Can we keep God’s Feast days today?

A frequent opposing view received regarding the Celebration of the Feasts of God is, to say that “we cannot do it outside of Jerusalem, even if we wanted to do them”.

Verses such as the ones given below are invoked for such reasoning
Deu 16:5-7 Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee: But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt. And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.
Deu 12:8-14 Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes. For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you. But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety; Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD: And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you. Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: But in the place which the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.

The above verses speak of gathering to “The Place” God chooses, namely Jerusalem to hold the feasts and make sacrifices. Leviticus 17:3-9 also reiterates the fact that all sacrifices should be brought to the Tabernacle of God and could not be made anywhere we please.

Once the Temple and the Priesthood ceased in 70AD, the sacrifices were brought to a halt. But does the ceasing of the sacrifice mean that the remembrance is also cast away? The Feast Days, and especially the three main Feasts of Passover/Unleavened Bread, Pentecost/Harvest and Tabernacles/Ingathering were pilgrimage feasts.

Exo 23:14-17 Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field. Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.
Luk 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
Act 20:16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

Once in exile, at the time of Babylonian Rule(586BC) and Roman Rule(70AD) where Jerusalem was destroyed along with the Temple of God, people could not make this pilgrimage or make any sacrifices. So did the Feasts come to a halt with the Sacrifices?

First of all, we must understand that the Feasts (mentioned at length in Leviticus 23) are all remembrances.
Exo 12:14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial (Zikrone-Remembrance); and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
Exo 20:8-11 Remember (Zakar) the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Lev 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial (Zikrone-Remembrance) of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.

The Laws (which included the Feast days) were to be kept even in Exile, and especially in Exile as a sign of repentance.
Deu 30:1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.
Est 3:8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.
Dan 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

The Law of God exempted any that were far away to come to Jerusalem from making the pilgrimage. But we see that even the Congregation of Corinth was asked to keep the remembrance from their home in Corinth.
Num 9:10-14 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD. The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it. But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin. And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.
1Co 5:7,8 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Just as there are instances where Paul made his way to Jerusalem to keep the Feasts, he also spent time away from Jerusalem, where he would have kept the remembrance without going to Jerusalem.
Act 18:21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
Act 20:16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
Act 18:11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Act 19:10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

The Sin of Jeroboam
In an earlier study we looked at the Sin of Jeroboam, how people were quick to keep a man made feast while disregarding the Feasts of God. We can give our excuses for not remembering God’s Appointed Times, but God sees our hearts – whether we do these out of “love or legalism” or whether we do not do it out of “stubbornness or Antinomianism”. May He be the judge!

Conclusion
Even though we cannot physically go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast Days of God or do any of the Sacrifices, the remembrances can be done on the days God has appointed. God’s Law encapsulates what sort of lifestyle we should adapt to, once we are reborn through the redeeming sacrifice of Messiah Yeshua. We do not earn our Salvation/Righteousness through the Law, but learn how to live in Holiness unto Him who saved us to the very end. May all of us who live in Exile awaiting the Kingdom of God be able to turn towards Him in all obedience remembering His Holy Days which He has instituted for our own good!

The Structure of the “Revelation of Yeshua” the Messiah

Anyone who has tried reading the Book of Revelation has seen that it seems to be all over the place at times. One may think that John sees many visions that he has recorded, but in a very disjointed & haphazard way. In this Post, we will attempt to show the structure of the Book of Revelation, which is the Revelation of Christ Yeshua revealed to John, His beloved disciple. The Revelation has been collated together in a Chiastic structure, or chiastic pattern, which is a literary technique which is widely used in the Old Testament Scriptures as well as in the New Testament.

A Chiasm, to explain it very briefly, is a parallelism in a piece of text which connects text on either side of the parallelism (A to A’, B to B’, etc) and moves you towards a key piece of Text (X in the image below) which is the highlight of it all.

The Hope of Christ’s Return (Rev 1:1-20 parallel to Rev 22:6-21)
Some examples of Parallelism found in the above two parallel passages
Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

Rev 1:7,8 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Rev 22:12,13 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

The True Bride of Christ (Rev 2:1-3:22 parallel to Rev 21:1-22:5)
Some examples of Parallelism found in the above two parallel passages
Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Rev 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

Justice sought & Justice accomplished (Rev 4:1-6:17 parallel to Rev 17:1-20:15)
Some examples of Parallelism found in the above two parallel passages
Revelation Chapter 4 – God, His Living Creatures & Holiness
Revelation Chapter 17 – The Harlot, The Beast & Abominations

Revelation 5:1-9 – Heaven and Crying turns to Joy
Revelation Chapter 18 – Babylon and Joy turns to crying

Revelation 5:10-14 – God reigns with His people
Revelation Chapter 19:1-10 – The Marriage of The Lamb & His Bride

Revelation 6:1-8 – The White Horse and The Judgements of God
Revelation Chapter 19:1-10 – The White Horse and The Judgement

Revelation 6:9-17 – The Supplication of the Saints & Judgement
Revelation Chapter 19:11-21 – The Reward of the Saints & Judgement

The Reward for the Righteous & The judgement of the Unrighteous (Rev 7:1-10:11 parallel to Rev 14:1-16:21)
Some examples of Parallelism found in the above two parallel passages
Revelation Chapter 7:1-17 – 144,000 & the Multitude protected
Revelation Chapter 14:1-20 – 144,000 & Babylon judged

Revelation 8:1-6 – Preparation to sound the Trumpets
Revelation Chapter 15:1-8 – Preparation to pour the Bowls

Revelation 8:7-9:21 – The first 6 Trumpets (Hail/Sea/River/Sun/Locust/War)
Revelation Chapter 16:1-16 – The first 6 Bowls (Sores/Sea/River/Sun/Darkness/War)

Revelation 10:1-11 – Seven Thunders/Preparation to Sound 7th Trumpet/Little Book
Revelation Chapter 16:17-21 – Seventh Bowl/Thunders/Wrath Poured

The Servants of Righteousness & The Servants of Unrighteousness (Rev 11:1-19 parallel to Rev 13:1-18)
Some examples of Parallelism found in the above two parallel passages
Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Rev 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

Rev 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

Rev 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Rev 11:16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

The Seed of The Woman & The Seed of The Serpent (Rev 12:1-6 parallel to Rev 12:10b-17)
Some examples of Parallelism found in the above two parallel passages
Rev 12:1-3 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev 12:4-5 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
Rev 12:15-16 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Rev 12:7-9 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Rev 12:10b-13 for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

The Chiasm leads us to the centre passage of it all which is the struggle between The Seed of the Woman and Seed of the Serpent. And the middle text of it all, which is Salvation and the establishment of God’s Kingdom through the power of Christ.

Rev 12:10a
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,
Now is come salvation,
and strength,
and the kingdom of our God,
and the power of his Christ:

An ancient struggle between The Seed of the Woman and Seed of the Serpent
The Struggle we see between the Serpent and the Woman in Chapter 12 of Revelations has its roots in Gen 3:15.

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

This Enmity which began with the Fall of the Human race would carry on through the story of the Bible, between “Cain & Abel”, “Ishmael & Isaac”, “Jacob & Esau”, “Pharoah & Moses”, “Mordecai & Haman” till we see the Prophecy finally fulfilled in Christ. But Revelations 12 show that the enmity carries on till the Coming of Christ between the Seed of Satan and His Chosen people whom He bought with His blood.

Mat 13:38,39 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

Not only does the Enemy have Seed in the World, he also has seed inside the congregation of God – which in time would be revealed to be tares.

Conclusion
The structure of the Book of Revelation shows us how it focuses on the struggle which still goes on with the powers of the flesh, the world and satan. It is a call to look forward to the coming Salvation, Strength and the Kingdom of God by the Power of Messiah Yeshua. But as we wait for His Arrival, we should be awake and vigilant as the enmity between the Seed of the Woman and the serpent carries on. So the Book finishes where it started, in a Garden with the ancient enmity removed where we walk with God again as before!

A Trinity or a Unity?

While I started thinking about the doctrine of trinity and the essence of God at the beginning of my journey close to 10 years ago, I do not believe I have still attained full knowledge of how to describe the nature of God. I do not think we can fit God into a box or a formula, especially looking at the limited range of the human mind. It is best to have enough humility to say that we may not fully know the depths of the riches of God, till we are united with Him in Eternity someday.

That said, I would like to give my current view and understanding on the doctrine of the trinity and a helpful way to look at God the Father, Yeshua our Messiah and the Spirit of Grace. I know that this study might be seen as controversial or divisive and ask everyone who reads through, to have an open mind and seek unity rather than division even in our differences in understanding.

Is The God of the Bible a Trinity?
While we do not see the word “trinity” in the Bible, we do see God(Father), Lord(Yeshua) and Holy Spirit mentioned in the New Testament in a variety of places.

Rom 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ‘s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
1Cor 12:4-6 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
2Co 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
Eph 4:4-6 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
1Pet 1:2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Is God One?
In the First and greatest command mentioned in Deut 6:4,5 and Mar 12:29,30, God proclaims to be “One”! Which in Hebrew (“Echad”) can mean “unity”.

Deu 6:4,5 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one (Echad) LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

We see “Echad-One” used in the sense of “Unity”, in the very beginning when God speaks about Adam and Eve becoming “One” Flesh – or united in flesh.

Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one (Echad) flesh.

Looking at Adam to Understand God’s Likeness
We know when God created Man (“Adawm” in Hebrew) in Gen 1:26,27, He created him in the image and likeness of God. So, isn’t it safe to say that God’s likeness could be understood by looking at Adam?

Gen 1:26,27 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man(Adam) in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

When Adam was formed(Yatsar-fashioned/moulded) from the Dust of the Ground, Adam had Eve inside of Him. We see God taking one of Adam’s sides to make (banaw-build) Eve.

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

“A United One” becomes “Two with one essence” becomes “United again”
Adam has Eve also in him when he is formed out of the ground, but is later made into two with the same essence. And later they are said to become “One” (United) again. “A United One” becomes Two with one essence becomes United again
Adam has Eve also in him when he is formed out of the ground, but is later made into two with the same essence. And later they are said to become “One” (United) again.

Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone(Etsem-Same in substance) of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one(Echad) flesh.

The Father and Son in Adam and Eve
If we apply the above dynamic between Adam and Eve, to God the Father and His Son, Yeshua Messiah, we get a similar idea as we see in the New Testament writings. The Father and Son are together at the beginning, but the Son is separated and comes to the earth, only to be received back to Unity with the The Father in Glory again.

Php 2:6-9 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Heb 1:1-3 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

What about the Holy Spirit?
If we equate The Father and The Son to Adam and Eve to understand the substance of God, what happens to the Holy Spirit? Let’s look at Adam and Eve again. Did Adam and Eve have one spirit or two? God breathed into Adam the Breath of Life, but it does not say the same for Eve. Is it safe for us to say that Adam and Eve as Husband and Wife, had One United Spirit? We see Malachi raising a similar question from the priests of his day regarding divorce asking why God made One, when He could have created two?

Mal 2:15,16 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

The Spirit of God and the Spirit of the Son
The New Testament writings do mention The Father and The Son and The Holy Spirit, but if we do look closely, we see the relationship between them is much more complex than three persons in One God-Head. The Holy Spirit is mentioned as The Spirit of The Father/God and The Spirit of The Son/Christ/Lord. Never, the other way around.

Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Php 1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Father and Son United in one Spirit
We can see many examples where God the Father and Son are mentioned without The Holy Spirit. May I suggest that the reason for Paul, John and Jude to not mention The Holy Spirit along with the Father and The Son is not because the Holy Spirit is of less importance, but because the Spirit is what binds the Father and The Son together.

1Co 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
2Co 1:2,3 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2Co 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph 6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Php 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Col 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2Th 1:1,2 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Ti 1:1,2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
2Ti 1:1,2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Tit 1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Phm 1:3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Jn 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1Jn 2:22-24 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
2Jn 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Jud 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

Adam & Eve and Christ & His Bride
The same dynamic which is between Adam & Eve also consists between Yeshua and His people. We see this Highlighted most in Ephesians Chapter 5 when Paul uses the same language used by Adam and applies it to Messiah and His Congregation.

Eph 5:23-32 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Gen 2:22-24 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Access Through the Son to the Father by One United Spirit
Looking at the dynamic between Adam and Eve shows us what sort of relationship is there between The Father and The Son. As Adam and Eve were united by One Spirit, so is The Father united with The Son in One Spirit.

Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Php 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Php 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
2Co 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

A Trinity or a Unity?
The Father, The Son and the New Testament writers have never spoken of God being 3-in-1 or 2-in-1. The whole Bible proclaims God to be a Unity (Echad). We See the relationship and likeness of Adam and Eve to be a blueprint for the likeness of God, as He created Adam and Eve in His own Image and Likeness. We see that God is all encompassing, while The Son is subordinate to The Father but same in essence, just like Adam and Eve. And just as Adam and Eve had one Spirit, The Father also is united with the Son in One Spirit. To which Unity we were also called into by much Grace:

Joh 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
Joh 17:21-23 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Conclusion
We see Yeshua being one in Essence with the Father from the beginning and just as Eve was separated from Adam, The Son was also separated from God when He appeared on Earth in Human Form to Redeem us to Himself. The Same Spirit that united The Son and The Father, then united us with The Son, through which connection, as The Son is united to The Father – we are also united back to Him in One Spirit. I believe none of the inspired writers of the Bible explain God to be 3-in-1 or 2-in-1. Rather what we see is the Oneness/Unity of God, to which we have also been brought into.

I know that the Trinity can be a touchy subject for many. As I stated at the beginning of this study, my goal is not to put God in any box, but to look at the evidence and the best explanation as I see it. I do believe in The Father and The Son as well as the Holy Spirit through whom we are adopted to God having communion in Unity. You are welcomed to disagree with me, respectfully. This is only my current understanding on the subject of the substance of God, but am open to seeing evidence that would change my my mind on the subject, towards wherever the evidence leads.

The subject of Oneness and Unity of God, Unity of His Followers and Unity of Himself with His followers should be the last thing that divides us. May The grace of the Lord Yeshua Messiah, and the love of God Our Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.

The Twenty Four Elders, The Four Living Creatures and the Camp/Chariot of God

When we read the Bible, as we turn a page, we take a peak into a particular time in the past. If we were to look at Genesis to Revelations as a Scroll, we could look at Adam, Joseph, Nebuchadnezzar and Paul at the same time. But the above individuals could never see the others from where they stand. Isn’t “Time” like a scroll? We who are inside time, can see what happens around us at this particular space of time, but we could never look at 1000 years in the past or the future.

So as we read this Scroll, are we not like God – who reigns above and beyond time? Isn’t it an appropriate allegorical example? For God the “Timeline” we live in would look like a Scroll, where He sees everything at once, while those who are written inside the scroll would be living in their appropriate spaces. There is a beginning and end to the Scroll, but no such beginning or end to where God resides. Time does not exist in eternity, does it?

Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

More on this later. Let’s jump into the topic at hand.

A Heavenly Encounter
As we step into the 4th Chapter of Revelations, we see a door opened and an invitation made by Yeshua, for John to step outside the Scroll of Time in the Spirit.

Rev 4:1,2 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

There was a Singular Throne with a person who had a likeness of Brilliance similar to what was witnessed at Mount Sinai in Exo 24:10. This same Brilliance is also seen in The Heavenly Jerusalem City mentioned in Isaiah 54 and Revelation 21.

Rev 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

The Rainbow which signifies God’s Covenant to all creation was also seen in a similar vision by the Prophet Ezekiel.

Eze 1:26-28 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

The 24 Elders and 4 Beasts in God’s Presence

Rev 4:4-6 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

Who do these 24 Elders and 4 Beasts signify? Are these Heavenly beings? Let us see what John reveals of the same figures elsewhere.

Rev 5:8-10 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. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

An important point to note above is that these 24 Elders and 4 Beasts Sing about themselves being redeemed from all tongues, peoples and nations by the Blood of The Lamb. Which signals to us that they Represent His Chosen People and not any heavenly beings.

The Four Beasts in particular were seen by Ezekiel in much more detail as we see below:

Eze 1:4-12 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four “living creatures“(Hebrew חיות Chayot). And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.

Meaning of Living Creatures
While the Hebrew word חיות Chayot which means “Lively” is translated Living Creatures, it is also used for a “Congregation” or an “Army/Troop” as seen below.

Psa 68:10 Thy congregation(Hebrew חיות Chayot) hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
Psa 74:19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation(Hebrew חיות Chayot) of thy poor for ever.
2Sa 23:11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop(Hebrew חיות Chayot), where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.
2Sa 23:13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop(Hebrew חיות Chayot) of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.

Who are these Living Creatures with the Four Faces
If we look at the Four Living Creatures as Four Congregations and Four Troops encircling God, we see a similar sight in the Wilderness where four groups of Troops camped around the Throne/Ark of God.

Num 1:52 And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.
Num 2:3 And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.
Num 2:5 And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar.
Num 2:7 Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun.
Num 2:10 On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.
Num 2:12 And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
Num 2:14 Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.
Num 2:18 On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.
Num 2:20 And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
Num 2:22 Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.
Num 2:25 The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
Num 2:27 And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran.
Num 2:29 Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.

We see 4 Sides to the whole Camp of God. The four sides have Judah’s Standard on the East (Num 10:14), Reuben to the South (Num 10:18), Ephraim to the West (Num 10:22) and Dan to the North (Num 10:25). This is how God Camps with His People as He promised.

Lev 26:11,12 And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

Additionally, as per Ezekiel 1:10, The Face of a Lion was on the Right and the Face of an Ox on the Left, which could Signify the connection of Judah to the Standard of the Lion and Ephraim to the Standard of the Ox.

Gen 49:9 Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
Deu 33:17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns(Wild Ox): with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

The Four Camps and The Four Beasts – The Cherubs and Chariot of God
Looking at the above evidence, we could safely suggest that the Four Beasts/Living Creatures/Congregations/Troops seen around the throne of God is the Camp of God containing His Holy people. This whole Camp of chosen people are God’s Chariot on which He rides upon. The same Chariot mentioned with the Four Living Creatures in the 1st chapter of Ezekiel, appears again in chapter 10 – this time as “Cherubs”, which means The Living Creatures are called “Cherubs”(meaning “to come close” in Hebrew).

Eze 10:1-4 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
Eze 10:8-12 And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man’s hand under their wings. And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone. And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went. And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.
Eze 10:14-15 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
Eze 10:20-22 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims. Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.

God’s Ark is the Throne of God, with the Mercy Seat on top, where God was enthroned while the whole Camp moved through the Wilderness of Sinai to the Promised Land. This Chariot had the likeness of human hands and eyes all around as if the Whole Chariot was made up of a “Congregation of People”. This was what later came to be signified by the Cherubims in Solomon’s Temple.

1Ch 28:18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

The Chariot that praises and worships the One who rides it
The Four Living Creatures are said to Praise God along with the Elders who would be signifying the Leaders of the Camp.

Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Rev 5:8-11 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. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
Rev 7:11-12 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev 19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

After all, His people were formed to praise Him.

Isa 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

The people who are outside the Scroll praising God in His Presence
As we discussed in the beginning of this post, God dwells in the realm with no time called eternity. The Story from Adam to our day and forward, unravels like a Scroll where the characters in the Scroll can see only that point in time, while the people reading the scroll from outside could see the whole scroll/story at the same time. As John is invited into this realm in the Spirit, he sees the Chariot of God with Him enthroned surrounded by the four Living Creatures and the twenty four Elders who turn out to be those who are bought by the Blood of Yeshua.

So, would not that multitude surrounding Him contain you and me as well? If we were chosen before the foundation of the world, before The Scroll of Time started to unravel, is it not plausible to say that we are on our knees praising Him this very minute?

Eph 1:4-6 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

This is a visual depiction of the Scroll of Time and the Eternal Realm as I envision it, with the Camp of God surrounding God’s Tabernacle and Throne with the Four Main Camps of Judah(Lion), Reuben(Man), Ephraim(Ox) & Dan(Eagle)

Praise Him now because You are praising Him in Eternity
All those who surround God’s Throne in eternity, know the immense value of God’s Grace shown to each individual through our Savior Messiah Yeshua! They see the Scroll of time playing right in front of them, as they worship God in reverence for the Gift that each of us have received. May He come quickly, so that we may surround Him in Praise and Worship as His Heavenly Chariot!

Our Resurrection in Christ as seen in Exodus 15:22-27

The Resurrection of Christ is spoken many time in many ways in the New Testament writings and also in the prophets. But do we see this spoken of in the “Torah” – The Five Books of Moses. Christ Himself called the disciples walking to Emmaus “fools” for not knowing this fact.

Luk 24:25-27 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

I believe there are many hints given about Yeshua in the Torah, but we are going to look at one significant occurrence today.

The Text in question
Exo 15:22-27 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

At first sight we see nothing significant here. But let’s look at a few other details and ask some questions from the Book of Exodus before examine the above text.

The Three Day Journey in the wilderness
The 3 day journey in the wilderness mentioned in Exodus 15:22 is not the first time we see it in Exodus. There are at least three times that this exact phrase is mentioned – once by God Himself and twice by Moses & Aaaron. The three day journey in the wilderness(Midbar) is also connected to a sacrifice made unto YHVH, which we do not see afterwards in the text in Exodus 15.

Exo 3:18 And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness(Midbar), that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

Exo 5:3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert(Midbar), and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

Exo 8:27 We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness(Midbar), and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us.

So the first question we should ask is where was the sacrifice done that God and Moses had mentioned would be done, as soon as they had gone three days into the wilderness. The Wilderness began after they left Egypt by crossing the Red Sea. They had journeyed three days into the Wilderness, but there was no sacrifice made. Or is there a hint of a coming sacrifice mentioned here?

Water filled with Bitterness
Water is most often seen as a metaphor for Life – John 4:14, 7:37-39, Rev 21:6, 22:17. But in this text, the Waters of Life are filled with Bitterness.
Exo 15:23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

Bitterness (Marah in Hebrew) also means Rebelliousness in Hebrew. Thus the bitterness can be equated to the wickedness of the people.
Jer 2:19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts
Jer 4:18 Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.

So metaphorically they journey into the wilderness by being redeemed from Egypt by the Blood of a Lamb and reach the Waters of Life which are filled with Rebellion and Wickedness, so that they see the Waters of Life, but they cannot drink it because it is Bitter. They have Life, but not something that they can consume.

The Sacrifice on the Third Day and the Tree that removed the Bitterness
After receiving Redemption, Israel can see Life on the other side, but they still cannot consume the Life as it is filled with their own rebellion. What was the Sacrifice that was supposed to be done on the third day as mentioned in Exo 3:18, 5:3, 8:27, and where was it?
Exo 15:25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

Would Christ’s Death have been of any value if He had not risen from the Dead?
As Paul mentions in 1Cor 15:4, Christ rose on the Third day according to the Scriptures. His Death can be clearly seen in the Passover Sacrifice that led the Israelites out of Egypt. But where do we see His Resurrection on the third day mentioned in the Scriptures? I believe the passage in question points us towards this future event. The Tree which is a metaphor for the cross as seen in Acts 5:30, 10:39, 13:29, 1Peter 2:24, Gal 3:13 was cast into the Life filled with our Rebellion and Wickedness so that His people redeemed from the slavery to Sin would enjoy fullness of Life. Christ’s Death would not have its full meaning if He had not risen from death on the third day. Yeshua did not give us just this life, but the life beyond the grave, as He Himsel said “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”.

“I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee“.

So even today, God tells us that He will not put the punishment proclaimed on Egypt on us, and that He will heal us completely from our fallenness and give us Eternal life, as He is the one who heals us from our disease which is Death.

Conclusion
Exodus 15:22-27 shows us that the people who were redeemed from Egypt by the Blood of the Lamb had a Sacrifice which was done on the Third day of their journey in the Wilderness so that they could be satisfied of their thirst. The Tree which was cast into the water to make the Life which was bitter and rebellious, sweet and enjoyable was the resurrection of our Lord, which completed our redemption by giving us Eternal Life after the price for our sins were paid on Passover. The Passover Sacrifice on the cross/tree was completed on the Third Day as that is when the Water/Life which could not be enjoyed (which was bitter) was made sweet, so that His people were quenched of their thirst. As Paul mentions in 1Co 15:13-17 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 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. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Thank God for redeeming us from Egypt/Sin and completing His Sacrifice on the Third Day by the Resurrection, showing us the tree which was cast into the water on the third day, to remove the bitterness from Life, so that we could enjoy Abundant Life in the World to come!

Passover and the Cup of Wrath

All of us believe that Christ died for our sin and that He was crucified for our iniquities. He is our Passover Sacrifice as mentioned by Paul in 1Cor 5:7. It is rare for a Christian to think about the suffering He went through, and not feel his or her eyes tear up. But looking past the physical torture He endured, I wondered why Mark mentions Pilate marvelling about Yeshua dying so soon. Was the pains of crucifixion not enough? I believe that the agony of the cross was only the tip of the iceberg.

God’s Fury and Wrath
A Holy and Just God cannot let sin go unpunished as the Apostle Paul says in Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness”. His Wrath is equated to a cup in many passages that He would let those who dwell in iniquity, drink.

Rev 16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
Jer 25:15 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.
Job 21:20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Psa 75:8 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.
Isa 51:17 Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.
Rev 14:9,10 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Yeshua and the Cup
If all who dwell in iniquity would need to drink of the Cup of Wrath/Fury of the LORD, should we also not drink from the same? But it says that Christ bore our grief, carried our sorrows, that he was wounded for our transgressions, and was bruised for our iniquities. He was chastised to bring us “Shalom”(Isa 53:4,5). Then it is a simple fact that He would have had to drink the Wine of Wrath and Fury which proceeded from the Father, in our stead. In fact we see the “Cup” playing a significant part in His Death on Passover.

Yeshua asked that the Cup pass from Him if it is the Fathers Will
Christ in His human form, struggles with having to drink the Cup of Wrath which was rightfully ours, but bows to the Father’s Will.
Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Mat 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Yeshua said that He will surely drink of the Cup that God has given Him
By the time He gives himself to the band of men headed by Judas, He is firm in His decision of Drinking the Cup that the Father has handed over to the Son.
Joh 18:11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

Yeshua did not drink of the vinegar that would numb the pain
Christ refuses to drink the wine which would help with the pain as given below.
Mat 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
Mar 15:23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

But why did He then take the Vinegar at the Moment of Death?
Joh 19:28-30 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

As we see above Yeshua knows that He has exhausted the Wrath of God on the Cross, and knowing this He receives the Vinegar just before He breathes His last breath proclaiming “IT IS FINISHED”!

What is Finished?
The words “It is Finished” being said after He tastes the bitter Vinegar, in my mind brings us back to the Cup of Wrath which the Father had handed the Son, the Cup that He had set out to drink, and was His ultimate goal on this earth. He had drunk it to the last drop… the last drop that was meant for me and for you – We are surely alive, because “It – the Cup of Wrath/Fury is Finished”.

Golgotha the place of Atonement

The place of Crucifixion mentioned by all 4 Gospel Writers may look like another fact in the Life and Death of our Messiah, but in this post I will attempt to show that there is Great Significance in Christ being put to death at this exact place

A Ransom for our Souls
In Exodus, God mentions the need for a Ransom/Atonement to be made for the souls of each house – the exact payment being Half a Silver Shekel which was used to make the sockets of the Sanctuary. This payment commanded by God was to be exacted when a census (Numbering – פקד – Pakhad) was taken.
Exo 30:12-14 When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number(פקד – Pakhad), then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest(פקד – Pakhad) them. This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered(פקד – Pakhad), half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD. Every one that passeth among them that are numbered(פקד – Pakhad), from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD.
Exo 38:25-26 And the silver of them that were numbered(פקד – Pakhad) of the congregation was an hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and threescore and fifteen shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: A bekah for every man, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered(פקד – Pakhad), from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men.

The Census of David
Almost everyone knows of the event where David takes a Census and is punished by God, but also receives revelation of where God had chosen as the Place where He would place His Name forever.
2Sam 24:9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number (מפקד – Miphkhad) of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
1Chr 21:5 And Joab gave the sum of the number(מפקד – Miphkhad) of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.

A Place of Census in the period of the Temple?
In the Writings of Nehemiah and Ezekiel the Census (Miphkhad) is also mentioned as a place, pointing us towards the possibility of the Census being collected at a special place.
Neh 3:31 After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith’s son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad(מפקד – Miphkhad), and to the going up of the corner.
Eze 43:21 Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place(מפקד – Miphkhad) of the house, without the sanctuary.

The special piece of information in Ezekiel is that the Bullock of the Sin Offering was to be burnt at the “Appointed Place” (מפקד – Miphkhad) which means the census as seen above.

The Place of Census – (מפקד – Miphkhad) – The Clean Place outside the Sanctuary
We see the place where the Bullock of the Sin Offering was to be burnt mentioned before in Scriptures.
Exo 29:14 But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering.
Lev 4:12 Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.

The above place could also be the place of offering the Red Heifer mentioned in Number 19. What is this special place outside the Camp? We see some clues in the same chapters of David’s Census.

David buys “The Place” and “The Threshing Floor”
In 2Samuels 24 and 1Chronicles 21 David buys two pieces of property for two different amounts of silver/gold from a Jebusite called Ornan/Araunah.
2Sam 24:22-25 And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee. And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.
1Chr 21:24-27 And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost. So David gave to Ornan for the place (HaMaqom) six hundred shekels of gold by weight. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering. And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.

Image from http://www.templeinstitute.org

As we know the above property becomes the place of the Temple built on the Mountain range of Moriah, where Abraham offered Isaac (Gen 22:2 / 2Chr 3:1). Could these 2 places be the Temple Mount and the Clean place outside the Camp. The Clean place would have been situated to the East of the Temple as the Red Heifer was sacrificed at a place where the blood could have been sprinkled before the Tabernacle as mentioned in Number 19:3,4. The Mount towards the East of Mount Zion where the Temple was situated is a place where Christ frequented often (Luke 22:39) – namely Mount of Olives. My suggestion is that this would have been the place of Yeshua’s Death – the place of the Threshing Floor which David bought and also the place of the Census (Miphkhad).

Golgotha and the Place of Counting Heads/Skulls
All of the Gospel writers mention the place of Yeshua’s Death mentioning that it was called Golgotha which means “Skull”. Various people have thought that the place itself looked like a skull or that a skull of a famous individual such as Adam was buried here. But it is clear that “Golgotha” speaks of the place of Census.
Mt 27:33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
Mk 15:22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
Luk 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary (Latin for Skull derived from Kraneon where we get Cranium/skull), there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
John 19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

Golgotha in Hebrew is “Gulgoleth” which means skull and is used most often with the Census/Numbering of people.
Exo 38:26 A bekah for every man (Gulgoleth-Head/Skull), that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men.
Num 1:2 Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls(Gulgoleth-Head/Skull);
Num 1:18 And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls(Gulgoleth-Head/Skull).
Num 1:20 And the children of Reuben, Israel’s eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls(Gulgoleth-Head/Skull), every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

So it maybe more accurate to say that all of the Gospel writers are pointing to the fact that the place Christ was crucified was the place of Numbering/Census where the heads/skulls were counted.

Golgotha – in direct view of Temple and near a Garden
The place where He died was also in direct-view of the Temple as the Centurion sees the veil tearing in the Temple. Golgotha being situated on Mt Olives is most probable as it is of higher altitude than Mt Zion. This and the fact that John mentions that there was a garden where He was crucified makes this theory even stronger. Mt of Olives is where Yeshua spent His last hours before being captured, where He was crucified, where He resurrected, where He ascended to Heaven and to which place He would return as well(Acts 1:10-12).

Lk 23:44-47 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
John 19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

Yeshua and the payment of Atonement/Ransom for our souls
We see that no mere man can make a payment for the redemption of another’s soul. But more than once does the New Testament mention that He came for that exact reason.

Psa 47:8,9 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
Mt 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
1Pet 1:18,19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Tim 2:5,6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

The piece of money in the mouth of the fish
Yeshua also speaks of this exact Half Shekel payment in the below account recorded by Matthew. In it He says that the sons of the King are free of making this payment.
Mt 17:24-27 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute (Didrachmon – Double Drachma which is equal to two Half Shekels) money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute (Kensos – Census)? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Is it also a coincidence that Yeshua says that the money will be found inside the mouth of a fish – the same sign He gave to those who asked a sign of Him in Mat 12:39 – The Sign of Jonah.

Conclusion
Golgotha which means Skull is connected with the counting of “Gulgoleth”(heads/skulls) in the Census mentioned in Exodus 30&38. This census which is taken as Ransom for the souls of God’s people is later connected to a special place known as “Miphkhad” which is likely the second property (other than Temple Mount) bought by King David. The Gospel writers are pointing out that Yeshua’s death on a cross was done at a specific place where the Ransom for His people was exacted – the Miphkhad (Place of Census). He is not simply our Atonement, His Atoning work was done in a place chosen by the father – as the author of Hebrews says “Heb 13:11,12 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.” The offering, the date and the place was chosen by God. In it we see a work of Atonement which is complete to the very minute detail. 

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Studying The Tabernacle for a greater understanding of Creation – Comparing Genesis 1:1 – 2:3 and Exodus 25:1 – 31:18

The whole of the Creation account – maybe one of the greatest Miracles of all time, second only to Salvation through Yeshua our Messiah has a total of 2 chapters separated for it. So much happens within a few verses of Genesis that we are hardly given any information of what, how or why anything really happened. In this post, I hope to point out that even though God has said so little about the creation in Genesis 1, He does give us a lot more information in the Tabernacle account in the chapters of Exodus 25 – 31.

This study is not complete and is meant as a helpful guide for all who are interested in understanding what God hoped from creating the Tabernacle as well as understanding more about the Creation. I believe studying the Creation account sheds light on the Tabernacle and that studying the tabernacle helps us understand the Creation. Hope this helps you all in your self-study.

Creation and putting things in Order
If you do a basic study of the Creation Account, it is evident that God has a clear plan and a order of doing things. The first 3 days are days of Separation, while the next three days are days of furnishing.
Day 1 – God Separates Light from Darkness
Day 2 – God Separates Waters above from Waters below
Day 3 – God Separates Seas from Land and creates Greenery
Day 4 – God Fills what was separated on the first day with the Lights of Heaven
Day 5 – God Fills what was separated on the second day – Air with Birds and Waters with fish
Day 6 – God Fills what was separated on the third day – the land with Beast and Man
Day 7 – The Sabbath is separated from all of the preceding 6 days as it is the goal of Creation – God Resting upon His creation

The Tabernacle and putting things in order
At first glance, Exodus 25 -31 can look like a hodgepodge of “make this”, “do this” in no particular order. But God being God, nothing is out of place and nothing is communicated haphazardly. The Order of what is revealed through Moses follows the Order of Creation and just as God dwelled with His Creation at the End of the Creation account, He dwelled with His people at the end of the Creation of the Tabernacle (Mishkan – Dwelling Place).

Comparing Creation and the Tabernacle accounts
The Tabernacle accounts which run from Exodus 25:1-31:18, can be broken down into two main sections. The first Section is from Exodus 25:1 – 29:42 and the next from 29:43 to 31:18. These 2 sections run parallel to each other and follows the Creation Account. A helpful graphic is given below, for your ease.

Exodus 25:1-9 – Precreation
Just as God knew what He was going to create and what it would cost for Him to create the world (the death of His Son – Rev 13:8), we see God commanding what materials would be needed in the Creation of the Tabernacle.
Exodus 29:43-46 – Precreation
Just as God created all things with His people in mind (Eph 1:4) He speaks of looking forward to His promises being fulfilled, where He dwells with His people and becomes their God, and them His people.

Exodus 25:10-40 – The First Day
In Genesis 1:1-5 there are 3 main entities mentioned – The Heavens, The Earth and the “Light” in that exact order. In Exodus, God starts by instructing Moses to create The Ark of the Covenant – which is the seat of God, where He Dwells and no man other than the High Priest would visit once a year. The Table, where God has Communion with Man is next in line which can be compared to the Earth. This becomes more apparent when we compare Gen 1:15, Exo 25:37 & 26:35. The Menorah was to give light towards the Table of Shewbread. Next in line is Light which matches up with The Lampstand. (Note that the Lampstand is not lit at this point, just as Light becomes visible on the 4th day with the creation of the Lights such as Sun and Moon.
Exodus 30:1-10 – The First Day
Just as the first 3 instruments (Ark, Table, Lampstand) were all made of Gold, so is the Altar of Incense which runs parallel to the first Day. The Altar of Incense is what connects Heaven and Earth and is an instrument which brings the prayers of His people to God’s Ears. There maybe much more to figure out here, and I hope all of you share your ideas with me, so that I can fine-tune this study.

Exodus 26:1-37 – The Second Day
Just as this section speaks of the curtains that separate the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place and making of space, Genesis 1:6-8 speaks of waters being divided and space being created in the middle of these waters/curtains.
Exodus 30:11-16 – The Second Day
The Half Shekel runs parallel to the Second Day where God Separates waters (used throughout scripture for people) from waters. The Half Shekel shows how there is a price for Redemption and separation as His people comes from the price of Silver pointing towards Yeshua.

Exodus 27:1-19 – The Third Day
The Third day which saw the Seas separate from Land which bore fruit resembles the Bronze Altar and the Outer court with it’s Bronze Implements. Bronze, just like the Land is a metal that turns Green with time.
Exodus 30:17-21 – The Third Day
Just as the Bronze Altar and the court signifies the Land, the Bronze Laver mentioned in this section signifies the Seas which separated from the Land on the Third Day. Just as all the Instruments of the first day are Gold, all the instruments of the third day are Bronze.

Exodus 27:20-21 – The Fourth Day
Just as the Menorah matched with the light made on the first day, and the light became visible on the 4th Day with the creation of the lights in the Heavens, The Oil of the Menorah goes side by side with the fourth day. Without the Oil, The Menorah will not give the light, just as the light would be of no use if there were no lights in the heavens to cast the light of creation on the earth.
Exodus 30:22-33 – The Fourth Day
Just as the 4th day had a greater light and a lesser light, so does these parallel sections in Exodus have a Greater oil and a Lesser oil. The Anointing Oil parallels the 4th day in this manner.

Exodus 28:1-43 – The Fifth Day
Just as the Fifth Day saw the Waters below (separated on the third day) being filled with fish, we see the spaces made with the curtains on the third day being filled with the clothing of Aaron and his sons. Moses is told that Aaron would be consecrated in Exodus 28:41 (Malay Yad in Hebrew, which means Hands filled). The same word “malay” is used in Gen 1:22 where fish would fill the waters.
Exodus 30:34-38 – The Fifth Day
The Air was filled on the Fifth day with Birds in the account of creation, while this section speaks of the Sweet Incense which would fill the skies.

Exodus 29:1-29 – The Sixth Day
Just as the Sixth Day saw God creating man for the Service/Plant(Avodah) and Guarding/Keep(Shomer) of His creation, do we see Aaron and sons are also anointed to carry out the task.
Exodus 31:1-11 – The Sixth Day
Man who was made in God’s image parallels Bezalel and Oholiab who were imbued with the Wisdom of God to act in God’s place. These two individuals can even be compared to Adam and Eve who by coming together would be creating the next generation.

Exodus 29:30-42 – The Seventh Day
The Seventh day Sabbath which can be compared to eternity, seven itself being an idea of completion, parallels this section where we see Aaron and his sons consecrated for the offerings at the tabernacle to be made continually.
Exodus 31:12-18 – The Seventh Day
This section speaks directly about the Sabbath and it’s importance matching up to Gen 2:1-3.

Parallels after the Creation and Tabernacle accounts
Just as we see a parallel between these sections as highlighted above, Genesis 3 can be compared to Exodus 32 – The Fall of Adam and the Fall of Israel. Gen 2:25 uses the word Bu’ush (ashamed) just as we see the same word used in Exo 32:1 where Israel saw Moses Bu’ush (delayed). In Genesis we see Eve giving the fruit to Adam just as we see Israel giving the gold for the molten calf to Aaron. Just as Adam and Eve became naked before God, so did Aaron and Israel corrupt themselves before God. Just as Adam condemned Eve, so did Aaron condemn Israel.

Conclusion
I believe the information above should provoke us to study the Tabernacle a little more closer, as we maybe able to understand both the Creation and God’s plans for this creation through it. God is sovereign and His Word is written in a specific manner for a reason. There is nothing mentioned randomly, no information given without reason. Each of the measurements in the Tabernacle have some significance. For instance, the Holy of Holies is a perfect Cube, which we see at the end of Revelations where the Heavenly Jerusalem descends from heaven being itself a perfect Cube (Rev 21:16). My hope is that this inspires you to study the Tabernacle closer and share with all of us what His Holy Spirit reveals to you.

Similar Studies
The 8th Day – A comparison timeline of the 7 Days of Creation & the 7000 year age
Patterns in the Book of Revelation
A biblically accurate graphical timeline of Christ’s Death, Burial & Resurrection
God’s Appointed Times – A graphical study
The Biblical Timeline – From Creation to the time of Exile

Can a Hardened Fisherman drown?

Out of the fishermen Christ chose as His disciples, Peter is seen as one of the most experienced out of the lot, “casting himself into the sea to swim to the shore, so that he could meet their master before anyone else in John 21:7. It is seen that Peter had no fear of the sea. It is then hard to believe that such a person could drown. But in Matthew’s Gospel we find an instance where Peter seeks Yeshua‘s help inside the atmosphere he is most comfortable in – the Sea. Which leads to my question – “Can a hardened fisherman drown? I believe Matthew is writing something which truly happened, but is much deeper (excuse my pun) than what we see on the surface.

Let’s take a second look at this event and see whether Matthew is showing us a story “inside” the story.

Mat 14:22-33 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Walking on water or walking on the sea?
It is commonly said that Christ walked on water, but we see that this is not what Matthew tells us. But isn’t it the same? The sea is, at the end-of-the-day made out of water. In the Bible, water is equaled to “life”(Joh 4:14), “teaching”(Deut 32:2), the Word/Law of God”(Psa 1:2,3). The Sea in contrast, is equaled to something much more ominous – Death. We see hints of this in the Red Sea Crossing, when God parts the sea and let’s His people pass unharmed while the Egyptians receive the full power of the sea – Death. In fact, if you read the Exodus 14 account, you will always see the Egyptians going to the “midst of the sea” while the Israelites walk on “dry land”. The Flood account in Gen 7&8 also has the same connotation of great waters bringing death upon the earth. We see another hint of this in the book of Revelation.
Rev 20:13,14 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
The Sea gives up the dead in it and after death is removed, we see there is no more sea. So it is safe to equate the sea to death in this regard, as a metaphor.

Walking on the Sea and Walking on Death
If the sea is equaled to death, then the symbolism in Matthew’s account start to show. Yeshua is walking on Death, while the disciples are adrift with no way out. Peter, with the master’s consent tries to walk on the Sea/Death by his own strength and his faith, but starts to drown. If it was the sea that he was familiar with, Peter would have been able to swim back to the Boat.

Lord Save me – Hoshiana!
The cry for the Messiah seen in Psalms 118:25,26 – “Hosanna” is heard here, as Peter cries to Yeshua as he drowns in the Sea/Death. Hosanna or Hoshiana are actually 2 words in Hebrew “Hoshia” meaning “Save” and “Na” meaning please. The same cry which would be heard later when Yeshua enters Jerusalem. The significance of the cry is that Peter points at Yeshua as being the one who can stop him from drowning in death. And we see that with the Messiah’s help Peter is saved from drowning in the sea of death.

Conclusion
The story of Christ walking on the Sea has a story hidden inside the story, being a parable in itself. The disciples are lost in the sea of death, while Yeshua walks on death as the sea has no power over Him. Peter believes he can also walk on death as a disciple of His master, but he soon finds out that none of us can conquer death – and that only the hands of Yeshua can lift us up from drowning in death. However much we think we can swim to shore and save ourselves with our ability and strength, this story shows us that death overcomes the most hardened fisherman. Thus we say “Hosanna” to our saviour, the Son of God by whom we can also walk on the sea of death and reach to safety!

The Passover and the Parable of the Sower

Christ speaks of only one parable in this way – “Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?” (Mar 4:13) – The Parable of the Sower, then surely is one of the most important parables to understand among all the parables our Saviour spoke of. Not only is the form of the Kingdom explained in this parable, I believe there is an underlying connection even to the Passover, in it.

The Parable
Mat 13:3-8 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

The Explanation
Mat 13:18-23 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Even though this parable is known as the parable of the sower, it would be apt to call it the Parable of the four soils.
The Sower = The Son of Man
The Seed = The Word of God/The Word of the Kingdom of God
The Way side = Hears the Word, but has no effect to it
The Stony place = Springs up, but falls away as the Word does not take root
The Thorny place = Unfruitful as they are choked by the cares of this world
The Good Soil = Fruitful in different degrees

Even though only one soil / group of people become fruitful, there are two other kinds of soils that appear to be part of the harvest. The parable immediately following this is about the wheat and the tares, and gives us further details on this parable. There are people who appear to be part of the Kingdom of God, but will eventually are revealed to be just Tares or according to this parable – seed fallen on the stony or thorny ground.

But what do these four groups of Soil/People have to do with the Passover?

Who can join in for the Passover
Exo 12:43-49 And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger (Nekar) eat thereof: But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. A foreigner (Toshav) and an hired servant (Sakeer) shall not eat thereof. In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. And when a stranger (Ger) shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. One law shall be to him that is homeborn (Ezrach), and unto the stranger (Ger) that sojourneth among you.

On Passover, the nation of Israel left Egypt with God’s Salvation on full display. And among this group were 4 types of people as shown below

The Nekar – is a stranger / a person who is unknown by God
The Toshav – is a visitor who comes and goes but has no reason to stay
The Sakeer – is there for some incentive
The Ger – is a person who sojourns or wants to become part of the people even though he/she is not homeborn (Ezrach) the Ger and Ezrach are considered the same with God’s Law governing both of them.

The Connection between the Four Soil Types and the 4 people groups
Just comparing these 4 types of people can shed light on who and what they are ; what their attitudes towards God are and who they are in relation to God’s Kingdom.

Seed by the way side : Those who hear the word of the kingdom, does not understand and the wicked one catches it away from the heart. They can be equaled to the Nekar / Stranger a person who is unknown by God. A good Example would be Pharaoh who had no need for the message of the Kingdom. The Word did not take root in his heart and all of Egypt who did not join Israel.

Seed in the stony places : Those who hear the word of the kingdom, receives it with joy, has no root, endures for a while but falls away because of tribulation and persecution. They can be equaled to the Toshav / Lodger who is a visitor who comes and goes but has no reason to stay. For Example, people who fell along the way to the Promised Land, because of their troubles such as Korah. They received the Word but had no root as they did not know God or His wishes. People such as Korah rebelled because of the troubles along the way as they rejected Moses.

Seed among the thorns : Those who hear the word of the kingdom, but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and they become unfruitful. They can be equaled to The Sakeer / Hired servant who is there for some incentive. These unlike the Stony soil, endure for longer and appear to be a plant, but has no fruit. These could be equaled to Achan for example. They appear to be entering the promised land but finally is found to be Tares among the Wheat just like the plants among stony soil as the thorns or the cares of the world had more bearing on them than the Word of the Kingdom.

Seed into the good ground : Those who hear the word of the kingdom, understands it, bears fruit and brings forth hundredfold, sixty, thirty. These can be equaled to the The Ger / Sojourner, who is a person who sojourns or wants to become part of the people even though he/she is not homeborn (Ezrach) the Ger and Ezrach are considered the same with God’s Law governing both of them. The Ger and Ezrach are the only ones considered part of the fruitful harvest and are not looked at as separate harvests but one in the same. Whether you were Jew or Gentile the Good Ground was prepared by the Sower and would ultimately be fruitful because of the Seed which was planted. A good Example is seen of these 2 groups that are considered one under God, in Caleb and Joshua – One from Judah and one from Ephraim – the Two Houses of Israel. One may have been dispersed among the Gentiles and one exist still in the Land – but both would be one stick in the Hand of God, when His Kingdom is Established under Prince – The King of David – Our Messiah.

Conclusion
As Christ proclaimed, the secrets of the Kingdom exist inside the Parable of the Sower / Four Soils. The Kingdom has wheat that will be collected into the Barn and Tares that cannot be distinguished from the wheat, which will be burned. So do we see that one soil brings a crop while two other soils appear to be creating a crop but are found out to be tares. The same categories can be applied to the story of the exodus and the participants of the Passover – some appear to have received salvation, but are tares that would be burned. The other part is the Word which fell on the Good Soil – Like Joshua and Caleb will inherit the Promised Kingdom whether Homeborn or Sojourner ; Jew or Gentile.