*The Sweetness of Patience - Watch & Wait*

Have you ever plucked fruit prematurely?
Perhaps you were drawn in by its vibrant color or sweet scent moving through the air. But when you took the first bite, you realized it lacked the ripeness you anticipated. Everything seemed right at first glance, but there was one missing ingredient…

Time.
Even the simple act of picking fruit can teach us about time and patience:
*"Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You, too, be patient and stand firm because the Lord's coming is near." James 5:7-8*
The author, James, penned these words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to a community of new Jewish converts to Christianity, dispersed throughout various regions. These early Christians faced many trials, including persecution and opposition, because of their newfound faith. James’ call to wait patiently and enduring was more than mere words on a page; they were a lifeline of hope and encouragement in the midst of adversity.

And just as those early believers confronted trials, we, too, will encounter challenges and suffering in our Christian journey. And, just like those early believers, we can choose patience—allowing the fruit of the Spirit to ripen within us, no matter the season of life. And when we do, our character will mature, our faith will deepen, and our relationship with God will become sweeter than we could imagine.

Patience always bears the fruit of perseverance and strength, even today and even for us!

*Prayer Of Surrendering*
Everlasting Father, You are the perfect example of patience and Grace. Thank You for being patient with us! We know there are specific areas of our lives where we need to develop more patience—we surrender those areas to You, and asking for Your help. Fill us with hope and wisdom to trust You, especially during challenging times. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.
*Blessed Shabbat!*

The Book of Jude verse 11-13
Yes I found this one very important to mention because we can see its sprinkles and actions being applied in the world of Christians today. These things were recorded but not many have gained a heart of wisdom after hearing them.

He describes the sorrow that met with
1.Cain because of allowing his flesh to control him, his jealousy led him to kill his brother Abel.
2.Balaam because of his greed he refused to obey God's voice. As the Word says their God is their stomach, he literally used his spiritual influence not to give God Glory but for personal influence.
3.Korah rebelled against God's-given authority. Yes he challenged the authority God had established through Moses and Aaron by rebelling and refusing God’s order..

How many can we see behaving like Cain , Balaam, and Korakh. yes they are many..

Warning About Them
-.These are considered as the most dangerous people especially to dine with during fellowship meals . Yes they are called dangerous reefs that can shipwreck someone.
-. You can imagine of shepherds who don't care for their flocks but only care about themselves. Yes they allow their flocks to be preyed to by the wolves when you see one watchful..
-.Every man is expectant and so it is for the children who are born of the spirit. They are expected to deliver what they have been sent.. Today we are being warned of them who are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain.
-.Indeed the Word says they shall be known by their fruits... Yes this is a reminder of their description again that yes they are there like trees in autumn that are doubly dead bearing nor fruits and because they are spiritually barren.

What they are good at.
=.As wild waves their lives are unstable, rebellious, and full of shame.
=.As wandering stars they are misleading and without direction, leading others away from truth.
=. As the blackest darkness their rebellion ultimately leads to God’s judgment.

What To know
God constantly warns us of such because in a lifetime they appear. We are living in a times where people are so reluctant to believe God's warnings. We tend to take everything like it's a story. But today I will ask you to look around, your spaces of God in nations, counties , states, communities be on guard so that you can avoid meeting up with this dangerous reed that is capable of shipwrecking you.
Remember anything can be shipwrecked starting from your calling, marriage, families, business, children anything can.

Prayer
Father Lord, thank you for every Word you have revealed. We are conscious of every warning written in your Holy Word. We pray we will not be found amongst these but we be found amongst them that follows thee dearly.
Help us to fear and listen to what the spirit says. Also remember Mercy in Jesus Christ name we pray .
#Amen

The Whores of Halloween
We know it is only June. The summer sun is high, the air is thick, and the autumn leaves are months away from falling. Yet, it is precisely right now—in the quiet of mid-year—that we must look ahead and examine what is coming. You need time to think about this between now and then. You need months to weigh the evidence, examine your own household, and observe the machinery of compromise before it spins into full gear. By the time October arrives, the cultural current is a roaring flood, and the pressure to conform paralyzes discernment. But right now, in the calm of June, we can look at the cold, hard reality of the modern street corner on October 31st and recognize it as a stark monument to a collapsing civilization. Every parent feels the weight of it, even if they lack the words to describe the spiritual decay unfolding right outside their front door. The unwritten social covenant that once allowed children to roam freely across neighborhoods has completely dissolved, replaced by a cold, pervasive fear. We are no longer dealing with the mythical, urban-legend boogeymen of decades past; the dangers lurking on the modern doorstep are terrifyingly real. Sending a child to knock on a hundred random doors today means playing a high-stakes lottery against active domestic chaos, volatile households, and the proximity of highly lethal, synthetic narcotics that saturate our zip codes. Furthermore, the modern predator operates under the perfect cloak of a night where chaos is normalized, faces are hidden, and hyper-vigilance is intentionally lowered for the sake of “fun.” The world itself recognized this shifting tide. Left to its own devices, this pagan tradition—rooted in the occult and the celebration of death—was naturally suffocating under the weight of its own darkness. The streets had become too dangerous, the neighborhoods too fractured, and the risks too high. The secular world was ready to abandon the sidewalks. The holiday was dying a natural death, but it was suddenly given artificial respiration by the most catastrophic betrayal in modern history.

The corpse of this devilish celebration is kept breathing today because it was carried into the parking lots of local churches. In a desperate, frantic bid for cultural relevance, modern congregations opened their gates, lined up their vehicles, and rebranded the profane as “Trunk or Treat.” They dressed up spiritual adultery in the guise of family-friendly ministry, acting as the ultimate preserving agent for a day that belongs to the adversary. The stark, unvarnished truth is that if the church had simply held the line, stood separate, and let the darkness collapse under its own weight, this holiday would have largely vanished from the American landscape. Instead, the church stepped in to sell herself out, volunteering to be the life-support system for Babylon. They became the managers of the world’s retreat, sanitizing the edges of an occult festival just to draw a crowd and keep themselves comfortable. They have completely ignored the thunderous warning delivered through the Apostle James: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).

By hosting these events, the modern church is not redeeming the culture; she is whoring herself out to it. There is a deep, tragic blindness in believing that you can bring the holy into partnership with the defiled. When a congregation transforms its holy ground into a well-lit carnival for a pagan feast, it stops being a lighthouse and becomes a spiritual graveyard, subsidizing the very culture that is destroying the home. They have traded the armor of God for cheap plastic candy buckets, forgetting the uncompromising mandate given to the remnant: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11). This is the Great Falling Away in real-time. The visible church has grown so terrified of being peculiar, so desperate to be liked by a dying world, that she will eagerly house the high holy day of the enemy in her own courtyard. The mandate of the true believer is not to make the darkness safer or more palatable for our children. The command has never changed, and it requires a total, clean break from the compromises of the age: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17,). It is time to pull the plug on this religious circus, let the dead bury their dead, and return to the uncompromised paths of truth.
#whores #Halloween #thinkaboutit #Christian #pagan
https://thelordsreturn.com/the-whores-of-halloween/

A Little Light reading.
Egypt and the Bible

Egypt and the Bible
The timeless land of Egypt is the setting
for some of the most dramatic stories
in the Bible and is associated with
four leading Bible characters and their
experiences there: Abraham’s visit to
Egypt and his meeting with Pharaoh;
Joseph’s experiences in Egypt as a slave
and his rise to power there; Moses and
the Exodus; Jesus and His family’s visit
to Egypt to escape from Herod.
These stories and other references
make the country of Egypt one of the
most mentioned locations in the Bible.
Egypt is mentioned almost seven
hundred times in the Old Testament
EGYPT AND
THE BIBLE EGYPT AND THE BIBLE 3
and another twenty-five times in the
New Testament.
In Biblical times, Egypt was already an
ancient civilisation, and the pyramids
were thousands of years old. Egypt and
Israel shared a common border in Bible
times as they do today. As a result,
there was contact and interaction
between the peoples of the two lands.
The land of Egypt served both as a
refuge and as a threat to the people in
Israel during Old Testament and New
Testament times. From Abraham to
Jesus, the prophets, patriarchs, and the
people had a continuous connection with
the nation of Egypt. It was a destination
for people leaving Israel either on their
own or because they were forced to
seek asylum or refuge from oppression
and tough times.
Some of the well-known Bible
characters who travelled to Egypt
to escape hardship are Abraham
EGYPT AND
THE BIBLE 4 EGYPT AND THE BIBLE
and Sarah (Genesis 12:10-20), King
Jeroboam of Israel (I Kings 11:40), a
group of people fleeing the Babylonians
(II Kings 25:26), the prophet Jeremiah
(Jeremiah 43:5-7), and the baby Jesus
and His family (Matthew 2:13-15).
The relationship between Egypt and the
Israelites in the Bible is complicated.
Abraham visited Egypt but experienced
challenges in his relationship with
Pharaoh and had to leave. Joseph, son
of Jacob, ended up in Egypt when his
jealous brothers sold him to traders.
Joseph lived the life of a slave until,
after some amazing circumstances, he
became the second most powerful man
in Egypt.
The Israelites first came to Egypt to
escape a famine during the time when
Joseph was a leader in Egypt (Genesis
37–47). It was after this that the
Israelites spent about four hundred
years in slavery in Egypt (Genesis
15:13, Exodus 12:40-41, Acts 7:6). EGYPT AND THE BIBLE 5
This time in Egypt was their longest
period away from Israel, and Exodus
14 describes it coming to an end in
dramatic fashion when the ten plagues
fell on Egypt and the Israelites were
able to escape to freedom when the
Red Sea parted.
Moses, the first Bible writer and one
of the greatest prophets of the Old
Testament, was born in Egypt, and led
the Israelites out of captivity, through
the waters of the Red Sea and on to the
promised land.
The country of Egypt and its people
have played important roles in the story
of the Israelites.
Let’s find out some more about the
connection of Egypt and the Bible and
discover how some of the monuments
and hieroglyphics help us better
understand the Bible stories and the
interaction between Israel and Egypt. 6 EGYPT AND THE BIBLE
The Nile
The Wonders of Egypt have fascinated
many people. And the heart of Egypt
is the Nile. It is truly a gift to the
people of Egypt. Through the years,
the Nile has been their means of travel,
communication, commerce and food.
This important river has influenced
every aspect of life in Egypt. It is the
longest river in the world with a total
length of about 6,650 km from its
source in the region of Lake Victoria to
its mouth at the Mediterranean Sea.
Once every year the Nile overflowed its
banks, fertilizing and watering the soil.
Because the ancient peoples thought
the flooding was mysterious, the river
was sacred.
The rise of the river was regarded as a
good omen and celebrated by the River
Festival. This event is all described
in vivid detail on the walls of the
magnificent temple of Luxor at Thebes. EGYPT AND THE BIBLE 7
But until the 1800’s no-one could read
the ancient inscriptions.
The Nile valley varies from 20-40
kilometres in width. But the fertile
section of the valley is the part watered
by the Nile and is only about three to
four kilometres across. 99% of the
population of Egypt live on 3.3% of its
soil because beyond Egypt is a desert.
The people have invented ingenious
ways to harness and effectively use
every drop of available water. There’s
the shaduf, a long beam with a leather
bucket at one end and a counter-
balance at the other used to raise the
water from the river to the field. Another
water-raising device is the water wheel.
A blindfolded cow treads in a circle,
yoked to the forked wooden centre post
of the water wheel to lift the water out
of the ditch.
The Nile boatmen pioneered in the
development of river craft. They had 8 EGYPT AND THE BIBLE
smaller reed rafts and built mighty
60-metre barges for hauling obelisks
and other monuments. These barges
would frequently be used to haul the
world-famous, rich, red granite of
Aswan down the river.
Papyrus
In ancient times the banks of the Nile
as well as the Nile delta were covered
with tall reeds called papyrus. The
papyrus was also the symbol for Lower
Egypt and the Delta. It can be seen in
ancient Egyptian art and is depicted on
the columns in their temples.
During Bible times, as told in Exodus
2, there is the story of the baby Moses
being placed in a little basket boat
made of bulrushes from the river Nile
and hidden amongst the bulrushes by
his mother Jochebed, and watched over
by his sister, Miriam, before being found
by the princess of Egypt.
The early Egyptians also developed an EGYPT AND THE BIBLE 9
excellent type of paper from the papyri.
In fact, it was the most convenient
writing material available to the ancient
world for many centuries. The Egyptians
exported this paper, maintaining a
lucrative monopoly on this important
product.
But Isaiah, the prophet, predicted that
the bulrushes would dry up and be no
more. It’s found in Isaiah 19:6, where
it says, ‘The reeds and rushes will rot
away, … and will be no more.’ The Bible
prediction is true, as today in Egypt
there are no reeds or bulrushes growing
along the Nile River.
The ancient Egyptians also used the
reeds to make boats. In the Bible, Isaiah
18:2 says, ‘Egypt sends messengers
up the Nile on ships made of reeds.’
Historians confirm that the papyrus
reeds were bound into bundles and
used to construct many of the vessels
that sailed the waters of the ancient
Mediterranean. 10 EGYPT AND THE BIBLE
Beni Hasan
Egypt is one long archaeological
museum and is full of many amazing
structures, monuments, and tombs.
About 170kms south of Cairo are the
tombs of Beni Hasan. These thirty-nine
tombs are cut into the limestone cliffs.
These tombs belonged to nobles who
ruled this Egyptian province almost four
thousand years ago and date back to
the days of the patriarchs, Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob.
The walls of these tombs are covered with
magnificent paintings and hieroglyph
inscriptions. Of special interest is the
beautiful tomb of Khnumhotep. He was
the province’s most important official,
the governor of the eastern desert.
One of the paintings in the tombs has
become particularly famous for its
colourful picture describing the arrival
of thirty-seven Semites from Canaan
bringing the products of their country EGYPT AND THE BIBLE 11
to barter for the grain stored in Egypt
during times of famine. The painting
shows the clothes they wore, the kind
of footwear they had, and the musical
instruments they played.
Currently, it was common for groups
of people from neighbouring countries
to travel to Egypt to barter for grain.
There is a story of the sons of Jacob
coming to Egypt to buy grain found in
the Bible in Genesis 42:1-3 This painting
demonstrates that life in ancient Egypt
was very much like the Bible records.
‘When Jacob saw that there was grain
in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Indeed I
have heard that there is grain in Egypt:
go down to that place and buy for us
there, that we may live and not die.” So
Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy
grain in Egypt.’
As archaeologists study the hieroglyphs
and uncover the past in Egypt, they are
discovering monuments, inscriptions, 12 EGYPT AND THE BIBLE
people, and places that demonstrate
the accuracy and reliability of the Bible.
Tell el-Armarna
A short distance south of the tombs of
Beni Hasan stand the ruins of Tell el-
Amarna. In 1887 an Egyptian peasant
woman was looking among the remains
of the deserted site and came across
several baked clay tablets with writing
on them. Thinking they might be
worth something, she put them into
some gunny sacks and sold them to
a neighbouring villager for a small
amount. He in turn loaded the sacks
on donkeys and took them to Cairo.
There the antique dealer showed little
interest for the writing was cuneiform
rather than the familiar hieroglyphics.
Consequently, they were suspected to
be forgeries. So unable to sell them,
the man put them back on the donkeys
and jostled his way the 671 kilometres
south to Luxor. EGYPT AND THE BIBLE 13
Eventually a scholar in Luxor recognized
their value and gradually the tablets
found their way into the great museums
of the world. They proved to be an
immense find, and include hundreds
of letters written from Palestine,
Syria, Babylon and other countries to
Amenhotep III and Akhenaton during
the days of the important eighteenth
dynasty.
This discovery led the famous
archaeologist, Sir Flinders Petrie, to
commence excavations at Tell el-
Amarna resulting in the uncovering of
the lavish capitol of Pharaoh Akhenaton,
the famous sun king. The city, dating
back to the fourteenth century B.C.,
was spread over a crescent-shaped
plain about twelve kilometres long and
five kilometres wide.
Akhenaton was first given the name of
his father, Amenhotep, meaning ‘Amon
is satisfied.’ Amon being the name
of one of their gods. For six years he 14 EGYPT AND THE BIBLE
reigned peacefully with his father. But
upon his father’s death, he rebelled
against the whole traditional worship
system of Amon at Thebes, moving the
capitol to this new area.
His name was changed to Akhenaton,
incorporating the name Aton – the Sun,
and the city was called the city of the
Radiance of Aton, instead of the City
of Amon. So, Akhenaton is best known
as the heretic king. He did away with
all the old cults, dispossessed priests,
terminated official worship of the gods
throughout the land, smashed their
images, erased their names from the
monuments, and abolished the plural
form of the word ‘god’.
Akhenaton introduced a new system
of worship where there would be only
one unique universal god, the sun.
Under the name of Aton and the symbol
of a sun disk, this radical monotheist
challenged the old order with its many
gods and deities. EGYPT AND THE BIBLE 15
Before transferring the capital from
Thebes to present day Tell el-Amarna,
the new king erected at Thebes a huge
sun temple. Later Ikhnaton moved his
capital to Amarna and set up fourteen
boundary stelae to mark the limits of
his holy city. Hieroglyphic inscriptions
describe how Ikhnaton dedicated the
capitol to his god and swore never to
leave the place for the rest of his days.
His holy city contained a vast complex
of buildings including temples, a
royal estate, barracks, mansions,
administrative buildings, and a
workmen’s village. The royal palace was
perhaps the largest secular building in
the ancient world. Its western frontage
was 800 metres in length and faced the
river. There were state apartments, a
great coronation hall, two harems with
hundreds of rooms and colonnades
leading to sunken gardens and
ornamental pools.
Later pharaohs destroyed the site 16 EGYPT AND THE BIBLE
but fortunately many records remain
depicting life in the sun capital. Many
of the records and pictures are of
Akhenaton’s famous wife, Nefertiti, and
his six daughters, one of whom became
the wife of King Tutankhamen, who
succeeded Akhenaton to the throne.
Tutankhamen’s wife was Akhenaton’s
second daughter and Tutankhamen was
only nine years old when he was chosen
to be co-ruler and future successor of
Akhenaton.
The famous young Pharaoh,
Tutankhamen, ruled briefly at the sun
capitol, then forsook it and returned
to Thebes where the former gods were
reinstated, and he began restoring the
desecrated temples. The influence of
the sun worship of his father-in-law
though, was retained. This is seen in the
treasures found in King Tutankhamen’s
tomb. One of the most famous is the
beautiful relief on his throne chair EGYPT AND THE BIBLE 17
depicting the orb of the sun with its
characteristic rays.
Unfortunately, the boy king died at the
age of eighteen and was buried in a
small tomb in the Valley of the Kings
opposite Thebes. The story of the
discovery of his tomb with its immense
treasure is one of the most thrilling of
all archaeological epics.
Luxor
In ancient Egypt, Luxor was known
as Thebes. It was during the reign of
Amenhotep III that Egypt reached one
of its periods of greatest splendour.
Amenhotep III is sometimes referred
to as Amenhotep the Magnificent. The
name of the chief god of Thebes was
Amon. This name is incorporated into
the name of the king, Amenhotep.
The Great Temple of Amun, or Amon, is
the central temple of the huge Temples
of Karnak in present-day Luxor. At
the front of the temple is the pylon of 18 EGYPT AND THE BIBLE
Ramses II, one of the best known of
the pharaohs, who came to the throne
about 1299 B.C. and reigned for 67
years.
Inside is the forecourt of Ramses II
which is surrounded by seventy-four
large granite columns. The walls and
pylons are lined with statues of Ramses
II and adorned with scenes of his
victories over his enemies. He placed
his inscriptions everywhere, waged war
as far away as Syria, built temples all
over the country, and erected giant
monuments to himself and his beautiful
Queen Nefertari.
Hittites
As archaeologists studied these great
temples and monuments with their
hieroglyph inscriptions built by Ramses
II, they made an amazing discovery
that confirmed Bible history. It involved
the mysterious Hittites. EGYPT AND THE BIBLE 19
Now, the problem with the ancient
Hittites might well be called the riddle
of the ages. Because you see, 48 times
the Bible mentions the Hittite race – its
dealings with Abraham, with Solomon,
with David, with Egypt.
These Bible references picture the
Hittites as one of the most powerful of
ancient empires. Yet in all the records
of antiquity, aside from the Bible, not a
trace of them – not a word – remained.
Only the Bible mentioned the Hittites.
So, scholarly critics of the Bible said
that it would be impossible for such
an empire to disappear from history
without leaving a single trace behind.
Therefore, a lack of evidence was
interpreted as evidence that the Hittites
never existed – and were nothing more
than an ancient legend, a Bible myth.
People said the Bible was wrong. 20 EGYPT AND THE BIBLE
Rosetta Stone
Then came the Rosetta Stone. It is one
of the most important objects in the
British Museum today as it holds the key
to understanding Egyptian hieroglyphs
– a script made up of small pictures that
was used originally in ancient Egypt.
The Rosetta Stone was found at a fort
in the town of Rosetta, near Alexandria,
by one of Napoleon Bonaparte’s officers
in 1799 during his Egyptian campaign.
The French soldier discovered a black
basalt slab inscribed with ancient
writing. The irregularly shaped stone
contained fragments of passages
written in three different scripts: Greek,
Egyptian hieroglyphics and Egyptian
demotic.
The ancient Greek inscription on the
Rosetta Stone informed archaeologists
that it was inscribed by priests honouring
the king of Egypt, Ptolemy V, in the
second century B.C. More startlingly, EGYPT AND THE BIBLE 21
the Greek passage announced that
the three scripts were all of identical
meaning. The Rosetta Stone thus
held the key to solving the riddle of
hieroglyphics, a written language that
had been “dead” or not used for nearly
2,000 years.
Unfortunately, no one could read the
Egyptian Hieroglyphs until a French
linguist and Egyptologist named Jean-
Francois Champollion finally managed
to decipher it. He taught himself
ancient languages and cracked the
code and deciphered the hieroglyphics
using his knowledge of Greek as a
guide. Hieroglyphics used pictures to
represent objects, sounds and groups
of sounds.
Once the Rosetta Stone inscriptions
were translated, the language and
culture of ancient Egypt was suddenly
open to scientists as never before.
Now the Egyptian hieroglyph reliefs 22 EGYPT AND THE BIBLE
and inscriptions could be read. And the
stories told on the great pillars, pylons
and monuments of Karnak Temple could
be read.
And here, on these massive walls, is
an amazing story of when Ramses II
went to war with the king of the Hittites
in one of the great, decisive battles of
history. A battle in which the power of
Egypt was tested to the limit.
In fact, the battle was so important, and
the Hittites so powerful, that Ramses
carved the story of his epic battle
with them on all the major temples of
Egypt. He is seen in his chariot shooting
arrows at the Hittites, and holding ropes
binding rows of Hittite prisoners.
Finally, Ramses is shown dedicating the
prisoners and booty to the Egyptian
gods and there’s a long poem that
describes this tremendous battle with
the Hittites and its outcome. EGYPT AND THE BIBLE 23
Ramses II claimed a great victory and
his personal heroism is depicted on the
temple walls. But despite these claims,
it is now known that Ramses II was
almost killed in the battle and ended up
signing a peace treaty with the Hittite
king and sealed it by his marriage to
one of the king’s daughters. This is
the earliest international peace treaty
known in history.
From these inscriptions and other
archaeological discoveries, we now
know that the Hittites were indeed
a mighty empire, one of the most
powerful in the ancient world. They
were based in present-day Turkey and
their rule stretched from the Black Sea
to Damascus.
The hieroglyphic inscriptions at Karnak
show that the Hittites of Bible fame
were no myth after all. And the Bible
is vindicated again. This has happened
at one ancient site after another here
in Egypt. 24 EGYPT AND THE BIBLE
Shishak
Another significant relief found on
the Karnak Temple walls is the story
of Shishak. The inscriptions on the
temple wall tell the story of how after
the death of King Solomon, Shishak,
Pharaoh of Egypt invaded Palestine and
entered Jerusalem and took all the gold
and riches from Solomon’s Temple or
sometimes known as the First Temple.
The Bible records the invasion in I Kings
14:25,26:
It happened in the fifth year of King
Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt
came up against Jerusalem. And he
took away the treasures of the house
of the Lord and the treasures of the
king’s house; he took away everything.
He also took away all the gold shields
which Solomon had made.
One of the reliefs on a wall of the Karnak
temple depicts Shishak dedicating his
spoils from Solomon’s Temple to the EGYPT AND THE BIBLE 25
Egyptian god, Amon. Each captured
city is represented by the figure of a
Hebrew on whose body is inscribed the
name of a conquered city. On the part
of the relief still visible, there are over
100 of such cities listed.
Aswan and Elephant Island
Aswan has long been known for the
building of the Aswan Dam in 1960. But
there is a place that is lesser known
that has some amazing archaeological
discoveries. Elephant Island is in the
centre of the Nile River at Aswan. This
island is said to have gained its name
from the shape of its huge rocks that
resemble elephants. In ancient times
it was a commercial, religious, and
military centre for the district.
It was on this island that some extremely
important papyri, or ancient writings,
were discovered. These writings,
known as the Elephantine Papyri, give
support to the Old Testament books of 26 EGYPT AND THE BIBLE
Ezra and Nehemiah. Historians tell us
that a Mr Wilbour purchased the papyri
in 1893. He became ill on his way back
to America and his trunk containing
the precious documents was stored in
a warehouse in New York City where it
lay unopened for 50 years until it came
into the possession of the Brooklyn
Museum.
The ancient writings were first read by
Dr Siegfried H. Horn, archaeologist,
and professor of Old Testament studies
at Andrews University. Other ancient
writings were also found on the island.
These documents were written by a
colony of Jews stationed on the island
as mercenary soldiers serving in the
Egyptian army.
These documents confirm the accuracy
of the Bible books of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Some scholars questioned the historic
accuracy of these books and the
existence of the people mentioned in
them. But in these documents, you can EGYPT AND THE BIBLE 27
read about Sanballat, the old enemy
of Nehemiah, and of Johanan, the high
priest of Jerusalem frequently referred
to in Nehemiah.
The papyri also established that the
Jewish civil calendar began in the
autumn of the year and confirmed
457 BC as the date for the decree of
Artaxerxes authorizing the rebuilding of
Jerusalem as recorded in Ezra 7.
Abu Simbel
When the Aswan High Dam was built
on the Nile, Lake Nassar was formed.
Many temples were completely covered
and destroyed by the waters of the new
lake. But one temple was saved and
relocated, the great temple of Ramses
II, Abu Simbel.
For 3,200 years, the huge, sculptured
sentinels guarded the southern entrance
to Egypt. It is believed that 25,000 men
worked for twenty years to erect this
colossal monument to the sun and the 28 EGYPT AND THE BIBLE
god-king, Ramses II.
But when the Nile was dammed, the
rising waters threatened to submerge
these structures. In a mad rush against
time, the two temples were cut into
1,050 blocks, some of them weighing
33 tonnes, and transported to the
new site on higher ground, nearly 300
kilometres to the south. It was an
amazing and complex feat – to move
15,000 tonnes of monument - and took
over four years before it was completed
in 1967.
At Abu Simbel today, the structures
include two temples, one for Pharaoh
Ramses II and one for his beautiful wife,
Nefertari. The great temple celebrates
the sun god and Ramses himself as
a living god. The smaller temple was
erected to honour Hathor, goddess of
love, and Ramses’ favourite wife, Queen
Nefertari. EGYPT AND THE BIBLE 29
The temples are a colossal size. At the
great temple, the seated colossus of
Ramses towers upward some twenty-
three metres. The face measures over
four metres across from ear to ear.
Ramses wanted everyone to know that
he was the Pharaoh and the dominant
leader of the nation. He even lords it
over his wife at Abu Simbel as Queen
Nefertari was only granted two statues
fronting the façade of her temple and
although standing, they are a mere
eleven metres high and each one is
flanked by two statues of Ramses.
The great temple is orientated toward
the east so that the first rays of the
morning sun would pierce the interior
illuminating the ten metre statues in
the great hall. Twice each year, about
the 20th October, the date of Ramses’
accession to power, and again about
mid-February, the sun’s rays penetrate
nearly seventy metres back into the
inner-most sanctuary, there to bless the 32 EGYPT AND THE BIBLE
statue of the god king dwelling in the
company of the other gods. Ramses, of
course, considered himself one of the
gods and sits between the sun god, Re-
Harakhti and Amon, god of Thebes.
The temple includes twelve separate
chambers, and the walls are covered
with some of the largest reliefs of
battle scenes, hunting expeditions and
religious life to be found anywhere in
the world.
Conclusion
As archaeologists and linguists read
the hieroglyphs on the temples, tombs,
and monuments of ancient Egypt, they
discovered that it all fits together with
the Bible record. They bring a message
from the past to our generation and to
you and me. It’s a message that echoes
across the centuries stating loud and
clear, ‘You can trust the Bible.’

But God… A Story of Amazing Grace
My wilderness years were between 1986 and 2001. Yes, I did go to church on occasion—not the best one, to be honest. I picked up my Bible sometimes and prayed, but not with the same love and fervour I once had.



Something was happening, and the Holy Spirit was speaking. At this time, I was back home with my mum after living away for a long period. I had put all my effort into doing things my way.



I had a computer, and through it I came into contact with a Christian who challenged me to repent and return to God. My response was that although God would forgive, He would never trust me again and would never forget my sin.



I remember one day being in my bedroom when I broke down in tears. The Lord restored me. He is truly the God of the second chance, and I was a prodigal who had come home.



I found a church and settled there, but my computer became my enemy. I was drawn away by my own lusts and the devil, and I formed a friendship with a so-called female “pastor” in the USA. Being very foolish, I moved there in 2004 and got married, losing not only my testimony but also my mother, the respect of my family, and nearly my life. The three years spent in America were a sobering experience. I blame no one but myself, but again God was gracious and merciful, giving me mercy and grace I did not deserve.



Thankfully, I was able to spend three months with my brother in Canada, taking time to restore my relationship with him and, most importantly, with the Lord. I then returned to the UK and went back to my old church. They looked shocked when I arrived, and I heard many say, “I told you so.”



Over the next four years, the Lord restored me. I thought that was the end of my story, but God had another surprise for me. I believed I would never move again. Relationships took a back seat, and after another painful disappointment I said to the Lord, “No relationships and no internet relationships ever again, Lord.”



The summer of 2011 was a time of deep fellowship between me and the Lord. I spent many hours in prayer. Fellowship with Him was sweet, and I also had a website that was receiving visits from all over the world, including Nanjing, China. China… that was amazing, but I did not think much of it at the time.



I had an old email account, so I decided to move to Gmail and informed a few contacts on Hotmail that I was changing addresses, never expecting a reply.



But I did receive one—from a lady in China. She did not know whether I was a brother or sister in the Lord, or even a strange person. I assumed she was simply someone who had visited the website and thought, “That’s interesting—she wants to be friends. Wow, a Chinese friend!”



During the summer of 2011, something began to develop. I did not hear from my friend for a few weeks, but then she asked to Skype. I thought, “Okay… we can see what each other looks like, and that will probably end this.”



Instead, we found ourselves chatting every day. Something was happening. I remember thinking, “No, Lord… are You serious?”



We all know how the story ended.



As autumn came, things moved quickly. Our friendship deepened, and on 1 October the Lord spoke clearly to Helen that I was to be her husband. The following Tuesday, He spoke to me that she was to be my wife. I remember it clearly—it was early morning, and His word was direct and unmistakable.



At that time, I had just moved into my caravan and was settled. I wondered what my family would think. My niece reacted strongly, and my brother did not speak to me for two weeks. Everything became increasingly clear, and as we both prayed and sought the Lord, He confirmed it further. Obstacles were removed.



I bought a ticket to China on 29 February 2012. I travelled in June, lost my luggage (though thankfully I had tag and tracking, and it was found), and I was the last person off the plane. Helen must have thought I was not coming—but we met, and everything changed forever.



We became engaged in China, and I returned to the UK after a month. My static caravan had to be sold, along with my furniture, which the Lord graciously provided for.



Now I live in China. Life here is not easy, and the language remains a mystery to me. But I am thankful for my two wonderful girls—my dear wife and our precious daughter.



But God is my story.



I was dead—not just sick, but spiritually dead. I had no hope. Spiritually, we are not merely weak—we are dead in rebellion against God and His ways, lost to His grace and truth, and under His judgment.



I could do nothing to save myself. That is true for all of us. We are spiritually dead, and it takes God to intervene and bring spiritual life.



Someone once said it is all about grace—amazing grace:



G – God’s
R – Riches
A – At
C – Christ’s
E – Expense



I have been saved by God’s grace. It is all about His amazing grace. God intervened in my life. But God… because of this, I have been redeemed.



I have nothing to offer God except my sin. What He offered me was His love, mercy, and grace—all completely undeserved.



I pray that what I have shared will be used by God to open someone’s eyes to the Saviour I love and treasure, and to His finished work on the cross. Because of this, I can sing:



Amazing Grace



1
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.



2
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!



3
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
’tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.



4
The Lord has promised good to me;
His Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.



5
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.




New website







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JAMES 1
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted of God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man.
14 But every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed.
15 Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

DOWNHILL IN THE USA
I was involved in website ministry and, through a mutual friend, I was introduced to a so-called lady pastor.

This should have been a red flag, but I was entranced by this woman. She had me listening to preachers like Rodney Howard-Browne and Joyce Meyer, and I was being led astray.

This was in 2004, and my mum was getting worse as she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.

Now, let me be honest: I blame no one but myself. I thought of nothing but myself, and I was led away by my own greed and selfishness.

So, in late 2004, I left my mum and travelled to America, where I foolishly married this woman. To this day, she was not a true pastor. She followed prosperity preachers, smoked fifty cigarettes a day, slept with three dogs on her bed, and had one violent son and another whose girlfriend struggled with crack addiction.

I do not wish to dwell too much on this period of my life. Instead, let it serve as a warning to anyone who wants to depart from the true and holy will of God.

The cost to me was terrible. I never saw my mother again, I lost the respect of my family, I left my church, and I nearly lost my faith.

Thankfully, I was able to leave that situation. Many may say this was wrong, but it was an abusive and violent marriage.

I travelled across the USA to my brother’s home in Canada, where I stayed for four months before returning to the UK.

He owned many acres of land, and during my time there I was able to restore my relationship with him and his wife, and most importantly, with the Lord.

This is a time I bitterly regret, yet thankfully the Lord has completely restored me.

Devotional Thought
Being outside of God’s will is the worst place to be. You need to be right in the centre of God’s will; anywhere else, you are at the mercy of the devil.

As you read my story, you will see a pattern: my disobedience and rebellion contrasted with God’s grace. This is something I am deeply ashamed of, but I write it as a warning.

God is very patient with all of us. We do not deserve His grace and mercy. All of us — and I most of all — have made foolish decisions that have cost us fellowship with family, friends, and most importantly, with God.

My time in America was a sobering experience. God preserved me, and I am grateful that He did and that restoration was complete.

Please, if you are reading this, do not wander from God’s ways. Doing so nearly cost me my life.

CHAPTER 14
SURPRISED BY HELEN
Psalm 18:30
“As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him.”

I returned to the UK in July 2007 with my tail between my legs. I managed to get a room in a house not far from Heysham Church. They had a new pastor, one who became my mentor, dear Pastor Mark.

The first Sunday I returned, I did not go into the service. I stayed outside. People looked at me, and their eyes seemed to say, “We told you so.” Indeed, some verbalised their thoughts. To be honest, I deserved it.

So there I was again, trying to find a job, but at least I was spiritually settled. After three years, I managed to get a small flat of my own in central Morecambe. It was tiny — the kitchen was probably the smallest on the planet.

It was not really suitable. My family suggested that I go on sick leave because of depression, but that was not a good option, nor one I should have taken. I wanted to work. I attended job clubs, wrote applications, and went to interviews, but refusal after refusal left me discouraged. Why?

In 2011, my spiritual life was flourishing. I enjoyed such sweet fellowship with the Lord. Hour after hour was spent in prayer and devotion, and it was a precious time. The Lord spoke very clearly.

I was also able to write, and people appreciated the devotions. During that summer, I had an internet relationship with a lady who eventually only wanted money. I was fed up.

“Lord, I want no more relationships, and certainly not an internet one.”

The Lord had been waiting for me to say this. Now, so to speak, He had carte blanche — a clean page. At last, Keith had stepped out of the way.

In early summer 2011, I decided to change an old Hotmail account to Gmail. After all, it was better, and I only had about ten people on Hotmail anyway. There was one email containing a few contacts, so I wrote to tell them I was closing the account. I also shared our church’s free website.

The next day, I noticed the website had received hits from Nanjing, China. “Wow,” I thought, “it has reached China!”

In my inbox was an email from a lady in China. She thanked me for the website and said we shared the same beliefs. “Wonderful,” I thought, “a Chinese friend.”

So we began emailing one another. I discovered she was a schoolteacher called Helen — my favourite name — and she had a teenage daughter. In one of her first emails, she said she thought I was a woman, which may explain why she contacted me in the first place!

She later went on holiday with her parents and daughter, and I did not hear from her for a while. But then she contacted me again. This time, she wanted to talk on Skype so we could see each other.

“If you don’t get Skype, I won’t talk to you again,” she said.

I had not downloaded Skype yet, but I soon did.

Anyway, we began talking online. She was kind, and we both enjoyed chatting together. Her daughter was shy in those days, and all I ever saw was a hand waving at the camera.

During the autumn, we grew closer and closer. I felt a real connection with her. We started praying together, and despite the time difference, she would call me regularly.

We also began sending letters to each other. Those letters were — and still are — very precious to us. Things were moving quickly, but could this really be the one for me? After all, Helen was in China and I was in Morecambe. I had only just managed to get a static caravan and was busy furnishing it with a sofa bed, a new boiler, a fridge, and other essentials. Surely not.

But God had His hand upon us, and in the next chapter we will see how He unfolded His plan.

Devotional Thought
We all want to control things — especially me. I had tried for years to find a Christian wife. After all, everyone else seemed to be getting married, so why not me?

Sometimes we simply need to step out of the way. God is very patient. He waited for me to surrender, and then He gave me Helen.

I had already tried to do things my own way and had fallen flat on my face. But once I moved aside, God was able to work.

In China, many Christian parents become anxious if their children reach the age of twenty-five without being married. As many families only have one child, grandchildren are often seen as a great blessing and a sign of honour. Sadly, some people try to force matters instead of trusting God’s timing.

Christian friend, you also need to step out of the way. Only when you give God control of your situation — especially regarding marriage — can His perfect will be accomplished.

It is difficult when everyone else in your church seems to be getting married while you remain single. But God’s timing is perfect, and His choice is always best.

I am so grateful that He gave me the wonderful gift of the best wife in the world, together with a beautiful daughter and son.

THE SANCTUARY # 9
The Messiah: The 2300 Days

And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Daniel 8:14

While the First Temple, the one built by Solomon, lay in ruins, the prophet Daniel received several visions from God that described future scenes in the heavenly sanctuary. (Remember, the earthly sanctuary was a representation of the heavenly sanctuary.) And just as the daily sacrifice on earth was designed to point the Hebrews to the Messiah’s death for their sins, so their yearly Day of Atonement pointed forward to another of His works in His mission to redeem humanity: the final work of the High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary. In one of these extraordinary visions, Daniel saw a ram with uneven horns pushing west, north, and south and conquering every beast he met (Daniel 8:3, 4). The angel Gabriel later appeared and explained to the prophet, “The ram which you saw, having the two horns—they are the kings of Media and Persia” (Daniel 8:20).

Daniel then saw another powerful animal attack the ram, breaking its horns: “The male goat is the kingdom of Greece The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king. As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation” (Daniel 8:21, 22).

History affirms that Greece conquered Medo-Persia, so it is clear that the “large horn” on this goat represents Alexander the Great, “the first king” And just as the vision foretold, after his death, the empire was divided among his four generals, symbolized by the four horns. But then Daniel sees in vision another power that would arise after Greece, “a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land” (v 9). What world power arose after Greece?

The Next World Power

History reveals that the kingdom mentioned in Daniel chapters 2 and 7, the one that would follow Greece, is Rome. This is in harmony with the prophetic rule of “repeat and expand,” where the same prophecy is foretold more than once and each time more detail unfolds. Daniel 7:24–27 establishes that Rome in its papal form will be succeeded by the kingdom of Christ. The “little horn” of Daniel 8 fits this pattern exactly: It follows Greece and is finally supernaturally destroyed—“broken without human means” (Daniel 8:25)—at Jesus’ second coming. (Compare Daniel 8:25 with Daniel 2:34.)

Daniel 8 says that the Medo-Persians would become “great” (v 4), the Grecians “very great” (v 8), and the little horn “exceedingly great” (v 9). History is clear that no power following Greece and occupying Israel became “exceedingly great” other than Rome, which, as the prophecy also predicted, extended its power to the south (Egypt), the east (Macedonia), and “the Glorious Land” (Israel). Moreover, only Rome has attempted to stand against Jesus, “the Prince of the host” (v 11) and “the Prince of princes” (v 25). Pagan Rome crucified Him and also destroyed the Jewish temple.

Later, papal Rome effectively caused the heavenly sanctuary to be “cast down” (v 11) and “trampled underfoot” (v 13) by seeking to replace Jesus as our High Priest in heaven with an earthly priesthood that claims to forgive sins. Of course, no one but God can forgive sins (Luke 5:21), and Jesus is our only Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). Daniel 8 tells us that the little horn would also destroy many of God’s people (vv 10, 24, 25) and “cast truth down to the ground” (v 12). When asked how long God’s people and the sanctuary would be attacked, the angel replied: “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed” (Daniel 8:14). Heaven’s reply was that the sanctuary in heaven—and God’s church on earth—would experience a cleansing after 2,300 prophetic days, which is 2,300 literal years. (In Bible prophecy, there is a day-for-a-year principle See Ezekiel 4:6 and Numbers 14:34.)

We learned that the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary took place on the Day of Atonement. On that day, God’s people were identified as belonging to Him and the record of their sins was removed. Those who clung to sin, however, were cut off from Israel. Thus, the camp was cleansed from sin. In Daniel 8:14, the Lord assured Daniel that sin and the “little horn” would not always prosper, control the world, and persecute God’s people. Instead, after 2,300 years, God will step in through the heavenly Day of Atonement (or judgment), when sin and unrepentant sinners will be identified and, later, removed from the universe.

Thus, the universe will be cleansed from sin forever. The wrongs against God’s people will at long last be righted, and the peace that once characterized Eden will once again fill the earth.

The 2300 Day Prophecy Chart

The 2,300-day Prophecy

When speaking about the 2,300-day prophecy, the angel Gabriel stressed, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end. … I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation … Therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future” (Daniel 8:17, 19, 26, emphasis added). This special prophecy, as we shall see, applies to all of us who are living at the end of earth’s history. After Daniel’s vision of chapter 8, the angel Gabriel came to explain the vision to the prophet. However, when Gabriel reached the point of the 2,300 days, Daniel collapsed and became ill. He eventually regained his strength and resumed doing his normal work, but he remained concerned regarding the unexplained portion of the vision. Daniel prayed earnestly for his people, the Jews who were in captivity in Medo-Persia, pleading with God to forgive them.

Daniel 9 begins with this prophet’s beautiful appeal to God. While Daniel was in prayer, Gabriel returned and stated that he had come to explain the rest of the vision described in Daniel 8 (compare Daniel 8:26 with Daniel 9:23). The angel explained that 70 weeks from the 2,300 years would be “determined for” (9:24) Daniel’s people, the Jews, and their capital city of Jerusalem.

These seventy prophetic weeks equal 490 literal years (70 x 7 = 490). It meant that God’s people would soon return from their captivity in Medo-Persia, and that when
that happened, the Lord would allot 490 years from the 2,300 years to His people as another opportunity to repent, serve Him, and proclaim the first advent of the Messiah to the world. The starting point for the 2,300-year and 490-year prophecies is found in Daniel 9:25:

“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times.”

This starting event was fulfilled by a decree from Persian King Artaxerxes authorizing God’s people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city. The decree, found in Ezra 7, was issued in 457 bc—the seventh year of the king (v 7)—and was implemented in the autumn.

The Time Is Fulfilled

The angel said that 69 prophetic weeks or 483 literal years (69 x 7 = 483) added to 457 bc would reach to the time of the Messiah (Daniel 9:25). Simple math shows that moving ahead 483 years from the fall of 457 bc reaches the fall of ad 27. (Note: There is no year 0.)

In Hebrew, the word “Messiah” means “anointed” (John 1:41, margin). Exactly as predicted, Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38) at His baptism (Luke 3:21, 22). Again, using the Jewish calendar, His anointing took place in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:1), which was ad 27 Amazing! The prediction that this would occur was made more than 500 years before it happened!

At that time, Jesus began to preach that “the time is fulfilled,” confirming the time prophecy of Daniel, beginning His ministry by clearly referring to the 2,300-year prophecy and stressing its importance and accuracy. (See Mark 1:14, 15; Galatians 4:4 ) This is awesome and thrilling evidence that the Bible is inspired, that Jesus is the Messiah, and that all the other dates in the 2,300-year/490-year prophecy are valid!

With 483 years of the 490-year prophecy covered, there was still one prophetic week (seven literal years) left to unfold (Daniel 9:26, 27). The Bible teaches that Jesus was “cut off”—that is, crucified—“in the middle of the week,” which was three and a half years after His anointing in ad 27. This brings us to the spring of ad 31.

Please notice that the gospel is revealed in verse 26: “After the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself.” Indeed, when Jesus was cut off, it was not for Himself. He “who committed no sin” (1 Peter 2:22) was crucified for you (1 Corinthians 15:3; Isaiah 53:5). Jesus lovingly offered His life to save us from our sin. Hallelujah! Jesus’ atoning sacrifice is in the very heart of Daniel 8 and 9.

The 490-year period of final opportunity for the Jewish nation ended in the fall of ad 34, when Stephen, a martyr of the early church, was tried by the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Supreme Court. As Stephen preached the gospel to them, the leaders plugged their ears (Acts 7:57), signifying that the nation of Israel was officially rejecting the message of Christ. The Sanhedrin then ordered Stephen to be stoned, and he died praying, like Jesus, that God would forgive his executioners.

From that date, ad 34, onward, the Jews, having rejected Jesus, were no longer to be the standard-bearers of salvation. The disciples then began preaching the gospel to other people and nations of the world (Acts 13:46). God has chosen “spiritual Jews” to be the messengers of salvation in Jesus Christ, given to people of all nationalities who accept and serve Him. All who accept Christ have become His chosen people, “heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). Spiritual Jews, of course, include Jewish individuals who embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior (Romans 2:28, 29).

Years Remaining

After ad 34, how many years of the 2,300-year prophecy remain? What is the ending date for the prophecy? And what did the angel say would happen on that date (Daniel 8:14)? There were 1,810 years remaining (2,300 - 490 = 1,810). That means that the ending date for the prophecy is 1844 (ad 34 + 1810 years = ad 1844).

The angel said that at this time, the sanctuary would be cleansed—meaning that the heavenly judgment would begin. (Recall that the earthly sanctuary was destroyed in ad 70, replaced by a new earthly temple, the church.) We learned that the heavenly Day of Atonement was slated for the “end time”. We know that the beginning date for this event is 1844. God set this date It is as certain as the ad 27 date for Jesus’ anointing as the Messiah. God’s end-time people are commanded to announce it (Revelation 14:6, 7).

In the days of Noah, God said that the Flood would occur in 120 years (Genesis 6:3)—and it happened. In Daniel’s day, God stated that His end-time judgment would begin in 2,300 years (Daniel 8:14)—and it happened! God’s end-time judgment has been in session since 1844. It is a judgment that will soon reveal the truth about God’s character and the enemy’s deception to destroy humanity.

The Sanctuary in Your Life

When you consider the wickedness and injustice in the world today, it is easy to become bewildered by events that make it appear as though the Creator is disconnected from it all. Evil people seem to prosper while men and women of faith are persecuted. The innocent suffer; the guilty walk free Where is God in all of this? Does He even care? David, the shepherd-king of Israel, knew the feeling. When he observed unrestrained evil, he wrote, “When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me” (Psalm 73:16). Who could blame him?

But a divine perspective has been given that makes the answer clear: Our loving God has unfolded, through the sanctuary, His master plan to rescue humanity. Even now, the Lord is working for the salvation of all through the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Just like David, we may know this to be true, for David added, “It was too painful for me—until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end” (vv 16, 17, emphasis added).

Like a drone hovering above the scene of an accident and capturing images for the news, the message of the sanctuary provides us with a view from above that opens our understanding to the great war between good and evil, a war which is unfolding in our world today. Furthermore, the work of Christ as our High Priest in the heavenly temple—offering Himself as a sacrifice to purge our sin—gives us hope that judgment will soon bring an end to the evil on our planet.

God is calling His people to proclaim, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come” (Revelation 14:7). We are living now in the time of the heavenly Day of Atonement, a day in which all people should assess their lives and repent of their sins.

The opportunity to choose to be on God’s side will soon be over and Jesus will come. Christ says, “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is” (Mark 13:33). The good news for God’s people is that this is not a time to be afraid! When we look to the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary, we can understand why:

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14–16).

THE SANCTUARY # 8
The Messiah: The Suffering Servant

As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: Isaiah 52:14

Through the long centuries of “trouble and darkness” and “dimness of anguish” (Isaiah 8:22) marking the history of mankind from the day our first parents lost their Eden home, to the time the Son of God appeared as the Saviour of sinners, the hope of the fallen race was centered in the coming of a Deliverer to free men and women from the bondage of sin and the grave.

The first intimation of such a hope was given to Adam and Eve in the sentence pronounced upon the serpent in Eden when the Lord declared to Satan in their hearing, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15.

As the guilty pair listened to these words, they were inspired with hope; for in the prophecy concerning the breaking of Satan's power they discerned a promise of deliverance from the ruin wrought through transgression. Though they must suffer from the power of their adversary because they had fallen under his seductive influence and had chosen to disobey the plain command of Jehovah, yet they need not yield to utter despair. The Son of God was offering to atone with His own lifeblood for their transgression. To them was to be granted a period of probation, during which, through faith in the power of Christ to save, they might become once more the children of God.

Satan, by means of his success in turning man aside from the path of obedience, became “the god of this world.” 2 Corinthians 4:4. The dominion that once was Adam's passed to the usurper. But the Son of God proposed to come to this earth to pay the penalty of sin, and thus not only redeem man, but recover the dominion forfeited. It is of this restoration that Micah prophesied when he said, “O Tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion.” Micah 4:8. The apostle Paul has referred to it as “the redemption of the purchased possession.” Ephesians 1:14. And the psalmist had in mind the same final restoration of man's original inheritance when he declared, “The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever.” Psalm 37:29.

This hope of redemption through the advent of the Son of God as Saviour and King, has never become extinct in the hearts of men. From the beginning there have been some whose faith has reached out beyond the shadows of the present to the realities of the future. Adam, Seth, Enoch, Methuselah, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob— through these and other worthies the Lord has preserved the precious revealings of His will. And it was thus that to the children of Israel, the chosen people through whom was to be given to the world the promised Messiah, God imparted a knowledge of the requirements of His law, and of the salvation to be accomplished through the atoning sacrifice of His beloved Son.

The Birth of ChristThe hope of Israel was embodied in the promise made at the time of the call of Abraham, and afterward repeated again and again to his posterity, “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:3. As the purpose of God for the redemption of the race was unfolded to Abraham, the Sun of Righteousness shone upon his heart, and his darkness was scattered. And when, at last, the Saviour Himself walked and talked among the sons of men, He bore witness to the Jews of the patriarch's bright hope of deliverance through the coming of a Redeemer. “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day,” Christ declared; “and he saw it, and was glad.” John 8:56.

This same blessed hope was foreshadowed in the benediction pronounced by the dying patriarch Jacob upon his son Judah:

“Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise:
Thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies;
Thy father's children shall bow down before thee....
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor a lawgiver from between his feet,
Until Shiloh come;
And unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.” Genesis 49:8-10.

Again, on the borders of the Promised Land, the coming of the world's Redeemer was foretold in the prophecy uttered by Balaam:

“I shall see Him, but not now: I shall behold Him, but not nigh:
There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel,
And shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.” Numbers 24:17.

Through Moses, God's purpose to send His Son as the Redeemer of the fallen race, was kept before Israel. On one occasion, shortly before his death, Moses declared, “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken.” Plainly had Moses been instructed for Israel concerning the work of the Messiah to come. “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee,” was the word of Jehovah to His servant; “and will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him.” Deuteronomy 18:15, 18.

Cain and AbelIn patriarchal times the sacrificial offerings connected with divine worship constituted a perpetual reminder of the coming of a Saviour, and thus it was with the entire ritual of the sanctuary services throughout Israel's history. In the ministration of the tabernacle, and of the temple that afterward took its place, the people were taught each day, by means of types and shadows, the great truths relative to the advent of Christ as Redeemer, Priest, and King; and once each year their minds were carried forward to the closing events of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, the final purification of the universe from sin and sinners. The sacrifices and offerings of the Mosaic ritual were ever pointing toward a better service, even a heavenly. The earthly sanctuary was “a figure for the time then present,” in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices; its two holy places were “patterns of things in the heavens;” for Christ, our great High Priest, is today “a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” Hebrews 9:9, 23; 8:2.

From the day the Lord declared to the serpent in Eden, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed” (Genesis 3:15), Satan has known that he can never hold absolute sway over the inhabitants of this world. When Adam and his sons began to offer the ceremonial sacrifices ordained by God as a type of the coming Redeemer, Satan discerned in these a symbol of communion between earth and heaven. During the long centuries that have followed, it has been his constant effort to intercept this communion. Untiringly has he sought to misrepresent God and to misinterpret the rites pointing to the Saviour, and with a great majority of the members of the human family he has been successful.

While God has desired to teach men that from His own love comes the Gift which reconciles them to Himself, the archenemy of mankind has endeavored to represent God as one who delights in their destruction. Thus the sacrifices and the ordinances designed of Heaven to reveal divine love have been perverted to serve as means whereby sinners have vainly hoped to propitiate, with gifts and good works, the wrath of an offended God. At the same time, Satan has sought to arouse and strengthen the evil passions of men in order that through repeated transgression multitudes might be led on and on, far from God, and hopelessly bound with the fetters of sin.

When God's written word was given through the Hebrew prophets, Satan studied with diligence the messages concerning the Messiah. Carefully he traced the words that outlined with unmistakable clearness Christ's work among men as a suffering sacrifice and as a conquering king. In the parchment rolls of the Old Testament Scriptures he read that the One who was to appear was to be “brought as a lamb to the slaughter,” “His visage ... so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.” Isaiah 53:7; 52:14. The promised Saviour of humanity was to be “despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; ... smitten of God, and afflicted;” yet He was also to exercise His mighty power in order to “judge the poor of the people.” He was to “save the children of the needy,” and “break in pieces the oppressor.” Isaiah 53:3, 4; Psalm 72:4. These prophecies caused Satan to fear and tremble; yet he relinquished not his purpose to thwart, if possible, the merciful provisions of Jehovah for the redemption of the lost race. He determined to blind the eyes of the people, so far as might be possible, to the real significance of the Messianic prophecies, in order to prepare the way for the rejection of Christ at His coming.

During the centuries immediately preceding the Flood, success had attended Satan's efforts to bring about a worldwide prevalence of rebellion against God. And even the lessons of the Deluge were not long held in remembrance. With artful insinuations Satan again led the children of men step by step into bold rebellion. Again he seemed about to triumph, but God's purpose for fallen man was not thus to be set aside. Through the posterity of faithful Abraham, of the line of Shem, a knowledge of Jehovah's beneficent designs was to be preserved for the benefit of future generations. From time to time divinely appointed messengers of truth were to be raised up to call attention to the meaning of the sacrificial ceremonies, and especially to the promise of Jehovah concerning the advent of the One toward whom all the ordinances of the sacrificial system pointed. Thus the world was to be kept from universal apostasy.

Not without the most determined opposition was the divine purpose carried out. In every way possible the enemy of truth and righteousness worked to cause the descendants of Abraham to forget their high and holy calling, and to turn aside to the worship of false gods. And often his efforts were all but successful. For centuries preceding Christ's first advent, darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people. Satan was throwing his hellish shadow athwart the pathway of men, that he might prevent them from gaining a knowledge of God and of the future world. Multitudes were sitting in the shadow of death. Their only hope was for this gloom to be lifted, that God might be revealed.

Jesus HealingWith prophetic vision David, the anointed of God, had foreseen that the coming of Christ should be “as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds.” 2 Samuel 23:4. And Hosea testified, “His going forth is prepared as the morning.” Hosea 6:3. Quietly and gently the daylight breaks upon the earth, dispelling the shadow of darkness and waking the earth to life. So was the Sun of Righteousness to arise, “with healing in His wings.” Malachi 4:2. The multitudes dwelling “in the land of the shadow of death” were to see “a great light.” Isaiah 9:2.

The prophet Isaiah, looking with rapture upon this glorious deliverance, exclaimed:

“Unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given:
And the government shall be upon His shoulder:
And His name shall be called
Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
there shall be no end,
Upon the throne of David,
And upon His kingdom,
To order it, and to establish it
With judgment and with justice
From henceforth even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Verses 6, 7.

In the later centuries of Israel's history prior to the first advent it was generally understood that the coming of the Messiah was referred to in the prophecy, “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.” “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,” the prophet had foretold, “and all flesh shall see it together.” Isaiah 49:6; 40:5. It was of this light of men that John the Baptist afterward testified so boldly, when he proclaimed, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.” John 1:23.

It was to Christ that the prophetic promise was given: “Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and His Holy One, to Him whom man despiseth, to Him whom the nation abhorreth, ... thus saith the Lord, ... I will preserve Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; that Thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves.... They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for He that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall He guide them.” Isaiah 49:7-10.

The Sufferings of ChristThe steadfast among the Jewish nation, descendants of that holy line through whom a knowledge of God had been preserved, strengthened their faith by dwelling on these and similar passages. With exceeding joy they read how the Lord would anoint One “to preach good tidings unto the meek,” “to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives,” and to declare “the acceptable year of the Lord.” Isaiah 61:1, 2. Yet their hearts were filled with sadness as they thought of the sufferings He must endure in order to fulfill the divine purpose. With deep humiliation of soul they traced the words in the prophetic roll:

“Who hath believed our report?
And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

“For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of a dry ground:
He hath no form nor comeliness;
And when we shall see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.

“He is despised and rejected of men;
A Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief:
And we hid as it were our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

“Surely He hath borne our griefs,
And carried our sorrows:
Yet we did esteem Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities:
The chastisement of our peace was upon Him;
And with His stripes we are healed.

“All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned everyone to his own way;
And the Lord hath laid on Him
The iniquity of us all.

“He was oppressed, and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth:
He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb,
So He openeth not His mouth.

“He was taken from prison and from judgment:
And who shall declare His generation?
For He was cut off out of the land of the living:
For the transgression of My people was He stricken.

“And He made His grave with the wicked,
And with the rich in His death;
Because He had done no violence,
Neither was any deceit in His mouth.” Isaiah 53:1-9.

Of the suffering Saviour Jehovah Himself declared through Zechariah, “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the Man that is My Fellow.” Zechariah 13:7. As the substitute and surety for sinful man, Christ was to suffer under divine justice. He was to understand what justice meant. He was to know what it means for sinners to stand before God without an intercessor.

Through the psalmist the Redeemer had prophesied of Himself:

“Reproach hath broken My heart;
And I am full of heaviness:
And I looked for some to take pity,
But there was none;
And for comforters,
But I found none.
They gave Me also gall for My meat;
And in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink.” Psalm 69:20, 21.

The View from the CrossOf the treatment He was to receive, He prophesied, “Dogs have compassed Me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed Me: they pierced My hands and My feet. I may tell all My bones: they look and stare upon Me. They part My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture.” Psalm 22:16-18.

These portrayals of the bitter suffering and cruel death of the Promised One, sad though they were, were rich in promise; for of Him whom “it pleased the Lord to bruise” and to put to grief, in order that He might become “an offering for sin,” Jehovah declared:

“He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied:

“By His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many;
For He shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong;
Because He hath poured out His soul unto death:
And He was numbered with the transgressors;
And He bare the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:10-12.

It was love for sinners that led Christ to pay the price of redemption. “He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor,” none other could ransom men and women from the power of the enemy; “therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him.” Isaiah 59:16.

“Behold My Servant, whom I uphold;
Mine Elect, in whom My soul delighteth;
I have put My Spirit upon Him:
He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.” Isaiah 42:1.

In His life no self-assertion was to be mingled. The homage which the world gives to position, to wealth, and to talent, was to be foreign to the Son of God. None of the means that men employ to win allegiance or to command homage, was the Messiah to use. His utter renunciation of self was foreshadowed in the words:

“He shall not cry,
Nor lift up,
Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.
A bruised reed shall He not break,
And the smoking flax shall He not quench.” Verses 2, 3.

In marked contrast to the teachers of His day was the Saviour to conduct Himself among men. In His life no noisy disputation, no ostentatious worship, no act to gain applause, was ever to be witnessed. The Messiah was to be hid in God, and God was to be revealed in the character of His Son. Without a knowledge of God, humanity would be eternally lost. Without divine help, men and women would sink lower and lower. Life and power must be imparted by Him who made the world. Man's necessities could be met in no other way.

It was further prophesied of the Messiah: “He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for His law.” The Son of God was to “magnify the law, and make it honorable.” Verses 4, 21. He was not to lessen its importance and binding claims; He was rather to exalt it. At the same time He was to free the divine precepts from those burdensome exactions placed upon them by man, whereby many were brought to discouragement in their efforts to serve God acceptably.

Of the mission of the Saviour the word of Jehovah was: “I the Lord have called Thee in righteousness, and will hold Thine hand, and will keep Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the Lord: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Verses 6-9.

Through the promised Seed, the God of Israel was to bring deliverance to Zion. “There shall come forth a Rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall He eat, that He may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.” Isaiah 11:1; 7:14, 15.

“And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears: but with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins.” “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest shall be glorious.” Isaiah 11:2-5, 10.

“Behold the Man whose name is the Branch; ... He shall build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne.” Zechariah 6:12, 13.

A fountain was to be opened “for sin and for uncleanness” (Zechariah 13:1); the sons of men were to hear the blessed invitation:

“Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters,
And he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat;
Yea, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.

“Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread?
And your labor for that which satisfieth not?
Hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good,
And let your soul delight itself in fatness.

“Incline your ear, and come unto Me:
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
Even the sure mercies of David.” Isaiah 55:1-3.

To Israel the promise was made: “Behold, I have given Him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for He hath glorified thee.” Verses 4, 5.

“I bring near My righteousness; it shall not be far off, and My salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel My glory.” Isaiah 46:13.

In word and in deed the Messiah, during His earthly ministry, was to reveal to mankind the glory of God the Father. Every act of His life, every word spoken, every miracle wrought, was to make known to fallen humanity the infinite love of God.

“O Zion, that bringest good tidings,
Get thee up into the high mountain;
O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings,
Lift up thy voice with strength;
Lift it up, be not afraid; Say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

“Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand,
And His arm shall rule for Him:
Behold, His reward is with Him,
And His work before Him.
He shall feed His flock like a shepherd:
He shall gather the lambs with His arm,
And carry them in His bosom,
And shall gently lead those that are with young.” Isaiah 40:9-11.

“And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the Book,
And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord,
And the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.”
“They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding,
And they that murmured shall learn doctrine.” Isaiah 29:18, 19, 24.

Thus, through patriarchs and prophets, as well as through types and symbols, God spoke to the world concerning the coming of a Deliverer from sin. A long line of inspired prophecy pointed to the advent of “the Desire of all nations.” Haggai 2:7. Even the very place of His birth and the time of His appearance were minutely specified.

The Son of David must be born in David's city. Out of Bethlehem, said the prophet, “shall He come forth ... that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2, margin.

“And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah,
Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah:
For out of thee shall come forth a Governor,
Which shall be Shepherd of My people Israel.” Matthew 2:6, R.V.

The time of the first advent and of some of the chief events clustering about the Saviour's lifework was made known by the angel Gabriel to Daniel. “Seventy weeks,” said the angel, “are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.” Daniel 9:24. A day in prophecy stands for a year. See Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6. The seventy weeks, or four hundred and ninety days, represent four hundred and ninety years. A starting point for this period is given: “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks” (Daniel 9:25), sixty-nine weeks, or four hundred and eighty-three years. The commandment to restore and build Jerusalem, as completed by the decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus, went into effect in the autumn of 457 B.C. See Ezra 6:14; 7:1, 9. From this time four hundred and eighty-three years extend to the autumn of A.D. 27. According to the prophecy, this period was to reach to the Messiah, the Anointed One. In A.D. 27, Jesus at His baptism received the anointing of the Holy Spirit and soon afterward began His ministry. Then the message was proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled.” Mark 1:15.

The Stoning of StephenThen, said the angel, “He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [seven years].” For seven years after the Saviour entered on His ministry, the gospel was to be preached especially to the Jews; for three and a half years by Christ Himself, and afterward by the apostles. “In the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.” Daniel 9:27. In the spring of A.D. 31, Christ, the true Sacrifice, was offered on Calvary. Then the veil of the temple was rent in twain, showing that the sacredness and significance of the sacrificial service had departed. The time had come for the earthly sacrifice and oblation to cease.

The one week—seven years—ended in A.D. 34. Then by the stoning of Stephen the Jews finally sealed their rejection of the gospel; the disciples who were scattered abroad by persecution “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4); and shortly after, Saul the persecutor was converted and became Paul the apostle to the Gentiles.

The many prophecies concerning the Saviour's advent led the Hebrews to live in an attitude of constant expectancy. Many died in the faith, not having received the promises. But having seen them afar off, they believed and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. From the days of Enoch the promises repeated through patriarchs and prophets had kept alive the hope of His appearing.

Not at first had God revealed the exact time of the first advent; and even when the prophecy of Daniel made this known, not all rightly interpreted the message.

Century after century passed away; finally the voices of the prophets ceased. The hand of the oppressor was heavy upon Israel. As the Jews departed from God, faith grew dim, and hope well-nigh ceased to illuminate the future. The words of the prophets were uncomprehended by many; and those whose faith should have continued strong were ready to exclaim, “The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth.” Ezekiel 12:22. But in heaven's council the hour for the coming of Christ had been determined; and “when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, ... to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Galatians 4:4, 5.

Lessons must be given to humanity in the language of humanity. The Messenger of the covenant must speak. His voice must be heard in His own temple. He, the author of truth, must separate truth from the chaff of man's utterance, which had made it of no effect. The principles of God's government and the plan of redemption must be clearly defined. The lessons of the Old Testament must be fully set before men.

When the Saviour finally appeared “in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7), and began His ministry of grace, Satan could but bruise the heel, while by every act of humiliation or suffering Christ was bruising the head of His adversary. The anguish that sin has brought was poured into the bosom of the Sinless; yet while Christ endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself, He was paying the debt for sinful man and breaking the bondage in which humanity had been held. Every pang of anguish, every insult, was working out the deliverance of the race.

Could Satan have induced Christ to yield to a single temptation, could he have led Him by one act or even thought to stain His perfect purity, the prince of darkness would have triumphed over man's Surety and would have gained the whole human family to himself. But while Satan could distress, he could not contaminate. He could cause agony, but not defilement. He made the life of Christ one long scene of conflict and trial, yet with every attack he was losing his hold upon humanity.

In the wilderness of temptation, in the Garden of Gethsemane, and on the cross, our Saviour measured weapons with the prince of darkness. His wounds became the trophies of His victory in behalf of the race. When Christ hung in agony upon the cross, while evil spirits rejoiced and evil men reviled, then indeed His heel was bruised by Satan. But that very act was crushing the serpent's head. Through death He destroyed “him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Hebrews 2:14. This act decided the destiny of the rebel chief, and made forever sure the plan of salvation. In death He gained the victory over its power; in rising again, He opened the gates of the grave to all His followers. In that last great contest we see fulfilled the prophecy, “It shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15.

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2. Our Redeemer has opened the way, so that the most sinful, the most needy, the most oppressed and despised, may find access to the Father.

“O Lord, Thou art my God;
I will exalt Thee,
I will praise Thy name;
For Thou hast done wonderful things;
Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” Isaiah 25:1.

Prophets and Kings, pgs. 681-702, EGW