Edition 70.  4th February 2011

In this edition:

●The importance of the number 70

●Egypt and beyond in prophecy

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Egypt and beyond in prophecy:

There are many prophecies relating to Egypt and her neighbours in the Bible. Some of these refer to her as the "King of the South" Others refer to Egypt directly.

I want to have a look at a one remarkable prophecy in Isaiah 19:1-25. But let's start at the end so we can see what time period this is referring to.

Isaiah 19:24-25 In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the Lord of hosts shall bless saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people and Assyria the work of My hands and Israel My inheritance."

This is clearly an end-time portion of scripture. It reveals that Egypt (and a large part of the Arab world) will come to know the Lord. This is most likely in the tribulation period. It is not the case yet.

So, we know that this section of prophecy relates to these days and into the near future.

Let's now have a look at the tragedy that will unravel before these Arab nations respond to Messiah.

(I've shortened this portion of scripture, using only the relevant points)

Isaiah 19:2-22 "I will set Egyptian against Egyptians, everyone will fight against his brother, and everyone against his neighbour, city against city...I will give the Egyptians into the hands of a cruel master and a fierce king will rule over them...the rivers will turn foul...and everything sown by the river will wither and be no more...the fishermen will mourn...those who weave fine fabric will be ashamed...all who make wages will be troubled of soul....Neither will there be any work for Egypt...And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt....and the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike it and heal it, they will return to the Lord and He will be entreated by them and heal them."

Jeremiah 25:15-24: "For thus says the Lord God of Israel to me: "Take this wine cup of fury from My hand and cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it. and they will drink it and stagger and go mad because of the sword that I will send among them." This portion of prophecy sees nations come against Israel causing her to be left temporarily wrecked. It includes Gaza, Edom and Moab (Jordan)  Tyre (Lebanon) Arabia (Saudi Arabia)

●Powerful new alignments are underway surrounding Israel. In Lebanon, Hezbollah was behind the collapse of the pro-West government. Now Hezbollah has launched its own candidate into the power vacuum. It's now emerging that Iran and Syria were behind the whole situation. Israel is now under great threat and danger from Lebanon and Syria, both on Israel's northern border.

●On the south western border of Israel, new political turmoil in Egypt could see radical Islamic forces gain control. 

In fact the real danger in Egypt lies in what may still come. In 1979 the moderate middle class deposed the long standing ruler of Iran. Radical Islamic groups capitalised on the situation and "hijacked" the transition to bring in their own Ayatollah Khomeini (to be followed by Ahmedinajad) The same sort of thing could happen in Egypt with pro- Al Qaeda and Hamas forces coming into power.

●The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) which is trying to get its own candidates in power in Egypt and Jordan has just said. "We will bring down all governments friendly to the US and Israel in the region." The MB is aligned with Egyptian Islamic Jihad, and other extremists. They have also said that when in power they will open the border with Gaza. This will allow an almost unlimited weapons flow into Gaza.

●Egypt's economy was strong until recently. It is now cash strapped and has just been downgraded. It is near to collapse.

●There are currently behind-the-scenes activities on the go in Russia, which will bring it and its southern Muslim states into the fray.

●There is already a simmering deep hatred and rising tension between the Sunni and Shiite Muslim sects in much of the Arab world, but notably in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

●The Jew is often turned on as a scapegoat in these situations.

Psalm 83:3-5 "They have taken crafty counsel against your people and consulted together against your sheltered ones. They have said come let us cut them (Israel) off from being a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more....they form a confederacy against You. Edom (Jordan) and the Ishmaelites (Arabs) Moab and the Hagarites, Gebel Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre (Palestinians and Lebanon) Assyria (Syria) has joined with them."

The London Telegraph is reporting that the US government secretly backed and supported leading figures behind the Egyptian uprising.

Westerners, especially Americans don't like to think that a large part of the Arab world hates them and has no time for them or their forms of democracy. Of course it is true that a tyranny founded on injustice will never last, but this situation will make way for Islamic forces committed to the destruction of Israel and the hatred of the west.

Don't be fooled (like most westerners) into thinking that this Egyptian and Middle Eastern crisis is a triumph for democracy.

The map below shows the location of the nations experiencing upheavals. Note that Israel is now surrounded by hostility. The arrows point to the main trade and oil tanker routes.

 

Whichever way you cut it, Israel is increasingly being surrounded by forces dedicated to her ultimate destruction. It's like a nightmare jigsaw-puzzle falling into place one piece at a time!

Note how fast these things are happening.

●This could be part of the incredible alignment of nations ahead of the great war of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel chapters 38 &39. This present situation is most certainly part of the forerunner period into the soon coming tribulation. It's no small issue and should not be underestimated. It will affect many things, not least, Israel, oil and the world economy.

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The importance of the number 70

It's very important to realise that we are not to have faith in numbers or dates. We need to believe in our Messiah and His coming, by faith and not by mathematics. There are too many discrepancies and variables with starting points and calendar changes through time, for us to be exactly sure with many of these dates. 

A great many very sincere people, some with amazing knowledge, like Isaac Newton, have come up with elaborate date-sets. Many don't agree with each other.

Many who have not known our Lord like Nostradamus, the Mayans and others have also tried their hand at date setting, trying to predict what they call the end of the world.

●Let me do a quick detour here and explain the term 'end of the world'. Some teach that the Bible says the world will never end. The original definition of "world" means the socio-political and economy order resting upon the earth. We could say that the earth is adorned or clothed with the world. The one is not the other though. This current world system will most certainly be destroyed and come to a bitter end soon. It will be replaced by a new world adorning the earth, headed by none other than our risen Messiah.

So, although we may not be able to know the exact time of these things, we're commanded to watch, look and be ready. We do know that the time is very near and wisdom dictates that we need to be ready all the time! Many Bible scholars disagree on the exact times, but there are a great many who do agree within a very slim margin of error!

There are many time related clues hidden within the scriptures that do have profound meaning for the diligent seeker. There are far too many signs all dove-tailing together right now for it all to be coincidence.

I believe that new things will be revealed and opened up to us from the scriptures, by our Lord as we enter the most dramatic times the world has ever or ever will know!

The number 70 in the Bible is of vital importance, as are many other numbers. This number though, relates strongly to Bible prophecy, Israel and Jerusalem in particular. Don't underestimate the power and significance of 70.

Ecclesiastes 8:5 "A wise man's heart discerns both time and judgement."

1 Corinthians 14:40 "Let all things be done decently and in order." (The original word used here for "order" means mathematical design, plan, and construction. This is the way God works.)

Isaiah 46:10-11 "God declares the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done."

Numbers in the Bible have meanings. These numbers and their meanings are derived from the Bible itself and from verses of scripture relating to the number in various ways.

Here are a few of them:

●70 is a combination of two perfect numbers: 10, which signifies perfect order and 7 which signifies spiritual perfection. 70 then, signifies perfect spiritual order.

●70 is associated with Israel and Jerusalem. Genesis 46:27 "All the persons of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt were seventy." Daniel 9:24 "Seventy weeks are determined for you people (Israel) and your holy city (Jerusalem)..."

●70 is associated with the temple on the temple mount in Jerusalem which was destroyed in 70AD. Our Lord predicted this by saying "Your house shall be left to you desolate." There were 70 years between the first and second temples in Jerusalem.

●70 relates to judgement and punishment. Jeremiah 25:11-12 "And this whole land shall be desolate and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. Then when the seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon...and make it a perpetual desolation."

●70 Jubilees from the Exodus to 2018 (Some date this at 2015) Interestingly there are 40 jubilees from the Christ's crucifixion to 2018

●70 relates to forgiveness and the end of forgiveness. Matthew 18:21-22 "How often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? up to seven times? Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."

●70 is associated with discipleship. Luke 10:1 "After these things the Lord appointed 70 others and sent them out two by two."

●70 is the generation of man. Psalm 90:10 "The days of our lives are seventy years."

With all of the above in mind we can presume that 70 is very important, and will be prophetically, important in our day.

The breakdown:

Here is evidence that is difficult to deny:

Psalm 90:10 says that the generation of man is 70. The Bible declares (Matthew24:32-34) that the generation that sees all these things (Israel, which is the 'fig tree', becoming a nation) will be the last. Israel became a nation in 1948. So, 1948+70= 2018. If the Second Coming will in 2018 then we need to come forward seven years for the tribulation period, which brings us to 2011 for the start of the tribulation!

Zechariah 1:12-16 "Then the Angel of the Lord said; "O Lord of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you were angry these seventy years.?"..."I am zealous for Jerusalem and Zion with great zeal. I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease...I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy..."

Is the above section of scripture giving us a clue to today's world?

When Israel became a nation in 1948, the war of independence began right away. Israel has fallen under attack by large Arab powers in six major wars since independence. The governments of the world have been against Israel in many ways since independence. We could say that although Israel has been free, she has been in a new form of Babylonian captivity. Babylon is a type for the world system. Could it be that Israel will be released from this new bondage 70 years after the 1948 year of independence in 2018?

Now let's have a look at a remarkable verse of scripture. Matthew 18:21-22 "Then Peter came to Him and said "Lord how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him "I do not say to you up to seventy times but up to seventy times seven."

Interestingly the term "up to" actually means "up to and not beyond" in the original. In other words, there's a limit.

70x7=490 is also called the great forgiveness cycle. But why this odd number in relation to forgiveness or release?

For the answer we need to look at Daniel's incredible prophecy of 70 weeks.

70 Weeks are determined:

 

Daniel 9:24 "Seventy weeks are determined upon your people..."

The original word used for 'week' is "sabuwa" which means a seven. The context of the verse makes it clear that we are talking about sevens of years and not days. (These are Hebrew years of 360 days) "Seventy weeks" then is 70x7=490 years.

70 weeks (years) or 490 years are determined upon your people (the Jews) These events will take place according to Daniel the prophet:

●The triumphal entry of Messiah into Jerusalem

●The cutting off or crucifixion of Messiah (not for Himself...for us)

●The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.

●The coming of the antichrist.

●The antichrist setting himself up as God in the still-to-be built temple (abomination of desolation)

●The coming of the seven year tribulation period and desolations.

●To finish transgression and make an end of sins.

●To bring in everlasting righteousness (Millennium and beyond)

The starting point of the prophecy, until the coming of Messiah the Prince is indicated as the command to restore and re-build Jerusalem and it's walls. This is found in Nehemiah 2:1-8 and is called the decree of Artaxerxes. According to well researched chronology this happened at 445BC. This was the starting point for this great prophetic clock. It may have been one year earlier at the decree and not the start of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. This would account for the one year difference in some of the views.

This incredible prophecy sets the time for the triumphal entry and crucifixion. Logic dictates that there has to be a gap of about 2000 years between the cross and the final completion of this prophecy, which is the seven year tribulation and the establishment of the Millennium.

The gap represents the church era or dispensation. If there were to be no gap, all would have been fulfilled long ago.

It's not my purpose to go into all of Daniel's 70 weeks here, but to demonstrate that 70 is important in God's scheme of things and dealings with the Israel and the world.

Jubilee:

The word jubilee comes from the Hebrew word "Yobel" which means shofar or trumpet. On a jubilee, debts are cancelled, slaves released, liberty declared and property returned to the original owner.

A Bible jubilee occurs every 50 years. The 50th becomes the first of the next cycle. So it's actually 49 years. Every 70th jubilee is a "Great Jubilee."

Major events occurred on Jubilees: The great exodus from Egypt. The decree to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, The Resurrection.

Years allotted to mankind is 6000. This can also be broken down to 120 jubilees. The 6000years allotted to man ends approximately in 2015

The 120th jubilee, which is a great jubilee ends in 2018.

Be aware that there are different views on the jubilee. Some say it can only be counted while Israel is in the land. This may be so in terms of the celebration aspect, but not in terms of a pure number count. Some say it must be counted every 49 years and some every 50 years. This is one of those ongoing discrepancies with dates.

Here is something quite amazing:

1917 was the year of the Balfour Declaration, which was the foundation and starting point for Israel's transition to independence. This was on a jubilee year. Fifty years, or another jubilee later, brings us to 1967. This was the year Jerusalem was restored to Israeli control. Fifty years, or another jubilee later brings us to the 2017- 2018

1917 was the Balfour declaration which saw the end of the Islamic Ottoman empire's control of Israel and the British mandate come into being, paving the way for independence.

November 29th 1947 saw the UN decree to establish Israel as a nation. Then in May 1948 it actually came about.

1917 was the 68th jubilee. 1967 and the return of Jerusalem to Israel was the 69th jubilee. The 70th jubilee is the next and last which will be in 2017-2018.

From the temple destruction in 70AD to 2018 is 1948 years 1948 was independence year.

It would be perfectly consistent, reasonable and expected that the millennium will begin on a great jubilee.

The 70 jubilees begins when the children of Israel enter Canaan in 1416 BC. The 70 jubilees will end 3430 years later in 2015 AD. Others believe the 70 jubilees will end in 2018. Either way...its all pretty close.

Another interesting prophecy is found in Hosea 6:1-2 "...He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may dwell in His sight." Now, in 2 Peter3:8 it speaks of a prophetic "day" being a thousand years. This then means that there will be about 2000 years between the first coming of Messiah and the second.

What's very important when dealing with calculations and dates is to have a sure date. This can be either a starting date or a later date from which we can work back. To find the exact starting date for creation or the creation of Adam is a nightmare. Many have tried and come up with differing results.

But we do have two key prophetic dates that are a sure thing. The first is the date of Israel's independence , 1948 and the second is the date Jerusalem was restored to Israel in 1967. So with these two known dates we can get somewhere. Using 70 as the length of a generation: 1948+70 = 2018 and using 50 as the length of a jubilee: 1967+50= 2017. Obviously we are out by one year. But its all very close. I'm sure that it'll all add up perfectly as we get greater insights further down the line.

What about those who say "no one knows the time"?

This is a dangerous statement made by many deceived leaders and repeated by many blind sheep. The Bible says no such thing. What it says is no one knows the specific "day and hour." There is a huge difference. But let's take it a bit further and look into these verses.

Matthew 24:35-36 "Then heaven and earth will pass away, of that day and hour no one knows" So what day and hour is it talking about? In context it's the time right at the end of the Millennium and the creation of the new heavens and earth!

Another verse says: "Watch therefore, for you don't know the hour". This refers to a very specific point in time.

The feast of trumpets is the next of the seven feasts to be fulfilled. It symbolises judgement. The tribulation will begin on a feat of trumpets.

 

It's important to understand that the Feast of Trumpets is also called the Feast of which no one knows the day or hour. This is simply because it starts when the new moon is spotted. It's a reference to an exact point in time and not the time in general..

The Second Coming is compared in the Bible to the days of Noah and the days of Lot. The time of the judgement was known in both cases.

Interesting snippets:

Solar and lunar eclipses.

●According to NASA there have been very few sets of lunar and solar eclipses falling on Feast days throughout history. 1948, the year of Israel's independence saw a grouping of lunar and solar eclipses on the Feast days. This also occurred in 1967, the date of Jerusalem's release.

●Mid tribulation is marked by the prophecy saying that the "sun will go dark and the moon will turn to blood".

In 2015 solar eclipses will fall on the Feast of Trumpets, and lunar eclipses or blood moons will fall on Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles.

●From the creation of Adam to the Abrahamic covenant was 2018 years. Could it be that from the time of the Second Adam (Jesus) to the full manifestation of the covenant (Second coming) will be 2018?

●At the end of the 70-year Babylonian captivity, the children of Israel were free and got a new temple. 70 years after Israel's independence could it be that Israel gets the new final Millennium Temple? The third Temple will be built at or just into the seven year tribulation. This is not the final Millennium Temple described in Ezekiel 40. This third temple will be the one that antichrist enters at mid tribulation and declares himself to be God.

Summary:

In many of these things there is a margin of error or uncertainty to take note of, but we are close! Don't be dumb like some people and quit your job and head for the hills to wait for the Lord, or other such things. But do be ready always.

There is one huge big overriding factor that should be staring you in the face. All of these things dove tail to a point in time that is not far from now. The differences that do exist are slight and will be cleared up as we move into the brave new world.

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Ecclesiastes 7:19 "Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten rulers of the city.

Ecclesiastes 8:1 "Who is like a wise man and who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine and the sternness of his face is changed."

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Heaven or hell:

Young woman, will be shocked when all these incredible things begin happening? Yes I agree much of what is coming is shocking, but there is great safety, and joy in our Lord and saviour. Do you know that He will "keep you from the things about to come upon the world." But you need to be His child and you can only become His by birth. Once you are born again, fear gives way to faith!

 

Hey you in your fancy paint and headdress; do you know that the word "culture" comes from two root words meaning worship and work? Your illegitimate worship will blind you to the things of God. You will not see that His coming is near and you will not be ready for Him. Hell awaits those who are foolish enough to consume themselves in the work and worship of false gods.

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Here is a painting by Sara Kestelman representing the Holocaust.

 

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Kind regards and many blessings...Shalom and grow in grace!

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