Musing – Do Christians and Jews think alike?

 Hebraic Musing – Do Christians and Jews think alike?

The bottom-line answer is “NO”; and the list of differences is long, but very interesting! This is a strange musing coming from the author of a book “Hebraic Insights, a series of messages explaining the Hebrew roots of Christian faith.”   Christians who are frustrated trying to explain their faith to Jewish friends might find this one to be either a “musing” or “amusing” (pun intended).  Let’s explore four areas:

1.      Scripture interpretation.

2.      Salvation and Evangelism.

3.      Commandments and Laws.

4.      Customs and Traditions.

After stating the traditional Christian (C) view, consider the common but contrasting Jewish (J) or Hebraic view or thought process.  Each topic could trigger a whole discussion, so for the sake of brevity we will state simple one-liners, recognizing that a simple statement of tendencies does not describe the entire population.  And I confess that I am not always sure which view is the correct one!  What can we learn from each other?  Could some of these differing views make good discussion topics?

1.   Scripture interpretations:    We have a Common bond – We share a Book and a Hope; however, the book that unites us, also divides us, because we interpret its meanings and terms in different ways.

·      (C) Christianity believes its interpretation of the Written Word is correct.
(J)  Jews are willing to acknowledge there are different interpretations of the Written Word.

·      (C) Bible or written word contains all we need. Oral tradition emphasis is seen as nullifying the Written Torah.  And Christians have the Holy Spirit providing guidance.
(J)  Oral tradition is necessary since written word does not interpret ‘how to’ honor God’s commandments.  Oral tradition explains unclear things in the Written Torah, like how to keep the Sabbath Holy.  And since the temple is gone and the era of the prophets has passed, the Rabbinic laws provide guidance.

·      (C) Jerusalem/Israel belongs to the Jews, so it needs to be claimed & defended for Christ’s return.
(J)  Israel is homeland to Palestinian and others, so we need to provide for our moral responsibility to Arab peoples.

·      (C) Christ’s return requires restoration of the Land to Israel.  We must reclaim the Temple Mount in order for Yeshua to have a place to return to.
(J)  The Messiah does not need the land in order to return. The Messiah will come where-ever and when-ever and how-ever God wants him to come.

·      (C) Jews believe we need to rebuild the temple and resume the sacrificial atonement rituals.
(J)  The exact location of the original temple is uncertain, so rebuilding it to God’s specification is impossible and the ‘third temple’ will appear supernaturally in a pillar of fire from heaven.

·      (C) Replacement or ‘fulfillment’ theology puts the ‘Christian church’ as the ‘apple of God’s eye.
(J)  The Jews, Sons of Israel, have not been replaced by the Christian Church.  God has not changed His mind!

·      (C) Belief in the Trinity – triune nature of God.
(J)  Cannot conceive of God incarnate in a human being.

·      (C) Isaiah 53 is about a man, Yeshua’s coming. The Suffering Servant in Isaiah 52-53 is Yeshua.
(J)  Isaiah 53 is about persecution of a Nation “All that is hostile to the godly and the goodly will be hostile to you.”

·      (C) After the destruction of the temple, Jews no longer have opportunity for atonement for their sins.
(J)  He sacrificial rites had been replaced by a higher form of divine worship, prayer and repentance.

·      (C) Jesus is the Redeemer; thus, He started the Messianic Age.  Jesus, as Son of God, is the hoped for Messiah.
(J)  The definition of Messiah is a person appointed, and thus anointed for a specific task – a man! God is the Redeemer, the Messianic Age will mean the end of foreign oppression, bringing universal peace.  The issue being raised is about the definition and/or function of the Messiah?

 

2.   Salvation: This word has a variety of definitional interpretations.

·      (C) Christians are duty bound to evangelize Jews.
(J) Jews are not evangelizing, they are already chosen!

·      (C) Saved by Yeshua's sacrificial death on the cross. Salvation comes only by accepting Yeshua as the incarnate Son of God.
(J) Salvation comes through genuine repentance and returning to Adonai.  There is no atonement without meaningful repentance.  The sacrificial system was temporal and secondary to ‘repentance.’

·      (C) You are condemned if you do not share my faith.
(J) You are not condemned for not sharing mine.

·      (C) There is one path to salvation.
(J) There are parallel paths to God and salvation – united by common origins, but profoundly divided by their development.

·      (C) Faith in Jesus determines the future state of my soul.
(J) God wants me to live my life here & now.

·      (C) Personal Salvation is permanent – Eternal Security without regard to the life one lives.
(J) Salvation is a corporate or community issue (for Sons of Israel and Jerusalem); not a ‘selfish’ individual issue.

·      (C) Christians are saved individually, with focus on the individual relationship.
(J) A Jew is saved because he/she leads a way of life in keeping with God’s commandments.

·      (C) Christians often say they want Jews to “Convert.”
(J) Jews interpret that, justifiably, as being asked to give up their Jewish heritage and traditions.

·      (C) All who do not accept Jesus are condemned to Hell.
(J) God’s nature will not punish someone for incapacity due to lack of knowledge.

·      (C) Man is inherently ‘bad’; because of ‘original sin’ man is born a sinner.
(J) Man is ‘good’; but has capability to sin via freedom of choice and is inclined to make mistakes.

 

3.   Commandments/obedience/good deeds:  Are we looking at good deeds or mandated ‘Laws’?

·      (C) Keeping commandments is a chore.
(J) Keeping commandments is not a chore, but a source of joy and beauty ennobling our lives.

·      (C) Faith in God is more important than our deeds.
(J) Halakah (‘way of walking’) is more important than belief in God.

·      (C) Sunday is the Lord’s Day, our Sabbath.
(J) Sabbath was given by God in His Word as the seventh day of the week, starting at sunset of the sixth day (not at midnight at the end of the seventh day).

 

4.   Traditions:

·      (C) Jews who believe in Jesus, Yeshua, as the Messiah are still Jews or “Messianic Jews” or “Completed Jews.”
(J) If a Jew accepts Christian concepts of Incarnation, Salvific Sacrifice of Crucifixion and the Trinity then they cannot be Jews – these ideas are incompatible with normative Jewish teaching.  Therefore they become and should be called ‘Christians’.

·      (C) Pharisees are the ‘bad guys’ of the bible.
(J) Yeshua was aligned with the Pharisees, and was respected by many Pharisees.

·      (C) Strive for Prosperity and Health.
(J) Strive for Holiness.

·      (C) Holidays are to be celebrated as time-honored traditions.
(J) We need to celebrate the Feasts as God commanded.

·      (C) Separate views - God of O.T.  and God of N.T.
(J) Same God.

·      (C) Taught to ‘love our enemies.’
(J) Taught not to have enemies.

·      (C) Man is inherently evil – heart is evil thus we require cleansing to go to heaven.
(J) Man is good, thus repentance is needed to return to holiness; no need to deal with ‘original sin.’

 

Points to ponder

Would some of these differing views make good discussion topics?

Interesting -- both Christians and Jews have so much Love and Respect for one another!

Similarly, Churchill said “The British and the Americans represent
 two great nations separated by a common language”.

♫  Jew and Gentile, one in Messiah, One in Yeshua, one in the olive tree. …  One in Yeshua's love.
Help us Father, to love one another, With humble hearts, Forgiving each other, Heal our wounds, bind us together, So the world might believe.…  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                       November 19, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Notes – Reprint of a July 2011 Hebraic Musing. 
This list was first assembled in 2007 and has grown with inputs from multiple sources.

Musing – Might God Use Drastic Measures to Get Our Attention?

 Hebraic Musing – Might God Use Drastic Measures to Get Our Attention?

When I published the musing “Are ‘acts of god’ really acts of GOD?” in 2011, many thought it can’t apply because we serve a loving God who would not do those things to His people.  If a parent does not apply discipline, sometimes drastic, to get a child’s attention, is the parent really showing love to the child?

Let us explore what scripture tells us about the disciplining actions His children required. (from NIV)

·      Exod. 11:5-7 – “Every firstborn son in Egypt will die from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl …”.   Pharaoh did not listen so in v.9 the wonders multiplied!

·      Gen. 18:14 – “Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.”  And Sarah laughed but God promised a ‘wonder’.

·      Jonah – Spent three days and nights in the whale’s belly until God had his attention.

·      Exod. 4:1-7 – Moses’ staff becomes a snake and his hand becomes leprous.  God had Moses’s attention!

·      Num. 20:8 – “Take the staff… Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. … Moses … struck the rock twice with … Water gushed out, and the community … drank.  But the LORD said to Moses … “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”  Is being deprived of the that ‘goal’ a drastic measure?!?!

·      Lev. 10:1-7 – “Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, …  So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. … Aaron remained silent.”   Interesting that Aaron remained silent when his two sons died.  God had made His point!

·      Num. 16&17 – “…they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram…Moses said, ‘This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea’ … the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them …”  The people learned a lesson!

·      Num. 25 – Zimri was killed for worshipping Baal, and 24,000 were killed by plague.

·      2 Sam. 12:18 – David lost his son, conceived in sin.  I know that personally the loss of a child will get one’s attention.  I lost a 10-month-old daughter and have experienced the impact on our family.

·      After the Jews returned from Babylonian exile, they no longer worshipped idols!  They learned their lesson!

·      400 silent years – from Malachi to Matthew.  Do you think God enjoyed cutting off communication with his wayward children?

·      John 3:16 – “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,” to us.  And in Matt. 27:45-50  GOD DID THE MOST DRASTIC ACT POSSIBLE, permitting the crucifixion of His own Son.  God did the most drastic act of all to get our attention.   Did He get yours?

(Drafted before Election results were in.)  How bad might it get for America, and why?    Are we relying on Trump to be our savior; or are we to recognize Jesus as our LORD?

Many have been saying that America is ripe for judgement.  God brings judgement on His people two ways -  (1) using foreign enemies to take over; and (2) allowing internal corruption and ungodly behavior to destroy the heart and soul of a nation from within.  We lost our moral compass a long time ago.  Prophetic dystopian novels written years ago warned us – “1984”, “Animal Farm”, “Fahrenheit 451”, “Brave New World”, etc. 

We look for a Godly leader, but isn’t a Godly Church more important?  Our government is designed to be representative of the people; how can we expect God-fearing leaders if they are elected by lost non-believers.  Those in power reflect the people who voted for them.  Which is the most important – Our American citizenship or our Kingdom citizenship?

Could our problem be lack of persecution?  In a “Persecuted” country, a Pastor corrected someone praying for relief from persecution.  He reminded them “It is because of persecution that the church in our country is growing.”  As we reflect on the comfortable nature of churches in America, have we pursued “nickels & noses” so that our churches are attended by a blend of sheep and goats, believers and non-believing pretenders?  Matt. 25:32-33 “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.”  Do the sheep need to be separated from the goats today?

So, is it time for a “Reset” in America’s Church (capital “C”)?  Do we need an “Awakening” like the first, second and third ones that caused people to commit their lives to the Lord and forsake their ungodly lifestyles?

Points to ponder

What have we done to preach, share and stand for the Gospel?

Do we now find more people ready to talk about “End Times” possibilities?

Are we Christians willing to openly question the ungodly behaviors around us?
Are we willing to pay the price, tolerate persecution, if necessary?
Have we done enough yet to warrant or bring on persecution?

Is it easier to tell if a flashlight is “on” in a lighted room or a dark room?  Is yours on?

♫  This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine, Let it shine, all the time, let it shine, All around the neighborhood, I'm going to let it shine! … Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm going to let it shine …  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                           November 12, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Reprint of 2/2/21 & 12/20/11 Musings - “Would God Use Drastic Means to get Our Attention?

Musing – Why are some “Professing” Christians possibly not “Saved”?

 Hebraic Musing – Why are some “Professing” Christians possibly not “Saved”?

This is also a reminder to consider what it takes to witness thoroughly.  Have you encountered folks who claim to have responded to an altar call in earlier years, but there doesn’t seem to be fruit in their lives!  We wonder if they are really “Saved” if there doesn’t seem to be evidence.  Was there an adequate foundation and/or understanding to support the “Confession of Faith”?  The Salvation prayer often consists of response to a simple message.  “You need to be ‘Saved’; Jesus died for my sins; Thank you Jesus my Savior; Hallelujah, now I’m saved!”  Is that an adequate understanding?  Was the Holy Spirit involved in their “experience”?  What are some foundations of our Faith that might be missing?

Creation:  Do we really understand who God is?  My personal testimony was founded on three questions learned at age 5.   Q. – Who made me?  A. – God made me.   Q. – Who is God?  A. – God is the Supreme Being who created all things.   Q. – Why did God make me?  A. – God made me to worship Him; and to praise Him forever.  That’s pretty basic!  

Sinfulness of Mankind:  In order to “repent” of our sins, we need to recognize our own need “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 NIV   Is the candidate truly recognizing their sinfulness and are they repentant?  Going to church, praying, stopping some sins, being baptized, etc. does not save us!  One needs to recognize the Gospel message thoroughly; evidenced by meaningful repentance.

Death:  Our inevitable and the default destination is HELL!  Only a blood sacrifice can save us, thus we need to recognize of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross was for our sins.   We need to realize “and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7b NIV

Resurrection:  Jesus Christ told us in advance of His Resurrection.  “… Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 NIV And His resurrection was eye-witnessed!  Thus, we have the Hope of Glory!
Everyone dies, including Buddha, Mohammed, Joseph Smith, etc. but we know that not all will be resurrected. 

Baptism:   Jesus called for Christians to be baptized as a public sign of their acceptance of Christ’s blood sacrifice.  “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Matthew 28:19 NIV   The act of Baptism is a public event for the new believer to publicly declare his/her acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Lord.

Moment of Change:  The central words in a Christian’s testimony are typically the tearful description of the moment the person knew their life had changed.  “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 NKJV   Many Christians can remember the exact moment when they were saved: the date, the time of day, the exact location, the people involved, the circumstances leading up to the moment of decision, etc.  They recognize they were changed in that memorable moment; at which time the Holy Spirit became their guiding light and their LORD.

Points to ponder

Can the “Professing” Christian describe what happened at their moment of salvation?

Is it worth our time to assure that a Salvation candidate understands thoroughly?

How important is immediate discipleship?    or
What was your level of understanding when you accepted Jesus as your Lord?

Today is “Election Day!”  BTW - Who did you elect as your Lord?

♫  What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought Since Jesus came into my heart;
     I have light in my soul for which long I have sought, Since Jesus came into my heart. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                November 5, 2024  “Election Day!”
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

*  Inspired by a message from our Youth pastor, Chris Cooper, at Immanuel Baptist Church on 10/13/24

Musing – Did you know that Jesus prayed for you?

 Hebraic Musing – Did you know that Jesus prayed for you?

John 17 starts with “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said…” John 17:1 NKJV   As apostle John remembers Jesus’ prayer; this is at the end of the five-chapter message (in red letters!) that Jesus gave to His disciples.  In chapter 17 Jesus wraps up his long prayer to His Father with this prayer for himself, His Disciples, and for All Believers (That includes you and me!).  What was on our Lord Jesus’ heart?

What was His prayer for Himself?   “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.’”  John 17:1-5 NKJV

What was Jesus prayer for His Disciples, like John and like you and me?  Remember that we are, or should be, His disciples, but we weren’t there.  What was Jesus saying to us, His disciples in vs. 6-19:
 - they have kept Your word   v.6
 - they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You   v.8
 - they have believed that You sent Me   v.8
 - I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours   v.9
 - keep through Your name those whom You have given Me,  that they may be one as We are   v.11
 - that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves    v.13
 - that You should keep them from the evil one     v.15
 - Sanctify them by Your truth    v.17
 - As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world     v.18

Apparently, there is a job Jesus expects us to be doing!

Now let’s understand what Jesus prayed for you and me (and all Believers) in verses 20-26!

v.20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;” i.e. Not praying for just the Apostles, but also for us believers to come!  You and me!!!!

v.21 “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us,”  How can we achieve that “oneness” that Jesus is asking for?   

v.22-23 “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”  That’s a lot of LOVE!!!

v.24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”  Jesus is looking forward to us joining Him in heaven for eternity. PTL!

v.25-26 “O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.  And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”   What kind of Love was Jesus calling for?

Points to ponder

How does it feel to have Jesus praying an “Intercessory Prayer” for you?

How important were Jesus’ words, that John remembered them 50 or so years later?

Is there a job Jesus is expecting you and I to be doing?

Maybe John’s frequent sharing of the Lord’s Scripture was good for his memory!!!

♫  Oh, How He Loves You, Oh, How He Loves Me, Oh, How He Loves You And Me.  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                   October 29, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Musing – Is “Soul Winning” also in the Old Testament?

 Hebraic Musing – Is “Soul Winning” also in the Old Testament?

Ezekiel, the Watchman, reminded the people of their responsibility to preach rightly about the sin of wickedness.  And he talked of the consequences if they do not preach rightly!  Might that still apply today?

Here’s what Ezekiel had to say about our responsibility.  “When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, … that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.  Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, …, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.”  Ezekiel 3:18-19 NKJV   What is our responsibility?   You might want to read that again!!! 

And there are more forms of witnessing found in the Old Testament:

·      Daniel 12:3 “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”  NIV

·      Psalm 1:3 “He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” NKJV

·      Psalm 126:6 “He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.” 

·      Proverbs 10:5 “He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.”

·      Proverbs 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.”

·      Ezekiel 3:20 “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.”

·      Ezekiel 33:6  “But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.”

Why did Almighty God choose to start His outreach ministry on earth in Israel?  Israel was at the crossroads of early trade routes; trade between the nations of the World, whether North to South or East to West flowed through Israel!  Thus, the Land became the ideal location to introduce Almighty God to the World.

Our pastor’s favorite “soul-winning” story is about a shoe salesman sent to Africa to develop a new territory.  The salesman came back in a week frustrated saying “They don’t wear shoes there!”  So the company sent another young salesman, and a week later they got a message from him saying “The opportunity is great here!  Everybody needs shoes!  Send me more inventory!”  Does this need explanation?

And this is worth repeating.  “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30 NKJV

Points to ponder

How would you feel if someone in Hell were to say to you – “Why didn’t you tell me?

Does Soul Winning sometimes require “Tough Love”?

If you witness and they say “No”, did you plant a seed for them to consider?

BTW, how many times did you say “No” before you finally said “Yes” to LORD Jesus?

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                October 22, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by my Pastor Tom Hatley’s September 22, 2024, message.

Musing – How might God react to America’s misbehaviors?

 Hebraic Musing – How might God react to America’s misbehaviors?

Reading through the accounts of the nation of Israel in the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah I ran across too many repetitive responses from God like this one.  “Through your own fault you will lose the inheritance I gave you. I will enslave you to your enemies in a land you do not know, for you have kindled my anger, and it will burn forever.” Jeremiah 17:4a NIV   I wonder if that might apply to America?

These words caught my attention because we tend to think of God Almighty, and especially Jesus, as loving.  We tend to forget that chastisement is an act of love, but not always recognized as such.

This was Jeremiah’s explanation of how and why the LORD felt He had to deal with His beloved Jerusalem. “People from many nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this great city?'  And the answer will be: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God and have worshiped and served other gods.'” Jeremiah 22:8-9 NIV   Wow!  Doesn’t that sound like it would apply to America today?!?!  And if so, what might be ahead for us?

Revelation 18:1-3 describes an angel giving Babylon a final warning as they were about to get what they deserve.  Then verses 4-5 warn us, God’s chosen.  “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.”   Does this mean Time’s up?  And/or, Christians, hold fast to your faith?  Or do not take the “Mark”?

What is the “Mark”?  What are we saying when we take it?  How might we take it?  “A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.”  Revelation 14:9-11

I repeat –  What is the “Mark”?  What are we saying when we take it?  How might we take it?

In how many ways might we find ourselves “Worshipping the beast”?  What is the “Beast”?

What should we to be doing?  Scripture answers in vs. 12 “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.”  Are we prepared, ready to endure?

And here is the reward!   “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4  

Final thought!  If you don’t want to believe the above message, or you want to ignore it, then these words above are like Jeremiah’s warning.  “Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.” Jeremiah 26:15

Points to ponder

What is the “Mark of the Beast”?

If God does not punish America, will He owe Sodom & Gomorrah an apology?

Will God judge differently the Nation, the Church, or us individually?

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                   October 15, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”