The Sword Shaped Star In The Sky During The Jewish Uprising

Prophetic Meaning of The Sword Shaped Star In The Sky During The Jewish-Roman War 

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Discover the prophetic meaning of the Sword Shaped star in the sky during the Jewish-Roman War 

Jesus' prophecy about signs in the sky

Luk 21:11
And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Josephus Record Of The Sword-Shaped Star and Comet

In The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 5, Section 3, Josephus records that in 66AD, a star, which resembled a sword, stood over the city and hung over it for a whole year:

Thus there was a star, resembling a sword, which stood over the city: and a comet, that continued a whole year. 

What is the sword star - does it exist?

Historically, the term "sword star" (from the Greek xiphias) was frequently used to describe comets rather than stars. Because of their bright heads and long, narrow tails stretching across the night sky, comets were widely seen as flaming or celestial swords. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

This sword star (comet) was likey Halley's Comet 

• Halley's Comet: This famous comet is often compared to a sword.
• Halley's Comet  is a periodic comet famous for its predictable orbit, returning to the inner Solar System every 75 to 76 years.  
• While infrequent on a human timescale, making it a once-in-a-lifetime sight, it is technically not rare astronomically. It is the only recurring comet visible to the naked eye.
• While the entire orbital duration spans over seven decades, the time it spends near the Sun—where it is actually bright enough to be visible from Earth with the naked eye—is typically just a few weeks. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]  Therefore the AD66 appearance was unusual in duration.
• Visibility: It is one of the brightest and most famous comets in the sky, with recorded sightings dating back over 2,000 years.
• Next Appearance: Halley's Comet was last seen in 1986 and will next sweep past Earth in July 2061 (nine years before the end of this millennium). Astronomers predict the 2061 viewing will be significantly brighter than its last pass.

Meaning of the Sword Shaped Comet 

Warning about destruction by war

Luk 21:24
And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Warning to believe the Word of God - Jesus

Eph 6:17

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:


Heb 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Rev 1:16
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.


Rev 2:12
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;


Rev 2:16
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.


Rev 19:15
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Josephus reveals that the people believed false prophets instead of Christ

Josephus records that the comet appeared before the uprising. However, the Jews did not see the comet as a warning of impending destruction. Instead, they believed false prophets. Note that the church had already escaped, so there were no prophets of God:

...Now there was then a great number of false prophets, suborned by the tyrants, to impose on the people: who denounced this to them, that they should wait for deliverance from God; and this was in order to keep them from deserting; and that they might be buoyed up above fear and care by such hopes. Now a man that is in adversity does easily comply with such promises. For when such a seducer makes him believe that he shall be delivered from those miseries which oppress him, then it is that the patient is full of hopes of such his deliverance.

3. Thus were the miserable people persuaded by these deceivers, and such as belied God himself. While they did not attend, nor give credit to the signs that were so evident, and did so plainly foretel their future desolation. But like men infatuated, without either eyes to see, or minds to consider, did not regard the denunciations that God made to them. Thus there was a star, resembling a sword, which stood over the city: and a comet, that continued a whole year. (15)

The Word of God (sword of the Spirit) becomes unveiled as the disciple draws closer to the Son

Halley's Comet is visible from earth as it orbits close to the sun. In the same way, Jesus who is the Light of the world, unveils His Word as the believer draws close. 

This is seen in His earthly ministry when He taught parables to the public, but meanings to His church. He also sent His Holy Spirit to indwell in and teach believers His truth:

John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Halley's Comet and the unbelief of the people is a picture of what will happen after the First Resurrection (rapture)

When the Church of the Lord is in the earth, the gospel will be preached, represented by Halley's Comet aka sword of the spirit. Once the church is removed, the preaching of the Word of God will abate to some degree. There could be repentant people left behind who will preach.

However, there will be many false  prophets and Christs. We see in the Book of Revelation 13b, the emergence of the false prophet after the head of the first beast is wounded.

If we take Halley's Comet as a historical prophetic fulfillment into consideration, we see that people will believe the false prophet rather than the Word of God. He will work many signs and wonders and lead nations astray to worship satan.

Source: 

Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 5, Section 3, 

The Abomination Of Desolation Stood In The Holy Place

The Abomination Of Desolation Stood In The Holy Place Just As Jesus Prophesied

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Discover from Josephus the Jewish historian, exactly how Jesus' prophecy about the abomination of desolation was fulfilled in AD70.

Bible verses about the abomination of desolation

Mat 24:15

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)


Mar 13:14
But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

Luk 21:20
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation G2050 thereof is nigh.

Abomination  meaning

• a foul thing, a detestable thing
• of idols and things pertaining to idolatry

Desolation meaning

• making desolate, desolation

The abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel

Dan 8:13
Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

Fulfillment of the Abomination of Desolation Prophecies (Source Josephus)

It was the tenth day of the month Lous [Ab, A.D. 70]⁸: upon which it was formerly burnt by the King of Babylon.

7. And now, since Cæsar was no way able to restrain the enthusiastick fury of the soldiers, and the fire proceeded on more and more, he went into the holy place of the temple, with his commanders; and saw it, with what was in it: which he found to be far superior to what the relations of foreigners contained; and not inferior to what we ourselves boasted of, and believed about it.

The Romans also sacrificed to their idols inside the temple

According to Josephus in The Wars of the Jews (Book 6, Chapter 6, Section 1), Roman soldiers placed their standards, which were considered idols, within the Temple of Jerusalem and sacrificed to them after it had been burned. This event, where the standards were set against the eastern gate and celebrated, is documented in historical accounts:

Chapter 6.

How the Romans carried their ensigns to the temple, and made joyful acclamations to Titus: the speech that Titus made to the Jews, when they made supplication for mercy. What reply they made thereto: and how that reply moved Titus’s indignation against them.

1. And now the Romans, upon the flight of the seditious into the city, and upon the burning of the holy house itself, and of all the buildings round about it, brought their ensigns to the temple, (18) and set them over-against its eastern gate. And there did they offer sacrifices to them: and there did they make Titus Imperator (19) with the greatest acclamations of joy.

Timeline of the Jewish temple (Josephus)

Now the number of years that passed from its first foundation, which was laid by King Solomon, till this its destruction, which happened in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, are collected to be one thousand, one hundred, and thirty: besides seven months, and fifteen days. And from the second building of it, which was done by Haggai, in the second year of Cyrus the King, till its destruction under Vespasian, there were six hundred, thirty nine years, and forty five days.

Timeline from David to the Destruction

Wars of the Jews Chapter 4

And from King David, who was the first of the Jews²¹ who reigned therein, to this destruction under Titus, were one thousand, one hundred, and seventy nine years. But from its first building, till this last destruction, were two thousand, one hundred, seventy seven years.

Jesus Immersed His Disciples In The Scriptures

Discover how Jesus Immersed His Disciples In The Scriptures In Order To Open Their Understanding

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Discover the strategy of immersion that Jesus used in order to open His disciples' understanding about prophetic events concerning His crucifixion

We're still talking about the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit

Last time we talked about the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit.  

We saw that Jesus expounded the scriptures from Moses, then through the prophets. He used this trategy to help His two disciples to gain a panaoramic view of the prophecies, put them together and gain deep and full understanding.

This teaching took place during the two hour walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus. During that time, all the disciples heard was the Word of God related to a particular topic:

Luk 24:25
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Luk 24:26

Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

Luk 24:27

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Immersion in the scriptures is a strategy used by the Holy Ghost to teach the truth of God 

God commanded Israel to immerse their children in the Word of God by talking about it at every opportunity.

As the children listened and read, they would grow in the knowledge of God and learn to love and obey:

Deuteronomy 6: 4-9

4 “Hear, O Israel: [b]The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 

5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 

7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 

8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 

9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

God commanded the priests to read the Law books to Israel every seven years during the Feast of Tabernacles:

Deuteronomy 31: 9-13:

9 So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. 

10 And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the Feast of Tabernacles, 

11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 

12 Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, 

13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.”

Reasons for immersion in the Word of God by listening and reading

👉People learn what is in the Word of God:

2 Peter 3: 18 - But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

👉It builds faith in the Word of God:

Romans 10:17 - So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word.

👉It builds love for the Word of God

1 Peter 2: 22 - As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

👉It produces growth in the transformed human spirit in the things of God

1 Peter 2: 22 - As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

Colossians 2: 17 -  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

👉It surrounds the believer in the atmosphere and culture of the Kingdom of Heaven

Psa 119:11 - Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

FOUR Practical applications for immersing in the Word of God

👉 Listen regularly to bible audios - faith comes by hearing.

👉 Read the Word of God to your children.

👉Play bible songs in homes, institutions etc to surround listeners with the atmosphere of the Kingdom of God.

👉Read similar passages of scriptures in order to gain full understanding.

The Teaching Ministry Of The Holy Spirit

Discover The Teaching Ministry Of The Holy Spirit

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Discover the elements of the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit and how He instructs you in the Heavenly Bible School.

Learn more about the Ministry of the Holy Spirit 

Bible verse about the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit

Jhn 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach  (g1321/didaskō) you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Biblical usage of the  phrase shall teach in John 14:26 

shall teach  (g1321/didaskō):

1. to teach

   1. to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them, deliver didactic discourses

   2. to be a teacher

   3. to discharge the office of a teacher, conduct one's self as a teacher

2. to teach one

   1. to impart instruction

   2. instill doctrine into one

   3. the thing taught or enjoined

   4. to explain or expound a thing

   5. to teach one something

One Example From Jesus' Teaching Ministry

Jesus taught His disciples about His coming suffering, death and resurrection after three days. However, they did not understand and did not seek clarification.

Mar 8:31
And he began to teach G1321 them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Mar 8:32
And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

Mar 8:33
But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

Mar 9:31
For he taught G1321 his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

Mar 9:32
But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

The disciples did not believe the message that Jesus had risen from the dead

Some of the females went early to to the tomb the first day of the week and saw a vision of angels who told them Jesus had risen. They told the disciples who did not believe:

Luk 24:10
It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

Luk 24:11
And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Luk 24:12
Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

He expounded the scriptures related to His sufferings to those on the Road to Emmaus

Luk 24:25
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Luk 24:26
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

Luk 24:27
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Jesus' Used The Word of God as the text book

Jesus began at Moses and the Prophets means that He spoke about all of the prophecies about Himself. He gave the disciples a complete panorama of scriptures and did not hop around.

In the same way, the Word of God is the text used by the Holy Ghost.

Jesus taught by expounding the scriptures or by giving the meanings

The Lord expounded the scriptures or interpreted the scriptures about His ministry, sufferings, death, burial and resurrection.  He showed the meaning - e.g Isaiah's prophecy comparing Him to a Lamb.

This is how the Holy Ghost teaches. He is "another comforter." He  teaches us by comparing spiritual with spiritual:

 

1 Co 2:12

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1Co 2:13

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1Co 2:14 

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

We must immerse in the Word in order to be taught by the Holy Ghost 

Jesus walked along the  Road to Emmaus with the disciples. The walk might have taken about two hours.

He immersed the disciples in the scriptures, and gave expansive information about the topic of His death, burial and resurrection.

To immerse means to focus on a theme and spend time going over the content, just as Jesus did. When we begin to take time in the Word of God, the Holy Spirit is then able to reveal information and truths that He needs us to know.

Jesus talked about a singular theme and did not talk about parables or some other topic

In order to grow in understanding of the scriptures, we need to study by topics or themes. Don't do bible hopping. 

Like the disciples on the Road to Emmaus, take time to listen and even ask the Holy Spirit questions about the content.

Conclusion

Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you the Word of God and spend time on the themes and doctrines in order to grow in grace and the knowledge of God.

Wait For The Promise Of The Father - Countdown To Pentecost 

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Discover Jesus' command to His church to wait for the Promise of the Father. Learn the waiting actiivities and how the modern church can also apply the  countdown to Pentecost today. 

Read more about Pentecost

Bible Verses in which Jesus told the Church to wait for the Promise of the Father

Luk 24:49

And, behold, I send the promise (g1860/epangelia) of my Father upon you: but tarry (G2523 - kathizō)  ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued  (Strong's G1746 - endyō) )with power ((g1411/dynamis)) from on high.

Act 1:1
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,


Act 1:2
Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

Act 1:3
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:


Act 1:4
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.


Act 1:5
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Act 1:6
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?


Act 1:7
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.


Act 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Keywords Defined

Luk 24:49

And, behold, I send the promise (g1860/epangelia) of my Father upon you: but tarry (G2523 - kathizō)  ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued  (Strong's G1746 - endyō) )with power ((g1411/dynamis)) from on high.

Jesus promised the Holy Ghost to the church

Promise   g1860/epangelia of my Father 

Luk 24:49
And, behold, I send the promise G1860 of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Act 1:4
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise G1860 of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.


Act 2:33
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise G1860 of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.


Act 2:39
For the promise G1860 is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Jesus said that His disciples must stop all other activity

Tarry (Strong's G2523 - kathizō) n Jerusalem = sit down. .

Jesus promised that God would clothe His disciples with heavenly, supernatural power:

Endued  (Strong's G1746 - endyō) - clothed, put on raiment. The verses with synonyms for endued show that it means to be clothed, to put on.

Therefore, Jesus told the disciples that God would dress them with the spiritual power  of the heavenly dimension to enable them to BE WITNESSES

Remember how Elisha received an impartation of power through the mantle that fell as Elijah acended?  - 2 Kings 2:13

God would endue the church with supernatural power to perform mighty works

With power  g1411/dynamis

• wonderful works
• mighty works
• virtue - virtue went out of Jesus to heal the sick.
• miracle/ miracles G1411 /special miracles G1411 
• power of God.
• power of the Highest overshadowed Mary.
• the power G1411 of the Spirit
• power G1411 of the Lord  to  heal.
• he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power G1411 and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
• Stephen, full of faith and power, G1411 did great wonders and miracles among the people

The power of the Holy Ghost gives joy and peace

Rom 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power G1411 of the Holy Ghost.

The power of the Holy Ghost gives strength to endure affliction

2Co 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength G1411 is made perfect in weakness.



2Ti 1:8
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power G1411 of God;

The power of the Holy Ghost gives strength of spirit to the believer

Eph 3:16
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might G1411 by his Spirit in the inner man;

Col 1:11
Strengthened with all might, G1411 according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

2Ti 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, G1411 and of love, and of a sound mind.

The Power of the Holy Ghost keeps the believer faithful

1Pe 1:5
Who are kept by the power G1411 of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

The Power of the Holy Ghost gives the believer life and godliness

2Pe 1:3
According as his divine power G1411 hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

The power of the Holy Spirit endues with physical strength

Heb 11:11
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Jesus told the church to WAIT FOR the Promise

Wait - they waited about 10 days afterHis ascension,

The Holy Ghost Is The Promise of the Father

Jhn 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;


Jhn 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.


Jhn 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:


Jhn 16:7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you

How The Church Waited For The Promise Of The Father

Act 1:14
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

The Modern Church Must Wait For The Promise Of The Father - Countdown To Pentecost 

Pentecost is a Feast of the Lord - a time to meet with God.

God set the template for His church on the Day of Pentecost.

The disciples (120) were in an upper room in Jerusalem instead of in the temple which represented the old covenant.

God is calling us, His church from now to follow the pattern Christ gave. He told His church to countdown to Pentecost by waiting for the Promise of the Father.

The church obeyed and met in one accord in prayer and supplication.

Let's obey the command of the Lord.