Koldeway's Verified the Bible from Babylon

Throughout 1898 and the early part of 1899 Robert Koldewey reconnoitered the ancient city of Babylon. A brilliant architect and archaeologist, he knew he was to be appointed to head the digging. The German Oriental Society was picking up the tab and outfitting the expedition in full. The real work began after he received the expected authorization. On this date, March 23, 1899, he began excavation in earnest on the east side of the mound of Kasr.

Digging with 200 workers, Koldewey soon was writing excitedly of great finds. A relief he estimated at 960 feet long came to light. He uncovered the enormous walls of Babylon, so wide four span of horses could drive abreast. Babylon had been enormous, larger than any other citadel known to history. Not only this, but it was built of fired brick, not crumbly sun-baked clay. The bricks were stamped with Nebuchadnezzar's name.

Koldewey unearthed the base of a tower on which King Nabopolassar claimed "At that time Marduk [the god] commanded me to build the Tower of Babel which had become weakened by time and fallen into disrepair..." Wherever Koldewey turned his spade, he turned up verification of things the Bible had to say about the great kings and empires that once existed in the Mideast.

Josephus, too, was verified. He had mentioned the hanging gardens of Babylon. The stone arches that supported these were also unearthed by the hardworking German.

The archaeological team shipped the Gate of Ishtar from Processional way of Marduk to Germany and reassembled it to be marveled at by visitors. This was from Babylon's defensive entrance street. On either side of this sunken road, walls rose up forty feet and were lined by 120 stone reliefs with bas reliefs of yellow lions against blue tile. Koldeway shipped many other objects to Germany, among them a basket full of 300 cuneiform tablets.

These were administrative tablets taken from an outbuilding some distance from the Ishtar gate. Nothing much of interest there, it seemed. Not until after 1933 did anyone trouble to fully decipher these bureaucratic texts. But then E. F. Weidener announced an electrifying record corroborating Scripture.

According to Scripture, King Jehoiachin of Judah had been taken into captivity around 600 B.C. Jeremiah says that after a period of suffering the Babylonian King lifted him up and "...Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king's table. Day by day the king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived, till the day of his death." Here, on cuneiform was verification of the Biblical text, listing the supplies given king Jehoiachin of Judah. It was a welcome find as critics had long scoffed at the Bible as unhistorical. Koldewey had dug up more than Babylon. He had dug up priceless data that would help us better understand God's word.

Bibliography:

1. Ceram, C. W. Gods, Graves and Scholars. New York: Bantam, 1962.
2. Koldeway, Robert. Wieder erstehende Babylon. Leipzig: Hinrichs', 1913.

Read this article at - http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1801-1900/koldeways-verified-the-bible-from-babylon-11630655.html

Shana Tova! Praising God with the Sound of a Shofar

Raphael Poch 

The shofar is meant at its very core to spiritually awaken those who hear the sound and help them realize that they should be the ones weeping before God either in jubilation or in trepidation.
As we come to the period leading up to the High Holidays on the Jewish Calendar (Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement), Jews all over the world embrace the custom of blowing the shofar (Ram's Horn). Numerous times throughout the Bible do we see the Ram's horn brought into use and each time has a different purpose and symbolism.

The symbolism behind the shofar first appears during the binding of Isaac in Genesis 22:13.

"Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son."

It is interesting to note that the first time the Hebrew word for 'love' appears in the Bible is in relation to a father having to sacrifice his son who he loves (Genesis 22:2). The idea of sacrifice and love, and sacrificing for love, has been intertwined ever since.

The shofar is also used to herald God's presence, as it states in Exodus 19:16 when the Jewish Nation received the 10 Commandments:

"On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled."

Aside from awakening the nation, the shofar is also used to signal the start of the High Holidays for the Jewish nation (Leviticus 23:24, 25:9 and Numbers 29:1).

We see the shofar used as an instrument of spiritual warfare, as is evidenced in Numbers 10:9:

"And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies."
Aside from these purposes the shofar was used to sound alarms for the camp of Israel (Numbers 10:5-6, Ezekiel 33:3), to convene assemblies, announce the new moon and the Jubilee, herald messages and to coronate kings. The shofar was also used in the Temple service (2 Chronicles 15:14, Psalm 47:6, 89:16, 150:5) and when the Ark of the Covenant was returned to the Jewish Temple (1 Samuel 4:5, 2 Samuel 6:15).

But what is this instrument of many hats that is seemingly present in almost every Jewish public ceremony?

On the High Holidays it is Jewish belief that all of mankind comes before God for judgment and to be inscribed either in the 'book of life' or the 'book of death'. The shofar is meant at its very core to spiritually awaken those who hear the sound and help them realize that they should be the ones weeping before God either in jubilation or in trepidation.

Certainly this is a time for trepidation and introspection, and the shofar is sounded for a month leading up to the awe-filled day. During its sounding we try to incorporate in our thoughts all of the different elements that the shofar represents: love, sacrifice, the glory of God, Kingship, independence, freedom, worship, independence, existential threats, the conquering of enemies, and the thrill of victory together with the threat of defeat...

Read this article at - http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=14642

ISIS and The Prophet Jonah

     I sometimes get so frustrated with my human limitations.  I know God is trying to whisper something into my spirit, and I get faint images of something important, but I am simply unable to connect the dots.  That's the way I am feeling today about the latest reports on the Caliphate in Iraq.

      The British website, MailOnline, has chronicled the destruction of centuries-old relics and tombstones by ISIS, the militant Islamic group.  They [ISIS] say that they believe giving special veneration to tombs and relics is against the teachings of Islam.  Yet one of the devastated tombstones belonged to the Prophet Jonah (Younis in Arabic) and was revered by Muslims and Christians alike, according to Iraqi authorities.

      I know, deep in my soul, that this has significance for us in these times.  The prophet Jonah is important in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.  As Christians, we all know the story of Jonah being swallowed by the whale; in its belly for three days and nights, before being vomited up.  This  is a "type" of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.

      In Judaism, tradition says that Jonah was the boy brought back to life by Elijah the prophet, and hence shares many of his characteristics (particularly his desire for 'strict judgment'). The book of Jonah is read every year, in its original Hebrew and in its entirety, on Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement.  He is known as the "son of Truth"; (the name of his father "Amitai" in Hebrew means truth,)
     In Islam, Jonah is highly important as a prophet who was faithful to God and delivered His messages.  Jonah is the only one of the Twelve Minor Prophets of the Hebrew Bible to be mentioned by name in the Qur'an.  Muhammed is reported as saying he and Jonah were brothers.  "Jonah was a Prophet of God and I, too, am a Prophet of God."
     So, does the fact that this prophet plays a significant part in all three major religions, yet his tomb has been desecrated by a militant faction of one of them tell us anything about what forces are coming upon the earth?  Are we aware of what our own Bible tells us about this man and this part of the world?

Russian Orthodox icon of Jonah

     I'm sure that many Christians are unaware that the life of Jonah can be traced to this very section of the world that is on fire today.  You see, in Jonah's time, the city of Nineveh was extremely dark with sin in the eyes of God.  When Jehovah told Jonah to go to that city and preach to the people of their wickedness, Jonah ran away, determining it was folly to think these people would ever repent.  That's when his adventure in the belly of the whale took place.

      But that's not the end of Jonah's story. God delivers him from his disobedience and tells him once more to preach to the people of Nineveh.  Jonah is to "tell the men of Nineveh that their wickedness has come up to God, and God’s vengeance is coming down upon them."  This time, Jonah accepts his assignment and goes to "the great city of Nineveh."  At that time (780-750 B.C.), Nineveh was even larger than Babylon; taking Jonah at least three days to go through all the principal streets and lanes of the city to preach his message.  At the present time, the ancient Nineveh's location is marked by excavations of five gates, parts of walls on four sides, and two large mounds. These ruins are across the river from the modern-day major city of Mosul, in the Nineveh Governorate of Iraq.

     But now, speaking of the latest attack against the ancient relics, Ninevah official Zuhair Al-Chalabi, told IraqiNews.com:  "The elements of ISIS [have] controlled the mosque of the Prophet Younis (Jonah) in Mosul since they invaded the city."  Does this sound like a group who reveres the prophets of their faith?  And will the circumstances of today mirror the incidents of the Bible?

      As I try to figure out what God wants us to know through this turn of events, I can only see dimly through the glass ... wickedness has once more descended upon this area of the earth.  Should those who are wreaking such death and destruction upon the land and the people expect God's reckoning, just as He warned over 2700 years ago?

Read the rest of this article at - http://www.salvationandsurvival.com/2014/07/isis-and-prophet-jonah.html

Temple Mount faithful lay claim to lost ark

I'm still impressed by the work of Graham Hancock followed up by Chuck Missler pointing to the ark being in Ethiopia.  There are scriptural reasons to support this, and as recently as 2009, the Ethiopians planned to bring the ark to Rome before someone told them to wait because it's not the right time.  Note in the follow-up info on this linked video that is was thought the ark was brought to Ethiopia in 642 B.C. under the wicked reign of King Manasseh of Judah.  (2 Chronicle 33-34)

 

Jewish men pray in front of the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City as Jews prepare to mark Shavuot, the annual celebration of God's handing down of the Law (the Torah) to Moses at Mount Sinai in biblical times, according to Jewish tradition, May 28, 2009.  (photo by REUTERS/Baz Ratner)

 

Author Yuval Avivi

Translator(s)Sandy Bloom

 

It happens relatively frequently. Every once in a while, some daring biblical researcher or pretentious archaeologist emerges to claim that he found a clue that will lead him to the Ark of the Covenant. According to Jewish tradition, the Tables of the Covenant, on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed, were kept in the ark within the temple. On June 4, the Jews celebrate Shavuot, which is identified with the Mount Sinai revelation.

 

Summary⎙ Print Shavuot is an occasion to consider the many theories regarding the lost Ark of the Covenant that have inspired believers, politicians and Hollywood, and fed the hopes of those yearning for the Third Temple.

 

But those who continue to search for the ark are not only Jews. The rest of the world has not yet abandoned the dream of finding the Holy Ark.

 

In July 2013, in an archaeological dig in ancient Shiloh, traces were found linking the place to the site of the Tabernacle, which housed the Ark of the Covenant until the construction of the temple. Two years earlier, in 2011, it had been argued that a church in Ethiopia was the secret repository of the ark.

 

If you ask the Temple Mount faithful, the answer is fairly straightforward: The ark is intact and well, securely protected within the Temple Mount itself. When we talked about the timing of the founding of the Third Temple, Rabbi Yehoshua Friedman of the Temple Institute told me, “There are 10 studies about the location of the Ark of the Covenant. We read them and studied all of them, and reached the conclusion that it’s buried in the tunnels under the Temple Mount. When the day comes, we will get to it.”

 

Friedman is not the only one who believes this. Numerous other Jews have reached the same conclusion, and in 1981 attempts were made to hasten the longed-for day and excavate under the Temple Mount to reveal the ark. This was no underground activity by the obsessed. It was an initiative involving the chief rabbis of the time, including Rabbi Shlomo Goren, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and Gedalia Schreiber, the director-general of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The effort ultimately failed amid claims of a Muslim plot to thwart the discovery.

 

But Friedman errs in at least one way. There are many more than 10 theories regarding the whereabouts of the Ark of the Covenant. Some of them seem totally delusional, but among them are some serious theories by erudite researchers determined to solve the ark riddle in our day.

 

In Steven Spielberg's classic movie, Adolf Hitler coveted the ark for its purported magical attributes, but the one who actually found it was the titular Indiana Jones. Spielberg’s theory is inherently Hollywoodian and full of holes. Another Jones did more in-depth work on the subject: Archaeologist Wendell Jones argued that the ark was moved to the Dead Sea caves, and that he was the inspiration for the Indiana of movie fame. Obviously, no ark came to light in searches conducted in the Dead Sea area.

 

“According to the Book of Kings, the Ark of the Covenant was placed in the temple’s Holy of Holies by King Solomon, and from that moment on we have no evidence of its existence,” said Yigal Levin, a faculty member of the department of Jewish history at Bar Ilan University.

 

While the evidence might have petered out there, the theories were only beginning. As we know, Jerusalem was conquered frequently over the course of history. Nations came and left; kings robbed and religious leaders coveted. There were countless opportunities for the ark to travel to the ends of the world.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/06/ark-of-the-covenant-mystery-indiana-jones-third-temple.html##ixzz33pa95DSD

Vatican Hoarding Second Temple Vessels Including Golden Menorah and Table of Shewbread

Rabbi claims that Pope Francis knows full well where Jewish religious objects are being kept, is hiding them to avoid legal consequences.

By Shimon Cohen

 

The Vatican - hiding Temple relics? (illustrative)

 

The Vatican is evading questions on whether or not it is holding religious artifacts from the Second Temple, Rabbi Yonatan Shtenzel told Arutz Sheva correspondents Wednesday, in what he calls "diplomatic evasion."

Talmudic sources, including passages from Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Yossi, note that several of the holy vessels from the Second Temple ended up in the Vatican's hands, Rabbi Shtenzel said. Artifacts said to be transferred to the religious city-state via the Roman Emperor include the shulchan (Showbread table), the menorah (candelabra), several priestly garments, and others.

More than just an 1800 year-old report, there is recent evidence that the Vatican still has these vessels in its possession, he argued, citing the testimony of several 19th and twentieth century Rabbis.
Rabbi Shtenzel spoke at length about the personal experiences of Rabbi Israel Miller, a Satmar Hasid from Jerusalem who visited the Vatican and stated that he had seen several of the Temple vessels in person, and of former Religious Affairs Minister Professor Shimon Shitrit, who stated several years ago that Italian academics had contacted him about the vessels. The information later led to a diplomatic falling-out between the Religious Affairs Ministry and Pope John Paul II; yet the Vatican still remains quiet over the fate of the vessels.

Rabbi Shtenzel argues that the Israeli government is too passive in its handling of the issue of the vessels, choosing to smooth over relations instead of demanding answers on the objects which could spark the building of a Third Temple.

The Rabbi also turned to religious leaders, as well, noting that while meeting with the Pope - who, by traditional Jewish laws, represents an idolatrous sect - is problematic, the issue of the whereabouts of the Temple vessels is too urgent to overlook. He stated that if the Vatican continues to deny involvement with the Second Temple artifacts, Israel should turn to more meaningful channels to procure them.

Pope Francis knows full well where the vessels are, the Rabbi claimed, lamenting that "diplomatic evasion" is the status quo. The Vatican is concerned, according to Shtenzel, that they will be brought to the Hague over the issue and be forced to give the artifacts back to the Jewish people.

Read this article at - http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/181146#.U46iTJtOWM_

Pyramids Planets The Bible Part 1 and 2 of 6

Fascinating stuff, including discussion on the possibility that Ethiopia does (as their religious leaders have claimed) have in their possession the Ark of the Covenant.

MUST SEE!!!! (watch in order to fully understand it all)
1: Explaining The End Times
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0rTk9...
2: Alien Savior Antichrist and Return of the Nephilim Steve Quayle Tom Horn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WOj7...
3: Operation High Jump
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVNya6...
Revelation:
http://www.letusreason.org/proph21.htm
Gulf Oil Spill - Revisited 2010-2013 - Full Documentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QUkzQ.. r
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6eisI...
Playlist for videos since 2010 to 2013
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=...
or
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=...
Maritime Port Louisiana USA - Why The Gulf Oil Spill were done.
http://gnoinc.org/wp-content/uploads/...
Fraking - Shale Gas Production
http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/whats-...
http://www.dangersoffracking.com/
Loop Current
http://www.thelibertyman.com/download...

Part 2
 

L.A. Marzulli on (Day of The LORD Radio) Nephilim, Aliens, Hybrids

This is a longer video but L.A. Marzulli has done years of research on the topic and is well worth the listen.  I think the problem for the Christian community is they largely consider this "sci-fi", but, it's actually quite biblical and realistic.  And coming to a television or community near you soon, very soon...

 

L.A. Marzulli on NYSTV (Day of The LORD Radio)
http://www.facebook.com/netzerproduct...

Mr. Marzulli came on our show and discussed important information that all believers and the scientific community should perk up to.
http://www.lamarzulli.net/

14 Cold, Hard Facts About Noah’s Ark That You Probably Do Not Know

You can learn all you need to know by reading Genesis chapters 5 - 7.  However, in the interest of creating another list, we have 14 interesting facts that will help distract us from the movie Noah which had no interest in being scripturally accurate.  So here we go...

By Michael Snyder

The new Hollywood blockbuster “Noah” has created a tremendous amount of interest in the story of Noah’s Ark.  Traditionally, most people have regarded it as just a cute Bible story to tell children.  But could it be real?  Is there solid evidence that Noah’s Ark actually existed?  If there is real evidence, would you believe it?  What you are about to see is absolutely stunning.  In fact, some of the things that you are about to see are so shocking that many people will simply refuse to accept them.  Later in this article, you are going to see video footage of the physical remains of Noah’s Ark.  This discovery has been known about for quite some time, but the mainstream media has mostly ignored it.  A boat-shaped object that is the exact length that the Ark should be and the exact width the Ark should be has been found on the mountains of Ararat.  Ground penetrating radar shows us how the Ark was laid out, and scientific tests have been conducted on wood and metal extracted from the gigantic buried boat.  If you have never heard about any of this before, prepare to be blown away.  The following are 14 cold, hard facts about Noah’s Ark that you probably do not know…

#1 The Ark was about 500 feet long.  That would make it approximately the size of a World War II aircraft carrier.

#2 It has been estimated that the Ark had an internal volume of more than 1.5 million cubic feet.

#3 According to brand new research conducted by scientists the University of Leicester, Noah’s Ark could have carried at least 70,000 animals without sinking…

Noah’s Ark would have floated even with two of every animal in the world packed inside, scientists have calculated.
Although researchers are unsure if all the creatures could have squeezed into the huge boat, they are confident it would have handled the weight of 70,000 creatures without sinking.

#4 Of course the Ark would not have needed to hold 70,000 animals.  One conservative estimate puts the number of animals on the Ark at about 16,000.  This would have allowed for more than enough room for food, supplies and lots of empty space.

#5 We have discovered at least 250 different ancient cultures that have a story of a massive, cataclysmic flood.  Most of those stories have striking similarities to the Genesis account.

#6 If there really was a global flood, we would expect to find billions of dead things laid down in rock layers all over the globe.  And that is precisely what we find.

#7 We know where Noah’s Ark is today.  Yes, you read that correctly.  As you can see from the YouTube video posted below, the remains of Noah’s Ark have been discovered on “the mountains of Ararat” in Turkey.  This video footage is absolutely stunning…

 

#8 The remains of the Ark are just as long and just as wide as the Bible says they should be.

#9 Wood from the Ark has been tested, and the tests show that it does contain organic carbon.  That means that the fossilized wood that was discovered was once living matter.

#10 Along with wood, metal was also used in the construction of the Ark.  Iron fittings and aluminum have both been discovered at the remains of the Ark.

#11 Petrified animal dung, a petrified antler and and an ancient piece of cat hair have also been retrieved from the remains of the Ark.

#12 Historical records confirm that people have believed that this is the correct resting place of the Ark for a very, very long time…

The Gilgamesh Epic (650 BC) gives Mt. Nisir as the landing place of the Ark. The local name for the town where the Ark was found is Nasar.
The annals of Ashurnasurpal II of Assyria (833-859 BC) places it south of the Zab river (correct).
Theophilus of Antioch (115-185 AD) said the Ark could be seen in his day in the Arabian mountains. Later Church Fathers also mention the Ark as late as the mid 7th century.
In the 13th century, Willam, a traveler, stated for the first time that Mt. Masis was the Ark location (present-day Mt. Ararat).
Ptolemy’s Geographia (1548) mentions the mountains of Armenia as the place of landing. So does the traveler Nicolas de Nicolay (1558).

#13 A village near the remains of the Ark is known as “the Village of Eight”, and a nearby valley is known as “the Valley of the Eight”.  There were eight survivors on the Ark.

#14 The site is now known as “the National Park of Noah’s Ark” and it has previously been officially recognized by the Turkish government.

If you are interested in learning more, you can find additional videos about this incredible discovery here and here.

When I was young, I desperately hoped that Noah’s Ark would be found someday, but I doubted that it would ever happen.

Well, it has happened.

We have found Noah’s Ark.

It is not just a story for little children.

So will you believe the evidence, or will you just dismiss it because it does not fit with your current worldview?

Please feel free to share your thoughts by posting a comment below…

About the author: Michael T. Snyder is a former Washington D.C. attorney who now publishes The Truth. His new thriller entitled “The Beginning Of The End” is now available on Amazon.com.

The Great Shepherd - Chuck Missler

In this segment Chuck Missler discusses the great shepherd. This segment comes from the "Psalms" commentary published by Koinonia House.

- To purchase this briefing pack in its entirety, go to our online store at: http://resources.khouse.org

- To subscribe to The Personal Update News Journal, go to: http://www.khouse.org/subscribe

- To learn more about the Koinonia Institute, go to: http://www.studycenter.com

The Coming World Leader - Chuck Missler

The Abomination of Desolation - Chuck Missler - End Times  

 

The Idol of Personal Peace and Affluence (Schaeffer) [2of3]

Christ in the Passover

by Chuck Missler

---

Last month we celebrated our Lord’s death and resurrection, but we need to make sure we never distance our Easter from Passover. They are intrinsically connected and yet calendar-wise they are often separated-this year, Passover is celebrated a month later than Easter. As Christians it is imperative that we understand how these two events are intertwined and how Christ is the fulfillment of the Seder.

Is Passover for Christians?

Whether or not a Christian celebrates Passover would be a matter of conscience for the individual Christian. Like all the Old Testament Jewish Feasts, the Passover Feast was a foreshadowing of Christ’s atoning work on the cross. Colossians 2:16-17 tells us that we should “let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

Christians are no longer bound to observe the Passover feast the way the Old Testament Jews were, but they should not look down upon another believer who does or does not observe the Passover or other special Jewish days and feasts (Rom 14:5).

While it is not required for Christians to celebrate the Passover, it is beneficial to study it, and it could be beneficial to celebrate it if it leads one to a greater understanding and appreciation for Christ’s death and resurrection. The Passover is a wonderful picture of Christ’s atonement for His people and His deliverance of us from the bondage of sin. That is something we should celebrate every day of our lives.

The Seder Plate

The Seder plate is the focus of the whole Seder service:

• Zeroth: a portion of the shank bone of a lamb to represent the paschal offering. Many Messianics do not include this because of Hebrews 10:9-14.

• Haroseth or Charoses: a mixture of apples, almonds, raisins and cinnamon mixed with a little wine. This symbolizes the mortar used by the Isra­elites during the Egyptian bondage.

• Karpas: either parsley, celery, lettuce, onion or potato, used to dip in the saltwater, a reminder of both the tears of hardship and slavery as well as the resolve and intense effort of the Jew.

• Hazereth: the green top of a bitter herb. Symbolic of lowly origins, suffering, and resolve.

• Baytzh: a hardboiled egg, which is the token for both grief over the destruction of the Temple and, at the same time, a symbol of the resurrection.

In addition to those mentioned above, more items are essential to the Passover Table: Unleavened Bread, Wine and the Haggadah.

Matzo: The Unleavened Bread. These are flat, bland, cracker-like wafers, which are both striped and pierced (Isa 53:5; Zech 12:10). There are three matzos and usually are placed in what is called a Matzo Tash, a square white silk bag that is divided up into three compart­ments for the three matzo wafers.

Why three matzos? The Jewish tradition is that the three represent or symbolize unity. Here are some theories: The Unity of the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; The Unity of Worship: Priests, Levites, and the Congregation; The Unity of the Crowns: The crowns of Learning, Priesthood, and Kingship. Or, another suggestion: The Unity of God: The Trin­ity-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Four Cups of Wine

The Four Cups and their meanings are taken from Exodus 6:6-7:

• Cup 1 - The Cup of Consecration: “I will take you out of Egypt.” Simply put … God delivers, He alone intervenes! All the miracles and the plagues were part of the plan of God to deliver Israel from Egypt. In spite of their hardships, He was with them. The same is true today!

• Cup 2 - The Cup of Deliverance: “I will take Egypt out of you.” Becoming the people of God takes work! Knowing what the Lord requires and then becoming like Him, representing Him to the world around us.

• Cup 3 - The Cup of Redemption: This is the cup that Jesus used to memorialize His blood. Without this cup we cannot be completely transformed into His image! (1 Cor 11:24-26).

• Cup 4 - I will take you to be My people: Jesus is wait­ing for the marriage feast before He drinks from this cup (cf. Mishnah, Pesahim 7:13). Passover wine was red and mixed with warm water. Why? It reminded them of the blood of the Passover lamb:

But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

John 19:33-35

The Haggadah

The literal meaning is “telling” or “showing forth.” It is the same root used in Exodus 13:8. The Haggadah not only tells us what to do at the Seder, but also when, how, and why. The modern Haggadah is based on ancient writings in the Mishnah and dates back to the second century.

How the Seder Begins

The Haggadah book is opened and the Host reads from it. Everyone has a pillow in order to relax and to enjoy the celebration of their being freed from the bondage of slavery. The wife then has the honor of lighting the white Passover candles and saying a blessing:

Blessed art Thou, O LORD our God, King of the Universe, who sanctifies us by Thy commandment and commands us to light the lights of the Passover.

Elijah?

Two cups at the table are usually larger and more elaborate than the others. This night they are silver (remember that silver symbolizes blood and, thus, re­demption). One sits at the head of the table, the other at a prominent spot before an empty chair. It awaits the lips of Elijah. The Prophet is the invited guest to every Seder and who, according to Malachi, is to an­nounce the coming of the Messiah.

The Breaking of the Matzo

Early in the Seder, the Host takes the middle matzo and breaks it in two, leaving one half in the middle and puts the other half under the cloth for the “afikomen.” It is always wrapped in linen and hidden in a dark place.

The Four Sons

The Wise, Wicked, Simple, and Foolish Sons each play a part in the Seder meal by asking questions and get­ting instruction from the Host.

It’s Personal

In every generation each individual is bound to regard himself as if he had gone personally forth from Egypt. As it is said, “And you shall relate to your son on that day saying, this is on account of what the Eternal did for me, when I went forth from Egypt. Thus it was not our ancestors alone, whom the most Holy, blessed be He, then Redeemed, but us also did He redeem with them. As it is said, He brought us forth from thence in order to bring us in, that He might give us the Land He swore to our ancestors.”

Reflection

What has God done for you? Remember one of your weapons in witnessing is your testimony-your story! In general people don’t want to be preached to but they love to hear stories... “ Let me tell you what Jesus has done for me …”

Jesus is The Lamb of God, The Middle Matzo, The Afikomen, and The Third Cup of Wine. The only Greek word in the Haggadah is “afikomen” and its literal meaning is “He Came”! See our briefing, The Feasts of Israel for further study.  Read more at - http://www.khouse.org/articles/2008/770/

Will the New Pope Be the One to Get the Ark of the Covenant Back from Ethiopia?

It was announced in late 2011 that the Ark, being held in Axum Ethiopia, was going to be brought to Rome and revealed to the world for the first time in over 2,000 years.  Then, the Pope said, "let's wait", and we still are waiting.  If this is indeed the last Pope, we might well expect the Ark to be returned during his reign.  The article below was from December 2011.

Will this be the first time the world sees the Ark of Covenant? Leaking roof in Ethiopian chapel 'will lead to relic being revealed'

• Ark contains Ten Commandments God 'gave' to Moses on Mount Sinai
• One holy monk is the only person allowed to see the holy box...
• ...but he'll need a hand carrying metre long wooden structure to new home

By Rick Dewsbury
A very British problem of a leaky church roof could be about to give the world the chance to glimpse the legendary Ark of the Covenant.

That's because the claimed home of the iconic relic - a small chapel in Ethiopia - has sprung a leak and so the Ark could now be on the move.

The Ark - which The Bible says holds God's Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai - is said to have been kept in Aksum, in the Chapel of the Tablet, adjacent to St Mary of Zion Church, since the 1960s.

According to the Old Testament, it was first kept in the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem for centuries until a Babylonian invasion in the 6th century BC.

Leaking roof: The Chapel of the Tablet in Ethiopia that holds the Ten Commandments and has the water damage. The St Mary of Zion church, that originally held the tablet, can be seen in the foreground

 

Since then it's been the goal of many adventurers and archaeologists to find it. Most-famously, but also fictitiously, Indiana Jones was shown in the 1981 Steven Spielberg film Raiders of the Lost Ark.
There has also been a long-running claim from the Orthodox Christians of Ethiopia that they have had the Ark for centuries, and since the 1960s it has apparently been kept in the chapel.

This small and curiously-styled building is surrounded by spiked iron railings, and situated between two churches, the old and new, of St Mary of Zion in central Aksum.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2069765/Ark-Covenant-revealed-leaking-roof-Ethiopian-chapel.html#ixzz2Kr4PdWSi