BRAVE NEW WORLD?

Just as I was beginning to sing Kumbaya followed with the hopeful refrain “The Sun’ll come out tomorrow” from the Broadway musical Annie, I read an article about a new phone app that’s about to be released that will allow you to urinate on your phone and instantly tell you, I kid you not, whether or not you have an STD!

Very few things out and out shock me these days. After all… I’m from the Peace & Love generation. We did it all without reservation, and we were darn proud of it. We protested; wanted racial equality, got high and enjoyed breaking the rules. We were unashamed and unbridled. We strove to break with tradition and disassociate ourselves with our stuffy ridged parental past. We were the generation that would change the world.

But as with all revolutionary ideas that come and go, along with those who dream them, my generation got older and we eventually started seeing the error of our thinking. Though some things still resonate, much of our impetuousness faded into the sunset of our no longer ‘drug induced’ minds. A funny thing happened on the way to the revolution: WE HAD BABIES!

Suddenly responsibility, that ugly word we all hated hearing from our parents, sprouted little arms and legs. With the advent of parenthood and the need to fill the mouths of the little chirping birdies in our nests, we were rudely awakened to the understanding that life wasn’t “all about us”.

As the years moved on and we hit our 50’s, we find ourselves living in what appears to be a world out of control. The days of Red Ryder BB guns and Flexible Flyer snow sleds have been replaced with Glocks and crotch rockets, as well as video games that are nothing more than war simulators used to sharpen the skills of their players for actual combat, thus making them into stealth warriors.

We had no idea how priceless it was that no one actually knew where we were… after all who cared? But now we live in the GPS world where our cell phones are capable of communicating with pinpoint accuracy our exact whereabouts at any given moment… even as we sit on the porcelain thrones in our homes! YIKES! What we thought was old fashioned, and pine for, and the simpler times from which we came, have all but vanished into extinction.

The world has changed. Here in America we were promised change, and change we got. But it wasn’t the change our emotionally charged hearts were looking for. This change is destructive and far-reaching. We were sold a bill of goods… and much like the statement several months back by the former speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, where she so poignantly quipped, “We just need to pass this bill and then we’ll find out what’s in it”, we received the beautifully wrapped package that on the outside tantalized our eyes, but on the inside was rife with destruction and poison.  We believed it was for our good, just as some will believe a cell phone app that allows you to urinate on your phone is a good thing. But the truth is, not so much.

Our thinking has gone awry! We have lost our way. We have traded reason for convenience and wisdom for equality and correctness. If we had only been willing to open the package first we would have seen the poison that lay waiting inside. But that’s the problem with pretty packages, now isn’t it? The eyes are bigger than the stomach. Unfortunately these days the consequences of such actions far outweigh the benefits… and sadly, many of the consequences are irreversible.

Funny isn’t is how sometimes after getting all the things you thought you really wanted, you find out you never really wanted them after all, like cell phone apps that go beyond the unthinkable.

© 2010 Steven Bliss
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THE INVESTED SOUL

    When we have been divested of all we possess and taken to the end of the end where all things hang in the balance. When we arrive at that place where hope and hopelessness stare each other face to face and a single decision determines our destiny. It is there, in that empty void where all that was becomes insignificant and all that was once possible appears veiled and vague... at the turnstile of bewilderment where the mystery of faith wrestles past the heart and emotions for position and voice; in one single moment so infinitesimal that reason itself cannot lay hold; conviction is born out of the impossible and the unimaginable takes shape. It is there that the invested soul looks beyond the seen and hears the Eternal voice speak saying, “We are ONE!” 

and agrees… 

            Such are the mysteries of God, and such is the hope of man.

© 2010 Steven Bliss
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YADA: THE WELL OF TRANSFORMATION!

Very few things can transform a soul or bring greater peace than the power of true intimacy. We crave it because it satisfies a longing deep in our hearts. We were designed for it. Though it takes on many forms and faces in life, the intimacy I’m referring to here is that which takes place between God and His greatest creation, man.

Human beings are strange creatures in many ways, as we all know. We often tend to run from the very things we desire the most. Case in point, God created man for His own pleasure and intimacy with Him, yet it seems to be one of the most difficult things to engage in for so many. A perplexing concept in many ways, though I have come to realize women have a much greater capacity for intimacy and a far deeper grasp of it’s power than do men. It’s just the way they are made. Women are designed as receivers and understand the idea of being known in a way that men cannot conceive of. So in a spiritual sense they are quick to receive the idea of being filled by God in such an intimate way that it produces life. As we dive a little deeper into this subject, I believe we will have a greater appreciation for not only the unique design of women, but also ourselves as human beings and the God who desires the deepest levels of relationship with us.

The best way to unwrap this idea is from a Biblical perspective, which comes from one single Hebrew word. That word is yada (xdy) (pronounced yah-dah). Most of us have never heard of this word, or for that matter have a clue as to what it means; but as we untie the ribbons on this very special package, our concepts and perceptions of intimacy are more than likely to change.

The word yada on the surface means ‘to know’, acknowledge or understand. But this rarely used word from the Bible evokes an even deeper sense of knowing than just what comes from some sort of head knowledge or comprehensive awareness.

Yada is first used in Genesis 4:1 when it says, “Adam yada (knew) Eve and she conceived and gave birth…” It’s important to know that God Himself told Moses this story and specifically chose this exact word to communicate the deepest levels of knowing that a man and a woman can experience. In context, Adam knew Eve through their sexual intimacy. Why? Because it is there that they became echad – ONE! Even today the idea of ‘knowing’ someone in a relationship way between a man and woman refers to their going beyond just a friendship status. We’ve all heard the term, “he knows her in a Biblical way”. The word yada is where that colloquialism comes from. It’s one thing to know someone closely as a friend… to understand and connect with who they are as a person. I have several people in my life that I would classify as “intimate” friends. They know and love me in spite of my weaknesses and imperfections, as well as my failings. Their love for me is unconditional. But the knowing that is described in Genesis 4 is actually God’s greatest desire for us to have with Him. He longs for it and paid a heavy price to secure it; that being the sacrifice of His Son. Yada goes far beyond just intimate friends.  

Y’shua/Jesus prayed in John 17, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us…” He’s talking about a level of intimacy that few comprehend; not just some mystical woowee woowee… but the actual union oneness! This is the very heart of God. He wants to be one with us in the most intimate way. WOW! This picture of sexual intimacy, in its most holy intent, evokes the most powerful union between two people. No wonder the enemies of God have polluted and perverted it since the beginning. Even the demons know this. They work extremely hard at trying to prevent man from being one with the One who created him. Why? First because of its power, and second because the fruit of that power is called “life”! If the fruit of a man and woman’s deepest knowing of each other produces life itself, how much greater is the level of life that is birthed from the yada that God wants between Himself and man?

To look at it from a different angle, religion, which is not based in, nor promotes intimacy, only brings emptiness, insecurity, inferiority, doubts and throughout the centuries, death. How many of you have been hurt by religious institutions and people? I know countless numbers who want nothing to do with God, because of people or organizations. Religion keeps God at a manageable distance. There is NO LIFE! God forbid we get too close! But relationship, which is what Y’shua/Jesus sacrificed Himself for so that man could be restored to truly  yada God, is based in intimacy… and that intimacy births life!

Let me give you an example.

We all know the story of Moses and the Burning Bush! Moses was willing to go up to the mountain where this strange and mysterious bush was burning  and yet not consuming the plant. The mountain rumbled and quaked. It inspired fear in all who could see it. Yet Moses wanted to get close. He wanted to know. And so he did. God rewarded his faith with an invitation… a sort of “Come on in Moses, take off your sandals and stay a while”. It was there the two of them began an intimate relationship. As the relationship developed, Moses was no longer afraid, but longed for the intimacy he was experiencing with YHVH. It was transforming him cell by cell! Moses and God yada each other and that yada inspired some of the greatest moments in Biblical history!

On the contrary, after the exodus from Egypt, at the base of Mt. Sinai, the children of Israel after seeing all the miracles and the power of God on their behalf wanted no part of intimacy with God. When they saw the rumblings and thunders and the fire of God on the mountain in Exodus 20, they were afraid to come close. They said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” The fruit of their fear was the golden calf… religion. Each time Moses went before the Lord his face radiated with the power of that intimacy… but the people couldn’t handle seeing him like that, so Moses wore a veil.

Just as the lack of intimacy between a husband and wife almost always bears the fruit of separation, confusion, doubt, mistrust, infidelity, and sometimes divorce, so the lack of intimacy with God does the same thing. It creates distance, faithlessness, unbelief, waywardness, and even death of the relationship.

Often times we think we are spiritual just because we happen to believe a certain way or we do all the “right things”. But all those things do not necessarily equate to a relationship with God based in yada. Paul described it like this in 2 Timothy 3:5, “a form of godliness, but denying its power.”

King David was the only one in the entirety of Scripture that God called, “A man after His own heart”. He understood that yada is the very heart of God. He comprehended it even as a young boy, and he pressed in after it his whole life. He wrote songs that conveyed his yada of God as he conversed with the Lord in the most intimate of ways. This was unheard of at that time, yet David broke all the rules. Even in David’s sin and transgressions, he knew God wanted to be intimate with him. That doesn’t mean he didn’t reap the consequences of some of his actions, but David knew there was no better place to be than in the intimate presence of God.

Even at the End Of All Things, yada is still at the heart of it all. Y’shua/Jesus said in Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘Depart from Me, I never knew you…” The word "knew" is directly connected to the ancient Hebrew word yada. He is saying they were never intimate! God is not interested in religious works as much as He is in hearts that pant after Him, longing to be one with Him in the deepest and most intimate way.

So today, where are you in that process? Are you like the children of Israel, or are you like Moses… or King David? Does your heart long for that level of knowing and being known? Are you willing to be fully vulnerable and transparent before the One who knows all things?

Maybe a good place to discover where you are is by looking at your intimate relationships. What level of relationship do you have with those you love and how deep are you willing to allow yourself to go? It may just reveal something about your own personal relationship with God?

So maybe today is that day? Maybe today you willingly immerse yourself in the deep well of intimacy with the One who loves you more than you could ever know, and allow yourself to be forever transformed by it.

I’ll leave you with this thought… This is how Paul described his heart in Philippians 3, “I want to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”  I used to think that lofty proclamation was an unattainable level of commitment and vulnerability. Then I discovered the word yada. Now I see it in a different light.

A little manna for the mind.

© 2010 Steven Bliss
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ALIENS?

What would the earth look like with the advent of extraterrestrial life? I think before I sum it up with two words (which I can), I need to back up and explain a few things first. (Forgive the lengthiness of this blog, but it’s necessary.)

The most important thing that needs to be discussed before they arrive (and they will arrive) is who they are, and how does all it fit into the plan of God, creation, the Bible, and mankind itself. This will take a moment to unpack, so if you don’t mind, I will give you what I believe are the correct answers to all these questions, and more.

To begin, let’s look at the idea of extraterrestrials and UFO’s from the standpoint of God and the Bible. To do that we have to delve deeply into the concept of creation and order, Lucifer, the fall of man, and truth itself. All of this begs the question, are there other life forms besides us in this seemingly gigantic universe? Most would say, of course there are… how could there not be? Certainly we can’t think that we’re the only ones out there… right? How ridiculous! Or is it ridiculous?

To answer this, let’s look first into the nature and character of God Himself. There is a powerful verse in Scripture that illustrates where I’m going with this. Numbers 23:19a says, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind.” The key to this verse is that God does not lie! He does not deceive in any way, but instead is upfront and brutally honest about ALL things. So what does that mean in relation to the idea of aliens? Simply this… if God had created other life forms, He would have told us. If there were, and He had kept it a secret, and they showed up telling us that they were our creators, leading us astray from Him, then we would be deceived and a great falling away from God and His Word would take place. To allow such a thing would be deceptive and cruel on the part of God, but as the verse above states God is neither liar, nor deceiver! To top it all off, think about this… if there were other life forms in the universe, then the sacrifice of His Son would not only apply to us, but to them as well! Somehow, they would have to go through the exact same process we do in order to be redeemed. The Bible says Y’shua/Jesus died ONCE for ALL! His sacrifice was for the entirety of creation. Understanding this and knowing that He did not tell us about other life forms effectively proves that there are no such things as extraterrestrials. But… there is something out there!

Then who are they? Well if humans are created, according to God, in His likeness and image, and some other form of non-humans exist, which the planet is about to discover, then surely they have to come from somewhere. Of course God would have created them… right? The answer is simply, yes. But they are not extraterrestrials from some solar system. They’re not from some secretly orbiting planet that is only seen every 3,600 years. And most importantly, they are not who they have disguised themselves to be. For almost 60 years man has been combing space with massive antennas and space probs... though there have been many supposed sightings, no solid confirmation of them have been established! And the reason for this? Because the are multi-dimensional beings that enter in and out of time at will. When they enter, they are here, when they depart, the door of time closes and they are gone. 

What the world is about to experience are those beings who were once a vibrant part of the greatest of God's creations, the Angelic world. Sadly, they no longer hold such esteem. They are the "Fallen Ones". They are those whom Jude spoke of as, “angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own abode—these He has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains FOR JUDGEMENT until the great Day.” (Jude 1:6) They are the angels the Bible declares that rebelled against the God of all creation when they came down and had sexual relations with the daughters of Eve (Genesis 6) creating some of the greatest abominations ever known. What they did was so bad that God had to destroy everything that lived upon the earth with a flood! Paul talks about them in Ephesians 6:12 when he says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.” Who is their leader? He was the greatest archangel of them all. He covered the very throne of God with his wings and was in charge of all the worship of Heaven. He was the greatest musical instrument ever created. His name… Lucifer. In his fallen state he is known in Hebrew as haSatan, which means The Adversary or Destroyer!

It has been the Adversary’s intention from the very beginning, after he lead a rebellion against God long before creation as we know it, to destroy what he knew could possibly bring his demise. So he undertook the task of defiling God’s greatest creation, which God Himself fashioned His own likeness, Adam and Eve. Lucifer set out to stop the Royal decree against him. He knew the only way to do it was to deceive Adam and Eve so that God would destroy them, thereby stopping the curse. It was his only hope. But God had another plan, one that would keep the decree and bring redemption as well in spite of the fall. God prepared a sacrifice that would pay for the sin of Adam and Eve’s rebellion keeping His promise to destroy Lucifer and his followers once and for all. That sacrifice was His only Son, Y’shua!

To grasp this, we have to examine and understand the story. It’s long, but I will try and snapshot it for you.

Lucifer knew that God’s plan was a story of deliverers. It was Lucifer’s goal to stop them from entering the earth through the door of the womb. The Bible is replete with this story, as is history itself. He had to stop them from accomplishing their task as each deliverers actions were a stepping-stone to the next and the ultimate end and destruction of Lucifer altogether.

Noah was the first deliverer. The Fallen Ones came down and tainted all of creation during the days of Noah. They genetically reengineered everything, creating an abomination of desolation. (Is it any wonder we’re obsessed now with cloning and genetic engineering?) They created monsters and creatures only science fiction and horror movies attempt to create, including the dinosaurs (Just in case you were wondering). The entirety of the human gene pool, as well as plants, animals, reptiles, fish and birds were tainted; except for Noah and his sons. So God destroyed it all preserving only the untainted Noah and his family. Then came Moses. When the prophesy was made known to Pharaoh, under haSatan’s spiritual influence, he ordered the killing of all the Hebrew male babies 3 years and under by throwing them into the Nile. Then came Y’shua /Jesus. When it was known that He had been born, Herod did the same thing as Pharaoh when he sent soldiers to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem under the age of 3! Finally, when the end of all things was about to begin, the Fallen Ones under command of the haSatan himself, went on one of the greatest terror rampages in history. It was called the Holocaust. Why, because it was the Jews of Europe and Russia who would bring about the final deliverance and total destruction of darkness with the rebirth of Abraham and the nation of Israel in the earth which happened on May 14, 1948 after 2,500 years. It was that very event that became the final dagger in the heart of the great dragon himself. It meant his ultimate end. And in the only way Lucifer knows how, to this very day, he continues to try to destroy Israel and those who are the household of God, in an attempt to prolong his end.

 So… knowing all this, what are they coming here for, and why the “alien” shtick? The answer to the first part is, it’s a vain effort to prevent their destruction from ultimately taking place. (Can’t blame ‘em for trying) They will attempt to accomplish this in several ways. They will seek to bring all mankind under their control through deception in order to destroy it completely. They will promote this deception by doing miraculous signs and wonders that only a “god” could do. They will also proclaim they are the ones who created the human race, and that man’s primitive ideas of religion are merely feeble ways of trying to describe its creators. When they do that, the Bible will go out the window for most with a great renunciation of faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to follow. The story of the cross and the resurrection will become a fairytale. After all, who wouldn’t believe those who come from the sky in great ships moving in seemingly supernatural ways and unprecedented power? Ultimately they will call for the utter destruction of Israel and all the physical seed of Abraham; which plays perfectly into the hands of those who already are under their influence; plotting that very thing as I type.

Secondly, they are disguised as aliens so that they won’t be recognized for who they really are. It’s a game of deception and illusion; and they are masters at it. If you knew who they really were, the jig would be up. They have been peppering man’s mind for the last 60 years preparing it for their arrival. They have also been doing abominable acts (which I won’t go into here) that most have no idea of.

They will come… and with great purpose! They will work with those who are already here in complete agreement and alignment with them. They have tried it several times before but were restrained, but now… Israel exists and the end is at hand. Her mere existence changes the playing field, announcing to them the return of the Son of God who will destroy them once and for all. You can take it to the bank that they know, and that in knowing they will attempt to take as many with them as they can.

So to answer my original question: What would the earth look like with the advent of extraterrestrial life? I will sum it up with two words… Terrifyingly frightening!

If you aren’t sure where you stand with God, then now would be a great time to change it. I will echo ancient words to you: “I am an ambassador of Messiah, as though God Himself were making an appeal through me to you. Therefore I implore you on behalf of Messiah: Be reconciled to God!” Things will be very difficult once they arrive. The level of deception and evil will be unprecedented; unlike any that has ever been before. No one will be able to escape! Only those whose lives have been bought with the blood of the Lamb and who hope in the sacrifice of God alone!

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb

 and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives unto the death.”

Revelation12:11

© 2010 Steven Bliss 
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THE AARONIC BLESSING: ANCIENT LETTERS, PICTURES AND WORDS!

You may or may not know this, but Modern Hebrew, including some older versions of it, are very different from the original language given to the Hebrews at Mt. Sinai in the wilderness of Sin. Most have no clue that the differences are that drastic, but they are. 

Ancient Hebrew, the language God Himself gave to the Hebrews in Egypt, and more than likely a derivative of or related to the language of Heaven itself [My own personal opinion and obviously unprovable], is a combination of a letter-like symbol and a picture. The combined creates what is known as a pictograph. The symbol depicts an image, which reinforces the meaning of the symbol and clarity to the meaning of the words. Unlike English where the letters have no meaning and have to be put together to make a meaning, Ancient Hebrew letters put together actually create a word emphasized by the meaning of each letter creating a picture, thus driving home the deeper meaning and intent. Though similar to hieroglyphics, Ancient Hebrew is far more dramatic and powerful given its Author and His design in creating such uniqueness. 

To illustrate all this I thought I would use the Aaronic blessing, which God Himself gave to Aaron and Moses. He commanded that it be spoken over His people, and that when it was, He would bless and fulfill the very words spoken over them. I think you will find the difference between what we know it as in English and it's original meaning rather dramatic. 

In English it reads like this: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

We've all heard it that way and know it as such, right? Yet the pictograph letters of Ancient Hebrew adds far more dimension and power in revealing its original intent. 

This is how it translates from the ancient pictographs:

“Yahweh will kneel before you presenting gifts and will guard you with a hedge of protection, Yahweh will illuminate the wholeness of His being toward you bringing order, and He will beautify you, Yahweh will lift up His wholeness of being and look upon you and He will set in place all you need to be whole and complete.”

A little more unique, don't you think?

Just a little manna for thought!

Watch the Priestly Blessing in Jerusalem 5771

© 2010 Steven Bliss
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IN HIS HANDS

In this life nothing is certain. There are no guarantees. Life comes at you fast, and sometimes very hard. There are times when it seems as though everything is perfect; then there are those dark days when it appears as though everything has turned against you.

            Today, no matter what you may be facing, no matter what fears you may have, remember this: He who flung the stars holds you safely in His hands. There is great peace and comfort in knowing this simple truth. Let yourself rest in His strong, loving hands!

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace,

the one whose mind is stayed on You,

because he trusts in You!

© 2010 Steven Bliss
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ADAM TO ABRAHAM: WHAT IT MEANS TO US! (revised 3/31/20)

Of all the genealogies in Scripture, there is only one list of names where God meticulously and in detail for all generations makes sure those reading know the exact age of every father from Adam to Terah at the birth of their sons in Genesis chapters 5 and 11. No other genealogy is like it in the entire Bible. Why? Because it's PROPHETIC! Far into the future it would become a sign to a specific generation that would see it and understand its meaning. They would discover the time in which they live was both predetermined and prophetic. That in the entirety of history they would be the ones to not only unravel its mystery and meaning, but realize that God had spoken 3,500 years in advance to Moses about the time when the finality of His story would be fulfilled. Not until one specific event would or could it be understood, but that events manifestation would set the stage for the conclusion of all things.

Before we look at the numbers below, lets establish one very important piece of information; the Book of Genesis is unlike any other in all of Scripture. Genesis was not just a man writing his own ideas, interpretations or imagination of what he thought he heard God say, but it was Yahweh Himself telling Moses word for word, story for story in precise detail the history of creation, Moses' family heritage and his own personal miraculous deliverance from certain death by Pharaoh. Most importantly why it was no coincidence it was he that was sitting on a mountain talking to a burning bush. Moses wrote every word God told him to say, verbatim. No embellishments, no interjections and no interpolations. Nothing human. After all, Moses had no idea these stories existed. He was raised as an Egyptian in the house of Pharaoh. Detail by detail, fact by fact, exactly as it had gone down; God wrote Genesis using Moses' writing skills as a testimony for all who would be a part of His story and beyond. Both for the descendants of Abraham who would become the father of not only a family and a nation, but the lineage of Messiah Jesus! So as you read this, try to grasp the accuracy and the implications both then, and now.

The numbers below are historical facts straight from the mouth of God. They are the specific ages of all the fathers starting with Adam at the birth of his son Seth, to Terah at the birth of his son Abraham. Abraham would be the first to believe God and be declared "evrit/Hebrew (meaning one who has crossed over, or in post resurrection terms, reborn/born again) by God as a picture of what was to come. These numbers would not be understood until May 14, 1948. Their true meaning would begin to unfold after that.

Genesis Chapter 5
Adam was 130 when he had Seth
Seth was 105 when he had Enosh
Enosh was 90 when he had Kenan
Kenan was 70 when he had Mahalalel
Mahalalel was 65 when he had Jared
Jared was 162 when he had Enoch
Enoch was 65 when he had Methuselah
Methuselah was 187 when he had Lemach
Lemach was 182 when he had Noah
Noah was 502 when he had Shem

Genesis Chapter 11
Shem was 100 when he had Arphaxad
Arphaxad was 35 when he had Selah
Selah was 30 when he had Eber
Eber was 34 when he had Peleg
Peleg was 30 when he had Reu
Reu was 32 when he had Serug
Serug was 30 when he had Nahor
Nahor was 29 when he had Terah
Terah was 70 when he had Abraham
Total: 1,948 years

Explanation
Throughout time God has repeated Himself over and over again. No one will be able to stand before Him and say I didn’t see, I didn’t understand, or I never heard. God is the Master of redundancy. There is a reason why He wanted Israel to NEVER stop rehearsing the Passover - and that includes not just the Jewish people, but the body of Messiah who are grafted into that tree as well. It's not just about looking back and remembering the faithfulness of God based on His past deliverances, but an even greater reality, one so profound that somewhere far out in time they will understand when the exact same event is repeated right before their eyes. By rehearsing it year after year, they will recognize and be able to say "this is that which was spoken by Him long ago!" Only then, the last "Exodus" will be on a global scale. With God there is always the original which a type and shadow of the actual event it represents somewhere out in the future. When that event happens it is then the fulfillment of what the original event pointed towards. In Jeremiah 16 God spoke through Jeremiah that far down the corridors of time a similar exodus will take place, but that it will supersede the original to the point that the original will no longer be spoken of because of the magnitude of it being a global event so profound that it will wipe the memory of the original from our minds. That event is the RETURN of Jesus of whom Moses was a type of. I don't know about you but I think to myself, how can it get more dramatic than that?

Abraham was born 1,948 years after the creation of Adam in the garden. Though it had no real significance then, as the original 1948 it was a foreshadow of a future repeated event! The birth of Abraham is significant. Why? The nation of Israel that Abraham is the father of would be scattered throughout the earth and not exist as a nation for almost 2,500 years. It was not a nation when Jesus came the first time. It was Palestine under Roman occupation and rule. Because of Israel's rebellion against God, they, like us all, suffered the consequences of their actions and the discipline of God as a result. Likened to a beautiful fig tree that blossoms and bears amazing fruit, Israel had becomes a withered up and barren tree as a result of her repeated rebellion and disobedience. In the great passage of Matthew 24:32-35 where Jesus tells His disciples about His return and the signs that will take place just prior to His return He says, “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." The fig tree is a metaphor for Israel as a nation, a tree that was supposed to produce fruit but, at time in His illustration, had stopped being what it was created to be. But He said when you see that tree, Israel come back to life from the dead bearing fruit, it will be the telltale sign that He is at the door and about to return.

An interesting aside with regards to all this, for many years no one really knew exactly when Jesus was born. Historically theologians assumed 4 BC based upon the idea that most believed He was crucified in the year 30 AD. But not long ago something exciting was unraveled! Through the discovery of ancient calendars and the use of astronomy, they have historically pinpointed the year of the Passover in which Jesus was crucified as 33 AD! With that revelation the precision of 1,948 years into the future adds pinpoint accuracy to the original story. It is the rebirth of Abraham and his family, Israel in the land God gave to Abraham thousands of years prior. May 14, 1948 was exactly 1,948 years after the birth of the Last Adam, Jesus' birth! It is spot-on and impossible to make up.

So now that Israel is a nation and Abraham has been born again in the earth, lets go back to Genesis and carry this story out further. 75 years after Abraham's birth after God had called him out of Ur he entered into the Promised Land. (Gen. 12:1-3) The year it took place was 2023! What's interesting about that is Abraham was 75 years old at that time and according to the Bible a generation is between 70 and 80 years (Psalm 90:10). So according to the Bible a generation had taken place making it even more significant. Why is that important? It highlights something Jesus said about the end of days in Matthew 24:32-35 which was, “The generation that sees the fig tree blossom (again, the fig tree being a Biblical metaphor for the of nation of Israel suddenly after being dead for almost 2,400 years would in an instant blossom again), would not perish (or die off), but see the fulfillment of all things.” That means the generation that is alive and sees Israel come to life  like a fig tree that was dead will be the generation that sees all the prophesies concerning Jesus and His return happen! And for us who await His return, entering the Promised Land. Impeccable precision does away with mere coincidence. None of this would have made any sense until Israel became a nation in 1948. You could have added up those numbers a million times prior to May 14th 1948 and it would have only equaled 1,948 years.

The accuracy is startling and dead on. There are no margins of error. The generation of the end began in 1945 was called the Baby Boomer generation. To make it even more dramatic, move forward to June of 1967 when Jerusalem was taken back from Gentile rule after 2,300 years of occupation (another prophesy spoken by Jesus in Matthew 24). This United Israel with her capital and the ancient place of Abrahams sacrifice on Mount Moriah of his son Isaac where God spares Isaac with a sacrificial lamb as a substitute. Abraham called that place, "Adonai Yirah", the mountain upon which God will see and provide!" Genesis 22:14

As my tax person says numbers never lie! That being the case and in light of all we just learned, in my opinion, time is much shorter than anyone wants to believe. Looking around it's hard not seeing the many bizarre things taking place throughout the entire world. Anti-Semitism globally is rising exponentially, far more dramatically than it was in the 1930's and '40's when Hitler was making his diabolical push. Far more disturbing is its rise inside the Church. Only weeks ago Benjamin Netanyahu made a clarion call to all the Jews of Europe and around the world to "COME HOME NOW!" I was talking with a friend recently about all of this and they said, “But Jesus said no one would know the day or the hour, right?” I answered, “It's not about a day or hour? We're supposed to be like the sons of Issachar who knowing the signs could discern what time it is." Do you know what time it is?

Don’t take my word for it. Study. Search it out for yourself. The answers are there. Ask God! He'll show you, I promise. 

March 31, 2020
We are now in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. COVID-19 has hit every country on the planet. There is a massive global panic and in many places thousands have died with thousands more to come. What this seems to shout to me is that we are in something no one has an ability to stop. What it has done is show a tremendous divide between peoples. There is tremendous division. Economically the world has come to a standstill. 
I believe this is both an opportunity for the house of believers to repent and let go of the old wineskin and embrace the clear mandate to be ready to be a light in the midst of the darkness and the power of God to move through you in ways you personally can't imagine. It's time for the Greater Works. This shows us all just how fast things can and will change. Though I don't believe this is "the end", I do believe it's a preview of coming attractions. It's the trailer for the movie. The movie has a release date but it's not yet. 
God is shaking the earth. No, I don't believe He did this, but I do believe He will use it for His purposes. When the end comes and the insanity that will befall the whole planet there will be no stopping it. The panic we see now will become deep fear and pandemonium. 
We are being thrust forward against our will. That in and of itself should speak volumes to you about the time we are living in. I believe Jesus is coming back sooner than anyone wants to believe. That even believers who claim to want Him to return are not really ready for that to happen or what it means. But God isn't moving according to our timetable. There is so much more going on than just the virus. As I said, the earth is shaking. It's moaning and groaning for the day of the Lord and the revealing of the sons of God. 
If you haven't read my most recent articles, I encourage you to give them a once over. This is a time of repentance. A time to turn from our wicked ways and to seek God with all our hearts. It's not going away. It's going to get worse in a myriad of ways all at once. 
God wants hearts who will surrender and submit to Him and His agenda. So while we are in this standstill moment, I encourage you to get on your knees and cry out to God. He is waiting for you. Repent and give yourself to Him afresh. He's looking for those whose hearts are fully His.


© 2010 Steven Bliss
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BIRTHRIGHT AND DECISION

(As I stood alone on the southern most steps of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in November of 2006, I was inspired to write this article.)

            As I smelled the hyssop growing wild at the base of the Temple Mount steps, I was thrust into a place only sight and smell can trigger.  I could hear the streets outside the walls of the city, strangely though, it wasn’t the sound of the hustling and bustling of modern Jerusalem, it was an ancient sound… mystical and hypnotic.  The voices spoke with prophetic resonance.  There were no minarets, no prayers being offered up to some false god. It was the sound of peace, the peace of God’s presence upon a people and a city He loved and called by His name.  I could hear the whispers of a king’s voice singing… Avi Melkenu!

            Though it was only a moment, that moment transcended space and time to deliver a message to me on the very place from which it had originated. 

            At the base of Moriah, where 4,000 years of history forged a people and a land, David’s words reverberate off the walls and hills of the City of God.  As David stood before the threshing floor of Araunah, he was offered a free gift of what would become the hottest piece of real estate the world would ever know. But instead of receiving this gift freely given, David said these words;  “I will not offer up sacrifices to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.”  Over 3,000 years ago, David paid for a piece of ground that now lies in the hands of the usurper. 

            The actual definition of the word birthright means: the basic right someone has, or is entitled to, concerning properties or monies belonging to ones family line.  Interestingly enough, the word for justice in Hebrew means to recover that which rightfully belongs to its owner.  In the psalms when David says, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may those who love her prosper”, it evokes a sense of immediacy and the provocation to urgency with which my heart was penetrated as I looked upon the former devastations where I stood, the city David loved so deeply.  Why you ask?  Because the same Spirit that inspired those words in him, reignites them in me 3,000 years later.

            "How long, oh Lord, how long?"  That was David’s cry as he pondered his enemy’s success in trampling underfoot the things that belonged to God.  Once again, in our day, the enemies of David and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob manipulate world opinion concerning the things of God and His possessions.

Not long ago, a 64-year-old woman, with explosives wrapped around her body, blew herself up in Gaza for Allah’s sake. The twisted perspective that paradise would be realized by such an act of insanity drives home for me the picture of a people whose agenda it is to continue Jihad until its ultimate purpose is accomplished: dispossess Jacob’s descendants and control all that God willed to them through birthright!

            I know many will argue that to believe that God is the owner as well as giver, is conjecture. Yet He is Avi Melkenu – our Father, our King! Others will say there is no real evidence that David actually purchased the piece of land now known as the Temple Mount. Yet I would suggest that history, in conjunction with the continual undeniable archeological discoveries that paint an accurate view of what the Bible chronicles, validates it as so. He promised that Israel would become a nation in a day and that He would gather His people from around the world and bring them back to the land to which He had given to their forefathers. He promised to restore their native tongue.  These are things we can see with our own eyes, not coincidence. So did Avi Melkenu change His mind? Never! It is called justice due to birthright! Yet these are the very reasons the usurper rages against the truth and against Abraham’s descendants.

            The notion that the usurper has the right to possess those things that were never his is ludicrous and has no grounds upon which to stand. It is because of this that they seek to conquer, not just the People of the Book, but anyone else who would stand in their way. Decisions are made every day concerning these matters, both in the earth, and above. As the lines become clearer, and the choices become more dangerous, the question must rise up within us… “from which Stone are we cut?"  

Choosing to side with those whose birthright goes back to the man who chose to follow God from the land of Ur into the Land of Promise is a choice that is rooted in the word “sacrifice”.  The ancients knew it; David understood it, will we engage it with the same tenacity they did? 

             David could have had that piece of land for nothing, yet David understood the value of sacrifice, not just to God, but also to man. It was in his blood, and the blood of his fathers. He also understood that by purchasing that piece of land it would establish birthright for all of his descendants long into the future. Is it any different for us?

Today, may our yes be yes in our decision to stand with the birthright of David, establishing justice, being willing to do whatever it takes, without compromise and regardless of the cost for the purpose of TRUE shalom and the victory which belongs to Avi Melkenu.

           

© 2006 Steven Bliss
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