Wed, Apr 2nd - 11:05AM

Fri, Dec 13th - 5:45PM

Fri, Dec 13th - 5:43PM

STUDY # 3

GOD LOVES YOU  +  JESUS DIED FOR YOU

Thu, Dec 12th - 9:13PM

STUDY # 4

JUDAISM 

INTRODUCTION

SCRIPTURE

  All Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3: 16).

      God does not want anyone to perish (spend eternity in the fiery lake of burning sulfur). He wants everyone to repent (spend eternity with him in the Holy City, the new Jerusalem (2 Peter 3: 9; Revelation 21: 1 - 8). 

     Jesus taught that more people will spend eternity with Satan in the fiery lake of burning sulfur than with God in the Holy City, the new Jerusalem (Matthew 7: 13 - 14; Revelation 21: 1 - 8).

       Who is Jesus? He is the Alpha and Omega, meaning that he has always existed and always will exist as the Almighty. We read: I am the Alpha and the Omega who is , and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1: 8). 

       He is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9: 6). 

       Everything that has been created in the universe has been created through him (John 1: 10).

       Jesus is the light of the world and he give light to every man (John 1: 9 - 10).

 Jesus is the Savior of mankind (John 3: 16; 1 John 4: 14).

 Jesus is Immanuel which means God with us (Matt. 1: 23).

 Jesus is the lamp that will give light to the inhabitants of the Holy City, the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21: 23).

       Jesus will give rewards.  Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done (Revelation 2: 12).

 When Jesus comes again, he will come as the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 17: 14). He will judge the living and the dead. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing  and his kingdom ... (2 Tim. 4: 1).

 Please read what God said to the Israelites through Moses concerning Jesus:  I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account (Deuteronomy 18: 18 - 19).

 ANCIENT (BIBLICAL) JUDAISM

   Since there is so much confusion in the minds of many concerning Judaism, the Lord gave me a study to share with the Jewish people.

  THE FIRST COVENANT

    God made the first covenant with the Israelites. Under this covenant they were his chosen people. He ordered them to make a sanctuary for Him. Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you (Exod. 25: 8 - 9).

  The tabernacle  was used for the offering up of sacrifices but it was also used for worship and the reading of Scripture. When the Israelites entered the promised land tabernacle worship was replaced with temple worship.

  Judaism called for animal sacrifice. Once a year on the day of atonement, the high priest went into the Holy of Holies with the blood of animals to atone for his sins and the sins of the Jewish people.

  When Jesus breathed his last as he hung on the cross, the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. This was clearly a supernatural act (Matt. 27: 50 - 51). This miracle brought the first covenant to an end as well as Biblical Judaism. The day of atonement was gone forever.

  The new covenant was now in effect. By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear (Heb. 8: 13).

    There is absolutely no scriptural justification for the practice of Judaism following the death of Jesus, since his death provided mankind’s redemption (1 Peter 1: 18 - 20; 1John 1: 7 - 10; Ephesians 1: 7).

  For you know that God ransomed you from the empty life you received from your fore parents. The ransom he paid was not with things that could perish. He used the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. God chose him before the creation of the world and he has revealed it to us at this time (1 Peter 1: 18 - 20).

  We read in Scripture:  If we walk in the light as God is in the light we have fellowship with other believers and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we state that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves. We are not telling the truth. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives (1 John 1: 7 - 10). 

 The apostle Paul informed the Ephesians: In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding (Ephesians 1: 7).

  Those who were faithful to the first covenant had their sins covered. They did not receive salvation because the blood of animals could not wash away sins.

      Those who were unfaithful to the first covenant died in their sins.

      What will happen to those Israelites who had their sins covered? The precious blood of Jesus washed away the sins of those Israelites whose sins were covered. We read in the Book of Hebrews: When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here , he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter through the blood of animals. He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood. Thereby obtaining mankind’s redemption. … Because of this Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance - now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant (Heb. 9: 11, 12, 15).

  The apostle Paul addressed the Colossian church as follows: For God was pleased to have all his fulness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1: 19 - 20).

  THE NEW COVENANT

    There was no longer a need for the blood of animals, a sanctuary and a high priest. God provided his own Son to die on the cross for the sins of the world. Under the new covenant, believers both Jews and Gentiles are God’s chosen people. There is no ethnic distinction, no status distinction and no gender distinction. The apostle Paul made this clear to believers in the Galatian church. He wrote: You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile), slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3: 26 - 29).

  MODERN (MAN FORMULATED) JUDAISM

        People who practiced Judaism since the death of Jesus and died practicing Judaism, died in their sins. If you are practicing Judaism now and you die practicing it, you, too, will die in your sins. 

       On the day of judgment, all those who died in their sins and those who are living and practicing Judaism and all unbelievers will be numbered with the unrighteous. They will be standing to the left of Jesus (Matthew 25: 33). They will hear him say to them:

  Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25: 41). 

 The righteous will be standing on his right (Matthew 25: 33).  They will hear him say to them:

 Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world (Matthew 25: 34).

  WHAT ABOUT ISRAEL?

   The prophet Isaiah penned the following : The Redeemer will come to Zion to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the LORD (Isa. 59: 20). 

    The prophet Zechariah paints a bleak picture for the Israelites. The Lord declares: Two-thirds of Israel will be struck down and perish. The remaining third will pass through the fire and will call on my name. ... They will call on me and I will answer them. The Lord will say: “They are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God (Zech. 13: 9).

  If Israel repents, God will relent. Remember Nineveh! When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened (Jonah 3: 10).

  YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

    Jesus loves you. He died for you. He wants you to spend eternity with him. Will you confess your sins, repent of them  and receive him into your heart?  Jesus said to Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin - the Jewish Ruling Council, You must be born again to get into heaven ( John 3: 3). Please read John 3: 3 - 18.

A PRAYER TO BE SAVED/TO BE BORN AGAIN

    Almighty God, I thank you that you sent your one and only Son, Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of the world. Lord Jesus, I thank you that you died on the cross for my sins. Almighty God, I believe that you raised him from the dead as the Bible declares. Jesus, I confess my sins to you. I repent of them. Please forgive me I pray.  Jesus, I now receive you into my heart as my Savior/Messiah and LORD. Please fulfill your plan for my life through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

NOTE -   (italic - mine)   blue - scriptural quotation  purple - scriptural paraphrase red - scriptural quotation (emphasis) 

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS 

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 CopyrightⒸ 2024 by Rev. Joseph E. Mahabir (B.A Hons.  (York University), M.Ed. (University of Toronto), Divinity M. A. (magna cum laude), (Regent University), Virginia Beach, VA.

"Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright c 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers."   

Mon, Dec 9th - 5:13PM

STUDY #  5

 IS THERE SCRIPTURAL JUSTIFICATION FOR THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE? 

   Absolutely none! A number of scholars, authors, pastors and Bible Colleges teach the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. At this time, it is good to ask what will be the function of the temple? 

       Premillennialists are dogmatic about the rebuilding of the temple. Who are premillennialists? Premillennialists are those people who believe and teach that the second coming of our Lord will be followed by his earthly thousand - year reign.

      Dr. Charles F. Stanley wrote concerning the Antichrist. " He will bring great persecution on Israel (Dan. 7: 25) and even establish a center of worship in the temple in Jerusalem " (2 Thess. 2: 3 - 4) (p. 283, Handbook For Christian Living).

  There are two things wrong with Dr. Stanley's statement. Firstly, Daniel 7; 25 does not refer to Israel. This is what that Scripture states, " ... The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time" and secondly, there will be no use for a future temple.

 

      The setting up of the Antichrist in God's temple (2 Thess. 2: 4) could be used symbolically with reference to Antiochus Epiphanes. "It set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host; it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of his sanctuary was brought low. Because of rebellion, the host of the saints and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground" (Dan. 8: 11 - 12).

 Could the apostle Paul be saying that the Antichrist will be as despicable as Antiochus Epiphanes? After Antiochus Epiphanes conquered Jerusalem, he set himself up in the temple proclaiming himself to be equal to God. He abolished the daily sacrifice and erected an altar to a pagan god. History records that he sacrificed a sow on the altar. Judas Maccabeus retook Jerusalem and tore down the pagan altar. The temple was rededicated.

   "Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), the king of Syria, captured Jerusalem in 167 BC and desecrated the Temple by offering the sacrifice of a pig on an altar to Zeus (the Abomination of Desolation). In seeking to prohibit Judaism and Hellenize the Jews, Antiochus forbade their religious practices and commanded that copies of the Law be burned, all of which is related by Josephus in the Antiquities of the Jews (XII.5.4)."

  The apostle Peter writes concerning  the apostle Paul: " His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction" (2 Pet. 3: 16).

 Is "he sets himself up in God's temple proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thess. 2: 4), one of the apostle's hard things to understand?

WHAT WAS THE FUNCTION OF THE TEMPLE UNDER THE FIRST COVENANT?

   1) A dwelling place for God on earth (between the cherubim on the ark of the covenant).

 2) A place for meeting

   3) A place for offering sacrifices

   4) A place for worship

   5) A place where the high priest met with God once a year to atone for his sins and the sins of the Jewish people

   6) A place to hear the reading of the Scriptures

     An earthly high priest was essential for atoning for his sins and the sins of the Jewish people under the first covenant. Under the new covenant, we do not have high priests. Each born again believer confesses his or her sins to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives (1 John 1: 9 - 10).

 Jesus is our heavenly high priest. " Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess" (Heb. 4: 14).

 Under the new covenant, believers are God's temple. "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you" (1 Cor. 3: 16).

 Under the new covenant, we do not offer sacrifices. Our Lord Jesus Christ was the final sacrifice. UNDER THE NEW COVENANT WE OFFER A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING.

   There will be no function for a future temple.

 Under the new covenant, community of believers have buildings where they meet for worship and other purposes. A born again believer's body is God's temple. Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you (1 Cor. 3: 16).

 

 

 WHAT IS A COVENANT?    STUDY # 6

 

   A covenant is a solemn agreement between God and man. God initiates the covenant.

 THE FIRST COVENANT 

      God made the first covenant with the Israelites. Under this covenant, they were God's chosen people. The covenant utilized laws, regulations, feasts, holy days, a Sabbath day observance, animal sacrifices, a human high priest and a tabernacle for worship. Tabernacle worship was replaced with temple worship when the Israelites entered the promise land. God gave the Israelites the Sabbath as a sign between them and himself (Ezek. 20: 10 - 20). God found fault with the people because of their unfaithfulness and he promised to make a new covenant with them, both to Israel and Judah (Jer. 31: 31 - 34; Heb. 8: 8). Although the new covenant was promised to Israel and Judah, Scripture asserts that the new covenant is for the world.

     God loved the world so much that he sent his only Son to die on the cross for its sins. Any one who believes in him will receive eternal life and will not go to hell  (John 3: 16). 

THE NEW COVENANT 

       When our Lord Jesus Christ breathed his last "the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom" exposing the Holy of Holies. No longer was there a need for a human high priest and animal sacrifices. Our Lord's death was the final sacrifice. The new covenant was then in effect thus making the first covenant and all the practices that were associated with it obsolete, including Judaism. Under the new covenant, anyone, Jew or Gentile who receives Jesus Christ as Savior/Messiah becomes a child of God. 

   All who received Jesus, all who believed in his name, he enabled them to become children of God (John 1: 12).

   The apostle Peter wrote to Christians who were scattered throughout the Roman world. 

  "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Pet. 2: 9).

   The apostle Paul informed the Galatians:

 You have become sons of God because of your faith in Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no distinction because of your background or gender, you are one in Jesus. If you have received Jesus as your Savior then you are Abraham's descendants and heirs in keeping with the promise (Gal. 3: 26 - 29).

 As children of God we are indwelt by God's Holy Spirit. 

    The apostle Paul writing to Corinthian believers stated:

   I wish to remind you that you are God's temple and that His spirit lives in you (1 Cor. 3: 16).

 Since believers are sealed with God's Holy Spirit (Eph. 1: 13 - 14); we can live lives that are pleasing to God by manifesting the fruit of the Spirit in our daily walk.

   The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There is no law associated with the fruit (Gal. 5: 22 - 23).

    We can also live lives that are displeasing to God and in so doing grieve the Holy Spirit. 

  Born again believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption. They are exhorted not to grieve Him (Eph. 4: 30). 

A WARNING TO BELIEVERS 

      The apostle wrote to the Galatians:

  If anyone observes a law and does not continue to observe everything written in the Book of the Law, he/she is under a curse (Gal. 3: 10).

  When you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, you become children of God, for those who were baptized into Christ have been clothed in Christ.

   Under the new covenant there is no ethnic, status or gender distinction because believers are all one in Christ. Anyone who belongs to Christ is a seed of Abraham and therefore heirs according to the promise (Gal. 3: 26 - 29). 

     The Colossians had strict counsel from the apostle Paul:

  Do not allow anyone judge you by what you eat or drink or regarding a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath Day. These were only a shadow. The reality is found in Chris  (Col. 2: 16 - 17). 

   The new covenant is based on faith and faith alone.

  Christ became a curse for us and therefore redeemed us from the curse of the law.  He did this that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Him, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit (Gal. 3: 13, 14).

    As children of God, how should we live?

  1) proclaim the death of our LORD by engaging in Holy Communion (1 Cor. 11: 26)

  2) do the good works which God has prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2: 10) 

  3) live holy lives (Heb. 12: 14)

  Make an effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Heb. 12: 14).

  NOTE - (italic - mine) blue -  scriptural quotation  purple - scriptural paraphrase 

CopyrightⒸ 2023 by Rev. Joseph E. Mahabir (B.A Hons.  (York University), M.Ed. (University of Toronto), Divinity M. A. (magna cum laude), (Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA).

  "Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright c 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers."

THE RAPTURE   STUDY # 7

   What is the rapture? The rapture is:

  1) The gathering of people before Jesus (Matt. 25: 32).

   2) The gathering of people to Jesus (2 Thess. 2: 1). 

  3) The catching up of people in  the clouds to meet Jesus (1 Thess. 4: 17). 

 4) Appearing with Christ in glory (Col. 3: 4). 

 

  5) The gathering of our Lord's elect (Matt. 24: 29 - 31). 

  The word rapture is not found in the Scriptures. It is derived from the Latin verb "rapio" which is used in the Latin Bible. It means seize, snatch or catch up. Many books have been written about the rapture. Theories abound.

   They are: 

  1) The pretribulation 

  2) The midtribulation

  3) The prewrath 

  4) The posttribulation (The last day, the end of the age) 

    Of all the rapture theories, the pretribulation is the most popular. A number of Bible Colleges teach the theory and many ministries preach it. But, is it scriptural? Satan did not stop with Adam and Eve. Lies! lies! lies! The pretribulation, midtribulation and prewrath rapture theories are BIG LIES. The pretribulation theory had its origin in 1830. A woman, Margaret Mc Donald, in a church in Scotland pastored by Edward Irving, in an utterance claimed that there will be a "secret rapture of the church before the Great Tribulation." The concept was spread by John Darby, a pastor and author, and it was kept alive by the Scofield Reference Bible.

     Today, all over the globe, pastors, authors and Bible teachers feed believers with the BIG LIE of a pretribulation rapture by falsely referencing 1 Thessalonians 4: 16 - 17. These verses describe future activities but they do not state when they will occur. The apostle Peter informs us that there will be one future coming of our LORD and it will take place on the day of judgment (THE DAY OF THE LORD - THE DAY OF GOD), thus proving that the second coming and the coming down from heaven for the rapture are the same event (Matt. 25: 31 - 46; 1 Thess. 4: 16 - 17; 2 Pet. 3: 3 - 13). 

     The apostle's teaching proves unequivocally that the pretribulation, midtribulation and the prewrath rapture theories are false. The pretribulation, midtribulation and prewrath rapture theories are Satanic. They reject the teaching of our LORD and his apostles and that of Dr. Luke. 

   Those who preach, teach or believe in a pretribulation, midtribulation or prewrath rapture, all state that the righteous will go into eternity before the unrighteous. But the one whose voice will cause the dead to rise and whose command will make the rapture happen, taught that all people will go into eternity at the same time. 

   When our Lord Jesus Christ comes with his angels, he will sit gloriously on his throne  (Matt. 25: 31).  ... He will put the righteous on his right and the unrighteous on his left. 

 He will say to the righteous: 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world" (Matt. 25: 34).

  And to the unrighteous he will say: 'Depart from me, you who are cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels' " (Matt. 25: 41). 

  Our LORD taught that the resurrection will take place at the last day, thus making the last day the time of the rapture.

    "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day" (John 6: 39). 

    The apostle Paul informed the Thessalonians that the rapture will occur on the day of the Lord after "the man of lawlessness" (the Antichrist) is revealed (NIV). 

 Regarding  the coming of our Lord  and our gathering to him, do not be deceived by a prophecy, report or letter as coming from us advising that the day of the Lord has already come. Do not allow anyone to trick you by any means. Two things must happen before that day arrives. There will be a rebellion and the Antichrist will be revealed (2 Thess. 2: 1 - 3). 

    The apostle Paul shared a mystery with the Corinthian believers. The resurrection, the transformation and the rapture will happen after the last trumpet is sounded.

  Pay attention, I share a mystery with you. We will not all die, but we will be changed in a moment when the last trumpet is sounded. When the trumpet sounds, the dead will be raised never to die again and the living will be transformed (1 Corinthians 15: 51 - 52). 

      The apostle John stated that the time for judging the dead will be after the sounding of the seventh trumpet. Since there will be one resurrection of all the dead (John 5: 28 - 29), therefore, the rapture will take place after the sounding of the seventh trumpet. 

    "The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great - and for destroying those who destroy the earth" (Rev. 11: 18). 

    Dr. Luke informs us that our LORD must remain in heaven until the time when God will restore everything. 

    "He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets" (Acts 3: 21).

     Since God will restore everything on the day of judgment by creating a new heaven and a new earth (2 Pet. 3: 13), therefore, our LORD will remain in heaven until the day of judgment. Thus making the second coming and the coming down from heaven for the rapture a single event (Matt. 25: 31, 1 Thess 4: 16 - 17).

 The rapture will take place when our LORD sends out his angels to gather his elect  immediately after the tribulation  (Matt. 24: 29 - 31).

 The rapture will take place when our LORD comes in his glory (Matt. 25: 31 - 32).

   The rapture will take place when our LORD is revealed from heaven in blazing fire (2 Thess. 1: 7).

      On the authority of the word of God, we conclude that the rapture will take place: 

       1) At the last day (John 6: 39). 

      2) On the day of the Lord (2 Thess. 1 - 2; 2 Pet. 3: 10).

      3) After the last trumpet (1 Cor. 15: 51 - 52).

      4) After the seventh trumpet (Rev. 11: 18). 

      5) On the day of judgment (2 Pet. 3: 7). 

  6) Immediately after the tribulation (Matt. 24: 29 - 31).

     7) When the Son of Man comes in his glory (Matt. 25: 31 - 32).

 8) When our Lord is revealed from heaven in blazing fire (2 Thess. 1: 7).

   " ... Come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22: 20). 

  NOTE - (italic - mine) scriptural quotation  scriptural paraphrase

  "Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright c 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers." 

 CopyrightⒸ 2000 by Joseph E. Mahabir (B.A Hons. (York University), M.Ed. (University of Toronto), Divinity M. A. (magna cum laude, (Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA).

PLEASE CHECK THESE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

http://blogs.christiansunite.com/mahabir     youtube.com/user/777JEM333