Schriftstudies :: 10-Studies-in-English - 01-The-State-of-Israel-in-danger.htm

In an article on December 4, 2014 from the magazine Arutz SHEVA Mordechai Kedar expressed his great concern for the survival of the State of Israel:

What began in Oslo as "Gaza and Jericho first" today threatens the very existence of Israel by creating a parallel Palestinian state from Dimona and Beer Sheva in the south up to Afula and Beit Shean in the north, running along the coastal cities – including Tel Aviv and its suburbs.

European parliamentarians, one after another, recognize a Palestinian state, despite the fact that they have no way of ensuring that this country will not be run by a terrorist organization – Hamas . This would not have come to passhad Israelis not supported the "legitimacy" of the Palestinian narrative" because the Europeans say to themselves: If the Israelis, the Zionists, adopt the idea of a Palestinian state for the Palestinian people, why do we have to be more extreme than they?

This is how the "Palestinian narrative" was adopted and established a terror state on the hills of Judea and Samaria, the cradle the people of Israel in biblical times and its natural milieu today.

The state of Israel will eventually be reduced to the coastal plain, the area that was conquered by the Philistines, invaders from the Greek Isles. That is how the goddess of history laughs at those who do not learn about themselves from history, that is how she avenges the sins they commit against themselves… We are on our way to a terrible war with a terrorist entity that the world is establishing against us.

How should we who live in the perilous times of autumn 2016, look at this issue? Is the State of Israel in its current form really doomed?
In Tehilim (Psalms) 127, a pilgrim song of Solomon, every Jewish reader is being faced with an important principle:

If יהוה is not building the house, they labor in vain that build it;
if יהוה is not garding the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

The principle here, deposited by Solomon, is applicable to the State of Israel, which was founded in 1948. It was a purely human initiative, not that of אֱלוֹהִים יהוה.
Evidence for that view is being delivered every day, and in recent months even increasingly.

Since the third galoeth began with the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70, many Jews in 1948 - with the proclamation of the State of Israel – had the feeling finally having come "home" into their own country, in the good old Eretz Yisrael, and there - after long and painful wanderings - finally to be safe.

But the opposite is actually true: Now, since more than 67 years have passed, it is more dangerous than ever to stay in that old homeland.
What's wrong? Lots of things!

Certainly, in many passages of Scripture the restoration of God's people Israel (Jacob) in their own country is announced. The oldest we find in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 30.
After Elohim in the preceding chapters had announced repeatedly that Israel would face severe hardship in the Diaspora, his representative Mosjeh fortunately can also provide a comforting announcement:

And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt bethink thyself among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, and shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and hearken to His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul; that then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the peoples, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. If any of thine that are dispersed be in the uttermost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will He fetch thee. And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and He will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. And the LORD thy God will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, that persecuted thee

JPS Tanakh 1917.

What a superb prophetical promise, where one can consider moreover that אֱלוֹהִים יהוה then proved already to be completely familiar with the entire historical development of his people Israel, his Wife-Congregation, even before the Israelites could have put one foot in the Land of Promise. Already then JHWH knew - it turned out much later - that he would expel his ‘Wife’ to all nations, but also that afterwards he would gather her again.

But for a sincere observer surely one thing should be very clear: To date, the fulfillment of this promise did not come.
אֱלוֹהִים יהוה has certainly not brought back his people to the dear country. And surely, the Jews as a people have not taken at heart all these things: the blessing and the curse which I set before you.

What has taken place since 1948 was all just human initiative. The State of Israel operates on a democratic basis. Theocratic government is absolutely out of the question!
The State - a collection of political parties that constantly disagree with each other – proves more than ever to be a mockery of the Most High Himself if really He would be responsible!

Lo-Ammi and Lo-Ruchamah

Israel is still in the state of Lo-Ammi and Lo-Ruchamah, which is elaborated in the book of Hosea.
At Sinai אֱלוֹהִים יהוה entered into a marriage relationship with his Exodus Nation,
In Ezekiel 16 He himself looked back on that wonderful development:

Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: ‘Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, and say: Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem: Thine origin and thy nativity is of the land of the Canaanite; the Amorite was thy father, and thy mother was a Hittite. And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water for cleansing; thou was not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. No eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field in the loathsomeness of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.

And when I passed by thee, and saw thee wallowing in thy blood, I said unto thee: In thy blood, live; yea, I said unto thee: In thy blood, live; I cause thee to increase, even as the growth of the field. And thou didst increase and grow up, and thou camest to excellent beauty: thy breasts were fashioned, and thy hair was grown; yet thou wast naked and bare. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, and, behold, thy time was the time of love, I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness; yea, I swore unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest Mine. Then washed I thee with water; yea, I cleansed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee also with richly woven work, and shod thee with sealskin, and I wound fine linen about thy head, and covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a ring upon thy nose, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thy head. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and richly woven work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil; and thou didst wax exceeding beautiful, and thou wast meet for royal estate. And thy renown went forth among the nations for thy beauty; for it was perfect, through My splendour which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.

But alas, Israel did not continue to be faithful to her Husband.

Another piece from Ezekiel 16:

But thou didst trust in thy beauty and play the harlot because of thy renown, and didst pour out thy harlotries on every one that passed by; his it was. And thou didst take of thy garments, and didst make for thee high places decked with divers colours, and didst play the harlot upon them; the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so. Thou didst also take thy fair jewels of My gold and of My silver, which I had given thee, and madest for thee images of men, and didst play the harlot with them; and thou didst take thy richly woven garments and cover them, and didst set Mine oil and Mine incense before them. My bread also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou didst even set it before them for a sweet savour, and thus it was; saith the Lord GOD. Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto Me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Were thy harlotries a small matter, that thou hast slain My children, and delivered them up, in setting them apart unto them? And in all thine abominations and thy harlotries thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and wast wallowing in thy blood.

(Tanakh 1917))

In the book of Hosea that disloyal attitude of Israel towards her divine Spouse is aptly portrayed in the marriage that Hosea had to enter with Gomer; into a wife of fornication and children of fornication, which portrayed Israel - by whoring herself - would turn away from following her Husband YHWH.

In Hosea 2:2-13, God's indictment against Israel is formulated in detail. In verse 2 we read: Against your mother, bring charges. For she is not my wife, and I am not her husband. Let her take away the signs of the fornication of her face and put away the signs of the adultery between her breasts.

With the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in 70 AD YHWH Elohim demonstrated that his Wife Nation would be provisionally Not-My-People. Since then, she has remained in the position of No-Mercy.

What sad!
All this also means that the prophecy in Hosea 3:4-5 is still waiting for fulfillment:

For the sons of Israel will be many days live without king and without prince, and without sacrifice and without pillar and without ephod and teraphim. Thereafter will return the sons of Israel, and look for YHWH their God, and David their king; and they will come trembling to YHWH and to his goodness in the last days.

The state Lo-Ammi and Lo-Ruchamah will therefore come to an end and that time is not far off on the horizon! Recovery is in sight: אֱלוֹהִים יהוה will take back his Wife Nation, just as Hosea in a very compassionate way took back adulterous Gomer by redemption. Having said אֱלוֹהִים יהוה to Hosea Go again, love a woman who is loved by a companion and commits adultery, we read that Hosea proceeded to the following action: Then I bought her to me for 15 pieces of silver and 1 1/2 homer size barley.
See: Hosea 3:1-2 .

A new Marriage Covenant

So there will also be a redemption for God's own Woman!
But in real terms that means that a whole new scheme should be made for that transaction. There can be no recovery by redemption based on the Old (legislative) Covenant, God's original marriage covenant with Israel.

However, the good news is that YHWH Elohim that new regime long ago has provided. He let Jeremiah predict that a New Covenant with his people would be concluded:

Look! There are days coming, assurance of YHWH, and I will conclude with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant; not one like the covenant that I have concluded with their forefathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, and I had them as a husband (Jer 31).

A New Marriage Covenant therefore; the Sinai Old Covenant Marriage does not suffice. Why not? Because the animal sacrifices which were at the basis of that Covenant could not really cover the trespasses. Animal blood has no real redemption value.

Very understandable, of course, but in that respect God's people still has to take a great spiritual step for attaining the knowledge of the truth that a pious Jew in the first century, around the year 60 AD, already penned:

Because the law - having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very substance of the facts themselves - is never capable with the same sacrifices which are continually offered year after year, to bring those who draw near to perfection. Would otherwise the [sacrifices] not have ceased being offered, because those rendering that service to God - once cleansed forever - no consciousness of sins would have anymore? On the contrary, in those [sacrifices] there is an annual reminder of sins. Because it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

That legitimate observation is exactly the critical point for Israel: The New Covenant, to come into force, needs a more excellent sacrifice than a bull or buck!

The possible establishment of a Third Temple, something many Jewish people so eagerly long for - a temple where again animals are sacrificed - will therefore not bring any benefit to any Jew!
On the contrary, in Isaiah 66:1-5 YHWH Elohim has revealed already previously his displeasure over such an enterprise:

The one slaughtering a bull is like someone who beats a man. The one sacrificing a sheep breaks (as it were), a dog's neck. Who brings a grain offering - pig blood. Who sacrifices incense for a memorial, blesses an idol. They are the ones who have chosen their own ways. Their soul delights in their abominations.

(Verse 3).

Inability to repurchase on the basis of sacrifices belonging to the Old Covenant, came in figure powerfully to light when Peloni Almoni in the gate of Beth Lechem, in the presence of Boaz and ten elders, had to admit - I am unable to repurchase - even though he had the oldest rights!
See: Ruth 4

Let us therefore consider the New Marriage-Covenant more closely. According to Jeremiah 31:31-34 we read:

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; forasmuch as they broke My covenant, although I was a lord over them, saith the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the LORD, I will put My law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people; and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying: ‘Know the LORD’; for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.

(JPS-1917)

Please take note of the divine commitments:
● I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts.

That promise is also given in Ezekiel, but with the additional statement that Israel - by the action of God's spirit - will be taken out of her callous attitude:

I will take you from the nations and gather you out of all countries. Then I will bring you to your country. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean. From all your filthiness and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
Then I will give you a new heart and a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you. I will make you to walk in my judgments, and that you observe my statutes, and keep them.
You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, you will be a people for me and I will be a God for you.
(Ezekiel 36:24-28).

Every Jewish reader can in all sincerity determine for him- or herself in what way Israel (as a nation) since the First century has demonstrated an unremitting hardening against Elohim and his wonderful arrangement for redemption.

● They will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them.

If we remind Hosea, where (chapter 2) Israel's deliverance was announced by means of repurchase, we may conclude that there already, in just those terms, was hinted to that New Covenant Marriage:

I will make a covenant for them on that day with the beasts of the field, with the birds of the air and the creeping on the earth. And bow, sword and battle I will make disappear from the earth, and I will make them lie down unconcerned.
I will take you forever to my bride: Yes, I take you to be my bride in righteousness and in justice, in kindness and mercy. In faith, I will take you to me as a bride, and you will know YHWH.

● I will forgive their iniquity and their sin I will remember no more.

Why can YHWH Elohim in that time deal thus with his people? And not earlier?

It has all to do with Israel's attitude regarding the sacrifice that enables real redemption. The sacrifice on the basis of which that New Covenant will come into force is of an immeasurably higher quality than that of sacrificial animals.

In Genesis 22 a glimpse was already provided of that superior sacrifice that really can cover sin. The Jew we quoted earlier regarding the inadequacy of animal sacrifices, he wrote in the First century to fellow Jews also the following:

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, as good as offered up Isaac, and he who gladly had received the promises, tried to sacrifice the only begotten, although it had been said to him: In Isaac shall you [the] seed be called. He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which he got him back in allegory.

The patriarch thus responded in faith to the divine command: Take now your son, your only one, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you.
It's not too difficult to recognize in it the image of what YHWH Elohim Himself actually did in the First century. As it is written:

For God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

In verse 19 of Genesis 22 we read something remarkable, which one could easily pass by: After that Abraham returned to his servants, and they went together towards Beersheba, and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.

We know that Isaac was saved from the altar. God's provision in a ram took his place (verse 13), a symbol for the substitutionary death of the Son of the Greater Abraham. For Isaac, however, that experience was 'in type' as a resurrection from the dead.
And now we read here as if Abraham returned alone to the two servants. The type leaves Isaac behind on the mountain! For the watching servants it was as if he was no more! When God's own Son on the third day rose from the dead, he appeared to have disappeared; invisible to the human eye.

Compare verse 4 of Genesis 22: Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, he saw [Mount Moriah].

Perhaps it is thus understandable for the Jewish reader why YHWH Elohim in the year 70 AD allowed the Roman army to destroy forever the temple sanctuary in Jerusalem.
Yes, forever! Because it is evident from the fact that YHWH allowed Islam to build their own shrine on the Temple Mount, an action which has prevented until now zealous Jews to erect a Third temple to revive the ancient sacrificial cult.
However, we referred already to Isaiah 66:1-5 for God's vision thereabouts.

See the study: Melchizedek in Hebrews

Annual Weeks Prophecy

Particularly interesting is the fact to conclude that in the Year Weeks Prophecy of Daniel 9 the historical state of affairs with respect to that issue was recorded in writing already 2½ thousand years ago.

Below a literal as possible reproduction of the wonderful things Gabriel spoke to Daniel, according to Dn 9:23-27:

23
So give heed to the case and have understanding of the vision.
24
Seventy sevens have been decreed concerning your people and your holy city
to put an end to the transgression
and to seal up sins
and to make atonement for iniquity
and to introduce righteousness of centuries
and to imprint a seal upon vision and prophecy
and to anoint a most holy place
25
Know then and have the insight: From word going out to
restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah Prince
7 sevens and 62 sevens
She will be built again, public square and moat
but in troublous times
26
And after the 62 sevens Messiah will be cut off
and nothing for him
And the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary and his end in flood
and till the end war, desolations are decided
27
And to many, he will assert force a covenant one seven
And at the half of the seven he will cause to cease
sacrifice and gift offering
And on wing of abominations a destroyer
and until consummation that what is decided will be poured
upon the destroyer

Bearing in mind Nehemiah 1:1 and 2:1-6 - that the word to restore and to build Jerusalem went out in the 20th year of the Persian king Artaxerxes - so in the years 445-444 before our present era - we arrive after 69 [7 plus 62] weeks of years further on Sunday 9 Nisan of the year 33 AD.

69 prophetic weeks of years include 69 x 7 x 360 days = 173,880 days. Converting to solar years we get:
173880 : 365,2422 = 476,07 ordinary years, or 476 years and 25 days.

Was then the Messiahcut off?
Certainly, on Nisan 14, Friday, April 3, 33 AD, he died on a stauros, Greek for torture stake. A few days earlier, on Sunday, Nisan 9, he had made his triumphant royal entry in Jerusalem. But he already knew, partly on the basis of Daniel's prophecy, that shocking events were in store immediately.

During the enry, descending the Mount of Olives, he spoke these prophetic words:

If you, even you, this day had discerned the things having to do with peace - however, they are now hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you, and your enemies will raise a palisade against you and encircle you and distress you from all sides; and they will you and your children within you crashing to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another; because you did not distinguish the time you were visited.

The outlook at the city - in particular the glorious, by Herod restored temple sanctuary - must have been magnificent. But while the crowd is in ecstasy, the Messiah himself is in tears. Weeping, he laments over the city and its citizens, as did Jeremiah, after Jerusalem was destroyed with its temple for the first time (Lam 1:1).

He knows exactly what will take place at the end of the 69^th Week:

And after the 62 sevens Messiah will be cut off
and nothing for him
And the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
(Dn 9:26)

The King is indeed coming to his royal capital, but the city with its population - led by its religious leaders - has no regard for him nor for the things that have to do with peace and salvation.
In the person of his Son Elohim YHWH is looking in favor to them, but that important fact is not distinguished by them. On the contrary, only a few days and then the current euphoria will turn and the people, at the insistence of the religious elite, will demand the death of the Messiah.

He will be cut off, without even receiving anything what could be expected on the ground of his royal entry: the scepter that would not give way from Judah; the installation as God’s king in Zion, his holy mountain; the obedience of the nations (Genesis 49:10; Psalm 2:6, 8; 45:6 ; Dn 7:13-14).

Also, that generation would still experience the second destruction of Jerusalem with its temple by the Roman legions, which they did indeed in 70 AD.

But .. what is going on with the last, the Seventieth week?

Yes, that last (70th) Annual Week is very special, and hitherto remained mysterious for many.
According to Daniel 9:27, we read:

And to many he will assert force a covenant one seven.
And at the half of the seven he will cause to cease sacrifice and gift offering. And on wing of abominations a destroyer and until consummation that what is decided will be poured upon the destroyer.

In any case, that last Week must still dawn!
Why can we assure that so confidently?
The answer is: Because the things that are announced for that Week still have not manifested. After the 69th week, there is clearly an interval, or a "gap" as it is called in English.
Anyway, in that "gap" the disastrous events that in verse 26 were announced occurred in the First century:

And the people of [the] prince who shall come will destroy the city and the sanctuary ...

Everyone knows that catastrophe actually took place in 70 AD, 37 years after the end of the 69th Week. Who was responsible? Everyone knows that too: The Roman armies, exactly as the Messiah had foretold. They would enclose the town with a palisade of pointed logs. But Gabriel had it indicated in this way: The people of the prince who comes would bring about the destruction.

Not the monarch himself, because he was yet to come; but "the people" of the future monarch. And that is the first mention of the arrival of the Pseudomasjiach in this prophecy. He will cause to return to the political scene of this world the Roman world power, the antitypical Edom. In what way?

As the foretold "little horn" he will emerge between the ten horns on the head of the Fourth beast of Daniel 7. And we already know in advance that Pseudomasjiach will cause the 3½-year matchless great tribulation for Jacob; as likewise is announced in Dn 7:25

And he [that Little Horn whose appearance was greater than that of his companions, verse 20] will even speak words against the Most High and the saints of the Most High he will constantly harass ... and they shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.

Please see also Jeremiah 30:7 > A time of trouble it is for Jacob, but he shall be saved.
Also Daniel 12: 1 > At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never occurred since there was a nation even to that same time. But at that time your people will escape.

Also verse 7 of that chapter makes mention of that 3½-year tribulation:

When I heard the man that was clothed in linen and stood above the water of the river, swear by him who lives forever, raising his right hand and his left hand raised to heaven: A time, times and half a time; and when there is an end to the shattering of the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

The last part of verse 26 of the Year Weeks Prophecy usually causes problems: And his end in flood and till [the] end war; devastations are decreed.
Most commentators believe that there is a closer look at the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and that is alluded to the full end of the city and the Jewish nation.

But Gabriel did not speak about the end of the city. What then?

It is rather hinted by Gabriel at the end of "a prince who comes", the end of the Pseudomasjiach. That Pseudomasjiach namely appears only for a relatively short period during the last (70th) Week; after his appearance his end is also almost immediately close. Gabriel first characterized him as "a prince who comes" by immediately adding to, "but his end [shall be] in flood."

The conclusion is - and quite important - that in the Year Weeks Prophecy never is hinted at the final end of the city of Jerusalem. How would that even be possible if we discern that Jerusalem - apparently as the earthly prototype of a heavenly Jerusalem - occupies such a prominent place in Israel's restoration prophecies. Among other things, see Isaiah 2:1-6 .
The future role of Jerusalem as described in the apocalyptic book of Zechariah, is also worth mentioning. See especially Zechariah 1:14 till 3:10 and the chapters 8, 9 and 12, 13 and 14.

We earlier saw that the Messiah himself referred to the Year Weeks Prophecy in his public education during his last stay in Jerusalem.
But his reference to the city was not confined to the announcement that his generation would yet see the downfall of the city and temple. He also gave hope for a certain restoration.

In that context, he used in a unique way the expression the Times of the Gentiles. After the deportation of the people into all nations, Jerusalem would not disappear, but rather remain in a state of trampling by those nations. But that 'Times of the nations "would end at some point, or will be fulfilled.
Partly on the basis of the prophecy of the Year Weeks he could announce the following:

When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that her desolation is at hand. Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains; and let those in her midst pull out, and those in the regions not enter into her. For days of vengeance will those [days] be, that all the things written may come true. Woe to the pregnant women, and to them that give suck in those days; for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword and be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Those who really know themselves Scripture (Tanach) thoroughly, are not actually surprised by this prophetic statement of Mashiach ישוע .
Why not? Again according to the Book of Daniel.

After the Great Flood in Noah's day the second major event in human history - where God rigorously intervened to curb the wicked developments on earth in connection with man – was doubtless The Confusion of languages.

Genesis 11: 6 reports that if YHWH Elohim had not intervened at the tower project, humanity would have attained already much, much earlier the present wicked stage on earth where everything seems become reachable in the technical field, including weapons that can sweep away us all.

When God frustrated the efforts of the tower builders by confounding their language, that led to the creation of the present wicked ‘century’. In terms of sovereignty the earth became a patchwork of individual national groups, which presented to Satan the opportunity to become a.) the "god" of that century and b.) the ruler to the world. Mashiach ישוע himself denoted him, the Serpent [nachash] - his great opponent - that way. Think a moment of

1.) their equal Gematria 358.

2.) the first phrophecy: The Serpent would bruise in the heel the Messianic seed of the Woman [Israel] (Genesis 3:15).

The Confusion was thus not an insignificant event, as the Times of the Gentiles then commenced. But in which way has the Book of Daniel to do with all that?
Answer: In chapter 4 of that Bible book in fact both the duration and the characteristics of the Gentile times were depicted, namely in the situation in which King Nebuchadnezzar was in a beastly state.

Heel Wound

However, before we continue with Daniel still some observations on the first prophetic statement in the Bible concerning the ‘seed’ of the Woman that later turned out to be Israel, the Woman that became YHWH Elohim’s dear Wife Congregation.
As we all know, in Gan Eden developed this 'conversation':

Elohim [He called the man and said to him]: Where are you?

After his children had become lost and tried to hide themselves because of shame, YHWH Elohim immediately went looking for them. He clearly did not drop them. Although, by their disobedient act, they had violated the relations with their heavenly Father, He nevertheless took immediately the initiative to maintain that bond.

Man : I heard your voice in the garden, but I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself.

Elohim : Who told you that you were naked? Did you sometimes eat from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?

Man : The woman you gave me to be with me, she gave me from the tree and so I ate.

Elohim [but now to the woman]: What is this you have done?

Woman : The Serpent – it deceived me and so I ate.

Having thus the facts determined in the ears of everyone YHWH Elohim pronounced his sentence upon each of the offenders:

[To the serpent]: Because you did this, you are cursed among all animals and among all the wild beasts of the field. Upon thy belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will bruise you in the head and you will bruise him in the heel.

[To the woman]: I shall geatly increase the pain of your pregnancy; in birth pangs you will bring forth children, and your craving will be for your husband, and he will dominate you.

[To Adam]: Because you listened to your wife's voice and went to eat from the tree concerning which I gave you the command: You must not eat from it, is the ground for your sake cursed. With pain you will eat its produce all the days of your life. And thorns and thistles it will produce, and you must eat the vegetation of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust and to dust you will return.

After this Adam called his wife's name Eve [Living one], because she would be the mother of everyone living. And YHWH Elohim made for Adam and for his wife garments of skin and clothed them.
See: Genesis 3:8-21

Probably we have read this record of God's action in Eden always with the thought of punishment for the offenders, and it's true: that certainly applies to the Serpent, alias the Satan. Elohim cursed that spirit son of him and announced his utter ruin: Crushed in the head by the Seed of the 'Woman', the Son of God.

That the Son is meant by the Seed - Mashiach ישוע as the promised Messiah that came forth from God's Wife Israel - was manifest in the prediction that the Serpent would get first the opportunity to bruise his heel. And as we all know that prediction pointed forward to the death of Mashiach ישוע on a torture stake at Calvary, just outside Jerusalem. However, the superior sacrifice that has sufficient force for repurchase was thus provided, as well as the possibility in due time to come into force the New Marriage Covenant!

Furthermore YHWH Elohim, his Father, healed the "heel wound" by raising his Son from the dead. Not again as a man but as a glorious spirit creature that would enable him to eliminate forever the Serpent: crushing his head.

In the famous Messianic Psalm 110 all these things were announced far in advance prophetically:

1 Of David; a psalm. Thus says YHWH to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I have your enemies put a footstool of your feet."
2 the scepter of your strength YHWH shall send from Zion: "Dominate in the midst of your enemies."
3 Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day of your struggle. In the splendor of holiness, from the womb of the dawn, you have the dew of your youth.
4 YHWH has sworn and he will feel no regret: "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek."
5 The Lord at your right hand will certainly crush kings on the day of his wrath.
6 He will execute judgment among the nations and cause a fullness of dead bodies; he will break to pieces the head of a populous land.

But formerly, in Gan Eden, YHWH Elohim was already very merciful to the first human couple. In what way? By covering their nakedness with clothes from animal skins.
To clothe them with skins required obviously the shedding of blood; In this case indeed the blood of animals, but thus was still set a precedent by YHWH Elohim: Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (like the before mentioned pious Jew in the First century wrote to fellow Jews).

YHWH Elohim, for the first time, made thus known the principle of substitution: the substitutionary death of the innocent for the guilty, or like the Jew פטרוס also wrote in the First century of the Messiah: One righteous for the unrighteous that he might lead you to God.

When YHWH Elohim pronounced his judgment on the Serpent, Adam and his wife got already a glimpse of that better sacrifice: the bruising in the heel of the Seed. Apparently on that basis YHWH showed them such mercy that they still could give an extension to the human race, just as them originally was assigned: And Elohim said, “Let Us make man in our image, according to our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, and over all the earth and over all the creeping creatures that creep on the earth”.

When they - although initially reluctant, but then still openly - admitted their guilt, we see that Elohim acted immediately as their defender: And YHWH Elohim made for Adam and for his wife garments of skin and clothed them.

Still before that first couple children began to produce Elohim clothed them with clothing that symbolized reconciliation.

Apparently later also this was understood by Abel. Within the family of Adam and Eve God's promise of a coming deliverer must have been a much discussed topic. In faith Abel seems to have recognized that the blood of the promised deliverer should be shed to cover the human guilt. All the more because YHWH Elohim himself had given rise to that supposition by clothing his parents with clothes of animal skins. And that act required the shed of blood:

Abel also brought some firstlings of his flock, even their fatty pieces. And YHWH was looking with favor upon Abel and his offering, but he did not look with any favour upon Cain and his offering (Genesis 4).

Therefore in chapter 11 of the Book of Hebrews, Abel is set an example to the Jews:

By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice of more value than Cain, through which he received testimony that he was righteous, God bearing witness concerning his gifts; and therefore he speaks even after he died (Hebrews 11).

And the man [Adam] also responded in grateful response to the fact that God was gracious to him and his wife:

After this Adam called his wife's name Eve [ Living ], because she would become the mother of everyone living.

Adam's response apparently stems from the way he understood the prophetic word of verse 15: I will put enmity between you [the serpent] and the woman and between your seed and her seed.
The indication for this assumption is evident from the fact that he proceeded to alter his wife's name. Initially her name was not Eve. When she was taken out of his feminine side, Adam had called her Isjsjaah, Woman, but literally: From Man (Genesis 2:23).

But now, because of God's promise, he changes her name in Chawaah, Life , which in our language became Eve. After that in the Bible she is only referred to by that name: Eve [ Life ]. Genesis 3:20.

Usually this change of name is interpreted as if Adam would have understood now that out of his wife the human race would be brought forth. But that supposition does not seem likely, because that fact indeed was clear from the outset on the basis of the mission God had already given them according to Gn 1:28 : Be fruitful and become many.

Remember that YHWH Elohim just had said to Adam: In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust and to dust you will return.

From that pronunciation Adam had to deduce that in his new situation, he would become the father of a family that from the start was doomed to die. Because of his offense for all his descendants death was in the offing, on the horizon, and that right from their birth. However, he changed the name of his wife in Life !
Why so?

Because he - and of course his wife – had faith in the Eden-like Promise; human beings who admittedly were guilty before the face of God because of sin but put faith in his promise. On the basis of what God promised there was again a future.

Hence, Adam changed his wife’ name in Life: Because she would be the mother of all living. That is a line of descendants who, on the basis of faith, especially in the promise of Genesis 3:15, would pass from death to life.

By extension the faith that is characterized by unconditional trust that a seed would appear that ultimately would bruise the Serpent in the head, but first would die as a human substitute for the guilt of man would: the Heel Wound.

Similarly, the 'Woman' of Genesis 3:15 would not simply become the mother of all people, but rather of those who really would receive life through the substitutionary death of the Messiah to them. Seen in that light Adam's response to God's promise was an act of faith when he changed his wife's name into Eve [ Life ].

Compare John 5:24

Israel (as a people) for nearly 2000 years has had great difficulty with the idea of a suffering Masjiach. But that really should not be the case by a careful study of the Scriptures inspired bij YHWH Elohim’s spirit (2Sm 23:2).

Taking into account

● Gn 3:15 (the seed being crushed in the heel) and

● Genesis chapter 22, where Abraham in figure offered up his only son (by Sarah), the Tanakh at various other places provide evidence that the Messiah first - prior to his coming in glory – would die substitute for a lost humanity, at the same time providing the superior sacrifice for the purpose of validating the New Marriage Covenant.

A well-known example is the suffering of Ebed YHWH in the prophecies of Isaiah: The final section of Chapter 52 is actually the prelude to what follows:

13 Behold! My servant will act with insight. He will be in high station and will certainly be very lofty and exalted.
14 To the extent that many were rigid with horror about him - so much was the disfigurement regarding his appearance more than that of any other man, and with respect to his stately form more than the sons of men -
15 he will likewise startle many nations. To him kings will shut their mouth, because what had not been recovered, they will actually see, and what they heard not, they should focus their attention.

God's servant Yeshua will indeed hold a high position.
In the Book of Daniel that glorious fact was announced in many places. Best known is Dn 7:7-14, where the Prophet made us partakers of his night visions:

And I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful, terrifying and amazing strong; it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and what remained stamped the residue with its feet; and this beast was different from all previous ones, and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little, and three of the first horns were uprooted before; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes and a mouth speaking great things ... I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man. He came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him; and to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom is one that is incorruptible.
(KJV)

Contextual link of this announcement shows us in advance that Yeshua – having become the Son of man by his temporarily stay on earth – shall accept the Messiah Empire in the last (70th) Year Week, at the time of the tyrannical rule of the Small Horn, in reality a shoot of the ancient Roman world power, probably – looking at the present world’s stage - a form of a restored (Islamic) Ottoman Empire.

Earlier we referred to the 3½-year period of Daniel 7:25, Jacob's trouble. But fortunately, after that terror, Heaven shall deprive that Small Horn from all its power, and will be surrendered to complete destruction ( verse 26 ).

And subsequently – and what a blessing - the Jewish saints on earth will be given the privilege to share in the reign of the Messiah. Merely look at verse 27 > The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, was given to the saints of the Supreme Being.

In that way the grand promise given to Israel at Sinai will be fulfilled: You shall become to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19).

But back to Isaiah, because in the famous chapter 53 - completely in line with the closing words of chapter 52 - we read in advance how the Jewish Endtime Remnant will look back repentantly on their stubborn disbelief in their own Messiah:

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, yes, as someone for whom men hide their face; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. However, our diseases he has undertaken, and he carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, being crushed for our iniquities; the chastisement meant for our peace was upon him; and because of his stripes we are healed. We all, like sheep, we have turned every one to his own way, but YHWH has the iniquity of us all come down upon him. He was mistreated and he was letting himself be afflicted, and he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he he did not open his mouth.
(Isaiah 53:5-7).

One of Yeshua's disciples, as an eyewitness, gave a report of the crushing and deformation of the Messiah:

Then Pilate took Yeshua and scourged him. And the soldiers braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they brought him a purple robe around, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they gave him blows on the face.
Pilate came out again and said to them: Behold, I bring him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in him. Yeshua came out with the crown of thorns and the purple robe on. And Pilate said to them, Behold the man! However, when the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out: Impale [him], impale [him]!

Pilate said to them, Take you him and hang him on a tree, for I find no fault in him.The Jews answered him, We have a law, and according to our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was even more afraid, and he went back into the courthouse and told Yeshua: Where are you from? But Yeshua gave him no answer. Pilate said to him, do you not speak to me? Do not you know that I have power to hang you on a pole, and have power to release you?
Yeshua answered, You would have no power at all against me, if it were not given you from above; therefore he that delivered me to you has greater sin.

From then on, Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out: If you release this, you are not Caesar's friend; everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar. When Pilate heard these words, he brought Yeshua outside and sat down on the judgment seat, in the place that is called the Pavement, but in Hebrew Gabbatha.
And it was the preparation of the Passover, about the sixth hour; and he said to the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried ! Away, away, on the pole with him. Pilate said to them, Should I hang your king to a pole? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.Then he handed him over to them to be impaled. And they took Yeshua, and led him away.
(John 19)

Yeshua was then indeed slain; he died on the stauros, Greek for torture stake. The Serpent had achieved a (temporary) victory, by inflicting a heel wound to the Seed of the Woman.
But in reality Yeshua, as Ebed YHWH, died substitute, just as was prophesied far in advance in the closing verses of Isaiah 53 :

But it pleased YHWH to bruise him; He made him sick.
If his soul will have made an offering for sin, he shall see seed; he shall prolong his days; the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. For he shall see of the travail of his soul. Because of his knowledge, the Righteous One, My Servant will bring a righteous standing to many people, for he himself shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will make him much imparting, and empower he will divide spoil, because he poured out his soul even in death and under the offenders he was counted, because he bore the sins of many and proceeded to intercede for the transgressors.

Royal Stone

When we, at this stage of our study, draw up a mid-term review in connection with our theme, we must conclude that the days of the State of Israel are counted.
The fear of Mordechai Kedar is not incorrect, the State of Israel [almost] had its day !
See the Introduction, as well as this link. And primarly that has nothing to do with the threat of appearing a parallel Palestinian State, but rather with the intention of YHWH Elohim - his divine plan - that in many places in the Tanakh is brought under our attention, but was very clearly stated in Daniel 2:44-45 >>

And in the days of those kings [of verse 43> iron / clay empires] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that never will be brought to ruin. And the kingdom shall not be passed to any other people. It will shatter all the other kingdoms and destroy them, but it itself will last forever. Therefore, you beheld that, not by human hands, from the mountain a stone was cut, and it crushed the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver and gold. The great God has made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation reliable.

The State of Israel did not sprout out of YHWH Elohim; it is a human political workmanship, not different from any other political dominion. It is based on the Zionist ideal and operates on a democratic basis, not on a theocratic one.
Therefore in the end times is has to disappear - together with all other forms of human domination - to make way for a restored theocratic kingdom of David.

In the vv 34 and 35 of Daniel 2 – when the prophet was explaining the process of Nebuchadnezzar's dream – he had already explained how the Davidic kingdom would be generated: a Stone, cut out of the "mountain" of God's absolute sovereignty, would - with incredible speed and strength - struck the feet of the political world order and shatter it totally. However, the Stone itself would become a great mountain and fill the whole earth. Addressing King Nebuchadnezzar Daniel spoke:

Here you watched until there - not by human hands - a stone was cut that struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. Immediately the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver and the gold were all smashed together. They became like the chaff of the summer. The wind carried them away so that no trace was found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

It is of utmost importance to distinguish what will be the nature of the end time iron/clay empires. It is after all the time for the Masjiach kingdom to be established. In the study The role of the demons in the last days, under the heading Daniel, we have handled that matter, of course using the many clues that God's inspired Word is giving us in this regard.

Now, since the catastrophe of 70 AD, no less than 1945 years have passed by and the confidence that Israel is destined to act as a kingdom of priests to become a blessing to all the nations, the Gojim, seems almost entirely lost.

See: Genesis 22:15-18 and Exodus 19:3-6.

Because in the centuries following after that catastrophe in 70 AD the cultic acts, performed by a Levitical priesthood in a temple sanctuary, could no longer be fulfilled, Jewish religious fervor progressively was channeled to an unfailing Talmudic Torah study. Meanwhile, after so many centuries, for goodness' sake they could have concluded that in 70 AD something irreparable had happened!

At the same time of course it is inconceivable that YHWH Elohim meanwhile - during already more than 19 centuries – ever would have sat still and that he would have left alone his beautiful purpose that he had made known to Abraham! Surely it is not plausible believing something like that!

Compare: Isaiah 55:9-11 > His Word will not return void to him. Of course not! Therefore it is urgent to face the facts. And while we're talking about the royal stone, it is perhaps not inappropriate to remind each other of the need to remove that stony heart regarding Mashiach Yeshua - if there is still such a heart present in the reader.
Ezekiel would recommend us: Melt that stony heart.

In reality, his call to you is announced according to the 'language' of the divine inspiration of Ruach Elohim: Replace a heart of stone by a heart of flesh (chapter 36):

I will will take you out of the nations and gather you out of all countries. Then I will bring you to your home country. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean. From all your filthiness and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
And I will give you a new heart and a new spirit within you. I will take away the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And my spirit I shall put inside you.

One way to replace effectively the (possibly still present) stone heart by a heart of flesh, goes together with the recognition that many images and prophecies of the Tanakh can only be understood when one also takes to heart the additional information that can be found in the 27 books of the New Testament which are all ‘breathed’ by YHWH Elohim as well.

In Romans, chapter 9, the famous Saul of the tribe of Benjamin wrote about the Jewish situation as it was developing in his own days:

I speak the truth in Messiah, I do not lie, because my conscience bears witness with me in holy spirit, that to me is a great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart. For I could wish myself accursed, away from the Messiah, in favor of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites; to whom [belong] the sonship, the glory, the covenants and the law and the service of God and the promises, whose the fathers [are], and from whom the Messiah [is] according to the flesh. He that is over everything, God, blessed for ever. Amen!

Saul (Paul) also had to recognize that YHWH Elohim his people at that time - around 57 AD - had shut up in their disobedient and obstinate attitude towards their Messiah. To his faithful brothers from the Gojim he wrote the following:

For I do not want, brothers, that you are ignorant of this mystery - so that you are not discreet in your own eyes - that a hardening in part happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

The hardening is temporary! It comes to an end!

Although going on to date for about 1980 years, the hardening comes to an end; at least in conjunction with a still to appear Remnant. When?

The apostle gives the appointed time for the final turn: When all members of Yeshua's Bridecongregation - in the image of the heathen Ruth mostly called out of the Gojim – have come in.

In that period the 70 ^th Year Week may have its start so that the 'clock' for the earthly congregation of God’s Israel starts ticking again (!)

Hence Paul, under the inspiration of Ruach Elohim could further observe:

And so all Israel [the said Israel of God, heavenly and earthly] shall be saved, as it is written:
The deliverer will come from Zion, he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And this will be my covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins.

To the Gospel they [the Jewish unbelievers] are enemies for your sake, but for the election [which always remained] beloved on account of the fathers. Because irrevocable [are] the gifts and the calling of God.

Here is the explanation for Israel's religious situation during the past 20 centuries. God's Wife Nation is awaiting his mercy: to be freed from confinement in disobedience. As the Gojim were once shut up in disobedience, Israel from the First century even until this day has experienced the same.

For more detailed comments, see Romans 11 .

The 70 ^th Week

But first, back to the Year Weeks Prophecy of Daniel in Dn 9:27, where is announced what we can expect from the Pseudomasjiach in the 70th Annual Week. If the reader will take note of this link, no doubt it will be clear what that last Year Week for Israel as a nation will bring:

1 ) The Messiah for whom Israel so long is waiting will emerge as an anti-messianic power…

2 ) In spite of his dubious credentials, he will be hailed by the vast majority of the people because he will present himself as a benefactor who will revive the Levitical temple cult.

3 ) In the middle of the week he will throw off his mask and renounce his covenant with the Jews: he will cause to cease sacrifice and gift offering.

As Isaiah let us know in advance (in 33:7-8): He has broken the covenant, cities despised people not counted. It seems that Isaiah 8:21-22 alludes to that calamitous situation:

They will go around the country, heavily distressed and hungry; and if they are hungry, they will be angry, and curse their king and their God; and they will stare upwards and will respect the earth, and find nothing than distress and obscurity; the gloom of anguish, and outspread thick darkness.

In Isaiah 9:3 his tyrannical domination is described prophetically:

For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

4 ). He will start his own cult by erecting a devastating abomination.
The prophet Daniel described (in Dn 12) the turn of events as follows:

And from the time that the daily sacrifice has been removed and the disgusting thing that causes desolation was set up, there will be a thousand two hundred ninety days.

His actual intentions will be public for everyone:

a ) The exercise of despotic power;

b ) Grove self-aggrandizement;

c ) Eradicate true worship YHWH Elohim.

In the highly prophetic Book of Daniel all these things are coming to the fore. In particular, we have to refer to Dn 7:25 and 12:7, where is pictured in advance that during the second half of the week, so 3½ years, Pseudomasjiach will oppress violently a faithful Jewish Remnant:

He will even speak words against the Most High and the saints of the Supreme Being he will harass continually. He will intend to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times and half a time.

Israel's unfaithful part - your brothers who hate you and exclude ( Js 66: 5 ) – will unfortunately be too happy to support that tyrant in suppressing the faithful Jewish remnant, However, that contemptible action will bring no blessing to these enemies. In their own supposed 'sanctuary' Elohim will recompense their apostasy against him with the vengeance that is pictured in Isaiah 66:6 : A sound from the temple! The sound of YHWH, rendering recompense to his enemies!

In chapter 2 the prophet had already addressed these people of Israel, because of their deplorable apostasy. Judgment is impending for the Jacob-Israel:

For you have forsaken your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled from the east, with those who practice divination like the Philistines, and they clasp hands with the children of foreigners.

Their land is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures. Their land also is full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots. Their land also is full of idols. They worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.

Man is brought low, and mankind is humbled; therefore don’t forgive them.

Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty.

The lofty looks of man will be brought low, the haughtiness of men will be bowed down, and Yahweh alone will be exalted in that day.

For there will be a day of Yahweh of Armies for all that is proud and haughty, and for all that is lifted up; and it shall be brought low.

Therefore, in the final days this judgment is coming over the apostated Jacob-Israel. In their efforts to escape YHWH’s anger they will try to flee to the natural rock and hide in the dust of the earth. Their unfairly pride must be humbled!

Compare Revelation 6:12-17, and see that comparable things are going to happen when the sixth seal will be opened by the Lamb, Masjiach Yeshua.

The Israel of God

Several times we have on the basis of the Year Weeks Prophecy, especially verse 26 of Daniel 9 , discussed with each other that after the 69th week - when Mashiach Yeshua was "cut off" in a sacrificial death - there started a 'gap' or interim period that would last until finally would come the 70th Week.

See this commentary.

In that intervening period, which began in summer 33 AD and now lasted already for 1982 years, Israel was (and still is) left alone, shut up in her situation of disobedience. The offence mentioned in verse 24 has not come to an end, namely the offense pre-eminently. Above we hinted earlier that it is unthinkable for YHWH Elohim that He Himself in all those intervening years stood by idle. Something like that is totally excluded.

The way he elaborated further his divine plan in that "interim period" we got previously an impression on the basis of what the Benjaminite Saul wrote in Romans 11: 25-26 :

For I would not, brethren, that you are ignorant of this mystery - so that you are not discreet in your own eyes - that a hardening in part happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel [the Israel of God , heavenly and earthly] will be saved

Where Saul was referring to?
Answer: to bring together all members - Jews and Gentiles [Gojim] – those who are called within God’s purpose to belong one to another congregation, namely the congregational Body of Mashiach Yeshua himself; a congregation that - in the books of the New Covenant – usually is referred to as Yeshua's Body of which he is the Head.

It will undoubtedly appear extremely dubious to a lot of Jewish people that, besides the congregation of natural Israel, founded at Sinai, yet a second congregation would be called into existence by YHWH Elohim. After all the promise made to Abraham - that his seed would be a blessing to the Gojim – would be fulfilled through God's traditionally chosen people, namely Israel, eventually be made to a kingdom of priests!

Truly, that is absolute correct. That fact is stated in Exodus 19: 3-6. But ... Israel will fulfill that task here on this within a human capacity. Precisely as was promised to patriarch Jacob in his dream at Luz (Bethel):

I am YHWH, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your seed. Your seed shall be as the dust of the earth; you'll certainly expand to west and to the east and to the north and to the south. And in you and in your seed all the families of the earth will be blessed.

But out of which source extract people - even those who serve in a capacity of priests - the supernatural ability to heal a dying humanity, raising it to an Eden-like perfection. Not only seems this a good question, but also a very valid one (!)

From which source derive people on earth - even those who serve in a capacity of priests - the supernatural ability to heal a dying humanity and raise it to an Eden-like perfection?

The answer is obviously clear: Those forces have to come from a supernatural source ! Proof for that fact was already delivered during Yeshua's own ministry on earth. Even he, the Messiah himself, recognized whole-heartedly the truth: The Father is greater than I. ( Jh 14:28 )

Once, when he was surrounded by a crowd, a woman who suffered for 12 years from a severe haemorrhage, availed herself of that opportunity to come unseen close to him to touch his garment, in the hope of recovery. On the basis of all the things she had heard about Yeshua, she concludud: If I touch something of his garment, I will be cured.

See the commentary on Luke 8: 40-56> Daughter of Jairus; the woman with the haemorrhage

For a woman that was an outrageous act, especially in view of her impure state according to the Law ( Lv 15:25 ). In that situation, she had to avoid contact with anyone, because she might transfer her uncleanness to others. But in faith she went out through the crowd and managed to reach the Messiah and touch him. And she was confirmed in her faith: Immediately the fountain of her blood dried up; she was healed.

Whether she knew anything about the deeper meaning of the sin offering, we do not know. In any case, she experienced the things that are written in Lv 6: 24-27 about the power of that sacrifice:

At the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered the sin offering will be slaughtered before YHWH. It is most holy… Anyone who touches its flesh will become holy.

In Luke 8: 45-48 we read what then happened:

Yeshua said: Who is it that touched me? And when all denied, Peter said: Master, the multitudes are hemming you in and pressing you at all sides. But Yeshua said, Somebody hath touched me, because I myself have noticed that power went out of me. And when the woman saw that she had not gone unnoticed, she came trembling [approaching], and him falling down she told before all the people for what cause she had touched him and how she was healed at the same time. He said to her, Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace.

Many in the crowd, as a result of the pushing, came in touch with Jesus but without any beneficial result for them. However, touched by the woman who acted in faith, produced an immediate effect.
Since she could not stay in anonymity this woman felt obliged to lay bare her situation; for her a source of shame.

The result, however, was clear to everyone. She had acted by noble motives; her complete trust in the power of the Messiah, Yeshua, had helped her put aside all scruples.

But especially important is what Yeshua suggested himself: Someone touched me, for myself, I have observed that power went out of me.

This statement provides a problem, at least for the churchpeople who consider Yeshua as God Himself, but at the same time also as a man. They can not imagine that the healing had taken place without the will of the Messiah and that – in a sensuously perceptible way – had felt power going out of himself.

But such people ignore certain biblical statements that amounted to YHWH Elohim in reality being the One who performed all the miracles through his Son as an intermediary.

We can easily recognize how deeply had to be intervented in the woman's physical body to make the blood issue to a standstill. Yeshua, as the "last Adam" a perfect man, was still perfectly human ( Luke 1: 26-33 ; 1 Corinthians 15:45 ).

Without supernatural influence he could never have performed these and other miracles. Supernatural influence was the essential factor and precisely that was provided by his Father God through the operation of his active holy force: his spirit.

Exactly so it will happen during Messiah’s Reign of a thousand years. The Jewish saints shall represent that originally heavenly kingdom on earth and they – as Abraham’s earthly seed - will be active to become a blessing for the then living mankind. But even when they - the members of the earthly part of the Israel of God - are made to a "new creation", their impact will be limited. The supernatural influence of the heavenly part will cause the actual healing of the people of the nations [the Gojim]. Thererfore that influence shall constitute the decisive factor.

Having reached that conclusion we are back at that other congregation YHWH Elohim has given a place and destination within his eternal purpose: the heavenly congregation of the Israel of God.

As indicated above, one can read the history of the woman concerned as well as her healing in this link: Luke 8: 40-56>

Daughter of Jairus; the woman with the blood issue
Note that the healing of the woman and the raising of the daughter of Jairus both were miracles that should be placed within End-time perspectives, when there wil be an awakening for a seemingly dead national Israel. The grant 'double' 12 years seem to support that view additionally. It's actually one story with two aspects.

Yes, another congregation having a place within YHWH Elohim’s purpose. And why?
Because only with supernatural aid from heaven the earthly congrgation can indeed be a blessing for the nations. It is therefore not an earthly, but a heavenly congregation. It’s true, the members of that congregation are being "called" while being in a human position, but by a heavenly resurrection they will in due course be in the heavenly realms together with their Head, Messiah Yeshua, united into one body. The before cited Saul under divine inspiration described that destination in Ephesians 1: 3-10 :

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua Messiah, who blessed us in all spiritual blessings in the heavenly regions in [the] Messiah, as he chose us in him before [the] founding of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before his face. In love he destined us in advance to sonship for himself, through Yeshua Messiah, to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his loving grace, with which he favored us in the Beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his loving grace, which he towards us was abundant in all wisdom and insight. He made us namely known the mystery of his will for his good pleasure that he purposed in him, for a house administration of the fulness of times, for bringing together under one head all the things in the Messiah; the things concerning the heavens and the things on the earth, in him in whom also we were made to heirs predestined to [the] purpose of him [Elohim] who creates all things after the counsel of his will.

Comments can be found at this link .
Actually, Jewish people - those who entirely are focused on YHWH Elohim and his arrangement aimed to save humanity - should be the foremost to distinguish that besides the (own) earthly congregation, also a heavenly one would be brought into existence. Why So?

Because the truths thereabouts already could be distinguished in the way the original Tabernacle Scheme functioned. By that service ‘shadows’ of the substance [the reality] were pictured in advance.
Because in the Courtyard both the priests, the sons of Aaron, and their priestly assistants, the Levites, performed their regular services. And within that vicinity all were visible to everyone.
But only the priests went inside the actual Sanctuary.

In that Section, the Holy One , they were not visible to others, and moreover - most importantly – there they performed their service in a heavenly atmosphere, a supernatural entourage. For they were surrounded on all sides by heavenly figures, images of cherubim:

The Tabernacle you should make of ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, purple, red and scarlet wool. With cherubim on it, work of an embroiderer, you will make them (Exodus 26: 1).

More about that later, because first of all it is necessary to clear up a big misunderstanding. Really, a very big misunderstanding: THE HEAVENLY CONGREGATION – Mashiach’s Body - HAS NOTHING BUT ALSO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHURCH.

The wheat and the weeds

That church systems, of which the Roman Catholic Church (the Vatican), the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Protestant systems are the most prominent, have proved to be only a mockery. And through the centuries have brought about mountains of grief especially for the Jewish people in their diaspora situation. Christendom is a malformation, a caricature of true Christianity.
And that truth all careful Bible readers could long ago have determined for themselves, because Yeshua himself, during his stay on earth, let his adherents know prophetically that very soon - after his passing – such an imitation, such a monstrosity of Satan - would be produced; a corrupt religious system that would claim to be Yeshua's true Congregational Body.

He did so in a phase of his education campaign that, in announcing the Messiah's kingdom - the kingdom of heaven like he himself preferably said – he had switched from the use of simple, clear language to speaking in parables. Why this turn?

The answer is because the Jewish elite of those days, the religious upper layer of the people, in offering stiff resistance to Yeshua at that time had passed a limit. When God's Son namely, as "intermediary" of his heavenly Father, had healed a demon-possessed man who was also blind and dumb , the religious leaders attributed that miracle viciously to an operation of Satan, Beelzebub, he who is the chief of the demons. Matthew has reported about that event:

Then they brought to him a man possessed by demons who was blind and mute; and he healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw. All the bystanders were simply overjoyd and said, "Is not this perhaps the son of David?"
When the Pharisees heard that, they said: "This man casts out demons only through Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."

Since Yeshua knew what they were thinking, he said to them:

"Every kingdom divided against itself comes to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he has become divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand ..?

But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God came really unexpectedly to you ... Who is not on my side is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Therefore I tell you, every kind of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven .For example, whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit it will not be forgiven him, no, not in this eon, neither in the eon to come (Mt 12: 22-32).

For that reason Yeshua henceforth ‘packed’ the precious truths concerning the kingdom of heaven carefully in illustrations or parables, which could not be fathomed by his Jewish audience with a stubborn disposition.
Worse, they would completely 'be put on the wrong track’ by those parables and would conclude that Yeshua spoke gibberish!
At one point his pupils inquired after the reason for this change in teaching:

The disciples then came to him and said to him: "Why do you speak to them through parables?" He answered, "You have been granted to understand the sacred secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will gain wealth; but whoever does not have, even from what he has he still will be deprived. This is why I speak to them in parables, because, though looking, they look in vain, and though hearing, they hear in vain, neither do they get the sense of it. And with respect to them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which reads:

By hearing ye shall hear, but by no means understand its meaning, and by watching, you will look, but by no means see. For the heart of this people was made fat, and their ears they have heard without response, and their eyes they have closed, lest they might never see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn back, and I should heal them. (Taken from Js 6: 9-10; LXX)

Fortunately, however, your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I assure you that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things that you are beholding and did not see them, and to hear the things you are hearing and did not hear them. " (Mt 13: 10-17)

Well, precisely wthin this context he spoke the parable about the wheat and the weeds, which in retrospect turned out to be a prophetic announcement about the way in which the Gospel message, sown by the Mashiach, in a Satanic way would be overgrown with weeds-like teachings within the apostate church systems.
This is what the Messiah said:

"The kingdom of the heavens has become like a man who sowed fine seed in his field. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed weeds [bearded darnel] over it, among the wheat, and went away. When the blade shot up and produced fruit, then appeared also the weeds. Therefore, the slaves of the householder went to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow fine seed in your field? How is it that weeds come up? ' He said to them, 'An enemy, a man, did this.' They said to him, "Do you want us, then, that we go out and gather it?" He said, 'No, lest you sometimes in gathering the weeds once the wheat is pulled out. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to burn it, and then go gather the wheat into my storehouse. "
(Mt 13: 24-30).

Although his disciples could not immediately rate all aspects of this parable at their true value, they understood very well that their Messiah had announced something ominous. So they inquired of him to the correct explanation:

"Explain to us the parable of the weeds [earded darnel] on the field. "
He replied: "The sower of the fine seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the fine seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; but the weeds are the sons of the wicked one, and the enemy who sowed it is the devil. The harvest is consummation of an eon and the reapers are angels. As therefore the wheeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so will it be in the consummation of the eon. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they shall all things that cause stumbling and those doing lawlessness, gather out of his kingdom, and shall cast them into the fiery furnace. There will [be] weeping and gnashing of teeth. At that time the righteous will shine as bright as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
(Mt 13: 36-43)

For more detailed commentary on the Isaiah prophecy, see:

Does God blind the eyes of men?

Yeshua's parable of the wheat and the wheeds turned out to be very revealing with regard to the actual situation of the heavenly congregation. Early after its start, during Shavuot 33 AD, when the spirit was poured out from heaven on the first 120 members, and all the centuries that followed, all the way to this day, she remained hidden from real perception because of the overgrowing weeds.
When he told the parable Yeshua proved already knowing in advance that his congregation would disappear out of the picture, and that sad situation has continued for centuries to this day.

And indeed, soon after the death of the apostles - when people were asleep (Mt 13:25) - apostate teachers out of the congregation itself started to take the lead in their own hands. They went speaking twisted things to attract disciples after themselves, just as Paul (Saul) had foretold:

I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you not sparing the flock; even men of your own circle will rise and speak twisted things to attract the disciples after themselves.

(Acts 20:29, 30)

The result was that many fell away from the faith. They were "turned to false stories and doctrines of demons."

See link below.

The New Dictionary of Theology says that by the time of the Fourth century the Catholic "Christianity” had become the official religion of the Roman Empire. An amalgamation of the ecclesiastical and civil society had occurred; a going together of Church and State that was diametrically opposed to the beliefs of the early Christians. The same reference work says in the course of time the whole structure and nature of the church and many of the basic beliefs changed radically, influenced by neo-Platonic models.

Yeshua's true disciples were increasingly obscured, while the counterfeit Christians were more numerous.

Yeshua's listeners knew how difficult it was to distinguish genuine wheat from weeds, such as poisonous bearded darnel, which appears during growth much like wheat.

With his parable Mashiach Yeshua made clear that it would be some time difficult to distinguish true Christians from counterfeit Christians.

See: The Apostacy.

As is well known, especially among Israelites, humanity descended from the three sons of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Some time after the Flood, Noah spoke a prophecy concerning those sons, a remarkable prediction that would reach very far in time:

Cursed be Canaan [a descendant of Ham], a servant of servants he shall be to his brothers. Moreover, he added: Blessed be YHWH, Elohim of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant.

May Elohim grant ample space to Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem.
(Genesis 9)

Noah here blessed YHWH as Shem's Elohim, the Elohim of the covenant with Abraham’s seed Israel in later times. From the line of Shem therefore came forth the first Congregation, the people of Israel.
But over time, as prophetically announced by Noah, Japheth would dwell in the tents of Shem.

Now, the nations that experienced the largest expansion in world history, descended from Japheth. To them, the Greeks and Romans can be counted and all the nations that emerged from the Roman world power, the European. From the table of the nations listed in Genesis, chapter 10, we learn that the descendants of Japheth proceeded to inhabit the European continent.

But in what way then would the Jafethites come to dwell in the tents of Shem?

That specific development occurred after the founding of the second Congregation in Biblical history: the Christian Congregation.
Through the preaching of the well-known Saul of Benjamin, but also through those who were with him, the Gospel was at an early stage focussed on Europe. One can read the book of Acts on it, in particular from Acts 16:9.
Soon therefore Christian communities arose in Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth and Rome.

However, that Christianity had its roots in Judaism.
Paul would later write - in his Letter to the Ephesians - that the Christians, coming forth out of Paganism, once were far off, being in the world without Messiah, alienated from YHWH Elohim and from the commonwealth of Israel; strangers regarding the covenants of promise. They lived in the world without hope and without a relationship with God. However, when God drew chosen ones out of them to his Son, they who were once far off, came nearby in their relationship with Messiah Jeshua, Israel’s most important brother. Consequently, Paul concluded:

So you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God.

Thus, the Christians came to dwell in the tents of Shem.

Conclusion:
The larger flight which could make progress in Europe, is not accidental.
From the time of Noah that expansion was already foreseen by Elohim. He foresaw that over time matters would go in that direction.
But of course, those who were really called by Elohim to become members of Jeshua’s Congregational Body were only a minority. A majority of so called ‘Christians’ turned out to belong to ‘weeds’, as the Messiah himself predicted.
And in that situation, becoming more and more hedonistic in lifestyle, that ‘weeds’ nowadays has no defence against the advancing Islam.

All this does certainly not mean that the Christian, heavenly congregation ceased to exist, meanwhile the wheat would continue to grow. Despite the obscure situation true Christians - individually or in small groups - have during the centuries that followed done their best to maintain the healthy teachings of the Messiah. But they were not a clearly identifiable, visible group, and certainly no organized church system. They were the simple nameless, just as Paul had stated in the First Corinthian Letter.

Quote derived from 1 Cor 1: 26-29 >>

Behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh were called, not many mighty, not many of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame the wise men, and God chose for himself the weak things of the world that he might put to shame the strong, and God chose the ignoble things of the world and the things looked down upon, the things that are not, that he might bring to naught the things that are, so that no flesh might boast before God.

Referring to the nameless, persons who find themselves in the anonymity, from the whole Bible, beginning with the Tanakh, the striking fact emerges that mostly among these people the true servants of YHWH Elohim find themselves.

Unlike the elitist upper layer which not infrequently suppresses that devout nameless, especially in their expressions of genuine faith.

We noticed that fact already in our discussion of Matthew 12. When the Mashiach healed the demon possessed who was blind and mute, and the bystanders were touched in ecstasy, saying: Is not this perhaps the son of David? the Pharisees went straight on to suppress those expressions of faith. To gag the people they noticed scornfully: "This man casts out the demons only by the intervention of Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."

Something similar occurred when Yeshua in 32 AD, during his last Sukkot, was in Jerusalem. Since the Pharisees themselves immensely annoyed by Yeshua's teaching, they sent officials there to grab him. But after some time these returned to that religious elitists with empty hands.
Why So?

Read the report in John 7: 45-49 >>

The officers therefore returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, and the latter asked them: "Why did you not bring him?" In reply, the officers said: "Never has spoken someone in this way."
Whereupon the Pharisees answered: "Are you sometimes also deceived? Has sometimes one of the rulers or of the Pharisees put faith in him? But this crowd that does not know the law, they are accursed "

In Summary:

( a ) Those who since Shavuot 33 AD really have been called by YHWH Elohim to be members of Yeshua's Congregational Body, proved to be especially the nameless among men: Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble. But rather the foolish, the weak, the ignoble and the contemptible of the world.

( b ) Those wheat Christians were almost all centuries hidden from view by the imposte, but weedy church systems. Saul (Paul) has unveiled by what principle Elohim guided his eye in calling Yeshua’s bodymembers. By and large: the poor, the humble, the nameless among men: Nobody therefore has still any reason for 'bragging'; for own fame: So that no flesh should glory before God. It's all unmerited favor from God's side.

In that 'approach' he shows the so-called sophisticated people - within certain circles also called the sages - what really matters to him: Those who are seemingly nothing – who are in the world not considered of any value - those in reality possess the things that are of real value: True wisdom, true power, true nobility, and it’s all thanks to YHWH Elohim.

On that subject we read in Jeremiah 9:22-23 :

Thus says YHWH:
The wise should not boast because of his wisdom, nor
the strong man because of his strength.
Let the rich not boast because of his riches.
If anyone wants to boast of something, then let him boast having insight and knowledge that I am YHWH, the One exercising grace, justice and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I do take delight, says YHWH.

The godly nameless

The principle that Elohim uses since 33 AD with respect to the calling of the heavenly congregation is for that reason not entirely new. On the contrary, within the congregation of Israel, he fairly regularly focused his look mainly on the nameless godfearing ones among the people.
In particular, the notion of a godly remaining part of Israel appears into picture. For example Elijah, after fleeing the murderous Jezebel he reached the Horeb mounted, and in his dejected mood he sighed:

I have been absolutely jealous for YHWH the God of hosts. The sons of Israel have forsaken your covenant, your altars they have thrown down, and your prophets they have killed with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking for my soul to take it away.

Elijah, he who was used by YHWH Elohim at Mount Carmel in such a spectacular way in the confrontation with the worshipers of Baal – think of the supernatural way fire came down from heaven - even that usually fearless and Elohim dedicated prophet seemed to see no more any prospect. He regarded himself as the last and only true Israelite. His awareness of the history of God with his people came to a sad end. Elijah however was mistaken, because YHWH Elohim let him know that he for himself had left 7,000 men who had not bowed the knee to the false god Baal. Verse 18 (1 Kings 19) >>

And I have left seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bent down to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.

It’s true, YHWH Elohim himself highlighted the faithful attitude of the 7000, but the value of his statement is really the fact that he himself had made sure that there were 7,000. The continuity of Israel’s congregation was thus ensured; thanks to his sovereign election. In chapter 11 of his Letter to the Romans Saul [Paul] rightfully concluded that at such depths in Israel's history, nevertheless a remnant appeared with which the Almighty could still make a new beginning.

Note: With the nameless among the people?

Yes! About Elohim’s interest for those nameless among the Israelites there is still a lot left to notice! For example, take note of the way how the Messiah in Israel was ushered in:

1. Mariam, the 'surrogate' mother

Taking into account that in the book of Daniel the angel Gabriel fulfilled the very notable task on behalf of Elohim to notify to the prophet important kingdom prophecies, it does certainly not surprise us that around 4005 AM that messenger was sent to Nazareth to inform the unknown Mariam about the extraordinary way in which YHWH Elohim was intended to make use of her:

In the sixth month [of the pregnancy of her cousin Elizabeth who would give birth to John, Yeshua's predecessor who would introduce him to Israel] the angel Gabriel was sent forth from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin who was promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name: Mariam.
And after entering before her, he said: Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you. However, she was deeply disturbed about the word and she wondered what a greeting this might be. And the angel said unto her: Have no fear, Mariam, for you have found favor with God, and behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. This one will be great, and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob reign forever, and there will be no end of his kingdom.

Mariam said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And in response, the angel said to her: The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also what is born will be called holy, God’s Son.

And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, even she has become pregnant a son in her old age; and this is for her who was called barren [the] sixth month, because with God no saying will be an impossibility.
Now Mariam said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done with me according to your pronunciation. And the angel departed from her.

Mariam understood very well what kind of assignment she received from God and that it would not be easy. Rather, she must have realized that on the part of men - who were not well informed, which incidentally could not be - difficulties were to expected. Her premarital pregnancy would undoubtedly be misinterpreted and give her the disapproval of the people around her.
But as Hanna [Elohim’s ‘âmâh], another nameless, Mariam showed herself fully prepared to subject herself as God's slave to his counsel ( 1SM 1:11). For the members of the true Israel of God this is an encouragement to rely always entirely on Elohim and His Son, in the confidence that they are able to carry us beyond our human limitations. See link .

2. The Shepherds

Despite the fact that Mariam, the 'surrogate mother' of Yeshua, lived in Nazareth, the Son of God, the Messiah, was yet born in Beth Lechem, just as prophesied by the mouth of Micah:

And you, Beth Lechem Ephratah,
though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
out of you will come to me who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose origin is from of old, from everlasting days off.

It had everything to do with an ordinance for registration which was proclaimed by the Roman Caesar for the purpose of levying taxes and recruitment of soldiers. But because YHWH God knows his prophetic word through-and-through, the consequence was that the Messiah was born exactly at the right time and the prophesied place, most probably in the autumn of 2 BC.
As Luke chronicled:

And all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. Now also went up Joseph out of Galilee [the] city of Nazareth, to Judea, to [the] city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and the offspring of David, to be registered together with Mariam, who was promised him in marriage, [and] who was pregnant.

From another Gospel Source, that of Matthew, we know that Joseph, a nameless carpenter in Nazareth, in the meantime had made fully conversant with the thought that his fiancee had become pregnant by supernatural influence. In a dream an angel had said reassuringly to him: Joseph, son of David, fear not Mariam your wife along to take home, for that which is conceived in her is by holy spirit.

Luke continues:

It happened when they were there, the days were accomplished that she would give birth, and she gave birth to her son, the firstborn, and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the [urban] shelter.

Through the ages men have rightly been impressed deeply of the humble circumstances in which the Saviour of mankind was born. For him and for his parents there was even no place in the very simple location, called a khan , where travelers could spend the night in a partially covered courtyard, along with their animals.
Obviouslyi, the presence of even one member of Israel's religious elite was absolutely out of the question. YHWH Elohim needed nobody out of that circle to verify whether the newly born baby was in possession of the required Messianic 'credentials' (!)

In the meantime however, in the fields outside the town, something happened instead, from which turned out that YHWH Elohim Himself took care that his Son would be correctly identified as the long-awaited Lord of King David (Psalm 110)

And there were shepherds in that same country, staying in the open field and keeping watches in the night the night over their flocks. And suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David, you is born a Savior, who is [the] Messiah, [the] Lord. And this [is] a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly it came to pass that there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army; praising God and saying: Glory in the highest [realms] to God, and on earth peace among men of pleasure.

And it happened as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us at once go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us. And they came with haste, and found [eventually] both Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw it, then they gave publicity to the saying that had been told them about this young child. And all who heard it marveled over the things told them by the shepherds.

Mariam however carefully preserved all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

At that time shepherds dit not belong to a social class that was respected. On the contrary, because of the nature of their work and their circumstances they were considered as ceremonially unclean. Generally, the people saw them as unreliable; therefore, they were not allowed to act as witnesses in court. Consequently It should strike us that, after having been informed about the humble circumstances in which Yeshua himself was born, the good news about that matter first was proclaimed to people that ‘enjoyed’ low status within society.

As the report progresses, we will notice that Luke thus sets a certain tone; he appears to have a particular interest in that category of persons. From that point of view the shepherds represent all people of humble origin and reputation who. thanks to God's grace, receive the Gospel and joyfully share it with others. For more extensive commentary, click here.

But again, YHWH Elohim did not involve even one person out of the prevailing religious upper layer to act as a witness of the event. Is not that remarkable!

From Matthew's account we even know that the religious elite only heard something about the event when some astrologers [ magoi ] from eastern areas arrived at Jerusalem and who had a disturbing question for king Herod: Where is he that is born king of the Jews? In turn, the king consulted the then-chief priests and scribes, and the only thing they could reply to the king was: In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet ( Mt 2: 1-5 ). For them, the information derived from the astrologers, was entirely new as well.

3. Simeon

According to Exodus 13:2 every male firstborn that opens each womb among the sons of Israel, both man and animals, belonged to God and had to be sanctified to him.
In Leviticus 12 we read further:

YHWH said to Moses: Tell the Israelites, ‘If a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a male, she will be unclean for seven days, just as she is in the days of the impurity when she is menstruating. On the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin will be circumcised. She will continue cleansing herself from the blood for the next 33 days. She should not touch any holy thing, and she should not come into the holy place until she fulfills the days of her purification.

With a view to fulfilling that procedure according to the Thorah Joseph and Mariam, after the birth of Messiah Yeshua in Beth Lechem, apparently remained there because of the proximity of the temple, only a few kilometers away from the town. Luke relates:

And when the days of their purification were fulfilled in accordance of the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
- as it is written in the Law of the Lord: Every male that the womb opens fully, must be called holy to the Lord - and to offer sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord: A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

Because of his poor economic situation Joseph could not offer a young ram as a burnt offering. Nevertheless, it pleased YHWH Elohim to accept from Joseph two doves one for a burnt offering and one for a sin offering (Levites 12:8).
What a remarkable state of affairs when YHWH Elohim began to prove his favour to a world of a basically lost people: First, the humble birth, the Messiah put down in a manger, and now a sacrifice out of the deepest poverty.
However, at the time that the young child was presented to YHWH other striking events took place at the Sanctuary:

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name [was] Simeon, and this man [was] just and reverent, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and holy spirit was upon him. Furthermore to him was divinely revealed by the Holy Spirit, not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. And in the power of the spirit he came into the temple. And as the parents brought in the boy Jesus to do for him according to the customary practice of the law, he took him in his arms and blessed God and said:
Now let you, Master, your servant go free in peace according to your declaration, because my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all the peoples: A light for removing the veil from the nations and a glory of your people Israel.

We assume that it is well known among our readers that the Torah-commandments about the purification process are found in Leviticus, chapter 12.

Concerning the antitypical meanings of that process, we refer to the study:

Leviticus chapter 12 - The truths behind the purification procedures

Simeon undoubtedly belonged to the godly remnant in Israel of those days. As there was a remnant of nameless people in the days of Elijah, Simeon publicly was a total unknown, an anonymus who exercised no influence on public life. He clearly belonged to the "quiet in the land," the people without prestige and therefore easily to be afflicted, as Psalm 35:20 teaches: For the word of peace they [the messianic opponents] know not, and against the quiet ones in the land they scheme deceitful plans.

But Simeon, one of those quiet ones, was just and reverent in the sight of YHWH, a man who kept the Messianic ideal of the prophets pristine. He did not waver in his confidence that once Israel’s consolation and recovery [from exile] would come through the establishment of the Messianic kingdom, with the promised permanent heir of David on the throne of God.

Well, by means of his spirit YHWH Elohim had revealed to him that he would see the Messiah still personally during his lifetime. But from Luke's report we also learn that YHWH Elohim wanted to use that unnamed member of Israel's remnant of those days to predict the course of events that would be arranged by Elohim during the next 2000 years in furthering the development of the seed of Abraham: The seed of promise that eventually must become a blessing for all the nations.
We quote again Luke [2:29-32]>

Now let you, Master, your servant go free in peace according to your declaration, because my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all the peoples: A light for removing the veil from the nations and a glory of your people Israel.

And Simeon blessed them but said to Mariam his mother: Look! This one is laid for the fall and rising again of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be contradicted. Through your own soul a long sword will be run, in order that the reasonings of many hearts may be uncovered.
(Lk 2: 29-35)

What did YHWH declare here by the mouth of Simeon?
Well, the aeons that had functioned at that time in connection with the Mosaic law during 1,500 years and that had thrown forward their shadows, were now to come to their consummation.
Elohim, Simeons Δεσποτης [Ruler; Master; Owner], could now release his ‘slave’: Let him die in peace. With the appearance of the Messiah, the salvation of his people had been assured.

But not only salvation for Israel. Simeon spoke from a broader perspective, yes, from a universal point of view: In the Messiah fundamentally salvation became available to all people, including his own chosen people Israel. With the promise to Abraham in mind, Simeon made mention of the nations even as first: removing the veil from the nations and a glory of your people Israel. Compare Genesis 12: 3; 22:18 and Isaiah 25: 7 ; 52:10.

Simeon was thus fully in line with Isaiah's prophecy of the Principal One among God's Servant Nation of Israel: It has been more than a trivial matter for you to become my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I also have given you for a light of the nations [Gojim; Gentiles] , that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6).

But in Simeon's prophetic statement at the same time was something ominous, especially for his own people: the child he was currently holding in his arms, would serve to the fall of many in Israel, but ... fortunately, later on also to restoration. Through him many would then again rise. With that announcement Simeon, under the inspiration of the Spirit, again referred to certain prophecies in which the Messiah was presented as a "Stone":

The Stone which the builders [the religious elite among the people] despised, has become the head of the corner.
Because from YHWH is this: a miracle in our eyes
(Psalm 118: 22-23)

Only about (almost) sixty years later, in his Letter to the Romans, Saul (Paul) clarified the divine purpose behind Simeon’s prophetic words. To his brothers of the heavenly congregation he wrote admonishing:

For I do not want, brothers, that you are ignorant of this mystery - so that you are not discreet in your own eyes - that a hardening has happened in part to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written.

And then he quoted from Isaiah 59: 20-21 >>

The deliverer will come from Zion,
he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob .
And this will be my covenant for them,
when I will take away their sins.

In the 'delicate matter’ around the nation Israel Paul then, under inspiration, referred to some very important facts:
In the end, after the entire Christian community is "inside", there has still a very necessary thing to be accomplished to Jacob-Israel. What exactly? That which the prophet Daniel was referring to in his start of the Year Weeks Prophecy:

Seventy sevens have been decreed concerning your people and your holy city
to put an end to the transgression
and to seal up sins
and to make atonement for iniquity
(Dn 9:24)

The transgression of Jacob-Israel eminently concerns the national rejection of their Messiah. Those big misstep is implied in the Hebrew word used there פשע [peh-sja]. In the M-version of Js 59:20 פשע is used also:

And to Zion the Repurchaser will come and to those turning from transgression [ פשע ] in Jacob, judgment of YHWH.

After the raising of the heavenly, Christian Congregation yet another opportunity will be presented to the ancient Israelite Congregation to be reconciled with YHWH Elohim on the basis of the New Marriage Covenant. YHWH’s Son, Messiah Yeshua, will then act as Mediator of that covenant. But to what was Simeon referring when he said to Mariam: Also will go through your own soul a sword ?

Taking into acount both the context and the current ‘post-knowledge’ that question is not difficult to answer. First, the contextual link: When Simeon praised his heavenly Master for the fact that he still before his death was allowed to keep the Messiah his arms, he also indicated that the infant would be God's means of salvation in behalf of a humanity that – without own fault - inherited the judgment of death from our common ancestor Adam:

My eyes have seen your means of salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: A light for removing the veil from the nations and a glory of your people Israel.

Because of Adam's rebellious act in Gan Eden, we all, his offspring, came together with him under a sentence of death. Hence we also inherited the inability to be completely righteous toward YHWH Elohim, that He should give us lasting life based on our own merit.

According to Job 14:4 also the (relatively) fair Job had to recognize that no one can produce someone clean out of an unclean one. By their sinful act the first human couple became unclean in God's sight; infected as they were by sin. Necessarily they could only spread impurity and moral inability to all of us.

When David confessed his guilt regarding his sin against Uriah, he acknowledged that he had sinned against YHWH Elohim himself in the first place. Nevertheless, he was hoping for leniency based on his inherited moral weakness. Moral weakness and inability to act perfectly just had deeply settled into the genes of both his father and mother:

Wash me clean from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you — you above all — I have sinned; what is bad in your eyes I have done. Therefore, you are righteous when you speak, you are right in your judgment. Behold! I was born guilty of error, and my mother conceived me in sin …

Purify me from my sin with hyssop, so that I will be clean; wash me, so that I will be whiter than snow.
Psalm 51

It is therefore a big misunderstanding thinking that Thorah was given to Israel to be righteous on one’s own merit towards YHWH Elohim. The opposite is the case, as also Saul [Paul] distinguished under illumination of the spirit. In Romans 7 (verse 5) he explains the situation when still no one, neither he himself, could lead the life of God's spirit permanently:

For when we were living according to the flesh, the sinful passions that were awakened by the Law were at work in our bodies to produce fruit for death.

The Law that prompted basically a just life, stimulated the Adamic man rather to sin (!) How could that be? The apostle elucidated further:

What, then, are we to say? Is the Law sin? Certainly not! Really, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law. For example, I would not have known covetousness if the Law had not said: “You shall not covet.”

But sin, finding the opportunity afforded by the commandment, worked out in me all kinds of covetousness, for apart from law sin was dead

If the reader wants thoroughly to consider profound statements like these, we refer to this link .
More easily can be understood the divinely inspired pronouncement by the same Saul in Hebrews 10 >>

1 For the Law, having a shade of the good things to come, not the very substance of the facts themselves, will never be capable of the same sacrifices that are continually offered year after year, make those who draw near bring to perfection.
2 Otherwise, would not the [sacrifices ] have ceased, because those rendering sacred service to God - once being cleaned for all time – would have no consciousness of sins anymore?
3 On the contrary in those [sacrifices] there is an annual reminder of sins.
4 Because it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

For comments, see this link .
With the above in our spiritual "backpack" it is not too difficult to discern that the salvation of which Simeon spoke could only come about by a sacrifice in value far beyond that of animals. The divinely inspired words in Hebrews 10 thus have a great impact. Why? Because the sacrifices within the old Aaronic order repeatedly had to be offered. That fact in itself already proved their absolute inadequacy.

The reason?
The law contained only a shadow of the good things to come, that is, of the realities that would ushered in by the Messiah. In him the true facts are taking place, as elsewhere, in Colossians 2:16-17, is indicated:

Therefore, do not let anyone judge you about what you eat and drink or about the observance of a festival or a new moon or of a sabbath. Those things are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to the Messiah.

In our discussion of the new Marriage Covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34, still to solemnize with Israel, we concluded that no restoration for Israel could come through redemption based on the Old (legislative) Covenant, God's original Marriage covenant with Israel.
Sacrifices of animals do not suffice; it takes a superior offering.
The Psalmist already alluded to that fundamental truth in Psalm 49 >>

Those who boast of the abundance of their riches, none of them can ever redeem a brother in any way, nor pay God a ransom for him. The redemption price of their soul is so precious that it is insufficient for all, that he would live forever, not see the pit.

No Adamite is in a position to redeem Adamic fellowmen. Both are in need of a ransom that is in equilibrium with Adam's original state when he was not yet defiled by sinful transgression.
And that’s exactly why Yeshua had to be begotten in Mariam through the operation of God's holy spirit, thus becoming a second or last Adam.
See 1 Corinthians 15:45 and the principle Soul for soul according to the Thora in Exodus 21:23 .

In 1 Timothy 2, the apostle used the Greek αντιλυτρον to indicate the need for a ransom that would be of equivalent value, as Adam when he was still in his sinless state:

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, man Messiah Yeshua, who gave himself a corresponding ransom [αντιλυτρον ] for the benefit of all, the testimony for specific periods.

But this required an immaculate ransom sacrifice. Hence what Gabriel announced to Mariam:

Fear not, Mariam, for you have found favor with God, and look, you'll conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Yeshua. He shall be great, and Son of the Most High shall be called, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and his kingdom will have no end ... Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. For that reason also what is born will be called holy, God’s Son.

And precisely for that reason Simeon could exclaim to Elohim: My eyes have seen your salvation, which you hast prepared in the sight of all peoples, but say to Mariam: Through your own soul will run a sword, that the considerations of many hearts may be uncovered.

The Messiah had to die a sacrificial death, which also still had to meet special requirements with regard to his own people Israel. Which? To take away the curse that was on the people of Israel because of the Law. How so?

Due to Israel's inability to live entirely conformable to the Law, a curse came to rest upon her. As written in the Thora (Dt 27:26): Cursed every one who does not actually accomplish the words of this law.
in his Letter to the Galatians, the Israelite Saul (Paul) explained this key issue in detail:

The Messiah bought us free from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree."

The reference is to Dt 21:23.
See the comments on his more detailed account in Galatians 3. From the foregoing it is of course obvious at what time Mariam's heart was pierced by a sword. That was on April 3 of the year 33 AD, the day of the Passover. Then Yeshua died hanging on a stauros, Greek for torture stake. But most important: All that happened to him as the antitypical Lamb who takes away the sin of the world:

Now when the soldiers had impaled Jesus, they took his outer garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part, and the inner garment. But the tunic was without seam, since it from above in one piece was woven. Therefore they said to one another: "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for who it will be." This was that the scripture might be fulfilled: "They apportoned my outer garments among themselves, and upon my apparel they cast lots ". And so the soldiers really did these things.

However by the torture stake of Jesus there were standing his mother and the sister of his mother; Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then he said to the disciple " Behold your mother! "And from that hour the disciple [John] took her into his own home.
(John 1:29 and 19:23-27)

Through Simeon, then a nameless in Israel, YHWH Elohim thus announced the course of history for the last 2000 years. Truly, no small matter!
But what is so striking in the whole event is the fact that not a single representative of the religious elite in Israel was involved by YHWH Elohim to lead his Messiah inside the nation.

4. Anna

At that time, however, there was still another nameless one present in the Sanctuary, nota bene a womam who, besides from Simeon, would also bear witness to the Messiah's birth. Two pious persons, representatives of a long history of a people who lived in anticipation of the fulfillment of God's promises; continuously fed by the prophetic Word.

In Luke 2 we read about that:

Also there was Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of [the] tribe of Asher, who had come in very old age. From her virginity she had lived seven years with [a] husband, a widow now of eighty-four years, who was never missing from the temple, serving God with fastings and supplications night and day. And in that very hour she came near and gave thanks to God and speaking about [the child] to all who were waiting for Jerusalem’s deliverance.

Unlike Simeon Anna is called prophetess, meaning that she was permanently influenced by God's spirit, a circumstance apparently forcefully supported by the meaning of her father's name: Phanuel = Face of Elohim.
Compare Genesis 32:30.

The statement that Anna came from Asher recalls what the patriarch Jacob on his deathbed foretold about that tribe: Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he delivers royal dainties. Elohim would bless Asher with an abundance of rich food so that tribe could provide the royal table of delicacies. In his prophetic blessing Mosjeh foretold that Asher would enjoy prosperity. The tribe was [speaking figuratively] dipping his foot in oil, which indicates prosperity.

See Deut 33: 24-25.

And really, the territory that was assigned to Asher included one of the most fertile regions in whole Israel. There grew olive trees, which provided abundant oil, and other trees, whose fruits were among the delicacies that were served upon the table of the king. The tribe would be of service to YHWH’s Anointed One.

A beautiful example can be seen in the way the tribe stationed itself towards the Anointed Hezekiah when he was endeavoring for a great religious revival in Israel. Many tribes were failing then; but not Asher:

Hezekiah sent a message to all Israel and Judah, and even wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, to come to the house of YHWH in Jerusalem to hold the Passover to YHWH, the God of Israel... and the case was right in the eyes of the king and in the eyes of the whole congregation. So they decided to have call pass through all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that they would come to the Passover to YHWH, the God of Israel at Jerusalem; for they had not celebrated it as a multitude, according to what is written.

But then something happened that, to her shame, took place so often in Israel:

But they were constantly speaking in mockery of them [the messengers] and deriding them. Only individuals from Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves so that they came to Jerusalem. The hand of God proved to be also in Judah to give them one heart to perform the commandment of the king and the princes in the matter of YHWH.
(2 Chronicles 30: 1-12)

However, at the time that the epoch of the Law entered her final period, Anna appeared to be a worthy representative of that royal service.
Having observed attentively the young messiah she started witnessing to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
After so many centuries Anna turned out to have the disposition which was so characteristic for the tribe of Asher. She departed not from the temple, but served Elohim, night and day. Apparently that meant that she was present from the morning until the evening sacrifice.

5. His Parents

Having described the presentation of the young Yeshua in the Sanctuary, the evangelist Luke hereafter has recorded just one other specific event out of the early years of the Messiah:

The boy grew up and now acquired [increasingly] force, being [increasingly] filled with wisdom; and God's favor was [constantly] upon him.
And his parents were accustomed to go every year to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old they went up according to the custom of the feast, and completed the days. But when they were returning the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, and his parents did not notice [it]. Assuming that he was among the group of travelers, they covered a day’s distance and then began to look for him among the relatives and acquaintances. And when they did not find [him], they returned to Jerusalem, making a diligent search for him.

And it came to pass on the third day they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and questioning them. But all those listening to him were in constant amazement at his understanding and answers.

And when they saw him, they were astounded; and his mother said to him, Son, why did you do this to us? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you. And he said to them, Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in the [house] of my Father? However, they did not grasp the saying which he spoke unto them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these things carefully in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in physical growth and in favor with God and men.

Based on Ex 23: 14-17 every male Israelite was expected to appear three times a year before YHWH Elohim, at the feast of Unleavened Bread [Passover], the harvest of the first ripe fruits [Shavuot] and the feast of ingathering at the end of the year [Sukkot].

The diasporah made it largely impossible, but devout Jewish men, both inside and outside Palestine, made efforts to attend at least the annual Passover in Jerusalem. Mariam was wont to accompany Joseph, though this was not required from women.

From the context may likely be concluded that the youthful Yeshua accompanied his parents not only just at the age of twelve. It’s rather clear that he at that age differed from the ordinary course of business. Perhaps Yeshua, in view of his upcoming bar mitzvah, had made the decision to stay behind in the town with the Passover and the feast of unleavened bread, to make clear to attentive observers how deep and unique his relationship was to his heavenly Father, and how great his appreciation of the Law.

That he and his parents accomplished the days probably means that they stayed for the full duration of the festival in Jerusalem, although many pilgrims already after the two main days returned to their homes. We can not assume that Yeshua out of an act of disobedience stayed behind, but rather out of intense interest in the things of God in the temple area.

How are we to imagine the scene that his worried "parents" descried on the third day? In one of the porticoes of the temple a group of Jewish teachers is involved in theological issues. Something that was not uncommon during the festivals and there was a lot of audience. As a studious boy Yeshua joined them. He raises some relevant issues; soon is his involvement so great that the teachers forget that they are exchanging thougts with a 12-year-old boy. What an insight that lad proves to have and how acute he reacts to their comments!

That the scene - Yeshuaa in the midst of the teachers and conversing with them – greatly amazed his parents may be an indication for their low social status, but most probably also for the big gap that existed between those who belonged to the common people and the religious elite, against whom they looked up with awe. While they in the first place could know that Yeshua, based on his origin, was special, they were nevertheless overwhelmed by a situation that was completely foreign to the circle of people within they were moving.

Anyway, from Mariam’s complaint can be concluded that she and her husband were all busy with themselves and their petty-bourgeois existence.
How can that be? There were now 12 years passed by since his miraculous birth, and the family had been extended with half-brothers and sisters. And in the midst thereof Yeshua grew up like any other child; for a common observer a regular guy. Life had resumed its normal course and no doubt they all had to work hard to meet the daily needs of life.

This may explain why they had not purposefully sought. This is evident from Yeshua 'response. For him it had been not at all needful to go looking for him. They could have gone directly to the only place where he might be expected: the temple, the house of his father, where occurred par excellence the religious affairs that were connected with true worship.

Expressing his messianic self-consciousness his answer was - the first words spoken by him that were recorded - Did you not know that I had to be in my Father's house ? Other parents could have searched everywhere, but not his! Besides his subjection to them, he indeed found himself - and that even in the first place - in the special relationship with him who was his true Father. Hence the need [I had to be] that arose from that relationship.

The group of teachers was certainly impressed, and apparently because they thought they had nothing to fear from a 12-year boy, they reacted favorably. Twenty years later, when he appeared in public and openly denounced the teachings of the rabbis, the situation was quite different!

But what kind of questions the young Yeshua could then have presented to those teachers? We do not know anything about that with certainty, but taking into account the further reports on his life - especially those that handle completely about his 3½-year ministry – it might be possible that this happened after the style of Luke 20:41-44, in connection with Yeshua's regular reference to Psalm 110.

We gave attention already above to that remarkable Messianic Psalm.
See: Heel Wound.

But there in relation to the superior sacrifice that has sufficient strength to redemption, by which also the New Marriage Covenant can come into force.

At the time of Yeshua's death - the heel wound - that sacrifice had been provided!

See: Melchizedek in Hebrews

Elohim his Father, however, 'cured' that 'heel wound' by raising his Son from the dead. Not again as a human person but as a glorious spirit creature, what would enable him in due time crushing the Serpent in the head.
But in the meantime he would sit at the right hand of His Father in Heaven:

1 Of David; a psalm. Thus says YHWH to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies a footstool of your feet."
2 send the scepter of your strength YHWH from Zion: "Dominate the midst of your enemies."
3 Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day of your struggle. In the splendor of holiness, from the womb of the dawn, you have the dew of your youth.
4 YHWH has sworn and will not change it: "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek."
5 The Lord at your right hand crushes kings on the day of his wrath.
6 He will execute judgment among the nations; he will cause a fullness of dead bodies; crushes the head of a populous country.

See this link for the Hebrew text with interlinear display.

According to Luke 20:41-44 Mashiach Yeshua was thus referring to that Psalm >>

He said to them [in a conversation with the Pharisees]: How do they say that the Messiah is David's son? For David himself says in the book of Psalms:

The Lord [YHWH] said to my Lord:
Sit at my right hand
until I place your enemies [to] a footstool for your feet.

David calls him Lord, how is he his son?

Thus Yeshua put the Pharisees a tricky question; a question that shook the obviousness of their image they had about the Messiah.
The beginning is innocent: How is it to be understood for the Messiah to name a son of David?

That starting point was not controversial, given texts as
Two Samuel 7:12, 19 ;
Isaiah 11:1 ;
Jeremiah 23:5-6 ;
Psalms 89:21, 28-30 , 35-38 .

But then arises the difficulty, at least for those Pharisees, especially for their scribes: By David himself, in Psalm 110, that son is mentioned my Lord. And YHWH Elohim would at some point in time say to him - to David’s Lord, but of course also to the Lord of all people - Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies [to] a footstool for your feet.

How is it possible that David’s descendant who

- seated at the right hand of God, surely in a supernatural situation

- as king and executioner shall take action against the enemies of the Messiah's kingdom,

also is referred to as my Lord.
How can that be?

For the scribes that question must indeed have been problematic, especially since they could know from the Psalm that this son - and at the same time Lord - of David would also perform a priestly function.
He would be king-priest within an entirely new order, not according to the order of Aaron and related to the Levitical priesthood, but after the manner of Melchizedek. Verse 4 >

YHWH has sworn and he will not change it. "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek"

Obviously there is a solution to the issue.
His disciple Peter had before, according to Mt 16: 13-17, confessed: You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
But the Pharisees even refused to consider that possibility. They had shaped their own idea of the Messiah, and for themselves already established that Yeshua of Nazareth did not answer to that picture.
They felt perfectly well what was the correct solution for the problem Yeshua referred to, but they refused categorically to go with him in that direction. With that attitude they fulfilled again the truth of Elohim’s own remark to Mosjeh:

I have looked at this people, and behold, it is a stiffnecked people.
Exodus 32

Ofcourse, the denial of these cases, also being the case by their contemporary counterparts, does not change in any matter God's intention to implement all these precious truths at their own appointed times.
It would certainly be a proof of actual wisdom on the part of these religionists if they are humble enough to open up their minds for the actual divine facts.
In what way?

The Divine Library

Yes, indeed. How can Jewish people - in all humility for the true, divine facts about their Messiah - open their minds?
The answer is simple: Without prejudice turn to the whole Bible; open one’s mind not only for information out of the familiar Tanakh, the 39 Books of divine origine, but for the whole divine Library, inclusive the 27 godly inspired Judeo-christian Writings. Sixty-six (39 + 27) Bible Books are available for diligent truthseekers.

It is perhaps no coincidence that, in a way, these 66 Books evidently correspond to the 66 chapters in which the Book of Isaiah (Book 23) is divided. The more because in the last 27 chapters of Isaiah, so from Chapter 40, almost all attention is focused on Israel's future restoration and consequently is referring to the so needed consolation:

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak to the heart of Jerusalem

and call out to her that her service has been fulfilled, that her error has been paid off, that she has received from the hand of YHWH double for all her sins.

For that reason, the second part of the Book of Isaiah is by some referred to as Deutero-Isaiah. And by the way: The explanation for that restoration, even including the fundamental reason for the possibility to that end, can exclusively be found in that part of the divine Library.

So there is every reason assigning the same value to those 27 books which were added to the Library during the First Century. Why? Because they appear to show the same signs of inspiration by Ruach Elohim.
In view of the situation in which the Jews will find themselves in the time of their national restoration, those extra 27 Books often prove to be focused on that very crucial time, just as is the case with so many books of the 'old' Prophets.

For instance in the same manner as Isaiah 2: 2-5 >>

It shall be in the latter days that the mountain of the house of YHWH shall be established as the highest of the mountains, exalted above the hills, where all nations shall flow.
Many peoples shall go and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of YHWH, to the house of the God of Jacob. Then he will teach us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth law, and the word of YHWH from Jerusalem ...House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of YHWH.

Note that - already so long ago - the prophet alluded to the necessity that during the End times a serious call should be addressed to the House of Jacob to walk in YHWH Elohim’s light.
However, concerning the willingness of ‘Jacob’ to respond to that call, we must note again - also on the basis of Isaiah - that even then also only a minority, a Rest or Remnant of Elohim’s Female Nation will respond in true faith. As Isaiah 10:20-23 clearly is informing us in advance:

On that day it will certainly occur that those who remain of Israel and those who escaped from the house of Jacob, will not longer support him who hit them [the False Pseudo Messiah, in Isaiah symbolized by the Assyrian], but they will certainly rely on YHWH the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
A mere Remnant will return, Jacob's Rest, to the mighty God. For although your people, Israel, would prove to be like the sand grains of the sea, yet a mere Remnant among them will [in true repentance to Elohim] return; to destruction is determined, overflowing in justice.

We find the same assurance in the Books of Micah and Zephaniah:

Who is a God like you, removing iniquity and passing over rebellion for the remnant of his inheritance?
He will not hold on to his anger forever, because he delights in favor. He will again show us mercy; he will subject our errors.
And you will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
You will show loyalty to Jacob and faithful love to Abraham, as you swore to our forefathers from days long ago.

Micah 7

However, about that same Rest in Micah (5:7) is also foretold that the remnant of Jacob will be among many peoples like dew from YHWH, like copious showers upon vegetation.
But above all, for the fulfilment of promises like these really humble people are needed, such as the nameless Simeon and Anna.

Haughty members of a religious elite upper class will never be such a refreshing dew for the Gojim. History shows that they usually were "an impediment" for the common people to get into a good relationship with YHWH Elohim.
See: The Wheat and the Weeds

Zephaniah (3:12-13) let us know in advance that Elohim has his eye on the humble and the poor, whom we've already mentioned.
Aptly Zephaniah prophesied on behalf of YHWH :

I will leave a meek and humble people among you, and they will take refuge in the name of YHWH. The remnant of Israel will no longer do wrong or tell lies; a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. But they will pasture and lie down, with nothing to make them afraid.

The 27 Books that, broadly speaking, have come to us in the Greek language, are commonly referred as The Books of the New Covenant. Clearly an allusion to Jeremiah 31.
Insiders know, however, that the New Covenant will be concluded with the descendants of the Exodus Generation >>

Look! Days are coming - declaration of YHWH - when I will conclude a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. Not one like the covenant that I concluded with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt.

However, within the weedy church systems of Christendom one learns that YHWH Elohim would have already concluded that Covenant with Yeshua's heavenly congregation, which had a start on Shavuot 33 AD.
Again therefore a gross error in the "Church".
Another - also great misconception within those religious denominations - is the idea that the aforementioned 27 Books solely are focused on that church and exclusively on its members.

One can easily guess what were the results of those two great errors: namely the so-called REPLACEMENT Doctrine, or substitution theology, essentially the idea that

● in God's purpose the Church has completely occupied the place of Israel

● Jews no longer are Elohim’s chosen people;

● there is no more future for Israel; all its privileges would have passed from the 'Synagogue' to the "Church"; the many promises made to her would be fulfilled within the "Christian Church".

That substitution doctrine of Christendom has been likened to the action of the Philistines taking as booty the Ark of the Covenant from Israel (1Sm 4:5-11 and 5:1 till 7:2). But that Ark belonged in the Holy of Holies of the Covenant Tent, the Tabernacle. There YHWH Elohim had his dwelling in a representative manner by the wondrous Shekinah light, as it were enthroning above the mercy seat (Hebrew: kappooreth).

In Rm 3:25 Paul identified Yeshua's atoning, substitutionary death with that kappooreth, mercy seat: Him God appointed as mercy seat through faith in his blood, to demonstrate his righteousness.

At the annual Day of Atonement the high priest entered the rear section of the Tabernacle with the blood of the sacrificial animals which he splashed in the direction of that Covenant Box. For Israel, the Ark was understandably proof that YHWH, their Elohim and Melech, was present among them and that the blessing of the Covenant rested on them.

From that point of view, the comparison of the replacement doctrine with the action of the Philistines is not unjustified, because like the Philistines had no benefit by the presence of the Ark in their midst, but rather encountered big disadvantage, something similar applies to Christendom. Without the earthly congregation Israel the true Israel of God can not fully function as the Temple City New Jerusalem, the antitypical Covenant Tent, to be a blessing to the nations. The heavenly Priesthood then would have indeed to do without earthly Levitical helpers.

But Revelation 7:15 indicates that those earthly priestly co-workers of the heavenly priesthood indeed come into function at the threshold of Jesus' Millennium Reign:

For that reason, they are before the throne of God and for him they perform sacred service in his temple sanctuary day and night.

See the commentary on Rev 7:15a

During the centuries that they were Israel's closest neighbors the Philistines behaved almost always as the sworn enemies of Elohim’s people. And in that respect, the apostate Christendom often does not behave less hostile to the true Israel of God, both in relation to the Jews themselves, who often with contempt are treated, but also towards Christian minorities that felt a necessity to break away from Christendom because of its many God-dishonoring doctrines and practices. From none the Jews have suffered more than from the side of those fake ‘christians’.

In reality, about the half of the said 27 Biblebooks is entirely Jewish oriented. One could refer to as The Jewish Messianic Scriptures .
On this site, they have long provided under the Judeo-Christian writings.
The Gospel of Luke is one of them, but of course there are three other Books in which the life of Yeshua is recorded: Matthew, Mark and John.
The Books 40 till 44 include in order: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the Acts of the Apostles. After these the thirteen Letters attributed to Saul (Paul) (45 thru 57), about which can be said that they specificly contain information in behalf of the universal Congregation of Yeshua, the heavenly part of the Israel of God.
See: Bible Wheel.

Nevertheless, even in those scriptures one can find regularly references to the destination of the earthly Jewish Congregation. Of course! Because in Elohim’s eternal purpose both congregations constitute together the one Israel of God by which YHWH Elohim will bless the Gojim. In particular, we find such hints in Chapters 9 , 10 and 11 of Romans. An example showing us that Saul (Paul) also rejected the Replacement Doctrine we find In Rm 9:1-5 :

I speak the truth in the Messiah — I am not lying; my conscience is testifying to me in holy spirit — that I have intense sorrow and continual anguish in my heart. For I could almost wish to be cursed and cut off from the Messiah for the benefit of my brothers, my kinsmen after the flesh.

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises. The ancestors are theirs, and from whom the Messiah [is] according to the flesh.

In particular, the Books 58 tm 66, Hebrews to The Revelation of Yeshua Messiah, comprise a divinely inspired gift serving as a guideline in the End times in behalf of the earthly part of the Israel of God, starting with the 70th Annual Week for Israel.
For the time being we now are confining ourselves to the special Book that's come to be known as the Letter to the Hebrews.

Hebrews – Details

a. The new Priesthood

Please further note the Bible verses with which this Book opens, namely immediately with a reference to Psalm 110 >>

God, who spoke in ancient times frequently and in many ways to the fathers in the prophets spoke in the last of these days to us in [the] Son, whom he appointed heir of all things; by whom he also made the aeons.
He who is the reflection of his glory and the exact representation of his very being, who also sustains all things by his powerful word has, after he had made a purification for our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in lofty places, becoming much better than the angels, to the extent that he has inherited a more excellent name than theirs.

Why focuse mainly on Book 58, The Epistle to the Hebrews ?

1. The form of theology.

It differs entirely from that which characterizes the typical Pauline writings which are clearly aligned with the heavenly Congregation, Yeshua's Body.

- The ideal image in Hebrews is not being in Messiah Jesus , but - although also based on the atoning sacrifice – in an acceptable way coming near to God.

Examples therefore are found in 4:16 ; 7:25 ; 10:22 ; 11: 6 ; 12: 18-22 , where repeatedly appears the verb προσέρχομαι: come near; approach.

- No elaboration about justification before God by faith rather than by works of the law, as is characteristic for the Books Romans and Galatians.

The Law is certainly an important point of departure, but rather she is used to clarify the prophetic images, namely:

∙ the sacred service in the Tabernacle and the cult of [animal] sacrifices;

∙ the service of the High Priest on the annual Day of Atonement.

In Hebrews these are principles to convince the readers about the truths concerning the Messiah, Yeshua. In him all typology is coming to realities.

2. The Book is very End times oriented.

The prophetic orientation is focused on the last (70th) Annual Week for Israel, the important end stage in which YHWH Elohim is going to renew his Marriage Covenant with the nation. An entire chapter (8) has been set apart for arguing that most important matter.

On the basis of Psalm 110, we stated earlier that David's Lord, the Messiah, after his death and resurrection not only took a seat at the right hand of Elohim, his Father, but also that he, according to Elohim’s own oath will function as king-priest within a whole new order: after the manner of Melchizedek:

4 YHWH has sworn and He will feel no regret: "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek."

Obviously, this development will have major implications for the old cult: the Levitical priesthood. And although there is no doubt that the case for the majority of the Jews will be such a difficulty, not to ‘digest’ – just as challenging as the acceptance of Yeshua as their Messiah – the Letter to the Hebrews is not shrinking back to bring up that matter openly and to argue for the need of a radical change.

Let's look ahead at one passage that the members of the future Remnant will have to make their own, if they at least have not done so to date.

With a reference to Psalm 110, verse 4, in Hebrews 7:11-12 the following is concluded:

If, then, perfection was attainable through the Levitical priesthood – because on that foundation the people was provided with [a body of] laws - what further need would there be for another priest to arise who is said to be after the manner of Melchizedek and not after the manner of Aaron? For since the priesthood is being changed, it becomes necessary to change the Law as well.

A logical conclusion? For sure!
Easy to face the reality of it? Certainly not!

How can Jewish people sympathize with such an announcement?

Answer : By looking back at the distant past, the primeval age of the patriarchs!

After the exodus from Egypt, at Sinai, the ancestors pledged allegiance to YHWH Elohim. He, for his part, promised to them that only they of all peoples on earth would be to Him a special property, a holy nation that for him would function as a kingdom of priests ( Ex 19: 3-6 ).

It is almost certain that, at that time inside Israel, no one had any idea which were Elohim’s actual objectives. How could they ever fathom that also the royal priesthood – functioning on the basis of the Law Covenant – would merely be of typological nature and would for that reason function temporarily.

The simple, but also great truth is that in the scene of Genesis 14, Abraham's encounter with Melchizedek, the king-priest of Salem, was previously shown that the promise which was made to Abraham in the surrounding chapters, especially in Genesis 12 and 15 - to become a blessing for the Gentile world through his seed - would be fulfilled within a royal priesthood under the supervision of the Messianic king and high priest himself. And in that capacity, he was already at an early stage depicted by Melchizedek, the king-priest of Salem.

The appearance of Melchizedek occurred in prehistoric times, far before the coming into existence of the Law. And precisely in that era - the period of the patriarchs - the things took place that later proved to be so important for Israel in God's purpose. Between the different scenes in that all-important part of the Thorah exists namely an undeniable connection!

In the Book of Hebrews Saul (Paul) is appealing therefore to that golden period of Israel - partly on the basis of David's Psalm 110 – to demonstrate the superiority of the Messianic priesthood above that of Aaron: YHWH has sworn and will not feel regret: "You [the Messianic King] are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. "

The priesthood of the Messiah - although including abundant antitypical features derived from that of Aaron and his successors - is of a higher, supernatural order, perfect and therefore permanent. In Abraham’s eventful life numerous things happened casting forward meaningful shadows. Only when one realizes those features, many things become much clearer, even fully understood. Some of them are the following:

● The issue Isaac / IsmaeI.

See: The long term effect of Genesis 16:12 .

● The same issue, but in the light of two covenants :

Namely the Abrahamic Covenant for providing a seed that would be a blessing to the Gojim, depicted by the Free wife Sarah;

and the Law covenant, characterized by the slave woman Hagar.

See: Allegory

● The miraculous birth of Isaac as the seed of promise, but who had to be sacrificed on the Moriah Mountain, unambiguously pointing forward to God's Only One, his beloved Son, who truly experienced a sacrificial death, so he could become the real Seed for blessing mankind.

See: Abraham’s destination.

● The marriage of Isaac with Rivqah (Rebekah) ,
foreshadowing of the marriage relationship between the Messiah and his congregational Body.

See:

On the way to the Wedding - Part 1
and
On the way to the Wedding - Part 2

Really taking note of all those events that cast forward such important shadows, it will not seem strange to anybody that Abraham's encounter with the (mysterious) king-priest Melchizedek of Salem had a pre-visual meaning : The true Royal Priesthood which will be a blessing to the Gojim during the upcoming Messiah Empire.

The lesson in summary is all-important: The Promise to Abraham shall be fulfilled through the Priesthood which appeared in the context of that promise.

The conclusion is unavoidable: The ancient cult under the Law will have to make way for the Melchizedek priesthood!

Some readers may be shocking to learn.
If one however considers the Letter to the Hebrews completely, one will find that the inspired Paul - perhaps together with the co-author Apollos – step-by-step furnished proof for that important change. In chapter 7 he is arriving at the focal point of his argument, but then he had already used not less than six chapters - on the basis of passages from the Tanakh – to demonstrate how much greater Mashiach Yeshua is above the angels, and far superior to such important leaders of the people as Mosjeh and Yehoshua, as well as the high priest Aaron.

b . The superiority of the Son

That superiority immediately is apparent from the opening words of Chapter 1, the verse 1 to 4. The apostle introduces his argument with the observation:

God, who spoke in ancient times frequently and in many ways to the fathers in the prophets spoke in the last of these days to us in [the] Son, whom he appointed heir of all things; by whom he also made the aeons.
He who is the reflection of his glory and the exact representation of his very being, who also sustains all things by his powerful word has, after he had made a purification for our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in lofty places, becoming much better than the angels, to the extent that he inherited a more excellent name than theirs.

Incomparable great is the Son. That is obvious! YHWH Elohim created him in his own image: He who is the reflection of his glory and the exact representation of his very being.
No wonder that the Son through his sacrificial death actually could bring about a purification for our sins. But that Son was Elohim’s co-worker in generating all the remainder of Creation: By whom he also made the aeons [world periods].

In his pre-existence he had existed in heaven next to God, his Father, as the exact representation of his very being. As such, he was used by the Father to bring forth the aeons [τους αιωνας; aeons or world periods]. In his Letter to the Christians at Colossae the apostle previously explained in detail:

He is image of the invisible God, Firstborn of all creation, because in him all things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the visible and the invisible things; whether thrones, whether dominions, whether governments, whether powers: all things were created through him and unto him. And he himself is before all things and all things consist together in him ... he who is origin ... because the whole Fullness thought well to live in him.
(Col 1:15-19)

Because all things have been brought forth, not only through him but also unto him and, moreover, are consisting together in him, we understand that here, in the Letter to the Hebrews, can be said that God him, the Son, appointed heir of all things. He is the One through whom Elohim God brought forth all the remainder of creation.

But also the existence of that creation has been entirely 'pinned down' on him, that is: made dependent upon him. At the same time he is also goal of creation, and therefore it was given to him as a heritage. In the Tanakh likewise no texts are lacking that allude to the specific origin of that Messianic Son:

Micah 5 >>

And you, Beth Lechem Ephratah,
though too little to be among the thousands of Judah,
out of you will come forth to me the one who is to become ruler in Israel, whose origin is from early times, from everlasting days off.

Psalm 2: 7-8 >>

Let me make mention of the decree of YHWH; he said to me: "You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, that I may give nations as your inheritance; the ends of the earth as your own possession.

The members of the Christian Congregational Body enjoy the unspeakable privilege to share with their Head in that legacy:

The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children. But if children, also heirs; yes, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Messiah; if we suffer together with him, that we may also be glorified together.
(Romans 8:16-17)

But such basic truths about Yeshua's Congregational Body were here [in Hebrews] completely kept out of the picture, because its members do not belong to the specific group of recipients.
The recipients of Hebrews concern the members of the earthly part of the Israel of God.

See: Heading

c . The consequences of rejection

When we realize that in the First century - at the dawn of the Messianic era, when Yeshua appeared in public - YHWH Elohim spoke again, it is easy to understand how urgent it was for his Jewish brothers and is also now to pay attention .

Especially when one realizes that

a. God no longer speaks through his prophets, but through his own Son;

b. now all indications, we possess under that additional revelation, are going toward an End time that now is very near.

We are now waiting to hear the sound of the Last trumpet. The heavenly congregation will then be raptured and united with her Lord in the heavens forever, while the 'clock' for the earthly congregation starts running again because the last (70th) Annual Week has dawned.

See: The Last Trumpet

c1 Drifting away

One feels the urgency in reading Hebrews 2:1-4 >>

We must therefore heed abundantly the things heard, lest we never may drift away. For if the word spoken by angels proved to be firm, and every transgression and disobedience received a righteous retribution, how shall we escape if we would neglect a salvation of such greatness, which - after having begun - was spoken by the Lord, and verified for us by those who heard him, God bearing witness as well, both by signs and wonders and various powerful works and distributions of holy spirit according to his will?

A comparison is made with the old revelation, particularly the Mosaic legislation, which was received by the intervention of angels. That revelation proved to be a solid word, in view of the sanctions that were connected to each offense and disobedient act.

Now, when that old revelation could not be ignored with impunity, how much more attention than deserves the new one; moreover because it came to the Jewish People through the Son who is so much elevated above the angels!

From the wording we seem to be able to conclude that the recipients are not inclined to estimate that new revelation at its superior value. Moreover, the centuries that followed thereafter, all the way to this day, have confirmed that assumption. That does not surprise us in the least, because YHWH Elohim knows the propensity of his people through and through!

However, that disposition is now more than ever a dangerous development, since we have progressed so far in time. The text section indeed shows us that nothing less than σωτηρια, Greek for salvation is under discussion, namely true liberation from sin and salvation from eternal death. That salvation is therefore such that no greater is conceivable, as appears from the expression such a great salvation.

In the First century, with the advent of the Messiah, the proclaiming of that salvation as good news (the Gospel) started. Yeshua himself spoke as the first about it and since then there has been no silence; by each generation of (mostly nameless) believers the message was confirmed again and again.

Moreover, Elohim himself, for his part, added his own testimony to the human proclamation, especially in the early days. That divine contribution included signs, wonders, forces and distributions of holy spirit. At last we can think of the variety of charismata’s (spiritual manifestations). The Book of Acts supplies broad evidence of all those facts.

That this new revelation is of a much higher level than the old one is plainly indicated by that one generic term σωτηρια (salvation). The Law after all only commanded, but did not grant the power to live up to the extensive variety of regulations. Therefore, the law was only reason to sin and consequently led to condemnation.

An honest examination of the Jewish 'picture' of the last 1950 years - since Hebrews was written – confirms the truth that, instead of giving more abundant attention to the things that have been heard, the Jews as a people did just the opposite: Both their Messiah as the Jewish Messianic Scriptures – to which also Hebrews belongs – have been pushed aside and instead the majority has been mainly engaged in Talmudic teachings.

But anyway, for a still to appear Jewish remnant in the 70th Annual Week this Letter to the Hebrews, as well as all the other Jewish Messianic Scriptures, are waiting for consultation as soon as the members of the then appearing Remnant with God's help come out of their centuries-lasting hardening.

In Hb 2:1-4 as yet they are only warned of the danger of 'drifting away', or more literally to the Greek slip by, what is the meaning of the verb παραρρυεω .

Xenophon used it for the passing by of a flowing river. Hence the metaphor here drift, which can easily happen with a boat if not fixed to an anchor. Anyway, further onwards in the Letter the alerts become more severe.

Examined more closely it should surprise no one that the Jews of the End times in Hebrews repeatedly are severely admonished not to persist in their stubborn attitude towards Elohim’s arrangement in Mashiach Yeshua. The Tanakh itself testifies abundantly of Israel's recurrent disobedience, even of outright opposition to their heavenly Master. And the prophetic word as well warns repeatedly that in the End Times the situation will not be different.

Previously we brought already under the reader’s attention that we can read in the Tanakh that only a Rest will return in repentance to YHWH Elohim. As also was foretold by Zephaniah:

We can again refer to Numbers 14, where Israel's rebellion at the time of their Exodus is extensively narrated; for the prophets often an occasion to announce prophetically, on behalf of Elohim, that something similar will happen again during the last gathering of God's people, on their return from the diaspora. Listen to Ezekiel:

I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries wherein you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out; and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you, says the Lord YHWH. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against Me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel; and you shall know that I am YHWH.

(Tanakh-1917; adapted)

In Ezekiel 20:34-38 was thus already foretold by the prophet that the New Covenant - coming into force based on Yeshua's superior sacrifice – will bring about a final separation within ethnic Israel, taking place precisely durimg the period of their return and restoration.

One would expect that such serious prophetic announcements for the current Israel would still be reason for a thorough self-examination; that one wonders seriously: "Where am I in my relationship with YHWH Elohim and his scheme of salvation in the Messiah?"

c2 Missing God’s Rest

Which position individual Jews will take during the spectacular developments of the 70 ^th Annual Week, the inspired author of Hebrews, after having pointed to the danger of drifting in chapter 3, makes heard a more serious tone in the chapers 3 and 4, even falling back on the ominous trend which was cognizable at the time of the Exodus.

As we all know the disastrous events at that time reached a climax at Kadesh when the 12 spies, upon their return from Canaan, at least 10 of them, released a discouraging message. In their rebellion the Israelites, refusing to give ear to sound reasoning, wanted to replace their divinely appointed leader Moses by another Master and return to Egypt. They even counseled to kill Moses and Aaron by stoning them to death.

Those events led to a break with YHWH their God and King.
The result was that those rebellious Israelites had to bear 40 years the responsibility for their error, during which the whole generation of 20 years and older in the wilderness came to its end (Numbers 14). Their stay in the "lonely, howling wilderness" was extended as a result in a painful way ( Dt 32:10 ):

And YHWH spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying: ‘How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, that keep murmuring against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they keep murmuring against me. Say unto them: As I live, says YHWH, surely as you have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness, and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, you that have murmured against me; surely you shall not come into the land, concerning which I lifted up my hand that I would make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, that you said would be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which you have rejected. But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall be wanderers in the wilderness forty years, and shall bear your strayings, until your carcasses be consumed in the wilderness. After the number of the days in which you spied out the land, even forty days, for every day a year, shall you bear your iniquities, even forty years, and you shall know my displeasure. I YHWH have spoken, surely this will I do unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me; in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.

(Numbers 14:26-35; Tanakh 1917 adapted)

But the author of Hebrews goes on further.

With Psalm 95 as a starting point, he warns Israel End Times generation that they will miss even more than their rebellious forefathers: Whether or not entering Elohim’s own Rust is at stake:

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
during the trial in the wilderness,
where your fathers tried [me] investigating [me]
and they saw my works for forty years.
For this reason I became disgusted with this generation
and said: "Always they go astray in their hearts;
they themselves have not come to know my ways".
So I swore in my anger: “They shall not enter into my rest " .

In Psalm 95, King David put much emphasis on the way his people is acting during the period designated as TODAY. Israel has always been the people of his pasturage, and the sheep of his hand (verse 7). As such, they are carefully to guard revolting against Elohim, their Chief Shepherd. Rather, they should at any time of the TODAY - whenever they hear the divine will - willingly obey and not allow their heart to become hardened, incurable in rebellion.

If not, they shall expierence even worse than the wilderness generation.

The Hebrew text of the Psalm, in verse 7 expresses a wish: Oh, that TODAY you would hearken to his voice!

But in the Septuagint, from which the Apostle here cites, the wish becomes to a sentence with a conditional character: TODAY, if you hear his voice .

TODAY with all its weight comes first. TODAY is NOW, at this very moment. For the Jewish readers of Hebrews at the latest when they get the final opportunity, during the last (70th) Annual Week, to respond favorably to the fact that Yeshua really is their true Messiah.

That will also be for them the occasion to reject firmly the (then forthcoming) Pseudomasjiach, the false messiah, even though the latter will be hailed by many of their ‘brothers’ in great euphoria: The Mashiach of their own choice whom they - during their long period of hardening and stay in the Diaspora - so ardently were awaiting.

The reality of the TODAY implies that the Jews as a people did not really come to a knowledge of Elohim’s ways.

Pay particular attention to the expression: If they shall enter into my rest ...
The elliptical oathformule is typical of the Hebrew phraseology. We could supplement as follows: I am not the true God if they would enter into my rest .

Back in ancient times, it handled about the Rest that could benefit the people in a typological sense to settle in the Promised Land: Living in peace and prosperity, everyone sitting under his own vine and under his own fig tree ( 1Kings 4:20-25 ).

Typology, however, must in time turn from type/image into (the better) reality/substance.

No Hebrew who sincerely and with an honest heart consults the historical records of the own sacred Writings can ignore the sad things that have been captured on Israel. Although highly favored by Elohim as a chosen people, the majority of the Israelites [Hebrews] did not please Him. On the contrary!

Even the Jews of the End times who more than ever before will be favored by God, receiving the blessings of a New with them to conclude Marriage Covenant - including partaking of the holy spirit which will join them to one community - run the risk to persevere in the footsteps of their forefathers.

As the wilderness generation scorned the deliverance out of the Slave House, it is quite conceivable that the End time generation will neglect such a great salvation.
It is precisely for that purpose the author of Hebrews wrote: Wherefore comfort one another each day, as long as it may be called 'Today' ...

An encouragement that is definitely be called for, but is for many deeply religious Jews a great challenge! Why so?
Because many of them are not of opinion that they need advice or admonition. Not a few are convinced of their own integrity and justice.
Undoubtedly, it behooves a lot of help from heaven for the average Jewish man to value the parable in which their Messiah largely downplayed one’s own excellency:

He also spoke this parable to some who were convinced of themselves that they were righteous and despised the rest:

Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee prayed, having stood, to himself these things: O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week I give tithes of all that I acquire.

The tax collector remained standing at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven, but kept beating his breast, saying, 'O God, make atonement for me, the sinner’! I tell you, this man went down to his home justified more than the former. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.
( Luke 18: 9-14 )

Yeshua perhaps in this parable already has drawn attention to what in the 70th Annual Week for a Jew will form a very difficult to overcome obstacle.

For everyone who will prove that he belongs to the faithful Remnant then counts:

¹ humbly recognizing that he is a sinner like all other people and therefore needs atonement, and

² that only YHWH Elohim can bring about atonement because He has provided the atoning sacrifice of adequate value.

But what does it mean to miss Elohim’s own Rest?

In answering that question, we refer again to the expression TODAY, distinctive of Psalm 95. In the Hebrews Letter that phrase gained a unique, additional meaning.

Under the inspiration of the divine ruach it is distinguished that the Rest which is announced in Genesis 2: 2-3 still continues:

And by the Seventh day Elohim came to the completion of his work which he had made, and he proceeded to rest on the Seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Moreover Elohim blessed the Seventh day and made it sacred, because on it he has been resting from all his work which Elohim had created and made.

Hebrews 3:18 - 4: 5 confirms the above representation of the text in the Tanakh:

To whom did he swear that they would not enter into his Rest? Not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they could not enter because of unbelief. Let us therefore fear, since a promise remains to enter into his Rest, that none of you would ever prove to be retarded ...

For we who believed, do enter into the Rest , as he said:
So I swore in my wrath,
if they shall enter into my rest,
although the works were finished from the founding of the world.

For he has somewhere said of the Seventh [day]:
God rested on the Seventh [day] from all his works.
And so again,
If they shall enter into my Rest.

The passage seems difficult, but is much more understandable when one is reminding how [in Exodus 20:11] the commandment to keep a weekly Sabbath was motivated: For in six days YHWH made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and then he rested on the Seventh day. Therefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day and made it sacred.

While Israel in 2514 AM, with the Exodus, proceeded to keep the first Sabbath (Ex 16: 22-29 ), YHWH Elohim already since the creation of the first human pair had held his own Great Sabbath. He held his own Rest.

In chapter 1 of Genesis, at the end of each day of creation (or creation period), we read each time: And there came to be evening and there came to be morning, a first day - and a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth – day. But not thus with regard to the Seventh day. Such a statement is lacking for the Seventh Day. That "Day" has indeed started but is not yet completed.

Moreover, since YHWH Elohim blessed that "Day" and made it sacred, it may be be expected in all fairness that, at the End of that Seventh day, the same things will be said by YHWH Elohim as He did at the end of the Sixth Day: And lo! It was very good!

Then, however, there must be drastically dawning better conditions on earth in the near future (!)

Being in the situation of their perfect paradise state, Adam and Eve could rejoice, together with YHWH Elohim, in his Rest of the Seventh Day. However, since their "fall" immediately a development started that completely went up the wrong side, and ... is still going.

When they were expelled from Eden, finding themselves in a dying state and toiling for the produce of the field, the perspective of those first people was just this: Until you return to the ground ... dust you are, and unto dust you shall return.

Anyway, at the time of writing of the Letter to the Hebrews - about 4040 years after Eden and when the Messianic era already lasted some decades – Elohim Himself still continued holding the Rest of the Seventh day.

From that the following may be concluded:

a The Canaan ‘rest’ must have been only typological; to the people of God it was clearly not the lasting, permanent Rest.

b There must be another, more exalted form of 'rest'.

c As long as it is TODAY, there remains a promise. Which one?

To enter God's own 'Rest'; in full accordance with the promise of the Old revelation - once received by the fathers in the prophets - but a promise that got especially perspective within the new revelation in the Son.

The Promise, aroused in the life times of the patriarchs, had in fact, regarding Israel, an eschatological aspect from the outset!

As is also stated in Hb 4:8-9 :

For if Joshua had led them into a place of rest, [God] would not afterwards have spoken of another day.

So there remains a Sabbath resting for the people of God.

Is that statement probably not still referring to the keeping of the weekly Sabbath according to the Thorah?

No! That is not the case. Why not?

It is clear from the way the next verse (10) motivates the statement:

For he who entered into his Rest, also himself rested from his own works, just as God did from his own.

With this additional explanation, we understand that not the weekly Sabbath is in view, but God's own Rest. For Israel the stay in the Promised Land was not the actual fulfillment of God's promise. For in that case he would not have inspired David, in Psalm 95, to speak about a rest of a subsequent, future day.

The rest David was referring to, therefore can be nothing but the rest that YHWH Elohim himself entered at the start of the Seventh day of creation. And that exalted Rest Jewish people can completely miss if they do not come in time to the recognition that

( 1 ) Yeshua is their own true Messiah;

( 2 ) he has provided the superior ransom through the sacrifice of his own soul.

For that reason they should not hesitate, without delay, taking advantage of the TODAY-situation mentioned in Psalm 95.

When YHWH Elohim, with the dawn of the Seventh day of creation, proceeded to ‘rest’, he did so in the certainty that this “Day” also would be terminated with the same conclusion as those at the end of the previous six "Days": And behold, very good! And there came to be evening and there came to be morning, a Seventh Day.

Of course He knew beforehand that soon a serious 'disturbance' would occur by the rebellion of Satan, a twist that would infect also his human creation. Consequently, he "knew" also in advance his Son, especially in the capacity as the mediator, the person in whom all disruption "would be made good."

As we mentioned before Elohim’s creation works were accomplished with the creation of a human couple that could expand by reproduction. The founding of the world was by that a fact. However, far before He was acquainted with his only begotten Son as the Lamb of God, yea, even already before all the world periods (eons).

In another Book that is part of the Jewish Messianic Scriptures Cephas (Peter) wrote on that subject:

You were not redeemed with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain way of life received by tradition from the fathers, but it was with precious blood, like that of a lamb without spot, and blameless: the blood of the Messiah. True, he was foreknown before the founding of the world, but he was made manifest at the end of the times for the sake of you.

(1Pt 1:18-20)

The truth of that declaration was made public immediately when the serious disruption actually occurred. God's remedy proved a priori ‘be ready’. The principal member of the seed of the Woman (Israel), Jeshua, the very Self of Israel, her Messiah, would bruise the Serpent in the head, after he himself was first bruised in the heel by the "seed" of That One ( Genesis 3:15 ).

In Hebrews 2:14-18 that state of affairs has aptly been stated:

Since then the children [referring to Isaiah 8:18 ] are sharers of blood and flesh, he also almost similarly partook of the same things, that through his death he would make him powerless having the means to cause death, which is the Devil, and would free all those who for fear of death were subject to bondage during their lifetime.

For truly, he does not come to help angels, but he is coming to help the seed of Abraham. That's why he was obliged to become equal to his brothers in all respects, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to atone for the sins of the people. For in that he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to come to the aid of those who are being tested.

But in what way does the Israelite, who in faith is leaning on that arrangement, hold rest of his works just like Elohim does of his?

Equating the peace of man with that of God himself also claims a certain equivalence with regard to the work of which is holding rest.

As we saw Elohim’s Rest is based on the certainty that the creation itself will be completed, in the sense that the Seventh Day will prove to be still very well. That purpose will be accomplished in his Son, Israel's Messiah. Therefore, man’s rest, from labouring and toiling in his imperfect state, must be sought in "the work" of the Son as well, particularly his finished work on the torture stake killing him deputy to bear the judgment of the guilt of sin of all people.

And since every man only on the basis of faith can enter into that divine rest, the man who exercises faith in Yeshua's atoning sacrifice is also finding himself rest. He no longer has to worry whether he perhaps might fall short in his own efforts, by doing all his good works to "earn" anything from YHWH Elohim.

We pointed out earlier that Saul (Paul) announces Israel’s restoration in the Romans Letter. We therefore referred to Chapters 9, 10 and 11, in which he deeply discusses that upcoming reversal. But in chapter 3 he had already made mention of Israel's (permanent) status of chosenness with Elohim:

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, "THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED."

(Rm 3:1-4; NASV)

In that chapter, however, he also gave an impression of the matter what keeping rest together with YHWH Elohim involves: No longer rely on alleged own merits by diligent Law devotion, but gratefully in faith looking up to God's loving grace by which he justifies every one freely who puts his trust in the salvation which became available in the messiah and his sacrificial death.

A selection from that chapter in which uniquely is appearing in antitype the value of the mercy seat that covered the Ark of the Covenant: the kappooreth ( כפרת ) or hilastèrion (Greek ιλαστηριον):

What then? Are we in a better position? Certainly not! Indeed, we previously accused and Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin, as it is written (Psalm 14: 1):

There is not a righteous [man], not even one ...

But we know that all the things the Law says it addresses to those under the law,so that every mouth may be stopped and the whole world is punishable for God. Therefore by works of the law no flesh will be justified in his sight. For by [the] law is indeed accurate knowledge of sin.

But now apart from Law God's justice has been made manifest, which is witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,namely God's justice because faithfulness of Jesus Messiah for all those who believe. For there is no distinction; because all sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and it is his loving grace they are freely justified through the redemption that is in Messiah Jesus. Him did God set forth as mercy seat through faith in his blood. For a demonstration of his righteousness, by ignoring the sins that had previously occurred during the forbearance of God.

As we all know the high priest on the annual Day of Atonement entered the rear section of the Tabernacle Sanctuary with the blood of the sacrificial animals, after which he splashed the sacrificial blood in the direction of the Ark of the Covenant.

Above the golden cover which was upon the Ark, Elohim, however, was supposed to throne Himself; for the high priest visibly represented by the Shechina-light between the cherubim.

Hence the Ark with its golden mercy seat became a depiction of the throne of YHWH, the God of Israel, but of course in heaven itself. But that's why in the antitype Yeshua, after his resurrection, had to enter the heavenly sanctuary to be able to present to Elohim his Father the value of his own sacrificial blood.

See: The perfect sanctuary; a sufficient sacrifice.

But what do we know about the course of the Seventh Day, Elohim’s long period of Rest? When will that ‘Day’ come to an end?

In Genesis 1:27 we read what immediately preceded the Seventh Day, God's Day of Rest:

And God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

When we consider this text in context, for example Gn 1:27 till 2:3, it is clear to us that this creation event took place at the end of the Sixth Day.
According to Hebrews 4:3-4 with the creation of male/female the founding of the world occurred.

For not only the human creation was produced as male and female; YHWH Elohim had them too - still within the Sixth Day - given the command to be fruitful, to become many and fill the earth. Moreover, that mission was accompanied by his blessing.

In our opinion by many is too easily assumed that there was little time between the creation of Adam and the additional creative act of producing male and female, as described in the so-called second creation account of Gen 2: 21-22 .

Not many consider the question: When were male and female separated from each other? Considering that

a.) it took Adam certainly many years (verses 19 and 20) to study the animal creation, and then to give meaningful names to the animals;

b ) Yeshua, the last Adam, not before the age of 30 began to exercise the tasks that YHW Elohim had intended for him ( 1 Cor 15:45 ; Lk 3:23 ),

it seems to us quite probable that Adam had remained alone not less than 30 years.

And since according to Hb 4: 3-5 God’s Day of Rest had its start immediately after the production of male and female, that Seventh Day must have started at the transition from 30 AM to 31 AM.

In Jewish tradition since the Flood it is supposed that this act of creation occurred in the period known as autumn or fall, around the date of October 1st.

Compare Genesis 8:22.

Hence the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) is still "celebrated" around that calendar date.

In addition, there are reasons to believe that God’s Day of Rest will last a total of 7000 years. Why so?

First, because the same Scripture Part in Hebrews 4 shows us that Elohim’s Rest in the First century still continued, so then already included more than 4000 years.

But secondly because the Bible announces that there should be a 1,000-year Sabbath, namely the Millennium kingdom of the Messiah. Yeshua himself provided a basis for that supposition when he parried an accusation of his religious opponents. They made objections because his disciples on the Sabbath started plucking the heads of grain, rubbing them to pieces and then ate:

Have you never once read what David did when he was in need and got hungry, he and those who were with him? How he entered into the house of God, and after having received the loaves of presentation [them] ate and gave to them that were with him, which no one should eat except the priests? And he said unto them, The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

Mark 2:23-28

Within the great Day of Rest of 7000 years the last (7th) thousand year period will constitute a separate Sabbath. After six "days" (each of 1000 years) toiling under Satan's tyrannical yoke, then the 7th 1000 year period starts: the Millennium kingdom of the Messiah, about which he himself said: The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

On the basis of the foregoing that Sabbath must be expected at the transition from 6030 to 6031 AM [30 + 6000].

The 70th Annual Week for Israel goes beforehand and thus will comprise the period 6023-6030 AM.

c3 Repentance no longer possible

The urgency of the need availing ourselves of the 'TODAY' according to Psalm 95, was stressed by the author of Hebrews in chapter 6.

As we will recall in chapter 2 he warned his Jewish readers for the danger of drifting, and in chapter 4 for the possible loss of Elohim’s Rest.

However, in chapter 6, he goes one step further: Ruin for those who, to the very end, stubbornly reject Elohim’s provisions in Mashiach Yeshua:

For it is impossible for those who were once for all enlightened and who tasted the heavenly gift and who became partakers of holy spirit and who tasted God's exquisite word and powers of an impending aeon, and who fell away, to renew them again to repentance, since they for themselves impaled again the Son of God and disgraced him publicly.

For the ground that often drank the rain coming often upon it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whom it is also cultivated, receives in return a blessing from God. But if it brings forth thorns and thistles, [it is] useless and cursing near; the end of it burning.

(Hebrews 6:4-8)

For is connecting these verses with what in this Letter preceded the passage directly, namely to be initiated into the doctrine of the perfect High Priest after the order of Melchizedek and partake on the earth of that priesthood. A wonderful great privilege, but favored only to those among the Hebrews who will accept the blessings of the New Covenant - to conclude with the nation on the basis of Yeshua's sacrificial death - with a grateful heart.

In this part of the text the Hebrews are namely placed forward into the 70th Annual Week for Israel and to them a look ahead is granted about the manner in which the New Covenant - which will be concluded with them halfway of that Week – will bring about on them. As was indicated in several restoration prophecies, YHWH Elohim will then pour out his spirit upon the nation.

For example

Is 32:15 << Until upon us the spirit is poured out from on high >>

Is 44:3 << I shall pour out my spirit upon your seed >>

In the prophecy of Joel, chapter 2 - quoted by Peter in Hn 2:17 – is announced what will happen in the last days:

It will happen afterward, that I shall pour out my spirit upon all flesh [of my people Israel; verse 27] , and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. Also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days I shall pour out my spirit. And I will give signs in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of YHWH. And it must occur that whosoever shall call upon the name of YHWH shall be saved; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will prove to be the escaped ones, just as YHWH said, and among those whom YHWH will call.
(Jl 2: 28-32)

The prophet Isaiah confirms that this will take place after the Messiah has been installed in his kingdom as the king (who) will reign for righteousness itself.

In the capacity of high priest, he shall return on earth for a second time, out of the true sanctuary in heaven, to pour out on his people the spirit from on high. The spiritual situation of the people which had been so far as a wilderness - the result of the mismanagement by the Pseudomasjiach - thus turns into a lovely orchard ( Js 32: 1, 12-15 ).

A great reversal will occur. The spirit is not only poured out to allow prophesying as is indicated by Joel, but also to revival, even as life creating and as a force that moves to the accomplishment of the divine will ( Ez 36: 26-27; 37: 1- 14 ).

Beautiful things for Israel are prophetically announced in Is 59:20 - 60:3

And to Zion the Repurchaser will come, and to all turning from rebellion in Jacob, says YHWH. As for me, this is my covenant [the New Covenant] with them, says YHWH: My spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth ...

Arise, shed forth light, for your light has come and upon you the glory of YHWH has shone forth. For, behold! Darkness will cover the earth and thick gloom the peoples, but upon YHWH is shining, and upon you his glory will be seen. And nations come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

However, in what way will all those beneficiary Jews react? Apparently they receive a measure of spiritual enlightenment through the operation of the outpoured spirit. Consequently, they will taste the fine word of God and powers of the imminent Millennium [γευομαι; to taste; experience], in the sense of enjoying intimate, increasingly more complete experience.

But apparently all that grace still does not guarantee that everyone will resolutely turn away from the Pseudomasjiach and join the true Messiah.
As foretold in 2Thessalonians 2:4 that Man of sin elevates himself above everything called god or object of worship. As a master seducer he will sit down even in the (then established Third) Temple publicly showing himself to be god. Of course a pseudo-god, but one as an object of reverence.

From 2Th 2: 8-11 we learn that nothing of all that occurs by accident. Elohim Himself offers Satan and his tool the opportunity to put the LIE opposite the TRUTH [Messiah Yeshua], which is enhanced by outstanding works, lying signs and wonders, and in every deceit of unrighteousness .

It is Elohim Himself thus sending an operation of error to them - especially to the Jews who are inclined to reject stubbornly Yeshua as their Messiah. As a result of that action the dichotomy in Israel will occur again, but then for the last time: a faithful Rest opposite an unfaithful majority.
Hence, it is anticipated that many still will act against the holy spirit’s operation. Well, according to Yeshua's own assurance there will be no forgiveness for that sin. Every opportunity to repent is forever cut off.
In Matthew 12: 31-32 he himself put aptly the criterion that will then apply:

On this account I say to you: Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. For example, whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the holy spirit it will not be forgiven him; neither in this aeon nor in that to come.

Or, as here, in Hebrews 6 is assured: It is simply not possible those who fell away, to revive them again to repentance, because they impale again the Son of God for themselves, exposing him to public disgrace.
In Greek the aorist of the verb παραπιπτω [to fall beside or aside] has been used indicating a definite fact.

Those who experience the inestimable privileges of the New Covenant and yet willfully yield them, do not simply make a false step from which recovery is possible, but rather break down all the work of YHWH Elohim into the foundation.

The tautology revive again characterizes the irretrievable of such an act. Precious things like these are offered once for all and not tendered a second time.

The severity of the apostasy is further emphasized by declaring about such persons that they impale again the Son of God for themselves, exposing him to public disgrace [ παραδειγματιζω] .

Jews who will make themselves guilty of such behavior will not be allowed to return to a neutral stance, because all those things they will do knowingly. In full awareniss they chose the camp of those who are the most outspoken enemies of the Messiah.

The author of Hebrews cannot stress enough the seriousness of this case. Therefore, he underscores it by relating a parable: For the ground that often drank the rain coming often upon it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whom it is also cultivated, receives in return a blessing from God. But if it brings forth thorns and thistles, [it is] useless and cursing near; the end of it burning.

The rain that regularly comes down to the earth and saturates it results in producing useful crops; according to reason at least that can be expected.

Without imagery:

In the End times YHWH Elohim shall pour out on the Jewish people – the figurative ground or earth - the fivefold blessing as is listed in the verses 4 and 5.

The recipients will find themselves all in one and the same situation: the divine arrangement of the New Covenant, under Yeshua's royal dominion and priesthood.

However, what the 'ground' brings forth will make clear to everyone in what way they are actually orientated. Within the horticultural 'poor' ground may sometimes not immediately distinguishable from 'rich' soil, since a refreshing downpour both soils may provide a promising appearance aspect. Only when useful crop appears, one knows that one has to do with good soil. Likewise, it is understood that it is poor soil, when thorns and thistles are produced.

According to that illustration matters will develop when Elohim's shall pour out his spirit on all (Jewish) flesh. The inner state of the members of the Jewish End times community will be revealed in their reaction to the rain that will descend on them regularly: the five enumerated blessings of heavenly origin. Will they all be grateful to God for it, in humble and spontaneous recognition of Yeshua's merit; the true Messiah that they and their forefathers for centuries despised, but actually The One who proves to be the living representation of their dear Thorah:

( a ) in his love, by which its commandments are fulfilled;

( b ) in the fulfillment of the types of the Tabernacle; having become tangible in his one, and sufficient sacrifice within the new, high priestly ministry after the order of Melchizedek.

And what’s more, will they also recognize that their privilege should serve God's purpose: becoming a blessing to the Gentile world? For precisely that purpose they are cultivated as "earth."

In several passages of the Book Isaiah is shown that only a Remnant will actually accomplish that end; the majority will permanently stumble over their own Messiah. For them he will remain the Stone that the builders - their forefathers in the First century - already rejected ( Js 8: 14-15 ; 28:16 ).

Incidentally, this parable for the true Jew ‘does not fall from the sky’ by chance. In his mind it should take him back to the exhortation that YHWH Elohim gave to the forefathers in connection with the good land whither he led them to possess it.

See: Dt 11: 11-28.

Now the Hebrews themselves are compared with the land: earth (ground) which is cultivated with spiritual blessing from heaven, and all this to bring forth fruit for great benefit of others, the Gojim.

But as their fathers had to be careful with respect to the them surrounding idolatry, and not be cursed by God, thus also the Hebrews of the End time period have to be on their gard lest they are being drag along in the general adoration of the Pseudomasjiach, the One who elevates himself to ‘god’ at the half of the 70^th Annual Week.

When God’s seed, his spiritual gifts, really is offered the opportunity to fix itself in the soil, their hearts, genuine fruit to the glory of God will be the result. However, where it is rejected, the 'rain' will only cause to grow faster that which is already present in the soil, thorns and thistles. More rain therefore, will make the matter rather worse, not better. Such fruitless ‘ground’ deserves the ultimate curse by Elohim, and is therefore given by him to burning, that is final, utterly ruin.

It is quite remarkable that in chapter 10, the passage of the verses 26 thru 31, the threat of extinction is being reaffirmed. Corresponding reasons therefore, as listed in 6:4-8, are also mentioned there, viz:

For if we sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there does not remain left any sacrifice for sins, but some dreadful expectation of judgment and fiery jealousy that will devour the adversaries. Someone who has disregarded the law of Moses, dies without mercy upon the testimony of two or three. How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be counted worthy who has trampled upon the Son of God, and who has esteemed as of ordinary value the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who offended the spirit of loving grace? For we know him who said:
To me vengeance, I will repay.
And again,
The Lord shall judge his people.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God!

For comments, please see: Willfully sin under the New Covenant

The Jewish heritage

It would not really surprise us that in the Letter to the Hebrews frequently is warned of drifting, apostasy and ruin. Why? Because God's people, Israel, is still awaiting a great blessing.

Through His Son, Yeshua Messiah, YHWH Elohim will, in fact, lead to glory many sons of Israel. After all, that is exactly what we can read about in chapter 2, that started with the warning not 'drifting away':

For it fitted him, for whose sake are all things and through whom are all things, since he wanted to lead many sons to glory, to bring to perfection through sufferings the author of their salvation.

Which glory has Elohim in view in that respect? It is the same glory that is promised in Psalm 8, the glory from which the man fell away at the entry of sin.

However, within the scope of the New Covenant YHWH is providing in a Savior and Mediator to lead man back to the lost glory and to true sonship.

The directions with reference to that go back to the time that YHWH created man and gave him a grand assignment. Without a doubt familiar words for the reader, namely Genesis, chapter 1:

26 And God said: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; let them have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and the domestic animals and all the earth and every moving animal that is moving upon the earth.

27 and God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them: “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth”.

Impressive is the assignment received by man at his creation: to have dominion of the whole earth with its livestock. But the textual connection is also showing us that he was competent for the task: Elohim had created his earthly children in his image, armed with his own divine qualities such as love, justice, wisdom and power.

In the 8th Psalm - although in principle prophetic - in retrospect is alluded to that grand task that man received at his creation:

3 When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, that you have prepared,

4 what is mortal man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that you take care of him?

5 You also made him a little less than godlike ones, and with glory and splendour you then crowned him.

6 You made him to have dominion over the works of your hands;

everything you have put under his feet.

The Psalmist affirms that man is still to crown with glory and honor, all that with the intention to have dominion over all (earthly) works of God's hands.

Has that intended situation already been realized by Elohim?

After all, man has reached unprecedented high levels in his achievements. However, do we now observe the reality of Genesis 1 and Psalm 8?

Does man perform right dominion over the earthly creation, not according to his own view but according to the divine vision?

The Letter to the Hebrews answers all these questions in the negative. The Letter shows forcefully that because of Adam's fall, the current status of humans fails in Elohim's measure. For the fulfilment of the original assignment, man must be restored to his (original) glory, and by rebirth (re)gain the true son-ship.

When once he had a conversation with Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, the Messiah made clear that anyone cannot enter Elohim's Messianic kingdom unless he is born again, or literally ‘unless he is born from above’; by Jeshua himself further thus expounded: ‘unless he is born from water and spirit, alluding to Ezekiel 36: 24-28, the essence of which entails this promise:

I will give you a new heart and a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you.

With that promise, given within an End time setting, the rebirth of Israel is announced within a context of return and recovery. And such a development of events will not be finalized before the New Covenant will be concluded with the nation and Yeshua starts acting as the priestly mediator of that covenant.

See Hb 7:11-25 >> after the order of Melchizedek (7:1-28).

About the conversation with Nicodemus, we read in Jn 3:1-10 the following:

1 There was a man of the Pharisees; his name was Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

2 He came at night to Jesus and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher, for no one can perform these signs that you do, unless God is with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you: Unless anyone is born again, he can not see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? Surely he can not enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you: Unless anyone is born from water and spirit, he can not enter the kingdom of God.

6 What is born from the flesh is flesh; and what is born from the spirit is spirit.

7 Do not marvel because I said to you: You people must be born again.

8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from and where it goes; so it is with everyone who has been born from the spirit.

9 In answer Nicodemus said to him, How can these things come about?

10 Jesus answered and said to him, Are you a teacher of Israel, and these things you do not know?

A fair observation of Yeshua. In Ezekiel 36 this teacher could have read it himself!

At a closer examination of Psalm 8 it turns out that this need to rebirth actually always was implied in the words: What is mortal man [Enosh] that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you take care of him?

While the Psalmist saw the grandeur and glory of the heavenly bodies, he could not help making a comparison with man in his present situation: the Enosh, ie, the frail, sickly, weak mortal man.

Compare Psalm 103: 14-16 , where the mortal of verse 15 is the Hebrew Enosh:

For he himself well knows how we are formed, remembering that we are dust. What mortal man [Enosh] is concerned, his days are like those of green grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For a mere wind has to pass over it and it is no more.

In Hebrews 2: 5-10 the author - of course under the inspiration of the spirit - revealed the true application of Psalm 8:

5 For not to angels he subjugated the future inhabited earth about which we are speaking.

6 But someone testified somewhere, saying,
What is man that you are mindful of him, or son of man that you take care of him?

7 You made him a little lower than angels; with glory and honor you crowned him, and you appointed him over the works of your hands.

8 All things you subjected under his feet. For in that he subjected all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we see not yet all things in subjection to him.

9 But we see Jesus – who has been made a little lower than angels - crowned with glory and honor for having suffered death, that he by God's loving grace might taste death for every [man].

10 For it was fitting for the one for whose sake are all things and through whom are all things, because he wanted to bring many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

What things were in the divinely guided author’s mind when he wrote the future inhabited earth about we are speaking? Was the theme in the Letter already touched; perhaps alluded to?

Within Rabbinism the expression is common practice for the Jewish expectation of "the world to come," a well-known distinction that Jews hold in view: now the present world, but hereafter the dominion of the Messiah in the world to come.

On that basis, we draw, perhaps unnecessarily, the following conclusions:

a The Letter to the Hebrews is thoroughly Jewish-oriented; certainly not addressed to the heavenly [Christian] Congregation. The author draws the attention of his readers to the generally prevailing expectation among Jews: the world that dawns in the Messianic age. And its implementation is, with regard to the Jews, still future, but a future which is now very near.

b In this divine document the attention of the reader is not focused on the specific hope that Christians cherish. The present aeon of Jeshua’s congregational Body, the current world time in God's purpose is simply ignored; the future gaze is directly focused on the time of the re-establishment of the Messianic Kingdom.

c The text Hb 2:5 - considering the specific formulation – again provides a powerful argument for the thesis that Hebrews is specifically designed for the End-time Jewish saints.

But the immediate context also induces to that view, reading: Not to angels he subjugated the future inhabited earth about which we are speaking.

But first we fix the attention of the reade on Hb 1:6, and indeed, there is a clear relationship between Hb 2:5 and Hb 1:6, the only verses in Hebrews where we are confronted with the expression inhabited world (Greek:οικουμενη ).

But when he again leads the Firstborn into the inhabited world [ οικουμενη ], he says: And let all the angels of God pay homage to him.

The verse is referring to the second coming of the Messiah. The phrase again confirms that. But also the phrase leading into the inhabited world has Jewish reminiscences. The term refers back to the time that YHWH Elohim gave Israel the Promised Land, Canaan, in possession:

You will bring them in and plant them in the mountain of your inheritance; an established place for you to stay, which you have made ready, O YHWH, a sanctuary, O YHWH, that your hands have established! YHWH shall reign forever and ever! (Ex 15:17-18).

Likewise, the Father, at the return of his Son to the earth, according to Psalm 2 will say: Ask me and I will give nations for your inheritance, the ends of the earth for your possession.

At his first (earlier) coming the Son experienced an expulsion out of the world; hence the opposite: When he again leads the Firstborn into the οικουμενη.

Malignant expelled, but (again) entering surrounded by glory: He shall come in the glory of his Father (Mt 16:27 ; or here). And it will be said: Let all the angels of God pay homage to him.

The quotation is derived from Dt 32:43, although Ps 97: 7 also fits in the picture, both according to the LXX.

[Dt 32:43 in the LXX differs from the M]

The opening lines read as follows:

Heavens rejoice with him,

and let all God's sons postrate themselves before him;

Rejoice nations with his people,

and then:

and let all the angels of God become strong in him

for he will avenge the blood of his sons,

and he will take vengeance and recompense punishment to his enemies,

and the haters he will recompense;

and the Lord will cleanse the land of his people.

Dt 32:43 reads according to the M :

Be glad, you Gentiles, with his people; for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and he will render vengeance to his adversaries. And he will make atonement for the ground of his people.

Concerning the relationship that exists between the Son and the (other) angels we read in Hb 1:13 - 2:4 the following:

13 To which one of the angels, however, he ever said: Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet?

14 Are they not all spirits in a public assignment, sent forth to minister for the benefit of those who are going to inherit salvation?

1 Therefore we [the true members of the Israel of God] must heed abundantly the things heard, that we may never drift away.

2 For if the word spoken by angels [in transferring the Law] proved to be firm, and every transgression and disobedience received a righteous retribution,

3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which - after having begun - was spoken by the Lord, and verified for us by those who heard him,

4 God bearing witness as well, both by signs and wonders and various powerful works and distributions of holy spirit according to his will?

In this scripture the Jews of the End times are compared with their forefathers, the Israelites who lived under the old Covenant that was mediated by Mosjeh. He then received the Law through the intervention of angels. In the case of disobedient behavior (righteous) retaliations followed.

But their offspring in the End times is holding out the prospect of something so grand [such a great salvation] under the New Covenant - which in all respects is so much better and has the Moshiach as the priestly mediator - that spurning it really will turn out catastrophic. Those (inevitable) consequences we have already extensively elaborated above.

Well, the author is taken up that great salvation when he continues (in Hb 2:5): For not to angels he subjugated the future inhabited earth about which we are speaking.

In order to prove that argument he is going back to Psalm 8, from which in retrospect can be derived that

a. The said great salvation had been already hinted at in advance, and is linked to the rule that will be exercised upon the inhabited earth during the Millennium.

b. Within that future world man, ie the Jewish saints and not the angels, will have all things in subjection; as is indicated in Dn 7:27 :

And the kingdom and dominion, and the grandeur of the kingdoms under the whole heaven were given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey.

Note - by analogy with man in Psalm 8 - the use of the singular with respect to the people of the saints, and his kingdom [LXX: βασιλεια αυτου].

Unlike Christians the prospect that is holding out of Israel is not the hope to be in heaven, but to become the representatives of a glorious kingdom on earth, ruled in justice by their Messianic king ( Js 32: 1 ).

That "next world" can only dawn when Jerusalem is no longer trodden by the nations, the Gojim (Gentiles). Therefore, first the Times of the Gentiles, also known as the Seven Times - that for millennia were permitted by God – have to be fulfilled. As announced in Lk 21:24:

Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the appointed times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Then the error and ignorance of Paganism will make place for the new situation of Isaiah (11: 9): The earth filled with the knowledge of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.

Only a development of events as such can lead to the elimination of all evil and ruin on God's holy hill of Zion. Jerusalem will then become the joy of the whole earth.

Jerusalem will also be made a praise in the earth ( Psalm 48: 1-3 ; Js 62: 7 ).

See: Jerusalem and the kingdom of God

During his ministry Mashiach Yeshua made that expectation the central theme of his teachings. He regularly connected the realization of Elohim's purpose, to bless mankind through the intervention of Abraham's seed, with the re-establishment of the kingdom of Israel, with Jerusalem, the City of the Great King, as its center ( Mt 5: 34-35 ; Hn 1: 6 ).

The words of the prophets will then – at the restoration of the kingdom to Israel – prove to be true: Sitting under their own vine and under their own fig tree, without in any way being disturbed (Mc 4: 1-4 ).

In the Letter to the Hebrews, especially within the context of Hb 2: 5-10 , is expressed quite clearly that the enumerated prospects belong to the Jewish heritage, which was also announced by the prophets:

In the coming days Jacob will take root. Israel will put forth blossoms and bud, and they will fill the surface of the world [Hebrew: Tevel; Greek oikoumenè ]

with produce.

(Isaiah 27:6).

Behold, I will deal at that time with all those afflicting you, but I will save her that is limping, and gather her that is scattered; I will set them as a praise in all the land of their shame.

At that time I shall bring you people in, even in the time that I gather you. Because I will give you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I gather back your captivity before your eyes, YHWH has said (Zeph. 3:19-20).

During the Millennium Reign of the Messiah, the world to come (the coming inhabited earth), the principal place will not be taken by angels, but by "man" of Psalm 8. And that place is not just a principal one, but a very special one: all and everything will be subjected to him!

As announced in Rev. 21: 5 - Look! I make all things new - this also will usher in a complete new situation.

Within the currently existing world order (inhabited earth: oikoumenè), the rule is vested in the power of angels: Satan and his demons. Should anyone doubt the truth of this assertion, then some Bible quotes will disabuse him:

At the temptation in the wilderness Satan said to Jesus, after he had showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory:

To you I will give all this authority and the glory of them, for to me it has been delivered and to whomever I wish, I give it. You then, if you perform an act of worship in my sight, everything will be yours (Lk 4:6-7)

How did Yeshua react on that offer? Did he perhaps deny the claim of the Devil?

Not at all! He did not, highly indignant, reject the Devil’s claim that the rule over the inhabited earth, then and still today, is vested in Elohim's great Adversary.

He knew better than anyone else, partly due to Daniel, chapter 10, that Satan delegates to his own angels power over empires and other worldly governments.

In that chapter one can read about the Prince of Persia, and also of the Prince of Greece, demon-princes who oppose YHWH Elohim, his faithful angels and his servants on earth, like Daniel for instance ( Dn 10: 12-14 , 20-21 ).

See: Michael, the archangel, in conflict with Satan's kingdom

Saul [Paul] was aware of that fact as well. Eph 6:11-12 reads

Put on the complete suit of armor from God, that you may be able to stand firm against the crafty acts of the Devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly realms.

Besides, on the evening before his sacrificial death - when he spoke at length with his disciples - Mashiach Yeshua himself said about Satan: I shall not speak much with you anymore, for the ruler of the world is coming. And in me he has nothing (John 14:30).

How could that state of affairs ever come into existence?

Answer: All that is connected with what Yeshua himself called the Times of the Gentiles (nations), about we were talking earlier in the discussion of the Year Weeks Prophecy.

When he foresaw the disastrous events of the year 70 AD, according to Luke 21: 23-24, he uttered these prophetic words:

There will be great necessisty upon the land and wrath on this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword and be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the appointed TIMES OF THE GENTILES are fulfilled.

In Acts 14:16 we can read how the Apostle Paul typified those Times: In the past generations he [Elohim] permitted all the nations to go their own ways, a statement that provides a key to understanding: The period in which the people of the ( current) inhabited earth were allowed to go their own way independently of YHWH Elohim, is traced to the debacle of Babylon when he confused the speech of men ( Gen. 11:1-9 )

By that action the builders of the tower project were forced to disperse according to their language groups, which naturally led to the formation of ethnic groups with their own culture and their own form of government. Elohim led them go their own way for some, by him predetermined time. Gn 10:32 makes mention of the result:

These were the families of the sons of Noah according to their family descents, by their nations, and from these the nations were spread about in the earth after the deluge.

It hardly needs saying that, because YHWH Elohim pulled away his (administrative) hands from those newly formed nations that Satan immediately filled up that governance-vacuum. Hence, Satan spoke the truth to Jeshua when he tried to lure him into idolatry by offering him power over all the kingdoms of the inhabited world :

(Luke 4)

In Daniel Chapter 4 under the symbol of a very tall tree that

- with its top reached the heavens;

- was visible to the extremity of the whole earth;

- had abundant food for all flesh;

the temporary suspension of God's reign over the oikoumenè is strikingly pictured.

For the duration of Seven Times the tree is lying felled to the ground, its rootstock firmly enclosed by bands of copper and iron, so that mortals may acknowledge that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that to the one whom he wants to, he gives it and he sets up over it even the lowliest of mankind (Dn 4:10-17).

When at the half of the 70th Annual Week the Messianic kingdom is founded, and consequently Elohim's reign in the oikoumenè is restored, joyful voices in heaven will sound proclaiming (according to Rev 11:15-17):

The kingdom of the world became the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will rule as king for ever and ever. And the twenty-four elders who were seated before God upon their thrones fell upon their faces and worshiped God, saying: We thank you, Lord God, the Almighty, who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and begun ruling as king.

With that event The Times of the Gentiles run off. Jerusalem, that always has been identified with the Messianic kingdom, is no longer trampled; it is done with the (corrupt) angels rule.

As a proof of this the Devil and his angels in the war being fought on the occasion of that event in the heavenlies, are defeated by Michael and cast to the earth (Rev. 12:5-10 ).

When we actually ascertain of that prophetic announcement about an upcoming war in the heavens, we will understand that the Devil - after being ejected together with his demons angels - will know for himself that he then has only a little time at his disposal. As shown:

On this account be glad, you heavens and those who have their residence therein. Woe for the earth and for the sea! Because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger knowing that he has a short period of time.

His last 1335 days will include the second half of the 70 ^th Yearweek (1260 days or 3½ times) plus the 75 days during which judgment will be executed upon the nations. According to Revelation 20:1-3 he he will then be bound for1000 years and hurled into the abyss of inactivity.

See also Daniel 12:12

His angels, the demons, are not going through those 1000 years in any way, since they - after the expiry of the 75 days - already have ended up in the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels prepared, ie immersed in complete destruction.

Compare Mt 25:31-46 .

Those heavenly actions, led by the glorified Son of Man, are in Rev 19:11, 19-20 described again, however there in another symbolic way:

And I saw the heaven opened, and behold! A white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. And he judges and carries on war in justice ... And I saw the Beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war with him that sat upon the horse and with his army. And the beast was caught, and along with it the False Prophet who performed in front of it the signs with which he deceived those who received the mark of the Beast and those who render worship to his image. While still alive, they both were cast into the fiery lake that burns with sulphur.

With the duo Beast and False Prophet - two manifestations of the Antichrist, the Pseudomasjiach of the End times – the Revelation is referring to the collective of demon angels who during the period which preceded the Deluge fell to sin. Consequently, they were punished with the Tartarus situation, ie surrendered to pits of dense (spiritual) darkness.

As appears from 2Peter 2:4 and Jude 6, in that situation they are reserved for judgment to fulfill still a role in God's purpose.

See: The role of the demons in the End times

From Isaiah 14:16-17 it is prophetical clear that the Pseudomasjiach - in that context symbolized by the king of Babylon - during his brief, disastrous career will act devastatingly. In his hateful malice he intends to destroy the oikoumenè, over which the demons exercised so long their brutal, tyrannical dominion:

Is this the man that made the earth tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the inhabited earth [tevel] like a wilderness and destroyed its cities; that did not open the way homeward for his prisoners?

In the Book of Isaiah, however, is also announced the end of all rule by the demon-angels, but of the political government of men - that exercised a visible misrule under their supervision – as well.

Again within the context of the inhabited earth, we read in Is 34:1-2 >>

Come near, you nations, to hear; and you, the national communities, pay attention. Let the earth and its fullness listen, the inhabited world [tevel] and all its produce. Because JHWH’s indignation is against all the nations , and rage against all their army. He will devote them to destruction; deliver them to the slaughter .

Therefore - as already noted - during the Millennium princely rule of the Mashiach the principal position will not be occupied by angels, but by man of Psalm 8. A very special assignment indeed, because YHWH Elohim will subject everything under his 'feet'!

With the elevation of Mashiach Yeshua - soon after his humiliation unto death - long ago an impetus was given to the fulfillment of that prophecy, as we can read in Hb 2:9 : But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that he by the grace of God should taste death for everyone.

He is the principal One among his brothers, the real Self of the true Israel. In him the fulfillment of the prophetic Psalm 8 had a start.

But the coronation of Yeshua with glory and honor guarantees the ultimate exaltation of his own people.

The fact that Yeshua intimately identifies himself with those brothers, the context indicates in Hb 2:11-13 ≥

For both he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified, all stem from one; and for this cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying
I will declare your name unto my brothers,
in the midst of the congregation I will sing praise.
And again
I will put my trust in him.
And again
Behold I and the young children whom God gave me.

Jeshua and his brothers have a common background as the seed of blessing that was promised to Abraham; consequently, the apostle quotes from the famous Messianic Psalm 22:23 > I will declare your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing praise.

In due course those (Jewish) brothers will expierience the fulfillment of Hb 2:7-8. With the certainty of the prophetic future tense David wrote:

With glory and honor you crowned him and set him over the works of your hands; you subjected all things under his feet.

It is clear that at the current stage in earth’s affairs that desirable situation is still not reached, which the author himself also notes by continuing: But now we do not see all things in subjection to him.

Agreed!

But there is something what we do see, already from the First century onwards and at that time revealed in Hebrews 2:9 >>

But we behold Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor for having suffered death, that he by the grace of God might taste death for everyone.

YHWH Elohim's purpose moves on in a continual, orderly process, in which one step after another is put in achieving his objective.

Therefore, in order to bring his brothers into a position of glory, Yeshua himself had first for a time to be made less than angels, which enabled him to bring a perfect and sufficient sacrifice, having true redemption power, the sound foundation for bringing many sons to glory.

But with that part of the process will not actually be made a start until the 70th Annual Week.

In the intervening period God's involvement with the nation of Israel is for that reason inoperative. First, during that long intervening period - known as the aeon of Yeshua’s congregational Body - the fullness of the Gentiles has to be brought in.

See: Romans, chapter 11 .

In the 70th Yearweek, when the Messianic Kingdom comes into force, according to Psalm 110, verse 3 the time dawns that the Lord Messiah Yeshua - in the splendor of holiness, from the womb of the dawn - will have the dew of your youth, his own people who will willingly present itself to him, consisting of reborn sons of God, the Jewish saints of the End times.

Compare Hs 1:10-11.

The Hebrew word for glory in verse 3 of Psalm 110 also occurs in Psalm 8:6 :

You has crowned him with glory and honor.

The Jewish saints will besides honor, also be crowned with glory, showing us that they will be elevated to a glorious position of prestige, appropriate for the post they will hold on the New Earth: the royal, priestly representatives of their king, the Messiah.

In the book of Revelation – likewise prophetically focused on the course of the 70 ^th Annual Week, as is exactly the case with the Letter to the Hebrews – we also read repeatedly about that glorious future of Israel. Especially in Revelation 2 and 3 Mashiach Yeshua - in the form of seven messages – is addressing himself invitingly to the entire Jewish End time community:

Who conquers and he who observes my deeds down to the end, I will give authority over the nations ... Who conquers I will grant to sit down with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Let him who has ears listen to what the spirit says to the congregations.

(Rev 2:26 and 3: 21-22)

This is what we mean by the Jewish inheritance: the coming inhabited earth subjected to the saints: All things you have put under his feet.

Revelation 21:7 describes it as an inheritance that befalls to those who are true sons of God:

Who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son.

The correct application of Psalm 8 therefore lies with the Messiah and his (Jewish) brothers: Behold, I and the children God has given me.

With them the Father starts a complete new order on earth for the benefit of mankind, the age (aeon) of the Millennium (Gn 22:18). It is the inhabited earth, for such a long time subject of discussion within Jewish circles, but also in the Letter to the Hebrews.

It is easy to guess what this development means for the current political state of Israel!

From all supplied Biblical evidence shows it’s clear that its days are numbered by YHWH Elohim. Its end is near, as is true for all political, human dominion.

Sure, all political domination is on the verge of disappearing, including the current State of Israel! All those reign of human origin will have to make way for the long-promised Davidic kingdom.
No; not again a miniature kingdom as it existed pictorial a very short time during the reigns of David and his son Solomon. But global, as can be read in the Messianic Psalm 72:8 :

He [the Messiah] shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the River [Euphrates] to the ends of the earth .

That kingdom was announced by Gabriel informing Mariam about the son who would be born out of her:

This one will be great, and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of his kingdom. - Luke 1.

Yes, as the permanent heir of his ancestor David Yeshua would forever occupy his throne.
In him, the final fulfillment of Two Samuel 7:11-29 will take place. Indeed, as the spokesman of YHWH Elohim Nathan said to David: Your house and your kingdom will certainly be steadfast forever before you: your very throne shall be firmly established forever; after which we read:

Then King David went in [apparently in the Sanctuary] and sat down before YHWH and said: Who am I, Lord YHWH, and what is my house that you have brought me thus far? And this was in your eyes still small, Lord YHWH, and you have also spoken about the house of your servant down to a distant future time; and this is the law given for mankind, Lord YHWH !

And what more can David add and speak to you? After all, you know your servant well, Lord YHWH. Because of your word and in agreement of your own heart, you have done all these great things, and disclosed to your servant. Therefore you are great, O Lord YHWH, because there is no one like you ...

And now YHWH Elohim, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house carry out for ever, and do just as you have spoken. And let your name be magnified for ever ...

Let it now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it will be for ever before you; because you, Lord JHWH, have promised with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed forever.

But, as already noted, that permanent kingdom of the Mashiach will span the whole earth. Even more! It will extend even from heaven to earth. As it is written: This YHWH has spoken: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool" (Isaiah 66:1).

And what is perhaps even more important. That statement was not only made within an End-time context, but also for indicating that Elohim's true Sanctuary extends from heaven to earth. Exactly so as the patriarch of Israel experienced at Luz, a place however afterwards called Bethel because Jacob realized that JHWHs Sanctuary (House) indeed extends from heaven to earth.

I am YHWH, Elohim of your father Abraham and Elohim of Isaac. The land on which you lie, to you I will give it and to your seed. Your seed will certainly become like the dust of the earth; and you will spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south. And in you and in your seed all the families of the earth will bless themselves.

That reciprocity between heaven and earth obviously did not remain inconspicuous.
In Rabbinic literature, the unbreakable bond between the heavenly and the earthly Jerusalem is stressed. Reportedly Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai would have taught already that view. Speaking about the redemption of earthly Jerusalem, he would have said, referring to Psalm 122:3 >>

The heavenly Jerusalem can not be complete as long as the earthly city has not been redeemed. The Psalm referred to, a pilgrim song of King David, commences thus:

I rejoiced when they were saying to me, Let us go to the house of YHWH!
Our feet proved to be standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!
Jerusalem is builded as a city that has been joined together in unity.

From a biblical view therefore there is reason to talk about Jerusalem-heavenly and about Jerusalem-earthly. During the attack on Jerusalem in 70 AD Johanan ben Zakai in secret led talks with the Romans. Reportedly he was heading to obtain permission to establish a religious center in Javne as an alternative to the city of Jerusalem. In fact his intention was to ensure the continuation of the halachic founded religion.

In his time the view developed that the city of the Temple was ousted by a kind of heavenly Jerusalem where no tax was collected and where existed no sewage problems. It was the Jerusalem of angels, gold and crystal, emerald rooftops, etc.

The earthly Jerusalem at that time was not something to negotiate on. After the fall of the city everything that was combustible was set on fire by the Romans. Afterwards, when they had rebuilt the city, they named it Aelia Capitolina.

However, looking with a prophetic glance at Revelation 21:1-4, we see there symbolized exactly on which Yochanan had put his hope: the earthly Jerusalem in a state of redemption:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I sawthe holy city, New Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying: Look! The tent of God with mankind, and he will pitch his tent among them and they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore; the former things have passed away.

In the visions of the book of Revelation we are here placed forward in time to the beginning of the Millennium Kingdom of the Messiah. The old arrangement whereby the demons behind the scenes of invisibility ruled the depraved society on earth will be out of sight; completely disappeared. The Messianic Kingdom is the only remaining power, on earth visibly represented by the people of the saints of the Supreme Being.
Compare Dn 2: 44-45 and 7: 13-14 , 27 .

That people of the saints of the Supreme Being is shown to us beforehand in chapter 7 of the Revelation. As a fulfillment of Isaiah 49, we see them in symbol before the throne of Elohim and before the 'Lamb' (symbol of the sacrificed Messiah). One of the 24 Elders further examines their situation:

These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For that reason, they are before the throne of God; and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple sanctuary. And He who sits on the throne shall spread his tent over them. They shall not hunger or thirst anymore; the sun nor any heat will fall on them. For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.

In relation to the Great Crowd, as they are referred to in verse 7 of this chapter and of which the members come out of the Great Tribulation, we draw the attention of the reader to several references derived from the Tanach. After all, they are in a spiritually pure state because they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the [sacrificed] Lamb, Yeshua Mashiach. Consequently, they are in a position to perform acceptable sacred service in the earthly part of the naos, Greek for temple sanctuary. We mention:

Daniel 12

That chapter - completely focused on the time of the end (verse 9) - in verse 1 immediately moves us to the "rise" of Michael, the Great Prince, in the sense that Mashiach Yeshua, the lowest one of mankind, accepts royal power in the kingdom of mankind (Dan 4:17). In reality, someone like a Son of man of Dn 7:13-14, coming with the clouds of heaven and appearing before YHWH Elohim, the Ancient of Days, for receiving an indefinitely lasting [Aramaic alam] rulership, dignity and kingdom.

In that respect and according to that developments verse 1 of Dn 12 draws our attention to the Jewish Endtime saints. However, as a result of those new developments - which are grand in themselves and which were eagerly looked forward to for centuries – those faithful saints will instantly experience very heavy circumstances. It will be a matchless great time of trouble, literally: a time of distress such as has not been made to occur since there came to be a nation until that time.

But fortunately they will emerge therefrom, and well after 3½ time(s), as is announced previously in verse 7. The man dressed in linen above the waters swears to them:

It will be for a fixed time, times and a half. And as soon as there will be an end to the crushing of the power [lit. hand ] of the holy people, all these things will come to their finish.

On which base will it be possible for that Great crowd to emerge victoriously out of that trouble for Jacob (Jeremiah 30:7) ?

In Revelation 7 an Elder predicts that they will owe this to the fact that they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. But in verse 10 of Dn 12 it turns out that the heavenly man above the waters knew all that in advance:

Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand. But the wicked shall do wickedly and no wicked ones at all will understand, but the ones having insight will understand.

The man above the waters thus proved to know in advance all the details of the End Times, among other things that again, but then for the last time, the familiar dichotomy among Elohim's own people Israel will occur. Although many, yet just another Rest or Remnant, shall cleansed themselves on the basis of Yeshua's sacrifice blood, many Israelites though will remain in their hardening against him and shall never want to acknowledge him. It will be their own fault that they, before perishing, will never have understood a syllable about Elohim's plan of redemption for his people and about the way it was implemented.

A bold statement? No!

It is not too much to say that Elohim's plan of redemption for the majority of the Jews will remain not understood before they perish on his Great Day. Definitely not. Such a statement does not originate from our own imagination. Daniel himself has recorded it ot of the mouth of the man dressed in linen who was above the waters of the stream, namely the Messiah himself, but in his pre-existence.

That the man dressed in linen indeed must be identified with the pre-existened Messiah is also reflected in the book of Revelation. In Rev 10:1, 5-6 before the attentive reader unfolds [in symbol] a similar scene:

And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, arrayed with a cloud, and the rainbow upon his head, and his countenance as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire ... And the angel which I saw on the sea and on the land lifted up his hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and all things therein, and the earth and all things therein, and the sea and all things in it: There will be no delay any longer ...

In Rev 1:12-16 all doubt about his identity is removed, because the way in which he is described there - the Son of man speaking with the sound of a trumpet (according to verse 10) - is entirely consistent with Revelation 10.
He also strongly being reminiscent of the angel of YHWH, again Yeshua in his prehuman existence; he who accompanied the people of Israel on her journey through the wilderness.
As the Michael of Dn 12:1 - the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of your [Daniel's] people, he always appears when Israel in Elohim's program comes in front of the screen.

For more details, see: Michael, the archangel, in conflict with Satan's Empire

Moreover, Isaiah 66 reveals in which direction especially those should be sought among the Jewish people who will remain hardened against Yeshua to the End; those who as usual will turn resentful against their own people who indeed shall purify themselves and make themselves white in the sacrificial blood of the antitypical Passover Lamb. They, the stubborn ones, have their own doctrines; teachings however that have nothing to do with the sound words that go forth from Elohim's own mouth:

Your thoughts are not my thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, YHWH speaks
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as rain or snow descends from the heavens, and there does not return, but saturates the earth and makes it produce and sprout, and seed is given to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

(Isaiah 55)

Isaiah 66 is such a word that certainly will not go out of JHWHs mouth without effect:

66:1 ≥
Thus Yahweh has said: The heavens are my throne and the earth is my footstool. Where, then, is the house that you may build for me, and where the place as a resting-place for me?

The prophecy reveals that truly a Third Temple will appear on Israel’s religious scene, however not initiated by YHWH Elohim, but rather on the basis of a covenant that the Antichrist, the Pseudomasjiach of the End time, will conclude with the Jews (Dn 9:27).

Nevertheless, it is very revealing how Elohim Himself polemizes against the sacrificial cult which then will be revived: He needs no house of those apostates.
On the contrary, the time for the introduction of New heavens and a New earth has then just arrived and YHWH Elohim has his own Temple City, the New Jerusalem ( Rev. 21: 1-4 ).

66:2 ≥

For my own hand has made all these things, so that all these came to be, YHWH is saying. On this one, then, I shall look, on the one afflicted and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at my word.

In the midst of the apostates will again (and final) appear a godly Remnant, faithfull Jews who, in their distressful position, look up at YHWH their Elohim - in the Book of Isaiah often named ‘the Holy One of Israel’ - and heed his Word. These people, he promises to favor.

66:3 ≥

Whoever slaughters an ox is as one striking down a man. Whoever sacrifices a sheep is as one breaking a dog's neck. He that offers a meal offering – the blood of a pig! The one presenting a memorial offering of frankincense, is as one blessing an idol. They are also the ones that have chosen their own ways, and their very soul delights in their abominations.

The reference is apparently to a revived sacrificial cult according to the Mosaic Law. However, the sacrifices of those apostates will be disgusting in Elohim's sight, since it is clear that they thereby knowingly reject the one and only superior sacrifice of his own Son. Since they again reject his leadership and instead look up at demons, they run the risk that YHWH Elohim will allow them no further repentance.

See: Repentance is no longer possible

66:4 ≥

I myself, in turn, shall choose ways of ill-treating them; that what they fear I shall bring upon them, because when I called no one answered; when I spoke no one listened. They kept on doing what was evil in my eyes, and the things in which I took no delight they chose.

Through diligent Torah devotion these Jews hope to avert Elohim's judgment. But precisely that will take them. Why so?

Because they persisted to the end in their refusal to listen to Him all the things He spoke to them through his messianic Son.
Compare Hb 1:1-4

66:5 ≥

Hear the word of YHWH, you who are trembling at his word! Your own brothers who are hating you, that are excluding you by reason of my name, have said ‘May YHWH be glorified!’ He will also appear with rejoicing on your part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.

After having taken notice of everything explained above about God's way of dealing in the End Times, nobody needs to ask from which 'corner' that hateful attitude will arise. Of course, it concerns that old blind hatred with regard to all divine provisions YHWH Elohim himself supplied in the person of his Son.

However, with those who until the end will show such a rigid attitude, obviously it will not turn out well. The next verse is precisely showing us that.
Yes, verse 6 of Isaiah 66 contains an ominous announcement for those of Elohim's people who - against all divine instructions - still want to revive the ancient temple cult.

In his sight that stubborn attitude concerns sheer rebellion against his sovereignty; the case in particular is getting a serious character by the willingness of those rebels to make themselves completely dependent on a demonic Pseudomasjiach to achieve their coveted purposes.
They wish to take no notice at all of the warning which in this regard is implied in the last verse of Daniel’s Annual Weeks Prophecy:

And to many, he [the false messiah] will assert force a covenant [the old Mosaic covenant] one seven, and at the half of the seven he will cause to cease sacrifice and gift offering

When that Pseudomasjiach will make his entrance on the world stage, he will present himself to the Jewish people as their long-awaited Savior. For reaching that goal in a credible way he will apparently present himself as their benefactor who revives the old Mosaic Law covenant so that a long-cherished Jewish dream can be realized: The erection of the Third Temple so that they may show their zeal for the Law as never before; for instance by presenting the required animal sacrifices. With his supernatural powers the Antichrist can add force and lustre to that old arrangement.

For example, it is conceivable that he claims to know which persons may reckon themselves to the tribe of Levi, and who among them stem from the priestly family of Aaron. If things may thus develop, then again those Jews will make themselves very guilty in God's eyes. Because since Yeshua has brought once for all time the adequate sacrifice for reconciliation and taking away sins, all further sacrifices to YHWH Elohim will absolutely be reprehensible, yes, horrible! Hence the ominous announcement in verse 6 of Isaiah 66 >>

Hear! A sound of uproar out of the city! A sound out of the temple! It is the sound of YHWH repaying what is deserved to his enemies.

Yes, YHWH Elohim pays their wages they earn, the more so because those rebels - as we concluded already in verse 5 demonstrate an cherished hatred of their "brothers" who rely on the power of Yeshua's sacrificial blood.
But what is meant here by repaying what is deserved or paying their wages ?

What should we have in mind particular?
Before we elaborate on that point, we first want to make clear that the textual connection, in which this judgment of YHWH Elohim is announced, is remarkable. Indeed an Endtime scene is concerned, for all this will take place within the context of restoration and rebirth of Zion:

Before she travailed, she gave birth. Before birth pangs could come to her, she was delivered of a male child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Will a land be brought for in a single day? Or will a nation be born at one time? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her sons.
(Isaiah 66:7-8).

The hateful opposition from the part of the people who reject the true Messiah unabatedly, obviously does not prevent YHWH Elohim from making a new beginning with Zion’s true sons. Why not?

Because this part of Isaiah's prophecy is elaborated in Revelation, chapter 12, indicating that Zion’s deliverance of the ‘male child’ points to the birth of the Messianic kingdom halfway the 70th Annual Week:

And she brought forth a son, a male child who will shepherd all nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught away to God and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there 1,260 days ...
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony; and they did not love their souls even in the face of death. On this account be glad, you heavens and those who have their residence therein. Woe for the earth and for the sea! Because the Devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing he has little time.
(Revelation 12:5-6, 10-12)

But let us return to the question: What is meant (in Is 66:6) by repaying what is deserved or paying their wages? That is: to those Jewish rebels who are so audacious to persist in their own twisted ways, including their hatred towards their brothers who believe in Jeshua as their Messiah. What should we have in mind particular, since their stubborn attitude goes together with their efforts - and the support of the Pseudomasjiach - to revive the ancient Mosaic sacrificial cult within a third to erect temple complex?

Well, that threat is in the Tanakh not an isolated data; we can refer to several other prophetic announcements that are indicating similar circumstances.

First, the striking scenes in Ezekiel, painted for us in the chapters 8 and 9.

As we noticed earlier in the Letter to the Hebrews, chapter 10, Elohim's judgment is announced on those among his people who arouse his godly jealousy as a result of their willful sin:

For if we practice sin willfully after having received the deepened knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left, but some dreadful expectation of judgment and fiery jealousy that will devour the adversaries. Someone who rejects the law of Moses, dies without mercy upon the testimony of two or three [witnesses]; how much worse punishment, do you think, will deemed worthy [the man] who has trampled the Son of God, and who esteemed the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, of ordinary value, and who offended the spirit of loving grace with contempt?

For we know him who said
It's my revenge, I will repay,
and again,
The Lord shall judge his people.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God!

See: Repentance no longer possible

Well, that fiery jealousy [Hebrew קנאה ] can be seen in the scenes of Ezekiel 8 and 9.

In a visionary scene Ezekiel 9:1-11 provides prophetically a vivid picture of the measures that YHWH Elohim takes to save the Remnant of his people from the destruction He brings about on the unfaithful part of the House of Israel.

Six "men", apparently of heavenly origin, with weapons of destruction in hand, are ready to strike down the whole House of Israel and Judah. Why so?

Because their error is very, very great, and the land is filled with bloodshed and the city is full of perversity (Ez 9:9).

The emphasis is on the city, the literal city of Jerusalem, for at that place, in the Sanctuary, the most horrible things are committed.

In connection therewith, we can not stress enough how hideous unfaithful most of Elohim people in the End Times will act against him, precisely when the time is coming that He will conclude a new covenant with the House of Israel and with the house of Judah, and that with the benevolent intention to renew the marriage relationship with his Wife Congregation.

From Ezekiel, however, we learn that just at that time the majority of the House of Israel and Judah will commit the most heinous acts in the sphere of religion.

The horrible things at which we are aiming were already summed up in Chapter 8 of Ezekiel, scenes that dishonour in one form or another the holy Elohim and that also appear in the Book of Revelation of Yeshua Messiah, but there in connection with the idolatrous worship of the Beast and his image (Revelation 13).

See especially Ezekiel 8:3-18.

For instance take note of Ezekiel 8:3 and 5.

Then the spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that faces toward the north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes jealousy ... Then he said to me, “Son of man, lift up your eyes now toward the north.” So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold, north of the altar gate, in the entrance, was that idol, this image of jealousy.

From verse 14 we learn that the idol must be identified with Tammuz, one of the mystical names of Nimrod who was brought to death violently and therefore became a depiction of the Revelation-Beast that had the sword-stroke (Rev 13: 3, 11-12).

Compare also Mt 24:15 where by Yeshua himself an identical scene was called on: the abomination of desolation in the holy place.

See: The man behind the number 666

Ezekiel 8:17-18 is a transition to Ez 9:1

He said to me: Have you seen [this], O son of man? Was it for the house of Judah not enough to do the detestable things which they have commit here, that they also fill the land with violence and that they should offend me again and again? And here they are thrusting out the shoot to my nose.Therefore I will deal with them in fury. I will not spare, neither have pity. Though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet I shall not hear them.

For the Jews who totally turn their backs to YHWH Elohim in favor of the Antimasjiach, Chapter 9 of Ezekiel outlines an ominous outcome. The New American Standard Bible reads:

Then He cried out in my hearing with a loud voice saying, “Draw near, O executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.” Behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each with his shattering weapon in his hand; and among them was a certain man clothed in linen with a writing case at his loins. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case. The LORD [YHWH] said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.” But to the others He said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare. Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary.”

So they started with the elders who were before the temple. And He said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” Thus they went out and struck down the people in the city.

As they were striking the people and I alone was left, I fell on my face and cried out saying, “Alas, Lord GOD [YHWH]! Are You destroying the whole remnant of Israel by pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?”

Then He said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is very, very great, and the land is filled with blood and the city is full of perversion; for they say, ‘The LORD [YHWH] has forsaken the land, and the LORD [YHWH] does not see!’

“But as for Me, My eye will have no pity nor will I spare, but I will bring their conduct upon their heads.”

Then behold, the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case reported, saying, “I have done just as You have commanded me.”

Does the command Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain not aptly reflect Js 66:6 >> A sound from the temple! The sound of YHWH, rendering recompense to his enemies!

However, also here in Ezekiel, the security of a faithful Remnant is assured. In this case, because its members shall be marked on their foreheads by the man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his loins. He must certainly depict Yeshua, the glorified Messiah and Son of God. After all, the Father has entrusted all judgment to him (Jh 5:22).

In Revelation 7 - the Scripture part where John, in his visionary scenes, saw in advance the Great Crowd, coming forth rescued out of the unparalleled Great Tribulation - we concluded earlier that the members of Israel’s Remnant ascribe their salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb (verse 10).

As a further explanation John heard one of the 24 Elders adding that this particular salvation will have everything to do with the fact that they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Thus entirely in harmony with that what was foretold by the man dressed in linen above the stream in Daniel 12: 7-10.

Well, in that same chapter 7 of the Apocalypse we learn that the scene of Ezekiel 9 - putting the protective mark on the foreheads of those who sigh and groan over all the abominations being done in the temple sanctuary – will be fulfilled in that Great Crowd:

After this I saw four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth, holding tight the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow upon the earth, neither the sea nor upon any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the sunrising, having a seal of [the] living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to harm the earth and the sea, saying: Do not harm the earth, neither the sea nor the trees until after we have sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.

Casually, we therewith find concluded also that the emblems of Ezekiel in the chapters 8 and 9, were provided with the intention to be fulfilled in the End Times. In his mercy towards his people, YHWH Elohim does not quit drawing the attention of the well-intentioned ones among them to the way leading to escape from the disasters being at hand.
According to Luke 21:36 Yeshua himself gave in that respect already appropriate advice to the Jewish End time Remnant:

Keep awake, all the time making supplication that you may be able to escape all these things that are about to occur, and to stand before the Son of Man.

The thing therefore is perfectly clear: All Jewish people that love life should come timely into action for survival (!)

The reciprocity between the two Jerusalems

However, let us return - prophetically - to the time when the Kingdom of YHWH Elohim will have become the sole dominion on earth and there will be reciprocity between

a Jerusalem - heavenly, the raptured Christian Congregation, and

b Jerusalem - earthly, the Jewish Congregation.

In short, the situation that - as we mentioned previously above - also Yochanan Ben Zakkai had in mind; he, however, having not the faintest notion how YHWH Elohim would implement that desired state: the antitype of the Tabernacle situation.

Not until then both congregations can fully meet the purpose for which they were chosen and called to existence by YHWH Elohim: Becoming a blessing to the Gojim, the heathen nations, in full compliance with the Abrahamic promises, as JHWHs angel in Genesis 22 said to the patriarch:

Truly, I swear by myself, YHWH is saying: Because you have done this thing and you have not withheld me your son, your only one [in type Elohim's own Son, Yeshua Mashiach], I shall surely bless you and I shall surely multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens and like the grains of sand that are on the seashore [perhaps alluding to the duality of the seed]; and your seed will take possession of the gate of his enemies. And in your seed all the nations will certainly bless themselves because you listened to my voice.

As we concluded earlier, however, Israel can become only then a blessing on earth to the heathen nations when she first arrives herself in a state of redemption. Her own situation, which makes her fit for the job, will then be exactly as foretold in Ezekiel 36:24-28. We repeat once more that particular Scripture part:

I will take you from the nations and gather you out of all countries, and bring you in upon your soil. And I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean; from all your filthiness and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart and a new spirit I shall put inside you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and act so that you will walk in my statutes and my judgments you will keep and actually carry out. And you will certainly dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people and I myself shall become your God.

This beautiful prophetic announcement can not be overemphasized because its fulfillment will make Jerusalem-earthly to a "new creation", which much earlier occurred to Jerusalem-heavenly during the more than 19 centuries of Israel's hardening. In that intervening period – in which Elohim's involvement with the nation of Israel was at a standstill - the fullness of the Gentiles was brought in.

Compare again Romans 11, but then especially from verse 23 >> The chopping off owing to unbelief, alternatively the grafting in again of a remnant of ‘Jewish branches' onto the Olive Tree, of which the root of fatness (verse 17) can be traced back to the patriarchs, especially to Abraham to whom the promises were first given and with whom Elohim concluded his Covenant.

If the root is holy, the branches are also.

But when Jerusalem-earthly also is made to a "new creation", she will be perfectly suited to represent the Government of the Templecity New Jerusalem on earth, to the great spiritual benefit of the Gojim.

However, in order to raise those nations out of the situation inherited from Adam, both congregations are needed.

Why can we maintain that view with certainty?

To distinguish that reciprocity between the earthly and the heavenly congregation is a prerequisite for becoming a blessing to the Gojim during the Millennium kingdom of the Messiah, we can refer to Yeshua's own ministry during his earthly career of 3½ years.

According to Acts 10:37-38, in his speech to the centurion Cornelius, Simon Peter demonstrated how effective the ministry was of the one who acted as the proper Self of Israel, he who in the first place became Abraham's seed to bless mankind:

You know what happened throughout the Jewish nation, how it started in Galilee after the baptism that John preaced, namely, Jesus from Nazareth, how God anointed him with holy spirit and clothed with power. And he went through the land doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil; because God was with him.

Yeshua was anointed with holy spirit and clothed with strength. But the wonderful works that he did, in the end were only possible because God was with him. Yes, in reality it was YHWH Elohim whoever accomplished the signs, wonders, and powerful works (Acts 2:22).

In Luke 5:12-26 the Evangelist narrates in detail two remarkable healings Yeshua performed one after another. First a man who was covered with leprosy, next a man who was paralyzed. We can easily understand how deep had to be intervened in the physical organism of both persons to bring about healing.

The Mashiach, in the capacity of the last Adam, was perfect in body and mind (1 Cor 15:45), but nevertheless utterly human. Without supernatural influence, he never could have performed the said miracles.

The superhuman factor was indispensable and ultimately what really mattered.

Meaningful then is Luke's remark in verse 17: There was power of the Lord so that he could heal.

On comparison with Mark 6:5 we may apparently deduce that Yeshua himself was completely dependent on the proximity of God's spirit, yes, even of God's willingness to apply its powerful effect whether or not. Only when his Father judged it advisable, he did mighty works and wonders and signs through the intervention of his Son.

When the same Luke also describes the healing in chapter 8 of his Gospel of the woman who suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years, he identified the following noteworthy developments:

And a woman who for twelve years was subject to a haemorrhage, who could be cured by no one, approached from behind and touched the fringe of his outer garment, and at the same time her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said: Who is it that touched me? And when all denied, Peter said: “Master, the multitudes are hemming you in and pressing you at all sides”. But Jesus said: ”Someone touched me, for I myself perceived that power has gone out of me”.

Amidst the crowd YHWH Elohim had done his work through his messianic Son as an intermediary. The supernatural influence was the decisive factor.

So it will occur in the worldperiod (aeon) of the Millennium Kingdom. The Jewish saints will represent on earth the beloved city, the New Jerusalem, becoming a blessing to mankind (Rev 20:9). Nevertheless, even though its members were made to a new creation, their influence will be limited. The supernatural efficacy of Jerusalem-heavenly will lead to the actual healing of the nations.

Another example of Yeshua's own ministry that stresses the need for reciprocity between the heavenly and the earthly congregations.

For that we must turn to Luke's account of the healing of 10 lepers according to Luke 17 >>

And while he was traveling to Jerusalem he was passing through the border region of Samaria and Galilee. And when he entered into a certain village, ten leprous men met him, who stood at a distance. And they raised their voices, saying: ”Jesus, Master, have mercy on us”! And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go and show yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, returned, glorifying God with a loud voice. And he fell upon his face at his feet, thanking him; and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus answered and said: “Were not the ten cleansed? Where then [are] the other nine? Were none found that turned back to give glory to God but this man of another nation?” And he said to him: “Rise and be on your way; your faith has saved you”.

For assessing the report at its true value, it is necessary to know that Yeshua – on his way to Jerusalem – was traveling along the boundary of the two areas of Samaria and Galilee. At that time it was a way to avoid trouble with the Samaritan population. Usually these put Jews who traveled northward nothing in the way, but when they went southward for going up to Jerusalem to attend the festivities, they could take up a very aggressive position.

But it does explain why the group was made up of Jewish and Samaritan lepers. Their common condition had brought them together. Because they were unclean, they stood up afar off. From the Chapters 13 and 14 of Leviticus it can be concluded that Biblical leprosy at certain stages was infectious but not in others.

According to the Law the priests had the task to assess whether anyone was cured of the disease. As the Samaritans accepted the Pentateuch, they knew at least that procedure:

And YHWH continued to speak to Moses: This is the law of the leper in the day for establishing his purification, when he must be brought to the priest. And the priest shall go outside the camp, and the priest must look; and if the plague of leprosy has been cured in the leprous one, the priest must then give command [for the procedure of the purification] (Levicus 14:1-4).

Note that the ten showed a degree of faith, because they appealed to Yeshua as Master and obeyed his instructions to show themselves to the priests, despite the fact that at that time no change in their situation had yet occurred. That is remarkable, because, when they turned to Jeshua for help, they most likely cherished the hope that he would heal them by touch. Instead, they were given a command that meant that they would have experienced healing at the time they arrived at the priest. And in that state of affairs then they had implicit faith.

In the case of the man who was covered with leprosy, in Luke 5:12-14, the leprosy disappeared immediately after Jesus had touched him. Only then he was ordered to show himself to the priest.

In the case of the ten Jesus tested their faith and when they obeyed him, he healed them remotely.

Compare in Two Kings 5:10-14 the case of the Syrian chief of the army Naaman.

This history teaches us; among other things how important it is that people trust Yeshua's words and comply with them.

Were not the ten cleansed? Where then [are] the other nine?

With that question, Yeshua signaled the ingratitude of those nine. Only one of the ten returned to glorify Elohim his Father, and to thank Yeshua. The Samaritan understood very well that YHWH had acted through his Son. For him Yeshua as the Messiah was of more importance than the priests.

The fact that his healing prompted him to address himself gratefully to God and to his Son had, moreover, for him far more as a result than the physical healing.

This may be concluded from Jesus' final note: Your faith has saved you.

With that precious assurance to him, Jeshua was not referring to the physical condition of this Samaritan, because the nine others were healed also. But only this man experienced also spiritual healing, and that experience was of far greater value than all what the priest could do for him, since that one could only confirm that the leprosy was gone.

What do we learn more from all this?

All tose facts indicate that the divinely inspired Word, beyond what Luke chronicled, has much more to tell us about the plague of leprosy; namely in a symbolic application as well.

After all, in the scene of the ten lepers we saw :

a. Yeshua in the border region of Samaria and Galilee, portraying that he, the Mashiach, had made his way into the middle of the world of humanity; not with the intention to judge that world but to save it (John 3:17).

b. That the ten were of both Jewish and pagan background.

Within the biblical symbolism of numbers the number 10 represents completeness in earthly terms.

c. That the divine Word teaches us - partly on the basis of Leviticus 13 and 14 - that leprosy has an application in a symbolic sense as well: The entire from Adam descending human race is mentally ill because of sin; 'leprous' in a symbolic sense.

When the Syrian army officer was cleansed of his leprosy, he returned to the prophet Elisha, filled with gratitude towards him, although that man of God had instructed him to plunge seven times in the river Jordan that, initially, had caused Naamans indignation because – according to him – the rivers of Damascus were better than all the waters of Israel:

Then he went down and began to plunge into the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had said. His flesh came back like the flesh of a little boy and he became clean.

Then he returned to the man of God, he with all his camp, and came and stood before him and said: 'Now I know only in Israel is a God, and nowhere else on earth. And now accept, please, a testimonial from your servant’. However, Elisha said: ‘As YHWH lives, before whom I do stand, I take nothing from you’. And although there Naaman pressed him to accept something, he kept refusing. Finally Naaman said: ‘Let there be given to your servant some ground, the load of a pair of mules; because your servant will no more render up a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other gods but to YHWH alone.

(Two Kings 5:14-17)

Henceforth Naaman wanted to focus his worship only on YHWH, the true God, Israel’s Elohim. Likewise also, the Samaritan man glorified God with a loud voice, and he thanked Yeshua for his cleansing. But that one had to ask the question: Were not the ten cleansed? Where [are] the nine?

Obviously those nine were happy with their cleansing, but they failed to glorify Elohim and to thank his messianic Son.

Apparently, a (sad) hint for the future when, during the Millennium Reign of God's kingdom, many, it is true, will be purged of sin, but will not diligently focus on the worship of the true God and not committed to the service of his Son, the King.

In addition, that brings us to a fourth lesson to be learned:

d. The priesthood of the heavenly congregation - pictured by the sons of Aaron - will have a major involvement in the affairs on the earth during the Millennium Empire leading to the full spiritual health of humanity. The members of that heavenly priesthood will have regularly making their way 'outside the camp':

The camp of the saints and the beloved city ... And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled, and no place was found for them. En ik zag de doden, de groten en de kleinen, staande vóór de troon, en boekrollen werden geopend.And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened… Ook een andere boekrol werd geopend, welke is des levens. En de doden werden geoordeeld uit de dingen geschreven zijnde in de boekrollen overeenkomstig hun werken. 13[That their names finally may be] found written in the book of life.

(Rev 20:9-15 )

For a detailed discussion of this theme, please see: Creation in travail

Both congregations will therefore work closely together. There will be reciprocity. On a completely different way, this [reciprocity] is expressed in Ezekiel 38:12 >>

It will be to take much spoil and plunder, to attack the devastated places that are now inhabited and a people regathered from the nations, who are accumulating wealth and property, those who are living in the center [the navel; Hebrew : טבור tab(b)ur] of the earth.

The prophet provides a particular description about the cicumstances in which Israel's land and people will find themselves when the mysterious figure Gog overtakes them in the end. The long time before the land laid desolate, but at the time when Gog shall come, it will be brought back from the sword and be cultivated again. Israel has then been gathered out of her diaspora among the many peoples, back again in her own beloved country, residing in (relative} safety; as it were, on the navel of the earth.

The site corresponding to the navel of the earth, is obviously pointing to the location where Elohim's new Sanctuary, the Templecity New Jerusalem, is represented on earth, from which his spirit and his blessing is streaming to all sides. Truly the center of the earth, and also as the navel by which the nourishing blood of the ‘mother’ is guided into the developing fruit. Being such a focal point of the life-giving spirit, is the destination of Jerusalem.

Living on the navel of the earth, evokes the image of a cosmology that considers heaven and earth as an organic whole (mother and child). In this picture the City of Jerusalem is viewed as the point where the bond of life between heaven and earth is starting.

Compare Ezekiel 5:5 >>

This is what Adonai YHWH has said:

“This is Jerusalem; in the midst of the Gojim I have set her, with lands all around her”.

That elevated location, given by YHWH to the City on earth, is presented as the central point of the earth, where his People and the City are located in the center of the by Heaven guided world developments.

There YHWH Elohim puts the throne of his gracious favor, entirely consistent with the images that are recalled in Genesis 28:12-14 and Isaiah 66:1. From that center Law and Justice go out for the benefit of the Gojim, resulting in their salvation, as the prophetic Word testifies.

But first of all that Temple City must be guided safely through the coming world turmoil, as is announced in Psalm 46 >>

Elohim is our refuge and strength; largely been a help in trouble.Therefore we will not fear, though the earth undergo change; though the mountains be shaken into the heart of the seas.

Let roar its waters; the mountains shake with its turbulence. Sela

A river - its streams make the city of Elohim rejoice, the holiest grand tabernacle of the Most High.

Elohim is in the midst of her [the City], she will not be made to totter;

Elohim will help her at the appearance of the morning.

As we already concluded previously Ezekiel 5:5

This is what Adonai YHWH said: “This is Jerusalem; in the midst of the Gojim I have set her, with lands all around her”.

signifies that from that lofty center - Jerusalem at the navel of the earth - Law and Justice will go out for the benefit of the Gojim.

In Isaiah 2:2-5 that center is identified with the Mountain of YHWH’s House. Out of it an Economy will lead blessings to the nations round about:

And it must occur in the last days: The mountain of the house of YHWH will become firmly established above the top of the mountains; exalted above the hills, and to it all the nations must stream. And many peoples shall certainly go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of YHWH, to the house of Jacob's God, and He will instruct us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth law, and the word of YHWH from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations and set matters straight respecting many peoples. And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore. O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of YHWH.

Both here and in Ezekiel 38:12, Jerusalem is seen as the center of the whole earth, as arranged by YHWH Elohim to radiate the true light in all directions over the nations.

Compare Isaiah 60 .

No City like Jerusalem, or country as Canaan, could be better chosen by him for the accomplishment of that mission. An optimal geographical location from which his chosen congregation, the Jewish people, can assert in an appropriate and successful way her influence to the paganism of the world.

That situation of Israel is not arranged by Elohim for Israel's own, perhaps selfish purposes, but rather with the intention that she would become the spiritual benefactor of the whole world; as the beneficiary and Beloved City being a blessing morally for the nations.

In Isaiah 61:5-7 we read prophetically about that priestly assignment for Jeruzalem-earthly:

And strangers shall stand and shepherd your flocks. Foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers. However, you will be called the priests of YHWH, the ministers of our God you will be named. You will enjoy the wealth of the Gojim and in their glory you will speak elately about yourselves. Instead of your shame, there will be a double portion, and instead of dishonour, they will cry out joyfully over their share. Therefore, in their land they will take possession of even a double portion.

Precisely this will be the experience of Israel, completely to the pattern of "my servant Job". In Job 42:7-10 we read that Job, YHWH Elohim's Ebed, was doubly compensated and besides he was appointed in a priestly mediation with regard to his 'friends' Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar.

To achieve that purpose, there is well provided for the necessary reciprocity between Jerusalem-earthly and Jerusalem-heavenly.

This is further clarified in the final two chapters of the book of Revelation.

In that Bible part the indissoluble unity of the New Jerusalem prophetically is painted; that holy City descending out of heaven from YHWH Elohim.

In that situation, she is like the Tent of God with mankind, the antitype of the wilderness tabernacle. The immediate result will be: No more tears, nor death, nor mourning, nor outcries of pain anymore. See Rev. 21: 1-4 .

The heavenly part of the City - Yeshua's Bride, the raptured Christian Congregation - is through the umbilical cord - the River of water of Life - connected with the earthly part, the Jewish Congregation:

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of its broad way; and on either side of the river trees of life, producing twelve crops of fruit, yielding their fruits each month; and the leaves of the trees for the curing of the nations.

(Rev 22:1-2)

In this lovely painted picture, insiders will immediately recognize the symbolic representation about which we read in chapter 47 of the highly prophetic Book Ezekiel, especially focused on End times events.

See: New Jerusalem - The Holy City

In Isaiah 66:10-14 this purpose of YHWH Elohim is symbolically presented to us in a wonderful way, because a picture is called on of a mother feeding her child:

Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her. Be highly exulted with her, all you who continue mourning over her ... For this is what YHWH has said: “Behold, I am extending to her peace just like a river, and the glory of nations ...” And the hand of YHWH will certainly be made known to his servants, but he will actually denounce his enemies.

Yes, those enemies!

The demonic Gog - Magog

As the beneficiary and Beloved City New Jerusalem will become to a great blessing morally for the nations; however, at the same time the reason why she would be observed with envy by her (never missing) enemies.

In Psalm 68, we read according to the NASV:

A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; a mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan. Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks, at the mountain which God has desired for his abode? Surely the LORD [YHWH] will dwell there forever.

With that envy, which for Elohim's people constantly took the shape of enmity, we are finally back at what a restored Israel in the "last days" is still awaiting. And 'Bashan' will again play an important role during that (near] future, precisely as was the case in the distant past.

Truly, before Israel could invade the Land of Promise she had to deal with the two giant nations under respectively Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan (Nm 21: 31-35 ; Deut 3: 1-11).

In Dt 33:22 Mosjeh, speaking prophetic words in his farewell address with respect to the twelve tribes, made a connection between the appearance of the Antimasjiach and the tribe of Dan:

Dan is a lion's whelp; he rushes forth from Bashan.

Bashan - the area of the Rephaim, a giant race - therefore competes with the claims of the true Messiah of the tribe of Judah. From that area the demons watch closely and enviously Mount Zion, the mountain that YHWH Elohim chose for Himself as the seat to stay there forever.

On his deathbed, Jacob uttered this prophecy (Gen 49):

Judah is a lion's whelp; from the prey, my son, you will certainly go up. He bowed down; he stretched himself out like a lion, and like a lion, who dares rouse him?

The scepter will not depart from Judah, neither the commander’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to him the obedience of the peoples will belong.

At the half of the 70 ^th Annual Week, when the (seven) Times of the Gentiles will end, Shiloh - the Son of man of Daniel 7 – shall receive the kingdom from YHWH Elohim, the Ancient of days, on mount Zion, the mountain that the demons are watching with envy continually.

And as we can read that event is taking place round about the time that the demonic Small Horn will rise upon the head of the Roman Beast, to harass Israel saints during 3½ Times (Dn 7: 8-14, 26).

In his deathbed prophecy Jacob had also drawn attention to that development, namely when he, long before Mosjeh, uttered this prophetic statement about the tribe of Dan:

Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Let Dan prove to be a serpent by the roadside, a horned snake at the wayside, that bites the heels of the horse so that its rider falls backward.

Hence Jacob's entreaty:

I shall indeed wait for your salvation, O YHWH.

(Gen 49:16-18)

But in Ezekiel 38 and 39 that demonic power will appear as Gog of the land of Magog. And we do not have to wonder what the sole aim is of that enemy!

Yes, the intentions of Gog / Magog are known.

Psalm 83 is also very clear; therein the Jewish Endtime Remnant is warned prophetically for the ultimate attack on restored Israel by an alliance of her evil enemies:

1 A Song, a Psalm of Asaph.

2 O God, keep not Thou silence;

Hold not Thy peace, and be not still, O God.

3 For, lo, Thine enemies are in an uproar;

And they that hate Thee have lifted up the head.

4 They hold crafty converse against Thy people,

And take counsel against Thy treasured ones.

5 They have said: ‘Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation;

That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.’

6 For they have consulted together with one consent;

Against Thee do they make a covenant;

7 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;

Moab, and the Hagrites;

8 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek;

Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

9 Assyria also is joined with them;

They have been an arm to the children of Lot.

(JPS Tanakh)

As is understood this Psalm was composed on the occasion that, during the reign of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, a massive attack was made in his empire, in which Ammonites, Moabites and other nations were involved.
At that critical time the congregation of Israel came in large numbers together in the temple to seek the help of YHWH ( Two Chronicles 20:1-30 ).

But note especially that in verse 7 of the Psalm the Ishmaelites - together with Edom – are being named as the first among the hostile nations that will want to eradicate completely Israel as a people. Yeah, so thoroughly that the name of Israel be remembered no more.

Certainly the climax of Ishmael's hostile attitude, which was originally aroused because he - nota bene Abraham's firstborn - was passed over in favor of his younger half-brother Isaac. For not in his line but in that of his 'little brother' would sprout Abraham's seed that - according to the promise of YHWH Elohim – would become to a blessing for the human world.

In that context, we could speak about the long term effect of Genesis 16:12. When JHWH’s angel - Elohim's Son in his pre-existence - appeared to Hagar, he painted prophetically the career of Abraham's son, by whom she was pregnant at that time:

He will become a zebra of a man. His hand will be against everyone, and the hand of everyone will be against him, and before the face of all his brothers he shall dwell.

As is usual with this kind of predictions the affairs that are previously announced often prove to be completed in the offspring rather than in the progenitor himself. Early events in the life of a progenitor often set the tone for the way in which action is taken by his posterity, even after many, many generations.

One such event is recounted in Genesis, Chapter 21. When Isaac - the 'free son that Sarah still had given birth, according to Elohim's prediction - was about five years of age, Abraham his father, prepared a great banquet on the day Isaac was weaned.
But Sara did not fail to notice that Ishmael, now being about nineteen years of age, mocked with the little Isaac. And that was not a mere, innocent child’s play. As can be derived from the report apparently the law of succession (inheritance) played a certain role at the mockery of Isaac:

And Sarah noticed the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, poking fun. So she said to Abraham: “Drive out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this bondwoman shall not be an heir with my son, with Isaac”. But the thing proved to be very displeasing to Abraham grieved as regards his son. But Elohim said to Abraham: “Do not let anything that Sara is saying to you be displeasing to you about the boy and about your slave woman. Listen to her voice, because it is by means of Isaac that what will be called your seed [זרע zeh'rah] will be. And as for the son of the slave woman, I shall also constitute him a nation, because he is your offspring”.
(Gen 21:9-13)

Consequently, we conclude that Ishmael at that occasion showed the first signs of the hostile disposition that he would show later on, according to the prediction of YHWH’s angel.

But with the attack by Gog / Magog apparently we are approaching quickly now the culmination of that hostility. For let us not forget that the Arab tribes claim their lineage all the way back to Ishmael. The traditional view is that Muhammad's lineage can be traced back to Hadad, the eighth son of Ishmael, and that through the tribe of Quraysh.

See: Gen 25:12-16 .

Well, the animosity of 'Ishmael' against 'Isaac' never died down. Rather, it is more powerful than ever and it will certainly be expressed very soon; in the very near future. Within Ishmael's posterity they still expect their own Messiah or Mahdi, even though the principal One of Abraham’s "seed" has appeared long ago within Isaac's lineage: Elohim's own Son, Israel's true Messiah.

The coming of the Mahdi belongs to the faith of both Sunni and Shi'ite believers, but their Mahdi exhibits the traits of the biblical Antimasjiach, the opponent of the true (Jewish) Messiah Yeshua.

In that regard, we are prophetically informed in the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39, of a final vicious assault that this Pseudo-masjiach - under the mysterious name Gog - in the end times will perform at Elohim's chosen people Israel. And that in a phase of Israel's history that many of them will be gathered out of the nations, whither their ancestors were once scattered.

Compare especially: Deuteronomy 30:1-9 .

And the word of YHWH came to me saying “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, ‘Thus says the Lord YHWH, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. “I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords; Persia, Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer with all its troops; Beth-Togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples with you.

“Be prepared, and prepare yourself, you and all your companies that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them.

“After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them. “You will go up, you will come like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, and many peoples with you.”

‘Thus says the Lord YHWH, “It will come about on that day, that thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil plan, and you will say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, to capture spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the world [on the naval of the earth].’

Note which nations are mentioned that, alongside Magog, Meshech and Tubal, will be among Gog’s immense force. The Persians are mentioned the first.

History repeats itself (!)

In such a situation, one should be reminiscent of the events that call to mind the feast of Purim, each year celebrated by the Jews on the 14^th of Adar.

We all are acquainted with the story of Xerxes I, king of Persia who disowned his disobedient wife Vashti and afterwards was replaced by the Jewish Esther, Mordecai’s relative.

Soon after those events Haman, who was raised by Xerxes above all other princes in his empire – contrived the death of Mordecai and all the other Jews. And all that on the basis of the ancient enmity that existed between Amalek and Elohim's people Israel since the Exodus.

Actually, Elohim's judgment against Amalek went back even further in history than at the time of the Exodus. Indeed, Amalek was the grandson of Esau, the through-and-through carnal man of worldly development that leads away from YHWH Elohim.

In that respect Spoke 17 of the Bible Wheel is very revealing (!)

It is certainly not by chance that in Malachi - the second Book of Spoke 17, that starts with Esther and ends with Two Peter - already in the introduction is made mention of Elohim's hatred with regard to Edom [Esau], there called the region of wickedness and the people at whom YHWH is indignant forever.

See: Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated, in which is demonstrated that - given the very strong terms in the oracle in which YHWH announced the eternal judgment of Esau (Edom) - behind Edom the world of demons is hidden; so much more than the fate of the literal nation of Edom.

However, that conclusion is confirmed in Megillah Esther. How so?

It is proven by the numerical values (NV) of Haman and his ten sons, namely:

● Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite.
NV >> 95 + 52 + 450 + 22 = 619.

● The 10 sons, respectively, according to Es 9:7-10 .

1035 + 170 + 542 + 687 + 46 + 616 + 1021 + 281 + 225 + 424 = 5047.

Total therefore 5-666 [619 + 5047].

However, the value 666 is the number of the demonic Beast, Satan's parody in the person of the Antimasjiach, but here in Esther including the supernatural value 5000.

See: Revelation 13:18 and also the study: Esther, she who hid

No wonder then that the demonic Gog - Magog - the antitypical Haman – will mobilize the nations surrounding Israel, with Persia [Iran] in front, in order to sweep away forever YHWH’s restored people Israel. This unique nation is indeed identified with the navel of the earth, where the Templecity New Jerusalem is represented in the first place on earth and from which the spirit of YHWH Elohim will flow to all sides. The demonforces would destroy too happy that center.

Ezekiel 38, however, is showing in advance what will be the end of that vicious assault:

21 In all my mountains I will call forth a sword against him, says Adonai YHWH. Everyone's sword will come to be against his own brother.
22 I myself will enter into judgment with him, with pestilence and with blood; and a flooding downpour and hailstones, fire and brimstone I shal rain down upon him and upon his bands, and upon the many peoples that will be with him.
23 And I shall certainly magnify myself and make myself known before the eyes of many nations. Then they will have to know that I am YHWH.

In this last verse (23) the phrase II shall certainly sanctify myself, has the numerical value 1225, exactly corresponding with the NV of the text Gn 16:12, our starting point.

We made mention already that the three books constituting spoke 17, are unequivocal concerning explicit references to unprecedented demon-activity during the 70^thAnnual Week. We still list the facts:

Book 17 - Esther >> The antitypical Haman and his sons: GW 5-666.

Compare subcycle Revelation 17:12

And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive power as kings one hour with the Beast.

Book 39 - Malachi >> Edom [Esau], the region of wickedness, and the people at whom YHWH is indignant forever.

See: Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated

Book 62 - Two Peter >> The angels who sinned during the 120-year period, which eventually led to the Flood:

For if God did not hold back from punishing the angels that sinned, but - by imprisonment in Tartarus – delivered them to pits of dense darkness to be reserved for judgment (Two Peter 2:4)

Already in his First letter, in One Peter 3:19-20, Peter had made mention of the spirits in custody, who once were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God was waiting to the end in Noah’s days.

As we all known from Genesis 6:1-4, those unfaithful spirit sons of YHWH Elohim had materialized themselves in the period that preceded the Flood, with a view entering into marriage commitments with the beautiful daughters of men.

However, with the coming of the Flood they saw themselves forced to get rid of their materialized bodies. But YHWH Elohim's granted them no longer the opportunity to return within the circle of the faithful and elect angels.

In his Second letter, he wrote that those disobedient angels by YHWH Elohim were delivered to pits of dense darkness, which he describes in more detail as imprisonment in Tartarus.
In that sense YHWH Elohim's did not spare those rebellious sons of God, but rebuked them.

Apparently, the demons find themselves since then in a 'dungeon' of spiritual darkness, deprived of all divine light; the use of the term Tartarus indicating a place of deepest humiliation.

And there, in Tartarus, those unclean spirits are not only kept pending their final destruction at the last judgment, as some are saying; because in that case YHWH Elohim could have destroyed them immediately when the Flood came and they had to dematerialize themselves.

Even more than the people who perished in the flood that Nephilim - Fallen Angels - totally deserved such punishment (Gen 6:1-4).

Apparently, Elohim wants them still to play a role in his judgment. Peter is telling us that Elohim indeed kept them for that goal.

Compare Revelation 20, where we learn that even the Devil himself will be reserved for 1000 years to the end of the Messianic Millennium Kingdom, to be released for a short period of time, and even then with a view to serve Elohim's purposes.

Summary

Summarizing, with the availability of the complete divine library we can draw the following conclusions:

▪ The political State of Israel is nearing its end.

In its existence it was only an expression of a typical human, politically tinted ideal, in all respects devoid of the expected Masjiach-kingdom in the lineage of king David. For: