Q.People try to pass the "vicar" title on the pope as saying he was really the "replacement" of St. Peter. However, is it biblical to refer to disciples and others as "saints", as in the title? Secondly, what does the vicar of Christ really mean? Was the pope really referred to as the vicar of Christ by Catholics, that being the replacement on earth, or was it something that non-Catholics "misinterpreted?"
A. You have several questions , so let's take them one at a time. It is not necessary to use"St" in front of the names of certain people. This comes from the fact that the Catholic Church has "canonized" a person as a "saint" because of some special endowment of G-d's grace on them .
They investigate their lives with certain criteria and recognize that they had special"status" because of their "holiness." Protestant churches endorse this practice by accepting this designation in referring to the apostles especially. This is not scriptural, but we have seen it done many times over the years. To refer to a believer in Yeshua as a "saint" is scriptural. Paul in his letters refers to the believers as saints. This word comes from the Hebrew"tzaddikim" which means separated one. , and this separation coming by faith in the L-rd and the keeping of His commandments. It is acceptable to refer to any believer as a saint, but there is no special status, one over the other, like Christianity does.
The term "vicar of Christ" means "substitute" of Christ. According to Catholic doctrine, they believe the pope has authority to be Christ's substitute on earth.Pope Leo xiii said, " We hold upon this earth the place of G-d Almighty." The Catholic catechism, 1994 p. 254 says that "the Pope holds that title." Pope Boniface viii in 1302 said, " it is necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff." So, the is really referred to as the vicar of Christ and it is taught that way. During the last papal funeral, this term was used over and over again.
This occasion was used to get the message out across the world that the pope has spiritual authority of the whole world. And the protestants have nothing to brag about, because every church follows some papal doctrine to this day. Examples of papal authority is Sunday worship, Easter, Christmas, not having to keep the biblical food laws and many more. When a protestant obeys these things, they obey the Catholic Church and papal authority. They are free to choose who they will follow, don't get me wrong, but take a closer look at this before you criticize a Catholic.
I grew up Catholic, and I've heard the Protestant arguments and we used to smile because they followed us and "didn't even know it." Look at the nice things protestant ministers said about the last pope. Quotes like, A true man of faith for our generation" and "man of G-d" and such. So, yes the pope is really referred to as the substitute of Christ on earth and this is not something that the non-Catholics made up. But, isn't that what all mankind has done? We make up our own doctrines like" the Law has been done away with" and" the Sabbath has been changed to Sunday", or "I am free to eat pork because I' m free from the Law." When we make statements like that and disobey the clear word of G-d on this, don't we make ourselves a "vicar of Christ" on earth? So, in all fairness, this doctrine is not any more heinous than what we all have done.
That is why we need to repent and turn to the L-rd and obey His commandments like He wants us to. Judgment of this nation and the world is coming very soon, G-d is separating the His sheep from the goats. His sheep know His voice (word) and follow Him (commandments). If you are going somewhere where the Torah is not being taught, find a place and turn from your present way before it's too late. I believe that this nation is doomed, there is no hope for a national repentance to save it from the coming tribulation. But, individual people can escape the judgment of eternal death if you turn to Yeshua and begin to follow Him through His word. Time is running out, the signs are rapidly coming together. Now, go and study!
The La Quinta meeting room in Alvarado, 1165 Hwy 67W Alvarado, TX. 76009. (Behind Sonic)
For information Email at wmriley17@yahoo.com
Olive Tree Image
upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
1 Corinthians 10:11 (NASB95)
Sunday, November 6, 2005
Covered heads, kippahs
Q. In Leviticus 10.6 it says that Aaron and his sons were not to uncover their heads, neither rend their garments "lest you die and wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the L-rd has kindled." Do you think this verse is why Jewish men wear "kippahs" today, or were only the priests to cover their heads?
A. This statement comes right after Aarons 2 sons were killed for offering strange fire before the L_rd. What G-d is telling them was they were not to mourn for them. The priests wore headcoverings, a turban style covering because they had the anointing oil on their heads and this was a second covering over the first covering (oil) that had the glory. They were told not to mourn because this would have made it look like G-d was wrong in what happened, and of course He wasn't, so they were not to give that impression. There is no commandment for men to wear headcoverings in prayer or worship in the scriptures, only the priests. Where this comes about is a long story, but with the failure over the years of the priesthood, teachers and sages emerged. THis came about after the Babylonian captivity, and these sages were the ancestors of what became the Pharisee's.
The Sadducee's were mostly made up of the priestly clans. Needless to say, there evolved a bitter rivalry between the two groups for the attention of the people. The Pharisee's began to say that "all the people were a kingdom of priests" and began to take some of the Torah commands for priests and apply them to the people, and wearing a headcovering was one of them that has survived to this day. Ritual handwashing, which Yeshua criticized, is still done today also. Basically, the Pharisee's usurped authority from the priests, along with certain commandments that were only meant for them.
The kippah is a circular piece of cloth that most people have seen. I believe this shape comes from what people saw in the Babylonian captivity. Babylonian worship included worship of the sun, and the circular shape on the head was done by either cutting the hair or wearing a round headcovering. This was to represent the sun disk. Well, this shape caught on among the ignorant and it has been passed down and seen today in Judaism and your more liturgical churches like the Catholic church. That's why the popes, cardinals ,bishops wear the same thing you see on Jewish men, they both have Babylonian roots.
Q: In Leviticus 10.9 it says that Aaron was not to drink wine when he goes into the Tabernacle. Is this why some Christians won't drink wine and only grape juice?
A. Christianity did not have a problem with wine, and most Christians today don't have a problem with it. It is not a sin to drink wine, or strong drink. The sin comes from the abuse of it. Early in the 20th century, the fires of prohibition were flamed by articulate preachers who used the Bible to decry the use of alcohol and that it was the root of all evil,causing legislators to to make laws "prohibiting" alcohol. This certainly has not been the overwhelming view of Christianity over the centuries, and certainly was not G-d's view of it. There are passages awarding about the abuse of alcohol, but others saying it was a gift from G-d, it was offered in the Temple, you were commanded to buy it with tithe money at Sukkot in Deut 14.22-27. What happened was people took the negative scriptures about alcohol to prove their point, neglecting the positive ones. Well, these ministers trained others, and they trained others and this view gets passed down through certain denominations today.
A. This statement comes right after Aarons 2 sons were killed for offering strange fire before the L_rd. What G-d is telling them was they were not to mourn for them. The priests wore headcoverings, a turban style covering because they had the anointing oil on their heads and this was a second covering over the first covering (oil) that had the glory. They were told not to mourn because this would have made it look like G-d was wrong in what happened, and of course He wasn't, so they were not to give that impression. There is no commandment for men to wear headcoverings in prayer or worship in the scriptures, only the priests. Where this comes about is a long story, but with the failure over the years of the priesthood, teachers and sages emerged. THis came about after the Babylonian captivity, and these sages were the ancestors of what became the Pharisee's.
The Sadducee's were mostly made up of the priestly clans. Needless to say, there evolved a bitter rivalry between the two groups for the attention of the people. The Pharisee's began to say that "all the people were a kingdom of priests" and began to take some of the Torah commands for priests and apply them to the people, and wearing a headcovering was one of them that has survived to this day. Ritual handwashing, which Yeshua criticized, is still done today also. Basically, the Pharisee's usurped authority from the priests, along with certain commandments that were only meant for them.
The kippah is a circular piece of cloth that most people have seen. I believe this shape comes from what people saw in the Babylonian captivity. Babylonian worship included worship of the sun, and the circular shape on the head was done by either cutting the hair or wearing a round headcovering. This was to represent the sun disk. Well, this shape caught on among the ignorant and it has been passed down and seen today in Judaism and your more liturgical churches like the Catholic church. That's why the popes, cardinals ,bishops wear the same thing you see on Jewish men, they both have Babylonian roots.
Q: In Leviticus 10.9 it says that Aaron was not to drink wine when he goes into the Tabernacle. Is this why some Christians won't drink wine and only grape juice?
A. Christianity did not have a problem with wine, and most Christians today don't have a problem with it. It is not a sin to drink wine, or strong drink. The sin comes from the abuse of it. Early in the 20th century, the fires of prohibition were flamed by articulate preachers who used the Bible to decry the use of alcohol and that it was the root of all evil,causing legislators to to make laws "prohibiting" alcohol. This certainly has not been the overwhelming view of Christianity over the centuries, and certainly was not G-d's view of it. There are passages awarding about the abuse of alcohol, but others saying it was a gift from G-d, it was offered in the Temple, you were commanded to buy it with tithe money at Sukkot in Deut 14.22-27. What happened was people took the negative scriptures about alcohol to prove their point, neglecting the positive ones. Well, these ministers trained others, and they trained others and this view gets passed down through certain denominations today.
Understanding Sheol, Hell
Q. In Numbers 16 it describes the children of Korah going straight to Sheol. It was my understanding that Sheol was hell. Why would G-d send innocent children to hell?
A. Sheol is the Hebrew word for the abode of the dead. The Greek uses “hades”. It is beneath the earth (Ezek 31.15-17). Luke 16 gives us a glimpse of “hell” or “sheol” or “hades”. Three words are rendered “hell” in KJV but the Revised Version is more accurate. The meaning of “sheol” moves between the ideas of the grave, the underworld and the state of death. G-d rules sheol and it is under the earth (Ps 86.13). Sheol is a form of judgment in some passages (Ps 49.13-14, Ezek 31.14). There is not time and space to completely cover all this, but basically these children went to sheol is another way of saying they “died.” This doesn’t mean they went to hell for punishment, only thet they entered the abode of the dead. Sheol is where the unbeliever awaits his final judgment (Rev 6.8). It is to give up its dead (Rev 20.13) and then be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev 20.14).
Q. Can a believer lose his salvation?
A. No, it is impossible for a true believer to lose his salvation. Let me give some scriptures and some things to think about. John 17 says it is impossible for you to be snatched out of the Fathers hand. You enter into a relationship spiritually with the L-rd like a baby is born. Just like a baby cannot be unborn, it is the same spiritually. This covenant has G-d’s name in it and He will not go back on it, even if/when we fail. We are already positioned “in” Messiah. We can’t be lost again or Messiah would be lost because we a re “in” Him. We cannot save ourselves by works, good or bad. So, how can we keep ourselves “saved by works. Both are impossible.
The trouble is, most people think they are saved and aren’t, so this comes up. They misinterpret the scriptures in Hebrews and Peter and they get everyone all upset. Almost every person I have ever talked to that believes that also doesn’t keep the Torah, so according to their own definition they are lost. Not keeping the Sabbath is sin, Not keeping the biblical festivals is sin. Eating pork, catfish, shellfish, lobster and shrimp is sin, yet they want to believe they can lose their salvation id one sins. It’s all very confusing if you don’t know the L-rd.
You see, He is the one who keeps you, to lose your salvation means that you would have to remove the foundation, which is G-d, and He said He isn’t moving. If the L-rd can save us when we were sinners and His enemies (Rom 5.6-10), why can’t He keep His friends? You cannot return Yeshua to the “un-slain lamb” position and you can’t return yourself to the “unborn-again” position either. Quit thinking like men and look at this from the L-rd’s point of view. A baby can’t return itself to the womb again, and neither can you spiritually. There is a lot of bad teaching out there, but that is not surprising. These false teachers don’t know G-d or the scriptures. Most of them don’t even know what sin is.
They even go so far as to say things used to be sin, but they aren’t anymore. I don’t put a lot of stock in their opinions on this subject either. If you are a true believer, you will have a testimony of Yeshua and you will keep the commandments. Anyone who doesn’t keep the commandments but says he knows the L-rd is a liar and is not qualified to speak about this subject, or any spiritual subject for that matter (1Jn 2.3-4). So, if you are a true believer in Yeshua, rest assured that you are safe and follow Him, obeying His commandments as a rule and guide in your life.
And when you fall short, if you confess your sin, He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you (1Jn. 1.9). Remember, In Jn 13, Yeshua washes Peter’s feet Peter says “No” and Yeshua say’s if He doesn’t he can have no part in Him. Peter then says “wash my whole body. Yeshua says that once you have bathed(been born-again, regenerated), you only need the daily cleansing from sin. There is a difference between that initial judicial regeneration and daily cleansing.
A. Sheol is the Hebrew word for the abode of the dead. The Greek uses “hades”. It is beneath the earth (Ezek 31.15-17). Luke 16 gives us a glimpse of “hell” or “sheol” or “hades”. Three words are rendered “hell” in KJV but the Revised Version is more accurate. The meaning of “sheol” moves between the ideas of the grave, the underworld and the state of death. G-d rules sheol and it is under the earth (Ps 86.13). Sheol is a form of judgment in some passages (Ps 49.13-14, Ezek 31.14). There is not time and space to completely cover all this, but basically these children went to sheol is another way of saying they “died.” This doesn’t mean they went to hell for punishment, only thet they entered the abode of the dead. Sheol is where the unbeliever awaits his final judgment (Rev 6.8). It is to give up its dead (Rev 20.13) and then be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev 20.14).
Q. Can a believer lose his salvation?
A. No, it is impossible for a true believer to lose his salvation. Let me give some scriptures and some things to think about. John 17 says it is impossible for you to be snatched out of the Fathers hand. You enter into a relationship spiritually with the L-rd like a baby is born. Just like a baby cannot be unborn, it is the same spiritually. This covenant has G-d’s name in it and He will not go back on it, even if/when we fail. We are already positioned “in” Messiah. We can’t be lost again or Messiah would be lost because we a re “in” Him. We cannot save ourselves by works, good or bad. So, how can we keep ourselves “saved by works. Both are impossible.
The trouble is, most people think they are saved and aren’t, so this comes up. They misinterpret the scriptures in Hebrews and Peter and they get everyone all upset. Almost every person I have ever talked to that believes that also doesn’t keep the Torah, so according to their own definition they are lost. Not keeping the Sabbath is sin, Not keeping the biblical festivals is sin. Eating pork, catfish, shellfish, lobster and shrimp is sin, yet they want to believe they can lose their salvation id one sins. It’s all very confusing if you don’t know the L-rd.
You see, He is the one who keeps you, to lose your salvation means that you would have to remove the foundation, which is G-d, and He said He isn’t moving. If the L-rd can save us when we were sinners and His enemies (Rom 5.6-10), why can’t He keep His friends? You cannot return Yeshua to the “un-slain lamb” position and you can’t return yourself to the “unborn-again” position either. Quit thinking like men and look at this from the L-rd’s point of view. A baby can’t return itself to the womb again, and neither can you spiritually. There is a lot of bad teaching out there, but that is not surprising. These false teachers don’t know G-d or the scriptures. Most of them don’t even know what sin is.
They even go so far as to say things used to be sin, but they aren’t anymore. I don’t put a lot of stock in their opinions on this subject either. If you are a true believer, you will have a testimony of Yeshua and you will keep the commandments. Anyone who doesn’t keep the commandments but says he knows the L-rd is a liar and is not qualified to speak about this subject, or any spiritual subject for that matter (1Jn 2.3-4). So, if you are a true believer in Yeshua, rest assured that you are safe and follow Him, obeying His commandments as a rule and guide in your life.
And when you fall short, if you confess your sin, He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you (1Jn. 1.9). Remember, In Jn 13, Yeshua washes Peter’s feet Peter says “No” and Yeshua say’s if He doesn’t he can have no part in Him. Peter then says “wash my whole body. Yeshua says that once you have bathed(been born-again, regenerated), you only need the daily cleansing from sin. There is a difference between that initial judicial regeneration and daily cleansing.
Planting and harvesting
Q.What does planting and harvesting represent spiritually? Why does the land represent and why would it need a Sabbath rest. I understand these physically, but what do these things mean spiritually?
A.One of the things that believers have lost is the ability to interpret the scriptures using well established Bible symbols. There is the literal meaning and many times there are underlying spiritual messages to the verse or story being presented.
There are thousands of examples for this and it was used by Yeshua in His parables and Paul used it quite often. For instance Yeshua said that just as the serpent was lifted up on a pole, so shall the Son of Man be lifted up, it was a type. The sower and the seed is another example. The whole Passover story is a type, as is the Sabbath and all the festivals. Every story in the scriptures has a spiritual application. One rule is to take a story literally, unless the context is obviously not going to let you do that. For example, John saw a 7-headed beast arising out of the sea.
Well, he didn't actually see this literally, but in a vision of what G-d was doing in the book of Revelation. So, back to your question. What is mentioned in scripture means something. Names mean something, look them up. Directions mean something. For instance, east means away from G-d, west is approaching G-d, north is the direction relating to intelligence and wisdom, whether good of bad.,south is the direction of faith. Harvesting/reaping has to do with labor and rewards. Here is another key.
Earth means genuine faith of the believer, land means profession, whether genuine of false, and ground means society in general. So, look to see what word is used and you will have a key to how to interpret the verse. Sabbath rest is easy to understand. It speaks of resting from our own works, that's why we are commanded to rest on the 7th day each week. G-d is communicating a spiritual principle. To be in Him, we are to rest from our own works.and trust Him. Sadly, so-called believers don't follow this commandment and follow their own works (Sunday) which comminicates to G-d that they don't believe or trust Him.
They work on Saturday because they don't trust the L-rd to meet their needs the other 6 days. Many Christians say they believe that Sunday is the Sabbath, meaning rest, but then go out and buy and sell, eat in restaurants causing others to work, so they not only have the day wrong, they don't even follow their own beliefs.
There are hundreds of symbols in the scriptures that will help you understand what the L-rd is saying. Eating has to do with satisfaction, Babylon is the world of false religion. Male has to do with the activity of the will, female the submission of the will, Jerusalem is a picture of the heart, leprosy sin, a jawbone is strength, donkey is the old nature, concubines are symbolic of going beyond the written word. When G-d uses Israel it relates to spiritual blessings while Jacob relates to the physical.
The first born relates to the flesh, while the second born relates to the spiritual, that's why it was Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over Reuben, Ephraim over Manasseh, etc. Israel is represented by three trees in scripture, the vine relates to the Exodus period, the fig tree relates to Israel during the kings and up to this modern era, and the olive tree to Israel when Messiah comes, a mountain is symbolic of kings and kingdoms. Garments are related to righteousness, green is life, black is famine and the list goes on and on. A valley is seen as a place of service and fruitfulness. So, planting and harvesting relate to service with the word, teaching and planting that word in others, harvesting is the benefit people receive from that word. Letting the land rest relates to the fact that if your faith is genuine, you will rest on the Sabbath literally, and spiritually rest from our own works to obtain salvation.
The Sabbath principle relates to not only people, but to the land, which is symbolic of profession, either genuine or false. Our congregation is studying the scriptures using these symbols to see the underlying messages G-d has, and it gives much needed insight into some very curious stories that have puzzled people for years. Once you understand the types and symbols, then you will understand why G-d told people to do the things they did. We are going verse by verse through the Torah and other books pointing out the meanings to all these things. There are thousands of them, but the L-rd expects us to understand them. The book of Daniel and Revelation is nothing but these symbols. I hope this helps.
A.One of the things that believers have lost is the ability to interpret the scriptures using well established Bible symbols. There is the literal meaning and many times there are underlying spiritual messages to the verse or story being presented.
There are thousands of examples for this and it was used by Yeshua in His parables and Paul used it quite often. For instance Yeshua said that just as the serpent was lifted up on a pole, so shall the Son of Man be lifted up, it was a type. The sower and the seed is another example. The whole Passover story is a type, as is the Sabbath and all the festivals. Every story in the scriptures has a spiritual application. One rule is to take a story literally, unless the context is obviously not going to let you do that. For example, John saw a 7-headed beast arising out of the sea.
Well, he didn't actually see this literally, but in a vision of what G-d was doing in the book of Revelation. So, back to your question. What is mentioned in scripture means something. Names mean something, look them up. Directions mean something. For instance, east means away from G-d, west is approaching G-d, north is the direction relating to intelligence and wisdom, whether good of bad.,south is the direction of faith. Harvesting/reaping has to do with labor and rewards. Here is another key.
Earth means genuine faith of the believer, land means profession, whether genuine of false, and ground means society in general. So, look to see what word is used and you will have a key to how to interpret the verse. Sabbath rest is easy to understand. It speaks of resting from our own works, that's why we are commanded to rest on the 7th day each week. G-d is communicating a spiritual principle. To be in Him, we are to rest from our own works.and trust Him. Sadly, so-called believers don't follow this commandment and follow their own works (Sunday) which comminicates to G-d that they don't believe or trust Him.
They work on Saturday because they don't trust the L-rd to meet their needs the other 6 days. Many Christians say they believe that Sunday is the Sabbath, meaning rest, but then go out and buy and sell, eat in restaurants causing others to work, so they not only have the day wrong, they don't even follow their own beliefs.
There are hundreds of symbols in the scriptures that will help you understand what the L-rd is saying. Eating has to do with satisfaction, Babylon is the world of false religion. Male has to do with the activity of the will, female the submission of the will, Jerusalem is a picture of the heart, leprosy sin, a jawbone is strength, donkey is the old nature, concubines are symbolic of going beyond the written word. When G-d uses Israel it relates to spiritual blessings while Jacob relates to the physical.
The first born relates to the flesh, while the second born relates to the spiritual, that's why it was Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over Reuben, Ephraim over Manasseh, etc. Israel is represented by three trees in scripture, the vine relates to the Exodus period, the fig tree relates to Israel during the kings and up to this modern era, and the olive tree to Israel when Messiah comes, a mountain is symbolic of kings and kingdoms. Garments are related to righteousness, green is life, black is famine and the list goes on and on. A valley is seen as a place of service and fruitfulness. So, planting and harvesting relate to service with the word, teaching and planting that word in others, harvesting is the benefit people receive from that word. Letting the land rest relates to the fact that if your faith is genuine, you will rest on the Sabbath literally, and spiritually rest from our own works to obtain salvation.
The Sabbath principle relates to not only people, but to the land, which is symbolic of profession, either genuine or false. Our congregation is studying the scriptures using these symbols to see the underlying messages G-d has, and it gives much needed insight into some very curious stories that have puzzled people for years. Once you understand the types and symbols, then you will understand why G-d told people to do the things they did. We are going verse by verse through the Torah and other books pointing out the meanings to all these things. There are thousands of them, but the L-rd expects us to understand them. The book of Daniel and Revelation is nothing but these symbols. I hope this helps.
Last Days, prophecy, TV preachers
Q. There is a lot of talk on television about the “last days” and prophecy. What is your opinion on this, and are we in the “last days”?
A. I have noticed that there has been many programs on television about this subject and it has raised some curiosity. Most of what I have seen are just for sensation and it gets people’s attention, but the substance is lacking.
Many books have been written recently, some bestsellers, but again it is mostly fiction and these so-called Bible prophecy experts don’t really understand the Scriptures concerning the prophetic scenario, and the errors are too many to go into here. That is not to say that everything in these books and programs is wrong, but the overall layout and premise is inaccurate, leading many people to accept these authors and writers as some sort of “prophecy experts”, appearing on talk shows and in magazines about the end times. So, with that said, let’s get into your question. People for centuries have believed that their generation was living in the last days, and obviously they were not, so what makes this any different. There is one key error nearly all of these people make, and that is they do not understand the Biblical festivals given by the L-rd in Leviticus 23.
These festivals are a blueprint for G-d’s plan through the ages. Christian theology has done away with these festivals and has redefined what the New Covenant is. The New Covenant is not what people teach it is today in Christian circles. First, it is not “new”, the word means “renewed”, relating back to the Torah, which will be written on one’s heart by the Spirit of G-d. If you don’t follow the Torah, and have no desire to, you are not being led by G-d to do that. Second, the Renewed Covenant is made with Israel and Judah, not Christianity.
Third, this covenant is not fully in force yet because not everyone knows the L-rd and people still need to be taught (see Jer. 31. 31-34). So, because of this false theology that teaches people that because Yeshua came and died on the cross, the Torah has been done away with, ignorance of G-d’s plan prevails in these end-time scenarios. There are several concepts to understand before one begins to interpret the signs of the times.
Yeshua and Paul said that the people of their day had access to the information needed to properly recognize and interpret the signs, but because they were listening to man-made doctrines, they were “in the dark” on these things. The Scriptures teach a 7000 yr plan of G-d, 6000 years are seen as a “week” followed by a 1000 year 7th day Messianic Kingdom. Since many so-called believers reject the Sabbath, they are ignorant of this blueprint. Then, there are the spring festivals which teach the 1st coming of Messiah, fulfilled to the letter, followed by the fall festivals that teach the Tribulation, false messiah, the resurrection of believers, the 2nd coming of Messiah and the judgment.
I believe we are in the last days. Eschatologically, Yeshua came at year 4000, then 2 days (2000 years) called the last days, followed by the Messianic Kingdom of 1000 years, called the Sabbath, the L-rd’s day, the day of the L-rd and so on. According to the chronologies in the Bible, history and the signs given in the Scriptures, we are very close to the year 6000. Once that comes, the Rosh Ha Shanah that begins year 6001 will begin the L-rd’s day and the catching away of the believers. Ten days later on Yom Kippur the false messiah will confirm the covenant with Israel beginning the 2,520 days of the Tribulation ending on a Yom Kippur and the coming of Yeshua to Jerusalem.
There will 5 days of judgment (Mt 25) of the nations, then the feast of Sukkot starts with Yeshua beginning His Messianic reign on earth from Jerusalem, with the Torah being the Law of the earth (Isa 2.2) and the nations submitting to it. G-d is calling His people right now. Those that will listen to His voice and come out of apostate religious systems and follow the Torah (instruction), are His sheep.
Those that don’t are not His sheep and do not know His voice. If you do not believe, it will be known by your actions. You will find any reason to convince yourself that you are free from obeying G-d, breaking the Sabbath, eating whatever you want, keeping pagan festivals( and not G-d’s) , and finding any excuse to justify disobedience to the Torah of G-d.
This is the “last call” before the Tribulation begins. There isn’t much time left to decide who you are going to believe. Your actions will reveal where you heart is. If you follow G-d, then you will keep the commandments. If you follow man, then you will keep Sunday, eat pork, celebrate Christmas and go to church. G-d gives you a choice, but don’t justify your actions with misquoting scripture and telling G-d how much you love Him with pig meat between your teeth. Man must repent of these things before it’s too late. Otherwise, the prospects of surviving the “birth pains” and the false messiah, wars and pestilence are pretty slim. True faith in Yeshua results in obedience to His word.
A. I have noticed that there has been many programs on television about this subject and it has raised some curiosity. Most of what I have seen are just for sensation and it gets people’s attention, but the substance is lacking.
Many books have been written recently, some bestsellers, but again it is mostly fiction and these so-called Bible prophecy experts don’t really understand the Scriptures concerning the prophetic scenario, and the errors are too many to go into here. That is not to say that everything in these books and programs is wrong, but the overall layout and premise is inaccurate, leading many people to accept these authors and writers as some sort of “prophecy experts”, appearing on talk shows and in magazines about the end times. So, with that said, let’s get into your question. People for centuries have believed that their generation was living in the last days, and obviously they were not, so what makes this any different. There is one key error nearly all of these people make, and that is they do not understand the Biblical festivals given by the L-rd in Leviticus 23.
These festivals are a blueprint for G-d’s plan through the ages. Christian theology has done away with these festivals and has redefined what the New Covenant is. The New Covenant is not what people teach it is today in Christian circles. First, it is not “new”, the word means “renewed”, relating back to the Torah, which will be written on one’s heart by the Spirit of G-d. If you don’t follow the Torah, and have no desire to, you are not being led by G-d to do that. Second, the Renewed Covenant is made with Israel and Judah, not Christianity.
Third, this covenant is not fully in force yet because not everyone knows the L-rd and people still need to be taught (see Jer. 31. 31-34). So, because of this false theology that teaches people that because Yeshua came and died on the cross, the Torah has been done away with, ignorance of G-d’s plan prevails in these end-time scenarios. There are several concepts to understand before one begins to interpret the signs of the times.
Yeshua and Paul said that the people of their day had access to the information needed to properly recognize and interpret the signs, but because they were listening to man-made doctrines, they were “in the dark” on these things. The Scriptures teach a 7000 yr plan of G-d, 6000 years are seen as a “week” followed by a 1000 year 7th day Messianic Kingdom. Since many so-called believers reject the Sabbath, they are ignorant of this blueprint. Then, there are the spring festivals which teach the 1st coming of Messiah, fulfilled to the letter, followed by the fall festivals that teach the Tribulation, false messiah, the resurrection of believers, the 2nd coming of Messiah and the judgment.
I believe we are in the last days. Eschatologically, Yeshua came at year 4000, then 2 days (2000 years) called the last days, followed by the Messianic Kingdom of 1000 years, called the Sabbath, the L-rd’s day, the day of the L-rd and so on. According to the chronologies in the Bible, history and the signs given in the Scriptures, we are very close to the year 6000. Once that comes, the Rosh Ha Shanah that begins year 6001 will begin the L-rd’s day and the catching away of the believers. Ten days later on Yom Kippur the false messiah will confirm the covenant with Israel beginning the 2,520 days of the Tribulation ending on a Yom Kippur and the coming of Yeshua to Jerusalem.
There will 5 days of judgment (Mt 25) of the nations, then the feast of Sukkot starts with Yeshua beginning His Messianic reign on earth from Jerusalem, with the Torah being the Law of the earth (Isa 2.2) and the nations submitting to it. G-d is calling His people right now. Those that will listen to His voice and come out of apostate religious systems and follow the Torah (instruction), are His sheep.
Those that don’t are not His sheep and do not know His voice. If you do not believe, it will be known by your actions. You will find any reason to convince yourself that you are free from obeying G-d, breaking the Sabbath, eating whatever you want, keeping pagan festivals( and not G-d’s) , and finding any excuse to justify disobedience to the Torah of G-d.
This is the “last call” before the Tribulation begins. There isn’t much time left to decide who you are going to believe. Your actions will reveal where you heart is. If you follow G-d, then you will keep the commandments. If you follow man, then you will keep Sunday, eat pork, celebrate Christmas and go to church. G-d gives you a choice, but don’t justify your actions with misquoting scripture and telling G-d how much you love Him with pig meat between your teeth. Man must repent of these things before it’s too late. Otherwise, the prospects of surviving the “birth pains” and the false messiah, wars and pestilence are pretty slim. True faith in Yeshua results in obedience to His word.
Cont'd...Women in Leadership
This week we are continuing with the question of last week about a woman’s role in the congregations.
What has developed today is a far cry from the L-rd’s intent and this week we are going to look at Yeshua’s attitude toward women and their role in 1st century congregations. Yeshua offered his friendship to women, praised them and spoke at length to them. He openly expressed His feelings for a woman in grief, accepted them as students. He treated the woman caught in adultery as an equal, considered the worth of a woman greater than the Rabbinic laws about the Sabbath and entrusted a woman with the testimony about His resurrection. He had many contacts with women in the New Testament. He treated them as people with high value and very capable.
All this teaches us that He put women on equal status as men, felt they were capable and able to learn and to carry out the great commission and had a responsibility to serve G-d, just like the men did. They were active members of His movement. Some even traveled with Him, following their teacher wherever He went. What is interesting about all this is that not one writer of the times ever thought this as being scandalous or abnormal. The prophet Joel prophesied that the L-rd was going to pour out His Spirit on all flesh, both men and women, and they would function as He directs..
The Messianic congregations and community consisted of male and female believers. Each was expected to exercise the ministry G-d gave them, empowered by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Ministry is what each believer does because they are a “talmid” or student of the L-rd. It is not just some “job” one decides to do for the rest of their lives. You don’t decide to be a shepherd or a prophet or a teacher. Everyone is called to be His servant and the King directs us according to His purposes.
Like when a king has a vineyard, he decides what needs to be done that day, then sends his servants out to get it done. It is the same with the L-rd and His “vineyard. One day we need to prune, or cut. We may need to carry or fill skins. We may need to transport. The point is, the servant never decides what he needed to do, and neither do we. Women had leadership roles in the congregations. Leadership is different than the ministry we all have. All are “talmidim” but not all are leaders.
True leaders are called of G-d, is given the skills, is anointed and blessed and then empowered.. Since the 3rd -4th century the so-called leaders in Christianity have often been filling offices with warm bodies rather than true believers. They prefer politics over the called, skilled, anointed and empowered. It is very evident in the New Testament that women were used in leadership.
Why would G-d empowered women with the Holy Spirit as countless Bible verses say, then deny them the opportunity to function? Leadership roles were filled by women as well as men. Ephesians 4.11-13 describes several leadership functions such as apostles (sent ones), prophets, proclaimers of the good news(evangelists), and shepherds(pastors).and teachers.
These roles are to build up the body and to equip, train, counsel and coordinate believers. Women were very active in all these functions. Next week we will deal with the functions specifically and how women were used by the L-rd as apostles, prophets. Evangelists, pastors and teachers.
What has developed today is a far cry from the L-rd’s intent and this week we are going to look at Yeshua’s attitude toward women and their role in 1st century congregations. Yeshua offered his friendship to women, praised them and spoke at length to them. He openly expressed His feelings for a woman in grief, accepted them as students. He treated the woman caught in adultery as an equal, considered the worth of a woman greater than the Rabbinic laws about the Sabbath and entrusted a woman with the testimony about His resurrection. He had many contacts with women in the New Testament. He treated them as people with high value and very capable.
All this teaches us that He put women on equal status as men, felt they were capable and able to learn and to carry out the great commission and had a responsibility to serve G-d, just like the men did. They were active members of His movement. Some even traveled with Him, following their teacher wherever He went. What is interesting about all this is that not one writer of the times ever thought this as being scandalous or abnormal. The prophet Joel prophesied that the L-rd was going to pour out His Spirit on all flesh, both men and women, and they would function as He directs..
The Messianic congregations and community consisted of male and female believers. Each was expected to exercise the ministry G-d gave them, empowered by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Ministry is what each believer does because they are a “talmid” or student of the L-rd. It is not just some “job” one decides to do for the rest of their lives. You don’t decide to be a shepherd or a prophet or a teacher. Everyone is called to be His servant and the King directs us according to His purposes.
Like when a king has a vineyard, he decides what needs to be done that day, then sends his servants out to get it done. It is the same with the L-rd and His “vineyard. One day we need to prune, or cut. We may need to carry or fill skins. We may need to transport. The point is, the servant never decides what he needed to do, and neither do we. Women had leadership roles in the congregations. Leadership is different than the ministry we all have. All are “talmidim” but not all are leaders.
True leaders are called of G-d, is given the skills, is anointed and blessed and then empowered.. Since the 3rd -4th century the so-called leaders in Christianity have often been filling offices with warm bodies rather than true believers. They prefer politics over the called, skilled, anointed and empowered. It is very evident in the New Testament that women were used in leadership.
Why would G-d empowered women with the Holy Spirit as countless Bible verses say, then deny them the opportunity to function? Leadership roles were filled by women as well as men. Ephesians 4.11-13 describes several leadership functions such as apostles (sent ones), prophets, proclaimers of the good news(evangelists), and shepherds(pastors).and teachers.
These roles are to build up the body and to equip, train, counsel and coordinate believers. Women were very active in all these functions. Next week we will deal with the functions specifically and how women were used by the L-rd as apostles, prophets. Evangelists, pastors and teachers.
Not knowing the 'times and seasons'
Q. What does it mean in Acts 1.7 that they will “not know the times and seasons”, and in Matt.24.36, not know “the day or hour”, and yet in other places the people are rebuked for not knowing, what does all this mean?
A. This is a good question, and not as confusing as it may seem. The reason that this seems so confusing is again because of bad teaching and a lack of knowledge of the plan of G-d. A simple understanding of the festivals and Sabbath, along with good Torah teaching would give you the answer, so it is from that approach that this question will be answered. G-d has revealed His plan through out the scriptures to Israel.
The prophets have revealed very specific information about world history as it relates to the coming of the Messiah. The prophet Daniel, in particular, was given specific information. In Daniel 9.24-27, there is the 70 week prophecy of Daniel(Dan 9.24). Time was divided during these 70 weeks of years, or 490 years total. It was revealed that from the going forth of the decree to build the Temple to the coming of Messiah was 69 weeks of years, which is 483 years, or 173,880 days.
Those that followed the scriptures knew that the fourth beast of Daniels vision (Dan 7.7-Rome) had come along, and the 483 years was near, but most people, like today, didn’t know the scriptures and followed their teachers and ignored the signs and eschatology G-d had set up. Exactly 173,880 days after the decree went out to rebuild the Temple (Dan 9.25), Yeshua rides into Jerusalem on the 10 of Nisan and presented Himself as the Messiah, but He knew He was going to be rejected.
In Luke 19.41-44, He weeps over the city and says that if they had know what day it was, they would have been blessed, but now destruction was coming because they did not know the day of their visitation. In other words, the scriptures were clear as to when Messiah was coming, and they did not see it, so now that will be taken away from them. Israel should have known by the Word exactly about His coming to present the Kingdom of G-d.
It was presented and rejected. The term “not know” is an idiom meaning not fixed in time. So, because they rejected the Kingdom offer, its coming is not fixed in time right now and that is why He said they would not know. But, that will only hold true till the Tribulation period, or “birth-pains” described in Revelation and Daniel especially. Remember, G-d revealed to Daniel 490 years of dealing with Israel, 483 years have been done with the rejection of the Messianic Kingdom offer. Seven years remain that is where the seven year tribulation comes in.
That seven year period will start when the False Messiah will confirm a covenant with Israel ( Dan 9.27). When that happens, you will know exactly when Messiah will return, all you have to do is count 2,520 days and you will know when Yeshua will return. So, the “not knowing” is temporary because of Israel’s rejection and a 2000 year gap, but when the 70th week of Daniel picks up again, then you will know exactly, to the day, when He will return to set up the Messianic Kingdom. Right now, we don’t know when that countdown begins and neither did the listeners of the 1st century.
But, once you know the prophecies, and we know that the Tribulation will begin on a Yom Kippur, those who are alive on the earth when that covenant is confirmed on Yom Kippur can count 1,260 days to Nisan 10 and the false Messiah will declare himself G-d (Rev 11, 2Thes 2). Then count 1260 days, called the Great Tribulation and it comes out to Yom Kippur and Yeshua will enter Jerusalem, and begin a 5 day judgment of the nations, starting with the False Messiah and False Prophet Rev 19, Mt 25).
A. This is a good question, and not as confusing as it may seem. The reason that this seems so confusing is again because of bad teaching and a lack of knowledge of the plan of G-d. A simple understanding of the festivals and Sabbath, along with good Torah teaching would give you the answer, so it is from that approach that this question will be answered. G-d has revealed His plan through out the scriptures to Israel.
The prophets have revealed very specific information about world history as it relates to the coming of the Messiah. The prophet Daniel, in particular, was given specific information. In Daniel 9.24-27, there is the 70 week prophecy of Daniel(Dan 9.24). Time was divided during these 70 weeks of years, or 490 years total. It was revealed that from the going forth of the decree to build the Temple to the coming of Messiah was 69 weeks of years, which is 483 years, or 173,880 days.
Those that followed the scriptures knew that the fourth beast of Daniels vision (Dan 7.7-Rome) had come along, and the 483 years was near, but most people, like today, didn’t know the scriptures and followed their teachers and ignored the signs and eschatology G-d had set up. Exactly 173,880 days after the decree went out to rebuild the Temple (Dan 9.25), Yeshua rides into Jerusalem on the 10 of Nisan and presented Himself as the Messiah, but He knew He was going to be rejected.
In Luke 19.41-44, He weeps over the city and says that if they had know what day it was, they would have been blessed, but now destruction was coming because they did not know the day of their visitation. In other words, the scriptures were clear as to when Messiah was coming, and they did not see it, so now that will be taken away from them. Israel should have known by the Word exactly about His coming to present the Kingdom of G-d.
It was presented and rejected. The term “not know” is an idiom meaning not fixed in time. So, because they rejected the Kingdom offer, its coming is not fixed in time right now and that is why He said they would not know. But, that will only hold true till the Tribulation period, or “birth-pains” described in Revelation and Daniel especially. Remember, G-d revealed to Daniel 490 years of dealing with Israel, 483 years have been done with the rejection of the Messianic Kingdom offer. Seven years remain that is where the seven year tribulation comes in.
That seven year period will start when the False Messiah will confirm a covenant with Israel ( Dan 9.27). When that happens, you will know exactly when Messiah will return, all you have to do is count 2,520 days and you will know when Yeshua will return. So, the “not knowing” is temporary because of Israel’s rejection and a 2000 year gap, but when the 70th week of Daniel picks up again, then you will know exactly, to the day, when He will return to set up the Messianic Kingdom. Right now, we don’t know when that countdown begins and neither did the listeners of the 1st century.
But, once you know the prophecies, and we know that the Tribulation will begin on a Yom Kippur, those who are alive on the earth when that covenant is confirmed on Yom Kippur can count 1,260 days to Nisan 10 and the false Messiah will declare himself G-d (Rev 11, 2Thes 2). Then count 1260 days, called the Great Tribulation and it comes out to Yom Kippur and Yeshua will enter Jerusalem, and begin a 5 day judgment of the nations, starting with the False Messiah and False Prophet Rev 19, Mt 25).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)