AUTHORITY OVER DEFILEMENT - LEPROSY - LUKE 5.12-16; MARK 1.39-45

Jesus’ healing of the leper is a very significant healing and a statement of His Messianic Kingship. From the time of the completion of the Mosaic Law, there was no record of a Jew being healed of leprosy. Miriam, Moses sister, was healed prior to completion of the law, and Naman was a Syrian.

Moses spelled out in great detail in Lev 13 and 14 the ritual the priests would have to perform in the case of a healing from this disease. Only the priests could declare a person to be a leper or healed of leprosy. Once declared a leper a person had to walk around in torn clothing and have their face covered from the nose down. When walking down a street the leper had to warn anyone approaching by calling out, “Unclean, unclean!” They had to live in an area separate from the towns and could not participate in any temple services. They were “untouchable.”

When a leper was cured they would have to show themselves to the priest and be examined for seven days. Three questions had to be answered: Was the person a declared leper, were they really healed, and what were the circumstances of the healing. Afterwards four ritual offerings were made, the person was declared healed, and could then live like a normal person.

Moses had given all these instructions and no one had ever had to appear before the priests for healing. It was, therefore, thought that leprosy was a judgment upon a person and no Jewish leper would ever be healed until the Messiah came and established the Kingdom.

This miracle was one that would create quite a stir in the Jewish community--it was a Messianic miracle! Jesus, through this miracle, was declaring openly to the community who He was. Luke says this was a man full of leprosy, which meant he was near death from the disease. This leper asks Jesus not for healing, but to be made clean. Jesus says, “I will.” and touches the leper. He is immediately healed. In the context of this disease that touch was quite significant and created a great stir. He was touched by the King.

Jesus instructs him to go to the priests and answer the three questions. This would be a testimony unto the religious leadership. Jesus was forcing them to take His Messianic claims seriously. Now, Jesus could not openly enter the town because He had become equivalent to a “rock star” in our day. What does Jesus do? He withdrew to the wilderness to pray!

Notes from: The Life of Messiah from a Jewish Perspective by Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum

THE HERALD OF THE KING - Mark 1.1-8; Matt 3.1-12; Luke 3.1-18

 

The message to John, circa 26 AD in Luke 3.2: “The word of the Lord came to John in the wilderness“, not to the religious leaders of the day. It was the Rhema--a spoken word, a segment of Logos as Logos includes written, spoken, and incarnate words.

The message by John: The Messiah as the ideal servant of Jehovah is come. The message is repentance--a back to God movement. It is kingdom centered--the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! Those who respond will undergo a baptism of repentance--baptism was a common practice in Judaism. (Any convert to Judaism was required to be baptized.) John dresses like Elijah and gets lots of attention. Many come out to hear him--the kingdom is at hand--prepare the way.


THE INVESTIGATION BY THE SANHEDRIN
This investigation would take two stages and was to be done whenever a Messianic messenger arose.

STAGE OF OBSERVATION

1. Observe only what was being said

2. No questions are to be asked--only observe

3. No objections are to be raised

4. Nothing could be verbalized. Only watch what is being said and done. Is this a movement of God or not?

STAGE OF INTERROGATION

1. Questions are now asked

2. Objections are raised.

3. They would look for a basis to either accept or reject all claims.
John’s message had Messianic overtones and was directed at the nation. When he sees these leaders coming, not to be baptized, but to critically observe, he calls them vipers, and tells them to repent. The common Messianic teaching of the day was that the entire nation would be saved when the Messiah came. John was exposing that lie--repentance was required by God. He told the people give that extra coat--don’t hoard. Tax collector--don’t extort. Soldier--don’t use your position to become wealthy on the spoils of conflict. John was exhorting the people not to take advantage of the perks their office in life provided--but to give and share. To live out the law in a practical way. The leaders were misapplying the law to their own advantage.

JOHN’S PROMISE - Mark 1.7-8; Matt 3.11-12; Luke3.15-18
He is baptizing by water, but the one coming will baptize by fire and the Holy Spirit. There is no middle ground--the word will divide the true from the false. Fire = chaff or unbelief--results in the Lake of Fire. Holy Spirit = wheat or belief--results in gathering into the barn. With a focus on the coming Messiah King, this was John’s message.

 
Notes from: The Life of Messiah from a Jewish Perspective by Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum

The message and focus of the four Gospels:

Notes from: The Life of Messiah from a Jewish Perspective by Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum

　

Matthew - Written to Jewish believers. Yeshua is the Messiah, King of the Jews. Acts 8 describes the dispersion of the Hebrew community. If Yeshua is the Messiah where is the kingdom? Why do we have wars and strife? A warning of impending judgment and destruction.

Mark - Written to Roman believers. Jesus as Messiah, servant of Jehovah. There is an urgency to accomplish the mission. Words like straight away, immediately are used to describe the obedience of the servant. Isaiah 53 pictures the ideal servant. The actions of Jesus are emphasized.


Luke - Written for the Greeks. Jesus Messiah, son of man. Greeks admire the ideal man who is disciplined and can carry out great missions. Luke is written in chronological order and is an investigative piece. Luke was not an eye witness to Jesus’ life--he investigates the truth. Luke became a believer and accompanied Paul on some of his journeys. Luke alone is in chronological order of events using eye witness accounts. He interviewed many people and shows a high regard and concern for women, Gentiles, and Jerusalem.


John - Written for the church at large. Messiah, son of God. Yeshua as God. Matthew, Mark, and Luke were already written. John was far more interested in what Yeshua said and taught. Sub-themes were:

The conflict between light and darkness.

The relationship of man to God as their Father. He is the father to humanity and to know the Son is to know the Father. Seven is a number that is emphasized in John. Seven “I AM’s”, signs, and discourses.

John 1.1-8 speaks of the pre-existence of Messiah--Logos. John was not a Greek philosopher.

Logos in Greek = Reason--idea of God and Speech--expression of God.

In Hebrew Logos is Davar: Ps 147.15, Isaiah 9.8; 55.10-11; 45.23; Ezek 1.3


Six things about the Davar, Logos, Word taught by Rabbis:

1. Distinct from God yet same as God. John 1.1. He does not try to explain away at this point.

2. Agent of creation. Gen 1--God speaks the Word.

3. Agent of salvation--Exodus or spiritual.

4. The means by which God takes on visible form: Shechinah Glory--the visible manifestation of the invisible God in the form of light or cloud or combination of both. The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. Skeinei is the Greek word for tabernacle. Jesus’ body veiled the Shechinah light--except at the mount of transfiguration.

5. The means by which God signs His Covenants. (8 Covenants in O.T., 3 with humanity in general and 5 with Jewish people.) All signed and sealed by the Word. Moses law signed Ex 24.1-11. New Covenant signed with His blood on the cross. Heb 1.1-3

6. The agent of revelation--“the word of the Lord came…” In the last days God is revealing Himself through His Son. Heb 1.1-3. The Son is the agent of Revelation.

Summary of what John said:

1. The word came in visible form.

2. The world in general did not recognize Him.

3. His own people did not recognize Him (Jews).

4. Those individual Jews and Gentiles who did recognize Him became the children (family) of God and received their

Salvation from the one who is the agent of salvation--Jesus Christ.

　

Notes from: The Life of Messiah from a Jewish Perspective by Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum

Why We Do Not Believe in Transubstantiation

The reasons we do not believe in transubstantiation are simple, but take some time to explain. First of all we look to our Hebraic roots for full understanding of the scriptures. We begin with Jesus’ words in Matt 5.17: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

This is our Lord himself speaking. He is the living word (logos) and he is the living Torah. He has come to fulfill all. Now we look at the law or Torah:

Lev 7.26-27: Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings. Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.

Deut 12.23: Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.

Keeping this in mind our next rule is to allow the Bible to interpret itself. This is the way the apostles taught. Let the scriptures explain the symbols therein. Try to let God speak and not determine for yourself, but rather let the word explain itself.

Now if one takes the time to read through Leviticus and Deuteronomy we see many, many other explanations of the blood and blood sacrifices--these all point to what Jesus death on the cross for our sin meant. These two O.T. books are shadows of Jesus’ life and sacrifice for our sins--He is our sacrifice. Having said that, it would be impossible for Jesus (Yeshua) to violate the Torah if he himself said he has come to fulfill it, not destroy it.

A quick sample of how the Jews thought in Jesus’ day is in the story of Nicodemus in John 3: The text refers to Nicodemus as being a Pharisee. The Pharisees had fundamental beliefs that were different from other groups in Judaism, just as a Baptist and a Lutheran would have in our day. The Pharisee’s believed if you were born a Jew you had an automatic right to enter the Kingdom of God when the Messiah came. A Gentile, in their belief, did not have these rights. In fact, Jesus was going to show them that their fundamental belief in automatic acceptance into the kingdom was false. This is key.

A Gentile had two options to believe in Judaism. 1. Obey the seven laws of the Covenant of Noah and be partially accepted or 2. Accept Mosaic law (includes circumcision) and become a total convert. A Jew only had to be born a Jew and, in the Pharisee’s belief, become eligible for the kingdom. A Rabbinic belief of the time had Abraham sitting at the gate of hell waiting for any Jew who slipped through to hell by accident, he would snatch them from doom.

Now, to be born or converted to Judaism, required baptism by total immersion. This was being “born by water” in the Jewish faith. Jesus told Nicodemus that a man must be born again to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus understood the term born again as it relates to Judaism--and did not understand how he could be born again as an old man. He had already achieved “born again” status in the faith--he was confused.


SIX WAYS TO BE BORN AGAIN AS A JEW

1. Gentile conversion to Judaism--Nicodemus was already a Jew.

2. To be crowned as a king. Only Davidic kings qualified. There were no kings at this time.

3. Bar Mitzvah--not a term in those days but rather become “A son of the Commandment”. The boy would take on the responsibility of the Mosaic law. There had to be ten adults present at ceremony. Boy became an adult afterwards.

4. To marry--Declared born again at the marriage ceremony under the canopy. Nicodemus was married. He was a Master of Israel, a teacher at a school of the Sanhedrin, so he would have been married.

5. To be ordained as a Rabbi (took place at the age of 30).

6. To become a Rosh Yeshiva--head of a Rabbinic school, which Nicodemus was.

These were all the ways to be “born again” in that day. There were no other ways. “How can I be born again as an old man?”--I can’t qualify any other way. Jesus tells him a man must be born of both water and the spirit to see, and then enter the kingdom. Jesus was telling him he didn’t qualify on the basis of being a Jew (baptized) only, but that there was more.

Merely being born a Jew, Jesus was saying, did not qualify one for the kingdom. One must be born again both physically and spiritually. To be born of the flesh, verse 6, is not enough. Flesh and blood does not inherit the kingdom of God--there must be spiritual regeneration--this is what Nicodemus lacked. How is one born spiritually? In verse 14 we see. The first step God does--the atonement for sin. The second step man must do--accept, believe, and receive what God has provided by and through His Son. This is the two parts of John 3.16.

Until Nicodemus accepts Jesus as the Messiah King he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. This was opposite of his Pharisee fundamentalism. He had to wrestle with this until he understood. This is a giant struggle for all Jews today.

Now prior to Jesus discussion in John 6.30-71 we see Jesus feeding 5,000 with loaves and fishes. Then the next day he has the discussion about eating his flesh and drinking his blood after he tells them they are seeking miracles and signs. In John 6.26-27 he tells them to labor for the meat which endures unto everlasting life, not the meat that perishes (which the 5000 just ate). Now the people want another sign, they are refusing to believe on him. So Yeshua is now going to chastise them for their unbelief. (They are constantly seeking signs, not believing, now he is going to really challenge them.)

This is when he tells them they must eat his flesh and drink his blood. The same crowd that had eaten the loaves and fishes and been healed, leave in disgust on learning that Jesus is the Bread of Life and not a political Messiah. Jesus now offers them a new form of life--in parabolic terms so they do not understand. He offers them four things: 1. Eternal life. 2. A heavenly life. 3. A satisfying life. 4. Resurrection life.

The people ask what they have to do to work the works of God? What signs does Jesus have for them? They had the bread from heaven as a sign. They had this bread in the wilderness from Moses. Jesus tells them the manna came from God the Father--not Moses. “I am the bread of life,” He tells them. They don’t understand how they can eat Jesus’ flesh. They did not understand the spiritual aspect of this because He was speaking to them in parables. Jesus is not talking about communion here--but that they must believe in Him to sustain life--He is not talking about the unleavened bread of Passover. The work of God is believing in Him--faith in Jesus--and exercising that faith.

Jesus now tells them to eat His flesh and drink His blood. They are to appropriate Him unto themselves--this is eternal life. The physical act goes against the Torah that forbids the drinking of blood. They do not understand--many disciples now turn away from following Him. The apostles, however, now reaffirm their faith in Jesus--except for Judas. For Judas, this is where his apostasy is beginning. His road to betrayal is now beginning with this message of the Bread of Life. Jesus cannot violate Torah, but this discourse has severely challenged those who understand Torah--they walk away. This is a test. Jesus purposely does not explain--He does this all the time. He lets us go home and wrestle with truth that is difficult to understand--He doesn't explain it right away.

Now we again look to the Bible to interpret: Matt 13.10-13 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah (6.9), which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive…” We see that this is Yeshua’s style of speaking. He is not going to explain this to his disciple’s until the Passover covenant meal (the last supper).

The Bible continues to interpret itself in Matt 26.26-29: And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. and he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

Jesus has explained in simple language that this is all about covenant, his blood shed for remission of sin, and walking it out in our lives through and with him. It was symbolic. At the end he says he is not going to drink of this fruit of the vine until he drinks it with them in the Kingdom. It is done in remembrance.

In Luke 22.15-20 Jesus says the same thing. We will just look at vv 19-20: And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Jesus has come to fulfill the Torah (law) so he would not have us drinking blood out of a cup of what was a pagan ritual to Jews. Jesus himself has come to fulfill--in his own words. This last supper is a covenant meal in which Jesus is explaining what his death means and now they will have a way to remember this for all eternity. In Hebraic thought there is no mystery here. It is a symbolic gesture done to bring us to remembrance. Don't complicate a simple truth, please!

As the Bible continues to interpret itself look at 1 Corinthians 10:14-21: Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

Paul is discussing the pagan ritual of drinking blood. This is violation of Torah as we have shown above. The communion he is speaking about is the body of Christ or the believers in Christ. We are many but are one body--the body of Christ. He is not speaking about transubstantiation, but the believers as the body of Christ and that they are not to eat at pagan tables or the tables of demons. Carry forward Acts 15.1-31 focus on v 29: That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

As for the commentary in 1 Corinthians 12.18-34 Paul is speaking about how some come in drunk and drink too much of the cup and are shaming the Lord in this behavior. In vv 23-34 he is speaking to their poor behavior and that we should examine ourselves and our relationships with our brothers before partaking of the bread and wine. In vv 26-28 this is summed up: For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew(remember) the Lord's death till he come.

Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

When we look at all these verses and the ones above in the Hebraic perspective we begin to see their true, yet simple meaning. The early church was started by a Torah observant orthodox Jew, Jesus Christ. All of the early leaders and writers of the New Testament were Jewish except perhaps Luke. The New Testament is commentary on the Old and is explained to new believers in Christ so that they understand the foundation of their faith in Christ. As time passed the gentiles began to take over the church as Jews refused to believe and the church drifted from her Hebraic roots. That in itself is another long discussion based on true history.

We do not believe in transubstantiation and many other things in the mainstream church, both Protestant and Catholic. It is essential to understand the Hebraic roots of our faith to begin understanding what Jesus meant.

The Spiritual United Nations
 

 

In this article we will see some of the deceptive forces currently directing our society towards a New World Order (NWO). The United Nations is a breeding ground for many organizations which have occult beginnings or roots. We see man striving to solve all of his problems without consulting Yaweh the God of the Universe. There is no place for Jesus in the plans of these people.

 

As you read you will see man striving to "Be as God" and building a society without consultation of the Bible. You will see that the Lucis Trust is a satanic organization that believes in a being of light that will come as a 'World Teacher."

 

Then the Aquarian Age Community, which is really New Age, furthers this idea. You can clearly see the alien deception developing in this philosophy. New Age, in fact, was born out of Alice Bailey and her Lucis Trust organization. As you read the information below you can use your knowledge of God's Word to see how this is very deceptive and can lead to many Antichrist ideas. As it says in the book of Revelation: "The whole world is deceived by Satan."

 The ‘green philosophy’ that is rapidly permeating our society has been fostered since its inception by the Club of Rome and its affiliated organizations. Members of the CoR triad include Al Gore, Javier Solana, Mikhail Gorbachev, David Rockefeller, Kofi Annan, Bill Clinton, Maurice Strong, Robert Muller, Bill Gates, Jimmy Carter and many other influential leaders. In their various reports the CoR clearly outline their ultimate goal to “transform humanity into a sustainable global interdependent society, based on respect and reverence for the Earth.” To briefly recap their stated agenda in their own words:

“Man possesses, for a small moment in his history, the most powerful combination of knowledge, tools, and resources the world has ever known. He has all that is physically necessary to create a totally new form of human society - one that would be built to last for generations.” – The Limits to Growth, a report by The Club of Rome

“Now is the time to draw up a master plan for organic sustainable growth and world development based on global allocation of all finite resources and a new global economic system. Ten or twenty years from today it will probably be too late.” –Mankind at the Turning Point, a report by The Club of Rome

“This proposed new global system is highly interdependent as, in the same manner that the human body assigns different tasks to its various organs, each region is assigned specialized and specific tasks, and is each is dependent on the others for their common survival… The resultant ideal sustainable population is hence more than 500 million but less than one billion.” – Goals for Mankind, a report by The Club of Rome

“In searching for a new enemy to unite us, we came up with the idea that pollution, the threat of global warming, water shortages, famine and the like would fit the bill. All these dangers are caused by human intervention, and it is only through changed attitudes and behavior that they can be overcome. The real enemy then, is humanity itself. Democracy is not a panacea. It cannot organize everything and it is unaware of its own limits. These facts must be faced squarely. Sacrilegious though this may sound, democracy is no longer well suited for the tasks ahead.” –The First Global Revolution, a report by The Club of Rome

The Lucis Trust
This organization was originally founded in the 1920s by the renowned occultist Alice Bailey under the name of the Lucifer Publishing Company. The Trust is recognized by the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and is represented at regular briefing sessions at the UN. The Lucis Trust is also a member of the UN Economic and Social Council. Interestingly, Robert Muller served as the Secretary of this Council for many years. Until recently the Lucis Trust was located at 666 United Nations Plaza and listed its official sponsors as the UN, Greenpeace and Amnesty International.

Alice Bailey claimed to be able to channel a spirit guide called ‘the Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul.’ Robert Muller was a disciple of Bailey and in his World Core Curriculum it is explicitly stated that "the underlying philosophy upon which the Robert Muller School is based will be found in the teaching set forth in the books of Alice Bailey by the Tibetan teacher Djwhal Khul." Bailey taught that the ‘World Spiritual Teacher’ would soon appear and lead the world into the Age of Aquarius and it was the task of her disciples to “prepare the way for His imminent appearance.”

“Today there is an increasing expectancy regarding the return of the "World Teacher", the Coming One who will return to lead humanity into a new age and into a heightened consciousness. In fact, some claim that the Christ has already reappeared in physical form and has been "sighted" in various parts of the world  proclaimed", either by Himself or by any other individual or group.”

Bailey claimed that this reappearance required intense meditation and the reciting of the Great Invocation. Former UN Sec-Gen Dag Hammarskjold was also a follower of Bailey and he was responsible for the construction of the Meditation Room within the UN building. Meditation meetings have been held regularly within this room for decades and they open with a recital of Bailey’s Great Invocation:

“From the point of Light within the Mind of God Let light stream forth into human minds. Let Light descend on Earth.
From the point of Love within the Heart of God Let love stream forth into human hearts. May the Coming One return to Earth.
From the centre where the Will of God is known Let purpose guide all little human wills - The purpose which the Masters know and serve.
From the centre which we call the human race Let the Plan of Love and Light work out And may it seal the door where evil dwells. Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.”

Interestingly Robert Muller’s EarthPax site refers to him as an Ascended Master and has a copy of the Great Invocation prominently displayed. Remember this guy was second in charge of the UN for decades and founded many of its most important institutions. Even more interestingly many of the organizations founded by Club of Rome members are in charge of these meditation meetings within the UN!

Each year “the United Nations calls upon individual people of goodwill and groups to observe a Global Vigil of Meditation and Prayer. It “aims to have individuals or groups commit themselves to spend specific 15 minute periods in prayer or meditation for a culture of peace and goodwill. Each 15 minute period begins and ends with a sounding of the Great Invocation.”


The Aquarian Age Community
The AAC was founded by the Lucis Trust and describes its mission as “preparing the way for the imminent appearance of the World Spiritual Teacher.” They are an official consultative NGO in association with the United Nations’ Department of Public Information and their website is sponsored by the UN. On their website they state:

“We have an informal network at the UN, a humanity underground. It consists of those who are committed, aware, and striving to bring the New World to birth. It consists of people in high places and in low. The patient Secretary who has been 30 years with the UN, but lives with the vision and the spirit; of the professionals, and undersecretaries and heads of departments who are acting out the imperatives that their own inner vision gives them.

Some few are conscious of the sources of their inspiration; most are not. They are the Karma Yogis of our time - those whose path of spirituality is to achieve through doing - to grow through serving. They are found not only in the secretariat but also in the delegations to the UN, among the diplomats and their staffs, and also among folks like us, representatives of non-governmental organizations around the UN.”

The Baha’i religion is very involved with the United Nations. However, perhaps it is not so surprising when you realize that Maurice Strong is a devout Baha’i and was the leader of the organization in North America. The Baha'i community has, as a duly accredited non-governmental organization, long worked closely with the United Nations, supporting many of its goals and programs, and taking a leadership role in several international gatherings. Its involvement in the United Nations dates back to the founding of the UN in 1945.

Baha’i

The Baha’i organization claims to have a close working relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO) and with the United Nations Environment Program. It is also involved in joint activities with UNIFEM and UNICEF as well as many other religious, environmental and social programs within the UN. The Baha’i spiritual beliefs mirror almost exactly those described by the Lucis Trust and AAC described above. They too are waiting for the imminent arrival of an ‘Enlightened Being’ who will lead humanity into a ‘new world order’:

“For Baha'is, the term "new world order" has a special and clear-cut meaning. More than 100 years ago, Baha'u'llah invoked the phrase to categorize a future series of momentous changes in the political, social and religious life of the world. "The signs of impending convulsions and chaos can now be discerned, inasmuch as the prevailing Order appeareth to be lamentably defective," He wrote. "Soon will the present-day order be rolled up and a new one spread out in its stead. Baha'is understand that the dramatic changes and transformations we have witnessed over the last century - and which we are continuing to see - have been initiated by the coming of a new Messenger of God and influenced by the breaking light of a new Revelation.”

The Baha’i faith sees the United Nations as the vessel by which the unifying of the world’s religions into one faith will come to fruition. Their plan for the future of our world and the role of the United Nations overseeing a regionalised world mirror almost directly the proposal outlined by Maurice’ Strong Commission on Global Governance. Baha’i writings state “the oneness of humanity implies an organic change in the structure of present-day society, a change such as the world has not yet experienced. It calls for no less than the reconstruction and the demilitarization of the whole civilized world – a world organically unified in all the essential aspects of life, its political machinery, its spiritual aspiration, its trade and finance, its script and language.”


Reform of the United Nations
The UN is currently considering various proposals to reform the organization. Perhaps the most interesting, at least to this writer, is the proposal to replace the ten Security Council members with representatives from ten geographical unions. This concept was first proposed by the Club of Rome in 1974 in their report Mankind at the Turning Point:

“Paths of development, region-specific rather than based on narrow national interests, must be designed to lead to a sustainable balance between the interdependent world-regions and to global harmony. A "horizontal" restructuring of the world system is needed, i.e., a change in relationships among nations and regions and as far as the "vertical" structure of the world system is concerned, drastic changes in the norm stratum. Cooperation by definition connotes interdependence. Increasing interdependence between nations and regions must then translate as a decrease in independence.”

Maurice Strong chaired the UN Commission on Global Governance and it’s final report clearly stated: “Regionalism must precede globalism. We foresee a seamless system of governance from local communities, individual states, regional unions and up through to the United Nations itself. The concept of national sovereignty has been immutable, indeed a sacred principle of international relations. It is a principle which will yield only slowly and reluctantly to the new imperatives of global environmental cooperation.”


While in its present form the United Nations may appear to be an impotent bungling bureaucracy many organizations are anxiously anticipating a new reformed empowered ‘UN version 2.’ The Club of Rome claims that at the right moment it will “bring order out of chaos.” This reformed United Nations is likely to rise from the ashes of a major world crisis and will no doubt be lead by a charismatic world leader, perhaps assisted by this ‘World Spiritual Teacher.’


This is a great example of why the Lord wants us to rid our assemblies of New Age, Human Secular, and Paganism. The deception sounds so noble and good to millions of people. As believers we need to know the one true God in order to not be deceived by the false gods of this world!

WHO WE ARE - THE FUTURE OF JERUSALEM - MILLENNIAL REST

And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do….1 Chronicles 12:32

WHO WE ARE 

Scriptures to support the Ezekiel 40-48 Temple study, let the Word of God do the convincing:

 



Brought Near by His Blood - Ephesians 2.11-3.7
Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands--that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Christ Our Peace
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Christ Our Cornerstone
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Sons and Heirs Gal 3.26-29
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Jews who have accepted Yeshua: Romans 11:5-7
Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Speaking about Jews who have come to Yeshua.

Romans 11:15--For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? Resurrection of the dead at the end of the age.

Romans 11:17-- And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,

Romans 11:23-- And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

Romans 11:25-27--For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” (Is 59-20-21)

Romans 2:28-29--For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. Heart Circumcision.

Jeremiah 31:31-34--A New Covenant--In the Heart
“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Revelation 6:9-11 Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs - Could many be Jewish?When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

COMING EVENTS - YESHUA’S RETURN

Isaiah 63:17 -Tribes O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

Isaiah 62.8; 11-12 - The Lord Brings Salvation - The Lord hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast labored…Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

Zechariah 12:1-3 The Coming Deliverance of Judah
The burden of the word of the Lord against Israel. Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him: “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.

Zechariah 12:6-12 - In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a fire pan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place--Jerusalem. “The Lord will save the tents of Judah first (Gen 49.10), so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not become greater than that of Judah.

In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them. It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Mourning for the Pierced One
“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. And the land shall mourn, every family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves….

Zechariah 13:6-9...And one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms? Then he will answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’

The Shepherd Savior
“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion,” Says the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones. And it shall come to pass in all the land,” Says the Lord, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one–third shall be left in it: I will bring the one–third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”

Zechariah 14:1-3...Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.

For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Zechariah 14:5-9 - And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal; and ye shall flee like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah; and the LORD my God shall come, and all his saints with him. And it shall come to pass in that day that the light shall not be clear, nor dark; (Shekinah Glory-every eye sees) but it shall be one day which is known to the LORD, not day, nor night; but it shall come to pass, that at evening time there shall be light. ¶ And it shall be in that day that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem: half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea; in summer and in winter it shall be. And the LORD shall be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD shall be one, and his name one.

 
NUCLEAR WAR  Zechariah 14:12-13

Nuclear War
And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will smite all the peoples that fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And it shall come to pass in that day that a great destruction from the LORD shall be in them, for they shall lay hold each one on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor.

Isaiah 66:15-18: Nuclear War 
For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many. They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord. For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

2 Peter 3.7...But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.


MILLENNIAL KINGDOM - CELEBRATING THE FEASTS AND SHABBAT

Isaiah 64.4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. 1 Corinthians 2.9

Zech 14.16-19 Millennial - ¶ And every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of the hosts, and to celebrate the feast of the tabernacles.

And it shall be that whoever will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of the hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. Torah from a high place to a low - blessings...think of rain falling as blessing.

And if the family of Egypt does not go up and does not come, there shall be no rain upon them; instead there shall be the plague, with which the LORD will smite the Gentiles that do not come up to celebrate the feast of the tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of the sin of Egypt and of the sin of all the Gentiles that do not come up to celebrate the feast of the tabernacles.

Luke 22:15-18 Passover...And he said unto them, With desire I have greatly desired to eat this passover lamb with you before I suffer; for I say unto you, I will not eat any more thereof until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And taking the cup, having given thanks, he said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves, for I say unto you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God shall come.

Isaiah 66:23 - Sabbath - And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. Sabbath a sign: Exodus 31.13

We are shown in the above verses that we will be celebrating the feasts of the Lord in the millennium as we see both Tabernacles and Passover mentioned. We will be celebrating the Sabbath on the 7^th day of the week, and we will be celebrating the new moon each month. Ref: the previous two part study on Ezekiel’s Millennial Temple.

Song of Solomon 4 - How He Sees Us As His Bride

Hebrews 4:1-14...Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. MK is a time of rest--the seventh day.

6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

　

THE PATTERN OF FALLING AWAY AND RESTORATION OF ISRAEL

After sharing the notes on Jeremiah I thought it would be good to publish this short study on how the Biblical prophets warned the nation. There is nothing new under the sun!

The nation falls into apostasy. They turn from the one true God YHVH and worship idols. They begin to sacrifice their children into the fire to these gods. They build pillars and worship the sun and the moon. They also turn to fertility gods whose rituals are sexual. They eat at pagan tables and drink blood. Drinking blood is supposed to transfer the power of that animal to the drinker. The overall morality of the nation descends into depravity and everyone does what is right in their own mind.

The government begins to fall apart ethically. Bribing public officials becomes standard practice in order to curry favor. Judges and magistrates are bought and sold. Even the priests are bribed off in place of sin offerings. Financial instability replaces fair trade. Inflation rages, weights and measures are false.

Sexual infidelity becomes the norm. Adultery is common practice. Prostitution is common in the city. The pagan temples allow sex as a religious ritual. The population has less and less regard for the laws of God.

Political alliances are formed with unethical nations. These alliances are made for protection against invasion or to conquer other nations. Foreign policy has no focus. The political leaders are only interested in furthering personal gain in these relationships.

The Lord sends prophets to warn the nation. These prophets plead with the nation to return to their God. They plead for the people to repent of their sinful ways and honor the Lord. The prophets take symbolic actions for the people to see and warn of coming invasion and destruction of cities. These warnings by various prophets occur over decades. The populace pays no attention. Their hearing becomes dull and their eyes are blind. The prophets continue to plead as the political and financial situation becomes worse.

The prophets are accused of being seditious. They are looked upon as traitors and despised, but they continue to warn the nation. During this process there are occasionally periods of revival where the nation turns from their ways to worship the Lord, but they are short periods followed by continued apostasy. The warnings of the prophets become louder, but to no avail.

The nation comes under invasion by foreigners. Sometimes several invasions are experienced before the nation is defeated and Jerusalem burned to the ground. The nation is totally devastated and burned. Refugees flee to surrounding areas and many are taken captive to a strange land. Those left behind are most likely killed, the rest flee or are taken into exile.

Once in the foreign land the survivors begin to realize what they have lost and begin to turn back to their God. The prophets explain to them what has happened and give the survivors hope for return to the homeland. The survivors long for the homeland and begin to turn back to their old ways and respect for their God. They are told by the prophets to become good citizens of the land, build homes, and prosper. They are told that at the appointed time they will be restored to their homeland.

At the appointed time, after mourning for their former apostasy, the people are allowed to return to their homeland and rebuild the waste places. They have finally learned that they have a great and just God, and never turn back to idolatry again. They once again live in their homeland and revere the Lord.

HOW THIS PATTERN IS RELAVENT TO INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIANS

We can easily visualize our personal walk with the Lord in the pattern above. We often start out as excited new born Christians with many great expectations. As time goes on we become complacent as the cares of the job, family, and financial issues begin to weigh upon us. At his point some become stronger Christians as they trust the Lord in these situations, others find things too difficult and lapse into the former lifestyle.

Those that experience a lapse are often reminded of their former walk with the Lord by friends, family, and people they come into contact with in their daily lives. Sometimes we repent and return to the Lord, other times we turn away and refuse to listen. Each one of us has their own personal experience.

Some of us have to fall pretty far before we realize how good we had it when we walked with the Lord. At this point if we return and ask forgiveness, the Lord is quick to forgive and reestablish our faith. It takes some time and effort on our part, but the return is sweet. The Lord is quick to forgive if we approach in the right spirit and truly repent.

Some believers go through this process more than once while others have a strong faith right from the start. We all, however, experience this pattern in our personal lives in a major or minor way. Some don’t necessarily fall away or backslide, but there are areas in their lives the Lord wishes to deal with. It is up to us to allow Him to deal with those areas if we are to move forward in the faith. This can be an unpleasant period, but if we genuinely seek His way it transforms us into His image over a period of time. These are the times of testing we all go through. It is our job to recognize it for what it is and respond to the Lord and yield to the Holy Spirit’s wisdom.

THE PATTERN ON A NATIONAL BASIS IN MODERN TIMES

The pattern for nations today are similar. Once a godly nation, the populace grows more and more distant from the ways of God. Morality and ethics begin to collapse as people are more interested in self than in the ways of God. The ethical collapse leads to a breakdown in the financial service industry. Gain becomes more important than solid ethical investment. The industry becomes more like a casino than a place to protect the client’s interest.

In politics there is a decline in ethical practice. Personal gain takes president over what is good for the country at large. Big business begins to call the shots through lobbyists and large donations to individuals or party. Gridlock overcomes partisanship as nothing constructive gets done. Budgets soar out of control as an entitlement mentality grips the public. Politicians pander to the public and promise to give the populace benefits that are not affordable.

The public becomes obsessed with celebrity, sports, and entertainment. Real issues are avoided and the public slowly begins to lose their hard won freedom due to their apathy. Poor behavior is rewarded and those who work hard and follow the rules find themselves despised. What was formerly shocking behavior is now common place. Family values come under attack and alternate lifestyles are glorified. The entertainment industry becomes baser and baser each passing decade. The dumbing down of the nation begins in the schools and carries over into all areas of society.

Secular and religious prophets warn of disaster but few pay any attention. The churches, which once set a standard of morality, now condone what was formerly thought to be ungodly behavior. Endless wars, unchecked spending, and “in your face” behavior in both politics and civil relations become worse and worse. Slowly the nation descends into depravity and all order is lost as financial and political institutions crumble. The process takes decades to reach a climax, but when the climax comes it is destructively quick as society sinks into anarchy.

Read all about it in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and all the prophets!

　

　

JEREMIAH’S LAMENTATION - A WARNING TO THE NATION

 

Jeremiah's lamentation's express God's heart to us as individuals and as a nation.

 

1:1-11 A picture of a politically corrupt and fallen nation. Food shortages 1:11, riches gone 1:7, possessions sold off for things to eat 1:11.

1:13-14 Difficult times - sin weighing the nation down. 1:16-17 The prophet weeps at the sorry condition of the nation. There is no comfort 1:17.


1:20-21 The nation’s enemies are glad to see this suffering. The prophet calls for the people to repent, admit their rebellious ways, and return to God.


2:11-12 Weeping, hunger, desolation. The children are hungry. They want to eat. The nation is in the throe’s of poverty. There is also hunger for the true word of God--but no one speaks. Only false words of soothing from the government which lies to them--lulling them into a false sense of security 2:14-16.

2:17-19 The nation cries out to the Lord for more of Him. They weep and mourn for their sinful condition.

3:1-17 The Lord is chastening His people. There is no escape from hardship--only sorrow. There is, however, hope in God 3:18. God still loves his people and desires they return to Him. He will be faithful if they return and come back to His ways 3:21-44.

3:44-45 The Lord takes no joy in their turning away from Him. He covers Himself in a dark cloud covering His eyes like a man who cannot bear what he is seeing.

3:55-66 The Lord is their defender and redeemer. He will deliver them when they call out to Him and forsake their sinful ways. They must repent. The Lord demands justice.

4:1-18 A once proud nation now begins to realize how far they have fallen from their past moral days. They now experience poverty where once they had riches 4:4-10. God is a consuming fire--sin must be forsaken 4:11. Sin separates us from God and His justice and righteousness 4:13-18.

5:1-17 Living in sin is self destructive and is a hard yoke to bear. His burden is light and yoke easy--if we live by His commandments. Our sin has made us sick 5:17. If we turn towards God we will be renewed! 5:20-21

We see in Deut 28 and Lev 26 how God blesses or curses a nation. The laws are irrefutable and are eternal. If we obey we are blessed. If we rebel and sin we bring the curses upon ourselves. God’s commandments are designed to bring blessing or cursing based upon our decision to follow or rebel. God is righteous and demands we also live righteously. The wages of sin is death.

These principles apply to the nation and to us as individuals. God only asks that we live righteously and love one another as He loves us!

NOTES ON JEREMIAH

Notes from the Jewish Study Bible
 

For the next few days I am going to publish some notes taken from the Jewish Study Bible on Jeremaih and overlay them with their meaning from a follower of Yeshua perspective.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 1 Corinthians 15.19

The books of the prophets are types and shadows of the coming millennial kingdom. Within the historial context of Israel's rebellion and punishment we are seeing the coming end of the age. When Paul said the above quote he was looking towards the resurrection and the coming kingdom. Our present troubles are preparation for something much greater to come. As God's people we need to have a vision of the world to come in order to sustain us in times of trouble. Read on!


Then (some princes)…heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying…the LORD said, He that remains in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, but he that goes forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey and shall live. Thus hath the LORD said, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army…Therefore the princes said unto the king…let this man be put to death: for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war that remain in this city and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them; for this man does not seek the peace of this people, but the hurt. Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand, for the king can not do any thing against you. Jeremiah 38.1-5


The princes who control weak king Zedekiah have Jeremiah arrested. They say he is bad for the moral of the city and does not seek the peace of the people. Jeremiah, however, is saying don’t resist--you will be taken captive and live. In chapter 29 the people taken captive are told by Jeremiah to pray for Babylon and that they will prosper in captivity!


Jeremiah is viewed as a traitor to the nation! He is saying those taken into captivity will be safe and prosper. This is an interesting study. We think of captivity as a negative--but is some cases it can be a place of safety and prosperity. To pursue this idea further see the post on this blog: The Hiding Place published on April 2nd 2014.
 

Jeremiah 42...Jeremiah taken to Egypt. The people ask Jeremiah to seek the Lord on whether or not they should go to Egypt. Jeremiah says he will pray and the people swear they will listen to whatever the Lord tells him they should do!


And it happened after ten days that the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah…called…all the people from the least even to the greatest…and said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition before Him: ‘If you will still remain in this land, then I will build you and not pull you down, and I will plant you and not pluck you up. For I relent concerning the disaster that I have brought upon you. Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid; do not be afraid of him,’ says the Lord, ‘for I am with you, to save you and deliver you from his hand. And I will show you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and cause you to return to your own land.’ Jeremiah 42.7-12


After ten days the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. In Jewish thought it is believed that Gedaliah was murdered on the 1^st of Tishri the Feast of Trumpets. This would mean the ten days were right after Yom Kippur the Day of Atonement when the people are to repent. This date would emphasize the theme of repentance, which will not take place in the next verses. The ten days would also represent the “days of awe” between Trumpets and Yom Kippur which represent the last chance to repent. The Bible is painting a prophetic overlay that helps us understand the end of the age.


“But if you say, ‘We will not dwell in this land,’ disobeying the voice of the Lord your God, saying, ‘No, but we will go to the land of Egypt where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor be hungry for bread, and there we will dwell’— Then hear now the word of the Lord, O remnant of Judah! Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘If you wholly set your faces to enter Egypt, and go to dwell there, then it shall be that the sword which you feared shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt; the famine of which you were afraid shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there you shall die. Jeremiah 42.13-16


Jeremiah tells them if they stay in Judea they will be rebuilt and replanted but if they go to Egypt they will die there and never return to Judea.


“The Lord has said concerning you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt!’…I have admonished you this day. For you were hypocrites in your hearts when you sent me to the Lord your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the Lord our God, and according to all that the Lord your God says, so declare to us and we will do it. Jeremiah 42.19-20 


Once again, Jeremiah strongly warns the people. He is clearly telling them not to go to Egypt! In Deut 17.14-20 (Torah) it emphasizes that the king is forbidden to return the people to Egypt. Isaiah also warned the people not to ally with Egypt (Isaiah 18-20; 30-31). If the remnant is to grow they must not go to Egypt but stay in the land.
 

Jeremiah 43...The guidance is rejected! All the army officers and the people did not obey the word of the Lord. They take Jeremiah, all the men, women, and children, including the daughters of Zedekiah (v 6) and went to Egypt.

Jeremiah 44...Israelites will be punished in Egypt.


The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who dwell in the land of Egypt…saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘You have seen all the calamity that I have brought on Jerusalem and on all the cities of Judah; and behold, this day they are a desolation, and no one dwells in them, because of their wickedness…in that they went to burn incense and to serve other gods whom they did not know, they nor you nor your fathers. However I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, “Oh, do not do this abominable thing that I hate!” But they did not listen or incline their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense to other gods. So My fury and My anger were poured out and kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as it is this day…They have not been humbled, to this day, nor have they feared; they have not walked in My law or in My statutes that I set before you and your fathers. Jeremiah 44.1-10


The people refused to give up their false gods! They refused to turn from the mixture and idolatry that the Lord hated, worshipping the gods of Egypt. They refused to repent--what is God supposed to do?


Therefore thus says the Lord…‘Behold, I will set My face against you for catastrophe and for cutting off all Judah… I will take the remnant of Judah who have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to dwell there, and they shall all be consumed and fall in the land of Egypt. They shall be consumed by the sword and by famine…For I will punish those who dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, so that none of the remnant of Judah who have gone into the land of Egypt to dwell there shall escape or survive, lest they return to the land of Judah, to which they desire to return and dwell. For none shall return except those who escape.” Jeremiah 44.11-14


The people reply:
Then all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to other gods…a great multitude, and all the people who dwelt in the land of Egypt…answered Jeremiah, saying: “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you! But we will certainly do whatever has gone out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, were well-off, and saw no trouble. But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine.” Jeremiah 44.15-18

The people are in total rebellion and refuse to repent! Jeremiah then tells them (verses 24-29) that only a very small few of them will ever return to Judah--they will die in Egypt because of their sin.

The message to the church is that God does not want mixture! It is time to rid our assemblies of new age, human secular, and witchcraft practices. You think it is not there? Look again! Read Revelation chapters 2 and 3. This is a warning to the church...Balaam and Jezebel are entrenched in our assemblies! We better heed what God is saying.

End of Study

NOTES ON JEREMIAH

Notes from the Jewish Study Bible

For the next few days I am going to publish some notes taken from the Jewish Study Bible on Jeremaih and overlay them with their meaning from a follower of Yeshua perspective.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 1 Corinthians 15.19

The books of the prophets are types and shadows of the coming millennial kingdom. Within the historial context of Israel's rebellion and punishment we are seeing the coming end of the age. When Paul said the above quote he was looking towards the resurrection and the coming kingdom. Our present troubles are preparation for something much greater to come. As God's people we need to have a vision of the world to come in order to sustain us in times of trouble. Read on!


So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read in it in the ears of the king and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king. Now the king sat in the winter house in the ninth month (Kislev/Hanukkah), and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him…when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his slaves that heard all these words.Jeremiah 36.21-24


Leadership refused to listen or fear the Lord. YHVH gave them opportunity to avoid judgment.


Jeremiah 37...focuses on Jeremiah’s imprisonment for prophesying that Babylon will assault Jerusalem and eventually destroy it. Jeremiah is considered to be a traitor and is imprisoned by King Zedekiah. Jeremiah continues to prophesy that the Chaldeans will conquer Israel if Jerusalem resists. King Zedekiah continues to seek Jeremiah’s counsel and Jeremiah continues to speak the unpopular word of the Lord. Zedekiah eases the harshness of Jeremiah’s prison surroundings, but does not release him.


Then (some princes)…heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying…the LORD said, He that remains in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, but he that goes forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey and shall live. Thus hath the LORD said, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army…Therefore the princes said unto the king…let this man be put to death: for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war that remain in this city and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them; for this man does not seek the peace of this people, but the hurt. Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand, for the king can not do any thing against you. Jeremiah 38.1-5


The princes who control weak king Zedekiah have Jeremiah arrested. They say he is bad for the moral of the city and does not seek the peace of the people. Jeremiah, however, is saying don’t resist--you will be taken captive and live. In chapter 29 the people taken captive are told by Jeremiah to pray for Babylon and that they will prosper in captivity!


Jeremiah 38.6-13...Jeremiah is lowered into a mud pit to starve to death. Ebed-melech convinces the king to pull Jeremiah up from the pit to save his life. Zedekiah tells Ebed-melech to take 30 men and go get Jeremiah out of the pit. He is put back into the prison cell.


Jeremiah 38.14-28...after Jeremiah is put back in the prison cell Zedekiah has him secretly brought to him for counsel. Jeremiah tells Zedekiah to surrender to Babylon and it will go well with him. Zedekiah hears him out but will not take the word of the Lord. Jeremiah is told not to tell anyone about this conversation.


Jeremiah 39 ...The Babylonian capture and destruction of Jerusalem appears here and in ch 52 and 2 Kings 25. Jeremiah’s words came true, thereby affirming his status as a true prophet. The city fell on the 9^th of Av.


Jeremiah is released from prison by the Babylonians and committed to the care of Gedaliah and left at liberty in a house to live among the survivors in Jerusalem. Jeremiah tells Ebed-melech, the man who saved him from the pit, that the Lord is going to spare his life for that good deed.


Jeremiah 40...The assassination of Gedaliah. The Babylonians place Gedaliah as governor of Judah. Jeremiah is freed to live where ever he wants. King Baalis of Ammon sends Ishmael to kill Gedaliah and take over Judah. Gedaliah is warned in advance but refuses to believe it is true. The Jewish fast of Gedaliah commemorates this event.


Jeremiah 41...The seventh month is Tishri. This is the month of the fall feasts of the Lord: Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles. Ishmael kills Gedaliah and ten men who are with him. Two days later he kills seventy of eighty men who were fasting on their way to offer sacrifices to the Lord in what was left of Jerusalem (it was most likely the Day of Atonement). The third of Tishri is the Jewish fast of Gedaliah commemorating the death of Gedaliah.


Later Johanan hears of this crime by Ishmael and fights with and defeats Ishmael’s men. Ishmael escapes with eight men and goes to Ammon. For fear of reprisal by the Babylonians, the remaining Jews decide to flee to Egypt.

NOTES ON JEREMIAH

Notes from the Jewish Study Bible

For the next few days I am going to publish some notes taken from the Jewish Study Bible on Jeremaih and overlay them with their meaning from a follower of Yeshua perspective.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 1 Corinthians 15.19

The books of the prophets are types and shadows of the coming millennial kingdom. Within the historial context of Israel's rebellion and punishment we are seeing the coming end of the age. When Paul said the above quote he was looking towards the resurrection and the coming kingdom. Our present troubles are preparation for something much greater to come. As God's people we need to have a vision of the world to come in order to sustain us in times of trouble. Read on!


In those days and at that time, I will cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; and this is the name with which she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.  For thus hath the LORD said: David shall never lack a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel...  Jeremiah 33.15-17


The House of David is included in this restoration. Davidic kingship will be restored. The branch of righteousness draws on Isaiah 11.1-16 which is a prophecy of Yeshua’s coming rule in the MK. David was promised an eternal dynasty (2 Sam 7) and eternal covenant (2 Sam 23.5). This will be fulfilled in the MK.


The word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus hath the LORD said; If ye can break my covenant with the day, and my covenant with the night, such that there should not be day nor night in their season, then may also my covenant be broken with David my slave, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites and priests, my ministers. As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured, so will I multiply the seed of David my slave and the Levites that minister unto me. Jeremiah 33.19-22


This promise of God is unbreakable! Yeshua will reign in the MK. Reference Ezekiel 40-48 for a preview of the MK.


Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying: Dost thou not consider what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD has chosen, he has even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should no longer be a nation before them. Thus hath the LORD said: If my covenant remains not with the day and the night, and if I have not appointed the laws of the heaven and the earth, then I will cast away the seed of Jacob and David my slave, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob; for I will cause their captivity to turn, and I will have mercy on them. Jeremiah 33.23-26


Notice the wording, “two families” in the promise above. Once again we see Judah (Jews) and Israel (Joes) included in the promise. All promises in the Bible are to Israel--not the “church.” We are grafted into Israel--we gentiles--and become partaker in all Israel’s covenant promises! Ref: Ephesians 2.11-3.6; Romans 9-11. The church does not replace Israel--we become partakers of their covenant promises when we accept Yeshua as Lord and Savior. In Acts 15.3 we see the gentiles "conversion" to the covenants with Israel.


Take thee a roll of a book and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the Gentiles, from the day I began to speak unto thee, from the days of Josiah, unto today. If peradventure the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may turn each one from his evil way; and I will forgive their iniquity and their sin. Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book. Jeremiah 36.2-4


The Lord is once again giving the nation an opportunity to repent and turn back to Him. He tells Jeremiah to have Baruch the scribe write down the words and read them at the temple for the people to hear. This section is a micro shadow of the book of Revelation! God has given us the book of Revelation--a testimony of Yeshua--and will forgive those who turn back to Him. At the end of the age men refuse to repent and Yeshua returns and saves His people--Jews and Gentiles.

In our time there are many books written warning America to turn back to the Lord.


So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read in it in the ears of the king and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king. Now the king sat in the winter house in the ninth month (Kislev/Hanukkah), and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him…when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his slaves that heard all these words. Jeremiah 36.21-24


Leadership refused to listen or fear the Lord. YHVH gave them opportunity to avoid judgment.

Next: More Notes on Jeremiah

NOTES ON JEREMIAH

Notes from the Jewish Study Bible

For the next few days I am going to publish some notes taken from the Jewish Study Bible on Jeremaih and overlay them with their meaning from a follower of Yeshua perspective.


If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 1 Corinthians 15.19


The books of the prophets are types and shadows of the coming millennial kingdom. Within the historial context of Israel's rebellion and punishment we are seeing the coming end of the age. When Paul said the above quote he was looking towards the resurrection and the coming kingdom. Our present troubles are preparation for something much greater to come. As God's people we need to have a vision of the world to come in order to sustain us in times of trouble. Read on!

 

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD…Thus hath the LORD God of Israel spoken, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. For, Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I will turn the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, said the LORD, and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. Jeremiah 30.1-3

Jeremiah is told to write down all the words the Lord has spoken to him in a book. The word is that Israel and Judah will return to the land and possess it. This is a dual prophecy. It was partially fulfilled when the people returned 70 years later. Those who returned at that time were mostly from the house of Judah--those taken captivity into Babylon. Small numbers of the house of Israel returned over the centuries but the two kingdoms were never reunited. That part of the prophecy will be fulfilled at the end of the age when God re-gathers His people to Israel (Jews and Gentiles). This was written for our instruction.
 

 

For I shall be with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee; and I shall make a full end in all Gentiles among whom I scattered thee, yet I will not make a full end of thee: but I will chastise thee with judgment and will not cut thee off altogether. Jeremiah 30.11


This oracle indicates that Israel will be punished, but not destroyed, following the typical prophetic idea of a remnant that survive and prosper. This is the idea in the book of Revelation on a world-wide prophetic scale. It is a shadow of the end of the age--the wicked (unbelieving) are judged and the righteous (true believers) redeemed.

 

Behold, the days come, said the LORD, in which I will make a new covenant with the house of Jacob and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt because they invalidated my covenant although I was a husband unto them, said the LORD; But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, said the LORD, I will give my law in their inmost being and write it in their hearts and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall no longer teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD, for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, said the LORD, for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Jeremiah 31.31-34

For Christians this scripture describes the new covenant and God writing His law/Torah on our hearts in the rebirth of accepting Yeshua as Messiah. For Jews it is about the rebuilding of the Temple after Babylonian captivity. It is not the content of the new covenant which will be different--but how it is learned.
 

God places the Torah in the inmost being or heart of the people so that the covenant cannot be broken again. This is rebirth in Yeshua and the grace that saves us. Jewish mysticism maintains that all persons have a divine spark within. Since it is inscribed on our hearts their will be no need for the Torah to be taught. What it really means is that we are saved by grace in Yeshua’s complete work of salvation on the cross. The Torah then is written on our hearts--we obey out of pure love of God. We are no longer under the curse of the Torah. We still must meditate on the law in order to understand how to live righteously and not practice sin.

 

…because of all the evil of…Israel and…Judah, which they have done to provoke Me to anger—they, their kings, their princes, their priests, their prophets, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And they have turned to Me the back, and not the face; though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not listened to receive instruction. But they set their abominations in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. And they built the high places of Baal which are in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I did not command them, nor did it come into My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin. Jeremiah 32.32-35

The sins of Israel and Judah are great--and they refuse to receive correction/instruction/chastisement. Their sins and abominable behavior has caused the Lord to take drastic action. We need to have a heart that can receive chastisement and receive correction from the Lord. Those who are obedient to the Lord are blessed! Those who disobey always have sin working in their lives and have a difficult time walking in the blessings--things always seem to go wrong for them. Maybe they are not listening to what God wants for them.


Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in my anger, in my fury and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me for ever for the good of them and of their sons after them: and I will make an eternal covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good, and I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me. And, I will rejoice with them doing them good, and I will plant them in this land with truth, with my whole heart and with my whole soul. Jeremiah 32.37-41


Once punishment is over there is complete restoration. God promises an everlasting covenant in which the people will look to God and He will ensure their security in the land. Obedience is placed into their hearts--one heart and one way--something that will begin to come forth in the MK.


Now is the time to allow the Lord to work in your life. Rebellion or disobedience will only lead to an unfulfilled life. Jeremiah was speaking to the chosen--the so called "believers."

 

And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to turn and will build them, as at the first. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, with which they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their sins, with which they have sinned against me and with which they rebelled against me. And it shall be unto me a name of joy, of praise and of glory among all the Gentiles of the earth, who shall have heard all the good that I do unto them and they shall fear and tremble for all the good and for all the peace that I shall do unto them. Jeremiah 33.7-9

After chastisement/punishment the Lord cleanses His people and pardons them. First they were severely punished, now they are lovingly restored. Both houses, Judah and Israel (Jews and Joes), share in this promise. The nations/gentiles are also included in the restoration. Jeremiah is seeing far into the future and the MK.
 

 

This is the Biblical pattern. We often do not understand how this works in our daily lives. If we refuse to listen and yield to the Lord we have an unsettled walk. When we obey and yeild our walk bears fruit in many ways! Not all believers are walking in obedience. There is a price to pay.

 

Next: More Notes on Jeremiah