n_almond_blossom

Newsletter

“The Witness”

July 2008

The Almond Blossom...

The Menorah "Make a lampstand of pure gold.

Make its base and its shaft of hammered gold; its decorative flowers, including buds and petals, are to form one piece with it.

Six branches shall extend from its sides, three from each side.

Each of the six branches is to have three decorative flowers shaped like almond blossoms with buds and petals.

The shaft of the lampstand is to have four decorative flowers shaped like almond blossoms with buds and petals.

(Exo 25:31-40) GNB

The Vision of the Branch of an Almond tree...

of Pharaoh and the spirit of the false prophet. This is a spirit that will continually say that it will repent of its wrongs towards God and His people, but after a while will harden its heart repeatedly without true repentance, just like Pharaoh did. Finally they will harden their hearts so much, that I will give them over to their wickedness. For I said: “I will harden whom I harden and I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy.” But I am now rising up the Spirit of Moses.” Up until that time I have heard of the Spirit of Elijah, but not the Spirit of Moses.

On the 29th of May 2008, the Lord

Jesus Christ showed me a vision. In a vision I saw the branch of an almond tree. Then the Lord asked me: “What do you see?” I said: “Lord I see the branch of an almond tree” Then the Lord said: “You have seen correctly for I am about to fulfil my word!”

I did not know what this meant, but knew that God was about to fulfil something great. He had given us many promises, since the beginning of our calling. I knew that God had called me to stop working, but did not know what would soon transpire.

The Fire of the Lord is kindled...

On

the 1st of June 2008, I had a dream. In my dream I saw the map of the world in front of me.

Then the word of the Lord came to me saying: “A new spirit is rising up out of the earth – The spirit

-1-

Newsletter

“The Witness”

July 2008

perform it”, for God had given us every specific promises 7 years ago, and confirmed it through many prophetic words. Up until that stage it had not come into fulfilment.

Then I saw, how suddenly, a fire was kindled at the Indonesian Islands. It started to burn slow at first, but later it started burning downwards, around the top of Australia, going through the Pacific Ocean and around the coast of South America. Then it burned up, through the Atlantic Ocean, towards North America.

God’s Signs and Witnesses through the prophets…

God

has always left for himself a witness, which would irrefutably, proof that only God could have done those things. Thus, only God will be glorified.

As I woke up I asked the Lord this meant, when the Lord said to me: “I have kindled a fire in Indonesia and it will burn along the coast of South America and even to the coast lands of North America, until it has accomplished its purpose!”

Many times and in various ways God has spoken to the prophets in the past. Their words and lives would then be for a sign and symbol to us, as can been seen by the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Here I am with the children the LORD has given me. The LORD Almighty, whose throne is on Mount Zion, has sent us as living messages to the people of Israel.” (Isa 8:18) GNB

The Sign of the Almond blossom...

On the 20th of June 2008, I stopped working as a procurement engineer, at a large company in South Africa. Full of the joy and excitement of the Lord I drove back home on the last day. I came to a crossroad; while I waited at the traffic light, I looked up into the heavens. Suddenly I saw a large sign in the sky, like the other signs in the heaven, which the Lord Jesus Christ had shown from the beginning, when He appeared to us during the first 3.5 years.

Or “Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.” (Isa 8:18) KJV

Then I asked the Lord: “What is it Lord?” Then the Lord answered me saying: “It is an Almond blossom, for I am about to fulfil My word!”

About the prophet Isaiah, God said: "My servant Isaiah has been going around naked and barefoot for three years. This is a sign of what will happen to Egypt and Ethiopia. (Isa 20:3) KJV

I was amazed at the sign which the Lord had shown me, but I did not know its significance or its purpose! I was immediately reminded of the word of the Lord to the prophet Jeremiah: “Jeremiah, what do you see?" a branch or a shoot of an Almond tree [the emblem of alertness and activity, blossoming in late winter]. Then the Lord said to me: “You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it! (Jer 1:11-12) AMP

About the prophet Ezekiel, God said: “In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which has escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.” (Eze 24:27) KJV Jesus was once asked for a sign as was written: “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."

I have been especially excited about the words: “..., I am alert and active, watching over My word to

-2-

Newsletter

“The Witness”

July 2008

But answering, He said to them: “An evil and adulterous [or, unfaithful] generation seeks a sign, and a sign will not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For just as 'Jonah was in the belly of the sea monster three days and three nights,' so will the Son of Humanity be in the heart [fig., depths] of the earth three days and three nights. [Jonah 1:17] (Mat 12:38) ALT

words, but also through their lives and actions. But Jesus Christ was not the replica, but the actual fulfilment of the promised Messiah, as was written

by Paul the apostle, saying: “All such things are only a shadow of things in the future; the reality is Christ. (Col 2:17) GNB Let us consider men of God who were signs and symbols, who would point us to Jesus Christ in both the old and the New Testament.

When the Jews wanted to kill Jesus He made His defence, proving that He is the Messiah and that He was the one who would be sent. This was His witness to the people, when He said: “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. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesses of me is true. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. 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. 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. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (Joh 5:30-39) KJV

Old Testament Joseph dreams

the

interpreter

of

Let’s

consider Joseph, who had dreams, which would only be fulfilled many years later. God spoke to Joseph in a dream and told Him that all His brothers would bow down to him one day, as was written: “One time Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him even more. He said, "Listen to the dream I had. We were all in the field tying up sheaves of wheat, when my sheaf got up and stood up straight. Yours formed a circle around mine and bowed down to it. Do you think you are going to be a king and rule over us?" his brothers asked. So they hated him even more because of his dreams and because of what he said about them.

(Gen 37:5-8) GNB When his brothers heard this they were angry at him. Later he had another dream, in which not only would his brothers bow down to him, but also his father and mother, as was written: “Then Joseph had another dream and told his brothers, "I had another dream, in which I saw the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowing down to me." He also told the dream to his father, and his father scolded him: "What kind of a dream is that? Do you think

All these men and women of God would point us to Jesus Christ. Not only did God speak through their

-3-

Newsletter

“The Witness”

July 2008

that your mother, your brothers, and I are going to come and bow down to you?" Joseph's brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept thinking about the whole matter. (Gen 37:9-8) GNB

year periods. The first 40 years was up to the failed attempt to deliver Israel. The next 40 years he was in the Arabian Desert tending sheep. The dream and vision which God had given him had to completely die. The last 40 years of his life he led his people out of Egypt and through the wilderness to the Promised Land. All these things were a type of those things which would be fulfilled in our days.

Not long after this Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, because they hated him and was jealous of the calling upon his life. It would take many years in Egypt, before this promise of God would fulfil. After Joseph interpreted both the butler and baker’s dreams, God opened a door for him to interpret the king’s dream, and helped save his own people from starvation. Thus, Joseph had to wait patiently for the vision, which God had given him to come to pass. What seemed to have died was brought back by God, only many years later.

Abraham God’s friend…

Even Abraham, the father of our faith, to whom the gospel was preached, had to be prepared by God for the calling that God had for him. When Abraham was 75 years old God promised Abram: “I will give you many descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will bless you and make your name famous, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, But I will curse those who curse you. And through you I will bless all the nations." (Gen 12:23) KJV

Moses the Lord’s deliverer

Moses’ birth was announced by the stars. Even the Egyptians knew that a deliverer was born in Israel.

Did you know that Moses knew he was the deliverer of Israel? Consider the word of Luke about Moses: “Now he was assuming his brothers [and sisters] to understand that God [was] giving deliverance to them through his hand, but they did not understand. (Act 7:25) ALT

Abram also had to first continue a journey of life with God, before that which God had promised him would come to pass. After Abram had given a 10th of all that he had to the King of Salem, Melchizedeck, God appeared to Abram again and re-confirmed His promise to Abram. Abram believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. It had been 10 years since God had made Abram a promise that He would bless him. Abraham became despondent, because Sarah his wife, had not bore him children yet, therefore he slept with Hagar and had a son.

Abraham was 86 years old when Ishmael was born.

At the old age of 99 years God appeared to Abram and confirmed a covenant with him, changing his name from Abram to Abraham. One year from that time, Sarah had the child of promise - Isaac. Thus Abraham failed at the call of God upon his life the first time through the son Ishmael after 11 years. It would take another 14 years before the promise of God came into fulfilment. Thus it took 24 years for the promise of God to come to pass. After Ishmael

Moses knew that God had called him to be the deliverer of Israel, but they did not recognise him. At the age of 40 years, he had to flee for his life. Moses fled to Median in the Arabian Desert, where he got married and became a shepherd. After 40 years of living in these circumstances, knowing that he was called by God, but had failed in his own human ability to save his people, God appeared to Moses in the sign of a burning bush and commissioned him to go and lead his people out of Egypt. Then, through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit and the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day, for the next 40 years, God led His people to the Promised Land. Moses’ life was divided into exactly three 40

-4-

Newsletter

“The Witness”

July 2008

became 13 years old, God tested Abraham to see if he would love God above all else, requesting Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son. And according to the writer of the book Hebrews: “Abraham was patient, and so he received what God had promised.

(Heb 6:15) GNB

Israel’s sins. His intercession would take 430 days, as he laid, first on his left side for 390 days and after that he laid on his right side for another 40 days.

Thus, he sat in astonishment, before the Lord for 7 days. God told Ezekiel that he will intercede for Israel’s sin, a day for a year – that is 430 years.

And

New Testament The Apostle Paul

“It was faith that made Abraham obey when God called him to go out to a country which God had promised to give him. He left his own country without knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as a foreigner in the country that God had promised him. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who received the same promise from God. For Abraham was waiting for the city which God has designed and built, the city with permanent foundations.” (Heb 11:8-10) GNB

Paul the apostle had a similar path which he had to walk with the Lord, before the calling on his life would come to fulfilment. On his way towards Damascus, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Him through a sign and a wonder as was written: “..., about noon, suddenly a great light out of heaven [or, the sky] flashed around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' "So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' (Act 22:6-8) ALT

“It was faith that made Abraham able to become a father, even though he was too old and Sarah herself could not have children. He trusted God to keep his promise. Though Abraham was practically dead, from this one man came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky, as many as the numberless grains of sand on the seashore.” (Heb 11:11-12) GNB

Later a devout Jew and believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, came and revealed the call upon Saul’s life, as Paul later explained in his witness, saying: “The God of our fathers hand-picked you beforehand to know His will and to see the Righteous [One] and to hear a voice from His mouth. For you will be His witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.” (Act 22:14-15) ALT

“It was faith that made Abraham offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice when God put Abraham to the test.

Abraham was the one to whom God had made the promise, yet he was ready to offer his only son as a sacrifice. God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that you will have the descendants I promised."

Abraham reckoned that God was able to raise Isaac from death---and, so to speak, Abraham did receive Isaac back from death.” (Heb 11:8-19) GNB

Immediately Paul started preaching and convincing the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. But soon Paul was hated and they wanted to kill him. Paul had to flee for his life. Only after many years did Barnabas find Paul and brought him to Antioch to help him with the church there. Paul was considered a teacher and a prophet. He was also among the prophets, when the Holy Spirit set him and Barnabas apart and commissioned him to fulfil that for which God had called him. For the rest of His life he would

Ezekiel the prophet

Consider the prophet Ezekiel, who was called 7 days before he was to start interceding for the nation of

-5-

Newsletter

“The Witness”

July 2008

(Luk 3:16-17) ALT; Speaking of another time when, Jesus will gather the wheat into His barn, but burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.

become a bond servant and apostle or sent messenger, of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Messenger of the LORD…

The

Then, according to the word of Malachi: “…will the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. (Mal 3:1-5) KJV

Prophet Malachi prophesied about another messenger that would come, as was written: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

It was prophesied that one would come to prepare the way before the LORD Jesus Christ. He, Jesus, would also be called the messenger of the covenant in His own blood.

According to the prophet, this messenger will like a swift witness against all those who do not fear God; All those who lived according to their sinful nature.

Then the prophet asked a question? “But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” And so John the Baptist came, proclaiming a baptism of repentance and said to all those religious leaders that they must bear fruit which prove their repentance, as was written: “But also the axe is already laid to the root of the trees.

Therefore, every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into fire.” (Luk 3:9) ALT

Later however, the prophet describes this messenger: “Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: “And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Mal 4:4-6) KJV He, the messenger of the Lord, will turn the hearts of men back to God. He will be like a refiner of hearts and like a washer’s soap. He will wash those who are willing to repent, but will be refiner’s fire to those who refuse to repent. It will be in those days like it was said by Jesus Christ: "Did you never read in the Scriptures, 'A stone which the ones building rejected, this [one] has become [the] head of a corner; this happened from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes?' [Psalm 118:22,23]

John the Baptist also prophesied about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the coming age saying: “I indeed baptize you in water [or, with water] [One] mightier than I is coming, of whom I am not worthy to loose the strap of His sandals, He will baptize you in [or, with] [the] Holy Spirit and fire; whose winnowing shovel [is] in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor and will gather the wheat into His barn, but He will burn the chaff in unquenchable fire!”

And

-6-

Newsletter

“The Witness”

July 2008

“For this reason I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and will be given to a nation [or, people] yielding its fruits. "And the one falling on this stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it falls, it will crush him." (Mat 21:42-44) ALT

prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more [than] a prophet. "For this is [he] concerning whom it has been written, 'Look! I am sending My messenger before Your face [fig., ahead of You], who will prepare Your way before You.' [Mal 3:1] (Mat 11:9-10)

And as Paul, opened to us through Holy Spirit, by the prophet David, said: “Let their table become for a snare and for a trap and for a stumbling-block [or, offense] and for a recompense [or, retribution] to them. “Let their eyes be darkened not to be seeing, and their back be bent down through all [fig. continually]." [Psalm 69:22,23] (Rom 11:9)

But then Jesus prophesied and said: "And if you are willing to receive [it], he is Elijah, the one about to be coming.” (Mat 11:14) KJV Thus, once more, another messenger would come to prepare the way before the Lord Jesus Christ, and the revelations that would follow soon after this.

Therefore, God will send His messenger to be like a winnowing fork and that will winnow the Lord’s threshing floor before He comes to take away His bride.

Jesus the Light of the World…

When

we hear the words of the Lord Jesus Christ saying: “I am the Light of the world!” We do not always realize the symbolism, which He used to illustrate that He was the one who was to come as Moses had prophesied: “I will send them a prophet like you from among their own people.”

Jesus’ disciples once questioned Him about this prophecy of Elijah, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that it is necessary [for] Elijah to come first?"

Then answering, Jesus said to them, "Elijah is indeed coming first, and he will restore all things. But I say to you, Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him (Mat 17:10-12) ALT

Jesus was referring to the Menorah – The lampstand, standing in the holy place or inner court when He said: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (Joh 8:12) KJV

Thus, Elijah was sent to restore all things and to prepare the way before the Lord. It has always been assumed that John the Baptist was that light that would come to prepare the way before the Messiah, but Jesus once remarked about John the Baptist, saying: “But what did you go out to see? A

The Pharisees accused Him, saying that He can not bear witness of Himself, as was written: “Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.

-7-

Newsletter

“The Witness”

July 2008

Jesus answered and said unto them: “though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. (Joh 8:12-18) KJV

“Because in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead [or, Deity] bodily, and you have been made full [or, have been completed] in Him, who is the Head of every rule and authority,…” (Col 2:9-10) ALT The Menorah…

Moses was once told by God to make a lampstand.

He had to make it exactly according to the pattern which God had shown him on the mountain of the Sinai. God had shown Moses His plan of salvation and prophesied about those things, which would be revealed at the end of time.

Jesus Christ said that He is the lamp unto the world, which was a witness of those things which God had prophesied through all the prophets who came before Him.

"Make a lampstand of pure gold. Make its base and its shaft of hammered gold; its decorative flowers, including buds and petals, are to form one piece with it. Six branches shall extend from its sides, three from each side. Each of the six branches is to have three decorative flowers shaped like almond blossoms with buds and petals. The shaft of the lampstand is to have four decorative flowers shaped like almond blossoms with buds and petals. There is to be one bud below each of the three pairs of branches. The buds, the branches, and the lampstand are to be a single piece of pure hammered gold. Make seven lamps for the lampstand and set them up so that they shine toward the front. Make its tongs and trays of pure gold. Use seventy-five pounds of pure gold to make the lampstand and all this equipment. Take care to make them according to the plan that I showed you on the mountain. (Exo 25:31-40)

Later Jesus expounded on this same manner, saying: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.” (Joh 10:7-8) KJV Thus, all apostles and prophet who came before Jesus Christ were like thieves and robbers, only stealing from that which belongs to Christ. They were also only thieves and robbers compared to the fullness of the revelation which came in Jesus – The Anointed One, as Paul the Apostle said: “…, and [attaining] to all [the] riches [fig., abundance] of the full assurance of understanding, to the full [or, true] knowledge of the secret of both God the Father and of Christ, whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col 2:2-3) ALT

Thus, the Menorah is God’s hidden plan of salvation and witness of to the fulfilment of the ages. Thus, the Menorah would prophecy and open up the mystery

And

-8-

Newsletter

“The Witness”

July 2008

of God from Adam, through all the prophets and apostles, until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

from among your own people, and you are to obey him.

According to the prophecy 7 bright and shining lamps would come. They would stand before the God of all the earth and witness of His Glory and those things which would follow. Out of each of the seven pipes of the Menorah seven lamps would come forth. Each of these lampstands would come out of an Almond blossom.

And so the LORD said to Moses: 'They have made a wise request. I will send them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will tell him what to say, and he will tell the people everything I command. (Deu 18:15-18) Now, once more, just before the coming of Jesus Christ - the Anointed one, God will reveal another golden pipe, coming from an almond blossom in the Menorah…

Thus, each of these Almond blossoms would be the exact fulfilment of all the prophecies as was revealed by all the apostles and prophets. All the Lord’s apostles and prophets referred to Jesus Christ.

May God open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf. May God bless you as you help bring in the great harvest, right at the end of time!

Thus, the lamp in the middle of the Menorah refers to Jesus Christ, who is the actual fulfilment of the 4th pipe; coming out of the fourth Almond blossom, when the fullness of time came for God’s mystery to be revealed.

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.

(Rev 22:17) KJV

I am about to fulfill My Word…

So in the same way Moses also prophesied saying: “Instead, he will send you a prophet like me

From the Director: “The Witness”

-9-