The Jerusalem Council

Part 1 – Declaring the End From the Beginning

Part 1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8

The accuracy of biblical prophecies that have come to pass is astounding. The heavenly Father has gone to great lengths to tell us beforehand what will take place and I am certain that the proper understanding of prophecies yet fulfilled is not outside the grasp of those who diligently search. However, too many times someone has come up with a set of dates and regardless of their fine sounding arguments, those dates have come and gone. This does not change the fact that Elohim has given us a true road map to the future. If you want to properly understand anything about end time prophecy, there are a few things to bear in mind. One is that proper understanding of scripture includes respect and appreciation for the Hebraic and Aramaic context from which they were written. We can not approach the scriptures with a Greek/Western mind set. This requires putting aside some preconceived notions about certain passages. Also, keep in mind that the best commentary on scripture is scripture itself. There can be no gaps in our theology. Every piece has to fit together without the aid of human opinion or reasoning. Then, there is something else, and that is the inner witness that can only come to the believer when the Spirit of Truth, the Kadosh Ruach (Holy Spirit) has opened his or her eyes to what has been there all along. If it is not in the Hebrew and Aramaic scriptures to start with, this will never happen. The Kadosh Ruach does not bear witness to the uninspired writings of men nor doctrines of demons (i.e. the Book of Mormon, The New World Translation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc.).

So, before you say, “Here we go again…another inaccurate date setter!” carefully and prayerfully consider the information presented here. Truth is self evident and we must all do diligent search on our own as the Bereans in the book of Acts, to see if these things be so.

Before I start, I want to give credit to those who have laid some groundwork before me. Ancient sages have given inspired commentary on many passages of the scriptures which shed light to the proper understanding of things, some of which I will include here. Also, a special thanks to Dewey Broden for his twenty years of research on Daniel’s Timeline. His work can be found at www.danielstimeline.com and I recommend this site to everyone who seriously endeavors to know the truth about the time of the tribulation and the Second Coming.

We start with a passage in Isaiah (Yeshayahu).

Remember the former events of old, for I am El, and there is no one else, Elohim, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from of old that which has not yet been done, saying, “My counsel does stand, and all My delight I do…

[Yeshayahu 46:9-10]

Ancient rabbis pondered this passage. “When,” they said, “did Elohim declare the end from the beginning?” The very beginning is Genesis chapter one where we are given the six day account of creation and the seventh day Sabbath rest. Six is understood to be the number of man. It was understood from ancient times that the time of man would be 6,000 years before the coming of a 1,000 years of Sabbath rest. Scripture reveals the following:

For a thousand years in Your eyes are like yesterday that has past, or like a watch in the night.

[Tehilla/Psalm 90:4]

And יהוה shall be Sovereign over all the earth. In that day there shall be one יהוה, and His Name one.

[ZekarYah 14:9]

But, beloved ones, let not this one matter be hidden from you: that with יהוה one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

[2 Kepha/Peter 3:8]

Blessed and set-apart is the one having part in the first resurrection. The second death possesses no authority over these, but they shall be priests of Elohim and of Messiah, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

[Revelation 20:6]

Ancient Commentary:

For six thousand years the world will exist: [there will be] two thousand years of Tohu [“void”], two thousand years of Tora, and two thousand years of the Messiah. But because of our sins, which are many, several of these [Messianic years] have already passed….the Holy One, blessed be He, will renew His world only after seven thousand years.

[B. Sanhedrin 97a-b]

Another interpretation of “There was none of them” [Tehilla/Psalm 139:16] is that it means the seventh day, for this world is to last 6,000 years; 2,000 years…It was waste and desolate; 2,000 years under the Law; 2,000 years under the Messiah. And because our sins are increased, they are prolonged. As they are prolonged, and as we make one day a Sabbatic year, so will G-d in the latter days make one day a Sabbatic year, which is 1,000 years, and it is said, “But it shall be one day, which shall be known to the L-rd,:” this is the seventh day.

[Yalkut on Tehilla/Psalm 139:16]

…And the children of Ishmael [the Arabs] will at that time arise with all the nations of the world to go forth against Jerusalem …Happy will be all those who will remain on the world at the end of the sixth millennium to enter into [the millennium of] the Sabbath…

[Zohar 1:119a]

The idea that the time of man would be 6,000 years before the 1,000 year millennial reign of Messiah is not derived apart from scripture, but is a clear biblical truth understood from ancient times.

Without going off on how I know this (because it would be another teaching altogether), I will simply say that Israel departed from Egypt on the fourth day of the week [a Wednesday]. That Passover began on a Tuesday night. They began there Exodus between the evenings [ 3pm to 6pm ] of the next day. Approximately 1450 years later, Y’shua had the Seder with His disciples on a Tuesday night. His death for us as our Passover Lamb was between the evenings [ 3pm to 6pm ] on the next day. Both of these events had to be precisely on the fourth day of the week. Why?…Because the deliverance of all mankind was to come at the end of the fourth millennial day. From the creation of Adam to the coming of Messiah was 4,000 years, or four days in the week for the time of man.

Some simply won’t believe that they are the last generation that will see the return of the Messiah. I have learned that preconceived notions in the minds of men and women cause them to shut down sometime early on when a teaching runs contrary to what they already believe. Many could not believe that they were the generation to see Messiah’s first arrival either. But Elohim had given a timeline to Daniel and when the count was up, Messiah was riding into Jerusalem precisely on that day.

At this point, I want to list a number of scriptures to bear in mind.

“For I am יהוה, I speak. And the word which I speak is done. It is no longer deferred. For in your days, O rebellious house, when I speak the word I shall do it,” declares the Master יהוה.

[Yehezqel/Ezekiel 12:25]

In other words, there comes a time when a prophecy is no longer for another generation. A word from Elohim is not always deferred for another time. He will do what He says in the time frame that He has told us. Time is up for the Second Coming!

My people have perished for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being priest for Me. Since you have forgotten the Torah of your Elohim, I also forget your children.

[Hoshea 4:6]

Knowledge has been given for all to see. Willful ignorance is dangerous! We need to pay attention to what the Father has told us and that includes end time prophecy and the time of Messiah’s return.

And that servant who knew his master’s desire, and did not prepare, nor did according to his desire, shall be beaten with many stripes.

[Luke 12:47]

Our Master’s desire is that we have the knowledge of end times and prepare. It is not some far off matter that does not concern us today. We are in the last of the last of days, and no one in the Body of Messiah can ignore the knowledge and not prepare for the tribulation just ahead as well as to meet Y’shua face to face.

Many shall diligently search and knowledge shall increase.

[Daniel 12:4b]

It was prophecied of the latter days that knowledge would increase. The fact that clarity on this matter is now coming to light is just another sign of the lateness of the hour.

For whatever is hidden shall be revealed, and whatever is secret shall be known and come to light.

[Luke 8:17]

For the Master יהוה does no matter unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

[Amos 3:7]

What a comfort to know this. End time prophecy is our road map. Our loving Heavenly Father promises us that He will not do anything without telling us first.

And יהוה Elohim of the set-apart prophets has sent His messenger to show His servants what has to take place with speed.

[Revelation 22:6]

The book of revelation has been unfolding for the past 2,000 years. We are at the end of the book.

So consider the word and understand the vision.

[Daniel 9:23d]

Hypocrites! You know to discern the face of the heaven and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?

[Luke 12:56]

Think about it! If we are not meant to understand and discern the end times and the coming of Messiah, why is Daniel told to understand? And why does Y’shua rebuke the religious leaders for not discerning the times? It makes no sense! Therefore, if we come across a scripture or two that seem to tell us that we can not understand nor discern the times, it is our understanding that must adjust. We have to look at scripture as a whole and be responsible to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Scripture can not contradict itself if it is the Word of יהוה. We need to reconsider what we’ve been taught of men in light of everything else that scripture tells us about understanding and discerning end times and the coming of Messiah.

Tags: Daniel, escatology, messiah, Messianic Judaism, prophecy, Teaching