UNTIL SHILOH COMES
By Doug Krieger
Part 2 of 2
"And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, 'You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.' Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called EPHRAIM, and there remained with His disciples" [John 11:49-54].
Likewise, not only did Jesus “die for the people” to bring us all salvation but that He “would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad” – indeed, the same “children of God” found in John 1:12: “But as many as received Him to them gave He authority to become the children of God even to them who believe on His Name” (that is both Judah and Ephraim and all Edom who would call upon His Name).
There is, most definitely, included in the statement, LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, the very Son of David mentioned in Ezekiel 37 whereupon:
"My servant David shall be their prince forever . . . I will make a covenant of peace with them (with both Ephraim and Judah), and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore"
– these are the same expressions given to ALL ISRAEL as found in Revelation 21:
"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God" (Rev. 21:3-4).
This cannot be understood without the full awareness of its context:
"Then I, John, saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Rev. 21:2).
This Lion of the Tribe of Judah is the Groom and His Bride constitutes both the Holy City of Ezekiel 40-48 and the New Jerusalem, the heavenly NJ found in Revelation 21. God through the Deliverer, the Messiah, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lamb, the Groom is now in Revelation 21 in eternal relationship with His people, His Bride! The “Covenant of Peace” is wholly predicated upon the very peace “through the blood of the cross” wherein we find:
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one . . . to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross." [Eph. 2:13-16 excerpts].
The Second Covenant (juxtaposed to the First Covenant) brings peace between hostile peoples–in particular, between Ephraim and Judah . . . the “Breach of Jeroboam has been healed!” The New Covenant, the New Commandment, is intrinsically connected with this “Covenant of Peace” – there are NOT “two New Covenants, nor two Covenants of Peace” – there is but one and it was secured through the BLOOD OF THE LAMB slain before the foundation of the world (Ref. Rev. 13:8). Ephraim who had migrated into the nations through captivity and judgment has found mercy and, although given a writ of divorce (Jer. 3:8) was once again married to YHWH even to Him who died and was raised in resurrection (Rom. 7:1-5); thus, the law of Moses regarding marriage and remarriage was divinely kept (Deut. 24:1-4).
What Took Place in 2018 AD?
But when shall the Groom come for His UNITED BRIDE? If indeed Judah has overshadowed Ephraim from the United Kingdom unto the commencement of Ephraim’s judgment in 712 BC (992 BC to 712 BC) – i.e., Judah’s 280 years – then something took place at the terminus of Ephraim’s judgment in 2018 AD (some 2,730 years from 712 BC). What took place in 2018 AD?
Several things: The recognition by the nations – domiciled in the “head of the Gentile World Powers” viz. the United States of America – that Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel whereupon President Trump moved the embassy of the United States from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. Capitals like Jerusalem and Samaria or Rome or Babylon or Nineveh are significant in the divine scheme of things. Israel’s independence was marked in 1948 AD + 70 years = 2018 AD. We are told by Jesus in Luke 21:
"Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles (viz., "the nations") until the times of the Gentiles ("the nations") are fulfilled" (Luke 21:24).
This was spoken after Jesus predicted both the siege and ultimate destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans/nations in 70 AD (Luke 21:20-24a). Likewise, Jesus predicted Jerusalem being trodden underfoot of these same nations until their time was fulfilled. Was it fulfilled in 2018 AD? Was Ephraim brought into recognition of Judah’s capital at the movement of the US Embassy into Jerusalem some 70 years after Israel/Judah’s statehood, contrasted by the 70 AD date? Is this part and parcel of Ephraim’s recognition of Judah’s legitimate scepter? WOW! It is NOT a quantum leap of “prophetical conjecture” to assert such a conclusion. Isn’t it interesting that 2018 AD less 70 years brings us to 1948 AD and that between 70 AD until 2018 AD there 1,948 years? I find it quite remarkable that when using 1948 as factors we get two sets of 144 or 288 in that 1 X 9 X 4 X 8 = 288.
Could it be that “1948” was in view in bringing the earthly 144,000 (Revelation 7) and the heavenly 144,000 (Revelation 14) together as ONE – or 144 + 144 = 288 and that “1948” presents to us a most subtle persuasion? Herein, notwithstanding, lies a most wondrous truth: The earthly Holy City can be seen in Revelation 7’s sealing of the Twelve United Tribes of Israel upon the earth and the heavenly New Jerusalem as seen in the 144,000 atop the heavenly Mt. Zion in Revelation 14 in which the 12 Gates bear the names of the 12 Tribes of Israel and the 12 Apostles of the Lamb the 12 foundations of the heavenly Holy City, New Jerusalem.
Whatever Happened to Ephraim?
Ephraim, according to Hosea 8 was swallowed up of the nations:
"Aliens would swallow it (Ephraim/Israel) up. Israel is swallowed up; now they are among the Gentiles (i.e., Nations) like a vessel in which is no pleasure. For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey alone by itself; Ephraim has hired lovers. Yes, though they have hired among the nations, now I will gather them; and they shall sorrow a little, because of the burden of the king of princes" (Hos. 8:7-10).
Ephraim is indeed a “bridge” to the Gentiles, to the nations – they are intrinsically linked to the NATIONS. Demographically upwards from 745 BC to 712 BC (approximately 33 years – akin to our Lord Jesus’ earthly life span) some 15 million Israelites of the Northern 10 Tribes were absorbed into the Assyrian Empire – and LIKEWISE, Ephraim is connected to the UNITED KINGDOM OF DAVID when the 10 Northern Tribes were united together with Judah and so expressed as the “Tabernacle of David” as found in Acts 15 during the so-called Jerusalem Council and their determination as to what was taking place THEN AND THERE prophetically concerning the incursion of the Nations into the early Ekklesia which was initially all “Jewish” but then the Nations/Gentiles started entering into the Assembly, to wit:
"And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 'After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; so that the rest of mankind (or "Edom" - see Amos 9:11-12) may seek the LORD, even all the Gentiles (Nations) who are called by My name, says the LORD who does all these things" (Acts 15:15-17).
The “Tabernacle of David” IS the very United Kingdom of David wherein all 12 Tribes were brought under the reign of King David. The Apostle James was not giving us “a taste” of Messianic blessing some 2,000 years beyond what was happening there and then as some wishful thinkers conclude. No, James was explaining in prophetical terms what was happening right then and there! Ephraim is precisely where Jesus and the disciples traveled – where SHILOH was located – Jesus came to Shiloh – UNTIL SHILOH COME – to Ephraim – to the Tabernacle which became the Tabernacle of David in the City of David, Jerusalem.
Now, at issue, is this: If indeed 2018 marks the time when “Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the nations until the times of the Nations be fulfilled” – then, now that Judah’s scepter is manifested via the recognition of the same nations who trod her asunder; consequently, when shall SHILOH COME? Answer: Shortly thereafter. Did/does 2018 AD mark the commencement of Daniel’s final Heptad, final 7, final Week, the final 2520 days (7 X 360 prophetic days of a year = 2,520 days or the 252 of the Hebrew Sacred Cubit?). Imagine: 3975 + 2025 = 6,000 years. Are we in the 70th Week of Daniel? If so, 2025 AD looms much greater than we imagined. The full-blown reconciliation of Ephraim and Judah has commenced in earnest–but who sees this? Yes, the end of the 6,000 years (2025 AD) could give way to the final week of 7 years with the concluding date of His Coming in Glory being that of 2025 AD + 7 years = 2032 AD., This could be viewed as an extension of His mercy and of a “great transition” or final “7” added to the 6,000 years (again, this is but my perception and is NOT peculiar to the "faith once delivered").
As in the First Coming of Messiah, few saw it – even so, in the latter days, few see it but some do!
Jacob/Israel's blessing upon his son Judah (Gen. 49:8-12) imparts the Kingship of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (viz., "The Scepter shall not depart from Judah") who presents us as the LAWGIVER reigning in righteousness in which "to Him shall be the obedience of the people" - for the Lawgiver commends us to obedience to His Law - but He comes, as well, like Melchizedek--"first being King of Righteousness" (Heb. 7:1-10) - but then "your King comes to you meek and riding on a donkey" (Zech. 9:9; Matt. 21:5); therefore, He is "also King of Salem, meaning King of Peace" (Heb. 7:2; Gen. 14:18).
These "two offices" of our High Priest, Melchizedek (domiciled in our Lord Jesus Christ), wherein "Law and Grace" unite--for not only was there a "righteous victory" Abram wrought over the "Four Kings" (virtually all of whom hailed from the Plain of Shinar, Babylon or adjacent thereto) but upon Moriah's Mt. did Melchizedek celebrate as King of Salem (Jeru-SALEM) the PEACE wrought through the Blood of His Cross dramatically foreseen in the "bread and wine" administered to Abram by this very King of Salem.
It is as King of Peace, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross whereby He "made of the TWO (the Jew and the Gentile) ONE NEW MAN, so making peace" (Eph. 2:14-18).
Therefore, as Judah's blessing via Israel's (Jacob's) prophetic utterance: "He washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes" readily reveals both the "blood of the cross" as the Worthy Lamb of God who came the first time to be our peace, but Who comes again in righteousness as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah to judge both the Lawless One (2 Thess. 2:7-12) and those "who dwell upon the earth" (viz., "earthlings" - Rev. 3:10; 6:10) whose disobedience has not conformed to His obedience as Lawgiver; yet, able to supply His Grace to those who overcome the Rebellious One.
Now, although "his (Judah's) eyes are darker than wine" (Gen. 49:12) - for "out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword with which He shall smite the nations, and He shall rule them with a rod of iron; and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God" (Rev. 19:15) . . . yet . . . "His teeth are whiter than milk" (Gen. 49:11) because the Worthy Lamb, the Lion of Judah, shall judge in righteousness (white).
Therefore, again, "And to Him shall be the obedience of the people" (Gen. 49:10) . . . UNTIL SHILOH COMES!
Please go to Part 1 of 2 of this two-part series.
Doug Krieger
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