Musing – Bible says the “End Times” are coming, but When?

 Hebraic Musing – Bible says the “End Times” are coming, but When?

What do we know for sure, and what do we NOT know for sure? And what’s a “Maybe”? (NKJV references)

Everyone knows and agrees that there will be a sudden, bodily return of Christ:

·      Matthew 24:44 “...for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

·      John 14:3  “... I will come again and receive you to Myself;”

·      Acts 1:11  “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner ....”
    and 1 Thes.4:16     Heb. 9:28    James 5:8     2 Pet.3:10   1 John 3:2    Rev.22:20    Rev.1:7

Meanwhile we are, and should be, eagerly expecting His return:

·      Titus 2:12-13 “...looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior...,”

·      Philip.3:20 “For our citizenship is in heaven,...we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,”

But we do NOT know when:

·      Matthew 24:44 & Luke 12:40  “...for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

·      Matthew 25:13  “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour...”

·      Mark 13:32-33 “...day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, ... you do not know...”

He will come back at any time, but what must happen first?

  Jesus gave us pre-conditions:

·      Gospel preached to all nations – Mark 13:10  “And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.”
    In the 1^st century, that was done!  Or does Jesus mean today’s world?

·      Tribulation – Mark 13:7-8 “For many will come in My name, …But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.” 
& Matt.24:15-22 & Luke 21:20-24     Haven’t we already had false prophets & increasing wars!?!?

·      False Prophets – Mark 13:22 “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive,”   Have false religions already sprung up?  And deceived many?

·      Signs in the heavens    Luke 21:25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;” Mark 13:24-25 & Matthew.24:29-30   What are “global warming” and other media headlines about?

  And Paul also provides more pre-conditions:

·      Coming of the “Lawless One” – In 2 Thess. 2:1-10  Are we already seeing a serious increase in lawlessness?

·      Salvation of Israel – Romans 11:12 & 25-26 “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, …, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.  And so all Israel will be saved,”   Is “all Israel” literal, figurative, or all those with the faith of Abraham?

How can we build a confident view of “End Times” considering some of these questions?

1.      Have all or some of the Pre-conditions been met?

2.      Two different returns of Christ.  For His people or with His people?  Who goes first?  Who is left?

3.      Maybe all things have already happened, so Christ can come back anytime!

4.      Unilaterally, Jesus Christ can do as He wills!

Points to Ponder

What action is suggested?   Is “Be Ready” an action?

Do you know anyone who needs Heaven instead of Hell?   What are we supposed to do about it?

What think you?  What’s for sure and what’s “maybe”?

“Surely I am coming quickly.” Revelation 22:20

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      October 31, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

Note - From teaching by Corey Corrick at Emmanuel Baptist Church on October 1, 2023.

Musing – How Important Is Your Testimony?

 Hebraic Musing – How Important Is Your Testimony?  

Over the years I have shared my testimony innumerable times and have also been known to encourage and ask brothers to share their salvation experiences (testimonies).  AND as a result, countless seekers have given their hearts to Jesus and made Him LORD of their lives.  People may argue with your teachings, they may argue or even ignore your preaching; but they cannot and do not argue with your testimony – it is a life–changing truth!

What does “testimony” mean according to Webster?   (1) the tablets inscribed with the Mosaic law; (2) the ark containing the tablets; (3) firsthand authentication of a fact: evidence; an outward sign; a solemn declaration… by a witness… in response to interrogation…; an open acknowledgment; a public profession of religious experience.   Key words in the various definitions are “Firsthand”; “Evidence”; “Public profession”; “Witness” and “Evidence”. 

The word “testimony” is found 113 times in the NIV.  Many of the references refer to the Ark in the Tabernacle that held three items: the two tablets, the manna and Aaron’s rod.  Each of these items was a symbolic “testimony” to the miracles and provision from Almighty God during the Exodus and wilderness wanderings.

Notice the importance and impact of “testimonies” in this sampling of Bible references:

·         John 19:35-36 – The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.   NIV

·         John 21:24 --  This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.   

·         1 Cor. 2:1-2 – When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.  

·         Rev. 12:11 – They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;

The apostle John stressed the importance of a “Testimony” six times in this statement – “We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.  Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.  And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”  1 John 5:9-12 NIV

We probably won’t be called before governors or kings as they were in the book of Acts, but we may be called to testify to our neighbor next door.  I have been surprised at how many people are hurting and seeking answers and thus they are willing to hear my (or your) testimony.   I’ve had some incredible conversations with people while introducing them to Jesus before, during and/or after sharing my testimony. 

Points to ponder

How important is it for “others” to hear your testimony and believe?

Do you have your testimony ready to share?
(If so, please share it with me.)

Do you have a 30 minute, 3 minute and 20 second prepared version of your testimony ready?
(You never know how much time you will be given to share it!)

Have you written out your testimony?  And practiced sharing it?
(Please let me know if you do not think you have a testimony of your salvation.)

Be ready to share all your blessings as a testimony to God!

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                   October 24, 2023

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage” “Musings - A Victorious Life”   “Musings - The Torah and New Testament”
Weekly “Hebraic Musings”      www.InsightsByYosef.com

Note - Reprint of a March 2017 Hebraic Musing.

Musing – How Should We Love Immigrants?

 Hebraic Musing – How Should We Love Immigrants?

Have you heard someone quote Jesus to justify illegal immigration and open borders?  "You have heard it said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I tell you, love your enemies." Matt.5:43 NIV   To understand this verse we need to first clarify at least two of the key words -- “Love” and “Enemy”. 

There are three Hebrew words for love and two Hebrew words for enemy, but let’s clarify the definitions in English first.  “Enemy” is a noun.  An “enemy” is an opposing military force, an armed adversary, a hostile group of people or a personal competitor, rival or mortal enemy who seeks our death.  By contrast, “Love” can be either a noun or a verb with similar meanings – affection, devotion, endearment, romance and/or sex.

In Hebrew, “enemy” has two definitions.  First is from "tsar" meaning a foe, enemy, or oppressor.  (In Russia, Czar is “king”)  In Genesis 14:20, Melchizedek said, "And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand” referring to oppressors.  The other Hebrew word is "oyeb" found in Genesis 49:8, where Jacob is blessing Judah – “Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies" referring to personal or national hostilities.

In the Bible, “Love” can be translated from both "ahabah" defined as the deep friendship between people or of a love for objects.  A related word is "ahab", meaning “love” as in “Jacob was in love with Rachel” Gen. 29:18 NIV   Love involves a close and developed relationship.

Key point -- Whenever we are talking about relationships, we need to consider the degree of trust in any relationship.  When a person demonstrates that he cannot be trusted, the relationship will by necessity be much more superficial than a close and trusting relationship.  Whatever the relationship, we are commanded to forgive.  The difficulty of forgiving is in direct proportion to the significance of the grievance or the frequency which results in a justified inability to trust the person(s).  We are never commanded to trust anyone, whether friend or enemy.  The closeness of a relationship depends upon the level of trust; a necessary element for the relationship to become safe, deep, and close.  

We find the command to love our enemies in both Matthew and in Luke.  "You have heard that it was said, (in the Torah) 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matt 5:43-44  The passage in Luke 6:27-31 reads "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

We can see that we do not put ourselves in danger in a relationship, with those we do not, or should not, trust.  We pray for them at a distance.  We certainly do not want to be the cause of bad feelings; we need to be friendly and loving toward people and get to know them.

My view of the intent of Matt. 5:43 – We are responsible to work on developing a relationship by reconciling with our enemies so we can bring them into the Kingdom of God.

 Points to ponder

Are we ready to reach out to Muslims and show them the love of Jesus?

How do we first build trust so we can nurture a relationship?

How to reconcile these two verses? 
"Expel the wicked man from among you."  1 Corinth. 5:13   vs.
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15

♫ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Yerusalem shall live in peace. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                               October 17, 2023

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

Note – Inspired by Johanna Hocker’s – “How should we love immigrants?” Feb 22, 2017

Musing– In the Beginning and in The End

 

Hebraic Musing– In the Beginning and in The End  (originally HI #83 August 18, 2010)

Call this overview “Creation and De-Creations”; or the relationship between “Genesis and Revelation”.  This is another example of why we cannot fully understand the “New Testament” unless we understand it as fulfillment of the “Old Testament”.  What God creates in Genesis, the beginning of time, He wraps up in Revelation, the end of time.  Here’s a sample of examples:  (from NIV)

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.1:26  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”.

Note – Everything started in Genesis is 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 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)       The 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

Can we understand the New Testament without studying the Old Testament or the Torah?

Simchat Torah (The Joy of the Torah)

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     October 10, 2023 
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

Musing – Successful Christian Gatherings – Experiences!

 Hebraic Musing – Successful Christian Gatherings – Experiences!

While serving the Lord for the last 40 or so years, I’ve been called on to lead Bible Studies, Sunday School classes, Men’s Breakfasts &/or Lunch meetings, Full Gospel Men’s Fellowship Int’l meetings, Men’s fellowships, etc. in over five different churches/denominations and in other countries.  Here are some learnings, principles, and guidelines I’ve garnered the hard way along the way!

Purpose – Is the goal of a meeting to Teach, imparting knowledge; or are we Facilitating participation, interaction, and involvement from each of the participants?  In-other-words, is it a “sit-soak-and-sour” session; or is it live training so they are prepared to share Bible knowledge and wisdom with the person(s) in the next desk at the office?  “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up...” 1 Thess.5:11 NIV

Marketing (before & after) – Marketing starts with developing an identifying/memorable name, and a distribution list, phone numbers &/or email addresses for the members.  A day or two before the event, send an invite broadcast with details and a “Tantalizing Topic” as a teaser.  Immediately after the event, distribute a “Tantalizing” recap to the whole group as (1) a reminder to the participants and (2) to keep an involved interest by those who missed.  Use Emails, Texts and FaceBook Group posts on a regular basis to build group unity and identity.  BTW – Does the group have a “Tantalizing” name?

Tantalizing Topic – For example, an invite might say about John 10 – “Did God tell Peter, a Jew, to eat Bacon?”  Whatever it takes to get attention, like Peter did – “So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.” Acts 3:5   Everybody likes to get something!  WIIFM – What’s In It For Me?

Prayer log shared – Always provide a ring-binder notebook and pen for all the participants to share their prayer requests, knowing that it will be republished to the group; either to those present, or the whole group depending on its content.  Sometimes we share our prayer needs in an open round, and sometimes it leads to a spontaneous prayer huddle.   “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 NIV

Room Size/Fit – My favorite setting was pre-covid Wednesday evening Men’s Study in a large Conference room with only 8 chairs around the table.  Attendance ranged from 10 – 12 men and the tight room promoted a lot of interaction, so I deliberately sat in the middle, not at the head, to encourage everyone’s participation as a facilitator rather than as a teacher.  How big the room and how many were at the “Last Supper”?

Consistent time & location – I remember a brother showed up by surprise at the restaurant for our Wednesday Noon Lunch.  Hadn’t seen him for a year, but he “knew we would be there and was just driving by.”

Leader admonition – It was drilled into us during my consulting career that “A leader is never late!  A leader is never on time!  A leader is always early.”  And if the leader is early, maybe the participants will learn to be on time!  Jesus preached “and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.” Luke 21:38

SUMMARY – Which is more important? (1) Imparting our own knowledge and views; or (2) Hearing the “others” verbalize their perspectives?  My goal for a good meeting is to have everyone participating; and the one who participates the least is given the honor of providing a “closing prayer.”   

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another..." Hebrews 10:25 NIV

Points to Ponder

Ever left a meeting and thought “I can’t wait till next week!”?

Might the other guy have an interesting perspective you hadn’t thought about?

What’s the best way to develop/disciple “others”?

Should “Bible Studies” be an opportunity for “others” to speak out their various perspectives?

Might these concepts apply to Sunday School classes as well?

“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Matt.18:20 NIV

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      October 3, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com