Author: Jeff

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings

Demystifying the mysterious ‘abomination of desolation’

Demystifying the abomination of desolation

One of the ways we can look at the mysterious apocalyptic phrase “abomination of desolation” is to see it as a “Tale of Three Cities” — Babylon, Tyre and Ninevah — and how all three cities are really symbolic of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) herself. The carnage of the “abomination of desolation” will not come on Babylon, Tyre, Ninevah or any of our great cities of modern times like London, New York or Tokyo. From God’s prophets, we understand that it was and will be the people of Yerushalayim who will have a front row seat, and it will be for the same reasons for the previous desolations.

George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” We are blessed to read these repeated warning of the spiritual condition of people God calls before an “abomination of desolation” — and internalize the lessons.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

Luke 21:5-38: Birth pangs of the coming of Messiah

A graphic with a background of intense orange and yellow flames features bold, black-outlined white text that reads, "Birth pangs of the coming of Messiah." Below, the scripture reference Luke 21:5-38 is displayed in a similar bold font. In the bottom left corner, there is a white logo featuring a stylized Hebrew letter and the website "hallel.info."The fiery background visually emphasizes the theme of prophetic warnings and the coming of the Messiah.

Yeshua repeated warned His disciples to “be ready” for the Day of the Lord. Take note that Yeshua said, “When you see the abomination of desolation” and refers His listeners to the book of Daniel. Yeshua is warning us that the “abomination of desolation” was not a one-time event.

The main reason the Temple was desecrated and destroyed was due to syncretism — blending of belief systems. The reason God destroys the Temple is not because each were and will be flawed but the hearts of the people were flawed. Let’s learn from history and not repeat it.

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Appointments With God Discussions Lamb Selection Day Passover Prophets and Writings

Psalm 113-118: The Hallel and the Passover

Every day is a good day to sing Hallelujah but Passover is an especially relevant time to sing this praise. (Banner by Freeimages.com/Billy Alexander)

As we prepare ourselves for the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, let’s focus our attention on the group of Psalms that are called “The Egyptian Hallel.” The phrase “Hallelu Yah” — praise the Lord — shows up frequently in these Psalms. That is why they are nicknamed “the Hallel.” These are the Psalms that Jews in New Testament times commonly sang during the Passover seder and we see in the Scriptures that Yeshua and the Apostles sang “The Egyptian Hallel” with Him for the last time before His death.

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Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Atonement Discussions Lamb Selection Day Passover Prophets and Writings Torah

Of Lamb and Goats: God’s salvation memorialized in Passover Lamb Selection Day and Day of Atonement

Newborn spring lamb (Petr Kratochvil / PublicDomainPictures.net)
Newborn spring lamb (Petr Kratochvil / PublicDomainPictures.net)

Lamb Selection Day is closely connected with Yom haKippurim (Day of Atonement). Both occur on the 10th day of their respective months: first month for Lamb selection day and seventh month of Yom Kippur.

And the words of the herald for the Mashiakh (Messiah), Yokhanan the Immerser (John the Baptist), that Yeshua was “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world” (Jn. 1:29) further connects these two memorials of God’s salvation plan.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

Luke 21:1-4: Widow’s big little Temple gift reveals major lapse in obeying God

Jeff

We only know of the poor widow in Luke 21:4, because Yeshua made note of her in a “teachable moment” with His key students. Both Mark and Luke record Yeshua’s testimony of her as an example of a faithful giver. Her faithfulness was not in the amount of her gift in terms of monetary value but in terms of the percentage she gave in proportion to what she had. She did not give just 10 percent or a portion from surplus but everything.

She may have already spent all the rest of her means just to get to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) in the first place. But if those rich people had truly had a heart for the Torah, she would have come there in comfort, not in desperation and extreme poverty (Deut. 16:9–15; 24:19–20; 26:12–13).

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

Luke 20:41-44: Yeshua is one with YHWH

Jeff

In the fourth encounter between Yeshua and the Temple leaders before His death on Passover then resurrection, Yeshua became the questioner (Luke 20:41-44). Quoting Psalm 110:1, Yeshua asked how the Messiah could be David’s son if David called Him “Lord” (Luke 20:41-44). In this study, we explore what Scripture has to say about the identity of Yeshua and YHWH (“the LORD”).

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

Luke 20:41-47, part 1: Yeshua vs. ‘actors’ as leader of Yisra’el

Jeff

In the fourth round of questioning involving Yeshua in the Temple between Lamb Selection Day and the Passover of His crucifixion, Yeshua becomes interrogator, challenging the leaders of Yisra’el on the identity of the Mashiakh (Messiah). Yeshua then fully shows His role as The Prophet, accusing the leaders of the people of really being hypocrites — literally, “actors” — leading the people away from God.

This study will also tackle the assertion in recent years that a Hebrew version of Matt. 23:2–4 says to listen to Moshe (Moses), rather than leadership. A survey of the Hebrew documents involved is explored.