This is a follow-up to a previous series named “The Sad Truth of Christianity and Judaism”. Modern day Judaism has overlooked the fact that Israel owed the death penalty, and it would have to be paid before their covenant with Yehovah could be renewed. Only because Yeshua renewed the Covenant with Israel, by shedding His human blood, was the door opened for both Jews and gentiles to enter into the kingdom of God (Christianity). But by denying Yeshua as being the Messiah, the Jews also are calling John the Baptist a liar, or at least they are ignoring John’s ministry. Most of Judaism today expects the Messiah to come in the future, without the death penalty ever being paid first, which is ludicrous. That is why Yeshua (Jesus) had to come the first time to be smitten, and die, being the everlasting Lamb sacrifice for sin. Jesus was the “Prophet” of whom Moses spoke. He will make two more advents before His Eternal Kingdom is put into place over all the Earth and universe.
However, this series is about the foolishness, ignorance, and wickedness of gentile Christianity, in its attempt to claim itself as the way to Heaven. The “Christianity” denominations which are mostly known and followed today are false trinitarian religions (Catholicism, Mormonism, Protestantism, Non-Denominational, etc.), and true Christianity has mostly been ignored since the days of Constantine, the Roman Emperor. Trinitarian Christianity is actually heresy, and was solidified from the merger of Roman occult religions and pseudo Christianity of the Roman Empire, forged together by Constantine with his Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. Its only purpose was to force all citizens to accept a “state religion”, in an effort to unify the empire, not to obtain salvation. However, Jews and (original) Christians were barred from attending. Out of this council, the false doctrine of the trinity was established. However, Constantine himself remained a worshipper of Mithra, the Persian sun god.
Before Constantine, there were several small scale heresies conjured up by Satan and his followers as an attack against original Christianity, as taught by the Apostles. The disciples of Yeshua were first called “Christians” in Antioch of Syria. At first, after the church was born, the followers of the faith were called “disciples” of the Christ. They in turn, were practicing the Apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42), who were commissioned by Jesus to deliver the gospel of salvation to all mankind. Therefore, true Christianity does not follow Yeshua directly, but rather the protocols set by His Apostles (John 17:20).
At first, the disciples were all Jews, because salvation was to be given to the Jews first. A while later, half Jews (Samaritans) were added to the faith (Acts 8). Then some years after that, gentiles were added to the faith (Acts 10). It followed the sequence that Yeshua gave (Acts 1:8). About as soon as gentiles were added to the faith, false doctrines started creeping in. The first known falsehoods were from Jews that had been of the Pharisees, concerning gentiles. In Acts chapter 15, there was the teaching that the gentiles had to be circumcised, in order to be saved. That was not written in the scriptures, nor taught by Yeshua nor His Apostles. So where did it come from? It came from men, making up junk, to make others follow their beliefs. and “jump through their hoops”. The Pharisees were immensely guilty of that. That’s why many of the miracles that Yeshua performed were in public contrast to the takanot and false teachings of the Pharisees. The Apostles decided to not “put a yoke upon the neck of the gentiles”, and determined that converted gentiles only had to abstain from “pollutions of idols”, fornications, and ungodly eating habits (which is not clearly translated in the text), other than eating things sacrificed to idols.
Peter was given the keys to the kingdom (of heaven, salvation, etc.) by Jesus, meaning that Peter would be the one to open the door and announce the parameters (protocols) of salvation. This he did on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38), in Samaria (Acts 8:14 – 17, completing the work of Philip), and initiated salvation to the gentiles (Acts 10: 19 – 48). After the Apostles died, certain men of evil began teaching heresy, which was not what was originally given to the church. This includes fake gospel writings (posing as writings from Mary Magdalene, Philip, Thomas, etc.) and teachings of heresy that were meant to confuse and discredit the “new” faith. But heresy on a grand scale would not come about until the days of Constantine.
The first known heresy was from a man named Arius, close to 315 AD, but I’m not sure that the “Christianity” that was being practiced in by that time in Rome was anywhere close to the original, after 140 AD. In Matthew 13:24 – 30, Yeshua told the parable of the tares. What it meant was that Yeshua was the cornerstone of salvation, and He commissioned His twelve Apostles to be the foundation (Eph. 2:20) of the faith. This means that we that call ourselves “Christians” are not following Jesus directly, but follow the doctrine of the Apostles (Acts 2:42). But after 104 AD, all the Apostles were dead, and second generation pastors and teachers were leaders of the faith. Sometime after 140 AD, especially in Rome, there were people that began to teach “other things” not handed down from the Apostles. By 310 AD, there were those teaching heresy about the Godhead, the divinity of Yeshua, and even the length of time Yeshua conducted His ministry on Earth. Original Christianity was branded as “Sabellianism” and “Modalism” by those that had embraced Catholicism.
To set the issue straight, let’s go back to the beginning of the gospels. Let me first give an abundance of credit to Michael Rood, who wrote and had published “The Chronological Gospels: The Life and Seventy Week Ministry of the Messiah”. As of this writing, Michael Rood has not yet discovered true salvation, but has still been a tool used by God. I also thank Yehovah, who guided Mr. Rood and helped him to complete that 40 year task. I urge all to purchase a copy, to enrich your understanding of the feasts and how they played a major part in the life of Yeshua.
The fifteenth day of the 3rd month (Sivan) was the pagan date of June 10, of the year 4 BC. This is near the day that Zacharias would conclude his order of service in the Temple, ending with the burning of incense. It is on this day that the arc-angel (probably Gabriel) announced to Zacharias that he would have a son. Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth were close their mid-seventies, and were childless. Because he was doubting that this could come about, Zacharias was struck deaf and dumb until this child was born. About three days later, when his interval of service was over, Zacharias left the Temple and returned to his home, which appears to be near Bethlehem.
In July, the next month, Elisabeth conceives, and hides herself for five months. Meanwhile, Mary is the younger first cousin of Elisabeth. Their mothers were sisters, being maybe twelve years apart, and of the linage of Moses and Aaron. However, Mary’s father was of the kingly line of David and Solomon. His name was also Joseph. Matthew 1:16 (KJV) mistakenly names Joseph “the husband of Mary”, which the translators got wrong. Joseph, the “father” of Mary, was the twelfth generation from Babylon, Mary was the thirteenth, and Yeshua was the fourteenth generation. Joseph, who was the “husband” of Mary, was of the linage of King David and his son Nathan. Two different men that were named Joseph.
In the next chapter, the Spirit of Yehovah goes to work.
Herman Cummings
ephraim7@aol.com