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The purpose of this screen is to identify strong companies with stocks that may have already, or very soon will be, bottoming. Of course, depending on your view, these may also be short-sale candidates given they are bouncing around their 52-week lows.
This screen looks for stocks with at least $300 million in market capitalization, average daily volume > 100,000 shares, strong short-term asset positions (quick ratio greater than three), price within 10% of the 52-week low and price greater than $5. In addition, to filter out stocks that are being targeted by short sellers, these have low open short interest of the available float.
The most recent run of this screen yielded four stocks, all of which are in the semi-conductor industry. These stocks are a bit off the beaten path of Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), AMD (NASDAQ:AMD) and Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM), yet could still offer some good value.
Some quick research shows that the only thing driving these stocks down is the combination of a normal industry cycle and a secular shift away from PCs to mobile computing devices. These four stocks have some of their business tied to PCs but other parts that have nothing to do with PCs. Included with each company profile is their business description from finance.yahoo.com, which shows the diversity of their portfolios.
What is most interesting is that even with these bearish drivers, these four stocks have relatively small open short positions. The low open short positions might be indicating that the shorts are not expecting much further downside, if any.
(NASDAQ:ALTR) Altera has a very healthy quick ratio of 5.8 with $9.34 of cash on hand. Trading around $31 a share, this is almost 30% of the total value in cash. The open short position was just 1.7% as of November 15. ALTR pays a dividend with a current 1.2% yield. The average analyst target is $35.91, or a 16% upside. The trailing p/e is 17.3, only slightly below the industry p/e of 18.
Altera Corporation, a semiconductor company, designs, manufactures and markets programmable logic devices, HardCopy application-specific integrated circuit devices, pre-defined design building blocks, and associated development tools. The company's PLDs consist of field-programmable gate arrays and complex programmable logic devices, which are standard semiconductor integrated circuits or chips to perform desired logic functions in the electronic systems; and HardCopy structured ASIC devices that comprise transition customer designs from high-density FPGAs to low-cost non-programmable implementations for volume production. Its products primarily include Stratix series high-end, system-level FPGAs; Arria series mid-range transceiver and embedded processor equipped FPGAs; Cyclone series low-cost transceiver and embedded processor equipped FPGAs; MAX series CPLDs; and HardCopy ASICs. The company's products also comprise intellectual property cores in hard and soft forms that are pre-verified building blocks that execute system-level functions; and development tools consisting primarily of the Quartus II software for design entry, design compilation, design verification, and device programming. It serves customers primarily in the telecom and wireless, industrial automation, military and automotive, networking, and computer and storage markets. The company markets its products in the Americas, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Japan through a network of distributors, independent sales representatives, and direct sales personnel. - from yahoo.finance.com.
(NASDAQ:NVDA) NVIDIA has a solid 4.0 quick ratio with $5.50 in cash per share on hand. Trading around $12 per share, this makes 46% of the price straight cash. NVIDIA pays a 2.5% dividend. The open short position was 2.8% as of November 15. The average analyst target is $15.81 gives this stock a potential 32% upside. NVIDIA's trailing p/e is 14.9 vs. the industry p/e of 18, provides a possible 21% upside. By either calculation, this stock has room to run.
NVIDIA Corporation provides graphics chips for use in smartphones, personal computers, tablets, and professional workstations markets worldwide. It operates in three segments: Graphic Processing Unit, Professional Solutions Business, and Consumer Products Business. The GPU segment offers GeForce discrete graphics and chipset products, which support desktop and notebook PC's, as well as sells flash memory products. The PSB segment provides Quadro professional workstation products and Tesla high-performance computing products to deliver high graphics performance and application compatibility for professionals in the manufacturing, entertainment, medical, science, and aerospace industries. The CPB segment offers Tegra system-on-chip products for smartphones, tablets, automotive infotainment systems, and other similar devices; and Icera baseband processors and radio frequency transceivers for mobile connectivity. This segment also licenses video game consoles and other digital consumer electronics devices. The company sells its products to original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers, add-in-card and motherboard manufacturers, system builders, and consumer electronics companies. - from yahoo.finance.com.
(NASDAQ:QLGC) QLogic has a very strong 7.8 quick ratio with $5.22 in cash per share on hand. Trading around $9 per share, this means a whopping 58% of the price is straight cash. The open short position was the highest of this list at 5.4% as of November 15. The average analyst target of $10.33 gives this stock a potential 15% upside. QLogic's trailing p/e is 4.5 vs. the industry p/e of 18, suggesting a significant possible upside.
QLogic Corporation designs and supplies network infrastructure products that provide, enhance, and manage computer data communication. It designs and develops application-specific integrated circuits, adapters, and switches based on fiber channel, Internet small computer systems interface, Fiber Channel over Ethernet, and Ethernet technologies. The company offers host products, including fiber channel adapters; iSCSI adapters; FCOE converged network adapters; and 10Gb Ethernet adapters. It also provides network products, such as blade, edge, and high-port count modular-chassis fiber channel switches; fiber channel virtualized pass-through modules; universal access point switches; enhanced Ethernet pass-through modules; and storage routers. In addition, the company offers silicon products comprising fiber channel controllers, iSCSI controllers, converged network controllers, Ethernet controllers, converged switch controllers, and converged LAN on motherboard controllers. Its products are used primarily in server and storage subsystem solutions that are used by small, medium, and large enterprises with business data requirements. The company sells its products primarily to the original equipment manufacturers and distributors worldwide. - from yahoo.finance.com.
(NASDAQ:VLTR) Volterra has a whopping 10.6 quick ratio with $5.70 in cash per share on hand. Trading around $17 per share, this means 34% of the price is cash. The open short position was the highest of this list at 3.4% as of November 15. The average analyst target of $23.88 gives this stock a potential 40% upside.
Volterra Semiconductor Corporation engages in the design, development, and marketing of analog and mixed-signal power management semiconductors for computing, storage, networking, and consumer markets. Its products include integrated voltage regulator semiconductors, integrated power protection and distribution semiconductors, and scalable voltage regulator semiconductor chipsets that transform, regulate, deliver, and monitor the power consumed by digital semiconductors. The company sells its products primarily to original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers, contract equipment manufacturers, and merchant power supply manufacturers directly through its internal sales force, as well as indirectly through distributors and outsourced suppliers. It has operations in the United States, China, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, and Germany. - from yahoo.finance.com.
Use this list as a starting point for your own research.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Disclaimer: I am not a registered investment advisor and do not provide specific investment advice. The information contained herein is only my opinion based on personal research and offered for informational purposes. Nothing in this article should be taken as a solicitation to purchase or sell securities. Before buying or selling any equity, do your own research and reach your own conclusion. Investing includes risks, including loss of principal.


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The digestive system is a group of organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus. It is also called the alimentary canal and the gastrointestinal tract.
Digestive System Diagram | Mouth, Stomach, Small Intestine | How It Works
The major parts of that tube are:
Mouth – Esophagus – Stomach – Small intestine – Duodenum
Jejunum – Ileum – Large intestine (also called the colon) – Cecum
Ascending colon – Transverse colon – Descending colon
Sigmoid colon – Rectum
The large, hollow organs of the digestive system contain muscle that enables their walls to move. The movement of organ walls can propel food and liquid and also can mix the contents within each organ. Typical movement of the esophagus, stomach and intestine is called peristalsis.
Digestive System Function : Inside this tube is a lining called the mucosa which contains tiny glands that produce juices to help digest our food.
Other organs that aren't part of the tube – the liver, gallbladder and the pancreas – produce and store digestive juices that are used in the intestine. In addition, parts of other organ systems (for instance, nerves and blood) play a role in the intestinal tract.
After we swallow, food enters the esophagus. At the end of the esophagus, a ring-like valve opens, to let food enter the stomach.
The stomach stores the food and liquid, mixes it with digestive juices, and then empties its contents slowly into the small intestine. Food is further digested in the small intestine, where nutrients from the food are absorbed through the intestinal walls. Digestion continues in the large intestine or colon. The waste products of this process then remain in the colon, usually for a day or two, until the feces are expelled by a bowel movement.
Carbohydrates: Digestible carbohydrates
Protein: Foods such as meat, eggs, and beans consist of giant molecules of protein that must be digested by enzymes before they can be used to build and repair body tissues. An enzyme in the juice of the stomach starts the digestion of swallowed protein. Then in the small intestine, several enzymes from the pancreatic juice and the lining of the intestine complete the breakdown of huge protein molecules into small molecules called amino acids. These small molecules can be absorbed through the small intestine into the blood and then be carried to all parts of the body to build the walls and other parts of cells.
Learn about digestion and Glucose Levels….Digesting Starch and Sugars
Fats: Fat molecules are a rich source of energy for the body. The first step in digestion
of a fat such as butter is to dissolve it into the watery content of the intestine. The bile acids produced by the liver dissolve fat into tiny droplets and allow pancreatic and intestinal enzymes to break the large fat molecules into smaller ones. Some of these small molecules are fatty acids and cholesterol. The bile acids combine with the fatty acids and cholesterol and help these molecules move into the cells of the mucosa. In these cells the small molecules are formed back into large ones, most of which pass into vessels called lymphatics near the intestine. These small vessels carry the reformed fat to the veins of the chest, and the blood carries the fat to storage depots in different parts of the body.
Vitamins: Another vital part of food that is absorbed through the small intestine are vitamins. The two types of vitamins are classified by the fluid in which they can be dissolved: water-soluble vitamins (all the B vitamins and vitamin C) and fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K). Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and fatty tissue of the body, whereas water-soluble vitamins are not easily stored and excess amounts are flushed out in the urine.
Water and salt. Most of the material absorbed through the small intestine is water in which salt is dissolved. The salt and water come from the food and liquid you swallow and the juices secreted by the many digestive glands.
What Is The Digestive System-Weight Loss Diet Tips 4 Life!

subset: commoncrawl


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Before a courtroom packed Wednesday with attorneys and company officials, Utah-based Myriad Genetics again defended its patents related to genes linked to breast and ovarian cancer from a new assault by two competitors hoping to move in on its lucrative area of genetic testing.
A bit less than three months after a U.S. Supreme Court decision invalidated several parts of Myriad patents related to the so-called BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, Myriad was back in a federal courtroom asking a judge to prohibit two competitors from offering diagnostic DNA tests that detect mutations related to a high probability of contracting hereditary breast and ovarian cancers.
Myriad Genetics sued Ambry Genetics of California and Texas-based Gene by Gene in July after the two announced immediately following the Supreme Court decision that they would offer competing diagnostic tests.
Myriad is asking U.S. District Court Judge Robert Shelby to issue an injunction requiring the companies to immediately halt their testing programs because they infringe on parts of Myriad's patents not invalidated by the June ruling from the Supreme Court.
But the two competitors argue that Myriad's tests rely on genetic material that is not eligible to be patented under that decision and that their tests are based on new knowledge, methods and technologies not available when Myriad received its patents nearly 20 years ago.
David Mangum of Salt Lake City, the lead attorney for Myriad, said Ambry and Gene by Gene tests were dependent on a synthetic genetic material called a primer on which Myriad still holds patents. Under the Supreme Court decision, Myriad's primers are eligible for patents because they are not performing natural functions, he said.
"They perform an entirely different function … that does not occur in nature," Mangum said.
But William G. Gaede III, a California attorney who represents Ambry and Gene by Gene, said Myriad's primers contained a sequence of natural genetic material, making them ineligible to receive patent protection under the Supreme Court decision that said DNA isolated from the body is still a natural substance and cannot be patented.
"It didn't mean you take a product of nature out of a product of nature and make it patent eligible," he said.
He also argued that Ambry's tests take in the whole human genome and not just the segment where the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes occur. Myriad's test, on the other hand, looks only at those sequences and uses discoveries made long before the entire human genome was published, Gaede said.
"They could not compare the whole genetic sequence because the whole sequence didn't exist when the patent was filed," he said.
But Mangum argued that court cases have recognized that pieces of natural objects used as part of something that is different and inventive can receive patents. He pointed to the Supreme Court's Myriad decision where the justices said cDNA, actual DNA that has been changed or manipulated in the laboratory so it is not in its natural state, can be patented.
That means Myriad's primer using a DNA sequence for a purpose other than what it did in nature is eligible for a patent, Mangum said.
The case is in some ways a replay of portions of the one that went before the Supreme Court. In that case, Myriad was sued by the American Civil Liberties Union and Public Patent Foundation on behalf of patients, researchers, medical groups and women's health advocates who argued Myriad couldn't patent the genes related to breast and ovarian cancer because they are products of nature.
Gaede tried to push some of the same emotional buttons of that case when he mentioned how women's BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are what Myriad wants to control.
"They lay claim to the gene itself," he said.
The hearing could last through Thursday. Shelby said no decision would be forthcoming until the sides have a chance to file additional materials and then make final arguments in a second hearing.
Twitter: @TomHarveySltrib


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§13-1-20. Imposition and collection of tax to pay bonds and interest.
It shall be the duty of the governing body of any political division, at or before the time of issuing bonds under this article, to provide for the imposition and collection annually of a tax, in excess of all other taxes, on all property subject to taxation by the political division under the constitution and laws of this state, sufficient in amount to pay annually the interest on such debt and the principal thereof falling due in each year, such tax to be levied and collected by the same officers, at the same time and in the same manner as the general taxes of the political division. Should any political division neglect or fail for any reason to impose or collect such tax for the payment of the principal or interest of any bonded indebtedness incurred under this article, any person in interest or the state tax commissioner may enforce the imposition and collection thereof in any court having jurisdiction of the subject matter, and any suit, action or proceeding brought for such purpose shall be heard and disposed of with reasonable dispatch.


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Eels - Electro-shock Blues
or better or worse, we here at Stylus, in all of our autocratic consumer-crit greed, are slaves to timeliness. A record over six months old is often discarded, deemed too old for publication, a relic in the internet age. That's why each week at Stylus, one writer takes a look at an album with the benefit of time. Whether it has been unjustly ignored, unfairly lauded, or misunderstood in some fundamental way, we aim with On Second Thought to provide a fresh look at albums that need it.
"Suicide, cancer, heart attacks… death is the greatest American taboo since sex"
Mark "E" Everett
And so the tone is set via a pull-quote (NB: pull-quotes shall be my "thing" for this piece) that appears even more powerful than I could ever have imagined when centred, formatted and correctly credited to the main man of US post-grunge rockers, Eels. And if society was telling E to internalise the grief, pain and anguish caused by the recent loss of several family members (and close friends), then he clearly wasn't listening.
Eels' second album, Electro-shock Blues, deals almost exclusively with mortality and its wider implications on those Death leaves behind. Ever since 1992's debut solo effort, A Man Called E, Mark Everett has shown little interest (and occasionally contempt) for the opinions of American society, so it's little surprise that here too, he expects devoted silence and complete attention while he says what he has to say.
More surprising though, is that quite far removed from the debut Eels record, Beautiful Freak, Mark Everett does not wish to bemoan his misfortunes alone. Often criticised for the introverted, singular, and chronically adolescent nature of his songs, E shrewdly responds by sacking his band and hiring his (dead) family. With poetry in the sleeve from his grandmother (deceased), drawings by his father (found dead by a 19 year old E), and lyrics based on the writings of his sister (committed suicide on the eve of the Beautiful Freak launch), this record is arguably the most dysfunctional family affair since The Sopranos.
Now the only living member of his family (Everett's mother died of lung cancer during the writing process for Electro-shock Blues), E made a conscious decision not to shy away from his bereavement, because anything else would just have been "fake".
Mark "E" Everett
More specifically, album opener "Elizabeth On The Bathroom Floor" sounds like that exact phone call. Stark, skeletal, fragmentary—E wastes no time in adopting the persona of his sister, deep in depression: "My name's Elizabeth / My life is shit and piss". Coming at the end of the song, one would expect such a charming couplet to act as the rug-being-pulled-from-under-the-listener's feet, right? Wrong. Track two is entitled "Going To Your Funeral (Part I)", and E is burying the sister we only just met.
From here on in the album is a journey in two very distinct parts, a concept album to those who don't know its background, and a heartfelt telling of a tragic story to everybody else. Part One of the album offers decay, death, hopelessness and despair. While this may not sound all that appealing, E spends much of "Cancer For The Cure" straddling his Wurlitzer, striving to regain control of its mad-dog tendencies, before sitting down with a beer and an electric guitar to deliver his most adolescent lyric yet: "You think I got it all going my way / Then why am I such a fucking mess?" on "3 Speed".
Sure, much of Electro-shock Blues utilises the timeworn, woe-is-me outlook that so many alt. rock acts have done to death, but the very nature of such a bad pun seems finally to make this stance justified. And just as Everett wins approval for his complaints, he shape-shifts again: Part Two (marked by the summery, awakening vibe of "Going To Your Funeral Part II") is the sound of E, undeniably and unequivocally growing up.
The lead single from the album, "Last Stop: This Town", is the sound of a man rebuilding his life, reaching the crossroads that the character in the song's accompanying cartoon does, and moving on down the right path. He's coming to terms with loss "You're dead, but the world keeps spinning", and how better to do this than to rock out? Just like the old days.
However, the second half of Electro-shock Blues is largely acoustic, and as such lends itself to much-needed, and mostly optimistic reflection. "Climbing To The Moon" epitomises this, and delivers the most moving, spine-tingling chords of the set. Butch (now drummer with Tracy Chapman) was the only other musician regularly employed on the album, and here he shakes his tambourine in sympathy, and while it may not sound it, it is very special indeed.
"The Medication Is Wearing Off" delivers an antidote to Beautiful Freak's "Novocaine For The Soul", before E makes the final, decisive move to step out of his front door and go into town again. He documents the experience in "P.S. You Rock My World", which is all sweeping strings and observations. E confronts death, as he has for the last three-quarters of an hour, in the most direct and undiluted way, and concludes dryly "Maybe it's time to live". And thankfully, it is.
Electro-shock Blues is an album that reeks of classic on all levels: scene is set, tone established, problem arisen, grappled, fought (nearly lost) and eventually— joyously—overcome. Sequencing isn't everything of course, but it's made all the more powerful by the strength of the material within. I'm not the only one who noticed, not by a long shot:
Dom Passantino, Stylus Magazine
And who can argue with that?
By: Colin Cooper
Published on: 2004-03-30
Comments (0)


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LeAnn Rimes Has Lost Her Damn Mind
At least she looks better with the implants. She use to be in th IBTC. (Itty Bitty Titty Committe). I'm not a fan of this skank at all. I hope Edie Cibrian gives her the Herp
Yes,the implants look good. If Eddie's ex would have been taking care of him,
in the bedroom,he wouldn't have left.Pays you women for using sex as a weapon.


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By: Sydnee C. Winston, Project Coordinator
NWHM was looking fierce on Thursday night as it and Bloomingdale's held an exclusive fashion presentation of the Tory Burch Spring Collection at the store's Friendship Heights location. Tory Burch and Bloomingdale's will donate 10% of proceeds from the sales of the evening to the National Women's History Museum. Check out these photos from the event:


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He sits in the next cubicle and downloads pornography. This grosses his co-worker out but the co-worker still has to work with him because the co-worker can't risk blowing the whistle on him to the good old boy manager.
The IT manager lets management know two top performing sales agents visit sexually explicit websites on the lunch hour...and wants to know how management wants to handle the situation.
He's a senior executive and the company can't afford to lose him, but his marriage is on the rocks. The administrative assistant tells management she won't touch his computer when asked to retrieve a document off his desktop because the last time she did she found pornography.
According to a recent Nielson study, 21 million Americans or 29 percent of working adults admit accessing adult websites on work computers. Further, 70 percent of all online pornography access occurs between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Two out of three of 500 surveyed Human Resources professionals report they've found pornography on their employees' computers.
What does this mean for managers and employees?
Any manager, who – like most -- allows employees to use the company's Internet access, takes multiple risks they need to realize and protect against.
If a company employs those who view pornography, it creates a legal liability by allowing an offensive, sexually hostile work environment. Not only does the pornography itself create problems, but those who download it desensitize themselves in ways that may lead them to sexually harass others or violate other workplace boundaries.
In addition to legal problems, pornography erodes productivity and can destroy co-worker morale. Further, those accessing pornography sites risk letting viruses into the company's network which can cause major damage. Additionally, improper end-user online behavior that involves the company domain name when the user connects online tarnishes the company's image.
Do these risks mean managers need to monitor what their employees do with their Internet access? Perhaps – if managers can't assure themselves they supervise only those with no potential interest in pornography.
Does monitoring invade employees' privacy? No; employees don't have the right to use company equipment for activities other than what they're paid to do – though employers do need to create clear policies that let employees know they plan to monitor.
How? Use blocking software that identifies and blocks inappropriate or sexually explicit Web sites. This also helps inadvertent pornography viewers who simply downloaded a song or video, only to find it added accompanying malicious software that linked the user's home page to pornography sites.
What if an employee sees a co-worker accessing pornography? The employee can immediately protest. Worried management may "kill the messenger"? The employee is protected from discipline or termination. Those who view pornography expose others to unwanted sexuality – which constitutes harassment. If an employee protests this, they're protected against retaliation.
Finally, in the third situation above, the manager should ask the HR officer to investigate the senior executive's computer to protect the work environment for the administrative assistant and others. The Court in the landmark Doe v. XYZ Corp lawsuit held that employers who fail to take appropriate action when learning employees use company computers to access pornography may be liable to non-employees injured by the misconduct.
Think pornography viewing couldn't happen in a company? With 70 percent of all online pornography access occurring between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., the company may simply not know.
About Lynne Curry, Ph.d., SPHR
Lynne Curry, Ph.D., SPHR and owner of the Alaska-based management consulting firm, The Growth Company Inc. consults with companies and individuals to create real solutions to real workplace challenges. Their services include HR On-call (a-la-carte HR), investigations, mediation, management/employee training, executive coaching, 360/employee reviews and organizational strategy services. You can reach Lynne @ www.thegrowthcompany.com, via her workplace 911/411 blog, www.workplacecoachblog.com or @lynnecurry10 on twitter.
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Great article but don't forget about pornography distributed via company email. Most organisations already deploy web filtering software but few deploy email filters with pornographic image recognition (typically an additional add-on module) . In many ways email carries a higher risk as it is a communication platform that can be used to distribute inappropriate content.


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Mark 13 and Luke 21
For discussion of this subject please join us in the forum by clicking here.
As with most of the subjects in this website, this page is not intended to convey any pretense of authority, but rather provide seed for further study.
Now that it would seem we are in Daniel's "time of the end" and the Lord has removed the seal from the book of Daniel, as those such as Isaac Newton and Matthew Henry so excitedly foresaw for our times, our understanding of the rest of Bible prophecy has been clarified as was never possible prior to the restoration of the Jews to their covenant land. Blessedly we have what would seem considerable mathematical confirmation of the exegesis that follows.
The Olivet Discourse is one of the more important passages in scripture, and one's eschatology may succeed or fail, in the light of this section of scripture. This passage would seem Jesus' encapsulation of the Christian era. All churches teach the Gospel. Let's pray that the Holy Ghost will lead us to carefully consider, and teach the truth of, God's Holy Word.
Matthew 24:1 (KJV) And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to [him] for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
Matthew 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
The book of Luke also details that "these things" are "goodly stones and gifts".
And in Mark "manner of stones and what buildings [are here]".
Just as Jesus prophesied, the temple was thrown down - every stone - in 70 AD, and the rubble remains to this day as the photo details.
"Excavated stones from the Wall of the 2nd Temple (Jerusalem), knocked onto the street below by Roman battering rams in on the 9th of Av, 70 C.E." (Wikimedia Commons)
Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Here Jesus was asked about 3 separate things by Peter, James, John and Andrew, who were listed in Mark. When shall the things be, what the sign of Christ's return would be, and of the end of the world.
Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Matthew 24:8 All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.
And indeed war came and the temple was torn down and a million Jews were killed. The Christians were given warning by the Church, and perhaps to some extent by the "rumor of war" within the Church through prophecy, which allowed Christians a timely escape from the Roman swords. The Church later went on to thrive and grow in Jerusalem under Roman rule, in spite of, or perhaps because of, horrific persecution. Regarding the Christians being saved, this is the opposite of "desolate", since they were left unharmed in 70 AD.
The Coptic Church was, however, later desolated by Islam. Even their most impressive cathedral in Turkey, stands as an Islamic Mosque today. This Islamization of church buildings is desolation in the Lord's eyes as per Strong's definitions: 1b3a) of a flock deserted by the shepherd. It may be that the disciples were told not to be "troubled" in verse 6, in part, because the Lord was to save the Christians out of the conflagration of 70 AD. But since "to die is gain" to a Christian, that they were physically saved is unimportant, except as they could go forward to minister to the lost of the world.
Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
And indeed this was the fate of these apostles and so many Christians as well as Jews, thereafter.
Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Consider the offense of a few, that results in the removal of references to God from our public places, and hatred of Christians expressed by such, that we have witnessed increasingly during the times we live in.
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
There has been no shortage of these throughout the Christian era, the most significant one being Muhammad, still going strong after 1400 years, and claiming another 1.5 billion souls in the world as I write. Compelled to deny the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and the blood that would save them, as an article of their faith in the false prophet Muhammad.
Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Verse 14 ends in reference to the end of the world, which concludes this first section of this passage, and answer to the question of "when shall these things be?". The answer being, after the laundry list that followed, had been accomplished. Regarding the gospel being preached, read Bruce Olson's "Bruchko" and Don Richardson's "Peace Child" and "Lords of the Earth" for thrilling modern day accounts of witnessing to the nations.
Verse 14 forms the transition from the historical and chronological section and answer to "when shall these things be" and verse 15 moves on to the subject of the sign "what [shall be] the sign of thy coming" and "end of the world" asked about in verse 3. The desolation of Jerusalem may have begun in 70 AD, when it was quite physically desolated and over a million Jews were killed, but the church went on to thrive and grow. However the Islamic conquest of Jerusalem in 639 AD resulted in spiritual desolation, as well as a profoundly more physical desolation that, by the early 1800s was virtually total.
The following "abomination of desolation" verses in the books of Matthew and Mark, are about an entire subject, in and of itself. They are about the sign. In Matthew and Mark we are prevented from plowing right on through our study by being cautioned "whoso readeth, let him understand". It also gives us a specific prophet to study, so we should have a good understanding of Daniel's 1290 "days" and 1335 days, related to the abomination of desolation, and perhaps Daniel's 70 "weeks" for confirmation, before we can presume to understand these verses in Matthew and Mark.
THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION IN MATTHEW IS ABOUT WHAT, and we see it is a thing that we can expect to stand in the holy place:
Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains
The term "mountains" can be a metaphor for nations as per Jeremiah 51:25. Calculating Daniel's 1290 days, mathematically, using the day=year language of prophecy, we find God's symbol in prophecy for the "end of the world" is the Dome of the Rock. Christians and Jews cannot deny that it is an "abomination" that was "set up" (beginning in 688) and "stands" "in" the "holy place". Over the course of 1200 years Islamization spiritually desolated Jerusalem. It left Israel a physically desolated and denuded barren desert/swamp wasteland by the 1800's.
"A History of the Jews" - Paul Johnson - page 321: "Between 1827 and 1839, largely through British efforts, the population of Jerusalem rose from 550 to 5,500 and in all Palestine it topped 10,000 - the real beginning of the Jewish return to the Promised Land. In 1838 Palmerston appointed the first western vice-consul in Jerusalem, W.T. Young, and told him 'to afford protection to the Jews generally'."
The seat of the LBL beast of the Middle East is nearly entirely Islamic today. Here is a map of the spiritual condition of the area.
The Dome of the Rock blasphemes God's name by changing Yahweh, or the I AM, to Allah. The founding inscription and mosaic writing that encompass the building both inside and out have blasphemed God the Most High, with the repeated theme that God has no Son. For over 1300 years this symbol has stood representing antichrist Islam, and perfectly fits Strong's definitions of the terms used in the description of the abomination of desolation. The most important fundamental in Islam is "shirk" - that God has no Son. This is specifically "that spirit of antichrist. Islam, from the year 639 when their armies surrounded Jerusalem during the first Jihad, unto today in this second Jihad, is in the center of the subject of the "end of the world", the description of which begins after verse 14 above. Islam has been at war against the non-Islamic world, and has butchered, Christians and Jews - the "people of the book" - from Muhammad's day unto today.
The Dome of the Rock was "set up", near where the temple was torn down.
Daniel 12:11 And from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, [there shall be] a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
(Tanach) - Daniel 12:11 And from the time the daily sacrifice was removed and the silent abomination placed, is one thousand, two hundred, and ninety.
The Dome of the Rock was built in the temple "Court of the Gentiles" that the Lord instructed to "measure it not" because He gave it unto the Gentiles.
Revelation 11:2: But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months.
It was 42 prophetic months, employing the language of "each day for a year", from 688 to 1967 when the Israeli's regained control of Jerusalem from the Gentiles. Islam is center stage again today, through the second Jihad, in the image of the first Jihad.
It is important for everyone to get familiar with The History of Mecca.
On this link are videos of Muslims who have come to know the love of God.
THE PARALLEL VERSE IN MARK EMBELLISHES ON WHERE, and we see it stands "where it ought not":
Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
Christians and Jews cannot deny that the Dome of the Rock is an "abomination" that was "set up" (beginning in 688) and "stands" "in" the "holy place". How is the Dome of the Rock standing where "it ought not"? All of Islamic history and worship is centered around Mecca, while the blasphemy of the Dome of the Rock stands on the temple mount, in Jerusalem the Holy City, that has little to no historical significance in Islam (in fact only through ancient politics), but is the center of historical significance for Christianity and Judaism. That abomination stands where it ought not, in the holy place. Indeed the holy place - the Temple Mount - God's footstool - is maintained in a state of desolation today with Muslim prohibition of prayer, and "holy objects" such as Bibles may not be brought in by visitors to the temple mount.
For my Muslim could-become brothers and sisters please watch a few of these video testimonies by Muslims that have come to know the love of God.
Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
Jerusalem was surrounded by armies on many occasions before 70 AD, and on many occasions after, including 132 (wherein another 750,000 Jews were killed), 639, 1099, 1187, 1948, 1967 and indeed even as I write. Jerusalem was invaded by the Muslims in 639 AD during the Islamic First Jihad. It is a part of "holy" Jihad to kill or enslave men and women, and to force women and girls into sexual slavery in Arab harems. There are fates that are worse than death. Even today Wally Shobat, a former PLO terrorist - now Christian evangelist - was taught in his terrorist training that this is still valid today. Indeed his being taught that the rape of women during Jihad, is an act sanctioned by the god of Islam, was one of the things that led him to Christ.
If the Lord's interest were about the physical realm, then the events of 70 AD would make an interesting candidate with the sacking of Jerusalem. The slaughter of a generation (whether physical or metaphorical) of Jews numbering perhaps one million was certainly significant, but Jesus had declared almost 40 years earlier: "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.", as we learn in Matthew 23. This verse likely referring to the temple, as well as most everything about the Pharisee nullifying the truth of God's Holy Word through their traditions. How could an already desolate temple - at least desolated by the Cross - have been desolated 40 years after the Cross? Besides, as we learned in Luke 21:20 it is JERUSALEM that is desolated, not the temple.
If the Lord's interest is in spiritual desolation then the conflagration of 70 AD may not be a very good candidate, particularly since ALL of the Christians in Jerusalem escaped and were saved out of it.
Muhammad himself pressed the wife of a Jew that had been slain, into service, who eventually found the opportunity to poison him. This is one of the reasons that Muslims hate Jews so much. Sex slavery and trade in young girls in countries like Saudi Arabia and the Sudan, where Muslims are in control, is practiced today.
The desolation of Jerusalem at the hands of Islam is certainly a better candidate for the spiritual aspect. Some time after 70 AD the Coptic Church grew and thrived in Jerusalem, and Jews resumed worship there as well, but Jerusalem was desolated by Islam - both physically and spiritually over the next 1200 years - resulting in the exile of both Christians and Jews. By the early 1800's there were only about 550 Jews left.
Beginning in the 19th century, the Jews began to end this long period of physical and spiritual desolation by developing Jerusalem through hard work and enterprise, as well as restoring the countryside from the physically desolated and abandoned desert/swamp wasteland that Islam had rendered it by the 1800's, into a physically regenerated garden that is the envy of the agricultural world today. Ezekiel 36:35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities [are become] fenced, [and] are inhabited.
Relatively speaking when was Israel not physically desolated between 70 AD and the Jewish restoration of the 19th and 20th centuries? When during the period following 639 AD and the Jewish restoration was it not spiritually desolated? Islamic control - but not Islam - was interrupted briefly by the Crusades - one horn of the two horned beast that spoke as a Lambkin, and later by the other horn, the British mandate and western powers. The two horned beast controlled "in the presence" of the Islamic leopard-bear-lion beast.
In 1867 Mark Twain described it thus: ...[a] desolate country whose soil is rich enough, but is given over wholly to weeds-a silent mournful expanse....A desolation is here that not even imagination can grace with the pomp of life and action....We never saw a human being on the whole route....There was hardly a tree or a shrub anywhere. Even the olive and the cactus, those fast friends of the worthless soil, had almost deserted the country.
Luke's verse is about timing. It is the only verse of the three that allows us to continue into the next verse without warning us to "understand" the subject of the abomination of desolation, through the prophet Daniel, first. Luke will offer us yet another important time pin of "when" later in this study by telling us that the period of exceptional tribulation ends with the times of the Gentiles fulfilled in Jerusalem.
As has been shown, the "what" and "where" of Matthew and Mark, find the book of Daniel pins the 1290 days - when used as prophetic years in the language of prophecy - to 688 AD, the founding year of the Dome of the Rock. The 1335 days of the next verse peg the zenith of the Islamic First Jihad in 732 AD, at the Battle of Tours, which confirms the method. Daniel's 69 weeks peg the Cross to the year further confirming the method. Daniel's math is precise and cross-confirmed to the year of 688 AD by John in the book of Revelation. The "where" the abomination of desolation sits, where it "ought not", is the temple mount in the Holy City of Jerusalem. This is a place of little historical significance to Islam, but of conspicuous historical importance to Judaism and Christianity. Importantly, when, from 70 AD to 1967, or for the 2500 years prior to 1967, was Jerusalem not controlled by, or trodden by, gentiles?
The Battle of Tours inflicted the mortal wound to the head of the advancing army of the first Jihad as it moved up through Europe, and also inflicted a head wound by killing the literal head of the army Emir Abd er Rahman. This was the death knell of the first Jihad. It wasn't until Western wealth transfer through oil purchase healed the leopard-bear-lion beast, that it was able to finance the second Jihad in the image of the first Jihad.
Please excuse such a big interruption with the above verse 15 study, but the abomination of desolation is one of the most controversial elements of Scripture. So the first two questions asked of Jesus regarding "when" and "what [shall be] the sign ..." (asked about in verse 3) have been addressed, and our passage continues on with Jesus' description of the Christian era up until His return and the gathering of the elect of verses 30-31 and "end of the world".
This period includes a period of tribulation "such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be". Let's continue on with the description of the "end of the world" asked about in verse 3.
Matthew 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Also See Luke 21:20-21
As mentioned earlier the term "mountains" can be a metaphor for nations as per Ezekiel 20:35.
And indeed Israel - the "woman" who brought forth the man child - did flee, for 1260 years:
Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.
Matthew 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Matthew 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Matthew 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Matthew 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Even beyond Judea these instructions would aptly apply to all of the fallen cities and states where Christians and Jews were slaughtered and enslaved by Muslims during the rape, pillage and plunder of the 152 years (5 prophetic months) of the imperialistic Islamic first Jihad conquest of nearly the whole world, until stopped in Tours France by Charles Martel in the Battle of Tours. It wasn't like the conquerers were traveling with their wives. Would you want to hang around Jerusalem until your nine year old daughter was pressed into sexual slavery in some Muslim's harem as a "wife" or abused as a concubine?
Bukhari B62 #64 Narrated 'aisha: that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old, and then she remained with him for nine years (i.e., till his death).
Or was even just sexually abused by your captors?
Bukhari:V5B59N459 "I entered the Mosque, saw Abu, sat beside him and asked about sex. Abu Said said, 'We went out with Allah's Apostle and we received female slaves from among the captives. We desired women and we loved to do coitus interruptus.'"
The following report was chronicled near the zenith of the First Jihad as the Islamic armies moved up through Europe ".... according to one unidentified Arab, 'That army went through all places like a desolating storm.' sacking and capturing the city of Bordeaux, and then defeating the army of Duke Odo of Aquitaine at the Battle of the River Garonne - where the western chroniclers state, 'God alone knows the number of the slain'-[3] and Odo fled to Charles Martel, seeking help." Link
Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
This great tribulation was not restricted to the first Jihad. It began perhaps when Stephen was stoned, but on a wider scale in 70 AD, and particularly the spiritual desolation of 639 AD with Islamization. The book of Luke serves, once again, as our time pin for WHEN it ended as follows:
Luke 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Jerusalem was trodden down by the Gentiles from about 606 BC, until the Israelis retook the Holy City in 1967. But note that Jesus is talking about a Christian era gentile trodding in His future as evidenced by "shall be". 1967 marked the end of this great period of tribulation which began with the stoning of Stephen (since we are our brother John's companions in THE tribulation) and many others and slaughter of a million Jews in 70 AD, the 132 AD slaughter of another 750,000 Jews, the 152 year slaughter of Christians and Jews of the Islamic first Jihad, the Crusades, the Catholic Church persecution and murder of 4 to 20 million Christians, and the 8 million Jews, as well as many Christians, slain by the Nazis. Read Fox's Book of the Martyrs or Martyr's Mirror free online, for details.
When, in Jesus' future ("shall be") until 1967, was Jerusalem not controlled by - that is trodden by - gentiles?
Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
The Lord did indeed use the Allied forces to shorten those days of Jewish persecution eventually ending their being led away captive, last, in Nazi Germany.
Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not.
Yet another recent example: Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda calls himself God. "A Puerto Rican minister says Christ 'integrated' with him." "'It's Jesus Christ himself!' a preacher onstage announces. 'Let's welcome Jesus Christ Man!'" Notice the conspicuous absence of this fraudulent Jesus' "coming in the clouds" in this sick YouTube (verse 24:30 below).
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
We have seen exponentially more false prophets as we have moved through this "time of the end". Remember "88 reasons Jesus is coming in 1988", etc. ad nauseam. An interesting Yahoo search in regard to the subject of great signs and wonders is "miracles of Islam". To get an idea of the lying wonders, perhaps we simply need to flip on our TV. Today the church is awash in false eschatology proffered by false prophets that has deceived the elect in regard to end-time doctrine.
Matthew 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
Matthew 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, [he is] in the secret chambers; believe [it] not.
Only recently did it dawn on me that this may not just be about folks making the claim that they are Jesus, or know where He is. A Hollywood documentary declared that the site where Jesus was buried had been discovered, and His bones and that of His family's were in the graves.
Matthew 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Matthew 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
This is likely another reference to the Middle East desolated - two witnesses - Jewish and Christian, and perhaps more specifically the carcases of the abandoned Middle East churches and synagogues with some, including the grandest Coptic Church cathedral in Turkey, having been converted into mosques. The same Greek word (Strong's 4430 ptoma {pto'-mah}) that is used for carcase in Matthew 24:28 is translated as the "dead bodies" of the two witnesses in Revelation 11:8.
Considering the context of this verse, the word for eagles is likely better translated as vultures, because eagles don't generally feast on carrion, which is confirmed by Strong's. Thus it makes perfect sense that Islam would be the vultures feasting on the carcase of the spiritually desolated Middle Eastern church buildings.
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
So, if the great period of tribulation ended with Luke's time pin of the "times of the Gentiles" being fulfilled in Jerusalem in 1967, what happened to the events of verse 29 that come immediately after? Will the stars fall to the floor of the universe? I suppose some may simply spiritualize them away, others perhaps explain it away with some "well that will happen during some future someday'", but can we learn anything when we do a hermeneutic study?
We can see that as Matthew 24 is a picture of the Christian era in miniature, this verse is a chronological fit with the "falling away" or apostasy of the Church, mentioned in 2Thessalonians, and comes just before Christ's return of Matthew 24:30. When we do a word search for "sun" we find this very interesting verse in Malachi:
Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
In the above verse we can easily conclude that the "Sun of righteousness" is Jesus. But what about the stars?
Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
The Greek word here for angels means messengers. In these verses we could conclude that these are perhaps literal angels, overseeing the churches, but considering the context may we also conclude that these are messengers of the Churches, or leadership of the Churches?
Consider that the moon is a dead, dusty ball that emits no light. But what it does do is reflect the light of the sun. Then could our verse be suggesting that the moon is the church and all those that reflect the Sun/Son? The body of Christ? Isaiah 13:10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. The church is the bride.
Few can deny that at least western churches have been sinking into apostasy since 1948 (formation of the World Council of Churches, and Everson and McCollum decisions in the U.S.), and accelerating in the extreme after 1967 ("church" sanction of homosexuality and fornication). I am fully confident that this is THE falling away (more on this subject at ChristianEschatology.com). In either event, let's take another look at our verse in the context of this word study:
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days
The tribulation of those days began with the stoning of Stepehn or perhaps in 70 AD, or with the first Jihad at Jerusalem in 639 AD, and go on up to 1948 - the beginning of the "time of the end", and immediately after the Allies shortened the days - while 1967 marked the fulfillment of the "times of the Gentiles" in Jerusalem. So does that put us now in the tribulation of these days - of the last era - of Daniel's "time of end"?
shall the sun be darkened,
Who reads the Bible any more? Ask everyone you know, especially at work or some other secular environment, when the last time they read the Bible was. When was the last time they sat down and had a family Bible study? See "Falling Away" section.
Jesus has been relegated to an increasingly back seat role, even in Christian's lives, to the things of this world, whether Hollywood, fashion, houses, boats, cars, motorcycles or the like. When I grew up Leave it to Beaver was a prime time show. The biggest show in the world today is American Idol. Today some Christians don't give a second thought toward watching shows like Desperate Housewives or even more desperately depraved programming on HBO or "Hell's Best Offering". More in the "Man of Sin" section.
and the moon shall not give her light,
The moon reflects the light of the Sun.
Psalms 89:37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and [as] a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
Compare Church evangelism of today with the period in the first half of the 20th century and before, going back to the Reformation. Look at the false doctrines and ecumenism that permeate our churches today. Look at how much of the Church has sunk into apostasy. Is the Church reflecting the truth of God's Holy Word, or has the truth been turned into fables?
How will an apostate church feel when Jesus returns? Isaiah 24:23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.
and the stars shall fall from heaven,
Church leaders? Any names come to mind? Perhaps some that so defamed themselves to the detriment of Christianity, on TV? One of these was responsible for the highest ratings in the entire history of Ted Koppel's Nightline. What about all the church leaders that have carried their Churches into apostasy, like those Bishops in the Episcopal Church U.S.A. that voted that Church further into apostasy?
and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
And indeed if they haven't been by now .....
On the other hand we are probably better off sticking to a regional ethnographic hermeneutic - a look through John's eyes in the middle east - for a real spine tingler. What does John's whole world look like today? Countries around Israel - the seat of the LBL beast - are 90 to 100% Muslim. Is the Sun of righteousness shining there?
Consider the composition of this area today in an ethnographic context we can see that the Sun has indeed been darkened almost entirely.
Is the moon, reflecting the Sun? There's barely a moon beam in John's "whole world".
Can we find a parallel and similarly timed passage in Revelation?
Revelation 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Moving along:
Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
I believe that virtually all Christians can agree that this verse describes the blessed event of the return of our precious Lord and Savior, coming exactly as He promised.
Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
This "gathering" is what is sometimes referred to as the "rapture", shown at the LAST or seventh trumpet after we "see the Son of man coming in the clouds". If there were a "pre" "tribulation" rapture it would have had to have preceded Cain slewing Able. I will continue to be humbly honored to remain my Brother John's fellow partaker in THE tribulation and companion in THE kingdom of Jesus Christ.
(NASB) Revelation 1:9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
(Greek/English Interlinear (tr) NT) Revelation 1:9 | egw <1473> {I} iwannhV <2491> {JOHN,} o <3588> {WHO} kai <2532> {ALSO} adelfoV <80> {BROTHER} umwn <5216> {YOUR} kai <2532> {AND} sugkoinwnoV <4791> {FELLOW PARTAKER} en <1722> {IN} th <3588> {THE} qliyei <2347> {TRIBULATION}...
Isn't the order obvious?
Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days
Matthew 24:30 they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds
Matthew 24:31 with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect
(1) Great tribulation
(2) After the tribulation
(3) Son of man coming
(4) Great trumpet
(5) Gather together elect
To put the "rapture" before the tribulation would require rewriting the book of Matthew.
Matthew 24 verses 1-14 include some history, and in verse 15 we found mathematical and textual precision in the Lord's symbol for end-time prophecy - the Dome of the Rock - with Islam front and center, taking Jerusalem in 639 during the Islamic first Jihad, and now in the "time of the end" with the second Jihad in the image of the first jihad, that we bear witness to on the nightly news.
Verses 1-14 describe the events of 70 AD and the historical realities we are witness to, and close in verse 14 with "and then shall the end come".
Verses 15-31 describe this "end" through events leading up to the Second Coming, and close with the coming of the Son of man and the gathering of the elect.
Verses 32-37 describe how we are to know it is the time of the end and close with the coming of the Son of man.
Verses 38-41 describe what the times will be like when this event takes place, and close with the coming of the Son of man and the gathering of the elect.
Verses 42-51 describe how we should prepare ourselves for this event, and close with the Second Coming and God's wrath on those left behind in verse 41.
Matthew 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh:
Scripture defines Fig Tree in: Hosea 9:10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: [but] they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto [that] shame; and [their] abominations were according as they loved.
So verse 32 discusses the "fig tree", putting forth leaves, which is a reference to the Jews, and all Israel, gathering again in the Holy Land, but perhaps not yet producing much fruit, with many returning Jews perhaps not even understanding what is pulling them there, since so many claim to be secular or even atheists. The Lord had withered the fig tree and did not allow it to bear any more fruit, and ever since, the Jews have not been allowed to evangelize Gentiles into the Jewish witness.
There is a parallel verse in Luke that reads: Luke 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Since the fig tree represents Israel the reference to "all the trees" may well be to Israel and the surrounding countries in the Middle East, that we have seen rise in power and prominence with exploding Muslim populations. Yahoo Muslim population. It is a growing religion but this is because of population growth more than conversion.
When we look to Scripture for a definition of "tree" and "trees" we find: Zechariah 4:11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What [are] these two olive trees upon the right [side] of the candlestick and upon the left [side] thereof? ............... 14 Then said he, These [are] the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
And also in Romans 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own olive tree?
We find that this is a reference to the Jewish, or "good" or "cultivated" olive tree, and the Gentile "wild" olive tree branches that were grafted in, to partake with them in the fatness and the root of their tree. The Jewish and Gentile witnesses. In Revelation we find: Rev 11:3 And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.: 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
Further confirmation that these are the Jewish and Gentile witnesses is demonstrated, since candlesticks are churches. Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Perhaps the olive trees and fig tree are what is meant by "all the trees" putting forth leaves. Perhaps especially well since many Jews are being restored to their land in unbelief, so Israel is putting forth leaves, but perhaps not so much fruit yet.
It is hard to imagine that there are some that consider this Jewish restoration to be some kind of colossal accident, simply because it doesn't fit their chosen eschatology! This in spite of the plethora of verses regarding the restoration of the Jewish people to their land.
Matthew 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors.
Jewish migration began in the 1800's and grew exponentially. Jewish population increased from hundreds in the early 1800's, to about 28,000 by 1896 to about 100,000 by 1948 when they declared their independence, to over 500,000 in 2000, and today there are close to five million Jews and the number is rapidly growing. They raised their flag over Israel in 1948 and claimed Jerusalem in 1967. Since the things of this chapter may have been fulfilled up through verse 29, it would indeed seem that Christ's return is truly "at the doors".
Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
The Greek houtos {hoo'-tos} translated as "this" in the verse above, is translated as "the same" on 28 other occasions. Perhaps "the same" might be a better translation here since the "times of the Gentiles" were not over until 1967.
The Greek translated "till" {an} is also translated as "whominsoever" and "whereinsoever".
So let's look at our verse in that light:
Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, {the same} generation shall not pass, {whereinsoever} all these things be fulfilled, and "genhtai" as "shall have taken place".
(Greek/English Interlinear (tr) NT) Matthew 24:34 [g] amhn [e] <281> {VERILY} [g] legw [e] <3004> (5719) {I SAY} [g] umin [e] <5213> {TO YOU,} [g] ou [e] <3756> [g] mh [e] <3361> {IN NO WISE} [g] parelqh [e] <3928> (5632) [g] h [e] <3588> {WILL HAVE PASSED AWAY} [g] genea [e] <1074> [g] auth [e] <3778> {THIS GENERATION} [g] ewj [e] <2193> [g] an [e] <302> {UNTIL} [g] panta [e] <3956> {ALL} [g] tauta [e] <5023> {THESE THINGS} [g] genhtai [e] <1096> (5638) {SHALL HAVE TAKEN PLACE.}
So let's look at our verse in that light:
Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, {the same} generation shall not pass, {whereinsoever} all these things {shall have taken place}.
Since it wasn't until the six day war in 1967, that the "times of the Gentiles" were fulfilled and Jews began their rule of Jerusalem, it could even refer to a generation that was born as late as 1967. Were the "times of the Gentiles" in Jerusalem fulfilled in 70 AD when a million Jews were killed, even though the Roman Gentiles killed another 750,000 Jews less than 70 years later? Let alone the Muslim Gentile conquest of Jerusalem in 639 that followed Roman Gentile rule.
What should at least be apparent is that the word translated as "this" can hardly be insisted upon as reason to construct an inverted pyramid of pile-on presumption, that requires Gnosticizing the rest of scripture away, by creating metaphors when literal scripture in literal passages becomes inconvenient for the initial premise.
It is not for me to speculate as to how long the generation referred to will last. If a literal generation is meant I heard one doctor say that folks in their 50's today, that take reasonably good care of themselves, may live to be 120 due to the rapid pace of medical advancement. So what date would the generation that was born in 1967 after all the things Jesus listed had taken place - that "shall not pass" - take us out to? Anywhere from today until the latter part of this century.
I have been witness to folks who try to use the single term "generation", as some sort of proof of preterism, but nothing can be proved by this term. It could even be metaphorical as in the vast majority of other instances that use the Koine Greed term "genea" in the New Teatament.
generation: 2b) metaphor - a group of men very like each other in endowments, pursuits, character
The verse could even be referring to the "generation" of Christians being spoken to for example. As in there will be no other eras to anticipate. Or even the generation of those mentioned previously as felling others with the sword and leading away captives, and the "generation" of false Christs and false prophets and other such.
Here's a link to one of our other sites, on Christian Eschatology, that examines all of the verses in the New Testament that use Koine Greek or Aramic terms that are translated as "generation".
Both definitions work for the exegesis proffered here. Not so for those who use it as a - perhaps the - primary pillar, under the 17th century anti-reformation invention of Jesuit Alcazar that is textually, mathematically, historically, chronologically, logically, hermeneutically, and Greek and Hebrew definition bankrupt, eschatology, of preterism.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
The coming of the Son of man. Just like in the previous discourse. The Second Coming. Concluding this section regarding how we will know.
This section tells us what the times will be like when this event takes place.
Matthew 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Matthew 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Some look at these verses as describing folks simply being involved with their work-a-day-life, when Jesus will come unexpectedly and to many's eternal sorrow. Perhaps more poignantly the days of Noe were marked as a horrific period of hedonism and idolatry. Now consider the state of - particularly Western - society today. Leave it to Beaver was a prime time show when I was a kid. Today, Desperate Housewives is popular. Sluts in the City. Some swear words are censored, but taking the Lord's name in vain is perfectly acceptable on TV. Look at what we increasingly idolize, from football stars, to TV idols, to houses, boats, motorcycles, cars and even less significant things like clothing and jewelry. People have been killed for tennis shoes.
Matthew 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Matthew 24:41 Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
One taken to be taken to be with our Savior in the gathering of the elect, the other unrepentant left behind to the wrath of God. No second chances.
This section closes with the coming of the Son of man and the gathering of the elect just like the last one.
This section tells us how we should prepare ourselves for this event.
Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
In their context, and following the Second Coming verse above, these verses are once again about the gathering of the elect at the last trump, and those forever "left behind". They are not about some "pre-trib" rapture. There are no second chances for the unrepentant, during John Darby's "7 year" tribulation.
Matthew 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Matthew 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Matthew 24:46 Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Matthew 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
Matthew 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Matthew 24:49 And shall begin to smite [his] fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Matthew 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for [him], and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Matthew 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Let us indeed be ready for His coming TODAY! All prophecy may already be fulfilled.
"God is truth, so how well a person serves the Lord is not based on how good he is at defending his doctrine, but on how willing he is to seek out and follow the truth." - Ellis Skolfield.
(link to page on Traditional Framework)
We cover the subject of approaches to eschatology in more detail on our companion site at ChristianEschatology.com
PARTIAL PRETERISM - or preterism lite? (link to this spot)
Some say that the Roman army was the abomination of desolation. But an army does not fit the definition of abomination. From Strong's Greek: abomination - 1) detestable thing or idol, abominable thing, abomination, idol, detested thing.
Nor does it make sense that this "abomination of desolation" verse could be speaking of the temple being torn down, since the abomination is "set up". Muslims desolated Jerusalem and the Middle East spiritually through Islamization. Christians were saved out of the Roman swords of 70 AD and the Coptic Church came back to thrive and grow in Jerusalem, in spite of the Roman persecutions, until it was eventually virtually desolated by Islam.
Preterism and partial preterism fail in nearly every Hebrew and Greek definition of terms associated with the abomination of desolation. Some claim that Nero was "The" "Antichrist".
Full Preterists believe that all of Revelation was fulfilled by 70 AD, including Jesus Second Coming. Besides the absence of any historical record of everyone seeing Jesus come in the clouds as He promised, this notion can be easily dispensed with by a single verse: Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; From this verse the truth should be painfully obvious. The events of 70 AD preceded John's return from the Isle of Patmos by 25 years, after Emperor Domitian (who had banished him) was killed in 96 AD. There would have been nothing left that "are" or "shall be" - to John - if they had all been fulfilled by 70 AD.
Additionally, Jesus had already declared the non-believing Jews "whole house" desolate almost 40 years before 70 AD as Matthew 23 recounts, which would presumably include the temple as well.
Still others believe that the abomination of desolation has something to do with a rebuilt temple. Some antichrist boogeyman sits in a smoky rebuilt temple. It seems this would be an abomination, since it would suggest that Jesus sacrifice on the Cross was not quite perfect enough, if the Jews needed to resume animal sacrifice, and particularly since some believe that Jesus has to come and beat Satan all over again.
Ever since the Cross it is Christian's themselves that are, and shall remain, the temple of God:
1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 Corinthians 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.
This is the only temple where the "man of sin" and "son of perdition" can sit. There was never, and can never be, a singular "Antichrist", since there are billions in the world as I write, and there was no shortage of them even in John's day. The only singular reference to antichrist in scripture would seem to be in regard to "that spirit" of antichrist. Jesus sacrifice was perfect and He beat Satan forever. The struggle of the Christian era has been for truth, and it would seem that Satan as been doing pretty well in this battle, within the Church.
Salvation is offered to the Jew first. It wouldn't seem that it was animal sacrifice that saved the Old Testament Saints. It was a circumcision of the heart. When you search the term "spirit" in the Old Testament it becomes pretty obvious that believing Jews were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Genesis 41:38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find [such a one] as this [is], a man in whom the Spirit of God [is]?
Exodus 31:3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
Numbers 11:29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, [and] that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!
The concept of being "born again" preceded the Cross. In these verses Jesus Himself chides Nicodemus for not understanding what being born again is:
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Since these were Jesus own words, folks were clearly born again before the Cross. Consider also that the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world: Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Do futurists really expect that yet a different 1.5 billion people will be specifically antichrist by religion, follow yet another antichrist false prophet, build yet another abomination on the temple mount, also blaspheme God by saying God has no Son, also blaspheme God's name by renaming him, also change times by inventing their own calendar, also change laws by ignoring the Sabbath and by imposing Sharia law in place of sovereign national laws, and also be marked with the number 666? Really?
the abomination - Check Strong's here
New Testament Greek Definition:
946 bdelugma {bdel'-oog-mah}
from 948; TDNT - 1:598,103; n n
AV - abomination 6; 6
1) a foul thing, a detestable thing
1a) of idols and things pertaining to idolatry
of desolation Check Strong's here
New Testament Greek Definition:
2050 eremosis {er-ay'-mo-sis}
from 2049; TDNT - 2:660,255; n f
AV - desolation 3; 3
1) a making desolate, desolation
desolate - Check Strong's here
New Testament Greek Definition:
2048 eremos {er'-ay-mos}
of uncertain affinity; TDNT - 2:657,255; adjective
AV - wilderness 32, desert 13, desolate 4, solitary 1; 50
1) solitary, lonely, desolate, uninhabited
1a) used of places
1a1) a desert, wilderness
1a2) deserted places, lonely regions
1a3) an uncultivated region fit for pasturage
1b) used of persons
1b1) deserted by others
1b2) deprived of the aid and protection of others,
especially of friends, acquaintances, kindred
1b3) bereft
1b3a) of a flock deserted by the shepherd
1b3b) of a woman neglected by her husband,
from whom the husband withholds himself
stand - Check Strong's here
New Testament Greek Definition:
2476 histemi {his'-tay-mee}
a prolonged form of a primary stao {stah'-o} (of the same
meaning, and used for it in certain tenses); TDNT - 7:638,1082; v
AV - stand 116, set 11, establish 5, stand still 4, stand by 3,
misc 17, vr stand 2; 158
1) to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set
1a) to bid to stand by, [set up]
1a1) in the presence of others, in the midst, before judges,
before members of the Sanhedrin;
1a2) to place
1b) to make firm, fix establish
1b1) to cause a person or a thing to keep his or its place
1b2) to stand, be kept intact (of family, a kingdom), to escape
in safety
1b3) to establish a thing, cause it to stand
1b31) to uphold or sustain the authority or force of anything
1c) to set or place in a balance
1c1) to weigh: money to one (because in very early times before
the introduction of coinage, the metals used to be weighed)
2) to stand
2a) to stand by or near
2a1) to stop, stand still, to stand immovable, stand firm
2a1a) of the foundation of a building
2b) to stand
2b1) continue safe and sound, stand unharmed, to stand ready or
2b2) to be of a steadfast mind
2b3) of quality, one who does not hesitate, does not waiver
New Testament Greek Definition:
1722 en {en}
a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time
or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or
constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between
1519 and 1537); TDNT - 2:537,233; prep
AV - in 1874, by 141, with 134, among 117, at 112, on 46,
through 37, misc 321; 2782
1) in, by, with etc.
Wigram's frequency count is 2799 not 2782.
set up - Check Strong's here
Old Testament Hebrew Definition:
05414 nathan {naw-than'}
a primitive root; TWOT - 1443; v
AV - give 1078, put 191, deliver 174, made 107, set 99, up 26, lay 22,
grant 21, suffer 18, yield 15, bring 15, cause 13, utter 12,
laid 11, send 11, recompense 11, appoint 10, shew 7, misc 167; 2008
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote,
consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend,
commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce,
occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter,
stretch out, extend
1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign,
1a3) to make, constitute
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be
granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be
uttered, be assigned
1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
1c2) to be put upon
New Testament Greek Definition:
3778 houtos {hoo'-tos} including nominative masculine plural
houtoi {hoo'-toy}, nominative feminine singular haute {how'-tay}
and nominative feminine plural hautai {how'-tahee}
from the article 3588 and 846;; pron
AV - this 157, these 59, he 31, the same 28, this man 25, she 12,
they 10, misc 34; 356
1) this, these, etc.
New Testament Greek Definition:
302 an {an}
a primary particle;; particle
AV - whosoever 35, whatsoever 7, whomsoever 5, whereinsoever 1,
what things soever 1, whatsoever + 3745 7, an many as + 3745 4,
whosoever + 3745 2, what things so ever + 3745 1,
wherewith soever + 3745 1, whithersoever + 3699 4,
wheresoever + 3699 2, whatsoever + 3748 5, whosoever + 3748 3,
whose soever + 5100 2, not tr 111; 191
1) has no exact English equivalent, see definitions under AV
generation - Check Strong's here
New Testament Greek Definition:
1074 genea {ghen-eh-ah'}
from (a presumed derivative of) 1085; TDNT - 1:662,114; n f
AV - generation 37, time 2, age 2, nation 1; 42
1) fathered, birth, nativity
2) that which has been begotten, men of the same stock, a family
2a) the several ranks of natural descent, the successive
members of a genealogy
2b) metaph. a group of men very like each other in endowments,
pursuits, character
2b1) esp. in a bad sense, a perverse nation
3) the whole multitude of men living at the same time
4) an age (i.e. the time ordinarily occupied be each successive
generation), a space of 30 - 33 years
the carcase (Matthew 24:28) dead bodies (Revelation 11:8) - Check Strong's here
New Testament Greek Definition:
4430 ptoma {pto'-mah}
from the alternate of 4098; TDNT - 6:166,846; n n
AV - dead body 3, carcase 1, corpse 1; 5
1) a fall, downfall
1a) metaph. a failure, defeat, calamity
1b) an error, lapse into sin
2) that which has fallen
2a) the fallen body of one dead or slain, a corpse, a carcase
the eagles - Check Strong's here
New Testament Greek Definition:
105 aetos {ah-et-os'}
from the same as 109;; n m
AV - eagle 4; 4
1) an eagle: since eagles do not usually go in quest of carrion,
this may to a vulture that resembles an eagle
2) an eagle as a standard (Roman Military)
Old Testament Hebrew Definition:
0954 buwsh {boosh}
a primitive root; TWOT - 222; v
AV - ashamed 72, confounded 21, shame 9, all 2 (inf. for emphasis),
confusion 1, delayed 1, dry 1, long 1, shamed 1; 109
1) to put to shame, be ashamed, be disconcerted, be disappointed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to feel shame
1a2) to be ashamed, disconcerted, disappointed (by reason of)
1b) (Piel) to delay (in shame)
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to put to shame
1c2) to act shamefully
1c3) to be ashamed
1d) (Hithpolel) to be ashamed before one another
VERSES REGARDING THE JEWISH RESTORATION TO THEIR LAND (link to this spot)
Jewish verses:
Leviticus 26:44-45 Here again scripture tells us the restoration of Israel is unconditional.
Isaiah 11:11 Here again scripture talks about a second restoration of the Jews. What would be the point of this if they were not part of the elect.
Isaiah 26;20-27:1 Talks of hiding the children of Israel followed by Satan's complete judgment. There again why hide them if not to save the elect.
Isaiah 27;12-13 talks about the final gathering again of Israel.
Jeremiah:30 4-8 talks about the time of Jacobs troubles and the future restoration.
Jeremiah 30: 18-24 Tell's us that a restoration for the tents of Jacob will take place in the latter days, I don't believe that this is the first restoration of 536 B.C.
Jeremiah 31: 35-37 Talks about the permanent nation of Israel.
Jeremiah 33: 24-26 Talks about the unconditional covenant with Jacob's descendants.
Ezekiel 16: 60-63 Here again it's talking about an unconditional everlasting covenant with the Jews.
Ezekiel 37: 1-28 Again it's talking about the unconditional future restoration of Israel followed closely by Armageddon in Eze: 38-38.
Hosiah 11: 9-10 It talks about the future restoration of Israel from the West.
Joel 3: 1-3 Predicts the restoration of Judah followed by Armageddon.
Amos 9:11 -15 Talks about an Israel restored to the land.
Zechariah 8: 7-8 Speaks of a post-exilic unconditional restoration of the Jews to Jerusalem and the land.
Zechariah 10 & 12 Here again are more prophecies of the future restoration of the Jews.
Zechariah 14 Talks of Armageddon with the Jews in Jerusalem.
Now let's looks at what the New Testament has to say on this subject.
Luke 21: 24 Speaks of a dispersion, the time of the Gentiles, and the restoration that follows.
Romans 11: 11 Tells us that the Jews have not fallen.
Romans 11: 17 Tells us that only some of the branches were broken off.
Romans 11: 17 Tells us that the church (I believe to be the Christians) was grafted in among the Jews (good olive tree).
Romans 11: 28 Tells us that Gospel age Jews are still elect.
Romans 11: 29 Tells us that Gods calling of the Jews is irrevocable(irrevocable means cannot be undone).
Revelation 7: 4-9 Speaks of the 12 tribes of Israel in the Christian era.
Revelation 12: 1-6 Again it speaks of Israel in the Christian era.
Revelation 15: 3 Is a passage primarily about the Christian era, there are two songs, one for the Jews, and one for the Gentile church.
FIRST JIHAD (link to this spot)
The "messenger" Muhammad began the first Jihad just 13 years after he founded the religion of Islam. Killing and conquering non-Muslims, and "converting" at the point of a sword, is Islamic fundamentalism. "The Sword is the key of heaven and hell; a drop of blood shed in the cause of Allah, a night spent in arms, is of more avail than two months of fasting and prayer; whoever falls in battle, his sins are forgiven, and at the day of judgment his limbs shall be supplied by the wings of angels and cherubim."
Power of the Sword
623 - Battle of Waddan
623 - Battle of Safwan
623 - Battle of Dul-Ashir
624 - Muhammad and converts begin raids on caravans to fund the movement.
624 - Zakat becomes mandatory
624 - Battle of Badr
624 - Battle of Bani Salim
624 - Battle of Eid-ul-Fitr and Zakat-ul-Fitr
624 - Battle of Bani Qainuqa
624 - Battle of Sawiq
624 - Battle of Ghatfan
624 - Battle of Bahran
625 - Battle of Uhud. 70 Muslims are killed.
625 - Battle of Humra-ul-Asad
625 - Battle of Banu Nudair
625 - Battle of Dhatur-Riqa
626 - Battle of Badru-Ukhra
626 - Battle of Dumatul-Jandal
626 - Battle of Banu Mustalaq Nikah
627 - Battle of the Trench
627 - Battle of Ahzab
627 - Battle of Bani Quraiza
627 - Battle of Bani Lahyan
627 - Battle of Ghaiba
627 - Battle of Khaibar
628 - Muhammad signs treaty with Quraish.
630 - Muhammad conquers Mecca.
630 - Battle of Hunsin.
630 - Battle of Tabuk
632 - Muhammad dies.
632 - Abu-Bakr, Muhammads father-in-law, along with Umar, begin a military move to enforce Islam in Arabia.
633 - Battle at Oman
633 - Battle at Hadramaut.
633 - Battle of Kazima
633 - Battle of Walaja
633 - Battle of Ulleis
633 - Battle of Anbar
634 - Battle of Basra,
634 - Battle of Damascus
634 - Battle of Ajnadin.
634 - Death of Hadrat Abu Bakr. Hadrat Umar Farooq becomes the Caliph.
634 - Battle of Namaraq
634 - Battle of Saqatia.
635 - Battle of Bridge.
635 - Battle of Buwaib.
635 - Conquest of Damascus.
635 - Battle of Fahl.
636 - Battle of Yermuk.
636 - Battle of Qadsiyia.
636 - Conquest of Madain.
637 - Battle of Jalula.
638 - Battle of Yarmouk.
638 - The Muslims defeat the Romans and enter Jerusalem.
638 - Conquest of Jazirah.
639 - Conquest of Khuizistan and movement into Egypt.
641 - Battle of Nihawand
642 - Battle of Ray in Persia
643 - Conquest of Azarbaijan
644 - Conquest of Fars
644 - Conquest of Kharan.
644 - Umar is murdered. Othman becomes the Caliph.
647 - Conquest of the island of Cypress
644 - Uman dies and is succeeded by Caliph Uthman.
648 - Campaign against the Byzantines.
651 - Naval battle against the Byzantines.
654 - Islam spreads into North Africa
656 - Uthman is murdered. Ali become Caliph.
658 - Battle of Nahrawan.
659 - Conquest of Egypt
661 - Ali is murdered.
662 - Egypt falls to Islam rule.
666 - Sicily is attacked by Muslims
677 - Siege of Constantinople
687 - Battle of Kufa
691 - Battle of Deir ul Jaliq
700 - Sufism takes root as a sect of Islam
700 - Military campaigns in North Africa
702 - Battle of Deir ul Jamira
711 - Muslims invade Gibraltar
711 - Conquest of Spain
713 - Conquest of Multan
716 - Invasion of Constantinople
732 - Battle of Tours in France.
740 - Battle of the Nobles.
741 - Battle of Bagdoura in North Africa
744 - Battle of Ain al Jurr.
746 - Battle of Rupar Thutha
748 - Battle of Rayy.
749 - Battle of lsfahan
749 - Battle of Nihawand
750 - Battle of Zab
772 - Battle of Janbi in North Africa
777 - Battle of Saragossa in Spain


text:
Some things are well worth repeating, especially when it comes to protecting your good name, your wallet, your well-being, and your peace of mind. That's why we are re-visiting an important topic: Avoiding identity theft.
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that nearly 9,000,000 Americans have their identity stolen each year. Someone has used their personally identifying information, like name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without their permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.
Identity theft is serious, and the consequences can be monumental. Many people don't realize they have been victimized until they review their credit report, find charges on a credit card statement that don't make sense, or start getting calls from debt collectors.
By then, it's too late. The damage is done and there may be more bad news on the way as other unscrupulous activities in their name are revealed.
Yet there are any number of steps you can take to minimize the risk of identity theft. Some are as easy as creating foolproof passwords and cleaning out your wallet! Others require a minimum investment in a shredder or lockable file cabinet. But, they are all do-able.
Check out the 10 easy tips on this Identity Theft Prevention Checklist from Real Simple.com.
You'll also find helpful information about protecting your personal and business identity in our Learning Center.


text:
You've Got To Watch the First Woman Complete the 'American Ninja Warrior' Obstacle Course
To even call this thing an obstacle course feels like diminishing how nearly impossible it is. But here we are.
If you're not familiar with American Ninja Warrior, it's a show on NBC in which superhuman specimens attempt feats of great athletic prowess as the rest of us watch from our couches, within comfortable distance from the refrigerator. In the show's history, no woman has completed the qualifying course or the finals course. Until this week's episode. Gymnast Kacy Catanzao took on the finals course with razor-like precision.
Watch this and get motivated.
[h/t: Vulture]


text:
Och-Ziff holds 8% of Biglari shares
Published 5:53 pm, Monday, August 25, 2014
SAN ANTONIO — A publicly traded hedge fund disclosed Monday it holds at least an 8 percent stake in San Antonio-based Biglari Holdings Inc., the parent company of Steak 'n Shake restaurants and Maxim magazine.
New York-based Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC and related entities reported holding at least 138,300 Biglari shares, making it among the largest shareholders, according to Bloomberg.
Och-Ziff disclosed its stake in a 13G filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A 13G filing signifies the holder is a passive investor.
The hedge fund is headed by Daniel Och, whose net worth is listed at $3.7 billion by Forbes.com.
Business Channel
Biglari's shares fell $2.10 to close at $362.90 on Monday.