Acts chapter 7 is Paul's recount of the travails of the Hebrew children from Abraham up to the death of Stephen.Vs 6: "And God spake on this wise, That his (Abraham's) seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred (400) years."
It is in this same chapter that I pointed out in an earlier letter that Moses' life was divided into three sets of 40. The greatest portion of this chapter concerns the Israelites deliverance from Egypt at the time of Moses. The three 40 year periods are mentioned in vs 23, 30 and 42. The bush is mentioned in vs 30 and 35. Delieverance is mentioned in 34 and 35. It is important to note that Moses' last 40 years began when God appeared to him "in the bush".
The 400 is an amplified 40 as is the 40 an amplified 4. Let's review creation week in Gen chapter 1: Day 1 is the first division (separation) mentioned in the Bible, dividing light and darkness. This was not the light of the sun and moon because they were not made until day 4. I conclude it had to do with good and evil and the light is the same as found in St. John chapter 1. The next division (separation) found is on day 4. The 4th day is found in vs 14 - 19. Not only did God make the sun, moon and stars on this day, but they also divided (separated) night and day. They were for signs, for seasons, for days and years, i.e. they were for calendars or markers of time. Vs 16 and 18 also mention they (sun and moon) were for rulership, one over the day (light) and the other night (darkness). When day 7 reaches its final form in the millenial reign of Jesus Christ, we will have the ultimate form of division from light and darkness and the ultimate ruler.
Back to Acts 7:35. We see when God appears to Moses in the bush, not only does God mention deliverance for His people, God tells us He sends Moses as a judge and a ruler. Moses obviously foreshadows Jesus' coming as a ruler (Lord and King, Rev 19:16), judge (Jam 5:9) and high priest (He 2:17, 3:1). We know that Jesus comes as our deliverer as well and He is the great divider from Day 1. In Lk 12:51, Jesus flatly states that He comes not to bring peace but division, i.e. separation.
The 40 stands out as prominent in this Acts 7 passage and in vs 36 it is stated that they (the Hebrew Israelites) were tested 40 years in the wilderness. Joshua (an Ephraimite) then lead them over Jordan to the promised land. You should be able to see its direct connection to the 4 in Day 4 of creation. It is also prominent in the 4th candle of the Menorrah as both a divider of the 7 and the mid-point feeder of oil candle. There are 7 candles found before the throne in Rev 1:20.
The 400 and the 40 have the same root, that is day 4 of the creation. They are not only connected to light and darkness (good and evil), but to division (separation), rulership and the tare of the enemy, i.e. the bush.
Besides all the 40's mentioned in my letter (posted Sat, Nov 25) concerning the Sign of the Fig Tree and the Sign of the Bush, the 4 is prominent in Revelations as well. It is at 4th Seal that the tribulation begins. It is here that Death (antichrist) and Hell (false prophet) come to power (Rev 6:8). It is at the 4th Trumpet that the false prophet takes control and kills the two witnesses. It is at their resurrection 3 and one half days later (on Pentecost) that the trib saints are resurrected as well and they all ascend into heaven in a cloud (Rev 11:7-12). Trumpets 5-7 are called "Woes" and are associated with the great tribulation of the last 3 and one half years. The 7th Trumpet contains the 7 vials of God's wrath on the unrepentent (Rev 11:18 and 16:1).
It does not surprise me that there is a 400 year period associated with the U.S.A.. This nation is Ephraim, the greater of the two children of Joseph (Gen 48:19). The double blessing on these children is confirmed as last days in Gen 49:1. The theme of separation (division) and living separate is found in the story of Joseph. So is the foreshadow of the tribulation found in the 7 years of famine story in Gen 47:13-26 and Joseph's role in it as second in charge under the Pharaoh. This theme of separation (division) and living separate is also mentioned in Jacob's blessing on Joseph in Gen 49:22-26. In vs 26, a crown is on the head of those of Joseph who lived separate.
That the days of the double blessed Ephraim should be 400 years brings little surprise. It fits the theme in scripture. It was Joseph whom his father gave a beautiful multi-colored coat (mentioned 3 times in Gen 37:3, 23, 32). This is the make-up of the children of Joseph (Ephraim and Manessah) who live in the midst of the Gentiles. The final beauty of this coat is found in the pre-trib rapture worthy around the throne in Rev 5:9 and in the tribulation saints of Rev 7:9. They are of every nation, kindred, people and tongue.
But, this 400 should highlight the 40 as well. The 40, a period of generational testing, added to the sign of the Fig Tree (Judah/nation state Israel) in Mat 24:32-34, Mk 13:28-30, Lk 21:29-32, will be the division/separation we have been looking for. The other sign God gives us along with this Fig Tree sign is the sign of the bush. The bush is seen clearly in the blessing on Joseph by Moses in Deut 33:16. The separation of those of goodwill who live in the bush is evident. If you apply Job's secrets of wisdom rule that it is double to that which is (Job 11:6), you can take it down to bush # 2, even second term. The sign of the Fig Tree + 40 and the sign of the bush (secrets of wisdom formula) both point to the spring of 2007.
After this separation event, you can begin to see what happens to Ephraim and Manasseh in Deut 33:17. They lead the peoples of the world together. Actually, this has been in the process since WW2 when these two emerged from the war as the economic and military might of the world. H.W. Bush formally announced the New World Order after Desert Storm. It is about world government. It is interesting that Micah 5:6 mentions this war and the rest of this chapter is about the status of Ephraim and Manessah until their sudden destruction.
This 400 marker and 40 marker will define the status of U.S.A and G.B. in God's eyes. After the separation event, they will be seen in God's eyes as a nation who turned away from God and is a habitation of devils. God will now call them Babylon. Their utter destruction is finalized in Rev 18. The double blessed is cursed double unto their double (Rev 18:6). All this can be seen in the blessings and cursings chapters of Deut 27 - 30. God knew all this from the beginning. The separation/division event is seen in Rev 18: 4 and 23.
God cursed the Fig Tree (Judah) in Mat 21:19, Mk 11:13-14, to grow fruit no more forever. Jesus speaks evil of the scribes, Pharisees and Saduccees in Mat 12:22-37 and 23:27-31 as well as John 8:44. He calls them liars, says their father is the devil, says they have committed the unpardonable sin and ask them how they can escape the damnation of Hell. Because they could not recognize the signs of their times and rejected Jesus as the Christ, Messiah, Jesus told His disciples to take His message to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, Mat 10:6 and 15:24.
It is the house (branch) of Israel (as opposed to Judah) which accepts the message of Paul and the apostles and carries out the great commission (Mt 28:19-20). Jacob's name Israel was given to Joseph's children in Gen 48:16. They would eventually become the leaders of the house of Israel when the tribes split apart after Solomon. Though they had fell into the heathen religion of the Assyrians for many centuries, it is they who would except Jesus' message. The great commission, the message of salvation through Jesus Christ was taken to the bounding hills of the Gentiles and the message turned into a beautiful multi-colored coat primarily by the house of Joseph. The ultimate name and final form of Israel (name given to Ephraim and Manasseh) is the faithful believers (elect) of the church of Jesus Christ. They are the final form of the beautiful multi-colored coat. This, the most wonderful of all blessings went from Jesus through the apostles and Paul (all Jews) and then through the house of Joseph to the gentiles.
The U.S., Canada etc are known for their abundant crops, specifically wheat. But, the enemy has sown tares in the wheat field. The thorns, thistles, vines and bushes team together to climb up and over the fruitful good trees and snuff out the sunlight. God will gather the good wheat into the barn and He will gather together (bundle) the tares and consume them in the fire (the fires of the tribulation). Like Noah and Lot, God will gather His into safety at the 40 (400) marker. Ephraim and Manessah like Judah will then be cursed. Ephraim and Manessah though will be utterly burned with fire.The character of the bush is linked to the tares as is the thorns in Lk 6:43-44. It does not produce good fruit. There is a very interesting story found in Judges 9:8-15 where the trees anoint a king over them. The olive tree and fig tree turn down the offer to be king. But the bramble bush accepts the offer if the other trees would put their trust in his shadow, if not let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon. Of its end time application I have no doubt. Job who gives us the secrets of wisdom, gives us further insight into the bush in chapter 30. He tells us vile, base men dwell in the bush, along with the spirits of darkness.
We have seen that the bush is found in the descendents of Joseph in Deut 33:16. Gen 41:32 indicates that because we have had two Bushes it is established by God. More importantly, we see in Mk 12:26-27 and Lk 20:35-38 that Jesus states this bush is a sign of the coming resurrection of the dead of 1 Thes 4:13-17. The following verse when God says I am a God of the living not the dead is a direct link back to the first passover when God killed the firstborn of Egypt. The next passover, in which there will also be a great midnight cry, God resurrects the firstborn of His church Israel, His bride. See the comparison with Ex 11:4-7. Surely God continues to set a difference between the world (Egypt) and His chosen (Israel, bride). This time He is a God of the living, i.e. He raises the dead. This group is promised to receive the reward of being kings and priests with Jesus during the millenium (rulership).
If you have read the verses given, you can begin to see the relationship of division, separation, rulership, the 4, the passover, the resurrection of the dead, Moses, the bush, the 40, the children of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) and the crown on the head of those who live separate. Looking back as the first of the peoples coming to the U.S. about 1607, then I can see where 400 plays out as the time of Ephraim's blessing. Beginning about chapter 17 of Deut to chapter 30 is a series of laws/instructions God gives to the Hebrew/Israelite children. Every judge and every king of both Judah and Israel had the same opportunites of blessing and cursing based on their choices. These apply to individuals as well as nations. They are faithful promises and God's word does not come back to Him void.
There will be those who reject what is being said here in that they do not believe the story of Joseph in scripture, that his descendents would be a great nation and group of nation (states) in the last days. I tell you that God keeps His promises and they are not based on the success and failures of man. If they are, what hope have we of salvation.
God kept His promises (blessings) to the descendents of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and the other children. These promises (blessings) are literally the foundation of all future scripture (prophecy) and all God's future promises and fulfillments. That is why the names of the 12 tribes are on the 12 gates of New Jerusalem, Rev 21:12.
Essential to understanding prophecy is coming to grips that the blessings God put on the children of Jacob (Israel) found in Gen 48 and 49 and Deut 33 are last days blessings (Gen 49:1) and God carried out these blessings as well many other blessings found in various places in Genesis and old testament scripture. He who is the Alpha and Omega has already traveled from the beginning to the end. He made no promises He could not keep.