Category: Apostolic Writings

These studies cover the writings by the closest shelakhim (apostles) of Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ). Commonly called the “New Testament,” this standard canon includes the four Gospels, the letters and the Apocalypse (Revelation).

Categories
Anger Apostolic Writings Discussions Life With God Torah

Real meaning of ‘eye for an eye’: God’s lessons in peace-making

A biblical man and a woman weighing each other on the scales of justice with northern lights. The Real Meaning of "eye for an eye" God's lessons in peacemaking.

Last time, we discussed lashon ha-ra (evil tongue, i.e., gossip, slander and divisiveness) and how it is one of the latter-day plagues among God’s people.

In this excursus, we will explore a related principle taught in Torah by Yeshua and His apostles: proportionality. A number of Christians often consider “eye for an eye and tooth for tooth” an example of the “old covenant” not to live by anymore and quote Yeshua to that effect.

Rather, we’ll see that “eye for an eye” is a Bible parabolic idiom teaching proportionality. The point of justice is to restore the offender to the community, not extract a pound of flesh.

Categories
Apostolic Writings Discussions

Luke 21:25-28: Sign and sound of the coming of the Son of Man

Jeff

Continuing our study of Yeshua’s “apocalyptic discourse” in Luke 21, Matthew 24-25 and Mark 13, this time we focus on the phrase “sign of the Son of Man.”

The Exodus from Egypt came before God gave the Law at Sinai. Israel was given freedom from slavery before they learned His law.

Categories
Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings

Luke 21:5-38: When will the sun, moon, stars darken and Son of Man arrive on a cloud?

Jeff

We don’t want the Day of the LORD to arrive because of its sadly necessary turmoil, yet we hope for it. The main occupants of the heavens — sun, moon and stars — are going to appear dim and dark. It’s almost the reverse of Genesis 1. This is not going to be a good time. Yet, it’s dread and hope, wrapped in one.

Categories
Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings

2nd Kings 2: Elisha’s life foreshadows Peter’s

Daniel Agee

Did you realize that the ministry of the apostle Peter was prophesied in Scripture? Just as Eliyahu (Elijah) has a New Testament equivalent in Yokhanan (John the Baptist), Elisha also has a New Testament equivalent: Peter.

Categories
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.

Categories
Apostolic Writings Discussions

Birth pangs of the coming of Messiah (Luke 21:5–38)

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.

Categories
Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Discussions Unleavened Bread

Those who trust the Messiah become sincerely, truly ‘unleavened’

A digital graphic design featuring a symbolic scene inspired by the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The image includes a glowing loaf of unleavened bread, illuminated by soft golden light, symbolizing sincerity and truth. In the background, and a brown cross behind it. To the right the words "The Feast of Unleavened Bread: Sincerity and truth."

Is the Feast of Unleavened Bread all about “getting sin of your life”? Is that the only message here? I’d submit to you that there’s much more. It is where the Father, the Creator, has placed you. He has placed you in the world, in the place where He wants you to be. It’s not just the “bread of affliction” but also the “bread of hope.”

We are to be “unleavened” — clear, transparent and easy to see, i.e., not “actors” a.k.a. hypocrites. And the community we worship in is also supposed to be clear, transparent and easy to understand in all matters of our lives.