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My journey had been a continual work in progress until finally, back in 2002, I began to get a glimpse into what has eluded many theologians for centuries. That age-old enigma about who the "he" is in Daniel 9:27 is what this study is about. It would take me nearly two decades to uncover some of the pieces to this puzzle, but once the trickle began in 2002, the well-spring began to burst open.
And now in October of 2013, I am sharing with you the reader, the culmination of 32 years of trying to solve a mystery that has only been unlocked for me partially since 2002, but I believe it is now in plain view.
In this study, I aim to show that our Mashiyach (Messiah) Yahuwshuwa is the one who "confirms" the covenant in Daniel 9:27, and not the Anti-Messiah (Antichrist). There are many theologians who build their "Pre-tribulation Rapture Theory" based on the idea that there are seven years of tribulation in the last days leading up to the second coming of Messiah. However, there is no place in scripture telling us there will be a seven-year tribulation. Why is it so important to know who confirms the covenant? And which covenant are we expected to believe he is confirming?
The reason why the person confirming the covenant is of the utmost importance is because this seemingly minor detail has the potential to mess up our way of viewing "end-time prophecy," even to the point of accepting an imposter!
Back in the summer of 2004, I spent much time in prayer asking the Heavenly Father to explain this verse to me. I also translated each word in Daniel 9:24-27 into Hebrew, in order to better understand the meaning of these verses.
All of the Towrah & Prophets was written for the sole purpose of bringing us to the Messiah. Therefore, all prophecies written in the Tanakh (Old Testament) revolve around him. He himself declared that all things written in the Law, Prophets & Psalms pointed us to him (Luke 24:44). The Apostle Sha'uwl (Paul) wrote that Messiah is the "Ultimate end-goal of the Towah" (Romans 10:4).
The Hidden Meaning of Seventy Times Seven
The number seven has been a holy number since the Creation, when Elohiym set aside the seventh day of the week and rested (Genesis 2:2-3; Hebrews 4:4). The number seven continues to show us patterns that point to "covenant." The seven annual Sabbaths, as well as the seventh day Sabbath is a sign of our Covenant with the Creator (Exodus 31:13; Ezekiel 20:12; Ezekiel 20:20). There are seven annual feasts that we are commanded to observe as a sign of our Covenant with the Creator (see Leviticus 23).
There are seven branches on the Menorah in the Temple, representing seven assemblies in the Book of Revelation. Jacob worked two periods of seven years for his two wives. His son Joseph worked in Egypt under Pharaoh during seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Our Messiah resurrected on the evening of the seventh day of the week, which is why he called himself "Lord of the Sabbath" (Matthew 12:8; Mark 2:28; Luke 6:5).
Our Messiah gave us a hidden message about when the "lost sheep" of the House of Judah would be coming back to their land. When the disciples (talmudiym) of our Messiah asked "How many times must I forgive my brother?" He answered them with the following mathematical equation:
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 18:22 Yahuwshuwa said unto him, I say not unto you, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
The length of the prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27 is the result of:
70 X 7 = 490 years
This means that the completion of forgiveness of sins for Yisra'el can only be found in Messiah, Yahuwshuwa.
Seventy Disciples for Seventy Nations
Our Messiah appointed seventy disciples (Luke 10:1-7). There are seventy descendants who came out of Jacob's loins (Exodus 1:5). In Exodus 24:1 and Numbers 11:25 it states that there were seventy elders of Yisra'el. There are seventy bullocks offered on the Feast of Tabernacles for the seventy base nations from the descendants of Noah. In the Temple there are seventy shekels presented for the redemption (bride price) of the seventy nations (Numbers 7:31-55). In Exodus 38:29, there are seventy talents of brass (representing the sins of the nations) offered before YaHuWaH by the priests. Thus, we can see that the number "seventy" symbolizes the Gentile Nations.
Therefore, seventy times seven is a formula which reveals to us that forgiveness was purchased for all of humanity. A covenant (symbolized by the number seven) has been made with the nations of the earth (symbolized by the number seventy).
The One Who Made the Oath Always Confirms It With Sevens
Daniel's 70-Week prophecy begins in Daniel 9:24 with the following words:
A couple of other root words for "shabuwa" give us an even deeper understanding behind the meaning of this word:
The Number Seven Signifies Taking an Oath
The interesting thing is that the number "seven" is characterized by taking an oath, or swearing to something.
*Note: Did you catch this? He confirmed the covenant by an oath with sevens!
An Important Question Arises
If the number "seven" is characterized by taking an oath or confirming a covenant, then why would our Creator assign the "seventieth week" (the last seven years of the 490-year prophecy) to the Antichrist, or the false Messiah? Does it not make sense that the seventieth week (the last seven years) would be reserved for the one who could actually complete the oath?
The first half of Daniel's Seventieth Week prophecy culminated with the Messiah lifting up the cup of salvation (Psalm 113:16) on the night before he died. By this action, he was illustrating that he was "confirming" the same covenant that he had initially made with Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3.
After the "slaughter of the kings" Melchizedek blessed Abraham with "bread and wine" (Genesis 14:18-19) as a sign that he was confirming the covenant. He could not have given us a bigger hint, that he was the same Melchizedek who confirmed the Abrahamic covenant, than when he blessed his disciples with "bread and wine,"only this time, it would be before the "slaughter of the kings of kings!" We can see that there was a reversal of the curse taking place.
With the original covenant, Abraham recovered all that the enemy had been stolen from he and his family, and afterward, he gave gifts to Melchizedek out of the spoils of war.
When Messiah came to restore Yisra'el back to the covenant, "He went to the lowest parts of the earth, and gave gifts unto men" (Ephesians 4:8-9). In other words, he took back the keys of Sheol (Hell) and the grave (Revelation 1:18). In doing so, he recovered all that the enemy had stolen from he and his family!
Marqos (Mark) 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for MANY.
Daniy'el (Daniel) 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with MANY for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
As we can see from the above verses, it was our Messiah Yahuwshuwa who came to "confirm" the one and only covenant that YaHuWaH made with Abraham. Messiah also confirmed this covenant during Passover Week with "many" as he said the night before his crucifixion "This is my blood of the new covenant shed for many" (Mark 14:24).
Dissecting Daniel 9:27 Word-for-Word
The first word that I want to define from Daniel 9:27 is the Hebrew word for "confirm" which means the following in the Concordance:
#1396. gabar gaw-bar' a primitive root; to be strong; by implication, to prevail, act insolently:--exceed, confirm, be great, be mighty, put to more (strength), strengthen, be stronger, be valiant.
Now some theologians take the "he" in Daniel 9:27 to be about the Antichrist who acts "insolently" against the Creator. The dictionary defines this word "insolent" as "rude, impolite, insulting, contemptuous, exhibiting boldness."
However, this Hebrew word "gabar" is used in the following verses to describe how YaHuWaH himself will "prevail" (gabar) in the last days against the enemies of Yisra'el. You will notice that this word "gabar" is used in connection with the House of Judah and the House of Joseph and their restoration:
Zecharyahuw (Zechariah) 10:6 And I will strengthen [gabar #H1396] the house of Yahuwdah (Judah), and I will save the house of Yahuwceph (Joseph), and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am YHWH their Elohiym, and will hear them.
Zecharyahuw (Zechariah) 10:12 And I will strengthen [gabar #H1396] them in YHWH; and they shall walk up and down in his name, says YHWH.
Yeshayahuw (Isaiah) 42:13 YHWH shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail [gabar #H1396] against his enemies.
Dibrey ha'Yamiym (1st Chronicles) 5:2 For Yahuwdah (Judah) prevailed [gabar #H1396} above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Yahuwceph's (Joseph's).
Bereshiyth (Genesis) 49:26 The blessings of your father have prevailed [gabar #H1396] above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Yahuwceph (Joseph), and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
This word "gabar" has only three Hebrew Letters. From right to left are the Paleo Pictograph characters:
This word "gabar" paints a picture of our Messiah who is the "gimmel" גָּ the one who "bore the burdens" (Psalm 55:22; Isaiah 14:25; Jeremiah 23:33-38; Matthew 11:30) for the "beyt," בַ the House of Yisra'el. And he is the chief ruler, the "resh" ר for the "government shall be upon his shoulder." The Hebrew word for "shoulder" in Isaiah 9:6 is #7929, "shekem" which literally means "the neck between the shoulders as the place of burdens."
The word "gabar" is therefore synonymous with the words "strengthen, prevail." We could accurately read Daniel 9:27 as if it reads like this: "....And he shall strengthen the covenant with MANY for one week....."
If Daniel 9:27 was describing the Anti-Messiah, confirming (or strengthening) a covenant with Yisra'el, wouldn't that necessitate that there would already be a covenant in place? How can one confirm something unless there was already a covenant to begin with? First of all, there is no other place in scripture that describes a false Messiah establishing a covenant with the people of Yisra'el. The only covenant that he would attempt to "confirm" would be the one that YaHuWaH had already made with Abraham, but he would have to convince the Yahuwdiym (Jews) that he was the true and genuine Messiah!
The next word in Daniel 9:27 is the word "covenant." The Hebrew Concordance defines this word as follows:
#1285.briyth ber-eeth' from 1262, in the sense of cutting (like 1254); a compact made by passing between pieces of flesh; confederacy, covenant, league.
When was the first time that a covenant was made that involved passing between pieces of flesh? There is an established rule of interpreting scripture called "The Law of First Mention." In this method of interpretation, the first time that a concept is presented in scripture, it then becomes the precedent for when the same concept is presented again in other passages of the Bible. Hence, we know that whenever the Hebrew word "briyth" is used elsewhere in scripture, it usually has the same meaning as it did with the Abrahamic Covenant seen below:
Bereshiyth (Genesis) 15:9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
*Note: Our Messiah had a ministry that lasted for 3.5 years and this is substantiated by the fact that original Abrahamic Covenant consisted of three sacrifices: the Red Heifer, the Yom Kippur Goat & the Ram for Passover and each of these had to be three years old. Our Messiah portrayed the role of all three of these animal sacrifices during his earthly ministry of 3.5 years!
But the birds were not divided because they represent the birds of prey that will eat the flesh of kings and captains on the Day of Wrath at the second coming of Messiah (Revelation 19:17). Each of these animals symbolizes a different group of people who would be called "The Seed of Abraham." Who are these three groups of people? They are the Two Houses of Yisra'el (Ephrayim & Judah) as well as the Gentiles who are grafted into the covenant through the blood of Messiah.
Bereshiyth (Genesis) 15:10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
*Note: The next thing that you will notice with this original covenant, is that YaHuWaH told Abraham to "divide the sacrifices in the midst," and what does Daniel 9:27 tell us that Messiah would do? It says that he would "cause the sacrifices to cease in the midst of the week!" Do you see the similarity?
Bereshiyth (Genesis) 15:17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
The reason why Abraham was instructed to divide the pieces in the midst is because the Kingdom of Yisra'el has been divided and the covenant has been breached by both House of Yisra'el.
A few chapters later, we see YaHuWaH giving Abraham the details of this covenant by telling him that his descendants would become more numerous than the stars of the heaven and the sand on the seashore. In other words, Abraham would have earthly descendants (sand on the shore) and spiritual descendants (born from above) from the Gentiles nations who would be grafted into the family through the blood of Messiah:
And this brings us to understand who the "many" are that Messiah came to confirm and strengthen his covenant with. The next word in Daniel 9:27, is the word "many" as defined below:
"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands..."
Now we get a hint of who these "MANY" are in Daniel 9:27 by looking at the name of Rebekah in Hebrew:
#7259. Ribqah rib-kaw' from an unused root probably meaning to clog by tying up the fetlock; fettering (by beauty); ensnarer; Ribkah, the wife of Isaac:-- Rebekah.
In Jeremiah 16:16, there is a prophecy about how YaHuWaH would send "fishers" to fish these Lost Sheep of the House of Yisra'el from the four corners of the earth to "gather" them back to the shepherd in the last days.
When our Messiah commissioned his disciples to become "fishers of men" in Mark 1:17, this was not a "New Testament" concept. Yahuwshuwa was fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah 16:16! And when his disciples had been fishing all night long without catching anything, they were suddenly able to catch a great multitude of fish at his command:
Luqas (Luke) 5:6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net broke.
The Greek word for "inclosed" in the above passage is as follows:
#4788. sugkleio soong-kli'-o from 4862 and 2808; to shut together, i.e. include or (figuratively) embrace in a common subjection to:--conclude, inclose, shut up.
In Genesis 48:19, Ya'aqob (Jacob) prophesied over his grandson Ephrayim that he would become "a multitude of nations." This phrase in Hebrew is "melo ha'goyim" which literally means "fullness of the gentiles" and it is also used in Romans 11:25 by the Apostle Sha'uwl (Paul) to describe the wild branches being joined to the natural branches of the olive tree in the last days!
In Yahuwchanon (John) 21:10 Yahuwshuwa said unto them, Bring of the fish which you have now caught.
The word "caught" in Greek is #4084. piazo which means: sieze, arrest, capture, ensnare!
Have you made the connection yet? The "MANY" whom our Messiah confirmed the covenant with are the same "MANY" that Rebekah would become the mother of, and her name means to "ensnare!"
Aha! Now we can connect the dots! The word "MANY" in Daniel 9:27 is the Hebrew word "rab" which is the same root word that is used in Rebekah's name who is the mother of thousands of millions! It was Rebekah's "beauty" that "captured" the heart of Yitzchaq (Isaac) as she symbolizes the bride of Messiah whose beauty "ensnares" or "captures" the lost sheep (or fish) from out of the nations!
Now let us continue in this study of Daniel 9:27 by reading it again to recap:
Daniy'el (Daniel) 9:27 And he shall confirm [strengthen, prevail, gabar] the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
In the midst of Passover Week (the 4th day of the week, Wednesday) when Yahuwshuwa was crucified, and also in the midst of Daniel's 70th Week (the last seven years of this 490-year prophecy), Messiah caused the daily sacrifices and the oblations to "cease" to be recognized by the Father in Heaven. Not only that, but he also caused the annual Yom Kippur sacrifices to no longer be necessary.
The evening and morning oblations failed to be acceptable and the yearly sacrifices failed to be acceptable on Yom Kippur each year for forty consecutive years following his crucifixion. For forty consecutive years from the time that our Messiah was crucified in 30 C.E., until 70 C.E., [when the Romans came and destroyed Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple], the annual sacrifices on Yom Kippur were not acceptable. Until finally, when General Titus came in with his armies, they made the Jewish Temple desolate. You see, it was our Messiah who made Jerusalem desolate by his spoken word. But he used the Romans to bring it to pass. But why did he make Jerusalem desolate?
Yahuwshuwa is the one who prophesied over Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) when he said "Behold, your house is left to you desolate!" Thus, it was his prophetic word which was decreed over Jerusalem that brought them to desolation. Let's take a look at the reason why they were now going to become desolate.
The reason why he decreed that they were going to be made desolate was because they had killed every prophet which had been sent to them, and now they were about to kill their own Messiah!
Yahuwshuwa even explained this in the "Parable of the Husbandmen & the Vineyard," from Matthew 21:33-43 where he likened the inhabitants of Jerusalem to "husbandmen or keepers of the vineyard."
In this parable, the owner of the vineyard is the Heavenly Father, and he had sent his servants and prophets to harvest his grapes. But these wicked husbandmen who worked for the vineyard owner beat, killed and stoned to death his servants. But when the owner sent his own son, they killed him also thinking that they would be able to seize upon his inheritance and keep it for themselves. The judgement that ensued was that these wicked husbandmen would have the kingdom taken away from them and it would be given to a nation that would bear fruit and bring it to the Heavenly Father. In other words, the Gentiles!
It was exactly forty years from Yahuwshuwa's sacrificial death on the cross, until the Romans came with a flood and destroyed the city and the sanctuary (Daniel 9:26). And it is Yahuwshuwa himself who allows this desolation to continue right up until the CONSUMMATION. And what happens on a wedding night? The married couple "consummates their marriage covenant!"
The Hebrew word "consummation" in Daniel 9:27 is defined as follows: Strong's #H3617 – kalah: completion, termination, full end, complete destruction, consumption, annihilation.
The dictionary defines this word as: the act of consummating; the consummation of a contract by mutual signature; specifically, the consummating of a marriage. Synonyms for the word "consummation" are: close, closing, conclusion, finale, end, end-game, ending, finish, grand finale, home stretch, windup, wrap-up.
In Daniel 9:27, we see then that this "desolation" of Jerusalem continues right up until "The Marriage Supper of the Lamb" in Revelation 19:7 which will take place on Yom Kippur! At the same time that the bridegroom is consummating with his bride, is when these wicked husbandmen will be totally destroyed and brought to an end.
Jerusalem will continue to be desolate right up until the wedding night when Yahuwshuwa consummates the marriage covenant with his bride. There will be two weddings during what is called "The Ten Days of Awe" which are ten days between "The Feast of Trumpets" and "The Day of Atonement.
The first group of people who will be "taken" into the marriage on Yom Teruw'ah (Feast of Trumpets) are the "born-again" believers in Messiah typified in "Leah." Leah was the firstborn daughter of Laban and also she was the first to marry Ya'aqob (Jacob). Leah was the only wife to be buried with her husband Jacob, (Genesis 49:31), but Rachel was not buried with Jacob. What does this signify? Leah is a prophetic picture of those who are "buried in baptism" with their bridegroom---in other words, they are born-again!
In Romans 6:4 & Colossians 2:12, we are told that the bride of Messiah is "buried with him in baptism." Hence, Leah is the first bride who will be "caught up" to meet him in the air at the "last trump" on the Day of Blowing (1st Thessalonians 4:17, 1st Corinthians 15:51-53). Leah became the mother of the ten sons of Jacob after Rachel died, to include the sons of Zilpah & Bilhah. And so Leah represents "The Ten Northern Tribes" of Yisra'el known as "Ephrayim."
Conversely, Rachel represents the bride who has not been "born-again" yet by the blood of the Lamb, because Rachel was not buried with her husband Jacob. Hence, she represents "The Two Southern Tribes the House of Judah."
Even though Leah gave birth to Judah, and Rachel was the grandmother of Ephrayim, the families end up switching places in the end. This is the reason why Jacob crossed his hands over in Genesis 48:14.
A kingdom principle that is seen throughout the scriptures is that "The first becomes the last and the last becomes the first" (Mark 10:31); Another variation of this principle is "The older shall serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23, Romans 9:12). And yet another variation is "The greatest becomes the least and the least becomes the greatest" (Luke 9:48, Matthew 13:32). Hence, Rachel's two sons (who were fewer in number than Leah's sons) end up becoming greater in the last days, when they join themselves together with the sons of Leah and the two shall become one house again at Messiah's return.
When Joseph had a dream that eleven of his brothers would bow down to him and serve him, he was a prophetic picture of the Messiah in the last days. All of Joseph's brothers end up being ruled by the Messiah and his corporate government body called "The man-child" (Ephesians 2:15, Revelation 12:5).
This corporate group called "The one new man" will rule and reign with Messiah for a thousand years, and they are the very same corporate man-child in Revelation 12 born to the woman (Jerusalem) in the last days. This one-new-man-child is represented by The House of Ephrayim, as he will receive a "new name" when he is "born-again" into incorruption/immortality (Revelation 3:12).
When The House of Ephrayim is resurrected, he will become "one stick" with The House of Judah and he will be renamed by the same tribe of his Messiah which is "The Tribe of Yahuwdah" (Judah) according to Ezekiel 37:16-17.
In Revelation 3:12, those from the House of Ephrayim who overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony will have the name of YaHuWaH their Elohiym "written" upon them as well as the name of the city of the New Jerusalem. You see, YaHuWaH has chosen to "place his name" in his holy city, Jerusalem. This is why the elect are given the name of his holy city, because the name of his city also bears his name as well! (Deuteronomy 16:2; 16:6; 1st Kings 11:36; 2nd Kings 21:4-7; 2nd Kings 23:27; 2nd Chronicles 6:6 2nd Chronicles 33:4-7).
Hence, we can see that Leah represents the bride who gives birth to "The one-new-man-child" (Jewish & Gentile believers in Messiah). But Rachel represents the bride who was "barren" at first (Genesis 30:1 & Isaiah 54:1). Rachel has not born spiritual children, for she has not accepted Yahuwshuwa as her Messiah as of yet. Rachel represents the corporate bride of the Yahuwdiy (Jews) who are still living under the "Old Covenant" and they have not accepted "the blood of the Lamb" as atonement for their sins as of yet.
Rachel represents the Jewish people in the last days who do not take "The Mark of the Beast" and because of this, they will be "sealed" in the forehead in advance until their day of redemption. What qualifies them to be sealed? It is because they will "sigh and cry at the abominations" that are being done in the last days in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 9:4 & Revelation 7:3).
In Leviticus 16, the annual sacrifices on Yom Kippur in the Temple involve the blood of two different animals being mixed together and then sprinkled on the mercy seat. The blood of a "bullock" (symbolic of Ephrayim & Leah) was mixed together with the blood of the "goat" which is (symbolic of Judah & Rachel).
Interestingly the name Leah in Hebrew means "weak-eyed" but it also means "cow," and the name Rachel in Hebrew means "lamb."And so we can see the symbolism for "The Two Houses of Yisra'el" (Ephrayim & Judah) coming back together at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Our Messiah will make these two families as "one blood" and they shall no longer be two separate houses. The prophet Isaiah speaks of this phenomenon:
Yeshayahuw (Isaiah) 11:13 The envy also of Ephrayim shall depart, and the adversaries of Yahuwdah (Judah) shall be cut off: Ephrayim shall not envy Yahuwdah (Judah), and Yahuwdah (Judah) shall not vex Ephrayim.
Jacob was tricked by his father-in-law Laban into marrying both sisters, which is actually against the Towrah:
These two families will finally live in harmony with one another when Messiah returns! This is why the animal pieces in Abraham's covenant were "divided" in order to restore the "schism" in both houses! And this is also why "in the midst of the week" the last seven years of Daniel's 70th Week was "divided" into two parts of 3 ½ years! Our Messiah fulfilled only "half" of Daniel's 70th Week and then he will fulfill the other "half" through his Two Witnesses, so that both families will no longer be "divided!"
In Daniel 9:27, what is determined against Jerusalem? "Desolation is determined," because it was already determined by our Messiah Yahuwshuwa and the prophets. But what caused them to be made desolate? It was because they rejected the sacrifice of their Messiah. The House of Judah crucified him and proclaimed "let his blood be on us."
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
Luqas (Luke) 23:21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.
In the Hebrew Strong's Concordance, the word for "cease" in Daniel 9:27 is #7673 as follows:
#7673 shabath shaw-bath' a primitive root; to repose, i.e. desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causative, figurative or specific):--(cause to, let, make to) cease, celebrate, cause (make) to fail, keep (sabbath), suffer to be lacking, leave, put away (down), (make to) rest, rid, still, take away.
The word "cease" in Daniel 9:27 is synonymous with "fail, suffer to be lacking; rest" and it can also imply something that is "figurative."
Our Messiah's death on the cross was meant to sanctify the altar in the Temple, thereby making the "evening and morning oblations" acceptable before YaHuWaH. However, since the leadership of the House of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did not recognize him as their Messiah, the daily sacrifices were no longer "acceptable" to YaHuWaH. Even though they continued to offer them, the evening and morning oblations "failed" in their purpose.
Had they accepted his atonement, the "evening and morning oblations" would have then been done as an act of worship, acceptable before YaHuWaH. They would've done these as a "memorial" of his death, burial, and resurrection and not as a substitute for sin.
Bemidbar (Numbers) 19:2 This is the ordinance of the Towrah (law) which YHWH has commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Yisra'el, that they bring you a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:
Yahuwshuwa therefore is the one who caused the sacrifice and oblation to "cease" to be "acceptable" before YaHuWaH.
He was "cut off in the midst of the week" (Passover Week) as well as in the middle of the seven years spoken of in Daniel 9:26-27. Do you remember the patriarch Jacob? Jacob loved only one woman---Rachel. However, he was tricked into marrying Leah (her older sister). When he discovered that he had married Leah instead of Rachel, he confronted Laban (his father-in-law) and essentially asked him "why did you trick me?" This was the reply that Laban gave him:
Bereshiyth (Genesis) 29:
What we see here is a pattern of Yahuwshuwa working for "one week" (seven years) for his beloved Rachel (The House of Judah), but he did not get what he worked for. In the same way, our Messiah did not get what he came for:
Yahuwchanon (John) 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Which Covenant Did Messiah Confirm?
In order to understand the continuity of the "Everlasting Covenant," we must go back to the beginning in the first book of the Bible called "Bereshiyth" (Genesis), which literally means "in the beginning." YaHuWaH first established a covenant with Abraham, and his seed, Yitzchaq (Isaac), and then Isaac had twins by Rebekah (Esau & Jacob). And then finally, Ya'aqob (Jacob) had twelve sons by his two wives, Rachel & Leah and their maids. Jacob's favorite son born to him by his beloved Rachel was Yahuwceph (Joseph), and it is through him that we begin to see the future of Yisra'el begin to unfold.
The patriarch Yahuwceph (Joseph) was sent far away in a Gentile nation (Egypt) and he was estranged from his father and eleven brothers. Joseph was a prophetic "type" of our Messiah whose "gospel" was sent to the Gentile nations after his brothers (the nation of Yisra'el) rejected his message. When Joseph was in Egypt he was given a "hidden name" by the Pharoah (Zaphnath-paaneah).
Our Messiah was also given a hidden name by the pagan masses which began as Y'Zeus by the Greeks (spelled as Iesous in the Septuagint) and then Constantine changed it to "Hesus Krishna" and then finally, it was spelled as "Jesus" by the English translators when the letter "J" was added to the alphabet in the 1500's. To see more evidence for this, see my blog entitled: "Does the Name Jesus Really Come From Zeus?"
Joseph was also given an Egyptian (Gentile) bride by Pharaoh. In the same way, our Messiah was given a Gentile bride (the Christian Church) and their offspring became "a multitude of nations" just like Ephrayim & Manasseh.
However, Joseph's two sons (Ephrayim & Manasseh) born to him by the Egyptian woman were also grafted into the "Twelve Tribes" of Yisra'el by their grandfather Ya'aqob (Jacob-Yisra'el) when he declared "Let my name be named upon them" (Genesis 48:16).
Jacob gave his grandson Ephrayim the inheritance of the entire "House of Yisra'el" which includes Rachel's two sons, as well as Leah's ten sons when he declared that Ephrayim would become "a multitude of nations" (Genesis 48:19). Jacob also declared that Joseph was going to receive "a double portion" (one extra portion) above his brethren from his inheritance.
Joseph's inheritance would later on be realized through his youngest son Ephrayim when the good news of Messiah was preached to the nations. This is how Ephrayim became the tribal leader over "all the house of Yisra'el and his [gentile] companions" (Ezekiel 37:16). Ephrayim's name actually means "double fruit" in Hebrew, and though he was the youngest, and the "least" fruitful spiritually, he would later on become "born-again" through Messiah's blood. This is when he would finally live up to the prophecy spoken over him that he would be called "My firstborn" of our Heavenly Father (Jeremiah 31:9).
Leah's son Judah is to this day the "law-giver" over the "children of Yisra'el" or the literal descendants of Jacob. However, Ephrayim represents "all the house of Yisra'el" which is not only the literal descendants of Jacob, but also the "gentiles" who are then added to the "house" or the family by becoming "grafted into" the olive tree (Yisra'el) through hearing the good news of Messiah.
In Ezekiel 37:16 we see the language being used of "The children of Yisra'el" when it describes "the stick of Judah," yet we see the language of "All the house of Yisra'el" when the "stick of Ephrayim" is being described. What is the distinction? The term "children" refers to Jacob's literal twelve sons and Judah was their spiritual leader for he is their "law-giver." And then we have the "house" of Yisra'el which refers to the "added members" of the family through the engrafting process.
Later on in 1st Kings 12, we can see that there was a division that took place when the "Two Houses" of Yisra'el became two separate nations. The Ten Northern Tribes were ruled under King Jeroboam and the Two Southern Tribes were then ruled under King Rehoboam (Solomon's son).
In the last days however, these Two Houses of Yisra'el are brought back together as "one house" through our Messiah, Yahuwshuwa.
Our Messiah's off-spring by the Gentile woman in the nations is like Joseph's youngest son Ephrayim. After the Two Kingdoms of Yisra'el split in 1st Kings 12, the House of Ephrayim became known for their rebellion and their idolatry with pagan sun-god worship. The same thing is true even to this day with the Christian Church. They are still following pagan holidays just like the ones instituted by King Jeroboam, only now it is through the Papacy who instituted: Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, Halloween, Sunday Sabbath etc.
Yirmeyahuw (Jeremiah) 31:31 Behold, the days come, says YHWH, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Yisra'el (Ephrayim), and with the house of Yahuwdah (Judah).
Yahuwshuwa was the Passover Lamb for Rachel (The House of Judah), but he was also the Red Heifer for Leah (The House of Ephrayim)!
And so now we get a better understanding of what he came to "confirm." You see after YaHuWaH divorced The Ten Northern Tribes of Yisra'el (Ephrayim), they were sent away into the nations and they became known as "Gentiles." The Hebrew word for "Gentile" literally means "a heathen nation."
It was because these other ten tribes were "outside the covenant" that the House of Judah thought it was their job to keep them out of the land instead of trying to win them back. And so the Rabbis invented man-made ordinances which prevented the Gentiles from "coming near" to the Temple of YaHuWaH.
These Gentiles had to remain "outside" of the outer court. This was to
insure that they did not "come near" so that they could "hear" the reading of the Mosaic Law (Towrah). Instead of giving these Gentiles a chance to repent and be restored back to the covenant, the House of Yahuwdah (Judah) built up a "middle wall of partition" around the outer court that would keep them out under punishment of death!
This was a Rabbinic ordinance referred to by Paul as "The law of commandments contained in ordinances" (Ephesians 2:15). This was against the Gentiles (the divorced tribes), and this is what our Messiah nailed to the cross! He did not nail the Mosaic Law (Towrah) to the cross!
This is how he "confirmed" the Renewed Covenant prophesied about in Jeremiah 31:31! When our Messiah died on the tree, the "law of divorce" (Deuteronomy 24:1-3) which prevented the lost tribes from returning to YaHuWaH also died with him, thereby allowing the divorced wife to return to the living husband when he resurrected! (See Romans 7:1-4). See the blog entitled: Dead to the "Letter," and Alive to the "Living Towrah!"
The Witness of "Three" in Daniel's 70th Week Prophecy
Thus we can apply the word "week" in Daniel 9:27 to more than just a literal seven-day calendar week. Since Elohiym created the earth in six days, and he rested on the seventh day, we know that there will be 6,000 biblical years from creation before Messiah returns to set up his kingdom as the "Sabbath Millennium."
When we look at the 7,000-year "week," our Messiah Yahuwshuwa came to earth in human form during the "4th Millennium" (the middle of the week). This is one layer of understanding of this prophecy. We can also see that Messiah died "in the middle of the week" (Passover week on the 4th day of the week, Wednesday). He also died in the middle of "Daniel's 70th Week" (in the middle of his 7-year ministry working for Rachel.)
Hence, Messiah died "in the midst of the week, within the week, within the week."
7,000 years = Messiah died in the 4th Millennium from creation (in the midst of the week of 7 Millennia).
7 years = Messiah died in the middle of a 7-year ministry of working for Rachel (like Jacob). His ministry was 3.5 years, and his "Two Witnesses" in Revelation 11 will pick up where he left off with a 3.5 year ministry (1,260 days). They will finish out the 7-year ministry of working for Rachel, but like Jacob, Messiah will first be married to the bride who typifies Leah. But at the end of the 7-days in between Yom Teruw'ah (Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Yahuwshuwa will also be married to the bride who typifies Rachel!
7 days = Messiah died in the middle of Passover Week on the 4th day of the week or Wednesday.
Hence, the 7th Day Sabbath points to our Messiah Yahuwshuwa!
What does the term "vain oblations" mean? It means "empty" or meaningless. Because the House of Judah rejected their Messiah, their evening and morning oblations were in vain:
Yeshayahuw (Isaiah) 1:13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Yah was already showing them that he would not accept their sacrifices of worship because they rejected his blood atonement. Isaiah prophesied about the day when Jerusalem would see her final destruction in the Roman Siege:
Yeshayahuw (Isaiah) 1:
The Forty-Year Yom Kippur Miracle
It is once per year on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) when the scapegoat is sent into the wilderness, that the children of Yisra'el find out if their names are written in The Lamb's Book of Life. If the sins of the nation were forgiven, Yah declared to them "The Acceptable Year of YaHuWaH." But if their sins as a nation were not forgiven, then they were "not acceptable" to YaHuWaH, and they had another year to get it right.
Yeshayahuw (Isaiah) 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of YHWH and the day of vengeance of our Elohiym; to comfort all that mourn;
Yahuwshuwa declared this in the synagogue on Yom Kippur in 26 C.E., at the beginning of his ministry (after his 40-day fast in the wilderness). It was at this time that he fulfilled the pattern of the scapegoat. As the sacrificial goat, his legal moment of death was his baptism (Romans 6:4). That is why Yahuwchanon (John) the Immerser (Baptizer) declared that he was the "Lamb of Elohiym who takes away the sin of the world." Now, if he took their sins away for that year, then why did he still judge them as a nation forty years later in the Roman Siege?
We can show through scripture that Yahuwshuwa fulfilled an intermediary fulfillment of the Day of Atonement aka Yom Kippur by being baptized forty days before and then he was led by the Holy Spirit to be tested on our behalf as the scapegoat. In other words, during the forty days of repentance leading up to Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Yahuwshuwa was being tempted for our sakes so that he could act as our intercessor to help us overcome sin. Not that he needed to overcome sin, but he stood in the gap for us! He was not a sinner, but he was a representation of "sinful man" when he was tempted in all things as we are yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
And since most uphold the Talmud to be as great as the Towrah (since they teach it is the Oral Towrah) this testimony should be that much more effective. In Yisra'el, before the time of Messiah, the priests were required to draw lots on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) to see whether or not YaHuWaH Elohiym would forgive them of their sins as a nation or not.
The priests would draw either a white stone (for YHWH) or a black stone (for the scapegoat) to determine what the goat would be used for. For the 200 years before 30 C.E., the white and black stones came up about even with each other (50/50 chance). But for the 40 years after 30 C.E., the black stone came up EVERY time! The chance of that happening is about 5.5 billion to 1.
On Yom Kippur, the High Priest reaches into the lottery box and chooses lots. Thus is determined which goat will be used as an offering to YaHuWaH, and which will be sent off to Azazel, as an atonement for the sins of the people. During the First Temple, the lots were fashioned of wood. In the time of the Second Temple, they were of gold. The lots pictured to the right are fashioned of both wood and gold. – The Temple Institute.
The priests would also take a red ribbon (symbolizing sin) and tie half around the horn of the scapegoat and tie half to the temple door. The scapegoat bore the sins of the nation of Yisra'el. If YaHuWaH forgave them of their sins, the red ribbon on the temple door would miraculously turn white. This was done in front of a large crowd to show them they had Elohiym's favor:
Yeshayahuw (Isaiah) 1:18 Come now, let us reason together, says YaHuWaH. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Since 30 C.E., the ribbon stopped turning white as snow; this is also recorded in the Talmud:
Yoma 39b "Our rabbis taught: During the last forty years before the destruction of the Temple the lot [For YHWH] did not come up in the right hand; nor did the crimson-colored strap become white; nor did the western most light shine; and the doors of the Hekel [Temple] would open by themselves."
There is only one possible explanation for this: Because Yahuwshuwa ha'Mashiyach was the perfect sin sacrifice and died in 30 C.E.!
Ibriym (Hebrews) 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Only his blood can truly atone for our sins, and once he paid that price, animal sacrifice was worthless. Not that animal blood ever did take sins away, because it never did! Our Messiah was always that lamb slain from the foundations of the world (Revelation 13:8). Therefore, his sacrifice in eternity past was being illustrated for us all of those years in the earthly temple!
Ibriym (Hebrews) 10:4-6 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he comes into the world, he says, Sacrifice and offering you would not, but a body have you prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you have had no pleasure.
This was all done as a rehearsal for things to come, so Yisra'el would recognize the true Messiah when He came.
Yeshayahuw (Isaiah) 1:11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? says YHWH: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
Another thing that is recorded in the Talmud is this historical mystery of the temple doors. The doors to the temple would swing open by themselves starting in 30 C.E. recorded in the Talmud:
Sota 6:3 Said Rabban Yohanan Ben Zakkai to the Temple, 'O Temple, why do you frighten us? We know that you will end up destroyed. For it has been said, 'Open your doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour your cedar.
Lastly, the most important was the menorah lamp that was to remain lit at all times, but it kept going out on its own accord. The priests went to all measures to insure it would stay lit but much to their futile efforts, the menorah kept going out.
Yahuwshuwa died for our sins and just like the book of Hebrews tells us, the priesthood changed. Messiah is now our High Priest and has given us access to the Father. In Genesis 14:18, the first priesthood was Melchizedek who met with Abraham who was always the priesthood in eternity, and he never disappeared. The Lewiytes (Levites) were simply an earthly representation of the priesthood that always existed in eternity.
It is significant that the temple was destroyed in 70 C.E, which was exactly forty years after Yahuwshuwa's death. YaHuWaH gave Yisra'el forty years to repent of their sins and to accept Yahuwshuwa as their Messiah. And when they did not, (in spite of all the signs he gave them), their probationary period ended in 70 C.E. and their temple and city was destroyed just as Yahuwshuwa prophesied. But why was there forty years between Messiah's sacrifice and the destruction of Jerusalem?
The number "forty" in scripture is a symbol of "testing" and also of "judgment." We see many places in scripture where the number forty was used to test mankind. We see that it rained "forty days and forty nights" in the flood of Noah's time (Genesis 7:12). The children of Yisra'el ate manna for "forty years" in the wilderness (Exodus 16:35). Moses was in the mountain and did not eat for "forty days and forty nights" while he communed with YaHuWaH and received the commandments (Exodus 34:28). In Joshua 5:6 we read that the Yisra'elites walked in the wilderness for "forty years." Jonah prophesied that Ninevah would be destroyed within "forty days" if they did not repent (Jonah 3:4). In Matthew 4:2 we read that our Messiah was tested for "forty days and forty nights" as he fasted and prayed for Yisra'el.
Yahuwshuwa fasted and prayed "a day for each year" for Yisra'el's rebellion, just like Ezekiel!
Yahuwshuwa fasted for 40 days to fulfill the 40 years that Yahuwdah (Judah) rejected him from 30 C.E. until 70 C.E. when he allowed the destruction of the temple. Just like Ezekiel, he bore the iniquity for the House of Judah a day for each year:
Yechezqel (Ezekiel) 4:
7 Therefore you shall set your face toward the siege of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), and thine arm shall be uncovered, and you shall prophesy against it.
Yahuwshuwa fasted one day for each year just like Ezekiel, and then he prophesied against Jerusalem that their generation would be destroyed 40 years later in the Roman Siege!
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 23:36-38 "O Yershalyim...behold your house is left to you desolate."
But he also displayed the role of the sacrificial lamb at his baptism because Yahuwchanon (John) called him "The Lamb of Elohiym that takes away the sin of the world…"
And so Yahuwshuwa fulfilled both the sacrificial lamb and the scapegoat during the forty days of repentance leading up to Yom Kippur!
But when he emerged out of the wilderness, he acted as the "High Priest" who would declare "The Acceptable Year of YaHuWaH" on behalf of the nation!
In the year 26 C.E., when he began his ministry, he emerged from the wilderness and he had turned "thirty years old" during this time according to the Towrah. He not only fulfilled the role of the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat, but he also became the "High Priest" that year who was the perfect and sinless priest whose intercession was perfect.
Yahuwshuwa is the one who would make their sacrifices of worship either "acceptable" or "not acceptable."
If their sins were forgiven as a nation, and their sins washed by the blood of the Lamb, then Yah would have accepted their evening and morning oblations of worship. But because their sins remained for rejecting his sacrifice, hence their oblations and sacrifices were unacceptable to him.
Therefore, it is not the Anti-Messiah (Antichrist) who "confirms the covenant," because the word for "covenant" in Daniel 9:27 is as follows:
#1285 briyth ber-eeth' from #1262: in the sense of cutting.
There are seven colors in a rainbow: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet. Each of these seven colors represent one of the seven covenants below. The rainbow will be completed when our Messiah returns and fulfills the Sabbath Millennium for 1,000 years. That is when the "Everlasting Covenant" will commence in the 8th Millennium. This "everlasting covenant" is a term used to describe all of these other seven covenants. Let's see what they are:
1.) The Adamic Covenant: Genesis 3:15
Now we understand why our Messiah's blood covenant was so important! In order for YaHuWaH to show us that his covenants are truly "everlasting" with all of mankind, something had to be sacrificed! And what did he sacrifice? Himself!
The night before his crucifixion he said "This is the blood of my covenant shed for MANY!"
You see, animal blood could never actually "confirm" any of YaHuWaH's covenants. Those animal sacrifices done from the beginning only meant to serve as "shadows" of the once-and-for-all true blood sacrifice of our Messiah from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).
No other place in scripture do we find that the Anti-Messiah "confirms" a covenant for one week. We must have "two or three witnesses" elsewhere in scripture to make a doctrine out of the "seven-year tribulation" theory. Yet, theologians build a doctrine around this idea that the Antichrist forms a seven-year peace treaty based solely on Daniel 9:27 without any corroboration from the other scriptures.
It is this "Everlasting Covenant" that is used to describe all the other covenants that YaHuWaH made with mankind. Our Messiah came to confirm them all with the shedding of his own blood "for one week," which was Passover Week!
Jacob had worked for Rachel for "seven years" or a "shebuwah" and this is what is meant by the term "Jacob's Time of Trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7) but as the prophecy indicates, "he shall be saved out of it!"
The Hebrew word for "trouble" is:
This is precisely why our Messiah was "cut off in the midst of the week" or in the middle of Jacob's seven years of trouble. In the same way that our Messiah was "cut off" during the midst of these seven years, so shall the bride be saved during the middle of these seven years:
Mattithyahuw (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.
Marqos (Mark) 13:20 And except that YHWH had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he has chosen, he has shortened the days.
Enmity & Rivalry Causes a Breach in the House
Jacob worked for Rachel for seven years, just as Yahuwshuwa will work for his beloved bride for a total of "seven years." I have often wondered why Ya'aqob (Jacob) worked for two periods of seven years for his two brides (Rachel & Leah) for a total of 14 years, yet our Messiah only works for half of that period.
I also wondered why Yahuwceph (Joseph) worked for Pharaoh for two periods of seven years as well (seven years of plenty followed by seven years famine). Why did our Messiah have a ministry that lasted for 3.5 years followed by another 3.5 years in the future by his Two Witnesses? And why is there a 2,000-year gap between these two periods of 3.5 years?
The Gap Theory
Some people have argued against the idea of there being a "gap" during the last seven years of "Daniel's 70th Week," but I believe we can prove that there is a 2,000-year gap between two periods of 3.5 years "In the midst of Daniel's 70th Week." Now let us consider the 2,000-year gap between the first fulfillment of Yom Kippur at our Messiah's first coming in Luke 4 and his second coming on Yom Kippur in Revelation 19.
In Luke 4:19, Yahuwshuwa read only "half" of Isaiah 61:2 when he declared that he had come "to preach the acceptable year of YaHuWaH." He then closed the scroll and gave it to the minister and said to the people present in the synagogue: "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears."
However, Isaiah 61:2 has a second part to it that he did not read. What was it? "…and the day of vengeance of our Elohiym; to comfort all that mourn." So why did he not read the last part of this verse? Why did he stop dead in the middle of the verse? It is for the very same reason that he was "cut off in the midst of the week, causing the sacrifice and oblation to fail to be accepted!"
There is a 2,000-year gap between the first Yom Kippur that he fulfilled at the beginning of his ministry (when he had completed his 40-day fast in the wilderness), and the second Yom Kippur that he will fulfill at his second coming!
In Revelation 19:2 we see how he is going to fulfill the "Day of Vengeance" for his beloved bride: "…For true and righteous are his judgments: for he has judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand…"
Here is another example of a "gap" in prophecy. In Acts 2:17-21, the Apostle Keefa (Peter) announced the beginning of the end-time fulfillment of the prophecy in Joel 2:28-32, even though much of it has yet to be fulfilled just before the second coming of Messiah!
A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand
The answer to this question has eluded me for almost 30 years, but now in recent times, I have begun to understand why our Messiah only fulfilled "half" of "Daniel's 70th Week" with two 3.5-year periods of ministry and why it was only "half" the amount of time that Jacob & Joseph both served (14 years each). The reason why is because both Houses of Yisra'el have been "divided in half!"
Solomon Divides the Inheritance, the Living Son
Have you ever been baffled over the fact that King Solomon was ready to slice a baby in half with a sword? When I first read this, it seemed barbaric to me, that he would even think of such a thing. However, there is a much deeper meaning to this story than meets the eye.
1st Melakiym (Kings) 3:16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
*Note: This story has familiar language to the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:5-9. Do you recognize it yet? In both of these stories the women arose at midnight. The foolish woman who stole the baby from the wise woman is the same as the foolish virgins who had no oil in their lamps and they wanted to borrow the oil from the wise virgins. Listen to the similar language:
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 25:5-6 "While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept….And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him."
The dead son represents the crucified Messiah, but the living son represents the resurrected Messiah who is able to redeem these two harlots. But if the living son was killed, neither of them could be redeemed. This is why Messiah had a ministry of seven years that was divided in half! By dividing his ministry in half, and having a gap of 2,000 years for the Gentiles, it gave the Two Houses of Yisra'el a chance to see how foolishly they were behaving by rivaling with one another. Only those who humble themselves will receive the living son---the resurrected Messiah, and thereby have their inheritance and their land redeemed!
In this story, the child represents the inheritance, and as long as both women are in rivalry, the kingdom will continue to be divided and it cannot stand! So in order to test these women to see who deserves to inherit the "one new man-child," or in other words "the double portion" (a living son), they must go through "tribulation!" In other words, they must go through a period of testing to see whose heart is true to the covenant and this means a "time, times, and a dividing of times" (Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 12:14).
9 And YHWH was angry with Shelomo (Solomon), because his heart was turned from YHWH Elohiym of Yisra'el, which had appeared unto him twice,
10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which YHWH commanded.
11 Wherefore YHWH said unto Shelomo (Solomon), Forasmuch as this is done of you, and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely rend the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant.
12 Notwithstanding in your days I will not do it for Dawiyd (David) your father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of your son.
13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to your son for Dawiyd (David) my servant's sake, and for Yerushalayim (Jerusalem)'s sake which I have chosen.
Now we can understand why the entire Kingdom of Yisra'el & Judah was about to be dealt a crushing blow in 70 C.E. under General Titus. The Kingdom of Judah continued in the same idolatry as Solomon and our Messiah prophesied that their kingdom would be finally be destroyed as he gave them ample time to repent, but they did not:
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 12:25 And Yahuwshuwa knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
Now we can understand the reason for there being three animal sacrifices with the Abrahamic Covenant, and why the animal pieces had to be "divided in half!"
In Genesis 38, we read about Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Judah, and her husband Er died leaving her childless. Judah gave her his other son Onan, but Onan refused to do the duty of a kinsman redeemer by raising up seed for his dead brother, therefore YaHuWaH slew him. Then Judah promised to send his son Shelah when he was grown up, but Judah himself ended up becoming the kinsman redeemer when Tamar dressed like a harlot and tricked him. Judah then impregnated Tamar and she bore twins by him:
Bereshiyth (Genesis) 38:
30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zerach (Zarah).
In this story, the name of the twin "Perets" means "breach" and the name of the other twin "Zerach" means "rising of light," and he is the one who bore the scarlet thread to symbolize the Yom Kippur sacrificial goat! In other words, Zerach symbolizes Messiah who would later on "repair the breach" caused by the other twin who symbolizes the scapegoat who was sent away because of idolatry!
In other words both houses at one point had been sent away to the nations because of idolatry and both Houses of Yisra'el (Judah & Ephrayim) have been guilty of causing a breach or a gap in the covenant! YaHuWaH foreknew that this would happen, so he established the Abrahamic Covenant in advance for three groups of people as I mentioned at the beginning of this article.
In these last days, when the born-again Gentiles forsake the Mother Harlot Church system, and they begin to obey the Towrah, that is when they will "sojourn" back to Jerusalem with these Two Houses of Yisra'el (Judah & Ephrayim) and they shall be the ones who cause the breach to be repaired!
Yeshayahuw (Isaiah) 58:12 And they that shall be of you shall build the old waste places: you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
Repairers of the Breach
In order to repair the breach in the covenant with both houses, YaHuWaH commanded Abraham to divide the animal pieces because he knew that in the future the Two Houses of Yisra'el would also become divided. What did these animal pieces represent in Genesis 15?
The "ram" always symbolizes "the firstborn son" because in Genesis 22:13, when Abraham was about to offer up his son Yitzchaq (Isaac) on the altar, YaHuWaH sent a substitute offering which was a ram. This is why the ram symbolizes all those who are "born-again of incorruptible seed" through the blood of Messiah.
The "bullock" represents the House of Ephrayim, because Ephrayim is likened unto a bullock in prophecy (Jeremiah 31:18; Deuteronomy 33:17). The "goat" represents the House of Judah, (Zechariah 10:3). And finally, the turtledove and the pigeon represent the "birds of prey" that will eat the flesh of all those who rejected Messiah in the last days (Revelation 19:21).
When the fowls came down on the divided pieces, Abraham had to drive them away, because they symbolized the adversary, the devil who has always wanted to devour the inheritance.
This is why YaHuWaH "walked between the pieces," (to close the gap in the divided house). And this is why Messiah divided the seven years for Rachel into two periods of 3.5 years. And this is why there has been a 2,000-year gap between both covenants and the restoration of both houses.
This 2,000-year gap is called "The fullness of the Gentiles" (Romans 11:25). The purpose of this gap was to accomplish the very same thing that King Solomon accomplished when he tested these two harlots to see who was the genuine mother.
In Revelation 12:1-5, there is a woman who gives birth to a "man-child." Who is this woman? Well, you see, this prophecy has a "dual fulfillment." At the first coming of Messiah, the woman in Revelation 12 was Miryam, his mother and he is the literal man-child. However before his second coming, the woman in Revelation 12 is Jerusalem "the mother of us all" (Galatians 4:26), and the man-child is the "one new man" described by Paul in Ephesians 2:15.
This one new man consists of born-again Yahuwdiym (Jews) as well as born-again Gentile converts. Like the two harlots that were tested by King Solomon, the true mother of this child was willing to forfeit her inheritance so that the son might live. The other woman was not the genuine mother because she only cared for her own interests. Thus, the true bride of Messiah only cares for the sheep as she lays down her life for them just as our Messiah did (John 10:15).
When these two harlots realized that their rivalry would result in neither one of them having an inheritance, the real mother revealed herself. Similarly, YaHuWaH has caused this 2,000-year gap to exist to test both Houses of Yisra'el in order to show them how foolish they have been to allow division and sibling rivalry in the house. As a result, neither house has the inheritance, but the Gentiles now have what they were meant to have all along which is "the living son!"
When Jacob gave the blessing that belonged to Reuben and Simeon (his two oldest sons) to Joseph's sons Ephrayim & Manesseh, they were greatly humbled by this and they suddenly realized that their jealousy and rivalry would cost them their inheritance to the heathen nations. Joseph's sons were regarded as Gentiles because they were born in Egypt and so the original sons of Jacob did not inherit the blessing because of their sibling rivalry. In these last 2,000 years we have seen a "gap or a breach" between both Houses of Yisra'el, but now in these last days, that breach is about to be repaired. What does the word "breach" mean in prophecy?
Strong's Concordance #H6556. perets breach, gap, bursting forth; bursting forth, outburst; breach; broken wall; outburst (fig. of God's wrath); a break (literally or figuratively):--breach, breaking forth (in), forth, gap.
Once, again, they are the House of Ephrayim (Yisra'el), the House of Yahuwdah (Judah) & the Gentile converts. In this parable, there has to be a full "leavening process" of the good news of Messiah, before the "fullness of the Gentiles" is accomplished. And once this happens, the breach or the gap will be completely repaired between both Houses of Yisra'el. When both houses realize how "full" the Gentiles have become as a result of their jealousy and sibling rivalry, they will stop fighting and they will become one again:
Yeshahyahuw (Isaiah) 30:26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that YHWH binds up the breach of his people, and heals the stroke of their wound.
Yeshayahuw (Isaiah) 58:12 And they that shall be of you shall build the old waste places: you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
Yirmeyahuw (Jeremiah) 14:17 Therefore you shall say this word unto them; Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.
Eykah (Lamentations) 2:13 What thing shall I take to witness for you? what thing shall I liken to you, O daughter of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem)? what shall I equal to you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Tziyown (Zion)? for your breach is great like the sea: who can heal you?
Amowc (Amos) 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
Yahuwshuwa already fulfilled the first half of the last seven years of Daniels 70th Week at his first coming, but his Two Witnesses will fulfill the latter half of his ministry for 1,260 days (Revelation 11:4) leading up to his second coming. When these Two Witnesses are killed at the end of the tribulation, and then resurrected, they will also be "born" to the woman (Jerusalem) who is "the mother of us all" (Galatians 4:26). See my other article entitled: "Tribulation versus Wrath."
This "corporate man-child" is none other than what the Apostle Sha'uwl (Paul) talked about when he said that both Jewish & Gentile believers would come together as "one new man" (Ephesians 2:15). The "Two Witnesses" in the last days will come together bearing the anointing of Mosheh & Eliyahuw (Moses & Elijah). This is what is known as the "double portion anointing." The Two Witnesses are not merely two individual men, but they are two groups of people identified as "two olive trees" (Ephrayim & Judah) and "two candlesticks" (Smyrna & Philadelphia) or the two overcoming congregations (Revelation 1:20).
In Romans 11:25, the Apostle Sha'uwl spoke about "the fullness of the Gentiles" and he said that Yisrael's "blindness" would be healed after the Gentiles come into the "fullness" of their identity as Yisra'elites. You see, both Houses of Yisra'el are "blinded in part." The House of Ephrayim are still blinded to their true identity as Yisra'elites. Like the first Ephrayim born in Egypt to a Gentile woman in a pagan land, he did not realize that he was an Yisra'elite until his grandfather said to he and his brother Manasseh "let my name be named upon them."
When Ephrayim stops behaving as a Gentile and he stops celebrating pagan holidays and customs, he will then come into his "fullness" and his blindness will be healed! Beloved this is the same blindness that exists in the Christian Churches!
When Ephrayim's blindness is healed, then his older brother Yahuwdah (Judah) will then be "provoked to jealousy" and that is when the "sister rivalry" will begin between Rachel & Leah. In order for both houses of Yisra'el to be saved, there has to be a "time of rivalry" or a time of tribulation, as seen by the Hebrew definition for "trouble" which is "tsarah" (sister rivalry).
You see, both houses of Yisra'el cannot be saved unless they go through the tribulation period of sister rivalry! In other words those in the Christian Churches (The Lost Sheep of the House of Yisra'el) must first come out of Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots to embrace their true identity as Yisra'el before they can begin to provoke their other sister Rachel (the Jews) to jealousy!
And when this happens, it will result in "riches to the rest of the world!" (Romans 11:12).
These "two olive branches" (wild and natural) will finally see that they are truly of Abraham's seed through Messiah regardless of culture, religion or DNA. In Malachi 4:4 we are shown that the Spirit of Eliyahuw (Elijah) was sent to accomplish this. We are told that he will "restore the hearts of the fathers to the children." This means that the children of Yisra'el have been "lost" to the true heart of the Heavenly Father as well as the fathers of our faith, Abraham, Isaac & Jacob.
These "children" are Ephrayim who thought they were "Gentiles" or foreigners but through the blood of Messiah, they are "brought near" (Ephesians 2:15) and when these children in all the nations discover that their identity is with Yisra'el, then the other House of Judah (symbolic of Rachel, the barren woman) will also be saved!
But before the Spirit of Eliyahuw (Elijah) can restore the children of Yisra'el back to the heart of the Father, we are told that they must first:
In the final analysis, we can see that the true Messiah is the one who confirmed the Abrahamic Covenant for "one week" or a "shebuwah" (a period of seven).
Yet, will the false Messiah try to mimic the genuine Messiah by forming a "seven-year peace treaty?" Yes! I do believe that he will attempt to imitate what our Messiah has already done.
The Vatican will establish a fake a seven-year peace treaty in order to create a diversion to throw people off, thereby causing the Jewish people to believe that he is the one who is fulfilling Daniel 9:27. And when this happens, they will believe that their awaited Messiah has finally come, rather than Yahuwshuwa ha'Mashiyach who has already begun to confirm the covenant for a seven-year period that was cut in half. The true Messiah will finish these seven years through his Two Witnesses in the last days. But at the same time, concurrently, the false Messiah will invent a seven-year peace treaty:
Daniel 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
In the above passage, the word for "peace" is not the usual word that is used in Hebrew which is "shalowm." In this passage, a different word is used for "peace" which is "shalvah" (#H7962) which means the following:
#7962. shalvah shal-vaw' from 7951; security (genuine or false):--abundance, peace (-ably), prosperity, quietness.
#7951. shalah shaw-law' or shalav (Job 3:26) {shaw-lav'}; a primitive root; to be tranquil, i.e. secure or successful:--be happy, prosper, be in safety.
As you can see, this word can mean either a genuine or a false peace:
1st Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
As of October 19th 2013, Pope Francis has made an astonishing announcement:
The Anti-Messiah will pretend to confirm this covenant with Yisra'el when the third Jewish Temple is seen once again in Jerusalem, and the "abomination of desolation" is set up. When this happens, the prophetic time clock of Daniel's Seventieth Week will once again begin to tick. And from this point, and moving onward, the "Two Witnesses" will have a corporate ministry that will duplicate the Messiah's ministry for 3.5 years (Revelation 11:4).
Concurrently, the Anti-Messiah will have a false ministry of blasphemy for 42 months (Revelation 13:5). Our Messiah told us precisely when the "great tribulation" will commence:
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 24:15-21: "…When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand)….For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."
And so the final time-period which is called "the time of trouble" or the "great tribulation" is only going to be for "a time, times and a half times" as recorded by Daniel & the Apostle John (Daniel 12:7, Revelation 12:14). The Hebrew word for "time" is #4050 mow`ed, which means "conventionally a year." And so we can ascertain that this peculiar phrase means a period of 3.5 years:
Time = one year, Times = 2 years, and a half times = 6 months = 3.5 years.
This agrees with the other scriptures that tell us that the "time of trouble" is either 1,260 days, or 42 months. This time of trouble will last right up until the "consummation" of the wedding between Messiah and his bride. Thus we can see that Daniel 9:27 is not talking about the Anti-Messiah confirming some kind of seven-year peace treaty. It is talking about Yahuwshuwa who confirms the covenant with many for one week.
But why do so many theologians believe that the "he" in Daniel 9:27 is talking about the Antichrist? They take this verse and they somehow extract the "Prince" as being the Antichrist who was General Titus ruled under Nero Caesar the Roman Prince:
Daniy'el (Daniel) 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
You will notice, however that there are only two subjects in the above verse. Who are they? They are "Messiah" and "the people" and what about "the prince?" Is he a "subject" in this verse according to English Grammar? No, the "prince" is the pronoun as he describes who "the people" belong to. "The people of the prince" is describing the word "they" not the word "he."
Therefore, the "he" in Daniel 9:27 cannot be describing a group of people from the prince! The "he" in Daniel 9:27 can only be referring to the last "he" spoken of in Daniel 9:26 which is "Messiah."
So let us hear the conclusion of the matter:
1.)There is no place in scripture describing a seven-year peace treaty or a covenant being confirmed by an Antichrist leader, and furthermore, there had to already be a covenant established in the first place in order for it to be "confirmed."
2.) There is only "one covenant" spoken of all throughout scripture, which binds the other intermediate covenants together, and that is the one and only covenant called "the everlasting covenant."
3.) The word in Daniel 9:27 for "covenant" is briyth which means to pass between the pieces, to cut or circumcise and we have only seen this happening with the Abrahamic Covenant. Also, the true Messiah sacrificed himself for us, by allowing himself to be pierced (cut), but the Anti-Messiah will not offer up himself as a sacrifice.
The Hebrew word "briyth" for "covenant" is most often used to describe the original covenant with Abraham and not generally used to describe a peace treaty. There is only one place in Isaiah 28:15 where the term "covenant of death" is used, but still no mention of an Anti-Messiah leader in that passage.
4.) English grammar would necessitate that we apply the word "he" to the last subject spoken of which is Messiah in Daniel 9:26. The people are a "they" not a "he" and the "people of the prince" describes the people who come from the prince, therefore the subject is "the people."
5.) It is Yahuwshuwa who declared that Jerusalem would become "desolate" as he echoed the prophecies in the 1st chapter of Isaiah. Therefore, the Antichrist has no power to make Jerusalem desolate. The desolation comes because of the words spoken by the Messiah.
6.) Yahuwshuwa said the night before his crucifixion that he was confirming his covenant "with many" and this is perfectly in line with Daniel 9:27.


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May 14, 2012
Choreograph This!
One of those things that annoy me to no end right now is when someone says something along the lines of, "Skater X deserves higher Choreography marks in PCS because his/her choreography is more difficult," or variations on such a statement. Well, crack open the proverbial rulebook and you will find that according to the official ISU gospel, 'difficulty' is actually not mentioned even once in the Choreography/Composition section of the official Program Components explanations. Choreography is defined by the ISU as "an intentional, developed, and/or original arrangement of all movements according to the principles of proportion, unity, space, pattern, structure, and phrasing"...ergo, according to the rules, how well the skater's choreographed movements communicate and express the idea and concept of a program, how creative/original the choreography is, etc., is actually what is supposed to be evaluated when we speak of the choreography mark in figure skating.
Perhaps due to the furore over transitions of late, I've noticed that there's often a conflation of the two separate concepts of difficulty/quantity of transitional movements and good choreography. Of course, having lots of complex and difficult linking movements and in-between skating should be and is rewarded--but according to the rulebook, in the Transitions and Skating Skills (e.g. mastery of one foot skating, etc) components. But having more or more difficult choreography and transitions doesn't necessarily mean it's better choreography, or even that such movements necessarily convey a purpose or are structured to match the music's phrasing and form. What people (including myself at times, to be honest) often forget especially in this era of CoP is that space, glide, and flow in a program are not always bad things--when used judiciously (i.e. in service to the music, etc), they can even be instances of good choreography. See, for example, the following programs:
Yes, both these programs are rather minimalistic especially by today's standards, but they are nonetheless examples of good choreography. There is attention to detail when warranted (e.g. arm, head, etc., movements at opportune times), the unity and purpose of the choreography is apparent, and the elements are beautifully placed within the programs in order to fully communicate the music's mood and intent to the audience. For a CoP example of good but relatively sparse choreography, look no further than:
Conversely, the following programs are good examples of how having more choreography and transitions does not necessarily equate to having good choreography and by extension, good programs:
In both these programs, we see meaningless movement for the sake of having some choreography and transitions in order to gain some points, choreographic clutter that are merely ends to themselves. In the case of Julia Lipnitskaya, for instance, there are quite a few instances in her Romeo and Juliet long program in which she pulls her leg up into hyperflexible spiral positions as transitional elements into her jumps. Yes, this is very difficult to do! But how are such movements related to the music playing at the time? How does pulling one's leg up from time to time convey the mood, the concept, the vision of Romeo and Juliet? Similarly, in Evan Lysacek's Scheherazade, we see quite a few connecting movements throughout (e.g. turn into the 3S, a brief spiral before the 3F-3T, that catchfoot thing before the 3Lz, brief shallow spread eagle after the 3Lz-3T, etc) but do many of these movements bring out the nuances in the music's phrasing and emotions? Do they fulfil a higher purpose in achieving the aesthetic pursuit of the composition as a whole? Are they really necessary in any way except to gain higher points in the Transitions score?
(The answer to all the questions posed above is no)
Sometimes, I wonder if the basic nature of CoP--i.e. the tendency to break down and evaluate programs according to their constituent parts--is fundamentally at odds with evaluating something like choreography, which I feel is best evaluated in terms of the whole (especially in terms of purpose, unity, proportion, etc). After all, as the old maxim goes, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.....
Of course, I just realized that this entire post is somewhat moot as the judges rarely seem to distinguish between the different components of PCS anyway. Alas!
2 comments:
Can't see the forest for the trees. More is more is MORE! I have a hard time blaming the skaters for having all the transitions and such; naturally they do what they're told, so they can win. But I also don't know how much of a say the skaters have in things vs. how much it's the choreographer(s) and coach(es). And the judges...ReplyDelete
Holy cow, Lipnitskaya is incredibly talented. You're so right about the choreo, though. It's like she's skating and doing all these crazy spirals, but it doesn't connect with the music. I hope she'll get someone who can work with her artistically and cut out some of the unnecessary transitions. She definitely has tons of potential.ReplyDelete
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Ungar joins CONRIC PR & Marketing graphic design team
CONRIC PR & Marketing has added graphic artist Justin Ungar to its award-winning creative design team.
Ungar will work collaboratively with CONRIC team members and clients to build customized designs that are innovative and contemporary, yet capable of withstanding the test of time. Communication and attention to client needs will be a key part of the process to ensure that campaign objectives and client expectations are exceeded.
Ungar previously worked with Scott Fischer Enter-prises, serving as graphic designer and creative lead for the Southwest Florida firm that owned Six Bends Harley-Davidson and operates Top Rocker Field and Events in Fort Myers. He was also a graphic designer for Zumiez, a Seattle-based clothing/skate retailer that sells several brands alongside its own private-label goods.
He previously had his own company, providing freelance graphic design work for brands beginning in 2008, and he received his degree in fine arts from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2014.
CONRIC PR & Marketing was founded in 2007. The award-winning, full-service PR agency provides strategic brand awareness campaigns, integrated public relations programs, marketing development and consulting services, advertising concept and campaigns, media buys, custom and niche publishing, creative writing and design, digital marketing strategies, website development and crisis communications strategy and implementation.
For more information, call 239-690-9840 or visit ConricPR.com.
Prendiville to host free seminar
The latest procedures to smooth wrinkles and rejuvenate the face will be explained at a free seminar Friday, Feb. 23, conducted by facial plastic surgeon Dr. Stephen Prendiville.
The seminar, which includes a light lunch, starts at 11:30 a.m. at Gulf Harbour Yacht & Country Club on McGregor Boulevard in South Fort Myers. The seminar is free, but reservations are required by calling 239-437-3900. Space is limited.
The newest facelift techniques can rejuvenate the cheek, jawline and neck, Dr. Prendiville said.
Laser resurfacing also is one of the more popular and effective procedures to reduce skin irregularities such as blemishes and acne scars, according to Dr. Prendi-ville.
Attendees will be able to make an appointment for a free consultation with Dr. Prendiville.
Dr. Prendiville is the only Fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon in Fort Myers who is certified by both the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.
All surgeries are performed at Dr. Prendiville's Surgical Center adjacent to his office in South Fort Myers at 9407 Cypress Lake Drive. For more information, visit www.drprendiville.com.
New Dunkin' Donuts opens in Fort Myers
Dunkin' Donuts is now open in the Sky Walk plaza, 13101 Paul J. Doherty Parkway, Suite 207, in Fort Myers.
To celebrate the grand opening, the restaurant will host a grand opening celebration on Saturday, Feb. 10 from 10 a.m. to noon, featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass, complimentary Red Sox bobbleheads and pocket calendars of scheduled games, as well as a special visit from local firefighters and a fire truck from the Southwest Florida International Airport Fire Rescue.
As part of the celebration, guests may also enjoy an iced or hot coffee of any size for $1 during the grand opening event, with all proceeds going to the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida to assist the hunger-relief organization with providing fresh nutritious food and other essentials to children, seniors and those at risk of hunger.
The new restaurant will be open from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week and will employ approximately 20 crew members. Located near the JetBlue Park, the new restaurant will have a drive-thru, free Wi-Fi, comfortable seating for 30 and provide a welcoming environment for guests to enjoy Dunkin' Donuts' high-quality coffee beverages in a friendly atmosphere.
To learn more about Dunkin' Donuts, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com or subscribe to the Dunkin' Donuts blog to receive notifications at news.dunkindonuts.com/blog.
Aloia, Roland, Lubell & Morgan PLLC promotes Seitz to senior associate
The law firm of Aloia, Roland, Lubell & Morgan, PLLC has announced that attorney Danielle L. Seitz has been promoted to senior associate.
Seitz joined the firm in 2016 and concentrates her practice in family law, handling dissolution of marriage, child support, paternity issues, adoptions, post-judgment modifications and domestic violence injunctions for Lee, Collier, and Charlotte Counties.
Seitz received her undergraduate degrees from the University of Florida and her Juris Doctor from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law.
Aloia, Roland, Lubell & Morgan, PLLC is a leading Southwest Florida law firm with offices in Fort Myers and Cape Coral. The firm concentrates on areas of serious personal injury and wrongful death, defective medical products and drugs, first-party insurance claims, civil rights violations, family law, general business/construction litigation, as well as real estate and corporate transactional matters. More information is available on the firm website at www.FloridaLegalRights.com.
Applebee's announces Above and 'BEE'yond Teacher Essay Contest
Applebee's Neighbor-hood Grill & Bar recently announced the return of its Above and "BEE"yond Teacher Essay Contest, which will recognize top teachers - as nominated by their students - by awarding them with a sponsorship check and end-of-year class party, courtesy of Applebee's. The contest is being offered at Applebee's restaurants in Florida and Georgia owned and operated by local franchisee, Doherty Enterprises.
Specifically, Applebee's will award one deserving teacher from each school district a $500 sponsorship check to use towards their classroom for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year, along with an end-of-year party for their current class.
To nominate a teacher, students must submit an essay in-person at their local Applebee's explaining why their teacher deserves to be "Teacher of the Year." To sweeten the deal, students who enter an essay will receive a FREE ice cream certificate to Applebee's.
Contest submissions will be accepted at participating Applebee's restaurants through March 31, and winners will be announced on Monday, April 23.
Doherty Enterprises is committed to being in-volved in the communities it serves by giving back to local causes and supporting education. Each Doherty restaurant stays engaged in its neighborhood and, through donations, fundraisers, sponsorships and participation in community events, helps local organizations grow and flourish.
Applebee's Above and "BEE"yond Teacher Essay Contest entries will be accepted at the following Applebee's restaurants in Florida: Boynton Beach, Cape Coral, Coral Springs, Cutler Bay, Delray Beach, Doral, Fort Myers, Fort Pierce, Greenacres, Jacksonville, Margate, North Port, Okeechobee, Pembroke Pines, Port Charlotte, Port St. Lucie, Punta Gorda, Royal Palm Beach, Sarasota, St. Augustine, Sunrise, Tamarac, Venice, Vero Beach and West Palm Beach, and in Georgia: Brunswick, Kingsland and Waycross.
Lee County Economic Development to host 2018 SWFL Women's Business Summit
The Lee County Economic Develop-ment Office will host the 2018 SWFL Women's Business Summit on Friday, Feb. 16, at Florida SouthWestern State College, Building U, 8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers. The event is free and registration will begin at 8 a.m. The program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. followed by networking from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
To register, call Tiffany Grint at 239-533-6800.
Diane Ellis, brand president for Chico's FAS, will be the keynote speaker for the event. The summit will include breakout sessions on topics such as salary negotiations, harassment avoidance, working with millennials, ageism, corporate philanthropy, employment law, diversity and inclusion.
The Lee County Economic Develop-ment Office provides business assistance to retain existing businesses, encourage entrepreneurship and to attract new businesses to ensure Lee County has a strong economy, thriving communities and broadly shared prosperity. For information, visit LeeCountyBusiness.com.
The Horizon Council is a public-private advisory board established in 1991 to advise the Lee Board of County Commissioners on economic development issues. The Council's mission is to improve Lee County's business environment, retain and encourage expansion of existing businesses, and attract new and diversified employers. It is the only public-private partnership of Lee County Government and business leaders. The Horizon Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organizations established as a fundraising vehicle enabling individuals and businesses to actively support the program of work of the Horizon Council and the Lee County Economic Development Office. For more information, visit www.leecountybusiness.com or call 239-533-6800.


text:
when she died.
it was
the middle of January
and the ground
was too frozen
to bury her
so her father
put her in the cellar
until spring.
her mother spent
every night that winter
among the preserves
talking to Margaret,
stroking her hair,
for the words
that would raise
the dead.


text:
Drug And Firearms Charged Filed On Salineville Man
Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland, Ohio, returned a two-count indictment charging Anthony Cunningham, age 56, of Salineville, Ohio, with maintaining a drug-involved premises and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Count 1 of the indictment charges that on or about June 2013, through July 2013, Cunningham maintained a place on State Route 39 in Salineville, Ohio, for the purpose of distributing heroin and cocaine.
Count 2 of the indictment charges that on or about August 2, 2013, Cunningham possessed an American Derringer, model 1, .40 Derringer and Federal .40 caliber ammunition, after he had been previously convicted of Bank Robbery in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and of Felonious Assault with a Firearm Specification in the Stark County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas.
If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Columbiana County Task Force. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer.
An indictment in only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.


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A new, government-owned life insurance company aims to provide a safety net for Cambodian families, according to In Meatra, director-general of the Cambodia Life Insurance Company Plc.
Located on the 21st floor of Canadia Tower, Cambodia Life opened on May 21 and has 23 employees.
"Cambodia Life belongs to the government. We will not go away. We totally guarantee to pay, and we will stay forever in Cambodia. We will not run away. This is the government reputation," In Meatra said.
"The government set this up as a safety net for the people. At the moment, if the husband dies in one household, the rest of the family has nothing.
"The financial institution that holds the mortgage will seize their property if they cannot pay."
In Meatra's appointment by the Ministry of Economy and Finance in January as Director General of Cambodia Life came as the culmination of a long process of developing Cambodia's legal framework for insurance.
The government began preparing for a legal insurance structure for Cambodia in 2007 with a feasibility study.
The work was delayed by the economic crisis of 2008, but by August of that year the government had issued a prakas (law) on life insurance.
"This is one of the remarkable events in Cambodia. We have never had this sector in the history of Cambodia," he said. Cambodia Life is a joint venture with PT Asuransi Central Asia of Indonesia holding 25 per cent; Asia Insurance Company Limited of Hong Kong holding 8 per cent; Bangkok Life Assurance Public Company Limited of Thailand with 8 per cent and Bangkok Insurance Public Company Limited of Thailand, also with 8 per cent. The Cambodian Government's Ministry of Economy and Finance holds 51 per cent of the joint venture.
In Meatra says other players in the insurance game in Cambodia have to put up $7 million to go into business here. They include Manulife of Canada, Prudential and a few others.
What differentiates Cambodia Life from others, according to In Meatra, are core values stated as "care, love, insure".
"At Cambodia Life we have different skills, concepts and philosophy. We started from scratch and we are the youngest among the giants. But we have no hesitation to compete because we have good partners and good capacity to provide good service to our people."
Cambodia Life provides three types of insurance: term life, which is provided by employers for people in high-risk jobs; whole life, which is payable to the family only after the policyholder dies or reaches 90 years of age; and mortgage insurance, which In Meatra says is the most popular.
In order to qualify for life insurance, Cambodia Life requires a check-up from the Chenda Clinic for about $20, a declaration of total income, and for the policyholder to be at least 20 years old.
"We target the formal sector where people have a formal salary. Our policyholders have to be honest with the company and have to prove the income with the company. We recommend people pay 20 per cent of their total income for life insurance, but they can decide by themselves," he said.
In Meatra advises customers to focus on the amount of payout required in life insurance and they can calculate from there how much per month the premium will cost.
It can be as low as 500 riel a day, or about $54 a year, for a $5,000 payout.
"This benefit will cover death that occurs naturally, accident and sickness.
"Cambodia Life aims to provide a safety net for Cambodian people to make sure their families are safe and in the future they will be able to have sufficient financial resources to support their lives and stay out of crisis.
"Cambodia Life is the first ever of this kind of company and we will provide the full protection for Cambodian people and they can have full confidence in us."
To contact the reporter on this story: Stuart Alan Becker at [email protected]


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A proposal to phase out some of the state`s elk feedgrounds is gaining strength through more details and more answers. But state officials still say there are too many unanswered questions, and critics say the pilot project is too much of a gamble for the state`s wildlife.
Read Original at: Casper Star-Tribune


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Catching up on the blog: We put new windows into the living room about 3 weekends ago. This involved pulling out out the old 8' wide windows, removing the short wall between the two windows, adding in posts, and filling in the left-side corner. Unfortunately the old windows had broken seals and frames, and were only fit to go to the landfill.
The first picture is "before" and the second is "after"...
While the original layout was OK, I think the entire wall of windows is better. It brings the full view of the outdoors into living room, except for two posts.
I cut back the two existing headers, put posts in, and added a third header in the center. The posts are made of three 2x4's glued and nailed together - two jack studs and one king stud. These are sandwiched on the inside and outside with 1/2 plywood that is glued and nailed as well. This makes very strong posts that shouldn't have any problem holding up the headers, trusses and roof.
The sheetrock is back in place, taped, mudded and textured. Once my DW does the painting, I'll re-trim everything out and call it done.


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Clubhouse 218 and 220 is located on the 2nd floor, directly behind the Winner's Circle and just before the Finish line. The seats are folding style and the section offers great amenities such as cleaner restrooms, plentiful betting windows, and diverse concessions make this a highly sought after section for racing fans. In section 218 all seats are covered & Rows C & up are under cover in section 220.
Clubhouse ticket holders are also able to move around the track and visit the gift shop and the Paddock area, which is a great venue for socializing.
Price is PER PERSON – DOUBLE OCCUPANCY ONLY!
Located on the "South Side of Louisville", this well-liked property offers tremendous convenience and warm accommodations. Churchill Downs is 22 miles down the expressway and downtown is less than that, so it's a quick trip to the nightlife at Fourth Street Live! or hipster food in NULU.
Fresh, cozy and modern rooms include microwaves, refrigerators, coffee makers, as well as a business desk area, flat-screen TVs with cable and also free WiFi. In addition, the hotel has a year-round, heated indoor pool and well- equipped fitness center. Guests may also use the Business Center and on-site laundry facilities.
Each morning a complimentary hot breakfast is served in the hotel Breakfast Room as well as free newspapers and coffee in the lobby.


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So, the big open space of a 5"+ diameter centre for my 12" sunflower was too much for me.
Which means I'm ready to try something different. Something that will give me more interest in the centre of the block. What about a double Sunflower.
Because, let's face it, where is the fun in stiching a 12" block with 49 pieces (that's without the outside, background, which hasn't been put on yet, and thus does not count), compared to stitchin a 12" block with 97 pieces !
So here it is : Double the Sunflower, Double the fun (! ???)
And lessons learned on this one : Not so much green. I really must reduce the amount of green on these blocks. On to the next one.