The Sign of Jonah

Newsletter The Witness 30 March 2010

The Witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ

South 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 His coming,

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.

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The Sign of Jonah...

1 WHO HAS believed trusted in, relied upon, and clung to our message of that which was revealed to us?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been disclosed?

(Isa 53:1) Ampl

Jesus’ Heart for His People...

Someone asked me recently what is on the Father’s heart for His people for this Passover season and for 2010? As I

prayed and wondered about this question the Lord Jesus suddenly spoke to me. I have heard the Lord Jesus speak to me

over the last 9 years in many awesome ways. He has often spoken to me through visions, dreams and through His

Rhema word, but most of all He spoke to me through His still small voice. I praise the Lord who still wants to speak to

His people every day, for the scripture says: 9 "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard," nor has it entered into the heart of

man, "the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 10 But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit;

for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the things of a man except

the spirit of man within him? So also no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 But we have not

received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us

by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches,

comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for

they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual








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judges all things, yet he himself is judged by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct

Him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor 2:9-16) Ampl God wants to reveal His heart to us every day, through His

Spirit that lives within us. God wants to give us His heart’s desire so that we can truly please Him.

As I sat down under an Acacia tree, speaking to Lord Jesus, just walking with Him, asking Him to be with me and that He

would lead me where ever He wanted me to go, the Lord suddenly spoke to me. I had been hearing His voice many

times and have become accustomed to the sound of His voice. His voice is sweet and yet non-compromising. He knows

our thoughts from afar.

Return to your First Love...

Suddenly the Lord said to me: “I want my people to

understand what it means to forsake their First Love!” His voice

was urgent and yet like a loving Father. Then the Lord opened

my understanding and I started to understand many things,

which the Holy Spirit had been teaching me the last 9 years.

Then the Lord began putting all that He had taught me into

context, explaining it in a very practical way, saying: “If you are

not able to serve Me without any recognition, you have

forsaken your first love. If you have become so busy working on

your ministry and that which you want to do for Me, you have

already forsaken your First Love. If your ministry has become a

way of making money, you have forsaken your First Love. If your

ministry has become more like a business, then you have

forsaken your First Love.” I was deeply convicted by the Word of

the Lord Jesus, but why did he reveal this to me now?

I thought about the book of Revelations and the different letters that was written to each of the churches in that time

and especially what Jesus said to the church of the Ephesians: “I know your industry and activities, laborious toil and

trouble, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot tolerate wicked men and have tested and critically

appraised those who call themselves apostles, special messengers of Christ and yet are not, and have found them to be

impostors and liars. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name's sake, and you have not

fainted or become exhausted or grown weary.” (Rev 2:2-3) Ampl Although this report from Jesus, at first seemed very

A sign in which YHWH appeared to over 35 000

people.

“I will show signs in the heavens.”








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good, especially when we compare it with our own lives. This church was a hard working church and had done

everything they had done for Jesus, but they have forsaken their first love.

Suddenly, the Lord opened my eyes to the real test of faith and love for Him? The question was: “Will you still serve the

Lord Jesus, if you knew you would get nothing out of it for yourself on this earth?” We are doing allot of good works,

which include many great things, which we do for the Lord, but would we still do it, if we got nothing out of it for

ourselves? The Lord has given some of us great and powerful ministries, which His body needs, but would it be good

enough, if you would get no financial benefits out of it, no crowds, no conversions, no one listening to you, no

preaching, no teaching, no honour and no glory out of it? No great CD or DVD or book to be released to the world to

influence many hundreds or even thousands of people?

We have become so busy serving the things of God that we have missed the God of the things! This word from the Lord

was a word, which was for all of us. God wants to purify us for the last hour. Purifying the motives of our hearts ten

times over, before Jesus comes to take away His spotless bride. We must return to only loving Him without any

expectation of reward or something in it for me!

My own did not recognise Me!

Then the Lord Jesus continued: “I came to that which was My own, but My own

did not recognise me, because I did not come in the way they expected. I was born

in a manger and not in a palace. I was born in Bethlehem, the city of bread, for I am

the bread from Heaven, and not in Jerusalem. I chose shepherds and wise men from

the east to give Me honour. My signs, which I gave them they did not recognise. I

lived and grew up in the Galilee of the gentiles, a city despised. I grew up in the area

of Nazareth and was called a “Nazarene,” so that even Nathanael said: “Can anything

good come from there?” But they did not know I was from the tribe of Judah, from

the direct blood line of their king, David. I was the BRANCH from Jesse!”

“I chose men, who even hated one another, to be my followers. I chose the weak

things and the despised things of this world to shame the wise. I chose Matthew, a

tax collector whom they hated. I chose fishermen, who were considered the lower

class of that time. I chose both the rich and the poor alike, without discrimination,

to represent Me. I did not come in the way they expected Me to come.”

“I bend My knee to heal their sick. I touched their lame and even arose some from








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the dead, so that they might believe and be saved. I did not do it for My sake, but for their sakes, so that they may know

the Father.”

“But, because they did not know the Father, they did not recognise Me. I said to them: “If you knew My Father you

would have know Me.” They said to Me: “Abraham is our father!” Then I said: “If you knew Abraham you would have

known me, for He spoke of Me!” They got angry and said: “You are not yet 50 years old and you know Abraham?” Then I

said: “Before Abraham was, I AM!” Then they became angry and wanted to stone Me.”

“They despised and rejected both Me and My Father. They had appointed themselves over My people, even saying of

my followers: “This brood who knows nothing!” because they did not have all the right theological training.”

“But God the Father, in His great wisdom, had given them signs, for thousands of generations, which they did not see.

Hidden in obscurity, I hid it from the wise and the learnt and revealed it to the simple and the weak things of this

world, those who are poor and despised. I chose that, which they never even imaged.”

“I told them many stories so that they could understand my Father’s heart, but they took no time to ponder upon

them. I gave them many signs, but they did not recognise them. Like a man’s shadow that passes by, in which you

cannot see the details in the shadow, until the man has passed by, so I hid my signs from them.”

“I gave them a lamb, which had to be slain, on the very day, which I would die, so that its blood should be smeared on

the door posts. I gave them the copper snake; so that it should be lifted up from the earth and so that all who just

looked at it could be saved. I gave them a thirteen years old boy - I gave them Isaac, to be sacrificed by His own Father,

who loved Him, on the very mountain, on which I would die, Mount Moria, but they did

not recognise Me.”

“I gave them my prophets, who acted out many signs to them, but they did not

understand them, because it was not what they had expected!”

“Then I said of them: “This is a perverse and an evil generation, who ask for signs, but no

sign would be given them, except the sign of Jonah! For 3 days and three nights Jonah

was in the belly of the fish, and so the Son of man will be three days and three nights in

the belly of the earth! Exactly three full days, beginning from evening to evening, I, like

Jonah, was in Sheol, but God raised Jonah from the dead and allowed the big fish to spit

him out on the shore. So I was killed and after 3 full nights and days, I was raised from

the dead.””








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The Passover & Communion...

Jesus once said to those who were listing to Him: 2 “When the sun is setting, you say, 'We are going to have fine

weather, because the sky is red.' 3 And early in the morning you say, 'It is going to rain, because the sky is red and dark.'

You can predict the weather by looking at the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs concerning these times!”

The time of Passover, or Pesach, the exact time when Jesus died, has been remembered by many who have been

waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ, for nearly 2000 years. The real time we are in has been lost although our calendar

has not been based on God’s times and seasons. This generation do not know what time it is?

We as a generation have been kept so busy with serving the Lord, reaching for our goals and dreams that we have not

paid attention to the time. We have forsaken our First Love – Jesus Christ. Jesus gave us another sign, which are also

only another shadow: ‘Communion’, with these words, saying: "I have wanted so much to eat this Passover meal with

you before I suffer! 16 For I tell you, I will never eat it until it is given its full meaning in the Kingdom of God." 17 Then

Jesus took a cup, gave thanks to God, and said, "Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 I tell you that from now on I

will not drink this wine until the Kingdom of God comes." 19 Then he took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke

it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me." 20 In the same way,

he gave them the cup after the supper, saying, "This cup is God's new covenant sealed with my blood, which is poured

out for you. (Luke 22:15-20) Ampl

Later the Apostle Paul confirmed the communion, giving a

deeper meaning or significance to all the believers that would

follow Jesus throughout thousands of years, saying: “that the

Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a piece of

bread, 24 gave thanks to God, broke it, and said, "This is my

body, which is for you. Do this in memory of me." 25 In the

same way, after the supper, he took the cup and said, "This

cup is God's new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever

you drink it, do so in memory of me." 26 This means that

every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup you

proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (1 Cor 11:23b-26)

Ampl Paul added what Jesus meant when He said: “I will not

drink this wine again until I drink it in the Kingdom of God,”

saying: “Every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup

you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”








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We often remember the Lord Jesus’ death and crucifixion, but forget that He gave us a command, to keep the

communion with Him, the Love Feast or the ‘First Love feast’, until His second coming! It is time for us to re-examine

ourselves, rekindle the ambers of our motives and the love in our hearts for Jesus Christ, with a undefiled, pure and

sincere love for Jesus our Messiah and then also for one another, otherwise we to might not be able to recognise the

signs of His second coming.

Only the Bride, who belongs to the bridegroom, will stay awake all night, in eager expectation, waiting for her Husband.

Only those who have not started to serve Jesus, because of what they can get, but what they can give to Him, not

always wanting to do things for Him, but being able to just hang on His lips and eat up every words, which drip like

honey, coming from His mouth, will be ready when their Lord and King comes.

Have we, not all fallen asleep, not only because our love for the Lord Jesus Christ - Yeshua our Jewish Messiah - has

grown cold, because of the increase of wickedness, but also not having realized that only one more sign will be given

this generation - The Sign of Jonah!

The Sign of the First-fruits…

13 But we, brethren beloved by the Lord, ought and are obligated as those who are in

debt to give thanks always to God for you, because God chose you from the beginning as

His firstfruits for salvation through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and your belief

in and adherence to, trust in, and reliance on the Truth. 14 It was to this end that He

called you through our Gospel, so that you may obtain and share in the glory of our Lord

Jesus Christ - the Messiah. (2 Thess 2:13-14) Ampl

3.5 Days after the day of Passover, on the first day of the week, before sunrise,

another prophetic sign and shadow was partially fulfilled. A sign, which many have not

seen nor recognised, because they do not understand the Lord’s times and seasons or His

Feasts.

Jesus was once asked by His disciples: “Lord, is this the time when You will re-establish

the kingdom and restore it to Israel?” Jesus’ own followers misunderstood Him. They

thought that He would restore Israel as a nation and a kingdom as was promised by all the prophets. They

misunderstood His times and seasons. Jesus said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the

Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be

witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (MJKV) (Act 1:7-8) Ampl








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Paul explains the significance of Passover and the death, burial and the resurrection of Jesus like this, saying: 17 And if

Christ is not raised, your faith is foolish; you are yet in your sins. 18 Then also those that fell asleep in Christ were lost.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now Christ has risen from the

dead, and has become the first-fruit of those who slept. 21 For since death is through man, the resurrection of the

dead also is through a Man. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own

order: Christ the first-fruit, and afterward they who are Christ's, at His coming; 24 then is the end, when He delivers

the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He makes to cease all rule and all authority and power. (1 Cor 15:17-24)

Ampl Not only does the Passover and work of Yeshua, our Jewish Messiah, which He had done on the cross, point to

something that Jesus did 2000 years ago, but another hidden mystery lies in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the

dead. The day of first fruits, 3.5 days after Passover, points to another day in the future, the day when Yeshua will come

to take away His first fruits.

So powerful was the moment of the death of Jesus that there were

awesome signs that appeared at that very moment, as was written: 50 And

Jesus cried again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. 51 And at once the

curtain of the sanctuary of the temple was torn in two from top to

bottom; the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were

opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep in death

were raised to life; (Matt 27:50) Ampl

Who were the first fruits? 3.5 days after the death of Jesus, on the day that

the firstfruit harvest was celebrated, a day of rejoicing and thankfulness to

the Lord, Jesus was resurrected from the dead. At that very moment, three

sheaves, which had been bound up three and a half days earlier, were

harvested to God. At that very moment God came to take up His Son to be

with Him forever with these words: “Come up here!” For the scriptures says: “YHWH Elohim says to my Lord, the

Messiah: “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your adversaries Your footstool.” (Psa 110:1) Ampl

The curtain between the Holy and the

Most Holy torn from top to bottom








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The Women in Labour Pains...

26 And he who overcomes and who obeys My commands to the very end doing the works that please Me,

I will give him authority and power over the nations;

27 And he shall rule them with a sceptre rod of iron,

as when earthen pots are broken in pieces,

and his power over them shall be like that which I Myself have received from My Father;

28 And I will give him the Morning Star.

(Rev 2:26-28) Ampl

Paul commands us to commemorate communion, as yet another type of Passover, until Yeshua comes to take away

His bride. Another scenario, prophetically awaits those who are expecting the second coming of Yeshua, which would

not have been possible if it was not for the day of Passover and the resurrection of Yeshua from the dead.

In the book that reveals the hidden mysteries of the second coming of Jesus Christ, another great sign is revealed to the

apostle John, which also points to the day of first fruits, as is written: 1 AFTER this I looked, and behold, a door standing

open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard addressing me like the calling of a war trumpet said: “Come up

here!”, and I will show you what must take place in the future. (Rev 4:1) Ampl This same scenario is explained again by

the apostle and prophet, Johan, saying: 1 AND a great sign, a wonder

warning of future events of ominous significance appeared in heaven: a

woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and with a

crown like garland tiara of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant

and she cried out in her birth pangs, in the anguish of her delivery. 3

Then another ominous sign or wonder was seen in heaven: Behold, a

huge, fiery-red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven kingly

crowns upon his heads. 4 His tail swept across the sky and dragged down

a third of the stars and flung them to the earth. And the dragon

stationed himself in front of the woman who was about to deliver, so

that he might devour her child as soon as she brought it forth. 5 And she

brought forth a male Child, One Who is destined to shepherd (rule) all

the nations with an iron staff sceptre, and her Child was caught up to

God and to His throne.(Rev 12:1-5) Ampl The Male child would be caught

up at the day when this signs appears in the heaven. This signs was

shown to the apostle John at around 69 AD, long after Jesus’ death,

burial and resurrection. Paul referred to those who would be firstfruits to

Women clothed with the sun and the

crescent moon under her feet








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God, saying: 22 We know that the whole creation of irrational creatures has been moaning together in the pains of

labour until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who have and enjoy the firstfruits of the Holy

Spirit, a foretaste of the blissful things to come, groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies from

sensuality and the grave, which will reveal our adoption, our manifestation as God's sons. (Rom 8:22-23) Ampl Paul

says that we, with the creation, are in labour pains until Christ is formed in us. Now we too are now in labour and must

now labour even more than ever before, so that we too may be part of the firstfruit harvest, when God will call His sons

up before Him into heaven, with these words: “Come up here!” Then they will, just like Jesus and the prophets Enoch

and Elijah, ascended into heaven, also being caught up into heaven.

Come up Here!

12 Then the two witnesses heard a strong voice from heaven calling to them:

“Come up here!"

And before the very eyes of their enemies they ascended into heaven in a cloud.

(Rev 11:7-12) Ampl

There is yet one more sign, which YHWH – God, will give His people indicating that the day of His coming is at hand.

Just like Jonah was three and a half days and nights in the belly of the sea, and just as Jesus was dead for 3.5 days and

resurrected on the third day, God will give us another sign, which must first be fulfilled before Yeshua – Jesus Christ, will

come, with the voice of an arch angel and the trumpet of God to take away His bride.

According to Jewish custom, on the day of the feast of trumpets, two witnesses must come as observers of the new

moon or the crescent moon. When they have both seen the new moon appear at the break of noon, on the beginning of

the first day of the seventh month, they have to present themselves before the high priest in order to be questioned

whether they are true witnesses. At about six o’clock in the evening they will come to the gates of Jerusalem. Then the

watchmen will call the high priest to let him know that they have arrived. Then with a load voice he will call to them

both, saying: “Come up here!” When they have been summoned and have confirmed that the new moon was sighted,

the trumpets will be blown and the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets, Rosh Hashanah, will be announced.

Jesus revealed to the apostle John that a similar event will take place in the days just prior to the coming of Jesus,

saying: 3 "Also I will give power to my two witnesses; and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth." 4

These are the two olive trees and the two menorahs standing before the Lord of the earth. (Rev 11:3-4) Ampl








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Then Jesus continue to describe those things that will take place when these two prophets

will arise in the earth, saying: 7 But when they have finished their testimony and their

evidence is all in, the beast or monster that comes up out of the Abyss, the bottomless pit,

will wage war on them, and conquer them and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie

exposed in the open street, a public square of the great city, which is in a spiritual sense

called by the mystical and allegorical names of Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord

was crucified. 9 For three and a half days men from the races and tribes and languages

and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and will not allow them to be put in a tomb. 10

And those who dwell on the earth will gloat and exult over them and rejoice exceedingly,

taking their ease and sending presents in congratulation to one another, because these

two prophets had been such a vexation and trouble and torment to all the dwellers on the

earth. (Rev 11:7-10) Ampl

Thus these two witnesses will also be the last sign before the seventh trumpet is blown.

They will prophecy for 1260 days, which is 3.5 years or 42 months. Then they will be killed by the coming Anti-Christ or

the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit. Then they too will lie dead in the streets of Jerusalem for 3.5 days,

just like Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the stomach of the great fish, so these two witnesses, will lay dead for 3 days

and three nights in the streets of Jerusalem.

Then, as was prophesied: 11 After three and a half days, by God's gift, the breath of life again entered into them, and

they rose up on their feet, and great dread and terror fell on those who watched them. 12 Then the two witnesses

heard a strong voice from heaven calling to them: “Come up here!" And before the very eyes of their enemies they

ascended into heaven in a cloud. (Rev 11:7-12) Ampl All these signs are signs, which will now appear for all the earth to

be seen, as a witness or sign of the coming of Jesus Christ. Thus, we can from now on give another look at both the

coming Passover and the communion, remembering it as a love feast, returning to our First Love – Jesus Christ,

celebrating it, for His second coming is at hand.

Signs in the heavens...

18 Yes, and on My menservants also and on My maidservants in those days I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall

prophesy, telling forth the divine counsels and predicting future events pertaining especially to God's kingdom. 19 And

I will show wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth beneath, blood and fire and smoking vapor; 20 The sun

shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the obvious day of the Lord comes, that great and

notable and conspicuous and renowned day. 21 And it shall be that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord,

invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord--Christ shall be saved. [Joel 2:28-32.] (Act 2:18-21) Ampl








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The Question is what is the time on God’s watch? On the first of Dec 2008, a

great sign appeared in the heavens. Jupiter and Venus, the morning star appeared

next to the crescent moon, at noon. God was indicating and warning, in His mercy,

that the two witnesses would soon day by their own lives, point to that day, when

the bride will be caught up to heaven, to be with the Lord forever. They will be the

last sign that the earth will see before Jesus is revealed in the heavens, just as was

recorded by Luke in the book of Acts, saying: 9 And when He had said this, even as

they were looking at Him, He was caught up, and a cloud received and carried Him

away out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing intently into heaven as He

went, behold, two men dressed in white robes suddenly stood beside them, 11

Who said: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into heaven? This same Jesus,

Who was caught away and lifted up from among you into heaven, will return in

just the same way in which you saw Him go into heaven.” (Act 1:9-11) Ampl

The return of Jesus Christ is imminent. He will come in the same way He left this earth. Just as His ascension was

announced by two men, so His second coming will be announced by two men. Let us keep on our guard and let us

celebrate this Passover and Feast of Trumpets with new zeal, looking forward to the coming of the Lord.

All Glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who will soon be revealed in the heavens.

“The Witness”

Documents

The Sign of Jonah