LIGHT OF MENORAH

Rosh HaShana - Part 2 - The Shadow of Messiah

SPECIAL PODCAST SERIES

The Fall Feasts of the Lord

Once again we return to Jesus' words in John 5:39 ...

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me." (Joh 5:39)

How do we "see" Jesus in Rosh HaShana?  This feast of the Lord is in the Torah, the main books of the Bible in Jesus' day when He said the words found John 5:39.  It is not how the Jewish people celebrate this feast.  NO!! It is how the word testifies of the Messiah, Jesus the Christ.  How does the Shofar sound of this feast show us Yeshua?

The word of God is clear, crystal.  These are not the Jewish feasts.  God says they are not but He says ...

The LORD spoke again to Moses, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'The LORD'S appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations--My appointed times are these: 
(Lev 23:1-2)

Today the church does not celebrate one of God's "feasts." One can see why.  Our pastors and leaders are not trained in Hebrew, Greek, or the Bible in its historical context.  The "church" has always looked upon the feasts as Jewish and that Jesus did away with the law.  So, we do not see a reason to do Jewish feasts.  But they are not Jewish feasts.  They are the Lord's.  Perhaps, if we "see" how they relate to Jesus, a church may consider a service on the evening or day of Rosh HaShana.  The service might entail songs of praise and thanksgiving and perhaps a community meal or pizza party.  Once you see the Christian meaning of all this then a church could once again say to our Father, "Abba, we come today to join with you on YOUR 'appointed time' and seek Your face and Your love on Your Feast that we have turned from in our lack of understanding.

In parts one and two and three of this series we will focus on Rosh HaShana.  We will find that the rabbis made up the name, Rosh HaShana, and said the feasts was a celebration of the New Year.  No way - not in its historical context.  Once we get the rabbinic midrash out of the way the meaning of this feast, called the Day of the Blast in Torah, becomes clear and powerful and then we can see Jesus, we can see the Messiah.  It then is a challenge for the "church" to understand Yom Teruah, Rosh HaShana, and to consider a praise service to honor the Lord and meet with Him on His "appointed time," and time and day He wants us to get together.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

 

Rosh HaShana Part 1 - THE DAY OF THE BLAST

SPECIAL PODCAST SERIES

The Fall Feasts of the Lord

Once again we return to Jesus' words in John 5:39 ...

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me." (Joh 5:39)

He said this sometime between 24-30 A.D. and scripture then was the Hebrew Scriptures (a.k.a. the Old Testament).  The primary books of the Hebrew scriptures is the Torah, the first five books of the Bible.  Thus, then, how do these scriptures testify of Jesus?  How do we see Jesus in the Torah?  This relates to the Rosh HaShana since this "feast" is mentioned several times in the Torah.  So, how do we "see" Jesus in Rosh HaShana?

The word of God is clear, crystal.  These are not the Jewish feasts.  God says they are not but He says ...

The LORD spoke again to Moses, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'The LORD'S appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations--My appointed times are these: 
(Lev 23:1-2)

Today the church does not celebrate one of God's "feasts."  Not one except Pentecost, or in Hebrew, Shavuot, the feast of weeks.  And, even then, they do not even understand the deeper and more expanded meaning of Pentecost.  Why not?  Simple, the church is so cutoff from its Jewish roots.  It has been emphasized that the old is done away with and the new has come so we are not under the rules and commands of the Old Testament.  The "church" has taught for centuries that what is Jewish is wrong, obsolete, and Jesus came against it.  This is totally wrong and misguided.  Jesus never did away with the Torah and the commands in Torah.  He came to complete the Torah, to do what the Torah could never do.  Just like we read when Paul taught in the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia in southern Turkey ...

"Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses (another way of naming the fist five books of the Bible, the Torah). (Act 13:38-39)

 

Jesus is God, Jesus is Lord, and Paul reiterates that there is only ONE God. Thus, these "feasts" are His, they are the feasts of Jesus.  I suggest that once you see Jesus in these commanded times the church can then consider to do these feasts in a Christian way as we see Jesus.  

In parts one and two and three of this series we will focus on Rosh HaShana.  We will find that the rabbis made up the name, Rosh HaShana, and said the feasts was a celebration of the New Year.  No way - not in its historical context.  Once we get the rabbinic midrash out of the way the meaning of this feast, called the Day of the Blast in Torah, becomes clear and powerful and then we can see Jesus, we can see the Messiah.  It then is a challenge then to the "church" to understand Yom Teruah, Rosh HaShana, and to consider a praise service to honor the Lord and meet with Him on His "appointed time," and time and day He wants us to get together.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background

 

 

Genesis 13 - Gen. 4:4-16 THE ANGER OF CAIN AND THE 1ST MURDER

God asks Cain where Abel was? He was not around? Something had happened. We know that something happened when we read ...

"Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him." (Gen 4:8)

This was the first murder stemming from Cain's anger as recorded in the Torah. And we know that it says that ... "You shall not murder." (Exo 20:13). The King James got it wrong when it says thou shalt not kill. The Hebrew word is תרצח H7523 pronounced "tretzach" does not mean kill but murder as in the Gesenius Lexicon. And later in Exod. 21:12-14 we read ...

"He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee. If, however, a man acts presumptuously toward his neighbor, so as to kill him craftily, you are to take him even from My altar, that he may die." (Exo 21:12-14)

But, if God wants murderers executed why was Cain kept alive? Shouldn't have Cain been killed by God to maintain unity of His law and commands? Interesting. Let's go and explore this event in its historical context and in the Hebrew and not the English.

 

 

Rev. Ferret (above - teaching at the gates of the ancient city of Gezer) - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him? Check it out at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

 

 

 

Bible Study - The Puzzle of the End Times

Class starts next Sunday 9/29.  Only half the seats remain.  Watch the video to get more info and to reserve a seat.

Genesis 12 - Gen. 4:1 - AND ADAM KNEW HIS WIFE CHAVA

The way is closed to the Father and the Tree of Life.  This was the ending of Genesis chapter 3.  Now what?  This is where it is clear that Jesus, when He says in John 5:39, sometime between 24-30 A.D., that scripture (it was only the Old Testament then) testifies of Him, we see the GOOD NEWS, the GOSPEL according to Moses.  Jesus says He is the Way and the Truth and the Life.  He is the Way and the only way to the Father!  This is obviously so connected to the fact that the way is closed to the Father after the sin of Adam and Eve.  But, Jesus is clearly telling us the WAY is open, we can go back , we can enter Gan Eden, Paradise, if we chose Him. 

Adam and Eve freely chose to disobey God and they lost it all.  Now, God sets up the same situation in reverse.  If we chose Jesus then we gain it all, we gain eternal life!   But, in Matthew's Gospel Jesus says that there are many who will come and say they did this or that in Jesus' name.  And Jesus said that is nothing.  It amounts to NIL.  Why?  Jesus said

He did not KNOW them

I wonder.  Jesus is speaking Hebrew and not Aramaic.  He says they did not KNOW Him.  The first time this word comes up in the Torah is Genesis 4:1, or Adam KNEW his wife.  Is there something about this word KNOW in Hebrew that will give us insight into our relationship with Yeshua?  You bet.   

 

Rev. Ferret (above - teaching at the gates of the ancient city of Gezer) - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him? Check it out at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

 

 

 

Genesis 11 - Gen. 3:24 - THE WAY IS CLOSED

The way is closed to the tree of life and the Father.  How can we get back?  How do we come again to be with our Abba, to dwell with Him in His Kingdom?  There has to be a way?  

In this lesson, in this verse of Gen. 3:24, we see what Jesus meant in John 5:39 when He said that Scripture testifies of Himself.  He said it between 24-30 A.D. in the Temple Courts.  The only Bible they knew then was the Torah, the Prophets (HaNevi'im) and the Writings (HaKetuvim) or the TaNacK, the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament.  Old?  Nothing old about it - it is God's word and God said His word is the Bread of Life.

Rev. Ferret (above - in a tomb in the necropolis of the ancient city of Hierapolis in Turkey) - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Exodus 54 - Exo. 22:16-17 - SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE - WHAT DID WE MISS??

Some people think that the word "fornication" means sex outside of marriage. Some say that this is what it means in the Bible.  NOPE.  Sorry folks.  Fornication comes from Greek and from Hebrew that have nothing to do with sex before marriage.  God never states specifically that pre-marital sex or sex outside of marriage is a sin – even in the New Testament. 

But it is 

How does God teach us that sex before marriage is a sin?  How does He teach this in His Torah, His "instruction?"  How did He get this across to His chosen people, the Hebrews, coming out of Egypt?  How did God do this to His people in the 1st century A.D. when He, Yeshua HaMaschiach, Jesus the Messiah, God Himself, was here with us?  And remember, Jesus’ Bible was the Old Testament and the Old Testament never specifically says that sex before marriage is a sin. 

But it is

We missed it.  He did teach it.  But, once again we need to put the Bible into its historical perspective.  You will NOT get this is you simply read the Bible in English.  Once again as it was understood in Jesus' day among the great Bible teachers, study to learn and learn to do. 

One needs to understand how God taught them THEN, thousands of years ago, so we can understand NOW.  Sex outside of marriage is a sin and, on top of that, it looks as if it is something God hates.  Wait till you see.

Here's a number of links I promised in the podcast you many find very enlightening.   The first ones relate to articles from Jewish scholarly sources that show the Torah is silent on sex before marriage.  

MY JEWISH LEARNING –

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/jewish-views-on-premarital-sex/#:~:text=When%20sex%20is%20reserved%20for,within%20the%20context%20of%20kiddushin.

AISH – Orthodox Jewish Teaching Site –

https://aish.com/premarital-relations/

JEWISH VIRTUAL LIBRARY –

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/premarital-sex

The second set of links show that premarital sex was common in Greece and Rome and ancient Egypt and Canaan.

Link 1 - the practice of sex outside of marriage, abortion, and infanticide in ancient Greece and Rome –

https://soc.history.ancient.narkive.com/DIO506S4/world-before-christ-infanticide-and-abortion-in-ancient-pagan-world

Link 2 - WORLD HISTORY ENCYCLOPEDIA –

https://www.worldhistory.org/article/934/love-sex-and-marriage-in-ancient-egypt/

Link 3 - THE NOT SO INNOCENTS ABROAD –

https://www.thenotsoinnocentsabroad.com/blog/the-sex-lives-of-ancient-egyptians

Link 4-6 – Ray Vander Laan's article on ancient pagan religion and practices –

https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/fertility-cults-of-canaan

https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/hellenism-center-of-the-universe

https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/innocent-blood

Link 7 - my research article for my master's degree in Biblical history.  The focus is on adoption in ancient Turkey (Asia Minor) but relates to infanticide in ancient Rome.  The bibliography is invaluable - https://www.dropbox.com/s/i0fg3wwbm9xohzq/Ephesus%20Adopt.pdf?dl=0

Ferret - on top of Tel Azeka in the Shephelah in Israel

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

TRUTH NUGGETS - 20 - Against the Gods - Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7 Formed in His Image

In vidcast 3 of this series we will study Gen. 1:26-27 and 2:7.  God creates man and woman.  It is a Bible story we are all so very familiar with.  However, 3400 years ago, if you were a Hebrew on the plains of Moab, one of the second generation out of Egypt, or if you were one at the Red Sea when God spilt the sea and you were saved from Pharaoh’s chariots and his army, or if you were one of the Hebrews at Sinai where you heard and saw the amazing events when God gave the Ten Commandments; if you were one of those Hebrews, how may you have heard and understood the scripture verses written by Moses about the creation of man and woman?  Probably a lot differently than we do today.  But, they were the intended audience to hear God’s word first.  Not us.  Yes, it was intended for us but we need to reconnect to that ancient culture of 3400 years ago.  God’s people had assimilated into the Egyptian culture and after 430 years since Jacob (Israel) and his sons entered Egypt till 1446B.C. when they left, all they knew coming out of Egypt was Egypt, its gods and its religion.  God was using Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy to teach His people about Himself and to take the influences of Egypt out of the minds, souls, and hearts of His people.  When we reconnect to those ancient days then we begin to see what they saw and we begin to hear what they heard and our understanding of God and His word is enriched and enhanced and expanded.  Yes, we know about the creation of man and woman and think it is an ancient story that has no application for us today in the sophisticated 21st century.  How can that story impact us?  Wait till you see!

So, let’s go and study how the creation of man and woman was a major revolutionary concept 3400 years ago among the pagan cultures of those days.  Let us grasp the enhanced ways through polemic theology that God used to  help His people to know the truth and to come against the false gods and false religions of Egypt and Canaan.  Let us understand who we are, men and women, made and formed in His image and how that relates to us today.  

Great article on the book of Genesis as a polemic against Egypt and Canaan.  Link - https://apologetics.substack.com/p/genesis-the-polemic

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Genesis 10 - Gen. 3:1-24 - YOM - How Long is a Day?

God said to Adam and Eve that on the day they eat from the special tree they would die.  They did not die the day they ate the "forbidden" fruit.  Adam lived a long time - 930 years.  The Hebrew word for day is -  יום - YOM.  Does it mean a 24 hour period?  Does it mean one day from midnight to midnight?  If so then we have a problem with Gen. 2:4 - it clearly states that God created the heavens and the earth in a day. 

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven. (Gen 2:4)

But in Genesis 1 it took 6 days.  So, is this an issue with the word of God?  Did God make a mistake?  Did God mean it when He said to Adam and Eve they'd die the day they ate from the special tree?  

Another thing we will consider is John 5:39.  Jesus says this in 24-30 A.D. to those Jews THEN that all scripture testifies of Himself.  What scripture did they have THEN?  All they had was the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament.  I don't like calling it the Old Testament since there is nothing "old" about it - it is God's word!  The foundation of the Hebrew Scriptures is the Torah, the first five books - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  As we focus on Genesis 3 we will see Jesus like never before as He said He is the only WAY to the Father.  In Genesis 3 we will see the GOSPEL as God inspired Moses to write it - the Gospel According to Moses.  Here's a link to a website that helps with understanding Hebrew words like יום - YOM - click the links to study the Hebrew word YOM …

Link 1 from GotQuestions.org - https://www.gotquestions.org/Genesis-days.html

Link 2 from Facts and Faith.com –

http://factsandfaith.com/does-the-hebrew-word-yom-translated-day-in-genesis-1-mean-a-24-hour-day-or-something-else/

 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

TRUTH NUGGETS 19 part 2 - Against the Gods - Genesis 1:21 Great Sea Dragons

TRUTH NUGGETS 19 Part 2

Against the Gods - Genesis 1:21 Great Sea Dragons

In this video lesson 2 we focus on Gen. 1:21.  What did God create; great sea creatures or were they whales or big fish or, as found in one Jewish translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (a.k.a. the Old Testament) were they were crocodiles?  Our translators had difficulty with this verse since in Hebrew the actual meaning is great sea monsters!  This sounds like a children's story rather than God's word.  So, our translators may have decided it had to make sense for us today in the 21st century.  I mean guys, I haven't see any sea monsters lately.  

But, for the Hebrews, they had lived in Egypt and lived with man-made visions of the gods.  One god is a ram another is a jackal and another a falcon.  And God is taking them to Canaan, the "Promised Land," where the Canaanites also had gods that were clearly figments of man's imagination.  So, the phrase in Gen. 1:21 of great sea monsters might mean something to the Hebrews.  Perhaps God is teaching them something that relates only to what the Hebrews faced 3400 years ago.  Perhaps He is using a pagan god or a pagan mythological beast to teach His people.  God knows there are no sea monsters.  But the pagans did!  Perhaps even the Hebrews fell victim to such beliefs.  He needs to prepare His people for entering Canaan and be ready to bring the "Gospel of the Kingdom" to the Canaanites and later the world and to help the Canaanites to understand "there ain't no sea monsters" and to grasp truth and who is God. For Israel this was their mission as we see in ...

He says, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant (in Jesus' day it was understood that Israel was the servant) To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation (Jesus' name in Hebrew means salvation) may reach to the end of the earth."  (Isa 49:6)

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0