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America in Prophecy: Black Bride (US Civil War)

Gustave Moreau

Statue of Liberty Shulamite

INTRODUCTION

Song of Songs of Solomon is prophetic of America in the Civil War period: the Shulamite is prophetic of
Black slaves and the Beloved is prophetic of President Abraham Lincoln who was devoted to them.

The US Civil war was 1861-1865. Chapter 1 of Songs of Songs is the 1861st book of the Bible. 1

This prophetic connection is personified by the Statue of Liberty. She is a woman in a robe carrying
aloft a torch. With her other arm she embraces a Book of Law. She is the Shulamite:

“By night on my bed I sought the one I love…I will rise now and go about the city, in the
streets and in the squares.” (Songs 3 v 1-2)

The Statue of Liberty is a woman in her night robes: lifting high a torch to guide her as she makes her
search. At the back of the monument her right foot is off the ground: she is indeed walking about.

Who is the ‘One I love’ she seeks? In her arm she embraces a Law. President Lincoln was the law
maker she sought. Lincoln is gone, but his law remains: Emancipation Proclamation (1862) declaring:

“All persons as slaves within any state… shall be… forever free”

Gustave Moreau deplicts the Shulamite (see above) as a radiant beauty: but white skinned. Although
‘dark’ (Songs 1 v 5) the Shulamite in the eyes of Lincoln and the Law was as unblemished as any White.

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Adam and Eve

BIBLICAL TYPOLOGY: A MAN DESIRES A WOMAN

Adam is described in the Bible as the Ruler. God said ‘Let us make man in our image… let them have
dominion over the fish… the birds… the cattle… and over every creeping thing.’ (Genesis 1 v 26)

The Garden belonged to God. But ‘it is not good for Adam to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for
him.’ (Genesis 2 v 18). Eve is therefore typical of the People who are loyal to Adam as their ruler.

But you ask ‘How can a poem of mutual attraction between two lovers prophetically describe the
scenes of carnage we know as the US Civil War?’

God gave Eve to Adam. No struggle was required there. But what if Adam desired a wife and God
would not give him one? Or what if Adam had a wife but wanted another one? Then Adam must take
a woman away from another by force, by seduction or by negotiation.

Alexander the Great (Mosaic)

Look at one of history’s most notorious war lords: Alexander the Great. He waged war all over the
ancient world and Hellenized the new lands, i.e. made them a wife ‘suitable for him’. By the one verse
equals one year method2, counting history backwards from 1 AD, the conquests of Alexander begin
with: Proverbs 31v10 ‘Who can find a virtuous wife?’ [336 BC Philip becomes president of League of
Corinth] Proverbs 31v11 ‘Her husband…’ [335 BC Philip is assassinated; Alexander becomes president].

The US Civil War was a struggle between USA and CSA over dominion of the Garden. The issue in
dispute was slavery. The President desired to replace slavery with citizenship: to woe a black bride
with love. The problem was the Blacks were the legal property of another owner. That meant war.

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SHULAMITE: BLACK SLAVE ON A PLANTATION

Song of Songs makes the identity of Shulamite perfectly clear in chapter 1:

“I am dark… like the tents of Kedar” (i.e. pitch black: tents of Kedar are made of goat hair)

“I am dark because the sun has tanned me” (laborer: outside under the hot sun)

“They made me keeper of the vineyards” (agricultural: on large single crop plots)

“But my own vineyard I have not kept” (landless: working on land owned by the master)

“Why should I be one who veils herself?” (marginalized: banned from wider society)

“feed your little goats beside the Shepherds’ tents” (black church: rich in faith in God)

“my filly among Pharaoh’s chariots” (ethnic origin: African) (human potential: work horse)

“but lovely” (vivacious and high spirited: famous for music, dancing, and joy of life)

“you have dove’s eyes” (amorous: love and affection for her lover, her nation, her leader)

“we will make you ornaments of gold” (human potential: unlimited social advancement)

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1861: SOUTHERN SECESSION

Song of Songs Chapter 1: “Draw me away!” (v.4) Southern states with slaves [Shulamite] secede

“We will run after you!” (v.4b) Union states [Daughters] put up a fight

It is important when interpreting prophecy and Song of Songs to correctly understand the typology:

Shulamite: Black Slaves

Jerusalem: Capital City of the Nation [Washington DC]

Daughters of Jerusalem: States loyal to Washington, DC [Union]

Virgins: Territories in West not yet organized as states

My Beloved: President of Nation [1861: Abraham Lincoln]

King: Under war powers, president takes absolute control

His Chambers: Cabinet, Executive Branch of Government, White House

Garden: Southern states: rural, agrarian, disdain central authority

Abraham Lincoln: “Your name is ointment poured forth”: popular president

“kisses of his mouth”: gifted public speaker

“the virgins love you”: Western territories lean to Lincoln’s ideals

“Song of Songs”: writer of speeches of transcendent quality and clarity

“...which is Solomon”: famously wise

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Lincoln’s Log Cabin (Spencer County, Kentucky)

Song of Songs Chapter 1: “The King has brought me into his chambers” (v.4)

“Tell me.. where you feed your flock, where you make it rest…” (v.7)

“Behold you are handsome My Beloved! Also our bed is green” (v.16)

“The beams of our houses are cedar, our rafters fir” (v.17)

Why did Abraham Lincoln have such sympathy for Black slaves?

“Our bed”: Lincoln was a homegrown Southerner; born in a slave state.

He was familiar with the white slave-owner culture and notorious
mistreatment of slaves. Later, the family moved to Indiana, a free state.

“The beams of our house”: Lincoln understood rural poverty firsthand

(See log cabin above). His parents were homesteaders. Work was
relentless and the quality of life was barest subsistence.

“feed your flock”: Lincoln’s parents were separate Baptists. Lincoln sat
before teachers who upheld the authority of Scripture in all things. He
would have heard of the love of Jesus for the world and the sinful
condition of all men, whether they are born to privilege or to penury.

As such, Lincoln would have felt a natural kinship with Blacks. They
shared the same birthplace, life struggle, and faith in a loving God.

(Not all Whites hate Blacks. To the contrary, when white folk get to know
them they often delight in them. Although it took time America
eventually embraced Blacks as found treasure: musicians, athletes,
preachers, comedians, politicians, and even a president!)

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1862: UNION ARMIES ADVANCE, FORCE BATTLES

Songs of Songs Chapter 2: “Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines”

“for the vines have tender grapes” (v.15)

‘foxes’: Confederate battle flag was red with a touch of white and black

Confederate generals were cunning, resourceful, and audacious

‘catch us the foxes’: corner them, force them to fight

‘little foxes’: Confederate forces were consistently over-matched in manpower

‘spoil the vines’: Confederate victories: Union has nothing to celebrate: i.e. to drink to

‘tender grapes’: harvest of nation’s manhood taken at early age, in prime of youth

war time: “I charge you daughters of Jerusalem: don’t stir up nor awaken love” (v.7)

Union army marches South: “His left hand is under my head” [As Abe looks South, left is East]

Stonewall Jackson’s Valley Campaign defeats two invading Union armies

McClellan’s army attacks Richmond, Virginia: capital (head) of the South

Lee, Longstreet, Jackson defeat McClellan, force him to retreat

Confederates march North: Lee crosses into Maryland: wins Battle of Antietam but after he retreats.

Union army in West: “His right hand embraces me” [As Abe looks South, right is West]

Union armies drive South. Confederates face hostilities on two fronts.

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1862: EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION

Song of Songs Chapter 2: “He brought me to his banqueting house

And his banner over me was love.” (v4)

“My beloved spoke and said to me: Rise up, my love…

and come away” (v.10)

“For lo. The winter is past. The rain is over and gone. Flowers

appear in our land at last. The season for singing has come.”(v.11)

At his inauguration, January 1st, 1861 President Lincoln declared “I have no purpose, directly or
indirectly to interfere with the institution of slavery in the United States where it exists.” However, in
1862 Lincoln made emancipation of slaves a war goal by executive order under his war powers: “all
persons held as slaves within any State… in rebellion against the United States shall be… forever free”

Lincoln’s aim was to expedite the war’s successful conclusion. The Proclamation was "a fit and
necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion". If there were a general slave uprising this
might distract the South or even destroy the South’s ability to sustain its war mobilization.

Initially the proclamation had little consequence. But as the Union armies advanced more slaves were
freed until by the war’s conclusion all 3.9 million slaves in the South were freed.

The legal status of the freed slaves was unresolved: they had no citizenship and no civil rights under US
law. However, in a war of opposing ideals the Proclamation established an important moral principle.

Song of Songs basks in the irony of good news washing over the souls of millions of slaves. In the midst
of ferocious warfare Scripture effuses: “flowers appear… at last” and “the season of singing has come”.

But that was politician speak. US Supreme Court in Dred Scott had confirmed Blacks had no rights as
citizens. Freed slaves remained in legal limbo: they possessed no civil rights and no citizenship.

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1863: UNION ADVANCES VICTORIOUSLY IN WEST

Song of Songs Chapter 3: “Who is this coming out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke?”(v.6)

Behold it is Solomon’s couch with sixty valiant men all around it” (v.7)

They all hold swords, expert in war.” (v.8)

1863 was marked by the historic battle of Gettysburg in the East. Over a multiple day battle the Union
held its ground against a Confederate army led by Lee. However, the Union did not pursue Lee in his
retreat nor did the Union strip any territory away in the East.

It was in the West, figuratively ‘the wilderness’ where the Union made great advances. As the map
above shows, by the end of 1863 the entire Mississippi valley was under Union control.

‘Like pillars of smoke’: the Union successfully besieged Vicksburg, a linchpin fortification overlooking
the Mississippi River. This severed the Confederacy into two and severely restricted movements.

‘Solomon’s couch’: Lincoln now was a veritable war lord at the head of a massive army and navy.

‘Sixty valiant men holding swords, expert in war’: Lincoln finally identified generals with the prowess
to match up to the Confederate field marshals. Most notably Grant distinguished himself in battles in
the West. The entire Union army and navy was now formidable in size, skill, and spirit.

“I brought him into the house of my mother” (v.4). The Union was now firmly established in the lands
of the South. With each Union advance slaves were being set free. Hopes of a marital union were
rising: introduction of the groom to the mother of the bride being a precursor to formal engagement.

“He made its pillars silver, its supports gold”: Lincoln won the war because the North was rich. “Its seat
purple”: Democracy was out the window - Lincoln was ruling America like an Emperor.

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Burning of Atlanta

1864: UNION DECLARES TOTAL WAR

Song of Songs chapter 4: “Your neck is like the tower of David. Built for an armory on which hang a
thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.” (v.4)

“Your neck”: The South is reduced from its prior vast domain to a narrow
portion of its former lands. “Like the tower of David”: Avoiding pitched
field battles the Confederates are hunkered down in trenches and
defending reinforced strong points. “All shields”: strategy of defense.

“Look with me from the top of Amana… Senir and Hermon… from the lion’s dens…” (v.8)

The Confederacy loses a number of its mountain tops: its most impressive
cities and fortresses. They also lose numerous generals and troops. (NB
The Bible places named were famous for shrines to false gods.)

“A Garden enclosed is my sister, my bride. A spring shut up. A fountain sealed.” (v.12)

“Garden enclosed”: Scott’s Anaconda Plan of blockading the South.

“Spring shut up”: morale and supply of CSA troops faltering.
“Fountain sealed”: capital of Richmond besieged.

“Awake, O North and come O South. Blow on my Garden.” (v.16a)

“North and… South”: Amazing! The Bible names the sides in the conflict!
“Blow on my Garden”: All battles by 1864 are in the lands of the South.

“Let my Beloved come to his Garden and eat its pleasant fruits.” (v.16b)

“Eat its pleasant fruits”: In 1864 it became the Union’s stated war goal to
use scorched earth to ravage farms and homesteads: General Sheridan in
the Shenandoah Valley and General Sherman in his ‘March to the Sea’.

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Appomattox (Lee & Grant)

1865: Confederates Surrender: War is Over

Song of Songs Chapter 5: “I have come into my Garden, my sister, my bride.” (v.1)

Southern states completely occupied by North.

“I have eaten my honeycomb with honey. I have drunk my wine…” (v.1)

War is over: Jubilation and celebration in the North.

“My Beloved put his hand by the latch of the door… and I yearned for
him… I opened for my Beloved.” (v.4-6)

Lincoln had the bride he desired: Black slaves opened their hearts to him.

1865: Lincoln Assassinated by John Booth

“But my Beloved had turned away and was gone. I sought him but I could
not find him. I called him but he gave me no answer.”

The marriage was unconsummated. Southern Black slaves never had a

chance to personally see Lincoln or to express gratitude to him.

“My head is covered with dew… My locks with the drops of the night.”

Lincoln was shot at night in the head. It was so early in the new ‘day’ of
peace in America, poetically: the dew had not yet risen on it.

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US Congress passes 13th A.

1865: 13th Amendment to US Constitution

Song of Songs Chapter 5: “I have taken off my robe, how can I put in on again?”

January 31st, 1865 Congress passed an amendment to the US Constitution

which made slavery illegal. The Senate ratified the vote on April 8, 1865.
The war ended April 9, 1865. Since the law was passed during hostilities,
no representatives from the South were able to vote.

Behold Solomon!

“My Beloved is white and ruddy. His head is like the finest gold. His locks
are wavy and black as a raven… his legs are pillars of marble… ” (v.10-16)

Lincoln was instantly elevated to status of legendary figure in US history.

His statute resides in Washington DC. It is made of marble. Carved
panels on the walls feature Cypress trees: he abides in Lebanon forever.

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Lynchings of Blacks in the South (continue after war)

Song of Songs Chapter 5: “The watchmen who went about the city found me. They struck me, they
wounded me. The keepers of the walls took my veil away from me.” (v.7)

The war had given the Black slaves freedom. The 13th Amendment had
given the freed Blacks immunity from re-entering slavery.

But the war had not eliminated racism and abuse of Blacks in America.

In fact, abuse of Blacks was perpetuated in the civil laws of the South
after the war: segregation of Blacks and Whites. The law keepers, the
police, the ‘city watchmen’ were tasked with enforcing systematic
discrimination against Blacks even for a long time after the war.

Over 150 years after the end of the US Civil War, Americans are still
shocked by police brutality against Blacks. Understand that for a hundred
years prior to the US Civil War the leaders and law keepers in the South
were soaked with racism and systemic discrimination. Abuse of Blacks
had become a moral imperative, vindicated in law, for was it deeply
rooted in the soul of Southern White culture. It did not instantly
evaporate when the war ended. It persists to this day in the rural South.

“If you find My Beloved tell him I am lovesick for him” (v.8)

In spite of all this, as Lincoln corrected estimated, Blacks came to love

their country, honor the President, and be hopeful of the future. Their
patience under persecution and long delay in the arrival of Solomon’s
promise of joy in the Garden is remarkable. Truly Shulamite is a lovely
Bride! Worthy of fighting a war to marry.

“My dove” (v.2) Blacks rarely never risen up in violent mass rebellion.

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Prophecy of the Sixty Valiant Warriors

Song of Songs Chapter 3: “Behold it is Solomon’s couch with sixty valiant men around it.” (v.7)

“They all hold swords, being expert in war. Every man has his sword on
his side.” (v.8)

Whenever a number is written directly in Scripture, the Author takes

immediate notice. These always point to important future events. The
student of Bible numbers will recognize the number 7 means ‘Sword’.
‘Every man has his sword’. So, 60 men times 7 equals 420. What
happens 60 swords, or sevens, after 1863 (Songs 3)? [60 x 7 = 420]

March 4, 1865 Lincoln made his second inaugural address: 428 days after
1863. He said the war was punishment from God on America for abusing
slaves. The war was permitted to go on “until every drop of blood drawn
with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword.”

Apparently Lincoln enjoyed divine protection for 420 days after 1863. His
assassin, John Booth had attended the 2nd Inaugural Address. Booth was
highly regarded in Washington society but not known to Lincoln. Secretly
a member of a Southern Loyalist society in Baltimore, Booth loathed
Lincoln’s partiality to Blacks. It is possible his thoughts of murder might
have begun that day. He wrote later he had missed his chance, having
been so close to the President on that occasion.

Amazingly, Lincoln had a premonition of death in a dream. He saw armed

soldiers surrounding a deceased person in the White House. He told this
dream to his personal friend and bodyguard Ward Lamon three days
before he died. (Mr. Lamon was not present at Ford’s Theater.)

‘Solomon’s couch’: indeed, it was the ‘resting place’ of Solomon.

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The Great Migration of Blacks

Song of Songs Chapter 3: “By night on my bed I sought the one I love…. ‘I will rise now, I said, and
go about the city; in the streets and in the squares’… The watchmen who
go about the city found me… scarcely had I passed them by when I found
the one I love.” (v.1-4)

Prior to the US Civil War abolitionist sympathizers, loosely organized,

aided small bands of Blacks in their trek North to Canada.

“By night”: before Emancipation; “on my bed”: in the South; “I sought the
one I love”: a State with freedom for Blacks; “I will rise and go”: long
journey; “about the City”: if the South is the Bed then the North must be
the City. Blacks who migrated ended up in urban centers.

“The watchmen… found me”: prior to 1862 federal marshals and bounty
hunters pursued fugitives as far as the Canada-US border.

“scarcely had I passed them by when I found the one I love”:

Emancipation Proclamation changed the North into a final destination.

Song of Songs Chapter 8: “Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her Beloved?”(v5)

Over almost a century six million Blacks migrated out of the South. In
1910 there were 6,000 Blacks in Detroit. By 1960 there were 120,000. In
1910 32.3% of the South was Black. By 1960 this had fallen to 20.6%.

“Who is this?”: new neighborhoods of Blacks in the North shocked the

Whites: they were seen as strangers; “from the wilderness”: migration
accelerated after the Civil War and again after the Great Depression.
“leaning”: it took decades for Blacks to adapt to their new life.

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1866 Civil Rights Act

Song of Solomon chapter 6: “Where has your Beloved gone? O fairest among women.” (v.1)

“I am my Beloved’s. And my Beloved is mine.” (v.2)

“I went down to the Garden of Nuts… to see if the Vine had budded…
Before I was even aware, My Soul had made me as the chariots of my
noble People.” (v.11)

When Lincoln died in 1865, Vice President Andrew Johnson took the
Presidency. Johnson favored restoration ex ante: slavery legal in the
South same as before the war.

“Where is your Beloved?” The President no longer desired a Black bride.

“My Beloved is mine.” Blacks did not blink. They stayed quiet and loyal.

Congress introduced legislation to give Blacks civil rights exactly the same
as Whites. President Johnson vetoed it. Congress reintroduced the
legislation. With a two thirds majority in both the House and the Senate,
the Bill became Law without Presidential signature.

“I went down to the Garden of Nuts”: It seemed as if Shulamite would be

sent back to the Garden of her misery. “To see if the Vine had budded”:
to await the promise made to her by her [first] Beloved “flowers appear
in our Land at last” would come true. “My Soul”: a new player, not the
President, but the heart and soul of the American people as represented
by their members in Congress. “Had made me”: by the stroke of a pen a
new identity. “As the chariots of my Noble People”: the same legal
standing as any White in the country, even her former slave owners.

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Blessed (Black) Madonna

1866 Blacks Soon to Become a Political Force

Song of Songs chapter 6: “The daughters saw her and called her ‘Blessed’. The Queens and the
Concubines they praised her.” (v.9)

America is not a pure Democracy. It is a Republic. The President is the

Head of State. States are represented by Senators in the Senate. Citizens
are represented by Congressmen in the House.

In 1866 Blacks did not yet have the right to vote. The 1866 Civil Rights
Act did not confer that privilege because it was granted at the state level.

“Daughters”: the states. “Saw her”: recognized her new legal status
under the 1866 Civil Rights Act. “And called her ‘Blessed’”: like Mary the
Mother of Jesus, she herself had no power but she would soon produce a
son who would have power. When the Angel conferred this title upon
Mary it was clear the Promised Son’s appearance was near at hand.

Without a President in place to initiate this program of political change,

we can say in a real sense it was an immaculate conception: the father of
the nation, who had replaced Lincoln, wanted no part in it.

In short order the 14th Amendment of the US constitution (proposed in

1866 and ratified in 1868) granted equal protection under the Law for all
persons. The 15th Amendment (proposed in 1869 and ratified in 1870)
prohibited discrimination in voting rights on the basis of race, color, or
previous condition of servitude.

“Queens”: Foreign Allies of US; “Concubines”: Trade partners of US.

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Son of Abraham: Martin Luther King Jr.

Song of Songs chapter 6: “Who is this who appears as the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the
sun, majestic as the stars in procession?” (v.10)

“The dawn”: The 1866 Civil Rights Act was the moment the light of social
justice for Blacks began to break upon America. “Fair as the moon”: early
pioneers in the social justice protest movement included women like
Rosa Parks. Some time passed until “bright as the sun”: men of
leadership and insight like Mr. King appeared and coaxed the American
conscience further down the path of equality and fraternity.

Mr. King was not alone but part of a movement of non-violent protest.
“Stars”: King was only one of the featured speakers; “In procession”: in
the 1963 March on Washington (picture above). On that occasion he
gave his memorable speech ‘I had a dream’ in which he foresaw a future
for America without the strain of hatred between the races.

STATUE OF LIBERTY

As of this writing the abuse of Blacks at the hands of police and

authorities continues ad nauseam. However, the spirit of the Shulamite
has not departed America. In 2020 the Black Lives Matter movement
organized marches of peaceful protest across America. Legislators in
Washington and in the States have committed to reforming the justice
system. Most crucially the Black vote in the 2020 election was decisive in
selecting a new President who believes in equal rights for all Americans.

“I will get up now and go about the City, through its streets and squares; I
will search for the one my heart loves.” (Songs 3 v 2)

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FINAL NOTES:

We conclude our study of Song of Songs here. We haven’t included Songs 7 or Songs 8.

Songs 7 is the year 1867, which was the birth year of Canada. A nation devoted to social democracy.

Songs 8 is the year 1868, which was the year of the ratification of the 14th Amendment.

Most important to note, Songs 6 v 9 corresponds to 8 BC by counting one-verse one-year backwards.

The Author has demonstrated in other writings (see site) that 8 BC was the Annunciation to Mary.

That means Songs 6 v 10 corresponds to 7 BC, the birth of Jesus Christ.

How appropriate that the lines of prophecy would directly connect Songs to the coming of Messiah?

Black slaves were granted freedom from slavery through the sacrifice of others on battlefields.

All of us are sinners. All of us are in slavery to sin. Only the blood of Messiah can wash away our sin.

Martin Luther was imperfect, his failings are well documented. His death saved no one from hell.

Reader, are you impressed by the prophecy of Songs? Future events are foretold with laser precision.

Jesus said “One wiser than Solomon is here”. Don’t be over-awed by Lincoln or by Mr. King.

Lincoln and King are buried and dead. Jesus was raised from the dead. He reigns on His throne now.

A thousand years before Christ, the Holy Spirit inspired Solomon to write the words of Songs.

These things are written so you when you see Bible prophecy fulfilled you will be in awe of God.

Blessings

servant mark

1 nd
There are 1189 chapters in the Bible. 1861 = 1189 + 672. The 672 book of the Bible is Songs chapter 1
2
For the one verse = one year method, see our paper: ‘Come Away My Love’

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