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The Timing of the Haggai Ministry--Final

When we look at the two major time cycles (210 and 390), both ending in 2010, and realize that such a convergence would not occur again for another 2730 years, we cannot help but take note that this date is probably the most important watch time in recent centuries.

Yet we can look also at this date as a culmination of a three-year period from 2007-2010. 723-721 B.C. was the time of the siege of Samaria. The date of 721 B.C. merely culminated with the collapse of Israel's capital city. We read in 2 Kings 17:5,

"Then the king of Assyria invaded the whole land and went up to Samaria and besieged it three years."

This 3-year siege finds its parallel 13 x 210 years later in 2007-2010 A.D.

This 3-year siege finds its parallel also 7 x 390 years later in 2007-2010 A.D.

It appears that Washington D.C. is "under siege" today. It is no coincidence that the seventh bowl was poured out in October 2006, which, by Hebrew time, is the beginning of the year 2007. It is no coincidence that in 2007 we saw the beginning of economic hardship.

We are quite literally "under siege" insofar as the 210-year cycle is concerned (1800-2010 A.D.). The house of Israel's original 210-year time period from the death of Solomon in 931 B.C. to the fall of Samaria in 721 B.C. culminated with a three-year siege. We are experiencing the same from 1800-2010, with a three-year siege in 2007-2010.

But as I said earlier, there is also good news, because the bowl of water was also poured out at the same time as the wine. We understood from the beginning that this represented the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. I see now that the 390-year cycle from 1620-2010 has been the time of "Judges" leading up to the day that Solomon's Temple was filled with the Holy Spirit. This strongly suggests that we could see the biblical event repeated in our day.

This also correlates with the construction of the temple vessels and furniture after reaching the year 2006 (2,520 years after the completion of the Second Temple). Hence, it is Haggai's prophecy, modified by the pattern of Solomon's Temple, which brings us to the year 2009 or 2010.

Furthermore, in October of 2007 we reached the end of Martin Luther's 490-year cycle from 1517, when he posted his 95 Theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg. In a sense, Luther's act began a time in which he was essentially besieging the Roman Church. It culminated in 1520 when he was excommunicated. And 490 years after that date brings us to 2010. This "siege" overlays perfectly with the modern 3-year "siege of Samaria" (i.e., Washington D.C.).

If this is so, then I see two main possibilities as to the manner of fulfillment: (1) We may see the beginning of the final move of the Holy Spirit in the nation or the world, which would culminate later in the fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles; or (2) we may just see the fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles without such a prelude.

Either way, it is good news. In fact, it is what Ezekiel bought us by intercession. In Ezekiel 4, the prophet was required to lie on his left side for 390 days for the house of Israel (4:5), and another 40 days for the house of Judah. Judah benefited from Ezekiel's intercession with a 40-year grace period from 30/33 A.D. to 70/73 A.D. But the house of Israel, being already in dispersion, did not see its 390-year grace period begin until 1620, and it appears now that this will culminate in 2010.

As we know from all the other time cycles, American history is providing the primary markers of prophetic time cycles with regard to the house of Israel. In my book, The Prophetic History of the United States, I traced the 2,520-year cycles from 1776 to 2006, but did not yet see the year 2010 as important. Nor did I yet see the 3-year "siege" from 2007-2010.

We are presently only about half way through this time period. It appears to be the last 3-4 years of "the time of Jacob's trouble." The purpose of this time is negative for "Babylon" and positive for those who are led by the Spirit. Many of us have been trained over the years by our Heavenly Father, and we have learned to follow His leading wherever it may take us. We have been through fearful times, even as we have seen great deliverance over the years.

Knowing His personal presence and leading is the most important factor in any time of upheaval around us. While many may jump out of a high window on Wall Street, we can have the inner peace of knowing that whatever happens is not out of control but is part of the divine plan. And we know that what the world perceives as terrible and terrifying, we see as working out for good (Rom. 8:28). The difference will be whether we adhere to this present Babylonian system, or if our hope is in the Kingdom of God that is emerging even now in preparation for a Golden Age to come.

The transition between ages is always difficult for many people. They must learn to think differently. They must learn to adjust to a whole new way of life in a relatively short period of time. But this is what the word "repentance" means. The Greek word is metanoia, and its verb form, metanoeo, which means "to think differently, or reconsider." The main part of the word is noeo, "to exercise the mind, observe, comprehend, heed."

The English word, "repentance," is not really a very good translation, because its root has to do with penance, rather than thinking differently. This is the old Roman Catholic idea that if we just do penance, we have fulfilled the will of God. That brought in a lot of money for the Church, but God requires a change of thinking, a different view than we had before. Too often men have used penance as a sin tax, and their attitude has been that sin is allowable as long as one pays its tax.

But God wants us to be in agreement with Him, not merely to pay a sin tax that allows us to remain out of step with Him. Paul says in Rom. 12:2, "do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." That reflects the true definition of metanoia from God's perspective. This takes time, one experience after another as we are led by the Spirit. This is actually the primary focus of Pentecost, which then prepares us for the coming Feast of Tabernacles and the glory that is to come.