The approved, the qualified

32/40 Elul 28

There is a lot of futile talk these days in Christian circles towards the classification of Christians. Several years ago a presbyter of a christian organisation died. Before his death, he fell out of grace with the Chief pastor. Be reminded that the Chief pastor in this case does not refer to our Lord Jesus Christ, but rather the head of the organisation where this man belonged to. We heard the story that this pastor paid to have him taken to so-called „big men of God” around the world. None of them was having the power to have him healed. Then he died.

The pastor started narrating how he was not walking with the Lord while still alive. He gave allusions to how he talked with him to amend his ways and have the right relationship with the Lord, or words to that effect. Nearly everyone I knew at that time within the organisation agreed with the pastor and they parroted what he said whether rightly or wrongly. If we assume that this pastor actually said what was reported of him, we could then ask if this is the right mindset or not. Does it agree with the mind of Christ? Later on it became a doctrine in that organisation that if you, as a christian, are sick of any type of disease then it is as a result that you are not walking with the Lord. But how should this madness be dealt with?

James 5:¹¹ Lo, we call happy those who are enduring; you heard the endurance of Job and you have percieved the consummation of the Lord, that very compassionate is the Lord, and pitying.

You must have seen Christians suffering around you, either physically, spiritually or both, and in certain instances they do not have any explanations for their conditions. And neither you. Lest we jump into conclusions there are several reasons why Christians are tried. Whatever the case s/he who have endured trial becomes approved; hence s/he is [called] happy.There is no such thing as someone either exclusively having it fine or under trial for the rest of their lives, but these are like passing through peaks and troughs, walking on the mountain and sometimes down in the valley. For those who have experienced both there is no need to introduce them to atmospheric conditions prevailing in those places. „On the mountain and in the valley, on the land and in the sea, the Lord is the portion ... „ of his beloved, goes the song. And make no mistakes, there would be trials. It is one of our promises as followers of the Christ. And if you are not having any trials, I have no good news for you. You are simply not walking according to the Anointed. But why do trials come?

It is good that trials come, because they make us know the depth of our own hearts. You may say that God knows how we are going to react to trials, so why does He still allow it to happen? Do you mean to say that what God knows should not come into material existence? How would it otherwise be plain to you? How would you know the depths of your heart? It is in those circumstances that you would be able to see how much you love God or how much you are lagging behind? Trials might become for us ’writing on the wall’ that „We are weighed and are found wanting.” Even with such a language the righteous stands upright, shakes himself from the dust, repents and moves on in the grace of the Anointed Lord. The believer, in such situation, learns not to depend on the „arm of flesh”.

There are germs in our souls, from which we should be purified. They are in various forms. They may be in the form of what we desire and are lusting for, deep down within us. They may be greater than God, in the subjective sense, that we do not even know. Hence they become idols, graven images. And not knowing what is in our souls, we would even make staunch confession of the name of Jesus, not because we are false, but because we do not have absolute control over the reins of our lives. God allows those things to be brought to surface, so that we have some understanding and bow down before Him in the name of the Christ.

Abraham was tried, and he did not fail. He endured in his trial. And he was rewarded for standing the trial. Job was tried. His was very severe and we have some serious lessons to learn from what he endured. He was a man who walked with God. He was flawless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil. Satan, the Adversary seemed to have singled Job out. Why? Because he was upright. Simple and straightforward. Because of Job’s flawlessness Satan asked for him to be tried. Satan got his request. Job was tried. In many ways, not only Job suffered in the trials. His possessions were destroyed, his children died, as well as all his cattles. Everything he had was gone within what would be the „twinkling of the the eye”. All that happened because of a righteous man. So when you see someone died or something destroyed, it is not necessarily because of sin, but the opposite. When people die or things destroyed, we always grumble like atheists, who take God, who does not exist in their rhetorics, responsible for all calamities. And this is the point. You do not know why many things happen the way they do, unless revealed to you. Every answer belongs to God, and He does not owe you any explanation. You may think He does, but you cannot take Him to court. You are not His counsellor or adviser.

Most modern Christians would have dubbed Job a curse from God. In fact they may have said Job suffered because he did not walk with God and was living in sin. There is no reference that Job was living in sin. The opposite is what is recorded about him. He was a God-fearing associate who shuns evil. Modern Christianity, on the way of destruction, have no understanding how someone walking with God could be undergoing such difficult times. The fact is that modern Christianity is creating its god in its own image. Modern Christianity seeks for a god to command, who does all that it requests, at the push of the button, in the magical name of Christ. It tries to make an errand boy out of God and His Christ.

When you, as a follower of the Christ, are undergoing such trials, because Satan asked for you as the righteous of God, things you have possessed and built for many years may begin to fall apart like a house of cards. Remember that you bring nothing to this world – not even your children – and you take nothing with you when you die. You came naked, so also when you go. In trials strive to become cleaner and be at peace with the Father Eloah. We also do have a record of Satan asking for the first disciples of our Lord.

Lk 22:³¹ Now the Lord said, "Simon, Simon, lo! Satan claims you men, to sift you as grain. ³² Yet I prayed concerning you, that your faith may not be defaulting. And once you turn back, establish your brethren."

In the case of Job and that of Peter it is clear that Satan was at his business of accusation. He is the Accuser of the brethren. He asks, he claims, he makes intercessions before God day and night to get you, the righteous (Rev.12:10), but we have our High-Priest, Jesus making intercessions for us. And since our Lord is the High-Priest we are priests. We pray and make intercessions as well. We should not allow the voice of our Adversary to be heard, but rather our voices.

As a summary, trials happen because of what we are, and that may be due to sins within us, or because we are the redeemed of the Lord, the righteous of God in Christ Jesus. I know it is both. Stand firm in the Lord and endure whatever it is that comes your way till the end, in order to enter into His rest.

James 1:¹² Happy is the man who is enduring trial, for, becoming qualified, he will be obtaining the wreath of life, which He promises to those loving Him.

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

6 Av 32/40

I recently heard a message – through an audio CD of a friend who visited me after several years – by a pastor-teacher (I can’t remember exactly what his title is) of a popular charismatic Christian circle. I have to admit, there are certain points for which I deem him to have things right. And there are few on which I think he was off the track. It is one of these vital few I would hereby want to address briefly.

The title above could have suggested that this is all going to be about the Islamic religion. On the contrary it is about a fact, the importance of which has been lost on modern, Hellenistic Christianity. It is about the name Allah. The speaker – mentioned above - was very unfair in his rhetoric about the name. He even misrepresents what he does not know, making a railing accusation regarding it. And I quite understand the premises from which he is coming. That is probably what he has learnt from childhood.

To be sure the name Allah brings a lot of confusion for many Christians of today, since, in the foremost, they lack the basic background required for its understanding. Secondly, Allah cannot be digressed from the Islamic religion. And rightly so. Thirdly, knowing that our Western political landscape is making an enemy of Islam, whether deceitfully or justified, majority of the people have bought into this, Christians included, through the so-called Christian world. But references to Allah in the Hebrew Bible may become very disturbing after all if they would understand language differences. For clarification sake, there are quite some words transliterated as God in the Bible, one of which is Eloah in Hebrew (Elahh in Chaldean). We would dare not go into others, so as not to step beyond our scope.

In Chaldean language Eloah would originally be Elahh as already mentioned.The plural is Elohim (in Hebrew) and Elahhin in the Chaldean. This eastern version of the language, which became Eastern Aramaic and then Arabic, is the reason why Islam says the name of God is Allah'; the double h becoming h' as an aspirant. In the context of Islam, the name Allah, used in the Qur'an, seems to have a linguistic cognate relationship with the Hebrew word "Eloah (אלוה)". If this point is disputable, it could easily be said that nations will always call the Supreme Deity by a name which carries that connotation in their language, and it does not make any difference if the language is English, Hebrew, Chaldean, Aramaic or Arabic. The name of the Supreme Deity is Allah in Arabic. In the verses below you will find original renderings of God in Hebrew and Chaldean for anyone to verify. The Chaldean sounds closest to the Arabic. There are certain books of the Bible which use the name frequently in the form we are hereby discussing. Such books are Ezra-Nehemiah and Daniel, and few instances could be found in Deuteronomy (for the first occurrence), Job, Chronicles, Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah and Habakkuk.

Deut 32:15 When Yeshurun grew stout and kicked (you will be stout, thick and burly), then he abandoned Eloah Who had made him and disgraced the Rock of his salvation.

Deut 32:17 They sacrificed to demons, not Eloah, to elohim--they had not known them before--to new ones that came from nearby; your fathers were not horrified by them.

2Chr 32:15 `And, now, let not Hezekiah lift you up, nor persuade you thus, nor give credence to him, for no elohim of any nation and kingdom is able to deliver his people from my hand, and from the hand of my fathers: also, surely your Eloah does not deliver you from my hand!'

Ezr 4:24 Then the work on the House of Eloah in Jerusalem was halted. And it remained halted until the year two of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Ezr 5:1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo, prophesied to the Judeans in Judah and in Jerusalem in the name of Eloah of Israel Who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Yeshua son of Yozadak arose and began to rebuild the House of Eloah in Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of Eloah, giving them aid.

Ezr 5:5 Yet the eye of their Eloah was over the grey-haired elders of the Judeans; so they did not make them halt while a report went to Darius; then they would reply with a dispatch about this matter.

Ezr 5:8 Let it become known to the king that we departed to the province of Judah to the great House of Eloah. It is being rebuilt of dressed stone and timber placed in the sidewalls. This work is thoroughly done and prospering under their hands.

Ezr 5:11 This is the rescript of what they replied to us saying: We are the servants of Him Who is Eloah of the heavens and the earth. And we are rebuilding the House that had been built a huge number of years before this, when a great king of Israel built it and completed it. 12 Only because our fathers angered Eloah of the heavens, He granted them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon; and he demolished this House and deported the people to Babylon. 13 But in year one of king Cyrus of Babylon, king Cyrus promulgated a decree to rebuild this House of Eloah. 14 And also the vessels of gold and silver of the House of Eloah that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and had transferred them to the temple in Babylon--king Cyrus removed them from the temple in Babylon, and they were granted to Sheshbazzar; this was the name of him whom he had appointed viceroy. 15 And he said to him: Carry these vessels with you; depart and put them down in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the House of Eloah be rebuilt on its site. 16 Then this Sheshbazzar arrived and laid the foundations of the House of Eloah in Jerusalem. From then on until now it is being rebuilt; but it is not yet accomplished. 17 And now, if it seems good to the king, let a quest be made in the house of depositories of the king there in Babylon to see whether a decree was actually promulgated from king Cyrus to rebuild this House of Eloah in Jerusalem. Then let the king send his decision in this matter to us.

Ezr 6:3 In year one of king Cyrus, king Cyrus promulgated a decree concerning the House of Eloah in Jerusalem: Let the House be rebuilt, a place for sacrificing sacrifices, and its foundations should be retained. Let its height be sixty cubits and its breadth be sixty cubits,

Ezr 6:5 Also, the gold and silver vessels of the House of Eloah should be returned that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and had transferred to Babylon. Let each go back to the temple in Jerusalem to its place; you shall put it down in the House of Eloah.

Ezr 6:7 Leave the viceroy of the Judeans and the greyhaired elders of the Judeans alone for the work on this House of Eloah. Let them rebuild this House of Eloah on its site. 8 So a decree is being promulgated from me as to what you shall do for these grey-haired elders of the Judeans in the rebuilding of this House of Eloah. Out of the king's resources, from the tribute of the province Beyond-the-Stream, disbursement shall be fully granted to these masters, so as not to halt the work. 9 And what is needed, such as young bulls, rams and lambs for ascent offerings to Eloah of the heavens, wheat, salt, turbid wine and oil, according to the word of the priests in Jerusalem, let it be granted to them day by day without fail, 10 so that they may be offering fragrant incense to Eloah of the heavens and be praying for the life of the king and his sons.

Ezr 6:12 May Eloah Who made His Name tabernacle there, overturn any king or people that stretches out his hand to disobey this rescript by harming this House of Eloah in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have promulgated the decree. Let it be carried out thoroughly.

Ezr 6:14 So the grey-haired elders of the Judeans and the Levites were rebuilding and prospering because of the prophecy of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. Thus they rebuilt and completed the work due to the command of Eloah of Israel and due to a decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

Ezr 6:16 The sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites and the rest of the sons of the deportation held the dedication of this House of Eloah with exhilaration.

Ne 9:17 yea, they refuse to hearken, and have not remembered Your wonders that You have done with them, and harden their neck and appoint a head, to turn back to their service, in their rebellion; and You [are] a Eloah of pardons, gracious, and merciful, long-suffering, and abundant in kindness, and have not forsaken them.

Job 3:4 That day! may it be darkness; Let not Eloah from above inquire of it, And let not a light beam shine on it.

Ps 18:31 For is there any Eloah apart from Yahweh? And is there any Rock except our Elohim?

Ps 50:22 Now understand this, you who are forgetting Eloah, Lest I should tear you to pieces, and there be no rescuer.

Ps 139:19 O that You would despatch the wicked, O Eloah, And bloodthirsty men would withdraw from me,

Pr 30:5 Every saying of Eloah is refined; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Isa 44:8 You must not be afraid! And you must not fear! Have I not hitherto announced it to you, and told it? And you are My witnesses. Forsooth, is there an Eloah apart from Me? And no other Rock is there. I fail to know of any.

Dn 2:18 He is charging them to petition for compassions before the Elahh of the heavens concerning this secret; that Daniel and his partners not perish with the remaining wise men of Babylon. 19 Then to Daniel in a vision that night, the secret of the king is revealed. Then Daniel blesses the Elahh of the heavens. 20 Responding is Daniel and saying, "Blessed be the name of Him Who is the Elahh, from the eon and unto the eon, for the wisdom and the mastery, they are His.

Dn 2:23 To Thee, Elahh of my forefathers, am I acclaiming and lauding, that wisdom and mastery Thou dost grant to me. And now Thou dost make known to me that which we petition of Thee; for the king's matter Thou hast made known to us."

Dn 2:28 Actually, the Elahh in the heavens reveals secrets, and He makes known to king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. O king, live for the eon! Your dream, even the visions of your head on your bed; it is this:

Dn 2:37 "You, O king, are king of kings, seeing that the Elahh of the heavens grants a safeguarded kingdom to you, and might and honor and esteem.

Dn 2:44 "In their days, that is, of these kings, the Elahh of the heavens will set up a kingdom that for the eons shall not come to harm. His kingdom shall not be left to another people. It will pulverize and terminate all these kingdoms, and it shall be confirmed for the eons. 45 "Forasmuch as you perceived that a stone severs itself from a mountain range, that is, not by hands, and it pulverizes the iron, the copper, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great Elahh makes known to the king what shall occur after this. Certain is the dream and faithful its interpretation."

Dn 2:47 Answering is the king to Daniel and saying, "In verity, your Elahh, He is the Elahh of elohim, Lord of kings, and only Revealer of hidden secrets, seeing that you can reveal this secret."

Dn 3:12 Actually, the Jewish masters whom you assigned over the administration of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego--these masters did not act on your decree, O king: Your elahhin they are not serving, the golden image that you set up they are not worshipping."

Dn 3:14 Responding is Nebuchadnezzar and saying to them, "Is it intentional, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you are not actually serving my elahhin, the golden image that I set up you are not worshiping? 15 Actually, should you now be ready, then, as soon as you are hearing the sound of the horn, the pipe, the lyre, the sambuke, the psalteries--all sorts of music in concert--you shall fall down and worship the golden image that I made. And should you not be ready, you know that if you are not worshiping, in the same hour shall you be heaved into the midst of the glowing, flaming furnace. And who is the elahh that will deliver you from my hands?"

Dn 3:17 Should it actually happen, our Elahh in the heavens, Whom we are serving, can deliver us from the glowing, flaming furnace; and from your hand, O king, will He deliver us.

Dn 4:2 The signs and the amazing deeds that the Supreme Elahh does with me, it is seemly before me to disclose to you:

Dn 4:8 Further, last of all, Daniel comes in before me, whose name is Belteshazzar, after the name of my elahh. Now, seeing that the spirit of the holy Elohim (Elahhin) is in him, I state the dream before him also:

Dn 5:2 When tasting the turbid wine, Belshazzar says to bring hither the gold and silver vessels of the house of Elahh which his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, that they may drink from them--the king and his grandees, his consorts and his concubines. 3 Then they bring hither the gold and silver vessels which they had taken from the temple, the house of the Elahh in Jerusalem. And they drink from them--the king and his grandees, his consorts and his concubines.

Dn 5:18 "You, O king! The Supreme Elahh granted the kingdom and majesty and esteem and honor to Nebuchadnezzar your grandfather.

Dn 5:21 From the sons of mortals was he shoved, his heart was made equal to an animal's and with the wild donkeys was his abode. Herbage are they feeding to him, as oxen, and by the night mist of the heavens was his frame streaked, till he knew that the Supreme Elahh is in authority in the kingdom of mortals, and whom He is willing is He setting up over it. 22 Yet you, his grandson Belshazzar, you abase not your heart in Eloah's sight, forasmuch as all this you know. 23 Over the Lord, the Eloah of the heavens, you exalt yourself; the vessels of His house they bring hither before you; you and your grandees, your consorts and your concubines are drinking turbid wine from them. Also elohim (elahhin) of silver, gold, copper, iron, wood, and stone who are not perceiving and not hearing and not knowing, these you laud, yet the Elahh in Whose hand is your breath, and for Whom are all your paths, Him you do not honor.

Dn 5:26 and this is the interpretation of the matter: MNA, an accounting has the Elahh made of your kingdom and He balances it;

Dn 6:5 Then these masters are saying, "We will not find any pretext against this Daniel, unless in the edict of his Elahh we find it against him."

Dn 6:7 Counseling are all--the chancellors of the kingdom, the prefects and satraps, the retinue and the viceroys--to set up a royal statute and to issue a mighty interdict that everyone who is petitioning a petition from anyone--whether elahh or mortal--for thirty days, except only from you, O king, shall be heaved into the vault of the lions.

Dn 6:10 When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house. Now the windows were opened for him in his upper chamber toward Jerusalem. Thus at stated times, thrice in the day, is he kneeling on his knees and praying and acclaiming before his Elahh just as formerly--this he is doing. 11 Then these masters foregather and find Daniel petitioning and supplicating before his Elahh.

Dn 6:13 Then they respond and are saying before the king, "Daniel, who is of the sons of the deportation of Judah, does not promulgate for you, O king, the decree, the interdict that you signed: At stated times, thrice in the day, he is petitioning his petitions before his Elahh."

Dn 6:16 Then the king says the word, and they bring hither Daniel and heave him into the vault of the lions. Calling is the king to Daniel and saying, "Your Elahh, Whom you are serving in abidance, He will deliver you!"

Dn 6:18 Then the king departs to his palace and remains in his house, fasting. Diversions are not brought before him, even though his sleep flees from him. Yet Elahh closes the mouths of the lions and they do not harm Daniel.

Dn 6:20 In a fluster he departs to the vault of the lions, and, as he is near the vault, he cries out to Daniel in a staunch voice. Calling is the king to Daniel and saying, "Daniel, servant of the living Elahh, your Elahh Whom you are serving in abidance, He could deliver you from the mouths of the lions?"

Dn 6:22 My Elahh sent His messenger, and he closed the mouths of the lions that they could not harm me; forasmuch as before Him it is found that I am purged; and indeed, also before you, O king, no harm have I done." 23 Then the king feels enormously relieved, and as to Daniel he says to hoist him from the vault. When Daniel is hoisted from the vault, no harm at all is found in him, seeing that he believes in his Elahh.

Dn 6:26 From before me is promulgated this decree: In every authority of my kingdom be they stirred and terrified before Daniel's Elahh: He is the living Elahh and is set up for the eons. His kingdom shall not come to harm and His jurisdiction is till the terminus.

Dn 11:37 Concerning the Elohim (Elahhin) of his forefathers he shall not understand, nor concerning the coveting of wives, nor concerning any eloah shall he understand; for he shall magnify himself over all.

Dn 11:38 Yet the eloah of the strong in his post shall he glorify: An eloah whom his forefathers did not know, he will glorify with gold, silver, precious stones and coveted treasures.

Hab 1:11 Then he will pass on as a wind, and he shall trespass and be guilty. This, his vigor, becomes his eloah.

Hab 1:12 Are You not from aforetime, Yahweh? My Eloah, my Holy One, You shalt not die. Yahweh, for judgment do You place him, and, O Rock, for correction, You do found him.

Hab 3:3 Eloah is coming from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. {interlude} His splendor covers the heavens, and His praise fills the earth.

Thoughts on Prayer

14 Sivan 32/40

Different people have provided several definitions of prayer, but there are two things that stands out in defining what a prayer is. These are 1.) asking a favour; earnest request or entreaty (supplication, intercession, petition) and 2.) confession, thanksgiving and praising.

Prayer directed to God will fall into any of the these categories. Many believers do not know any longer the essence of prayer. They have asked "if God knows everything, then there is no need to pray, since prayer would not change anything in God." We need to clarify this statement in few steps. Yes, it is true God knows everything. But does this mean that what God knows should not be acted on, just because He knows it? God knew how Abraham was going to react to His demand for his son Issac, but that did not mean Abraham should not have acted on it, and later for God to intervene. What God knew about Abraham became obvious to Abraham himself, and later became a good example of faith in God. God created us in order to have fellowship with us, but through the activities of one of His creatures we fell into sin, and trangress against His very nature of love. One of the attributes of this fellowship with God is prayer in the forms defined previously. Majority of His creation are making prayers, and that whether wrongly or rightly, whether to a false god or to Him, the only True God - the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the characteristics of Satan, a false god - a fallen archangel - is to make accusations or wrong prayers against those who are walking with and living their lives in God. That is why Satan is the Accuser (Job 1:6-2:13; Zech.3:1-3; Rev.12:10). Now, accusations may be positive or negative, but it seems that in the current era the word carries a negative tune. If someone accuses me for wrongdoing when I have actually done it, then s/he is simply stating a fact, to be either repented of or judged for. What is not true is a false accusation - accusing someone for something not done. False accusation might also be to make a case against someone, not for what they have or not done, or charging them with crimes. It may be simply due to pathological hatred or like when we talk against a particular race thinking that ours is better, if not far better. How often we fall into all this! To do all this, we sometimes first break the 9th and 10th commandments, thus making ourselves become accusers like Satan.

Ex 20:16 You shall not answer against your associate with false testimony. 17 You shall not covet the house of your associate. You shall not covet the wife of your associate, his field, his servant or his maidservant, his bull, his donkey or anything which is your associate's.

There was a case when a brother sinned against another, and instead of going to the brother that sinned the case was reported to a pastor, who decided what should happen. This self-appointed pastor, having not the Spirit, made matters worse by various complications, so that the brother wronged was angry about the outcome. Does this sound familiar? This is very common in most churches that have deemed self-appointed pastors to be God-assistants, if not gods. No openness is allowed again in most churches that should rather be called amusement parks. We have no obligation to any pastor if there is a grudge between two brothers. Concerned brothers should amend things with themselves. If and when no agreement is reached should they proceed by inviting a witness. This witness does not need to be a pastor. Any committed brother would do.

Back to the main. We are not to be false accusers of our brothers or other people. I have heard people pretending to pray, and they were full of what other people are doing wrongly which they have not told those people before. Instead they have brought the matter before the Lord in prayer. While this could not be said to be prayer, it is rather gossip or backbiting in prayer form. The best thing for the people who have wronged you is to know that they have done so. This is why we have been told to "snatch people out of the fire." Prayer is when I am interceding on behalf of someone for their repentance and salvation, not what bad things they are doing. We are not to partake in railing accusations or discussions partaining to other people's sins. Or else we partake with the Devil of his accusations.

The real thing about prayer is that since Satan accuses us before the throne of God (Rev.12:10), we should rather raise up our voices in thanksgiving, praise, confession of Him, supplication and earnest requests. Why should Satan's voice only be heard, rather than ours? He has no ground at the throne of God. But we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and we have access to God through Christ, the Lamb of God. If we would not direct our prayers to God in fellowship, then there is one that does a worse job. His accusations may be in various ways. For example he demanded that YHVH take away His hand from Job. He got it. (The Angel of) YHVH asks YHVH to rebuke Satan (Zech.3:1). I have it on good authority that we should "submit yourselves therefore to God, yet resist the Adversary and he will flee from you" (Jam.4:7). The Adversary moves about seeking whom he may devour. No one can bind him, as is often prayed in certain circles. This, in itself, is at best a blaspheme and a waste of time. It is an angel that binds the dragon, that old Serpent, and puts him in prison at the beginning of the millenium reign of Christ on earth from Jerusalem (Rev.19:1-2). Our Lord, in his words to Simon Peter said "Simon, Simon, lo! Satan claims you men, to sift you as grain. Yet I besought concerning you, that your faith may not be defaulting. And once you turn back, establish your brethren." (Lk 22:31-32) The Adversary is bent on a destructive work ever since his original sin. We should not assist him in this. We should raise our voices to our Father and God to act against the forces of darkness of this age and against all spiritual wickedness in the high places. We have been ordained kingly priests of the Most High under the high-priesthood of Jesus Christ into the order of Melchizedek to offer thanksgiving, praises, confession, intercede for our fellow-slaves and brothers, poeple around us and our associates (neighbours). As priests we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. We are to teach the testimony of our high-priest to the nations of the world. In doing all this we are all-the-more neither working for nor with Satan, his angels and his demons, who are progeny of fallen angels.

If you love God you would want to be in fellowship with Him and His saints, His people. There is a portrayal of the essence of this fellowship given in the book of Revelations. It is the acceptance of the prefumes (or odours) by the Lord GOD Almighty through Jesus the Christ.
Rev.5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

Re 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer [it] with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, [which came] with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Nothing could be more comforting than that our prayers have ascended before God as a memorial. Brethren, let us not loose heart in praying, in lifting up our voices to our God in petition, intercession, thanksgiving and praise through him who bought and brought us back to God by his blood. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. Amen and Amen.

Pentecost and Appointed Feasts of YHVH

12 Sivan 32/40

It has been said on many occassions and in various places that "we, the followers of the Christ, do not live in the Old Testament." While this statement is true, it still appears to me that majority of people saying this do not have a clue as to what they mean by it. What is the Old Testament? Is it the demarcation that has been provided in their Bibles or something less? Could it be something more than all that? Let me give an example for the illustration of such a statement. People say "we do not have to keep any Sabbath" and that "the Christian Sabbath is Sunday. " In these statements there is an appalling antagonism, so say the least. How would another day become a Sabbath while we even do not have to keep any Sabbath?

Such is the error of our modern-day, or should we call it contemporary Christianity. It tries to avoid a truth by introducing an error to be explained away and justified. This is the case with Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks. How many proclaimed Christians understand the source of what they repeatedly celebrate every year? In the first instance, what is Pentecost? Many would readily give an answer that relates to the outpouring of the holy Spirit on disciples as recorded in Acts chapter 2. And rightly so. But is this all about it? This simple answer is very wanting and does not get to the root of the matter. My question rather is if the Spirit was poured on the first disciples, why celebrate it? Is there any injunction in the New Testament to celebrate it yearly?

Some would even say that Paul the apostle on two documented occassions was respectively hurrying to Jerusalem and tarrying at Ephesus for the day of Pentecost (Acts 20:16; 1Cor.16:8). Good! If Paul attitude sanctions the keeping of Pentecost we should then be able to say the same for some other aspects of life modern Christianity has abandoned and discarded. In Acts 16:13 Paul and his companions were seeking a place of prayer on that day of the Sabbath. In Acts 27:8 they even kept the Fast of the seventh month (alas, 7th month is not July). This fast is YHVH's prescription for the Sabbath of Sabbaths called the Day of Atonement (Lev.23:26-32) or Yom Kippur. If actions of Paul and the first disciples justified Pentecost and, as we have seen, Sabbath od Sabbaths, where should we place the celebration of the resurrection of the Christ? Is there any injunction to do it, if I may ask, from the New Testament?

I have asked and I am sking these questions because of the useless and nonsensical utterances encountered in discussions with certain people who have been lured into the religion called philosophy. I wish they would sit right and see that what is called New Testament writings cannot be removed far away from the Old one. Both are intertwinned. The main difference is the covenant as portrayed in sacrifices. The laws of YHVH are intact. His commandments are still a sign that we love Him and the brotherhood. Hence His feasts are still in place. "So then, there remains a sabbatismos for the people of God." There is the injunction which says "keep my sabbaths." Major feasts are Passover (and Unleavened Bread) within which lies the Wave Sheaf, which is actually the resurrection, with the Lord's Supper now preceding the Passover. It is actually from the Wave Sheaf that 50 days are counted to Pentecost, the feast of Weeks. Finally we have Tabernacles in the 7th month, not of this age, but as instituted naturally and biblically. Hence the three main feasts are Passover, Weeks and Tabernacles, besides which we have the weekly Sabbaths and the New Moons. What point defines these feasts? How do we get to knowing their actual dates? "Thou hast made the moon appointed for times, The sun that knows its setting" (Ps.104:19) is like saying the moon is the determinant factor for appointed feasts, the festivals. Note that the Sacred calendar is not the same as Gregorian of the common era. The importance of the New Moon by conjunction in the biblical calendar cannot be overstated. This is even not identical with the first crescent moon, wrongly called the new moon, and postponement used in modern-day Judaism. Paul makes allusions to these in his letter to the Colossians (2:16-17). "Therefore do not let any man judge you in questions of eating and drinking or with regard to a festival (feast) or a new moon or a sabbath, which are a shadow of things to come, of which the substance is the Christ" is not a condemnation of the fact that Colossians were celebrating, but that they should not allow themselves to be talked out of it by Gnostic teachers. The connection seems to be between substance and shadow. Without a substance there cannot be a shadow. Hence these celebrations are a reflection of the Christ himself. It is said somewhere that "...Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast..." Keeping the feast is an injuction to something. It is not therefore we kept the feast. It is continuous tense. Despite that we have this as the backgound of our faith, we still keep this feast at the appointed time, every year. It is also recorded in Acts 20:6 "And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days." Could this be that the early disciples kept the days of unleavened bread? In Hebrew Scriptures it is easy to see how the Passover and Unleavened bread are knit together. They form a part of what YHVH calls "...My appointed seasons" (Lev.23:2).

It would be great if believers in Christ would ask the calculation point of all their festivities. Could we behave there is no common ground between us and historically established churches only to grant them the authority to decide the calcualtion of our festivities, such as Pentecost or Resurrection (Wave Sheaf)? How would we know if we are led into the forest? Is there any excuse? Should we become "blind followers of the blind"?

Let the records be straight. We cannot have any Wave Sheaf or Pentecost without an understanding of the holy calendar as it relates to the plan of salvation which is in total agreement with natural harvest periods of the Northern hemisphere. To keep the feasts, new moons and sabbaths is keeping the word (commandments) of God and the testimony (faith) of Jesus, which deem us saints, as mentioned in the book of Revelations (1:2, 9; 12:17; 14:12, 19:10; 20:4). Faith in God manifests itself in obedience to Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Scroll or Book of Life

20 Iyar 32/40

There are various books or scrolls mentioned in the Bible, such as the book of the Law either of YHVH, or of Elohim, or of Moses, of the covenant, of the wars of YHVH, of Jasher (the Upright), of the acts of Solomon, of the chronicles of the kings of Israel, of the chronicles of the kings of Judah, of the kings, of the records and of the purchase. All this are written by men. There is one, with distinctive characteristic, called the book of life. YHVH, the Lamb seems to have been its only author. This book may also be called the book of the living, because the names of all who are alive unto God are recorded therein.

The first, and should we say indirect reference to it is found in Moses, when the children of Israel through the leadership of Aaron casted a golden calf. Moses had already broken the table of ten words, grinded the calf until it was pulverized; he winnowed it upon the surface of the water and made the sons of Israel drink it. He called unto those who are for YHVH to rally around him, and those he caused to slaughter about three thousand men, by the command of YHVH. Moses then went back to the YHVH, to perhaps make atonement for the sin of the rest. On arriving he started interceeding that YHVH should forgive their sins or else blot his name from the book which he had written (Ex.32:17-30). It is from this intercession that YHVH answered Moses, telling him that he is responsible for wiping away those who have sinned against him from his book. Again YHVH is the author of this scroll. He is fully in charge. He dictates what is written in other books, but this one he writes by himself or other heavenly being. It is his possession, hence he calls it „...My book”, while other call it „...Your book.”

Ex 32:³² And now, if You should bear their sin, bear it. Yet if not, wipe me, I pray, from Your scroll which You have written. ³³ Yahweh said to Moses: Anyone who has sinned against Me, I shall wipe him from My scroll.

While names are surely written in this book some Psalms tend to portray that acts are recorded as well. Tears of the Psalmist are recorded. In other places certain Psalmists are looking forward to their vindication by the hand of YHVH to the point they were advising him to blot some individulas out of the book of life. That sounds like becoming a counsellor of YHVH, doesn’t it? One fact is clear however, that this book contains the names of the righteous.

Ps 56:⁸ You Yourself keep number of my wanderings; Do place my tears in Your skin bottle; Are they not recorded in Your scroll?

Ps 69:²⁸ Let them be wiped out from the scroll of life, And let them not be written with the righteous.

One characteristic of the book is that it contains names of those who will escape the era of distress that is coming upon the whole world. They will escape, not because they cannot do otherwise, but because they have been watching (hence they will be shown the salvation of God (Ps.50:23)) and are keeping the word of his patience and endurance (Rev.3:9-10).

Dan 12:¹ "In that era shall stand up Michael, the great chief, standing over the sons of your people. Then comes to be an era of distress such as has not occurred since there came to be a nation on the earth, till that era. Now in that era your people shall escape--all those found written in the scroll.

Some professing Christians in most of their spare time backbite and gossip about the wrongs others have done, either to them or another. How could we call this the fellowship of the saints? It is better to tell the wrongdoings of others to them personally and first of all, instead of discussing with the unconcerned (third) party at first. You do not even have a right to tell a so-called pastor what others have wrongly done to you. You have to tell them personally and sort things out. Are we still our brothers’ keepers? No other place should be more transparent than the church of God. Do not get confused, attending church services may not qualify you as a follower of the Christ. What if you are already used to it, from your youth, and are only attending to make sure some people see you and consider you still a Christian? What is the motive behind it? Do you even know people you ’fellowship’ with? If you do not, what is the basis of this fellowship. Going to services to sit in pews and listening everytime may be too little and may just be a minute part of what you call fellowship. People in fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ do have fellowship with one another by sharing things they have received and are ben taught of the Father. This is why verses below talks about things related to the kingdom of God. They are in fellowship and enjoy it, because they are edified in their most holy faith.

Mal 3:¹⁴ You say, It is futility to serve Elohim. And what gain is it that we keep His charge, and that we go somberly in view of Yahweh of hosts? ¹⁵ And now we are pronouncing the arrogant happy. Moreover, the doers of wickedness are built up. Moreover, they test Elohim, and are escaping. ¹⁶ Then those that fear Yahweh speak, each to his associate. And Yahweh is attending, and He is hearing. And a memorial scroll is written before Him, of the fearers of Yahweh, and of those reckoning His name.

On an occassion when the Lord Jesus sent out his disciples and gave them authority over the power of Satan and his cohort, they came back rejoicing that evil spirits were subject to them, which is a good thing, but there is something more important, and the Lord made a refernce to it. Rejoicing should not be based on whether spirits are subjected or not to us, but from whether our names are written in the heavens. I guess the Lord is referring to his book once again here.

Lk 10:¹⁹ Lo! I have given you authority to be treading upon serpents and scorpions and over the entire power of the enemy, and nothing shall be injuring you under any circumstances. ²⁰ However, in this be not rejoicing, that the spirits are subject to you, yet be rejoicing that your names are engraven in the heavens."

Paul seems to have a good understanding as to whose name is written in the book of life. They were his fellow workers and servants of God.

Phil 4:³ Yes, I am asking you also, genuine yokefellow, be aiding them, these women who compete together with me in the evangel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the scroll of life.

This is not to say that names are there and fixed forever. It may be altered under the Lord’s jurisdiction. There are and has been some false doctrines among Evangelicals for a long time. One of them is the doctrine of eternal security. The perpetrators of this doctrine wrest Scriptures to give believers a false confidence about their status, even while they delibrately live in sin. This is one of the doctrines that the Lord was against and he blasted it. Read the book of Revelations again to see what I am talking about. „He who conquers” is often appearing in his short message to the churches, just as „he who has an ear,...” Faith is not only a reference point that one could look back at say ’fantastic’. It is continuous and may be broken. Those who break faith may be blotted out of the book of life of the Lamb. Breaking faith may mean a vast majority of things the Lord warns us against. He warns against Nicolaitans (a Gnostic sect since the first century), Balaam and Jezebel (the false prophetic movement), foods offered to idols (communing with the Devil), having his marks on the forehead and right hand ( thinking his way and doing his acts), and the like. It is against these premises that we have to conquer. If we are conquering, we would neither be subjected to the wiles of the Devil or be worshipping him in any way. The evil one is desperately looking for our allegiance at all costs. He would want to give his best to have it, but we have to conquer to make our names stay in the book of life. Remember this book is not a fixed document regarding its content. It may be altered by the author. It is a dynamic document.

Rev 3:⁵ The one who is conquering, he shall be clothed in white garments, and under no circumstances will I be erasing his name outfrom the scroll of life, and I will be avowing his name in front of My Father and sight ofbefore His messengers (angels).

Rev 13:⁴ And they worship the dragon, seeing that it gives authority to the wild beast. And they worship the wild beast, saying, "Who is like the wild beast?" and "Who is able to battle with it?" ⁵ And to it was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. And to it was given authority to do what it wills forty-two months. ⁶ And it opens its mouth intoin blasphemies toward *God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, and those tabernacling in heaven. ⁷ And to it was given to do battle with the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given to it onover every tribe and people and language and nation. ⁸ And all who are dwelling on the earth will be worshiping it, everyone whose name is not written in the scroll of life of the Lambkin slain from the disruption of the world.

Some may argue that this book has been fixed since the disruption of the world. This is not true. The meaning of verses above is that since the disruption of the world the book has been established and been written into on a continuous basis by the Lamb. It is a book which is often opened. It is obvious that names of all partaking of the first resurrection are and will be there. And even after this former resurrection names will still be written into it. It remains also the basis of the second resurrection and the final judging. Anyone whose name is not found in there will die the second death.

Rev 20:¹² And I perceived the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. And the scrolls were opened. And another scroll was opened which is the scroll of life. And the dead were judged by that which is written in the scrolls in accord with their acts.

Rev 20:¹⁵ And if anyone was not found written in the scroll of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.

Rev 21:²⁷ and under no circumstances may anything contaminating, or one who is making an abomination and a lie be entering into it, except those written in the Lambkin's scroll of life.

Do you know whether or not you have your name written in the book or scroll of life? You may be a church-goer, but do you have this useful piece of information? It should be clear as the nose on your face. We should not be saying things like ’you know, we can’t be sure of this’! What then can we be sure of, if not this? How did Paul know that other people’s name are written in the book of life? Where is the surety coming from? Not having this assurance deep down inside you does not mean you have never been born from above, but it may mean you are not living the life of Christ. You may have been conformed to this world and not renewing your mind to know the will of God, both good, well-pleasing and perfect. Are you following someone else’s faith, instead of having yours, gained through the Lord Jesus? If yes, it is time to ask yourself the right questions. Who and what do you believe?

The book of life is real and it is one single document still under compilation by the YHVH called the Lord Jesus Christ. „O that today you would hearken to his voice!” Are you a member of "...the ecclesia of the Firstborn written in the heavens..." (Heb.12:23)?

The Resurrection of the Dead

11 Iyar (Ziv) 32/40

The doctrine about the resurrection is a basic tenet of Christainity. It is mentioned as one of the rudiments, or elementary word, of the Christ (Heb.6:1).Now if we are to press on to maturity we had better have the foundation straightened out. Some have asked the question several times that if after death Christians directly go to heaven what need there is to be resurrected at another time.

In our days teachings on resurrection seem to be one of the least understood, and this may be due to the fact that many believers are preoccupied with their so-called ascension to heaven when they die, while others will go to hell after their death. In fact there is another doctrine of the immortality of the soul imported from Greek philosophy into Christianity, and it has no truth whatsoever from the written Scriptural standpoint. Only God is immortal (1Tim.6:16), He cannot die, and all other creatures, including Jesus the Christ, receive their immortality from Him. Hence no soul is immortal in itself. God can destroy not only the body, but everything of man, his whole life, in the fire. Whichever of these two teachings – ascension into heaven when believers die or immortality of the soul – it came by the misunderstanding of certain passages, such as the following (emphasis mine):

Eccl 12:⁷ And the soil returns to the earth just as it was, And the spirit, it returns to the Elohim (the God), Who gave it.

Here, there is no mention that the spirit goes to heaven or hell. It simply means the spirit is under God’s jurisdiction, whether that be in hell (read hades, pit or grave (see below) or sheol), gehenna, Abraham’s bosom, tartaros, death, paradise or the heavens. Specualtions about which spirirt is where, based on whether one was a Christian or not, is mere futility. By the way there seems to be no consciousness in the spirit of the dead unless granted by God. Our Lord, Jesus committed his spirit into the Father’s hands (Ps.31:5; Lk.23:46). There is no mention of him ascending into heaven until after his resurrection. And hades is nowhere mentioned as the final state. The sea, hades - or the unseen - and death gave out the dead in them and the last two are casted into the lake of fire, which is the second death – a final state. Before this happens hades and death would have poured out the deads in them for judgement (Rev.20:11-15)

Lk 16:²² 'And it came to pass, that the poor man died, and that he was carried away by the messengers to the bosom of Abraham-and the rich man also died, and was buried; ²³ and in the hades having lifted up his eyes, being in torments, he doth see Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom,

This case is rather the contrast of the fate of Lazarus and the rich man. The main theme would rather be the calling of rich people’s attention not to trust in their uncertain riches that perishes with this present age, but instead to do good by opening their eyes to the sufferings of many around them, and extending a bountiful hand to those in need. Afterall there is no such statement as to which of the two belives in God or not. If the places they are confined to are that far away from one another, how could the rich man’s shout have been heard from the other end?

Phil 1:²³ (Yet I am being pressed out of the two, having a *yearning for the solution and to be together with Christ, for it, rather, is much better.) ²⁴ Yet *to be staying in the flesh is more necessary because of you.

Here the Apostle was getting tired of the situation he was in. There was much pressure, within and without and he was contemplating whether to continue his lodging in the body of flesh, or leave it and be at rest, till his resurrection.

Heb 9:²⁶ For then must he often have suffered since the disruption of the world: but now once at the conclusions of the eons hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: ²⁸ So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Another way to say this would be „it is reserved to humans to be dying once, yet after this a judging.” This particular verse cannot and should not be disconnected from others either before or after it. It is saying that our Lord Jesus did not suffer many times since the „ruin” of the world, but altogether once, and that by the sacrifice of himself, just as it has been reserved to humans to die once. After his sufferings a righteous judging was meted out to him in resurrection by his God and Father. This is why „...he is designated son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead” (Rom.9:4).

Mt 27:⁵⁰ Now *Jesus, again _crying with a loud voice, _olets out the spirit. ⁵¹ And lo~! the curtain of the temple is rent intoin two from above to the bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks are rent, ⁵² and the tombs were opened. And many bodies of the oreposing~ saints were roused, ⁵³ and, coming out out of the tombs after His *rousing, they entered into the holy city and are disclosed to many. ⁵⁴ Now the centurion and *those with him who are keeping *Jesus, perceiving the quake and the |occurrences, were tremendously afraid, saying, "Truly this was God's Son!"

The centrepiece again is the Lord Jesus, his death and resurrection, with a demonstration of God’s miraculous power to raise his holy ones and make them appear to many in the holy city of Jerusalem. They were not in their resurrection bodies to ascend to heaven, but lived and died again, awaiting their resurrection as a part of the firstfruits to God. The miracle discussed here could be likened to that which the Lord performed on dead Lazarus (Jn.11:41-45). Scriptures unanimously discuss the former, or first resurrection to be in unison and not in stages, since „we who are alive shall not outstrip those who are put to repose” (1Thess.4:15).

Rev 6:⁹ And when It opens the fifth seal, I perceived underneath the altar the souls of *those who |have been slain~ because of the word of *God and because of the testimony which they had. ¹⁰ And they cry with a loud voice, saying, "Till when, O *Owner, *holy and true, art Thou not judging and avenging our *blood outon *those dwelling on the earth?"

Consciuosness was and may be granted to these fellows and associates. That would mean they were given a form to put on, under the altar. Where were they reposing? It may sometimes seem as if everything happening in spirit are taking place in heaven, but that is not true. These souls were not flying all over the place. They were told to be resting further till their number be completed. In order words, it is like saying ’Folks, I am listening. Enrollment is not completed yet. Have patience, for you are mine, and rest still for a while.’

It is in the light of the above that the biblical doctrine of resurrections will be well understood. Let us however remember that Sadducees believe neither the resurrrection nor angels, but Pharisees do. The first disciples of our Lord were dealt with many times due to their proclamation of the Master and resurrection in his name. It was and is still the hope of the Israel of God (Acts 26:1-23). It is an apostolic message, the hope of God’s glory to be revealed through our Lord. It is present in all of the history of the people of God, the church of God.

Our Lord in his earthly ministry made clear statements about the resurrection and the characteristics of its participants. The fact about resurrection has nothing to do with what or not you believe. Still for us in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is central to our kerügma, our proclamation. It is in Christ Jesus that the resurrection has validity. You can find mentions of it in Moses, Job, Psalms and Isaiah. However, there is a particular group of creatures called Nephilim and Rephaim, who will not rise (Is.26:13-14; Job 26:5; Ps.88:10) . Hence the good news preached by the Christ and the Apostles cannot be separated from the resurrection of the dead. That is why it is one of the tenets or basics of the biblical religion. If not, then there would not have been need for Paul to be discussing its importance to the extent that he argued with those who were in errors and claiming the resurrection is already past.

2Ti 2:¹⁸ Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

1Cor 15:¹² Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: ¹⁴ And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain. ¹⁵ Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. ¹⁶ For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: ¹⁷ And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins. ¹⁸ Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. ²⁰ But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept. ²¹ For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³ But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. ²⁴ Then [cometh] the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

1Pt 1:³ Blessed be the God and Father of our *Lord Jesus Christ, *Who, according to His vast *mercy, regenerates us into a living expectation, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ outfrom among the dead,

Acts 4:² Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

Acts 17:¹⁸ Now some of the Epicurean as well as Stoic philosophers parleyed with him, and some said, "Whatever may this *rook be wanting to say?" Yet *others, "He seems to be an announcer of strange demons," seeing that he brought them the evangel of Jesus and the resurrection.

Acts 24:¹⁴ 'And I confess this to thee, that, according to the way that they call a sect, so serve I the God of the fathers, believing all things that in the law and the prophets have been written, ¹⁵ having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, that there is about to be a resurrection of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous; ¹⁶ and in this I do exercise myself, to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always.

Acts 24:²¹ except concerning this one voice, in which I cried, standing among them - Concerning a resurrection of the dead I am judged to-day by you.'

Mk 12:²³ in the resurrection, then, whenever they may rise, of which of them shall she be wife - for the seven had her as wife?^{' 24} And Jesus answering said to them, 'Do ye not because of this go astray, not knowing the Writings, nor the power of God? ²⁵ for when they may rise out of the dead, they neither marry nor are they given in marriage, but are as messengers who are in the heavens.

Lk 20:³³ Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife. ³⁴ And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: ³⁵ But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: ³⁶ Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

While majority of passages above are discussing the fact of the resurrection and linking it with the Wave Sheaf, which is the Lord Jesus himself (Lev.23:9-14; Josh.5:10-12; Jn.20:1, 16-18) the verse below is talking about the same power of the resurrection as Paul would have wanted it to be manifested in him. He wanted to know Christ and that power of the resurrection, so that in a way, if possible, he may attain, while still alive, to that state. This is not to say that it is the only way in which God demonstrates His power. A foretaste of this „powers of the age to come” or, if you like, of the resurrection (Heb.6:5) was demonstrated many times through fellow-servants such as EliYah the Tishbite (1Kings 18:11-12), Enoch (Gen.5:24), Philip the Evangelist (Acts 8:38-39), the Lord and the Apostles (John 6:16-22).

Phil 3:¹⁰ That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; ¹¹ If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

The idea portrayed here is not that far from living the resurrected life to which we are called, as a shadow of the life to come, a reflection of the reality in Christ. This is likened to baptism (read immersion), which has the symbolism and reality of the likeness of the Lord’s death (past tense) and resurrection (present), for those who are answering with a good conscience to God’s calling in their lives.

Ro 6:⁴ we were buried together, then, with him through the baptism to the death, that even as Christ was raised up out of the dead through the glory of the Father, so also we in newness of life might walk. ⁵ For, if we have become planted together to the likeness of his death, so also we shall be of the resurrection; ⁶ this knowing, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of the sin may be made useless, for our no longer serving the sin;

And for those who are living by „carrying their „cross” everyday, following our Lord, their resurrection, the former one, is separated from the general or second resurrection. It is affirmed that „the wicked (lawless) shall not rise (stand) in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righetous” (Ps.2:5). The former resurrection is also referred to as the resurrection of the just, the resurrection of life, or a better resurrection. We have seen the sequence in 1Cor.5:22 to be of 3 stages. Christ is the Wave Sheaf, his holy ones the firstfruits and then the rest. Christ’s resurrection had taken place. He can never die again, he is alive forevermore. That of the holy ones is yet to come in their due time. We are hereby not getting into any parallel resurrections (of life and of judging) which may be taking place within the first resurrection itself.

Jn 5:²⁸ Marvel not at this, for coming is the hour in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, ²⁹ and those who do good shall go out into a resurrection of life, yet those who commit bad things, into a resurrection of judging.

Some of the descriptions of the former resurrection are found below.

Hb 11:³⁵ Women received their dead resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection

Lk 14:¹³ But, whenever you may be making a reception, invite the poor, the cripples, the lame, the blind, ¹⁴ and happy will you be, for they have nothing to repay you, for it will be repaid you in the resurrection of the just."

Some are asking what the criteria is for participating in the first resurrection. It has a simple answer. It is the saints who will take part in the first resurrection, those who have been born from above, not of bloods (by parental heritage) nor the will of man, nor of flesh, but of God; those who obey and do the commandments (word) of God and the faith (testimony) of Jesus, to the extent that they are separated from this world in what they think, do and say (have refused and do not have the mark of the beast on their foreheads or hands), and, for that purpose, are persecuted, sometimes, till death. There is no talk of being born in a Christian home or family, or whether your parents are preachers or ministers. The prerequisite is not whether or not you have been to bible school. It has nothing to do with your PhD or DivD in biblical studies. It is not whether or not someone ’coerced’ you to accept the Christ, and whether or not you arrived first after the ’altar call’.

Let us look into another set of verses in 1Thess.4:13-18, from which certain things will be clear. .

¹³ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. ¹⁵ For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remaining unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷ Then we which are alive [and] remaining shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

As already mentioned previously, the former resurrection will not take place in stages, and nothing specifies that those who participate would have been killed or beheaded. Paul was expecting those who are still alive and in Christ Jesus at his coming to participate as well. This resurrection will be for those in the Lord, whether asleep (naturally dead or killed in any form for his testimony) or alive till that coming. Those whose name are written in the book oflife of the Lamb will rise. Such people will include Abraham, Noah, Moses, Elisha, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Peter, James the brother of John, John, Paul, Stephen and James the brother of the Lord, just to name a few, whether they have died naturally like Moses or Abraham, or killed orbeheaded like Stephen and James the brother of John. One common thing that could be seen in all the cases is that they were persecuted in one form or the other, either severely or gently.

Re 20:⁴ And I perceived thrones, and they are seated on them, and judgment was granted to them. And the souls of *those executed because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of *God, and those who do not worship the wild beast or its *image, and did not get the emblem on their *forehead and on their *hand--they also live and reign with *Christ a thousand years. ⁵ (The rest of the dead do not live until the thousand years should be finished.) This is the former *resurrection. ⁶ Happy and holy is he *who is having part in the former *resurrection! onOver these the second death has no jurisdiction, but they will be priests of *God and of *Christ, and they will be reigning with Him the thousand years.

Believers who are now judged will not face judgement again in matters they already have been. There is that groaning in the whole of creation to be liberated. It is a yearning after our Creator. And there will be liberation, not due to any political party nor under-developed or developed regions of the world. „The whole world is waiting for the manifestations of the sons of God.” This liberation starts with the first resurrection and reign with our Lord for a thousand years. It continues with the binding and judgement of the Accuser, Satan, which is then followed by the rest of the dead who will come to life after the thousand years are over. Then comes the final judgement, atonement and restoration of the whole universe.

Re 20:¹⁰ And the Adversary *who is deceiving them was cast into the lake of *fire and sulphur, where the wild beast and where the false prophet also. And they shall be tormented day and night for the ages of the ages. ¹¹ And I perceived a great white throne, and Him *Who is sitting~ upon it, from Whose *face *earth and *heaven fled, and no place was found for them. ¹² And I perceived the dead, the great and the small, ostanding sight ofbefore the throne. And the scrolls were opened. And another scroll was opened which is the scroll of life. And the dead were judged by *that which is written in the scrolls in accord with their *acts. ¹³ And the sea _ gives up the dead *in it, and *death and the unseen (hades) give up the dead *in them. And they were judged, each in accord with their *acts. ¹⁴ And *death and the unseen were cast into the lake of *fire. This is the second *death--the lake of *fire.¹⁵ And if anyone was not found written in the scroll of *life, he was cast into the lake of *fire. 21:¹ And I perceived a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth pass away, and the sea is no more.