DiscoverThe Messianic Jewish Expositor
The Messianic Jewish Expositor
Claim Ownership

The Messianic Jewish Expositor

Author: Arthur P Wolinsky

Subscribed: 8Played: 9
Share

Description

Why are there so many problems in the world? How can you make sense out of all the chaos? What does the future hold for you? Is there anything you can do to make things better? Who is the Source of our Hope?
24 Episodes
Reverse
Hebrews 1:7

Hebrews 1:7

2024-01-2716:57

Hebrews 1:7Hi Folks.  We’re finally up to verse 7 of Hebrews, chapter one.  I’m going to read it in the NIV:Hebrews 1:7 (NIV) In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire."I’d like to ask you a question.  How can we explain this verse to someone?  How can we expound it or dig the meaning out of it?  I don’t think that is necessarily an easy thing to do.  But, based on our last session together, I think there is a way to do it.  And it’s a way that we can also apply to some other verses and passages that may not be clear.In Hebrews 1:6, we saw that the phrase “Let all God’s angels worship Him” came from Psalm 97:7 in the Septuagint and we were able to understand what Hebrews 1:6 was talking about by looking at the message of Psalm 97 as a whole.  And doing that opened our understanding to let us see that Hebrews 1:6 was actually telling us about the second coming of Christ.  I think that the author of Hebrews expected us to see this and to get this additional understanding from Psalm 97:7 in the Septuagint.This method, if we can call it that, was used by Jesus in responding to the Jewish leaders when they said certain things to Him.  Let’s look at an example of that:Matthew 21:16 (NIV) "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "'From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise'?"Now let’s look at that verse in context:Matthew 21:13-16 (NIV) "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it 'a den of robbers.'" [14] The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. [15] But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. [16] "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "'From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise'?"The chief priests and the teachers of the law were indignant when they saw the wonderful things that Yeshua did and when the children cried out Hosanna to the Son of David.  These children were praising Jesus and calling Him the Messiah!  They recognized who He was, and they exclaimed it, unlike these Jewish leaders.  I’m going to quote Jesus’ response from the King James Version:  Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?Jesus was saying this to these leaders:  You’ve seen what I’ve done but you deny that I’m the Messiah.  Even these children know who I am.  And haven’t you read what the Tehillim (the Psalms) say about me?  Yeshua was quoting Psalm 8:2. Let’s look at that in context:Psalms 8:1-9 (NKJV) O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! [2] Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger. [3] When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, [4] What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? [5] For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. [6] You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, [7] All sheep and oxen—Even the beasts of the field, [8] The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. [9] O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!This method of quoting a verse which “hinted” at a passage of Scripture that would provide additional understanding was sometimes used by Rabbis with their students and it was given a name: remez, meaning hint.  Can you imagine how those Jewish leaders who knew about remez might have reacted?  They would know that Jesus is telling them very clearly and loudly through Psalm 8 that He is LORD.Now the author of Hebrews is doing something similar but without the rebuke to his readers that Jesus intended for the Jewish leaders.Look at the Psalm that is referenced.  Is this an example of remez?  Does Hebrews 1:6, which we studied last time, contain an example of remez (Psalm 97:7) regarding the second coming?  I believe that it does.  AND does Hebrews 1:7, our verse for today, contain an example of remez?  I hope to show you shortly that the answer is yes.Now Jesus “used” remez to convict the pharisees of the truth about Him.  Jesus invented remez.  But if the author of Hebrews used it, why did he use it in particular instances?  What was the purpose?  It may have been a way for the ancient Jewish readers and for us today to learn that the Bible is a commentary on itself.  In fact, it’s the best commentary on itself.  Why is that?  Because the Bible never contradicts itself and because the Bible is complete; it contains everything that God wants us to know about Him, and His Son and His Holy Spirit.  This knowledge is most useful!  And the NKJV makes it easy to do this.  Let’s read Hebrews 1:7 again, this time in the NKJV:Hebrews 1:7 (NKJV) And of the angels He says: "WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS SPIRITS AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE."Because the phrase WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS SPIRITS AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE is in all caps, we know that it’s a quote from the Old Testament.  It comes from Psalm 104.  Let’s read the first six verses of that Psalm:Psalms 104:1-6 (NKJV) Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty, [2] Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. [3] He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind, [4] Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire. [5] You who laid the foundations of the earth, So that it should not be moved forever, [6] You covered it with the deep as with a garment; The waters stood above the mountains. (Italics added).How do we interpret this?  Now remember that beginning with Hebrews 1:4 all the way through Hebrews 1:8 (which we haven’t gotten to yet) we are seeing a comparison between Jesus and angels.  Jesus is different than the angels and He is far superior.  He is the One and only Son of God, the only begotten Son.  What is Psalm 104 adding here?  It is telling us how great the LORD is and the writer is using the word Yahweh, or if you like, Adonai.  This is without question God, Yod Hay Vav Hay, the Tetragrammaton or I AM.  Could it be that the author of Hebrews, by drawing us to this Psalm, is leading us to grasp, that Jesus is equal to Yahweh?  It seems to me that the answer is yes, definitely.  Now you might say that the author has already done that.  True.  But He is perhaps doing it even more powerfully by referring us to God’s proper name and by doing that He is equating Jesus, the Son, very strongly with God the Father.Jesus did this very thing Himself.  Let’s read an example of that:John 8:58 (NKJV) 58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."And Hebrews 1:7 is also telling us that Angels, as powerful and majestic as they are, are created beings, unlike Yeshua, Who is LORD, and Who has always existed.  But what about the LORD making His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire?  Are angels and ministers the same here, in Hebrews 1:7?  I think that verses 13 and 14 from this very chapter that we are reading from now give us the answer.  Let’s read them together right now:Hebrews 1:13-14 NKJVBut to which of the angels has He ever said: "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"? [14] Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?So, yes, the ministers here, in verse 1:7 are angels!  And they are great!  But Yeshua, who is equal to Yahweh, is greater!Folks, thank you for listening.  I hope Hebrews 1:7 has inspired you and caused you to rejoice!  But, I have a question for each and every one of you.  Do you know Jesus personally?  Are you going to spend eternity in heaven with Him?  If you know Him, you will!  If you don’t know Him or if you’re not sure please cry out to Him, today, now.  You can shout the words or you can say them softly – He will hear.  Ask Him to forgive your sins, to make you a new creation, to be your Lord and Savior, and to give you peace with God, now and forever.God bless you folks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit awolinsky.substack.com
Hebrews 1:6

Hebrews 1:6

2023-12-2921:56

Hi folks, we’re going to take a detailed look at Hebrews 1:6 today but, by way of review let’s read the first six verses of Hebrews, chapter one, in the NIV, first. Hebrews 1:1-6 (NIV) In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, [2] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. [3] The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. [4] So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. [5] For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? [6] And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."Now verse 6 in the NKJV is a little different.  Let’s read that:Hebrews 1:6 (NKJV) But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM."There are two differences in this verse between the NIV and the NKJV.  One difference is the placement of the word again, and we’ll discuss that shortly, and the other difference is that in the NKJV the phrase "LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM" is in all capital letters which means the translators are indicating that this phrase comes from the Old Testament.  The NASB does the same thing.  Personally, I find this helpful.But where is this phrase "LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM" in the Old Testament?  Scholars say that it is from Psalm 97:7 in the Septuagint.  Two scholars in particular have helped me here.  I’m referring to a Puritan, John Owen and his seven volume Commentary on Hebrews, and to John MacArthur and his Commentary on Hebrews.  And if you wish to, you can verify this for yourself.  If you search the NKJV of the Bible, you will not find the phrase "LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM" anywhere in the Old Testament.  You won’t find it in the NIV either.  And that is because it is a quote from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, made by a group of about 70 rabbis, 270 years or so before Yeshua came into the world. Because the New Testament writers wrote in Greek, they often quoted Old Testament Scriptures from the Septuagint.  And if you search the English translation of the Septuagint electronically, yourself, in the widely available e-Sword program, you will find it in one place only, in Psalm 97:7.  The scholars of old had to really know their Bibles, including the Septuagint, in order to recognize that this phrase was quoted from Psalm 97:7 since these scholars didn’t have the benefit of electronic searching which we have today.Modern translations such as the NIV translate Psalm 97:7 this way:Psalms 97:7 (NIV) All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols— worship him, all you gods!But that’s not what Hebrews 1:6 says.  It says this, in the NIV:Hebrews 1:6 (NIV) And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."The reason for the difference is that Hebrews 1:6 uses the Septuagint translation of the original Hebrew which reads like this:Psalms 97:7 (Brenton) Let all that worship graven images be ashamed, who boast of their idols; worship him, all ye his angels.Why the change from gods, meaning idols, in Psalm 97:7 in the Hebrew Bible to all God’s angels in Hebrews 1:6?  In the Hebrew, in Psalm 97:7, the word we are interested in is Elohim, a plural word that usually refers to God, who has a plural nature, but it can also refer to false gods or idols.  It doesn’t usually refer to angels.  The usual Hebrew word for angels is malachim.  In fact, in the Hebrew Bible, Elohim is only translated as angels in the NIV and NKJV one time, in Psalm 8:5, a very familiar verse to most Bible students.  Let’s look at that verse in context:Psalms 8:4-5 (NIV) what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? [5] You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.This is a wonderful verse, and we’ll look at it in detail when we get to chapter two because it is quoted there.However, here, in Hebrews 1:6, the word for angels, chosen by the authors of the Septuagint definitely seems to be the right translation.  Why is that? In order to answer that question, we need to know the context of the seventh verse of Psalm 97.  So, let’s look at Psalm 97, in the Septuagint, to know what the Psalm is about.  When we do this, we see that this Psalm, except for the use of the word angels instead of gods, in the Septuagint version, is quite similar to frequently used English versions such as the NIV and NKJV.What is the message of Psalm 97, then?  It is a message very compatible with the return of the Lord, His second coming, in glory and in judgement.  Is this important to know in trying to interpret Hebrews 1:6?  It definitely is.  Let’s read that verse once more:Hebrews 1:6 (NIV) And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."And let’s look at it in the NKJV:Hebrews 1:6 (NKJV) But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM."Now, what does again mean in this verse?  We mentioned earlier that the placement of again in this verse was not the same in the NIV as in the NKJV.  Please stick with me folks and you’ll see the relevance of this in a moment.The word again can simply indicate repetition.  Is that what it means here?  If the answer is yes that would be as if the Holy Spirit was saying to us something like this, “I told you before and now I’m telling you again, when I brought Jesus into the world, I told all the angels to worship Him”.  That way of understanding this verse would lead us to conclude that the verse is referring to the Messiah’s first coming.  That is what the NIV seems to suggest.Or does again in this verse refer to the future, i.e., Christ’s second coming?  How can we tell which is correct?  Does again simply mean repetition here or does it refer to a future event?  If Psalm 97:7 comes from a Psalm that talks about the second coming then I think the word again in Hebrews 1:6 refers to the future which is what the NKJV seems to suggest.  Let’s look at Psalm 97, the first 9 verses, in the Septuagint and see if it can help us answer this question:Psalms 97:1-9 (Brenton) For David, when his land is established. The Lord reigns, let the earth exult, let many islands rejoice. [2] Cloud, and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the establishment of his throne. [3] Fire shall go before him, and burn up his enemies round about. [4] His lightnings appeared to the world; the earth saw, and trembled. [5] The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. [6] The heavens have declared his righteousness, and all the people have seen his glory. [7] Let all that worship graven images be ashamed, who boast of their idols; worship him, all ye his angels. [8] Sion heard and rejoiced; and the daughters of Judea exulted, because of thy judgments, O Lord. [9] For thou art Lord most high over all the earth; thou art greatly exalted above all gods.Isn’t this an incredible Psalm!  It does not speak of the first advent.  It speaks of a return in glory and the judgement of unbelievers.  This is Jesus returning.  This is the Day of the Lord!  The angels will be with Him when He returns, and surely they will be worshipping Him.I think there’s another part of Hebrews 1:6, that we need to comment on before we finish today’s study and that is the phrase when God brings His firstborn into the world.  Because we have strong Scriptural evidence that this verse refers to the second coming, we can say that God is bringing His firstborn into the world again.  So firstborn here cannot refer to the virgin birth of Messiah in Bethlehem.  That happened at the first advent.  Firstborn here refers to something very much like only begotten which we talked about when we studied verse 4 of this chapter.  Since we know that Jesus is not a created being - He is God and has always existed – we know that firstborn does not refer to the birth of a created being as some would incorrectly say that this means.  No, firstborn here means of first importance, God’s One and Only Son.  The King James version says it well:Hebrews 1:6 (KJV) And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.Remember verses 4 & 5 of this chapter that we studied recently?Let’s read them again.  I think the NKJV is more helpful here:Hebrews 1:4-5 (NKJV) having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. [5] For to which of the angels did He ever say: "YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU"? And again: "I WILL BE TO HIM A FATHER, AND HE SHALL BE TO ME A SON"?The Name that Jesus inherited that was even higher than any name that He had before the cross, was the first begotten Son or as in this verse, Hebrews 1:6, firstborn which means of first importance.  It’s a special Name, a title, and a title of the highest rank.  John MacArthur says it well; let me read what he says about this from his commentary on Hebrews:In this passage Christ is called the first-born. Here again, many sects and cults claim a proof-text to show that Jesus is a created being. “Look! He’s firstborn! You see? He was born like all the rest of us!” A related supposed proof-text is Colossians 1:15, “And He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” But “first-born” (prōtotokos) has nothing to do with time. It refers to posi
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit awolinsky.substack.com
Theologydoctor - Posts about God and the Bible and HopeDashboardIsrael, a Cup of Trembling3 talks given at Calvary Chapel of Chapel Hill, NC on the evening of December 6, 2023ARTHUR P WOLINSKYDEC 7, 2023What About the Jewish People?Hi Folks. Many of you know that I’m Jewish, the son of two Jewish parents. In view of the October 7 massacre of many Jewish people in Israel, I want to share several things with you this evening.I want to talk with you about the root cause of antisemitism, about the root cause for the Jewish people's resistance to believing in Jesus, about whether the Law of Moses applies to Jewish people today, and about the future for the Jewish people as a Nation and for individual Jews today.I.             What is the Root Cause of Antisemitism?Remember how in the Garden of Eden the Lord gave Adam one commandment?  The Lord said to Adam “You may eat of any plant or tree in the Garden except for the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  In the day that you eat of it you will surely die”.  Adam communicated this knowledge to Eve and she was tricked by the serpent who was inhabited by Satan and Eve ate of the fruit and shared it with Adam who also ate.  Right then, sin entered the entire human race and with sin came death.  Everything changed and everything was corrupted.  Right then God spoke to the serpent, the Devil:Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall crush your head, And you shall bruise His heel."The Seed of the woman was and is the Deliverer.  He is the Messiah and this prophecy makes it clear that one day the Messiah will crush the head of the enemy of humanity, Satan.  That will be the end of him.As the story unfolds through Scripture we are told that God chose Abraham and his physical descendants including the 12 tribes of Israel to be His special people and we are told that the Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah and from King David.  As the enemy learned that the Messiah was to come through the Jewish people, the enemy tried to prevent Messiah from coming into the world through the attempted killing of all Jewish babies in ancient Egypt.  He was unsuccessful however.  Moses was born and survived to lead his people out of Egypt as a Nation.  Later the evil Haman in Persia tried to annihilate all the Jewish people and he also failed.  This is celebrated in the festival of Purim which Jewish people still celebrate today.  Later yet, in about 175 BC, a Syrian king named Antiochus tried to destroy all the Jewish people and he committed something called the abomination of desolation in the temple.  He too failed and the victory of the Jewish people over Antiochus is celebrated in the festival of lights, Chanukah.  And there were many more attempts, all of which failed.So the Messiah was born of the virgin Miriam, a direct descendant of King David,  in Bethlehem, and He was crucified in about 33 AD.  The Messiah was born to die, to be the ultimate blood sacrifice for His people and for all people, that whoever would accept Him would never die but would have eternal life.  He fulfilled the Law of Moses – by obeying it completely – and He promised that one day He would return.  Then Satan’s head would be crushed.  The Messiah was and is Yeshua of Natzeret, or Jesus of Nazareth.So, Messiah came and He died.  What could the Enemy do to prevent the return of the Messiah?  Jesus said something to the Jewish people, from Jerusalem, several days before He went to the cross:Matthew 23:37-39 (NKJV) "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! [38] See! Your house is left to you desolate; [39] for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'BLESSED is HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!' "So before the Jewish people can see Jesus again, before He can return, the Jewish people must say Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord, a Messianic verse from a Messianic Psalm, Psalm 118.  The enemy knows this of course and so, ever since the cross, he has been systematically trying to totally annihilate the Jewish people, so that there would be not even one single Jew who could say this.  This is the root cause of antisemitism.  This has been brought into reality through many literal attempts to kill the Jews.  Hitler’s Holocaust is a major example of this and all the wars against Israel since 1948 up to and including the massacre by Hamas on October 7 are examples caused by Satan trying to fulfill his strategy of total annihilation of the Jewish people.  He has not succeeded, and he never will succeed.We hear today of a New Antisemitism.  What is that?  The person or people who practice this new antisemitism say something like this: We hate Israel.  Although I’m not crazy about Jewish people, I wish them no harm, except for the ones in Israel because their country is oppressing the Palestinians and stealing their land.  The Jews have no right to Israel, and they are practicing apartheid.  What Hamas did is understandable!Folks, I believe that Satan has goals, strategies, and tactics.  I believe that his main goals are to be like God or even above God, to seek revenge against God for throwing him out of heaven, and to prevent the Messiah’s return so that his, Satan’s, head won’t be crushed.  One of Satan’s major strategies is to destroy Israel and all the Jewish people, for reasons we just discussed, and the October 7 massacre was Satan’s latest tactic.  I don’t think that Satan’s goals and strategies change, but his tactics constantly change.  And he is relentless.  When one tactic is defeated, he comes up with 3 more.  We must fight him with all our strength, but this is a spiritual battle – we wrestle not against flesh and blood, Ephesians 6 - and only the Messiah can bring the final victory and He will.II.           What is the root cause for the Jewish people's resistance to believe in Jesus?The cause is supernatural.  Let me read you two Scripture verses from the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Romans in the New Testament:Romans 11:25-26 (NKJV) For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. [26] And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "THE DELIVERER WILL COME OUT OF ZION, AND HE WILL TURN AWAY UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB;Folks, that is the reason, spiritual blindness.  A partial spiritual blindness has happened to Israel.  A better translation is temporary blindness.  It is temporary and it has happened to the entire Nation except for a small number of people, the remnant.  Why has God done this?  So that the full number of Gentiles to be saved will be saved.  When this full number of Gentiles is saved, through the Messiah, then and only then will the entire Nation of Israel be saved – all at once.  It will be like life from the dead!  But please be very much aware that Satan is quite interested in killing Gentiles too, although they are not as high a priority for him as killing Jews is.If the Jewish people, as a Nation, had accepted Yeshua when He first came, He would have died then to pay the price for sin, He would have set up His Millennial Kingdom and perhaps the great mass of non-Jewish people would never be saved.  But this was never God’s plan.  Let me read you another 2 verses:Romans 11:28-29 (NKJV) Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. [29] For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.These verses explain why Gentiles are spiritually indebted to the Jewish people.Now, how does this work itself out?  Two examples:Rashi (1040-1105) – a very famous French rabbi, revered by many Orthodox Jews today including members of Chabad, proclaimed that the famous Isaiah passage (52:13-53:12) describes a suffering servant, but not the Messiah.  Let me read part of the passage to you:Isaiah 53:3-5,7-10 NKJVHe is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. [4] Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. [5] But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. [7] He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. [8] He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. [9] And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. [10] Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.Rashi taught that this Man, despised and rejected, was the Nation of Israel.  He was not a man, according to Rashi.  He was not the Messiah.  Instead, he was the Nation of Israel.  To this day this faulty exegesis by Rashi leads Jewish people away from seeing that Yeshua is the Messiah.Maimonides (1138-1204), a very famous rabbi, philosopher, and physician, was born in Spain and had to leave, lived in Morocco and later in Egypt.  He was a leader of his people, and he suffered much persecution because he was a Jew.  He came up with The Thirteen Principles of Faith.  According to Maimonides, a Jew who denied any of these pri
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit awolinsky.substack.com
Hebrews 1:4-5

Hebrews 1:4-5

2023-11-2023:31

Hi Folks. I’m excited for us to move on to the next two verses of Hebrews together today so let’s start by reading them. We’re using the NKJV today:Hebrews 1:4-5 (NKJV) having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. [5] For to which of the angels did He ever say: "YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU"? And again: "I WILL BE TO HIM A FATHER, AND HE SHALL BE TO ME A SON"?Hebrews 1:4-5 tells us that our Messiah, having become so much better than the angels, has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. So we need to ask ourselves if Yeshua, Jesus, became something that He was not previously. How did He obtain a more excellent name? Now this verse is comparing Jesus with angels. He has become better than the angels and He has inherited a more excellent name than they. We might ask if He has become better than the angels by virtue of inheriting a more excellent name and if so what is in that name that makes Him better? Let’s read verse four again:‌Hebrews 1:4 (NKJV) 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.Because the word as separates two clauses in this verse, and because as is present in the Greek, we might wonder how the Son of God, who was and is always perfect and who was and is always God, became so much better than the angels by inheriting a better name. What could that mean? I think that in order to understand this question we need to remember the last part of verse 3 and we need to remember that the chapter and verse numbers in the Bible were not in the original Scriptures. Keeping that in mind let’s read the last part of verse 3 with all of verse 4 as if that was a single verse:‌Hebrews 1:3-4 (NKJV) .... when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.‌So, Yeshua’s becoming better than the angels by obtaining a more excellent name seems to be at least in part be due to His sitting down on the Father’s right hand and that could never have happened without Jesus having purged our sins. And He couldn’t have done that without being the perfect sacrifice and He couldn’t have been that perfect sacrifice without being God. But OK, we know that Jesus is God and He was God before the cross.John 1:1 (NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.Jesus being God is not new. So, how did He become so much better than the angels? It seems to me that of course, as God He was better than the angels already but then He became so much better than the angels. What accounts for that? Let’s read verse four once more:Hebrews 1:4 (NKJV) having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.What is the meaning of as here? Does it mean He became so much better because He obtained a more excellent name than they? I think we have to understand what rank the angels hold and compare it to the rank that Yeshua holds. And of course, there is no comparison there! There never was. But Yeshua has been elevated even more in some way.‌Again, His becoming better seems to be due to a change in His name and what that name represents.‌So what was the nature of this change? It was a change in status or rank. To understand this, I think we get some help from looking at the next verse, verse 5 :Hebrews 1:5 (NKJV) 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”?‌“You are My Son, Today I have begotten You” - Now folks, this could be a little confusing, so please stick with me. Jesus was God the Son throughout eternity but this clause from Hebrews 1:5 is describing something extra, something new. “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”. This clause is a direct reference toPsalms 2:7 (NKJV) "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.‌Incidentally folks, to digress for just a moment, note the word begotten in John 3:16. Let me read that to you:‌“John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.‌Folks, the word begotten in John 3:16 does not have the meaning to beget or to give birth; the Greek word is better translated as unique or one and only.‌But in Psalms 2:7 and so in Hebrews 1:5, begotten does usually mean to beget or to give birth. And there seems to be a particular point in time, today, when the Father becomes the Father of this very special Son, our Messiah. In the NKJV it says Today I have begotten You. Now we know that God the Son always existed and that He is God. He was never anything else. And He was always the Son, the eternal Son. How do we know that? We know it from:‌Proverbs 30:4 (NKJV) Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, If you know?But again, how could the Son of God become better - how could God ever become better? - and how could He become the Son of God the Father? Wasn’t He already the Son? Now, He, Yeshua, is God and so He was never born in the way that you and I were born. Yes, He was literally born of a virgin, Miriam or Mary. That was the incarnation when He became the God-Man and that was indeed a change. At the incarnation His nature changed from perfect God to perfect God and perfect Man. And we know that happened so that He could do something that He couldn’t do when He was God only. That something that He could do was to die on the cross. And there were other things that He couldn’t do when He was perfect God only; He couldn’t suffer the way a man can suffer. When he was perfect God only, He couldn’t do that. And we’ll see a little later in Hebrews why that is necessary. But the most important thing that he could do as a man that He couldn’t do as perfect God only was to die.‌By the way folks, this is absolutely extraordinary, is it not? Without question it is extraordinary!‌So Jesus became the God-Man. He was no less God than He was before but now He was Man too. But He was and is a Man in a way that no other man could ever be. In what way is that you might ask? He was without sin, as we will see when we get to Hebrews, chapter four, where we read about Jesus being a high priest:Hebrews 4:15:“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” So Jesus went from being God only to being the God-Man. Did this change His name and status? I don’t think that it did at His birth, at His incarnation. But, as perfect God and perfect Man he was able to die and by so doing He became sin for us, meaning He became a sin offering for us, or I should say He became the sin offering for us, the perfect sacrifice. He paid the price that God’s Law demanded for sin, for every sin ever committed. That price was and is still today, death:‌Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”‌After He died He was buried and then He was raised from the dead:Romans 6:4 (NKJV) Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.‌So, by what He did Jesus made it possible for you and me to be not only forgiven of our sins but also raised to newness of life. And because He did this His name and His status changed.I think verse five of this first chapter makes that clear:Hebrews 1:5 (NKJV) For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”?Again, this verse directly quotes Psalm 2:7 and it also quotes 1 Chronicles 17:13. Let’s look at the context of these two Old Testament verses. But let’s look at the context of the 1 Chronicles verse first:1 Chronicles 17:11-14 (NKJV) And it shall be, when your days are fulfilled, when you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. [12] He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. [13] I will be his Father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you. [14] And I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever." ' "These verses describe the Davidic Covenant. Now most Bible scholars quote from 2 Samuel when referencing the Davidic Covenant:2 Samuel 7:12-16 (NKJV) "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. [14] I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. [15] But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. [16] And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever." ' "I prefer to quote the 1 Chronicles passage because verse 14 in the 2 Samuel passage speaks about David’s son Solomon rather than the Messiah. Let’s read that verse:[14] I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.Because Messiah is God, He is without sin and so verse 14 can’t be about Him.
Hebrews 1:3

Hebrews 1:3

2023-10-2329:34

Hi Folks. We’re continuing on in the New Testament letter to the Hebrews today so let’s read verse 3 of chapter 1: Hebrews 1:3 (NIV)‌The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.We recently talked about how the Son is of the same substance as His Father. He is the one and only Son and because God is the one and only God, the Son must be just like the Father. That’s why the Jewish religious leaders were so angry when Yeshua called Himself the Son of God.Let’s look at John 5:18 NIV:‌For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.Yeshua is calling God His own Father or if I can take the liberty, His very own Father.  In the Greek His own is idios. By using this word, idios, Yeshua is saying that God was His own private, personal, unique Father. This contrasts with just plain his for which the Greek word is autos. To make that contrast, the contrast between His own and just his, let’s look at a couple of verses in the gospel of Luke:Luke 15:27–28 (NIV)‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his (autos) father went out and pleaded with him.So the father of the prodigal son goes out to talk with his older son and his father is autos, a different word than His own Father which is idios.  By using the word idios Jesus made it clear that God is His own unique Father.  This fits perfectly with the Son and the Father being of the same substance.  They are both deity, and along with the Holy Spirit these three persons are one perfect God.Let’s go on now to talk about Jesus being the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being. How can we understand that better?Let’s see if we can we get an idea of the glory of God from the Old Testament because those were the Scriptures that the writers of the New Testament had. Let’s look at Psalm 97:1-6 NIV:The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. [2] Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. [3] Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. [4] His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. [5] The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. [6] The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory.This is God’s glory folks!  Now let’s look at something else:‌Exodus 24:9–10 (NASB95)Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.Now this was a glorious sight! They saw the God of Israel. But wait a minute! How could that be? Because if you see God you die, right?  Now how do we know that?Leviticus 16:2 (NIV) The LORD said to Moses: "Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.AND:Exodus 33:19-23 (NIV) And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. [20] But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." [21] Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. [22] When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. [23] Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."Now let’s read the passage again from Exodus 24:Exodus 24:9–10 (NASB95)Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.So, they saw God here. Why didn’t they die?  Is it because they didn’t see His face?  We’re not told that they didn’t see His face.  I think the reason that they did not die is because Who they saw was the pre-incarnate Christ, the Messiah, the Word of God, the Memra!  And when you see the Messiah, you don’t die.  That’s why He came.Now let’s take a look at a New Testament passage which can help us to at least get a faint hint of God’s glory:Matthew 16:27-28 CSBFor the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each according to what he has done. [28] Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."Yeshua is telling us that we’re about to get a preview of His glory.Matthew 17:1-4 (NKJV) Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; [2] and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. [3] And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. [4] Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."Jesus was transfigured, His appearance changed. “Jesus’ face shone like the sun and His clothes became as white as the light” - This sounds like the Shekinah glory such as the pillar of fire in the desert during the Exodus, or like God in the burning bush.  We’re seeing the same thing here. And we’re also seeing Jesus here very clearly as God’s special Son. Let’s continue on:Matthew 17:5–8 NIVWhile he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.‌‌So here is Jesus, transfigured, as bright as the sun, with God the Father speaking so that the three disciples could even hear Him and they became terrified, and Elijah and Moses were there. I don’t think this was a vision because they all saw it. This was real, in real time.  This is glory, folks!By the way, why is Peter is offering to put up three tabernacles here - one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah?  Some students of this passage believe that Peter may have thought that the Messianic or Millennial Kingdom was about to come in, since tabernacles are a symbol of that to observant Jews. I’m talking about the Feast of Tabernacles which in the Hebrew language is called Sukkot and it is associated with the Messianic Kingdom of 1,000 years as exemplified in these verses from Zechariah:Zechariah 14:16–17 NIVThen the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain.‌‌This Feast of Tabernacles is very important to the LORD. Peoples of the earth are commanded to go up annually to worship the King, the Lord Almighty. That King is Yeshua, folks, Jesus. Yes, folks, Jesus is indeed the exact representation of the Father. Jesus is God. He is God incarnate, God in the flesh, Perfect God and Perfect man. Not two separate beings inside one person. No, Jesus’ nature and character embody perfect God and perfect man in one person. He was and still is today the God-Man. He had to be in order to be our Savior - the Savior of mankind. We’ll hear more about that as we go on further in this epistle.Continuing on in Hebrews 1:3:“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”Jesus sustains all things by His powerful word. What does that mean? Word in Hebrews 1:3 is not the Logos. Word here in the Greek is rhema and it means spoken word. So just as God spoke the universe into existence with incomprehensible power in Genesis, Jesus upholds or sustains all things by His spoken word, or we could phrase it like this: Jesus upholds all things by the power of His word. Let’s look at just one example of the power of God’s spoken word in the Hebrew Scriptures, in Genesis:Genesis 1:14–15 (NIV)And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.God said. The word for said in Hebrew is amar. You could translate it as declared. God declared that the sun and the moon and the stars and the planets come into existence out of nothing and that’s exactly what happened. And we know that all things were made through Yeshua. We read that earlier in John 1:3; let’s read it again:John 1:3 NIVThrough him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.That includes the sun and the moon and the stars and the planets!  And in like manner, Yeshua/Jesus sustains or upholds all things by the power of His word.Moving on in Hebrews 1:3 “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty i
Hebrews 1:2

Hebrews 1:2

2023-10-1622:40

Hi Folks. Thanks for joining me as we move ahead in our study of Hebrews. We’re moving on to verse 2 of chapter 1 today but let’s read the first 2 verses of the book together again, first.Hebrews 1:1–2 (NIV)In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. Last time we went over verse 1 and we talked about how God spoke to the ancient Hebrews through the prophets at many different times and in various ways. The prophets refers to the Old Testament prophets of course including the 16 writing prophets as well as those prophets who did not write specific books in the Old Testament that have been categorized as books of prophecy. Writing prophets would include those such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. Their books would come under the second section of the TaNaKh called Nevi'im. TaNaKh is pronounced Tanach and it’s an acronym. The T stands for Torah which is the first section and it comprises the first 5 books of the Bible, written by Moses. The N stands for Nevi’im which I just mentioned and it contains the books of prophecy which include the 16 writing prophets as well as what Jewish tradition calls the Former Prophets and those are the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings. The 16 writing prophets are divided into major and minor prophets but I need to mention at this point that what I am referring to as the 16 writing prophets would be in the Jewish tradition only 15 in number. The difference is Daniel. Hebrew tradition does not include Daniel in the Nevi’im. Daniel is included in the last or third section of the TaNaKh which is the Ketuvim or the writings which in addition to Daniel include the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Ezra-Nehemiah as one book, and I and II Chronicles as one book, Chronicles.‌But the last prophet of the Old Testament or better, the Old Covenant, is John the Baptist. Jewish tradition doesn’t recognize John the Baptist as a prophet of course because he is not written about in the Tanakh; he came after the Tanakh closed. However He came before the New Covenant was inaugurated by Jesus. The New Testament clearly reveals him to be a prophet because Jesus said that John was a prophet. Because he is the last prophet before the cross we can consider him to be the last prophet of the Old Covenant dispensation even though he is not in the Hebrew Scriptures by name.Yes, Jesus talked about John. He called him more than a prophet and said that the Old Covenant predicted John’s coming. That Old Covenant passage isMalachi 3:1 (NIV)‌“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.Jesus referenced John, including this Malachi passage, in Matthew:Matthew 11:9–11“Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: “ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”We can say from Hebrews 1:2 alone that Jesus’ ministry marked the beginning of the last days:Hebrews 1:2 (NIV)but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.God spoke many things to the people of first century Israel through His Son Jesus and much of what He said has been preserved for us to read today. We will cover some of those things in our study of this book. But let’s talk now for a minute or so about Jesus as God’s Son. Jesus is God’s Son in a very different way than we are sons and daughters. We are told this in the Gospel of John:‌John 1:12–13 (NIV)Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.This verse talks about what happens to us when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior; we are born again and are transferred from being in Adam to being in Messiah or in Christ. Romans, chapter 6, explains that well. The old man, which is who we were in Adam, dies - is crucified with Messiah, when we accept Yeshua as our Lord and Savior - and we are united with Christ. That’s what John 1:12-13 is talking about and as incredible as that is - we becoming sons and daughters of God - we are not sons in the sense that Jesus is the Son of God. Because Jesus is not a created being and because He is the one and only son of God and has always existed, He has to be of the same substance and nature as God the Father. He has to be divine, He has to be deity. We’ll get into this much more as we move ahead in Hebrews but for now we must recognize that Jesus is the only unique Son of God and He is a Son - the Son - in a different way than we are. I also just want to remind you that God said He has a Son in the Old Testament in Psalm 2 and in Proverbs 30 and we talked about that last time.‌But getting back to Hebrews 1:2Hebrews 1:2 (NIV)but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.Before we try to grasp the profound meaning of this verse I think we’ll receive help by looking at John’s Gospel:‌John 1:1–3 (NIV)In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.Now please take a look at Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:1 (NIV)In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.And also at Ephesians 3:9Ephesians 3:9 (NKJV)and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;So, Who is this Son? We’ve already said that He is a Son like no other Son and that He is divine - He has the attributes of deity. But can we get a better understanding of that? I think we can. In John 1 He is called the Word which in Greek is Logos and we are told that in the beginning He was with God and was God and that without Him nothing was made that was made. So, how is He the Logos, or Word, and also God? I’ve come to understand that the idea behind the Greek word Logos is better understood by the Aramaic word Memra which was used in the Jewish Targums or paraphrases of the Hebrew Scriptures to describe a visible appearance of God, somewhat similar to, yet different from, the Shekinah glory of God. Sometimes this Memra would appear as the Angel of the LORD or the Angel of Yahweh such as we see in:Exodus 3:2 (NIV)There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.AND:Exodus 3:4 (NIV)When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”Can you see from these 2 verses that there is an equivalence between the Angel of Yahweh and the LORD, meaning Yahweh Himself? The Apostle John was a Jewish man and would have been familiar with the Memra which means word. Logos was the closest Greek equivalent to Memra and so John used Logos as he was inspired to do so by the Holy Spirit. This gives us understanding how Jesus is the Logos and God. He came as God in the flesh, God incarnate, and He was and is the same Divine Being that he was in the Old Testament where He sometimes came as the Angel of Yahweh. These appearances were of the pre-incarnate Christ.Let give you an example of this from the Targum Onkelos:The Targum Onqelos to Genesis8. Then they heard the voice of the Memra of the Lord God walking in the garden towards the decline of the day; so Adam and his wife hid themselves from before the Lord God within a tree of the garden. 9. Whereupon the Lord God called out to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 10. And he said, “I heard the voice of Your Memra in the garden, but I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid”So, yes, the Son of God - the Logos, or Memra - is like no other Son. Understanding this will help us greatly in this study of the letter to the Hebrews. And as the Divine Son of the Father, it becomes understandable that Yahweh, the Father, would appoint His one and only Son as the Heir of all things. Likewise it makes sense that YHWH would appoint His Son to make the Universe, that the Universe would be made through Him. Remember Genesis 1:1:Genesis 1:1 (NIV)In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.Yeshua, the Logos or Memra, created the universe. But tells us that God created the heavens and the earth and surely that is something that only God could do. So it certainly seems that the Logos or the Memra has to have the very nature of God. Folks, I don’t want to get ahead of myself. We are in deep waters here but what wonderful deep waters they are! The famous Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4) tells us God is One but He is a complex or plural One. He has a plural nature. We cannot fully understand this. But God allows us to understand it to a certain extent, to know that it is absolutely true and that is a wonderful gift to us!But, getting back to our verse for today:Hebrews 1:2 (NIV)but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.So, what did the Son speak to us - and I’m including you and me in us - in these last days? There is so much that He said that we can only include a tiny portion of it here today but I would like to do that so let me give you just a few things that He said:John 3:3 (NIV)Je
Introduction‌Hebrews is an amazing book. It is a book of contrasts. It contrasts the Old Covenant given through Moses with the New Covenant first prophesied through Jeremiah in the Hebrew Scriptures and later inaugurated by Yeshua at the last supper, a Passover seder, and at the cross. It was written to Jewish people not long before the second Jewish Temple was destroyed by Rome in 70 AD. Some scholars believe that it was addressed to Jewish believers only, to Jews who were born again but weak in their faith. For several reasons, which I hope to cover with you as we go through this book, I do not believe that. I believe the epistle was indeed written to born again Jews who were weak in their faith, but also to Jews who might be interested in Yeshua but had not made a profession of faith in Him. And I also believe that the author certainly hoped that the epistle would be read or explained to Jews who had no apparent interest in following Jesus; this latter group may have included people who practiced traditional Judaism - the Temple was still standing when Hebrews was written - some who were serious about their religious practice and some who may have gone along with the practice of the Jewish religion because of pressure from their peers. And this book has great application for all of us today, both Jew and Gentile.Let’s begin today by reading and then discussing the first verse of the epistle. All Scriptures in this series will be from the NIV unless otherwise stated.Hebrews 1:1 “1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,”God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways. What does that mean? There were 16 writing prophets, men sent by God to proclaim His word and to make a written record of what they said. These written records survive today as the prophetic books of the Tanach or Old Testament. One of those prophets was not sent to the Jewish people although they must surely have known of his message. That was the prophet Jonah who was sent to proclaim the need for the people of Nineveh in Assyria to repent of their sins and indeed they did so and God did not bring disaster upon them.So, many prophets were sent over a great many years - hence, “at many times”; the Analytical Lexicon of the New Testament gives a translation for this as bit by bit. That makes sense to me. We have a very patient God. He doesn’t give us His truth all at once because He knows that we couldn’t handle it. Bit by bit might be a good thing for us to keep in mind as we share God’s truth with people. We want to be careful not to feed a person who only has the ability to consume one piece of bread with a 7 course meal. We need to take our Heavenly Father’s example and His truth bit by bit, at least in the beginning.And the message was also given in various ways. What does that mean? The great law giver, Moses, considered by many Jewish people to be the greatest prophet of all, and who wrote the Torah, the first 5 books of the Bible, wrote about the first Passover in ancient Egypt and the need for a blood sacrifice to preserve life. The shed blood came from lambs. Those things pointed to the first coming of our Messiah, the Lamb of God, and to the cross.‌But Moses also wrote about something that came even earlier. That was the very first mention in the Bible of a deliverer, our Messiah, who would in the future crush the head of the serpent who at Satan’s direction deceived Eve and so led Adam and Eve to disobey God which caused something to happen that we call The Fall. God intended for us to live forever but because of the disobedience of our first parents all of us are born spiritually dead and have limited physical life spans. Let’s read about this:Genesis 3:14–15 (NKJV)So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”‌The Seed that the LORD is talking about here, her Seed - the Seed of the woman - is the deliverer, the Messiah, whom we now know is the Lord Jesus. This is the first time in the Bible that a Deliverer is mentioned. This is the first foreshadowing of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus.‌The LORD speaking through Moses again said something of a profoundly prophetic nature in Deuteronomy:‌Deuteronomy 18:18–19 “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.”These verses speak of a future deliverer who like you, meaning like Moses would deliver His people from slavery and death but the deliverance by the future deliverer would be permanent. This was a prophecy about Jesus, Yeshua, and of His earthly ministry.Another prophecy of a future deliverer is inPsalm 2 where the LORD talks about His Son:Psalm 2:7–8 “I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.”‌And the Lord gives us a further hint of His coming Son in the book of Proverbs:‌Proverbs 30:4 “Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!”Folks, God the Father has a son and He has told us about Him in the Old Testament.And then we have a prophecy given to King David from the prophet Nathan who was not one of the 16 writing prophets, but was a prophet nonetheless. Listen to the Lord speaking through Nathan to David:1 Chronicles 17:11–12 “When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.”The Lord is here speaking of the throne of the Messiah Who will be King of Israel and Whose throne will be established forever. That will begin when this present age is over and Messiah, the Lord Jesus, will reign for a thousand years from Jerusalem. That time will follow the rapture and the 7 year tribulation. That time is drawing nearer every day. Maranatha! Come quickly Lord Jesus!Then there was Isaiah who told of the Messiah who would come by virgin birth and who would be God Himself and God with us:‌Immanuel means God with us and that’s exactly who Yeshua was when He walked among us 2,000 years ago. Folks that prophecy was fulfilled about 700 years later when He was born in Bethlehem. And Isaiah also prophesied this:Isaiah 9:6 “6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”‌This prophecy has only been partially fulfilled as of the date of this message - October 2023 - but rest assured that it will be completely fulfilled soon when Messiah Yeshua returns to rescue Israel, to judge the world, and to set up His 1,000 year reign.‌Later in his book, Isaiah prophesies about a person who would come, a Servant, who would suffer and die for our sins. This was indeed a prophecy about the Lord Jesus. He comes first as a suffering servant and only later as King and ruler, at His second coming, which we expectantly wait for now. Those of you who attend a traditional Jewish synagogue might wonder why this Suffering Servant of Isaiah, chapter 53, is not mentioned or taught about. This prophecy is so clearly about Jesus the Messiah that it is abhorrent to many Jewish leaders. That is why it is not taught.‌And then the LORD sent Jeremiah the prophet through whom the LORD promised a new covenant:‌Jeremiah 31:31–34 “31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. 33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.””What a wonderful promise from the LORD through Jeremiah! That New Covenant is was inaugurated with Jesus’ death and it will be completely fulfilled after all Israel is saved at the end of the 7 year Tribulation.Romans 11:26–27 “and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.””And there are many more examples that I could give you but I don’t want to tire you out.We will be talking about the New Covenant in this series because it is restated in the letter to the Hebrews. The prophecy of the New Covenant was made a reality when Jesus the Son of God gave His life and shed his blood for us on the cross.So we begin the New Testament book of Hebrews. It is an exciting book and one that is full of contrasts. It is also a book that cannot be understood without a knowledge of the Old Testament and that is why we’ve been talking so much about these Old Testament prophecies today. Yes, “In the pa
I need to talk with you today about something called imminence. Perhaps you have heard people who believe in the pretribulation rapture say that the rapture is imminent. Or perhaps you haven’t heard that. Either way is OK. But I believe that it’s important to know about imminence so we’re going to talk about it today. There is a Biblical definition of imminence, at least a definition that can be derived from the Bible. Many Bible teachers, theologians, and Saints of the past - going back many centuries - have considered the Second Coming of Christ to be possible at any moment. Many of these Saints had no detailed understanding of the Second Coming and many did not believe in the pretribulation rapture. Some did not even believe in a rapture at all.  Yet some were quite solid believers. They just didn’t have revelation from the Holy Spirit about the rapture. But many believed that Christ’s return could occur at any moment and that is very important. Was this a belief in imminence, however?  Or at least let me ask, was this a belief in imminence as we will define it in this message today?  I don’t know if we can answer that definitively.  But that’s OK.  We’ll see those saints in heaven and we can ask them then if we want to.  But for you and me, we’ll talk about it now and I hope to show you the value of that.  And we will define imminence shortly, folks.But before we define imminence, I’d like to make sure that you understand that the Second Coming of Christ can be viewed as having two parts - first the rapture which happens when Jesus snatches believers and resurrected saints up to meet Him in the clouds to take them back to heaven with Him, and then, second, after the 7 year Tribulation, the return of Christ to earth (to the Mount of Olives), which is the actual Second Coming of Christ to terra firma, to the earth, at which time He rescues the Jewish Nation, judges the world, and sets up His Messianic or Millennial Kingdom which He will then rule from Jerusalem.  Many great theologians and believers in Christ of the past, those who took the Scriptures literally, didn’t understand that there is a pretribulation rapture nevertheless they believed that Messiah’s Second Coming could occur at any moment.  The great British preacher Charles Spurgeon was such a man.So, what is the definition of imminence, as we will use the word and concept here? Imminence refers to an event that first, could occur at any time, second, has no preconditions attached to it, and third, is not necessarily going to occur soon. It is as if this event is hanging over our heads and could fall upon us with no advance warning at any time. Is this concept of imminence based on New Testament Scriptures? Yes! I will give you several examples that demonstrate imminence in the context of the Second Coming of our Messiah. The first example is:‌Titus 2:13 (NKJV) looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,‌The Greek word for looking for in this verse is prosdechomai and it means to look for, to wait for, to expect. The tense of this Greek verb is the present tense which means continuous action; the waiting and looking-for is non-stop.  The Apostle Paul is saying in this verse that he is continuously waiting for and expecting the Son, but he mentions no time frame for the Son’s return, no preconditions for the coming of the Son, and he never said that the Son was coming soon although He was obviously yearning for that.  By the way, this verse could not be about a post-tribulation rapture because Paul would not be continuously waiting in hope knowing that he would have to go through the seven year Tribulation first.‌The second example is:1 Thessalonians 1:10 (NKJV) and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.‌The Greek word for wait in this verse is anamenō and it means to wait for, to await, to expect. It is also a verb in the present tense.  So, again Paul is saying in this verse that he is continuously waiting for and expecting the Son, but he mentions no time frame for the Son’s return, no preconditions for the coming of the Son, and he never said that the Son was coming soon.  And this verse too could not be about a post-tribulation rapture because Paul would not be continuously waiting for that, knowing that he would have to go through the seven year Tribulation first.  Paul is actually stating in this verse that he is waiting for deliverance from the wrath to come.  Paul is not waiting to enter a time of wrath which is what the Tribulation is.The third example is:Hebrews 9:28 “28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”Eagerly wait for is the translation of the Greek verb apekdechomai.  The verb is again in the present tense and again indicates continuous waiting.  The author is continuously waiting for the Messiah’s return.  This would not be the case if he had to go through the seven year Tribulation first.Now it’s important to realize that the Apostle Paul knew all about the Second Coming including the rapture. He was with the Lord in heaven where he received surpassingly great revelations, he wrote both letters to the Thessalonian Church, and he also taught the Thessalonians, in person, for several weeks.  So, consider this: if anything in the future (future to Paul’s time) had to come before the rapture or was a required condition for the rapture to happen, Paul would have known that, and he would have said so. THAT is why he wrote the verses that I’ve given you above as examples of imminence in the manner that he did. And these verses are not the only examples. The only thing Paul was not told was WHEN the Second Coming was going to occur. But he knew that it was imminent.  Verses like these is where the concept of imminence comes from. This is not necessarily obvious or easy to grasp but I hope that the Biblical concept of imminence is more understandable to you now.As we discussed in the last podcast, the rapture is not present in the synoptic gospels.  But is imminence present in the gospels and if it is what does it mean and what is the implication?Now, I want to give you a few verses from Matthew and Mark that, at least to me, sound like verses that are talking about imminence, at least with only a superficial hearing of them.  But it is most important that we understand the context of each of these verses in order to know if they are describing Biblical imminence.  Before I quote the actual verses, I want to remind you that these verses all follow after this verse:Matthew 24:29 (NKJV) "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.So the verses that I will now quote all refer to a time after the Tribulation.  Here are the verses:Matthew 24:36 “36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”This verse is clearly referring to the coming of Jesus after the Tribulation.  He is coming then in judgement.  This coming requires something else to come first: the Tribulation.  Therefore, although at the present time – October 3, 2023 – we cannot know when this event will occur, this event does not qualify for imminence because the Tribulation must come first.Matthew 24:42 “42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”This verse refers to the same event as the above verse refers to (Matthew 24:36).  Therefore, imminence is not described here either.  Again, Yeshua is coming in judgement.  This is not the rapture of the Church, which is a blessing and a deliverance from the wrath to come.Matthew 24:44 “44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”Same thing.  This is after the Tribulation.  No imminence is described in this verse.  He is coming in judgement.Matthew 25:13 “13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”This verse is spoken by Jesus as part of the parable of the ten virgins.  There is no reason to believe that Matthew 25 is not continuing the description of the judgement that is coming at the end of the age, after the Tribulation, described in Matthew 24.  Therefore, this verse also requires something to come before it namely the Tribulation.  Imminence is not in this verse.  Judgement is.And finally:Mark 13:32–33 “32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.”This is like the verses in Matthew (verses 24:36, 42, 44) that we just quoted.  These verses are about judgement.  The Tribulation must come before these two verses in Mark.  Imminence is not here.So, at the present time, today, October 3, 2023, these verses which describe the Second Coming of the Messiah, are not about the rapture even though it is easy to become confused about this because, right now, we cannot know when the Second Coming is going to be.  Once the Tribulation begins, we will know when the Second Coming will be.  It will be seven years from the start of the Tribulation.  But right now, we can’t know when that will be.These verses then do not describe imminence and have nothing to do with the rapture.  The rapture which happens before the Tribulation is an imminent event.So, what’s the big deal about all of this? For one thing, don’t you want the assurance of hope?  Aren’t you glad – and more then glad, in fact ecstatic – that you, if you are a believer, will not be going through any part of the Tribulation?  I’m definitely ecstatic about that!  Maybe I’ll go to be with the Lord before the rapture occurs – that’s OK with me! – but maybe I won’t.  I want to pray like the early believe
Hi Folks.  I hope you are doing well today.A question has come up repeatedly from interested readers and listeners concerning some verses in the famous 24th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew – Jesus’ Olivet Discourse - which deals with His return and with the end of the age. Let’s read those verses:Matthew 24:40-41 (NKJV) Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. [41] Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.And please note that there is a very helpful passage, a parallel passage, from Luke’s gospel and let’s read that:Luke 17:34-37 (NKJV) I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. [35] Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. [36] Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left." [37] And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."We’ll talk about this Luke passage shortly, but getting back to the two verses in Matthew’s gospel, the question that has come up repeatedly is this: “Regarding the two men in the field, and the two women grinding at the mill, where are the ones who will be taken, that’s one man and one woman, taken to?Before I attempt to answer that question let’s take a look at a verse that I believe sets the time frame for this passage in Matthew, these two verses, Matthew 24:40 and 41, that we read a moment ago.  The verse that sets the time frame is also in Matthew 24 and it is verse 29.  We’ll read it now”"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.So, verse 29 sets the time frame for what happens next and that includes the two verses which describe the man and woman who are taken away (verses 40-41).  The man and woman who are taken away, are taken away after the Tribulation.Now in my opinion, there are three possible ways to explain verses 40 and 41 of Matthew 24 and only one is correct.  Here are the three possibilities:1.    These verses are talking about the second coming of Christ and the post-tribulation rapture.  The one taken is raptured.  If this interpretation is correct, it could support a post-tribulation rapture.2.    These verses are talking about a time before the tribulation has started.  The one taken is raptured.  The one left behind will enter the Tribulation to be judged.  People who believe this therefore believe Jesus to be talking about the pre-tribulation rapture in these verses.3.    These verses are talking about the second coming of Christ to the earth.  The one taken is taken away to judgement.  The one left is righteous.  No rapture is pictured here.How can we arrive at the correct interpretation, and does it matter? Let’s look at the verses that come immediately before the two verses we’ve been considering:Matthew 24:37-39 (NKJV) But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. [38] For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, [39] and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.This passage is talking about the time of the Genesis flood.  God judged the world then.  Only eight people were saved, Noah and his family.  They entered the ark.  Those who were “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark” cannot be Noah and his family.  This group of people must be those who were taken away by the flood.  Lets read verse [39]  in its entirety again:  [39] and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  And this verse is immediately followed by verses 40 and 41:Matthew 24:40-41 (NKJV) Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. [41] Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.The first word of verse 24:40 is Then.  That is important!  Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left”.  Then is an adverb that has to do with sequence and timing.  Then tells us what happens next.  So, let’s read all these verses now in sequence and see if we can get a clear picture:Matthew 24:37-41 (NKJV) But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. [38] For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, [39] and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  [40] Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. [41] Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.Now Folks, in order for these verses to make sense, the man taken and the woman taken must be comparable to those described by the clause in verse 29 that reads “the flood came and took them all away”.  Those taken away by the flood were taken away to judgement.  There is no question about that.  Therefore, those taken in connection with the return of Jesus must also be taken away to judgement.  Otherwise, the grammar and structure of these sentences makes no sense.Does this help us?  Yes.  It means that Possibility 1 is wrong:1.    These verses are talking about the second coming and the post-tribulation rapture.  The one taken is raptured.  The one left remains on earth.  If this interpretation is correct, it could support a post-tribulation rapture.Folks, the one taken is NOT raptured.  I hope that I have been able to make that clear to you.  Therefore verses 40 and 41 in Matthew 24 do not support a post-tribulation rapture.  Possibility 1 is incorrect.Let’s move on to Possibility 2 which says:2.    These verses are talking about a time before the tribulation has started.  The one taken is raptured.  The one left behind is to be judged.  People who believe this therefore believe Jesus to be talking about the pre-tribulation rapture in these verses.Now in order to assess this opinion, we need to answer this question: in verse 24:37, what does the coming of the Son of Man refer to?  Let’s read the verse again:Matthew 24:37 (NKJV) But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.When does this occur?  Again, Matthew 24:29 tells us.  It is immediately after the Tribulation:Matthew 24:29 (NKJV) "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.So, verse 29 tells us that the coming of the Son of Man here is after the Tribulation.  Verses 40-41, about the man and the woman who are taken away, come after this and in this chapter of Matthew there is no reason to see an interrupted chronology; so the chronological location of the men in the field and the women grinding at the mill is after the Tribulation.  Does this help us?  Yes, because this means that Possibility 2 is wrong also.  Let’s look at that possibility again; it says:2.     These verses are talking about a time before the tribulation has started.  The one taken is raptured.  The one left is to be judged.  People who believe this believe in the pre-tribulation rapture.I believe that it’s now clear that this possibility is also wrong:  The verses, Matthew 24:40-41, are not pre-tribulation, they are post-tribulation.  So, the one taken cannot indicate someone taken in the pre-tribulation rapture.So, what is happening in these two verses?  Where is the man in the field who is taken, taken to? and where is the woman grinding at the mill who is taken, taken to?  We now know that they are not raptured.  Therefore, it seems logical that they are taken to judgment.  Can we get confirmation on this?  I believe that we can.  Let’s look again at Luke 17:Luke 17:34-37 (NKJV) I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. [35] Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. [36] Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left." [37] And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."Folks, eagles is in my opinion not the correct translation.  The correct translation and one which makes more sense, is vultures.  We’ve already established from our study of Matthew 24 that those taken are taken to judgement and when we realize that a better translation for eagles in Luke 17:37  is vultures, it seems logical that this verse is speaking of judgement and death: wherever the body is, there the vultures will be gathered together.  You’re all familiar, perhaps from a scene in a western movie, of vultures circling in the sky over a dead body lying on the ground below.  In Luke 17:37, "Wherever the body is, there the vultures will be gathered together."  probably figuratively indicates a dead body composed of unbelievers who are shown to be dead or dying by the circling vultures overhead.Now let’s go back to Matthew 24 and read verses 27 and 28:Matthew 24:27-28 (NKJV) For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. [28] For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles (better:vultures) will be gathered together.I believe that verse 27 clearly speaks of the return of Jesus to the earth – the second coming – and that is in judgement.  The next verse reinforces that.  The carcass, or dead body, and the vultures speak of death.Let’s sum things up now, draw some conclusions, and
Hebrews 6:4-8 is a difficult passage.  Some believe that it teaches that a born again person can lose his salvation.  Others believe that it teaches that the people described are saved and will lose the blessings of walking with Messiah including loss of eternal rewards but not the loss of salvation.  Others teach that the people described were never saved to begin with.  Listen as Art takes you through these various arguments and tells you what he believes to be correct.You can contact Art at drwolinsky@comcast.net This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit awolinsky.substack.com
The Temple

The Temple

2023-03-1445:05

Did you know that four Jewish temples are mentioned in the Bible?  Listen as Art explains this and gives the application of this knowledge for your life today.You can contact Art at drwolinsky@comcast.net This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit awolinsky.substack.com
Have you had a desire to receive a message that makes it crystal clear that the Rapture has to come before The Tribulation ?  Art does his best to give you such a message.  I hope you will listen.You can contact Art at drwolinsky@comcast.net This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit awolinsky.substack.com
God tells us in His word that we are to avoid walking in the flesh and that we are to walk in the Spirit.  That seems like a tall order!  How do we do it?  In this message, Art provides guidance on this very important subject.You can contact Art at drwolinsky@comcast.net This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit awolinsky.substack.com
What is the root cause of antisemitism?  Listen as Art explains in this updated version of the original podcast posted nearly two years ago.You can contact Art at drwolinsky@comcast.net This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit awolinsky.substack.com
Art has updated this version with new and additional information.In Deuteronomy 29:1 Moses explains that the Lord is making a new covenant with Israel in addition to the Mosaic Covenant (Covenant of the Law) made nearly 40 years earlier.  This Covenant powerfully refutes Replacement Theology and foreshadows the rebirth and salvation of the Jewish nation in the future.  This Covenant is unconditional.  It is different from the New Covenant which comes later.You can contact Art at drwolinsky@comcast.net This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit awolinsky.substack.com
Do you know what it means to be born again?  Have you been born again?  If you haven't been born again you won't be spending eternity in heaven with God.  Listen to Art as he explains what it means to be born again in this uplifting and encouraging message.You can contact Art at drwolinsky@comcast.net This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit awolinsky.substack.com
Peace and Security

Peace and Security

2022-04-2940:32

1 Thessalonians 5:3 (NASB) While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.Do you want to know more about the false peace and security that the Antichrist will bring?  More importantly do you want to know how to avoid the destruction that will abruptly follow this false peace?Art Wolinsky will explain all of this to you in detail in this podcast.You can contact Art at drwolinsky@comcast.net This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit awolinsky.substack.com
Is Yeshua God?

Is Yeshua God?

2021-12-1429:11

Is it important to know if Yeshua (Jesus) is God?  It most certainly is!  Art explains the answer to this question simply and clearly using the Bible as his source.You can contact Art at drwolinsky@comcast.net This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit awolinsky.substack.com
loading
Comments 
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store