Rabbi Judah Ben Samuel was a respected and renowned German rabbi who lived in the 12th Century. He was also known as He-Hasid, or “The Pious” in English. This prolific rabbi made an astonishing prediction before his death in 1217, about the coming of the Messiah, so his prophecy will be 800 years old this coming year, 2017. Rabbi Judah Ben Samuel prophesied:

“When the Ottoman (Turks) conquer Jerusalem (which they did in 1517, 300 years after his prophecy), they will rule over Jerusalem for eight jubilees (400 years [Jubilee years are celebrated every 50 years], and they did exactly that, ruling Jerusalem through 1917). Afterwards, Jerusalem will become a no-man’s land for one Jubilee, and then in the ninth Jubilee, it will once again come back into the possession of the Jewish nation (which is exactly what happened, even the strip of land dividing Israel’s West Jerusalem and Jordanian controlled East Jerusalem was referred to as “no man’s land,” until Jerusalem was taken by Israel during the Six Day War in 1967) – which would signify the beginning of the Messianic end time.”

Rabbi Ben Samuel was Hassidic, of the Chassidei, different than the Kabbalistic rabbis involved in mysticism. The Chassids placed strong emphasis on holiness and prayer. To this sect of Judaism, I believe God’s mercy was extended, because of their faith and their earnest endeavors to live righteous. It was never said that Rabbi Judah Ben Samuel professed faith in Yehoshua/Jesus, and like many Orthodox Jews, he likely never read the New Testament scriptures, but simply had heard about the Messiah of the Christians. Albeit, God was obviously merciful to him, in granting him great knowledge and wisdom in God’s ways and prophecy. If Rabbi Ben Samuel died in the faith, the only faith he knew, I believe Yehoshua/Jesus revealed Himself to him before he left this world. We are, after all, living in the dispensation of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24). God promised He will turn again to the Jews during Jacob’s Trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), during the seven years of Tribulation. That being said, no one can deny that, so far, Rabbi Judah Ben Samuel’s prophecies have all been fulfilled, based on the Jubilee cycles and astrology, which heavenly signs God has graciously endowed to the Jews to understand from ancient times. The Word of God tells us, “And the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, the heads of them were two hundred and all their brethren were at their commandment” 1 Chronicles 12:32. These sons of Israel were gifted to understand seasons, astrology and Gematria, and they were able to discern signs and seasons, which provided prophetic insight. Rabbi Judah Ben Samuel wrote the Sefer Hasidim (Book of the Pious), Sefer Gematriyot (Book of astrology) and Sefer Hakavod (Book of Glory), the latter of which is now lost and only a few quotations remain in various writings. Astrology, as given to the Jews by God, has been hijacked by the devil; thus astrology, as we see it in society today, is not at all like the knowledge God gave to the Children of Israel for signs and seasons. The “Blood Moon” signs that occurred during the lunar and solar eclipses, exactly on Israel’s feast days, such as we witnessed in 2014-15, are the types of signs God gives before major prophetic events, which I have covered in a previous newsletter. (If you missed that newsletter outlining these phenomenal events, you can read it at: http://propheticnewsletter.yolasite.com/news/the-coming-eclipses-on-israel-s-feast-days.)

It is interesting that Jesus said, “Of that day and that hour (His return) knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father (only)” Mark 13:32. Jesus said no one, not even Himself (He allows Himself not to know), knows the day and hour of His return, except God the Father. He never said we couldn’t come to an understanding of what year He will return. Next month, God willing, I will share a prophetic dream and vision God gave me in 2010, which also aligns with Rabbi Judah Ben Samuel’s prophecies. In the meantime, stay ready and watching, because the Lord’s return is near! God bless you.