Any Day Now Blog

CHAPTER 3

The Mid Times

A.D. stands for Anno Domini (in the year of our Lord – Latin) and not After Death. You may read Jesus died at 33.5 years or 34.5 years. The reason for this is whether you count 0 to 1 as a year or not. Years of life is also controversial. The date seems irrelevant and no-one knows for sure because the year was never written down. 30 years is also used. There is great disagreement among historians regarding the date of crucifixion. Even Christmas is off, as far as the first one is concerned. Based on some Gospel verses concerning the shepherds and sheep with grass to eat, March would be a good correlation. The date of December 25th was set by Rome and simply replaced a nasty sexual holiday celebration of the time.

Although many writers feel Jesus the Christ God lived for 33.5 years, there is a belief in the Jewish community that J’shua (Jesus) lived for 30 years from Passover to Passover. This is based on J’shua’s Bar Mitzvah, which is written about in Lu 2:42 “When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. (Note – the Feast would have been the Passover and although the age of thirteen would have been the time for the Bar Mitzvah, it is entirely possible J’shua’s was a little early.)

“43 After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.

44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.

45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.

46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.”

So J’shua may have been 13 years old at the time).

Sometimes you will see a book with BCE being used (Before Common Era) and CE is used instead of AD. CE stands for Common Era.

Jesus the Christ was baptized in the Holy Spirit at the river Jordan after His water baptism, one supposes water baptism necessary because of being born of a human woman who had sin in her previous generations, (i.e. Baptism follows Repentance and Jesus didn’t have anything to repent about, -but He said to John the Baptist He was there “to fulfill all righteousness”).

John the Baptist saw The Holy Spirit come upon Jesus the Christ in the form of a dove. Because He then was “filled” with The Holy Spirit of God, He became a major threat to Satan, the near third of the angels and “demons”, (you know, the kind Jesus kicked out of people, one’s that made them sick, or deaf and dumb ones). So Satan really went after Jesus when He was in the desert, tired and very, very hungry after 40 days.

The reader must note that Satan did not lead Jesus out there. The Bible is clear on that point. Holy Spirit God led Him out there. Satan quoted a lot of Deuteronomy to tempt Jesus. This is interesting in that it shows Jesus was fulfilling the commands of the Father God to His chosen people, which His chosen people were not able to do for forty years in the wilderness. Jesus used Deuteronomy right back to Lucifer only in the correct perspective.

Prophecy Fulfilled by Jesus the Christ

In addition, Jesus fulfilled a multiplicity of prophecies dating back to Genesis. There are hundreds of prophecy sites on the Internet dealing with past and current prophecies. The following was a download from the Internet, http://www.godonthe.net/evidence/messiah.htm. The scripture is clearly listed:

“What is a prophecy?” A prophecy is the future told in advance by God through a prophet. Isaiah 48:2-5 [3] I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. [4] For I knew how stubborn you were; the sinews of your neck were iron, your forehead was bronze. [5] Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say, `My idols did them; my wooden image and metal god ordained them.’

PROPHECY FULFILLED: “Isn’t ‘fulfilled prophecy’ just a guess or luck or coincidence?”

2 Peter 1:19-21 [19] And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. [20] Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. [21] For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

“Does the Old Testament contain any prophecies about the Messiah?”

http://www.nowfaith.tv/jesus_425_prophecies.html. All of the following prophecies can be found on this site.

“Yes! The Old Testament contains about FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE prophecies about the Messiah. Here is a small sample (in roughly chronological order):

GOD WOULD COME TO EARTH – BE BORN AS A HUMAN MALE

Isaiah 9:6-7 [6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [7] Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. … 700 B.C.

Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

John 1:1-3, 14 [1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was with God in the beginning. [3] Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. [14] The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

BORN OF A VIRGIN

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 700 B.C.

Matthew 1:20-23 [20] But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. [21] She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” [22] All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: [23] “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” –which means, “God with us.”

FROM THE HOUSE OF JUDAH

Isaiah 37:31 Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. 700 B.C.

Matthew 1:1-2, 16 [1] A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son [descendant] of David, the son of Abraham: [2] Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, [16] and [a later] Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

FROM THE ROOT AND STUMP OF JESSE

Isaiah 11:10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. 700 B.C.

Isaiah 11:1-5 [1] A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. [2] The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him– the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD– [3] and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; [4] but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. [5] Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. 700 B.C.

Romans 15:12 And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.”

Matthew 1:1-2a, 5-6, 16 [1] A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: [2] Abraham was the father of Isaac, … [5] … Obed the father of Jesse, [6] and Jesse the father of King David. [16] and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

FROM THE HOUSE OF DAVID

Isaiah 16:5 In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it–one from the house of David–one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness. 700 B.C.

Matthew 1:1-2A, 6, 16 [1] A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: [2] Abraham was the father of Isaac, … [6] and Jesse the father of King David. [16] and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

BORN IN BETHLEHEM EPHRATHAH

Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. 700 B.C.

Matthew 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem

Over the years there have been a number of “Bethlehem’s” in Israel. At the time of Jesus’ birth, Bethlehem Ephrathah, referred to in Matthew as “Bethlehem in Judea”, was a village about five miles south of Jerusalem, and there also was a town named Bethlehem about seven miles northwest of Nazareth. (Per footnote Matthew 2:1 of the Zondervan NIV Study Bible, 10th Anniversary Edition, (c) 1995)

BE FROM NAZARETH OF GALILEE

Isaiah 9:1-2 [1] Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan — [2] The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. 700 B.C.

Matthew 2:22-23 [22] But when he heard that Archelaus (Antipas) was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, [23] and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Matthew 4:13-16 [13] Leaving Nazareth, he [Jesus] went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali– [14] to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: [15] “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles — [16] the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

HIS BIRTH WOULD TRIGGER A MASSACRE OF INFANT BOYS

Jeremiah 31:15 This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more.” 625 B.C.

Matthew 2:16-18 [16] When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. [17] Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: [18] “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

(An interesting side note: most people think that Herod killed thousands of babies. However, Bethlehem was “in the boondocks.” The chances are that less than thirty babies were killed. Still horrendous.)

COME OUT OF EGYPT

Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

Matthew 2:14-15 [14] So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, [15] where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

MISSION WOULD INCLUDE THE GENTILES

Isaiah 49:6 He [the Lord] says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” 700 B.C.

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6 [1] “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. [2] He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. [3] A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; [4] he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.” [6] “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 700 B.C.

Matthew 12:14-21 [14] But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. [15] Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, [16] warning them not to tell who he was. [17] This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: [18] “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. [19] He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. [20] A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. [21] In his name the nations will put their hope.”

Note that in Biblical usage the Gentiles are often referred to as “the nations.”

MINISTRY WOULD INCLUDE MIRACULOUS HEALINGS

Isaiah 29:18 In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. 700 B.C.

Isaiah 35:5-6a [5] Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. [6a] Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. 700 B.C.

Luke 7:20-22 [20] When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, `Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’ “ [21] At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. [22] So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”

MINISTRY WOULD DELIVER SPIRITUAL CAPTIVES

Isaiah 61:1-2 [1] The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, [2] to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 700 B.C.

Luke 4:16-21 [16] He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. [17] The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: [18] “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, [19] to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” [20] Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, [21] and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Not too shabby, considering it was His first sermon!

DESPISED AND REJECTED BY MEN

Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 700 B.C.

The Crucifixion narratives in all four Gospels show this prophecy fulfilled.

HATED WITHOUT CAUSE

Psalm 69:4 Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal. 1000 B.C.

Isaiah 49:7 This is what the LORD says– the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel– to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: “Kings will see you and rise up, princes will see and bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” 700 B.C.

John 7:48-49 “Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? [49] No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law–there is a curse on them.”

John 15:24-25 [24] If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. [25] But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: `They hated me without reason.’

REJECTED BY RULERS

Psalm 118:22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone [cornerstone of a building]; [23] the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. before 400 B.C.

Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:” `The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’ ?

John 7:48-49 Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? [49] No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law–there is a curse on them.

REJECTED BY HIS OWN BROTHERS

Psalms 69:8 I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother’s sons 1000 B.C.

(Mark 3:20-21 [20] Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. [21] When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

John 7:1-5 [1] After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. [2] But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, [3] Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. [4] No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” [5] For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

BETRAYED FOR 30 PIECES OF SILVER

Zechariah 11:12 I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. 500 B.C.

Matthew 26:14-15 [14] Then one of the Twelve–the one called Judas Iscariot–went to the chief priests [15] and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.

SILVER RETURNED

SILVER USED TO BUY POTTER’S FIELD

Zechariah 11:12-13 [12] I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. [13] And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”–the handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD to the potter. 500 B.C.

Matthew 27:3-10 [3] When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. [4] “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” [5] So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. [6] The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” [7] So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. [8] That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. [9] Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, [10] and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

DISCIPLES WOULD SCATTER

Zechariah 13:7 “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!” declares the LORD Almighty. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.” 500 B.C.

Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’”

ENDING OF SAMPLING OF PROPHECIES CONCERNING BIRTH OF JESUS THE CHRIST GOD (See reference Web address above and here http://www.nowfaith.tv/jesus_425_prophecies.html:).

Multiple references of the prophecies announcing Jesus The Christ are available, however, “Isaiah 53 Explained” by Mitch Glaser, (a Jew) published in 2010 by Chosen People Productions seems very well written. In addition Sid Roth’s book, “They Thought for Themselves” (available at Sid Roth’s Web site http://sidroth.org/:) consists of Jews who found Jeshua as the Messiah, as did thirteen Rabbi’s in “Rabbi’s who found the Messiah” published in November 2004 by Good News for Israel. http://www.messianicjewish.net/store/products.php?pid=1332&detail=true

Odds of Prophecy Fulfilled by Jesus the Christ

Viking and Green Bay Packers

To pick the Vikings is one chance in two.

But what will the final score be? Assuming the score is between 1 and 50,

And say the Vikings will have 42 points – the odds are 1 in fifty.

To say that Green Bay would have 42 points is also 1 in fifty odds.

The formula possibilities are 2 X 50 X 50 which equals 5000 possible score totals. So there is one chance in 5000 that we can correctly predict the precise final score.

There was a periodical called “The Shattered Crystal Ball”, which was published over a 3 year period from 1976 -1979- regarding published predictions.

98% of all predictions were totally incorrect. Only 2% of predictions were fulfilled. Some predictors were terrible. Some “psychics” were wrong 100% of the time.

The prophecies about the Messiah and the Laws of Probability are as follows:

One chance in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000 to the first power

Or

One chance in 10 billion times a billion.

http://www.amazon.com/Armageddon-Appointment-Grant-R-Jeffrey/dp/0921714408

Source: Is an ‘Appeal to Heaven’ America’s Greatest Hope?

When Florida minister Rick Curry told Dutch Sheets about a dream involving the “Appeal to Heaven” flag, Sheets had no idea America’s first flag would soon be flying atop state capitols and even the Himalayas. “In the dream, I unfolded the ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flag, waved it over seven generations of Americans … and referenced the harvest that I believe is coming,” Sheets says.

At a time when everything that can be shaken is being shaken, the “Appeal to Heaven” flag has become a symbol of the growing recognition that America’s greatest hope is divine intervention. As detailed in this month’s cover story, the tale behind the flag dates to the Revolutionary War when George Washington’s “secret navy” flew it to signal that the only hope to defeat the British was to request divine assistance. The white flag with an evergreen tree and the words “Appeal to Heaven” preceded both the stars-and-stripes one that Betsy Ross sewed together in 1776 and the yellow-and-black “Don’t Tread on Me” flag. “Many believe Washington used the evergreen tree as a sign of our covenant with God,” says Sheets, founder of Dutch Sheets Ministries. “In Genesis 21:33, Abraham planted an evergreen tree, a tamarisk tree, when he called God the ‘everlasting God.’ It was a way of saying, ‘I will forever honor this covenant with the everlasting God.’ ”

Now, during this critical hour when many believe America is under God’s progressive judgment, the flag is inexplicably appearing across the land as more people are awakening to the realization that the country must return to its biblical roots or face calamity. “It’s everywhere now,” Sheets says. “The flag is flown over state capitols. I just got a call this week about state legislators wearing the ‘Appeal to Heaven’ pin. It’s flown on the highest point anybody can get to—the Himalayas. … I have pictures of about 10 governors holding it.”

Amid a seemingly nonstop series of crises in recent years—the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, catastrophic natural disasters, ballooning levels of debt and growing fears of World War III—many are asking whether the world is now in the run-up to the end time events predicted in Scripture. A recent Barna Group poll found 4 in 10 Americans—and 77 percent of evangelicals—believe the “world is now living in the biblical end times.”

This growing sense that history could be wrapping up comes amid a convergence of a rare set of four blood moons and the biblical Shemitah. At a recent Prophecy in the News conference, Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, author of the New York Times best-selling books The Harbinger and The Mystery of the Shemitah, warned that the end of the seven-year biblical cycle known as the Shemitah in September—and the “Super-Shemitah” in 2015-16—could bring economic collapse or war in the Middle East.

“America’s apostasy from God has quickened,” Cahn told the crowd of 1,000. “It’s as if there is an unraveling in the world. … (The harbingers) have progressed and the sequence is that the nation is being warned that if it doesn’t turn back to God … then the shakings will continue until the nation either comes back to God in revival or in total judgment.” This is why we decided to feature an image of the Statue of Liberty—draped with an “Appeal to Heaven” flag—on the cover. The statue is our nation’s symbol of freedom and hope, yet America is in dire straits and a political savior won’t save us now—only a divine Savior can.

Despite the ominous portents, I’m greatly encouraged by the growing “Appeal to Heaven” movement. After its long slumber, the church and nation is beginning to awaken. In 2012, famed evangelist Billy Graham wrote a letter to “America and its deceived people.” In it, he compared the United States to ancient Nineveh. When the prophet Jonah proclaimed God’s warning, the people of Nineveh repented and escaped judgment. Graham believes the same thing can happen in America.

As you’ll read in this issue, there are initial signs this is beginning. Our news editor Jennifer LeClaire believes this could result in the “prophesied great awakening.”

“Can you see that God is sending prophetic voices to warn America—even our very government and president?” LeClaire wrote in The Next Great Move of God. “We need another great awakening. We need to make an appeal to heaven. The good news is that God wants to bring another spiritual awakening to America. He’s just waiting for us to get in line with His Spirit.”

---

Troy Anderson is the executive editor of Charisma. Follow him on Twitter@TroyMAnderson or Facebook (troyandersonwriter).

If you liked this article, subscribe to the print magazine to get more like this.

 

The Holy Bible

David Stern in his introduction to The Compete Jewish Bible – NIV Bible says this, “The Basic Problem: God’s Name Is Never Spoken”, The Name (according to Stern) given Moses consisted of four Hebrew letters: Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh.”

The Hebrew word was elicited as YHVH. or translated to Greek/Latin and then English, Yahweh – vowels added since Hebrew language does not use vowels. From this came Jehovah. http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Jewish-Bible-Side—Side/.

In addition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetragrammaton

It was a sin punishable by instant death to “take the name of the Lord in vain” as per above Commandment, so rather than die quickly, all Hebrews including the hierarchy and religious hierarchy used the name Adonai. If YHVH was used in a “religious reading”, then Elohim was used with Adonai, resulting in Adonai/Elohim.

“Lord” or God was acceptable to Gentiles and has been used ever since. The English translation “God” is never used in a Hebrew synagogue or Messianic worship setting. Even in writing God would be spelled G-d.

Eventually, and even before the time of Jesus of Nazareth, (Yahshua ben Joseph), Jesus The Christ or The Son of G-d, the Name of G-d was never spoken. However, since this writer is a Gentile, God will be spelled simply as God, although Adonai and Elohim will also be used. (Note: Yah Shuah in Hebrew would equal God Saves in English. http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Shuah.html and “ben” Hebrew for “of”.

David Stern (a Messianic Jew) placed the writings of the First Covenant/Tanakh on the left side and the New International Version on the right of each page in a publication entitled “The Complete Jewish Bible – New International Version”. This was published by Hendrickson Publishing in 2011. It is available just about everywhere. This does not means David Stern is a “convert” to “Christianity”. He simply believes Jeshua is the Messiah, who came first as the perfect final sacrifice for the earth and all mankind, and will come again as Judge and Ruler of all.

David Stern said that in order to avoid any confusion, he labeled the Old Testament as Old Testament and the New Testament as B’rit Hadasha, which cannot be translated from Hebrew into anything but New Covenant. B’rit is Hebrew for Covenant and Hadasha is “New”. (Hebrew being read from right to left.)

It is understood in the Orthodox Jewish community, and those who follow the Three-in-One God communities, that Elohim via His Holy Spirit impels His people to write what He wishes. It is said He “inspires” the writings.

Gentiles (Hebrew: Goy-singular, Goyim=Plural) call what Jews call the First Covenant, (Tanakh), The Old Testament. It was, of course, originally written mostly in Hebrew. The combined Old Testament (Hebrew -First Covenant or Tanakh) and New Testament (Hebrew – Second Covenant), is thought by many to be the Creator’s primary book of instructions for everyone.

Currently Available Bibles

I prefer to use the New International Version of the Holy Bible found on the CD provided at an extremely low price from: Power Bibles . Copyright 2006 by Online Publishing, Inc. 128 E Chicago St, PO Box 21, Bronson, MI 49028. http://powerbible.com/. The Power Bible CD-ROM includes 22 Bible translations, over 10 Bible dictionaries, over 10 topical references, over 20 commentaries, and over 700,000 cross-references, all for only $7.00, including postage! The NIV was available to be “unlocked” for a few more dollars.

Free Bibles can also be downloaded online.

Most Bibles, however, are anti-Semitic and do not make the Jewishness of the First and Second Covenant prominent. An example would be of early “Christians” going to the “church”. There were no churches! There were only synagogues.

There is also considerable conflict regarding who wrote which Gospel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Luke, but Gentile awareness must be expanded to understand what is called “The Holy Bible” has no Gentile authors in it. Luke, however, is a Greek name and some historians call him a proselyte: http://bibleresources.americanbible.org/node/1504

Gentiles and Jews

Messianic Jewish Bibles are essential in order for Gentiles to understand the fullness of what is being described. Gentiles are “grafted on” to the Olive Tree (which represents Israel) as described in Romans 11 and seems intended to induce a “reverent fear” into Gentiles. The Jew Paul (formerly called Saul) is speaking, “inspired” by Holy Spirit God:

“Ro 11:13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry

14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.

15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

16 If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,

18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.

19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”

20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.

21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

27 And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,

29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,

31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.

32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”

35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

The Holy Bible – Is it Real?

David Stern (noted above) in his introduction to The Complete Jewish Bible has four paragraphs devoted to whether the Holy Bible is the Word of God or not. The headings are as follows: “The Bible Claims to be God’s Word, The Bible Seems to be God’s Word, The Bible proves to be God’s Word–(historical and archeological evidence is mentioned) and Why it makes a difference that God “wrote the Bible”.

Initially David Stern hoped to scan in various texts. but found difficulty in doing so due to mistakes occurring from a mixture of Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic and English. Eventually, it appears, he ended up completely typing in each word, and searching many sources, before completion.

The Holy Bible has been taken apart word for word, banned, burned, forbidden, and generally discouraged by society including the “Church”. Space precludes a rehashing of thousands of book, articles, and other writings concerning its validity. The book referred to as the Old Testament by Gentiles was divided by the Jews into: The Law (Torah), History, Poetry or Writings, Major Prophets, Minor Prophets.

We as humans tend to look only at humanity in regard to Redemption. The Word states Jesus died for the entire Earth. That means He died for animals too (and we know Elohim loved animals) since He created them and then told Adam to name each one. This also means He died for trees, grass, water, and you name it – whatever He created. Does that mean Jesus the Christ was present during the Creation of the world? This is reiteration, but the answer is Yes. (See John 1:1) and Col 1:16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

Col 1:20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Re 5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!”

The Irrelevance of Skin Pigmentation

Jesus, the Christ, born of a Virgin Jew, died to “Redeem the Earth”. Irrespective of the fact that He took part in the creation of mankind, He could not do that unless He was a “kinsman-redeemer” -See Ruth 4.

“Ru 4:1 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat there. When the kinsman-redeemer he had mentioned came along, Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.”

Being a “Kinsman-Redeemer” is a portion of the Law given in the Torah. Now it is absolutely true that Jesus’ earthly mother was of the tribe of Judah, (which is possibly where the word “Jew” comes from but we must also keep in mind the Roman control at the time and the fact the area involved was called Judea, best explained on page 67 of “Killing Jesus” (http://www.amazon.com/Killing-Jesus-Bill-OReilly/.) Also of the tribe of Judah were Boaz, Jesse, David and so on – see Matthew, Chap 1 for a complete genealogy. It is irrelevant that Ruth was a Moabitess and therefore had increased pigmentation, now called black. It is however amazing how many black prejudiced Southern U.S. brides use the words of Ruth to her mother-in-law to put on their bridal publications–”I will go where you go, etc.—–”. Increased pigmentation, as in more dark than white, was not considered relevant at that time. It would appear this distinction came about in America with the advent of slavery.

Randy Alcorn goes into greater detail in his book called Dominion, (1996 – by Eternal Perspective Ministries, http://www.amazon.com/Dominion-Ollie-Chandler-Book-2 published by Multnomah Books) in stating the following:

“Ephraim and Manasseh are two of the twelve tribes of Israel. According to Genesis 41, they were the sons of Joseph and an Ethiopian woman. They were 50% black. The fathers of two tribes of Israel were black.

Jethro was a Midianite from Southern Arabia, which was occupied by Ethiopians. He was the father of Zipporah, wife of Moses, who was a Cushite, an Ethiopian – as stated in Numbers 12. Jethro’s family were believers, proselytes to the Jewish faith. Moses married this black woman, and when his sister Marian grumbles about this interracial marriage, God give her leprosy apparently to teach her a lesson.

King David: His great-grandmother was Rahab, A Canaanite, from the line of Ham, thought to be the father of the black race. David’s grandmother was Ruth, a Moabite, another Canaanite tribe. By American standards, anyone, with black blood is considered black. So David easily had enough black blood that if he lived in America today, he’d be called black.

Solomon was David’s son by a Hamitic woman named Bathsheba, whose name means “daughter of Sheba”, an African.

Zephaniah the prophet was a descendant of ‘Cush’, a black man.”

“In the messianic line of Jesus in the legal genealogy through Joseph – four women are mentioned, – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. All four of these were descendants of Ham, the historically called black line of humanity. Jesus’ mother Mary was also a descendant of Tamar, Rahab and Ruth. There may have been other Hamitic blood in Jesus too, but as far as we know, there was no Japhetic blood – no white blood.”

“Looking at Eden. The biblical text mentions Eden in the east, with a river that broke into four other rivers. First, the Gihon and the Pishon. These were African rivers. The Pishon is said to wind through the land of Havilah, which the historian Pliny said was in East Africa. The Gihon is said to wind through the entire land of Cush, or Ethiopia. Then the Tigris and the Euphrates in Mesopotamia. So, we have four rivers in relation to Eden – to African, and to Mesopotamia. That’s southern Mesopotamia or northern Africa.” Historically, the one was inhabited primarily by dark brown-skinned people, the other blacks.

Hispanics are considered Caucasian! A national newspaper, (the New York Times) in the year 2012 reported that a Hispanic who killed a black was a “white Hispanic”. How odd.

Bible Translations

Jesus of Nazareth never said the words: Thee, Thou, Verily”

And He didn’t lisp either. So he never said “ith”.

These words are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible, which was one of the first English translations. Jesus spoke a language called Aramaic, which is referred to by some as ancient Hebrew and others as an “older” form of Hebrew but was a language much in use during the time Jesus literally lived here on earth, and seems to have come in during the Babylonian and Medo-Persian captivity of the Jews. People of that historical period were multi-lingual and spoke several languages. Jesus also spoke Hebrew and Greek.

The Aramaic language has now nearly died out – fairly recently as noted in the secular newspapers.

The individual who translated the Bible to English, (the King James Bible) was tortured and then burnt alive at the stake for his efforts. His name was Tyndale. He was considered a Reformer, had helpers, and actually didn’t quite finish the translation. Tyndale used the “Polyglot Bible” which had the Old Testament in Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin, and the New Testament in Latin and Greek. There is now a publishing group called Tyndale Publishing, which puts out the Living Bible or now the New Living Bible, as well as many other publications, such the “Left Behind” series.

Most of the Old Testament was written first in Hebrew as noted above, and most of the New Testament was written in Greek/Aramaic/Hebrew. The Jewish and Greek people translated the Old Testament to Greek in about 250 B.C. They named it The Septuagint.

The Old Testament Hebrew/Aramaic came to the point of transcription by many ways. It must be understood by all that some of the writings currently in print, were at some time passed down orally. The words were memorized. People were trained simply to memorize. Those who could memorize well went on to memorize more. Others, who had difficulty, were no longer used. This was taken very seriously.

The Bible was translated into Latin which is called “Old Latin”. St. Jerome translated the Old Testament from the Hebrew and the New Testament from Greek and it was called “the Latin Vulgate”. This was the Bible for the “Church” until the Reformation time. John Wycliffe translated the first English version of the Bible, from the Latin Vulgate – so this was a translation “from a translation” and not from Hebrew or Greek because John Wycliffe did not know Hebrew or Greek.

Following the invention of the printing press, many versions were put out. Americans need to understand that all languages were included, – not just English. The version Martin Luther used was, of course, German, since Martin Luther was German.

As a child, this writer had one choice, the King James Version. This was followed by the Revised Standard, the Amplified, the Good News and many others, including the NIV, representing the New International Version, which is supposedly “Nearly Infallible”.

Although non-inclusive of the Jewishness of Scripture, there is a “Read through the Bible in One Year, NLT edition”, which is a good one for morning reading, especially if you are not a morning person, because you really don’t have to think, since it is in the language of today. However, in regard to the Gifts of Healings in 1st Cor. 12, it misses the plurality of this Gift of the Holy Spirit and lists it in the singular – Gift of Healing. When there is a double plural in the original Greek, we can assume the plurality is very important. What this means is that Holy Spirit God has gifted some people to act in the Gifts of Healings in certain areas easier than in others. Not that all healings are not Miracles, but some people are better praying for certain healings than others. The prayer always, of course, is that Jesus as the Great Physician will do the healing. This brings up the question of Cessationalism or Dispensationalism which will be covered later on along with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

It should be noted there were several kings, all in a row, who called themselves King James and no, I have not researched which one accepted the English version of the Bible as being correct. This information is easily accessible on the Web, but seems irrelevant at this time. It is questionable, from my perspective, that King James lisped too. Maybe his courtiers did and that is where Tyndale picked it up.