Jesus had just wrapped up a lengthy discourse in the region of Galilee (Cp. Matthew 17: 22, 24) and was entering the region of Judea beyond the Jordan (Cp. Matthew 19: 1). It was in this vicinity that great multitudes came to Him to be healed and some Pharisees came to Him with questions about ‘a man divorcing his wife for any cause.’ Jesus uses this occasion for another teaching opportunity, and after blessing the little children, someone from the crowd asked Him the very words contained in the title of this study, namely, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus tells him to keep the commandments.
Exodus 20: 1-17{abbr.}
(1) You shall not have other gods before Me (v. 3).
(2) You shall not make for yourself any graven [‘carved/molten’] image (v.4).
(3) You shall not take the Lord’s Name in vain (v. 7).
(4) Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (v. 8).
(5) Honor your Father and your Mother (v. 12).
(6) You shall not Murder (v. 13).
(7) You shall not commit Adultery (v. 14).
(8) You shall not Steal (v. 15).
(9) You shall not bear False Witness against your neighbor (v. 16).
(10) You shall not Covet anything that belongs to your neighbor (v. 17).
The man responded back, “Which ones?” The following is Jesus’ reply:
Matthew 19: 18-19
(6) You shall not Murder; (7) You shall not commit Adultery; (8) You shall not Steal; (9) You shall not bear False Witness; (5) Honor your Father and your Mother; and You shall love your Neighbor as yourself.
Mark 10: 19
(7) Do not commit Adultery; (6) Do not Murder; (8) Do not Steal; (9) Do not bear False Witness; Do not Defraud; (5) Honor your Father and your Mother.
*Luke has 2 versions*
10: 25-27 [‘version 1’]
So He answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind, and [‘love’] your neighbor as yourself.
NOTE: This account does not contain a single quote from the ‘Decalogue’ [“Ten Commandments”] found originally in Exodus 20, but rather combines Deuteronomy 6: 5 and Leviticus 19: 18b.
After Jesus had commended him on his astuteness the scribe [‘lawyer’] wanted to justify himself, and asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” This leads to the perhaps controversial and not well received, at least in the cultural setting of that time among the Jews, what is now commonly known as, the “Parable of the Good Samaritan” (Cp. Luke 10: 30-37). Since the first version might not have been palpable to the contemporary Jewish worldview and doubtless received some antagonism or resistance, an alternative version of the narrative was constructed alongside the former one; but without the parable which honors any ‘Samaritan.’
Luke 18: 20 [‘version 2’]
(7) Do not commit Adultery; (6) Do not Murder; (8) Do not Steal; (9) Do not bear False Witness; (5) Honor your Father and your Mother.
Leviticus 19: 1-18 {abbr.}
(5) Every one of you will revere his Mother and Father [‘order reversed’], and (4) keep My Sabbaths. (v. 3)
(1) Do not turn to Idols nor (2) make for yourself molten idols. (v. 4)
(8) You shall not steal, nor (9) deal falsely, nor lie to one another. (v. 11)
(3) You shall not swear by My Name, nor shall you profane the name of the Lord your God. (v. 12)
You shall not cheat [Cp. Mark 10: 19; ‘Defraud’] your neighbor nor (8) rob him. (v.13)
. . . nor shall you (6) take a stand against the life of your neighbor. (v. 16b)
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself (v. 18) {Cp. Matthew 19: 19}.
NOTE: Only Commandments (7) You shall not commit Adultery and (10) You shall not Covet anything belonging to your neighbor are missing from the original ten statutes which were given to Moses on fiery Mount Sinai as recorded in Exodus 20.
Deuteronomy 5: 6-22 {abbr.}
(1) You shall have no other gods before Me. (v. 7)
(2) You shall not make for yourself a Graven image. (v. 8)
(3) You shall not take the Lord’s Name in vain. (v. 11a)
(4) Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. (v. 12a)
(5) Honor your Father and your Mother (v. 16)
(6) You shall not Murder. (v. 17)
(7) You shall not commit Adultery. (v. 18)
(8) You shall not Steal. (v. 19)
(9) You shall not beat False Witness against your neighbor (v. 20)
(10) You shall not Covet anything that belongs to your neighbor. (v. 21)
And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore, the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. (vs. 15)
NOTE: This is different from the explanation given in Exodus 20:8-11, which was based on God resting from the six days of ‘creation.’
To sum it all up then, Matthew, Mark, and Luke ver. 2 omit “Commandments” 1, 2, 3,
4, and 10. Matthew and Mark quote Leviticus 19 but use different verses. Luke version 1 and Matthew both use Leviticus 19: 18, but only Luke version 1 adds the additional reference in Deuteronomy 6: 5. Luke version 1 is actually the most profound and significant which encapsulates the very spiritual core of the true meaning, requirements and totality of the Law of God; which is attested by Jesus in
Matthew 22: 36-40 [esp. v. 41]: “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets.”
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
April 28, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
The Prosperity Gospel Leaves Christians Spiritually Shortchanged
One of the early expositors of what is commonly referred to as the ‘Prosperity Gospel/Prosperity Theology’ was Norman Vincent Peale, who in 1952 wrote, “The Power of Positive Thinking;” which sold 20 million copies worldwide. He blended a bit of psychoanalysis and Scripture, such as the statement by Jesus, “The kingdom of God is within you [‘in your midst’];” thus laying the groundwork for what is becoming increasing popular today in Evangelical Christian circles. Even that work might have received inspiration from an earlier book by Napoleon Hill, “Think and Grow Rich,” which was published in 1937. Later in Christian circles believers were introduced to “prayer cloths” and anointing with “Holy [‘olive’??] Oil” to receive divine blessings for material things (cars, house, money, jobs, etc.); be that as it may, what does the Bible really say about this subject?
Proverbs 13: 7
There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
Matthew 25: 14-30 “Parable of the Talents”
COMMENTARY: This particular story is not a literal interpretation of investment strategies because Jesus states in v. 14a: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling into a far country.” If it were used in the contemporary sense for the purpose of financial counseling, then the servant with the one talent perhaps should be commended instead of condemned. For one thing, he had much less money to work with and therefore was prudently more careful with losing the Master’s money and more content to keep his money on the sidelines and wait until market conditions stabilize where the timing was more favorable to invest in the stock market or purchase Corporate/Treasury Bonds, T-Bills, Treasury Notes, Commercial Paper, or a Bank CD.
The other two servants had more money to work with and perhaps they were more risk takers, deciding to roll the dice and take their chances; which fortunately for them, it paid off on this occasion. Any significant incremental movements in the market on the downside could wipe out a small amount of money such as with having only ‘one’ talent, percentage-wise. The thing that sealed the fate [v. 30; ‘cast into outer darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth’] of the servant with this single talent was not so much that he ‘hid his talent,’ but rather how he tried to justify his course of action by upbraiding his Master and in some way attempt to blame him for his failure. What the Lord Jesus Christ used the illustration for was to teach the disciples about the importance of ‘bearing fruit’ and the dire consequences for not doing so.
The modern Evangelical “SUPER-SALESMEN/WOMEN FOR JESUS” who borrow heavily from some of the highly successful motivational speaker techniques used in Direct Selling Association (DSA) and Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) seminars to win over an ever-increasing multitude of ‘true believers’ to this “New Gospel,” and in many ways, it is like ‘the blind leading the blind.’ Some of these gurus will make available their ‘plan for material success/prosperity’ in a taped series on lectures on audio cassette tape/CD, or on a pre-recorded DVD live in front of an audience within the backdrop of an elaborate stage setting, sanctuary, outdoor arena or auditorium, or, as an author with a book published as a bestseller on the New York Times Top 20.
Jesus says in Matthew 6: 31: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life. What you will eat; nor about your body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.”
I Timothy 6: 9-10
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money [not necessarily ‘riches/wealth’ per se] is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the ‘Faith’ in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows [‘regrets’].
Matthew 16: 26a
For what profit is it to a man to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Hebrews 13: 5a
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.
I Timothy 6: 6-8
Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out; and having food and clothing
[‘shelter’/other basic ‘necessities’??], with these we shall be content.
Psalms 37: 25
I have been young and now I am old; yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his [‘their’] seed begging for bread.
So, when one of these preachers expound so eloquently upon how great and awesome our God is and that He is rich and does things in a very big way, get ready for the 'punch line.' They will also tell you about how one is robbing God in the matter of tithes and offerings and about bringing all the tithes into God's storehouse. Just a reminder: You might come to find out that the money collection and contribution of the saints might be filling up their storehouses, not God's.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
April 27, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
Proverbs 13: 7
There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
Matthew 25: 14-30 “Parable of the Talents”
COMMENTARY: This particular story is not a literal interpretation of investment strategies because Jesus states in v. 14a: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling into a far country.” If it were used in the contemporary sense for the purpose of financial counseling, then the servant with the one talent perhaps should be commended instead of condemned. For one thing, he had much less money to work with and therefore was prudently more careful with losing the Master’s money and more content to keep his money on the sidelines and wait until market conditions stabilize where the timing was more favorable to invest in the stock market or purchase Corporate/Treasury Bonds, T-Bills, Treasury Notes, Commercial Paper, or a Bank CD.
The other two servants had more money to work with and perhaps they were more risk takers, deciding to roll the dice and take their chances; which fortunately for them, it paid off on this occasion. Any significant incremental movements in the market on the downside could wipe out a small amount of money such as with having only ‘one’ talent, percentage-wise. The thing that sealed the fate [v. 30; ‘cast into outer darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth’] of the servant with this single talent was not so much that he ‘hid his talent,’ but rather how he tried to justify his course of action by upbraiding his Master and in some way attempt to blame him for his failure. What the Lord Jesus Christ used the illustration for was to teach the disciples about the importance of ‘bearing fruit’ and the dire consequences for not doing so.
The modern Evangelical “SUPER-SALESMEN/WOMEN FOR JESUS” who borrow heavily from some of the highly successful motivational speaker techniques used in Direct Selling Association (DSA) and Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) seminars to win over an ever-increasing multitude of ‘true believers’ to this “New Gospel,” and in many ways, it is like ‘the blind leading the blind.’ Some of these gurus will make available their ‘plan for material success/prosperity’ in a taped series on lectures on audio cassette tape/CD, or on a pre-recorded DVD live in front of an audience within the backdrop of an elaborate stage setting, sanctuary, outdoor arena or auditorium, or, as an author with a book published as a bestseller on the New York Times Top 20.
Jesus says in Matthew 6: 31: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life. What you will eat; nor about your body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.”
I Timothy 6: 9-10
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money [not necessarily ‘riches/wealth’ per se] is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the ‘Faith’ in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows [‘regrets’].
Matthew 16: 26a
For what profit is it to a man to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Hebrews 13: 5a
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.
I Timothy 6: 6-8
Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out; and having food and clothing
[‘shelter’/other basic ‘necessities’??], with these we shall be content.
Psalms 37: 25
I have been young and now I am old; yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his [‘their’] seed begging for bread.
So, when one of these preachers expound so eloquently upon how great and awesome our God is and that He is rich and does things in a very big way, get ready for the 'punch line.' They will also tell you about how one is robbing God in the matter of tithes and offerings and about bringing all the tithes into God's storehouse. Just a reminder: You might come to find out that the money collection and contribution of the saints might be filling up their storehouses, not God's.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
April 27, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
Friday, April 17, 2009
The Seven Churches of Asia Minor in the Book of Revelation
If there was ever a book in the entire Christian Bible which has been the most complex, symbolically confusing, disturbing, and interpretatively challenging, this last written communication from Heaven is number one. A good starting place to begin this journey is to identify the author. Church tradition has it on the word of none other than Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons that the Apostle John is the one who received this inspired vision. There are of course, a couple of problems with this endorsement from the highly respected Ecclesiastical authority; firstly, there is no proof to this assertion and secondly, there is no evidence that ‘John’ ever ventured outside the environs of Judea or Samaria, and even when he did, he was never alone (Cp. Acts 3: 1; 4: 13; 8: 1b, 14; 12: 17b, 19b). And perhaps more importantly, this particular John is not an apostle.
Revelation 1: 9a, 22: 6, 9
I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation, kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. . . Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true. And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must take place shortly.” Then he said to me, “I am your fellow servant, and of your brother the prophets.”
Now let’s take a closer look at the Seven Churches of Asia Minor to see what a ‘revelation’ it is to those of the Christian Faith [‘Gentiles’].
The Church at Ephesus (Revelation 2: 1-7)
Ephesus was a Greek city located on the west coast of Anatolia, Turkey. The Apostle Paul entered a Jewish synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews (Cp. Acts 18: 9). Apollos came there and taught in the synagogue but Aquila and Priscilla took him aside to explain the word of God more perfectly to him. (Cp. Acts 18: 24-26). Paul came back to Ephesus and reasoned and persuaded in the synagogue for three months the things concerning the kingdom of God. He later withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus; which he continued for a period of two years (Cp. Acts 19: 1b, 8-10).
Characteristics:
(1) Seven golden lamp stands (Cp. Exodus 25: 31:Zechariah 4: 2b; Hebrews 9: 1-2).
(2) Tested those who say they are Apostles and are not.
(3) The deeds of the ‘Nicolaitans.’
(4) The Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise [‘Persian’ word for “garden”] of God (Cp. Genesis 2: 8a, 9b).
The Church at Smyrna (Revelation 2: 8-11)
This was the ancient city of ‘Izmir’ on the Aegean seacoast of Anatolia, Turkey.
Characteristics:
(5) The blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but the synagogue of Satan.
(6) The First and the Last (Cp. Isaiah 44: 6b; 48: 12b), who was dead and came to life.
The Church in Pergamos (Revelation 2: 12-17)
This was an ancient Greek city in ‘Mysia’ [NW Anatolia, Turkey] near the Aegean Sea.
Characteristics:
(7) I know where Satan’s throne is.
(8) Antipas My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
(9) The doctrine of Balaam (Cp. Numbers 25: 1-2; 31: 16), (10) eat things sacrificed to idols, (11) sexual immorality.
(3) The doctrine of the ‘Nicolaitans.’
(12) The hidden manna to eat, (13) a white stone with a new name written on it
(Cp. Isaiah 62: 2b).
The Church in Thyatira (Revelation 2: 18-29)
This is the modern Turkish city of ‘Akhisar’ on the border between ‘Lydia & Mysia’ [NW Anatolia, Turkey].
Characteristics:
(14) The Son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire and feet like fine brass
(Cp. 1: 13a, 14b-15a; Daniel 10: 6).
The woman (9a) Jezebel who seduce My servants [‘prophets’??] to (10a) commit sexual immorality and (11a) eat things sacrificed to idols.
(15) I will give power over the nations.
(16) I will give him the Morning Star (Cp. 22: 16b).
The Church in Sardis (Revelation 3: 1-6)
It was located in the Manisa province of Turkey, and capitol of the ancient city of ‘Lydia’ [east of ‘Ionia’ and inland ‘Izmir’]. The population spoke an ‘Anatolian’ language known as “Lydian.”
Characteristics:
(17) I will come as a thief in the night (Cp. Matthew 24: 43-44).
(18) He who overcomes will be clothed in white garments (Cp. Ecclesiastes 9: 8a??).
(19) I will not blot out his name from the Book of life (Cp. Exodus 32: 32).
(20) I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels
(Cp. Matthew 10: 32; Mark 8: 38??).
The Church in Philadelphia (Revelation 3: 7-13)
This was a town and district of Manisa province in the Aegean region of Turkey.
Characteristics:
(21) He who has the key of David.
(22) He who opens and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens
(Cp. Isaiah 22: 22b).
(5a) Those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not.
(23) I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God.
(24) The name of the city of My God, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from My God.
I will write on him My new name (Cp. 19: 12).
The Church of the Laodiceans (Revelation 3: 14-22)
This was an ancient metropolis built on the river Lyons in Anatolia, near the modern village of ‘Eskihisar,’ Denizli province, Turkey.
Characteristics:
(25) These things say the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God (Cp. Colossians 1: 15).
(26) I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne (Cp. Matthew 19: 28; 25: 31).
According to ‘Wikipedia’ all of these Churches of Asia Minor are near the vicinity of ‘Anatolia’ in modern-day Turkey, and coincidentally the Apostle Paul’s birthplace in Tarsus [‘Cilicia’] is south of the Anatolian peninsula. This is even more intriguing from a later secular historical perspective because of the genocide of one million Armenian Jews living in Anatolia by the Turks in the year 1915. So is it possible that one of the most influential contributors to Christianity as it is known and practiced throughout the world may have been one of the ancestors of the “Armenian Jews”?
Another point needs to be made, and that is, not only is the imagery and symbolism of the seven churches almost entirely Jewish in content, theme, as well as in other literary expressions, and it should not be co-opted just to fit neatly into eschatological Christian theological interpretations. When John says he was in the Spirit on the ‘Lord’s Day’ (Cp. 1: 1), it is not so obvious that he has in mind the First Day of the week; which is celebrated by Christians as the day when the Lord Jesus rose from the dead (Cp. Matthew 28: 1a; Mark 16: 1-2a; Luke 23: 56b;
John 20: 1) and as a day of worship (Cp. Acts 20: 7??; I Corinthians 16: 1-2).
If, the audience to whom John penned his message were perhaps “Messianic Jews” [Jews who believe in Jesus as the ‘Messiah’], who although are Greek in language and custom, nevertheless they were still religiously devout and faithful to Jewish traditions and aspirations; then identifying to the words, “The Lord’s Day,” would seem to have the meaning as spoken by the Lord Jesus:
Matthew 12: 8
For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath [‘Day’].
Mark 2: 28
Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath [‘Day’].
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
April 18, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
Revelation 1: 9a, 22: 6, 9
I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation, kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. . . Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true. And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must take place shortly.” Then he said to me, “I am your fellow servant, and of your brother the prophets.”
Now let’s take a closer look at the Seven Churches of Asia Minor to see what a ‘revelation’ it is to those of the Christian Faith [‘Gentiles’].
The Church at Ephesus (Revelation 2: 1-7)
Ephesus was a Greek city located on the west coast of Anatolia, Turkey. The Apostle Paul entered a Jewish synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews (Cp. Acts 18: 9). Apollos came there and taught in the synagogue but Aquila and Priscilla took him aside to explain the word of God more perfectly to him. (Cp. Acts 18: 24-26). Paul came back to Ephesus and reasoned and persuaded in the synagogue for three months the things concerning the kingdom of God. He later withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus; which he continued for a period of two years (Cp. Acts 19: 1b, 8-10).
Characteristics:
(1) Seven golden lamp stands (Cp. Exodus 25: 31:Zechariah 4: 2b; Hebrews 9: 1-2).
(2) Tested those who say they are Apostles and are not.
(3) The deeds of the ‘Nicolaitans.’
(4) The Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise [‘Persian’ word for “garden”] of God (Cp. Genesis 2: 8a, 9b).
The Church at Smyrna (Revelation 2: 8-11)
This was the ancient city of ‘Izmir’ on the Aegean seacoast of Anatolia, Turkey.
Characteristics:
(5) The blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but the synagogue of Satan.
(6) The First and the Last (Cp. Isaiah 44: 6b; 48: 12b), who was dead and came to life.
The Church in Pergamos (Revelation 2: 12-17)
This was an ancient Greek city in ‘Mysia’ [NW Anatolia, Turkey] near the Aegean Sea.
Characteristics:
(7) I know where Satan’s throne is.
(8) Antipas My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
(9) The doctrine of Balaam (Cp. Numbers 25: 1-2; 31: 16), (10) eat things sacrificed to idols, (11) sexual immorality.
(3) The doctrine of the ‘Nicolaitans.’
(12) The hidden manna to eat, (13) a white stone with a new name written on it
(Cp. Isaiah 62: 2b).
The Church in Thyatira (Revelation 2: 18-29)
This is the modern Turkish city of ‘Akhisar’ on the border between ‘Lydia & Mysia’ [NW Anatolia, Turkey].
Characteristics:
(14) The Son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire and feet like fine brass
(Cp. 1: 13a, 14b-15a; Daniel 10: 6).
The woman (9a) Jezebel who seduce My servants [‘prophets’??] to (10a) commit sexual immorality and (11a) eat things sacrificed to idols.
(15) I will give power over the nations.
(16) I will give him the Morning Star (Cp. 22: 16b).
The Church in Sardis (Revelation 3: 1-6)
It was located in the Manisa province of Turkey, and capitol of the ancient city of ‘Lydia’ [east of ‘Ionia’ and inland ‘Izmir’]. The population spoke an ‘Anatolian’ language known as “Lydian.”
Characteristics:
(17) I will come as a thief in the night (Cp. Matthew 24: 43-44).
(18) He who overcomes will be clothed in white garments (Cp. Ecclesiastes 9: 8a??).
(19) I will not blot out his name from the Book of life (Cp. Exodus 32: 32).
(20) I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels
(Cp. Matthew 10: 32; Mark 8: 38??).
The Church in Philadelphia (Revelation 3: 7-13)
This was a town and district of Manisa province in the Aegean region of Turkey.
Characteristics:
(21) He who has the key of David.
(22) He who opens and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens
(Cp. Isaiah 22: 22b).
(5a) Those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not.
(23) I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God.
(24) The name of the city of My God, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from My God.
I will write on him My new name (Cp. 19: 12).
The Church of the Laodiceans (Revelation 3: 14-22)
This was an ancient metropolis built on the river Lyons in Anatolia, near the modern village of ‘Eskihisar,’ Denizli province, Turkey.
Characteristics:
(25) These things say the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God (Cp. Colossians 1: 15).
(26) I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne (Cp. Matthew 19: 28; 25: 31).
According to ‘Wikipedia’ all of these Churches of Asia Minor are near the vicinity of ‘Anatolia’ in modern-day Turkey, and coincidentally the Apostle Paul’s birthplace in Tarsus [‘Cilicia’] is south of the Anatolian peninsula. This is even more intriguing from a later secular historical perspective because of the genocide of one million Armenian Jews living in Anatolia by the Turks in the year 1915. So is it possible that one of the most influential contributors to Christianity as it is known and practiced throughout the world may have been one of the ancestors of the “Armenian Jews”?
Another point needs to be made, and that is, not only is the imagery and symbolism of the seven churches almost entirely Jewish in content, theme, as well as in other literary expressions, and it should not be co-opted just to fit neatly into eschatological Christian theological interpretations. When John says he was in the Spirit on the ‘Lord’s Day’ (Cp. 1: 1), it is not so obvious that he has in mind the First Day of the week; which is celebrated by Christians as the day when the Lord Jesus rose from the dead (Cp. Matthew 28: 1a; Mark 16: 1-2a; Luke 23: 56b;
John 20: 1) and as a day of worship (Cp. Acts 20: 7??; I Corinthians 16: 1-2).
If, the audience to whom John penned his message were perhaps “Messianic Jews” [Jews who believe in Jesus as the ‘Messiah’], who although are Greek in language and custom, nevertheless they were still religiously devout and faithful to Jewish traditions and aspirations; then identifying to the words, “The Lord’s Day,” would seem to have the meaning as spoken by the Lord Jesus:
Matthew 12: 8
For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath [‘Day’].
Mark 2: 28
Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath [‘Day’].
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
April 18, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
What Day was Jesus Crucified On?
Sunday, April 14, commemorates the most revered of all holy days in Christendom, namely, observing the ‘Easter’ celebration or Pascha. "Good Friday" culminates the final last days of the sacred week which reached its zenith with worship services and all the liturgical elements which accompany the solemnity of the occasion. While it is almost universally accepted that Friday was the day in which the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified at Golgotha Hill on Mount Calvary, yet, is that really the day on which this sacred event happened?
Matthew 27: 57a, 59-60
Now, when evening [of the ‘Preparation Day before the Sabbath] had come. . . Joseph [of ‘Arimathea’] took the body of Jesus and laid it in his new tomb.
62-65
On the next day which follows the ‘Preparation Day’ [the Sabbath], the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ “Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead;’ So that the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.”
28: 1
Now after the Sabbath, as the ‘First’ day of the week began to dawn.
Mark 15: 42-45
Now, when evening had come, because, it was the ‘Preparation Day,’ that is, the day before the Sabbath. Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Pilate granted the body to Joseph, who wrapped His body in linen and laid Him in a tomb which he had hewn out of the rock.
16: 1-2
Now, when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, brought spices, that they might come and anoint Him; very early in the morning, on the ‘First’ day of the week, they came to the tomb when [‘before’??] the sun had risen.
Luke 23: 50, 52-54
Now, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a good and just man. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. The he took it down, wrapped it in linen and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. That day was the ‘Preparation Day’ (Cp. Mark 15: 42), and the Sabbath drew near.
24: 1
Now, on the ‘First’ day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bearing spices which they had prepared.
John 19: 31, 40, 42
Therefore, because it was the ‘Preparation Day,’ (Cp. Mark 15: 42) that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the ‘Sabbath’ (for the ‘Sabbath’ was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then they[Cp. 19: 38-39; Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus] took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ ‘Preparation Day,’ for the tomb was nearby.
20: 1a
Now, on the ‘First’ day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark.
So, what ‘Day’ was it on that Jesus conquered the power of death and rose victorious from the grave? Well, using the ancient lunar chronology of ‘evening and morning’ as a ‘Day’ (Cp. Genesis 1: 5b) as well as Jesus’ own words in Matthew 12: 40: “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be ‘three days and three nights’ in the heart of the earth.”
[CHART]
(1a) Thursday Dawn
(1b) Thursday Dusk ‘Preparation Day’(START)
“Jesus Crucified”
(2a) Friday Dawn
(2b) Friday Dusk ‘Preparation Day’ (END)
‘Sabbath Day’(START)
(3a) Saturday Dawn
(3b) Saturday Dusk ‘Sabbath Day’(END)
‘First Day’ of the week(START)
*Jesus resurrected sometime between late Saturday night [most likely,
after ‘midnight’] and early Sunday morning before dawn.*
(4a) Sunday Dawn
(4a) Sunday Dusk ‘First Day’ of the week (END)
So, it would seem from this illustration that "Holy Friday" may indeed be Holy Thursday; coincidentally, the very day of the week that is named in honor of ‘Thor,’ son of the Viking deity and Father of the Norse gods, ‘Odin.’ It was ordained in the Old Testament Scriptures through the prophesy of King David that God would not allow His Holy One to see corruption [‘decay’], and so, on the ‘Third Day,’ He arose!
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
April 15, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
Matthew 27: 57a, 59-60
Now, when evening [of the ‘Preparation Day before the Sabbath] had come. . . Joseph [of ‘Arimathea’] took the body of Jesus and laid it in his new tomb.
62-65
On the next day which follows the ‘Preparation Day’ [the Sabbath], the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ “Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead;’ So that the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.”
28: 1
Now after the Sabbath, as the ‘First’ day of the week began to dawn.
Mark 15: 42-45
Now, when evening had come, because, it was the ‘Preparation Day,’ that is, the day before the Sabbath. Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Pilate granted the body to Joseph, who wrapped His body in linen and laid Him in a tomb which he had hewn out of the rock.
16: 1-2
Now, when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, brought spices, that they might come and anoint Him; very early in the morning, on the ‘First’ day of the week, they came to the tomb when [‘before’??] the sun had risen.
Luke 23: 50, 52-54
Now, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a good and just man. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. The he took it down, wrapped it in linen and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. That day was the ‘Preparation Day’ (Cp. Mark 15: 42), and the Sabbath drew near.
24: 1
Now, on the ‘First’ day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bearing spices which they had prepared.
John 19: 31, 40, 42
Therefore, because it was the ‘Preparation Day,’ (Cp. Mark 15: 42) that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the ‘Sabbath’ (for the ‘Sabbath’ was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then they[Cp. 19: 38-39; Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus] took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ ‘Preparation Day,’ for the tomb was nearby.
20: 1a
Now, on the ‘First’ day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark.
So, what ‘Day’ was it on that Jesus conquered the power of death and rose victorious from the grave? Well, using the ancient lunar chronology of ‘evening and morning’ as a ‘Day’ (Cp. Genesis 1: 5b) as well as Jesus’ own words in Matthew 12: 40: “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be ‘three days and three nights’ in the heart of the earth.”
[CHART]
(1a) Thursday Dawn
(1b) Thursday Dusk ‘Preparation Day’(START)
“Jesus Crucified”
(2a) Friday Dawn
(2b) Friday Dusk ‘Preparation Day’ (END)
‘Sabbath Day’(START)
(3a) Saturday Dawn
(3b) Saturday Dusk ‘Sabbath Day’(END)
‘First Day’ of the week(START)
*Jesus resurrected sometime between late Saturday night [most likely,
after ‘midnight’] and early Sunday morning before dawn.*
(4a) Sunday Dawn
(4a) Sunday Dusk ‘First Day’ of the week (END)
So, it would seem from this illustration that "Holy Friday" may indeed be Holy Thursday; coincidentally, the very day of the week that is named in honor of ‘Thor,’ son of the Viking deity and Father of the Norse gods, ‘Odin.’ It was ordained in the Old Testament Scriptures through the prophesy of King David that God would not allow His Holy One to see corruption [‘decay’], and so, on the ‘Third Day,’ He arose!
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
April 15, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The First Sermon that Jesus preached
In the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, only two include in this study the material comprising the first sermon that Jesus taught in a public way to the masses. One could say that outside of teaching here and there at the various synagogues in and around the region of Galilee and the few occasions at the Temple in Jerusalem, this is His first big outdoor ‘Tent Meeting,’ but only underneath the dome of the sky and not a tarpaulin.
According to Matthew 5: 1-2; 8: 1, this event took place on the ‘Mountaintop’ whereas Luke 6: 17, 20; 7: 1 says it was ‘on a level plain.’ Consider the fact that unlike modern times where one can read all the narrative sources in a single collection, the earliest followers and disciples may have had access to only a single source; whether orally or written down on a scroll. One’s behavior is determined by what you believe and any subsequent actions are greatly influenced by what a person is taught and the level of sacredness or specialness attributed to that source. If someone only had Matthew’s account of what Jesus taught, how would their faith practices, or more importantly, their theology and mentality, psychology, as well as social interactions mesh or conflict with those who only knew Luke’s?
“The Beatitudes”
Matthew 5: 3-12
(1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (2) Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (3) Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (4) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. (5) Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. (6) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (7) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. (8) Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God. (9) Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely (9a) for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
NOTE: Notice the use of ‘they’ and ‘you’ during Jesus’ discourse.
Luke 6: 20-23
(1) Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. (4) Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. (2) Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. (9) Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, (9a) for the Son of Man’s sake; Rejoice in that day and be leap for joy! For indeed; your reward is great in heaven for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
NOTE: Luke’s version omits #’s 3, 5-8 of Matthew’s account and the order is not sequential; but it does use ‘you/your’ exclusively.
“The Law of Love Your Enemies”
Matthew 5: 43-48
You have heard that it has been said; You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemies. But I say to you, (1) love your enemies and bless those who curse you; (2) do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven. For He makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. (3) For if you love those who love you, what rewards have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (4) And if you greet your brethren [‘friends’] only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors [‘Gentiles’??] do so? (5) Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Luke 6: 27-35
But I say to you who hear: (1) Love your enemies; (2) do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. [To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him, who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him, who takes away your goods, do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise]. (3) But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. (4) And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. [And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive back as much.] (1) But love your enemies, do good and lend (??), hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For, He is kind to the unthankful and the evil. (5) Therefore be merciful, just as your Father is also merciful (??).
NOTE: There are several points here which are radically different from Matthew’s narrative, namely: ‘turning the other cheek’ {‘passive resistance’}, ‘giving away or allowing your goods to be plundered,’ and ‘lending without expectation of repayment’ or even to hold some sort of asset in the form of collateral/equity as security against the borrower.’ Also, instead of using ‘tax collector’ Luke uses ‘sinners,’ repeats #’s 1&2, and uses phrases in [ ]’s that are not in Matthew at all. Lastly, Matthew ends with being ‘perfect’ as your Father in heaven is perfect and Luke says, being ‘merciful’ as your Father is merciful.
“The Law of Do Not Judge”
Matthew 7: 1-6
(1)Judge not, that you be not judged. (2) For what judgment you judge, you will be judged; (3) and with what measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (4) And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank (‘beam’) in your own eye? (5) Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye; and look, a plank is in your own eye?” You hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. [(6) Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine {‘wild hogs/boars’??}, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces].
NOTE: The phrase of the last verse in the [ ] does not seem to reflect the theme of this section.
Luke 6: 37-38
(1) Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. [Give; and it will be given you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.] (2) For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
NOTE: Notwithstanding the comments on Matthew’s narrative, Luke is consistent with #’s 1&2 but he excludes Matthew's #'s 4-6; and although not part of the original (??) of Matthew; ‘condemning’ and ‘forgiving’ is consistent with the essence of Jesus’ teaching on this point. There is again, the part contained in the [ ] that just doesn’t seem to fit comfortably at this placing.
“A Tree is known by Its Fruit”
Matthew 7: 16-19
(1) You will know them by their fruits. (2) Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? (3) Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. (4) A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.
NOTE: In this account, there is no pruning, replanting in different soil, or a determination made to see if the tree is taking up an adequate supply of nutrients (sunlight, water, nitrogen, etc.) and if ‘photosynthesis’ is taking place; It is just the end results that matter, not the process.
Luke 6: 43-45
(3) For a good tree does not bear bad fruit; nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. (1) For every tree is known by its own fruit. (2) For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. [ A good man out of the treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks].
NOTE: The order is a little mixed up in Luke in comparison to Matthew and #4 is not included. Again, the words enclosed with the [ ] seem to be a little out of place here, too.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
April 7, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
According to Matthew 5: 1-2; 8: 1, this event took place on the ‘Mountaintop’ whereas Luke 6: 17, 20; 7: 1 says it was ‘on a level plain.’ Consider the fact that unlike modern times where one can read all the narrative sources in a single collection, the earliest followers and disciples may have had access to only a single source; whether orally or written down on a scroll. One’s behavior is determined by what you believe and any subsequent actions are greatly influenced by what a person is taught and the level of sacredness or specialness attributed to that source. If someone only had Matthew’s account of what Jesus taught, how would their faith practices, or more importantly, their theology and mentality, psychology, as well as social interactions mesh or conflict with those who only knew Luke’s?
“The Beatitudes”
Matthew 5: 3-12
(1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (2) Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (3) Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (4) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. (5) Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. (6) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (7) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. (8) Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God. (9) Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely (9a) for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
NOTE: Notice the use of ‘they’ and ‘you’ during Jesus’ discourse.
Luke 6: 20-23
(1) Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. (4) Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. (2) Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. (9) Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, (9a) for the Son of Man’s sake; Rejoice in that day and be leap for joy! For indeed; your reward is great in heaven for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
NOTE: Luke’s version omits #’s 3, 5-8 of Matthew’s account and the order is not sequential; but it does use ‘you/your’ exclusively.
“The Law of Love Your Enemies”
Matthew 5: 43-48
You have heard that it has been said; You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemies. But I say to you, (1) love your enemies and bless those who curse you; (2) do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven. For He makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. (3) For if you love those who love you, what rewards have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (4) And if you greet your brethren [‘friends’] only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors [‘Gentiles’??] do so? (5) Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Luke 6: 27-35
But I say to you who hear: (1) Love your enemies; (2) do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. [To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him, who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him, who takes away your goods, do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise]. (3) But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. (4) And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. [And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive back as much.] (1) But love your enemies, do good and lend (??), hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For, He is kind to the unthankful and the evil. (5) Therefore be merciful, just as your Father is also merciful (??).
NOTE: There are several points here which are radically different from Matthew’s narrative, namely: ‘turning the other cheek’ {‘passive resistance’}, ‘giving away or allowing your goods to be plundered,’ and ‘lending without expectation of repayment’ or even to hold some sort of asset in the form of collateral/equity as security against the borrower.’ Also, instead of using ‘tax collector’ Luke uses ‘sinners,’ repeats #’s 1&2, and uses phrases in [ ]’s that are not in Matthew at all. Lastly, Matthew ends with being ‘perfect’ as your Father in heaven is perfect and Luke says, being ‘merciful’ as your Father is merciful.
“The Law of Do Not Judge”
Matthew 7: 1-6
(1)Judge not, that you be not judged. (2) For what judgment you judge, you will be judged; (3) and with what measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (4) And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank (‘beam’) in your own eye? (5) Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye; and look, a plank is in your own eye?” You hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. [(6) Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine {‘wild hogs/boars’??}, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces].
NOTE: The phrase of the last verse in the [ ] does not seem to reflect the theme of this section.
Luke 6: 37-38
(1) Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. [Give; and it will be given you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.] (2) For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
NOTE: Notwithstanding the comments on Matthew’s narrative, Luke is consistent with #’s 1&2 but he excludes Matthew's #'s 4-6; and although not part of the original (??) of Matthew; ‘condemning’ and ‘forgiving’ is consistent with the essence of Jesus’ teaching on this point. There is again, the part contained in the [ ] that just doesn’t seem to fit comfortably at this placing.
“A Tree is known by Its Fruit”
Matthew 7: 16-19
(1) You will know them by their fruits. (2) Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? (3) Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. (4) A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.
NOTE: In this account, there is no pruning, replanting in different soil, or a determination made to see if the tree is taking up an adequate supply of nutrients (sunlight, water, nitrogen, etc.) and if ‘photosynthesis’ is taking place; It is just the end results that matter, not the process.
Luke 6: 43-45
(3) For a good tree does not bear bad fruit; nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. (1) For every tree is known by its own fruit. (2) For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. [ A good man out of the treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks].
NOTE: The order is a little mixed up in Luke in comparison to Matthew and #4 is not included. Again, the words enclosed with the [ ] seem to be a little out of place here, too.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
April 7, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
Friday, April 3, 2009
Is the Garden of Eden real and where was it Located?
According to ‘Wikipedia’ there are roughly thirty names of the most popular and well-known mythical lands. Some of these places evoke a sense of wonder, peaceful serenity, or even sacredness. Whether it is the spade of the archaeologist or the scribbled entries in the journal of seafarers, describing exotic and far away lands, it only arouses our curiosity and adds to the allure of these unsolvable mysteries. So, the question is whether the ‘Garden of Eden’ is a fabled place that was the invention of imaginative, superstitious, religiously-pious Jewish scribes who lived in Mesopotamia several millennia ago, who borrowed from the pagan religions of their fellow Semitic neighbors; refining and reworking the ‘Creation Lore’ to fit their own particular theology. The following references from The Old Testament Scriptures are offered for consideration.
Ezekiel 28: 13a
You were in Eden, the garden of God. (Cp. Genesis 13: 10b).
31: 3, 8-9, 16b
Indeed Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon with fine branches that shaded the forest, and of high stature; and its top was among the deep boughs. The cedars in the garden of God [‘Eden’] could not hide it; No tree in the garden of God [‘Eden’] was like it in beauty. I made it with a multitude of branches, so that all the trees of Eden envied it, that were in the garden of God. Then all the trees of ‘Eden,’ the choicest and best of Lebanon, all the trees were well-watered, were consoled in the earth below.
18a
To which of the trees in Eden will you then be likened in glory and greatness? Yet you shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the depths of the earth.
NOTE: Is the description of trees in the Garden of Eden used figuratively and as a ‘metaphor’ for the King of Assyria? It is recommended to read all of Ezekiel 28 & 31.
Isaiah 51: 3b
He will make her wilderness like ‘Eden,’ and her desert like the garden of the Lord.
Now, it is time to look at some geography or physical landscape of the region:
Genesis 2: 8a,
The Lord planted a garden, ‘eastward’ in Eden. NOTE: The direction would be from the standpoint of where Jerusalem [‘Judea’] is located.
10
Now a “river” went out of ‘Eden’ to water the garden, and from “there” it parted and became four riverheads.
NOTE: Using Biblical “cartography” [the ‘science of mapmaking’] and ‘Google Earth’ the “Persian Gulf” is the most likely source that fits the Biblical criteria. It must be kept in mind that due to the shifting of Teutonic plates and large land masses sinking or breaking away to form new Continents, it is possible that this region was once above ground. Not only is that, but the word ‘Eden’ in the Sumerian language is translated, “Plain.”
There might have at one time been an ancient, mighty river (??) proceeding from the Persian Gulf region that traversed the Plain into ‘Eden,’ branching off into the Tigris River through Eastern Assyria, the Euphrates River up through Iraq between Syria and Assyria; the other two rivers having dried up over time. This ancient river from the Persian Gulf enters ancient Iraq [‘Chaldea’] where it borders Iran [‘Elam/Persia’], and then it splits into the other rivers; that’s where the Garden of Eden was located from antiquity.
NOTE: The patriarch Abraham was from Ur of the Chaldeans (Cp. Genesis 11: 28, 31), which on a Biblical map of the period is directly west on the area where the ‘Garden of Eden’ might have been.
It is worth noting that in describing the course of the rivers in the book of GENESIS, the Euphrates River didn’t require an explanation because the people or audience to whom this scroll [‘book’] was written, already knew how and where it traversed the land. Also, the river ‘Gihon’ is mentioned as going around the whole land of “Cush” and in II Chronicles 32: 30, an “Upper Gihon” is mentioned; so it stands to reason that if there is an Upper one, there must have been a “Lower Gihon,” which might have continued flowing in its course during that time.
Some other interesting things about Eden:
Ezekiel 27: 23-24
Haran [‘Mesopotamia’], and Canneh, ‘Eden,’ Asshur and Chilmad all send their wares. In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.
Amos 1: 5a
And the one who holds the scepter from Beth-Eden (‘House of Eden’??).
Isaiah 37: 12b
The people of Eden who were in ‘Telassar.’ NOTE: Is ‘Telassar’ the same as ‘Ellasar’ mentioned in Genesis 14: 1, 2, 9 during the battle of the Kings in the valley of ‘Siddim’ (The “Salt Sea”)?
Perhaps it will never be known as to the precise location of the Garden of Eden or whether it can be proven to have ever existed, but one thing is certain, that this place will forever hold a special place in the imagination and hearts of any person who wants to believe that it was ‘real;’ and in the end, this is all that matters.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
April 3, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
Ezekiel 28: 13a
You were in Eden, the garden of God. (Cp. Genesis 13: 10b).
31: 3, 8-9, 16b
Indeed Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon with fine branches that shaded the forest, and of high stature; and its top was among the deep boughs. The cedars in the garden of God [‘Eden’] could not hide it; No tree in the garden of God [‘Eden’] was like it in beauty. I made it with a multitude of branches, so that all the trees of Eden envied it, that were in the garden of God. Then all the trees of ‘Eden,’ the choicest and best of Lebanon, all the trees were well-watered, were consoled in the earth below.
18a
To which of the trees in Eden will you then be likened in glory and greatness? Yet you shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the depths of the earth.
NOTE: Is the description of trees in the Garden of Eden used figuratively and as a ‘metaphor’ for the King of Assyria? It is recommended to read all of Ezekiel 28 & 31.
Isaiah 51: 3b
He will make her wilderness like ‘Eden,’ and her desert like the garden of the Lord.
Now, it is time to look at some geography or physical landscape of the region:
Genesis 2: 8a,
The Lord planted a garden, ‘eastward’ in Eden. NOTE: The direction would be from the standpoint of where Jerusalem [‘Judea’] is located.
10
Now a “river” went out of ‘Eden’ to water the garden, and from “there” it parted and became four riverheads.
NOTE: Using Biblical “cartography” [the ‘science of mapmaking’] and ‘Google Earth’ the “Persian Gulf” is the most likely source that fits the Biblical criteria. It must be kept in mind that due to the shifting of Teutonic plates and large land masses sinking or breaking away to form new Continents, it is possible that this region was once above ground. Not only is that, but the word ‘Eden’ in the Sumerian language is translated, “Plain.”
There might have at one time been an ancient, mighty river (??) proceeding from the Persian Gulf region that traversed the Plain into ‘Eden,’ branching off into the Tigris River through Eastern Assyria, the Euphrates River up through Iraq between Syria and Assyria; the other two rivers having dried up over time. This ancient river from the Persian Gulf enters ancient Iraq [‘Chaldea’] where it borders Iran [‘Elam/Persia’], and then it splits into the other rivers; that’s where the Garden of Eden was located from antiquity.
NOTE: The patriarch Abraham was from Ur of the Chaldeans (Cp. Genesis 11: 28, 31), which on a Biblical map of the period is directly west on the area where the ‘Garden of Eden’ might have been.
It is worth noting that in describing the course of the rivers in the book of GENESIS, the Euphrates River didn’t require an explanation because the people or audience to whom this scroll [‘book’] was written, already knew how and where it traversed the land. Also, the river ‘Gihon’ is mentioned as going around the whole land of “Cush” and in II Chronicles 32: 30, an “Upper Gihon” is mentioned; so it stands to reason that if there is an Upper one, there must have been a “Lower Gihon,” which might have continued flowing in its course during that time.
Some other interesting things about Eden:
Ezekiel 27: 23-24
Haran [‘Mesopotamia’], and Canneh, ‘Eden,’ Asshur and Chilmad all send their wares. In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.
Amos 1: 5a
And the one who holds the scepter from Beth-Eden (‘House of Eden’??).
Isaiah 37: 12b
The people of Eden who were in ‘Telassar.’ NOTE: Is ‘Telassar’ the same as ‘Ellasar’ mentioned in Genesis 14: 1, 2, 9 during the battle of the Kings in the valley of ‘Siddim’ (The “Salt Sea”)?
Perhaps it will never be known as to the precise location of the Garden of Eden or whether it can be proven to have ever existed, but one thing is certain, that this place will forever hold a special place in the imagination and hearts of any person who wants to believe that it was ‘real;’ and in the end, this is all that matters.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
April 3, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
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