Have any of you ever seen the Jazz Singer? You know the first "Talkie" with Al Jolson. Somethings are very surprising. I had always heard of this famous movie, but had not seen it. Well, if you haven't seen it, here's how it goes. Jakie Rabinowitz is the son of the Synagogue Cantor. Five generations of Cantors(song singers). At 12, his father catches him singing jazz in a saloon and throws him out of the house, on the Day of Atonement. He is supposed to be the next Cantor not a jazz singer. It shows his father singing and they are carrying this huge, ornate Torah Scroll and other happenings at the Synagogue. Years pass and Jakie gets his big break on Broadway and returns to NY. Moma still loves him, but Papa again throws him out. Papa falls ill and is unable to sing on the Day of Atonement. Moma comes to see Jakie at rehearsal for his Broadway show and begs him to come sing. It is opening night, what is he to do, choose his career or God. It is funny because he is speaking with his mother with his face painted black like we have seen before when he sings mammy. In the end, Jakie sings at the Synagogue, Papa dies after hearing him sing and he still got his Broadway show. One of the ending lines, most of the dialogue is still like a silent movie, goes like this "-a jazz singer-singing to his God."
I know this is straying from our usual, very important, content, but I was just so surprised that one of the most ground breaking movies had a Jewish theme and I never knew it. And probable a few years ago would not have cared.
Thanks for indulging me.
Shalom,
Sandi, DD and BFSer
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
And now I regress...I mean digress
This is nothing as noble as Teresa's and Scott's posts but something I found funny and interesting.
The NIV reads in Lev 21:16-20, "The Lord said to Moses, 17 "Say to Aaron: 'For the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect may come near to offer the food of his God. 18 No man...20 who is hunchbacked or dwarfed...
According to my Hebrew Interlinear Bible, that translation is correct. However, the Chumash renders Lev 21:20 as, no man "who has abnormally long eyebrows..." The commentary adds that they are so long that they rest on his face. Wow! Those are long eyebrows.
Having reached the stage of maturity where my barber asks, "Do you want me to trim those eyebrows?" I begin to worry. Do I have a blemish? Am I defective? As for the priests, why didn't they just cut their eyebrows? I can't find such a prohibition and do not believe it falls under the "sides of your head" clause in Lev 19:27. Perhaps the Nazarite vow would give some concern; otherwise, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?
Anyway, I don't see a connection between long eyebrows and being a hunchback. I do, however, much prefer the hunchback rendition. At least it doesn't make me feel like I have a bodily defect.
The NIV reads in Lev 21:16-20, "The Lord said to Moses, 17 "Say to Aaron: 'For the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect may come near to offer the food of his God. 18 No man...20 who is hunchbacked or dwarfed...
According to my Hebrew Interlinear Bible, that translation is correct. However, the Chumash renders Lev 21:20 as, no man "who has abnormally long eyebrows..." The commentary adds that they are so long that they rest on his face. Wow! Those are long eyebrows.
Having reached the stage of maturity where my barber asks, "Do you want me to trim those eyebrows?" I begin to worry. Do I have a blemish? Am I defective? As for the priests, why didn't they just cut their eyebrows? I can't find such a prohibition and do not believe it falls under the "sides of your head" clause in Lev 19:27. Perhaps the Nazarite vow would give some concern; otherwise, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?
Anyway, I don't see a connection between long eyebrows and being a hunchback. I do, however, much prefer the hunchback rendition. At least it doesn't make me feel like I have a bodily defect.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Teresa's baby steps into blogging
From my Torah reading on Shabbat in Beshalach a found some interesting thoughts. In the reading of the Exodus from Egypt Joseph's empty tomb represented Israel's redemption from Egypt, for Joseph had prophesied that God would bring them up from there, and he had made them promise to bring his bones with them. The empty tomb signified that the promised redemption had occurred. Just as the redemption from Egypt betokens our redemption in Messiah, so too Joseph's empty tomb portends Messiah's empty tomb. In fact, the tomb in which the Master was laid belonged to a man named Joseph. I thought how the future resurrection of the dead would be a witness to those left behind that the promised redemption had occurred.
This reading was also interesting. Exodus 15:27 Then they came to elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms, and they camped there beside the waters.
The twelve springs and the seventy palms of Elim beg for interpretation. The Targum Pseudo-Yonaton reports that the twelve springs symbolize the twelve tribes, one spring for each tribe. The seventy palms symbolize the Sanhedrin; that is, the seventy elders of Israel. If so, the elders of Israel grow up from the water of the springs of Israel. Perhaps the twelve springs represent Israel and the seventy palms represent the seventy nations of the world. If so, the nations drink from the springs of Israel. Perhaps the twelve springs represent the twelve disciples and the seventy palms represent the seventy disciples. If so the multitude of Yeshua's disciples grow from the teaching of the twelve.
After Bryan lesson on Sunday about the blood of Abel I found this reading interesting. Genesis 4:10 He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground."
In the Bible, blood is regarded as containing the essence of the soul. Leviticus 17:11 says that "the soul of the creature is in the blood." From the Hebraic perspective, then, the idea of Abel's blood crying out to God from the ground is not just a literary flourish. The traditional telling of the story of Cain and Abel, recorded in Targum Yonaton, lends a Messianic interpretation to the story. In the Targum, we are told that Cain and Abel brought their sacrifices on the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan - Passover: And it was at the end of days, on the fourteenth of Nisan, that Cain brought of the produce of the earth .. and Abel brought of the firstlings of the flock.
In the Targum, Cain and Abel offer their sacrifices on the same day that the Passover lambs would one day be offered. Cain strikes down Abel and spills his blood that same day. It is the first instance of manslaughter. Abel's blood cries out from the ground.
Notice the foreshadowing of Messiah that is present in this story. Messiah may be likened unto Abel. He is the righteous one who does good. On the fourteenth day of Nisan, the same day that the Passover lambs were offered in the Temple, Yeshua was killed. Like Abel, He was slain by the hands of men.
Cain may be likened unto sinful humanity, under control of sin. So, too, Messiah was slain for the sin of humanity. In a sense, it is as if the story of the crucifixion of Messiah answers the story of Cain and Abel.
The writer of the book of Hebrews makes a reference to the blood of Yeshua, "which speaks better than the blood of Abel" Hebrews 12:24. Abel's blood, spilled on Passover, cried out in a voice of condemnation. Yeshua's blood, spilled on Passover, cried out in a voice of forgiveness. "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing" Luke 23:34. Hence, the blood of Yeshua truley does speak "better than the blood of Abel."
This reading was also interesting. Exodus 15:27 Then they came to elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms, and they camped there beside the waters.
The twelve springs and the seventy palms of Elim beg for interpretation. The Targum Pseudo-Yonaton reports that the twelve springs symbolize the twelve tribes, one spring for each tribe. The seventy palms symbolize the Sanhedrin; that is, the seventy elders of Israel. If so, the elders of Israel grow up from the water of the springs of Israel. Perhaps the twelve springs represent Israel and the seventy palms represent the seventy nations of the world. If so, the nations drink from the springs of Israel. Perhaps the twelve springs represent the twelve disciples and the seventy palms represent the seventy disciples. If so the multitude of Yeshua's disciples grow from the teaching of the twelve.
After Bryan lesson on Sunday about the blood of Abel I found this reading interesting. Genesis 4:10 He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground."
In the Bible, blood is regarded as containing the essence of the soul. Leviticus 17:11 says that "the soul of the creature is in the blood." From the Hebraic perspective, then, the idea of Abel's blood crying out to God from the ground is not just a literary flourish. The traditional telling of the story of Cain and Abel, recorded in Targum Yonaton, lends a Messianic interpretation to the story. In the Targum, we are told that Cain and Abel brought their sacrifices on the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan - Passover: And it was at the end of days, on the fourteenth of Nisan, that Cain brought of the produce of the earth .. and Abel brought of the firstlings of the flock.
In the Targum, Cain and Abel offer their sacrifices on the same day that the Passover lambs would one day be offered. Cain strikes down Abel and spills his blood that same day. It is the first instance of manslaughter. Abel's blood cries out from the ground.
Notice the foreshadowing of Messiah that is present in this story. Messiah may be likened unto Abel. He is the righteous one who does good. On the fourteenth day of Nisan, the same day that the Passover lambs were offered in the Temple, Yeshua was killed. Like Abel, He was slain by the hands of men.
Cain may be likened unto sinful humanity, under control of sin. So, too, Messiah was slain for the sin of humanity. In a sense, it is as if the story of the crucifixion of Messiah answers the story of Cain and Abel.
The writer of the book of Hebrews makes a reference to the blood of Yeshua, "which speaks better than the blood of Abel" Hebrews 12:24. Abel's blood, spilled on Passover, cried out in a voice of condemnation. Yeshua's blood, spilled on Passover, cried out in a voice of forgiveness. "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing" Luke 23:34. Hence, the blood of Yeshua truley does speak "better than the blood of Abel."
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Fire From Heaven
I almost cannot hear an insight from the Jewish perspective without considering the application to Revelations. Afterall, I think the Bible is the key to interpreting the book of Revelations because "there is nothing new under the sun." (Eccl 1:9). I will go into more detail examples in the future. The thought for this blog begins with the following passage...
"Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth." (Rev 13:11-14)
John records that the future beast will perform "great and miraculous signs" with the assistance of the dragon (Satan, Rev 12:9) to "deceive the inhabitants of the earth." False signs should be no surprise to us since Satan and his servants will go to any extreme (2 Cor 11:14-15) to deceive and the Jewish nation is open to deception if they "seek a sign" (1 Cor 1:22). Although the beast will perform many false signs, John singles out one sign in particular, the ability to cause "fire to come down from heaven to earth in view of men." This sign is clearly intended to be the crowning deception of the beast, but why perform this particular sign?
When used symbolically in scripture, fire is always a picture of GOD and is never used to represent man. The LORD passed between the animals prepared by Abraham as both a "smoking fire pot" and a "burning torch" (Gen 15:17). Because both elements represent fire, the Jews understood the covenant to be between GOD and GOD as the representative of Abraham. Elsewhere in scripture, the GOD appears as a burning bush (Ex 3:2), as a fire on top of Mount Sinai (Ex 19:20), leading the nation in the wilderness "by night as a pillar of fire" (Ex 13:21), described as a "consuming fire" (Ex 24:17), and in Ezekiel’s vision of GOD above HIS throne "like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him" (Ezek 1:26). In Revelations John saw JESUS with "eyes…like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters" (Rev 1:14-15) and when HE returns JESUS will be "revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels" (2 Thess 1:7).
On at least three occasions in scripture, fire came from the presence of the LORD to consume a sacrifice on the altar in front of the Israelites. At the dedication of the tabernacle after Moses and Aaron blessed the people, "Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown." (Lev 9:24). At the completion of the temple after Solomon finished praying, "fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple." (2 Chron 7:1-3) and "when all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD" (2 Chron 7:3). The Israelites saw fire as the presence of the LORD.
Once started, the LORD instructed Moses, "the fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood" (Lev 6:12). In Jewish thought, people brought the sacrifices, but the LORD provided the flame because "God is a consuming fire" (Heb 12:29). At this point, the altar was not a place to BYOF (bring your own fire). When the two sons of Aaron attempted to bring their own fire, contrary to the LORD’S command, they died before the LORD (Lev 10:1).
The pattern repeats for a third time in the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. After calling out to the LORD, "fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD-he is God! The LORD-he is God!" (1 Kings 18:38-39). It is interesting to note, I have not found in scripture the lighting of the fire for the second temple, which operated in the days JESUS walked the earth.
We do have one last event recorded in scripture of fire coming down from heaven prior to the Book of Revelations. No, its not when James and John wanted to "call fire down from heaven" (Luke 9:54). On the Day of Pentecost (Feast of Weeks, Shavout), the HOLY SPIRIT came down and was distributed as "tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them" (Acts 2:3-4).
In the future, a new temple will be constructed, not by GOD, but by one who "will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thess 2:3-4). It is all part of Satan’s plan to receive the praise and admiration due the LORD. After brokering a peace that leads to the construction of the temple, the Adversary will fulfill two of the most important prophecies associated with the MESSIAH, world peace (Isa 9:7) and construction of the temple (Zech 6:12). The only thing left is for the Adversary to take the seat of the MESSIAH on the throne and proclaim himself to be GOD. A position foretold both by both Paul (2 Thes 2:3-4) and Daniel (Dan 11:36-37).
One small problem with Satan’s plan will remain, how to convince the very Orthodox Jews that the Adversary is really the long awaited MESSIAH. Looking to the scriptures, these Jews will look for the confirming sign GOD performed at the dedication of the first temple. The stage is now set for the Adversary to cause "fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men." Is the Adversary capable of bringing down fire from heaven? "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" (Job 1:16). Incorrectly reported by the servant of Job, this fire was not from "God," but from Satan as part of the trials brought on Job.
Many will believe the deception, but a few will understand that the collective actions of the Adversary are not consistent with the word of GOD. These faithful few are referred in scripture as "a remnant chosen by grace" (Rom 11:5-6) and "Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved" (Rom 9:27).
"Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth." (Rev 13:11-14)
John records that the future beast will perform "great and miraculous signs" with the assistance of the dragon (Satan, Rev 12:9) to "deceive the inhabitants of the earth." False signs should be no surprise to us since Satan and his servants will go to any extreme (2 Cor 11:14-15) to deceive and the Jewish nation is open to deception if they "seek a sign" (1 Cor 1:22). Although the beast will perform many false signs, John singles out one sign in particular, the ability to cause "fire to come down from heaven to earth in view of men." This sign is clearly intended to be the crowning deception of the beast, but why perform this particular sign?
When used symbolically in scripture, fire is always a picture of GOD and is never used to represent man. The LORD passed between the animals prepared by Abraham as both a "smoking fire pot" and a "burning torch" (Gen 15:17). Because both elements represent fire, the Jews understood the covenant to be between GOD and GOD as the representative of Abraham. Elsewhere in scripture, the GOD appears as a burning bush (Ex 3:2), as a fire on top of Mount Sinai (Ex 19:20), leading the nation in the wilderness "by night as a pillar of fire" (Ex 13:21), described as a "consuming fire" (Ex 24:17), and in Ezekiel’s vision of GOD above HIS throne "like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him" (Ezek 1:26). In Revelations John saw JESUS with "eyes…like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters" (Rev 1:14-15) and when HE returns JESUS will be "revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels" (2 Thess 1:7).
On at least three occasions in scripture, fire came from the presence of the LORD to consume a sacrifice on the altar in front of the Israelites. At the dedication of the tabernacle after Moses and Aaron blessed the people, "Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown." (Lev 9:24). At the completion of the temple after Solomon finished praying, "fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple." (2 Chron 7:1-3) and "when all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD" (2 Chron 7:3). The Israelites saw fire as the presence of the LORD.
Once started, the LORD instructed Moses, "the fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood" (Lev 6:12). In Jewish thought, people brought the sacrifices, but the LORD provided the flame because "God is a consuming fire" (Heb 12:29). At this point, the altar was not a place to BYOF (bring your own fire). When the two sons of Aaron attempted to bring their own fire, contrary to the LORD’S command, they died before the LORD (Lev 10:1).
The pattern repeats for a third time in the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. After calling out to the LORD, "fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD-he is God! The LORD-he is God!" (1 Kings 18:38-39). It is interesting to note, I have not found in scripture the lighting of the fire for the second temple, which operated in the days JESUS walked the earth.
We do have one last event recorded in scripture of fire coming down from heaven prior to the Book of Revelations. No, its not when James and John wanted to "call fire down from heaven" (Luke 9:54). On the Day of Pentecost (Feast of Weeks, Shavout), the HOLY SPIRIT came down and was distributed as "tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them" (Acts 2:3-4).
In the future, a new temple will be constructed, not by GOD, but by one who "will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thess 2:3-4). It is all part of Satan’s plan to receive the praise and admiration due the LORD. After brokering a peace that leads to the construction of the temple, the Adversary will fulfill two of the most important prophecies associated with the MESSIAH, world peace (Isa 9:7) and construction of the temple (Zech 6:12). The only thing left is for the Adversary to take the seat of the MESSIAH on the throne and proclaim himself to be GOD. A position foretold both by both Paul (2 Thes 2:3-4) and Daniel (Dan 11:36-37).
One small problem with Satan’s plan will remain, how to convince the very Orthodox Jews that the Adversary is really the long awaited MESSIAH. Looking to the scriptures, these Jews will look for the confirming sign GOD performed at the dedication of the first temple. The stage is now set for the Adversary to cause "fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men." Is the Adversary capable of bringing down fire from heaven? "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" (Job 1:16). Incorrectly reported by the servant of Job, this fire was not from "God," but from Satan as part of the trials brought on Job.
Many will believe the deception, but a few will understand that the collective actions of the Adversary are not consistent with the word of GOD. These faithful few are referred in scripture as "a remnant chosen by grace" (Rom 11:5-6) and "Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved" (Rom 9:27).
Saturday, January 31, 2009
10 x 10 x 10
Brian,
I appreciate your words and insights. I can see that 10 repeated 3 times is like the three witnesses who testify "Holy, Holy, Holy." So "10 x 10 x 10" can be completeness of /or from GOD. Building on what you have said, I read the following passage this morning on the events that transpire after the resurrection and rapture of the two witnesses in the Book of Revelations.
"At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven." (Rev 11:13)
So I was wondering, if the number "ten" has significance, what is the significance of "one-tenth"? Since the number of people killed, 7000, is 7 x 10 x 10 x 10, does the number imply a greater destruction or complete destruction of some people or area? There were "survivors" so not everyone is killed.
Pray you are having a safe trip to Camp Wood.
Scott
I appreciate your words and insights. I can see that 10 repeated 3 times is like the three witnesses who testify "Holy, Holy, Holy." So "10 x 10 x 10" can be completeness of /or from GOD. Building on what you have said, I read the following passage this morning on the events that transpire after the resurrection and rapture of the two witnesses in the Book of Revelations.
"At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven." (Rev 11:13)
So I was wondering, if the number "ten" has significance, what is the significance of "one-tenth"? Since the number of people killed, 7000, is 7 x 10 x 10 x 10, does the number imply a greater destruction or complete destruction of some people or area? There were "survivors" so not everyone is killed.
Pray you are having a safe trip to Camp Wood.
Scott
Thursday, January 29, 2009
More 10 stuff
Scott, thanks for your post. Your insight is such a blessing to me.
While reading your message, I was reminded of a sermon I heard many years ago. Doug Parsons (minister at GCR back in the 80s) mentioned the number 144,000 from Revelation 14. I remember him pointing out that the number was 12 x 12 x 10 x 10 x 10. That is 12 (OT tribes of Israel) and 12 (NT apostles representing the church) along with the complete number 10 repeated three times. So, 144,000 represents all of God's people from all of the ages.
As a note, 6 is the Adversary's number so 666 is "evil to the max." Any number repeated three times is an "ultimate" number. So, 10 x 10 x 10 is "complete" completeness. That makes no sense to a mathmetician--like giving 110%--it's illogical. However, since when has God been logical?
We are off to Camp Wood tomorrow for Ivan's service. Pray for peace and safety.
Grace and Peace...
Bryan
While reading your message, I was reminded of a sermon I heard many years ago. Doug Parsons (minister at GCR back in the 80s) mentioned the number 144,000 from Revelation 14. I remember him pointing out that the number was 12 x 12 x 10 x 10 x 10. That is 12 (OT tribes of Israel) and 12 (NT apostles representing the church) along with the complete number 10 repeated three times. So, 144,000 represents all of God's people from all of the ages.
As a note, 6 is the Adversary's number so 666 is "evil to the max." Any number repeated three times is an "ultimate" number. So, 10 x 10 x 10 is "complete" completeness. That makes no sense to a mathmetician--like giving 110%--it's illogical. However, since when has God been logical?
We are off to Camp Wood tomorrow for Ivan's service. Pray for peace and safety.
Grace and Peace...
Bryan
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Ten, A More Notible Number in Scripture Than You May Think
I may use this blog to start dumping all the different Revelation thoughts I have been thinking lately. This is not the beginning of that process. Instead, it is a summation of some thoughts I have been expressing at times about the number ten.
Most people may not have noted this fact in scripture, but ten is often a significant symbolic number. It indicates both completeness, like the number seven, and can represent a larger collective group. For example, the ten plagues on Egypt were targeted at the ten most important "gods" in the Egyptian society and come to represent the complete judgement of GOD against the nation of Egypt. In the same way, the ten commandments become the cover page representing all the commandments given by the LORD to Moses, which by tradition, total 613. The ten spies who rejected the Promised Land, come to represent the rejection of the Promised Land by the entire nation of Israel. The ten kings of Revelations (Rev 17:12), which are the same as the ten horns in Daniel (Dan 7:7, 7:24) and the ten toes on the statue in King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Dan 2:27-45), come to represent the entire world turning against the people of GOD under the authority of the Beast.
After the reign of these kings will come the promise of a time spoken by the prophet Zechariah…
This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'" (Zech 8:23)
"Ten men from all languages and nations" becomes a picture of the entire world turning to the LORD in the days when the MESSIAH reigns on HIS THRONE.
The number "ten" takes on significance early in Genesis when Abraham intercedes with the LORD for his nephew (Lot), in particular, and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah in general.
Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing — to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake." (Gen 18:23-26)
Ultimately, the LORD told Abraham that HE would "spare the whole place" (Gen 18:26), for the sake of ten (Gen 18:33). Ten righteous people became the number sufficient to intercede with and move the CREATOR of the entire universe to spare an otherwise wicked place. Originating from this story, or the consequence of judgement on the nation for the ten wicked spies, ten became the number of a Jewish "minyan," which is necessary for holding a synagogue.
In the context of this understanding, the number of people on Noah’s Ark, only eight, now takes on new significance. If ten righteous people had lived on the earth, would GOD have saved the entire world? We know, from the genealogies given in the Bible, that Methuselah (Gen 5:27) died in the same year that the flood occurred. Did Methuselah die because of his sin or did the LORD sustain Methuselah, along with another, to maintain the minimum number of ten righteous people to preserve the earth until the Ark could be completed. We receive a clue from Enoch, the father of Methuselah and a prophet (Jude 14), who named his son Methuselah, which literally means, "When he dies it will comes." "It" would appear to be a reference to the flood that would occur in the year Methuselah died. It appears that Enoch saw the coming judgment on the earth over 900 years before the flood came.
What a powerful thought, just ten people can save the entire world. Think about this concept, the world might be spared judgment because you and nine other people are found to live righteously in JESUS CHRIST. Right now, the BFS group has ten members including our children who live at home with us. What an impact we can have on the world. I believe that the ultimate judgments of GOD on the earth might be delayed until there are less than ten righteous people in the world. Such a belief is consistent with the concept of a "rapture" or a gathering of GOD’S people (such as to the desert) away from the world to permit GOD to judge the world.
Shalom
Most people may not have noted this fact in scripture, but ten is often a significant symbolic number. It indicates both completeness, like the number seven, and can represent a larger collective group. For example, the ten plagues on Egypt were targeted at the ten most important "gods" in the Egyptian society and come to represent the complete judgement of GOD against the nation of Egypt. In the same way, the ten commandments become the cover page representing all the commandments given by the LORD to Moses, which by tradition, total 613. The ten spies who rejected the Promised Land, come to represent the rejection of the Promised Land by the entire nation of Israel. The ten kings of Revelations (Rev 17:12), which are the same as the ten horns in Daniel (Dan 7:7, 7:24) and the ten toes on the statue in King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Dan 2:27-45), come to represent the entire world turning against the people of GOD under the authority of the Beast.
After the reign of these kings will come the promise of a time spoken by the prophet Zechariah…
This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'" (Zech 8:23)
"Ten men from all languages and nations" becomes a picture of the entire world turning to the LORD in the days when the MESSIAH reigns on HIS THRONE.
The number "ten" takes on significance early in Genesis when Abraham intercedes with the LORD for his nephew (Lot), in particular, and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah in general.
Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing — to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake." (Gen 18:23-26)
Ultimately, the LORD told Abraham that HE would "spare the whole place" (Gen 18:26), for the sake of ten (Gen 18:33). Ten righteous people became the number sufficient to intercede with and move the CREATOR of the entire universe to spare an otherwise wicked place. Originating from this story, or the consequence of judgement on the nation for the ten wicked spies, ten became the number of a Jewish "minyan," which is necessary for holding a synagogue.
In the context of this understanding, the number of people on Noah’s Ark, only eight, now takes on new significance. If ten righteous people had lived on the earth, would GOD have saved the entire world? We know, from the genealogies given in the Bible, that Methuselah (Gen 5:27) died in the same year that the flood occurred. Did Methuselah die because of his sin or did the LORD sustain Methuselah, along with another, to maintain the minimum number of ten righteous people to preserve the earth until the Ark could be completed. We receive a clue from Enoch, the father of Methuselah and a prophet (Jude 14), who named his son Methuselah, which literally means, "When he dies it will comes." "It" would appear to be a reference to the flood that would occur in the year Methuselah died. It appears that Enoch saw the coming judgment on the earth over 900 years before the flood came.
What a powerful thought, just ten people can save the entire world. Think about this concept, the world might be spared judgment because you and nine other people are found to live righteously in JESUS CHRIST. Right now, the BFS group has ten members including our children who live at home with us. What an impact we can have on the world. I believe that the ultimate judgments of GOD on the earth might be delayed until there are less than ten righteous people in the world. Such a belief is consistent with the concept of a "rapture" or a gathering of GOD’S people (such as to the desert) away from the world to permit GOD to judge the world.
Shalom
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