Month: February 2022

Russia in Biblical Prophecy
By
James Scott Trimm

When I was a young man, there was a popular theory of prophecy that identified Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38-39) with Russia. In fact in 1974 (they started work on the book in 1972) Thomas S. McCall and Zola Levitt (A Jewish believer in Yeshua) co-wrote a book on the subject titled The Coming Russian Invasion of Israel. And for a while this theory seemed very compelling in light of world events of the twentieth century. When the U.S.S.R. invaded Afghanistan in 1978 it was really looking like this theory could be right on the money.

But in 1988-89 the U.S.S.R. withdrew from Afghanistan and by 1991 the Soviet Union collapsed, and the idea that Ezekiel 38-39 prophesied of a coming Russian invasion of Israel was soon forgotten.

Recent events, however, have given us reason to re-examine old theories about the place Russia might hold in biblical prophecy.

The Bear

In the late 20th century, some biblical interpreters saw a second meaning to the four prophetic beasts of Daniel 7 (in addition to the traditional meaning). They understood the first beast (Dan. 7:4) the lion with eagle’s wings, to represent the Britain (represented by a lion) and the United States (represented by the eagle’s wings). The second beast,the bear (Dan. 7:5) represented Russia, with the three Baltic nations represented by the three ribs in the bear’s mouth. The third beast, a leopard with four heads (Dan 7:6), represented Germany with it’s “panzer” tanks (based on a pun on “panther”). And then the fourth beast would represent the kingdom of the antichrist. In light of recent world events, one must certainly ask whether or not the bear in Daniel 7:5 has a second last days meaning referring to Russia.

Gog of the Land of Magog

In Ezekiel we read:

1 And the word of YHWH came unto me, saying:
2 Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog–the chief prince of Meshech and Tuval, and prophesy against him,
3 And say, Thus says the Adonai YHWH: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tuval.
4 And I will turn you about, and put hooks into your jaws. And I will bring you forth and all your army; horses and horsemen–all of them clothed most gorgeously; a great company with buckler and shield–all of them handling swords:
5 Paras, Cush, and Put with them; all of them with shield and helmet;
6 Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north and all his bands–even many peoples with you.
7 Be you prepared, and prepare for yourself, you, and all your company that are assembled unto you, and be you guarded of them.
8 After many days you shall be mustered for service: in the latter years you shall come against the land that is brought back from the sword, that is gathered out of many peoples, against the mountains of Yisra’el which have been a continual waste. But it is brought forth out of the peoples, and they dwell safely, all of them.
9 And you shall ascend, you shall come like a storm; you shall be like a cloud to cover the land–you, and all your bands, and many peoples with you.
10 Thus says the Adonai YHWH: It shall come to pass in that day, that things shall come into your mind, and you shall devise an evil device.
11 And you shall say, I will go up against the land of unwalled villages; I will come upon them that are at quiet, that dwell safely–all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates.
12 To take the spoil and to take the prey; to turn your hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and against the people that are gathered out of the nations, that have gotten cattle and goods; that dwell in the middle of the earth.
13 Sh’va, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the magnates thereof, shall say unto you, Come you to take the spoil? Have you assembled your company to take the prey; to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take great spoil?
14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus says the Adonai YHWH: In that day, when My people Yisra’el dwells safely, shall you not know it?
15 And you shall come from your place, out of the uttermost parts of the north: you, and many peoples with you, all of them riding upon horses–a great company and a mighty army.
(Ezekiel 38:1-15 HRV)

It should be mentioned here that while the phrase is “Gog of the Land of Magog” in the Hebrew, it is “Gog and the Land of Magog” in both the Peshitta Aramaic Tanak and the Greek Septuagint. Moreover, in Rev. 20:8 the phrase is “Gog and Magog”.

In Genesis 10 “Magog” is one of the sons of Japheth (Gen. 10:2) who was the traditional progenitor of the European peoples. Josephus identifies Magog with the Scythians. At that time “Scythia” was a term used to refer to the lands northeast of Europe and the northern coast of the Black Sea. In the Book of Jasher, one of Jepheth’s other sons Tiras, is said to have been the father of Roshash (Russia?) Certainly Ezekiel 38:15 describes this Land of Magog as ” the uttermost parts of the north” so an identification of Magog with Russia seems very likely.

Certainly there is a good case for identifying the prophecy of Ezekiel 38-39 with the invasion of Israel by Russia. Some theorists equate Gog and Magog with the last days “King of the North” of Daniel 11:36-45 however this was not the view of McCall and Levitt:

Many competent interpreters of prophecy have equated the king of the north with Ezekiel’s Gog, who perpetuated the Russian invasion. This is one of the controversies existing about just when the Russian invasion occurs in the scheme of things. Naturally if the king of the north is Gog, then the Russian invasion would occur after the Antichrist’s blasphemy, or about the halfway point of the tribulation period. The king of the north reacts to Israel’s revolt. We are disinclined to equate these two invaders. Ezekiel’s Gog comes from the “uttermost north” and Daniel’s king of the north is discussed in connection with his prophecies about the Greco-Syrian powers.
(The Coming Russian Invasion of Israel by Thomas S. McCall and Zola Levitt, 1974 page 55)

There is another big question of interpretation here. Is the Gog and Magog event of Ezekiel 38-39 the same event as the Gog and Magog event of Revelation 20:8-9? If so, that event does not take place until near the end of the millennial Kingdom, when HaSatan is again released (Rev. 20:7-9).

Certainly with the recent aggressiveness of Russia in it’s invasion of Ukraine, Ezekiel 38 has taken on new relevance. As McCall and Levitt said back in 1974:

“We feel that it is a grim necessity to warn the world, believers and unbelievers alike, that the biblical messages about today’s world affairs are relevant and imminent.” (Ibid p. 7)

The rent is due in just two days and we must raise at least $2,000 by the end of the month to cover rent and bills!

PLEASE READ!

For those that do not know, we are facing additional medical expenses. As you know my wife has been disabled, chronically ill and suffering from chronic pain for a few years now. Unfortunately I have started to have a serious medical problem of my own. There is no easy way to put this. I appear to be losing the use of my legs. I am suffering pain, numbing, and partial paralysis of my legs. It is getting more and more difficult to stand up and walk. I saw a physician recently, and some of the possibilities are not good. It could be MS. I have to undergo more tests to find out. Many of these tests are expensive. And we are having a whole problem with my insurance which is too long to detail here. The bottom line is that we need your help financially now more than ever, and now more than ever, it is imperative that I get as much work done on these projects as I possibly can with as little distraction as possible, because my time may be limited.

Obviously keep us in your prayers.

The time is short, and there is much work to be done. This is no time to pull back from the great work in front of us!

As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall.  As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.

Now is time to step up to the plate!

Donations can be sent by Paypal to donations@wnae.org.

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Grace and Truth Came by Yeshua
By
James Scott Trimm

In John 1:17 the KJV reads:

For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
(John 1:17 KJV)

While I normally italicize quotes. in the above case I did not. This was so that I could preserve the fact that the KJV italicizes the word “but” in this verse. When a word in the KJV appears in italics, it means that word does not actually appear in the ancient manuscripts, but was added in the KJV English.

In this case, adding the word “but” completely changes the meaning of this verse. The KJV reading contrasts the “law” with “grace and truth” as if these are diametrically opposed ideas.

Instead, this verse should be read as we read it in the Aramaic of the Old Syriac:

דנמוסא ביד מושא אתיהב

וטיבותא ושררא ביד ישוע משיחא הוא

Because the Torah through Moshe was given

And grace and truth is through Yeshua the Messiah.

In this case the word “and” does appear in the Aramaic. In this verse we have a case of synonymous poetic parallelism in which Moshe is parallel to Yeshua the Messiah and Torah is parallel to “grace and truth”.

What is Grace?

There are two words for “grace” in the Hebrew Tanak. The first word is CHEN (Strong’s 2580/2581) which means “grace or charm”. The other word is CHESED (Strong’s 2616/2617 ) which carries the meaning of “grace, mercy or undue favor.”

These two words closely parallel the meanings of the two Greek words used for grace in the Greek Bible. These are CHARIS (Strong’s 5485/5463) which means “grace or charm” and ELEOS (Strong’s 1651/1653) meaning “grace, mercy or undue favor.”

Obviously Hebrew CHEN = Greek CHARIS and Hebrew CHESED = Greek ELEOS. Now the KJV tends to translate CHEN/CHARIS as “grace” but tends to translate CHESED/ELEOS as “mercy”. Now when we think of “grace” in biblical terms we are usually thinking of the concept of CHESED/ELEOS “undue favor”.

Now if we follow with the KJV translation scheme then it appears that there is much more grace in the New Testament than the Tanak, since CHEN only appears 70 times in the Tanak while CHARIS appears 233 times in the New Testament. But remember, the concept of “undue favor” is actually CHESED/ELEOS. CHESED appears 251 times in the Tanak, while ELEOS appears only 50 times in the New Testament. If anything there is far more “grace” in the Tanak than in the New Testament.

Now let us turn to the Tanak to get a better understanding of what grace really is. According to the Scriptures there is a close connection between “grace” and the “fear of YHWH”:

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his grace (CHESED)
toward those who fear him.
(Psalm 103:11)

Oh let those who fear YHWH say,
“His grace (CHESED) is everlasting.
(Psalm 118:4)

By grace (CHESED) and truth
iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of YHWH
one keeps away from evil.
(Proverbs 16:6)

And the fear of YHWH, according to the Tanak, includes Torah observance:

…that he may learn the fear of YHWH his God,
to keep all the words of this Torah
and these statutes, to do them:
(Deut. 17:19)

…that they may hear, and that they may learn,
and fear YHWH your God,
and observe to do all the words of this Torah.
(Deut. 31:12)

Therefore there is clearly no conflict between grace and Torah. In fact the Torah is closely connected to grace.

(For more on this topic see my earlier blog Faith, Grace and Torah)

What is Truth?

What is Truth? The Pslamist says:

Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your Torah is truth.”
(Psalm 119:142)

You are near, O YHWH, and all your commandments are truth.”
(Psalm 119:151)

(For more on this topic see my earlier blog The Torah is Truth)

Conclusion

Yochanan 1:17 is not contrasting the Torah that Moshe gave us with the “grace and truth” that Messiah gave us. This verse is expressing through the common Hebrew poetry device of poetic parallelism, that the “grace and truth” which Messiah came to give is the Torah that Moshe also gave us!

The rent is due today!

The time is short, and there is much work to be done. This is no time to pull back from the great work in front of us!

As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall.  As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.

Now is time to step up to the plate!

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A Love I Would Die For
By
Robert O. Miller

When last we spoke I told you that our Heavenly Father had a name and His name is Yahweh.  Now that we established the first step toward intimacy let’s go further.

                Most religious people equate their spirituality by whether they are saved are not.  What does that mean?  Are you talking about, saved from Hell?  Are you using Yahweh as a fire escape?  Isn’t that pretty superficial?

I believe that what the Heavenly Father wants from each one of us is intimacy.  To do that He has established something called “Covenant.” A covenant is a promise between at least two entities and has to have at least two parties in order to be ratified. If Yahweh gives commands, and no one agrees to keep them, there can be no covenant.  A covenant is not a contract for that protects, “what is in it for me.”  A covenant, rather, states. “What I can do for you.” A CONTRACT is an agreement made in suspicion. The parties do not trust each other, and they set “limits” to their own responsibility.   A COVENANT is an agreement made in trust. The parties love each other and put no limits on their own responsibility.

Yahweh created man with the potential to have a relationship with Him (Genesis 1:26-27). “Covenant” is primarily an act of Yahweh’s grace (Genesis 6:8).  Therefore, He has initiated many agreements with man–some conditional, some unconditional; some limited, some eternal. Since Yahweh wants us to obey Him, many of these covenants stress the necessity of obedience as a condition to receiving what He promises, intimacy.  

The first covenant was made by Yahweh and it was the heart of the Eternal Plan; “Yahweh’s Own Covenant.”  Yahweh’s Own Covenant contained several agreements.  One of these agreements was that Messiah YahShua the Son (Remember, the Messiah real name means, “Yahweh is my Salvation) would have the primary role in creating everything.

“All things were made through Him (Torah = YahShua); and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1.3, KJV)

Originally Yahweh created man and woman to be with him in His Garden, Eden.  There He could walk with mankind in the cool of the day and share with them His wants, dreams, and desires.   Yahweh wanted so much to be close to His creation.

“For through Him (Messiah YahShua) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible…” (Col 1.16a, NKJV)

“What were the Lord’s PURPOSES in creating angels and people?”

The Holy Scripture identifies many (probably not all) of Yahweh’s purposes. Let’s look at just five of the most important of those purposes.  Namely, YahShua created angels and humans so that they could…Receive Yahweh’s love; Love Yahweh; Be Yahweh’s children and fellowship with Him; Be Yahweh’s “glory” – – Yahweh’s special *treasure*  and Worship Yahweh! 

“In this the love of Yahweh was manifested toward us…” (1 John 4.9a, NKJV)
“You shall love Yahweh your Almighty with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.” (Deu 6.5, NKJV)
“Yahweh is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Messiah YahShua our King.” (1 Cor 1.9, NKJV)
“…everyone who is called by My (Yahweh’s) name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” (Isa 43.7, NKJV)
(YahShua said:) “The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” (John 4.23, NKJV)

Yahweh’s purposes called for making creatures with the ability to love Him, be His friends, and worship Him.

Those purposes mandated that Yahweh endows angels and humans with the innate freedom to make moral, emotional, and rational CHOICES.   Without such freedom, angels and humans would be no more than talking computers. Yahweh’s “programming” would determine everything they said and did.

Unless freely given, love is not love; lacking choice, relationship is a sham and without freedom, worship is a mockery!

And who can love – TRULY love  (Yahweh said:) “…choose life, that both you and your descendants may live…that you may love Yahweh your Almighty; that you may obey His voice and that you may cling to Him…” (Deu 30.19b, 30.20a; NKJV)

Before time began the Heavenly Father ALWAYS knew that problems would arise from giving free will to angels and humans. Yahweh always knew that there is an unavoidable “dark side” to freedom.

For creatures to be free to love, they must be equally free to dislike or even hate.   For creatures to be free to become friends, they must be equally free to become enemies.   For creatures to be free to choose good, they must be equally free to choose evil.

There is no such thing as crisis theology. Nothing takes the Father by surprise. Nothing!  Even before Yahweh created everything through the Messiah, He knew Satan would rebel.   Even before time began, Yahweh knew that the human race would sin.   Yes, Yahweh knew there would be sin, but that is not ALL that Yahweh knew.

Yahweh also knew — INTIMATELY! — every angel and every human who would ever be. Throughout all eternity, Yahweh knew and loved them before ever they were created.

Before time began, Yahweh knew YOU…He knew everything about you. Everything you would ever do. Every thought you would ever think. Every word you would ever speak.   With sorrow Yahweh foresaw the dreadful sin in you. And yet — and yet — for reasons known ONLY to Yahweh, He loved you.   Yahweh hated your sin, but YOU He loved. He always has. He always will.

“…Yahweh is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” (1 John 3.20b, NKJV)
(A prayer unto Yahweh –) “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” (Ps 139.16, NKJV)
“Yahweh has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting (eternal) love…’” (Jer 31.3a, NKJV)

Knowing that the entire human race would be sinners, Yahweh set out to provide a Way for dealing with that sin.  In so doing, Yahweh had to satisfy His own law, the absolute truth, that a sinner MUST die the death of separation from Yahweh’s presence.  This law is not optional with Yahweh.   By His very nature, Yahweh is holy.   Yahweh CANNOT change or go against His own nature.   Separation from sin is at the very heart of Yahweh’s holiness.   How then could Yahweh preserve a sinful human race from the death penalty of sin?

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of Yahweh.” (Rom 3.23, NKJV)

“For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom 6.23a, NKJV)

“These (sinners) shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of Yahweh and from the glory of His power” (2 Thes 1.9, NKJV)

Before time began, the Father conceived a Way of JUSTLY saving humans from the law’s death penalty for sin.  Yahweh’s Way of salvation was founded on the fact that one man, Adam, had brought sin into the entire human race.  Accordingly, one Man could represent the entire human race in paying the death penalty for that sin.  One Man could be the Savior for all people.   One Man could be The Way!

However, That One Man — that Savior — must Himself be SINLESS, else He would have to die for His own sins and could not die for the sins of others.

“…by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin…” (Rom 5.12a, KJV)
“Therefore, as through one man’s (Adam’s) offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act (dying for the sins of the human race) the free gift (salvation from sin’s death penalty) came to all men, resulting in justification of life.”  (Rom 5.18, NKJV)

Yahweh’s Way of salvation…must be a man; must be sinless; must die for all.  Yahweh foreknew that all humans would be sinners.  Accordingly, the Father agreed…He would provide Himself as the Lamb to be sacrificed for human sins.   Yahweh Himself would become a man and die.   Yahweh Himself was the only Way to save mankind.   And YahShua the Son, knowing full well the agony and humiliation He would endure on the Tree, said, “Here I am. I am the Way.” Why did our beloved Savior so readily agree to suffer and die? YahShua did so for the JOY that was set before Him (Heb 12.2). The joy set before Him was YOU!

“…Yahweh will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering…” (Gen 22.8b, KJV)
(YahShua said:) “Here I am — it is written about me in the scroll — I have come to do your will, O Yahweh.” (Heb 10.7, NIV)

“YahShua said to him, ‘I am the way…’ (John 14.6a, NKJV)

“…for the joy that was set before Him (Messiah YahShua) endured the Tree, despising the shame…” (Heb 12.2b, NKJV)

      By the terms of Yahweh’s Own Covenant, made before time began, you who receive Messiah YahShua have eternal life, BY THE GRACE OF Yahweh! By the terms of Yahweh’s own Covenant, conceived

before the world was founded, Messiah YahShua was foreordained to be the Lamb to die for your sins.  Yahweh found a Way. Halleluyah!

“…in hope of eternal life which Yahweh, who cannot lie, promised before time began” (Titus 1.2, NKJV)

“(Yahweh…) has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Messiah YahShua before time began” (2 Tim 1.9, NKJV)

“(Believers have been saved by…) the precious blood of Messiah, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world…” (1 Pet 1.19-20a, NKJV)

“(Messiah YahShua is) …the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Rev 13.8c, NKJV)

By the terms of Yahweh’s Own Covenant, made before time began, the Father gave Messiah YahShua a treasure…a very special treasure; an eternal, everlasting treasure; that treasure was an innumerable group of people.  People who were as yet unborn, who would live on a world not yet created.   People whom the Father had chosen in Messiah YahShua to be His very own children.   People who, by virtue of the Messiah YahShua’s atonement for their sins, would one day stand holy and without blame before Yahweh in love.

But there was a long and agonizing road that SIN had charted – a road that Messiah YahShua had to walk if He wished to obtain His Father’s precious treasure.   Along that road, high atop the Mount, at the place of the skull, stood  a hangman’s tree and, in the fullness of time, YahShua would set His face like flint, and walk that road of sorrows… For the treasure!  For you!

And now your journey to eternity past is over.  You have learned that Yahweh foreknew and loved you — even before you existed; even before time began.  You have witnessed the Father as He shaped His Eternal Plan — a plan whereby King YahShua would…make a world for you to live on;  bring you into existence; save you from your sins; receive you from the Father as His very own treasure; present you holy and without blame before Yahweh in heaven; and on the sixth day of the foundation of the world, King YahShua commanded…Let there be YOU!

“Ultimately, all is understood: fear Yahweh and observe His commandments, for this is the completion of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13

Originally written by Rabbi Robert O. Miller on Nov. 24th, 2006
(Robert Owen Miller 1957-2021)

We must raise at least $2,000 by the end of the month to cover rent and bills!

Also read this important information I shared recently, if you have not already.

The time is short, and there is much work to be done. This is no time to pull back from the great work in front of us!

As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall.  As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.

Now is time to step up to the plate!

Donations can be sent by Paypal to donations@wnae.org.

Or click HERE to donate

John the Baptist and Qumran
By
James Scott Trimm

We read concerning Yohanan the immerser (John the Baptist) in Luke 1:80 “the child… was in the wilderness until the day of his appearance to Yisrael”

What would a child be doing “in the wilderness?” Could John have been raised at the Qumran community?

A careful reading of the Gospels will show that John the Baptist had his own “disciples” (Jn. 1:35) who continued on as such, apart from the Yeshua movement even after John and Yeshua had died (Acts 19:1-3). The flavor of John chapter one also indicates that John did not live alone in the wilderness, but lived with a community of followers near Bethabara (Jn. 1:28) a town just eight miles from Qumran.

Now one of the most important similarities between John the Baptist and his disciples, and the Qumran community is quite obviously that of geography. As mentioned, John and his disciples resided “in the wilderness” near a town just eight miles from Qumran. In fact the caves in which the scrolls were found are just five miles from the location along the Jordan at which John was baptizing. Both the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament use the phrase “in the wilderness” (drawn from Is. 40:3) almost as a proper noun, to describe this area. One NT passage in particular seemed a mystery until the discovery of the Scrolls.

An apocryphal tradition once circulated in the Church of the East may offer some insight. The Protevangelion of James, once read in some eastern churches, records a tradition that at the time of the slaughter of the innocents,

Elizabeth took her son and went up unto the
mountains, and looked around for a place to hide him;
and there was no secret place to be found. Then she
groaned within herself, and said, O mountain of
YHWH, receive the mother with the child.
For Elizabeth could not climb up. And instantly
the mountain was divided and received them.
And there appeared to them an angel (or messenger)
of YHWH, to preserve them.”
(Protevangelion 16:3-8)

Could this tradition be preserving an ancient tradition that John and his mother were taken in through an opening in the mountains (a cave) and a “messenger of YHWH” at Qumran took them in. This possibility is strengthened by the fact that Hugh Schonfield has shown that there are a number of parallelisms between DuTillet Hebrew Matthew and the Protevangelion, “which cannot be accidental.” . Moreover Joesphus tells us that the Essenes commonly raised other peoples children (Josephus; Wars 2:8:3). Thus it would seem that John the Baptist was raised up in the Qumran community.

As a Levite, and descendant of Zadock, John would have held a prominent place in the Qumran community, which favored the priesthood heirs. However, John’s normal life at Qumran was interrupted when “the word of Eloah came to Yochanan… in the wilderness” (Lk. 3:2). In a rigid community where everyone had a rank and no one spoke out of turn, John’s message may not have been welcome. This would explain why John and his disciples relocated near nearby Bethabara.

Both Matthew and Mark tell us that John ate locusts (Mt. 3:4; Mk. 1:6). Now The Dead Sea Scrolls tell us that the Qumran community also made locusts as part of their diet. In fact, the Dead Sea Scrolls even tell us how they were to be cooked (Dam. Doc. xii, 11-15).

Both the Qumran community, and John quoted Is. 40:3 as being a prophecy foretelling of their work (Mt. 3:3; Mk. 1:3; Lk. 3:4; Jn 1:23; Dam. Doc. viii, 12-14; ix, 20). This verse appears in most New Testaments as:

The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

However, the cantor markings in the Masoretic Text give us the understanding:

The voice of one crying
“In the wilderness prepare the way of YHWH;
make straight in the desert a highway for our Elohim.”

As a result of their use of this verse, both John and the Qumran community referred to themselves as being “in the wilderness” and both the Qumran community and the early believers in Yeshua called their movement “the way”. (Mt. 3:3; Mk. 1:3; Lk. 3:4; Jn 1:23; Dam. Doc. viii, 12-14; ix, 20).

As a result of their use of this verse, both John and the Qumran community referred to themselves as being “in the wilderness” and both the Qumran community and the early believers in Yeshua called their movement “the Way”.

Another strong parallel between John and the Qumran community is that of the importance given to the practice of water immersion/baptism (Heb: T’vilah). The Torah requires “washing” for “uncleanness” (Lev. 16-18) and “uncleanness” can result from sin (Lev. 18:1ff for example.) King David spoke of this practice in the Psalms (Ps. 51:2, 7). In the Qumran community this practice was given great importance (Man. Disc. 3, 4f; v, 13; Dam. Doc. 10, 10-13) and it was certainly regarded as of high priority to John (Mt. 3:6, 11; Mk. 1:4-5; Lk. 3:2-3, 7; Acts 19:3-4). Both believed that water baptism was only symbolic of a greater cleansing of wickedness performed by the Ruach HaKodesh (Man. Disc. 4, 12-13).

One final similarity between John and the Qumran community was that both stressed that the day of fiery judgment was eminently approaching. Now having discussed the similarities between John the Baptist and the Qumran community, let us note the differences. Essenes always wore white (Josephus; Wars 2:8:3) yet John wore camel’s hair (Mt. 3:4). Secondly, the Qumran community only ate food provided by their community yet John foraged for himself (Mt. 3:4). Finally and most importantly the Qumran community was not even a little bit evangelical. The Manual of Discipline specifically commands its adherents to “bear unremitting hatred towards all men of ill repute… to leave it to them to pursue wealth and mercenary gain… truckling to a depot.” (Man. Disc. ix 21-26). But John called these men of ill repute to “Repent, for the Kingdom of Elohim is offered.” (Mt. 3:2). This new teaching must have been the “word of Eloah” which John “received in the wilderness” (Lk. 3:2) since it is later echoed by Yeshua (Mt. 4:17) and Yeshua’s disciples (Mt. 10:7).

We must raise at least $2,000 by the end of the month to cover rent and bills!

Also read this important information I shared recently, if you have not already.

The time is short, and there is much work to be done. This is no time to pull back from the great work in front of us!

As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall.  As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.

Now is time to step up to the plate!

Donations can be sent by Paypal to donations@wnae.org.

Or click HERE to donate

How the Restoration of Nazarene Judaism Began
By
James Scott Trimm

Twenty years ago a book titled The Purpose Driven Life sold millions of copies. It is so unfortunate that so many millions of people don’t know what their purpose in life is. This is something with which it is difficult for me to to connect. You see, my entire adult life, I have always known my purpose in life. I have not had to question why I am here, Not long after I accepted Yeshua as the Jewish Messiah of Judaism, I received a calling. That calling was the restoration of the ancient Sect of Nazarene Judaism, the original Jewish followers of Yeshua.

My Testimony

I recall when I was eighteen years old back around 1984, when I first left Rabbinic Judaism and became a believer in Yeshua as the Messiah. I was an armature anti-missionary back then, debating with my Christian friends, arguing that “Jesus” could not have been the Messiah. I had all the arguments down pat. Then one day Wendy asked me to go to an evening church youth meeting with her. I agreed, largely because I wanted to go out with her. So there I was, wearing my kippah with my JPS Tanak in hand. I did not know anyone else there.

After the meeting Wendy was off socializing with other friends, and I was sitting there bored. Despite my anti-missionary arguments, I had curiosity about Yeshua, so I prayed, “If Yeshua is really your son, prove it to me.” For the first time in my life a bat kol (voice from Heaven) spoke to me and said “John 1:34”. I did not have a “New Testament” so I borrowed one off the pew and looked up John 1:34 “And I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God.”. This revelation changed my life. I would have questioned it forever if the voice had answered my question with a direct answer, but instead it was a Scripture verse that I had to look up, that was an answer to my exact question. I knew for sure that Yeshua was Messiah and I found myself thrust into spiritual warfare that very first night, so I had to mature as a believer in Messiah fast. I immediately began studying the Messianic prophecies all over again, only now the scales were off of my eyes, and now I understood them. Of course Yeshua was the Messiah, why could I not see it before?

A Fish out of Water

Not long after I accepted Yeshua I found myself a fish out of water. At first I continued going to my Rabbinic synagogue on Friday nights and Saturdays, and visiting a Christian Church on Sundays. I was a square peg, trying to fit in a round hole. Then one day the pastor of the church came to me and said “James, you might be more comfortable in a ‘Messianic Jewish’ Congregation.” I had no idea what that was, but he gave me contact info, and so I contacted Beth Yeshua Congregation.

In those days (The mid 1980’s) Beth Yeshua Congregation was being led by a nice Jewish man named Stan. As a young man, Stan had married a Catholic girl. The two of them had been searching, even getting involved in the occult at one point. Then one day Stan got a tract from Jews for Jesus and converted to Christianity. Stan became a Southern Baptist and went to a Baptist Seminary. At one point Stan had planned to open the “First Jewish Baptist Church” but then he got involved in Messianic Judaism. He started Beth Yeshua Congregation originally as a Baptist mission to the Jews. In those early days, Beth Yeshua was meeting on Friday nights and Sunday mornings. This was the Messianic Jewish Congregation that I joined as a young man in the mid 1980’s. A few years alter, they did eventually move those Sunday meetings to Saturdays.

Getting Back to the New Testament Church?

I heard a great deal of talk about “getting back to the New Testament Church” but I soon discovered that there were two things the New Testament Church did not have: A New Testament and a Church!

I soon began doing research at the library and discovered the truth, The original followers of Yeshua were not Christians, they were a sect of Jews known as Nazarenes.

I discovered that Yeshua did not come to create a new religion, he came to be the Messiah of the old one, Judaism. I found several references to these “Nazarenes” in the writings of the so-called “Church Fathers”. I realized that I was a Nazarene Jew!

The Original Language of the “New Testament”

As my research of the ancient Nazarenes continued, I learned that the books of the so-called “New Testament: were originally written, like the Tanak, in Hebrew and Aramaic. I found many dusty books at the Seminary library that made the case that parts, or all of the books of the “New Testament” were originally written in Hebrew or Aramaic and were later translated into Greek.

I even found original Hebrew and Aramaic source texts for many of the books of the “New Testament” and began rethinking my understanding of the content of these books, based on these Hebrew and Aramaic sources, rather than the Greek.

Studying With Rabbi Moyal

About this time (1988), I met Rabbi Moyal. Rabbi Armand Daniel (“Danny”) Moyal, was an Orthodox Rabbi from Israel, who had come to the conclusion that Yeshua was the Messiah, by studying the Talmuds, Midrashim and Zohar. Stan had warned me to stay away from Rabbi Moyal, but I wanted to learn everything I could from him.

I began hosting weekly Torah studies in my home, led by Rabbi Moyal, and invited anyone who was interested to come. I also spent every moment I could spare, studying one on one with him.

It was from Rabbi Moyal that I learned how to demonstrate that Yeshua is the Messiah using the Talmuds, Targums, Midrashim and Zohar. It was also Rabbi Moyal that first showed me that the deity of Messiah as the Middle Pillar and the concept Three Pillars of the Godhead, were to be found in the Zohar.

One day Stan and an “elder” from Beth Yeshua Congregation, knocked on my door. They were there to serve as two “witnesses” to me/ Stan said to me that I had to decide what my “covering” would be. That I either had to quit hosting these studies (which were twenty miles from Beth Yeshua, were on a non-conflicting night, and to which none of that congregation attended), or quit attending Beith Yeshua Congregation.

I responded by asking Stan if he knew what the Hebrew word for “covering” is. He responded by looking at me quizzically. I responded “Kippur, it also means ‘atonement’… Stan you are not my atonement and never will be!”

The following day (a Wednesday) it was announced at Beth Yeshua Congregation that I had been “excommunicated” on the charge of “seeking his own way, apart from the congregation.”

Birth of a Blogger

At about this time (the late 80’s) I began writing blogs about what I called “Nazarene Judaism.” These were blogs about the Messiahship of Yeshua, Torah Observance and the Hebrew and Aramaic origin of the New Testament. These blogs began on Fidonet and eventually moved to emails and Usenet posts on the very early, pre-web internet. By 1996 I had started a Nazarene Judaism website and subscription list server.

My Dream

I want to share with you all a dream I had in the 1980’s not long after I had become a believer in Messiah (I was around 18 years old). I recorded it in a journal I was keeping at the time.

In my dream I was rebuilding the ruins of an ancient stone alter. As I finished rebuilding this alter, it shined with a great light so bright that I could not look directly at it, brighter than the sun. I turned around and saw several shafts of blue light shining down out of heaven. It was shear beauty like I had never seen. Behind me was the Messianic Synagogue I was attending at the time. I ran inside to tell all of my friends in the synagogue about what I had seen, but most of them seemed disinterested, and only a few were willing to come outside and see what I had seen.

The ancient stone alter in ruins was Nazarene Judaism, and “rebuilding” it represented the work of restoration of the House of Judah.

A major prophetic event that the Scriptures state will occur before the return of Messiah, is just about ready to occur, in fact it is happening right now!

… but in the land of their captivities they shall remember themselves. And shall know that I am YHWH their Elohim: for I will give them a heart, and ears to hear: And they shall praise me in the land of their captivity, and think upon my name, And return from their stiff neck, and from their wicked deeds: for they shall remember the way of their fathers, which sinned before YHWH. And I will bring them again into the land which I promised with an oath unto their fathers, Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya’akov, and they shall be masters of it: and I will increase them, and they shall not be diminished. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them to be their Elohim, and they shall be my people: and I will no more drive my people of Israel out of the
land that I have given them.
(Barukh (Baruch) 2:30-35)

Up until recent times YHWH has been working toward the restoration of the House of Israel (Ephraim). This is typified in the parable of the olive tree, by the grafting of wild branches (Ephraimites) into the cultivated olive tree (Romans 11:16-19).

Now Romans 11 does discuss this stage of the restoration, but it also tells us that an even more powerful stage of the restoration involves Judah being grafted back into its own olive tree:

And if their stumbling became riches for the world, and their loss, riches to the Goyim: how much more therefore, their fullness?
(Rom. 11:12 NHRV)

For if their reprobation was reconciliation to the world, how much more therefore, their return, but life that is from among the dead?
(Rom. 11:15 NHRV)

23 And those, if they do not remain in their lack of trust, also will be grafted in: for Elohim is able to graft them in again.
24 For if you, who are from the olive [tree] that was wild by your nature, were cut off and were grafted–contrary to your nature–into the good olive [tree], how much more then, those, if they be grafted in their natural olive [tree]?
(Rom. 11:23-24 NHRV)

Paul says here: You think the restoration of Ephraim is great, wait until you see the restoration of Judah!

This restoration of Judah has been my calling, not just the grafting in of Ephraim (although that is part of it) but the restoration of the House of Judah, the restoration of the ancient sect of Nazarene Judaism!

I am honored to be able to be partnered with truth seekers as this restoration of Nazarene Judaism moves forward in fulfillment of prophecy.

It is you who make this work possible. I realize that it is not the activity of James Trimm alone (in my quest to teach Torah and Messiah to a lost world with all the vigor and enthusiasm I can muster) who is responsible to do this work, it is all of us together who are charged with the responsibility of accomplishing this work. I very much look on this efforts as a cooperative one with each one of you. We are all joint heirs with Messiah and should always be about our Father’s business in teaching the Torah and the Messiah to this lost world.

I started out this blog, intending to to write a short blog on the Five Keys to the Restoration. But as a began writing a short biographical preface, I found myself writing a very different blog, so look for The Five Keys to the Restoration coming soon.

We must raise at least $2,000 by the end of the month to cover rent and bills!

Also read this important information I shared recently, if you have not already.

The time is short, and there is much work to be done. This is no time to pull back from the great work in front of us!

As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall.  As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.

Now is time to step up to the plate!

Donations can be sent by Paypal to donations@wnae.org.

Or click HERE to donate

The Tabernacle of David
(Paul Argues Talmud Before the Sanhedrin)
By
James Scott Trimm

In Acts 22:30-23:10 Paul is brought before the Sanhedrin for judgment. Paul’s defense in this trial has been poorly understood in the past. In order to have a proper understanding of Paul’s defense, requires having a basic understanding of the Talmud.

Paul realizes that he has not been brought before the Pharisaic Sanhedrin, which was headed by Hillel and his descendants, but to the political Sanhedrin made up of Sadducees and Pharisees and headed by the High Priest.

In Acts 23:3 he questions the High Priest’s right to judge him, accusing him of violating Torah. In verse 4 Paul is asked why he dares to criticize the High Priest. In verse 5 Paul responds with sarcasm, saying “I did not know my brothers, that he was the Cohen”. Paul knew that Chananyah was not a valid High Priest, and this was his point in verse 5.

In Acts 23:6 Paul proclaims himself (in the present tense) to be a Pharisee and he then makes the defense “concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead, I am being judged.”

As verse 8 tells us “the Sadducees said there is no resurrection”. The Sadducees (Tzadokim) were founded by a certain Zadok. Zadok was a talmid (disciple) of Antigonus of Soko who misunderstood his teaching. Antigonus taught:

“Be not like servants who serve their master
for the sake of wages, but be like servants who serve their
master with no thought of a wage – and let the fear
of Heaven be upon you.”
(m.Avot 1:3)

The Mishna Avot of Rabbi Natan tells us how Zadok misunderstood the teachings of Antigonos:

Antigonos of Soko had two students. They would con his teachings by rote and then teach the other students… They started to question the meaning of this teaching. They asked themselves why our teachers taught this way. Is it possible that a worker could function faithfully all day long and not receive his just wage at the end of the day? [They reasoned that] if our teachers were sure that there is another world and a resurrection of the dead they would not have worded their teaching in this way. They seceded from Torah and two schismatic schools derived from them: Sadducees and Boethusians. The Sadducees were named for Zadok and the Boethusians for Boethos…
(Mishna Avot of Rabbi Natan 1:3)

Zadok misunderstood Antigonos’ teaching. He wrongly concluded that since we should no keep Torah to gain a reward, that there must not be any reward. Zadok concluded that there is no reward to be obtained in the afterlife, nor any punishment to be avoided. The Sadducees believed that there is no afterlife and no resurrection. As Josephus writes:

But the doctrine of the Sadducees is this: That souls
die with the bodies….
(Josephus; Antiquities 18:2:4)

Matthew writes:

…the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection…
(Matt. 22:23)

And as we read here in Acts:

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection,
neither angel, nor spirit…
(Acts 23:8)

Now there is a Pharisaic tradition recorded in the Mishna tractate Sanhedrin which deals with which “apostate doctrines” were worthy of disfellowshipment. The Mishna passage in question reads:

All Israelites have a share in the world to come…
And these are the ones who have no part in the World to Come:
He who says, the resurrection of the dead is a teaching which is not
derived from the Torah…
(m.San. 10:1)

The Talmud is made up the Mishna and the Gemara. In the Talmud a passage of Mishna is followed by commentary known as Gemara. In the Talmud the Gemara to m.Sanhedrin 10:1 begins at b.Sanhedrin 90a and runs through b.Sanhedrin 99a.

At around b.Sanhedrin 97a this section of Gemara transitions from a discussion of the doctrine of the resurrection (in 90a-96b) to a discussion on the timing of the coming of Messiah (in 97a-99a). This is not just a random shift, but a logical transition.

The transition point of this Gemara reads as follows:

Rabbi Nahman said to Rabbi Isaac: “Have you heard when Bar Nafle will come?”
“Who is Bar Nafle?”, he asked.
“Messiah,” he answered,
“Do you call Messiah Bar Nafle?”
“Even so,” he rejoined, “As it is written: “In that day, I will raise up the tabernacle
of David ha-nofelet [that is fallen]. (Amos 9:11)”
(b.San 97a)

This Gemara defines “David” in this passage to refer to the Davidic Messiah and the “tabernacle” to refer to his physical body. Since the context of this Gemara is that of the resurrection, “raise up” in this context most certainly refers to “resurrection” This is very profound, because we have in this Gemara a reference to a “resurrection” of the physical body of Messiah being seen in Amos 9:11.

There is also evidence that this understanding of the “Tabernacle of David” in Amos 9:11-12 as being a reference to the Messiah existed by the first century. A document found among the Dead Sea Scrolls in cave 4 gives the following commentary in Amos 9:11:

“I shall raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen” (Amos 9:11).
This passage describes the fallen Branch of David,
whom He shall raise up to deliver Israel.
(Q174 III, 12-13)

This must be the reason that Ya’akov cites the verse in Acts 15:16 as having an application not only in the Millennial Kingdom, but in the very time period of the Acts 15 council. Ya’akov was well aware that the “Tabernacle of David” was a reference to the body of the Messiah, and that its being “raised up” was understood as a prophecy of a resurrection of the Messiah after he had “fallen” (died).

But now lets return to Paul’s defense before the Sanhedrin in Acts 23:6. Paul is in effect claiming m.Sanhedrin 10:1 as his defense and in doing so he is also claiming the Gemara attached to that Mishna, the doctrine of the death and resurrection of the Messiah as foretold in Amos 9:11. In fact Paul was appealing to a ruling by the Pharisaic Sanhedrin as recorded in m.San. 10:1. The result is that the political Sanhedrin falls into chaos, because on this very issue the Pharisees of the Pharisaic Sanhedrin had pronounced all Sadducees as apostates.

No doubt, if Paul had not been immediately removed from the room, he would have taken the opportunity to begin proclaiming the death and resurrection of Messiah as found in Amos 9:11 as a prophecy of Yeshua as the Messiah.

We must raise at least $2,000 by the end of the month to cover rent and bills!

Also read this important information I shared recently, if you have not already.

The time is short, and there is much work to be done. This is no time to pull back from the great work in front of us!

As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall.  As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.

Now is time to step up to the plate!

Donations can be sent by Paypal to donations@wnae.org.

Or click HERE to donate

Who Was Theophilus?
By
James Scott Trimm

It is often taught that the books of Luke and Acts were originally written in Greek, because Luke was a Greek writing to Theophilus, who also had a Greek name. However the truth of this matter may come as a surprise to you.

Who was Luke?

Luke wrote the books of Luke and Acts and addressed each to Theophilus. This means that Luke was responsible for writing 27.5% of the material of the books of the “New Testament”. The Fourth Century “Church Father” Eusebius writes of Luke:

Luke, who was born at Antioch, and by profession a physician, being for the most part connected with Paul, and familiarly acqainted with the rest of the apostles, has left us two inspired books, the institutes of that spiritual art which he obtained from them. One of these is his gospel, in which he testifies that he has recorded, “as those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses, and ministers of the word,” delivered to him, whom also, he says, he has in all things followed. The other is his Acts of the Apostles, which he composed, not from what he had heard from others, but from what he had seen himself.
(Eusebius; Eccl. Hist. 3:4)

Many have wrongly concluded, from the fact that Luke has a Greek name, and that he was born in Antioch, that he was either a Greek or a Hellenistic Jew, who wrote in Greek.

However, it was not uncommon for non-helenistic Jews to have Greek names, and Antioch was a bilingual city, the capital of Syria. While there was a Greek speaking population, the native Syrians spoke their native language “Syriac” which was a dialect of Aramaic. This is why the Romans called Aramaic “Syriacos”. It is quite possible that Luke was a Syrian who had become a proselyte Jew, and whose native language was Aramaic. It is also possible that Luke was a Jew born in Syria, that he was either a hellenist or not, but that he was quite fluent in Hebrew and in Aramaic.

The reality of the matter is (whether Luke himself knew Greek or not) that Luke was most certainly written in a Semitic language. As Charles Cutler Torrey states:

In regard to [Greek] Luke, it remains to be said, that of all the Four Gospels, it is the one which gives by far the plainest, and most constant evidence, of being a translation.
– C.C. Torrey; Our Translated Gospels p. lix

Who Was Theophilus?

Luke addressed both Luke and Acts to a certain “Theophilus”. But who was Theophilus? Some have argued that Luke must have been written in Greek, because it was addressed to man with a Greek name. But as pointed out above, it was not uncommon for non-hellenist Jews to have Greek names.

In Luke 1:3 Luke ascribes the honorific title “most excellent” (KJV). In the Aramaic נציחא “noble”. This title gives us a clue.

The answer is to be found in the writings of Josephus, in his Antiquities of the Jews. Josephus references a High Priest of this time period named Theophilus (37-41 CE) Theophilus ben Ananus (Antiquities 18:5:3). Who was from one of the wealthiest and most influential Jewish families in Judea at the time (Antiquities 19:4:2). This Theophilus was not only the son of Ananus (See Luke 3:2) he was also the brother-in-law of Caiaiphas.

Luke-Acts Written to a Priest

There is a good deal of internal evidence that Luke and Acts were written to a priest. Luke begins his gospel with an account of the righteous priest Zechariah, and his vision of an angel in the Temple. He quickly moves on to Miriam’s purification and Yeshua’s dedication at the Temple, and then to Yeshua teaching in the Temple at the age of twelve (Young Theophilus might well have witnessed this, as his father was High Priest at the time). Moreover, Luke makes no mention of Caiaphas and his role in Yeshua’s crucifixion (remember, this would have been Theophilus’ brother-in-law). And in Acts, Luke makes sure to record the meeting of “Annas the High Priest,. and Caiaphas, and Yochanan and Alexander, “and as as many as were kindred of the High Priest” (Acts 4:6) at which Kefa (peter) Spoke. These “kindred of” Annas and Caiaphas would certainly have included Caiaphs’ son, brother-in-law to Caiaphas, Theophilus, so Theophlius would have actually taken part in this meeting!

Luke-Acts Written to a Sadducee

The vast majority of priests were Sadducees, and Theophilus certainly would have fallen into this category. Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection, an afterlife or angels

Luke especially emphasizes Yeshua’s literal and physical resurrection, with the account of doubting Thomas (Luke 24:39) and with the account of Lazarus and the rich man on the afterlife (Luke 16:19-31). Luke begins with an account of Zechariah’s vision of an angel in the Temple, and includes the account of Yeshua being comforted by an angel (Lk. 22:43)

Conclusion

All of this evidence leads to the conclusion that Luke wrote his book either in Hebrew or Aramaic, to Theophilus the High Priest, who was a Sadducee. This information sheds a great deal of light on the content of the books of Luke and Acts.

(see also The Lost Jewish Gospel and Luke)

We must raise at least $1,000 by the end of the week to cover bills!

The time is short, and there is much work to be done. This is no time to pull back from the great work in front of us!

As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall.  As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.

Now is time to step up to the plate!

Donations can be sent by Paypal to donations@wnae.org or by Zelle or GoFundMe.

Click HERE to donate

When Hillel’s Son Blessed Yeshua
By
James Scott Trimm

In Luke 2:25-35 we read:

25 Now there was one man in Yerushalayim; his name was Shim’on. And this man was just and righteous, and waiting for the comfort of Yisrael, and Ruach HaKodesh was upon him.
26 And it had been said to him by the Ruach HaKodesh, that he would not see death until he would see the Messiah of YHWH.
27 This one came by the Spirit to the Temple, and when His parents brought the child Yeshua, to do for Him as is commanded in the Torah,
28 He, Shim’on, took Him up in his arms and blessed Eloah and said,
29 Now my Adon, dismiss your servant in shalom as you have said.
30 For behold, my eyes have seen your mercy,
31 That you have prepared before all nations:
32 A light for a revelation of the Goyim, and a glory to your people, Yisrael.
33 And His father and His mother, marveled at these that were spoken about Him.
34 And Shim’on blessed them: and said to Miriam His mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and the rising of many in Yisrael, and for a sign of contention.
35 And a spear shall pass through your nefesh, so that the thoughts of many hearts might be revealed.
(Luke 2:25-35 HRV)

Who was this Shimon (Simon)? He appears to have been a figure of some authority and influence, to have been at the Temple in a position to inject himself into this Temple ritual. The prophecy that he would not see death until he saw the Messiah fits with this as well, as little is known about Shimon ben Hillel, and it i suspected that this is because he died shortly after becoming Nasi.

This Shimon (Simon) was almost certainly Shim’on the son of Hillel who would later succeed his father as Nasi of the Pharisaic Sanhedrin.  His son Gamliel would become the teacher of Paul (Acts 22:3) and would take a tolerant stance toward the Nazarene sect (Acts 5:34) possibly influenced by his father’s earlier blessing of Yeshua.  Luke stresses this important blessing of Yeshua by such an important figure.  Theophilus (Luke 1:3) was likely a witness not only to this blessing by Shim’on, but for Shim’on’s father Gamliel’s urging of tolerance in Acts 5:34.  We are told that he has  the Ruach HaKodesh was upon him – As a member of the Sanhedrin, Shim’on was supposed to have this quality (Num. 11:16-17).

We must raise at least $400 by the end of the day tomorrow to clear bills pending in our account, or it will go into the negative and start a cascade of bounce fees!

The time is short, and there is much work to be done. This is no time to pull back from the great work in front of us!

As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall.  As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.

Now is time to step up to the plate!

Donations can be sent by Paypal to donations@wnae.org or by Zelle, GoFundMe, Bitcoin or Ethereum.

Click HERE to donate

We (my wife and I) have some very important news to share with you in this email, so please read all of it.

Donations have been very low for nearly three months now. Last month we were barely able to pay the rent. This month has been especially difficult with added medical expenses. In addition, this is a short month (only 28 days). The rent will be due again in less than two weeks, and I am *very* concerned about that. We are faced with impending bills (electric, etc.) and at this moment, we only have $63.39 to our names.

Some of these new medical bills are mine. I am having a serious medical problem of my own, for which I saw a physician on Friday. The fact is, that I am having difficulty using my legs, especially my right leg. I am having quite a bit of pain in my legs and weakness, even partial paralysis. I do not know what is causing this yet, but we seem to have ruled out diabetes as the cause. The unfortunate fact is, that a lot of the possibilities are pretty nasty. I have already had some tests, and there are more to be done.

I have so much work to do, for which I am uniquely qualified, and the time in which I have to do it, may be more limited than I would like it to be.

Various matters have me bogged down until after March 1st, after which you should see a dramatic increase in productivity on the projects I have in play.

My wife had surgery on the 9th and we are facing a lot of added medical expenses. As you may know, my wife is disabled, chronically ill, and suffers chronic pain. In a normal month her prescriptions alone cost us nearly $600. And this is not a normal month. Moreover, this is a short month and the rent is due in just two weeks! We need your help today!

The time is short, and there is much work to be done. This is no time to pull back from the great work in front of us!

As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall.  As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.

Now is time to step up to the plate!

Donations can be sent by Paypal to donations@wnae.org.

Or click HERE to donate

The Original Manuscript Order of the Books of the “New Testament”
By
James Scott Trimm

Most copies of the New Testament today follow the order:

Gospels
Acts
Pauline Epistles
“Catholic”2 Epistles
Revelation

However the original manuscript order of the books was:

Gospels
Acts
“Catholic” Epistles
Pauline Epistles
Revelation

This original manuscript order is followed by the Aramaic Peshitta canon, and thus is that which is followed by such well known Peshitta manuscripts as Codex Khaboris and the Yonan Codex (these two are mentioned by name, not because of their age but because they are good examples of complete Peshitta New Testament manuscripts).

This original manuscript order is also followed by the oldest and best ancient Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, such as Codex Vaticanus, Codex Alexandrinus, and Codex Ephraim.

This original manuscript order was also followed by Westcott & Hort in their 1881 publication of the Greek New Testament (which they mistakenly believed was the “original”) writing:

We have followed recent editors in abandoning the Hieronymic4 order [Jerome’s order], familiar in modern Europe through the influence of the Latin Vulgate, in favor of the order most highly recommended by various Greek authorities of the fourth century; it differs from the Hieronymic order. The Acts are immediately followed by the Catholic Epistles.
(Introduction to the New Testament in the Original Greek, p. 320)

In his Introduction to the Textual Criticism of the New Testament Scrivener writes:

Whether copies contain the whole, or a part of the sacred volume, the general order of the books is the following: Gospels, Acts, Catholic Epistles, Pauline Epistles and Apocalypse.
(Introduction to the Textual Criticism of the New Testament Vol. 1 p. 72)

Bullinger writes:

Our English Bibles follow the order as given in the Latin Vulgate. This order, therefore, depends on the arbitrary judgment of one man, Jerome (A.D. 382-429) All theories based on this order rest on human authority, and thus are without any true foundation.
(Companion Bible, Appendix 95, p. 139)

M’Clintock and Strong in their twelve vol. Cyclopedia write:

The Western Church … as represented by Jerome, gave priority of position to the Pauline epistles. The tendency of the Western Church to recognize Rome as the center of authority, may perhaps in part, account for the departure from the custom of the East. The order of the Alexandrian, Vatican and Ephraim manuscripts gives precedence to the Catholic Epistles, and this is also recognized by the Council of Laodicea, Cyril of Jerusalem and Athanasius,
(CBTEL, vol. 1, p. 800)

The late Dr. Ernest Martin writes:

There can be no doubt whatever, that the actual manuscript arrangement of the New Testament books, should be restored in all modern versions. ….the seven Catholic (“Jewish”) Epistles should be placed in their original position before those of Paul…
(Restoring the Original Bible; by Ernest L. Martin p. 16-17)

This original manuscript order is also testified to by many of the ancient “Church Fathers”. Athanasius (296-373 CE) Bishop of Alexandria gives the order of books as “the four Gospels; the Acts of the Apostles; the seven Catholic Epistles; the fourteen epistles of St. Paul; and the Revelation of John”5 Leonitus of Byzantium also gives this order.6 The fourth century “Church Father” Philastrius also argued that the Catholic Epistles must precede the Pauline epistles because Gal. 1:17 has Paul referring to the Emissaries of the Jewish Epistles as coming before him.7 Cyril Bishop of Jerusalem also maintained the original manuscript order8 as did the Council of Laodicea.

Just as the manuscript order of the books of the Tanak (OT), (followed by Judaism) does not agree with the ordering of the same books in the Christian “Old Testament” as printed today, so also does the manuscript order of the NT differ. The ancient manuscript order of the books of the so-called “New Testament” has first the “Gospels” then “Acts” followed by the Jewish Epistles (Ya’akov (James); 1 & 2 Kefa (Peter); 1, 2, & 3, Yochanan (John); and Y’hudah (Jude); followed by the Pauline epistles which are followed by Revelation. This order was rearranged by Rome in the Latin Vulgate, in which the Pauline epistles were given first place and the Jewish epistles given second place. The original manuscript order had an important significance. It agreed with the precept that the message was to the Jews first and then to the Goyim (Gentiles). It also agrees with the concept that Ya’akov, Kefa, and Yochanan, were emissaries that come BEFORE Paul (Gal. 1:17) and with the concept that Kefa, Ya’akov, and Yochanan, served as three pillars which lend authority upon which Paul’s message was built, (Gal. 2:9) and not vice-versa. The reader of the NT was intended to read the “Jewish” epistles FIRST and then to read the Pauline epistles already having understood the Jewish epistles. The NT reader was intended to read Ya’akov’s (James’) admonition concerning faith and works (Ya’akov 2), as well as Kefa’s warnings about Paul being difficult to understand and often twisted (2Kefa 3:15-16) etc., before ever attempting to understand the writings of Paul.

My wife had surgery on the 9th and we are facing a lot of added medical expenses. As you may know, my wife is disabled, chronically ill, and suffers chronic pain. In a normal month her prescriptions alone cost us nearly $600. And this is not a normal month. Moreover, this is a short month and the rent is due in just two weeks! We need your help today!

I am also suffering serious medical problems, click here for more.

The time is short, and there is much work to be done. This is no time to pull back from the great work in front of us!

As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall.  As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.

Now is time to step up to the plate!

Donations can be sent by Paypal to donations@wnae.org.

Or click HERE to donate