2016: Learn from the Past & See the Future
January 2016
About this time of year, we remember what happened in the previous year and look forward to the new year. A part of remembering the past year is to learn from our successes and failures. Then we change priorities, make improvements and plan for success in the coming year.
Adar I: Jewish Leap Month
February 2016
2016, 2020, 2024 are leap years. On the Roman calendar, one day is added every four years. The calendar is synchronized with the earth's orbit around the sun. Leap day is February 29. The Julian calandar (365) was replaced by the Gregorian calendar (365 1/4) which omits three leap days every 400 years. See Adar I.
Passover Fulfilled by the Cross
March 2016
Each spring, we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By faith in His sacrifice, we are forgiven of our sin and receive the free gift of salvation. These holy days are floating holidays on the Roman calendar that link to the Passover full moon on the Jewish calendar. When we talk about prophecy, we say we do not know the time. However before the world was created, our sovereign God had a specific plan with a specific time. God revealed that plan though His Word. See Passover.
Spring Feasts: Passover, Unleavened Bread & Firstfruits
April 2016
In most years, the Spring Equinox, full moon Passover and Easter Sunday occur in order. This Jewish year is a leap year so the calendar added the 30 day month of Adar I. Easter is twenty-six days before Passover on our Roman calendar. See Spring Feasts.
2016 Election: The Next President
May 2016
A strange thing happened on the way to selecting the next president. The Democrats selected an establishment politician that adopted socialist policies. The Republicans selected an anti-establishment businessman with populist policies. The November election is a choice between political experience maintaining the status quo or corporate experience changing directions. The next presidential term may answer two prophesy questions. See
2016 Election.
Brexit: United Kingdom's Referendum on the EU
June 2016
On Thursday, June 23, 2016, the citizens of the United Kingdom vote on a referendum to remain or leave the European Union. Those in favor of leaving claim the EU weakens national sovereignty over trade and immigration while adding another layer of bureaucracy. Those in favor of staying claim the EU increases UK influence in trade, national security and world affairs but leaving would impact the nation's economy. Bible prophecy describes the relationship between the EU and UK in the End Times. See Brexit.
Golden Calf & Birth of the Eagle
July 2016
The 17th of Tammuz is an infamous day in Jewish history. After forty days on Mt. Sinai, Moses leaves the presence of God and descends to the Hebrew people. He sees the people worshipping the golden calf, gets really angry and throws down the tablets which break into pieces. On this day in 586 BC the Babylonians and in 70 AD the Romans breached the walls of Jerusalem. Three weeks afterward, the city and Jewish temple were destroyed. See Golden Calf.
The Olympics & the Nations
August 2016
In August, the 2016 Summer Olympics were held held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There are thousands of athletes from 194 nations, various territories and a special refugee team. The original games were a competition of city-states held in the ancient city of Olympia in the Greek empire. During the games, there was an Olympic truce so athletes could travel safely. The winner received a crown made out of olive leaves. See Olympics.
Teshuvah: The Second Forty Days
September 2016
Moses was on Mt. Sinai forty day. When he came down, he saw the people worshipping a golden calf. He became angry and broke the first tablets. The children of Israel (Jacob) rebelled against God and rejected God's law. Forty days later, Moses cut two tablets and returned back to God a second time. Teshuvah means to repent and return. As Moses is on Mt. Sinai forty days, the Jewish people prepare their hearts for the high holy day of Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles. This also prepares the world for the Rapture, Second Coming and the Reign of Jesus Christ. See Teshuvah.
Feast of Trumpets: Rapture Day
October 2016
On Friday, September 30, 2016 at 7:11 PM CDT or October 1 at 3:11 AM Jerusalem time (JDT) is the astronomical new moon. It takes about eighteen hours for the crescent new moon to be visible. Since ~9:11 PM JDT is about two hours into the new Jewish day, the new year begin on Sunday, October 2, 2016 at 11:01 AM CDT or 7:01 PM JDT. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, the Feast of Trumpets and the Rapture. See Trumpets.
2016 Election: God Revive America
October 2016
It is strange that of the twenty-three leading presidential candidates, the political parties select the worst two nominees. 2016 was a presidential election of many firsts. This was the first time a woman and businessman were nominated from a major party. The most importantly first of 2016 is that both candidates' disapproval rating hovered around sixty percent all year. See 2016 Election.
2016 Election: The Tribulation President?
November 2016
In the 2016 Presidential Election, businessman Donald Trump upset former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Throughout the year, Clinton led the polls but on Election Day, Trump held all 2012 red states and broke through the blue wall to win Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and the 2nd district of Maine. Every state that Trump won, the incumbent senator also won which kept a Republican majority in the Senate. While this was a shock to the media, the Bible describes the next war between the US and China not Russia. See 2016 Election.
Hanukkah: The Prophecy of Christmas Day
December 2016
The holy days of Hanukkah are celebrated in the Jewish community but are disconnected from our Christian faith. If we understand history and prophecy, the days become much more than a holiday near Christmas. Jewish days are God's time fulfilling God's plan. See Hanukkah.