The Lord Is Gathering His People

Today, on Yom Kippur (the Jewish Day of Atonement), Joel C. Rosenberg has shared a remarkable phenomenon whereas many Jews are now seeking the Messiah.

A big, untold story: Since last Yom Kippur, millions of Jews have begun searching for the Messiah, and for atonement for their sins. The media isn’t reporting this. But it’s worth examining.

The final blood moon of the 2014/2015 tetrad of blood moons is going to occur on September 28, 2015. There is much speculation regarding what significance these events (occurring on Jewish holy and feast days) may have, and many prophecy experts are saying that it MIGHT be a signal in order to prepare us for the great day of the Lord.

Joel C. Rosenberg is one such Bible scholar and prophecy expert. You can read about him on his ABOUT page at his blog.

On that page you will notice several books that he has written (including Jerusalem Countdown) which are labeled as fictional accounts of what COULD happen in the future; based on prophecies in the Bible. It has been interesting to see that in several incidences, his fictional accounts have become reality years later.

For instance, here is a 2013 video interview with Martha McCallum of the Fox News Channel where Rosenberg discusses possible signs of prophecies of the Apocalypse.

Interestingly enough, there has been an even more recent exodus of refugees from the war-torn regions, seeking asylum in several European countries, as well as requests to come to the United States.

One great thing about Rosenberg is that he isn’t a “date setter” nor does he try to be a modern-day “prophet.” He just shares the prophecies in the Bible and what is currently happening around the world. At that video link, he specifically states that there are Bible prophecies that have already been fulfilled (e.g. the State of Israel in 1945) and also the fact that some prophecies that have yet to be fulfilled.  It is amazing how current events are leading up towards their fulfillment!

One example of such leading up via current events is his book entitled “Damascus Showdown,” which is a prophetic novel that depicts the changes in Syria as well as the Iran showdown. It was written back in 2013, and since then, we have seen the rise of ISIS vs. Assad in Syria. We have the controversial “Iran deal” (terribly misguided and awful – IMHO) which could possibly end up in a showdown between the USA and her Allies (especially Israel) and the fanatical mullah leaders who, most likely, would not hesitate exploding a nuclear bomb to hasten in their Islamic Caliphate.

There is a brief article about the novel from March 2013 at CBN.com.

Way back in 2010, Mr. Rosenberg wrote about the connections between blood moons and the Day of the Lord.

I have written about the Four Blood Moons here at Talk Wisdom, and here is a link to those posts.

One of the more fascinating articles is the one entitled, Breaking Israel News – Latest News, Biblical Perspective [Note: I can’t take any credit for the information, but the links shared there are well worth your time to read.]

I have viewed the Four Blood Moons docu-drama several times. Each time, I have gleaned even more information and connections shared by the various scholars in the movie.

One huge observation presented in the movie is that these blood moon tetrads have been signs from God and how He has intervened in history.   Often, the blood moons tetrads are signals given after the Jewish nation,  or Her people,  have suffered a setback or terrible tribulation (i.e. the Exodus from slavery in Egypt, the expelling of Jews from Spain during the Spanish Inquisition, the horrors of the Holocaust in Nazi Germany, the Six-Day War shortly after Israel became a nation again) and resulted in the Jewish people and the little (in size, not stature!) nation of Israel experiencing astounding victories in the face of very pressing odds where defeat might have been been considered the final outcome!

Today, on Yom Kippur (the Jewish Day of Atonement), Joel C. Rosenberg has shared a remarkable phenomenon whereas many Jews are now seeking the Messiah.

A big, untold story: Since last Yom Kippur, millions of Jews have begun searching for the Messiah, and for atonement for their sins. The media isn’t reporting this. But it’s worth examining.

Excerpt:

Since last Yom Kippur, millions of Jews have begun a quest to find the Messiah. For reasons I cannot fully explain, Jews are suddenly searching for answers to the deepest and most important questions concerning life and death and God and atonement and eternity, in numbers unprecedented in history. Some are searching through the Hebrew Scriptures for answers. A stunning number are actually reading the New Testament, most for the first time. They are searching on Google for information about the Messiah. They are even watching a new series of videos by Jews who claim to have found the answers. The videos — some of which have gone viral — were produced and posted on a new website called www.imetmessiah.com.

To me, these are fascinating developments. They certainly aren’t being reported by the media. But they are worth examining.

Well worth your time to read the entire post!!!

In a previous post written back in February, 2014, I shared portions of Fritz Ridenour’s book (published in 1967), “So What’s The Difference.” Go to that link, scroll down and read the paragraphs that I shared from the chapter describing the differences between Christians and Jews.

Weeks ago, I ordered several copies of Ridenour’s updated book, and in this new version (published in 2001), he shares how (starting in 1967) “Messianic Jews break the mold” regarding these differences.

Excerpt:

For more than 1,200 years it has been assumed on the part of Jewish and Christian communities that a Jewish person simply couldn’t believe in Jesus and stay Jewish.

[In] spite of these cultural barriers, throughout Church history there have always been some Jewish people who came to believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. But something really unanticipated and new began in 1967. At the end of the Six Day War, Jerusalem suddenly came back into Jewish hands after nearly 2,000 years under Gentile domination. Tens of thousands of Jewish people suddenly accepted Yeshua as their Messiah. Citing biblical prophecy (see Deut. 30:1-3; Hos. 3:4,5; Joel 2:28,29; Luke 21:24), some Messianic leaders suggest that the movement of Jewish people embracing Jesus as Messiah and forming Messianic synagogues may be an important fulfillment and indicator of end-time restoration of Israel as a nation. 4

[4 Note: David Chernoff, Messianic Judaism: Questions and Answers (Havertown, PA: MMI Publishing Co., 1990), p.8.]

Notice that the excerpt shares that this “sudden acceptance of Yeshua (Jesus) happened during the period and a tetrad of blood moons and after the 1967 Six Day War!

Joel Rosenberg’s post shares how since the last Yom Kippur, millions of Jews have been searching for the Messiah!. This is during the period of the current tetrad of blood moons! Coincidence? I don’t think so!

Mr. Ridenour continues:

Today it is estimated that there are over 350 Messianic Jewish congregations worldwide, with dozens in Israel. More Jewish people have put their trust in Jesus as their Messiah in the last 20 years than in the past 20 centuries.5

These Messianic congregations worship Yeshua and graciously welcome Gentiles, yet retain Jewish forms of worship, feasts, festivals, songs, customs and even humor. They are fond of reminding both Gentiles and Jews of the first-century Jewish origins of Christianity and that, after all, according to the New Testament, believing in Jesus is a very Jewish thing to do.

[5 note: Gary Thomas, “The Lord Is Gathering His People,” Charisma Magazine (April 1997, p. 54.]

[Note from Christine: As I was growing up, it was considered “impolite,” or “politically incorrect,” if not downright “offensive” to even attempt to witness to Jews who follow Judaism! Also, the divide between Judaism and Christianity back then was so great that even “associating” with one another could be a grave issue. Being raised in the Catholic Church by my mother (I am now a born-again, Bible-based Christian), she nearly “flipped out” (to use a term from the 70’s) when she found out that a young, handsome, teenage Jewish boy walked me home from a dance!! Ironically, the dance was held at a Catholic high school!!!]

Mr. Ridenour continues:

Gentile Christians should rejoice in the messianic Jewish movement as a possible indicator of the return of Jesus to the earth and (no less important) as an opportunity to put into practice what the apostles had in mind in Acts 15 and what the apostle Paul had in mind in Ephesians 2. Both of these passages speak of a Church in which the barriers of religious and cultural hostility between Gentile and Jew are boken down through the blood of the Messiah, a witness to all the earth that Yeshua is Lord. As the Messiah of prophecy, He stands ready to receive all who believe in Him. “For there is not difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him” (Rom. 10:12).

Hat tips to all links and excerpts.

One For Israel.Org Is Bringing The Gospel Of Jesus Christ To All The Land Of Israel

Geoffrey Grider over at Now The End Begins blog has shared some wonderful information regarding a group of Christian evangelists working in Israel to help both Jews and Arabs come to the knowledge of the true Messiah – Yeshua (Jesus)!

Now The End Begins: One For Israel.Org Is Bringing The Gospel Of Jesus Christ To All The Land Of Israel.

Excerpt:

One For Israel is an initiative of native born Israelis on the forefront of high tech evangelism, proclaiming salvation to Israel, raising up leaders and equipping them with the tools they need to transform our communities.

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.” Zechariah 8:3 (KJV)

We here at NTEB would like very much to personally introduce you to the amazing end times work that the Lord is doing through our friends at the OneForIsrael.org group located in Central Israel. They are an on-fire group of Jewish believers in Jesus Christ, or as He is known in Hebrew, Yeshua Ha’Mashiach.

Read it all HERE!

Be sure to visit One For Israel.org

Jew and Arab

Ephesians 2:14

Eph 2:14

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

Evangelism in Israel

Romans 1:16

Rom 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,fn for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Training and Equipping

1 Peter 3:15

1Pe 3:15

But sanctify the Lord Godfn in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

 

Out of Zion

Psalms 14:7

Psa 14:7

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD brings back the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

Hat tips:

Now The End Begins: One For Israel.Org Is Bringing The Gospel Of Jesus Christ To All The Land Of Israel.

One For Israel.org

 

Good Samaritan’s Random Act of Kindness

There was a story on Fox and Friends this morning where  a stranger buys a struggling mother a car.

Watch the video at the link above for the complete story.

The stranger wanted to remain anonymous. Apparently, he had the money and was able to share it with someone who was in desperate need. The Fox website labeled this as “Good Samaritan’s random act of kindness.”

The video reveals that the woman is a Christian and that she had been praying to God for an answer to her dilemma.

I think that it was wise for the man who bought the car for her to remain anonymous. Perhaps he, himself, is also a Christian and was heeding what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount:

Mat 6:1

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

Mat 6:2

“Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

Mat 6:3

“But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Mat 6:4

“that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly

David Guzik writes:

A. Doing good to please God.

1. (1) Jesus’ warning against doing good to be seen by others.

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

a. Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men: Charitable deeds is actually the word righteousness. Jesus tells us to not do righteous things for the sake of display or image (to be seen by them).

i. Jesus has just clearly shown God’s righteous standard; perhaps He anticipated the thought “Wouldn’t everybody be impressed if I was like that?” So here Jesus addressed the danger of cultivating an image of righteousness. It is almost impossible to do spiritual things in front of others without thinking what their opinion is of us as we do those things, and how they are thinking better or worse of us as we do what we do.

ii. This does not contradict His previous command to let your light so shine before men (Matthew 5:16). Although the followers of Jesus are to be seen doing good works, they must not do good works simply to be seen.

b. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven: The idea is when we do righteous deeds for the attention and applause of men, their attention and applause is our reward. It is much better to receive a reward from your Father in heaven.

I have been reading Dr. David Jeremiah’s book “A.D. The Bible Continues: The Revolution That Changed The World.” In chapter 3, (which describes and expands upon the Day of Pentecost and the spectacular birth of the Christian church) we read about the church opening its hands to those in need.

In the early church, “all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need” (Acts 2:44-45). The fledgling church experienced severe persecution, leaving members displaced and destitute. They formed a close-knit community to take care of one another, sharing their food, clothing, and money to meet people’s needs.

Over the years, some people have pointed to this passage to make the claim that the early church practiced Communism or socialism, but such was not the case. Communism is a compulsory sharing of goods because no one is thought to have the right to own anything. Socialism acknowledges the right of private property, but it requires individuals to give a certain percentage of what they earn to others in order to narrow the gap between socioeconomic classes.

The early church, however, shared their goods because they were generous and committed to one another. Scripture doesn’t say that the entire church sold all they had and gave everything up for the community’s welfare. It simply says that people voluntarily sold their possessions as financial concerns arose and gave the proceeds to those in need.

Today, almost every church takes care to meet the needs of members lacking food, shelter, help, or clothing. Some churches have food banks or centers offering furniture and clothing. The authentic church is a caring and generous community.

Notice that serving those in need was done by the early church without the “help” (more accurately, the interference) of the Roman government which was hell-bent on destroying these “annoying” followers of Jesus.   Both the Roman Empire and the Sanhedrin Jewish leaders thought that the death of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary would stop the “rabble-rousers” and finally put an end to this religious movement once and for all.

However, when Jesus rose from the dead, walked the earth (again) in his resurrected body for 40 days and appeared to over 400 people over that time span, the Jesus Christ revolution had only just begun!

In the TV series of the same name, we are seeing that there was an enormous political and religious upheaval that led to the formation of the early church. Despite the brutality being done against the people of The Way (what it was called back then), the depiction of the Day of Pentecost was quite riveting!

Dr. Jeremiah shares extra information regarding the Old Testament history of that day and what it meant to believers in the New Testament.

The Feast of Pentecost
The word Pentecost is the Greek name for the Jewish festival Shavuot. Pentecost celebrated two coinciding events, one ancient and the other ongoing. The first marked the occasion of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, which had occurred seven weeks after the original Passover in Egypt.

The second event was the culmination of the Feast of Weeks. This feast derived its name from the seven-seek harvest of wheat and barley, which began at Passover. The day after this seven-week harvest was designated as a time of celebration and thanks to God, which the Jews expressed by bringing an offering of the first crops from their harvests to the Temple.

Since that was the fiftieth day after Passover, it was called Pentecost, meaning “fifty days.”

Recall that the risen Jesus remained on earth for forty days, and then he ascended into heaven ten days before the Jewish observance of Pentecost (Shavuot). On the morning of Pentecost, 120 disciples and the 12 apostles (Judas had been replaced by Matthias) were in the upper room, still waiting for the arrival of the promised Holy Spirit.

Then it happened!

There was a deafening roar that startled everyone and it was like the sound of a rushing wind. It filled not only the house they were in but people heading to the Temple to celebrate Shavuot were shocked by it too! Scripture describes what the disciples experienced. There were bright streaks of light resembling flaming tongues that flashed above them as the Holy Spirit entered into them! At that moment, the power that Jesus promised them had arrived, and they were able to speak in tongues so that the hearers could hear their own languages! This was a miracle! (see Acts 2:1-6).

These men were changed forever! And Peter gave the sermon that birthed the church (Acts 2). The disciples and apostles were no longer confused about their mission. They finally realized that the kind of Kingdom Jesus was establishing was not merely to save Israel from the Romans, but to save the world from Satan.

Dr. Jeremiah writes:

He (Jesus) was not merely the Messiah to the Jews; he was the Messiah to people in all nations around the globe. He was the rightful King not of just the Jews but of the whole world, which since the time of Adam and Eve had been “enemy-occupied territory.” The task of these disciples was to lead people out from under the tyranny of a demonic usurper and rally them around the flag of a resistance movement led by Jesus Christ, their true King.

The power Jesus had promised was infinitely better than anything they could have anticipated. It filled them with more joy and love and courage than they had ever imagined possible.

In today’s world, the persecution of Christians has increased exponentially. The Bible tells us that the closer we get to the end times, this will be the case. Therefore, we need to speak out boldly, as we should, and share the gospel of Christ!

As followers of our Savior and Lord, we should boldly stand up for Jesus Christ in our present circumstances. He is our Savior, Lord, and King, and His love needs to be shed abroad in our hearts and in our world – now.

Hat tips:
Fox News

Dr. Jeremiah.org

 

Four Blood Moons Update

There are various opinions regarding the phenomenon known as the Four Blood Moons.  In a previous post, I shared some thoughts about the Four Blood Moons Documentary which was shown in theaters nationwide on two specific dates back in March and April, 2015.

I was curious to find out when the documentary would be released on DVD, and found my answer at the Four Blood Moons movie website. It will be available on June 23, 2015.

During my search, I discovered a website called Breaking Israel News. Unfortunately, today’s headline on the front page shares the latest attack from Gaza upon the Jewish State of Israel and how the IAF Strikes Gaza Following Rocket Fire on Israel.

However, the first page that I read there had to do with an interesting article written back in March about “Four Blood Moons Movie”: The Winners and Losers.

Links within the post brought even more fascinating information!

There are many to read, but here are the ones I have read so far:

1. Exclusive: Friday’s Solar Eclipse Linked to Fateful 1492 Blood Moon.

This portion was truly exciting:

“My mouth nearly dropped to the floor when I discovered the path of the 1492 solar eclipse.”

NASA has tracked the path of the solar eclipse of April 26, 1492, which began in the Pacific Ocean south of the equator and traveled northeast crossing the thin land bridge where, years later, the Panama Canal would be built. On the Jewish calendar, April 26, 1492 corresponds to the fifth day of Passover (20 Nissan), which the Bible states is two days before the Exodus from Egypt and the splitting of the sea.

After then clipping the very top of South America, the path of the 1492 solar eclipse headed southeast in the Atlantic Ocean very close to the shortest crossing point between South America and Africa.

“It is almost like it was a signpost being placed on earth for later generations to see, once the age of computers would arrive,” O’Dell explained to Breaking Israel News.

“God could have been saying to the world, that yes, you can expel the Jews from Spain, but I am going to open up the Americas so they would have a place of refuge until their ultimate homeland was ready to receive them.”

 

2. CUFI Denounces Journalist for Article Attacking Pastor John Hagee

As with anything else that a Christian Pastor presents as evidence of the God of the Bible, Pastor Hagee was attacked by a Huffington Post writer who apparently wrote an untruthful screed against Hagee; accusing him of anti-Semitism!

Go to that link and read the truth about Hagee and his decades long friendship with Israel!

Excerpt:

Hagee has long enjoyed a close relationship with the Jewish community and was honored in 2013 by leading Jewish organizations for his “years of support and humanitarian endeavors on behalf of Israel,” including more than $80 million in donations by John Hagee Ministries to Israeli charities, which is a separate entity from CUFI [Christians United For Israel].

 

Just goes to prove…you can’t believe everything written on the HuffPoo site!

 

3. Root Source is a website started by a Jewish founder and CEO named Gidon Ariel. The Christian co-founder is Bob O’Dell.

What is Root Source?

Today, more and more Christians and Jews are hearing the divine call to wake up and engage with one another.

Root Source is answering that call: Knowledgeable, Orthodox Israeli Jews teaching Christians around the world online about Jewish concepts, ideas and thought, to more deeply understand the roots of their faith, in an informal and loving manner.

Root Source enables and encourages dialogue and relationships between Christians and Jews, and empowers Christians to learn like Jews have been learning for centuries. Our Israeli Jewish teachers know you are a Christian, and respect your identity and your faith. Root Source gives you access to world-class Jewish biblical teaching online, helping you learn deeper and reach higher in your Christian faith, with the opportunity to ask any question openly.

Our members are often surprised at how quickly they can learn deeper biblical truths from Orthodox Jewish teachings and directly and practically apply those teachings to their own Christian faith.

I can attest to the fact that when Christians learn about the Jewish Feasts Days and their significance (as well as how they point to the Messiah – Jesus Christ!); our faith can be exponentially increased!

For example, read my post from Good Friday of this year (which fell on the first day of Passover!) How the Passover/Seder Reveals Jesus Christ!

Hat tips to all links.

How the Passover/Seder Reveals Jesus Christ

While the Christian Holy Week and Passover usually fall near each other, it is not often that Good Friday and the first night of the eight-day Jewish festival are celebrated on the same day. The rare convergence of the observances is a reminder of the historical links between the two religious holidays.

Jesus’ Last Supper is traditionally thought to have been a Passover Seder, highlighting the historical links between the Jewish holiday and the Christian Good Friday observance.

I found the following essay online this morning.  Once again, we see evidence of the eternal connection of Judeo-Christian beliefs that are outlined in the Bible.

*******

How the Passover / Seder Reveals Jesus Christ

The festival of the Passover has been celebrated by Jews for thousands of years. It is the retelling of the great story of how God redeemed the Jewish nation from enslavement in Egypt.¹ The celebration itself was given to the Jews while they were still in Egypt.² The original celebration centered around the Passover lamb, which was sacrificed and its blood put over the doorposts as a sign of faith, so that the Lord passed over the houses of the Jews during the last plague poured out on the Egyptians – the killing of every firstborn.³ To a large degree, the Passover lamb has been eliminated from the Passover festival (with the only remnant being the roasted lamb shank bone).⁴ The New Testament says that Jesus is our sacrificial Lamb.⁵ The Passover lamb was to be a “male without defect,”⁶ which is the same description given to Jesus.⁷ In addition, when the lamb was roasted and eaten, none of its bones were to be broken.⁸ This fact was also prophesized for the Messiah, whose bones were not to be broken.⁹ It was customary during crucifixion to break the leg bones of the person after a few hours in order to hasten their death. The only way a person could breathe when hanging on a cross was to push up with his legs, which was very exhausting. By breaking the legs, death followed soon by asphyxiation. However, in the case of Jesus, they broke the legs of the other two men, but did not break His, since He was already dead.¹⁰

Much of the symbolism of Jesus’ last Passover week is lost to us because we are unaware of the customs of the time. For example, Jesus came into the city of Jerusalem five days before the lamb was killed in the temple as the Passover sacrifice for the sins of the people of Israel. Five days before the lamb was to be sacrificed, it was chosen. Therefore, Jesus entered Jerusalem on lamb selection day as the lamb of God.¹¹ The people did not understand the significance of this, since they greeted Him with palm branches¹² and hailed Him as King,¹³ shouting “Hosanna,”¹⁴ which means “save us.” However, they were not looking for a spiritual Savior, but a political savior. Palm branches were a symbol of freedom and defiance, since Simon Maccabeus had entered Jerusalem with that symbolism.¹⁵ Jesus’ reaction was to weep,¹⁶ since He realized that they did not understand the Messiah’s purpose in coming.

Good Friday was the day of the Passover celebration and the day that the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. For the previous 1,200 years, the priest would blow the shophar (ram’s horn) at 3:00 p.m. – the moment the lamb was sacrificed, and all the people would pause to contemplate the sacrifice for sins on behalf of the people of Israel. On Good Friday at 3:00,¹⁷ when Jesus was being crucified, He said, “It is finished”¹⁸ – at the moment that the Passover lamb was sacrificed and the shophar was blown from the Temple. The sacrifice of the lamb of God was fulfilled at the hour that the symbolic animal sacrifice usually took place. At the same time, the veil of the Temple (a three-inch thick, several story high cloth that demarked the Holy of Holies¹⁹) tore from top to bottom²⁰ – representing a removal of the separation between God and man. Fifty days later, on the anniversary of the giving of the law (Pentecost), God left the earthly temple to inhabit those who call on the name of Jesus through His Holy Spirit.²¹

The festival of unleavened bread began Friday evening (at sunset). As part of the festival, the Jews would take some of the grain – the “first fruits” of their harvest – to the Temple to offer as a sacrifice. In so doing, they were offering God all they had and trusting Him to provide the rest of the harvest. It was at this point that Jesus was buried – planted in the ground – as He said right before His death.²² Paul refers to Jesus as the first fruits of those raised from the dead in 1 Corinthians.²³ As such, Jesus represents the fulfillment of God’s promise to provide the rest of the harvest – resurrection of those who follow the Messiah.

 

Christian symbolism in the Passover occurs early in the Seder (the Passover dinner). Three matzahs are put together (representing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The middle matzah is broken,²⁴ wrapped in a white cloth, and hidden, representing the death and burial of Jesus.²⁵ The matzah itself is designed to represent Jesus, since it is striped and pierced, which was prophesized by Isaiah, ²⁶ David,²⁷ and Zechariah.²⁸ Following the Seder meal, the “buried” matzah is “resurrected,” which was foretold in the prophecies of David.²⁹

It was during a Passover seder³⁰ that Jesus proclaimed that the meal represented Himself and that He was instituting the New Covenant, which was foretold by Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Isaiah.³¹ The celebration of this covenant has become the ordinance of communion in the Christian Church. At the end of the meal, Jesus took the unleavened bread, broke it, and said that it represented His body.³² Then He took the cup of wine, which would have been the third cup of the Seder – the cup of redemption. He said that it was the new covenant in His blood “poured out for you.”³³ It is through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we are declared clean before God, allowing those of us who choose to accept the pardon, to commune with Him – both now and forevermore through the eternal life He offers.

 

References

1. The entire story can be read in the book of Exodus
2. See Exodus chapter 12.
3. Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. Not one of you shall go out the door of his house until morning. When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. (Exodus 12:21-23)
4. The Passover lamb was still sacrificed in the first century, as indicated in the New testament – Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. (Luke 22:7)
5. Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast–as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5:7)
   The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)
   When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36)
   For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Peter 1:18-19)
   I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14)
   “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death. (Revelation 12:11)
6. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. (Exodus 12:5)
7. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Peter 1:18-19)
8. “It must be eaten inside one house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. (Exodus 12:46)
9. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. (Psalms 34:20)
10. The soldiers therefore came, and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other man who was crucified with Him; but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs;… For these things came to pass, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.” (John 19:32, 33, 36)
11. The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)
12. On the next day the great multitude who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet Him, and began to cry out, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.” (John 12:12-13)
    And most of the multitude spread their garments in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees, and spreading them in the road. (Matthew 21:8)
13. saying, “BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38)
    And the multitudes going before Him, and those who followed after were crying out, saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9)
14. And the multitudes going before Him, and those who followed after were crying out, saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9)
    And those who went before, and those who followed after, were crying out, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:9-10)
15. Simon Maccabeus entered the Akra at Jerusalem after its capture, �with thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees, and with harps, and cymbals, and with viols, and hymns, and songs: because there was destroyed a great enemy out of Israel� (1 Maccabees 13:51) (see also 2 Maccabees 10:7).
16. And when He approached, He saw the city and wept over it, (Luke 19:41)
17. And about the ninth hour [3:00 p.m.] Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?”… And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. (Matthew 27:46, 50) (see also Mark 15:34-37, Luke 23:44-46)
18. When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit. (John 19:30)
19. And behind the second veil, there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, (Hebrews 9:3)
20. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, (Matthew 27:51)
    And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Mark 15:38)
    the sun being obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. (Luke 23:45)
21. Acts chapter 2.
22. And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:23-24)
23. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)
24. And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24)
25. And so they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. (John 19:40)
26. But he was pierced through for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and by his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
27. For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. (Psalms 22:16)
28. “And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born. (Zechariah 12:10)
29. For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Sheol; Neither wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay. (Psalms 16:10)
    O LORD, Thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol; Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. (Psalms 30:3)
    But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; for He will receive me. Selah. (Psalms 49:15)
    I shall not die, but live, And tell of the works of the LORD. (Psalms 118:17)
30. And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; (Luke 22:15)
31. “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (Jeremiah 31:31-33)
    “And I shall give them one heart, and shall put a new spirit within them. And I shall take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances, and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20)
    “I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, (Isaiah 42:6)
32. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-28)
33. In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you. (Luke 22:20)

 

Hat tip: Son Server.com

*******

How To Know God Personally [Click on link to discover the principles!]

What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Become a better person so that God will accept you?

You may be surprised that none of those things will work. But God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him.

The following principles will explain how you can personally begin a relationship with God, right now, through Jesus Christ…

Insight into Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.

 

This post will be about Palm Sunday and how one particular writer helped me to discover additional insight into Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem in A.D. 30.    But first, I wanted to point out the significance of this particular year, 2015,  because it is one of the years over the centuries where Passover falls on the exact same day as Good Friday.  It is known by most Christians that the crucifixion, death, three days in the grave, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ was all in fulfillment of Passover.  [More on this in my upcoming Good Friday post.]

In addition, we should also recognize the significance of Palm Sunday and how Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, riding on a lowly donkey, is deeply related to the time in history when King David was rejected by Israel:

…historically and geographically – to a particular event and place in Israel’s past that would resonate with the tens of thousands of Jews who had come to Jerusalem from throughout the Roman world to celebrate this Passover.

To see what they saw, we have to go back to about 975 B.C. to a time when King David was rejected by Israel and driven into exile by his own son.

It’s a fascinating story and well worth a read, but for the sake of time, we’ll focus on those details Jesus used – and the details his contemporaries, who were hoping for the restoration of David’s throne and the return of Solomon’s golden age, would have recognized.

You can read all the details at WND.

That article at WND was written back in 2006. But I have kept it over the years because I found it biblically insightful, prophetic and fascinating!   We cannot miss the  links between King David in the Old Testament and Jesus Christ in the New Testament!  Thus, I thought I’d share it here today.

Excerpt:

Israel was torn by civil war. The cry of the day became “We have no share in David … Every man to his tents, O Israel!” Eventually, however, the rebels were defeated and Absalom killed in battle – a result that left David almost inconsolable: “O my son Absalom – my son, my son Absalom,” he wept. “If only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!”

In time, God kept his promise to David. Solomon came to the throne in 971 B.C. and vastly expanded the borders, influence and wealth of Israel. Renowned for his wisdom, Solomon, the righteous son of David, went on to build the First Temple and reigned during a time of prosperity and peace. In the centuries that followed, when Israel was taken captive to Assyria and Babylon, or lived under the domination of the pagan Greeks and Romans, and there was no heir of David on the throne, the golden age of Solomon became the archetype of the messianic age that would one day come.

It is interesting to note that Jesus Christ is called, “The Root of David” and also  “the Offspring of David” in the book of Revelation.

Rev 5:5

But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose [fn] its seven seals.”

Rev 22:16

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

When we read Revelation 5:1-5, we find that while John was having his vision of heaven he weeps because an angel asks, “who is worthy…to open the scroll” and then said, “no one was found [worthy enough] who could even look at it!”

But then, an elder in Rev. 5:5 tells John not to weep because Jesus Christ IS worthy and  able to do this!

Rev 5:9

And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Jesus fulfilled most of the 300 prophecies about Him that are recorded in the Old and New Testament at his first coming to this earth. He will fulfill the rest at his second coming! The rest of the WND article describes some of these prophecies fulfilled on Palm Sunday!

Read the rest of this wonderful article and be blessed on this Palm Sunday, 2015!

Continuing with the WND article:

On this spring day in A.D. 30, the Sunday before Passover, there were many hoping for a messiah like Solomon to drive out the hated Romans and restore Israel to its glory days. After all, this was the 1,000th year since Solomon had been crowned king.

For Jesus, the time had come. He chose as his stage David’s path of retreat – traveling back to Jerusalem along the same route – communicating by his words and actions he was the righteous son of David returning to restore his father’s kingdom.

Jesus and his entourage began their journey from the east side of Jordan, where David ended his. As Jesus passed through Jericho, at the base of the steep escarpment that leads up to the plateau, word was already out he was coming – and the expectations were clearly messianic.

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” a persistent blind beggar kept shouting until Jesus healed him. The man joined the gathering throng as it began the 3,750-foot ascent to Jerusalem.

As they approached the summit, Jesus, who had long given warnings to his disciples that this bold march to Jerusalem would end in his rejection and death, told a parable that echoed the earlier rebellion against David: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return … But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’”

Onward the swelling crowd marched toward the crest of the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead to Bethphage – the modern Arab village of et Tur that now occupies the summit – to get a donkey colt for his final entrance. There was less than half a mile to go to reach Jerusalem’s gate and all of it downhill. Jesus didn’t need the donkey for transportation – it was a prop in the unfolding drama, and he appropriated it at the same place David had received his donkeys.

Some 500 years before, the prophet Zechariah described the coming of a king who would rule to the ends of the earth and bring peace to all nations. The good news was He was coming to restore, not destroy – He would be as gracious as David had been to those who had rebelled against him.

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!” Zechariah prophesied. “Behold, your King is coming to you; he is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Cue the donkey … Center stage … Return of the king … Take 1 … Action!

Jesus and his supporters began their descent from the Mount of Olives, following the road that faced the Second Temple and its massive platform, then the single largest man-made structure in the world. Whereas David’s journey on this section of road had been marked by widespread weeping, heads covered in sorrow, robes and cloaks torn in grief, Jesus’ followers were exuberant, lining the roadway with their cloaks and palm branches –  making a smooth path so unlike the one the barefoot David walked.

And they were boisterous: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!” “Hosanna in the highest!”

“Hosanna” – hosha’na in Hebrew. “Save now!”

By now, the crowd was massive and it distressed some of the Pharisees who watched. “Look, the world has gone after Him!” they said, echoing “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

A demonstration like this could upset the Romans, especially if it continued into the city walls.

“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “Rebuke your disciples!”

Jesus refused. David may have been pelted with curses and stones, but on this day, he said, those stones would cry out to praise Him if His followers were silenced.

The gospels of Matthew and Luke both record Jesus stopping in the midst of the pandemonium and weeping over Jerusalem. In a dirge that mirrored David’s for his dead son Absalom, Jesus cried, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem …”

 

---

Anyone there that day who didn’t understand what Jesus had just done simply wasn’t paying attention. His dramatic use of history and geography left few ambiguities. It certainly wasn’t ambiguous to those who began plotting to derail the Galilean before His apparent ambitions brought the wrath of Rome down on everyone’s head.

Enter Judas, the treasurer for Jesus and his disciples. He’s another link to David’s story.

He, like David’s most trusted counselor, Ahithophel, who had advised Absalom on how best to capture and kill the king, was a traitor. Judas told Jesus’ enemies where his rabbi could be found and led the Temple guards to Gethsemane to take Him prisoner. His stint as traitor, however, was short-lived and ended in suicide. So was that of his predecessor, Ahithophel.

“Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and … threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.”

“Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself …”

 

---

Jesus’ re-enactment of the Davidic drama had, by all appearances, been a catastrophic failure.

The masses that followed Him to Jerusalem scattered. Some, undoubtedly, joined the crowd that called for His crucifixion. His top disciple denied ever knowing Him. He was turned over to the Romans, stripped and executed.

Some king. Some restoration. Some making the past right again.

 

---

Even the disciples missed it. They’d heard Him talking about doing His Father’s will which, He kept saying, included Him being killed. But the miracles and the crowds and the adulation on that perfect Sunday as He came down the Mount of Olives had made it easy to ignore what Jesus had said was really happening. And now, it was easy to see it all as one big failure.

But it wasn’t.

Jesus had succeeded beyond anyone’s imagination. He had reclaimed a kingdom – his Father’s kingdom. He had conquered – sin and death, those twin tyrants that had occupied and oppressed all creation since Adam. The old church creed says he descended into hell – it’s the image of a conqueror marching through his enemy’s capital, wreaking havoc and collecting spoils, like Sherman through Atlanta. And, the gospels conclude with Him ascending into Heaven, enthroned to rule forever.

Hail, King Jesus! Hosha’na!

Hat tip: WND: HIS-STORY Palm Sunday, A.D. 30
Exclusive: Jay Baggett offers sights and sounds of Jesus’ triumphal entry

For Such A Time As This

H/T for graphic:  lemonvilleunited.ca

In a previous post, I shared an excerpt and link to Joel C. Rosenberg’s blog post which discussed the significance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech occurring on the day before the Jewish holiday of Purim.  Purim is a celebration of when a brave woman named Esther risked not only disfavor, but death, when she decided to approach the king and make her requests known.  She did this in order to expose the murderous plan of Haman and ask for protection for the Jewish people that Haman planned to slaughter.

Here is the significant part of my previous post:

And, don’t miss Joel’s post about seeing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the Joint Session of Congress yesterday!!!

On eve of Purim, Netanyahu warns of rising Persian threat to Israel & the world and danger of making a bad deal with Tehran

Excerpt:

That was one for the ages.

In 25 years living in or near the nation’s capital, I have never actually been to a Joint Session of Congress. But if there was ever a speech I wanted to hear, it was this one.

I wish you could have been there with me. It was so fascinating — and so humbling — to be in the House Chamber as the Prime Minister of Israel arrived to thunderous and continuous applause.

As I listened to him speak, I felt I was witnessing history being made, as if Winston Churchill himself were personally warning us of the gathering storm.

On the eve of Purim, the Jewish holiday remembering the Biblical book of Esther and the Persian plot to annihilate the Jewish people 2,500 years ago, Prime Minister Netanyahu warned the world of a new Persian/Iranian threat to Israel and the world. He made it clear how dangerous this Iran deal is, and Iran’s repeated threats to annihilate Israel and the U.S., and why we need to work together to stop Iran, not help them get The Bomb. [To read the transcript of the speech, please click here]

It was electric in that chamber. One standing ovation after another. From Democrats and Republicans. Liberals and conservatives. Young and old. Rabbis and pastors. There was such a sense of unity and warmth and bipartisanship. It was so rare, and so refreshing — I’ve never experienced anything else like it in the political realm!  [To watch the video of the speech, please click here].

Read it all HERE.

Hat tip: Joel C. Rosenberg’s blog.

 

Today, I listened to a segment of Glenn Beck’s show on The Blaze website, and I thought that it was important for my Christian friends to read about what many in the press “will not talk about.”  There is also a complimentary audio clip at link below.

The Blaze.com: ‘Absolutely Brilliant’: Beck Says ‘No One Will Talk About’ This Element of Netanyahu’s Speech to Congress

Excerpt:

Glenn Beck on Friday weighed in on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent speech to Congress, saying “no one will talk about” the spiritual element of his remarks.

“This is really critically important, and I’m not surprised that nobody in the media picked this up,” Beck said. “This is something that we predicted, that I said in advance. I said he’s coming the week the Jews remember Esther. So everybody was focused on ‘Oh, he’s coming for the elections that are happening in two months.’ No, he’s not. He picked this week because this is the week that the Jews remember what happened to Esther.”

“If you don’t know the story of Esther, it’s really quite critical here,” Beck added. “Esther was a queen in Persia, and the king was somebody who was being misled by a guy named Haman. Haman was going to kill all the Jews, and the king was going to allow it to happen.”

Mordecai went to Esther and told her to speak to the king, even though those who approached the king without being summoned could be killed. Mordecai told Esther she was born for a time such as this, and added that there would be deliverance for the Jews, but the king’s people may not survive if he allowed the slaughter to occur. In Netanyahu’s speech, he referenced the book of Esther and said Jews today face the same threat from “yet another Persian potentate,” Iran.

“I think we are Esther, and he was saying clearly to the American people – that you were born [for times such as this],” Beck said. “He didn’t say this, but this is what he was implying: ‘You as a nation may not stand if you don’t side with the Jewish people today. God’s commandments will tell you that. If you side with the Jew, you will survive. If you don’t, you will not survive.’ So he was coming to us, without ever saying it, just in timing, saying: ‘You’ve got to stand up. We need America by our side. But more importantly, you need the Jewish people by your side.’”

“No one will talk about this. That is the key to this speech, because he was speaking to us in spiritual terms,” Beck concluded. “Wake up, America. You are going to lose your place in the world if you don’t stand with the Jewish people. You are Esther.’”

Perhaps the news media did not pick up on this important spiritual element within Netanyahu’s speech, but at least there are bloggers out their sharing this information!

Have you shared this vitally important observation and topic at your blog? Please post a comment and I will add a link to your post here!

Thank you and God bless!

~ Christine

*******

UPDATE!  I found another blog that discusses this topic and the author goes even further into biblical prophecy!

Oil For Your Lamp: PROPHECY IN THE HEADLINES: The Book of Esther; Netanyahu’s Speech; the 9/11 Harbinger; Saudi Arabia’s Support of Israel and Biblical/Islamic Prophecy

Excerpt:

This week, Saudi Arabia declared Obama to be one of the worst American Presidents — ever!  We should not ignore the importance of this.  It is not because Obama is working to weaken Israel.  Saudi Arabia shares that goal.  The significance is that Obama considers Iran an ally.  This means, even though he is working to undermine Israel, Obama is an enemy of Saudi Arabia.  But this is not readily apparent — unless you understand Islam and Islamic prophecy.  You see, Islamic prophecy says that Mecca will be destroyed right before the end times (this link is from an Islamic site and explains these prophecies).  Iran is seeking to destroy Saudi Arabia because the Shi’a Muslims in Iran consider the Sunni Muslims in Saudi Arabia to be apostate.  The Iranians also believe they can hasten the return of their Mahdi by destroying Mecca.  If I were you, I would watch for this to happen — not just because Islam is divided and at war with itself, but because this is exactly what the Bible foretells.

Much more at above link!

 

Hat tips:

Joel C. Rosenberg’s blog
The Blaze.com
Oil For Your Lamp

 

*******

How To Know God Personally [Click on link to discover the principles!]

What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Become a better person so that God will accept you?

You may be surprised that none of those things will work. But God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him.

The following principles will explain how you can personally begin a relationship with God, right now, through Jesus Christ…

Discussion Regarding the Term “Zionism.”

HT for graphic:  qunfuz.files.wordpress.com

The topic of Zionism regarding the Jewish State of  Israel,  the politics of Zionism, and the various views of Zionism in today’s world is a difficult and often complicated one.

Recently, a new subscriber here at Talk Wisdom has posted some comments (many were, quite frankly, bizarre) that required a lot of research on my part in order to understand where he (she) was coming from because there are many forms of, and explanations regarding the term “Zionism.”

In the comment section of my previous post, I tried to begin tackling this complicated subject.  The following is by no means an exhaustive review and/or  commentary on Zionism, but I have included links to the Virtual Jewish Library that explains all of the different forms of Zionism and what they mean (according to that author at that site).  I have decided to share some of my research in this new blog post, with the hope that those who may be confused (as I was!) regarding the many views and explanations on Zionism, would get a better idea of the differing types that can be researched.  I welcome comments on all sides of this issue, as long as they are amicable and I especially encourage comments that add to the knowledge of the subject matter.

~  Christine

*******

Copy of comment written by Christine in previous post:

 

To commenter “Edom’s Thorn”:

I appreciate your willingness to get into the discussions here at Talk Wisdom. However, your first two comments a while back were so bizarre that I deleted them. The comment that you recently wrote for this post was better, but as you said within your own words – more research needs to be done regarding your claims.

Here is a copy of your comment:

EDOM created ISLAM!

When you have put all of this together in these articles, this is the only thing that makes sense.
“Why don’t these scriptures fit the so called “Gods Chosen”?
“EDOM: The Story Of Jacob And Esau Is Not Just A Story”
“The SYNAGOGUE Of SATAN: EDOMS PLAYGROUND”
“GENOCIDE, INFESTATION, INFILTRATION: The Beginning”

Google and RESEARCH is needed!

EDOM created the “ILLUMINATI”….

EDOM CREATED the Catholic Church>>>>> WHERE there is a DESIRE, a “MAN” will discover the truth! But the “FOOL” will never understand! SEE PROVERBS 18:1-2

When I read some posts at your blog, I felt that you were putting down Israel and the Jews. We must remember that the Jews were God’s chosen people through which the Messiah of the world came – our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

Look, I can understand why you write some of what you do, but God hasn’t “changed His mind” about Israel or the Jews. Jesus was born as a Jew in the Incarnation! The first Christians (called “The Way” back in those early days) were Messianic Jews. There are many Jewish converts to Christianity today. One such leader is Rabbi K.A. Schneider who appears on a program entitled “The Jewish Jesus.” You can read about him here.

I understand that there are disputes about Zionism, both in this country and others. There is the political side of it (advanced by mostly secular Jews) and the spiritual (more important!) side of Zionism (where Christians and Jews can agree – yet disagree about whether or not Jesus (Yeshua) is the Messiah).

It would take too long to explain it all, but suffice it to say that Christians are called to support the Jewish State of Israel and not require them to give up any land to the now terrorist supporting Hamas-led Palestinian Authority. Such a view is biblically based, but rejected by a lot of the secular leftist liberal progressives in the U.S. as well as around the world. Even U.S. presidents and leaders fall into this error by using political maneuvers to try to get Israel to give up the land that was given to them by God (Yahweh), and miraculously returned to them after the horrors of the Holocaust in WWII.

Of course this brief comment doesn’t cover all that needs to be said, but I wanted to acknowledge you for your comments here.

It might be helpful for you to read about these two separate forms of Zionism and why Christians support the spiritual side:

Jewish Virtual Library: Christian Zionism

In the section called “radical” Messianic Zionism, we read:

A religious claim provided strong justification for those who wished to hold on to the occupied territories: If the State of Israel was viewed as the unfolding of a Messianic scenario, then the miraculous victory of the Six-Day War was an essential stage in that process. The territories belong to the Jewish people (i.e., the State of Israel) by Divine decree and they may not be handed over to foreign hands.

The issue of territories, viewed in an eschatological context, became the defining feature for broad segments of religious Zionism in the post-1967 era.

Of course, the Jews would be expecting the first coming of their Messiah, while Christians view the coming of the Messiah as the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Yeshua).

There is also a section called “American Zionism” that used to be what most presidents here agreed with in the past. But when BHO was elected (unfortunately) it has taken a turn towards more of a sympathetic desire to take “land for peace” from Israel for the Palestinians, rather than continue to recognize the sovereign Jewish State and all the land that was promised by God in the Bible. IMO, this change is because BHO is both Marxist and pro-Islamic in his beliefs. That is why he has been more like an enemy towards Israel rather than a close friend to Israel as all of our former presidents have been.

Admittedly, some presidents (like Clinton and G.W. Bush) also pushed the “land for peace” idea in order to try and politically solve the dilemma and stop the ongoing wars between the Israelis and Palestinians. But I believe that they did so in hopes of stopping the attacks on the Jewish state by the Muslim/Arab Palestinians and finally gain peace in the region. Unfortunately, even when former PLO leader Yasser Arafat was given all that he wanted in a peace agreement, it was rejected. Why? Because the PLO Charter still had the goal of eliminating the Jewish State and pushing the Israelis into the sea. Such a mindset is even more evident in the region now that it’s under the terrorist organization of Hamas! We can see why the peace of Jerusalem will remain unreachable until Jesus Christ returns.

The difference with BHO in the White House is the fact that he hates Netanyahu (who, thank God, was in place as Prime Minister for such a time as this!) and sides with the Muslim world in practically everything!

Recall what Obama wrote in one of his books:

In “Audacity of Hope” he writes: “I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.” The quote comes from page 261 of the paperback edition of “The Audacity of Hope.”

In the table of contents at the Jewish Virtual Library, we see a list of several named types of “Zionism.”

I still need to do more research regarding what you write about at your site. But some of the things you adhere to are not biblically based (IMHO) and might do damage towards what I am trying to accomplish here at this blog. Thanks, in advance, for understanding.

Christine
Talk Wisdom Administrator

P.S. For those who want to read what Proverbs 18:1-2 says, see the entire chapter HERE.

Hat tips to all links.

 

*******

Update at 8:50 a.m. PT on January 23, 2015.

 

WOW!  It took 8 pages of “images” research on the StartPage search engine to find one positive photo and position on Zionism!  There were 7 pages of images raging negatively against Zionism – labeling it as another form of “Nazism” and “racism.”!

Here’s the photo and caption:

HT for graphic:  4.bp.blogspot.com

 

Whew!  Found another positive one on page 9.

HT for graphic:  #Arab Hypocrisy

 

The link below is neat! The term “Zion” pictured in the Scriptures!

Biblical Zionism

Islam Rising – Wreaking Havoc, Evil, and Death!

Recently, I watched one of the most important television broadcast episodes of Jack Van Impe’s ministry that I have ever viewed!  I would like to encourage EVERYONE to view the program at the link below because it covers the recent horrific attacks on Jewish Rabbis in Jerusalem, as well as the error of so-called Christian “leaders” at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. where Muslims were allowed to put down their prayers rugs (IN THE CATHEDRAL!!) with their BACKS to the cross and/or any emblem of Christianity – while they faced Mecca.  My Bible believing Christian brothers and sisters – did you EVER IMAGINE that such a heretical and blasphemous act would be allowed to happen in a United States Christian church???

Here is the link to the episode:

The Gospel.com: Jack Van Impe Ministries Media player.

This ministry is one to view each week! The combination of today’s headlines and the application of the Bible and Bible prophecy is excellent – and will help you to understand and discern the signs of the times that we are experiencing today.

Here is their mission statement:

Our Mission Statement

To spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:3,4), the message of His soon return (Titus 2:13), and the truth of the Bible (II Timothy 3:16) to all peoples in all nations (Acts 1:8) using all available resources to bring Him honor and glory (Colossians 1:18).

Proverbs 3:6: In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths(KJV).

Statement of Faith:

Our Statement of Faith

We believe in the verbal inspiration of the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments; the Trinity of the Godhead; the creation of man by the direct act of God; the fall of man and his need for redemption; the Deity, Incarnation and Virgin Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; His vicarious atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of His blood on the cross; the resurrection of His body from the tomb; His ascension into heaven; His personal, imminent return; the Deity of the Holy Spirit; justification of the believer by grace through faith; a literal devil who is our adversary; a literal heaven for the redeemed and a literal hell for the lost; the infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture to be Scripture itself; and the requirement of implicit obedience to the expressed commands of Christ as the standard by which He will judge our love to Him.

Also see the complete article at the Detroit News website:

Detroit News – Nolan Finley: Cheers for synagogue killing can’t be forgotten.

Here is a copy of this brave writer’s article:

The acts were horrific enough: Four rabbis and a police officer hacked to death with meat axes while worshipping in a Jerusalem synagogue. It doesn’t get much more disgusting than that.

Until you see the photographs of Palestinians lining the streets, waving axes and gleefully cheering the slaughter. Even worse than the act was that reaction.

As poisoned as the killers must have been by mind-rotting hatred, those who stood and publicly praised such a grotesque spilling of blood are just as sickening.

It is their adulation of murderers that allows the murder to continue; their refusal to shun brutality that enables the brutal to act in their name.

Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, quickly and rightly denounced the attacks on behalf of those of his people who are sickened by the bloodshed, as a civilized mind demands them to be. But he also took the opportunity to demand Israel stop “invasions” of the Al Aqsa Mosque in the Old City, as if Israel was the provocateur.

Hamas, Abbas’ terrorist bedfellow, issued a statement in solidarity with the demons whose demonstrations sent the message, “Jews were chopped to pieces in a temple! Fabulous!”

You have to ask, what sort of evil drives such an outpouring of joy over the deaths of clerics at prayer? You should be asking, what sort of nation would support such a twisted people?

The United States, for one.

Our country, in direct violation of its own laws, continues to send dollars to the Palestinian Authority, even though Hamas is fully integrated into its leadership.

President Barack Obama condemned the killings as “horrific.” But he couldn’t let it rest there. As always, he lapsed into moral equivalency. Noting that too many Israelis and Palestinians have been killed in recent months, he called on “both sides” to cooperate in lowering tensions and rejecting violence.

To even suggest this act of rabid terror was an outgrowth of the political conflict and an answer to it can be found at the negotiating table is to be complicit in the crime itself. That sort of moral wobbling and outright naivete contributes to the endless killing.

This act was driven by a 100-proof strain of hatred poured into a vulnerable populace until they’re so drunk on it they’re capable of committing even the most barbaric act.

We can’t pretend that peace is possible until a cure is found for that disease. Israel knows the truth — as long as Hamas lives, its security is always at risk. Hamas doesn’t want an independent state; it wants the complete eradication of Jews in the Middle East.

That’s why Israel risked another war this spring with the intent of smashing Hamas once and for all. That intention was thwarted by the hand-wringing of Obama and other world leaders, who begged Israel to show restraint, to stop short of its goals.

On whose behalf were they intervening? Those same monsters who stood in the street and hoisted hatchets in celebration of the murders of religious men, butchered while communing with their God.

Next time Israel must go to war to stop Hamas’ random rocket attacks on innocent civilians, it should rent billboards throughout the world on which to post photographs of those axe-waving maniacs.

nfinley@detroitnews.com

Hat tips to all links.

For more information regarding the FACT that Muslims do NOT worship the same God as Christians, please see:

Why Muslims Don’t Worship the Same God as Christians.

Copy of that post, including the comments:

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Why Muslims Don’t Worship the Same God as Christians

While sharing comments at Sarah Palin’s Face Book page, I pointed out to a young man who had written that “Muslims, Jews, and Christians all worship the same God” that he is incorrect. I referred him to an essay I had written back in 2006 at my Talk Wisdom Discussion Forum. I thought that it might be a good idea to share it on this blog so that when you encounter people (even some Christians!) who state that “we all worship the same God,” you can be armed with the truth.

Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?

The short answer is no! The bottom line is this – Hal Lindsey does not believe that Muslims worship the same God as Christians and Jews and I agree with him and his reasoning on the subject.

However, I also realize that some Christians do differ on this issue. In fact, President Bush once stated (incorrectly, IMO) that Islam worships the same god as Christians and Jews. I disagree and I will share many reasons that will explain to you why this is not possible.

First, a summary:

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heavens glory and will return again, to earth, to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; John 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13.)

The Koran denies that Jesus is the Son of God although it describes the virgin birth in a passage similar to Luke 1:26-38 (Surah 3:45-47) (Note: Surah is in the Koran).

The Koran calls Jesus a prophet, equal to Abraham, Jonah and others, but places Him in rank far below Muhammad. Surah 4:171 says that “Jesus…was only a messenger of Allah…Far is it removed from His transcendent majesty that He should have a son.”

Muhammad totally ignored the claims that Jesus made about Himself. Jesus said, for example:

“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).
“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
“Before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58).

The Bible also states that God Himself called Jesus His Son (see Matthew 17:5).

Demons trembled as they recognized the Son of God (see Matthew 8:29).

Doubting Thomas acknowledge Him as “my Lord and my God” (John 20:28).

John identified Christ as the author of creation (John 1:1-5); so did Paul (Col. 1:15-17) who also said, “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Col. 2:9).

The only way to deal with this kind of evidence is to do what Muhammad did – simply ignore or deny it. Islam denies Jesus Christ’s Deity so they do not worship the same ‘god’ in their god of Allah.

Next, a response to someone who thinks Allah and Yahweh are one in the same.

In response to an individual who was attempting to equate Allah with Yahweh, I wrote the following response and included some comments from others who agree with my stance:

What Muslims believe:

“Christ, the son of Mary [note: not as the “son of God”], Was no more than A Messenger; many were Messengers that passed away Before him [here, equating Jesus with mere Messengers, or perhaps prophets, but certainly not the Son of God]. Sura 5:75, Abdullah Yusef Ali, 10th ed. reprint, 2001.

“The similitude of Jesus Before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust . . . “. Sura 3:59. A subsequent “created” man, like Adam. Not God.

What Christians believe:

However, “And the angel [being Gabriel, the same angel that allegedly dictated the “Holy Koran” to Muhammad] answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35, KJV).

The Scriptures refer to Christ as “the seed of the WOMAN,” knowing that no woman has any seed. The seed has to come from the male; Christ, as the Word incarnate (John 1:14), in an INCORRUPTIBLE SEED (1 Pet. 1:23) not like unto “corruptible MAN” (Rom. 1:23). Not like Adam, a created man who was not the son of God.

Thus, it comes down to a choice between these two disparate positions.

Either God showed up in the flesh, or he did not.

At this point in history, that makes you either believe God’s inspired Scriptures testifying of himself in the flesh, or Allah’s declaration that he did not visit in the flesh nor will he return once again.

The Koran indicates there WAS AND IS NO SON OF GOD in the flesh at any time. Muhammad thus cuts off the Isaac line through David to Jesus by God acting through Mary, and substitutes the illegitimate Ishmael to substitute himself for Jesus Christ as the New Testament “Comforter”.

Jesus would then have been the son of Joseph (a corruptible man, dead and buried without resurrection), and therefore could not be the Son of God.

What does that make Muhammad?

I realize that some readers will regard this as harsh. I am just sharing the truth of the matter.

We are warned about such non-scripture by Paul when God cursed Muhammad (and any angel with whom he was consorting) for preaching “another gospel” (Gal. 1:8-9).

Below, are more differences that I have gathered through other’s postings. (I will include first names or screen names only)

1. Muhammad sought earthly power and riches, including women from conquest. Jesus taught us that the Kingdom of Heaven is not of this world, and he gave up His life, via a gruesome Roman execution, so that we all might live again in the Kingdom of heaven, with all the angels and saints. And a final human act of murder and self-destruction will not gain one access to that Kingdom of Heaven, much less 72 dark-haired perpetual virgins. No, allah and God are quite different beings, with different requirements for believing in them. (contributed by John)

2. No Muslim believes that Jesus Christ in the trinity is one with God and God. Therefore they do not worship the same God. Allah does not reflect John 1:1 at all. Hence the reason one can not preach the teachings of Christ around Mecca. (contributed by Merle)

3. It is TOTALLY ILLOGICAL to say the god of Islam and God of the Jews and Christians are one and the same. Islamic scripture KORAN and Hadith is rife with Allah’s disdain and hate of the the Jews and Christians. It is IMPOSSIBLE for God to hate the people (Jews and Christians) He created. Therefore Allah of Islam and God are not the same. (contributed by Paul)

4. To base arguments on the superficial use of the word ‘God’ misses the mark entirely. Even cults use the word ‘God’. It is true that Judeo-Christian and Islamic beliefs have Abraham in common. From there though, Islam takes every Judeo-Christian belief and turns it upside down. (contributed by Terry)

5. Perhaps I can fill you in on some key points as to why I have trouble (with anyone who holds the opinion) that Allah is the same God of the Bible – God of Christians and Jews. First we need to be careful to resist our natural urge to claim common ground for the sake of unity and peace. Instead we need to look at historical facts and religious aims to see whether such commonality is possible. And we need to proceed LOGICALLY. The question we are asking is : Who is Allah? Here we are asking who Allah, the God of Islam is. We are asking who is the Allah god muslims worship to?

The Koran points out that Allah is the same as the God of Jews and Christians ( “the People of the Book”) And muslims claim their faith as “the faith of Abraham” in one Creator God. So the question is settled? Well, not so fast!

As well meaning religious people, we like to see unity and peace. And we like to establish commonality with our neighbors. However to answer this key question, we need to be more objective. So let’s clear up our mind and approach this question from the standpoint of a new muslim convert who is being introduced to Islam. What is the most important statement of Islam? It is the Shahada: That there is no deity but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet. This all important pledge states that Allah is the only God there is and Muhammad is his prophet. If you say this before two witnesses, you become a muslim. This all important claim of Islam DEFINES Allah.

Note that there are two parts to Shahada – “Allah is [the] only God that exist[s]” and “Muhammad is Allah’s prophet”. In other words, Shahada states “There is only Allah” but who is this god, Allah? “Allah is Muhammed’s God” because Muhammad is his spokesman (prophet).

So the fundamental axiom of Islam DEFINES who Allah is. Allah is the God Muhammad worshipped! And this is a point that ALL MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS, AND JEWS CAN AGREE ON.

Allah is the god Muhammad worshipped. This is how we should clarify who Allah is. This statement: “Allah is the God Muhammad worshipped daily” is a statement we all agree on.

Now we examine cold and hard historical facts. Was Muhammad ever a Jew? Nope. Was Muhammad ever a Christian? Nope. In fact, historians would agree that Muhammad was an Arab pagan who worshipped at Kaaba temple of Mecca. And he worshipped the supreme deity of Arab paganism – Allah of Mecca. We know that there is connection between the God of Christians and the God of Jews BECAUSE JESUS HAS BEEN A JEW AND SO WERE ALL EARLY CHRISTIANS. We can safely say that Christianity is a branch, if you will, out of Judaism because all early Christians were Jews and Christians accept Jewish Old Testaments VERBATUM.

By the same key criteria, we cannot say that Islam is a growth out of Judaism nor Christianity. Muhammad had never been a Jew nor a Christian and Muslims do not accept the Bible verbatum. Instead Islam AIMS TO REPLACE THE BIBLE WITH THE KORAN. Because they believe that the Bible is full of errors while the Koran is the perfect book from the Heaven.

So let us summarize the above point why Allah is not the same as the God of Christians and Jews.

a. “Allah is the God Muhammad worshipped.” If you want to talk Islam, you have to start from the Shahada. If you are unwilling to see the meaning of Shahada, we are talking at cross purpose. Shahada says that Allah is the God Muhammad worshipped and he is the only God there is. All other deities are idols to be denied and oppressed. (This is a point that all Muslims, Christians, and Jews can agree on. )

b. Muhammad was an Arab pagan who worshipped at Kaaba temple of Mecca. (This also is a point that all can agree on. ) He was and never had been a Christian nor a Jew.

c. Therefore, Allah is NOT the God of Christians and Jews. (contributed by Jay)

I am very politically aware of what is going on in the world today. In fact, here in America, as long as your god is just a word, the world has no problem with you. However, mention the name of Jesus Christ and they do have a problem. Why is that? Why is Jesus so offensive to those who do not believe in him?

Perhaps you already agree that we Muslims and Christians do not worship or serve the same God.

Christians believe in the Trinity (I John 5:7). God the father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).

“If you have seen me you have seen the Father” (John 14:9).

In non-theological words, Jesus is God revealed to us in the flesh. Muslims do not believe in the same god, that is the God of the New Testament Bible. Let’s just call it like it is. People must not try to trivialize our differences for the sake of peace.

When I was debating an individual about this topic, at the very beginning I had stated, “Since you are using a book – Koran – that I view as an improper addition to the Bible, anything I might say to rebut your allegations will probably not be accepted by you.

I do not say that the Koran is an improper addition to the Bible with a mean-spirited goal, it is just the truth as I see it being a born-again Christian. The Bible gives us a double warning in Revelation 22:18,19 not to add nor subtract from what is written, therefore, any book written after Revelation would be adding (and, in some cases subtracting, according to what is written in them) to God’s Word which we are told not to do according to these verses.”

With that said, I will share a few points regarding his dismay when I called Ishmael illegitimate.

I am currently in the middle of a Bible study on the book of Genesis. Here is a partial recap of chapter 16:

Here we find Sarai and Abram frustrated by the passing years without a son. So they devise their own strategy for “fulfilling” God’s promise–and reap the consequences. Read Genesis 16.1.

It has been ten years since Abram and Sarai entered Canaan. What action does Sarai how suggest (16:1-2)?

Suggested Abram sleep with her maidservant to build a family through her.

2. What do you think this indicates about their trust in God?

They doubted that His promise would be fulfilled without them stepping in and “helping it along” the way. Sarai influenced Abram to commit adultery. (Another point to recognize is the name changes of both Sarai and Abram to Sarah and Abraham before Isaac was born; but even more significantly this occurred after Ishmael was born. A name change in Scripture is quite significant in that it indicates a great change in the path of the person. We see this in the New Testament when Saul was renamed Paul after his encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus and thus his conversion from not only just Judaism, but from being a persecutor of Christians to becoming one of the greatest apostles for Christ!)

3. How can our impatience with God’s timetable lead us into unbelief and even disobedience?

It led to the sin of adultery in order to get the child they so desperately wanted. In fact, God did come through later with the conception and birth of Isaac.

7. Ishmael means “the God who hears.” What does that reveal about the outcome in 16:15-16?

The Lord heard the child and Hagar’s misery. Even though He told her the good news that He would increase her descendants so that they would be too numerous to count, He also told her the bad news; that Ishmael would be Gen 16:12- “And he will be a wild man; his hand [will be] against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

This is indicative of the hostility we have seen between Arabs and Jews throughout the centuries. We also see it in the radical fringe of Arab/Muslim terrorism going on around the world. (This is not to say that ALL Arabs/Muslims are terrorists because of course they all are not, but to point out that the hostility predicted in this Biblical account has come to fruition down through the generations and can be seen today as a result of this prophetic description of Ishmael in Genesis 16:12.)

I WILL REPEAT FOR ABSOLUTE CLARITY. I AM NOT SAYING THAT ALL MUSLIMS/ARABS ARE TERRORISTS!

In Chapter 17 we see that God’s one and only covenant is revealed through Isaac. I have already included the Bible verses in previous posts.

Lastly, at my Bible study this past Tuesday, we ran across the following verse that reveals an astonishing truth about which son God Himself recognized as Abraham’s “only son.”

In Genesis Chapter 22 verse 2 we read:

“Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

Of course, we know that God provided a substitute for Isaac at the last moment by providing a ram caught in in a thicket by its horns (verse 13). This was a foreshadowing of the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind at the cross.

But notice also that God said that Isaac was Abraham’s only son. Thus, we recognize Isaac’s line in succession to Jesus Christ, not Ishmael’s line of descendants.
__________________
Christine

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8

The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

*******

Update:

My Face Book friend, who happens to be a Christian biblical scholar from Australia – Bill Muehlenberg – has written two excellent essays on this topic. Please read them and be educated on this issue!

Culture Watch Blog: No, We Do Not Worship the Same God

Culture Watch Blog: What to Make of Allah

Posted by Christinewjc at 7:23 PM

Comments:

comments:

 

GMpilot said…

Christianity and Islam do have at least some things in common.Both believe in a despotic deity; both have been dealers in, and receivers of, persecution; both have a deep hatred of any social or political system that functions without (their) god; both wish to stop time and revert to an ‘ideal’ period that never was; both have no use for modern science unless it can be used to further their own beliefs. Above all, both religions are so unsure of themselves that their followers feel they have to make the world into their own image.

If an imam and a pastor were to find themselves stranded somewhere, they would soon discover they had much more in common with each other than with any of their assemblies. That would be even more evident if someone like me were there, too. One would gladly sit on my chest while the other (facing Mecca, no doubt) sliced my throat.
You may claim that Christians and Muslims don’t worship the same god, Christine, but both of them, as well as the Jews, all claim Abraham as the founder of their religion. Can’t deny the ancestors.
I say: a plague on both your houses.

July 23, 2010 at 12:10:00 AM PDT 

 

Christinewjc said…

It’s amazing to me, GM, that after all of these years you still display so little true knowledge about born-again Christians.Your opinions about “what both religions have in common” are just that – your opinions. However, you can’t just come here and wave away what was written about the differences. You are making the same mistake that Muhammad did –

“The only way to deal with this kind of evidence is to do what Muhammad did – simply ignore or deny it. Islam denies Jesus Christ’s Deity so they do not worship the same ‘god’ in their god of Allah.”

That’s a HUGE difference. Oh – and even you made a comment about another big difference:

“One would gladly sit on my chest while the other (facing Mecca, no doubt) sliced my throat.”

P.S. Where did I deny Abraham as the lineage used by Muslims for their religion? Did you not read the portions where this is explained in detail?

Also, like a rebellious child you would make yourself to be your own ‘god’ and claim a plague on Christians and Jews and Muslims. How tolerant of you! /sarcasm off

 GMpilot  said…

I didn’t come in to wave the differences away; I simply point out certain traits both religions share. Both the imam and the pastor would cooperate in destroying me—and my destruction is something their god has been known to demand. It doesn’t really matter who would cut my throat; but I know when a Muslim sacrifices an animal, he faces Mecca.What I said was “a plague on both your houses”, not “all your houses”. Earlier, I stated ”…both religions are so unsure of themselves that their followers feel they have to make the world into their own image.” Religion, especially Christianity/Islam, is always about which will have supremacy: ‘my god and my faith’ vs. that god and that faith. Since both claim descent from Abraham, some compromise should be possible; but because this is religion, it can never happen (at least, not without some ‘miracle’ that either side always speaks of).

I do not think ‘tolerant’ means what you think it means. You tolerate a head cold. You tolerate a neighbor’s barking dog. Christians (and Muslims) tolerated Jews in their communities…except for those times when they didn’t. That kind of ‘tolerance’ is a weak-kneed definition…and it’s the kind no one wants.

July 23, 2010 at 9:23:00 AM PDT 

Gary Baker said…

GM,?I’m never sure whether to attribute your comments to ignorance or unreasoning hatred, but either way they are just as full of crap. For example, every comment you made in your first paragraph can more properly be attributed to modern secular liberals. The major difference is that their despotic deity is either themselves or the state.

While imams have been known to execute people recently, I don’t think you would find anyplace where a majority or even significant percentage of Christians would utilize violence in that way. On the other hand, atheist regimes all through the twentieth century were remarkably practiced in using violence, starvation, threats, etc., as a method of ensuring conformity among the populace.

As much violence as has been attributed to God, it is the godless who excel far beyond the dreams of the most fervent inquisitor.

 Christinewjc  said…

Great response, Gary. Thank you for your efforts to try and get through GMpilot’s ideological blinders. Trouble is, he’s such a strong hater of the God of the Bible, it appears that his fate is sealed. He despises Christians (and Christianity in general), and thus hates Christ. Unless he decides to humble himself and repent, Im sorry to say that I believe that he will end up spending eternity spewing the same ole’ rhetoric.What a wasted life…

July 24, 2010 at 9:09:00 PM PDT 

GMpilot said…

You’re absolutely right, Christine. I shouldn’t hate the God of the Bible. I should instead mock him, hazardous though it is, ’cause tyrants can’t stand that.
Perhaps I shouldn’t even do that. Perhaps I should just ignore him.Trouble is, his fans (that’s you) won’t let me do that. They threaten me with everything from social ostracism to ominous warnings to death, both physical and metaphorical.
I don’t hate Christ; I’ve never even met the guy. But if I have to judge him by the words of his fans on this blog…I remain unconvinced. And unrepentant.I’m glad to see your champion has returned to do your talking for you.

July 26, 2010 at 9:44:00 AM PDT  

Gary Baker said…

GM,”Perhaps I should just ignore him.

Trouble is, his fans (that’s you) won’t let me do that. ”

Really? So someone or some people on this website are compelling you do something, anything, with regard to God? Considering we don’t even have the power to make you visit the blog, I think that claim as ludicrous as the rest of your comments. As for tyrants hating to be mocked, you should certainly know. Atheists are quite adept at putting them in power. Perhaps that’s the true reason why some many atheists are atheists – they simply prefer tyrants to those who offer mercy.

I’ve never claimed the role of champion of anything, though I do enjoy the ability to combat ignorance such as you and Kevin display on a regular basis. Perhaps if you could obtain someone to champion your cause, someone a bit less ignorant, the results you get might be more satisfactory.

Nahhhhh…..

July 26, 2010 at 9:16:00 PM PDT

Anticipation of the Kingdom

HT for graphic:  thegloriousbattle.com

In a previous blog post thread, GMPilot wrote a comment where he challenged God’s goodness and righteous judgment upon cities and people in the Old Testament.  His contention, “when god deals with his people, one hand holds the grace and the other hand holds the mace.”  He claimed that such cities were never given a chance to “choose life” because God had them exterminated.  GMPilot challenged me by writing, “You’re not going to sit there and deny that, are you?”

First, I will state that GMPilot’s purpose here at Talk Wisdom has always been to challenge the beliefs of Christians.  He even admits (in the comment exchange below) that he is not “seeking to be reached” with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Therefore, his challenges against God, Jesus Christ, and God’s Word, the Bible are only meant to purposely counter, disparage, and even ridicule (at times) Christian belief.  In doing this, he often shares his contempt for our God of the Bible.  I write this so that readers here will understand where such challenges are coming from and for what purpose GMPilot writes comments here at this blog.

In apologetics, it is always important to realize that the challenges presented by non-believers and the answers given by a Christian may end up never being satisfying to the inquirer.  Why?  Because when a non-believer starts out admitting that he/she is here for the purpose of challenging, and not for the purpose of being reached through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then he/she has already purposed within his/her own mind that he/she will not accept the answers regarding faith (and what is needed in order to be saved from our sins and reconciled back unto God) that are given by the Christian believer.

Scripture tells us exactly why such a mindset is so in non-believers (who aren’t seeking God)  in the “those who are perishing” verses. However, as Christians who are here to spread the Gospel, we are instructed to give an answer to those who are perishing.  Whether or not such answers are accepted are ultimately between God and the individual.

With that said, here is the comment exchange from the previous post:

gmpilot Says:
November 6, 2014 at 4:25 pm |

(Christine wrote:) Steve can certainly speak for himself here if he chooses to and I can’t really speak for him, but from what I have seen of his former comments to you, he has figured out that you aren’t here for the purpose of being reached.
(GMPilot wrote:) If you can remember that far back, please recall that I originally came to your forum because I believed that your premises were wrong, and I wanted you to know why I thought so. It wasn’t a question of ‘being reached’.
All I’m saying is that steve said he didn’t care one way or the other if I heeded his words. If he can’t be sincere about his religion, there’s no reason why I should be enthused about it.

(Christine wrote:) As I have mentioned many times before, it is always good and important to consider the verses before and after the quoted verse for greater context. Plus, if you read the verses along with theentire commentary>, you will gain a much better understanding that Isaiah was writing about An Invitation to Receive the Glory of the LORD’s Restoration.
(GMPilot wrote:)  I read and understood the passage in its context, and Guzik was not needed to tell me that. But the basic message is unchanged: when god deals with his people, one hand holds the grace and the other hand holds the mace. The cities and people I listed above were never given a chance to “choose life”; god had them exterminated. You’re not going to sit there and deny that, are you?

 

My reply:

christinewjc Says:
November 7, 2014 at 2:32 pm |

GM wrote:

If you can remember that far back, please recall that I originally came to your forum because I believed that your premises were wrong, and I wanted you to know why I thought so. It wasn’t a question of ‘being reached’.

C:  Therein lies the problem. Your purpose for being here is completely the opposite of my purpose(s) for writing this blog.

I think that you are wrong about Steve [not] “being sincere about his religion.” It is more about faith, rather than that broad term “religion.” Not every Christian chooses to participate in the work (nor, does every Christian have the gift) of apologetics. Many are here for other worthy purposes, and God gives severally [Note: see relatively – especially in word origin – “mid-15c., “relatively;” 1620s, “relatively to each singly,”] in such matters.

Speaking biblically, when Steve said what he did to you he was probably utilizing what Jesus said about shaking the dust off under your feet as a testimony against them.

YOU are the one who admitted to not WANTING to be reached. You are only here to challenge my beliefs and attempt to impose your own lack of belief upon me. Sorry – no can do! Christ and his promises to believers wins out with me now and throughout eternity.

GM wrote:

I read and understood the passage in its context, and Guzik was not needed to tell me that. But the basic message is unchanged: when god deals with his people, one hand holds the grace and the other hand holds the mace. The cities and people I listed above were never given a chance to “choose life”; god had them exterminated. You’re not going to sit there and deny that, are you?

C:  How do you know that those peoples were never given a chance to choose life? We would need to dig deep into historical documents in order to find the truth of the matter. However, we DO have other examples of peoples who refused to repent. Take the example of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham asked to spare the city if 50 persons could be found who were righteous. Then the request dwindled down to 40, then 30, then 20, then 10. As we know, the only righteous people found were in Lot’s family so they were warned to flee by the angels before the city and all of its wicked and sinful inhabitants were destroyed. Then, Lot’s wife looked back (ignoring the warning not to) and turned into a pillar of salt! Her longing for, and desire not to leave that city of sin showed what was truly in her heart – and she was far from God’s righteousness, holiness, mercy and forgiveness; precisely because she ignored the angels of God and their warnings and thus she refused to repent.

We all have a conscience. It is built within us to know right from wrong. When Adam and Eve sinned, they knew that they had chosen evil and death rather than the good and life that they enjoyed with God. Therefore, the plan of salvation was devised in order to save people from their sins and be reconciled back unto God through the coming Messiah – Jesus Christ. All of the Old Testament saints who believed in God the Father and looked forward to the coming of the Messiah were saved. Once Christ appeared, preached, suffered, and died on the cross; then was resurrected unto life and ascended into heaven to be at the right hand of the Father, people had no excuse for not believing in Him.

I will be doing a post soon (may take a while) where the connections between the Old Testament prophets who prophesied (about the coming Messiah Jesus Christ) and how it relates to the end times, the Jews, and the return of Christ – who is the King and the Jewish Messiah – who will usher in the Millennial Kingdom that will fulfill what God promised the Israelites of the Old Testament regarding their Messiah. What the Jews expected of their Messiah didn’t occur at Christ’s first coming here on this earth, but such prophecies WILL be fulfilled at His second coming. This is what connects Judaism to Christianity, even though the Jewish people of today {except Messianic Jews who accept Yeshua) reject the Lordship of Christ now, it will not forever be so in the end times, during the earthly Millennial kingdom, and ultimately in the eternal state.

Update 11/8/14 –

GM wrote:

So, god told the Israelites “I shall send my son to earth twice. The first time only the Gentiles will believe him, but the second time you will, and then my kingdom will be established.” That’s quite a statement—is there anything in the Jewish scriptures that supports it?

I suggested to him to come to this post and read it.  It helps answer GM’s latest question.

*******

As I have explained before at this blog, I am in the middle of reading and watching the episodes on television of Dr. David Jeremiah’s new book, “Agents of the Apocalypse.”

My reading finally caught up with the television presentations, and I am currently in chapter nine which is entitled, “The King.”

In regards to the Millennium, it may be considered  far to simplistic to say that the  Old Testament saints (Jewish believers in anticipation of the coming Messiah),  we as believers in Jesus Christ, as well as the Jewish evangelists and converts to Jesus during the Tribulation  “get a do-over” after our lives here in this fallen world.  But basically, that is what the Millennial Kingdom will be!  [Also see: Jesus is a Jew]

Dr. Jeremiah masterfully examines the writings of the prophets concerning the millennial kingdom, and twelve features command our attention. I will not be able to cover all twelve in this post, but I will share the first two.

I highly recommend that readers here GET THIS BOOK! It is one of the THE BEST books on Revelation that I have ever read; and I have read at least half a dozen.

Chapter 9 has impacted me tremendously! I have always wanted to have a resource that connects the many prophecies written in the Old Testament to the end times book of Revelation in the New Testament.

The first feature regarding the millennial kingdom that commands our attention include:

“The Anticipation of the Kingdom.”

I have set My king on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Psalm 2:6-9

Dr. Jeremiah writes:

The Old Testament prophetic books tell us a great deal about the millennial kingdom. In the book of Isaiah, entire chapters are devoted to the subject. Before Isaiah, David wrote these prophetic lines in Psalm 2, which describe God the Father gifting the Kingdom to His Son, Jesus Christ.

Some of the most vivid prophecies of the Kingdom age are found in the writings of Daniel. Chapter 2 records that he saw the whole course of the world’s future revealed in the dream of pagan king Nebuchadnezzar. This dream featured the gigantic statue of a man formed with layers of descending quality, from a golden head to feet of clay. Each layer represented a succeeding world empire. The vision culminated when “a tone [that] was cut out without hands” shattered the image (Daniel 2;34) and grew until it filled the earth.

Here is Daniel’s explanation of this vision: “In the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:44).

In a later vision, Daniel saw the King coming to take His Kingdom: “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).

One of the most famous prophecies regarding the coming of the King is found in the book of Isaiah: “Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever” (9:6-7).

In the book of Revelation, the seventh trumpet sounds, and the message that accompanies it makes a bold statement about Christ’s Kingdom:  “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (11:15).

“The Coronation of the King”

Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.  And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron…And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:  KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:15-16

In this passage, John tells us how the King will arrive and begin His reign.  He will come as a conqueror, taking back His world.  As the Old Testament prophecies indicate, there is a close connection between our Lord’s victory at the Battle of Armageddon and His reign as King over all the earth:  “The LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle….And the LORD shall be King over all the earth.  In that day it shall be–“The LORD is one,’ and His name one” (Zechariah 14:3,9).  Christ must rid the earth of its evil usurper before He can establish His reign.

In the Millennium, Satan will no longer be the prince of the world.  His era will end, and Christ will initiate His eternal reign of righteousness, joy, prosperity, and peace.  His glory will shine forth and bathe the universe with righteousness.

This is the same message Gabriel announced to Mary.  He told her that one day her son Jesus would serve as the supreme Ruler of the world:  “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:32-33).

Alva McClain, the founder of Grace Theological Seminary, describes Christ’s Kingship this way:

The age to come, as [Jesus] like to call it, will be ushered in by the exercise of His immediate power and authority.  He has all power now; He will take this power and use it to the full when He returns.  The age-long silence of God, the taunt of unbelief, will be broken by the transition and resurrection of the church, by the unloosing of judgment long withheld; by the visible and personal presence of the Mediatorial King, and by the complete establishment of His Kingdom on earth for a period specified by our Lord as “1,000 years.”…During this period, every aspect of the Kingdom as set forth in Old Testament prophecy will be realized upon earth, truly the golden age of the world.  Children will be born, life will go on, and men will work and play, but under ideal conditions.5

[5 Source:  From unpublished notes by Alva J. McClain, Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana.]

There is SO MUCH MORE to share!  In future posts my goal is to share the other ten features that command our attention:

1.  The Incarceration of Satan

2.  The Administration of David

3.  The Participation of the Saints

4.  The Elimination of War

5.  The Realization of Prosperity

6.  The Integration of Holiness

7.  The Prolongation of Life

8.  The Celebration of Joy

9.  The Centralization of Worship

10. The Continuation of the Kingdom

 

The song “Joy to the World” is generally played and sung at Christmastime.  Well, the first stanza can be applied to Christ being born in Bethlehem, but did you know that the remaining stanzas actually describe the Second Coming of Christ and how life will be in the Millennium?

Pay close attention to the lyrics!

Joy to the World

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Hat tip: Agents of the Apocalypse by Dr. David Jeremiah