Tag: Genesis

  • Death Put Under the Authority of God —Resurrection — in Order

    Death Put Under the Authority of God —Resurrection — in Order

    For God has put everything under his feet.

    1 Corinthians 15:27a CSB

    How can this include DEATH?

    Is death not the antithesis of LIFE —decay into deep darkness the defeat of created man?

    How can the resurrection of the dead — even those martyred in Christ — take place?

    The Apostle Paul continues to address the concerns of the Corinthian church putting all things in order and now addressing THE END.


    The Order of Resurrection

    The apostle to the gentiles (Hellenists, that is, Greeks including Corinthians) began his logical argument with
    The Fact of Christ’s Resurrection and logically continued to connect those facts.

    LAST TIME, we ended with Paul’s astounding opening statement about death and resurrection about an ORDER of the Resurrection:

    Then comes the end…

    1 Corinthians 15:24a CSB


    I stumbled over it. Do you?

    THE END…

    Isn’t DEATH, after all, the end?

    And in the end
    The love you take
    Is equal to the love
    You make…

    “1,2,3,4,5,6,7,
    All good children go to heaven…
    Everybody’s laughing
    Everybody’s happy
    Here come the Sun King…

    Of course, we all have much anti-Christ philosophy replaying in the mortal minds of our imaginings (it isn’t hard to do..).


    The cultural challenges of the resurrection were no less for Paul and the Corinthians than the Promethean philosophical objections of the 20th century and this Common Era.


    AGAIN, as we first addressed in the Facts: 

    Cultural ‘science‘ of Promethean Logic

    Prometheus, in Greek religion, one of the Titans, the supreme trickster, and a god of fire. His intellectual side was emphasized by the apparent meaning of his name, Forethinker. In common belief he developed into a master craftsman, and in this connection he was associated with fire and the creation of mortals.

    Source: Britannica

    Perhaps they also hope against hope that these things aren’t really so..

    in a self-deceived way..

    the problem here is not merely cognitive..

    but.. Promethean…

    from WARRANTED CHRISTIAN BELIEF PP290-294

    NO – Death is NOT ‘The End.’

    The Apostle Paul will address this — DEATH and its threats did not phase him and should not prevent those possibly facing martyrdom for claiming Jesus Christ and the resurrection to the crowds of Corinth.

    What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus?

    If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

    1 Corinthians 15:32 ESV

    Paul has emphasized order in worship and now, the Apostle even presents an order in the resurrection of the dead, rather than random godless chaos without form.


    1 Corinthians 15:

    King James Version 

    For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

    1 Cor 15:3-4 KJV

    But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

    v. 20

    AND what were the instructions of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Twelve sent to some with the Gospel?


    The Fruit of Faith (an illustration from a parable of Jesus)

    And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

    But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

    from Gospel of Luke 12:19-20 KJV

    And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear:

    Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

    Gospel of Luke 12:4-5 KJV – Jesus on death and judgment

    Some foreboding in our Lord's call to stand up to death — is there not?

    Saul of Tarsus & the fearless witness of Paul

    When Paul had met the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, Christ’s new apostle to the gentiles came to understand the reality of WHY those Saul had previously persecuted and killed had not changed their testimony — even as these saints of Ephesus or Corinth faced mortal death.

    (And remember Stephen as he was stoned to death in Jerusalem?)

    Just three or four years after he writes to the Corinthians, Paul also will witness the resurrection to King Herod Agrippa II, hearing his case brought by the Jews until Paul appeals to Caesar.

    Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

    Acts of the Apostles 26:22-23 NKJV


    Christ the firstfruits of Resurrection

    For as in Adam all die, even so 

    in Christ shall all be made alive.

    But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

    1 Corinthians 15:22-23 KJV


    WHAT AN ILLUSTRATON! — āḏām [man – אָדָם] — made in the image of God — now mortal and re-destined to dust — in Christ (and Christ alone) redeemed and revived from DEATH — death, common to every creature made alive for a time by God.

    Let me explain the REIGN of Christ, Paul reasons:

    Once again, in the more AUTHORITIVE-sounding King James Version, let's examine Paul's text in words provoking push-back from Christians unaccustomed to such absolute authority of a most-powerful King. 

    Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;

    when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

    For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

    1 Corinthians 15:24-25 KJV


    IS this the JESUS we know?

    Afterward —The Whole Harvest

    At the same time the wicked shall rise also. But they are not taken here into the account.

    v. 23

    Then — After the resurrection and the general judgment. Cometh the end — Of the world..

    When he shall have delivered up the kingdom to the Father, and he (the Father) shall have abolished all adverse rule, authority and power — Not that the Father will then begin to reign without the Son, nor will the Son then cease to reign…

    But this is spoken of the Son’s mediatorial kingdom.. which will then commence.

    John Wesley; Parallel Commentary on the NEW TESTAMENT, p.580

    John Wesley provides explanation and delineation of the roles of the Father and of the Son — in the time between the resurrection of ALL the dead and prior to the Judgment — and until the end.


    The King James Bible Commentary provides additional insight into Paul's explanation to the Corinthians of the end time.

    ” The logic is inescapable.

    KJB Commentary on 1 COR 15:14 , p.1496

    If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain.

    The proclamation of the Gospel (vs.1-11) is hollow. Not only that, but your faith is .. ‘groundless.’

    Faith in a dead saviour is both preposterous and pathetic.

    ibid.

    Much in the way Wesley's explanation of 'Who does what?' helps us, the KJB commentary also guides our understanding of the order of THE END [vs.23-26]. 

    The end refers to he end of the kingdom of God. At that time he will have put down all rule.

    27-28 .. However two facts must be accounted for here:

    • First, when Paul say s that the Son is subject to the Father he is not speaking of the Son in terms of his essence, but in terms of his function, or ministry, as the incarnate Son.
    • Second.. At this present time the administration of the messianic kingdom is given to the Son.
      • However, at the conclusion of the messianic kingdom this function will be returned to the triune God that God may be all in all.

    ibid.


    WE don’t trust God, because of many who have claimed God — or Christ Jesus — in ways worthy of our suspicion.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    The Apostle Paul is trying to show the Corinthians (and us) something about the order of God we do not understand, as well as the Authority all flesh tends to resist.


    ὑποτάσσω – ‘Put under’ (in order)

    Believe only Scripture and an order of the resurrection makes sense in the redemptive providential plan of God.

    Misapply portions of the Gospel or add an oversimplified imagined LIFE after death without consequence for opposing God and your gospel claims will prove false — Promethean in the sense that you know that it can NOT be true (but you continue to hope that it is).

    Take a look at the Biblical use of the word — hypotassō — primarily a military term that Paul uses NINE TIMES here IN TWO VERSES:

    1 Corinthians 15:25-28 For He must reign…

    v.26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

    For he hath put G5293 all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under G5293 him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put G5293 all things under G5293 him.

    And when all things shall be subdued G5293 unto him, then shall G5293 the Son also himself be subject G5293 unto him that put G5293 all things under G5293 him, that God may be all in all.

    1 Corinthians 15:27-28 KJV — Lexicon :: Strong’s G5293 – hypotassō


    How does New Testament Scripture use this term [ὑποτάσσω]?

    • to arrange under, to subordinate
    • to subject, put in subjection
    • to subject one’s self, obey
    • to submit to one’s control
    • to yield to one’s admonition or advice
    • to obey, be subject
    Personally, most of us (including Christians) do not like any part of this kind of order. 

    Let every soul be subject G5293 unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

    Romans 13:1 KJV

    How are YOU, dear saint of Christ, doing with that?

    YES, the Apostle Paul — put under Christ — obediently presents the resurrection of the body in order.

    NEXT, he will talk about the resurrection body. And shortly Paul will urge the saints of Corinth to submit to those who have labored with the Apostle bringing forth the firstfruits of Achaia [16:15-16].


    What do you think?

    (logically and Biblically, of course) about the order of DEATH and the Resurrection?

    Are you prepared to die daily (along with Paul) for the Lord Christ Jesus?

    Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel

  • And Now the News – Resurrection of the Dead

    And Now the News – Resurrection of the Dead

    Paul first establishes the indisputable facts of the Resurrection of Christ supported by evidence.


    the Logic of Christ’s Resurrection

    The FACTS established, now the Apostle to the Gentiles must convince believing Corinthians influenced by cultural ‘scientists of Promethean logic‘ about the truth of the nature of the resurrection of the dead.

    • How can worshippers of myths — a myriad of made-up gods and goddesses — purport LOGIC as truth?
    • How can we present the resurrection of the dead as truth rather than myth (upon which Greek religion tenuously stands)?

    This is Paul’s cultural challenge — and ours.


    Resurrection is Key to the Gospel

    Even Jerusalem’s Sadducees denied the truth and evidence of the resurrection.

    Certainly many Greek worshippers of pagan gods held philosophies allowing the evil of the body to coexistence with a soul (hopefully) worthy of heaven.

    Paul had encountered such opposition in Athens just before he arrived in Corinth to preach.

    Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked...

    Acts of the Apostles 17:32a

    Easter or Resurrection Sunday is the day the tomb of Jesus is found empty and when the risen Messiah appears risen after His crucifixion on a Corss

    Note that this mocking at mention of the resurrection is similar to that in Jerusalem at the time many Jews received the Holy Spirit.

    They believe these things, but hate them; and they also hate God.

    WARRANTED CHRISTIAN BELIEF P.291

    Is it not so? Hasn’t this hatred of God also been your experience simply at the mention of Jesus Christ?

    Pagan ridicule of the resurrection provides false evidence to their Promethean proofs justifying the sins their flesh-indulged minds.

    This was the challenge of the Apostle Paul in A.D. 55, as it is ours in this Common Era of indulgent inclusion.


    IF Christ is risen..

    Paul has established the indisputable facts of the bodily death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now he continues in his key logic of the gospel of resurrection of the body and spirit.

    1 Corinthians 15: –

    “.. this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

    1 COR 15:11b BSB

    : RESURRECTION IS: CERTAIN (15:1-34)


    Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead,

    how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

    1 Cor 15:12 ESV

    Paul now addresses those believing doubters of the resurrection influenced by the surrounding pagan culture.

    The Apostle follows a step-by-step logical argument:

    But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

    1 Cor 15:13 ESV

    These logical Greek Corinthians hear the argument of the Pharisee (Saul of Tarsus) refuting the unbelieving Sadducees.

    — AND Paul has just presented the FACTS and evidence that Christ was raised from the grave after His crucifixion.

    And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

    1 Cor 15:14 ESV


    SO — You are a follower of The Way – a saint of your local church…

    WHY THEN did we preach Christ to you and your fellow saints?

    Is your faith in a myth just vanity?

    And Paul continues rhetorically challenging the veracity of his own preaching of the Christ and Jesus' resurrection from DEATH on a Roman cross in Judea.

    The apostle of this gospel self-convicts in this alternative scenario concluding:

    We are even found to be misrepresenting God,

    because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.

    1 Cor 15:15 ESV

    Heresy!

    What is the Apostle’s proposition?

    YOU — Corinthians — (and YOU, Common Era questioners) — must judge the TRUTH of the RESURRECTION of the dead based on the FACTS & EVIDENCE that the Lord Jesus Christ was the first man raised from death for your sins.

    Why do I make the bold point that this  would be HERESY? 

    Other translations provide a more pointed translation of the Greek that may help us understand the seriousness of Paul's alternative false proposition.

    εὑρισκόμεθα δὲ καὶ ψευδομάρτυρες

    v.15a Moreover we are even found [in a legal sense] to be false witnesses [pseudomartys] of God..

    [This would be false testimony against Almighty God, certainly punishable by death of the mortal body and punishment of their immortal soul.]

    HERESY – αἵρεσις – hairesis

    But the Corinthian saints know that Paul has NOT chosen himself over GOD [Theos].

    The Apostle, however, continues down this logical path of its false-reasoning conclusion.

    Now to the Apostle’s logical connection:

    For if the dead are not raised,
    not even Christ has been raised.

    1 Cor 15:16 ESV
    (Paul has already opened his argument to the court of logic with Christ's resurrection.)

    Then those also who have fallen asleep [koimaō  a metaphor for death] in Christ have perished [ἀπόλλυμι – .apollymi].

    1 Cor 15:18

    The Perishing Promethean Heretics

    Paul, in providing a clear choice to those who trust in the Way and Truth and Life of Christ, offers a clear logical choice.

    The Apostle had opened his Epistle to the Corinthians clearly stating:

    For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing G622,

    but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written,

    “I WILL DESTROY G622 THE WISDOM OF THE WISE,

    AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.”

    1 Corinthians 1:18-19 LSB – Paul, citing Old Testament Scripture


    “Where is the one who is wise?

    Paul had rhetorically asked in the opening of this epistle [1 Cor 1:20].

    νυνί – now, at this very moment

    NOW Paul continues in the only logical conclusion: :

    But now [at this very moment] is Christ risen from the dead

    1 Corinthians 15:20a – KJV [def. Gk. νυνί]

    The Apostle here is emphatic in his belief proclaimed in his closing.

    “But in fact..,” “At this very moment..,” “And now..,

    Christ hath risen out of the dead,” read just a few English translations of Paul’s logical Greek argument.

    Then Paul proclaims the benefits of Christ’s resurrection applied to the death of those in Christ.

    Christ’s resurrection + the firstfruits

    But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep…

    .. Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

    1 Cor 15:20,23b ESV

    Between Paul’s representation of the resurrection of Christ and resurrections of ‘those who belong to Christ’ — (faithful saints of the Church redeemed in Him) — the Apostle points back once more to original sin and the source of death replacing eternal life with God.

    Jacob de Baker Garden of Eden

    For as in Adam all die…


    Paul proclaims:

    But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

    For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

    For as in Adam all die,

    even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

    1 Cor 15:20-22 KJV


    IN ADAM… ALL DIE.

    IN ABRAHAM & JACOB.. ALL DIE.

    IN MOSES ALL DIE

    and IN DAVID… ALL DIE!



    Good NEWS of the Resurrection of the DEAD - To be continued... 

  • a Failure of Kings Advent 4 of Christ

    a Failure of Kings Advent 4 of Christ

    What do you think about Kings?

    • Do you have a Sovereign?
    • Would you like to follow one?

    Who is your King?

    Perhaps your gut response would be no different than that of the high priests of Jerusalem at the capital trial of Jesus.

    The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

    Gospel of John 19:15b King James Version

    You may say that WE have no religious leaders in charge of a nation. But look closer at leadership titles where you will discover priests in politics. And don’t miss some presidents, premiers, prime ministers and even kings governing as Caesars.

    Descendants of Abraham did not always have kings, nor did the kings of Israel, Judah and Judea always have power.

    a reminder of Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    a glance at kings of the Promised Land

    Previously we witnessed pre-history as a timeline, essentially beginning again from the restoration of life at the time of NOAH.

    Which kings in history have been successful and which kings were a failure?

    TODAY, before we proceed to the recognized historical kings of Israel let’s also consider others from the Mosaic record.

    kings and princes mentioned by Moses

    mālaḵ verb, מָלַךְ

    Strong’s H4427 in the following manner: reign (289x), king (46x), made (4x), queen (2x).. more

    And Bela the son of Beor reigned H4427 in Edom: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.

    • KINGS of cities (or later City-States in places such as Greece)
    • Perhaps Prince would fit better.
    • Or maybe, Mayor? (But they were military generals as well.)

    meleḵ מֶלֶךְ

    The KJV translates Strong’s H4428 in the following manner: king (2,518x), misc..

    That these made war with Bera king H4428 of Sodom, and with Birsha king H4428 of Gomorrah, Shinab king H4428 of Admah, and Shemeber king H4428 of Zeboiim, and the king H4428 of Bela, which is Zoar.

    Genesis 14:2 King James Version


    These are just a few of the kings who made war. (That’s what Kings tend to do.) Therefore, Abraham (a Prince without a city. So like these kings and generals he was treated as a king when he helped them win a battle.

    And Melchizedek king H4428 of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

    14:18 וּמַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק מֶלֶךְ שָׁלֵם הוֹצִיא לֶחֶם וָיָיִן וְהוּא כֹהֵן לְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן׃

    Melchizedek NOT just the mayor of Jerusalem or a mere Prime Minister or even Prince (as Abraham was generally treated) — the כֹּהֵן – kōhēn – Priest of ʿelyôn ‘ēl


    IF in this 21st century of the Common Era WE independent evangelists (who know nothing of kings) attempt to compare Abraham, Melchizedek, David or Solomon to any common Caesar of this day,

    or

    IF WE anoint JESUS with simply the same royal title of any King (such as Charles),

    THEN WE miss many overlapping roles of Sovereignty the Lord God gave to these men

    AS WELL AS equally important roles of the Christ our High Priest and our Prophet dismissed and diminished by the common Caesar’s of these last days.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    Kings of the Promised People

    kingdom Saul David Solomon & surrounding kingdoms of Ammon, Edom and other gentiles

    From a promise of the LORD to Abraham, a king without a country,

    to David conquering King uniting twelve tribes, Solomon son of David built the Temple and an Empire.

    You will be as familiar with the Dan to Beersheba borders as me.

    Additionally you may have discerned that Solomon conquered to the north beyond Damascus as far as Tiphsah on the Euphrates River [1 Kings 4:24].

    Solomon a distant memory of success

    The Jews of Jesus’ incarnate days had visualized their glorious past in the empire of Solomon. These contemporaries of Jesus nostalgically recalled Solomon as a Caesar of Israel in his time.

    From ~989 B.C. until his death in ~931 B.C. Solomon’s influence extended even into all the nearby world.

    Centuries of Failed Kings Before Christ

    King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh [king of Egypt]—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women.

    2 These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.”

    1 Kings 11:1-2 BSB

    Christian preaching makes much of monogamy here while ignoring common customs of marriage alliances between political rulers of nations through intermarriage. Yet the LORD had forbidden it.

    And incentives inviting our cultural bias against the True God of Israel continue as a leaven diluting a Common Era Church to this day.

    Frequently forced alliances led to the fall of Israel [722 BC] and decline through gradual apostasy compromised Judah just a century later [606 BC].

    esile to babylon

    606 B.C. Some captives taken to Babylon. (Daniel included)

    597 B.C. More captives taken to Babylon. (Ezekiel included)

    586 B.C. Jerusalem is destroyed by fire.


    Kings of Chosen Captives

    Without dwelling on all the kings of both Israel and Judah who ‘did evil in the sight of the LORD,’ we’ll move forward to those left powerless by defeat and the refining of the Lord our God.

    2 Kings 17 – Failure of Israel

    3 Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria.

    And Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute. But the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year.

    Therefore the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison.


    Egypt's king (not so much a god and Pharoah to an Assyrian king) wouldn't help Hoshea out of his political servitude to Shalmaneser king of Assyria. 

    Does this king's representative vassal relationship sound somewhat prophetic of a later Herodian whoredom with Rome?

    Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria, and for three years he besieged it.

    In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria…

    2 Kings 17:5-6a ESV ~724BC -722 BC


    Meanwhile, back in Judah

    Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. No king of Judah was like him, either before him or after him. He remained faithful to the LORD and did not turn from following Him; he kept the commandments that the LORD had given Moses.

    7And the LORD was with Hezekiah, and he prospered wherever he went. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to serve him. 8He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its borders, from watchtower to fortified city.

    2 Kings 18:5-8 BSB

    • 701 B.C. 200,000 of the inhabitants of Judah captured by Sennacherib
    • 621 B.C. Nineveh, Assyria falls to Babylon and Media (the Medes)
    • 586 B.C Judah falls to Babylon, the rebuilt Temple destroyed and captured families of the leading Jews led captive to Babylonia
    esile to babylon
    Flight of the Prisoners, Artist: Tissot, Photographer: John Parnell, Photo © The Jewish Museum, New York

    600 years Before Christ, No more Kings of Israel;

    No King of the Jews in Jerusalem!


    Hope only for a few

    Biblical Foundations of Freedom

    The Prophesy of Isaiah, with some familiar to Christians as prophesy foreseeing the Messiah born in Bethlehem of Judea (formerly Judah), is set earlier than what we have just read in the context of the divided kingdom.

    Isaiah 10:

    Here in part is Isaiah’s and the LORD’s lament:

    11 ” ‘..shall I not deal with Jerusalem and her images

    as I dealt with Samaria and her idols?’ ”

    19 And the remaining trees of his forests will be so few

    that a child could write them down.

    22 For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness.

    Two mote Empires (Before Christ & Rome)

    For those who like me may have occasionally fallen asleep in history class I'll make this rise and fall of three Empires brief.
    • a remnant does return to Jerusalem and rebuilds its wall and Temple
      • 536 B.C. Cyrus the Great permitted the return. 49,897 Jews returned from Babylon to Jerusalem.
    • 516 B.C. The temple was completed. source
      • (Jerusalem will later get a Governor, Nehemiah and a Priest, Ezra),
      • But still no King since they are subjects of Persia.
    If not a king, how about a Queen?

    And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

    Esther 2:17 KJV

    Yet Esther becomes co-regent of the Medes and Persians [~478 B.E.] not simply a small remote city of Jerusalem.

    • Malachi’s prophecy likely came sometime after the ministry of Nehemiah around BC 458-445.
    • Malachi is the last prophet to speak before Christ.

    Before Caesars, Greeks

    The advent of Christ takes place in Judea and beyond, documented in Greek texts as was the whole New Testament. Persia.

    323 BC world map of Alexander the Great

    It’s a period of some 400 years Before Christ.

    Jews from Persia in the east, in Samaria to the north and even west as far as Rome became divided in their interest in the Bible given by Moses and the Prophets.

    Thanks to Alexander the Great, the nearby world of the Herod’s and Jews spoke Greek (not Hebrew or certainly not the Latin of Rome).

    In the timeline of all history Rome’s consequent defeat of other kings, princes and generals after Alexander’s death and division of yet another Empire would set the stage for the birth of a King from before all time born into it in a little Judean town unnoticed by a vassal King appointed by Caesar, a king of a captive Israel actually raised in distant Rome.

    These centuries of ADVENT lead up to a glorious day central to all of history and all of mankind.


    NEXT: Christmas 2024 of the Common Era, God-willing