Friday, December 27, 2013

Merry Christmas*


Merry Christmas* everyone. In my last post I mentioned reading the book Harbinger that is based on “Isaiah 9.” However, Isaiah 9 has two distinct parts, and Harbinger is based on the second part (9:8-21). The first part (Isaiah 9:1-7) is perfect for this post because it is a prophecy that is often associated with Christmas. In fact, during my 12-string days when I looked a little like John Denver, I wrote a song that was based on this scripture: Isaiah 9:2-6 “By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles.  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy: 
They rejoice before You
According to the joy of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil...

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” 
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This passage includes a very provocative and amazing claim: ‘A child will be born who will sit on the Throne of David and be called “Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  In between the birth of this baby and the unveiling of the same as a powerful King exists an interval of time that the nation of Israel could not foresee. Just as Solomon used the potential killing of a helpless baby to test the identity of its true mother, so God would use the potential killing of a helpless baby (Yeshua) to test the identity of a nation. 
The second part of Isaiah 9 has been totally taken out of context by our government. The Harbingers book quotes top leaders within Washington D.C. who referred to this passage as they vowed to rebuild after 9/11. The problem is that the passage is not a rallying cry for rebuilding, but a condemnation of Israel for ignoring God’s warnings: “The Lord sent a word against Jacob, and it has fallen on Israel. All the people will know—Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria—Who say in pride and arrogance of heart: 
“The bricks have fallen down,
But we will rebuild with hewn stones;
The sycamores are cut down,
But we will replace them with cedars.”

Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and spur his enemies on, the Syrians before and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.
For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, nor do they seek the LORD of hosts. Therefore the LORD will cut off head and tail from Israel, Palm branch and bulrush in one day.
The elder and honorable, he is the head; the prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and those who are led by them are destroyed."
I mentioned in the last post that, according to Harbingers, the dates of 9/11 and the subsequent events during the financial collapse of the great recession all coincided with certain Biblical dates. While I ask you to read the book to verify the veracity of these dates (I don’t want to spoil it for you), the one area that I’d like to pursue further in a future post is the implied claim that there is a parallel between Israel and America in the eyes of the Biblical God. This brings up the controversial topic of America as a “Christian nation.” More on that soon.
*Christ = Messiah, born 9/11/-3

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