The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
Taking this together with what Messiah Yeshua/Jesus told us confirming this fact in Matthew 24 and Luke 17:26—37 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark…. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom.
Yeshua/Jesus said that the days of Noah and Lot would be like the days just prior to His return and the establishment of His Kingdom.
We hear this referred to many times and even more lately in light of recent events… wars and rumors of wars…
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
Matthew 24:6-8
This certainly sounds like things that are happening right now….
Maybe we should take another look at what the days of Noah and those of Lot were really like and compare them? It may give us more of an indication if our days are similar to theirs.
We are told that most people will be going about their normal activities, unaware of the times. When He returns, society will be degenerate and wicked, just as it was before the Flood came.
In the days of Noah and the days of Lot, only one family was protected. Yeshua/Jesus compared both to the End Times, so the same will be true just before His return.
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.
The Hebrew phrase,
acharit ha-yamim – אַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים
often translated,
“latter days”
refers to the “end of days, or “last days”,
mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, and points to a critical period late in human history.
The Lord God told Noah and Abraham for Lot, that judgement was at hand. Yeshua/Jesus was telling us that it will be the same just before His return.
Here are some similarities and differences between the two events, as we read them, how many are in evident in the world today?
In the days of Noah wickedness was universal.
In Lots’ days wickedness was universal and we read of the five cities that God destroyed.
The events before the destruction, Noah built the ark and preached righteousness not allowing the wickedness to affect his family.
Whereas Lot moved into the wicked city of Sodom and the evil of the city vexed his righteous soul. Lot offered to give his daughters to the wicked men of the city.
God Himself brought the judgment on the wicked. Genesis 6:13.
God Himself brought the judgment on the wicked. Genesis 19:23.
Noah saw the violence that existed during this time but no violence was committed against him.
Lot saw the violence that existed during his time and experienced violence against him from the homosexual men of Gomorrah.
Regarding Family: Noah’s sons married wives who became righteous removing themselves from the wicked society.
Lots daughters were betrothed to wicked men these men were destroyed in the wicked society.
Noah and his sons and their wives were in unity in their beliefs and their work on the ark. They stood together against those who were wicked in that generation.
Lot and his family had no family unity. His sons were not even in contact with him. His daughters were influenced by the wickedness of Sodom and his wife turned back and was destroyed.
The judgment in Noah’s time lasted many days. Genesis 1:11, 8:14.
The judgment and lots times lasted only part of the day. Genesis 19:23-27.
The judgment of the flood even included the highest mountains.
The judgment on Lot’s time was only in the valleys.
Noah brought living animals out of the judgment.
No animals were saved in the location of the judgment in Lots time.
God caused His Spirit to pass over the waters to cause the waters to subside. Genesis 8:1.
There is no mention of Spirit in the destruction in Lots time.
Noah did not know that judgment was over until God told him to leave the ark.
Lot did not know when the judgment was over and he feared that there was more to come so he fled to a cave even though judgment had ended.
Noah was not vexed by evil, he found grace in the eyes of God. Genesis 6:9. God said that Noah was a righteous man in the midst of an evil generation. It does not say that Noah was vexed by their unrighteous deeds. Righteousness is defined as keeping the Commandments of God in other words keeping Torah.
Lot was vexed by evil and apparently he had not told his family to keep the way of Torah according to 2Peter 2:8. He lived in Sodom one of the five cities that were destroyed.
Noah was told to gather food for himself and the animals.
Lot was not told to gather food.
Noah knew of the coming judgment he had been told by God that the earth was going to be destroyed by a flood 100 years before it happened. Genesis 6:13. After the ark was built, God told Noah that the flood was going to start in seven days. Genesis 7:4 There was no panic just simple obedience to God’s command.
Lot did not know of the coming judgment that God was going to bring on the city until the angels came to take them out of it. Abraham knew of the coming judgment because he commanded his children to follow the ways of God, however he interceded for the righteous in the cities that were to be destroyed.
Noah did all that God told him.
Lot argued with the angels about where he was to escape to. Genesis 19:18.
Noah and his sons worked for 100 years to prepare for the time of judgment.
Neither Lot nor his family worked to prepare for the coming judgment.
Noah was warned directly by God.
Angels brought the warning to Lot.
Noah was given specific plans
Lot was not given specific plans.
Noah was told that the judgment was on the whole world.
Lot was not told that the judgment was only on the five cities so he may have believed that it was on the whole world.
Noah was called a preacher of righteousness; and He preached repentance for 100 years to all who came to mock him for building the ark.
Lot had spoken little about righteousness as we can see by the reaction of those who wanted him to bring out the angels. Genesis 19:9.
As a preacher of righteousness, Noah and his family were known to be in opposition to the accepted way of life in his time, they did not fit in.
Lot and his family were well known in Sodom. Although he did not accept the life style of Sodom, he was not known to be in opposition to it until he objected his last night there. He also offered to give his daughters, something that Noah would have never done. Lot had lived in Sodom without affecting it for good. He and his family had fitted into life as usual there, he sat at the city gates which was a sign of a leader of the city. Genesis 19:1.
Sexual wickedness was rampant before the destruction, in the form of multiple wives one for pleasure and one for reproduction. This custom had started with Lamech and had progressed to rape and seduction. This was perpetrated by the sons of the rulers who took women by force, leaving children who never knew their father. When these children grew up they brought an increase in the violence in the world. Genesis 6:1-5.
Sexual wickedness before the destruction of Sodom had increased greatly in all the five cities. Homosexual men forced themselves on all strangers who had the misfortune to enter the city. Genesis 19:5.
Noah had a very close relationship with the Lord God and did not need anyone to intercede for him.
Lot may not have been saved if Abraham had did not interceded for him. Genesis 19:29.
The door was shut by God in Genesis 7:16.
The door was shut by angels in Genesis 19:10.
All of Noah’s family were saved because they obeyed God, however, none of the world was saved because they did not obey him. All of mankind are descendants of Noah and his sons after the flood.
Lot’s sons-in-law would not leave the city so they were destroyed. Lot’s wife disobeyed the angels instructions and she was destroyed. The men of the cities were destroyed because of their unrighteous deeds. Lot and his two daughters were saved by obeying although they did argue with the angels.
Conditions at the time of deliverance: Noah and his family walked onto the ark on the day the rain came. There was no panic or confusion, just obedience to God’s commands even though the earth was covered in violence/hamas.
With Lot and his family, there was panic and confusion and there was violence in the city of Sodom as well as in the other four cities.
Noah and his entire family including his daughters in law were taken into the Ark.
Lot and his family had to flee on foot, his sons in law would not leave the city and his wife looked back and they were destroyed.
Noah sent a raven and a dove to see if the waters were receding.
Lot and his daughters had no way to know if the judgment was over.
What was saved from the destruction? Noah saved all that he needed The Lord God told Noah to bring the animals on the Ark to save them. He had all that he needed to replenish after the flood was over.
Lot did not save anything. He was saved as someone who runs out of his burning house with nothing but clothes he was wearing. All his works were burned up.
For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.… 1 Corinthians 3:12-13
The Lord God made a Covenant with Noah after the flood, to never again destroy the earth by water. He used the rainbow as a sign of the covenant. Genesis 8:20-22.
No covenant was made with Lot, however the Lord God did not make a covenant to never judge the earth by fire again.
After the destruction: Noah offered a sacrifice after the flood.
Lot was fearful of continuing destruction and fled to hide a cave.
Noah knew they were the only people left on earth and that they were to be fruitful and multiply.
Lots daughters believed that they were the last three people on the earth and could only repopulate the earth through incest with their father.
Noah and his sons were commanded to be fruitful and fill the earth and they did so. Genesis 9:1.
Lot and his daughters were not commanded to be fruitful and fill the earth but they did so in a sinful way.
God put the fear of man into all animals.
Lot and his daughters were fearful. Genesis 19:30.
Wine and sexual perversion after the destruction: Noah got drunk and was unaware of what took place. ‘His nakedness was seen by his son Ham.’
Lot got drunk and was unaware that his daughters had sexual relations with him.
God remembered Noah and caused the waters to subside.
Abraham, not Lot, was remembered by God and because of this, Lot was saved from the destruction of the fire. Genesis 19:29.
Dates are given for different stages of the judgment of the flood.
No date is given for the judgment by fire.
All mankind and all nations are descendants of Noah and his sons.
All of Lot’s descendants came through him and his daughters. Only the nations of Moab and Ammon, the two enemies of Israel came from Lot.
Honor and dishonor of their descendants: Noah’s descendants through Shem were men of honor whom the Lord God used; and this included Abraham, Isaac and Jacob together with Jacob’s 12 sons. God made a covenant with all of them. Some of Noah’s descendants through Ham were cursed; this included Amalek, who God said he would be at war with until the end of time.
Lot’s descendants were dishonored and were enemies of those under the Covenant. His descendants were born through incest with his own daughters , these are the people of Moab which means: ‘from father’. The other daughter named her son Benammi, which means: ‘son of my people.’ He became the father of the people of Ammon. This is the name of the capital of the nation of Jordan. Although Lot was related to Abraham, he did not follow in his ways.
The method of destruction: water destroyed the world in Noah’s day. Water is usually a substance that brings life because life cannot exist without it. The Lord God said He will never again destroy the Earth with a flood. Judgment came from the heavens and from the fountains of the deep.
Jude 1:7. “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, of punishment.
Fire destroyed Sodom and the others cities in Lots’ day. Fire brings death and purification, the judgment came from the heavens. Genesis 19:23.We know that the destruction at the end of this age will be by fire. 2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
The extent of judgment: In Noah’s day, all animal life on the earth except what lived in the oceans and those on the Ark. Plant life recovered after the flood without any help from Noah or his family.
In Lot’s day, all life in the area of the five cities including plant life did not recover because the sulfur caused the soil to become too acidic, there is little that grows there even today.
In Noah’s day the wicked had no idea of the coming judgment, they were doing all the normal things of daily life.
In Lot’s day the wicked did not know of the coming judgment, they too were doing all the normal things of daily life.
In Noah’s day the wicked were taken out of the world and made examples for others who would want to live like them.
In Lot’s day the wicked were taken out of the world and made examples for others who would want to live like them.
Noah and his family were not taken out of the world.
Those who were delivered from Lot’s family were not taken out of the world.
In Noah’s day the judgment started in the daytime when the fountains of the deep burst forth. Genesis 7:11.
In Lot’s day the judgment started in the evening when the angels came, but the fire fell at dawn. Genesis 19:1.
Noah and his family could not see the judgment because they were in the ark with the window and door shut.
Lot and his family were told not to look at the judgment but his wife did, and she was destroyed together with the wicked.
Noah preached righteousness for 100 years without one convert because there was great spiritual blindness in the people.
In Lot’s day, the angels caused the wicked people to be struck with physical blindness.
Noah and his family were the only eight people out of the whole world, so the ratio of those saved to those destroyed could easily have been 1 in 1 million.
Lot and his two daughters were saved out of several small cities. The ratio could have been 3 out of 3000 or 1 in 1000 as those cities were small.
Noah and his family were transported in the ark above the mountains, they did not need to do anything to escape.
Lot and his daughters had to flee on foot over the rough ground. They had to make their own way in their own strength and could not carry much with them; they never left the surface of the earth.
After the flood, Noah and his family had a large place to live on top of the mountains. He may well have lived in the Ark after the animals had left and their home would have been 450’ x 75’ with 15 foot ceilings. Those who are righteous when Messiah returns will live in the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven.
Lot and his daughters first went to the small city of Zoar then they became fearful and ended up living in a cave with very few possessions.
Those who are unrighteous and who see Messiah returning in great glory, will try to hide themselves in caves and rocks.Revelation 6:16 And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb,
There are too many similarities today to the days of Noah and Lot to ignore and as violence/hamas is again filling the earth and Matthew 24:12 tells us because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Many are falling away from the faith. Now is the time for our light to shine in the darkness and offer the good news of the gospel of the kingdom. It is time to tell people there is forgiveness of sin and of the grace and mercy we can receive through Messiah to restore our relationship with His Heavenly Father. Messiahs sacrificial death at calvary was on purpose to redeem us and give us eternal life.
If you have not received Yeshua/Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord and if you are not certain where your eternal future lies…make sure right now. Today is the day of salvation for we do not know the day nor the hour of His return…let’s all be ready …time is running out..
Shalom aleikhem
chaverim and mishpachah!
Peace to friends and family.
Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
Not sure ..you can be…
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,
SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.
24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 Forwhoeverwantsto savehislifewill loseit,butwhoeverloseshislifefor My sakewill findit. 26 What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?…
Matt 16:25 AMP. or whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].
Also in Matthew 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
John 12:25 Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
In Revelation 12:11 Messiah again speaks of not loving our physical earthly lives above Him. And they loved not their lives unto the death –
Meaning that they did not so love their lives that they were unwilling to die as martyrs. They did not shrink back when threatened with death, but remained firm in their attachment to their Savior, and left their sacrificial death as a testimony to the truth and power of faith.
In the well known chapter of Hebrews 11:33 where the heroes and heroines of faith/trust/batak are recorded. Verse 33 says who by faith [that is, with an enduring trust in God and His promises] subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions…
Closed the mouths of lions,
is a reference to Daniel and the story we are quite familiar with.
The following historical information may not only be of interest but help to explain the reason for the strong faith exhibited by Daniel in the lions den and his 3 companions who were thrust into the fiery furnace. Both are extra-ordinary accounts of faith filled men whose lives were lived in exile and under tight control of idol worshippers.
Many in the west are unfamiliar with any government /royal kingdom that operate under strict rules with penalties that include death/torture for breaking the conditions by which all citizens and or foreigners in exile there, are to live their lives. Regimes that enforce unrighteous regulations are notably those who serve false gods and not the true living Creator of the universe. Many of these so called gods are the fallen angels who followed Lucifer and are still, like their master, deceiving the masses into false religions, idol and demon worship; an ongoing issue recorded all through the Bible.
Like Daniel and the 3 who did not fail their testing times, we are to stand firm on what we know to be the Way the Truth and the Life. Scripture warns us that times are at hand when every persons faith will be tested.
When faith is tested, we can expect to be tempted, however we can also expect to be strengthened; even when it brings out our shortcomings and inadequacies. In this respect, testing is a positive and good thing because it allows us to see where our lives need improvement. Only when our beliefs are tested can we truly know ourselves and if we are principled men and women of integrity; and that He is our Father and we are truly His children.
Matthew 4:1-11
The story of Messiahs’ testing/temptation, shows how the Son of God/Son of Man was to fulfill His calling by only using His power in obedience to His Heavenly Father’s purposes and plans; and we are encouraged that “No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
“…we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:3-5.
Testing proves the quality of our faith and of our character, by confirming the integrity of our beliefs and values; thus building confidence in our Heavenly Father and imparting to us a greater strength of resolve.
We know that there will be times when we will be put to the test and have to stand strong in our faith in Him. When that time comes, we must remember His promise to us to be strengthened and that He will be with us.
In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7.
Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
James 1:3
Going from the verse in Hebrews 11:33 to the Book of Daniel 3:8-30, readers are introduced to three young men: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
This account takes place about 600 years before Messiah was born during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who besieged Jerusalem and took captive into exile, many citizens of Israel. Among them were four young men from the tribe of Judah who, after they were living in captivity, they were given new names. Daniel was called Belteshazzar, Hananiah was renamed Shadrach, Mishael was called Meshach, and Azariah was named Abednego.
As well as being fellow Hebrew captives, they were also Daniels’ friends. The four young Hebrews soon proved themselves to be exceptionally wise, they found favor with King Nebuchadnezzar when Daniel was found to be the only man capable of interpreting one of his troubling dreams. The king placed him in a high position serving as chief governor over the whole province of Babylon, including over all of the wise men of the land. Then at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as Daniel’s advisors.
These brave believers in the Most High God held on to their faith even when threatened with death by fire. Their lives serve as inspiration for those whose faith is challenged or those who face persecution, torture and hardship for their beliefs.
But why were they so courageous?
Why did they not try to save their own lives?
Sometimes martyrdom fulfills the Father’s plan and other times divine intervention better accomplishes His purpose.…
The lesson for believers is that we must be ready and willing to serve the Lord whether in life or by physical death.
King Nebuchadnezzar had a huge golden image built as a symbol of his power and glory. He then commanded his people to bow down and worship this image whenever they heard the sound of his musical herald.
Those who disobeyed the order would be thrown into an immense, blazing furnace.
According to classical historians, Nebuchadnezzar was, the man responsible for making Babylon one of the wonders of the ancient world, and was credited with building the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Interestingly ‘Nebuchadnezzar’ seemingly wasn’t his name, because the second ‘n’ was apparently an error?
His Babylonian name was Nabū-kudur-usur, if so, he should be called Nebuchadrezzar. The ‘mistake’, supposedly by author of the Book of Daniel, has become the most frequently known name by which the Babylonian king is now referred to.
Nebuchadnezzar, like most absolute rulers, insisted on his subjects coming to the gold statue of himself and paying homage to it, and by association, to worship Nebuchadnezzar himself.
Because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego worshipped only the One True God, they refused to bow down to the false idol and by association to the king.
3:12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
For some reason, Daniel is not on the list, so he avoids this punishment, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are summoned to appear before the king; yet, they remained courageous in the face of Nebuchadnezzar’s demand to bow down in front of the golden statue. They said:
Daniel 3:16-18: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer you in this matter. If it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O King. But even if he does not, let it be known to you O King, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Not only did they refuse to bow down to his idol, but they just call him ‘Nebuchadnezzar‘ not prefixing it with ‘King’, and they did not finish what they said with ‘live forever;’ and the letter ‘O’ in most translations is not there in the original Aramaic. Their reply was, lo chashechin and in the KJV it’s translated as: “we are not careful to answer you.” which is basically the meaning of lo chashechin saying in a blunt fashion: “we do not need to answer you.” In a way it’s a disrespectful answer, like saying,
“I don’t have to answer to you.”
But note they add the word pitegam
which is rendered:
on this matter.
Pithegam is not a matter but a decree, a demand or command.
The word matter is pithegam which is: a decree.
The three Hebrews were not defying the king in everything, only in this specific decree. There is a lesson for us here, that when we are living under leadership that is not in line with scripture, we are only obligated to obey unless it is in directly against the command of our Heavenly Father.
When Nebuchadnezzar heard that the three Hebrews had refused to worship his idol he was furious. He summoned them and would normally have had them cast into the furnace immediately, but instead he gave them a second chance. However, by doing this, he gave himself a challenge in front of everyone; was he going to face disgrace and embarrassment by backing down to their God?
The three young Hebrews may have known that Nebuchadnezzar respected their God, which in turn may explain the attitude toward him. What the young men told Nebuchadnezzar was, “If our God is able, He will deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire.” The next word should read as then, not and. Then he will deliver us from your hand /or your power.
The word deliver is shazav
which means: to rescue,
but in this form, it would really be inciting the king because they were saying: If our God is able he can rescue us from the fire, then we will really be rescued from your power…. or in other words:
If our God is able he can rescue us from the fire we’ll never have to submit to your power and it will prove who’s really in charge.
Then they added a final insult to the one who dared to defy their God. But even if He doesn’t choose to rescue us, we are still not going to worship your gods.
For the three men the emphasis was not that they were confident that they would be saved from the fire, but rather on their commitment that they wouldn’t bow down to any other god/idol.
All through the history of the ecclesia, right to the present day there are Christian believers similar to these three young Hebrew men who took their stand in faith for God, but they’re not delivered. Many have been thrown to lions, burned at the stake, tortured, shot, hung, beheaded and many other horrors. Just as the 3 Hebrews, they stood strong saying: “My God can rescue me, but even if He doesn’t, I am not about to deny Him.” Have we ever had to face such a decision, or maybe we are about to?
Nebuchadnezzar was furious and ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were bound and cast into the flames. The blast from the flames was so hot, it killed the soldiers who had put them in.
Then he was amazed marveled at what he saw:
“But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Daniel 3:25, ESV
Calling the men to come out of the furnace, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged unharmed, and not even a hair on their heads was singed and their clothing didn’t even smell of smoke.
This made such a huge impression on Nebuchadnezzar that he made a declaration saying:
“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.” Daniel 3:28, ESV
Due to the miraculous deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the King made a decree that the rest of the Israelites in captivity were now to be protected from harm and that they were guaranteed freedom of worship; furthermore they all three received a royal promotion.
The most important fact is that being Hebrew/Israelite/Jewish, they were forbidden by the Ten Commandments to worship any ‘graven image’, because it is a form of idolatry, these men could not in good conscience kneel before the Babylonian king’s statue. There are rare instances within Hebrew/Israelite/Jewish law that mandate an individual to sacrifice their own life rather than engage in something that violates the commandments written in the scriptures.
They were still determined to die rather than bow to the idol, even if God did not raise them from the dead.
Yehareg ve’al ya’avor
“Let him be killed rather than transgress”
refers to the requirement to give one’s life rather than transgress a law.
Although ordinarily one is permitted to transgress halakha when a life is in danger, certain situations require an individual to give one’s life.
There are three sins for which one is always required to die rather than transgress:
idolatry
sexual misconduct such as incest, adultery, homosexuality, or bestiality
murder
Adultery and idolatry are also excluded; according to most authorities, a person must give up their life rather than violating these prohibitions. The Talmud (not scripture) also says that if the violation would be public — and especially if it’s a time when the ruling authorities are seeking to get Jews to violate the Torah’s commandments — one must give up your life rather than commit even the smallest infraction.
The first exception, idolatry, is extrapolated from Deuteronomy 6:5 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might,” meaning that one should even surrender one’s life rather than serve any divinity aside from God.
For us the meaning of the story of the fiery furnace is that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship a graven image/idol of the Babylonian king, for the simple clear reason that God forbids it; and for their faith and loyalty, they are saved from the oven or furnace. The story also reveals God’s power directly to Nebuchadnezzar and offers a moral lesson to everyone living under tyrannical regimes and also to those rulers who would try to set themselves up higher than the One True Living God.
In chapter 6 we read of Daniel also defying a kings decree.
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
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.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
Praying 3 x a day refers to the 3 daily requirements:
shacharit the morning prayer
minchah the afternoon prayer
and ma’aariv the evening prayer
These date back to the time of the patriarchs and are referenced in Daniel 6.
Apparently the king Darius Daryavesh the Mede didn’t want to deliver Daniel over to the lions. Daniel would have been in his 80’s. However the new Persian law forced him to deliver Daniel up to his accusers since no decree or edict once issued by the king could be revoked. Verses 15/16 15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.
Has anyone ever wondered why the importance of the lions?
Why a lion pit?
Below is a picture that shows King Darius’s son Artaxeres II standing before the figure of the goddess Anahita riding on a lion.
Anahita is the Sun God of ancient Persia and the protector of Persia. (Persia is modern day Iran.)
Mithras, or the lion is the symbol of the Persian identity depicting strength and unity.
That unity was very important as the Persian Empire was made up of many conquered nations, but each conquered nation shared in the governmental structure of the Persian Empire.Daniel was one of its three presidents who was a prince of the Judean Empire.
The lion symbolized the strength of the Persian Empire and it’s this strength that would maintain the united Empire together with the conquered nations. They believed that there was strength and power in unity. For this unity to be kept, all those who were a part of it had to agree and worship one primary god and in this case Anahita was picked and the picture shows her riding on the lion.
The Lion and Sun Motif of Iran
On the left is King Artaxerxes II he is facing the goddess Anahita who sits on top of a lion.
In the background to Anahita can be seen the clear display of the sun which is a representation of the ancient Iranic god Mithras, the sun emanates 21 rays, the same symbol which is used by varous ancient Iranic cults among the Kurds of Iran, Iraq and Turkey. The 21 rays related to the festival date of Mehregan (Festival of the Sun-god Mithra) which takes place from the 16th to the 21st of Mehr of the Iranian calendar.
If anyone violated or placed another god above Anahita, they would have to face the wrath of the lions and this is the reason why the lion’s den was kept.
These lions were kept to punish anyone who desecrated the authority of the reigning god or goddess.
That is why it was so easy to set Daniel up and get King Darius to sign the proclamation that no one could worship any other god than Anahita!
This was not simply a battle in the physical realm but it was in the spiritual realm too. If Daniel survived being thrown into the lion’s den, it meant that the whole religious order, if not the existing governmental structure of the kingdom would be under threat. This is the reason why King Darius ordered everyone to worship Jehovah, Daniels’ God. All the elite of Darius’ kingdom witnessed their sun god Anahita challenge Daniels God Jehoveh and there was no comparison. At the same moment he was thrown into the lion’s den, Daniels’ God Jehovah supernaturally
closed the mouths of the lions.
Research shows and scripture suggests that there must have been very many lions in there.
This is because the servants of Anahita were thrown into the same den afterwards and they with their families numbered almost 300 and the Bible says they were devoured before they hit the ground!
Once in the lion’s den is it a possibility Daniel, who in his wisdom, understood the secrets of God, exercised some scriptural dominion, (Genesis), over the lions and they became docile and full of shalom?
However one thing is certain, King Darius knew that Daniel had a personal relationship with the Creator God of the universe; and not only that Daniel would be protected by this God Jehovah but also because this God clearly loved Daniel. This was a great deal more than could be said for false goddess Anahita, who did nothing to either save or protect her servants when they were thrown to the lions.
It appears King Darius was so impressed with Daniels dedication to God that he adds something very revealing. He said that
God will deliver him.
The Aramaic word used here for deliver is shazav
which means
to rescue or deliver,
but it is a deliverance made out of love and affection!
Scripture records that King Darius is really saying,
‘that if your God loves you so much, He will not let you suffer this fate.’
It could be true to say that sometimes God will not only deliver us out of a trial because He loves us, but He will also act to protect His Name and good reputation revealing what kind of Righteous and Loving God He is.
Both Daniel and the 3 Hebrew youths were very aware of the fact that they had all been raised to know and keep the 10 commandments; and to not deny the living God, nor to bow in worship to any other idol even unto their own death.
We need to understand the Hebraic mindset and that they were prepared to die, having no fear. They were full of faith in Gods’ ability for the outcome, whatever that may be.
They trusted their Heavenly Father that because they had been faithful in their obedience to His commandments, to not to bow and worship any idol; that He would either deliver them from the lions and fire by a miracle, or raise them from the dead if they burned or were mauled. Or, they would simply die and be in His presence. Either way was win-win situation for them all.
Belteshazzar/Daniel, Hananiah/Shadrach, Mishael/Meshach, and Azariah/Abednego is what every one of us is going to need in the days that lie ahead, and starting today, not in somewhere off in the distant future.
We need to ask ourselves the very serious questions..
Do we truly love Him?
Are we keeping His commandments? because…
“If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.
John 14:15
And echoed by Messiah in
Mark 12:30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment
Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.” John 14:21
That includes those given in Deuteronomy 6:5 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Are we loving our lives more than Him?
Is our faith unshakable unto death?
Faith comes by hearing the Word of God; we need to stay in His Word and remain strong in the Lord and the power of His might. NOW is the hour of preparation, keep your lamps filled family, and keep your eyes on Him the author and finisher of our faith…keep looking up for our redemption our deliverance and our exodus is drawing very nigh!
Messiah is coming
He is even at the door….
שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם,
Shalom aleikhem
chaverim and mishpachah!
Peace to friends and family.
Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
Not sure ..you can be…
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,
SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.
Luke 24:49 Tarry / Wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.
The disciples had to tarry to wait, staying in Jerusalem until the day of Pentecost/Shavuot. They knew it as, the days of Counting from the waving of the Omer; but this year was a little different as they counted the days and weeks they were also learning to count the cost of being disciples/talmidim of their Master. This was not only for their own preparations but because they had to wait until Messiah was actually glorified. As soon as He was glorified Acts 2:23 tells us what happened.
Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit He poured out this which you now see and hear. Acts 2:33.
The statement in John 7:39
for the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified
does not apply to us.
The Fathers Holy Spirit has being given and Messiah Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach is glorified. And this is what we are to remember and celebrate with thanksgiving and grateful hearts at this Appointed Season of The Lord.
As we are waiting, the impartation is not dependent on the providence of God but on our own spiritual fitness, our readiness to receive.
We have a responsibility to prepare ourselves, these are things that our Heavenly Father will not do for us.
Relationship with Him is all about choice, free will and we must choose to be obedient and submit ourselves to His will and way of being and doing.
John 17:2-5 For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed.
This is eternal life and that we may know Him
and the power of His resurrection.
Phil 3:9-11
and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, and so that I may attain to the resurrection [that will raise me] from the dead.
Amplified Bible And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did];
The influence and power of His Spirit of Holiness were at work before Shavuot/Pentecost but He was not here in the same way as after the outpouring.
Once Messiah was glorified in His ascension, Holy Spirit came into the world and has been here ever since. It is up to us to receive the revealed truth that He is here.
The attitude of receiving and welcoming the Holy Spirit into our lives is to be the continual attitude of a believer and not just one day of obedience and fire…
When we receive His Spirit of Holiness we receive reviving life from our ascended Lord and Savior.
It is not what we term as the baptism of His Holy Spirit that changes believers but it’s the power of the risen and ascended Messiah coming into our lives through His Holy Spirit. We have a tendency to separate things that the New Testament never separates.
The baptism of His Holy Spirit is not experienced apart from Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, it’s the evidence of the ascended Messiah dwelling within, abiding permanently.
A big measure of Holy fire comes in the baptism.
Jesus answered, “If anyone [really] loves Me, he will keep My word (teaching); and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling place with him. John 14:23 Here the word IF is highighting the condition for the indwelling of His Spirit because One who does not [really] love Me does not keep My words. And the word (teaching) which you hear is not Mine, but is the Father’s who sent Me.
The baptism of His Holy Spirit doesn’t make us think of time or future eternity because the experience is one of amazing glorious now.
This is eternal life that they may know you. John 17:3
we must begin to know Him now and never stop.
Another reason for remembrance and celebration is that this season was when Moses received the Torah, the directions instructions and teachings for life after Egyptian bondage. Slavery to sin and death were given notice and their freedom was assured through Passover and then 50 days later (Pentecost/Shavuot) in the wilderness before Mt. Sinai the Lord.
Our Heavenly Father, The Lord God Almighty
came down,
Moses went up.
The precious Covenant with the children of Israel was made; complete with the Ten Commandments
and directions were given for how sinners were to
approach a Holy God through the sacrificial system
which was to remain in place
until Messiah came and fulfilled it Himself.
We have so much to be thankful for,
so much to give Him praise for.
All honor and glory go to Him as we lift grateful hearts this Pentecost/Shavuot;
and having prepared ourselves,
let’s open ourselves unreservedly to
receive the fullness of His Spirit.
We need His presence,
His Holy Fire
in our lives today, more than at any other time.
If we truly love Him, we will want to do what He asks of us
so we can become all that He has planned for us
to be and do while we are in the earth.
Our lives are to be a sacrifice in every way and this “sacrifice” becomes our wedding vow to our King.
And that is the real love story of Shavuot/Pentecost.
Above are several links to previous posts with more on Pentecost/Shavuot and the reason for reading about Ruth and the baptism of His Spirit at this time of year. Listed both for new visitors, or those wanting to refresh, understanding the deeper meaning of this wonderful manifestation of the same Holy Fire that led them in the wilderness, and now available to fill the lives of whosoever will…
The prophet Malachi 3:1-6 wrote that the Lord would send His messenger of the covenant, and asks who will be able to stand, to endure in that day, … He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Let’s be mindful of the season we are in…..
on each of us and may the days of counting lead to a lifetime of beating good and lasting fruit!
May our tongues be set on fire to declare the wonderful works of our Heavenly Father.
Shalom aleikhem
chaverim/friends and mishpachah/family!
Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week,
you are greatly loved and prayed for.
Please don’t leave here without assurance of your salvation
Not sure ..you can be…
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer,
Savior, Lord, and soon returning King
and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.
KJV: of my salvation; on thee do I waitall the day.
INT: of my salvation for wait all the day. Psalm 25:21
There are a few words in Hebrew for wait.
InIsaiah 40:31 we learn that those who
waitupon the Lord will renew their strength.
This wait is qavah
which is a twisting or binding.
It is the word used for making rope and the ancient method of making rope is still used today.
Hundreds of thin strands of fabric, each one alone could easily be broken, but when tightly bound together they form a rope that cannot be broken.
We may here recall the scripture:
A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
Ecclesiastes 4:12.
In some weddings, a three-cord braid is included as part of the ceremony, here the three cords that are not easily broken represent Our Heavenly Father, the bride and the groom.
So in Isaiah 40:31 this waiting is just not sitting back, doing nothing, it is a process of binding/blending/melding/merging ourselves with the Father and the more we bind ourselves to Him, the stronger we become.
In Isaiah 30:18, however, he uses a different word for wait.
which is the word chakah this is a:
patiently waiting,
like someone waiting for a train.
However, this word is in a Piel or imperfect form,
so it has the meaning of:
a continuing process, it is patiently waiting.
יָחַל verb Niph`al – wait;
Pi`el – await (compare Late Hebrew יִחוּל expectation); to Niph`al – Perfect feminine singular – נחֲלָה in Ezekiel 19:5 also Imperfect: וַיִּיָּ֫חֶל in Genesis 8:12 + 1 Samuel 13:18 וַיּחֶל;
and wait: Genesis 8:12 and he waited yet seven days.
WAITING – CHAKAH – the Hebrew letters: חכה – Cheth Kap Hei.
The word chakah is spelled:
Chet, Kap/Kaph, Hei/Hey.
The Chet indicates:
moving to a higher level,
something like:
waiting in line and then moving forward.
Our Father is patiently allowing us to go through our human/carnal ways, trying to satisfy all our needs by ourselves; then all of a sudden He appears next in line.
Here we find the next letter in the word for
waiting – chakah
which is the letter Kap/kaf
this has the picture word for:
the palm of the hand.
This shows us that all this time our Father has been holding out His hands in order to receive us; and finally after years of searching for answers, we ask Him to come into our lives.
The 3rd Hebrew letter in the word
to wait, chakah, is Hei
and is akin to:
the conclusion of His waiting, entering His presence which is filled with all of His graciousness and mercy.
Isaiah 30:18 tell us about it:
blessed are those who chakah (wait) for Him.
Our chakah is not in the sentence construction/parts of speech as a Hebrew Piel or imperfect form, it is a Hebrew Qal participle (a word formed from a verb (e.g., going, gone, being, been) and used as an adjective or noun.
This means in others words:
blessed are those who
have been waiting for God.
Without realizing it we have been waiting for Him all the time; we just did not know or understand it. At least our Father’s waiting has been in the Hebrew (Piel Imperfect sentence construction) as in: He is waiting
Original Word: יָחַל Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: yachal Phonetic Spelling: yaw-chal’
In the following versions of Luke 24:49
English words used are:
remain and tarry
Berean Literal Bible And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But you, remain in the city until that you should be clothed with power from on high.”
King James Bible And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Amplified Bible Listen carefully: I am sending the Promise of My Father [the Holy Spirit] upon you; but you are to remain in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed (fully equipped) with power from on high.”
Hee•ne ano•chi sho•le•ach et asher hiv•ti•ach la•chem Avi ve•a•tem ho•chi•loo ba•eer Ye•roo•sha•la•yim ad ki-til•be•shoo oz mi•ma•rom.
This must have been an extremely stressful time immediately following the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus/Yeshua. There was much unrest in the city which was filled with 1000’s of people who had travelled there for the Spring Meodim/Appointed Times of Passover/Pesach; which was one of the 3 annual Shalosh Regalim. Passover/Pesach/הַפֶּסַח, Pentecost/Shavuot/שבועות & Tabernacles/Sukkot/סוכות.
Though they are called Feasts by many, the correct Hebrew translation is Rehearsal Pattern because it is a rehearsal. It was/is a practice for the real thing to come, similar to rehearsals prior to a wedding ceremony; and why they were required to be in Jerusalem precisely at those times. We looked at this in previous posts.
This had been a momentous time; unlike any other previous year and the turmoil following those events had made the talmidim/disciples and followers of Messiah further targets for those who had plotted to kill Him.
On the road to Emmaus, one of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in recent days?”
verse 18.
Luke 24:13-24
In verse 25: Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe all that the prophets have spoken!…
This was confirming that HE WAS the fulfillment of Gods’ prophetic plan of redemption.
Luke 3:16 John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
John 1:26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know.
John 1:33 I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6Sowhen theycame together,they askedHim,“Lord,will You atthistimerestorethekingdomto Israel?”7Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.… But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”…
Acts 1:4V-PNA GRK: χωρίζεσθαι ἀλλὰ περιμένειν τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν NAS: Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father KJV: but wait for the promise INT: to depart but to await the promise
לחכות ל wait for
לחכות wait
The length of time they were told to wait was not just for a couple of days, it was for the next 49 days until Pentecost/Shavuot.
Yeshua/Jesus had said He had come to fulfill the Torah which has the Moedim/Appointed Times of the Lord as pivotal to the annual cycle of Israeli life.
We miss the full revelation of what Messiah accomplished as we in our western christianity and calendar festivals, jump from Passover/Resurrection Sunday (which we have called easter), to Christmas. There is a very precise sequence of Appointed Times/Moedim, whose meanings were prophetic in nature in their annual rehearsal for fulfillment in Messiahs’ life.
What was the purpose of this waiting?
He told them they would be
endued with power from on high
but why did they have to wait so long?
What does it mean for us?
The purpose of waiting is part of our training as talmidim/disciples.
It is for us to get into the right relationship to meet the requirements of our Heavenly Father and His Will not ours. Once those needs /requirements for being His child /disciple are met then He will open the doors and make the WAY clear for us to GO and DO and fulfill His will, plan and purposes.
One thing we should have learned during our 49 day walk/halak, it is this; we cannot artificially accelerate the growth of our crops and we cannot force them to produce out of season!
We need to see that we are not in control and being impatient will only cause frustration.
It will also choke the seeds and prevent them from bringing forth the harvest; which will result in us being impatient farmers with only barren and unfruitful fields. We must bear the fruit of patience if we are to grow in Messiah, without it we become impatient, impetuous, unsatisfied and are always looking for a future we cannot change. This is sad because it means we are ignoring what we have been blessed with today in the here and now.
Our training is accomplished by the power of His Spirit/Ruach within us, as we are also
endued with power from on high!
and for what?
To be witnesses to Him.
We must allow our lives to be slowly and continually transformed by the indwelling life of His Son; which is the ultimate purpose and goal ..that Jesus/Yeshua be exhibited in us.
This Shavuot/Pentecost, let’s be in an attitude of waiting after our days of preparation, and allow Him to do the necessary work in us and then He can fill us again. Just as we recharge batteries and continually refill our cars’ tanks with fuel, we need to be-being filled with His Spirit – continuously.. to go on being filled not just one time. Meaning to completely surrender our life and give Him full control. Ephesians 5:18 commands that we be filled with the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 the command is given, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.” Paul gives the simple principle when he says, “Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” Gal. 5:16. The important experience of becoming a Spirit-filled disciple results in the progressive sanctification of a believer in Messiah. The result will be that the individual will manifest the fruit of the Spirit as stated inGalatians 5:22-23,
The 49 days leading up to Pentecost/Shavuot is a time of looking at our own lives and allowing God to do His work in us so He can work through us.
Hebrews 10:9 Behold I have come to do your will O God.
Jesus/Yeshuas life was one of obedience to His Father and He said Follow Me; so we are to be obedient to His/our Fathers will also.
We must take the time to be continually filled up or we will have nothing to pour out. If all we are doing is seeking to be blessed personally, we are missing the point of servanthood. We are blessed to be a blessing – freely we have received, freely we give. If we are always taking in/receiving, and not giving out, we will stagnate like the waters of a pool with no outflow; then we will become like the Dead sea and not a sea of Galilee. Living waters flow continually, that is what flowed through Messiah and what we are to release to others. Let Him pour into us so we can pour out.
For Them…?
The time of waiting was not a new thing for the disciples as every year the counting of 7 weeks or 49 days from the Omer following Peasch/Passover to Shavuot/Pentecost/Weeks was part of the Spring Feasts/Moedim/Appointed Times of the Lord which they followed every year.
Leviticus 23:1-2 God introduces His Moedim/Appointed Times when He begins by declaring to Moses
My appointed times are these….
This statement makes clear that these Moedim/Appointed Times, originate with our Heavenly Father, they cannot be claimed to have been appointed by any nation, including Israel. While they were initially given to the children of Israel for them to observe as their calendar/way of life, they are just as applicable to the followers of Messiah today.
Many have grown up believing that the Jewish Feasts have nothing to do with the New Testament body of Messiah – the ecclesia, the called apart ones. A few have grown up trying to take back the feasts and celebrate them, while rediscovering Christianity’s Hebrew Heritage. Some have never heard of the Feasts at all, however there are a growing number who are interested in what the Moedim/Appointed Times/Feasts of the Lord, have to impart to us prophetically.
Questions for us are: why are we ignoring what the Father has instructed us to do and why are we only understanding and remembering 2 of the 7?
We have the benefit of the completed Word of God so we can study His plan of redemption; and one of the ways in which He prophetically revealed His big picture plan, is through the Appointed Times/Moedim/Feasts of the Lord. Approximately 4000 years ago, God commanded His people to gather in sacred assembly for very specific celebrations – His Feasts.
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts.” (Leviticus 23:1-2)
If we are not aware of the Moedim/Appointed Times when we read that verse, we do not understand the whole picture.
God commanded a yearly remembrance of each of His Holy convocations. The Hebrew word for sacred assembly or holy convocation is miqra, which carries the meaning of a dress rehearsal. Every time these festivals are celebrated, it is a visual and spiritual aid to remind humanity of the prophetic plan of God.
Prior to each feast’s fulfillment, it points forwards to Messiah.
During each feast’s fulfillment, it points directly at Messiah.
Subsequent to each feast’s fulfillment, it points backwards to Messiah.
These seven appointed times are collectively called the mo’edim and are detailed inExodus 12-13, Leviticus 23, Numbers 28-29and Deuteronomy 16. Together, they represent the Fathers’ entire redemptive plan from Messiah’s death through His millennial rule.
This is what Yeshua/Jesus was referring to in Matthew 5:17-18 when He said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law/teaching till all is fulfilled.”
Because the common western understanding of fulfill
means done away with,
Christians have believed that Yeshua/Jesus meant the prophetic pictures pointing to Him are now no longer needed. This is not what He meant, because to Jewish rabbis at that time, the word that is translated into English as
fulfilled was understood to mean:
the true or correct interpretation of Scripture,
while the word destroy meant: to give a false or incorrect interpretation.
Yeshua/Jesus was telling them that:
He did not come to do away with the Hebrew Scriptures/or destroy i.e. lead them astray by false teachings
Rather, He was:
the human embodiment of their true meaning and spiritual reality.
Again we can see other reasons for the WAITING…
First it was for their own preparation and
second because Messiah was not yet glorified.
As soon as He was glorified Acts 2:33tells us:
therefore being exalted to the right hand of God and having received from the father the promise of the Holy Spirit/His Spirit of Holiness He poured out this which you now see and hear.
The second reason is in the statement in John where he clearly tells us in 7:39..
for the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.
This is not the case for us today because His Spirit of Holiness/Ruach haKodesh, has been given and Messiah is glorified; our waiting is not dependent on the promised future outpouring; but rather on our own spiritual condition/preparation, to receive what is readily available.
We know from scripture that the influence and power of His Spirit were at work before Shavout/Pentecost because He was upon individuals, prophets, priests and kings of the Old Testament; and in some instances, He filled them with His Spirit: e.g. both John the Baptists parents. Luke 1:41
However, once Messiah was glorified in His ascension, His Spirit of Holiness/RuachHaKodesh, came into the world in an unrestricted way and has been here for the last 2000+ years. It is critical that we believe and receive this revealed truth that He is indeed here in our midst; and within each believer who welcomes His presence, influence and power. He will not force His presence upon us but patiently waits for us to invite Him in as we yield to His offer.
The attitude of receiving and welcoming His Spirit into our lives is to be the continual attitude of a believer. When we receive His Spirit we receive His life/chaim which revives us, imparting the same resurrection life that raised Him from the dead, which will quicken us and make us alive in Him. Romans 8:11
As our ascended Messiah He is able to give New Life.
It’s not the so termed, baptism of His Holy Spirit, that changes people, but it is the power of the risen Messiah coming in to dwell in our lives that changes us through His Holy Spirit working from the inside out. We sometimes have a tendency to separate things that the New Testament/Brit Chadashah does not separate. The termed, baptism of His spirit of Holiness, is not an experience apart from Jesus/Yeshua – it is the real and living evidence of the risen Messiah. He has given us chaim/life everlasting and full of glory.
John 17:3This is eternal life that they may KNOW You
it’s something that begins at new birth and never ends….
We often speak of types and shadows in the scriptures…
The giving of the Torah (teaching/law) at Sinai was the type/shadow
that was fulfilled at Shavuot/Pentecost.
Sinai marked the birth date of the dispensation of Torah/Teaching/Law, and involved great displays of God’s power through thunderings, lightning, fire and the sound of His reverberating voice.
The fulfillment at Shavuot/Pentecost was the giving of the Spirit of the Law to the followers of the Mashiach/Messiah.
Shavuot/Pentecost, marks the birth date of the ecclesia/church/called apart ones, and what some term as the dispensation of Grace.
This occasion was also accompanied with great displays of God’s power through fire and a sound like a mighty rushing wind. According to Ephesians 4:30, from this point onward, His Ruach HaKodesh/Spirit of Holiness dwells within each follower and seals the Body of Messiah for the day of redemption.
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)
The gift of tongues is simply the Holy Spirit giving us the supernatural ability to speak in a foreign tongue/language that we have no knowledge or ability to speak out on our own.
There are two types of tongues He can give us. One is a tongue of this earth; e.g., if our native language is English, then He can give us the ability to speak in Chinese, Japanese, or Spanish, etc. For the simple reason we may be in that country or with people who speak that language and will understand it.
The other type of tongue that He can give us is a tongue direct from heaven, a heavenly language that is not of this earth. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 that there are tongues of angels.
Whichever it is, it will be a foreign language that we will not be able to speak out on our own, and only His Holy Spirit’s supernatural transmission of this language out of our spirits will give us the ability to be able to speak it using our voice.
Whatever tongue Holy Spirit gives us, we will be able to use it all the time, whenever we want. It will be our own personal, private, prayer language between us and the Lord.
One thing to remember with this gift is that for the most part, we may never know or understand what we are praying about when we operate in this gift, however we can pray to interpret what the Lord has spoken through us.
The Bible tells us that we will be speaking out “mysteries,” and only the Father and His Holy Spirit will know exactly what the prayer is about on any given occasion.“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26)
Here we are told clearly that they were ALL filled and spoke in other tongues… which was the physical evidence of His Spirit in them, there were no exceptions and so we can expect the same today, and includes all the other gifts of His Spirit as in
The Word of Knowledge
The Word of Wisdom
The Gift of Prophecy
The Gift of Faith
The Gifts of Healings
The Working of Miracles
The Discerning of Spirits
Different Kinds of Tongues
The Interpretation of Tongues
our Father has not changed..
He is the same yesterday today and forever. Heb.13:8
In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14) Here we see the sealing by His Spirit to enable us to continue our walk.
It is interesting that the Father waited 50 days after Messiahs’ resurrection, (10 days after His Ascension) before He sent His Holy Spirit. As our Father is precise in all His details it is without doubt because He was waiting for the Appointed Time/Shavuot/Pentecost. He is never early and He is never late in fulfilling His promises.
The other symbol of His Spirit and presence is FIRE.
From the Ex.3:2burning bush, to the pillar in the wilderness, to the outpouring in Jerusalem …
our God is a consuming FIRE Heb.12:29
and as Malachi states like a refiners fire.
In Malachi 3:1-4, the prophet declares the
imminent return of the Lord
and with it,
His holy judgment of refining fire.
We are all too well aware that being a follower of Messiah does not spare us from experiencing testings, trials, conflict and trouble; and the process of refinement is one that He continually applies to our lives.
This fire is Holy Fire – Esh Kadosh/qadosh. אש קדושה
The Fire that cleanses, refines and purifies; it burns up all that is not acceptable to the Father and also speaks of His power so that like Jesus/Yeshua, we may work the works of Him who sends us.John 9:4, for greater works than these will you do. John 14:12.
BUT as always, there is a condition, an IF …
We have to be willing..
we have to lay down our lives, our plans and allow Him to be sovereign in our lives.
The choice is ours…His offer is there for whosoever will… The events of Acts 2 includes the
empowering
of His spirit
and the imparting of His boldness to proclaim the good news of Messiah’s Kingdom. The boldness of the fire like Jeremiah* had.
Are we truly on fire for God? .. or
are we just barely glowing embers, dying without the breath of His Spirit … we need the mighty rushing wind of Shavuot to blow on and re-ignite the fire.
Holy Spirit of Truth is certainly God, however, He is not the Person of Yeshua/HaMashiach/Jesus Christ. The scriptures seem to indicate that it was the Father who sent the Holy Spirit – “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17) And then Messiah says – “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18)
The early spring Appointed Times/Moedim: (Pesach/Passover, Chag haMatzot /Unleavened Bread, Bikkurim/Firstfruits); were fulfilled in order, all in the same year, through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach. When we look at the harvest times, Yeshua/Jesus and the many saints that were resurrected with Him, were the barley harvest. Notably, the ripeness of the barley is what decides if a new year can begin, or if a leap month, called Adar2, needs to be added to the calendar. This is always taken into account when the date of the late spring feast – Pentecost/Shavuot is calculated.
Pentecost/Shavuot experienced at least a partial fulfillment in the same year the three spring feasts were fulfilled. As we already noted, 50 days after Firstfruits/Bikkurim, or 10 days after Yeshua/Jesus’ ascension, His Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh, descended upon the Jewish believers waiting in Jerusalem. Partial fulfillment in that He has been indwelling and sealing believers ever since, until the day of their redemption –
as He said, we are to
look up for your redemption draweth nigh,
so it is not yet completed!
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28
Since Holy Spirit is God, He is omnipresent, everywhere at the same time.
Pentecost/Shavuot marks the time of the wheat harvest in Israel.
As we have walked through the springAppointed Times/Moedim, we can see a picture of our own walk with Messiah.
At Pesach/Pasover we are reminded of being set free from the bondage of sin and death, then during the Feast of Unleavened Bread/Matzah week, we have the opportunity to practice our unleavenedness; and rejoice in our saviors Resurrection as Firstfruits from the dead. Then as we count from the Omer we are like the wheat crops growing towards maturity, ultimately designed to become an abundant harvest for Him.
During this season of counting we can focus on certain spiritual themes such as: sowing, growing, increase, being fed and nourished by the Father and being mindful of how we are growing toward maturity in Messiah. By examining our ways we discover if they are truly aligned, submitted and conformed to His.
This is why we are to WAIT on the Lord, for His power to fill us and enable us to be witnesses unto Him; this is how He goes with us, and will always be with us, and will never leave us nor forsake us.
Isaiah 30:18: “And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted that he might be merciful upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment, blessed are all that WAIT for him.”
Like the farmer who waits for the precious fruit of the earth, we too have to wait for God to mature us and grow us. Part of our being mature in Messiah, is knowing when to put our hand to the plough and work hard but also knowing that when we have done all we can do then it is time to WAIT/CHAKAH. We must ask ourselves if we have been listening/hearing to His call and responding by doing that which He has required of us?..We must walk and work in maturity and continue to be patient, stabilize our hearts because the coming of the Master draws near. James 5:7-8
Let’s be mindful of the season we are in…..
on each of us..
For those new to the site previous posts linked below cover more detail on Shavuot/Pentecost..
Shavuot 2022 begins Saturday, June 4 at sunset and ends Monday, June 6 at nightfall.
Shalom aleikhem
chaverim/friends and mishpachah/family!
Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week,
you are greatly loved and prayed for daily.
REMEMBER..
Please don’t leave here without assurance of your salvation
Not sure ..you can be…
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer,
Savior, Lord, and soon returning King
and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.
In 
Anahita is the Sun God of ancient Persia and the protector of Persia. (Persia is modern day Iran.)
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