Footsteps of Messiah
The Four Craftsmen


In last week's newsletter, we examined the Jewish sages' predictions of the seven years of "Footsteps of Messiah" in light of the Prophets and New Testament predictions. In a nutshell, after the plague that sweeps around the world, the seven-year period of Footsteps begins during which the son of David will come. A progressive famine marks the first three years: “The seven-year period during which the Son of David will come:

  • In the first year, that which is stated, ‘I will bring rain on one town, and on one town I will not bring rain (Amos 4:7),’ will be fulfilled.
  • In the second year, the arrows of famine will be sent forth against it.
  • In the third year, there will be a great famine in which men, women, and children will perish, and pious people of good deeds will become few, and the Torah will be forgotten from Israel.” 2§29

It is thought that for the children of Israel, the first glimpses of the new world will be seen in the last four years of tribulation.

  • In the fourth year, there will be a famine, but not a complete famine, a sufficiency, but not a complete sufficiency.
  • In the fifth year, there will be a great sufficiency, and the people will eat, drink, and rejoice, and the Torah will be restored to its original state and be given anew to Israel.
  • In the sixth year, there will be sounds of redemption.
  • In the seventh year, the Sabbatical year, there will be wars.
  • In the aftermath of the seventh year,* the eighth year, the son of David will come.

*”In rabbinic writing, the term shavua is used for one period of the seven-year shemittah cycle described in Leviticus 25:1-7.” In other words, the Footsteps are expected to synchronize with a shmittah cycle on the heels of a worldwide plague.

The sages disagreed about whether the wars would precede redemption in the seventh year or whether redemption would precede the wars. Whether the wars fall in the sixth or seventh years, the Midrash records details of the final redemption by the hands of the Four Craftsmen. It is based on Zechariah 1:21:

  • “And He spoke saying, ‘...These craftsmen have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of nations who raise a horn against the land of Judah.”
  • “And these are the ‘craftsmen’ of Zechariah’s vision: Elijah, King Messiah, Malchizedek, and the Anointed One [Mashiach] of War.” 2§29

Zechariah explains further: "Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. And I said, “What are these coming to do?” And he said, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah so that no one lifts up his head; but these craftsmen have come to frighten them, to throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.” (Zec 1:20-21)

The Four Craftsmen are named because they each in some way “built” Israel:

  • Elijah built the altar on Carmel of twelve stones representing the re-unification of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. (1 Ki 18:31-32)
  • Malchi-tzedek helped Noach build the Ark of salvation. Some sages believe that Malchi-tzedek was Shem; many believer think he was a pre-incarnation of Messiah.
  • The Anointed One of War will inspire the troops of Israel prior to the final battle like the kohen Pinchas in the time of Moses and Joshua.
  • King Messiah will rebuild Jerusalem and Israel.

A craftsman or builder is from the Hebrew shoresh:

  • chârâsh from H2790; a fabricator or any material:—artificer, carpenter, craftsman, engraver, maker, mason, skillful, smith, worker, workman, such as wrought.

Betzalel and Oholiav were the two craftsmen of the Mishkan in the wilderness. They engraved the shoham stones of the shoulder-pieces and choshen (breastplate), each representing the Twelve Tribes.

The four horns are identified as nations/kingdoms who scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. They represent all the seventy symbolic nations in which Israel is subjugated. The work of the Four Craftsmen is to bring down these horns and restore the righteous survivors to the Temple and Jerusalem, presumably “after two days, on the third day...” Which perhaps explains the sages’ expectation that the 6th and 7th years are linked just as the 2nd and 3rd day are linked:

  • “He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him. (Hos 6:2)

This would make Yeshua's statement prophetic on two levels, the level of Hoshea, in thousand-year days, and literal twenty-four-hour days: “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion.” (Mt 26:2)

In the literal days of the coming Passover, Messiah Yeshua would be killed and raised up. The second “Passover” also includes a resurrection of the dead:

  • For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it passes by, or like a watch in the night. Ps 90:4
  • But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 2 Pe 3:8

It was this particular claim of Yeshua, that he was one of the craftsmen who could rebuild the Temple in three days, that provoked witnesses against him and led to the Romans' fear that his disciples would steal the corpse. Look how often it is mentioned as a stumblingblock in the Gospels:

  • and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” Mt 26:61
  • and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Mt 27:40
  • “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that was made by hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.’” Mar 14:58
  • Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, Mk 15:29
  • Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and yet You will raise it up in three days?” Jn 2:19-20

Sometimes we look for literal days ("hand" days) instead of prophetic thousand-year ("outstretched arm") days. John’s Revelation demonstrates and reconciles the two rabbinic views of the war with Gog and the resurrection, which suggest two or more fulfillments. As John predicts a first resurrection, a thousand-year-reign of King Messiah, and then a second resurrection and judgment, followed by a war with Gog, it appears to follow the pattern of fractals or telescopes of Biblical prophecy and fulfillment:

  • ‘The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’ Re 2:11
  • Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years. Re 20:6
  • Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. Re 20:14
  • “But for the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Re 21:8

Seder Olam speaks of the double advent of Elijah, and of Elijah being hidden between the two advents; consequently, for Seder Olam, the war of Gog cannot be part of the days of the messiah, for if it were, there would be no logic in Elijah's being hidden a second time. Rather, Seder Olam, like many rabbinic sources, sees the war of Gog as part of the events of the end of days, and states that Elijah will come in the period of the messiah and again in the beginning of the period of the end of days. Elijah's appearance, then "sandwiches" the 1,000-year reign of Messiah and his two wars with God.

"When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are at 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." (Re 20:4-10)

The Four Craftsmen, Elijah, King Messiah, Malchizedek, and the Anointed One [Mashiach] of War" will rebuild Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem. If we match typology, then each of the Four might be represented by the four horsemen of Revelation:

  • King of Righteousness Malchi-tzedek-white horse/crown
  • Mashiach of War-red horse/sword
  • Elijah-black horse/famine  [Elijah’s ministry was noted during famine]
  • King Messiah-pale horse/authority over death

Sukkah 52b lists Mashiach ben Yosef in the place of the Anointed One of War. They are interchangeable:

  • King of Righteousness Malchi-tzedek-white horse/crown
  • Mashiach ben Yosef-red horse/sword
  • Elijah-black horse/famine  [Elijah’s ministry was noted during famine]
  • King Messiah ben David-pale horse/authority over death

The disagreement over the Four Craftsmen might be because at least three could be aspects of the same person. Consider this from Revelation:

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.” (Re 19:11)

This would merge the aspects of Malchi-tzedek [King of Righteousness], Mashiach the Righteous Branch (Is 11:3-4) who judges, and the Mashiach of War. Whatever the identity of the Four Craftsmen, they will come to wreak destruction on the oppressors of Jerusalem, Israel, and Judah:

"Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.” And behold, the angel who had been speaking with me was going out, and another angel was going out to meet him. And he said to him, “Run, speak to that young man there, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited as open country because of the multitude of people and cattle within it. But I,’ declares the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire to her on all sides, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” “You there! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the LORD, “because I have spread you out like the four winds of the heavens,” declares the LORD. “You, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.” (Zec 2:1-7)

The description of the “invitation-only” Jerusalem matches the Jewish sages' view of the Clouds of Glory that protected the four directions of the Israelite encampments in the wilderness. Once restored to the positions of their original wilderness encampments, they can be installed in the gates of Jerusalem to judge the nations of the earth and the four corners of the four winds as servants of King Messiah.

  • Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Yosef said: In the future, at the time of the resurrection of the dead, the righteous will burst forth and arise in Jerusalem, as it is stated: “And may they blossom out of the city like the grass of the earth” (Psalms 72:16), and the term “city” means nothing other than Jerusalem, as it is stated: “For I will defend this city” (II Kings 19:34). [Ketubot 111b]

If at least one, and possibly three, of the four horsemen of the apocalypse are Messiah Yeshua, then prepare to ARISE!


We do plan to live stream more Footsteps on YouTube EARLIER THAN USUAL on Shabbat at 4:00 pm Eastern.

SHABBAT SHALOM!
Creation Gospel Seminar in January...

Yours truly and Kisha Gallagher of Grace in Torah will be team-teaching an overview seminar of the first two levels of Creation Gospel Workbook One on The Rooted Kafe, January 23rd-27th, at 8:00 pm Eastern. To register for the live event, click Kafe. If you're interested in the All-access pass, which includes notes, videos, and seminar workbook, click All-access Pass. A portion of the proceeds benefit the LaMalah Orphanage. If you want to purchase Workbook One, you may order from www.thecreationgospel.com or Amazon. Please direct seminar inquiries to The Rooted Kafe.
Recommendation of the Week:
Shabbat Stovetop Warmer

I recommend books each week in the newsletter, but due to our online students' interest, I'm including links to a product we use every Shabbat unless we're traveling. It helps us to enjoy hot food on Shabbat in spite of the instructions to "bake what you're going to bake and boil what you're going to boil" ahead of time.

We cook our Shabbat meals ahead of time, and as each meal approaches on Shabbat, we place the dishes to be served warm on the stovetop warmer. It just sits atop your regular electric stove or countertop and plugs in a regular wall socket. There is a thermostat. Typically, we use aluminum foil as a liner to prevent the glass top of the warmer from scratching or accumulating spilled food. You can use it on other occasions when you want to hold several dishes hot, such as family getogethers. The same company sells Shabbat hot water urns, too, that hold water just under boiling temperature for hot beverages. You will have to do some web browsing to find a vendor.
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LIVE STREAM

We will live stream on YouTube EARLIER than usual on Shabbat at approximately 1:15 pm Eastern, b'azrat Hashem.

Have you been looking for a conference in a warm place? Join us March 17-19 at Save the Nations in South Florida for a Purim Conference with Pastors Kenneth and Lisa Albin. Learn the schedule, details, or register by clicking in the field above.

Your continual prayers for the children of LaMalah and our brothers and sisters in Kenya are so much appreciated. We have two notes from Brother Peter this week, one an update on construction, and one upon the news that donors have covered the full cost of remaining construction, school fees, and potentially two greenhouses for year-round vegetable growth:

Note # 1

Shabbat Shalom my Sister,

As always, I hope and pray all is well with you all and that you have fully recovered. We did pray for you. Am sorry for writing a little late. Someone told me if I want things done,done well and done in time, I should do them myself. I am always there when work is done, especially construction. We have done lintels for the third house and we may start roofing next week as Abba wills and permits. So far, He has been faithful.All honor and esteem goes to Him for providing.

We got mixed up somewhere about the construction and the regular support. I just lost count but I know we need a bit of help to really complete this third house. We have started doing wiring and painting for the first house even as we do finishing lines for the second house. And all three require a fascia board.

Schools are closed. The two boys require ksh. 7100 each for their last term of first year. The holiday is very short as they report back on third January. Besides the fees, we buy them some soaps and toiletries etc. The good thing is they are performing well.

January is hard than all other months. All the other children also need some school fees. We do pray you will have a wonderful Sabbath full of His Shalom.

Blessings,

Peter

Note # 2

Shalom my Sister !

HalleluYah. All honor and esteem to Abba for His providence. Blessings unto you all. I will visit Amiran for the greenhouses. They come with everything including seeds best suited for the location. They are a bit expensive but they even provide after sales support.

Thank you very much indeed!

Peter

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We'll let you know when Odysee is ready to go.
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ISRAEL TOUR
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