I have been reading through the Torah since Yom Kippur, a few days ago.  Every time I read it, I notice things that I have not seen before.  Any believer who thinks that the Torah (essentially, God’s Law, Teaching, or Instruction) is not important anymore because it was “nailed to the cross, along with Jesus”) is sadly mistaken and seriously in error.  In fact, the Law was in effect long before God gave it to Moses, and it still is in effect today.  Furthermore, it will be in effect for all eternity.

Furthermore, much of the traditional Christian church has misunderstood certain things, such as these:

• God’s plan for Israel and for humanity from the very beginning,
• why the ten northern tribes of Israel were scattered and where they went,
• Hebraic roots within the nations of the world,
• who these chosen people are today, and
• when they will be returned to their land to be rejoined with Judah as a united Israel.

Much of Paul’s writings, in the New Testament, cannot be understood fully without first comprehending these and other concepts.  One of the best teachings I’ve ever seen/heard on these and related topics is by Jim Staley of Passion for Truth Ministries.  It is not often that I recommend lengthy videos, but I find the following teaching by Jim Staley to be extremely coherent and highly enlightening:

Yom Kippur began at sunset last night, and I have been fasting since then.  I will not eat anything until sunset after tonight.  It is amazing how mentally alert I feel whenever I fast for 24 hours.

I also am reading the Torah or, more specifically, the Pentateuch (that is, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).  I read at least an hour from it last night and I am reading more today.  I probably will not finish all of it today; however, I will continue reading this week until I finish it.  I have read the Torah numerous times before; it contains a great wealth of information about God, Israel, and life, and it is very important to me.

This afternoon, I made a chocolate/strawberry birthday cake for someone’s birthday tomorrow, although my writing on the cake is sloppy.  I should have started the “Happy” about an inch to the left; but the phone began ringing as I was starting, and I got distracted.  Also, the inside of the cake was supposed to look like a checkerboard.  However, I used two different brands of cake mix (which was a mistake), and the strawberry batter expanded into the chocolate batter.

         
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Today, Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders spoke at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York.  In all of his speeches, he warns of the impending take-over of Europe—and potentially America and the world—by radical Islam.  I feel that his speech is worth reading:

This coming Friday, September 25, Muslims and friends of Muslims will meet in Washington, DC.  They will be celebrating Islam, Allah, and the prophet Muhammad.

The Athan—which is the call given five times each day for Muslims to participate in mandatory prayer—will be chanted on Capitol Hill.  It will echo off of the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and other buildings in the vicinity.  This website describes this and more:

Here is a commentary about this event by David Barton of Wall Builders:

I have received some interesting questions lately:

• What do you think the thorn in Paul's side was?
• Do believers go to heaven when we die, or what happens?
• When does judgment happen, and how can anyone enter heaven without being judged first?
• Are the "birth pains" spoken of by Jesus the same as the "labor pains" described by Paul?

The H1N1 viral outbreak was declared a pandemic on June 11.  As such, the message of Greg Evensen (an award winning former Kansas State Trooper) in the following video is rather sobering, if not chilling, pertaining to the H1N1 vaccination and the possible “marking,” with a wristband, of those who have accepted this vaccination:

I have not been able, independently, to verify the validity of what is said on that video.  However, also consider the video of Dr. Leonard Horowitz (see my Apr. 28 entry) and the information provided by Jane Burgermeister, in Austria (see my Apr. 13 entry).  Furthermore, in my Apr. 25 entry, I pointed out how I expected the events of the Fourth Seal (Revelation 6:7,8) might begin sometime before Passover Week 2010, at which time the Fifth Seal events (Revelation 6:9-11) may be transpiring.

Well, I have listened to the following 6 videos (totalling 55 minutes and 53 seconds) of Jane Burgermeister’s interview just a few days ago (on September 8), although I had to use earphones because the volume was rather low.  She seemed perfectly sound and rational to me.

• Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMMER4yOcIA&feature=channel
• Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1ybnEWVjD4&feature=channel
• Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEc9wetlmQ4&feature=channel
• Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z8MHXrtU9I&feature=channel
• Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFZ-ex-ETkg&feature=channel
• Part 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRi8gl1FUaw&feature=channel

Today is 09/09/09.  That sure doesn’t happen very often.  It will be easy to remember the date that President Obama gave his big speech to Congress on health care.

     
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Here is an interesting development, pertaining to Barack Obama’s birth certificate (or possible forgery thereof):

A friend gave me the most recent issue of the Sun newspaper (or maybe it’s a magazine).  He wanted me to read an article in which some predictions were made and see what I thought about it.  I’m pretty sure this is the first time that I’ve ever opened a Sun tabloid in my life.

All of the predicted events, in the article featured on the cover, are supposed to happen before the end of 2009.  While leafing through the tabloid, I saw another article, with additional predictions for 2009, by “Nikki,” a professed clairvoyant and psychic.  I scanned both articles; if you have an interest in reading them, you can link to them here:

• Secret Last Days Predictions of the Ancient Indians
• Catastrophe in the Sky!

No, I do not endorse the predictions of people today, including psychics.  Only the Bible is 100% accurate in its predictions and prophecies.  Also, I absolutely do not believe that the world, as we know it, will “come to an end” before this year is out, as indicated in the first article.

The prophet Ezekiel wrote this about false prophets in ancient Israel: “Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!  Your prophets, O Israel, are like jackals among ruins. ... Their visions are false and their divinations a lie” (Ezekiel 13:3,4,6).

On the other hand, if the seven-year European Neighbourhood Policy agreement is the fulfillment of Daniel 9:27, and if the middle of the final seven years is just over seven months from now, then significant disasters and calamities very well could occur before that point, and certainly afterward, though probably not exactly as predicted by the articles in the Sun newspaper.

The articles in the Sun include very specific forecasts, all expected to happen before the end of 2009.  The ones that struck me as the most interesting were these:

• Osama bin Laden will be captured or killed.
• President Obama will find himself in a nuclear standoff with Iran and North Korea.
• A terrorist attack will be made on the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., killing one senator.
• A massive earthquake will strike the American heartland, most likely centered in Kansas or Missouri, with considerable loss of life and billions of dollars in property damage.

The debts and deficits of the USA are mounting day by day.  I do not know how accurate the following is, but it certainly is alarming:

Here are some views that seem to be widespread among those who study and believe in the Bible:

• The Assyrian (Isaiah 10:5, 14:25; Micah 5:5,6) will be the same as the Antichrist or first beast (Revelation 13:1-8).
• The attack of the armies of Gog & Magog on Israel, and their subsequent destruction (Ezekiel 38 & 39), will take place early in the 70th Week, or even before it begins.
• The Battle of Armageddon, during which the Antichrist and his armies will be destroyed, will take place on the day Jesus returns to earth (Revelation 19:11-16), at the end of the 70th Week.

Some, although not as many, even believe the following:

• The Assyrian, Antichrist, and Gog all will be the same person.
• The bloodbath of Gog/Magog will be the same as the Battle of Armageddon.
• The Gog/Magog massacre, described in Ezekiel 38 & 39, will not take place until the end of the Millennium (Revelation 20:7-9).

I adamantly and unequivocally disagree with all six points above.  Although I agree that the Assyrian and Gog will be one and the same person, I absolutely do not believe that either of them will be the Antichrist.  In fact, I see the distinct possibility of end-time confrontations between the Assyrian/Gog and the Antichrist, who perhaps will be leaders of two divergent factions of Islam.  According to Jesus, every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined and will not stand (Matthew 12:25,26).  Why could this not apply to end-time blocs attempting to overcome Israel?

In the Bible, I find a great deal of evidence to support the idea that it will be the Gog/Magog hordes that are trampled in the winepress of God’s wrath, on the day Jesus returns; whereas, the Battle of Armageddon will not take place until 30 days later.  All of the details can be found in the Assyrian section of my Beasts commentary, in my Final Battles commentary, and in my responses to the following questions:

• Is "the Assyrian," mentioned by Isaiah and Micah, the Antichrist?
• When does the Gog/Magog battle, described in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39, occur?
• When do the events of Ezekiel chapters 35-39 take place?
• Can you contrast the Winepress of Gog/Magog with the Battle of Armageddon?
• How do you know that Gog and the Antichrist will not be the same person?
• When will the Gog/Magog battle begin, and when will Israel be living in safety?
• Is Ezekiel 39:17-29 descriptive of what happens during and after the battle of Armageddon?

The account of the transfiguration of Jesus always has fascinated and amazed me:

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  There he was transfigured before them.  His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.  Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. (Matthew 17:1-3)

From time to time, I get emails from those who believe that the 70th Week, of Daniel 9:27, took place in the First Century A.D.  This view is called “preterism.”  I steadfastly disagree with this view and have indicated why in two email responses, located in my Email Questions and Ted’s Responses section:

• The seventy weeks prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27 already has happened, so how can you say it has anything to do with the end-of-the-age prophecies of Matthew 24?
• How do you know that Daniel's 70 weeks did not end in 33 A.D.?

There are many who are concerned about the “dark tunnel” that seems to be looming ahead.  They wonder how bad things are going to get and whether or not God will be protecting them through the worst of it.  I would not be being honest if I said I was not apprehensive as well.

Some also wonder, if we are where I suggest that we may be in the 70th Week, if it is appropriate to pray that God would forestall the disasters and calamities to come, perhaps even to stop the prophesied time count and prevent the worldwide upheaval altogether.  My opinion is based on something contained in God’s Word.

Firstly, I am reminded of King Solomon’s prayer (1 Kings 8:22-53), just prior to the dedication of the First Temple (8:62-66).  One thing he stated was this:

When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and confess your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. (1 Kings 8:35,36)

Secondly, I think about how, many years later, Elijah approached the evil King Ahab, he told Ahab,

Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” (1 Kings 17:1)

Someone sent me samples of her artwork.  She obviously has become very proficient in calligraphy.  I think it is nice.

 

It has been requested that I give a straightforward, uncomplicated explanation as to why I feel we may have entered the 70th Week (the final seven years of this age), then to expound a bit on that premise.  OK, I will attempt to give the easiest explanation to understand that I can.

The underlying concept is very simple.  The angel Gabriel gave Daniel, an Israeli prophet, a lengthy and very significant prophecy.  One verse of that prophecy, Daniel 9:24, indicates that the prophecy focuses upon Daniel’s people (Israel) and his holy city (Jerusalem).

The last verse of that prophecy, Daniel 9:27, specifies that there would be the confirmation of a covenant for “one seven”—that is, for a “week” of (seven) years.  In the middle of that seven-year period, sacrifice and offering would cease or be put to an end.

Some people (preterists) believe that the prophecy already was fulfilled, around 70 A.D., when Jerusalem and the Second Temple were desolated by the Romans.  For many reasons, I adamantly disagree.  For instance, at that time, Israel did not enter into a seven-year agreement, of any type, with Rome or with anybody else.

In fact, never in history has Israel engaged in a seven-year agreement with anyone—that is, until it was the first non-European nation to sign onto the seven-year European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), which was established in October 2006 (view their website).  Furthermore, the ENP confirmed and strengthened a prior agreement (covenant): the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EuroMed), as discussed in my August 6 entry.

As for sacrifice and offering, for the first time since 70 A.D., a sacrificial altar stone is being constructed in Jerusalem, by the Temple Institute, whose primary goal is the building of the Third Temple.  In my July 30 entry, you can click on a link that goes to a video showing the initial stage of this altar stone’s construction.

In the Book of Revelation, 1,260 days (Revelation 11:3, 12:6) is mentioned.  This period of time is significant; it is the second half of the prophesied seven years.  If sacrifice and offering is stopped in the middle of the seven years, then it is plausible to consider that the first half of the seven-year period also will be 1,260 days in length.

So with the beginning of my proposed seven-year period being October 22, 2006 (a new moon), the midpoint will be April 4, 2010 (the Feast of Firstfruits = Resurrection Day or Easter Sunday).  Potentially, there could be a Mid-tribulation Rapture on this date, and then the Great Tribulation should begin.  The final day of that seven-year period would be September 14, 2013 (Yom Kippur), on which date, potentially, the Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus) will return to earth to rule and reign, during the Millennium.

If April 4, 2010, comes and goes with no cessation of burnt (animal) sacrifices and other offerings, on a sacrificial altar stone in Jerusalem, then my hypothesis is incorrect.  It does not mean that I do not believe the seven-year prophecy of Daniel 9:27 will not take place in the future.  It just means that my proposed timing of the 70th Week is wrong, and I will state this clearly at my website—if, indeed, I am proven to be in error.

I know people who absolutely refuse to watch Barack Obama on TV or listen to anything he says.  They say he opposes everything in which they believe, and they have no use for him.  On the contrary, I want to listen to everything this man says, especially if I can watch it coming out of his own mouth.  I do not want to depend on the comments of others (i.e., news reporters) about what he has said; I want to know firsthand what he says.

Today, I watched and listened to Obama’s townhall meeting in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  He did not say anything new, and virtually everything he had to say about health care was a generalized commentary.  As usual, his answers to questions were non-specific, and he side-stepped and spun, into another topic, almost everything that was asked him.  Without a doubt, Mr. Obama certainly is a master of distractive rhetoric.

       
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In answer to questions about how I feel the seven-year European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) may have confirmed the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EuroMed), I think the following is reasonable conjecture:  After EuroMed was ratified in 1995, there was little to no progress in creating a Palestinian state, adjacent to Israel.  This was because no specific time frame was placed on the process, and it is human nature not to get things done without time constraints forcing us to do so.

Therefore, a second agreement, the ENP, was formulated, confirming and strengthening EuroMed.  The ENP was developed to force a two-state solution in Israel, sometime within the seven-year time frame of 2007-13.  This seems clear in the following language contained within the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument for Israel:

The achievement of lasting peace in the Middle East is a central aim of the EU, whose main objective is a two-State solution leading to a final and comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict..., with Israel and a democratic, viable, peaceful and sovereign Palestinian State living side-by-side in peace within secure and recognised borders....

I feel that there is enough reasons to suspect that Barack Hussein Obama is a Muslim.  Some of those reasons are included in this 10-minute video:

It is hard to imagine how a Jewish Temple could stand on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, with that tract of land under Muslim control, and with the Islamic Dome of the Rock already in place there.  Yet, the sacrificial altar stone, which presumably will be placed inside a completed, or partially-standing, Third Temple at some point, is now under construction (see my entry for July 30).

Furthermore, there may be growing consensus, even among Muslim clerics, that this “House of God” should be built.  Adnan Oktar, a prominent Muslim leader in Turkey, has joined with several rabbis in Israel to advocate for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem:

Looking at the full moon tonight, I saw a bright planet to the left of it.  I did a search and found that the planet is Jupiter.

Today is Tisha B’av, or the Ninth of Av.  It is a sad anniversary in Israel, commemorating the destruction of both the First Temple and the Second Temple, about 656 years apart, in Jerusalem.  There also were other calamities in Jewish and Israeli history that have taken place on or around Tisha B’av.

Interestingly, a type of construction, rather than destruction, has begun in Jerusalem.  Today, the Temple Institute, whose primary purpose is to build the Third Temple, started making the vitally important sacrificial altar.  The altar will measure 3 meters wide by 3 meters long and 2 meters tall.

The plan is to place the new altar inside the next temple, once it has been constructed.  For more details about the altar, including a video (less than 5 minutes long) of tar being poured onto the first stones of which the altar will be composed (Exodus 20:25), go here:

Now, in the time of Ezra, an altar was constructed, prior to the building of the Second Temple.  Even though no temple was present, burnt offerings were sacrificed on that altar:

Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.  Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening sacrifices.  Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day.  After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings, the New Moon sacrifices and the sacrifices for all the appointed sacred feasts of the LORD, as well as those brought as freewill offerings to the LORD.  On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, though the foundation of the LORD's temple had not yet been laid. (Ezra 3:2-6)

Someone sent me a link to an interesting, and I believe prophetic, audio message about the following passage, written by the great ancient Israeli prophet, Isaiah:

The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel.  All the people will know it—Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—who say with pride and arrogance of heart, “The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.”  But the LORD has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them and has spurred their enemies on.  Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have devoured Israel with open mouth.  Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.  But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD Almighty.  So the LORD will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day. (Isaiah 9:8-14)

President Obama spent about 8 minutes talking to the public, and 47 minutes answering a few questions by press correspondents, on TV this evening.  He wanted to convince Americans that his health-care plan needs to pass through the Congress before they go on recess in August.  Of course, there is growing opposition to it.  That’s because it would be disastrous if it passes—especially in this recession—and even many Democrats realize that.

I watched the program live and even the full repeat of it later.  Now, I am not an idiot (most of the time, anyway).  But, frankly, the president spoke in such generalities that I really could not understand how he planned to improve this country’s health care system.  He even indicated that, due to his stimulus plan, the economy has been “brought back from the brink.”  Huh?  It has??

You know, this man is slicker than a snake oil salesman.  Mr. Obama’s entire discourse was another example of how his outstanding oratory skills cause his words to sound profound and believable, when there actually is very little substance or significance to most of what he says.  But, of course, many idealogues are like that.

         
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The liftoff of Space Shuttle Atlantis today was spectacular, as always.  The launch was successful after five aborted attempts, over the past few days.

         
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Today, in London, Javier Solana made another speech, seemingly as a continuation of yesterday’s declarations.  Pertaining to the Israeli-Palestinian situation, he called upon the UN to impose a deadline, at which time it should adopt a two-state solution and accept the Palestinian state as a full member of the UN.  More about this is here:

It looks like Javier Solana is still pushing the Palestinian State issue:

I am amazed at how Black pastor, James D. Manning, rails against Barack Obama in this video:

This is 123456789 day.  You probably know what that means by now.  The date is 07/08/09 (789).  At 12:34:56 (or 123456, which actually occurred twice today), the count was 12:34:56 07/07/09, or 123456789.  It happens on only one day every century, so it is rather rare.

At 12:34:56 this afternoon, I was doing one of my favorite things: eating Thai food at Thai Time II (see my June 26 entry).  There was nothing unusual about that.  What was unusual was that it was the second time today that I had eaten Thai food.

A friend and I had eaten a Thai feast a couple of days ago, and there were leftovers (red curry chicken and basil chicken—both extra extra extra spicy, of course—and some rice and wontons).  I think she ate her leftovers last night.

For some reason, I was craving mine when I got up early this morning.  So I added Thai and jalapeńo peppers, nuked it, and shoveled it down.  It didn’t take long.  I even took a photo of my plate.  Are you surprised?  I know it doesn’t look like breakfast, but it was.

I was at the home of some friends today.  We didn’t know what to have for dinner.  I immediately thought of all the fresh tomatoes growing in their backyard, plus there was lettuce and bell peppers (red, orange, yellow, and green) in the refrigerator.  So I put together a big salad.

       
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I attended a very enjoyable Independence Day party today.  There was excellent food and some cool decorations.  They always throw great parties, including the Superbowl party earlier this year.  You can see some 4th of July photos, or watch a 2-minute slideshow, if you want.

I brought the big box of cupcakes with stars on them, many of which got eaten before I got a shot of them.  And no, I did not make them; Costco did.  I’m not that creative.

The last photo in the group above is a shot of a game that several people played.  Basically, each pair of people was given a water balloon.  The row of people on the left threw their balloons to their partners on the right.  Then each row would take one step backwards (further away from each other).  The balloons were tossed again, and then everyone stepped backwards again.  As the teams moved further apart, it became more and more difficult to catch the balloons without breaking them.  Finally, the last team left with their balloon intact was the winner.

My favorite part was after that when everyone grabbed more water balloons and plastered each other with them.  I ran for cover.  Some people got soaked, but I didn’t get splashed by one drop of water, although I got a good laugh watching those who did.

Now, click on the pinwheel on the left if you want to see a 15-second (1.34-megabyte) video of it spinning around.  It was spinning clockwise the entire time, although the speed varied as the wind velocity changed, making it appear to spin counter-clockwise some of the time.  It is an interesting optical illusion.

A good friend got the following for his wife (who also is a good friend) to hang up on the wall: