Jeremiah 31:31
And Jesus-Yeshua (the promised Messiah)
tells us ...
"This cup
(representing the third cup of Passover He was drinking)
IS THE NEW COVENANT
in My Blood ..."
(1 Corinthians 11:25)
The Bible told us Messiah would ride triumphantly into Jerusalem . . .
Meek and lowly . . . riding on a donkey
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion (Israel)!
Behold, your King (Messiah) is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
yet He is lowly and riding on a donkey."
(Zechariah 9:9)
He would be betrayed by a friend
"Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who
ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me."
(Psalm 41:9)
They would set a price on Him of 30 pieces of silver . . .
which would then be thrown into the potter's field
"So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.
And the LORD said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’ -
that princely price they set on me."
(Zechariah 11:12-13)
The Messiah would be despised and rejected . . .
He would deeply feel the pain of rejection
"He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief."
(Isaiah 53:3)
People would turn their backs on Him
"And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;"
(Isaiah 53:3)
The Messiah would be despised
"He was despised,
and we did not esteem Him."
(Isaiah 53:3)
The Messiah would be despised by the world and rejected by Israel
"The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One,
To Him whom man (the world) despises,
To Him whom the nation (Israel) abhors."
(Isaiah 49:7)
He would suffer . . . brutally beaten and bloodied
"So His appearance was marred more than any man"
(Isaiah 52:14)
The Messiah would be beaten, bloodied, and would die for our iniquities (sins)
so we could escape the judgment . . . the darkness and torments of Hell
"But He 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 Hebrew noun used for 'He' was singular and cannot refer to the whole nation of Israel ...)
Yet, as the Passover Lamb of God, He would remain silent during His ordeal
"He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth."
(Isaiah 53:7)
He would be Crucified . . . a torturous and agonizing death
"All My bones are out of joint . . .
My tongue clings to My jaws;
They pierced My hands and My feet,
They look and stare at Me."
(Psalm 22:14, 15, 16, 17)
He would have stakes . . . nails . . . driven through his hands
"And someone will say to Him,
‘What are these wounds in your hands?’
Then He [Messiah/Christ] will answer,
‘Those with which I was wounded
in the house of my friends.’"
(Zech 13:6)
He would be mocked during His time of suffering and death
"A reproach of men and despised of the people,
They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying
‘He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him;’"
(Psalm 22:7-8)
They would divide His garments and cast lots for His clothes
"They divide my garments among them,
and for My garments they cast lots."
(Psalm 22:18)
He who knew no sin would be made sin for us . . .
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?"
(Psalm 22:1 . . . also see Matt 27:46)
Note: With these words from the Cross, Jesus-Yeshua was pointing the Jewish leaders to Psalm 22 . . . The Jewish leaders who were gathered around the Cross knew the Scriptures well. Psalm 22 is a detailed prophecy foretelling the death of the Messiah, Jesus [Yeshua] on the Cross, written a thousand years before the Cross and written centuries before this form of execution was even invented - written when the Jewish form of execution was stoning.
The Messiah's side would be pierced
"Then they will look upon Me whom they have pierced;
they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son,
and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn."
(Zech 12:10 . . . this is also a prophecy of His Return)
He would be buried in a rich man's grave
"He was buried like a criminal in a rich man's grave;"
(Isaiah 53:9)
He was innocent . . . without guilt . . . without sin
"But he [the Messiah/Christ] had done no wrong,
and he had never spoken an evil word."
(Isaiah 53:9)
The Messiah would be quickly resurrected (raised from the dead) . . .
"For You will not leave my soul in Sheol (Hell),
Nor will You allow Your Holy One (the Messiah)
to see corruption (decompose)."
(Psalm 16:10)
The Jewish Messiah [Christ] would be a savior to all peoples,
including Jews and non-Jews alike . . . thus fulfilling the Abrahamic Covenant
"I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles [non-Jews],
That You should be My salvation
[saving people from the darkness, loneliness, and torments of Hell]
to the ends of the Earth."
(Isaiah 49:6)
The Messiah [Christ] would be the Sacrifice [payment] for all our sins . . .
The only burden He asks us to carry is to accept it and believe it.
"And He (Messiah) bore the sin of many . . ."
(Isaiah 53:12)
The Cross was part of God’s Plan ... so all who receive Jesus (Yeshua) as their Lord can be washed clean of all their sins through His innocent blood ... and spared from the darkness and torment of Hell
"Yet it was the Lord’s good plan to bruise him;
put Him to grief, make His soul an offering for sin . . ."
(Isaiah 53:10 paraphrased)
God (Messiah/Christ) would then return to His place in Heaven, until . . .
(remember Messiah is God who placed His Spirit in the form of Man ... inside a living Tabernacle)
"I [the LORD] will return again to My place
until they [Israel] acknowledge their offense.
Then they will seek My face;
in their affliction [the coming Tribulation]
they will diligently seek Me" . . .
(Hosea 5:15)
Note: For the LORD to return to His place means that He had to have left His place. One requirement that must be met before He can return to Earth is for the children of Israel to "acknowledge their offense." (Notice that the word offense is singular, not plural, and it is specific.) This means that Israel must acknowledge their rejection of the Messiah and pray, as a nation, for His return. We are told this will be fulfilled at the very end of the Tribulation. God will fulfill all of His promises and covenants with the nation Israel ...
The children of Israel are a royal line (we should bless them, support them, and help them in any way we can) and (amazingly) the tiny nation of Israel will one day rule over all the nations of the world under Her Messiah and King, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew) . . . after He returns to save them from their enemies at the battle of Armageddon.
Awesome: When God's Word and the prophecies became one . . .
"Now when they had fulfilled
all that was written concerning Him,
they took Him down from the tree
and laid Him in a tomb.
But God raised Him from the dead.
He was seen for many days by those
who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem,
who are His witnesses to the people."
(Acts 13:29-31)
And Jesus-Yeshua said . . .
"These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you,
that all things [prophecies] must be fulfilled
which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets [the Old Testament]
and the Psalms concerning Me."
And He opened their understanding,
that they might comprehend the Scriptures."
Then He [Jesus] said to them, "Thus it is written,
and thus it was necessary for the Christ [Messiah]
to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
and that repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in His name to all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem."
(Luke 24:44-47)
The Torment of the Cross.
The first prophecy found in the Bible is spoken by God to Adam, Eve, and Satan
in the Garden of Eden . . .
"I will put enmity [hatred]
between you [Satan] and the woman [Eve],
And between your seed [the Anti-christ] and her Seed [the Christ];
He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel."
(Gen 3:15)
This first prophecy is a prophecy of the Messiah. It also sets the stage for Satan’s hatred against mankind.
In this prophecy we are told the seed of the woman, the Messiah (the Christ), would have his heel bruised. If you study the physical trauma associated with Crucifixion, you soon find it was designed to cause extreme pain and torment before death. The word "excruciating" comes from the root word "crucify." Crucifixion was a cruel, slow, agonizing, and tortuous form of execution designed to kill through slow suffocation. The shoulders of the person being crucified would dislocate and separate. The only way the person nailed to the Cross could breathe (or speak) would be to gather as much strength as they could and try to stand up on the nail or the spike that had been driven through their feet. The feet were severely bent forward and pressed together in order to nail them to the Cross. When the feet were nailed securely to the Cross, one heel would be pressed tightly against the wood of the Cross. So, in order to breathe or to speak, the person nailed to the Cross had to put all of their weight on the heel and the large spike that had been driven through the feet in order to stand up far enough to gasp for breath. This incredibly tortuous process would painfully bruise that heel. Also, we are told that Jesus was scourged by the Romans before He was crucified. These "stripes" He took on His back were another form of cruel punishment derived by the powers of the day. The Roman "whip" used for scourging was small with pieces of metal and bone attached. The prisoner’s back was stretched tight as He, in this case, Jesus, was tied to a post. The Roman whip was designed to dig into the skin of the back and then tear the skin away from the bone. By the time Jesus was crucified the skin of His back that had been torn from the "stripes" would have been hanging loosely off of the bone like a tattered cloth. Take a moment to consider the amount of pain shooting through the body of Christ as He struggled with dry, parched lips and gasping for breath to stand up by pressing down on that heel which was nailed to the Cross, causing His tattered back with its exposed bone to rub against the roughly hewn wood of His Cross in order to clearly speak those words . . . "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Note to Christians: It is wrong and a blasphemy against God and Jesus to ever blame the Jews for Jesus’ death. As one pastor put it, "If you are going to blame anybody blame me, for it was because of my sins that the Messiah stepped forth from Eternity and took on the form of Man, as the Son of Man . . . the Son of God, to suffer and die.
Believing Christians are taught in the Bible to help Israel and her people . . .
"Cursed be everyone who curses you [Israel],
and blessed be those who bless you!"
(Genesis 27:29)
"I (God) will bless those who bless you (Israel) and will curse those who curse you". . .
(Genesis 12:3)
God has a covenant with Israel that will never be broken. He has revealed a destiny for Israel which will soon be completed.
God has declared a new covenant (see Jeremiah 31:31 above) and destiny for a people to be drawn from the whole world, through His Messiah, including the children of Israel who recognize their Messiah from Scripture. This new covenant is a promise for all who believe in Him and accept Him.
The Messiah would come forth from the line of King David . . .
"The book of the genealogy of Yeshua Ha'Mashiach (Jesus Christ) the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob,
and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.
Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar,
Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.
Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon,
and Nahshon begot Salmon.
Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth,
Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.
David the king begot Solomon by her *who had been the wife of Uriah.
Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah,
and Abijah begot *Asa. Asa begot Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah.
Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.
Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot *Amon,
and Amon begot Josiah.
Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers
about the time they were carried away to Babylon.
And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel,
and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud,
Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor.
Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud.
Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.
And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary,
of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ (Messiah)."
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations,
from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations,
and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations."
(Matthew 1:1-17)
Another ancient prophecy pointing to the Cross . . .
Here, we find another prophetic "foreshadowing" of the Cross in the book of Numbers, one of the five books of Moses . . .
"So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people,
and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.
Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, ‘We have sinned,
for we have spoken against the LORD and against you;
pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us.’
So Moses prayed for the people.
Then the LORD said to Moses,
‘Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole;
and it shall be that everyone who is bitten,
when he looks at it, shall live.’
So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole;
and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone,
when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived."
(Numbers 21:6-9)
In the Bible, the serpent is used as a symbol for "sin," and bronze a symbol of "judgment," because bronze could withstand the fire. We find in this verse that once the people acknowledged their sin, they only needed to look upon the serpent on the pole to be healed and saved. We are told Jesus "became" sin, like that "fiery serpent" on the pole, for us . . .
"For He made Him who knew no sin [Jesus on the Cross]
to be sin for us, that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him."
(2 Cor 5:21)
Jesus (Yeshua) points to this prophetic model of the serpent on the pole . . .
And Jesus-Yeshua said,
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish [in Hell]
but have eternal life [in Heaven].
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him 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."
[Saved from the second death . . . the agony and torment of hell]
(John 3:14-17)
It is interesting that after hearing the story of the serpent in the wilderness, the ancient Greeks adopted this sign of the serpent on the pole as their symbol for healing. The symbol is still used by our medical profession. You might note there is only one serpent on this ancient symbol, not two.
So, as those who looked upon the fiery serpent in the wilderness were saved from their sins, so will all who believe in Jesus on the Cross be saved . . . and welcomed into His Kingdom of Heaven, forever.
The Promise of the Cross is available to everybody. The offer is extended to all. The early church included all - Jew, Roman, Ethiopian, Greek, rich and poor, men and women, centurion and rabbi, together, as one. They saw . . . they heard . . . they believed!
It was only after the Jews rejected their Messiah that the good news of this new covenant of God’s grace would be offered to all people around the world. Christ died for all who believe, from Israel and from all the the nations and people of the world.
The Scriptures tell us there are two roles the Messiah must fulfill:
First, as the Passover Lamb of God . . .
The 'Atonement' for sin whose blood shed on the Cross saves us from the utter darkness and torment of Hell
Second, as the Lion of Judah . . .
As King of kings and Lord of lords ... to save Israel from the armies of the world which will someday soon come against Her ... and then He will restore the Earth in peace and beauty
The Scriptures also tell us the Messiah will return . . . twice:
First, "as a thief in the night" . . . For those who have waited in faith . . . the "Rapture."
[To remove the faithful believers from Earth to shelter them (like Enoch and Lot) ... before the coming "Apocalypse."]
Second, "every eye shall see" . . . With those who have waited in faith.
[He will return to establish His just and fair Kingdom over the whole world ... after the 'Apocalypse']
Remember . . .
As followers of Jesus/Yeshua the Messiah, we are to be a separate people - a people of honor, strength, and courage. To obey Him, we must take the heart of a servant and be meek (the word meek means the opposite of 'revenge'), humble, patient, gentle, kind, willing to forgive, willing to help and serve others, even our enemies. This requires much strength. This is strength. We must pray for His strength. Hold fast and endure in faith. God watches us, hears us, and knows our hearts. He is the God who lovingly offers a second (and third and fourth) chance. He waits patiently for us to return to Him, and will forgive us when we sincerely ask.
The Bible says there is no other way into Heaven . . .
Jesus knew what was about to happen when He prayed, "If there is any other way" three times in the garden the night before He was crucified. If there was, or is, any other way to gain entrance into Heaven other than believing in the One who paid our debt, then Jesus suffered and died needlessly and in vain, on the Cross. He lovingly laid down His life for you and for me.
"The Lord is my shepherd . . ."
(Psalm 23:1)
And Jesus graciously tells us,
"I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep."
(John 10:11)
It is interesting to note the only prophecies found in other religions are either based on prophecies already found in the Scriptures, or point to a powerful leader who someday will rise. The Bible warns to beware of this false messiah who will soon rise and will deceive many. God also makes it very clear there would be only one real Messiah. If you are approached, or belong to a religion which denies Jesus is the Messiah, humbly ask them to show you the prophecies preparing the way and describing their prophet . . .
In the beginning was the Word . . .
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
And the Word became flesh
and dwelt among us,
and we beheld His glory,
the glory as of the only begotten
of the Father . . .
full of grace and truth.
He was in the world,
the world was made through Him,
and the world did not know Him.
He came to His own,
and His own did not receive Him . . .
(Excerpted from the Book of John 1:1-14)
"When you see
these things,
know that it is near - -
at the door."
(Mark 13:29)
"Watch therefore,
and pray always
that you may be
counted worthy to escape
all these things
that will come to pass . . ."
(Luke 21:36)
"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."
(Zeph 2:2-3)
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 . . ." (The Bible promises all who wait in faith are not "appointed" to the coming time of "Tribulation")
(Luke 21:36)
"When you see these things happening,
know that it (the 'Apocalypse') is near -- at the doors!
Assuredly, I say to you,
this generation will by no means pass away
till all these things take place."
(Mark 13:29)
... 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 >>
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Grace and Shalom,