Today’s Eye of Prophecy post is number 328 since this online website began in July 2013.

An unusual introduction but for a suitable reason: It’s an unusual article! Different (partially) from the preceding 327 articles.

Somewhat dissimilar because it will be necessary to spend some time/space on personal matters; to accomplish a greater goal. One that is intended for and hopefully reached in every Eye of Prophecy article, directly or indirectly.

As found on the Home Page: “…For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus” (Revelation 19:10b).

And restated on the About Page: The major emphasis of Eye of Prophecy website is to, “give a clear witness for Jesus,” who is the very essence of prophecy.

Most Biblical predictions consists of two main subjects: (1) Messianic prophecies that focus on the 1^st and 2^nd Advents of Messiah. (2) The physical restoration of Israel as a nation and spiritual redemption of the Jews who have believed and received their Jewish Messiah, Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Also found on the About Page of Eye of Prophecy: The intent, form, and content of Eye of Prophecy is presented through Eschatology

P I C T U R E S

Prophetic Inspirational Connections Through Understanding Relevant Events (and) Scripture.

In that context of “connections” there are three other “C” words that I want (hope) to realize through the Eye of Prophecy ministry: clarification, correlation, correction, as applied to all five categories. Each article is placed in one of those categories: Current Events; Prophecy in General; The Rapture; The Antichrist; Devotional/Miscellaneous.

With correction intended as a result (as opposed to a deliberate end unto itself) of a more accurate application of some Biblical prophecies. With clarification and correlation achieved by comparing Scripture with Scripture and Biblical prophecy with fulfillment (historical events) and those awaiting fulfillment.

To clarify (clarification) and to correct (correction) are pretty much self-defined.

But let’s look at Webster’s definition of correlate: “to establish a reciprocal or mutual relation; to show a causal relationship between; to present or to set forth so as to show relationship; a phenomenon that accompanies another phenomenon … usually parallel to it (as in form, type, development, or distribution) and is related in some way to it.”

In addition to parallel, other synonyms of correlation: association, connection, relationship, link, and correspondence. With a definitive implication that there are varying degrees of correlation. On the stronger side: parallel, connection, and link. On the softer side: association, relationship, and correspondence.

The Lord has graciously given me the gift of teaching (explaining the truth). With a little extra dose of discernment, and some disclosures that resulted in more accurate correlation and clarification of a handful of Biblical prophecies. Plus, correction of mainstream applications of a few prophecies. Yet, I encourage you not to simply take or leave my word for it. In addition to my second book, Out of the Abyss, read as many Eye of Prophecy articles as time permits.

Then ponder and decide for yourself.

On a Personal Level

Because my teaching (mostly through writing) ministry began later in life, there is not the degree of exposure, or the more noticeable platform established by well-known prophecy students and teachers … especially those in the media.

Thus, I can identify with one of the more obscure (termed “minor”) prophets, Habakkuk. When the Lord said to him: “…Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled….” (Habakkuk 2:2-3b, emphasis added).

We are living in that future time. In what I am persuaded is the final generation spoken of by Messiah Jesus when he said: “I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34).

What things? Pre-Rapture Birth Pains such as natural disasters increasing in number and magnitude; The Rapture; Seven-Year Great Tribulation; Second Coming of Christ to establish the Kingdom of God on Earth; and Millennial Reign of Messiah Jesus.

In my articles, I don’t (need or want to) draw any more attention to myself than marginally necessary to accomplish that higher purpose of giving a clear witness for Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). To exalt the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This article is somewhat of an exception. However, the personal references will ideally serve more to thank and praise the Lord for the blessings, insights, and disclosures given to me, some in the context of prominent Biblical numbers, especially three and seven.

An Excerpt from My Second Book (Non-Fiction) Out of the Abyss

Taken from last part of Chapter 11 (Let’s Summarize), the final chapter of Part I … in italics:

Students of prophecy exponentially increased in number and knowledge primarily throughout the 19^th, 20, and now the 21^st century. All Christians and students of the Bible have been given the awesome privilege of possessing the entire Word of God. Conversely, the Old and New Covenant prophets were given these direct revelations from God on a periodic and/or progressive timeline. Yet, no individual prophet painted the complete portrait or possessed every piece of the prophetic puzzle. That same principle applies to the study of the closed Canon of the Bible, particularly as applied to prophecy.  

Thus, it is vitally important that I clarify something before you read Part II and Part III of this book. It is not my intent to prove anyone wrong, as though that was an end unto itself. That is not my heart. Rather, it is a matter of contributing to the completion of the prophetic puzzle. I and others have used this metaphor of a puzzle as a very appropriate way of visualizing the intricacies of comparting Scripture with Scripture—a piece here and a piece there, leading to the synchronized composite whole of the Bible. Another metaphor is that of connecting dots, at least the key dots, until we can distinguish the outline of what the dots represent.

Particularly in the last seven decades or so, students of prophecy have enthusiastically begun to assemble this prophetic puzzle. But they, no less than you or me, have had to sometimes start over with the frame of the puzzle or, otherwise, refit certain pieces….

During the writing of this book, I found yet another “hidden gem” in the Bible. I use that term because that is how the Word of God works. Whether we read a verse for maybe the first time, or have read it many times, there’s always something else or new that the Holy Spirit shows us. Were it not for this verse I probably would not make the following bold statement:

The Lord will disclose to us through his Word all crucial things that pertain to the fulfillment of God’s prophetic proclamations. And he will do so before the Rapture. This observation applies to anything in Scripture unless the Bible specifically states that a future prophetic event cannot be known, such as the day or hour of Messiah’s return.

The hidden gem is found in the Book of Amos. Incidentally, here was another blessing for me. In addition to the contents of the verse, it is from Chapter 3, Verse 7. Such good numbers!

…Anything includes more information than most Bible students or Christians in general would think possible or even acknowledge as knowable.

Would that, for example, apply to ascertaining the identity of the Antichrist? My answer would be a resounding, yes! In fact, Revelation 13 and 17 challenges the reader to figure out both the origin and identity of “the beast.” We’re going to do that in Part II and Part III.

*Note: A pause here to say to say that other disclosures—which are often part of the gift of teaching condensed into accurate clarification, correlation, and, if necessary, correction (partial refitting of the prophetic puzzle)—will be provided later in addition to the identity of the Antichrist that was the main subject of Out of the Abyss. Although identifying the Antichrist is not necessarily the most significant of these refitted pieces, it is probably the most startling.

Returning to the excerpt from Out of the Abyss:

I will say again: I am not a predictive prophet, as defined and demonstrated in the pages of the Bible. I have not, cannot, and will not “predict” anything, not in the manner in which the Lord revealed the future to his appointed and anointed prophets through dreams and visions. The Special Revelation of God including predictive prophecy (God and only God directly revealing future events) ended with the closed Canon of Scripture, the Book of Revelation.

Returning to the analogy of the prophetic puzzle, the Lord has graciously shown me some pieces of the puzzle. Remaining is to replace a piece that doesn’t fit, with the correct piece.

I am only one of several who have collectively spent much of their lives and time in studying God’s prophetic masterpiece. And, in so doing, I am hoping to help with the fittings in and on an already solid frame and foundation assembled and poured by well-known prophecy scholars, teachers, pastors, and some lesser-known students.

*Note: I then listed by name twenty-one of these better-known scholars/teachers, such as Tim LaHaye, Hal Lindsay, and Dave Hunt. Preceded by the question as to why the Lord has given to me (as one of the lesser-known scholars … which is not a matter of concern or complaint for me … just wondering): …these somewhat veiled truths, when I don’t have the credentials or platform of so many men and woman of God, who are well recognized in the media mainstream of Biblical prophecy.

Frankly, I don’t yet have an answer to my question; nor in the final analysis do I really need to know. But I do know and believe this: the discernment given to me is no more important than any other gift given to every believer in Christ. Though it may be a little more specialized, it is by no means special, meaning in comparison or contrast to other gifts to and contributions by other believers. I also know that I am grateful and honored that the Lord has given these things to me. And now, I share them with you (Pages 98-101).

Before examining in summary form seven special disclosures that help put some of the correct pieces of the prophetic puzzle in place, let’s look at two events that are extraordinary examples of clarification and correlation (connecting the dots … linking in parallel fashion).

An Astounding Correlation Between (Enemies of) 5^th Century B.C. Israel and 20^th Century Israel

First, a reference to Eye of Prophecy post, Significant Sets of Twos in the Bible (posted 3-30-19).

Ten of the most prominent pairs found in Scripture and/or history are identified in that article.

The twosomes can either complement or contrast each other. Either way, it’s clear that the Lord is into clarification, correlation, and correction, if required. And often does so by tying things (especially loose ends!) together to accomplish his perfect plans and powerful purposes.

For example, one of the ten pairs cited in that article: The Birth and Rebirth of Israel. Another set: The Old Covenant & The New Covenant.

In the contrasting seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine (with the emotional backdrop of the story of Joseph and ten older brothers who betrayed him), we read these poignant and providential words of Joseph to his brothers that clarify and connect otherwise conflicting episodes in their lives:

“…Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:19-20).

(Depiction of Joseph forgiving his brothers)

Then the New Testament (Covenant) counterpart written by the Jewish Pharisee Saul turned Apostle Paul because of his stunning encounter with the risen Jewish Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, whom Paul believed and received as Savior and Lord. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writing to both Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ, Paul proclaimed:

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28).

Now for the remarkable correlation involving the Jews (Israel), spanning some 2,400 years.

The Purim Link Between Nazis and Anti-Semitic Iran

That is the title of an article written by Warren Goldstein, Chief Rabbi of South Africa; reposted in the February 2021 edition of the Levitt Letter, one of the components of Zola Levitt Ministries out of Dallas, Texas. (Having misplaced this edition for several months, I read it only a few days before starting on this week’s article).

The setting is the series of 13 post-World War II Nuremberg Trials from 1945 to 1949 in which dozens of high-ranking Third Reich officers, political leaders, and prominent civilians were tried for war crimes.

You may know about one of these (later) trials which took place in 1948 from the highly acclaimed movie, Judgment at Nuremberg. Directed by Stanley Kramer and released in 1961, it boasted some of Hollywood’s most well-known actors at the time: Spencer Tracy, Richard Widmark, Marlene Dietrich, Burt Lancaster, Maximillian Schell, Judy Garland, Montgomery Clift, and a young William Shatner. However, the German defendants at that trial were four judges who allowed doctors/lawyers to conduct gruesome sterilization experiments and other assorted medical-type (civil rights violations in today’s terminology) crimes.

(Spencer Tracy in middle, as Chief Judge in Movie, Judgment at Nuremberg)

However, the trial referred to by Rabbi Goldstein is the first and most famous of the trials (November 1945 to October 1946), given the designation of an International Military Tribunal. It was called by one of the British Judges, Sir Norman Birkett, “The greatest trial in history.”

*Comment: If Sir Norman Birkett is referring exclusively to trials involving guilty bad guys, then an argument could be made that it was the “greatest trial in history.” Even, perhaps, to this day. If the reference point is an unjust trial involving a totally innocent good guy (as in the perfect Son of God), then the greatest trial (two-parts) in history was that of Jesus of Nazareth before the Jewish Sanhedrin led by High Priest Caiaphas. Then later the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate.

See Eye of Prophecy article: The Three Greatest Trials of All Time (Posted 11-10-18).

There were twenty-four defendants at that 1^st Nuremberg tribunal; most were found guilty with varying sentences, including the death penalty for 12 of them. However, one of the twelve (Martin Bormann) was given the death penalty in absentia, as he had died not long before the trials began.

Rabbi Goldstein began his article:

“Something unexpected happened when Julius Streicher, one of the high-ranking Nazis sentenced to death at the Nuremburg Trials, was executed.”

He went on to say that just a short time before Streicher was hanged on October 16, 1946, Newsweek reported, “He shouted to witnesses facing the gallows. ‘Purimfest, 1946.’”

Rabbi Goldstein continued his article with a perceptive question:

“Why would a condemned Nazi mention Purim in his last words? Streicher was obviously familiar with Queen Esther’s history, in which Haman planned a genocide of the Jews. However, when Haman’s plans were thwarted, he and his 10 sons were hanged.

“Streicher was acutely aware of the irony of history—that he was one of 10 Nazis hanged after being sentenced at the Nuremberg Trials. (In fact, 11 had been sentenced to die, but Hermann Goering committed suicide before his sentence was carried out). Ten were hanged, just like Haman’s 10 sons in the Book of Esther. Amazingly, Streicher saw the historic link between the Nazi genocide and the attempted genocide of Haman. Like the Nazis, Haman also intended to wipe out every Jew—man, woman, and child” (parenthesis in the text of the article).

Note: Rabbi Goldstein omitted the 12^th (Martin Bormann) as his death sentence was a technicality for symbolic purpose. In actual or practical terms, he correctly stated that 11 defendants were condemned to die and only 10 were put to death.

(One of many photographs taken of the Nuremberg Military Tribunal; two rows of defendants seated behind the divider)

Although I have read about this Nuremberg Trial; have seen historical film footage of it; and am familiar with Streicher’s ironic (poetic justice) acknowledgment of the Jewish observance of Purim as linked to his death sentence, I was not aware of the next part of Rabbi Warren Goldstein’s article:

“There is a deeper irony, of which Streicher was certainly not aware. Megillat Esther (the scroll of Esther) lists the names of Haman’s 10 sons. According to the Halacha (collective works of Jewish law and custom), three of the letters in these names are written in smaller font than the rest of the text—a tav, a shin, and a zayin—and one letter is written in larger font—a vav” (parenthesis in the text of the article).

Rabbi Goldstein then wrote that for generations various explanations were presented as to the meaning of/for these different size letters. Not until the 20^th century could any correlation be made. Moreover, the connection could be understood through Hebrew gematria— (although he doesn’t use the term)—counting by using the Hebrew alphabet.

He continues: “The large vav is numerically 6, corresponding to the sixth millennium. The small tav, shin, and zayin are numerically 707. Together, the four numbers refer to the 707^th year of the sixth millennium—in other words, the Jewish year 5707, which corresponds to 1946, the year in which these 10 high-ranking Nazis were hanged. Thus, the unusually sized letters—vav, tav, shin, and zayin—found in the names of Haman’s 10 sons allude to the year of the execution of these 10 Nazi war criminals.”

*Note: The keeping of Jewish time/calendars is unlike Gentile time or the Julian/Gregorian calendar. There are 12 Jewish months, but each month contains 30 days … the new moon cycle. Also, Judaism does not recognize B.C. or A.D. (BCE and CE are the more modern abbreviations) demarcation of years. Rather the Jewish years are continuous, i.e., year 1 through…. Hence the Jewish year 5707 is the Gregorian year of A.D. 1946.

Rabbi Goldstein concluded this fascinating application (correlation) in the first half of his article by stating:

“Of further interest is that the ten men were sentenced on the 1^st of October, in the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur of 1946. They were hanged on the 16^th of October, on which in 1946 fell Hoshanah Rabbah, the day that judgment of the world is finalized.”

*Comment: Rosh Hashanah is the first day of the Jewish (civil) New Year that always begins on the 1^st day of the 7^th month (based on the religious calendar) called Tishrei. The month of Tishrei overlaps the months of September and October. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is observed ten days after the civil New Year begins … the 10^th of Tishrei.

(Hebrew calendar with months of year numbered, beginning with Nissan; Tishrei is spelled T I S H R I on this pictorial)

In one of Rabbi Goldstein’s summary observations (commentary), he states:

“Our celebrations on Purim attribute all of the Esther miracles to God’s direct intervention in history, albeit hidden behind the machinations of politics and world affairs …. Viewing history at large with Esther’s message in mind powerfully demonstrates God’s involvement in the affairs of people and the direction of civilizations. The supernatural miracles of national Israel’s rebirth and renewed Torah learning following the Holocaust are but two examples that show God’s power and presence in everything.”

He then makes a comparison between ancient Persia and modern-day Iran, whose evil agenda is identical to that of Haman—genocide of the Jewish people.

(Among several Eye of Prophecy articles on Iran—most in the context of being one of the three main nations along with Russia and Turkey to attack Israel in the Gog/Magog invasion found in Ezekiel 38 & 39—please refer to: Divine Consequences of Iran’s Arrogance, Part I & Part II, posted 5-23 & 5-30-2015).

A Personal Correlation

Although Rabbi Goldstein identified the Hebrew year (5707) that corresponds to 1946, he didn’t say in which month or on what day October 1, 1946, fell on the Hebrew calendar (day when the Nazis were sentenced). Immediately I knew that the date was the 6^th day of Tishrei in the year 1946 … without needing to look it up on the online Hebrew conversion calendar!

Why would I know or why did I even think of such a connection?

Answer: About seven years ago, I wanted (more like a need) to find out when my birthday fell on the Hebrew calendar. Beginning with a drumroll disclosure of my birthday to everyone reading this article: September 28, 1946. Yes, I’m a Baby Boomer—born in the first year of that generation. Just kidding on the drumroll part!

And some seven years before that I had changed my email address to include the numbers 73, then later to 773. It had to do with my profound interest in (not anything approaching an obsession to the extent of numerology and certainly not astrology) certain numbers of Scripture that manifest a great deal of significance to the Lord himself. Those two numbers have been involved in a few personal experiences (blessings) for me, with some examples provided in my book, Out of the Abyss. And a small handful of Eye of Prophecy articles.

The following is an excerpt from Eye of Prophecy article: Three … A Divine Number of God! (8-17-19), in italics:

This is the third time that I’ve begun an article on a personal note. The reason: this week’s post is number 300 since my first article was published.

Given that 300 is an obvious multiple of 3, what better subject than the number three!

(Note: I had forgotten how I had begun that article. Which makes this week’s Eye of Prophecy article the fourth to begin on a personal note)!

Continuing with the excerpt:

There are several numbers in Scripture that bear remarkable relevance to the accomplishment of God’s providential plans for his creation, especially humanity. Such numbers as 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 40, 70, 400, 1,000. But none more so than 3 & 7, which are divine in both essence and expression. They are the numbers that, above all, reveal and relate to God’s ultimate sovereignty in all things pertaining to life and death—past, present, and future.

The number three decisively defines who God is; I AM … everlasting to everlasting.

The number seven dramatically demonstrates what God does in the course of his interaction with people and nations, reflecting his creative love but also his consuming judgment of sin and evil. For example: the seven days of creation and seven years of the Great Tribulation, soon to come.

Thus, it’s no coincidence that there are three sets of seven judgments each (Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls in the book of Revelation) in preparation for the magnificent Kingdom of God on earth. Which will bring mankind full circle back to where it all began in the Garden of Eden. Only this time even better and lasting forever—New Jerusalem, new heavens, new earth!

Returning to my birthdate on the Hebrew (Jewish) calendar and relevancy to the numbers 3 and 7. Also, in the context of the Nuremberg Trial and the dates identified by Rabbi Goldstein.

A Dramatic Discovery & Personal Blessing

By using the Hebrew/Gregorian Online Conversion Calendar, I learned my Hebrew date of birth: The 3^rd of Tishrei, 5707. (Equal to September 28, 1946).

As indicated, that took place around seven years ago, several years after my interest in Biblical numbers (especially 3 & 7) began to grow.

Although the 1^st day of Tishrei is the beginning of the Jewish New Year, it is technically the 7^th month of the Hebrew year … as found in Scripture and ordained by God himself. Using the method of identifying one’s date of birth by the often-used numerical order of the Gregorian calendar, my DOB would be shown as 9-28-1946, or 9/28/1946.

With the Hebrew calendar, it would read: 7-3-5707!

Which was (is) a personal blessing and somewhat of a personal (providential) correlation; with the most applicable synonym of correlation in this case to be association.

Why did I instantly know that October 1^st, 1946 (date of sentencing for the Nazi war criminals) was the 6^th day of Tishrei (6 representing the number of mankind with a poetically justified sentence of death for 11 of the criminals, with the ironic number of 10 hanged that same month)?

Answer: My DOB is the 3^rd day of Tishrei of that same year … three days earlier. Which was a Saturday … the Jewish Sabbath.

I am part German, part English, with a little Dutch thrown in. I constantly thank the Lord for giving me life—the breath of life through physical birth. Then giving me life again—eternal life through spiritual rebirth which took place 7-8 years after my 7/3/5707 birth date … Hebrew calendar.

(Do you remember or have heard of Roy Rogers & Dale Evans? Pictured here because it was Dale Evans who led me to the Lord at a Youth For Christ meeting in Kansas City, MO. these many years ago! Yes, there have been a few Christians in Hollywood!)

The Lord graciously included me in his grafting of Gentile believers to the tree of Israel—from which came the Jewish Messiah Jesus to save all who would believe and receive him as Personal Savior … Jew and Gentile alike!

Wrote the Apostle Paul:

“Did God’s people (Jews) stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.

“I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were (spiritually) dead!” (Romans 11:11-15, parenthesis mine).

Paul elaborates further with a metaphorical correlation of Israel (Jews through Abraham) as the original natural tree and Gentiles as the wild tree.

“But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.

“…. And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong” (Romans 11:17 & 23-24).

*A Pause: For you out there, including (unfortunately) even some Christians, who believe that national Israel and individual non-Messianic Jews have no place in God’s soon-to-come Kingdom on Earth (Messianic Age through Messiah Jesus), what are you going to do with these verses just quoted? Plus, hundreds of Old Testament prophetic passages that paint a powerful portrait of Israel’s physical and spiritual restoration. Which began with the rebirth of the Sovereign State of Israel in 1948, and the reclamation of all Israel, including Jerusalem, in the amazing Six-Day War of 1967. With millions of Jews immigrating to Israel and millions more born there in the last 73 years (yes it’s been 73 years since Israel’s statehood) in stunning fulfillment of these prophecies.

(Israel’s current population; Haredi means observant, religious Jews)

Paul wasn’t done yet.

“I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters (still speaking to the Gentiles), so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts (many still do to this day), but this will only last until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved…” (Romans 11:25-26a, parenthesis mine, italics for emphasis).

Refer to Eye of Prophecy article: Times of & Fullness of the Gentiles … What Do They Mean? (Posted 4-21-18).

**As indicated earlier in this week’s article, which contained more personal information than I’ve shared in any previous article, I had intended to list seven specific disclosures given to me by the Lord. We’re just about out of time/space, so they will need to wait for the next Eye of Prophecy post.

Things to Ponder

As stated in the opening sentence, today’s Eye of Prophecy post is number 328. I didn’t realize or think about what number it was until compiling most of the material for this article, including Rabbi Goldstein’s article.

The extended correlation (association): I was born on the 3^rd day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. And on the 28^th day of the Gregorian month of September. 3 & 28 … 328.

One more: Just a few hours before posting this article (early morning of 8-28-21), I happened to check the current number of visitors to Eye of Prophecy. It had reached 73,773!

Coincidence? Not to me. More like providentially calculated and crafted!

Thank you, Lord, for caring so much for those whom you have saved, even the smaller details of our lives!

God is still sending showers of blessings and performing miracles on a national stage, particularly for reborn Israel, as prophesied in the Old Testament. But mostly, I believe, on individual levels to believers the world over. And I’m convinced that the godsends (what we sometimes call a God thing) are bestowed in areas of our lives that mean the most to each of us.

That’s what makes them personal and that much more precious.

I love the Lord because he first loved me. And I love Israel and the Jewish people because God loves them and chose them to bring Messiah to the world to save all who put their trust in Him for salvation.

Once again, listen to the word of the Lord through the Jewish Apostle Paul:

“Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God (during the Old Covenant period of the Law), but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead (beginning with the New Covenant). Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy” (Romans 11:28-31, parenthesis mine).

Rabbi Warren Goldstein concluded his article with these moving words: “May God once again bless His people with redemption and liberation. Then may we give thanks to Him as we say in our Purim prayers, ‘for the miracles, the redemption, the mighty deeds, and the victories in battle, which You performed for our ancestors in those days and in this time.’”

If only Rabbi Goldstein (and many others) would take one more step to realize that the New Covenant promised by God through the prophet Jeremiah (Chapter 31) has arrived—some 2000 years ago! Through Jesus of Nazareth by his death, burial, and resurrection!

And upon his return, Israel (collectively and individually) will fully experience the answer to Purim prayers … miracles, redemption, mighty deeds, victories in battle. When he delivers Israel from the onslaught of Antichrist and his ten-nation coalition. And when He, “pours out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem…” (Zechariah 12:10).

To now—so they won’t have to go through the Great Tribulation—embrace the truth of the Good News (Gospel of Messiah Jesus) so clearly expressed by the Jewish Apostle John:

(Not wish, not wonder … but know that you have eternal life!)

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God…” (I John 5:1).