Dear Doves,
 
      In the stories of the days of Noah and of Lot in Genesis, there are date specific days in the stories about the days of Noah. For example, we read about Cheshvan 10 then a delay of 7 days until Cheshvan 17. There are 40 days and nights of rain. What is distinctive, set apart, and unique about one particular day? The day is Elul 23. This is THE ONLY DAY of THE DAYS OF NOAH OF LOT which gives us a specific day and time for a significant event. The Master wants us to remember ALL the stories about the DAYS OF NOAH AND OF LOT, not only those before the rains began. The combination of specific day and time makes Elul 23 very noteworthy. Genesis informs us that the sent out dove, with sure hope and promise of the nearness of the far and undiscovered country, returns to the ark and Noah with the olive leaf and branch in its beak at EVENING on Elul 23. According to the reckoning of a day in The Scriptures, this meant as it began in the evening. The time frame was from sunset until the midnight hour. Does this give us a vital clue to consider on some future Elul 23, in the evening as it begins like 9-9-2012?
      The motif or theme of olive-tree or two or more olive trees occurs 22 times in The Scriptures, according to bible gateway.com. Psalm 52:8 states the following. "But as for me, I am like a green olive-tree in the house of God: I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever." Hosea 14:6notes. "His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his soul as Lebanon." Zechariah 4:3 is similar to 4:11. We read in Zechariah 4:11 the following. "What are these two olive-trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?" How about Romans 11:24? "How much more shall these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive-tree?" We may consider Revelation 11:4. "These are the two olive trees and two candlesticks, standing before the Lord of the earth."
      Elul 23, a distinctive DAY AND TIME of THE DAYS OF NOAH AND LOT, includes these themes: ark, Noah, the returning dove, the dove taking flight home, protection and preservation, sure hope and promise, patient faith, nearing the new life and new home, Messiah as The Branch, the olive tree of Israel. Here are more subtle motifs related to the concept of an olive-tree: the reunion of the Northern and Southern tribes of Israel (two trees and candlesticks) into one olive tree, the natural olive tree (plus the grafted in wild olive shoots from the Gentiles). Will momentous events happen the evening of Elul 23 in 2012? To begin the homecoming and reunion of 2 olive-trees into 1, of 12 tribes into one House, the stirrings of restoration of Israel?  Will The Branch, our sure hope and promise of protection and preservation in His Salvation soon appear to Spirit us away to the far and undiscovered country of very Heaven? THE RETURN TO OUR HOME on Elul 23? We shall see. May we be daily WATCHING for the brightness of His appearing!
 
With Love and Shalom,
Jean