Where are we on the Lord's calendar today? As we draw nearer the conclusion of this age this question becomes more and more relevant and critical for each of us.
 
For some years, as many of you know, I have been observing and writing about signs of various kinds, both in the heavens and on earth. Various indicators point to this present year that began in September of 2005 as the first in a crucial week of years. I have been hearing reports from diverse places that offer supporting testimony.
 
I write this note to present what I believe is the most recent sign of note. The saga of the mine explosion in West Virginia happened on the very day highlighted in history marked by a complementary theme! Let me explain.
 
As I documented in some detail on theopenscroll.com ( The Threefold Model of Great Sevens http://theopenscroll.com/beyond_veil/sevendaymodel.htm ) we have an invaluable tool at our disposal to help us identify and interpret our time. Knowing the simple fact that these three kinds of weeks share a common pattern, we can learn about the first year of the seven by considering the events and meaning of the events of the first day of creation and what is even yet far more useful, the first millennium. Ditto the second, etc. If indeed this is as I say and we are in the first year, we should be seeing this unfold. Well, the first millennium was pretty sparse for dated events. Mostly, we know the trends of increasing population and wickedness. In specific, the dated events of the first millennium are the births of the patriarchs in Genesis 5.
 
The beginning of this first year which was, of course, the beginning also of the week, saw the prophecy of Daniel's seventieth seven's covenant  brought forth as the event; Clinton's Global Initiative. (A Firm Covenant With the Many  http://theopenscroll.com/firm_covenant.htm) Mapping the dates of the Patriarchs births onto this year's calendar, the birth of Kenan (Cainan) aligned with January 2, 2006. (By biblical accounting this was the fifth or 11th month, second day)
 
There is little I know to associate with that event other than the meaning of the name, which is this: "Their smith" or "fabricator." The event that dominated the news of that day relates to the meaning of the patriarch name whose birth date in history maps to that day! I believe it is a sign - most certainly beyond coincidence. The miners were mining coal - they were in a coal mine. A smith works with metal heated in a coal burning forge. The smith typically fabricates tools, weapons or other useful implements.  The miner drama continues to play out as I write. The height of the drama followed after the initial explosion in the mine and the lengthy attempted rescue of the 13 miners. Shortly after one was found dead, a report was given that the remaining 12 were found alive. A miracle was proclaimed and exuberant praise came forth. Three hours later, the report came again that the other miners were in fact dead, excepting one. This gut wrenching report brought an interesting turn to the ordeal. Where the reporting had focused on the declarations of faith and hope of the community centering around activity in the church local to the mine, the reporting then focused on what was then feelings of anger, hurt and bitterness.
 
I don't have a full grasp of the meaning of the sign, though I do believe it is a sign. The date of the event, the complementary association between "their smith" and the coal mining,  the media focus on the affected Christian church community of  Sago Baptist Church in Tallmansville, W.Va and their reactions, the high drama of the two contradictory reports - and the numbers involved and how it points to Jesus and his 12 disciples!
 
I wonder what work is being fabricated in the Lord's economy? Are there signs in the earth appointed to instruct the wise that align with the births of the patriarchs? Although the first millennium was relatively sparse with dated events that we can match up to our calendar for prayerful consideration, the second, which is not far off, is much more densely populated! Watch with me - and pray.
 
  Bob Schlenker