Question: My loved died and....

From time to time I post the Q and A's from my AllExpert Account. This one was listed as private so of course I have removed all personal info. It is however an important question for us to discuss.

What are your thoughts?

A poster recently lost a loved one and wishes to understand. This person believes in reincarnation and wants to know if the loved one return in the family or in some knowable/identifiable way. Also, is the loved one aware of the poster's prayers, sadness etc.

My reply:

Hello [poster],

Please accept my condolences on your [loved ones] passing.

All religions and spiritual traditions debate what happens after we leave the body. As you don't specify your religion I will answer according to my personal beliefs. If you have further questions do feel free to write back.

Life in this material world seems to be all there is, however this life is but a minor point, a mere period that comes between sentences in a book that has neither sure beginning nor end.

As we travel through this life we are constantly changing, passing from conception to fetus to baby to infant to child through puberty and on into adulthood and old age. This is part of the natural cycle of life in the material worlds, and this cycle never ends. After old age, usually, the soul leaves the body and continues on her way.

Where the soul goes, what she experiences, this is where the debate comes in.

I believe, as taught in the Indian Vedas and other sagely works, that there are three basic influences that determine this:

Karma ("we reap what we sow"): our actions and the reactions to them,
Dharma (or Torah): the Laws of God and principles of rightness and justice, and
Marga (or destiny): the resultant course we walk through life.

Taken together these three influences control samsara, the eternal cycles of our lives.

We can speak of these influences in general terms. Do good, get good, do bad, get bad, etc. however in any specific case we simply don't know, at least not without employing psychic techniques which are themselves questionable.

I can not therefore tell you where your dear [loved one] is now.

It is my belief that between lifetimes there is a period of waiting and resting, of re-evaluation of the life just lived. This state of being is sometimes referred to as the Realm of the Akasha, but again, this can be debated. It is nonetheless my belief that the recently departed are in this state, fully aware of their loved ones, indeed, more fully aware than during their physical lives. They see and understand the underpinnings of our grief and sorrow, they typically forgive the wrongs we may have done them, they realize the blessings and love they may have not seen during their physical incarnation. They typically attend their funerals, wakes, cremations etc. and hear our eulogies.

During this period of "time" (a meaningless phrase in this interim realm but one that usually, according to many, lasts around 7-14 years) the soul that was Mom, Dad, Friend, Child and so on comes into a state of Peace (balance), both peace that the previous life is over and peace that the time to continue on has come. It is for this reason, in part, that while mourning the loss of our dearly departed is normal and emotionally healthy, it is also important that we release them, that we let them to go on so they may more easily continue their natural course in peace. This of course takes time.

Now, according to many sources, souls tend to reincarnate within certain familial circles. Grandkids are sometimes their own grandparents, husbands become grand-daughters, sons become mothers, and so on. This is somewhat conjecture of course, based on "rebirthing" experiences, dreams, psychic readings and so on, but I believe it is more often the case than random chance would allow. Many Hindus and others from ancient traditions believe souls always return to the previous families. I would not go that far, in part because my present life bears no familial connections with my past two (to my knowledge). Again, this is a debatable topic.

While the following is obviously a very simplistic example, it gives an idea of how I believe this process works:

While in Akashic awareness the soul or jiva contemplates everything from all past lives and determines what would have made life better, more spiritually OR materially progressive and so on. With this determination the soul decides, for instance, I would like to be male (or female), and Indian (American, Mexican, Chinese etc), rich (average or poor etc), a devout Christian (or Hindu or Muslim....or Agnostic or Atheist or to simply avoid the topic all together) and so on. As the Soul determines what she wants to experience in the upcoming life, the Holy Ones (angels, fates, pick your terms) enter the picture...

The Holy Ones consider the soul's desire and then modifies it according to the soul's Karma, Dharma and Marga. You wish to be female, however you need to be male this time because... You choose to be born into wealth, but will need to be born in poverty because... however, you will have a natural disposition towards pulling yourself out of that poverty and into extreme wealth: you will be a "natural entrepreneur" (or perhaps you will be a person for whom wealth holds no attraction or even an aversion). Your birth family will be through your grand-daughter due to your continued attraction, however relations will be strained by your lack of religious faith... etc.

Again, this is a gross over-simplification but your get the idea.

As it is not possible, objectively, to understand ones karma (why we do as we do, what influences from this and past lives have lead us to this present point etc) we can not say with certainty where our karma, in harmony with dharma and manifested according to marga will lead us next.

The essential purpose of rebirth, I believe, is to allow the soul or jiva to come into the eventual realization that only by choosing to submit oneself to Ek Devata (God however conceived) do we find true happiness and fulfillment in our existence. This is the ultimate goal of the process. Family, religious, national, cultural, racial, etc. ties are all temporary constraints and opportunities in our on-going spiritual development and eventual return Home.

With the passing of a loved one our best response is to grieve for our loss as we need to, to pray that they will make wise decisions in their future (knowing that the soul is eternal), and to learn from their example that this life is fleeting, that sooner than we now believe we will be following them into eternity and our loved one will be mourning our loss.

From the Bhagavad Gita 2:11: The Blessed One said: While speaking learned words, you are mourning for what is not worthy of grief. Those who are wise lament neither for the living nor for the dead.

2:12: Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings, nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.

2:13: As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul also passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change.

2:14: O son of Kunti, sensory perceptions afflict one with cold, heat, pleasure and pain. They appear and disappear and are impermanent. Therefore endure them all O descendant of Bharata.

(Source, my translation: http://srijagannatha.com/gita/gita2.html).

Hope this helps,
~John of AllFaith

Born tu-by Wild! LOL Could'nt Resist!

OK, so I'm not going to start posting these things all the time...

But...

Click Here if you were Born tu-by Wild!

If this link doesn't work, try copy and pasting it into your brower.

Thanks Tim

The Two Witnesses

"The Earth belongs to HaShem and the Fullness Thereof." And I Will Give Power Unto My Two Witnesses By Ben Ruach ha Kodesh (John of AllFaith) © 2.26.08 "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." As we consider our near future few events will be more earth-shaking than the ministry of the Two Witnesses. There are of course those who say we only guess when we speak of the End Times. They demand that all of this is pure conjecture, nothing more. We're just being "negative," they accuse: The future is ours to create! And I agree! Like the past, the future is ours to create as we will. And, in foreknowledge of our free choices, HaShem has revealed what we will and are choosing to do and how He will and is responding so that those who choose to embrace God's coming kingdom will be ready. In an attempt to appear biblically informed and hoping to disprove the prophets of HaShem, these folks sometimes quote the Master himself: Matt 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But they should have kept reading! Matt. 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. The people of Noah's Day (and Manu's) had advance notice of what was happening. And so do we. In this twenty fourth chapter of Matthew's Gospel the Master gives very specific information, information that could not possibly have pointed to ANY generation in history prior to ours, information that will be fully realized in our lifetimes. Nearly one third of the Bible, when the Tanach and New Testament are taken together, is prophetic and nearly eighty percent of those prophecies concern our period of time. In this study I'll be focusing on the prophecies regarding the Two Witnesses. As is often the case the prophets are clear but require us to do a bit of research to fully understand their purport. The coming ministry of these two prophets is vital to the establishment of the earthly Kingdom of HaShem that the soon coming Moshiach will establish, so let's look into this a bit. The Two Witnesses Revelation 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. This prophecy was written several years after the Master's prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and its Holy Temple was fulfilled. John is in prison having visions of our generation. In this vision John is shown the consecration of the rebuilt Temple and the Holy City and the events leading up to it. He is then shown how Gentiles will once again gain control of Israel for another forty two months (or three and a half years). The short-lived return of Gentile rule (as described in the Muslim prophecies) will occur after (and as a result of) the Jews rejection of the claims of Rex Mundi (following his desecration of the newly built temple), which is a topic for another study (See here). In this highly charged setting John introduces us to the Two Witnesses: Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These two prophets will be witnesses against the people of the earth. They will testify to the rightness of God's coming intervention in the affairs of humanity. The word "witnesses" as used here is translated from "martus" which references testifying in a legal, court of law, sense. Their testimony will continue for a thousand two hundred and threescore days, which is to say, for the same three and half year period that sees the Holy City again trodden under the feet of the Gentiles (compare Matt 24:15-20). What these Witnesses behold among their fellow humans will sadden and sicken them. They will accurately bear witness against the people of the earth for destroying the environment, for waging unjust wars and genocides, for allowing human beings (and animals) to needlessly suffer and die of disease, abuse and starvation while others live in the lap of luxury. They will condemn the deaths of the unborn, the elderly, the weak... They will shine the light of truth on all the evils of humanity and none will be found blameless. And the Two Witnesses will point an accusing finger of Deja vu at the NWO leaders of the planet who, like the first planetary emperor of the age Nimrod, have set themselves up in opposition to HaShem (Gen 10:9) and who even now are building a metaphorical ziggurat or tower to reach the very heavens (Gen 11:4)! But HaShem's response will be the same! As these Two Witness, like modern day Noahs, deliver HaShem's judgments upon our generation they will find no joy in their work. Indeed, the prophet tells us they will be dressed in sackcloth, the garments of mourning. Yet these judgments must come before peace and justice can be established. Like the prophets of old, the Two Witnesses will make that which is now hidden known, they will identify and judge those who stand in opposition to HaShem and His plans for global peace and good will, and they will act on those judgments. But the prophets of old, even Elijah, never acted with such power nor on a global scale as these two will! Rev. 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. So the question is, who are these prophets? We are told that they are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks who stand before HaShem. What does this tell us? Zec 4:1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, 2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: 3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. 4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? 5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.... 11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? 12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? 13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. In a recent post I discussed the "Sheep and the Goats" and referenced them as "Hinderers" (for that study on my AllFaith.com site Click Here or Here to read it on my Multiply site). In that study I explain how the anointing of HaShem is placed upon those who willingly join this struggle for HaShem's Kingdom. This word "anointing" is the literal translation of the word "christ" and all who accept the role of hinderer (compare II Thes 2) are anointed by HaShem, they are, in this sense, christs. It is in this sense that Master Y'shua, who clearly did not fulfill the Messianic prophecies, can rightly be referenced as Christ, the firstborn of many siblings. "Christ" is not synonymous with "Messiah." One christ will be the Messiah. It is he whom Jews and Christians await (for more in this see my Identifying the Moshiach. In every generation there have been divinely anointed people ready to perform any task for the King. In these last days we are all called to hinder the rise and revelation of the Beast, the Rex Mundi. The Two Witnesses are such 'hinderers'. They stand (in readiness) to carry out their ministry. Of these anointed people Master Y'shua tells us, Matt 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. What these anointed sheep can say is that to the best of their ability they are prepared to serve in any way the Master may desire, however it is always HaShem who delegates the tasks and issues the calls. If one servant falls another stands ready. The Two Witnesses will be chosen and revealed when the time is right as desired by HaShem. Many are called, but few are chosen. Rev. 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. No wonder they are clothed in sackcloth! Despite the righteousness of their judgments, in many ways this will surely be a heartbreaking ministry. Rev. 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. The Two Witnesses will minister specifically in and to Eretz Israel, however the scope of their testimony will be global. There is no reason to assume they will only work in Israel of course, they will doubtless appear anywhere on the planet according to the will of HaShem. By the time the Two Witnesses come into their ministry, three and a half years after the rise of Rex Mundi (the coming Biderberg Merovingian globalist dictator), vast areas of the earth will have been decimated, millions will have been killed by war, revolution, natural disasters and plagues, and now it will be their grim task to add to the devastation! Sackcloth indeed! Their message will be a simple one, yet oh so profound! Reject the Rex Mundi Reject the authority of the global government Reject the global tracking and monetary implant Reject the mandated Secular Humanist religion/philosophy that is advancing the Rex Mundi as an avatar and incarnation Reject the False Prophet who will arise from Rome and declare Rex Mundi to be the Messiah. Reject the divisiveness of all man-made religion and philosophy Embrace the One God according to Light you have been awarded: The Indwelling One. By this point the identity of the One True God should be more certain for those who wish to know, more obscure for those who don't. Simple yes, but those who accept their message will have signed their own death warrants. But then again, those who accept Rex Mundi have done the same. The vast majority of us will not survive the coming seven years, especially the second half. The wise thing to do is develop an eternal perspective and prepare yourself to stand against Hell itself because that is what is coming. Hell and its King. Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Do everything you can to stand... and then... Stand! The testimony of the Two Witnesses will fill the earth. Those who hear them will be called to make a decision. The time for fence-sitting is over. The Novus Ordo Seclorum or New World Order government will seek to silence the Witnesses and all who accept their testimony. Once the verbal testimony of the Two Witnesses is complete this will be allowed to happen. They will embrace martyrdom as an example to the rest. Only then will their true testimony be received! The two will be murdered in the streets of Jerusalem! Rev. 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. It will be a wonderful day! That is, wonderful for those who reject the coming reign of HaShem! The people of the earth who still survive at this point and who still believe in the Rex Mundi and his Secular Humanist world view will have despised the Two Witnesses! The power of their testimony and actions will cause even the most devout Atheist and Secular Humanist to question if perchance there is a God in Heaven, a God who will soon destroy the New World Order and its Elite. But now, now Rex Mundi has destroyed these worrisome prophets! He has proved himself to be all powerful! Indeed, Rev. 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon [ie Lucifer] which gave power unto the beast [ie Rex Mundi]: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? The people will celebrate the death of the Two Witnesses, but more than that, they will celebrate the death of religion! They will celebrate their victory over this ages-old scourge! Human will and advancement has finally defeated the forces of religion and gods of all sorts! "Long live Rex Mundi!" The new Tower of Babel is almost complete! A New World Order has dawned! This they will believe... But then... Rev. 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. In passing, it's worth noting that there is a common Christian belief that prior to the rise of the Rex Mundi (some say at the midway point of his reign) there will be a "Rapture" that will rescue all true Christians. This has been the theme of several books and movies lately, most notable the very unbiblical Left Behind series. This verse (verse 13) plainly shows that even towards the end of the Great Tribulation there will will still be a remnant of Believers on the earth: "the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven." The Church of the Last Days is described at Revelation 3:15-20 and elsewhere. There is no way "the Laodicean Church" is going anywhere. Sorry. Why is this going occur? Why will HaShem send the two Witnesses? Matt. 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake [ie to save the Jews] those days shall be shortened. Israel is the key. Children Of Noah All The Noahide Nazarene Way AllFaith.com: Judaism AllFaith.com: Christianity AllFaith Spirituality Interfaith Prayer Group AllFaith.com

More On Tithing AND Atonment

"The Earth belongs to HaShem and the Fullness Thereof." By Ben Ruach ha Kodesh (John of AllFaith) © 2.25.08 Tithing and Atonement My blog friend Chasmarv and I have entered into a bit of discussion on the question of tithing (on my Multiply Site). Previously (here) I shared my views on this topic. The initial post in included at the bottom of this page, but you might want to go there and read the interesting comments of some of my readers. Chasmarv agrees with my view that followers of Master Y'shua don't need to tithe, but differs with me on who does. I'd like to move our conversation here instead of my guestbook, and so will post his comments and my replies unedited. Your thoughts on the subject are encouraged as well, as always. chasmarv wrote on Feb 23 John- You are correct that the new covenant church should not tithe. You are wrong about who must tithe in the old covenant and it was only farmers and heardsmen. Dr Russell Kelly the author of the book SHOULD THE CHURCH TEACH TITHING A TABOO DOCTRINE AND his web page shouldthechurchteachtithing and CHASMARV@MULTIPLE.COM will be featured on CBS march 2 from 9:00 until 10:30 against the false doctrine of tithing. Tune in. johnofallfaith wrote on Feb 23 You would need to present some scriptural support for this point Chasmarv. I invite you to do so on that blog entry. II Chron. 31:5,6 tells us for instance, "And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps. These people were neither farmers not heardsmen. They purchased the animals and fruit of the fields to offer at the temple as their tithes. They also offered their gold and silver etc. to be used (melted down etc.) in the temple. IE "the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps." One doesn't lay sheep down in heaps. The early Hebrews were people of the land. Animal and grain sacrifices were required of them all, regardless of their occupation. This is part of what so angered Master Y'shua when he came to the Temple and saw the money changers. The people were going to the Temple to worship HaShem and were being overcharged for their sacrificial (ie tithe-based) animal purchases. By doing this, "the money changers" were directly stealing from the Holy Temple and the Levites who depended on these sacrifices. It was a serious charge he made and he was furious to think that in the name of religious observance these people would do such a thing. Matt 21:10: And when he [Master Y'shua] was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. 12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. There are a great many such verses that disagree with your point. It sounds to me as though all things the Jews "bring in" they are to tithe on. Also, I wouldn't call tithing taboo, it is simply inapplicable for Noahides as I explain in this piece. Thanks for sharing your views and again I invite you to do so again in that blog entry: http://johnofallfaith.multiply.com/journal/item/688/A_Question_About_Tithing I'll include this discussion there as well should you like to discuss this further. Thanks for sharing your views! Maranatha! chasmarv wrote on Feb 24 JOHN-I am ready to go to church but I would like to give you bible from the torah on what the first fruits were. I will show you what the old covenant says about first fruits but it will be later today. chasmarv wrote on Feb 24 JOHNOFALLFAITH- I respectifully disagree with your position on firstfruits. johnofallfaith wrote on Feb 24 Hi Chasmarv, That's cool. I've never claimed to have all the answers, I'm still learning too. Show me in the Bible where I am mistaken and I will happily accept your teaching on this. As you didn't return from church with any evidence may I assume you spoke with your pastor and discovered your mistake? I did a bit more research on this topic after reading your reply and found the following Q&A with a knowledgeable rabbi. His decision: "It is a mitzvah (commandment) from the Torah for every Jew -- whether impoverished or wealthy -- to give ten percent of his income to charity...." Here's the full Q & A: When a Pastor Demands Charity Question: Dear Rabbi, I was watching a television evangelist one Sunday, and something he said really struck me. According to him, unless people pay tithes they will suffer. Actually his words were that they would "get their butts kicked by life." I was horrified, Rabbi. Would you tell me what Judaism teaches about tithing and its purpose. Thank you. Answer: It is a mitzvah (commandment) from the Torah for every Jew -- whether impoverished or wealthy -- to give ten percent of his income to charity. This act of giving alms to the poor is held in high esteem by the Jewish people. Moreover, the Bible teaches us that this mitzvah acts as an atonement for sin. This message is declared to Nebuchadnezzar in the Book of Daniel (4:24) and is the central theme of the opening message of the Book of Isaiah. In the beginning of the Book of Isaiah, the prophet declares how alms to the poor and downtrodden expiates man's iniquities. The first chapter of Isaiah begins with a harsh condemnation of the nation of Israel. Few chapters in the Bible are as brutally critical of the Jewish people as Isaiah is in the beginning of his first chapter. In the 16th verse, however, the prophet almost unexpectedly soothes his wayward nation by teaching them both the essence of atonement and the way to achieve it. He assures the nation of Israel that if they turn from their sinful ways and care for the downtrodden, their sins will be forgiven. Isaiah's message, like that of the other Jewish prophets, stands in stark contrast to the declaration in the Book of Hebrews that "without the shedding of blood there is no atonement." As an aside, I find this Christian pastor's message that those who fail to tithe will "suffer" to be rather puzzling. According to mainline Protestant theology, salvation cannot be achieved through any form of "works" or deeds. Tithing would certainly fall into this category of works. There is little doubt that this church leader is attempting to instill fear within the congregation in order to secure some rather plump offerings. Sincerely yours, Rabbi Tovia Singer (source: http://www.outreachjudaism.org/charity.html) I agree with this rabbi. The Daniel verse he references says: "Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by almsgiving, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of thy prosperity.'(JPS) Did you catch that? The prophet says: ...break off thy sins by almsgiving, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor.... According to Master Y'shua its not so much the giving of alms as it is the intention that lies behind it. Literally "sin" is to "miss the mark" of perfection, but practically, when we sin we harm others, we think more of ourselves than of our neighbors. By changing the focus of our intention outwards to others we bless them and as a result HaShem will bless us because God is the eternal well wisher of us all. This is essential Judaism and was essential to the teachings of Master Y'shua. Prophet Micah is even more specific: Michah [Micah]6:6 'Wherewith shall I come before HaShem, and bow myself before G-d on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt-offerings, with calves of a year old? 7 Will HaShem be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?' 8 It hath been told thee, O man, what is good, and what HaShem doth require of thee: only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy G-d.(JPS) The rabbi accurately points to one of the main differences between Judaism and Christianity: human/divine sacrifice. Not only does this teaching not exist in Judaism, it runs counter to the very heart of the Jewish faith. This verse in Micah almost prophetically asks: ...Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?' We might add... as HaShem did? No, the prophet declares under inspiration, "It hath been told thee, O man, what is good, and what HaShem doth require of thee: only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy G-d." This is the teaching of Judaism and this was the teaching of Master Y'shua: Matt 21:35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Master Y'shua taught the exact same thing. As the Apostle Paul tells us: Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. HaShem has nothing to prove. He shows His grace to whomsoever He will. Upon whom does HaShem dine to show mercy? Master Y'shua is as clear as Prophet Micah above: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. It is the Will of HaShem to bestow His mercy on everyone. Those who accept this mercy receive it. And how does one receive the mercy and grace of HaShem? Michah [Micah]6:6 'Wherewith shall I come before HaShem, and bow myself before G-d on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt-offerings, with calves of a year old? 7 Will HaShem be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?' 8 It hath been told thee, O man, what is good, and what HaShem doth require of thee: only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy G-d. Or as Master Y'shua tells John: Rev. 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. What does it mean to repent? We have this definition from the Wikipedia: In Biblical Hebrew the idea of repentance is represented by two verbs: שוב shuv (to return) and נחם nicham (to feel sorrow). In the New Testament, the word translated as 'repentance' is the Greek word μετάνοια (metanoia), "after/behind one's mind", which is a compound word of the preposition 'meta' (after, with), and the verb 'noeo' (to perceive, to think, the result of perceiving or observing). In this compound word the preposition combines the two meanings of time and change, which may be denoted by 'after' and 'different'; so that the whole compound means: 'to think differently after'. Metanoia is therefore primarily an after-thought, different from the former thought; a change of mind accompanied by regret and change of conduct, "change of mind and heart", or, "change of consciousness". One of the key descriptions of repentance in the New Testament is the parable of the prodigal son found in the Gospel of Luke 15 beginning at verse 11. In other words, To receive the grace and mercy of HaShem one needs only to make a decision to change one's heart/intentions and act upon it. The need for that decision is what is taught by Judaism: Michah [Micah]6:6 'Wherewith shall I come before HaShem, and bow myself before G-d on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt-offerings, with calves of a year old? 7 Will HaShem be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?' 8 It hath been told thee, O man, what is good, and what HaShem doth require of thee: only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy G-d. And again, Master Y'shua tells us clearly: Matt 21:35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Here is the original post: David asks: Are we released from tithing under grace? My reply. What are your thoughts? Hi David, We are not only released from paying tithes, it was never required of us (assuming you are not Jewish). Tithing was the Jewish income tax. In ancient times religion and politics were often wed, as is still the case today with Islam where the "deen" or religion and "ummah" or nation are one. In the same way, although Judaism began as a Semitic ethnic group (it was never a race despite common beliefs) it was more accurately thought of as a nation in biblical times (the earthly kingdom of God in exile). Citizens of that kingdom were ordered to pay an income tax, a flat tax of 10% of all gross income (be it money, animals etc.). As the early Jewish followers of Jesus debate Gentile conversion in the Book of Acts it is clear that they consider themselves a "religion" rather than a "nation" as they pointedly were 'waiting for a kingdom not made by human hands.' Jesus came to be viewed more as the spiritual savior of the world rather than as a reigning king (Meshiach or Messiah). As people attempting to follow Jesus we are to submit our whole selves unto God. Our tithe then is 100%, not just 10%. We are to consider ourselves stewards of all things granted us by our Master. Once the Kingdom of God is established there will probably be a proclamation made that everyone must tithe 10%, time will tell, but during "the Church Age" tithing is still only in effect for Jews. Jesus references the tithes of the Jews several times in the Gospels. Virtually every person he spoke with, with only a handful of exceptions, were Jews. Indeed Jesus said he only came to minister to Jews (Matt 15:24), but outside of that, only the Book of Hebrews mentions tithes and it does so in each case as a historical reference (ex. Heb 7:9). As you probably know, not all Christians will agree with this answer however I am convinced it is correct. If one wishes to have a congregation and offer various programs one needs money, lots of it... believe me I know... and teaching the people they must tithe is an effective way to raise funds. The truth is however, this is not a biblical requirements for Christians. Christians should be taught that everything they possess is holy and belongs to God and that they should invest their possessions in the coming Kingdom by supporting their local congregations and various other efforts as they feel led of the Holy Spirit. Hope this helps, ~Pastor John Your thoughts? Share them below (on my blog) Children Of Noah All The Noahide Nazarene Way AllFaith.com: Judaism AllFaith.com: Christianity AllFaith Spirituality Interfaith Prayer Group AllFaith.com

Women and Children First!

Join the New AllFaith Group!

Subscribe to the AllFaith Group
Powered by groups.yahoo.com

This is my newest Yahoo Group (a half hour old at the time of this writing). It will serve the same basic function as this site. I will be posting my studies and opinons there and inviting members to comment and share their own views on a wide array of subjects: religion, politics, life... There is a member photo section, links section, we can run polls, etc. All new posters will be moderated at first to avoid spam, but the idea is to enjoy open and frank discussion. After a few posts moderation will be turned off, or just ask. I hope you will join.

~John of AllFaith

The IHS, Chi-Rho and Name of Master Y'shua

"The Earth belongs to HaShem and the Fullness Thereof." IHS Chi-Rho and the Name of Master Y'shua By Ben Ruach ha Kodesh (John of AllFaith) © 2.19.08 A friend asks: John, I have a quick question that I'm sure you can help me with. You know the "IHS" symbols you might see in some churches. Well, I'm pretty sure the "I" stands for Ishtar and the "H" stands for Horus, but I'm uncertain about the "S". I think it is Shamash, but I'm not sure. Can you help or correct me? James My reply: Hi James, This common belief is, in my opinion, completely unfounded, but yes, those who hold it to be true do use Shamash for the "S" usually. As you know, Shamash was the Akkadian Sun God and the God of Justice in Babylonia and Assyria as well as the Sumerian Utu (which opens several interesting possibilities that I wont delve into here). The truth is however that "IHS" is one of the oldest Nazarene Way symbols there is (this and the Maranatha fish), demonstratively dating back to the third century and probably even before. During the pre-Catholic period of Jewish and Nazarene Way persecution it was necessary for the Believers in Master Y'shua's reformed Jewish teachings to hide their faith and yet be able to communicate with each other. This gave birth to "IC" and "XC" and "IHS" and "XPS" being used as monograms for Iesous Christos (ie "Jesus the Anointed"). These letters and emblems were scrawled onto walls etc. as symbols directing people to places of worship, safety and so on, just as the Maranatha fish was used. Emperor Constantine, who founded Christianity, worshiped Sol Invictus, the Roman Sun God, until the day he died. On his death bed he ordered coins with his image on one side and the Sun God on the other, then took Catholic communion for the first time in his life, and then died. The continuing presence of Sol Invictus within Catholicism is seen in the sun that enlightens the IHS monogram as shown above. As Rome co-opted Master Y'shua's Nazarene Way movement, they incorporated these earlier symbols as charms (essentially). Catholicism also took what came to be known, in the 4th century, as the Chi-Rho, the (symbolic Gnostic) cross that supposedly led Constantine to his (mock) conversion. Hence, the Chi-Rho, the Maranatha fish and the IHS monogram (which often has a tiny Chi-Rho above and little fishes or three nails below it) became official Church emblems. Interestingly enough, once Rome constituted the New Religion (ie Christianity) and banned all others, the true meaning of the monograms of our Master's name were largely forgotten, but the charms were powerful and popular with the masses and soon they gave rise to the name "Jhesus" or Jesus which is still generally used today. Our Master's name however was never "Jesus." It is Y'shua, Yeshua or, in English, Joshua, not "Jesus"... but what's in a name... (Philippians 2:10). As initials, any combination of letters can mean anything. For instance, "IRS" (the Infernal Revenue Service) could just as easily stand for the International Religious Society (a wonderful group that does not abbreviate their name for some strange reason hehe. There are lots of people who bash the Roman Catholic Church at every opportunity. I am not among them. I have a deep and abiding love and respect for MUCH of what that Church has accomplished over the past 1500 years. MUCH of its present and past leadership have contributed enormously to the betterment of the world and to the quest for God. Some of the holiest and most saintly people I have ever had the honor of knowing have been Catholic priests, nuns, monks, brothers and lay people... and Saint Francis remains one of the people I most admire. Having said that, I also think its vital to rightly understand the true history of the Christian faith and the negative (as well as positive) part in that history played by Roman Catholicism and its complete re-creation of Master Y'shua's Noahide Nazarene Way. Hope this helps, ~John of AllFaith Ben Ruach ha Kodesh Children Of Noah All The Noahide Nazarene Way AllFaith.com: Judaism AllFaith.com: Christianity AllFaith Spirituality Interfaith Prayer Group AllFaith.com

"Labor Pains" of the Kingdom and the Importance of Israel

"The Earth belongs to HaShem and the Fullness Thereof." By Ben Ruach ha Kodesh (John of AllFaith) © 2.17.08 Matthew 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age ["world" in the KJV: "aion" means an age or time period, not world]? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.... Thus does the Master's detailed End Times Prophecy recorded in Matthew 24 begin. This first prediction, the unthinkable destruction of the Holy Jerusalem Temple, was fulfilled about 37 years after it was given, in 70 CE. Of all those who are and/or who claim to be prophets, the Biblical prophets are the most accurate and detailed of them all. Indeed, while the Bible is important on countless levels, did you know that fully one third of this sixty six book library is prophetic or that nearly seventy five percent of those prophecies deal directly or indirectly with the End of the Gentile Times or Last Days? Its true! In this study we'll be looking at one of the important prophecies Master Y'shua revealed to Prophet John: Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. The woman who gives birth to this child is Israel and her child is the Kingdom that HaShem promised to Abraham and his descendants. The Sun represents the blessings of HaShem, and the twelve stars, the twelve tribes of Israel to whom the coming Kingdom is granted. As is believed by many Christians and Noahide Nazarenes, the Jewish people are the anointed and chosen of HaShem, God. Through their various experiences the Jewish people, as a group, lost their faith in the God of Israel and, in 70 CE, HaShem allowed the Romans to expel them from their eternal home of Eretz Israel. Paul discusses this in detail as does Prophet Isaiah and other Hebrew prophets. This is also discussed in some detail elsewhere on my website. The point here is that even as HaShem allowed His people to be driven out of their homeland in 70 CE, He promised one day to restore them to them to the land and to establish a global theocratic kingdom under a righteous Jewish King: the Moshiach or Messiah (this is the primary job of the Messiah). That day began on May 14, 1948 but the return is not yet complete: Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. There is an important point here. Israel is not just another human-wrought nation. It is the one nation specifically chosen by God to be His tool for global restoration and blessing. When a group of people, largely secular Jews known as Zionists (those who support a Jewish return to Mount Zion) decided to work for the modern day restoration of Israel they did so, knowingly or not, under Divine influence. For the return of the Chosen Ones to be complete however, the Jewish people must proclaim, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of HaShem." In other words, only the coming of Moshiach and the Jewish acceptance of him will complete the Jewish return and signal the end of what Master Y'shua called the Times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24). It is of these time that our considered verse in John's Revelation is referencing. Note that as the woman (the Jews) delivered the child (the Kingdom of God) a great red dragon (the Rex Mundi or Antichrist/Dijal/Little Horn), who is actually the Son of Lucifer (whose tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven -- ie the fallen angels), approaches the woman that was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And what does modern history tell us? The very day Israel declared its independence the Muslim Ummah attacked them enmasse as the world stood idly by and did nothing. But what happened? HaShem Himself intervened and Israel destroyed it enemies in a series of miraculous victories. Likewise, as the day draws closer for the Kingdom to be established the Jewish people of Israel will have to flee their homes (as foreseen in Matt. 24). Many of these people will go to Petra where, for the final three and a half years (a thousand two hundred and threescore days) HaShem Himself will protect them as a remnant of His people destined to receive the fulfillment of His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This event, which will occur about three and a half years after the Rex Mundi signs an historic peace treaty between Israel and its enemies, will be the beginning of the final three and a half years of our age, known in John's Book of Prophecy as the Great Tribulation. During this final three and half years the entire cosmos will be at war. The forces of good will be everywhere opposing the forces of the New World Order and it Rex Mundi. This is the reference in verses 7 and 8. Having lost in Heaven the earth will become a bloodbath as evil seeks to destroy the Jews and all who side with them. This unprecedented global conflagration will be the lead up to the final war, the Battle of Armageddon. Such a global and destructive war has not been fought on this planet in our age. It will be this war that end it. While from one perspective the woman Israel gave birth in 1948, from another this has yet to happen because Moshiach has not yet come. Israel is still therefore preparing to give birth to the Kingdom of HaShem. As one travailing in birth pangs she is under almost constant pain and pressure yet Israel remains and her enemies continue to seek her destruction just as the prophets foretold. As a nation of priests Israel represents the people of the earth before HaShem. This is their role, their mission, its what they were Chosen to do. Just as Israel is experiencing these pains, so too are we all. Birth pangs rise and fall, they come and go, but they become more intense and frequent as the delivery draws closer. Consider some interesting facts: Among Prophet Y'shua's predictions in Matthew 24 are forecasts of increased earthquakes and other natural disasters. In December 2004 the Indian Ocean tsunami hit several countries and was one of the worst such tsunamis in history. Indeed, the cause of the tsunami was the second strongest earthquake ever recorded. Over 225,000 humans died and untold numbers of animals. Over five million people were left homeless. In the US 2005 saw the most tropical storms on record. Typically in the US ten storms are considered severe enough each year to name, in 2005 26 were named. In a normal year the US can expect six hurricanes, in 2005 there were 14 and the number of major hurricanes, usually 2 a year, was 7 in 2005. Then that same year, in October, a major quake struck Northern Pakistan with damage reaching all the way into India. Over 80,000 people died in this one, leaving 2.5 million homeless. Then came Katrina... Those of us who believe in the accuracy of the biblical prophets and who believe we are fast approaching the final seven years of this six thousand year age can readily point to countless evils and sorrows in our world. It is all too easy to point to some disaster and proclaim it is the direct result of God's wrath. After 9-11 for instance Jerry Falwell and others said the attacks were God's punishment on the US for homosexuality and infanticide. And I must confess that when those storms hit so devastatingly on Super Tuesday I as others had to wonder... the US appears to be about to elect the most evil (literally) president in our history (Hillary), but in truth, unless and until God sends a prophet to tell us what the various disasters mean its mere guesswork, and potentially dangerous work at that. No, such disasters, taken individually, mean nothing as far as we know with any certainty. Taken collectively however its a different matter! Such events are clearly the "birth pangs" being experienced prior to the coming of Moshiach and his Kingdom. And things will get a lot worse before they get better! Like most people, I love to be positive, to smell the roses and believe things are getting better for my family and the world... But this would be denial friends. What we can say is the end of these birth pangs is in sight, that its just a matter of time until this "woman" gives birth to her child, the Moshiach. THAT is positive. THAT is Good News. Once this happens: Zechariah 8:20 Thus saith HaShem of hosts: It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities; 21 and the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying: Let us go speedily to entreat the favour of HaShem, and to seek HaShem of hosts; I will go also. 22 Yea, many peoples and mighty nations shall come to seek HaShem of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favour of HaShem. 23 Thus saith HaShem of hosts: In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, shall even take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying: We will go with you, for we have heard that G-d is with you.' (JPS) And as we prepare for those days let us never forget: Genesis 12:1 Now HaShem said unto Abram: 'Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee. 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing. 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.' Israel and the Jewish people are and have always been a blessing to the earth and they will, once Moshiach comes, usher in a thousand years of global peace followed by... well, that's a topic for another study. For now, we are still experiencing the birth pangs of the coming Kingdom. Before that Kingdom is established, before "HaShem's Will is done on earth as it is in Heaven," this earth will experience the most dreadfully devastating seven years in its history bar none. The majority of people will not survive these soon coming times. If you are reading these words and not at death's door now, you will likely behold the fulfillment of these words. Before that Kingdom is established, the New World Order will successfully establish their Global Union and enthrone their Rex Mundi (World King) known from the prophets as the Antichrist, the Dijal, the Little Horn, the Son of Perdition and by other terms. Before that Kingdom is established, the Global Union will require everyone to accept the Mark of the Beast, doubtless now a computerized GPS,RFID encoded implant. The Mark may well precede the establishment of the Global Union but will probably require a loyal oath to it principles. Before that Kingdom is established, HaShem will call forth 144,000 Jewish preachers who will declare the coming of HaShem's Kingdom and the vile nature of the New World Order and all who support it. Before that Kingdom is established, HaShem will call forth His Two Witnesses. Their work will be seen by all the world and have serious ramifications for everyone still alive. Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then, to save the Jews (the Elect), who will then be sequestered at Petra and in hiding elsewhere, Moshiach will come, but not until hope seems lost and the remaining Jews call upon the God of Israel to save them. Then will the Kingdom of HaShem be established. Then will the Gentiles go to Jerusalem or seek out the Jewish people knowing that God is with them. Then will the Jews fully understanding the meaning and nature of their Calling. Do what you can to prepare. Shalom. Children Of Noah All The Noahide Nazarene Way AllFaith.com: Judaism AllFaith.com: Christianity AllFaith Spirituality Interfaith Prayer Group AllFaith.com

"Blame Israel." "Death to the Jews..." Here We Go Again!

And the Beat Goes On:

Blame Israel. Death to the Jews...

Hezbollah of Lebanon threatens Israel yet again.... If only the "Zionist state" didn't exist everything in the Middle East would be all lovey-dovey. The Christian and Muslim factions would go on picnics together and sing kumbaya around a campfire (of burning Jewish embers!) and gas prices would be low and Norman Rockwell would return as from the dead and... Ah yes... if not for those meddlesome Jews!

There must be some Solution to our shared Jewish problem, some Final Solution....

Its the same old song and dance!

Once again it may mean open war...

And Israel is currently being led by someone (Ehud Omert) who lacks the courage to say no to Bush and the NWO or to place his faith firmly in HaShem, to fully deploy his military might when needed, and to Stand Boldly for Israel!

"Never Again" Means "Not Now Either!"

Stand tall in faith Israel and HaShem will again deliver His people!!

Remember the example of King Ahaz! HaShem will not and has not abandoned His people! Have courage and STAND!

Yisheyah 6 (Isaiah 7) in the JPS

(JEWISH PUBLICATION SOCIETY BIBLE).

1: And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Aram, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it; but could not prevail against it.
2: And it was told the house of David, saying: 'Aram is confederate with Ephraim.' And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest are moved with the wind.
3: Then said HaShem unto Isaiah: 'Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, in the highway of the fullers' field;
4: and say unto him: Keep calm, and be quiet; fear not, neither let thy heart be faint, because of these two tails of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram, and of the son of Remaliah.
5: Because Aram hath counselled evil against thee, Ephraim also, and the son of Remaliah, saying:
6: Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set up a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeel;
7: thus saith the L-rd GOD: it shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.
8: For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people;
9: And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not have faith, surely ye shall not be established.'
10: And HaShem spoke again unto Ahaz, saying:
11: 'Ask thee a sign of HaShem thy G-d: ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.'
12: But Ahaz said: 'I will not ask, neither will I try HaShem.'
13: And he said: 'Hear ye now, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to weary men, that ye will weary my G-d also?
14: Therefore the L-rd Himself shall give you a sign: behold, the young woman shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
15: Curd and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
16: Yea, before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings thou hast a horror of shall be forsaken.
17: HaShem shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria.'
18: And it shall come to pass in that day, that HaShem shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.
19: And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the rugged valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all brambles.
20: In that day shall the L-rd shave with a razor that is hired in the parts beyond the River, even with the king of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet; and it shall also sweep away the beard.
21: And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall rear a young cow, and two sheep;
22: and it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give, he shall eat curd; for curd and honey shall every one eat that is left in the midst of the land.
23: And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, shall even be for briers and thorns.
24: With arrows and with bow shall one come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.
25: And all the hills that were digged with the mattock, thou shalt not come thither for fear of briers and thorns, but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of sheep.

So... who killed commander Imad Mughniyeh? That's the big question right now.

Why would Israel kill Mughniyeh now when Jerusalem is being so threatened by Bush and Rice? Remember, Bush has promised to divide Jerusalem and make East Jerusalem the capital of yet another Islamic Ummah state, known as Palestine, by the end of his term (if he leaves office).

="" border="12">

Such instability does not help Israel, it only invites globalist involvement and intervention.

I suspect the actual assassins are identified in this piece: "...The former Hezbollah security chief was one of world's most wanted fugitives, accused of masterminding attacks that killed hundreds of Americans in Lebanon in the 1980s...."

NWO pawn Bush desperately needs to convince the American people that Israel needs to be slapped down a few pegs, if not destroyed. His Saud royal family NWO compatriots are demanding this of him and in Annapolis last year he and his henchperson Condi Rice set about doing just this: the desecration and division of Jerusalem by January, 2009. Something Hillary supports BTW.

Implicating Israel not only in a political assassination like this, but in one that places American Jews (and others in their vicinity) in jeopardy and that could lead to World War 3 could be used to do just this:

"The chief of Hezbollah told throngs of supporters at a funeral for slain commander Imad Mughniyeh his group would retaliate against Israeli targets anywhere in the world after accusing the Jewish state of killing the militant (emphasis mine)."

Note Nasrallah's threat that, "...the killing of Mughniyeh did not weaken his organization, but rather provided an incentive for "tens of thousands" of guerrillas who stood ready to fight Israel," and that, "Mughniyeh's blood will lead to the elimination of Israel. These words are not an emotional reaction" (emphasis mine).

By showing that because of the Israeli government's "very big folly that will be avenged" all of Israel is now facing possible genocide, plus the dangers the political hit could mean globally... the NWO powers-that-be can claim a virtual mandate to restructure the Middle East in their own image. As the Church Lady would say, "How convienant!

Enter Kaptain Amerikka: Bush to the rescue! He'll offer (coerce) to restore the peace by giving East Jerusalem to Hezbollah "Palestinians" while making it clear to the Israelis that if Israel does not comply with NWO demands they will use the Islamic Ummah as their 21st century Final Solution to the Jewish problem!

This is why I think this is happening right now.
The Prophecies must be fulfilled.
Muslim prophecies demand that Prophet Jesus and Iman Madhi must meet in a non-Jewish East Jerusalem and from there destroy the Jews world wide.

Following that event a hadith says: "A Jew will not be found alone with a Muslim without plotting to kill him." According to another, Prophet Muhammad said: "The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. 'O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so come kill him'. This hadith has been quoted countless times, and it has become a part of the charter of Hamas.

This interpretation is confirmed by the Wikipedia:

"On 30 March 2007, Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan ended his "prayers to Allah" in a sermon broadcast on the Palestinian Authority’s TV quoting the hadith "The Hour [of Resurrection] will not take place until the Muslims fight the Jews and the Muslims kill them, and the rock and the tree will say: 'Oh, Muslim, servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, kill him!'" Al Aqsa mosque would be "liberated" "through the rifle", since the Israeli occupation knew no other language. He asked "Jihad-fighting worshippers" in "Palestine and everywhere" and Allah to take away the oppressor Jews and Americans and their supporters!"^[71]

But Bush and Hillary want to give these people East Jurusalem, Judea and Samaria!

Genesis 12

1	Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:
2	And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3	And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Two News Stories on the killing:
First Source: Al Jazeera

Nasrallah: Hezbollah ready to fight

Nasrallah said Israel should expect 'open war' after he accused it of attacking targets outside Lebanon [AFP]
The secretary-general of Hezbollah has said that his movement is ready for open warfare with Israel, in a speech to supporters mourning the death of a senior commander.

Accusing Israel of killing Imad Moghniyeh in a car bomb blast in the Syrian capital Damascus late on Tuesday, Hassan Nasrallah said on Thursday that it had "crossed the borders".

"With this murder, its timing, location and method - Zionists [Israel] if you want this kind of open war, let the whole world listen: Let this war be open," he said.

He also said that Hezbollah fighters had started preparing for the next war immediately after the end of the 2006 war with Israel.

Imad Moghniyeh


The life of an elusive figure
Speaking in a videotaped message to supporters at the funeral service for Moghniyeh in southern Beirut, Nasrallah said: "Like all human beings we have a sacred right to defend ourselves.

"We will do all that it takes to defend our country and people."

Different visions

The speech by Nasrallah, who is in hiding after the July 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, came shortly after an event in the Lebanese capital to mark the third anniversary of the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, a former prime minister.

Security was tight in Beirut as thousands of people gathered for the two separate rallies, which highlighted the deep divisions in the country.

Leaders in the pro-government March 14 bloc had supporters in the al-Hariri commemoration to show their rejection of alleged Syrian efforts to regain influence in Lebanon.

Your Views

How can the crisis in Lebanon be overcome?

Send us your views
Hezbollah, which is supported by Syria and Iran, has led an opposition political bloc against March 14 for the past three years.

Rula Amin, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Beirut, said the rallies in Beirut advanced different visions for Lebanon.

"In the al-Hariri rally the speakers there were taking pride that it was the United States, the EU and the West that was backing them and empowering their constituency," she said.

"In the southern suburbs at the funeral for Moghniyeh there was defiance to Israel, the United States and the West in general - who consider Mogniyeh a terrorist.

"This [funeral gathering] was a strong message from Hezbollah - they wanted to show not just Israel but the March 14 leaders that they also command support on the streets."

Nasrallah vow

Moghniyeh, who was accused by the US of planning attacks on Western targets during the Lebanese civil war, was killed in by car bomb blast in Damascus on Tuesday evening.


Thousands of supporters called on Syria
to stay out of Lebanese politics [AFP]
Hezbollah has accused Israel of killing Moghniyeh, while Syria, a supporter of Hezbollah, branded the attack a "cowardly and terrorist act".
Nasrallah blamed Israel directly for Moghniyeh's death, and said that the July 2006 war with Israel was continuing, although not on a military level.

"The July war is still continuing - until now, no ceasefire has been proclaimed. This war is continuing at the political level, at the media level, at the financial and material level, at the security level," he said.

"It is supported by the same countries that supported Israel in the July war. This is why [Moghniyeh] was assassinated."

Nasrallah said that the death of Moghniyeh would only strengthen the resistance against Israel.

"Moghniyeh's blood will lead to the elimination of Israel. These words are not an emotional reaction," he said.

Amin said Nasrallah's word were "very clear" and that Lebanese people were wondering what Hezbollah would do next.

"For many Lebanese they are wondering: is this going to mean another war with Israel? Will it mean more bombings? Will they have to flee their homes again?" she said.

Israel has ordered its military, embassies and Jewish institutions around the world to increase security measures in case of revenge attacks, Israeli officials said on Thursday, on condition of anonymity.

Syria blamed

Earlier on Thursday, thousands of people attended a rally to mark the third anniversary of al-Hariri's death.

Nasrallah speech

Hezbollah ready to expand fight aginst Israel
They carried Lebanese flags and photographs of al-Hariri and other politicians and political figures killed in attacks blamed on Syria.

Al-Hariri was killed in a car bombing on Beirut's seafront in 2005, sparking mass protests and the withdrawal of Syrian troops after 29 years.

Syria denies any links to a series of killings across Lebanon in the past three years.

"In 2005 you took to the streets to force them out. In 2008 you must do the same so that they don't come back," read messages on billboards around Beirut.

In a speech to the rally, Saad al-Hariri, the former prime minister's son and the parliamentary leader of the ruling bloc, said that three years ago forces tried to "assassinate Lebanon".

"Here you are today, gathering once again, responding to the call of freedom, sovereignty and independence," he told the crowd.

Schools and universities were ordered to shut on Thursday, while most businesses were set to close as the government declared a holiday.

Staying at home

Concerns that the two events could spark unrest between opposing political supporters prompted foreign embassies to urge their citizens to observe extreme caution and avoid travel in Beirut.

The day of mourning for both the March 14 ruling bloc and its opponent Hezbollah comes amid continuing differences in Lebanese politics.

There has been a power vacuum in Lebanon since November, with opposing political factions failing to agree on a new president and the distribution of key cabinet portfolios.

Al-Hariri called for the parliamentary vote to confirm General Michel Suleiman as president, which has been postponed 14 times, to go ahead.

"We want a president for the republic," he told the rally.

Israeli denial

The Israeli prime minister's office denied allegations that it had played any role in Moghniyeh's killing.

"Israel rejects the attempts of terror elements to attribute to Israel any involvement in this incident," Ehud Olmert's office said in a statement on Wednesday.

Iran also accused Israel of carrying out the attack.

Moghniyeh is accused of involvement in the
bombing of a US embassy in 1983 [Reuters]
However, the US welcomed Moghniyeh's killing, saying that he had been responsible for many deaths.

"The world is a better place without this man in it. He was a cold-blooded killer, a mass murderer and a terrorist responsible for countless innocent lives lost," Sean McCormack, the US state department spokesman, said on Wednesday.

Also known as Hajj Radhwan, Moghniyeh was widely suspected of being behind a wave of Western hostage-taking in Lebanon in the 1980s, claims denied by Hezbollah.

According to the US and the West, he was a "top terrorist" and was involved in the bombing of the US embassy in Beirut in April 1983.

The US also claims he was involved in the killing of hundreds of US marines and French paratroopers in simultaneous truck bomb attacks in October 1983.
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

===============
And the second from Associated Press

The chief of Hezbollah told throngs of supporters at a funeral for slain commander Imad Mughniyeh his group would retaliate against Israeli targets anywhere in the world after accusing the Jewish state of killing the militant.

Israel ordered its military, embassies and Jewish institutions overseas to go on alert earlier in the day, fearing revenge attacks for the car bomb that killed Mughniyeh Tuesday night in Damascus. The former Hezbollah security chief was one of world's most wanted fugitives, accused of masterminding attacks that killed hundreds of Americans in Lebanon in the 1980s.

While Hezbollah supporters bid farewell to Mughniyeh, tens of thousands of their pro-Western political opponents filled a downtown Beirut square to mark former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's 2005 assassination. The opposing gatherings reflected Lebanon's divided soul and fearing clashes, authorities deployed thousands of troops. But by evening, there were no reports of violence.

Hezbollah and its Iranian backers blamed Israel for killing Mughniyeh but Israel denied involvement.

In a fiery, videotaped eulogy broadcast on a giant screen to tens of thousands attending the south Beirut funeral, Nasrallah said Israel had taken the fight outside the "natural battlefield" of Israel and Lebanon.

"You have crossed the borders," he said. "With this murder, its timing, location and method — Zionists, if you want this kind of open war, let the whole world listen: Let this war be open."

Thousands gathered in a hall in the Roueiss neighborhood of Beirut where Mughniyeh's coffin lay draped in a Hezbollah flag. A band played Lebanon's national anthem and the guerrilla group's anthem. Outside in the rain, tens of thousands more stood in silence.

Nasrallah — himself in hiding because of fears of assassination since the 2006 summer war with Israel — warned Israel that its alleged killing of Mughniyeh was a "very big folly" which will be avenged.

"Mughniyeh's blood will lead to the elimination of Israel. These words are not an emotional reaction," he said, drawing roars from the crowd which raised fists into the air.

Nasrallah said the killing of Mughniyeh did not weaken his organization, but rather provided an incentive for "tens of thousands" of guerrillas who stood ready to fight Israel.

Soon after he finished speaking, volleys of celebratory gunfire echoed around the city's southern suburbs.

Unlike many Middle Eastern leaders whose speeches are riddled with idle rhetorical threats, Nasrallah is known for delivering on his promises, and Israel takes his threats seriously.

In 2006, he promised to take action to free Lebanese prisoners in Israel, and in July that year, Hezbollah guerrillas staged a daring cross-border raid that snatched two Israeli soldiers as bargaining chips.

The incident triggered a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah. Early in the fighting, Nasrallah said he would have "surprises" for Israel. Days later, his fighters hit an Israeli warship off the Lebanese Mediterranean coast with Chinese-made shore-to-sea C-802 missile, the first time the group had used the weapon. The war devastated south Lebanon, but Israel and Hezbollah have not negotiated a prisoner swap.

In Washington State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said threats such as Nasrallah's are alarming.

"As a general matter, those kinds of statements are quite concerning and they should be alarming to everyone," he said. "Quite clearly, Hezbollah has a long record of carrying out violent acts and acts of terrorism around the globe. You have a pathway of violence that stretches from Buenos Aires to Kuwait and a lot of places in between."

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, who came to the funeral in Lebanon, offered condolences to the family and Mughniyeh's associates. Underlining Iran's close ties to Hezbollah, he sat between Mughniyeh's father and Hezbollah's deputy leader.

"He's not the first martyr, nor will he be the last on this path," Mottaki said, reading a statement of condolences from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with an interpreter translating into Arabic. "There will be hundreds and millions more" like him.

Mughniyeh's killing exacerbated tensions within Lebanon, a country already entrenched in a long-running political crisis that has left it without a president and with its parliament paralyzed.

As the funeral proceeded in south Beirut, across the city tens of thousands gathered in the main Martyrs' Square to commemorate the third anniversary of Hariri's assassination. The anti-Syrian rally appeared larger than the crowds at Mughniyeh's funeral, but it had been planned weeks in advance.

They braved rain and cold, waving Lebanese flags, pictures of Hariri and party banners.

Crowds also paid respects at Hariri's gravesite next to the downtown square as his brother, Shafik, unveiled a statue of the slain leader at the spot where he was killed, a few hundred yards away on a seaside boulevard. A flame was lit and a taped message broadcast from Hariri's widow, Nazek, who lives in Paris, urging against "falling into hatred" and calling on "unity to save the country."

In the square, the sound of beating drums mixed with cheers from the crowd as speakers lashed out at Syria.

Saad Hariri, leader of the parliamentary majority and the late premier's son, launched a scathing attack against the Syrian government. But he spared Hezbollah and its opposition allies, apparently in deference to the funeral. He even reached out to the opposition, saying: "Our hand will remain extended no matter what difficulties and conspiracies there are."

He also called for the election of a president in parliament, accusing Syria of obstructing the choice since November through its Lebanese allies.

When Hariri alluded to Mughniyeh's funeral on the other side of the city, the crowd booed.

"He fell under the eyes of the Syrian regime," he said of Mughniyeh, adding sarcastically: "God knows better."

Druse leader Walid Jumblatt, a sharp critic of Hezbollah, said the government will not succumb to opposition efforts to deliver Lebanon "to the Iranian-Syrian black evil world." Jumblatt accused the "treacherous regime" of Syrian President Bashar Assad of killing Mughniyeh.

Suleiman Abu Ezzedine, 35, holding an umbrella, said he left work to come to "remind that we are the majority. We want justice, truth and peace."

Hariri's supporters blame Syria for killing the prominent politician in a massive suicide truck bombing in Beirut and for a series of bombings and assassinations since. Hariri's killing ignited mass protests and international pressure that forced Syria to withdraw its army from Lebanon after 29 years of control.

The State Department said the anniversary was "a reminder to the world and the people of Lebanon about the sacrifices that many around the world and in Lebanon are making to build a strong democratic state." Spokesman McCormack said the U.S. supports those who want to build a Lebanon "independent and unfettered by foreign interference."

Authorities deployed some 8,000 troops and policemen to protect the Hariri rally. Armored vehicles took up positions on major intersections, and additional razor wire was brought in to separate the two sides. But there was no sign of violence by evening.

Amid fears of street violence, the U.S. Embassy encouraged Americans in Lebanon to limit all but essential travel Thursday.

Mughniyeh was on the FBI's list of most wanted terrorists, and the U.S. had offered a $5 million bounty for information leading to his arrest or conviction. He was indicted in the U.S. for his role in planning the 1985 hijacking of a TWA airliner in which a U.S. Navy diver was killed.

He was also accused of carrying out or directing a series of spectacular attacks, including engineering the suicide bombings of the U.S. Marines barracks and two embassy compounds in Beirut in 1983-84.

A total of about 260 Americans were killed in those attacks. Mughniyeh was also believed to be the mastermind behind the kidnappings of Americans and other Westerners in Beirut in the 1980s. Israel and Argentine prosecutors accused Mughniyeh of involvement in the 1992 and 1994 bombings of the Israeli embassy and a Jewish center in Buenos Aires, attacks that killed more than 100 people.

He vanished in the early 1990s, reportedly undergoing plastic surgery and moving between Lebanon, Syria and Iran on fake passports.

___

Associated Press Writer Steve Weizman contributed to this report from Jerusalem.