Heaven Bound

     Yellow Friendship Rose

A great big thank you to reader Cheryl for passing this on to me.  Here is our chance to send a visible symbol of our love and support for Israel by sending Prime Minister Netanyahu a dozen yellow roses.  Yellow roses are globally recognized as a symbol of friendship, joy and caring.  And, what better time to do it, than at Passover!   For less than $20.00, we can bless Israel and show the Prime Minister what real American Beauty Roses are!    If you would like to join with me in blessing Israel in this very special way, click here:  http://roses.f2a.org/?host_id=F2A

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, they will prosper who love thee!  Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus,  Cindy

     Anubis, god of the dead

 “Now the Lord had said to Moses, I will bring one more plague on Pharoah and on Egypt.  After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely.”   Exodus 11:1

On March 23, 2010, the Egyptian god of the dead, Anubis arrived in New York Harbor.  And, I’m not talking about the 22 foot statue with the head of a jackal that sailed past Lady Liberty on a barge.  The statue that arrived on our shore accompanied by his suitcase, a mere clay representation of the real spirit, that arrived earlier that day, when the “death care bill” was enacted with the signing of 22 pens.  An action which took place, I might add, 77 years to the day Hitler was given full dictatorial powers over Germany;  the synchronicity of which, I believe, is not accidental.

  a Jackal in the White House

Jackal:  1) Any of several dog like mammals of the genus Africa and Southern Asia  2) a person of base character and disreputable acts

 One week before Passover, we have holding the highest office in our land, a man who embodies both the spirit of Egypt and the spirit of Nazi Germany.  On March 24, the day after the “death care bill” was signed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Obama in the White House where he was presented with 13 demands by the President by which he and his country must comply.  The main issue of course, the division of Jerusalem. 

When the Prime Minister failed to immediately acquiesce to the demands he was presented with, he was treated to a second insult at the hands of the Obama administration. This time by Obama himself.  The first, you will remember, was at the hands of the Vice President who snubbed the Prime Minister by arriving 90 minutes late for dinner at his home as an obvious sign of his displeasure over the announcement of the building projects in east Jerusalem while he was there.  

This time, the Prime Minister was left to sit with his staff in the windowless Roosevelt room like a misbehaving school boy, while the President went to have dinner with his wife and children.  Apparently, the Prime Minister was supposed to use this  “time-out”  to consider the error of his ways.  An unbelievably juvenile and reprehensible tactic to be used on a visiting dignitary of his stature.  To treat a supposed friend and Allie in such a manner goes beyond bad taste, it is a degrading insult of the highest order.  And, to be treated this way not once, but twice, simply underscores the spirit that drives this kind of behavior.  And, its not the spirit of the living God.  As the scripture says, “from the mouths of two or three witnesses is a matter confirmed.”

   An interesting silhouette from the Jerusalem Post, President Obama walking on the colonnade toward the Oval office after speaking on the health care reform bill, note the lifted heel.

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   children greet Anubis at NY Harbor 

A troubling photo:  I first saw this photograph at New Wineskins the other day while reading another one of Ultraguy’s excellent posts “Babylon Exultant.”  I was immediately struck by the photo of these schoolchildren in Egyptian headdress, who with the cameras at their backs, appear to be bowing before Anubis.  Now I realize, they are not; they are simply leaning over the side rail on which they are standing.  But, I find it troubling none the less. Children on an outing from school.  A school that no doubt, does not allow prayer or the mention of Jesus name, but, foolishly welcomes and celebrates with fanfare the Egyptian god of the underworld, Anubis.

“So, Moses said, ‘This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight, I will go throughout Egypt.  Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharoah, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl, who is at her hand-mill, and all the first-born of the cattle as well.  There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt — worse than ever has been or ever will be again.'”  Exodus 11: 4-6

I don’t know what kind of judgment God may allow on this country in response to the arrogant action of its leaders, but, I have the distinct feeling that we’ve been given a glimpse.  The statue of Anubis accompanied by his suitcase with whatever spirits it contains has arrived and I don’t think its leaving anytime soon.

But, God is merciful.  When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, he brought them out completely.  In other words, God used the tenth and final plague to bring about his purposes completely!  I believe when we look back on March 23 and March 24, they will prove to be significant days.  When I woke up this morning and saw the internet story on the Shroud of Turin with its computer generated 3-d image of the face on the shroud, I could only thank God.  One of these days very soon, the witness of the Church will be gone.  No matter what you think about the authenticity of the shroud (and I’m one who believes in the probability of its authenticity) – it seems to me, that God has allowed at least a major portion of our world today to be confronted at least one more time with the reality of the name and the personage of Jesus Christ.  Christian and non-Christian alike will be clicking on this image.  If you haven’t seen this remarkable story and image yet, you can do so by clicking here:  http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=131177

On Saturday April 3, I will be teaching on Passover and hosting a Seder for a small group of about 20.  I’ve studied Passover for many years, and in so doing, I can’t help but see, a lot of similarities between the events of Exodus and the last days events as they are shaping up before us today.   It’s not a total match for sure, but, closer than we might think!   God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow!!!  It was God vs Pharoah then and its God vs Pharoah now.  Pray with me, if you will, that this Passover Seder will be one of the best ever!  That Jesus will be glorified and that the presence of His precious Holy Spirit will join with us at the table.

And, last but not least – Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, they will prosper who love thee!  Waiting and watching with YOU for the soon return of Jesus!  Cindy 

   a Tristram Starling at Masada

– trivia, but, not trivial

I was telling my daughter about Ultra Guy’s recent post “Combat in the Air” (a must read, if you haven’t done so already) and we were discussing the starlings/ Israel connection of his post, when my daughter mentioned a bit of movie trivia that I found quite interesting.  In the 1991 move, Silence of the  Lambs, Jodi Foster plays an FBI interrogator of the infamous Hannibal Lecter, serial killer and cannibal.  I have not seen this film and was surprised to hear my daughter, who was in High School at the time, say she had seen it at the home of a friend (the things a mom finds out – after the fact!!!!) and that Jodi Foster’s name in the film was Clarice Starling.  Wow!  I thought, Starling is a fairly unusual name, how odd that it would be the name of the main character in a movie titled, Silence of the Lambs.  After reading so much about Starlings in the New Wine Skins post, I couldn’t resist taking a look to see how it might tie in.

 – Hannibal

The first thing I did, was look at the name Hannibal and Hannibal as it turns out, is a fitting name for serial killer (and not just because it rhymes with cannibal!).  The name Hannibal is a Phoenician word which means “grace/help/ gift of Baal,” – Baal, if you remember is the name of the Canaanite god of the Old Testament whose worship included magic, sorcery, sexual orgies, asherah poles and human sacrifice.  The name Hannibal is also recognized from antiquity as the name of one of the greatest military strategists who ever lived; a man known for his great victories against Rome during the years 248 to 183 B.C. – Hannibal who marched in to Northern Italy with an army which included elephants!

Without a doubt, the character of the movie Hannibal is pure evil.  He is cunning and cagey and the demon who inhabits him, like Hannibal the military leader, is a master strategist –  a master strategist who has but one goal in mind; to silence his victims, to – silence the lambs.

In the film, Clarice Starling (Jodi Foster) recounts living on a sheep ranch as a child.  She tells Hannibal that she remembers being deeply traumatized by the screaming of sheep she heard one day when spring lambs were being slaughtered. She tells him, she wanted to run away, but, instead, opened the gate to the sheep pen for the sheep to run, but, they didn’t, they just stood there confused.  So, she grabbed one sheep and tried to escape with it, but, it was too heavy to carry, so she wasn’t able to get far – she ended up getting caught with it and the sheep was returned to the pen to be slaughtered. 

Without having seen the movie, I think about this scene, “the starling” (Jodi Foster) sitting across from the magnetic Hannibal Lecter as he listens to her story. This had to have been a very powerful part of the movie –  just thinking about it creates a certain amount of emotion and tightness in my chest – a very palpable kind of tension.  Knowing somehow, that Hannibal finds a great deal of satisfaction in drawing this story out from her;  feeding off each word like a cannibal, feeding off her fear and vulnerability as if they were delicacies.

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Over Masada fly little black starlings.  Little birds, who have a  curious wolf whistle with which they call out to one another.  High above the desert landscape they fly, landing now and then on this ancient fortress called Masada.  The silence of the desert broken only by their curious calls and the blood of the 960 Jewish men, women and children who cry out to God from the ground on which they perished.   960 Jewish zealots who chose death by suicide in 70 A.D. rather than being raped and enslaved by the Romans who held them under seige.  Recorded by Josephus is the final brave speech of Jewish leader Elazar ben Yair just prior to their deaths:

“Since we long ago resolved never to be servants to Romans, nor to any other than to God himself, who alone is true and just Lord of mankind, the time is now come that obliges us to make that resolution true in practice.  We were the very first that revolted against Rome and we are the last that fight against them; and I cannot esteem it but as a favor that God has granted us, that it is still in our power to die bravely and to die freely.”

Masada remains a very important symbol to the Jewish people for it speaks of their resolve in the face of adversity, their resolve to stand to the end and their resolve never again to be taken as sheep to the slaughter.  So important is this, that Israeli soldiers take an oath at Masada which says:  “Masada shall not fall again.”

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It remains the goal of the enemy today, just like it was yesterday, and will be tomorrow until Messiah comes, to silence God’s Jewish people, to silence his lambs.  Today, a Nazi war criminal was brought to justice at the age of 88 for past crimes against Jews.  Today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Barack Obama to defend against a world who says otherwise, why his people should be able to have a future and should be able to live freely and without division in the land God gave them 3,000 years ago.

The Hannibal Lecters and the demons who drive them will continue to assault the Jewish people until Messiah comes.  Dark days lie ahead for the “Starlings.”  In Zechariah 13:8, we are told that only a remnant (one third of the existing Jewish population) will survive.  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!  They desperately need our prayers.  Jesus loves them, he wept over the city with these words:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but, you were not willing.  Look, your house is left to you desolate.  For I tell you,  you will not see me again, until YOU say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.'”  Matt. 23:37-39

The day is fast approaching when Israel will have nowhere to turn but to her Messiah! Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, they will prosper who love thee!   Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus, Grace and blessings!   Cindy

    Diego Garcia (aerial view)

Positioned in the center of the Indian Ocean is a little known atoll by the name of Diego Garcia.  It’s a tiny “footshaped” island just 22 feet above sea level with a land mass of  approximately 6,720 acres.  One thousand miles from the southern tip of India, Diego Garcia has been used as a military base for the United Kingdom and the United States since the early 1960’s and 70’s.   By virtue of its close proximity to the middle east, it is a choice location for strategic maneuvering in the area and was used in both the Gulf War and the War with Iraq.  Lately, Diego Garcia has been in the news again for the hundreds of powerful bunker-buster bombs being shipped there from California.  The obvious intention, for use in a war with Iran, should diplomacy and sanctions regarding their nuclear program fail.

I began thinking about this yesterday after reading Ultra Guy’s post “Jerusalem, Jerusalem” (if you haven’t read it yet, I encourage you to do so, its excellent!) .  With the current “frosty” relationship that’s developed between the United States and Israel in recent days over the Palestinian issue, it occurred to me that the weapons being amassed at Diego Garcia could easily be used by the Obama administration as either a “carrot or a stick.”  In other words, “we can help you or we can hurt you.  Your choice.”  Would the United States actually do something like that?   Remember, there is a powerful spiritual force behind these leaders and that spiritual force has but one agenda; the destruction of Israel and the destruction of the Jewish people.   Many of these world leaders have one public face and another private face.  Some are knowingly engaged in deception and double talk, while others are simply puppets.  Most of the world sees, what they want us to see and if not for the spiritual eyes given to us through the Holy Spirit, we too, would see only the cards they have placed on the table in front of us.  A good magician, never reveals his tricks, if he works his “magic” well, you never see how the trick was done, you only see the results.

There is something very interesting going on with this island, Diego Garcia.  First of all, consider its shape – it is”footshaped” and because it is footshaped, it has been dubbed the “footstep of freedom” for the many military operations that have originated there in recent years.  And, also, because of its close proximity to the middle east, it provides a natural stepping stone to the region.   But, wait there’s more!!!!  Diego Garcia also has a very  interesting name history.  One that strangely enough ties it to the current Israeli/Palestinian crisis.

 To set the stage, let’s start with a little history.  Diego Garcia was first discovered in 1512 by a Portuguese explorer by the name of Pedro Mascarenhes who upon its discovery named it Dom Garcia after Dom Garcia de Noronhas, Commander of the Spanish Armada to the area.  Sometime between 1512 and 1599, the name of the island Dom Garcia was changed to Diego Garcia, no one knows for certain how this happened, but, it most likely was due to an error by a mapmaker who wrote the name down as Diego instead of Dom.  The error was never corrected and from 1599 forward, the island has been known as Diego Garcia. 

Now, this is where things really get interesting.  Dom in Portuguese means “Lord or Master.”   Garcia means “like a fox“.  And the name, Diego, in Spanish is James or Jacob.  Jacob in hebrew means “supplanter” or “one seizing the heel.”  Don’t you just love it!  What are the chances that a little known footshaped island, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, whose name means “seizing the heel” would come to play such an important role in middle eastern affairs during end time events.  Isn’t God amazing!!!  Do you see a thread forming here?  Incredible the foreknowledge and handiwork of God in the smallest of details!

The issue confronting Israel is the two-state solution; creating a homeland for the Palestinians.  Palestinians if you remember are descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob.  Esau was born before Jacob and because of his seniority was entitled to the birthright and the blessing of his father Isaac.  But, Esau did not value or appreciate having the birthright and sold it to his brother Jacob when he was hungry for a bowl of soup.  All of this prophetically indicated at the time of their births, when Jacob emerged from the womb grasping the heel of Esau.  (Genesis 25: 19 – 25).  Thus, the name Jacob, which means “supplanter” or “to replace.”  Jacob as indicated by the name Garcia, was “smart like a fox” and seized the opportunity to receive God’s blessing when he had the chance.  Something God in his perfect knowledge knew and anticipated.

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Amassed on the “footshaped” island of Diego Garcia (Jacob, like a fox) are what I call – weapons of mass persuasion.  Weapons which may be used in the blessing or cursing of  the descendants of Jacob.  It will be interesting to see what kind of pivotal role Diego Garcia will play in the days ahead.  But, no matter what happens, we have the sure word of the Lord – and the story of Jacob who “seized the heel and seized the blessing” all depicted  – in an island named Diego.

Grace and peace in the name of Messiah Jesus, watching with YOU for his soon return!   Cindy

    Diana, goddess of the hunt

“And from the daughter of Zion, all her splendor has departed, Her Princes have become like deer that find no pasture, that flee without strength before the pursuer.”  Lam. 1:6

I thought it might be interesting to follow-up my last post with a name study of the two individuals involved.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, whose full name is Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s name, which is of course, Benjamin Netanyahu.  And, here’s what I found:

Hillary means “cheerful”, it comes from the word hilarious.  Diane is a derivative of Diana, which means heavenly or divine.  In Roman mythology, Diana is the goddess of the hunt; a huntress – in greek mythology she is known as Artemis.  Because she is the goddess of the hunt, she is often depicted with a stag (as in the photo above).   Rodham, is a variation of the celtic or scottish Grodham which means dirty village and Clinton is from the teutonic and means “settlement on a hill or exalted city.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s name is of course from the Hebrew.  Benjamin, was the name of the 12th son of Jacob, the second son of Rachel.  Originally, Benjamin was named Benoni by his mother Rachel, which means “son of my pain” – a name she gave him as she lay dying in child-birth, however, his father was not satisfied with the name and later changed it to Benjamin, a much more positive name, which means “son of my right hand” – the right hand, a biblical symbol of strength.    And, Netanyahu, means “gift from God.”

Benoni/Benjamin – “son of pain, son of Strength”

I see many interesting threads running through each of these names.  A very long post could probably be written around each one, I’ll leave it up to you to draw your own conclusions. I don’t know what family tribe Mr. Netanyahu is from, but, it seems to me that both names, Benoni and Benjamin, come in to play during these end time events.  God never makes a mistake and both names given to Benjamin were intentional and serve a purpose.  As head of state, Mr. Netanyahu (Benjamin) represents the descendants of Jacob – and, they are rapidly moving toward a time of pain and sorrow, a time the Bible refers to as “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” and like Rachel dying in childbirth – the very life of Israel will hang in the balance.  But, it will become a time of victory  – for Benoni’s name was changed to Benjamin – changed from “son of my pain” to “son of my strength!”  – for Jacob had this to say, when he prophesied over Benjamin.

“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he will devour the prey, and at night divide the spoil.  Genesis 49:27   

 And, Moses speaking of Benjamin in Deuteronomy 33:12, said:

 ” The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him, Who shelters him all the day long; and he shall dwell between his shoulders.”

   to the victor, go the spoils

I came across this photo of Mrs. Clinton and the Prime Minister taken on his visit to Washington DC on May 18, 2009 of last year. Note the roses at her right shoulder and the gold victory trophy appearing vase at his right.

In these last days, Israel will be relentlessly pursued; hunted until her very existence is in question.  Waning in strength, without friends, and about to die a certain death, she will have nowhere to turn, but, to the God of her fathers; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  At that time, Jesus, who is seated at the right hand of the Father, Jesus who is the “son of strength,” will come and fight for her survival, ….. and the pursuer, will find themselves to be the pursued.

“I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to fight against it … Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle … on that day, there will be one Lord, and his name the only name … but, Jerusalem will be raised up and remain in its place … never again will it be destroyed, Jerusalem will be secure.”   Zechariah 12:2-11

Grace and blessings in Messiah Jesus, waiting and watching with YOU, for His soon return!   Cindy

    american beauty rose

I want to share something with you that I think may be important.  It’s centered around a dream I had last night, a rather disturbing dream.  Without getting off on the whole subject of dreams, suffice it to say, that I believe some dreams are from God.  I don’t have these types of dreams often, but, when I do, for me to believe they were anything more than a nebulous conglomeration of the busy week I’ve had at work or too much spicy food, they must meet a certain criteria.  First of all, the dream must be very memorable and clear in all its details.  The details must be very specific – not too generalized.  And, the dream must also have elements  I can connect to the word of God.  And, even then, I cannot say unequivocally “this is from God” –  all I can say, is that it could be, it may be, it appears to be.

As I mentioned, the dream I had last night was disturbing; it was also graphic. I would not share it here, except that after researching it this morning, praying about it and thinking about it all day, I’ve come to believe that it’s important. Hopefully, by the time I finish this post, you will see why.  *Please bear with the re-telling of the dream –  I didn’t like it then and I don’t like it now.   If you’re not comfortable with graphic details (and who is) – please, read no further.

Awakened from the following dream at 2:08 a.m.  –  *In the dream I am told the following information; almost as if I am reading it.  I never actually see the individuals involved.

 A woman is holding a man captive; under her domination. She with holds food and water from him in order to keep him in a weakened condition.  She enjoys this; she does it as a matter of control.  Her name is Rose and from time to time, Rose goes into the man, where she puts a glove over her well–manicured hand.  With a glove covered finger, she inserts it into the man’s rectum applying pressure to certain areas.  She does this as a source of both pleasure and pain.  She enjoys the control she has over the man.

This was a disgusting and abhorent dream and when I woke up, I felt sick to my stomach.  It’s not the kind of stuff I normally dream about and I don’t watch movies or read books with this type of content.  It’s also totally unrelated to anything I have ever experienced. The first thing that came to my mind on awakening, was to pray.  I thought perhaps there was an actual man somewhere being abused and held captive – someone who needed prayer. So, I did, I prayed.  But, when I got up this morning and had time to read my Bible and pray, I realized this was probably not the case.  So, the next thing I did, was to ask God if this might have something to do with Israel, as Israel is always on my mind.  Whenever I ask God these types of questions, I pray first and then open my Bible to whatever chapter it happens to flip open to and then read, hoping to get some sort of  answer to my questions or at least some additional understanding on a subject. Today  when I did this, it opened to Nehemiah chapter 6.  In this passage, Nehemiah and the Israelites are facing opposition to the re-building of the walls of Jerusalem. 

From verses 2 & 9 – “But, they were scheming to harm me …. They were trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘ Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.'”

After reading the entire chapter, I was convinced, the dream had to do with Israel and not some other event.  So, I prayed –  “Lord, if this is really about Israel, –  if this is what I think it is, –  show me what it means and how it all fits together.  But, first of all Lord, – who is Rose ??? ”

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      OUR NATIONAL EMBLEM

The flower commonly known as the Rose is designated and adopted as the national floral emblem of the United States of America, and  the President of the United States is authorized and requested to declare such fact by proclamation.

It appears to me, by virtue of our national emblem of the same name, that Rose must be the United States, and she is; –  but, I had a sneaking suspicion there was much more to it than that.  This Rose is not just any Rose, she is America’s sweetheart Rose. 

This may seem off the track, but, I think it ties in.  While researching roses this morning, I found an excerpt from a review of the 1999 movie “American Beauty” starring Annette Bening and Kevin Spacey.  I’ve never seen the movie, but, I was struck by this excerpt from the review.

“Our lives are tinged with illusion, pretense and fear.  American Beauty explores the dark, comic, tragic and ironic dread to truly know ourselves.  We pretend we are someone we’re not.  We desperately cling to the sweet lies we force ourselves to live, and we only succeed in becoming more lonely and estranged.  To salve the empty yearning, we often fall into the allure of sexual musing and fantasy.  What the sages of the sixties often called the despair of inauthenticity forms the ironic core of the upper middle class suburban life of American Beauty.  The crimson petals of the American Beauty rose form a fitting symbol for the primordial power of the tempestuous goddess of love.”

The American Beauty rose; once known for its sweetheart appeal; a symbol of the beauty and virtues of the country we hold so dear, now like the movie which bears its name, has become tarnished and tawdry – a beautiful symbol for a virtueless country.  As Shakespeare said,  “would a rose by any other name, smell as sweet?”  I think not.

   On February 14, 2010, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was presented with red American Beauty roses while visiting Qatar for an international US – Islamic conference.  You can find the article here, its titled:  “A rose for Hillary. When God blessed Hillary, God blessed America!”    http://rose4hillary.blogspot.com/2010/02/hillary-clinton-in-qatar.html

    America’s not so sweet, sweetheart 

On Vice President Joe Biden’s return from Israel, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a follow-up phone call to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  In a 43 minute phone call which was described as terse, Mrs. Clinton expressed the anger of the Obama administration regarding the new housing developments in eastern Jerusalem.  While Prime Minister Netanyahu did his best to apologize for the timing of the announcement, Mrs. Clinton was not to be appeased. She went  on further to tell the Prime Minister, that the United States expects Israel to take specific action to show they are committed to the relationship and the peace process.  After the phone call, Israel was once again condemned by the Quartet of powers (the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations) for the settlement plan.  You can read this story here in detail:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35845247/ns/world_news-the_new_york_times

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The dream I’ve related here is ugly. The woman in the deam, as evidenced by her well manicured hand, is a person of wealth and power. When it comes to interaction with the man, she keeps him under her subjection, donning a glove to shield herself from the dirtiness of her deeds. By wearing the glove, she may also believe that she is able to stay clean in the situation –  that none of the filthiness of the job will come off on her.  The man is obviously someone who is being kept in a position of being used, abused and manipulated.  The woman and those in power over him, seek to keep him in a weakened, dependent condition.  In fact, they relish it.  I believe the two individuals in this dream are specifically Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and although they more widely represent their respective countries, I believe the issue in question here, really has to do with the 43 minute phone call between them.

Why did God show me this dream?  I don’t know.  But, what I do know is this, the longer we continue to use and abuse our relationship with Israel, the more likely judgment is in coming.  Perhaps in showing me this dream (and all of us in the wider sense), God is showing us  how HE views the situation – the 43 minute phone call – and it isn’t pretty.  Do we not realize, that God is acutely aware of every detail – every thought, every word, every action, every phone call ???    He is!!!   And, his patience may be wearing thin.   Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem!  They shall prosper who love thee!

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    shards of  glass

Last night, I read another news story regarding Vice President Joe Biden’s recent trip to Israel.  In this story, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was presenting Vice President Biden with a gift in honor of his late mother Mrs. Jean Biden, who passed away this past January.  Mrs. Biden is said to have been a loyal supporter of Israel and so a ring of trees was planted in Israel in her honor and a framed document of the occasion was prepared for Vice President Biden to take home as a gift.  But, before the gift could be given, Prime Minister Netanyahu leaned on the gift by mistake shattering its glass frame.

What an odd incident, I thought. Undoubtedly, an accident.  But, such a strange one!   After giving it a little thought, I realized – it may have been an accident, but, it was not an accident without meaning!  For at high level events such as this, where so much is at stake, there is nothing accidental, not where God is concerned!

All niceties aside, Vice President Biden is in Israel to lean on Israel.  Immense pressure is being placed on Israel for making concessions until a two-state solution is reached.  And, while the incident with the glass frame may at first glance appear minor and insignificant, I believe, its actually packed with some very powerful and important symbolism!  

First of all, the shattering of the glass frame is to me, reminiscent of the glass shattered beneath the foot of a groom at a Jewish wedding. I make this connection for two very important reasons.  The first is because the broken glass at a wedding has to do with a covenant – the marriage covenant.  The symbolism of the broken glass indicating that the marriage should last as long as the glass is broken, in other words – forever!  And, secondly, the document within the frame;  a document concerning the planting of trees –   a document indicative of another covenant which will last forever – the Abrahamic covenant. 

 “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendents after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendents after you.”  Genesis 17:7

      plant a tree

 The glass frame which shattered, shattered around a document which had to do with the planting of trees.  This is important, because the planting of trees symbolizes the re–birth and restoration of Israel.  The keeping of God’s covenant!  This is why, from its very inception, it has been a practice in Israel to plant a tree in someone’s memory.  It’s an honor to participate in the restoration of the land!   In this small, but, powerful incident, I see God re–affirming his covenant with his ancient people and although, they are under a great deal of pressure today  – in unspoken words, but, very clear symbols –  God is saying, in no uncertain terms, “my covenant is an everlasting covenant – a covenant which will endure as long as the glass remains broken, a covenant which will endure – forever!”  And, that is something you can take back home with you, Joe Biden!

“I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.  I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them, says the Lord.”

Grace and blessings in Messiah Jesus, Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem – and, plant a tree in Israel!  Lot’s of ways you can do it on-line.  Cindy

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes dividing them in to four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining.  This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled, which said: “They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.”   John 19:23-24 with reference to Psalm 22:18.

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gambling with Jehovah

Today in Israel, United States Vice President Joe Biden expressed his displeasure at Israel for their continued plans to build in the area of the west bank annexed to Jerusalem.  He was quoted as saying: “I condemn the decision”  – and went so far as to express his extreme displeasure later, by arriving 90 minutes late for a dinner scheduled at the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  

It’s hard to believe, that leaders who were once friends of the only democratic state in the middle east, now act with such arrogant and insulting behavior. Wearing arrogance as a garment, they unabashedly voice their displeasure with Israel – with little or no regard for invoking the displeasure of the God who has placed her there.

 “there are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:  haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And, one who spreads strife among brothers.”  Proverbs 6:16-19

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high stakes game

The leaders of the United States along with Russia, the European Union and the United Nations have entered in to a high stakes game with the Almighty; casting lots, you might say, for what is rightfully His.  This “Quartet of powers” as they are often referred to in the news, seek to divide Israel, in the same way, the roman soldiers sought to divide the garments of Jesus into four parts.  It is a course destined for disaster.  And, although this may not at first be apparent, in time, it will be.  Keep in mind,  it was the outer garments that were divided, but, the inner garment remained intact.  In other words, God is Sovereign. He, and He alone, will decide what may or may not be divided.  The garment Jesus wore closest to his body was not allowed to be divided,  but, the garment worn closest to God, the veil of the temple, was divided, when it was torn in two from top to bottom, signifying the open access we now have to the presence of God through the blood of his Son.

“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.”  Matt.27:51

In the same way, the “outer garments” i.e. Gaza, the West bank – areas currently under dispute, may be allowed by God to be divided to an extent, but, the inner garment, God’s holy city Jerusalem, will never be divided!  We have God’s word on that and no amount of pressure from the “Quartet of powers” or any one else, will ever change that!

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winner takes all

One of these days, on a road to a valley called Jehoshaphat, the future of Israel will be decided once and for all –

“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem. I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter in to judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. They cast lots for my people …

Multitudes, multitudes in the Valley of decision, for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, the earth and the sky will tremble. But, the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.” Joel 3:1-16

Maranatha!  Come soon, Lord Jesus!      

THE EASTERN GATE, OLD CITY JERUSALEM

For the last couple of weeks, the words from Psalm 24:7 have been running through my head almost continuously. They seem to be in the back of my mind constantly and I even wake up at night thinking about them.  I really like the Chris Tomlin praise song, King of Glory whose lyrics are taken from Psalm 24, so, I kind of chalked it up to that.  But, its been two weeks now, and I’m finally to the point – “Lord, are you trying to tell me something? ” I couldn’t quite figure it out, until my devotions this morning, when it sort of all clicked together.

“Lift up your heads, O you gates, be lifted up you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory?  The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates, lift them up you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory?  The Lord Almighty — HE IS THE KING OF GLORY.”   Psalm 24:7-10.

I was reading from Jeremiah 17 this morning when I came across a very peculiar command from the Lord. 

 Twice in the passage God gives a strict warning regarding carrying a load through the temple gate on the Sabbath. As I mentioned, this seemed odd to me and I wondered what the big deal was, but, after thinking about it a little bit, it actually made sense. Here’s what it says in verse 27: 

  “But, if you do not obey me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying any load as you come through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in the gates of Jerusalem that will consume her fortresses.”  

Gates are very important in scripture and are featured in both the first and second comings of the Messiah. 

A colt, never a man has ridden

 At the triumphal entry on what has come to be known as Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem on the back of a donkey’s colt in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, presenting himself to Israel as their Messiah.  The instructions Jesus gave his disciples in finding a colt may seem peculiar to us, but, actually they were very important in understanding the work that Jesus would do at the cross.  By entering the gate on the back of a young colt, Jesus was symbolizing that he alone, like the donkey who carried him, the donkey who had never been ridden, was able to carry, or bear our burdens, our sins as well.  Thus, it was very important that no one come through the gate carrying a load.  I love how God draws pictures for us through events. What a fantastic fulfillment of Jeremiah 17:27! 

Seal the Gate

In 1099 A.D. in fulfillment of Ezekiel 44:1-3, the Arabs knowing full well the Jewish scriptures regarding a Messiah, boarded over the Eastern gate with bricks in an effort to prevent his return. 

“Then he brought me over to the outer sanctuary, which faces east; and it was shut.  And he said to me, ‘this gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened and no one shall enter by it; for the Lord the God of Israel has entered it; therefore, it shall remain shut. Only the Prince may sit in it to eat bread before the Lord, he shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out the same way.”

 So afraid are they, in fact,  that not only have they bricked up the gate, but, they have also planted a cemetary at its entrance as extra insurance for keeping him out;  knowing that by Jewish law, any Jew who comes in contact with a dead body would be rendered unclean.

LIFT UP,  YE ANCIENT GATE

Although God gave the order to seal the gate, it will  one day be opened in fulfillment of Isaiah 62:10 for the return of the King.

 “Pass through, pass through the gates, prepare the way for the people, build up, build up the highway, remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations.” 

No bricks or cemetaries will stop the return of Jesus.  How futile the mind of man!  Jesus the King of Glory; God over the living and the dead will return and there is no power in heaven or earth that can stop him!   From all appearances, the opening of this gate may be soon. This is something to keep our eye on. When the bricks are removed from the gate, the first king who first enters it, may not be the King of Glory, Messiah Jesus, but, the pretend king, the “son of perdition,” the anti–messiah. We know in the last days, many will be deceived and Israel may erroneously welcome a man who comes not in the name of the Lord, but, in his own name.

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There are some who believe Psalm 110-118 are prophetic of the time period we are living in, and if this is so, then Psalm 110 corresponds with our current year and Psalm 118 corresponds with the year 2018;  the start of the Messianic kingdom.  From the many prophecies being rapidly fulfilled, I think this is more than likely.  For more information on how these things tie together, check out my previous post titled “Psalm 118 and the year 2018.”  https://cindybythesea.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/psalm-118-and-the-year-2018/ 

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 “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool under your feet …. he will drink from a brook beside the way; therefore, he will lift up his head.” Psalm 110:1 & 7. 

The focus of Psalm 110 is victory.  In scripture, when something is “lifted up“, whether it’s a gate, a head or a hand being lifted up, it is always a symbol of victory.  This theme is carried to completion in Psalm 118. 

“Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous . The Lord’s right hand has done many things! The Lord’s right hand is lifted up  … open for me the gates of righteousness, I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.  This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter, I will give you thanks, for you have answered me; you have become my salvation. (Yeshua).”  Psalm 118:15-21

The gates are lifted up!  Our salvation is complete!  And, the glory of God returns to the temple!

“Then, the man brought me to the gate facing east, and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory.”  Ezekiel 43: 1-2

Grace and blessings in Messiah Jesus, King of Glory, watching and waiting with YOU, for his soon return!  Cindy

“IN THAT DAY, THE LORD, WILL PUNISH WITH HIS SWORD, HIS FIERCE, GREAT AND POWERFUL SWORD, LEVIATHAN THE GLIDING SERPENT, LEVIATHAN THE COILING SERPENT, HE WILL SLAY THE MONSTER OF THE SEA.”  ISAIAH 27:1

I saw an article in the news this morning that caught my eye, it said, “Oarfish sightings spook Japanese.”  Apparently, in the days following the 8.8 earthquake in Chile and the more recent 6.4 earthquake in Taiwan, at least 10 specimens or more of the extremely rare oarfish have been found washed up on shore or caught in nets.  The Oarfish, also known as a Sea serpent normally live at depths of 600 to 3,300 feet and can grow in length from 16 to 20 feet long.  In Japanese lore, the appearance of Oarfish were considered warning of an impending earthquake.  And while, science tends to dismiss such notions, there are many who can testify to the strange behavior of animals preceding a disaster.  Have the Oarfish reacted to underwater seismic activity?  I wouldn’t be at all surprised.  For a look at the incredible Oarfish, click here: http://www.ozanimals.com/Fish/Oarfish/Regalecus/glesne.html  and here: http://www.bloodydecks.com/forums/baja-mexico-fishing-reports-discussion/81929-isla-san-marcos-sea-story-09-01-07-oarfish.html

I think the appearance of the Oarfish may well preclude an earth quake as the Pacific Ring of Fire is a hot bed for seismic activity right now.  I don’t believe its an omen, but, I do believe it may be a harbinger.  Without taking the time to look up the difference between these two words, omen to me smacks of the occult, while harbinger seems more appropriately God ordained.  In other words, although, the reaction of the Oarfish to seismic activity may be both natural and instinctive, it may still, by the very timing of the event, be by the purposeful hand of God.   The harbinger of the Oarfish, the Sea Serpent, may be a two-fold warning;  one, in regard to earthquakes or impending disaster,  – two, the soon release of the other serpent, the one of Revelation 13, who rises from the sea.

“MAY THOSE WHO CURSE DAYS, CURSE THAT DAY, THOSE WHO ARE READY TO RAISE LEVIATHAN”  JOB 3:8

In the Bible, Leviathan is likened unto Satan.  In Revelation chapter 9, the abyss or bottomess pit is opened at the sound of the fifth trumpet of the seventh seal.  Loosed from the deep, will be every manner of evil spirits as represented by leviathan with the power to torment mankind for five months.  Its believed from the Midrash, a Jewish commentary on the Hebrew scriptures, that Leviathan was created on the fifth day and that when Messiah comes, he will be slain and his flesh will be served at a banquet for the righteous and his skin will be used to create the tent for the banquet.  Interestingly, each year at Sukkot, The Feast of Tabernacles, where Jews are commanded to live in “booths” or temporary shelters for seven days (symbolic of the Messianic Kingdom), the prayer on leaving the Sukkah is this:

“May it be your will Lord our God and God of our forefathers, that just as I have fulfilled and dwelled in the Sukkah, so may I merit in the coming year to dwell in the sukkah of the skin of Leviathan. Next year in Jerusalem!”

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In Revelation 12:12 it says – “Therefore rejoice you heavens and all who dwell in them! But, woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!  He is filled with fury, because he knows his time is short.”

It appears, that the old Serpent Satan, the nemesis of God is going to be brought up from the deep, like the Oarfish, for one last day in the sun, but, it will be short-lived.  The Messiah, who came once to die for us, is coming again and when he does, the victory that was secured at the cross, will finally be made complete.  And, for those who trust in Christ, there is for us, you might say, a “heavenly fish-fry” in our future, one held beneath a beautiful canopy –  meal and accomodations courtesy of Leviathan!