Thursday, April 09, 2009

Prophecy

Dear Brother Greg,

A few points of clarification.

Christ was crucified on Thursday, having celebrated the Passover supper Wednesday night. He was crucified on Thursday at 9:00 AM. On the cross for six hours, he gave up his spirit at 3:00 PM. From 3-6:00 PM was the first day of his death. From 6:00 PM Thursday to 6:00 AM on Friday morning was the first night of his death. From 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Friday was the second day of his death. From 6:00 PM Friday night to 6:00 AM Saturday morning was the second night of his death. From 6:00 AM Saturday (Sabbath) morning to 6:00 PM was the third day of his death. From 6:00 PM to very early on Sunday morning (First day of the week) was the third night of his death. Thus we have the words of Christ and the prophet Jonah literally fulfilled---three days and three nights in the heart of the earth---beginning with the Savior's death at 3:00 PM on Thursday.

Sir Robert Anderson in his masterpiece The Coming Prince fully explains these events beginning on Palm Sunday, the day Jesus of Nazareth declared himself to be Messiah according to Zechariah 9:9, to his resurrection on the following Sunday (First Day). Christ would never have risen from the dead on the Sabbath. He kept the Sabbath as first instituted in Genesis 2:1-3 by resting or "ceasing from activity."

Secondly, Messiah was not "cut off" in the middle of the 70th week of years of Daniel. He was cut off after the 69th week of years but before the 70th week just as Jerusalem was destroyed after the 69th week but before the 70th week as a literal, natural reading of the passages leads us to believe. Thus, there is a gap of time between the 69th week of years and the 70th week of years. (There are gaps of time between many passages of scripture.) It is during this time gap that the Church was instituted (Acts 2), built (Rom. 11) and will be removed (I Thess 4; II Thess. 2) from the earth---before the beginning of the 70th week. There was no "Body of Christ" on earth during the first 483 years (69 weeks of years) of this prophecy (Dan. 9:24-26); no "Body of Christ" will be on earth during the 7 years (70th week of years) of this prophecy (Dan. 9:27). Thus, a pre-70th week "appearing" of Christ for the bodies of his saints in the "Body of Christ" is true. The dead bodies will rise first, then the living bodies to then meet the Lord in the air (I Thess. 4:13-18)

Further, this is the testimony of verifiable history. The entire 70th week is yet future, to begin with the coming and final pope (seventh King/Roman Caesar) confirming an existing international peace covenant with many nations (Dan 9:27). On this very day, Moses and Elijah will appear in Jerusalem to finish their earthly ministries cut short by the personal sin of disobedience (Moses) and unbelief (Elijah). Mid 70th week they will be killed by the risen seventh King/Roman Caesar/pope---the Beast (Rev. 11:3-12) then to be the eighth King upon his rising from the dead. The risen-pope/Beast will be indwelt by Satan who at mid-week will be cast out of heaven and confined to the earth (Rev.12:7-17). At this time the Beast kills the two prophets who had the supernatural powers of Moses and Elijah, remembering that both prophets spoke with Christ at the mount of transfiguration logically anticipating their return to earth and the finishing of their ministries when they spoke with the Lord Jesus about his "exodus" he should accomplish in Jerusalem (Luke 9:28-36).

Indeed, happy Passover, for Christ is our Passover I Cor. 5:7. And it will be at the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel that those unbelieving Jews who ritually celebrate Passover in Jerusalem, when they go to their door in anticipation of seeing Elijah, Elijah will be there---in Jerusalem! This will be the beginning of turning the heart of national Israel back to Jehovah in accordance with Mal. 4:5-6.

Lord Bless,

Brother Eric

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