Wednesday, December 1, 2021

The Law and the Gospel Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. JAMES 2:10

 

Books for Christmas 2021...Advent and the Jewish Prophets...The complicated story of Catholicism, religious tolerance, and early America

 

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Advent and the Jewish Prophets

By Dawn Beutner on Dec 01, 2021 03:03 am
Advent and the Jewish Prophets By Dawn Beutner Why did Michelangelo paint seven Old Testament prophets in the Sistine Chapel? Because Jewish prophets such as Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Jeremiah are important figures in the Jewish [...]
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Books for Christmas 2021

By George Weigel on Dec 01, 2021 03:02 am
Some suggestions for Christmas giving, in the form of books that amuse, inspire, educate or all-of-the-above: Prison Journal, Volume 3 – The High Court Frees an Innocent Man, by Cardinal George Pell (Ignatius Press). The [...]
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The complicated story of Catholicism, religious tolerance, and early America

By James Matthew Wilson on Nov 30, 2021 09:17 pm
For the Catholic Church, America has never been just a nation or a state. It constitutes rather a political and theological problem. That is as much the case now as it has ever been. The [...]
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On translating Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange, Divine Liturgy, and cocktails

By Derya M. Little on Nov 30, 2021 08:30 pm
When we first met, Dr. Matthew K. Minerd greeted us with his favorite cocktail and a warm smile in his home where the smell of books and good food invited every newcomer to a cozy [...]
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John 17:3 (3) And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. New King James Version

 

(3) And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

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  John 17:3

(3) And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
New King James Version   Change your email Bible version

This verse provides a succinct yet broad biblical definition. We tend to think of eternal life as simply endless life when it is not. Jesus' definition of eternal life is "knowing God." We could say it is understanding the way God lives or that the quality of life that God lives is eternal life. He does not live as a human lives, but He lives on the God-plane. We must learn to live as He lives, to think as He does, to act as He does, to write His image on our minds.

God has set the Sabbath apart so we can know Him, that is, so we can know what eternal life is and live it. Knowing Him is eternal life. Another way to put it is that eternal life is being intimate with Him. He is not intimate with people who rebel against Him nor those who, on the Sabbath day, have their minds on everything else but Him and His way of life. Such people talk about everything else except the things that concern Him and our relationship with Him. Using the metaphor of a courting couple, we cannot come to know Him by going out on a date with Him and then not paying any attention to Him.

The proper observance of the Sabbath is given to humanity so that we might come to know God better on this day than is possible on any other day of the week. He provides an entire twenty-four hours to spend with Him. It is no wonder that He became upset with Israel because they ignored what He wanted from them on the Sabbath. They spent precious little time with Him. They failed to dig into His Word and so failed to discuss His message, His attitudes, His character, His purpose. Their minds were on everything else but Him.

We know that, if we went out with someone of the opposite sex, with whom we expected to have an enjoyable time, and that person paid attention to everybody else except us, we would be frustrated and angry. We would never want to go out with that person again. That is the issue. Eternal life describes the way God lives, and the Sabbath is set apart so that we can come to know Him and become more intimate with Him.

People spend an untold number of years preparing to earn a living in this world. Doctors spend four years at college then study more years at medical school and during their internship. It might take eight, ten, or twelve years for them to prepare a doctor to be successful.

By contrast, God commands us to set aside just one day each week to help us prepare for living endlessly in the highest quality - as He does.

— John W. Ritenbaugh

To learn more, see:
Sabbathkeeping (Part 1)

Listen to this sermon


Related Topics:
Courting Couple Analogy
Eternal Life is Being Intimate with God
Sabbath as Holy Time
Sabbathkeeping




  


Seismic Activity On The Rise Across The Planet...BY MICHAEL SNYDER/END OF THE AMERICAN DREAM DECEMBER 01, 2021 Share this article:

 

Seismic Activity On The Rise Across The Planet

News Image BY MICHAEL SNYDER/END OF THE AMERICAN DREAM DECEMBER 01, 2021
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Should we be alarmed by all of the seismic activity that is suddenly happening all over the globe?  I don't know if you have noticed, but major earthquakes and earthquake swarms have been shaking key areas of our planet in recent weeks.  

On Monday, it was Japan's turn.  It was being reported that a magnitude 6.5 earthquake had been detected southeast of Honshu, Japan and that immediately got my attention.  

Whenever a significant earthquake hits Japan, I am always reminded of the looming threat of Mt. Fuji.  One of these days, Mt. Fuji is going to come roaring back to life and Tokyo will be absolutely devastated.  Let us hope that such a cataclysm can be put off for as long as possible.

Prior to the earthquake near Honshu, a magnitude 7.5 quake rattled northern Peru on Sunday...

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake rocked northern Peru on Sunday, collapsing a 16th-century Catholic church tower although no deaths or serious injuries were immediately reported.

The good news is that the quake happened in a sparsely populated region, but it came right after a magnitude 5.1 earthquake had struck the outskirts of Lima...

The quake struck hours after a magnitude 5.1 temblor with the epicenter in the outskirts of Lima rattled the region. Hernando Tavera, head of the Geophysical Institute of Peru, said at least four aftershocks took place after the latter quake, and he warned residents to prepare for more aftershocks.

The coast of Peru sits directly along the Ring of Fire just like the west coast of the United States does, and earlier this month a very alarming earthquake swarm in northern California received quite a bit of attention...

A swarm of earthquakes rumbled under the San Ramon-Danville area Wednesday, measuring as high as 3.9 in magnitude, giving local residents a subtle reminder of the seismic activity deep under the region.

The 3.9 magnitude quake struck at 11:43 a.m., followed by an aftershock measuring 2.6 magnitude at 11:46 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A third aftershock with 3.0 magnitude struck at 11:58 a.m. More than a dozen smaller quakes have followed over the last several hours.

Could it be possible that the Ring of Fire is moving into a period of increased activity?

We know that it is just a matter of time before California is hit by the "Big One", and so we will want to closely watch the west coast in the months ahead.

Meanwhile, the east coast is being shaken as well.

On Saturday, North Carolina was hit by the sixth significant earthquake in less than a week...

Another small earthquake shook North Carolina near Winston-Salem early on Saturday, Nov. 27, geologists said. The 1.9 magnitude quake hit at about 7:55 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Its epicenter was located about 3 miles southwest of Winston-Salem, which is in Forsyth County and about 100 miles west of Raleigh.

The middle of the country has been seeing unusual earthquakes too.  On November 17th, the New Madrid fault zone was hit by multiple earthquakes, including a magnitude 4.0 quake that really shook a lot of people up.

I have been writing about the danger posed by the New Madrid fault zone for a very long time, and scientists assure us that at some point our luck will run out.

Speaking of potential threats, there is an area west of Yellowstone that has been shaken by more than 4,300 significant earthquakes since early 2020...

Since that initial large earthquake in 2020, known as a mainshock, there have been over 4,300 aftershocks in the same area. According to the USGS, this uptick in seismic activity has alarmed some people. "A common question seen after many earthquakes in the western U.S. is "Will this earthquake trigger an eruption at Yellowstone?" Or, "is this seismicity related to Yellowstone?", USGS wrote in today's update. However they also provided a simple answer: "no."

Hopefully the USGS is correct.

Because a full-blown eruption of Yellowstone would be an unimaginable catastrophe.

In recent years, we have seen once dormant volcanoes erupt all over the planet.  The eruption that we recently witnessed in the Canary Islands is just one example, and we just learned that "several new volcanic vents" on the side of that volcano have just opened up...

Several new volcanic vents have opened up on the Spanish island of La Palma, releasing new lava that is speeding down a ridge and threatening to widen the damage to evacuated land, roads and homes, authorities said last night.

The molten rock coming out from the main new vent was very fluid and was advancing at a speed of 20ft per minute towards areas unspoiled until now, said María José Blanco, a spokeswoman for Spain's National Geographic Institute.

So much is happening all over the globe that it is easy to become numb to it all.

After going through so much over the last couple of years, many of us have developed "disaster fatigue" at this point.

But the truth is that what we have been through so far is just the beginning.

The Bible describes a time where much more is coming, and most of the population is completely and utterly unprepared for what is ahead.

To learn more about the significance of earthquakes and their relationship to Bible prophecy be sure to check out the Coming Convergence DVD.  Watch the trailer here.

Practice Run For Third Temple - Reenactment Of Several Temple Ceremonies Planned... BY ADAM ELIYAHU BERKOWITZ/ISRAEL 365 NEWS DECEMBER 01, 2021 Share this article:

 

Practice Run For Third Temple - Reenactment Of Several Temple Ceremonies Planned

News Image BY ADAM ELIYAHU BERKOWITZ/ISRAEL 365 NEWS DECEMBER 01, 2021
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On Monday, December 6, a reenactment of several Temple ceremonies will be held in Mitzpe Yericho. The reenactments will include a demonstration of the anointing of the High Priest, and the lighting of the Temple menorah. A new altar will be dedicated for use on the Temple Mount. Each ceremony is an essential element of the Temple service and practical efforts such as these are intended to prepare for the Third Temple. 

MENORAH: PURE OIL

As Monday will be the last night of Hanukkah, a demonstration of the lighting of the temple menorah will be carried out. Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple by the Hasmoneans in 164 BCE and the ceremony next week will recreate several aspects of that historic event.

A demonstration of the lighting of the Temple menorah will be held. A Hanukkah menorah (also called a Hanukkiah) has nine branches whereas the one used in the demonstration, made of wood covered in gold and standing at about four feet tall, has seven branches, modeled after the Menorah that stood in the two Jewish Temples as well as the Tabernacle. 

Since it is made of wood, the replica is technically not kosher for use as the menorah in the Temple, which must be made entirely of metal. The gold menorah intended to be installed permanently in the Third Temple upon its construction is on display in the Jewish quarter of Jerusalem. 

Made to Biblical specifications, it is not portable and cannot be used for reenactments. Standing approximately six feet tall, it weighs half a ton, and contains 45 kilograms (approximately 99 lbs) of 24 karat gold valued at approximately three million dollars.

For the purposes of the menorah lighting, special oil has been prepared. Normally, olive oil is made by crushing the olives and then pressing them. As per the Biblical commandment, olive oil for use in the Temple and for anointing is made by smashing the olives by hand and then allowing the oil to drip for several days.

You shall further instruct the Israelites to bring you clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, for kindling lamps regularly. Exodus 27:20

This produces a very small quantity of oil, only about two percent of the volume of the olives as compared to 20 percent by pressing. But the method described in the Bible produces oil that is vastly superior to that produced by any other method. The initial trial run by the United Temple Movement prepared about 450 pounds of olives, producing 25 quarts of oil. The husks are then pressed and the oil can be consumed or used for adding to grain offerings.

As much as possible, the ritual purity of the olives is preserved. As soon as the olives are pounded, they become open to impurity. They are therefore processed in an area open to the sky and the workers wear surgical masks, as saliva can transfer impurity. The hammers are made of plastic and the surface is marble, materials that cannot receive ritual impurity.

Burning the oil in the Temple was considered a sacrifice in every respect, and does not require an actual Temple building to house it. The Biblical commandment could be fulfilled today by placing the Menorah on the Temple Mount, filling it with the oil that has been prepared, and having it lit by a Kohen (a Jewish man from the priestly caste). 

The demonstration will be carried out by Kohanim (priests) wearing garments adhering to Biblical specifications and using silver trumpets, prepared for use in the Holy Temple. 

ANOINTING THE KOHEN GADOL

A demonstration of the anointing of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) will also be held. Rabbi Baruch Kahana will serve as the Kohen Gadol for the purpose of this demonstration. Rabbi Kahana has served an essential role in educating Kohanim to serve in the Third Temple and has served as the Kohen Gadol in many of the Temple reenactments. 

For this purpose, the pure olive oil is prepared for use in the anointing. The anointing oil was described in the Bible to be used in the consecration of the Tabernacle:

Make of this a sacred anointing oil, a compound of ingredients expertly blended, to serve as sacred anointing oil. Exodus 30:25

It is important to note that the oil was called in Hebrew שמן המשחה (shemen ha-mishchah), literally translated as oil of anointing. The Hebrew word for Messiah is משיח (Mashiach), literally the anointed one though this term is also used in the Bible for anyone who has been anointed. 

Originally, the oil was used exclusively for the priests and the Tabernacle articles, but its use was later extended to include prophets and kings:

Shmuel took a flask of oil and poured some on Shaul's head and kissed him, and said, "Hashem herewith anoints you ruler over His own people. I Samuel 10:1

It is expressly forbidden by the Bible to recreate the oil for any other purpose, punishable by kareth, the most severe punishment described in the Bible. The ingredients as described in Exodus 30:23-25 are as follows:

Pure myrrh, 500 shekels weight (about 6 kg)
Sweet cinnamon, 250 shekels weight (about 3 kg)
"fragrant cane" (sometimes translated as calamus) 250 shekels (about 3 kg)
Cassia, 500 shekels (about 6 kg)
Specially prepared olive oil, one hin (about 6 liters, or 5.35 kg)

All of the ingredients must be prepared in total purity. A special jug was made to hold the anointing oil and was marked with a seal. 

DEDICATING THE ALTAR

The event will also feature the dedication of a new altar. The altar adheres to the minimum requirements which will allow it to be used on the Temple Mount. It is hollow and relatively small, designed to be filled with specially selected stones that have already been prepared. This altar is designed to be ready at a moment's notice and able to be transported and assembled on the Temple Mount.

Originally published at Israel365 News - reposted with permission.

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