Monday, October 19, 2009

Could the Advent of the LORD Jesus [Yeshua] occur in this Generation?

There have been many attempts to predict when the Savior Jesus Christ [Yeshua Meshiyach] will return back on Earth to judge the good and bad. Perhaps the most noted person in modern times is the chronologer and Seventh-Day Adventist, William Miller, who predicted that ‘Great Day’ would occur in 1843; and then recalculated the day the world would end to be 1844. While not wanting to fall into the same trap of pinpointing a definite calendar date or time because Jesus [Yeshua] said: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Cp. Matthew 24: 36).

But He also said: “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky; but you cannot interpret the signs of the times” (Cp. Matthew 16: 3b). These ‘signs’ might be those in the starry heavens as in “Astrology” but it could also mean something else; such as sacred numbers or Feast Days. Aramaic scholar Andrew Gabriel Roth sees a pattern in the Year of Jubilee (Cp. Leviticus 25: 8-17), of which the children of Israel celebrated the first one in the land of Canaan after their liberation from Egyptian slavery. If say, this was in 1435 BCE, then accounting for two ‘Jubilees’ every century, then the ADVENT CLOCK might look like this:

(1) 1435 BCE; (3) 1335 BCE; (5) 1235 BCE; (7) 1135 BCE; (9) 1035 BCE; (11) 935 BCE; (13) 835 BCE; (15) 735 BCE; (17) 635 BCE; (19) 535 BCE; (21) 435 BCE; (23) 335 BCE; (25) 235 BCE; (27) 135 BCE; (29) 35 BCE; (31) 67 CE; (33) 167 CE; (35) 267 CE; (37) 367; (39) 467 CE; (41) 567 CE; (43) 667 CE; (45) 767 CE; (47) 867 CE; (49) 967 CE: (51) 1067 CE; (53) 1167 CE; (55) 1267 CE; (57) 1367 CE; (59) 1467 CE; (61) 1567 CE; (63) 1667 CE; (65) 1767 CE; (67) 1867 CE; (69) 1967 CE; (70) 2017 CE.

NOTE: As any student of Scripture knows, the numbers 7 or 70 refer to cycles of completion and it must be remembered that Jesus [Yeshua] did not mention anything about not knowing the season, cycle, or month; only the day and hour. According to Leviticus 25: 8-9, the Year of Jubilee starts around the Day of Atonement (“Yom Kippur”), which is in the seventh month (‘Tishri’) and tenth day on the sacred Jewish calendar or between September and October of the secular calendar. It could very well be that we are indeed living in the LAST DAYS as well as the 70th Jubilee Year timeline.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
October 18, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com

Friday, October 16, 2009

Was the Pharaoh during the Israelite Enslavement and Deliverance a Native Egyptian?

Exodus 1: 5-10
All those who were descendants of Jacob were seventy-five persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already). And Joseph died; all his brothers, and all that generation. But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and became very numerous; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children are more mightier than we; “come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemy and fight against us, and go up out of the land.”

NOTE: There are several things worth consideration in this early narrative, namely the placement of this part. Of the 75 people among Israel’s descendants who settled down in Egypt, Joseph, his brothers and all that generation died, so how could the remaining number become so abundant in such a short period of time where the land was filled with them? Also, why is it that this new king did not know about Joseph, who was a Governor over Egypt under the previous Pharaoh and there were doubtless archival records of his accomplishments as well as among the memories of the people. It is interesting that the new ruler mentioned that these descendants of Israel (“Hebrews”) are mightier than he and his people and yet they were able to be made subservient slaves; so the question is again, how could this be? Is it possible that this is an invading army from a foreign nation who came into the country [Upper or Lower Egypt] whose leader became the king of Egypt in this region? Did the numbers of Israelites pose a national security risk by possibly siding with an enemy and tipping the balance-of-power in another direction and to then depart from the land? This new king of Egypt was concerned about the children of Israel multiplying but it seems that they were already experiencing an unnatural exponential growth that cannot be explained outside of divine intervention.

1: 11-14
Therefore they [who are they?] set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Ramses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread (fear) of the children of Israel. So the Egyptians made the children serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage- in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.

NOTE: How could the Israelites have built the storage city of Rameses when it says in Genesis 47: 5-6a, 11: Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. “The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen.” And Joseph situated his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.

2: 15b-19; 3: 1
But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh (Cp. 2; 23A; 4: 19) and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by the well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water, and they filling the troughs to water their father’s flock. Then the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “How is it that you have come so soon today?” And they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.” Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

NOTE: Why is it that Moses was called an Egyptian? The seven daughters of Reuel/Jethro came to ‘draw water’ and Moses’ name means “drawn out of the water.” Reu[El] was most likely a worshipper of the True God by virtue of his name and lived in the vicinity of the Mountain of God (Horeb). This does not mean that he was necessarily a monotheist.

2: 23a, 24a
Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of their bondage. So God heard their groaning. . .

NOTE: Since the ruler of Egypt who did not know about the deeds of Joseph and through cunning, enslaved the children of Israel; now that he is dead, why are the Israelites still oppressed. Did his heir or successor continue his policy of oppression and subjugation of the Hebrews?

The Angel of the LORD says to Moses in 3: 7, 9-10
And the LORD said, “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrow (pain).” “Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. “Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel out of Egypt.”

3: 13-14; 5: 1-2
Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His Name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may keep a pilgrim-feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ” And Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.”

NOTE: One of the things that might have gone unnoticed, and which is quite significant in the entire history of the children of Israel’s 400 years of Egyptian servitude is whether this King/Pharaoh of Egypt was a “foreigner” and therefore, it is understandable that God’s Name was unknown to him. Also, unless the pharaoh live a long time, the 400 year span would have included several kings or Pharaoh's of Egypt [the Land].

According to James Bonwick, in his book “Egyptian Belief and Modern Thought,” (p. 395) as well as Godfrey Higgins in his monumental work, “Anacalypsis, vol. II p. 17,” state that the ancient Egyptians had a Name for God which was ‘Nuk-Pa-Nuk’ [translated as, “I AM WHO I AM”]. Among those supporting this position are Clement of Alexandria in his work called “Stromatis,” T.W. Doane in his book “Bible Myths and Parallels in Other Religions,” and Professor Renouf in “Religion of Ancient Egypt,” (p. 99). It seems after the abundance of research that the sacred acronym or ‘Tetragrammaton (YHWH, JHVH) are borrowed from the Egyptian “I-ha-h” or “I-ha-hou” or “Y-ha-Ho” where the transliterated Divine Names Yahweh [Egyptian “Ioa”] and Jehovah are formulated. Not only that, but the divine Name or title Jehovah is the Egyptian “Huhi” from which comes the name “Ihuh.” Since the latter ‘J’ was not added to the English alphabet [there is no equivalent in Hebrew] until the 17th century, the Hebrew consonants representing the ‘Tetragrammaton’ was originally, at least, corresponded to IHUH; and then later JHUH, from which we get JEHOVAH. It is strange that the word used as a substitute for the ineffable and unpronounceable sacred Name is “Adonai” (Lord), which is taken from the Phoenician or Greek god “Adonis.”


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
October 15, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Textual Criticism of the book of JONAH

Jonah 1: 1-2
Now the Word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it: for their wickedness has come up before Me.”

NOTE: This is very interesting because nowhere else in O.T. Scripture does the LORD send a prophet to a foreign nation to offer them a message to repent or perish. The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah came up before God also, and if only ten righteous persons could have been found within them, destruction could have been averted but there was no Missionary outreach available to them (Cp. Genesis 18: 20-21, 23, 32).

1: 3
But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish [“Tyre”] from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going for Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

NOTE: The geography is right on the money in this one because Jonah was from Gath Hepher in the territory of Issachar (Cp. II Kings 14: 25b; Joshua 19: 13), and Joppa was to the South in the territory of Dan (Cp. Joshua 19: 46). Tarshish is along the Mediterranean Coast toward the far North in Tyre (Cp. Isaiah 23: 1). Jonah sought to flee from the LORD’S presence, just like Adam and Eve (Cp. Genesis 3: 7-10) but he should have read Psalms 139: 7, which states: Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence (Cp. verses 8-12)?

1: 4-5
But the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. Then the mariners [seamen] were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep.

NOTE: This is very similar to the tempest and waves that tossed the boat where Jesus (Yeshua) was asleep in (Cp. Matthew 8: 23-27).

1: 8-9
Then they said to him, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? (1) What is your occupation? (2) Where do you come from? (3) What is your country? (4) And of what people are you?” So he said to them, “(4) I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD (YHVH), the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.

NOTE: The sailors asked Jonah four questions but he only answered the last one.

1: 11a, 12a
Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?” And he said to him, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will be calm for you.”

1: 14-16
Therefore they cried out to the LORD and said, “We pray, O LORD, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You.” So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and took vows.

NOTE: These pagan mariners from Tarshish [Tyre] had some sense of a moral or spiritual compass because they were hesitant to throw Jonah overboard and tried to row past the storm. They finally acquiesced to Jonah’s request and like the cargo that went “deep six,” lifted him up and tossed him over the side of the boat. Before that, however, they prayed to the LORD not to charge them with shedding innocent blood in Jonah’s apparently certain death.

1: 17
Now the LORD prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

2: 1, 2b
Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish’s belly. “Out of the belly of Sheol [the Land of the Dead], and LORD You heard me.”

NOTE: Perhaps the belly of the great fish is just an allegory for “Sheol” and Jesus [Yeshua] said in Matthew 12: 40: “For as Jonah was 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. The ‘great fish’ that swallowed Jonah could be DEATH just as the Son of Man tasted this for every man (Cp. Hebrews 2: 9).

2: 3, 5-6
You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me. I was buried beneath Your wild and billowy waves. I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head. I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But You, O LORD my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!

NOTE: These would hardly be the words of a man who was enclosed within the body of a great fish; if taken literally, that is. It is however plausible that the LORD sent the great fish to preserve Jonah’s ebbing life as he was about to die from drowning, and given another opportunity to carry out God’s mission to the Ninevites while recuperating in the insides of a divinely prepared ‘great’ fish; as verse 7 indicates below:

2: 7, 10
As my life was slipping away, I remembered the LORD. And my earnest prayer went out to You into Your holy Temple. So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

NOTE: The fish carried Jonah all the way to land and expelled him from its insides [along with other undigested matter] in perhaps a not so pleasant environment.

3: 1-2
Now the Word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.”

3: 3-4
So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the Word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, so large a city that it takes three days to see it all. And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

NOTE: Noah was called a preacher of righteousness (Cp. II Peter 2: 5), and if that was the case he probably warned the ‘Antediluvian’ people about the upcoming Flood. Since Noah “walked with God” probably at age 500 after the birth of his sons, he doubtless preached 100 years until the rain came and the floodgates of the deep burst open (Cp. Genesis 5: 32; 6: 5-13; 7: 6, 11). Conversely, the people of Nineveh had only forty days to repent and thus avert God’s wrath.

3: 5-10 “The people and king of Nineveh repent at the preaching of Jonah”

NOTE: Why was this message so disturbing to the Ninevites from a foreigner that they would repent before the God of the Hebrews when they worshipped, like Sennacherib king of Assyria [capitol of Nineveh] Nisroch his god (Cp. II Kings 19: 36-37a). Perhaps the Ninevites have had some contact with God as a result of prophesies found in Nahum 3: 1-19 and Zephaniah 2: 13-15. There is a universal principle found in Jeremiah 18: 7-8, which says, “The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, “if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring against it.”

4: 1-2
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the LORD, and said, “Ah LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness, One who relents from doing harm (Cp. Exodus 34: 6; Numbers 14: 18a; Psalms 86: 5, 15; Joel 2: 13b).

4: 3-4
“Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!” Then the LORD said [asked], “Is it right for you to be angry?”

Jonah is a very interesting psychological and spiritual study as he voices anger to God because He doesn’t destroy the Ninevites as well as God causing a plant to grow providing shade for Jonah from the heat of the day. He then prepares a worm which damages and causes the plant to wither the next day. It seems Jonah cared more for the gourd than for human lives of people from another land. Jonah mentioned about it being better for him to die which he repeats three times (Cp. verses 3b, 8b, 9b), but he must have so soon forgotten about his previous “Near Death Experience” of being in the “belly of the great fish.”


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
October 10, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com

Feasts celebrated by the Jews since the Wilderness of Mt. Sinai

In Exodus 23: 14-17 the LORD God commands three annual mandatory Feasts [(1) Unleavened Bread {“Passover”}, (2) Feast of Harvest [“Pentecost”}, (3) Feast of Ingathering at year’s end], and that all Jewish males are to appear before Him to offer sacrifices. Since that time of the Wilderness of Mount Sinai when Moses received these statutes from the LORD, it is interesting to see how these specific solemn feasts were kept since that time onward.

NOTE: Exodus 34: 22-23 includes the ‘firstfruits’ as part of the Feast of [Wheat] Harvest.

Joshua 5: 10-11
Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits [when the Children first enter and settle in the land of Canaan].

2 Kings 23: 21
Passover [and Unleavened Bread]

2 Chronicles 2: 4b
Sabbaths, New Moons (Cp. Numbers 28: 11-15; Psalms 81: 3), appointed Feasts (Cp. 2 Chronicles 8: 13; Exodus 23: 14-19; Unleavened Bread, Feast of Harvest, Feast of Ingathering).

2 Chronicles 30: 1, 5, 13-23 (esp. 26).
Passover, Unleavened Bread.

2 Chronicles 31: 3-4
Sabbaths, appointed Feasts (Cp. 2 Chronicles 8: 13; Exodus 23: 14-19; Unleavened Bread, Feast of Harvest, Feast of Ingathering), New Moons (Cp. Numbers 28: 11-15; Psalms 81: 3).

2 Chronicles 35: 1 (esp. 18).
Passover [Unleavened Bread].

2 Chronicles 36: 21
Sabbaths

Ezra 3: 4-5
Feast of Tabernacles (Cp. Leviticus 23: 34, 40, 42; Deuteronomy 16: 13), New Moons (Cp. Numbers 28: 11-15; Psalms 81: 3).

Ezra 5: 16, 19-22
The Dedication of the Temple (Cp. 1 Kings 8: 63; 2 Chronicles 7: 5), Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Nehemiah 8: 13-18
Feast of Tabernacles (Cp. Leviticus 23: 34, 40, 42; Deuteronomy 16: 13; “Booths”).

Nehemiah 10: 33
Sabbaths, New Moons (Cp. Numbers 28: 11-15; Psalms 81: 3), appointed Feasts (Cp. 2 Chronicles 8: 13; Exodus 23: 14-19; Unleavened Bread, Feast of Harvest, Feast of Ingathering).

Esther 8: 17-19, 26-28, 31-33
Feast of Purim

Ezekiel 45: 17-25; 46: 1, 3, 6, 11
Sabbaths, New Moons (Cp. Numbers 28: 11-15; Psalms 81: 3), Feasts, Passover, Unleavened Bread.

Isaiah 1: 13-15
Sabbaths, New Moons (Cp. Numbers 28: 11-15; Psalms 81: 3).

Matthew 26: 17
Feast of Unleavened Bread, Passover.

Mark 14: 1, 12
Feast of Unleavened Bread, Passover.

Luke 22: 1, 7
Feast of Unleavened Bread, Passover.

John 2: 13
Passover [and Unleavened Bread] of the Jews.

John 3:23
A dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification (??).

John 7: 2
The Jew’s Feast of Tabernacles (Cp. Leviticus 23: 33-36; Numbers 29: 12-38; Deuteronomy 16: 13-15).

John 10: 22
Feast of Dedication (Cp. 1 Kings 8: 63; 2 Chronicles 7: 5).

John 11: 55
The Passover [and Unleavened Bread] of the Jews and purification (Cp. 3: 23??).

John 12: 20
Greeks coming to the Passover Feast [and Unleavened Bread].

John 13: 1, 29
Feast of the Passover [and Unleavened Bread].

Acts 2: 1
Day of Pentecost (Cp. Exodus 23: 16; 34: 22-23; Leviticus 23: 15-21; Numbers 28: 26-31; Deuteronomy 16: 9-12).

Acts 12: 3
Days of Unleavened Bread, [and Passover??].

Acts 18: 21
The Apostle Paul wanted to keep the coming Feast (Day of Pentecost; 20: 16??) in Jerusalem.

Acts 20: 6
The Days of Unleavened Bread [and Passover??].

Acts 20: 16
The Apostle Paul was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost (Cp. Acts 2: 1; 18: 21; Exodus 23: 16; 34: 22-23; Leviticus 23: 15-21; Numbers 28: 26-31; Deuteronomy 16: 9-12).

I Corinthians 5: 8
Therefore let us keep the ‘Feast,’ [“Unleavened Bread/Passover;” Cp. Exodus 12: 15-20; 13: 3-10; Leviticus 23: 5; Numbers 9: 1-14; 28: 16; Deuteronomy 16: 1-7] not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

I Corinthians 16: 8
But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost (Cp. Acts 18: 21; 19: 21a, 22b; 20: 1-2??).

Colossians 2: 16
So let no one judge you in food or drink, or regarding a festival [Feast??], or a New Moon or Sabbaths. . .

It seems that from the times of Jewish antiquity (the Wilderness of Sinai), the Feasts of Unleavened Bread/Passover was observed up until Jesus’ Day and beyond. The Sabbaths and New Moons were kept during the Babylonian Captivity (Cp. Isaiah 1: 13-15) and after the seventy years prophesized by Jeremiah, the returning exiles settling back again to Judea/Jerusalem observed the Feast of Tabernacles. After the Second Temple was built, it was dedicated like in the Days of Solomon, along with celebrating again, New Moons and the appointed feasts [probably Unleavened Bread/Passover, Feast of Harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering.

Curiously, the ‘Synoptic Gospels’ (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) only mention the Feast of Unleavened Bread/Passover. The Gospel of John mentions these in addition to the Feast of Tabernacles (“Booths”) and the Feast of Dedication (Second Temple). In the book of Acts, the author includes the Day of Pentecost (Harvest/Weeks: Cp. Exodus 23: 16; 34: 22-23; Leviticus 23: 15-21; Numbers 28: 26-31; Deuteronomy 16: 9-12) several times.

NOTE: Again to reiterate from the beginning of the article, Exodus 34: 22-23 includes the ‘firstfruits’ as part of the Feast of [Wheat] Harvest.

In the book of I Corinthians the Apostle Paul alludes to Passover/Unleavened Bread as well as mentioning again about [the Day of] Pentecost. Since Pentecost/Weeks is included along with the Feast of Harvest/Ingathering and Passover from ancient times, its importance could very well have Eschatological significance as symbolizing the gathering up of the 'firstfruits' or saints at the "End of the World." Finally, one of the last Feasts to be mentioned in the New Testament are Sabbaths and the New Moons in the book of Colossians (Cp. 2: 16).


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
October 13, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com

Monday, October 5, 2009

The Gospel message to convert the Jews

There are those among the clergy and leadership in the Christian Church, especially among the Gentile believers who neglect ministering the Word to those unbelieving Jews. It has even been said that is a waste of time and that no Jewish person would ever accept that Jesus [Yeshua] is the Christ [Mesiyach], in fulfillment of the Old Testament Law [“Torah”], Psalms, and Prophets; but is that necessarily the case? The Apostle’s Peter and Paul seem to have had some success as recorded in the book of ACTS, and if human nature is basically the same, then the same method of preaching or teaching using the same Scriptural references should net the same results; if not, then why not? Not only that, but many believers tend to forget the Apostle Paul’s example, if not outright injunction to offer the message of salvation to the Jews first, and then the Gentiles (Cp. Romans 1: 16).

In the references below are sermons that touched the hearts of those Jews who received the Word and after believing and repenting of their sins, obtained forgiveness of their sins by obedience to what they were taught.

Acts 2: 14, 16
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel (Cp. Joel 2: 28-32).”

NOTE: Peter’s sermon leaves out: For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the remnant whom the LORD calls.

22-25
Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus [Yeshua] of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know-Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. “For David said concerning Him: (Cp. Psalms 16: 8-11).”

29-34
“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. “Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God has sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ [“Mesiyach”] to sit on his throne, “he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ [“Mesiyach”], that His [not David’s] soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. “This Jesus God has raised up [from the dead] of which we are witnesses. “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: (Cp. Psalms 110: 1).”

36-39, 41
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus [Yeshua], whom you crucified, both LORD and Christ [“Mesiyach”].” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ [Yeshua Mesiyach] for the remission (forgiveness) of sins; and you shall (1) receive the gift of the Holy Spirit [Ruach ha Kodesh]. For (2) the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off (Cp. Romans 4: 1-3, 9 {Psalms 32: 1-2}, 10-14, 16-17a; 9: 6b-8, 24-25 {Hosea 2: 23; 1: 10} as many as the LORD our God will call.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

NOTE: The (1) Holy Spirit [Ruach ha Kodesh] is given to those who obey God (Cp. Acts 4: 31; 8: 15, 17; 10: 44-45; 11: 15-16; 19: 1-2, 4-6; II Corinthians 1: 22; 5: 5; Ephesians 1: 13b-14a). (2) The promise is first mentioned in Genesis 22: 18: “In your Seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice (Cp. Genesis 26: 4b).

Acts 3: 12-15
So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why do you look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus [Yeshua], whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. “But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murdered to be granted to you, “and killed the Prince of Life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.

17-23
“Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. “But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ [Mesiyach] would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the LORD, “and that He may send Jesus Christ [Yeshua Mesiyach], who was ordained for you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. “For Moses truly said to the fathers (Cp. Deuteronomy 18: 15, 18-19).”

24-26
“Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold of these days. “You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham (Cp. Genesis 12: 3b; 18: 18b; 22: 18; 26: 4; 28:14). “To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”

13: 14-25
But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day and sat down. And after the reading of the Law [“Torah”] and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.” Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: “The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with Mighty power He brought them out of it. “Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. “And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment. “After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. “And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. “And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, “(Cp. Psalms 89: 20a; I Samuel 13: 14b).” From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior [“Messiah”]-Jesus [Yeshua] - “after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. “And John was finishing his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’ ”

26-33
“Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the message of this salvation has been sent. “For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. “And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. “Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. “But God raised Him from the dead. “He was seen for many days by those who had come up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are witnesses to the people. “And we declare to you glad tidings [“Evangelion”- The Gospel or Good News], that promise which was made to the fathers. “God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus [Yeshua]. As it is written in the second Psalm ‘(Cp. Psalms 2: 7)’:

34-40, 43
“And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption (decay), He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David’ (Cp. Isaiah 55: 3)

NOTE: This passage from Isaiah is out of place and doesn’t belong here.

“Therefore He also says in another Psalm ‘(Cp. Psalm 16: 10)’: “For David, after he served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption [his body underwent decay]; but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. Therefore let it be known to you brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; “and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the Law [“Torah”] of Moses. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

If bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ [Yeshua Mesiyach] to the Jews is futile, then why does Paul feel like this: “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit [Ruach ha Kodesh], that I have a great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I wish that I myself were accursed from Christ [Mesiyach] for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law ["Torah”], the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ [Mesiyach] came, who is over all; the eternally blessed God. Amen. Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ [Mesiyach] is the end of the Law [“Torah”] for righteousness to everyone who believes (Cp. Romans 9: 1-5; 10: 1-4).

Following the Missionary activities of the Apostle Paul in the Church history book of ACTS, whether he traveled through GALATIA [Turkey in Asia Minor: These assemblies were in Pisidian Antioch (Cp. Acts 13: 14); Iconium (Cp. Acts 14: 1); Lystra & Derbe (Acts 14: 6-7, 20); Perga {in Pamphylia} (Cp. Acts 14: 25)]. Europe: MACEDONIA [Philippi (Cp. Acts 16: 12); Thessalonica (Cp. Acts 17: 1); Berea (Cp. Acts 17: 10)]; and even the Churches in GREECE (Corinth, Athens), or Rome Italy, he always sought out the synagogues where his Jewish brethren would be conducting Sabbath services first; and of which in many instances there were also in attendance God-fearing Gentile/Greek-speaking proselytes.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
October 3, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com

Should Christian clergy be armed during Worship or any other sacred Assemblies?

There has been an increasing escalation of violent acts, including murder, happening in Christian Churches, as well as in Jewish Temples and daycare centers in the news such that the worshipper’s safety is potentially at risk. There was a time when any house of worship was the last place where such disregard for the sacred would take place; that was then, but this is now. There are some members of the clergy who have a gun concealed underneath their Ecclesiastical vestments (robes) or have off-duty law enforcement officials who are members of their congregations, who as a general rule, always carry a firearm. Besides asking the overly simplified question of “What would Jesus [Yeshua] do, is there any references in the Scriptures that can aid us in this disturbing modern dilemma?

Matthew 28: 47, 55
And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber [criminal, insurrectionist, murderer], with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.” (Cp. Mark 14: 43, 48-49)

28: 62-66
On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, 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 [by posting one of the soldiers to stand guard] 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 the last deception is worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the tomb and posting a guard.

Luke 22: 52
Then Jesus said to the chief priests, and captains of the Temple [Temple police or security force], and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber [criminal, insurrectionist, murderer], with swords and clubs?”

John 18: 3
Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

There are several things to consider, namely, whether “PASSIVE RESISTANCE” in all circumstances is at all in accord with true spiritual principles and the Word of God. Consider the Ten Commandments or the Law [“Torah”] of Moses which was written by the finger of God, but nowhere does it say, “Thou shall not Fight (Cp. Exodus 21: 12-26).” Now the next thing is the passage in Matthew 5: 39 & Luke 6: 29, but in order to understand the context, it is prudent to read Matthew 6: 38-39, which reads:

“You have heard it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ “But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also.” Jesus was teaching against retaliation or vengeance and not necessarily about taking action to protect yourself or a loved one from harm or even allowing yourself to be robbed. This last part is a sort of implied meaning that is found in Luke 11: 21-22, which states: When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own place, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.

Even reading all the Gospel narratives it appears that there was some kind of Temple police or security officials, including the rank of Captain and a guard that was dispatched to watch the tomb where Jesus was laid. It would suggest that such a force might be used on other occasions, perhaps to keep peace and order during Feast days, protect the temple precincts from vandalism, or to separate adversaries during heated discussions by rabbis about the Mishnah or Talmud, or to protect against robbers looting the temple treasury as well as the offerer.

To reiterate this point on using violence, the Apostle Paul wrote: Repay no one evil for evil (Cp. Romans 12: 17a), and while it is certainly prudent to be concerned about having a gun-totin,’ Second Amendment zealous pulpit or trigger-happy undercover law enforcement sitting in the pew, it is, at least from what has been reviewed thus far, reasonable to have some type of officially trained security force or guard to watch for any unusual circumstance or behavior of any person which could place the safety of worshippers in harm’s way. Last, but not least, Psalms 71: 1-3a, 4 says: "In You, O LORD, I put my trust; let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape; incline Your ear to me, and save me. Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
October 3, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com