n_almond_blossom

Newsletter “The Witness”July 2008

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The Almond Blossom...

The Menorah"Make a lampstand of pure gold.

Make its base and its shaft of hammered gold;its decorative flowers,

including buds and petals,are to form one piece with it.

Six branches shall extend from its sides,three from each side.

Each of the six branches is to have three decorative flowers shaped like almond blossoms with budsand petals.

The shaft of the lampstand is to have four decorative flowers shaped like almond blossoms with budsand petals.

(Exo 25:31-40) GNB

The Vision of the Branch of anAlmond tree...

On the 29th of May 2008, the LordJesus Christ showed me a vision. Ina vision I saw the branch of analmond tree. Then the Lord askedme: “What do you see?” I said: “LordI see the branch of an almond tree”Then the Lord said: “You have seencorrectly for I am about to fulfil myword!”

I did not know what this meant, butknew that God was about to fulfilsomething great. He had given us many promises,since the beginning of our calling. I knew that Godhad called me to stop working, but did not knowwhat would soon transpire.

Then the word of the Lord came to me saying: “Anew spirit is rising up out of the earth – The spirit

of Pharaoh and the spirit of thefalse prophet. This is a spirit thatwill continually say that it willrepent of its wrongs towards Godand His people, but after a whilewill harden its heart repeatedlywithout true repentance, just likePharaoh did. Finally they willharden their hearts so much, that Iwill give them over to theirwickedness. For I said: “I willharden whom I harden and I willhave mercy on whom I will havemercy.” But I am now rising up theSpirit of Moses.” Up until that

time I have heard of the Spirit of Elijah, but not theSpirit of Moses.

The Fire of the Lord is kindled...

On the 1st of June 2008, I had a dream. In mydream I saw the map of the world in front of me.


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Then I saw, how suddenly, a fire was kindled at theIndonesian Islands. It started to burn slow at first,but later it started burning downwards, around thetop of Australia, going through the Pacific Ocean andaround the coast of South America. Then it burnedup, through the Atlantic Ocean, towards NorthAmerica.

As I woke up I asked the Lord this meant, when theLord said to me: “I have kindled a fire in Indonesiaand it will burn along the coast of South Americaand even to the coast lands of North America, until ithas accomplished its purpose!”

The Sign of the Almond blossom...

On the 20th of June 2008, I stopped working as aprocurement engineer, at a large company in SouthAfrica. Full of the joy and excitement of the Lord Idrove back home on the last day. I came to acrossroad; while I waited at the traffic light, I lookedup into the heavens. Suddenly I saw a large sign inthe sky, like the other signs in the heaven, which theLord Jesus Christ had shown from the beginning,when He appeared to us during the first 3.5 years.

Then I asked the Lord: “What is it Lord?” Then theLord answered me saying: “It is an Almond blossom,for I am about to fulfil My word!”

I was amazed at the sign which the Lord had shownme, but I did not know its significance or itspurpose! I was immediately reminded of the word ofthe Lord to the prophet Jeremiah: “Jeremiah, whatdo you see?" a branch or a shoot of an Almond tree[the emblem of alertness and activity,blossoming in late winter]. Then the Lord saidto me: “You have seen well, for I am alert andactive, watching over My word to perform it! (Jer1:11-12) AMP

I have been especially excited about the words: “..., Iam alert and active, watching over My word to

perform it”, for God had given us every specificpromises 7 years ago, and confirmed it throughmany prophetic words. Up until that stage it had notcome into fulfilment.

God’s Signs and Witnesses through theprophets…

God has always left for himself a witness, whichwould irrefutably, proof that only God could havedone those things. Thus, only God will be glorified.

Many times and in various ways God has spoken tothe prophets in the past. Their words and liveswould then be for a sign and symbol to us, as canbeen seen by the words of the prophet Isaiah: “HereI am with the children the LORD has given me. TheLORD Almighty, whose throne is on Mount Zion,has sent us as living messages to the people ofIsrael.” (Isa 8:18) GNB

Or

“Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hathgiven me are for signs and for wonders in Israelfrom the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mountZion.” (Isa 8:18) KJV

About the prophet Isaiah, God said: "My servantIsaiah has been going around naked and barefoot forthree years. This is a sign of what will happen toEgypt and Ethiopia. (Isa 20:3) KJV

About the prophet Ezekiel, God said: “In that dayshall thy mouth be opened to him which hasescaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no moredumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; andthey shall know that I am the LORD.” (Eze 24:27)KJV

Jesus was once asked for a sign as was written:“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered,saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."


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But answering, He said to them: “An evil andadulterous [or, unfaithful] generation seeksa sign, and a sign will not be given to it, exceptthe sign of Jonah the prophet. For just as 'Jonahwas in the belly of the sea monster three days andthree nights,' so will the Son of Humanity be in theheart [fig., depths] of the earth three days andthree nights. [Jonah 1:17] (Mat 12:38) ALT

When the Jews wanted to kill Jesus He made Hisdefence, proving that He is theMessiah and that He was the onewho would be sent. This was Hiswitness to the people, when He said:“I can of mine own self do nothing:as I hear, I judge: and my judgmentis just; because I seek not mine ownwill, but the will of the Father whichhath sent me. If I bear witness ofmyself, my witness is not true.There is another that bearethwitness of me; and I know that thewitness which he witnesses ofme is true. Ye sent unto John, andhe bare witness unto the truth. But Ireceive not testimony from man: but these things Isay, that ye might be saved. He was a burningand a shining light: and ye were willing for aseason to rejoice in his light. But I have greaterwitness than that of John: for the works whichthe Father hath given me to finish, the same worksthat I do, bear witness of me, that the Fatherhath sent me. And the Father himself, which hathsent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye haveneither heard his voice at any time, nor seen hisshape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: forwhom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search thescriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternallife: and they are they which testify of me. (Joh5:30-39) KJV

All these men and women of God would point us toJesus Christ. Not only did God speak through their

words, but also through their lives and actions. ButJesus Christ was not the replica, but the actualfulfilment of the promised Messiah, as was writtenby Paul the apostle, saying: “All such things are onlya shadow of things in the future; the reality isChrist. (Col 2:17) GNB

Let us consider men of God who were signs andsymbols, who would point us to Jesus Christ in boththe old and the New Testament.

Old TestamentJoseph the interpreter ofdreams

Let’s consider Joseph, who haddreams, which would only befulfilled many years later. God spoketo Joseph in a dream and told Himthat all His brothers would bowdown to him one day, as waswritten: “One time Joseph had adream, and when he told hisbrothers about it, they hated himeven more. He said, "Listen to thedream I had. We were all in the field

tying up sheaves of wheat, when my sheaf got up andstood up straight. Yours formed a circle around mineand bowed down to it. Do you think you are goingto be a king and rule over us?" his brothers asked. Sothey hated him even more because of hisdreams and because of what he said about them.(Gen 37:5-8) GNB

When his brothers heard this they were angry athim. Later he had another dream, in which not onlywould his brothers bow down to him, but also hisfather and mother, as was written: “Then Josephhad another dream and told his brothers, "I hadanother dream, in which I saw the sun, the moon,and eleven stars bowing down to me." He alsotold the dream to his father, and his father scoldedhim: "What kind of a dream is that? Do you think


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that your mother, your brothers, and I aregoing to come and bow down to you?" Joseph'sbrothers were jealous of him, but his father keptthinking about the whole matter. (Gen 37:9-8)GNB

Not long after this Joseph was sold into slavery byhis brothers, because they hated him and wasjealous of the calling upon his life. It would takemany years in Egypt, before this promise of Godwould fulfil. After Joseph interpreted both the butlerand baker’s dreams, God opened a door for him tointerpret the king’s dream, and helped save his ownpeople from starvation. Thus, Joseph had to waitpatiently for the vision, which God had given him tocome to pass. What seemed to have died wasbrought back by God, only many years later.

Moses the Lord’s deliverer

Moses’ birth was announced by the stars. Even theEgyptians knew that a deliverer was born in Israel.Did you know that Moses knew he was the delivererof Israel? Consider the word of Luke about Moses:“Now he was assuming his brothers [and sisters] tounderstand that God [was] giving deliverance tothem through his hand, but they did notunderstand. (Act 7:25) ALT

Moses knew that God had called him to be thedeliverer of Israel, but they did not recognise him. Atthe age of 40 years, he had to flee for his life. Mosesfled to Median in the Arabian Desert, where he gotmarried and became a shepherd. After 40 years ofliving in these circumstances, knowing that he wascalled by God, but had failed in his own humanability to save his people, God appeared to Moses inthe sign of a burning bush and commissioned him togo and lead his people out of Egypt. Then, throughthe power and guidance of the Holy Spirit and thepillar of fire by night and the cloud by day, for thenext 40 years, God led His people to the PromisedLand. Moses’ life was divided into exactly three 40

year periods. The first 40 years was up to thefailed attempt to deliver Israel. The next 40 yearshe was in the Arabian Desert tending sheep. Thedream and vision which God had given him had tocompletely die. The last 40 years of his life he ledhis people out of Egypt and through the wildernessto the Promised Land. All these things were a type ofthose things which would be fulfilled in our days.

Abraham God’s friend…

Even Abraham, the father of our faith, to whom thegospel was preached, had to be prepared by God forthe calling that God had for him. When Abrahamwas 75 years old God promised Abram: “I will giveyou many descendants, and they will become a greatnation. I will bless you and make your name famous,so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those whobless you, But I will curse those who curse you. Andthrough you I will bless all the nations." (Gen 12:2-3) KJV

Abram also had to first continue a journey of lifewith God, before that which God had promised himwould come to pass. After Abram had given a 10th ofall that he had to the King of Salem, Melchizedeck,God appeared to Abram again and re-confirmed Hispromise to Abram. Abram believed God and it wascredited to him as righteousness. It had been 10years since God had made Abram a promise that Hewould bless him. Abraham became despondent,because Sarah his wife, had not bore him childrenyet, therefore he slept with Hagar and had a son.Abraham was 86 years old when Ishmael was born.At the old age of 99 years God appeared to Abramand confirmed a covenant with him, changing hisname from Abram to Abraham. One year from thattime, Sarah had the child of promise - Isaac. ThusAbraham failed at the call of God upon his life thefirst time through the son Ishmael after 11 years. Itwould take another 14 years before the promise ofGod came into fulfilment. Thus it took 24 years forthe promise of God to come to pass. After Ishmael


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became 13 years old, God tested Abraham to see ifhe would love God above all else, requestingAbraham to sacrifice his beloved son. And accordingto the writer of the book Hebrews: “Abraham waspatient, and so he received what God had promised.(Heb 6:15) GNB

And

“It was faith that made Abraham obey when Godcalled him to go out to a country which God hadpromised to give him. He left his own countrywithout knowing where he was going. By faith helived as a foreigner in the country that God hadpromised him. He lived in tents, as did Isaac andJacob, who received the same promise from God.For Abraham was waiting for the city which God hasdesigned and built, the city with permanentfoundations.” (Heb 11:8-10) GNB

“It was faith that made Abraham able to become afather, even though he was too old and Sarah herselfcould not have children. He trusted God to keep hispromise. Though Abraham was practically dead,from this one man came as many descendants asthere are stars in the sky, as many as the numberlessgrains of sand on the seashore.” (Heb 11:11-12)GNB

“It was faith that made Abraham offer his son Isaacas a sacrifice when God put Abraham to the test.Abraham was the one to whom God had made thepromise, yet he was ready to offer his only son as asacrifice. God had said to him, "It is through Isaacthat you will have the descendants I promised."Abraham reckoned that God was able to raise Isaacfrom death---and, so to speak, Abraham did receiveIsaac back from death.” (Heb 11:8-19) GNB

Ezekiel the prophet

Consider the prophet Ezekiel, who was called 7 daysbefore he was to start interceding for the nation of

Israel’s sins. His intercession would take 430 days,as he laid, first on his left side for 390 days and afterthat he laid on his right side for another 40 days.Thus, he sat in astonishment, before the Lord for 7days. God told Ezekiel that he will intercede forIsrael’s sin, a day for a year – that is 430 years.

New TestamentThe Apostle Paul

Paul the apostle had a similar path which he had towalk with the Lord, before the calling on his lifewould come to fulfilment. On his way towardsDamascus, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Himthrough a sign and a wonder as was written: “...,about noon, suddenly a great light out ofheaven [or, the sky] flashed around me. And Ifell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' "So Ianswered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me,'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you arepersecuting.' (Act 22:6-8) ALT

Later a devout Jew and believer in the Lord JesusChrist, came and revealed the call upon Saul’s life, asPaul later explained in his witness, saying: “The Godof our fathers hand-picked you beforehand to knowHis will and to see the Righteous [One] and tohear a voice from His mouth. For you will beHis witness to all people of what you have seenand heard.” (Act 22:14-15) ALT

Immediately Paul started preaching and convincingthe Jews that Jesus was the Christ. But soon Paulwas hated and they wanted to kill him. Paul had toflee for his life. Only after many years did Barnabasfind Paul and brought him to Antioch to help himwith the church there. Paul was considered a teacherand a prophet. He was also among the prophets,when the Holy Spirit set him and Barnabas apartand commissioned him to fulfil that for which Godhad called him. For the rest of His life he would


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become a bond servant and apostle or sentmessenger, of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Messenger of the LORD…

The Prophet Malachi prophesied about anothermessenger that would come, as was written:“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shallprepare the way before me: and the Lord, whomye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even themessenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in:behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

It was prophesied that one would come to preparethe way before the LORD Jesus Christ. He, Jesus,would also be called the messenger of the covenantin His own blood.

Then the prophet asked a question? “But who mayabide the day of his coming? And who shall standwhen he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire,and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refinerand purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons ofLevi, and purge them as gold and silver, that theymay offer unto the LORD an offering inrighteousness.” And so John the Baptist came,proclaiming a baptism of repentance and said to allthose religious leaders that they must bear fruitwhich prove their repentance, as was written: “Butalso the axe is already laid to the root of the trees.Therefore, every tree not producing good fruit is cutdown and thrown into fire.” (Luk 3:9) ALT

John the Baptist also prophesied about the comingof the Lord Jesus Christ and the coming age saying:“I indeed baptize you in water [or, with water][One] mightier than I is coming, of whom I am notworthy to loose the strap of His sandals, He willbaptize you in [or, with] [the] Holy Spirit and fire;whose winnowing shovel [is] in His hand, and Hewill thoroughly clean out His threshing floorand will gather the wheat into His barn, but Hewill burn the chaff in unquenchable fire!”

(Luk 3:16-17) ALT; Speaking of another timewhen, Jesus will gather the wheat into His barn, butburn the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Then, according to the word of Malachi: “…will theoffering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant untothe LORD, as in the days of old, and as in formeryears. And I will come near to you to judgment; andI will be a swift witness against the sorcerers,and against the adulterers, and against falseswearers, and against those that oppress thehireling in his wages, the widow, and thefatherless, and that turn aside the strangerfrom his right, and fear not me, saith the LORDof hosts. (Mal 3:1-5) KJV

According to the prophet, this messenger will like aswift witness against all those who do not fear God;All those who lived according to their sinful nature.

Later however, the prophet describes thismessenger: “Remember ye the law of Moses myservant, which I commanded unto him in Horebfor all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet beforethe coming of the great and dreadful day of theLORD: “And he shall turn the heart of thefathers to the children, and the heart of thechildren to their fathers, lest I come and smitethe earth with a curse.” (Mal 4:4-6) KJV

He, the messenger of the Lord, will turn the heartsof men back to God. He will be like a refiner ofhearts and like a washer’s soap. He will wash thosewho are willing to repent, but will be refiner’s fire tothose who refuse to repent. It will be in those dayslike it was said by Jesus Christ: "Did you never readin the Scriptures, 'A stone which the ones buildingrejected, this [one] has become [the] head of acorner; this happened from the LORD, and it ismarvelous in our eyes?' [Psalm 118:22,23]

And


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“For this reason I say to you, the kingdom of Godwill be taken from you and will be given to anation [or, people] yielding its fruits. "Andthe one falling on this stone will be broken topieces, but on whomever it falls, it will crushhim." (Mat 21:42-44) ALT

And as Paul, opened to us through Holy Spirit, bythe prophet David, said: “Let their table become fora snare and for a trap and for a stumbling-block[or, offense] and for a recompense [or, retribution]to them. “Let their eyes be darkened not to beseeing, and their back be bent down through all[fig. continually]." [Psalm 69:22,23] (Rom 11:9)

Therefore, God will send Hismessenger to be like awinnowing fork and that willwinnow the Lord’s threshingfloor before He comes totake away His bride.

Jesus’ disciples oncequestioned Him about thisprophecy of Elijah, saying,"Why then do the scribes saythat it is necessary [for]Elijah to come first?"Then answering, Jesus saidto them, "Elijah is indeedcoming first, and he willrestore all things. But Isay to you, Elijah alreadycame, and they did notrecognize him (Mat17:10-12) ALT

Thus, Elijah was sent to restore all things and toprepare the way before the Lord. It has always beenassumed that John the Baptist was that light thatwould come to prepare the way before the Messiah,but Jesus once remarked about John the Baptist,saying: “But what did you go out to see? A

prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more [than] aprophet. "For this is [he] concerning whom it hasbeen written, 'Look! I am sending Mymessenger before Your face [fig., ahead ofYou], who will prepare Your way before You.' [Mal3:1] (Mat 11:9-10)

But then Jesus prophesied and said: "And if you arewilling to receive [it], he is Elijah, the one aboutto be coming.” (Mat 11:14) KJV

Thus, once more, another messenger would come toprepare the way before the Lord Jesus Christ, andthe revelations that would follow soon after this.

Jesus the Light of theWorld…

When we hear the wordsof the Lord Jesus Christsaying: “I am the Light ofthe world!” We do notalways realize thesymbolism, which He usedto illustrate that He was theone who was to come asMoses had prophesied: “Iwill send them aprophet like you fromamong their own people.”

Jesus was referring to theMenorah – The lampstand,standing in the holy place orinner court when He said: “Iam the light of theworld: he that followeth

me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have thelight of life.” (Joh 8:12) KJV

The Pharisees accused Him, saying that He can notbear witness of Himself, as was written: “Thoubearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.


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Jesus answered and said unto them: “though I bearrecord of myself, yet my record is true: for I knowwhence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tellwhence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge afterthe flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, myjudgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and theFather that sent me. It is also written in your law,that the testimony of two men is true. I am onethat bear witness of myself, and the Father thatsent me beareth witness of me. (Joh 8:12-18)KJV

Jesus Christ said that He is the lamp unto the world,which was a witness of those things which God hadprophesied through all the prophets who camebefore Him.

Later Jesus expounded on this samemanner, saying: “Verily, verily, I sayunto you, I am the door of the sheep.All that ever came before me arethieves and robbers: but the sheepdid not hear them.” (Joh 10:7-8)KJV

Thus, all apostles and prophet whocame before Jesus Christ were likethieves and robbers, only stealing fromthat which belongs to Christ. Theywere also only thieves and robberscompared to the fullness of therevelation which came in Jesus – The Anointed One,as Paul the Apostle said: “…, and [attaining] to all[the] riches [fig., abundance] of the full assuranceof understanding, to the full [or, true]knowledge of the secret of both God theFather and of Christ, whom are hidden all thetreasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col2:2-3) ALT

And

“Because in Him dwells all the fullness of theGodhead [or, Deity] bodily, and you have beenmade full [or, have been completed] in Him, who isthe Head of every rule and authority,…” (Col2:9-10) ALT

The Menorah…

Moses was once told by God to make a lampstand.He had to make it exactly according to the patternwhich God had shown him on the mountain of theSinai. God had shown Moses His plan of salvationand prophesied about those things, which would berevealed at the end of time.

"Make a lampstand of pure gold. Make its base andits shaft of hammered gold; its decorative flowers,

including buds and petals, are to formone piece with it. Six branches shallextend from its sides, three fromeach side. Each of the six branchesis to have three decorative flowersshaped like almond blossomswith buds and petals. The shaft ofthe lampstand is to have fourdecorative flowers shaped likealmond blossoms with buds andpetals. There is to be one budbelow each of the three pairs ofbranches. The buds, the branches,and the lampstand are to be a singlepiece of pure hammered gold. Make

seven lamps for the lampstand and set themup so that they shine toward the front. Makeits tongs and trays of pure gold. Use seventy-fivepounds of pure gold to make the lampstand and allthis equipment. Take care to make them accordingto the plan that I showed you on the mountain. (Exo25:31-40)

Thus, the Menorah is God’s hidden plan of salvationand witness of to the fulfilment of the ages. Thus, theMenorah would prophecy and open up the mystery


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of God from Adam, through all the prophets andapostles, until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

According to the prophecy 7 bright and shininglamps would come. They would stand before theGod of all the earth and witness of His Glory andthose things which would follow. Out of each of theseven pipes of the Menorah seven lamps would comeforth. Each of these lampstands would come out ofan Almond blossom.

Thus, each of these Almond blossoms would be theexact fulfilment of all the prophecies as was revealedby all the apostles and prophets. All the Lord’sapostles and prophets referred to Jesus Christ.

Thus, the lamp in the middle of the Menorah refersto Jesus Christ, who is the actual fulfilment of the 4th

pipe; coming out of the fourth Almond blossom,when the fullness of time came for God’s mystery tobe revealed.

I am about to fulfill My Word…

So in the same way Moses also prophesied saying:“Instead, he will send you a prophet like me

from among your own people, and you are to obeyhim.

And so the LORD said to Moses: 'They have made awise request. I will send them a prophet likeyou from among their own people; I will tell himwhat to say, and he will tell the peopleeverything I command. (Deu 18:15-18)

Now, once more, just before the coming of JesusChrist - the Anointed one, God will reveal anothergolden pipe, coming from an almond blossom in theMenorah…

May God open the eyes of the blind and unstop theears of the deaf. May God bless you as you help bringin the great harvest, right at the end of time!

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And lethim that heareth say, Come.

And let him that is athirst come.And whosoever will, let him take the water of life

freely.(Rev 22:17) KJV

From the Director: “The Witness”

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