Rabbi Jacob Emden’s Appeal to the Christians…

Rabbi Jacob Emden (d. 1776) was a famous Rabbi for his day and is highly regarded in the Orthodox Jewish tradition, particularly among the Chasidic Jews. This epistle, I think is quite a challenge and a revelation that Christians today (like their predecessors in Europe) need to hear. Read this with and open mind and a heart tuned to the Spirit of God, rather than our own “comfort zone” of theology.

Rabbi Jacob Emden’s Letter (Seder Olam Rabbah Vezuta)

Exegesis Sample: Joel 2

Note: When examining, exegetically, the prophets, we must always consider their role as people who urged return to God’s covenant. In that light, part of prophetic exegesis is always the connections with the covenant.

Exegesis Sample: Luke 16

This exegesis deals with what is, arguably, Jesus’ most difficult parable: the parable of the shrewd manager. This sample hear examines the historical and literary contexts of the parable.

Exegesis Sample: Judges 3:12-30

In Judges 3:12-30, I have included an examination of the Literary Style of the book and an “Inside the Passage” section that examines the structure and makeup of the narrative.

Exegesis Sample: Philippians 3:7-16

Note: This new series will demonstrate different aspects of exegesis and how we approach the reading of the Scripture. There are many aspects of exegesis but I have opted to post a sample application (last step) first.

The Millennial Reign of Christ

Note: At the request of Jonathan McCarthy, I have written this post on the traditional, millennial doctrine of the Church (as evidenced by Papias and others of chiliastic persuasion throughout Church History).  This post is not intended as an argument for the doctrine (I have much more exploration to do in the other interpretations before doing so) but a summation of the belief (which is one that I claim).

The doctrine has its roots in Revelation 20:1-7, which provides an excellent description:

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison. (Revelation 20:1-7 ESV)

The first event of the Millennium is the binding of Satan in the abyss.  From the dawn of Creation and until this very day, Satan has been free to roam about the earth (Job 1:7, 1 Peter 5:8).  Such is his lot until the end of the Great Tribulation, those infamous seven years of judgment upon the earth in the Last Days.  After this, with the return of Christ, he is imprisoned in the abyss - but only temporarily.

The second characteristic of the Millennium is the authority of judgment given over to certain believers.  My own personal conviction is that this refers to the Sanhedrin - for the words used here is of the same purpose as the Great Council.  They are joined, not in equality, by those who had received the martyr’s crown.  Christ is not one who will reign with His own Being, but shall reward His faithful servants - those who have been faithful, “even unto death.” (Rev. 3).  These are set apart in the resurrection - being blessed to witness the earthly reign of Christ.

Many Biblical scholars would argue that the Millennial reign of Christ is further detailed in Ezekiel, in the prophecies concerning the Prince of Israel (”my servant David” - Ezekiel 34, 37, 44-46, 48), which concern the territorial allotments of Israel and the re-institution of the Temple worship.  Thus is the prophecy, spoken by the prophets, fulfilled: “My House shall be called a house of prayer for the Nations.”

There are three over-riding themes of this doctrine that pervade it:

1. It is temporary.  The Millennial Reign of Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel and the completion of every Messianic aspect.  God, in this thousand-year period, shows the power of His peace and rule on the earth.  Yet, it ends.
2. It is peaceful.  The Prince of Peace displays the power of His kingship.  With Satan locked away and the deceptions of the enemy and the demonic forces, at the least, inactive, mankind is given the opportunity to truly blossom and know God’s power.
3. It is literal and physical.  Christ promised a physical appearing and return and in His reign, will be present in His glorified humanity and divinity - the Son of David and the Son of God.  Those who have lost all for the sake of their Lord are rewarded with the physical fellowship of His grace.  Such an honor that has only been granted to a select few in the history of the world!

The Coming War: Current Events Leading Up to It?

According to Forbes.com, Israel has hinted at invading portions of Lebanon. On a political front, this is significant in taking the war to a whole new level. Biblically, however, it is land that was deeded to Israel by God Himself.

Russia, however, has recently entangled itself as the story reports:

Russia sharply criticized Israel over its onslaught against Lebanon, now in its ninth day, sparked when Hezbollah militants captured two Israeli soldiers. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Israel’s actions have gone “far beyond the boundaries of an anti-terrorist operation” and repeating calls for an immediate cease-fire.

With the elimination of Hezbollah from active participation in the Middle-Eastern wars, Israel must now only face Hamas and eliminate their leadership before a secure peace can be achieved. But Russia will not be so appeased.

The Ark of Noah Found?

One website/story published by the Christian Worldview Network and written by Worldview Weekend President Brannon Howse claims that Bob Cornuke and a team of 13 others - including apologist Josh McDowell - returned from Iran recently claiming they had found what could very well be the Ark of Noah. 

The Coming War: Aftermath

Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them, shields and bucklers, bow and arrows, clubs and spears; and they will make fires of them for seven years, so that they will not need to take wood out of the field or cut down any of the forests, for they will make their fires of the weapons.  They will seize the spoil of those who despoiled them, and plunder those who plunder them, declares the LORD God.  On that day I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers, east of the sea.  It will block the travelers for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried.  It will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog.  For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land.  All the people of the land will bury them, and it will bring them renown on the day that I show my glory, declares the LORD God.  They will set apart men to travel through the land regularly and bury those travelers remaining on the face of the land, so as to cleanse it.  Until the end of seven months they will make their search.  And when these travel through the land and anyone sees a human bone, then he shall set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-gog. (Hamonah is also the name of the city.) Thus they shall cleanse the land. -Ezekiel 29:9-16

The Coming War: What Happens When Gog Attacks?

But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel, declares the LORD God, my wrath will be roused in my anger.  For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.  The fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the people who are on the face of the earth shall quake at my presence.  And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall and every wall shall tumble to the ground.  I will summon a sword against  Gog on all my mountains, declares the LORD God.  Every man's sword will be against his brother.  With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations.  They they will know that I am the LORD. [...] Then I shall strike your bow from your left hand and will make your arrows drop out of your right hand.  You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your hordes and the peoples who are with you.  I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.  You shall fall in the open field for I have spoken, declares the LORD God.  I will send fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the coastlands, and they shall know that I am the LORD. -Ezekiel 38:18-23, 39:3-6