Was Jesus on Mt. Sinai? Part 2

Posted on January 17, 2015 by Pete Rambo

Was Jesus on Mt Sinai?  Does it matter? is one of the most popular and single most shared posts this blog has ever written.  (I recommend the article and recommend sharing it, but that is not the purpose of this short post.)  In the post I articulated and defended from several angles my conviction that Yeshua (Jesus) stood on Mt. Sinai and was/is the Lawgiver with whom Moshe spoke.

Well, if you have been keeping up the last week or so on this blog, you know that I have begun teaching a series at a local Baptist Church demonstrating Yeshua’s presence in the Tanach (OT).  We have begun with the ‘Angel of the Lord’ instances to reveal Him as the physical, visible manifestation of Elohim (God).

Well, today, in the middle of our Shabbat midrash my attention was drawn to chase a rabbi trail that lead to me reading a verse I’ve seen a dozen times…. Continue reading →

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The Pope is Illegitimate

Posted on January 17, 2015 by Pete Rambo

By his own admission, and according to Roman Catholic dogma (traditions of men), the current Pope and every Pope in history is illegitimate.  The point is blindingly obvious, and Popes and Chairsmost of you probably already had this figured out, but it just hit me as I was reading Sue Wyatt’s most recent post concerning Acts 15.

Catholic dogma teaches that the Pope is the Vicar of Christ on earth.  Essentially, the Pope claims to be the personal representative and official voice of Christ on the earth.  His/their claim on this distinction stems from their claim of descendancy from Peter the Apostle, their alleged first Pope.

Not that I ever believed the Pope had any legitimacy anyway, while reading Sue’s post, I realized two important points that scream, ‘illegit!’ Continue reading →

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Torah in the Book of the ACTS of the Apostles: Chapters 14-15

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Pete Rambo

I have been enjoying Sue and John Wyatt’s excellent discussion and commentary on Torah in the Book of Acts. This post jumps into the middle at the generally misunderstood and errantly taught Acts 15 debate with a terrific presentation. There were a couple items I learned thsat I had not previously noticed!!

For links to the rest of the series, see the middle of this introductory article: https://lambsservant.wordpress.com/torah-in-the-new-testament-what-did-the-apostles-teach/

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Sunday School, part two…

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Pete Rambo

Yesterday, I shared that I have been invited to guest teach Sunday School at a large Baptist church for a while.  Here is the second lesson in the series “Yeshua in the Tanach,” given January 11, 2015.  (And, the recording is SO much better!!  Thanks, Dan!)

I pray this help/encourage/strengthen us.

Blessings.

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So…, I’m teaching a Sunday School class!

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Pete Rambo

I just thought some of you would find it very interesting that I am teaching a Sunday school class…  I have to smile inside.

One of the Messianic Fellowships that we attend with some frequency (currently, we are sharing time between our home fellowship and two other fellowships in the area) is led by a couple that is still involved in ministry in a Baptist church in Lexington, SC.  She has led an adult Sunday school class for several years in a study through Genesis and Exodus as well as sharing other basic Torah teaching (feasts, etc).  Well, recently, she asked if I would be willing to come do a series for her class revealing Yeshua in the Tanach.

While Sunday is typically a work day on our little homestead, I jumped at the chance.  I figured I could teach and be a light in the church while still being home to do work by about 11:30!!  How cool!

So, besides sharing my excitement, I thought I could share the first audio from last week.  Continue reading →

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EVIDENCE THAT TORAH WAS GIVEN TO ALL MEN AT CREATION

Posted on January 3, 2015 by Pete Rambo

Here is a dynamite piece that covers in more depth a subject we have tackled on multiple occasions: The existence of Torah in Genesis and its applicability to ALL mankind, not simply the Jews.

Please read and share this excellent piece.

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Fox Byte 5775 #12: VaYechi (And He Lived)

Posted on January 3, 2015 by Pete Rambo

I just LOVE the way Al McCarn encapsulates the Torah Portions on his blog. Here is another terrific portion that in a beautiful way sums up and reflects on the ongoing fulfillment of the prophecy over Judah and Joseph (through Ephraim and Manasseh).

What an amazing time to be alive as we witness something happening that the sages and even the angels were not privy to.

Albert J. McCarn's avatarTHE BARKING FOX

וַיְחִי

José Ferrer as Cyrano and Mala Powers as Roxane in Stanley Kramer's 1950 film production of Cyrano de Bergerac.José Ferrer as Cyrano and Mala Powers as Roxane in Stanley Kramer’s 1950 film production of Cyrano de Bergerac.

The timeless appeal of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac is in its depiction of selfless love.  Cyrano’s bigger-than-life character captures our attention instantly.  How could it not?  He is a man’s man – no one wields a sword as brilliantly, nor as judiciously, as this noble French warrior whose sense of right and wrong guides him to uphold the cause of those less fortunate.  Yet Cyrano is a sensitive soul, the greatest poet of his day, and one quick to win the confidence of the ladies.  Even though his overly large nose draws immediate notice, Cyrano himself is larger than this one glaring defect, and in fact capitalizes on it to win greater acclaim and honor.  But it is that defect which keeps Cyrano from the desire of his…

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Book Review: The Mystery of the Shemitah

Posted on January 1, 2015 by Pete Rambo

shemitah coverI’ve had Rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s new release, The Mystery of the Shemitah, laying around for a couple months.  It was on my ‘to read’ stack, but limited time and other volumes I was more interested in continually snowed it under.  Well, at about 1:50 the other morning I found myself staring at the clock and decided to get up, brew some coffee and read something….  This is what I picked up.

Several years ago, I read Cahn’s The Harbinger and found it interesting and somewhat compelling, but the wordy style that seemed to drag on belaboring points was a put-off.  Hence, The Shemitah was a slow uptake.  The 288 pages were a very fast read because many sections I could skim and get the meat, slowing only on occasion for clarity on some finer points.  All total, the book took maybe a couple hours to read.

Both of Cahn’s books begin with the premise that, unlike most nations, America was intentionally dedicated to be a light to the nations, a sort of ‘new’ Israel, founded on Judeo-Christian principles drawn directly from the Torah.  As such, this nation, by invoking or accepting the mantle of being a light on a hill in the image of ancient Israel also invoked the blessings and curses of obedience and disobedience.

Cahn’s premises for both books, drawn from Isaiah, is to ask whether the odd sequences of events in out recent past cannot be traced directly to our national disobedience and deserved judgment.  Continue reading →

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Israeli Media Takes a Positive Look at Messianic Jews

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Prophecy and history are playing out before our very eyes!!  I am so overwhelmed at the things that are happening in rapid succession right now that it takes my breath away and brings tears all at the same time.  Zion is awakening!!

Read this incredible article about a HUGE positive stand that is being taken for Yeshua in Israel right now.  Eyes are opening and acceptance is in the immediate future.

Israel’s leading media group, Keshet, has taken a keen interest in the nation’s Messianic Jewish community after one of its flagship television shows, the popular singing competition Kochav Haba (“The Next Star”), featured a Messianic Jewish contestant.

Keshet’s online news and entertainment portal, Mako, published a weekend story asking readers to take a closer look at Israel’s 15,000 Messianic Jews and to be more welcoming toward those who believe in Yeshua (Jesus).

The article opened by highlighting some of the hostile comments made after openly-Messianic songstress Shai Sol scored a spot in Kochav Haba’s second round following a mesmerizing audition performance.

Continue reading →

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Why Do the Jews Hate Jesus?

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Pete Rambo

My friend, James, has a terrific article summing up one of the great discussions of our day. As we see prophecies being fulfilled all around us, one of the conundrums is, ‘How will our Jewish brothers see their Messiah?’

Taking a broad sweeping view of many parts of the equation, James helps us understand what the role of the Messianic non-Jew is. While he and I may not fully agree on what it means to be grafted in, we do completely agree that we are to love, support, protect and encourage in tangible ways those of Judah.

Thanks, James.

James Pyles's avatarMorning Meditations

I know this is a rather controversial title for today’s “morning meditation,” but it came to me as I was reading through the Gospel of John and I thought I’d share what I’ve been pondering.

And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

–Matthew 12:11-14 (NASB)

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it…

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Hanukkah may have pagan roots? Seriously? **Updated**

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Pete Rambo

A friend sent me something a couple days ago to mull…  I’ll just put it out here for thought and discussion.

**Please see John McKee’s comment below**

According to the Jewish Encyclopedia’s article on the origins of Hanukkah,

The actual reason for the selection of the twenty-fifth of Kislew by Judas Maccabeus for the dedication of the altar is stated to have been, as mentioned above, that on the very same day three years earlier Antiochus Epiphanes had a pagan altar set up at the altar of burnt offerings in the Temple of Jerusalem and sacrifices offered to his idol (I Macc. i. 41-64; comp. II Macc. vi. 2, where the heathen god is called “Zeus Olympius”). The twenty-fifth of Kislew was accordingly a day sacred also to the heathen before it became a Jewish festival. According to Ewald (“Gesch. des Volkes Israel,” 3d ed., iv. 407)

Continue reading →

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I Found It!!

Posted on December 27, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Two moves ago, I lost a piece of paper that was on my wall.  The loss was the basis for this post titled King Josiah A Pattern For Us, a post as relevant today as ever… Yesterday, while unpacking a box from storage, I found it.  It said,

YHWH is calling us to be as King Josiah

  • To find the Torah hidden in the rubble of the Holy place
  • To bring it before the people
  • To teach the laws again
  • To be priests and enter the Holy of Holies with out fear
  • To do away with the high places and pagan worship
  • To direct people once again in the ways of the L-rd!

 

Please take the time to read the above linked article about King Josiah, A Pattern For Us?

 

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December 25th with the Rambos

Posted on December 26, 2014 by Pete Rambo

As my readers well know, we do not celebrate our Messiah as most of the world does.  We celebrate His birth in conjunction with Sukkot, the most likely time of His visitation.  So, the last couple years, December 25 has been a day of varied fun and occupation with like-minded friends.  Last year we taught/hosted a cheesemaking class.

This year, because we just moved into a new home, we hosted a bit of a barn-raising.  Here are a few pics of the day.

First, the morning began with my eldestIMG_20141225_085658522_HDR smoking up the kitchen and den because the sugar on the sweet bread he was making got too ‘well-done.’  That led to a few neat pics of the sun streaming in the den window and landing on the table, eventually resting on a shofar that we turned to highlight the translucence. Continue reading →

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Marriage, adultery and Christian error…

Posted on December 25, 2014 by Pete Rambo

***It is with much fear and trepidation that I post something I have been working on for weeks, as this post will prove to be a very challenging post.  Some topics are so ingrained in our traditional understanding of Scripture that they can become ‘third rail’ topics.  In other words, touching them can lead to big trouble.  This is one of those topics, and frankly, I’ve never shied away from the hard stuff!  So, take a deep breath and let’s take a slow stroll through some recent studies I’ve had…  i.e., this post is nowhere near final or exhaustive,  merely sharing some thoughts and throwing things out there for discussion.

John 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
…..
John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

May we seek truth, no matter how hard the topic, or where it leads…

 

 

Thanksgiving dinner at our table was the normal mix of banter and topics which included the ever present weekly Torah Portion.  That week, as you may recall, we had the story of Rachel and Leah.  Our discussion meandered through the story but turned interesting as we pondered various aspects of the proper Biblical perspective on marriage.  Foremost, we realized that what we learned in the church and through Western culture may have some errors.  This led me to further reading and thinking, and of course, my paradigms have again been challenged! Continue reading →

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PURE OLIVE OIL: LET IT FLOW!

Posted on December 19, 2014 by Pete Rambo

HUGE NEWS!!  Prophecy continuing to be fulfilled and the day of Messiah’s coming is that much closer!  Following is an article taken from the Temple Institute’s Facebook page detailing a MAJOR step in the restoration of Temple worship.  Note the information about the altar at the end!  The timing, in conjunction with Chnukah, is also significant.  More info on the process and how this came to be is available here with their December 15, 2014 entry.

 For the first time in 2000 years, the Temple Institute has produced pure olive oil, in accordance with the complex laws regarding Temple purity. This oil is not for eating, but for kindling the seven lights of the Holy Temple Menorah.

The pure Temple oil has been deposited and sealed into a ceramic cruse, also fashioned and fired in accordance with the complex laws regarding Temple purity, just like the cruse of pure oil sealed with the seal of the Kohen Gadol – High Priest – and discovered by the victorious Maccabees when they entered the liberated Temple and set about re-purifying and rededicating the Holy Temple and the altar that the Greek occupiers had defiled.

On Monday evening, December 22, the seventh light of Chanukah, in a public ceremony to take place in Jerusalem’s old city, alongside the Golden Menorah also made by the Temple Institute, the pure ceramic cruse and the pure oil contained within it will be revealed to the world. The gathering will then proceed to the Temple Institute’s Holy Temple Visitors Center, where a newly completed stone altar will be dedicated.

Both ceremonies will be conducted by kohanim – priests- in priestly garments, accompanied by song and the blasting of silver trumpets.

for more information regarding Mondays’s events: youtu.be/F95C79bqzLM

Join us as we take one step closer to the rebuilding and rededication of the Holy Temple in our day!

Chanukah Sameach!

Photo: Holy Temple pure olive oil seeing the first light of day in 2000 years, in the city of Katzrin on the Golan Heights.

PURE OLIVE OIL: LET IT FLOW! For the first time in 2000 years, the Temple Institute has produced pure olive oil, in accordance with the complex laws regarding Temple purity. This oil is not for eating, but for kindling the seven lights of the Holy Temple Menorah. The pure Temple oil has been deposited and sealed into a ceramic cruse, also fashioned and fired in accordance with the complex laws regarding Temple purity, just like the cruse of pure oil sealed with the seal of the Kohen Gadol - High Priest - and discovered by the victorious Maccabees when they entered the liberated Temple and set about re-purifying and rededicating the Holy Temple and the altar that the Greek occupiers had defiled. On Monday evening, December 22, the seventh light of Chanukah, in a public ceremony to take place in Jerusalem's old city, alongside the Golden Menorah also made by the Temple Institute, the pure ceramic cruse and the pure oil contained within it will be revealed to the world. The gathering will then proceed to the Temple Institute's Holy Temple Visitors Center, where a newly completed stone altar will be dedicated. Both ceremonies will be conducted by kohanim - priests- in priestly garments, accompanied by song and the blasting of silver trumpets. for more information regarding Mondays's events: youtu.be/F95C79bqzLM Join us as we take one step closer to the rebuilding and rededication of the Holy Temple in our day! Chanukah Sameach! Photo: Holy Temple pure olive oil seeing the first light of day in 2000 years, in the city of Katzrin on the Golan Heights.
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