Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen.
Esther 9:20-22 Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
Time, Time, Time.
Operation Epic Fury was initiated on Saturday, February 28, 2026 on our western Gregorian Calendar.
The attack was initiated during the Islamic Holy month of Ramadan.
In the Islamic Calendar, today is the 11th day of the 9th month.
9/11
It’s payback time for all of you Islamic terrorists.
President Trump carried out strikes on Iran on 9/11 during Ramadan.
Of significant note, Epic Fury was initiated on Purim of the Dead Sea Scroll calendar. For me, the solar Dead Sea Scroll calendar just took on more significance than the traditional lunar Hebrew calendar.
Traditionally, according to the secular, lunar Hebrew calendar, Purim occurred on the evening of Monday, March 2, 2026 through sunset Tuesday, March 3, 2026. And with that, there was a blood red moon lunar eclipse.
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BREAKING:
The White House outlined the objectives of Operation Epic Fury
Official statements emphasize that this is not a war, but a “major combat operation.”
Stated objectives:
– Demilitarization of Iran: destruction of its missile forces, production facilities, and naval… pic.twitter.com/hd2JeNIamN
🇮🇷 Iran has now attacked 15 different countries/ militaries:
– 🇮🇱 Israel – 🇺🇸 United States – 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates – 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia – 🇶🇦 Qatar – 🇰🇼 Kuwait – 🇯🇴 Jordan – 🇮🇶 Iraq – 🇧🇭 Bahrain – 🇴🇲 Oman – 🇸🇾 Syria – 🇨🇾 Cyprus – 🇫🇷 France (Camp de la Paix, UAE) – 🇮🇹 Italy…
Revelation 6:6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”
Full disclosure, it is the position of the blog that we are not in the great 7 year Tribulation. We are not there yet. One will not need to ask the question. Oil and gas implications…
The Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf
BREAKING:
Trump writes that the U.S. will provide insurance for vessels sailing through the Strait of Hormuz and is willing to let the U.S. Navy escort oil tankers sailing through the strait pic.twitter.com/NGAXSXVPoz
Oil production has at the world’s second largest oil field “Rumaila” near Basra in southern Iraq.
The production has stopped because storage tanks are full as ships are no longer picking up oil that would normally be exported through the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/hMijvcWjCW
Natural gas and Liquified Natural Gas have been impacted.
BREAKING: European natural gas prices surge over +50% as Qatar halts production at the largest LNG plant in the world following drone attacks. pic.twitter.com/mctgcBYpOi
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) March 2, 2026
🚨The government of🇮🇱Israel has ordered operators of major natural gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea to halt production as🇮🇷Iran steps up retaliatory attacks 🧵 pic.twitter.com/kwDxOPhp4p
Look at this image carefully. You are looking at a Chinese commercial satellite photograph of Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Every red box is an artificial intelligence model identifying a US military aircraft by type. Every label is in Mandarin. And the base you are… pic.twitter.com/1MXbFzfj8D
— Shanaka Anslem Perera ⚡ (@shanaka86) March 1, 2026
JUST IN: 🇨🇳🇩🇪 China showcases AI humanoid robots performing kung fu moves during Germany Chancellor Merz's visit. pic.twitter.com/gkM0dGiOg3
Israel Launches Ground Invasion into Lebanon, "High Seas" War Escalates in the Gulf from Fujairah to Duqm, Iran Declares a '6000-Year War,' and Washington Abandons its Citizens — Talal Nahle
Strategic and Operational Report (Tuesday, March 3, 2026 | 14:30 CET): We are now on the… pic.twitter.com/fi56zJifJb
Esther 9:20-22 Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
Note the three dates above. The first is 5785, which is a modern day secular, Hebrew, lunar calendar.
Purim will begin on Thursday evening at sunset, March 13, and last until Friday evening at sunset evening of March 14. This would be Adar 14 on the secular Hebrew calendar.
The verses below will serve as a framework for both Hebrew calendars discussed.
Genesis 1:14-19 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years. And let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well. God set these lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth, to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning, the fourth day.
Of note, there will be a lunar eclipse during Purim on the modern day secular Hebrew calendar.
Astronomers predict that a total lunar eclipse will coincide with the first day of Purim, lasting for 65 minutes. The eclipse will be visible over North and South America, rising over Australia and northeast Asia and setting over Africa and Europe.
The following interpretations are not Biblical. They are from a rabbi’s understanding of the Talmud, writings of oral traditions.
…lunar eclipses are considered a bad omen for Israel under normal circumstances. This is based on a section in the Talmud (Sukkot 29a) that specifies that lunar eclipses are a bad omen for Israel since the moon spiritually represents Israel. If the lunar eclipse takes place in the eastern side of the heavens, then it is a bad omen for all the nations in the east, and similarly, if it occurs in the western hemisphere of the sky, it is a bad sign for all the nations in the west. -Rabbi Mordechai Genuth
“This is because in the time of the Talmud, only Israel set the calendar according to the moon. Setting the calendar according to the sun was the practice of the idolaters, like Rome, which named the solar months and days after pagan gods.”
“A lunar eclipse in the month of Adar is a sign that there will be war among the Sons of Ishmael who are connected to the moon. It is also a sign of famine and drought in the West.” -Rabbi Mordechai Genuth
By the way, there will be a solar eclipse on March 29, the first day of Nisan.
The second is 5949, which is a solar calendar from the ancient Essenes discovered from the caves of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls. The belief is the earth is 5949 years old from day four of creation. The first day to accurately mark time with this method was a Wednesday, the day the sun, moon, and stars were created. See verses above from Genesis 1.
According to the Dead Sea Scroll calendar, Purim occurred on occurred on Saturday, Adar 14, 5949 or March 1, 2025 on our western Gregorian calendar.
The Dead Sea Scroll solar calendar is more specific and consistent than the secular lunar calendar. According to the Dead Sea Scroll calendar, we are approaching a jubilee year starting in about two weeks. After this upcoming jubilee year, the calendar enters the last 50 years of the age of grace. This is prophetically significant because the 1,000 year Messianic Kingdom follows.
Check out Ken Johnson’s work on the Dead Sea Scrolls at the two links below.
The last date is the Gregorian calendar year 2025. This is our modern day western solar calendar. It is primarily a math calculation. This is essentially the world’s business calendar.
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And we wonder why…
Mark 13:32-33 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come.
Pay attention! Be vigilant! Don’t make excuses! We can know the season and age!
Jesus held the religious leaders of His day accountable to know His arrival was here. The Bible foretold in prophecy the arrival of the Messiah and His character and deeds.
The same is true for us today. God has not changed. Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever. Yes, Jesus is God and we are accountable to what is stated in the Bible.
Esther 9:20-22 Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
The celebration is to take place in the Hebrew month of Adar on the 14th and 15th day. In the Gregorian year of 2024, the event starts on sundown Saturday, March 23rd and ends the next day on Sunday, March 24th. Scripture tells us the holiday is to be celebrated annually.
Esther 2:16 And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign…
So a Persian wanted to eliminate the Jewish people. This is a real historical event. The setting of the story is in the book of Esther. The events of the story took place from 483-473 BC. The location is Susa of the Persian Empire. This would be modern day Iran.
History knows King Ahasuerus as Xerxes I.
We don’t know for sure who wrote the book of Esther. Jewish tradition holds Esther was written by Mordecai.
But whatever happened to Xerxes I and Persia after these events in the Bible? History tells us his attention was clearly divided during the time period of Esther.
Xerxes followed Darius in 485 B.C. Darius had been smoked by the Greeks. So naturally, Xerxes was going to reclaim Persian glory from the Greeks. He wanted to conquer all of Greece. Xerxes’ plan did not work out well either and the Greeks essentially destroyed the Persians in 479 B.C. This pretty much ended any ambitions Xerxes had planned. Xerxes was assassinated by servants in 464 B.C. The Heart of Hebrew History, H.I. Hester, p. 301, 1949.
King Xerxes was not buried with his Queen, Esther. He was buried in Naqsh-e Rostam outside of modern day Shiraz.
Esther 9:3-4 And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had fallen upon them. For Mordecai exercised great power in the palace, and his fame spread throughout the provinces as he became more and more powerful.
Esther 10:3 For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews and highly favored by his many kinsmen, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.
Historical evidence shows it was Queen Esther and the Prime Minister Mordecai who were buried together. Today in the 21st century, Hamadan, Iran is home to the tombs of Esther and Mordecai.
Esther 9:20-22 Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
The celebration is to take place in the Hebrew month of Adar on the 14th and 15th day. In the Gregorian year of 2023, the event starts on sundown Monday, March 6th and ends the next day on Tuesday, March 7th. Scripture tells us the holiday is to be celebrated annually.
Esther is a unique book in the Bible in that God’s name is not written or used. Even though God’s name is not seen, it is obvious Who is in control of the events of the narrative.
The spirit of Haman is alive and well in the ancient land the Bible calls Persia. We call it modern day Iran.
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl made news with a comment regarding Iran. He was speaking to a Congressional Committee. Kahl is the third ranking Defense Department official.
“Because Iran’s nuclear progress since we left the JCPOA has been remarkable. Back in 2018, when the previous administration decided to leave the JCPOA it would have taken Iran about 12 months to produce one bomb’s worth of fissile material. Now it would take about 12 days.“
Iran is becoming more than a regional threat. The Pentagon sees Iran as a global threat. The reason, Iran’s relationship with Russia.
“We are now at a point where Iranian threats are no longer specific to the Middle East, but a global challenge,” Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Dana Stroul.
“It is reasonable to expect that the tactics, techniques and procedures that the Iranians are learning and perfecting in Ukraine will one day come back to our partners in the Middle East, which is why we are increasing cooperation now, intelligence sharing, understanding these networks and increasing our collective defensive capabilities so that we are prepared to counter these threats in the region.“
“We know that the Iranians have already provided hundreds or armed drones to the Russians. We know that they’ve provided ammunition for artillery and for tanks, as well,” William Burns, Director, CIA.
As a pattern of history, things did not work out well for Haman and those hostile to God’s chosen people. And things will not work out well for modern day Iran and friends and their hostility towards Israel.
Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; and you will condemn every tongue that accuses you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.
Isaiah 40:15-17 Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales; look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before Him are as nothing, and they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.
Esther 9:20-22 Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
This is the decree for the celebration of the holiday Purim. The celebration is to take place in the Hebrew month of Adar on the 14th and 15th day. In the Gregorian year of 2022, that starts on sundown Wednesday, March 16th and ends the next day on Thursday, March 17th. Scripture tells us the holiday is to be celebrated annually.
The setting of the story is in the book of Esther. The author of the book is unknown. Celebration of Purim is not part of the Mosaic Law. The events of the story took place from 483-473 BC. God’s name is never mentioned in the book. The location is Susa of the Persian Empire. This is modern day Iran.
Esther 3:1-2 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him.And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage.
Haman was the prime minister for King Ahasuerus. He answered to only the king. Haman was a very powerful political figure and officer. He was the right hand man to the king. Haman clearly lorded his clout over others as he demanded others bow down and pay homage to him at the gate. This action was mandated by Ahasuerus. Haman was on a serious power trip.
Haman was a source of evil. His name means tumult or noise. Haman came by his attitude honestly. His father was Hammedatha, which is translated as “The Medatha” or “The Double” (A Dictionary of the Bible: Aaron Juttah). At any rate, Haman’s father was important enough to have a definitive article as part of his identity… like father, like son.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Esther 3:9 “If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, that they may put it into the king’s treasuries.” -Haman
Not only was Haman a power hungry, blood thirsty leader, he was exceptionally wealthy. His anger and resentment towards Mordecai and the Jews were so intense, he was willing to part with 10,000 talents of silver. Despite being second in command of the Persian Empire, he would pay blood money to make this happen. Haman was dedicated to killing off a race of people for being disrespected as he saw it.
10,000 talents of silver… 1 talent is equal to roughly 75 pounds.
10,000 X 75 = 750,000 pounds of silver!
At today’s silver prices, 1 ounce = $25
1 pound = 16 ounces X $25 = $400/pound of silver.
750,000 pounds X $400/pound = $300,000,000
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This level of hate still emanates from what is modern day Iran. Modern day Iranian leaders, like Haman, are looking to wipe Israel from the map and eradicate its people. Haman was willing to pay to eliminate the Jewish people. Unlike the past, the world is giving Iran resources to achieve their goal.
March 12, 2022: The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired ballistic missiles into Erbil, Iraq against the “strategic center of the Zionist regime’s conspiracies and wickedness”.
“If the Zionists want to respond to the attack on the Mossad headquarters in Erbil, it will face a harsh response”. -IRGC
Iranian intelligence reports they have broken up “spy (Mossad) network that recruited hooligans to do sabotage operations inside Iran”.
“By God! Israel Will Not See Next 25Years!” -Ayatollah Khamenei
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Despite current attitudes, the Biden Administration continues to give Iran concessions in negotiations in Vienna with regard to the Nuclear Agreement. Iran is sure to gain economic freedoms which will likely result in billions of dollars in revenue and gifts.
Esther 9:20-22 Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
This is the decree for the celebration of the holiday Purim. The celebration is to take place in the Hebrew month of Adar on the 14th and 15th day. In the Gregorian year of 2021, that starts on sundown Thursday, February 25th and ends the next day on Friday, February 26th. Scripture tells us the holiday is to be celebrated annually.
Mordecai, his name means “little man”. We know Mordecai is from the tribe of Benjamin. And he is related to King Saul by his lineage in Kish. King Saul’s father was Kish.
Esther 2:5 Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite…
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Mordecai adopted Esther as his daughter. He was a man of God as he took care of orphans. Mordecai’s role in the book of Esther is consistent with the Psalmist. He was just in the defense and protection of his national people.
Esther 2:7 He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
Psalms 82:3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
Mordecai heard of a plot to assassinate King Xerxes. He shared the evil plan against the king to his adopted daughter Queen Esther. She shared the details with her husband the king. These men were put to death when the plan was confirmed (Esther 2:21-23).
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Mordecai refused to bow down to one of the king’s officials, Haman. As a result, Haman set out to destroy Mordecai and all of the Jewish people in the kingdom (Esther 3). Out of concern for his fellow countrymen, Mordecai informed Queen Esther of Haman’s written plan to eliminate the Jewish people (Esther 4). Later, Mordecai was honored by the king and Haman for saving the king’s life in the plot against him (Esther 6). He was appointed and succeeded as the chief minister to King Xerxes after Haman’s death at his own gallows (Esther 8).
Mordecai was respected and honored throughout the kingdom. He grew in great power and prestige. Which takes us back to the beginning of the post and the verses in Esther 9. Mordecai was the initiator of the celebration of Purim.
God is never mentioned in the book of Esther. Yet, His sovereignty and plan are executed according to His will.
Purim is a reminder. The Spring Feasts and Passover are only a month away.
Esther 9:20-22 Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
This is the decree for the celebration of the holiday Purim. The celebration is to take place in the Hebrew month of Adar on the 14th and 15th day. In the Gregorian year of 2020, that starts on sundown Monday, March 9th and ends the next day on March 10th. Scripture tells us the holiday is to be celebrated every year.
Today, Hamadan is believed to have approximately 554,000 people per 2016 census numbers. Hamadan is home to the tombs of Esther and Mordechai.
A few weeks ago, the Iranian Basij attempted to do harm to the historical burial site of Esther and Mordechai. This is no accident. They know the history and the time of the year with the pending celebration of Purim.
The Basij is a volunteer militia of the Iranian government. The Basij was set up by the Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979. The stated purpose of the Basij is as follows: “create the necessary capabilities in all individuals believing in the Constitution and the goals of the Islamic Republic to defend the country, the regime of the Islamic Republic, and aid people in cases of disasters and unexpected events.”
The role of the Basij is to handle “resistance areas” within Iran…
Here is a quote that likely best describes the role of the Basij in Iran. This is a group of enforcers.
“But because they receive less training than other Iranian security forces, their tactics are often the toughest against dissidents—and in turn generate more public anger that could weaken rather than strengthen the regime long-term.”
If interested (highly recommended) in more detail of the Iranian Basij, click on the link below.
Breaking: Iranian authorities are threatening to destroy the historic tomb of Ester and Mordechai in Hamedan and convert the site to a consular office for Palestine. @AAzoulay@USCIRF@UNESCOpic.twitter.com/My0dKKJvfo
The Basij feels justified in their actions because of President Trump and his policies toward Israel in the Middle East. So, they took to Twitter.
“Members of the Iranian Basij attempted to raid the historic site yesterday in an act of revenge against the Israelis Palestinian peace plan by President Trump.”
Esther and Mordechai were real people. They died and they were buried in what is modern day Hamadan, Iran. The book of Esther is not a fable or a fairy tale. Roughly 2,450 years later from their era, Esther and Mordechai are back in the news. Modern day Iran wants to destroy their existence and their place in history in God’s word.
Esther 9:20-22 Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
The setting of the story is in the book of Esther. The events of the story took place from 483-473 BC. The location is Susa of the Persian Empire. This would be modern day Iran.
Esther is a unique book in the Bible in that God’s name is not written or used. Even though God’s name is not seen, it is obvious Who is in control of the events of the narrative.
This is the decree for the celebration of the holiday Purim. The celebration is to take place in the Hebrew month of Adar on the 14th and 15th day. In the Gregorian year of 2019, that starts on Wednesday, March 20th and ends the next day on March 21st. Scripture tells us the holiday is to be celebrated every year.
See how God used a Jewish woman in the Persian Empire to save His people. For more information on the book of Esther and the holiday of Purim, click on the link below.
This Purim (5779/2019) has a unique set of circumstances surrounding the holiday. Purim is to occur on a Supermoon. This is a full moon where the moon is the closest it can be to the Earth in its orbit around the Earth.
This Supermoon is also the last in a set of three consecutive Supermoons. The next time a set of three Supermoons will take place is later this fall 2019. The last of those Supermoons will be during the Fall Feasts and the new Hebrew year 5780.
This year, Purim occurs during the spring equinox.
On a Hebrew calendar, the year 5779 is a leap year as well. That means one additional month of Adar.
Jewish rabbis believe they are very, very, very close to the unveiling of their Messiah.
Rabbi Pinchas Winston had the following analogy, “The arrival of the Messiah has an aspect that is like musical chairs. No one knows when the music will stop, but when it does, you might unexpectedly be caught unprepared and be left standing without a place to sit down. It is absolutely correct today to be paranoid.”
As a believer in the Messiah Jesus Christ or Yeshua HaMashiach, I concur with Rabbi Winston’s comments on the coming of the Messiah. The Rabbi’s statement is in complete alignment with words of Jesus Himself, Peter, the Apostle Paul, and John.
Matthew 24:44 For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
Revelation 16:15 Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.
Esther 9:20-22 Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually, because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
This is the decree for the celebration of the holiday Purim. The celebration is to take place in the Hebrew month of Adar on the 14th and 15th day. Adar is the last month of a Hebrew year. In the Gregorian year of 2018, that starts on the evening Wednesday, February 28 and ends the next day on the evening of Thursday, March 1. Scripture tells us the holiday is to be celebrated every year.
secrettelaviv.com
The setting of the story is in the book of Esther. The author of the book is unknown. Celebration of Purim is not part of the Mosaic Law. The events of the story took place from 483-473 BC. God’s name is never mentioned in the book. The location is Susa of the Persian Empire. This is modern day Iran.
Haman is a source of evil. His name means tumult or noise. Haman was the prime minister for King Ahasuerus. He answered to only the king.
Esther 3:1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him.
Haman lays out his plan to destroy the Jewish people in Esther 3. Haman’s plan was the result of Mordecai refusing to bow to him. Haman was on a power trip and frequently angry.
Esther 3:5-6 And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.
Haman was deceitful and manipulative to the king regarding the need to rid the kingdom of the Jews.
Esther 3:8-9 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king’s laws, so that it is not to the king’s profit to tolerate them. If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, that they may put it into the king’s treasuries.”
In the end, Haman’s plans were his undoing. What he prepared for Mordecai was ultimately for himself.
Esther 7:9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, “Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman’s house, fifty cubits (approximately 75 feet) high.” And the king said, “Hang him on that.”
Esther 1:1-2 Now it took place in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, in those days as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in Susa…
Esther 1:5 When these days were completed, the king gave a banquet lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.
This is the introduction to the book of Esther. Susa was the headquarters of the ancient Persia and Media Empire. Ancient Susa is also known as Shush or Shushan.
North of Susa is Hamadan. Today Hamadan, Iran is believed to have approximately 470,000 people per 2006 census numbers.
Within the city of modern day Hamadan, the heroes Esther and Mordecai are believed to be buried in the Iranian city. A 500 year old building is the site. The location is reported to be in very good condition. For detail, see the link below.
The burial site and story of Esther draw people to think about the modern city, especially at the holiday of Purim.
Hamadan is back in the news and on the world stage but for other reasons.
August 16, 2016: Since this date, Russia has been launching air strikes from Iran. The Iranians have agreed to give Russia access to the Hamadan Air Base in western Iran. Russia is the first foreign country allowed access to the air base. This was reported by news outlets around the world (The Guardian, RT, Reuters, Jerusalem Post, France 24, New York Times).
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/731160
