The Open Scroll - For Two Years Now There Has Been Famine in the Land

For Two Years Now There Has Been Famine in the Land

By Bob Schlenker  (Prints about 6 pages)


( Recommend background: Joseph and Benjamin - a.k.a. Y'shua and His Church )

Along with Acts 12, Genesis 45 is the other main prophetic scenario I have been led to understand that shows the theft of the Bride and the sealing and commissioning of the 144k Jewish saints. Together, these two present these events and reveal their timing relative to the Famine week, the seventieth week of Daniel. Since hearing is of the Lord on an individual basis, I can only ask the Lord to let those who have ears to hear, hear.
According to the words of the prophet Isaiah, the Lord stated: I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose
will stand, and I will do all that I please.  Isaiah 46:10
The end has been made known from the beginning. And so, the events of the book of Revelation are found between the lines of the book of Genesis.

In chapter 45, Joseph is going to reveal his identity to his brothers in a type of Y'shua revealing his identity to his Jewish brethren, the 144k. All the brothers have been brought together in Egypt before Joseph. The Bride has been taken to be with the Bridegroom. Simeon has been restored to the brothers, which means hearing has been restored - the ability to hear and understand the truth. With the foundation of understanding the prophetic level of typology from Genesis 41-44 we can now gaze into the remarkable drama that is the revealing of Y'shua to the 144,000 and their commissioning.
Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.  Genesis 45:1-5
Y'shua will become known to Israel in just this way! These are the words they will hear, and they are already well familiar with them, but just in the historical context. Imagine how amazed they will be when their ears are opened and they hear Y'shua speaking to them without an "Egyptian interpreter." This view of the revealing of Joseph's identity to his brothers is the sealing of the 144k.
"Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. 5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, 6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, 7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.  Revelation 7:3-8
The following is a view of the architecture from Genesis. It reveals the focus upon verse 6 and its importance.
This pivots about verse 6 to expose it as the fulcrum and focus of our attention. Although it might have seemed like that verse was the least important, the timing and the harvest activities are very important for us to know on the prophetic level of interpretation. The following is another view of the passage for you to meditate upon, showing comparison of the themes more easily.
Knowing about the relationship between the acceptance of Y'shua as their Messiah by the 144k and the Bride theft (see John Chapter 21), we know that it is necessarily also the time of the Bride theft.
For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?  Romans 11:15
To know that Y'shua reveals his identity to the 144k after two years of the end time famine is very helpful. It is a fact that I understood about this chronology first from this account in Genesis. After learning it here, the Lord led me to the discovery of the remarkable scenario in Acts 12 by following the trail of the time element. In Acts 12, the same timing can be seen denoted as after passing the first two guards (phulake). By other means, the timing has been confirmed in several different ways, and the time has actually been more narrowly defined as being 2 1/2 years from the beginning of the seven. (See The Master Overlay of Weeks) From Acts 12, we know the day is the last day of Pesah, Nisan 21. This date follows after Yom Kippur by six months on the calendar. So, in terms of whole numbers, the time of the Bride theft is after 2 years and with 5 remaining, but more accurately, it is after 2 1/2 years with 4 1/2 remaining.

When Joseph marked the time relative to the Famine week by saying, "For two years now there has been famine in the land," he made a plain statement. He knew that the famine would last for seven years, and more than that, he knew there was an important transition at hand. He then said, "and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping."
We can infer that during the first two years, plowing and reaping continues as it had. As I write, we are now about six months into the Famine week, and sure enough, plowing and reaping continues as it had. After two years, this activity will apparently cease. Do you understand what these harvest activities represent? This is the harvest allegory seen throughout the Bible. This is the working of the Holy Spirit in men and women who labor among the Lord's people, in the Lord's harvest field. As plowing the ground prepares the soil to receive the seed and the water, spiritual plowing prepares the hearts of men to receive the word of God as seed and water. Reaping takes place when the crop is ripe. Right now, there's a whole lot of plowing and reaping going on, but there will shortly come an end to the season. Then, there'll be no more plowing or reaping until after the last five years of the seven. Why? Because the Lord has set a limit in order to accomplish his judgments and to purge the earth of all the ungodly men and women, preparing for the reign of righteousness.

Now, at this meeting in heaven of the Bridegroom, the Bride, and the 144k, there is a commission being given.
Now hurry back to my father and say to him, 'This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don't delay. {10} You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me--you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. {11} I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.' {12} "You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. {13} Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly. Genesis 45:9-13
Notice how Joseph points out that Benjamin knows the identity of the one who was speaking to them. The Bride knows who Y'shua is, being well acquainted with his ways - that's how they got to be the Bride! What an inspiration this record is to me!  So the Bride is present to bear witness to the identity of Y'shua. The Bride's radiant presence in her glorified state will confirm Y'shua's words.

The commission given to the 144k is to bear testimony to Jacob and to bring him quickly to heaven. They are to tell Jacob about all the honor accorded Y'shua in heaven, how he was exalted to the right hand of the throne of God (and probably everything in the book of Hebrews about his being greater than the angels and the everlasting high priest). They must also testify to Jacob about everything they will have seen on their trip to heaven, which certainly includes the presence of the glorified Bride. The 144k will respond to the commission and bring Jacob to heaven to live in Goshen to be spared from the famine. There, they will be provided for and protected for a season. Jacob appears to represent the households of the 144k, their close families, wives children, parents and even pets and livestock (Genesis 45:10 &19).

The record of Genesis continues with what happens at the close of the sealing and commissioning.
Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.  Genesis 45:14-15
Wow! I want to be there! What a time of rejoicing. The last day of Pesah will be celebrated like it has never been celebrated before. After this special relationship has been established, it will endure as we see that afterward, his brothers talked with him. They will commune with him by way of prayer and revelation.

Overseeing and directing this crucial mission, the heavenly Father advises Y'shua about the specifics. They are carried out and the mission is underway.
Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Tell your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.' 19 "You are also directed to tell them, 'Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20 Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.'"  21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22 To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. 23 And this is what he sent to his father: . 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, "Don't quarrel on the way!" 25  So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.  Genesis 45:17-25
For this special commission, the brothers are given additional facets of testimony to bear witness with their words; Consider Jacob's response upon receiving their testimony.
They told him, "Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt." Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. {27} But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. {28} And Israel said, "I'm convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die. Genesis 45:26-28
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord for his patience and mercy. The testimony of words stunned Jacob, but he became convinced upon seeing the carts, the nature of which I will address shortly. When the spirit of their father Jacob revived, this is the indication that they too accept Y'shua as their Messiah. And Israel said, "I'm convinced! My son Y'shua is still alive! Oh, what a tremendous realization! After all these years, now in the span of a brief period of time, there are two phases of Israel's restoration completed. Observe that there is a transition in the narrative at this point from referring to their father as Jacob to referring to him as Israel. This points us back to the changing of his name.
Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Genesis 32:28
When the spirit of their father Jacob revives, and Israel says, "I'm convinced," his struggle with God and with men will be over and he will have overcome!

Now, let me address the meaning of the other facets of testimony. The 10 donkeys with the best things of Egypt must be some very, very special gifts borne by angels, the exact nature of which I can hardly imagine. The 10 female donkeys bearing the grain and bread and other provisions for their journey must be the word of God that will sustain them and keep them, also borne by angels chosen for this task. The clothing they were given was Egyptian clothing, apparently for identification and protection. This heavenly apparel will equip them. It probably compares to the seal that is set upon them. I think of these clothes like a football uniform with pads, cleated shoes, helmet, etc., or even more like military outfit. And what about the carts? These Egyptian carts are awesome! They are what convinced Jacob of his son's testimony about Joseph!
The word used here for carts is Strongs # 5699. 'agalah, ag-aw-law'; from the same as H5696; something revolving, i.e. a wheeled vehicle:--cart, chariot, wagon. The Egyptian carts will transport the families of the 144k to heaven, so they are not just your basic hay wagon or U-Haul trailer. Have you ever read about Ezekiel's vision of the throne with the wheeled vehicle under it? That's apparently Joseph's Egyptian chariot! Check out this page to learn more the kind of  Egyptian carts that convince Jacob that Y'shua must be alive!

Now, did you note Jacob's words, that when his spirit revived, he said, "I will go and see him before I die!" This reveals to us that it is not a resurrection. Remaining in his temporal body, Jacob rides the Egyptian cart to a special place called Goshen, which means "drawing near," a place which is in Egypt near to Y'shua. This place represents the best of the land of Egypt where they can enjoy the fat of the land. This is no earthly place but a special place of sanctuary in the heavenly realm possibly not unlike the garden of Eden. This is a place where these people are out of Satan's reach until the appointed time, as we learn in Revelation 12:14.

Although Israel won't yet be resurrected at the time he receives the testimony of the 144k and accepts Y'shua as his Messiah, according to the Romans 11:15 principle, there must be an accompanying resurrection. Although I am yet unsure about what I am about to propose, I am suggesting the possibility here for your consideration. Certainly, there is a chronological connection that cannot be broken between the barley firstfruits festival (the time of the Bride theft) and the wheat firstfruits festival. The counting of the omer for 7 weeks and arriving at the 50th day is undeniably the most prominent feature of the Feast. Shavuot means "weeks" and it is commonly known as the Feast of Weeks. The most popular Gentile name is Pentecost, which also refers to the counting of days, meaning, "fiftieth."  As woven into the book of Ruth, the wheat of this harvest age will be reaped on Shavuot. These wheat people are the second division of the church, left behind after the Bride is taken but who thereafter wash their robes in the blood of the lamb.
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" 13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes--who are they, and where did they come from?" 14 I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."  Revelation 7:9-17
I think a parallel between the revival of Jacob's spirit and what happened on the Shavuot recorded in Acts chapter 2 can be readily seen.

Now, on Israel's way to Goshen, he stopped off in Beersheba.
So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, "Jacob! Jacob!" "Here I am," he replied. 3 "I am God, the God of your father," he said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes." 5 Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel's sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. 6 They also took with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt. 7 He took with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters--all his offspring.  Genesis 46:1-7
He offered sacrifices there, and received a vision, a promise, an oath. This took place in Beersheba, whose name means well of the oath, or well of sevens. It may be that at the close of their season of protection, these people would be taken through death to newness of life in resurrection, where they would no longer need protection.

Praise the Lord!