THE COW, THE FISH, AND THE SERPENT

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Rabbis and prophecy watchers in Israel have been abuzz over three events, all taking place at the end of 2018, that they see as constituting signs of Messiah's soon coming. I am not here affirming that connection, but the signs are interesting enough to take note.
THE RED HEIFER
One of the commands given to Israel in the Law of Moses requires the birth of the "Parah Adumah", the red heifer. The sacrifice of the red heifer is to bring purification. Red heifers are mentioned in rabbinic speculation concerning the end times. The birth of a red heifer, many believe, will herald the building of the Third Temple. And some Christians believe that such an event will herald the second coming of Jesus.
In the latter part of 2018 it was announced that a red heifer had been born. Rabbinical experts conducted an extensive examination of the calf. After the examination they verified that the calf had fulfilled all the requirements concerning the red heifer, including its being born "without blemish". The event was being heralded as the first verified birth of a red heifer in two thousand years.
THE SERPENT
The second sign concerned the holiest place in Judaism- the Western Wall. For two thousand years, Jewish people have come to the wall to pray and seek answers from the Lord often in impassioned intercession, thus the name "the Wailing Wall". At around the same time of the red heifer, while Jewish people were praying at the Western Wall, a very different creature appeared. A snake began slithering out from the stones in the Western Wall, interrupting the prayers being offered there. As the serpent is a creature often associated with evil, the event, the first of its kind to be recorded, sparked off more speculation concerning 'dangerous times' and the coming of Messiah.
THE FISH
The Dead Sea is one of the most unique bodies of water in the world. Containing several times the salt and minerals contained in sea water it allows for no visible signs of life. But in the Book of Ezekiel, the prophet speaks of what will take place in the last days. The Jewish people will be regathered from the ends of the earth back to the land of Israel. The Temple will be rebuilt. And water will flow from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. As it flows, it will bring life from death and fish will swim in the waters of the Dead Sea. Fish have never been spotted in the Dead Sea... that is, apparently, until the end of 2018. It is reported that scientists have been shocked to have found fish and other forms of life filling up the sinkholes of the Dead Sea. Noam Bedein, Israeli photojournalist, has chronicled the event, reporting that the Dead Sea is "anything but dead" and calling the phenomenon the "eighth wonder of the world".
Are these signs of the soon coming of Messiah? Perhaps. But beyond all this, the return of the nation of Israel, the restoration of Jerusalem, and the massive apostasy we are witnessing around us every day are clear signs of what the Bible foretells as "the last days." We must live in a manner worthy of such a day. This month, commit to living in a manner worthy of Messiah's return, putting away anything that has no place in your life and rising to your calling. And may God greatly bless you as you do!
Your brother and co-laborer

in His love and service,

Jonathan

See message: The Seventy Sevens