Life After Death - Part 7

OK! We have an interesting occurrence with the next set of verses!

By the way, it is 12/25 here in America today so what better thing to do than work on the blog instead of participating in a pagan holiday!  : )

Please allow me to set the stage for you. Jacob, also called by God, Israel, has had his 12 sons. You know, the ones whose names will become the Tribes of Israel. The youngest son, Joseph, has just been sold by the brothers into slavery to some Ishmaelites (who were Midianites) because of the nagging dreams Joseph had - you may know the story, already.

In order to hide this fact from the father (the selling into slavery), Jacob (Israel), has been handed Joseph's shredded "coat of many colors", dipped in goat blood, and he has been informed that Joseph is dead; killed by a wild animal!


(ESV)

Gen 37:34  Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days.
Gen 37:35  All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, "No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning." Thus his father wept for him.
Gen 37:36  Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.

שְׁאֹל שְׁאוֹל
she'ôl    she'ôl
sheh-ole', sheh-ole'
From H7592; hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranian retreat), including its accessories and inmates: - grave, hell, pit.


(ABP)

Gen 37:34  tore And Jacob his clothes, and placed sackcloth upon his loin, and mourned for his son days many.
Gen 37:35  came together And all his sons and daughters. And they came to comfort him, and he did not want to be comforted, saying that, I will go down to my son in mourning into Hades. And wept for him his father.
Gen 37:36  And the Midianites gave Joseph into Egypt to Potiphar the castrato of Pharaoh the chief guard.

G86
ᾅδης
hadēs
hah'-dace
From G1 (as a negative particle) and G1492; properly unseen, that is, “Hades” or the place (state) of departed souls: - grave, hell.


(BSEP)

Gen 37:33  And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth on his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
Gen 37:34  And all his sons and his daughters gathered themselves together, and came to comfort him; but he would not be comforted, saying, I will go down to my son mourning to Hades; and his father wept for him.
Gen 37:35  And the Madianites sold Joseph into Egypt; to Petephres, the eunuch of Pharao, captain of the guard.

G86
ᾅδης
hadēs
hah'-dace
From G1 (as a negative particle) and G1492; properly unseen, that is, “Hades” or the place (state) of departed souls: - grave, hell.


(NASB)

Gen 37:34  So Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days.
Gen 37:35  Then all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, "Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son." So his father wept for him.
Gen 37:36  Meanwhile, the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh's officer, the captain of the bodyguard.

שְׁאֹל שְׁאוֹל
she'ôl    she'ôl
sheh-ole', sheh-ole'
From H7592; hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranian retreat), including its accessories and inmates: - grave, hell, pit.

[Notes/Conclusion: Alrighty! We have an interesting development here! 2 of the Bibles use 'Sheol" and 2 use "Hades". The definitions of the words are similar; grave, hell, pit. So, which one is it?

We can know by the context. Let me pose a question or two. Does it sound reasonable that Jacob (Israel) and his son, Joseph, given their prominence and importance, might be placed in hell, a burning place of torture? Does it sound reasonable that Jacob and Joseph would be placed in Hades, the pagan Greek place of burning and torture? Would one of the Patriarchs of Judaeo-Christianity, Jacob, be placed in these two foreboding locations? Remember, we are speaking of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob here!

The answer is; not likely at all!

We can use the definition "grave" because we know that these two guys were loved by God! And also, by context we can see that Jacob is lamenting his son's supposed death by saying, in the modern vernacular; "I will grieve for my son until I'm in the grave myself!". We also have another very interesting source to check; the vaunted King James Version!]


(KJV)

Gen 37:34  And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
Gen 37:35  And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.
Gen 37:36  And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.

Yes! The KJV uses "grave" (sheol). The word "grave" is the most likely meaning here.

All this brings up an obvious question. Why did these respected and honored men sodden the Word of God by using words with such bad connotations as "hell" and "Hades"? Again, we don't know what stress they were under during the time of translation so we must intelligently study and verify the text. Whole manuscript families are rumored to have been altered, so, we must "test all things".

Still, it's especially miraculous (in the true sense of the word) that Yehovah's Word comes through even after man's alteration! This amazing book called "Bible" is truly of divine origin and its history, doctrine, and truth is connected and interwoven throughout the text.

... much more to go ...

The Observer

Life After Death - Part 6

An acquaintance of mine has complained that I'm not using the KJV! So, I want everyone to know that from day one I have been doing searches on certain key words, and yes, even in the KJV, because I knew that most folks in America have a "KJV slant".

Some of the search words are; death, hell, heaven, spirit, etc. In other words, I'm attempting to locate anything having to do with death and dying, and anything that may have something to do with life after death.

Like most Americans, I grew up with the KJV! As I've studied over the years, however, it has become clear to me that there are many, many errors in it. You must understand, the people who compiled the KJV worked under serious constraints and could have been put to death if they included the wrong words and phrases. Just study the lives of the early Bible translators and you'll see what I mean.

And yes, I am perusing the entire biblical text looking for clues!

continuing ... you'll see some interesting differences here among the versions!,

In Gen 35:8, Deborah, the nurse of Rebekah died and was buried. Nothing additional is presented here.
...
(ESV)
Gen 35:16  Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor.
Gen 35:17  And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, "Do not fear, for you have another son."
Gen 35:18  And as her soul [psuche] was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni [Son of my grief] but his father called him Benjamin.
Gen 35:19  So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem),
Gen 35:20  and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel's tomb, which is there to this day.
...
Gen 35:28  Now the days of Isaac were 180 years.
Gen 35:29  And Isaac breathed his last, and he died and was gathered to his people [prostithēmi], old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

G5590
ψυχή
psuchē
psoo-khay'
From G5594; breath, that is, (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew [H5315], [H7307] and [H2416]: - heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.

G4369
προστίθημι
prostithēmi
pros-tith'-ay-mee
From G4314 and G5087; to place additionally, that is, lay beside, annex, repeat: - add, again, give more, increase, lay unto, proceed further, speak to any more.

(It is clear that Rachel let go of her breath and died - later, Isaac breathed his last and was simply counted among the dead of his people)

(ABP)
Gen 35:16  departed And Jacob from Beth-el, and he pitched his tent beyond the tower of Gader. And it came to pass when he approached Chabratha, to come into Ephrath, Rachel bore. And in the giving birth she suffered birth pangs.
Gen 35:17  And it came to pass in her harshly bearing, said to her the midwife, Be of courage! for also this to you is a son.
Gen 35:18  And it came to pass in her letting go [aphiēmi] the soul [psuche], for she was dying, she called his name, Son of my Grief; but the father called his name, Benjamin.
Gen 35:19  died And Rachel, and she was entombed in the  way of Ephrath, this is Beth-lehem.
Gen 35:20  And Jacob set up a monument for her memorial. This is the monument upon the tomb of Rachel, until this day.
...
Gen 35:28  And were the days of Isaac which he lived, years a hundred eighty.
Gen 35:29  And failing, Isaac died. And he was added to his family [prostithēmi], older and full of days. And entombed him Esau and Jacob two sons his.

G863
ἀφίημι
aphiēmi
af-ee'-ay-mee
From G575 and ἵημι hiēmi (to send; an intensive form of εἶμι eimi (to go)); to send forth, in various applications: - cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.

G5590
ψυχή
psuchē
psoo-khay'
From G5594; breath, that is, (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew [H5315], [H7307] and [H2416]: - heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.

G4369
προστίθημι
prostithēmi
pros-tith'-ay-mee
From G4314 and G5087; to place additionally, that is, lay beside, annex, repeat: - add, again, give more, increase, lay unto, proceed further, speak to any more.

(It is clear that Rachel let go of her breath and died - later, Isaac breathed his last and was simply counted among the dead of his people)

(BSEP)
Gen 35:16  [And Jacob removed from Baethel, and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Gader,] and it came to pass when he drew nigh to Chabratha, to enter into Ephratha, Rachel travailed; and in her travail she was in hard labour.
Gen 35:17  And it came to pass in her hard labour, that the midwife said to her, Be of good courage, for thou shalt also have this son.
Gen 35:18  And it came to pass in her giving up the ghost [gâva‛] (for she was dying), that she called his name, The son of my pain; but his father called his name Benjamin.
Gen 35:19  So Rachel died, and was buried in the way of the course of Ephratha, this is Bethleem.
Gen 35:20  And Jacob set up a pillar on her tomb; this is the pillar on the tomb of Rachel, until this day.
...
Gen 35:28  And the days of Isaac which he lived were an hundred and eighty years.
Gen 35:29  And Isaac gave up the ghost [gâva‛] and died, and was laid to his family, old and full of days; and Esau and Jacob his sons buried him.

H1478
גָּוַע
gâva‛
gaw-vah'
A primitive root; to breathe out, that is, (by implication) expire: - die, be dead, give up the ghost, perish.

way·yiḡ·wa‘  in Hebrew, meaning the same; "breath"

(The overall narrative is still the same with Brenton's Septuagint except the word, "ghost". Here is where man has stepped in and introduced error. Please notice, the meaning is still, "breath", but the English translators who worked on this version of the Septuagint used "ghost". Ghost can also mean a disembodied apparition, or specter; very pagan terms that connote a belief in which dead people are said to haunt the living. This has absolutely no place in Judaeo-Christianity. It is demonic and is referred to in Scripture as "necromancy"; or, conjuring up the dead for some sort of communication or hidden reason. Later on, we'll see King Saul does this very thing with the Witch of Endor!

Have you thought about what happens when someone says; "Dear old Mom is looking down from Heaven at us and taking care of us through Jesus!" Folks, this is SIN! It is the promotion of necromancy! Why do you think the Roman Catholic Church says you can pray to deceased relatives and saints, asking for help? It's paganism, pure and simple! It's wrong!

But wait a moment, Tiger! Wasn't the Septuagint written by Jews? Yes indeed! But the Brenton Septuagint is the most respected version in the Christian world. You see, the Christian scholars have re-translated the Septuagint many times. This is why I showed the Hebrew transliteration. It still means "breath"!)

(NASB)
Gen 35:16  Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and she suffered severe labor.
Gen 35:17  When she was in severe labor the midwife said to her, "Do not fear, for now you have another son."
Gen 35:18  It came about as her soul [nephesh] was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
Gen 35:19  So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
Gen 35:20  Jacob set up a pillar over her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day.
...
Gen 35:28  Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years.
Gen 35:29  Isaac breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, an old man of ripe age; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

H5315
נֶפֶשׁ
nephesh
neh'-fesh
From H5314; properly a breathing creature, that is, animal or (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental): - any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead (-ly), desire, X [dis-] contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart (-y), (hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortality, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they, thing, (X she) will, X would have it.

(It is clear that Rachel let go of her breath and died - later, Isaac breathed his last and was simply counted among the dead of his people)

Guys, hopefully this one has been of interest! So far, I have not seen any definitive declaration that a person dying goes anywhere. What we have seen is that our breath, spirit, ruach, nephesh, etc. leaves us and we expire. As always, I'll keep looking, as long as I have breath!

... no pun intended!

The Observer

Two Israeli Jews explain the gospel in Jerusalem like you've never heard before!!!

The Observer

Life After Death - Part 5, continuing on ...

(ESV)
Gen 9:28  After the flood Noah lived 350 years.
Gen 9:29  All the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died.

... the other versions say the same thing - Noah lived to be 950 years old and died. No mention is made of an afterlife, at this point.
-----------------------------------------

(ESV)
Gen 23:1  Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah.
Gen 23:2  And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
Gen 23:3  And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites,
Gen 23:4  "I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight."

... the other versions say the same thing - Sarah lived to be 127years old and died. No mention is made of an afterlife, at this point.
------------------------------------------------

(ESV)
Gen 25:7  These are the days of the years of Abraham's life, 175 years.
Gen 25:8  Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.
Gen 25:9  Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre,
Gen 25:10  the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife.

(ABP)
Gen 25:7  And these were the years of the days of the life of Abraham, as many as he lived, a hundred seventy-five years.
Gen 25:8  And failing, Abraham died in [old age a good], an old man and full of days. And he was added to his people.
Gen 25:9  And [entombed him, Isaac and Ishmael] [two sons his], in the [cave double], in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
Gen 25:10  the field and the cave which Abraham acquired from the sons of Heth. There they entombed Abraham and Sarah his wife.

... the other versions say the same thing, essentially - I wanted to show the ABP because it's use of the phrase, "added to his people" is telling. Some folks have told me that being "added to his people" means that upon death Abraham was gathered together with rest of his dead relatives, in Heaven. The Greek doesn't say that, however.

G4369
προστίθημι
prostithēmi
pros-tith'-ay-mee
From G4314 and G5087; to place additionally, that is, lay beside, annex, repeat: - add, again, give more, increase, lay unto, proceed further, speak to any more.

The Greek word is where we get the English word: "prostrate", or, to lie down as if dead. Being added to the number of ones dead relatives is simply to be "counted" with the rest who have died, that's all. Even Brenton's Septuagint, which seemingly would indicate some Hebraic hint of an immediate afterlife does not differ from the other versions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Notes/Conclusion: So far we have not seen any indication of an immediate afterlife. But, I will continue my search!]

The Observer

Back In the Saddle

Whew! What a busy summer! It's been very discouraging to have no time for the blog.

We've had a tough time in the Southeastern U.S. this hurricane season, and the season is not quite finished yet!

First Harvey hits Houston, then Irma hits just about everyone; next came Jose and Katia, and the devastating Maria! Puerto Rico is still without power for the most part! Lastly, we had Hurricane Nate which hit the Gulf Coast.

Irma plowed through Orlando where I live. Thank heaven, I only lost an old wooden fence and a screened-in enclosure. Otherwise, we're fine!

Many, many people are still hurting, though.

On top of all that we had the worst massacre in modern American history take place in Las Vegas, Nevada. At last count it was 60 dead and over 500 wounded. A man barricaded himself in a hotel room with multiple firearms and attacked an outdoor concert crowd through the windows.

U.S. citizens can legally own firearms. It is a basic constitutional right to guard against a tyrannical government. The man's motive is still being investigated. Contrary to what you might hear in the "Fake News", the murder rate in America is very low for it's population.

This God-given right to self defense is, as stated, a gift from Yehovah, not the State. The video emphasizes this requirement to have weapons. In fact, it is a requirement from Torah! You should watch this video, especially if you are liberal "Jew" and think otherwise. Do you want to delay and otherwise deny the New World Order? Then, get all the guns and ammo you can get your hands on!

The Observer

Hi Folks!

The "Patterns of Evidence - Exodus" people are creating a new film; "Patterns of Evidence - Moses". The first film blew the lid off of academic (incorrect) Egyptology and the second film may do the same.

Please watch the first film (trailer below), if you haven't already, and please consider supporting the second film.

www.PatternsOfEvidence.com

Thanks!

The Observer

Have A Wonderful Shavuot!

My family is celebrating Shavuot this year on Sunday, June 4th. May you and yours be blessed! And please enjoy this 18 min.video from Zachary Bauer.

The Observer

Life After Death - Part 4, What About The Ruach?

In the last blog I referred to the "Spirit" returning to God upon death.

Ecc 12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

(the context of this verse is relating to the death of a man)

This word spirit here in most translations and versions is "ruach", as in Ruach Ha Kodesh (Spirit The Holy), "The Holy Spirit".

Ruach is defined as: wind; by resemblance breath, that is, a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions): - air, anger, blast, breath, X cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit ([-ual]), tempest, X vain, ([whirl-]) wind (-y).

As we can see, Ruach is essentially the same as the "Breath" of God and is only figuratively speaking of life. Another element included in this definition is; "spirit, but only of a rational being, existing in the sky". This is where we get the idea, in a Hebraic sense, of a Nephesh, as opposed to a Neshama. All creatures and things that have the breath of life have a Neshama, at least, but a Nephesh is an expression used for a rational being - a human.  It does imply a wind or movement of air in the sky, however, as when the Holy Spirit comes down from heaven on Pentecost - Shavuot. But none of this implies a rationality or consciousness after death occurs.

On a side note, some "Jews", no, not all, will say that Gentiles do not have a Nephesh and are therefore not much different from animals. This is a minority prejudiced view only.

All of this brings up an interesting debate! When I first started in Hebrew Roots I believed in the Trinity; Father, Son, Holy Spirit. I don't believe in a Trinity any more. Why? Because the Ruach Ha Kodesh is not a "person", not a "Godhead" of a Trinity. Yehovah/Yeshua is ONE! Now, I am unable to understand how two distinct figures, Yehovah and Yeshua, combine to be ONE, but this is what the Bible says! Yeshua IS Yehovah in flesh!

This also brings up a point about the King James Version. Like most American Protestants, I grew up with a KJV only perspective. However, the beloved KJV has so many linguistic errors it is not at all funny anymore. Not to be "punny", but one grave error it makes is to use the word, "ghost". There is no such thing as "The Holy Ghost"! There is no apparition involved. No one is being possessed by the Holy "Ghost". The word "ghost" is an entirely pagan usage that does not belong in the Word!

Now, I will look at the actual study I intended for this entry.  The ESV will be used only because the ABP, BSEP, and NASB are all the same words, essentially.

(ESV)

Gen 7:15  They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life.

...

Gen 7:22  Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died.

[Notes/Conclusion: Ruach and Neshama are used here for "breath". Both the animals and the humans simply died. At this point in the study there has been no reasonable affirmation of "life after death". So far, you would really have to make up a man-made doctrine to declare we have consciousness and go to heaven or hell at death. However, I'll keep an open mind and keep searching the biblical text. One young fellow told me once that because of the verse in Ecclesiastes, ALL people go to heaven (return to God) at death. Do you begin to see how man creates what he wants to have happen and establishes an incorrect doctrine?]

The Observer 

Life After Death - Part 3, What About Enoch?

OK! Let's get back into the swing of things!

(ESV)
Gen 5:21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah.
Gen 5:22 Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters.
Gen 5:23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years.
Gen 5:24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took (la-qach) him.

(...la-qach; simply, to take)

(ABP)
Gen 5:21 And Enoch lived five and sixty and a hundred years, and he procreated Methuselah.
Gen 5:22  was well-pleasing And Enoch to God. And Enoch lived after his procreating Methuseleh, two hundred years, and he procreated sons and daughters.
Gen 5:23 And came to pass all the days of Enoch, five and sixty and three hundred years.
Gen 5:24 And Enoch was well-pleasing to God. And he was not found, for transposed (metatithemi) him God.

(... metatithemi; to transpose, or transfer - transpose meaning "one which is put in place of the other" - transfer meaning "to simply relocate")

(BSEP)
Gen 5:21 And Enoch lived an hundred and sixty and five years, and begat Mathusala.
Gen 5:22 And Enoch was well-pleasing to God after his begetting Mathusala, two hundred years, and he begot sons and daughters.
Gen 5:23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty and five years.
Gen 5:24 And Enoch was well-pleasing to God, and was not found, because God translated him.

(translated; to carry or remove to a new location)

(NASB)
Gen 5:21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah.
Gen 5:22 Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters.
Gen 5:23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.
Gen 5:24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took (la-qach) him.

(...la-qach; simply, to take)

[Notes/Conclusion: Obviously, something happened to Enoch! He didn't "live" as long as the others, when you compare the surrounding text, because Yehovah "took" him. Enoch was either "changed" and relocated as in "transposed", or he was simply relocated/translated. But, we do know he didn't die! Why? Because, it's never a good idea to rely on one section of the Bible. Let's look elsewhere.

(ESV)

Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.

So, Enoch did not die, therefore his "Spirit", his "neshama", the "breath" of God, his "pneuma" never left him. Why?

(ESV)

Heb 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Heb 9:28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

...

Ecc 12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

(the context of this verse is relating to the death of a man)

(Enoch must have been an exception because he pleased God?)

So, Enoch DID NOT die. And, we know for sure that Enoch DID NOT go to heaven! Why do we know this? Because Yeshua told us so!

(ESV)

Joh 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

Joh 3:2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

(Yes, I know, the "kingdom of God" is on earth! But, keep reading!)

Joh 3:4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Joh 3:7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

Joh 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Joh 3:9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"

Joh 3:10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

Joh 3:11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.

Joh 3:12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

Joh 3:13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

Joh 3:15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.]

So, we know that Enoch was never "born of the Spirit", as in a Resurrection, (because he did not see death - he was still flesh) and we also know that Enoch never went to heaven (because Yeshua told us). So, where is Enoch?

The truth is, nobody knows! Some folks will claim they know, but we must look at all of Scripture and take it as it is. Other folks will tell me to look at the "Book of Enoch". Well, there are several, none of which are reliable enough to trust.

I am excited though, because the Dead Sea Scrolls has fragments of the Book of Enoch. I don't know if it has been published yet. Was it possible that Enoch was changed to a spiritual being without seeing death? Yes, I suppose that's possible. Yehovah/Yeshua can do anything. But, we still don't know where he is, but we do know he's not in heaven! This also might redefine for many the idea of being, "born again". Are we "born again" in the "twinkling of an eye", at the "last trump"? I myself lean toward this as truth.

This is getting more and more interesting, isn't it?

The Observer

Look At This Car ! Amen Brother, Amen !

Hi Folks! Sorry about being away so long. I've been dealing with a prolonged illness but I'm beginning to perk up, finally!

My Son took this pic on his cellphone while driving home from work. You gotta luv it! (click to make larger)

Notice the tag number? Good News 777!
Be back soon ...

The Observer

God of the Living, not the Dead

Please enjoy this teaching from Lex Meyer

The Observer

Life After Death - Part 2

In the first part of this series we learned that Yehovah-Yeshua breathed His "breath", "pneuma", "wind", "spirit", "naphach"; the "neshama" or breath of life into A'dam (man) and he became a living soul - a "nephesh". This animated A'dam and he became conscious or aware; alive.

... now, we continue ...

(ESV)

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?"  (gan)

Gen 3:2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,
Gen 3:3 but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'"
Gen 3:4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. ('mooth' - to be dead)
Gen 3:5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Gen 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Gen 3:7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
Gen 3:8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
Gen 3:9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?"
Gen 3:10 And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself."
Gen 3:11 He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"
Gen 3:12 The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."
Gen 3:13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
Gen 3:14 The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
Gen 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."
Gen 3:16 To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."
Gen 3:17 And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
Gen 3:18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
Gen 3:19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
Gen 3:20 The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
Gen 3:21 And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
Gen 3:22 Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—"
Gen 3:23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.
Gen 3:24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

(I wanted to show the context of all of chapter 3 at least once)

(ABP)

Gen 3:1 But the serpent was most skilled of all the wild beasts, of the ones upon the earth whom made the lord God. And said the serpent to the woman, For why said God, No way should you eat from all of a tree of the paradise? ('paradisos')

Gen 3:2 And said the woman, From fruit of the tree of the paradise we shall eat;
Gen 3:3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the paradise, God said, Eat not from it, nor touch it! that you should not die. ('apoth-nace-ko' - literally die)
Gen 3:4 And said the serpent to the woman, Not to death will you die.
Gen 3:5  knows For God that in which ever day you should eat of it, will be opened wide your eyes, and you will be as gods, knowing good and evil.

...

Gen 3:19 By sweat of your face you will eat your bread, until the returning you into the earth from out of which you were taken. For earth you are and unto earth you will go. And Adam called the name of his wife, Zoe, for she was mother of all the living.

Gen 3:21 And made the lord God to Adam and his wife garments of skins, and he clothed them.

Gen 3:22 And God said, Behold, Adam has become as one of us, to know good and evil. And now, lest at any time he might stretch out the hand, and should take from the tree of life, and should eat, and will live into the eon --
Gen 3:23 that ejected him the lord God from the paradise of the delicacy, to work the earth from which he was taken.
Gen 3:24 And he cast out Adam, and settled him before the paradise of the delicacy, and ordered the cherubim, and the flaming broadsword turning, to guard the way of the tree of life.

(BSEP)
Gen 3:1 And the two were naked, both Adam and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Gen 3:2 Now the serpent was the most crafty of all the brutes on the earth, which the Lord God made, and the serpent said to the woman, Wherefore has God said, Eat not of every tree of the garden? (gan)
Gen 3:3 And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, (gan)
Gen 3:4 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Gen 3:5 And the serpent said to the woman, Ye shall not surely die.('mooth' - to be dead)

...

Gen 3:19 Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.

Gen 3:20 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread until thou return to the earth out of which thou wast taken, for earth thou art and to earth thou shalt return.
Gen 3:21 And Adam called the name of his wife Life, because she was the mother of all living.
Gen 3:22 And the Lord God made for Adam and his wife garments of skin, and clothed them.
Gen 3:23 And God said, Behold, Adam is become as one of us, to know good and evil, and now lest at any time he stretch forth his hand, and take of the tree of life and eat, and so he shall live forever--
Gen 3:24 So the Lord God sent him forth out of the garden of Delight to cultivate the ground out of which he was taken.
Gen 3:25 And he cast out Adam and caused him to dwell over against the garden of Delight, and stationed the cherubs and the fiery sword that turns about to keep the way of the tree of life.

(NASB)
Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" (gan)
Gen 3:2 The woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden (gan) we may eat;
Gen 3:3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden (gan), God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'"
Gen 3:4 The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die! ('mooth' - to be dead)
Gen 3:5 "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

...

Gen 3:19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."

Gen 3:20 Now the man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.
Gen 3:21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.
Gen 3:22 Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"--
Gen 3:23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken.
Gen 3:24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden (e'den, 'ay-den') He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

[Notes/Conclusion: There are no appreciable differences in translations except for one word, which I'll cover below. Chapter 3 of Genesis is chocked full of fish to catch! I'll start from Ch. 2 and cast forward into 3.

First, we know that man becomes a living soul when he receives the "Breath/Spirit" of Yehovah-Yeshua. This point is incredibly important to understand from a critical thinking aspect. It says man does NOT have a soul, but becomes a living one! Now, we also learn from Ch. 3 that if sin had not entered the picture Adam and Eve would have lived forever. Why? Because they were eating from the "Tree of Life", not because they had any innate immortality. Please notice they were warned not to eat of the "Knowledge" tree because it would cause them to die.

I didn't want to project forward too much in this study but in this case it would be helpful.

"the soul who sins shall die!".

This admonition in Ezekiel 18 is speaking of generational sin but the point is well taken. A man is held responsible for his own sin and he will die because of that sin. Please notice this ESV verse says it correctly; "the soul who sins". The KJV, for example, says "the soul that sins", as if a soul is an entity separate and distinguishable from the human. The KJV is good for some things, but it is one of the worst versions in history, for accuracy!

Next, please notice that the Serpent lies to Eve. The Serpent actually mixes some truth with the lie telling Eve she will be like God, "knowing good and evil". But he intimates a lie by declaring, "You surely shall not die!"

The narrative continues and we discover that Adam and Eve have to be driven out of the Garden because they would eventually eat again of the "Tree of Life", after sinning and live forever, in that sinful state.

It is important to note here. We have ALL sinned! The soul who sins shall die because of his sins. Only One in all of history has not sinned - Yeshua. And He was resurrected! Yes, I know there are more details but I'll eventually get there.

One more thing. Please notice the (ABP) version uses the word, "Paradise", instead of Garden. "Paradisos" is used quite a lot in scripture to speak of "gan e'den", or the garden of Eden. This becomes important later. How often have we heard a Pastor speak of Paradise as heaven where the throne of God is? This is misleading. "Paradise" was here on earth and will be again, along with the Tree of Life and the leaves of the Tree will be used to "heal the nations".]

Have you ever noticed? The first lie spoken of in Scripture and spoken by the father of lies, is one of the most repeated lies in the Church! When you die, you won't surely die - you'll go straight to heaven!

Wow! Just beginning to scratch the surface!

The Observer

Who Was Yeshua? An Angel?

Please enjoy this vid by JimvesterStallone. Turn down the sound if you don't like the accompanying music, obviously!

The Observer

Life After Death - Part 1

Introduction

This is an effort to study the question; "What happens when we die?", a question that haunts mankind continually and a question which man has answered with multiple contradictory explanations. And still, no one is satisfied with the conclusions. I certainly am not. Obviously, many intelligent and scholarly men have done this already, but I wanted to see for myself! After all, Torah and all of Scripture should be understandable to an uneducated shepherd boy.
I will use the Bible for this study and history to a lesser extent. My format is simple. The Bible translations used are; the English Standard Version (ESV), the Apostolic Bible Polyglot (ABP), the Brenton Septuagent (BSEP), and the North American Standard Bible (NASB). Also used is Strong's dictionary and the Brown-Driver-Briggs dictionary. My Bible software is E-Sword and various online references, the Biblehub Interlinear, for example.
Why all the differing versions? Because the collection represents a mix of Word-to-Word translation and Concept translation and this produces a more reasonable understanding of the underlying text, both GREEK and HEBREW.
By examining select verses, in context; those that seem to apply to the subject at hand, the hope is to come to better definitions of applicable words and concepts. This should enable me to ultimately make more reasonable conclusions.
At the end of each section I will state a temporary conclusion, which simple means; "this is what I think, so far". I reserve the right to alter my final conclusions at the end of the study.
Let's begin ... for this is going to take some time!
Genesis (B'resheet) Chapter 1

(ESV)
Gen 1:1 In the beginning, God (elohim) created the heavens and the earth.
Gen 1:2 The earth was without form (tohu) and void (wabohu), and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit (ruach) of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

 (ABP)
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God (theos) made the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 But the earth was unseen (invisible) and unready (unprepared), and darkness was upon the abyss (the apparently bottomless sea, deep), and spirit (pneuma or pneh'-o, poos-khey) of God bore upon the water.
 
(BSEP)
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 But the earth was unsightly and unfurnished, and darkness was over the deep, and the Spirit of God moved over the water.


(NASB)
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Gen 1:2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

[Notes/Conclusion: the various versions declare God as "Elohim" or "Theos". They declare that the earth was "invisible", "unprepared" (for life - in context), "unsightly", "unfurnished", "formless" and "void"; upon the "abyss", "void", "bottomless abyss or sea", "space", "darkness"; and the "breath and/or exhalation" of God or "Spirit" of God "moved" over the "waters". Obviously, the unformed earth consisted of lots of water.

The seminal question here is what is God's "pnemua", "ruach", "breath", and/or "spirit". It could be as simple as God's breath hovering over the waters, ready to take action as in speech, or it can be His intelligent spirit forming and constructing the chaos. The vast majority of definitions point towards His "breath" or "wind" of His breath interacting with the waters. In context, this seems to be the case, because the next thing that happens is that Elohim speaks; "Let there be light"! All this may become important later as we delve into what humans have been given by God!]


Genesis (B'resheet) Chapter 2

Just so ya know, back in Ch. 1, verse 26 God made man in His "image". This word, "image" is exactly that, His "likeness". It implies nothing more.

(ESV)
Gen 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
Gen 2:5 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground,
Gen 2:6 and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground—
Gen 2:7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed (naphach - to puff or blow hard) into his nostrils (the nose) the breath (neshamah) of life, and the man (adam) became a living creature (nephesh - soul).

(ABP)

Gen 2:7 And God shaped the man, dust taking from the earth. And he breathed (emphusaoo - to blow, blew) into his face (prosopon - the front of his face) breath (pno-ay - breath, wind) of life, and became man (anthropos - a certain man) a soul (psookhay - from breath, becoming a sentient "animal") living (literally, alive).

(BSEP)

Gen 2:7 And God formed the man of dust of the earth, and breathed upon his face the breath of life, and the man became a living soul. (no appreciable differences here)

(NASB)

Gen 2:7 Then the LORD God formed man (adam) of dust from the ground, and breathed (naphach) into his nostrils the breath of life (neshama); and man became a living being (nephesh - soul).

[Notes/Conclusion: God made man from the dust/dirt of the earth and breathed into him. This divine breath animated man, made him alive and he became a living soul. The logic in me wants to conclude that when the divine breath of God leaves the man of dust, he ceases to be a living soul. This makes sense to me.

Additional reading says that all animals and plants have the "neshamah" or breath of life from God in them. And, that all humans become a "nephesh", or living soul. No, rocks don't have this. This is where Judeo-Christianity parts ways from Buddhism. Traditional Jewish teaching says that the Ruach or breath of God is Spirit and that this Spirit "connects" the neshamah and nephesh. My study so far, however does not indicate this. IMO, this is man's conjecture, at this point.

Nothing so far says that we are born with an immortal anything! So far, the Word simply says we become a living soul when the breath of God enters us.]

But, we have a long way to go!

The Observer

It's Time To "Lay Down the Law" - Part 22, Final Installment

This is the final entry for my word study on the word "law" in the B'rit Hadashah. The study has by no means been totally inclusive of all things related to the "law" (Torah) - it has been a simple word study. However, the consensus is that Torah is alive and well and is for us "Christians" as much or more than the Israelites in the desert!

It is my fervent prayer that the "Church" continues to awaken and turn away from its pagan ways. Ephraim is finally coming to its senses, the two sticks are beginning to come together. Will you be a part of it, or will you remain with Babylon?

I love to read James (Ya'a'kov-Jacob). IMO, he is ignored by the Church to their great peril!

Many people have said to me, "Why has God brought all of this hardship on me?" I advise them to go read James, Ch. 1.

Jas 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Jas 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
Jas 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
Jas 1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
Jas 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
Jas 1:18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth (Torah), so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

... Folks, we cause our own problems ...

Jas_1:25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

[Note: How can it be any clearer, folks? One who STUDIES THE PERFECT TORAH AND DOES IT will be blessed!]

...

Jas_2:8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well.
Jas_2:9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Jas_2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
Jas_2:11 For He who said, "DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT MURDER." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Jas_2:12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.

[Note: James sounds like Paul here, doesn't he? The "Law" of Sin, and "Sin and Death" comes into play when we break Torah!]

...

Jas_4:11 Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.

[Note: Just so you know, the brethren spoken of here are your fellow Torah believers - not pagan unbelievers.]

Folks, allow me to leave this study with one of my favorite quotes from James:

Jas 2:14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
Jas 2:16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
Jas 2:18 But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Jas 2:19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
Jas 2:20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
Jas 2:22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
Jas 2:23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God.
Jas 2:24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Jas 2:25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
Jas 2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

The Observer