The following information received today is very useful preparatory reading for my follow-up to The Four Faces of God and Unity. It appears courtesy of PROPHECY TodayUK (click for original).
Paul Luckraft reviews Steve Maltz’s ‘How the Church Lost The Way…And How it Can Find it Again’:
In this engaging and entertaining book, the author is very clear about his agenda: “to restore the understanding of the Hebraic roots of Christianity that has been lost, since the early days of the Church” (p 43). Equally clear is that in this book he has succeeded in making a considerable contribution towards what is an immense but vital task.
Maltz’s style is chatty, but not trite. He pulls no punches – he admits he may not just be upsetting the occasional sacred cow but disturbing the whole herd – but his aim is analysis, rather than attack. Certainly at every point he makes you think, and feel, and search for a proper response.
His title is apt in two ways, suggesting a straying from a correct path, but also reminding us that the early Christians were originally called The Way (Acts 9:2, 24:14), rather than the Church. Maltz points out that there has been a process of stripping out every trace of Jewishness from the established Church, starting early in its history and developing over time. The Body of Christ was meant to be One New Man (Eph 2:15) with both Jewish and Gentile elements in balance, and without this it is greatly diminished and largely unfulfilled.
How We Wandered
In Part One, the author tells ‘a tale of two summits’, taking us to two important councils: Jerusalem in AD 49 and Nicaea in AD 325. In an entertaining fly-on-the-wall (or rather peering-round-the-pillar) account, Maltz contrasts these two occasions, the former advocating the inclusion of Gentiles into the Church, the other the exclusion of Jews.
The most telling quote is from Constantine’s letter circulated to churches throughout the Christian world concerning the timing of Easter: “Let us then have nothing in common with the most hostile rabble of the Jews” (p48).
In chapter 2, Maltz provides a fascinating potted history of the main Greek thinkers: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, highlighting their ‘big ideas’ and the equally big consequences of those ideas on Church history. He demonstrates how the early Church fathers reconstructed Christianity in Platonic terms, mixing the Bible with Platonic thinking.
As we are shown the long slide away from our Jewish roots into Greek dualism we are given excellent summaries – neither too long nor too short – of Philo (and allegory), Origen, Augustine, and Aquinas. In each case there is just enough detail to convince us that “the great doctrines of Christianity had become a philosopher’s playground” (p42).
This may only be an introduction to a very large topic, but the main point comes across clearly. The Church is “far more Greek in its outlook than people could ever imagine and this is not a side issue, but very much a key battleground for the truth” (p60).
Reclaiming Our Heritage
Part Two is largely comprised of a series of vignettes highlighting different aspects of the Hebraic worldview that we need to reclaim.
Maltz starts by looking at the Bible itself and how it should be interpreted from a Hebraic perspective, and then goes on to examine the Hebrew language, family life and marriage, the Sabbath and especially the Jewish festivals and calendar. This latter section is the longest and most informative. The Jewish biblical festivals are “so instructional, so rich in meaning, so bursting in Jesus, that it can do us nothing but good to be aware of them” (p106).
Part Three revisits the idea, mentioned earlier in the book, that the body of Christ is meant to be One New Man. Here is a fascinating discussion on what this should entail, namely a balance between the two distinctive elements of Jew and Gentile. Not a blurring into one but a partnership, and a preparation for heaven!
No Apology Needed
At one point towards the end the author seems to apologise that he has meandered all over the place (though he adds hopefully, not randomly). In fact, there is no sense of meandering as you read through this book. It can be taken as a whole, or in parts. Although there is no index, there is an appendix of recommended further reading, helpfully arranged to coincide with the chapters of this book.
It covers its main themes well, and also ends with a plea for each Christian believer to take personal responsibility to examine the Bible through the eyes and experiences of the early Jewish believers, rather than the contact lens of Greek philosophy. (Amen: emphasis RB)
If we all individually re-evaluate our image of God and attitude to worship and fellowship then, as the subtitle suggests, the Church can find The Way again.
‘How the Church Lost The Way’ (190 pp, paperback, £10) is the first of Steve Maltz’s three books on the state of the Western church which are available from Saffron Planet Publishing. His website is Saltshakers. (Update: see Comments re availability on Kindle.)
Steve’s work will be featured in Prophecy TodayUK over the next few weeks. For more about Steve on this blog see my introductory remarks about ‘God’s Signature’ in Holy Treasure of ‘The Open Door’ (reading from sub-heading ‘A Deep Insight From Hebrew’).
Although I haven’t yet read this book on the Church I’m sure it’s as easy, enjoyable reading as ‘God’s Signature’.
Yes, when anyone’s ready and willing to listen Father talks back to us, often simply whispering in our ear. Read this enticing ‘trailer’ by a daughter of The King to the story He told and unfolded…
My book “The Kingdom, Here Be Dragons, Here Be Dreams” starts with my great-great grandmother Anna, a deaf woman who lost her hearing soon after her arrival in New Zealand in 1875. Anna spoke German and never did learn English.
Her hearing and language difficulties must have impeded her relationship with others, and NZ would have been a horrible country for a German to be in during World War 1 in 1914-18. She would have gone through that period with the mute button on.
How many of us go through our spiritual journey with God with the mute button pressed? Not because we’re in hostile territory – but from a lack of belief. I mean how many of us believe we can have a back and forth conversation with God?
Upon receiving William’s news on Monday I sensed, “The books are being opened”.
It blessed me to learn that he too, like fellow author Neil, had been encouraged by events after my mentioning him in last Thursday’s blog. Both friends had emailed me earlier that week and Bill forwarded an interesting online article that deserved a wider airing.
Last week, I intended blogging about the Iranian nuclear deal but realised it had to be in 3 parts. The first wasn’t thought of until ‘getting out of bed’. What became the second part was meant to lead into a look at questionable details of that deal. That part reveals the synchronicity between the final accord and a highly significant period in the Jewish Calendar. Its cross-posting from Breaking Israeli News had been quickly done but needed a brief introduction on the Thursday before my main task of compiling the substantive ‘stuff’.
However, as told in IF, I hadn’t got out of bed…, I was inspired the previous evening to make a note for beginning the combined material – only to wake up, get waylaid and need to re-jig my plans for blog-day.
As I got diverted into new but directly relevant material, I recalled William Smith is an author too and therefore provided details of his book, ‘Feasting On The Father’. Little did I suspect that another ‘God-incident’ was getting under way!
It was ‘time’ for Revd Bill’s book too, because on Monday he emailed, “I want to say ‘thank you’ for advertising my book afresh…The timing was so incredibly significant to me”. He was visited by a friend who’d read it and believes it’s a vital word for the church today.
Bill remains convinced God had him write it for a needy church and many who agree it’s an important essential word to the church encouraged him.
Some reviews:
So click on the above image to take a look inside and to get from Amazon, noting this fellow writer’s 5-star review: “This book comes from a warm place. It is written for Christians but is accessible to all and draws on the simple yet profound symbolism of food and drink. It is a book of praise to God, using rich and often beautiful imagery and language. William Smith encourages Christians to thrive rather than just survive in life. Like any good read it is a book which challenges but is also often comforting. Littered with scripture references this is a book designed to help the reader draw closer to God.”
And another: “A beautiful book, well written and inspirational, taking the reader on a journey into the depths of the love, grace and provision of a loving Father God to His children. A cracking read!!”
Bestselling and award-winning author Dr Mark Stibbe remarks, “A stunning piece of work! I am constantly being sent manuscripts, especially by new authors. If I’m brutally honest, many of these offer only scraps of revelation. Just occasionally a book comes my way that offers far more than that – a true feast of Abba’s wisdom and insight. Bill’s book is a great example of this. I unreservedly encourage you to come to the table he has so meticulously and lovingly prepared. Come hungrily and you will not be disappointed. A banquet of brilliance awaits.”
Description:
‘This book is an in-depth Bible study, centred on Song of Solomon chapter 2 and revealing the heart of a loving Father throughout the scriptures. Far from being academic theory, the teaching is a heart-to-heart talk and passionate exploration of how to enjoy God’s intended relationship every moment of our lives.
‘The Bible is essentially a love story – a book that reveals the heart of a Father towards his children. God does not keep his distance from us, nor is it his desire to punish us. On the contrary, his love compelled him to send his only son into an imbalanced world – to suffer in our place, and to bring us back to the Father as royal sons. Now, we are welcome to the table of the King of Kings…
‘The truths explained in this book have the power to change your life. Once you have feasted on the Father, you will not want to look back.’
Personal note:
One Saturday morning several years ago Nina and I took a quick drive to a meeting in Portsmouth convened by a couple we knew connected to Toronto Airport Fellowship. At the first coffee break a couple joined us at our table and got chatting.
Sharing a connection with the Gathering Place, Blandford, opened up conversation and ‘Revd Bill’ and I have since kept in touch. He’s a most encouraging supporter of my efforts at keeping the church informed and I’ve quoted him on several occasions.
SO Bill, this is to acknowledge your long-standing, unstinting support with immense gratitude.
…last Thursday and got waylaid, then all this wouldn’t be in my head.:
IF – I’d not changed ‘tack’ in that day’s blogging, two ladies 25 miles away wouldn’t find something in common at the day’s end.
IF – on going to bed the previous night I hadn’t jotted words to start the ‘morrow’s blog, I wouldn’t have been so amazed the next day.
IF – upon waking I hadn’t realised that opening note needed new introductory material for the planned blog, and…
IF – a friend had not emailed me a couple of days ago, then I wouldn’t already have the background material to hand. However,
IF – his material had a brief summary too, then I’d have the necessary introduction.
IF – he’d not emailed that missing material as I was starting the day, then my originally planned blog would be very delayed.
IF – he and I had not kept in contact, then I wouldn’t have changed my planned post to one about a book.
IF – I’d not posted that unplanned blog, then a certain subscriber wouldn’t have told their family about the book.
IF – things had not happened and I’d not made certain choices last Thursday, then the book’s author, Neil Mackereth, wouldn’t have responded the next day with news of an amazing ‘coincidence’!!
So what happened?
On closing down for the evening I let Neil know a reader had notified me they’d ordered a copy of ‘SIGNS’ – on that evening Neil’s wife attended a ladies meeting at a Winvin (Winchester Vineyard church) member’s house.
One lady told her that her mother up in the Midlands had just texted to ask if she was aware that a member of Winvin had written a book called ‘SIGNS’? “No” was daughter’s reply –and that set the conversation going! The mother is the one who’d read my post and ordered Neil’s book!
How often do we think or hear, “If only…then this wouldn’t have happened”? It’s usually in a negative vein regarding unfortunate circumstances. But it happens positively too – and can be directed by the Lord. (How often do we realise and appreciate this?)
A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9 NKJV)
AND not once but twice that day – but that’s yet another true story…(next)
Tracing the above connections further we’d find: had we not attended a conference at Winvin many years ago, we wouldn’t have attended occasionally; had we not been aware of what was going on there, we wouldn’t have learned about Neil’s End-times courses; had I not attended them then we wouldn’t have known one another.
It’s well to consider and meditate upon the making of family and friends relationships, connections and events and thank the Lord for them all.
Last Thursday’s events are an excellent example of serendipity with good chains of choices/consequences (I had about 20 which could be drawn like a couple of decision trees in connection with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Bells.) For those timings where the Lord is obviously involved I call them ‘God-incidence’. (For more on this concept click here.)
And as in the hymn penned by William Cowper, “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform…”.
In reviewing NY Times’ article Joel urges believers not to be discouraged but to note what’s happening is as prophesied in scripture. Therefore, we are not at the ‘end of Christianity’ in its heartland. Read also A devilish plot to avoid the ‘Lake of Fire’ and mini-series Global satanic strategy on this blog.
(Denver, Colorado) — In my recent novel, The Third Target, a New York Times reporter criss-crosses the Middle East, trying to understand and explain to the world the rise of the Islamic State and the objectives of its leaders. Among the questions my fictional character — J.B. Collins — is trying to answer:
Why are ISIS jihadists are so blood-thirsty?
Why do ISIS leaders want to establish an Islamic kingdom or caliphate?
Are ISIS leaders are really serious about slaughtering and/or enslaving all of the Christians of the region, in addition to annihilating Jews and all Muslims who don’t subscribe to their theology or eschatology?
What he discovers is evil beyond his worst nightmares — a Satanic movement determined to rob, kill and destroy everyone in its path, and particularly Christians.
Now, in real life, a must-read feature story has been published in the New…
We are NOW at an exceptionally significant time in history – one where international events are being aligned with elements of biblical prophecy.
As the Lord Jesus Christ instructed His first and subsequent followers,
“Learn this parable from the fig tree: when you see its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near – at the doors!…
“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming – in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning – lest, coming suddenly, he finds you sleeping! And what I say to you, I say to all, ‘Watch!’.” (Mark 13:28-29, 33-37)
Serious students of prophecy will be well aware of scripture and be monitoring events but those who are new to such matters may like to know and learn more. Continue reading →
D.C. Nesbitt’s excellent review of the Magna Carta exhibition takes my brief coverage full circle: from last-minute insertion on the charter to introduce observations and prophetical points on the general election results to this re-blog’s opening reference to David Cameron’s opinion in 2012. Also, I endorse the reader’s recommendation to watch David Starkey’s programme on iPlayer.
Whether or not David Cameron knew what he was letting himself in for when he appeared as a guest on The Late Show with David Letterman in 2012 is anyone’s guess. As anyone who watched the interview or subsequently read about it will know, there was at least one topic of conversation that he was not expecting to come up. Letterman was keen to see if he embarrass his guest by quizzing him on the history the country he was Prime Minister of, and much to the delight of the audience, he succeeded. When asked what the Latin name of the most famous document in British history – the ‘Magna Carta’ – meant in English, Mr Cameron could not muster an answer. Probably better than his lousy guess at who composed ‘Rule Britannia’ (“Edward Elgar”), but enough for many people in Britain to let out a great sigh, or to mumble something mocking about his Eton…
Regarding the previous posts on the 8th centenary of Magna Carta, anyone interested in its relevance in the suppression of freedom today may like to know about a recent book, Magna Carta Unravelled.
Only this past fortnight we have an example of the importance of this matter. A former lawyer, now Principal of Oak Hill Theological College in London, has stated the PM’s proposals for new “Extremism Disruption Orders” could be a “disaster area” for people from all mainstream religions, and none. In some settings, traditional Christian teaching could effectively be made a criminal offence!
No doubt Rev Dr Mike Ovey’s previous parliamentary experience drafting anti-terrorism legislation relating to the IRA has given him solid grounds for his deep reservations on this issue. (See Telegraph religious affairs editor John Bingham’s latest – published on Magna Carta’s anniversary – and earlier posts.)
Magna Carta Unravelled
The ethos of Wilberforce Publications, is to put the spotlight on aspects of contemporary politics, society and culture in the light of Christian thinking and examine their impact on individuals and communities. Published jointly with Voice for Justice UK on the charter’s anniversary, this new book is available in paperback/e-book and is described as follows:
Magna Carta is not only one of the most celebrated documents in British history, but stands as a foundation of political and religious freedom throughout the world. Yet the liberties and freedoms fought for and heralded in Magna Carta are under severe attack as controversial issues of religious freedoms, human rights, equality legislation and freedom of speech present significant challenges for our society today.
In the year of its 800th anniversary ‘Magna Carta Unravelled’ traces the Christian origins and legacy of this great Charter of liberty, focusing on the current challenges to individual liberty examined by experts with unrivalled backgrounds in politics, academic philosophy, the law and the church.
‘Magna Carta Unravelled’ is an invaluable resource, offering penetrating insights from a variety of perspectives for those seeking a thoughtful approach to issues of freedom in our nation today.
In the opinion of HH Judge David Turner QC.,
“Magna Carta continues to compel Christian people to fearlessly explore what makes for human flourishing in a liberal democracy. Any wake-up call – such as this book – is rarely comfortable, occasionally inconvenient, always unsettling; but the issues discussed, of conscience, belief and freedom, refuse to be silenced.”
A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
To continue from part 1 on the significance of 40 and 55 years periods and how the latter had cropped up in a video on a Wednesday, followed by an insight into it on the Thursday…
Next came an astounding surprise on the Friday – making a triplet of consecutive ‘coincidences’, again!
An extraordinary confirmation
I was completely unaware on Thursday 26th March that a Richard Barker – my namesake – had emailed me. However, in the busy-ness of getting a blog published that afternoon I’d not checked incoming mail. Unusually for our regular long weekends off-line, I was ‘nudged’ to check my email on the Friday.
I was amazed to find one not only from someone with my name, but also because what he wrote covered the very subject matter I’d heard on the Wednesday evening – ie., Dr O’s brief remark about the early Church’s rejection of its Jewish roots. This was on the evening before Richard emailed me!
We’re both writers, retired Civil Servants and our journeys in Jesus have a common factor which has taken us along different paths, which have now crossed. Taking the decisive step in 1970 to follow Jesus, Richard joined the evangelical Reformed Church. After studying the early Church Fathers, however, he became convinced the Reformers were mistaken and was received into the Catholic Church 15 years ago.
My journey went from Catholicism of my childhood to the ‘New Age’ when a young man and engaged in occultism until Jesus rescued and ‘saved’ me in 1989. Then, to provide a solid Biblical grounding, He put me in a ‘Free’ Baptist church and a few years later I was baptised in the Holy Spirit. Subsequently, I received training and practised prayer counselling and deliverance ministry, and after moving and marrying entered ‘the River’ that honours the Charismatic and Pentecostal movements, as well as the prophetic.
So, I appreciate the other Richard’s Catholic, ex-Calvinist perspective as being highly informative as well as interesting.
Moreover, Richard’s profound encounter with Holy Spirit in July 2013 introduced him to the prophetic and revelatory realm, about which he has been led to write. This brought about a deep interest in Apostle Paul and he ‘stumbled upon’ my blog in doing a search on his own name and his e-book centred on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians – and which he’d published that very day!
[It’s noteworthy that another writer blogged that same month about an exciting trend of the Spirit drawing Christians together. Also, a New Era for the church was dawning, as prophesied by many; eg. Keith Powell spoke of “2011 being pivotal” and Bill Johnson upon 1st September being a turning point in the UK – see ‘2011’ in Library.]
So it’s good that Richard can think outside the institutional box, and especially in being blessed by Holy Spirit’s direct revelation – and is being faithful to what he’s received.
My namesake has kindly allowed me to quote his email about a prophecy he believes the Holy Spirit gave him,
“…the main thrust (of which) concerns the re-unification of the churches and also the reconciliation of our Jewish Fathers of the Faith with their Gentile children (us) whom according to Paul have been incorporated into the Kingdom ahead of them to “provoke them to jealousy” (Rom 11:11). That reconciliation I believe will be achieved when the churches (not least Rome) acknowledge misunderstandings concerning the promises to the Jews in the Old Testament (pertaining to “the fellowship of the secret” (Eph 3:9-11 Greek) which I am clear nobody has really understood including myself until my encounter with the Spirit.”
On the last point and in view of his background, Richard has probably realised that the Replacement Theology taught since the early Church is widely recognised as an error. Nevertheless, as he states, a higher revelation beyond most theological understanding could be emerging.
The concept of inter-denomination reconciliation/re-unification to which Holy Spirit has led Richard reminds me of the words Heidi Baker brought last October on a new move of God within the UK, for which this brief extract cannot do justice:
“There’s going to be a movement of unity in the UK that’s going to shake the world, says the Lord. I hear the prophetic word of the Lord. It’s going to flow through the universities and the colleges of the universities. It’s going to flow through denomination and the non-denominations. There’s going to be a move of unity within the Body of Christ.
“… There’s going to be something that the people of other faiths are going to see in this nation, as believers come together in radical love.
“… There’s going to be another historical move of God…
“…And there’s something specific happening as you start just lining up in this unity. There’s going to be a unity beyond anything the UK’s ever seen. It’s like there’s something, I feel like you’re going to become like these radical lovers of God that’s going to cross all denominations, all the barriers.” (Emphases reflect emphasis in Heidi’s voice.)
The ‘Mysteries’
Richard and I share an appreciation of the Kingdom ‘mysteries’, or secrets, as in Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. About the time of blogging An insight into the supra-natural I searched out all NT references on ‘mysteries’ in my study Bible, highlighted and mulled over them – including Jesus’ comment to His disciples,
“To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside all things come in parables….” (Mark 4:11 NKJV)
I particularly note Apostle Paul’s quiet sojourn in Arabia where he must have deepened his relationship with the living Lord thereby beginning a life of revelations on “The Way” of Christ. There’s frequent reference throughout his letters to his personal insights.
I look forward to reading Richard’s prophetical-cum-theological ‘take’ in his e-book The Fellowship of The Secret. He describes it as identifying, “the key that unlocks an age-enduring mystery surrounding the apparent disconnection between OT prophecy and the out-working of the Church/Gospel age.”
This claim, however, is not so new or surprising to those who study prophetic scripture outside the confines of the Catholic or Reformed churches, especially in view of the latter’s wide consensus on the cessation of Holy Spirit’s activity after the 1st Century.
In the overview of his e-book (as above link), Richard focuses upon Paul’s statement in Ephesians 3:8-11 about his personal revelations. I especially appreciate this conclusion regarding the mutual failure in Jews and early Christians to understand one another:
“…Christendom’s part pertains to a failure to grasp the “the fellowship of the secret” – its implications to broader providence and God’s as yet unfulfilled terrestrial promises to the nation He first chose for Himself.”
Dipping into the extracts Richard makes available online, I like his hammering home on what the Church has lost and missed, and especially note the following from the first chapter ‘The Hidden Dispensation’ of ‘The Fellowship of the Secret’:
“The New Testament “elephant in the room”: the biblically unexplained and largely undebated non-fulfilment (or subversion) of scriptural prophecy regarding the terrestrial and political aspects of the Jewish apocalypse pertains to a secret disclosure, revealed to and through Paul of which I was previously unaware but now realise is the key to understanding Old Testament prophecy…”
“In the religious sphere an on-going learning curve has been guaranteed through the intentionally cryptic profundity of Holy Scripture that was never intended to be entirely unravelled until the end of the age, for it contains at least one significant mystery (or secret) that was not to be disclosed until such a time (Dan 12:1-4 & 7; Rev 10:4,7)…”
I suspect that those who love to sink their teeth into a theological treatise topped by a prophetic icing will gain by reading my namesake’s e-book – especially in broadening our own understanding of End-times. I certainly will.
Reflecting on all this I notice the trio of ‘coincidental’ and thereby significant events, took place over 3 successive days, making an excellent example of ‘God-incidence’. That is, one that confirms and validates what I’d heard and recalled, as shared above.
All this suggests the Lord’s invisible hand is distributing keys to a complex network that connects Biblical and private prophecies and events to interweave them with historical cycles, as well as with personal destinies – wheels within wheels.
Next, we consider a 70-years period and how it points to 2017, as well as confirmatory teachings Charlie Shamp brought at the Passover-Easter conference; eg., on Daniel, the Age to Come, Blood Moons, the Temple and the Old Testament power behind Islam; taking us full circle and up another level – what else!
Thanks for this transcript Gillan and JJ. Imho, it’s significantly important at this time because Justin Welby speaks plainly and humbly about his personal encounter with the reality of the living Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. May He bless all your readers with a similar encounter so all speculation and ignorance be removed by direct knowledge.
The excellent debate on science and faith ensuing from Gillan Scott’s film review is well-worth reading – thank you everyone. More may be found on Dr Ruth Bancewicz’ blog Science and Belief and in works of physicist-theologian Rev Dr John Polkinghorne, as at BioLogos.
That the Almighty is not only providing believers with abilities and areas of personal empowerment, but also wanting us to grow and develop them for the good of others, as in Monday’s post, reminded me of the symbolism of an open door. That’s the symbolic designation for the current Hebrew Year 5774 and so it would be good to refresh our minds about that and revisit its importance.
Hence, Tuesday’s post linked into an informative article on this year’s significance, as outlined in last September’s post, The door into the ‘New Season’ is open. It is a time of new beginnings, and especially a good time to dispose of personal baggage and free us up to recognise and take new opportunities. This is signified by digit 4 being the Hebrew letter ‘dalet’, as shown here >
[NB: each character in the Hebrew alphabet represents a letter, symbol and number; and which is not to be confused with numerological interpretation of words and text.]
I noted that a visiting preacher said we need to know God more and grow lots more in areas He’s preparing for us. All we have in life cannot be compared with what we have in Jesus Christ. People have issues with Christians because we’re not living the right way, as Jesus wants us to. A mature tree produces the fruit of a Christ-like character and Jesus has the power to transform us into Him!
So, let’s take another look at how this symbolism of the open door may be activated…
The Unique Doorway
Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture”. (John 10:9 NKJV)
Melissa Flores considers this means that Jesus is our ‘dalet’ – “the One who leads us into greener pastures. Too many of us follow our favourite ministers or voices hoping to find our destiny. Until you hone in on the voice of the Shepherd, the door of destiny will elude you. He alone can confirm. He alone can commission. He alone can grant entry into the next assignment or pasture of your life. Sell all of the stock you have placed in man’s ability to identify and promote you, and invest it where it belongs”. (Emphases mine)
Her explanation connects into what Bob Mazeroski brought from the Lord about His provision of mantles, does it not?
Also, one of the definitions Jesus gave of His identity was, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 NIV). That is, we can regard Jesus as being ‘The Doorway’ into the throne room of God.
A Deep Insight From Hebrew
This year I’m dipping into an easy-to-read primer on Hebrew by Steve Maltz, God’s Signature, and any reference by me simply cannot do it justice. Steve’s explanations of the language’s essential contribution to the creation and meaning of scripture are just like being with a tour guide who drops gems of insights as we meander around famous sights. Starting from the premise that the Bible is God’s word to us, Steve promises to answer questions of who wrote it, how manuscript evidence can be traced, how errors are detected and who decided what material to put in the Bible, but first explains the important difference between the Hebrew and Greek mindsets.
That difference may arise from the origins of the Hebrew language lying in pictographic symbols of the Proto-Canaanite alphabet, of which each symbol conveyed a defined visual meaning. Out of this developed the Phoenician-Old Hebrew form of geometrical shapes for those symbols and then eventually came the Biblical Hebrew letters.
To illustrate this concept Steve shows those alphabets’ characters for ‘shepherd’. Next he asks, why did God use Hebrew? In answer he shows those stages for the Hebrew for “word”, davar, which is comprised of three consonants only – dvr – as shown below. Note the inclusion and use of dalet:
Interesting? Surely an understatement!
The symbolical characters give such an obvious yet revelatory insight when we recall the Gospel according to John opens by describing Jesus as “The Word of God”, then tells of His coming into the world and the unique privilege He brought to those who would receive Him – the right to become children of God (verse 12).
Therefore, Jesus is the pathway, or entrance, into God’s mind, exactly as He states in John 14:6 above.
Of particular interest for our purposes is Steve’s examination of dalet itself:
The author goes on to state the root verb as dlh, or dala, meaning that which hangs down, or the idea of letting down or drawing up, as with a bucket in a well. Thus, for this comes the word for bucket, dly or daliy. It seems so mundane but the beauty of Hebrew is it can have a spiritual application, for which Steve quotes Psalm 30:1 and Proverbs 20:5 use of dalah, viz:
I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths.
The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
Also, Psalm 141:3 has a vivid way of using dalet to describe a mouth as “door of my lips” – Set a guard over my mouth O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.
And in Jeremiah 36:23, dalet is used for ‘columns’ in “four columns of the scroll”. In other words, as columns hang off a central spine or side of a manuscript, Steve points out that “the word dalet has been used for the simple reason we have something (the “columns”) hanging”.
Hence, the clear sense that there is a doorway of opportunity for us to go through this year. Have you sensed, or even seen it?
It’s time for serious disciples of the Lord, to approach the threshold and enter and break through into what He has for us.
Advice with cautionary note
Let’s reconsider some special points Jesus gave His disciples as ‘one who teaches with authority’, unlike religious leaders, from his extensive instruction known as ‘The Sermon on the Mount’ (Matthew chapters 5 to 7):
“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened…
…seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteous and all these things shall be added to you…
“I did not come to destroy (what’s written in the Law or the Prophets) but to fulfill…For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven…
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad the way that leads to destruction…Not everyone who says to me “Lord, Lord” shall enter the Kingdom, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven…
“Therefore, whoever hears and does these sayings of Mine is like a wise man who built his house on the rock: and when the rains, floods and winds came upon it, it did not fall, for it was founded upon the rock…”
“If anyone 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.” (John 14:23 NKJV emphases added)
Amen
Now read the next post to learn how the italicised closing thoughts, added after drafting the whole piece, were concurrently confirmed by a prophetic team. Or was it vice versa with the Lord impressing upon me what He gave them?? Click to continue >>
[Image of Door Open in Sky courtesy of Nattavut, FreeDigitalPhotos.net Images from God’s Signature courtesy Terra Nova Publications International Ltd. Steve’s book is available from his website sppublishing.com as well as from Amazon. Be blessed]
A very special ‘Thank you’ to all my several friends who kindly put up with my first reports and thoughts in early 2009 along with subsequent emails, and then subscribed to my blog after its launch in November 2011.
As those who’ve read Why I’m Writing will know, a book was inside me – it wanted out! And I found that blogging was like watching a book develop and grow. So email updates on Biblically related events in the Middle East got translated from the domain of a few dozen friends and contacts into the realm of cyber-space and a larger circle of public readers.
Also, blogging has the advantage over a book in being able to target topics at liberty rather than being constrained by a books’ title and themes. And blogs are published and ready for worldwide reading right away!
So, my thanks also go to every single visitor as well as to regular subscribers.
Brief Personal Review
In the 2nd anniversary post I recalled the reason for being driven to write regularly. In February 2009 I checked the parable of the wheat and tares but, upon opening my Bible, an excitement exploded within as I heard, “This is ALL about to be fulfilled!”
So I circulated a two-part email The End-Game is now in play, and followed up with occasional brief reports on current events seemingly connected to Biblical prophecies.
Some unusual dreams in Autumn 2011 proved to be ‘game-changers’. The first plugged directly into what I was later to learn of Bill Johnson’s prophetical sensing, on the same date, of a Kingdom change in the UK. So I circulated an email about the Acceleration in Kingdom activity. It was becoming clear such news and related developments needed to be circulated more widely, and that I was being directed towards blogging.
By then, contemporary prophecies were being regularly included. Although the Biblical kind is canonical and sacrosanct, and words brought by today’s prophets secondary to and to be weighed with Holy Writ, both forms of prophecy do seem related – as though they are ‘two witnesses’ to what the Lord is doing today.
The increasing coverage of current prophetic words generated a larger readership and was complied into a Library. This resource now holds over 100 prophetic words and is regularly viewed by visitors.
The blog was launched with brief reasons for watching events and with my personal testimony, the timing of which was soon confirmed. Thus, I was assured that moving from private to public writing was right. In considering those changes from old into new year I introduced readers to the predictive aspect of time cycles, as outlined by William Koenig.
Very soon, and unexpectedly, I challenged politically motivated action against praying in public, as undertaken by Healing On The Streets. Thus another collection was created as a hub of healing testimonials and augmented by regular posts on The Bay Revival. Also in 2012, a long trail of ‘God-incidences’ brought me to focus upon the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations as well as many prophetic words about a ‘New Season’, or new era for the Church, all enhanced the blog’s content.
Also over these past 5 years we’ve seen significant development proving the relevance of the Bible today in the establishment of the Middle-Eastern coalition, as foreseen by Ezekiel. The term I first used for this was ‘Ezekiel 38 Alliance’ but it’s now taken its Biblical description of ‘Gog-Magog’. Events on this are now proceeding so rapidly there’s no time for me to keep up with them! Readers who are particularly interested, however, can keep up to date with the sources quoted in most articles or by using links listed down the Home Page, which has expanded upon their introduction in Not on The 10 o’clock News.
My focus so far this year has been on prophecy and time, as may be evident in timings of inspiration and the immense vista beyond the ‘Open Door’ – can we see the invisible becoming tangible?
It’s fascinating that, 5 years later, the original name for the blog of Invisible Jigsaw is coming into play and how, along with this 500th post, it’s coinciding with the back-to-back sequence of blood moons.
Blood Moons and Israel
‘Blood moon’ is a recently coined term for a prophetic description made over 2,800 years ago. Only when the moon is totally eclipsed by the cone of the earth’s shadow (umbra) does it become red. This is because any light arriving has been refracted through the earth’s atmosphere, rather like why sunsets are red.
[EarthSky’s Deborah Byrd provides a graphic explanation here and reports upon the new terminology of ‘tetrad’ and ‘blood moon’ here. Image credit Joshua Valcarcel, Wikimedia Commons.]
In Passover and blood-red moons I considered a couple of objections to citing previous tetrads of blood moons on Jewish major feast days. We need to be clear about what we’re talking about, the facts and their statistical implications. In view of the huge frequency of lunar eclipses as shown on NASA’s data their occurrence on festivals specifically set on dates of, or close to, full moons is not surprising. Therefore, we should expect them on several Passovers.
But the importance of a tetrad is upon this happening upon two consecutive Passovers and the associated Sukkot (Tabernacles); ie, on one year’s first and last feast and then the same in the next year – and not occurring on any in-between dates. Total eclipses on four sequential occasions have been termed ‘a tetrad’. Bill Koenig let his friend Mark Biltz see his investigations done in 2007 and reported as follows (my emphases):
‘Mark said he had found my blood-red moon work and website postings in 2007 interesting and began looking into possible connection to past and future Jewish Feasts at which time he found very significant connections. I provided blood-red moon information, and information on the coming total solar eclipses of 2008, 2009 and 2010—which all fall on the 1st of Av.
‘Seven back-to-back, blood-red moons have fallen on the first day of Passover and Sukkot, with the eighth time coming in 2014 and 2015
‘Mark found that we have had blood-red moons on the first day of Passover and the first day of Sukkot on back-to-back years seven times since 1 A.D. Three of these occurrences were connected to 1492 (the final year of the Spanish Inquisition), 1948 (statehood for Israel and the War of Independence), and 1967 (the Six-Day War) — some of the most significant days in Jewish history.
‘The others were in 162/163 A.D., 795/796 A.D., 842/843 A.D. and 860/861 A.D. We don’t have any historical connections for these years at this time, but we do know of significant Jewish persecution during the eighth and ninth centuries.
‘In all eight examples, the eclipses have fallen or will fall on the first day of Passover and Sukkot. The eighth occurrence of back-to-back, blood-red moons will be in 2014–2015. So what does the period of time from 2013 to 2015 portend for Israel and the world?’
Oh that a mathematician would calculate the odds for such events happening. But do we need one to comprehend that, although eclipses may happen variably, this ‘tetrad’ sequence cannot possibly be by chance? For two eclipses to fall on consecutive feast dates, if astro-dynamically possible, there would be reasonable odds – but for dates at each end of a 5-6 month period, and not on any other feast date between them, there’d be a very much smaller chance. Yet for that to happen again in the next year then the odds are astronomical – no/yes?
It’s as though the Maker of heaven and earth is pointing His finger and saying, “LOOK!”
Do the Tetrads Point to Jerusalem?
In Passover and blood-red moons I questioned a critic’s assumption that tetrads did not relate to the Spanish Inquisition or to the birth of the state of Israel and its immediate War of Independence. His claim was that the ominous warning attributed to the blood moons came after those facts – I answered with other facts, “It ain’t necessarily so”.
Also, Koenig and Biltz were not contriving to twist the facts but simply stating there were events that seem directly related to the Talmudic teaching about blood moons. Yet one could argue that all pre-20th Century blood moon tetrads may actually be irrelevant!
That is, any meaning attributable to earlier tetrads may not be applicable because the Jewish state of Israel had not been created. And when it was, the Jews were fighting for their survival against all surrounding nations. Hence the notion of these tetrads applying only after 1948. We can check this out with three lots of tetrads:
1. The first point of the 1949-50 tetrad (Passover 13 April 1949) occurred during the 15 month War of Independence, AND its was only 10 days after the signing of the Israel-Jordan Armistice affecting Jerusalem. Thus, that tetrad may indicate a warning that the Lord is specifically watching out for Jerusalem, on the grounds of Zecharia 2:8.:
‘…he who touches you (Zion) touches the apple of His eye.’
2. Also why does that critic ignore the existence of the tetrad covering the Six-Day War of June 1967! (Click for Background & Overview.) Then, Jerusalem was liberated and came fully into Israeli hands, supporting my contention about the city being relevant to the theory of blood moon prophecy.
3. The present tetrad is well-timed about Jerusalem. Months of useless, protracted US-led ‘peace talks’ between Israel and the Palestinians collapsed last week. One of the last days’ issues was over dividing Jerusalem, as though both future states could share the same city as capital. Also, preparations continue for setting up the Third Temple in Jerusalem. So a great deal continues to happen of significance in Israel…
Therefore, perhaps the four lunar eclipses schedule for Passover and Sukkot 15 April and 8 October 2014, and next year’s Passover and Sukkot on 4 April and 28 September 2015 will cover some extremely critical developments on Jerusalem?
After all, the principal unfulfilled Biblical prophecies are about ‘the apple of G-d’s eye’!
I wish to thank each new reader personally, especially those who’ve decided to follow my reports and musings. Usually, I dip into blogs of fellow WordPress users but don’t always have time to say “Hi and thank you”, so please accept that now.
To help you catch up with background material, I’m providing a ‘synoptic’ overview by title of relevant posts linked to content, should you have time and inclination to peruse. This should prepare you, and regular readers/visitors too, for what’s about to follow.
In 2014 Preview I announced a slight change in my blogging emphasis towards current prophetic words for the church and away from those on the Middle East, as well as how to tell the time prophetically. Little did I suspect we’d be considering how to prophesy to Time!
A Parallel Year – 5774 and 2014
At first the recap was to be from January, but I got prompted that the better starting point would be last September’s Hebraic New Year 5774 – year of the ‘open door’. (Prophetic words are excluded as they are available in the Library of Prophecies and Visions.)
The following titles provide a background to what is to follow soon (click for content):
For readers who are not Christians I’d suggest reading first, Do you know Jesus? This is because an appreciation beyond the cursory, cultural norm of designating Him as just a historical, religious personage will be of help.
Jesus is ‘The Beginning’ and ‘The End’, and whose other time-related description I personally ponder is, ‘Always’. Please don’t think this implies Jesus is all ‘ways’, because He alone is ‘The Way, the Truth and The Life’, as the one and only way to a personal revelation and relationship with our heavenly Father.
A lot’s happened in the 5 years since I started writing to friends on 28th February 2009 about current events prophesied in the Bible. The first email opened by explaining my grounds for doing so.:
“Last year, I encountered two conflicting claims about Jesus’ explanation of the parable on the end-time harvest of wheat and tares (Matt 13:36). So I went to check scripture but upon opening my Bible a deep excitement exploded within as I heard,
“This is ALL about to be fulfilled!”
WOW! Hence, my previous remarks about a sifting of the Church – in preparation for a rapid ‘sHifting’?”
My contacts had already been established over the previous year. As they were all familiar with scripture it wasn’t always necessary for me to quote or explain meanings. However, with that change in direction upon my hearing direct from the Lord it was opportune to stress the associated scripture, as follows.:
“Jesus urged His disciples to look out for and observe signs of the times. Regarding their questions about His return at the end of this Age, the earliest Gospel account has Jesus stressing 7 times,“Watch…be alert…on your guard“(Mark 13). Matthew 24 reports Jesus saying 4 times, “Watch…and when you see…” followed by the parables of the burglar and of the virgins:> “Don’t be caught napping!” [Is the Church still asleep?] Luke’s account has,“Be always on the watch…” (ch21:36) and chpt 12 (NIV) has sections on watchfulness and interpreting the times. In each Gospel Jesus commands,“Learn the lesson of the fig tree…”.Also, the Apostles went on to give more indicators…”
Regular contacts had started over a controversial move of the Lord in 2008 in Lakeland, Florida. This had featured healing evangelist Todd Bentley, whose rather rough, logger background and highly unconventional ways generated a heated debate in Christian circles.
I believe the Lord used it to test which disciples are really committed to applying His command to “Love one another”, which is how “the world may know the Father sent me” (John 17:23). Perhaps this would sift out those who are not yet ready for the more demanding move into this ‘New Season’?
Funnily enough each player involved 5 years ago has also been in direct contact with me this week: ‘Revd’ Bill’ – PK Davis (ace teaching on Matt 13 above) – ‘LL’ in reference to TB and Lakeland !!
That first email of 2009 referred to the increasing politicised provocation against believers within the UK, as well as the surveillance against which a director of MI5 warned. We’re well aware of rapidly discriminatory actions against believers in the last 5 years. But abroad, real persecution and terrorism have rocketed in the Muslim world, being most critical in northern Nigeria. So we’ve had it comparatively easy in Britain, but British and American leaders show an atheistic disinterest and lack of compassion over this dire situation.
We’ve also seen the rapid development of anti-Semitism and the creation of the alliance of Middle-Eastern nations prophesied in Ezekiel 38. I’ve written increasingly on this under the descriptor ‘Ezekiel Alliance’, or Gog-Magog. As Zechariah prophesied about Jerusalem, there have been intensifying discussions and sabre-rattling; the latest being that Mahmoud Abbas erupted in a rage over US Secretary Kerry’s proposal for the Palestinian capital to be located not in Jerusalem but elsewhere! (See Zech 12 and Israel Today report.)
That email read as follows:
The End-Game is Now In Play
Dear Friends – further to Rev’d Bill’s recent request re Christian Freedom, may I offer some observations upon our times and, in another message, suggest a way forward?
[Next 2 paragraphs as quoted in blue text above]
So, let’s watch closely what’s happening here and globally. When I’m by a newstand it’s noticeable that the Daily Telegraph is the only paper to headline matters of Christian concern – several within a fortnight recently. Eg. on 6 Feb it broke the news of Nurse Caroline Petrie’s suspension for offering to pray for a patient with front page headline ‘NHS staff face sack if they discuss religion’. We took exception to this and wrote to N.Somerset PCT saying we were glad their policy wasn’t in effect 3 years ago when Nina was fighting for her life! (I explained it was only because the night-duty nurse prayed that her throat immediately opened and she became peaceful, as shown on her monitor’s read-out.) So, we’re pleased to learn Caroline has been allowed to return to work, but I’m challenging the PCT’s ‘equality’ stance.
However, this is just one instance of the growing persecution of believers, principally through a policy supposedly promoting toleration but that’s now a tyrannical tool of intolerance – Equality & Diversity. There are other powers of suppression. Even the previous director of MI5 warns about UK sleep-walking into a police state (‘Abject nonsense’ responded a gov’t minister who lives on another planet). Rampant lawlessness now exists not only in society but also within legal authorities – laws not approved by Parliament – ‘snoop and snitch’ culture – correction punished and evil behaviour rewarded – ID cards and routine interception of email and phones – etc etc. Clearly, Banking isn’t the only thoroughly corrupt UK institution.//Let us, however, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as we await the blessed hope of His glorious appearing.
May the Lord bless you and keep you and yours,
This continued in an associated 2nd email, as here.
T.E. Hanna’s paper published on his blog, to which my covering note links, is interesting reading. He deals with claims that Moses appropriated creation myths of Egypt and Mesopotamia for writing Genesis. He argues that, rather than adopting mythologies of the surrounding ancient East, Hebrew cosmology was written as a criticism of them as well as emphasising not only the God of Israel’s nature but also His superiority over other religions.
Hanna cites several scholars opinions, one of which is similar to what’s been mentioned several times in our church. That is, after having overcome the magical powers of the priests against Moses, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob directed each plague of Egypt specifically against a particular deity in the pantheon of gods. That is, the God of Israel dethroned them!
How Genesis Differs and is Superior
In view of my old, dead life having been connected with a brotherhood claiming descent from ancient Egypt, I was aware of the similarity of the Memphite cosmogony to that of Genesis. (Personal outline here.) Therefore, it was interesting to read Hanna stating,
Here, we find the creator-god Ptah bringing the world into existence out of nothing, and by means of verbal command.
He stresses the importance of noting this speech doesn’t involve an invocation to higher magical powers and “draws to the forefront the superiority of this creator-god”. Hanna summarises,
…Three profound similarities – creation out of nothing, speaking as the means of creation and the rejection of magic pointing to divine superiority – were completely unique to Egypt and Israel.
He stresses they are not the only similarities for the priests of ‘Sun City’ (Heliopolis) had a cosmogony involving ‘chaos gods’ comprising a ‘tohu bohu’ of formless, empty chaotic darkness – and a breath! Thus, both cultures considered that creation brought order out of chaos, but it would be inaccurate to assume and conclude, “the author of Genesis merely took existing religious imagery and re-packaged it”.
According to the Egyptian creation myths,
The natural world was not brought into existence by the creation of different elements such as the sun, moon, or sea. Rather, this world was brought into existence by the birth of various deities who, in turn, embodied these elements. Thus, Ptah did not speak and the sun appeared; rather, Ptah spoke and the sun-god was born. In contrast to this:
The God of Israel existed in transcendence from His creation. He spoke, and order came into the world. His creative act was not a birthing of other gods; instead, it was simply the bringing forth of natural phenomena. Thus, the God of Israel is not only shown to be superior, but shown to be solitary. In stark contrast to the polytheism of Egypt, the Genesis narrative lays out the supremacy of Israel’s monotheism.
Also, there are other significant differences, for example:
the order of creation differed with Light before sun and moon makes the creator distinct from them.
caring for images of gods was obligatory in Egypt, but Israel rejected all idols.
humanity is intentionally created in God’s image to reflect His glory.
Mesopotamian Influence
I’m surprised that Hanna doesn’t make any reference to the probable transmission of ancestral history, knowledge and traditions down through the patriarchal chain from at least Abraham, if not Noah, which the Hebrew slaves in Egypt must have known.
Instead, he attempts a cursory nod to similarities between Genesis and the Babylonian epics in noting the strong early influence of the Asiatic Hyksos people. He cites scholars as thinking that the reign of the Hyksos opened the door for Jacob and his large family. Also, the later expulsion of the Hyksos may account for the fact of a new king “who did not know of Joseph”.
Also, the huge effect of the Godly significance of Hebrew, its meanings and application in scripture is not considered at all. In fact, it relates to the Egyptian concept of ‘breath’, not only as being infused into mankind but also and importantly in connection with The Word of God. I’m learning about Hebrew and so its recognition would be welcome, but perhaps the young theologian may cover this aspect another time.
A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird’s chest.
After a moment or two, the vet shook his head and sadly said, “I’m sorry, your duck, Cuddles, has passed away.”
The distressed woman wailed, “Are you sure?” “Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead,” replied the vet..
“How can you be so sure?” she protested. “I mean you haven’t done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something.”
The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck’s owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to…
Am grateful to a critic of revival and the prophetic who castigates the promise of greater blessings and quickening power coming to the Welsh Outpouring, as declared by Chuck Pierce. (I will deal with that defamation later.) Continue reading →
A British breakfast TV interview circulating ‘over the pond’ among American Christians brings attention to injustices suffered by a couple of hoteliers at the hands of our courts.
I was intrigued to find two translations of the Bible directly relevant to both sides of the interview’s controversial point!
First of all, thanks are due to John McTernan for linking to a transcript in Monday’s blog Real Christianity on display, and to Tony Puccio for informing me of its email circulation in Arizona.
NB: this post’s stats occasionally show ‘peak viewing’ when it gets circulated. So I’d ask that it be read in the spirit it is written.
Let’s look at the issue together as I ‘flesh it out’.:
ITV, Britain’s first commercial station, broadcasts Daybreak as a morning magazine. Its presenters Aled Jones and Lorraine Kelly interviewed Peter and Hazelmary Bull the day before they appealed to the UK Supreme Court over a £3,600 fine for refusing to rent one of their hotel’s double-bedded rooms to a homosexual couple. As clearly stated on their website, rooms were available for married men and women only. (The Bulls are supported by The Christian Institute and further details, including on-going reports may be found under Bulls’ B&B Trial.)
Aled Jones’ faith
Aled Jones is well known as a former treble chorister and singer with many albums to his credit, as well as presenter of BBC’s Songs Of Praise (see MirrorTV brief ‘bio’). It’s a typical anodyne BBC programme, however when speaking to journalist Catherine Francis for Inspire magazine, he said the programme attracts millions of viewers from around the world and,
“Songs Of Praise aims to uplift and spiritually enhance its viewers, whether or not they’re Christian, and they need to feel comfortable watching it. It’s a genuine honour to be associated with it…”
She continues, ‘And Aled’s passion is clear to see about the Christian faith,
“Christianity is real, it’s now, it’s happening and it’s exciting – it’s not sedate or simply part of history. Jesus toppled over the market stalls in the Temple – this is a person with passion, a person with love, with blood running through his veins. That’s what it’s all about for me.”
Well said sir, and I think it’s important to keep that in mind when considering today’s matter. Has he changed his views?
The Daybreak interview
The interview has been transcribed fairly accurately by Dr Michael Brown, a scholar, speaker and author of 22 books, including The Real Kosher Jesus. He blogged it a week ago today as An older woman puts today’s compromised preachers to shame. Therein he sets the scene.:
At a time when so many of our Christian leaders are guilty of compromising the gospel before the media, dishonouring the Lord as they try to make God’s Word palatable to the world, it was an older British woman…who displayed a backbone of steel, a deep and consistent faith, and a theological clarity while being grilled on national TV. Cheers for Hazelmary Bull!
And make no mistake about it. This is not some slick, camera-friendly couple, versed in the latest clichés and fitted with the coolest wardrobe. This is a couple grounded in the Word and committed to Jesus. Today’s Christian leaders could learn well from their example.
Jones took the lead and started with a neutral ‘voice-over’ video outlining the case. The presenters were not unpleasant but wanted to know why the Bulls were contesting the loss of their Appeal in 2012. It may have got intense because of their seeming inability to grasp the Bull’s Biblical position. Or were they just acting professionally on behalf of a religiously illiterate British audience and consequently asking questions from a simplistic viewpoint?
Whatever their approach, it helped the Bull’s present their case clearly and admirably. Take a look at the video clip:
Here’s the transcript section of Dr Brown’s short article; his comments in italics.:
When asked why they were going ahead with the appeal after all they had been through, Hazelmary replied,
“The reason we have continued with this is because we feel there are arguments still to be made, because we are hoping that some way or another, a pathway will be found through this so that two different lifestyles—which at the moment have had a head-on collision—two different lifestyles could live together in our society.”
Her purpose, then, is marked by conviction and conciliation: How can we live together in the same society when we have such different convictions?
Lorraine Kelly: “May I suggest that maybe you are in the wrong business? Because when you think about it, only 47 percent of couples now are actually married, so when you do that, you forget all the arguments and all the rest, but actually from a business sense, sure, it doesn’t make any sense.”
Hazelmary Bull: “No, on the face of it, it looks like that because we have always refused a double-bedded accommodation to unmarried heterosexual couples.”
When challenged by Kelley, Hazelmary explained, “It’s Bible-based; it’s entirely Bible-based.”
(Pastors, take note of her words. This is how we should operate our local assemblies as well, based on the Word, not on marketing principles.)
Aled Jones: “As a Christian, the God you worship is a loving God, is a tolerant God. And if people are in a civil partnership, they are obviously in love, so what is wrong with them sharing a bed?”
(Note that Jones came to national fame as a hymn-singing child, and in 2004 he was voted Religious Broadcaster of the Year by the Churches Media Council for his work with Songs of Praise. He still hosts BBC’s Songs of Praise show, and within the last four years he has released albums featuring hymns and Christmas songs. What in the world happened to Aled Jones?)
How does Hazelmary reply to his challenge? You’ve got to love this!
HB: “I think it’s a myth to believe that entirely. He is a loving God, that’s true. He’s a forgiving God, but there is—
AJ: “And a tolerant one?”
HB: “He is a longsuffering God; He’s not entirely tolerant because the Bible is full of cases when He does finally bring judgment about. We felt that we wanted to, as far as possible, live according to His instructions, and the Bible is very clear about marriage.
Boy, did she nail it! There is a difference between God being longsuffering and God being tolerant, and yes, “He’s not entirely tolerant because the Bible is full of cases when he does finally bring judgment about.”
Do you think we’ll be hearing a lot of lines like that from some of the pastors featured on The Preachers of L.A.?
LK: “It’s 2013…2013!”
MB: “God hasn’t changed; Jesus says He’s the same yesterday, today and forever. He hasn’t changed, the Bible hasn’t changed, and we are wrong—we are living in a dream—if we think that He has changed His laws to suit us, because that’s not the case at all.”
Exactly! Most of the world is living in a dream. In fact, much of the church is living in a dream too, having been put to sleep by smooth-tongued preachers who have watered down the Word in a futile attempt to make it “contemporary.”
LK: “So you don’t accept that you have done anything wrong at all? You don’t accept that, that was offensive?”
MB: “We find this thoroughly regretful, because we clearly state that we prefer to let double-bedded accommodations to married couples.”
(She then explains, in answer to Kelly’s question, that this is clearly stated on the website.)
LK: “When two people come check in, how do you know that they are married or not?”
HB: “That’s a fair question. We have a script, and we try very hard not to offend. Remember, we have been there for 28 years, and this is the first time we have had any problems. We have a script whereby where we say very gently and politely, if one person shows up at the door—say it’s a male—we say, “Is this for you and your wife?” And oddly enough, they will say, “No, well, not actually my wife. We’re partners, or it’s my girlfriend or whatever”.”
How telling! They never had a problem when refusing an unmarried heterosexual couple over the course of 28 years, but when it comes to two gay men, the Bulls are brought to court.(RB emphasis)
Kelly then pointed to the low percentage of couples in the U.K. who are marrying, to which Hazelmary responded, “Well, I don’t know the numbers, and I’m not entirely interested in the numbers because of course we’re running this—”
LK: “Well, you should, as a businessperson…“
HB: “Well, we’re running this under our own roof, and God demands that our faith doesn’t end—”
LK: [interrupting with some hostility] “Your God demands. Your God.”
HB: [without batting an eyelash] “God demands that our faith doesn’t end at the kitchen door. He means for your faith to run in every corner of your life. You can’t just section Him off like that. So one would think that dealing with Christians, we would be fair and honest and upright and honourable and live according to the Bible, because the Bible is the Christian’s textbook.”
Bravo, Hazelmary Bull!
Now go watch the video, give it a thumbs up and share it with your friends. It’s a testimony like this that should go viral, rather than the words of some preacher who is waffling, unclear and not wanting to sound closed-minded or offensive.
Let’s speak the truth in love without making excuses, just as our courageous sister did. God Himself will back us, and the haters and mockers will not be able to shout us down.
Jones’ controversial question
As ‘good cop, bad cop’, Kelly and Jones played atheist Scot and anodyne believer who bowls a doctrinal googly,
“As a Christian, the God you worship is a loving God, is a tolerant God. And if people are in a civil partnership, they are obviously in love, so what is wrong with them sharing a bed?”
Bull: “I think it’s a myth to believe that entirely. He is a loving God, that’s true. He’s a forgiving God, but there is…”
Jones: “And a tolerant one?”
Bull: “He is a longsuffering God; He’s not entirely tolerant because the Bible is full of cases when He does finally bring judgment about. We felt that we wanted to, as far as possible, live according to His instructions, and the Bible is very clear about marriage.”
Many viewers, and readers, could take Jones’ point as reflecting his own conviction. However, is it not just as possible for him to have played ‘devil’s advocate’ in asking from a political stance, thereby to elicit and show the Bull’s strength of conviction?
Also, he may have had in mind a verse form Apostle Paul’s grand theological letter to believers in Rome, wherein he chides them over judging one another:
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realising that God’s kindness leads you towards repentance? (Romans 2:4)
That’s from my New International Version Insight Bible, but Mrs Bull adroitly responds from the very same verse as given in my New King James study Bible:
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Fascinating. The ‘protagonists’ use the same concept from slightly different translations. The original Greek is ‘anoches’, which means ‘tolerance’ but is rendered ‘forebearance’ in the Interlinear Greek Bible. Mrs Bull correctly clarifies it as being a conditional term, not a never-ending presumption upon the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Hence, the vital importance of their being in right standing with God’s decrees as revealed in His Word.
But not so for Aled Jones. Out of the confession from his own mouth, he has declared ‘As a Christian’ that there’s nothing wrong in homosexuality. Even if any of the reasons we considered above are relevant, nevertheless the declaration from his heart is what counts in heaven. It’s a far from sensible stance! It’s apostasy – the falling away from the tenets of Christian faith.
As Dr Brown queries, what has happened to Aled Jones?
Dubious doctrine
The controversial point of Jones’ question, of course, is not only his presuming God will turn a blind eye to sin (of any sort!) – but also the inference that gay relationships are approved by God. So, anyone unfamiliar with the issues could infer from his claim of being a Christian that such practice is sanctioned by believers, if not by the wider church.
Nothing could be more mistaken. Aled Jones is unwise to entertain dubious doctrine.
The correct Christian position on this subject was defined in the first formal gathering of strategic church leaders within twenty years of Jesus’ ascension. This apostolic event is known as the Jerusalem Council. We can be sure, therefore, of their thorough familiarity with Jesus’ teachings and instructions and, assisted by The Holy Spirit, would therefore make the correct decisions on any doctrinal issues.
The Council was called to discuss the admission of non-Jewish believers as followers of ‘The Way ‘ of Yeshua Ha Meshiach, Jesus Christ. According to the account in The Acts of The Apostles, the Jerusalem Decree sent to those Gentiles of Antioch, Syria, closed with the following basic stipulations upon admission to fellowship in Jesus.:
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. (Acts 15:28-9 NKJV per BibleGateway.com; emphasis added)
That requirement to abstain from improper, non-marital relationships has never been rescinded. Only folly pretends redefining ‘marriage’ will alter the divine intention behind that declaration against immorality and fornication (porneias; Greek ‘of prostitution’).
It is logical, therefore, to state any consideration or claim to there being nothing wrong with allowing ‘porneia’ within the precincts of a Christian house is utterly absurd.
On the same day John McTernan blogged about this interview the news broke of Aled Jones and Lorraine Kelly being axed as presenters on Daybreak. Also, comments made online around that time haven’t been complimentary about them. Even back in August his position was in question.
It’s intriguing that a definite decision came fast on the heels of Aled’s declaration! Is it part of the promised ‘shaking’? I wonder…
…that is, not the kind of God you’re thinking about.”
How often do we hear all sorts of complaints from people as reasons for not believing in the Almighty? If we enquire of them to gain a glimpse of their personal ideas and beliefs we usually find concepts of a divinity created out of a mixture of inaccuracies – no wonder they don’t believe in such oddball, mythical notions, and neither would I.
It is rare to find those possessing a clearly defined and well-instructed faith even among Christians! A surprising number have a poor grasp of theological basics, and can even presumptuously assume the holy character of their Maker and Redeemer will endorse their personal desires!
With this topic in mind let me share the more eloquent, analytical prose of two sisters in the Lord. First is that of Benedictine Sr Catherine Wybourne, aka Digital Nun.:
The God In Whom I Do Not Believe
People often tell me why they don’t believe in God: he has not answered their prayer; he has allowed someone close to die; he does not do away with all the evil and suffering in the world; the Church is full of abuses. I have to agree that I don’t believe in such a pathetic God, either. I don’t believe in someone who is merely there to rubber-stamp whatever I want; who doesn’t take me seriously enough to allow me free will but wants me to be a puppet on a string; who only has time for those who are good. I don’t believe in a God who is capricious, small-minded and mean; whose existence can be ‘proved’; who is as finite as I am.
You see, the arguments against the existence of God that many people use are actually rooted in unthinking petulance. I asked God for something, but he didn’t give it (question: why should God give you what you ask?); God took away someone I love (question: what kind of love desires what is good for itself rather than what is good for the other?); I want there to be nothing difficult or cruel in the world (question: what kind of world is that?); I want the Church to be full of saints (question: isn’t the Church meant for sinners in the process of becoming saints?)
The God in whom I believe is a Person of infinite tenderness and love, of breathtaking beauty and intellect. Eternity will not allow me to plumb the depths of God, how much less this brief life on earth! But this I can assert with absolute trust and confidence. Whatever I believe about God is so much less than the truth of God. ‘As the heavens are high above the earth, so are my thoughts above your thoughts.’
Ultimately, it is not a question of the God in whom you or I believe or don’t believe but of the God who is.
Oh the excellent simplicity in my sister’s thesis and conclusion, as published here. It deserves emphasis:
Ultimately, it is not a question of the God in whom we do or don’t believe but is purely a matter of the God who IS. We can know His nature and character because He has revealed Himself through His written Word and Jesus Christ – through Whom we have access to Father God’s throne room! A truly awesome privilege – thank you Jesus.
The second comes from an American sister who blogs at Your True Christian Journey and her forthright consideration may be read here > Why doesn’t God stop evil?
In this engaging and entertaining book, the author is very clear about his agenda: “to restore the understanding of the Hebraic roots of Christianity that has been lost, since the early days of the Church” (p 43). Equally clear is that in this book he has succeeded in making a considerable contribution towards what is an immense but vital task.
‘How the Church Lost The Way’ (190 pp, paperback, £10) is the first of Steve Maltz’s three books on the state of the Western church which are available from Saffron Planet Publishing. His website is Saltshakers. (Update: see Comments re availability on Kindle.)
My book “The Kingdom, Here Be Dragons, Here Be Dreams” starts with my great-great grandmother Anna, a deaf woman who lost her hearing soon after her arrival in New Zealand in 1875. Anna spoke German and never did learn English. 
Richard's Watch 
