Shalom Partner and Friend of Israel,

Reflecting on the darkness of these Last Days, Yeshua (Jesus) tells us in Matthew 24:12 that the love of many WILL grow cold. That’s exactly what we’re seeing today in this current moment, the vast political, economic, racial divides where wicked, wealthy Globalists the un-elected Elites have used "divide and conquer" to control by all means the Masses. They are using the POWER of MONEY to control the corrupt leaders of nations even causing spiritual divides amongst their people. Everything simply seems impossible to overcome! So how do we protect our hearts from growing cold and dark, like the times we are living in? One of our Lords Names; the "BRIGHT Morning Star" gives us the answer. Every name of Yeshua (Jesus) reveals something unique about His character and knowing Him intimately is the key to guarding our hearts!

Let’s discover together… Firstly, the Church is NOT the Nation of Israel, but is comprised of believers in Yeshua (Jesus Christ) from ALL nations, both Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles) …who make up the ‘Bride’ and ‘Body of Christ!’ "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." - Revelation 22:16. What about the Lord’s promise that "…I will give the morning star" - Revelations 2:28? As believers have Christ in us, He is the hope of the glory (Colossians 1:27), so the morning star is either "authority" in the Messianic Kingdom or greater intimacy with the Lord. This means we will have Christ Himself (as our reward) like God promised Abraham; "I am your exceeding great reward." Yeshua (Jesus) is saying he alone is this, "I am the bright Morning Star." Only here is the word "BRIGHT" added to "Morning Star," distinguishing Yeshua from any Angel!

This symbolic reference to Yeshua (Jesus) as "the root and the descendant of David" (Isaiah 11:1) …NOT only emphasises that Christ will fulfil all the Covenant promises regarding the House of David, but also that He will shine the brightest as the bright morning star, because He is the God-man that will rule as King and His followers, true believers, will also shine; "And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above, and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever" - Daniel 12:3. Here the Son of Man also refers to; "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear" - Matthew 13:43. In the Old Covenant (Testament), the Prophets of God, led by His Spirit, prophesied about Yeshua and the New Covenant (Testament) the life that He would bring. The Apostles had these prophetic words confirmed when they saw the life of Christ then they saw the "BRIGHT Morning Star;" "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life – the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us…"  - 1 John 1:1-2.

Peter writes that we have to heed the Prophetic word; "And so, we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." – 2 Peter 1:19. So we see; "…like a lamp that shines in a dark place UNTIL the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts." Physically, the morning star appears when the night is almost over, shortly before the new day breaks. Remember that it is always DARKEST before sunrise! How should we understand this symbolic language? The night has been almost 2,000 years long and the earth is becoming an ever-darker place. Shortly before the day breaks, the Church will be "taken away" Harpazo "snatched away" as the Rapture happens - "in the twinkling of the eye" to be with the Lord forever. Then 7-Year Tribulation period and the blessing of the 1,000-Year Messianic Kingdom will commence shortly after the Lord’s Return to earth in His Second Coming.

Do you recall what it was that led the "Wise Men" of the East to Yeshua (Jesus) to Bethlehem?  It was a STAR! 

Why would the Lord refer to Himself as… "The Bright and Morning Star…?" In Revelation 22:16, we have one of the most interesting names of Christ …as Yeshua (Jesus) calls Himself, "the BRIGHT "and morning star."  This was to FULFILL a Prophecy, given all the way back in the Old Testament by the prophet Balaam, who said; "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star will come out of Jacob; a sceptre will rise out of Israel." - Numbers 24:17. He did NOT refer to himself "as a star."  Instead, He called Himself, "The Bright Morning Star!"  The wise men used a star as "a point of reference!" They were trying to find a certain place and a certain person! For thousands of years, mariners and travellers have used the STARS as a guide and as "a point of reference" …and Yeshua wanted us to understand that "He is our point of reference!" Perhaps that is another point our Lord was trying to make.  He is NOT just a star among many stars …He is unique and there is NO one else like Him! Yeshua (Jesus) took this title upon Himself, being called "THE Bright Morning Star," just as He took the title of "Son of man" later in His incarnation …and as the "last Adam" (1 Corinthians 15:45). Many names unperfected by man are applied to Yeshua (Jesus) as He fulfilled the roles and offices of Prophet, Priest and King perfectly! Yeshua unmistakably identifies Himself as "THE Bright Morning Star!

God asks Job, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it. To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" - Job 38:4-6. This could not mean Adam who had NO sons until after he sinned. This was when the foundations of the earth were being laid, before Adam was made on the 6^th-day of Creation. The Angels were together, united as sons of God before a division occurred through the fall of a certain Cherub. So, we see here that the "Morning Stars" are a group and they are also called "sons of God."

The word "Morning Stars" (plural) is found only once in the Old Testament and is plural in Job 38:7. The Hebrew word here for morning is "boker" or "dawn stars" - they are symbolized as when the Angels were together in unity. We see this symbolically used when Satan states; "I will exalt my throne above the stars of God." Satan’s goal was to become the authority over all the Angels in Heaven, something reserved only for God. What we have is both the symbolic usage of Angels (morning stars) and what God calls them, sons of God. In Job 1; 2:1 these Angels include Satan. When the word "star" is used symbolically, it is for "Angels" (Job 38:7; Revelation 1:20; 9:1; 12:4. with Numbers 24:17 as an exception). We see this same type of symbolism in few places in the New Testament saying the same thing; showing the "stars" of heaven are symbolic of Angels (Mark 13:25; Revelation 6:13; 12:4).

The "stars" in the Scripture also refer to individual believers or Angels... In Revelation 1:20 STARS symbolize Pastors (believers), "…the seven stars are the messengers of the seven churches." The descendants of Abraham, the Jewish people, are referred to as stars (Genesis 15:5; 22:17; 26:4) and our Lord Yeshua (Jesus) came through this genealogy and was born a Jew, lived and circumcised in Jewish custom, and died on the Cross as the; "King of the Jews!" Though Christ died for ALL of us …He did not deny his genealogy or His Jewishness.  The brothers of Joseph are symbolized by stars (Genesis 37:9-11) … Joseph, Jacob’s son had a dream in which the sun, moon and stars bowed to him and when Joseph tells his dream to his family, they have no trouble interpreting it and so Jacob rebukes Joseph; "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground to worship you?" The "sun" represented Jacob - the father of the Nation of Israel. The "moon" represented Joseph’s mother Rachel and the "stars" represented Joseph’s eleven brothers …and hence the other eleven Tribes of Israel. The Sun, Moon and Stars bowed to Joseph because he was "a symbolic type of Christ."

The Moon is used for counting Months… God made the Moon for the seasons (Psalm 104:19). The Moon has NO "light" of its own …but reflects the light of the Sun. From it we learn about "reflected glory!" Jacob knew this and when he interpreted Joseph's dream in Genesis 37:9-10, he noted that the Moon symbolizes the right Woman, who reflects the glory of her right Man. In Psalm 89:36-37 the Davidic Covenant is portrayed with Yeshua (Jesus Christ) as the Sun (Son) who will rule on the Throne of David in the 1,000-Year Millennium …and the people of Israel is portrayed as the Moon and a great SIGN appeared in heaven; "a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars" - Revelation 12:1. In the symbolism of Revelation, the woman who is identified with the Moon and reflecting the light of the Sun is the people of Israel. The twelve stars represent the twelve tribes of Israel. Thus, the Moon symbolizes the people of Israel in relation to the Lord …and by analogy it refers to the Church in relation to Christ (1 Corinthians 15:41).

As with Joseph every knee shall bow to Yeshua (Jesus) and every tongue confess that He is Lord! A "Star" shall come forth from Jacob, and a "Sceptre" shall raise from Israel. - Numbers 24:17. When Yeshua (Jesus) came the FIRST time - born of a virgin, and went to the cross for ALL our sakes (Jew and Gentile), He came as the incarnation of Christ, the Saviour. Christ WILL return again for the Church (the Rapture) …and a SECOND time to deliver Israel at the end of the Tribulation to set up His Millennial Kingdom.

In Revelation 12:4 one-third of the stars of heaven which fall to earth represent the "FALLEN angels." In Isaiah 14:12 Satan is symbolized as the "star of the morning" because he FALSELY represents Yeshua (Jesus Christ) who is the TRUE "Bright and Morning Star." However, it is interesting to note that the concept of the "morning star" is not the only concept that is applied to both Yeshua (Jesus) and Satan. In Revelation 5:5, Yeshua is referred to as the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" and in 1 Peter 5:8, Satan is compared to "a lion, seeking someone to devour!" The point is this …though both Yeshua (Jesus) and Satan, to a certain extent, have similarities to lions... Yeshua is similar to a lion in that He is "The King - He is Royal and Majestic." Satan is similar to a lion in that he seeks to devour other creatures; to kill, steal and destroy. That is where the similarities of lion’s end! Satan is and does everything counterfeit!

Did you know that Planets have NO light of their own - but reflect the light of the Sun? So, as the Sun shines on the planets they reflect God’s glory and each one reveals a different aspect of the person and work of Christ! Through the planets we have ‘monuments’ to Yeshua (Jesus Christ) – our Lord, that GLORIFY the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. We can't see the Earth as we have to go into outer space in order to view it as a planet. The Earth is the focus of the angelic conflict and this is where it is all happening!

As Shakespeare once said; "All the world's a stage and all men and women merely players!"

So, what is "the Morning Star…? In Biblical times and in early astronomy the "Morning Star" was the "BRIGHTEST star" that a person saw in the sky and appeared just before daylight …but today we know that this "bright morning star" …is actually not a star at all but instead, it is the planet Venus as it appears before sunrise in the western sky.  Many still refer to it as "the morning star!

Venus is unique among the planets of our solar system…  It is NOT the closest planet to our sun yet it is the hottest.  BUT there is something even more unique about this planet!  If we could somehow look down on all of the planets in our solar system from above, they would all be turning in "a counter clock wise" direction, that is ALL of them EXCEPT Venus which turns in "a clock wise" position. Yeshua (Jesus) is unique!  There is NO one else like him. He is the only one who can be our true "point of reference." What does the "morning star" do day after day…? We know that as Venus arises in the WESTERN sky around 4:00 am, soon the birds will begin to sing! Shortly after that, in the EASTERN sky, the sun will begin to rise! The "bright morning star" - represents the promise of a NEW day and it indicates that something better is coming...! Today we live in a dangerous, dark world and many have lost hope, BUT on the horizon, we see "the bright morning star" and it tells us that something better is coming …that our Lord and Saviour will SOON come again!

Ship navigators can calculate the exact time of the day when Venus should rise above the horizon, and also in what direction they should look to see Venus… That is very nice, because then the ship’s compass can be compared and adjusted, so that the ship can sail a true and correct course and that it WILL reach its destination. When Venus rises it shines beautifully. This is caused by the atmosphere which breaks the light of Venus into many different colours, just like the rainbow. This only happens when Venus is still very low in the skies, and shines very brightly and very white. And of course, it should be very dark, because in the light of the rising sun this phenomenon cannot be seen. Once the "time of rise" has been calculated the navigator sharply watches the Eastern sky: there the "Morningstar" MUST rise. He waits and waits: any moment now! And suddenly: there is Venus! So, even if you know when and where Venus should appear, it still takes time and you must wait till it really is visible. And with great joy you can see the beauty of … "the Morningstar."

What does the "Morning Star" do? It is the announcer of the "rising sun" and heralds "the dawn" …

(1) The morning star is a very solid light. Yeshua (Jesus) is the same yesterday, today and forever; "I am the Lord, and I change not." - Hebrews 13:8 (Also, Malachi 3:6).

(2) Here is the greatest truth… as "Morning star" - it speaks about the secret coming of the Lord for His Church in the "Rapture" which is the harbinger of His "open coming" which is the "Second Coming" (Malachi 4:2; Psalm 49:14; Romans 13:11-12; Proverbs 4:18).

3. The "Morning Star" is a great ornament and beauty to the heavens. Who is the object of worship and beauty in the heavens…? Yeshua (Jesus) is the fairest of ten thousand, - "the Rose of Sharon" and "the Lilly of the Valley." "Who is worthy to open the book and break the seals thereof?" Revelation 5:2, Our Lord is worthy of ALL praise; "I will call on the Lord who is worthy to be praised." - 2 Samuel 22:4.

4. The "Morning Star" is called; "the STAR of the first Magnitude" with respect to its BRIGHTNESS. And, who is the one who rose first from the dead…? Acts 26:23; Hebrews 1:3; Ephesians 4:9.

5. The "Morning Star" is said to cause gentle storms in winter and moderate heat in the summer.

6. The "Morning Star" is also known as the "Evening Star." So, the same star is the "beginner and the end of the day" – "Aleph and Tav" – "Alpha and Omega" - the "First and the Last" and the "Author and Finisher of our faith." Revelation 1:8: Hebrews 12:2.

The Hebrew word for "sons of God" is "bene Elohim"" and in the Old Testament is used in a plural manner and refers to "Angels." Men are not called "sons of God" until the New Testament when the Holy Spirit resides in them. One becomes a "son of God" children in His Spiritual family (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1,10; 5:10) only by being born again and by His Holy Spirit living within us. We are adopted becoming part of a family of believers. Galatians 3:26-27, "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus" (and Romans 8:14,19; Luke 20:36). The word "son" in this respect relates to possession or that one thing belongs to another.

The idea of a "BRIGHT Morning Star" is a STAR that outshines ALL the others! Satan, a created being was perhaps the most beautiful creation of God and probably the most powerful of all the Angels and "a" (singular) "morning star." Yeshua (Jesus) as God incarnate, the Lord of the universe, is "THE Bright and Morning Star" …and is the most Holy and powerful "Light" in all the universe. So, while both Yeshua (Jesus) and Satan was described as "morning stars," in NO way is this equating them. Satan is a created being and his light only exists to the extent that God created it. Yeshua (Jesus) is THE light of the world (John 9:5). Only Yeshua’s light is self-existent. Satan may have been "a" morning star - but he is only a poor imitation …and so there is only One true BRIGHT Morning Star - Yeshua (Jesus Christ) who is the Light of the World!" "All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it," - John 1:3-5.

With Yeshua (Jesus), the concept of "THE Morning Star" is used to also note His Greatness! This is clear from the other title used of Him in; "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright Morningstar. The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’" - Revelations 22:16-17 Of great importance is the fact that Yeshua is noted as "the bright morning star!" His greatness is far above all others. Satan could NOT cause Yeshua to sin (Matthew 4:1-11) and could NOT stop His plans …NOR defeat Him through death. Satan will ultimately be defeated by Yeshua (Jesus) …and cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10).

When Christ promises that He will give the "morning star" to His faithful ones - He "promises that He will give to them Himself …and, that He will impart to them His own glory …and a share in His own Royal dominion; for the Star is evermore the symbol of Royalty (Matthew 2:2), being therefore linked with the "SCEPTRE" (Numbers 24:17). ALL the glory of the world will soon END in become the Glory of the God Himself." For the people of the world (and for Israel) - Yeshua Ha’Mashiach (Jesus Christ - the Messiah) is the Root and the Offspring of David and we must expect Him to come SOON …and He will reign as "King over all Earth." This we can read in Isaiah 11 …where the 1,000-Year - "Kingdom" is described. As believers in Yeshua (Jesus) we expect our Bridegroom will soon come to those Yeshua" calls Himself… "THE Bright and Morningstar!" And, there are several analogies between "the Morningstar" described about the "snatching away" or "Rapture" - Coming of the Messiah for the believers - the "signs of time" clearly show us that the Lord can come at any moment to gather His Church of TRUE believers so that they WILL always be with Him. But, the exact time only the FATHER knows. And, indeed, we can expect Him at any moment but yet His arrival WILL be SUDDENLY!

Many ask will that happen? Is it possible to know a little bit more about the "when?" We saw that Venus must rise before it is getting light and when it is at its darkest! likewise, Yeshua (Jesus) shall come to gather His Bride, when for us it is still dark as night. Spiritually, as the darker it gets in this world with sin and lawlessness increasing, the closer our Lord’s arrival is at hand! We see that "dawn" is important and learned that "the bright Morningstar" appears just before daybreak when it’s at the darkest. The Bible gives us examples and parallels about what happens at dawn; in Genesis 19:15 and onwards we read that Lot is taken from Sodom at dawn, after that the judgement over Sodom is executed. In Joshua 6:15 we read that Israel had to go around Jericho seven times after dawn and then the walls of Jericho collapsed and the town is taken. In Jonah 4:7 we see that God sends a worm at daybreak, causing the miracle tree to die! So, we see dark is first and then "Judgement" takes place just after daybreak.

Thus, the name, "Bright Morningstar" implies that Yeshua (Jesus) arrives to gather His believers before dawn and before the judgment is executed. This means that the believers are gathered by Him before the great darkness of the great "Tribulation" begins …and just above the horizon as Venus is not visible at the horizon …but just above it! When Venus is just visible it casts a narrow, clear silvery path on the water, in which the sea can be beautifully observed. Even seabirds can be spotted. Outside this path-of-light it is very dark and the sea is almost invisible. Again, we see that in Yeshua our "Bright Morningstar!" And, therefore we read in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 that; "we shall be caught up .and meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:19 to invite the "Morningstar to shine in our heart" and then our heart is filled with Yeshua (Jesus) as we look forward to our Lord’s soon Coming…. Peter encourages us to expect the Coming of the Lord and to STUDY the Prophecies of the Bible so that God’s "true light" shines on our path! Just like a ship’s compass has even a small error, after a long trip over the ocean the ship will NOT arrive at its destination and many ships have experienced that! In the same way, there are MANY things facing believers …and what a relief that again and again we can "look upwards" to Christ and tune "the compass of our live" so that we do not shipwreck!

"Dim stars" cannot be seen with the naked eye, but when it is very dark, we can see these "dim stars" that are NOT visible under other conditions. It is DARKEST just before dawn and it is then that we can see the maximum number of stars in the skies. Therefore, we look for "the BRIGHT Morningstar" in the middle of the ocean, where we are NOT hampering the light. Likewise, we are as "bright stars" in a dark world. The darker it gets, the more our light shines. Even from the smallest candles! God bless you always!

God’s Word is true! He IS watching to see how the nations are treating His people – Israel. God will have mercy on Israel through Gentile believers acting as mediators towards them! This is one of the most amazing revelations ever given to the Church – an opportunity to do something that carries the highest priority in the heart of God. Yet, sadly, so few have seen the potential and the rewards of serving God in this manner - as agents of mercy to Israel and the Jewish people! Israel was and still is despised today and a despised nation continually turning away from God BUT nothing ever altered the purpose of God for that nation. The despised element is always a noticeable element in the purpose of God. When the Saviour of the world came, He came of that despised nation; like Israel… He Himself was; "despised and rejected by men," …and there is that despised element; "…things that are despised God has chosen," 1 Corinthians 1:28. Now, more than at any time is the time to support Israel and the Jewish people - the Lord’s Brethren! We are witnessing the nations and people turning their backs on Israel. Thank you for your prayers and generous financial support especially during these very difficult times. With "lockdown" and difficult "recovery" still lying ahead we ARE reminded that the Wuhan Corona Virus has caused many dire needs and continue to increase here in Israel upon the already most vulnerable! Once again – Thank you!

We hope that you enjoy and become more informed by our work. We serve an awesome God and we are humbled by this opportunity to bring you this information. With Shalom to you and your family always,

Alf & Julie Saunders

01^st January, 2023

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