Musing – Can You Believe in Both Evolution and Biblical Heaven?

Hebraic Musing – Can You Believe in Both Evolution and Biblical Heaven?

Who created the Heaven that we look forward to?  The Bible describes what God created in Genesis at the beginning of time, and God wraps up His Creation in Revelation at the end of time. “Genesis and Revelation” are the book-ends of God’s creative handiwork!  Our Creation and Heaven both came from God.  Consider these:

Gen.1:1 “In the beginning God created…”   
    Rev.22:13  “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the Beginning and the end.”

Gen.1:3   God said “Let there be light”…                 
    Rev.21:23  “The city does not need the sun…glory of God gives it light…”

Gen.1:6   And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water."
    Rev.8:10   “The third angel sounded his trumpet, and … A third of the waters turned bitter, …”

Gen.1:8 God called the expanse "sky."
    Rev.20:11-12  “Then … Earth and sky fled from his presence, … no place for them.”

Gen.1:11  Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees…”
    Rev.8:7   “The first angel … earth was burned up, a third of the trees … all the green grass…”

Gen.1:14 God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night…
    Rev.8:12  “… fourth angel … a third of the sun … of the moon, …of the stars…turned dark.”

Gen.1:20   God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures…let birds fly above the earth…”
    Rev.8:8-9  “The second angel sounded… and… a third of the living creatures in the sea died…”

Gen.1:24 God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,…”
    Rev.9:15   “…four angels … ready … were released to kill a third of mankind.”

Gen.1:27    “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;”
    Rev.21:3   "… dwelling of God is with men, ... and God himself will be with them and be their God.”

Gen.2:2 2  “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed …God had finished … he rested …”

    Rev.21:5   He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" … "It is done”.

See the pattern?   Everything God started in Genesis He tied off or finished in the book of Revelation:

a)      Sin is introduced in Gen.3,   Sin is done away with in Rev.20 “He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations …”

b)      Curse is pronounced in Gen.3;   Curse is destroyed in Rev.21.

c)      Death entered in Gen.3;   No more death after Rev.21.

d)     Man is banished from Eden in Gen.3;   Man’s presence in Eden is welcomed in Rev.22.

e)      The Tree of Life is guarded in Gen.3;   the right to the Tree of Life is available in Rev.22.

f)       Sorrow and suffering introduced in Gen.3;   No more sorrow or suffering after Rev.22.

g)      Nimrod founds Babylon in Gen.10;   in Revelation Babylon finally falls in Rev.18:21  "With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.”

h)      God uses a flood to destroy sinful men in Gen.6-9;   Satan tries to destroy the elect in Rev.12.

i)        God signed His covenant with a rainbow Gen.9;   then seals it in Rev.10:1 “Then I saw another mighty angel … robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun…”

j)        Sodom and Egypt are introduced as signs of evil and corruption in Gen.13; and they became the two witnesses in Jerusalem:   in Rev.11:18 “Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.”

k)      A bride is chosen for Abraham’s son in Gen.24;   in Rev.19&21 Abraham’s seed becomes the bride.

l)        A marriage of the first Adam in Gen.2;   in Rev.19 the marriage of the last Adam.

m)    In Genesis Satan’s dominion was established;   in Revelation Christ’s dominion is established.

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

If you believe Creation by Evolution rather than the God’s Biblical Account of Creation,
how can you then believe or trust in the Biblical promises of Heaven?

♫ When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be….♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      April 28, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   

Note - This musing is from that book, “Hebraic Insight #83 – In the Beginning and in The End” published 2010.

Musing – Don’t be Like a Goat!

Hebraic Musing – Don’t be Like a Goat!

Did you ever wonder what Jesus meant when he said “All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.” Matt.25:32-33  NIV     A friend of mine, Johanna Hocker,* did a study out of curiosity about the significance of goats in the Bible.  Brace yourself for the questions at the end.

First mention of a goat is in the LORD’s bloody covenant with Abram in Gen.15:9.  “Goat” appears 86 times in the NIV, and their usefulness, or lack thereof, is clear:

·      Sin offerings of goats to cleanse the altar and bring glory back to the temple, in “On the second day you are to offer a male goat without defect for a sin offering, and the altar is to be purified … 25 For seven days you are to provide a male goat daily for a sin offering…”  Ezekiel 43:22-26

·      And again as a sin offering “Every day during the seven days of the Feast he is to provide seven bulls and seven rams without defect as a burnt offering to the LORD, and a male goat for a sin offering.” Eze.45:23          

·      Daniel uses the male goat in Daniel 8 to represent Greece coming to take over King Belshazzar’s reign. 

How to view goats?  Here’s Johanna’s perspective:

“My only encounter with a goat was when we stopped at a farm of a family friend in central Norway.  When my husband and I got out of the rental car were greeted by the family goat.  I love animals and was as curious about him as he was of me, but it didn’t take me long to want him to stop his constant butting me and climbing on our rental car.  There was no convincing this animal to change his behavior.  I have both my cats and dog trained, so I can just talk to them and they respond.  This goat was totally out of control.  Goats like to butt anything and everything.  It seems like they are continually saying, “I am in charge.” They have to be first to eat and drink and can be downright nasty to humans, property and the rest of the flock.”

How do Sheep differ from Goats -- According to a quick unedited Google search:

“Sheep are most comfortable with their flock, and they tend to run if approached or spooked.  Goats are more independent, intelligent and tolerant of interaction in general.  Sheep like to graze on grass, while goats prefer to graze on anything they can, including leaves, twigs and anything edible they can reach.”

Isaiah was right and he prophesied our redemption when he said “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  Isa.53:6     In fact, that verse reminds me of a drinking song – ♫  We're poor little lambs who have lost our way   Baa, baa, baa.
  We're little black sheep who have gone astray   Baa, baa, baa   ♫    WOW!  We sheep need a lot of help!

What happens to the sheep on the right?  “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father;…” Rev.25:31-34 

What happens to the goats on the left?  “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”  Rev.25:41 

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

Political question – Why are the goats on the left?

Don’t be like the rebellious goat and wander off.  Follow the shepherd!

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  John 10:11
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—” John 10:14

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      April 21, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   

Note – Inspired by and excerpted from Johanna Hocker’s email “Goats in the Bible” – April 13, 2020

Musing – How New Is the Concept of “One World Government”?

Hebraic Musing – How New Is the Concept of “One World Government”?

It started with Satan’s jealous desire to rule the earth by turning everyone away from honoring their Creator God. 

1. Satan tried to take over in Gen.3:5 by deceiving the whole world, Adam & Eve – “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

2. Why did the Babylonians decide to build a tower?  “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” Gen.11:4  NIV   God saw their objective.  They wanted to worship their own creation, a “built city”.  They wanted to make “a name for ourselves”.  So God dispersed people to become individual nations; God is the creator of nations.  “So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, … it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. ” Gen.11:8-9   God created sovereign nations, each with a unique language so they could each honor God, His plan!  A spirit of globalization is competing with acceptance of God’s sovereignty throughout the Bible.  (Babylon appears 260 X in NIV; second only to 785 X for Jerusalem) 

3. God arranged for a flood which further dispersed the people over the earth.  This created nations who were dependent upon God for their livelihood.  In Gen.12:2-3 God recognized the concept and the benefit of being a nation blessing God’s earth!  “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 

4. In Joshua’s day, Achan brought calamity on the Israelite forces and he confessed “When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, (or land of Shinar) … silver and … of gold … , I coveted them and took them.” Josh.7:21  Man was still was seeking the wealth from the dream of a controlling Tower of Babel.

5. In Daniel chapter 2, God calls on Daniel to interpret king Nebuchadnezzar's dream which described the king’s future.  The dream identified God as the source of King Nebs power - “The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands he has placed mankind … he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.” Dan.2:38   Verse 39 describes how the king’s power and global control will be taken away.  Daniel refused to bow to the gold statue of Nebuchadnezzar, which lead to a fiery furnace story!

6. Is Today’s World-Wide Pandemic another example of a call to get back to honoring our Creator God?  How many false gods is the world seeking, honoring and glorifying.  Are we still seeking our gold and our Power?

7. The Anti-Christ is coming in the end-times with a “mark” to track all people.  The internet and Wi-Fi are not yet everywhere; but this world-wide crisis has become an excuse to fund “Wi-Fi” for everyone, so we can ALL be connected.  In Revelation 17 “The Woman and the Beast” reign; in chapter 18 Babylon’s prosperous commerce fails; and chapter 19 is about judgements for Worshipers of God and for worshipers of gold?  In contrast, the NT calls us to worship Jesus. “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:9-11  There is to be no bowing to gold; or to a god of the world; or to the government!

But today we are still sinning and rebelling against our Creator God.  So God is looking for those who will turn from their sinful, rebellious ways and turn to Him.  He tells us in Rom.10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  Unfortunately, some people absolutely do not want to confess and make Jesus their Lord.  They are playing into Satan’s plan – control of the earth with Satan in charge, AKA a “One World Government”.

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

Has globalism allowed America to be overly reliant on China for pharmaceuticals?

Are we surrendering our rights to W.H.O., a champion of the “New World Order”? 

In what ways is globalism causing America to rely on a “New World Order” system?    

If we want God to bless America, we need to have America bless God.

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      April 14, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   

Note – Inspired and excerpted from Pastor Tom Hatley’s message “One World Government”, March 29 ,2020

Musing - Are People “Whistling Through the Graveyard”?

Hebraic Musing - Are People “Whistling Through the Graveyard”?

While the world undergoes a “Pandemic Time Out” from Father God, we find ourselves fearing future outcomes and trying to buoy up our spirits.  As our Pastor described it – “We are whistling through the graveyard” pretending we are not afraid.  People are searching for positive things to think about while being bombarded with negativity in the news media, job losses and grocery shortages! 

And yet in the back of our head we remember Proverbs 17:22 “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” NIV   The hearts of the people are not cheerful.  Where is the Great Physician, the Divine Healer when we need Him?  What are we missing?

Our situation is reminiscent of “The Bronze Snake” account in Numbers 21:4-9.  “They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way;  5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”  6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.  7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.  8 The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”  9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.” NIV  What lessons can we learn?

·      In v.5  “They spoke against God and against Moses”  Do we see ungodly behaviors and disrespect of leaders?

·      In v.6  “the LORD sent venomous snakes among them” Sounds similar the pandemic that gets full attention!

·      The resolution opportunity begins with repentance.  “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD…”.

·      The leader did what?  “Moses prayed for the people”  And what happened…

·      The LORD provides the solution/cure.  “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”  This cure is a foreshadowing of the ultimate cure available to all peoples – Look upon Jesus lifted up on the cross for the cure for our problem, our sin nature.

This is not the only Biblical passage telling us to look up to Jesus, not down at the problem.

John remembered that Jesus confirmed the significance of the Bronze Snake account when He said “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”  And Jesus continued with v.16  “For God so loved the world…”  John 3:14-16

And John remembers Jesus saying “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.  But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” Jn 12:31-32

Even the OT was telling us to look to our coming Savior.  “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.  By myself I have sworn, … a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.” Isaiah 45:22-23  

When will all people be willing to recognize their sinfulness?  When will the whole world see Jesus on the cross representing all their sins?  “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21    

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

Unfortunately, some people refuse to look up!  Why?

Could our response to this pandemic lead to the “Third Great Awakening”?
Not just for our nation, but for the entire World?

How can we use this pandemic to let the world know – “Jesus is the answer”?

♫ Jesus loved, died and rose for all the children of the world,R,Y,Bl,Br,W, they are precious in His sight ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      April 7, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   

Note – Inspired and excerpted from Pastor Tom Hatley’s message “Whistling through the graveyard”, April 5, 2020