This life or Eternal life?
Proverbs
{8:1} Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
{8:2} She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
{8:3} She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
{8:4} Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man.
{8:5} O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
{8:6} Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.
{8:7} For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.
{8:8} All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them.
{8:9} They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
{8:10} Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
{8:11} For wisdom [is] better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
{8:12} I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
How many people do you know would choose to have knowledge over riches? Seriously.
You might think some would want knowledge because then the knowledge would make them rich, they could use that knowledge to get rich, but what if it wasn't that kind of knowledge? What if the knowledge was how to find life eternal. Would you choose the knowledge of life eternal or material, earthly riches? Seriously, ask yourself the question because it if very pertinent. Oh, you might be saying you'll take earthly riches because you know all about life eternal, or you might be saying how do I know eternal life is even real, I know now is real so give me earthly riches. Or you might be saying you might as well take the riches because eternal life is a long way off and you have to live in the meanwhile.
So there we have it... Earthly riches to spend now and *no* chance for eternal life, or the knowledge of Christ Jesus and His mercy and grace, giving to us eternal life through Him. Choose.
Choose.
Wisdom is better than rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
ALL things that may be desired do not compare to wisdom.
If you're like me you've had many desires in your life, we start out wanting this, that, and the other thing don't we? As we get older we seemingly only want more things, our desire is for more or if not more then better. Perhaps our desires are just to keep all we've accumlated. ALL things that may be desired. It doesn't give specifics there does it? It doesn't say if you desire this or that, it says ALL things that may be desired don't compare to WISDOM.
Receive knowledge rather than choice gold.
What is all this telling us? That there is a life beyond now and no matter what we do, no matter how we live this life it won't change that fact. Whether we are part of eternal life or not it will exist. If we focus only on the earthly things then our reward will be earthly and it is true that whatever is now will be all there is for us, this life will be it, there will be no more. Knowledge and wisdom tells us through Jesus that there is a better life to be had. Just the fact we have to struggle through the heartache and pain of this life should tell us that something is wrong with this world, this existence. Somehow we instinctively know that when all things were being created that there was a glitch in the program somewhere. The fact we can even imagine a perfect world should tell us something. What's that old saying- if we can imagine it then it has possibility. Some scoff at that but if you look at those who imagined an airplane, or a steel boat and tell them it was impossible what does that say? What about going into outerspace, crazy talk. Yet it was imagined first and then realized. All the man-made things we use daily were imagined first. Some imagine peace on earth fully believing it can be realized and it will be in the new world with Christ- true peace on earth. We imagine and that should tell us that things should be different that this isn't all there is and a supposed lucky few have a good life here and now while the rest suffer. Luck should have nothing to do with it. We are truly all designed for a life of real peace without tears, without pain, without heartache. All of us have the chance for that life only it's not going to be now. We have been blessed by God and given the understanding through His Holy word that the way things are now are not how it was intended and that a way has been made for us to receive a life of how it was intended but we have to choose and choose wisdom and knowledge of that over anything earthly.
*
{8:13} The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
{8:14} Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.
{8:15} By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
{8:16} By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.
{8:17} I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
{8:18} Riches and honour [are] with me; [yea,] durable riches and righteousness.
{8:19} My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
{8:20} I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment
{8:21} That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
{8:22} The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
{8:23} I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
{8:24} When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.
{8:25} Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth
{8:26} While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
{8:27} When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
{8:28} When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep
{8:29} When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth
{8:30} Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him:] and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him
{8:31} Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
{8:32} Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.
{8:33} Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
{8:34} Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
{8:35} For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
{8:36} But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
All praise and glory to God! Let us find Him and find life! Let us find favor with the Lord. Let us be blessed by hearing, watching, and waiting. Let us listen to instruction and be wise in Him, let us not refuse to hear. By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ let us keep God's ways now and forever in Him, through Him, by Him now and always.
Amen.
7/4/11
Today we're going
to be undertaking a lot of prophetic time- in fact creating a sort of prophetic
timeline.
We need all the
prayer we can get, all the enlightenment the Holy Spirit can give us as we
delve into these times, figuring the numbers. We need to do this NOT in order to
pinpoint the day of Christ's return!
NOT to do that ever! But
because we were given these times to figure for a reason.
God wants us to know beyond a doubt that HE is in control of all things.
God knows the BIG picture. God has a timeline and it's NOT a timeline of our
making but a timeline that He has allowed so that ultimately all sin will be
wiped out and God's love and truth will prevail. There is an end to the insanity
of life and NO ONE can tell me there isn't an insanity to our world the way it
is now with sin reigning. And
again, no one can tell me sin isn't reigning in our world- just pick up a
newspaper, just open a news browser, just listen to the news for a short while
and you'll know beyond a doubt that sin is paramount, ruling and running this
world.
There is a plan
for ridding the world of all evil.
God's plan. And God has outlined that plan so we can know all along the
way that He is in control.
Especially now when we are living in the end time had people have come to
believe that Christ will never return because it's been close to 2000 years since His
death. We are blessed by these
prophecies, blessed to be allowed to see how God's plan is unfolding, knowing if
so much has already unfolded then NOTHING will stop the rest from unfolding,
nothing!
So let's just do
an overview of things then by the grace of God start putting pieces
together.
*
Dan 9:24 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.
Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that
from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto
the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the
street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks
shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that
shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall
be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with
many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and
the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make
it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured
upon the desolate.
*
We are told
this- KNOW therefore and
UNDERSTAND from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build
Jerusalem.
There would be a
commandment given as a starting point. Does our Bible tell us when that
happened?
Ezr 7:11 Now this is the copy of the letter that
the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the
words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
Ezr 7:12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra
the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such
a time.
Ezr 7:13 I make a decree, that all they of the
people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded
of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
Ezr 7:14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king,
and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem,
according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
Ezr 7:15 And to carry the silver and gold, which
the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose
habitation is in Jerusalem,
Ezr 7:16 And all the silver and gold that thou
canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the
people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which
is in Jerusalem:
Ezr 7:17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this
money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink
offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in
Jerusalem.
Ezr 7:18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee,
and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do
after the will of your God.
Ezr 7:19 The vessels also that are given thee
for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of
Jerusalem.
Ezr 7:20 And whatsoever more shall be needful
for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it
out of the king's treasure house.
Ezr 7:21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do
make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever
Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of
you, it be done speedily,
Ezr 7:22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and
to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an
hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
Ezr 7:23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of
heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why
should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
Ezr 7:24 Also we certify you, that touching any
of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this
house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon
them.
Ezr 7:25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy
God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the
people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and
teach ye them that know them not.
Ezr 7:26 And whosoever will not do the law of
thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him,
whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to
imprisonment.
Ezr 7:27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers,
which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house
of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:
Ezr 7:28 And hath extended mercy unto me before
the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I
was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered
together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
So…. When did
this happen?
Ezr 7:6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he
was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given:
and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his
God upon him.
Ezr 7:7 And there went up some of the children
of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the
porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes
the king.
Ezr 7:8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth
month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
Ezr 7:9 For upon the first day of the first
month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month
came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
Ezr 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek
the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and
judgments.
In the 7th year
of the king (Artaxerxes)
Ezra thereby left Babylon in the first month of
the seventh year (~ 457 BC) of Artaxerxes' reign, at the head of a company of
Jews that included priests and Levites. They arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month of
the seventh year (Hebrew Calendar).
Pasted
from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artaxerxes_I_of_Persia>
457 BC
We have a
starting point for the prophecy-
Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that
from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto
the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the
street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Seven weeks and
three score and two weeks-
7 weeks = 7 * 7 =
49
60 weeks = 60 * 7
= 420
2 weeks = 2 * 7 =
14
49 + 420 = 469 +
14 = 483
So jumping from
BC to AD let's see where that brings us.
483 - 457 =
26
26 AD but… we have to account for the transition
year don't we? Seriously. Transition year being the 0 year. We
have the year 100, 200, 1000, 2000 and we consider the year 2000 a millennium
year, yes? But it's not 2000 years
if there was never a zero year- a transition year.
Our birthdays highlight this fact really. When we are 1 year old we've already
lived 1 year and are entering our 2nd year. Anyway, people will contest this and
have, but it makes sense, it really does in a 'time' sense going from a BC to an
AD. We counted down to 1 and went right to 1? Even in our numerical lines there
is the -4 -3 -2 -1 0
1+ 2+ 3+, right? This isn't
a ludicrous idea here at all, so let's continue.
For
the sake of this prophecy let's look at both 26 AD and 27 AD and note any
momentous events concerning the Messiah.
In 27 AD our
Savior was baptized by John and began His ministry.
Our Savior was anointed.
The Holy Spirit in the shape of a dove came down upon our Savior.
Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went
up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and
he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Does this fit
with prophecy?
Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that
from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto
the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the
street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Jesus began His
ministry in 27 AD.
God said
this--
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
This was a
MOMENTOUS occasion! Jesus had
come! Jesus had begun His work for the salvation of mankind! What could have
been more notable in that year? Nothing!
So if this
prophecy is figured out correctly and the date is 27AD- it fits like a glove
doesn’t it? And if this part fits the rest should fall into place too, right?
We'll study more
of this tomorrow though, bit by bit is how it has to be, digesting it all
slowly.
It's my sincere
prayer the Lord continues to bless us fully as we strive to understand the
messages He has for us who are living in the time before his second
coming. We have to watch, we have
to pray!
In His love!
Amen.
{8:1} Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
{8:2} She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
{8:3} She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
{8:4} Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man.
{8:5} O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
{8:6} Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.
{8:7} For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.
{8:8} All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them.
{8:9} They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
{8:10} Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
{8:11} For wisdom [is] better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
{8:12} I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
How many people do you know would choose to have knowledge over riches? Seriously.
You might think some would want knowledge because then the knowledge would make them rich, they could use that knowledge to get rich, but what if it wasn't that kind of knowledge? What if the knowledge was how to find life eternal. Would you choose the knowledge of life eternal or material, earthly riches? Seriously, ask yourself the question because it if very pertinent. Oh, you might be saying you'll take earthly riches because you know all about life eternal, or you might be saying how do I know eternal life is even real, I know now is real so give me earthly riches. Or you might be saying you might as well take the riches because eternal life is a long way off and you have to live in the meanwhile.
So there we have it... Earthly riches to spend now and *no* chance for eternal life, or the knowledge of Christ Jesus and His mercy and grace, giving to us eternal life through Him. Choose.
Choose.
Wisdom is better than rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
ALL things that may be desired do not compare to wisdom.
If you're like me you've had many desires in your life, we start out wanting this, that, and the other thing don't we? As we get older we seemingly only want more things, our desire is for more or if not more then better. Perhaps our desires are just to keep all we've accumlated. ALL things that may be desired. It doesn't give specifics there does it? It doesn't say if you desire this or that, it says ALL things that may be desired don't compare to WISDOM.
Receive knowledge rather than choice gold.
What is all this telling us? That there is a life beyond now and no matter what we do, no matter how we live this life it won't change that fact. Whether we are part of eternal life or not it will exist. If we focus only on the earthly things then our reward will be earthly and it is true that whatever is now will be all there is for us, this life will be it, there will be no more. Knowledge and wisdom tells us through Jesus that there is a better life to be had. Just the fact we have to struggle through the heartache and pain of this life should tell us that something is wrong with this world, this existence. Somehow we instinctively know that when all things were being created that there was a glitch in the program somewhere. The fact we can even imagine a perfect world should tell us something. What's that old saying- if we can imagine it then it has possibility. Some scoff at that but if you look at those who imagined an airplane, or a steel boat and tell them it was impossible what does that say? What about going into outerspace, crazy talk. Yet it was imagined first and then realized. All the man-made things we use daily were imagined first. Some imagine peace on earth fully believing it can be realized and it will be in the new world with Christ- true peace on earth. We imagine and that should tell us that things should be different that this isn't all there is and a supposed lucky few have a good life here and now while the rest suffer. Luck should have nothing to do with it. We are truly all designed for a life of real peace without tears, without pain, without heartache. All of us have the chance for that life only it's not going to be now. We have been blessed by God and given the understanding through His Holy word that the way things are now are not how it was intended and that a way has been made for us to receive a life of how it was intended but we have to choose and choose wisdom and knowledge of that over anything earthly.
*
{8:13} The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
{8:14} Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.
{8:15} By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
{8:16} By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.
{8:17} I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
{8:18} Riches and honour [are] with me; [yea,] durable riches and righteousness.
{8:19} My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
{8:20} I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment
{8:21} That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
{8:22} The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
{8:23} I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
{8:24} When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.
{8:25} Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth
{8:26} While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
{8:27} When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
{8:28} When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep
{8:29} When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth
{8:30} Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him:] and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him
{8:31} Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
{8:32} Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.
{8:33} Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
{8:34} Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
{8:35} For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
{8:36} But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
All praise and glory to God! Let us find Him and find life! Let us find favor with the Lord. Let us be blessed by hearing, watching, and waiting. Let us listen to instruction and be wise in Him, let us not refuse to hear. By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ let us keep God's ways now and forever in Him, through Him, by Him now and always.
Amen.
7/4/11
Today we're going
to be undertaking a lot of prophetic time- in fact creating a sort of prophetic
timeline.
We need all the
prayer we can get, all the enlightenment the Holy Spirit can give us as we
delve into these times, figuring the numbers. We need to do this NOT in order to
pinpoint the day of Christ's return!
NOT to do that ever! But
because we were given these times to figure for a reason.
God wants us to know beyond a doubt that HE is in control of all things.
God knows the BIG picture. God has a timeline and it's NOT a timeline of our
making but a timeline that He has allowed so that ultimately all sin will be
wiped out and God's love and truth will prevail. There is an end to the insanity
of life and NO ONE can tell me there isn't an insanity to our world the way it
is now with sin reigning. And
again, no one can tell me sin isn't reigning in our world- just pick up a
newspaper, just open a news browser, just listen to the news for a short while
and you'll know beyond a doubt that sin is paramount, ruling and running this
world.
There is a plan
for ridding the world of all evil.
God's plan. And God has outlined that plan so we can know all along the
way that He is in control.
Especially now when we are living in the end time had people have come to
believe that Christ will never return because it's been close to 2000 years since His
death. We are blessed by these
prophecies, blessed to be allowed to see how God's plan is unfolding, knowing if
so much has already unfolded then NOTHING will stop the rest from unfolding,
nothing!
So let's just do
an overview of things then by the grace of God start putting pieces
together.
*
Dan 9:24 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.
Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that
from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto
the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the
street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks
shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that
shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall
be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with
many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and
the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make
it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured
upon the desolate.
*
We are told
this- KNOW therefore and
UNDERSTAND from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build
Jerusalem.
There would be a
commandment given as a starting point. Does our Bible tell us when that
happened?
Ezr 7:11 Now this is the copy of the letter that
the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the
words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
Ezr 7:12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra
the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such
a time.
Ezr 7:13 I make a decree, that all they of the
people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded
of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
Ezr 7:14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king,
and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem,
according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
Ezr 7:15 And to carry the silver and gold, which
the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose
habitation is in Jerusalem,
Ezr 7:16 And all the silver and gold that thou
canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the
people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which
is in Jerusalem:
Ezr 7:17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this
money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink
offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in
Jerusalem.
Ezr 7:18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee,
and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do
after the will of your God.
Ezr 7:19 The vessels also that are given thee
for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of
Jerusalem.
Ezr 7:20 And whatsoever more shall be needful
for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it
out of the king's treasure house.
Ezr 7:21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do
make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever
Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of
you, it be done speedily,
Ezr 7:22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and
to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an
hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
Ezr 7:23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of
heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why
should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
Ezr 7:24 Also we certify you, that touching any
of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this
house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon
them.
Ezr 7:25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy
God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the
people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and
teach ye them that know them not.
Ezr 7:26 And whosoever will not do the law of
thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him,
whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to
imprisonment.
Ezr 7:27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers,
which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house
of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:
Ezr 7:28 And hath extended mercy unto me before
the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I
was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered
together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
So…. When did
this happen?
Ezr 7:6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he
was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given:
and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his
God upon him.
Ezr 7:7 And there went up some of the children
of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the
porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes
the king.
Ezr 7:8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth
month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
Ezr 7:9 For upon the first day of the first
month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month
came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
Ezr 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek
the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and
judgments.
In the 7th year
of the king (Artaxerxes)
Ezra thereby left Babylon in the first month of
the seventh year (~ 457 BC) of Artaxerxes' reign, at the head of a company of
Jews that included priests and Levites. They arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month of
the seventh year (Hebrew Calendar).
Pasted
from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artaxerxes_I_of_Persia>
457 BC
We have a
starting point for the prophecy-
Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that
from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto
the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the
street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Seven weeks and
three score and two weeks-
7 weeks = 7 * 7 =
49
60 weeks = 60 * 7
= 420
2 weeks = 2 * 7 =
14
49 + 420 = 469 +
14 = 483
So jumping from
BC to AD let's see where that brings us.
483 - 457 =
26
26 AD but… we have to account for the transition
year don't we? Seriously. Transition year being the 0 year. We
have the year 100, 200, 1000, 2000 and we consider the year 2000 a millennium
year, yes? But it's not 2000 years
if there was never a zero year- a transition year.
Our birthdays highlight this fact really. When we are 1 year old we've already
lived 1 year and are entering our 2nd year. Anyway, people will contest this and
have, but it makes sense, it really does in a 'time' sense going from a BC to an
AD. We counted down to 1 and went right to 1? Even in our numerical lines there
is the -4 -3 -2 -1 0
1+ 2+ 3+, right? This isn't
a ludicrous idea here at all, so let's continue.
For
the sake of this prophecy let's look at both 26 AD and 27 AD and note any
momentous events concerning the Messiah.
In 27 AD our
Savior was baptized by John and began His ministry.
Our Savior was anointed.
The Holy Spirit in the shape of a dove came down upon our Savior.
Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went
up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and
he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Does this fit
with prophecy?
Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that
from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto
the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the
street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Jesus began His
ministry in 27 AD.
God said
this--
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
This was a
MOMENTOUS occasion! Jesus had
come! Jesus had begun His work for the salvation of mankind! What could have
been more notable in that year? Nothing!
So if this
prophecy is figured out correctly and the date is 27AD- it fits like a glove
doesn’t it? And if this part fits the rest should fall into place too, right?
We'll study more
of this tomorrow though, bit by bit is how it has to be, digesting it all
slowly.
It's my sincere
prayer the Lord continues to bless us fully as we strive to understand the
messages He has for us who are living in the time before his second
coming. We have to watch, we have
to pray!
In His love!
Amen.