Q. Did it rain before the flood of Noah?
A. The confusion about this question comes from an interpretation of Gen 2.5-6 where it says that God had not sent rain as yet and there was no one to work the ground, “but a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground.” This talks about the ground that had only appeared a few days before in Gen 1 so it was still moist, and from the moist ground God created Adam in v 7 and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. So, we believe that it did rain before the flood of Noah because rain would serve the same purpose before the flood as it does after the flood, so there is no reason to believe otherwise.
Q. Did God create the rainbow after the flood of Noah?
A. No, we do not believe so. In Gen 9 we have the rainbow, and it does not say this was the first rainbow, but God is giving the rainbow a new meaning. And if you notice the shape of a rainbow, the bow is facing away from the earth, alluding to the promise that God would not destroy the whole earth by water again. Since it rained before the flood of Noah, then people certainly saw a rainbow.
Q. Did God forsake Yeshua on the cross? It seems he did when he said, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani.”
A. All Bible translations have these words in the original language and gave them a different meaning, except for Matthew who does not translate them. Many believe he was quoting the Psalms, but if he was quoting Psa 22.1 he would have said it in Hebrew, and he would have used “azavtani” not “sabachtani”, or if he was translating the Hebrew to Aramaic, he would have said “nashatani” meaning forsaken instead of “sabachtani.” This phrase in Aramaic means, “My, God, My God, for this I was kept” or this is my destiny. He came into the world to save sinners in 1 Tim 1.15 and his destiny was the cross. He is telling us by this statement that his crucifixion was not an accident, but part of the plan of salvation that was devised by God before the world was, so don’t be discouraged. For further information on this, see the book called, “Idioms in the Bible and A Key to the Original Gospels” by George Lamsa, p. 102-104. So, God did not forsake Yeshua on the cross. Yeshua said himself that all may forsake him, but the Lord never would.
Q. In John 1.45 Yeshua is called the “son of Joseph.” How could those who just met him know his father was Joseph?
A. In the first century there was a question that arose. There were Scriptures that talked about the Messiah being a suffering servant (Isa 40-66), and also a conquering king. So a concept developed called the Two Messiahs, and some first century sects of Judaism had more. The suffering servant was called the “son of Joseph” or Messiah Ben Joseph based on the life of Joseph who suffered at the hands of his brothers, and the conquering king was called “the son of David” or Messiah Ben David. Philip is calling Yeshua the Messiah by saying he was the son of Joseph, and says so in the verse. He is not referring to his earthly father, which of course he would not have known because he had just met Yeshua. Son of Joseph was a messianic title. When John the Immerser asked the question, “Are you the coming one, or shall we look for someone else” in Matt 11.3, he is asking an eschatological question based on this belief of two messiahs. He knew Yeshua was the son of Joseph, the suffering servant Messiah because God had shown him and he said so in John 1.29 at Yeshua’s immersion, but he is asking are you going to fulfill the role of Messiah Ben David, the conquering king Messiah also, or was there going to be another coming to fulfill that role. He was not doubting. Yeshua’s answer tells him he was going to fulfill both roles in Matt 11.4-5.
Q. What does “He who has an ear, let him hear” mean in Matt 11.15 and Rev 2.29?
A. It simply means, “He who has an ear to perceive doctrinal truth, let him hear and be instructed.”
Q. What does Paul mean in 1 Cor 5.5 when he says, “to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh?”
A. It means that the sinner was to be turned over for chastening and brought under control. It was a corrective action. This is called “karet” or a cutting off from the congregation and its protection. This alludes back to the time in the wilderness and being put out of the camp, whick offered protection. To be put out in the wilderness meant that they were now in a dangerous position, in the domain of Satan and demons, robbers and thieves. This meant he was going to suffer for his own devices-see Num 12.1-15; Matt 16.23; 2 Sam 24.8; 1 Kings 5.4; 1 Tim 1.20; Rom 1.26.
Q. What does being baptized for the dead mean in 1 Cor 15.29?
A. In 1 Cor 15 Paul is establishing the concept of our own resurrection using concepts found in the festival of Yom Ha Bikkurim (First Fruits) and the Counting of the Omer. The Corinthians were taught the Torah (1 Cor 11.1-2) and were familiar with the concepts associated with the festivals. In 1 Cor 15.29, Paul is saying if there is no resurrection why do you wash the bodies of the dead? To baptize just means washing, and this would be part of what is called “Tahorot” or the purity laws concerning burial customs, as seen in Acts 9.37. The problem in translation comes from going from a Hebrew understanding to a Greek understanding. In other words, why wash (baptize) a body to prepare for the resurrection if you don’t believe in a resurrection as seen in 1 Cor 15.12? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they washed for them, or care for their body according to custom? This has nothing to do with the practice in some Christian denominations where a person dies, and someone else gets baptized for them if it was not done in their lives so they can enter heaven.
Q. What does the Kingdom of God mean?
A. To answer this question, we are going to use as a source a book called, “Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus” by Roy Blizzard and David Bivin, p. 64-65. The Kingdom of God has nothing to do with territory, but it is active. It is God’s rule in the lives of his people. Whenever the power of God is seen, we see God in action and that is when the kingdom has come upon you. It is not futuristic, it is “now.” Yeshua said, “But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you (Luke 11.20).” This concept also refers to the people who follow him and are members of his “movement.” He said in Luke 10.8-9, “Whenever you enter a town and you are accepted, eat what is set before you; heal the sick of that town and then tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is here (now)!’ ” They have seen God in action and through the people God sends he rules and Satan is defeated, and the miracles were the proof of it. The term Kingdom of God is also synonymous with the Kingdom of the Lord in 1 Chr 28.5 and 2 Chr 13.8, and it is also called the Kingdom of Israel in Acts 1.6.
Q. What does “in the Spirit” mean?
A. It means we are in his purposes and under his control.
Q. What does “in the name of” mean?
A. This concept means in his place or authority, and according to his purposes. The phrase “in the name of the Lord” or “in the name of Yeshua” means in his authority to act in his place, and with the approval of Yehovah or Yeshua. When we do something in the “name of the Lord or Yeshua” we better make sure we have his authority to act in his place and have his approval.
Q. What does the concept of forgiveness mean?
A. Simply, it means to lay the debt of an offense away and don’t bring it up again.
Q. We hear a lot about the Day of the Lord, but what is that all about?
A. The Day of the Lord is when God reveals his power to overthrow his enemies, and to defend his kingdom when the Messiah comes.
Q. What is the meaning behind the sacrifices or offerings?
A. The word for this is “Korbanot” and it means to “draw near.” They were celebratory feasts and part of a continuing testimony and rededication back to our partner God after we have broken the covenant by sin. This was done at the covenantal center where he placed his name, the Temple. That’s one of the reasons that the korbanot and the festivals could only be done at the Temple in Jerusalem. For a greater explanation on this concept, see the book called, “The Temple-Its Symbolism and Meaning Then and Now” by Joshua Berman.
Q. What does it mean when it says “Messiah in you” in Col 1.27?
A. This is not to be taken literally, and people say something similar to this all the time. When a person dies, some say he “lives on” in the people he served. Believers can examine themselves to see if their lives are a reflection of the life and beliefs of Yeshua (2 Cor 13.5). This concept can be seen in the lives of Peter and John in Acts 4.13 where the leaders arrested them and they knew they were not exactly rabbinical scholars, and yet they marveled and began to recognize them as having been with Yeshua.
I Have A Question I through IV can be found earlier in this website. Just go to “All Teachings” and scroll down.
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