I want to wish all of our Jewish brothers and sisters a Happy Hanukkah.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Does Israel Have the Right to Exist?
This short video does a very good job of answering that question. The Arabs say no, but what do you say?
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Islamic Antichrist?
Most of us have always been taught that the Anitchrist would come out of a revived Roman empire, but is this view correct? Joel Richardson and others like Walid Shoebat have a different understanding of the scriptures that speak of the Antichrist. I tend to agree with them. Watch these short videos and see if you think they might be right.
Part 2
Part 3
Part 2
Part 3
Monday, October 18, 2010
When Was Yahshua Born?
Today, most of the Christian world and even non-believers observe December 25th as the birthday of Yahshua. This date is highly unlikely and can be proven to be untrue.
Scripture tells us that Yahshua was born during the reigns of King Herod and the Roman Emperor Augustus.
History tells us tht Caius Octavius Caepias was born in 63 BC. He had the honorary title of Augustus conferred upon him after the battle of Actium in 27 BC. He reigned 57 years from 44 BC to 14 AD. So we know Yahshua was born sometime within this interval. This taxing was made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria, but there is dispute over when this was, so we will look to other evidence.
We also know that Yahshua was born during the time that the evil King Herod reigned.
According to the Jewish Historian Josephus, we are told that "Antony also feasted Herod the first day of his reign. And thus did this man receive the kingdom, having obtained it on the hundred and eighty-fourth Olympiad, when Caius Domitius Calvinus was consul the second time, and Caius Asinius Pollio (the first time.)" - Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews - Book XIV, Chapter XIV, Para. V.
The 184th Olympiad occurred from 44-40 BC. The two consuls mentioned above were in office in 40 BC. Herod was made king of Judea in 40 BC and according to Josephus, was camped outside Jerusalem 3 years later in 37 BC with his army and took Jerusalem at that time. Josephus also confirms to us that Herod died 37 years after being made king and 34 years before he had Antigonus killed in 3 BC. His first act of his reign was the extermination of the Hasmonean house to which Antigonus, the son of king Aristobulus II of Judea, belonged.
History records that Herod died of a terrible disease in Jericho on about Jan. 26, 1 BC. So this would place the birth of Yahshua prior to 1 BC.
Also, Herod was likely mad just before he died as he slaughtered the innocent male children 2 years old or younger.
We are also told that in the fall of 4 BC, Augustus called for all the inhabitants of Judea to be taxed (See Luke 2:1 above). They knew that the most opportune time to tax the Jews was when they were in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. Mary had not yet given birth to Yahshua. The city was full of those coming from other parts of Judea and the world for the Feast of Tabernacles. Bethlehem was about 4 miles south of Jerusalem and was considered to be in the area of the Feast. There was no room at the inn because of the vast number of people in the city for the Feast. So they found a place to stay in a stable with a feeding trough for animals and there he was born.
So we know he was born sometime around the Feast of Tabernacles. Is there more proof? Yes. We are also told that he was born when the shepherds were in the fields with their flocks. Shepherds took their flocks into the fields in March and brought them in by November. This was the time between the former and latter rains, April through October. There is often snow in that area during November and December. They would never be in the fields during that time.
The Conception and Birth of John the Baptist
The father of John the Baptist was a priest of the order of Abiyah (Abijah). There were 24 courses of priests that officiated in the temple. King David had divided the duties into 24 courses (ICh 24:3) in which they served a week at a time. But upon return from the Babylonian captivity, only 4 of these courses returned. They were Jedaiah, Immer, Pashur and Harim. To restore the original number, each of these 4 familes was directed to draw 5 lots each for those who had not returned, so as to form once more 24 courses.
So Zecharias, the father of John the Baptist, was not really of the family of Abiyah, but was one of the 4 orders that returned from Babylon. However, he officiated in the 8th order which was that of Abiyah. This cycle of priests ministered int he temple up until it's destruction in 70 AD.
The first day of Nisan on 5 BC was a Sabbath and since the priestly courses changed every Sabbath, the first course of Jehoiarib served the first week of the New Year. All orders served together during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost and Sukkot. The normal rotation would resume after each of these 3 Feasts. So, since the Feast of Unleavened Bread occurs on the 15-21 of Nisan (Abiv), all courses of priests would minister in the temple. The 8th course of Abiyah would therefore minister until just before Pentecost from the 27th of Iyyar to the 5th of Sivan (June 1-8). However, Pentecost began the following day on Sivan 6. So there was no chance for Zechariah to return home as all 24 courses of priests served in the temple on the week of Pentecost. So the earliest Zechariah could have made it home was probably a couple of days later. The conception of John the Baptist would likely have occurred sometime during the 15th - 21st of Sivan (June 18-24).
After Zacharias finished his service he returned to his house. It is likely that Elisabeth conceived toward the end of the 3rd month of Sivan (June 18-24). The gestation period for humans is 280 days which is just over 9 months. Since Elisabeth would have conceived around Sivan 19-23 (18th to June 24th), John would have been born around Passover of 4 BC.
The Jews always set a place at the Passover table for Elijah. Yahshua identified John as coming in the spirit of Elijah.
The angel that appeared to Zacharias and announced that he was to have a son added:
So since the Passover occurs on Nisan 14, it is likely that John was born on that date.
We are also told that John was 6 months older than Yahshua (Luk 1:36). So this would make the conception of Yahshua to be around the time of Hannukah, the Jewish festival of lights. Yahshua is called the light of the world in John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46.
This taxation occurred at the end of the civil year after the harvests were reaped. Although Judea was a Roman protectorate and the Romans did not collect taxes directly from the inhabitants of Judea, they were receiving tribute from Herod and therefore allowed him to collect taxes from the people. Conveniently, this taxing was done to coincide with when the people were required by Torah to go up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles).
If it were for the purpose of coming to Bethlehem to pay taxes, only Joseph would have been required to go. But since it was also the time of the fall Feasts and he was required to go up to Jerusalem for Sukkot, he took her with him also. Some have speculated that because of the circumstances of her pregnancy and her spending the first 3 months of it with Elisabeth, she was able to hide the fact that she was pregnant from the community at Nazareth. But to remain there and give birth after only being espoused to Joseph for 6 months, would surely cause them problems. So, if she could go with Joseph and give birth somewhere else where she wasn't known, and then return much later with the child, many unsavory comments might be avoided as no one would know exactly when the child was born.
Jerusalem at that time had a population of about 120,000 and during the 3 Feasts, of which every Hebrew male was required to present himself, the numbers of those attending the Feast could exceed 2 million people. Since the number of pilgrims exceeded the capacity of the city to provide guest chambers for them, they spread out into the close neighboring towns. Bethlehem was 4 miles south of Jerusalem and was considered to be in the festival area of Jerusalem.
This explains why there was no room at the inn for them. It was during the time of the fall harvest Feast of Sukkot. His birth in Bethlehem was a fulfillment of Micah 5:2.
What other indications are there that the birth of Yahshua took place in the fall instead of the winter as celebrated by much of the world?
In Jerusalem, winter comes around the end of October. The winters are very harsh with cold rains, icy winds and occasionally sleet and snow. So the shepherds removed their flocks from the fields where they had pastured from the springtime until autumn and housed them in shelters. No shepherds would have been in the field with their sheep in the winter. Even today, sheep there are housed during the winter months.
If Yahshua had been born in December, Joseph would not have departed for Egypt 40 days later after Mary's purification and sin offering. Night time temperatures would be near freezing at that time.
The Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles) is called the "season of our joy" and "the feast of the nations". This is the only Feast in which YHWH said for us to rejoice (Lev 23:40).
The evidence is overwhelming that Yahshua was born on the first day of the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles) in 4 BC. He was circumcised on the 8th on the last great day of the Feast. The Feast of Sukkot along with the last great day is an 8 day observance.
Yahshua's ministry began in 27 AD right about his 30th birthday. He was crucified in 30 AD in which year the conjunction and vernal equinox occurred on the same day to begin the New Year. This is the only way to reach a Wednesday crucifixion date and a resurrection at the end of the Sabbath. Remember Yahshua was in the tomb 3 days and 3 nights or he wasn't the Messiah. The closest the "sighted sliver" of the moon that can produce a Wednesday crucifixion date is 34 AD and that is provided the crescent can be sighted 10 hours after the conjunction which is nearly impossible.
Conclusion:
Yahshua was born during the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles) in 4 BC, began his ministry in 27 AD and was crucified in 30 AD. It would have been impossible for him to be born on December 25th, which date is the supposed birth day of practically all sun gods, especially Mithras worshiped by the Romans at the time of Yahshua.
Sir James Frazer in his study on ancient religions writes "Among the gods of eastern origin who in the decline of the ancient world competed against each other for the allegiance of the West was the old Persian deity Mithra. The immense popularity of his worship is attested by the monuments illustrative of it which have been found scattered in profusion all over the Roman Empire. In respect both of doctrines and of rites the cult of Mithra appears to have presented many points of resemblance not only to the religion of the Mother of the Gods but also to Christianity. The similarity struck the Christian doctors themselves and was explained by them as a work of the devil, who sought to seduce the souls of men from the true faith by a false and insidious imitation of it. So to the Spanish conquerors of Mexico and Peru many of the native heathen rites appeared to be diabolical counterfeits of the Christian sacraments. With more probability the modern student of comparative religion traces such resemblances to the similar and independent workings of the mind of man in his sincere, if crude, attempts to fathom the secret of the universe, and to adjust his little life to its awful mysteries. However that may be, there can be no doubt that the Mithraic religion proved a formidable rival to Christianity, combining as it did a solemn ritual with aspirations after moral purity and a hope of immortality. Indeed the issue of the conflict between the two faiths appears for a time to have hung in the balance. An instructive relic of the long struggle is preserved in our festival of Christmas, which the Church seems to have borrowed directly from its heathen rival. In the Julian calendar the twenty-fifth of December was reckoned the winter solstice, and it was regarded as the Nativity of the Sun, because the day begins to lengthen and the power of the sun to increase from that turning-point of the year. The ritual of the nativity, as it appears to have been celebrated in Syria and Egypt, was remarkable. The celebrants retired into certain inner shrines, from which at midnight they issued with a loud cry, "The Virgin has brought forth! The light is waxing!" The Egyptians even represented the new-born sun by the image of an infant which on his birthday, the winter solstice, they brought forth and exhibited to his worshipers. No doubt the Virgin who thus conceived and bore a son on the twenty-fifth of December was the great Oriental goddess whom the Semites called the Heavenly Virgin or simply the Heavenly Goddess; in Semitic lands she was a form of Astarte. Now Mithra was regularly identified by his worshipers with the Sun, the Unconquered Sun, as they called him; hence his nativity also fell on the twenty-fifth of December....Excerpt from Sir James George Frazer (1854-1941). The Golden Bough. 1922. XXXVII. Oriental Religions in the West.
The Catholic Church under Constantine felt it was easier to incorporate heathen beliefs and practices into Christianity to attract the heathen masses rather than try to convert them with truth. This compromise has led us to realize that our fathers have indeed inherited lies.
Isn't it time to rid ourselves of these false feasts and other pagan vestiges syncretized into our faith to which many cling so tenaciously?
Scripture tells us that Yahshua was born during the reigns of King Herod and the Roman Emperor Augustus.
Luk 2:1 And it happened in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
Luk 2:2 (This taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
Luk 2:3 And all went to be registered, each to his own city.
History tells us tht Caius Octavius Caepias was born in 63 BC. He had the honorary title of Augustus conferred upon him after the battle of Actium in 27 BC. He reigned 57 years from 44 BC to 14 AD. So we know Yahshua was born sometime within this interval. This taxing was made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria, but there is dispute over when this was, so we will look to other evidence.
Luk 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee to be taxed (out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David).
Luk 2:5 And he took Mary his betrothed wife, being with child.
Luk 2:6 And while they were there, the days for her deliverance were fulfilled.
We also know that Yahshua was born during the time that the evil King Herod reigned.
Mat 2:1 Now when Yahshua was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem,
Mat 2:2 saying, Where is He who is born king of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.
According to the Jewish Historian Josephus, we are told that "Antony also feasted Herod the first day of his reign. And thus did this man receive the kingdom, having obtained it on the hundred and eighty-fourth Olympiad, when Caius Domitius Calvinus was consul the second time, and Caius Asinius Pollio (the first time.)" - Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews - Book XIV, Chapter XIV, Para. V.
The 184th Olympiad occurred from 44-40 BC. The two consuls mentioned above were in office in 40 BC. Herod was made king of Judea in 40 BC and according to Josephus, was camped outside Jerusalem 3 years later in 37 BC with his army and took Jerusalem at that time. Josephus also confirms to us that Herod died 37 years after being made king and 34 years before he had Antigonus killed in 3 BC. His first act of his reign was the extermination of the Hasmonean house to which Antigonus, the son of king Aristobulus II of Judea, belonged.
History records that Herod died of a terrible disease in Jericho on about Jan. 26, 1 BC. So this would place the birth of Yahshua prior to 1 BC.
Also, Herod was likely mad just before he died as he slaughtered the innocent male children 2 years old or younger.
Mat 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was greatly enraged. And he sent and killed all the boys in Bethlehem, and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had carefully inquired of the wise men.
We are also told that in the fall of 4 BC, Augustus called for all the inhabitants of Judea to be taxed (See Luke 2:1 above). They knew that the most opportune time to tax the Jews was when they were in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. Mary had not yet given birth to Yahshua. The city was full of those coming from other parts of Judea and the world for the Feast of Tabernacles. Bethlehem was about 4 miles south of Jerusalem and was considered to be in the area of the Feast. There was no room at the inn because of the vast number of people in the city for the Feast. So they found a place to stay in a stable with a feeding trough for animals and there he was born.
So we know he was born sometime around the Feast of Tabernacles. Is there more proof? Yes. We are also told that he was born when the shepherds were in the fields with their flocks. Shepherds took their flocks into the fields in March and brought them in by November. This was the time between the former and latter rains, April through October. There is often snow in that area during November and December. They would never be in the fields during that time.
The Conception and Birth of John the Baptist
The father of John the Baptist was a priest of the order of Abiyah (Abijah). There were 24 courses of priests that officiated in the temple. King David had divided the duties into 24 courses (ICh 24:3) in which they served a week at a time. But upon return from the Babylonian captivity, only 4 of these courses returned. They were Jedaiah, Immer, Pashur and Harim. To restore the original number, each of these 4 familes was directed to draw 5 lots each for those who had not returned, so as to form once more 24 courses.
So Zecharias, the father of John the Baptist, was not really of the family of Abiyah, but was one of the 4 orders that returned from Babylon. However, he officiated in the 8th order which was that of Abiyah. This cycle of priests ministered int he temple up until it's destruction in 70 AD.
The first day of Nisan on 5 BC was a Sabbath and since the priestly courses changed every Sabbath, the first course of Jehoiarib served the first week of the New Year. All orders served together during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost and Sukkot. The normal rotation would resume after each of these 3 Feasts. So, since the Feast of Unleavened Bread occurs on the 15-21 of Nisan (Abiv), all courses of priests would minister in the temple. The 8th course of Abiyah would therefore minister until just before Pentecost from the 27th of Iyyar to the 5th of Sivan (June 1-8). However, Pentecost began the following day on Sivan 6. So there was no chance for Zechariah to return home as all 24 courses of priests served in the temple on the week of Pentecost. So the earliest Zechariah could have made it home was probably a couple of days later. The conception of John the Baptist would likely have occurred sometime during the 15th - 21st of Sivan (June 18-24).
Luk 1:5 In the days of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah. And his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
Luk 1:6 And they were both righteous before Elohim, walking blameless in all the commandments and ordinances of YHWH.
Luk 1:7 And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren. And both were advanced in their days.
Luk 1:8 And it happened in his serving in the order of his course, before Elohim,
Luk 1:9 according to the custom of the priests, it was his lot to burn incense when he went into the temple of YHWH.
Luk 1:10 And all the multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of incense.
Luk 1:11 And an angel of YHWH appeared to him as he was standing on the right of the altar of incense.
Luk 1:12 And seeing this, Zacharias was troubled, and fear fell on him.
Luk 1:13 But the angel said to him, Do not fear, Zacharias. For your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
After Zacharias finished his service he returned to his house. It is likely that Elisabeth conceived toward the end of the 3rd month of Sivan (June 18-24). The gestation period for humans is 280 days which is just over 9 months. Since Elisabeth would have conceived around Sivan 19-23 (18th to June 24th), John would have been born around Passover of 4 BC.
The Jews always set a place at the Passover table for Elijah. Yahshua identified John as coming in the spirit of Elijah.
Mat 17:10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?
Mat 17:11 And answering Yahshua said to them, Elijah truly shall come first and restore all things.
Mat 17:12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him, but have done to him whatever they desired. Likewise also the Son of Man shall suffer from them.
Mat 17:13 Then His disciples understood that He spoke to them about John the Baptist.
The angel that appeared to Zacharias and announced that he was to have a son added:
Luk 1:16 And he shall turn many of the sons of Israel to YHWH their Elohim.
Luk 1:17 And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for YHWH.
So since the Passover occurs on Nisan 14, it is likely that John was born on that date.
We are also told that John was 6 months older than Yahshua (Luk 1:36). So this would make the conception of Yahshua to be around the time of Hannukah, the Jewish festival of lights. Yahshua is called the light of the world in John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46.
Luk 2:1 And it happened in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
This taxation occurred at the end of the civil year after the harvests were reaped. Although Judea was a Roman protectorate and the Romans did not collect taxes directly from the inhabitants of Judea, they were receiving tribute from Herod and therefore allowed him to collect taxes from the people. Conveniently, this taxing was done to coincide with when the people were required by Torah to go up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles).
Luk 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee to be taxed (out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David).
Luk 2:5 And he took Mary his betrothed wife, being with child.
If it were for the purpose of coming to Bethlehem to pay taxes, only Joseph would have been required to go. But since it was also the time of the fall Feasts and he was required to go up to Jerusalem for Sukkot, he took her with him also. Some have speculated that because of the circumstances of her pregnancy and her spending the first 3 months of it with Elisabeth, she was able to hide the fact that she was pregnant from the community at Nazareth. But to remain there and give birth after only being espoused to Joseph for 6 months, would surely cause them problems. So, if she could go with Joseph and give birth somewhere else where she wasn't known, and then return much later with the child, many unsavory comments might be avoided as no one would know exactly when the child was born.
Jerusalem at that time had a population of about 120,000 and during the 3 Feasts, of which every Hebrew male was required to present himself, the numbers of those attending the Feast could exceed 2 million people. Since the number of pilgrims exceeded the capacity of the city to provide guest chambers for them, they spread out into the close neighboring towns. Bethlehem was 4 miles south of Jerusalem and was considered to be in the festival area of Jerusalem.
Luk 2:6 And while they were there, the days for her deliverance were fulfilled.
Luk 2:7 And she brought forth her son, the First-born, and wrapped Him, and laid Him in a manger-- because there was no room for them in the inn.
This explains why there was no room at the inn for them. It was during the time of the fall harvest Feast of Sukkot. His birth in Bethlehem was a fulfillment of Micah 5:2.
What other indications are there that the birth of Yahshua took place in the fall instead of the winter as celebrated by much of the world?
Luk 2:8 And in the same country there were shepherds living in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
In Jerusalem, winter comes around the end of October. The winters are very harsh with cold rains, icy winds and occasionally sleet and snow. So the shepherds removed their flocks from the fields where they had pastured from the springtime until autumn and housed them in shelters. No shepherds would have been in the field with their sheep in the winter. Even today, sheep there are housed during the winter months.
If Yahshua had been born in December, Joseph would not have departed for Egypt 40 days later after Mary's purification and sin offering. Night time temperatures would be near freezing at that time.
Luk 2:9 And lo, the angel of YHWH came on them, and the glory of YHWH shone around them. And they were grievously afraid.
Luk 2:10 And the angel said to them, Do not fear. For behold, I give to you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luk 2:11 For to you is born today, in the city of David, a Savior, who is YHWH the Messiah.
The Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles) is called the "season of our joy" and "the feast of the nations". This is the only Feast in which YHWH said for us to rejoice (Lev 23:40).
The evidence is overwhelming that Yahshua was born on the first day of the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles) in 4 BC. He was circumcised on the 8th on the last great day of the Feast. The Feast of Sukkot along with the last great day is an 8 day observance.
Joh 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth.
Yahshua's ministry began in 27 AD right about his 30th birthday. He was crucified in 30 AD in which year the conjunction and vernal equinox occurred on the same day to begin the New Year. This is the only way to reach a Wednesday crucifixion date and a resurrection at the end of the Sabbath. Remember Yahshua was in the tomb 3 days and 3 nights or he wasn't the Messiah. The closest the "sighted sliver" of the moon that can produce a Wednesday crucifixion date is 34 AD and that is provided the crescent can be sighted 10 hours after the conjunction which is nearly impossible.
Conclusion:
Yahshua was born during the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles) in 4 BC, began his ministry in 27 AD and was crucified in 30 AD. It would have been impossible for him to be born on December 25th, which date is the supposed birth day of practically all sun gods, especially Mithras worshiped by the Romans at the time of Yahshua.
Sir James Frazer in his study on ancient religions writes "Among the gods of eastern origin who in the decline of the ancient world competed against each other for the allegiance of the West was the old Persian deity Mithra. The immense popularity of his worship is attested by the monuments illustrative of it which have been found scattered in profusion all over the Roman Empire. In respect both of doctrines and of rites the cult of Mithra appears to have presented many points of resemblance not only to the religion of the Mother of the Gods but also to Christianity. The similarity struck the Christian doctors themselves and was explained by them as a work of the devil, who sought to seduce the souls of men from the true faith by a false and insidious imitation of it. So to the Spanish conquerors of Mexico and Peru many of the native heathen rites appeared to be diabolical counterfeits of the Christian sacraments. With more probability the modern student of comparative religion traces such resemblances to the similar and independent workings of the mind of man in his sincere, if crude, attempts to fathom the secret of the universe, and to adjust his little life to its awful mysteries. However that may be, there can be no doubt that the Mithraic religion proved a formidable rival to Christianity, combining as it did a solemn ritual with aspirations after moral purity and a hope of immortality. Indeed the issue of the conflict between the two faiths appears for a time to have hung in the balance. An instructive relic of the long struggle is preserved in our festival of Christmas, which the Church seems to have borrowed directly from its heathen rival. In the Julian calendar the twenty-fifth of December was reckoned the winter solstice, and it was regarded as the Nativity of the Sun, because the day begins to lengthen and the power of the sun to increase from that turning-point of the year. The ritual of the nativity, as it appears to have been celebrated in Syria and Egypt, was remarkable. The celebrants retired into certain inner shrines, from which at midnight they issued with a loud cry, "The Virgin has brought forth! The light is waxing!" The Egyptians even represented the new-born sun by the image of an infant which on his birthday, the winter solstice, they brought forth and exhibited to his worshipers. No doubt the Virgin who thus conceived and bore a son on the twenty-fifth of December was the great Oriental goddess whom the Semites called the Heavenly Virgin or simply the Heavenly Goddess; in Semitic lands she was a form of Astarte. Now Mithra was regularly identified by his worshipers with the Sun, the Unconquered Sun, as they called him; hence his nativity also fell on the twenty-fifth of December....Excerpt from Sir James George Frazer (1854-1941). The Golden Bough. 1922. XXXVII. Oriental Religions in the West.
The Catholic Church under Constantine felt it was easier to incorporate heathen beliefs and practices into Christianity to attract the heathen masses rather than try to convert them with truth. This compromise has led us to realize that our fathers have indeed inherited lies.
Jer 16:19 O YHWH, my strength and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the nations shall come to You from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and there is no profit in them.
Isn't it time to rid ourselves of these false feasts and other pagan vestiges syncretized into our faith to which many cling so tenaciously?
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Our Nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles
I've been preparing for Sukkot for the past few weeks plus a vacation to Utah, so have not had time to update this blog. However, below is a link that I think anyone who loves this country will enjoy. This nation was founded upon righteous principles with a belief in the Almighty YHWH and His Son Yahshua. Take a moment to view this short but good video. It is well worth the time.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Analysis of Selected Verses of 1 Peter Chapter 1&2 - Who was it written to?
1Pe 1:1 Kepha, an apostle of Yahushua the Messiah, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
These strangers are called "elect". This is Israel in exile. Judah wasn't fully dispersed until 20 years later.
A literal translation (See Green's Interlinear) of verse 1 would be "Peter, an Apostle of Yahshua HaMoshiach, to the elect sojourners of the dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, ...". These are all places where Israel was scattered. These provinces are south of the Black Sea. This is also the area that many who were in Jerusalem for Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit fell, came from. They were Hebrews from the ten tribes that had been carried away into Assyria in 721 B.C.
1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of YHWH the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Yahushua the Messiah: Favour unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
This is addressed to the "elect" sojourner of the "diaspora" or dispersion. They are Israelites in exile. Strongs # 1290 "diaspora" says it is a converted Israelite resident in a gentile country. Interestingly, the root of diaspora, speir (speiro, Strong’s #4687), relates to “Jezreel.” It means, “to sow or scatter seed.”
In saying this, Peter was letting the recipients of the letter along with all believers know that they were all part of Israel, as only the twelve tribes of Israel were sprinkled by the blood at Mount Sinai.
Exo 24:7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that YHWH hath said will we do, and be obedient.
Exo 24:8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which YHWH hath made with you concerning all these words.
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the El and Father of our Master Yahushua the Messiah, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Yahushua the Messiah from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
That need not mean we have to go there to get it; it is just kept in a place where no earthly ills can affect it,
Nothing in Scripture says any human being will be in Heaven forever--only that we can be with Yahweh forever. Earth will be our habitation.
“the heavens are Yahweh’s, but the earth He has given to the sons of men." (Psa 115:16)
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of YHWH through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Salvation is a process, not a one time event. The Renewed Covenant is not yet totally in effect. It will be ratified when Yahshua returns and drinks the last cup of redemption of the Passover ceremony with us at the wedding supper of the lamb in the Millennial kingdom. Then we will have the Torah written upon our hearts and need no man teach us, for we shall all know Him from the least to the greatest.
CHAPTER 2
1Pe 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
This was spoken of YHWH in Isa 8:14.
Isa 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
This was the pre-incarnate Yahshua, who we are told in John 1 created the world and everything in it. He is not YHWH the Father, but is YHWH the Son. This can be proven by looking at the passage in Zechariah 12:10. There are also many other scriptures that prove this too. There are just too many to recount at this time in this message.
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of favour and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and she will be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
YHWH the Father could not be pierced. He is a spirit.
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Now let's find out who these gentiles are that Peter is writing to.
This was a promise made to Israel in Exo 19:6 that if they would obey YHWH's voice and keep His "Covenant", they would be a special treasure to Him above all the people of the earth, a kingdom of priests and a set apart nation. Peter is equating these returning gentiles with Israel.
1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of YHWH: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Where have we heard this before? This is the Lo-Ami (not a people) and Lo-ruhamah(no mercy) of Hosea 1:7 and 9.
This was spoken to the prophet Hosea by Yahweh concerning Ephraim (Israel). Peter is equating the returning gentiles to the lost tribes or lost sheep of the House of Israel. Paul did the same thing in Romans 9:25-26 . See also Zech 10:6.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
These are the other sheep not of this fold spoken of by Yahshua in John 10:16; Mat 10:6; and Mat 15:24. They are the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Returned is "Epistrepho" in Greek and means returning. Not coming for the first time, they were returning to Yahweh. See also Acts 15:19 and 1 Th 1:9.
This letter written by Peter was to the lost sheep of the House of Israel who were scattered into all the world. This letter was sent to those in various provinces in Asia Minor where some of them were known to have been scattered. James also wrote a letter to the "dispersed" as we read from James 1:1
Jam 1:1 James, a servant of YHWH and of the Master Yahushua the Messiah, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
The third place this word is used in the New Testament is in John 7:35.
Joh 7:35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?
More information can be found in my free download of my book called "Study of the Two House Restoration of Israel". It is on my website Emetyahshua.com which you can reach from this blog.
-----------------------------
These strangers are called "elect". This is Israel in exile. Judah wasn't fully dispersed until 20 years later.
A literal translation (See Green's Interlinear) of verse 1 would be "Peter, an Apostle of Yahshua HaMoshiach, to the elect sojourners of the dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, ...". These are all places where Israel was scattered. These provinces are south of the Black Sea. This is also the area that many who were in Jerusalem for Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit fell, came from. They were Hebrews from the ten tribes that had been carried away into Assyria in 721 B.C.
1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of YHWH the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Yahushua the Messiah: Favour unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
This is addressed to the "elect" sojourner of the "diaspora" or dispersion. They are Israelites in exile. Strongs # 1290 "diaspora" says it is a converted Israelite resident in a gentile country. Interestingly, the root of diaspora, speir (speiro, Strong’s #4687), relates to “Jezreel.” It means, “to sow or scatter seed.”
In saying this, Peter was letting the recipients of the letter along with all believers know that they were all part of Israel, as only the twelve tribes of Israel were sprinkled by the blood at Mount Sinai.
Exo 24:7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that YHWH hath said will we do, and be obedient.
Exo 24:8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which YHWH hath made with you concerning all these words.
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the El and Father of our Master Yahushua the Messiah, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Yahushua the Messiah from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
That need not mean we have to go there to get it; it is just kept in a place where no earthly ills can affect it,
Nothing in Scripture says any human being will be in Heaven forever--only that we can be with Yahweh forever. Earth will be our habitation.
“the heavens are Yahweh’s, but the earth He has given to the sons of men." (Psa 115:16)
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of YHWH through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Salvation is a process, not a one time event. The Renewed Covenant is not yet totally in effect. It will be ratified when Yahshua returns and drinks the last cup of redemption of the Passover ceremony with us at the wedding supper of the lamb in the Millennial kingdom. Then we will have the Torah written upon our hearts and need no man teach us, for we shall all know Him from the least to the greatest.
CHAPTER 2
1Pe 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
This was spoken of YHWH in Isa 8:14.
Isa 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
This was the pre-incarnate Yahshua, who we are told in John 1 created the world and everything in it. He is not YHWH the Father, but is YHWH the Son. This can be proven by looking at the passage in Zechariah 12:10. There are also many other scriptures that prove this too. There are just too many to recount at this time in this message.
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of favour and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and she will be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
YHWH the Father could not be pierced. He is a spirit.
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Now let's find out who these gentiles are that Peter is writing to.
This was a promise made to Israel in Exo 19:6 that if they would obey YHWH's voice and keep His "Covenant", they would be a special treasure to Him above all the people of the earth, a kingdom of priests and a set apart nation. Peter is equating these returning gentiles with Israel.
1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of YHWH: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Where have we heard this before? This is the Lo-Ami (not a people) and Lo-ruhamah(no mercy) of Hosea 1:7 and 9.
This was spoken to the prophet Hosea by Yahweh concerning Ephraim (Israel). Peter is equating the returning gentiles to the lost tribes or lost sheep of the House of Israel. Paul did the same thing in Romans 9:25-26 . See also Zech 10:6.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
These are the other sheep not of this fold spoken of by Yahshua in John 10:16; Mat 10:6; and Mat 15:24. They are the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Returned is "Epistrepho" in Greek and means returning. Not coming for the first time, they were returning to Yahweh. See also Acts 15:19 and 1 Th 1:9.
This letter written by Peter was to the lost sheep of the House of Israel who were scattered into all the world. This letter was sent to those in various provinces in Asia Minor where some of them were known to have been scattered. James also wrote a letter to the "dispersed" as we read from James 1:1
Jam 1:1 James, a servant of YHWH and of the Master Yahushua the Messiah, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
The third place this word is used in the New Testament is in John 7:35.
Joh 7:35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?
More information can be found in my free download of my book called "Study of the Two House Restoration of Israel". It is on my website Emetyahshua.com which you can reach from this blog.
-----------------------------
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Beware of False Prophets
These verses uttered by Yahshua are very important for us to understand, so let's dig into them. Once understood, these false prophets become apparent to us.
They come to us in sheep's clothing, meaning they will appear to be fellow sheep. But inwardly, they are ravening wolves (subsisting on prey, devouring). Their source of income is wrested from the sheep by coercion, false doctrine and any other means to separate the sheep from their money. They subsist totally on the sheep.
These false prophets are not ones who incorrectly foretell the future, although they might do that too. A prophet is one who speaks for the one who he represents. So these prophets who profess to speak for YHWH and preach or teach against Torah are the ones in view here.They say they represent Yahshua or the kingdom of heaven, but do it falsely with a false gospel. They not only add commandments, but many Christian denominations have taken away ALL of the Torah claiming it has been abolished.
The false prophet or teacher teaches that the law was abolished, that we are no longer obligated to follow it. Their fruit is false doctrine, lawlessness or Torah-less-ness. In Matt 3:10, Yahshua spoke of the Pharisees and Sadducees in this context. We know by other scriptures that they had added to the commandments of YHWH and developed their own traditions which they had elevated above Torah and often conflicted with it.
Malachi in Mal 3:5-7 said in the day of YHWH, he will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, adulterers, false swearers, those that oppress the widows and orphans, that cheat the hired hands of his wages using false weights and measures, the false prophet that turns those away from the truth, etc.
Matt 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
This is a very sobering passage of scripture and not many understand it. They always think it is talking about someone else. What is the will of our Father in heaven? His will is that we KEEP His commandments, His statutes and judgments, His Law (Torah).
At the beginning of his sermon (Mat 5:17-20), Yahshua had given three examples to make a point about the Torah still being in effect.
Matt 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Many is not a few. Immediately prior to these verses, he had just said to "enter in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction. and many go in thereat: Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it."
On the day of judgment, they will tell him they had built crystal cathedrals and did all kinds of wonderful works in his name. They had even cast out devils in his name.
But for the bad news......
Iniquity sounds pretty bad, doesn't it. What is iniquity as used here? The Greek word translated "iniquity" is anomia. Anomia is Strong's # 458 and means "without the law". Now what law is in sight here? The only law that matters is YHWH's law. It is the Torah. We can verify that the Greek word "nomos" means the Torah by comparing direct quotes from the Tanakh (Old Testament).
The words translated "law" in the above scriptures can be verified using a concordance. So what Yahshua is saying is that the workers of iniquity (Anomia - condition of without the Torah) are those that he never knew. These are Christian pastors, prophets and teachers that teach that the law (Torah) was nailed to the cross and we no longer are bound to obey it. How many of them keep the Sabbath or observe YHWH's Feasts that He said are to be observed forever? How many teach the clean food laws or that you can eat anything you want? Do they eat meat with the blood still in it? These are vital parts of the Torah which are completely ignored by most Christians today because their Pastors are teaching them lies?
These workers of iniquity are those who ignore and exclude Torah. They are the false shepherds that Yahshua warned against. Their fruits are false doctrine.
The word "Anomia" is used many more times in the writings of Paul and others. The Mystery of Iniquity is another place the word anomia is used. It is the mystery of Torahlessness.
These false prophets are called "chaff" in Jer 23:28. They are the ones:
Matt 7:15 Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
They come to us in sheep's clothing, meaning they will appear to be fellow sheep. But inwardly, they are ravening wolves (subsisting on prey, devouring). Their source of income is wrested from the sheep by coercion, false doctrine and any other means to separate the sheep from their money. They subsist totally on the sheep.
These false prophets are not ones who incorrectly foretell the future, although they might do that too. A prophet is one who speaks for the one who he represents. So these prophets who profess to speak for YHWH and preach or teach against Torah are the ones in view here.They say they represent Yahshua or the kingdom of heaven, but do it falsely with a false gospel. They not only add commandments, but many Christian denominations have taken away ALL of the Torah claiming it has been abolished.
Matt 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles.
Matt 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Matt 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Matt 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.
Matt 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
The false prophet or teacher teaches that the law was abolished, that we are no longer obligated to follow it. Their fruit is false doctrine, lawlessness or Torah-less-ness. In Matt 3:10, Yahshua spoke of the Pharisees and Sadducees in this context. We know by other scriptures that they had added to the commandments of YHWH and developed their own traditions which they had elevated above Torah and often conflicted with it.
Malachi in Mal 3:5-7 said in the day of YHWH, he will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, adulterers, false swearers, those that oppress the widows and orphans, that cheat the hired hands of his wages using false weights and measures, the false prophet that turns those away from the truth, etc.
Matt 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
This is a very sobering passage of scripture and not many understand it. They always think it is talking about someone else. What is the will of our Father in heaven? His will is that we KEEP His commandments, His statutes and judgments, His Law (Torah).
At the beginning of his sermon (Mat 5:17-20), Yahshua had given three examples to make a point about the Torah still being in effect.
He did not come to do away with the Torah (law).
This included the tiniest part (jot and tittle) of the Torah
Those who taught otherwise would be "least in the kingdom".
Matt 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Many is not a few. Immediately prior to these verses, he had just said to "enter in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction. and many go in thereat: Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it."
On the day of judgment, they will tell him they had built crystal cathedrals and did all kinds of wonderful works in his name. They had even cast out devils in his name.
But for the bad news......
Matt 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Iniquity sounds pretty bad, doesn't it. What is iniquity as used here? The Greek word translated "iniquity" is anomia. Anomia is Strong's # 458 and means "without the law". Now what law is in sight here? The only law that matters is YHWH's law. It is the Torah. We can verify that the Greek word "nomos" means the Torah by comparing direct quotes from the Tanakh (Old Testament).
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith YHWH; I will put my LAWS (nomos) into their minds and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them an Elohim, and they shall be to me a people.
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days , saith YHWH, I will put my LAW (Torah) in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohim and they shall be my people.
The words translated "law" in the above scriptures can be verified using a concordance. So what Yahshua is saying is that the workers of iniquity (Anomia - condition of without the Torah) are those that he never knew. These are Christian pastors, prophets and teachers that teach that the law (Torah) was nailed to the cross and we no longer are bound to obey it. How many of them keep the Sabbath or observe YHWH's Feasts that He said are to be observed forever? How many teach the clean food laws or that you can eat anything you want? Do they eat meat with the blood still in it? These are vital parts of the Torah which are completely ignored by most Christians today because their Pastors are teaching them lies?
These workers of iniquity are those who ignore and exclude Torah. They are the false shepherds that Yahshua warned against. Their fruits are false doctrine.
The word "Anomia" is used many more times in the writings of Paul and others. The Mystery of Iniquity is another place the word anomia is used. It is the mystery of Torahlessness.
These false prophets are called "chaff" in Jer 23:28. They are the ones:
Jer 23:27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Ba'al.
BDB Definition - Baal = "Lord".
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in they name......?
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