WHEN WAS JESUS REALLY BORN?  THE BIBLE HAS THE TRUE ANSWER

 

If you read this blog you know we try to allow the Bible to interpret itself in all things. This means using the entire Bible to discover truth—both the Old and New Testaments. Jesus was not born at Christmas! In fact, he was born about 2 ½ months earlier during the Feast of Tabernacles.

 

Jesus physically fulfilled the Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread when he was crucified on Passover. He is also going to physically fulfill the Fall Feasts of the Biblical Calendar. This will be during the time of Jacob’s trouble also known as Armageddon in the Book of Revelation and His second coming.

 

It is impossible to understand the end times if you do not understand the Feasts of the Lord (Lev 23.1). The Book of Revelation and the judgments therein revolve around the fall feasts. Therefore it is important for you to understand the fall feasts if you want to understand the book of Revelation.

 

Below is a short outline of the time of Jesus’ and John the Baptist birth allowing the Bible to interpret itself. You can use the notes to follow the video presentation link provided at the bottom of this page. It is very important for us to put aside the traditions and teachings of men that we have grown up hearing in the church and begin to hear and obey God’s truth. Dig in.

 

 

 

GOD HAS APPOINTED TIMES FOR EVERYTHING

 

A. Ecclesiastes 3:1 NAS There Is An “Appointed Time” For Every Event

1 “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.”

 

B. Lev. 23:1-2 Appointed Times/Feasts That Are “Holy Convocations”

1 “The LORD spoke again to Moses, saying, 2 ‘Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, “The Lord's appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations-- My appointed times are these…”

 

1. “Appointed Times” Hebrew word “Moed”

· “A fixed time”

· “Feast or assembly convened for a definite purpose”

· “A signal (sign) appointed before hand”

(Prophetic sign of a future event)

2. “Holy Convocation” Hebrew word “Miqra”

· “Rehearsal” (Prophetic practice for a future event)

 

C. Ecclesiastes 3:2 NAS Appointed Times of Birth And Of Death

2 “A time to give birth, and a time to die…”

 

1. Rom. 5:7-8 NAS Jesus died at an “appointed time”

7 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

 

2. Gal. 4:4 NAS Jesus was born at an appointed time

4 “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law.”

· If Jesus died at the appointed time/Feast of Passover, He was probably born at an appointed time/Feast

 

                                  APPOINTED TIMES ARE ACCORDING TO GOD’S CALENDARS

1. When we allow the Bible to interpret itself we understand that the Bible is happening according to God’s Biblical calendar, which is also the Jewish calendar still observed today.

We know from the Biblical calendar that Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) rose from the dead on the 17th of Aviv/Nisan

·  He was sacrificed on the 14th of Aviv (Passover Lamb) which is Passover.

·  Rose after being in the grave three full days and nights; 72 hours (17th of Aviv) as First Fruits from the dead ref: Matthew 12.40; Matt 16.3-4. If he says three days and nights he means 72 hours. He was not crucified on Good Friday as we have been taught.

 

                                      PRIESTLY DIVISIONS AND THEIR CYCLE OF SERVICE

Now we begin to see how the Bible interprets itself. King David established an order of priestly service for the Temple that was going to be built by his son Solomon. There were 24 divisions or courses of these priests. The served a full week according to the calendar on two occasions during the year. On the Pilgrimage Feasts all 24 divisions served together for the length of the feasts. All according to God’s Biblical Calendar.

 

1. 1 Chron. 24:1-18 David And Zadok Divided The Priesthood Into 24 Divisions (Courses)
    

1. 1 Chron. 24:5-6 - Drew lots to determine their order of service

2. 2 Chron. 23:8 - “Come in and go out on Sabbath”

3. Deut. 16:16 - All priest serve during the Pilgrimage Feasts (Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot)

                                                   APPOINTED TIMES OF CONCEPTION

Using the Biblical Calendar we will follow the scriptures according to John the Baptist’s birth.

 

A. Conception Of John the Baptist

1. Luke 1:5-24 Gabriel Visits Zacharias While Serving In The Temple

· Luke 1. 5, 8 Division/Course of Abijah (8th Division) matches with 1 Chron 24.1

Zacharias would have been serving during his first course of the year at this time which would have been sometime during May on our Roman calendar. It would have been about six weeks after Passover. Using the Biblical calendar we can figure the time of a pregnancy of nine months, that John the Baptist was conceived in the 4^th month of Tammuz.

Six months from that time would have been when Mary is notified by the angel of her conception. This would have been the month of Kislev, the ninth month of the Biblical calendar. Remember we are not on the Roman calendar but the Biblical calendar and feasts.

The month of Kislev is the time of the Feast of Dedication also known as Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights. Since Jesus is the Light of the World it would be appropriate that he was conceived at this time!

The Jewish calendar is the time and calendar in which the Bible is written. Use this information as you study this posting: http://www.jewfaq.org/calendar.htm

B. Conception of Messiah Jesus (Yeshua)

1. Luke 1:26-38 Gabriel visits Mary during the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy (Kislev – Nov / Dec) and

tells her she will conceive a child by the Holy Spirit; that He will be the Messiah and to name Him Jesus (Yeshua)

 

2. Elizabeth’s six month would be the month of Kislev (Nov/Dec)

· Some speculate that Jesus was probably conceived on the Hanukkah (25th of Kislev)

· John 10:22 Jesus is in the Temple during the “Feast of Dedication” (Hanukkah)

· Hanukkah is also called the “Festival of Lights”

· Jesus (Yeshua) is the “Light of the World” (John 8:12)

 

3. Luke 1.39-45 Mary visits Elizabeth at this time.

 

                                                         APPOINTED TIMES OF BIRTH

The most incredible part of this birth story is how Yahweh is doing everything at an appointed time according to His calendar and Feasts. This is why it is so import to understand the Feasts of the Lord. Everything that is happening makes perfect sense when we allow the Bible to interpret itself.

 

A. The Time of John’s Birth

1. Luke 1:56 Mary stays with Elizabeth about three months and then goes home at the end of Adar (12th month)

 

2. Luke 1.57 After this, Elizabeth gives birth to John

· Probably born on Passover (14-15 Aviv)

· Passover would be approx. 280-290 days from conception

 

3. Probably born during the Seder meal (Erev Passover) around the time of the “Cup of Elijah” when everyone invites the “spirit of Elijah” to come in.

 

B. Appointed Time of Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) Birth

1. Count six months forward to 15 Tishri

· Jesus (Yeshua) probably born on 15 Tishri (Feast of Sukkot)

· Between 280-290 days from His conception

· Sukkot is an 8 day celebration that ends on (Shemini Atzeretz)

· Jesus would have been circumcised on the 8th day, Shemini Atzeretz, which is the eight day of the Feast of Sukkot and signifies a “new beginning.”

 

                                    ADDITIONAL CONFIRMATION

 

A. Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:23 NAS Jesus (Yeshua) is Immanuel

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel [God withus]”

 

1. John 1:1, 4-8, 14 The Word became flesh and “dwelt” among us to reveal God’s Light & Glory

1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God…

 

4 “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 “He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.

 

8 He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light…14 “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt [tabernacled] among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

 

2. Hebrew word for dwell/dwelt is “succah”

· Coincides with “Sukkot” or Tabernacle

· Yahweh came as Yeshua (Jesus) to Tabernacle with us at the appointed time of Tabernacles

 

1. Luke 2:7  Wrapped Him In Swaddling Cloth, Laid Him In A Manger, Because There Was No Room At The Inn

7 “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

1. Swaddling cloth (strips of old cloth) were collected and sent to Jerusalem to be burned in the 4 large menorahs that were lit in the Temple at Tabernacles (Sukkot)
    
2. No room at the Inn because it was the Pilgrimage Feast of Tabernacles and all the rooms were taken
    
    

C. Luke 2:8-10 KJV Tabernacles is also called the “Season of Our Joy”

10 “And the angel said unto them [the shepherds], ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.’”

 

Video presentation by Norm Franz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhyBKi3gdXs

The Truth about Christmas and December 25

Many will not particularly like this partial article from the Trumpet, but it is the truth about the holiday we call Christmas. The Book of Revelation says six times that the entire world is deceived. Many of our “Christian traditions” are false and were not originally part of the faith. Once you learn the truth it is your responsibility to do something about it!

The Encyclopedia Americana writes: The date of Christ’s birth is uncertain. December 25 is widely assumed to be when He was born. But research reveals that this could not be the correct date!

When Jesus Christ was born, the Gospel of Luke records that “there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8). December is in the midst of a cold, rainy season in Judea. The shepherds always brought their flocks in from the fields and mountains to be corralled by mid-October at the latest, for their protection. Song of Solomon 2:11 and Ezra 10:9 and 13 show that winter was a rainy season, thus confirming that the shepherds would not have been in open fields on December 25, during the dead of winter.

Edmond Stapfer writes in his book Palestine in the Time of Christ: “The sheep passed the whole summer in the fields. … In the month … which corresponds to the half of October and the half of November, the sheep were brought back into the fold and kept there through the winter.”

Adam Clarke’s Commentary addresses the question this way: “It was a custom among the Jews to send out their sheep to the deserts, about the Passover [early spring], and bring them home at the commencement of the first rain. During the time they were out, the shepherds watched them night and day. As … the first rain began early in the month of Marchesvan, which answers to part of our October and November, we find that the sheep were kept out in the open country during the whole of the summer. And as these shepherds had not yet brought home their flocks, it is a presumptive argument that October had not yet commenced, and that consequently, our Lord was not born on the 25th of December, when no flocks were out in the fields; nor could He have been born later than September, as the flocks were still in the fields by night. On this very ground, the nativity in December should be given up. The feeding of the flocks by night in the fields is a chronological fact ….”

It was too cold for the sheep to be out in the fields in late December. Why then would Christ’s birth be celebrated on this day? Encyclopedia Britannica states, “The reason why Christmas came to be celebrated on December 25 remains uncertain, but most probably the reason is that early Christians wished the date to coincide with the pagan Roman festival marking the ‘birthday of the unconquered sun.”

The Catholic Church’s own encyclopedia, the Catholic Encyclopedia, makes many startling admissions about this subject. Here are just a few from the 1911 edition. “Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the church.” That’s right—Christmas was not instituted by Jesus Christ, nor was it observed by any of the apostles personally instructed by Christ. “The first evidence of the feast is from Egypt” (not Jerusalem). About 200 A.D. Egyptian theologians began celebrating the birth of Christ on the 25th of Pachon, which corresponds to May 20 on our calendar. “Pagan customs centering round the January calends gravitated to Christmas.”

As you can see, secular and Catholic history show that, originally, Christmas was definitely not about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church adopted the custom from pagans. But where did the pagans get it?

Lange’s Commentary states that “Ashtaroth … corresponds to Hera, the star queen. Ashtoreth means ‘the star.’ … Moon and stars, the luminaries of the night-sky, are blended in Ashtaroth. She represents the collective host of heaven.”

Semiramis was worshiped as the queen of heaven, or the great mother of god. She committed fornication with the leading men at that time, coaxing them into accepting this mystery religion that took the place of the true worship of God. She even claimed that one of her illegitimate sons, Tammuz, was brought into being by a magic beam of light from the great sun god. Claiming the baby to be a reborn Nimrod, the promised seed of Genesis 3:15, Semiramis originated the story that a full-grown evergreen tree sprang overnight from a dead tree stump, which symbolized the springing forth unto new life of the dead Nimrod. On each anniversary of his birth, Semiramis claimed, Nimrod would visit the evergreen tree and leave gifts upon it. The new evergreen tree symbolized that Nimrod had come to life again in Tammuz.

This is the real origin of Santa Claus and the Christmas tree. It is why Jeremiah knew of the Christmas tree six centuries before Jesus Christ was even born.

Note what God recorded by the hand of this prophet: “Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel” (Jeremiah 10:1). God wants us to pay close attention to this. He demands us to hear His perspective on this custom.

“Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go” (verses 2-5).

God does not mince any words here. He condemns these heathen customs, these “doctrines of vanities” (verse 8) and states that they show a lack of fear and reverence for Him as the “King of nations” (verse 7).

In the days of Jeremiah, people were making an idol out of the tree. The word workman in Jeremiah 10:3 does not describe a lumberjack. The Hebrew word means a craftsman, engraver or artificer—in other words, a sculptor of idols. The same word in Isaiah 40:19-20 and Hosea 8:4-6 describes the fabricator of graven images.

In at least 10 biblical references, the green tree is associated with idolatry and false worship (e.g. 1 Kings 14:23). Since all trees are green at least part of the year, the explicit mention of “green” refers to species that retain their foliage year-round: evergreens.

The word axe used in Jeremiah 10:3 refers specifically to a carving tool. God is clearly condemning the use and decoration of an evergreen tree, and expressing His disgust with man’s disobedience to the Second Commandment (Exodus 20:4-6). God says those who disregard His commands show they hate Him. God condemns pagan, heathen practices—including the Christmas tree.

More Christmas Customs

Long before the time of Christ, pagan Romans celebrated Brumalia, or the re-birth of the sun, after the winter solstice. They celebrated this festival with the same customs they kept on the birthday of their deity—the god of the sun. It was pure idolatry.

The symbols of the Brumalia celebrations stood for a wide variety of pagan superstitions involving the source of life, or fertility. They used a little tree, which was supposed to have grown up overnight out of an old dead log. Today, the sapling is called a Christmas tree; the log is named “Yule.” They used round orbs and eggs, on which they painted snakes and other designs. This was long before the time of tinsel and glass. The gilded nuts and orbs symbolized the sun, reminding the pagans of what they believed to be their source of life. They fashioned wreaths of holly because it was one of the rare plants that still contains little round fruits in midwinter, even in the snowy north.

They also used mistletoe because of a pagan superstition involving its qualities of aphrodisia—a reason why people still carry on the pagan superstition of kissing under the mistletoe.

“Now where did we get this mistletoe custom?” wrote Mr. Armstrong in his booklet on Christmas. “Among the ancient pagans the mistletoe was used at this festival of the winter solstice because it was considered sacred to the sun, because of its supposed miraculous healing power. The pagan custom of kissing under the mistletoe was an early step in the night of revelry and drunken debauchery—celebrating the death of the ‘old sun’ and the birth of the new at the winter solstice. Mistletoe, sacred in pagan festivals, is a parasite!

“Holly berries were also considered sacred to the sun god. The Yule log is in reality the ‘sun log.’ ‘Yule’ means ‘wheel,’ a pagan symbol of the sun. Yet today professing Christians speak of the ‘sacred yuletide season’!”

“Christmas customs are an evolution from times that long antedate the Christian period—a descent from seasonal, pagan, religious and national practices, hedged about with legend and tradition” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th edition). This and other authoritative reference works corroborate that many decorations such as the holly wreath, mistletoe and Yule log are relics of pre-Christian times!

During the time of the Roman Empire, for hundreds of years prior to “Christianity” coming into the mainstream of Western culture, pagan festivals were celebrated. Encyclopedia Britannica explains, “In the Roman world, the Saturnalia (December 17-23) was a time of merrymaking and exchange of gifts. December 25 was also regarded as the birth date of the Iranian mystery god Mithra, the Sun of Righteousness. On the Roman New Year (January 1), houses were decorated with greenery and lights, and gifts were given to children and the poor. To these observances were added the German and Celtic Yule rites when the Teutonic tribes penetrated into Gaul, Britain and central Europe. Food and good fellowship, the Yule log and Yule cakes, greenery and fir trees, and gifts and greetings all commemorated different aspects of this festive season.”

Is it coincidence that these customs are so closely associated with Christmas to this day?

As we look around during the Christmas season, we are witnessing modern versions of observances that were established centuries before the birth of Christ. Christianity absorbed those customs with no scriptural instruction to do so. It was not until over 300 years after Christ’s death that pagan Romans convinced the religious authorities to accept their festive Saturnalia and stamp Christ’s name on it.

Every one of the pagan customs that now pollutes mainstream Christianity began out of deliberate rebellion against the Creator God, the same Being who came to this Earth to educate us with the truth and save us out of our deception and our sin.

If you would like to read more: https://www.thetrumpet.com/literature/10163-the-truth-about-christmas/print


The following post for December 26, 2018 will discuss when Yeshua was born.

 

EXPLAINATION FOR SOULS UNDER THE ALTAR – REVELATION 6.9

 

There are three occurrences where souls slain for the testimony of Y’shua appear in the book of Revelation. All of these occurrences show these souls “resting” until the first resurrection. If these Scriptures are isolated from their context, one can come up with a theory to prove any number of illegitimate conclusions. These verses have been used to prove that the pre-tribulation or secret mid-tribulation rapture has resulted in these souls being held in an area under the base of the altar, and told to be quiet until their Jewish brothers are killed. They have also been used to “prove” that we are already in the millennial reign. Isolated sentences can be irrational and misleading when separated from the context of the whole, but paint a perfectly logical picture within the framework of the context. Any Scriptures that are isolated to prove that the Saints will be taken out before the revealing of the man of sin at the time of the abomination of desolation, are twisted Scriptures.

 

Figuratively, our souls will cry out for vengeance. It is a “figure” of speech.

 

We will cry out from under the altar of sacrifice, where our lives and souls were poured out. And figuratively we are given white robes, because our righteous acts will follow us to the other side of the grave; to the resurrection and eternal life. These martyrs for the witness of Jesus rest from their labors, but their acts of righteousness follow them. They rest until the resurrection at the last trumpet, but their reward is sure. Abel, too, cries out from under the altar of sacrifice. His blood, or life, also cried out from the ground in which Cain attempted to hide him. These are pictures, figures which paint the pathos of God. The Love, the commitment, the sacrifice, the horror, the grief, the vengeance, the timing, and the reward are all here in this painting of the brazen altar of sacrifice before the throne of God.

 

The next occurrence of the souls of the martyrs is found after Y’shua’s return at the battle of Armageddon to set up his throne on earth for 1,000 years. Revelation 20:4-5, And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them. And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Y’shua, and for the word of God, (and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands); these are the fellow servants and brethren of those who were being martyred before the great tribulation and they lived and reigned with Messiah a thousand years. (But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished). This is the first resurrection.

 

Does this Scripture say that only those who were beheaded for the witness of Y’shua will be raised at the first of the remaining two resurrections? No. The emphasis here is the pay back to those who have remained faithful through the darkest hour of man’s days on earth. It also indicates that those who are not faithful will not see the resurrection until the great white throne judgment at the end of the thousand years. I would much rather have a part in this first and “better” resurrection. Those who have a part in this first resurrection will not have any possibility in experiencing the second death. It behooves us to be found faithful to the end.

 

The next occurrence of those who are blessed because they have endured to the end of their shortened lives, appears in one of the parentheticals after the last trump is sounded: Revelation 14:13, And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. From henceforth (yea, saith the Spirit), they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” (KJV)

 

From the moment that we die in the Lord, we rest from our labors and our works follow us. This statement appears after the condemnation of those who give in to receiving the mark of the beast. The statement also appears at the beginning of the scene where Y’shua is seen on a cloud, thrusting in his sickle to harvest the earth. After his harvest, the angels are shown harvesting the grapes of wrath to be crushed in the winepress of the wrath of God (Rev 14:14-20).

 

Armageddon. However, in verse 13 we see the complement of chapter 6 verse 11: Revelation 6:11... and white robes were given unto those slain souls, and it was said to them, “rest ...until ... their fellow servants and brothers are killed and ... all is fulfilled.”

 

White robes represent the righteousness of the saints (Rev 19:7-8). Those who have died in the Lord and have made themselves ready by keeping his words and works, rest from their labor. They know that their works of righteousness follow them past the grave to the resurrection. No one can take away their reward. It is over and they have endured to the end. They have kept his works. They have overcome. They have not taken the easy road, but now they rest. And we see at the end, that it is all worth the effort: ...and they lived and reigned with Messiah a thousand years.

SINFUL WORD DESCRIPTION AND MEANINGS

This is a word study to help you interpret words found in the King James Bible that are difficult to understand the meanings of.

Uncleanness = Strong’s 167 Gr. akatharsia = impurity, a state of moral filthiness, especially in relation to sexual sin, many                                                   references in the N.T. epistles.

Lasciviousness = Strong’s 766 Gr. aselgeia = debauchery, sensuality, lewdness, wantonness, filthy. As used in epistles.

Filthiness = Strong’s 3436 Gr. Molymos = contamination, defilement, filthiness. As used in epistles.

Fornication = Strong’s 4202/4203 Gr. porneia/porneuo = sexual immorality, marital unfaithfulness, prostitution, adultery, a generic term for sexual sin of any kind. As used in epistles.

Witchcraft = Strong’s 5331 Gr. parmakeia Gr. = witchcraft, magic, the use of spells and potions of magic, often involving drugs: sorceries. Also see: 5332 = pharmakeus = one who practices magical arts, magician:-sorcerers.

                                                5333 = pharmakos = one who practices magical arts: sorcerers

Emulations = Strong’s 2205 Gr. zelos = an attitude of emotion of deep, earnest concern: jealousy, envy, rage, morally corrupt zealous ill will. Galatians 5.20

Variance = Strong’s 2054 Gr. eris = quarrel, strife, dissention, discord…Galatians 5.20

Seditions = Strong’s 1370 Gr. dichostasia = division, dissention, divisions, sedition

Revellings = Strong’s 2970 Gr. komos = orgy, revelry, carousing, rioting

Eyeservice = Strong’s 3787 Gr. ophthalmodoulia = service performed to attract attention: eyeservice

Perdition = Strong’s 684 Gr. apoleia = destruction, ruin, waste: damnable, pernicious ways

Concupiscence = Strong’s 1939 Gr. epithymia = desire, coveting, craving, lusting in context of immoral or sinful, lust after

Unruly = Strong’s 183 Gr. akataschetos = uncontrollable…1 Thess 5.14…506 Gr. anypotaktos = rebellious, disobedient, not made subject to, independent, unruly…Titus 1.6, 10…813 Gr. ataktos = idle, lazy; unruly…James 3.8

Striker = Strong’s 4131 Gr. plektes = violent man, bully—striker

Lucre = Strong’s 146 Gr. aischrokerdes = pursuing dishonest gain: greedy of filthy lucre, given to filthy lucre, greediness for money

Brawler = Strong’s 269 Gr. amachos = peaceable, not quarrelsome, without conflict…1 Timothy 3.3

Double tongued = Strong’s 1351 Gr. dilogos = insincere, double-tongued

Abomination = Strong’s 8441 Heb. toeba = detestable thing, loathsome thing, abomination

                                            8251 Heb. in Daniel = siqqus = detestable thing, vileness, abomination, abominable filth or idol

                                            8263 Heb. as used in Leviticus = seqes = detestable thing, abomination

                          = Strong’s  946 Gr. = bdelygma = abomination, something destestable

Desolation = Strong’s 2049 Gr. Matt 12.25 = eremoo = to be brought to ruin, laid waste, come to nought, desolate

                     = Strong’s 2050 Gr. Matt 24.15; Mk 13.14; Luke 21.20 = desolation, devastation, destruction. “The Abomination of Desolation is a Hebrew term formally, “the detestable thing of desolation.” This abomination is a person, thing, or event that defiles a holy place and thus causes it to be abandoned, implying that God detests this thing or action. Strong’s comment.                                                                                                                                                                   

                     = Hebrew 8074 in Daniel = samem = to be desolate, be appalled, to lie desolate, laid waste, astonished

ABRAHAM’S BOSOM – LUKE 16.19-31

The Rich Man and Lazarus    Based on an original study by J. Preston Eby

https://www.godfire.net/eby/abrahams.html

¹⁹ “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. ²⁰ But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, ²¹ desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. ²² So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

²⁴ “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ ²⁵ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

²⁷ “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, ²⁸ for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ ²⁹ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ ³⁰ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ ³¹ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.”

The story of the rich man and Lazarus is one of the most misunderstood stories in the Bible. In order to correctly understand it we must understand our Hebrew foundation and to whom Yeshua was speaking when he told this parable.

Yeshua continually spoke in parables to the Jewish people of his day. A parable is an analogy—a short allegorical story designed to convey a truth or moral lesson: Random House College Dictionary—which could even be a fable, so long as it is told to illustrate essential points of truth. Allegory: a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another: Random House College Dictionary.

Yeshua was not speaking about heaven or hell—he was speaking in condemnation to the leadership of the nation. Yeshua spoke in parables “because it is given unto you (disciples) to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given”, Matt 13.10-11

The rich man represents the Jewish nation, and the hypocritical Pharisees, scribes, and doctors of the law, which at that time enjoyed the favor and blessing of God above all nations of the earth. They are clothed in purple (royalty) and linen (righteousness) as they are called to be a nation of kings and priests.

Lazarus represents the people lying at Judah’s gate who were recipients of none of the blessings so lavishly bestowed upon the Jewish nation. He represents the Gentile nations—dog’s in the eyes of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Gentiles were “alien from the commonwealth of Israel, a foreigner from the covenants of promise, without Christ, having no hope, and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2.12

This parable is really prophesying about the incredible changing of places between the Jews and the Gentiles! The rich man will be estranged and impoverished while Lazarus is promoted to “Abraham’s bosom”—the place of honor, blessing, and close personal relationship to God.

Think about this for a minute—if this is truly describing heaven and hell then heaven is no place of peace and joy. We see a gulf between the two—both those in heaven and those in hell can see and talk to each other. If you are a mother or father of someone in hell and you see them suffering everyday how can that be heaven? Could anyone enjoy the bliss of heaven when they see their loved ones across the gulf suffering in torment every day? This is a parable. This is not describing heaven and hell—it is about Yeshua being rejected by his own and the grace being given to the Gentile nations!

“Abraham’s bosom” is a place of favor. The Pharisees, when rejecting Yeshua’s claims of Messiahship said, “Abraham is our father.” Yeshua replied, “If Abraham was your father you would know who I was.”

The Jewish people had received the covenants, the promises, the elaborate temple and sacrificial system, the holy law, and blessings of Yahweh. They were blessed among all nations and were to be a light to the nations. They had become sectarian and despisers of all other nations. They wouldn’t even enter a Gentle’s house (Acts 10.28). They were self-righteous, hypocritical, and burdened the people with legalism. Yeshua was telling them that their place of favor in “Abraham’s bosom” was coming to an end.

In this parable the rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to his five brethren that he would testify to them. Who are these five brethren? The leadership of Yeshua’s time was the house of Judah—the Jews in our current world. Judah was Leah’s son and he had five other brothers from the same mother; Rueben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, and Zebulun. These were their blood brothers. The leadership of the day knew exactly what Yeshua was talking about. They were very conscious of their past generations and history.

The book of 1 Chronicles 1 - 9 painstakingly lists the genealogies of the Jewish people. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah also have long genealogies of those who are “Jewish”. Yeshua was explicitly telling them they were going to lose their position of favor by rejecting Him.

This parable has nothing to do with what heaven and hell are—it is about Yeshua being rejected by His own and the grace that would be extended to the Gentiles. The Biblical number of grace is five—the five brethren represent this grace now being given to the Gentile nations.

At the end of this current age the Jewish people will cry out, “Hosanna (save us), blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” and they will once again be grafted back into the olive tree and restored to the place of favor—“Abraham’s bosom.” Ref: Zechariah 12-14.

When we carefully read Yeshua’s parables we see he is speaking to the Jewish nation and warning them not to reject Him. We have forgotten the Hebrew roots of our faith and have been interpreting these parables in a Greco-Roman mind set of understanding rather than in the original Hebraic understanding.

We have been grafted into Israel due to their disobedience. We have not replaced them. The time of the Gentiles is coming to a close and the two houses of Judah and Ephraim are going to be reunited. It will be a glorious day when the two become one new man—Jew and Gentile together in Yeshua!

Yeshua came to save Israel. His ministry was focused on the Jewish people. It was only after his resurrection that the Gentiles were included. Yeshua reluctantly healed Gentiles during his ministry—He was sent to the lost sheep of Israel. The commission to go to all nations came after his resurrection. Below are additional scriptures to corroborate this and to give further depth to the above parable:

Matt 15.22-28, Mark 7.24-30, Ephesians 2.11-22, John 4.1-26, Genesis 22.8