The Open Scroll - The Sign for the Church - Part II

The Sign for the Church - Part II

By Bob Schlenker  (Prints about 19 pages)

Nisan 13 - An Appointed Day of Infamy?

God uses historical events to foreshadow other events in order to teach His people important truths in preparation. What is of particular interest as we seek to understand the seasons and appointed times of the prophetic Word is the fact that the events foreshadowed and those which have preceded them are often found to occur on anniversaries of the same days on the Jewish Calendar. In this study, we will find that the revealing of the lawless one is foreshadowed in numerous events that have occurred on one particular date, the thirteenth day of Nisan. I'm going to present the record of three biblical characters who each played a foreshadowing role as the Beast and bring your attention to the day these accounts have in common with its numerical significance. Perhaps you will reach the same conclusion I reached, that the Lord has appointed a day and revealed his intent in advance of that day in preparation for it.

Haman

In the drama of the book of Esther, the character named Haman is a popularly recognized type of the lawless one.
So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. {11} "Keep the money," the king said to Haman, "and do with the people as you please." {12} Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman's orders to the king's satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring. {13} Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews--young and old, women and little children--on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. {14} A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.  Esther 3:10-14
The name Haman means, "the rager: their tumult." Tumult means "disorderly commotion of a great crowd or tempestuous uprising - a riot." This is an appropriate name for a pattern of the lawless one, wouldn't you say? What I want to bring to your attention is the fact that it was on the thirteenth day of the first month (by name - Nisan) that Haman decreed death for God's people throughout the land. All the media was called in for the event. Receiving the King's gift of the signet ring represents Haman's receipt of the authority of the throne. Haman made known the authority he had received in the wicked act performed on Nisan 13!

Barabbas

The next type of the lawless one I'd like to introduce is rather obscure. This particular character is introduced in the Gospels in the account where Jesus was delivered up before Pontius Pilate and the Jews had just been given one final opportunity to receive him as their King. A choice was offered to them according to the custom of releasing one prisoner to the Jews at Passover time. Although Pilate was highly motivated to release Jesus, the Jews demanded another.
So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, 'Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?'   Matthew 27:17:
All four Gospels record this event, which, of itself, makes it quite significant.1 Mark records the following:
Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. {7} A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. {8} The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. {9} "Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate, {10} knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. {11} But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. {12} "What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them. {13} "Crucify him!" they shouted. {14} "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" {15} Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.  Mark 15:6-15
The Jews rejected Jesus who is called Christ and accepted one Barabbas, a robber, murderer and insurrectionist. According to several of the Caesarean manuscripts, Barabbas was actually known as Jesus Barabbas. This is very telling because the choice offered by Pilate was between two named Jesus; one Jesus who is called both Christ and the king of the Jews and one "Barabbas," whose name means "son of the father." This Jesus Barabbas, or, Jesus son-of-the-father was involved in political insurrection, in robbery, murder and rebellion, showing him to be the antithesis of the only begotten son of the Heavenly Father. Jesus Barabbas foreshadows the lawless one of II Thessalonians 2, the one who is soon to be demanded by the spiritual leaders of the Jews as well as the great majority of the Gentile world. This counterfeit who brought death to his enemies was presented and received on the day before Jesus was crucified, an anniversary of the date Haman issued his decree to bring death to his enemies - the ominous Nisan 13.

This rejection of Jesus and acceptance of another who comes in his own name according to what Jesus had previously declared:
I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.  John 5:43

Judas Iscariot

Another shadowy type of the wicked man to come is Judas Iscariot. These two figures are the only ones described by the term "doomed to destruction."
While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.  John 17:12:

Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.  2 Thessalonians 2:3:
As we investigate the scriptural record of Judas Iscariot, we find two outstanding events by which he is popularly known. These both relate to his interaction with Jesus, concern a revealing of identity and occur on the 13th of Nisan. In the first, while in the presence of his disciples at the last supper, the Lord rather mysteriously identifies Judas as the one who would betray him. In the second, Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss that was a sign to reveal his identity to those who would arrest him. The Author of the Bible draws our attention to these events rather dramatically. Why? Prophecy, my friend. These things are prophetic!

First, a little background on his name. The name Judas is the Greek form of Judah. The royal bloodline of Israel stems from Judah. The lawless one is shown in the books of Daniel and Revelation as having rulership authority. This one with the label of the correct lineage for a king of the Jews portends the one who comes to rule the world kingdom. This is an attempt to usurp the authority of the true King, the lion of the tribe of Judah. This Judas is further identified as Iscariot, which indicates that he is "from Kerioth," the town whose name means cities. This alludes to Nimrod (whose name means he will rebel), an early type of the antichrist ruler who first began to build cities. (Genesis chapter 10) The first-listed center of Nimrod's kingdom was Babylon, the symbol of the Beast's kingdom given plainly in Revelation. Nimrod is also associated with The Assyrian type in Micah 5:6.

Let's consider the significance of the first event involving Judas and Jesus on the 13th of Nisan, the one in which Judas is revealed as the one who would betray Jesus.
I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.' 19 "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." 21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray 2 me." 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means." 25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?" 26 Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, 28 but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.  John 13:18-30
As Nisan 13 began, our Lord was having his final meal with his disciples. The subject of this time at the meal is the revealing of the one who would betray Jesus, but let me make the point that, in the larger context, the purpose of the betrayal is actually to reveal Jesus. To betray Jesus is to identify or reveal him. Later, when Judas would betray Jesus, he identified him as the one those watching were looking for with a kiss, the agreed upon sign.
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him."  Matthew 26:48
Again, the outcome of all this is that, by means of the counterfeit, everyone's attention is placed upon the genuine. As verse 19 states, "so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He." Y'shua HaMashiach! Baruch haba b'shem Adonai - Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! I will address the reason for allowing the lawless one his season in more depth later in this article. (In verse 20, I am in view, as well as yourself, possibly, as sent in advance with the message about the revealing of the one doomed to destruction.)

This prophetic setting of the last days has the major players all in view; Y'shua, the lawless one, the church and the 144,000. Peter was curious as to the identity of the one who would betray Jesus, as we are also about the one the betrayer foreshadowed. As noted in the Iron Gate article, Peter represents the church. The disciple Jesus loved, or, John, represents the 144,000. (see John 21) Like as in John 21, the strange interaction between Peter and this disciple reflects the interdependent relationship between the Bride and the 144,000. The position of reclining suggests that the 144,000 are not yet sealed for service, just as in the Samuel type of the 144,000 in 1 Samuel 3. It is in this context that the lawless one is revealed.

The betrayer's identity was revealed in a very intriguing manner. I had often wondered why Jesus didn't just come out and say Judas was the betrayer, or perhaps, point to him. What's all that bread dipping activity about; was Jesus being theatrical? I don't think so, but rather that it's an allusion to baptism and anointing so that we don't miss the hidden teaching about the counterfeit. Key to understanding the lesson is an awareness of the symbol of bread. John 6:35 records Jesus' declaration that the true bread from heaven is he himself. The Greek word translated dipping in verse 26 is bapto. That's right! Dipping, or, baptizing is for the purpose of revealing. Remember, when the true bread from heaven was baptized, he was revealed! When Jesus dipped the bread, it was a symbolic baptism. When he gave the bread he had just dipped to Judas, he revealing that disciple as the betrayer. As I have stated now in numerous ways, the appointed baptism of the counterfeit Bread will reveal his identity to the observant Bride. Consider the message of verse 27:  As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him. As none of the disciples at the meal understood what was going on, so will the great majority of the church fail to realize the true significance of the event when it happens.

Note that the narration calls the betrayer, "Judas Iscariot, son of Simon." The label is given here in the context of his anointing. The name Simon (Greek for Simeon) means hearing. The breaking and the giving of bread often symbolizes the opening of the ears for hearing that which had been hidden. Are you listening? Verse 30: As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

Herod

In a related observation, the exact day on which Herod (meaning heroic, another type of the underdog's hero) began to persecute the Church isn't mentioned, but based upon the account given in Acts 12:1-3, we may note the implication.
It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
How much would you wager against Nisan 13 as the day persecution was decreed? Me either.

The Nisan 13 Lamp

The true Messiah is the light of the world.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."  John 8:12
The work of Satan is to masquerade as an angel of light,
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  2 Corinthians 11:14
The counterfeit will follow in his father's footsteps.
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 2 Thessalonians 2:9
And so the coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with that work of counterfeiting the true light of the world. The true Light is symbolized by the seven-branched menorah, the lampstand in the temple. The coming of the counterfeit light on Nisan 13 is reflected in a very interesting Jewish tradition. Quoting the popular resource: The Jewish Holidays - a Guide and Commentary by Michael Strassfeld (p. 193): "According to tradition, the sanctuary was dedicated in the desert beginning with the first of Nisan. Each day the prince of one of the twelve tribes would bring offerings to the sanctuary (see Numbers, chapter 7). A few synagogues follow the custom of reading from the Torah each day the appropriate portion for each prince..... On the thirteenth of Nisan, we read the portion that begins "When You light the lamps..." (Num. 8:1,2) in honor of the tribe of Levi who served in the sanctuary."

From the NIV, the passage reads:
The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Speak to Aaron and say to him, 'When you set up the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand.'" 3 Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the LORD commanded Moses. 4 This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold--from its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern the LORD had shown Moses.  Numbers 8:1-4
Consider what our Lord taught in the gospel of Luke.
No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.  Luke 11:33-36.
If your eyes are good, as the lamp of your body (What are good eyes but eyes that see, that understand the hidden things?), your whole body is full of light and you will be completely lighted by the light that is true light shining forth from the true menorah. When the counterfeit menorah is set up, the light will shine on those who are before the lampstand and you will recognize the light that is darkness. When? Should we expect it on other than some Nisan 13???
 

Hale-Bopp/Hyakutake - A Special Alert

The evidence I've presented connecting the appearance of the lawless one with the thirteenth of Nisan has come from the types presented in scripture, with an additional association drawn from Jewish tradition. Now, I'm going to share a recent phenomena connecting the same event with the same date. If what I already shared speaks rather loudly, this should shout! Very the facts, if you want, but don't miss the message!

A comparison of the paths the comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp traced in the sky shows that they intersect. My friend Bob Wadsworth made this important discovery in 1997, bringing to my attention some relevant facts. Where and when they intersect is very provocative! The two comets reached the point of intersection exactly one solar year apart - to the day! The point of intersection was very close to the variable star Algol, the beta star of the constellation Perseus. Hyakutake was there on April 11, 1996 and Hale-Bopp, on April 11, 1997. We might ask if this could this have been just a coincidence, but let's not ask stupid questions, Okay? The Lord has gotten our attention!

The first thing we should know is that, from ancient times, comets have been thought to be a bad omen. Of course, we don't want to appear unenlightened or superstitious, but more importantly, lets use our spiritual insight and wisdom, acknowledging that the celestial lights have been assigned meaning by their Creator. We do well to note the wisdom from ages past. Now, if you think about how a sign such as the crossing of two comets paths might be interpreted, you might reasonably expect that the meaning of that place of intersection and the time of intersection would be important, and related, and in harmony with the general signification of a comet.

The paths intersected in an area of the sky that represents the lawless one, the anti-messiah beast. The general region is the constellation Perseus, pictured in the sky charts as a man with a sword held high, with the severed head of the Gorgon Medusa in his other hand. If you recall from mythology, one look at the snake-haired Medusa turned men to stone. Perseus represents the Lord Jesus Christ, victorious over his enemy.  If you superimpose the charted paths of the two comets, you see that an X is formed, the paths being nearly perpendicular. The picture looks rather like the cross-hairs of a rifle scope, focused right between the eyes of the severed head of what the Greeks called Medusa. The Hebrew name for the head is Rosh Satan, "the head of the adversary." Other names for it are Al Ghoul, "the evil spirit," and Al Oneh, "the subdued." The beta star in Perseus is located very near the intersection in Rosh Satan and is named Algol, which means, "rolling round." The Starlore Handbook says that, according to tradition, Algol is the most malevolent star of the heavens. This star is notably a variable star, cycling every 69 hours between a brightness of the fourth magnitude and the second. This is one of several variable stars with names signifying the enemies of God. The meaning of the place of intersection is unambiguous.

The perpendicular intersection of the two comet's paths near Algol also appears like a cross; a cross right between the eyes or in the forehead of Rosh Satan! That's rather familiar symbolism, isn't it? The appearance of the cross speaks to me of the church, with which the Beast will be identified as noted earlier (1 John 2:19). The appearance of the cross on the forehead also speaks of the mark of the beast in the forehead of his followers (Revelation 13:16).

In 1996 and 97, the comet's paths crossed on the same Gregorian calendar date, April 11, but the corresponding Hebrew dates were Nisan 22 (in 1996) and Nisan 4 (in 1997). I was curious about how closely associated April 11 and Nisan 13 might be, so I cross-checked the calendar years for a thirty year period (from 1981-2010). Because the Hebrew calendar is a lunar-based calendar, Nisan 13 corresponds to a different date each year on our solar-based "Gregorian" calendar.  April 11 coincides with Nisan 13 in only one year, 2006. As a plot of all the dates would show, April 11 falls in a fairly random distribution across the whole month of Nisan. This approach didn't produce the fruit I thought it might, suspecting some connection with Nisan 13.. However, when I ignored the Gregorian date and simply considered the two Hebrew dates designated by the comets, it became apparent that the mean date was the thirteenth of Nisan. The difference between Nisan 22 and Nisan 4 is eighteen days. 18/2=9. 4+9=13. 22-9=13. Nisan 13 preceded Hyakutake's arrival at the point of intersection by nine days, and followed Hale-Bopp's arrival by nine days.

It is no stretch of the imagination to interpret the crossing of the comets' paths as a portent of the coming of the lawless one.
It is a fact that the mean Hebrew calendar date of the crossed paths of the comets is the very date given in the Bible when at least three distinct foreshadowing types offer a view of the revealing of the lawless one. It is a fact that the comets crossed paths in the area of the sky known in Hebrew as "Rosh Satan"- the head of Satan, with the nearest bright star being traditionally known as the most malevolent star in the heavens. There really are signs in the heavens. The lights in the celestial heavens are given for signs and appointed times. Isn't it time we paid attention to their message?

The Antichrist's Scheduled Appointments

"... If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." (Matthew 15:14)
Something so important as the revealing of the lawless one is worthy of signs, is it not? The Creator saw fit to give us a sign via the celestial lights, his revelation written in the heavens as well as in numerous scriptural passages, through various means both direct and indirect. Satan, being neither imaginary nor powerless, has been working to produce his own signs to prepare the world for the time of greatest deception. When it comes to recognizing and interpreting the signs which abound in these latter days, discernment is required. Discernment is absolutely required, because all but the very elect are going to be deceived! By what means are the signs discerned, whether they are genuine or counterfeit? Here's what you want to do, Okay? Find the religious organization with the biggest following and go with whatever they say, because there's safety in numbers. No, no, wait. Okay, I got it! Um. Reject every sign, because then you won't risk being fooled by the wrong ones. Well, no. Wait...Okay. We can reject only the signs that the big institutions accept because they have to always be wrong by reason of their popularity, Right? Wrong. What if we just compare every sign in light of our favorite Bible teacher's rules? Well, isn't there some easy formula, like, can't we just find a simple rule about these things? I really don't think so. The spirit of God is such that his people hear his voice. The sheep know their shepherd's voice. Discernment is learned by living a life in loving obedience to the master. Then, familiar mannerisms and characteristics aid us in our attempts to discern the nature of things. Comparing the messages of prophets and angels with the scriptures cannot be done without spiritual discernment. Without discernment, the true and correct interpretations of the scriptures can't be known, so there is no standard by which to authenticate or annul. Feelings alone are no barometer in which to trust, but only those which are impressions received by revelation from Jesus Christ. But for the discerning, there are clues in abundance!

On the 12th of October, 1998, I came across a news item not unlike one the Lord brought to my attention in 1991. I'm going to reproduce the full text of the Reuters article below.
 
Pilgrims Gather In Georgia For Virgin Mary Message
By June Preston 

CONYERS, Ga. (Reuters) - Thousands of Catholic pilgrims gathered Sunday at a Georgia farm where they believe the Virgin Mary will give a final message to a woman who claims to have spoken to her regularly for seven years. 

``We decided to come because this is her last apparition,'' pilgrim Bob Kehler said. ``She (the Virgin Mary) is the commander-in-chief, the one who represents Jesus, and it has been delegated to her to gather up all her children.'' 

Kehler drove to the farm near Atlanta from Westminster, Maryland, about 500 miles away, and said he would stay until Tuesday, when former nurse Nancy Fowler says she will receive a final message from the Virgin Mary. 

Fowler claims to have had hundreds of visions of both Mary and her son, Jesus Christ, since 1991, but said last year that this year's message would be the last. 

Initially, messages from Mary came on the 13th of each month, but in 1994 they began to come only on Oct 13, the anniversary of Mary's reported appearance to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917, she says. 

The Roman Catholic Church recognizes the validity of the Fatima apparition, but the church in Atlanta has distanced itself from Fowler's claims. 

An Atlanta group that supports Fowler and calls itself Our Loving Mother's Children Inc. said it expected 100,000 people to gather by Tuesday. Rockdale County public affairs director Lance Carter said based on the number of buses expected for the event, that estimate would likely prove accurate. 

About 3,000 people had assembled by Sunday night and some of those attending a sunset mass said they believed stones would turn into gold and healings and other miracles would occur Tuesday. 

But Fowler spokesman Richard Pfundstein said the visions and messages had nothing to do with such beliefs. 

``While a lot of people, including non-Catholics, want to idolatrize the blessed mother, the blessed mother is actually like my eyeglasses,'' Pfundstein told Reuters. ``The only thing she does is help bring Jesus into focus. That's her whole job.'' 

Reut00:17 10-12-98    (12 Oct 1998 00:16 EDT) 
Did you notice that the messages always came to Nancy on the thirteenth day? For the first three years, the messages came every month, then, only on the thirteenth of October. Why always the 13th? Is there a connection to Fatima beyond the date similarity? And why are does the message interval span from 1991 to 1998? And, why is the message brought through some spiritual being who calls itself the Virgin Mary, is it really the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ? Which Jesus is "she" helping bring into focus, is it "Jesus Barabbas"? I'd like to take the opportunity at this time to answer some of the questions relevant to this particular study.

As I watched the Fox40 network news on the thirteenth, I saw Nancy read the message she had received. (Check out the following link if you want more detail. APPARITIONS OF JESUS AND MARY    CONYERS, Georgia   1990 to Present Or, see Marian Apparitions - Recent Developments.) The reporter mentioned another account of regular Marian apparitions on the thirteenth of each month to a woman named Rosa Lopes, but I haven't yet been able to confirm it.

But again, why the thirteenth? In a word - Antichrist. There is preparation being made, signs being given and seasons being revealed. The thirteenth is a marked day, friend. The trend is well established, the deception far progressed. I believe any spirit pretending to be the Virgin Mary is gambling that we don't realize the Son of God's mother had a number of children by her husband Joseph. Or that she became a member of her firstborn's body which is the temple of God. Her current status remains as before; asleep in Christ, until such time as the resurrection for which she has been appointed arrives. That makes the spirit being with the assumed identity a liar. I don't doubt that there is an ongoing spiritual revelation of an angelic being who calls herself  the virgin Mary, the queen of Heaven. Neither do I doubt that the spirit is lying. Nonetheless, there are things we may learn from that spirit, if we are able to discern the truth. The antichrist Marian demon gets worship, though the one to whom worship is directed is some Jesus. Which one? Well, both really. The one after the pattern of Jesus Barabbas will be the focus, but ultimately, when the counterfeit is exposed, the focus will come to be upon the only begotten of the Heavenly Father.

The intelligence community knows the value of disinformation and so does Satan in his work of delusion. There is a mix of truth and lies continually being spread, causing confusion for the undiscerning. Whatever else the Marian demons speak, these messages promoted by lying spirits on the thirteenth day of the month is a trend which points to antichrist as its source.
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.1 Timothy 4:1

The Number Thirteen

We may well ask why the thirteenth of Nisan might have been selected as the day appointed for such infamy. I believe one factor is the perfection of numerical significance in the divine plan. A study of the number thirteen reveals a thread which has been masterfully woven through the rich fabric of the scriptures.

The number 13 generally represents rebellion. It's very closely associated with the number 6, the number for man. Mathematically, it is the 6th in the series of prime numbers (being 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13...). The number 6 is perhaps most easily noted as being significant in regards to the lawless one as it is openly stated (in the close of the thirteenth chapter of Revelation) that the number of his name is 666, or, 616. The number 6 can also be seen to mark out this man due to the conspicuous omission of the 6 letters in the section in which he is the subject of the acrostic paired Psalms - 9 and 10.

In the year 2001 (emphatically marked as the appointed year of the Bride theft and therefore the revelation of the lawless one), according to my expectation, Nisan 13 falls on the sixth of April, which is a Friday, the sixth day of the week. And, a form of Friday the 13th.

Satan and those who follow him as enemies of God and of His people are often marked in gematria with the number 13. Since the lawless one is so obviously included in that category, many of the words and phrases used concerning him are also marked with the number 13. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, the gematria of the phrase in the Greek the 'apostasia' is 13 x 46; of the man of lawlessness; 13 x 151; of the man doomed to destruction; 13 x 139.

Concerning Haman in the book of Esther, the gematria of Haman the Agagite is 13 x 9; of his sons is 13 x 788; and of the whole family; 13 x 836. Let me now relate to you what E. W. Bullinger wrote about the record of Haman: "HAVING DILIGENTLY CAST THE HOROSCOPE (AS PUR, MEANS: SEE ISAIAH 47:13), HAMAN FOUND THE MOST FAVOURABLE TIME FOR CARRYING OUT HIS DESIGNS AS 'THE JEWS' ENEMY.' 3Esther 3:7 tells us that for 12 months the horoscope was consulted 'in the first of the month,... from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month.' Then (v. 12) ON THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH (I.E., THE THIRTEENTH MONTH FROM THE TIME THEY COMMENCED) THE FAVOURABLE DAY WAS FOUND. THEN (3:13) THE LETTERS WERE PREPARED, AND UPON 'ONE DAY, EVEN UPON THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF THE TWELFTH MONTH' (AT THE END OF THE SECOND YEAR), THE JEWS WERE ALL TO BE PUT TO DEATH. ON THAT DAY CAME THE DELIVERANCE (3:12, ETC.). THUS WE HAVE THREE THIRTEENS CONNECTED WITH THIS GIGANTIC EFFORT OF THE GREAT ENEMY TO DESTROY THE LORD'S PEOPLE, AND WITH THEM, OF COURSE, THE PROMISED SEED."4

These few examples I'm presenting are in no way exhaustive but merely represent the most brief introduction to the underlying structure. This is some of the evidence which teaches us why Nisan, the first (and 13th) month and its 13th day might have been designated for the revelation of the evil man.

Concerning Jesus Barabbas, we should note that the gematria of Matthew 27:16 is 13 x 211. That of Matthew 27:20 is 13 x 779, of Mark 15:6; 13 x 70, and Luke 23:18; 13 x 719. Several 13's can be noted in the phrases found in John 18:40.

And, concerning Judas Iscariot, the gematria of John 13:26 is 13 x 1495 and of Matthew 26:48; 13 x 759.

Another significant number specifically in regards to the antichrist beast is 42. The name Nimrod is 42 x 7. The Greek word anathema (curse) occurs 6 times and has the gematria of 13 x 42.

I want you to note that there are 13 famines recorded in the Bible because, as I've noted in the Iron Gate article a famine is often used as a code word representing the period of time during which the lawless one is the preeminent character on the world's stage.

In the book of Ephesians, it is an interesting fact that the thirteenth verse of the sixth chapter referring to the time the lawless one will be active in the earth. (While you've got your Bible open to the sixth Chapter of Ephesians, please note that the gematria of Ephesians 6:12 (addressed earlier) is that of 13 x 1247!)
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Ephesians 6:13
 We find a similar feature in the book of Matthew. The thirteenth verse of the sixth chapter refers to the very same time.5
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'  Matthew 6:13
Another phenomena involving verses occurs in all four gospel accounts, in the record of Judas' betrayal of Jesus. After reading these accounts I became curious about how many verses there were in each - so I counted them. In three of them, the description takes up thirteen verses! (Matthew 26:45-57, Mark 14:41-53, John 18:2-13) Take a look for yourself and count them if you like. In the remaining account; Luke 22:47-54, you can note that only eight are used. Why eight? Now, as noted by Bullinger, the numbers eight and thirteen are very often found together, and when they are they contrast the Lord's people with the Devil's people. This is really apparent as you read through the accounts. Since the number eight represents a new beginning, it's no coincidence that this is indeed a unique element of Luke's account, brought dramatically to our attention as Jesus says in verse 53, "But this is your hour--when darkness reigns."

By the way, John 13:18-30, the passage I quoted earlier in full that portrays Judas being revealed as the betrayer exhibits the same phenomena. And note: These thirteen verses are found in the thirteenth chapter!

And so we see the number thirteen as the prominent number bound tightly to the theme of the revelation of the lawless one, in gematria, verse location and count, and in the calendar date. If there is one day of the year on which to expect this sign above any other, I'll place my bets on Nisan 13, the day before the slaying of the Paschal lamb. If some man rises to prominence on that day, will you doubt his identity?

What Will be Accomplished by this Sign?

The revelation of the lawless one is a sign that will be given to indicate to the Bride that her bridegroom is coming very soon, but far more than that, it is a very important first in a series of events related to each other by cause and effect. It is the catalyst or trigger. You can think of it as the first in a row of dominos stood on end, which, when knocked over, knocks down the next, that knocks down the next, the effect continuing until the very last domino falls. This sign is the necessary first domino without which the others would not fall. The world will never be the same after the sign to the Bride, for on one hand, it begins a season of powerful delusion, and on the other, of great clarity in perception and discernment.

As you should know, the world is in flux, rapidly being prepared for the time of the revealing of the lawless one on some Nisan 13. The New Age Movement (a grand misnomer, given that Babylon has been with us from very early times) has swallowed up every popular religion and formed a composite, closing the loop, in a sense, from its beginnings. Secular humanism, pseudo intellectualism and evolutionism are just evidences of the same old pride that has been from almost the beginning. All the current religious ideas are the same idolatrous musings that have ever been. The expectation for UFO alien arrival and intervention in world affairs that races towards a breakthrough paradigm is only what has been from Genesis 6. These issues all appeal to the flesh nature and these will all be brought down. Man's ultimate drive to consume all in greed and lust are about to be fulfilled. He will be brought to the grave. The wicked plan of the devil and of men in their joint rebellion against God is kind of like a balloon. When the balloon is finally ready, the spirit of the antichrist will be like the air that fills it until it covers the earth. Then, it will pop! Bang! And, Babylon will be no more. But for the Bride, the entire world would be deceived. She alone will testify that the coming deceiver is the very Beast prophesied to come out of the sea, warning the rest of the world of the deadly deception.
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible.Matthew 24:24
At the beginning, when The False Christ appears, death will be decreed, and the Bride, targeted, whom the world will hate as it hates her Bridegroom. Due to the Bride's response, her character comes to the particular attention of 144,000 Jews with the result that this beloved and prepared people are moved to envy. They recognize the manner of working of HaShem, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as they receive the Bride's testimony of the scriptures about the genuine being counterfeited. These people understand trial and persecution, their character having been molded and tempered, and with what will be a sense of familiarity, observe her martyrdom - moved. As this first wave of Israel's acceptance of Y'shua HaMashiach breaks forth on the 21st of Nisan, the truth of Romans 11:15 will be evidenced in the Bride theft. Sadly, most of the church will reject the Bride's testimony and will be left behind when she is stolen away by the Bridegroom Y'shua. After a set time, the scenario will repeat with another revealing, another wave of Jewish acceptance, another resurrection, and another phase of great tribulation on earth. Through this, the Lord's people on the earth will be chastised and disciplined and purified thoroughly. That final phase will culminate with the campaign of Armageddon and the purging of the wicked from off the earth. Then, the Lord will reign in the earth, the Beast and False Prophet having been cast in the lake of fire and the Devil, bound.

As you see, the revelation of the lawless one is the catalyst in the formula, the signal event that triggers the others in a spiritual domino effect. It must be acknowledged that the outworking of the Lord's plan cannot and will not occur without the agency of the Beast. And so, the sign for the Bride starts the machinery in motion that will eventually complete and perfect the house of God, who dwells in his people as living stones in the Temple.

In the typology of the Assyrian king as the lawless one, the work scheduled to begin on the thirteenth of Nisan is seen in a deeper view of the following passage.
For seven days they celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because the LORD had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria, so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.  Ezra 6:22
Yes, the lawless one is allowed his reign for the greater purpose of building God's house. But make no mistake, his attitude will not even remotely resemble friendliness towards those whose heart's intent is to build The House through loving obedience, but he is a useful tool in the Lord's hand to accomplish that very work.
"Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath! 6 I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets. 7 But this is not what he intends, this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations.  Isaiah 10:5-7
The people described who anger the Lord are his people Israel, but the Assyrian purposes to put an end to many nations (emphasis is on the plural, the text more literally reading: nations not a few!), including Israel and the left-over church. Israel will at that time honor the Assyrian as their Lord with a temple, sacrifice and offering.
"See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple;6 the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,  Malachi 3:1-3
The Lord Y'shua has a flawless plan, and he will be glorified in it! The Lord intends to provide a series of increasingly severe warnings for those who still deny him.  It is only through the agency of the lawless one that all people will be humbled. Don't you think that if there were another way, perhaps a "kinder and gentler" way to accomplish His purpose, God would have the patience and concern to find it? I do.

Help us to stand, Lord. Grant that we may resist the temptation to deny you in the day of the evil one. I pray that our faith will not fail in the time of testing.
 

A Later Sign

Concerning the second sign to the church that takes place some time after the Bride theft, let's first consider a lesson from the Judas type. When he was first revealed as the betrayer at the opening of the last supper, the disciples didn't understand the meaning (John 13:28-29). When Judas later entered Gethsemane with the arresting mob and betrayed the Lord with a kiss, his identity as the betrayer would probably have become known to the disciples. This speaks of a later sign to the church that the tribulation saints would understand.

I previously noted that the beast seen arising from the sea in Revelation 13:1-10 depicted the revealing of the lawless one to the Bride, but now I want you to consider that the beast seen coming out of the earth in the passage that followed seems to relate to the second sign.
Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 14 Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.Revelation 13:11-18
I believe this second sign corresponds to what is called the abomination of desolation, which is set forth as a sign to be recognized by some who will read the gospels.
So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand-- 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again. 22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.  Matthew 24:15-22
The historical evidence from 70 AD and from also with Antiochus Epiphanies affords us some foreshadowing detail, but what is relevant to note here can be gleaned from within the scriptures as well. An abomination deals with idol worship, the obvious subject of Revelation 13:14-15. Here are a few other views from various perspectives.
He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."   Daniel 9:27

On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.  Acts 12:21-23
This second revealing sign is, as I previously suggested, another level of interpretation of the focal passage in 2 Thessalonians.
He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.  2 Thessalonians 2:4
At the time of the first sign (to the Bride), I believe this event will remain to be fulfilled, but by reason of the man's association with the nefarious deed, it serves to identify this lawless one with the subject of numerous other passages that reference him by the deed. At the time of the second sign, that infamous deed itself will be the sign. Various conclusions have been drawn about what kind of temple this man will set himself up in, and it seems to me that there are a number of valid interpretations. The evidence speaks to me of a temple which is composed of living stones (the church) and one that is physical, located on the temple mount, a place designated for offering and sacrifice.

Prior to this second revealing, those who recognize it as the sign it is would have been deceived along with the rest of the world, or they wouldn't need a sign (excepting the 144,000 and two witnesses, who arise at around the time of the first revealing and Bride theft). Pardon me for the regression, but because it might still be difficult for some of you to accept that the majority of the church will remain deceived, I'd like to address more of the relevant message from 2 Thessalonians 2.
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. 13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-17
I have no doubt that many who read this will have brought with them a simplistic view of salvation and, for that reason, should admit confusion about the matter of who will be deceived. Briefly, let me say that logic must tell you, if all will be deceived but the very elect, most Christians will be deceived. Verses 10 and 13 speak of salvation and, though worthy of extensive teaching, I will here say only that salvation is more broad in scope than commonly accepted. What is not saved, perishes. The subject of verse 10's salvation depends upon love for the truth. Lack of love for the truth causes one to be deceived. If you observe the tenses closely, you'll see that, though it's a rather complicated message, it goes like this. Those who are perishing refused to love the truth. If they would have loved the truth, including that which the Bride spoke when the lawless one was revealed, they would have been saved like the Bride was saved, being stolen away. Since they refused to love the truth, they were not saved but were left. Because they are thus perishing, they are deceived, a powerful delusion coming over them so that they may receive their due sentence for having delighted in wickedness. What you say? Still having a problem with my suggesting that Christians will be left behind and perish? As I noted in the Bride Theft article, the following refers to Christians.
While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:3
The Bride is addressed in verse 13 of 2 Thessalonians 2 and following, and receive the salvation in that context. The calling out and preparation of the Bride is a sanctifying work of the Spirit, setting them apart. They are characterized primarily by their belief in the truth, and their love of the truth. Friend, truth matters.

Now is the Son of Man Glorified

Did you note from verse 14 of 2 Thessalonians 2 the intent that, "you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ"? This desire for those addressed carries with it an essential but unmentioned requirement - suffering. The price of glory.
Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.   Romans 8:17
This glory is the goal, the end. The Son of Man will be glorified, and God glorified in him. And the Lord will share his glory with those who share in his sufferings. Glory only comes by way of suffering and death, the bringing of which just happens to be the Beast's special mission. His reign will necessarily result in the bringing forth of the greatest glory! Since the Lord arose to life that is no longer subject to suffering and death, the further glory comes by way of the suffering and death of his people. Without the suffering accompanying the Beast, the glory God intends for his people and the ultimate restoration of his creation will not come.

In John 13, immediately following the account of the revealing of the identity of the betrayer, we read in verses 31-32:
When he (Judas) was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
The glory is marked from this point - from the revelation of the lawless one to the Bride. Intense persecution and suffering enters at that point, and thus, the glory must be in view. Why else would Jesus have made this statement when he did? Prior to the Gethsemane experience (following the last supper) when Jesus prayed and was then betrayed, he was not subject to physical abuse and suffering at the hand of Satan's henchmen, but, at the time Satan entered Judas and he set about his task of betraying Jesus, the glory machine was set in motion and would not be reversed. The cup Jesus asked his Father to remove was going to be drunk. By giving the dipped bread to Judas and again a few hours later in a similar context in Gethsemane, Jesus submitted willfully to his Father's request and began to accomplish the ultimate act of love, deciding to freely offer his life as a ransom for many. There was no other way. The innocent blood had to be shed. And out of all this, friend - glory!

The lawless one will indeed bring suffering, painful anguish and grief beyond measure, but, oh, the glory that will follow for those who bear up to what the Lord asks of them. As the long record of martyrs clearly shows, there will be great joy set before those who take up their cross and follow him to Golgotha.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2

What Should We Do?

When the lawless one is revealed, those who recognize the sign and can offer the certain evidence of the meaning of the event will be called upon to declare it to the world. Will you be ready? Prepare now, and continue to prepare; this is the Bride's present assignment. Submit to the Bridegroom as he prepares for himself a chaste virgin without spot or wrinkle. In due time, the Bride's testimony will be the biggest threat to the Beast. Her's will be the clarion trumpeting call amidst the din and confusion - the beacon emanating from the lighthouse in the dark and stormy night by which a sure and certain course can be navigated. When the world will be brought suddenly to a point of decision (Which will it be; Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?), will you be prepared to stand your ground?

According to many cryptic scenarios that have come to light, from the time the man of lawlessness is revealed there will be 21-13 or eight days remaining until the Bride theft. This period of time is that which is primarily referred to in Ephesians 6:13.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
If the evil day were a present reality at the time of Paul's writing, he would not have written of it as being a future time! Can the phrase "evil day" describe some period of time other than that which is apparently about to come upon us - that time when the spirit of antichrist is empowering Satan's "son's" ministry and great persecution comes against God's elite? The faithful remnant will be intensely persecuted for their audacity to declare the so-called "blasphemies" as they dare to attach the label of Beast to its rightful wearer. Of course, the goal in all this is to point beyond the beast to the one counterfeited - Y'shua! This is the reason why some can and will stand.

It seems painfully obvious that the church will be sharply divided between those who stand boldly proclaiming the truth and those who deny it and repress it, and it is in this regard that I implore you: Do not be a hearer only, demoting this study to a merely academic exercise. I propose to you that the Lord has unveiled the nature and timing of the event in these latter days so that you and I would be further encouraged to humble ourselves before him, to live holy before him and to prepare ourselves for useful service.

Are you convinced of the urgency of our time to the extent that you're willing to sacrifice your time and resources in preparation. If you're to be found useful for the Lord in that evil day, you'll be one who has committed to preparation. Satan's hordes are. Open your eyes and look around. What are you waiting for - some Nisan 13?

Consider the timeliness of what is written in Luke 12:33-44:
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35 "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." 41 Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?" 42 The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
For a fitting conclusion, I have chosen a passage from Ephesians. May I make a request of you? If this passage means more to you than it did before you read this article, would you pray for me according to Paul's request? Not that I covet his chains, for I have my own, but that I may follow his faithful example who received words whenever he opened his mouth so that he might fearlessly declare the mystery of the gospel. Thank you, precious saint.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.  Ephesians 6:10-20

Endnotes

1) See Matthew 27:11-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:28-19:16 return

2) The word betray is translated from the word paradidomi. Strong's definition of the word is, "to surrender, i.e. yield up, entrust, transmit." This same Greek word is translated into the words "given over" in the following verse, showing that the purpose is to reveal. 2 Corinthians 4:11: "For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body." return

3) Bullinger footnotes here in his book Numbers in Scripture that this is a term applied to none but Haman. return

4) Ibid. pp. 221-222 return

5) It may be that the "superstition" about Friday the 13th as a "bad" day or evil omen is founded less upon irrational ignorance than insight into spiritual realities. Friday is the sixth day of the week, the day of the Creation week man was made. It is man's day, and six is man's number. The six/thirteen connection is a man/antichrist connection - the lawless one. When six and thirteen come together, it is something of a numerical description of the revealing of the lawless one!  This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.Revelation 13:18 return

6) "His temple" is so called after the pattern of attributing previous temples in Israel to their builders, e.g. Solomon's Temple and later, Herod's Temple. Any true temple is the Lord's temple. Solomon and Herod are both foreshadowing types of the lawless one. (Solomon fell from a great height to a great depth, choosing to serve the devil through the gods of his multitude of wives and concubines at the close of his days.) return
 
 
The following is a loosely related item of interest from what I think was the 11/17 edition of the regular feature, The Wolf Files, by Buck Wolf on abcnews.com. I am not suggesting that either Stephen King or the director of the Apollo 13 mission is the antichrist, or that such a person lives on the 13th floor of a building or that he will be a graduate of Colgate University, or even that the day is somehow "unlucky."

TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA
     The master of horror, Stephen King, has been dreading this Nov. 13 for at least 14 years. Now it’s upon us, hold on for a triple dose of bad luck.
     For the third time this year, triskaidekaphobes — those who fear the number 13 — will have to deal with a dreaded Friday the 13th. That hasn’t happened since 1987, and it won’t happen again until 2009. The good news is that three is the most you can have in a year.
     Back in 1984, when King published his 13th book, his daughter turned 13, and he celebrated his 13th wedding anniversary, U.S. News and World Report asked him if the repetition of this dreaded number gave him trepidations.
     No, King said. “The year I’m really dreading is 1998. In that triple-whammy year I’ll be 49. Can you add 4 and 9?” he said. “That’s the year I may really spend in a bomb shelter.”
     The first two dreaded Fridays, in February and March, passed quietly. Now we face a third. But King’s spokesman say he’s taking it in stride. 
     “I can tell you for sure, he isn’t in a bomb shelter,” says New York book agent Arthur Greene. “He’s up in Maine, hard at work.”
     But if King’s fear of numbers proves anything, it’s a lapse in arithmetic. King apparently erred in his 1984 interview. He actually turned 49 two years ago on Sept. 21. “I can’t explain that one,” Greene says. 
     Traditionally, Friday the 13th is thought to be unlucky because it combines the number in attendance at the Last Supper, when Christ was betrayed, with the day of his crucifixion.
     Contemporary triskaidekaphobes need not go back in time. They point to the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission of 1970, which launched at 13:13 from pad number 39 — three times 13 — and was later aborted on April 13.
     Of course, we’re told not to fear. But just try to sit in the 13th row of an airplane or visit the 13th floor of a hospital. If it’s all balderdash, how come nobody seems willing to tempt fate?
     P.S. Hopeless triskaidekaphobes should steer clear of New York’s Colgate University. At graduation, the chapel bells chimes 13 times in honor of the 13 men with $13 who founded the school in 1817. Colgate’s 13th president, Neil Graboy, assumed duties on the school’s 169th anniversary. And if your math is no better than Stephen King’s, 13 is the square root of 169.