Retrobyter

Shalom, Cntrysner. It's really simple in light of the Scriptures you just posted. We are not yet truly risen with the Messiah! Spirit is the "WIND!" The "wind" of a person is how a person communicates what he or she is thinking, through the words conveyed in a person's "breath." Consider Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 15: 1 Corinthians 15:35-57 (KJV) 35 But some [man] will say, "How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?" 36 [Thou] fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other [grain]: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39 All flesh [is] not the same flesh: but [there is] one [kind of] flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, [and] another of birds. 40 [There are] also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial [is] one, and the [glory] of the terrestrial [is] another. 41 [There is] one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for [one] star differeth from [another] star in glory. 42 So also [is] THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, "The first man Adam was made a living soul "; the last Adam [was made] a quickening (life-giving) spirit. 46 Howbeit that [was] not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man [is] of the earth, earthy: the second man [is] the Lord from heaven. 48 As [is] the earthy, such [are] they also that are earthy: and as [is] the heavenly, such [are] they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory? " 56 The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law. 57 But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Shalom, Neighbor. Quite right! Some have had a fear of water that kept them from the baptismal pool. Some have been in wheelchairs where it was impractical to be baptized (although I've also witnessed some of them being CARRIED by their friends down into the pool and then being CARRIED out and set into their wheelchairs again where they were aided in drying off and redressing in the changing room). This had to be well thought through, but I've seen it done. Some were immature and, although they were young and sober enough to accept God's provision for their justification, they didn't yet understand the importance of baptism. It just had to be delayed until they were ready. Some, like the dying thief, had no time or opportunity before they died. Baptism is a PICTURE of what the Ruwach haQodesh Elohiym (the Holy Spirit of God) did for them in reality. The picture is desired, but is not required for one's justification by God. To support the idea of a "picture," recall Romans 6: Romans 6:2-7 (KJV) 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that LIKE as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the LIKENESS of his death, we shall be also in the LIKENESS of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. This also shows that baptizoo means "I immerse." So, being baptized doesn't mean to sprinkle a little water on a person, for one isn't BURIED by sprinkling a little dirt on a body! Nor is pouring a cup or a pint of dirt on a body! One must be BURIED in the dirt! Thus, one must be IMMERSED in water, as a likeness of His death, who was totally entombed in the garden tomb.

Shalom, Jayne. Something I was thinking about that's a little off-topic but is related because it was the Immerser's message: Mark 1:1-15 (KJV)] 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (the Good News from Yeeshua` the Anointed One, God's Son); 2 As it is written in the prophets, "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee." [Malachi 3:1 (KJV) 1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come,saith the LORD of hosts.] 3 "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, "'Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" (Isaiah 40:3) [Isaiah 40:3-5 (KJV) 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, "Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see [it] together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it]."] 4 John DID baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins (Greek: κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν = keerussoon baptisma metanoias eis afesin hamartioon = "he-was-heralding an-immersion of-repentance into a-remission/forgiveness/pardon of-sins"). 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 7 And preached, saying, "There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." 9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. 10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: 11 And there came a voice from heaven, [saying], "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. 13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. 14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching (heralding) the gospel (Good News) of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel!" What "good news" were they talking about? It was certainly NOT about "the death, burial, and resurrection of the Anointed One!" Most of the people were just learning that He was the Messiah! And, the Messiah had to die???!! And then, He would be raised to life? No, this was MUCH too early in His offer of the Kingdom to be all that! No, this "good news" was that which was proclaimed by Ysha`yaahuw (Isaiah) in ... Isaiah 52:7 (KJV) 7 "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, 'Thy God reigneth!'" As in the days of David the King, who recognized that he was a mere figurehead for the TRUE King, YHWH God, Yeeshuwa` would be the same kind of King, reigning on behalf of His Father! THIS is what Yochanan and then Yeeshuwa` were heralding at the beginning!

Shalom, other one. Yes, and a prime example of one who could not be baptized but was still justified by God was the thief on the cross.

Shalom, Neighbor. To answer your question, we only need to read the words of Yeeshuwa` when convincing Yochanan to baptize Him: Matthew 3:13-17 (KJV) 13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, "I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?" 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, "Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us TO FULFIL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS." Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED." He first had to present Himself for the ritual cleansing before the Ruwach haQodesh Elohiym (the Holy Spirit of G0d) could anoint Him for service as King and Priest and Prophet. And having done so, His Father was ""WELL PLEASED." Thus, He became the Anointed One, the Maashiyach, the Christos.

Shalom, Mr. M, and Happy Pesach (Passover)! No, I am merely Jewish. You're right that the remission of sins is not accomplished by ritual purification, but in order to make a sacrifice, one must first be ritually purified. This is false. There certainly WAS Levitical law in Yeeshuwa`s day, or Yeeshuwa` ("Jesus") couldn't have been proclaimed to have "KEPT THE LAW IN ALL POINTS!" I'm sorry that my posts seem to be "a bit long winded," but to get the gist of what is going on in the passages I quote, sometimes one must read more than a simple verse or paragraph. One must go back and get the flow of thought from the context. Not everyone takes the time to read the Scriptures for enjoyment or for a better understanding, but it would be wise to do so. If someone else quotes lots of Scripture to support his or her arguments, I read every one of the Scriptures posted and check them in their contexts. After all, they are more important than the conclusions one might draw from them. I might even check the original languages to be sure they have a proper understanding of those Scriptures. I use a combination of sources to help with that procedure: BlueLetterBible, BibleHub, Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar, and William Hersey Davis' Beginner's Grammar of the Greek New Testament, among many others. Actually, this is not quite right, either. Here's the FULL quote of what Z'kharyahuw ("Zecharias") said: Luke 1:67-79 (KJV) 67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 68 "Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 72 To perform the mercy [promised] to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. 76 "And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and [in] the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." First, I would argue that Z'kharyahuw was ANOINTED by the Ruwach haQodesh Elohiym, the Holy Spirit of God, for this prophecy. Therefore, I have given him the red letters for which I have reserved for God's anointed ones. Second, it is being "saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us" that is to what the word "salvation" (deliverance or rescue) refers. This was a rescue YET TO BE REALIZED! It COULD have been realized when the Master Yeeshuwa` legitimately offered them the Kingdom of God (over which David originally presided), but it was NOT yet in force. So, their sins first had to be remitted, and this could ONLY be done through sacrifice, NOT by a baptism which was just a physical washing meant to PICTURE what the Holy Spirit would do within each person. However, as we now know by hindsight, the Messiah of God was REJECTED AND CRUCIFIED by the Jewish leaders - the elders of Yhudah - and by the priests - the Cohaniym of Aaron's line. The LORD God, as we know, turned this around to the benefit of the whole world by making the death of the Messiah "God's Sacrifice for sin," and this was the ULTIMATE Sacrifice that permanently met the Holy LORD God's requirements for sins. ("The wages [paycheck] of sin is death.") Isaiah 53:1-12 (KJV) 1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is "the arm of the LORD" revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne OUR griefs, and carried OUR sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for OUR transgressions, he was bruised for OUR iniquities: the chastisement of OUR peace was upon him; and with his stripes WE are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity OF US ALL. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him (the Messiah); he hath put him to grief: WHEN THOU SHALT MAKE HIS SOUL (the Messiah's "air-breathing body") AN OFFERING FOR SIN, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 HE SHALL SEE OF THE TRAVAIL OF HIS SOUL (the Messiah's "air-breathing body"), AND SHALL BE SATISFIED: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant (the Messiah) JUSTIFY MANY; for he shall bear THEIR iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul (his "air-breathing body") unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (All of this verse speaks to His Resurrection, since He had been "cut off out of the land of the living.") Baptized, yes, but that does NOT mean that they were "justified by God," for as you quoted, "their bodies were scattered in the wilderness." Indeed, that whole generation DIED in the wilderness because of their constant grumbling, complaining, and disobedience to God's commands, all but Joshua (Yhowshuwa`) and Caleb (KaaleeV), the two spies who remained faithful to the LORD God's promise. NONE of the adults who passed through the sea under the cloud, except for Joshua and Caleb, made it into the Promised Land. Yes, Yochanan the Immerser ("John the Baptizer") was indeed a prophet of God. He was not 'Eliyahuw ("Elijah"), nor any of the other named prophets in the past; he was called "the Voice of one crying in the wilderness," although he came in the spirit of 'Eliyahuw, as 'Eliyshah had a double portion before him: Isaiah 40:1-18 (KJV) 1 "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people," saith your God. 2 "Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins." 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, "Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." 6 The voice said, "Cry." And he said, "What shall I cry?" "All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. HERE IS YOUR GOD!" 9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, "BEHOLD YOUR GOD!" 10 Behold, the Lord GOD (the Father) will come with strong hand, and "his Arm" (the Messiah) shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. 12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? 13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counseller hath taught him? 14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? 15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. 16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. 17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. 18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? Luke 1:5-17 (KJV) 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias (K'kharyahuw), of the course of Abia ('AViyah): and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron ('Aharown), and her name was Elisabeth ('ElishaVet). 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without (outside) at the time of incense. 11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, "Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Yochanan was the HERALD for the Messiah of God. He was to go before the Messiah into every town and village of Israel in which the Messiah would arrive and prepare the people for His arrival. However, His Herald was put in prison by Herod Antipas. So, He had to do the heralding Himself, and later, His disciples heralded before Him into the towns and villages He would visit. Indeed, the Greek word often translated as "preach" meant "to herald (as a town cryer)!"

Shalom, Mr. M. I'll start here, seeing this to be the first error. This was indeed a ritual for the priests; however, they were ALL to be a "kingdom of priests" to the Gentiles! And, this purification by water ritual was performed by more than just the priests. Even Paul and his companions exercised this practice: Acts 21:17-26 (KJV) 17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. 19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, "Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. 22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. 23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: "We have four men which have a vow on them; 24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. 25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication." 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. While his companions were purified having shaven their heads, Paul was also purified among them. Then the five of them offered their sacrifices unto God in the Temple. It was intended to be a demonstration of Paul's adherence to the Law and the rituals associated with it. It was meant to PROVE that Paul did NOT "teach all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Mosheh, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs." He understood this strategy, himself being a Paruwsh ("a Pharasee"), which means "a Separatist."

Shalom, @Mr. M You're not entirely wrong, but you have some missing pieces of the puzzle. @Cntrysner was not wrong when he said, "Before John the Baptist, Jews under the law of Moses were practicing ritual immersion in the form of entering into a mikveh for purification from sin before entering the temple. "John’s baptism in the river Jordon for sin remission was nothing new and it meet all requirements under the law (Mark 1:3-4). We know the death of Christ freed us from the law if we believe." Baptism was NOT started by Yeeshuwa` ("Jesus") nor by Yochanan the Immerser ("John the Baptizer"). So, when you said, "There is no requirement for ritual immersion in the law of Moses. Levitical law required the priests to wash prior to ministering at the altar. The idea that this provided purification, or remission from sin is unsupported." That's not quite true. The cleansing was symbolic, but it was the Ruwach haQodesh Elohiym (the Holy Spirit of God) who does the REAL cleansing! You KNOW DEEP DOWN this to be true, but it was also true in the TANAKH, what you call the "Old Testament!" Exodus 19:1-6 (KJV) 1 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. 3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 4 "'Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.' "These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." So, when you said, "Levitical law required the priests to wash prior to ministering at the altar. The idea that this provided purification, or remission from sin is unsupported," you're a bit confused. The "purification" is not the same thing as the "remission from sin." The "purification" was INDEED performed but not for the "remission from sin!" The "purification" was to make a person "holy"; but the "remission from sin" was what some call "personal salvation" and what the Scriptures call "justification by God." Holiness is NOT THE SAME THING as righteousness. One can be "holy" - set apart for the LORD'S service - without being a "righteous" person. Exodus 30:17-21 (KJV) 17 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 18 "Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. 19 For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: 20 When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD: 21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations." Brass is the metal that represents judgment. When the children of Israel (Ya`aqoV or "Jacob") will be under the NEW Covenant, then the following will be fulfilled: Jeremiah 30:1-31: (KJV) 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 "Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, "'Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. 3 For, lo, the days come,' saith the LORD, 'that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.'" 4 And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5 For thus saith the LORD; "We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. 8 For it shall come to pass in that day," saith the LORD of hosts, "that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: 9 But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. 10 "Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob," saith the LORD; "neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. 11 "For I am with thee," saith the LORD, "to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished." 12 For thus saith the LORD, "Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous. 13 There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines. 14 All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased. 15 Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee. 16 "Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey. 17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds," saith the LORD; "because they called thee an Outcast, saying, 'This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.'" 18 Thus saith the LORD; "Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. 19 And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. 20 Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them. 21 And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me?" saith the LORD. 22 "And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God." 23 Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. 24The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it. 1 "At the same time," saith the LORD, "will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people." 2 Thus saith the LORD, "The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest." 3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. 4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry. 5 Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. 6 For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, 'Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.'" 7 For thus saith the LORD; "Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, "'O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.' 8 "Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. 9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn." 10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, "He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. 11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. 12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all." 13 "Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. 14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness," saith the LORD. 15 Thus saith the LORD; "A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not." 16 Thus saith the LORD; "Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded," saith the LORD; "and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. 17 And there is hope in thine end," saith the LORD, "that thy children shall come again to their own border. 18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; "'Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God. 19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.' 20 "Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him," saith the LORD. 21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities. 22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man. 23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; "As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness. 24 And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks. 25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul." 26 Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me. 27 "Behold, the days come," saith the LORD, "that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast. 28 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant," saith the LORD. 29 "In those days they shall say no more, 'The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.' 30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge." 31 "Behold, the days come," saith the LORD, "that I will make A NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them," saith the LORD: 33 "But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days," saith the LORD, "I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD': for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them," saith the LORD: "for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: 36 "If those ordinances depart from before me," saith the LORD, "then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever." 37 Thus saith the LORD; "If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done," saith the LORD. 38 "Behold, the days come," saith the LORD, "that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner. 39And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath. 40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever." Revelation 5:1-10 (KJV) 1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?" 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, "Weep not: behold (LOOK!), the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof!" 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." Yeeshuwa` ("Jesus") will not only be the King of kings on His Father's behalf, but He is given ALL JUDGMENT (John 5:19-23), and He is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25-26)! Basically, He is the MASTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, for it is also said that "out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations!" (Revelation 19:15), and... Revelation 14:17-20 (KJV) 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe." 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. Which is a fulfillment of Isaiah 63:1-6: Isaiah 63:1-6 (KJV) 1 "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength?" "I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save." 2 "Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?" 3 "I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. 5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. 6 And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth."

Shalom, Keras. You DON'T know what you're talking about! אֲרִיאֵל ('Ariy'eel) means a "lioness," and it refers to Jerusalem! And, the word in Isaiah 29:2 is still כַּאֲרִיאֵֽל (ka'ariy'eel) with the "ka-" prefix that means "like" or "as." It's also in the beginning of verse 2 as לַֽאֲרִיאֵ֑ל (la'ariy'eel) with the "la-" prefix that means "to" or "for." You are FIXATED on this misreading of Scripture! And, for what? To prove your theory that there will be an "explosion on the sun's surface?" Explosions on the sun's surface happen ALL THE TIME! That's what the sun is! It consists of trillions of chain reactions occurring from nuclear fusion! Hydrogen is CONSTANTLY being converted to Helium! And, the surface explosions don't hold a candle to what is going on within the sun's mass! You're pulling verses from many different sources, but the thing you should be learning from all these is this: Hebrews 12:29 (KJV) 29 For our God is a consuming fire. He doesn't NEED a "CME" to do His work! Furthermore, the verses you've pulled from many sources are all disconnected and from different times in Israel's history. The thing that should be important in your thinking is that Yeeshuwa` shall be the King of this earth (under His Father, of course). Paul, speaking of the resurrections, said, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 (KJV) 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits (singular) of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: (0) Christ (the Messiah) the firstfruits (singular); (in 30 A.D.) (1) afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 (still in the future, at the beginning of the Millennium) (2) Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (at the end of the Millennium) 25 For he (the Messiah) must reign, till he (God) hath put all enemies under his (the Messiah's) feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he (God) hath put all things under his (the Messiah's) feet. (But when he saith, "all things are put under him," it is manifest that "he" is excepted, which did "put all things under him.") 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. And, Luke 1:30-33 (KJV) 30 And the angel (Gabriel) said unto her, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS (Greek: Ieesous = Hebrew: Yeeshuwa`). 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." And, this is in partial fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant found in 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17. BUT, it won't end at the end of the Millennium! We learn in Revelation 22:1-5, Revelation 22:1-5 (KJV) 1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it (the city the New Jerusalem), and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and THEY SHALL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER. So, our place on this earth as the earth's rulers under the King of Kings will continue forever. THIS is for what we should anticipate! THIS is what we should expect!

Shalom, Michael. I don't believe there's ENOUGH emphasis put upon the actual "apokalupsis" - the "uncovering"/"revealing" - of God's Son, Yeeshuwa` haMaashiyach ("Jesus the Christ")! That's what the book of Revelation (always SINGULAR, btw) is all about! That's the title of the book! It is entitled: "1 Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἣν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεός, δεῖξαι τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ, ἃ δεῖ γενέσθαι ἐν τάχει, καὶ ἐσήμανεν ἀποστείλας διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου αὐτοῦ τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννῃ, 2 ὃς ἐμαρτύρησε τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ τὴν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅσα τε εἶδε" Transliterated, this is: "1 Apokalupsis Ieesou Christou, heen edooken autoo ho Theos, deixai tois doulois autou, ho dei genesthai en tachei, kai eseemanen aposteilas dia tou aggelou autou too douloo autou Iooannee, 2 hos emartureese ton logon tou Theou, kai teen marturian Ieesou Christou, hosa te eide." Translated word-for-word, we get: "1 An-Uncovering of-Yeeshuwa` Maashiyach (of Jesus Christ), which gave to-Him the God, to-show to-the bond-servants of-Him, what-things need to-take-place in haste, and He-made-it-known to-sent-ones through the messenger of-Him to-the bond-servant of-Him Yoannees (John), 2 who testified to-the Word of-the God, and the witness of-Yeeshuwa` Maashiyach (of Jesus Christ), as-much of-it as-he-saw." So, it passed hands from God (the Father) to His messenger ("angel") to His bond servants, to His bond servant Yochanan (John) the Beloved, one of His "sent-ones" the Apostles.

Shabbat shalom, Dennis1209. That's very interesting to me! You've reminded me of one of the first Hebrew words I learned: hesed (חֵסֵד = chesed). It not only conveys to us the meaning of "kindness" toward us through His own "loving" gesture, but it also conveys the meaning of COVENANT-KEEPING; that is, how God is willing to keep His end of the covenant even if we repeatedly break our end of that covenant and constantly come back to Him and renew our desire to commit to it. YHWH is a COVENANT-KEEPING God! Yes, this is true for His name is "Yeeshuwa`" which is Hebrew for "He shall save/rescue/deliver." And, that act He performed on the cross paved the way for us to receive God's justification as we make His death our Sacrifice for sin. Isaiah 53:4-11 (KJV) 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD (YHWH) to bruise him (the Messiah); he (YHWH) hath put him (the Messiah) to grief: when thou shalt make his (the Messiah's) soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He (YHWH) shall see of the travail of his (the Messiah's) soul (air-breather), and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. And, David had already given us the good news in all of this: Psalm 16:8-11 (KJV) 8 "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10 "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (Hebrew: נַפְשִׁ֣י לִשְׁאֹ֑ול = nafshiy lish'owl = "my-air-breather to-asked-about" or "my-air-breather to-the-grave"); neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption (Hebrew: לִרְאֹ֥ות שָֽׁחַת = lir'owt shaachat = "to-see decay"). 11 "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." He wouldn't be STAYING DEAD! His Father YHWH raised Him to life after three days and three nights. Peter recognized that these words were not just David talking but was actually a prophecy concerning David's Ultimate Heir to David's throne, the Messiah of God! Acts 2:22-36 (KJV) 22 "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 25 "For David speaketh concerning him, "'I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.' (Psalm 16:8-11) 29 "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore BEING A PROPHET, and KNOWING THAT GOD HAD SWORN WITH AN OATH TO HIM, that of (from) the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his (David's) throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that 'his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.' 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 "For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, "'The LORD (YHWH) said unto my Lord (# = Adoniy = "my-Sire"), Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.' (Psalm 110:1) 36"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus (Yeeshuwa`), whom ye have crucified, both Lord ("Master/Owner") and Christ ("Anointed One to be King")."

Shabbat Shalom, NConly. This shows the INTENT one should be willing to go to prevent offense against God's Law. I agree that God never expected one to go to that length, but one should seek every other way possible to avoid the offense, even this, if there was left to him or her no other way! First, one needs to properly define the word "ouranos" which is used in Matthew 4:17: Here's the Greek: 17 Ἀπὸ τότε ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς κηρύσσειν καὶ λέγειν, Μετανοεῖτε· ἤγγικε γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν. Transliterated, this is ... 17 Apo tote eerxato ho Ieesous keerussein kai legein, Metanoeite; eeggike gar hee basileia toon ouranoon. Translated word-for-word recognizing that "toon ouranoon" is in the ablative case, we get ... 17 From then began the Yeeshuwa` to-herald and to-say, "Change-your-mind; has-drawn-near <-> for the kingdom from-the skies." Second, one must put this in context: Open this verse up to its context and see why Mattityahuw ("Matthew") writes this. Matthew 3:1-12 (KJV) 1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching (Greek: κηρύσσων = keerussoon = "heralding" like a town cryer) in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Greek: Μετανοεῖτε· ἤγγικε γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν. = Metanoeite; eeggike gar hee basileia toon ouranoon. = "Change-your-mind; has-drawn near <-> for the kingdom from-the skies.") 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias (Isaiah or Yesha`yahuw), saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" (Isaiah 40:3) 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, "'We have Abraham to our father' : "for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Then, we read of Yeeshuwa`s baptism (Βαπτισθεὶς = Baptistheis = He-having-been-immersed) and then His 40 days of temptation in 3:13-17 and 4:1-11. Then, we read, Matthew 4:12-17 (KJV) 12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum (Kfar-Nachuwm), which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 "The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up." (Isaiah 9:1-2) 17 From that time Jesus began to preach (Greek: κηρύσσειν = keerussein = "to herald" as a town cryer), and to say, "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." So, Yeeshuwa` had to take up the SAME MESSAGE as His herald before Him, when He learned that Yochanan (John) had been locked up in prison.

Shalom, @R. Hartono. All the more reason to OUST this clownery!

Shabbat shalom, FJK. Actually, I can't say yes or no to "exploring the stars." I have a new theory, though. I believe that the reason why we keep looking farther and farther away and see more and more galaxies of stars, is because we are expanding through the details of a MASSIVE FRACTAL! So, we're now able to look so far away from the earth that we're looking BEYOND where the stars should be! This projects our reasoned age of the Big Bang BEYOND when the Big Bang was thought to be! Now what?! The deeper into space we peer, the more we see new galaxies of stars! Look deeper, and there's MORE galaxies of stars! EVERY TIME we look deeper into space, we don't reach an end! We just see more galaxies! It's just like when one zooms in on a fractal pattern: The deeper we go, the more we see the same intricacies of the pattern! Here's a good example: movie of zooming in on a fractal. This is SEVENTEEN MINUTES of zooming in on this Mandelbrot Fractal pattern! The deeper one goes, the more the pattern is repeated! I believe we're experiencing the same thing with our telescopes. We were created in the SAME WEEK as the dry land was created and called "Earth." We were created to live upon the earth, and the earth was created to support land animals and mankind!

LOL!!! Are you KIDDING?! Oh, my friend! The WORLD will be your playground! The whole EARTH will be wherever you'd like to roam! You will be a NEW BODY, an immortal, incorruptible, glowing body that will NEVER grow old again and will NEVER die! Furthermore, the New Jerusalem is FAR from a "giant prison!" It is a LITERAL CITY with all the hustle and bustle that goes on in a city! Have you ever read Revelation 21:1-22:5? That's not just someone's imagination nor is it "figurative speech." If the Roman stade, which is the same as the Greek "stadion" is 607.14222... feet in length (as recorded on all the Roman mile markers scattered throughout Europe and wherever the Roman Empire thrived), then 12,000 stadia will be ... 12,000 stad x 607.14222... ft/stad x 1 mi/5280 ft = 1,379.868686... miles long, wide, and high! When one considers that Mount Everest is only 5 and a half miles high, this city will DWARF Mount Everest! Since this present SECOND earth is roughly the same size as the earth before the Flood, I assume that the New Earth - the THIRD earth - will have roughly the same dimensions as we measure them today. That means that the radius of the earth at the equator will be approximately the same, and currently it is 3963.188942 miles in length. That gives the earth's circumference to be 24,901.4295 miles at the equator. That means that the New Jerusalem will cover ... 1379.868686 miles/24901.4295 miles x 360 degrees = 19.94876 degrees! That's just under 20 degrees! That means that "down" on one side of the city will be 20 degrees different than "down" on the opposite side of the city, and that both sides are 10 degrees different than "down" in the center of the city! Since a timezone is about 1,037.55956 miles, this city will have its east and west sides in different timezones! This is just ONE, HUGE CITY! We won't be "locked in a big box!" We can go in and out through the twelve gates at our leisure! In fact, I believe that we will be sent to other areas on missions for our King. We may also serve in capacity of reigning over a city or country and report back to Him regularly. That would be a GREAT honor!

Shabbat shalom (A Sabbath of peace) to you, Kristina! Welcome to Worthy! Thank you for that question; it's a very important one. "Falling short of grace" simply means coming close to the Grace of God given in one's life, but never achieving that outcome because one does not "follow through." God's Grace is MORE THAN SUFFICIENT for the needs of any individual. But, one must ASK God to apply that Grace to his or her own life. "God be merciful to me a sinner." (Luke 18:13). First, we need to understand what "grace" is and what is "GOD'S Grace." "Grace" in the New Testament is the word used to translate the Greek word "charis" from which we get our word "charity." Strong's Concordance defines it as ... 5485 charis χάρις, ιτος, ἡ (khar'-ece). From chairoo; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): -- acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy). It can be summed up in the translation words "kindness" and "thankfulness." Also, it's usage is ... (a) grace, as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ, (b) favor, (c) gratitude, thanks, (d) a favor, kindness. Some have said that God's grace is "unmerited favor." In other words, it is God's favor shown to us that we did not earn. God gave us His OWN SON to die on our behalf - as our "Sin" - that we could be named "His own Righteousness," which was demonstrated in His Son. This is called "the Great Exchange" (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is how God made it possible for Him to "reconcile" us by taking our place in judgment and sentencing, and this is how He "justifies" us. Others use the word as an acronym to provide a simplified explanation: God's Redeption At Christ's Expense. So, "falling short" of that, is not "following through" and receiving His Grace because we don't make His Son's death our "sacrifice for our sins." Isaiah 53:6-11 (KJV) 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; HE hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant (Yeeshuwa` or Jesus) justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Hope that clears it up for you. Does it?

Shabbat shalom, @FJK. I've said this before, but I think it's a good concept: The New Jerusalem will be our FINAL HOME! And, the New Earth will be our "backyard!"

Shalom, FJK. Good questions! The New Jerusalem is a material structure that will constitute the capital city of the New Earth. It's constructed from materials that were known in Yochanan's day. All rocks and metals are constructed of inorganic compounds that exist in crystalline form as solids. Space is a GREAT place to grow perfect crystals, and that's where the New Jerusalem is currently being constructed. Hebrews 12:2 tells us, Hebrews 12:22-24 (KJV) 22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. The Greek of verse 22 is intriguing: 22 ἀλλὰ προσεληλύθατε Σιὼν ὄρει, καὶ πόλει Θεοῦ ζῶντος, Ἰερουσαλὴμ ἐπουρανίῳ, καὶ μυριάσιν ἀγγέλων. Transliterated into English characters, we write: 22 Alla proseleeluthate Sioon orei kai polei Theou zoontos, Hierousaleem epouranioo, kai muriasin aggeloon. Translating word-for-word into English, we get: 22 But you-are-in-the-pr0cess-of-coming-to Tsiyown mountain and city of-God living, Yeruwshalayim from-above-the-sky, and a-myriad of-messengers. The Greek word "ouranos" (pronounced "oo-ran-os'") means the "sky" and refers mostly to the atmosphere where the birds fly and weather happens. By adding the iota before the ending, we get an adjective form of the word, and we add the word "of-" to the translation of the word. If we then add an appropriate ending for the number and gender of the word, we get the word "ouranioo" which is a genitive (or ablative) form of the word as "of-the-sky." When the Greek preposition "epi" is added as the prefix "ep-" to the word, it adds the word "above": epouranioo = "of-above-the-sky," when in the genitive case. If it is the ablative case, it is translated as "from-above-the-sky." This is outer space, and it is where the New Jerusalem currently is being built. Also, this Greek word προσεληλύθατε or "proseleeluthate" is the second-person, plural form acting in the sentence as the perfect, indicative, active verb from the root προσέρχομαι or "proserchomai" which is, in turn, a combination of the preposition "pros" meaning "to/toward/with" and "erchomai" meaning "to come" or "to go." When changing this word to the perfect, indicative, active form, it changes the usage of the word within the sentence, but the original word "proserchomai" and "erchomai" are in the middle tense or the passive tense, meaning that the subject is being acted upon, whether by oneself passively or by another in middle tense. In other words, the word by itself means "being brought." So, it is currently "being brought" from above the sky. Although it looks like it is in the present as a perfect tense verb, the future tense is built into the word "erchomai." So, it is not saying that "we've aready arrived" in the Jerusalem from above the sky; it's saying that we're already in the PROCESS of coming to the Jerusalem from above the sky. So, contrary to belief, we don't go to the New Jerusalem (or "Heaven") when we die; the New Jerusalem is brought HERE, after the earth has been made anew - the New Earth with its New Sky. But, this happens at least a THOUSAND YEARS after the Second Coming of the Messiah with the promised Resurrection of those who belong to Him. In the meantime, we have some "clean-up" work to do, both in the lives of human beings and in the restoration of all things.

Shalom, @choir loft Are you talking about Paul or the author of Hebrews? Keep on hollering, bro'. If you want to please God with your keeping of the LAW, good luck to you .... because LUCK is all you'll get out of it! And, it won't be "good"!

Shalom, @R. Hartono. I should also mention that ALL of these Temples are TEMPORARY. When the New Jerusalem lands upon the renewed earth, John said, Revelation 21:22 (KJV) 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

Shalom, @R. Hartono. Yes, as far as we are the host to the Ruwach haQodesh (the Holy Spirit), but you have read Ezekiel, right? There are SEVEN chapters (Ezekiel 40-46) that talk about the Temple that will be constructed BY THE MESSIAH during the Millennium. However, I was talking about another Temple that the Jews will erect prior to the Messiah's return. This one will be erected in ANTICIPATION for the Messiah. And, such a Temple is NECESSARY to fulfill the prophecy that Yeeshuwa` quoted.

Shalom, choir loft. No one that I've read so far in this topic is denying the Law. I know plenty of the Law. I've studied the 613 commandments 0f God, but you need to realize that God Himself had to make a way for His Law to be IMPLEMENTED where it otherwise could not be obeyed. NO ONE is "defending SIN!" Are you meshuggah?! We are ALL SINNERS, even you, my friend! And, no matter HOW MUCH you try to adhere to the Law, you will NEVER be able to keep it all! For example, every commandment that requires an animal sacrifice in the Temple upon the brazen altar is PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE right now, even if you WANTED to follow the commandment! While the Temple was present before 70 A.D., He performed every rite and ritual that was necessary, according to God's Law! Moreover, He had God's testimony, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am WELL PLEASED!" NO! He is not a liar! He said He came to fulfill the Law, and HE DID! He kept the Law of God PERFECTLY, COMPLETELY! That is what He meant, and that is what He did. How do you figure? The churches are NOT "in love with its own sin." That is NOT what Yeeshuwa` the Messiah or the apostles taught! This teaching, namely, "The LAW and GRACE work together. One is saved by grace according to the LAW so that they may live lives of holiness, apart from the world, according to the LAW," is TRULY egregiously appalling! It doesn't match any of the teachings of the Bible! Galatians 2:15-21 (KJV) 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall NO FLESH be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Ponder this carefully before you type another word! Be careful that you are making a distinction between churches that preach the truth of God's Word and those that teach a religious "political correctness." Okay, now I know that you are "preaching" against the established denominations that hail from Catholicism. But, "choir loft," you're "preaching to the choir!" Repentance is turning 180 degrees FROM the sins in one's life and turning TO God for His help. That is what repentance is. However, a human being CANNOT live righteously no matter how well intentioned he or she may be! One must turn TO God and let HIM make the exchange of "our SIN" for "His RIGHTEOUSNESS." Once we have made Yeeshuwa`s soul our sacrifice, then the transfer is complete, the Ruwach haQodesh 'Elohiym (the Holy Spirit of God) comes to live within us, ahd HE does the righteous living for us!

Shalom, @R. Hartono. That's actually a GOOD thing! It's the next step for the sanctification of the Temple, which I've heard they've been designing and are ready to build once the site has been set and approved. They have the garments and the utensils and furniture ready to go. It's even been reported that they are using the pre-fab method to make the Temple's construction go faster. Yeeshuwa` ("Jesus") said, Matthew 23:37-39 (KJV) 37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 "Behold, your house is left unto you DESOLATE! 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, 'Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the LORD!'" And, this last sentence comes from Psalm 118:26 ... Psalm 118:21-27 (KJV) 21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes! 24 This is THE DAY which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save now, (Hebrew: Howshiya` naa' = Greek: Hoosanna) I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: WE HAVE BLESSED YOU OUT OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. 27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. So, it won't be long! "The House of the LORD" is the TEMPLE! especially with the mention of "the altar!" Yeeshuwa` foretold that they would not see Him again UNTIL they could say these words, which whill be said from the Temple! Also, "Armageddon" the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew words "Har-Megiddown," is about the Messiah's war against the invaders of His Land! He will drive them out of Jerusalem, across the mountains of Israel, and fight them in the Valley of Jezreel, below and north of Tel-Megiddo, or "Har-Megiddown." It's a WONDERFUL promise that may be taking place very soon!

Shalom, choir loft. Numbers don't lie, but people frequently lie with numbers! And, his Name is actually Yeeshuwa` (יֵשׁ֡וּעַ pronounced "yay-shoo'-gah"), which is Hebrew for "He shall save/rescue/deliver.") It is a verb with the 3rd-person, singular, masculine prefix. The `ayin, the last consonant of the name [on the left end, btw] is the same as the first letter in "Gaza." It's a 'swallowed g' sound, like when a person gulps. Only a "Sabra" (a native of Israel) or an Arab or an Egyptian will pronounce it correctly. Also, the "her" reference is NOT about the "church!" It's about BABYLON the Great! Revelation 18:1-10 (KJV) 1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies." 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, "'I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.' 8 "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her." 9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, "Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come!"

Shalom, choir loft. Right. Paul said, they are a "law unto themselves." And, they were given certain laws by God after the Flood. They were not to eat meat with the blood still in it, and they were told by God, Genesis 9:6 (KJV) 6 "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." This law of capital punishment fell upon ALL human beings (and animals, too) after the Flood. Thus, these laws are common to all. As far as the Law given at Mt. Sinai to Mosheh ("Moses"), not all Gentiles are privy to it; however, they can still be held to the Law because it is God's requirements for the children of Israel who were to be the priests to the Gentiles. Correct, again. The Law was our schoolmaster - our teacher - to show us our complete need for God's justification (not "salvation"). It shows us that we are INCAPABLE ON OUR OWN of appeasing God, no matter how hard we try. Well, this is close, but there seems to be too much emphasis on keeping God's Law, which it's been demonstrated we are INCAPABLE of doing. God is a COMPLETELY HOLY GOD and a PERFECTLY RIGHTEOUS GOD! If one has sinned even once, then it is IMPOSSIBLE to undo the sin in one's life! God sees all of time at once! No future deed is going to wipe out the past deeds we have done! God HIMSELF must step in and do what is otherwise impossible for us! THAT is how God JUSTIFIES an individual. He CALLS us "RIGHTEOUSNESS" IN SPITE of our sins! This can ONLY be done through the finished work of Yeeshuwa` ("Jesus") on the cross, for it was there that God called His Son, "SIN!" and poured out His wrath upon that SIN! By making Him our Sacrifice for sin, God can perform the transfer, and we legitimately, legally are called "HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS FOUND IN HIS SON!" (2 Cor. 5:21) But, remember, "by the deeds of the Law NO FLESH shall be justified!" (Romans 3:20). Absolutely not; the Law is PERFECT because GOD is PERFECT! Paul said, Romans 7:7-12 (KJV) 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, "Thou shalt not covet." 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without (outside of) the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without (outside of) the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. You're right ... up to a point. However, Gentiles are not among those whose "minds and hearts of those He has redeemed by His blood" NATURALLY! Only redeemed Gentiles are! Natural Gentiles who have not yet known to make the Messiah their sacrifice for sin aere NOT (or NOT YET) redeemed by His blood! You're confusing the Law, which is the set of rules governing the sacrifice, with the sacrifice itself! God's LAW is the "HOW" the sacrifice is to be made; the Sacrifice is the "WHAT" (or rather, the "WHO") is being sacrificed. Well, we AREN'T "saved by the LAW!" We are JUSTIFIED by God THROUGH HIS SON keeping the whole LAW! That's not a "license to sin," because God won't put up with that! Once we are His children, He deals with us as sons (and daughters), chastening us as necessary! Once God through His Ruwach haKodesh has put His Law into our hearts, we don't WANT to go against it! He has given us a conscience to do His Law, not because it's required, but because we LOVE HIM! It's not a matter of "what we have to do" anymore; it's a "what we GET to do" now through the power of His Ruwach! The matter of our justification and our redemption and our adoption is SETTLED! We become His children, and He never forsakes us! No, they are NOT the same thing. The Law are the RULES to follow that God has established; the Grace of God is the MEANS by which He has provided justification THROUGH HIS SON'S FINISHED WORK, both in KEEPING the Law completely, and in DYING as our Sacrifice for sin. We cannot be justified by God without the Sacrifice called "sin" being killed on our behelf (when we make His death our sacrifice for sin)! Only then, can God pronounce us "His own Righteousness" found within His Son! "Emasculate?!" That means to make someone "less than a man!" No, Jews are required to keep the commandments, all 613, of them because they are God's chosen people! But, Paul - a Pharisee - told us that NO ONE could keep all of the commandments perfectly (and he should know)! No one, that is, except the Messiah of God. The animal sacrifices would only COVER sins for a year, but the Lamb of God - haKeves 'Elohiym - REMOVED our sins completely! The author of Hebrews told us this, Hebrews 9:23-28; 10:1-25 (KJV) 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (RESCUE)! 1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can NEVER with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, 'Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.' " (Psalm 40:6-8) 8 Above when he said, "Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure" therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God." He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting (anticipating) till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 "'This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,' saith the Lord, 'I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.'" (Jeremiah 31:33-34) 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. You're correct on several fronts, but don't think for a moment that believing in Yeeshuwa` as the One through whom we are justified means that we have replaced God's Law! The Law hasn't been touched or abandoned (by those who know better); we still must keep God's Law, however, not to be accepted by God, but to make God happy because we LOVE God! Only the Old Mosaic Covenant, i.e., the Covenant that God made with the children of Israel at Mount Sinai, will be replaced by the New Covenant that God will make with the houses of Israel and Judah. That is the ONLY thing that shall be replaced. The current Covenant of interest, though, is the DAVIDIC Covenant of 2 Samuel 7, repeated in 1 Chronicles 17. THAT is the Covenant that was repeated by Gabriel to Mary in Luke 1, and it is THAT Covenant that was presented to the Jews for 1/2 a Week of Daniel 9. For three and a half years, the Gospel of the Kingdom (Isaiah 52:7) was heralded to the Jews, but they rejected their KING-APPARENT (the MESSIAH), and He left them DESOLATE (as predicted by Gabriel in Daniel 9:27) until that which is decided against them is poured out upon the desolate. He said He would return when they can say, "Baruwkh haba' b-shem YHWH." (Matthew:23:37-39). Perhaps, but all we can do is control our own actions, and I prefer to keep God's Law to honor Him because I love Him and want to please Him through the power of His Ruwach haQodesh. Oh, and one more thing; if a person has been justified by God through the finished work of the Messiah, then he or she will NOT go to the Lake of Fire.