In 2014, before the new Spiritual Year begins again on Nisan 1 according to the Hillel Calendar, will be the last major Jewish celebration event. Purim! This consists of 3 days: The Fast of Esther, Purim, and Little Purim, from sunsets on 3-14 to 17.
 
  This year is a curious convergence as the Fast of Esther ends, during the Ides of March on 3-15. The Ides of March is an ominous date in both Roman history and World history. On this date, as remembered on the Gregorian Calendar, Julius Caesar was assassinated. (On the Julian Calendar, it will be 13 days later on 3-28-2014. William Frederick has noted this date as a Golden Ratio Watch Date.)
 
   What is symbolic on the Ides of March? This date has long been associated with dark and occult motifs: black magic, omens and portents, cabal, conspiracy, malice aforethought, assassination, disorder, upsetting the status quo, apprehension, fear, panic, and tumult. Remember the somber warning of the soothsayer to Julius Caesar? Beware the Ides of March! It is a very ROMAN themes day. During the 70th Week of Daniel ( a 7 year period of years 484 to 490 completed) will be a revived Roman Empire.
 
   Messiah/Christ solemnly warned that He will come for His own "at a time you think not." On that day of multiple perils, many will be caught unaware of grave danger, be entrapped in the snare for the earth dwellers. Drunkenness, dissipation (carousing), and sleepiness are to be avoided. One is to be sober and watching. "What I say to you I say to all. Watch."
 
   Purim is a time of celebration and merriment. It is also a time of excesses: drunkenness and/or dissipation (carousing). These are debased forms of "the cares of life." Some men of the House of Israel get drunk. Falling down drunk. There is dissipation and sleepiness. These are the themes The Master underscored in His cautionary warnings. Did He intend them as general warnings or date specific for Purim? Perils at Purim?
 
   The nation in the Purim stories in The Book of Esther was Persia. What is Persia called today? Iran. Never forget a very important fact about the President of Iran. He is a former practicing Jew! He would be well aware that many Jewish men in Israel endanger themselves with "the cares of life" on Purim and on Little Purim. Two days of heavy drinking and extreme drunkenness. When their guard is down is a prime time, an optimum time, to take advantage of one's enemies. The world of boxing has a phrase for it. The sucker punch knockout. Beware the snare at Purim?
 
   Haman, in days of old in Persia, avidly plotted to destroy all the Jews there. Beware a New Haman at Purim in 2014? Will the dates of 3-15 (the Ides of March and Purim on the Gregorian Calendar) and/or 3-28 (the Ides of March on the Julian Calendar) be ominous indeed? Time will tell. Come quickly, Lord...
 
With Love and Shalom,
Jean