THE MAN CHILD PROPHECY AND
THE BIRTH OF THE 144,000

Throughout the Holy Bible are texts with vital clues, hidden for centuries, pieces of the Great Controversy puzzle, which help us to understand the total end-time picture scenario as the scroll continues to unroll. Jesus has been pointing these out to me more and more this year. Let me give you a sample. Isa. 66:1-4 is a severe condemnation of the animal sacrifice system. Add to it Jere. 7:22 and you are ready to go to level 3, THE TWO LORDS, and then onto level 4. But let's go beyond that to Isa. 66:5-9 with our spiritual magnifying glass on v. 7. "Before she (Zion or the church) travailed she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she was delivered of a man-child." "Boy, son and baby," are also used. Here is a woman (symbol of the church or all professed believers in the world) out of whom will come the 144,000. And this group, nation, people, sons of God, etc. are born before she travails. The pain of having this son comes later on just as the persecution of Mary and Joseph did not start until two years after Jesus was born when Herod realized the Wise Men did not return to tell him where the new "King of the Jews" had been born so he could go kill Him. So, Herod killed all of the babies. So, today, after the 144,000 are born persecution will come upon the church in retaliation for the message the 144,000 will give. Thus, the pain will come after the birth, not before or during the birth of the 144,000. In Hosea 11:1 God calls Israel His "son," and Exodus 4:22 says, "Israel is my son, even my firstborn." Matt. 2:15 re-interprets Hosea 11:1 as applying to Jesus..."I have called my son out of Egypt." So, a son (one person) can also mean an entire nation...even the 144,000, the final application of the concept of an obedient son and/or nation. The 144,000 will be God's ultimate demonstration of His power to create His own likeness in human flesh. Please also notice that the son is "born" or "called out" as Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but then escaped to Egypt with Joseph and Mary before the persecution and death of the first born in Bethlehem. So, the 144,000 will be "born" that is, to a self-knowledge (understanding) of who they are while they are still in "Bethlehem" (Zion, the church at large throughout the world). EGW told us to "strive to be among the 144,000" and also that those who would be among that number would soon come to realize and know who they are. Only those who understand the true character of God, that He does not destroy on all four levels will know what I am talking about. Don't expect too much of other sincere Christians. Remember Joseph and Mary didn't realize fully what was going on and even chided him for "being lost" in the temple when in reality they were the ones who were "lost" even as they thought they were on the right road home. Losing Jesus causes pain, frustration, loss of time and wages. Very few in Israel knew or realized the Messiah had been born. Only the Shepherds came to worship Him the night He was born and later on the wise men came with their gifts to finance His trip to Egypt.

So, we see the first application or fulfillment of this prophecy is found in Christ's birth. But notice v. 8, (second application) referring to the same birth as being a "nation born at once," and "she (church or zion) brought forth her children." Israel of old, as a nation failed to be God's true son all through OT history and then rejected Jesus as the Messiah. So, it must have a future fulfillment. "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne." Cf. Ps. 2:6-9 where this same son is called "my king" of Zion. Psalm 2:2 refers to the kings of the earth (bankers and political leaders, i.e. New World Order) who are fighting against (final battle of Armageddon) the Lord (Jesus) and His "anointed" 144,000. Cf. Rev. 11:15 and 12:10 where we read of "our Lord, and of His Christos or anointed." It is repeated for emphasis. Jesus, our Lord and God has a perfect, holy son, king and anointed one in this last hour of this age who is called in Rev. 7 and 14, "144,000." Would you like to be among them? Cf. Dan. 9:24, Ps. 45:7. The anointing of the most holy or a christos or chosen nation through whom God gives His message to the nations and the universe is what the 2300 day prophecy is all about. But unless we first understand God's true character on all four levels we can never figure it out, especially the timing of it. Then Rev. 12:6 says this same woman fled into the wilderness for 1260 days. The first application would be referring to God's persecuted, remnant church (seed) v. 17 out of which is to come in these last days a final remnant of 144,000. The first 1260 time period has been interpreted to mean 1260 years. But if God is going to "shorten" the time then 1260 days would make sense. Our wonderful Creator God and Father took on a body of flesh to demonstrate man's true purpose, potential and reason for being. He perfected that body of flesh and gave it to all humanity..."Take, eat; this is my body." Matt. 26:26. The same with the blood... "Drink ye all of it." Do not miss the importance of ALL.

In John 6 Jesus made it crystal clear that unless we eat His flesh and drink His blood we will have no life within ourselves. "He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in Me, and I in Him." These are symbols representing our relationship with Jesus through Bible study, meditation and prayer. This is how we grow into His perfect likeness day by day. May God's rich blessings be upon you each as you study. Love, Pastor Mike.

Dear Bro. Mike:

Now, on another subject. All this year I have wanted to tell you of a marvelous experience I had about a year ago but was unable to see well enough to write you about it. But now that I have had a cataract removed and can see good again I am going to tell you about it. For several months, once in awhile, I would have a shaking spell that would last about 30 minutes. My daughter told my doctor about it. He said he needed to see me when I was having one so when she got me to the Dr. I was jerking like a person having a fit. She could hardly manage me. A policeman saw it and ran and got a wheel chair and carried me to the doctor. The doctor asked me, "are you hurting?" I was not. "Has anything upset you? Again my answer was no. "Are you afraid?" I was not. Then he asked me, "don't these spells upset and frighten you?" I answered, "Dr. the first thing I do every morning is place my life in God's hands. Regardless of what happens to me I think it is for the best and praise the Lord." Finally, he told my daughter, "If she is not over these attacks in three weeks I am going to refer her to another Dr." Then he ordered me to have a MRI done which showed there was nothing wrong with my head.

The next day we went to church. But before we got home I was having the worst shaking spell I had ever had. But I had no pain or fear but was so weak my daughter's husband had to pick me up and carry me in the house. He laid me on the couch for awhile and then laid me on the bed and let me look at one of your preaching videos. You were speaking about the character of God when all at once a light different from any I have ever seen came between me and the picture. It was about the size of a large hand. The very moment that light appeared I stopped jerking and had the most marvelous feeling I have ever experienced in all my 80 plus years. I do not know how to describe it. It lasted for only about a minute. I said, "Oh, thank you dear Jesus. If only I could always feel like this." I did not hear anything but it was vividly impressed on my mind, 'HAVE FAITH.' So, I started praying for faith and have not had another spell since, which is over a year now. I do know it was God who did this for me and I can never thank Him enough. Yes, Jesus is Wonderful! Esther. From Alabama.