Apparitions of a "Thing" Called Mary 2

Apparitions of a "Thing" Called Mary 2
The Angel and Apparitions of Fatima (1)

The Lord's Prayer

Luk 11:1-4 KJV  And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.  (2)  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.  (3)  Give us day by day our daily bread.  (4)  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Jesus and Beelzebub

Luk 11:14-23 KJV  And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.  (15)  But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.  (16)  And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.  (17)  But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.  (18)  If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.  (19)  And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.  (20)  But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.  (21)  When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:  (22)  But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.  (23)  He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

Return of an Unclean Spirit

Luk 11:24-26 KJV  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.  (25)  And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.  (26)  Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

True Blessedness

Luk 11:27-28 KJV  And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.  (28)  But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Well folks we are aware you are seeing this passage a lot. Well people are seeing a lot of “things” called Mary. Let’s go ahead and share another one of the punch line passages regarding this subject.

Luk 8:10-21 KJV  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.  (11)  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  (12)  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  (13)  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.  (14)  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.  (15)  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.  (16)  No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.  (17)  For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.  (18)  Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.  (19)  Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.  (20)  And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.  (21)  And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Jesus both here and in Luke 11 had the opportunity to put any one He desired on some sort of spiritual pedestal. What does He choose to say at both occasions?

Luk 8:21 KJV  And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Luk 11:27-28 KJV  And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.  (28)  But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Now let’s get back to the basic fundamentals that we are supposed to build our faith upon.

Exo 20:1-21 KJV  And God spake all these words, saying,  (2)  I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  (3)  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  (4)  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:  (5)  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;  (6)  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.  (7)  Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.  (8)  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.  (9)  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:  (10)  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:  (11)  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.  (12)  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.  (13)  Thou shalt not kill.  (14)  Thou shalt not commit adultery.  (15)  Thou shalt not steal.  (16)  Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.  (17)  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.  (18)  And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.  (19)  And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.  (20)  And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.  (21)  And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

Exo 20:1-6 KJV  And God spake all these words, saying,  (2)  I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  (3)  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  (4)  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:  (5)  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;  (6)  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Now to make things easy let’s do a quick recap of what we have explored thus far regarding apparitions of a “thing” called Mary. We have explored 3 apparition sites using wikipedia. This way the information we share is readily accessible to almost any one who has internet ability. We perfectly understand as well if folks cannot do this also. 

The first of our journeys was concerning

Our Lady of Aparecida

Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, Aparecida, São Paulo, Brazil

The commandments above tell us that we are not to make any graven image of any thing in the water. Ok this does not just mean fish or living things. It says any thing at all. This is something so far and we see no reason for it to change that all the appariotion shrines or basilicas have. They have a religious idol or image being venerated. 

Exo 20:4 KJV  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

The whole beginning of the apparitions here in this area of Brazil started with the discovery of a broken statue as they like to call it. We hope this is not done to try and justify worshipping a graven mage. As we read the statue was not even intact completely. Also we see the “thing” start to be called Mary and as we have studied so far we have not found any where that this thing is calling itself Mary ok. 

Our Lady of Banneux
Our Lady of the Poor

The miraculous spring of Our Lady of Banneux, in Belgium

Our Lady of Beauraing 

Virgin of the Golden Heart

Statue of the Virgin of the Golden Heart.

Now we will list the questions which we so far believe we could ask regarding our first 3 apparitions journeys. 

1. How do we even know what Mary looks like?
2. More importantly how do we know what Jesus looks like exactly? 
3. If God the Father or Jesus The Son intended for any of us to worship a statue would they have given us a word?
4. Don’t you think if they did they would leave the statue intact as opposed to looking like a relic of false worship destroyed in the flood?
5. Looking at these 3 apparitions so far Mary has a different appearance all around the world. In other words she does not seem to be the same “thing” twice. 
6. If people all around the world are truly seeing Mary thus far she has yet to call either herself or her son by name. People are doing this for us. Isn’t that nice?
7. Should we not think all the things we have here are real problems when the subject of salvation comes into play?

Ok folks let's move forward into the Fatima apparitions. 

1.  The appearance of the “angel”

At last we come to what we find alphabetically for now are the Fatima apparitions in Fatima Portugal starting in 1917. However the first thing we read when it came to the history surrounding these apparitions is that the first supernatural appearance came in the form of an angel. It referred to itself as the Angel of Peace  or the Guardian Angel of Portugal. Now the entirety of the article refers to a government in Portugal which was largely secular. So the fact that the Lord might send them a guardian angel is probably a slim one at best. The information used here will come from the holyrosary.org if we are not mistaken. We wish to give them credit and thank them no matter where the truth leads us. 

The "angel of peace" which appeared 3 times prior to the Fatima apparitions

First apparition of the Angel

In spring in 1916 Lucia Dos Santos age 9, and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, ages 8 and 6 respectively, were at a meadow with their sheep in (hamlet of Fatima). It started raining, and they hid in a small cave to escape the rain. After the rain stopped and the sun came out, they stayed in the cave to eat their lunch, say the rosary and play a game of jacks. They had played but for a short while when, on the serene day, a strong wind blew that swayed the trees and a sudden white light enveloped them. In the middle of that light appeared a cloud in the form of a young man who said to them: "Fear not! I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me!" The angel knelt on the ground and bowed very low. The children imitated the angel and repeated his words three times: "My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I beg pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You." Then he rose and said: "Pray this way. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications."

Second apparition of the Angel

It Occured in summer, when the seers were playing near the well of Lucia's house. The Angel said to them: "What are you doing? Pray! Pray a great deal. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary have merciful designs on you. Offer prayers and sacrifices continually to the Most High." The children asked: "How must we sacrifice ourselves?" The angel said: "Make everything you do a sacrifice, and offer it as an act of reparation for the sins by which God is offended, and as a petition for the conversion of sinners. By this you will bring peace to your country. I'm its Guardian Angel, the Angel of Portugal. Above all accept and bear with submission all the suffering the Lord will send you." From that moment, they began to offer to the Lord everything that offended Him, without trying to find any other ways of mortification or penance other than passing hour after hour, bowed to the ground, repeating the prayer that the angel had taught them. 

Third apparition of the Angel

It occured in autumn at Cabeco. The children started prayers when they saw the angel, which had in his hand a chalice over which hung a Host, from which fell in the chalice some drops of Blood. He knelt and repeated three times with the children: "Most Holy Trinity-Father, Son, and Holy Spirt-I adore thee profoundly. I offer thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles in the world, in reparation for all the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences whereby he is offended. And through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners." Then he rose, took the Host, and gave it to Lucia, while the contents of the chalice he gave to Jacinta and Francisco, and said: " Take the Body and the Blood of Jesus Christ horribly outraged by thankless men. Recover their sins and comfort your God." 

What we are dealing with here is a classic definition of what God is telling us in Deuteronomy 13.

Deu 13:1-10 KJV  If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,  (2)  And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;  (3)  Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.  (4)  Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.  (5)  And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.  (6)  If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;  (7)  Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;  (8)  Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:  (9)  But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.  (10)  And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Basically everything looks good and sounds good with these apparitions but we know we are dealing with a different god when we hear the word "and" follow Jesus or Yeshua's name. 

Make note that the oldest of the children is 9 years of age here. The moment we get to Jesus followed by "and" we know something is wrong.

In this case it appears we are dealing with a monument instead of a statue. How about we just call it what it is a religious idol, image or icon which ever you prefer.

These appearances came in the spring and summer of 1916. Now this angel as the history reads does some things that we can point out in direct conflict with the word of God. This “thing”  taught these 3 illiterate shepherd children prayers and to make sacrifices. We will explore what the Bible tells us about the 1 and only sacrifice we ever needed. One of the many reasons we open these journeys with the Lord’s prayer is because when the disciples asked Jesus how to pray this is what He did. 

Luk 11:1-4 KJV  And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.  (2)  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.  (3)  Give us day by day our daily bread.  (4)  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Jesus told us in the signs of the end of the age

Mat 24:3-14 KJV  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?  (4)  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  (5)  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  (6)  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  (7)  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  (8)  All these are the beginning of sorrows.  (9)  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.  (10)  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  (11)  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  (12)  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  (13)  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  (14)  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Later  Paul gives us a double warning with regard to receiving any other gospel from an angel or even the apostles themselves. 

No Other Gospel

Gal 1:6-10 KJV  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  (7)  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  (8)  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  (9)  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.  (10)  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Paul and the False Apostles

2Co 11:1-15 KJV  Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.  (2)  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  (3)  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  (4)  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.  (5)  For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.  (6)  But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.  (7)  Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?  (8)  I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.  (9)  And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.  (10)  As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.  (11)  Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.  (12)  But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.  (13)  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  (14)  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  (15)  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

Gal 3:10-14 KJV  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.  (11)  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.  (12)  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.  (13)  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  (14)  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Deu 21:22-23 KJV  And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:  (23)  His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

Gen 12:1-3 KJV  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:  (2)  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  (3)  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Folks this was the only sacrifice we ever needed. 

The Righteousness of God Through Faith

Rom 3:21-31 KJV  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;  (22)  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:  (23)  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  (24)  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  (25)  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;  (26)  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.  (27)  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.  (28)  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.  (29)  Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:  (30)  Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.  (31)  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Christ Our Advocate

1Jn 2:1-6 KJV  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:  (2)  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.  (3)  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  (4)  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  (5)  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.  (6)  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

God Is Love

1Jn 4:7-21 KJV  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  (8)  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.  (9)  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  (10)  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  (11)  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.  (12)  No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.  (13)  Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.  (14)  And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.  (15)  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.  (16)  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.  (17)  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.  (18)  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.  (19)  We love him, because he first loved us.  (20)  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?  (21)  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Heb 9:11-28 KJV  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;  (12)  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.  (13)  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:  (14)  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  (15)  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.  (16)  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.  (17)  For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.  (18)  Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.  (19)  For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,  (20)  Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.  (21)  Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.  (22)  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.  (23)  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.  (24)  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:  (25)  Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;  (26)  For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.  (27)  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:  (28)  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Joh 19:28-30 KJV  After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.  (29)  Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.  (30)  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Joh 14:1-7 KJV  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  (2)  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  (3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  (4)  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.  (5)  Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?  (6)  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  (7)  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Please stay tuned for part 3 of apparitions of a "thing" called Mary the Fatima apparitions

AS always thanks for sharing a word

God Bless

Zechariah 4 The Candlestick and the Olive Trees

Zechariah chapter 4
The Golden Lampstand

Witnesses to Jesus

Joh 5:30-47 KJV  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.  (31)  If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.  (32)  There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.  (33)  Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.  (34)  But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.  (35)  He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.  (36)  But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.  (37)  And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.  (38)  And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.  (39)  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.  (40)  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.  (41)  I receive not honour from men.  (42)  But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.  (43)  I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.  (44)  How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?  (45)  Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.  (46)  For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.  (47)  But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

If Your Brother Sins Against You

Mat 18:15-20 KJV  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.  (16)  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.  (17)  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.  (18)  Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  (19)  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.  (20)  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

We chose our opening passages in order to stress the importance of witnesses and witnessing. Jesus Himself stated that He could do no thing upon His own. However He has the greatest witness of all being God the Father Himself working through Him. The passage of Zechariah 4 will directly link us again to the goings on in heaven as we read in Revelation. 

A Vision of a Golden Lampstand

Zec 4:1-14 KJV  And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,  (2)  And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:  (3)  And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.  (4)  So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?  (5)  Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.  (6)  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.  (7)  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.  (8)  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  (9)  The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.  (10)  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.  (11)  Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?  (12)  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?  (13)  And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.  (14)  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

The Two Witnesses

Rev 11:1-14 KJV  And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.  (2)  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.  (3)  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.  (4)  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.  (5)  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.  (6)  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.  (7)  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.  (8)  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.  (9)  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.  (10)  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.  (11)  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.  (12)  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.  (13)  And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.  (14)  The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

The two witnesses, as depicted in the Bamberg Apocalypse, an 11th-century illuminated manuscript.

What we are reading as described is a Menorah the 7 branched candle stick. We can trace its roots all the way back to the Exodus.

The Golden Lampstand

Exo 25:31-40 KJV  And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.  (32)  And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:  (33)  Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.  (34)  And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.  (35)  And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.  (36)  Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.  (37)  And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.  (38)  And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.  (39)  Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.  (40)  And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

Making the Lampstand

Exo 37:17-24 KJV  And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same:  (18)  And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof:  (19)  Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick.  (20)  And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers:  (21)  And a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches going out of it.  (22)  Their knops and their branches were of the same: all of it was one beaten work of pure gold.  (23)  And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his snuffdishes, of pure gold.  (24)  Of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof.

Exo 40:1-8 KJV  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  (2)  On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.  (3)  And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.  (4)  And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.  (5)  And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.  (6)  And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.  (7)  And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.  (8)  And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.

A reconstruction of the Menorah of the Temple created by the Temple Institute

The Throne in Heaven

Rev 4:1-5 KJV  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.  (2)  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.  (3)  And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.  (4)  And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.  (5)  And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

The menorah is placed on the south side of the tabernacle area.

Zec 4:3-6 KJV  And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.  (4)  So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?  (5)  Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.  (6)  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Zec 4:3-5 KJV  And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.  (4)  So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?  (5)  Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

The olive tree has a lot of prophetic symbolism in the scripture. As with chapter 3 there is a message with regard to the present time Zechariah is penning. There are also messages regarding the very times of the end as well as we will explore. 

The olive tree in some cases is used as a symbol for the city of Jerusalem. This would be consistent to the tribes of Joseph and Benjamin. This much like the fig tree represented the nation of Israel. 

The Death of Gideon

Jdg 8:29-35 KJV  And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.  (30)  And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.  (31)  And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.  (32)  And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.  (33)  And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.  (34)  And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:  (35)  Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.

Abimelech's Conspiracy

Jdg 9:1-6 KJV  And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,  (2)  Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.  (3)  And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.  (4)  And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.  (5)  And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.  (6)  And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.

There is a fable of sorts found in Judges 9 or for lack of better words a parable given during the time of Abimelech. We give his history in the passages. 

Jdg 9:7-21 KJV  And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.  (8)  The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.  (9)  But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?  (10)  And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.  (11)  But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?  (12)  Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.  (13)  And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?  (14)  Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.  (15)  And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.  (16)  Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;  (17)  (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:  (18)  And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)  (19)  If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:  (20)  But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.  (21)  And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

We have the olive tree being used as the foundation of our Hebrew roots in Romans 11. 

The Remnant of Israel

Rom 11:1-10 KJV  I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.  (2)  God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,  (3)  Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.  (4)  But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.  (5)  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.  (6)  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.  (7)  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded  (8)  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.  (9)  And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:  (10)  Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

Gentiles Grafted In

Rom 11:11-24 KJV  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.  (12)  Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?  (13)  For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:  (14)  If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.  (15)  For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?  (16)  For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.  (17)  And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;  (18)  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.  (19)  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.  (20)  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:  (21)  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.  (22)  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.  (23)  And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.  (24)  For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

Zechariah 4 verse 6 begins to give a word specifically to Zerubbabel. 

Zec 4:6-10 KJV  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.  (7)  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.  (8)  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  (9)  The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.  (10)  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

The new temple of the Lord will be built by the spirit of the Lord. The mountain according to most commentaries represents the great obstacles posed by governments and corrupt men . Those passages are found in Ezra and Nehemiah and we will not develop those at this time. We are not sure exactly which studies we explored these in detail but we have. We do know some of the chapters however starting with Nehemiah 2, 4 and 6. 

This is something that modern day Israel is dealing with. There is going to be another temple built. That information is found in the last 8 chapters or so of the book of Ezekiel. Many folks feel that this temple will be built as a result of a peace treaty. The one covered in our Daniel extremity journeys.

Zec 4:7 KJV  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

Mat 21:18-22 KJV  Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.  (19)  And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.  (20)  And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!  (21)  Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.  (22)  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

By Grace Through Faith

Eph 2:1-10 KJV  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;  (2)  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  (3)  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  (4)  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  (5)  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  (6)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  (7)  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  (8)  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  (10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Zec 4:8-9 KJV  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  (9)  The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.

This is exactly what happened. Thus for anyone who did not believe then or now here is just 1 shining example of prophecy being fulfilled. One of a great many that had to be fulfilled in this case to present the coming and the return of our Lord and Savior Yeshua or Jesus. 

In other words much like the rebirth of Israel as a nation and the taking of Jerusalem by Israel its God given deed holder.  

Ezr 3:8-13 KJV  Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.  (9)  Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.  (10)  And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.  (11)  And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.  (12)  But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:  (13)  So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar offH5704 H4480 H7350.

We highlighted the phrase afar off which we have explored before in other journeys.  We feel that as you read the implications of the words studied some of you may feel as we do that it was meant to ring down through time right to our generation. This being said as it relates prophetic fulfillment.

H5704

עַד
‛ad
ad
Properly the same as H5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or conjugation; especially with a preposition); as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with): - against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for (-asmuch as), [hither-] to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.
Total KJV occurrences: 1224

H4480

מִנֵּי    מִנִּי      מִן
min    minnı̂y    minnêy
min, min-nee', min-nay'
For H4482; properly a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses: - above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over, since, X then, through, X whether, with.
Total KJV occurrence5s: 724

H7350

רָחֹק    רָחוֹק
râchôq    râchôq
raw-khoke', raw-khoke'
From H7368; remote, literally of figuratively, of place or time; specifically precious; often used adverbially (with preposition): - (a-) far (abroad, off), long ago, of old, space, great while to come.
Total KJV occurrences: 85

Zec 4:10 KJV  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

Isa 11:1-5 KJV  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:  (2)  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;  (3)  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:  (4)  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.  (5)  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

In verse 2 as we have explored on various occasions we find the description of the 7 spirits of God that Yeshua or Jesus will judge us by. Actually the entire world. 

Isa 11:2 KJV  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

1.  The holy spirit or the spirit of the Lord
2.  The spirit of wisdom
3.  The spirit of understanding
4.  The spirit of counsel
5.  The spirit of might
6.  The spirit of knowledge
7.  The spirit of the fear of the Lord
   

Joh 15:23-27 KJV  He that hateth me hateth my Father also.  (24)  If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.  (25)  But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.  (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:  (27)  And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

Zec 4:11-14 KJV  Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?  (12)  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?  (13)  And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.  (14)  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

The history behind the 2 olive trees and their prophetic fulfillment although be it a matter of opinion goes all the way back to the earliest parts of Genesis. It goes all the way back to a time before the flood. The reason we say it is a matter of opinion is because many in the prophetic world are torn between 2 candidates to be 1 of the 2 witnesses of Revelation 11. It is almost a given Elijah who was taken alive into heaven is 1. The other many are divided over could be Enoch from Genesis 5 or Moses. 

The reasons that yours truly feels it will be Enoch are more than one. Enoch just as Elijah was taken into heaven alive. Who better to come back and witness to the world the entire history of our Messiah Yeshua. 

Gen 5:21-24 KJV  And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:  (22)  And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:  (23)  And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:  (24)  And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God tookH3947him.

H3947
לָקַח
lâqach
law-kakh'
A primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications): - accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive (-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.

Total KJV occurrences: 966

If you carefully read through the entire list in the genealogy of Adam to Noah one thing stands out with regard to Enoch. All the people on the list with the exception of Enoch have a phrase beside their names. That phrase being “he died”. We do not see this at all in the case of Enoch.

Another reason we explore the possibility of Enoch’s involvement in Revelation 11 is he is said to be the first of all the early patriarchs to prophesy the return of Jesus. Not only Jesus but the armies of heaven with Him.

Greeting

Jud 1:1-2 KJV  Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:  (2)  Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

Judgment on False Teachers

Jud 1:3-16 KJV  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  (4)  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.  (5)  I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.  (6)  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.  (7)  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.  (8)  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.  (9)  Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.  (10)  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.  (11)  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.  (12)  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;  (13)  Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.  

Jud 1:14-25 KJV  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,  (15)  To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.  (16)  These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.  (17)  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;  (18)  How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.  (19)  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.  (20)  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,  (21)  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  (22)  And of some have compassion, making a difference:  (23)  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.  (24)  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  (25)  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Zec 4:11-14 KJV  Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?  (12)  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?  (13)  And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.  (14)  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

Rev 11:1-14 KJV  And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.  (2)  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.  (3)  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.  (4)  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.  (5)  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.  (6)  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.  (7)  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.  (8)  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.  (9)  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.  (10)  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.  (11)  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.  (12)  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.  (13)  And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.  (14)  The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

We explored the 2 witnesses of Revelation 11 in our rapture and Daniel extremity studies. However no where in prophecy that we can note to date is there a more solid connection between the olive trees and the witnesses than here in Zechariah 4. 

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

Act 1:1-6 KJV  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,  (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:  (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:  (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.  (5)  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.  (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 1:7-12 KJV  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.  (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.  (9)  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  (10)  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;  (11)  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.  (12)  Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

Joh 14:1-7 KJV  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  (2)  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  (3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  (4)  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.  (5)  Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?  (6)  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  (7)  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

1Th 4:13-18 KJV  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  (14)  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  (15)  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  (16)  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  (17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  (18)  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Rev 22:6-21 KJV  And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.  (7)  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.  (8)  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.  (9)  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.  (10)  And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.  (11)  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.  (12)  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  (13)  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  (14)  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  (15)  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.  (16)  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.  (17)  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  (18)  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  (19)  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.  (20)  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  (21)  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

As always thanks for sharing a word
God Bless