The Prophetic Timeline

“Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble." - Daniel 9:25

Merry Christmas to all of you. I hope that your day was filled with the blessings from above, family love and friendly fellowship. Mine certainly was as we gathered around the tree with laughter, joy, happiness and awe for the Savior's birth.

Here again in Daniel we find a prophecy that is not necessarily about Christ's birth, but more about His death and His second coming. Consider that "sevens" is a description used to represent a year of weeks. So, when Daniel states seven sevens he is actually stating 49 years. A year in that period was 360 days, therefore seven sevens plus sixty two sevens equals sixty nine sevens is 69 * 7 years = 483 years. Multiplying this times 360 days we discover the answer to be 173,880 days.

So how good of a mathematician is God in His perfection?

There is much research into which of the "decrees to restore and rebuild Jerusalem" this prophecy references as the starting point. But careful observation will point one to Nehemiah, who championed the rebuilding and restoration of Jerusalem in the second chapter of Nehemiah. This rebuilding was done in 445 BC, as stated by many scholars. The first seven 'sevens' takes us 49 years forward to 396 BC. Following this there are sixty two sevens, which equals 434 years. Following on from 396 BC this takes us to 30 AD.

Palm Sunday, when Christ comes into Jerusalem on a donkey as the anointed one, is when Jesus references this prophecy directly with His disciples. This, by God's planning, is 173,880 days after Nehemiah first declared his desire to rebuild Jerusalem. From that point forward Jerusalem was destroyed (40 years later) and has never been rebuilt or restored to this very date. A Muslim mosque sits upon the site of God's holy temple today as we await the arrival of our Savior, Redeemer and King. Through God's promises to the Hebrew nation in the days of Daniel, He has stated His plan for the Messiah. If He lied in these promises, then He lied in all of His promises. For God is either 100% just, truthful and righteous or 100% unjust and evil, there is no middle ground. I believe the former and trust that God will soon begin the execution phase of the seventieth seven as detailed in Jeremiah 25th and 29th chapters, which will usher in the end of time and final judgment of all people.

So which side are you on? Is God's word in the Old Testament promises something truthful that can be trusted, passed down and carried from generation to generation, or is it simply an interweaving of the scripture from multiple books intent on misleading and destroying Israel, His prized people?  It can’t be both.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2011
For additional  Daily Thoughts, visit: http://www.10minutereader.com

He had only One Purpose

"After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities." - Isaiah 53:11

As most of you know I love Christian music, especially this time of year. One of my favorite Christmas songs though is; "Mary did you know" ; by Mark Lowry. It has been sung by many artists in many different settings and I was fortunate enough to see Michael English sing it at a Christmas concert a few years ago. For those of you unfamiliar, here are few of the lyrics:

Mary did you know
that your baby boy would save our sons and daughter
Did you know
that you baby boy has come to make you new.
This child that you delivered
will soon deliver you.
What was going through Mary's mind as the day drew near of her child's birth. As any woman 9 months along in her pregnancy, she could not have been comfortable. I'm sure her back ached, the weight of a healthy strong baby bearing down on her small body during that 2-3 day journey to Bethlehem, riding atop a donkey. Her mother wasn't there to hold her hand and help her through it. No, Mary was not having a "good" time carrying the Savior of the world.

As any mother would be, she deeply loved the child before he was born. She probably had sung hymns and read psalms to him over the past 9 months. But, she did have the knowledge of who she was carrying. So, were there moments of extreme sorrow and pain that she went through when she thought of these prophecies from Isaiah which describe his life and death? She couldn't have known to what extent he would have to go to save the world, but she knew in her heart that her son would die one day for the iniquities of all man-kind.

Christmas is but one day away. I truly hope that over these last few weeks you have pondered these Messianic Prophecies leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ with the same wonder and awe that I do. 400 years, 500 years even 1000 years before his birth, the prophets were detailing his life as only God Almighty could through their pen. This child came for one purpose only and that was to die for our sins that we might have eternal life one day. As you celebrate Christmas with your family and loved ones over the next few days, don't focus only on His birth, but on His purpose. Be blessed my friends.

I Just Don’t Understand

"He said, "Go and tell this people:" 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." - Isaiah 6:9-10

Word pictures confuse me most of the time. Lisa used to use word pictures frequently to get her point across in discussions. She was really good at it, drawing on topics she knew I would have an interest in like baseball, football or anything technical. How she could take an everyday discussion on parenting our children or dealing with our finances or improving our communication and turn it into a parable that got her point across in a way that I could relate too, was beyond me. The problem is that word pictures are only effective the first time their used. Each subsequent time that a similar word picture or parable is used it tends to fall short of making the point for one reason or another.

The prophecy from Isaiah 6:9-10 reflects on God's directions after Isaiah stepped forward to serve God. God's direct command, "GO..." calls Isaiah out to a service for the most Holy. He is to prepare the people of Israel for the Messiah who will come preaching and teaching in manners that are not understood by man. He was to make it possible for the people to draw closer to the Messiah for answers to life’s questions. In turn this would allow them to be healed by Him.

Christ, throughout His ministry, uses parables and stories to make His point. How many times have you read the story of the fig tree in Luke 13 and scratched your head as to the meaning? Or the parable in Luke 18 about the rich man regarding the camel going through the eye of a needle? Christ's parables are a way for His pupils and His followers to continue striving to learn more of the Kingdom of God.   For us today, these parables contain the same strength. They draw us to Christ, so that we may learn about His ministry and His message for the masses. In turn we are capable of then sharing that information with the people we come into contact with.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2011
For additional Daily Thoughts, visit: http://www.10minutereader.com

We Need Him Now more than Ever

"He [the Lord] says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth." - Isaiah 49:6

Do we need the Messiah today? Look around and ask yourself if you have it all under control. As we near the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, we should be reflecting on how this significant event; that literally split the calendar and brought hope to the nation of Israel; is alive in each of us. So what hope does he provide to the 21st century? We face issues of economic struggles, global warming, debates over absolute truth and morality and a waning interest in the biblical truths. A study was done in the late 1960's which showed that 65% of Americans were Bible believing Christians. Looking at the next generation (baby-boomers) showed that only 35% of Americans profess themselves as Bible believing Christians, and the following generation (busters) only 16%. Looking at the next generation then the predictions are that less than 4% will be Bible believing Christians. Many would say that they believe in Jesus Christ, but that most religions are equally relevant in finding eternal salvation.

The Messiah came to provide salvation for all man-kind. The tribes of Israel as well as the Gentiles. The prophecies we have observed over the last 3 weeks have all pointed to one individual, God's Messiah as the means to salvation. This foundational truth straight from the scriptures was critical for the people in Israel at the time of Isaiah's writing no more so than it is critical for us today.

All throughout the New Testament we find examples of Jesus Christ preaching God's message to the masses. He was not segregating the Jewish brethren from the Gentiles. His miracles were upon the lepers, the Romans, the Samaritans as well as the Jewish. He forgave the sins of people from every walk of life, and even broke bread with sinners and tax collectors. As prophesied in Isaiah 49 - the Messiah will be a light to the Gentiles and bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Paul the apostle references this once again in Acts 13:47 in his dialogue with the Jewish leaders and converts.

This is our mission as well my brothers and sisters in Christ. We have a generation all around us in need of hearing the truths from the bible. Take this Christmas season to share God's plan of salvation with those around you, and with those in your network. Be blessed as you spread His news.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2011
For additional Daily Thoughts, visit: http://www.10minutereader.com

Lord, Our Righteousness

“The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness. " - Jeremiah 23:5-6

I have noticed that we tend to put individuals on pedestals. We flock around them to hear their words of wisdom and learn from their actions. We watch and trust that they have our best interests in mind when they make decisions. We allow ourselves to become wrapped up in their lives and influenced by their choices; good or bad. This is very much like the Israelites in the days of Jeremiah. They were trusting in their leadership rather than on God. This had taken them from great power under King David to nearly ruins through the unjust and unrighteous behavior of the Kings and rulers of the time.

In this prophecy we see God taking the leadership of Israel into His own hands. Through the voice of Jeremiah he strengthens His promise of a Messiah coming from the seed of David. The Messiah will come in the future as a righteous branch from David's line. A branch starts as a humble bud from the original and grows over time to become strong, sturdy and resilient. It is also over time that fruit will begin to blossom and seeds will be spread widely.

Recognize the scope of God's declaration is for all people, not just the Israelites. His appointed King will be just and righteous to all mankind. Declaring safety to Israel provided reassurance to His people that He was their protector, comforter and provider. The final statement of this prophecy though, secures their understanding that the Messiah would be God incarnate. For only God himself could provide justice and righteousness. So, for God to state that His Messiah would be the Lord Our Righteousness; He is stating to the people, of that time, that the Messiah would indeed be God himself.

This was also confirmed in Isaiah 7:14; "the virgin will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us)." As you celebrate Christmas, do not let this origin slip from your mind. The Messiah was brought forth from God directly to bring righteousness to all man-kind.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2011
For additional Daily Thoughts, visit: http://www.10minutereader.com

King of Kings

“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever." - Daniel 2:44

Of course you have heard of Deja 'Vu. The belief that you have seen an unfolding event before, as if you had already lived through it. It's weird and somewhat scary at times, depending on the circumstances. It could be casual things like walking into the living room, sitting down and picking up a child to read a story. When it is happening your mind immediately recognizes that you have already experienced this, even though the current physical act is a first time occurrence. Maybe it's just me, but I believe it has happened to everyone at one time or another. (love to hear your stories some time....).

Well, this prophecy by Daniel is actually part of an interpretation of a visionary dream of King Nebuchadnezzar’s that established God as Lord of all in the King's eyes. The interpretation portraits four monarchies (Kings) that will emerge: Assyrians, Persians, Macedonians and Romans. The Romans destroying the other three over time. While these kings are still in power God will send His Messiah and establish the kingdom that will rule forever.

In Luke 1:33 we see the angel describing the Christ child to Mary as: "he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." This to describe the child she would carry and bring into the world. At that very point God makes His declaration of who the person of Jesus Christ is, and in doing so fulfill's the prophetic words of Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar. All Kings and rulers will one day bow down to Christ in His Kingdom

© Sondove Enterprises, 2011
For additional Daily Thoughts, visit: http://www.10minutereader.com

The Man on the Donkey

"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." - Zechariah 9:9

This is a direct prophecy of Christ's triumphant Palm Sunday entrance into Jerusalem. Israel had been without a king for nearly 500 years from the point that Zechariah wrote this prophecy. Within the prophecy to the church of Zion and Jerusalem God clearly communicates that a new King is coming and will be riding into Jerusalem on a donkey.

A few things to note:

1) God will once again provide a King for Israel after years of silence.

2) This King will be anointed by God and placed into power with salvation and righteousness

3) The king the people were desiring was of this world, and Christ is of future

Is it any wonder that the people lined the streets during that triumphant entry to lay palm branches before Him in an act of worshipping their new King. The rulers of the day certainly saw this act of homage to Christ and took insult from it, thereby fueling their anger and hatred towards him. So, thinking this through - the rulers (studied in the scriptures and prophecy) refuse to accept Him; yet the masses (traditionally less studied) follow the prophecy, recognize their new King and rejoice. Was God stimulating the excitement amongst the masses, and likewise stimulating the bitterness amongst the rulers?

Have you ever considered why Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey?

1) Peace - This would represent to the Jewish culture that a King or High Priest was entering the city in peace rather than riding a stallion indicating war

2) Humility - the donkey was the simplest of animals

3) Blatantly making a statement to fulfill the prophecy - the students of prophecy in that day would quickly recognize the Messiah entering Jerusalem riding a donkey

Five hundred years pass between the prophecy and the fulfillment. The fulfillment once again was exact in nature and out of the control of the masses. God's planning was impeccable and on His schedule, not man's. Let us not forget that there will come a day when Jesus will return upon a white horse and rid the world of evil. We need to consider this as we think about the future plans from the Creator.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2011
For additional Daily Thoughts, visit: http://www.10minutereader.com