Triumphant in Weariness
His unfailing, nonstop, conspicuous life in us
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Strong friendship in the Spirit is a fuel that the Apostle Paul recognized as necessary for his healthy functioning in God’s purposes. And yet, in the absence of it, he was assured of God’s triumphant presence. In 2 Corinthians 2, the Apostle Paul expresses the sorrow and pain of his ministry. He finally writes, “Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Messiah and when a door was opened for me in the Lord, I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother; but saying goodbye to them, I went on to Macedonia.” (2 Corinthians 2:12-13)

Revelation Pieces – Who we are
Seeing the main elements of the Apocalypse
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Sometimes in the winter I like to put puzzles together. There are complicated puzzles with 1,000 pieces, less complicated with 500 pieces, and easy puzzles for children with 5 or 10 pieces. Let’s consider three puzzles all the same size with the same image. One has 1,000 pieces, one has 500 pieces, and one has 5 pieces. The puzzle pieces will be larger the fewer pieces you have.

Engrossing myself in the study of the book of Revelation seemed at first like a puzzle with thousands of pieces. How did they all fit together, I wondered? As I spent more time analyzing the parts, the number of pieces kept decreasing as the size of each piece expanded.

3. Outline - Scene 4 - A High Mountain (21:9 - 22:21)
The Messianic Kingdom
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• Characteristics
• Charges
• Comfort
• Challenges
• Benediction

3. Outline - Scene 3 - The Wilderness (17 - 21:8)
Justice Comes
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• Five Windows of Judgment Closed
• Yeshua Comes – The Conquering Lamb
• Visions and Images of the New Kingdom

Behold, He is Coming in the Clouds!
The Context
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In Scripture, we see two aspects or purposes of Yeshua’s return in the clouds –

• to complete judgment, and
• to gather together His believers to be with Him

Many of the prophecies of His coming, as well as His own accounts given to His disciples, overlap with multiple meanings, echoing in and out in nuances that are sometimes difficult to understand.

3. Outline - Scene 2, Part 3 - An Open Door into Heaven (4 - 16:21)
Yeshua and the kingdoms of the world
How the First-Century, Asia Minor, Jewish Christians Understood the Book of Revelation
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• The Political, Economic, Religious Cult of the Roman Empire (12-13)
• Yeshua in Contrast as the Slaughtered Lamb, King (14-15)

3. Outline - Scene 2, Part 2 - An Open Door into Heaven (4 - 16:21)
Yeshua and the Kingdoms of the world
How the First-Century, Asia Minor, Jewish Christians Understood the Book of Revelation
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• The 7 Trumpets, 7 Thunders, and 7 Bowls
• Three Roles of Faithful Witness 

3. Outline - Scene 2, Part 1 - An Open Door into Heaven
Yeshua and the Kingdoms of the world (4 - 16:21)
How the First-Century, Asia Minor, Jewish Christians Understood the Book of Revelation
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• The Door – An Invitation into the Worship of Yeshua (Jesus) Alone
• Into the Door – The Heavenly Court in the Temple
• The 7 Seals  

3. Outline - Scene 1 - The Island called Patmos (1:9 – 3:20)
The Real-Life World of Revelation 
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• The Historical Context of the Asia Minor Communities
• Descriptions of Yeshua
• The 7 Messages to the 7 Churches

From Passover to Pentecost
A Celebration of His Presence
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All over the world in this year of 2024, Pentecost (Shavuot) is being celebrated in the traditional church on Sunday, May 19, 2024 and in the Jewish community beginning at sundown on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. (These days differ because of the use of different calendars.) So, what does this holy day represent?

The chart below shows the Passover-Pentecost connections and how they foreshadow Messiah’s life. For more understanding, please keep reading below the chart.

Map
The 7 Christian Communities in Asia Minor (modern western Turkey) and the Island of Patmos in the mid AD 90s
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2. Overview – Statements and Sources
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The book of Revelation or John’s Apocalypse (Unveiling) is a promise of blessing with the purpose of comforting and challenging the First Century, Asia Minor, Jewish Christians (FCAM JC) whom John pastored. It is the announcement and promotion of the gracious salvation of Yahweh’s Kingdom of Shalom meant for those who follow Yeshua (Jesus), the Slaughtered Lamb. In it, God’s Kingdom collides with the kingdom of chaos and darkness, and we learn what it means to live as His Faithful Witnesses (FW) in this world.

1a. Preface
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After completing a long but delightful lecture series on the book (scroll) of Revelation, words cannot express how excited I am to share it with you. As I soak in the truth of all I have learned, I realize I have only touched the very tip of a very large iceberg of understanding, and I continue to find connecting echoes throughout Scripture that further deepen the insights. My goal is to share what I’ve learned about the life-changing messages of this book in a way that brings hope, rest, comfort, and challenge as the original author intended.

Because lectures are different than books, I have taken notes, pared them down, and reordered the learning in a way that I could grasp it. First, I would like to share with you The Credentials, The Reason for the Study, A Key Verse, and A Summary of the purpose of the book.

2. Overview – Themes
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Two Core Themes, Four Theological Themes, and Four Themes in Yeshua's Teaching Reflected in Revelation:

3. Outline - Overview of the 4 Scenes or Movements
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The following scenes are sections of the book of Revelation that are separated by one literary signal – the author’s words “I was in the Spirit” said four times. They signal a new location and how John received the material. They were auditory and oral signals to the hearers and readers that a new scene was beginning.

1b. Table of Contents for the Book of Revelation Shale Fragments Study
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This document is only available as a PDF at this time. It may include more additions as the study unfolds.

Symbols and Numbers in the Book of Revelation - A List
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The Book of Revelation is apocalyptic literature. This genre of writing was pioneered by the first-century Jewish community during Yeshua’s (Jesus) time. We must understand its nature, characteristics, and symbology to interpret the text responsibly. For an overview of this genre, please see my writing The Book of Revelation – 2. Overview - Statements and Sources.

Apocalyptic literature includes symbolic elements that would have been readily understood by the first-century, Asia Minor, Jewish, Christian audience to whom it was written. Following is a list of some of the symbols and their meanings found in the Book of Revelation. You will see that the numbers are not literal but representative.

His Table
An Unsurpassed Invitation
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Yeshua (Jesus), the Only Begotten of the Father, our Bridegroom, has come and secured our intimate union with Himself by His blood. By His suffering and death, He has covered our debt of sin and waywardness that kept us from Him. We stand in His presence forgiven and beloved!

Listening
A Personal Story and Devotional
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Years ago, I was asked, “What would you like people to say about you at your funeral?” The answer that came immediately to my mind shocked me. It also gave me a new focus. The answer – I would like just one person at my funeral to say, “She heard me.” In other words, “She listened and valued me.”

I never thought of myself as a good listener. Because of my visual nature, I take in a lot of information in my environment and find myself working hard to focus away from the details of my surroundings to assimilate the words of others. And so, along the way, I gathered listening tips that resonated with me. I even made a bookmark to remind myself of them. Although I still rush in to get a word in edgewise, I find myself calmer and more interested in others than in being heard. But I still have a long way to go! Here is my list on how to be a good listener along with other thoughts and Scripture.

Songs of Heaven
Worship Before His Throne
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My desire was to create a song sheet so we could join with the voices of Revelation in heaven in worship to our King. We could push our voices out with a new melody that may form a song to Him! We could sing the words or say them out loud, wrapping our hearts around Him in devotion!

The song sheet is on the next page. Each song is prefaced with the ones who are singing it. But first, here are brief notes to give understanding. It is important to note that apocalyptic literature includes many symbolic elements that would have been readily understood to the first century Asia Minor audience:

Is My Light Bright?
You are the light of the world!... Let your light shine!... (see Matthew 5:14-16)
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In my writing Anchor Awareness, I shared this prayer from a friend who is going through a huge trial: 

“God, use this difficult event to bring glory to Your Name. I pray that people would see things in us that would point them to You, that Your light would shine so brightly in us that people are blinded by Your majesty, and that You would take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it to good.”

Then, a brother read the prayer and responded with these words and question. I think this is a common question among believers, and so I asked for his permission to share it:

Abiding Tools
A Scripture Study in John 15:1-17
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Written September 2004, revised August 2020 and January 2024

Hudson Taylor was the founder of the China Inland Mission. At his death in 1905, there were 125,000 Chinese Christians in the mission – a fruitful life! But Hudson writes about a time in the early years of his ministry when his life was marked by exhaustion and deadness in his spirit. He belonged to God, but he was not experiencing the joy and rest God promised. He said, “I prayed, agonized, fasted, strove for faith, read the Word more diligently, sought more time for meditation, but all with no benefit.”

Anchor Awareness
Our Sure Hope
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Yeshua (Jesus) said to Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” (John 3:7)

When we receive Yeshua, we are born again (see John 1:11-13). God creates a new heart in us. (2 Cor. 5:17)

Through our new birth, He seals us in Him with an imperishable seed by the Holy Spirit. (1 Peter 1:23)

We are anchored in God. He is our Anchor.

We are in Him (Colossians 3:3), and He is in us (Colossians 1:25-27), and He is with us (John 14:16-17).

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us...” (Hebrews 6:19)

Hanukkah, Blossoms, and Yeshua 
Let us hear His voice
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The menorah (or lampstand) that was in the Tabernacle of the Lord is described in Exodus 25. It was created of solid, poured gold with gold almond blossoms for the cups of the candlesticks. For our Hannukah art card, I painted the almond blossoms to be alive – white with pink hues.

Almond trees bloom in the late winter in Israel and are the first blooms of the year. They signal the celebration of Passover which occurs on the first full moon of spring. The Hebrew word for almond means eager anticipation, wakeful hastening, and readiness – all descriptions the Israelites needed at the first Passover when the Lord delivered them from their enemy.

His Name 
Why is it so important?
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People in the Bible have called God by many names that express the aspect of His character they experienced. They are beautiful names and are the reason I created The Hebrew Names of God Collection of art cards. God’s three most used names in Scripture are Yahweh, Adonai, and Elohim. The translators of my Bible (NASB) use the uppercase GOD and LORD to designate His Name Yahweh. They use the lowercase Lord to designate Adonai and the lowercase God to designate Elohim. I love this tool because it informs me of the aspect of His character the author is expressing. Today, I want to focus on His Name Yahweh.

Clear Vision
Our Critical Need
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Yeshua (Jesus) gives us clear vision to navigate the maze of influences and information that surround us. He intimately knows our unique personalities, emotions, and responses (Psalm 139:1-4). He is the Light of the world! His word is a lamp to our feet and a sharp, two-edged sword that distinguishes between what is pure and what is evil, between truth and subtle lies, between the excellent and the unimportant, and between pure and impure motives. In His light, truth stands out starkly in our field of vision.

A History of Israel and the Palestinians
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I transcribed this message from a portion of a message by Pastor Gary Hamrick of Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Virginia entitled Israel, Hamas, and End Times, October 15, 2023. To listen to his entire message, click here https://cornerstonechapel.net/teaching/20231015/

Our Banner Who Gathers Us 
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Dear friends… beloved of the Lord,
We grieve together for our brothers, sisters, and all people in the land of Israel. The depth of evil that took place on October 7^th is incomprehensible. We pray together for the survivors to be protected and, if they do not know Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), that they would come to know Him during this time. May they see Him in dreams and visions and in the pages of Scripture. May they be drawn to Him by the Father and see Him clearly as their Savior with spiritual eyes and receptive hearts. He is the Only One Who can save them now and for eternity. We pray for a spiritual awakening and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit across the land of Israel!

Intimate Counselor 
Our Exquisite Time with Him
I will counsel you with My eye upon you. (Psalm 32:8b)
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There is something about a thing being common that takes away from its exquisiteness. In nature, there are no two things alike. The examination of every flower presents a breathtaking unique capsule in time. This fall, the butterflies, praying mantis, bees, and grasshoppers were fascinating in their detail.

The Day of Loud Sound
Yom T’ruah and why I love it!
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As I write today, I am aware that excellence and accuracy were instilled in me, and I’m thankful for that. But we know that life is most-often not accurate; we can only do our best and then rest in Him – Best then Rest, how is that for a motto!? So, I offer this writing, not to be accurate, although that would appear to be my intent, but to simply share the joy that came as I studied these things; my study left the picture in my mind of us praising our King, dancing with all our might! And so, I will dive in…

He will Draw, Reveal, Save, and Seal 
4 ways to pray for those who don’t know Him
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Dear friends,

The news that is mostly hidden from the public air waves is scary this morning. I shudder once again as the new realities threaten to crush my emotions and render me useless for this gorgeous, 63-degree day in central Ohio. But… then… the words of the Apostle John pierce the atmosphere –

        “And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:5)

In His Dust – The Parable of the Lavish Father 
He is eager to love us!
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Our eyes are open to the gravity of these days and the nearness of Yeshua’s (Jesus) return. We know He is the Only One Who can save us! Our most important needs dim in the light of our need to know Him.

The word know in the Bible means intimate knowledge through ongoing, personal interaction in a relationship. The Father knows us and invites us to know Him. Yeshua beckons us, “Come to Me all who are weary…” (See Psalm 139, 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, and Matthew 11:28-30.)

In The Parable of the Lavish Father, Yeshua paints a beautiful portrait of the nature of God’s inviting love that ministers to our deepest need! I was blown away as I pondered it all! Before diving in, I’ll start with a quick summary about Jewish parables and a few things I learned about the culture from Dwight Pryor.

In His Dust – 8. The Explosive Power of the Kingdom 
His power in gentleness
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In these last days, how should we live? As we look at the parables of Yeshua (Jesus), we will see “what the kingdom of God is like,” and we will know how to advance as the darkness increases. Our advance will not be like the armies of the world but will come explosively and powerfully in unassuming ways.

The Everlasting Covenant 
An Old Covenant Foreshadow of The Best News Ever!
A Short Scripture Study in Genesis 15
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Dearly beloved of God, we are ambassadors of the Gospel (the Good News). In these last days, our clear understanding of this news is critical! So, why is it the best news ever?! And why is it important to understand it? Because “it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…”[1]

Dr. Dwight Pryor wrote, “Our salvation began when the High and Holy One made an everlasting covenant with Abraham.” Chills of awe ran through me as I read these words in a recent email sent by The Center for Judaic-Christian Studies. I went back in my mind to what I had learned in Genesis 15 years ago. I would like to take you back there to share a nugget that confirms the true nature of the Gospel!

The Preface to our Haggadah 
(with simple instructions)

The booklet called The Feast of the Lamb - Past, Present, and Future, A Passover, Resurrection Devotional Haggadah is available for purchase at Flower Girl Greetings here. This 48-page booklet was born out of my desire to gather with others and remember our Savior during these difficult times. It is loaded with vibrant art and a thorough study of the timeline of Yeshua's last days. 

I am sharing the Preface of the booklet here so you can see how you would prepare for your gathering before purchasing it.

In His Dust – 7. Immersion and the Spirit 
How First-Century Judaic Immersion Relates to our New Birth!
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(In His Dust is a series based on my notes from Dwight Pryor’s teaching. My words are in blue. The arrangement, headers, and additional verses are mine. Yeshua and His disciples were thoroughly Jewish. Understanding the Hebraic context, meanings, idioms, and culture gives clarity to the New Testament writings.)
                                                                   

The Meaning
The Greek word baptizmo means to make fully wet. The original Hebrew word from which the Greek was translated is ṭâbal (taw-bal’) meaning to immerse, dip, or plunge. Tâbal was a foreshadow and symbol of the Holy Spirit.

Beautiful Progressions of Repentance, 2 of 3 
Psalm 139, Philippians 3, 1 John 1, Romans 8
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Print the 1-page PDF Handout for your study group.

• The Progression from Brokenness to Wholeness
• The Progression of Abiding in Humility
• The Progression of Abiding in Contentment

We follow God’s ways, not because He needs our subjugation, but because He created us to walk in freedom. He established His precepts for our highest good. The result is God’s delight and our joy!

Sin is simply walking in our own ways, not God’s. The Bible often says, “They did what was right in their own eyes” and “They did not inquire of the Lord to understand His ways.”

By a Roman Soldier 
An Imaginative Interpretation
Written in the 1980s by my friend De Gaskins
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        It was another execution day. Three men charged with felonies were to be crucified. The execution squad is selected on a rotating basis from among the Roman soldiers stationed under Pontius Pilate. It was my turn, along with three of my companions, to perform the execution.

In His Dust - 9. The Breathtaking Beauty of True Submission 
Loving Each Other
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In His Dust is a series based on my notes from Dwight Pryor’s teaching. For details, please see In His Dust – A Quick Recap.

This writing was extracted from a previous writing called In His Dust - 6. The Role of Women in the First-Century Church. I added more detail and emphasis on the definitions of the words head and submit because they are so beautiful.

In His Dust – 6. The Role of Women in the First-Century Church 
Restoring her calling and gifts
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In His Dust is a series based on my notes from Dwight Pryor’s teaching. For details, please see In His Dust – A Quick Recap.

Outline

• Introduction Points
• Examples of the roles women assumed in the first-century church
• The beautiful, breath-taking meanings of “head” and “submission”
• Conclusion

The I AMs of Jesus Collection 
A Story
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After the Hebrew Names of God Collection was printed in 2014, The I AMs Collection was created and printed in 2015. It is shown on Page 2 of our new catalog. It contains 12 “I AMs” spoken by Jesus (Yeshua) from the books of John and Revelation. The back of each card includes Scripture and devotional thoughts. I have loved these breathtaking declarations and painted them many times. Jesus declared Himself to be:

His Yoke 
An Invitation to Rest
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Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Yeshua (Jesus)

I lay awake at 2:00 a.m. Thoughts about this verse came to mind. I asked, “Lord, what did You mean when You said, ‘Take My yoke upon you? A yoke is binding, but You set me free.’” The next morning, I began to write this devotional and prayer.

The Hebrew Names of God Collection 
A Story

The Hebrew Names of God Collection is shown on Page 1 of our new catalog. It contains 12 art cards, each with a different Name of God. The back of each card includes Scripture references, devotional thoughts, and connections to both Testaments.

The Two G’s 
Gossip and Grudges
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There were two Hebrew idioms that were popular at the time of Yeshua (Jesus). I learned them from Brandon of Brandon Robbins Ministry. I will share the simple definitions of these idioms along with my thoughts about them… and then, I will get personal, so I hope you will keep reading!

Do you see Him? 
Peter’s Letter, Part 1
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The Apostle Peter’s first letter was written to “those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen…”[1] Every word of his letter served the purpose of encouraging them to stand strong in the face of the horrific persecution surrounding them.  

As I sat at my table after reading Peter’s letter, the encouragement that surfaced was to see Him.

In His Dust 
Abolishing and Fulfilling
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The word Scripture is mentioned over 50 times in the New Testament. It refers to the Tenakh which had been the Bible of the Jewish people in Yeshua’s day for over 200 years. Their Tenakh was (and is) composed of three portions – The Torah (first five books of Moses), the Prophets, and the Writings. (See Luke 24:44 as an example.)

In His Dust 
The history and culture surrounding Yeshua’s life and teaching, A Brief Overview
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My Greatest Gift 
A message given on the day with the shortest period of daylight when the earth reaches its maximum tilt away from the sun. Today and always, Jesus is the Light of the world!
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The Greatest Gift anyone ever gave me was my new birth. It was given to me by my Father. I know I had to receive it, but I don’t remember receiving it. I just remember Him reaching out His hand into my darkness and touching me with a light so bright, I felt like I was swimming in a huge ocean of love, joy, and wholeness. I was completely new. It was like the words in a song – It was a “holy collision.” It was like the words that fell from Mary’s lips...

In His Dust 
The Nativity Festival
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These facts and suggestions were gleaned from Dwight Pryor’s message called The Christmas Controversy. It has been condensed from seven pages to one. I offer it because my subscribers encompass a diversity of understanding and conviction. This message refreshed me!

Facts about The Nativity Festival

• Just because Christmas is not mentioned in the Bible, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate Messiah’s birth. Post-biblical does not mean anti-biblical. Matthew and Luke both share this story that changed history forever! One more example among many of a post-biblical celebration is Hanukkah. Yeshua went up to the Temple in Jerusalem for this Feast of Dedication (John 10:22-23).

In His Dust 
Binding and Loosing
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Yeshua (Jesus) said to Peter, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)

The Hebrew ’āsar (bind) and hitir (loose) have many meanings in the Bible. In the first century, they meant prohibit and permit and pertained to what was prohibited or permitted according to the Torah (or Law, teachings of Yahweh).