Evidently, some Apostles disagreed with Paul’s perspective taught in Galatians regarding the law is a curse if you attempt to obey it, but rather agreed with Proverbs 28:9. #BlessingNotACurse
Blessing Not A Curse
Tag: Judaism
Know Your Bible | False Prophets |What Does the Bible Really Say About Circumcision & Sacrifices?
If circumcision is irrelevant according to Paul (Galatians 5:11 and 6:15), why is it a mandatory expression of worship in the future for both Jew and Gentile should they wish to enter God’s sanctuary/presence (see Ezekiel 44:5-9)?
Likewise, if Jesus is the “final sacrifice” as the author of Hebrews purports (presumably Paul), why are sacrifices reinstated in worship in the future final Temple AFTER the “day of the LORD” (Zechariah 14; Ezekiel 40-46)?
Was the New Testament Inspired by God or Rome?
Every good Christian knows, the New Testament has many parallels or typology to the Old Testament. Christians believe the New Testament is inspired by the Holy Spirit and is the inerrant word of God. Many passages found in the New Testament seemingly quote the Old Testament, although, after careful-study, most of these quotes have been altered, out of context, or just plain in error unbeknown to the average Christian. Nevertheless, it is common for Christians to notate the parallels of both the Old and New Testament to explain and prove the New Testament must be inspired by the Holy Spirit. But what if that same method of typology could prove that the New Testament wasn’t inspired by God, but rather, inspired by the Emperors of Rome, who believed they were God?
While still identifying as a Christian and after my quest to thoroughly study the prophets of the Hebrew Bible as well as the Messianic prophecies, I found myself questioning the legitimacy of the New Testament. I penned an article with my questions and findings, which you can read here. During that period of my research, I found it alarming to discover the gospels were written not just several decades after Jesus allegedly lived and died, but last of all the New Testament books. Like many Christians, I suppose I assumed the books of the New Testament were written in chronological order. Upon discovering the Gospels were written last, I found it doubtful the disciples of Jesus would be alive numerous decades later, or could accurately recall events a plethora of years earlier, and suspicious none of them scribed their names to any of the Gospels, not to mention the gospels are written in Greek, not Hebrew/Aramaic, the would-be language of Jesus’ alleged disciples. Nor did I understand why such critical documents if they indeed are the word of God would be written in Greek when all of the Hebrew Bible is written in Hebrew or Aramaic and the prophets state in Zephaniah 3:9 the pure language (of Hebrew) will one day be restored (to the entire world) so all people will know and be able to call on the name of God (inferring the Jews already know the name of the LORD and how to call upon Him and it is in Hebrew, not Greek).
Since then, in addition to realizing Jesus does not fit the criteria of a messiah according to the Hebrew Bible, I stumbled upon an interview of a prosecuting attorney, who authored a book called Creating Christ: How Roman Emperors Invented Christ. Consequently, I purchased and read the detailed book, which prompted me to research Roman history from that period. Indeed, this author, as well as others such as Joseph Atwill’s Caesar’s Messiah provide compelling and overwhelming evidence that the Gospels, in particular, but also the Book of Acts may have been inspired by the Flavian Dynasty and penned, at least in part, by Josephus, the captive and apostate Jewish historian for the Flavians.
In the approximate 300 pages of the thought-provoking book, Creating Christ, the authors compiled over 30 years of their compelling research presenting the strong possibility and uncanny parallels of events that transpired between Emperor Vespasian, born as Titus Flavius Vespasianus, and his son, Emperor Titus, collectively known as the “Flavian Dynasty,” and the eerily similar accounts of God the Father and God the Son duo found in the Gospels. The Father-Son duo of Vespasian and Titus acted in unity to win the affection of the eclectic people of the Roman Empire while promoting syncretism of numerous cultures and faiths throughout the Empire as well as the concept of “peace on earth,” all the while quelling and conquering anyone who rebelled like the Torah-observant, militant Jews of Judea-specifically, in Jerusalem. Titus, in particular, was deified, meaning made himself into an official god-in-the-flesh, and even presented himself as the Jewish Messiah. According to the historical research presented throughout the book, the goal of Rome was to convince the non-compliant Jews to compromise their faith and identity and submit to the hybrid of many known beliefs throughout the Roman Empire, which eventually became known as Christianity. Additionally, the authors prove how several turn-coat Jews denied their faith and heritage and not only aided the Flavians and the Roman army in seizing control of Jerusalem as well as the temple in 70 A.D., but then the traitorous Jews, having been armed with Torah scrolls, likely drafted propaganda quoting Jewish Scriptures to help convince zealous Jews they ought to worship, submit, and serve the Roman Emperor and join his imperial cult. One such traitorous Jew was Josephus, who perhaps to save his own neck upon being captured prophesized Vespasian would be Emperor. In time, Josephus became adopted by the Flavians and was richly rewarded as he recorded the events of the Flavian Dynasty. Fascinatingly enough, both the authors of Creating Christ and Caesar’s Messiah report several common themes found in the Gospels and Josephus’ documentation of the Flavians such as Josephus documented Vespasian and Titus performed miracles such as spitting in their hands and healing the blind (John 9:6) or feeding a plethora of people, or how Titus was 33 when he made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and it was 40 years later he destroyed the Jewish Temple, or how Vespasian was short and his father was a tax collector (like Zacchaeus in Luke 19:2-3), all similar parallels to what the Gospels report pertaining to Jesus and his interactions. Similarly, there are some parallels of Josephus’ life woven into the Gospels such as three of his friends were crucified, but one was revived similar to how Jesus was allegedly crucified alongside two others but was “resurrected” aka revived. Additionally, Romans, including their Emperors, were known to be quite debaucherous while the Jesus of the Gospels is persuading the Torah-observant Jews to overlook adultery when a woman was caught (see John 8), not to mention Jesus encouraged his followers to be sure to pay their taxes imposed by Emperor Vespasian (because they were Jewish)-(see Matthew 22). Other modern scholars authored books, such as Caesar’s Messiah and Operation Messiah, and also detailed various parallels or typology between various stories of the Gospels as well as the Book of Acts and the Flavians or other Emperors throughout Roman history. Moreover, it is known by scholars that the earliest writings of the Gospels were penned during or shortly after this Flavian era, several decades after Jesus allegedly lived and died. In other words, scholars are conveying the Gospels and even parts of the Book of Acts, are likely to be fables inspired by various acts of Emperors as well as weaving in both Jewish and Greek culture into the New Testament to synchronize and unify the various faiths throughout the Empire into a one-world-religious-Roman-order.
Additionally, it is a known fact the New Testament has interpolations, meaning added phrases and additions, to support man-made church doctrine (such as the trinity). Similarly, the one and only brief historical reference regarding a “Jesus” in that era was written by the turn-coat Josephus and even that is disputed as an interpolation (added later). The name Jesus was a popular name and is even found in the Talmud describing different people of different eras. Nevertheless, let’s say, an actual “Jesus” may have existed in the 1st Century A.D. Perhaps he was a type of peace-loving Reform Jew and rabbi, who gained some Jewish followers. What if Rome, having liked what they heard about Jesus, opted to expand on and fabricate the Jewish Jesus to their benefit in order to quell militant Jews and gain their allegiance? Such a concept is not far fetched when one studies the great lengths Emperors of Rome or the Roman Catholic Church would do to elevate themselves and their ideologies – just study how Caligula, an Emperor prior to to the Flavian Era, made some of his own soldiers appear to be British captives while parading his alleged prisoners through the streets of Rome to make the people think Caligula conquered Brittania when he hadn’t. Or how several centuries later, post-Flavian era, the Roman Catholic Church re-purposed the pagan festival of Saturnalia and called it Christmas in order to convert more pagans. It doesn’t take much research to discover, Rome has a long documented history of marketing propaganda to achieve their purposes of unity, power, and control.
Furthermore, Valliant and Fahy, authors of Creating Christ, extract details often overlooked by Christians or former Christians, including myself, within the Gospels and the Book of Acts highlighting how Jews are constantly painted as evil whereas Rome is portrayed as fair, reasonable, and honorable mediators, who ought to be trusted and obeyed. The authors also extract the Apostle Paul’s writings of notable imperial people listed throughout the New Testament to suggest the Apostle Paul was aiding Rome in relaying their propaganda. For example, in Philippians 2:25-30, Paul sings the praises of Epaphroditus and implored the people of Philippi to embrace him. Epaphroditus was the Roman Secretary or Administrator, who helped Nero, an earlier Emperor, commit suicide, as well as served the Flavians. In other words, Epaphroditus was an elite in the Roman court and evidently, buddies with Paul. Josephus also wrote about Epaphroditus and their great comradery as former religious Jews who both served the Roman Empire, specifically the Flavians. Paul seems to also be one of the persuaded, former religious Jews who purported the Roman Empire’s goal of synchronism as he emulated Torah’s criteria of a false prophet in Deuteronomy 13 and instead convinced (and still convinces) his readers to abandon Torah (Book of Galatians) and submit to Rome (Romans 13). Notice Paul writes in the closing of his letter to the Philippians (of the Roman Empire) in Philippians 4:22, “All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household,” inferring he is well acquainted with those close to Caesar, if not Caesar himself. Hence, dropping names like Epaphroditus. Perhaps this is why Paul insisted Caesar hear his case in Acts 25:10-12. (Note: Caesar is a title meaning Emperor derived from the days of Julius Caesar)
In summary, while I wouldn’t necessarily agree with everything conveyed in the book, the authors of Creating Christ provide an overwhelming amount of evidence, even much not discussed in this article, to create a reasonable doubt to the authenticity of a historical Jesus as described in the Gospels while supporting the likelihood that the Gospels may have been inspired by acts of Vespasian, Titus, and other Roman Emperors, as well as the urgent need to quell Torah-observant, religious, militant Jews in addition to hybridizing various religious beliefs of Greeks and Jews into a one-world-order of the Roman Empire.
Regardless of how the New Testament came about and progressed into the most popular religion of our day, it was evident to me prior to reading these books, the New Testament is not inspired by God, but was allowed by God as a test (Deuteronomy 13). As for me, I will stick to the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, and serve only the God of Israel, not the god or opinion of Rome or any other.
Shalom and blessings!
Profile of a Prophet: How To Discern Between a True and False Prophet
In recent years, while on my peculiar faith journey learning to listen and lean on God, I thoroughly studied the prophets of the Hebrew Bible to help me understand prophecy and to discern between true and false prophets. I was experiencing many unexplainable and seemingly prophetic occurrences, which I attributed to God’s Spirit moving on my life and directing my steps, all of which prompted me to explore such concepts in the Bible. In the ancient days, the Hebrew Bible reveals there were numerous true prophets as well as false ones (1 Kings 19:14-18; 2 Chronicles 18:5). If God doesn’t change as the prophet Malachi proclaims (Malachi 3:6) and does nothing without revealing it to His prophets first as the prophet Amos says (Amos 3:7), it is likely God indeed still speaks though His revelation may be less common like it was reported in the days of Samuel’s early life (1 Samuel 3:1). Consequently, unlike most branches of Judaism today who believe God stopped speaking after the prophet Malachi, I believe God still speaks and there are still true prophets today. As a former Christian, I also studied the New Testament as it reports various prophets, namely John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, and a few others. Due to these reports of prophets and apostles, some sects of Christianity breed a plethora of false prophets. These variables prompted me to investigate the prophets of the Hebrew Bible to discern who is a true prophet and who is a false prophet in both the New Testament as well as in modern-day life. We can glean much from a careful study of the Hebrew Bible, the foundation for which all theological concepts must be judged by.
Note: The Scriptures listed below do not capture all the appropriate verses that could be applied to said concepts, but they are an extensive list for readers to research and reflect on.
- A true prophet will acknowledge the One True Living God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of Israel and Him alone. Exodus 3:6,15-18; Judges 5:1-3; Isaiah 43:10-11; 44:6; 45:21-22; Jeremiah 11:1-3; Hosea 13:4. Be aware even some false prophets acknowledge the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and can even accurately hear/see things of God, such as Balaam (Numbers 22-24; 31:8); nevertheless, all the following criteria should be measured when discerning who is and isn’t a prophet/prophetess of God.
- A true prophet will not just be all about serving the One True Living God, but they will also be all about His way, being Torah, also known as God’s instructions, to hit the mark, or God’s laws/commands. Deuteronomy 13 warns that if a prophet comes along and instructs you to worship another god or worship another as if they are God (like Jesus), do away with God’s commands as Paul teaches in his letter to the Galatians, follow another voice such as Jesus’ or Paul’s voice, etc., then you will know they are a false prophet. That same text says even if the prophecy manifests or some miracle is performed and they use that to convince you to worship, follow, serve, listen to, trust and obey anything other than what God’s Voice already said in His documented Voice, being Torah, you will know they are a false prophet. When one studies the prophets of the Hebrew Bible, it is glaringly obvious they all beckon their audience to repent and return to the One True Living God and His Torah, which is His Voice, His instructions for how to live (Deuteronomy 28:1+; Genesis 26:5). Furthermore, Scripture reveals false prophets can indeed perform signs and wonders such as the ones that battled Moses for Pharaoh’s decision (Exodus 7:11, 22), but it does not mean you ought to believe their message. Should you come across an alleged prophet, whether in written text or in person, it will behoove you to discover if the alleged prophet or teacher is for or against God’s law/instructions/commands, all synonyms for Torah, as it will be a huge clue to aid your discernment. 1 Samuel 7:3; 12:14-15,20-25; 13:13-14; 15:22-24; 1 Kings 8; 1 Kings 18:36-40; 2 Kings 17:13-23; 2 Kings 22:14-20; 2 Chronicles 34:21-33; Isaiah 30; Jeremiah 9:12-16; 10:1-16; Jeremiah 11:1-7; 16:10-12; Ezekiel 3; 11:19-21; 33; 36:26-28; Daniel 9:4-13; Hosea 4:6; 9:17; 14:9; Amos 2:4; Jonah 3:3-10; Malachi 2:5-9
- A true prophet will be called by God and or receive instructions through typically a vision or dream versus their own wishful thinking. Consequently, God’s prophets were called “Seers”. If you evaluate all the prophets of the Bible, the LORD spoke to the vast majority of them through a vision, dream, or some type of visual experience. Numbers 12:6; Genesis 15:1; 17:1; 26:2; 31:10-13; 32:22-32; 37:1-36; 40-42; Exodus 3:2-6; Judges 5:12; 1 Samuel 3:3-15,21; 9:3,19 ; 2 Samuel 7:4,17; 24:11; 1 Kings 3:5,15; 9:2; 2 Kings 17:13; 2 Chronicles 7:12; 2 Chronicles 9:29; 2 Chronicles 16:7,10 ; 2 Chronicles 26:5; Isaiah 1:1; 2:1, 13:1; 30:9-11; Jeremiah 1:11-13; Ezekiel 1:4, 28; Daniel 7:1; 8:1,15; 9:20-21; Hosea 12:10,13; Amos 1:1; 3:7; 7:1,4,12; 8:1-2; Obadiah 1:1; Micah 1:1; Nahum 1:1; Habakkuk 1:1; 2:2; Zechariah 1:8; 2:1
- A true prophet does NOT want to be a prophet. Whereas, a false prophet promotes themselves and their status as a prophet, their merchandise, their books, etc. True prophets are hated, persecuted, isolated, lonely, and usually killed not to mention, carry the burden of the prophecy itself. A false prophet wants to be a prophet for fame, respect, power, and control. True prophets are humble, often isolated (especially when being called by God and refined before ministering), often lowly in position, seem peculiar or different from the world (think of David and Amos how they were just shepherds of no status or Moses hanging out in a desert). False prophets want the glory and strive to be popular. They often are flashy, showy, performance-driven, and driven by money. They often prophesy about their followers’ material possessions versus a person developing a heart that actively seeks God. Jeremiah 1:6-10; 20:7-10; Daniel 6; Amos 7:14-15; Habakkuk 1:1-4; Nahum 1:1; Jonah 1-2; Micah 2-3
- A true prophet will be sent by God (usually to leaders, but also to lands, and individuals not in authority). Genesis 37-42 (Joseph forcibly sent) ; Exodus 3; 1 Kings 17:3,9; 18:1; Jonah 1 (Jonah forcibly sent); Isaiah 7; Amos 7:14-15; Jeremiah 2:1; 4:5; 5:1; 7:2; 11:2; 18:2; 26:2; Daniel 1-2 (Daniel forcibly sent); Haggai 1:1, 12
- A true prophet will most likely tell you what you NEED to hear, not what you WANT to hear. Hence, why the prophet was sent in the first place. Whereas, a false prophet will be all about telling you want sounds good to you. They can read the idols of your heart and therefore, tell you what your heart desires making you like them and that word. A true prophet’s message will be about cultivating a circumcised heart, open to relationship with God, serving Him with your whole heart, walking in God’s Torah, and not nearly as concerned about material fleshly things. Although a true prophet may at times provide an encouraging positive word if that is what God tells them you NEED to hear, it will more likely be a message of repentance, warning, or judgment. What I call a “Reflect. Correct. Direct.” type of message. Be leery of prophets who give you words of ‘peace and prosperity’ than prophets who correct or warn you. Always analyze the overall message though – does it point your heart towards repentance? 1 Kings 18:16-19; 22; 2 Kings 20:1; 2 Kings 22:14-20; 1 Chronicles 17:1-5; 2 Chronicles 16:7-10; 2 Chronicles 25:15-16; 2 Chronicles 28:9-15; 2 Chronicles 36:15-16; Isaiah 38:1; Jeremiah 2; 5:15-18; 10:1-25; 12:17; 13:9-10; 14-15; 22:1-5; 23:9-40; 28:1-1-29:32; Ezekiel 2; 13-14; Hosea 8:1-3,8; 11:5; 13:4; Nahum 1-3
- A true prophet will be all about “REPENT & RETURN, Serve the LORD” whereas a false prophet will be all about “RECEIVE & REJOICE, The LORD serves you!” Again, a true prophet is less concerned about your worldly goods or fleshly things and will be focused on the issues of your heart that need aligning to Abba Father and His Word first and foremost. 2 Samuel 12; 1 Kings 20:35-43; 2 Chronicles 12:1-12; 2 Chronicles 16:3-17; Isaiah 55:6-7; Isaiah 56:1; Jeremiah 4:1-4; 13:9-10; 18:1-11; 23:9; 23:9-40; Jeremiah 18:19; 28; 31:21-22; Ezekiel 14; 16; 18:30-32; 20:7-32; Daniel 9:4-13; Hosea 4:6; 6:1-3; Joel 2:12-14; Amos 4:6-13; 5:4, 14-15; Jonah 3; Micah 6:8; Zephaniah 2:3; Zechariah 1:3-4; Malachi 2:5-9; 3:6-7; 4:4-6
- A true prophet will tell you a very specific word from the LORD. 1 Samuel 3:11-21; 1 Samuel 10; 2 Samuel 7:4-17; 2 Samuel 24:11-25; 1 Kings 17:8-9; 21:17-24; 2 Kings 3:15-4:7; 2 Kings 5:10; 2 Kings 19:2,5-7,20-37; Isaiah 7-11; 41-46 (notice Isaiah in chp 45 predicts a Gentile King named Cyrus will help restore the temple after the Babylonian captivity of Jews-See Daniel 9 predicts the same thing/compare to Ezra 1); 48-56; 60-62; 65-66; Jeremiah 6; 16; 29-33 (notice in 29:10 Jeremiah predicted Jews would be in Babylonian captivity 70 years, which indeed manifested/Daniel 9:2); 50:4-5; 51:1-6; Ezekiel 9-12; 34-48; Daniel 11-12; Hosea 3:4-5; Joel 1-3; Amos 1-9; Micah 4-5; Zephaniah 1-3; Haggai 1; Zechariah 12-14
- A true prophet’s prophecy will probably** manifest whereas a false word will fall to the ground (fail). Deuteronomy 18:18-22; 1 Samuel 3:19; Jeremiah 18:1-11; 28:9.
**Please note!
IF the prophecy manifests, that could be a very good indication it is of the LORD. UNLESS, the overall message of that prophet is telling you to reject God’s Torah/Law, serve the idols of your heart, worship another god (like Jesus), obey man’s doctrines (like Paul’s), or be all about more worldly things (like most modern prophets) versus the One True Living God and His ways, His laws, His will!! THIS IS A TEST FROM GOD. Deuteronomy 12:32-13:10
IF the prophecy does NOT manifest, that could be due to a few reasons:
- It came from the so-called prophet’s/person’s heart (imagination) not God. Jeremiah 23:16-17
- The person/prophet added to or subtracted from the word itself. Deuteronomy 12:32; Jeremiah 26:2
- The people repented or disobeyed, depending on if the prophecy was a call to repentance (much more common) or a prosperous prophecy (very rare), and so it was a prophecy conditioned on the response of the people. Book of Jonah; Jeremiah 18:1-11
The end goal of all true prophets who prophesy repentance, warning, and judgment is that the prophecy NOT manifest for that means the people repented. Jeremiah 18:1-11. Jonah, for example, was a successful prophet, because the Gentiles/ Ninevites repented and avoided devastation. Then again, a successful prophet is also one who is obedient in giving the word of the LORD. It is not the job of the prophet to get or somehow manipulate the people to receive the word; it is merely his/her job to deliver the message.
With these criteria, I encourage you to carefully consider and judge those who may have been said to have been a prophet in the writings of the New Testament as well as modern-day prophets or alleged prophets of old. People like Saint Paul, Emperor Constantine, Joseph Smith, David Koresh, and many others have had mystical visual experiences, myself included, some have claimed to be prophets, but how do they measure up as a prophet according to the criteria we studied above? Based off the criteria of the Hebrew Bible, the vast majority of today’s prophets are false as were the ones of days gone by; additionally, the alleged prophets of the New Testament have proven they are false considering they all encouraged their audience to worship the man, Jesus, as God and most, especially Paul, encouraged God’s Torah to be ignored (that is assuming such characters actually existed to begin with and the stories written about them are indeed how they presented themselves).
Prophets, both then and now, are sent by God as a test. Learn to discern.
Updated January 2021
For Unto Us Jesus Is Born? Understanding Isaiah 9:6
Every Christmas season, Isaiah 9:6 is quoted in churches around the world as one of the clearest prophecies of Jesus. Many Christians are familiar with the familiar wording:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…”
For years, I accepted that interpretation without question. As a Christian, I assumed Isaiah was predicting the birth of Jesus approximately seven centuries before the events described in the New Testament. However, when I began studying the Hebrew text and examining the broader context of Isaiah, I discovered that traditional Jewish interpretation understands the passage very differently.
The issue is not whether Isaiah 9 is important. Both Judaism and Christianity recognize the significance of the passage. The question is whether Isaiah was describing a future messiah hundreds of years later or speaking about events unfolding in his own generation.
Reading Isaiah in Context
One of the most important principles of biblical interpretation is context. The Book of Isaiah was not written as a collection of isolated verses. Rather, it records prophetic messages delivered to real people facing real historical circumstances.
Isaiah chapters 7–12 are set during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah. The kingdom was facing a military threat from Aram (Syria) and the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim). The prophet Isaiah was sent to reassure Ahaz that these enemies would not ultimately prevail.
Isaiah 7 begins with a conversation between the prophet and King Ahaz. The king is frightened, and God instructs Isaiah to offer him a sign (Isaiah 7:10-11). The purpose of the sign is immediate and practical: to reassure Ahaz concerning the crisis facing Judah.
The sign Isaiah provides is found in Isaiah 7:14:
“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: behold, the young woman is pregnant and is bearing a son, and she shall call his name Immanuel.”
In the Hebrew text, the woman is already pregnant or about to give birth. The prophecy is directed to Ahaz, not to people living centuries later. The child serves as a sign that before he reaches a certain age, the threatening kings will be removed (Isaiah 7:15-16).
From a Jewish perspective, the passage is therefore understood as referring to events within Isaiah’s own lifetime rather than predicting a future virgin birth.
The Meaning of Immanuel
Christians often point to the name “Immanuel” as evidence that the child was God incarnate because the name means “God is with us.”
However, Hebrew names frequently incorporate the name of God without implying that the individual is divine.
Examples include:
- Elijah (“My God is YHWH”)
- Isaiah (“Salvation of YHWH”)
- Jeremiah (“YHWH exalts”)
- Hezekiah (“YHWH strengthens”)
No one suggests that these individuals were themselves God. Rather, their names conveyed theological truths about God’s relationship with Israel.
Likewise, “Immanuel” communicates the message that God is with His people during a time of national crisis.
Isaiah 8 and the Continuing Sign
The context becomes even more interesting in the next chapter.
Isaiah 8 records another birth associated with Isaiah’s prophetic ministry. The prophet’s wife conceives and bears a son named Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz (Isaiah 8:1-4). Like the child of Isaiah 7, this child serves as a time marker connected to events unfolding in Isaiah’s own day.
Before the child reaches a certain age, the wealth of Damascus and Samaria will be carried away by Assyria.
This repeated pattern is significant. Throughout Isaiah 7 and 8, children are used as prophetic signs concerning contemporary events. The focus remains firmly on Judah’s immediate political situation rather than on events hundreds of years in the future.
Isaiah 9 and the Promised Child
When Isaiah 9 is read within this larger context, the chapter continues the theme of hope for Judah.
The Hebrew text is often translated differently than the familiar Christian rendering. A more literal reading of Isaiah 9:5 (9:6 in Christian Bibles) contains verbs in the past tense:
“For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us.”
Rather than describing a future birth centuries later, the verse can be understood as celebrating a child already born or recently born.
Traditional Jewish commentators generally identify this child with King Hezekiah, the righteous son of Ahaz.
This interpretation fits the historical setting. Hezekiah became one of Judah’s most faithful kings and played a crucial role during the Assyrian crisis. Under his leadership, Jerusalem survived the Assyrian siege described in 2 Kings 18-19.
Understanding the Royal Titles
The titles found in Isaiah 9 have generated considerable debate.
Many English translations render them as:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
From a Jewish perspective, however, these titles are often understood differently.
Hebrew names and royal titles frequently contain references to God. Rather than describing the child as God Himself, many Jewish commentators understand the verse as declaring what God has done or will do through the child.
This approach is consistent with numerous Hebrew names that incorporate divine attributes without assigning divinity to the individual bearing the name.
The broader context also favors a royal successor in the line of David rather than a divine incarnation. Isaiah is describing God’s preservation of Judah through the Davidic dynasty during a period of national crisis.
The Messianic Question
Does Isaiah 9 speak about the Messiah?
Some Jewish commentators see messianic themes within the chapter because the Davidic kingdom ultimately points toward the future redemption of Israel. However, even among those who acknowledge messianic implications, the passage is not viewed as predicting a divine messiah or a virgin birth.
Traditional Judaism expects the Messiah to accomplish specific tasks described throughout the Hebrew Scriptures.
According to passages such as Isaiah 2:1-4, Isaiah 11:1-9, Jeremiah 23:5-8, Ezekiel 37:21-28, and Zechariah 14, the Messiah will:
- Gather the dispersed of Israel.
- Restore the Davidic kingdom.
- Bring worldwide knowledge of God.
- Establish lasting peace among nations.
- Lead humanity into an era of justice and righteousness.
Because these events have not yet occurred, Judaism does not identify Jesus as the Messiah foretold by the prophets.
My Personal Journey
As I began studying Isaiah in Hebrew and examining traditional Jewish interpretations, I was surprised by how different the text appeared from the way I had previously understood it.
I discovered that many passages commonly presented as messianic prophecies look quite different when read in their original context. Rather than beginning with the New Testament and reading backward into the Hebrew Scriptures, I found it helpful to let the Hebrew text speak on its own terms.
That process led me to appreciate the depth of Jewish biblical interpretation and the importance of studying Scripture within its historical and linguistic setting.
Whether one ultimately agrees with Jewish or Christian conclusions, Isaiah deserves to be read in context. The prophet’s message was first delivered to the people of his own generation, and understanding that original audience is essential to understanding the text itself.
The more carefully I studied Isaiah, the more convinced I became that Isaiah 9 is best understood as part of a message of hope to Judah during the days of Ahaz and Hezekiah rather than as a prediction of Jesus seven centuries later.
~ Carrie R. Turner, revised June 15, 2026
***
Below are some related graphics I discovered online many years ago from unknown sources regarding gods that various ancient cultures believed were born on December 25th. I did not create the graphics nor confirm all the information presented on the graphics. Nevertheless, I found them interesting, and something I want to investigate further.
Are the 7 Noahide Laws the Only Commands Gentiles Should Obey?
Both Judaism and Christianity typically teach that God’s 613 commands are exclusively for Jews to obey while Gentiles are only obligated to obey general moral laws such as the “Seven Noahide Laws”. For those unfamiliar with the 7 Noahide Laws, they are as follows:
1) Don’t worship any other god, but the One True Living God (no idols);
2) Don’t curse God;
3) Don’t commit murder/bloodshed;
4) Don’t steal;
5) Don’t commit sexual immorality;
6) Establish a judicial system;
7) Don’t eat the limb/flesh of a living animal.
Some of these principles are established by Noah as instructions to his sons after the family and animals exited the ark upon being the sole survivors of the great flood in Genesis 9 while other alleged laws are assumed. In this chapter of the Bible thought to be the basis for the Noahide Laws, Noah urges his sons and their wives to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 9:1,7) as did God to Adam and Eve; Noah also informed his sons that the animals, the birds, and fish would be fearful of man, but man has dominion over them all (vs. 2); they can’t eat meat rare (with blood in it – vs. 3); and, lastly, they can’t murder or cause blood to be shed (vs. 5-6). If we were to go strictly by Genesis 9 alone, then, technically, these four commands would be the Noahide Laws. The Jewish sages expanded on them some to establish the seven, and various sects of Christianity have their own set of laws as well.
It is my position that while these Noahide laws are a great place to start, there appear to be hints of other laws Gentiles could obey and Gentiles of the future will obey. Moreover, whether Jew or Gentile, one ought to obey God’s commands, not suggestions, to the best of their ability and understanding out of their love for God. If one devotes their time looking for excuses or develops arguments against obeying God’s commands, therein reveals much, namely one’s heart and alleged reverence for God and His authority in their life.
With that said, let us look at a few examples of Gentiles obeying what many would consider exclusive Jewish laws or laws not listed in the Seven Noahide Laws.
Sacrifices
First, consider neither Adam, Eve, their sons, nor even Noah were Jewish for the tribes of Israel and therefore, the tribe of Judah, had not existed at this point in the Genesis story, and yet, God evidently commanded or, at the very least, welcomed the first family to offer sacrifices to Him. Hence, the first case of domestic violence and homicide, sadly, as Cain was jealous of Abel’s sacrifice (Genesis 4). Second, notice that Noah understood the importance of sacrifices as he too offered sacrifices as soon as the flood was over (Genesis 8:20-22). Noah also made sure there were clean and unclean animals on the ark presumably for the purpose of making sacrifices and food (Genesis 7:2,8), instructions not yet documented until much later (Leviticus 1-7, 11). Likewise, many years post-flood, Abraham, who also was not technically Jewish, although the first Hebrew, fashioned an altar to worship God (Genesis 12:7; 13:4,18); although the text does not specifically say he also offered sacrifices, it is inferred. Later, when Abraham’s son, Isaac, was older, God tested Abraham’s devotion to God by instructing him to, you could say, lay his idol down as Abraham set out to sacrifice his son as a burnt offering on an altar. Abraham trusted God would provide a better alternative while demonstrating he loved God even more than his miracle-baby. Consequently, God indeed had a better plan and provided a clean animal instead of Isaac (see Genesis 22). Again, all of this took place well before Jews and Judaism existed or God’s commands were documented by Moses.
As another example of Gentiles making sacrifices, in the future, after God somehow physically rescues, regathers, and resurrects the scattered tribes of Israel and reigns on Earth (Zechariah 9-14), the surviving Gentile nations will be required to participate in making sacrifices for the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot in Hebrew, according to Zechariah 14:16-21. Did you catch that? It will be required of Gentiles by God Himself to sacrifice in the future – for Sukkot / Feast of Tabernacles for certain! In that same time period, a temple will exist, according to the prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 37-47; so, evidently, Gentiles that survive the Battle of Gog of Magog will be bringing sacrifices to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot, or Feast of Booths or Feast of Ingathering.
It should be noted that Noah offered sacrifices of praise upon his literal, physical salvation (Genesis 8:20-22) just as the future surviving Gentiles will do upon their literal, physical salvation (Zechariah 14). Likewise, Noah and the other family that survived the flood repopulated the renewed Earth just as the future surviving Gentiles will do.
Sabbath and Other Holy Days
In the previous segment about sacrifices, we briefly explored the Feasts of Tabernacles, a Feast of the LORD, and how it will be celebrated in the World-To-Come, or upon God creating the New Heavens and New Earth, in the New Covenant not yet activated. In Isaiah 66:22-24, we also see the seventh-day Sabbath and the monthly new moon celebrations (Rosh Chodesh) will be observed by “all flesh”, meaning all mankind. The Prophet Ezekiel also predicts during that era God’s Sabbaths and Feasts are obeyed as well as sacrifices by the reunited and resurrected twelve tribes of Israel (see Ezekiel 43-44). It would appear in the future because all of the once scattered Israelites will be fully restored in the Promised Land of Canaan (Israel), God’s laws will also be fully restored while Gentiles obey some additional laws such as the Sabbath and celebrate Sukkot.
Fasting
Fasting is another command not found in the Seven Noahide Laws and yet the Prophet Jonah instructs the Gentiles of Nineveh to fast as a means to demonstrate their repentance. Fasting is a central part of Judaism, particularly on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), one of God’s Holy Days found in Leviticus 23, and all about repentance. Apparently, God appreciates the Gentile who fasts as a sign of repentance as well.
Lying
Technically, lying is not one of the Seven Noahide Laws either, but according to Nahum 3:1, the Ninevites (see Nahum 1:1), the ones who fasted and repented as mentioned above, were sinning by lying. In other words, lying was one of the offenses that caused God to send a prophet announcing God’s disapproval of their behavior and their need to repent to be spared from God’s wrath.
Sorcery
Likewise, sorcery was another command the Ninevites evidently violated, according to Nahum 3:4, and yet, is not listed in the Seven-To-Heaven list, or list that deems a Gentile righteous if obeyed according to the traditions of Judaism. Sorcery isn’t even in the 10 Commandments and yet clearly, a no-no, for both Jew and Gentile (Micah 5:11-14).
Unclean Food: No Bacon For You!
The vague translations of Genesis 9 make it sound like Noah’s sons can eat anything, but just the fact that Noah brings both unclean and clean animals on board the ark indicates otherwise. God specifically informed Moses much later what is food and not food in both Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 for Israelites, but it is interesting Noah understood what animals are clean and unclean before God gave Moses such instructions inferring the knowledge of what God defines as food predated the covenant given at Mt Sinai.
Clearly, God reveals throughout various Scriptures, albeit after carefully studying, that the Seven Noahide Laws may be a great place for Gentiles to start obeying God, but Gentiles should at the very least expect some more in the future (ie. Sukkot sacrifices & Sabbath). Moreover, consider the simple fact that Jews are “chosen” to be the light to the nations (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6) designed to teach the light, being Torah or God’s commands, and all its wisdom and glory to the deceived world (Proverbs 6:23; Psalm 119:18,105-106; Ezekiel 44:23-24; Jeremiah 16:19; Zechariah 8). We also can learn throughout the passages of the prophetic books in the Hebrew Bible, in the future, everyone will know who God is and what He expects (Jeremiah 31) – it will be a time when the whole world, will “learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:8-10) meaning Torah, God’s definition of light, His instructions on how to be the light, life, and love. Torah will be taught to the nations and consequently, there will be world peace (see Isaiah 2 and Micah 4).
Moreover, whether Jew or Gentile, everyone has specific responsibilities and purpose then, now, and in the future.
In conclusion, in addition to the benefits of learning Torah, it is apparent to me if certain commands were observed by Gentiles before the tribes of Israel were even established and some of the said commands will be observed by the world after all the tribes of Israel are reunited and re-established in the future, then obviously, they are neither done away with, as Christianity teaches, nor only 7 laws for Gentiles as traditional Judaism teaches. Therefore, I do not believe the 7 Noahide Laws are the only commands Gentiles should obey, but rather, it could be a good place to start.
Questions Every Christian or Messianic Should Investigate
Since we each must give an account for ourselves and ideally should be able to explain one’s faith, I have wrestled with some difficult questions over the years all of which cumulated in this eye-opening year of 2020 vision. This, like all my thought-provoking articles, are not an attack against an individual person, but rather it is exposing what I now see is a false ideology called Christianity, specifically what God labels as idolatry, and moreover, an invitation to dig into the Holy Scriptures for oneself while pondering, praying, and pursuing such critical concepts.
Naturally, when people can’t explain or can’t overcome such objections, they become angry at the person exposing error or at the very least challenging their belief, not realizing the person, such as myself, typically are motivated by love to do so. After all, iron sharpens iron. Nevertheless, I understand the mentality, the passion, and emotion of the Christian, as I, too, was appalled and even angry upon learning such truths below – first, at the person or people sharing, and then, more appropriately my anger became directed at Christianity or idolatry in general for propagating such blatant and now obvious to me fallacies. Though I readily admit, I know not all of God’s truth, for none of us can, today, I am in complete peace (Psalm 119:165), more in love with God and others than ever and daily learning to surrender to God, His will, and His Spirit of Holiness. It has been a long process of truth-seeking that eventually led me to the LORD when I thought I would be leading others to Him! You could say it’s been a journey of flip-flopped faith, though certainly not my intention when I picked the name “Flip Flop Fellowship” for my ministry. God clearly has a sense of all-knowing humor. It is my prayer these questions, as well as my various articles and testimony, spurn you, dear student of the Bible, to continue to seek Abba Father and His will for you with all your being and by continually comparing and examining your will and theology to His as defined in His Holy Scriptures. But I both confess and warn, it is not easy to lay our idols down.
As always, much love, shalom, and blessings! ~Carrie, 10.5.2020
1)What criteria did God give the Israelites regarding how to discern a false prophet, false teacher, or false messiah?
FACT: In Deuteronomy 13, God specifically instructed the Israelites to beware of and test a person based off two criteria: 1) Does the person implore the Israelites to worship any other person, thing, or other gods as “God” for God alone is to be worshiped – not His son, not anybody, or anything but God. 2) Does the person teach that G!d’s instructions being God’s law or Torah is done away with, old, irrelevant? For Israel is only to obey God and His instructions, not man’s, not Paul’s, not Jesus’ commands, but God’s alone.
2) What are the Jews, Israel, or Twelve Tribes of Israel chosen for? “Chosen” to do what exactly and why?
FACT: Israel, being the Twelve Tribes, specifically the Jews, are chosen to make God, His name, and His Torah known. They are chosen to be the light of the world, to set the captives free, so that all the world may also experience salvation. They are chosen as God’s “Servant” (Isaiah 44:1, 21, 45:4, 48:20, 49:3, 52:13) or commissioned to instruct the world in Torah, which the Scriptures define as light itself (Psalm 119:105,130; Proverbs 6:23; Isaiah 62:1-2), the way of salvation or righteousness, and moreover, living a lifestyle of loving God and loving others. According to the prophets, eventually, in the World-To-Come/Messianic Era, they are elevated and honored while some of them are specifically commissioned to help teach Torah to the world as the world “learns righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9-10). See Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 6, 7:6-8, 26:17-19; 2 Samuel 7:23-24; Psalm 105; Isaiah 2:1-5; 26:1-12; 32:16-20; 33:20-24; 35:1-10; 42:6-7; 48:17-19; 49:6; 51:4-7; 52:1-2; 62:1-12; 66:5-24; Jeremiah 29-31; Zechariah 8, 12; Ezekiel 44:23-24; Amos 9:11-15; Obadiah 1:15-21; Micah 4:1-5; Joel 3; Zephaniah 3:8-20; Daniel 12:3; Hosea 14. Nearly every prophetic book foretells this glorious event and outcome for the children of Israel, wherever they are scattered in the past, present, and future world!
3) If both Jew and Gentile can be forgiven by simply repenting and striving to keep God’s commands, which are His instructions for life found in Torah, why did Jesus have to die for people’s sins?
FACT: God has always eagerly forgave people who authentically repented. His grace has always been available well before Jesus arrived. See Deuteronomy 4:29-31; 1 Kings 8; 2 Samuel 12 (Did King David have to make a sacrifice for forgiveness of his sin?); Isaiah 1:16-17; 42:6; 43:25; 44:22; 45:22,25 ; 49:10; 55:6-7; Psalms 24:3-6; 25:6,10; 30:5; 32:1,5; 34:22; 36:5,10; 37:18,29,34,37-40; 51:1-4, 7-9 (really all of Psalm 51); 68:19; 72:12-14; Psalm 103; 119:118,132,155-156; 146:17-20; 147:11; Micah 7:18-20; Book of Jonah (notice even the Gentiles had to repent- repent from what? Did they have to have a blood sacrifice for forgiveness?). To study more passages, read this article: Always Have Been Saved By Grace
4) Since forgiveness has been and still is granted without any blood sacrifice and by simply repenting, why did Jesus need to spill his blood as a sacrifice?
FACT: God forgave people with or without blood sacrifices and /or if they only offered other items instead of blood sacrifices such as flour, money, or jewelry when a temple was in place. See passages above in #3 as well as Leviticus 5:11-13 (flour), Exodus 30:15-16 (money), Numbers 31:48-52 (jewelry). The sin sacrifices were a tangible act in order to teach them to not forget God’s instructions/His law like requiring your kid to sacrifice their electronics when they disobey for sin has consequences – best to learn to obey Abba Father/God for our own good (Deuteronomy 5:29; 6:24-25; 10:12-13). To learn more, read this article: Why Jesus Didn’t Die For Anyone’s Sins (but his own)
5) Why would the unknown authors* of the gospels claim Jesus is God’s one and only son (John 3:16) when Scripture reveals the twelve tribes of Israel/the Jewish people (and their descendants) are God’s sons and daughters; therefore, G!d has many sons?
*scholars don’t know for certain who exactly penned each gospel
FACT: When God speaks to the Israelites/Israel/Judah or when the prophets refer to God, God or the prophet often identifies Himself/God as Father inferring He has many sons and daughters – see Deuteronomy 32:6; Isaiah 64:7; Jeremiah 3:19, as a few examples. Similarly, God says in Isaiah 56 that non-Jews/Gentiles/foreigners who choose to enjoin themselves with God and His holy covenant (meaning Torah) by willingly obeying it (Judaism refers to this as “Jews-By-Choice”) are considered “better than sons or daughters” indicating the naturally chosen are sons and daughters while the “Jews-By-Choice”, or adopted if you will, are even more honored and also brought to Mt Zion upon being literally saved, regathered, or resurrected. Also, see Psalm 82:6 and even Jesus referred to his audience of Jews also as sons in John 10 when quoting Psalm 82:6. And yet the mysterious author of John* made it seem like Jesus is the one and only begotten son of God a few chapters earlier in John 3. In other words, Jesus was one of God’s many children.
6) Why would God instruct one of His sons, since Jesus was a Jew, to die for the sins of the world as the New Testament claims when God already informed Israel no person can die for another person’s sins?
FACT: According to Deuteronomy 24:16; Ezekiel 18:1-32; 33:12-20; Jeremiah 31:29-30 (which is also what Eze 18:1-2 says), and Psalm 49:7 no person can die for another persons’ sins even in the New Covenant chapter of Jeremiah 31.
7) Why would God instruct one of His sons, much less God’s other kids, to believe God would offer His child as a sacrifice when God specifically told His kids, being the Israelites, never to offer their children as sacrifices?
FACT: God often instructed the Israelites to not mimic other religions such as offering their children as sacrifices to a god(s), or as a form of worship, and labeled such behavior an abomination. See Leviticus 18:21, 20:3; Deuteronomy 12:29-32; 18:10; 2 Kings 3:27, 16:3, 17:17; 2 Chronicles 28:3, 33:6; Jeremiah 7:31; Psalm 106:35-38; Ezekiel 16:20-21 as some examples.
8) Why are we still teaching each other about who the One True Living God is if we are currently in the New Covenant?
FACT: According to the only chapter in the Holy Scriptures that refers by name a “New Covenant”, found in Jeremiah 31, no one will need to inform one another who God is for all will know Him (see verse 34). Incidentally, most Christians seem to not notice what the ambiguous author of Hebrews pens in chapter 8:13, which says referring to the “old” and “new” covenants, “Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away” inferring the “old” covenant isn’t obsolete or done away with yet because the New Covenant hasn’t manifested just yet -obviously, since there is no world peace and everyone obeying Torah (but more on that later). Equally fascinating, is the New Covenant isn’t activated until there is a New Jerusalem, New Heavens, and New Earth – hence, all the references to “Behold, I will do (future tense) a NEW thing..” Isaiah 43:19. More accurately, RENEWED covenant, RENEWED earth, RENEWED Jerusalem, etc. How interesting God is referring to do a “new thing” upon literally saving Israel from their oppressors and restoring them all to the land of Canaan/Israel as discussed in #2.
8) Why in the New Covenant / World-To-Come / Messianic Era (the future, whatever you want to call it) are there still sacrifices if Jesus was the final sacrifice? Moreover, how can Christians honestly believe another man, namely Paul, when he says God’s laws are a curse and not to be obeyed when clearly it is not just commanded by God, but the future of the world?
FACT: Ezekiel chapters 36-48 describe both the literal resurrection of all of Israel, regathering, and restoration of Israel, both dead and alive, to the land of their inheritance in Israel, a magnificent event nearly all the prophets describe but hasn’t manifested nowhere near its entirety just yet. In this future era, there is a unique temple established along with sacrifices led by the ruler/prince including not just the praise sacrifices, but sin sacrifices as well (see specifically Ezekiel 43-44). Additionally, Zechariah 14:16+ informs us in the future, after God literally physically saves Israel from their enemies, all the remaining survivors of the nations must participate in bringing sacrifices to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, or what is known in Hebrew as “Sukkot”, in order for it to rain, or put another way in order for them and their economy to survive. Sukkot is in the Fall (September/October on the Gregorian calendar) and is the initiation of the rainy season. In fact, as I pen this, it is Sukkot, a festival of rejoicing, for one day, it will indeed be a whole new world full of joy and peace! To learn more about the Feasts of the LORD, read Leviticus 23. Also, in Isaiah 65-66 God describes the future and how He wants to be worshiped, as well as how He is specifically angered at those who consume pork, which He instructed not to eat in Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14, and describes worship as participating in the Sabbaths and festivals of the LORD in the New Heavens and New Earth (aka New Covenant). Furthermore, Zechariah 8 tells us Gentiles will be clinging to Jews to learn more about God one fine day.
9) Why would the “New Testament” and Christianity be all about propagating one must “believe” Jesus is Messiah in order to be spared from hell and go to heaven when there is absolutely no prophecy in the Hebrew Bible stating one must believe in a future Messiah in order to experience salvation much less the heaven vs hell concept?
FACT: Search the prophets out for yourself, you will not find any prophetic word regarding anyone must believe in a Messiah to be saved. But what you do read in Amos 3:7 is God does nothing without revealing it to His prophets first. Also, you will find a very different definition of salvation unfolds. Plainly said, salvation is a literal, physical experience, not solely spiritual mental ascent, while both salvation and righteousness are repeatedly linked with obeying God’s commands, His laws, His Torah, His Voice. Whereas many passages infer or directly state those who disregard God’s laws are considered wicked (Psalm 50; Psalm 119), without knowledge, and will perish (Hosea 4:6). You will not find in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh, the law, and the prophets where salvation is merely a mental belief in a Messiah, but rather reward is based on your conduct, the exact opposite of what the New Testament, namely Paul, teaches.
10) In the early 1990’s, did you believe David Koresh when he claimed to be Messiah? His followers claimed he performed miracles and was prophetic. He and presumably his followers were writing manuscripts to spread his good news, his message. Would you put your trust in him? How about if he and or his roommates, who all tragically and unnecessarily perished, claimed he WAS actually God? Would you pick up your cross and follow him? On what criteria do you judge a person and their message? Is not the Hebrew Bible, the law and prophets, the foundation for which all are to be judged? Hence, the very label “the law”. What makes you put your trust in Jesus, or more accurately, Paul since Christianity is mostly based on Paul’s message and spiritual experience of seeing Jesus in the sky allegedly? Did Jesus, Paul, or other Apostles entice you to worship someone or something other than God, or worse, did Jesus or his followers indicate Jesus WAS/IS God; therefore, replacing God or elevating oneself to be as God or as part of God? Did Jesus, Paul, the other Apostles, or any of their followers, then and now, instruct you to disobey God by not keeping His law? Do you or your church have an Easter ham for dinner, as an example of breaking God’s law? Do you rest, reflect, and spend time with God and family on the 7th day or are you out grocery shopping, mowing the grass, or doing laundry? Does your church celebrate Easter, Halloween, or Christmas, but not the feasts of the LORD, His holy holidays? Why do some, if not all, denominations of Christianity claim everybody should keep the 10 commandments, but not the one about Sabbath or worshiping other gods?
FACT: Every Christian, whether Catholic or Protestant or even Messianic Jew/Gentile, knows that according to the writings of the New Testament, Jesus, but especially Paul as well as the other Apostles and the unknown authors of the gospels, elevated Jesus to be God (John 1), for Jesus to be worshiped and obeyed (Matthew 28:18; Philippians 2; Colossians 2), as well as instructed their audience, their disciples to disregard God’s laws (Galatians 3)or at the very least, the church instructs congregants to disobey most of God’s laws, the eternal law (Psalm 19, 119:142,152,160: Isaiah 2) of then, now, and the future. Hence, eternal. So with all that said, back to Deuteronomy 13, what were the two criteria God specifically said to watch out for? See #1.
“Choose this day whom you will serve.” Joshua 24:15.
Miracles: Evidence Jesus is God?
Many Christians feel Jesus must be God and or The Messiah simply because he performed miracles or because the Christian has witnessed or personally experienced a miracle such as a healing, for example. I also have had various spiritual experiences, which seem to solidify one’s faith in say, Jesus. But what if God, in His abundant love, simply allows miracles to help you along your faith journey while not validating “Jesus” or whatever you believe in is absolute truth? Many religions currently and throughout history have had documented miracles of various kinds or spiritual experiences , not just Christianity.
In fact, according to an article by Britannica titled “Miracles In The Religions of The World,” they write:
“Hellenistic religion presents one of the best examples of a civilization in which miracles play a major part. The intervention of the gods in the affairs of the Homeric heroes takes place in a cosmos in which the divine and human spheres still interact. Later Hellenistic syncretism conceived of the sublunar world as a distinct sphere, though higher powers could miraculously irrupt into it. Miraculous cures (e.g., at the sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus), divine manifestations of various kinds (e.g., voices, dreams, and theophanies), and even virgin births and resurrections were widely reported.”
It is said one reason Christianity was an “easy-sell” to the Greeks or Gentiles is because some of their gods were born of a virgin and or died and were resurrected. In other words, miracles, including alleged miracles of virgin births and resurrections, were well-known and reported due to Greek mythology or Hellenism.
Additionally, according to the above linked article as well as many others, faiths like Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and a variety of pagan religions over the centuries, including witchcraft, all report miracles – not just Christianity. In other words, thinking Jesus must be God by passionately saying, “in Jesus’ name!” as if it is a magic charm and then seeing a miracle manifest is not exclusive or indicative as one must know the One True God or be the One True God. If you recall from the Exodus story found in Exodus 6-15, you will notice the Egyptian magicians could conjure up many of the same miracles God’s prophets, Moses and Aaron, did (see Exodus 7: 10-11,22; 8:7). In fact, God warns in Deuteronomy 13 that He will specifically send false prophets or false messiahs, or magicians, if you will, to test your heart to see if you will turn away from the absolute truth of the One True Living God and His documented voice, His instructions for life and love, found in Torah (first 5 books of Bible). For God warns if a person comes along performing miracles or signs that actually manifest, but then implores you to worship them or another god and or instructs you to do away with God’s Torah, His law, then you should NOT follow, NOT believe, NOT trust in that person or religion for it is false and simply a test to know what is in truly in your heart. Notice the verses specifically states “Follow none but Adonai (the LORD) your God, revere none but Him, and only follow His commandments” – not Jesus’ commands, not Paul’s or any other person’s – especially if their instructions or epistles contradict God’s!
So while other religions or people come along proclaiming and manifesting fascinating miracles, which inevitably will continue to happen, consider the following possibilities:
- It is a test as just discussed.
- Even though it is a test to see if a person who already knows the One True God will remain faithful to their Abba Father (God) and His word (aka Jews), God can use any illness or any healing miracle, or even false prophets for His glory (read the story of Balaam, a false prophet, in Numbers 22-24), or an oppressive leader like Nebuchadnezzar, as documented in the Books of Jeremiah and Daniel, to make His true name known to a person and others who learn of such miracles or events. God specializes in making His name known. Read the plethora of stories and statements made by God in the law and prophets. God says over and over again – He is all about making Himself, His name, made known for He is the ultimate Educator! So whether you are Jew or Gentile, God loves you and can and will allow illness or oppression, as a couple of examples, as well as miracles or deliverance, as a means to make Himself known to you in a meaningful and personal level.
- Know that whatever false prophet, false teacher, false messiah, seeming despair, seeming miracle, government leader, etc. that manifests, God may be using it as a test, and a means to reveal more of Himself to you, and has always been after circumcised hearts and wants a relationship with you. Therefore, He often allows said things as a means to draw you closer unto Him.
In conclusion, God graciously allows miracles in a variety of people, places, and even of differing faiths to ultimately bring us closer to Him, guiding us into more of who He is and His truth, not to necessarily validate a specific person or ideology is indeed abiding in His unchanging, absolute truth. Likewise, God graciously allows ailments or seemingly unfortunate circumstances in our lives to also bring us closer to Him, guiding us and others into more accurate truth of who He is and His will for us (just read the Book of Job), not to necessarily punish us for some wrong belief or sin. Moreover, according to the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 55:8 and the overall theme of the Book of Ecclesiastes, God’s thoughts and plans, or His will, don’t always align with our will or make sense to us, but for whatever reason, He allows, creates, and manifests such things as He deems. As the final verse of Ecclesiastes proclaims:
Learning to trust Him, surrendering to Him and His will, even when it doesn’t align with ours, that is the real miracle and authentic faith made manifest.
Carrie Renee, 10.4.2020
(Written exactly 14 years after I cried out, “JESUS, SAVE ME!” – Thank you, God, for hearing my misinformed prayer and miraculously saving me anyway.)
Always Have Been Saved By Grace
As one who has traversed Christian circles, “Saved by Grace” is a common phrase indicating one is saved by believing Jesus died for one’s sins and consequently, gets to experience God’s grace or forgiveness. In fact, I used to wear a hat proudly stating this very expression. After discerning more and more of God’s word, and upon realizing the fallacy in the Christian message of Jesus had to die for one’s sins in order to receive God’s grace, I discovered that we always have been saved by God’s grace if only we seek Him and His ways.
In 2020, when I sought to prove Jesus is the Messiah using only the Hebrew Bible, I discovered the Hebrew or Jewish definition of salvation is different than the Christian version of being saved. You can read more about those details here in an article I penned called “Beyond Heaven and Hell: A Jewish View of Salvation.” Moreover, I realized upon digging through the Tanakh (or what Christians refer to as the “Old” Testament), that God has always offered His love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy to those who genuinely seek Him and strive to obey Him. Inevitably, we will make mistakes, but all we have to do is authentically repent and try again. Look at King David’s sin of committing adultery and murdering the woman’s husband. Christians have been told only a blood sacrifice can atone for sins, but what did God say to David through the Prophet Samuel in 2 Samuel 12:13-14? God said He forgives David’s sins though there still will be consequences just as any good father would say to his disobedient child. Was there a blood sacrifice David had to make? Did he have to believe in a future Messiah? No. How about when the Prophet Jonah went to the Ninevites or Gentiles to warn them of God’s pending judgment should they not repent and turn to God. Where was their blood sacrifice for God’s grace and forgiveness?
God’s Holy Scriptures never once say anyone needs to “believe” in a Messiah to be saved, much less that one will be coming to die for the world’s sins, which would be a hugely critical prophecy to reveal, don’t you think? If God does nothing without revealing it to His prophets first, according to Amos 3:7, then we can deduce, that the Christian doctrine of Jesus being the Messiah who allegedly had to die for our sins also is nothing except a replica of various pagan concepts. If you are Christian just learning of this, I know your blood is probably boiling right about now as was mine. First, you are angry at the one who enlightens you on said truth, then you become angry towards Christianity for propagating such gross and offensive errors and mourn your deception. Soon afterward though, you encounter a wave of peace and the lifting of a huge burden of guilt and manipulation you had been unknowingly carrying for years believing your sin caused some innocent god-man to die for you. Eventually, you will be so grateful to God for opening your eyes and rescuing you from the popular idolatry of the church. As God’s Spirit whispered to me one day early in 2020, “You can mourn over the lies you once believed or you can rejoice you have finally been set free from them.“
I encourage you, dear reader, to dig into the following Scriptures and ask yourself why would God need to send His son, Jesus, to die for one’s sins for forgiveness when these Scriptures clearly indicate God has been forgiving people well before (and still after) Jesus? Why would God instruct His child to be a human sacrifice when He instructed the Israelites to never sacrifice their children like the pagans do (see Leviticus 18:21, 20:3; Deuteronomy 12:29-32; 18:10; 2 Kings 3:27, 16:3, 17:17; 2 Chronicles 28:3, 33:6; Jeremiah 7:31; Psalm 106:35-38; Ezekiel 16:20-21 as some examples)? God even prohibited Abraham from sacrificing his only son, Isaac, to teach Abraham and his descendants that’s not God’s way of demonstrating love and grace. Furthermore, why would God cause Jesus to die for another person’s sins when God specifically forbids such things in the law and prophets (see Deuteronomy 24:16; Ezekiel 18:1-32; 33:12-20; Jeremiah 31:29-30; Psalm 49:7)? Also, why does the famous “New Covenant” chapter state everyone will still be dying for their own sins in the new covenant (see Jeremiah 31:30)? Shouldn’t that be an opportune time to state no one will need to die for their sins because a Messiah will do so for them?
Below is a list of some passages that reveal many over the course of history always have been saved by God’s grace.
Please study the following passages and read my other articles:
- Genesis 4:8-16 (God forgave and even protected Cain)
- Exodus 30:15-16 (money not blood sacrifice)
- Exodus 34:6-7
- Leviticus 5:11-13 (flour used not blood sacrifice)
- Numbers 16:46-47 (incense)
- Numbers 31:48-52 (jewelery)
- Deuteronomy 4:29-31
- 1 Kings 8 & 2 Chronicles 6 (notice both Jews and Gentiles are forgiven even without a temple/sacrifices)
- 2 Samuel 12 (God forgave King David w/o blood sacrifices)
- Book of Jonah – Jonah 3:8-10 (How is it the Gentiles could get forgiveness without a blood sacrifice?)
- Isaiah 1:11-17 (sacrifices & other forms of obedience are phony without true repentance – doing good & just is what God wants)
- Isaiah 27:9 (removal of idols atones)
- Isaiah 42:6; 43:23-25; 44:22; 45:22,25 ; 49:10; 55:6-7
- Isaiah 56: Notice even Gentiles/Foreigners who align themselves with God’s Covenant (i.e. keep Sabbath) are brought to Mount Zion one day and honored even more so than natural-born Jews for doing so.
- Jeremiah 29:11-14; 31:3; 33:3,6-8,19-26; 50:4-5,20
- Ezekiel 16:60-63; 18:19-32; 33:12-20; Chps 36-37
- Micah 7:18-20
- Hosea 14:2/3 (depending on Hebrew or Christian Bible you are using)
- Daniel 4:24/27 (depending on Hebrew or Christian Bible you are using)
- Lamentations 3:22-23
- Psalms 24:3-6; 25:6-11; 30:5; 32:1,5; 34:22; 36:5,10; 51:1-4, 7-9 (really all of Psalm 51); 103; 119:132,155-156; 141:2; 145:17-20; 147:11
- Proverbs 16:6; 21:3
- Job 22:23
- Why Jesus Didn’t Die For Your Sins
- Why the New Testament Is Not the Inerrant Word of God
Ponder & Pray | Zechariah 8
Zechariah 8 is a short and sweet chapter telling the people of Israel (and readers), one fine day, God will dwell in Jerusalem. At that time, He will end antisemitism and instead, not only bless the reunited 12 twelve tribes of Israel (House of Judah and House of Israel), but vindicate them. There are many chapters in the Hebrew Bible that describe a miraculous regathering or reuniting of the scattered Israelites across the globe, both the living and the dead, bringing them all to heaven on earth being Jerusalem (such as Ezekiel 36-37; Jeremiah 29-31). Also, notice the section of Zechariah 8:16, a prophecy about the very end of time as we know it. Right after the LORD describes and promises Israel’s future literal salvation, what does He instruct the must the Jews/Israel do in the meantime? Believe in the Messiah? Believe in God’s Son yet to be born (at the time this chapter of Zechariah was written)? Believe in Jesus? No, essentially, live righteously – obey the principles of Torah. Shouldn’t the concept of believing in Jesus to pay for your sins or even just stating “Believe in The Messiah” be inserted in this epic moment leading up to their salvation? I encourage you to pray and ponder as to why there is nothing like that mentioned in the Tanakh/Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and yet, Amos 3:7 says the Lord does nothing without revealing it to His prophets first. Moreover, always get in God’s word for yourself and ask Abba Father (Jeremiah 3:19) lots of questions. He will show you things you did not know (Jeremiah 33:3) as He does with me and many others.
Ask yourself and Abba Father (Jeremiah 3:19), why after He dwells on earth in Jerusalem described in Zechariah 8, the entire globe is seeking not just God in Jerusalem, but clinging to Jews, specifically their tallits, which are the garments with tzits-tzits attached (see Zechariah 8:23 below)? These are commanded by God to be worn and are symbols to help them remember the importance of obeying God’s commands (see Numbers 15:37-41).
Think about the connection –> At this future moment, people will be clinging to the Jews realizing God is with them. Notice the verse of Zechariah 8:23 specifically state people will be grabbing onto the Jew’s garment corners as if the prophecy is telling us people will cling to Jews and God’s Torah, which has already started to manifest today. God’s ways are found in His commands, His Torah, His instructions for living, which not only is His will, but they are the light (Psalm 119:105-106, Proverbs 6:23) and the Jews/Israel are called to be the light to the nations (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6). Hence, what they are chosen to do: Be the light – lead in love as they live by Torah.
Why doesn’t the prophet Zechariah describe the New heavens and New earth or New Jerusalem or New Covenant era (notice all the “NEW”s -pun intended) as…”And in that day the Christians will be the light of the world teaching people how to decorate Christmas trees, how to have successful Easter egg hunts and stand in line for the best Heavenly Ham, how to plan a great turn-out for Trunk or Treats, or teaching them about communion, how to successfully and secretly slip up that repentant hand and inwardly profess the sinner’s prayers without anyone knowing then or later, or how to memorize the Lord’s prayer, how to evangelize by handing out tracks about God’s son, how to go on mission trips and build things but tear down with our words..”, or whatever other definition Christians used to define as being the light?
I don’t think it’s possible for any of us, whether Jew or Gentile, to ponder and know God’s truth in it’s entirety, much less live it precisely as He intended it here and now, for how can we know infinite truth and all His thoughts or ways? But we do know truth is what He chose to reveal in the Tanakh and that is: Israel is chosen and God’s Torah is the light for all eternity. So much so the non-Jews will be looking to Jews and the instructions God gave them for guidance.
Carrie R. Turner, 9.3.2020