Messiah’s Arrival!
Messiah’s Arrival!
by Messianic Rabbi Eric Carlson
Passover marks an incredible time of power, victory, and protection in Israel and in the body of believers. Passover is a time of reconciliation to God, reconciliation among people, and healing. Throughout the span of Biblical History since the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden, humanity has been on a journey of reconciliation unto our creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
On Passover, God states this is even more so in Exodus 12:42 “This was a night when the Lord kept vigil to bring them out of the land of Egypt, and this same night continues to be a night when the Lord keeps vigil for all the people of Isra’el through all their generations.” I find it comforting to know that on every Passover eve the Lord keeps vigil over my family and I.
All biblical scriptures, analogies, stories, and teachings point to the Messiah, Yeshua, the Salvation of Israel and the banner and light unto the nations. The Tanach (Old Testament) and the Talmud (Jewish book of Tradition) set the precedent for the coming of Yeshua. The Bible and Talmud both clearly outline the coming of Jesus (Yeshua) and how it would occur.
Most Christians and Messianic Believers (and many non-Messianic Jews) are very familiar with the Traditional Biblical Messianic Prophecies such as these few examples:
Yeshua would be born of a Virgin Isaiah 7:14.
Yeshua would be born in Bethlehem Micah 5:1.
Yeshua would be a descendent of David II Samuel 7:12-13, Isaiah 9:6; 11:1-5, Jeremiah 23:5.
Yeshua would have a ministry of healing Isaiah 35:5-6; 42:18
Yeshua would be sinless and without guile Isaiah 53:9
There are literally dozens more but most of you are familiar with the traditional scriptures already. What I want to share with you that most people do not know are the supernatural events that occurred 2,000 years ago in Jerusalem preceding Yeshua’s birth and death that are recorded in the Talmud. This Jewish book of tradition contains some key historical information that verifies what we know to be true and exactly what was happening in Israel 2,000 year ago.
The last Old Testament prophet was Malachi who perished some 400 years before Yeshua’s birth. Some calculations say it was 400 years others say it was 430. This time span and what it represents is another fascinating study but we’ll have to save it for another time. The important aspect for now is that the prophets ceased speaking. God was preparing Israel for the arrival of Messiah, son of God. Just as Israel was preparing in Egypt for 430 years before the Exodus from slavery and eventual arrival in the Promise Land, Israel was once again being prepared for the greatest promise ever, Yeshua.
For a 40 year period starting just before Yeshua’s birth Supernatural events began happening in Jerusalem in the Temple. These events alerted Godly people in Israel who had the spiritual discernment and understanding of this period without prophets that the prophesied arrival of the Messiah was about to occur. Contrary to commonly taught theology, many in Israel were aware of the imminent coming of Messiah.
Many did go awry by having preconceived notions or theology of what Messiah would do when he was here. So many were taught and convinced that an anti-Roman warrior Messiah was coming that when a loving and suffering Messiah came they missed the event! We must always be ready with an open mind, spirit, and heart for what God is going to do next so WE don’t miss it!
The Talmud tractate Yoma 39b, Ch. IV records the most incredible and supernatural events that occurred to announce the arrival of the Son of God over 2,000 years ago:
On Yom Kippur, when the High Priest sacrificed a bull (Leviticus 16), a piece of scarlet cloth was tied between its horns. If it turned white, it meant that God had accepted the sacrifice and forgave Israel’s sin (Isaiah 1:18). If it did not change color, the sacrifice was not accepted. The Talmud records that for this 40 year period the cloth ceased turning white.
There was an Urn in the Temple with two lots. One lot had “for the High Priest” inscribed on it and the other “for the Lord” inscribed on it. Before every sacrifice the High Priest would place his hands inside the urn and pull out the lots. If “for the Lord” came out in his right hand it meant the sacrifice would be accepted by God. If “for the High Priest” came out in the High Priest right hand it meant it would not be accepted. For that 40 year period the lot “for the High Priest” always came up in the Right Hand of the Priest. This was a heavenly sign that the sacrifices were not being accepted by God.
The fire that burned on the brazen altar was a supernatural fire. To completely consume all portions of the sacrifice (animal and human flesh is mostly water) required an immense amount of heat with temperatures ranging in the 1,000-1,500 degree range. Israel is not a predominantly wooded or deciduous forest landscape. The amount of wood needed to keep this type of fire burning would have denuded Israel of all her trees in a few decades.
The Talmud records that the Priests placed a ceremonial single log in the fire daily. The fire was from heaven and burned without earthly fuel. This tractate records that for the 40 year period the supernatural fire stopped burning and the Priests laboriously cut down trees to provide fuel in a vain attempt to keep the brazen altar fire burning.
Lastly, the Last High Priest, Simeon the Righteous, in the year of his death, recorded himself that for the 40 years prior to the destruction of the Temple every time he entered into the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur there was someone else who went in with him, a heavenly being dressed and wrapped all in white. He records prophetically in the year that he died (the year prior to the Temples destruction) his own death and the destruction of the Temple.
On this year, Simeon the Righteous records in his own hand writing that when he entered into the Holy of Holies there was also a heavenly being in there with him. This time however the being was dressed in black and Simeon took this to be a bad omen for him personally and for the Temple. Within the Year, Simeon passed away and on the 9th of Av, A.D. 70 the 2nd Temple was destroyed.
The signs of Yeshua’s first coming were overt and prevalent 2,000 years ago. Those who were attuned spiritually to God, God’s word, and His Kingdom knew what was happening. The same holds true for us today. The signs of Yeshua’s return are overt and prevalent. Israel a Nation becomes a Nation in a Day. Over two and a half million Jews living throughout the world have returned home to the Land of Israel over the last 50 years (Aliya), the Spiritual Revival of the Jewish people as they accept Yeshua as Messiah, wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes and tidal waves.
The Biblical signs are readily apparent. Are you ready? Do you have a preconceived notion or theology of how Yeshua returns? Will you recognize or miss Yeshua’s return! Time is running short! He’s Coming!
Blessings to you from Sid, the Staff here at Messianic Vision, and Myself!
Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Messianic Rabbi Eric Carlson and his wife Rabbitzin Barbara of Newport News Va., have been called to spread the Good News of Messiah Yeshua’s Grace and Glory in the United States and in the countries of the Former Soviet Union (having performed Gods work in Hungary, Russia, and the Ukraine).
Active in Aliyah, the world wide exodus of the Children of Israel back to Israel as prophesied in the Bible, Zion’s Sake has sponsored the return home of over 2,269 Jewish people from Russian and the Ukraine. Through a prophetic vision from God, they were called to spread the “Good News’ of the Jewish Messiah according to the Law of Evangelism; To the Jew First. To provoke the Jewish people to jealousy. To reach the lost and hurting through the Love of Messiah and to feed the starving and clothe the naked in Newport News, Virginia, America, and the Nations.
Rabbitzin Barb Carlson Leads the Zion’s Sake dancers, a “One New Man” (Ephesians 2:15) Messianic Jewish Dance Team. They are dedicated to restoring Jewish and Davidic Dance. Many of their dances consist of the “circle dance” which represents unity. It is also traditional Judaic beliefs that demonic forces cannot penetrate a circle. They dance before the Lord, sowing praise and worship unto the God of Israel!