God

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The Veil

The VeilBy this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary is not yet opened as long as the outer tent is still standing Heb. 9:8

The dispensationalists, with their carnal minded literal interpretation, see only the functional literal curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. And at the present, they are all excited by the ultra-orthodox Jews in Israel weaving a new curtain.

However, they completely miss the typological meaning that was clearly intended from its very name in Hebrew. The veil, or parokhet in Hebrew, roots from the verb prkh for tearing, pulling apart, or separating. In its very name, there is the knowledge that it existed to be torn!

FYI: Tradition holds that the veil of Herod’s Temple was 60 feet long and 20 or 30 feet wide and the thickness of a man’s hand. (See Also: The Thickness of the Temple Veil)

The Instructions to make the Veil

Although the description here is of a truly magnificent weaving made by people traveling about a desert, the veil typologically represented the fleshly body of our Lord.

31   “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen; in skilled work shall it be made, with cherubim;  32 and you shall hang it upon four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, upon four bases of silver.  33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in thither within the veil; and the veil shall separate for you the holy place from the most holy.  34 You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.  35 And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table; and you shall put the table on the north side. Ex. 26:31-35

The Construction

35   And he made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen; with cherubim skillfully worked he made it.  36 And for it he made four pillars of acacia, and overlaid them with gold; their hooks were of gold, and he cast for them four bases of silver.  37 He also made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework;  38 and its five pillars with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals, and their fillets were of gold, but their five bases were of bronze. Ex. 36:35-38

Linen

The veil was made of linen. Those who serve God are always represented as wearing linen. It represents righteous deeds.

7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;  8 it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure” — for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. Rev. 19:7-8

And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments; Lev. 16:32

When they enter the gates of the inner court, they shall wear linen garments; they shall have nothing of wool on them, while they minister at the gates of the inner court, and within. Ezek. 44:17

And I said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” Dan. 12:6

I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Rev. 7:14

Blue 

The order of the colors in the Tabernacle, Temple or Veil, by importance never change. There is a hierarchy of the blue, purple, and scarlet; the blue always ranking first. Another way to look at the order is the substitutionary death comes first, the authority to pardon, and then the ransom.

In the Hebrew, the blue that binds the curtains is tekelet. It is the same blue that is in the priests garments, and the binding thread of the tzitzi or tassels, and is used to connect or bind the curtains to the gold clasps, and the golden ephod. It is the blue that holds all the holy things together.

“Speak to the people of Israel, and bid them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put upon the tassel of each corner a cord of blue;” Num. 15:38

FYI: It is the shade of blue that is on the flag of the modern state of Israel.

There is much written as to what the blue represents. Lots of speculation points to the sky and heaven. But, the best explanation I found was a few years ago reading an article by a medical doctor explaining all the things that happen to a body during crucifixion. The actual cause of death is asphyxiation. The lungs fill with fluid and the body has no way of coughing it out. In this way the body dies of asphyxiation always presents as blue. Like the binding blue thread the death of our Lord binds us together.

Purple

In ancient times, purple was one of the hardest and therefore the most expensive dyes to obtain. It came from a sea snails (Bolinus brandaris) that only lived in a few areas of the Mediterranean. The dye was prized for its non-fading properties. The more a garment was exposed to sunlight, the darker the purple became.

FYI: Lydia was a seller of purple goods. [Acts 16:14]

And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe; John 19:2

It is by it very expense, the color favored by royalty; and as such, represents Messiah as King of Kings.

Scarlet

The Hebrew word for scarlet is tola’ah and its’ root comes from the word for worm, tola. It is actually a specific scale insect. In the English language it is the Crimson Worm (Latin, Coccus Ilicus), from which red dye is extracted.

The adult lays its eggs on the branch of tree, as a dying act, covering them with red dye to hide them from predators. The crushed Crimson Worm contains an anti-bacterial agent, and was used in the purification compounds of the Law, where there has been plague (Lev 14:52) and in the ashes of the red heifer (Lev 19:6). So, the literal tola represents the spiritual cleansing blood of Messiah.

. . . how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Heb. 9:14 

Cherubim

Cherubim are used extensively to decorate the tabernacle and even more so in Solomon’s temple. (See Also: Eagles and Eagles Wings) As a decoration on the veil, they are said to be made of cunning work. The Hebrew is cheshev, which roots from word “to think, devise or plan.” Much thought was to be given to these decorations.

Cherubim are very curious creatures. This is the only time they are mentioned in historical narrative. They are usually in poetry or symbolic literature. They are described as having four heads and six wings. Their heads are made up of a lion, an ox, a vulture, and a man.

The cherubim are described as God’s chariot or holding up God’s Throne. [Gen 3:24; 2Sam. 22:11; Psa. 18:10; Psa. 80:1; Psa. 99:1; Is. 37:16; Ezek 1; Ezek 10; Rev. 4:7 ff]

FYI: Cherubim is the plural of cherub.

As a decoration, they were to represent the body of the coming Redeemer. A shadow of the coming Redeemer who by type was not just a man, but Deity. For He too, is symbolically held up by the cherubim.

The Veil, or His Flesh, Conceals His Glory

In the Greek, we are told that his dwelling with us was as temporary as the tent, or tabernacle.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. John 1:14

This glory was the same as seen of old by Moses.

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Ex. 40:34-35

The glory was hid from view by the veil. Just as our Lord’s true nature was hid in a fleshly body. He veiled that glory, taking the form of a man.

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Phil. 2:6-8

But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one. Heb. 2:9

After the crucifixion, His friends were rushing to get Messiah’s body into the tomb. The veil having fulfilled its purpose, was torn. Because of the death of Messiah, all can now approach the real, or antitypical, Throne of God.

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; Matt. 27:51 

And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Mark 15:38

. . . while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Luke 23:45

The old Mosaic Age was passing away as the New Kingdom age was growing out of it. (See Also: Dispensations)

. . . by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, Heb. 10:20

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David’s Victory a Type of Messiah’s Victory

headNow then bring it about; for the LORD has promised David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.’” 2Sam. 3:18

The Philistines stand in typology as the enemies of David and the Israelites representing the antitype of the spirit enemies of Messiah and the Congregation.

For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph. 6:12  (c.f. Rom. 8:38; Eph. 3:10; Col. 1:16; Col. 2:15)

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. Rev. 12:10

Messiah’s authority to win this battle is a given.

Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Luke 10:19

. . . then the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Rom. 16:20

. . . to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Eph. 1:6

7  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 which he lavished upon us. Eph. 1:7

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Cor. 15:57

Although Satan was defeated at the cross, he still afflicts God’s people, just as David defeated the Philistines, yet they continued from time to time to afflict God’s people. It was not until Hezekiah that the Philistines were finally defeated. (See Also: Philistia Who?)

He smote the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city. 2Kings 18:8

So Satan will not be defeated till he is thrown into the lake of fire.

. . . and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Rev. 20:10

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The Lord’s Day

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet Rev. 1:10 

right_handThe first commentary I ever read on The Revelation, went to great lengths to explain that, “The Lord’s Day” was Sunday the first day of the week. The second commentary I read went to equally great lengths to explain that it was the seventh day of the week or the Sabbath.

After many years of study it has occurred to me that these attitudes are born on both sides of anti-Jewish sentiment, and general ignorance of the Torah. For the rather obvious truth is that it is Yom Kippur/The Day of Atonement, which can fall on any day of the week. The reasons for this are plain as day.

First, the Lord presents Himself as the Ancient of Days with the right and power to judge. [Dan. 7:9; Rev. 1:14]

Second, the seven church’s for whom the letter was intended are warned of their short comings. [Rev 2-3]

Third, There are 24 elders all dressed as High Priests on Yom Kippur. They are wearing white and have golden crown and golden censors. [Lev. 8:9; Lev. 16:4, 12 Rev. 4:4; Rev. 5:8]

The rest of the book is about God’s judgements, on those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and those who is not. [Deut. 29:20; Dan. 12:1; Rev. 20:15; 21:27]

The entire book is one great call to get right with God for today is the day of salvation, today is Yom Kippur/the Day or Atonement. Its point is, that it is always Yom Kippur before the throne. The final sacrifice has been made. The way to the throne is open to all on this day, and it is always this day before the throne.

However at the end of the day, the offer of Salvation will be withdrawn, the gates will be closed, and there will be those left outside. [Rev. 22:15]

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Psalm 22:29-31

second-coming2Because the RSV really goofed the translation we are going to switch here to the KJV.

29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: 

all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: 

and none can keep alive his own soul. 

30 A seed shall serve him; 

it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 

31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, 

that he hath done this. 

Being fat has for most of the earth’s history been a sign of prosperity, as food was not alway easy to come by before the industrialization of farming. Here the point is that death is the great equalizer, one cannot secure ones position in the afterlife with wealth or poverty in this life. In the end no one will escape from having to worship the Lord. All will bow either willingly or grudgingly.

. . . that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, Phil. 2:10

A seed shall serve him, this is meant that only a few shall serve the Lord. It is not “their seed” for service to God, for it is not secured by birth but rather by obedience. It is not “The Seed” for that would reverence Messiah, and the first part of this Psalm was about His work, this is about our response. It is not “many seeds” for true believers are never many.

. . . knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ. Col. 3:24

Those that serve the Lord are His generation.

Then we thy people, the flock of thy pasture, will give thanks to thee for ever; from generation to generation we will recount thy praise. Psa. 79:13

And that has been reckoned to him as righteousness from generation to generation for ever. Psa. 106:31

His great work on the cross that brought salvation to the who-so-ever wills and not just to the physical descendants of Abraham must be proclaimed to the people who are not yet born. Every generation must repeat the tale, we must tell the story of Messiah, from generation to generation.

For the work He promised, is done, it is finished, He kept the promise, there is no more that can be done. We must simple trust.

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. John 19:30

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Psalm 22:22-23

22 I will tell of thy name to my brethren; second-coming2

in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee: 

23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! 

all you sons of Jacob, glorify him, 

and stand in awe of him, all you sons of Israel! 

After the humiliation and rejection of the crucifixion, we join the triumphant praise and exaltation section of this Psalm. It starts with a line that is repeated in the book of Hebrews. Where it states that He is not ashamed of us, even though in our weakness we are often ashamed of Him.

10  For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren,  saying, “I will proclaim thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee.” Heb. 2:10-12 

His name is to be proclaimed. Not by ministers or priests but rather by “I” and the proclaiming is in the piel infinitive tense, which means “I” is caused to proclaim, recount, relate this information forever. We cannot stop, we must speak out. The only people who are mad at us for speaking the truth are those people who are living a lie. Keep speaking the truth.

I will praise Him in the congregation. It is only in the congregation that our admiration and reverence for His great act of love is even understood. (See Also: The Ekklesia)

The Psalm sounds as though it is restricted to just the children of Israel, however the writer of Hebrews is clear that all are children of God.

16 Bind up the testimony, seal the teaching among my disciples. 17 I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. Is. 8:16-18

This was the declaration given to the shepherds. The joy would not longer be extended only to the children of Israel but it would be for ALL people.

And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; Luke 2:10

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:14

Instead of our faith bing inherited through the blood line of Abraham our faith is now based on pleasing Him. To have peace with our maker is an act of obedience. The door is open too all.

I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9

Fear the Lord

23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! 

all you sons of Jacob, glorify him, 

and stand in awe of him, all you sons of Israel!

The post modern inherited churches have forgotten to stand in awe of God. The churches sing of an awesome God as if this word means some kind of casual greatness, or beauty. However to be in awe of something or someone is to be terrified or in dread. This new culturally sensitive theology has God as either their best buddy or a myth, either way there is no need to fear Him.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it. His praise endures for ever! Psa. 111:10

When we are young we often think that the older people in the congregation are old and stogy. We make light of all things holy. We laugh and play with our grace, almost to the point of being sacrilegious. But as one gets older we often examine that tear in the vale of grace, and are terrified by what we perceive is there. Yes, indeed, God is awesome, and our souls are spared only because of that curtain of grace. Our suffering Redeemer earned our awe. When we step back and consider this curtain, we see that it is made of our Redeemer’s own blood.

We stand in holy awe, and fear for the ignorant young people.

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Psalm 22:18-19

crosstwilight18 they divide my garments among them, 

and for my raiment they cast lots. 

19 But thou, O LORD, be not far off! 

O thou my help, hasten to my aid! 

For those who do not believe that Yeshua/Jesus was not who He said He was and that He arranged to fulfill all these odd prophecies, How did He arrange this one? How did he get Roman soldiers to preform this act?

23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and made four parts, one for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom;  24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfil the scripture, “They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” John 19:23-24

This prophecy was written one thousand years before the events described. There is just no way to have faked or arranged this. It stands as one of the great proofs that He was who He said He was. The other is Daniel 9.

As our Lord was dying they were casting lots for his clothes. So His call for help is one of promise. The deed was done. His humanity now reminds God of the three day deal. Be not far off, hasten to my aid. There is just that shadow of not quite doubt, just a need for reassurance. His deity knew He had the victory His humanity was suffering. We all need to be told that it will be ok.

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Psalm 22: 9-10

second-coming29 Yet thou art he who took me from the womb; 

thou didst keep me safe upon my mother’s breasts. 

10 Upon thee was I cast from my birth, 

and since my mother bore me thou hast been my God. 

Messiah acknowledges that God was with Him from His birth. It was God who was the midwife or doctor.

He was provided a safe childhood. As a breast is the safest place a small child can be, this represents all the love a mother has for her children. The Hebrew word for breast is shad which is the root to the title El Shaddai.

He was cast upon God, like all the children of Israel. From Abraham to Messiah there had been an uninterrupted series of continual, sustaining, wonders and phenomena that had kept the line that was cast upon God, safe. On His eighth day, this covenant relationship was sealed with circumcision. His parents agreed that this one was under the covenant their father accepted 2500 years before. [Gen 17] For it was this covenant whose mark scared the very organ that normally delivers seed. This ancient ritual pointed to the fact that the promised child would not come by the normal sexual way.

Messiah reminds God that His dependance on God had been so from the beginning. His devotion was real.

“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD, I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Jer. 2:2 

Yet for all this He was now abandoned.

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Psalm 22:3-4

second-coming23 Yet thou art holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 

4 In thee our fathers trusted; they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 

At first glance and separated from the rest of the Psalm this looks like a praise, however it is actually a complaint. As Messiah hung on the cross, He complains that God the Father is not coming to rescue Him. In His agony and suffering He reminds God that He saved others.

He was delivered to His enemies, He felt forsaken, He felt that no one was coming to deliver Him, because that was the way it was.

Yet it was the will of the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand; Is. 53:10 

Only in being forsaken, only in being rejected, could victory be given to all. without obedience He could not become a source for all who OBEY Him.

8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9 and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 9 and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, Heb. 5:8-9

There is always that little catch about obedience that the dispensational church has lost, with their false teaching that, “the law has passed away”.

As the Son of God was obedient unto death so we must be obedient to His teachings.

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. John 15:10

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Psalm 22:1-2

second-coming2Sounds like a simple enough prophecy till one reads all of Psalm 22 which is a Psalm of David recounting a time when he was fleeing from his enemies. There is nothing in it that would make one reading think it was prophecy. It is only after reading John that we even consider looking at the Psalm as a type of the Messiah.

To the choirmaster: 

according to The Hind of the Dawn.

 A Psalm of David.  

“The Hind of the Dawn” would have been the name of a tune, that’s meter would fit well with the words. Like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, The ABC Song, and Jesus Loves Me, are all the same tune. David meant for this psalm to be sung to The Hind of the Dawn tune.

 1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?  2 O my God, I cry by day, but thou dost not answer; and by night, but find no rest.  

In this type David feels that God has forsaken him. He feels that God does not hear him. We all cry this way from to time to time. We don’t understand why we are sick, or poor? We feel forsaken, even though He never forsakes us.

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Job 13:15

Like Job, Messiah had maintained God’s ways. Yet the very words Messiah cried when He was slain where this forsaken verse from the Psalm.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabach-thani?” that is, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Matt. 27:46 

Help did not come for three days and three nights, then all was victory.

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard for his godly fear.  8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered;  9 and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,  10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Heb. 5:7-9

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Time, Times, and Half a Time

time-warp~s600x600mo’ed mo’adim chatzi

The Lord gave Moses instructions on Mt. Sinai to worship Him through the observance of the mo’adim or “Feasts of the Lord.” These Feasts were appointed in time, as well as space. Seven times a year, every male in Israel was to congregate at the appointed place, i.e., the tabernacle and later the temple, on their appointed date on the calendar.

feasts

These seven holy assemblies found in Leviticus 23 are called in Hebrew, the Mo’adim.

  • mo’ed is the tent of meeting, i.e. the “appointed place” in the Torah
  • mo’adim is the plural and means the appointed times or the appointed feast days.

 

In Daniel 12:7 in the Hebrew it says, “mo’ed mo’adim chatzi.” The literal reading would be appointed, appointed(s) and half an appointed.

6 And I said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven; and I heard him swear by him who lives for ever that it would be for a time, two times, and half a time; and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be accomplished. Dan. 12:7

 

One has to ask what does Daniel mean “it would be for”?  The “it” is the shattering of the holy people. This “shattering” occurs until what the Lord intends is accomplished, then the shattering will end. This is clearly in the context of the passage of time. Here, Daniel is telling us that a passage (of time) will entail the punishment of Israel until it is accomplished. We now need to determine, if possible, what the length of this appointed time will be.

FYI: chatzi is half

 

The Appointed Time

This amount of “appointed” is referenced seven times total in Daniel and The Revelation.

  • Once as “time, times and a dividing of time” [Dan 7:25]
  • Twice as “time, times and a half time.” [Dan 12:7; Rev 12:14]
  • Twice as “forty-two months” [Rev 11:2; 13:5] [42 months of 30 days per lunar month is the equivalent of 1260 days]
  • Twice as “twelve hundred and sixty days” [Rev.11:3, 12:6 ]

 

Although the words can mean “appointed place,” i.e. the tabernacle/temple, it is clear that in Dan 12:7 it is “time”. The English translators did not translate this as “feast, feasts and half” a feast.

The noun mo’ed appears twice, once in the singular and once in the plural. In Hebrew grammar, this is called a double forte with a plural on the second noun. Usually this means that the noun is great, grand, fabulous, or IMPORTANT. The same is accomplished in English by modifying the noun with much, very, or surely. However, all translators have felt that this is a specific time reference rather than just the “really important time”.

Historicists believe a day is symbolically “put” for a year. (See Also; Hermeneutics) A Time in prophecy is interpreted as a year and time, times and half a time works out to 1260 years.

Each time passages in Daniel and The Revelation are about how long the persecution of God’s people will last. The reference to time, times and half a time in the book of Daniel is for the Jews. The reference to time, times and half a time in the book of The Revelation is for the Christians, first to the believing Jew and then to the Gentile. God has made no distinction between Jews and Gentiles, all are His children. [Gal. 3:28]. All have been idolatrous. And as such, all share in His time, times and half a time judgement.

 

Consequences of Hermeneutics

The futurist will have us believe that this is about a future time of 3 1/2  or 7 years. This hardly makes sense since this period is said to wear to the saints.

He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, two times, and half a time. Dan. 7:25

How can God’s people be worn out in just seven years? History shows that the Jews suffered in the Babylonian exile for 70 years. They were not worn out. The Christians were severely tortured under Roman Emperor persecutions which lasted 10 years under Emperor Diocletian from 303 – 313AD. The Church was not “worn out”. These persecutions, though arduous, did not wear out the saints. However, the INQUISITION lasted some 400 years, and took a great toll on God’s people. They were warn out. In May of 1514 the Fifth Lateran Council issued a challenged to anyone who still refused to obey the pope, to come forward. No one came out. The pope and the council celebrated, banquets were held and further laws against heresy were made. However 3 1/2 years Luther posted his 95 Theses. [Rev 10:9]  The gates of hell did not prevail, but at a huge cost.

The Years

The post-modern church has lost some simple facts from our history. From the time the Popes claimed sovereign power, to the breaking of that power by Napoleon was 1260 years.

  • Emperor Justinian recognized the Pope as head of all the churches in Christendom in 538 AD, Napoleon took the Pope prisoner in 1798AD, forever removing from the Popes their temporal power.
  • Emperor Phocas 607-610AD also recognized the Popes authority and in 1870 The Church of Rome claimed that their Popes were Infallible.

These claims of power are now considered ridiculous by all rational thinkers. That power is broken and no longer can they persecute God’s people on such a large scale. Sometimes, here or there they are able to raise the people up and persecute a small minority in some third world country. But their time is up.

Epiloge

And I said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” Dan. 12:6

The time prophecies in Daniel and The Revelation do not say what happens after this power is broken. They only give a time that the power will come to an end.  What ends, is of concern in the text, not what is to begin. Many felt that when the Popes power was broken that the Millennium would start. That clearly didn’t happened. There are no indications of dates for the Lords Return, or the Millennium.