The Future of the EU

Posted on May 5, 2013 by dknezacek

The Sun is reporting that the UK Independence Party is making surprising gains in by-elections.  This leads me to the question; Could the UK leave the EU, and could other countries follow suit?

Nigel Farage, Ukip’s leader, takes a break at a local pub in Cambridgeshire. Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA

Way back in the seventies I remember preachers speaking of the European Union as being fulfilment of the bible’s prophecies of a ten nation federation in the book of Revelation.  Then the EU grew to 13 nations, and then 27.

Is it possible that the EU is the ten nation confederacy of Revelation 17:12?  Is it possible that it might shed some nations so it’s final total is ten?

Well, to the first question the answer is NO!  The European Union is not the ten nations of Revelation 17.  That confederation is a World Government, not a local super state.  It is the ultimate revival of the Roman Empire as a global empire!  It is, however, entirely possible that a reduced EU could be Satan’s counterfeit of those nations.  It might just be that Satan wants Christians to believe that the EU is that particular group of nations, and its leader is the Antichrist.

Why would he want to do this?  I believe he is setting up Europe for a big fall.  He has to make the real Antichrist look like a “good guy”, so people  will accept him.  What better way to deceive professing Christians than to set-up a really bad guy, from Europe, with a capital in Rome.  This is what many Christians are expecting.

In other words, give them what they expect.  This is exactly what Satan will do, so that when they think Armageddon is over, they will be ready for the return of Christ.  Instead, he will give them his version of what he, and they, think the Christ should be like…the Antichrist!

So, yes.  I expect the European Union will split into at least two entities.  The unproductive countries that are a drag on the economy will probably have to go alone.  I think that eventually the productive nations will get tired of bailing out those that refuse to learn fiscal responsibility.  I detailed this in The Spirit of Prophecy.

Ultimately I expect that the capital of this revived Roman Empire will be destroyed during the Gog and Magog war.  It will most likely be a nuclear attack, and I expect that the victim of this attack will be Rome.

Most protestants, and even some Catholics, believe that Rome is the Harlot city of Revelation 17 and 18.  The truth is that this is not one city, but two, and neither of them is Rome.  Rome will be destroyed before the Tribulation begins.

The city of seven mountains of Revelation 18 is actually Amman.  Amman was known as Philadelphia at the time of Christ, and it was also known as the city of Seven Jabals in Arabic, or “the city of seven mountains”!

Amman is not the city of Philadelphia of Revelation 3, but the similarities of the names will be exploited by the Antichrist, to say that his city is the city referred to in that passage.  Many Christians are familiar with the fact that there are no condemnations given to Philadelphia in that passage, only praise and comfort.  Satan is aware of this also.  No doubt the Antichrist will claim that his church is the church of Philadelphia.

Is it possible that Amman may one day take back the name it held at the time of Christ?  Not only is it possible but I think it is likely.  Should the city of Philadelphia, USA, suffer a major terrorist attack, or nuclear attack, during or around the war of Psalm 83, and should the Muslim Arabs have a crisis of faith, after their loss to Israel in that war, this could prove to be the catalyst that causes this nation to rename its capital.

This all may seem like speculation, but I have laid out a strong, biblical, case that these events are very likely, in the pages of The Spirit of Prophecy.  Check out the site, and check out the book.  I think you will find this book contains the best explanation for the events we are seeing in the daily news, and those just around the corner.

Shalom, in Yeshua ha Maschiach

Dan Knezacek

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In Which Language was the New Testament written?

Posted on April 28, 2013 by dknezacek

Just a quick note;

There are people today who tell us that Jesus’ name really is Yeshua, or perhaps Yehushua, or Yehoshua.  There is not a shred of texual evidence for this claim.  Every New Testament manuscript is in Greek, and early translations were in Aramaic, and Latin, but there are no manuscripts in Hebrew.

There is no doubt that Yeshua, Yehushua, and Yehoshua are forms of the same name as the Greek “Iasous”

Dr. James Price says on his webpage;

Two things indicate that Yehoshua is the proper Hebrew name for Jesus:
(1) In the Greek Translation of the OT known as the Septuagint (LXX), the name Joshua is rendered *Iasous* = Jesus.
(2) In the NT, Joshua is mentioned twice (Acts 7:45; Heb 4:8), and in both places the Greek NT spells the name *Iasous* = Jesus.

Dr. Price’s facts are correct, that these names are essentially the same, and his observations of the Septuagint are also valid, however I disagree with his conclusion; that Jesus’ real (original) name must therefore be Yehoshua.  Why?  Because I don’t like Hebrew?  Absolutely not!  I love Hebrew and am learning it at this moment!

My objection to this speculation is because of a prophecy of the Lord Jesus Christ, found in the book of Isaiah;

For with stammering lips and ANOTHER TONGUE will he speak to this people. Isaiah 28:11

I have no doubt that Jesus knew Hebrew, but it was not the lingua franca (the working language) of first century Israel… it was Greek.  Hebrew was already a dying language, and was mainly spoken by scholars, NOT by the common people.

Isaiah wrote in Hebrew, therefore the “another tongue” could not be Hebrew!  It was Greek!

Who are the “this people” in the passage?  They are Isaiah’s people, the Jews.  Why would Jesus speak in Greek to the Jews?   Because the common people would understand Him, but at the same time He would be a stumbling block to the scholars and “mighty men”.  This is exactly what happened.

And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  Isaiah 8:14

So, is it wrong to use Yehoshua, or Yeshua?  No.  Just don’t tell me that is the only name He must go by, or that Iasous was just a transliteration of His real name.  It is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew, but is also the name He went by, when He walked the dusty roads of Israel!

If God had wanted His Son’s name to be known as Yeshua, or Yeshoshua, it would have been written that way in the original New Testament language, and He would have preserved it that way!  Those who are saying that we must go back to the name Yeshua, are really saying that God was powerless to preserve the true name of His son for some 2,000 years, and that God needs our help!  Ultimately this attitude is an insult to the Lord!

Shalom,

Dan

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Working trip

Posted on April 27, 2013 by dknezacek

I am leaving today for a trip to Yurrup. This is a working trip, and I may not be able to post until I am back, Lord willing, on May 10th or so.

In the mean time keep looking up! Oh, and pass around links to this site!

God Bless,

Dan

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When did humans start eating meat?

Posted on April 24, 2013 by dknezacek

I have recently been confronted with people who are telling me that Christians need to keep the Old Testament dietary laws. What they are saying is contrary to Peter’s statements of Acts 15:10, as well as many statements of Paul.

I had always been taught that people didn’t eat animals until after the flood. Most Christians point to Genesis 9:3 to say that this was the point when man began to eat the flesh of animals.

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

You can do an internet search and you will find many articles that state that man was vegetarian before the flood.

Indeed, man was created to be a vegetarian. In the Garden of Eden, Adam was told;

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2:16-17

We all know the story of the fall of man; Shortly after this command was given Adam and Eve ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and were banished from the Garden.

As a result of their sin, God killed animals and made clothing from the animal skins for Adam and his wife.

Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. Genesis 3:21

Now, God was teaching Adam something in this act, that most of his descendants have forgotten. No doubt Adam would copy this act of God for the rest of his life, whenever he or a member of his family needed clothing. They may have developed cloth at some point in Adam’s life, and thus would not have needed to continue killing animals all the time, but there can be no doubt that they did kill animals on occasion for their skins.

So what was God teaching Adam? Did He teach them to kill the animals to make clothing, and then bury the carcass? Did they burn it?

It has been said that the God of the bible is a “waste-not-want-not” God. He does not beat around the bush, wasting time. He does not waste resources, and He does not expect his creatures to be wasteful either. Does it make sense that God would teach the first couple to kill animals for their skins and to waste the rest of the carcass?

One of the principles of the law of sacrifice, given later in Leviticus, was that the sacrifices were to be eaten. See Genesis 31:54, Leviticus 7:15-21, Deut. 12:27.

Note that in Genesis 31:54 it does not say that Jacob and his brethren ate the sacrifice there, but the context dictates that they did. It was a feast! Notice also that this occurred long before the book of Leviticus was written. Yes, they did eat their sacrifices long before the Law was written! I think God had communicated this to man in the beginning.

The bible does not have to spell things out. God wants us to use our minds, that He gave us!

Do you remember the time when Moses was on the mountain for forty days and the people down below made a golden calf? You can read about it in Exodus 32.

In his righteous anger Moses ground the golden calf into powder, mixed it in water, and made the people of Israel drink it;

And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. Exodus 32:20

I think that in a similar fashion, God in His righteous anger, over Adam and Eve’s disobedience, made them eat the animals He had killed for their clothing. I think God did it to show them the consequences of their sin.

They sinned and someone had to die. Instead of them dying, it was a beautiful animal which they loved!

Have you ever eaten a pet? I have. It is not a good feeling. It is hard to enjoy such a meal when it has a name, (Andrei the goat) and along with it there is a sense of guilt. It is over thirty years since I had that meal, and I still remember it today.

Don’t forget that the God of the Garden is the same God whom Moses knew. I think He inspired Moses to do this! Making them drink the polluted water would bring home to them the horror of what they had done.

Do I have a verse to prove my point? Not really. I only know that God never changes, and the principles enshrined in the law of Moses were already in play thousands of years earlier. This can easily be demonstrated in the law of the Sabbath (see Genesis 2:3 and Exodus 20:11), and the rest of the ten commandments, and I see no reason why it should not be true of other laws. It is about the unchanging nature of God.

Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Genesis 7:2

When Noah entered the ark, they already had a concept of clean animals. Some have said that the concept was only for sacrifice. This may be true, but even this idea is not found in Scripture, (someone made it up) and I would contend that they ate their sacrifices. Meat should remind you that someone had to die for your meal, and they died because YOU are a sinner!

When Noah and his family got off the ark the world had radically changed from the day they had boarded her. In this new world God allowed man to eat any animal, not only the ones which were clean for sacrifices.

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. Genesis 9:3

I think that what the Lord was saying is that “now, even animals that you formerly considered unclean, you may eat”. He is also using the past-tense in this statement, because it is already a done deal. He is letting them know that they can, but He never actually said that they can not!  The diet before the flood was probably the same diet eventually enshrined in the Law of Moses.

Not every conversation that Adam had with God is recorded in Scripture, so there is ample room for Him to have given them instructions to eat the sacrifice during Adam’s life. God would never give instructions that are contrary to His nature, but we see from the Levitical law that it is NOT contrary to His nature for men to eat of their sacrifices.

In fact eating of the sacrifice is one thing that personalizes it.  When you eat it the sacrifice becomes a part of you!  It is this very principle that Jesus was referring to when He said:

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. John 6:53

He wasn’t speaking literally, but figuratively.  You have to read His words and make them a part of you.  Nevertheless, the principle He spoke of here in John 6 is the very same principle that began with the first sacrifice.  How do I know?  Because all the sacrifices were about Jesus.  Every one of them.  None of them could ever take away sin (Hebrews 10:4), but all were anticipating the ultimate sacrifice of the Son of Man.

Jesus, or Yehoshua, said that we need to pay attention to every word of Scripture (Mat. 4:4, Luke 4:4). We are not to look at the “big picture” without taking notice of the details. Pay careful attention to the details of the sacrifice of the second child of Adam.

3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: Genesis 4:3-4

Notice that when Abel made his sacrifice he separated the fat from the meat. One need not do that if one is burning up the whole animal in the fire of the altar. The only way one would need to do what Abel was doing was if one was eating the meat. The fat was burned and the meat was eaten!

And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, Leviticus 3:9

Abel was making the same kind of offering that was later enshrined in the law in Leviticus. He was separating the fat, and burning it. This is very strong evidence that he ate the meat of the sacrifice. He was anticipating the law of Moses which would not be written down for some 2,500 years! I expect that Abel didn’t make this up himself, but got it first hand from the Lord!

Please notice also that there is no command recorded in Genesis 1-4, for Cain and Abel to bring sacrifices and offerings to the Lord!  None!  So, did Cain and Abel just make it up themselves, to bring the offerings of Genesis 4?  No!  Very obviously they were following a verbal command, that was never written down.  If one verbal command wasn’t written down, what is the chance that there were others?  I would say that it is without question that there were many verbal commands given to the first family, and even to several generations of their descendants.

Those who tell us that Abel’s, and Adam’s, sacrifices were burnt offerings that consumed the entire animal, are not reading the words of Scripture. Their exegesis is sloppy! Careless! Really more like eisegesis!  They are reading into Scripture their own preferences, and skipping that which the Lord placed there!

Proof that this is a very old custom can be observed all around the world; people in any religion that makes sacrifices and offerings, eat of their sacrifices. I am not saying that those sacrifices are acceptable to God, but only that the tradition they are following comes from way back in time, even as far back as the Garden of Eden.

No. The more Scripture I read the more I am convinced that man has eaten the flesh of animals since the Garden of Eden.

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A crazy week

Posted on April 20, 2013 by dknezacek

It is hard to know what to write about, on the Saturday of the craziest week in recent memory.

The Boston Marathon bombing and subsequent manhunt would be the logical place to start.  Even this morning, one of our pastors was asking “What would make two intelligent, promising, young men commit such unspeakable acts of horror?”

Really, the answer is rather simple; They were Muslims who take the Qur’an very seriously.  That’s it!

Those Muslims who don’t commit such acts, really are not taking the commands of the Qur’an seriously at all.  These are the ones the media refer to when they call Islam a “religion of peace”.  Jihadists, like Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, would call such Muslims “apostates”.

There are 109 verses in the Qur’an that teach violence against “infidels”, and these commands are open-ended.  In contrast the commands for violence in the bible were constrained by the context, i.e. of pertaining to a specific time frame or war.

Here are just a few samples of the kind of verses one can find in the Qur’an;

Quran (2:191-193) – “And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution [of Muslims] is worse than slaughter [of non-believers]… but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful.   And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah.”  The historical context of this passage is not defensive warfare, since Muhammad and his Muslims had just relocated to Medina and were not under attack by their Meccan adversaries.  In fact, the verses urge offensive warfare, in that Muslims are to drive Meccans out of their own city (which they later did).  The use of the word “persecution” by some Muslim translators is thus disingenuous (the actual Muslim words for persecution – “idtihad” – and oppression – a variation of “z-l-m” – do not appear in the verse).  The actual Arabic comes from “fitna” which can mean disbelief, or the disorder that results from unbelief or temptation.  Taken as a whole, the context makes clear that violence is being authorized until “religion is for Allah” – ie. unbelievers desist in their unbelief.

Quran (2:244) – “Then fight in the cause of Allah, and know that Allah Heareth and knoweth all things.”

Quran (2:216) – “Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.”  Not only does this verse establish that violence can be virtuous, but it also contradicts the myth that fighting is intended only in self-defense, since the audience was obviously not under attack at the time.  From the Hadith, we know that this verse was narrated at a time that Muhammad was actually trying to motivate his people into raiding merchant caravans for loot.

Quran (3:56) – “As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help.”

Quran (3:151) – “Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority”.  This speaks directly of polytheists, yet it also includes Christians, since they believe in the Trinity (ie. what Muhammad incorrectly believed to be ‘joining companions to Allah’).

The complete article can be found on The Religion of  Peace.com

The western media is scratching their collective head, meanwhile, trying to understand how these young men could commit such crimes.  The racists, like David Sirota, are blaming white people for being white.  I know that is not what he said, but if you read between the lines, this is exactly what he is getting at.

Never mind the fact that there have been more than 20,000 deadly terrorist attacks perpetrated by Muslims since 9/11, if even one white American were to commit such an act, this would even the score in David Sirota’s befuddled mind.

People like Sirota, and a great many in the American Administration, would dearly love for this kind of act to have been perpetrated by white “Christian” Americans.  This would give them another pretext for taking away more of your freedoms.  That is exactly what Sirota was hoping for.  As it is, it was just another terror attack by Muslims.

During the week of April 13-19, 2013 there have been 53 Jihad attacks, 4 Suicide bombers, 262 killed, and 725 critically injured around the world.  Boston was just one of them.

This know also, that in the last days periloustimesshall come. II Timothy 3:1

We live in the times spoken of in 2 Timothy.  The events of this week will continue, and even get worse.  Don’t put your hopes in this world.  It will always disappoint you, and is quickly fading away.

The day is coming when the threat of Radical Islam will be over.  Most people will breathe a sigh of relief, but that is the time when things will get worse!

The bible prophesies two major wars between Islam and Israel.  The Psalm 83 attack by the Sunni Muslims, and the Gog and Magog war a few years later when the Shiite and remaining Muslims attack.  After this the Great Tribulation will begin, and unimaginable horrors will inflict humanity, but the majority will be looking for peace.  That’s when the Antichrist will show up, like a Saviour, giving them what they want.

 

 Jihad Attacks:

53
 Allahu Akbars*:

4
 Dead Bodies:

262
 Critically Injured:

725
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US Military more concerned with global warming than with North Korea

Posted on April 13, 2013 by dknezacek

The US military official charged with monitoring the situation with North Korea is saying that global warming is a bigger danger than Pyonyang’s threats to nuke US interests!

Navy Adm. Samuel Locklear III

This, of course, leads all thinking people to ask “Where is this man’s head?”  How could a person so unaware of reality get his hands on such an important position as an Admiral in the US Navy?

I can’t say for certain, but it appears that he is a member of the same secret societies as those of his superiors.  If you check out other high-up officials in the US and Canada you will find that most people in positions of power are not in those positions because of their abilities, but because of their associations!

What is behind Locklear’s ludicrous statements?  I would contend that there is a political/religious agenda driving the idea of global warming.  The climate change fear mongers have a great hatred for freedom and for their fellow inhabitants of this globe.

There is much debate as to whether man-made global warming is real or not.  It doesn’t take much thought to realize that in the past there was an Ice Age.  Did human activity cause the Ice Age?  Did human activity cause the Ice Age to end?  Of course not, to both questions.

During the time of Christ, the world was actually warmer than it is today.  In fact the temperatures of planet earth have always fluctuated.  Are these fluctuations a result of human activity?  No!

What is going on is that a group of people are using minor fluctuations, which are not even proven yet anyway, as a means of pushing a political agenda which includes curbing your freedoms.  If you search out the religious views of these people you will find that many of them are New Agers, who worship a goddess named “Gaia”.

Gaia is the “Earth Goddess“, and her adherents attribute personality to the planet as if it is a person.  By rejecting the true God, and making up one from their own minds, these people live in fear that the human race will destroy itself and the planet.  Because they have rejected the true God, they don’t go to the bible to see how to live, or what is important to Him, instead they make it up as they go.  Rejecting the creator of the earth they attribute His creative genius to His creation!

Have you ever heard someone speak of “Mother Nature”?  That was a reference to this goddess.

As I said these New Agers have people in high places all over the world.  They are working to create a New World Order.  Remember that phrase “New world order”?  George H.W. Bush, a republican, made that phrase popular in the late 1990s.

When I first heard Mr. Bush make this statement I thought he was talking about the end of communism, and a time of freedom for mankind.  I didn’t realize this was in the planning for years.  I had a lot to learn.  The term actually came from the New Age movement and is really a title of the despotic reign of the Antichrist.

JFK also spoke about the New World Order, and had made plans to remove its proponents from positions of influence in his administration.  This probably explains his untimely demise.

So should we be surprised that the current American vice-president is now using the same terminology?  A Democratic Vice-President using the same terminology as a former Republican President?  This should eliminate any notion that there is a dime’s worth of difference between the major political parties.  (The same is true in Canada; they move at different speeds, but are really going in the same direction)

“Crazy Joe” Biden has a history of speaking without thinking first, but I have no doubt that he was speaking what he considers to be the truth.  He and Obama are as committed to the New World Order as was George Bush.

So, why should we be surprised if political appointees are pushing the same agenda as the people at the top?  Sam Locklear III and Kim Jong Un are playing roles that someone has written for them.   This isn’t a game, however, and people’s lives are really at stake.

The problem I see is that these New World Order planners don’t care about human life at all.  I believe that if they think it is in their interests, in the interests of the New World Order, they are willing to sacrifice a city, or cities, or even a nation, to achieve their goals.

So what is Locklear’s goal in making his crazy statements about global warming?  I think it is to distract our attention from Kim Jong Un.  To give North Korea time to develop the technology to wipe out an American city.  The American government is actually the agent who gave North Korea nuclear technology to begin with!

So, what can be done to stop these people?  Nothing!  It is not the job of Christians to interfere in world politics.  God puts people in high places that He wants there.  It was God who put Nero on the throne in Rome, and Hitler in Berlin.  It is God who will put the Antichrist on the throne of the world.  You can’t stop him, but you can fight him.

What was Jesus’ last command to the early Church?

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

The New World Order planners don’t mind if you pick up guns and fight them.  It gives them an excuse to impose draconian laws on the population.  They don’t mind if you fight abortion, or gay marriage.  They will use that to make you look dangerous.  What they can’t fight is the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Jesus, Yeshua, still saves.  The gospel has lost none of its power!

hmadet and thetp://www.wnd.com/files/2013/04/Locklear-340×178.jpg

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What was it that happened on the cross?

Posted on April 7, 2013 by dknezacek

A couple of weeks ago I attended my first Passover Seder, which was truly a wonderful experience.  During our time of sharing the subject of Jesus words on the cross came up, you know “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me”.  The questioner asked if this was Jesus expressing doubt in God.

One of the answers was that it was Jesus’ flesh speaking, plus the fact that it was a direct fulfilment of Psalm 22.  While this is true, I really believe that there is more to it than that.  Since I was not able to go into a lengthy explanation at the time, I felt the need to express my thoughts today.

I am afraid that Christians often try to simplify things; it makes them easier for us to understand, but by doing so sometimes we miss important details. It is true that the basic gospel message is so simple that even a child can understand it, but if you want to go deeper, God is more than willing to go as deep as you can take it.

Messiah’s sacrifice on the cross is the issue here. Was His death only physical,  only symbolic, or is something else going on?

Read through Isaiah 53, and notice a few things there;

 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

There is something very interesting going on here. Who is the “we” in this passage? It is the nation of Israel, Isaiah’s people. Why did they think that He was stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted? They thought He was dying for His own sins. They thought that God was against Him because He made Himself equal with God. (John 5:18)

Notice that the next verse begins with “but”. This little word connects, and contrasts, the preceding and indicates that He was not stricken for His own sins, but for ours.

 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

The next few verses describe the atonement, but verse 10 really puts it all together. Did Yeshua die voluntarily, or did His Father, His God, put Him to death? The answer is of course, yes! Both are equally true.  Israel esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted, and He was, only not for His own sins, but for theirs!

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

The little word “yet” is like “but”, and contrasts the foregoing with what is coming afterwards. As one of our leaders has said, YHWH is a reference to God the father. In the AV this is translated as LORD, and is what we see here.

Yeshua had been in constant fellowship with His father, since eternity past. Now that he is being punished for our sin, for sin itself, His fellowship with His father has been cut-off. It is not possible for the love relationship with His father to continue while God’s wrath was being poured out on Him. This is why it says that He tasted death for every man.

 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Hebrews 2:9

The death He tasted can not be physical death, since every human dies. This is a spiritual death.  Not annihilation, but a separation from God the Father. This is why I have a problem with the “Passion” movie, by Mel Gibson. The focus of the movie was on the physical suffering of Christ, while what Jesus did on the cross, was profoundly spiritual. He was cut-off, temporarily, from His Father. This is why He said “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me”. He was actually forsaken of His father for the time He was on the cross.

No doubt He knew why, but it is always different carrying out a plan, than merely planning it out. The bible says that He was “slain from the foundation of the earth” but this does not mean that He was actually slain, but that His death was a sure thing, not an afterthought. At the time that He agreed to go to the cross, He had never been separated from His father in literally an eternity. This was a new experience for Him, thankfully only a one-time event.

So why wouldn’t He feel that He had been abandoned by God? It was God the Father, who put him to death. It was God the Father who bruised and striped Him.  The Jews, and Romans, who accomplished the execution, were merely instruments in the hands of God.

Look more closely and you will see that God made Messiah’s SOUL an offering for sin. It was not merely His body. Jesus was in this enterprise body, soul, and spirit.

What happened on the cross? Was it only symbolic? I don’t think so. He actually satisfied justice on the cross. The blood of this one God-man has more weight than all the sin of all men, women and children, of all time!

If you go back to verse 10 again, you see that immediately after His sacrifice, it says “he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” This is the resurrection, and it follows almost immediately after the crucifixion. “Seed” is a reference to His children, the Church. Nevertheless, for that short time All of God’s wrath against sin was poured out on Him.

This is why it says He became sin;

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. II Corinthians 5:21

In order for God to allow sinners into Heaven, His righteous wrath against sin had to be satisfied. Justice must not only be seen to be done, it must actually be done. Christ is the only person who could take the wrath of God and survive, and this is because He is God.

The word propitiation means “satisfaction, or appeasement”, and describes what Christ did on the cross. God the Father was satisfied that justice had been done. His anger against sin is appeased. God, in His love, took the punishment for sin upon Himself, and set us free. That punishment was not merely physical death, but something much deeper, a separation from God the Father. We don’t have to understand everything in this life, we only need to accept it by faith.


Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; Romans 3:25


And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. I John 2:2


Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. I John 4:10

It is not only the blood that is the propitiation for our sins, but the whole person, Yeshua ha Maschiah. God the Father is satisfied that Christ’s sacrifice actually was sufficient to take away all sin. It was real, and not merely symbolic. God’s wrath against our sin is horrible! Thus what he suffered was enough to take away that horrible consequence of sin for all humanity.

Christ’s sacrifice, while sufficient for all humans of all time, is only effective for those who receive it by faith.  God would not force Himself on anyone, thus He won’t save you unless you ask Him!

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13

The Lord’s name is Jesus, or Yeshua.  He was born of a virgin, but has existed from all eternity.  He died for your sins, and was bodily raised from the dead.  He is sitting at the right hand of God the father, and is acting as the advocate for His people with God.  Soon He will snatch the Church from off the face of this planet, judge them at the Bema seat judgment in Heaven, and then He will bring severe judgment against all unbelievers on the earth, resulting in billions of deaths.

After this He will return with His saints, both Old Testament and New, and shall set up a kingdom that will last for the rest of the history of earth, one thousand years.  After the thousand years He will destroy this earth, and create a new earth, and everything will change.  In the mean time humanity will go through the White Throne Judgment, and all unsaved sinners will be thrown into the lake of fire, along with Satan.

That’s the Jesus, or Yeshua, who saves.  If you are calling on another Jesus, one you have made from your own mind, or a Jesus who still hangs on a cross, you are still lost!

Shalom,

Dan

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Todd Friel using Jews to bash Gays

Posted on April 4, 2013 by dknezacek

I was shocked to see the following post and quote from Todd Friel on the Rosh Pina Project’s blog.

I had been impressed with Todd’s willingness to tackle tough subjects for a couple of years, but I also noticed that his eschatology doesn’t quite agree with mine.  He says that eschatology isn’t important.  I couldn’t agree less. If your eschatology is wrong you will get everything wrong!  God has a plan for national Israel, but if you are Amillennial, or Preterist, you will discount God’s plan for the last days.

For those who think the Church replaces Israel in God’s plan, it leads one to Antisemitism.  This is why the Roman Catholics, and even the Nazis, were so vicious in their attacks against Jews.  Now that these false eschatologies are creeping into Evangelical circles I would not be surprised to see them accompanied by Antisemitism!  In fact we have seen it.

I also noticed that Mr. Friel mocks people who believe the Authorized Version is the best bible available in the English language.  He mocks a lot.  I think this might be the main reason I stopped listening to him.  One gets tired of having one’s views being mocked.

todd friel1

Here is a snippet from Todd’s March 22nd 2013 show on Wretched Radio.  You will find the offensive part about 6 minutes in.

[Some gay people] adjust their entire view of the world and their role within it to accomodate what has become the dominant aspect of their lives their homosexuality. And it’s true don’t we see that all the time? It sort of reminds me of Jewish people! I’m not equating the two in any way other than if you’ve ever had the experience of meeting somebody who is Jewish, there is a propensity for Jewish people to let you know that they’re Jewish. I think it’s that thing that got planted in them to keep them a nation, when they didn’t have a homeland, and they become radically liberal and silly They’re just… they’re Jewish! I’ve never seen anything that even comes close. Irish […] there’s a few of those […] you’ll find a few that are Italian, whatever nationality don’t even come close to being Jewish, it’s sort of like the Green Bay Packers. There’s other football fans. Nothing like the Green Bay Packer fans! Same thing with Jewish. Nobody is more nationalistic when it comes to heritage than Jewish people. And I see that with homosexuals. It is about being homosexual. Their agenda, their desires, their needs, their work, their relationships, it is all about their sexuality. Now I don’t know that you see that same degree of definition from heterosexuals. […] If all you are about is one thing, that is a diminished life.”

As a well known media personality, Mr. Friel needs to publicly apologize for his offensive remarks about Jews.  I for one, have met many Jews who never even mentioned their Jewishness.

Anyway, it is the God of the bible who made Israel a nation, and made them a peculiar people.  He has preserved them, just as He has preserved His word.

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Passover and Easter

Posted on March 31, 2013 by dknezacek

I attended my first Passover Seder on Monday evening last week. I must say that it was a wonderful time of fellowship and reflection. I had attended demonstrations before, by Chosen People ministries and Jews for Jesus, and while a blessing, it is not the same as being an active participant.

Before supper we ate matzoh with shredded horseradish on it, and then after crying a bit, we had matzoh with a mixture of apples, cinnamon, and nuts.

The horseradish is a bitter herb, which brings tears to the eyes. It is to remind Israel of the bitterness of their slavery in Egypt. For the believer in Christ it should be a reminder of the bitterness of sin, and our slavery to it.

The sweet mixture of apples and nuts reminds Israel of the sweetness of hope in the midst of slavery. It should remind the Christian of the sweetness of God’s promises in Christ.

Wine was consumed, and while I can’t remember all the specifics, it is consumed to remember God’s provision.

Jews spend a lot of time trying to remove all traces of leaven, or yeast, from their homes, in the days just prior to the Passover. Leaven in bread is symbolic of sin. They sweep under their furniture, and turn out the hems on their pants, in order to remove all traces of yeast.

They go to great lengths to ensure that there is no trace of yeast left in their homes, yet we now know that yeast spores are present in the air around us all the time. While we can go to great efforts to remove all the yeast, it is still present!

This should remind us that we cannot get rid of sin from our lives by our own efforts. You may work really hard, and be really proud of the results, but God knows that there is still sin in your life, just as He knew that sweeping and cleaning up cannot get rid of all traces of yeast. In fact, you breathe in yeast spores in every breath!

There is an interesting thing going on in this feast, with regard to the cup. The wine is actually made with yeast. In an anaerobic container, where wine is produced, air is not allowed in, and the yeast extracts energy from sugars by partially breaking it down into alcohol and carbon dioxide. When the level of alcohol in the mixture reaches a concentration somewhere between 10-12% it actually kills the yeast that made it.

This is a perfect picture of God’s judgment against sin. It is our sin, symbolized by the yeast, that produces judgment. When sin reaches its peak it produces death.

Some churches use fresh grape juice in their communion services. The problem with this practice is that there are yeast spores in the atmosphere, and it is not long after a bottle of fresh grape juice is opened that fermentation begins. You cannot see it at first, because it is so small, but it is there.

People, thinking themselves wise, by avoiding alcohol in their communion services are actually drinking live active yeast.

When alcoholic wine is used, however, yeast spores are killed as soon as they come in contact with alcohol in the wine. This is symbolic of the blood of Christ which destroys sin on contact!

So many Christians, thinking themselves wise, are actually destroying the symbols the Lord placed in His Passover Seder, His Communion service!

Our Seder continued with lamb roasted with herbs. We did not kill the lamb ourselves, nor did we put the blood on the door posts. I am content that we now are covered by the blood of Christ, and thus do not have to follow every single letter, but just keep the feast as a memorial for what Christ did for us on the cross.

After supper we had the last two cups (sips) of wine, and we ended with fellowship, and discussion about the passover and how it is still very relevant today.

I do not believe, as some do, that Christians need to follow the entire dietary laws that God gave the Jewish people, but I do believe we should continue to keep the Passover feast. It was originally meant as a prophecy of the coming Messiah, and now that He has come, it is a perpetual memorial of salvation which He purchased for us with His blood.

“7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

Easter, or Eostre, on the other hand, is a spelling of the name of the pagan goddess Ishtar, which was actually pronounced “Easter”! Among her many names is also Diana, the ancient fertility goddess! The ancient pagan celebration of Easter with its fertility symbols of eggs and rabbits, was actually practised by pagans in the Middle East.

Easter, as found in the King James bible in Acts 12:4, is not a reference to a Christian celebration, but to a pagan celebration practised by Herod, who was not Jewish, but a pagan Arab. (note: it was already the days of unleavened bread, which came AFTER Passover)

The early Christian church celebrated Passover until the formation of the Roman Catholic Church, by Constantine around 325 AD. At that time, in order to make the pagans more comfortable in the new state church, pagan celebrations were included in “Christian” worship.

Do you think that pagan celebrations can be redeemed by the Christian church?

Let me remind you that “a day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day”. What was offensive to God two days ago is not honouring to Him today, only two days later!

No. Easter is not Christian, but a pagan spring fertility celebration. If you are a Christian you should celebrate Passover, and leave Easter to the pagans.

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Cyprus cash grab, a sign of things to come

Posted on March 30, 2013 by dknezacek

I have been shocked over the last couple of weeks, as the European Union has shown its true colours in Cyprus.  When people show their trust in you, by giving you their money, there is an obligation on your part, to reward that trust with integrity.  The terms of the Cyprus bailout show the utter ethical bankruptcy of the European Union leadership.

It appears that a lot of people feel that because the depositors in the Cypriot banks are Russian they don’t deserve the respect due to bank depositors.  This appears to be the attitude of the European Union government.

The origin of the depositors money is irrelevant to the situation.  The Europeans have got themselves into a financial mess, and it is not the responsibility of Russian investors to bail them out.  Indeed, it is not the responsibility of any investor to bail out any failing government.  (If any of that money has been illegally obtained, it is not the responsibility of a foreign government to reclaim it, but the courts of the nation where crimes occurred, in this case, Russia.  Even if Europe were to go after proceeds of crime, it is a job for the courts, not the government.)

The truth is that many hard working people have had their life savings destroyed by this criminal action perpetrated by the global elites.

I predict that this is an attitude that will backfire on Europe big time.  Not only is it going to take a long time for investors to regain their confidence in Europe, or the Euro, in the mean time Europe is making some powerful enemies!

What do you think are the chances that one of these bilked investors might one day rise  to a place of power in Russia?  What are the chances that one of these investors might one day sit as president, prime-minister, or defence minister of Russia?  What are the chances that when push comes to shove, that someone with an axe to grind will have access to nuclear weapons?  I would say, rather high.

I have predicted that Europe will suffer a nuclear attack during the Gog and Magog war, and now it appears that someone in Russia will have a motive to fulfil biblical prophecy.

Satan is working on a counterfeit of the major events of the Tribulation period.  Since two chapters are dedicated to the destruction of Babylon the Harlot, this would qualify as a major event.  Satan has gone to a lot of trouble to set up Rome as a fulfilment of these two chapters.  It appears that the time of Rome’s destruction will coincide with a time that Satan is trying to make the world think is the Great Tribulation, the Gog and Magog war.

Dan Knezacek

See also http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/this-is-what-it-feels-like-to-have-your-life-savings-confiscated-by-the-global-elite

Russian Leader Warns, “Get All Money Out Of Western Banks Now!”

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