Balaam's Prophecy: Is the Comet
Named Atlas C/2019 Y4 A Sign for Israel That the Day of
the Lord Is Approaching?
By
Gregory M. Wilson, J.D.
Balaam was
a pagan prophet of Balak, the King of Moab, who was hired
to curse the children of Israel for a reward of silver and
gold. In Numbers 24:17, Balaam uttered a Messianic
prophecy upon the children of Israel. This prophecy
speaks to the First and Second Coming of Israel's Messiah.
"I shall see
him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh:
there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre
shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of
Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth."
(Numbers 24:17)
On April
5, 2020, the publication "BreakingIsraelNews" published an
article titled "Comet Half the Size of the Sun Will Be
Visible Next Month" at
https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/148262/comet-half-the-size-of-the-sun-will-be-visible-next-month/
This comet
was discovered in December 2019. According to NASA,
the comet has a 6,025-year orbit cycle around the
Sun. Its last earthly appearance was 4,000 years
ago. That puts its last appearance during the time
God was calling Abram out of Ur of the Chaldees. Why
is this comet worthy of our attention? Jewish
scholars in Israel have identified this comet as being
associated with Balaam's prophecy, latter days Israel and
the return of the Messiah.
How should
we interpret this form of celestial circumstantial
evidence? Let us search the Scriptures of Truth for
guidance.
Let us
consider Genesis 1:14 which states:
"And God said, Let there be
lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide
the day from the night; and let them be for signs,
and for seasons, and for days, and years:
For the
Jews require a sign. (1 Corinthians 1:22)
And
consider what God has said through David in Psalm 19:1-5:
1The heavens declare the glory of
God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and
night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language,
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through
all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In
them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming
out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a
race.
David says
that there is a form of speech and knowledge associated
with God's created firmament. What is
the form of speech and knowledge in Balaam's Messianic
prophecy? Can we know it?
Taking God
at His word, we know that God has used His creation as a
witness to His glory, righteousness and wrath.
Romans
17-20 states:
"17For therein is the righteousness
of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The
just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is
revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in
unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known
of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it
unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him
from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even his eternal
power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"
So, God
expects us to know him and His standards. The Great
Judge has said that we are ALL without excuse. God
is just and having salvation. (Zechariah 9:9)
Note that this portion of Zechariah 9:9 was omitted from
its New Testament quote in Matthew 21:5 because, the Lord
will fulfill this part of the prophecy promise to remnant
Israel at the Second Coming.
Balaam's
verse 17 promise was fulfilled in part in, or about 4 B.C.
at the birth of Chist in the Bethlehem Star's
appearance. Matthew 2:1-2 confirms this stating:
"Now when Jesus was born in
Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold,
there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is
born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in
the east, and are come to worship him."
Jesus'
birth, as foretold by Isaiah, was accompanied by starry
host's speech as the Star coming out of Jacob. (Isaiah
7:14, 9:6; Micah 5:2)
If this
Star of Bethlehem was fulfilled by Balaam's "star", then
how should we interpret the starry host's speech about the
Second Coming? The second part of Balaam's
prophecy speaks to "a sceptre rising out of
Israel". What starry object might appear as a
sceptre?" Let me suggest a staff with a headpiece as
a type of sceptre. Can a comet be a prophetic image
of a King's sceptre? The visible portion of a comet
is composed of its head, termed "coma" and its
tail. This imagery could certainly be the
starry image of a King's sceptre. The term "coma" is
telling. Of the three constellations which were
anciently assigned to Virgo the first one was named
"coma". The ancient name of the constellation
is "Comah, the desired, or the longed for. (Bullinger,
E.W., Witness of the Stars) The first time we see
this word used in the Scriptures is Haggai 2:7 which
states: And I will shake all nations, and the desire
of all nations shall come: and I will fill this
house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts." The
Coming One is the King of Glory, Jesus. (Isaiah 9:6;
Revelation 22:16) This Haggai verse tells the story.
It will begin with the shaking judgment of the nations
followed by the Second Coming of the King of
Righteousness, the King of Peace. Have the
secular scientists at NASA named this comet Atlas, by
accident. Atlas is the name of one who bears the
burden of the world. Jesus has borne the burdens of
the world's sin, once for all who would call upon His
name.
Is the
comet named Atlas C/2019 Y4 a possible candidate to
fulfill Balaam's Second Coming warning to Israel, that the
Time of Jacob's Trouble, Daniel's 70th Week
approaches. Could this be a 7-year warning to Israel
and the Second Coming of Christ? Time will
tell. There is a great deal of circumstantial
evidence piling up which suggests that the Year 2020 may
be amazing for Christ's beloved.
The timing
of this comets appearance as a "Sceptre in the sky" is
very compelling. It will pass by Earth on the
weekend of May 23. It will pass by the Sun on the
weekend of May 30. Either one of these weekend dates
is a candidate for the Feast of Shavuot/Pentecost 2020.
Come
quickly Lord Jesus.