The Unique Intersection of Israel and the Church on 14/15 May 2013
(Shavuot/Pentecost)
In a Five Doves letter on 20 February 2013, titled Earliest Passover in 114 Years – Shavuot/Pentecost on 15 May 2013 (first link below), I pointed out that Passover this year was the earliest since 1899! The corollary of this is that Shavuot (Pentecost) is the earliest in 114 years and falls on the 65th anniversary of Israel’s transition to nationhood - a nation born in one day! This is on the Gregorian/solar calendar (Jews celebrated this milestone on 15th April 2013).
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/feb2013/denish220.htm
Consequently, this Israel/Church intersection is the first time it has occurred since Israel became a nation in May 1948. Furthermore, this is the first time this has occurred since the (initial) Asuza Street outpouring of the Holy Spirit on New Year’s Day 1901 - the anniversary of the day when the church once again discovered the baptism in the Holy Spirit! From an Aussie perspective, this has not occurred since Australia became one nation - also on 1 January 1901.
In addition, 1899 (the last time Passover/Shavuot were this early in the year) was around the time that the Zionist movement was taking shape. The First Zionist Congress was held in Basel, Switzerland in 1897. In 1899 Henry Pereira Mendes published Looking Ahead: twentieth century happenings. The premise of this book is that the restoration of Jewish sovereignty over historic Israel is essential to the world's peace and prosperity. This battle continues to this day, and can be expected to intensify in the weeks, months and years just ahead. The blood moons in 2014 and 2015 are a heavenly witness to this battle!
Whatever this may mean, this looms as a critical date, threshold or a signal that the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Rapture are drawing ever closer.
In a second letter on 23 February 2013, titled Malachi 4: the Day of the Lord, the Torah and Elijah, I commented on possible links to Malachi 4, including the coming of Elijah (link below).
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/feb2013/denish223.htm
Ascension Day - 9 May 2013 - and Australia
Some Doves have highlighted Ascension Day (9 May 2013) as a Rapture watch date. It has been prophesied that the last and greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit will start in Australia. Consequently, it may be of interest that 9 May has special importance for Australia - opening of Parliament in three different locations in 1901, 1927 and 1988 (see note from Wikipedia).
(From Wikipedia) The Australian Commonwealth Parliament was opened on 9 May 1901 in Melbourne, Victoria. Thereafter, from 1901 to 1927, the Parliament met in Parliament House, Melbourne. On 9 May 1927 Parliament moved to the new national capital at Canberra, where it met in what is now called Old Parliament House. Intended to be temporary, this building in fact housed the Parliament for more than 60 years. The new and permanent Parliament House was opened on 9 May 1988 by Queen Elizabeth II.
So this next week or so is a high watch period. This is reinforced by the annular solar eclipses on 10 May 2013 - the first solar eclipse in 2013 and the last before the total solar eclipse on 3 November 2013. This week’s eclipse (according to NASA) will be visible mainly from Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Isles and the Gilbert
All in all there is good reason to look up for our Redemption draws near! There are two other Australian news items that may be of interest. Recently, the State of Queensland experienced its first May (late season) cyclone in 75 years. The name of the cyclone was Zane (Hebrew in origin with the meaning God is gracious!). Secondly, the date of the next Australian election has been set for 14 September 2013 - right on Yom Kippur. Setting the date so far in advance is, to the best of my knowledge, unprecedented (in Australia the Prime Minister can, within certain timelines, choose the date for the election and normally would have waited much longer to choose the date).
· There is an exact two year period between this date (14 September 2013) and Rosh Hashanah in 2015.
Why Israel’s 65th Anniversary may be Important
I would like to conclude this letter by looking at why Israel’s 65th anniversary may be important. One interesting aspect is that in Genesis 45:11 we read that, when Jacob/Israel went to Egypt (a type of the world/world power at the time), there were still five years of famine remaining. Israel will celebrate its 70th anniversary on 15 May 2018 - in just five years time (different for Jewish calendar). This may be the end period for the Rapture of the broader body of Christ, comprising those left behind, who were not prepared for the first fruits Rapture of the Remnant Bride. Leah may well be a type of left behind Christians, while Rachel may be a type of Messianic Jews. Both Leah and Rachel left together, with Jacob, but neither Leah nor Rachel made it to Egypt with Jacob/Israel!
Along with other Doves, I see Rebekah (Genesis 25) as a rich type of the Rapture of the Remnant Bride - those who are watching and ready to go with the Servant (a type of the Holy Spirit). The Servant turns up in the evening, seeking a Bride for Isaac, and by the morning she is gone!! We need to be ready (as we are on Five Doves!) for this could happen at anytime! I have written a couple of previous letters on Genesis 25 that may be of interest (links below). I have also tried to capture what it must have meant for others who had met Rebekah regularly at the well - suddenly she was seen no more! (see excerpt from my letter below).
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/dec2012/denish1210-1.htm
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/dec2012/denish1210-2.htm
She’s gone - and we’ve been left behind - the other women!
(Excerpt from second letter above) The women used to come out to draw water in the evening, and would have got to know each other. I believe that Rebekah would have stood out, in both inward and outward beauty and in her purity. Then one day Rebekah was gone - did she even say goodbye? The word would have got around that Rebekah had left quickly and gone to another country to meet and marry her (unseen) husband. How poignant? How sad for the women as they kept coming to the well (their Church)! I wonder how sad it will be when people miss the Rapture, notice who has gone missing and feel the sadness of being left behind. How we wish that many more were ready!
Denis Maranatha!!