Once a person believes in Yeshua in a Torah-based faith, what do you study and where should you begin? We are going to name a few subjects that are very important to know if you want to understand the Scriptures, being enlightened by the Ruach Ha Kodash (Holy Spirit). The subjects we are going to list is not an exhaustive list, but it will help get you going in the right direction. The Scriptures always come from the context that you are completely familiar with the concepts we are going to direct you to, so this will help you understand the Scriptures and get started in a systematic way. Everything we will discuss can be researched on the Internet, and we have many teachings related to it on this website.
The first area we will mention is the concept of Jewish Eschatology and Time. There is what is called the 7000 Year Plan of God (Psa 90.4; 2 Pet 3.8; Gen 1.1-31 as the blueprint), and time is cyclical not linear. Everything is going back to the past. Eschatology is defined in the biblical sense as the study of the Messiah and the Redemption, both National and Personal. It is seen from six different reference points: Historical, Messiah’s first coming, Messiah’s second coming, the Birth-pains, the Messianic Kingdom and the Olam Haba. It is seen from the fullness looking back (John 14.19; Isa 51.13 through 53.12; Luke 1. 67-79). This area of time and eschatology is studied in the context of the festivals and the Temple, and a realization that all of the Tanak teaches the Messiah and his coming.
In Hebrew thought, “eschatology” is known by several terms in the Scriptures: the Acharit Yamin or “latter days” and the Ichvot Mashiach or “footsteps of the Messiah” and the “B’yamin” or “in those days.” The L’Olam Vaed, or eternity past, is the period before the creation of a specific time called the 7000 year plan of God. The 7000 years is made up of 6000 year period called the Olam Ha Zeh (this present world). This 6000 year period is broken down into three, 2000 year periods. The first period is called “Tohu” or destruction. It goes from Creation to Abraham and covers the fall of man, the flood of Noah, Sodom, etc. The next 2000 year period is called “Torah” or instruction, and it covers from the call of Abraham to the Messiah. We will have Abraham, Moses and the Torah, David and the kingdom, then the birth of Yeshua. The third 2000 year period is called Yomot Mashiach or “days of the Messiah.” This period covers from the first coming of the Messiah to the beginning of the Messianic Kingdom. The last 1000 year period is called the Atid Lavo or future coming, which is the Messianic Kingdom, beginning with the Natzal or rapture, the seven-year Birth-pains of the Messiah, and the remaining 993 years of the kingdom when Yeshua reigns on earth, and there is an earthly Temple that Ezekiel foretold. This period is also called the Day of the Lord, the Sabbath of God, the Lord’s Day and the Day of Rest. After the 7000 years, we enter into the Olam Haba or the World to Come. This is also called the L’Olam Vaed, or forever; the Eighth Day; the New Jerusalem; the Mount of the Lord; the Courtyard of the Lord and many other names. Believers are released from their worldly cares.
The ages will relate to two things: Chronology and State of Being. For example, when Yeshua was resurrected, chronologically he appeared to many who were in the Olam Ha Zeh, but his state of being with his glorified body was in the Olam Haba. In the Messianic Kingdom, believers who received their glorified body at the Natzal/rapture will have a state of being in the Olam Haba, but chronologically be in the Atid Lavo.
There are several other concepts to know and understand. History is unfulfilled prophecy, and prophecy is unfulfilled history (Ecc 1.9; 3.15; Rom 15.4). Another concept is, “Here now, but not yet (Num 24.17; Isa 52 and 53-look at the tenses).” A prophecy is not limited in time because they can have numerous fulfillments. You do not look at a prophecy on one level, but on four levels called the Peshat (literal), Remez (alluded to), Drash (parabolic, explore and ask) and Sowd (secret, hidden, mystical.
Other areas to study are: the Dual Concept of the Messiah; the Chosen People and what that means; the Biblical Festivals and what was done, even though we cannot keep them today; the Two Calendars used in the Bible; the Day of the Lord; the Two Theaters of Operation in the Birth-pains; the Natzal (rapture) and the Resurrection; the Judgment; Coronation and Wedding of the Messiah; the Dual Nature of the Torah, and Spiritual Warfare. We have several teachings on this on this website called the Spiritual Warrior and the Spiritual Sniper.
Another area of study is the Geography of the Land. You will need a good map or atlas. We need to know where many of the places are because events will happen there again. For example, we need to know where the Shephelah Valley is, the Valley of Sukkot, the Kidron, Tyropean and Hinnom Valley, the wilderness where Israel wandered, called Wadi Rum today; where Mount Sinai is; Mount Moriah; Judea and Samaria; the Faiyum where Joseph and Israel lived before the Exodus. Look up the places that are mentioned and look up what the names mean.
We need to understand the Temple; its floorplans; the korbanot/offerings; what prayers were said; the Priesthood and the Levites and their functions. We need to read the Scriptures verse by verse as if we are Jewish, replacing the English with the Hebrew. If you do that, you will see it in its Jewish context.
We need to understand the Hebrew language and be able to at least work in it, and how every letter teaches the Messiah; why certain words have letters added or letters missing; what are Midrashic Name Derivations and Hebrew word plays and puns, which you won’t pick up in any other language; what is a Chiastic Structure, Gematria; Hebrew parallelisms; Hebrew Poetry, Hebrew idioms, phrases and concepts.
We must also understand the Jewish culture and ceremonies outside of Scripture involving lifecycles like birth, names, weddings, circumcision, redemption of the first-born, death and mourning customs, the different levels of halakah; Temple culture, the main religious groups in the first century, like the difference between Beit Hillel (house of Hillel) and Beit Shammai (house of Shammai), the 18 Edicts of Shammai and the controversies associated with them in the first century.
These are just a few areas to study and master, but don’t be overwhelmed with it all. Find yourself a good teacher who can help you, but you must have discernment about this. Some teachers are not very good and may lead you down the wrong path. So, begin a systematic study of these things and be patient with yourself. You are not going to learn and master these things overnight, it will take years, but this website can help you. Begin at the beginning and work yourself through the various articles. We have many different artivles and all the Scriptures verse by verse on the site, so you can read the Bible with a Messianic commentary, with Yeshua in mind, and you will be on your way. What took us years to research and put down would take you a few weeks to learn. That is a good thing. So, we encourage you to study the Scriptures and the various concepts to show yourself approved, not only to God, but to others as well.
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