Exploring Papua New Guinea - AMNH SciCafe

10 Commandments

And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. Exodus 20:1-17 APP Hebrew Bible Now - Available on Google Play

Paham Yahudi Messianic-Tipuan Yang Berkembang

https://www.worldslastchance.com/bahasa-indonesia/winds-of-doctrine/paham-yahudi-mesianik-sebuah-tipuan-yang-berkembang.html

Bahasa Indonesia WLC NEWS! Login/Sign-up SEKILAS INFO Setelah melakukan pembelajaran dengan penuh doa, WLC meninggalkan pengajaran bahwa KERAJAAN SERIBU TAHUN akan berlangsung di surga. Tim sekarang sudah menyakini bahwa kerajaan seribu tahun ini akan terlaksana di bumi ini. Kontent baru mengenai hal yang penting ini akan diterbitkan secepatnya. Terpujilah Bapa Yahuwah karena kesabaran-Nya yang tidak terbatas pada kita, sebagaimana kita terus meninggalkan kesalahan dalam perburuan kita pada kebenaran. Terpujilah Nama-Nya sekarang dan sampai selama-lamanya! --Tim WLC. World’s Last Chance Direktori Konten   Paham Yahudi Mesianik | Sebuah Tipuan yang Berkembang Menggantikan Kebenaran dengan Paham Farisi Moderen Banyak orang Kristen tulus yang percaya bahwa ada nilai yang penting dalam semua hal yang berbau Ibrani. Ini adalah sebuah tipuan Setan yang dimaksudkan untuk mengalihkan perhatian mereka dari semua isu-isu yang sangat penting yang dipertaruhkan pada hari-hari penutupan sejarah bumi ini. Apakah anda pernah melihat sebuah iklan untuk peralatan elektronik baru yang mengagumkan yang dijamin dapat memecahkan masalah yang anda dan semua orang di dunia ini miliki, yang sangat mengganggu? Anda tertarik dan bersemangat karena peralatan yang baru ini akan meningkatkan kehidupan anda! Anda percaya kepada sang penjual yang ramah dan karismatik. Anda dengan cepat menghubungi nomor telepon yang ada atau mengklik link yang sudah disediakan. Dalam hitungan menit, anda membayarnya dengan kartu kredit anda dan peralatan yang ajaib itu langsung terkirim ke tempat anda! Dengan semangat anda menunggu sambil waspada! Akhirnya, kiriman yang ditunggu-tunggu itu tiba! Ini dia! Ini dia! Namun, setelah membukanya, herannya produk ini hampir tidak 'semengkilap' seperti yang diharapkan dan bahkan kurang berguna. Anda merasa ditipu, bahkan mungkin menghubungi layanan pelanggan (dan tidak berhasil), dan sekarang anda bersumpah untuk tidak pernah menjadi korban penipuan pemasaran model ini lagi. Betapa banyaknya kisah pilu yang menyakitkan hati seperti ini yang terjadi dalam hal-hal Rohani. Sejumlah besar orang Kristen yang tidak terhitung banyaknya jatuh ke dalam perangkap yang sama ketika sedang mencari kebenaran. Sebagian orang menerima firman dari pendeta atau pastor mereka sebagai kebenaran, dan menolak untuk mempelajari apa pun yang secara rohani tidak disetujui oleh para pendeta atau pastor mereka. Bagi sebagian orang yang lain, Setan memiliki tipuan halus yang telah disiapkan yaitu: asumsi bahwa terang yang lebih besar dapat dipelajari dari orang-orang Yahudi. Alkitab berisi sebuah peringatan yang serius: "Sadarlah dan berjaga-jagalah! Lawanmu, si Iblis, berjalan keliling sama seperti singa yang mengaum-aum dan mencari orang yang dapat ditelannya" (1 Petrus 5: 8). Alasan mengapa setan bertambah marah diungkapkan di dalam Wahyu 12:12: "Iblis telah turun kepadamu, dalam geramnya yang dahsyat, karena ia tahu, bahwa waktunya sudah singkat." Mereka yang dengan rindu menanti kembalinya Sang Juruselamat akan waspada. Seperti gadis-gadis yang bijaksana, mereka telah memperhatikan panggilan bahwa Sang Mempelai datang. Dalam kasih mereka kepada-Nya, mereka telah mempersiapkan pelita mereka, dan berusaha untuk membuat seluruh hidup mereka menjadi selaras dengan-Nya.Itulah yang seharusnya dilakukan. Sayangnya, banyak orang Kristen tulus yang beraliran konservatif yang telah dialihkan dari isu-isu nyata di hari-hari terakhir ini dengan ajaran bahwa ada manfaat yang tersimpan di dalam segala hal yang berbau Ibrani – dan menjadi (atau akan menjadi) semirip mungkin dengan kaum Yahudi dan mendukung negara Israel sebagai umat pilihan Yahuwah. Pengajaran-pengajaran telah dikhotbahkan dan jutaan dolar telah dikirim untuk mendukung negara Israel. John Hagee, seorang pendeta senior dari sebuah jemaat dengan 18.000an-anggota, adalah salah satu penasihat terkenal dari keyakinan ini. Pada bulan Februari 2006, Pastor John Hagee, Pendiri dan Ketua Nasional dari Persekutuan Kristen untuk Israel, memutuskan bahwa sudah waktunya untuk membuat sebuah gerakan akar rumput nasional yang difokuskan untuk mendukung Israel. Dia memanggil semua pemimpin Kristen di seluruh Amerika untuk bergabung dengannya dalam meluncurkan gerakan baru ini. Lebih dari 400 pemimpin Kristen masing-masing mewakili denominasi, gereja-besar, pelayanan media, perusahaan penerbitan, atau universitas Kristen menjawab panggilan itu dan Persekutuan Kristen untuk Israel lahir.1 Orang-orang yang lain, dalam keinginannya yang tulus untuk menjadi sekudus mungkin, mengadopsi banyak praktek-praktek para rabbi dalam berpakaian dan dalam area-area yang lainnya. Mereka menambahkan ke dalam kosa kata mereka kata-kata dan ungkapan-ungkapan dari bahasa Ibrani - kadang-kadang sampai ke titik di mana orang-orang kesulitan memahami maksud mereka. Mereka memperbanyak uang untuk membangun kembali bait suci di Yerusalem atau untuk membangun tempat perlindungan bom di Israel. Ini adalah pengalihan utama yang telah menjadi bentuk yang sangat halus dari keyakinan keselamatan karena perbuatan. Nabi Yoel telah melukiskan gambaran yang jelas dari generasi akhir ketika dia menyatakan: "Banyak orang, banyak orang di lembah penentuan! Ya, sudah dekat hari Yahuwah di lembah penentuan!". (Yoel 3:14). Adalah merupakan sifat alami manusia untuk menginginkan "guru" rohani, apakah itu dukun, imam, pendeta atau rabbi, untuk memberitahu kepada seseorang apa yang harus diyakini. Tapi Yahuwah telah menetapkan bahwa tidak ada manusia manapun yang akan melakukan peran ini. Semua orang harus datang langsung kepada Sang Juruselamat untuk menerima air kehidupan. Kitab Suci mencatat: "Sebab beginilah firman Yahuwah semesta alam . . . . siapa yang menjamah kamu, berarti menjamah biji mata-Nya". (Zakharia 2: 8). Berdasarkan hal ini, dan ayat-ayat lain yang sejenis, banyak orang percaya bahwa jika mereka bisa menjadi semirip mungkin dengan kaum Yahudi dalam kehidupan, dan berpakaian, dan dalam praktek, mereka akan menyenangkan Yahuwah. Sayangnya, kebanyakan dari apa yang mereka adopsi adalah tradisi buatan manusia milik orang-orang Farisi. Dengan hancurnya Bait Suci (Thn 70 M) orang-orang Saduki telah menjadi lenyap sama sekali, meninggalkan peraturan dari semua urusan-urusan Yahudi di tangan orang-orang Farisi. Selanjutnya, kehidupan bangsa Yahudi diatur oleh orang-orang Farisi; seluruh sejarah paham Yahudi dibangun kembali dari sudut pandang orang Farisi, dan suatu hal yang baru diberikan kepada Sanhedrin yang terdahulu. Sebuah rantai tradisi yang baru menggantikan tradisi imam yang lama . . . Paham Farisi membentuk karakter paham Yahudi dan kehidupan dan pemikiran orang-orang Yahudi di masa kemudian.2 Mereka yang beralih ke tradisi-tradisi Yahudi untuk meningkatkan kehidupan rohani mereka, pada kenyataannya, beralih ke paham Farisi. Sarjana-sarjana Yahudi mengakui fakta bahwa agama Yahudi moderen adalah paham Farisi: Paham Farisi menjadi Paham Talmud ... [Namun] semangat orang Farisi kuno bertahan tak berubah. Ketika orang Yahudi ... mempelajari kitab Talmud, ia sebenarnya mengulangi argumen-argumen yang digunakan di dalam akademi-akademi Palestina. . . . Semangat pengajaran [orang-orang Farisi] masih tetap ada dan dianggap penting. . . . dari Palestina ke Babel; dari Babel ke Afrika Utara, Italia, Spanyol, Perancis dan Jerman; dari tempat-tempat ini semua ke Polandia, Rusia, dan Eropa Timur pada umumnya, paham Farisi kuno telah berkembang.3 Teguran yang paling lantang dari Sang Juruselamat diarahkan kepada orang-orang Farisi. Dia menyebut mereka "pemimpin-pemimpin buta", "orang bodoh dan buta", "ular" dan "keturunan ular beludak". Ketika menyebut orang-orang Farisi sebagai orang-orang "munafik," Yahushua menyamakan mereka dengan "kuburan yang dilabur putih, yang sebelah luarnya memang bersih tampaknya, tetapi yang sebelah dalamnya penuh tulang belulang dan pelbagai jenis kotoran". (Matius 23:27). Banyak orang Kristen tulus sekarang yang percaya bahwa orang-orang Yahudi masih merupakan orang-orang spesial Yahuwah karena orang-orang Yahudi mengatakan seperti itu kepada mereka. Namun, paham Yahudi moderen tidak lagi memiliki manfaat yang lebih baik daripada rekan farisi kunonya. Mereka yang berpatokan kepada orang-orang Yahudi untuk mengkonfirmasi terang yang ada sebenarnya menjadikan tradisi buatan manusia dan meninggikan kaum Yahudi melebihi posisi perintah ilahi. Yahushua dengan jelas telah memperingatkan hasil akhir bagi semua orang yang beralih ke sumber ini untuk mendapat kebenaran: Celakalah kamu, hai ahli-ahli Taurat dan orang-orang Farisi, hai kamu orang-orang munafik, karena kamu menutup pintu-pintu Kerajaan Sorga di depan orang. Sebab kamu sendiri tidak masuk dan kamu merintangi mereka yang berusaha untuk masuk. Celakalah kamu, hai ahli-ahli Taurat dan orang-orang Farisi, hai kamu orang-orang munafik, sebab kamu mengarungi lautan dan menjelajah daratan, untuk mentobatkan satu orang saja menjadi penganut agamamu dan sesudah ia bertobat, kamu menjadikan dia orang neraka, yang dua kali lebih jahat dari pada kamu sendiri. (Matius 23:13 dan 15). Paham Farisi, yang adalah paham Yahudi moderen, terdiri dari hukum dan tradisi buatan manusia. Orang-orang Yahudi memiliki ribuan hukum, tapi Yahuwah berkata bahwa Dia "membenci" tradisi-tradisi ini: Aku membenci, Aku menghinakan perayaanmu dan Aku tidak senang kepada perkumpulan rayamu. Sungguh, apabila kamu mempersembahkan kepada-Ku korban-korban bakaran dan korban-korban sajianmu, Aku tidak suka, dan korban keselamatanmu berupa ternak yang tambun, Aku tidak mau pandang. Jauhkanlah dari pada-Ku keramaian nyanyian-nyanyianmu, lagu gambusmu tidak mau Aku dengar. (Amos 5: 21-23). Ini adalah "pertemuan kudus" yang ditetapkan oleh Yahuwah sendiri! Namun, cara mereka merayakannya telah menjadi begitu banyak dilakukan dengan aturan dan hukum buatan manusia sehingga mereka justru menghancurkan esensi rohani dari apa yang Sang Pemberi Hukum itu maksudkan mereka alami! Dalam usaha mereka untuk menjaga hukum ilahi dengan "sempurna", orang-orang Farisi menambahkan begitu banyak aturan dan persyaratan tambahan. Mereka mengajarkan bahwa aturan-aturan tambahan akan membuat seseorang bebas dari dosa. Misalnya, Sabat dari matahari terbenam sampai matahari terbenam yang tidak Alkitabiah. Sebuah sebutan yang disediakan khusus untuk Hari Pendamaian. Dalam upaya yang terlalu bersemangat untuk "menjaga pinggiran hari Sabat" perayaan Sabat mingguan diperpanjang hingga menjadi sama dengan Hari Pendamaian itu. Dalam kata-kata-Nya yang bergema sampai hari ini, Yahushua mengecam karya-karya tambahan orang-orang Farisi, Dia berkata: "Mereka mengikat beban-beban berat, lalu meletakkannya di atas bahu orang, tetapi mereka sendiri tidak mau menyentuhnya". (Matius 23: 4). Orang-orang yang tulus ini tidak tahu bahwa praktek-praktek yang mereka adopsi didasarkan pada aturan dan tradisi buatan manusia. Mereka berpikir, kita telah menolak yang buruk dan kembali ke Akar Ibrani, tetapi akar itu tidak lebih dari Babel! Menggunakan kata-kata berbahasa Ibrani tidak menciptakan kebenaran dalam pikiran anda. Memberikan uang untuk membangun kembali bait suci tidak membuat anda membeli tiket masuk ke Surga. Pindah ke Yerusalem (atau Israel) tidak memiliki manfaat penyelamatan. Kaum Yahudi moderen bukanlah otoritas tertinggi untuk mengetahui apa yang menyenangkan bagi Yahuwah. Sebagian besar dari mereka adalah orang-orang sekuler dan mereka yang tidak, bergantung pada perbuatan untuk keselamatan mereka sendiri. Pengembangan karakter tidak dipengaruhi dengan pakaian yang anda kenakan atau kata-kata bahasa Ibrani yang anda tambahkan ke dalam kosakata anda atau dengan nama Ibrani yang anda gunakan untuk menyebut nama diri anda. Ini adalah hadiah yang diberikan kepada orang-orang yang imannya berpegang pada janji-janji yang berharga. Bahkan di hari-hari awal Kekristenan, ada sebuah kecenderungan di kalangan umat Yahudi untuk meninggikan keyakinan, praktek-praktek dan tradisi-tradisi dari kelas konservatif: yaitu orang-orang Farisi. Kepada mereka yang tertarik pada tradisi-tradisi manusia, Paulus menulis: Karena sudah banyak orang hidup tidak tertib, terutama di antara mereka yang berpegang pada hukum sunat. Dengan omongan yang sia-sia mereka menyesatkan pikiran. Orang-orang semacam itu harus ditutup mulutnya, karena mereka mengacau banyak keluarga dengan mengajarkan yang tidak-tidak untuk mendapat untung yang memalukan. . . . Karena itu tegorlah mereka dengan tegas supaya mereka menjadi sehat dalam iman, dan tidak lagi mengindahkan dongeng-dongeng Yahudi dan hukum-hukum manusia yang berpaling dari kebenaran. Mereka mengaku mengenal Yahuwah,tetapi dengan perbuatan mereka, mereka menyangkal Dia. Mereka keji dan durhaka dan tidak sanggup berbuat sesuatu yang baik. (Titus 1: 10-11, 13-14, 16). Ini adalah sebuah peringatan bagi mereka yang memandang kepada orang-orang Yahudi sebagai penyimpan hikmat ilahi. Dengan menjadikan orang-orang Yahudi otoritas akhir atas hal-hal rohani, orang percaya dituntun untuk menolak kebenaran yang sama yang juga ditolak oleh orang-orang Yahudi. Sebuah contoh utama adalah hari Sabat yang sejati. Di bawah penganiayaan Romawi yang berat setelah Konsili Nicea, orang-orang Yahudi meninggalkan Sabat Alkitab ketika Hillel II "mereformasi" kalender. Kaum Yahudi, hari ini, beribadah pada hari Sabtu berdasarkan kalender Gregorian [kalender masehi]. Akibatnya, jutaan orang Kristen yang tulus menganggap bahwa hari Sabtu adalah hari Sabat yang Alkitabiah, dengan tidak ada alasan lain selain bahwa karena hari itu dirayakan oleh orang-orang Yahudi dan, tentu saja orang-orang Yahudi tidak akan beribadah pada hari apa pun kecuali pada hari Sabat yang sejati. Dengan demikian, ujian akhir datang dan ditolak tanpa alasan lain selain dari asumsi bahwa orang-orang Yahudi pasti memiliki kebenaran karena mereka adalah orang Yahudi. Namun bagaimanapun juga, Alkitab, menyajikan sebuah sudut-pandang yang sangat berbeda. Orang-orang Yahudi dari zaman kuno, orang-orang Yahudi di masa Sang Mesias dan orang-orang Yahudi pada zaman sekarang, tidak memelihara hukum ilahi dengan cara yang Yahuwah maksudkan: Yahuwah telah memperingatkan kepada orang Israel dan kepada orang Yehuda dengan perantaraan semua nabi dan semua tukang tilik: "Berbaliklah kamu dari pada jalan-jalanmu yang jahat itu dan tetaplah ikuti segala perintah dan ketetapan-Ku, sesuai dengan segala undang-undang yang telah Kuperintahkan kepada nenek moyangmu dan yang telah Kusampaikan kepada mereka dengan perantaraan hamba-hamba-Ku, para nabi." Tetapi mereka tidak mau mendengarkan, melainkan mereka menegarkan tengkuknya seperti nenek moyangnya yang tidak percaya kepada Yahuwah, Eloah mereka. Dan mereka menolak ketetapan-Nya dan perjanjian-Nya, yang telah diadakan dengan nenek moyang mereka, juga peraturan-peraturan-Nya yang telah diperingatkan-Nya kepada mereka . . . sehingga mereka telah meninggalkan segala perintah Yahuwah, Eloah mereka . . . . (2 Raja-raja 17: 13-16). Tradisi buatan manusia tidak menyucikan jiwa. Tradisi-tradisi ini hanya berfungsi untuk membuat seseorang merasa lebih unggul dari mereka yang tidak melakukan hal yang sama. "Hukum Yahuwah itu sempurna, menyegarkan jiwa; peraturan Yahuwah itu teguh, memberikan hikmat kepada orang yang tak berpengalaman". (Mazmur 19: 7). Tradisi buatan manusia, aturan tambahan yang berdasarkan pada interpretasi manusia, membuat hukum ilahi menjadi rumit. Hukum Yahuwah itu sederhana dan mudah. Yahushua menyisihkan semua tradisi orang Farisi dan mengklarifikasi sifat alami dari keindahan, dan kebesaran namun sederhana dari hukum ilahi: dan seorang dari mereka, seorang ahli Taurat, bertanya untuk mencobai Dia: "Guru, hukum manakah yang terutama dalam hukum Taurat?" Jawab Yahushua kepadanya: "Kasihilah Yahuwah, Eloahmu, dengan segenap hatimu dan dengan segenap jiwamu dan dengan segenap akal budimu. Itulah hukum yang terutama dan yang pertama. Dan hukum yang kedua, yang sama dengan itu, ialah: Kasihilah sesamamu manusia seperti dirimu sendiri. Pada kedua hukum inilah tergantung seluruh hukum Taurat dan kitab para nabi." (Matius 22: 35-40). "Hai manusia, telah diberitahukan kepadamu apa yang baik. Dan apakah yang dituntut Yahuwah dari padamu: selain berlaku adil, mencintai kesetiaan, dan hidup dengan rendah hati di hadapan Eloahmu?". (Mikha 6: 8). Paulus menyatakan ketakutannya bahwa orang-orang percaya baru akan beralih ke tradisi, dan menyisihkan kesederhanaan dari kebenaran itu: "Tetapi aku takut, kalau-kalau pikiran kamu disesatkan dari kesetiaan kamu yang sejati kepada Yahushua, sama seperti Hawa diperdayakan oleh ular itu dengan kelicikannya". (2 Korintus 11: 3). Mereka yang beralih pada tradisi-tradisi yang ditemukan dalam paham Yahudi yang merujuk pada semua janji-janji yang dibuat untuk Israel, lupa bahwa janji-janji itu selalu diberikan dalam kondisi ketaatan. Israel menolak Yahuwah ketika mereka menuntut seorang raja: "Dan Yahuwah berfirman kepada Samuel: "Dengarkanlah perkataan bangsa itu dalam segala hal yang dikatakan mereka kepadamu, sebab bukan engkau yang mereka tolak, tetapi Akulah yang mereka tolak, supaya jangan Aku menjadi raja atas mereka". (1 Samuel 8: 7). Fakta bahwa Yahuwah berpanjang sabar dengan mereka bahkan setelah penolakan mereka terhadap Dia diringkas dalam ungkapan yang sering diulang – ‘demi hamba-Ku Daud’. Tapi kasih ilahi tidak akan tinggal di tempat dimana hal itu tidak diinginkan. Meskipun mungkin berlama-lama tinggal disitu, kasih ilahi itu pada akhirnya akan, dengan sedih, mengikuti keinginan hati yang bandel. Beberapa hari sebelum kematian Yahushua, dengan patah hati Dia berduka: "Yerusalem, Yerusalem, engkau yang membunuh nabi-nabi dan melempari dengan batu orang-orang yang diutus kepadamu! Berkali-kali Aku rindu mengumpulkan anak-anakmu, sama seperti induk ayam mengumpulkan anak-anaknya di bawah sayapnya, tetapi kamu tidak mau. Lihatlah rumahmu ini akan ditinggalkan dan menjadi sunyi. Dan Aku berkata kepadamu: Mulai sekarang kamu tidak akan melihat Aku lagi, hingga kamu berkata: Diberkatilah Dia yang datang dalam nama Yahuwah!" (Matius 23: 37-39). Peringatan Paulus terhadap "pengikut Yahudi" dan orang-orang Kristen yang tulus dengan sepenuhnya sesuai dengan gambaran ini! Dengan jatuh ke dalam keyakinan bahwa ada, entah bagaimana, terdapat keuntungan dalam menjadi lebih serupa dengan kaum Yahudi, dalam mengirimkan uang kepada negara Israel, dalam membangun seluruh pengertian tentang akhir zaman disekitar asumsi bahwa Yahushua tidak akan kembali sampai orang-orang Yahudi semua bertobat, orang-orang Kristen yang tulus sedang mempersiapkan diri untuk dikejutkan oleh kekejutan pada saat Kedatangan Kedua. Yahushua memperingatkan: "Lihatlah, Aku datang seperti pencuri". (Wahyu 16:15). Ketika Dia kembali, banyak orang Kristen akan terkejut karena mereka belum melihat pertobatan massal kaum Yahudi. Mereka menunda Kedatangan Kedua sama seperti hamba yang jahat yang berkata, "Tuanku memperlambat kedatangannya". Janji-janji untuk Israel kuno sekarang tersedia untuk Israel rohani. Sebab kamu semua adalah anak-anak Eloah karena iman di dalam Yahushua Yang Diurapi. Karena kamu semua, yang dibaptis dalam Yahushua, telah mengenakan Yahushua. Dalam hal ini tidak ada orang Yahudi atau orang Yunani, tidak ada hamba atau orang merdeka, tidak ada laki-laki atau perempuan, karena kamu semua adalah satu di dalam Yahushua Yang Diurapi. Dan jikalau kamu adalah milik Yahushua, maka kamu juga adalah keturunan Abraham dan berhak mewarisi janji itu. (Galatia 3: 26-29). Keselamatan masih tersedia untuk orang-orang Yahudi secara individu, tetapi berkat rohani sekarang berlaku untuk semua orang yang mau menerima berkat-berkat itu dan ini berlaku sampai penutupan sejarah bumi "sampai genaplah zaman bangsa-bangsa lain itu". (Lukas 21:24). Keselamatan adalah sebuah karunia dari anugerah ilahi. Mereka yang mencintai Sang Penebus mereka akan berusaha untuk menghormati Dia dalam keindahan kekudusan, terlepas dari aturan dan tradisi buatan manusia. Yahuwah mengajak mereka yang bekerja di bawah beban berat kuk farisi untuk kembali kepada-Nya dan Dia akan memberi mereka kelegaan. "Datanglah kepada-Ku, semua yang letih lesu dan berbeban berat, Aku akan memberikan kelegaan kepadamu". (Matius 11:28). Konten Terkait: Yerusalem: Kunci Menuju Hari Kiamat? 1 http://www.cufi.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_pastor_john_hagee 2 “Pharisees,”The Jewish Encyclopedia, Vol. IX, (1901-1906 ed.), hal. 666. 3 Louis Finkelstein, The Pharisees: The Sociological Background of their Faith, Vol. 1, sambungan edisi pertama, hal. XXI, penekanan diberikan. Hits: 5297 Comments (0) Write Comment You must be logged in to post a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet. A Biblically-based community focused on prophetic truths revealing the imminent return of the Saviour. Copyright © 2004-2019 by World's Last Chance®. World’s Last Chance and WLC are both registered trademarks with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

Ian Gruber's Story

12 Disciple of Yeshua

HOME / BIBLE QUESTIONS / BIBLE CHARACTERS / Who were the 12 disciples? The 12 disciples/apostles of Jesus were the foundation stones of His church, several even wrote portions of the Bible. In Revelation 21:14 we are told that the twelve foundations of the wall of the New Jerusalem will have in them the names of the twelve disciples/apostles. It is evident, therefore, that God attaches great importance to these 12 men. Read more about the disciples: Peter James John Andrew Bartholomew or Nathanael James, the Lesser or Younger Judas Jude or Thaddeus Matthew or Levi Philip Simon the Zealot Thomas The Apostles of Jesus As we study these courageous first-century lives, and what discipleship meant in the time of Jesus, we may expect to be aided in developing a Spirit-directed twenty-first century discipleship as Christ must have meant it to be. The following biographical information about the 12 original disciples of Jesus uses the New Testament accounts along with the most respected legends and traditions. We do not mean to infer, that legend and tradition constitute historical fact. We do feel, however, that they do have value in the study of the lives of these men who "…turned the world upside down…"   Andrew Andrew was the brother of Peter, and a son of Jonas. He lived in Bethsaida and Capernaum and was a fisherman before Jesus called him. Originally he was a disciple of John the Baptist (Mark 1:16-18). Andrew brought his brother, Peter, to Jesus (John 1:40). He is the first to have the title of Home and Foreign Missionary. He is claimed by three countries as their Patron Saint-Russia, Scotland and Greece. Many scholars say that he preached in Scythia, Greece and Asia Minor. Andrew introduced others to Jesus. Although circumstances placed him in a position where it would have been easy for him to become jealous and resentful, he was optimistic and well content in second place. His main purpose in life was to bring others to the master. According to tradition, it was in Achaia, Greece, in the town of Patra that Andrew died a martyr. When Governor Aepeas' wife was healed and converted to the Christian faith, and shortly after that the Governor's brother became a Christian. Aepeas was enraged. He arrested Andrew and condemned him to die on the cross. Andrew, feeling unworthy to be crucified on the same-shaped cross as his Master, begged that his be different. So, he was crucified on an X-shaped cross, which is still called Saint Andrew's cross and which is one of his apostolic symbols. A symbol of two crossed fish has also been applied to Andrew, because he was formerly a fisherman.   Bartholomew or Nathanael Bartholomew Nathanael, son of Talmai, lived in Cana of Galilee. His apostolic symbol is three parallel knives. Tradition says he was a missionary in Armenia. A number of scholars believe that he was the only one of the 12 disciples who came from royal blood, or noble birth. His name means Son of Tolmai or Talmai(2 Samuel 3:3). Talmai was king of Geshur whose daughter, Maacah, was the wife of David, mother of Absolom. Bartholomew's name appears with every list of the disciples (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13). This was not a first name, however; it was his second name. His first name probably was Nathanael, whom Jesus called "An Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile" (John 1:47). The New Testament gives us very little information about him. Tradition indicates he was a great searcher of the Scripture and a scholar in the law and the prophets. He developed into a man of complete surrender to the Carpenter of Nazareth, and one of the Church's most adventurous missionaries. He is said to have preached with Philip in Phrygia and Hierapolis; also in Armenia. The Armenian Church claims him as its founder and martyr. However, tradition says that he preached in India, and his death seems to have taken place there. He died as a martyr for his Lord. He was flayed alive with knives.   James the Elder James, the Elder, Boanerges, son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of John the Apostle; a fisherman who lived in Bethsaida, Capernaum and Jerusalem. He preached in Jerusalem and Judea and was beheaded by Herod, AD 44 (Acts 12:1,2). He was a member of the Inner Circle, so called because they were accorded special privileges. The New Testament tells us very little about James. His name never appears apart from that of his brother, John. They were an inseparable pair (Mark 1:19-20; Matthew 4:21; Luke 5:1-11). He was a man of courage and forgiveness, a man without jealousy, living in the shadow of John, a man of extraordinary faith. He was the first of the twelve to become a martyr. His symbol is three shells, the sign of his pilgrimage by the sea.   James the Lesser or the Younger James, the Lesser or Younger, son of Alpheus, or Cleophas and Mary, lived in Galilee. He was the brother of the Apostle Jude. According to tradition he wrote the Epistle of James, preached in Palestine and Egypt and was crucified in Egypt. James was one of the little-known disciples. Some scholars believe he was the brother of Matthew, the tax collector. James was a man of strong character and one of the most fiery type. Still another tradition says that he died as a martyr and his body was sawed in pieces. The saw became his apostolic symbol.   John John Boanerges, son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of James, the Apostle. He was known as the Beloved Disciple. A fisherman who lived in Bethsaida, Capernaum and Jerusalem, he was a member of the Inner Circle. He wrote the Gospel of John, I John, II John, III John and Revelation. He preached among the churches of Asia Minor. Banished to the isle of Patmos, he was later freed and died a natural death. John was one of the prominent Apostles. He is mentioned in many places in the New Testament. He was a man of action; he was very ambitious; and a man with an explosive temper and an intolerant heart. His second name was Boanerges, which means son of Thunder. He and his brother, James, came from a more well-to-do family than the rest of the 12 Apostles. Since his father had hired servants in his fishing business (Mark 1:20) he may have felt himself above the rest. He was close to Peter. They were acting together in the ministry. Peter, however, was always the spokesman for the band. John mellowed with time. At the latter part of his life, he had forgotten everything, including his ambition and explosive temper, except his Lord's command of love. It is said that an attempt was made on his life by giving him a chalice of poison from which God spared him. He died of natural causes. A chalice with a snake in it is his symbol.   Judas Judas Iscariot, the traitor, was the son of Simon who lived in Kerioth of Judah. He betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver and afterwards hanged himself (Matthew 26:14,16). Judas, the man who became the traitor, is the supreme enigma of the New Testament because it is so hard to see how anyone who was so close to Jesus, who saw so many miracles and heard so much of the Master's teaching could ever betray him into the hands of his enemies. His name appears in three lists of the 12 Apostles (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:19). It is said that Judas came from Judah near Jericho. He was a Judean and the rest of the disciples were Galileans. He was the treasurer of the band and among the outspoken leaders. It is said that Judas was a violent Jewish Nationalist who had followed Jesus in hope that through Him his nationalistic flame and dreams might be realized. No one can deny that Judas was a covetous man and at times he used his position as treasurer of the band to pilfer from the common purse. There is no certain reason as to why Judas betrayed his master; but it is not his betrayal that put Jesus on the cross-it was our sins. His apostolic symbol is a hangman's noose, or a money purse with pieces of silver falling from it.   Jude or Thaddeus Jude, Thaddeus, or Lebbeus, son of Alpheus or Cleophas and Mary. He was a brother of James the Younger. He was one of the very little-known Apostles and lived in Galilee. Tradition says he preached in Assyria and Persia and died a martyr in Persia. Jerome called Jude "Trinomious" which means "a man with three names." In Mark 3:18 he is called Thaddeus. In Matthew 10:3 he is called Lebbeus. His surname was Thaddeus. In Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13 he is called Judas the brother of James. Judas Thaddeus also was called Judas the Zealot. By character he was an intense and violent Nationalist with the dream of world power and domination by the Chosen People. In the New Testament records (John 14:22 NIV) he asked Jesus at the Last Supper, "But Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" Judas Thaddeus was interested in making Christ known to the world. Not as a suffering Saviour, however, but as ruling King. We can see plainly from the answer Jesus gave him, that the way of power can never be substituted for the way of love. It is said that Jude went to preach the gospel in Edessa near the Euphrates River. There he healed many and many believed in the name of the Master. Jude went from there to preach the Gospel in other places. He was killed with arrows at Ararat. The chosen symbol for him is the ship because he was a missionary thought to be a fisherman.   Matthew or Levi Matthew, or Levi, son of Alpheus, lived in Capernaum. He was a publican or tax collector. He wrote the Gospel that bears his name. He died a martyr in Ethiopia. The call of Matthew to the apostolic band is mentioned in Mark 2:14, Matthew 9:9 and Luke 5:27-28. From these passages, we learn that Matthew also was called Levi. It was a common custom in the Middle East at the time of Christ for men to have two names. Matthew's names mean "a gift of God." The name Levi could have been given to him by Jesus. It is likely that James the lesser, who was one of the twelve Apostles, was Matthew's brother, also the son of Alpheus. Although we know little about Matthew personally, the outstanding fact about him is that he was a tax collector. The King James Version calls him a publican, which in Latin is Publicanus, meaning engaged in public service, a man who handled public money, or a tax gatherer. Of all the nations in the world, the Jews were the most vigorous haters of tax gatherers. To the devout Jew, God was the only one to whom it was right to pay tribute in taxes. To pay it to anyone else was to infringe on the rights of God. The tax collectors were hated not on religious grounds only but because most of them were notoriously unjust. In the minds of many honest, Jewish men, these tax collectors were regarded as criminals. In New Testament times they were classified with harlots, Gentiles and sinners (Matthew 18:17; Matthew 21:31, 33; Matthew 9;10; Mark 2:15,16; Luke 5:30). Tax collectors had been known to assess duty payable at impossible sums and then offer to lend the money to travelers at a high rate of interest. Such was Matthew. Yet, Jesus chose a man all men hated and made him one of His men. It took Jesus Christ to see the potential in the tax collector of Capernaum. Matthew was unlike the other Apostles, who were mostly fishermen. He could use a pen, and by his pen he became the first man to present to the world, in the Hebrew language, an account of the teaching of Jesus. It is clearly impossible to estimate the debt that Christianity owes to this despised tax gatherer. The average man would have thought it impossible to reform Matthew, but to God all things are possible. Matthew became the first man to write down the teachings of Jesus. He was a missionary of the Gospel, who laid down his life for the faith of his Master. The apostolic symbol of Matthew is three money bags which reminds us that he was a tax collector before Jesus called him.   Peter Simon Peter, son of Jonas, was a fisherman who lived in Bethsaida and Capernaum. He did evangelistic and missionary work among the Jews, going as far as Babylon. He was a member of the Inner Circle and authored the two New Testament epistles which bear his name. Tradition says he was crucified, head downward, in Rome. In every apostolic list, the name Peter is mentioned first. However, Peter had other names. At the time of Christ, the common language was Greek and the family language was Hebrew. So his Greek name was Simon (Mark 1:16; John 1:40, 41). His Hebrew name was Cephas (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:22; 9:5 and Galatians 2:9). The Greek meaning of Simon is rock. The Arabic meaning of Cephas is also rock. By trade, Peter was a fisherman. He was a married man (1 Corinthians 9:5) and his home was Capernaum. Jesus probably made His headquarters there when He visited Capernaum. Peter was also a Galilean as was typical of many of the other disciples. Josephus described the Galileans this way, "They were ever fond of innovation and by nature disposed to change and delighted in sedition. They were ever ready to follow the leader and to begin an insurrection. They were quick in temper and given to quarreling and they were very chivalrous men." The Talmud says this of the Galileans, "They were more anxious for honor than for gain, quick-tempered, impulsive, emotional, easily aroused by an appeal to adventure, loyal to the end." Peter was a typical Galilean. Among the twelve, Peter was the leader. He stands out as a spokesman for all the twelve Apostles. It is he who asked the meaning of the difficult saying in Matthew 15:15. It is he who asked how often he must forgive. It is he who inquired about the reward for all of those who follow Jesus. It is he who first confessed Jesus and declared Him as the Son of the Living God. It is he who was at the Mount of Transfiguration. It is he who saw Jairus' daughter raised to life. Yet, it is he who denied Christ before a maiden. He was an Apostle and a missionary who laid down his life for his Lord. It is true, Peter had many faults, but he had always the saving grace of the loving heart. No matter how many times he had fallen and failed, he always recovered his courage and integrity. Peter was martyred on a cross. Peter requested that he might be crucified head downward for he was not worthy to die as his Lord had died. His apostolic symbol is a cross upside down with crossed keys.   Philip Tradition says that disciple Philip preached in Phrygia and died a martyr at Hierapolis. Philip came from Bethsaida, the town from which Peter and Andrew came (John 1:44). The likelihood is that he, too, was a fisherman. Although the first three Gospels record his name (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13), it is in the Gospel of John that Philip becomes a living personality. Scholars disagree on Philip. In Acts 6:5, we have Philip as one of the seven ordained deacons. Some say this is a different Philip. Some believe this is the Apostle. If this is the same Philip, then his personality came more to life because he had a successful campaign in Samaria. He led the Ethiopian eunuch to Christ (Acts 8:26). He also stayed with Paul in Ceasarea (Acts 21:8) and was one of the major figures in the missionary enterprise of the early church. The Gospel of John shows Philip as one of the first to whom Jesus addressed the words, "Follow Me." When Philip met Christ, he immediately found Nathanael and told him that "we have found him, of whom Moses … and the prophets, did write." Nathanael was skeptical. But Philip did not argue with him; he simply answered, "Come and see." This story tells us two important things about Philip. First, it shows his right approach to the skeptic and his simple faith in Christ. Second, it shows that he had a missionary instinct. Philip was a man with a warm heart and a pessimistic head. He was one who would very much like to do something for others, but who did not see how it could be done. Yet, this simple Galilean gave all he had. In return God used him. It is said that he died by hanging. While he was dying, he requested that his body be wrapped not in linen but in papyrus for he was not worthy that even his dead body should be treated as the body of Jesus had been treated. The symbol of Philip is a basket, because of his part in feeding of the five thousand. It is he that stressed the cross as a sign of Christianity and victory.   Simon the Zealot Simon, the Zealot, one of the little-known followers called the Canaanite or Zelotes, lived in Galilee. Tradition says he was crucified. In two places in the King James Version he is called a Canaanite (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18). However in the other two places he is called Simon Zelotes (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). The New Testament gives us practically nothing on him personally except that it says he was a Zealot. The Zealots were fanatical Jewish Nationalists who had heroic disregard for the suffering involved and the struggle for what they regarded as the purity of their faith. The Zealots were crazed with hatred for the Romans. It was this hate for Rome that destroyed the city of Jerusalem. Josephus says the Zealots were reckless persons, zealous in good practices and extravagant and reckless in the worst kind of actions. From this background, we see that Simon was a fanatical Nationalist, a man devoted to the Law, a man with bitter hatred for anyone who dared to compromise with Rome. Yet, Simon clearly emerged as a man of faith. He abandoned all his hatred for the faith that he showed toward his Master and the love that he was willing to share with the rest of the disciples and especially Matthew, the Roman tax collector. Simon, the Zealot, the man who once would have killed in loyalty to Israel, became the man who saw that God will have no forced service. Tradition says he died as a martyr. His apostolic symbol is a fish lying on a Bible, which indicates he was a former fisherman who became a fisher of men through preaching.   Thomas Didymus Thomas Didymus lived in Galilee. Tradition says he labored in Parthia, Persia, and India, suffering martyrdom near Madras, at Mt. St. Thomas, India. Thomas was his Hebrew name and Didymus was his Greek name. At times he was called Judas. Matthew, Mark and Luke tell us nothing about Thomas except his name. However, John defines him more clearly in his Gospel. Thomas appeared in the raising of Lazarus (John 11:2-16), in the Upper Room (John 14:1-6) where he wanted to know how to know the way where Jesus was going. In John 20:25, we see him saying unless he sees the nailprints in Jesus' hand and the gash of the spear in His side he will not believe. That's why Thomas became known as Doubting Thomas. By nature, Thomas was a pessimist. He was a bewildered man. Yet, he was a man of courage. He was a man who could not believe until he had seen. He was a man of devotion and of faith. When Jesus rose, he came back and invited Thomas to put his finger in the nail prints in his hands and in his side. Here, we see Thomas making the greatest confession of faith, "My Lord and my God." Thomas' doubts were transformed into faith. By this very fact Thomas' faith became great, intense and convincing. It is said that he was commissioned to build a palace for the king of India, and he was killed with a spear as a martyr for his Lord. His symbol is a group of spears, stones and arrows.   Who replaced Judas Iscariot? Matthias was selected to replace Judas as recorded in Acts 1:15-26. The other man who was also in consideration was named Joseph or Barsabas, and surnamed Justus. Lots were cast and eventually Matthias was chosen. Acts 1:24-26 records the following, "And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” The Bible is sparse on additional details relating to Matthias, but it does say that Matthias was with Jesus since His baptism until his resurrection. Besides the book of Acts, Matthias isn’t mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. According to historical sources Matthias lived til 80 A.D. and spread the gospel on the shores of the Caspian and Cappadocia.   How did the 12 disciples die? Andrew = Crucified on an X-shaped cross Bartholomew or Nathanael = Flayed alive with knives James the elder = First apostle martyred James the lesser = Sawn in pieces John = Died of natural causes on the isle of Patmos Judas Iscariot = Hung himself Jude or Thaddeus = Killed with arrows Matthew or Levi = Martyred in Ethiopia Peter = Crucified upside-down on a cross Philip = Died by hanging Simon the Zealot = Died a martyrs death Thomas = Killed with a spear   Where did the disciples die? A map of locations of where the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ died, according to tradition. Blue markers represent commonly accepted death locations while yellow markers represent disputed locations. [embedded from geographictravels.com] Share on FacebookShare on Twitter FEATURED What is the fruit of the Spirit? What is heaven like & where is heaven? The thief on the cross, the comma & Christ What is the fruit of the Spirit? What is heaven like & where is heaven? The thief on the cross, the comma & Christ What is the fruit of the Spirit? What is heaven like & where is heaven? Request Prayer Do you have a prayer request? Submit your request and our prayer team will pray for you. REQUEST PRAYER HOME / BIBLE QUESTIONS / SPIRITUAL GROWTH / What is the fruit of the Spirit? The fruit of the Spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23, is made up of the following nine qualities or gifts: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Fruit of the Spirit list: Love Joy Peace Patience Kindness Goodness Faithfulness Gentleness Self-control Love “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NIV). “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’” (1 Peter 4:8).   Joy “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4)! “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).   Peace “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3, NKJV). “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).   Patience “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes” (Psalm 37:7). “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12, NKJV). “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).   Kindness “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves” (Proverbs 11:17, NIV). “Love is patient, love is kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4).   Goodness “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23:6). “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom” (James 3:13). “Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your lovingkindness remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O LORD” (Psalm 25:7).   Faithfulness “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished” (Proverbs 28:20). “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). “Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man” (Proverbs 20:6, NKJV)?   Gentleness “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near” (Philippians 4:5, NIV). “...to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men” (Titus 3:2). “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).   Self-control “Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit” (Proverbs 25:28). “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city” (Proverbs 16:32). “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer” (1 Peter 4:7). EXPAND ANSWER FEATURED Bible Verses About Love How do I live and grow stronger as a Christian? Armor of God: What is it? Bible Verses About Love How do I live and grow stronger as a Christian? Armor of God: What is it? Bible Verses About Love How do I live and grow stronger as a Christian? Keep Me Updated Stay up-to-date on what’s new at Bibleinfo.com. You will receive emails about new articles, features and freebies just for you. HOME / BIBLE QUESTIONS / DEATH / The thief on the cross, the comma & Christ The Penitent Thief on the Cross The story of the thief on the cross is found in the following Bible verses: Matthew 27:38, Luke 23:32-43 and Mark 15:27. This story is in many ways one of the most touching stories in the Bible. A dying penitent thief accepts Christ as Lord and Master and is assured by Jesus of a place in paradise. Many people have also asked the question, what is the name of the thief on the cross? Unfortunately, the Bible doesn't give his name, but the story of this thief gives us a beautiful picture of God's love as shown through Jesus and the mercy freely given to all mankind. But many are wondering: (1) Did the penitent thief go to heaven with Jesus that same day? (2) Is there a contradiction between what Jesus told the thief and what He told Mary on Sunday? (3) Does paradise mean something other than heaven?   Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise Let's take a look at several verses in Luke 23 to find the meaning of this phrase: “Then one of the criminals who was hanged blasphemed Him, saying, If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us. But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise’” (Luke 23:39-43). One of the thieves, after joining with the other thief in mocking the Lord (Mark 15:32), recognized that Jesus was the Son of God and decided to ask for mercy and pardon. He offers up the simple prayer, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus accepts His repentance and gives him the promise that the thief on the cross will be with him in paradise. Is Jesus promising that the repentant criminal would be with Him that day in paradise? It would appear so on the surface, but let's take a deeper look. Luke 23:43 - The Thief On The Cross Contradiction In Luke 23:43 we read of Jesus saying, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” But in John 20:1-17 we read that Jesus meets Mary in the garden on the first day of the week and says, ‘Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God’” (John 20:17). Additionally, John 19:31-33 states that the religious leaders asked for the thieves legs' to be broken and taken down from their crosses. They didn't want the thieves to hang on the crosses over the Sabbath. We can see that Jesus could not have been with the thief in heavenly paradise that Friday if He had still not ascended to the Father on Sunday. Is this a contradiction? It would seem to be so on the surface. But what if the comma was after the word today instead of before it? The meaning would change completely. Let's read the passage again, what if Jesus was saying, “Verily I say unto thee today, thou shalt be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). If the comma is placed after the word today, it shows Jesus being emphatic on that day of his crucifixion, saying, today when I am dying on the cross with no apparent hope, I am promising that you will be with me in paradise eventually. However, if the comma is inserted before the word today, Jesus would then be promising that the thief would be with Him that very day in paradise; thus making Jesus a liar and also contradicting John 20:17. The Thief On the Cross & the Comma It makes a big difference where the comma is placed. There is a story of a wealthy man whose wife sent him a telegram asking if she could buy a very expensive item. He sent the reply, "No, price too high." Unfortunately the telegraph operator left the comma out of the message. When the wife received the message, "No price too high," she happily went and bought the expensive item. This story illustrates the importance of correct punctuation. If the punctuation is off by even one word it can mean something entirely different. As we compare scriptures one with another we will find apparent contradictions, but if we look carefully at the clearest texts and the overwhelming evidence in the scriptures on a certain subject, we will find the truth (see Isaiah 28:10). Often it's our preconceived ideas that lead us to think a certain verse means a specific thing. We must be careful never to take a verse out of context. The question now is, how can we harmonize this verse with the rest of the Bible? Is the Comma Inspired? Is the punctuation in the Bible inspired? In the original Greek text of the New Testament there was no punctuation, in fact, there was no spacing between words. Here is a quote from the Greek language expert Michael W. Palmer. "The ancient Greeks did not have any equivalent to our modern device of punctuation. Sentence punctuation was invented several centuries after the time of Christ. The oldest copies of both the Greek New Testament and the Hebrew Old Testament are written with no punctuation" (https://www.greeklanguage.blog/?p=657). When the translators of the English Bible translated this verse and others they had to decide where the punctuation should be. The translators themselves were not inspired. God definitely helped them translate the Bible, but the punctuation is not inspired since there was no punctuation in the original manuscripts. Translators made the simple mistake of placing the comma in the wrong position, perhaps because of their traditional beliefs about what happens when you die. Is the Paradise that Jesus Referred to in Heaven? This may seem like a surprising question to include, but there is a theory that paradise is not heaven but another place altogether. People generally come up with this theory to clear up the apparent contradiction between what Christ said to the thief on the cross and what He said to Mary two days later. Where does the Bible say paradise is? Christ promises to the faithful in the church of Ephesus: "To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7). So where is the tree of life? The answer to this question will help us know where paradise is. In Revelation 22:1-4, we learn that the tree of life is in the New Jerusalem. So we can know for certain that paradise is in the New Jerusalem where God reigns. It is not some place in the underworld or in the subterranean regions. Paradise is the garden of God, which is in heaven. Conclusion The Scriptures are clear that Christ had not ascended to the Father on Sunday morning. Therefore, He could not have been with the thief in paradise on Friday. This means that the Bible translators incorrectly placed the comma before the word today instead of after it. EXPAND ANSWER FEATURED What does the Bible say about cremation? What is the rapture? What happens after death? What does the Bible say about cremation? What is the rapture? What happens after death? What does the Bible say about cremation? What is the rapture? Get Free Bible Study Guides Have you ever wished to better understand the Bible? Get started now... 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The state of the nations

David Silver | May 26, 2019

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Isaiah 60: For the nation and kingdom that does not serve you (Israel) shall perish. Those nations shall be utterly ruined
After learning the result of the Australian general election last Shabbat, it seems like YHVH has once again intervene in Human politics. Towards the end of the voting the local media began reporting that the present Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, a professing Christian and good friend of Israel, had lost the election. PM Morrison became Austalia’s leader just six months ago after the previous PM was voted out, and his deputy PM was Jewish, making a good team for Australia’s relationship with Israel. To the great displeasure of the liberal left wing politicians and the media, under PM Morrison, last December Australia officially recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city. However the leader of the other party that looked likely to win  the election had already announced that when they became the new government, they would reverse the decision concerning Jerusalem. GOD was obviously watching Australia very closely.
As the voting closed, almost everyone in Australia was either shocked or pleasantly surprised when it was announced that against the odds, Scott Morrison had won. When Josie and I first heard the news, we both felt that GOD has once again intervened and over-ruled the political situation. This result has inspired me to write this comment taking a look at the situation in the nations…
Australia: With the surprise election win for PM Morrison, there is still hope for the favour and blessings of the LORD to be upon Australia, if PM Morrison’s new government continues to do what is Biblically correct concerning Israel. The left wing liberals and other GOD haters are already protesting and threatening to move to New Zealand. Australian Christians will need to keep their leader and his government in prayer.
New Zealand: The nation of our birth is in serious trouble as the present Prime Minister continues the New Zealand government’s shameful attitude towards Israel and their irrational support of Israel’s enemies. Since the terror attack at the mosque in Christchurch, the Prime Minister has become a champion for Islam, and from news I am receiving, once clean, green New Zealand is becoming a ‘Police State.’ Fellow Kiwi Believers, I am sure that you are praying as never before, for NZ to come to its senses, before the judgement of the LORD strikes the nation at the end of the Earth.
United States of America: Under Barack Obama’s pro-Islam leadership, the American government became an enemy of Israel, and thus an enemy of the Kingdom of YHVH. Under President Trump there has been a 180 degree turn around and the US is once again Israel’s strongest ally. With the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s rightful capital city and the relocation of the embassy, the USA is flowing with the plans and purposes of GOD as far as Israel is concerned. For America to really see the blessings of the LORD return, the abortion and same sex marriage laws also need to be reversed. There is some movement on the abortion issue under the Trump presidency. Still much prayer and intercession is required to offset the militancy of the ungodly majority.
The United Kingdom: I believe that the Brexit vote victory was also the LORD over-ruling the situation on the ground. But the enemy camp has not given up trying to prevent the UK leaving the E.U. Confusion and rebellion has been the ‘norm’ since the vote, and is still the case today as PM Theresa May is engaged in a massive battle to honour the choice of the voting public and bring Brexit to its conclusion. The UK also needs to improve its attitude towards Israel, and reverse the abortion and same sex marriage laws, if it is to once again find full favour with the LORD. The UK’s many prayer ministries are hard at work interceding for a return to righteousness.
Canada: The previous Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, was a Bible believing Christian and a great friend of Israel. That situation has changed dramatically under the present leader, Justin Trudeau who is a much younger left wing liberal. He has opened Canada up to large numbers of Islamic immigrants, thereby increasing the risks of more terror attacks in the nation. Canada also flies in the face of GOD in the area of abortion and same sex marriage. Much prayer and intercession is needed for Canada.
Europe: The nations that make up the European Union are doomed, unless they follow the UK and get out of the EU, which is Satanically inspired Anti-Christ organisation. Bibllical Christianity is all but dead across Europe, and the majority of Europeans scoff at anyone who still believes in the God of the Bible. The EU has openly stated that its goal is to complete what they failed to do at  the Tower of Babel, which is to exalt man above GOD. This is exactly what Satan declares in Israel 14:12-14, so it is easy to see who is really behind the EU, and to understand why they are so against GOD and His nation of Israel. Unless Europe repents, the EU and any nation connected to it is doomed to the same fate as the Tower of Babel !
Africa & Asia: The spiritual situation in much of Africa & Asia is totally opposite to the nations mentioned above. The majority of the evangelical churches in Africa & Asia are not corrupted by Replacement Theology. The Christians there love the GOD of Israel, they love His Word, and they love Israel and the Jewish people. The Anglican Church in Africa has rebuked their peers in the USA and UK for allowing homosexuality in their congregations, but very few in the Western churches are prepared to stand up and speak out against that abomination. And when it comes to Israel, the Believers in Africa and Asia are miles ahead of Believers in the West, in their love and commitment to stand with and pray or Israel.
This article originally appeared on Out of Zion Ministries, May 24, 2019, and reposted with permission.

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David Silver

David together with his wife, Josie, founded Out of Zion Ministries, whose mission is to fulfill God’s call on Israel as His ‘Chosen Nation’ to be a light to the Nations as well as to encourage the Church to fulfill God’s call to the Gentiles to assist in the spiritual ingathering of the Jewish people.

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