My Mummy Passed On

For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.

Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord - for we walk by faith, not by sight we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:1-10 NASB)

My mother passed away peacefully today at about 5:30 to 5:45 pm. The doctors from Tan Tock Seng Hospital certified her death as at 7:49 pm.

This is how my wife described her last moments in her WhatsApp to the family, "Grandma was still snoring at 5pm. Siti tried to wake her up fro 5:45 - 6:10 pm. Called me to feel the pulse and Hannah, Sarah and I all cannot feel. Called 995 for ambulance."

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, "I have no pleasure in them"; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, and the doors on the street are shut - when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low - they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets - before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 ESV)

Become A Saint

Bad news
All have sinned (1 Kings 8:46, Job 25:4, Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1, Psalm 14:3, Psalm 53:3, Psalm 143:2, Proverbs 20:9, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Roman 3:10, Romans 3:23) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

Good news
But while we are still sinners, Jesus Christ died for us (Isaiah 53:5, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, Romans 4:25, Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:4, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 2:2).

No rejection
All who come to Him, no matter how depraved or sinful, will not be rejected (John 6:37).

Eternal security
And no one can snatch those who believe away from Jesus (John 10:28).

Become saints automatically
You will become saints (members of the household of God) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-20) and receive every gift that God gives which is good and perfect (James 1:17, Romans 8:32).

Promise authenticated
These promises are not made by someone who pop up suddenly in history and then died after preaching something. These promises are made by the only person in the world who was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), came back from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:4, Revelation 1:8), whose place (Micah 5:2) and time (Genesis 49:10) of birth and time of death (Daniel 9:26) was predicted, His ministry was ordained from old (Isaiah 9:1-2) and what He did was prophesied in advanced (Psalm 40:7).

Calculating Gabriel's Formula of 483 Years - Time of Messiah's Arrival

Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince will be seven weeks and 62 weeks. It will be rebuilt with a plaza and a moat, but in difficult times. After those 62 weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. (Daniel 9:25-26a HCSB)

The decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem
There are four decrees to consider:

1. The decree of Cyrus to rebuild the temple (2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1:1-4);
2. The decree of Darius I to rebuild the temple (Ezra 6:1-12);
3. The decree of Artaxerxes I to rebuild the temple (Ezra 7:12-26);
4. The decree of Artaxerxes II to rebuild Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-8).

Coming of Messiah the Prince
How to define the arrival of the Messiah?

1. Date of birth (Matthew 1:25, Luke 2:6-7);
2. Date of baptism, filling by the Holy Spirit and commencement of His ministry;
3. Date of the Messiah's entry into Jerusalem
4. Date of His crucifixion (cut off).

Calculating Gabriel's Formula
According to this blog "Reasons To Believe : Was Jesus’s Arrival Accurately Predicted in the Bible?" from the day Artaxerxes issued his decree mentioned in Nehemiah 2:1-8 to the day of Jesus's humble entry as Messiah on a donkey at Jerusalem would be 483 years.

QUOTE
Now we're ready to do some math to determine if Gabriel did in fact predict Jesus's arrival. We'll start by determining how many days are in 483 lunar years: 360 x 483 = 173,880 days. Next, we'll convert those days back into solar years: 173,880 ÷ 365.2422 = 476.068 years. After converting the decimal part (0.068) to days (0.068 x 365.2422 = 24.8 days), the time prophesized for the Messiah to arrive comes out to be 476 years and 25 days.

Adding this number to March 5, 444 BC - the date on which the decree to rebuild Jerusalem was issued - brings us to March 30, AD 33, the very day of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Is this match not remarkable? The remarkable accuracy of the predictions in the prophecy in Daniel [assuming the estimates are correctly interpreted and accurate] supports the truth of the prophecy, which in turn builds confidence in the authority and reliability of the Bible.
UNQUOTE

Precise Date and Time of Jesus's Death

While the precise date of Jesus's crucifixion and death is not an essential salvation truth, it is good to know that it can be computed from the information given in the Bible and collaborated with historical events which are dated.

From these two articles "April 3, AD 33 | Andreas J. Köstenberger and Justin Taylor | First Things", "When Was Jesus Born, and When Did He Die  Biblical Foundations" and "7 clues tell us *precisely* when Jesus died (the year, month, day, and hour revealed) |Blogs | NCRegister.com", I gathered the following:

1. Beginning of John the Baptist's ministry in the 15th year of Tiberius's reign (Luke 3:1-2) - AD 28 or AD 29;
2. Three Passovers mentioned (John 2:13, John 6:4, John 11:55) - at least 3 years;
3. Crucified on a Friday (Matthew 27:62, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, John 19:31, John 19:42);
4. Crucified at Passover (Matthew 26:2, Mark 14:1, Luke 22:1, John 18:39);
5. Jesus died at the ninth hour (Matthew 27:45-50, Mark 15:34-37, Luke 23:44-46).

Since John the Baptist began his ministry in the 15th year of Tiberius's reign (1), we can safely assume that Jesus began His ministry around AD 29. It lasted for at least 3 years because of the three Passovers mentioned (2) and the ministry ended either on AD 32 or AD 33. He was crucified at Passover (4) on a Friday (3). The only Passover on Friday after three years from AD 29 happened on 3rd April AD 33. He died at the ninth hour (5), by modern reckoning is at 3:00 pm.

Based on the above, we can conclude that Jesus died precisely on 3rd April AD 33 at 3:00 pm.

The Iron Rod, Gog and Magog

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. (Psalm 2:9 KJV)

She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. (Revelation 12:5-6 ESV)

From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. (Revelation 19:15 ESV)

The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. (Revelation 2:26-27 ESV)

First prophesied in Psalm 2:9 and again in Revelation 12:5 and Revelation 19:15, Christ will rule the nations with an iron rod for 1000 years. Those who overcome shall also rule with Him (Revelation 2:26-27, Revelation 20:4). The rule of Christ will not be a democracy. At the end of the 1000 years, God's main political opponent, Satan, will be released for a while (Revelation 20:7). He will give voice to all those who opposed God in their hearts during the 1000 years of righteous rule of Christ, and he shall gather them from all places to stage his final rebellion against God.

When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:7-10 NASB)

I always wonder why this final rebellion was likened unto Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38-39. The only reason I can think of is that the main opposition to God since the flood, the mystery religion of Babylon is finally dead during the 7 years of tribulation. Thus the only type of opposition left is that of Gog and Magog.

Son of Man

The prophecy of the Messiah by the prophet Daniel:
As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of His head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands served Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.

I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their authority to rule was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.

I continued watching in the night visions, and I saw One like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before Him. He was given authority to rule, and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:9-14 HCSB)

The confirmation by Jesus before the high priest that He is indeed the One prophesied by Daniel:
But Jesus kept silent. Then the high priest said to Him, "By the living God I place You under oath: tell us if You are the Messiah, the Son of God!"

"You have said it," Jesus told him. "But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Look, now you’ve heard the blasphemy! What is your decision?" They answered, "He deserves death!" (Matthew 26:63-66 HCSB)

Apostle John's vision of the risen Jesus Christ, the Son of Man and Ancient of Days:
I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven gold lampstands, and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe and with a gold sash wrapped around His chest. His head and hair were white like wool - white as snow - and His eyes like a fiery flame. His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and His voice like the sound of cascading waters. He had seven stars in His right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth, and His face was shining like the sun at midday.

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me and said, "Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look - I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. Therefore write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this. (Revelation 1:12-19 HCSB)

God Is One, Alone, Unique - 2

Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. (Deuteronomy 4:39 KJV)

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36 HCSB,NASB)

For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth - as there are many "gods" and many "lords" - yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from Him, and we exist for Him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through Him, and we exist through Him. (1 Corinthians 8:5-6 HCSB)

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11 KJV)

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17 HCSB)

Christ Is Preeminent

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15-20 ESV)

And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:9-10 ESV)

God Made Everything For Himself

The LORD has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster. (Proverbs 16:4 NLT)

God made everything for His own glory. He has no choice. He is One.
God made all things for His own purpose. He has no choice. He is One.

For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself. (1 Samuel 12:22 ESV)

Our fathers in Egypt did not grasp the significance of Your wonderful works or remember Your many acts of faithful love; instead, they rebelled by the sea - the Red Sea. Yet He saved them because of His name, to make His power known. (Psalm 106:7-8 HCSB)