(80) YHWH, What's in a name?

The first name in the Bible that is used to describe God is Elohim, the arm of God, the Creator and that is in Genesis 1:1.  There are many other names/titles/roles, what have you, that we use to describe God or use to talk to Him.  But Moses perhaps is the first person that got to actually hear the name of God or maybe just something close to a personal name for the name of God was unpronounceable to mankind.  The passage below is from the CJB to show how complicated the sound of His name can be from Exodus 3:13-15.  Try other versions and it will all still mean the same.

• Moshe said to God, “Look, when I appear before the people of Isra’el and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you’; and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?”
• God said to Moshe, “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh [I am/will be what I am/will be],” and added, “Here is what to say to the people of Isra’el: ‘Ehyeh [I Am or I Will Be] has sent me to you.’”
• God said further to Moshe, “Say this to the people of Isra’el: ‘Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh [Adonai], the God of your fathers, the God of Avraham, the God of Yitz’chak and the God of Ya‘akov, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever; this is how I am to be remembered generation after generation".

The name that God gave Moses to tell His people who sent him to save them all in the closest English translation was I AM.  This means in essence that God aways has been and always will be.  From Him all was made.  Then God goes on and adds more to His name and sounds it out so it seems for Moses; Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh.  These are letters in the Hebrew alphabet and each has a story with them.  Jewish people use the name Adonai when referring to the name of God, which is also translated as LORD.  But here we see what is also called a tetragrammaton at work.  Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh can be written also as YHVH or YHVH, hence Yahweh with the added vowel sounds.  In Latin and English it has been translated as to what we know as Jehovah.  Through Moses God would save His people from the hands of the Egyptians, a foreshadow of something greater of what was to come.  Below is how it would look in Hebrew writing.

Each letter though has its own purpose.  Hebrew writing is read from right to left.  What you see here is the tertagrammaton Y-H-V-H.  In Hebrew schools children are taught that each letter not only has a sound but also has a meaning and a symbol with it.  Such as in English we would say A is for Apple although in English there really is no such thing.   But A does not have any meaning to it.  In Hebrew each letter has three purposes for the language.  This is probably what Jesus was doing in the Temple when He was 12 and lost and found by His parents.  He was teaching the elders and scribes what the letters really meant.  This is also what makes Matthew 5:18 all the more important when Jesus said not the least stroke of the pen would disappear from the Law until all is fulfilled.  Below you can see a chart that gives examples of what each letter's symbol and meanings are.  If you look the tetragrammaton for Y-H-V-H actually is I-E-U-E on the chart because of the sound the letter makes and not the order of the letters.  When put together the letters make a different sound and that is how we get the name we know as Yahweh.  The letter Y or Yud's translation is symbolically an arm or open hand and means to work or worship.  The H or Heh's translation is symbolically man with arms raised and has a meaning of breath or to reveal.   And the V or Vav's symbolically is a tent peg and means to add, secure or hook.  You can see where this is going.  We worship a God whose hand was pierced with a tent peg and whose arms were raised and when this happens He will be revealed to the world who He is.  There is undoubtedly more to this translation.  But He who is revealed is Jesus.

When Jesus was crucified the Pharisees were upset with the sign that Pilate hung above His head.  He wrote a sign in three languages (Latin, Greek, and Aramaic/Hebrew) that said Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.  The Pharisees told Pilate to take down the sign because they did not want people to think they said what was written but that Jesus claimed the charge against Him.  But a closer look and we see that the Pharisees were not angry about the sign itself but about what they saw in the sign.  In Hebrew the sign read Yeshua HaNazarei V'Melech HaYehudim.  Did you see it?  Notice the first letter in each word that Pilate wrote.  Y-H-V-H.  Jesus was revealed as God when He was crucified and saved His people.  Just as God's people were saved from the hand of the Egyptians, a symbol of oppression or sin, Jesus came and saved God's people from all sin.

A sign of God's ultimate story of grace and connection with His people.

(79) If you are a Christian, you are a king

Why is Jesus called the King of kings?

Jesus is not called King of kings because He was more powerful than all earthly kings that we know, although that is true. There is not one king who will ever have more power or glory than Jesus.  Jesus is not called King of kings because He controls everything in the universe and everything belongs to Him, although, once again that is true. Nothing in this universe that was created was done without Him.  There is only one reason why Jesus is King of kings.  Those who believe in Him are kings.  We who are followers of Christ are kings.  He is our king.  HENCE, HE IS THE KING OF KINGS.

• Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air and every living creature that crawls on the earth. (Gen 1:28)
• I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. (Matt 16:19)
• Moreover, to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?  Aren’t they all merely spirits who serve, sent out to help those whom God will deliver. (Hebrews 1:14)
• The Spirit himself bears witness with our own spirits that we are children of God; and if we are children, then we are also heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with the Messiah — provided we are suffering with him in order also to be glorified with him. (Romans 8:16-17)

When we were created we were given dominion over all the earth, to rule over it.  Not just the animals but the earth.  Because later that passage goes on to say that we are given all plants as well.  The earth was ours.  When Jesus told Peter that He is giving him the keys to the kingdom, He was telling him for all of us.  He said He will build His kingdom upon these keys.  And these keys are whatever we bind on earth and loose on earth.  Our words are power.  He has given us power in our words.  We can proclaim and declare like kings.  Angels serve us because we are to be served.  That is not underscoring angels but lifting up the childrenof God.  Whatever we ask for we are to be given!  Are kings ever denied?  Even more, are children of the KING ever denied?  We are heirs to the kingdom of God.  We are given gifts from God.  This is why we as a follower of Christ are given spiritual gifts to use.  We have power!

This is why we are told to pray.  This is why we have power when we pray.  Prayer is faith.  Faith is power when we speak in the name of Jesus.  This is why we can say to the mountain MOVE and it has to, because we have been given dominion over the earth.  Peter walked on water not because Jesus was there but because he could anyway.  He just did not know it.  He sank not because of the waves.  They were already there before he stepped out onto the water.  He sank because he allowed doubt back into his mind and Jesus said, "You of little faith".  Kings have power when they speak.  Jesus cursed the fig tree and it withered.  He spoke to the demons and they fled.  He spoke to a dead man and guess what, Lazarus rose!  He gave us the power to do these things when He rose from the dead and left us the Holy Spirit.

The only One we need to ask permission from is the One who is above us, the King of all kings.  When we speak to disease, addictions, or whatever your mountains are (whether physical or metaphorical) in the Name above all names they HAVE to listen.  We ask in the Name of the KING as a child of the king.  These things we were given and have dominion over!

We will one day we will receive our crowns.  Some say there a 5 different types of crowns.  But then we will see such a glory of the King of kings that we will lay our crowns down before Him. (Rev 4)

Why then are there so many problems in this world?  Man has let sin dominate him.  Man has let the world dominate him.  Man has let doubt in.  Man thinks this is foolishness.  The world and all of its intellect tells us that we are crazy for believing.  It tries to remind us that we are hypocrites.  It tells us that we are bigots.  It tells us that being a believer in Jesus is wrong and irrelevant.  It forgets that we are also human and more importantly, forgiven and not of this world.  There will be some who read this and scoff at the sight of the word Jesus and get angry by the time they reach the end.  The problem is we have listened to the world for too long.

Man lost it when Adam fell but God covered him.  Israel lost it when they disobeyed God but He covered them by giving them the Law.  The religious lost it when they took the Law and created rules for it but God covered them by sending the ultimate gift.  And now, we have been given the kingdom again.  He left the Holy Spirit for us to use and He left the Spirit in us (Acts 1:8).  When Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is at hand He meant more than just Himself (Luke 17:21).  It is not only in our midst it is in us.  The kingdom is for us to take a hold of.  If we only believe.

It is time we take back our kingdom.  Live like kings.  You are a child of the King of kings.

(78) Thanks for What?

As this holiday approaches many tweets are going out about giving thanks to those around you.  That is perfectly fine to do.  Many people deserve our thanks and gratitude for being part of our lives and making who we are today.  They are there to help us through those rough times and laugh with us through the good ones.  But even with all they do no one will ever compare to what Adonai gives us.

• So that I could be healed, His body was wounded. (Isaiah 53:5)
• So that I could prosper, He came as a carpenter and lived in poverty. (Mark 6:3)
• So that I could live with dignity, He lived in humility. (Phil. 2:3-7)
• So that my heart wouldn't be broken by this world, His was torn into.(John 19:34)
• So that I could get through weakness, He became my strength.(Romans 8)
• So that I would not be a slave to sin, He became my freedom.(Galat. 5:1)
• So that I would not be deceived by lies, He became my truth.(John 14:6)
• So that I could lift my head, He bowed His on the cross. (John 19:30)
• So that I could feel like a son, He became My Father.(1 John 3:1)
• So that I could be made perfect, He became my sin.(2 Cor 5:21)
• So that when I am hungry, He became my bread. (John 6:35)
• So that I could have peace, He was chastised. (Isaiah 53:5)
• So that I could wear a crown of glory, He wore a crown of thorns. (Matthew 27:29)
• So that I could live, He died. (The Bible)

Giving thanks for friends and family is needed.  And if you have a good fellowship with both friends and family you are blessed.  But even if you do not, you have One who is there for you.  The real thanksgiving is not about living in a country full of temporary freedoms but living in a Spirit that is full of everlasting freedom.

 

Thank you Jesus.

(77) The Anti-Christ, Part 2

Who is he?  Ask some people of history and they will say Nero, Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin or someone else who destroyed their world.  Ask more modern people like democrats they will say Ronald Reagan or GW Bush.  Republicans will say Clinton (Bill) or Obama.  Some will even say things like the Pope or Prince Charles.  Dr David Jeremiah says it the best.  He tells of a story that he has in his library a collection of all the people who have been considered or even accused of being the anti-Christ.  When he got done reading the list he compiled he was relieved his name did not make the list.  The point is we really won't know who this person is until half the world is gone and it is too late.  The half that will remain will be deceived and will never believe the person could be satan incarnate until they have made the ultimate wrong commitment.

The Bible says or at least hints at:

• a leader who rises up and becomes a world leader (Daniel 7:24-25,11:39-44)
• miracle performer (2 Thess. 2:9)
• will deceive the world (2 John 2:7, 1 John 2:22)
• will get rid of religion so he can be worshiped (Daniel 7:25,9:27,11:36-37; Matt 24:15; Rev 13:5-8)
• will have a false prophet go before him (Matth 24:21-28)
• will come back from a fatal head wound (Rev 13:3, 17:8)
• pretends to be a man of peace and prosperity (Daniel 9:27, Matt 24:15)
• rules for 7 years, 3 1/2 of peace, 3 1/2 of war (Daniel 7:25, 9:27; Rev 13:7)

The Bible also tells us signs of the time

• wars and rumors of wars (Matt 24:6)
• earth will go through pangs (Matt 24:7-8; Luke 21:25-27)
• people will be lovers of their own selves (2 Tim 3:1-4)
• people will be disobedient (2 Tim 3:1-4)
• people will listen to lies and not the truth (Matt 24:9-12)
• economic prosperity then economic hardships (James 5:1-3; Rev 6:6)

Where in any writings, "scriptures", legends, myths, or anything of the sort can be so clear and connected?  This will happen.  These writings of the Bible are spread out 600 years apart yet still connect a perfect story that will become reality.  The only question remains is when?  No one knows that answer or will know the answer.  All we need to do is look for the seasons and signs given to us and be prepared at anytime.

(76) The Anti-Christ, Part 1

Boo!  666!  Oooooh, so scary.  Only if you do not understand.  What is he?

 

If you look at the true definition you will get a better picture of what it encompasses.  Anti-Christ; Jesus Christ in Hebrew is Y'shua ha Messiach, or "The God-anointed One who saves".  So the term anti-Christ means the opposite of that.  In other words, "the self-appointed one who destroys".  Satan is here to destroy.  Jesus is here to save.  This is not to say that satan is the opposite as Jesus.  That would mean satan is equal to Jesus.  This only means that he is trying to destroy what Jesus has done.

 

There are a few ways that the word anti-Christ is used in the Bible.  One usage (1 John 4:3) shows that there is a spirit of anti-Christ which refers to the way the world is.  There is a Godly realm with believers of Christ share their faith and try to live by Godly values, hence a spirit of love, compassion, mercy, and hope.  And then there is the spirit of the satanic realm, a spirit of pride (notice the opposite of everything good is pride).  Another usage (1 John 2:22) shows there are actions of anti-Christ.  As opposed to helping, hospitality, teaching, and ministering, there is an opposite action of murder (in all sense of the word).  Yet another usage (1 John 2:18) shows there are people who are against the values of God and do the works of satan.  Hitler is a prime example.  He is not satan but did the work of satan.  There have been many people filling this definition.  They do not have to be famous.  They could be living next door, homeless, or leaders of nations.  But the one that people get scared about is the last usage (2 Thess. 2).  The one who will come to earth with satan incarnated.  The anti-Christ that is a person.

 

Some will say that this usage is not accurate and that the references to the anti-Christ is only symbolic.  That view however is flawed based on scripture.  Scripture specifically uses the same language structure for the anti-Christ as it does for Jesus Himself.  Look at the comparisons.

• Jesus is the Son of God, the AC is the son of perdition
• Jesus is the Son of man, the AC is man of lawlessness
• Jesus is the Lamb, the AC is the beast
• Jesus is the Holy One, the AC is the lawless one
• Jesus has a kingdom, the AC tries to have a kingdom

If someone says that the anti-Christ is only symbolic then they have to say the Jesus is as well.

 

In the end this man is not to be feared.  For greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.  He is just a man who has no power except for that which is given to him.  If Jesus is in you then you have already conquered him.  If Jesus is in you then you have already conquered his spirit; you have conquered his workers; you have conquered his works.  You, if Jesus is in you, are more than a conqueror.  You are a child of God.

(75) The Book of Revelation

For those who have ears...

 

First and foremost it is not the book of Revelations.  There is only one, therefore Revelation.  It is also not the revelation of John.  It is a revelation revealed to John.  The revelation is of Jesus Christ.

 

Perhaps the most misunderstood and controversial book in the history of man.  Is it real; is it imagery; is it symbolism; is it literal; is it futuristic; is it historic?  The answer to these questions is yes.  There are some parts that are imagery.  There are some parts that are literal.  Some parts tell of the past.  And some tell of the future.

 

It was written by John, the Apostle.  John was now back on his own after taking in Mary per Jesus' request at the cross.  While he was on the island of Patmos he received the vision from Jesus.  John was on the island of Patmos for preaching the gospel after being told not to do so.  Tradition and folk lore says that John was sentenced to die in a cauldron of oil but did not die so he was exiled to the island.  The island itself was taken by the Romans in 2nd century BC and was made into a penal colony for those who were deemed as a political opposition or a threat to Rome.  The book was written around 95 AD but this is argued by Preterists who think it was written right before 70 AD.  But many annals say he was exiled in the 14th year of Emperor Domitian.  If that is so there is no way 70 AD would be correct.

 

There are many views that people see Revelation.  All have their point of views supported and each one has their point of view with holes.

1. Symbolic-- shows the cosmic battle between good and evil and how Christ conquers all
2. Preterist-- shows that it is about 1st Century Church and its struggle with the Roman Empire
3. Historic-- shows the history of the Church from its beginning until the end of time
4. Futuristic-- shows what is to happen at the end of times only

Those who hold onto the first two views are considered amillennialist and say that the rule of Christ kingdom is now and Revelation is purely symbolic.  Those who hold onto the 3rd view are considered post millennial and say that Christ will establish a kingdom on earth for 1000 years.  Those who hold onto the 4th view are considered premillennialist and say that there will be a rapture and Christ will take all the believers back to heaven and the 1000 year reign is symbolic.

 

The most consistent seems to be that Revelation is telling a story of the end times but using the present day symbols to show a connection.  John specifically says in 1:19 that he was to write down what is now and what will take place later.  The events and images that John portrays such as the churches in Asia, wars in heaven, the Four Horsemen, Trumpets and Judgements, all use 1st century imagery to describe both the present in John's days and to serve as a warning for future generations.  Example:  the Church in Philadelphia was real.  It was faithful and did the deeds of Christ.  But it also tells us that if we are faithful then Jesus' name will be written upon us.  Revelation is filled with all of these connections.

 

The most argued substance though in the book is the anti-Christ, the beast, and what it stands for.  The same equation used to describe the other images n this book can be used for this person as well.  The anti-Christ is a person and can also be considered symbolic for anything that stands up against God and His Son.  John uses words that people in Rome would know so they could make a comparison of the what they know with what Jesus wants His people to know.  This is where the preterist makes his case.  Since many of the events talk about Rome then all of the anti-Christ's activities point to the Roman Emperors.  But one thing destroys the extreme position of this view.  Rome destroyed the Temple in 70 AD.  This book was written in 95 AD or so.  If you use a preterist view and not take it literally then many of the positions are accurate.

 

Some of the main points are:

1.  Jesus is the beginning and the end.  He is all in all.  He was, He is, and He will be.  (1:8)

2.  Jesus is the only one perfect and worthy.  (5:1-14)

3.  Jesus is the lamb that is also the shepherd (7:17)

4.  Satan is doomed.  (20:7-10)

5.  Jesus is coming again.  (22:7-21)

 

This book was written no matter how we look at it as a warning that we need to follow Jesus because He is everything to this universe.  He is the alpha and omega.   His words are faithful and true.  He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  He is not only the Lamb but the Lion as well.  Those who read this book with an open mind are blessed.  In the end no matter what those who believe in Jesus and followed His teachings will be united with Him either here on earth or in heaven or both.  Sadly, though many will not believe even if all the events in Revelation are revealed as complete literal because mankind will have become full of pride and will live by the flesh.  Pray for those who are stubborn.

(74) Touch of the Master

Inspired by Joseph Prince Ministries:

In the Old Testament (Torah) the Jewish nation was bound by certain laws to become holy or clean before the Lord Adonai.  If you sinned or had afflictions you had to do certain acts.  You had sacrifices.  You had ceremonial cleansings.  You had to be isolated for certain amount of times.  You had to leave your community until the affliction was gone or you were.  Such as lepers had a skin condition that by the law made them unclean.  Lepers were not allowed to walk in the streets, they had to stay in the valley of the lepers.  There was a woman who had a hemorrhage for 12 years and because of this she was considered unclean.  When she touched Jesus' clothing as He walked by she then tried to hide for fear of the people because of what she had done.  By the law, those who were considered unclean were not allowed to touch those who were considered clean.  If they did then the unclean passed onto the clean thereby making them unclean as well.  People ran from them.  People ignored them.  People were frightened to be around them; causing those with afflictions to feel like outcasts, loners, and unworthy.  Leviticus 21:7, says:

• When anyone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or any unclean detestable thing, and eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to the Lord, that person shall be cut off from his people.

But Jesus through the new covenant of grace changed all of that.  When Jesus saw these people He did not shy away from them like the regular population.  Unlike others who backed away, Jesus went to them and even more He touched them.  Matthew 8:2-3:

• And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”  Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

By the law, the leper and the woman would have been considered unclean but because of who He was the tables were turned. Instead of the unclean causing the clean to be unclean this time the clean made the unclean...clean!

 

Those who are touched by the Master are cleansed.  It doesn't matter what our past holds.  It doesn't matter how unclean we have been, when we are touched by the Master our sins are washed away, our past stays exactly where it is, in the past.  Our unworthiness is now made worthy.  This is why Paul says Your grace is sufficient.  Paul had a horrible history with God's new family members and yet Paul knew he was forgiven because He was touched by Jesus.

 

Whether Jesus seeks us out or we seek Him, we can have this cleansing.