Christian Churches of God

[203]

Le Début du Mois et du Jour

(Édition 1.0 20000930-20030921)
Le fait de comprendre quand commencent le Mois et le Jour est important pour correctement observer tous les Sabbats hebdomadaires, les Nouvelles Lunes mensuelles et les Jours Saints annuels de Dieu. Le jour de vingt-quatre heures commence à la fin du crépuscule nautique du soir (End of Evening Nautical Twilight ou EENT), à la noirceur. Cette étude est écrite pour complémenter l'étude Le Calendrier de Dieu [156] et devrait être lue avec cette étude.
Christian Churches of God
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(Copyright © 2000, 2003 James Dailley, Éd. Wade Cox)
(Tr. 2003, rév. 2014)

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Le Début du Mois et du Jour

Les membres et les associés des Églises Chrétiennes de Dieu suivent le cycle astronomique naturel pour déterminer un calendrier annuel cyclique lunaire/solaire des Jours Saints. C’est ainsi qu’il en était pendant la période de l’Ancien Temple.

Psaume 104:19-20 19 Il a fait la lune pour marquer les temps ; Le soleil sait quand il doit se coucher. 20 Tu amènes les ténèbres, et il est nuit : Alors tous les animaux des forêts sont en mouvement ; (LSG) (cf. Psaume 8:3 ; 89:37)

Le calendrier annuel est établi par l’alignement du cycle mensuel lunaire et du cycle annuel solaire. Le cycle lunaire établit les saisons basées sur le cycle équinoxial solaire. La lune et le soleil sont ensemble des signes directeurs.

Genèse 1:14-19 14 Dieu dit : Qu’il y ait des luminaires dans l’étendue du ciel, pour séparer le jour d’avec la nuit ; que ce soient des signes pour marquer les époques, les jours et les années ; 15 et qu’ils servent de luminaires dans l’étendue du ciel, pour éclairer la terre. Et cela fut ainsi. 16 Dieu fit les deux grands luminaires, le plus grand luminaire pour présider au jour, et le plus petit luminaire pour présider à la nuit ; il fit aussi les étoiles. 17 Dieu les plaça dans l’étendue du ciel, pour éclairer la terre, 18 pour présider au jour et à la nuit, et pour séparer la lumière d’avec les ténèbres. Dieu vit que cela était bon. 19 Ainsi, il y eut un soir, et il y eut un matin : ce fut le quatrième jour. (LSG)

La semaine de 7 jours ne s’insère pas parfaitement dans le cycle lunaire de 29.5 jours (4 semaines x 7 jours = 28 jours), ni dans l’année solaire de 365 ¼ jours (52 semaines x 7 jours = 364 jours) et (12 mois x 29.5 jours = 354 jours). Ces cycles se superposent continuellement et cette caractéristique du cycle astronomique met les Jours Saints à part.

Ces jours sont sanctifiés ou mis à part pour le culte et c’est pourquoi il est si important qu’ils soient correctement identifiés et observés. Les Nouvelles Lunes, les Jours Saints et les Fêtes sont observés aux temps fixes assignés pour notre assemblée et pour que nous fassions nos offrandes (Exode 13:10 ; 23:14-17 ; 34:18-23 ; Lévitique 23 ; 2Chroniques 2:4 ; Néhémie 10:33 ; Ézéchiel 44:24 ; 45:17).

SHD 4150 d[eAm ou d[emo ou hd'[‘Am (moed ou moed)

Signifiant : temps désigné, endroit convenu, réunion

Nous sonnons du shofar comme un appel à assister aux assemblées à ces temps désignés (Nombres 10:7-10). Le cycle astronomique naturel ne peut être perdu (Jérémie 33:20), seulement négligé. Nous observerons ces Jours Saints correctement, même si personne d’autre ne le fait (Lamentations 1:4), pour que la colère de Dieu soit détournée de Son peuple (Lamentations 2) et que tous puissent se repentir (Sophonie 3:12-20) et ne soient pas rejetés (Osée 9:1-9).

La formule de base pour ce qui est appelé le calendrier ‘juif’ est un cycle de 19 ans, qui équivaut à 235 mois lunaires. C’est-à-dire, 19 années solaires ordinaires de 12 mois, où 7 de ces années ont un mois lunaire additionnel ou intercalaire. Ce mois additionnel maintient l’année solaire correctement alignée avec l’équinoxe vernal ou du printemps. Les Grecs l’appelaient le cycle Métonien. Cela signifie que tous les 19 ans, la date civile grégorienne et la date juive coïncident exactement ou dévient d’un jour.

Philon, l’historien juif et un contemporain de Jésus Christ et des apôtres écrit dans son livre The Works of Philo (Les Œuvres de Philon), On the Life of Moses II, chapitre XLI, Partie 222 et 224, “Moïse place le début de l’équinoxe vernal comme le premier mois de l’année…”

Le Début de l’Année

 

Exode 12:1-5 1 L’Éternel dit à Moïse et à Aaron dans le pays d’Égypte : 2 Ce mois-ci sera pour vous le premier des mois ; il sera pour vous le premier des mois de l’année. 3 Parlez à toute l’assemblée d’Israël, et dites : Le dixième jour de ce mois, on prendra un agneau pour chaque famille, un agneau pour chaque maison. 4 Si la maison est trop peu nombreuse pour un agneau, on le prendra avec son plus proche voisin, selon le nombre des personnes ; vous compterez pour cet agneau d’après ce que chacun peut manger. 5 Ce sera un agneau sans défaut, mâle, âgé d’un an ; vous pourrez prendre un agneau ou un chevreau. 6 Vous le garderez jusqu’au quatorzième jour de ce mois ; et toute l’assemblée d’Israël l’immolera entre les deux soirs. (Ereb SHD 6153) (LSG)

Deutéronome 16:1-6  1 Observe le mois des épis, et célèbre la Pâque en l’honneur de l’Éternel, ton Dieu ; car c’est dans le mois des épis que l’Éternel, ton Dieu, t’a fait sortir d’Égypte, pendant la nuit. 2 Tu sacrifieras la Pâque à l’Éternel, ton Dieu, tes victimes de menu et de gros bétail, dans le lieu que l’Éternel choisira pour y faire résider son nom. 3 Pendant la fête, tu ne mangeras pas du pain levé, mais tu mangeras sept jours des pains sans levain, du pain d’affliction, car c’est avec précipitation que tu es sorti du pays d’Égypte : il en sera ainsi, afin que tu te souviennes toute ta vie du jour où tu es sorti du pays d’Égypte. 4 On ne verra point chez toi de levain, dans toute l’étendue de ton pays, pendant sept jours ; et aucune partie des victimes que tu sacrifieras le soir du premier jour ne sera gardée pendant la nuit jusqu’au matin. 5 Tu ne pourras point sacrifier la Pâque dans l’un quelconque des lieux que l’Éternel, ton Dieu, te donne pour demeure ; 6 mais c’est dans le lieu que choisira l’Éternel, ton Dieu, pour y faire résider son nom, que tu sacrifieras la Pâque, le soir (Ereb SHD 6153), au coucher du soleil, à l’époque de ta sortie d’Égypte. (LSG)

Le mois de la Pâque est le premier mois, appelé Nisan ou Abib, et il est spécifiquement commandé par l’Éternel comme étant le début de l’année, d’Exode 12:2 (voir aussi Nombres 9:1-3 ; 33:3 ; Josué 4:19 ; Ézéchiel 45:18,21).

“L’observation de l’équinoxe automnal, i.e., ‘la sortie de l’année’ (voir Exode 23:16), et de l’équinoxe vernal ou du printemps, appelé ‘le retour de l’année’ (1Rois 20:26 ; 2Chroniques 36:10), était importante pour contrôler le calendrier et, conséquemment, les fêtes. Donc, l’année débutait à la nouvelle lune la plus près de l’équinoxe vernal, quand le soleil était dans le signe du Bélier (Josephus, Ant. 3.201 [préférable de voir Ant. (Antiquities of the Jews) III.x.5], et la Pâque, le quatorzième jour de Nisan, coïncidait avec la première pleine lune (Exode 12:2-6)”. (The Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Le Dictionnaire Illustré de la Bible), J D Douglas & N Hillyer, éditeurs, IVP, 1980 ; art. Calendar, Vol. 1, p. 223).

À partir de cette Nouvelle Lune, à sa pleine noirceur ou à la conjonction, il peut y avoir un nombre plus grand de mois de trente jours dans une année. Ceci nous ramènerait à l’observation pré-traditionnelle de jusqu’à 8 mois de trente jours. La Pâque doit toujours tomber après l’équinoxe vernal. La Nouvelle Lune peut être jusqu’à 13 jours avant l’équinoxe.

Pour être célébré à la pleine lune du mois de Nisan (14 Nisan), le festival de la Pâque devrait dans tous les cas tomber après l’équinoxe vernal [metaisemerian earinen], lorsque le soleil est dans le signe du Bélier. Cette explication est caractérisée par Anatolius, dans un fragment d’importance catégorique en relation à l’histoire du calendrier juif, donnée dans Eusebius Hist. eccl. vii 32. 16-19, comme étant l’opinion unanime de toutes les autorités juives… Les déclarations de Philon et de Josephus concordent aussi avec cela. Par conséquent, si, vers la fin de l’année, on remarquait que la Pâque allait tomber avant l’équinoxe vernal, on devait intercaler un mois avant Nisan.

(Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ (Histoire du Peuple Juif au Temps de Jésus Christ) Première Divison, Volume II, Appendice III, p. 371).

La règle est que le quatorzième jour pouvait tomber sur le jour de l’équinoxe, mais que le quinzième jour, qui est le premier jour des Pains sans Levain ou catalogué comme la pleine lune, doit tomber après le jour de l’équinoxe. C’est et c’était calculé des mois et des années d’avance. Les Samaritains ont utilisé cette règle pendant 2,500 ans et Anatolius dit que c’était la vue unanime de toutes les autorités juives. Ceci est remarquable (voir Encyclopedia Judaica, sous Samaritains et John Bowman, Samaritan Documents Relating to Their History, Religion and Life (Documents Samaritains relatant leur Histoire, leur Religion et leur Vie), Séries de textes originaux et de traduction de Pittsburg).

Josephus dit aussi que c’était lorsque le soleil était dans le signe du Bélier et ceci rend le système plus précis. Il est important que Schürer note que les Grecs et les Babyloniens (les Égyptiens n’étaient pas impliqués ici, ayant une année solaire) avaient, pendant des siècles, possédé un calendrier fixe basé sur des calculs précis. Les Babyloniens avaient un tel calendrier sous les Perses et les Samaritains et les Sadducéens déterminaient le calendrier longtemps d’avance selon la conjonction.

La référence d’Antiquities of the Jews, III, 10, de Josephus est citée en entier :

Dans le mois de Xanthicus, qui est appelé Nisan par nous et qui est le début de l’année, le quatorzième jour de la lune, alors que le soleil est dans le signe du Bélier, car pendant ce mois, nous avons été libérés de l’esclavage des Égyptiens, il a aussi déterminé que nous devions sacrifier chaque année le sacrifice qu’ils nous ont commandé d’offrir, à notre sortie d’Égypte et qui est appelé la Pâque.

Ceci situe le premier jour du premier mois entre le 7 mars et le 5 avril du temps romain.

L’encyclopédie The New Catholic Encyclopedia commente :

Compte tenu que la majorité des premiers Chrétiens étaient des Juifs convertis, il est compréhensible que dès le départ, le calendrier Chrétien était régi par le fait que la mort et la Résurrection de Christ avait eu lieu au moment de la fête juive principale, la Pasch ou la Pâque, célébrée le 14ième jour du mois de Nisan, soit à la pleine lune suivant l’équinoxe du printemps.

Le premier mois de l’année doit avoir la Pâque du 15ième jour, la pleine lune, qui tombe après l’équinoxe vernal. Si la Pâque, qui est le premier jour des Pains sans Levain, arrive le jour ou avant l’équinoxe, un mois additionnel ou intercalaire est alors ajouté à l’année.

Cette règle importante ne sera pas trouvée dans les Écritures (voir Le Calendrier de Dieu (No. 156)).

Le Début du Mois

Philon d’Alexandrie [tr. par F H Colson (Harvard University Press, Loeb Classical Library, Cambridge, MA, 1937) ; The Special Laws (Les Lois Spéciales), II, XI,41] écrit : “La troisième [fête] est la nouvelle lune qui suit la conjonction de la lune avec le soleil”. Et dans II, XXVI, 140 : “C’est la Nouvelle Lune ou le début du mois lunaire, c’est-à-dire la période entre une conjonction et la suivante, dont la durée a été calculée avec précision dans les écoles d’astronomie”. On devrait noter que l’édition populaire des Éditeurs Hendrickson (1993) de la traduction de 1854 par C D Jonge ne contient pas la même information que la traduction de Colson. Les indications sont que les conjonctions étaient les facteurs déterminants pour décider du premier jour du mois.

La conjonction lunaire solaire est l’alignement précis du soleil, de la lune et de la planète terre ; ce qui signifie la rencontre de deux ou plusieurs corps célestes à la même longitude ou ascension appropriée. Au moment de la nouvelle lune, le soleil, la lune et la terre sont complètement alignés.

La conjonction lunaire solaire peut prendre place à tout moment de la rotation solaire. Le moment où cet événement survient à Jérusalem met le jour de la Nouvelle Lune à part, comme un Sabbat et comme le jour qui débute le nouveau mois.

Le premier jour du mois débute à partir de la conjonction ou de l’alignement du soleil, de la lune et de la planète terre. Ils ressembleraient à trois balles percées en leur centre et suspendues sur une ficelle tendue. Au moment de la pleine lune, leurs positions correspondraient au soleil, à la terre au centre et à la lune maintenant alignée à l’extérieur.

La précision avec laquelle cet événement pouvait être prédit permettait aux communautés engagées dans la navigation et aux forces navales de mesurer leurs allées et venues. Le fait est que nous sortons actuellement d’une période sombre causée par les Trinitaires, qui a enlevé la majeure partie des connaissances que les gens possédaient des temps anciens (voir les études Les Nouvelles Lunes (No. 125) et Les Nouvelles Lunes d’Israël (No. 132)).

Les immenses structures qui ont été construites dans le canyon Chako dans le Nord-Ouest du Nouveau Mexique montrent la capacité des gens, d’il y a plus de mille ans, de construire des complexes massifs d’édifices positionnés, dans certains cas, à près de 20 miles (environ 30 km) de distance, dans un alignement précis avec le soleil et la lune. Ensemble, ils forment un calendrier luni-solaire, leurs murs ayant un alignement précis avec les trajectoires du soleil et de la lune.

Sur les murs du canyon, les constructeurs montrent aussi des rayons de lumière, filtrés au travers de nombreuses structures de pierres agencées. Ces rayons de lumière éclairent plusieurs graphiques gravés ou sculptés dans le roc qui apparaissent à l’apogée des équinoxes et des solstices. Certains calendriers fonctionnent aussi avec des ombrages, comme marques d’identification.

L’Encyclopaedia Britannica, 9ème édition, l’article Calendar, explique une partie de la controverse :

L’équinoxe [du printemps] est fixé au 21 mars, quoique le soleil entre généralement dans le signe du Bélier, le 20ème jour de ce mois, parfois le 19ème jour. Il est donc très possible qu’une pleine lune tombe après l’équinoxe réel et qu’elle précède toutefois le 21 mars. Par conséquent, ceci ne serait pas la lune pascale du calendrier, quoiqu’elle doive sans doute l’être, si l’intention du Concile de Nice [Nicée] était strictement suivie. Les nouvelles lunes, indiquées par les épactes (nombre de jours additionnels nécessaires pour déterminer le dimanche de Pâques) diffèrent aussi des nouvelles lunes astronomiques et même des nouvelles lunes moyennes, généralement de un ou deux jours… Les épactes sont aussi placées de façon à indiquer les pleines lunes généralement un ou deux jours après les pleines lunes réelles, mais ceci a été fait intentionnellement, pour éviter la possibilité de coïncider avec la Pâque juive, que les concepteurs du calendrier semblent avoir considéré comme étant un plus grand mal que celui de célébrer Easter/Pâques une semaine trop tard (p. 599).

Le débat portant sur le quatorzième jour, le Dîner du Seigneur et Easter/Pâques, a aussi eu l’effet de modifier la Nouvelle Lune astronomique correcte et le début du mois pour les fins religieuses. Les autorités religieuses connaissaient quand était la vraie Nouvelle Lune à la conjonction, comme les anciens Chinois et tous les peuples marins.

Les Églises Chrétiennes de Dieu acceptent le cycle astronomique naturel comme régissant le calendrier. Il n’y a aucune confusion et un calendrier peut être établi des années d’avance. Une attention doit être portée quand la conjonction est près du début de la journée, qui est à la noirceur, à la fin du crépuscule nautique du soir (EENT), à Jérusalem.

Ces dates des Nouvelles Lunes mensuelles et des Jours Saints sont publiées pour le cycle de 7 ans, le septennat, qui se termine en l’année romaine 2005. Ce sera la 28ème année du 40ème Jubilé depuis le baptême du Messie et le 120ème Jubilé depuis Adam (voir l’étude La Signification de la Vision d’Ézéchiel (No. 108)).

Le Judaïsme et l’Islam modernes n’ont pas observé comme saint le jour de la Nouvelle Lune et les deux ont sombré dans l’observation du croissant et le faux culte. Parce que le sacrifice de Jésus Christ n’a pas été accepté, il ne leur est pas permis de rendre un culte durant les jours mis à part en l’honneur du Seul Vrai Dieu. L’observance correcte de ces jours et du système complet de l’alliance du Jubilé apportera la liberté à l’humanité.

Le système d’ajournements développé à partir de Hillel II empêche les Juifs d’observer le jour des Expiations et la Pâque correctement. Le Judaïsme est souvent un mois complet en retard dans sa détermination du début de l’année. En 1997, les Catholiques ont observé Easter/Pâques une semaine après que les Églises Chrétiennes de Dieu eussent observé la Gerbe Agitée, tandis que le Judaïsme était un mois complet plus tard.

Voir Vol. 25, No. 1, 1997 Jewish Bible Quarterly (Revue Trimestrielle de la Bible juive) pour Saul Leeman, WHY IS PESACH SO LATE THIS YEAR ? (POURQUOI LA PÂQUE EST-ELLE AUSSI TARDIVE CETTE ANNÉE ?) (Publiée avec permission dans l’étude Pourquoi la Pâque est-elle aussi Tardive en 1997 ? (No. 239) (CCG, 1997)).

En 1997, ils étaient un mois en retard pour le début de l’année, comme leurs calculateurs le savent, et ils admettent que leurs déterminations sont incorrectes. Ils considèrent qu’il faudra le retour du Messie pour corriger les litiges du calendrier. Si Juda sait qu’il est dans l’erreur mais qu’il accommode l’erreur pour maintenir ses traditions, il fera encore face à de sérieuses difficultés avec l’Israël physique. Quand les Églises Chrétiennes de Dieu découvrent qu’elles sont dans l’erreur concernant le temps qu’elles rendent le culte, elles doivent se repentir et prendre une action corrective (voir l’étude Le Calendrier et la Lune : Ajournements ou Festivals ? (No. 195)).

Le livre de Maïmonide, “Sanctification of the New Moon” (Sanctification de la Nouvelle Lune), (Livre Trois, Traité 8, page 89, chapitre 6), qui a été écrit vers 1200 EC (ère actuelle), affirme : “le molad est défini comme `le moment où le soleil et la lune, dans leur mouvement uniforme, deviennent conjoints dans une certaine partie du ciel, ce qui arrive partout de la même manière – en contraste aux temps variables où le nouveau croissant devient visible pour la première fois – à différents endroits'”. Cette déclaration définit la conjonction. À la même période, le Judaïsme, en général, n’observait pas la Nouvelle Lune, comme un Jour Saint, et commençait le mois à l’observation du croissant.

L’autorité de Lévi et de Juda a été enlevée, quand Christ a nommé le nouveau Sanhédrin et rétabli l’ordre de Melchisédek (Luc 10:1-20). Ceci a enlevé l’autorité des sacrificateurs lévitiques en Juda.

Luc 10:1-20 1 Après cela, le Seigneur désigna encore soixante-dix autres disciples, et il les envoya deux à deux devant lui dans toutes les villes et dans tous les lieux où lui-même devait aller. 2 Il leur dit : La moisson est grande, mais il y a peu d’ouvriers. Priez donc le maître de la moisson d’envoyer des ouvriers dans sa moisson. 3 Partez ; voici, je vous envoie comme des agneaux au milieu des loups. 4 Ne portez ni bourse, ni sac, ni souliers, et ne saluez personne en chemin. 5 Dans quelque maison que vous entriez, dites d’abord : Que la paix soit sur cette maison ! 6 Et s’il se trouve là un enfant de paix, votre paix reposera sur lui ; sinon, elle reviendra à vous. 7 Demeurez dans cette maison-là, mangeant et buvant ce qu’on vous donnera ; car l’ouvrier mérite son salaire. N’allez pas de maison en maison. 8 Dans quelque ville que vous entriez, et où l’on vous recevra, mangez ce qui vous sera présenté, 9 guérissez les malades qui s’y trouveront, et dites-leur : Le royaume de Dieu s’est approché de vous. 10 Mais dans quelque ville que vous entriez, et où l’on ne vous recevra pas, allez dans ses rues, et dites : 11 Nous secouons contre vous la poussière même de votre ville qui s’est attachée à nos pieds ; sachez cependant que le royaume de Dieu s’est approché. 12 Je vous dis qu’en ce jour Sodome sera traitée moins rigoureusement que cette ville-là. 13 Malheur à toi, Chorazin ! malheur à toi, Bethsaïda ! car, si les miracles qui ont été faits au milieu de vous avaient été faits dans Tyr et dans Sidon, il y a longtemps qu’elles se seraient repenties, en prenant le sac et la cendre. 14 C’est pourquoi, au jour du jugement, Tyr et Sidon seront traitées moins rigoureusement que vous. 15 Et toi, Capernaüm, qui as été élevée jusqu’au ciel, tu seras abaissée jusqu’au séjour des morts. 16 Celui qui vous écoute m’écoute, et celui qui vous rejette me rejette ; et celui qui me rejette rejette celui qui m’a envoyé. 17 Les soixante-dix revinrent avec joie, disant : Seigneur, les démons mêmes nous sont soumis en ton nom. 18 Jésus leur dit : Je voyais Satan tomber du ciel comme un éclair. 19 Voici, je vous ai donné le pouvoir de marcher sur les serpents et les scorpions, et sur toute la puissance de l’ennemi ; et rien ne pourra vous nuire. 20 Cependant, ne vous réjouissez pas de ce que les esprits vous sont soumis ; mais réjouissez-vous de ce que vos noms sont écrits dans les cieux. (LSG)

Les esprits nous sont soumis et nous ne devrions avoir peur de rien, mais désirer vivre pour notre Père et L’aimer.

Les Lévites n’ont plus d’autorité aujourd’hui, car elle a été transférée aux Églises de Dieu, en tant que le Corps de Christ. Ils sont opposés à nous et ils sont consultés à titre d’autorité seulement par les Églises idolâtres, car leur rébellion et leur faux calendrier les empêcheront d’observer les jours corrects, comme Juda.

Actes 19:11-17  11 Et Dieu faisait des miracles extraordinaires par les mains de Paul, 12 au point qu’on appliquait sur les malades des linges ou des mouchoirs qui avaient touché son corps, et les maladies les quittaient, et les esprits malins sortaient. 13 Quelques exorcistes juifs ambulants essayèrent d’invoquer sur ceux qui avaient des esprits malins le nom du Seigneur Jésus, en disant : Je vous conjure par Jésus que Paul prêche ! 14 Ceux qui faisaient cela étaient sept fils de Scéva, Juif, l’un des principaux sacrificateurs. 15 L’esprit malin leur répondit : Je connais Jésus, et je sais qui est Paul ; mais vous, qui êtes-vous ? 16 Et l’homme dans lequel était l’esprit malin s’élança sur eux, se rendit maître de tous deux, et les maltraita de telle sorte qu’ils s’enfuirent de cette maison nus et blessés. 17 Cela fut connu de tous les Juifs et de tous les Grecs qui demeuraient à Éphèse, et la crainte s’empara d’eux tous, et le nom du Seigneur Jésus était glorifié. (LSG)

Les fils de Scéva, qui était un Grand Sacrificateur, n’étaient plus reconnus par les démons, parce qu’ils avaient perdu leur autorité. L’autorité a été passée au Sacerdoce de Melchisédek, qui incluait maintenant Paul de la tribu de Benjamin et tous les futurs Païens convertis.

Les Églises de Dieu doivent adorer uniquement Dieu le Père et ce, les jours appropriés et de la bonne façon. Nous avons reçu l’autorité d’identifier et de mettre à part la date du deuxième sacrement, le Dîner du Seigneur, qui établira le premier mois et le début de l’année. Il existe une information historique vérifiable pour la règle, mais elle ne peut être trouvée dans les Écritures.

Le Début du Jour

Nous n’avons pas une Écriture spécifique claire pour définir et expliquer le début de l’année avec son intercalation et le début du mois à la conjonction.

Nous avons des Écritures qui définissent le début du jour. Par conséquent, nous pouvons observer les Sabbats, libres de tout commerce, ce qui inclut aller au restaurant, et observer les jeûnes pour les périodes de temps appropriées.

Temps :

Juste avant le coucher du soleil, une bande bleu foncé, basse et aplatie, se lève à l’horizon, à l’est. C’est l’ombre de la terre et elle s’étire sur presque 180°. Elle est limitée en haut par l’arc anti-crépuscule rosé et en bas par l’horizon. L’ombre de la terre est mieux vue quand le ciel est clair et notre ligne de visée est longue. Au moment où le soleil se couche, la limite entre l’ombre de la terre et l’arc anti-crépuscule se lève dans le ciel et devient progressivement moins distincte. À la disparition de l’arc anti-crépuscule, l’ombre se confond doucement avec le ciel bleu de la nuit qui s’assombrit.

Pour voir une ombre, elle doit être projetée sur quelque chose. L’ombre de la terre est projetée sur l’atmosphère. Éventuellement, l’arc anti-crépuscule passe au bleu. Ses couleurs vives et sa brillance près du coucher du soleil ont leur origine dans la rediffusion par l’atmosphère inférieure relativement épaisse, qui est illuminée par les rayons directs (rougis) du soleil. Mais au fur et à mesure que le crépuscule se lève, la bordure inférieure de l’atmosphère se lève aussi, étant illuminée par les rayons directs du soleil. Étant plus haute et plus mince, elle diffuse moins de lumière rouge et un point est atteint où le bleu accentué de l’air, la même lumière diffuse du ciel qui rend l’ombre de la terre bleue, devient la source dominante de lumière qui atteint nos yeux.

Allez à http://webexhibits.org/causesofcolor/14E.html#es

Cette caractéristique du coucher du soleil a incité les Juifs à utiliser un fil rouge et un fil bleu entrelacés, qui étaient tenus devant la lumière décroissante, afin de déterminer le temps de la noirceur. C’était le début du Jour Saint, au moment où les couleurs ne pouvaient plus être distinguées. Ceci n’est pas une méthode déraisonnable pour indiquer quand ils ne pouvaient plus faire de commerce même verbal. C’est regardé avec dérision par certains mais, si nous l’essayons, nous trouverons que les couleurs se fondent très intimement à la fin du crépuscule nautique du soir (EENT). Cela dépendra aussi des conditions atmosphériques.

La définition du crépuscule inclut :

  1. la douce lumière diffuse obtenue, quand le soleil est juste sous l’horizon, spécialement après le coucher du soleil ;
  1. la période durant laquelle cette lumière se produit ;
  2. la période de temps durant laquelle le soleil est à une position angulaire spécifiée sous l’horizon (6, 12 et 18 degrés pour la fin des crépuscules civil, nautique et astronomique respectivement). C15 : littéralement : demie-lumière (entre jour et nuit), du vieil anglaistwilight,twi – demi + light (lumière) ou deux lumières ;
  1. toute lumière diffuse (Dictionnaire Anglais Collins).

Après le coucher du soleil, un soir sans nuage, quoique la lumière aille en diminuant, nous remarquons que nous pouvons voir encore parfaitement pendant 28 minutes. Cela correspond à la période du crépuscule civil.

La tombée de la nuit est le crépuscule ou la partie plus sombre du crépuscule (Dictionnaire Anglais Collins).

Ailleurs, le terme crépuscule est utilisé pour identifier une période de temps mieux définie : la période du soir précédant la noirceur totale. (Cambridge International Dictionary)

Généralement, en Amérique du Nord, le terme ‘crépuscule’ est utilisé davantage dans le sens du crépuscule civil que du crépuscule nautique. En Angleterre, en Australie et en Nouvelle Zélande, il est utilisé pour le temps nautique ou pour ce que les Nord-Américains désignent comme la ‘tombée de la nuit’.

Il y a souvent des mots utilisés dans une partie du Commonwealth d’Israël, les nations dérivées de l’Angleterre, qui peuvent avoir une signification et un usage différents dans d’autres.

En Amérique du Nord, un pub est un bar ou une taverne, mais c’est un terme rarement utilisé. En Australie et en Nouvelle Zélande, il désigne un hôtel. Ceci provient de l’ancienne maison publique anglaise (voir Collins English Dictionary).

Si les gens sont ignorants des différents usages d’une terminologie, la confusion peut en résulter. Protester aujourd’hui signifie être contre, mais originalement, cela signifiait pour la vérité. Pro signifiant ‘pour’ et teste signifiant ‘vérité’.

L’expression ‘au coucher du soleil’ appartient à cette catégorie. Les Nord-Américains la comprennent comme parlant du temps où le soleil disparaît de l’horizon. Elle n’était pas uniquement utilisée ainsi par les orateurs hébreux.

Deutéronome 16:4-6  4 On ne verra point chez toi de levain, dans toute l’étendue de ton pays, pendant sept jours ; et aucune partie des victimes que tu sacrifieras le soir du premier jour ne sera gardée pendant la nuit jusqu’au matin. 5 Tu ne pourras point sacrifier la Pâque dans l’un quelconque des lieux que l’Éternel, ton Dieu, te donne pour demeure ; 6 mais c’est dans le lieu que choisira l’Éternel, ton Dieu, pour y faire résider son nom, que tu sacrifieras la Pâque, le soir, au coucher du soleil, à l’époque de ta sortie d’Égypte. (LSG)

Exode 12:6-11 6 Vous le garderez jusqu’au quatorzième jour de ce mois ; et toute l’assemblée d’Israël l’immolera entre les deux soirs (Ereb SHD 6153). 7 On prendra de son sang, et on en mettra sur les deux poteaux et sur le linteau de la porte des maisons où on le mangera. 8 Cette même nuit, on en mangera la chair, rôtie au feu ; on la mangera avec des pains sans levain et des herbes amères. 9 Vous ne le mangerez point à demi cuit et bouilli dans l’eau ; mais il sera rôti au feu, avec la tête, les jambes et l’intérieur. 10 Vous n’en laisserez rien jusqu’au matin ; et, s’il en reste quelque chose le matin, vous le brûlerez au feu. 11 Quand vous le mangerez, vous aurez vos reins ceints, vos souliers aux pieds, et votre bâton à la main ; et vous le mangerez à la hâte. C’est la Pâque de l’Éternel. (LSG)

L’usage d’ereb dans les deux Écritures ci-dessus signifie 15h00 ou la neuvième heure hébraïque. Ailleurs, il se rapporte à différentes périodes de temps, qui sont comprises à partir du contexte.

Josephus, Wars of the Jews (Guerres des Juifs) (livre 6, chapitre 9, verset 3) :

……… Donc ces Souverains Sacrificateurs, à l’arrivée de la fête qui est appelée la Pâque, lorsqu’ils immolent les sacrifices, de la neuvième à la onzième heure, [pour nous, de 15h00 à 17h00], mais afin qu’une compagnie de pas moins de dix appartienne à chaque sacrifice, car il est illégal de manger seul et plusieurs d’entre nous sont vingt par compagnie ……….

La définition de Strong 6153 ereb n’est pas un moment spécifique tel que le coucher du soleil. Comme nous l’avons vu précédemment, le coucher du soleil faisait référence au milieu de l’après-midi ou notre 15h00 et non pas quand le soleil a disparu sous l’horizon.

6153 ‘ereb {eh’-reb}

Origine : vient de 06150 ; TWOT-1689a ; n m

Usage : LSG – soir, soirs, entre les deux soirs, nuit, occident, soirée, Arabie, Arabes, espèce ; (apparaît 137 fois)

1) soir, nuit, coucher du soleil

Proverbes 7:9 C’était au crépuscule (SHD5399), pendant la soirée (SHD3117 + 6153), {ou le jour dans la soirée} durant la nuit et l’obscurité.

5399 nesheph {neh’-shef}

Origine : vient de 05398 ; TWOT-1434a ; n m

Signifiant : 1) crépuscule 1a) crépuscule du soir 1b) crépuscule du matin

Usage : LSG – aube, crépuscule, point du jour, aurore, nuit ; (apparaît 12 fois)

3117 ~Ay yowm {yome}

Origine : vient d’une racine inutilisée signifiant être chaud ; TWOT-852 ; n m

Signifiant: 1) jour, temps, année ; 1a) jour (l’opposé de la nuit) ; 1b) jour (période de 24 heures) ; 1b1) défini par soir et matin dans Genèse 1 ; 1b2) comme une division du temps ; 1b2a) un jour de travail, de voyage ; 1c) les jours, la durée de la vie ; 1d) temps, période (générale) ; 1e) année ; 1f) références temporelles ; 1f1) aujourd’hui ; 1f2) hier ; 1f3) demain

Usage : LSG – jour 1602, lorsque, soir, temps, aujourd’hui, âge, longtemps, d’abord, mois, demain, toujours, moment, alors, année, jusqu’à, quand,  … ; (apparaît 2274 fois)

Job 7:4 Je me couche, et je dis : Quand me lèverai-je ? quand finira la nuit <ereb 06153> ? Et je suis rassasié d’agitations jusqu’au point du jour. (LSG)

Jérémie 6:4 Préparez-vous à l’attaquer ! Allons ! montons en plein midi !… Malheureusement pour nous, le jour baisse, Les ombres du soir <ereb 06153> s’allongent. (LSG)

Ézéchiel 12:7 Je fis ce qui m’avait été ordonné : je sortis de jour mes effets comme des effets de voyage, le soir <ereb 06153> je perçai la muraille avec la main, et je les sortis pendant l’obscurité (5939) et les mis sur mon épaule, en leur présence. (LSG)

À partir des Écritures ci-dessus, il est clair que ereb (SHD 6153) couvre une large période de temps, de l’après-midi jusqu’à bien après la noirceur. Il n’y a donc aucune raison d’affirmer que les jours débutent au coucher du soleil. Toutefois, cela pourrait être lu de cette façon dans certains des nombreux textes.

Dans l’Écriture, le mot hébreu ereb est fréquemment utilisé. Soir, entre les soirs, crépuscule, coucher du soleil et nuit sont tous utilisés en traduction. Ils transmettent une variété de périodes de temps différentes dans leur usage et ereb ne peut pas être utilisé pour déclarer que le jour débute avec le passage du soleil sous l’horizon.

Deutéronome 21:22-23 22 Si l’on fait mourir un homme qui a commis un crime digne de mort, et que tu l’aies pendu à un bois, 23 son cadavre ne passera point la nuit sur le bois ; mais tu l’enterreras le jour même, car celui qui est pendu est un objet de malédiction auprès de Dieu, et tu ne souilleras point le pays que l’Éternel, ton Dieu, te donne pour héritage. (LSG)

Deutéronome 2l:23 ne permet pas qu’un cadavre soit laissé pendu toute la nuit. Il doit être enlevé ‘le jour même’, c’est-à-dire avant la noirceur, afin que le pays ne soit pas souillé. Un nouveau jour débutait à la noirceur et les cadavres devaient être enlevés avant celle-ci.

Josué a accompli cet enlèvement avec le roi d’Aï et aussi avec les cinq rois.

Josué 8:29   Il fit pendre à un bois le roi d’Aï, et l’y laissa jusqu’au soir <ereb 6153>. Au coucher du soleil <SHD8121>, Josué ordonna qu’on descendît son cadavre du bois ; on le jeta à l’entrée de la porte de la ville, et l’on éleva sur lui un grand monceau de pierres, qui subsiste encore aujourd’hui. (LSG)

Josué 10:25-27 25 Josué leur dit : Ne craignez point et ne vous effrayez point, fortifiez-vous et ayez du courage, car c’est ainsi que l’Éternel traitera tous vos ennemis contre lesquels vous combattez. 26 Après cela, Josué les frappa et les fit mourir ; il les pendit à cinq arbres, et ils restèrent pendus aux arbres jusqu’au soir <ereb 6153>. 27 Vers le coucher du soleil <SHD8121>, Josué ordonna qu’on les descendît des arbres, on les jeta dans la caverne où ils s’étaient cachés, et l’on mit à l’entrée de la caverne de grosses pierres, qui y sont demeurées jusqu’à ce jour. (LSG)

Dans chaque cas, les rois morts ont été enlevés des arbres au coucher du soleil. Le mot traduit par coucher du soleil SHD 8121 est shemesh, signifiant ‘la brillance’, aux versets 8:29 et 10:27. Il aurait fallu un certain temps pour disposer des cadavres. Cela rend évident que Josué n’était pas préoccupé par le coucher du soleil ou le soleil qui se couchait, mais par l’approche de la noirceur. Ceci satisfaisait le principe énoncé dans Deutéronome qu’ils devaient être enlevés et ensevelis le jour même. Par conséquent, le coucher du soleil est toujours considéré comme le même jour, jusqu’à la noirceur. Cela a été l’opinion constante dans l’ancien Israël, dans l’ancien Judaïsme et également dans le Coran. C’est seulement dans le Hadith et dans le Judaïsme moderne que nous commençons à nous conformer avec le système romain moderne.

Dans Josué 10:26, nous apprenons que Josué a fait pendre les rois morts sur cinq arbres jusqu’au soir <ereb 6153>. Le verset 27 dit que lorsque le soleil se couchait [traduit par ‘coucher du soleil’ dans certains textes], Josué a commandé de les descendre des arbres et de les jeter dans une caverne.

Au tout premier jour d’une période de 24 heures sur une planète ronde en rotation, il ne pouvait pas y avoir de lumière réfléchissant de l’atmosphère, provenant d’un soleil couchant. Comment cela aurait-il pu être possible ?

Ceci est rendu clair au commencement et à partir de la définition biblique du jour ou d’une rotation solaire, qui nous est donnée.

Genèse 1:1-5 1 Au commencement, Dieu créa les cieux et la terre. 2 La terre était informe et vide : il y avait des ténèbres <SHD 02822> à la surface de l’abîme, et l’esprit de Dieu se mouvait au-dessus des eaux. 3 Dieu dit : Que la lumière soit ! Et la lumière fut. 4 Dieu vit que la lumière était bonne ; et Dieu sépara la lumière d’avec les ténèbres <SHD 02822>. 5 Dieu appela la lumière jour, et il appela les ténèbres <SHD 02822> nuit <SHD 3915>. Ainsi, il y eut un soir, et il y eut un matin : ce fut le premier jour. (LSG)

02822 (choshek) (365a){kho-shek’}

Origine : vient de 02821 ; TWOT-769a ; n m

Signifiant : obscurité, ténèbres

Usage : LSG – ténèbres, ténébreux, nuit, obscurité, calamités, ignorant, caché ; (apparaît 80 fois)

03915 (layil or lel or layelah) (538c)

Origine : incertaine

Signifiant : nuit

Usage : LSG – nuit, nuits, minuit, nocturne ; (apparaît 233 fois)

La noirceur au début du premier jour a été appelée nuit. La nuit et ensuite la lumière ou le soir et ensuite le matin ont formé le premier jour complet. Le ciel n’est pas obscur au moment où le soleil disparaît sous l’horizon, appelé le coucher du soleil par les Nord-Américains et ce, pour presque une heure encore, aux premier et septième mois, qui sont près de l’équinoxe du printemps et de l’automne. Le ciel est obscur au début du nouveau jour.

Le 16 septembre 2002 était le Jour des Expiations. Nous avons commencé le jeûne le soir précédent, le 15ème jour romain, à la fin du crépuscule nautique du soir, à la noirceur.

Au centre du Canada, en utilisant l’heure normale de l’est, à proximité de la 43ème longitude, le soleil s’est couché à 18h25 ou 6:25 p.m., le 15, et à 18h24, le 16. Le crépuscule civil s’est terminé à 18h54, le 15, et à 18h52, le 16. Le crépuscule nautique s’est terminé à 19h27, le 15, et à 19h26 ou 7:26 p.m., le 16 septembre, avec l’heure avancée en vigueur.

Les Musulmans doivent écouter ; la définition du Coran est la même que celle donnée dans Genèse.

Sourate [2.187] On vous a permis, la nuit d’as-Siyam, d’avoir des rapports avec vos femmes ; elles sont un vêtement pour vous et vous un vêtement pour elles. Allah sait que vous aviez clandestinement des rapports avec vos femmes. Il vous a pardonné et vous a graciés. Cohabitez donc avec elles, maintenant, et cherchez ce qu’Allah a prescrit en votre faveur ; mangez et buvez jusqu’à ce que se distingue, pour vous, le fil blanc de l’aube du fil noir de la nuit. Puis accomplissez le jeûne jusqu’à la nuit. Mais ne cohabitez pas avec elles pendant que vous êtes en retraite rituelle dans les mosquées. Voilà les lois d’Allah : ne vous en approchez donc pas (pour les transgresser). C’est ainsi qu’Allah expose aux hommes Ses enseignements, afin qu’ils deviennent pieux. (Traduction originale réalisée par le professeur Muhammad Hamidullah).

Afin de comprendre les récitations du Prophète, tout l’Islam doit lire et étudier les Écritures.

Celles-ci sont appelées l’Ancien et le Nouveau Testament, mais cela signifie le premier et le deuxième témoignage. Si ces Écritures ne sont pas étudiées, les Musulmans seront incapables de comprendre les instructions du Prophète.

Les lignes sept à dix sont traduites par plusieurs autres comme on le trouve sur al-islam.com :

[187] Il vous est permis, la nuit qui suit une journée de jeûne, d’avoir des rapports avec vos épouses, qui sont un vêtement pour vous autant que vous l’êtes pour elles. Dieu sait que vous vous êtes clandestinement livrés à de tels rapports ; mais Il ne vous en tient pas rigueur et vous accorde Son pardon. Désormais, vous pouvez cohabiter avec vos femmes en vous tenant à ce que Dieu vous prescrit. Mangez et buvez jusqu’au moment où vous pourrez distinguer un fil blanc d’un fil noir, à la pointe de l’aube. À partir de cet instant, observez une abstinence totale jusqu’à la tombée de la nuit. N’ayez aucun rapport avec vos femmes, durant votre retraite spirituelle dans les mosquées. Telles sont les limites que Dieu vous impose, ne les transgressez pas. C’est ainsi que Dieu explique clairement Ses versets aux hommes afin qu’ils Le craignent.

En faisant cette distinction entre la lumière et la noirceur, les Musulmans au 6ème siècle ont utilisé l’habilité de distinguer le fil blanc du fil noir le matin pour commencer leur jeûne. Ils jeûnaient pendant la période diurne du jour. Ceci signifie qu’ils devaient jeûner de la noirceur à la noirceur et non pas jusqu’au coucher du soleil, tel que le stipulent les auteurs du Hadith. Cette distinction est utilisée de la même façon que les Juifs ont utilisé leur incapacité de discerner les fils bleu et rouge, le soir, pour mettre fin à leur jeûne, à la noirceur.

Aujourd’hui, plusieurs Musulmans mettent fin à leur jeûne cinq ou dix minutes après que le soleil se soit couché sous l’horizon. Durant cette période du crépuscule civil, nous pouvons facilement distinguer le fil blanc du fil noir. Par conséquent, c’est incorrect et non pas selon l’instruction du Prophète. ‘Jusqu‘à la nuit’, au verset 187, ne signifie pas un peu après le coucher du soleil. La clarification du Calendrier dans l’Islam traitera des mois dans leur séquence. Le calendrier islamique moderne est tout à fait incorrect.

Ce discernement des couleurs était une méthode pour mesurer la fin du crépuscule nautique du soir, de même que l’apparition de trois étoiles de dimension moyenne.

En Amérique du Nord, il y a une loi qui légifère le tir des armes à feu par les chasseurs. Il est déclaré que cette activité doit cesser à la fin du crépuscule civil ou trente minutes après le coucher du soleil. Il reste encore suffisamment de clarté et de temps pour que les chasseurs sortent des champs en sécurité, mais le tir doit cesser entièrement.

Lors d’une nuit claire dans l’Hémisphère Nord, près de la Fin du Crépuscule Nautique du Soir (FCNS ou EENT), trois étoiles de dimension moyenne deviennent visibles. Si nous essayons de les visionner, nous trouverons qu’avec une vision 20/20, nous verrons ces étoiles à quelques minutes près de l’heure publiée du EENT ou FCNS pour notre localité. Avec la noirceur plus complète, les plus petites étoiles commencent à apparaître.

L’aperçu de trois étoiles de dimension moyenne a été utilisé comme une mesure pour terminer le jour et le jeûne par le Judaïsme et par les Églises de Dieu pendant l’inquisition (voir Annexe II, Définitions Talmudiques et l’Annexe III, Décret de la Foi, Déclarations concernant les Familiers de l’Inquisition, Valencia, 1568, à la fin de cette étude et aussi l’étude Le Rôle du Quatrième Commandement dans l’Histoire des Églises de Dieu Observant le Sabbat (No.170)).

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html

Le site web ci-dessus vous fournira les données locales pour les couchers du soleil et les crépuscules civil et nautique dans vos localités géographiques précises. Nous avons aussi utilisé les définitions du U.S. Naval Observatory, Astronomical Applications Department (Observatoire Naval des É.-U., Département des Applications Astronomiques (voir Annexe 1).

Le Jour des Expiations du lundi 16 septembre 2002. Qu’en est-il au juste ?

Yom Kippur (le Jour des Expiations) tombe le dixième jour de Tishri, dans le calendrier juif, et met fin aux ‘Dix jours de Repentir’, qui ont commencé à Rosh Hashana. Yom Kippur est un jour de jeûne, qui dure environ vingt-quatre heures, du coucher du soleil, jusqu’à l’apparition des étoiles, le soir suivant.

Cette déclaration, publiée par l’Union Mondiale des Étudiants Juifs, montre que Juda met fin au jeûne quand les étoiles apparaissent. Ils le commencent au coucher du soleil, avant le changement du jour, et y mettent fin environ vingt-cinq heures plus tard. Ils mettent fin au jeûne et débutent le nouveau jour après le Jour des Expiations à la noirceur et non pas au coucher du soleil.

http://www.wujs.org.il/activist/yom_kippur/index.shtml

Genèse 15:17-18 17 Quand le soleil fut couché, il y eut une obscurité profonde ; et voici, ce fut une fournaise fumante, et des flammes passèrent entre les animaux partagés. 18 En ce jour-là, l’Éternel fit alliance avec Abram, et dit : Je donne ce pays à ta postérité, depuis le fleuve d’Égypte jusqu’au grand fleuve, au fleuve d’Euphrate, (LSG)

C’est un autre exemple du coucher du soleil. Ici, le coucher du soleil est lié à la noirceur pour le changement du jour. Il n’est pas lié au début de la diminution de la clarté, au coucher du soleil, ou au terme nord-américain ‘crépuscule’ (twilight).

Regardons Néhémie 13:19

Puis je donnai ordre de fermer les portes de Jérusalem dès la tombée de la nuit (SHD6751), avant (SHD6440) le début du jour du Sabbat (SHD7676) et j’interdis de les rouvrir avant que ce jour ne soit passé. Je postai quelques-uns de mes serviteurs à proximité des portes pour veiller à ce qu’aucun fardeau ne soit introduit le jour du Sabbat. (LSG)

Clairement, ce texte parle du Sabbat (SHD7676). D’abord, nous remarquons qu’avant le Sabbat, les portes devaient être fermées. Le texte affirme que cela se faisait, dès la tombée de la nuit. Ceci fait plus qu’impliquer que le Sabbat suivrait cette période initiale de clarté décroissante, qui se prolonge ensuite jusqu’au crépuscule et la tombée de la nuit. Il n’y a pas d’autre conclusion à tirer, sauf celle que le Sabbat commence à la noirceur. C’est en accord avec le principe donné par la définition dans Genèse 1:5.

Nous parlons souvent ‘qu’un jour commence, après le coucher du soleil’. Nous devrons changer cela pour ‘à la noirceur’, afin de ne pas causer de confusion, spécialement en Amérique du Nord.

Dans la société d’aujourd’hui, il y a des noms spécifiques pour les phases associées avec ces phases du crépuscule. Ils sont mentionnés comme :

1) Le Crépuscule Civil est défini comme débutant le matin et se terminant le soir, quand le centre du soleil est géométriquement 6 degrés au-dessous de l’horizon. C’est la limite à laquelle l’illumination du soir est suffisante, dans des bonnes conditions atmosphériques, pour clairement distinguer les objets terrestres.

2) Le Crépuscule Nautique est défini comme débutant le matin et se terminant le soir, quand le centre du soleil est géométriquement 12 degrés au-dessous de l’horizon. En l’absence d’autre illumination, les opérations extérieures détaillées ne sont pas possibles et l’horizon est indistinct.

3) Le Crépuscule Astronomique est défini comme débutant le matin et se terminant le soir, quand le centre du soleil est géométriquement 18 degrés au-dessous de l’horizon. Pour un intervalle considérable, après le début du crépuscule du matin et avant la fin du crépuscule du soir, l’illumination du ciel est si faible qu’elle est pratiquement imperceptible.

Néhémie 13:19 décrit une période antérieure au Sabbat, quand la noirceur débutait et que nous appelons la tombée de la nuit. Il ne commence pas à faire noir avant la fin du crépuscule nautique.

Le Sabbat commence à la noirceur ou, en termes d’aujourd’hui, à la Fin du Crépuscule Nautique du Soir (FCNS).

Tous devraient être capables de voir que nous parlons de la noirceur ou la fin du crépuscule nautique du soir, quand les travaux opérationnels auraient généralement cessé, chaque jour. À partir de Josué, nous pouvons voir que cette fermeture des portes à la noirceur était la procédure établie.

Josué 2:5 Et comme on allait fermer la porte, ils sont repartis à la tombée de la nuit (SHD 2822). Je ne sais pas où ils sont allés. Dépêchez-vous de les poursuivre, car vous pouvez encore les rattraper. (LSG)

06751 tsalal {tsaw-lal’} au début de la noirceur

Origine : une racine primaire (identique à 06749 par l’idée de planer au-dessus (comparer 06754)) ; TWOT-1921; v

Usage : LSG – au début de la noirceur, ombrageant ; 1) être ou devenir sombre ; 1a) (Qal) devenir sombre ou s’obscurcir ; 1b) (Hiphil) ombrager

Examinons Lévitique 23:32

Ce sera pour vous un sabbat, un jour de repos, et vous humilierez vos âmes ; dès le soir (6153) du neuvième jour jusqu’au soir (6153) suivant, vous célébrerez votre sabbat. (LSG)

Durant les premier et septième mois, qui sont près des équinoxes, le jour débute à la noirceur et il est suivi d’une période approximative de 12 heures de noirceur puis d’une période approximative de 12 heures de clarté. Ceci complète un jour de 24 heures ou une rotation solaire. C’est à partir du soir ou de la fin du crépuscule nautique d’un jour, jusqu’au soir ou la fin du crépuscule nautique, le jour suivant. Cette période de pleine clarté initiale au coucher du soleil et du développement de la lumière tamisée jusqu’à la noirceur dure près d’une heure, durant les premier et septième mois.

Il y a plus de cent versets contenant le numéro 6153 de Strong. Du résumé des utilisations de 6153, nous voyons que l’heure du jour varie grandement dans les divers textes et qu’il n’est pas restreint à un point spécifique, tel que le coucher du soleil en Amérique du Nord, quand il est souvent compris comme passant juste au-dessous de l’horizon. Comparez les versets pour voir les différents usages de ereb (SHD 6153). L’usage grec de la neuvième heure est le même que l’usage hébreu.

Matthieu 27:45-50 45 Depuis la sixième heure jusqu’à la neuvième, il y eut des ténèbres sur toute la terre. 46 Et vers la neuvième heure, Jésus s’écria d’une voix forte : Éli, Éli, lama sabachthani ? c’est-à-dire : Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, pourquoi m’as-tu abandonné ? 47 Quelques-uns de ceux qui étaient là, l’ayant entendu, dirent : Il appelle Élie. 48 Et aussitôt l’un d’eux courut prendre une éponge, qu’il remplit de vinaigre, et, l’ayant fixée à un roseau, il lui donna à boire. 49 Mais les autres disaient : Laisse, voyons si Élie viendra le sauver. 50 Jésus poussa de nouveau un grand cri, et rendit l’esprit. (LSG)

La neuvième heure hébraïque correspond à notre 15h00 occidental, ce que tous devraient comprendre (Exode 12:6 ; Deutéronome 16:6).

L’expression hébraïque traduite comme ‘au soleil couchant’ n’équivaut pas au terme occidental ou nord-américain ‘coucher du soleil’, qui signifie pour nous le moment où le soleil disparaît sous l’horizon. Cela produit alors, pour une période de temps, le crépuscule qui est une réflexion des rayons du soleil. Celle-ci est une réflexion du jour précédent et n’a pas pu se produire le premier jour, dans Genèse 1. Notre nouveau jour débute avec la noirceur et non pas avec la réflexion des rayons du soleil du jour précédent.

Une grande part de l’évidence historique montrera que la plupart des Juifs modernes observent les jours du coucher du soleil au coucher du soleil. L’exception est pour le Jour des Expiations ou les autres jeûnes, qui se terminent à la noirceur, le jour suivant. C’est un jour de vingt-cinq heures, dépendant de la latitude. Les Musulmans Hadithiques observent généralement leurs jours du coucher du soleil. Ils observent aussi les mois à partir de l’observation du croissant et non pas de la conjonction. Cependant, ce n’était pas ainsi originalement, comme nous l’avons vu ci-dessus. Le jour arabe était de la fin du crépuscule à la fin du crépuscule et la lune était de la conjonction à la conjonction suivante.

Ils sont tous les deux dans l’erreur et observent des jours incorrects, parce que leur adoration n’est pas acceptée par notre Père, à cause de leur rejet du sacrifice de Christ et de leur adoption des traditions. L’Islam Hadithique a introduit une interprétation qui est en conflit avec le Coran, de même qu’avec l’Écriture.

Nous devrions tous être conscients qu’il y a aussi des groupes qui enseignent que le jour débute au lever du soleil. Cela a des effets dramatiques sur les moments du Dîner du Seigneur et du Jour des Expiations. C’est une erreur majeure.

Actes 27:20-33 20 Le soleil et les étoiles ne parurent pas pendant plusieurs jours, et la tempête était si forte que nous perdîmes enfin toute espérance de nous sauver. 21 On n’avait pas mangé depuis longtemps. Alors Paul, se tenant au milieu d’eux, leur dit : O hommes, il fallait m’écouter et ne pas partir de Crète, afin d’éviter ce péril et ce dommage. 22 Maintenant je vous exhorte à prendre courage ; car aucun de vous ne périra, et il n’y aura de perte que celle du navire. 23 Un ange du Dieu à qui j’appartiens et que je sers m’est apparu cette nuit, 24 et m’a dit : Paul, ne crains point ; il faut que tu comparaisses devant César, et voici, Dieu t’a donné tous ceux qui naviguent avec toi. 25 C’est pourquoi, ô hommes, rassurez-vous, car j’ai cette confiance en Dieu qu’il en sera comme il m’a été dit. 26 Mais nous devons échouer sur une île. 27 La quatorzième nuit, tandis que nous étions ballottés sur l’Adriatique, les matelots, vers le milieu de la nuit, soupçonnèrent qu’on approchait de quelque terre. 28 Ayant jeté la sonde, ils trouvèrent vingt brasses ; un peu plus loin, ils la jetèrent de nouveau, et trouvèrent quinze brasses. 29 Dans la crainte de heurter contre des écueils, ils jetèrent quatre ancres de la poupe, et attendirent le jour avec impatience. 30 Mais, comme les matelots cherchaient à s’échapper du navire, et mettaient la chaloupe à la mer sous prétexte de jeter les ancres de la proue, 31 Paul dit au centenier et aux soldats : Si ces hommes ne restent pas dans le navire, vous ne pouvez être sauvés. 32 Alors les soldats coupèrent les cordes de la chaloupe, et la laissèrent tomber. 33 Avant que le jour parût, Paul exhorta tout le monde à prendre de la nourriture, disant : C’est aujourd’hui le quatorzième jour que vous êtes dans l’attente et que vous persistez à vous abstenir de manger. (LSG)

Nous pouvons voir, à partir des Actes, que l’apôtre Paul comprenait que le jour de vingt-quatre heures débutait le soir (verset 27) et continuait ensuite durant la partie diurne du jour (verset 33).

Lévitique nous présente une définition de la période de temps durant laquelle nous observons un Sabbat Sabbatisé.

Lévitique 23:27-32  27 Le dixième jour de ce septième mois, ce sera le jour des expiations : vous aurez une sainte convocation, vous humilierez vos âmes, et vous offrirez à l’Éternel des sacrifices consumés par le feu. 28 Vous ne ferez aucun ouvrage ce jour-là, car c’est le jour des expiations, où doit être faite pour vous l’expiation devant l’Éternel, votre Dieu. 29 Toute personne qui ne s’humiliera pas ce jour-là sera retranchée de son peuple. 30 Toute personne qui fera ce jour-là un ouvrage quelconque, je la détruirai du milieu de son peuple. 31 Vous ne ferez aucun ouvrage. C’est une loi perpétuelle pour vos descendants dans tous les lieux où vous habiterez. 32 Ce sera pour vous un sabbat, un jour de repos, et vous humilierez vos âmes ; dès le soir (ereb) du neuvième jour jusqu’au soir (ereb) suivant, vous célébrerez votre sabbat. (LSG)

Le verset 32 signifie que nous devons jeûner de la noirceur, le neuvième jour, jusqu’à la noirceur, le dixième jour du septième mois. Sinon, nous pourrions être détruits et enlevés de la première résurrection et placé dans la deuxième résurrection.

Avec notre préparation, nous débutons souvent notre jeûne plus tôt, sans manger ni boire jusqu’à la dernière minute possible. Nous ne le commandons pas, mais nous maintenons que le jeûne soit observé de la noirceur, le neuvième jour, jusqu’à la noirceur du dixième jour du septième mois lunaire, après la conjonction.

Ces groupes dont le ‘jour débute au lever du soleil’ s’accordent à dire que Lévitique 23:27-32 signifie après que le soleil s’est couché, que l’Écriture définit comme débutant à la noirceur (Genèse 1:5). Ils jeûnent alors du coucher du soleil jusqu’au deuxième lever du soleil, qui est un jeûne de trente six heures, non commandé et modifié. C’est une addition à l’Écriture et c’est condamné (Deutéronome 4:2 ; 12:32).

Ces groupes ont aussi l’intention d’observer la pleine lune comme le début du mois. Ceci aura l’effet d’endommager la foi de quelques-uns. La modification de la séquence correcte des Jours Saints et, subséquemment, des Fêtes affectera leur capacité d’apprendre.

Le commencement occidental du jour à minuit provient de l’ère Napoléonienne. Il a été introduit à cause des calendriers ecclésiastiques des Catholiques Romains (voir pages 97-100 dans Compendious Analysis of the Calendar, de John Brady, troisième édition, 1815).

La plupart des gens ne sont pas conscients à quel point ces changements continus des temps et des saisons pour le culte approprié sont récents. Toutes les tentatives ont été faites pour que nous ne puissions pas adorer le Seul Vrai Dieu, les jours et aux temps, qu’Il a mis à part.

La détermination complète du Calendrier est couverte dans l’étude Le Calendrier de Dieu (No. 156). La présente étude est conçue pour clarifier et complémenter ces deux aspects de cette étude.

Cette récente attaque sur le calendrier devrait montrer à tous les Chrétiens observant l’alliance à quel point ces Jours Saints et ces périodes de temps sont importants. Il ne nous est pas permis d’ajourner les Jours Saints, les Nouvelles Lunes et les Sabbats. Nous devons correctement garder saintes les périodes de temps Saint. Si nous avons commis une erreur, alors nous devons changer et observer les jours correctement dans le futur.

Tous les Chrétiens renouvelés et observant l’alliance garderont saints ces Sabbats, ces Nouvelles Lunes et ces Jours Saints et ce, de la noirceur jusqu’à la noirceur suivante, à la fin du crépuscule nautique du soir dans nos localités spécifiques.

Annexe I

 Définitions : Lever, Coucher et Crépuscules

U.S. Naval Observatory (Observatoire naval des É.-U.)

Astronomical Applications Department (Département des applications astronomiques)

Horizon : Peu importe où on est localisé à (ou près de) la surface de la terre, la terre est perçue comme étant essentiellement plane et, par conséquent, comme un plan. Le ciel ressemble à la moitié d’une sphère ou d’un dôme, centré à l’observateur. S’il n’y a aucune obstruction visuelle, l’intersection apparente du ciel avec la surface (plane) de la terre est l’horizon, qui apparaît comme un cercle centré à l’observateur. Pour des calculs de lever/coucher, l’œil de l’observateur est considéré comme à la surface de la terre, de sorte que l’horizon soit géométriquement exactement à 90 degrés de la direction verticale locale.

Lever, coucher : Pendant le cours de la journée, la terre tourne une fois sur son axe causant les phénomènes du lever et du coucher. Tous les corps célestes, les étoiles et les planètes incluses, semblent apparaître dans le ciel à l’horizon à l’est de n’importe quel endroit particulier, puis croiser le ciel et disparaître ensuite à l’horizon à l’ouest. Les événements les plus remarquables et les plus significatifs, quant aux affaires ordinaires, sont les levers et les couchers du soleil et de la lune. Étant donné que le soleil et la lune apparaissent comme des disques circulaires et non pas comme des points de lumière, une définition du lever ou du coucher doit être très spécifique, car on ne voit pas la totalité de l’un ou de l’autre de ces corps se lever ou se coucher en même temps.

Le lever et le coucher du soleil, conventionnellement, se rapportent aux moments où le bord supérieur du disque du soleil touche à l’horizon, considéré dégagé relativement à la position de l’observateur. On assume que les conditions atmosphériques sont moyennes et que l’endroit est dans une région plane à la surface de la terre.

Le lever et le coucher de la lune sont calculés dans exactement les mêmes circonstances que pour le lever et le coucher du soleil. Cependant, le lever et le coucher de la lune peuvent se produire à tout moment pendant la période de 24 heures et, par conséquent, il est souvent possible que la lune soit vue pendant le jour et qu’il y ait des nuits sans lune. Il est également possible qu’un lever ou un coucher de lune ne se produise pas relativement à un endroit spécifique, à une date donnée.

Transit : La période de transit d’un corps céleste se rapporte à l’instant où son centre croise une ligne imaginaire dans le ciel – le méridien de l’observateur – croisant du nord au sud. Pour les observateurs de basses à moyennes latitudes, le transit est approximativement à mi-chemin entre le lever et le coucher et représente le moment où le corps est à son point le plus haut dans le ciel, ce jour-là. Aux latitudes élevées, ni l’un ni l’autre de ces énoncés ne peut être vrai – par exemple, il peut y avoir plusieurs transits entre le lever et le coucher. Le transit du soleil est le midi solaire local (cadran solaire). La différence entre les temps de transit du soleil et de la lune est étroitement reliée à la phase de la lune. La Nouvelle Lune transite à peu près en même temps que le soleil ; le premier quartier de la lune transite environ 6 heures après le soleil ; la pleine lune transite environ 12 heures après/avant le soleil et le dernier quartier de la lune transite environ 6 heures avant le soleil.

Crépuscule : Avant le lever de soleil et après le coucher du soleil, il y a des intervalles de temps, le crépuscule, pendant lesquels il y a une lumière naturelle provenant de l’atmosphère supérieure, qui reçoit directement les rayons du soleil et en reflète une partie vers la surface de la terre. Certaines activités de plein air peuvent être faites sans illumination artificielle, pendant ces intervalles, et il est utile d’avoir des moyens de fixer des limites au-delà desquelles une certaine activité devrait être aidée par un éclairage artificiel. Les principales causes qui déterminent la quantité de lumière naturelle pendant le crépuscule sont l’état de l’atmosphère, en général, et les conditions atmosphériques locales, en particulier. Les conditions atmosphériques sont mieux déterminées au moment et à l’endroit actuels des événements. Néanmoins, il est possible d’établir, bien que nécessairement approximatives, des limites utiles applicables à de grandes catégories d’activités en considérant seulement la position du soleil au-dessous de l’horizon. Des définitions raisonnables et commodes ont été développées.

Le crépuscule civil est défini comme débutant le matin et se terminant le soir, lorsque le centre du soleil est géométriquement 6 degrés au-dessous de l’horizon. C’est la limite à laquelle l’illumination crépusculaire est suffisante, dans de bonnes conditions atmosphériques, pour distinguer clairement les objets terrestres ; au début du crépuscule civil du matin ou à la fin du crépuscule civil du soir, l’horizon est clairement défini et les étoiles les plus lumineuses sont visibles dans de bonnes conditions atmosphériques et en l’absence du clair de lune ou de toute autre illumination. Le matin, avant le commencement du crépuscule civil, et le soir, après la fin du crépuscule civil, l’illumination artificielle est normalement nécessaire pour faire des activités ordinaires de plein air. Cependant, l’obscurité totale se termine parfois avant le commencement du crépuscule civil du matin et débute parfois après la fin du crépuscule civil du soir.

Le crépuscule nautique est défini comme débutant le matin et se terminant en soirée, quand le centre du soleil est géométriquement 12 degrés au-dessous de l’horizon. Au début ou à la fin du crépuscule nautique, sous de bonnes conditions atmosphériques et en l’absence d’autre illumination, les contours des objets terrestres peuvent être distingués, mais les opérations détaillées à l’extérieur ne sont pas possibles et l’horizon est indistinct.

Le crépuscule astronomique est défini comme débutant le matin et se terminant le soir, quand le centre du soleil est géométriquement 18 degrés au-dessous de l’horizon. Avant le début du crépuscule astronomique, le matin, et après la fin du crépuscule astronomique, le soir, le soleil ne contribue aucune illumination au ciel ; pendant un intervalle considérable après le début du crépuscule du matin et avant la fin du crépuscule du soir, l’illumination du ciel est si faible qu’elle est pratiquement imperceptible.

Les définitions précédentes sont acceptées internationalement.

Une excellente revue du Rabbin David Bassous est copiée en entier ci-dessous. C’est une revue sur les opinions talmudiques en rapport au début et à la fin du jour. C’est pertinent à notre discussion.

En lisant cette étude, gardez à l’esprit que deux crépuscules sont en discussion. Souvent, cela n’a pas été dit clairement dans les citations et la discussion.

Le premier crépuscule, qui se développe après le coucher du soleil, est inscrit comme couvrant quelques 18 à 24 minutes. Celui-ci coïnciderait avec notre crépuscule civil, qui serait normalement de quatre à six minutes plus long et pendant lequel le travail normal pourrait continuer. Le deuxième crépuscule coïncide avec notre crépuscule nautique du soir, qui se termine à la noirceur. Ils discutent aussi des crépuscules en Judée et dans le Nord de la France, qui surviendraient à des temps différents à l’extérieur des premier et septième mois.

Le temps requis pour marcher 3/4 de mile (environ 1.5km) a aussi été utilisé, mais même la tranche de temps de 18 ou 24 minutes est trop courte pour la période du crépuscule civil.

La nuit et un nouveau jour sont généralement vus comme étant distincts du crépuscule civil dans la revue. Aussi, l’énoncé que trois étoiles moyennes doivent être vues au commencement du jour est cohérent avec la noirceur, à la fin du crépuscule nautique du soir.

Shekia : Crépuscule, l’un ou l’autre des deux crépuscules, qui sont discutés (notre civil ou nautique).

Minhag : Un minhag est une coutume qui a évolué pour des raisons religieuses valables et qui a continué suffisamment longtemps pour devenir une pratique religieuse obligatoire.

Mitzvot : Ce sont des commandements basés principalement sur la liste rédigée par Rambam ou Maïmonide, dans la Torah Mishneh. Il y a aussi d’autres sources utilisées.

Annexe II

Définitions Talmudiques

Crépuscule, Coucher du Soleil et Nuit

de Rabbin David Bassous

Congrégation Etz Ahaim, Highland Park, NJ

Sujets à être discutés :

  1. Introduction
    2. Sources
  2. Contradictions et résolutions
  3. Les heures du jour
  4. Le temps pour marcher un mille
  5. Tosefet Shabbat
  6. L’opinion de Shulhan Arukh
  7. LeMinhagaujourd’hui
  8. Introduction

Comme c’est vrai pour beaucoup d’autres choses, le Judaïsme a son propre système de mesure du temps. Dans Genèse 1, la Bible affirme “et il y eut un soir, et il y eut un matin : ce fut le premier jour” ; ceci a été interprété pour signifier que le jour juif commence le soir précédent. Notre discussion concerne le commencement du jour juif – la tombée de la nuit et le crépuscule qui la précède. Le crépuscule est la période entre le coucher du soleil et la noirceur. Ceci semble très clair, toutefois, il y a diverses opinions sur les définitions du coucher du soleil et de la noirceur. Comme plusieurs autres sujets traités par le Talmud et ses commentateurs, il y a une grande quantité de discussion et de débat.

Il y a diverses opinions sur la définition du coucher du soleil :

(a) Quand le soleil commence à descendre au-dessous de l’horizon.

(b) Quand le globe du soleil est entièrement au-dessous de l’horizon.

(c) Quand le ciel est obscur, sauf pour l’extrémité occidentale qui est rouge.

Il y a aussi diverses opinions sur la définition de la noirceur :

(a) Quand le globe du soleil est entièrement au-dessous de l’horizon.

(b) Quand trois étoiles moyennes apparaissent.

(c) Quand il n’y a plus de rouge dans le ciel occidental, après le coucher du soleil, même si le ciel n’est pas totalement obscur.

(d) Quand toutes les étoiles sont visibles, même les plus petites.

Plusieurs mitzvot, qui doivent être accomplis à un moment donné du jour, dépendent pour leur véracité du moment du jour. Ce qui suit sont seulement quelques exemples :

  1. a) Le commencement et la fin du Sabbat et desHaggim(fêtes).
  2. b) Le temps à ajouter au Sabbat et auxHaggim(fêtes).
  3. c) La durée du jour juif et, par conséquent, la durée de l’heure juive, qui sont les heures diurnes divisées par douze. Il y a deux opinions principales sur la durée du jour juif. Elles sont connues comme les opinions de Magen Avraham (de l’aube à la noirceur) et de Gra (Gaon de Vilna) (du lever du soleil au coucher du soleil). Les deux opinions dépendent grandement des définitions du coucher du soleil ou de la tombée de la nuit.
  4. d) Toutes les heureshalakhiquesdu jour sont une conséquence de ce qui précède ci-dessus ; par exemple, l’heure la plus tardive pour accomplir le mitzvah du récit matinal du Shema (trois heures du jour), l’heure la plus tardive pour prononcer les bénédictions du Shema et le meilleur temps pour compléter le amidah (quatre heures du jour) dépendent tous indirectement du temps du shekia.

Le Shabbat 34b du Talmud offre trois possibilités pour le statut du crépuscule :

  1. a) C’est le jour
  2. b) C’est la nuit
  3. c) C’est une combinaison du jour et de la nuit.

La conclusion du Talmud est que son statut est douteux et, comme tel, il doit être traité comme un ‘safek‘. Généralement, ‘safek deoraitta lehumra‘ et ‘safek derabanan lekula‘ – une loi ou une application douteuse de la Torah est traitée strictement et une loi ou une application rabbinique douteuse est traitée avec largesse.

  1. Sources

 

  1. Talmud Shabbat 34b-35a

Nos Rabbins enseignèrent : Pour ce qui est du crépuscule, il est douteux qu’il soit en partie pendant le jour et en partie pendant la nuit ou que son entier [appartienne au] jour ou son entier à la nuit : [par conséquent] il requiert la rigueur des deux jours. Et qu’est-ce que le crépuscule ? Du coucher du soleil, aussi longtemps que la face de l’Est a une lueur rougeâtre : quand [l’horizon] inférieur est obscur et n’est plus rouge, mais non pas le supérieur, c’est le crépuscule ; [mais] quand [l‘horizon] supérieur est obscur et identique à l’inférieur, c’est la nuit : c’est l’opinion du Rabbin Yehudah.

 

Le Rabbin Néhémie a dit : Aussi longtemps qu’un homme prend pour marcher un demi-mille, à partir du coucher du soleil.

Le Rabbin Yossi a dit : Le crépuscule est comme un clin d’œil, un qui vient et l’autre qui part ; il est impossible de le déterminer…

C’est une affirmation contradictoire. Vous avez dit, ‘Qu’est-ce que le crépuscule ? Du coucher du soleil, aussi longtemps que la face de l’Est a une lueur rougeâtre’. Par conséquent, si l’horizon inférieur est obscur mais non pas le supérieur, c’est la nuit. Puis, il est enseigné, ‘Quand [l’horizon] inférieur est obscur mais non pas le supérieur, est-ce le crépuscule’ ?

Rabbah a répondu au nom du Rabbin Yehudah pour Shemuel : Combinez [les] et apprenez : Qu’est-ce que le crépuscule ? Du coucher du soleil, aussi longtemps que la face de l’Est a une lueur rougeâtre et, si [l’horizon] inférieur est obscur mais non pas le supérieur, c’est aussi le crépuscule. Mais quand l’horizon supérieur est obscur et identique à l’inférieur, c’est la nuit.

Le Rabbin Yoseph a répondu au nom du Rabbin Yehudah pour Shemuel. Voici ce qu’il enseigne : Du coucher du soleil, aussi longtemps que la face de l’Est a une lueur rougeâtre, c’est le jour ; si [l’horizon] inférieur est obscur mais non pas le supérieur, c’est le crépuscule ; quand le supérieur est obscur et identique à l’inférieur, c’est la nuit.

Maintenant, ils poursuivent leurs opinions. Car il a été affirmé : Quelle est la durée de la période du crépuscule ? Rabbah a dit au nom du Rabbin Yehudah pour Shemuel : (Aussi longtemps que cela prend pour marcher) trois…quarts de mille. Tandis que le Rabbin Yoseph a dit au nom du Rabbin Yehudah pour Rab : deux…tiers de mille. Quelle est la différence entre eux ? Un demi-sixième. …

Abaye a vu Raba regarder à l’Ouest. Il lui a dit, mais il a été enseigné, ‘Aussi longtemps que la face de l’Est a une lueur rougeâtre ?’

‘Pensez-vous que la face de l’Est doit être prise littéralement ?’ Raba a répondu : ‘[cela signifie] la face qui projette une lueur rougeâtre sur l’Est, comme une fenêtre.’

Le Rabbin Néhémie a dit : Aussi longtemps qu’un homme requiert pour marcher un demi-mille, à partir du coucher du soleil’. Le Rabbin Hanina a dit : Celui qui désire connaître la période du Rabbin Néhémie devrait laisser le soleil sur le sommet du Carmel, descendre, se baigner dans la mer et remonter ; c’est la période du Rabbin Néhémie… Le Rabbin Yehudah a dit au nom de Shemuel : Au crépuscule, tel que défini par le Rabbin Yehudah, les sacrificateurs impurs peuvent accomplir le tevillah. Selon qui ? Devrions-nous dire, selon le Rabbin Yehudah [lui-même] ? Mais c’est douteux ! Mais si cela signifie le crépuscule, tel que défini par le Rabbin Yehudah, selon le Rabbin Yossi ; [pourquoi affirmer] que les sacrificateurs peuvent alors accomplir le tevillah – c’est évident ! Je pourrais penser que le crépuscule, tel que défini par le Rabbin Yossi, est une continuité de celui du Rabbin Yehudah ; [par conséquent] on nous dit que le crépuscule du Rabbin Yehudah se termine et que celui du Rabbin Yossi commence ensuite.

Rabbah ben Bar Hanah a dit au nom du Rabbin Yohanan : Le halakhah est selon le Rabbin Yehudah en ce qui a trait au Sabbat et le halakhah est selon le Rabbin Yossi en ce qui a trait au Terumah. Maintenant, pour ce qui est du halakhah comme étant selon le Rabbin Yehudah en ce qui a trait au Sabbat, c’est bien : c’est dans la direction de la rigueur. Mais pour ce qui est du Terumah, qu’est-ce que c’est ? Allons-nous dire, pour le tevillah ? C’est douteux ! (Étant donné qu’il établit que le halakhah est selon le Rabbin Yehudah en ce qui a trait au Sabbat, il doit voir que l’opinion du Rabbin Yehudah est possiblement correcte). C’est plutôt en ce qui a trait à la consommation du Terumah, à savoir, que les sacrificateurs ne sont pas autorisés à manger le Terumah avant que le crépuscule, tel que défini par le Rabbin Yossi, prenne fin.

Le Rabbin Yehudah a dit au nom de Shemuel : Quand [seulement] une étoile [est visible], c’est le jour ; quand deux [apparaissent], c’est le crépuscule ; trois, c’est la nuit. Il a été enseigné de la même façon : Quand une étoile [est visible], c’est le jour ; quand deux [apparaissent], c’est le crépuscule ; trois, c’est la nuit. Le Rabbin Yossi ben Avin a dit : Non pas les grandes étoiles, qui sont visibles de jour, ni les petites, qui sont visibles seulement la nuit, mais celles de dimension moyenne.

Le Rabbin Yossi, fils du Rabbin Zebida, a dit : Si quelqu’un accomplit un travail à deux crépuscules, il est pénalisé d’un sacrifice pour le péché, peu importe l’opinion que vous adoptez.

Raba a dit à son assistant : Vous, qui n’êtes pas certains des standards Rabbiniques, allumez la lampe lorsque le soleil est au-dessus des palmiers (alors qu’il fait encore jour). Comment est-ce lors d’un jour nuageux ? – Dans la ville, observez les oiseaux ; dans les champs, observez les corbeaux ou Arone.

La conclusion du Talmud est que la loi suit la plus grande rigueur des Rabbins Yehudah et Yossi ; c’est-à-dire, la veille du Sabbat, on devrait suivre la première opinion du Rabbin Yehudah et au Shabbat Motzaei, l’opinion du Rabbin Yossi.

  1. ÀPesahim94a, le Talmud discute l’épaisseur de l’horizon. À cette époque-là, il était supposé que le soleil tournait autour de la terre et que, quand il disparaissait sous l’horizon, il passait à travers un trou dans l’horizon. On croyait que le soleil voyageait, en réalité, par le trou, autour de la terre et revenait ensuite à travers un trou de l’autre côté, à l’aube du jour suivant.

Raba a dit : Le monde est six mille parsaot et l’épaisseur du ciel [rakia] est mille parsaot. Le premier [de ces énoncés] est une tradition, tandis que l’autre est [basé sur] la raison. [Par conséquent :] il est d’accord avec l’assertion de Rabbah ben Bar Hanah au nom du Rabbin Yohanan : Quel est le parcours moyen d’un homme en un jour ? Dix parsaot. De l’aube (allot ou ammud hashahar) jusqu’au lever du soleil (netz hahamah) cinq milles et du coucher du soleil (shekiah) jusqu’à l’apparition des étoiles (ou tombée de la nuit, ztet hakokhavim) cinq milles : par conséquent, l’épaisseur du ciel est d’un sixième d’un parcours.

Une objection est soulevée : Le Rabbin Yehudah a dit : l’épaisseur du ciel est un dixième d’un parcours d’une journée. La preuve est la suivante : quel est le parcours [moyen] d’un homme en un jour ? Dix parsaot et de l’aube jusqu’au lever du soleil, quatre milles, [et] du coucher du soleil jusqu’à l’apparition des étoiles, quatre milles : par conséquent, l’épaisseur du ciel est d’un dixième [d’un parcours] d’une journée. C’est une réfutation de Raba et une réfutation de ‘Ulla…

  1. Contradiction et résolution
  2. Rabbenu Tam répond à la contradiction apparente entre le Talmud Pesahim et le Talmud Shabbat en expliquant qu’il y a deux différentsshekioth(couchers du soleil) dans un jour. Le premier shekia commence dès que le globe du soleil disparaît au-dessous de l’horizon et se termine quand le soleil est totalement au-dessous de l’horizon et le ciel est en grande partie obscur. Le temps que cela prend est de trois milles et un quart. Le deuxième shekia commence quand le ciel est obscur, sauf pour son extrémité occidentale, qui luit d’une couleur rougeâtre, à cause du soleil au-dessous de l’horizon. Ce second shekia prend fin lorsque tout le ciel est entièrement obscur (tzet hakokhavim). La période de temps entre le deuxième shekia et la noirceur est le crépuscule ou ‘bein hashemashot’ et elle est égale au temps pris pour marcher trois quarts d’un mille. Le Gemara dans Pesahim, qui déclare que, selon le Rabbin Yehuda, il y a quatre milles entre le shekia et le tzet hakokhabim, cela correspond du premier shekia jusqu’au tzet hakokhabim. Le shekia mentionné dans le Traité Shabbat, qui affirme au nom du Rabbin Yehuda qu’il y a une période de trois quarts de mille, entre le shekia et le tzet hakokhavim, se rapporte au second shekia jusqu’au tzet hakokhavim.
  3. Le Gaon de Vilna (Gra) donne une autre réponse à cette contradiction. Il explique que les deuxGemarotparlent du même shekia (qui est quand le globe du soleil disparaît complètement au-dessous de l’horizon). Là où les traités diffèrent, c’est en regard au temps du tzet hakokhavim, c’est-à-dire qu’il est question de deux différents tzet hakokhavim. L’opinion du Rabbin Yehudah dans le traité Pesahim, qui donne une mesure de quatre milles entre le shekia et le tzet hakokhavim, décrit le tzet hakokhavim, quand toutes les étoiles apparaissent et même les plus petites sont visibles. Toutefois, le traité Shabbat, qui donne une mesure de trois quarts de mille entre le shekia et le tzet hakokhavim décrit le tzet hakokhavim, lorsque trois étoiles moyennes sont vues. Selon Gra, il y seulement un shekia, qui commence quand la portion occidentale du ciel est rouge et qui prend fin quand tout le ciel est également obscur. Cette période de temps est ‘bein hashemashot’.
  4. Les trois principales opinions du Shekia

  5.  Le crépuscule deGeonim commence immédiatement après la disparition du globe du soleil sous l’horizon. Cette période dure le temps requis pour marcher trois quart de mille (soit 13 1/2 ou 18 minutes). Cette période d’incertitude est suivie par la nuit.
  6. Rabenu Tam affirme que le Talmud traite de deux couchers du soleil. Le premier coucher du soleil commence, selon l’opinion dugeonim, quand le globe du soleil disparaît au-dessous de l’horizon.Cette période ne signifie toutefois pas le commencement du crépuscule, mais plutôt la période où il fait clair à l’extérieur, malgré l’absence de rayons solaires directs, c’est le jour et les vendredis, il est permis d’accomplir le melakhah (travail interdit pendant le Sabbat). Cette période diurne dure le temps pris pour marcher trois milles et un quart et elle est suivie par le deuxième coucher du soleil. C’est le moment où la majorité du ciel est obscure, sauf pour l’extrémité occidentale. Ceci est le début du crépuscule, qui dure le temps requis pour marcher trois quarts de mille. Cette période du crépuscule est suivie par la noirceur.
  7. Re’em, le Rabbin Eliezer de Metz soutient que leshekiacommence trois quarts de mille, avant que le globe du soleil disparaisse totalement au-dessous de l’horizon (shekia du Geonim) et, selon lui, le tzet hakokhavim commence quand le globe du soleil disparaît totalement au-dessous de l’horizon (shekia du Geonim)
  8. Le temps pour marcher un mille

Le temps requis pour marcher un mille est le sujet de débat parmi les Rishonim. Il y a deux opinions de base : 18 minutes ou 24 minutes, les diverses opinions suivent :

  1. Responsa Terumat Hadeshen affirme que le temps requis pour marcher un milleest de dix-huit minutes. Cela est cité par Bet Yoseph Yoreh Deah 69 et Shulhan Arukh Orah Hayyim 459 et Rema Orah Hayyim 261. Cette opinion est partagée par Rambam dans son Commentaire sur la Mishnah, au début du Traité Berakhot. C’est aussi l’opinion de Rav Saadiah Gaon dans son siddur et c’est l’opinion la plus largement acceptée par les autorités légales. Selon cette opinion, le temps requis pour marcher 3/4 d’un mille est de 13 1/2 minutes.
  2. Dans son Commentaire sur la Mishnah,au chapitre 3 dePesahim, Rambam affirme que le temps requis pour marcher un mille est de vingt-quatre minutes. Cette opinion est suivie par le fameux commentateur Mishnaïque, le Rabbin Ovadia Bartenura, et d’autres poskim. Selon cette opinion, le temps requis pour marcher trois quarts de mille est de 18 minutes.

Lorsque nous avons affaire avec la loi de la Torah, spécialement celles entraînant des pénalités sévères, comme le Sabbat et les Expiations [Yom Kippur], il est préférable de suivre cette opinion plus stricte. Quand le Talmud discute de cette durée de temps pour le shekia, il parle des mois de Nisan et de Tishri, quand les heures diurnes et nocturnes sont plus ou moins égales. Le shekia dure alors le temps requis pour marcher 3/4 d’un mille. Toutefois, les autres mois de l’année, cette période de dix-huit minutes est mesurée par les heures variables halakhiques du ‘shaot zemaniot’ qui dépendent de la durée des heures diurnes. Dix-huit minutes après le coucher du soleil, c’est définitivement la nuit, selon le Rabbin Yehudah, et on devrait ajouter une minute pour tenir compte de l’opinion plus stricte du Rabbin Yossi. Après ces 19 minutes (certains arrondissent à vingt), c’est définitivement le ‘tzet hakokhavim’, selon l’opinion du Geonim. Certains ajoutent encore dix minutes ou plus pour le jour de la semaine au Sherbet, comme ‘Tosefet Shabbat’. Ils ajoutent au total trente minutes, après le shekia du Geonim, pour obtenir un temps strict pour la noirceur.

  1. Tosefet Shabbat

Dans le Traité Rosh Hashanah 9a, le Talmud affirme : à partir du jour de la semaine jusqu’à Yom Kippur, il y un mitzvah à ajouter à son commencement et à sa fin. Dans le Traité Yoma 81b, le Talmud affirme que ce mitzvah inclut aussi le Sabbat. Rif et Rosh apprennent d’ici qu’on devrait ajouter à son commencement et à sa fin, à partir du jour de la semaine jusqu’au Sabbat. Rambam, au chapitre 5:3 de Hilkhot Shabbat, affirme qu’une personne devrait allumer les chandelles du Sabbat avant le coucher du soleil. Le Maggid de la Mishnah (commentateur sur Rambam) affirme que Rambam est d’avis que l’addition, à partir du jour de la semaine jusqu’à Yom Kippur, s’applique seulement aux lois de l’affliction aux Expiations [Kippur], mais non pas aux autres lois ; par conséquent, cette addition ne s’appliquerait pas au Sabbat. L’Orah Hayyim 261 de Bet Yoseph affirme que, selon Rambam, il n’y a pas de mitzvah à ajouter au Sabbat, même d’un décret rabbinique.

Cependant, le halakhah suit la majorité des décideurs halakhiques. Ainsi l’affirme le Rabbin Yoseph Karo, dans Orah Hayyim 261 de Shulhan Arukh, qu’il y a un mitzvah à ajouter, à partir du jour de la semaine jusqu’au Sabbat, jusqu’à Yom Tov et jusqu’à Yom Kippur, à leur commencement et à leur fin. L’opinion qui prévaut parmi les décideurs halakhiques est qu’il n’y a pas de temps établi pour cette addition et qu’il est suffisant d’ajouter même une petite quantité de temps pour accomplir ce mitzvah.

  1. L’opinion de Shulhan Arukh

Shulhan Arukh aborde ce sujet à deux places :

  1. Dans les lois du Sabbat,Orah Hayyim261, il affirme :

“Certains sont d’avis qu’on est obligé d’ajouter d’un jour de la semaine jusqu’à un jour saint. Le temps qui est admissible pour cette addition est du commencement du coucher du soleil (Shulhan Arukh fait référence au premier shekia de Rabenu Tam, en tant que ‘tehilat hashekia’ ou le commencement du shekia. Il n’y a qu’un seul shekia, bien qu’il soit long, qui se termine lorsque la majorité du ciel est obscure) jusqu’au début du crépuscule. Cette période de temps est (le temps pris pour marcher) trois milles et un quart. On pourrait ajouter cette période complète au Sabbat (tosefet Shabbat) ou une partie de ce temps. La période de temps du crépuscule dure pendant trois quarts de mille, le temps requis pour marcher 1,500 amot avant la noirceur”.

 

C’est de toute évidence l’opinion de Rabenu Tam. Le Rema, qui normalement commente s’il n’est pas d’accord, est muet à ce sujet ; il doit donc être d’accord.

  1. Dans les lois deBerit Milah Yoreh Deah 266, 8-9,Shulhan Arukh affirme : Pour un garçon né pendant un crépuscule qui est douteux, que ce soit de jour ou de nuit, nous comptons (les huit jours jusqu’à son berit) à partir de la nuit. Il est circoncis le neuvième jour, qui est un huitième jour douteux. S’il est né durant un crépuscule de la veille du Sabbat, son berit n’a pas lieu le Sabbat suivant (mais le dimanche). Étant donné que nous nous n’accomplissons pas un berit durant le Sabbat, dans les cas douteux. De même, nous n’accomplissons pas un berit à Yom Tov, même le deuxième jour de Yom Tov (en dehors d’Israël), dans les cas douteux …

Dans ce cas, Shulhan Arukh se réfère aussi au coucher du soleil et au crépuscule de Rabenu Tam.

 

  1. LeMinhagaujourd’hui

 

Le minhag parmi les Sephardim aujourd’hui n’est pas comme celui de Shulhan Arukh mais comme celui du Geonim dans tous les domaines, autant dans les lois du Sabbat que les lois du Berit Milah.

 

Par conséquent, la coutume qui prévaut aujourd’hui est de mettre fin au Sabbat une demi-heure après le coucher du soleil (heures variables). Cette demi-heure inclut 18 minutes de ‘bein hashemashot’ du Geonim, le mille étant pris comme 24 minutes plus 2 minutes pour le ‘bein hashemashot’ du Rabbin Yossi avec un dix minutes additionnel pour ‘Tosefet Shabbat’, à ajouter au Sabbat, à partir du jour de la semaine.

 

Il n’y a aucun Sephardim qui soit indulgent et qui se fie à l’opinion de Rabenu Tam pour commencer le Sabbat et Yom Tov plus tard ; cependant, il y a ceux qui sont stricts pour suivre l’opinion de Rabenu Tam de retarder la fin du Sabbat et Yom. C’est l’opinion défendue par le Rabbin Ovadia Yoseph, qui, tout en reconnaissant que le minhag suit le Geonim, affirme qu’à cause de la restriction du Sabbat, il est approprié de ne pas accomplir les formes de travaux (melakhah) interdites par la Torah avant l’échéance du temps de Rabenu Tam, à la conclusion du Sabbat. C’est une restriction, puisque le minhag qui prévaut est comme le Geonim.

 

Dans le cas d’un berit, le minhag est totalement comme le Geonim, même avec la latitude d’accomplir un berit, le jour du Sabbat. Par exemple, si un garçon est né un vendredi soir, après le coucher du soleil (le premier coucher du soleil, selon Rabenu Tam), pendant le crépuscule selon le Geonim, la coutume Séphardique est de reporter le berit de l’enfant au dimanche suivant. Si l’enfant est né après la noirceur selon le Geonim, pendant la période que Rabenu Tam considère encore le jour, le minhag doit accomplir le berit, le Sabbat suivant.

 

Parmi les Ashkenazim, il y a ceux qui suivent invariablement les opinions de Rabenu Tam et de Shulhan Arukh, autant dans leur latitude que dans leur restriction. Alors qu’il y a ceux qui suivent le Geonim, il y a aussi ceux qui sont stricts à propos des deux, suivant le Geonim, au commencement du Sabbat et de Yom Tov, et Rabenu Tam, à la conclusion du Sabbat et de Yom Tov.

 

Le Rabbin Shalom Messas, actuellement le Rabbin Séphardique de Jérusalem, a soulevé la préoccupation suivante à propos de ceux qui sont stricts à conclure le Sabbat selon l’opinion de Rabbenu Tam.

(a) En réalité, nous voyons avec nos propres yeux (en Israël) que le coucher du soleil est suivi relativement rapidement par la noirceur, comme l’opinion du Geonim.

(b) Rabenu Tam a seulement donné son explication pour l’appliquer au Nord de la France. C’est pourquoi les Hatam Sofer, qui vivaient dans un pays nordique, suivaient Rabenu Tam.

 

(c) En suivant l’opinion de Rabenu Tam seulement à la fin du Sabbat, tout en suivant l’opinion plus stricte du Geonim au commencement du Sabbat, on se moque de ces grands leaders rabbiniques à travers l’histoire. Incluant le Rabbin Joseph Karo qui a suivi la souplesse de l’opinion de Rabenu Tam, autant en rapport avec le commencement du Shabbat que si un enfant mâle est né durant le Sabbat, après notre coucher du soleil. Selon Rabenu Tam, c’est toujours le jour du Sabbat et le bébé serait circoncis le Sabbat suivant. Cela serait interdit selon le Geonim et transgresserait les lois du Sabbat. Le bébé devrait plutôt être circoncis le dimanche suivant.

 

Dans Yalkut Yoseph, le Rabbin Yitzhak Yosef répond ainsi aux questions ci-dessus :

(a) Shulhan Arukh lui-même a vécu en Israël ; néanmoins, après avoir observé les conditions actuelles du coucher du soleil et de la tombée de la nuit, il a encore suivi l’opinion de Rabenu Tam. Il a dû être d’avis que l’opinion de Rabenu Tam s’appliquait également aux conditions physiques d’Israël. Le temps de la tombée de la nuit de Rabenu Tam pouvait encore être correct, du fait que ce serait le temps où on peut observer trois étoiles moyennes. Mais nous ne sommes pas des experts pour savoir ce que sont des étoiles moyennes. Si on sortait de la ville et on allait dans un espace ouvert, on serait capable d’observer le fait qu’on commence à voir les étoiles moyennes à peu près à l’heure que Rabenu Ram affirme que c’est la noirceur.

 

(b) Rabenu Tam n’a pas inventé ce temps. Il a seulement répondu à la contradiction entre l’opinion du Rabbin Yehudah dans le Talmud Shabbat et Pesahim. Le Rabbin Yehudah, qui était un Tanna (une autorité Mishnaïque), a vécu en Israël. Il discutait de la tombée de la nuit en Israël et non pas en France. De toute évidence, il y avait des messagers qui faisaient la navette entre Israël et la France et Rabenu Tam connaissait l’actualité de la tombée de la nuit en Israël. De plus, le Rabbin Yoseph Karo, le Peri Hadash et plusieurs autres grands Séphardiques, qui ont vécu au Moyen Orient, ont suivi l’opinion de Rabenu Tam et accepté comme loi sa résolution de la contradiction Talmudique.

 

(c) Il y a environ trente Rishonim qui sont de la même opinion que Rabenu Tam. Comment pouvons-nous simplement ignorer leurs opinions, vu qu’elles s’appliquent aux lois du saint Sabbat. Shulhan Arukh suit aussi Rabenu Tam. Il n’y a pas de la’az, quand il s’agit de suivre les restrictions.

 

Mahari Navon et Hida témoignent que la raison pour laquelle nous, les Sephardim, ne suivons pas la règle de Shulhan Arukh à propos de ce halakhah particulier, c’est parce que le minhag qui prévalait à ce moment-là à Jérusalem et à Hevron était comme le Geonim. Il est intéressant que Shulhan Arukh ne mentionne même pas du tout qu’il y avait un minhag qui prévalait. En fait, Bet Yoseph ne mentionne même pas du tout l’opinion du Geonim !!! Il cite seulement le Ran et Rabenu Tam. Le premier qui cite l’opinion du Geonim est Maharam Elshakar dans sa responsa 96. Est-il possible que Maharam ne fût pas au courant de ce minhag ou qu’il n’ait jamais eu de sources écrites sur lesquelles se baser ? Le minhag espagnol était très probablement comme celui de Rabenu Tam, car les leaders des Juifs espagnols, Ramban et Rashba, suivent l’opinion de Rabenu Tam.

 

Dans sa responsa Or Letzion, volume 1, Yoreh Deah 10, le Rabbin Bension Abba Shaul affirme que nous voyons clairement que le temps du coucher du soleil jusqu’à la noirceur est d’environ 20 à 25 minutes et non pas 13 1/2 minutes, tel que mentionné par le Talmud. Par conséquent, nous devons décider si notre temps pour le shekia est correct et notre temps pour la noirceur est incorrect ou si notre temps pour la noirceur est correct et notre temps pour le shekia est incorrect. Aujourd’hui, il y a place au doute concernant la définition du shekia donnée par le Talmud. Est-ce le temps où le globe du soleil disparaît au-dessous de l’horizon ? Ou peut-être quand vous pouvez voir la rougeur des rayons du soleil dans le ciel, même si son globe est au-dessous de l’horizon, est-ce encore le jour ? Par conséquent, même un bébé mâle, né entre treize minutes et demi et vingt-sept minutes ou plus tard après le coucher du soleil, la veille du Sabbat, ne peut pas être circoncis le Sabbat suivant, à cause du doute. Toutefois, il admet que le minhag est ce vingt minutes après le shekia et est la tombée de la nuit en Israël. De même, le Rabbin Bension Abba Shaul permet à une personne de prier Minhah jusqu’à vingt-quatre minutes après le shekia.

 

Le Rabbin Tukatzinsky, auteur du calendrier couramment utilisé, affirme que la noirceur est environ 27 à 35 minutes après le shekia.

 

Le Rabbin Ovadia Yoseph est fortement en désaccord avec les opinions ci-dessus. Il affirme que l’opinion du Geonim et le minhag sont clairement basés sur le Talmud et que treize minutes et demi après la disparition du globe solaire au-dessous de l’horizon, c’est considéré être la noirceur (zteit hakokhavim). C’est le même temps mentionné dans le Talmud Shabbat que les portions inférieures et supérieures du ciel sont également obscures. C’est aussi le temps mentionné par le Talmud Shabbat que trois étoiles moyennes peuvent être vues.

 

Nous ne sommes pas des experts aujourd’hui sur le temps exact de ces critères.

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En 1568, les Églises de Dieu ont mis fin au Jeûne du Jour des Expiations après la levée des étoiles, signifiant lorsque trois étoiles moyennes pouvaient être vues. Ceci est à la noirceur, à la fin du crépuscule nautique du soir et non pas au coucher du soleil. Aucune étoile ne peut être vue au moment du coucher du soleil, sauf Vénus, l’étoile du jour, et une autre grosse étoile.

 

Nous avons été identifiés par l’Office de l’Inquisition comme ceux qui ‘cultivaient et observaient la Loi de Moïse (comme étant des gens observant l’alliance de nouveau) ou la secte Mohammédienne (comme croyant en Un Dieu unique)”. En Bosnie, il y a toujours des restes de Pauliciens, qui faisaient partie des Églises de Dieu, qui se sont cachés parmi les Musulmans et qui se sont subséquemment convertis à l’Islam.

Annexe III

 

CONCORDIAS

Hechas, y firmadas

entre la jurisdicion real, y

el santo Oficio de la

Inquisicion.

 

DÉCLARATIONS, Actes et Décrets de la Juridiction royale et le Saint-Office de l’Inquisition

 

Valencia, 1568 (collection de l’auteur).

 

 

DÉCRET DE LA FOI

 

“Nous, Docteur Andres de Palacio, Inquisiteur contre l’hérésie et la perversité apostolique dans la ville et le royaume de Valence, etc.

 

“À tous les fidèles Chrétiens, hommes et femmes, aumôniers, moines et prêtres de toute condition, qualité et degré ; à qui l’attention à ceci aura comme conséquence le salut en notre Seigneur Jésus Christ, le vrai salut ; qui êtes au courant que, par d’autres décrets et pénalités des révérends inquisiteurs, nos prédécesseurs, ils ont été avertis de se présenter devant eux, au cours d’une période donnée, et de déclarer et de montrer les choses qu’ils avaient vues, connues et entendues raconter à propos de toute personne, vivante ou morte, qui avait dit ou fait quoi que ce soit contre la Sainte Foi Catholique ; qui avait cultivé et observé la loi de Moïse ou de la secte musulmane ou les rites et les cérémonies de celles-ci ; ou commis divers crimes d’hérésie, en observant les soirées du vendredi et les samedis ; en portant du lin propre, les samedis, et en portant, ce jour-là, de meilleurs vêtements que les autres jours ; en préparant, les vendredis, la nourriture pour les samedis, dans des casseroles de cuisson sur un petit feu ; qui ne travaillent pas le soir du vendredi et le samedi, comme les autres jours ; qui allument des lumières dans des lampes propres avec des nouvelles mèches, les vendredis soir ; qui placent des draps propres sur les lits et des nappes propres sur la table ; qui célèbrent le festival des pains sans levain en mangeant du pain sans levain, du céleri et des herbes amères ; qui observent le jeûne du pardon (Jour des Expiations), où ils ne mangent pas pendant toute la journée jusqu’au soir après l’apparition des étoiles, quand ils se pardonnent les uns les autres et cessent leur jeûne ; et qui observent, de la même manière, les jeûnes de la Reine Esther, du tissabav et du rosessena ; qui prononcent des prières selon la loi de Moïse, en se tenant debout devant le mur, en se balançant et en faisant quelques pas en arrière ; qui donnent de l’argent pour l’huile pour le temple juif ou tout autre endroit secret du culte ; qui abattent la volaille selon la loi judaïque et s’abstiennent de manger de l’agneau ou tout autre animal qui est trefa ; qui ne désirent pas manger de porc salé, de lièvre, de lapin, d’escargots ou des poissons qui n’ont pas d’écailles ; qui baignent les corps de leurs morts et les enterrent dans un sol vierge, selon la coutume juive ; qui, dans la maison de deuil, ne mangent pas de viande mais du poisson et des œufs durs, assis à des tables basses ; qui séparent un morceau de pâte en cuisinant pour le jeter au feu ; qui deviennent ou en connaissent d’autres qui deviennent circoncis ; qui invoquent les démons et leur donnent l’honneur qui est dû à Dieu ; qui affirment que la loi de Moïse est bonne et peut apporter leur salut ; qui exécutent beaucoup d’autres rites et de cérémonies semblables ; qui affirment que notre Seigneur Jésus Christ n’était pas le vrai Messie promis dans les Écritures, ni le vrai Dieu, ni le fils de Dieu ; qui nient qu’il est mort pour sauver la race humaine ; qui nient sa résurrection et son ascension au ciel ; et disent que notre Dame la Vierge Marie n’était pas la mère de Dieu ou une vierge avant la nativité et par la suite ; qui disent et affirment beaucoup d’autres erreurs hérétiques ; qui déclarent que ce qu’ils avaient admis devant les inquisiteurs n’étaient pas la vérité ; qui enlèvent leurs robes de pénitence et ne demeurent pas dans la prison ni n’observent la pénalité imposée sur eux ; qui disent des choses scandaleuses contre notre sainte Foi Catholique et contre les fonctionnaires de l’Inquisition ; ou qui influencent tout infidèle qui pourrait avoir été attiré vers le Catholicisme à s’abstenir de se convertir ; qui affirment que le Saint Sacrement de l’autel n’est pas le corps et le sang véritables de Jésus Christ notre Sauveur, et que Dieu ne peut pas être omniprésent ; ou tout prêtre retenant cette opinion condamnable, qui récite et célèbre la messe, en ne prononçant pas les saintes paroles de la consécration ; qui disent et croient que la loi de Mahomet et ses rites et ses cérémonies sont bons et peuvent apporter leur salut ; qui affirment que la vie est seulement la naissance et la mort et qu’il n’y a pas de paradis ni d’enfer ; et qui déclarent que pratiquer l’usure n’est pas un péché ; si un homme dont l’épouse est toujours vivante, se remarie ou une femme se remarie pendant la vie de son premier mari ; si quelqu’un connait ceux qui observent des coutumes juives et qui nomment leurs enfants la septième nuit après leur naissance et avec de l’argent et de l’or sur une table et observent avec plaisir la cérémonie juive ; et si quiconque sait que, quand quelqu’un meurt, ils placent une tasse d’eau et une bougie allumée et quelques napperons où le mort est décédé, et pendant quelques jours, n’entrent pas là ; si quelqu’un est témoin de l’effort d’un juif ou d’un converti de prêcher secrètement la loi de Moïse et d’en convertir d’autres à cette foi, en enseignant les cérémonies appartenant à cette même foi, en fournissant l’information quant aux dates des festivals et des jeûnes, en enseignant des prières juives ; si quelqu’un connait une personne qui essaye de devenir un Juif ou qui, étant Chrétienne, marche à l’étranger dans le costume d’un Juif ; si quelqu’un connaît quiconque, converti ou autrement, commander que son vêtement soit fait de toile et non pas de lin, comme le font les bons Juifs ; si quelqu’un connait ceux qui, quand leurs enfants embrassent leurs mains, placent leurs mains sur la tête de leurs enfants sans faire le Signe (de Croix) ; ou qui, après le déjeuner ou le dîner, bénissent le vin et le passent à tous autour de la table, laquelle bénédiction s’appelle la veraha ; si quelqu’un apprend que, dans une maison, les gens se rassemblent afin de participer à des services religieux ou lire la Bible en langue vernaculaire ou accomplir d’autres cérémonies judaïques, et si quelqu’un sait que, quand quelqu’un est sur le point de partir en voyage, certaines paroles de la loi de Moïse lui sont adressées et une main est placée sur sa tête sans faire le Signe (de Croix). Et si quelqu’un connait une personne qui a professé la foi mosaïque ou attendu l’avènement du Messie, en disant que notre Rédempteur et Sauveur Jésus Christ n’est pas venu et que maintenant Élie devait venir et les amener à la terre promise ; et si quelqu’un connaît une personne qui avait prétendu entrer dans une transe et qu’elle avait erré au ciel et qu’un ange l’avait conduit dans des champs verts et lui avait indiqué que c’était la terre promise qui était préservée pour tous les convertis qu’Élie devait racheter de la captivité dans laquelle ils vivaient ; et si quelqu’un connait qu’une personne ou des personnes soient des enfants ou des petits-enfants de la personne condamnée, et étant disqualifiées, utilisent l’office public ou portent les armes ou sont revêtues de soie et de tissu fin ou ornementent leurs costumes avec de l’or, de l’argent, des perles ou toute autre pierre précieuse ou corail ou utilisent toute autre chose qu’elles n’ont pas le droit de posséder, étant disqualifiées ; et si quelqu’un connaît une personne qui possède ou a possédé toute marchandise confisquée, meuble, or, argent ou autres bijoux appartenant à ceux condamnés pour hérésie, qui devrait être apportée au récepteur des marchandises confisquées pour le crime d’hérésie. —Toutes ces choses, ayant été vues, entendues ou connues, vous, les fidèles Chrétiens mentionnés ci-dessus, avec des cœurs obstinés, avez refusé de les déclarer et de les exposer, considérablement au fardeau et au préjudice de vos âmes ; en pensant que vous avez été absous par les bulles et les indulgences émises par notre saint père, et par les promesses et les donations que vous aviez faites, pour lesquelles vous avez encouru la peine d’excommunication et d’autres pénalités graves en vertu de la loi statutaire ; et ainsi vous pouvez être traités comme ceux qui ont souffert l’excommunication et comme étant complices des hérétiques, de diverses manières ; mais, si vous le désirez, agissez avec bienveillance et pour que vos âmes ne puissent être perdues, puisque notre Seigneur ne souhaite pas la mort du pécheur mais sa réforme et sa vie ; par ces présentes, nous enlevons et suspendons la censure promulguée contre vous par lesdits inquisiteurs précédents, à condition que vous observiez et vous vous conformiez aux termes de ce décret, par lequel nous vous demandons, vous recommandons instamment et vous commandons, en vertu de la sainte obéissance, et sous la pénalité de l’excommunication complète, dans les neuf jours suivants le temps que le présent décret vous aura été lu ou aura été porté à votre attention de n’importe quelle façon, d’affirmer tout ce que vous savez, avez vu, entendu, ou entendu dire de n’importe quelle façon à propos des choses et des cérémonies mentionnées ci-dessus, et de vous présenter personnellement devant nous pour déclarer et exposer ce que vous avez vu, entendu, ou entendu dire secrètement, sans avoir parlé précédemment avec aucune autre personne, ou sans porter de faux témoignage contre qui que ce soit. Autrement, la période ayant passé, les remontrances canoniques ayant été répétées conformément à la loi, des démarches seront entreprises pour distribuer et promulguer la peine d’excommunication contre vous, dans et par ces documents ; et par une telle excommunication, nous commandons que vous soyez publiquement dénoncés ; et si, après une autre période de neuf jours, vous persistez dans votre rébellion et excommunication, vous serez excommuniés, rendus anathèmes, maudits, isolés et séparés, en tant qu’associés du diable, de l’union avec, et de l’inclusion dans, la sainte Mère-Église et de ses sacrements. Et nous commandons les curés, les recteurs, les aumôniers, et les sacristains et toutes les autres personnes religieuses ou ecclésiastiques de considérer et de traiter la personne mentionnée ci-dessus comme excommuniée et maudite pour avoir encouru la colère et l’indignation du Dieu Tout-Puissant et de la glorieuse Vierge Marie, Sa Mère, et des apôtres béatifiés Saint Pierre et Saint Paul, et de tous les saints de la Cour céleste ; et que sur de telles personnes rebelles et désobéissantes qui cacheraient la vérité concernant les choses mentionnées ci-dessus, tombent les fléaux et les malédictions qui sont venus sur le Roi Pharaon et son armée pour ne pas avoir obéi aux commandements divins ; et que la même pénalité d’excommunication divine les entourent, comme elle a entouré les habitants de Sodome et de Gomorrhe, qui ont tous péri par les flammes ; et de Dathan et d’Abiram qui ont été engloutis dans la terre pour les grandes délinquances et les grands péchés qu’ils ont commis dans la désobéissance et la rébellion contre notre Seigneur Dieu ; et qu’ils soient maudits en mangeant et en buvant, au réveil et dans le sommeil, en venant et en allant. Maudits soient-ils dans la vie et la mort, et qu’ils soient endurcis à jamais afin que leurs péchés et le diable soient comme leur main droite pour toujours ; que leur vocation soit pécheresse et que leurs jours soient peu nombreux et mauvais ; que leur substance soit pour la jouissance des autres et que leurs enfants soient des orphelins et leurs épouses des veuves. Que leurs enfants soient à jamais dans le besoin et que personne ne les aide ; qu’ils soient chassés de leurs maisons et dépossédés de leurs biens par les usuriers ; et qu’ils ne trouvent personne ayant de la compassion pour eux ; que leurs enfants soient ruinés et bannis et leurs noms également ; et que leur méchanceté soit toujours présente dans la mémoire divine. Que leurs ennemis les vainquent et les dépouillent de tout ce qu’ils possèdent dans le monde ; et qu’ils errent de domicile en domicile sans secours. Que leurs prières soient tournées en malédictions ; et maudits soient le pain et le vin, la viande et le poisson, les fruits et toute autre nourriture qu’ils mangent ; de même que les maisons qu’ils habitent et les vêtements qu’ils portent, les bêtes sur lesquelles ils montent et les lits sur lesquels ils dorment, et les tables et les nappes sur lesquelles ils mangent. Maudits soient-ils à Satan et à Lucifer et à tous les diables en enfer et que ceux-ci soient leurs seigneurs et les accompagnent de nuit et de jour. Amen. Et si une personne encourant lesdites excommunications et malédictions devait persister dans ces choses pour l’espace d’une année, elle devrait être considérée elle-même comme un hérétique et sera poursuivie par la même procédure que celle utilisée contre les hérétiques ou les suspects du crime d’hérésie.

 

Donné le _____ mars, en l’an de notre Seigneur Dieu, mille cinq cents douze.”

 

Nullus omoveat sub pena excommunicationis.

 

(Article : La confession faite au confesseur pour obtenir l’absolution de la pénalité de l’excommunication à laquelle l’hérétique pourrait être sujet, à partir du temps où le crime est commis, ne vaut rien).

 

(Article : Tous ceux qui savent quoi que ce soit à propos des choses mentionnées dans ce décret ou à propos d’autres hérésies et qui ne se présentent pas pour les dénoncer et les déclarer sont excommuniés par la présente et ne peuvent pas être absous par leurs confesseurs).

 

El doctor De Mandato sue Palacio, inquisidor. Reverende paternitatis, Petrus Sorell, notarius.

Contents

One True God:

God exist-Why is God eternal-Many names for God-Which name, which entity-Elohim/Eloah-Elohim plural-How many elohim-Jehovah/Jehovah of Hosts-SHD 3068/3069-Two different beings-God look on sin-God and His Law

Spiritual Creation:

Angel of YHVH: Is Christ YHVH-Worship the son-Great Angel OT-Who spoke to Abraham-Who did Moses see-Who talked to Moses and Aaron

Sons of God: How many sons of God-Difference in heavenly beings-24 Thrones/Elders-4 living creatures-4 rivers/4 Cherubim-Lion headed systems-Who are the host-Cause of rebellion-Cherub rebel-Rebellion-Fallen host repent-Angels male or female Lucifer: Meaning of Lucifer-Satan still has access to God-Satan not always evil- Abaddon/Apollyon Angels: Function of angels-Can we recognise angels-Pray to angels

Physical Creation:

Nephilim: Humans before Adam-Pre/post Adam DNA-Nephilim not resurrected Adam and Eve: Why create man-Mankind’s destiny-Adam rebuke Eve-Life before Adam-Children’s stories-Apple forbidden fruit-Different races-Vegetables or meat first-Physical condition early people Noah: Origin or faces from Noah-Flood worldwide-Noah’s faith Abraham: Blessings for Hagar/Ishmael

The Law:

Two tablets of stone-6 and 4 or 5 and 5-First Commandment-Sabbath-Reading the law Society: Uncleanness until sundown-Not coming near wives-Childbirth-Garments etc-Swearing-Violence on innocent-Death penalty-Tattoos-Owe no man-Gambling Food Laws: Mushrooms-Supplements-Pork and fish-Eating meat-Food and ten commandments Tithes and Offerings: 3 or 7 offerings-Atonement tax-Stealing from God

Israel:

12 Judges-Kings-Numbering of tribes-Order of tribes-Moses: Broken tablets-Wife and children-Hosts of Pharaoh-Red sea-Seven-day march-Fall of Jericho- Red cords-Blood on doorposts-Idols and Images: Golden idol-Why a calf-Worship of images-Golden calf/golden cross-Divisions of Israel

Joshua…Joshua’s life-12 rocks/12 apostles-2 spies

Judges…Judges 9:7-21;–Judges 19-Gideon 70 sons-Samson’s hair-Riddle to 30

Ruth…Ruth’s kinsman

1Samuel…1Samuel 1:6-17:40-David

1Kings…1Kings chapter 6

2Kings…2Kings chapter 2

Esther…Esther 9:13 Nuremburg Trials

Job…7 sons 3 daughters-Job of Genesis 46:13

Psalms…Psalm 82-Psalm 187

Proverbs…Proverbs 8 and 9-Proverbs 31

Ecclesiastes…Ecclesiastes 7:1-Birthdays

Prophets:

Isaiah…Isaiah 19:23-Isaiah 65:1-6-Isaiah 1:29

Jeremiah…Jeremiah 4:15ff

Ezekiel…Ezekiel 46:20;-26:21;-Exekiel’s Temple-Ezekiel 20:37-38

Daniel…Daniel 12:1-2;-2:43;-7:9-10;-Daniel and 3 in oven-Lion’s den
Hosea…Hosea 2:15

Joel…Joel 2:23

Micah…Micah 6:4;-5:5

Zechariah…Zecariah 14:16-19

God’s Calendar:

Full moon-Time lost-Number 7-Jubilees: What is a Jubilee-How to count-Blown on Atonement-5 months in 50th or 1st year-End of Jubilee Feasts: Where does he place his name-Assemblies of God-Fat of the Feast-Pentecost: Shavuot-Trumpets: Trumpets blown-Feast of Shofar-New Year-Atonement: Meaning-Tribute tax-Half Shekel

***********************************

FAQ Old Testament

One True God

Why do you believe that God exists? 

A: It is written only a fool says in his heart that there is no God. The entire structure of the creation demands that God exist: From the Laws of Thermodynamics to the phase space volume selection of the universe and Quantum Mechanical theory. The philosophical basis of Causation is singularist and not supervenient. Why would you think that there is no God?

Why do you think God is eternal? The fact that God created us should not mean that God never dies. Maybe your God just had special power to create the whole world and maybe His life has just been very long, of years old.

A: God stands outside of time and space. The Bible is very clear that there is only One True God, whom no man has ever seen or ever can see (John 1:18), and who dwells in unapproachable light and who alone is immortal (1Tim. 6:16).

We know this to be true as the phrase “space volume selection of the universe” is held to be a factor of ten to the tenth, to the 123rd power. It cannot be written in normal denary notation, even if the entire substructure of matter in the universe were to be used. In other words, there is a point of origin, and only one for the entire universe.

We now know from the general theory of relativity and subsequent quantum mechanical theory and its adaptations that a substructure, which we call “quarks”, underpins the basis of matter.

We know from the decay of “K Mesons” that there is directionality to time. We know that the structure of matter in the universe is a directional structure in which Space, Time Mass, Energy and Gravity are equivalent expressions of a single fundamental essence, and that essence we call spirit. The Bible is understood to teach us that God creates it “ex nihilo” or “out of nothing”. This was also the doctrine of the Shepherd of Hermas, the earliest of the writings not now included in the New Testament.

God created the entire spiritual realm, and then he created the physical. This is examined in the papers How God Became a Family (No. 187) and The Purpose of the Creation and the Sacrifice of Christ (No. 160). The structure of the creation and the logical necessity of Singularist Causation and the impossibility of Absolute Creation in the work is shown in Creation: From Anthropomorphic Theology to Theomorphic Anthropology (No. B5). 

I see in my concordance that there are multiple words in Hebrew that are translated as “God.” Do they all mean the same thing? Why do the Hebrews have so many words for God? 

A: No, they don’t all mean the same thing. The various names for God are a function of His activity in the creation. Also, beings carry the name “God” and “Yahovah” when they act for the one true God. The name of God in the singular is “Eloah.” “Elohim” is a plural name, which can be used of singular beings.

In the same way “Yahovah” is used of multiple beings of the angelic host including Christ, but “Yahovih” is not so used. “Yahovih” is “Yahovah of Hosts” who is the “Most High” or the “Elyon.” The term “I am that I am” is a corruption of this idea. The text is “ ‘eyeh ‘asher ‘eyeh” or “I will be what I will become.” The term, “Yahovah” is “He causes to be” as a third person form (see fn. to Exodus 3:14 in the Oxford Annotated RSV). The names of God in the various forms are covered in the texts The Names of God (No. 116) and The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243).

I am confused as to the different names given in the Bible for God. I have read your papers and all makes sense, but it does not tell which name is for which entity. For example, how do you know in Genesis 1:1 that this Elohim is the One True God in the Spirit? In verse 26 it states, “Let us make man in our own image…” That sounds like the plural Elohim and not the One True God. Then I look at 2:4 and on and it states, “YHVH Elohim.” Who is the Elohim in 1:1 and who is YHVH Elohim in 2:4 and how do you know how to distinguish between them? It does say in 2:4 that YHVH Elohim created the Heavens and the Earth. Were they created by YHVH Elohim through His Elohim(s)?

A: Yes, this is a very important question. We have this basic rule. No man has ever seen God, neither heard His voice, nor seen His form (Jn. 1:18). We have this from the mouth of Christ and reinforced by John and Paul. Thus, the beings that are referred to in the Bible as Elohim who were seen or touched were sons of God and not the One True God. This One True God dwells in unapproachable light and no man has seen Him or ever can see Him. All that was experienced by man was delivered by the Great Angel of the Old Testament, who gave the Law to Moses and who became Jesus Christ, or those other sons of God who worked with him and who also bore the name of God. Look at the papers The Names of God (No. 116) and The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243). The One True God, Eloah has created all things by His will and all beings act under His will.

Am I to conclude that we do not know which elohim it is referring to in Genesis 1:1 and it really does not matter because all the Elohim are acting under the direction of Eloah? Do you think it is the sons of Eloah it is referring to because of the plural used in verse 26? So everything was created through the Elohim for Eloah?

A: The word God in Genesis 1:1 refers to Eloah and the first act of creation already completed, which was the extension of Himself as Elohim. Thus, the extended being is Elohim and He creates as Elohim because it involves multiple beings.

Job 38:4-7 shows the concept. He created and the sons of God were gathered together and the Morning Stars sang for joy at the creation of the earth. Thus, all were elohim under the One True God (cf. Jn. 17:3). It is irrelevant who was allocated tasks from the primary creation, which was the generation of the elohim from Eloah. Look at the papers How God Became a Family (No. 187) and The Government of God (No. 174).

Could you explain and define the Hebrew word for God, “Elohim”? Isn’t this a plural word? Are we to understand that it encompasses the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

A: The Hebrew word “Elohim” is a plural word meaning both “God;” and “Gods” plural, depending on its use. The singular word for God is “Eloah.” This is “Elahh” in Chaldean. The plural word for God in Chaldean is “Elahhin’” which is the same meaning as Elohim. “The God” is referred to as “Ha Elohim.” The Arabic came from the eastern Aramaic or Chaldean and that is why the Arabic word for God in the singular is “Allah’.” Elohim extends to cover all the sons of God as a council of elohim and a body of spirit beings. The Bible refers to the elohim as a plurality and elohim is rendered as “aggelos” in Greek and “angels” in English. For example, Psalm 8:5 says of Messiah that “Thou hast made him a little lower than the elohim.” This is translated in the English of the KJV as “angels” from the rendering in the Septuagint (LXX) as “aggelos”. The same is true in the Vulgate, and the Syriac. Thus, it was generally understood for three hundred years before and after Christ that the “elohim” were the “sons of God” who were termed “messengers” or “angels.” This text is also rendered “angels” in Hebrews 2:7. The Angel of the Old Testament is also an elohim. Psalm 97:7 also refers to the elohim as a wider council of elohim. It is a very important and interesting point, which is obscured by the Trinitarian system (see the paper Psalm 8 (No. 14)). The Trinity is a pagan system of the Triune God, which was introduced from Rome in the fourth century. Look also at the papers The Elect as Elohim (No. 1); The Angel of YHVH (No. 24); The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243); Creation: From Anthropomorphic Theology to Theomorphic Anthropology (No. B5) and The Soctratic Doctrine of the Soul (No. B6).

In Genesis 1:26 it says man was created in the image of Elohim. In 2:7 it says that YHVH Elohim formed man of the dust. In Revelation 21:17 it refers to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. It seems to me that it is talking about two different men and maybe two different Gods. Are the words in the ancient text for man in all the places that I referenced the same word? Are we talking about the same beings?

A: The Bible does speak of various elohim. The elohim are a council, as we know from the Psalms and elsewhere. The text in Revelation speaks of the measure of a man as the measure of an angel, and that tells you that we are all brethren and made in the image of God. This aspect also has ramifications about the angelic host. We are all to become brothers and part of the City of God where God is all in all. Look at the paper The City of God (No. 180).

Are Jehovah and Jehovah of Hosts one and the same, or are we talking about different beings? 

A: We are talking about different beings. Yahovah or Jehovah in English (there is no J in Hebrew) was allotted Israel as his possession by the Most High (Deut. 32:8 esp. RSV). The Most High or “Elyon” is Yahovah of Hosts. All beings who act for Yahovah of Hosts have the title, “Yahovah.” Christ was the key figure in the Old Testament as the Great Angel of Yahovah who had this title, but there were others. In Genesis, chapters 18 and 19, we see three Yahovahs who came to see Abraham. The senior remained with Abraham and the other two went on to Lot at Sodom.

They destroyed Sodom by calling down fire from Yahovah in Heaven. Thus there were four there and the One in Heaven who sent the fire down on Sodom. That One is Yahovah of Hosts. He sent Messiah to the world as the giver of the Law and as the protector of Israel. Look also at the papers The Names of God (No. 116); The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243); The Angel of YHVH (No. 24) and Early Theology of the Godhead (No. 127). The creation had a purpose and Christ had a role in the creation given to him by “Yahovah of Hosts” who is “Yahovih” (cf. The Purpose of the Creation and the Sacrifice of Christ (No. 160)).

In your writings you make a distinction between Yahovah (SHD 3068) and Yahovih (SHD 3069). You state that Yahovih (3069) is superior to Yahovah (3068). It is my understanding that the original script is just the Tetragrammaton that is translated YHVH with no vowels. If I am correct, how did the translators come up with 2 different versions of the word and make one superior to the other when they both were YHVH?

A: The Hebrew Text has preserved these distinctions. The alteration by the Sopherim of “Yahovah” to “Adonai” is a basis for the vowel point argument from Adonai. Look at the comments in Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary for 3068 and 3069. You will see there the distinctions. 3068 is read as “Adonai” and 3069 is read as “elohim.”

I was reading the paper Law and the Second Commandment (No. 254) and in Deuteronomy 11:17 ‘Lord’ is referenced both ways in the same verse. Is this a misprint or are we talking about 2 different beings? If so please explain the difference. Also explain 2Corinthians 6:17-18. 

A: The word translated “Lord” in the text is “Yahovah” (SHD 3068) (cf. Green’s Interlinear Bible). The Septuagint makes no distinction in the use of “Kurios,” and it is also translated the same way.

In 2Corinthians 6:17-18, it is speaking of the “Lord Almighty” and there is no distinction. There is a distinction between the entities, as in Zechariah 2:8-11. The “Yahovah” sent to save Israel and Jerusalem is sent by “Yahovah of Hosts.” This is the distinction in Psalm 45:6-7 and seen in Hebrews 1:8-9 as “Messiah.”

Can God look on sin? I heard a sermon where the minister said “God can’t look on sin, that’s why Christ said ‘my God, my God, why have you forsaken me’ as he bore the sins of the world.” Is this true?

A: Yes, God can look on sin but we ask Him not to (Ps. 51:9ff.; Isa. 59:2).

That statement is a myth spread by people who have never read the Psalms properly. The text spoken by Christ was an Aramaic form of the Hebrew in Psalm 22:1. In Psalm 22:24 we read that God did not hide his face from him.

The events in Psalm 22 all refer to Christ and his actual crucifixion. Verse 24 says:

“For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Neither has He hid His face from him; But when he cried unto Him, He heard.”

This fiction is designed to deal with the concept of the reparation for sin without real understanding or acknowledging the Wave Sheaf offering and the true concepts of the Passover. Because they do not obey God’s laws and kept pagan systems, they do not understand Scripture and the Laws of God. The matter of the crucifixion and the aspects of Psalm 22 are examined in the papers on the web at http://www.ccg.org and http://www.logon.org

Ezra 9:15 refers to God being righteous, and Psalm 119:172 refers to God’s Law being righteous. Is there a connection between God and His Law? 

A: God is holy (Ps. 145:17), perfect (Mat. 5:48), righteous (Ps. 145:17), good (Ps. 25:8) and true (Deut. 32:4) and His Law is holy (Rom. 7:12), perfect (Ps. 19:7), righteous (Ps. 119:172), good (Rom. 7:12), and true (Ps. 119:142). This is because the Law proceeds from the nature of God and not from His whim. This is analysed in the papers Distinction in the Law (No. 96) and Love and the Structure of the Law (No. 200).

Spiritual Creation

Angel of YHVH

It was my understanding that “YHVH of Hosts” is the Father and the King is Christ (Zech. 9:9), but in Zechariah 14:16 we are told “all shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts.” Does Christ also have this title “YHVH of Hosts” or is this speaking of “worshipping” both the King and YHVH of Hosts?

A: Christ is given the names he is by the Father and acts for the Father under His delegation. God is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and yet we see Christ coming as King of Kings and Lord of Lords strapped, as a title, to his thigh (Rev. 19:15-16). Only Yahovah of Hosts is worshipped and as such He is King. The title is given to Christ as it is also given to the elect.

Christ is also given a new name in this process, which will also be written on the elect (Rev. 3:12). We have all been redeemed to be a nation of kings and priests (cf. Rev. chs. 4 and 5 for the council and their statements about the saints and the Messiah).

Because some of these titles given to Christ overlap with titles ascribed to Almighty God, many have misconstrued the intent and believed that Christ is somehow God as God is God, being part of a Trinitarian, Binitarian or Ditheistic Godhead.

This is not the case. These titles given to Christ all convey the concept of delegated authority, even as the Mal’ak of YHVH was termed YHVH and Elohim because he represented YHVH of Hosts (Eloah). See the papers Isaiah 9:6 (No. 224) and The Names of God (No. 116))

In Daniel 2:45 we read about the Stone that was cut out of the Mountain and then in Daniel 7:13-14 we read about the coronation of the Son before the Ancient of Days. It appears the Son came from the Father differently than all the other creation. It almost seems like a type of cloning the Father did on Himself. Could you comment on this? If this is different from the creation of angels and the physical creation, then it would be quite acceptable to “worship” the Son in addition to the Father. He really would be in the Father and the Father in Him.

A: Christ was generated by God in the same way all the sons of God were generated by God. Christ was sent to earth in a different way and was the “only born god,” the “monogenes Theos” of John 1:18. The vision of Daniel 2 is covered in the papers on the nature of God series of the Bible Study Program (No. B1). Look especially at the paper How God Became a Family (No. 187).

No, it would not be acceptable to worship the Son as the Father. The Bible is clear that he who sanctifies and they who are sanctified are of one origin (Heb. 2:11). The doctrine that Father and Son were one God, and the son was worshipped and came to be sacrificed is the doctrine of Attis, and entered Christianity in the Council of the fourth century. “Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us?”(Mal. 2:10)

Who was the great Angel who was with Israel in the Old Testament? 

A: The belief of the Church in the first and second centuries was that this was Christ. He gave the Law of God to Moses. Justin Martyr, in writing to the Roman Emperor (ca. 150) in his “First Apology,” states categorically that it was the belief of the Christian Church that the Great Angel of the Old Testament who gave the Law to Moses was Christ. That is the teaching of the Original Catholic Church. See also www.originalcatholicchurch.org. Look at the papers The Angel of YHVH (No. 24); The Early Theology of the Godhead (No. 127) and The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243).

Who was it who spoke to Abraham? Was it Jesus? Who destroyed the cities?

A: It was the angel of Yahovah who became Jesus Christ. He was termed Yahovah, as were the other two angels who came with him to meet Abraham, and then the other two Yahovahs went on to Lot at Sodom and Gomorrah. They (Yahovah) then called fire down on the cities from Yahovah out of Heaven (Gen. 19:24). This Yahovah in Heaven was Yahovah of Hosts or Yahovih. These matters are explained in the papers: The Elect as Elohim (No. 1); The Angel of YHVH (No. 24); The Names of God (No. 116) and The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243).

If no man has seen God as John states, then who was it that Moses saw? Didn’t he see God? 

A: No, Moses did not see the One True God. Christ said no man has seen his form or heard his voice at any time so also repeated by John and Paul (Jn. 1:18; 1Jn. 5:20; 1Tim. 6:16). The belief of the early Church was that the Angel of the Old Testament that gave the Law to Moses was Christ. See the papers The Angel of YHVH (No. 24); The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243) and Early Theology of the Godhead (No. 127).

In Exodus (referring to the 10 plagues) who was giving Aaron and Moses instructions for the pharaoh?

A: The being that was with Israel in the wilderness was the rock that was Christ. He was the Angel of the Old Testament who gave the Law to Moses at Sinai. This was the teaching of the original Church and it is the teaching of the Church today (cf. Justin Martyr, First Apology). Look at the papers: The Angel of YHVH (No. 24); Early Theology of the Godhead (No. 127) and The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243).

Sons of God

How many sons of God does the Bible say there are? 

A: The sons of God are mentioned in the texts in the Old Testament, but no number is given. Deuteronomy 32:8 shows the nations were allocated to the sons of God according to their number (this was altered later in the Masoretic Text but the RSV has the text correct). So we have 70 by tradition for this, but we know it was much more than that from the vision in Elijah. Job 1:6; 2:1; and 38:4-7 just mentions the sons of God and the Morning Stars.

Job 33:23 indicates there are a thousand in the structure capable of ransoming men. We get the term “myriads” used of them and the term “armies” is also applied to them (Rev. 19:14). The book of Revelation gives a number of 200 million horsemen which are marshalled by the four angels bound at the Euphrates for the time appointed to slay a third of mankind (Rev. 9:16). These may well be men and not of the heavenly host.

We have no way of knowing if this reference is an exhaustive number or not. Thus, the number of the sons of God, sometimes termed Messengers, in the texts is perhaps 200 Million, but certainly numbered as armies. Perhaps they are as many as people have been since Adam. We will know when we get to The City of God (No. 180) and are joined with them as a living Temple and residence for God and the Lamb.

Could you explain the differences between all the heavenly beings – sons of God, Angels, Cherubim, Nephilim? Are all sons of God Angels, and all Angels sons of God?

A: All the heavenly host are sons of God. The ones sent to mankind are messengers, termed angels. These are in ranks and positions: Cherubim, Seraphim, and Morning Stars. All are sons of God. Christ is one of them.

The Nephilim are the product of the fallen host. See the paper The Nephilim (No. 154). They have no resurrection. The demons are the sons of God who fell from grace. We will all be Sons of God. Look at the papers How God Became a Family (No. 187); The Government of God (No. 174) and The Elect as Elohim (No. 1).

Can you explain in a nutshell about the 24 thrones and 24 elders?

A: The inner council of the elohim has thirty beings. These thirty are comprised of the twenty-four elders under the High Priest, who is Messiah. The four Living Creatures are the cherubim around the throne of God. They have the elders allocated to them on the basis of two to a system, with three systems making six to a division. God is in the centre at the throne. This makes thirty.

There are others who then make up the council of the seventy. This structure was reflected in the system in Israel, and at the Tabernacle and the Temple. The twenty-four division high priests and the High priest reflected the council of the elders. The seventy plus two reflected the outer council. Israel was divided into four divisions of twelve tribes, three tribes to a division, and with the priesthood of Levi at the tabernacle or throne (see Numbers 10). The divisions of the priesthood were allotted to the division of the tribes. The structure is also covered in the paper The Government of God (No. 174). Look also at How God Became a Family (No. 187).

What are the 4 living creatures and of what importance are they?

A: The Four Living Creatures are the anointed covering Cherubs that stand before the throne of God. The Ark carries two on the Lapporah or cover and another two stand over them. Look at the papers The Ark of the Covenant (No. 196) and The Meaning of Ezekiel’s Vision (No. 108). The paper The Government of God (No. 174) explains their function.

The four living creatures and the Council discharge function within the Host related to administration and judgment. They are in effect quadrant commanders of the universe and cover the throne of God.

The living creatures represent the four stages of the history of the priesthood and Israel. The first stage was the tabernacle of the wilderness and the Judges. The second stage or cherub was as the first Temple from Solomon to the captivity. The third stage was from the reestablishment after the return to the destruction in 70 CE and the fourth stage was as the era of the seven churches until the return of the Messiah.

Each stage is as a covering cherub that protects the throne of God and by human hands (under the wings) accomplishes His purpose on earth. The living creatures have been described elsewhere in the Bible but the symbolism of the form has a much deeper meaning than that of a created oddity with four different faces. In Revelation 4:6-8 we see the same faces but separate as four living creatures each with one of the faces but with six wings.

Do the four rivers flowing from Eden have anything symbolically to do with the four Cherubim around the throne of God? 

A: Yes, symbolically the rivers represent the four divisions of the creation. The creation and the role of the cherubim have been examined in a number of works. These are The Government of God (No. 174); The Purpose of the Creation and the Sacrifice of Christ (No. 160); The Doctrine of Original Sin Part I The Garden of Eden (No. 246) and How God Became a Family (No. 187).

You referred to the man and lion-headed systems; what are the roles or duties of these positions?

A: They are the quadrant commanders of God’s system. They are anointed covering cherubs, and they also appear as such in the Temple in Ezekiel. Revelation shows that they are at the throne of God. They occupy the position senior to the 24 elders, and they are seen in Ezekiel chapter 1 et seq where they are identified as the Cherubim. They have set areas of responsibility as we see from the fact that they do not change their orientation no matter where the throne is headed. Look at the papers: The Meaning of Ezekiel’s Vision (No. 108); How God Became a Family (No. 187); The Government of God (No. 174) and The City of God (No. 180).

Please give me as much information about the Hosts as you can. Who exactly are they, how many, their function and roll? Was Jesus part of the Host?

A: The Host are the sons of God. They are called messengers only from the fact of their mission to man. Angel is a derivation of the Greek word for messenger. “Malak” in the Hebrew has become “Malaikat” in the Arabic, and on into the Indonesian etc.

The Host are centred on the throne of God and serve Him. Christ was one of those sons of God in the beginning. The process is explained in the papers How God Became a Family (No. 187); The Government of God (No. 174) and The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243).

We are to become sons of God and elohim and that is covered in the paper The Elect as Elohim (No. 1). The Meaning of Ezekiel’s Vision (No. 108) also has information of interest regarding the Cherubim. How we all fit together is covered in the paper The City of God (No. 180).

What was the cause of the rebellion of the host?

A: It was always understood as being their objection to our creation. The Koran gives this as the specific reason. That is why Satan is the accuser of the brethren. They accuse us night and day to God. Look at the papers How God Became a Family (No. 187) and The Government of God (No. 174). Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son (No. 199) is also of interest in this matter as is The Judgment of the Demons (No. 80).

Could a cherub rebel and lose his position? If so what does the future hold for him? 

A: Yes one, Satan, and perhaps two did rebel. They can repent like all of God’s sons. Look at the paper The Judgment of the Demons (No. 80) and also Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son (No. 199). God’s mercy endures forever.

If one third of the host rebelled and there are 30 in the inner council one could speculate 10 rebelled. Is that why there are 10 components; 7 church eras, 2 witnesses, and Messiah needed to repair the problem/breach created by the hosts rebellion?

A: One might speculate that way and it would seem logical; however, the figures used by the Satanist cells are of the order of twelve/twelve. It seems they actually might have got more from the inner council than a third. However, over all they got a third as it says. Perhaps it was two cherubs and the ten. We will know when we get to Jerusalem and Christ gives us new information.

The ten components of the Temple are not related to individuals, save in the Messiah and the two witnesses. The seven are churches unless we identify the seven angels of the seven churches as potential replacements in the host, and the human elements as the new section. 

If the fallen angelic host (the demons) can repent and still become sons of God, then maybe you believe that the unrepentant demons will be killed forever? What is the difference then, between us and them? Are people just another more creative way of doing the same thing that is done with angels?

A: Yes, that is the answer. The human creation with the family system was another way of giving the angels similar responsibilities of the human family, but with greater oversight. When Satan objected to our creation and the third of the host objected and rebelled with him, they were then given responsibility for us. They became our accusers instead of our spiritual parents. They became an obstruction to the plan and our salvation. After the final rebellion at the end of the Millennium, the demons will be reduced to physical form and die. This is the sense of being brought down to the side of the Pit and to die like any man, as we see in Ezekiel 28 and also the same sense in Isaiah 14. This aspect has been examined in the paper The Fall of Egypt The Prophecy of Pharaoh’s Broken Arms (No 36) and Lucifer: Light Bearer and Morning Star (No. 223). They will then be placed within the physical resurrection at the Second or General Resurrection of the Dead. One can imagine the difficulties they will face when dealt with, in examining their roles over the last 6000 years and the havoc they caused even by simply failing to prevent false action, let alone actually inducing it in the human host.

It was probably to escape this accounting that they developed the theory and doctrine among the mystery cults, especially the Orphic, of the daemon among the humans which was a fallen theos or god, and which had to be purged in order to return to heaven. The inducement of humans in the endeavour was probably a reaction and a desire to be returned to their former estate without enduring the process of the second and physical resurrection under the human elect of the First Resurrection.

The soul doctrine is an invention of Socrates of the “psuche” in reaction to the Orphic doctrines, and from which we get the immortal soul and which later went to the heaven of the Gnostics. The eternal soul is another lie, on the same vein as demons cannot die and they cannot repent. Christ was reduced from one of the elohim to the form of a man and he died on the cross, was resurrected and ascended into heaven. If he could do that, then so can any one of the demons. God has no limitations in the creation. Look at the papers The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243); The Judgment of the Demons (No. 80); The Resurrection of the Dead (No. 143); The Soul (No. 92); Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son (No. 199)and The Socratic Doctrine of the Soul (No. B6).

I have read up on the paper entitled The Nephilim (No. 154). The angels involved in this sin to create Nephilim were clearly male in origin. So, does that mean that all the spiritual creation is closer to a male type as we understand male and female, or are there also spirit beings that would be closer to the female species? 

A: The sons of God have the capacity to materialise in whatever form. If they can appear as a man, they can also appear as a woman and do appear as women often, hence Fatima etc. They appeared as Balaam’s donkey in one instance. Satan is termed the serpent and may well have literally appeared to Eve in that guise. We make the mistake of thinking that the Spirit world is just another copy of this one. We see through a glass darkly.

The Spirit world has the capacity to move through time and space without the limitations we understand or think within. Mass, space, time, gravity and energy are equivalent expressions of the single fundamental essence we understand as spirit. Some of our scientists have made the error of assuming an immanent God from this basis.

The sons of God were all gathered together here when the world was created. Their leaders, the Morning Stars, sang for joy. Satan was among them as a Morning Star and the anointed Covering Cherub. The function of woman was the capacity by which God would produce more sons of God.

Demons appeared as men to interfere with the creation. They may well have become women but then they would have been tied to the creation and the upbringing of the cuckoos they laid. They were probably emotionally immature for that responsibility without the Holy Spirit of God. Also, the woman was the one they influenced. They lost the Holy Spirit when they finally rebelled and were cast from heaven. They then had to produce the pseudo logon. Thus, they are no longer consubstantial. Look at the paper Consubstantial with the Father (No. 81).

We will all be asexual in the resurrection. The second physical resurrection also seems to demand that asexuality. Look at the paper The Resurrection of the Dead (No. 143) and Outline Timetable of the Age (No. 272).

Are you aware of any scriptures besides Psalm 8:5 that refer to spirit beings (other than the Father and the One that became Christ) as elohim?

A: Yes, there are a few texts. Moses is referred to as an elohim in Exodus 7:1. Abraham is referred to as an elohim in the original Hebrew text in Genesis 23:6, which is termed Mighty Prince in the English.

Satan is referred to as an elohim or theoi in various texts. Paul says there are many theoi (theoi polloi) or elohim in the New Testament. Zechariah 12:8 said that the household of David will become elohim with the Angel of Yahovah (Jehovah) at our head. It is written: “I said ye are gods and Scripture cannot be broken” (Jn. 10:34-35). Look at the paper The Elect as Elohim (No. 1).

Psalm 45:6-7 says that Christ, our elohim, was anointed with the oil of gladness above his partners. Thus, there is a council. Psalm 82 deals with this aspect. The other references are covered in that paper. Also look at the The Angel of YHVH (No. 24).

Are the 1000 sacrifices offered by Solomon in the Tabernacle referring to the council of the 1000 sons of God? Just as Job 33:23-24 talks of one of 1000 and redemption through Messiah; or Genesis 20:16 mentions the 1000 pieces of silver to Abraham for the vindication of Sarah but the entire council needed the appeasement for the offence; or Song of Songs with 1000 shields (Eph. 6:16 shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.) Bottom line, do all these scriptures tie to God’s administrative council of a 1000?

A: Yes, the reference in Genesis 20:16 is in fact an appeasement along the lines we see in Job, where the redemption was from one of the 1000. And the irony of Abimelech, in using the term brother, is because of the sin and damage he suffered.

The notion of being protected by the host is evident as well, as being redeemed by one of the 1000. This is fairly esoteric ground now. Nothing turns on it, other than the view that sin was an offence against God. That was why thirty pieces of silver was paid for Christ. Because it was an offence against the council and it was also deemed the price of a slave

Lucifer

What does the name Lucifer mean?

A: Lucifer means Light bearer. The name comes from his function as the Morning Star of this planet. It is an educative and controlling role which is taken up by Christ and the elect at the end of the age, in the not too distant future, for the millennial reign. The terms are covered in the paper Lucifer: Light Bearer and Morning Star (No. 223).

In remembering that Satan came before God with the angels as told in Job, I am wondering if he still has this access to God and does he still have influence on the angels?

A: Yes, he is the accuser of our brethren and he still has one third of the host under him. Some are held to have repented from the activities of the early Church. He is cast down and knows his time is short. Christ said He saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Thus, he must be cast down. Revelation speaks of the short time and his fury against the Church because of that short time. We are in that time. In fact, we are past the 1260 years of the woman in the wilderness. The Fifth Seal is still continuing and the woman that rides the beast, who is drunk on the blood of the saints, is about to be destroyed. Look at the paper Outline Timetable of the Age (No. 272) and also The Role of the Fourth Commandment in the Historical Sabbath-keeping Churches of God (No. 170).

I believe that Lucifer and Satan are one and the same being. This presents a bit of a problem though for this would mean that Satan was not always evil wouldn’t it? This is looking more like it may be true as Ezekiel 28:15 shows him being perfect from the day he was created. So how better can one be than perfection?

A: Lucifer was the anointed covering Cherub of the Throne of God and he was perfect among the sons of God. Lucifer means, “light bearer” and thus he was the educator of the host and Morning Star of the planet. See the paper Lucifer: Light Bearer and Morning Star (No. 223).

He and the fallen host became iniquitous. They sinned and tried to grasp equality with God. They failed in the test of faith. They became accusers of the brethren at the creation of Adam. Christ was not, and did not seek co-equality with God and did not try to grasp what was not His. He preferred to be given and earn the gift of power by obedience, and so He became a man and He humbled himself unto death, even death on the stake (Phil. 2:5-7). See the paper The Purpose of the Creation and the Sacrifice of Christ (No. 160).

He became a son of God in power by His resurrection from the dead (Rom. 1:4). See the paper The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243). All of God’s creation is perfect, but we have the choice to mess it up, and we have done so. The Plan is perfect and includes a safety net, so we will all attain to perfection in God’s time. Look at the paper Outline Timetable of the Age (No. 272).

Some of my friends believe the earth is the place of restraint for the angels that sinned. In Luke 8:31 I read where the demons begged not to be cast into the deep or the Abyss. Also Revelation 9:11, 11:7,17:8, IPeter 3:19, IIPeter 2:4 and Jude 6 leads me to believe there is more to this than just the earth in general. Is Abaddon/Apollyon a king restrained also for a future release or is he the same as Satan? Where might this place be? The ocean possibly?

A: The New Testament term is also “Tartaros” which is reserved specifically for the fallen host. Abbadon or Appollyon is the destroyer and, as such, it is another term for Satan and the system he commands. The fallen host or demons have power over the earth and over mankind for 6000 years. At the return of the Messiah, Satan and the demons are restrained for the thousand years of the Millennium.

The pit is death and the texts indicate that the demons are made to die like any man. They are then dealt with in the Second Resurrection like anyone else. This matter has been examined in the papers The Judgment of the Demons (No. 80) and in Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son (No. 199). The timing of the activities is seen from the paper Outline Timetable of the Age (No. 272).

Angels

When asked what is the function of angels or what are they, the most common answer heard is that they are simply messengers indicating that they are basically footmen or errand boys. This does not exactly add up. For instance, the 38th chapter of Job is an explanation to Job as to how everything was created. At verse 7, it says that the sons of God, shouted for joy at the creation. I believe sons of God here refers to the angels, so if they were already around at the creation of the earth, and before the creation of man, then what were they doing up to this point?

A: Yes, that is the point. Angel is from the Greek “aggellos” meaning “messenger” which was applied to the heavenly beings. In the Septuagint the word “aggellos” was used to translate various concepts. It was used to translate “Sons of God” in Deuteronomy 32:8. During the post-Temple period, Jewish scribes changed that to read “Sons of Israel” to get away from the concept of there being sons of God in charge of Israel, as Christ was associated with the Angel of Yahovah as a son of God.

The LXX of Isaiah 9:6 says, “Angel of Great Counsel” for the Messiah who was son of God. Job 1:6 and 2:1 use the term “Aggeloi”, “Angels of God” for the “sons of God.” The same is also in Job 38:4-7 where “angels” were used for “sons of God”. The understanding of the meaning of the Hebrew texts is starting to slip by this time. And the concept of the Hebrew Morning Stars is not well understood by the translators in the LXX translation. Nehemiah says they had to explain the Hebrew to the populace during his time because they no longer understood it, speaking only Aramaic.

Basically, an Angel was a messenger. Before the creation there was no one to carry messages to, and so they were simply all sons of God. When men were created they were sent to men as messengers, and so all of them who were in that capacity were angels. Look at the papers The Angel of YHVH (No. 24); The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243) and How God Became a Family (No. 187). For the long-term plan look at the paper The City of God (No. 180).

Were some people able to recognise angels as soon as they saw them and yet others did not? If they appear as humans are we supposed to know they are angels? 

A: The Patriarchs recognised them, as we see by what they did and said in the Bible. It’s the “duck test.” If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. Sometimes they are with us and we are not informed. We entertain angels unawares (Heb. 13:2). God makes His wishes known through His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7).

These people speak for God. So too, the sons of God in the heavenly Host speak for God, and are sent to men as “angels” or messengers. Look at the papers on the sons of God for example The Angel of YHVH (No. 24) and How God Became a Family (No. 187).

I have been presented with Genesis 48:16 as a supporting scripture to pray to angels. What is the correct understanding of this text?

A: This text, and the comment by Stephen, is the only text in the Bible where Christ is addressed in prayer. Moses spoke to him face to face, and stood between him and Israel, as did David. David addresses him is Psalm 45:6-7. When he says: “Therefore God thy God has anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy partners.” In each of the cases concerned, it is a direct request to Christ in his role as protector of Israel. Look at the paper The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243).

In each case they are used as teaching comments. How would we know that the Angel of Redemption was the elohim of Israel (Zech. 12:8; Heb. 1:8-9), appointed by his God, unless we had the direct testimony of the Patriarchs in the Scriptures to demonstrate this fact? They reflect the direct relationship of the prophets with Christ. We pray to and worship only the One True God.

Physical Creation

Nephilim

Were there human beings alive on this planet before Adam, and when was Adam created? 

A: According to Bishop Ussher’s chronology, Adam was created in 4004 BCE. We know from archaeology that there were beings created on this planet before Homo Sapiens existed.

Thus, there was another creation prior to Adam. The discussion on what the Bible has to say about this is carried on in the works The Nephilim (No. 154) and Doctrine of Original Sin Part 2 The Generations of Adam (No. 248).

The interpretation of Genesis to confine the creation to the sons of Seth and the sons of Cain was an invention by Augustine of Hippo in the early fifth century. It denied the understanding of the ancients and left Christianity entirely unprepared to cope with the modern scientific finds of the last two hundred years. This one single false doctrine of Augustine has made the destruction of Creation theory with the false doctrine of evolution possible.

Are you aware of any information in the comparison of pre-Adam humanoid DNA and post-Adam DNA? Do you see any conflict with Bible scripture and archaeology finds?

A: Yes, recent tests made on the Neanderthals have isolated their DNA structure and it is a 27-strand system whereas a human is an 8-strand. We are trying to isolate the Cro-Magnon to see the exact divergence between it and modern humans. There seems to be a reluctance to discuss this issue of release of any results, if tests have in fact been done. What we have so far is indicative that modern primates are of a totally unrelated creation to the Neanderthals. The humanoids we have so far from Australia, such as the Arunka and Kowe Swamp people, have marked divergences from modern humans. Their mitochondrial DNA differs from modern humans. The Lake Nitchie Male was a giant. These aspects have been covered in the paper The Nephilim (No. 154).

I understand that the pre-Adamic creation was inferior and as stated in Isaiah has no resurrection. The Nephilim are not resurrected because they are not fit physical receptacles able to be acted upon by the Holy Spirit. Is this correct? After 6000 years of misrule of this planet multiple vectors such as viruses, transposons, etc that are able to insert foreign genetic material into our DNA could cause man to become nearly as corrupt as the Nephilim. If the fallen host were given a much longer time period than 6000 years, they could achieve what they tried to achieve with the Nephilim. Do you agree with this?

A: The solution is that the Creation was made in the image of God so that the Holy Spirit could be implanted or superimposed over it. The degradation of the species is certainly happening. It is probable that the limitation of the creation to 6000 years was to limit the degradation of the species by its genetic isolation and other problems. The lessening of the life spans indicates a problem. Also, it appears that there has been a deliberate attempt to interfere with the DNA makeup of humans by the Host through the pre-flood structure of the Nephilim.

There is no doubt that the Neanderthals were of a completely different system but the later structure was not. Neanderthals reportedly have a 27-strand system and the current primates have an 8-strand system. We have more in common with chimpanzee DNA than with the Neanderthals. Our capacity to survive may well be limited if it went any longer than 6000 years unchecked.

I’ve read several responses on resurrection and you state that the Nephilim have no resurrection, but Satan and his demons will have a chance to repent. Can you explain why?

A: The fallen host were all part of God’s Creation and were made in his image and through His will. They can repent and can be used. The Nephilim were not part of God’s Creation. They were made by the fallen host specifically to frustrate the Plan of God, and they are not in the image of God. Thus, they cannot function with the Holy Spirit as the demons are able to do.

God is obliged logically and morally to extend repentance to His Creation, but not to things created by the demons contrary to His Will. Thus, He will extend that capacity to the demons and they will be judged by us according to Scripture (1Cor. 6:3). In like manner, He has said that capacity will not be extended to the Nephilim. They have no resurrection (Isa. 26:14). Look at the papers The Judgment of the Demons (No. 80); The Resurrection of the Dead (No. 143) and Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son (No. 199).

Noah was chosen to be saved in the Ark because his lineage was perfect. I understand that to mean that his lineage was not corrupted by the Nephilim. All these humans that were corrupted by the Nephilim and died in the flood would be resurrected wouldn’t they? If all of the Nephilim did not perish in the flood, are their descendants subject to resurrection or not?

A: No, the Nephilim/Rephaim have no resurrection as we know from Isaiah 26:13. The whole matter of who they were and what happened before and after the flood is covered in the paper The Nephilim (No. 154).

Adam and Eve

Why would God desire a physical human creation when He had already created spirit angelic beings to be sons of God? Why not just create more angels? What is the difference in the roles of entering His family?

A: This question is perhaps the most fundamental question to the plan of salvation. God could have made spiritual sons as many as He needed or wanted. Why then did he create a weaker physical creation that was then placed under the spiritual creation?

The same question then applies to the physical creation. Why did God create humans in a sequence of breeding animals that would suffer and perhaps die in the process? Why did they eventually die anyway? Why did He not create them all at once and simply educate them?

The answer is both simple and complex. In this way He would have to be obeyed and the entire creation would have to walk by faith. The angelic host would have to see the physical creation destined for some event as sons of God and would have to walk by faith and nurture them as ministering spirits as parents nurture children. The human creation could see even less and that is why faith exhibited in them is greater.

Satan used the creation to bring one third of the host to rebellion. These rebellious sons were then placed in charge of the creation to test both and to judge both.

The church is a group called out to test and judge the demons as they are measured against the standard we set. In the Millennium we will do the job they were set to do now under God’s laws. The demons decided to create another system with another structure of worship that does not work. So we see that the structure was made to ensure that the elect walked by faith and only those who exercise faith and obedience are made sons of God in power from the resurrection of the dead.

The sons of God had to be tested by faith and tested by their duties. Thus the spiritual creation was tested by the physical creation and both come to salvation together. Look at the papers How God Became a Family (No. 187); The Judgment of the Demons (No. 80); The Purpose of the Creation and the Sacrifice of Christ (No. 160) and The City of God (No. 180).

What is mankind’s ultimate destiny?

A: The purpose of the creation of man is to rule as God (Zech. 12:8). The name Israel means literally “he shall rule as God.” We were created to raise ourselves and the sons of God of the Angelic host in a sense of mutual interaction and shared responsibility. We are to get ourselves, and the Host, through the Resurrections to the City of God. Look at the papers The Purpose of the Creation and the Sacrifice of Christ (No. 160) and The City of God (No. 180). We will rule the heavens and we can only guess, at present, at what God has in store for us and the rest of the Host (1Cor. 2:9; Deut. 4:19).

In the Garden of Eden, why didn’t Adam rebuke Eve for eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, instead of following along with her?

  1. It was his responsibility to rebuke her. He did not and the way we are dealt with was changed. However, God knew that he would do it and that it would also become necessary to send Christ to become leader as the slain lamb. We were written in the Book of the Lamb, The Book of Life and of the Resurrection from the foundation of the world.

Thus, God understood the events and they were provided for in the system of Salvation. Look at the papers The Doctrine of Original Sin Part I The Garden of Eden (No. 246) and Doctrine of Original Sin Part 2 The Generations of Adam (No. 248).

The Old Testament says that Adam was created about 5000 years before Jesus Christ, but actually there have been several civilisations like the Pharaohs in year 4200 BCE and the Chinese before that. Scientifically, they found some human bones dated millions of years back. How can we justify this contradiction? 

A: According to Ussher’s chronology, which follows the Bible, Adam was created in 4005/4 BCE. The explanation of the pre-Adamic creation is contained in the paper The Nephilim (No. 154). Look also at the papers The Doctrine of Original Sin Part 1 The Garden of Eden (No. 246) and Doctrine of Original Sin Part 2 The Generations of Adam (No. 248).

Do you have any idea why so many of the children’s stories only represent Adam and Eve sinning and making themselves loin coverings of fig leaves (Gen. 3:7)? Most accounts stop the story there and do not explain the time frame, how Adam and Eve were being taught by God, or how even after their sin God made them garments of skin and clothed Adam and his wife (Gen.3:21).

A: The stopping of the text here is based on a number of false premises. Firstly, the efforts by them were man-made efforts and in contrast to the God-made clothing of animal skins. The emphasis is thus on the human effort and not on God’s effort (cf. Rom. 8:3).

The popular presentations are for a number of reasons. The Gnostics and their doctrines were ascetic vegetarians and wished to conceal the fact of the killing of animals and the consumption of meat. Look at the paper Vegetarianism and the Bible (No. 183).

The leaves also have symbolism among the mystery cults. Thus, they were portrayed more readily. The oak leaves are clearly condemned in the Bible. The priests of Attis in Rome also tattooed themselves with ivy leaves, which were sacred to their god. Thus, the leaf is often used in their symbols, as was the phallus or Asherah, and the kid.

Was the forbidden fruit really an apple? I don’t see that in my Bible, could you tell me where it says that Eve ate an apple? 

A: The notion that Eve gave Adam an apple is not biblical. It comes from the myths and mysteries and is associated with the golden fruit of discord. The full story is contained in the paper The Doctrine of Original Sin Part 1 The Garden of Eden (No. 246).

I believe in God but one thing I have difficulty understanding is if “Adam and Eve” were supposedly the first humans on earth, then where did all the distinct races of man come from? 

A: There is only one race, the human race. We are all brothers. The tongues were confused at Babel. It is a bit like the breeding of animals. The darker skinned people were basically developed, in terms of skin pigmentation, over many years. The fairer ones were in countries where they wore more clothing. However, they are still the same people with the same basic structure. The blood types or categories vary from east to west but they still have the same basic varieties.

In animal terms, we can say that the German Shepherd and the Sheepdog both come from the wolf, and not so long ago. Even though they look different they are both dogs. The creation is dealt with at The Doctrine of Original Sin Part 1 The Garden of Eden (No. 246) and the Doctrine of Original Sin Part 2 The Generations of Adam (No. 248). The pre-Adamic creation destroyed with the flood is covered in the paper The Nephilim (No. 154).

All variations of the human species are explicable in the variations we see occurring from pigmentation and family/tribal likenesses. The finds in the Choukoutien Cave in China indicate the coexistence of families with what we consider vast racial differences within what appears to be the one family group.

These findings by anthropologists are examined in the light of a series of humanoids that existed before modern man but which have no link to them. This matter is examined in the paper The Nephilim (No. 154). The matters have also been examined in the paper The Fall of Egypt (No. 36). This complex matter is too large to be explained here in detail.

God’s word teaches that it is incest to marry a brother or sister, yet how else could the family of Adam and Eve grow? Is it possible He made wives for the sons as He made one for Adam? 

A: This matter is explained in the papers Rachel and the Law (No. 281) and Doctrine of Original Sin Part 2 The Generations of Adam (No. 248). It is also forbidden in other aspects, but Lot produced Ammon and Moab through his daughters contrary to Law. They perceived it as necessity knowing that the world would end by fire and they believed they were in that position then.

‘And Cain knew his wife’. Was she his sister? Why could she live alone before marriage, without being afraid of wild animals?

A: She may have been his sister or she may have been one of the Nephilim. It is likely that she was his sister as that was the only explanation for the sons of Adam keeping their generations pure. Look at the paper The Doctrine of Original Sin Part 1 The Garden of Eden (No. 246); Doctrine of Original Sin Part 2 The Generations of Adam (248) and The Nephilim (No. 154).

Did man eat vegetables or meat first? I say vegetables since they were easier to get than hunting meat.

A: It is believed man had a balanced diet from the beginning (Gen. 1:28-30). The Adamic species has a delineated process from the Bible record. This is covered in the papers The Doctrine of Original Sin Part I The Garden of Eden (No. 246) and Doctrine of Original Sin Part 2 The Generations of Adam (No. 248) and also Vegetarianism and the Bible (No. 183). The paper, The Nephilim (No. 154) might give you some other views of interest regarding the last 140,000 years.

There are divisions to this question. In the case of pre-Adamic man, the answer is both. Man was omnivorous and ate both fruits and also grubs and insects on them and in the trees. The body structure of vegetarians make for significant guts, and this is evidenced by Australopithecines skeletal reconstructions such as Lucy.

What was the physical condition of the early biblical people? Did they exercise? What do you know of their diet? What did they do when struck with an illness? Why were so many struck with leprosy and blindness? Didn’t they have a lot of knowledge of medicinal plants, oils and such?

A: Well, if the ages of the patriarchs are any indication, they were of a vastly superior diet and genetic structure than we are. It appears we have seen a degeneration in the age of man as we have gone from a longevity of 120 years to 70 years, and we are varying downwards on that due to other problems. The diet of the ancients can be seen from the paper The Food Laws (No. 15).

Also they had superior forms of grain then which had the necessary vitamins and minerals. We have developed superior yields, which have in many cases decreased benefit. They did get a lot of exercise because they walked everywhere, or rode horses and camels and donkeys. Their knowledge of drugs was reasonably high. We now have direct evidence that they imported tobacco and cocaine into the Middle East from America at the time of King David (ca. 1000 BCE). They had extensive use of herbs and medicines.

Our evidence also shows advanced surgery such as trepanning in early times. The failure to keep the quarantine laws resulted in the transmission of leprosy. Blindness often resulted from infections carried from birth through immorality, as it does to this day. They had a great capacity for navigation, and there was a sea and trading empire from Israel and Phoenicia from 1000 BCE onwards. There was degeneration in world conditions from the fourth century. In the sixth century there was a series of cataclysms, along with the attitude of the Church, which contributed to the Dark Ages. From this time, the world lost vast levels of knowledge and we are only now putting together what was actually lost.

Noah

In the past some ministers have said one of Noah’s sons was married to a black woman, one married an oriental woman and one married a white woman. This, they explain (or speculate), was to keep the 3 races alive. After the flood they separated by migrating. I have a hard time believing this and wonder if the true reason we have people of different colours is due to the environment and that we are all really the same “race”, the human race, with the same parents Adam and Eve. After all we see a type of evolution within the various “kinds” of animals depending on what part of the world they are from, etc. What do you think about the origin of the various “races”?

A: This view postpones the issue back to Adam (meaning the one who was ruddy or red). Another variation was that Noah had the capacity to throw hybrids, being pure in his generations. This is the real basis of the explanations. Every variety of dog on the planet came from two forms based on the wolf. The capacity to be in various forms was inherent in the early peoples.

Our finds in the Choukoutien Upper Cave in China (discovered 1930 excavated by Pei (1939, 1940) in 1933 show a peculiar group. This one group comprised of two adult males, two adult females, one adolescent, one child, and one baby showed a surprising spread of racial characteristics. The female skulls were a Melanesoid and an Eskimoid. Of the two adult males, one was elderly (estimated at 60), and was relative to the Obercassel skull but was defined as being primitive Mongoloid. Weidenreich (1939) defined these as being of three different racial types, primitive Mongoloid, Melanesoid and Eskimoid type (R.M. and C.H. Berndt, Aboriginal Man in Australia, 1965, p. 30).

Professor Berndt was of the view that current Australians are related to the ancient Egyptians and the Indian Dravidians.  Egyptian relics have allegedly been found in some parts of Australia (cf. notes to I.L. Idriess’ Drums of Mer first edition re the ancient artefacts in the caves of the Zogo Le). There are also numerous boomerangs from the tomb of Tutankhamen now in the Egyptian museum.

The Choukoutien finds were in the one cave in the same strata, all living together so it seems. This indicates that the family groups, who resettled China, all had the diverse genetic capacity to encompass at least three racial groups in the one family system. This matter has not been fully examined from this point of view for obvious reasons.

The Epic of Gilgamesh states that Noah also took the artisans on board with their families as well. If looked at in this light, then the eight people were the heads of families and the women were not counted among the eight. This raises other matters as well. The eruption of the Nephilim is placed in the Midrash at the foot of Og, who allegedly stowed away on the top of the ark and Noah allowed him to remain. Look at the paper The Nephilim (No. 154).

The question of the diversity of current racial types is simply explained as one of pigmentation and localised breeding patterns. For example, one can tell someone from Manx as they have a peculiar line to their ears in relation to the jaw, which is not seen elsewhere in Britain. Pigmentation is simply resistance to the sun’s rays. Modern mapping of the genome and DNA shows we are all from the same ancestors, and not all that far back. The discussion is now merely where and how far.

Was Noah’s flood a worldwide catastrophe or was it limited to the Mediterranean area? If it was worldwide, how was it possible for Noah to gather all the species of plants and animals into the ark? 

A: The Bible indicates it was worldwide. A localised flood scenario has been mooted to resolve the problems seen by geologists and archaeologists working to the current accepted theories of planet age. The Ark was basically a box that God told Noah to build, which Noah did, over a period of one hundred years.

The animals of the earth were the responsibility of God to collect, and he did so collect them. The genetic diversity of the animals was contained in the mother species, and they had the capacity over the following millennia to diversify. Plants did not need to be gathered as they were seed driven and simply germinated when conditions were ready, as they do now. The same is true with spores and others.

Many seeds were taken into the ark as well in the form of food supplies. With, for example, the desert plants and eucalyptus, fire is needed to germinate the seeds. Wood is preserved underwater for a long time, so all the forests were either swept to certain areas, as appears to be the case in the North Pole area with the trees and mammoths etc., or left in areas to generate, first through grass to start the next series off.

We are finding out more and more about the species of the planet. In fact, the procedures for mapping the human genome have shown that the entire creation is based on a similar model. All humans are 99.99 percent exactly the same, and so it is with other species. There is no race other than the human race, and most animals are of the one common species. Mammals are all based on a similar blue print.

We know that this is not so with the DNA of the Neanderthals for example as they are an entirely different structure to our DNA and even chimpanzees, with which we have more in common than the Neanderthals. Look at the paper The Nephilim (No. 154).

During a sermon, our pastor was preaching on faith. He made the statement, “Look at the faith of Noah. God told Noah to build the ark before he even had a family (a wife, three sons, and daughters-in-law).” He said if you will read this chronologically you will see that this is true. Can you explain this to me?

A: The Bible says at Genesis 6:10: “And Noah begat three sons Shem, Ham and Japeth.” He then proceeds to tell Noah (V. 14) that the earth is corrupt and orders him to build the ark. The sons helped to build the ark. Other versions of this flood account all agree in this aspect (cf. The Epic of Gilgamesh).

The genealogies, up to the flood, are covered in the paper Doctrine of Original Sin Part 2 The Generations of Adam (No. 248). The genealogy of Shem, the youngest son of Noah, is covered in the paper Melchisedek (No. 128).

 

Tower of Babel

What in your opinion was God’s purpose at the Tower of Babel? What do you think He was trying to accomplish? 

A: The dispersion at Babel was to ensure that mankind did not become as elohim of their own accord and destroy the planet under Satan before time.

Satan had been given 6000 years as Morning Star of the planet. As it is Christ is going to have to return so that we are saved. If he did not there would be no flesh left alive. The plan of Salvation can be seen from the papers. Look at the papers Outline Timetable of the Age (No. 272); Lucifer: Light Bearer and Morning Star (No. 223) and The Millennium and the Rapture (No. 95). There are also many other papers dealing with prophecy.

What exactly was happening at the tower of Babel, and why was God so worried about it? Seems to me there must have been a bit more going on there than just building a church with a tall steeple that would reach the heavens. 

A: Yes, there was a lot more to it. The false system at Babel was destroyed and the languages confused so that man would not progress at a rate that was so fast as to endanger the existence of the planet too early within the time frame given to Satan.

They would become as elohim but without the Holy Spirit and thus destroy this planet and hence, the Plan of God. The system you see unfolding now might have happened two or more thousand years ago. The planet would not exist now.

Abraham

Did Hagar or Ishmael receive any blessings for their relationship to Abram? 

A: Indeed, they did receive a blessing. Christ himself said, at the direction of God, He would bless Ishmael and make a mighty nation from him (Gen. 21:17-18).

Look at the various papers that deal with Abraham: Why was Abraham called “the Friend of God” (No. 35); The Angel and Abraham’s Sacrifice (No. 71); Abraham and Sodom (No. 91) and also look at Genesis 22, Judaism, Islam and the Sacrifice of Isaac (No. 244).

The Law

Is there a reason why the commandments were given on two tables of stone? 

A: Yes, there is a reason. The two tablets were small and they were carried by Moses. They appear to have been written on both sides. The tablets appear to be duplicates as a double witness. The tablets of the law were placed within the Ark of the Covenant (See the papers The Ark of the Covenant (No. 196) and Distinction in the Law (No. 96).)

The Law is explained in the series The Law of God (No. L1). The concept of being written on stone was one of God, who is the rock (Ps. 17:31) from which we, and Christ, are all cut (Isa 51:1) and who engraves his Law in our hearts through his power. He becomes all in all.

In Deuteronomy 10 it talks about the covenant (Ex. 34:28) being the Ten Commandments that were written on the 2 tablets. In verse 5 it says he put the tablets IN THE ARK. Is this the LAW that is the New Covenant that is written in the minds and hearts of the elect? Is there more significance to this that you could expound on?

A: Yes, that is the significance both of the Ark and of the tablets being placed inside it. The Law of God was to be placed in the hearts and minds of the elect. This aspect is examined in the papers: Distinction in the Law (No. 96); The Ark of the Covenant (No. 196); The Oracles of God (No. 184) and The Law of God (No. L1).

Are the commandments in two lots of 4 and 6 or 5 and 5? 

A: Assuming you refer to the divisions based on the two great Commandments of the Law; the First Great Commandment is “You shall love the Lord your God with all your mind and with all your heart and with all your strength.” The second is like unto it. “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” The Commandments fall into two natural divisions of the first four dealing with the love of God and the last six dealing with the love of man. Thus the Fourth Commandment, dealing with the Sabbath day, covers the aspects of the Law and the testimony concerning God’s Calendar and His worship and is the technical end of the First Great Commandment proper.

The Fifth Commandment, concerning the love of father and mother, is the first with a promise. It relates to life on this earth and the formation of the family, which is the building block on which God has chosen to build society. This extends into the heavenly family of the Church and the sons of God. Thus, this Commandment forms a link between the first four and the last six so that, in a sense, both answers are correct.

The Law is divided into two great commandments the first four and the last six linked by the fifth, which joins both the First and the Second Great Commandments. Look at the papers in the series on The Law of God (No. L1) and the associated reference papers as well.

Could you please define and interpret the first commandment?

A: It is written (Ex. 20:2-3):

“I am the Lord thy God Which has brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the House of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

Roman Catholics join the second commandment to this commandment and split the tenth commandment into two, which is impossible, based on the text in Deuteronomy 5.

The words for “Lord thy God” here is not simply “Yahovah.” It is “Yahovah Elohim” meaning God in His extended and creative sense. If it were Yahovah, as Bullinger says, it might be argued that the Law was limited to Israel, which it is not.

The first two Commandments are in the first person. The remainder are in the third person. Deuteronomy has the same structure for the first two Commandments. The section in Deuteronomy is argued to be a repeat and definite explanation by Moses of the original ten, which were in Exodus (cf. Soncino Commentary, Chumash p. 458).

“Thou shalt have no other elohim before me” means that no other elohim is to be placed before, or worshipped as, or in place of the One True God, who in the singular is “Eloah” the God of the Temple who placed His name at Jerusalem. See the text in Ezra 4:24-7:26 for the use of Eloah in relation to the Temple and the Law. It is the Law of Eloah.

Eloah has a son from Proverbs 30:4-5. Thus, the Son is not the One True God, Eloah. The First Commandment and the application of the Law and the Prophets have been outlined in the text Law and the First Commandment (No. 253) which was prepared for the Reading of the Law in the Sabbath Year of 1998.

Knowledge of the One True God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent, is eternal life (John 17:3). Explanation of the names of God and of the position of Jesus Christ are contained in the papers The Names of God (No. 116); God Revealed Chapter 1 – Ancient Monotheism (No. G1) and The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243).

 

Exodus 16 (before the 10 commandments were given) vs. 23 “…then he said to them, This is what the Lord meant: Tomorrow is a Sabbath Rest (how did they know it was the Sabbath since it wasn’t given at Sinai? It must have been through oral transmission from Adam to Moses) a Holy Sabbath to the Lord.” Vs. 28 “Then the Lord said to Moses ‘How long do you refuse to keep my commandments and my instruction? Vs. 29 “The Lord has (past tense) given you the Sabbath…”. When did God give them the Sabbath?

A: The law was given to Adam at the creation. Not only was the Sabbath established then but also the sacrifices and the Calendar were established. Abel’s sacrifice was more acceptable to God than Cain’s because it was a blood sacrifice and he was more righteous.

The SDA doctrine of preflood vegetarianism is quite wrong, as is the notion that the law was not given until Sinai. Look at the paper Vegetarianism and the Bible (No. 183) and also Rachel and the Law (No. 281). The Passover also preceded Sinai and the New Moons, and the sequence of the Calendar was set in place from the first week of the creation. Look also at the paper God’s Calendar (No. 156). Look also at the papers The Doctrine of Original Sin Part I The Garden of Eden (No. 246) and Doctrine of Original Sin Part 2 The Generations of Adam (No. 248). The preflood system was destroyed because it broke the laws of God. See the paper The Nephilim (No. 154).

The commandments were in place and known when Abraham went into Egypt. See the paper Abraham and Sodom (No. 91). Look also at the paper The Doctrine of Balaam and Balaam’s Prophecy (No. 204). Abraham tithed to Melchisedek over four hundred years before Sinai. See the paper Melchisedek (No. 128).

The Fourth Commandment covers a system of God’s order and the system will be enforced when Christ returns. Look at the paper Law and the Fourth Commandment (No. 256). The Sabbaths will be kept with the New Moons (Isa. 66:23). The feasts will be kept and the nations will send their representatives to Jerusalem each year, or they will get no rain in due season and the plagues of Egypt will be brought down on them. This is Scripture and Scripture cannot be broken.

Reading the Law

We are seeing instruction at Deuteronomy 31:9-12 to read the Law every Sabbath year at the Feast of Tabernacles. On which day at the Feast is this to be done? The idea that the law is to be read on one day is a Jewish idea and they do it on the Last Great Day.

A: The Law was read over the entire feast in the seventh year. To read the Law and the testimony correctly, utilising the Law and the Prophets and explaining it correctly as Ezra and Nehemiah did at Jerusalem, takes the entire feast of Tabernacles.

That is why God demands it be done every seventh year, and that it is set aside for the purposes of the reading so that Israel does not forget the Laws of God. Look at the papers Reading the Law with Ezra and Nehemiah (No. 250) and the Law series listed under The Law of God (No. L1) which were read at the commanded Reading of the Law in 1998.

Society

How does the uncleanness until sundown relate to us today as being sanctified? Is there a time now, or a time in the future that He does not want us to sleep with our wives? If so, when and why would this be do you think?

A: The whole process of sanctification for the Seventh of the First month and the Tenth of the Seventh month logically requires fasting from all aspects, including our partners.

The separation from our partners in total will come at the Advent. The High Priests always regarded themselves as being separate when they went into the Temple on the sacred days. They disqualified themselves when ritually unclean. We have to prepare ourselves to enter into a relationship with Christ.

Could you please explain these passages about the days and what is meant about not coming near your wives? I believe this has to do with the second coming of Jesus, but I am not really sure.

  1. The process involves the sanctification of the elect. Under the law a man was ritually unclean if he had an issue of semen until sundown and the aim here was to ensure the host of Israel was sanctified in the day that the Lord was to come to them.

The process of the sanctification of Israel is examined and explained in the papers The Sanctification of the Temple of God (No. 241) and The Sanctification of the Simple and the Erroneous (No. 291). See also Ezekiel 45:18-20.

The entire process of the calendar and the sanctification that takes place in the structure of the plan of God as explained in the calendar and its Sabbaths new Moons and Holy Days all point to Messiah and the restoration of the planet. Look at the papers God’s Calendar (No. 156) and Law and the Fourth Commandment (No. 256).

 

We are the Temple of God and the Law of God will live in our hearts. We will go from the church to the nations to the world as the Temple of God and will become the City of God. Look at the papers The Oracles of God (No. 184); Measuring the Temple (No. 137) and The City of God (No. 180).

Why was a woman considered unclean for forty days after giving birth to a male child, and eighty days after giving birth to a female child?

A: There are some very difficult issues arising from the laws of female purification (cf. Purification and Circumcision (No. 251)). Science has studied food in many of its aspects, especially its physiology and nutritional value. As a result, we can now understand why certain foods are “clean” and others are not and have been forbidden to us (see the paper The Food Laws (No. 15)). However, for generations we have been following those food laws simply because God told us to. We understand that God gave us His laws in order for us to be able to lead healthy, well balanced, well ordered lives. The laws relating to women have not been studied in the same way; therefore, we must do as we have always done. Rely on the fact that if God has said so, then it is in our best interests to do so. These matters are also qualified in and by their spiritual aspects, as they relate to Messiah.

The term “unclean woman” might bother many people. It seems to be offensive, but it is not. It is simply a time of separation because the woman requires rest and understanding. The term “unclean” is not the equivalent of “sinner.” The purification is scientifically a time of cleansing for seven days. It is a natural and physical act, where the lining of the womb, in not receiving a fertile ovum for the process of impregnation, is rejected during menstruation. Normally, it is a period of seven days in every 28. This process of cleaning permits the continuation of human kind for which this law, in the same manner as all the others, is a blessing from God (Gen. 1:28). The fulfilling of the laws are tied to the daily life of the human being. The Law of God is in force in its totality both physically and spiritually (2Cor. 7:1).

In the text in Leviticus 12:4 we see the term “to touch not what is holy.” In these terms we see the parallel symbolism that goes to setting apart the elect in purification. This distinction was made until Christ. The theory was that the woman in her condition would defile that which was holy. However, that which was holy would also sanctify that which was in a state of purification. For this reason, the woman who was in a state of discharge and in need of cure was made clean by touching Christ’s garment. This did not make Christ unclean but rather the Holy Spirit flowed from Him to her making her clean.

Matthew 9:20-22  And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. (KJV)

This action pointed towards two things. One was that Christ was the new High Priest whose hem was set apart from Exodus 28:33-34; 39:25-26 and whose headband was also Holiness to the Lord (Ex. 28:36; 39:30). The second lesson was that by faith through the Holy Spirit cleanliness and purification are extended to the sick and the infirm. This is repeated again in Matthew, that we might see the importance of the presence of Christ to the impact of the Law and the prophets and the restoration of the sick and the infirm and the unclean.

Thus, from the Law, that which was unholy could not touch that which was holy. This was asked of the priests and the answer was given. Yet from God’s own law and prophecy the same situation pointed towards a time when God would pour out his Spirit on all flesh and make it Holy within His law and He would write it on their hearts. This action was accomplished through Messiah.

Thus all flesh was made holy in the Spirit and was cleansed through Messiah in the Holy Spirit. The Purification legislation pointed towards the cleansing of the human mother as Israel the Church, and Bride of Christ, and mother of the new nation. From this position we see that the mother is cleansed and may partake of the Lord’s Supper and Passover as one of the elect, being cleansed in the Holy Spirit.

If Christians are supposed to keep the Old Testament food laws, what about other Old Testament laws such as not wearing garments mingled of wool and linen? What about the quarantine legislation, and when a woman has an issue of blood? Are Christians to observe these also?

A: Yes, they are supposed to keep those laws. Some matters are covered in the paper Purification and Circumcision (No. 251). Quarantine legislation is very important and badly neglected. TB was eradicated in Australia by concerted effort forty years ago and now, through failure to observe strict quarantine, it is back and some of it is resistant.

When one is asked to testify in a court of law, one is asked to “swear.” But I believe scripture indicates not to swear.

Do you have any suggestions of how to handle the situation?

A: Israel swore oaths before God. The Law says thou “shalt not swear by my name falsely, nor profane the name of thy God. I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:12). There are many references to Israel swearing to truth. David swore an oath to Jonathan (1Sam. 20:12). Israel was made to swear (Ezra 10:5). Isaiah 65:16 prophecies that the earth shall swear by the God of truth and Scripture cannot be broken.

The idea of not swearing in Christianity comes from Matthew 5:34-36 when Christ said: “Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is His footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.”

This was interpreted as meaning you shall not swear an oath at all. For that reason, affirmations were permitted in a court of law. The text by Christ is “let your yes be yes and your no be no.” The sense of this was that pagans were swearing by their mother’s graves, and by all sorts of other strange ideas. The oath is: “Do you swear by almighty God to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?” This is in accord with the sentiment of the text in Isaiah. The word “swear” has been changed to “affirm” and the term “Almighty God” has been removed. Pressure for the change came from Atheists and Pagans, but it also assisted the truly devout to avoid the possibility that they were in contravention of the dictum of Christ here in Matthew 5:34-37. Thus, he produced a hedge around the sentiment of swearing using the texts in Exodus 20:7; Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21. Thus, we can deduce that Judah had introduced practices regarding swearing under the Law which contravened the Law and the Spirit of God. Look at the papers Law and the Ninth Commandment (No. 262); Law and the Third Commandment (No. 255)  and Swearing By God (No. 32)).

What is your view on what the punishment should be for violence on the innocent?

A: The implementation of punishment is contained in the papers on The Law of God (No. L1). Look at the papers: Law and the Sixth Commandment (No. 259); Law and the Seventh Commandment (No. 260); Law and the Eighth Commandment (No. 261) and Law and the Ninth Commandment (No. 262).

In the second resurrection, violence to the innocent is made good by God. All are resurrected and all are retrained in the Holy Spirit. Look at the logic of the release of Satan. At the end of the Millennium, God orders the release of Satan in order to deal with the planet. He also has allowed him to remain in power on this planet for six thousand years when he has the power to restrain him, and does so restrain him for the Millennium.

In this sense God is complicit in the evils of this world and responsible for allowing the evils to take place. Do we then judge God: By no means. This whole creation is a teaching exercise and at the end of it we will lose no one. We will keep the laws of God and love one another because it is clear to us all what will happen when we do not do so. The purpose of all punishment is the rehabilitation and protection of all people concerned.

What is your position on the death penalty? Is it biblical? If so, how should it be accomplished?

A: Yes, every one of the Ten Commandments is backed by the death penalty. The application of the death penalty is covered in the paper Law and the Sixth Commandment (No. 259) and Law and the Fifth Commandment (No. 258).

Leviticus 19:28 and Deuteronomy 14:2 teaches a Bible student what in relation to tattoos?

A: Tattooing and marking or carapacing is an ancient practice that is forbidden under the laws of God. The origins of the system are found in most ancient societies. The word (tat) actually comes from Polynesia and means, “to strike repeatedly.” The history and ancient times in both Egypt and Mesopotamia are in the paper Tattooing (No. 5). The earliest tattoos in ancient Egypt had the form of a fly (associated perhaps or seemingly with the god of Ekron) and also a form of cross like a swastika.

I appreciate the Biblical direction to “Owe no man.” I have been reading how the 7th year of a 7-year cycle should work. It would appear to me that there is provision to “owe” others at least for a time, otherwise why would debt that lingered past the 6th year need to be forgiven in the 7th year? In this day and age there seems no way to purchase land or houses within 6 years. How can we live in current economic conditions and obey this law?

A: The Bible is quite clear that it is improper to charge interest on any loan. Our world system makes slaves of our children and our poor. No debt can be carried on past the Sabbath year. We should owe no man anything. We should pay our debts. This is very difficult in modern society. Our people have virtually been sold into slavery by the system we have. We are all trying to get out of debt and simplify our lifestyles. We all find this very hard, and we have made it harder for our children than it was for us. The Jews get around this by saying that only applies to the Jews but they are only one of twelve tribes. Our houses are over priced. Our people are destroyed for lack of knowledge and those who obey God’s Laws make themselves prey. Look at the papers on The Law of God (No. L1), and especially Law and the Eighth Commandment (No. 261).

 

Is it okay to gamble? Surely it is simply spending hard-earned money to make more?

A: The Law works on productive increase. The making of money off the losses of another is contrary to the spirit of the Law of God. The Roman Catholic Church condones and in fact uses gambling. That is almost unique in the English speaking system. Gambling in America and Australia has been allowed to increase and the poker machine system has intruded virtually everywhere, such that the results are catastrophic. Gambling can become compulsive addictive behaviour for some as is the case with alcoholics and other drugs users. Compulsive gamblers lie, cheat and even steal to maintain and support their habit. At this point it destroys relationships, marriages and families. Many resort to suicide when things are out of control.

Problem gamblers have a specific mind-set in which the brain operates differently to that of other people. The prospect of gain makes the brain cross transfer impulses and produces larger than normal activity. They can’t help what they do. The pleasure is in the rush of actually risking all and losing. It is only the loss that is the true and full release. The social costs of gambling are horrendous and it will be stamped out in a just society

Food Laws

We are careful to obey Gods food laws. A friend of ours does not eat mushrooms because they have spores to reproduce and he does not consider a spore to be a seed. Have I been wrong in eating mushrooms?

A: No, Mushrooms can be eaten. This idea came from the concept that as we were given seeds to eat and clean animals and spore driven items were not specifically mentioned then anything that grows from spores is unclean in that they are not mentioned among the foods to be eaten or not eaten.

If spore borne items were not to be eaten as unclean then we would be in real trouble. We could not eat Leavened Bread at all as yeast is a spore product. The offerings at Pentecost would be a bizarre contradiction as the two loaves at Pentecost are leavened. God would be ordering us to contradict his own laws.

Beer is leavened by yeast. Wine is yeast fermented. Wild spores are in the air and we eat them all the time. All food has been exposed to some spore activity. Yet God tells us that only for seven days are we not to eat leaven. This is a case of excess zeal not according to knowledge. The people who said this no doubt are trying to be faithful to what they know but have picked up this error from some of the more way out groups keeping the food laws.

One of the academics in the Oxford/Cambridge system published a book a few years ago now about Christ and the mushroom cult. That sort of reasoning is the result of an overactive imagination. The Church of God should be able to see through this error.

We know the food laws are in effect, but if someone needs supplements, i.e. calcium, should it be from a clean animal or plant-based or because it is not being consumed for food, it does not matter? 

A: This is an interesting point. Most food supplements that are required are necessitated by vegetarianism, which is a perversion of Bible laws. If the food laws are obeyed and clean animals are consumed, the necessity for food supplements is considerably reduced. If quality vegetables are consumed in proportion, then the likelihood is reduced. If vitamins were needed, then the manufacturing process would not normally involve unclean animals. In the case of insulin, there are types available from clean animals. The Food laws protect the planet and its environment as well. Look at the papers The Food Laws (No. 15); Vegetarianism and the Bible (No. 183); Wine in the Bible (No. 188) and Balance (No. 209).

Some people I know refuse to eat pork and certain fish. Are they just being fanatical or could there be a valid reason for this in this century with refrigeration available?

A: There is a valid reason for it. The food laws were given in the Bible. God does nothing without good reason. The food laws were dismissed by anthropologists such as Mary Douglas on taboo grounds. Drs. Nanji and French had demonstrated in 1986 that pork was a cause of cirrhosis of the liver. There are a host of other scientific reasons that are covered in the paper The Food Laws (No. 15).

 

There are sound reasons for not eating all the unclean varieties prohibited in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 and the handling legislation. The Foodlaws were not eliminated in the New Testament and Acts 10 concerns the conversion of the Gentiles, and not Peter eating unclean food. Look also at the papers Balance (No. 209); Vegetarianism and the Bible (No. 183) and Wine in the Bible (No. 188).

Do biblical food laws prohibit eating meat? Or just certain meats like pork?

A: The food laws prohibit the eating of certain types of meat such as pork. All animals that chew the cud and have cloven hooves are clean to eat. Thus, one can eat a giraffe but not a pig. The pig, among other things, has been demonstrated to cause cirrhosis of the liver due to a chemical in the soft tissue of its flesh that cannot be removed. There are sound scientific reasons for all the food laws.

Fish that can be eaten must have fins and scales. The reason for this is that fish without scales lack the capacity to isolate heavy metals and toxins making them unavailable for human consumption. For example, one can eat tuna but not shark. The reason is that a tuna has scales and that seems to be indicative of a process whereby the mercury levels, while similar to a shark, are bound up with selenium to make it unavailable for human digestion. The selenium is again bound up with arsenates, which are too small to effect human digestion. Prawns and similar seafood have heavy metals in distributed forms throughout their bodies. Oysters cause various entero-viruses and are reinfective agents. Look at the paper The Food Laws (No. 15).

Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 seem to indicate we are to eat certain types of food and avoid other types of food. Do these food laws tie to the ten commandments?

A: All of the law and the prophets are subtended from the Two Great Commandments. These are:

  1. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength.
  2. You shall love your neighbour as yourself.

The Ten Commandments are directly under these. The first four Commandments hang from the First Great and the last six hang from the Second Great Commandment. The Fifth Commandment ties the two together. The responsibility to “make alive” covers a series of aspects both of the environment and of the individual. The well being of the planet depends in part on the food laws. These are explained at the paper The Food Laws (No. 15).

The relationship to the Law is found in the Law series Law of God (No. L1) and particularly Law and the Fifth Commandment (No. 258) and Law and the Sixth Commandment (No. 259).

All of the Laws of God tie into the Ten Commandments and the prophets explain them all. The New Testament is simply commentary on them. That is why it is so absurd to suggest that Messiah would have eliminated them in any way. That is why we are commanded to read the Law every Sabbath year so that we understand how the Law works and interacts. All of the Law proceeds from the nature of God and reflects that nature.

Tithes and Offerings

I once belonged to a church, which had special offerings that were taken up on the Feast day, seven times during the year. I’ve also read in Deuteronomy 16 and in Exodus 23 that there are three feasts to attend and that offerings were made here. Wouldn’t God be more pleased with seven annual offerings than with only three? 

A: If God had wanted seven offerings in a year, He would have said seven and not three times a year. If He had wanted a weekly offering, He would have said that. Instead, He instituted the tithe system and three offerings a year at the three feast seasons. The issue of tithing and offerings is examined in the papers Tithing (No. 161) and Law and the Fourth Commandment (No. 256).

I was studying your paper Tithing (No. 161), when I saw that offerings are to be 3 times a year not 7. I do agree. You also mentioned Atonement is strictly forbidden as an offering. Could you please tell me where I could find the Atonement offering forbidden in these scriptures?

A: The law regarding the Atonement tax is at Exodus 30:15: “The rich shall not give more the poor shall not give less than half a shekel when they give and offering unto the Lord to make an atonement for your souls.” Originally it was a tax without exception in Israel. Now it is a tax without distinction paid for us by Christ, and salvation is open to the Gentiles and they enter Israel by grace and adoption as sons of God.

This concept is developed in Acts 10:34 and Romans 3:22,23; 10:12. The offering is a heave offering. Bullinger also understands this point in his notes to the Companion Bible at Exodus 30:15. When an offering is taken up on Atonement, it is a direct violation of the Law and a rejection of the all-embracing power of the redemption of Christ and the extension of Salvation to the Gentiles.

My pastor says that if a believer does not tithe he is stealing from God and therefore is a thief, and that thieves do not go to heaven. Is he scripturally correct? 

A: Your pastor is referring to the text in Malachi 3:7-12. If you do not tithe, you rob God. This is covered in the paper Tithing (No. 161). It is a sign of the return of the individual to God. However, it is only one sign and your pastor cannot have it both ways. The Law of God has to be kept and so do the commandments regarding the festivals. The Tithes and Offerings are tied up with the Feasts of the Lord. Look at the paper Law and the Fourth Commandment (No. 256). It is all too common for ministers to appeal to the law regarding tithing, and yet ignore it on all the other important aspects. You may find it interesting to look at the series on The Law of God (No. L1).

No one goes to heaven. It was the test of a true Christian in the early church. If anyone said that they were a Christian and that when they died they went to heaven, they were not to be believed. That was the test of a Christian and a Gnostic. Anyone who said that when they died they went to heaven, showed by that statement they were a Gnostic and not a Christian (see Justin Martyr, Second Apology). This is covered in the papers The Soul (No. 92) and The Resurrection of the Dead (No. 143).

ISRAEL

Weren’t there 12 judges in Israel? Does this have anything to do with there being twelve tribes? 

A: The twelve judges of Israel have a relationship to the twelve tribes and were drawn from them. The apostles also head the twelve tribes and the 144,000 are also allocated to them. The twelve apostles and the twelve judges all represent the twenty-four elders of the inner council, and the twenty-four high priests of the division of the Temple also have this symbolism. Look at the papers The City of God (No. 180) and Samson and the Judges (No. 73).

Do you know how many kings there were in Israel from Saul until the deportation by the Assyrians? 

A: There is a list of the kings in the Companion Bible at Appendix 50 but the chronology is completely erroneous. The Kings of the combined kingdom of Israel and Judah were Saul, David and Solomon.

Jeroboam reigned over Israel from the Division, and Rehoboam reigned over Judah. From then on the kings of Israel were: Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri (7days), Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, Zechariah, Shallum (1 month), Menahem, Pekahiah s. of Menahem, Pekah s. of Remaliah, and Hoshea. In 722 BCE, the fall of Samaria to the Assyrians occurred and Israel was taken into captivity. Total: 22 kings of Israel.

This question involves one of the tribes of Israel. The tribes are numbered as thirteen when the two half-tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh are counted separately but when they are counted as one single tribe they are numbered as twelve. In Genesis 49 Ephraim and Manasseh are counted as one tribe. In Ezekiel 48 the two half-tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh are treated as two separate tribes, making the number of the tribes thirteen. Regardless of how one counts the tribes, the fact is Dan has been left out here. Why has Dan been left out of the 144,000?

A: The birthright is with Joseph because Reuben lost it through fornication with one of the wives. Levi was the priesthood and so became the thirteenth tribe, but not taking part in the physical blessings of Israel directly but through the tithe, which was given to it as the priesthood. Joseph, as the birthright holder, had a double portion under the law. This went to Ephraim firstly and Manasseh secondly. Look at the papers Law and the Fifth Commandment (No. 258) and The Law of God (No. L1) and the Law series generally.

In Numbers 10 we see the battle order of the tribes of Israel. These are East: Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; South: Reuben, Simeon, and Gad; West: Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin; North: Dan, Asher, and Napthali. These differ from Ezekiel 48, which is a prophetic or millennial system. In that system, Joseph goes back to one allocation and Dan resumes their order. Reuben goes to the North with Judah as firstborn, and this is now the reverse of the order of battle of the original tribes. There is also an allocation of the lands according to the tribes as well, which is not being examined here. The lands of Israel will stretch to the Euphrates.

The text in Revelation 7 refers to the priesthood for the inner priests of Christ comprising the 144,000. These were drawn out as living sacrifices comprising a council of 72 per year for the forty Jubilees of the church in the wilderness. 72 x 2000 equals 144,000. This is explained in the paper The Harvests of God, the New Moon Sacrifices, and the 144,000 (No. 120). Levi’s major function is as a priest tribe therefore they resume their normal duties and take a share in the priesthood of the 144,000.

To achieve this Dan who has another major birthright promise to take up yields part of its inheritance as does Ephraim and they share in the 12,000 of Joseph who is always a combined tribe. Manasseh takes 12,000 in its own right, which is very interesting. Dan then takes its birthright and becomes judge in Israel as promised in Genesis 49:16. This is the reason for the verse: “I have waited for thy salvation O Lord.” Only on the return does Dan take up his inheritance as Judge in Israel. This is Scripture and cannot be broken.

Dan then takes its position at the East gate in Ezekiel’s system with Joseph and Benjamin, the children of Rachel. This is the place of entry of the Messiah and hence the seat of Judgment. There is another point also in the birthright promises that has not been taken up as yet, and that is the calling of the people to Jerusalem. That birthright is taken up by Issachar and Zebulun (Deut. 33:18-19). Look at the paper Calling the Peoples to Jerusalem (No. 238). None of these three tribes has exercised these birthright promises as yet and Scripture cannot be broken. God’s word does not come back void or empty.

Does God give any indication as to the criterion for the order of the tribes for battle (as referenced in your answer citing Numbers 10) and for the order of the tribes at the gates (cited in Ezekiel 48)? Levi is not in the battle order (with Ephraim and Manasseh counted as sons of Israel) but Levi is in the gate order (with Ephraim and Manasseh represented by Joseph)?

A: Levi is in the battle order in Numbers 10 carrying the Ark of the Covenant and the Temple, but is broken up for these purposes. Look at the paper The Ark of the Covenant (No. 196). They carried the physical structure and thus, were an order of priests set apart for that purpose.

We are the Temple of God now and we are the Oracles of God. We are the Ark of the Covenant and that is why Jeremiah was told to hide it where he did. If they found it again where it is hidden, we would have to send a team to re-bury it. There is a new order of priests after the order of Melchisedek, and which comprises Levi who paid tithes in the loins of Abraham to Melchisedek and is thus a lesser priesthood. Hence, Levi is one of the priesthood for the millennial system and thus appears in the gate order as the apostles of the twelve tribes are over each one. Look also at the papers Melchisedek (No. 128) and The Oracles of God (No. 184). This gate order in Ezekiel tells you the gate order of the City of God. Thus, we can also be given an indication of the foundations of the apostles over the tribes from their placement and dispersion. This is another matter. Look at the paper The City of God (No. 180).

It is also our view that the order of the tribes in the Gates is indicative of the order of March. As you are aware, Messiah enters always via the east gate and that is why it is bricked up at the moment in the wall at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The witnesses will probably shatter that gate when they arrive, in preparation for or at the arrival of Messiah, when the Mount of Olives cleaves and the First Resurrection occurs. Look at the paper The Witnesses (including the Two Witnesses) (No. 135). As Dan is judge, it is also in the East gate with the birthright tribes, but Dan leads the sons of Rachel, the birthright tribe of Joseph (i.e. Ephraim, Manasseh and the son of the promise, Benjamin). Dan thus becomes first and not last. Judah is the rearguard, instead of Dan, as Messiah is our rearward or rearguard protection. This will take place during the Millennium also. It is written: Manasseh shall feed off Ephraim then Ephraim shall feed off Manasseh (which is where we are now) and then both shall feed off Judah. Again, Scripture cannot be broken. Look also at the paper Rachel and the Law (No. 281). This may also give an indication of the birthright shift from west to east.

Three tribes were also given an inheritance over Jordan, these were half Manasseh, Reuben and Gad and some Ephraim and Dan also joined them in Gilead. Dan split into two as well in the occupation. Israel and Assyria will come out of Europe in the north, hand in hand, to reoccupy the Middle East also. We moved into Europe in the second century CE when the Parthian Empire fell and joined the rest of the Israelite-Hittite-Phoenician alliance in Britain and West Europe in the fourth century. The Bar Kochba rebels of Judah had gone on to America after the failure of the revolt in the second century. Look at the paper The Unitarian/Trinitarian Wars (No. 268).

Allen’s work of Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright misidentified the tribal movements and trivialised the issue. The US and BC in Prophecy, published by the  Worldwide Church of God, merely reinforced the historical errors by plagiarising Allen’s work. The movement from Europe will be after the wars of the Fifth and Sixth trumpets. The last wars of the kings of the North and South are about to begin. Look also at The Seven Seals (No. 140) and The Seven Trumpets (No. 141). The movement will commence with the flooding of the Netherlands and the low countries in the not too distant future (See the paper Global Warming and Bible Prophecy (No. 218).

 

This is in reference to the allocation of the 24 elders. I realise there are 4 cherubim around God’s throne. I thought this would make 4 quadrants or areas of responsibility; therefore I would divide 24 by 4 and get 6 elders given responsibility under each cherub. The division might continue with the 12 judges and 12 apostles each also being allocated responsibility under a cherub, with 3 judges and 3 apostles to each quadrant. Would this be correct?

A: Yes, your idea is correct. Israel was divided as two divisions to a tribe. There were three tribes to a quadrant. The zodiac is a corruption of the divisions of the government which the tribes represent.

The East, and first, quadrant under the Lion which is of Judah is: Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. They are first in the order of march. Second is the South, or man system, of Reuben Simeon and Gad. Third is the Western, or Bull-headed system, which is Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin. Fourth, or last, is the Northern or Eagle system, which is also represented by a Scorpion and balances in judgment. These tribes are Dan, Asher and Napthali.

These are the rearguard of Israel, hence the sting in the tail and also the symbol of the serpents path. The Tabernacles and the priesthood move between the First and Second Quadrants. The position of the Ark is examined in the paper The Ark of the Covenant (No. 196). Look also at the papers The Meaning of Ezekiel’s Vision (No. 108) and The Government of God (No. 174). This structure will become the City of God. Look at the paper The City of God (No. 180).

Moses

In this verse (Ex. 32:19) it states that Moses broke the 2 tablets. Then he had to go back up to get them written again. Does this have any significant meaning? Is there more to this than Moses just getting mad?

A: Yes, this has great significance. The symbolism was that Israel would break the law and be unable to keep it in a state of sin, being divorced from God. The second time represented the new Moses who was to come as Jesus Christ, who would ascend to the Mountain of God and return with the Holy Spirit, which would lock the law of God in all our hearts.

That is why, when Christ ascended to the throne of God on the Wave Sheaf at 9 a.m. following his resurrection, he returned that day and breathed the Holy Spirit on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn. 20:22).

Would you please explain if Moses’ wife and 2 children went with Moses when he returned to Egypt to lead God’s people to freedom? Exodus 4:20 seems to indicate they were along on part of the trip; yet, Exodus 18:1-5 indicates that Jethro brought Moses’ wife and children.

A: Zipporah went down to Egypt with Moses and the two boys as we see in Exodus 4. She appears to have tried to prevent the circumcision of Eliezar and nearly had him killed because of that fact. She then did it herself to save his life and accused Moses because of it. The language in the texts is accusative. She was herself a descendent of Abraham, through the sons of Keturah, and should have known better.

Exodus 18:2 says that Moses sent her back. It was probably at this point in Ex. 4:26 that he sent her back to her father Jethro from the inn, thus she did not make it to Egypt. The meeting of Aaron and Moses in the next verse (Ex. 4:27) makes no mention of her or the boys. Nothing short of wholehearted spiritual strength would bring Israel out of this Exodus with their minds set on God.

In Exodus 14 it speaks of the hosts of Pharaoh. Who were these and do they have symbolic meaning? 

A: The entire story of Moses and the Exodus is dealing with the nation, and also the fallen host that it worshipped and by which it was governed. The significance of this is covered in a paper on the Exodus called Moses and the Gods of Egypt (No. 105).

The entire structure of the Bible is allegory and parables dealing with the structure of the Plan of Salvation. You will also enjoy the paper Pentecost at Sinai (No. 115), which takes the Exodus on to Sinai and the giving of the Law. The next paper in that aspect is The Golden Calf (No. 222). Thus, we have both a physical host and spiritual host, which God dealt with through Christ. Look also at the paper The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243).

I need some information on the Red Sea parting. I once saw something about a scientific reason for this. Any biblical reference will be of great importance for what I am looking for.

A: For a long time scientists and people in general have been trying to explain away the miracle of Israel and the Exodus in the crossing of the Red Sea. Some linguists try to make it read the Reed Sea and place it as a marsh in the area of the canal. The Israelites allegedly marched over the marsh of the reed sea and the Egyptian chariots sank. However, that is not what the Bible says happened.

There is another version which places Pi ha Hiroth on the Gulf of Aqaba. It is asserted that the gaps in the mountains either side allowed the deluge to wash down massive amounts of soil and that there is a bridge under the water, some few hundred feet down. Thus, the sea was piled up on the sides of the underwater bridge and the Israelites crossed into Midian near Jebel el Laws in Saudi Arabia. The name means, “The Mountain of the Law” in Arabic. There is a video purporting to have been made at this site. We have no evidence of its authenticity. When we can send a team there, we will look for the crossing.

Which day of the First month did Israel start the seven-day march around the walls of Jericho?

A: Israel, under Joshua, crossed into the Promised Land on the tenth day of the First month, and was set aside to the Lord in circumcision on that day. They abode four days and on the Fourteenth day of the First month, they killed the Passover and ate of the old corn of Canaan on the First Holy Day of Unleavened Bread (Josh. 5:11). This act enabled Rahab to be counted by the scarlet thread on her lintels, and salvation was again extended to the Gentiles as part of Israel.

Joshua 5:13 says that “it came to pass that when Joshua was by Jericho that he lifted his eyes and there stood a man against him with a drawn sword.”

This is held to be between the 15th and 21st of the First month. We can assume that they kept the 15th as a holy day as commanded. We can make one of two deductions. The command of Christ as the Captain of the Host of God came to him when he was near Jericho. We might assume that the story is conjoint and that he spoke with Christ on the 14th day, and that the activities of the host took place from 15th Nisan and went for seven days. The Seventh Days were the Holy Days, and the walls went flat and the children of Israel entered on the last Holy Day of Unleavened Bread. This has merit in that the symbolism of the feast of Unleavened Bread is to remove sin, as malice and wickedness, from among us. The fall of Jericho is symbolised by this activity. The difficulty with this is that the major activity of the battle took place on a Holy Day.

We might conclude that this was done to show the victory of the host was enabled by the right conduct of Israel as the Church keeping the feasts of God. In this light, the case has merit. In the other view, we might say that the story is continuing; that the events took place over the Feast and the Last day’s activities took place on the day after the Holy Day. In which case, we overcome the objection but we lose the full power of the symbolism of the Battle and the purpose of the feast of Unleavened Bread.

The story is covered in the paper The Fall of Jericho (No. 142) but this aspect is not properly developed there. The seven days were most probably the seven days of Unleavened Bread from 15 to 21 Abib. The battle and victory took place at the end of the Feast. The end result is that the first day was 15 Abib, but it may possibly have been 16 Abib. It is discounted as being after the 21st, as the full symbolism of Abib is lost.

Christ probably appeared to Joshua as the prototype on 14 Abib.

The fall of Jericho sounds a little like the book of Revelation with the marching around the city for seven days, and going around seven times on the seventh day. Is this coincidence, or is there a link here? 

A: The actions of the Old Testament were a reflection of the New Testament and the Church. The entire story of the forty years in the wilderness and the taking of the Promised Land were a reflection of the forty Jubilees in the wilderness of the church.

Christ met Joshua, son of Nun of Ephraim, at the plain of Jericho as the captain of the Army of God, and he will come again to Israel to save them and place them again in their inheritance. The paper The Fall of Jericho (No. 142) deals with the similarities of which you speak.

Was there any significance to the red cords that Rahab was told to put in the window of her house so that the Israelite army would not kill anyone in her house? 

A: The red cords were a symbol of the blood of the lamb that was on the doorposts and lintels of Israel in Egypt. Rahab had made a deliberate decision to affix herself to the body of Israel. She was the symbol of the salvation of the Gentiles. There was a mixed multitude that also joined Israel when they went out of Egypt.

The Lamb was her protection here, as it was in Egypt. Here he came as the captain of the Army of the Lord. He also gave the Law to Moses. The same thing was said to Joshua as was said to Moses: “Take off your shoes for the place where you are standing is Holy Ground.” Look at the paper The Fall of Jericho (No. 142).

Rahab was told to put red cords in the window of her house so that the Israelite army would not kill her or her family. Is this the same concept as the blood put on the doorposts of the Israelites’ houses on the first Passover?

A: Yes, but not many people make that connection. If Judah understood that, then they would all be converted. This is why we have to keep the Lord’s Supper on 14 Abib and the Night of Watchings on 15 Abib. That is why the first thing the pagans eliminated from the Church was the Passover, and substituted Easter using the bishops in Rome from Anicetus in 152 to Victor in 190-192. Once they did that, the Church in Rome was cut off from Christ and the rest was easy. Look at the paper The Quartodeciman Disputes (No. 277) and also the papers The Lord’s Supper (No. 103), The Passover (No. 98) and Sanctification of the Temple of God (No. 241).

Idols and Images

There seems to be a contradiction in the story of the golden idol or idols that Aaron either made or allowed to be made while Moses was upon the Mount. After the completion of the molten calf or calves, he said at Exodus 32:4 “These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” Then Nehemiah 9:18 says they had made for themselves a molten calf, indicating a singular idol. Could you please clarify the difference?

A: Yes, this is another contradiction in the Bible, which serves to illustrate a lesson. Aaron is recorded as saying: “These be thy gods, O Israel” and Nehemiah says Aaron said, “This is thy god, O Israel.” Aaron is speaking of the earrings that were used in the construction, which were themselves amulets which were collected, and from which the calf was made.

Nehemiah’s reference is in the singular to illustrate it was only one idol made up from many individual amulets. The calf was allowed because it served as a teaching lesson and cleaned idolaters out of the priesthood. The nation was also cleaned of the amulets. The idolatrous purpose behind these protections for the orifices of the head is explained in the paper The Origin of the Wearing of Earrings and Jewellery in Ancient Times (No. 197). The story of the Calf and the theology behind it is found in the paper The Golden Calf (No. 222).

In reading further about the account of Israel making an idol while Moses was away, I am wondering why they chose to make a calf instead of say a lion or a bear or some other creature. Was there some particular reason why they chose to make a calf?

A: The calf was a symbol of the moon god, Sin. The horns, symbolised by the crescent moon, were also associated with the finger of Ashirat, which was another name for the deity associated with the feminine aspects, as Istar. The horns in Egypt were also associated with Hathor who was a symbol of fertility as a pregnant horned female. As the mother goddess she was associated with Isis and also Nut. Isis was the consort of Osiris and the mother lover of Horus, as was Easter (or Istar or Ashtoreth) of the Baal-Easter system. They are all part of the mystery sun cults.

The Trinity stems from this system as the Triune God and appears in Egypt as Osiris, Isis and Horus; in Palestine as Baal, Ashtoreth and the Morning star as the third element; and in Rome it was as Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva who was the virgin of the Immaculate Conception. These elements were transferred into Christianity in total by the fifth and sixth centuries. The term “Easter” comes from “Istar,” as does “Ostar” or “Ostara.”

The Minotaur of the Cretans is the same as the god Chemosh and Milcom (hence Malcolm) of the Moabites and Ammonites. The human sacrifices were offered to the god and sometimes cooked alive inside it. This is the origin of passing your children through the fire to Moloch. This Golden Calf was worshipped among the Irish Celts until the 5th century and cannibalism is noted among the Scots in France during the same century. The details are found in the papers The Golden Calf (No. 222) and The Origins of Christmas and Easter (No. 235).

I heard that images were authorized based on John 3:14 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” The reasoning was that Christ approved the making and exalting of the brazen serpent, by which the Israelites were healed in the desert. I know Christ would never support worshipping an image but what is the correct understanding of the text?

A: Moses used the brazen serpent as a symbol to Israel that they had power over the serpents and it acted as a psychological prop for people who were bitten (cf. Num. 21:9). No one prayed to it or worshipped it. Moses was dealing with the problem of getting an uneducated people to a point where God could work with them. It was also a prophecy that referred back to the position in Genesis where the heel of the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent and he would bruise his heel. This referred to the battle between Christ, as head of Israel and the Church, and Satan. It looked forward to the redemption of man by the elevated Christ who was to die for our sins. These papers are relevant: Moses and the God’s of Egypt (No. 105); Pentecost at Sinai (No. 115) and The Cross: Its Origin and Significance (No. 39).

Joshua

I am doing a report on the man Joshua in the Bible. I have several questions, but a lack of resources. I need a basic bibliography of Joshua’s life and how he did things. Can you help?

A: You can get an idea of the life of Joshua, and the symbolism of what he did and his environment, from looking at five papers for the background to the Exodus and the significance of what he did: The Passover (No. 98); Moses and the Gods of Egypt (No. 105); Pentecost at Sinai (No. 115); The Golden Calf (No. 222) and The Fall of Jericho (No. 142).

He was the son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim. The concept of his name here means, “the Salvation of God (Yahoshua) comes through Endurance (Nun).” These were names of the Messiah. “Jesus” is a rendering in English of the Greek form of writing “Joshua.” It is correctly translated Joshua in English (see the paper Joshua, the Messiah, the Son of God (No. 134)).

He was a young man in Egypt who came out with Moses. He was one of the twelve spies and the only one of the twelve, along with Caleb of Judah, to enter the Promised Land. He rose to war leader of Israel and was chosen as Judge of Israel to enter the Promised Land. He took Jericho and then the cities mentioned in the Bible text in progression. He lived to 110 years of age. He was buried in his inheritance on the North side of the hill of Gaash on the border of his inheritance, which was the city of Timnath Serah in Mount Ephraim. The Septuagint adds to Joshua 24:30 that they buried the knives of stone with him that he used to circumcise Israel at Gilgal.

Look at the Book of Joshua for the details of the conquest and his life, as that is the most comprehensive account. You will find sketches of his life in the Bible dictionaries at your library. Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible is a good one and so too is ISBE.

I was reading the book of Joshua and saw a few things that were of interest. One was that when he was to take the people over the Jordan to the land God had promised them, he had a priest step into the Jordan and it was divided just like the red sea and the people went across on dry land. Does this prefigure baptism? Also they had to circumcise all the males again because they had wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Why weren’t they circumcised 8 days after birth? Joshua was instructed to take 12 rocks and make a memorial. Do the 12 rocks represent the 12 apostles?

A: Joshua is a very interesting text. The symbolism of entering the Promised Land was like that of Israel in the Exodus. The Passover brought them out of Egypt. This was a type of Christ, who was the Passover Lamb. They could have gone into the Promised Land when the twelve were sent to spy out the land but only two, Joshua and Caleb, were dedicated enough. These two symbolised Israel and Judah.

They then had to spend forty years in the wilderness before they were allowed to enter. That is the same as the Forty Jubilees of the Church in the wilderness. They were not circumcised so as to make a difference between the old generation, which refused to take up their inheritance, and the ones not part of the decision that were born in the wilderness. That represented the Church.

The Church has to be prepared once again for the coming of the Messiah, and so does Israel. The priest standing in the Jordan was symbolic of baptism. These people were brought through the Jordan and then circumcised into Israel and the Covenant. The circumcision here represents the rolling of sin from the Gentiles and from the nation of Israel. There were twelve stones left in the middle thread of the river. This is a boundary marker and the division of Israel and the world. There were twelve stones also taken as an altar at Gilgal.

There are thus two lots of twelve as twenty-four stones. These in two divisions represent the two aspects of the priesthood and the apostles and judges. The symbolism of what happened there and its relationship to the Plan of Salvation and the Return of Messiah is explained in the paper The Fall of Jericho (No. 142).

 

What is the meaning of the 2 spies hiding in the hill country for 3 days (Joshua 2:1-24)? There are many references to 3 days, i.e. sign of Jonah, etc.

A: It is another example of the two witnesses’ concept. We saw it with John and Messiah, and we will see it again when the witnesses get here. The two spies act as witnesses against the civilisation they are sent to spy out. In the last days, the two will stand for 1,260 days and then they will be killed by the world systems. They will lie in the streets for 3 ½ days and then be resurrected. Look at the papers The Fall of Jericho (No. 142) and The Witnesses (including the Two Witnesses) (No. 135).

 

Judges

What is the meaning of this passage (Jud 9:7-21) in reference to 4 different types of trees and other components of the text?

A: The trees of Judges 9:7-21 represent the trees of Israel’s power and the fourth false system of the Antichrist that is allowed to rule over it, and in the end destroys it.

Trees went forth, in the emphatic sense in the Hebrew, with great earnestness of purpose. (cf. Companion Bible n. to v. 8). The first is the olive, which represented Israel’s religious privileges and power (cf. Rom. 11 and Zechariah 4 re the olive trees). The Olive Trees are the power of witness of the nation of Israel. By the oil of its fatness, the nation honours God. In other words, the power of its witness was used to glorify God. But the spirit, who represented the trees, wanted it to participate in a false system of self-aggrandisement.

They asked the fig tree, which was the symbol of Israel’s national privileges (Mat. 21:19-20; Mk. 11:13, 20, 21; Lk. 13:6-9). This was its birthright promise. The fig held to its birthright under temptation of the host, who wanted to tempt it to defeat its birthright promise.

The vine was Israel’s spiritual privilege. For the vineyard of the Lord is the whole house of Israel (cf. Isaiah chap 5 and John chap 15). The word “leave” in v. 13 is “forsake” as in v. 11, and the concept is that of forsaking the power of the Holy Spirit through this temptation of the host and its false system. The wine here is “tirosh” or “new wine” which cheers both God and man. This is the wine of the Lord’s Supper and the Passover of the saints of God.

The bramble is the false tree of the Antichrist system and the false system of worship, which devours Israel through the fallen host and the Babylonian Mystery and sun cults. This is seen as devouring the false nation under the Antichrist system. This also can be seen from the concept of the story of Gideon. Look at Gideon’s Force and the Last Days (No. 22).

In Judges 19 we read about a situation where a Levite has a concubine that has been gone 4 months and he goes after her to reconcile after she has been unfaithful. It is quite similar to the time of Lot. The woman is raped to death by the sons of Belial then her man dismembers her and distributes the 12 body parts into all the coasts of Israel. Is there some symbolism here for us today and why did they not hesitate to turn the women over to these men as Lot was also willing to give his daughters?

A: Yes, there are some striking parallels in this story. The tempting conclusion is that the symbolism of the Levite is Christ, as elohim of Israel. The concubine from Bethlehem-Judah (a Jewess of Messiah’s clan) who was unfaithful was Israel that was taken in and repented as the church. Bethlehem-Judah was also of the Gentiles in Tamar and Ruth.

There are two periods of four whole months, which are two lots of 120 prophetic days. This was allowed to happen so that the message to the tribes would be understood. The tribe of Benjamin was the youngest and the “son of the promise.” Saul was also from Gibeah. The tribe was almost wiped out and then was allowed to be rebuilt by the stealing of the daughters of the tribes.

The Church was abused and murdered by the sons of Israel. Israel decided to rebuke Benjamin, but lost 40,000 men in two days. But Benjamin was destroyed except for 600 who formed a nucleus of the new tribe. The real message is that Israel paid a price for the treatment of the Church and the sons of the promise were also wiped out and then had to be built up at the expense of all.

Gideon

Would you please explain if Gideon had 70 sons (Jdg. 8:30) or 72 because Abimelech and Jotham were his sons and not accounted for in the dead of Jdg. 9:5? What is the significance of these numbers and systems?

A: Yes, the seventy represent the elders of Israel and the council of the Church. The Sanhedrin were always referred to as the seventy, but were always understood as seventy plus two. They represented the Council of God and were understood as having the two. This was depicted by the seventy with Eldad and Medad outside the tabernacle under Moses. Moses and Aaron also depicted the positions of Christ and God over the seventy.

This position was also seen in the Sanhedrin at the time of Christ, where the Seventy were supervised by the High Priest and his deputy (Annas and Caiaphas at the time of Christ). This later became the Nasi or prince and the High priest. Luke 10:1,17 shows that the seventy were ordained by Christ and sent out but the text in the Greek reads “hebdomekonta”[duo] or seventy[two]. Gideon represents the story of the church in the last days. Look at the paper Gideon’s Force and the Last Days (No. 22).

Samson

Was Samson’s power really derived from his hair, or did he just think so? 

A: His hair was a symbol of the power of the Holy Spirit. Until the Messiah, the closest one could get to the elect was as a Nazirite under vow, and their hair was not cut.

Other than that, God conferred his power on individuals according to their selection as prophets or kings, such as David, or the elders of Israel, and the Judges. Now all men can approach God through Christ and be given the Holy Spirit. What they do with it determines their entry to the First Resurrection.

God also calls whom He chooses and predestines. These are the called and chosen of Romans 8:29-30 and they are thus justified and glorified. Many are called but few are chosen. Look at the paper Samson and the Judges (No. 73) for a fuller explanation of the operation of the Holy Spirit in the cycles and the explanation of some important parables.

Samson gave a riddle to thirty companions (Jdg. 14:12-14). Later Samson’s wife told them the answer, after which he got mad and went into town and slayed 30 men and took their festal garments and gave them to the companions. My question is this: Is there some kind of symbolism to this story?

A: The story points to the structure of the inner council of God and also to the salvation of the Gentiles. The council is comprised of seventy plus two. But the inner council is comprised of twenty-four divisional commanders or elders allotted to the four covering cherubim, in divisions and structures of two to a unit of twelve as were the high priests symbolising them; and then into quadrants of six in three units as were the tribes of Israel divided into quadrants of three making up twelve tribes (see Num. 10).

The Lamb and the Ancient of Days make up the inner throne council of the thirty. Satan was also removed from this council and will be replaced. The thirty garments are representative of the allocation of the Holy Spirit in power and the opportunity of salvation going to the Gentiles. If they had gone to God, He would have told them that out of the dead carcasses of the lion came the fruit or honey of the Holy Spirit.

The word “Essene” means “Bees” and this was the ancient religion of Assyria right up until the time of Christ, and was seen in the Celibate priests of the Baal-Easter system. Instead they ploughed with Samson’s heifer and he killed them and took the garments they already had. This was a warning to the demonic host as well. Look at the paper Samson and the Judges (No. 73); The Judgment of the Demons (No. 80); David and Goliath (No. 126) and The Pinata (No. 276).

Ruth

In the book of Ruth, Boaz represents Christ and Ruth the Church. Who does Ruth’s kinsman, who does not fulfil his obligation to marry her, represent? Is it Satan or someone or something else? 

A: It is symbolic of Levi and Judah as a whole who failed the Gentiles because of their xenophobia, and also of Satan and the fallen Host who were given the responsibility for the Gentiles but failed to take them into the Kingdom of God as brides.

The elder kinsman is both Levi and Judah, and the Anointed Covering Cherub that was Lucifer. Look at the paper Ruth (No. 27) and also look at Lucifer: Light Bearer and Morning Star (No. 223) and Lost Sheep and The Prodigal Son (No. 199).

1Samuel

Would you comment on 1Samuel 6. Once again I noticed it contained the number 5. How did the Philistines have a concept of the guilt offering? Is there any significance regarding the cities and their religions? Also was the ark returned around Pentecost since they were harvesting wheat?

A: In this text in 1Samuel 6 we see the Ark receives its own divine title as “The Ark of Yahovah.” The Law was placed within the Ark, as the Law proceeded from Yahovah of Hosts to the entire Host through the Holy Spirit.

The Ark was captured after the Feasts of the Seventh month and was with the Philistines for seven months. The symbolism is this. Israel was to live by the law of God and protect the Law as Holy, Perfect, Righteous and Good Truth, which thing also is God.

The Ark was given to the Gentiles and they had it but did not live according to the laws of God and so the curses or the plagues of Egypt came upon them. In this way, they attracted the emerods and the mice, which were the plagues of Egypt. They got piles, in other words, and no doubt boils and other things, as well as the mice plague.

However, we know that the five cities of the Lords of the Philistines were all struck by the plagues and they were given until the Passover, and then the second Passover experienced during the Omer count and the fifty days to Pentecost, which is the Wheat Harvest.

So, the Philistines were given a chance at salvation. They were given the five months of grace, from the Last Great Day to the Preparation for the Sanctification of the Temple and the Passover, which they did not observe and so they were under judgment and the curses of Deuteronomy 28 came on them being under judgment. Look at the paper The Blessings and the Curses (No. 75).

They did not repent and take the First Passover, and then failing that the second Passover, as is provided by Law. Look at the paper Law and the Fourth Commandment (No. 256). This was to look forward to the opportunity, which was to be given to the Gentiles for the Law of God to come upon them as the Philistines were given charge of the Ark.

The five Lords had as witness against them the two plagues, which they symbolised in their votive offerings of emerods (haemorrhoids) and mice. These five cities of the Philistines were similar to the five nations that were later given the area of Samaria and Galilee. The five are a symbol of grace. By grace God conferred salvation on the Gentiles.

The Philistines failed to live by the laws of God and so incurred the penalties. They had literally to give up the Law of God and the Ark, symbolising the Holy Spirit that proceeded from God. They had to hand it back to those whose right it was. In this way, any Gentile who comes into the Church and does not live by the commandments of God is removed and cannot enter the Kingdom of God. If they do not speak according to the Law and the Testimony (Prophets), there is no light in them (Isa 8:20).

The Holy Spirit gave command to the priests of the Philistines as it commanded Balaam. Look at the paper The Doctrine of Balaam and Balaam’s Prophecy (No. 204). The Philistines knew what the religion of Israel was and had observed it first hand for centuries.

The result was also to stand as a witness to Israel. They asked for a sign that they might tell that it was the God of Israel that smote them with the plagues. It was to have gone up by the way of the House of the Sun, which stood on the border of Judah and Dan.

This is another reprimand for Israel, as they have been backsliders into the worship of the sun cults and Baal-Easter for millennia. They will not learn, even to this very day, for they are a stubborn and rebellious people, the whole house of Israel.

The cart came into the field of Joshua, which is the name of the Messiah, and the cart was used as fuel and the oxen were offered up as a sacrifice to the Lord God in that place called the House of the Sun Beth-Shemesh.

The Ark was set down on the Great Stone of Abel at Beth Shemesh. This is a reference to the Church that was begun with Adam, and the first sacrifices that were accepted as those of righteous Abel. The Holy Spirit had been given to the patriarchs, and the Church had been founded on the Rock that was God with the Ark representing the Holy Spirit. On this stone God would build His church through the Holy Spirit and on the foundation of the apostles with the chief corner stone who was Joshua, the Messiah, the Son of God. Look at the papers The Ark of the Covenant (No. 196); Doctrine of Original Sin Part 2 The Generations of Adam (No. 248) and Joshua, the Messiah, the Son of God (No. 134).

When David slew Goliath we are told that he picked up 5 rocks from the stream, one of which killed Goliath (1Sam. 17:40). Do you think there’s any symbolism to there being 5 rocks and not say 4 or 6 or 7 rocks?

  1. Yes, there is a symbolism. The five rocks represent the five churches that make it into the Kingdom of God in Revelation, chapters 2 and 3. Two churches do not make it. These are Sardis and Laodicea, with only individuals of these organisations who triumph.

One of these churches is used by Messiah, here represented by David, to strike the giant of the world’s systems in the forehead, where is found the mark of its system. In the last days, truth and the well-aimed stone of David as the anointed King of Israel, who is yet to take up his crown, overcome this system. The symbolism of the religious structures of the world and the Philistine’s relationship to them is seen in the paper David and Goliath (No. 126).

What did King David achieve in his life? Why is his story important? How did God touch his life? 

A: David was chosen by God to be King of Israel, and David was given the Holy Spirit to achieve that end. He was also placed in various positions and tests to provide lessons for all of us, as to the conduct of a man after God’s own heart.

He was used to make all preparations for the Temple of God. David prepared and then Solomon built the Temple. This was to serve as an illustration of the lessons of creation and the Plan of Salvation. The story of his battle with Goliath and the theological significance of that event are covered in the paper David and Goliath (No. 126).

The place of David in the Plan of God will be dealt with in the paper Rule of the Kings Part II: David (No. 282B). His time in history and the entry into Jerusalem is discussed in the paper Outline Timetable of the Age (No. 272). He is to be the king of Israel under Messiah as elohim, as are the elect from Zechariah 12:8.

1Kings

In Exodus 20:3 God commanded us not to make any carved images of anything. When I was studying 1Kings 6, especially verse 23 and on I see that Solomon made 2 cherubim of olivewood and carved others. Why is this? Also what is the significance of the cherubim, palm trees and the open flowers that were carved?

A: The Second Commandment is read in two ways. One is that no image of anything is to be made at all. The second way is that no image on anything that is to be worshipped is to be made. It is “thou shalt not bow down to it or worship it” that is conditional to the making of the image itself.

This is obviously the meaning, otherwise the instructions for the building of the Ark of the Covenant were in direct contradiction to the Second Commandment and Solomon’s actions here, and in the subsequent temple, are all in breach of the Commandment. So too, we see Ezekiel’s Temple is in breach of the Law.

Israel never worshipped any graven image or object, and the cherubim were no exception. It is from Ezekiel that we see the identity and purpose of the anointed Covering Cherubim. There were four of them. They are represented as the Bull-headed, Lion-headed, Eagle-headed, and Man-headed cherubim. They surround the throne of God. Look at the papers The Meaning of Ezekiel’s Vision (No. 108); The Government of God (No. 174) and Pentecost at Sinai (No. 115).

2Kings

From 2Kings chapter 2 is there any significance to the fact that just before Elijah gave his mantle to Elisha and was taken by God, that they went from Gilgal to Bethel, to Jericho, and finally to Jordan, each time Elijah telling Elisha to wait for him?

A: The Gilgal here is not the well known Gilgal near Jericho, but the one between Tibneh and Shiloh (cf. 4:38). In this case, it was a circle. The instructions were a test for devotion and the passage of the power. He had been foreordained, from his anointing, to follow Elijah and to slay those that Jehu did not slay. His devotion shows his progression and identification, and then his receipt of power after the taking of Elijah in the chariot of God. At each point, Elisha was met by prophets and told that his master was to go that day. The effect of all this was to establish Elijah in the eyes of the prophets, and as the key prophet of God.

Would you please explain why 2Kings 25:8 and Jeremiah 52:12 both seem to be describing the same event but have different dates listed? The same question follows with Jehioachin’s release from prison in 2Kings 25:27 and Jer. 52:31.

A: The word in Kings is that he came “to” Jerusalem on the seventh day of the month. He set fire to the city. Jeremiah says he came “into” Jerusalem. This is a bit like the fall of Jerusalem to the Australians and British in December 1917. The attack went in on the seventh, and it was taken by the eighth, but Allenby did not enter until the Australians had secured it and the contingents were in place on the eleventh of the month. This aspect has been examined in the paper The Oracles of God (No. 184).

In the case of the release of Jehoiachin the order appears to have been given on the twenty-fifth day but not carried out until the twenty-seventh. The texts of 2Kings 25:27 in the Septuagint and the Syriac say “and brought him forth out of his prison”. The text in Jeremiah does not say that. Thus, we must deduce that he was ordered released and that he did not take his place at the king’s table for two days. This was probably to rehabilitate him.

Esther

Do you think Esther 9:13 is a prophecy of the 10 men being hung after the Nuremburg trials?

A: This is an interesting parallel but not necessarily prophecy. The Book of Esther is certainly not just a story about Judah 2,500 years ago. Haman was an Amalekite. Agag was killed by Samuel in front of Saul because Saul had let him live. That activity looked forward in prophecy.

The wars of the Amalekites look forward to the days of the end at the end of the forty Jubilees in the wilderness. They were carried out just before Israel went into the Promised Land. Israel was forty years in the Exodus and then fought the wars of the Amalekites. Israel was forty Jubilees in the wilderness and then fought the wars of the 20th century. The wars of the Fifth and Sixth Trumpets have still to be fought. Look at the papers The Seven Seals (No. 140) and The Seven Trumpets (No. 141).

Over that last period, from 1914 to the present, we have seen a drive for the defeat and extermination of Judah, and also of Israel. The Jews are not the Israelites. Judah is only one Tribe of Israel, and Levi is another while not all Levi is in Judah. The Holocaust was involved in the story of Esther and the hanging at Nuremburg was part of that story, but it has gone on for decades.

The Arab wars are also part of the process. Messiah will come to save those who eagerly await him. Judah will be converted in the last days at the very end. The explanation of the Story of Esther is in the paper Commentary on Esther (No. 63).

Job

Could you explain the significance of the fact that Job had 7 sons and three daughters? These numbers are repeated in that he had 7000 sheep and 3000 camels, 5000 oxen and 5000 she asses. These numbers must have important significance?

A: The round numbers 7, 3 and 5 are held to denote perfection and sufficiency according to Daath Mikra (cf. Soncino fn. to Job). This aspect also carried over into the function of the numbers in relation to the church. The seven spirits of God and the seven angels of the seven churches are accompanied by the three other candlesticks of Messiah and the two witnesses making the ten.

The seven churches have five only that are accounted worthy, and hence five is also the number of grace. The entire structure is one of plenty and sufficiency according to the purpose of God, yet these were allowed to be destroyed by Satan because they sinned. Look at the papers Symbolism of Numbers (No. 7) and Birthdays (No. 287).

The point is that of perfection removed through sin. Children are sanctified in their parents, but are killed through sin. God allows actions to be undertaken to test and deal with people in the faith. Job could not save his children because they were of age and they had taken up with a foreign religious system in the practices they were undertaking as Job knew, and hence the sacrifices.

This lesson is to the church and the nation. The nation is not protected in the birthright promises through idolatry. The Church is not protected in sin. Loss is made good also through faith and faithfulness. The break-up of the 5000 is through grace. The five and the five, wise and foolish virgins also are a consideration in the concept of the retention and loss of salvation.

Can you give me some insight on the book of Job? Was this Job also the Job mentioned in Genesis 46:13?

A: Yes, it is commonly accepted that Job is the son of Issachar mentioned in Genesis 46:13. It seems most probable that Job was in Midian and the friends seem to be Midianites. The work was most likely given to and written by Moses while he was in Midian, and formed the preparation for the Exodus and the writing of the Pentateuch. It may well have been the first book of the Bible written.

Psalms

Can you explain Psalm 82? Is the Psalm referring to the angelic host or the human elect?

A: The text refers to all the sons of God, both heavenly and human. He said he was a son of God and He quoted this Psalm in John 10:34-35 and said that Scripture cannot be broken. We are to all become elohim (cf. also Zech. 12:8). We are all to be sons of God and as elohim or gods. The text also speaks of the fallen host as judging unjustly (the poor here are the oppressed) as well because in 82:7 it says: “But you shall die like men and fall like one of the princes.” Thus, the unjust ones of the elohim are brought down to the pit and die like men and fall as any human prince. This theme is also taken up in Ezekiel 28 ff., and Isaiah 14.

In this text we are speaking of Messiah who stands as judge among the congregation of the elohim. 82:8 says, “Arise o elohim, judge thou the earth for thou shall inherit the nations.” This is Messiah, and the true version of Deuteronomy 32:8 (RSV) has Israel allotted to Yahovah as his inheritance when the nations were allotted to the sons of God. However, here all nations are part of the inheritance and so we see that all nations are to come into Israel and under Messiah. Thus, the entire host will come under Messiah as judge and king. Look also at the paper The City of God (No. 180).

Psalm 137 indicates that Israel’s captors required them to sing “one of the songs of Zion.” This seems like a strange request if you are conquering a people to ask them to remember their songs and the meanings of the song. Any ideas why this request of their captors?

A: The captives of Judah had been taken away, just as Israel had been taken away by the Assyrians under Shalmaneser in 722 BCE. The Babylonians were mocking them. The songs of Zion are the Psalms of the Lord. They were effectively saying, “Well, you were not protected by your God. Where is He now? Sing us a song to Him.” The purpose of captivity is to bring us to repentance and to a knowledge of the Lord God of Hosts. Each time we have fallen into the ways of the heathen we have been sent into captivity and that may well occur again very soon.

Proverbs

I have a question regarding the book of Proverbs, chapters 8 and 9. I’ve heard from people, that the wisdom in that book is Christ. Is that true? I always believed that it was talking about the Holy Spirit or one aspect of that Spirit. Some try to prove the eternal existence of Christ with that text. What is the correct answer? 

A: Wisdom is rendered here in the feminine and was understood as the “Sophia,” Greek for “wisdom.” The Holy Spirit is the function or power of God, which confers wisdom. Kings (and princes) reign in wisdom through it, as the text says in verses 15 and 16. The Lord possessed wisdom in the beginning, before His works of Old. The text says: “I was set up from everlasting from the beginning before ever the earth was.”

The Trinitarians cannot use this as a text for the co-eternality of Christ, as it clearly says that wisdom was set up from everlasting: from the beginning. Thus, wisdom is a creation of God, whether it was referring to Christ or the Holy Spirit.

The text that refers to Christ is in verse 30:

“Then I was by Him as one brought up with Him and I was daily His delight; Rejoicing always before Him. Rejoicing in the habitable parts of His world” (Heb: tebel ‘arez and tr. earth in the KJV: See Bullinger fn. to v. 31 Companion Bible).

Whosoever finds wisdom finds life and favour from the Lord. This is the Holy Spirit, which is being spoken of, as the cosmology of the Bible depends on this force of God tying all the sons of God together from their generation.

Thus, for Christ to be one with God, he needed the Holy Spirit to achieve that and thus, the Holy Spirit is logically prior to the unity of the Host. The fact that it was removed from the sons of God who rebelled reinforces that fact.

The comments in chapter 9 place wisdom as a female building her house. She has hewn out the seven pillars. She has killed her beasts, she has mingled her wine and she has sent forth her maidens. She is the Church. The Holy Spirit is the Church because without it, the Temple of God cannot exist. We are that Temple. We are the house of living stones that is the Temple of God. She is the bride of Christ. Her maidens are the elect of the marriage supper. The seven pillars are the angels of the Seven Churches and are the seven spirits of God.

One could say that the invitation to come eat my bread and the wine, which I have mingled, refers to Christ. But remember that John says clearly that Christ had to go to the Father who was his Father and our Father and his God and our God. When he returned to the Apostles he was able then to blow the spirit on them and say, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn. 20:22). The text explains itself.

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy Spirit is understanding. “For by me your days shall be multiplied and the years of your life shall be increased.” From Proverbs 9:13, we are given the example of the foolish woman, which is the false church under the false spirit set up by the fallen Host under Satan. It is referred to in the New Testament (cf. 1Tim 4:1-2).

There is no doubt we are speaking of two women here and one was with God from everlasting and is the woman that is the Church. The concepts are explained in the papers The Holy Spirit (No. 117); Consubstantial with the Father (No. 81); The Development of the Neo-Platonist Model (No. 17); How God Became a Family (No. 187) and The City of God (No. 180).

I once belonged to a church, which taught that the main message of Proverbs 31 is that women should be subservient to their husbands. While I do agree that the head of the woman is her husband, I am beginning to think that there is more to Proverbs 31. What would you say is the main message in that text? 

A: The king is Christ and the woman is the Church, and the Church is then comprised of men as heads of families, and women as the woman. The main message is that the church has to perform as a proverbs 31 woman at all times. The explanation of this text is given in the paper Proverbs 31 (No. 114). Too often the text is used by churches to silence women and deny their own responsibilities.

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 7:1 states “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.” Could you explain why the day of death is better than the day of birth? This would seem to be the opposite of what most people would believe?

A: The celebration of birthdays is a pagan custom that came from the Babylonians. Look at the paper Birthdays (No. 287). The idea is carried on by the Satanists and the Stargazers, who use it as a fate determination and to elevate the individual above God and as a god. The Bible position forbids this view. Our destiny is to become sons of God. We await the resurrection of the dead so we can become sons of God in power through the Holy Spirit so God can become all in all (Eph. 4:6). Look at the papers The Soul (No. 92) and The Resurrection of the Dead (No. 143).

So, you’re saying that the day of one’s death is better than that of their birth because we are that much closer to the final destiny of mankind which is to be a son of God in power, as God becomes all in all? Interesting how Satan has deceived most of the world into celebrating their birthday while confusing them as to their destiny after the resurrection from the dead.

A: Yes, the Soul Doctrine and the invention of the great lies of Heaven and Hell are part of the deception of the false religious system he established.

PROPHETS

Isaiah

Does Pharaoh have symbolic meaning for the future exodus that is coming?

A: Sodom and Egypt are names for the nations under the demons. In this sense Pharaoh is a name for Satan, as is Tyre and Babylon. In the coming Exodus the demons under Satan will be bound. The Bible shows that Israel will march out of the north, hand in hand with Assyria, and a highway will be built from the north to Jerusalem and also from Egypt to Assyria (Isa 19:23). They shall all serve together, and Israel will be a third with them. They will all be blessed together by God and they will serve the Lord together from Jerusalem.

Isaiah walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign to Egypt and Ethiopia that they would be taken captive, and the coast land would also be taken captive, naked and barefoot by the Assyrians (Isa. 20:3-6). In the final phase the breach will be healed and they will serve the Lord together at Jerusalem. Look at the paper Outline Timetable of the Age (No. 272); Trumpets (No. 136); The Day of the Lord and the Last Days (No. 192); The Seven Trumpets (No 141) and The Millennium and the Rapture (No. 95).

Who is being spoken of here in Isaiah?

Isaiah 65:1-6  I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. 2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; 3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; 4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; 5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. 6 Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,

A: There are two groups here. One group represents the gentiles of the church who seek God and obey His commandments. The other represents the nation of Israel, and those who associate themselves with it – those who know God but eat swine flesh and other abominations and burn incense on their hewn and constructed altars contrary to God’s Law.

These are the false priests of the false religious system who destroy the commandments of God and lead the people astray. They set themselves apart as holy from the people they lead. God says these people are an abomination in His sight, a smoke in His nostrils. To fully understand the ramifications of the text, you have to know where the ten tribes of Israel are found. Israel is not the Jewish people, but Judah is one of the twelve tribes of Israel. There are elements of Judah, which also fall into this self-righteous mentality. It stems from the Pharisees and entered rabbinical Judaism from that source.

The movement of the Tribes and their location is discussed in the paper The Unitarian/Trinitarian Wars (No. 268). The identity of these false priests and what happens to them is also discussed in the paper The Messages of Revelation 14 (No. 270).

Isaiah 26:14; 43:17 and Jeremiah 51:57 are used by some to claim that there are many that will not be awakened from the dead. To whom are these verses referring? Was it from a certain time frame only?

A: The text in Isaiah 26:13-14 refers to the Rephaim, who have no resurrection. They are the Nephilim of Genesis 6:4. Their identities are examined in the paper The Nephilim (No. 154). Jeremiah 51:57 refers to the fall of Babylon and the death of the host who are with them. This is not the same as the Rephaim in Isaiah. These people are put to sleep and are dead. However, the matters are examined in the papers The Judgment of the Demons (No. 80) and The Resurrection of the Dead (No. 143).

What is meant by purifying themselves in the gardens behind one tree? Why the reference again to eating swine flesh? What’s the significance of the mouse? (Isa 66:17)

A: The structure of the Mystery cults was around the Asherah, which was often an oak tree. Isaiah 1:29 commences this sequence and we see it in the texts in 57:5; 65:3; and 66:17. It runs oaks, gardens, oak, garden in the sequence. These are the places of worship in the Mystery cults. The oak leaf is also condemned in 1:30. The Asherah was a phallus and it was often used with a phallic implement.

The cutting of mistletoe and the other items associated with the solstice are part of this festival. It is the basis of Christmas and Easter. In the depictions of the mystery cults in the Roman frescoes there was also a kid. This appears to be the origin of the Bible prohibition of the kid seethed in the milk of its mother. A phallic implement was also depicted and that is why the mysteries were also popular with the women. The fertility rites associated with these systems came in as the Christmas and Janus festivals. They then went on through the Carnival and Shrove to Ash Wednesday, and then Lent, and on into the Easter festivities. None of it is Christian, and that is what God is condemning here. Look at the paper The Origins of Christmas and Easter (No. 235).

The mouse is ‘akbar (SHD 5909 pr. ‘akbawr) as attacking and hence a mouse as nibbling. There are twenty-three members of the family Muridae in Palestine, and we are unsure of the exact species. There was a cultic practice of sacrificing and eating field mice, and Maimonedes preserves the tradition that it was carried out by the Harranians. Haran was the centre of the Babylonian Moon cult from 2000 BCE, and hence the centre of the mystery cults. It was a centre of Lunar paganism down until Christian Times. (cf. Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, vol. 2, p. 524). They worshipped the Moon God, Sin, and the Triune system of the Mother goddess, and the Easter and sun system. This same system penetrated Christianity. Look also at the paper The Golden Calf (No. 222).

The real problem is that Israel will not repent of this evil. The English speaking people, and the European Aryans, are wedded to their iniquity and to these pagan festivals.

The entire civil calendar of the USA is based on the pagan days of Human Sacrifice. It is impossible for it to be a coincidence. The administration has to be influenced by paganism and witchcraft at their decision making levels. God will deal with these people very soon.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 4:15ff. seems to infer a prophet in the end times warning the nations and condemning false religions etc. How will we know when this prophet is among us? Is there a time sequence for this prophet?

A: The text refers to the voice from Dan that publishes affliction from the mountains of Ephraim. Warn the nations that “He” is coming and beseigers or watchers come from a distant land. The term in this text is not the same as the Watchers elsewhere and thus may not refer to the heavenly host.

The text is corrupted in some Bibles because of its implications. The fact of the voice does not mean it is a single prophet but rather it is a warning issued in the last days concerning the coming of the Messiah and may be a work of many people of the church. It is however a specific warning. The question has been examined in the paper The Warning of the Last Days (No. 44).

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 46:20 seems to say that animal sacrifices will be performed again in the Kingdom? Could this be possible?

A: Yes, it does and they will be performed. The killing of animals will be for the festivals and systems of worship on the Sabbaths and New Moons. Zechariah 14:16-21 shows clearly also that there will be meat killed and eaten in Jerusalem and the pots shall be holy to the Lord. Look at the papers: The Millennium and the Rapture (No. 95); Vegetarianism and the Bible (No. 183); God’s Calendar (No. 156) and Law and the Fourth Commandment (No. 256).

 

We read in Ezekiel chapter 26 about the destruction of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar. In verse 21 it says that Tyre shall be no more and never found again. Yet, in Matthew 15:21, we find Jesus going to Tyre. How can this be?

A: Tyre was taken by Nebuchadnezzar after a thirteen year siege (Isa. 23:1; Josephus. A of J, x, 11, 1; Contr. Apion, i, 20). The prophecy began to be fulfilled then. The prophecy covers a period of time and deals with it as a declaration.

The fate of Sidon was different. Tyre was destroyed and was a promontory in the sea and she was made as a bare rock. The garrisons or pillars are visible even today in the sea. The area was known at the time of Christ and the text of which you speak says he went into the parts or regions of Tyre and Sidon. It is rendered “coasts” in the KJV. The text in Ezekiel is concerned with the fallen host as well, and Tyre typifies Satan and we see that develop over the texts in Ezekiel 28. The text in chapter 29 then goes on to deal with Egypt and its fall. See the paper The Fall of Egypt The Prophecy of Pharaoh’s Broken Arms (No. 36).

Is there a reason in Ezekial’s Temple that there are carvings of a young lion’s face toward a palm tree and a man’s face toward the palm tree on the other side? 

A: Yes, there is a reason. The lion-headed and man-headed beings are the two living creatures around the throne of God. The palm tree represents Messiah, who was the tree Moses used to cleanse the waters at Meribah on the way to Sinai. In other words, we could not take of the Holy Spirit without Messiah.

The rebellion involved a third of the Host, but one area is only a quadrant thus, there had to be two quadrants involved in the rebellion. These are the manheaded and aeon systems. These two beings are to be replaced and the elohim, with Messiah, are listed in the Bible. They are Moses (Ex 7:1) and Abraham. The text that makes Abraham an elohim has been mistranslated so it is impossible to find except in the original Hebrew. Look at the papers The Government of God (No. 174); How God Became a Family (No. 187) and The Covenant of God (No. 152).

Most of the people that have entered Israel since the war do not keep God’s Law. How do you understand the following scripture?

Ezekiel 20:37-38  “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will let you go in by number. 38 I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.” (RSV)

A: The Jews are only a part of Israel. There are nations of the ten tribes still out there who are greater and mightier than the Jews. In the last days there will be a second Exodus. This Exodus will make the first one pale into insignificance. It is mentioned in Isaiah (66:18-23).

This period sees the First Resurrection and then the breaking of the nations at Armageddon. After that event, the nations will be required to give up their Israelites from among them and they will be returned under the rod, as was Israel in the first Exodus.

Some that have already returned will be sent away into captivity. These rebellious will also die in the wilderness. The only people who will return will be those who keep God’s Law either physically or spiritually. All others will be allowed to die in the wilderness. Each will pass under the rod of judgment.

Those nations, which do not obey and send their representatives to Jerusalem each year at the feast of Tabernacles, will be given no rain in due season. Those that attempt to get around the law by irrigation, such as in Egypt, will be destroyed by plagues (Zech. 14:16-19). Eventually everyone will keep the Commandments of God and the Feasts, New Moons and Sabbaths.

The people who argue that the Law was nailed to the “stauros” in Colossians 2:14 will simply die. There will be no further discussion. That is Scripture, and Scripture cannot be broken. Look also at the papers Measuring the Temple (No. 137) and Law and the Fourth Commandment (No. 256).

Daniel

Could you explain to me Daniel 7:23-27?

A: The fourth kingdom is the “legs of iron” of chapter 2. This empire was the Roman Empire. It followed the gold of Babylon and the silver of the Medes and Persians and the brass of the Greeks and the Hellenised system. It went on into the feet of iron and clay.

The feet referred to the Holy Roman Empire formed in 590 CE and which lasted until the revolutions in 1848 ending in 1850 and being confined in 1870. The ten kings did arise and form part of this system. They persecuted the saints over the 1260 years of the empire. They first subdued the ten tribes by intrigue and treason after the fall of the Parthian Empire and the move into Europe (see the paper The Unitarian/Trinitarian Wars (No. 268)).

The feet also had ten toes, which formed the structure of the Alcvin twins or the “Thing” of Europe: The Parliament of the Aryans. In the last days this union forms a beast. This entire structure is the system of Antichrist, yet it claims for itself the power of God and uses that charge against others. This system wore out the Saints of the Most High over the 1,260 years, and in the 20th century from WWI and the Holocaust to the end of WWII and the death of Stalin.

The system changed times and laws for its followers. The “three and a half times” of the 1,260 years is the same time as that in Revelation 12. The Church is pursued by the dragon, which tries to kill the seed of the woman. But the earth helped her and swallowed the Church so that it could not be identified and destroyed by this false religious system and the power of the dragon.

This system will establish a final empire for one hour, which will rule the world and then disaster will descend upon it. The kingdom will be given to the Saints in the final wars of the end. Soon Christ will come to save those who eagerly await him.

In Daniel 12:1-2 God tells us of a time when Michael stands up and there shall be a time of trouble unlike ever before. Then the Bible says: ‘at that time many that sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt’. Which resurrection is this and what exactly does it mean to be raised to “everlasting contempt”?

A: This period is referring to the Day of the Lord and to the entire structure of the resurrection. The concept here of everlasting life means the restoration to the spiritual fold as sons of God. The words “everlasting” here are “owlam” (SHD 5769) meaning time out of mind or to the vanishing point from the concept of concealed.

The Hebrew word rendered “contempt” is actually two words, neither of which is confined to what we understand as contempt. The first one is SHD 2781 “cherpah,” meaning reproaches or shame. The second is “dera’own,” (SHD 1860)  meaning abhorring, and in this sense it is contempt.

The view is that individuals will face judgment. The shame and abhorrence one feels when sin is made known is a very serious matter. We are healed by grace and the love of God. That does not mean we do not face shame for what we have done ourselves, and many will endure that knowledge as spirit beings and know that other spirit beings also know their sin.

That is why forgiveness is so central to the love of God. If we cannot forgive others, how can we expect forgiveness and, most importantly, how can we deal with shame that comes from perfect knowledge as a spirit being? The details of these processes are explained in the papers: The Soul (No. 92); The Resurrection of the Dead (No. 143) and The City of God (No. 180).

In Daniel 2:43 there is a statement about the toes of the image that says that “they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.” My question is who are the “they” being spoken of here, and what is meant by not mingling themselves with the seed of men?

A: These ten kings are also spiritual powers as the sons of God from Deuteronomy 32:8 who were allocated the nations according to the number of the sons of God. There were two cherubim, Satan and the Aeon and ten others making the inner twelve elohim of the fallen host. This was then also extended to seventy in the original.

This is a reason why Deuteronomy 32:8 was changed after the fall of the temple and the Jewish Hebrew MT is incorrect. One of the few Bibles that has it right is the RSV. Another is the Roman Catholic New American Bible. Thus, the government is that of the Antichrist over the entire period of its existence. It is the image of the beast of the Holy Roman Empire and then the union of Europe in the last days. This union is given dominion over the whole world and Christ returns to destroy it.

The demons are not allowed to mingle with the seed of men as they did prior to the flood. That happens within the Sign of Jonah and the fortieth Jubilee. “Their days” means the end of the time of the fifth and sixth power. Look at the paper Outline Timetable of the Age (No. 272).

Daniel 7:9-10 seems to refer to fire being at the throne of God. What is the symbolism of fire? There are so many items that come to mind: the burning bush, pillar of fire, walking on coals of fire, etc.

A: The fire is the spiritual power that issues from the Throne of God. As the Ancient of Days, He dwells in unapproachable light. No man has ever seen him, or can see Him. He alone is immortal (1Tim. 6:16). It is in this aspect, as the One True God and Creator, that He is seen as Judge of the Universe. He has given this power to Christ in judgment.

Fire is used to portray the spirits, and power of God, and also the demons that fell from grace before this throne. That is why the flame is so important in demonology, especially in the seats of its power, for example at Rome in the Temple of Vesta and among the curia.

In the book of Daniel, we read of the three friends of Daniel being thrown into the oven. Is there some kind of symbolism here, and if so what is it? Also, why three men and not say seven, or twelve?

A: The three friends were chosen with Daniel to show the captivity of Israel and its deliverance under persecution.

The Triune system is represented also in these three. They were taken by Babylon and given names of the Babylonian system and these three represent in their own way the elect called out under God’s protection. The Son of Man was sent to protect them. As Christ walks with these three in the furnace he walks with us now. The heat of the furnace has been raised and as it killed the guards there so it will kill the system in the last days.

There are so many references to lions in scripture. Do you have any idea why Daniel was thrown into a lion’s den versus some other kind of animal or other test?

A: Lions were the largest predators available to them in Mesopotamia. They used them for disciplinary reasons as far down as the Roman Empire. They did not feed them well so that they would tear their victims to death and eat them.

Many of God’s people were tested in this way and were torn apart by wild animals. Daniel had no way of knowing if God would protect him or not. The same was true in the furnace of fire. They said, “We do not know if God will save us or not, but we will not worship you.” In this case, the king pronounced his own judgment as he said, “Your God whom you continually serve, He will deliver you.” In this case, God did this as an example to the king.

The king was caught in his own laws. His decree could not be altered even though he knew he had been tricked into the plan to kill Daniel. The fact that King Astyages spent the night fasting for Daniel showed his respect, and God heard the prayers of the king. The people who sought to kill Daniel set the test.

The Bible position is this: “He who digs a pit for another, falls into it himself and catches himself in his own snare getting out” (Prov 26:27). These people were then killed and eaten by the same lions they sought to use to kill Daniel, as were their wives and children. This is a powerful lesson on the laws of God (see The Law of God (No. L1)).

Hosea

What is the meaning of the Door of Hope and valley of Achor in Hosea 2:15? 

A: “Achor” means, “trouble.” The Door of Hope is Christ who is the door of salvation. The valley of trouble becomes the door of hope. This text must be compared with Joshua 7:24-26. Israel was burdened through the idolatry of some among it and one, Achan was stoned to death. The Lord’s wrath was stilled in that day and the valley of Achor also became a valley of hope to those who trusted in God through the Messiah. Look also at the paper The Fall of Jericho (No. 142).

Hosea takes the story of Joshua onward to the end days, and the idolatry that has permeated Israel through the Baal-Easter system will be removed. Israel shall be restored and they will call Yahovah, “Ishi” and “Baali” no more. For He will remove the names of these idolatrous gods from among us.

Joel

Could you explain Joel 2:23 for me? Some Bibles translate “early rain” as “teacher of righteousness”. Does this refer to Jesus and/or someone else?

A: Joel 2:23 is a prophecy that concerns Messiah and the Holy Spirit. The rainfall system in Israel was sparse and they were placed there in Canaan so that they were in direct relationship with God. The blessing of the rain was indicative of that relationship. That was in direct contrast to Egypt that relied on flood irrigation. The crops of Barley and wheat are reliant on the rains to develop their root system and then to branch correctly. The latter rain is necessary to fill out the corn for harvest. But it must not be too late other wise the crop is blackened.

Thus, the latter rain falls early in the first month to enable the Wave Sheaf and the subsequent harvest to be fully developed. Christ was the Passover lamb, but He was also the Wave Sheaf offering at 9 a.m. on the Sunday Morning. This also began the count to Pentecost of fifty days occurring on the Sunday at 9 a.m. fifty days later.

When Christ was presented as the Wave Sheaf, on the Sunday morning after the resurrection the previous evening (see John 20:17), He told Mary Magdalene to go and tell the disciples that he was going to His Father and their Father, and His God and their God.

Later that same day before dark, He returned and spoke to the disciples and breathed on them the Holy Spirit. This was the sign that He had returned with the rain of the Holy Spirit. Now this latter rain aspect has a twofold meaning. He was the Messiah of two advents. This was the former rain of the planting as well as the Passover of the harvest. The Omer count had begun to the wheat harvest, which harvest we are.

The latter rain will come with the Restoration of all things spoken of by Malachi. That process is commencing to be implemented now. In a few years, the witnesses will be with us and then the nexus of the law will be restored. Then the Messiah will come. Thus the latter rain is the final pouring out of the Holy Spirit on all mankind. It will take a lot of hard knocks to get there however, as most of humanity seems dedicated to destroying itself and ignoring God.

Micah

What is the meaning of: I set before you Moses, Aaron, Miriam? What symbolism do these individuals have when we read scripture? (Mic. 6:4)

A: Moses, Aaron and Miriam were sent before Israel when they were brought up out of the land of Egypt. The symbolism here in Micah 6:4 is that The Lord is expressing His controversy with Israel. He asks where has He wearied Israel? What has He done to us? He asks us to testify against Him. He brought us out of Egypt and He gave us leaders, priests, and prophets as represented by these three. He does nothing except that he warns His people through His servants the prophets first.

He reminds Israel of what the Moabites under Balak wanted to do and how they wanted to use Balaam, son of Beor. However, God was righteous. He also says that He requires us to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. The rich among us use wrong measures and rob from the poor. The rich are full of violence and the inhabitants of our cities speak lies and are full of deceit.

He will smite Israel for the statues of Omri and all the works of the house of Ahab who served Baal-Easter. For this He will make us a desolation and a reproach. Israel still worships the Easter goddess to this very day. They are filled with the servants of Baal-Easter and the Khemarim, or black cassocked priests, who worship the sun cults and Easter. Their laws are not based on the law of God and they are changing them daily to this false European system. The inhabitants of the city are being spoken to in rebuke.

Chapter 5 speaks of the Messiah and His establishment of Israel. Chapter 6 deals with his rebuke of Israel. In this entire process, we see a span of 2000 years or forty jubilees. Messiah came, and Judah was given 40 years to repent but did not, and they were destroyed. The church was sent into the wilderness for forty jubilees, and a new order of Melchisedek was established. Messiah was at its head. In this period of time, Israel was given its birthright and will be brought to subjection before its God, and then the nations will be brought into it.

This period is covered in the paper Outline Timetable of the Age (No. 272). The papers Measuring the Temple (No. 137) and The Messages of Revelation 14 (No. 270) are also important to understanding what is happening.

Would you please explain the meaning of Micah 5:5. Who are the 7 shepherds and 8 leaders of men?

A: Micah 5:2-3 refers to Messiah and the meaning of that text is covered in the paper Micah 5:2-3 (No. 121). The text in Micah 5:5 refers to the invasion of the nation of Israel in the last days by Assyria.  Isaiah 5:3 refers to the Church, which Christ has given up to the world until she has brought forth those of the elect who were predestined. Then, the remnant of Christ’s brethren shall be returned unto the children of Israel, which is also the Church.

At that time of the end, there will be a great tribulation and Messiah shall return to save those who eagerly await him. He shall stand in Israel as the great shepherd of Israel. The term feed means to tend as the flock.

Compare the following verses with this verse. Psalm 80:1; Jeremiah 31:10; Ezekiel 34:23; and importantly Genesis 49:24. He shall be great refers also to Psalm. 22:27; 72:8; 98:1; Isaiah 49:5,7; 52:13; Zechariah 9:10. The Hebrew regarding the Assyrian is emphatic. The terms regarding “When he shall tread in our palaces” can be compared with Isaiah 7:20; 8:7-10; 37:31-36;

The sequence as to what follows can also be compared with Isaiah 44:28; 59:19; Zechariah 1:18-21; 9:13; 10:3; 12:6. In the last days, the Israelite nations will be so weakened by treason from within and apostasy, that the Assyrian people will enter Israel. They will then turn to Messiah in repentance.

In the sequence that follows, there will be raised seven shepherds and eight principal men. This sequence is yet to be fulfilled. The concept of seven shepherds is akin to the seven angels of the seven churches. The eight principal men are akin to the judges in Israel as war leaders. The exact nature of this prophecy has not yet been revealed.

The time frame would indicate that this will occur probably in the next ten years. Seven nations under Ephraim will be galvanised with the eighth of Manasseh. The European system will again commence the war — WWIII. This time the English-speaking people will be destroyed by treason from within, through the agency of this European system. They will fight on their own soil for their very survival.

Messiah will return and the nations will be brought to repentance through their own almost total annihilation. Zechariah 2:8-13 shows that Yahovah of Hosts sends Yahovah to Jerusalem in the last days, and Messiah shall stand there to protect it. Judah will be restored in the last days, as will Jerusalem.

Isaiah shows that after this, Assyria and Israel will come hand in hand out of the north. In other words, Assyria will be brought to repentance as well. Have a look at the process in the papers Measuring the Temple (No. 137) and Outline Timetable of the Age (No. 272).

The text in Micah 5:7-8 shows that the remnant of Jacob shall be mighty as a young lion among the Gentiles at that time. There is a distinction between the land of Assyria and the Land of Nimrod in this text (cf. Gen. 10:8-10). The entrances mean the passes of the land of Nimrod.

In other words, we will be cleaned of apostasy and weakness through our tribulation and the saving strength of Messiah. In the last days, we will have gone through the process of weakening and strengthening. Manasseh fed of Ephraim, and now Ephraim must feed of Manasseh, but at the end time both will feed of Judah under Messiah.

Zechariah

When do you think this prophecy of Zechariah 14 will come to pass?

Zechariah 14:16-19  And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

A: After the return of the Messiah, the armies of the nations will be brought down to Armageddon and subjugated. Then the Second Great Exodus will occur. The system of the millennial structure will be set up at Jerusalem and the Law of God will emanate from there. All nations will be required to keep the Holy Days of the Bible (cf. Isa. 66:23) and send their representatives to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles and especially for the Reading of the Law in the seventh year. If they do not go up to Jerusalem every year, that nation will receive no rain and suffer the plagues of Egypt. This will take effect from the 121st Jubilee, which is the 41st since Messiah, and the 50th since the Restoration under Ezra and Nehemiah and the issue of what became the finalisation of the canon of Scripture, which we term the Old Testament. Look at the papers Outline Timetable of the Age (No. 272) and Reading the Law with Ezra and Nehemiah (No. 250). This is Scripture and Scripture cannot be broken. The cosmology of the Roman Catholic Church is borrowed from the pagans and Gnostics and has completely negated the doctrines of the original Church through their introduced traditions.

God’s Calendar

In some literature, there is reference to blowing a trumpet on the full moon. In searching the Strong’s Concordance, I cannot find the term “Full Moon” mentioned even one time. Do we ever need to determine when the full moon happens?

A: No, it is not mentioned but some try to make Psalm 81:3 say “full moon” when it is the “new moon” of Abib or the new year in Abib or Nisan that is meant as the solemn New Year feast of the First Moon. It is a New Moon. If the New Moon is correctly determined according to the conjunction, then the feasts will fall correctly anyway.

The Feasts are centred on and determined from the New Moons according to the conjunction. These aspects are discussed in the papers: The Moon and the New Year (No. 213) and God’s Calendar (No. 156). Some fall on the full moon but all are determined from the New Moon. The full moon has significance for paganism and non-biblical cults.

Due to the passage at Joshua 10:13 where it is said that the moon stood still for about a day, some have said that time has been lost and that we cannot determine the exact days that God set aside for worship. Does this fact cause any calendar concerns for us today?

A: There are a number of miracles in connection with the sun and the moon. 2Kings 20:11 and Isaiah 38:8 also show that the sun went backwards. Amos 8:9 says it went down at noon. Isaiah 60:20 mentions “no more going down.” It is darkened in Isaiah 13:10; Ezekiel 32:7; Joel 2:10:31; 3:15 and Matthew 24:29; Revelation 6:12; 8:12; 9:2; 16:8.

This miracle is to be performed again (Luke 23:44,45). Psalm 19:4-6 deals with the motion. The important thing to note is that at no time was it ever suggested by any of God prophets that the times had been lost or the days misplaced. The entire Temple period was regulated according to the Calendar and there was never any suggestion, from Joshua to the close of the Temple, that the Sabbath and other days had been misplaced. Christ was silent on the matter and kept the entire Temple calendar.

If a day had been lost, then He was presented as the Wave Sheaf on the wrong day and there are no firstfruits. There has never been any suggestion that the Sabbath is misplaced except for a few uninformed Protestants who try to make Sunday the Sabbath. An equally uninformed group in Islam are trying to make the sixth day of the week the Sabbath using exactly the same arguments as the Protestants do for Sunday.

You have commented on the number seven being significant. Is there any correlation of the 7 days of the week to God’s plan?

A: Yes, the number 7 is the symbol of perfect spiritual completion and it relates to the entire creation. The seven days of the week are also of that complete creation. The Seventh Day Sabbath is part of the Plan of God, as a perfect “Sabbaton” or week made complete by the reconciliation to God in the last day, which is the Sabbath. The Hebrews and Arabs always had the week ending on the Sabbath.

The seven-day week came into the Roman system from the Egyptians. The Babylonians began the corruption of the week with the seventh day being determined from the New Moon instead of being independent from it (cf. ERE, vol. 3, p. 63). Look also at the paper God’s Calendar (No. 156).

Jubilee

What is a Jubilee, and what if anything is its significance? 

A: The Jubilee is the key cycle of fifty years in the calendar and the Law of God. The Jubilee determines the cycles of the tithe and of land ownership and control. It ensures freedom from oppression and slavery.

The Jubilee is a cycle of fifty years with the Jubilee year as the fiftieth year, but starting in the forty-ninth year with Atonement and lasting until Atonement in the Fiftieth. The Jubilee is blown at Atonement. The Law is read in the seventh year of the cycle and also with the Jubilee when all lands are returned to the lines of owners in the tribes. From the day after the Last Great Day at the end of Tabernacles the lands are then worked. That is so the harvest is ready again for the barley harvest at Passover and the Wave Sheaf Ceremony in Unleavened Bread. Look at the papers Law and the Fourth Commandment (No. 256); God’s Calendar (No. 156); Reading the Law with Ezra and Nehemiah (No. 250) and Tithing (No. 161).

 

We’ve learned that there are 7-year time cycles similar to the 7-day week and that the 7th year of each cycle is like the 7th day Sabbath where there is a rest. Then after 7 of these cycles, or at 7 X 7 (49) there is a special rest year called a Jubilee. How is the Jubilee year counted then? It would not start the next cycle as year 1 would it?

A: The Jubilee is counted as an eighth year of the cycle. It runs from Atonement of the Sabbath year to Atonement of the Jubilee year unlike normal years. This is so the restoration of lands can be made and the new holders can commence ploughing and sowing for the harvest at the Passover of the next and first year of the new Sabbath and Jubilee cycle. The cycle of the Jubilee is covered in the papers: God’s Calendar (No. 156); Tithing (No. 161) and Law and the Fourth Commandment (No. 256).

The Jubilee seems to be “blown” on Atonement (Lev. 25:9) and I assume this is a special observance during that particular 8th year. If it actually begins with Atonement then into which year do the first 7 months fall that occur just after the last day of the previous 7th year? Is it an extension of the 7th year or is this space of time not counted at all until Atonement? Could it be that the Jubilee functions start at Atonement and then extend partly into this New First Year?

A: In the 48th year of the jubilee cycle, which is the Sixth year of the Seventh Sabbath cycle, God gives a treble harvest. The next year in which this occurs will be 2025. The Sabbath year of the cycle starts at 1 Abib, like all normal years. From Trumpets the reading of the law is prepared, as we saw in the restoration of Ezra and Nehemiah. The Jubilee year commences from Atonement in the Sabbath year and continues until Atonement in the Jubilee year. At Tabernacles of that Sabbath year, the Law is read and the Jubilee festivities and the rest accorded to the lands and trees occurs.

From the blowing of Atonement in the jubilee year, all lands revert to their owners. Only the houses in towns can be sold in perpetuity. After the Last Great Day following Tabernacles all the restoration is put in place. This is termed the eighth year for the purposes of calculation. This period of five months is used for ploughing and sowing so that the first harvest can occur in the month of Abib of the first year of the new cycle. Look at the papers: Tithing (No. 161); Law and the Fourth Commandment (No. 256); Reading the Law with Ezra and Nehemiah (No. 250) and God’s Calendar (No. 156).

In a previous question it was said the Jubilee year is from Atonement to the next Atonement or in the fall of the year. Stored crops are eaten and there is no planting or tithe paying. What happens to the next five months and are they in the 50th or the 1st year of the next cycle?

A: The Bible says that they were in the eighth year of the cycle, which is the Jubilee year. However, the actual Jubilee itself is blown from Atonement to Atonement, which is why there is a treble harvest year in the 48th year of the Jubilee cycle, to enable this extended period of rest. The preparation for the harvests must be undertaken after the Last Great Day of the Feast cycle in the Seventh month, and so that period is normal for agricultural purposes. The structure is examined in the papers Law and the Fourth Commandment (No. 256) and Tithing (No. 161).

When does the Jubilee end? Are there different jubilees for different kinds of people?

A: There is only one true jubilee–the jubilee of the Bible. It is fifty years in duration and consists of seven seven-year cycles with the fiftieth year as the jubilee. The jubilee is also called the Acceptable Year of the Lord and was declared by Christ in 27 CE, the year he was baptised by John. The determination of the jubilee year is made from a number of Bible references. Look at the paper Law and the Fourth Commandment (No. 256).

The jubilees occur in the years 27 and 77 of each century of the current era, and the years 24 and 74 BCE. The reading of the Law occurs at each Sabbath year and in each jubilee. The jubilee is declared or blown from Atonement of the Sabbath to Atonement of the Jubilee year. Look at the paper Reading the Law with Ezra and Nehemiah (No. 250).

In that year, all lands are to be restored and the jubilee acts as an eighth year of the cycle. From the end of the Last Great Day of the Feasts of Tabernacles, the lands are ploughed and sown for the Harvests of the next year in Abib and through to the Wheat Harvest at Pentecost.

New Years day begins on 1 Abib approximating March of the Pagan Roman Calendar. This is explained in the paper The Moon and the New Year (No. 213). The calendar is set by God from Creation and is essential for the correct system of worship. Look at God’s Calendar (No. 156). The year 2000 is an invention of man and is not a jubilee year. Look at the paper The Significance of the Year 2000 (No. 286).

Feasts

We are told to keep the holy days of YHVH-where He places His Name. In this world today with all the confusion in the churches how can we really know where He places His name for His feasts?

A: Finding a place where Yahovah has placed His name is the same commandment to discern the body of Christ for the Passover. We are all commanded to discern the body of Christ in order to take the Lord’s Supper and Passover sequence with that body. To do that we normally examine which church is faithfully adhering to the doctrines of the Original Church of God. In the past, that has been fairly easy as we have normally been underground and persecuted but faithful to the truth.

The Doctrine of the nature of God was readily understood, and Christ was understood to be the Great Angel of the Old Testament who gave the Law to Moses and was never confused with the One True God. This century the Hillel Calendar was introduced from Judaism in some branches, which has made it even more diverse.

The task is fairly simple on the face of it. You have to find the people on the planet doing what the Church has done for two thousand years; keeping the original Calendar with all the Sabbaths and Feasts (including the Wave Sheaf service and New Moons) and worshipping the one True God in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Once you have found them, you have found the place where God has placed his hand and where Christ will be for the Feast. Nothing has changed — there are just more errors and confusion in the last days. The work by Samuel Kohn, Sabbatarians in Transylvania will show you what the church was doing at the Reformation in Europe. We are still doing the same thing.

If the men of Israel were to go to Judea at least 3 times a year, on Passover, Tabernacles, and First Fruits, and now Jesus is our Passover and Pentecost is our First Fruits, that leaves Tabernacles as the required Feast right? Why do we have a weekly Service to hear the word? What did the men of Israel do the rest of the year? We should only have to go to services 2 or 3 times a year.

A: The commanded assemblies of God are in Leviticus 23 and the New Moons in Numbers 10. The Sabbath is the first commanded assembly and feast of the Lord. Thus, it precedes the others and all the commanded assemblies of God flow from this text and the Fourth commandment. The New Testament church had to keep Pentecost at the right place and time together otherwise the Holy Spirit would not have come upon them. The weekly Sabbath was kept by the New Testament church; and so were the New Moons. They also kept Passover and Unleavened Bread, the Wave Sheaf, which is the first of the First Fruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. Acts shows they kept the feasts. Colossians 2:16 shows they kept the Sabbath, New Moons and Feasts and were not to let anyone judge them in how they kept them.

The Bible is quite clear, Christ will enforce the Sabbaths, New Moons and Feasts when He returns, and if you do not keep them you will die of starvation or the plagues of Egypt (Isa. 66:23; Zech. 14:16-19). The Witnesses will be the first to address this issue when they get here and Elijah restores the Nexus of the Law and restores all things. Then all debates are over.

What exactly is the ‘fat of the feast’ mentioned in Exodus 23:18?

A: The fat of the feast in this context is the same as that used for the command to eat the fat and drink the sweet in the Restoration of Ezra and Nehemiah (Neh. 8:10). It has nothing to do with the consumption of, or usage of animal fat. It is the concept of the fat and sweet of the feast being distributed, and the offerings taken as soon as the feast is commenced. Thus, the Levites and the poor can eat.

That is why there are only three offerings, one at the beginning of each feast season. The Second Tithe is also used for this activity as we see by Nehemiah’s command on the Day of Trumpets. The fat of the feast, the offerings, are not to remain until the morning. In other words, they are to be collected and used, being distributed to the poor so that they may also enjoy the feast in a timely manner.

Pentecost

What day is Pentecost?

Many Christian churches, that observe God’s holy days, calculate the day of Pentecost by counting fifty days from the day after the weekly Sabbath that falls within the days of Unleavened Bread. This is the Wave Sheaf Offering (Sunday) which commences the countdown to Pentecost (Lev 23:15-17).

The early church kept Pentecost on a Sunday. Only the Jews kept a Sivan 6 and only after the Temple was destroyed. See the paper The Wave Sheaf Offering (No. 106b).

What is the meaning of Shavuot?

A: Note: Shavuot = Feast of Weeks or Pentecost.

“Unlike all the other Holidays in the Tanach [Hebrew Scriptures], the Feast of Weeks is not given a fixed calendar date but instead we are commanded to celebrate it at the end of a 50-day period known as “The Counting of the Omer” (Shavuot being the 50th day). The commencement of this 50-day period is marked by the bringing of the Omer Offering in the Temple as we read, “And you shall count from the morrow after the Sabbath from the day you bring the Omer [Sheaf] of Waving; seven complete Sabbaths shall you count… until the morrow of the seventh Sabbath you will count fifty days… and you shall proclaim on this very day, it shall be a holy convocation for you ” (Lev 23,15-16.21).”

In late Second Temple times a debate arose between the Boethusians and the Pharisees about whether the “morrow after the Sabbath” [Heb. Mimohorat Ha-Shabbat] refers to the Sunday during Hag HaMatzot [Feast of Unleavened Bread] or the second day of Hag HaMatzot (i.e. the 16th of Nissan). Like the Boethusians and Ancient Israelites before them, the Karaites count the 50 days of the Omer from the Sunday during Hag HaMatzot [Unleavened Bread] and consequently always celebrate Shavuot on a Sunday.”

The quotation above is taken from the Karaite Jews:

www.karaite-korner.org/shavuot.shtml

The Karaite Jews follow the Judaism of the Sadducees. It doesn’t matter that Paul was a Pharisee; it was the Sadducees who were in control of the Temple. The explanation of the Karaites also follows the Church and the Ancient Temple system as well as the Samaritans.

Trumpets

I read the paper Trumpets (No. 136). I see that trumpets were blown at this commanded assembly. Were trumpets blown at other times as well?

A: Yes, they were. The trumpets were blown on New Moons and feasts in various forms. It is a good exercise to look up “trumpets” in Strongs and then look at when they were commanded. Also look at the papers God’s Calendar (No. 156); The Holy Days of God (No. 97) and The Moon and the New Year (No. 213).

Should the Feast of Trumpets be called the Feast of Shofar or Yom Teruah, Day of Blowing? Using The Interlinear Bible (Hebrew, Greek, English)

A: Leviticus 23:24 (Hebrew) In the month seventh, on the first of the month (2320) shall be to you a Sabbath (7677) (Sabbathown) reminder (2146) SIGNALLED (8643) a gathering (4744) holy (6944)

Leviticus 23:24 (English) In the seventh month, on the first of the month, you shall have a Sabbath, a Memorable Acclamation, a holy gathering.

Numbers 29:1(Hebrew) And in month the seventh, on the first of the month, a convocation holy shall be to you any work of service not shall you do; A DAY (yom) OF BLOWING (8643) [the trumpet] (included, but no Hebrew word or number for it) it shall be to you. 8643 Teruah (Teruwah) a type of blowing. 8643 comes from 7321, split the ear, blow an alarm, shout. Cry (alarm, aloud, out) destroy, make a joyful noise, smart, shout sound an alarm, triumph.

I am finding the use of the word Trumpet is mostly translated as Ram’s Horn in the Interlinear Bible…the shofar. Trumpets…. 2689 Shofar…7782. Is the Shofar as well as the Silver Trumpet to be blown? Is the blowing…..the sounding of the alarm to awaken us to the coming events of Atonement and Tabernacles?

A: Trumpets is a New Moon. The sound of the ram’s horn is heard by those keeping the New Moons. The Day of Trumpets is a traditional term applied to the festival. It is also a New Moon and so the double sacrifices were applied to this day and also the New Moon instruction. 3117 is prior to 8643 in Numbers 29:1 and Green translates this as “a day of blowing of the trumpets.” We say Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur but, as we are English speakers, we say Day of Atonement more often and it conveys meaning to us. The word “teruwah” means a “clamour” or “acclamation” or “battle cry” and especially of the clangour of trumpets as an alarm. The word carries with it the implicit meaning of raising an alarm as a battle sound of trumpets. The use of trumpets occurs elsewhere in Numbers.

In dealing with Trumpets we must always bear in mind that it is a double Holy Day and the New Moon activities are also carried out. Look at the papers God’s Calendar (No. 156); The New Moons (No. 125); The Holy Days of God (No. 97) and Trumpets (No. 136).

Many times I’ve heard of Trumpets or the beginning of the 7th month as being celebrated as the Jewish New Year. I am wondering if this could be true and whether the Jews have always had this for their New Year?

A: The Day of Trumpets has always been celebrated in the Temple Calendar, but it was not the New Year under the Temple system. According to the Mishnah, we see it intruding in as a New Year, beside the New Year of 1 Abib or the First Month. The festival of Rosh Hashanah, which modern Jews keep, did not enter Judaism until the Third century of the current era. Rabbi Samuel Kohn makes this comment as proof of Jewish influence on a Sabbatarian sect in Europe after the Reformation. This is contained in the work Sabbatarians in Transylvania, CCG Publishing, 1998 which is available from the CCG offices in USA and Australia.

The effect of the Hillel Calendar of 358 was calculated to enshrine the postponement system in the Jewish calendar. It effectively made the Babylonian New Year the means of determining the beginning of the year and effectively moved the New Year, and hence all the Holy Days, out by one or two days. Consequently, Judaism rarely keeps the true calendar. Look at the papers God’s Calendar (No. 156); The Moon and the New Year (No. 213) and The Calendar and the Moon: Postponements or Festivals? (No. 195).

Atonement

Since every word of God is given for a reason what is the meaning of the Day of Atonement from Leviticus 23:27 and following?

A: Atonement points toward the reconciliation of the Nation and the planet to God in Messiah. The Azazel goat, being placed in the wilderness, is the symbol of binding Satan for the millennial system. This aspect is covered in the paper Azazel and Atonement (No. 214). The High Priest firstly performs his duties in linen symbolising the priest Messiah of the First Advent. After the atonement is undertaken, the High Priest then changes into the royal garments of the High Priest symbolising the King Messiah at the return of the Messiah and in the Second Advent. Look also at the paper Atonement (No. 138).

It appears that Messiah paid the tribute tax on Atonement from this text (Ex 30:11-16). If that is correct is it because he kept the entire law, which required it to be paid even though he was to be the ransom, atonement, kaphar?

A: Yes, this was the didrachma or half shekel tax of Exodus 30:11-16. It is shown here that we are free but, so as not to cause offence and break the law before his death and atonement, the tax was collected in this way to show us that he paid it for us. This text shows we are forbidden to take up a collection on Atonement as it is an affront to the atoning sacrifice of Messiah. Only three offerings a year are authorised under the law.

Regarding Exodus 30:13 “This is what everyone who is numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as a contribution to the Lord.” Does this mean the person gave a full shekel and 1/2 shekel went to maintaining the sanctuary and the other 1/2 shekel was a heave offering to the Lord?

A: No, only one half shekel was given in this tax. It was reduced to a third of a shekel under the Babylonian captivity as the shekel then was thirty gerahs according to their system of weights and measures. This tax pointed towards the Salvation of Messiah who paid our tax for us as an atoning sacrifice. That is why it is forbidden to take up a collection on Atonement in any Church. It is a census tax under ancient Israel and hence, forbidden to Judah as well and it was paid by Christ and hence forbidden to Christians as well. The early Church kept this day as we see from Acts 27:9.