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Ministry ofElijah’s Message |
"And He shall confirm the covenant with many for ONE WEEK" [Daniel 9:27] After His baptism Yahushua [A.K.A. Christ] went to Galilee, "preaching the gospel of the kingdom of Elohim [Mighty Ones, Father, Son and Set-apart [Holy] Spirit], and saying, The time is fulfilled." [Mark 1:14, 15.] What time was fulfilled?
The "week" used here is the last one of the "seventy weeks" prophecy [Daniel 9:24-27]. It is the last seven years of the period given especially to the Jews. During this time, from A. D. 27 to A. D. 34, Yahushua, first in person, and then by his disciples, preached the Good News invitation especially to the Jews although others, such as the woman at the well and the Canaanite woman, were also allowed free access to the truth. As the apostles went out with the "glad tidings of the kingdom", our Savior's instruction was, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not; but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." [Matt. 10:5, 6.] Was this period of time to last forever?
"And in the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease." [Dan. 9:27]. In A. D. 31, three and a half years after His baptism, our Righteous Savior was crucified. With the ULTIMATE AND FINAL Sacrifice offered upon Calvary, the system of blood offerings, which for four thousand years had pointed forward to the Lamb of Yah, had ENDED, was “finished”. Type had met antitype, and all the "LETTING OF BLOOD" sacrifices and oblations (offerings of wheat, oil, showbread, etc.) of the ceremonial system were to cease. They had served their purpose to point to the shedding of blood, the taking of the life of the Innocent Lamb of Yah, which took on our sins though He knew no sin. This was evident by the Temple curtain being torn in two by unseen hands, "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;" [Matthew 27:51], that this system had come to its fulfillment.
Applying the day for a year principle of 2 Peter 3:8, the seventy weeks, or 490 years, especially allotted to the Jews, ENDED, as we have seen, in A. D. 34. At that time, through the action of the Jewish Sanhedrim, the nation SEALED ITS REJECTION of the gospel, by the martyrdom of Stephen [Acts 7:59-8:1] and the persecution of the followers of haMachiach (the Anointed One). Then the message of salvation, was no longer restricted to the chosen people, but was given to the world. The disciples, forced by persecution to flee from Jerusalem [Acts 4:16; 8:1], "went everywhere preaching the Word." "Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached haMachiach unto them." [Acts 8:4, 5; 22:21.] Peter, by divine guidance, reveled the gospel to the centurion of Caesarea, the Elohim-fearing Cornelius. And the energetic Paul, with renewed understanding and faith in the Messiah, was commissioned to carry the glad tidings "far hence unto the Gentiles." [Acts 8:4,5; 22:21.]
The temple of Ezekiel is symbolic of the temple in heaven. “Christ's church on earth is to resemble heaven, a temple built after the pattern of things shown in the holy mount. Man must give up his ideas, his plans, and devices, and let God work out His original intentions. The great Designer must not be impeded in His work by human wisdom. His work and purpose have not been understood. Through the miscalculations of man, the church today is so misshapen that it can not be accepted by the great Builder. Human counsel has been so abundant, that individual experience is rare. Men are placed where God should be. God's plans are turned aside, and men's measures brought in to fashion and mould. But the great and perfect Designer pronounces the work imperfect. The temple that He is building after the pattern of things in the heavens must have the exact proportions assigned it by the Architect, whose pattern is without a flaw. He has brought the golden measuring rod from heaven, and every worker is employed only as he works under His superintendence, and according to His plans." [EW, 1908] From this we can know, if we are willing to except His way instead of our own concepts, that He has a far more beautiful plan than what we try to limit Him to.
The text concerning the Temple in Ezekiel is a vision therefore prophetic and symbolic. Also as the books of Daniel and Revelation are, for the most part, symbolic. Therefore they are spiritual and require spiritual discernment. To interpret the visions correctly they must be applied to the proper time in history. To do this we must study our history as well. Only through diligent study and total reliance on the Set-apart Spirit will we be given a clear and correct insight to the meaning of these prophetic books.
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." [Matthew 5:17] The word "fulfill" according to the KJV Strong's Concordance means to SATISFY. What does one think the sacrifices of innocent little lambs, sheep, doves and bulls mean? This system was given to point to the coming Messiah, Who would do in reality what those symbolic gestures represented. Become the Atonement for our sins. With His death those symbolic gestures were "fulfilled", satisfied.
To understand this we must turn to Daniel and the vision of the 2300 days and 70 weeks prophecy. In prophecy we understand one day represents one year, [Ezekiel 4:6, Numbers 14:34].In Daniel's vision he was told, "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to FINISH the transgression, AND TO MAKE AN END OF SINS, AND TO MAKE RECONCILIATION FOR INIQUITY, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, AND TO ANOINT THE MOST HOLY." [Daniel 9:24] This vision was looking forward to the first coming of the Messiah with the "seventy weeks" which equal 490 days, 490 literal years. The word "Determined" was originally from the word meaning TO CUT OFF. The seventy weeks, or 490 literal years, are cut off from the longer period of the overall 2300 year period given in Daniel 8:14 and interpreted in Dan. 9:20-27. Therefore both time periods must begin together. They commence when Artaxerxes of Persia, in the seventh year of his reign, gave the decree for the building and restoration of temple in Jerusalem. [Dan. 9:25; Ezra 7:7].
The seventy weeks are subdivided into three divisions: 7 weeks, 62 weeks and 1 week. [Dan. 9:25-27, i.e. 7+62+1 =70]. Beginning in the autumn of 457 B.C., the first division of 7 weeks or 49 literal years, extended to 408 B.C., when, recorded in history, the work of building and restoration was completed. The 7 weeks plus 62 weeks, or total of 69 weeks, amounting to 483 literal years, were to reach to "Messiah the Prince". This period extends to the autumn of A.D. 27, when haMachiach was baptized in the Jordan at the commencement of His public ministry and was anointed with the Set-apart Spirit. This is where the word "Christ" comes from meaning the same as "Messiah" i.e., "the Anointed One". The remaining week of the seventy reaches to A.D. 34, when Stephen was stoned and the gospel was sent to the Gentiles. In the MIDST of the last or seventieth WEEK, which is in the MIDDLE of 27 A.D. to 34 A.D., at Passover in the spring of A.D. 32 (3 1/2 years from the autumn of A.D. 27) the Messiah was "cut off" or crucified.
Subtracting the 70 weeks, or 490 literal years, from the 2300 years, [Dan. 9:20-27], leaves a period of 1,810, plus the 7 years of our Blessed Redeemer's public ministry, which brings us to A.D. 1844. When the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary began. “How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” [Daniel 8:13-14] The word “sacrifice” was not in the original text but supplied to this translation. The original word used for “daily” is “continual” and “the transgression of desolation” would imply continual transgression of paganism, those rites, ceremonies and worship of pagan ecumenism that defile the sanctuary. This, according to the type as given in the symbolic rites and ceremonies of the earthly sanctuary, involves a work of judgment, [Matthew 22:11-14]. The year 1844 began the Investigative Judgment, which is preparatory to haMachiach's second coming, [Luke 20:34-36; Rev. 22:10-12].
To reenact blood sacrifices, that which was fulfilled by the Ultimate Sacrifice of our Beloved Savior would be heresy at best and blasphemy if acted out. To begin blood sacrifices again would be to say haMachiach died in vain. Many have their eyes on the earthly sanctuary instead of the Heavenly Kingdom, i.e. “seek first the Kingdom of Heaven”. These individuals believe that the Levitical Priesthood is an everlasting priesthood which did not, and will not compete with Y'shua's sacrifice, or priesthood...and it cannot be broken. But Scripture tells us that WE, the followers of Yahushua who keep the commands [Rev.14:12] of Yah [Psalm 68:4] blessed be His name, are the, "...chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light: [1 Peter 2:9].
To support their doctrine those believing in the rebuilding of the earthly temple and the restoration of the Levitical priesthood misquote Jeremiah 33:11-18..."In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, Yahweh our righteousness. For thus saith Yahweh; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.”[Jeremiah 33:16-18], to say to the liking of their “itching ears” that this means a rebuilt temple and a restoration of the earthly priesthood. What their blind eyes can not see is the words “never” and “neither” used in this text. Those who symbolically make up Judah, which will dwell safely in New Jerusalem, will “NEVER” want any other to sit on the Throne of David BUT our Master and Savior, Yahushua haMachiach. And we, the “royal priesthood”, will “NEITHER” want any other SACRIFICE than that Perfect Sacrifice of the LAMB OF YAH.
"But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith Yahweh, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.” [Jeremiah 31:33]. This covenant remains in force through His "chosen few", who keep the commandments of Elohim and have the faith of Yahushua haMachiach, [Rev. 14:12]. "And what agreement hath the temple of Elohim with idols? for ye are the temple of the living Elohim; as Elohim hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.” [2 Cor. 6:16].
Who was He talking to and what did He mean when Yahushua said, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of Yahweh." [Luke 13:35] ? He was addressing Jerusalem and He was speaking of the time of the end when His true name [Ps. 68:4] would be restored [Acts 3:21] and they would see Him, "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and EVERY eye shall see Him, AND THEY ALSO WHICH PIERCED HIM: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen." [Rev. 1:7], at His Second Coming.
We are living in a spiritual time. That is to say, we (true believers, Rev. 14:12) are the priesthood, [1 Peter 2:9] and the covenant remains intact with us if we walk with Him (Jer. 31:33) Our bodies are His holy temple (2 Cor. 6:16) until His return after the thousand years [Rev. 20:6] when we will be judging the angels [Matt. 22:30, Luke 30:36' 1 Peter 1:12, Jude 1:6 and 1Corinthians 6:3] and learning why many we knew are not in New Jerusalem with us [Matt. 7:21-22; Luke 13:25; 1 Cor. 6:9 and Rev. 22:11].
Then after the thousand years Satan will be let go, that is that during the thousand years: We will be with our Beloved Savior going over the records to confirm in our own minds the rightness of the judgments of Yah, blessed be His name. Meanwhile Satan and his fallen angels will be bound on an empty earth with no one to torment but each other because the saints are in heaven with Messiah and the wicked are dead (and the dead know nothing, Eccl. 9:5). SO FOR 1000 YEARS SATAN IS BOUND BY BOREDOM and let loose at the end of the millennium to cause a final showdown as he instigates the resurrected wicked into converging on New Jerusalem [Rev. 16:12-16].
There is no rebuilding of an earthly temple or reenactment of blood sacrifices. This is abominable in the eyes of the One Who gave His Only Begotten Son to, “make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy." [Daniel 9:24].
Seventy weeks WERE determined upon the people of Israel and upon their holy city, (Jerusalem) to finish the transgression. They filled up their cup of iniquity [Matt. 23:29-39]. Israel as a NATION was left desolate but as INDIVIDUALS the Jews have a higher standing then do the Gentiles in that they can and will be (if they accept haMachiach as their Savior) grafted back on to the Vine where as the Gentiles, like the strangers in the encampment in the wilderness, must be adopted.
We must study the Word as a whole not taking texts out of context to support our own agenda. Of the Scribes and Pharisees Messiah said, "Woe unto you, ye blind guides..." [Matthew 23:16 and again in verse 24], "Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel." They seek earthly rewards and honors and totally miss the big picture.
"Then came His disciples, and said unto Him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But He answered and said, Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. LEAVE them: they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." [Matthew 15:12-14] "How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that He bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, BUT OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE PHARASEES AND OF THE SADDUCEES." [Matthew 16:11-12]. While there is much knowledge to be gained in studying the writings of the sages [rabbis] take the perfect council of the One who knows all things and…beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy Elohim, I will also forget thy children.” [Hosea 4:6] “…in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” [Matthew 15:9].
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of Elohim.” [Rev. 2:7]. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” [Rev. 2:11]. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving He that receiveth it.” [Rev. 2:17]. "And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” [Rev. 7:4]. “And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.” [Rev. 14:3]. “These are they which were not defiled with women (pagan churches); for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto Elohim and to the Lamb.” [Rev. 14:4].
“Israel” means “to over come”. We will be “overcomers” so we, “those who keep the commandments of Elohim and have the faith of Yahushua” [Rev. 14:12], the 144,000, are the “royal priesthood” that will “follow the Lamb wherever He goes” and likewise serve in the Heavenly Temple of Yah. Blessed is the Lamb of Yah, our Righteous Redeemer. Amein.
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