February 2010

Time, Times and Dividing Time
Rabbi Don Lansing

A self-proclaimed Messianic prophet writing under the name “WatcherOne” recently issued an email titled More on the Coming Passover Lamb Sacrifice. It begins: “Understanding this Korban Pesach gives us the prophetic understanding THAT IF the sacrifice of lambs is attempted and STOPPED this year we could very well BE ENTERING the ‘time, times and dividing time’ of Daniel 7:25, 12:7 and Revelation 12:14-17.”

For some time the Temple Restoration Committee in Israel has been trying to lay a cornerstone for the new temple so that lambs may be sacrificed. Committee members believe this will bring on the Messianic Kingdom.

Concerning Daniel 7:25, Artscroll’s commentary says: “The meaning of this cryptic allusion to the time of the End, i.e., the Messianic era at the End of Days, is a veiled mystery. Indeed, the angel commanded Daniel to ‘obscure the matters and seal the book’ (12:4), and the Sages warned against attempts to foretell the End (Sanhedrin 97b).”

D.S. Russell’s commentary on Daniel states: “Antiochus intended to ‘change the times and the law’. This is no doubt an allusion to the steps taken by the king, as recorded in 1 Maccabees 1:4 ff., to wipe out the Jewish religion altogether. The ‘Times’ refer to the great seasonal festivals of the Jews and other recognized religious observances; the ‘law’ is the sacred Torah of Moses with its precise regulations concerning the observance of sacred rites and duties such as the rite of circumcision, the dutiful reading of the Law, the observance of certain sacrifices and festivals and the following of dietary requirements.”

Daniel’s prophecy, which was written prior to King Antiochus’ persecution of the Israelites, assured readers that the persecution would not last long. Faithful Jews would remain under the king’s tyranny “for a time, two times and half a time.” The word time is used here, as elsewhere in the book, for “year.” In Daniel 4:32 it is used for the duration of Nebuchadnezzar’s madness.

There is much mystery to the books of Daniel and Revelation. However you interpret Scripture, and whatever your situation may be, remember that God is still on the throne. Adonai has not given up on you; so don’t give up on Him!

Scripture Readings

Saturday,  Feb. 6, Yitro (“Jethro”)
Exodus 18:1—20:6 (23)
Isaiah 6:1—7:6; 9:5-6
Matthew 5:17-32; Hebrews 12:18-24

Saturday, Feb. 13, Mishpatim (“Judgments”)
Exodus 21:1—24:18
Jeremiah 34:8-22; 33:25-26
Matthew 5:38-42

Saturday, Feb. 20, T’ruma (“Offering”)
Exodus 25:1—27:19
1 Kings 5:12 (26)—6:113
Matthew 5:22-27; Hebrews 9:1-10

Saturday, Feb. 27, Tetsaveh (“You shall command”)
Exodus 27:20—30:10
Ezekiel 43:10-27
Hebrews 13:10-17

Scripture of the Month

Book of Esther

Prayer Needs

We pray for all who are sick, homebound, or in financial need. Pray for all those traveling this month. Pray for our President, our nation, all fighters of terrorism, and the peace of Jerusalem. Pray for Israel’s new government and the return of the Jewish people to Israel. Also pray for Congregation Beth Shalom.

Definitions

Yiddish: Judeo-German; the everyday language of the Jewish people of Eastern Europe. Shul: the Yiddish term for synagogue.