#Assyrian Messianism

[s-afshar]

Cosmas Megalommatis, Ninurta (or Ningirsu or Ninib): World Mythology

Κοσμάς Μεγαλομμάτης, Νινούρτα: Παγκόσμια Μυθολογία, Ελληνική Εκπαιδευτική Εγκυκλοπαίδεια, 1989

Кузьма Мегаломматис, Нинурта (или Ниниб): мировая мифология, Греческая педагогическая энциклопедия, 1989

Kosmas Megalommatis, Ninurta: Weltmythologie, Griechische Pädagogische Enzyklopädie, 1989

Kosmas Gözübüyükoğlu, Ninurta (veya Ningirsu): Dünya Mitolojisi, Yunan Pedagoji Ansiklopedisi, 1989

قزمان ميغالوماتيس، نینورتا : اساطیر جهانی، دایره المعارف آموزشی یونانی، 1989

Côme Megalommatis, Ninurta: Mythologie mondiale, Encyclopédie pédagogique grecque, 1989

1989 قزمان ميغالوماتيس، نينورتا : الأساطير العالمية، الموسوعة التربوية اليونانية،

Cosimo Megalommatis, Ninurta: mitologia mondiale, Enciclopedia pedagogica greca, 1989

Cosimo Megalommatis, Ninurta: mitología mundial, Enciclopedia pedagógica griega, 1989

Cosmas Megalommatis, Ninurta (or Ningirsu or Ninib): World Mythology, Greek Pedagogical Encyclopedia, 1989

-----------------

Скачать PDF-файл: / PDF-Datei herunterladen: / Télécharger le fichier PDF : / PDF dosyasını indirin: / :PDF قم بتنزيل ملف / Download PDF file: / : یک فایل دانلود کنید / Κατεβάστε το PDF:

[apilgrimpassingby]

If the Old Testament was lost to history during the Babylonian Exile, we'd still know that there was a nation called Israel in Canaan from c.1200 BC and probably earlier (Merneptah Stele), seeing as its national deity YHWH (Mesha Stele) was worshipped from c.1300 BC (Mount Ebal Curse Tablet), whose kings included dynastic founder David (Tel Dan Stele), Ahab (Kurkh Monoliths) and Hezekiah (Hezekiah Seal), the last of whom commissioned public works (Siloam Tunnel) and came to blows with the Assyrians (Lachish Relief) and whose other inhabitants included a prophet called Isaiah (Isaiah Seal) and didn't eat pork (Israelite sites generally), until the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem in 597 BC (Nebuchadnezzar Chronicles), which was systemically razed to the ground and had its walls torn down by them ten years later (excavations of Jerusalem).

If Christianity had been eradicated by Nero or Diocletian, we'd still know there was a man called Jesus who founded Christianity in Judea between 14 and 37 AD before being crucified by Pontius Pilate (Tacitus) on the suggestion of the Jewish upper class and was known as a teacher, messianic claimant and miracle worker* with a brother called James (Josephus). We'd also known that there was a Jewish preacher called John the Baptist who Herod killed (Josephus) and a Roman governor from 26 to 36 AD called Pontius Pilate (Pilate Stone, coinage, Josephus). And that's not to mention things archaeology has found, like the five-porticoed Pool of Bethesda or the village of Nazareth.

Yes, there are things (the Exodus and the infancy narratives, famously) for which there is a disconcerting lack of external evidence. But there's a reason "there's nothing historical about the Bible" is the sole preserve of particularly ill-informed anti-Christians.

*While the Josephus passage on Jesus has almost certainly been added to by Christian scribes, the view of a large majority of textual critics is that the majority of it is authentically Josephan, including the phrase "doer of paradoxical deeds and teacher of such men as receive the truth gladly". And the later reference to "the brother of Jesus who was called Christ, called James" is near-universally accepted as authentic.

There is nothing historical about the bible. The bible is just stories. Stories of how to live our lives and be better people, sure, but none of what is written actually happened in real life, just stories.

“None of what is written actually happened in real life.” That is then to say that Caesar Augustus never existed, or the whole of the Roman Empire. That Babylon with it’s wondrous hanging gardens we’re just imagination. Archeologists discovered Jericho looking exactly like the Bible detailed it’s fall. Certainly there were things in the Bible that did actually happen and exist.

Did you know that Caesar has 10 manuscripts detailing his life? The New Testament alone has 24,633. For outside sources verifying the texts Caesar has 10, the Bible has 42 (9 Christian, 33 non-Christian)

By historian standards, Bible is the most historically accurate ancient text that we have, vastly surpassing every other ancient text in its credibility. If we dismiss the accuracy of the Bible, we must throw out every other ancient text, the words of every other ancient historian, because they don’t come anywhere near the Bible’s measure of authenticity.

Want to learn more? Still skeptical? Great! Check out this post for more stats and visuals.

[bernardo1969]

The prophet Isaiah in the Bible has a deep meaning for the Christian faith, because Isaiah anticipated with his prophecies the arrival of Lord Jesus, whom he called Immanuel. And not only that, but with his clairvoyance he saw further and prophesied about the messianic peace that would come after the second coming of our Lord Jesus. Despite the times in which he lived, he witnessed the siege of Jerusalem by the tyrant Sennacherib ruler of the Assyrian empire, and gave spiritual guidance to King Hezekiah to triumph and save his kingdom, Isaiah was the prophet of hope. And in this time that must be realized, since Isaiah did not prophesy about the end of the world but about the end of times, the resolution of the problem of evil and the descent of wisdom among men will be fulfilled. But this will not happen without a brief period of intense war and suffering, a short time of purification; God in his eternal wisdom has an invisible plan, and his prophets partially revealed it, like Isaiah. With these words, that describe a beautiful metaphor, Isaiah in his first book prophesied the beginning of an era of universal peace among men: "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra's den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper's nest" Isaiah 11:6-8. With this spiritual truth, the prophet Isaiah invited the readers of his book to live alert and attentive to the signs of the times, because no one knows the day or the hour.

[lowkeynando]

members of Levi, the priestly tribe, which did not have its own territory). However, since the tribe of Simeon lived well within the territory of Judah, it is not clear as to why this tribe was never included in this list (or as a part of the northern kingdom of the 10 tribes). Also, the tribes of Asher and Reuben were never mentioned as participating in anything after the conquest, living in either Phoenician (Asher) or Moabite (Reuben) controled territory. By the middle 9th century BCE the territory of Gad was also (re) taken by the Moabites (see Mesha Stele), so the Assyrians could at most have removed the other six tribes. Thus, the "10 tribes" appears to be a misnomer, meaning that all of the Jews were living outside the Kingdom of Judah. The Jewish historian Josephus (37-100 CE) wrote that "there are but two tribes in Asia and Europe subject to the Romans, while the ten tribes are beyond Euphrates till now, and are an immense multitude, and not to be estimated by numbers".

[3] In the 7th and 8th centuries CE, the return of the lost tribes was associated with the concept of the coming of the messiah. [4]:58-62 Claims of descent from the "lost tribes" have been proposed in relation to many groups, [5] and some religions espouse a messianic view that the tribes will return.

Historians have generally concluded that the deported tribes assimilated into the local population, and some of those Israelites whos CLONES

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Jewish Diaspora

The Jewish migration in the centuries preceding Jesus is an important part of church history.  Starting with the Assyrian exile of Israel in the eighth century BC (the “Ten Lost Tribes”) and the Babylonian captivity of Judea in the 597 BC, the Hebrew people had been scattered over all the world; this is called the Jewish Diaspora. The Babylonian Jews were allowed to return to Judea seventy years later, and many did, but most of them remained in Babylonia, while others settled Greece, Rome, North Africa, Europe, Crimea and throughout Asia.

This dispersion of the Jewish people was crucial to the spread of Christianity.  The Jews had in their possession the Scriptures and the understanding of the nature and reality of God.  They possessed the secrets of eternity.  Historian Philip Schaff said, “By this dispersion of the Jews the seeds of the knowledge of the true God and the Messianic hope were sown in the field of the idolatrous world.”

It is estimated that 10% or over five million of the 54 million in Roman world at the time of Christ were Jewish. According to the first-century historian Josephus, “there is no city, no tribe, whether Greek or barbarian, in which Jewish law and Jewish customs have not taken root.”  Christianity spread early among the Jews because they were the first target – Jesus told His followers and apostles before he ascended to go to the people of Israel first.  James wrote his book to “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1).

Also, many Gentiles, fed up with the immoral gods of their polytheistic religion, were drawn to the Jewish faith and sat in on the synagogue teachings.  These God-fearing Gentiles were very receptive to the gospel when it was offered in the synagogues by the first-century evangelists.  

The Jewish Diaspora shows the perfect timing of Jesus’ coming.  With Greek being widely spoken throughout the Roman Empire, good and safe travel due to the Roman infrastructure, and the Jews having been scattered or dispersed among the nations--the timing was perfect for Jesus to come and the gospel to be spread throughout the Roman Empire.  The Diaspora helps historians understand the rapidity of the growth of the early church.  

Source: https://www.facebook.com/church.history01

[machinestrust]

Random bible verse of the day kjv

' In the face of the threat God announces to Ahaz: 'It will not succeed, it will not happen.' God's sign: Isaiah 7:11-16 But the Lord said to Isaiah, "Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shearjashub your son. When the House of David was told that Syria had allied itself with Ephraim, their hearts and the hearts of their people trembled. king of Israel, marched on Jerusalem, they were unable to prevail against it. was king of Judah, Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah. Isaiah 7:1-8 make up a prologue explaining that Israel and Syria have laid siege to Jerusalem in an effort to replace him with a non-Davidic king who will join them. Isaiah 7:1–8:15 deals with the prophet Isaiah's attempt to persuade King Ahaz not to join the kings of Israel (also called Ephraim) and Syria ( Aram-Damascus) in their rebellion against their Assyrian overlord. 732–716 BC) as a faithless monarch who rejects God's promise of protection for his dynasty and city, but the purpose of the original 8th century narrative was to dissuade Ahaz's son, Hezekiah, from entering into alliance with other kingdoms to oppose the Assyrian Empire, the regional hegemon of the day. They present the 8th century King Ahaz (reigned c. Chapters 1-39 refer mostly to events of the 8th century, but Isaiah 7:1-25 are the product of a 7th century Josianic redaction (i.e., an editing in the reign of King Josiah, c. The Book of Isaiah was assembled over several centuries, beginning in the 8th century BCE. Isaiah's prophesy to Ahaz Context: Isaiah 7:1-25 Most English translations of the Bible use "virgin" with some exceptions, such as in the Revised Standard Version where "young woman" is used as such, Isaiah 7:14 continues to be one of the most controversial Bible verses The verse continues to be recognised by Jews to refer to a "young woman" only, and it is generally agreed among scholars that Isaiah is referring to a young unmarried woman of childbearing age rather than pure virginity in the traditional sense, and that "parthenos" was likely used with the same intended meaning. The Hebrew word עַלְמָה‎ ‘almāh translates into English as "young woman," although was translated in the Koine Greek Septuagint as παρθένος parthenos, meaning virgin, and was subsequently picked up by the gospels of Matthew and Luke and used as a messianic prophecy the prophecy is therefore understood by Christians to refer to the virgin birth of Jesus. Isaiah 7:14 is a verse in the seventh chapter of the Book of Isaiah in which the prophet Isaiah, addressing king Ahaz of Judah, promises that God will destroy the king's enemies before a child born to an almah is weaned.

[banana-with-a-bow-tie]

The purpose of this post is not to argue that Biden was, or was not, fraudulently elected in the 2020 president election, but to keep a biblical perspective.

Sources report that 47% of American voters believe that large-scale fraud handed the election to Biden/Harris. Nevertheless, 49% say that fraud was unlikely. A recent NPR/Ipsos poll reported that 67% of Republicans and 11% of Democrats surveyed believe that voter fraud gave Biden election. However, the same survey showed that 19% of Republicans and 85% of Democrats disagree. In either case, dozens of millions of voters believe that there was fraud, and dozens of millions believe that there was not. Numbers do not prove whether or not it happened. The point here is that a huge swath of the US population believes that voter fraud helped usher in the next president.

It’s likely that someone you sing next to in church believes that there is ample evidence of fraud, and is grieved about it. Disdaining them as crazy conspiracists is not the best approach (cf. 1 Cor. 13:4-7, Col. 3:12-17). After all, if you’re a Christian, you believe that a peasant Hebrew crucified as a vile criminal will one day appear in the sky standing on clouds.

So for those who do feel that there was fraud, what would Scripture suggest you do? Even if there was, here are a few considerations from God’s word on the issue.

God is sovereign over unrighteousness

“In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider— God has made the one as well as the other So that man will not discover anything that will be after him” (Eccles. 7:14).

Though he is not pleased with it, God is sovereign over all sin. If there was fraud, though it would grieve God, he is sovereign over it. God remains in control even in the most wretched times (Lam. 3:37-38). He was sovereign over the wretched rule of Egypt (Exod. 2:23-25), the wicked rule of Israel’s enemies in Judges (Judg. 2:14), the evil of the Assyrian deportation (2 Kings 17), the wickedness of the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 25), the unrighteousness of Herod and the Romans (Matt. 2:15), and he was even sovereign over the treacherous treatment of His own Son: “this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death” (Acts 2:23). Despite all of this evil—often committed by governing authorities—God was never de-sovereigned by it.

“His sovereignty rules over all” (Ps. 103:19).

2. The Lord is still on the throne

No evil agenda, large or small, has ever successfully removed God from his throne. And evil men and nations have tried. They’ve done everything in their power, with satanic and demonic reinforcements, to dethrone God. It hasn’t happened and it never will (Ps. 93:1-5). The permanence of the Lord’s position on the throne of the universe is laughably unthreatened by even the greatest evils of man.

“The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 ‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!’ 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them” (Ps. 2:2-4).

The sovereign, supreme rule of the God of the Bible is no more threatened by unrighteous doings and agendas of earthly rulers than his rule is threatened by a cockroach coughing in a Los Angeles sewer.

“The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!” (Ps. 99:1).

3. God will use unrighteousness for good

One of the ways that God proves he is sovereign is by orchestrating evil for good. We have history to prove that: Joseph’s suffering and saving a nation (Gen. 50:20), Pharaoh housing the messianic nation and its growth, the cross of Jesus Christ, and countless examples since then. Throughout history, God has masterfully moved the evil of man and government to accomplish his purposes, the greatest of which was the cross. Jesus was the recipient of unprecedented civil corruption, and God did a pretty decent job at ensuring that worked out well. We might not see how God orchestrates evil for good this side of heaven, but he’ll take care of it (Rom. 8:28). God is trustworthy.

4. Jesus is still building his church

The church has survived the harshest storms wicked men have to offer. She was birthed into the Roman Empire, who actively opposed her existence. Despite three centuries therein of persecution, her growth continued. Satan and his world have always hated and resisted the church. Even so, she has spread from Israel, to the Roman Empire through the Apostles, and to places like Africa through the Ethiopian Euncuh, the New Hebrides through John Paton, Burma through Adoniram Judson, China through Hudson Taylor, the middle east through Samuel Zwemer, and the list goes on. It’s almost like unrighteous circumstances helps the church thrive. Whatever the case, the church will never die out because Christ builds it (Matt. 16:18).

5. We are still to be about the kingdom of God

Unregenerate enemies attempted several times to distract Nehemiah and God’s people from sticking to the essential task of rebuilding the wall (Neh. 6:4). What they did was wicked. But Nehemiah and crew stuck to the main thing (Neh. 6:3-9).

In these New Covenant days, there are no less enemies and distractions that seek to pull us down from the wall. But we must keep the main thing the main thing. The kingdom of God is that thing. Regardless of what happens, our sovereign God would have us give ourselves completely to involvement in our local churches, godliness, disciple-making, prayer, love, and the word. Let us not get down from the wall (1 Cor. 15:58).

6. God will uphold justice perfectly

God is a perfect, omniscient God. Nothing escapes his notice. He is perfectly good, too, which means evil will not prevail. Regardless what someone appears to get away with, they will stand before God in the judgment (Rom. 12:17-21, Rev. 20:11-15).

7. We are all liars and sinners

An election fraud allegation is to say that lying occurred; massive, consequential lying. Among the list of things God hates, lying is mentioned twice (Prov. 6:16-19). However, people are lying every day; politicians, employers, employees, nobodies, and neighbors. Everyone lies. Lying can no more be separated from humans than their shadow. “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4). That means we, too, have lied. No one is exempt. God is the only One who has never lied nor will ever.

Our lies may not be as socially consequential as others, but God is the one we stand before. On top of being liars, we are all atrociously unholy before the holy God of the universe (Rom. 3:10-19). This God requires perfection (Matt. 5:48). So, we have nothing to offer God except wickedness and weakness in and of ourselves. Due to our nature and doings, we stand guilty and unacceptable before God. Since we have all sinned against a holy God, an individual who never orchestrated widespread voter fraud deserves to spend eternity in the same hell as someone who did (Rom. 2:1-5).  

8. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave

However, God did not leave us to ourselves. Moved by his own compassion on sinners, and not because of anything good or righteous in us, God looked upon us with pity (Rom. 3:10-12, Eph. 1:3-6). Incredibly, our offenses against God in thought, word, nature, and deed did not move him to justly boot us all into hell. No, far from it. He radically humbled himself by joining human nature to himself and was born a baby (Phil. 2:5-7). Though he deserved unceasing worship from every human, Jesus received scorn, hate, and a humiliating and brutal crucifixion (Phil. 2:8). He received all of this on purpose in obedience to his Father’s plan to atone for the sin of his people (John 10:18). Though thoroughly sinful, Jesus so loved his people that he referred to them as, “My sheep” (John 10:26-27). Jesus then rose from the grave victorious, validating his saving work for his sheep. This is a great love, indeed. And it has everything to do with those struggling with the unrighteousness around them: we’ve all sinned, Jesus died and rose for us, and our greatest need has been met.

9. We are to pray

As every human nation and government will be filled with unrighteousness, God now calls his people to pray.

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

We are to pray for so many encouraging reasons: God hears (Ps. 65:2), God answers and works through prayer (1 Sam. 1:10-11, John 15:7), we are commanded to (1 Tim. 2:1-2), it shows that we are depending on our sovereign God (Luke 11:8), and it is an act of worship whereby God brings glory to himself (Rev. 8:3). If we find ourselves in the rut of angst at times, let us pray. We are to pray and pray and pray, and not lose heart (Luke 11:5-8, 18:1-8; Thess. 5:17).

10. Heaven will be great

Jesus often mentioned that we are to live for our permanent, future, unseen, and eternal home with him and all the redeemed (Matt. 16:24-27). While being present and prayerful, this world is passing, visible, dying, and temporal (1 John 2:17).

In heaven, there will be no voter fraud. They’ll be no voting, for that matter. Why should there be? The forever King will be the single most loving, wise, righteous, just, and perfect Individual in the universe, the blessed Lord Jesus Christ (Isa. 9:6-7, John 1:17, Phil. 2:8-11).

“And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one” (Zech. 14:9).

Of course, more could be said here. As God’s people, we are abundantly furnished with what we need to face these rocky times in a manner pleasing to him. Whatever happens, may the Lord’s church abound in faithfulness and fruitfulness.

[questionsonislam]

Who was the Wailing Wall built by? Can you give information about the Wailing Wall?

Hz. Sulaiman (pbuh) was a magnificent and majestic prophet. His kingdom included the whole land of Palestine and Jordan and some part of Syria. Among the works of Hz. Sulayman, the most important buildings were the ones that he built to defend his country. The bulwarks built in the important places for the dispatch of soldiers were important.

The most important work of Hz. Sulayman was the Temple he built on Mount Zion. During the era of his father, Hz. Dawud, (David) (pbuh), there was only a tent there; and the Ark of the Testimony was put in it. Today, only one part of the foundations of Sulayman's Temple exists. The wall called the Wailing Wall is that part of the foundations of the Temple.

The Children of Israel were punished by God Almighty like many other nations in history because they did not appreciate the bounties given to them. It is not easy for an understanding that showed ingratitude toward the quail and manna sent down to them directly to appreciate bounties from trees. In fact, ingratitude is valid not only for the Children of Israel but for all human beings, that is, for all of us.

As it is stated in the Quran, the Children of Israel rebelled against God Almighty; they unjustly killed the prophets that were sent to them and that wanted nothing but good things for them. Invasions, massacres and exiles started as punishment. The palaces and temples that had been built for a lot of money were plundered and burnt down. After the invasion, they cooperated with the invaders against the religion. When they tried to assassinate Jesus, the two thousand-year exile started.

It is reported that the last temple demolished by the Romans had been built by the rich except one wall built by the poor. The Romans left only one wall when they demolished the Temple probably to show what they had demolished; and that wall turned out to be wall built by the poor: the Wailing Wall, the famous wall that remained as a dump of the Christians up to the era of Ottoman Sultan Selim I.

The History of the Wailing Wall According to the Old Testament:

When Pharaoh and his army was drowned in the Red Sea and could not follow Moses and the Jews, Moses took the Jews to Sinai. There, on the Mount Sinai, Moses was given the Torah and the Ten Commandments. The Jews wandered in the Sinai Desert for forty years. After Moses, Joshua took them to Palestine. (Exodus, Chapters VII-XL; Joshua, Chapter I-XXIV) After the era of Judges and Kings in Palestine, King David (1013-973 B.C.) conquered Jerusalem and the brightest era of Jews started. (see II. Samuel, chapters V-IX) His son, King Shelomo (Hz. Sulayman, 973-933 B.C.) built the Holy Temple on the place prepared by his father. The Arc of Testimony, which contained the Ten Commandments and which was kept in a tent up to that time, was placed in a room in the Temple. (see I. Kings, Chapters V-IX.)

After the death of Hz. Sulayman, the kingdom was divided into two as Judah in the south and Israel in the north. (I. Kings, Chapters XI-XII., etc) Ten tribes became subject to the Kingdom of Israel and two tribes to the Kingdom of Judah. First, the Kingdom of Israel was demolished by Assyrians in 721 B.C. Then, the Kingdom of Judah was demolished by Babylonians in 586 B.C. The Temple was destroyed and the Jews were deported to Babylonia. In the exile, the Jewish people gathered under Ezra and returned to Jerusalem in 538 B.C. The Temple was repaired after 520 B.C. (see Daniel, Ezra, Ester).

The holy book of Jews, the Torah, gives information about both the previous and later prophets. Prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah were sent during the period of Babylonia Exile. Malachi is the prophet before Elijah-Messiah.

According to Jewish history, Jerusalem was conquered by Antigonids and Seleucids after Alexander. The Temple was plundered in 168 B.C.. Maccabees established sovereignty but the period of Roman hegemony that started in 63 B.C. ended in 70 A.D. when the Roman commander Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. The Jews scattered all over the world. The Western Wall (Wailing Wall), which remained from the Temple, has kept their national and religious consciousness alive for centuries. The hope given by the Messianic faith has maintained the existence of this consciousness.

[drpaulmacdonaldrnma]

The Branch (Nazarene): The Human Messiah That Will Be Both King and High Priest (Zechariah 6:12-13)

by Dr Paul MacDonald RN MA Dipl

Ezekiel's Temple

As we have stated previously, there will indeed be a Temple in Jerusalem, and according to both Haggai and Ezekiel, it will not only be something that has never been seen before, but something that will be far grander than what has been before (Haggai 2:9, Ezekiel 40-47).

Messiah the Builder

It will be the Messiah that will be the one personally responsible for the building of this Temple (Zechariah 6:12-13, 2 Samuel 7:12) and he will also be the one that sits as King and High Priest in it (Zechariah 6:13b) and as for being King, he is described as someone that will be a Counselor of Peace, thus reaffirming Isaiah’s prophecy concerning aspects of this future King’s rule (Isaiah 9:6).

The King Called "Branch"

In this passage written by Zechariah, Zechariah speaks of this future “Earthly” and “Human” King as being “The Branch”.

“The Branch” is a “Messianic title”, the importance of which Zechariah makes all the more clear (Zechariah 3:8) just as Isaiah had also done (Isaiah 11:1-10).

Isaiah also used this term “Branch” to denote the Messiah (Isaiah 4:2). Jeremiah also went on to develop this term as a title for “the Davidic [human]descendant” that would sit and rule on David’s Throne “forever and ever” (Jeremiah 23:5-6, 33:15-16).

Both King and High Priest

Though “Kingship” and “Priestly offices” are usually two very “distinct” and “separate” offices, here in this passage Zechariah sees the Throne of this future King being joined with that of the Priesthood.

This is something that was also seen by early Jewish interpreters, and something that the writer of the Book of Hebrews also highlighted (Hebrews 4:14, 7:24, and 9:11). God (Yahweh) himself has made this King and Priest to be King and Priest forever and ever (Psalms 45:7, 110:4).

Nations of the World Will Assist in Temple Build

This Messiah (as prophesied) is the one that will build the Temple, and yet he will not be alone in this venture, for Zechariah goes on to tell us that those from afar off (those of the Nations) those who have “adjoined themselves” to this King will come and help him build this Temple. These Nations (also according to Haggai) will also bring in their wealth (Haggai 2:7).

The Wealth of the Nations

The bringing in of the wealth of the Nations before the Messiah was foreshadowed when the wise men from the East visited Christ when he was a child of around 2 years old (Matthew 2:16).

Scripture tells us that these wise men are seen going into the house where the child was staying and in recognition of the child’s Kingship they “fell down” in worship before him and lay treasure at his feet (Matthew 2:11).

Zechariah tells us that from Year to Year all will be expected to make their way to Jerusalem to appear before God (Yahweh) and his appointed King. Those that do not appear, no rain will fall upon them as a blessing (Zechariah 14:16-17).

The Human Messiah

As we can see, the Messiah is someone who will clearly be a “Human Being”, and not a spirit as the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach.

He will be someone that is the “root” of Jesse, someone who is a “descendant” of David, and someone that will not only sit on David’s Throne in Jerusalem as a King forever, but someone that will also exercise the office of High Priest-two offices if you will.

The King that will speak to the Nations

This King and High Priest will not only speak to the Nations, but his reign will be from sea to sea and to the most distant parts of the Earth (Psalms 2:8, Zechariah 9:10b and Psalms 72:8)

When Will We See Ezekiel's Messianic Temple?

From the Time when the Assyrian enters a future Temple/Fortress like structure in Jerusalem to desecrate it (Daniel 9:27, Micah 5:5, Matthew 24:15, Daniel 11:36-37) there will be a period of “2300 Evenings and Mornings” (Daniel 8:13-14) following the action of the “desecration” and “indignation”.

The Meaning of the 2300 Evenings and Mornings

These 2300 evening and morning periods add up to about 6.4 Years. The Great Tribulation Period will be 3.5 Years in duration, so that means that Ezekiel's Temple will be standing some 3 Years after the days of the Great Tribulation period is over.

Dr Paul MacDonald RN MA Dipl ©

Israel Institute of Biblical Studies

[inhiswordihope]

CHRIST

Merry Christmas! It is Christmas day. If there is anything worth pondering on, today, it is not merely just another holiday. I’ve enjoyed this quiet day with my family. And extremely grateful for another Christmas season to reflect on the best gift of all- Jesus Christ.

“The chief and leading theme of all the prophets is their aim to keep the people in eager anticipation of the coming Christ.”  Martin Luther

There are many Christological texts in Isaiah which affirm and give us a comprehensive prophetic view of Jesus Christ in the entire Old Testament. He will judge the nations (2:4), Immanuel (Isaiah 11:1), foretelling of His coming (Isaiah 40:3-5), virgin birth (7:14), His sacrificial death (52:13-53:12), and His return (60:2-3). Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd (40:11), suffering servant (50:6), and light to the Gentiles (49:6).

Isaiah, the Messianic Prophet, whose name means “YHWH (the LORD) is salvation.” He was a prophet and messenger of God. Salvation found 26 times in the Book of Isaiah. More than any Old Testament Prophet, he served and prophesied to all classes of people (kings to common folk) in Judah. He served 50 years during the reigns of last 4 kings of Judah in the capital city of Jerusalem.

God’s people, the Israelites once was united. Saul, the first King from the tribe of Benjamin. The second king was David, son of Jesse, from the tribe of Judah. David was followed by his son Solomon. King Solomon was the last of the kings of the United Kingdom. His sins were the reason for the division of the United Kingdom.

In came one of the great “turning points” in the history of Israel. One that is crucial to our understanding our history as Christ followers. The division of the United Kingdom is a very significant turning point in the history of the nation Israel. The two kingdoms at war with each other and unwilling to make alliances. The kingdom divided into two nations with two kings. When Solomon’s son Rehoboam took the throne, ten tribes rejected him and instead made Solomon’s servant, Jeroboam their king. They became the northern kingdom with Samaria as its capital. The southern kingdom (comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin) became Judah with Jerusalem as its capital. David’s descendants, Rehoboam, became their king and Judah remained faithful to the throne in Jerusalem.

The two nations were in conflict with one another and greatly weakened by division. This great division made both kingdoms vulnerable to foreign powers and enemies. Both would look to other nations even other Gentile gods to align with. Both turned away from the God to other pagan gods. After a long succession of wicked kings in both kingdoms, Assyria attacked Israel (northern kingdom) and eventually carried off its people into exile.

Isaiah's ministry occurred at a critical time in Judah's history. Judah in rebellion and idolatry and led away from the true God by the corrupt kings in power. Assyria now had their eyes on Judah. Judah had to decide whether it would submit to Assyria or resist the empire. Isaiah called Judah to the latter option and rebuked the people for their sin and called them to repentance (1:18–20; 7–8). He prohibited human alliances and pleaded with the nation to trust in the Lord. He rebuked them for their sins and spoke boldly about God’s judgement. The prophet’s message though during this troubled time was not about preserving an earthly kingdom or nation, but pointed the people to a different kind of salvation - a spiritual deliverance. Though the God saved Judah from the Assyrians, they would later fall to the Babylonians and be carried off as exiles. Yes, it was God whom brought the Assyrians against the North. He will bring the Babylonians against the Assyrians. He will send the Southern Kingdom into exile in Babylon (2 Kings 23-24; 2 Chron. 36).  He will bring the Persians against the Babylonians.

Comfort

If we didn’t know the story, we would probably conclude it was all over for the nation of Israel. The covenant blessings God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob now void. The promised Messiah was supposed to sit on the throne of David. What now? What hope was there?

The Messiah, directly spoken of in more than half of the chapters between Isaiah 40 and Isaiah 61. Undoubtedly, the most important chapter pertaining to mankind’s salvation is found in Isaiah 53.

This prophecy explains how much He would suffer during His sacrifice for man’s sins. Despised and rejected, but by His stripes, we are healed. This pivotal chapter tells us that He would come to give His life as a sacrifice for our sins. Politically, Israel and Judah were wiped out, but the spiritual Israel and Judah - those who believe in the Messiah would endure and gain the victory over all the world.

CHRIST

As Isaiah points to the destruction of the surrounding nations, we are reminded that salvation can only come from the Lord and will not come about due to the efforts of any political leader, regardless of how great or how strong that leader is. Isaiah points us to something more important than political or social deliverance. He points all of us to the deliverance that lasts forever - the salvation of our souls.

With this in mind, it makes sense that the New Testament writers quote from the Book of Isaiah so often. Though even the people in the New Testament living during the time of Jesus were still looking for physical deliverance and political victories over their enemies. They had such a hard time believing that Jesus could be the Messiah because He didn’t have the characteristics of a political deliverer. He came as a son of a carpenter whose own siblings didn’t believe who he said is was. They failed to see Jesus as the Messiah who was born this day over two millennia ago to fulfill the prophecy to deliver His elect from sin, death, and Satan.

Colossians 1:16-17 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

I can honestly say my mind has been overwhelmed with much this year. A lot has happened in 2020. I don’t know if you all see it as well. Our Nation and even our churches are divided just as the United Kingdom was divided in the Old Testament. We disagree and are at war with many things the world throws our way. In turn, we also seek to idols, leaders, and try to find common alliances with others in hopes that they would save us. We forget our common foe- satan and the power and principalities in the heavenly realm. The father of lies who seeks to destroy all humankind. Oh, how we desperately in need of the Holy Spirit and discernment. I pray God would grant us all repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth and may come to our senses and escape from the snare of the devil after being captured by him to do his will (2 Tim. 2:26). There is one body and one Spirit. My heart has been heavy this year, but it ends today with the Gospel of hope and comfort in Christ.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Praise God! He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He would be called the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

[bookoformon]

2 Nephi Chapter 20. "The Leveler."

The destruction of Assyria "what is level" is a type of the destruction of the wicked at the Second Coming—Few people will be left after the Lord comes again—The remnant of Jacob will return in that day—Compare Isaiah 10. About 559–545 B.C.

The first section of every chapter is the Midrash, the analysis scenario to be undertaken in the verses that follow. In this one the Prophet thinks the followers of the religion of the Jews will inherit the government after Christianity fails to provide stability, order, equality, and happiness to the world.

The word "remnant of Jacob" refers to the dreamer that separates from the lout he inhabits to overcome great obstacles and thus become a great man, AKA the Israel stage of the Jacob-Israel metamorphosis.

Chapter 9 of Isaiah says the Messianic way of life will include the transmission of the line of David through a government that is apparently completely unlike any this earth has ever seen. As for the rest:

1 Wo unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;

2 To turn away the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!

3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?

4 Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is their indignation.

Rod= parenting according to the Torah.

Staff= Humans, after all, don’t run everything. You know who does? You know who runs nature, too? G‑d.

Assyrians are levelers; they are responsible for ensuring appropriate standards of conduct are set and enforced, punished when contradicted:

6 I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but in his heart it is to destroy and cut off nations not a few.

8 For he saith: Are not my princes altogether kings?

9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? Is not Hamath as Arpad? Is not Samaria as cDamascus?

Calno = the center of beauty

Carchemish=

Car=soldiers

Chem=who thirst

Ish= to be men of God

Hamath= fortification

Arpad= City of Redemption

=

"The center of the world is the City of Redemption built by soldiers who thirst to be men of God, AKA Kedoshim. They are the levelers, the princes and kings sent to topple hypocritical nations."

10 As my hand hath founded the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did expel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;

11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and to her idols?

=All debates about abortion, birth control, who can marry and fuck whom and how, what kinds of clothes people can wear, the result of clashes between party politicians are no longer necessary or even legal as their outcomes have long since been defined by the law. The Law and laws target things that distract us and keep us from doing what is wise, aka "idols":

12 Wherefore it shall come to pass that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon Mount Zion and upon Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.

13 For he saith: By the strength of my hand and by my wisdom I have done these things; for I am prudent; and I have moved the borders of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man;

14 And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people; and as one gathereth eggs that are left have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.

15 Shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth therewith? Shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? As if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself as if it were no wood!

16 Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, send among his fat ones, leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.

17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame, and shall burn and shall devour his thorns and his briers in one day;

18 And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body; and they shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth.

19 And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.

20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them, but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.

21 The remnant shall return, yea, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.

22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return; the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.

23 For the Lord God of Hosts shall make a consumption, even determined in all the land.

24 Therefore, thus saith the Lord God of Hosts: O my people that dwellest in Zion, abe not afraid of the Assyrian; he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.

25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.

26 And the Lord of Hosts shall astir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; and as his rod was upon the sea so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.

Midian= strife, place of judgement

Oreb= breaching of a safe place. The Rock of Oreb is his head. We try to bring water out of rocks. Strife is a sign of a hard head at work.

27 And it shall come to pass in that day that his aburden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

28 aHe is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages.

Aiath=Falcon, can find springs in the wilderness

Migron=another term for moron, a type of berry that glows at sunrise, sometimes at sunset. Morons are associated with the Red Sea and the change in maturity that is symbolized by the blushing red of the berry.

Moroni, the Spirit of God that visits the Prophet is the same kind of change agent as the crossing of the Red Sea.

Michmash= God has departed:

29 They are gone over the passage; they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramath is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.

Geba=to be high exalted

Ramath=the high place

Gibeah= a hill

Saul= to ask for

"To reach the high place, to be exalted, go up the hill and ask, lift up your voice":

30 Lift up the voice, O daughter of Gallim; cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth.

Gallim= heaps, to roll

Laish=lion

Anathoth= answers, afflictions

31 Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.

Madmenah=dung hill

Gebim= ditches

"The shit is hurled into ditches and the poor and oppressed cross over to the high place, the City on the Hill":

32 As yet shall he remain at Nob "height, high place" that day; he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

33 Behold, the Lord, the Lord of Hosts shall lop the bough with terror; and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down; and the haughty shall be humbled.

34 And he shall cut down the thickets of the forests with iron, and Lebanon "place of whiteness' shall fall by a mighty one.

Iron was used to build the temple. To clear the forests of Lebanon using iron tools means a man of iron will construct the temple. It always comes down to this, doesn't it?

[mrkilroi]

The Messianic Era

By J. Immanuel Schochet

A. Restoration of the Bet Hamikdash

Mashiach shall restore the Bet Hamikdash in Jerusalem.1 This refers to the third Bet Hamikdash that will stand forever, in fulfillment of the Divine prophecy of Ezekiel 37:26-28: “I shall give My Sanctuary in their midst forever. My dwelling-place shall be over them… The nations shall know that I am G‑d who sanctifies Israel, when My Sanctuary shall be in the midst of them forever.”2

B. Ingathering of the Exiles of Israel

Through Mashiach shall be effected the ingathering of all the exiles of Israel:3

Deuteronomy 30:3-4: “G‑d, your G‑d, shall bring back your captivity… and He will return and gather you from all the nations whither G‑d, your G‑d, has scattered you. If your banished shall be at the utmost end of the heavens, G‑d, your G‑d, shall gather you from there, and He shall take you from there.”

Isaiah 11:11-12,16: “It shall be on that day that G‑d shall again set His hand for a second time to acquire the remnant of His people that shall remain from Assyria and from Egypt, from Pathros and from Cush and from Elam, from Shinar and from Chamat and from the islands of the sea… There shall be a highway for the remnant of His people that shall remain from Assyria, as there was for Israel on the day they went up from the land of Egypt.”

Isaiah 43:5-6: “Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your seed from the east and gather you from the west. I shall say to the north, ‘Give up,’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold back, bring My sons from far and My daughters from the end of the earth.’ ”

Amos 9:14-15: “I shall return the captivity of My people Israel and they shall build the waste cities and settle… I shall plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be plucked out of their land that I have given them, says G‑d, your G‑d.”

Jeremiah 23:7-8: “Therefore behold, days shall come, says G‑d, that they shall no longer say, ‘As G‑d lives who has taken up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt;’ but ‘As G‑d lives who has taken up and brought the seed of the House of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where He had banished them,’ and they shall dwell in their land.”

Ezekiel 39:25, 27-29: “…Now I shall bring back the captivity of Jacob and I shall have compassion on the whole House of Israel, and I shall be zealous for My holy Name… When I shall have returned them from the nations and gathered them from the lands of their enemies… They shall know that I am G‑d, their G‑d, in that I exiled them to the nations and gathered them unto their land, and I will not leave any one of them there. I will no more hide My face from them, as I will pour out My spirit upon the House of Israel…”4

The Ten Tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiled by the Assyrians before the destruction of the first Bet Hamikdash (II-Kings, ch. 17), and dispersed beyond the river Sambation and the ‘Mountains of Darkness,’ will also return.5

This Divine promise of the return and restoration of Israel is unconditional. It will occur even if the people should not want to return:

“That which arises in your mind shall not come to pass, namely that which you say, ‘We shall be like the nations, like the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.’ As I live, says the Lord G‑d, I shall surely rule over them with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with fury poured out. I shall take you out from the nations and gather you from the lands in which you were scattered, with a mighty hand, an outstretched arm and with fury poured out… I shall pass you under the rod and bring you into the covenant… For on My holy mountain, on the mountain of the height of Israel, says the Lord G‑d, there shall all of the whole House of Israel serve Me… when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the lands where you were scattered, and I shall be sanctified in you in the eyes of the nations. You shall know that I am G‑d when I bring you to the earth of Israel, to the land about which I raised My hand to give it to your fathers.” (Ezekiel 20:32-37, 40-42)

“Therefore say to the House of Israel, Thus said the Lord G‑d: I am not doing (this) for your sake, House of Israel, but for My holy Name which you profaned among the nations wither you came. I shall sanctify My great Name that was profaned among the nations, that you profaned in their midst, and the nations shall know that I am G‑d, says the Lord G‑d, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. I shall take you from the nations, and I shall gather you from all the lands, and I shall bring you to your land. I shall sprinkle pure waters upon you and you shall be purified from all your sins, and I will purify you from all your idols…” (Ezekiel 36:22-25)

C. End to Evil and Sin

The Messianic era will mark the end of evil and sin:

Ezekiel 37:23: “They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and with their abominations and with all their transgressions…”

Zephaniah 3:13: “The remnant of Israel will not do any wrong, and they will not speak lies nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth.”

Zechariah 13:2: “It shall be in that day… that I shall cut off the names of the idols from the earth and they shall no longer be remembered; and I shall also remove from the earth the [false] prophets and the spirit of impurity.”

Malachi 3:19: “For behold the day comes burning like a furnace, and all the wanton sinners and everyone that does wickedness shall be stubble… that to them shall not be left root and branch.”

Isaiah 60:21: “Your people shall all be righteous, they shall inherit the land forever…”

Jeremiah 50:20: “In those days and in that time, says G‑d, the iniquity of Israel shall be searched for but it will not be, and the sins of Judah but they shall not be found…”6

D. Awareness and Knowledge of G‑d

The Messianic era will be a time of universal awareness, perception and knowledge of G‑d:

Isaiah 11:9: (cf. Habakuk 2:14): “…the earth shall be full of knowledge of G‑d as the waters cover the sea.”

Isaiah 40:5: “The glory of G‑d shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see together that the mouth of G‑d has spoken.”7

Isaiah 52:8: “…for eye to eye they shall see as G‑d returns to Zion.”

Jeremiah 31:32-33: “…I shall put My teaching in their inward parts and write it in their heart, and I shall be to them for G‑d and they shall be to Me for a people. They shall no longer teach one another, and a man his brother, saying ‘Know G‑d,’ for they shall all know Me from the least of them to the greatest of them…”

The Divine spirit will be upon the people, endowing them with the power of prophecy and vision:

Joel 3:1-2: “…I shall pour out My spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your elders shall dream dreams, your young shall see visions. In those days I shall pour out My spirit also upon the servants and handmaids.”8

E. Universal Worship of G‑d

Mashiach shall mend the whole world so that all shall serve G‑d in unity:9

Zephaniah 3:9: “For then I shall turn to the peoples a pure tongue that all shall call upon the Name of G‑d to serve Him with one consent.”

Isaiah 2:2-3 and Michah 4:1-2: “…The mountain of G‑d’s House shall be established at the top of the mountains and it shall be raised above the hills, and all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall go and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of G‑d, to the House of the G‑d of Jacob, and let him [Mashiach] teach us of His ways and we shall go in His paths;’ for from Zion shall go forth Torah, and the word of G‑d from Jerusalem.”10

Zechariah 9:16: “…every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to bow before the King, G‑d…”

Zechariah 14:9: “G‑d shall be King over the entire earth. In that day G‑d shall be One and His Name One.”

F. Universal Peace and Harmony

The awareness and knowledge of G‑d will remove the narrow-minded dispositions that lead to strife and war. It will be an era of peace and harmony in the Holy Land11 and throughout the world:

Isaiah 2:4 and Michah 4:3: “…they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning-hooks. Nation shall not lift a sword against nation, nor shall they learn war any more.” [Michah 4:4 continues: “Each man shall sit under his vine and under his fig-tree, and none shall make them afraid…”]

Hosea 2:20: “…I shall break from the earth the bow, the sword and warfare, and I shall make them lie down securely.”

Zechariah 9:10: “…the bow of war shall be cut off, and [Mashiach] shall speak peace unto the nations…”

This new attitude of mankind will also be reflected in the animal world:

Isaiah 11:6-9: “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie with the kid, and a calf with a lion’s cub and a fatling together, and a small child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young ones shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw like cattle. An infant shall play over the hole of an asp, and the weaned child shall put out his hand over the eyeball of an adder. They will not harm or destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of G‑d as the waters cover the sea.”

Isaiah 65:25: “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like cattle, dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not harm nor destroy in all My holy mountain, says G‑d.”12

G. Resurrection of the Dead

“Your dead shall be revived, my corpses shall arise; awaken and sing you who dwell in the dust, for a dew of lights is your dew…” (Isaiah 26:19)

“Behold I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the Land of Israel. You shall know that I am G‑d when I open your graves and when I revive you from your graves, My people. I shall put My spirit into you and you will live, and I will place you upon your land, and you will know that I, G‑d, have spoken and done, says G‑d.” (Ezekiel 37:12-14)

“Many of them that sleep in the land of dust shall awake…” (Daniel 12:2)13

H. Blissful Utopia: End to Disease and Death

The Messianic era will witness ultimate physical and spiritual bliss. All will be healed.14 The blind, the deaf and the dumb, the lame, whosoever has any blemish or disability, shall be healed from all their disabilities: “The eyes of the blind shall be clearsighted, and the ears of the deaf shall be opened… the lame shall leap as a hart and the tongue of the dumb shall sing…” (Isaiah 35:5-6).15 Death itself shall cease, as it is said, “Death shall be swallowed up forever and G‑d shall wipe the tears from every face…” (Isaiah 25:8)16

There will be a life of ease.17 Our physical needs will be taken care of by others, as it is said, “Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks and aliens shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.” (Isaiah 61:5)18

The earth will manifest extraordinary fertility, yielding an overabundance of every kind of produce, and trees growing ripe fruits every day.19 Zion’s wilderness will be made “to be like Eden, and her desert like the garden of G‑d” (Isaiah 51:3). “I will call for the grain and increase it… and I will increase the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field…” (Ezekiel 36:29-30) “… The plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; and the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.” (Amos 9:13)20

“At that time there will be neither famine nor war, neither envy nor strife. All good things will be bestowed in abundance, and all delicacies will be accessible like dust.”21

The wondrous events and conditions of the Messianic era will completely overshadow all and any miracles that happened before then, even those associated with the exodus from Egypt.22

Even so, these Divine blessings are not an end in themselves. They are but a means towards a higher goal:

Our longing for the Messianic era is not for the sake of dominating the world, to rule over the heathens, or to be exalted by the nations. Nor is it that we might eat, drink and rejoice,23 “have much produce and wealth, ride horses and indulge in wine and song, as thought by some confused people.”24

It is, rather, to have relief from the powers that presently do not allow us to be preoccupied with Torah and mitzvot properly.25 Our aspirations are to be free to devote ourselves to Torah and its wisdom, with no one to oppress and disturb us. We long for that time because there will be an assembly of the righteous, an era dominated by goodness, wisdom, knowledge and truth. It will be a time when the commandments of the Torah shall be observed without inertia, laziness or compulsion (other version: “worries, fear or compulsion”).26

The sole preoccupation of the whole world will be to know G‑d. The Israelites will be great sages: they will know things that are presently concealed, and will achieve knowledge of their Creator to the utmost capacity of human beings, as it is said, “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of G‑d as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9)27

[romancatholicreflections]

28th December >> Daily Reflection/Commentary on Today’s Saints of the Day for Roman Catholics: The Holy Innocents, martyrs

The Holy Innocents, martyrs

According to Matthew’s gospel, the Holy Innocents, children of Bethlehem, two years old and under, were massacred by the Idumean, King Herod the Great. The story really begins with the visit of the Magi or astrologers, “Wise Men”, arriving in Jerusalem and enquiring for a newborn child who is “King of the Jews”. They said that they had seen his star in the eastern sky and had come to pay him homage. On hearing the news, Herod, the Romans’ client king in Judaea, immediately became anxious and the whole of Jerusalem with him. He felt his throne was in danger and that could mean a future attack on the city.

Herod then called together the chief priests and scribes, experts in Jewish law, and asked where the Messiah was to be born. They said it would be in Bethlehem of Judaea, a small town not far from Jerusalem. They based their answer on a combination of texts taken from the prophet Micah (5:1) and the Second Book of Samuel (5:2) which read: “You, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the princes of Judah, since from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.”

Micah is writing during a period when the king in Jerusalem is under great threat from the Assyrians. But the tiny and insignificant town and clan of Bethlehem-Ephrathah is the seat of the Davidic dynasty from which will come the Messianic king to rule over Israel. The second part of the prophecy echoes a passage in the Second Book of Samuel where the tribes of Israel come to David in Hebron asking him to be their king. They say to him, “And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel and shall be commander of Israel’.” It was a powerful prophecy which clearly made Herod nervous.

Herod summoned the Magi and asked them the exact time of the star’s appearance. He then sent them off to Bethlehem with the instructions: “Find out all you can about the child. When you have found him, let me know so that I, too, can go and pay him homage.” Herod, of course, had a very different kind of homage in mind.

The Magi then set off and the star, which they had seen, now appeared again and stopped over the place where the Child was. Overcome with joy, they went into the house and found the Baby with Mary its Mother. They fell prostrate on the ground in homage. Then they brought out the gifts they had brought – gold, frankincense and myrrh, customary gifts in the Orient as signs of homage. On completion of their visit, they were told in a dream not to return to Herod but to return home by another route.

Then, in another dream, an angel appeared to Joseph and told him to take the child and his mother and find refuge in Egypt until told otherwise. That very night they left for Egypt and did not return until after the death of Herod. Matthew sees this as the fulfilment of a prophecy in Hosea (11:1): “Out of Egypt I have called my son.” In this way the prophet relates Jesus to the destiny of Israel. Just as God called Israel out of Egypt to create his own people, so now he will call Jesus out of Egypt into the land of Israel to accomplish his purpose of creating the new Israel or People of God. The story of the flight into Egypt thus enables this prophecy to be fulfilled in Jesus. Writing as he is for a Christian Jewish audience, Matthew likes to see events in the life of Jesus as the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies.

When Herod realised the astrologers had cheated him, he was furious. On the basis of the information the Magi had given him, he ordered that every boy of two years and under in Bethlehem and the surrounding area should be killed.

How many children actually lost their lives? One Eastern liturgy had 14,000 and another list said it was 64,000. A Catholic source in the early 20th century said that in a village of that size the figure could only be between 6 and 20 children. Still a tragic number.

According to Matthew, the massacre fulfilled a verse of Jeremiah (31:15), read as a prophecy of this event: “A cry was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation: Rachel bewailing her children; no comfort for her, since they are no more.” The text originally was a description of the tragedy of the Babylonian exile, when large numbers of Jerusalem’s citizens were taken off as slaves to Babylon. In the following verse God asks “Rachel” to stop weeping because her children “shall come again from the land of the enemy”. And so some commentators believe the purpose of Matthew for including Jeremiah’s words is not to connect the reference to “weeping” with the slaughtered babies, but rather with the Child Jesus, who has gone to a foreign land like Israel had before him but will return.

The Scripture commentator, Raymond Brown, suggests the account in Matthew is based on an earlier story which was modelled on the killing of the Hebrew firstborn by Pharaoh and the birth of Moses. Such a connection would have been easily understood by Jewish readers.

The feast of Holy Innocents has been observed in the Western Church since the 4th century. They were regarded as martyrs because they not only died for Christ but in place of Christ.

In honouring the Innocents, the Church honours all who die in a state of innocence, especially very young children and babies, and consoles parents of dead children with the conviction that these also will share the glory of the infant companions of the Infant Jesus.

In England their feast was called Childermas. Some English and French churches claim to have their relics.

[lowkeynando]

members of Levi, the priestly tribe, which did not have its own territory). However, since the tribe of Simeon lived well within the territory of Judah, it is not clear as to why this tribe was never included in this list (or as a part of the northern kingdom of the 10 tribes). Also, the tribes of Asher and Reuben were never mentioned as participating in anything after the conquest, living in either Phoenician (Asher) or Moabite (Reuben) controled territory. By the middle 9th century BCE the territory of Gad was also (re) taken by the Moabites (see Mesha Stele), so the Assyrians could at most have removed the other six tribes. Thus, the "10 tribes" appears to be a misnomer, meaning that all of the Jews were living outside the Kingdom of Judah. The Jewish historian Josephus (37-100 CE) wrote that "there are but two tribes in Asia and Europe subject to the Romans, while the ten tribes are beyond Euphrates till now, and are an immense multitude, and not to be estimated by numbers".

[3] In the 7th and 8th centuries CE, the return of the lost tribes was associated with the concept of the coming of the messiah. [4]:58-62 Claims of descent from the "lost tribes" have been proposed in relation to many groups, [5] and some religions espouse a messianic view that the tribes will return.

Historians have generally concluded that the deported tribes assimilated into the local population, and some of those Israelites whos AND

[s-afshar]

Ashurbanipal: the Coming King – Part II (1987)

Ashurbanipal: the Coming King - Part II

In this 2-series article (published back in 1987), I present a brief diagram of the Messianic Assyrian dynasty of the Sargonids (722-609 BCE), who ruled Nineveh as the exemplary universal empire of the World History; accepting Jonah's preaching, Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BCE) and his son and grandson, Sennacherib (705-681 BCE) and Esarhaddon (681-670 BCE), ushered the world to the Messianic Era of Ashurbanipal (669-625 BCE), who lived a first life as the Suffering Messiah, on the basis of contemporaneous historical texts and personal declarations, only to leave to posterity the claim to his exulted return and celestial reign. All posterior adaptations and identifications being fraudulent, the Second Coming of Ashurbanipal is instantly corroborated by the nature of his magnum opus. The two titles of the series are: "Ashurbanipal: the Righteous Suffering" and "Ashurbanipal: the Coming King". 

Ашурбанипал: грядущий царь - Часть ΙI

В этой 2-серийной статье (опубликованной еще в 1987 г.) я представляю краткую схему мессианской ассирийской династии Саргонидов (722-609 гг. до н. э.), правивших Ниневие�� как образцовой универсальной империей Всемирной истории; приняв проповедь Ионы, Саргон Ассирийский (722-705 гг. до н.э.) и его сын и внук Сеннахирим (705-681 гг. до н.э.) и Асархаддон (681-670 гг. до н.э.), открыли миру мессианскую эру Ашшурбанипала (669–625 гг. до н. э.), который прожил первую жизнь как Страдающий Мессия, на основании современных ему исторических текстов и личных заявлений, только для того, чтобы оставить потомкам притязания на его ликующее возвращение и небесное правление. Все последующие адаптации и отождествления являются мошенническими, и Второе пришествие Ашшурбанипала немедленно подтверждается характером его великого произведения. Два названия сериала: «Ашурбанипал: Праведный Страдающий » и «Ашурбанипал: грядущий царь».

Ασσουρμπανιπάλ Ερχόμενος – Τμήμα Β'

Σε αυτή την σειρά δύο άρθρων (δημοσιευμένων το 1987), παρουσιάζω ένα σύντομο διάγραμμα της Μεσσιανικής Ασσυριακής δυναστείας των Σαργονιδών (722-609 πτεμ), οι οποίοι κυβέρνησαν τη Νινευή ως την υποδειγματική παγκόσμια αυτοκρατορία της Παγκόσμιας Ιστορίας. Αποδεχόμενοι το κήρυγμα του Ιωνά, ο Σαργών της Ασσυρίας (722-705 π.Χ.), καθώς και ο υιός και εγγονός του, Σεναχειρίμπ (705-681 πτεμ) και Ασσαρχαδδών (681-670 πτεμ), οδήγησαν τον κόσμο στη Μεσσιανική Εποχή του Ασουρμπανιπάλ (669-625 πτεμ), ο οποίος έζησε μια πρώτη ζωή ως ο Πάσχων Μεσσίας, με βάση τα σύγχρονα τότε ιστορικά κείμενα και τις προσωπικές του διακηρύξεις, μόνο για να αφήσει σε όλους τους επόμενους την αξίωση για την εξυμνηθείσα επιστροφή του και την ουράνια βασιλεία του. Καθώς όλες οι μεταγενέστερες προσαρμογές του θέματος και ταυτίσεις προσώπων είναι ολότελα δόλιες, η Δευτέρα Παρουσία του Ασουρμπανιπάλ επιβεβαιώνεται ακαριαία από τη φύση του μεγάλου έργου του. Οι δύο τίτλοι της σειράς είναι: «Ασσουρμπανιπάλ Πάσχων» και «Ασσουρμπανιπάλ  Ερχόμενος».

-------------------------------   

Main units:

Introduction

The flight of the Assyrians and of the ten tribes of Israel

The exile and the return

Ashurbanipal as the Coming King

Ashurbanipal - the Righteous Suffering

Appendices:

Assyria and Nomads

Assyrians, Medes and Urartu

in: Inexplicable, February 1987, pp. 44-54

---------------------- 

Основные главы:

Введение

Бегство ассирийцев и десяти колен Израилевых

Изгнание и возвращение

Ашшурбанипал как грядущий царь

Ашшурбанипал – Праведный Страдающий

Приложения:

Ассирия и кочевники

Ассирийцы, Мидийцы и Урарту

в: Необъяснимое, февраль 1987 г., стр. 44-54

--------------------------  

Κυρίως ενότητες:

Εισαγωγή

Η φυγή των Ασσυρίων και των δέκα φυλών του Ισραήλ

Η μετοικεσία και η επιστροφή

Ο Ασσουρμπανιπάλ ως Ερχόμενος

Ο Ασσουρμπανιπάλ-Πάσχων

Παραρτήματα:

Ασσυρία και Νομάδες

Ασσύριοι, Μήδοι και Ουραρτού

στο Ανεξήγητο, Φεβρουάριος 1987, σ. 44-54

--------------------

Κατεβάστε το άρθρο: / Download the article: / Скачать статью:

[icephas]

Indestructible Hope - The Big Picture

Lesson 7, August 6-12

Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Habakkuk 1:1-4, Job 38-41, Isaiah 41:8-14, Jeremiah 29:1-10, Hebrews 12:1-13.

Memory Verse: “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5

When in church surrounded by smiling people, how easy it is to talk and sing about hope. But when we find ourselves within the crucible, hope does not always seem so easy. As circumstances press around us, we begin to question everything, particularly the wisdom of God.

In one of his books, C. S. Lewis writes about a make-believe lion. Wanting to meet this lion, someone asks if the lion is safe. The person is told that he’s not safe, “but he’s good.”

Even though we don’t always understand God and He seems to do unpredictable things, that doesn’t mean that God is against us. It simply means that we don’t have the full picture yet. But we struggle with the idea that for us to have peace, confidence, and hope, God must be understandable and predictable. He needs to be, in our thinking, “safe.” As such, we set ourselves up for disappointment.

The Week at a Glance: How does our understanding of the character of God help us maintain hope in the crucible?

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 13.

Sunday, August 7

When we are hurting, it is very easy to presume that what happens to us is the only thing that matters. But there is a slightly larger picture than just “me” (see Revelation 12:7, Romans 8:22).

Read Habakkuk 1:1-4. What did Habakkuk face?

You might expect that God would say something like, “That’s really terrible, Habakkuk; let Me come and help you immediately.” But God’s answer is the opposite. He tells Habakkuk that it is going to get worse. Read this in Habakkuk 1:5-11.

Israel had been taken into captivity by the Assyrians, but God promises that worse is coming: The Babylonians will now carry away the people of Judah. Habakkuk cries out again in verses 12-17, and then waits to see what God is going to say.

How does God’s introduction to the promised destruction of Babylon in Habakkuk 2:2, 3 bring hope?

Habakkuk 2 is God’s promise of the destruction of the Babylonians. Hebrews 10:37 quotes Habakkuk 2:3, hinting of a messianic application to this promise in the future. With the same certainty that the destruction of Babylon was promised, so we also have the certainty of the destruction of “Babylon the great” (Revelation 18:2).

Habakkuk was trapped between the great evil surrounding him and God’s promise of worse to come. Yet, this is precisely where we find ourselves in salvation history. Great evil is around us, but the Bible predicts that much worse is to come. The key to Habakkuk’s survival was that he was brought to see the whole picture.

Therefore, in chapter 3 he is able to pray an incredible prayer of praise because of what God will do in the future.

Read Habakkuk 3:16-19. What does Habakkuk identify as his reasons for hope? What is the hope of God’s people as we wait for the last prophetic scenes to unfold? How can you make this hope your own?