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The work of Elisha, part 15

The 7^th sign of Elisha, where the Shunammite woman’s son was raised from the dead, came in two parts. Part 1 was where Gehazi failed to raise up the boy, though he used Elisha’s staff as commanded. Part 2 was where Elisha himself succeeded. This will be explained later.

In 2010 this sign prophesied specifically that “Joseph” (and all that he represents) was being raised from the dead. Recall that Joseph, the son of Jacob-Israel, was presumed to be dead for 21 years. Yet he was only lost in Egypt, and by the time he was discovered, he had been Pharaoh’s most trusted official for nine years already.

Genesis 45:26-28 says,

²⁶ They told him [Jacob] saying, “Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” But he was stunned, for he did not believe them. ²⁷ When they told him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. ²⁸ Then Israel said, “It is enough; my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

It was as if Joseph had been raised from the dead. Or perhaps we can think of this in light of Jesus’ statement about the deceased daughter of Jairus in Luke 8:52, “Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep.” To the people, she had died; but to Jesus, she was “asleep,” because from the divine perspective, “He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for all live to Him” (Luke 20:38).

Prophetically speaking, Ezekiel pictured the restoration of the House of Israel in terms of a resurrection from the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-10). The nation had “died” but the Israelites themselves had been exiled and deported to Assyria. The prophet himself had been supernaturally transported to the river Chebar (Ezekiel 1:1), i.e., “Habor” (2 Kings 18:11), where some of the Israelites were located. Joseph’s exile in Egypt foreshadowed Israel’s exile to Assyria. The exile was death; the revelation of Joseph was life from the dead.

In 2010 we saw the revelation of Joseph in the 7^th sign of Elisha, as I will explain shortly. Recall from our previous series on the rise and work of the House of Joseph that this had begun nine years earlier in January of 2001. Those nine years run parallel to that which was seen in the life of the original Joseph. He rose to power at the age of 30 to do his 7-year work in preparing for the coming famine. Then in the second year of the famine, he revealed himself to his brothers, who then told their father that he was still alive.

In 2010 the House of Joseph had already done its work for nine years, so it was time for the revelation through the 7^th sign of Elisha. But first, we must go back to September of 2009, when we saw three major signs of Joseph’s manifestation. September of 2009 was the beginning of the new Hebrew year, the start of our year 2010, which we called the Year of Joseph’s Manifestation.

The First Sign of Joseph

Historians now have definite proof that the biblical Joseph existed. They have discovered coins that bear his image, along with the image of a cow, pointing to Pharaoh's dream about the seven fat cows and seven lean ones (Genesis 41:18, 19). These coins had been thought of as mere medallions, rather than coins, because it was previously thought that coins had not yet been invented. So these coins were stored in a box, unnoticed.

This was reported on September 24, 2009 by MEMRI, the Middle East Media Report Institute, which was picked up by the Israeli news media the following day:

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133601

"The researchers discovered the coins when they sifted through thousands of small archeological artifacts stored in [the vaults of] the Museum of Egypt. [Initially] they took them for charms, but a thorough examination revealed that the coins bore the year in which they were minted and their value, or effigies of the pharaohs [who ruled] at the time of their minting. Some of the coins are from the time when Joseph lived in Egypt, and bear his name and portrait. . .

"Research team head Dr. Sa'id Muhammad Thabet said that during his archeological research on the Prophet Joseph, he had discovered in the vaults of the [Egyptian] Antiquities Authority and of the National Museum many charms from various eras before and after the period of Joseph, including one that bore his effigy as the minister of the treasury in the Egyptian pharaoh's court…

"One Coin... [had] an Image of a Cow Symbolizing Pharaoh's Dream about the Seven Fat Cows and Seven Lean Cows.

"The researcher identified coins from many different periods, including coins that bore special markings identifying them as being from the era of Joseph. Among these, there was one coin that had an inscription on it, and an image of a cow symbolizing Pharaoh's dream about the seven fat cows and seven lean cows, and the seven green stalks of grain and seven dry stalks of grain. It was found that the inscriptions of this early period were usually simple, since writing was still in its early stages, and consequently there was difficulty in deciphering the writing on these coins. But the research team [managed to] translate [the writing on the coin] by comparing it to the earliest known hieroglyphic texts…

"Joseph's name appears twice on this coin, written in hieroglyphs: once the original name, Joseph, and once his Egyptian name, Saba Sabani, which was given to him by Pharaoh when he became treasurer. There is also an image of Joseph, who was part of the Egyptian administration at the time."

This report is dated September 24, which immediately connects it with Haggai's prophecy of the blessings given on the 24th day of the 9th month. This article shows that the "blessings" are also connected to Joseph and is therefore about the BIRTHRIGHT blessings.

It proves the existence of Joseph and proves that the biblical story is not a "myth" as Bible critics have claimed. To us, it is like the resurrection of Joseph, long presumed to be "dead," along with the Birthright, but now "found." Now we can all say with his father, Jacob, in Genesis 45:28,

²⁸ ... "It is enough; my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."

So now we see that Haggai's statement, "From this day on I will bless you," (Haggai 2:19) is about the Israelites (overcomers) being recognized as the true heirs of the Birthright.

The Second Sign of Joseph

When Joseph was elevated to power, Pharaoh gave him a new name. The coins in the article above say that his name was Saba Sabani, but his biblical name was Zaphenath-panea (Genesis 41:45). Commentators give us different meanings of this name. Dr. Bullinger says it means “Abundance of Life.” Others say it means “Treasury of the Glorious Rest.” Others say, “Revealer of Secrets.”

The implication seems to be that the “abundance of life” is a secret or hidden treasure that has been revealed. Joseph was hidden in an Egyptian prison, and no one knew what a treasure they had in their midst. When he was unearthed, so to speak, the secrets of the future were revealed.

Biblically speaking, I believe we are to interpret his name in terms of Jesus’ parable in Matthew 13:44,

⁴⁴ The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

We know that “the field is the world” (Matthew 13:38) and that Egypt also represents the world. Joseph was this hidden treasure, which Christ “found and hid again” until He could buy the field. Joseph represents the Kingdom itself, for he was the birthright holder (1 Chronicles 5:1, 2).

In July 2009, in England, a large pile of Anglo-Saxon gold from centuries ago was discovered by a man walking a field with a metal detector.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/staffordshire/8272058.stm

Though it was discovered in July, it was announced to the world on September 24, 2009, which was the same day that the Museum of Egypt announced the discovery of the Joseph coins. (Remember that July is like September).

“Mr Herbert, 55, of Burntwood in Staffordshire, who has been metal detecting for 18 years, came across the hoard as he searched land belonging to a farmer friend over five days in July. The exact location has not been disclosed.”

More significant is that a (military) bracelet made of gold was found with the inscription from Numbers 10:35.

“This gold strip carries the Latin inscription: “Rise up O Lord, and may thy enemies be dispersed and those who hate thee be driven from thy face.” It has two sources, the Book of Numbers or Psalm 67, taken from the Vulgate, the Bible used by the Saxons.”

This verse was to be spoken whenever the Ark of the Covenant was taken up and moved.  Again, because of the timing of this announcement on September 24 (or 9/24) the sign is directly related to Haggai 2:10, 18, 20, 21, saying, “From this day forward I will bless you.”

The Third Sign of Joseph

On September 24, 2009 a third treasure was discovered in South Africa. A 507-carat diamond was found, along with a 168 carat diamond and two others that were a bit smaller.

https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/giant-507-carat-diamond-found-sa

Pretoria - A rare 507 carat white diamond was discovered at the Cullinan Mine near Pretoria.

"This spectacular gemstone was recovered on Thursday, 24 September, and is currently with experts for analysis," said a statement released by Mining group Petra Diamonds, on Tuesday.

According to the London-listed company which operates mainly in Africa, initial examinations indicate that it is of exceptional colour and clarity, and most likely to be a Type I diamond.

The precious stone was found alongside three other special white gems of similar colour and clarity, a large diamond of 168 carats and two other stones of 58.50 and 53.30 carats.

At 507 carats (just over 100 grams) the diamond is considered to be among the top 20 largest high quality rough diamonds ever found worldwide.

The diamond was the only one actually discovered on September 24, but the other two were reported on that same date. These three major discoveries of hidden treasures were related directly to Joseph on a prophetic level. This led us to conclude that 2010 was to be the Year of Joseph’s Manifestation.

There would be more signs following in the months ahead, and these would soon tie directly to the 7^th sign of Elisha in January of 2010.