Unnoticed Gnostics ~ by Steve McGlade

Greetings friends and readers! 

I would like to introduce you to Steve McGlade, a brother in the Lord and student of the Word of God.  Our brother Steve has written several Bible studies and we are looking forward to sharing them with you!  Here is the first of many...

God bless you,

Pastor Rance

The early church was infiltrated by certain people who were called gnostics. Their name comes from the Greek “gnosis" which means to know.  The infiltration is clearly spoken of by Jude, whose little one chapter book is an exposure of the gnosticism of that time.  Without quoting all of Jude, I will pick out some interesting statements.

"For certain men have crept in unnoticed ". Jude v 4

Notice here, these people were in the Christian congregations but they often went unnoticed.  As we know, the early Christians would have agape feasts where they would get together for a shared meal and Christian fellowship Jude also says -

"These are spots in your love (agape) feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves".  Jude v.12

  

They are described as comfortably joining with us in intimate fellowship.

"They are clouds without water."  Jude v. 12

As we know water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, the Lord said that rivers of living water would flow from the belly of the true believer, yet these are described as having no water.  John 7 v. 38.  Jude also goes on to say that -

"These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit ".  Jude v.19.  Jude then describes them as people who "have not the Spirit ".  The Scripture is clear -

"Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His".  Romans 8 v. 9.

There were two main types of gnostic heresy in those days. Both groups believed that matter was intrinsically evil.  The docetic gnostics denied our Lord's humanity.  The word " docetic is from a Greek word which means " to seem ". They argued that Christ never had a real physical body, he only "seemed” to have one.  This is the heresy that John immediately begins to address in his first epistle.

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life." John 1 v. 1.

Notice here how John is emphasizing the humanity of Christ.  That...which we have HEARD.  Which we HAVE SEEN with our eyes.  Which we have LOOKED UPON.  And our HANDS HAVE HANDLED.  Even the word "handled" here is very informative, it is a word that is not used very often in the New Testament. It means to handle deliberately with a view to investigate. The word in Greek is “psailafao", it's root is “psallo , from where we get the word psalm.  It is used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament when Isaac who was blind, handled Jacob's hands with a view to investigate whether or not the person before him was Esau, because his voice sounded like Jacob's voice.

"So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he FELT him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”  Genesis 27 v. 22.

This same word is used in Luke 24 v 39, where Jesus bids his frightened disciples -

"Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: HANDLE me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have".  Luke 24 v. 39.

Jesus wanted His disciples to handle him so as to investigate that he was not a spirit, but rather he himself risen bodily from the dead.

Again when Paul was preaching to the people on Mars hill in Athens, he used the same word when he said -

"That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might FEEL after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us ".  Acts 17 v. 27.

As stated earlier, the root of this word is "psallo" from whence comes the word “psalm ".  The relationship between the two words is clear when we consider some of Strong's definitions of psallo -

a) to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate. 

b) to play on a stringed instrument, to play, the harp, etc. 

c) to sing to the music of the harp. 

d) in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song.

And when someone touches and handles a musical instrument, they must do it carefully in order to get the right sound.  It is as if they are investigating the instrument to see how to achieve the quality of sound that they desire.

Number 2.

Getting back to the first epistle of John , he explains to us one of the reasons why he wrote his first epistle.

" These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you ".

1 John 2 v 26.

As we have already seen , the deceivers in the early days of the church were known as gnostics.

Also we noticed that they believed that matter was inherently evil and that the body of our Lord only appeared to be material.

This helps us to understand certain remarks that John makes in chapter 4 -

" Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world ".

1 John 4 v 2-3.

Years ago when I would read these verses I would find them a bit difficult , because all of the cults that I had come into contact with did confess that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh.

These cults believe that Jesus Christ was born as a flesh and blood baby in Bethlehem.

It was only when I came to understand about the gnostic threat to the early church that I was able to understand these statements in their first context.

John also says -

" Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

1 John 2 v 18 - 19.

Notice here that John speaks of these people going out " FROM US " instead of " CONTINUING WITH US ".

Many people that are born again often backslide and leave church. They are not the ones that are spoken of here.

These statements recall to mind similar statements uttered by Peter in his second epistle -

" For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit, and, a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

2 Peter 2 v 20 - 22.

I have often wondered if Peter is speaking here of gnostics. It is known that they confessed Christ , although not according to the true Gospel. 

Yet somehow their testimony of Christ enabled them to infiltrate the true church.

I remember once reading a collection of early 

Christian writings and there alongside people like Athanasius and Polycarp was Valentinus , a significant second century gnostic , and incredibly there was no mention of the fact that he was a gnostic and not a true Christian.

It appears that they can still infiltrate today.

Getting back to Peter's statements , he appears at first to be speaking of born again Christians as some of his statements are very extreme , but then he goes on to speak of a dog returning to his own vomit and a sow having been washed then returning to the mire.

This is interesting as dogs are spoken of in the Bible as unbelievers -

" But outside are DOGS and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

Revelation 22 v 15.

Also the washing of the sow could refer to an outward washing which would produce a form of outward godliness without the inner reality.

But if you take a sow and clean it up on the outside , dress it in a nice suit , and seat it in the front row. It is still a sow inside and if it leaves the church it will soon go back to wallowing in the mire again.

Also the Biblcal languages are not always as nuanced in my opinion as our English language. Often the Bible will speak in extremes in a way that maybe we would not. Just to give two examples , firstly Jeremiah says to Israel -

" For thus says the LORD ‘Your affliction is INCURABLE , Your wound is severe. 13 There is no one to plead your cause, That you may be bound up; You have no healing medicines ".

Jeremiah 30 v 12 - 13.

This sounds pretty extreme. Yet further down in the same chapter the Lord says -

" For I will RESTORE HEALTH to you And HEAL you of your wounds,’ says the LORD ".

Jeremiah 30 v 17.

Our second example is Jacob's attitude toward Leah , the Scripture says -

" And he went in also unto Rachel, and HE LOVED RACHEL ALSO MORE THAN LEAH , and served with him yet seven other years ".

Genesis 29 v 30.

Then the very next verse says -

" And when the LORD saw that Leah was HATED , he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren ".

Genesis 29 v 31.

The word " hate " here ( sune ) , does mean " hate " in the Hebrew.

Strongs description of the word " hate " here is as follows -

To hate, be hateful.

Interesting how the " loved more " of verse 30 is the equivalent of the " hated " of verse 31.

This is what is known as the comparitive degree. 

For Jacob did not hate Leah as we use the word hate in english. It is simply a case of Rachel being Jacob's favorite wife , and that Leah was less favored.

After all Jacob and Leah had 6 children together.

This also sheds light on something Jesus said in the New Testament -

" If anyone comes to Me and does not HATE his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14 v 26.

This word " hate " ( miseo ) is just as strong in Greek as it is in Hebrew , and is where we get the first part of the english word " misogyny ", ( hater of women ).

Strongs entry for this word says -

To hate, pursue with hatred, detest.

Again although Jesus uses this very strong word to express the comparative degree , yet that is exactly what is meant here. Whenever there is a conflict of interest between our devotion to the Lord and our devotion to our nearest and dearest , the Lord must always comes first.

This is apparent when , after Jesus had explained to his disciples that he must needs go up to Jerusalem to be killed and raised from the dead. Peter probably in an attempt to display to the Lord the depth of his devotion took Him to one side and said-

" Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”

Matthew 16 v 22.

Jesus , far from being grateful , responded with single minded devotion to His Father's will --

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Mattthew 16 v 23.

After receiving such a stinging rebuke , Peter's wounded heart may have momentarily felt that Jesus love for him had suddenly turned to hate, but Jesus was more concerned with doing His Father's will than worrying about Peter's feelings.

Author:  Steve McGlade

Editor:   Ruth~Ann Waterhouse

Would you like to visit Israel?

We are just counting the days at this point until our departure for Israel.  For more information, our website link is listed below.  If you decide to join us, we can guarantee it IS the trip of a lifetime.  If you  go, your life will never be the same.  Come join us and visit the Land God calls "His Own". 

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God bless you and keep the Faith,

Pastor Rance

THE ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN

The origins of Halloween

by an Anonymous friend of our minstry

Halloween is a man-made tradition.  Traditions are not wrong in themselves, unless when celebrating them we violate Scripture.  With each tradition we need to think through the origins, the celebrations, and the consequences of each tradition and then pray and discern what our conviction is.  This paper is to aid in our pondering of Halloween

As you are reading this, read with your “Biblical Worldview” lens on.  See if there are any perversions of truth in this tradition.  Then let the Lord guide your thoughts, rejecting any pressure from our culture or from what “we have always done”.  I know that as we seek God He will direct our paths.

I have limited the details that are shared due to the fact that they are not edifying.  I have given you the basics so that a true picture can be obtained without causing fear.

Its origin

Halloween originated from the Festival of the Dead that traces back thousands of years in Ireland and Scotland.  It was a major day for the ancient pagan Celts and their priests, the Druids.  Oct. 31st marked the transition from summer into the darkness of winter.  They believed that the power of the Sun was fading and for the next several months darkness would prevail (until the first of May). Oct. 31st marked the beginning of the Celtic New Year and The Feast of Samhain.  This was a fearsome night, a dreaded night, a night in which great bonfires were lit to Samhain the Lord of Death.  He was known as the dark Aryan god, the Grim Reaper, the leader of ancestral ghosts.

The Celts believed on that night, Oct. 31^st,  the spirits of the dead rose up out of their graves, shivering with the coming cold of winter, and seeking the warmth and affection of the homes they once inhabited.  They believed even colder, darker creatures filled the night: evil witches flew and demons, fairies and ghouls roamed about as the doors of the burial graves opened wide allowing them free access to world of the living.  It was feared that unless these spirits were appeased with offerings and gifts they would do mischief and vengeance by destroying crops, killing cattle, and generally wreaking havoc.

So families offered what was most precious to them: food (the treat) which they hoped would be sufficient to offset anything which the ghostly blackmailers might otherwise be intended to inflict (the trick).  The ancient Celtic villagers felt however that merely feeding the spirits might not be enough to speed them on their way.  So the practice of dressing in masks and costumes began.  Chosen villagers disguised themselves as ghostly creatures, carrying a turnip or potato with a fearful, demonic face carved into it hoping they would intimidate the demons around them. They then cavorted from house to house collecting “protection money” to run the spirits out of town.

The Druids’ (the Celtic priests) ritual on this night included massive bonfires in which animals and humans were sacrificed.  (Bonfires were originally called bonefires…guess why?)  They felt by watching the writhing of the sacrifice in the fire they could foretell the future of the village.

Today’s witches

Today a witch (also called a Wiccan) is one who worships “Earth Mother” and the sun, moon and stars.  Even today witches believe that Halloween is one of the four greater festivals held during the year.  For them, Halloween celebrates a season in which the great goddess goes to sleep for the long winter months, giving way to the horned god who will rule until the goddess returns on the first of May. On Oct. 31^st, they congregate in some open place, often on a mountain top, to perform “black rites”. It is not only a time for feasting and joyful celebration but also a time for communing with the spirits of the dead.  They also believe the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest during this time, which makes Halloween the best time to contact the dead.

Today’s Satanists

Satanists are ones who worship Satan (the devil). Halloween, for them, is the second most important holiday of the year. (Number one is the night before the first of May)  Today Satanists don’t just try to contact departed spirits, they literally sacrifice and kill the innocent in the name of Satan on Halloween. Enough said.

The Catholic’s Churches Response

The observance of Samhain continued until 837AD when Pope Gregory IV instituted All Saints Day and All Hallow Eve, or Halloween, as a Church holiday.  This was hoped to eliminate or replace Samhain and its pagan practices. 

How did this get to America?

Irish immigrants in the mid-1800’s brought Halloween to America where it became a night of fun where children dress up and go door to door collecting candy from their neighbors.  Over the years it has taken a more fearful tone.  Movies about death and destruction abound, curiosity of the occult is on the rise, and video games are focusing our youth on darkness and killing.  The “fun” of the evening has again taking an evil twist.

Contrast

Can we see the contrast between wickedness and righteous?  Halloween’s origins are about death, darkness, and fear.  God’s Kingdom is about life, light and joy.

Scriptures to Consider

Hosea 4:6-People are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Ez. 44:23-Distinguish between the unclean and the clean.

Deut. 18:9-14-Do not learn to imitate detestable ways.

1 Thess. 5:21-22-Abstain from every form of evil

Eph 6:12-Our struggle is with spiritual forces of wickedness.

3Jn. 1:11-Do not imitate what it evil.

Rom. 12:9-Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.

Eph. 5:8-12-Have nothing to do with deeds of darkness.

2 Cor. 6:14-17-What fellowship does light have with darkness?

Rom. 13:12-Put aside deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

May the Lord bless you as You seek Him first in all things.

New blog post coming soon.  Thank you for your patience!

Happy New Year 5773!

Rosh HaShanah traditions: On the first night of Rosh HaShanah honey is served wi

th apples and round loaves of challah (egg bread). A blessing is recited over the bread, along with a prayer for a sweet new year. On the second night, a new fruit such as pomegranate is also served and a special prayer thanking God for bringing us to this season is recited.

This coming weekend begins the very special and holy time known as the High Holy Days: Rosh HaShanah (also called Yom Teruah – Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles or Booths). These Biblical feasts and fasts are called moedim in Hebrew, meaning appointed times.

The Book of Leviticus in the Torah specifies the reason for each of these appointed times, when they are to be kept, and how they are to be celebrated. Although many people, including Christians, consider these holidays to be “Jewish holidays,” they are in fact God’s Holy Days and festivals. As such, they are entirely relevant to anyone who is interested in knowing Him.

By: Jim Borge

Why is tonight different from all other nights?

Blessings to you all in the name of Yeshua HaMashiach, (Jesus the Messiah).  As we enter into this Holy season of Passover and Resurrection Sunday, there is connection between the two holidays that should "connect the dots" for those truly seeking Truth.   I remember the first Passover Seder (a Seder is a diner that recounts the Exodus story) that Rance and I attended, about 15 years ago.  We were astounded by the Biblical truths that were overlooked for many years, never having been taught the connection in church.  Ever since then, our hearts have burned within us regarding Biblical Truths and fulfilled and to be fulfilled Bible prophecy in the "Jewish Holidays", or as we prefer to call them, "God's appointed times".  Just this morning I received the following email from Messianic Bible Project.  (A wonderful ministry worthy of support)  How they explained it was so perfect that I wanted to share it with you, in the hopes that you will be ministered to in the Truth of the Word of God.  Shalom, Happy Passover, and blessings upon you on "HE IS RISEN DAY!"  Brandy Cook

Shalom Friends,

“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are
healed.”  (Isaiah 53: 5)

 

Tonight, the Biblical Festival of Passover (Pesach) begins, coinciding
this year with Good Friday.

 

On Sunday, as Passover continues, Believers will celebrate the resurrection of
Yeshua on Easter.

 

 

Friday at sunset, the eight-day celebration of Passover begins.
Jewish people will mark the beginning of this prophetic holiday,
which foreshadows the salvation wrought for all mankind
by Yeshua, with a ceremonial meal called the Seder, in which
the story of deliverance from slavery in Egypt is retold.

 

Around the world, as the Jewish People commemorate their exodus from slavery in

Egypt, and celebrate the saving power of the God of Israel, Believers in Yeshua
(Jesus)—both Jewish and Gentile—will celebrate freedom from slavery to sin.

 

This freedom, the salvation of Israel and all mankind, was accomplished through
the death, burial and resurrection of the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), as the
sacrificial Passover Lamb.  

 

“Messiah was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will
appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are
waiting for Him.”  (Hebrews 9:8) 

 

Though Yeshua endured an agonizing death to atone for the sin of the world,
He rose again on the third day.  Because He was completely sinless, death
could not hold Him.  Had He not borne our sins, He wouldn't have died at all.

 

In fulfillment of Scripture, Yeshua became our guilt offering, paying the price
for sin once and for all.

 

“…though the Lord makes His life a guilt offering, He will see His offspring
and prolong His days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand.”
(Isaiah 53:10)

 

While the guilt offerings on the altar of the Temple could only cover sin,
Yeshua’s death and resurrection actually removed sin for all time.

 

As Yochanan (John) said when he saw Yeshua coming to him at the Jordan River,
“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”  (John 1:29)

 

 

 

 

The Passover Lamb: When being Passed Over is a Miracle

 

“Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you
really are.  For Messiah, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”  (1 Corinthians 5:7)

 

Passover is rich in lessons for all Believers in Yeshua.

 

Were you ever passed over as a child when the sports team was being chosen?For a child, being passed over could be devastating.  Likewise, as adults,
being passed over for a promotion, raise, or a prestigious role can be very frustrating.

 

But being “passed over” during the first Passover was a miracle of deliverance.

 

During the very first Passover in Egypt, so that God’s judgment of Egypt would
pass over, the children of Israel were required to choose an unblemished lamb,
kill it, and place its blood over the doorposts and lintels of their dwelling places.

 

The Signs on the Door, by James Tissot

 

Today, 3500 years later, we are able to celebrate the Passover in all of its’
prophetic fulfillment.

 

We have the opportunity to place the blood of the perfect, chosen Lamb of God,
Yeshua, over the hearts and homes, so that by faith, we too will be spared from
the Divine judgment due to fall on this world.  This too is a miracle of deliverance.

 

“And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are; and
when I see the blood, I will pass over you [pasachti], and there shall no
plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”  (Exodus 12:13)

 

In Hebrew, the word for I will pass over is pasachti וּפָסַחְתִּי, which comes
from the word pesach, which means to hop, to skip over or spare, and to pass over.

 

The Angel of Death and the First Passover

 

Brandy, our salvation was wrought at such a great price.

 

The Messiah died in our place and paid the price for the sins that we
committed.

 

And despite celebrating the Passover year after year, so many Jewish
people do not know Yeshua!

 

Please click to bring Yeshua (Jesus) to the Jewish People now at Passover

 

 

Jewish men and women flock to the Western (Wailing) Wall on Pesach (Passover).

 

 

Yeshua is Prepared for Burial

 

“Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus [Yeshua].  …
With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away.”  (John 19: 38)

 

On Good Friday, Christians remember the horrific death that Yeshua suffered on
our behalf.

 

Believers also read how Joseph (Yosef) of Arimathea and Nicodemus
(Nakdimon) came to Pilate to ask for Yeshua’s body.

 

Because Jewish burial customarily takes place within 24 hours, in keeping with
Jewish practice, they sought to bury Yeshua right away.  

 

They also prepared Yeshua’s body for burial with tahara, ritual purification.
In this ritual, the body is cleansed, and then dried and dressed in takhrikhim,
a simple white shroud  (Mark 15:46-47).

 

“Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
Taking Yeshua’s body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of
linen.  This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.”  (John 19: 39–40) 

 

 

Although Yosef and Nakdimon carefully prepared
Yeshua's body for burial, when the women came to
the tomb after High Shabbat had ended, it was
empty and the burial linen was left to the side.
Yeshua had already risen from the dead.

 

When Yosef and Nakdimon performed the mitzvah of preparing Yeshua’s body
for burial, they were performing the duties of the Khevra Kadisha—an
organization that ensures the body is correctly prepared for burial and
protected from desecration.

 

By wrapping Yeshua in linen, they were practicing the custom of takhrikhim,
providing the proper burial garment for the deceased.

 

Since the Sabbath was quickly approaching, there was insufficient time to
complete the preparations before the holy day of the Passover began; therefore,
Yeshua was placed in a sealed tomb until the close of the High Sabbath day.

 

Thus, Yeshua was buried in a rich man’s tomb in fulfillment of the Messianic
prophecy in Isaiah 53:

 

“He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death,
though He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.”  (Isaiah 53:9)

 

However, more important than how Yeshua was buried is that He rose from the
dead and gained victory over death.  Hallelujah!

 

 

Both spiritual and physical death has been defeated through Yeshua’s victory,
as Saul of Tarsus (Paul) said:

 

“But Messiah has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits [bikkurim]
of those who have fallen asleep.   For since death came through a man [Adam],
the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die,
so in Messiah all will be made alive.  (1 Corinthians 15:20–22) 

 

This is the ‘Good News’ that we want to share with all Jewish people, so that
they can be sure of their place in the ‘olam habah’ (the world to come).

 

 

If you can help share this Passover Good News, click here now

 

Please help us reach the Jewish People, such as these ultra-Orthodox
Jewish men in Israel, with the Good News of Yeshua.

 

 

If Death is the Result of Sin, How could Yeshua die Sinless?

 

Since Yeshua’s death, burial and resurrection occurred in a Hebraic context,
examining Jewish customs surrounding death, burial, mourning and resurrection
can further our understanding of Good Friday and Easter.

 

Originally, God did not create mankind to suffer death.

 

The first book of the Torah, Bereshit (Genesis), reveals death as the judgment
of God upon mankind for their spiritual fall in the Garden of Eden.

 

After Adam and Chava (Eve) failed their test of obedience, God said:

 

“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the
ground [adamah], since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you
will return.”  (Genesis 3:19)  

 

When Adam and Eve sinned, all of mankind came under the curse of the
broken law.  Yeshua redeemed us from that curse.

 

The name Adam was taken from the word for ground or earth—adamah, since
the man (Adam) was taken from the ground (adamah).

 

This Hebrew word play reveals a spiritual truth: sin has brought physical death
to all of mankind and with it, a return to the earth (adamah).

 

Thus ends a person’s physical existence on earth, with the soul separating from
the body.

 

Yeshua’s death, however, was not due to His own sin, since He was sinless.  He
died when He took upon Himself the sins of the world.

 

“But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins.  And in Him
is no sin.”  (1 John 3:5)

 

The gospels of Mark, Matthew and John report that Yeshua was handed over
to the Roman soldiers, who clothed Him in a ragged scarlet cloak, jammed a
crown of thorns on His head, and mocked Him saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"  

 

 

Resurrection: a Jewish Belief

 

Traditionally, the rabbis believe that every Jew will be resurrected and
experience spiritual life.

 

As is written in Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), “The dust returns to the ground it
came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”  (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

 

Chapter 11 of the Book of Hebrews describes the great men and women of faith.
Some women received their dead back to life again, while “others were tortured
and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.”
(Hebrews 11:35)

 

The Tanakh (Old Testament) also describes a resurrection from the dead
and subsequent judgment.

 

The Hebrew prophet Daniel gives an account of what will happen in the last days:

 

“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting
life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”  (Daniel 12:2)

 

 

The empty tomb

 

 

Kria: The Jewish custom of Rending the Garments

 

“Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many
days.”  (Genesis 37:34)

 

In Judaism, there are seven immediate family members who are expected to
observe a seven-day mourning period: the father, mother, daughter, son,
brother, sister, and spouse.

 

These seven mourners participate in a special tradition.

 

To symbolize how death rips the fabric of life, their garments are symbolically
ripped just before the funeral.

 

In this tradition called kria, the parents and children rend the garment on
their left, closest to the heart.  Spouses and siblings tear their garments on
the right.

 

While this may seem like an odd tradition, it dates back to Biblical times
(Genesis 37:34).

 

In fact, at the moment of Yeshua’s death, the Heavenly Father also seemed to
observed kria in His grief over the death of His son of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah.

 

“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
The earth shook and the rocks split.”  (Matthew 27:51)

 

 

Thankfully, Yeshua’s death wasn’t the final word.

 

Just as He promised, death couldn’t hold Him (John 2:18–22; Matthew 26:31–32).

 

“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our
justification.”  (Romans 4:25)

 

The sting of death is sin (1 Corinthians 15:56), and in Yeshua, death has lost
its sting!

 

Therefore, we can live confidently without any fear of death or dying, as we
know that when we pass from this life, our lives continue eternally with our
loving Father in Heaven.

 

 

Please click now at Easter/Passover to bring Yeshua to Israel and the World 

 

 

Your gifts will make a difference for eternity.

 

Death Makes Heaven Real.

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?"

John 11:25-26

Daily routine. Wake up. Drink Tea.  Read the Bible.  Devotions. Care for family. Clean the house.  Go to the office... and then comes an unexpected phone call that someone you love has died. Then, all of a sudden, the world seems to stop and the reality of heaven or hell is in your face. Although this is a reality most of us live with on a daily basis, one that many have dedicated their lives to, in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and God's plan for salvation for mankind, it seems like someone throwing cold water in your face when one passes from this life to enter their eternal dwelling place.  In November and December of 2011, both my Grandparents passed away.  Truly this was one of my biggest fears, walking through this valley of the shadow of death of loosing them.  And now they are gone from this earth.

My heart rejoices knowing that they are now in the presence of the Lord, as the Bible teaches "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." (For the believer). The opposite is unthinkable. The pain is for us left behind, in which we desperately need the Lord's comfort. There is a verse in the book of Psalms (116:15) that says "Precious in the eyes of the Lord are the death of His saints." This is a reminder that God looks at the death of His children in a very different way than we do, for us left behind until our arrival.

Reality for me now is, THAT THEY HAVE FINISHED THEIR RACE - AND THEY HAVE SEEN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST.... YESHUA HAMASHIACH, they actually know what He looks like! Can you imagine???  Jesus Himself!

I have had to pause many times over the past couple of months and ask myself some serious, self examining questions. DO I LIVE IN THE REALITY THAT THIS LIFE IS TEMPORAL??? That in any minute, I could also die and be standing before Him, face to face? How different my life would be that if I lived with the CONSTANT revelation that in any second, I could be standing before my King? What in my life would I be ashamed of? Does my heart condemn me? Is there anything I am holding onto that He has asked me to let go of, and I have held onto? Have I "been about my Father's business", or my own? Am I walking with a repentant heart? Do I live my life with the reality that the choices I make are eternal?

I believe God uses all things for good for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose, (Romans 8:28) and in saying that, death does bring forth new life. The Bible says that He has placed eternity in our hearts.  Ecclesiastes 3:11. At the passing from this life on earth into the Lord's presence for my Grandparents, it has called me into the truthful reality that not only is heaven real, so is hell, and it's only a breath away.

So how am I living my life to walk out His purposes for me? "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 1st Corinthians 5:10

Praise the Lord for His sacrifice for me, because He died, I may live. "That if you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed." Romans 10:9-11

Since this loss (and heaven's gain) I find myself daily thinking about heaven. What are my grandparents doing right now?  What are they seeing?  There is a scripture that has been extra special to me, being 2nd Corinthians 4:18: "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."  I cannot see them right now, but I will.  They are eternal. And what a glorious reunion that will be!

All of a sudden, I have been awakened to something I've known for a long time.  Our eternal dwelling place is only one breath away.  So is seeing Jesus face to face.  And so is seeing those I love who were believers, who placed their faith and trust in Christ for their salvation.  I live in this reality more and more everyday, and the more the days go on, the deeper the longing to be with the Lord and those who my heart painfully misses.  At the same time, I have a purpose to fulfill on this earth, and I must be about my Father's business until he calls me home as well.  I need to live.  To live for Christ, my husband, my son, my family, friends and ministry He has given me.  Because I don't know when the breaths I am taking will be my last.

Death makes heaven real.

Written by
Brandy Cook

"What the caterpillar perceives as the end, to the butterfly is just the beginning"

Author Unknown

"SAFELY HOME"

I am home in heaven dear ones

Oh so happy and so bright

There is perfect joy and beauty

In this everlasting light

All the pain and grief is over

Every restless tossing past

I am now at peace forever

Safely home in heaven at last

Did you wonder how I so calmly

Trod the valley of shade?

Oh, but Jesus love illumined

Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me

In that way so hard to tread

And with Jesus arm to lean on

Could have no doubt or dread

Then you must not grieve so sorely 

For I love you dearly still

Try to look beyond earth's shadows

Pray to trust our Father's will

There is work still waiting for you

So you must not idly stand

Do it now while life remains

You shall rest in Jesus's land.

When that work is all completed

He will gently call you home

Oh the rapture of that meeting

Oh the joy to see you come!

~ Author Unknown~