Word Study of Good, Evil, Sin

Posted on August 29, 2025 by abdicate

Word meaning Good, Evil, and Sin

Almost anyone knows today what ‘sin’ is, but so few understand it. The world is filled with churchy church words, and these are some of them. This lengthy study needs to set the stage to affect a changed mind and heart.

Let’s start at the beginning.

Genesis 2:8 “And the Lord God made a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had made.”

Genesis 2:25 “And the man and his wife were without clothing, and they had no sense of shame.”

Genesis 2:16-17 “And the Lord God gave the man orders, saying, You may freely take of the fruit of every tree of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you may not take; for on the day when you take of it, death will certainly come to you.”

Good

The Hebrew word for “good” is טוב (tov).
It is spelled with three letters: Tet (ט), Vav (ו), and Bet (ב).

Now let’s see what each of these letters mean from Paleo-Hebrew.

  1. Tet (ט)
    • Symbol: Basket, Snake (coiled up – reeds or snakes)
    • Meanings: Surround
  2. Vav (ו)
    • Symbol: Nail, Peg
    • Meanings: Connect, “And”
  3. Bet (ב)
    • Symbol: House
    • Meanings: “In”

Putting them together:

    Tet (ט) = “Surround” (something enclosed or contained, possibly like goodness surrounding or encompassing)

    Vav (ו) = “Nail, Peg, And” (that which connects or secures)

    Bet (ב) = “House, In” (dwelling, family, inside)

So, in Paleo-Hebrew picture meanings, טוב (good / tov) could be understood as:

“Surrounding + secured connection + inside the house (dwelling).”

Symbolically, this paints the picture of something secure, connected, and enclosed within a house — which gives a sense of goodness, safety, and well-being. In other words, “good” (טוב) in ancient Hebrew can be visualized as:

“What surrounds and secures life inside the house.”

Another beautiful illustration by the imagery of placing fruit into a basket for safekeeping as you walk. The letter Tet (ט), which means “basket” or “surround,” suggests the act of enclosing fruit to protect it from harm, keeping it intact on the journey. Tied with Beyt (ב), symbolizing “house” or “within,” the word “good” embodies the idea of shelter and preservation, just as a basket shields its contents and a house provides refuge. As one walks, the basket holding the fruit offers connection and security, meaning Vav (ו), or “nail/peg”, so nothing is lost or damaged along the way. Therefore, good in its pictographic sense signifies more than moral goodness; it reflects the daily act of caring for what is valuable, ensuring it is surrounded and kept safe within life’s journey. Adam and Eve were placed in the Lord’s Garden, their house, and fully cared for, secure and surrounded by God’s previsions.

 

Evil

The Hebrew word for “evil” is רַע (ra).

It is composed of two letters:

  1. Resh (ר)
    • Symbol: Head
    • Meanings: Person, First, Top, Beginning, Chief
  2. Ayin (ע)
    • Symbol: Eye
    • Meanings: Eye, To See, Experience

Putting it together:

  • Resh (ר) = “The head, a person, leader, beginning”
  • Ayin (ע) = “Eye, to see, experience”

So, in Paleo-Hebrew picture meanings, רע (ra / evil) could be read as:
“The person’s eye / what the person sees and experiences.”

Symbolic Understanding:

  • In the biblical sense, “evil” (רע) isn’t always “moral wickedness” in the modern sense, but rather what is bad, harmful, or brings destruction/misery.
  • With Resh (head/person) + Ayin (eye/experience), it paints a picture of a person led by what they see or experience — meaning following outward appearances or desires, rather than higher spiritual truth.
  • This aligns with the Hebrew worldview: “evil” is often what looks appealing but leads to harm.

 

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Etz HaDa’at Tov va-Ra) in Genesis.

Good, “That which surrounds and secures inside the house” is a picture of protection, order, well-being, and life. Good is what preserves and secures harmony, as if being safe inside a home.

Evil, “A person’s eye/experience” following what one sees and desires. Evil here is not just moral corruption, but that which brings harm through being guided by appearance and self-desire instead of God’s wisdom.

Before Eating from the Tree

Genesis 2:25 says: “Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.”

  • Nakedness here symbolizes innocence or ignorance of self-consciousness.
  • They did not yet “see” (Ayin) themselves with judgment or comparison.
  • Their experience (Ra – Ayin) was not driven by appearances; they lived in trustful dependence on God, surrounded (Tet) and secured (Vav) by His provision (Beyt, the “house”).

In other words:
Before eating the fruit, they lived only within God’s definition of good, safe, surrounded, and cared for, without defining reality from their own perspective.

After Eating from the Tree

When they ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil:

  • Their eyes (Ayin) were opened (Gen. 3:7).
  • They suddenly saw themselves and judged their own nakedness.
  • Instead of being surrounded and secured inside God’s “house”, they now relied on their own sight and experience (Ayin-Resh = Ra).

This shift was not simply gaining new information. Rather, it was a change in awareness:
They moved from innocence (trusting God’s perspective) to self-consciousness (judging good/evil through their own eyes).

Nakedness as a Symbol

  • Before eating: Nakedness = innocence, freedom, no shame (they existed in God’s definition of good).
  • After eating: Nakedness = exposure, vulnerability, awareness of self in a broken way (they now define good/evil through appearances).

This shows the Hebrew symbolism:

  • Tov (Good) = security inside God’s order = no shame, peace.
  • Ra (Evil) = the person’s eye/experience = self-judgment, shame, separation.

The Tree of “Good and Evil”

The phrase suggests not just opposites but the full spectrum of human judgment.

  • To “know good and evil” is to define reality for oneself, apart from God.
  • Eating from the tree represents humanity claiming the right to decide for themselves what is good (Tov) and what is evil (Ra), rather than living by God’s word and command.

Before eating from the tree, Adam and Eve were innocent, unshaped by appearances, and secure in God’s good order. After eating, however, their eyes (Ayin) were opened, and they entered into shame, self-awareness, and vulnerability. In doing so, they left God’s definition of good and instead embraced the human judgment of good and evil. They sinned.

Proverbs 21:2 “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD ponders the heart.”

 

Sin in Greek

The Greek word for Sin is ἁμαρτία (hamartia)

Sin in Greek is ἁμαρτία and means “that which disqualifies one from receiving a portion in the prize” as in “to miss the mark.” It can also mean “to be without a share in” as in being excluded from continued participation, like in an archery competition. You missed the mark so you cannot advance to the next round; you’ve been eliminated.

Psalms 51:5 “Truly, I was formed in evil, and in sin did my mother give me birth.”

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

When Adam ate the forbidden fruit in disobedience to God, he stepped outside of divine life and allowed sin to enter his very nature. That act corrupted his DNA and killed his spirit (Eph. 2:1), altering the blueprint of his being. Since life is carried through blood and seed (Lev. 17:11), this brokenness was passed to his offspring. Instead of inheriting pure communion with God, every generation received a nature bent away from Him, carrying within their own flesh the consequence of Adam’s disobedience.

After Adam and Eve disobeyed and sin entered their nature, they became disqualified, so God expelled them from the garden so they would not eat from the tree of life and live forever in a corrupted state. As Genesis says, He placed cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way, protecting humanity from eternal separation by ensuring that redemption, not unending brokenness, would be our future in Jesus.

 

Sin in Hebrew

In Hebrew it’s the same חטאה “to miss the mark” or to “go astray.”

Here’s חטאה (Chet-Tet-Alef-Heh) broken down:

  1. Chet (ח)
    o Symbol: Fence, Wall, Enclosure
    o Meanings: Boundary, Separation, Protection, Inside/Outside
  2. Tet (ט)
    o Symbol: Basket, Coil, Serpent-like shape
    o Meanings: Hidden, Twisted, Contained
  3. Aleph (א)
    o Symbol: Ox Head
    o Meanings: Strength, Authority, Leader, God, First
  4. Heh (ה)
    o Symbol: Person with arms raised
    o Meanings: Behold, Reveal, Expression, Breath, Worship, Grace

 

Putting it together:

חטאה (Chet-Tet-Alef-Heh) paints a picture of being outside the fence of protection (Chet), twisted within (Tet), turning from God’s strength and authority (Aleph), and revealing or expressing this break (Heh).

In essence, חטאה shows sin as stepping outside God’s boundary, becoming twisted internally, rejecting His order, and manifesting that rebellion outwardly. It’s not just missing a target accidentally, but a process of moving from God’s protection into self-direction, which becomes revealed in behavior.

God was the first to use this word sin in His conversation with Cain: Genesis 4:7 “If you do well, will you not have honor? and if you do wrong, sin is waiting at the door, desiring to have you, but do not let it be your master.”

Sin, described as both a genetic and spiritual parasite, seeks to dominate human life, yet God’s words to Cain show it can be resisted. When God told him, “sin crouches at the door, its desire is for you, but you must rule over it,” He revealed that while sin is ever-present, waiting like a predator, it is not irresistible. Though inherited through Adam’s nature, sin does not remove human responsibility. God affirmed Cain still had the power to master it, showing that even in a fallen state, choice and obedience to God remain the means of keeping sin from gaining control.

Both Greek and Hebrew words can mean the simplest of mistakes. In English, most people misspell words and without the red squiggly underline to indicate their “sin” they wouldn’t know it. Another example lost driving is a sin – you missed your designated target, that is, “an error” meaning “sin.”

We’re all born in sin but there is hope. John the Baptist declares of Jesus, “…Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin (noun) of the world.” John 1:29.

Psalms 91:1 “He who dwells in the secret place [i.e., Jesus] of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Through Jesus, we can again be restored in fellowship with God. John 1:29 calls Jesus “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” highlighting His sinlessness of His sacrifice. According to scripture, sin entered the human race through Adam (Rom 5:12), corrupting both our nature and our blood, the very life within us (Lev 17:11). Because life is in the blood, compensation requires the shedding of blood. Jesus, fully human yet without sin, offered His own perfect blood as a substitution for ours. (Rom 5:15) On the cross, His punishment satisfied the justice of God, bearing the consequences that humanity deserved, and demonstrated His love for us. By His death and shed blood, the barrier of sin that passed through our nature and ancestry was broken, making it possible for anyone who believes to be forgiven and restored to communion with God. His blood does not merely cover sin, it removes its penalty and power, providing spiritual life where there was death.

Romans 5:17 “For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”

When a person is sick, they are constantly aware of their condition; every thought, action, and plan is shaded by the sickness. They consider how it limits them, how it might worsen, and how it separates them from normal life. But when they are cured, the sickness no longer dominates their mind; they no longer dwell on what it prevents or threatens. In the same way, Jesus’ payment for Adam’s sin works as a cure for humanity’s spiritual sickness. While sin once dominated every thought and action, His sacrifice removes that burden. Believers are no longer enslaved to the awareness of sin, guilt, or death; they can live in freedom, not constantly conscious of their brokenness, because the debt has been fully paid.

Freedom from the “parasite” of Sin

Hebrews 10:1-2 “For the law, being only a poor copy of the future good things, and not the true image of those things, is never able to make the people who come to the altar every year with the same offerings completely clean. For if this had been possible, would there not have been an end of those offerings, because the worshippers would have been made completely clean and would have been no longer conscious of sins?”

 The scriptures shows that the “power of sin is activated through the law” (Rom 7:8). In Genesis, God commanded Adam, “You shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen. 2:17). That law revealed Adam’s vulnerability, showing that disobedience brings death, sin crouched at the door (the serpent “seeming to be good”) (Gen. 3:1; Gen. 4:7). Likewise, the Ten Commandments (Exod. 20) outline God’s standards, exposing humanity’s inability to live perfectly and our need for a Savior (Rom. 3:20, Gal. 3:24). In this context, the law is not only a boundary but also a mirror, showing our brokenness and pointing us to Jesus, who restores life and security. In the Paleo-Hebrew understanding of Tov (טוב), being surrounded, secured, and inside God’s “house”, Jesus provides the ultimate Good, placing believers within Himself, harmony, and life, where sin no longer rules.

Romans 8:1-2 “For this cause those who are in Christ Jesus will not be judged as sinners. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

Romans 10:13; Joel 2:32 “For whosoever [that’s you and me] shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

 

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The Week-After News Report – Scenario

Posted on August 26, 2025 by abdicate

Here’s a hypothetical news report after the the shortening of the day and the night of Revelation 8:12. The sun, moon, and stars are physical, the day and the night are time based. 

The Earth Sped Up: Aftermath Analysis

Moments after the cosmic event, seismographs and atomic clocks worldwide recorded an unprecedented anomaly. The length of the day abruptly shrank from the familiar 24 hours to just shy of 16 hours, a third of the day vanished with terrifying suddenness.

Astrophysics conclude: a Cosmic Slingshot

A rogue asteroid, on a trajectory that had long eluded detection, was gravitationally captured by a “gravity well” anomaly in Earth’s upper atmosphere, a phenomenon only possible with a yet-unreported form of artificial black hole, possibly seeded by high-energy particle collisions in recent human experiments. This minuscule black hole, once thought too small to be of consequence, had been orbiting at high velocity until it encountered the asteroid, drawing it irresistibly earthward.

The Impact

The black hole, fused with the asteroid, struck Earth’s equatorial bulge. The asteroid, superheated and accelerated by the black hole’s orbit, delivered an impact at triple the velocity of a conventional rock of its size, dumping not just kinetic but bizarre, high-density gravitational energy into the crust. Multiple satellites orbiting above the equator observed the crust shudder, ripple, and unprecedentedly spin faster, like a massive cosmic skater pulling in their arms.

Angular Momentum Transfer

The collision wasn’t just a hit; it imparted massive angular momentum, precisely aligned with the planet’s rotation. Scientists likened the effect to attaching a planetary-scale rocket to the equator and lighting the fuse: the acceleration of Earth’s spin began.

Geophysical and Atmospheric Upheaval

Massive earthquakes circled the globe as tectonic plates snapped under new rotational stress. The increase in centrifugal force at the equator displaced oceans, flooding continental lowlands and leaving former seas as vast, shallow basins. The redistribution of water mass and a reduction in effective gravity at the equator further allowed some ocean mass to escape into the atmosphere, especially where tectonic rifts had been torn open.

Such sudden acceleration also perturbed the core, driving electromagnetic chaos and causing aurora to appear at the equator.

The Human Toll

Billions perished. The sudden environmental catastrophe, darkness, and days one-third shorter than before, decimated populations. Survivors, the rarest of the rare, emerged into an unfamiliar, rapidly spinning world.

Physicists Explain

If you could attach gigantic rocket engines at the equator and power them for centuries, you might slowly achieve a similar effect, hypothetically “pulling” the Earth faster along its rotation.

Ancient theories involved shifting the mass of the oceans or repositioning the Moon for tidal acceleration, but never at this rapid pace. Only the perfect, catastrophic combination, a gravitational anomaly (mini black hole acting as a cosmic lure and accelerator) and a massive impact-aligned asteroid could account for the speed and scale observed.

Conclusion

Once the domain of science fiction, a scenario once considered “wild conjecture” became devastating reality. The swift aligned transfer of colossal angular momentum by a black hole-accelerated asteroid, something unthinkable outside theoretical astrophysics, now stands as the leading scientific explanation for the event that forever changed the rhythm of life on Earth.

 

References

  • Revelation 8:12
  • Isaiah 24:20
  • Revelation 16:20
  • Isaiah 13:12
  • Revelation 21:1
  • Matthew 24:22
  • Mark 13:20
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The Link between Word, Thing, Bee, and Wilderness

Posted on August 4, 2025 by abdicate

I have a deep desire to keep learning from the word of God. While many have explored the Greek term Logos, I haven’t seen as much attention given to its Hebrew counterpart. This brief study looks at the rich connections tied to the Hebrew word Dabar. I hope you find it meaningful.

The Word – debarDownload
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A Worm

Posted on June 19, 2025 by abdicate

Psalms 22:6

​But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.

Everything in the Scriptures points to Jesus. As an English speaker, when I read the word “worm,” I tend to think of a maggot or earthworm. However, that’s not the intended meaning, which is why it’s so important to go back to the original languages of Scripture with a reliable dictionary.

The Hebrew word תולע (worm – towla’ ) appears 43 times in Scripture and means “worm, scarlet stuff, crimson.” This worm is a small creature (“coccus ilicis”), about the size of a ladybug. See the Science section below. One of these uses is found in Isaiah 1:18, where the LORD says, “Come now, and let us reason together… Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Faith in Greek means to have a conviction of a belief, to be persuaded. God always said, “come now, and let us reason together…” that is, to be persuaded through information.

Psalm 22 is a Messianic psalm. Jesus quoted its first line on the cross (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34): “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This was not a cry of despair, but a deliberate reference to the entire psalm, which describes a righteous sufferer enduring mockery and physical agony, images that mirror the crucifixion (Psalm 22:7–8, 16–18). Before chapter and verse numbers were added in 1227 AD, quoting the opening line was the common way to reference a whole passage. Jesus was pointing to Psalm 22 as a prophetic fulfillment of His suffering, not expressing actual abandonment, as God had promised never to forsake His own (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5).

The letter meanings (see below) for the word תולע declare:

    “A covenant secured by a nail that guides through understanding.”

In the context of towla’ meaning scarlet worm, this layered clarification is profound. The scarlet worm (coccus ilicis) clings to wood, dies, staining the wood which it was attached. Scripturally, the worm symbolizes Jesus, Whose blood brings a new covenant (Exodus 24:8; Jeremiah 31:31) (Tav – ת ), secured by the nails (Vav – ו), who teaches and leads (Lamed – ל), and who reveals truth and salvation to those with eyes to see (Ayin – ע)( Matthew 11:15). The conclusion: “A covenant secured by a nail that guides through understanding.” Fulfilling Isaiah 1:18!

The root of towlaʿ is the Hebrew verb yalʿa (ילע), meaning “to speak rashly, talk wildly, to swallow.” It appears only once in Proverbs 20:25: “It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, and only later to consider his vows.”

Jesus, sent by the Father, did not make a rash vow, He fulfilled it completely. As written in Ecclesiastes 5:4–5, Numbers 30:2, and Deuteronomy 23:21, a vow must be honored. Jesus gave Himself willingly, shedding His blood on a tree and becoming a curse for us (Deuteronomy 21:23, Galatians 3:13), so that we who were under the curse might be free and receive blessings. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “He who knew no sin became sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Additionally, it is also reflected in Psalm 57:3, “He shall send from heaven and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth His mercy and His truth,” and in Jesus’ words in John 6:38, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me.”

Indeed, the world called Jesus crazy. Mark 3:21 says His own people thought He was “out of His mind,” and John 10:20 records, “Many of them said, ‘He has a demon and is mad, why do you listen to Him?’” Many departed from following Him after He said in John 6:53–56 “Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have life in yourselves. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him. “

“Eat My flesh” and “drink My blood”

This is not about literal cannibalism, but about receiving Jesus fully, believing in Him as the true source of life. Just as food and drink sustain the body, Christ alone sustains the soul. To “eat” His flesh and “drink” His blood is to internalize His sacrifice, to accept by faith (being persuaded) that His death and resurrection are necessary for eternal life.

Participation in His Life and Death

Jesus is offering Himself as the bread of life (John 6:35). Eating His flesh means embracing the truth that His body was broken for our sins. Drinking His blood signifies accepting the new covenant made through His blood (Matthew 26:28). It’s about entering into His death so that we may also live through His resurrection. (Romans 6:4-5)

Ongoing Relationship, Not a One-Time Act

The verbs used in Greek are continuous, suggesting an ongoing, abiding relationship. Jesus says in John 6:56, “He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him.” This is about constant fellowship, sustained by continual trust and fellowship with Him.

To eat His flesh and drink His blood means to believe in Jesus fully, to accept His sacrifice as your own, and to live in daily dependence on Him. It is a picture of complete spiritual union, Christ in you, and you in Christ. (John 6:56)

Letter Meanings

Word: תולע (Tav, Vav, Lamed, Ayin)

1. ת (Tav) Meaning: Mark, sign, covenant, seal
Symbolism: Tav is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, often representing completion, truth, or a sign of the covenant.

2. ו (Vav) Meaning: Hook, connection, nail
Symbolism: Vav joins things together, often seen as a connector, peg, or nail, it symbolizes binding, continuity, or a connection between heaven and earth.

3. ל (Lamed) Meaning: Staff, goad, authority, teach
Symbolism: Lamed is associated with instruction, leadership, or urging forward, like a shepherd’s staff guiding sheep.

4. ע (Ayin) Meaning: Eye, insight, to see
Symbolism: Ayin represents vision, perception, or understanding, both physical and spiritual.

Science

The worm “coccus ilicis” ++++  When the female of the scarlet worm species was ready to give birth to her young, she would attach her body to the trunk of a tree, fixing herself so firmly and permanently that she would never leave again. The eggs deposited beneath her body were thus protected until the larvae were hatched and able to enter their own life cycle. As the mother died, the crimson fluid stained her body and the surrounding wood. From the dead bodies of such female scarlet worms, the commercial scarlet dyes of antiquity were extracted.  What a picture this gives of Christ, dying on the tree, shedding His precious blood that He might “bring many sons unto glory.” Hebrews 2:10.

(from page 73, “Biblical Basis for Modern Science”, 1985,  Baker Book House, by Henry Morris)

https://www.azerbaijanrugs.com/arfp-natural_dyes_insect_dyes.htm

Spodek, Malkie & Ben-Dov, Yair. (2012). Morphology of the first-instar nymph and adult female of Kermes echinatus Balachowsky, with a comparison to K. vermilio Planchon (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Kermesidae). ZooKeys. 246. 11-26. 10.3897/zookeys.246.3766. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Kermes-echinatus-Balachowsky-first-instar-nymph-general-appearance_fig6_234012357

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Understanding ἁρπάζω in 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Posted on May 23, 2025 by abdicate

Introduction

Imagine hearing a word that carries the thrill of a sudden, powerful action—like being whisked away in an instant. In the Bible, the Greek word ἁρπάζω (pronounced “har-PAD-zo”) captures this kind of excitement. It appears in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, describing a dramatic moment when believers are “caught up” to meet Jesus. This essay explores what ἁρπάζω means in the New Testament, how it shapes the event described in 1 Thessalonians, when this event might happen, and what it looks like through examples you can relate to—all based on scripture alone.

Meaning of ἁρπάζω

To understand ἁρπάζω, let’s look at how it’s used in the New Testament. The word appears 13 times and often describes a forceful or sudden taking. For example, in Matthew 11:12, Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (KJV). Here, ἁρπάζω suggests seizing something eagerly, like grabbing a prize. In John 10:28-29, Jesus says no one can “pluck” (ἁρπάζω) His sheep from His hand, implying a strong attempt to snatch something away. In Acts 8:39, after Philip baptizes the Ethiopian, “the Spirit of the Lord caught away (ἁρπάζω) Philip,” showing a sudden, divine act of removal. These verses show ἁρπάζω means a swift, forceful action, like grabbing or being swept away unexpectedly.

The Event in 1 Thessalonians 4:17

In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Paul writes, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (ἁρπάζω) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (KJV). Here, ἁρπάζω describes believers being suddenly taken upward to meet Jesus. The context (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) explains that this happens after the dead in Christ rise first, at the sound of a trumpet and the Lord’s descent from heaven. This event, often called the “Rapture” (from the Latin for “caught up”), is a moment of victory for believers, uniting them with Jesus forever. The use of ἁρπάζω emphasizes the speed and divine power of this moment—like being instantly lifted from earth to heaven.

When Might This Happen?

Scripture doesn’t give an exact date for this event, but it offers clues about its timing. In 1 Thessalonians 5:2, Paul says, “The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night” (KJV), suggesting it will be sudden and unexpected. Matthew 24:36 reinforces this: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (KJV). This unpredictability is echoed in Matthew 24:43-44, where Jesus compares His coming to a thief, urging readiness. In 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Paul describes a similar event: “We shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump” (KJV). These passages point to a future, sudden event tied to Christ’s return, but its timing remains a mystery, meant to keep believers alert and faithful.

Examples for Understanding

To help you picture ἁρπάζω in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, think of these scenarios:

  1. The Soccer Game Snatch: Imagine you’re at a soccer game, and your team scores the winning goal. Suddenly, your best friend grabs your arm and pulls you from the stands to join the team’s victory celebration on the field. You didn’t expect it, but in a flash, you’re swept up into the excitement. That’s like ἁρπάζω—God suddenly pulling believers to join Jesus in the air, full of joy.
  2. The Surprise Field Trip: Picture you’re in class, bored with math, when your teacher announces a surprise field trip. Before you know it, you’re whisked out of the classroom onto a bus headed to an amusement park. The sudden shift from routine to adventure mirrors how ἁρπάζω describes believers being quickly taken to meet Jesus in a thrilling moment.

Conclusion

The Greek word ἁρπάζω in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 paints a vivid picture of a sudden, powerful act where believers are caught up to meet Jesus in the air. Its use across the New Testament shows it means a swift, forceful taking, fitting the dramatic event Paul describes. This “Rapture” is a hopeful promise for believers, uniting them with Christ forever, though its timing remains unknown, urging us to stay ready. Through examples like a friend pulling you into a celebration or a surprise trip, we can grasp the excitement and speed of this moment. As 1 Thessalonians 4:18 says, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (KJV)—this event is a source of hope, reminding us of God’s plan to bring us to Him.

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What a Beginning

Posted on January 11, 2025 by abdicate

Here’s the original discoverer of God’s Signature. I hope you like it. http://abdicate.net/whatabeginning.pdf

 

What is God’s Signature?
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The Heart of Christmas: Jesus Christ

Posted on December 26, 2024 by abdicate

At the core of Christmas is the celebration of Jesus Christ, the son of God. His birth, as recounted in the scriptures, is the central event of the holiday.

  • The Tree: The Christmas tree itself can be seen as a symbol of the cross. Its shape, reaching upwards, can represent His crucifixion, a stark reminder of the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for humanity.
  • The Lights: The shimmering lights adorning the tree symbolize Jesus as “the light of the world” (John 8:12). Just as the lights illuminate the darkness, Jesus brings correct understanding and love to all who believe in Him.
  • The Gifts: The act of exchanging gifts echoes the greatest gift of all: Jesus Christ, given by God the Father to humanity as a symbol of His love and forgiveness. He is the Present.

A Time of Reflection and Joy

The Gospel of John states that Jesus is “the light of the world” (John 8:12). This aligns with the spirit of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, which celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a period of darkness and oppression. Hanukkah, the dedication of the living Temple, Jesus, the embodiment of light and truth with His call to change your mind about God, see Him as the hope for all humanity. His presence at this time of dedication further emphasizes His commitment to bringing salvation (the meaning of Jesus) to the world.

Christmas is a time for all to reflect on the profound significance of Jesus’ birth and the message of hope, peace, and love that it symbolizes.

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The Witness of the Stars

Posted on July 28, 2024 by abdicate

Decades ago, I learned about this amazing truth. But, that I didn’t know was that it wasn’t a new discovery. I found an online version and have included in my site.

The Witness of the Stars

Truly, the Good News is written in the stars!

Psalms 8:3
​When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained;

Psalms 147:4
​He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names.

Jeremiah 31:35
the LORD, who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea, so that its waves roar; the LORD of Armies is his name, says:

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What is God’s Signature?

Posted on July 2, 2024 by abdicate

Since WordPress doesn’t let you add images easily, I decided to keep this article within a PDF file. I hope you find it useful. God’s awesome complexity is everywhere. So here’s His signature.

http://abdicate.net/gods_signature.pdf

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Unfolding Events

Posted on December 12, 2023 by abdicate

Misunderstanding the scriptures leads to a false relationship with God. Indeed, man’s interference is why there are an estimation of between 20,000 and 45,000 “Christian” denominations, with a staggering approximate 900 English bibles including partial, complete, and paraphrased translations.

The simple truth about the word of God is that it points to Jesus, God Almighty, the Sent One of the Lord, Who came to be born a sinless man, grow, learn, obey, pay for the sin of the world by dying on the cross, becoming our curse, taking our guilt, fulfilling the Law of God, and raising up from the dead to make us joint-heirs with Him and receive His innocence.

Fancy hidden words such as “repentance” simply means “change your mind.” Change your mind about what? God. Ask anyone if they want to speak about Jesus and you’ll get a plethora of answers and reasons not to speak about Him.

Another example of a misused word is “faith” which means “support; confirm” as a nurse or foster-parents support, or like a pillar that supports a doorway or portico. It also means “made firm, sure, lasting, confirmed, established, verified, reliable.” What do all these words imply? Truth. When you say “amen” at the end of a prayer, you’re saying “faith” in Hebrew. In Greek, “faith” means “conviction of the truth of anything, belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence).”

What does “change your mind” and “conviction of the truth” have to do with each other. The answer is in Isaiah 1:18, ​“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

To “change your mind” and have “conviction of the truth” you must have information. That is why Romans says to build your faith (gain truth) is to listen to the word of God, Romans 10:17. Indeed, we go to school, learn a trade, read the news, study, so that we can gather the truth. Misinformation isn’t new. Even Pilate said to Jesus, “What is truth?”

A counterfeit is an object or product that is made to appear to be something else, especially something of value, but is not genuine. Now you can understand the plethora of English bible versions, the twisted ungodly number of denominations, and the mixing of information from the word of God itself. Ephesians 4:4-6

Needing to lay the groundwork, the heart of this article is about the churning of events in the world; the systematic ruin of standards with the very pillars of truth being dismantled right before our eyes.

For the end times, consider the meaning of the word “prophet.” The word simply means a “speaker, or spokesperson.” This person makes known their thoughts, to declare, and to say. While the “church” has put a “false prophet” as being someone who speaks the future falsely, politicians certainly are included.

True the phrase, “If you can buy a politician, you can buy a scientist.” World health issues, world climate change, world economics, with fearmongering of future scenarios all playing out on the evening news by scientists and politicians to change the mind of people to further their own agenda.

What does this have to do with the end times? The scriptures foretell of a time when man will be rarer than gold (Isaiah 13:12), abstain from foods (1 Timothy 4:3), cause the image of the beast to live (research transhumanism – Revelation 13:13-15), calling good evil and evil good (Isaiah 5:20), being offended (Matthew 24:10), misinformation (Matthew 24:11), lawlessness (Matthew 24:12). Indeed, there are more citations than time to read them all. Research the terms “moral exploitation,” “pathological altruism,” and “coercive control.”

As these things occur, look up, Jesus is coming (Luke 21:28).

References

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