Pro and Con 749

Posted 5-15-01

My note

Gleaned from the Online Bible program. Speaking of those already raptured, Heb. 12:22-24 (Rotherham) says, "ye have approached— unto Zion’s mountain, and unto the city of a Living God, a heavenly Jerusalem,—and unto myriads of messengers, IN HIGH FESTIVAL,—and unto an assembly of firstborn ones, enrolled in the heavens,—and unto God, judge of all,—and unto the spirits of righteous ones made perfect,—And unto the mediator of a new covenant, Jesus, —and unto the blood of sprinkling, more excellently speaking, than, Abel. Beware, lest ye excuse yourselves from him (Christ) that speaketh (saying, 'Come up hither,' Rev. 4:1); for, if, they escaped not, who excused themselves from him who on earth was warning, how much less, shall, we, who from him that warneth from the heavens, do turn ourselves away."

Online Bible Greek Lexicon, Re: Strong's 3831, "general assembly" in the KJV:
1) a festal gathering of the whole people to celebrate public games or other solemnities
2) a public festal assembly

Pentecost was one of the 3 pilgrimage festivals, when they were to go up to Jerusalem. It may be when we will go up to New Jerusalem. The other 2 pilgrimage festivals are Passover and Tabernacles, both in rainy months, Nisan (latter rain) and Tishri (former rain). Song of Sol. 2:10-14 points to the Rapture in the spring after the rain is over and gone.

Here is an interesting bit from the $10 Bible Library disk I got from Wal Mart. This is a literal translation with Strong's numbers. Here, it is talking about the asteroid that is in a cometary orbit among the terrestrial planets. You can click on any number and the Strong's entry will come up in a separate window on the right. Looking up words is a breeze. Eze. 1:13
|1961| It {was}
|1980| continually circling
|8432| among
|2416| the living creatures.

Incoming e-mail

Re: Pentecost
As usual I'm getting much enjoyment from your site. Glad to hear you and Ed are doing well.

I have a question. You said Pentecost is on May 28, My calendar says June 3. What is my calendar or me missing?? Many blessings to you

My reply

My Jewish Talmudic Calendar actually has Sivan 6 and 7 (May 28 and 29) marked Shavuoth (Pentecost/ Feast of Weeks). Those days are Monday and Tuesday this year.

Some people think that The Feast of Firstfruits and Pentecost always have to be on Sunday. Therefore, they slide those feasts ahead until they fall on Sunday. I haven't been able to see it that way.

Sabbath means cessation, rest. Lev. 16:29,31 says, "in the SEVENTH MONTH, on the TENTH DAY of the month, he shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all...It shall be a SABBATH OF REST unto you." A certain date cannot be on the same day of the week every year. Therefore, this Sabbath Day of Atonement (Tishri 10) is not always on Saturday. This year, it will fall on Thursday, Sept. 21, yet it will be a Sabbath.

A sabbath can also mean 7 of something, 7 days, 7 weeks, or 7 years. Concerning the Jubilee Year, Lev. 25:8,10 says, "thou shalt number SEVEN SABBATHS OF YEARS unto thee, SEVEN TIMES SEVEN YEARS; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee FORTY AND NINE YEARS...And ye shall hallow the FIFTIETH YEAR."

This is similar to counting the 50 days from Firstfruits to Pentecost. It is SEVEN TIMES SEVEN DAYS, FORTY AND NINE DAYS. Then the FIFTIETH DAY is Pentecost.

Lev. 23:34-39 is speaking of the Feast of Tabernacles. "The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall so no servile work therein. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation...it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations...in the fifteenth day of the seventh month...he shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on THE FIRST DAY SHALL BE A SABBATH, AND ON THE EIGHTH DAY SHALL BE A SABBATH."

In Lev. 16:29,31, we saw that Tishri 10, Day of Atonement, is a "sabbath." Let's say that it falls on a Saturday Sabbath. Tishri 11 would be Sunday; Tishri 12, Monday; Tishri 13, Tuesday; Tishri 14, Wednesday; and Tishri 15, the Feast of Tabernacles, would fall on Thursday. That "FIRST DAY SHALL BE A SABBATH" even though it would be a Thursday Sabbath.

All feasts are Sabbaths of rest. Their dates and days they fall on this year (our 2001, Jewish 5761/5762) are Nisan 14 (Passover, Lev. 23:5, Saturday), Nisan 15 (Feast of Unleavened Bread, Lev. 23:6, Sunday), Nisan 16 (Feast of Firstfruits, Monday), Sivan 6 (Pentecost, Monday), Tishri 1 (Feast of Trumpets, Tuesday), Tishri 10 (Day of Atonement, Thursday), and Tishri 15 (Feast of Tabernacles, Tuesday).

Jesus was resurrected on the 3rd day--(1) Friday, (2) Saturday, (3) Sunday. The 3 feasts of Nisan had to be on 3 consecutive days, or they would not be "miqraw," rehearsals, of his death and resurrection. Lev. 23:2 says, "Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations (mikraw kodesh), even these are my feasts."

Concerning the Feast of Firstfruits, Lev. 23:11 says, "he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow (after the sabbath Feast of Unleavened Bread) the priest shall wave it." To some, "the morrow after the sabbath" is Sunday that follows the Saturday Sabbath. That would be true if it was an ordinary week, but it wasn't. It was Passover week. All feasts are Sabbaths, holy convocations, days of rest.

Of Pentecost, Lev. 23:15,16 says, "ye shall count unto you from the morrow (machorath, next day) after the sabbath (F. of Unleavened Bread), from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering (F. of Firstfruits on the next day after F. of Unleavened Bread); seven sabbaths (7 x 7 = 49) shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath (7th 7) shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD."

The reason I think Sivan 6 is most likely is because the 2300 days of the shortened Tribulation (Dan. 8:13,14) are counted by Jewish Inclusive Reckoning from Sivan 6, 5761 to Tishri 1, 5768. Thus the 70th week of Dan. 9:27 would start on the appropriate Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). This feast is also called the feast of harvest. Ex. 23:16 calls it, "the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field." The field is the world. Sounds like we will be bringing in our sheaves.

This year, 5761 is a Sabbatic Year. The year 5768 is a Sabbatic Year and a Leap Year, necessary for there to be 7 months (Eze. 39:12,13) between Tishri 1 (the Day of God's Wrath) and Nisan 1 (the Second Advent, Hos. 6:3; Eze. 29:17,21).

I think Isa. 18:3-6 is talking about the Pre-Trib Rapture "harvest." The Lord says, "I will take my REST. That sure suggests a Sabbath of rest. A Sabbatic Year fits.

The passage talks about some sprigs and twigs being pruned "afore the harvest." That sounds like the foolish virgins being left behind "when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower" (end of May or early June). The "fowls shall summer upon them" (the pruned off foolish virgins). Therefore, Pentecost, in the spring, fits the Rapture perfectly, as in Song of Sol. 2:10-14. Blessings and agape.

Note: Unger's Bible Dictionary discusses the argument that Pentecost should always be on Sunday. Then it says, "Against this many arguments are presented, showing that such an opinion involves many arbitrary and improbable arrangements. Commenting on Lev. 23:15-22, K. and D. (Com., in loco) say that 'Sabbaths (v. 15) signifies weeks. Consequently, 'the morrow after the seventh Sabbath' (v. 16) is the day after the seventh week, not after the seventh Sabbath.' It is therefore evident that the Jews, who during the second temple kept Pentecost fifty days after the 16th Nisan, rightly interpreted the injunction in Lev. 23:15-22."

This agrees with Josephus (a Pharisee priest). He said, "on the second day of unleavened bread, which is the sixteenth day of the month, they first partake of the fruits of the earth" (Ant. III. X. 5). Thus Nisan 16 is the Feast of Firstfruits, regardless of the day of the week it falls on.

Incoming e-mail

As to the 1260 days, there are five references.

1.) Daniel 7:24-25)
And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

2.) Daniel 12:6-7
And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

3.) Revelation 11:2
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

4.) Revelation 12:6
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

5.) Revelation 13:5
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him TO CONTINUE forty and two months.

ALL of these scriptures are referring to the "great tribulation" which is the last half of the seven year tribulation. However, your reasoning necessarily requires Rev 13.5 to be referring to the first half of the seven year tribulation when you say, "The 1260th day of The Beast's rule ends Mid-Trib. Then the False Prophet begins to rule the next day, the 1st day of the 2nd 1260-day period."

I very respectfully content that you are in great error when you force this one verse to stand in opposition to the obvious scriptural context of the entirety.

You say "I stand by my statement. I think the False Prophet is the Satan-possessed son of perdition through whom Satan works for 1040 days, the shortened Great Tribulation (Dan. 8:13,14 [2300 - 1260 = 1040])"

ALL of the five scriptures say 1260 days. You say the False Prophet rules for 1040 days. How do you rationalize this contradiction as to the number of days? The False Prophet cannot rule both 1260 days AND 1040 days.

Daniel 8-12 portrays the antichrist with no scriptural contradictions. Your scenario of these chapters as portraying the False Prophet creates MANY scriptural contradictions, the least of which is the 1260/1040 problem.

As always, with Agape...Thanks much and give my best to Ed.

My reply

Here is the way I understand it. The 70th week (shabua, seven) of years of Dan. 9:27 is 7 years long. It is the 5th cycle of discipline. Lev. 26:27,28 says, "if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you SEVEN TIMES for your sins." Comparing Rev. 12:6's 1260 days with verse 14's "time, and times, and half a time" shows us that a "time" can mean one year.

The "seven times" of Lev. 26:28 make up the 7-year Tribulation, or the 70th week of Dan. 9:27. De. 4:30 speaks of the Tribulation of the latter days. It says, "When thou art in TRIBULATION, and all these things are come upon thee, even IN THE LATTER DAYS, if thou turn to the LORD thy God..."

This 7-year Tribulation is divided into 2 portions, each lasting 1260 days. This period of time can also be referred to as 42 months or a "time, and times, and half a time" (3.5 years).

The 1st 1260-day period is the 1st half of the 7-year Tribulation. We read about this in Rev. 11:3, where the two witnesses prophesy 1260 days before being killed Mid-Trib. This is the same period as the 42 months during which The Beast reigns (Rev. 13:5). This can't be the 2nd half of the Tribulation for the 2nd half will be shortened. The elect will be Raptured on the 1040th day, which is the 1st day of the millennial Day of the Lord.

After the 2 witnesses are killed Mid-Trib, 3.5 days go by. Then they are resurrected and caught up to Heaven. Within an hour, there is an earthquake in which 7000 die when 1/10th of the city of Jerusalem falls (Rev. 11:11-13). If this 1260 days was the last half of the Tribulation, it would be shortened to 1040 days and the worldwide earthquake would cause every wall to fall (Eze. 38:20) around the world on the 1040th day, not just in Jerusalem. There is no match. The 2 witnesses belong to the 1st half of the Tribulation.

The last 1260-day period is the last half of the 7-year Tribulation. In Rev. 12:6,14, we see that after Judea's messianic Jews see the abomination of desolation placed at the temple, Mid-Trib, they flee to Petra and the wilderness. There they are to be nourished for the last 1260-day period (Rev. 12:14). The final 1260 days run from when the False Prophet sits in the temple showing himself as God and places an idol at the temple to when dominion is taken away from Satan at the Judgment of the Nations after the 2520-day Tribulation expires.

Mt. 24:15-31 covers 1040 days of the final 1260, Dan. 8:13,14's 2300 days less the 1st 1260 days. Mt. 24:22 says, "then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of the world (kosmos, orderly arrangement) to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except THOSE DAYS should be SHORTENED, there should no flesh be saved: but FOR THE ELECT'S SAKE THOSE DAYS SHALL BE SHORTENED."

The last half of the Tribulation is the Great Tribulation. It is not shortened for the wicked, but it is shortened for the elect. How can that be? The elect are caught up to Heaven in the Pre-Wrath Rapture on the 1040th day of the Great Tribulation. On Earth, the Tribulation is not abated, but intensified. All the elect are in Heaven, and the unbelievers on Earth get God's Wrath poured out on them that 1040th day of the Great Tribulation. The asteroids of Rev. 8:8,10 impact Earth that day. Many of the effects endure during that 220 days (1040 + 220 = 1260).

Rev. 12:12 says, "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you (Mid-Trib), having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a SHORT TIME." He inhabits the False Prophet, who rules for 1040 days. After the False Prophet is deposed on the Day of God's Wrath, Satan himself becomes the "eighth" of Rev. 17:11. He operates on his own the rest of the time.

> > 1.) Daniel 7:24-25
Dan. 7:16-27 is the interpretation of the beast vision. In v. 19, the 4th beast is the Roman Ecclesiastical Empire. His teeth were of IRON (symbol of Rome), his nails of BRASS (symbol of a curse, II Ki. 18:4). It stamped the residue with its FEET. Thus, we know that it is talking about the feet of Nebuchadnezzar's image (Dan. 2:33-35) in the Tribulation. The 10 toes represent the 10 kings of the Tribulation.

Dan. 7:20-22 speaks of The Beast, the "head" of the Roman Ecclesiastical Empire. He is the 6th head of the great red dragon (Rev. 17:10). Dan. 7:20-22 says, "of the ten horns (kings) that were in his head (6th head), and of the OTHER (7th head, called "ANOTHER," in Rev. 13:11) which came up, and before whom three (of the 10 kings) fell; even of that horn (False Prophet) that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things (he is Satan possessed, speaks 'as a dragon,' Rev. 13:11), whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn (7th head, the False Prophet) made war with the saints (Rev. 12:6f), and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days (Christ) came."

> > 2.) Daniel 12:6-7
In verse 4, Daniel was to seal the book "even to the time of THE END." Verse 6 asks, "How long shall it be to THE END of these wonders?" Verse 7 tells us that "it shall be for a time, times, and an half" (3.5 years), then "all these things shall be finished." This end is the 2520th day of the 7-year Tribulation. From the placing of the abomination at the temple Mid-Trib, there are 3 day counts, 1260 days, 1290 days, and 1335 days. The 1260 days finishes the 2nd half of the Tribulation. The 1290 days adds 30 days for the people to mourn the dead after the Judgment of the Nations takes place. Daniel himself will stand in his lot in Israel on the 1335th day.

> > 3.) Revelation 11:2
This 42 months, or 1260 days, as in v. 3, are the 1st half of the Tribulation, when the 2 witnesses prophesy.

> > 5.) Revelation 13:5
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him TO CONTINUE forty and two months.

"TO CONTINUE" (KJV) is poieo, to do or act. The 6th head of the great red dragon is given power to act as head of the world government (Rev. 13:7) for 42 months, which is the 1st 1260 days of the Tribulation.

Rev. 13:5 (Rotherham) says, "And there was given unto him, a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and it was given unto him TO ACT, forty and two months." Truly, since he "IS" (Rev. 17:10) in power when the Tribulation begins, he does CONTINUE, but with greater responsibilities than before.

> > ALL of the five scriptures say 1260 days. You say the False Prophet rules for 1040 days. How do you rationalize this contradiction as to the number of days? The False Prophet cannot rule both 1260 days AND 1040 days.

1260 days are first set up for the False Prophet to rule during the entire Great Tribulation. However, if those days were to be completed, no flesh would be saved. Therefore, God shortens the days of the False Prophet's rule to 1040 (2300 - 1260 = 1040).

Dan. 7: 23-26 says, "The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse (different because it is Ecclesiastical) from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth (be made head of the OWG/UN and UR), and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces (divide it into 10 regions). And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise (to rule the 10 regions): and ANOTHER (the False Prophet) shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse (different) from the first (The Beast), and he (the False Prophet) shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (3.5 years). BUT THE JUDGMENT SHALL SIT (The Judgment Seat of Christ will convene on the 1040th day of the Great Tribulation, i.e., the 1st day of the millennial Day of the Lord), and they shall TAKE AWAY HIS (the False Prophet's) DOMINION, to consume and to destroy it unto the end" (of the full 1260 days)....Agape

Incoming e-mail

Subject: circular rainbows
In P&C 746 you mention that rainbows might be circular if they did not hit the ground.

You are indeed correct!

When flying in a plane over ice clouds, occasionally the angle of the sun will line up so that you can see a circular rainbow. I once saw 2 concentric circular rainbows with the shadow of the plane right in the center. Quite a sight!!

My reply

Thanks. That sounds like something you will never forget. Agape

Incoming e-mail

In P&C 748, someone tried to apply Ezekiel 13 to you.

I would suggest they read the first verse of the chapter. "Son of man, prophesy against THE PROPHETS OF ISRAEL."

I've read all 748 P&C's of your and have NEVER seen you make a personal prophecy. Agape

PS. Thanks for the Old Testament stuff. That's exactly what I needed.

My reply

Thanks. I repeat what I have said all along. I am not a prophet. I have just studied as deep and hard as I can go for 40+ years and give my own opinions. It is the duty of each reader to compare everything with the scriptures and see if these things be so.

I am so blessed to have this computer and all these copies of the Bible on it. I DL the LXX last night. I think that makes 10 different Bibles, plus 2 major commentaries that I can search and do Copy and Paste to save me time and typing. I could never have had any of them when I used my old Mac. It didn't have enough memory. I also have Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Yes, knowledge will increase in many ways. Agape

Incoming e-mail

Re: may we all soon meet in the clouds!
I am by no means professing to be an expert, a scholar, or infallible and this is not meant to come across as "hair splitting" or criticism BUT, you said in P & C 747: >>The word "ONE" is "ECHAD," UNITED, as in De. 6:4. It says, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD (YHVH) our God (Elohim, plural) is ONE (echad, UNITED) LORD."

As a Jew, I will tell you that if you were to attend the Sabbath service on any Friday night or any Saturday morning, at any synagogue anywhere in the world you would see the rabbi ask the congregation to rise and recite the "Shema." What you would hear is, Shema Yisrael (Hear, O Israel) Adonai (the Lord) ELOHANU (our GOD, singular not Elohim, plural) Adonai (the Lord) Echad (is One, meaning singular).

I find it curious though that most Jews fail to recognize that the third word of the first book of the Torah, Genesis 1:1 is ELOHIM (plural, not singular). "Bereshit bara ELOHIM, In the beginning God (plural, Father, Son, Holy Spirit) created..."

If more rabbis would acknowledge this and teach this to their congregations I believe that many (of course not all) many Jews would realize that the beloved Messiah whose arrival they are so anxiously awaiting is in fact the Lord Jesus. Instead what is being taught is that the Shema proves that God (Elohanu) is not a Trinity. The word Echad not meaning United (three separate entities, yet One), but rather meaning One like the number one, a singular entity.

The verse John 10:30 "I and my Father are one." (KJV) is unconvincing to Jews because it comes from the New Testament. However, how can rabbis read from the Old Testament, Prov 30:4, and deny God's plural nature? "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?" (KJV)

Or, what else could the verse Isa 9:6 possibly mean except that the Son and Father are equal. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (KJV)

God Bless you and your loved ones, may we all soon meet in the clouds!

My reply

> > the rabbi ask the congregation to rise and recite the "Shema."
What you would hear is, Shema Yisrael (Hear, O Israel) Adonai (the Lord) ELOHANU (our GOD, singular not Elohim, plural) Adonai (the Lord) Echad (is One, meaning singular).

I see. The Complete Jewish Bible says, "Sh'ma, Yisra'el! ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, Isra'el! ADONAI our God, ADONAI is one]." However, in John 10:37,38, it also says, "If I am not doing deeds that reflect my Father's power, don't trust me. But if I am, then, even if you don't trust me, trust the deeds; so that you may understand once and for all that the Father is UNITED with me, and I am UNITED with the Father."

John 14:8-23 (CJB) says, "Philip said to him, "Lord show us the Father, and it will be enough for us." YESHUA replied to him, "Have I been with you so long without your knowing me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father; so how can you say, Show us the Father? Don't you believe that I am UNITED with the Father, and the Father UNITED with me. But if you can't, then trust because of the works themselves...."If you love me, you will keep my commands; and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another comforting Counselor like me, the Spirit of Truth, to be with you forever. The world cannot receive him, because it neither sees nor knows him. You know him, because he is staying with you and will be UNITED with you. I will not leave you orphans--I am coming to you....YESHUA answered him, "If someone loves me, he will keep my word; and my Father will love him, and WE will come to him and make OUR home with him." (emphasis mine)

I don't see how there can be any doubt that the word for "God" in De. 6:4 is plural. Young's Concordance gives "elohim" for "God" in De. 6:4. In the dictionary in the back, it says, "ELOHIM pl." It also says that Elohim is translated 240 times in the KJV as "gods." Strong's Concordance gives "430 elohiym, el-o-heem; plur. of 433" (El).

"Echad" is Strong's 259 "prop. united."

Prov. 30:4 (CJB) says, "What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know." Psa. 2:7,12 (CJB) says, ""I will proclaim the decree: ADONAI said to me, 'You are my son; today I became your father....Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and you perish along the way, when suddenly his anger blazes. How blessed are all who take refuge in him."

I thank the Lord that you are one of his adopted children. Yeshua said, "I will not leave you orphans--I am coming to you." We are so lucky to be living in these exciting days. His coming is soon no matter how one looks at it.

Titus 2:14 says, "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." The Laodiceans are warned to be zealous (Rev. 3:19). We are not saved by doing good works, but after we are saved by faith in Yeshua, we can work for rewards. Then we can be zealous of good works. Shalom and agape

His reply

Re: may we all soon meet in the clouds!

>>I see. The Complete Jewish Bible says, "Sh'ma, Yisra'el! ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, Isra'el! ADONAI our God, ADONAI is one]." However, in John 10:37,38, it also says, "If I am not doing deeds that reflect my Father's power, don't trust me. But if I am, then, even if you don't trust me, trust the deeds; so that you may understand once and for all that the Father is UNITED with me, and I am UNITED with the Father."

>> don't see how there can be any doubt that the word for "God" in De. 6:4 is plural. Young's Concordance gives "elohim" for "God" in De. 6:4. In the dictionary in the back, it says, "ELOHIM pl." It also says that Elohim is translated 240 times in the KJV as "gods." Strong's Concordance gives "430 elohiym, el-o-heem; plur. of 433" (El).

This is exactly the point that I'm trying to make, that the Jewish Bible does NOT use the word Elohim in De. 6:4 but rather Eloheinu. It matters not to most Jews what Young's or Strong's Concordances say, the Sh'ma is taught by the rabbis and recited with the word Eloheinu (God, singular) not Elohim (plural). This is one of the stumbling blocks that makes it so difficult for most Jews to accept a Trinity. They see this concept as anti monotheistic.

If the Sh'ma read as "Sh'ma Yisra'el, Adonai Elohim, Adonai Echad," it would be more difficult for Jewish scholars to ignore Gods' plural nature. Soon, very soon I pray (Sivan 6 would be nice) they may have their eyes opened. Jesus will open the eyes of the blind (unbelievers this time) once again.

Titus 2:13, Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. (KJV)

Keep your head up, eyes to the sky! 2Tim 4:8, Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (KJV) Shalom and agape

My reply

I appreciate your bringing this to our attention. Do you happen to know when "Eloheinu" was substituted for "Elohim" in De. 6:4 and "ADONAI" was substituted for "YHVH" throughout the Tanakh (OT)?

Easton's Revised Bible Dictionary says, "1. of the Hebrew _’El_, from a word meaning to be strong; 2. of _’Eloah_, plural _’Elohim_. The singular form, _Eloah_, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by "LORD, " printed in small capitals. "

Actually "LORD" is the translation of "YHVH," which some pronounce Jehovah and others pronounce Yahweh. It is my understanding that the Jews do not know how to pronounce it anymore, because they have substituted ADONAI for YHVH so long.

The Jewish Publication Society translates De. 6:4 as "HEAR, O ISRAEL: THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE."

Brenton's translation of the Septuagint has, "Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord."

Herb Jahn did a better job in his Exegesis Parallel Bible, used by many Messianic Jews. De. 6:4 says, "Hear, O Yisra El! Yah Veh our Elohim is one Yah Veh! Agape

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