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The study of the Bible in its historical context - with a focus on the archaeology, history, geography, customs , culture, and even the languages of the ancient Middle East. WE ask what did they understand THEN - the original intent of the Lord - so that we can expand and enrich our understanding NOW and thus become true disciples of Adonai Yeshua as in John 8:31-32.
Episodes
Tuesday Oct 28, 2025
Tuesday Oct 28, 2025
RAPTURE RESTORED 4
It is highly recommended that if you have not watched the previous videos that you do so before watching this 4th lesson. Each builds on what was taught in previous lessons. To easily access the entire series go to the website and once there click on the words OTHER RESOURCES on top of the page on the right side. A small menu will open and then click on TRUTH NUGGETS: THE RAPTURE RESTORED. This will open up the series page - just slide down with your "mouse." There you'll find links to all the lessons and many other links for your continued study. Below is the link to the website ...
Many know the famous verse ...
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. (1Th 4:16-17)
This seems to be the primary verse end times experts use to justify the "rapture." It is in the letter that Paul wrote in Corinth in and around 50 A.D. to the Messianic congregation in Thessalonica. When Paul wrote this letter there were NO other books of the New Testament available; none of them had been written yet. There are other very critical facts about this book that few Christians even consider. In this vidcast (video podcast) we will now study this letter in its historical and its ancient cultural context. Once we do the facts suggest that the so called rapture, as we understand it today, may not be what we think. Matter of fact it suggests that the rapture should be renamed to the INGATHERING of Yahvay's elect, His chosen, at the last blast of the Great Shofar. The rabbis teach that the righteous will then be gathered and then (in Hebrew יקחך YEET-KA-CHE-KA H3947 ) brought or captured or seized by the Lord back to the Promised Land in the clouds. They get this from ...
“Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows? For the coastlands shall hope for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from afar, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the Lord your God and for the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 60:8-9
This is from Deut. 30:1-4 where God predicts this amazing event that seems similar to the event as written by Paul in 1 Thess. 4:16-17. Interesting. Paul is a Torah expert. It seems he is only trying to teaching the Gentile Romans and Greeks who worshiped Yahvay in the Jewish synagogue about what Jews knew as part of their culture; they knew of the good news that the Lord will gather them again, all Israel, and they will live in peace and safety forever.
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name. They will forget their disgrace and all their treachery which they perpetrated against Me, when they live securely on their own land with no one to make them afraid. When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall be sanctified through them in the sight of the many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer. I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel," declares the Lord GOD.
(Eze 39:25-29)
So come and join us in this interesting study. Come and join us to consider a realistic and viable alternative as we restore the Rapture to its Jewish foundation, its Torah foundation, to the Ingathering of the Elect (Chosen) of the Lord.
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
Monday Oct 27, 2025
Monday Oct 27, 2025
RAPTURE RESTORED 3
In this video Bible study we go back 1000’s of years to investigate a prediction made by the Lord through Moses near the place called Shittim (pronounced SHH TEEM).
It was the camping place of the Hebrews just before Moses' death and then the crossing of the Jordan. This prediction seems to connect to Jesus’ prediction that He, Jesus, the Messiah (known as the “son of man” when He was here the first time) would gather His elect or His “chosen” in Matt. 24:29-31. Could it be that the “rapture,” that is discussed and debated today, has been named incorrectly? Is it possible that the rapture is really the ingathering of Israel as predicted in Deut. 30:1-5, Isa. 11:12, 27:13, 56:8 (Gentiles gathered?), 66:20 and Ezek. 20:34, 20:41, 37:12, 37:21 ? When we study the Bible in its historical context, when we focus on the words in the ancient Greek and Hebrew, when we consider the ancient Jewish culture of Jesus’ day and Paul’s day, it seems probable that the ingathering of Israel as predicted by the Lord, יהוה Yahvay, is what is mistakenly called the “rapture” in the 21st century.
This begins to make sense in that God over and over again says He will gather His chosen people, Israel, in the end times into the land He promised Abraham. It is the land Israel has never ever controlled. Solomon was close in his rule and reign. Once Israel is “gathered in” they will live securely in peace forever as the chosen of יהוה Yahvay, Adonai, the Lord. Paul teaches that in the end times all Israel will be saved. ALL. Paul does not separate non Christian religious Jews from Jewish or Gentile Christians. Paul even teaches we Gentile believers are “grafted in” to Israel and become joint inheritors of the promises of God. Paul does not separate the non Christian Jews from Christians. He says under the Lord’s inspiration, we are one family. So does the Lord. Jesus says in John 10 that He is the Good Shepherd and His Jewish disciples know this means Jesus is claiming to be the Shepherd of Israel as found in Ezekiel 34. The Hebrew Scriptures was all they had. But Jesus said there is another flock He will bring as well implying us Gentiles. And Jesus will make them one flock with one Shepherd. But, “rapturists” especially pre-tribbers, condemn all Israel to the horrors of the Tribulation but Christian Jews and Gentiles will be spared. These views go against the very words of God. This is man’s view and not God’s.
So, come join us. Come and consider the real viable alternative view of the “rapture” as we restore it to its Jewish roots. We restore the “rapture” to the INGATHERING OF THE LORD’S ELECT.
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
Sunday Oct 26, 2025
Sunday Oct 26, 2025
RAPTURE RESTORED 2
Have you read Matt. 24:29-31. No? Here it is …
“But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” (Mat 24:29-31)
There are so-called end-times experts, probably devout Christians, who say this verse is all about the Pre-Trib Rapture. Here, supposedly according to the opinions of the end-times expert, Jesus will come and rescue the Church from the terrible times, the horrible times, of God’s wrath falling upon all the pagan nations before Jesus returns. But, you can also find end-times experts who argue that Matt. 24:29-31 is Jesus teaching on the Mid-Trib Rapture. The Church will need to go through at least half the terrible times before being “caught up” or “raptured” and taken to Jesus to be with Him forever. But, on top of that you can also find end-times experts, again probably devout sincere Christians, who say Jesus is teaching that the Rapture will not come till after the Tribulation period. So, we see there are three groups of end-times experts and three separate views and interpretations on this one verse. So, who do you believe?
In these video lessons we will again study the Bible in its historical context. It is clear not one, no one, none of the end-times experts even addresses the Bible in its historical context nor do with focus on the Hebrew culture and language of Jesus' day. We will go back 2000 years ago to try and grasp what Jesus’ disciples, devout Jewish believers, understood when Jesus spoke the words in Matt. 24:29-31. But this time we will focus on the fact that in Jesus’ day there was NO New Testament. All they had was “Jesus’ Bible” or the Hebrew Scriptures that is called today the Old Testament.
Also, in Jesus’ day Jewish eschatology, Jewish end-times theology, was discussed and understood from the very words of God in Torah and the Prophets. So, in these lessons we need to get to what Jewish eschatology was and the fact that Jesus NEVER came against it.
We will also focus on the Hebrew. Why? There is solid strong evidence that Jesus’ everyday language was Hebrew. I mentioned some links I’d provide so you can study this further. Here they are …
LINK 1 – the book “Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus”
LINK 2 - Skip Moen’s article on the Hebraic foundation of the Gospels
https://skipmoen.com/subscribe/hebrew/the-hebrew-gospels/
LINK 3 – scholarly article found at “Hebrew 4 Christians”
https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Jesus_Hebrew/jesus_hebrew.html
As one studies this Rapture Controversy it is wise to consider becoming familiar with Jewish end-times views or Jewish Eschatology. One will find great connections between what the Church believes and it source in Second Temple Judaism, the days of Jesus. Here’s a link to an article that will give you the listener an introduction …
LINK – Jewish Eschatology
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/eschatology
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
Saturday Oct 25, 2025
Saturday Oct 25, 2025
RAPTURE RESTORED 1
Links and session notes are found under the picture for Part 2.
Friday Oct 24, 2025
Friday Oct 24, 2025
In lesson 60 we will continue our study of Isaac. Again and again we will see that even though Isaac is seemingly of less importance than his dad, Abraham, or his son, Jacob, nevertheless, Isaac is a “big deal.” Isaac is thus one of the Jewish Patriarchs and his position in this elite group of Bible characters is just as critical as the others.
One thing we will see again is the truth of this phrase first coined by Rabbi Moses ben Maimon or better known in Judaism as Rambam. In his commentary on Genesis that he wrote in the Middle Ages, Rambam noticed something and thus wrote …
מה שאירע לאבות סימן לבנים
Mah Shayra L’Avot Seeman L’Banim
“What happened to the fathers is a sign for the sons.”
Rambam Berescheit 12:6
In this lesson Isaac has problems with a Philistine named Abimelech and his herdsmen regarding wells. But, this happened to his father as well. There’s more. Isaac is the promised one to Abraham and Sarah. Isaac’s birth is miraculous! Sarah was beyond child bearing years but God took care of that. This repeats in Isaac’s life. Rebecca could not have children and Isaac prayed for his beautiful Rebecca for 20 years! God answered that prayer and Rebecca conceived. One might say another birth controlled by the hand of the Lord. This then reminds us of Yeshua, Jesus. He is the promised one just like Isaac. Jesus’ birth was an unbelievable miracle as the birth of Isaac and then later the birth of Jacob and Esau. Now we see what Rambam saw and why he wrote …
מה שאירע לאבות סימן לבנים
Mah Shayra L’Avot Seeman L’Banim
“What happened to the fathers is a sign for the sons.”
Rambam Berescheit 12:6
It is almost as if God is showing us that when we see events in the lives of Bible characters that repeat in a pattern later, it is a if God is saying, “I engineered all this. This is all by my hand. You can tell by how one event or one character is reflected in the lives and events of those that came below."
There is a Messianic congregation I know and respect. Their lead teacher wrote an article that relates to the saying of Rambam. Here’s the link to the article. This will add to your understanding. Link - https://rabbiyeshua.com/articles-by-kehilat/item/58-faith-of-our-fathers
Who is this guy, Rev. Ferret?
(Ferret outside a Bedouin tent in the Negev Israel)
What's his background? Why should we take time to listen to him? Here's a link to check out his background - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0
Friday Oct 17, 2025
Friday Oct 17, 2025
We’ve all heard the expression, “like father like son.” In this lesson we will see how this relates to Abraham and his son Isaac.
Perhaps, for many of us, we look upon Isaac as a minor Biblical character. His story is not very long in the Torah in Genesis. Matter of fact in the Hebrew Scriptures there are about 200 some verses connected to Abraham and about 100 for Isaac; Isaac seems to be not as important as his dad. But, this is a wrong view.
In this lesson we will see some amazing aspects of his life, Isaac’s life, and this will result in one conclusion; Isaac and his life is a big big deal. We will see that things in Abraham’s life seemingly are repeated in the life of Isaac. I wonder if this is where the rabbis got their insight into a Biblical concept they saw. It is captured in the phrase...
מַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹת סִימָן לַבָּנִים
Ma'asay Avot Seeman L’Baneem
... or “The deeds of the fathers are signs for the children.” So if one looks at Abraham’s life some of the events are signs or predictions for Isaac. In lessons 54 and 55 in this series we began to see that this was connected to Jesus as well. Indeed the rabbinic concept that “the deeds of the fathers are signs for the children,” is demonstrated in the unbelievable links between יִצְחָק Yeetzack and יֵשׁוּעַ Yeshua, Isaac and Jesus. We will see this continue in this lesson and in lesson 60.
Here are the links to lesson 54 and 55. Perhaps you have already listened to them. It might be good to go back and review. If you haven’t listened to those lessons, I highly recommend you go back, listen to them, and gain a more complete picture and understanding of the awesome standing of Isaac. So, here’s the links …
Lesson 54 – https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-8zhit-1139596
Lesson 55 - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-w7b5j-11507a8
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(Ferret - on top of the Pergamum Acropolis)
What's his background? Why should I listen to him? Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background
Wednesday Oct 15, 2025
Wednesday Oct 15, 2025
As we put the Bible into its historical context, we find our understanding of the first Passover is extremely limited from what is taught in traditional Sunday churches and Messianic groups. But, as we delve into the fact that the Exodus and the Passover are so affected by Egypt, its ancient culture, and pantheon of gods, the Passover takes on a deeper and more awesome meaning.
In this lesson (part 2 in this mini series on Exod. 12:1-14) we ask the question why did God wait till the 15th of the month, the night of the full moon, to come and kill all the first born in all Egypt? The dads of each household picked a lamb or goat less than 1 year old on the 10th of the month and kept it until the 14th. It was to be sacrificed on the evening of the 14th and after sundown, which means it is now the 15th of the month, at midnight, the Lord let His final hammer fall; the Lord executed the first born on all Egypt.
Was there something special about this night, the 15th of Nissan? Was it somehow different from other nights astronomically? Did it relate to Egypt, its gods? Once we study this we will be blown away and our understanding of the Passover we be expanded and enriched. On top of that we will see how it relates to Jesus, the Last Supper (the Passover Meal of the Messiah), His death, and resurrection. We will more see the awesome connection in that on the 15th on Nissan probably in 30 A.D. the first born and only begotten son of the Father, The Lord God, was executed. What we will learn is that it was the same in Egypt for Amun Ra, the “father” god of all the gods of Egypt. His only son was Khonsu, the moon god.
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(FERRET - SEA OF GALILEE)
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
Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
TRUTH NUGGET #16
For Hebrews they have a Middle East mindset unlike us who have a Greek mindset (Western). For Hebrews they represent major theological concepts many times in pictures. Like Jesus as a Jewish Rabbi telling teaching us that we are branches of the true vine and He is the true vine. In the psalms the writers like David use this Hebrew mindset and create pictures that those who lived in 1200 or 1000 or 900 B.C. would completely understand from the culture of those days. This video will consider two dramatic "pictures" of major attributes of the Lord in Psalm 52:8 and Psalm 18:33 and Hab. 3:18-19.
Does His word give us specifics as to how He does support us and help us in trials, troubles, suffering, and perhaps even in death? The Bible seems to give us a picture of times of trouble and suffering. The Bible seems to picture them as "high places" - like dangerous steep high cliffs that we must walk, saint and sinner, as we live and persevere in a fallen world. These pictures present amazing truths of our Lord and His love for us His people that can only be understood if you are Hebrew and lived in David's day of the days of Messiah Jesus.
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
Sunday Oct 12, 2025
Sunday Oct 12, 2025
Jesus teaches a harsh fact, a standard of measure He gives us. It is a tough thing to grasp and to apply in our lives especially in days like today in the USA of 2021. Jesus said …
"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Mat 5:43-45)
So, good things happen to the righteous and the unrighteous. They both experience bad things as well. There is no difference between Godly Christians and the ungodly, the ones who are anti-God or anti-Christ. On top of that we are to love our enemies. No where in the entire Bible do we read such a statement except here. Jesus does not negate the Torah, God’s instruction in the books of Moses. He does not negate the law in Lev. 19:18 that says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” but He adds to it. Jesus is saying our neighbor is our enemy, one who persecutes us and may even be out to do us harm and even kill us. It is Jesus’ requirement of us if we are to be true Christians, real disciples.
This is harsh. It is tough reality. We live in a fallen world and Jesus’ does not mince words. To be a disciple and take on His “standard of measure” is not easy; it is a matter of life and death.
But THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. There is an amazing reality that separates the Godly person from the ungodly, the righteous person following the Good Shepherd from the unrighteous person who follows the false shepherd. What is that difference? We see it in one verse in Hebrew in Psalm 4:3 and in the historical context of Jesus’ day. How might a disciple of Jesus understand Psalm 4:3? I suggest to you we need to grasp what they may have understood. It truly makes all the difference.
I mentioned in this lesson to consider listening to a podcast I did entitled, “For Such a Time as This.” It is a study on Phil. 4:6-7 …
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Php 4:6-7)
Listening to this podcast (in four parts) will add so much more to this lesson. If you click on the link below it will take you to the series, “For Such a Time as This.” They are in reverse order – session 4 is first and you need to “slide down” to access session 1 and begin the study.
LINK - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/?s=for+such+a+time
To complete your study even more, I also suggest you listen to the podcast series on the Lord’s Prayer. It is so related to Psalm 4:3 and the concepts in this verse and the concept of being a true disciple of Rabbi Yeshua, our Lord, our Savior, our God, Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Christ. See the link below to access the sessions on the Lord’s prayer. Once again they are in reverse order.
LINK - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/?s=the+lord%27s+prayer
Other Truth Nuggets on the Psalms ...
Nuggets 10 - Psalm 1 - I Am and Acacia Tree - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nugget-10-psalm-1-a-beatitude-of-the-acacia-tree/
Nuggets 2 - Psalm 23 and 91 - God's Hidden Tents - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nuggets-2/
Nuggets 1 - Psalm 118:24 - This is the Day - But It Isn't Today - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nuggets-1/
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
Friday Oct 10, 2025
Friday Oct 10, 2025
In Jesus' day the only Bible they had then was the Hebrew Scriptures (a.k.a. the Old Testament). In Matt 16:18 we read that Jesus will build His ECCLESIA G1577 upon a rock. But, Jesus did not mean church as we know it in the 21st century. He did not mean a building or an organization or a religion. He meant "a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place; an assembly" from Thayer's Greek Lexicon. So He meant people. How do you relate a group of people to a ROCK?
One thing that is possible is it may be connected to the location of where Jesus said this. He said it at a pagan Roman city called Caesarea Philippi 25 miles north of the sea of Galilee. This city was the location of a rock formation where pagans came to worship the god Pan in bizarre and immoral rituals. This was a "holy" pagan religious site where of pagan gods even from Old Testament days. Ray Vander Laan has an excellent (short) article related to this archaeological site and how it might connect to Jesus' words. Here's the link - https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/gates-of-hell-article
Here's a link to an awesome scholarly resource where you can study this archaeological site in detail with awesome pictures. Link - https://www.biblewalks.com/banias
Jesus at this place talks about building His assembly of followers on a ROCK. But, this is a place where an assembly of pagans gathered at a ROCK to worship pagan gods and goddesses. Is there something the Lord wants us to understand? But, in the book of Isaiah we read ...
"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, Who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn And to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When he was but one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him." (Isa 51:1-2)
Bible commentators both Jewish and Christian say this verse suggests that Abraham is the ROCK. And all the disciples of Jesus had then was the Hebrew Scriptures. They very likely knew this verse. So, did they somehow relate Jesus' words to Abraham? Needless to say we have some interesting connections to explore. This is what we will do in lesson 58. We will again study the life of Abraham and use it as a EULOGY to this man who is our "father" by faith as Paul teaches us in ...
Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. (Gal 3:6-7)
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise. (Gal 3:28-29)
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
( Ferret - teaching in a wadi somewhere in the Negev)
What's his background? Why should I listen to him? Check his background at this link -click here for the teacher's background