the almond blossom

Newsletter “The Witness”July 2008

The Witnesses of the Lord Jesus ChristSouth Africa, Pretoria

[email protected] & www.witnessesforjesuschrist.co.za

This letter was written as a witness to the Lord Jesus Christ so that by all possible means God’s people will be prepared for the works of service to which He has called them. Proclaim Hiscoming, for His coming is soon at hand. (1 Cor 9:1-27) Please send this letter to as many others so that they may be blessed. This letter may be copied, but all rights are reserved as revealed

from the Lord Jesus Christ and those ministries mentioned. Therefore give Glory to whom Glory belong.- 1 -

The Almond Blossom...

The Menorah"Make a lampstand of pure gold.

Make its base and its shaft of hammered gold;its decorative flowers,

including buds and petals,are to form one piece with it.

Six branches shall extend from its sides,three from each side.

Each of the six branches is to have three decorative flowers shaped like almond blossoms with budsand petals.

The shaft of the lampstand is to have four decorative flowers shaped like almond blossoms with budsand petals.

(Exo 25:31-40) GNB

The Vision of the Branch of anAlmond tree...

On the 29th of May 2008, the LordJesus Christ showed me a vision. Ina vision I saw the branch of analmond tree. Then the Lord askedme: “What do you see?” I said: “LordI see the branch of an almond tree”Then the Lord said: “You have seencorrectly for I am about to fulfil myword!”

I did not know what this meant, butknew that God was about to fulfilsomething great. He had given us many promises,since the beginning of our calling. I knew that God

had called me to stop working, butdid not know what would soontranspire.

Then the word of the Lord came tome saying: “A new spirit is rising upout of the earth – The spirit ofPharaoh and the spirit of thefalse prophet. This is a spirit thatwill continually say that it willrepent of its wrongs towards Godand His people, but after a whilewill harden its heart repeatedlywithout true repentance, just likePharaoh did. Finally they will

harden their hearts so much, that I will give themover to their wickedness. For I said: “I will hardenwhom I harden and I will have mercy on whom I will

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have mercy.” But I am now rising up the Spirit ofMoses.” Up until that time I have heard of theSpirit of Elijah, but not the Spirit of Moses.

The Fire of the Lord is kindled...

On the 1st of June 2008, I had a dream. In mydream I saw the map of the world in front of me.Then I saw, how suddenly, a fire was kindled at theIndonesian Islands. It started to burn slow at first,but later it started burning downwards, around thetop of Australia, going through the Pacific Ocean andaround the coast of South America. Then it burnedup, through the Atlantic Ocean, towards NorthAmerica.

As I woke up I asked the Lord this meant, when theLord said to me: “I have kindled a fire in Indonesiaand it will burn along the coast of South Americaand even to the coast lands of North America, until ithas accomplished its purpose!”

The Sign of the Almond blossom...

On the 20th of June 2008, I stopped working as aprocurement engineer, at a large company in SouthAfrica. Full of the joy and excitement of the Lord Idrove back home on the last day. I came to acrossroad; while I waited at the traffic light, I lookedup into the heavens. Suddenly I saw a large sign inthe sky, like the other signs in the heaven, which theLord Jesus Christ had shown from the beginning,when He appeared to us during the first 3.5 years.

Then I asked the Lord: “What is it Lord?” Then theLord answered me saying: “It is an Almond blossom,for I am about to fulfil My word!”

I was amazed at the sign which the Lord had shownme, but I did not know its significance or its

purpose! I was immediately reminded of the word ofthe Lord to the prophet Jeremiah: “Jeremiah, whatdo you see?" a branch or a shoot of an Almond tree[the emblem of alertness and activity,blossoming in late winter]. Then the Lord saidto me: “You have seen well, for I am alert andactive, watching over My word to perform it! (Jer1:11-12) AMP

I have been especially excited about the words: “..., Iam alert and active, watching over My word toperform it”, for God had given us every specificpromises 7 years ago, and confirmed it throughmany prophetic words. Up until that stage it had notcome into fulfilment.

God’s Signs and Witnesses through theprophets…

God has always left for himself a witness, whichwould irrefutably, proof that only God could havedone those things. Thus, only God will be glorified.

Many times and in various ways God has spoken tothe prophets in the past. Their words and liveswould then be for a sign and symbol to us, as canbeen seen by the words of the prophet Isaiah: “HereI am with the children the LORD has given me. TheLORD Almighty, whose throne is on Mount Zion,has sent us as living messages to the people ofIsrael.” (Isa 8:18) GNB

Or

“Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hathgiven me are for signs and for wonders in Israelfrom the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mountZion.” (Isa 8:18) KJV



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About the prophet Isaiah, God said: "My servantIsaiah has been going around naked and barefoot forthree years. This is a sign of what will happen toEgypt and Ethiopia. (Isa 20:3) KJV

About the prophet Ezekiel, God said: “In that dayshall thy mouth be opened to him which hasescaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no moredumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; andthey shall know that I am the LORD.” (Eze 24:27)KJV

Jesus was once asked for a sign as was written:“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered,saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."But answering, He said to them: “An evil andadulterous [or, unfaithful] generation seeksa sign, and a sign will not be given to it, exceptthe sign of Jonah the prophet.For just as 'Jonah was in the belly ofthe sea monster three days andthree nights,' so will the Son ofHumanity be in the heart [fig.,depths] of the earth three days andthree nights. [Jonah 1:17] (Mat12:38) ALT

When the Jews wanted to kill JesusHe made His defence, proving thatHe is the Messiah and that He wasthe one who would be sent. This wasHis witness to the people, when Hesaid: “I can of mine own self donothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just;because I seek not mine own will, but the will of theFather which hath sent me. If I bear witness ofmyself, my witness is not true. There isanother that beareth witness of me; and I knowthat the witness which he witnesses of me is

true. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness untothe truth. But I receive not testimony from man: butthese things I say, that ye might be saved. He was aburning and a shining light: and ye were willingfor a season to rejoice in his light. But I havegreater witness than that of John: for theworks which the Father hath given me to finish, thesame works that I do, bear witness of me, thatthe Father hath sent me. And the Father himself,which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Yehave neither heard his voice at any time, nor seenhis shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you:for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Searchthe scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternallife: and they are they which testify of me. (Joh5:30-39) KJV

All these men and women of God would point us toJesus Christ. Not only did Godspeak through their words, but alsothrough their lives and actions. ButJesus Christ was not the replica, butthe actual fulfilment of thepromised Messiah, as was writtenby Paul the apostle, saying: “Allsuch things are only a shadow ofthings in the future; the reality isChrist. (Col 2:17) GNB

Let us consider men of God whowere signs and symbols, who wouldpoint us to Jesus Christ in both theold and the New Testament.

Old TestamentJoseph the interpreter of dreams

Let’s consider Joseph, who had dreams, whichwould only be fulfilled many years later. God spoke



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to Joseph in a dream and told Him that all Hisbrothers would bow down to him one day, as waswritten: “One time Joseph had a dream, and whenhe told his brothers about it, they hated him evenmore. He said, "Listen to the dream I had. We wereall in the field tying up sheaves of wheat, when mysheaf got up and stood up straight. Yours formed acircle around mine and bowed down to it. Do youthink you are going to be a king and rule over us?"his brothers asked. So they hated him even morebecause of his dreams and because of what hesaid about them. (Gen 37:5-8) GNB

When his brothers heard this they were angry athim. Later he had another dream, in which not onlywould his brothers bow down to him, but also hisfather and mother, as was written: “Then Josephhad another dream and told his brothers, "I hadanother dream, in which I saw the sun, the moon,and eleven stars bowing down to me." He alsotold the dream to his father, and his father scoldedhim: "What kind of a dream is that? Do you thinkthat your mother, your brothers, and I aregoing to come and bow down to you?" Joseph'sbrothers were jealous of him, but his father keptthinking about the whole matter. (Gen 37:9-8)GNB

Not long after this Joseph was sold into slavery byhis brothers, because they hated him and wasjealous of the calling upon his life. It would takemany years in Egypt, before this promise of Godwould fulfil. After Joseph interpreted both the butlerand baker’s dreams, God opened a door for him tointerpret the king’s dream, and helped save his ownpeople from starvation. Thus, Joseph had to waitpatiently for the vision, which God had given him tocome to pass. What seemed to have died wasbrought back by God, only many years later.

Moses the Lord’s deliverer

Moses’ birth was announced by the stars. Even theEgyptians knew that a deliverer was born in Israel.Did you know that Moses knew he was the delivererof Israel? Consider the word of Luke about Moses:“Now he was assuming his brothers [and sisters] tounderstand that God [was] giving deliverance tothem through his hand, but they did notunderstand. (Act 7:25) ALT

Moses knew that God had called him to be thedeliverer of Israel, but they did not recognise him. Atthe age of 40 years, he had to flee for his life. Mosesfled to Median in the Arabian Desert, where he gotmarried and became a shepherd. After 40 years ofliving in these circumstances, knowing that he wascalled by God, but had failed in his own humanability to save his people, God appeared to Moses inthe sign of a burning bush and commissioned him togo and lead his people out of Egypt. Then, throughthe power and guidance of the Holy Spirit and thepillar of fire by night and the cloud by day, for thenext 40 years, God led His people to the PromisedLand. Moses’ life was divided into exactly three 40year periods. The first 40 years was up to thefailed attempt to deliver Israel. The next 40 yearshe was in the Arabian Desert tending sheep. Thedream and vision which God had given him had tocompletely die. The last 40 years of his life he ledhis people out of Egypt and through the wildernessto the Promised Land. All these things were a type ofthose things which would be fulfilled in our days.

Abraham God’s friend…

Even Abraham, the father of our faith, to whom thegospel was preached, had to be prepared by God forthe calling that God had for him. When Abrahamwas 75 years old God promised Abram: “I will give



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you many descendants, and they will become a greatnation. I will bless you and make your name famous,so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those whobless you, But I will curse those who curse you. Andthrough you I will bless all the nations." (Gen 12:2-3) KJV

Abram also had to first continue a journey of lifewith God, before that which God had promised himwould come to pass. After Abram had given a 10th ofall that he had to the King of Salem, Melchizedeck,God appeared to Abram again and re-confirmed Hispromise to Abram. Abram believed God and it wascredited to him as righteousness. It had been 10years since God had made Abram a promise that Hewould bless him. Abraham became despondent,because Sarah his wife, had not bore him childrenyet, therefore he slept with Hagar and had a son.Abraham was 86 years old when Ishmael was born.At the old age of 99 years God appeared to Abramand confirmed a covenant with him, changing hisname from Abram to Abraham. One year from thattime, Sarah had the child of promise - Isaac. ThusAbraham failed at the call of God upon his life thefirst time through the son Ishmael after 11 years. Itwould take another 14 years before the promise ofGod came into fulfilment. Thus it took 24 years forthe promise of God to come to pass. After Ishmaelbecame 13 years old, God tested Abraham to see ifhe would love God above all else, requestingAbraham to sacrifice his beloved son. And accordingto the writer of the book Hebrews: “Abraham waspatient, and so he received what God had promised.(Heb 6:15) GNB

And

“It was faith that made Abraham obey when Godcalled him to go out to a country which God had

promised to give him. He left his own countrywithout knowing where he was going. By faith helived as a foreigner in the country that God hadpromised him. He lived in tents, as did Isaac andJacob, who received the same promise from God.For Abraham was waiting for the city which God hasdesigned and built, the city with permanentfoundations.” (Heb 11:8-10) GNB

“It was faith that made Abraham able to become afather, even though he was too old and Sarah herselfcould not have children. He trusted God to keep hispromise. Though Abraham was practically dead,from this one man came as many descendants asthere are stars in the sky, as many as the numberlessgrains of sand on the seashore.” (Heb 11:11-12)GNB

“It was faith that made Abraham offer his son Isaacas a sacrifice when God put Abraham to the test.Abraham was the one to whom God had made thepromise, yet he was ready to offer his only son as asacrifice. God had said to him, "It is through Isaacthat you will have the descendants I promised."Abraham reckoned that God was able to raise Isaacfrom death---and, so to speak, Abraham did receiveIsaac back from death.” (Heb 11:8-19) GNB

Ezekiel the prophet

Consider the prophet Ezekiel, who was called 7 daysbefore he was to start interceding for the nation ofIsrael’s sins. His intercession would take 430 days,as he laid, first on his left side for 390 days and afterthat he laid on his right side for another 40 days.Thus, he sat in astonishment, before the Lord for 7days. God told Ezekiel that he will intercede forIsrael’s sin, a day for a year – that is 430 years.



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New TestamentThe Apostle Paul

Paul the apostle had a similar path which he had towalk with the Lord, before the calling on his lifewould come to fulfilment. On his way towardsDamascus, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Himthrough a sign and a wonder as was written: “...,about noon, suddenly a great light out ofheaven [or, the sky] flashed around me. And Ifell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' "So Ianswered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me,'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you arepersecuting.' (Act 22:6-8) ALT

Later a devout Jew and believer in the Lord JesusChrist, came and revealed the call upon Saul’s life, asPaul later explained in his witness, saying: “The Godof our fathers hand-picked you beforehand to knowHis will and to see the Righteous [One] and tohear a voice from His mouth. For you will beHis witness to all people of what you have seenand heard.” (Act 22:14-15) ALT

Immediately Paul started preaching and convincingthe Jews that Jesus was the Christ. But soon Paulwas hated and they wanted to kill him. Paul had toflee for his life. Only after many years did Barnabasfind Paul and brought him to Antioch to help himwith the church there. Paul was considered a teacherand a prophet. He was also among the prophets,when the Holy Spirit set him and Barnabas apartand commissioned him to fulfil that for which Godhad called him. For the rest of His life he wouldbecome a bond servant and apostle or sentmessenger, of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Messenger of the LORD…

The Prophet Malachi prophesied about anothermessenger that would come, as was written:“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shallprepare the way before me: and the Lord, whomye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even themessenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in:behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

It was prophesied that one would come to preparethe way before the LORD Jesus Christ. He, Jesus,would also be called the messenger of the covenantin His own blood.

Then the prophet asked a question? “But who mayabide the day of his coming? And who shall standwhen he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire,and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refinerand purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons ofLevi, and purge them as gold and silver, that theymay offer unto the LORD an offering inrighteousness.” And so John the Baptist came,proclaiming a baptism of repentance and said to allthose religious leaders that they must bear fruitwhich prove their repentance, as was written: “Butalso the axe is already laid to the root of the trees.Therefore, every tree not producing good fruit is cutdown and thrown into fire.” (Luk 3:9) ALT

John the Baptist also prophesied about the comingof the Lord Jesus Christ and the coming age saying:“I indeed baptize you in water [or, with water][One] mightier than I is coming, of whom I am notworthy to loose the strap of His sandals, He willbaptize you in [or, with] [the] Holy Spirit and fire;whose winnowing shovel [is] in His hand, and Hewill thoroughly clean out His threshing floorand will gather the wheat into His barn, but Hewill burn the chaff in unquenchable fire!”



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(Luk 3:16-17) ALT; Speaking of another timewhen, Jesus will gather the wheat into His barn, butburn the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Then, according to the word of Malachi: “…will theoffering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant untothe LORD, as in the days of old, and as in formeryears. And I will come near to you to judgment; andI will be a swift witness against the sorcerers,and against the adulterers, and against falseswearers, and against those that oppress thehireling in his wages, the widow, and thefatherless, and that turn aside the strangerfrom his right, and fear not me, saith the LORDof hosts. (Mal 3:1-5) KJV

According to the prophet, this messenger will like aswift witness against all those who do not fear God;All those who lived according to their sinful nature.

Later however, the prophet describes thismessenger: “Remember ye the law of Moses myservant, which I commanded unto him in Horebfor all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet beforethe coming of the great and dreadful day of theLORD: “And he shall turn the heart of thefathers to the children, and the heart of thechildren to their fathers, lest I come and smitethe earth with a curse.” (Mal 4:4-6) KJV

He, the messenger of the Lord, will turn the heartsof men back to God. He will be like a refiner ofhearts and like a washer’s soap. He will wash thosewho are willing to repent, but will be refiner’s fire tothose who refuse to repent. It will be in those dayslike it was said by Jesus Christ: "Did you never readin the Scriptures, 'A stone which the ones buildingrejected, this [one] has become [the] head of acorner; this happened from the LORD, and it ismarvelous in our eyes?' [Psalm 118:22,23]

And“For this reason I say to you, the kingdom of Godwill be taken from you and will be given to anation [or, people] yielding its fruits. "Andthe one falling on this stone will be broken topieces, but on whomever it falls, it will crushhim." (Mat 21:42-44) ALT

And as Paul, opened to us through Holy Spirit, bythe prophet David, said: “Let their table become fora snare and for a trap and for a stumbling-block[or, offense] and for a recompense [or, retribution]to them. “Let their eyes be darkened not to beseeing, and their back be bent down through all[fig. continually]." [Psalm 69:22,23] (Rom 11:9)



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Therefore, God will send Hismessenger to be like awinnowing fork and that willwinnow the Lord’s threshingfloor before He comes totake away His bride.

Jesus’ disciples oncequestioned Him about thisprophecy of Elijah, saying,"Why then do the scribes saythat it is necessary [for]Elijah to come first?"Then answering, Jesus saidto them, "Elijah is indeedcoming first, and he willrestore all things. But Isay to you, Elijah alreadycame, and they did notrecognize him (Mat17:10-12) ALT

Thus, Elijah was sent to restore all things and toprepare the way before the Lord. It has always beenassumed that John the Baptist was that light thatwould come to prepare the way before the Messiah,but Jesus once remarked about John the Baptist,saying: “But what did you go out to see? Aprophet? Yes, I say to you, and more [than] aprophet. "For this is [he] concerning whom it hasbeen written, 'Look! I am sending Mymessenger before Your face [fig., ahead ofYou], who will prepare Your way before You.' [Mal3:1] (Mat 11:9-10)

But then Jesus prophesied and said: "And if you arewilling to receive [it], he is Elijah, the one aboutto be coming.” (Mat 11:14) KJV

Thus, once more, anothermessenger would come toprepare the way before theLord Jesus Christ, and therevelations that wouldfollow soon after this.

Jesus the Light of theWorld…

When we hear the wordsof the Lord Jesus Christsaying: “I am the Light ofthe world!” We do notalways realize thesymbolism, which He usedto illustrate that He was theone who was to come asMoses had prophesied: “Iwill send them aprophet like you fromamong their own people.”

Jesus was referring to the Menorah – Thelampstand, standing in the holy place or inner courtwhen He said: “I am the light of the world: hethat followeth me shall not walk in darkness, butshall have the light of life.” (Joh 8:12) KJV

The Pharisees accused Him, saying that He can notbear witness of Himself, as was written: “Thoubearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.Jesus answered and said unto them: “though I bearrecord of myself, yet my record is true: for I knowwhence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tellwhence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge afterthe flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, myjudgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and theFather that sent me. It is also written in your law,



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that the testimony of two men is true. I am onethat bear witness of myself, and the Father thatsent me beareth witness of me. (Joh 8:12-18)KJV

Jesus Christ said that He is the lamp unto the world,which was a witness of those things which God hadprophesied through all the prophets who camebefore Him.

Later Jesus expounded on this samemanner, saying: “Verily, verily, I sayunto you, I am the door of the sheep.All that ever came before me arethieves and robbers: but the sheepdid not hear them.” (Joh 10:7-8)KJV

Thus, all apostles and prophet whocame before Jesus Christ were likethieves and robbers, only stealing fromthat which belongs to Christ. Theywere also only thieves and robberscompared to the fullness of therevelation which came in Jesus – The Anointed One,as Paul the Apostle said: “…, and [attaining] to all[the] riches [fig., abundance] of the full assuranceof understanding, to the full [or, true]knowledge of the secret of both God theFather and of Christ, whom are hidden all thetreasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col2:2-3) ALT

And

“Because in Him dwells all the fullness of theGodhead [or, Deity] bodily, and you have beenmade full [or, have been completed] in Him, who is

the Head of every rule and authority,…” (Col2:9-10) ALT

The Menorah…

Moses was once told by God to make a lampstand.He had to make it exactly according to the patternwhich God had shown him on the mountain of theSinai. God had shown Moses His plan of salvationand prophesied about those things, which would be

revealed at the end of time.

"Make a lampstand of pure gold.Make its base and its shaft ofhammered gold; its decorativeflowers, including buds and petals,are to form one piece with it. Sixbranches shall extend from its sides,three from each side. Each of thesix branches is to have threedecorative flowers shaped likealmond blossoms with buds andpetals. The shaft of the lampstand isto have four decorative flowersshaped like almond blossoms

with buds and petals. There is to be one budbelow each of the three pairs of branches. Thebuds, the branches, and the lampstand are to be asingle piece of pure hammered gold. Make sevenlamps for the lampstand and set them up sothat they shine toward the front. Make its tongsand trays of pure gold. Use seventy-five pounds ofpure gold to make the lampstand and all thisequipment. Take care to make them according to theplan that I showed you on the mountain. (Exo25:31-40)

Thus, the Menorah is God’s hidden plan of salvationand witness of to the fulfilment of the ages. Thus, the



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Menorah would prophecy and open up the mysteryof God from Adam, through all the prophets andapostles, until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

According to the prophecy 7 bright and shininglamps would come. They would stand before theGod of all the earth and witness of His Glory andthose things which would follow. Out of each of theseven pipes of the Menorah seven lamps would comeforth. Each of these lampstands would come out ofan Almond blossom.

Thus, each of these Almond blossoms would be theexact fulfilment of all the prophecies as was revealedby all the apostles and prophets. All the Lord’sapostles and prophets referred to Jesus Christ.

Thus, the lamp in the middle of the Menorah refersto Jesus Christ, who is the actual fulfilment of the 4th

pipe; coming out of the fourth Almond blossom,when the fullness of time came for God’s mystery tobe revealed.

I am about to fulfill My Word…

So in the same way Moses also prophesied saying:“Instead, he will send you a prophet like me

from among your own people, and you are to obeyhim.

And so the LORD said to Moses: 'They have made awise request. I will send them a prophet likeyou from among their own people; I will tell himwhat to say, and he will tell the peopleeverything I command. (Deu 18:15-18)

Now, once more, just before the coming of JesusChrist - the Anointed one, God will reveal anothergolden pipe, coming from an almond blossom in theMenorah…

May God open the eyes of the blind and unstop theears of the deaf. May God bless you as you help bringin the great harvest, right at the end of time!

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And lethim that heareth say, Come.

And let him that is athirst come.And whosoever will, let him take the water of life

freely.(Rev 22:17) KJV

From the Director: “The Witness”



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