When YHVH’s Savior told the rulers of Israel “Ye shall not see me [your King] henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Matthew 23:29-36) he remained 100% consistent with the extension of timelines from previous scripture beginning with the establishment of the nation of Israel.
- “if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments…that ye break my covenant…
- I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague…ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you
- And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me,
- then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.
- And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me;
- I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.
- And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things…
- I will punish you yet seven times for your sins.
- And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me…
- I will chastise you seven times for your sins.” (Leviticus 26)
Take Jeremiah’s prophecy of 70 years.
“the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon…Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah…saying…the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets…because ye have not heard my words…[to serve me, ye] shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” (Jeremiah 25:2-11)
But serving a sentence doesn’t serve justice for God. After Jeremiah’s 70 years had passed but the objective of turning to the LORD was not fulfilled by the rulers, i.e. the other signatories to the covenant, it was then extended under Daniel to 70 x 7 years as per the covenantal obligations for the stronger to uphold the weaker rather than break the covenant terms.
“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him,
- I say not unto thee, Until seven times:
- but, Until seventy times seven.
Where did Jesus get this calculation? From Israel’s covenant obviously! And continuing on with this same parallel of humans in the likeness of YHVH Jesus states:
“The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering / obedience / submission / bowing of the people be…Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.” (Genesis 49:8-12, Matthew 18:23)
“Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel…Wherefore…I give unto him…and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.” (Numbers 25:10-13)
Do we get what this means? For the last 3,000 years and counting there has always been a descendant of Phinehas in the wings to fulfil this prophecy.
Maybe Isaiah was one of the seed of Phinehas. He is certainly in the order of Melchizedek with a name and curriculum vitae virtually identical to Jesus the Christ’s.
“And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength. And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 42:1-10; 49:5-6)
Perhaps the Apostle Paul.
“Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name / attribute, i.e. righteousness of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. The LORD God, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others.” (Isaiah 56:4-8)
This does not mean that Christians must become Seventh Day Adventists or join a Messianic Synagogue. Sabbath is one day out of seven for rest, trusting YHVH to supply our needs. I remember when Blue Laws closing stores on Sundays were gradually phased out.
The End of this world doesn’t come until God’s ministers are prepared for the transition of power.
Surely we understand this on the lesser level of human government. When Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, his existing staff made it possible for him to immediately take over the government.
Surely we understand that on the far higher plane of existence that we mere mortals need to develop our spiritual abilities. Read a few of the fantasy Dresden Files books if you are drawing a blank here.
“Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19:27-28)
“Until the day in which he was taken up…he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs…speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God…ye shall…be witnesses unto me…unto the uttermost part of the earth…in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said…Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled…Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.” (Acts 1)
I don’t find scriptural support for notoriously impetuous Peter’s hasty assumption of leadership and appointment of a replacement for Judas, whereas Jesus most evidently appointed Saul/Paul, who as a Pharisee was undoubtedly at the baptism of John as well as certainly at the stoning of Stephen. But regardless of this side note, the indisputable fact is that there are not just twelve, but twenty four elders sitting on thrones in heaven.
“And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.” (Revelation 4:4)
The End comes when the last two Jewish witnesses of the total of 24 witnesses of the God of life performs their assigned role of witnessing to the whole earth – following Jesus’ authorship / authority – of resurrection from death.
From Revelation 11:
“I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy / speak in My Name…“And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them…And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.”
Proof of life – exactly like Lazarus and Jesus!
“And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.”
Proof of resurrection – exactly like Lazarus and Jesus!
“And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.”
The ultimate witness of faith in Jesus the Christ, God’s appointed ruler of the earth, is own’s own death / disconnect from this material world and resurrection to new spiritual life.
“and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Finally! The essential calling out “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.“!! (Matthew 23:37-39)
“And [immediately!] the seventh angel sounded…“in the days / eras of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets…and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.” (Revelation 11, 10:1-7)
Kingdom Come 