The Acceptable Year of the Lord

(Luke 4:20; Isaiah 61)

YAHSHUA, after having gone through baptism and forty days fasting in the wilderness where He was tested exceedingly by the devil, went to Galilee, full of the Holy Spirit to lead a course of teachings in their synagogues. Nazareth, the place where He grew up, was also included.  He entered the synagogue, as was His custom on the Sabbath day and stood to read. And there was handed to Him [the roll of] the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed, to proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound]. (Isaiah 61:1,2) Then He rolled up the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing at Him. And He began to speak to them: Today this Scripture had been fulfilled while you are present and hearing (Luke 4).

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

In Tragedy Hope Arises

(Ruth 1-4)

A family of four fled the famine in the land in the time when the judges ruled the country. There were four of them: husband, wife and their two sons. Theirs was a life of tragedy and misfortune in the period of ten years while in the country of Moab, where they made it their home for a while. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem of Judah, a place linked to prophecy concerning the birth of the Savior of the world. But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans or rulers of Judah, out of you will come for me One Who will be Ruler over Israel, whose coming forth from of old ( Micah 5:2).  Nothing in God’s calendar happens by mistake. Although circumstances pointed out tragedy, His plan of old, from eternity was firmly established through the lives of this family, although indirectly, for it was not going to be from them, but from a Moabitess woman and a kin of the husband, that Bethlehem was going to be exalted above the heavens.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

For the Sake of the Holy Seed (Part 2)

(Luke 1:26-38)

From the beginning of times, Satan tried to destroy YAHWEH’S plan to bring about His purpose of redemption for humankind. It started with Cain who killed his righteous brother out of anger and resentment. But YAHWEH gave Adam and Eve a third son who carried the righteous lineage and from his descendants, Noah was born ten generations later. From the family of Shem, one of Noah’s son, Abraham was born. The gap between Noah to Abraham was also ten generations. Here is the summary of Abraham’s lineage:

1. Noah – name means: Comfort or Rest

2. Shem – meaning: Renown; prosperity

3. Arphaxad – meaning: A healer; a releaser

4. Shelah – meaning: Sent Out, Branch or Javelin

5. Eber – meaning: To pass over, through, take away

6. Peleg – name means: Division

7. Reu – name means: Friend

8. Nahor – the name means: Breathing Hard

9. Terah – name means: Spirit, Spirited or Inspired

10. Abram – a high father – later to be called Abraham – father of multitude

(bibleview.org/en/bible/genesis/400years)

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

For the Sake of the Holy Seed (Part 1)

(Genesis 4:25-26; 6:1-10; Ezra 9)

When Adam and Eve sinned, they made a choice to disobey YAHWEH to believe Satan’s lies. That was the sin of rebellion Satan imparted to them. From that time on, the sinful nature entered their souls, and they became slaves to it. In spite of it, YAHWEH gave them a promise of redemption. To the serpent, YAHWEH said, and I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her Offspring; He will bruise and tread your head underfoot, and you will lie in wait and bruise His heel (Gen. 3:15). Why is YAHWEH bringing the Holy Seed to the picture and for what purpose at that point in time? Who is Satan’s offspring and who is the woman’s offspring? How was that going to happen? Adam and Eve were childless at that time. We do not know how long had they been created before they sinned. One thing is for sure: YAHWEH had a plan to restore men to Himself one day. It was going to happen through the woman, independent from a man. Adam and Eve had two sons after this. Cain the first born, was a tiller of the ground. Abel, the second son was a keeper of sheep. Because Cain defiantly offered YAHWEH a sacrifice contrary to what he was supposed to and his prideful and hateful nature, causing him to kill his brother, he was not from whom the Holy Seed would have come.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Blood and Water Flowed Out From His Side

(John 19:32-35)

What’s the meaning of blood and water flowing out from YAHSHUA’S side? Have you ever wondered why and the meaning behind it? The truth of the matter is that we never stop to wonder why and what’s the significance behind it; we go on with minimum knowledge, not perceiving how little we care to know the reason behind it, to understand the extent of YAHSHUA’S suffering on our behalf. I believe that knowledge, as a glass window, will make possible for our eyes of understanding to see clearly and to change the way we see Him in His sufferings, and in relation to blood and water flowing out from His side when He was pierced. There is much to consider in the case of blood and water being flown from His side that is very important in the physical and in the spiritual realm to all those who are called believers in YAHSHUA.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

YAHSHUA’S Travail- The Birth of His Church

He shall see [the fruit] of the travail (labor pain) of His soul and be satisfied; by His knowledge of Himself Shall My Righteous One, My Servant, justify many and make many righteous, for He shall bear their iniquities and their guilt (Isaiah 53:11).

“He shall see the fruit of the travail of His soul and be satisfied.” The born-again believer is the fruit of the travail of His soul. Even though, “the story and the message of the cross is sheer absurdity and folly to those who are perishing and in their way to perdition, to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (ICor.1 18). YAHSHUA’S labor pains were marked when the Father let all our iniquities fall on Him. In the flogging, the world was offered physical healing. In His death, many were reconciled with the Father and were born anew. It confirmed His words to Nicodemus, Unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. You must be born-again (John 3:5,7b). It is only through YAHSHUA’S travail that man receives life eternal. Paul said that no mortal man should boast of his own merit to acquire salvation (I Cor. 1: 29). YAHSHUA, the only Way, Truth and the only life Giver, paid for our salvation in full through His travails before and when on the cross.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

The Antichrist As We Do Not Know Him (part 2)

                                             (Revelation 13; Daniel 7)            

Judas, the antichrist who is to come, has been on the scene since the time he betrayed YAHSHUA. Reading about Judas’ accounts, sometimes, we are not able to connect the dots from YAHSHUA’S words to the prophecies from the Old Testament, because we read them as History only. However, when we study to know God’s purposes, He reveals the connective truth to us. In this case, the key words are heels or heel, son of perdition, and devil, as in His priestly prayer, YAHSHUA connected the prophecies from the Old Testament to the New Testament by saying, While I was with them (disciples), I kept and preserved them (disciples) in Your name. Those You have given Me I guarded and protected, and not one of them has perished or is lost except the son of perdition [Judas Iscariot- the one who is now doomed to be lost], that the Scripture might be fulfilled. This is in reference to Psalm 41:9 which says Even my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. And in John 13:18, YAHSHUA again defines which Scripture He was talking about when He said, I am not speaking of and I do not mean all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He who eats My bread with Me has raised up his heel against me. Twice YAHSHUA mentions the same prophecy uttered by David. Another prophecy we connect with YAHSHUA’S words is the first prophecy given to man in the garden of Eden: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring; He will bruise and tread your head underfoot, and you will lie in wait and bruise His heel (Gen 3:15).

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

The Antichrist As We Do Not know Him

(II Thessalonians 2:9-10; Daniel 8:23-27; Revelation 19:20; 20:10)

Dan shall be a serpent by the way, a horned snake in the path, that bites at the horse’s heels, so that his rider falls backward.  Gen. 49:17

The coming of the lawless one, is through the activity and working of Satan and will be tended by great power and with all sorts of miracles and signs and delusive marvels and by unlimited seduction to evil and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing because they did not welcome the Truth but refused to love it that they might be saved (II Thess. 2:9-10).

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Joseph and the Seven Years

(Genesis 41)

Pharaoh had two dreams two of the same. It is a dream of prophetic extension to the end times. God revealed to a Gentile “what He is about to do” and is going to do in the far future. Seven fat cows and seven undernourished ones; seven ears [of grain] plump and good; seven ears withered and thin were Pharaoh dreams, which caused him unsettledness of spirit. He was eager to understand the dreams, but not one of the magicians or wise men of Egypt could interpret them.

Two full years had passed since Joseph had interpreted the butler’s dream while both were in jail. The butler promised to mention him to Pharaoh when released from jail. But as it was, he forgot Joseph’s request and went on with his life. However, God hadn’t forgotten him. His purpose for Joseph’s life was going to be fulfilled in His time. Pharaoh’s dreams were the link to get Joseph out of jail. Not one day late, not one day early. He was only seventeen when sold to the Egyptians; thirteen years of struggles and unfairness toward him had passed. God in His sovereignty saw fit to exalt Joseph when he was ready. At the age of thirty, he was presented to King Pharaoh, who exalted him to greatness.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Lazarus, Mary and Martha

(John 11-12; Luke 10)

Lazarus, Mary and Martha were close friends of YAHSHUA. They lived in a village called Bethany on the slope of the Mount of Olives, two miles east of Jerusalem. Bethany is identified with the West Bank today, the city of Al-Eizariya- place of Lazarus in Arabic. Bethany is often mentioned in connection with important events in the life of our Lord, YAHSHUA. Lazarus, Mary and Marth, each had a memorable and personal experience with Him. Lazarus seemed to be the youngest of the three, for he was uninvolved, and passive. His name in Arabic was Eliezer, meaning, God will help. Eliezer was the name of Abraham’s eldest servant; he was from Damascus. He was a trusted servant, who found Isaac a wife at the request of Abraham.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2