How many saviors are there? Sometimes human arrogance reaches such heights that it is beyond believability. This is particularly so among religions. Many assume that they “must save the world.” But can they?
A couple of days ago I listened to a preacher on a podcast, or Internet radio, I don’t remember which. He was talking about “prophecy.” He made a big point about how the audience would escape the hell fire through the “rapture,” but those that were “left” would go through the great tribulation and be destroyed because they didn’t believe. At that the audience laughed and applauded.
Actually, the words “believe in Jesus” really mean trust rather than a belief in some doctrine or creed. It means to have confidence in what he will do on our behalf. But, and this is important, he will do what he promised and will perform the tasks — whether we believe it or not.
In other words, the prophecies and promises, made by Eyahuwah, in the Hebrew Scriptures, and who is the one we call “Jesus,” whose name is “Eyahushuah” will be carried out whether we believe in what he said or even know about it.
But we are better off if we know and become spiritually connected with the Family of Elahim, otherwise known as the Kingdom of Heaven or God, whose intent was to make Man in their image and likeness, and to bring the Man beings into the Eternal Life!
How in the face of such religious confusion will anyone ever come to understand how this is going to work — not just for a few, but for all?
In another blog article, I took “our beloved brother Paul” to task. I won’t repeat here what I wrote in that article, you can read it, if you have not done so already. No, I want to make a point: I want to give you the good news (gospel) and not once make any reference to anything Paul wrote. Why? Because it is not necessary. The Apostles didn’t quote or preach from his writings. And if I understand what was written in 2 Peter, Paul’s writings consisted of his own “private interpretations” and a bunch of his own rules ala Phariseeism. In short, we need to understand from all the gospel, or good news, from all other Scriptures first — before we even begin to read what Paul wrote.
Jesus, whose name is “Eyahushuah” (Hebrew), said this to his disciples:
“Who do men say that I the Son of man am?”
And they said, “Some say that you are John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “Who do you say I am?
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ [the Chosen One], the Son of the living God.”
Eyahushuah replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah: for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father in heaven. And I say also to you, That you are Peter [Petros: a small pebble], and upon this rock [a huge boulder] I will build my church [assembly of people]; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:15-19
There are several things that are commonly assumed and misunderstood about this.
First: the word “Church” is a mistranslation. We assume that a church is a building, a sect, denominations or religious institution. The word “ekklesia” references a group of people who are “called from,” an “assembly of citizens,” congregation, or very simply, “Them.” It implies no organization with rules, regulations, oaths, programs, buildings, or anything like that. We get our English, “ex” and “ec” from the Greek “ek.” For example: eccentric, external.
The word “church” should be stricken from all translations and replaced with something that makes sense. The word “Church” has no etymology back to “ekklesia.” Some claim that it goes back to the Greek word “kurios,” which means either “belonging to a lord” [genitive] or “lord” [masculine]. The word is never translated “Church.” Essentially, the word “church” comes from an ex-biblical source and was imposed upon the word “ekklesia”!
In the 1500s Tyndale refused to use the word “Church” in his English translations and instead used the word “congregation.” The Church, of course, who opposed translations in the native language of the people, considered this heresy and eventually hatched a plot to take Tyndale prisoner. He was later tied to a pole, strangled by the hangman and set on fire.
Second: Notice the play on words. This is usually missed:
- “Son of Man” (Eyahushuah),
- “the Christ [Messiah], Son of the Living God” (Peter),
- “Simon son of Jonah” (Eyahushuah to Peter).
Third, the point of the conversation is “revealed” knowledge coming very specifically from the Father in Heaven. It has nothing to do with making Peter the “founder of the church.” Peter is only a pebble, when you consider the truth that was revealed to him: identity of Eyahushuah.
Fourth: Upon the huge immovable rock of a connection with the Father, he said “I will build.”
He didn’t say that “they” would build, or that any who came after them would build, but he said, “I will build my ekklesia (my group of people)” indicating that He was going to be around for a long time.
How was the building going to take place? Through a spiritual connection with Elahim that would provide a means for revealed knowledge from the Father to flow into the world. Not by human effort, but by spiritual power on a person by person basis.
Now that is the work of a Savior!
Where else have we heard words like that? Below is a partial list of statements from the Scriptures where the speaker, either going by the name of Eyahuwah or Eyahushuah, made promises about what he would or would not do.
Before human existence came to the earth:
Eyahuwah Elahim said, “It is not good for Man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis2:18
To Noah:
Eyahuwah said to Noah, “Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty night, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.”
To Abram:
Eyahuwah said to Abram: “Get out of your country, and from your people, and from your father’s house, go to a land I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and curse him that curses you; and all peoples of the earth will be blessed through you.” Gen 12:1-3
And throughout the rest of the Scriptures we find statements like (all are direct quotes from the New International Version):
“Even if you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; and if you offer many prayers, I will not listen.”
“I will get relief from my foes.”
“I will turn my hand against you.”
“I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove your impurities.”
“I will restore your judges.”
“I am going to open up your graves and bring you up from them.”
“I will put my spirit in you and you will live.”
“I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land in the mountains of Israel.”
“I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people [see above], and I will be their Elahim.”
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.”
“Look! I am coming soon. My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.”
“I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on ME, the one they have pierced, and mourn for HIM as one mourns for an only child.”
“On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more,” declares Eyahuwah Almighty. “I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land.”
“I am Eyahuwah your Elahim, who brought you out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no Elahim but me, no Savior except me!”
I could continue with this for the rest of the week. There are so many statements that tell us what Eyahuwah/Eyahushuah will do. And yes, this entity is one and the same. The Hebrew Scriptures are filled with the message of the Gospel. And the promises of peace, safety, health, long life, and greatness are the future of human kind.
Only this Savior makes these statements about what he will do. And He never forgets or goes back on His Word.
i am curious where do you come up with that spelling of Jesus? i have seen Yesu, Yeshua, Jeshua, Joshua, Yehoshua, but never your version.
second, while i agree with you that we are completely wrong about what “church” means and many other things. but i think you arent thinking of the etymology of the word church. there is nothing wrong with the word church. the problem is with the modern association with the word as it has been reinterpreted throughout the last 2000 yrs.
church comes from ekklesia. it means the same thing. and by the way, the roots of the word ekklesia mean “called out”. ie its basically same as “chosen” or “set apart”. while it is a gathering, its a gathering of “consecrated” people. so just any old group of people doesnt count as ekklesia. only a group of “set apart” or “chosen” people.
peter
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Comments by Timothy Sakach
1: The pronunciation of the Hebrew name of the one we call Jesus takes into consideration the ancient Hebrew vowels in the spelling. The Hebrew name literally means “Eyahuwah is Savior.” It is like the Hebrew name “Eliyahu” whom we call Elijah, which means “God or El is Eyahuwah.” Both of these names contain the vowels: Yod, He, and Vau, which we mistakenly transliterate as YHWH. As noted, the actual sound is “EE – AH – OO – AH.” Therefore, the name we call Joshua, in Hebrew is phonetically spelled: “EE – AH – OO – SH – OO – AH” and consonants naturally form between the vowels. The Hebrew spelling can be found in the New Englishman’s Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance.
2. The etymology of the word “church” does not trace back to “ekklesia” even though the word is used in nearly all English translations except Tyndale’s, who was persecuted, condemned and murdered by the church because he, among other things, adamantly refused to translate “ekklesia” as “church” and chose “congregation” instead. The word church, according to Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Edition, says it is a noun from the Middle English “chirche” from the Old English “cirice” ultimately from Late Greek “kyriakon” from the Greek “kyriakos” [of the lord] from “kyrios” [lord, master]. The word “kyrios” is also linked the the Latin “kyrie” sung in the Mass as “kyrie eleison” [Lord, have mercy]. Therefore, using the word Church to translate “ekklesia” is an imposition of an external meaning upon the actual Greek that has little resemblance to the context.
3. While the word “chosen” may apply to the “righteous” it applies more to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who were chosen not because of their righteousness, but because of the will of the Chooser, for His own purpose. Promises were made to the fathers concerning their offspring and carried out by Eyahuwah as He promised regardless of the spiritual state of the people. And so it will be in the future. See Resurrection Part 3.
ps i went to your website. i think you miss the point entirely of elohim. elohim is also used for “gods”. ie idols, baal etc. elohim doesnt mean “trinity”. yes using that word (plural for god) talking about the One, shows He is plural (trinitarian), but the word elohim isnt the name of God. YHWH is. in many ways, elohim is no different than our english word “god” which can mean “GOD” “god” or “gods”.
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Comment by Timothy Sakach
As you may have noticed since you submitted this comment that I felt compelled to edit my website and to discontinue using the more popular word “Elohim” in exchange for “Elahim”. I did this to give credence to the more precise ancient Hebrew vowels that make up this word. The word phonetically, using ancient Hebrew vowels, is: EH – L – AH – EE -M or ELAHIM. This is the plural of ELAH. So “Sons of Elah” becomes “Elahim.” This goes together with “EYAHUWAH ELAHIM.” “Elohim” on the other hand appears to have been created by Masoretic efforts to preserve the current affected sound of the Hebrew language rather than to restore it. Don’t sell yourself short on understanding the plural significance of Elahim.
Also it is “In the beginning ELAHIM” not “In the beginning YHWH!” If you were to ask any devout Jew, he would tell you this; Moses, (the Torah) is read and honored on each of their Sabbath days in Synagogues around the world.
Re:Matt. 16: 15-19, your statement is accurate to a point, except here is the understanding of the scripture: it is not that “Peter” upon which “stone” or “pebble” on WHOM His ekklesia will be built, with the focus on Peter (Simon, son of Jonah); but upon the “pebble” of the revelation of Spirit to him. Read it like this: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah: for FLESH AND BLOOD has not revealed it to you, but my Father in heaven. And I say also to you, That AS you are ‘called’ Peter — meaning the same as rock — with this small “pebble of understanding” that reveals to you Who I AM, UPON THAT will I grow my ekklesia, so that this small “pebble” of spiritual insight will grow into a large “stone” of spiritual insight.
“Peter” (Petros) was the Greek NAME for Simon; much like “Pedro” is a Spanish name from the word “piedra” meaning rock; Jesus was referring (as you know) to that Greek meaning of the name Petros, and declaring to that meaning.
In other words, Jesus was saying “You are blessed, Simon, and aptly named “rock”; and it was not flesh and blood that gave you the insight of my true identity. On this small spiritual revelation you have received, likewise will I build larger spiritual revelations of the knowledge of Me, and Who I came from (who my Father is)”.
As you state, it was not Peter upon whom the ekklesia would be built, but upon spiritual “seeing”.
Another way to state this is in the meaning itself: Peter was “witness to” (understanding accurately with spiritual “eye-sight”) Jesus; the small “breath” given him by the large “breath” (Holy Spirit) would become “A CLOUD” of witnesses (as in Matt. 24:30). As a cloud consists of “vapor”, so too is the meaning given to the Spirit. Each little droplet of vapor forms a natural cloud. By this expanded meaning using the insight that Peter had and comparing it to his seeing with his internal or spiritual eyes, Peter was a witness (or could see) the truth. This small witness, as a drop of vapor, would grow into clouds, becoming “thousands upon thousands and ten thousands” of witnesses. “He that has an ear, let him hear”.
El Besino
Perhaps, I wasn’t as clear as I should have been. But the truth is that the foundation (very large rock) to any truly Spiritual endeavor among us flesh beings depends upon the revelatory power and will of our Father in heaven. Without that in the life of each person, either called or chosen, there is no “building.” Revelation therefore becomes the power of the Elohim Connection in humanity.
The metaphor of “growing rocks” is not implied here. Instead, there already exists a foundation (a bedrock) of knowledge that must be revealed to us. Then we grow, if we, like children, can receive it. And when we do, our gratitude is definitely in order.
I agree, it is most definitely a foundation of solid rock upon which our house is built. Therefore, Peter the individual would be “a stone”, having been enlightened by Elohim, to be built upon the foundation with Christ as the “cornerstone” of that building.
Two questions: First, are you stating that “Elohim”, because of its plural meaning in the Hebrew, means “family”? If so, can you define the term with greater clarity? A family of…?
Second, do you believe that mankind is considered “one son” or that all the individuals are separate sons (forgetting gender, of course)? Do you believe therefore that some will live, and some die; some will go on to Life, the remainder to perish?
Both questions require more than I want to cover in this response. The Hebrew can be translated “Gods” as Jonathan Kirsch wrote in his fascinating book “God against the Gods.” I use the word “Family” in consideration of the context of the Scriptures. There is so much bias and confusion from religious teaching that we have become blinded to what the Scriptures really say. My book goes into this in detail. I plan to make this available to the blog readers as a bonus. It is tied to the blessing associated with the 1335 days of Daniel’s vision. Some of this information I published in Kabbalah: Part 3. But yes, Elohim, a uniplural Hebrew word, more closely resembles a Family. It has a Father, a Mother, a Son who is the Brother to many more Sons yet to be revealed. Believe it or not, this is the Gospel message of the entire body of Scripture.
Thanks for your response! It seems daily now I am being astonished by the ignorance propagated by religious teachers; I am led by them to believe that all Jewish people do not believe in the risen savior; how the Law of God was destroyed and replaced by the New Testament “law” (as opposed to being fulfilled!) I am getting to the point where I no longer want to be known as “Christian” because of the image it brings to the mind of what I call “secular” religion, and perhaps will seek another answer (like “disciple”, but even that I feel I am unworthy of).
I checked out your link to YashaNet as well, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Bless you for your efforts toward grounding us in truth.
I agree. I, also, am convinced that all people need to get back to the righteousness of our fathers. And to “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for ALL Israel!” Malachi 4:4
It is not a matter of religion, instead we must all turn from our foolish and unprofitable ways, back to what was given by the mouth of Eyahuwah when the people agreed to keep his law. But afterward they complained to Moses that they didn’t want to hear His voice. And we wonder why He remains quiet. But a time comes when we will hear the Voice again and from then on all will listen.
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