Sabbath vs. First day of the week – Part II

Posted on November 26, 2018 by abdicate

Here are the verses with “σαββασ” in it. The word is just part of the whole word so that the search included all the suffixes and prefixes like:

run* will give you run, runs, running, etc.

Finally, I invite you to see for yourself when the exact same word is translated one way versus the other, Sabbath vs. first day of the week.

After the verse I put the KJV translation.

Matt 12:2 Sabbath –
οι δε φαρισαιοι ιδοντες ειπον αυτω ιδου οι μαθηται σου ποιουσιν ο ουκ εξεστι ποιειν εν σαββατω
But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”

Matt 12:5 Sabbath – Sabbath –
η ουκ ανεγνωτε εν τω νομω οτι τοις σαββασιν οι ιερεις εν τω ιερω το σαββατον βεβηλουσι και αναιτιοι εισι;
Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

Matt 12:8 Sabbath –
κυριος γαρ εστι και του σαββατου ο υιος του ανθρωπου
For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

Matt 24:20 Sabbath –
προσευχεσθε δε ινα μη γενηται η φυγη υμων χειμωνος μηδε εν σαββατω
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

Matt 28:1 Sabbath, first day of the week –
οψε δε σαββατων τη επιφωσκουση εις μιαν σαββατων ηλθε μαρια η μαγδαληνη και η αλλη μαρια θεωρησαι τον ταφον
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Mark 2:27 Sabbath – Sabbath –
και ελεγεν αυτοις το σαββατον δια τον ανθρωπον εγενετο ουχ ο ανθρωπος δια το σαββατον
And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

Mark 2:28 Sabbath –
ωστε κυριος εστιν ο υιος του ανθρωπου και του σαββατου
Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Mark 6:2 Sabbath –
και γενομενου σαββατου ηρξατο εν τη συναγωγη διδασκειν και πολλοι ακουοντες εξεπλησσοντο λεγοντες ποθεν τουτω ταυτα; και τις η σοφια η δοθεισα αυτω οτι και δυναμεις τοιαυται δια των χειρων αυτου γινονται;
And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

Mark 15:42 Sabbath –
και ηδη οψιας γενομενης ( επει ην παρασκευη ο εστι προσαββατον )
And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

Mark 16:1 Sabbath –
και διαγενομενου του σαββατου μαρια η μαγδαληνη και μαρια η του ιακωβου και σαλωμη ηγορασαν αρωματα ινα ελθουσαι αλειψωσιν αυτον
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Mark 16:2 first day of the week –
και λιαν πρωι της μιας σαββατων ερχονται επι το μνημειον ανατειλαντος του ηλιου
And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

Mark 16:9 first day of the week –
αναστας δε πρωι πρωτη σαββατου εφανη πρωτον μαρια τη μαγδαληνη αφ ης εκβεβληκει επτα δαιμονια
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Luke 4:16 Sabbath –
και ηλθεν εις την { ναζαρετ}{ ναζαρεθ} ου ην τεθραμμενος και εισηλθε κατα το ειωθος αυτω εν τη ημερα των σαββατων εις την συναγωγην και ανεστη αναγνωναι
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Luke 6:1 Sabbath –
εγενετο δε εν σαββατω δευτεροπρωτω διαπορευεσθαι αυτον δια των σποριμων και ετιλλον οι μαθηται αυτου τους σταχυας και ησθιον ψωχοντες ταις χερσι
And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.

Luke 6:5 Sabbath –
και ελεγεν αυτοις οτι κυριος εστιν ο υιος του ανθρωπου και του σαββατου
And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Luke 6:6 Sabbath –
εγενετο δε και εν ετερω σαββατω εισελθειν αυτον εις την συναγωγην και διδασκειν και ην εκει ανθρωπος και η χειρ αυτου η δεξια ην ξηρα
And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

Luke 6:7 Sabbath –
παρετηρουν δε αυτον οι γραμματεις και οι φαρισαιοι ει εν τω σαββατω θεραπευσει ινα ευρωσι κατηγοριαν αυτου
And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.

Luke 13:14 Sabbath – Sabbath –
αποκριθεις δε ο αρχισυναγωγος αγανακτων οτι τω σαββατω εθεραπευσεν ο ιησους ελεγε τω οχλω εξ ημεραι εισιν εν αις δει εργαζεσθαι εν ταυταις ουν ερχομενοι θεραπευεσθε και μη τη ημερα του σαββατου
And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

Luke 13:15 Sabbath –
απεκριθη ουν αυτω ο κυριος και ειπεν υποκριτα εκαστος υμων τω σαββατω ου λυει τον βουν αυτου η τον ονον απο της φατνης και απαγαγων ποτιζει;
The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

Luke 13:16 Sabbath –
ταυτην δε θυγατερα αβρααμ ουσαν ην εδησεν ο σατανας ιδου δεκα και οκτω ετη ουκ εδει λυθηναι απο του δεσμου τουτου τη ημερα του σαββατου;
And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Luke 14:1 Sabbath –
και εγενετο εν τω ελθειν αυτον εις οικον τινος των αρχοντων των φαρισαιων σαββατω φαγειν αρτον και αυτοι ησαν παρατηρουμενοι αυτον
And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

Luke 14:3 Sabbath –
και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπε προς τους νομικους και φαρισαιους λεγων ει εξεστι τω σαββατω θεραπευειν;
And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

Luke 14:5 Sabbath –
και αποκριθεις προς αυτους ειπε τινος υμων ονος η βους εις φρεαρ εμπεσειται και ουκ ευθεως ανασπασει αυτον εν τη ημερα του σαββατου;
And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

Luke 18:12 twice in the week –
νηστευω δις του σαββατου αποδεκατω παντα οσα κτωμαι
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Luke 23:54 Sabbath –
και ημερα ην παρασκευη και σαββατον επεφωσκε
And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

Luke 23:56 Sabbath –
υποστρεψασαι δε ητοιμασαν αρωματα και μυρα και το μεν σαββατον ησυχασαν κατα την εντολην
And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Luke 24:1 first day of the week –
τη δε μια των σαββατων ορθρου βαθεος ηλθον επι το μνημα φερουσαι α ητοιμασαν αρωματα και τινες συν αυταις
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

John 5:9 Sabbath –
και ευθεως εγενετο υγιης ο ανθρωπος και ηρεν τον κραββατον αυτου και περιεπατει ην δε σαββατον εν εκεινη τη ημερα
And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

John 5:10 Sabbath
ελεγον ουν οι ιουδαιοι τω τεθεραπευμενω σαββατον εστιν ουκ εξεστι σοι αραι τον κραββατον 
The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

John 5:16 Sabbath –
και δια τουτο εδιωκον τον ιησουν οι ιουδαιοι και εζητουν αυτον αποκτειναι οτι ταυτα εποιει εν σαββατω
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

John 5:18 Sabbath –
δια τουτο ουν μαλλον εζητουν αυτον οι ιουδαιοι αποκτειναι οτι ου μονον ελυε το σαββατον αλλα και πατερα ιδιον ελεγε τον θεον ισον εαυτον ποιων τω θεω
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

John 7:22 Sabbath –
δια τουτο μωσης δεδωκεν υμιν την περιτομην ( ουχ οτι εκ του μωσεως εστιν αλλ εκ των πατερων ) και εν σαββατω περιτεμνετε ανθρωπον
Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.

John 7:23 Sabbath – Sabbath –
ει περιτομην λαμβανει ανθρωπος εν σαββατω ινα μη λυθη ο νομος μωσεως εμοι χολατε οτι ολον ανθρωπον υγιη εποιησα εν σαββατω;
If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

John 9:14 Sabbath –
ην δε σαββατον οτε τον πηλον εποιησεν ο ιησους και ανεωξεν αυτου τους οφθαλμους
And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

John 9:16 Sabbath –
ελεγον ουν εκ των φαρισαιων τινες ουτος ο ανθρωπος ουκ εστι παρα του θεου οτι το σαββατον ου τηρει αλλοι ελεγον πως δυναται ανθρωπος αμαρτωλος τοιαυτα σημεια ποιειν; και σχισμα ην εν αυτοις
Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

John 19:31 Sabbath – Sabbath –
οι ουν ιουδαιοι ( { επει παρασκευη ην} ινα μη μεινη επι του σταυρου τα σωματα εν τω σαββατω { επει παρασκευη ην} ην γαρ μεγαλη η ημερα εκεινου του σαββατου ) ηρωτησαν τον πιλατον ινα κατεαγωσιν αυτων τα σκελη και αρθωσιν
The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

John 20:1 first day of the week –
τη δε μια των σαββατων μαρια η μαγδαληνη ερχεται πρωι σκοτιας ετι ουσης εις το μνημειον και βλεπει τον λιθον ηρμενον εκ του μνημειου
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

John 20:19 first day of the week –
ουσης ουν οψιας τη ημερα εκεινη τη μια των σαββατων και των θυρων κεκλεισμενων οπου ησαν οι μαθηται συνηγμενοι δια τον φοβον των ιουδαιων ηλθεν ο ιησους και εστη εις το μεσον και λεγει αυτοις ειρηνη υμιν
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Acts 1:12 Sabbath –
τοτε υπεστρεψαν εις ιερουσαλημ απο ορους του καλουμενου ελαιωνος ο εστιν εγγυς ιερουσαλημ σαββατου εχον οδον
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.

Acts 13:14 Sabbath –
αυτοι δε διελθοντες απο της περγης παρεγενοντο εις αντιοχειαν της πισιδιας και εισελθοντες εις την συναγωγην τη ημερα των σαββατων εκαθισαν
But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

Acts 13:27 Sabbath –
οι γαρ κατοικουντες εν ιερουσαλημ και οι αρχοντες αυτων τουτον αγνοησαντες και τας φωνας των προφητων τας κατα παν σαββατον αναγινωσκομενας κριναντες επληρωσαν
For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

Acts 13:42 Sabbath –
εξιοντων δε εκ της συναγωγης των ιουδαιων παρεκαλουν τα εθνη εις το μεταξυ σαββατον λαληθηναι αυτοις τα ρηματα ταυτα
And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

Acts 13:44 Sabbath –
τω δε ερχομενω σαββατω σχεδον πασα η πολις συνηχθη ακουσαι τον λογον του θεου
And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Acts 15:21 Sabbath –
μωσης γαρ εκ γενεων αρχαιων κατα πολιν τους κηρυσσοντας αυτον εχει εν ταις συναγωγαις κατα παν σαββατον αναγινωσκομενος
For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Acts 16:13 Sabbath –
τη τε ημερα των σαββατων εξηλθομεν εξω της πολεως παρα ποταμον ου ενομιζετο προσευχη ειναι και καθισαντες ελαλουμεν ταις συνελθουσαις γυναιξι
And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

Acts 17:2 Sabbath –
κατα δε το ειωθος τω παυλω εισηλθε προς αυτους και επι σαββατα τρια διελεγετο αυτοις απο των γραφων
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

Acts 18:4 Sabbath –
διελεγετο δε εν τη συναγωγη κατα παν σαββατον επειθε τε ιουδαιους και ελληνας
And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

Acts 20:7 first day of the week –
εν δε τη μια των σαββατων συνηγμενων των μαθητων του κλασαι αρτον ο παυλος διελεγετο αυτοις μελλων εξιεναι τη επαυριον παρετεινε τε τον λογον μεχρι μεσονυκτιου
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

1Cor 16:2 first day of the week –
κατα μιαν σαββατων εκαστος υμων παρ εαυτω τιθετω θησαυριζων ο τι αν ευοδωται ινα μη οταν ελθω τοτε λογιαι γινωνται
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Col 2:16 Sabbath –
μη ουν τις υμας κρινετω εν βρωσει η εν ποσει η εν μερει εορτης η νουμηνιας η σαββατων
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

Heb 4:9 rest –
αρα απολειπεται σαββατισμος τω λαω του θεου
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

So here we have all these verse and the only pattern to translating Sabbath to “first day of the week” is to separate the Christians from the Jews.

Note how Luke 6:1 makes more sense now that you know “first” of seven Sabbaths to be counted, that Jesus was in the corn field the Second Sabbath of seven! :)

 

 

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Sabbath vs. First Day of the Week

Posted on November 26, 2018 by abdicate

First, I need to be verbose because I want to show that I did not arrive at this conclusion lightly or quickly.

Years ago I read a book that claimed that from the commandment to rebuild the city of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25) to the birth of Israel was exactly this or that many days. I thought, “How on earth did they come up with that?” How little did I know the impact in my life that little inquiry made.

Ten years later(!) I wrote my chronology study. How many amazing gems are within the letters, words and pages of the word of God! While I was confident about the years, and the day Jesus died, no matter what I did, I could not rectify “three days and three nights” from Wednesday to Sunday, nor Friday to Sunday. We all rationalize away these discrepancies to our theology by amending our theology. But God is never changing and cannot lie, so where’s the problem. I resorted to all kinds of things like using Excel to equate a cell for each day, then slice it into two for “day” and “night.” I prayed and formulated, and I just couldn’t get it to work out. I attacked Google like a madman seeing if anyone else had the answer. Nothing. Another ten years goes by and *bloop* the answer appears. That still small voice that kept telling me to return to the originals got loud enough to get my attention. Oh, to have listened 20 years ago!

Knowing Spanish and Italian pretty good, I knew about the issues of translations. No matter how pure my heart is, I still interject my thoughts and beliefs into translations. It’s the sin in us that keeps us in the dark, 1 Corinthians 13:12. Since I learned Italian first, I then married a Spaniard and after 13 years, I got a job in Spain. Though we spoke English, I tried to get beyond “kitchen Spanish,” that is, day-to-day repetitive home conversations. The Spaniards would chuckle at me so I asked them why. They said I was mixing Italian in with my Spanish. I asked my wife why her and her family didn’t correct me. “We thought it was cute,” she said. The point is, there are issues with what we know and how we come to know it. This is what traditions do to us, Colossians 2:8.

With that said, I’ve been a KJVer most of my Christian life. It dawned on me that maybe the Christians who were translating the Greek and Hebrew might have inadvertently introduced some “Italian” into their “Spanish,” that is, their theology. So, I started down the path to learning these ancient languages that honestly don’t match word-for-word their modern cousins. I found out I don’t have to! Part of learning a language is understanding the culture. Since the biblical times and cultures are not present today to study, then I can make do with the plain English, dictionaries, lexicons and morphology tools (verb tenses, noun gender, etc.)

Hebrew is very creative and is thematic in nature, that is, a word-for-word translation isn’t really possible on the whole no more than me being concise. :) What I mean is that each letter has its own meaning and the combination of those letters form new meanings in words and links them to other words. Greek is more precise in its meaning much like we do in English. For example the word for word (דבר debar) is the same as the word thing in Hebrew and the female version of word is a bee Deborah. What does word, thing, and bee have in common? One of my favorite phrases, “Like an arrow, when a word is released, has its own power, and just as hard to take back.” God spoke everything into existence, so it make sense that word and thing are related. It also give proof to the strong conviction we call faith. So the spoken word is its own thing with its own power and by word of mouth, the Good News is spread like a bee. Each letter of דבר (debar) means: door, in, man. A door in a man is his mouth which speaks דברים debarim) words. Now you can begin to understand Jesus’ words:

Matthew 15:10-11
He summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand. That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”

Ok, enough history. Here’s what I found. Young’s literal translation says:

Matthew 28:1 (YLT)
And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre,

I thought, how can it be the evening of the sabbaths and yet be toward the first of the sabbaths? It doesn’t make sense – to me. Having read so much, I remembered a verse:

Leviticus 23:15
You shall count from the next day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be completed:

Ok, so the day after the Sabbath after the sheaf offering. Well when is that? The day after the 15th of Nisan (the first day of Unleavened Bread), Leviticus 23:6, which is the day after Passover, Leviticus 23:5. The first and last days of Unleavened Bread are Sabbaths, that is:

Leviticus 23:7
In the first day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work.

So, verse 15 is talking about the day after the Sabbath of Unleavened Bread, the next day is the sheaf offering, and then the counting of the seven weekly Sabbath to Pentecost. Now we can understand the literal translation of Matthew 28:1 as

In the evening after the sabbath, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulcher.

Let’s break it down. I’m using Thayer’s and Mickelson’s dictionary. Here’s what the first part of the verse look like in Greek:

οψε δε σαββατων τη επιφωσκουση εις μιαν σαββατων

οψε
– Transliteration: Opse
– Phonetic: op-seh’
– Definition:
1. after a long time, long after, late
a. late in the day, i.e. at evening
b. the sabbath having just passed, after the sabbath

δε
– Transliteration: De
– Phonetic: deh
– Definition:
1. but, moreover, and, etc.

σαββατων
– Transliteration: Sabbaton
– Phonetic: sab’-bat-on
– Definition:
1. the seventh day of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work
a. the institution of the sabbath, the law for keeping holy every seventh day of the week
b. a single sabbath, sabbath day

τη
– Phonetic:
– Definition:
1. He who is, and was, and is coming

επιφωσκουση
– Transliteration: Epiphosko
– Phonetic: ep-ee-foce’-ko
– Definition:
1. to grow light, to dawn

εις
– Transliteration: Eis
– Phonetic: ice
– Definition:
1. into, unto, to, towards, for, among

μιαν
– Transliteration: Mia
– Phonetic: mee’-ah
– Definition:
1. only one, someone

σαββατων
– Transliteration: Sabbaton
– Phonetic: sab’-bat-on
– Definition:
1. the seventh day of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work
a. the institution of the sabbath, the law for keeping holy every seventh day of the week
b. a single sabbath, sabbath day

Yes, I left off the definition “seven days, a week” because it’s a new addition (albeit from ~180 AD). Here’s the problem: σαββατων is the Greek word for Sabbath(s) and appears 62 times in the New Testament. In ALL cases, except when referring to the Resurrection, it’s translated “Sabbath” and “first [day] of the week” when pointing to the Resurrection with the one exception of Luke 18:12 which could be translated, “I fast twice on the Sabbath.” After all, there are multiple meals a day, so it’s plausible. The actual Greek word for week is εβδομάδα (evdomáda) and it does NOT appear in the word of God at all. The rabbis translated the Hebrew scriptures into Greek (called the Septuagint) and in Daniel 9:27 they use εβδομάδα (evdomáda) for week and not σαββατων (sabbaton) as an example.

So why is it that sabbaton is translated week today? There’s not real answer and can only be attributed to the Gentiles rejecting Jewish heritage after the apostles all died. Furthermore, never before 100 AD has Sabbaton meant week. The web site Torah Times (http://torahtimes.org/commentary/refuted.htm) states:

“They added the definition ‘week’ to the lexicons on the basis of their own tradition. However, there is no independent confirmation of this addition to the lexicons from ancient sources contemporary with the Apostles. There are no papyri or manuscripts showing this. There are no letters, no comments. There is nothing! The trail of their chain of ‘authority’ goes cold in the second century A.D. They cannot trace farther back than this time which was known to be an era of great apostasy and heresy.”

These issues continue in translations like in Act 12:4 is translated “Easter” when that word in Greek is found, the other 26 times is translated Passover! Why would this happen? Because the devil wants us to be divorced from the Jews! And the modern church swallowed it up! The book of James is actually the book of Jacob! Many substitutions for traditions.

So what impact does it make to move the Resurrection from Sunday to Saturday? None according to Paul:

Colossians 2:16-17
Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day, which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.

However, the truth is the truth and it’s there for some significance. So, I inquired of the Lord and His word. Think about what the Sabbath is. It was instituted by God for Himself to accentuate the completion of His creative work. The exclamation point if you will. He “ceased” from His work, not “rested.” But even that distinction is helpful because you stop what you’re doing and by de facto, rest. Since the last word spoken by Jesus on the cross τετελεσται is translated “It is finished” it is literally the stamp on your bill “paid in full.” After His preaching to the captives, rose from the dead on the Sabbath showing He ceased from His work of Redemption (Grrr! Buzzwords!) meaning “paying the ransom”, or “delivering” us from penalty (of sin). If each day of Creation represents one day of history, when Jesus comes again and rules for a day (1,000 years – six verses(!) in Rev 20 and 2 Peter 3:8 making seven!) then the world will have “rest” from the curse and the devil – a Sabbath. The whole 6,000 years idea comes from the very first verse. Here it is in Hebrew:

בראשית ברא אלהים את השמים ואת הארץ

The six red letters are the letter alef, the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Not only do each letter have its own meaning, it also has a number assigned to it. A=1, B=2, C=3, etc. something the Jews didn’t do until around 300 BC after the Greeks same method. What that decision did was unlock a whole lot of gems in the word of God. Anyhow, alef is the only letter with two numeric meanings: one, and thousand.

Every word in the word of God, or as Jesus put it, every “yod and tagin,” Matthew 5:18, of the word of God has a purpose. “Yod” is the 10th and smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet and represents the work of a man’s arm and hand, Psalms 98:1, and the “Tagin” are the crowns on the flowery version of the Hebrew letters, hasoferet.com/cbh/2012/04/01/tagin-the-crowns-on-the-letters-of-the-torah which the hand written version of the Hebrew scriptures holds many amazing mysteries that are lost in translation (even into computer type).

There you have it. There are so many wonderful things in the word of God. Just as complex is the universe and how simplistically beautiful it is, so is the word of God.

I hope you made it this far and enjoyed it. (Continue to Part II)

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Mysteries of Life

Posted on November 10, 2017 by abdicate

When I was a kid, I noticed that one day the calendar read: 2:34 5/6/78 Ever since then I see the other patterns in the calendar. While there are many, each one happens only once a 100 years. It’s part of the gift the Lord has given humanity: pattern recognition. It’s also why we love puzzles and want to solve mysteries. It’s part of who we are, to seek and find. Even kids play (or at least they used to) hide-n-seek. To me, it’s the hole left by having sin in us that only God can fill.

The Creator put all around us amazing puzzles and mysteries so we can seek Him out – the ultimate Mystery. By doing so, we get a sense of euphoria when we solve it. This base compelling desire to solve things is why mystery novels, plays, games and shows revolve around solving something. Sherlock Holmes, Rubik’s cube, Sudoku, conspiracy theories, etc. My greatest euphoria is the filling of the Holy Spirit and finding things in the word of God. Some of my favorites are finding mathematical Pi small_pi.png in Genesis 1:1,  Euler’s number euler_num.png in John 1:1 (which contains small_pi.png), or all the evil that befalls the Jews on 9 Av, or the equal-letter-sequence discoveries throughout the Torah. In fact, small_pi.png is so amazing by itself, any sequence can be found in it. Everything points to Jesus and His might!

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Man-ology

Posted on September 24, 2017 by abdicate

Recently online, a heated discussion about Calvinism vs. Arminianism ensued. One that really surprised me was a thread about a flat earth according to the bible. Such hogwash. I’m reminded of Paul:

Titus 3:9 (KJV)
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

The devil loves putting things as black and white and stuffing it into a controllable box.  That way we don’t have to think about God, or what He wants, if He’s telling you to be responsible for your own actions. Also, with such rigidity instead of learning to love and trust God, you start to despise His “unyielding law” and hating Him. So you end up creating theology to deal with it. “I’m a sinner so I can’t stop sinning so why try!” or “I’m not as bad as my neighbor.” When someone wants to slap a label on something, rip it off. If they want to stick you into a box, break out of it. With every heresy there’s a grain of truth. Some quick proofs:

  • “Meditation is Hindu guru junk”

Yet, God says to meditate on His word day and night, Joshua 1:8.

  • “Money is the root of all evil”

Money isn’t the problem, the love of money is the root of all evil, 1 Tim 6:10.

Deu 28 shows we have free will. When someone throws in the definition “without external influences” they’re lying to themselves. We’re influenced by things we don’t even know exist. Just because we can’t feel or sense x-rays doesn’t mean they don’t have an effect on us. Everyday we’re bombarded by cell phone signals and WiFi yet we can’t sense it physically, but is it doing us harm? Only God knows for now.

I was reading about some football player that had died and when they did an autopsy of his brain they saw it filled with dead cells that had died long before he did. They now believe that his violent actions off the field might have been because of his unknown condition. By everyone’s account, he was an evil dude, but internally, he was influenced by not having a healthy brain.

The point is, these labeling exercises only help put people back into a box or allow for the dismissal of a truth because it’s lumped in with other junk. Paul say he doesn’t judge his own self because he knows he doesn’t have all the facts about what influences him.

1 Corinthians 4:3-5 (KJV)
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Yet, every single day, if not every single moment, we judge one another and ourselves. To say “I’m right” is judging yourself. Stick to the word of God, all of it, not “man-ology” as someone so rightly stated, otherwise, we fall under the spell of silver-tongued devils.

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Act of Mercy of God

Posted on September 22, 2017 by abdicate

Throughout the scriptures, legal words and titles are used over and over again. “Satan” comes from the Hebrew hasatan – “the accuser” or “the adversary” or in today’s legalese “plaintiff” – and some of Jesus’ title are Advocate, 1 John 2:1, Counsellor, Isaiah 9:6 and of course Judge, John 5:22. We’re to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise, Psalms 100:4, and boldly come to the throne of grace, Hebrews 4:16.

Deuteronomy 28 spells it out really. As I see it, and the word of God shows that the devil is the enforcer, the bringer of death and destruction and loss. But instead of being sent to enforce, God simply removes His protection thereby allowing the devil to destroy. This is exactly what happened with Job. Job sinned not with his mouth, but his actions were one of fear for his children, trying to atone for their possible sins. It was a prison of his own making. This allowed for God’s protection to be removed to a point because Job didn’t trust God. In fact, Job called for the Advocate!

Job 16:21 (KJV)
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

It’s all very legal if you see it for what it is. Think of it this way, you speed, you get stopped by a cop, and you have to go before a judge. But if before all that you speed and hit a tree and die, whose fault is it? There are tons of degrees. Another, which we can’t fathom, is when others sin and the innocent pay like the miscarriages and diseases from the Flint water contamination or Three-Mile Island or war. Why would God allow this? To fill up the cup of wrath on those responsible. You see it throughout the scriptures. Besides, if God stepped in for every sin we commit immediately, we wouldn’t even exist because Adm and Eve would have died instantly and we wouldn’t even exist. Free will is a powerful gift from the Lord and as such, comes with great responsibilities. Which brings us back to Deuteronomy 28.

Choice.

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Timing of the Rapture

Posted on August 15, 2017 by abdicate

There are a lot of debates about the scriptures concerning when the Rapture will occur – to some, if at all. Thanks to Perry Stone’s observations I offer my version.

God, “Declaring the end from the beginning…” Isa 46:10a

Genesis 8 – Outpouring of the Holy Spirit (dove) – Last Days pour out Spirit

Genesis 7 – Shaking of the Earth – Earthquakes in divers places

Genesis 6 – Signs of the Days of Noah – violence and evil therefore the love of many grow cold

Genesis 5 – Rapture of Enoch – Rapture of the church

Genesis 4 – Marking of Cain – Marking of God’s 144,000 and Mark of the Beast for the rest

Genesis 3 – Satan won over man 3:15 – Satan loses over a Man, Rev 20:2

Genesis 2 – Perfect Paradise – Reve 22 Perfect Paradise

Genesis 1 –

  • Time Begins – Time Ends;
  • God walked with man – God walks with man;
  • Tree of Life – Tree of Life heals the nations;
  • Adam and Eve – Jesus and His Bride;
  • No sickness or death – No more sickness or death;
  • Eternity Past – Eternity Future

First two chapters of the word of God are perfect. Alef; Alpha
Last two chapters of the word of God are perfect. Tav; Omega

Genesis – Nimrod one world government; tower of Babel
Revelation – Antichrist one world government; mystery Babylon; Babylon is destroyed

Isaiah 46:9-10 (KJV)
Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me,  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Revelation 22:13 (KJV)
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

John 1:1-5 (KJV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 1:1-5 (KJV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

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Bread of Life

Posted on June 27, 2017 by abdicate

Bread of Life – לחם החיים

Interestingly, “bread” first appears in Gen 3:19 as part of the curse. In fact, the word bread (lechem לחם) when pronounced lecham (לחם) means to battle, to war, to fight, and to eat food. The Hebrew letters mean control/to/from, separation/fenced/wall, chaos/waters – When water and flour are mixed, they’re kneaded into bread and put into the fire. Control the separation of chaos or control the separation of waters. Hunger is chaos both of the stomach and to the spirit. To eat brings waters, salivating, stomach acids which wars against the elements to become energy (fire). The value of bread is 78.

The in Hebrew is simply the addition of the letter hey ה. It is the 5th letter in Hebrew and has a meaning of behold/window/revelation/grace. It’s value is 5.

Life in Hebrew is חיים literally “lives”. חיים letter meanings are separation/fenced/wall, work/deed/arm & hand, work/deed/arm & hand, chaos/waters.

To understand this, you must see what the word blood is in Hebrew which is דם and the letters mean door/path, chaos/waters. Our body’s paths (veins) hold water (blood) which is the life, Gen 9:4. So life, חיים means fenced, work, deed, water. Our life is in the blood just as the word of God says and is contained within us. By it we work and do.

The Bread of Life wars for us, satisfies us, by the shedding of His blood, His life poured out for us. So that by His work/deed, we have life! While we know this from word, the letters spell it out too. Every nuance points to Jesus in one way or another.

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Praise

Posted on June 26, 2017 by abdicate

Here’s the first time praise is used:

Genesis 29:35 (KJV)
And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.​

So let’s look at praise. ידה is yada in Hebrew and means to shoot arrows, to cast, to throw down, to laud, to give thanks, to confess sins. It also means hand.

Its letters mean:
י – arm and hand/deed/work – value of 10
ד – door/pathway – value of 4
ה – grace/revelation/window – value of 5

Total: 19 (a prime number)

So praise is to use your arms and hands (Psa 134:2; 1 Tim 2:8) which opens a doorway to grace and revelation. The idea also is the movements of the hand enables work in the flesh and in the spirit. We raise our hands like a child asking for help, throw up our hands in surrender to a superior Force, in praise to give thanks and glory to God, and cast our cares and sins to His faithful judgement.

Judah – יהודה – is the tribe that always went up first to battle. We should praise before battle! If you remove the ד(Door – John 10:9 :) ) from the word you have יהוה which is the name God gave to Moses! Indeed, the Door from the tribe of Judah (Praise) is the Pathway (John 14:6) to the Father through confession and praise (Rom 10:9)!

Glory to God how His word is so entwined like a gorgeous tapestry revealing Your Son with every pulled thread!!
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All Powerful God – Waiting

Posted on May 16, 2017 by abdicate

A thought: The Father knows not only the end from the beginning but all the possible choices we all make and all the possible outcomes. This is how we get to the “many are called, few are chosen”. He chooses those that would accept His calling, just like God knew Pharaoh would do evil, so God chose him to fulfill God’s will, then hardened Pharaoh’s heart to expedite the desired outcome – to give God the glory. Sort of like the police using already bad people to do their bidding for a greater good – catch the bigger criminal. Everyone still has the choice to choose. If the little criminal or Pharaoh had repented and said “I’m done with that life” there’s nothing the police or God could do. The police and God would find someone else to do their bidding. This also gives us the understanding why it takes an Omniscient and Omnipotent God time to get things done when we pray – He’s waiting for an obedient servant. Think about all the supernatural events recorded in the scriptures and notice how many are through the hands of simple obedient humans, all using God’s power He instructed them to use in the first place.

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Jesus the Gift

Posted on April 29, 2017 by abdicate

Proverbs 30:4-7 (KJV)

Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell? Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

 

Proverbs 30:4-7 (HEBm)

מי עלה שמים וירד מי אסף רוח בחפניו מי צרר מים בשמלה מי הקים כל אפסי ארץ מה שמו ומה שם בנו כי תדע׃ כל אמרת אלוה צרופה מגן הוא לחסים בו׃ אל תוסף על דבריו פן יוכיח בך ונכזבת׃ שתים שאלתי מאתך אל תמנע ממני בטרם אמות׃

ישוע שי = Jesus Gift

22-letter skip

שי as the whole word appears 3 times in the scriptures:

Psalms 68:28-29 (KJV)

Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us. Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

Psalms 76:11 (KJV)

Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.

Isaiah 18:7 (KJV)

In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.

 

Jesus, talking to the Samaritan woman said:

John 4:10 (KJV)

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

 

Ephesians 2:8 (KJV)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

The word “the” here in the Greek is a word form that reflects a person, which we don’t have an equivalent in English. Like “the Adam” or “the Jesus”.

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