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Is Like the cold of snow in time of harvest to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his Masters. Prov 25:13

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Introduction Faith and Doctrine

2.
Jewish Calendar / Bible Calendar

4.
FEASTS AND HOLIDAYS OF ISRAEL

History and Plain Facts Questions And Answer (FAQ) Commentary and Opinion News &Views
OUR BANNER Genuine Inspiration We have girded on the armor, And our banner is unfurled It's the standard of Mt. Zion, And we'll face a frowning world. We have on the only breastplate, It's the shield of truth and right; And the sword which we are using Is mighty in the fight! We are told to hold out faithful,By the grace of Elohim we stand, And we'll work beneath this banner Till we reach the promised land. Our Captain Judea's Lion; Our weary hearts doth cheer, He's the Holy One of Zion, And tells us not to fear. Yea! Every thing we can do through Him Who strength us.

6.
The 1973 Yom Kippur War The Destruction of the First Holy Temple

11. 14. 15.

LOVE IS
Slow to suspect Slow to condemn Slow to offend Slow to expose Slow to reprimand Slow to belittle Slow to demand Slow to provoke Slow to hinder Slow to resent - quick to trust. - quick to justify - quick to defend - quick to shield. - quick to forbear - quick to appreciate. - quick to give. - quick to conciliate. - quick help - quick to forgive .

Introduction

k
Earth (a month); and the revolution of the Earth about the sun (a year). These three phenomena are independent of each other, so there is no direct correlation between them. On average, the moon revolves around the Earth in about 29 days. The Earth revolves around the sun in about 365 days, that is, about 12.4 lunar months. The civil calendar used by most of the world has abandoned any correlation between the moon cycles and the month, arbitrarily setting the length of months to 28, 30 or 31 days. The Jewish calendar, however, coordinates all three of these astronomical phenomena. Months are either 29 or 30 days, corresponding to the 29-day lunar cycle. Years are either 12 or 13 months, corresponding to the 12.4 month solar cycle. The lunar month on the Jewish calendar begins when the first sliver of moon becomes visible after the dark of the moon. In ancient

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Jewish Calendar / Bible Calendar

or many Decades, the calendar has been a recurring source of doctrinal controversy in the Church of Elohim. Many articles and papers have proposed different methods of calculating the dates of the annual festivals, and at least a half-dozen different calendars and calculation methods have been offered. This has troubled many sincere brethren who want to do what pleases Elohim. With all the controversy, they are unsure. But does Elohim really expect each individual Church member to become an expert on calendar matters? We can understand the calendar issue by practicing a prayerful study. he Jewish calendar

times, the new months used to be determined by observation. When people observed the new moon, they would notify the Sanhedrin. The problem with strictly lunar calendars is that there are approximately 12.4 lunar months in every solar year, so a 12-month lunar calendar is about 11 days shorter than a solar year and a 13month lunar is about 19 longer than a solar year. The months drift around the seasons on such a calendar: on a 12-month lunar calendar, the month of Nissan, which is supposed to occur in the Spring, would occur 11 days earlier in the season each year, eventually occurring in the Winter, the Fall, the Summer, and then the Spring again. On a 13-month lunar calendar, the same thing would happen in the other direction, and faster. To compensate for this drift, the Jewish calendar uses a 12month lunar calendar with an extra month occasionally added. The

is based on three astronomical phenomena: the rotation of the Earth about its axis (a day); the revolution of the moon about the

2013 2018 Bible Feasts

Roman year 1st day of sacred year LORDS SUPPER PASSOVER 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 MAR.12 (Tu) APR.1(Tu) MAR.21 (Sat) APR.9 MAR.28 MAR.17 MAR.25 (Mon) APR.14 (Mon) APR.3 (Fri) APR.22 APR.10 MAR.30 UNLEAVENED BREAD MAR.26-APR.1(TuMon) APR.15-21 (Tu-Mon) APR.4-10 (Sat-Fri) APR.23-29 APR.11-17 MAR.31-APR.6 2 PENTECOST FEAST OF TABERNACLES LAST GREAT DAY SEP.26 (Thu) OCT.16 (Thu) OCT.5 (Mon OCT.24 OCT.12 OCT.1

MAY.15 (Wed) JUN.04(Wed) MAY.24 (Sun) JUN.12(Sun) MAY.31 (Wed) MAY.20 (Sun)

SEP.19-25(Thu) OCT.9-15(Thu) SEP.28-OCT.4 (Mon) OCT.17-23 OCT.5-11 SEP.24-30

month of Nissan occurs 11 days earlier each year for two or three years, and then jumps forward 30 days, balancing out the drift. In ancient times, this month was added by observation: the Sanhedrin observed the conditions of the weather, the crops and the livestock, and if these were not sufficiently advanced to be considered "spring," then the Sanhedrin inserted an additional month into the calendar to make sure that Pesach (Passover) would occur in the spring (it is, after all, referred to in the Torah as Chag he-Aviv, the Festival of Spring!).

Numbering of Jewish Years

The year number on the Jewish calendar represents the number of years since creation, calculated by adding up the ages of people in the Bible back to the time of creation. However, this does not necessarily mean that the universe has existed for only 5700 years as we understand years. Many Orthodox

Jews will readily acknowledge that the first six "days" of creation are not necessarily 24-hour days (indeed, a 24-hour day would be meaningless until the creation of the sun on the fourth "day"). Jews do not generally use the words "A.D." and "B.C." to refer to the years on the civil calendar. Instead, we use the abbreviations C.E. (Common Era) and B.C.E. (Before the Common Era), which are commonly used by scholars today. The "first month" of the Jewish calendar is the month of Nissan, in the spring, when Passover occurs. The names of the months of the Jewish calendar were adopted during the time of Ezra, after the return from the Babylonian exile. The names are actually Babylonian month names, brought back to Israel by the returning exiles. Note that most of the Bible refers to months by number, not by name.

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Months in the Jewish Calendar

English Nissan Iyar Sivan Tammuz Av Elul Tishri Cheshvan Kislev Tevet Shevat Adar I (leap years only) Adar (called Adar Beit in leap years) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 (13 in leap years) Number 30 days 29 days 30 days 29 days 30 days 29 days 30 days 29 or 30 days 30 or 29 days 29 days 30 days 30 days 29 days Length Civil Equivalent March-April April-May May-June June-July July-August August-September September-October October-November November-December December-January January-February February-March February-March

Days of the Jewish Week

Other than Shabbat, the name of the seventh day of the week, the Jewish calendar doesn't have names for the days of the week. The days of the week are simply known as first day, second day, third day, etc. Sometimes they are referred to more fully as First Day of the Sabbath, etc.

Faith and Doctrine

FEASTS AND HOLIDAYS
PASSOVER In memory of the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt. See exodus 12, 34; Lev. 23; Deut. 16. Passover is celebrated on 14th of Nisan (Ex. 12:1, 13:4) and is usually combined with the Feast of unleavened Bread which lasts seven days, from the 15th to the 21st of Nisan. NEW TESTAMENT ORDER:

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PENTECOST

The day of the First fruits. The feast was commemorated in the ancient times, where customary, the priest was required to bless the First fruits of the land - Lev. 23:10
NEW TESTAMENT ORDER

Passover observed as the Lord's Supper in which day our savior died representing the lamb slain for thousands of years for the people of Israel. The blood of Yahshuah represents the salvation of Elohim to the world. John 1:29; Matt. 1:21. Bread and the liquid of grapes symbolically represent the body and the blood of Yahshuah. Luke 22:16 - 20. Done yearly on the date the lamb was slain and eaten on 14th Nisan to recall and pronounce the death of the son of Elohim. I Cor. 11:23-31.
FEAST OF TABERNACLES

A seven day Festival commemorating the Sukkot, or booths in which the children of Israel dwelt in the wilderness after leaving Egypt to the promised land. Building up booths was a sign of deliverance and miracles performed by the Father in the wilderness. Among other miracles, they were provided with food which they were to share in happiness. NEW TESTAMENT ORDER - We get happiness in the Spiritual manner: blessings are revealed and not like that of manna from heaven and water from the Rock. John 6:31-33. The spiritual bread is the word of life from Messiah. John 1:1-2 and water as spiritual blessings of Messiah 1 Cor. 10:3-4; John 7; Rev. 7: 1317. The commemoration of building up of booths is now indicative to how our souls are built so that we grow in Grace at levels of faith until we reach perfection - 2 Cor. 5:1-9; Rom. 1:17; 2 Cor. 4:16.

Celebrated yearly at its fixed date, Sivan, 6 - Acts 1:4; Acts 2:1 -2 where we are regarded as First Fruits in the Spirit - James 1:18; Eph. 1:13-14 and is repeated yearly in order that the fruits of repentance should be blessed as that of our Lord, where one hundred and twenty souls were blessed to produce much fruit which resulted in 3000 souls being saved in one day after Messiah was given power like that of Melkizedek and is at the right hand of the Father, continuing to offer spiritual sacrifices Heb 7:17; John 15:1-5; Rom. 8:23, 26; Acts 1:4, 4:4; I Cor. 3:9. DAY OF ATONEMENT - In the bible this is a day which Elohim commanded the Hebrew people to observe with a total fast, during which day the High Priest offered prescribed sacrifices for the expiation of sin and guilt (Le. 16:29; 23:27; Num. 29:7-11). Fire sacrifices were required. NEW TESTAMENT ORDER - Our Messiah being the High Priest forever, the order has changed over spiritually, such that one is required to pray for forgiveness of sins ANYTIME to the Lord and not to wait until the day of atonement - Rom. 12:1; 1 Pe. 2:1-5; John 1:710; Heb 7; Heb. 9:13-15.
scended on the world; nine of them were alloted to Yerusalem." Despite the city's beauty, relations between the city's Jewish residents and the Roman troops deteriorated over time. In Herod's time, the population of Yerusalem grew to 60,000 people. The city's Jews were greatly disturbed by many religious insensitivities, such as the Roman edict to decorate the city with statues of the Roman emperor. Over time, Jewish discontent led to revolt which eventually led to a bloodbath. The Romans destroyed the city, including the Second Temple, and banished the Jews.

nian Greeks (Alexander the Great), Egyptian Greeks, Syrian Greeks, After their conquest, the Babylonians Hasmoneans (nature Judeans) and left Yerusalem in piles of rubble and Romans. led thousands and thousands of Jude- Under the Romans, Herod came into ans back to Babylonia. In Babylonia, power; he ruled from 37- 4 BCE. the Jews, with the help of leaders and While Herod was considered a cruel prophets, acquired a strengthened faith ruler, he was a brilliant builder. Herod and national determination. A few built palaces, fortresses and monuthousand Jews, after about 50 years in ments, but his crowning achievement exile, came back to Yerusalem, began was the reconstruction of the Temple. to clear the debris and rebuild the Herod's building campaign and RoTemple. man technology made Yerusalem a During this 600 year period (530 BCE beautiful city. The rabbis of the period -130 CE), different empires took con- wrote, "Ten measures of beauty detrol of Yerusalem: Persians, Macedo-

Second Temple Period

Jewish Holidays as Observed in Israel

the highest order.
Rosh Hashanah September 5 - 6, 2013

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Passover March 26 - April 2, 2013

Attain the keys to personal liberation and fulfillment! Hundreds of insights on the Haggadah, family activities and games, gourmet cooking site, essays by leading Jewish educators, greeting cards and more.

Rosh Hashanah marks the start of the Jewish near year. It is Israel Independence Day both a day of judgment for April 16,2013 mankind, as well as an exhilarating time of closeness and Israel Independence Day -- the reconciliation with Elohim. historic return of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel is a modern miracle.

Chanukah November 28 - December 5, 2013

Hanukkah, The Holiday of Lights -- celebrating the miracle of a little oil that lasted eight days, and continues to illuminate our lives to this day.

The High Holidays September 5 - 14, 2013

Yom Yerushalayim May 8, 2013

On the anniversary of the reunification of Yerusalem, we remember the special signifiCount 50 days until the Torah cance of the Holy City, and was given at Mount Sinai, pre- why it is the capital of the Jewparing for the big event with a ish nation. program of introspection and self-improvement.
Counting the Omer March 27 - May 14, 2013

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur -- a day of sweetness and a day of atonement are the culmination of a month-long process of coming back to Elohim.

Tenth of Tevet December 13, 2013

A Fast Day -- commemorating the day the Babylonians first laid siege on Yerusalem, setting in motion a long series of tragedies for the Jewish people.

Yom Kippur September 14, 2013

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a day of fasting and repentance, affording man Holocaust Remembrance Day The Day the Torah was given - the opportunity to cleanse himApril 8, 2013 - celebrating the monumental self of his sins and renew his encounter between Elohim and relationship with Elohim. Holocaust Remembrance Day the Israelites at Mount Sinai, -- Israel honors the memory of an event which changed manthe Six Million by learning kind forever. about their heroism in the face of inhumanity and exploring the roots of anti-Semitism.
Sukkot September 19 - 27, 2013 Tisha B'Av and the 3 Weeks June 25 - July 16, 2013 Israel Memorial Day April 15, 2013

Shavuot May 15 - 16, 2013

Tu B'Shvat January 16, 2014

New Year for the Trees how to celebrate our connection to the environment and appreciate the fruits of the Land of Israel.

Israel Memorial Day -- giving one's life in defense of the Jewish people is a mitzvah of

A Major Fast Day -- remembering the day when the Temple in Yerusalem was destroyed, not once but twice.

The Festival of Booths - with Lulav and Etrog in hand, we camp out under the stars seven days and remember that Elohim is our ultimate protection.

Purim Purim: The Holiday of Joy -- dress up, drink and be merry while remembering how the Jews of Persia narrowly escaped annihilation thanks to the bravery of Queen Esther. All Jewish holidays begin at sunset prior to the date listed.

History and Plain Facts

On October 6, 1973, Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), the holiest day on the Jewish religious calendar, Egypt and Syria took advantage of optimal circumstances to launch attacks that took Israel by surprise. So complete was the element of surprise that when war erupted, Israel was only beginning to mobilize the reserve forces which form the bulk of the IDF. The thin forces stationed along the two fronts had to contain the invading armies until the IDF was prepared to meet them in force. The IAF was hampered by the dense anti-aircraft missile system which the enemy had deployed close to the front.

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The 1973 Yom Kippur War

Egyptian resistance. By October 19, Israeli troops were well established on the west bank. Until the first scheduled cease-fire on October 22, the IDF enlarged the territory under its control. Although the Egyptians had agreed to the cease-fire, it did not take effect at the designated time. By the time an effective cease-fire was actually implemented, on October 24, the IDF had completely surrounded the Egyptian 3rd Army. On the northern front, the IDF regained control of the Hermon by October 22, removing the last Syrian forces from the area they had seized at the start of the war. The war ended on October 24 in a decisive victory for the Israeli Army. In the north, the SyriEgyptian forces succeeded in crossing the Canal and ans failed to achieve any territorial gain, while the IDF had crossed the old cease-fire lines into Syrian establishing beachheads on the Israeli-held east bank. On the Golan Heights, the Syrians pushed past territory, acquiring new vantage points on the Gothe cease-fire lines and occupied a large area. They lan. The Syrian Army suffered major losses of manpower and equipment. also seized the key Israeli intelligence- gathering position high on Mt. Hermon. Within two days, the IDF, now fully deployed, blocked the Egyptian and Syrian advances and took the offensive. Because of the huge quantitative su- In the first months after the war, Egyptian and Syriperiority of the Syrian forces, a situation compound- an forces renewed the War of Attrition along the ed by the proximity of Jewish settlements on the cease-fire lines. The IDF focused on building its Syrians' path of advance, it was decided to give pri- force on an unprecedented scale. The enemy atority to the northern front. By October 10, the Syri- tempted to prevent the IDF from conducting a war ans had been pushed back and the entire Golan was of movement dominated by tank and air power. Aragain in Israeli hands, except for the Hermon posi- ab armies made extensive use of infantry equipped tion, which was only recaptured toward the end of with anti-tank weapons, exploiting their inherent the war. Between October 11 and October 14, the numerical superiority. In response, the IDF took IDF pushed the Syrian forces across the cease-fire steps to upgrade and increase its manpower utilizalines and penetrated Syrian territory. An Iraqi expe- tion. Extensive and intensive training programs ditionary force dispatched to reinforce the Syrians were initiated, focusing on the doctrine of combined was also successfully blocked. operations in which the various branches of the IDF On the southern front, an early Israeli counterwere integrated in a harmonious whole. offensive failed. But Israeli units managed to overcome an attack by Egyptian tank forces, destroying A special central training base was established to 200 enemy tanks in the process. Shortly afterward, advance this doctrine. Another lesson of the war on 15 October, the IDF renewed the counterwas a renewed awareness of the importance of the offensive. The main thrust of the fighting now was Infantry. Rearmament continued apace, including to push across the Canal and strike at Egyptian forc- the purchase of ground-to-ground and ground-to-air es on the other side. missile systems. A gap between the Egyptian 2nd and 3rd Armies was chosen as the crossing point. It was a difficult operation, preceded by heavy fighting to clear the approach lines. The Engineering Corps constructed a bridge across the Canal in the face of concerted

Lessons of the War

The Destruction of the First Holy Temple

The Bible reports that the First Temple was built in 957 BCE[1] by King Solomon (reigned c. 970-c. 930 BCE).[2] As the sole place of Jewish sacrifice, the Temple replaced the portable sanctuary constructed in the Sinai Desert under the auspices of Moses, as well as local sanctuaries, and altars in the hills.[3] This temple was however sacked a few decades later by Sheshonk I, Pharaoh of Egypt. Although efforts were made at partial reconstruction, it was only in 835 BCE when Jehoash, King of Judah in the second year of his reign invested considerable sums in reconstruction, only to have it stripped again for Sennacherib, King of Assyria c. 700 BCE. The First Temple was totally destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE when they sacked the city.[4]
c. 536 BCE c. 515 BCE c. 444 BCE 332 BCE 320 BCE 200 BCE c. 164 BCE c. 63 BCE c. 33 CE 70 CE 132-35 CE Jews return to Judea from Babylonian exile Second Temple is built Nehemiah rebuilds walls of Yerusalem Alexander the Great conquers Yerusalem Ptolemies conquer Yerusalem Seleucids conquer Yerusalem Judah Maccabee retakes Yerusalem and cleanses the Temple Romans gain control of Yerusalem Yahshuah is crucified in Yerusalem Romans conquer Yerusalem and destroy the Second Temple Bar Kochba revolt

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Two Temples stood in succession on the Temple Mount in Yerusalem. The First Temple was constructed by King Solomon, based on detailed plans that Elohim had given to his father, King David through the prophet Nathan. King David had wanted to build it himself, but was told that his son would be the one to do it. In the fourth year of his reign, 833 BCE, King Solomon found himself at peace with his neigh bors and began the construction of the Temple. The site chosen by King David was the top of Mount Moriah, where Abraham had once proved his readiness to offer up his dearly beloved son in obedience to Elohim's command. It was the archetype of the "dwelling for Elohim in the physical world" that is the purpose of creation.Tens of thousands of men were needed to perform the many tasks required for the gigantic undertaking. Men were sent to Lebanon to cut down cedar trees. Stones were hewn near the quarries, and then brought up to Moriah, there to be fitted together. In the valley of the Jordan the bronze was cast. Craftsmen were brought in from Tyre to help perfect the work. Ships set sail eastward and westward to bring
7

the choicest materials for the adornment of the House of Elohim. It took seven years to complete the Temple. In the twelfth year of his reign, in 827 BCE, King Solomon dedicated the Temple and all its contents. The Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Temple amidst inaugural celebrations that lasted for seven days. For the next 410 years, the Jewish people would bring daily offerings in this magnificent edifice, and here the nation would gather three times a year to "see and to be seen by the face of Elohim." Here the Divine Presence was manifest. Ten daily miracles such as the wind never extinguishing the fire on the altar attested to Elohim's presence in the Temple. This was the archetype of the "dwelling for Elohim in the physical world" that is the purpose of creation. Solomon's reign was a golden era. His capital became the center of wisdom, riches, and splendor. Monarchs as well as ordinary people came to gaze on all the marvels to be seen there, and left wideeyed with amazement and awe. The Land of Israel developed into a great center of commerce. The Jews lived in peace and happiness, "every man under his vine and under his fig tree."

Second Temple period The accession of Cyrus the Great of Persia in 538 BCE made the re-establishment of the city of Yerusalem and the rebuilding of the Temple possible.[1] According to the Bible, when the Jewish exiles returned to Yerusalem following a decree from Cyrus the Great (Ezra 1:1-4, 2 Chron 36:22-23), construction started at the original site of Solomon's Temple, which had remained a devastated heap during the approximately 70 years of captivity (Dan. 9:1-2). After a relatively brief halt due to opposition from peoples who had filled the vacuum during the Jewish captivity (Ezra 4), work resumed c. 521 BCE under the Persian King Darius the Great (Ezra 5) and was completed during the sixth year of his reign (c. 518/517 BCE), with the temple dedication taking place the following year. Flavius Josephus records that Herod the Great completely rebuilt the Temple, even going so far as to replace the foundation stones and to smooth off the surface of the Temple Mount. This Temple became known as Herod's Temple. The Romans destroyed Yerusalem and its Temple in 70 CE under Titus, decisively ending the Great Jewish Revolt that had begun four years earlier. The lower levels of the Western Wall form part of the few surviving remains of Herod's complex.[2] Traditional rabbinic sources state that the Second Temple stood for 420 years and based on the 2ndcentury work Seder Olam Rabbah, place construction in 350 BCE (3408 AM), 166 years later than secular estimates, and destruction in 70 CE (3829 AM).[3]

Rebuilding the Temple

A stone with Hebrew inscription "To the Trumpeting Place" excavated by Benjamin Mazar at the southern foot of the Temple Mount is believed to be a part of the Second Temple Based on the biblical account, after the return from Babylonian captivity arrangements were immediately made to reorganize the desolated Yehud Province after the demise of the Kingdom of Judah seventy years earlier. The body of pilgrims, forming a band of 42,360,[4] having completed the long and dreary journey of some four months, from the banks of the Euphrates to Yerusalem, were animated in all their proceedings by a strong religious impulse, and therefore one of their first concerns was to restore their

ancient house of worship by rebuilding their destroyed Temple and reinstituting the sacrificial rituals known as the korbanot. On the invitation of Zerubbabel, the governor, who showed them a remarkable example of liberality by contributing personally 1,000 golden darics, besides other gifts, the people poured their gifts into the sacred treasury with great enthusiasm.[5] First they erected and dedicated the altar of Elohim on the exact spot where it had formerly stood, and they then cleared away the charred heaps of debris which occupied the site of the old temple; and in the second month of the second year (535 BCE), amid great public excitement and rejoicing, the foundations of the Second Temple were laid. A wide interest was felt in this great movement, although it was regarded with mixed feelings by the spectators.[6][7] The Samaritans made proposals for co-operation in the work. Zerubbabel and the elders, however, declined all such cooperation, feeling that the Jews must build the Temple without help. Immediately evil reports were spread regarding the Jews. According to Ezra 4:5, the Samaritans sought to "frustrate their purpose" and sent messengers to Ecbatana and Susa, with the result that the work was suspended. Seven years later, Cyrus the Great, who allowed the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple, died,[8] and was succeeded by his son Cambyses. On his death, the "false Smerdis," an imposter, occupied the throne for some seven or eight months, and then Darius I of Persia became king (522 BCE). In the second year of this monarch the work of rebuilding the temple was resumed and carried forward to its completion,[9] under the stimulus of the earnest counsels and admonitions of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. It was ready for consecration in the spring of 516 BCE, more than twenty years after the return from captivity. The Temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius, amid great rejoicings on the part of all the people[10] although it was evident that the Jews were no longer an independent people, but were subject to a foreign power. The Book of Haggai includes a prediction that the glory of the second temple would be greater than that of the first.[11] Roman triumphal procession with spoils from the Temple, depicted on the inside wall of the Arch of Titus in Rome Since some of the original artifacts were, according to the biblical account, lost after the destruction of the First Temple, the Second Temple lacked the following holy articles:[12]

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stroyed by Roman troops under Titus during the Siege of Yerusalem in 70 CE. The most complete ancient account of this event is The Jewish War by Flavius Josephus. Later Roman governors used the remains to build palaces and a Temple of Jupiter, and the Byzantines a Church. It was not until the Dome of the Rock was built between 687 and 691 that the last remnants of the Temple were taken down. In addition to the platform, some remnants of the Temple remain above ground, including a step leading to the Dome of the Rock that is actually the The Table of Showbread capstone of the pre The golden altar of incense, with golden censers. -Herodian wall of The Second Temple also included many of the origi- the Temple Mount nal vessels of gold that had been taken by the Baby- platform.[17] lonians but restored by Cyrus the Great.[13] Accord- The Temple itself ing to Jewish tradition, however, the Temple lacked was located on the the Shekinah/Ruach HaKodesh, the dwelling or set- site of what today tling divine presence of Elohim, present in the first. is the Dome of the Rock. The gates let out close to Al-Aqsa.[16] The Ark of the Covenant, containing the Tablets of Stone, the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod The Urim and Thummim (divination objects contained in the Hoshen) The holy oil The sacred fire. In the Second Temple, the Kodesh Hakodashim (Holy of Holies) was separated by curtains rather than a wall as in the First Temple. Still, as in the Tabernacle, the Second Temple included: The Menorah (golden lamp) for the Hekhal
1.

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Rededication by the Maccabees

Following the conquest of Judea by Alexander the Great, it became part of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt until 200 BCE, when King Antiochus III the Great of Syria defeated King Ptolemy V Epiphanes of Egypt at the Battle of Panion.[14] Judea became at that moment part of the Seleucid empire of Syria. When the Second Temple in Yerusalem was looted and its religious services stopped, Judaism was effectively outlawed. In 167 BCE, Antiochus ordered an altar to Zeus erected in the Temple. He also banned circumcision and ordered pigs to be sacrificed at the altar of the Temple.

Construction
James Tissot - Reconstruction of Yerusalem and the Temple of Herod - Brooklyn Museum

A model of the Southern wall and Royal Colonnade Herod's Temple was one of the larger construction projects of the 1st century BCE. Herod was interested in perpetuating his name for all eternity through building projects, and his construction program was extensive. He had magnificent palaces in Masada, Caesarea and Tiberias. Herod built temples for various pagan gods to serve the gentile populations, which were paid for by heavy taxes on the local Jewish population.[18] But his masterpiece was the Temple of Yerusalem. The old temple built by Zerubba[15] bel was replaced by a magnificent edifice. An agreeFollowing the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleu- ment was made between Herod and the Jewish relicid empire, the Second Temple was rededicated and gious authorities: the sacrificial rituals, called offerbecame the religious pillar of the Jewish Hasmonean ings, were to be continued unabated for the entire kingdom, as well as culturally associated with the time of construction, and the Temple itself would be Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. constructed by the priests. Later the Exodus 30:13 sanctuary shekel was reinstituted to support the temple as the temple tax. Herod's Temple Model of Herod's Temple at the Israel Museum Reconstruction of the temple under Herod began Platform with a massive expansion of the Temple Mount. Religious worship and temple rituals continued during Mt. Moriah had a plateau at the northern end, and the construction process.[16] Following the Great Re- steeply declined on the southern slope. It was Herod's plan that the entire mountain be turned into a volt of the Province of Iudaea, the Temple was degiant square platform. The Temple Mount was origi-

nally intended to be 1600 feet wide by 900 feet deep by 9 stories high, with walls up to 16 feet deep, but had never been finished. To complete it, a trench was dug around the mountain, and huge stone "bricks" were laid. Some of these weighed well over 100 tons, the largest measuring 44.6 feet by 11 feet by 16.5 feet and weighing approximately 567 to 628 tons,[19][20] while most were in the range of 2.5 by 3.5 by 15 feet (approximately 28 tons). King Herod had architects from Greece, Rome and Egypt plan the construction. The blocks were presumably quarried by using pickaxes to create channels. Then they hammered in wooden beams and flushed them with water to force them out. Once they were removed, they were carved into precise squares and numbered at the quarry to show where they would be installed. The final carving would have been done by using harder stones to grind or chisel them to create precise joints. They would have been transported using oxen and specialized carts. Since the quarry was uphill from the temple they had gravity on their side but care needed to be taken to control the descent. Final installation would have been done using pulleys or cranes. Roman pulleys and cranes weren't strong enough to lift the blocks alone so they may have used multiple cranes and levers to position them.[21] As the mountainside began to rise, the western side

was carved away to a vertical wall and bricks were carved to create a virtual continuation of the brick face, which was continued for a while until the northern slope reached ground level. Part of the Antonian hill to the north of Moriah was annexed to the complex and the area between was filled up with landfill. The project began with the building of giant underground vaults upon which the temple would be built so it could be larger than the small flat area on top of Mount Moriah. Ground level at the time was at least 20 ft. (6m) below the current level, as can be seen by walking the Western Wall tunnels. Legend has it that the construction of the entire complex lasted only three years, but other sources such as Josephus say that it took far longer, although the Temple itself may have taken that long. During a Passover visit by Yahshuah the Jews replied that it had been under construction for 46 years.[22] It is possible that the complex was only a few years completed when the future Emperor Titus burnt the place to the ground in 70 CE.

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The Book of Lamentations

Beginning in 463 BCE, Jeremiah prophesized about the Babylonian threat and warned the Jews of the terrible devastation they would incur if they did not stop worshipping idols and mistreating each other. But his melancholic prophecies, recorded in the Book of Jeremiah, went largely unheeded by the Jews, who mocked and persecuted him. Some eighteen years before the destruction of the Temple, Jeremiah was imprisoned by King Jehoiakim (apparently due to his persistent prophecies foretelling the fall of Yerusalem). Elohim then spoke to Jeremiah (Jeremiah ch. 36): Children starving; cannibalism on the part of hunger -crazed mothers, the city abandoned..."Take for yourself a scroll and write upon it all the words that I have spoken to you concerning Israel and concerning Judah. . . . Perhaps the house of Judah will hear all the evil that I plan to do to them, in order that they should repent, each man of his evil way, and I will forgive their iniquity and their sin." Jeremiah summoned his devoted disciple, Baruch ben Neriah, and dictated to him a heart-rending and graphic warning of the coming doom; this prophecy eventually became known as the Book of Lamentations ("Eichah"). In this scroll, Jeremiah described and mourned the devastation that Elohim would wreak upon Yerusalem and the Holy Land: children starving; cannibalism on the part of hunger crazed mothers, the city abandoned. Baruch ben Neriah followed Jeremiah's instructions. He publicly read the scroll in the Holy Temple. When the king was informed of this event, he asked that the scroll be read to him. After hearing but a few verses, the king grabbed the scroll and callously threw it into the fireplace. When Jeremiah was informed of the king's actions, he sat and composed another chapter that he added to the book. This Book of Lamentations is read in the synagogue every year on the eve of the Ninth of Av.

The Babylonians Are Coming

The Assyrians had long dominated the Middle East, but their power was waning. Even with the help of the Egyptians, who were getting stronger, they were not able to fight off the Babylonians. These three empires were engaged in a power struggle, and the Kingdom of Judah was caught in the middle. In 434 BCE, the Kingdom of Judah tried to form an alliance with Egypt. The Jews thought, despite Jeremiah's prophecies, that this would keep them safe. But instead, the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, marched on Judah. He pillaged Yerusalem and deported tens of thousands of Jews to his capital in Babylon; all the deportees were drawn from the upper classes, the wealthy, and craftsmen. Ordinary people were allowed to stay in Judah, and Nebuchadnezzar appointed a puppet king over Judah, Zedekiah. But Zedekiah, though Elohim fearing and righteous, was foolishly courageous, and (despite Jeremiah's repeated admonitions not to) he tried to break free from the Babylonians. So Nebuchadnezzar marched on Yerusalem again. This time he would not be content with making Judah into a vassal state. On the tenth of Tevet, 425 BCE, Nebuchadnezzar began the siege of Yerusalem.

Pilgrimages to Yerusalem
A Jew from distant parts of the Roman Empire would arrive by boat at the port of Jaffa (now part of Tel Aviv), where he or she would join a caravan for the three day trek to the Holy City (a trip which only takes about an hour by automobile today), and

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would then find lodgings in one of the many hotels or hostelries. Once lodging was secured and money changed, the pilgrim would purchase a sacrificial animal, usually a pigeon or a lamb, in preparation for the following day's events. The gleaming white marble of the edifice was visible from well outside the walls of the city. The scale of the building was designed to impress, and it dominated the landscape, effectively becoming the focal point of Yerusalem. Even the three great towers near Herod's palace seemed small in comparison. The first thing a pilgrim would do would be to approach the public entrance on the south side of the Temple Mount complex. He would check his animal, then visit a mikveh, where he would ritually cleanse and purify himself. The pilgrim would then retrieve his sacrificial animal, and head to the Huldah gates. After ascending a staircase three stories in height, and passing through the gate, the pilgrim would find himself in the "Court of the Gentiles."

chief of Nebuchadnezzar's army, Nebuzaradan, began the destruction of Yerusalem. The walls of the city were torn down, and the royal palace and other structures in the city were set on fire. Our Sages say that when Nebuzaradan entered the Temple

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he found the blood of Zechariah seething. He asked the Jews what this phenomenon meant, and they attempted to conceal the scandal, but he threatened to comb their flesh with iron combs. So they told him the truth: "There was a prophet among us who chastised us, and we killed him. For many years now his blood has not rested."
Nebuzaradan said, "I will appease him." He then killed the members of the Great and Small Sanhedrins, then he killed youths and maidens, and then school-children. Altogether, he killed 940,000 people. Still the blood continued to boil, whereupon Nebuzaradan cried: "Zechariah, Zechariah! I have slain the best of them; do you want all of them destroyed?" At last the blood sank into the ground (Talmud, Gittin 57b).1

The Destruction

On the ninth day of Av, toward evening, the Holy Temple was Jeremiah also promised that the "Zechariah, Zechariah! I have Jewish people would return to slain the best of them; do you want set on fire and destroyed. The Yerusalem and rebuild the fire burned for 24 hours. all of them destroyed?" Thirty months later, in the month of Tam- Our Sages taught: When the first Temple. That would come to pass seventy years later. muz, after a long siege during Holy Temple was destroyed,
which hunger and epidemics ravaged the city, the city walls were breached. King Zedekiah tried to escape through an eighteen-mile long tunnel, but he was captured in the plains of Jericho by enemy soldiers who, while chasing a deer, saw him emerging. He was brought before Nebuchadnezzar in Riblah. There Zedekiah's sons and many other Jewish personages were slain before his eyes; then his eyes were put out, and he was led in chains to Babylon. On the seventh day of Av, the groups of young priests gathered with the keys to the Sanctuary in their hands. They ascended the roof and declared: "Master of the World! Since we have not merited to be trustworthy custodians, let the keys be given back to You." They then threw the keys toward Heaven. A hand emerged and received them, and the priests threw themselves into the fire (Talmud, Ta'anit 29b). Everything of gold and silver that still remained was carried off as loot by the Babylonian soldiers.
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All the beautiful works of art with which King Solomon had once decorated and ornamented the holy edifice were destroyed or taken away. The holy vessels of the Temple that could be found were brought to Babylon. The high priest Seraiah and many other high officials and priests were executed. In addition to the 940,000 people killed in the aforementioned incident, millions more were killed inside and outside of the city. Many thousands of the people that had escaped the sword were taken prisoner and led into captivity in Babylon, where some of their best had already preceded them. Only the poorest of the residents of Yerusalem were permitted to stay on to plant the vineyards and work in the fields. All this had been predicted in the Torah, and it came to pass with all the horror of which Moses had warnedThus ended the empire of David and Solomon; thus the magnificent city and Holy Temple were destroyed. Thus Elohim punished His people for deserting Him and His laws. All this had been predicted in the Torah, and it truly came to pass with all the horror of which Moses had warned.

For this our heart has become faint, for these things our eyes have grown dim. For Mount Zion, which has become desolate; foxes prowl over it. But You, O Gd, remain forever; Your throne endures throughout the generations. Why do You forget us forever, forsake us so long? Restore us to You, O Gd, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old.

Lamentations 5:17-21

Questions And Answers (FAQ)

QUESTIONS

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;-

Does the Creator Have many different names? Has He one for every language, or has He just one name? It is certain that the Mighty Creator does not have these hundred different names? As are ascribed to Him among all of the various languages of the world. The word "God" is only a title like the word "Father", The scriptures tell us that there are "Lord's many, and Gods many. We all know that the word "father" is not the name of our earthly father, but He has a name. Just so has our heavenly Father Has a name, which is known in Israel, but considered too sacred to speak or write or print, only on special occasions. The children from the early grades all know His "name. "For Elohim will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah that they dwell there and have it in possession. The seed also of His servants shall inherit it, and they that love His name shall dwell therein Psalms 69: 35, 36. "His name is great in Israel. Psalms. 76: I. "Holy and reverend is His name."
ANSWERS

Psalms111: 9 What is His name, and what is His Son's name? If you can tell? Proverbs 30: 4. If the Creator did not have a name surely this would be a strange scripture to be found in His inspired Word. In the prayer of David he said, blessed be His name forever". Psalms 72:9, 20. The prophet Isaiah in speaking of this very time when the Creator is bringing again Zion and restoring the waste places about Yerusalem, He says, There fore

TH E MA ST E R'S M E T H OD OF IN CR E AS E . W h at we give to t he L ord b eco mes d ou bly our s f or it i s our s t o g ive t o H i m, a nd t he n He gi ve s i t b ack t o us m ul ti pl ied a nd fil led w it h ble ss i ng . The re i s a l way s a n ove r fl o w i n t he t hi ng s of El o hi m. W he n we s t op g i v i n g we c e as e t o mu lt i- ply ! I t i s n o t o nly t he way we giv e but t he w il li n gne ss , the co n ti nu ou s ne ss . t he in te n si ty wi t h wh ic h we g ive our life , ou r ti me, ou r ta le nt s , our all t o our ble s se d L or d and Ma s te r , a nd so o n c om i ng ki n g of ki n gs 11 : 15 - 18 By Ed i t or

The 1967 Six-Day War

The victory came at a very high cost. In storming the Golan Heights, Israel suffered 115 dead-roughly the number of Americans killed during Operation Desert Storm. Altogether, Israel lost twice as many men 777 dead and 2,586 wounded -in proportion to her total population as the U.S. lost in eight years of fighting in Vietnam.(23) Also, despite the incredible success of the air campaign, the Israeli Air Force lost 46 of its 200 fighters. (24) The death toll on the Arab side was 15,000 Egyptians, 2,500 Syrians, and 800 Jordanians. By the end of the war, Israel had conquered enough territory to more than triple the size of the area it controlled, from 8,000 to 26,000 square miles. The victory enabled Israel to unify Yerusalem. Israeli forces had also captured the Sinai, Golan Heights, Gaza Strip and West Bank.Israel now ruled more than three-quarters of

a million Palestinians most of whom were hostile to the government. Nevertheless, more than 9,000 Palestinian families were reunited in 1967. Ultimately, more than 60,000 Palestinians were allowed to return.(25)

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Questions And Answers (FAQ)

QUESTIONS;Is it really true that the Savior was born on December the 25th, and is this really His Birthday? Would the Shepherds have been out with their sheep at this season of the year? ANSWER. The 25th of December was celebrated by - the heathens over 600 years before the time of Our Savior. It was the birthday of a son to the queen of Babylon, the heir to the throne which brought great rejoicing, becom-ing a general world holiday. Then later when Constantine, the Emperor of Rome desiring to establish a uniform world religion in 321 A.D., christened this heathen festival as the birthday of the Savior to further "weld Rome with Babylon together in a common faith. The practice of decorating the Christmas tree, etc., was condemned by Jeremiah in 607 B.C. (Jeremiah 10:1-4); where we are told to "learn not the way of the heathen." The weather here is often very cold and stormy, during December with cold rains, but very seldom snow. The shepherds would hard-ly be out with their sheep at night in this season.
Ezek 3:27

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Joseph and Mary came from Nazareth, about 100 miles, by donkey or camel to pay their taxes (Luke 3:1 -4). The paying of taxes was in the early fall, about October, when the peo-ple were harvesting their crops, and had money and never as late as December. Furthermore it would have been practically impossible for Joseph to have brought Mary, his wife, over the muddy roads and the don-key paths, soaked with rain, and deep with very sticky mud at this season. Furthermore no man would have undertaken such a risk with his wife so far advanced in pregnancy. It would have required around five to six days to make this trip, being on the road day and night, exposed to the seasons cold rainy wea-ther for this long a period. Joseph would not have run such a hazardous risk as this in De-cember, but in September and October the weather is always warm and dry, with good roads. The birth of our Messiah evidently took place on or near Atonement Day, the 10th of Ethanim, which are a few days before the Feast of Tabernacles.
Extract from Mt. Zion reporter 1975

QUESTION -

WHERE ARE THE TRUE PEOPLE?

The re are m or e th a n t hir ty d iffe ren t churc h or ga n i zat i on s n o w k no w n by t h e na me "C hurc h o f G od ' i n t he E ng li s h . A bo ut h alf o f t hi s nu mbe r acce p t t he scri p tura l c reed (Re v. 1 2 : 1 1 ) and kee p th e Sa b ba t h d ay acc ord i n g t o t he se c o mma nd me n ts . T he n t he ques ti o n ari se s , w hic h of the se gr ou ps i s t he r ig h t o ne . Ag ai n t he - searc her fo r tru th , a fte r hav in g f ou nd t he pe o p le wi th t he sc ri pt ural na me a nd creed i s be wi l d ered - He c an n o t d isc ov er e n ou g h d iffe -rence be t ween th em f or se para ti o n , th e lac k o f br ot he rly l ove s h o wn b y o ne fo r t he ot he r i s d i s hear te ni n g a nd d i sc oura g in g . Sata n u ses t h is i n so me case s t o tur n t he ma n back i nt o t he w orld . W here is t he ma n or w o ma n ca pa ble o f jud g in g w het her or n o t a per so n h old in g to a n o t her gr ou p be s id es h is o w n is n' t th eir br ot her or si ste r i n t he fai t h ? J us t becau se of s o me l it tle d oc tri na l d if ference , w h ic h t o bel ieve o ne way or t he ot he r i s n o si n , t he n w h y be a t var ia nce ? Var ia nce i s o ne of t he si n s t ha t se para te s us fr om t he ki n gd om ( Gal . 5 : 20 , 2 1 ) and cla s sed w it h m urd er. Be ware Br ot he r or Si ste r, o f f ail -i n g t o f ol l ow t he Ma ster w h o f or bid s jud g i ng and co nd em n i ng o ne an o the r. Al l of t he var i ou s gr ou p s, wh o m t he Sp iri t ha s le t i n to t he tr ut h of t h is Bi b le creed (Rev . 1 2: 1 7, a nd E p h. 3 : 14 , 1 5 ) , s ho uld fel l o ws h ip o ne a n ot her a nd c o nsid er me mb ers o f al l of t hese gr ou p s th eir o w n br ot her s a nd si s ters . 1 h is i s scri p tura l a nd i t mu st c o me a b ou t t o e veryo ne w ho w ill w it h ou t d isa p p oi n tme n t en- ter t he k i ngd o m so ne ar at h and . Our ad v ice t o t he seeker after t he tru e churc h is t o c o n nect h i mse lf u p w it h t he gr ou p near -e st to hi m, a nd la b or w it h th em i n l ove . Be a peac e ma ker , a nd try to ad d o t her s t o t he f old , a nd s up p or t your mi n is ter in g bre t hre n, w it h a fa it hfu l ti t he. Ed it or .
Extract from Mt. Zion reporter 1975

But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to the people,

Thus says the Lord Elohim; he who hears, let him hear, and he who refuses to hear, let him refuse;

for they are a rebellious house.

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Commentary and Opinion

The history of Yerusalem from the time of Joshua to its destruction by Titus-a period of fifteen centuries-is a succession of changes, revolutions, sieges, surrenders, and famines. Each is followed by restoration and rebuilding. The city's greatest glory was reached under the reign of King Solomon, who built the Temple and a royal palace besides greatly enlarging and strengthening the walls of the city. Yerusalem's possibly greatest humiliation was reached under the reign of Antiochus Ephiphanes, 175 BC - 165 BC,

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when the most violent and cruel efforts were made to destroy the Jews and their religion.

Ps 137:5-6 If I forget you, O Yerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill! If I do not remember you, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouthIf I do not exalt Yerusalem Above my chief joy.

NKJV

There are others besides Ours

Things that we Must " We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of the LORD." Acts 14:22 We Must (therefore) serve the LORD until we arrive there." Exodus 10:26 We Must, therefore, give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. Hebrews 2:1 We Must"Yes! As you have said, so we must do. Ezra 10:12 Because We Must all appear before the judgment seat of Messiah, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10 By Chareokey 5
There were different groups of the Fathers children (Church of Elohim) two thousand years ago, according to the records of the Gospel, just as there are today. The apostle John came across one of these group, according to the following text;John answered to him (YAHSHUA) saying , Master, we saw someone casting out devil in your name, and HE DOES NOT FOLLOW US. And we forbade him because HE DOES NOT FOLLOW US. How similar is this to todays conditions where one condemned and forbid another because he FOLLOW NOT US / FOLLOW NOT THEM. Dear reader, what the MASTER said is exactly what He would say today - and certainly this is what He is saying : Do not forbade them, for there no man can do a miracle in my Name that can speak evil of Me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For who will give you a cup of water to drink in my

spiritual,
let him acknowledge that the things that I write are of

If any man think himself to be

the Lord.

ignorant, let him

be ignorant. 1 Cor14:37-38 name, because YOU BELONG TO THE MESSIAH, surely I said to you , HE SHALL NOT LOSE HIS REWARD. Mark 9: 3841

But if any man is

When Speaking of this carnal conditions where Apostle Paul mentioned The Apollo's Cephas and other groups, just as it is today. He said in verse 8;- For we are laborers together with Elohim . You are Elohims husbandry , you are Elohim Building
For other foundation no man can lay than that which is laid, which is MESSIAH YAHSHUA. 1 Cor.3:9

Have Your inspiring comments Published here! E mail us at kenesiyahmessenger@gmail.com

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News &Views
Shalom One and All,

k
"Iran is continuing its nuclear program uninterrupted. It is enriching uranium to levels higher than 20 percent, in blatant disregard to the demands of the international community," Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahus statement said.

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Contention and Strife in Israel & Middle East

'Iran building militias in Syria in case Assad falls'
02/11/2013 00:40

a faithful messenger is health. Prov 13:17

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is a non profit making project and is a volunteer work. Anyway we hope to receive some support from interested Individuals and groups who appreciate this project. You may support us by sending copies of any literature published by A. N. Dugger (namely Mt. Zion Reporter and articles; the Israeli Bible correspondence course, and his booklets). If you want, small donations are acceptable. But only If you feel that such a ministry should be supported by a true Disciple. If sending cash, do not send more than you are willing to lose. Donations are gratefully accepted but NEVER solicited. You are not pressured to do so but to send a gift is only your voluntary choice. Subscribe to +254 712 800030

'Washington Post' quotes US, Arab officials as saying 50,000 militiamen backed by Iran and Hezbollah fighting for Assad.

cause are making the mourning wreath. The brother who says nothing at all is driving the hearse. The ones who are constantly drawing back when advance moves are to be made are throwing flowers on the grave. The brother who is continually talking of the hard times in the church is preaching the funeral sermon, and singing the burial hymns. And thus lies the church buried, free from all cares, Brother, which of these acts are you performing?"

Iran is preparing to preserve its influence in Syria in the event that its ally President Bashar Assad should be removed from power by building a network of militias in the country along with Hezbollah, The Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing US and Middle East officials. According to the officials, the militias are currently fighting alongside Assad's forces to keep the embattled leader in A Dying Church power. They believe, howev"A church that is doing nother, that the militias are actuing for the public is on its way ally in place to serve Tehto the cemetery. ran's long-term goal of mainAll its members who are doing taining operatives in the nothing are acting as pallcountry to act in Iran's interbearers. est in Syria if the opposition All who are so busy with their forces should succeed in own affairs that they have not unseating Assad. time to devote to the Lord's

and "to set the stage for major mischief if he collapses. Syria's uprising, which started as peaceful protests against four decades of autocratic rule by Assad and his late father, has turned into a violent sectarian conflict. The war is pitting Assad's minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam that has dominated Syria since 1960s, against the Sunni majority that had led the protest movement. The Local Coordination Committees, a network of grassroots activists, said clashes broke out on Sunday in the al Related: The Post quoted a senior -Afif neighbourhood of Damascus, which is adjacent to a Obama administration offipresidential complex. cial as saying that Iran was The organization said 77 people were killed in Syria on backing as many as 50,000 Sunday, including 16 people who it said had been exemilitiamen. The immediate cuted by Assad's forces in the eastern city of Deir al -Zor. intention seems to be to sup- Such reports are impossible to verify as Syria severely port the Syrian regime. But restricts access for independent media. its important for Iran to Syrian National Coalition leader Moaz Alkhatib said on have a force in Syria that is Sunday he was willing to hold talks with Assad's reprereliable and can be counted sentatives in rebel-held areas in northern Syria. on, the official stated. The talks' objective would be to find a way for Assad to The Post quoted a senior leave power with the "minimum of bloodshed and deArab official as saying that struction", Alkhatib said in a statement published on his Iran was putting the militia- Facebook page. men in place in order to "support Assad to the hilt," Khamenei, who on February 7 rebuffed a US call for direct negotiations on disputes between the two countries. Ahmadinejad does not have the authority to authorize negotiations over the nuclear program, which lies with Khamenei.

Iran rejects Western pressure on revolution anniversary

By REUTERS 02/10/2013 13:13 DUBAI - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday Tehran would not negotiate about its disputed

nuclear program under pressure, but would talk to its adversaries if they stopped "pointing the gun." In a speech to mark the 34th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, Ahmadinejad struck a more conciliatory tone than Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali

"You cannot point a gun at the Iranian nation and then expect them to have negotiations with you," Ahmadinejad said, speaking to a crowd gathered in Tehran's Azadi (Freedom) Square.

Thanks be unto Elohim for this gift of Him, that is tremendous and unspeakable. 2 Cor 9:15 PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME !!

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