The Open Scroll - Scriptural and Celestial Timepieces

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Scriptural and Celestial Timepieces

By Bob Schlenker (Prints about 8 pages)

This article is intended to briefly introduce the reader to the concept of what has been called the hidden prophecies in the Psalms and Deuteronomy. Examining these divinely ordered and numbered scriptural divisions with an understanding of the past events, the concept's validity is easily confirmed. Merging the knowledge of our recent history with the corresponding scriptural passages and the celestial events happening at that same time, we find each voice speaking its testimony in perfect harmony. The big year to date for the most amazing correlations has been 1991, according to my limited knowledge at this present time. After this presentation, those of you who trust in the reliability of these witnesses can look ahead with me to the near future with a degree of confidence. We have been privileged to learn some very, very special things in this special time!

The times and seasons are concealed and revealed through the celestial media and through the scriptural media in various ways. The nature of much of what is revealed is very precise, marking events to the year, sometimes even to the day and time. As the keys to understanding these mysteries are granted those with ears to hear, we learn how the Sovereign Lord confirms his testimony by the testimony of two or three witnesses, repeating the same messages through different messengers.

Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 2 Corinthians 13:1b

In a court of law, the evidence offered by only one witness doesn't carry much weight. But, when several independent witnesses agree, the evidence is clear and a verdict can be reached. The sole witness of either celestial revelation, hidden prophecies in the Psalms or hidden prophecies in the Torah could possibly be passed off as interesting, but yet, not conclusive. However, when two or the three of them are summed up and their harmonious testimony is considered, well, only a fool would deny the message. I don't see how God could document the chronology of the end any more authoritatively than He has. What you are about to read is very authoritative documentation of the validity of the various timepieces. Each of these bear testimony about the events of the end and when they occur. Pay close attention, friends.

The Divinely Ordered and Appointed Book of Psalms

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalms 90:12

The Psalms are 150 in number. They correspond with the years of the 20th century and continue on into the 21st. Discovered in 1983 and popularized through the ministry of J.R. Church (Prophecy in the News), this remarkable correspondence is a very useful key to interpreting the times and seasons.

By means of the precise location of this book of the Psalms in the Bible, one of the most recognizable prophecies fulfilled in our day is brought to our attention. Because Psalms is the 19th book from the front of the Bible and the 48th from the back, the number 19-48 is suggested. In the year 1948, one of the most fundamental and significant prophecies for the end times was fulfilled! On May 14th, Israel became a recognized nation, a national home for God's people Israel who had been exiled and dispersed since 70 AD.

This was long ago prophesied by Ezekiel.

Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.' Ezekiel 37:11-14

An accurate description of this very focal event in history is found in Psalm 48.

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.
Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. 2 It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth. Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King. 3 God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress. 4 When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together, 5 they saw her and were astounded; they fled in terror. 6 Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor. 7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish shattered by an east wind. 8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD Almighty, in the city of our God: God makes her secure forever. Selah 9 Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. 10 Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness. 11 Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments. 12 Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, 13 consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation. 14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. Psalms 48

The importance of that event can be seen as it relates to the following lesson we are instructed to learn.

Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Matthew 24:32-34

The Divinely Ordered and Appointed Torah

As with the Psalms, the ordering of the verses of the masoretic texts of the Torah has been appointed by the Creator to conceal and reveal the events of corresponding years. The verses of the masoretic texts correspond to the years on the Jewish calendar, not the Gregorian "Western" calendar. I�d like to acknowledge J.R. Church again for introducing me to this concept of dating by the Torah verses.

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.Psalm 119:18

Unveil thou mine eyes, and I shall perceive wondrous things out of thy law. Psalm 119:18 (Brenton LXX)

In this verse, the Hebrew word for law is torah, (Strongs #8451. towrah, to-raw'; or torah, to-raw'; from H3384; a precept or statute, espec. the Decalogue or Pentateuch:--law.) referring specifically to the first 5 books, the books of Moses that contain the set of verses tied to the years. In the Septuagint translation, the Greek word for see or perceive is Strongs #2657. katanoeo, kat-an-o-eh'-o; from G2596 and G3539; to observe fully:--behold, consider, discover, perceive. Let us observe fully wonderful things out of the torah, Lord, unveil our eyes.

May of 1948 was in the Jewish year 5708. The masoretic verse numbered 5708 is Deuteronomy 30:5, which reads:

He (God) will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.

Think about this for a while, compare it to the historical record and to Psalm 48. The bringing back into the land is called aliyah. This was happening since Petah Tikvah in Judea and Rosh Pinnah in Galilee, the first Jewish settlements in modern day Palestine, were settled in 1878.

The Abundance Week Begins

The year 1991 was a very important year in the restoration of truth in the last days. It was in May of that year, now 9 years past, that I received a wake up call and the "opening of the scroll" began with me. When I noticed the approaching celestial event (the massing of the same four planets in Leo that was said by some to be the sign prompting the Magi to depart for Israel to honor the King of the Jews), and then was led to understand the sign of greater significance that immediately followed, I was very shortly led to be introduced to the concept of the chronology lessons of the Psalms. Desert Storm was just wrapping up and this discovery was very exciting.

The Desert Storm Scenario - Psalm 91:1-12

To refresh our memories, In 1990 and 1991, Iraq, under command of Saddam Hussein had attacked the tiny country of Kuwait and occupied it. When Saddam was unwilling to back out of Kuwait and make restitution, we in America became militarily involved in forcing Saddam to leave Kuwait. (This was a significant exercise of the U.N.�s authority in military involvement.) When Saddam came under attack, he responded by attacking Israel. That action wasn�t a direct or even an appropriate retaliation against the forces that were actually attacking him. Where�s the logic in that move? Clearly, Saddam is a man not driven by logic, but by a desire to wipe the Jews from the face of the earth. His motivation is obvious as he�s even vocalized that very desire.

Could it be a coincidence that we�ve seen yet another man in the not-so-distant past who desired to wipe the Jews from the face of the earth? No, of course not! Both Hitler and Hussein were influenced by God�s archenemy to destroy His people. Satan knows only too well the prophecies that declare his demise and recognizes that there is only one way to stop it. If he can destroy all the Jews, then the precondition for Christ�s return will be impossible (Matthew 23:39) and Satan can continue to reign over the earth forever. The Devil would then have thwarted God�s plan and could rule forever. But, Satan has failed and shall never succeed in this plot.

Here�s my commentary on Psalm 91:1-12:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, �He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. The United Nations, and perhaps most directly, the United States were acting as God�s agents in this particular instance.

Surely he will save you from the fowler�s snare I submit to you that Saddam Hussein is the fowler and that he is yet continuing to ensnare Israel.

and from the deadly pestilence This seems suggestive of chemical warfare, a major concern at that time.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; Birds have feathers and wings. They fly. Bombers and fighter jets fly. Military surveillance satellites and radar watch over and protect airspace. This control of airspace certainly characterizes the defense of Israel during this time. Israel took refuge in the U.N.�s ability to protect them, as under the wing of a bird as they protect their young.

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. A shield represents military defense, a rampart represents military offense. His faithfulness in protecting Israel is emphasized.

In the following section, I�d like you to consider that the time of day indicates the visibility of the threat, and that the thing that is not to be feared indicates the destructive nature of the threat.

You will not fear the terror of night In the night, its dark and the potential dangers are hidden. The potential of terrorism by the Arab nations upon Israel and her people was said to have been Israel�s biggest fear.

nor the arrow that flies by day In the day, its light and the threats are visible. Iraq lobbed SCUD missiles at Israel. Israel did not defend itself but took refuge "under the wing" of the U.N. which responded with faithful protection from this visible threat by blasting them with Patriot missiles. Interestingly, there were 39 SCUDs launched towards Israel. That number is "40 save one", the number of times that people were scourged in the synagogues for discipline!

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness Pestilence, as in chemical warfare is an unseen threat. Remember the T.V. reporters shown wearing protective gas masks whenever a SCUD was reported to be heading for Israel? They had no way of knowing if the masks were necessary until they received further information about the nature of the SCUD�s armament.

nor the plague that destroys at midday At midday, things are very apparent. A nuclear blast is very apparent. It also causes nuclear fallout and radiation poisoning, like a plague!

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. Israel�s casualties were very, very few, in fact, negligible. Even their allies suffered minimal losses compared with the extensive losses of the "fowler".

You will only observe with your eyes Israel did not retaliate, but only observed with their eyes.

and see the punishment of the wicked Saddam and Iraq, the wicked, were punished, but not destroyed!

If you make the Most High your dwelling- even the Lord, who is my refuge- then no harm will come near your tent They trusted that they would be protected, and they were. David�s tent, or tabernacle, thought by some authorities to be safe in Jerusalem is possibly referred to here.

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." The Jews were well protected indeed!

Following these 12 verses, we note a change in the topic. Instead of dealing with the signs on the earth, we turn to address the signs in the heavens.

Trampling the Lion and the Serpent - Psalm 91:13�s Allusion to Celestial Revelation

Following those 12 remarkable verses, verse 13 stands out as one that makes no sense at all unless we consider the hidden time element involved.

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. Psalms 91:13

This verse follows the twelve verse description of the Desert Storm scenario of 1991 and relates to an event that followed after the Desert Storm in sequence. The event is a celestial sign and an earthly sign, and the meaning can be discerned by searching out the allusions to other scripture.

Now, check this out. This cryptic verse links the celestial event, the events on earth and the scriptures referenced, providing an authoritative dating and interpretation. Incredible? Almost! These things should be credible, believable - that's the point!

Okay, does the symbolism in verse 13 sound familiar? From Genesis 49:8, the phrase; "...your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;" alludes to the constellations Leo and Hydra. The sky charts depict Leo as a lion with his front paws just about on the neck of Hydra, the serpent. The lion and/or the great lion of Psalm 91:13 symbolize Leo, and the cobra and/or the serpent; Hydra. The repetition of symbols in this verse implies a two-fold interpretation, doesn�t it? There�s a celestial and a scriptural.

Just as you may have seen in the interpretations of Revelation 12:1-5 and Genesis 49:8-12, the cryptic prophecies� meanings were revealed through both allusion to scripture and by a correlation with celestial revelation. In Revelation, the woman was both Mary and Virgo. In Genesis, the lion was both Jesus Christ and Leo. Here, in Psalm 91, the lion is again both Jesus Christ and Leo. The serpent is both the Devil and the constellation Hydra. The truths revealed in these prophecies are applicable to Mary, Jesus and the Devil, and they are equally applicable to Virgo, Leo and Hydra.

The action portrayed in verse 13 is called trampling and treading. So, what could be better portrayed as trampling and treading in Leo and Hydra than planets in retrograde motion? Remember, retrograde motion describes a departure from a planet�s usual motion through the heavens and could certainly be viewed as a trampling or a treading motion. Retrograde motion does not seem to, of necessity imply a spiritually significant event, but, the right planets in retrograde motion at the right time in the right place are apparently very significant!

In August/September of 1991 there were two celestial bodies together in retrograde motion in the region of the celestial sphere known as the Lion and the Serpent! Both Mercury and Venus began retrograde motion in the middle of July, tracing a very similar elliptical path between Leo and Hydra.

They begin moving westward again in early September. I have described these motions in another article when I shared how I recognized the fulfillment of Genesis 49:10. There, we learned that Mercury is the messenger planet. Venus has the connotation of motherhood or birth. The involvement of these two particular planets in this motion together has an interesting implication, that of a "birth announcement." Do you see it? Mercury and Venus - the message of the birth! We also know that a "birth" around this time was suggested by the way in which the 2000 year cycles of the heavens corresponded to the bringing forth of Adam, Abraham and Jesus. The implication is that the scriptural prophecies which foretold the birth pains were being fulfilled at that time. I�m convinced that this was indeed the spiritual reality of late 1991!

God has made the celestial announcements of this time pretty obvious because they all occurred within the space of a few months. The celestial events announcing the beginning of this period of judgment began in late summer of 1991 with the massing of the four planets in Leo. This massing was previously a sign to the Magi in 2 BC and has served in these latter days to bring my attention to bear on the celestial display. Then, the trampling and treading retrograde motion of two of these planets, Mercury and Venus occurred, marked for our attention in Psalm 91:13. These motions were directly involved in bringing the heavens into the alignment depicted in Genesis 49:10. This was the sign toward which the others built, in a crescendo which peaked upon the arrival of the Day of Atonement in September of 1991, the spiritual climax of the signs!

The Mayans, ancient Central American Indians, predicted the solar eclipse of 1991 about 3000 years ago, proclaiming that a new age of enlightenment would begin at that time, according to the "legend of the sixth sun"! This sign occurred in that same short span of time, on July 11. Without a doubt, that time was an awesome time of enlightenment for me! However, rather than being a truthful message from true prophets, these Mayans spread a message intended to deceive, supplying disinformation. Satan can know what has been revealed. He puts his own spin on it, gussies it up and broadcasts it.

In this verse 13, we have found further evidence that the celestial signs function as markers of time in God�s prophetic plan for man�s redemption. The Creator has specially linked the celestial timepiece with the scriptural timepiece, confirming the validity of both of these keys to the interpretation of prophetic revelation. As I noted earlier, Psalm 91:13 does not stand alone in this function. We will find that Deuteronomy 31:28, the corresponding verse for the year, declares a related spiritual truth about 1991 linking those two timepieces. There is perfect cohesion between these two facets of God�s revelation which are clear markers set to give us an awareness of the time of the end.

Before I get into Deuteronomy, I�m going to set the further spiritual realities suggested in Psalm 91:13 based upon its allusion to other scriptural passages.

Psalm 91:13 - Its Allusion to Other Scripture

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. Psalms 91:13

The trampling and treading upon the lion is similar to a phrase found in Hebrews:

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, �It is mine to avenge; I will repay,� and again, �The Lord will judge his people.� Hebrews 10:26-30

Those who trample the Son of God under foot could be said to be trampling the great lion, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. They do this by deliberately continuing to sin after they�ve received the knowledge of the truth. The truth implied in the context is specific - the atonement Y'shua had already made.

Because the figure "allusion" transfers the qualities or characteristics of the thing alluded to, we can consider the application of the meaning of the phrase in Hebrews at the time denoted by Psalm 91:13. Whether or not you want to think of the relationship between the passages as "allusion," it doesn�t really matter to me. The point is that God has connected them by use of a common phrase to bring our attention to bear upon some truth pointed out in their relationship. In my opinion, this truth is that the atonement made by Jesus Christ was being rejected and the Lord�s judgment is upon those who reject him. Although He has generally been rejected throughout history, it seems that the fall of 1991 has been specially noted as a crossroads, so to speak, a special time of decision regarding Y'shua's messiahship.

Can this be seen as a reality of 1991? I think so! As I was aware of the significance of that time, I closely watched for indications of this rejection. I believe this rejection was exhibited in the acute increase in promotion of the "New Age" and in the orthodox Jews� express desire for a Messiah other than Jesus. The New Age-ers had been avidly seeking a messiah other than Jesus too! Prominent Lubavitcher Orthodox Rabbe (now deceased) Menachem Schneerson�s expectations about the coming of the Messiah were focused upon that very time in 1991! These things typify that for which judgment has come upon the world. All those who accept another beside Jesus as the Messiah have certainly rejected Jesus, the true Christ. They have "treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and...insulted the Spirit of grace." We just read in Hebrews, "How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished." This judgment that is coming upon those who continue to reject Jesus will be unparalleled in human history. The prophet Jeremiah says, "How awful that day will be! None will be like it."

Now, in addition to the injurious treatment of the Lion, the Devil was also depicted as receiving injurious treatment at that time. When we read, "tread upon...the cobra" and "trample...the serpent," in Psalm 91:13, allusion is made to the phrase "trample on snakes and scorpions" found in Luke 10:19. From verse 17:

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, �Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.� He replied, �I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy: nothing will harm you.

Trampling on snakes and scorpions (the demons) is to overcome the power of the enemy. The message that the 72 commissioned by the Lord were to take into the "harvest" was given in verse 9, "The kingdom of God is near you," and further repeated as a warning for those who reject the message in verse 11; "The kingdom of God is near."

Some of Israel continued to reject Jesus Christ in 1991, but there it was reported that some did accept him at that time, and with enthusiasm testified about the soon coming of the true Messiah - proclaiming that the kingdom of God is near! These will certainly recognize and reject the false Messiah, inflicting injury upon the Serpent.

The passages in Hebrews and to Luke which are similar to Psalm 91:13 appear quite consistent with the realities of 1991. On a related point, its interesting to note 72 as the number of those commissioned by the Lord in Luke 10. I know the KJV says 70, but 72 is the correct number as indicated by more recent textual criticism. This detail is important because God has ordered his word and his creation perfectly. The correlation between Psalm 91:13 and Luke 10:17-19 becomes especially interesting when we apply the significance of the number 72 from Luke 10 to the time associated with Psalm 91:13. This number implies the "summation of all man�s works" and the "beginning of a new era" in 1991!

The number 72 is the product of 9 times 8. Bullinger says this of the number nine in his book Numbers in Scripture; "It is the last of the digits, and thus marks the end; and is significant of the conclusion of a matter." Nine is also "...significant of the end of man, and the summation of all man�s works." "The number eight denotes the first of a new series. It is 7 plus 1. Hence it is the number specially associated with Resurrection and Regeneration, and the beginning of a new era or order."

These things are implied by the number 72, the number of that group who was given authority to trample on snakes and scorpions. As I see it, what you could call man�s day, where mercy has abounded for all of his foolish disobedience has drawn to an end. Now, the mercy has been replaced by judgment. Its a new day, a new era, the Lord�s Day!

Calling Heaven and Earth to Testify Against Them - Deuteronomy 31:28

In the fall of 1991, the Jewish year 5751 ended. The verse which corresponds to the year 5751 is the 5751st verse in the Bible, Deuteronomy 31:28. Before I get into it, let me give you some background.

In the Old Testament, God foretold a time when He would gather the people of Israel back into their land to execute judgment upon them.

Gather together, gather together, O shameful nation, {2} before the appointed time arrives and that day sweeps on like chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the day of the Lord�s wrath comes upon you. Zephaniah 2:1-2:

Since the time their temple and city was destroyed and the Jews were dispersed in 70 AD, the Jews have been largely absent from their land. Some resettlement began in 1878. In 1897, the First Zionist Congress was convened in Switzerland in order to move to create an independent Jewish State. This was finally accomplished in 1948, allowing the Jews to gather in large numbers in the land God had promised to their fathers. If you have paid attention to world events, you may remember that, a few years ago, the pace of Jewish resettlement picked up tremendously. Remember the secretive Ethiopian airlifts and all the hubbub over the Russian Jews finally coming to Israel?

So, in 1991, the Jews were very well established in their land. Now, consider.

Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to testify against them. Deuteronomy 31:28

Okay, they had been assembled in their land for judgment and are on trial. Did you note the words used? It says: "so I can speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to testify against them." A witness is being called to the stand to bear testimony against them. God calls to the stand, heaven and earth! Isn�t this interesting? HEAVEN AND EARTH are called to testify against them!

This testimony is two-fold. Signs occurring both in heaven and in the earth testified against Israel. The signs in heaven which testified against them are manifold. Remember Genesis 49:10, in which the time of Jesus� coming in judgment was marked by a celestial configuration! Remember the birth announcement given through the retrograde motions of Mercury and Venus in Leo and Hydra as brought to our attention in Psalm 91:13? See, just as Psalm 19:4 declares; "Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." Could these celestial displays of 1991 be anything but the heavenly witness, bearing testimony against them in 1991? Oh, think about it! What other interpretation can you possibly offer for these things? Other signs in the earth have been documented by various men and women appointed to do so. Certainly, the Lord's hand is on his people Israel. Oh, he loves them so!

In 1991, special provision began to be made for the ultimate trial, the great tribulation and time of Jacob's trouble. The seven years of Abundance began, and the "grain of salvation" began to be stored up. Those of us who have been appointed to the task began to receive an abundant harvest of insight into the deep and hidden mysteries of the Bible, the grain of salvation that will feed the starving who seek provision from Y'shua during the end time famine. Worship the Lord with all your heart. Behold! He Comes!