LOCKED AND LOADED..... ECLIPSING YOUR FAULTS

Wow - this is kind of sobering.  Those two lines follow the path of the eclipses that are coming 7 years apart.  And when you consider exactly how the New Madrid fault likely coincides with the events of the Book of Mormon, this is fascinating.  It could have rocked the entire continent when things let loose in the "basement"....:

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - In Nov 1981, a study was published that rocked the scientific world, and sparked concern in FEMA circles, in which a 1,700 mile "Crack Across America" was discovered.  Worse yet, this crack cuts through the New Madrid Seismic Zone, where in 1811 and 1812 three giant earthquakes devastatingly struck the center of America.  Scientists have been struggling, since then, to answer the question of what risk this mega feature may pose to our heartland today.   Recently, and less known, is a study from an independent geologic research set of work [2], that has identified a possible second "Crack Through America" that crosses into and through the same volatile New Madrid Seismic Zone.

The original 1,700 mile "Crack Across America" was found using modern day gravity mapping satellite data, and using computers, to process the measurements [1].  In 1981, Dr. Raymond E. Arvidson of Washington University in St. Louis used data processing techniques where 600,000 discrete gravity measurements, from 20 years of scientific data gathering, to synthesize a map.  The results revealed an astonishing ancient rift in the North American crust that extends some 1,700 miles from Idaho to the southern Appalachian Mountains.  New discoveries, from more recent research, has extended this "Crack" anomaly in where it combines with a MegaShear [3] zone to the middle of Washington State and possibly with the Olympic-Wallowa Lineament (OWL) [2] - which reaches to the Pacific Ocean near Port Angeles Washington.  Thus the total length may total nearly 2,200 miles.

This ancient rift, estimated to be a billion years old, was dubbed the "Missouri Gravity Low" in the eastern most section of the "Crack Across America".  Another rift, 60 miles by 30 miles, underlying the Mississippi river valley, called the "Reelfoot Rift", was found to cross through the Missouri Gravity Low and head to the northeast/southwest.  These two rift zones intersect at the New Madrid Seismic Zone.  Over 4,000 small earthquakes have been mapped within these intersecting "rift" regions since 1974.

A maverick geologist, Jack Reed, performed a study in mapping the frequency and location of larger magnitude earthquakes trending along the northeast trending lineament of the "ReelFoot Rift".  The resulting data indicated another concerning revelation - that a possible second "Crack Through America" connects the Reelfoot Rift with the well known St. Lawrence rift zone in Canada.  Just as the New Madrid Seismic zone revealed its active potential in its "rift zones", a magnitude 7.9 earthquake, in 1663, struck near Charlevoix and revealed its power in the St. Lawrence rift zone.

Perhaps a partial clue to what may link to the existence and nature of the "Crack Across America" and the "Crack Through America" is the Midcontinential Rift (MCR) System.  Research has identified that a movement direction of the MCR, from tremendous intraplate pressure, forced a southern expansion of this large rift, where the southern edge traversed directly towards the New Madrid Seismic Zone.  The Midcontinental Rift thus forms a horseshoe that straddles and reaches, by its tips, at or near the two major "Crack" lineaments.  Intraplate pressure could be intensified into these intersecting lineaments, including the resulting pressure(s) at the New Madrid Seismic Zone.

Fig 1. 1,700 mile to 2,200 mile "Crack Across America", "Crack Through America", and Midcontinental Rift (MCR)

What can make these - 70-90 mile wide and thousands of miles long - low gravity crack lineament features so dangerous is their hidden fractures, buried in the earth's crust below. These low gravity areas are called "Rift zones" where the continental crust tried to pull itself apart, but failed.  The thinning of the crust enabled lighter density young rock to intrude, thus resulting in the lower gravity characteristics in the rift zones.  Other recent studies have suggested that the thinning of the crust may occur from the delamination of heavier crustal rock "falling" down into the earth's mantle.  However, in the case of linear features of these long distance "lineament rift zones", the case of random delamination from "falling" into the mantle would not be able to explain these highly organized structures.

What is known, is that these linear rift zones have exhibited the ability to unleash very large earthquakes.  This has been aptly demonstrated by the three 1811-1812 New Madrid M7-M8 earthquakes and the large 1663 M7.9 Charlevoix Earthquake.  Since the regularity of such earthquakes are measured in centuries, scientists are unable to identify if any section of these linear rift zones may be at risk of a sudden large earthquake.

The bigger the length and depth of a buried fracture and its subsequent pressure induced release, the greater the chances for this rupture to unleash a giant earthquake.  Indeed, the three 1811 to 1812 M7-M8 earthquakes had rupture release areas comparable to any single biggest locked segment of the San Andreas CA fault region could do - except in the New Madrid quakes, it did it all in the same location with each huge quake spaced only a month apart.  With thousands of miles of possible buried fractures within these lineaments, it's possible that changes in intraplate pressure may be all that is necessary to activate a segment.  Another unanswered question is if Yellowstone Supervolcano is susceptible or interactive with this lineament.  Indeed, in 2002, geologists observed distant triggering of earthquake swarming at Yellowstone from the M7.9 Denali Alaska earthquake [4].  As the Denali earthquake was 2,000 miles distant, what would happen if a large earthquake within a rift zone lineament was much closer to Yellowstone?  Certainly it would be useful to know if there were any susceptible buried fractures in the nearby lineament that traverses near Yellowstone Supervolcano.

Fig 2. Reelfoot Rift zone image mapped via magnetometer data with overlay of thousands of small earthquakes (red dots). Map shows the northeast trending "Crack Through America" intersection at New Madrid Seismic Zone - follows line of earthquakes.

However, scientists are placed at a disadvantage, in earthquake risk assessment, since any hidden fractures are buried deep in what is called the "Midcontinental Basement".  Without having any data to the size, length, and number of any hidden fractures, it renders any risk analysis "blind".  Only a paleogeologic assessment of past locations, patterns, frequency, and magnitude of earthquakes are scientists able to form a type of a risk assessment.  Compounding any risk assessment is understanding the rupture process of these hidden fractures. Scientists refer to these as "Intraplate earthquakes" as the quake occurs within the interior of a tectonic plate.  Pressure, within the buried fracture (i.e. "fault"), may instigate an earthquake.  GPS, strain sensors, and even inSAR (interferometric Synthetic Aperature Radar) are of no use to proffering answers to these questions as these fractures are inaccessible since they are deep below - while the sediment or crust above hides any telltale sign of crustal creep or stress.

Fig 3. Estimates of the severe impact from a study commissioned by FEMA if a New Madrid Earthquake of M7.7 were to occur.

Because of risk assessment uncertainty, FEMA and other emergency agencies are left to estimating the risk to America's infrastructure based on a worst case paleogeologic history (i.e. the maximum at any moment).  Indeed, in 1999,  FEMA listed as one of the major top four hazards in the United States, as "catastrophic", would be a giant earthquake striking the central U.S.

Because scientists are unable to predict the timing nor the location of the next large earthquake in these Rift zones, there is a difference of viewpoints, regarding cost tradeoffs of implementation and/or upgrades of rigorous seismic building codes, between the scientific community and the emergency management organizations.  Complicating this situation is that earthquakes, that occur in the central or eastern United States, affect much larger areas than similar magnitudes in the western United States.  The FEMA guide references that the 1906 M7.8 San Francisco CA earthquake was felt 350 miles away in the middle of Nevada.  In contrast, the 1811 New Madrid Earthquake was reported to have rung church bells in Boston, Massachusetts, 1,000 miles away.  Differences in the geologic makeup of the earth's crust east and west of the Rocky Mountains are noted to be the cause of this stronger conduction of the earthquake's P-waves and S-waves creating the distant shaking contrast.

As the rate of earthquakes have been increasing in the New Madrid Seismic Zone and in other parts of the Central United States, such as in Oklahoma, there are concerns that intraplate tectonic pressure may be driving these trends. Other areas, such as the Wabash Valley and East Tennessee Seismic zones also produce earthquakes on a regular basis.  Quoting from the CUSEC - "Depending on earthquake magnitude and location, each of these zones could impact multiple states, causing major physical, social and economic disruption in a region that is home to more than forty million people."... "On April 18, 2008, a magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck near Mt. Carmel, Illinois.  This relatively minor earthquake was felt in 28 states and Canada and was responsible for an estimated $3 million in non-structural damages and damaged at least 240 structures in Illinois alone. The Mt. Carmel earthquake shows the widespread impact a larger earthquake might have on the region"

Scientists now believe the Eastern U.S. could have a major quake of its own, and events like the New Madrid Great quakes may happen again, but there is no way to guess where or when.

For more information on preparedness and information on the New Madrid Earthquake Zone regarding Central U.S. Earthquake preparedness,  see: www.cusec.org

Fig 4. "Crack Through America" Research analysis data & map plot showing path of inferred lineament from frequency, location, & magnitude of quakes.

Fig 5. Mid Continental Rift System (MCRS) rotation movement & direction towards the New Madrid Seismic Zone. The direction of the blue arrows show the historical intraplate pressure & movement from the southern edge of the Midcontinental Rift System (MCRS) towards the New Madrid Seismic Zone. The MCRS is estimated to be 1.1 Billion years old.

[1] Structure of the Midcontinent Basement - Topography, Gravity, Seismic, and Remote Sensing Data,  Edward A. Guiness, John W. Strebeck, Raymond E. Arvidson, Klaus Schulz, and Geoffrey Davies,  Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri,  November 1, 1981.
[2] Olympic-Wallowa lineament (OWL) - first reported by cartographer Erwin Raisz in 1945 on a relief map of the continental United States - is a physiographic feature of unknown origin in the state of Washington (northwestern U.S.) running approximately from the town of Port Angeles, on the Olympic Peninsula to the Wallowa Mountains of eastern Oregon.
[3] Great Divide Megashear  http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1280/pdf/OF07-1280_508.pdf
[4] M7.9 Denali Alaska earthquake - Triggered earthquake swarming & geyser activity/changes in Yellowstone: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/05/040527235046.htm

FOLLOW THE PROPHET!

I shamelessly pulled this from my fb pal who is a pretty awesome guy:

Follow the Prophet:

Joseph taught us to build the Nauvoo Temple to be safe from the mobs.
Brigham taught us to keep our kids out of public school
Joseph F. Smith opposed evolution.
Don't speculate - invest on wall street
Get out of debt
gambling
liquor
Get all the education you can
Save 2 years supply of food and resources
McKay warned us about socialism
Kimball warned against working Mothers
President Benson warned, "And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon AND THE FORMER COMMANDMENTS which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written" (We get former commandments from former presidents.)

What would the church have become if we had done what God counseled us through previous prophets? We would be a powerful, righteous, and delight some people. It seems to me that Amos 3:7 comes years and even generations prior to the consequences - in other words, our solution for today's calamities are in previous warnings and admonitions.

THE HOUR THAT NO MAN KNEW - JOSEPH SMITH SAID YOU THAT YOU CAN KNOW THE DAY AND THE HOUR

I got the following comment on the previous article from a reader named Chris:

I always find articles about when the Second Coming will be as interesting, although they don't take into account latter-day revelation. I don't think the Lord used Jewish metaphors, or figures of speech, when he taught the Prophet, Joseph Smith. And twice in the Doctrine and Covenants (section 39:21 and 49:7) he told his prophet that the day and the hour "no man knoweth." If taken literally, we could interpret the scriptures that someone might know the year, but not the actual day or hour. However, I doubt anyone who has this information actually revealed to them by God would share it because, short of the prophet, I do not believe it is not in their stewardship. The scriptures do seem clear that we can know the season, the time of the year. And Jewish holidays and seasons will probably be a factor. However, while this article doesn't appear to give a year for when the Second Coming will be, I have read others which do. Be careful not to get caught up with the philosophies of men

And I have to say that I am not getting caught up in the philosophies of men when I quote Joseph Smith himself (years ago, I included the quote as a permanent part in the right side of the blog template).  Here is the quote:

"Christ says no man knoweth the day or the hour when the Son of Man cometh. This is a sweeping argument for sectarianism against Latter day ism. Did Christ speak this as a general principle throughout all generations Oh no he spoke in the present tense no man that was then liveing upon the footstool of God knew the day or the hour But he did not say that there was no man throughout all generations that should not know the day or the hour. No for this would be in flat contradiction with other scripture for the prophet says that God will do nothing but what he will reveal unto his Servants the prophets consequently if it is not made known to the Prophets it will not come to pass; again we find Paul 1st of Thesslonians 5th Chapter expressly points out the characters who shall not know the day nor the hour when the Son of Man cometh for says he it will come upon them as the theif or unawares. Who are they they are the children of darkness or night. But to the Saints he says yea are not of the night nor of darkness of that that day should come upon you unawares. John the revelator says 14 chap 7th verse that the hour of his judgements is come they are precursers or forerunners of the comeing of Christ. read Matthew 24 Chap and all the Prophets. He says then shall they see the Sign of the comeing of the Son of Man in the clouds of Heaven. How are we to see it Ans. As the lighting up of the morning or the dawning of the morning cometh from the east and shineth unto the west—So also is the comeing of the Son of Man. The dawning of the morning makes its appearance in the east and moves along gradualy so also will the comeing of the Son of Man be. it will be small at its first appearance and gradually becomes larger untill every eye shall see it. Shall the Saints understand it Oh yes. Paul says so. Shall the wicked understand Oh no they attribute it to a natural cause. They will probably suppose it is two great comets comeing in contact with each other It will be small at first and will grow larger and larger untill it will be all in a blaze so that every eye shall see it." (Joseph Smith, General Conference, April 6, 1843

This man spoke with Jesus himself on many occasions.  I would call that being on pretty good authority.  My guess is that Joseph did not have the luxury of having the Jewish scholarship also chime in on his side since he made that pronouncement, as we have in our day.  I believe both are perfectly valid statements.

And Joseph's statement does back Chris up with his premise: we will most always get it from a Prophet before it happens.  Maybe not the prediction of the Fukushima EQ and so many other events that are impactful on this world - but when it comes to something as awesome as the event of Christ coming in glory, I think it will be obvious that we are there by all the commotion around us - and we will get it from the Lord's mouthpiece as a second witness that we are not being deceived by a form of anti-Christ.  We will know it is the real deal.

I always find articles about when the Second Coming will be as interesting, although they don't take into account latter-day revelation. I don't think the Lord used Jewish metaphors, or figures of speech, when he taught the Prophet, Joseph Smith. And twice in the Doctrine and Covenants (section 39:21 and 49:7) he told his prophet that the day and the hour "no man knoweth." If taken literally, we could interpret the scriptures that someone might know the year, but not the actual day or hour. However, I doubt anyone who has this information actually revealed to them by God would share it because, short of the prophet, I do not believe it is not in their stewardship. The scriptures do seem clear that we can know the season, the time of the year. And Jewish holidays and seasons will probably be a factor. However, while this article doesn't appear to give a year for when the Second Coming will be, I have read others which do. Be careful not to get caught up with the philosophies of men.

THE DAY AND HOUR THAT NO MAN KNEW

Folks, we have to understand things in the vernacular of the day of those that wrote things we find unclear and ambiguous.  This is just one thing on a list of many things I have found in my studies:

            NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR THE HOUR?

At the Time of the End, the wise shall understand. Dan 12:10

Understanding the expression "No man knows the day or hour" is not possible
by simply taking the English translation literally, because in the book of
Daniel and the Book of Revelation, we are given EXACT descriptions of
timing, relative to KEY events - such as the shutting down of the altar
sacrifices in Jerusalem at the MID-POINT of the 70th week. Dan 9:27

Jesus was asked, "When shall these things be?" Matt 24:3

His answer ties us in to a very specific event (The Abomination of
Desolation) which can be measured on our calendars: "When you therefore
shall see the Abomination Of Desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
stand in the holy place, (whoever reads, let him understand:)..." Matt 24:15.

It is now clear that "no man knows the day or hour" does NOT mean "no man
knows the day or hour" as we read it from a modern-day English perspective.

>From his book "Signs In the Heavens" by Avi Ben Mordechai, he devotes a
chapter to explaining what "no man knows the day or hour" truly means from
a rabbinical Hebraic perspective. It is a figure of speech.

The following chapter contains edited excerpts from Avi Ben Mordechai's
commentaries and builds on them aiming to explain that the Holy Bible does
in fact reveal the "day and hour" or "exact timing" of our Lord's Return.

No One Knows the Day or the Hour?

Christians over the centuries have separated themselves from their Hebraic
roots causing the misunderstanding of key Jewish biblical idioms. An idiom
is also a figure of speech. When Y'shua (Jesus) uttered His famous words
concerning the Messianic Era in Mattityahu (Matthew) 24:26, "No one knows
about that day or hour, not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but
only the Father", He used a common Jewish figure of speech referring to a
specific Jewish Festival. In essence He was saying, "I am coming for My
Bride on such and such a day! Be watching!" What day could the Jewish idiom
be referring to? Keep reading!

HEBRAIC ROOTS

Y'shua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah) was Jewish and lived a
Torah-observant Jewish life. Evidence suggests that He communicated to His
audience in the Hebrew language, in Hebraic ways. What does it mean to
communicate in Hebraic ways? It means to think and talk like a Jew. In
Y'shua's day it meant to speak in the language and idioms of the day. Those
who heard the Lord speak knew what He was saying and usually what He was
alluding to unless He was speaking in parables, which had their own
analogies. Of course, today's generation of believers struggles to
understand His words and concepts. Speaking, thinking and acting like the
Jewish Rabbi He was helped His mission in bringing the gospel message to
"the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt 15:24).

Y'shua was quoted in Mattityahu (Matthew) 8:11 as saying: "I say to you
that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places
at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven". Since
we are talking about Jewish idioms, have you ever considered the meaning of
these words? Specifically, our Lord used and confirmed common Jewish ideas
about the Day of the Lord - the millennium - and its relation to the Feast
of Sukkot (Tabernacles) in Z'kharyah 14. In speaking, Y'shua referred to
the Festival and its traditional guests of honour, Avraham, Yitzchak and
Ya'acov, called the ushpizin (uoosh-piz-zin) or seven shepherds (exalted
guests), invited into every succah (tabernacle) at the Feast of Sukkot in
the fall of the year. The seven shepherds in descending order are
1. Avraham (Abraham), 2. Yitzchak (Isaac), 3. Ya'acov (Jacob), 4. Mosheh
(Moses), 5. Aaron, 6. Yosef (Joseph) and 7. HaMelech David (King David).
By mentioning the feast and three of the seven shepherds, His audience
immediately understood the allusion to the Messianic age - "Millennium" or
"Day" of the Lord.

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost" (Luke 19:10).
Again, in this simplistic phrase Y'shua, the Son of Miriyam and Yosef,
spoke of two things: His Deity (by calling Himself the subject of the
prophet Dani'el's vision) and His mission (by calling Himself the One God
Who spoke to Mosheh on Mount Sinai) as it is written in Dani'el and
Yechezk'el (Ezekiel):

In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was One like a Son of
Man, coming with the clouds of Heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days
and was led into His presence (Dani'el 7:13-14).

For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I Myself will search for My sheep
and look after them (Yechezk'el-Ezekiel 34:11ff).

In the Gospel narrative of Luke 23:31, Y'shua said: "For if men do these
things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" In this
verse Y'shua points His audience, who had portions of the writings of the
Prophets memorized, to the verses in Yechezk'el (Ezekiel) 20:45 to 21:7.
Without question, Y'shua's hearers knew He referred to Chevlei HaMashiach
or Ya'acov's Trouble in the Great Tribulation and warned His audience that
what they do to Him in hardness of heart now, God will do to the nation in
judgement later.

Y'shua's encounter with Natan'el (Nathanael) is recorded in Yochanan (John)
1:47-48: When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, "Here is a
true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false". "How do You know me?"
Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the
fig tree before Philip called you".

Again, our Lord used a strong figure of speech pointing to a widely taught
Jewish expectation concerning the resurrection and the millennium. In
brief, He told Natan'el that he will be alive on the Last Day to inherit
the land promised to Avraham (Bereshith-Genesis 17:8). From Y'shua's words,
Natan'el understood he would participate in the resurrection since "that
Day" was yet future. This is understood in the first century Jewish figure
of speech, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree", which
refers to life and study of Torah in the millennium (Midrash Rabbah
Genesis, Rabbah Song of Songs). Y'shua also told Natan'el that he is like
righteous Avraham who received his reward for trusting God. This is
understood because of the phrase, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there
is nothing false". The millennial concept of the fig tree is found
throughout the Tanach including Z'kharyah 3:10: "In that day each of you
will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree", declares the
LORD Almighty. For this reason Natan'el responded emphatically to Y'shua
and His words, saying: "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; You are the King of
Israel!"

God through HaMashiach Y'shua spoke to the Jews in many portions and in
many ways (Hebrews 1:1-2) relying upon known figures of speech, common
expectations and direct thoughts from Talmudic and Pharisaic teachings. The
concepts I addressed only scratch the surface, so-to-speak. Every phrase
and word from the mouth of the Lord meant something to His audience. He
spoke with precision. With that as a basis, let us go on to one of the most
interesting Jewish figures of speech misunderstood by the Church over the
years. It concerns Y'shua's phrase, "No one knows about that day or hour,
not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father". In
context, He refers to the home-taking of His bride, the beginning of the
Messianic era and His millennial reign as King of kings over all the earth.
To understand this concept, we begin by examining its foundation.

ROSH HASHANAH

Chapter Five described the annual Jewish Festival of Trumpets or Rosh
HaShanah - the first day of the seventh month. A few themes linked to this
Jewish festival are resurrection, repentance, kingship, corronation and a
marriage feast. This chapter shows another theme and convincing proof that
Rosh HaShanah is not only the start of "The Day of the Lord" (Millennium),
but is also the day of the resurrection! It has to do with the moon and its
29-day cycle of renewal.

In this period of slightly less than 30 days, the moon goes from darkness
to light and back to darkness again. This is not a haphazard occurrence
attributed to evolution or science. God planned it for many reasons, one
being as a picture of resurrection and renewal. With each cycle of nearly
30 days the ancient rabbis understood that the moon was being reborn or
"born again" (Sefard siddur, Mussaf for Shabbat and Shabbat Rosh Chodesh,
p. 509 and 646-648).

NEW MOON

In Y'shua's day, the moon was so important that a Jewish festival was
proclaimed at the beginning of every month (Talmud Tractate Chaggigah 17b;
Shavuot 10a; Arachin 10b). This was called the New Moon Festival and in the
B'rit Chadashah, Rabbi Sha'ul (Paul) makes note of it (Colossians 2:16).
Even in the Tanach, King David provoked King Sha'ul (Saul) over it (1
Shmu'el-Samuel 20:5). In the coming millennium the gate of the inner court
of the Temple facing east shall be opened on the new moon
(Yechezk'el-Ezekiel 46:1). And finally in the millennium all nations will
celebrate the New Moon festival every month (Yeshayahu-Isaiah 66:23). It is
obvious from the Hebrew Scriptures that in the millennium God has no plans
to do away with His system.

Since it is so important, exactly what is a new moon? It is the opposite of
a full moon. Every month the moon goes through a complete cycle of renewal
called Rosh Chodesh, the head or beginning of the renewed month. Twelve
times a year on Rosh Chodesh, the moon always starts off with its disk
being very dark to the naked eye. Over the course of 15 days it gets
brighter and brighter until it finally reaches a full white-faced disk or
full moon. Over the next 15 days it becomes darker and darker and finally
becomes invisible to the naked eye again.

The ancient rabbis saw a great lesson in this. Just as the moon has no
light of its own but receives its light from the sun, so we too have no
light of our own and must receive it from God. As the moon goes through a
near 30-day cycle of dark to light to dark, so we need constant spiritual
renewal and repentance. Like the moon, we too must be reborn or "born
again" into HaMashiach and constantly renewed through repentance. This is
why God called it a faithful witness in the sky (Mizmor-Psalm 89:37).

If the moon is so important to God, why do we pay so little attention to
it? We have lost touch with God's faithful witness in the sky. But Y'shua
and the people of His day never lost touch with it. And as I previously
noted, not only was the new moon necessary for the Jewish calendar, it was
also a monthly festival celebrated with a feast fit for a king! So, when
Y'shua said His famous words in Mattityahu-Matthew 24:36, it had
far-reaching implications. Here are the words of Y'shua in a few different
translations:

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but
my Father only. (KJV)

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the
Son, but only the Father. (NIV) But of that day and hour knoweth no one,
not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only. (ASV)
About the exact time, however, and the hour, none knows - not even the
messengers of Heaven; but My Father alone. (Fenton Modern English
Translation)

Failing to think like Y'shua and taking phrases out of Jewish context can
lead one to misunderstand His words. For example, in many places of the
B'rit Chadashah Y'shua knew the future and talked about it openly. In one
instance He warned His talmidim (disciples) about their future saying,
"See, I have told you ahead of time" (Mattityahu-Matthew 24:25). His
context concerned the tribulation, the destruction of the Temple, the rise
and fall of false messiahs (antichrists), etc. If He knew the future in
Mattityahu 24:25, and the context concerns the Day of Trouble, why would He
suddenly speak as though He did not know the future in the same context
just 11 verses later in Mattityahu 24:36? Was He confused? Or was He making
perfect sense in light of the customs of the Jews?

Since the subject of our discussion is the new moon and figures of speech,
realize the phrase, "Of that day and hour no man knows" refers to the
sanctification or setting apart of the new moon. Without this
sanctification, the Jews had no way of determining God's "appointed times"
or moedim.

Twelve times a year a new Jewish month (Rosh Chodesh) was announced to the
people. We have no system like it today. We look at a calendar to determine
the first of the month; the Jews, however, looked at the moon. This system
of chronology was given to the Jews to know precisely when the Holy
festivals (moedim) would fall (there are still eight of them; seven
appointed times and Shabbat). The moon was the faithful Jewish calendar or
witness in the sky and 12 times a year was sanctified as the basis of the
Jewish stellar calendar.

GOD'S APPOINTED TIMES

Because the moon was so important for Jewish date - setting, the authorities
in charge of announcing the new moon in Y'rushalayim took great care to
ensure the first day of the month was announced on time. To correctly
announce the first day of the month, established by the new moon, was one
of the Sanhedrin's greatest responsibilities. They had to ensure the people
knew when the first of the month began 12 times a year! Therefore God said
to the leaders of Israel:

These are the appointed times of the Lord, holy convocations which you
shall proclaim at the times appointed for them (Vayikrah-Leviticus 23:4).

In other words, God gave the Sanhedrin authority to announce and sanctify
the new moon to the people. Its proclamation on earth was supported by God
in Heaven (c.f. Mattityahu 18:18-20 where the Jewish context supports a
believers' Sanhedrin as seen in Acts 15). As soon as the new moon was
announced, the first day of the month began. Once the beginning of the new
month was established, the festivals and weekly Shabbats for the upcoming
month were sanctified for observance. In Hebrew, those observances have
always been called "appointed  times" or moedim, literally "a sacred and
set time". From God's perspective, the appointed times belong to Him
(Midrash Rabbah Numbers, Vol 2.21.25, p. 852) and no one has the authority
to change the celebration of an appointed time. To do so was a serious
matter and great sin. Appointed times had to be kept because of their
Messianic implications.

Further in Vayikrah (Leviticus) 23:4, notice the phrase, "holy
convocation". The phrase in Hebrew is mikraw kodesh, better translated,
"holy convocation and rehearsal". In other words, God's appointed times are
actually "holy rehearsals" set apart to reflect events in the Messianic
era. God said to the people, "Pay attention! On this day I am going to do
something! Wake-up! The Jews were to know and practice all of God's mikraot
or holy convocations. This is the essence of Rav Sha'ul's words that the
Shabbat, new moons and festivals, "are a shadow of things to come; the body
of Mashiach" (Colossians 2:17).

Twice a year, in the spring and fall, there were several appointed times
and specific days of holy convocation dedicated to the Lord. The new moon
was the key in being able to fulfill those set times, holy convocations and
rehearsals. For example, when the new moon was announced on the first day
of Nisan, also called Aviv, the people knew when to observe the holy
convocations and set times of the 10th (Shemot-Exodus 12:3), 14th and 15th
(Shemot-Exodus 12:6; Bamidbar-Numbers 33:3), 16th (Vayikrah-Leviticus
23:15), and finally the 21st. In the same way, when the new moon was
announced on the first day of Tishri also called Ethanim, the people knew
when to observe the Holy convocations of the 1st  (Vayikrah-Leviticus
23:23), 10th  (Vayikrah-Leviticus 23:26), 15th  (Vayikrah-Leviticus 23:39),
and 22nd  (Vayikrah-Leviticus 23:36). Thus from the announcement of the new
moon to the festival dates which followed, it was only a matter of counting
the right number of days. In a moment you will understand how this applies
to the phrase that Y'shua spoke concerning His coming again.

THE SANHEDRIN AND THE TWO WITNESSES

The Mishnah, also referred to as the Oral Law, dealt with the legal
elements of daily Jewish religious life, in Hebrew called halachah. In the
treasure of the first and second century halachah we find many explanations
to help us understand the Torah particularly in Y'shua's day since it was
still oral then. In volume two called "moed" or festival, tractate Rosh
HaShanah teaches us about the Sanhedrin and its selection process of two
witnesses who would tell us when the new moon arrived. Once a month the
Sanhedrin discussed when to proclaim the new moon. They did this through
the agency of two witnesses, the element of all legal transactions in
Judaism.

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any
sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the
mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.   Deut 19:15

The men were important because by their witness, Israel celebrated God's
appointed times. They had to be of good character and were always treated
with great honour. They had special privileges such as authorization to
ride into Y'rushalayim on horseback on the Shabbat to bring the good news
of the new moon festivities! The men had special status because they were
the confirmation that Y'hudah (Judaea)  depended on for the correct timing
of the new month and the festivals.

Rosh HaShanah Chapter 2, Mishnah 5 reads: There was a large court in
Jerusalem called Beth Ya'azek. There all the witnesses used to assemble and
the Beth Din used to examine them. They used to entertain them lavishly
there so that they should have an inducement to come. (The witnesses were
allowed to break the Shabbat travel restrictions for this one purpose lest
they might be reluctant to come and give the essential evidence of the
sighting of the new moon).

Continuing in Chapter 2, Mishnah 6: How do they test the witnesses? The
pair who arrive first are tested first. The senior of them is brought in
and they say to him, tell us how you saw the moon - in front of the sun or
behind the sun? To the north of it or the south? How big was it, and in
which direction was it inclined? And how broad was it? If he says (he saw
it) in front of the sun, his evidence is rejected. After that they would
bring in the second and test him. If their accounts tallied, their evidence
was accepted, and the other pairs were only questioned briefly, not because
they were required at all, but so that they should not be disappointed,
(and) so that they should not be dissuaded from coming.

In qualifying the witnesses, the Sanhedrin used the following criteria:
They never arrived at the same time.
They were never questioned at the same time.
There were always two new witnesses each month.

In short, the two qualified witnesses usually stood before the Nassi or
President of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) to give account of the
moon's appearance prior to its becoming total dark (Moed Rosh HaShanah,
Chapter 3, Mishnah 1). Just before the moon's disk enters total darkness,
there are tiny slivers of white on the edges of the waning disk. These were
called the "horns" of the moon. Correctly sighting the "horns" (on the
waning crescent) determined the beginning of the new month. Once the two
witnesses were qualified and questioned, if the President (who had
knowledge of astronomy) was convinced their observation was accurate, he
publicly sanctified the start of the new month.

After careful scrutiny to determine the official arrival of the new moon,
the Nassi or President of the Sanhedrin proclaimed Rosh Chodesh with the
words: "Sanctified", and all the people repeat after him, "Sanctified,
sanctified". After the proclamation, the Sanhedrin ordered watchmen on the
nearby hillsides to light fires and thus inform the Jews in all of Y'hudah
(Judaea), Shomron (Samaria), Egypt, Babylon and the galut (diaspora) that
the new month had begun. That started the festival of the New Moon and
counting of the next 29- days to the next new month proclamation.

Again, once the Sanhedrin set Rosh Chodesh, or the beginning of the new
month by sighting the new moon, the rest of the festivals were calculated.
However, the seventh month, Tishri, was particularly important because it
was the only month that had a holy convocation or appointed time on the
first day of the month. This posed a unique problem. The first day of
Tishri was the appointed time called Rosh HaShanah, the Feast of Trumpets
(Vayikrah-Leviticus 23:24). Yet no one could begin observing the festival
until they heard those famous words from the President of the Sanhedrin,
"Sanctified!"

No one in Israel could plan for the first day of the seventh month Tishri,
called Yom Teruah or the Feast of Trumpets (also called Rosh HaShanah).
When they knew how many days to count to a festival, that would be easy.
But:

HOW COULD THEY PLAN FOR A FESTIVAL THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW AT WHAT DAY OR
HOUR IT WOULD PUBLICLY BE ANNOUNCED AND THUS BEGIN?

This was unique to Rosh HaShanah and dependent upon the testimony of the
two witnesses. Prophetically, we are informed of two important witnesses
during the Great Tribulation:

And I will give power unto My Two Witnesses, and they will prophesy 1260
days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 11:3

Of course, anyone could look up into the twilight or early morning sky and,
if they looked hard enough, see the new moon or at least its "horns". And
certainly an astute observer knew when about 29- days were completed since
the previous Rosh Chodesh. But recall, ONLY THE SANHEDRIN NASSI had the
authority to proclaim the first of Tishri, which was already established as
a technical procedure. Once proclaimed, the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh
HaShanah) commenced. Until that public announcement by the Nassi, everyone
had to wait before they could begin the observance of the festival. No one
could begin the festival beforehand! Thus, we can more clearly see the
analogy Jesus made with His words: "But of that day and hour knoweth no
man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" was in regards to
this important festival of Rosh HaShanah.

THE GRAFTING OF THE WILD OLIVE BRANCHES AND THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL - JACOB 5

Well, if you have followed the blog for long, you will know that I love documenting the doings of the God of Israel when it comes to His children.

Even if you are the most calloused of skeptics, you will have to concede the miraculous doings and careful guidings of this people of Abraham.  If you understand the dynamics and flow of peoples around this globe, you will know that the peoples have been carefully hidden away in faraway places (in terms of ancient geography) such as Ireland, Iceland, Scotland, N/S America, Japan and the islands of the Pacific.

In order to keep the rot from spreading from the infected roots, trunk and branches, God has separated His Chosen from among the rest to keep them as pure as is possible.  Sometimes, He simply has taken an unexpected turn in grafting where no one expected.  This is a pattern.

As my family/extended family situation has languished into various states of decay and spiritual rot - I have also sought to do the same in order to preserve a remnant for myself and my wife.  We have one perfect shot in our child that died of SIDS - and I look forward to raising him in the simplicity of Millennial life where there is no sin, disease or death and where NO "sins of the fathers" are passed along to corrupt his life experience.

Please read Jacob 5 from the Book of Mormon for further light and knowledge as to the workings of God with His children.  We read this the other night and I asked my kids, "What is the most important thing God can do - what is the number one priority??"  The correct answer is Moses 1:39 (basically, to save as many of His children as He can, while operating within the confines of agency, to which He is subject every bit as much as you or I).

In order to do this, He will mix, move, dung, prune and utterly destroy portions and likely most all of His vinyard in order to accomplish it.  My mother was a hobbyist grafter and orchardist and I was her "hired hand" when it came to saving trees that were infected or succombing to disease.  I say likely all - because He will start the Millennium with a nearly clean slate if He has to.  This in a state where only a "remnant" remain to carry the work forward with the righteous Lamanites, the Ten Tribes and other select groupings who were carried away like those who followed Enoch and Melchizedek (Shem) to the higher order.

So, if you look at history whether it is the Nephites, Mulekites, the Jews of Bombay (Nogauker), the Samurai of Japan and SO MANY other leadings and wanderings of the House of Israel - you will know that God has carefully led groups of people hither and thither to save as many of them as He can and as they will.  It is literally a shell game, fighting against time, the natural man and the cunning wiles of the adversary who seeks our destruction.

Here is another instance of a group that was led out:

It has been over a century since J. A. Goodchild first published his translation of the original Gaeilge of the legend of Queen Tephi as it has been sung by the bards (poet-minstrals) of Ireland for centuries. In the annals and legends of Ireland we find the traditions of the origins of the Irish people and the ancient Irish Kings. This rich history speaks of the early settlement of Ireland by a group called "Tuatha De Danaan" (Tribe of Danaan) . Buried this folk-lore is the tale of a Prophet (Jermemiah?), Princess Tephi and Simon Brug (Baruch?) a Scribe. They Landed in Ireland about the same time that the destruction of Jerusalem took place, bearing with them a great chest and a stone wrapped on a banner. The Princess married the Zarahite King, Eochaidh II. Ard-dath, Ard-righ, or Heremon (horse man of all Ireland), and their son was Irial. This Tephi was the daughter of the king of Jerusalem whom Jeremiah went forth to plant in Ireland after the ROOTING-OUT and DESTRUCTION of Zedekiah, the king of Jerusalem in c. 588 B.C. We find in the official lieage of the Royal House of Britain that the House of Stewart are the decendents of Tea Tephi and her husband Eochaidh the Heremon.

From Tephi and Eochaidh descended all of the Kings of Ireland and Scotland and ultimately Britain. It is for this reason that King David’s harp is the symbol of Ireland. I myself find this history of particular interest, as my great-great-grandmother was Margaret Miranda Stewart of the Stewart Clan from which arises the House of Stewart, the House of the Royal House of Britain, making Tephi and ultiametely King David my own ancestors.

This story begins in the Book of Jeremiah, with the commissioning of Jeremiah:
4 And the word of YHWH came unto me, saying: 5 Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you, and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet unto the nations. 6 Then said I, Ah, Adonai YHWH! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a child. 7 But YHWH said unto me: Say not, I am a child. For to whomsoever I shall send you, you shall go, and whatsoever I shall command you, you shall speak. 8 Be not afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says YHWH. 9 Then YHWH put forth His hand and touched my mouth. And YHWH said unto me: Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms: to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to overthrow; to build, and to plant. (Jer. 1:4-10 HRV)
YHWH established Jeremish as a prophet over nations and over kingdoms. On the one hand “to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to overthrow” (Jer. 1:10) and on the other hand “to build and to plant” (Jer. 1:10).

It became Jeremiah’s role to speak out against the wickedness of the priests, kings and people of the House of Judah:.

1 The word which came unto Yirmeyah from YHWH, when N’vukhadnetzar, king of Bavel and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the land of his dominion, and all the peoples, fought against Yerushalayim and against all the cities thereof, saying: 2 Thus says YHWH, the Elohim of Yisra’el: Go and speak to Tzidkiyah, king of Y’hudah, and tell him: Thus says YHWH: Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Bavel, and he shall burn it with fire.
3 And you shall not escape out of his hand, but shall surely be taken, and delivered into his hand. And your eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Bavel, and he shall speak with you, mouth to mouth, and you shall go to Bavel. 4 Yet hear the word of YHWH, O Tzidkiyah king of Y’hudah. Thus says YHWH concerning you: You shall not die by the sword. 5 You shall die in peace, and with the burnings of your fathers, the former kings that were before you, so shall they make a burning for you. And they shall lament you, Ah master, For I have spoken the word, says YHWH. (Jer. 34:1-5 HRV)
2 Thus says YHWH: He that remains in this city shall die: by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. But he that goes forth to the Chaldeans shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey, and he shall live. 3 Thus says YHWH: This city shall surely be given into the hand of the army of the king of Bavel, and he shall take it. (Jer. 38:2-3 HRV)
16 Go and speak to a slave melech, the Ethiopian, saying, Thus says YHWH Tzva’ot, the Elohim of Yisra’el: Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for evil, and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you in that day. 17 But I will deliver you in that day, says YHWH: and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. 18 For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword: but your life shall be for a prey unto you, because you have put your trust in Me, says YHWH. (Jer. 39:16-18 HRV)
So what happened to Jeremiah when Jerusalem fell? The Scripture tells us:
11 Now N’vukhadnetzar king of Bavel, gave charge concerning Yirmeyah to N’vuzar’adan the captain of the guard, saying, 12 Take him and look well to him, and do him no harm, but do unto him even as he shall say unto you. 13 So N’vuzar’adan, the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushazban Rab-saris, and Nergal-Sar’etzer Rab-mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Bavel, 14 They sent and took Yirmeyah out of the court of the guard, and committed him unto G’dalyah, the son of Achikam, the son of Shafan: that he should carry him home, so he dwelt among the people. (Jer. 39:11-14 HRV)
2 And the captain of the guard took Yirmeyah, and said unto him, YHWH your Elohim pronounced this evil upon this place, 3 And YHWH has brought it and done according as He spoke. Because you have sinned against YHWH, and have not hearkened to His voice, therefore this thing is come upon you. 4 And now behold, I loose you this day from the chains which are upon your hand. If it seem good unto you to come with me into Bavel, come, and I will look well unto you. But if it seem ill unto you to come with me into Bavel, forbear. Behold, all the land is before you; where it seems good and right unto you to go, there go-- 5 Yet he would not go back. Go back then to G’dalyah, the son of Achikam the son of Shafan, whom the king of Bavel has made governor over the cities of Y’hudah: and dwell with him among the people, or go wheresoever it seems right unto you to go. So the captain of the guard gave him an allowance and a present, and let him go. 6 Then went Yirmeyah unto G’dalyah, the son of Achikam to Mitzpah, and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land. (Jer. 40:2-6 HRV)
More details of Jeremiah’s escape from the destruction of Babylon can be found in 2Maccabees:
1 It is also found in the records, that Jeremy the prophet commanded them that were carried away to take of the fire, as it hath been signified: 2 And how that the prophet, having given them the law, charged them not to forget the commandments of the Lord, and that they should not err in their minds, when they see images of silver and gold, with their ornaments. 3 And with other such speeches exhorted he them, that the law should not depart from their hearts. 4 It was also contained in the same writing, that the prophet, being warned of God, commanded the tabernacle and the ark to go with him, as he went forth into the mountain, where Moses climbed up, and saw the heritage of God. 5 And when Jeremy came thither, he found an hollow cave, wherein he laid the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door . 6 And some of those that followed him came to mark the way, but they could not find it. 7 Which when Jeremy perceived, he blamed them, saying, As for that place, it shall be unknown until the time that God gather his people again together, and receive them unto mercy. 8 Then shall the Lord shew them these things, and the glory of the Lord shall appear, and the cloud also, as it was shewed under Moses, and as when Solomon desired that the place might be honourably sanctified. (2Maccabees 2:1-8 KJV)
Zedekiah’s sons were all killed, and Zedekiah himself died in Babylon:
9 Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Bavel, to Rivlah in the land of Hamat, and he gave judgment upon him. 10 And the king of Bavel slew the sons of Tzidkiyah before his eyes; he slew also all the princes of Y’hudah, in Rivlah. 11 And he put out the eyes of Tzidkiyah: and the king of Bavel bound him in fetters, and carried him to Bavel, and put him in prison till the day of his death. (Jer. 52:9-11 HRV)
Now we have seen how Jeremiah had been commissioned “to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to overthrow” (Jer. 1:10) but how did he also go on “to build and to plant” (Jer. 1:10).
5 But Yochanan, the son of Kareach and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Y’hudah, that were returned from all the nations where they had been driven, to sojourn in the land of Y’hudah: 6 The men, and the women, and the children, and the king's daughters, and every person that N’vuzar’adan, the captain of the guard had left with G’dalyah, the son of Achikam, the son of Shafan, and Yirmeyah the prophet, and Baruch, the son of Neriyah. 7 And they came into the land of Egypt, for they hearkened not to the voice of YHWH , and they came even to Tahpanhes. (Jer. 43:5-7 HRV)
Notice that while the king’s sons were all killed. Now Jeremiah had also prophecied:
David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne
of the House of Israel (Jer. 33:17 HRV)
David’s royal lineage was to be preserved through his daughters. Notice that Jeremiah does not say “House of Judah” but “House of Israel”. YHWH did not make a mistake here, but how was this prophecy fulfilled?

To find the answer let us turn to another prophecy addressed to the House of Israel, this time in the Book of Ezekiel:
1 And the word of YHWH came unto me, saying: 2 Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the House of Yisra’el,
3 And say, Thus says the Adonai YHWH: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers, which had divers colors came unto the L’vanon, and took the top of the cedar; 4 He cropped off the topmost of the young twigs thereof, and carried it into a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants. 5 He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful soil: he placed it beside many waters; he set it as a slip. 6 And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose tendrils might turn toward him, and the roots thereof be under him: so it became a vine and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs. 7 There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers. And behold, this vine did bend its roots toward him, and shot forth its branches toward him, from the beds of its plantation, that he might water it. 8 It was planted in a good soil by many waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit--that it might be a stately vine. 9 Say you, Thus says the Adonai YHWH: Shall it prosper? Shall he not pull up the roots thereof and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither--yes, wither in all its sprouting leaves? Neither shall great power or much people be at hand, when it is plucked up by the roots thereof. 10 Yes behold, being planted, shall it prosper? Shall it not utterly wither when the east wind touches it? In the beds where it grew, it shall wither. 11 Moreover the word of YHWH came unto me, saying: 12 Say now to the rebellious house: Know you not what these things mean? Tell them: Behold, the king of Bavel came to Yerushalayim, and took the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and brought them to him to Bavel. 13 And he took of the seed royal and made a covenant with him, and brought him under an oath, and the mighty of the land he took away-- 14 That his, might be a lowly kingdom: that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant, it might stand. 15 But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper, shall he escape that does such things; shall he break the covenant, and yet escape? 16 As I live, says the Adonai YHWH: Surely in the place where the king dwells, that made him king, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke, even with him; in the midst of Bavel, he shall die. 17 Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company, succor him in the war, when they cast up mounds and build forts, to cut off many souls, 18 Seeing he has despised the oath, by breaking the covenant: when behold, he had given his hand, and has done all these things, he shall not escape. 19 Therefore thus says the Adonai YHWH: As I live, surely My oath that he has despised, and My covenant that he has broken--I will even bring it upon his own head. 20 And I will spread My net upon him, and he shall be taken in My snare. And I will bring him to Bavel, and will plead with him there, for his treachery that he has committed against Me. 21 And all his mighty men in all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward every wind: and you shall know that I YHWH have spoken it. 22 Thus says the Adonai YHWH: Moreover I will take, even I, of the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs, a tender one: and I will plant it upon a high mountain, and eminent. 23 In the mountain of the height of Yisra’el will I plant it, and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a stately cedar. And under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing, in the shadow of the branches thereof, shall they dwell. 24 And all the trees of the field shall know, that I YHWH have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I YHWH have spoken, and have done it. (Ezekiel 17 HRV)
The Book of Tephi describes in great detail this journey Jeremiah took with one of the daughters of Zedekia, Teia Tephi. Also on the voyage Jeremiah brought with him the Lia Fail (Stone of Destiny) and The Ark of The Covenant then on to Gibraltar. There she is proclaimed queen of the Gadite Israelites who lived there. They continued to Breogan in Spain, Cornwall and eventually landed at Howth, near Dublin, in Ireland on the 18th. of June 583 B.C.. The Book of Tephi also describe many of the significant events which occurred at that time in history and are related to her journey from Jerusalem to Ireland. Finally the book contains many prophecies concerning major events which have occurred in 2,500 years since Tephi’s time.

In closing, while the Book of Tephi is not canonicle, I have no hesitation in presenting this tale long sung by the Irish bards as an account of great antiquity and interest, and a book that is entitled to great circulation among those who take pleasure in studying the Word of YHWH.
One final note: The Book of Tephi is presented here just as it was translated by J. A. Goodchild in 1897. Sacred Names have not been inserted, as doing so would in places disrupt the poetry and Rhyme schemes laid out by Goodchild.