Get ready for one explosive lesson.  It all focuses on Gen. 12:1-3 ...

Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." (NASB Gen 12:1-3)

If there is one place in the TORAH, if there is one instance in the Old Testament where God proclaims "good news" for all of us, it is right here. I normally do not rely on Orthodox Rabbinic commentary to help me understand the Bible. Too many times rabbis interpret the Bible in ways that are not based on the historical or cultural context or make up explanations that they need to deal with a scriptural difficulties or issues too tough to answer rationally.  It is like the miracle of the oil at Chanukah.  It never happened.  I am not stating my opinion.  I am just telling you what scholarly Jewish sources teach.  We Christians fall into the trap of assuming the Orthodox rabbis are THE resource for understanding the Bible from a Jewish point of view.  Far from it.  For example the Orthodox say the 1st temple was destroyed in 423 B.C. based upon their personal interpretation of some verses in Daniel. However, they are wrong.  Archaeology and history prove the temple was destroyed in 586 B.C.  So, we need to be very very careful when accessing Orthodox Rabbinic Bible commentary. Here's a link to one of those sources to help you understand that the miracle of the oil never happened on Hanukkah. 

Link - https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/transforming-hanukkah/

However, Rabbinic commentary is not always so off; that is not always the case.  I do access rabbinic commentary, not as my primary source, but I need to glean from their ideas and thoughts.  In the case of Genesis 12:1-3 their commentary blew me away as I think it will you.  Their contributions to understanding these three verses are truly amazing and show us that the foundation of the New Testament is the TORAH.  Here we will see, thanks to the rabbis, the gospel of the Kingdom, their view that this is a new start for all mankind, and that the Hebrew of these verses gave Paul insights into his picture of us Gentiles being "grafted in." 

We recall the verse ... 

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree ... (Rom 11:17)

Here's a picture of branches grafted into an olive tree ...

Here's an article you may find interesting that goes into the Hebrew of these verses that relate to the Gospel, the Good News, that God inspired Moses to write about.

Link – https://moedtorah.blogspot.com/2012/10/torah-portion-lech-lecha-blessed-and.html

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&st=8kag3nil&dl=0

In part 2 of lesson 3 we will deal with a very important topic.  Today there are well meaning pseudo scholars teaching Bible lessons on the radio, podcasts, videos on You Tube, etc. and are 1) incorrectly giving meaning to words or verses since they ignore the Hebrew textual context and the Hebrew conceptual meaning of words, and 2) using improper means to force the Bible to say something it does not say so as to agree with the point they are making, and 3) thus resulting in misleading literally thousands of normal everyday believers around the world. 

In lesson 1 we talked about an issue highlighted in the verses below from the King James Version …

Make thee an ark (Borrowed from the ancient Egyptian - H8392 têvâh תֵּבָה) of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. (Gen 6:14)

And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark (H8392 têvâh תֵּבָה) of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. (Exo 2:3)

And they shall make an ark (H727 ârôn אָרֹן ) of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.  (Exo 25:10)

We can obviously see in the verses above the two distinct words in the King James in Hebrew that are translated as ARK.  In the first two verses the word ark us used for the ark Noah built and the “basket” or ark Moses was put in by his mother to keep him alive.  Moreover the Hebrew word TEVAH is an Egyptian word brought into the Hebrew.  Like the name Moses.  His name is not Hebrew but Egyptian.  The 3rd verse is the ark of the covenant. 

Clearly we have two separate words in Hebrew with two distinct conceptual meanings and in the textual context are not related to each other.  And yet there are well meaning Bible teachers who do not have the expertise to work in the Hebrew textual context and not the English textual context.  If they ignore the Hebrew textual context and teach the three arks are related; their lesson might prove to be cool and interesting but a lesson promoting misinterpretation and error. 

In this lesson we will show how a current so called Pre-Trib Rapture scholar ignores the Hebrew textual context and stays in the English ignoring the conceptual meaning of the Hebrew and how it is used in other verses, and to teach that Enoch was RAPTURED.  This teacher goes on to say that even Elijah was raptured.  This probably is a way this teacher wants to show that the Pre-Trip rapture is something even in the Torah and the Prophets. His point is that the Pre-Trib rapture was not something made up by a Scottish charismatic pastor in the late 19th century.  So, he must force the Bible to support his point.  The problem is this “well meaning” teacher is mistakenly leading us into error and does not even know they are misleading many into believing what the Bible does not say.   The issue is not the Pre-Trib rapture, but how this well known so called scholar misuses the Hebrew to force the Bible to say something is does not to support his view of the veracity of the rapture. 

Also, in this lesson we will put the Torah into its historical context in the 15th century B.C. We will see how those Hebrews coming out of Egypt were hearing explosive ideas as per their culture from God Himself through the pen of Moses.  We will see that the Bible is an ancient source for true Women’s Liberation.  In our culture today there are those women, who may even be Christian, who criticize the word of God as being anti-women or misogynistic.  Once again this shows the major lack in how the church teaches the Bible; the church ignores the historical context of the Bible.  If the church had people properly trained in seminaries and Bible institutions, we’d have a proper understanding that the Bible was written to the Hebrews 3400 years ago and was way ahead of its time then. It is as if the Bible, God’s Torah, was the first document that promoted Women’s Liberation in a Godly sense.  In chapter 1 and 2 of Exodus the theme song for the key characters in these two chapters is the song sung by Helen Reddy, “I Am Woman.” Yes!!  Shiphra, Puah, Yocheved, Miriam, and Pharaoh's daughter - they stand as those made in the image of God and not in the shadow of men and God shows that woman is one the same level as men.  If you recall, man was made out of mud.  But, in the Hebrew, woman was built and constructed almost as if there was a special design.  As soon as SHE was created God looked and finally said that it was VERY GOOD and stopped creating.  Way to go girls!!

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

EPISODE 2 PART 2

It is highly recommended that if you have not watched the previous videos that you do so before watching this 4th lesson.  Each builds on what was taught in previous lessons.  To easily access the entire series go to the website and once there click on the words OTHER RESOURCES on top of the page on the right side.  A small menu will open and then click on TRUTH NUGGETS: THE RAPTURE RESTORED.  This will open up the series page - just slide down with your "mouse."  There you'll find links to all the lessons and many other links for your continued study.  Below is the link to the website ...

www.LightofMenorah.org

Many know the famous verse ...

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.  (1Th 4:16-17)

This seems to be the primary verse end times experts use to justify the "rapture."  It is in the letter that Paul wrote in Corinth in and around 50 A.D. to the Messianic congregation in Thessalonica.  When Paul wrote this letter there were NO other books of the New Testament available; none of them had been written yet.  There are other very critical facts about this book that few Christians even consider.  In this vidcast (video podcast) we will now study this letter in its historical and its ancient cultural context.  Once we do the facts suggest that the so called rapture, as we understand it today, may not be what we think.  Matter of fact it suggests that the rapture should be renamed to the INGATHERING of Yahvay's elect, His chosen, at the last blast of the Great Shofar.  The rabbis teach that the righteous will then be gathered and then (in Hebrew  יקחך YEET-KA-CHE-KA H3947 ) brought or captured or seized by the Lord back to the Promised Land in the clouds.  They get this from ...

“Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows? For the coastlands shall hope for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from afar, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the Lord your God and for the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 60:8-9

This is from Deut. 30:1-4 where God predicts this amazing event that seems similar to the event as written by Paul in 1 Thess. 4:16-17.  Interesting.  Paul is a Torah expert.  It seems he is only trying to teaching the Gentile Romans and Greeks who worshiped Yahvay in the Jewish synagogue about what Jews knew as part of their culture; they knew of the good news that the Lord will gather them again, all Israel, and they will live in peace and safety forever.  

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name. They will forget their disgrace and all their treachery which they perpetrated against Me, when they live securely on their own land with no one to make them afraid. When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall be sanctified through them in the sight of the many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer. I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel," declares the Lord GOD. 

So come and join us in this interesting study.  Come and join us to consider a realistic and viable alternative as we restore the Rapture to its Jewish foundation, its Torah foundation, to the Ingathering of the Elect (Chosen) of the Lord.  

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? What's his background? Why should I listen to him? Check his background at this link -

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

The events of the Tower of Babel story are more applicable to us today than we may have imagined.  It is probably something we have not been taught or even considered.  For one thing, the people did not just build a tower.  They also built a city.  They built a city and a tower.  This is huge and must be taken into account.  What's this all saying?

Also, as the events unfold there is no mention of God.  These people probably are not evil.  The Bible does not say they are evil.  But, these people do not seem to be one's who believe in God.  Verses 1-4 they seem to be godless. God shows up finally in verse 5 when He came and saw not just the tower, but the tower and the city.  God sees both.  The tower is not the focus but the city and the tower.   Some Bible teachers will say God was angry with the people and what they did.  Huh?  There is no mention of God being angry.  But God sees that they have one language and they are one people and they will not easily be stopped from doing whatever they wish if this continues.  God is saying this is dangerous.  Huh?  Why?  Why is is dangerous.  Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that humankind never changed after the flood.  In Gen. 6:5 and again after the flood in Gen. 8:21, God tells us through Moses' pen that the imagination of men's hearts is to do evil continually.  This idea is seemingly repeated here. 

Is God warning us that mankind as one people with one language and one worldview without God will lead to uncontrolled evil?  Is this perhaps and prediction of the end of days when many will be without God and united as one people and one godless worldview?  Let's go see.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&st=8kag3nil&dl=0

We are about to study three awesome verses, Exod. 22:18-20.  All three refer to commonly accepted practices connected to the immoral and sinful pagan culture in the ancient Near East.  All three demand death sentences.  What יהוה‎ Yahvay our Lord is teaching us is His total rejection of polytheism and its associated abhorrent practices and rituals.  In essence the Lord is teaching the Hebrews then coming out of Egypt that they are to be HOLY.  Not the way the church translates holy as without sin or being righteous before God or holy being pure of heart or other ways.  The church again dismisses the Hebrew and loses the real idea as to what יהוה‎ Yahvay our Lord is getting at.  The Hebrew word used for God wanting His chosen, His elect to be holy is the word קָדֹשׁ or kadosh H6918.  It gives us the idea of being separate or ones set apart or those who are distinctly and uniquely different than others.  The Lord wants His chosen, His elect, His people to live in such a way that they are not like the pagan polytheists around them.  He wants His chosen to be His, set apart, ones who live so that all know they belong to יהוה‎ Yahvay.  We remember when He said in His word, in the Torah ...

"For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy." (Lev 11:44-45)

We are in His image and thus we are to exhibit those characteristics of our Father.  He is קָדֹשׁ kadosh and we are also to be קָדֹשׁ kadosh.  This idea carries us into the New Testament.  If we are to be disciples of Yeshua, talmideem of Rav Yeshua, then we are to be like Him.  Jesus said that He is not of the world and neither are we to be of the world.  We are in the world but we are separate, set apart, distinctly different, or not part of the world.  Jesus is only teaching from the only scripture they had when He was here, the Hebrew scriptures or the Old Testament and the תּוֹרָה Torah, the first five books of the Bible, considered the foundation of all of God's word in Jesus' day, when He said ...

"I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  (Joh 17:14-16)

So as we study these verses in Exodus we see they are God's intention for them THEN and for us NOW since through the CROSS and the BLOOD of the LAMB, we have become "grafted in" to the olive tree of Israel and through Jesus have become יהוה‎ Yahvay's chosen, His elect, His sons and His daughters.  

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

This lesson is in two parts.  There is just simply too much material in these verses, Exod. 2:1-10, that I had to break it up into two sessions.

Our focus is on the birth of Moses and we will study five distinct perspectives on Moses’ birth.  In this first part we will return to the date of 1446 B.C. and use it as the date Moses and the Israelites left Egypt after the first Passover meal and the night the first born throughout the land of Egypt were killed.  As we continue with the Exodus Torah study I will provide archaeological support for the date of 1446 B.C.  We will see clearly that this date that many of you have heard in sermons, Bible studies or in your own readings, is the date of the Exodus.  You will be surprised where this date comes from and how real archaeology supports it.

We will also consider some amazing Jewish legends associated with the birth of Moses.  In Jewish thought Moses was considered the first redeemer and he prefigures the final redeemer, the ultimate redeemer, the Messiah. 

Also we will study the word “ark.”  Noah built an ark and Moses was put in an ark (see the King James and the Jewish JPS versions of the Bible) or a basket in the New American Standard and ESV versions and the ark of the covenant.  Some actually teach all three of these “arks” are related.  Matter of fact there is a Jewish website that teaches Torah and I just happened to read their lead rabbi relate Noah’s ark, the basket or ark Moses was put in, and the ark of the covenant.  We will see that they can’t be related at all.  This is proven by Jewish sources and supported by a simple solution - Hebrew.  We are dealing with the textual context of the Hebrew and NOT the textual context in English. 

I mentioned in this lesson that I would provide some links to enhance your study.  The first link is to a video showing suggested possibilities of what was the Star of Bethlehem found in Matt. 2:1-2.  The next links are to articles on the Hyksos and the New Kingdom of Egypt that starts with the 18th Dynasty.  These I am sure will provide some insights and enhance this lesson.

Link to the video on the star –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMMkWvGz9jI

Link to the article on the New Kingdom –  https://www.ancient.eu/New_Kingdom_of_Egypt/

Link to the article on the Hyksos –  https://www.ancient.eu/Hyksos/

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Lesson 2 Part 1

In this video Bible study we go back 1000’s of years to investigate a prediction made by the Lord through Moses near the place called Shittim (pronounced SHH TEEM). 

It was the camping place of the Hebrews just before Moses' death and then the crossing of the Jordan.  This prediction seems to connect to Jesus’ prediction that He, Jesus, the Messiah (known as the “son of man” when He was here the first time) would gather His elect or His “chosen” in Matt. 24:29-31.  Could it be that the “rapture,” that is discussed and debated today, has been named incorrectly?  Is it possible that the rapture is really the ingathering of Israel as predicted in Deut. 30:1-5, Isa. 11:12, 27:13, 56:8 (Gentiles gathered?), 66:20 and Ezek. 20:34, 20:41, 37:12, 37:21 ?  When we study the Bible in its historical context, when we focus on the words in the ancient Greek and Hebrew, when we consider the ancient Jewish culture of Jesus’ day and Paul’s day, it seems probable that the ingathering of Israel as predicted by the Lord, יהוה Yahvay, is what is mistakenly called the “rapture” in the 21st century. 

This begins to make sense in that God over and over again says He will gather His chosen people, Israel, in the end times into the land He promised Abraham.  It is the land Israel has never ever controlled.  Solomon was close in his rule and reign.  Once Israel is “gathered in” they will live securely in peace forever as the chosen of יהוה Yahvay, Adonai, the Lord.  Paul teaches that in the end times all Israel will be saved.  ALL.  Paul does not separate non Christian religious Jews from Jewish or Gentile Christians.  Paul even teaches we Gentile believers are “grafted in” to Israel and become joint inheritors of the promises of God.  Paul does not separate the non Christian Jews from Christians.  He says under the Lord’s inspiration, we are one family.  So does the Lord.  Jesus says in John 10 that He is the Good Shepherd and His Jewish disciples know this means Jesus is claiming to be the Shepherd of Israel as found in Ezekiel 34.  The Hebrew Scriptures was all they had.  But Jesus said there is another flock He will bring as well implying us Gentiles.  And Jesus will make them one flock with one Shepherd.  But, “rapturists” especially pre-tribbers, condemn all Israel to the horrors of the Tribulation but Christian Jews and Gentiles will be spared.  These views  go against the very words of God.  This is man’s view and not God’s. 

So, come join us.  Come and consider the real viable alternative view of the “rapture” as we restore it to its Jewish roots.  We restore the “rapture” to the INGATHERING OF THE LORD’S ELECT. 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

In this podcast we return to Genesis 9 and Noah’s planting a vineyard and then getting drunk.  One asks why this story was highlighted in God’s TORAH תּוֹרָה, His instruction?  And then what about the aftermath when his son Ham sees Noah drunk and naked in the tent.  What is going on? 

This is one of several instances where the Lord our God, Yahvay יהוה, does not give us clear precise understanding.  Scholarship is all over the map in providing reasonable commentary on this event.  One concludes that there is no clear answer to all this. 

One Jewish scholar, Leon Kass, in his Genesis commentary offers his view.  Kass seems to think this is all about family.  Ham brought shame upon his dad and over and over again TORAH תּוֹרָה,  Yahvay’s יהוה instruction, has a lot to say about family.  Kass notes that in Genesis chapters 1-11 that this has nothing to do with the Hebrews or Judaism.  So this event in Genesis 9 is seemingly to teach all mankind.  Kass makes a superb added idea as to the purpose of this story.  But, once again, there are many other ideas and opinions.  Kass’ opinion, however, makes a lot of sense as you will see as you join us in this study.

We will also come to Genesis 10 and come face to face with the notorious Nimrod.  We are taught that Nimrod was pure evil was the guy who had the Tower of Babel built.  But, as we will see all this is pure fantasy.  These are legends made up by the rabbis in Rabbinic Judaism.  These legends then “slid easily” into the church as well and not we are teaching the Bible and pushing that legends and made up rabbinic views are truth.  They are not.  So, this lesson is quite important to study and consider the truth behind the word of God and the character of Nimrod and what the Bible says about him and not some rabbi who made up some fictional account since to that rabbi it seemed to fit his agenda or view.  We can not and should not teach that someone’s opinion or made up views are truth.  That is why I focus on teaching the Torah in its historical context.  We must get at what God’s original intentions were when He inspired Moses to write His Torah.  We need to focus on the words of our Lord and our God when He said …

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue (the Greek is MENO G3306 – it has the idea of relying or persevering) in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (Joh 8:31-32)

Rev. Ferret - Who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8qth6w4e56oub9js1w1gu/BackgrndTeacher-mar-25-2020.pdf?rlkey=f14fr2wmde5fezjmnrny8cycl&dl=0

Is the Bible credible?  Can we trust it?  Is the Exodus more than a story?  In lesson 2 we begin an amazing journey to show the veracity, the trustworthiness, of the book of Exodus.  As we continue in Exodus chapter one we will see that we are dealing with historic events – things that actually happened.  One top of that we will begin to verify the exact year when Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt.  It’s all related to an ancient pagan calendar that the majority of archaeologists agree is accurate and can be used to date events. 

Another aspect of this lesson is WOMEN.  The Bible is the only ancient religious source that shows the real intention of God as it relates to men and women.  God made men and women both equally in His image.  Man is not above woman and woman is not above man - they are equal in God's eyes.  The Bible is the only ancient source lifting up women to their equal and lofty place in God’s creation and plan.  Men are the ones who put down women.  The problem that messed things up was sin and turning away from God.  Woman first and then her man.

Later we see that woman was “built” by God (that is the actual Hebrew – built assumes a specific design unlike man) to NOT be a “suitable helper.”  That is what men did in translation.  They did not translate the Hebrew correctly and thus put down women.  The actual Hebrew is EZER KENEGDO  עזר כנגדו or a strength in front or a strength alongside. 

Gen. 2:18.  The implication is man was incomplete without woman and visa versa.  Woman is not man’s little helper.  No way.  She is the completeness of his strength and seemingly implies that physical strength is not sufficient.  Man needs woman. 

In this lesson we will see that the great pharaohs of Egypt are of no account as compared to two pagan Egyptian  women.  We will meet real heroines, we will meet strong, brave, bold women with guts.  Not men.  Women.  The Bible cries out from 3400 years ago to teach us, men and women, what it means to be one of God's people.  

In this lesson I mentioned I’d provide links to a few articles that relate to this lesson.  The links are below. 

The first link is to an article on Roman practice of infanticide and the catacombs of Praetextatus - https://earlychurchhistory.org/medicine/infanticide-in-the-ancient-world/

The second link is another major article on the legality of ancient abortion, infanticide, and infant exposure in ancient Rome and Greece and the early Christian response - https://www.dropbox.com/s/aj2qbmm6eqc7d5f/Pagans%2C%20Christianity%2C%20and%20Infanticide.pdf?dl=0

The third article is on 4 reasons why the early Messianic Christian assembly (church) grew so fast - https://myocn.net/four-reasons-why-early-christian-church-grew-so-quickly/

Lastly is a paper I did on adoption in ancient Rome.  It relates so well to this lesson.  Link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/i0fg3wwbm9xohzq/Ephesus%20Adopt.pdf?dl=0

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0