Different periods in the history of the church have each been marked by the development of some special truth, adapted to the necessities of God's people at that time. Every new truth has made its way against hatred and opposition; those who were blessed with its light were tempted and tried. The Lord gives a special truth for the people in an emergency. Who dare refuse to publish it? He commands his servants to present the last invitation of mercy to the world. They cannot remain silent, except at the peril of their souls. Christ's ambassadors have nothing to do with consequences. They must perform their duty, and leave results with God. GC88 609.
Every ray of light that God has given to his people is necessary for them in the emergency that is to come. 11 MR 296.
As their hearts are softened by the grace of God, some...will give ear to the last message of mercy to the world, "Come, for all things are now ready." 11 MR 222.
"Come, for all things are now ready," was taken from the parable Jesus told, revealing that His Father would make a "great supper," the marriage supper of the Lamb, and He would send His servants to say, "Come; for all things are now ready." Luke 14:17.
The third angel of Revelation 14 is represented as flying swiftly through the midst of heaven crying: "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Here is shown the nature of the work of the people of God. They have a message of so great importance that they are represented as flying in the presentation of it to the world...This is the last message. There are no more to follow, no more invitations of mercy to be given after this message shall have done its work. ..."And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." 5T 206.
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars...And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke 21:25,27.
The consummation parable began unfolding when Father gave His Son the sense that His time to consummate the marriage was very imminent, and then sent the first Witness of the consummation to Him, with the same knowing that her time to consummate with the Son of God had indeed come. As they discussed what they were each sensing, Michael hesitated, even in the face of evidence already revealed to them. He voiced this reticence, by saying, "Perhaps the time isn't right yet, something is not quite right." At that very moment Father stepped in. The previous husband of the very Witness present, knocked on the door. Michael opened the door and the previous husband handed Him a card. The card expressed the thought that if we were content to have a pretend consummation, we would have to be satisfied with a pretend marriage with God. Michael then knew that the time was present when the consummation was to begin, and that Father Himself had fulfilled the third and final prerequisite of Their agreement.
The husband who Father moved upon to write the card which was Michael's final confirmation from Him, recently shared his experience of what led up to his writing of that card. Salem said, "I had this real strong unction to write Michael a card. I had the thought given to me that day when I read the verse, "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled." Heb. 13:4. I don't remember how I ended up reading that verse. I didn't even know that verse existed, but it really jumped out at me that it really described the consummation which Michael had announced. I knew this verse from Father was for right now. He was saying, "THIS marriage is honorable in all, and THIS bed undefiled." At the time I read the verse I didn't have any unction to share it with Michael. Then that evening, it was like I just came in the house, sat down and wrote out the card, and then went and gave it to Him. It was like my programming was done. It was like, "What did I do that for?" I knew this consummation was for real. When I wrote the card it was like my agreement, or my submitting, my giving over to the consummation, because it was such a hard thing for me to do. The song, 'Father Thy will be done,' was continually going through my mind."
True to His word, the Father Himself had clearly indicated to His Son when the consummation was to begin, and we were to find out that He was going to just as clearly indicate when it was completed. We had no idea, when the consummation began, that Father had designed it to be a very precisely calculated parable of events, orchestrated by Him to physically and visibly reveal the essential elements which must be present for the human soul to be brought into consummation with the Father. What we were clear about, was that the literal consummation of the marriage of the Lamb was to be an atoning act of God; and the only example we had historically of such an act of God, was the sacrifice of the Lamb of God on the cross, which had been a one-time event. After Father had sent each Witness to consummate with His Son, we quite unexpectedly found that Father was not finished with the consummation, for His instructions kept coming, and we continued following them until they concluded — twenty one days later. All throughout those twenty one days, Father's special coordination of events through His telepathic communications between His Son and the Two Witnesses, and the awesome providences which only He could have arranged, bore strong witness to us that it was Father ALONE Who was conducting this unearthly consummation.
The night before the final event of the consummation, on October 30, 2000, Michael had a dream that intimated the concluding of the consummation parable. In His dream, He looked out over the new land and saw hundreds of people dressed in the clothing of past ages. They were slowly walking away, and their backs were all that He could see as they were leaving the land. Their special help had accomplished its purpose; their work had been completed. It seemed to Michael that all of the people He saw were messengers of past ages who had helped in the completion of the consummation. Their hundreds of writings had been essential, and their influence indispensable in the final outcome. There was Daniel, Paul, the twelve Apostles, Ellen White, Martin Luther, Madam Guyon, Watchman Nee, and all of the ones who had gone before to establish the final things. These angel symbols conveyed to Michael that their work had been accomplished and the purposes of God fulfilled. Their united presence and special work to help the consummation come to pass, and to guarantee its continuance during the entire twenty one days, had accomplished their purpose and they were no longer needed.
It was on October 31, 2000 that Father gave His final instructions which would complete His consummation parable, though even on that day it was not known that they were His last instructions for the parable. It wasn't until the next morning, November 1, 2000, that Father drew His Son to the signs in the heavens, and showed Him that the parable had been completed. When Michael saw what had been transpiring in heaven's signs for the previous twenty one days, it became very clear why Father had concluded the consummation on October 31. From the Day of Atonement, October 10, 2000, when Father gave instructions for the consummation to begin, the sun was in the constellation Virgo, travelling through her clothing until October 31, 2000, the day that the sun left Virgo. During the twenty one days that the Woman in the wilderness had been literally and physically covered, in intimate consummation, with "Him Who is the brightness of His Father's glory, and the express image of His person," the Woman in the heavens had been "clothed with the sun."
VIRGOAnd a great sign, wonder —warning of future events of ominous significance, appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and with a crownlike garland of twelve stars on her head." Rev. 12:1 Amplified.
It was in 1997 that this "sign" of "a woman" "in heaven" appeared to us for the first time. Father led us to the constellation Virgo, and drew our attention to the fact that at certain times, the lineup of the sun and moon in this heavenly sign perfectly fulfilled the prophetic description given in Revelation 12:1 of "a woman" "in heaven."
This was the first time our attention had ever been drawn to the constellations in the heavens. Up until that time, our only reference point to the study of heavenly bodies was that of speculating astrologers, and we had no interest whatsoever in their various assumptions and satanic propaganda. But when Father drew our attention to the prophetic significance of this "great wonder, sign" "in heaven" through His providential direction, we immediately recognized the fulfillment of Revelation 12. Through a computer program we were able to view the stars and constellations in the heavens, and the movements of the heavenly bodies within them. We also felt within ourselves a keen identity with this woman "in heaven." Like Jesus in the temple, as He looked upon the sacrificial lamb for the first time, and began to awaken to the Spirit within Himself Who was quietly knowing within Him, "I AM that lamb," so we found a Spirit of keen identity and knowing within us, Who was quietly recognizing, "I AM that Woman. I AM being called to go to the wilderness place which has been prepared for me, to be fed of God for 1260 days."
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.... And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. Gen. 1:14,16.
We were familiar with the use of the lights in the heavens designating seasons and days and years, but we had never noticed that Father had purposed them to be as "signs" in the heavens for us, now. The Bible dictionary defines signs as "tokens, ensigns ['a symbolic object used as a heraldic device'], marks, signals, miraculous signs, warnings and omens ['occurrences or phenomena believed to portend a future event']." Thus Father opened our eyes to see that He had given these heavenly signs to identify, represent, and express spiritual realities which were to occur, or which were reflecting a current occurrence.
Long before the astrologers perverted their meaning, these heavenly signs had been recognized, and their messages understood, by the people of God. In the book of Job, which is considered to be the oldest book in the Bible, and by some, the oldest book in the world, the names of several stars and constellations are referred to in a manner indicating that they were well known. God asks the question of Job, "Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?" Job 38:31,32.
The word Mazzaroth is defined from the Hebrew as, "the twelve signs," "the 12 signs of the Zodiac and their 36 associated constellations." Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and Strong's Concordance. The word zodiac is defined as "a broad circle in the heavens, containing the twelve signs through which the sun passes in its annual course. The center of this belt is the ecliptic, which is the path of the sun." Webster 1828. The Amplified Bible reads, "Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said.... Can you bind the chains of the cluster of stars called Pleiades, or loose the cords of the constellation Orion? Can you lead forth the signs of the zodiac in their season? Or can you guide the stars of the Bear with her young? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule upon the earth? Job 38:1-3,31-33 Amplified.
In 1893 E.W. Bullinger brought together into one book, valuable research from the earliest times on the constellations in the heavens, with ancient documentation as to their true meaning. They were given as signs of the Coming One to this earth, and His specific work at both His first advent and at His second advent. We quote from his book entitled, The Witness in the Stars:
These ancient star-pictures reveal this Coming One. They set forth "the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow." Altogether there are forty-eight of them, made up of twelve SIGNS, each sign containing three CONSTELLATIONS... It was felt, for many reasons, that it was desirable to...set forth, in a more complete form, the witness of the stars to prophetic truth, so necessary in these last days. To the late Miss Rolleston, however, belongs the honor of collecting a mass of information bearing on this subject; but, published as it was, chiefly in the form of notes, unarranged and unindexed, it was suited only for, but was most valuable to, the student. It was she who performed the drudgery of collecting the facts presented by Albumazer, the Arab astronomer to the Caliphs of Grenada, AD 850; and the Tables drawn up by Ulugh Beigh, the Tartar prince and astronomer, about AD 1450, who gives the Arabian astronomy as it had come down from the earliest times. Modern astronomers have preserved, and still have in common use, the ancient names of over a hundred of the principal stars which have been handed down; but now these names are used merely as a convenience, and without any reference to their significance. This work is an attempt to popularize this ancient information, and to use it in the interest of truth.
The word Zodiac itself...means a way. Its etymology...denotes a way, or step, and is used of the way or path in which the sun appears to move amongst the stars in the course of the year. To an observer on the earth the whole firmament, together with the sun, appears to revolve in a circle once in twenty-four hours. But the time occupied by the stars in going round, differs from the time occupied by the sun. This difference amounts to about one-twelfth part of the whole circle in each month, so that when the circle of the heavens is divided up into twelve parts, the sun appears to move each month through one of them. This path which the sun thus makes amongst the stars is called the Ecliptic.
Besides this monthly difference, there is an annual difference; for at the end of twelve months the sun does not come back to exactly the same point in the sign which commenced the year, but is a little behind it. But this difference, though it occurs every year, is so small that it will take 25,579 years for the sun to complete this vast cycle, which is called The precession of the Equinoxes; i.e., about one degree in every 71 years. If the sun came back to the precise point at which it began the year, each sign would correspond, always and regularly, exactly with a particular month; but, owing to this constant regression, the sun, while it goes through the whole twelve signs every year, commences the year in one sign for only about 2,131 years. In point of fact, since the Creation the commencement of the year has changed to the extent of nearly three of the signs...
The Signs themselves and their interpretation...were designed to preserve, expound, and perpetuate the one first great promise and prophecy of Genesis 3:15...These signs have always and everywhere been...known amongst all nations, and in all ages, thus proving their common origin from one source. The figures themselves are perfectly arbitrary. There is nothing in the groups of stars to even suggest the figures. This is the first thing which is noticed by every one who looks at the constellations. Take for example the sign of Virgo, and look at the stars. There is nothing whatever to suggest a human form; still less is there anything to show whether that form is a man or a woman. And so with all the others. The picture [associated with each constellation], therefore, is the original, and must have been drawn around or connected with certain stars, simply in order that it might be identified and associated with them; and that it might thus be remembered and handed down to posterity.
Let us now spread out the contents of this Heavenly Volume, so that the eye can take them in at a glance. Of course we are greatly hindered in this, in having to use the modern Latin names which the Constellations bear today. Some of these names are mistakes, others are gross perversions of the truth, as proved by the pictures themselves, which are far more ancient, and have come down to us from primitive times. ...After the nations had lost the original meaning of the pictures, they invented a meaning out of the vain imagination of the thoughts of their hearts. The Greek Mythology is an interpretation of (only some of) the signs and constellations after their true meaning had been forgotten. It is popularly believed that Bible truth is an evolution from, or development of, the ancient religions of the world. But the fact is that they themselves (mythological interpretations) are a corruption and perversion of primitive truth! E.W. Bullinger, The Witness of the Stars. [Emphasis is supplied.]
In biblical history one can trace time on this earth in three equal, and precisely divided, ages. Based upon the Jubilee cycle which was given by God, each of these three ages of time contained 1960 years. Each 1960 years contained four 490 year periods, or 70 weeks of years. Each 1960 year age, had within it 40 Jubilees, each Jubilee consisting of 49 years, or 7 weeks of years. The first 1960-year age began when Seth was born, who was the first child of promise, and extended to the call of Abraham. The second 1960-year age began with Abraham and ended with the appearing of Jesus and the close of probation for the people who had claimed to be His. The third 1960-year age began with the stoning of Stephen and ended in 1994. This was the year that the light on the real nature of the reappearing of Messiah began dawning on us. His reappearing was to occur IN His people.
In 1995 a new age commenced. This new age was marked by the appearing of the prophesied sign described in The Revelation. "And a great sign, warning of future events of ominous significance, appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet." Rev. 12:1 Amplified. During the commencing of the new year of the heavenly cycle, which is called Rosh ha-Shanah and literally means "Beginning of the Year," the constellation Virgo appeared with the new "moon under her feet" at the same time she was "clothed with the sun." This was a new occurrence. The woman "in heaven" had never been "clothed with the sun" and "the moon under her feet" during this period of time — the "Awesome Days," which begin the new year.
For seven years, from 1995 to 2001, the constellation Virgo again appeared in the heavens during the period of time from Rosh ha-Shanah to the Day of Atonement, or the ten "Days of Awe," with "the moon under her feet," at the same time she was "clothed with the sun." The beginning of the final year in this seven-year period, was a sabbatical year of rest — "the year of favor," or "the year of My redeemed" — which began Sabbath, September 30, 2000. This was the day that Michael announced to the congregation that the consummation of the Lamb was going to be a literal, physical event. That very day the new moon was in the constellation Virgo, directly "under her feet," as she was "clothed with the sun." Ten days later, on the Day of Atonement, October 10, 2000, Father unexpectedly initiated the commencement of the consummation, which continued for the next twenty one days, while Virgo continued to be "clothed with the sun." October 31 was the last day that the sun was in the clothing of Virgo, and the very day that Father gave His final instructions for the consummation parable, as well.
The appearing of this heavenly sign had been for us as the wise men's sign in the heavens at the first appearing of Messiah in humanity. The wise men followed their sign to the place where Messiah was born out of the woman. And so it was again at the reappearing of Messiah in humanity. When heaven's sign appeared to us, it was the beginning of following this sign to the place where Messiah would be born out of the Woman in the wilderness, though at the time we had no idea that the male-Child, Michael, would be appearing in Person in this wilderness place.
As we wrote about in detail, in Chapter 11, at Messiah's first coming He appeared in the single human body of Jesus, which contained many body parts in it, as a symbol and foreshadowing, of His reappearing in One living spiritual body, with many human members in it, at His second coming. At His first coming He was born out of the virgin Mary, who also had a single human body with many body parts in it. In actuality, the virgin Mary from Nazareth was likewise a symbol, and prefigured One living spiritual virgin, with many human members in it, who would appear at the end of time. This Woman of the last days would give birth to the reappearing of Messiah in all believing humanity, when the male Child, Michael, would be born out of the Woman in the wilderness.
And a great sign, wonder -- warning of future events of ominous significance, appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and with a crownlike garland of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and she cried out in her birth pangs, in the anguish of her delivery. Then another ominous sign, wonder, was seen in heaven: Behold, a huge, fiery-red dragon...stationed himself in front of the woman who was about to be delivered, so that he might devour her child as soon as she brought it forth. And she brought forth a male Child, One Who is destined to shepherd, rule, all the nations with an iron staff, scepter, and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne...Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels went forth to battle with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought. But they were defeated, and there was no room found for them in heaven any longer. And the huge dragon was cast down and out--that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer, deceiver, of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him. Then I heard a strong, loud, voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come -- the salvation and the power and the kingdom, the dominion, the reign of our God, and the power, the sovereignty, the authority of His Christ, the Messiah; for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out! Therefore be glad, exult, O heavens and you that dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in fierce anger, because he knows that he has only a short time left! Rev. 12:1-12 Amplified.
Chapter 12, page: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
