PROPHECY IN ROCKS, STONE AND CLAY

"Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded."

"Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed" (I Peter 2:6-8).

The prophecies of YHVH/Yeshua as the Rock of our faith, and the stone cut out without hands are well known. They are typical of the foundations and footholds of faith. Hundreds of biblical references depict the L-rd's building program of the ages that will one day establish the Kingdom. They are also closely associated with the ages long warfare between YHVH and satan.

The nephilim before the Flood, these dark angels genetically corrupted mankind to the point that YHVH moved forth to eliminate their progeny. In this commentary we will point out a curious detail found among the prophecies of Daniel. It emphasizes the truth of this scenario.

We shall see that, as a symbol, the rock is connected to a specific prophecy, in which the forces of Satan attempt to corrupt humanity before Mashiach's return. As we shall see, this is very much in keeping with a prophetic theme that concerns the "days of Noah," and the corruption of humanity by a renegade company of fallen angels, called the "sons of god," in Genesis 6:2, who took raped/human women as wives.

As we have often noted, theirs was a conspiracy to contaminate the human bloodline.

It was thwarted by the flood of Noah. YHVH/Yeshua states that there will be another period characterized by the same corruption. It is to occur just prior to His second coming. In this study, we shall see the great prophecy of the rock, and how it keynotes this curious aspect of eschatology, as it extends across the ages to the Kingdom and beyond.

But first, we must look at the history of biblical symbolism in rock and stone.

The Providential Rock

To begin with, the rock is a symbol of YHVH's steadfastness and provision. He stands as the foundation of all that is, was and ever will be. Yet, His graciousness toward humanity yields the very water of life. Thus the rock stands as the great archetype of life in the power of the Spirit, through grace.

In this way, we are given the indelible picture of YHVH's character, personality and action. The very first time we see the word “rock” used in the Bible, it tells the story of life-giving grace in the parched wilderness of the Saudi Arabian desert, Jabal Al Lawz to be absolutely precise.

“And the L-RD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river take in thine HAND, and go.

"Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

'And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the L-RD, saying, Is the L-RD among us, or not?” (Exodus 17:5-7).

Here, the L-rd literally tells Moses that He is the Rock. He will stand before the great prophet and when smitten, will produce enough water for the multiplied thousands of Israel.

Of course, many have written complete and lengthy studies that give detailed explanations about the smitten rock as a symbol of Mashiach. Struck once, its free-flowing water symbolizes the source of life. In John 7, at the Feast of Tabernacles, during the water-pouring ritual, Yeshua depicted Himself as the living water of life.

Here, in Horeb, at the site of the mountain that would bring forth the commandments of the Lord, an undeserving and unworthy people experience the free grace of their redeemer.

The next time Moses encounters the rock takes place when he expresses to the L-rd a desire to witness His glory. He is told that a man cannot see the face of YHVH and live.

Nevertheless, as given in Exodus 33:21, 22, the Lord tells Moses to stand on a certain rock. Then, as He passes by, He shields Moses from the direct radiation of His glory, by protectively placing him in the cleft of a rock.

Like the first rock, this one expresses the archetype of YHVH's special provision for His people. But here, the image is extended, to show the special characteristics of the L-rd's nurture and protection. Though Moses can't see YHVH directly, He sees the afterglow of His glory, demonstrating that through love, the L-rd will grant even a desire that seems impossible.

The next encounter with the rock is one of the darker passages in Israel's history. In Numbers 20, during the years of desert wandering, the people arrive at a point of extreme frustration; they express their outrage at Moses. From the human point of view, their point might seem well taken. Here they are, in the trackless, and wastes of nameless lands. Water is precious beyond the price of gold. No seed will grow. There are no trees and no fruit. In a fury, they inquire of Moses about why he has brought them to a place so forsaken by YHVH.

In this setting, Moses and Aaron go before the L-rd. He appears to them in the radiance of His glory. Once again, the L-rd answered them in grace:

“And the L-RD spake unto Moses, saying, take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

“And Moses took the rod from before the L-RD, as he commanded him.

“And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

“And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also” (Numbers 20:7-11).

In his anger at the faithless Israelites, Moses strikes the rock twice. Their UNBELIEF now becomes his unbelief. As a consequence, neither he nor Aaron will be permitted to enter the Promised Land.

The L-rd had only asked that Moses SPEAK to the rock. Instead, he took out his anger upon it. The lawgiver had been asked to acknowledge YHVH's grace. A simple request would have done the job.

Within the five books of Moses, the final encounter with the Rock is found in Deuteronomy 32. This section is of great prophetic importance, and is named, "The Song of Moses." Here, the Rock plays out a prophetic theme, defending latter-day Israel/Both Houses against the great foes gathered to destroy YHVH's nation. This time, the Rock is clearly identified:

"Because I will publish the NAME of the L-RD: ascribe ye greatness unto our YHVH.

"He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment.- a YHVH of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he” (Deuteronomy 32:3,4).

In this noteworthy chapter, the Rock is mentioned five times. Five, of course, is the number commonly associated with the grace of YHVH. In this spiritual song, Moses extols YHVH's grace, not just in the wilderness, but in the distant future, as Israel is finally justified before the nations.

Thus, the rock is typical of YHVH's grace and providence. It is living rock that is attached to the earth, providing a nourishing connection between heaven and earth.

Even in the New Testament, it is the foundation of the edifice of grace, the church, as given by Yeshua to Peter, in Matthew 16:18:

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Or, as Paul writes in I Corinthians 10:4, “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Mashiach."

The Stone of Judgment
 

Like the rock, the stone acts to symbolize certain of YHVH's attributes. As we have seen, the rock stands as a type of grace. It foreshadows Israel's Messiah. It acts to provide the water of life. Once smitten for the life of Israel, it can never be smitten again without incurring severe judgment. It is typical of gracious provision, accompanied by the attributes of foundation and defense.

The stone has its own story to tell, beginning in Genesis 49 where the dying Jacob blesses his sons, and speaks of Joseph:

"But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty YHVH of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

“Even by the YHVH of thy father, who shall help thee ... “ (Genesis 49:24,25).

Here, we find the YHVH called, “the stone of Israel” He is Jacob's help. Remember, Jacob was given a new name: Israel. The stone is none other than the Lord, who regards Israel as a personal possession.

In one of its aspects, the stone must be in its natural form, unhewn by human hands. The altar Moses was built of such stone at the base of Mount Sinai:

“And if thou wilt make me an altar stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou has polluted it” (Exodus 20:25).

Here, we find the obvious symbolism in the stone, namely, that to properly represent Him, it must come from His own natural creation. Here, we find the foreshadowing of the stone cut out without hands. opposed to the rock, the stone is gathered to form the altar of worship. Thus, it is associated with ritual, sacrifice and worship.

Here, we find the expression of YHVH's Law. It demands obedience and conformity. It treats iniquity as a direct offense that demands judgment.

The tables of stone given to Moses are of the same created order. YHVH crafted them with His own hand, and wrote the commandments upon them with His own finger. They, too, speak of ritual and G-dly arrangement.

They also speak of Mashiach, the living representative of the Law. The next biblical reference to Him is found in Psalm II8:22, in which He is the rejected stone:

“The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.”

Here, the psalm looks forward to that day when Mashiach will assume power in His full kingdom glory.

Later, in the 8th century B.C., the prophet Isaiah brought together the two symbols of the rock and the stone as a metaphor that represents his watchful care over Israel at a time when the enemy was growing stronger.

"Sanctify the L-RD of hosts himself- and let him be your fear and let him be your dread.

“And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants Of Jerusalem.

And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken” (Isaiah 8:13-15).

At the time of the Assyrian captivity, Isaiah has warned the northern kingdom that their lack of faith will precipitate a great defeat. Later, the prophet warns the southern kingdom, Judah and Jerusalem that they will experience a similar fate. Here, he establishes YHVH as the stone of prophecy.

"Therefore thus saith the L-rd YHVH, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste" (Isaiah 28:16).

The Great Prophecy of Gentle Kingdoms

The second chapter of Daniel chronicles a remarkable event that took place in the court of the great Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. In this famous happening, the king had experienced a remarkable dream. Upon awakening, however, he discovered to his dismay that he was unable to recall the dream.

Only Daniel, a prince of Israel, was able to recover the dream. Not only that, the Ruach/Spirit of YHVH enabled him to interpret it. This dream is a masterpiece of prophetic symbolism, probably the most renowned in all of Scripture.

It involves a great statue with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, abdomen and thighs of brass, legs of iron and feet of iron and clay, a most unlikely mixture.

The statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream is a serial prophecy, depicting a chain of rulerships, each of which dominated the Gentile world for a time. The golden head, Babylon, was followed by the chest, Medo Persia, the midsection, representing the Greek empire, and the legs as the Roman empire. The latter-day extension of Rome is seen in the feet, with their ten toes. These toes are commonly interpreted as governmental divisions of the revived Roman empire. Taken as a whole, then, the Gentile world is depicted as gold that deteriorates into clay.

Gold, a metal of great stability and value, is progressively replaced by silver, brass and iron. Much has been made of the way this symbolizes the steady deterioration of the human genetic stock. Once, before the great flood of Noah, one could expect to live for nearly a thousand years. After the flood, man's lifespan declined. Some time later, it was pronounced to be 120 years. Then, it fell to its present level of expectation, 70 years.

Nebuchadnezzar's dream also represents the progressive debasement of world empires. His powerful monarchy was replaced by the split leadership of the Medes and Persians. Daniel, himself, comments that they are "inferior" to the Babylonians. That, in turn was replaced by the four-way division of the Greeks, then the representative democracy of the Romans, which, after a time, degenerated into dictatorship, and the feudal system of the dark ages.

Such historical observations speak for themselves. They represent the surface level of interpretation. In this model, the head of gold represents the powerful Babylonian emperor; the chest and arms of silver are a less unified form of government. In fact, the government of the Medes and Persians was far less stable than its Babylonian forerunner. The brass midsection is still less unified, representing Alexander's Greek empire and its four ruling dynasties. Two of these dynasties quickly disappeared. The other two continued on for a while, then were absorbed by and expanding Roman dominion.

Rome's iron rule is seen in the legs. It has often been pointed out that the two legs represent the Eastern and Western divisions of the empire. It has also been a matter of general agreement that the legs portray the declining state of world rule. As the timeline of Gentile supremacy moves toward the feet, governmental instability becomes pronounced, approaching the breaking point.
The odd amalgam of iron and clay do, indeed, impart the perfect picture of decrepit, tottering governments, as witnessed in the churning revolutions and dissent of this century.

For the last eighty years, the Russians, Germans, Japanese, Chinese, various European and Asian interests and the Western leaders have had their revolutions. They have all taken turns in their attempts to establish world dominion. But in spite of their efforts, there is the growing perception that we are only moving toward greater instability - in fact, toward a great global conflict.

Feet of Clay

The feet and toes of clay are certainly symbolic of this fact. But they express much more than the simple, external picture of latter-day geopolitics.

In fact, with a closer look, their true meaning becomes quite complex and amazing. Looking at Daniel's interpretation of the dream, we see much more than the simple degeneration of humanity. His explanation injects another factor into the long history of the Gentiles. We see it, as he explains the outcome of the final kingdom:

“And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

“And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potter and clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.

“And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

“And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay” (Daniel 2:40-43).

Here is Daniel's own description of the statue's iron legs and its feet of clay. It is the fourth, or Roman, kingdom.

At first, this part of the statue displays great strength in its conquering phase, just as did the Roman empire in the years just prior to the first century. After the first century, however, Rome began to be overrun by various tribes who observed the empire's increasing weakness. Imperial Rome fell into ruins.

But it was not totally overthrown. Instead, the Roman empire was split into an eastern and western division, led by two systems of religious control. In the process, the Roman empire became the Holy Roman Empire. Under this system, monarchies divided the old empire and various nobles controlled its wealth and power.

Only in the twentieth century did monarchical control finally break down, producing the true condition of an iron and clay society. After two World Wars, a series of communist dictatorships and "social democracies" emerged, both in Europe and the Orient. Socialism exhibited greater or lesser statist controls, but in certain cases, the citizenry gained some measure of recognition. Russia and China were the exceptions to this trend.

But even the communist states have reeled under the effects of burgeoning global population and faltering economies, which have combined to produce a growing social instability.
And so, it would seem, we have the prophecy explained. The feet of clay represent the inadequacy of governments to hold together their old systems of control.

Who Are "They?"

But wait a moment. This doesn't explain the "they," mentioned in verse 43, where we read, “…they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another even as iron is not mixed with clay.”

Who is, in fact, really represented by this mysterious "they? " Traditional analysis, dating all the way back to the mid-19th century, explains this mingling as the marriage policies of the nobility, as though the nobles were not of human stock. The explanation goes that nobles mixed their bloodlines with the bloodlines of ordinary men. But this is simply inconsistent with the text, as well is being an inadequate description of recent history.

Keil & Delitzsch comment that this statement refers to the "mixing of the holy nation with the heathen by marriage." They write, "The peculiar expression the seed men, is ... is obviously chosen with reference to the following contrast to the divine Ruler, verse 44f, so as to place the vain human endeavor of the heathen rulers in contrast with the doings of the YHVH of heaven."

For them, the "they" are the heathen, seen in contrast to YHVH, as He is described establishing the Kingdom in verses 44 and following.

But this attempt to understand the text also fails. There is simply no precedent to identify this mystery group as "the heathen," who would, in biblical terms, be the Gentiles. This would make "the seed men " a reference to Israel, when in fact, this prophecy refers to the rise and fall of the Gentile world powers.

Furthermore the mixture of this group with the seed of men results in a failure to intermarry. They are unable to, "cleave one to another" This certainly rules out the marriages of nobles to commoners, or unbelievers to believers, for that matter.

Their efforts are likened to an attempt to mix iron with "miry clay." In the original Hebrew text, this curious phrase refers to "clay vessels of clay." The term refers to fired-clay artifacts. What is being described is the systematic effort to mix an already fired brittle clay vessel with iron. This symbolizes the futility of the mystery group's efforts to genetically integrate themselves with the seed of men. According to the prophecy, they will try, but they will fail.

The conclusion: This group, who are mingled - mixed - with the seed of men, are something other than human. This explanation would seem totally out of the question, were it not for the strong biblical precedent for their described activity. As mentioned in many articles on UFO abduction, a variety of scientists, medical professionals and professionals from many disciplines have concluded that this phenomenon can be documented. It is actually happening.

Furthermore, it has a goal, namely, to create a hybridized human being that will allow the incarnation of evil spirits into our physical world.

The "miry clay" is the non-human genetic material, used by the fallen ones to hybridize creatures who are partly human. It is a fragile material, lacking the ability to hold itself together, or to bond with the metal of human civilization.

The metallic nature of the world power represents their purity and strength. Most of all, it depicts the march of humanity. The encroaching forces of Satan are not metallic. Neither are they gold, silver, brass or iron. Instead, they are mere clay.

Genetic Corruption

Again, we discover that prophesied latter-day events take us back to the period before the great Flood of Noah's day. Genesis 6:1,2 stand witness to an earlier attempt by non-humans to mingle themselves with the seed of men:

“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

“That the sons of god saw the daughters of men that they were fair,- and they took them wives of all which they chose.”

This terse historical note carries with it the chilling implications of enormous sin. YHVH's human creation was somehow so attractive to the fallen angels (b'nai elohim, or "sons of God") that they risked everything to enter the forbidden human dimension. Lusting after human women, they created a race of so-called "giants," known in Hebrew as the Nephilim, or "fallen ones."

The "sons of god," were the angels of Satan's rebellion. They apparently attempted to establish a superior earthly race. But YHVH destroyed their offspring in the Flood. They, themselves, have been imprisoned ever since, awaiting judgment: 

In Jude 6, we clearly see their fate: “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”

It is blatantly obvious that these angels were going about the diabolical business of creating a new hybrid race unto themselves. Theirs was a shameless act of self-glorification. But the mingling of their bodies with the seed of men produced a race so evil that it had to be wiped out.

As the word has so often pointed out, Yeshua predicted another, similar invasion of humanity in his prophetic discourse to the disciples. In speaking of His second coming, He told them that, “…as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:37).

By this, He meant that the events leading up to His return would be marked by the same conditions found on the sin-ridden earth prior to the Flood. We have very few clues to the actual state of things in that evil era. But the fact that YHVH was forced to destroy His entire creation (save eight people), speaks volumes.

Secular history evokes mythological images that speak of abominable half-man, half-beast creatures and insane demigods working their lustful will upon humanity. It tells stories of ancient civilizations that redound with unbridled lust, perversion and grievous cruelty.

These would be the “…mighty men which were of old, men of renown,” found in Genesis 6:4. Concerning this event the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus writes, "For many angels of God accompanied with women, and begat sons that proved unjust, and despisers of all that was good, on account of the confidence they had in their own strength; for the tradition is, that these men did what resembled the acts of those whom the Grecians call giants.”

Josephus was well acquainted with Greek literature. His histories were written in Greek. It is obvious that in his mind, there is a strong link between the Genesis account and what is commonly referred to as "Greek mythology."

Perhaps that mythology had its origins in something real - something so wicked that it has been all but obliterated in a historical blanket of censorship and obfuscation. As bad as it sounds, the antediluvian antics of Zeus, Apollo, Phaeton, Aitemisa, Dionysus, Demeter and Persephone and hundreds of others had their basis in the unlawful acts of the fallen angels. Even a cursory reading of ancient Greek literature cries out with awful descriptions of an evil society that YHVH would surely eradicate.

Biblical history says that they were destroyed or imprisoned. It also says that they will be stopped again, when they try the same thing. Jude 14 and 15 speak of that judgment. In the context of his letter, it is generally thought to be aimed at those who dishonor the Word of YHVH through false teaching. However, it also applies to the angels he mentions earlier in his message:

“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the L-rd"cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

Ungodliness will be destroyed at the L-rd's long-awaited second coming. It will include the incarceration of the serpent in the bottomless pit, as well as the systematic destruction of all those who have ever been his followers. This, of course, will include the world of fallen spirits.

The Divine Stone

As mentioned earlier, the many references in Scripture to the stone cut out without hands refer to YHVH as He acts in judgment. The stone evokes images of worship and obedience, as well as their opposites, apostasy and lawlessness. In the latter case, judgment is required, and will be fulfilled. Daniel's prophecy about the Gentile world powers ends in precisely this way:

“Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces".

“Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver and the gold, broken to pieces together and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth” (Daniel 2:34,35).As mentioned earlier, the stone brings forth YHVH's judgment. It may be thought of as Mashiach at His second coming. The parade of Gentile world powers reaches its global stage when the prophesied "merchants of Tarshish" in the Old Testament are finally realized as "commercial Babylon," which is finally destroyed as described in the eighteenth chapter of Revelation".

The kings in the toes of the great statue are ten in number. They present a view of the ten world powers, or horns, later seen in the image of Daniel's fourth beast. They represent the global world power of the latter days, also seen in John's vision of the ten-horned beast of Revelation 13. Without a doubt, these ten ruling powers, called "kings" in the Bible, depict a corrupted system that is interspersed with the miry clay which, as mentioned earlier, is an unlawful effort on the part of the dark powers to infiltrate YHVH's human creation.

Notice the clay in the passage which follows. Here in Daniel 2:44, 45, Daniel gives his commentary on the final destruction of the Gentile kingdoms:

“And in the days of these kings shall the YHVH of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever".

“Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great YHVH hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter.- and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.”

Here, the infiltrating clay is listed, not at the end of the iron toes, but right in the middle of the sequential listing of metallic kingdoms. This indicates that it has long been a part of them all. Only in the days of the ten toes does it assume large enough proportions that it threatens the structure of the entire statue.

A view of secular history agrees with this observation. The Babylonians, Medes, Persians, Greeks and Romans were all infiltrated to some degree with the contaminating influence of demonic powers. The forces of Satan were even worshipped as gods. Sometimes, they became temporarily visible. As tokens of their reality, their representative priesthoods were able to manifest signs. For example, the Egyptian priests conjured up snakes by casting their rods upon the ground.

When the Israelites came into the Promised Land, they had to overcome several tribes of giants, some of whom were six-fingered and six-toed. Many have wondered how they came into being. But in several studies, it is now determined that they are the "rephaim," or evil progeny of some intrusive dark power. In other words, there has been a continuing effort on the part of fallen angels to create a mutant race for their own benefit. But only in the last days have these powers of darkness been allowed to use humans for their own evil genetic purposes. In the end, they will be shattered like glass, and finally ground to powder, by the crushing stone cut out without hands.

A Remnant Will Be Saved

It becomes increasingly obvious that in the end, the nations will become the focus of a large-scale invasion by corrupting forces - the "clay" of Daniel, chapter 2. Then, the stone cut out without hands will come crashing out of heaven to destroy a human system so depraved that it threatens the very existence of a human remnant. This debasement will have been inflicted upon human flesh by beings whose every motive is bent upon destroying humanity before it can be redeemed.

Even though their "miry clay" will fail to produce the effect they desire, humanity will, nevertheless, be in danger of total destruction, in much the same way as it was before the flood. Yeshua warned of this event, when He spoke of the Great Tribulation:

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:21,22).

Here, the words of Yeshua ring with the warning of impending doom. But they contain a statement that is difficult to understand. As a result, there has been much discussion about how the days will be shortened.

Some have suggested that, because of the horrible conditions of judgment, the Lord will actually cut short the time of the Tribulation Period. But, given the fact that its time span is laid out as a finite number of days in both Daniel and Revelation, this doesn't make sense.

Others have speculated that perhaps the rotation of the earth will be speeded up as the tilt of the earth changes, shortening the actual elapsed time of the seven-year Tribulation Period. This doesn't really make good sense either, because the number of days would still be the same.

In this discourse, "the elect " are commonly thought to be those who must flee Judea in order to save their lives. They are the house of David, sealed by L-rd for special service during these days of judgment. But even they must live out the experiences of the finite time period given in Daniel and Revelation.

Could the intent here simply be a statement that the Tribulation will bring the ongoing process of human corruption to an end. That is, Yeshua seems to be commenting upon the fact that the human genetic lineage will be infested by a degenerate outside influence....9/9/09.