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The Tarrying Time June 3-12

We are presently in the "tarrying" time mentioned in Luke 24:49,

"And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." (NASB)

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples just before His ascension. We learn from Acts 1:3 that Jesus had appeared to His disciples off and on for a period of 40 days from His resurrection. Since He was raised on the day of the wave-sheaf offering, we know that this 40-day period was a countdown toward Pentecost, which was the 50th day.

Hence, Jesus' disciples tarried for ten days after Jesus' ascension, and then the Holy Spirit came upon them, empowering them with the promise of the Father to carry the Gospel of the Kingdom to the rest of the world.

So here is a summary of the calendar watch dates:

1. April 24 = wave-sheaf offering (day #1 toward Pentecost)
2. May 18 = 14th day of 2nd month (kill lambs for 2nd Passover)
3. May 19 = 15th day (1st day of Unleavened Bread for 2nd Passover)
4. May 25 = 21st day (last day of Unleavened Bread)
5. May 26 to June 1 = second week of Unleavened Bread (Hezekiah's 2nd Passover)
6. June 3 = 40th day toward Pentecost (i.e., Ascension Day)
7. June 12 = Pentecost (Promise of the Father given)

Every year, of course, we are led to watch prophetic events according to the biblical feast days. This year we have more dates to watch, since Hezekiah's Second Passover has surfaced as a Watch Date. In that story, we read that the financial support for the temple (divine gov't) began to arrive "in the third month" (2 Chron. 31:7). The third month today extends from June 3 to July 2.

In our present time of tarrying, we ought to focus upon the biblical patterns of this particular time frame.

In the days of Moses, Israel fought against Amalek on or about the 40th day. This was a day of spiritual warfare for Moses, even as Joshua fought the battle on the earth. The correlation in 2011 comes with George Robinson's prayer campaign, which he called for June 3. Some of you may have heard of this.

When Amalek was defeated, Moses' father-in-law came (Ex. 18) and suggested that the judges in Israel be appointed to deal with most of the judicial cases that needed to be heard. These lower-court judges were to be taught the laws of God (18:20), and if a case proved to be too difficult for them, they were to bring it to Moses (18:26).

This situation foreshadowed the gathering of Jesus' disciples in Jerusalem during the ten days of tarrying. Pentecost was their induction as judges in the world, and they were given the authority to do their work of ministry in all parts of the world.

Will we see some kind of parallel this year? Whatever happens, it seems pretty clear that we are seeing some type of pattern that leads of Pentecost on June 12.

Another related matter has to do with Amalek and how this plays out in today's world. Obviously, there is no Kingdom of Amalek listed in the roster of the United Nations. But yet Amalek is prophesied in terms that suggest a lengthy warfare that would extend to our time. What is the nature of that warfare?

Amalek was the grandson of Esau and the son of Eliphaz. So Amalek was an Edomite tribe that lived alongside of Edom itself (in the Negev). Eliphaz literally means "my god is fine gold." This has everything to do with the love of money (gold). When Israel came out of Egypt, they took with them much of the wealth (gold) of Egypt. Amalek wanted to steal it from them, so they came and fought with Israel at Rephidim in Exodus 17.

Today, Amalek is primarily manifested as the Babylonian banking system. From a prophetic standpoint, Amalek is the same as Edom. Edom was absorbed into world Jewry in 126 B.C. Hence, Amalek is part of Jewry today, and this spirit of Amalek is what runs the banking system, which in turn virtually owns most western governments.

It is overthrown as Moses raises his arms in spiritual warfare, signifying the establishment of equal weights and measures (Lev. 19:33-36). That is the biblical law that overthrows the banking system, as well as inequality among ethnic groups. It appears to me that there is an intense warfare going on even now between true Israel and Amalek-Edom.

The time of tarrying in Jerusalem resulted in the people coming into "one accord" (Acts 2:1, KJV). That signified peace, reconciliation, and harmony. It was foreshadowed by the day Solomon's temple was filled with the Spirit, when the trumpeters and singers came into harmony "as one" (2 Chron. 5:12-14).

It requires unity and peace before the Holy Spirit comes down upon His people. Paul explains to us in Ephesians 2:14 that Christ broke down the dividing wall in the temple, making peace between the two groups. I link this requirement with the law of equal weights and measures in Leviticus 19:33-36, because that law is prefaced by the admonition to treat aliens as well as we treat the natural citizens of Israel.

³³ When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. ³⁴ The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you; and you shall love him as yourself; for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God. ³⁵ You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measurement of weight or capacity. ³⁶ You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin...."

Those who run the banking system today consider themselves to be "the elite." They think of themselves as better than the average person. As such, they have the right to rule the peons of humanity and to do with them as they see fit.

This is every bit as unjust and divisive as ethnic pride, or the idea that one particular race is "chosen" in the sense of being better than all others, based upon genealogy. The Apostle Paul fought this with all of his might, and it really roused the anger of his Jewish contemporaries--even the Christian Jews among them.

So during this time of tarrying, I suggest that you take the time to study the laws regarding the treatment of strangers (aliens) and how it carried into the New Testament. You may want to start with my little booklet on Biblical Money. I discussed this topic extensively in regard to the laws forbidding usury and how the law allowed usury to be charged to aliens living outside the country under non-Kingdom law systems. The booklet is posted online in the Books section.