Last week we went over what the Star of Bethlehem probably was and some events associated with the birth of Yeshua around the Feast of Sukkot. This week I want to go tie all this together and give you the probable scenario relating to that night. Joseph and Mary come to Jerusalem for the festival of Sukkot and stay in nearby Bethlehem to register for the census. They couldn't find a room so they are given shelter in a "sukkah because it was the time of Sukkot and people would have had them built to live in for 7 days." During that night the wise men or "chachamim" arrive in Jerusalem and ask Herod about the newborn King, expecting him to be in Jerusalem. At the same time Mary gives birth. There is an interesting fact here. The Bible never says that he was born in a "stable" but it says that when Yeshua was born, he was "in a manger." Now, the Greek word for "manger" is "phatne" and it means "stall" and it is translated that way in Lk 13.15. Phatne means a "hitching place for livestock." In Gen 33.17 we know that Jacob made stalls for his livestock and called them "sukkot" which is the Hebrew plural for "sukkah." So, both the Hebrew "sukkah" and the Greek "phatne" both mean a place for livestock. So you can say that Yeshua was not in a manger but a "sukkah." At any rate, Mary gives birth and angels appear to the shepherds saying that the Messiah has been born. They make their way to the sukkah where he was while at the same time the wise men are making their way to Bethlehem following the "star" or kivod of God that had been leading them. The shepherds leave Yeshua and go around praising and glorifying the Lord to everyone they came in contact with. At that time someone had compassion on the new mother and child and they were moved into a house. The wise men arrive that night to Bethlehem from Jerusalem,which is only 3 miles away and find him in the house, pay homage and are warned by God to go home another way. Joseph is also warned that night and to flee to Egypt until Herod is dead. While in Egypt, Herod dies soon after this and the couple return to Israel where they stop at the Temple for Mary to go through the ritual purification after the birth of a male child (Lev 12) and to dedicate Yeshua.It is clear that they could not have gone to the Temple while Herod was alive. It is while they are there that they receive the prophecies of Anna and Simeon. When this is done, they return to Galilee. All of this happens within forty days of Yeshua's birth.

Q. What was the "star" of Bethlehem?

A. Many people have speculated as to what this really was. Some say it was a comet, some say a star in conjunction with other stars making it look brighter and on it goes. People go back in history and find when these things could have occurred and come up with all sorts of dates for the birth of Yeshua. Actually, the whole thing is quite simple to explain and the Bible is clear about the the time of year of the birth of Yeshua, and all that is unrelated to the star. So, let's deal with the star first and then discuss the time of year when he was born and the sequence of events that night. The other possibility about the star is that it was not a "star" as we know it at all. The word can be translated as a star but it can mean "radiance" (Alfred Edersheim) and that word in Hebrew is "kivod" and can also mean glory. We know from Num 24.17 that a star would be associated with the birth of Messiah and so it was, but what exactly was it. For one thing, this was not a star as it is known today because this did not act like one and it does not fit the context. For instance, it was seen by the magi only. Herod knew nothing about it (Matt 2.7), it moved and stopped and also reappeared to the magi after their talk with Herod. So, this was no star as we know it. It was a special manifestation of the "kivod (glory)of God and it appeared to the magi and led them to Yeshua. This was not unknown in the Scriptures. The Kivod appeared to the children of Israel in the wilderness and led them to the promised land (Ex 13.21), so this was something that was done before. I can't let this explanation go without covering how all this fits into the birth of Yeshua. This is easy to document and can be done by establishing several things. First, when did Gabriel appear to Zechariah, when did Mary conceive and when did King Herod die. We know Zechariah belonged to the priestly course of Abijah, and they served in the Temple about 10 weeks into the religious year which was approximately late Sivan, close to our June. Elizabeth was in her sixth month ( Lk 1.26-33) when Gabriel appeared to Mary. This would have put the conception around late Kislev, about the time of Chanukah. Counting ahead 9 months you come to the feast of Sukkot, usually our September/October and that is an 8 day festival and that was when Yeshua was born. This can also be established by finding out when Herod died. The Jewish historian Josephus says that Herod committed an act of impiety on the priesthood and became very sick. This was March, 4 B.C. This lasted several months and he finally died in September, 4 B.C. This is important because Yeshua was already born and had fled to Egypt and he did not come back till Herod was dead. We know Yeshua was presented in the Temple 40 days after his birth (Lk 2.22) so Herod had to be dead by then. So, Yeshua was born in the fall of 4 B.C. probably during the feast of Sukkot, fled to Egypt right after his birth. A few weeks later Herod dies and Joseph comes to Jerusalem and the ritual of purification is done (40 days after birth of a boy Num 12.1-8). Next week I will give a quick overview of the birth of Yeshua and the likely sequence of events.

Book of Acts & Interpreting Paul Pt. 5

During the last several weeks, we have been examining the question as to why the Book of Acts and especially the writings of Paul are so hard to understand. We dealt with how the faith departed from the Hebraic understandings to what is being taught today and to really understand the Scriptures we must go back to the Hebrew roots and understandings. I believe we accomplished that and so this week I want to get down to the heart of the matter and this can be found in Leviticus 10. 1-20. This chapter deals with Aaron and his first day as High Priest of Israel. What should have been the happiest day of his life turns into the lowest when his two oldest sons are killed by the Lord when they offered "strange fire" before the Lord during the incense offering. Why would these two men, trained by Moses himself to minister in the Tabernacle of God do such a thing on the first day? The answer to this question will help you understand why Paul was a Torah observant Jewish Rabbi who did not teach against the Torah as some say today. The priests in the Tabernacle and later the Temple were called to be teachers and they were to instruct the people in the ways of the Lord. They had to teach others on how to worship the Lord, how to distinguish between the holy and the profane, good and evil, light and darkness according to what the Lord has said. The ordinances of God cannot be changed by any human authority, not even the sons of the High Priest. But they did, they did not obey the Lord in the proper way to worship Him and they made a small change in the procedure. Most scholars think they did not put some coals from the altar into their censors with the incense but used ordinary coals from an ordinary fire, thus offering "strange fire" to the Lord. We need to learn this lesson today because we are living in an age when the commandments of God have not only been changed or amended but in some cases done away with altogether. One of the most glaring examples of this is in Leviticus 11 where God has a list of what is considered food and what cannot be eaten. The creatures that are considered "tahor" or clean and what is considered "tamai" or unclean have nothing to do with the physical but they are understood as a ritual purity or defilement, something that would prohibit you from entering the sanctuary, touching holy things or serving as a priest. These are temporary ritual defilement's as long as the Temple or Tabernacle was standing and if you ate something and was ritually defiled, you could not enter the Temple. These are God's rules and they were certainly observed in the 1st century and they will again (See Ezekiel chapters 40-48). But many are saying "but didn't Yeshua declare that all foods are clean?" He declared all kosher foods clean even if you did not ritually wash your hands before eating them according to the man-made traditions of the elders. You cannot annul a commandment of God (Mt 5.17-19). In Mark 7 and Mt 15.20 it clearly states that the issue being discussed is not "you can eat anything now" but if you eat clean food without washing your hands in a ritualistic manner as taught by the Pharisees the food is still clean and you can enter the Sanctuary to worship. Acts 10 is also misunderstood to teach that Peter's vision was God's way of telling everyone that they can eat whatever they want. But Peter himself said the vision was mean't to teach him that the Gentiles were not unclean to the Lord and he can enter into a Gentile's house. You see, there laws passed by some of the leading religious denominations at the time saying that a Jew could not go into the house of a Gentile without becoming ritually unclean and then prohibited from entering the Sanctuary for worship. These were man-made laws called "the 18 Edicts" and these were the things that the Lord was breaking down. Peter continued to struggle with this and was even confronted by Paul on this. To eat with a Gentile meant you accepted him. When some believers came who believed that a Gentile should be circumcised (become Jewish to get around the man-made law) Peter would not eat with them and Paul confronted him. The keeping of these laws have nothing to do with salvation because you aren't saved by works. They have everything to do with obedience. Many people will say "I haven't heard from God on this" or whether they should keep the Sabbath or festivals, but in reality they have heard from Him. There was a voice from Heaven that spoke these words to mankind over 3500 years ago but we think we have the right to decide, just like Aaron's sons did. We want to decide what is right and wrong. But a Voice did speak from Heaven and say "this is my beloved Son, listen to Him" but the crowd said "we didn't pick Him, we didn't choose Him, we'll choose what we are going to do" and that is the exact problem today. We pick what we want to obey and what we don't like. We find ways around the commands we don't like. And, like Aaron's sons, we approach the Lord with "strange fire" and then wonder why we get "burned." We need to examine ourselves by the water of the Word and to make sure we are worshiping the Lord in truth and in spirit and not according to our own ways. We need to have the proper Lamb on the altar, we need to was in the laver made from mirrors to see our reflection in the waters of the word, we need to make sure there are 12 loaves of bread, and that our Menorah is full of the oil of the Holy Spirit so our lights are bright and we need to make sure we have a coal from the fire from the altar outside, started by God Himself, to put in our censors and mix that with the incense, which is our prayers. Prayer should be inspired by the Lord and if we mix them with anything else, it is a strange fire. We need to go back to the pattern the Lord has given us and make sure we stick with it. If things are going wrong or something is not right, go back to the pattern God has given us in the Scriptures and things will be revealed to you on what to do. That is exactly what Moses and Aaron did after the death of the two boys and they did not deviate from what the Lord commanded, and neither should we.

Book of Acts & Interpreting Paul Pt. 4

This week we are going to continue with the question about understanding the Book of Acts and other New Testament Scriptures and we are going to specifically deal with the writings of Paul, but these concepts can be used to understand all of Scripture as well. When interpreting the writings of Paul you must keep in mind that he was a second Temple period Pharisee and an expert in the Torah. He also draws from mystical Hebrew concepts about God. So, a student of the New Testament and especially Paul must realize that he has a Pharisaical understanding of the Scriptures. The student should also know the Hebrew methods of interpretation called "pardes" and the 7 Rules of Hillel. These methods predated Paul and once you know what they are you can see how he utilized them when you study his writings. You must also be familiar with the mystical aspects of his theology, and even though Paul didn't write the Book of Revelation, that book is full of this mystical imagery. Another thing to keep in mind is the concepts Paul tries to convey does not translate well into Greek. For instance the concept of "ergo nomos" or "works of the law" is a term coined in the first century to carry over the idea that works of the law and keeping the commandments is no good without faith. Another concept is "upo nomos" or "not under the law" and this is the system that contains the "ergo nomos" in working for salvation. These terms did not exist in Greek and had to be translated over to carry the idea that one cannot earn salvation but that doesn't mean one abandons the commandments. So when you try to convey Hebrew concepts into Greek and then translate that from the Greek to English or whatever language, well, you can see that information can be lost or distorted. Also, readers today start studying Paul from their own religious training often devoid of the Hebrew roots and from their own biases and that has resulted in some faulty theology. They were already taught that they were not "under the law" before they began to study Pauls writings. We saw last week that Peter wrote that Paul's writings were hard to understand and that was before the problems we just discussed came into being so it is no small wonder why things are so out of context today. Paul's writings are twisted to mean something he never never intended and that is something to keep in mind today. So, in conclusion we have seven basic guidelines to keep in mind when studying Paul or any of the Scriptures for that matter. First, keep in mind the overall biblical context. Then, keep the historical context in mind also. Third, remember Peter's warning in 2 Pet 3.16. Fourth,Yeshua had a warning in Mt 5. 17-19 stating that he did not come to do away with the Torah but to interpret it correctly. Fifth, Paul had many positive statements about the Torah such as Rom 7.12-22,25; 1 Tim 1.8; Rom 3.31; 1 Cor 7.19; Acts 25.8; 28.17. Sixth, Paul's negative statements weren't about Torah but man's heart. And lastly, Paul's example found in Acts 21.24. Hopefully, these series of articles will help you in studying the New Testament and if you need to check these concepts out, the Internet is full of articles and documentation that will assist you. When I first started 30 years ago this was not available and it was hard work chasing down the books and tapes needed to get a better understanding of all these things, But now, if you have a computer and the Internet, they are right at your fingertips and a whole new world will open up for you if you truly want to understand the Word of God.
Click here for Part 5

Book of Acts & Interpreting Paul Pt. 3

	This week we are going to continue with the question from a few weeks ago as to why the Book of Acts is confusing to some and why there were so many debates found there. This series is attempting to give the "why" all this was happening and how we should look at the book today. So, with a foundation already discussed in last several weeks, let's review some things and then try to piece some things together so that you can understand Acts and understand what was going on. The Book of Acts will bring us up to about 63 A.D. or 7 years before the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. The book reveals the condition of the Jewish and non-Jewish believer and the issues and controversies found there. The Basar, or good news, is going out to the Gentiles and its concepts. Gentiles are coming into the faith without becoming Jews and having to be circumcised as part of the conversion process at the time. The Sadducees did not believe in the Messiah-ship of Yeshua or the resurrection and this was a major contention among believers who were Sadducees, who just didn't turn off what they were taught. On the other hand, the Pharisees didn't have a problem with the resurrection but had problems with whether Yeshua was the promised Messiah. Some Pharisees believed it and became believers, others did not. A constant during this time was a long running conflict between these two groups over the minds and hearts of the people. This conflict went back as far as the Maccabean revolt nearly 200 years before and they saw it as a conflict between the Hellenists (more Greek influenced) and the Traditionalists. At the heart of all this was how was a non-Jew supposed to live, how were they to walk before the Lord. This is called Halachah, or "how to walk." Into this mix you have to add all the other sects and what they believed and the misconduct of the Romans. So, with all that going on what you have is a powder-keg ready to explode. When it does, it will have an adverse effect on the Jewish people and all believers in Yeshua. By 70 A.D. Jerusalem will no longer be the ruling authority. Yeshua gave the people warning about this in Matt 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 and believers flee to Pella to escape the coming judgment. When the nation is destroyed, Rome becomes the ruling authority and congregations in the empire and begin to abandon their Jewish roots and foundations. Jewish believers are split, with some adopting new ways and others do not. The non-Jews are faced with the same decisions. This transformation was already taking place when the New Testament scriptures were written but as the nation fell, so did the cohesiveness of the faith. Now, when we read the Scriptures, we must put them in context and you have to ask yourself "How would this be understood by the author and by the people reading them?" This is crucial to properly understanding any old document. You can't read Dickens, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Julius Caesar or anyone without understanding who they were or what was their belief system. You have to understand the idioms and phrases they used and not define them by what we think they are 100's of years later, but by what the writer knew them to be. That is one of the main problems in reading the Scriptures today. We have to understand them from the writers point of view and by what they meant to say, not how we would define their writings after 2000 years through the prevailing culture at the time or by the definitions in the interpreters native language. Hebrew understandings and idioms have been translated into Greek and then through every known language in the Earth today and much is lost through these translations. It isn't because of some conspiracy with the translators, it just happens that way. So, to understand the Book of Acts, or any book of Scripture for that matter, we have to go back and understand what was going on at the time, we have to understand the politics, the religious controversies, the idioms and phrases they used and rightly divide the Word of Truth. So, we need to understand the author and what he believed and how he lived when he wrote the book that bears his name. We need to ask ourselves these questions, to get into his mind and heart to understand his words, which were inspired by the Holy Spirit Himself. So, with that in mind, we will pick-up here next week and deal with the Apostle Paul and give you some insight in how to interpret his writings for example. Even Peter had some difficulty with his writings and he knew him. He writes in 2 Peter 3.15-16 that "just as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction." So, it was happening in the 1st century so it's not surprising that it is even worse today. So next week we will talk about how to interpret the difficult writings of Paul and what to keep in mind when studying what he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Click Here for Part 4.

Book of Acts & Interpreting Paul Pt. 2

This week we are going to continue with what was going on in the Book of Acts and how to interpret the difficult sayings of Paul. Hopefully this insight will help answer your original question why things were happening as they were in the Book of Acts. The relationship between Jews and Romans were strained at best in the first century. Israel was being oppressed and the people conquered. However, the Jews were allowed to practice their religion freely within the empire due to an edict by Julius Caesar that said that the religion of the Jews predated Rome so therefore they were allowed to practice their religion. But as time went on this freedom was resented by not only the Romans but other conquered peoples. They said "Why should they be allowed to have this freedom and not us" and the Romans themselves didn't like the monotheistic ways and practices of the Jews. They had peculiar food laws and Sabbaths and they just didn't understand their ways, which led to criticism. Paul wrote the Book of Romans with these differences in mind. The congregations in Rome had some of the above issues as major problems. Those congregations were made up of unbelieving Jews, believing Jews and believing Gentiles. The Jews there were looked at by the Gentile Romans with some disgust and animosity developed between the two groups. The believing Romans didn't understand much about the Torah and they had built-in prejudices when they became believers and this contention was coming out and Paul was dealing with them on how to get along with the Jewish members of the congregations there. Well, magnify these problems in an entire nation and you can see why there were so many problems. It became a national issue over the very survival of the nation. You had so many "sects" or denominations at the time and some were very zealous against Rome and some didn't want to upset the status quo. Well, in 66 A.D. there was a Jewish revolt against Rome and the results were devastating. The city of Jerusalem was destroyed, along with the Temple, the people were scattered and the center of worship was no more. A few years later another Jewish revolt happened in 116 A.D. and then again another revolt in 135 A.D. As a result Jews were claimed as enemies of the state, along with their religion and practices. To participate in anything that seemed "Jewish" was seen as "unpatriotic" and as more Gentiles came into the faith, their ways and practices took over and the Jewish voice silenced. The Roman Government did not want anything to do with anything that appeared to be Jewish. So, the epistles of Paul will be used against the Jews and interpreted through Gentile eyes schooled in the paganistic thought of the time. Do a background on the "church fathers" and you will see where they were coming from. As a result, confusion erupts in Gentile Christianity. Heresies and splinter groups emerge because the people aren't studying the Torah concepts as given by the Lord. They devise new festivals and compromise is "ok." Latin is not a biblical language and it cannot define or translate the minute concepts found in Hebrew, and yet it became the language of this new "faith." Until 312 A.D. Gentile Christianity was outlawed and persecutions existed. But, strangely enough, Gentile Christianity was hunting down heretics and killing them at the same time, which meant they were hunting Nazarenes, Ebionites or anyone who was Torah observant. Then Constantine became emperor and forces everyone his way. He was an opportunist who merged Mithraism, Gentile Christianity, Bacchanalia, Roman idolatry, Saturnalia and various other religions together to solidify his empire around one religious faith because the empire was fractured. Up to this time there were many groups not knowing anything and arguing about everything but with Constantine there was a voice. If you agreed with him and his "creeds" you were in the church and if not you were a heretic.The "church" became true Israel, the Jewish faith was now obsolete. The Nazarenes were confusing the issue because they were Torah observant and believed in Yeshua. This went against the foundational teachings of Gentile Christianity. All of this is documented and can be found in encyclopedias, church histories and in the writings of the church fathers themselves. You became a church father because Constantine and the Council of Nicea liked what you had to say because it agreed with them. And they were called "church fathers' because they were the founders of a new "church" otherwise they would not be called "fathers." From the first century to 312 A.D. you have what is called the "Great Apologetic Movement" that put down Jews and their beliefs left and right. A very famous one is between Justin Martyr and Trypho, who is Rabbi Tarphon. By 325 A.D. and after, Constantine and Gentile Christianity become the state religion. With that as a background, next week we will pick with the Apostle Paul and how to interpret his writings with a correct biblical perspective. Click Here for Part 3

Book of Acts & Interpreting Paul Pt.1

Q There seems to be some confusion and hotly contested debates going on in the Book of Acts but the "why" is not clear to me. Could you explain what was going on because there seems to be more to it than what is explained in Sunday School?

A. You are right that in most places you will not get a very good background on what was going on, not only in Acts, but in all the Scriptures. So, I will give you a brief history and synopsis so that you can get an idea of the context, First, let's go back to the Great Commission in Matt 28.19-20. Let's define a few things first. The "gospel" is known in Hebrew as the "basar" and it means "good news" or "meat, bread" and it is spoken of in the Tanach, or Old Testament (Isa 40.9-10,62.10-11).
The "gospel" was preached to Abraham and taught all through the Old Testament. So, the gospel was defined as the golden age of Israel, David's throne restored, Messiah has come, God reigns through him over the earth, peace has come, man and nature restored, the resurrection has taken place, righteousness in the earth, the day of the Lord has come, Torah goes forth, no idolatry, the exiles have returned to the land, true worship restored, Gentiles believe and much more.
The Messiah is the agent of God empowered through the Ruach ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) to bring all of this about. His task is to redeem man and nature. We enter into this redemption by emunah (faith). The gospel message is that Yeshua (the Messiah) has come and the redemption of all things has been initiated.
Now, the headquarters for the faith was Jerusalem. In 30 A.D., Yeshua was resurrected and all this was centered around the 12 Talmidim (apostles). At this time, there was not a concept that the Gentiles would come into the faith "enmasse" nor was there a concept that they would without becoming Jews. So, the Jewish people believed in the coming Malkut Shamayim or the Kingdom of God. This was about the restoration and very eschatological. 1st Century Jews believed that only Jews would have a part in the Malkut Shamayim. This included the disciples of Yeshua. When they heard "go and make disciples of all nations" in Matt 28 they thought the Gentiles had to become Jewish and the God fearers (Gentiles who believed in the God of Israel) were well on that road. Their concept of their commission was to go into world to the Jew. The non-Jew would come into Judaism as a convert, then see that Yeshua was the Messiah. Some factions did not like that idea. There were many groups or sects in the 1st Century. The Pharisee's were the most popular group amongst the people and they were made up of two main schools called the school of Shammai and the school of Hillel. The question between the two groups was how should a non-Jew walk or live. The school of Shammai said that a Gentile should convert to Judaism through circumcision (Book of Galatians and Acts 15 deals with this), then keep the Torah. The school of Hillel believed that they should follow the Torah only where it applied to them, like festivals, Sabbath, sacrifices, food, uncleanliness laws and things like that. So, Acts moves along and and in Acts 10 Peter has a vision that the Gentiles did not need to be circumcised (means becoming Jewish) to have a part in the Malkut Shamayim. After he tells the story in Acts 11 the disciples change their doctrine and the issue was settled for awhile. But the issue crops up again and Paul has the same revelation and he explains this in Acts 15 and in the Book of Galatians. Now, the Messiah was not the "basar" but he is the agent of it (Psa 68.11, Isa 40.9-15, 52.1-40). Messianic Jews are going to take a different path than mainstream Judaism. So, with this background, we will pick up here next week and discuss the the Book of Acts up to approximately 70 A.D. and the first Jewish revolt against Rome. We will deal with the Jewish and non-Jewish believer and the issues and controversies that we read about and hopefully this will give you more insight into what was really going on. This area of study is largely ignored in most Bible studies and it has lead to a gross misunderstanding of what Paul was trying to say. So, we will look at the history and how these misunderstandings led to heresies and how Jews were eventually viewed as enemies of the Roman government and how these attitudes were reflected through the writings of the so-called "church fathers" which has influenced biblical doctrine to this day.

Click here for Part 2

Q. Is there a contradiction between Paul and James?

Q. Is there a contradiction between Paul and James? Paul says that we are justified by faith but James says that faith alone doesn't save you and faith without works is dead.
A. There is no contradiction between the two. Whenever you read the Scriptures you have to keep in mind the context in which it was written. Paul, for instance, was writing to people who thought that self-justification was attainable by their Torah observance. This, of course, is never taught in the Torah itself. A man can never be justified before God by works. But, just like some denominations today, the Jews had a well developed system of works righteousness and Paul had to deal with that everywhere he went. He says in Rom 9.32 that the Jews did not pursue righteousness by faith but by works. They thought that when they obeyed God they earned righteousness and that is just not the case. That's why Paul says that we are not "under the Law." Now, that term in Greek is "upo nomou" and it means that we are not subject to a system of works righteousness. He also says that we cannot earn righteousness through "works of the Law." That term in Greek is "ergo nomou" and that means a system of works righteousness. You cannot earn righteousness through obedience to God nor are we subject to a system that says we do. We approach God through "emunah" or faith.This Hebrew word is related to the word "amen" which means "so be it" or "let it be done." Now, faith is action and it is made up of three components. First, "ahav" or love. You obey the Lord because you love him. You must have the right attitude. Secondly, there are "mitzvot" or commandments. This word can also be translated "works." We should obey the Lord because we love him and let our good works shine, which glorifies our Father in Heaven. Third, we have "da'at" or knowledge. God tells us to do something and we act. There is no such thing as blind faith in the Bible. So, biblical faith is made up of love, works and knowledge. So, Paul is saying that a man is not justified by works but he does not say you shouldn't have any. James is saying the same thing. James is dealing with an audience that was anti-nomian, which means they were forgetful hearers of the Law. James is saying that if a person has genuine faith he will have genuine works as evidence of that faith. He is not saying that you need works to be saved, he's saying that you will have works when you are saved. Now, these works are not what man says are good works, it is what God says are good works and those works are described in the Scriptures. Paul and James are not contradictory but answer the question of how a component of faith (works) fits into salvation. Paul says that good works does not earn righteousness because that is a free gift of God and James is saying that one who is truly saved will have good works following as evidence of that saving faith.

Q. I heard a minister say that adultery was the only reason for a divorce. Is that true?

A. We are going to look at several verses and you will get a good idea of what the Lord requires. In Deut 24.1-4 it gives the biblical requirements for a divorce. There are four things that have to be established. First, there has to an indecency found in the individual. The word translated indecency in Hebrew is "ervah" and it does not mean adultery or any of the uncleanliness issues in Leviticus 18 because they were punishable by death. Ervah basically means"improper" and something that makes their life together impossible because it would lead to cruelty and abuse. There is no cause for divorce in the Torah for sexual sin, only death was prescribed. After "ervah" was established, the individual must write a certificate of divorce, put it in the hand of the other and then send them out. They can remarry only if neither one marries someone else. If they do then there can be no remarriage. The bottom line is you did not get a divorce for adultery, that was a death penalty. But let's look at some of the verses in the New Testament that deals with this subject. In Matt 5.32 it says that "every one who divorces his wife, except for uncleanliness (Gk="porneia") causes her to commit adultery (Gk="moichao") and whoever marries a woman who is separated but not divorced commits adultery." Now, the Greek "porneia" is the equivalent to the Hebrew "ervah" and what the Lord is doing is freeing Deut 24.1 from all the false interpretations of the Pharisee's. They took the word "ervah" to extremes and said that a person could divorce for very little. Do some research on 1st Century divorces and you will see what the Lord was trying to do. Exodus 21.10 gives us a little more insight into "ervah" because it says a divorce can be granted for non-support or reduced conjugal rights. This is not an exhaustive list but where life together becomes impossible, then there is cause for divorce .Matt 19.9 says the same thing. Some Bibles translate "porneia" as fornication but that is a very limited view .Mark 10.11 and Luke 16.18 has another concept to understand. It says "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery." Now we know from Deut 24.1-4 and Matt 5.32 that divorce is allowed so what does it mean. Divorce also carries the idea of "separation" and in these passages it means that if you only separate you are not free to remarry yet. You go back to Deut 24 and Matt 5 and it says that unless you have a proper divorce/separation with a certificate and it's put in the others hand and you send them out, then there is no divorce or proper separation and you are not free to marry someone else. What has happened today is people have little or no understanding about the Torah and the New Testament has been translated to fit in with the biases of the translator and confusion is the result, much like what happened in the 1st Century. One can be too loose about divorce, but one can also have a very narrow view and both are extremes. So, the bottom line is adultery is not the only reason one can get a divorce and the Bible does not teach that either. Next week we will look at this law of divorce and tie it in with eschatology and why the Lord wrote the law the way he did. This will give you a proper understanding about this law of divorce and will give you insight into the coming of the Lord and his dealings with Israel.

Q. In Lk 24.39 it says that the Lord had "flesh and bone" after the resurrection. Does that mean he didn't have blood?

A. When the Lord appeared and said he had "flesh and bone" he was contrasting flesh and spirit. He said flesh and bone because that was something they could see and feel. You couldn't see blood so there was no point in saying it. But there is more to this. He is alluding to Gen 2.23 where Adam see's Eve and says that she is now "bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh." Adam was put to sleep and a rib was taken out of his side. Eve was created and Adam knows the significance of it. In the same way, Yeshua was "put to sleep" and a bride was taken from his side as well. And, like Adam, he see's his" bride" (the apostles) and alludes to what Adam said. The Apostle Paul also alludes to this concept in Eph 5.26 where he compares the relationship between Adam and Eve with Messiah and his bride and quotes Gen 2.23. Now, to answer your question more specifically, the resurrection body is NOT lacking anything that a mortal body has but something has been added. In 1 Cor 15. 50-58 it says that the "perishable (carnal body) must put on the imperishable." In v 50 the term "flesh and blood" is a Hebrew idiom referring to the carnal state, the mortal body, subject to death. Something has to happen in order to enter the Kingdom of God. The Bible does not state all the capabilities of the new body nor does it state whether it has blood or not. At times, the physical is not bound by the law of physics. Peter walked on water, Phillip was translated and placed miles away in a twinkling of an eye, the axe head floated to the top of the Jordan. It's the same with the new body. We can function anywhere in the universe with a glorified, physical body. Yeshua and those who were resurrected after him are in Heaven right now and function just fine and we are returning to the capable, functioning, physical bodies God originally had in mind when he first created them. Yeshua appears in a locked room (Jn 20.26) but he will still use doors. The original body, including blood, was very good (Gen 1.31) and there is no reason to believe that the resurrection body will be lacking anything. In the Messianic Kingdom, normal activities will be carried out like farming, fishing, eating and drinking, building and so on. Just because the Lord did not mention blood in Lk 24.39 does not mean he did not have blood. Leviticus 17.11 says that "life is in the blood" and the word for life there is "nephesh" and that is the soulish life, the seat of the appetites and personality. Decision making, emotions, passions, activity of the mind, the "knowing" of the being is seated there. Blood is the "operator" of the computer (brain) and not to mention the RNA and the DNA. There is no reason to believe that resurrection bodies will not have blood based on this verse.

A few weeks ago I went to hear Avi Lipkin speak about Iran and a possible attack and he said some very interesting things. Mr. Lipkin is an Israeli and he speaks in synagogues and churches all over the country on the Middle East and what is going on. In this article I want to present a few things he said and a few things to watch for. The subject of Iran caught my interest because Iran plays a role in the last days and the Tribulation period and I wanted to hear what he had to say. He said there are five reasons why there will be a war with Iran. President Obama's job is to take out the rogue nations like Iran, North Korea and Israel and so the first reason for war with Iran will be to take out their nuclear threat by overthrowing the current regime then hand over control to a U.N. force. They will not attack the reactors but gain control over them. Secondly, they will liberate the Iranians. They like the west and they want liberty. Third, a war which gains control over the oil in Iran will help the economy and bring down oil prices. They have to come down and this can be done by taking Iran, taking control of the oil and bringing the prices down. To help President Obama, this will have to be done soon to save him in the coming elections. He needs a miracle and a victory in Iran could do it. Fourth, there is the Sunni-Shi'ite struggle within Islam. This goes back centuries. After Mohammed died, Islam was ruled by 3 caliphs who were Sunni moslems. They were seen by many as rich and decadent. A blood descendant from Mohammed arose by the name of Ali and he led the Shi'ite faction and fought the Sunni's over control of Islam and who should guard the Qa'aba, or the black box in Mecca. He had two sons, Hassan and Hussein. He united the poor and downtrodden to fight the apostate Sunni's. So, the Sunni's were the rich, decadent wing and the Shi'ites were more of the poor and downtrodden. This battle still goes on today. The United States is allied with Saudi Arabia, who is Sunni (rich), and they are at odds with Iran, who is Shi'ite ( poor). Obama has 2 tasks. First, eliminate the Shi'ite threat (Iran) and then eliminate the Zionist threat (Israel). There is much evidence, according to Lipkin, to suggest that Obama is a Sunni Moslem and that is why he bowed before the King of Saudi Arabia. The king is considered the religious leader of the Sunni's and is obeyed by all Sunni's and it is possible that they see Obama as the saviour of the Sunni's and has a mandate from his religious leader to use his position to "save the Sunni's." The last reason that there may be a war with Iran is the upcoming elections. Obama must have a miracle to save his political career. The United States will not allow a strike on the reactors in Iran but a ground war against the Shi'ites is possibly being planned right now. A helicopter crashed recently in northern Iran killing 6 Israelis who they think were preparing for just a war. What were Israeli's doing there? They were part of a multi-nation coalition that includes the United States, Great Britain and Russia that will participate in this invasion. By securing Iran, they eliminate the nuclear threat, gain control over the oil and the prices and everybody wins. But this will have to be carried out soon for Obama to benefit and so this will be something to watch. What is interesting is how this fits into Bible prophecy, especially Ezekiel 38 and 39 and the coming Russian invasion of Israel. Well, if Russia participates she will have a foot into Iran, and Iran comes with Russia to invade Israel (Ezek 38.5) so this may be how Russia does it. Anyway, it was a very interesting lecture and there are things going on in the world , all according to the plan of God. As believers, we must be aware of what is going on around us and how world politics will shape up. The heart of the king is in the hands of the Lord and what Mr Lipkin says may or may not happen, but it's always good to hear the informed opinions of others. But, we must be diligent and keep watching the signs of the times.

Do you think the Rapture is imminent? Part 4

This week we will continue with the topic of the imminent return of Yeshua. We left off talking about the fact that the Lord's return will not happen at any second but will return at an appointed time and that time is Yom Teruah, year 6001 from creation. We established that in the last two articles, but what happens next? The next biblical festival is Yom Kippur and that festival occurs on Tishri 10 and it teaches the second coming of the Messiah to the earth after the tribulation. But let's take first things first and let me try and explain. Let's say the Rapture of the believer happens on Tishri 1. That means there are ten days till Yom Kippur. It will be that Yom Kippur that the final countdown to the second coming of Yeshua begins. If Yeshua returns to the earth on Yom Kippur, that means the Tribulation had to start on a Yom Kippur because there are 2,520 days in the Tribulation. Yeshua said he will return on Yom Kippur in Matt 24.31 when He said He returns at the sound of "the Great Trumpet.". Now the Great Trumpet is a Hebrew idiom for Yom Kippur. So, with that established, let's go back to Tishri 1, year 6001. The Tribulation does not start for ten days, so what's going to happen? First, the United States will be devastated because of the Rapture. Our defenses are vulnerable, key people are missing and the nation will be in chaos, as will many other nations, but I want to concentrate on the United States in particular. I have already established that Temple worship and sacrifices will be reestablished in Israel on Tishri 1. Russia will know of the chaos in the United States and will use this as the chance they have been waiting for and will launch a nuclear strike against the United States and this nation will be destroyed in one day. With the United States out of the way, Europe and Israel are next.This attack is prophesied in Jer 50 and 51. There is no other nation that has ever existed that fits that prophecy except the United States. Now, in prophecy certain ancient nations will stand for nations in the latter days. For instance, Israel will be Israel but Europe will be Egypt, Russia will be Assyria and the United States will be the Land of Babylon. Jeremiah describes the destruction of Babylon but it hasn't been fulfilled yet. This Babylon (United States) has certain characteristics. It has many Jews living in it, it is an economic giant and a powerful army with defenses that reach into the heavens. It is a land of "mingled peoples" and the nations stream into it. It sits on many waters. It is called the "hammer" (policeman) of the whole earth and is described as the "last of the great (gentile) nations" in Jer 50.12. The Sages interpreted this verse as the last of the great nations in the latter days. There is no way that I can go into this teaching here, but I have taught it many times in the past and believe me there is no other nation this prophecy could be referring to. Now, the Rapture occurs on Tishri 1 and around Tishri 8 the United States will be attacked by Russia. Anciently, before Assyria could attack Israel they had to remove Babylon and they did. When the United States is destroyed in one day, Europe will panic. The heads of the European Union will call a meeting on Tishri 9 and the False Messiah will be there in that meeting. He will stand up and say he has a plan to save Europe but they must act now and give him war powers. There will be no time to go back and debate this in their parliaments and legislatures. They turn their power to act over to the man who will be revealed as the False Messiah. The next day, Tishri 10 or Yom Kippur he signs an agreement with Israel to protect them also. All United States military personnel out of the country will automatically come under the leadership of European leaders, in particular the False Messiah and he will use that power he will to his evil advantage. On that Tishri 10, the Tribulation will begin. The major players now will be Israel, Europe (Egypt), Russia (Assyria), the Kings of the East (the Orient) and the kings of the South (African confederation). The False Messiah will be fighting Russia for three years and be losing, Russia will attack Israel around Tishri 1-10 at the beginning of the fourth year of the Tribulation and will be destroyed by the Lord Himself. As a result of this deliverance and the preaching of the two witnesses and 144,000, Israel will accept Yeshua as Messiah. A few months later the False Messiah moves into Israel and on Nisan 10 of the fourth year will sit in the rebuilt Temple of God in Jerusalem and declare himself God and killing the two witnesses. They will rise from the dead on Passover, Nisan 14, around noon. But,the Jews will not accept him and they will flee into the Jordanian wilderness for three and a half years and be protected by the Lord. This last three and a half years is called the Great Tribulation and that is another story. I have said all this to show that the coming of the Lord is not something that will happen "at any moment" but it will happen according to an eschatological plan that is well developed and described in the Scriptures. So, I hope this answers your questions about the imminent return of the Lord and gives you some added insight into biblical prophecy.

Do you think the Rapture is imminent? Part 3

In the last two articles we have been dealing with the question as to the timing of the Natzal, or Rapture of the believers and if it will occur "at any moment" or is there a fixed time in the prophetic scenario when this will happen. It has been established that there is a fixed day in the very near future and the Rapture will occur on the biblical festival called Yom Teruah, or Rosh ha Shana as it is commonly known today. But, there are signs we can look for prior to that day that will tell us when it is near and that is what I want to deal with this week. Prior to the catching away of the believer there are certain things that must be in place. First, Israeli politics will be deteriorating and there will be the establishment of two Jewish states, one religious and one civil. There is a concept in the study of prophecy that says that whatever happened before will happen again. Eccl. 1.9 says "That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So, there is nothing new under the sun." Also, in Eccl. 3.15 it says "That which has been already, and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by." All history is unfulfilled prophecy and all prophecy is unfulfilled history. So we can understand prophecy by looking at history. There is a picture of the coming Russian invasion of Israel in the Scriptures when one looks at the Assyrian invasion of Israel. There were two Jewish states at the time and that will happen again. There is talk this week about that very subject in the news. So, When the Rapture occurs there will be a concerted movement towards this. A second thing to look for is a Red Heifer will be raised in Israel. Why is this important? We know that there will be a Temple in Jerusalem (Rev 11) and it will be operational during the first 1260 days of the Tribulation (Dan 9.27; Rev 11.1-3). But, to have a Temple you have to have a priesthood that is ritually clean. In order to have a ritually clean priesthood you have to have a Red Heifer. This cleansing ceremony is described in Num 19 and it must be raised and killed, burned and the ashes mixed with living water. Then this water is sprinkled on the priesthood to cleanse them from ritual impurity, along with the regular consecration ceremony described in the Torah. This has to be done for a Temple and a priesthood to be operational. In Ezra 3.6, after their return from Babylon, sacrifices were begun at the altar on Yom Teruah (Rosh ha Shana) although the Temple had not been built yet and it will be done again. On the Rosh ha Shana, year 6001, the Rapture will occur and simultaneously the sacrifices on the Temple Mount will begin, so that means we will see this coming into fruition prior to the Rapture. But, in order for this to happen you must have a Red Heifer and that has to be killed at least 7 days prior , or Elul 24 on the Jewish calendar. That means we will see this happen, and when we do, we can be looking for the Rapture on the next Tishri 1. In other words, Israel will obtain the site of the former Temple (and the altar site) by Tishri 1 the year that the Rapture will occur. Now, there is debate as to where the former Temple was exactly. Some think it is where the Dome of the Rock is and others think it may be north near what is called the Dome of the Spirits (Rabbi Kaufman), or south of the Dome of the Rock near the Gihon Spring (Ernest Martin), but nevertheless, a site will be established and sacrifices will begin on Tishri 1 just like it was before (Ezra 3.6). Another sign to look for is oil being produced in Israel. There has been much written about this so I won't go into it here, but this will induce Russia, along with some other political reasons, to invade Israel. But this invasion will not happen until Rosh ha Shana, beginning the fourth year of the Tribulation. So, Russian policy towards Israel will get increasingly more aggressive as the time gets closer. All these concepts would take many hours to develop in a teaching setting but these things should be looked for prior to the Rapture. One should watch Jerusalem and the Temple Mount to get a good feel for the timing of these coming events, along with the signs the Lord gave in Matt 24, Mk 13 and Luke 24. Now, the Rapture will occur on Yom Teruah, year 6001 from creation. Ten days later it will be Yom Kippur and that is the day the False Messiah will sign a peace covenant for 7 years with Israel, beginning the Tribulation period. That means the Tribulation will end 2520 days later on a Yom Kippur. Next week we will discuss what happens between Rosh ha Shanna (Rapture) and Yom Kippur when the False Messiah will be revealed, including the role, if any, the United States will play in this end time scenario.

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Do you think the Rapture is imminent? Part 2

This week we are going to continue with the question "Is the return of Yeshua imminent?" We gave a basic definition of imminent and showed that His return is certain but it will be according to a fixed date according to the eschatological plan of God. Now, the definition of eschatology is the study of the Messiah and the redemption. We are dealing especially with the coming of the Lord in what is known as the Rapture, or the Natzal in Hebrew. The point I am trying to establish is that this event cannot happen "at any moment" because it will occur on a particular day called Yom Teruah on the Hebrew calendar and at the beginning of the 6001st year from creation. Let me explain. We saw that there are actually 8 festivals found in Leviticus 23 if you count the Sabbath day. The 7th day Sabbath day is a picture of the last 1000 years called the Millennium. It is also known as the Lord's Day or the Day of the Lord. Each biblical, civil year begins on Tishri 1on the Hebrew calendar and that day is called Yom Teruah or as it is known today "Rosh ha Shana" meaning "head of the year." Now, the seven days of the week correspond to the 7000 year plan of God. We work six days and rest on the seventh. Accordingly, man has 6000 years "to work" but the last 1000 years belongs to the Lord. That 1000 years begins on Tishri 1 on the Jewish calendar and that day is called Yom Teruah (Num 29.1-2). Teruah means "awakening blast" with a shofar and it can also be translated "shout." It is a particular note played on the shofar and it is blown when the people are to be gathered. There are several idioms relating to this festival. It is called the "day no man knows" because it starts the civil year on a new moon and nobody knows for sure when that is until the new moon is sighted. This festival was also the first day of creation, when time began, and no man was there . Once the moon is seen, that starts the month and Yom Teruah is the only biblical festival that is on a new moon. So, to the Hebrews when you said " I'll see you on the day no man knows" they knew you meant Yom Teruah. Another idiom for this festival is "the last trump" and here's why. In Gen 22 Abraham is commanded by God to sacrifice his son Isaac on a mountain in the land of Moriah (meaning teacher). A ram is substituted for Isaac and it is caught in a thicket (man's sins) by its horns. In Jewish thought, the horns symbolized the two stages of a Jewish wedding, betrothal and full marriage and they were pictures of the redemption of the people. These two stages are also symbolized by two festivals found in Lev 23, Shavuot (Pentecost) and Yom Teruah. God said in Jer 2.2 that He betrothed Himself to Israel in the wilderness. We know they gathered around Sinai on Shavuot to receive the Torah, which was seen as a betrothal document called the Shitre Erusin, so Shavuot was called "the first trump." Remember the ram caught in the thicket? It had two horns and the "first horn(trumpet)" symbolized the betrothal at Sinai. The other horn, or last "trumpet" symbolized the full marriage at Yom Teruah, or Rosh ha Shana. At Sinai a trumpet blew and the people gathered at the mountain and got "engaged." At Yom Teruah, or the last trump, the trump will sound and the people will be gathered to the Lord for the full marriage. When the Apostle Paul was discussing eschatology with the Thessalonians he says the Lord will "descend from heaven with a shout (teruah), with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God" and gather the people to the Lord in what is called the Natzal (to pluck) or rapture. He describes the same event to the Corinthians where he says that in a " moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump (Yom Teruah), for the trumpet will sound and the dead will raised." Now, Paul uses "the last trump" , a Hebrew idiom for Yom Teruah, to discuss the catching away of the believer. That day happens only one time a year and that day is Tishri 1 on the Hebrew calendar. So the coming of the Lord in the Natzal, or rapture, can only happen on Yom Teruah, Tishri1, year 6001 from creation. Since we do not know for sure what year from creation we are we cannot know the "day or hour" exactly but we can know the signs of the times.In Matt 24.36 Yeshua is referring to unbelievers who will not know the day or hour and Paul wrote the same thing to the Thessalonians when he wrote that "as to the times (moedim=appointments, a term used for the festivals in Lev 23) and the epochs (seasons, as in festival seasons), brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you (because he taught them the eschatology of the biblical festivals- 1 Cor 11.1-2;Col 2.16-17). For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord (Yom Teruah is the first day of the last 1000 years called the day of the Lord) will come like a thief in the night. While they (unbeliever) are saying "peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth- pains (Hebrew idiom for the 7 year tribulation) upon a woman with child and they shall not escape. But you (the believer),brethren, are not in darkness (misunderstanding), that the day (Yom Teruah, Natzal, Rapture) should overtake you (the believer) like a thief." So, as you can see, the believer will not be taken by surprise when one knows the "times (festivals) and seasons" (that relate to the festivals). In Lev 23.2 the word "convocation" is used when describing these appointed times. Convocation means "rehearsals" in Hebrew so these festivals are rehearsals for the real thing that will come along in the life of the Messiah and how he accomplishes the redemption of the people. He was crucified on Passover, buried on Unleavened Bread, rose from the dead on First Fruits, sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Then came a long growing season where the wheat and the tares grew together. The next eschatogical festival is Yom Teruah and that will be on Tishri 1, year 6001 from creation and that is why the coming of the Lord cannot happen "at any moment" and it is on fixed date set by the Lord on His eschatological calendar found in the Scriptures. Next week I will pick up here with what I believe must happen first before the Natzal, or rapture, can occur. Now, all this relates to the timing of the Lord but we will discuss political, geological and religious aspects of what will happen before the Day of the Lord begins.

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Q. Do you think the Rapture is imminent? Part 1

A. That is a controversial and complicated question that I don't think I can settle in this forum, but I will try and give what insight I can. First, let's look at the what imminent means. Imminent means "likely to occur or threatening to occur." In other words, could the rapture occur at "any moment" and that there are no prophesied events that have to happen? No, I don't believe that is true so I do not believe that the rapture is imminent. It seems the teaching of the imminent return goes back to a man named John Darby in the 1800's so this teaching has not been around that long. There are many good people who believe it and many who do not. If you do not believe in a pre-tribulation rapture than you don't believe in the imminent return either. Here is why I don't believe that the coming of the Lord in the Rapture is imminent. In the Bible, the redemption is playing out according to a very intricate plan and that means that there are certain times and seasons that the Lord carries out certain aspects of it. We see the blue print of His 7000 year plan in Genesis 1 and the creation week.Yes, that means that the heavens and the earth are less than 6000 years old right now, but that is another story. Later, in Leviticus 23 we have seven festivals given that are very prophetic in the life of the coming Messiah. These festivals of God have fulfillments in the history of Israel but there are deeper meanings. I have covered these in previous articles but I will list them again. Passover has to do with deliverance from Egypt through the blood of the lamb. The next day started Unleavened Bread and that lasted 7 days. During that week First Fruits was celebrated and that dealt with the plucking up of the first ripe barley sheaves and bringing them to the Lord. Fifty days later Shavuot was celebrated. After the summer growing period and on the first day of the seventh month another festival was celebrated called Yom Teruah, or Rosh ha Shanah as it is called today. This started the civil year and it had themes related to weddings, coronation of the king, resurrection and judgment. Ten days later was Yom Kipper and that is where the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies with the blood of a bull and goat and atoned for the sin of the nation. Five days after that Sukkot was celebrated and this was done to commemorate the years in the wilderness so people made "sukkahs" or booths to live in for a week. This overview is very basic and there are many books one can get that will take you into much more detail but it will suffice for now. Anyway, these festivals had to happen on certain days and they played out in the life of Yeshua as well. The first coming of Yeshua was not imminent and neither will the Rapture or the Second Coming to this earth to reign after the tribulation. All this will play out according to God's timing and plan. Yeshua came along the first time "in the fullness of time" and there was great expectation. He was crucified on Passover, buried on Unleavened Bread, was resurrected on First Fruits and sent the Holy Spirit on Shavuot. We are at the end of the summer growing period now and if the Lord fulfilled the first four festivals on the very day according to the biblical calendar, then it would be reasonable to believe that the last three will be fulfilled on the very day as well. Next week I will pick up here with a quick overview of the themes and idioms of Yom Teruah, Yom KIppur and Sukkot and try to explain that the coming of the Lord will happen according to a very orchestrated biblical blueprint and that the teaching if "immanency" could not be true. Yeshua's coming is fixed in time and there is no "tarrying" on His part, there is nothing we can do to speed it up or slow it down but that it will occur just like events in His first coming. Everything had to be in place for Him to come including the politics, certain people had to be born, the land, the Temple and so many other factors. Next week we will continue with this theme and show why His coming is not imminent, show how certain events in politics, certain people, the land and the Temple Altar have to be in place and a few other things so hopefully all this will clarify a few things for you.

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Were the food laws in Leviticus 11 and Deut 14 given for health reasons? Part 2

This week we are going to continue with the topic of clean and unclean food and are they for health reasons. Last week we established the fact that God did not give these laws for health reasons. We then talked about what clean and unclean related to, and that was ritual purity as it related to entering the Temple, touching any holy object set apart for Temple worship and what disqualified a priest from serving in the Temple. None of these things was considered sin, but knowing you were unclean and entering the temple, or touching a holy object or serving in the Temple was. The fact is, nobody claiming to keep the food laws of the Bible really does. If you say you keep them, you cannot go into a restaurant and eat and come away a “keeper” of the food laws. If you have gone into someone’s house and eaten you cannot come away a ”keeper” of the food laws. Any stove, utensil, plate, counter-top, table that has had unclean meat touch them contaminates anything else that touches unless it undergoes a ritual immersion (Lev 11.32-35). A stove cannot be immersed but torn down and destroyed if it ever had unclean meat on it. Now, since there is no Temple, holy things or priesthood these laws are simply not in force. So, what Messianic and Christian people do is just ignore the rigorous restrictions because they interfere with their “lifestyle” where they think they are Torah observant. They say that we should follow the list but that ritualistic part about the stove, utensils, pots and so on can be ignored. They say God gave the list for health reasons but there is no evidence for this, even amongst Jewish authorities. As we said last week, how can a person who was contaminated by unclean meat be decontaminated simply by the setting of the sun? They recognize that the Old Testament says nothing about the food laws and health reasons. Some say “unclean” has to do with sanitary reasons but that is not true. Tahor (clean) and tamai (unclean) are never used to designate physical, hygienic cleanliness or not. They are always understood as purity and defilement in a “ceremonial” (as relating to the Temple) sense and ritual acceptability, not moral. The laws in Leviticus 11 and Deut. 14 differ somewhat because conditions/animals in the wilderness will differ from those in the land, that is all. The food laws in the Bible are ritualistic. If not, Paul would have never instructed the Corinthians to “eat whatever was in the meat market” because none of that meat was ritually clean, even if you ate beef, chicken or anything on the clean list. Nothing we buy in the meat markets today is clean, so those who think they are following the Dietary Laws of the Old Testament aren’t really observing them. If you eat in a restaurant or someone’s home, in nearly all the cases the meat is ritually unclean according to the Torah (Lev 11.35). There is so much more to this subject but I hope this clears up a few things for you as far as the food laws for health reasons.

Q. Were the food laws in Leviticus 11 and Deut 14 given for health reasons?

A. No, health has little to do with these laws. Some say this is the reason to follow these laws today but did the Lord actually institute these laws for health reasons? Did He give the dietary laws for hygienic purposes and the unclean animals were never intended for human consumption? What does unclean mean to begin with? All these questions will be answered in the next few articles. But to answer your question, let’s go to Leviticus 11.8 where it says one is not to eat or touch the carcass of these creatures or you would become “unclean.” In v 25 it says that if you touched them you were to wash your clothes (immersion) and be unclean until evening. In v 40 it says if a clean animal died of itself and a person ate it he was told to wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. If hygienic “uncleanliness” were meant, how could a man be hygienically “decontaminated” simply by the setting of the sun? This would mean that he was in an unhealthy state just before the sun went down, but just after the sun set he instantly was in a healthy state. This clearly is not what the Lord was saying in these laws. These laws were given in a ritual, ceremonial sense and has nothing to do with physical. So in answering that question, it brings several other issues that we will begin to deal with. The Bible teaches that all people are sinners, even believers. Anyone who casually studies the Word understands this point. This means that no believer is a “keeper” of biblical law and most people know this. What I have taken issue with is those who say they “keep” the Law and at the same time violate it in other areas. The dietary laws of the Bible are violated by the very people who say they keep them, and that’s what we will talk about. As I have said before, the food laws are found in Lev 11 and Deut 14. God said certain animals with cloven hoofs and chew the cud were “clean” and those that didn’t were “unclean.” All fish with scales and fins were clean and those that didn’t were unclean. Insects of the locust family were clean. Any creature that did not meet the “clean” criteria was considered ”unclean.” These laws came from God and many debate about them even today. Some say they should be kept today and others say we don’t have to because “Jesus set us free from the Law.” Well, what does all this mean? The word “clean” in Hebrew is “tahor” and “unclean” is “tamai” and these words have nothing to do with physical or moral uncleanliness, they are to be understood as ceremonial or ritual. But what does that mean? Something clean and unclean related to three things in the Bible. If one was unclean, they could not go into the sanctuary, touch holy things and if a priest, participate in the services. Uncleanliness was not sin because Yeshua was unclean many times and we know he was without sin. In these food laws, you will not see that being unclean was sin, it’s simply not there. Clean and unclean relate to sanctuary purity. With that said, next week we will pick up there and relate this to the dietary laws and hopefully shed some light on a very misunderstood subject.

The Earth is 4.5 billion years old ?

Q. I heard a Bible teacher say last week that the earth is 4.5 billion years old and if you didn’t believe that you were ignorant. What is your opinion on this?

A. There are some who still believe that the Earth is millions of years old. It is called the “Gap” theory. They say that between Gen 1.1 and 1.2 there was a “gap” and something happened and God had to recreate the earth. Basically, they believe in a pre-Adamic race and that can be the basis for some prejudicial views of the other races as being inferior to others. Some just have never studied it and just repeat what they have been told for years, but what does the Bible really say. First of all the theory is unscientific. The Gap Theory was a Christian attempt to reconcile the creation account with long periods of time in the Theory of Evolution. But, evolution itself is a theory and totally unscientific, defying the second law of Thermodynamics which basically says that things get worse as they get older, not better. Secondly it is unscriptural. The Gap Theory would describe Adam walking around on top of a giant, fossilized animal graveyard. Over 800 billion skeletons exist in the Karro formation in South Africa alone. However, Paul says in Romans 5.12 through 8.22 that man’s sin brought death into the world, even of animals. I Cor. 15.21 also says the same thing. Third, it is unnecessary. The most natural interpretation of Gen 1.1-2 is taking it at face value. One of the rules of Biblical interpretation is to take a verse literal unless the context tells you otherwise. Gen 1.1 becomes of summary statement of creation and the remaining verses tell you how He did it. Now. Here are some arguments in support of the gap theory and then arguments against it. In Gen 1.2 it says “without form and void” and that speaks of judgment. However, in other passages it simply means “space” (Job 26.7;Deut 32.10;Job 6.18, 12.24;Psa 107.40). Those “for” will say but the verb “was” in Gen 1.2 should be translated “became.” However, the Hebrew “ Hayeta” (was) is found 264 times in the Tanach and 258 times it is translated “was.” The Hebrew verb of being for “became” is ‘haphek.” They will say that there is a difference between “bara” (created) in Gen 1.1 and “asah” (made) in Gen 1.7. However, these verses are used synonymously. In Gen 1.21 “God created “(bara) and “God made” (asah) in Gen 1.25. In Gen 1.26 “Let us make man” (asah) with “So God created” (bara) in Gen 1.27. They then would point out that “darkness” indicates judgment in Gen 1.2. However darkness here is simply the absence of light and it is spoken of as “good” (Psa. 104.20,24). Lastly, some will say the Hebrew word “male” should be replenish indicating that the world was once filled. However, the Hebrew word “male” almost always means “to fill” (Exo 40.34;1Kings 18.33;Psa 107.9).

Creation science and even secular science have confirmed over and over again that the Earth is much younger than what was once thought. The current erosion rate of Niagara Falls, the dust that has accumulated on the surface of the Moon, the development of languages and archeological finds have all confirmed this. But the God Himself says that He created the heavens and the earth in six days (Ex. 21.12-17). Also, the creation narrative itself disproves long periods of time. For instance, how could God create the vegetation and plants on the third day and they survive for millions of years without the sun, which wasn’t created until the fourth day? The answer is God did it in six, literal 24 hour days and there is an eschatological reason why. In Psa. 90.4 it says that a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day and that is Hebraic poetry but it is alluding to something, which is called “the
Seven Thousand Year Plan of God” but that is another subject for another time. Hopefully, this evidence will help you in understanding the Creation story and show you that far from being ignorant, you have solid, biblical ground to stand on when discussing this subject.

Q. What does it mean when 1Cor 12.22 says that tongues is for the unbeliever?

A. To understand what this means, we have to go up to v 21 and see that Paul is quoting Isa 28.11. In the context of the verse, Isaiah says that the Lord had spoken plainly to the people through the prophets, in their own language, so that even a child could understand, but they didn’t listen. So, He threatens them with another method. He would speak to them through the Babylonians and the Medes when they take the city. Later it would be the Greeks and Romans as history plays out up to the first century. Now, there was no reason for the Corinthians to be so desirous of “tongues” because they have been used by God in “punishment” form, not in a way of blessing. Let me give an example of this. In Acts 2. 1-4 we have the Holy Spirit given to believers who were gathered in the Temple on the Feast of Shavuot, or “Pentecost.” This was the day that God gave the Law at Mt Sinai (Exo 19.1-17). In v 5-11 the unbelievers in Yeshua were amazed because these disciples were speaking the known languages from wherever they were from. In v 12-15 they wondered what all of this was about and starting in v 16-36 they were told by Peter that it was a sign from God that the Spirit was being poured as another proof that Yeshua was the Messiah who was delivered up to them according to a predetermined plan and they murdered him, but God raised him from the dead. The tongues prompted their questions and Peter was able to preach to them in a language they all could understand. In v 37-41 the people are shocked and they ask what they should do. You see, the tongues got their attention. Peter tells them to repent of their sins and be immersed (baptized) and receive the Holy Spirit. So, being in the Temple, they go over to the mikva’ot (immersion baths) located at the southern end of the Temple mount and three thousand were saved/baptized. Now, what is interesting is that when the Law was given at Mt Sinai, three thousand people were killed (Exo 32.28). In Acts 2, they are gathered in the Temple on the day they celebrated the giving of that Law and three thousand people are saved. You see, the Law in and of itself cannot save anyone, it kills, but the Spirit of God gives life. In short, the people Isaiah was dealing with rejected the plain truth given by the prophets. Because they rejected it, God allowed strange tongues through the Babylonians to enter the city and take the people captive. They would believe the prophets now because of the strange tongues they were hearing in the streets. In Acts 2, the people were rejecting the plan truth given by the prophets again, and ultimately the Messiah Himself. As a result, they hear tongues in the city again as a sign of judgment. The people need to repent and accept Yeshua as the Messiah, corporately as a nation. But, we know they don’t and in 70 AD God sends a foreign nation with foreign tongues against them (Rome and all her auxiliaries), like the Babylonians, and destroys the city and the Temple. Not by coincidence. The Babylonians and the Romans take the city and destroy the Temple on the same day of the Jewish calendar, the 9th of Av. So, that is why Paul says that tongues are a sign for the unbeliever. There is much more to this but I hope this helps.

Hades / Sheol study continued, Pt. 2...

This week we are going to continue with the question about what Sheol is and why it is not the grave. Sheol is described as a shadowy, dark place (Job 10.21-22, Psa 143.3) and located under the earth (Job 11.8, Isa 44.23,57.9, Ezek 26.20, Amos 9.2). These are figures of speech that indicate it is not a part of “this world” and it has an existence of its own in another dimension. It is a place to reunite with people (Gen 15.15,25.8,35.29.37.35, 49.33, Num 20.24-28,31.2, Deut 32.50,34.5,2Sam 12.23). This cannot be referring to a mass grave. It had a high and a low section (Deut 32.22). The condition of man in sheol is a “rephaim” or a disembodied spirit (Job 26.5, Psa 88.10,Prov 2.18,9.18,21.16, Isa 14.9,26.14-19). People can converse and make moral judgments and are conscious (Isa 14.9-20,44.23,Ezek 32.21. What you can experience in physical life like marriage, business and a knowledge of the living is not possible (Psa 6.5, Ecc 9.10). They experience God’s anger (Deut 32.22) and are in distress (Psa 11.6.3). They also experience pain (Job 26.5). In the Tanach, or Old Testament, the righteous and the wicked went to sheol and God began to reveal to his people that they would be taken to God’s presence (Gen 5.24, Heb 11.5, 2 K 2.11, Psa 49.15,73.24). Sheol is open to God’s sight (Job 26.6, Psa 139.8).

The Greek word for Sheol is Hades and in the Septuagint (LXX) Sheol is referred to 71 times. 64 times it is Hades and the other 7 it uses a translation of other Hebrew words meant to shed light on what Hades is. Not once is Hades equal to the grave or unconsciousness but it is always understood as the abode, or realm, of the dead. It does not mean death in Greek (thanatos) or grave (mneema) and not hell (gehenna) or heaven (ouranos). Now, the New Testament picks right up with these concepts in the Tanach (OT). We come to the story in Lk 16.19-31 of Lazarus and the rich man. We see there are two compartments called torment, where the unrighteous went and Abraham’s Bosom where the righteous went (before the resurrection). This was a story built around historical characters which was a common rabbinical technique, using the dialogue method to get across the concept that there is no escape from torment, no second chance. We must believe the Scriptures in this life. As I stated before, before the resurrection, believers and unbelievers were sent there (Jn 3.13). After that the righteous went to heaven (2Cor 5. 6-8, Phil 1.23-24, Rev 6.9-11). Yeshua went there (Acts 2.31, Eph 4.8-10) and he met the thief there (Lk 23.43). He did not go to heaven until after he received his body in the resurrection (Jn 20.15-18). Then paradise was taken out of Hades and made a part of the third heaven (2 Cor 12.2-4). The wicked descend to Hades, in torment to await eternal punishment (2 Pet 2.9). When the Yom ha Din (day of judgment) comes, Hades will be emptied and its inhabitants stand before God (Rev 20.13-15). Now, there is a Catholic doctrine called Purgatory which says that when a believer dies his soul must be “purged” and punished for unresolved venial (not as serious as a mortal)sin before one can enter heaven. This erroneous concept is based on a misunderstanding of 1 Cor 3.15 but this concept is not biblical because the penalty for our sin has already been paid (Rom 5.8). The teaching of Purgatory is a man-made dogma and there is no such place and it has no connection with the concept of Sheol we have been discussing. So, currently, Hades is a temporary, intermediate state between death and the second resurrection where the wicked go. Hades is without paradise now. Hades will be “emptied” into the Lake of Fire at the second resurrection of unbelievers. Next week we will conclude Sheol and hades and discuss paradise and gehenna (hell).

Q. I am very confused about what Hades is. Some say it is the grave and others say it isn’t. Is Hades the same as the grave? Pt. 1

A. No, Hades is not the same as the grave. Some denominations teach this and it stems from a basic confusion of terms and bad Bible translations. People need to look up the words and meanings in concordances and lexicons and this would go a long way in clearing up some of these issues. We should never argue over translations because that is what they are, translations. And translations are predicated on who translates, what their knowledge of the biblical languages are, social issues of the time and other criteria. There are several translations out there that are terrible and they contribute to so much misunderstanding. That’s why looking the words up for yourself and studying their meanings for yourself can go a long way. But, textual criticism is another issue. Let’s deal with what Hades is and isn’t. Hades is the Greek word for the Hebrew “sheol” and it is used 66 times in the Old Testament as the “netherworld” or “abode of the dead” and it cannot mean “grave” even though the King James translation translates it 31 times as “grave”, 31 times as “hell” and “pit” 3 times. The Hebrew word for grave is “kever” and the biblical authors did not view sheol and kever as synonymous. In Isa 14.19 the king is thrown out of kever into sheol, for example. A group of Hebrew scholars were commissioned to translate the Hebrew Tanach (OT) into Greek and this took some time, but the work was completed before 132 BC. Because there were 72 scholars who contributed,the work was called the Septuagint, abbreviated to LXX. In the LXX, sheol is never translated “mneema”, or grave in Greek. Kever is never translated as “hades” either. Kever is the fate of the body, sheol is the fate of the spirit. (Ps 16.8-11, Phil 1.23). Sheol is under the earth (Isa 14.9;44.23;Ezek 26.20;31.14,16,18, 32.18,24; Psa 63.9;139.8;Gen 37.34-35). Those in sheol are conscious (Isa 44.4-7; 44.23;Ezek 31.16;32.21). There are at least 19 contrasts between kever and sheol:

1) Can’t bury in sheol (Gen 23.4,6,9,19,20, 49.30-31).

2) Kever (graves) can be plural, sheol is never plural.

3) Grave is localized, sheol is accessible anywhere.

4) You can purchase and sell a grave, sheol can’t (Gen 23.4-20).

5)You can own a grave, sheol can’t be owned.

6) You can choose a grave (Gen 23.6), sheol can’t

7) You can drop a body into a grave (Gen 50.13), but you can’t with sheol.

8) erect a monument over a grave (Gen 35.20), but in sheol you can’t.

9) you can open and close a grave (2 K 23.16), sheol is never or closed by man.

10) you can touch a grave (Num 19.18), you can’t touch sheol.

11) a grave is ritually unclean, sheol no

12)you can enter and leave a grave (2 k 23.16), sheol no

13) you can uncover and remove bodies (2 K 23.16)), sheol no

14) you can beautify a grave (Gen 35.20), sheol no.

15) you can rob and defile a grave (Jer 8.1-2), but not with sheol.

16) A grave can be destroyed, but sheol can’t be by man.

17) a grave can be full, sheol never (Prov 27.20).

18) you can see a grave, sheol no.

19) you can visit a loved one, but not in sheol (Job 17.16;Isa 38.10).

Next week, we will pick up on this question and start with what sheol is, which is described as a shadowy, dark place (Job 10.21-22, Psa 143.3) and “down under the earth” (Job 11.8; Isa 44.23, 57.9) and not a part of this world. We will then continue on with what the Greek term ‘hades” means and it how the meanings in the New Testament basically pick up where the Old Testament leaves off. We will also talk about “Paradise” and “Gehenna” as well. Hopefully,once you study all this out there will be no questions about these terms and what the Bible has to say on the issue.

Q. Is there any significance to the fact the Jesus taught on the Mount of Olives?

A. He didn’t teach anywhere without it meaning something. In past articles I showed where he taught in the Temple and the Sea of Galilee all had meaning, and the Mount of Olives has major significance. The Mount of Olives is called “har Mashiach” (mount of Messiah) in Hebrew because of its significance to the coming of Messiah. In the rabbinical writings associated with the feast of Sukkot they wrote that when Messiah comes he will weep over the city from the Mount of Olives. (Zech 14). Let’s deal with one passage in Mark 13 .3, Luke 21 and Matt 24 as an example. These passages teach prophecy and it is very significant that he teaches about the final days here (Matt 24.3). The olive tree is symbolic of Israel (Zech 4.2,3,11; Hosea 14.6; Rev 11.4) and the olive was very valuable. The first press is the best and it is called “extra virgin” olive oil. The priest was anointed with it (Ps 133.2; Exo 27.2). It was used in the Temple (Exo 30.25-30) and the title “ Messiah” is “mashiach” in Hebrew and it means “anointed one.” Messiah is an olive branch out of an older root (Isa 11.1-5) leading men out of darkness (Isa 11.6-10). In Jer 23.5-8, 16.14-16 he gathers Israel from among the nations a second time after a “shaking” called the Tribulation or the “birth-pains of the Messiah.” Now, to get the olives the “branches” are shaken violently (tribulation) and in the process some of the branches break. Those branches are grafted back in and become stronger than before and they produce better. In Rom 11.17-24 Paul teaches that scattered Israel will be grafted into their own tree again (redeemed) and in Rom 11.25 he quotes Isa 59.20 concerning this redemption. There is a word picture here. When a branch is grafted back into the tree it is called a “scion.” A scion means “an heir or descendant.” So, it was very significant that he taught about the shaking, scattering and the eventual regathering of Israel at a place called the Mount of Olives. He went to the Garden of Gethsemene on that same mountain the night when he was arrested. Gethsemene means “oil (shemen) press (gat)” and it was where he (Messiah, anointed one) was pressed. He was the first one “pressed’ (extra virgin=without sin) and many are now grafted into one tree and are “heirs” to salvation. There is much more to this concept but it is very significant that the Messiah taught what he did on the Mount of Olives.

Q. What is the Law of the Tongue?

A The Bible has a lot to say about speech and there isn’t enough room to explain this in detail but here are some basic guidelines. First, we have to see what the Law of the tongue is not. It is not naming and claiming anything. He is God, we are his people. We have no creative power in ourselves to speak anything into existence. Lamentations 3.37-38 says that nobody speaks and it comes to pass unless the Lord has commanded it from His own mouth, and from it comes good and evil. Amos 3.6-8 is another verse that says the same thing. There are many faith teachers who teach people that whatever they say in faith will come to pass, but that isn’t true and they know it. That is not the Law of the Tongue. The law of the Tongue can be found in many scriptures, but it is explained in James 3.1-12. To simplify it, everything we say is from one of three time periods..past, present and future. Most speak in the past through anger or to expound , explain, clarify, justify, rationalize, teach and so on. When we speak in the present we request or assert a fact. When we speak in the future we take an oath, promise or declare and we create a reality and things will change around you, so we shouldn’t enter into this area lightly. So, there are literal “ABC’s” to follow to control our tongues. First, “accuracy”, make sure that we don’t exaggerate and embellish. Secondly, “benefit” means that a revelation must be the only way to obtain some constructive benefit. Third, “certainty” is where we must be sure the information is reliable. Fourth, “desire” is for the information that is being told is going to be constructive, not destructive. And lastly, “equity” means that the revelation must not cause undeserved damage to the subject. It’s not “equitable” to protect one person at the expense of the other. This is the basic, biblical meaning of the law of the tongue and I hope this explains what it is and gives you a basic guideline.

Q. What does Mark 9.49 mean where it says that everyone will be salted with fire?

A.To understand this verse we have to put it into context first, and then it will be clearer. Starting in Mk 9.39-48, the Lord is talking about what will happen to those who reject Him. They will go to the Lake of Fire (Rev 20.10) “where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched” quoting Isa 66.24. Their “worm” is a Hebrew idiom meaning their “conscience” and how it will “gnaw” way at them, tormenting and filling them with anguish. In v 49 however the Lord transitions to His own, true believers. “Everyone” refers to “every follower of mine” and the “fire” with which they must endure refers to ”fiery trials” which “season” them (to be salted) because “the servant is not above his master” and the Lord went through the very same thing. This “salting” refers back to Lev 2.13 where it says the Minchah or bread offering must be salted with salt when on the altar (the fire). This refers to the fact that the Messiah, that bread from heaven (Jn 6.58), is the one whose sacrifice is for eternity and it cleanses and preserves us to everlasting life (Jn 6.27). Salt is a preservative, it speaks of eternity and table fellowship. It also was used in cleansing (Ezek 16.4) and also denotes suffering. Salt also prevents fermentation and it was used on the ramp of the altar in the Temple when there was ice so that the priests would not slip, so it refers to being “sure –footed.” The “salt of the covenant” referred to in Lev 2.13 is referring to the perpetuity of the covenant God made at Mt Sinai, which also included the Brit Chadashah, or “new covenant” ( Num 18.19; Deut 29.1 thru 30.11; Jer 31.31,Luke 22.20).

Now, back to our verses in Mark 9.49-50. Every follower will have fiery trials to go through (1Pet 1.7) and to be an acceptable sacrifice and well pleasing to the Lord we must be salted. Matt 5.13 says that we are the “salt of the earth” and Mk 9.50 says that “salt is good”. So what is this salt? In Col 4.6 it says that our speech should be “salted with salt” so that we may know how to sincerely respond to each person. In 1 Pet 3.15-16 it goes a little deeper in that we are to sanctify, or set apart, the Lord in our hearts and to be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks us to give an account for the hope that is within us, yet with gentleness and reverence (salt) and to keep a good conscience (salt) so that in the thing in which you are slandered (fire) , those who revile (the fire) your good behavior (salt) in Christ may be put to shame. So when it refers to salt being good in Mk 9.50 it is referring to how we react under trials (fire) and the situation is “good” as long as we have left others with a good “taste” in their mouths in that they can’t say we spoke or acted untruthfully or unbecomingly. In other words, the salt is that preserving, ceaseless, purifying, honest, friendly speech and how we communicate with people and that should be a positive witness and example to an unbeliever. This “salt” will help remove the “fermentation” of sin in their lives and through our words they can have an accurate picture and may come to know the real Lord and Savior. But if the salt becomes un-flavorful, or does not accomplish the above, what good is it. The verse then concludes with the statement that we should have “salt in yourselves” which means we should retain those valuable and good qualities that will make us a blessing to one another and to all around us and thus, as v 50 says, “be at peace with one another”, the result of the flavorful, good salt.

Q. What does it mean in Rom 3.25 where it says that God “passed over” the sins previously committed?

A. To understand this, we have to see that all of this was decided upon before the world was. It was decided what Yeshua was going to do and what the Father was going to do. In Rom 3.25 it says that God displayed what Yeshua did on the cross in a public manner, as a mercy seat. The word mercy seat is the Hebrew “kipporet” (to cover over, atonement)and it is referring to the lid on the ark of the covenant where the blood was placed on Yom Kippur. The Greek word for “kipporet” is “hilasterion” and this word has the same root as the word “hilarious.” So, God is “hilariously” satisfied with Yeshua’s sacrifice and through his blood grace is bursting forth (Acts 14.16, 17.30). Now, we know that sin demanded death. We read in Gen 2.17 that the Lord said “for in the day that you eat (of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) you shall surely die.” In Hebrew it says “in dying (spiritually) you shall die (physically).” But, that isn’t exactly what happened. There were many who died physically but had faith and did not die in the sense of being forever separated from God. There were many righteous ones before the cross that God kept “safe” from eternal damnation after their death because they had faith. The Father had confidence, faith , in what Yeshua would do. There was much at stake. He knew that if he did not go through with the cross, many would have no chance for salvation because God meant what he said, and if there was no blood, then we all were lost based on Gen 2.17. They were waiting for their salvation in a place called Abraham’s Bosom. Yeshua had to vindicate the Father in what he said in Gen 2.17. Yeshua had to finish his work. Satan, on the other hand, lived up to his name as the accuser because he continually accused God of lying when he said ”in dying you shall die” because there were many who were “saved” from the second death by faith before the cross. So he accused God of having no integrity and lying. Well, Yeshua dies and is resurrected and his blood is the proof that God was righteous in letting death “pass over” the sins previously committed and forever silencing Satan’s accusations against God and us for all time. Yeshua is the “kipporet” before God that he “looks through” on our behalf.

Q. I have heard that Ezekiel 1 describes a UFO. Is that true?

A. Ezekiel chapter one is a very interesting chapter and it uses what is called “apocalyptic” ( to reveal) language. That’s why the Book of Revelation is also called “The Apocalypse” because it uses a style of language known in Hebrew thought as “apocalyptic.” To understand this chapter there are few things that have to be understood. This chapter has nothing to do with flying saucers and here is why.  This vision is known as the “merkavah” (chariot) or in other words the “Ma’aseh Merkavah” or “the work or account of the Chariot.”  The term “chariots of fire “ (merkavah mophtim) comes from this. A “chariot” is the means (vehicle) by which God’s glory is displayed in creation.  Angels, Israel or something else that could be considered Gods “chariot.”  What Ezekiel saw in this vision was the angelic realm that “supported” the throne of God. There are two classes of angels here called “ophanim and cherubim” and they work as messengers, carrying out his will. This brings us to something that needs to be understood. There are five elements in the physical world and they are time, light, mass, space and energy.  The spiritual world has the same thing. There is spiritual time, light, mass, space and energy. This vision is saying that God’s presence ,or Shekinah, would no longer find its place among so degraded a people and it would be confined in the heaven (See Ezekiel 10.1-22; 11.22-25). We see later that Ezekiel saw the presence leave (spiritual movement)the Holy of Holies, then the Temple, then the city and finally into the heavenly realm at the Mt of Olives because judgment was coming and the Temple and city were going to be destroyed.  Interestingly enough, after the resurrection, the Lord left the Temple, the city and ascended into heaven at the same place before the city was again destroyed by the Romans. Here is an important concept. Spiritual movement does not relate to a measurable distance as in physical movement. “Near” means “similar to” and “far” means “opposite”  or “different.”  Spiritual time can be the holy days or prayer time, things like that. Spiritual light is the cause or will of God. Spiritual mass are the agents that carry out God’s will. Spiritual space can be heaven, the Temple, Israel, a home or any place set apart for the Lord. Spiritual energy, therefore,  is the result or effect of the spiritual mass on mankind or creation. So, the vision of the Merkavah in Ezekiel 1 shows a heavenly (spiritual space) “chariot” which is really four angelic beasts called Cherubim. These angels (spiritual mass) are carrying out God’s will. This purpose of God is also called being “in the spirit” or ”under the control” of the spirit, but no mention is made of what exactly the purpose was at that point. But what we have is an example of the relationship between spiritual light (will of God) with spiritual mass (the angels carrying out that will) and the resulting spiritual energy (effect of the actions) upon man and creation. Ezekiel 43.1-5  has the account of the presence of God returning into the Temple.  Now, why is Ezekiel 1, Ezekiel 10 and Ezekiel 43 important to understand in the right way? Because these portions of scripture were read in the Temple and synagogues on the feast of Pentecost and it prepared  the people for what was about to happen 50 days after the resurrection of the Lord and it was the setting for what happened in Acts 2.1-13 with the coming of the Lord’s presence (Spirit) into another Temple, the believer. All the five spiritual elements were in action. There is so much more to get into concerning this but I hope this at least gives you an idea about what the Lord is trying to communicate in these chapters and also will dispel any notions you may have that these chapters have anything to do with UFO’s or flying saucers.