Filed under: Peace and Love
The Word of God was intended to be a light to the nations.
The Word of God is alive and lived.
. The Word of God is Earth, it is in Heaven.
The Word of God is in everything and everywhere.
The religious dogmatist who says “God is only with them”
Deny the omnipresence of God
Christians have fought and killed each other for centuries arguing whose church is right and
whose is false.
Shiite and Sunni Muslims have also been killing each other centuries also.
Every one will know no the absolute truth of things when Heaven decides to send our long awaited Messiah.
Behave with righteousness, integrity, morals and character, then you are acting as a child of God.
You will be judged based upon what is in your heart and the works your hands, and
not by what is in your head.
Every religious tradition speaks about Judgment as being a review of our deeds, not
our theology!
When the Messiah comes we can all gather around him and he will answer all our questions.
But, until that blessed hour comes, maybe we should all gather together as a community of righteous souls and support one another. For regardless of our differences, what unites us is even greater.
Peace
Filed under: aretz israel, Great Days, messiah redemption, Peace and Love, redemption messiah, Succot, The Temple
” All the nations of the earth shall gather about Jerusalem ”. (12:3)
The Radak tells us that they shall be destroyed through this. The prophet Zechariah explains the destruction further:
“ The nations that siege Jerusalem, their flesh shall waste away while he stands on his feet, his eyes shall waste away in their sockets, so too his tongue ”. (14:2)
Concerning the future of Edom, the inheritors of the Roman Empire, the Prophet Daniel states:
The fourth beast will be consumed in fire ”. (7:11)
The prophet Daniel states:
“Egypt will not be a survivor ” (11:42)
Concerning Amon (Jordan) the prophet Jeremiah states:
“ Amon shall become a desolate mound. Its villages shall be burnt with fire. Israel shall possess those who have possessed their possessions says YHVH ”. (49:2)
Concerning Damascus (Syria) Jeremiah states:
“Damascus shall be consumed in fire, no one shall live there ”. (49:23)
From the words of the Prophet Jeremiah we can see a bit of to what extent Jews and gentiles alike are going to change :
” At that time they shall call Jerusalem the thrown of YHVH and all the nations shall be gathered to it. To the name of YHVH to Jerusalem, Nor shall they walk anymore after the stubbornness of Their evil heart ” (3:17)
The Radak says no longer will Yisrael or the nations walk after their stubborn hearts, which refers to the hardening of the heart. Metsudat David says at the Thrown of Hashem Jerusalem they shall see the Shechinah. In the Talmud in tractate Bava Batra1, Rabba said in the name of Rav Yochanan, in the future the Holy One will lift up Jerusalem three parsa high, but the sages say it will be lifted up to the space equal to that which it occupies. At that time Jerusalem shall not be as today. As in the future only those invited will be able to go up. Also looking at the words of the prophet Micah we can see how all the nations come to recognize that Hashem dwells in Israel :
” In the last days it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of YHVH shall be established on the top of the mountains. It shall be exulted on the top of the hills. Peoples Shall stream towards it. The nations shall say come let us go to the mountain of YHVH the house of the God of Jacob. He shall teach us His ways and we shall walk in His paths. For the Torah shall go out from Zion and the word of YHVH from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples and shall decide concerning the strong nations afar off. They shall beat Their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift sword against nation. Nor shall they learn war anymore, Each man shall sit under His vine or Fig tree. None shall make Them afraid for the mouth of YHVH TSVAOT has spoken it. (4:1-4)
The Radak tells us all the gentiles will say to their friends let us go to Jerusalem, and go up to the house of Hashem. The Metsudat David says they will go up to Jerusalem to learn the Torah. The Messiah will be the ruler on all the peoples, and there will no longer be war among the nations, as He will make peace between them. We have seen how all the nations will be effected by Divine revelation, yet even after all this it appears that there shall be a few stragglers Who will need more persuasion as we see in the Prophesy of Zechariah:
” And it shall come to pass that everyone that is left of all the nations Who come against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the living king YHVH TSVAOT , and to keep the feast of Succoth and whoever does not come up of all the families of the Earth to Jerusalem to worship the king YHVH TSVAOT, upon them there shall be no rain ” (14:16-17)
The Radak says, those of the nations that are left after the war will turn to Hashem with all of their Heart. The war will happen in the time of Succoth. The nations shall see the wonders of Hashem. If they do not go up the nation’s land will not have rain.
Rabbi Yochanan informs us in Midrash Rabbah2 concerning the Song of Songs that Jerusalem in the time to come will extend as far as Damascus. allowing room to accommodate many. From the words of the Prophet Isaiah we see that over all the effect of the work of Messiah will be wide spread:
” And it shall be in the last days that the Mountain of the house of YHVH shall be established on the top of the mountains and be exulted above the hills. All the nations shall flow into it. Many peoples will shall go up and flow into it and say come let us go up to the mountain of YHVH to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, and we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the Torah and the word of YHVH from Jerusalem. He shall judge the people among the nations and decide among many people. They shall beat their sword into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks, nation shall not lift sword against nation neither shall they learn war any more ” (2:2-4)
The Radak tells us all the places where the expression ’last days’ appears, refers to days of Messiah. Messiah shall rebuild the Holy Temple. The Metsudat David says all the nations will come to learn the Torah. The Radak says Messiah will resolve conflicts between nations so they will not war. The nations will come to Jerusalem to receive the Torah. This is the judgements of Messiah. Rabbi Eleazer said in the future The Temple shall be raised up and renewed. Its gates that are buried in the Earth shall be renewed and everyone will go to this place, and to the gate of the inner court that turned to the east. Rabbi Pinchas said in the future the waters of the well will ascend from the threshold of the Temple they will overflow and bubble over making twelve streams corresponding to the twelve tribes. As it is written ” He brought me back to the door of the house and behold waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward. For waters came down from the right side of the house, on the south side of the alter ” (Ezekiel 47:1). The waters ascended the brook of Kidron and flowed down the Jordan by Jericho. Every field and vineyard that does not yield fruit people will water them with those waters, and then they shall yield fruit. Then the waters shall enter the Salt Sea and heal it. Then water shall then go to the sea generating many kinds of fish and these fish shall be as sweet as Manna. These fish shall then ascend as far as Jerusalem to be caught in nets. Upon the bank of the stream shall grow all kinds of trees bearing every month new fruit. The fruit shall be food, and the leaf for healing. All who are ill who bathe in these waters will be Healed. Rabbi Yochanan says the healing leaves will aid digestion.3 Concerning these waters the Prophet Zechariah states ” It will come to pass in this day living waters shall go out from Jerusalem ” (14:8). Concerning this it teaches in Midrash Sedar Ikerim that twelve rivers shall go out from Jerusalem, all the trees on the river shall produce fruit each month. As it say ” From all the trees you will eat ” (Ezekiel 47:12). In the future Hashem will raise the well of Miriam. During the time of the revelation of this Divine glory there shall be no more wars as the Prophet Ezekiel reveals:
” They that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth and set fire to the weapons and burn them shield, buckler, bow, and arrow staves and spears. They shall make fire with them for seven years ” (34:9)
1. 1Talmud Tractate Bava Batra 74b
1. 2Midrash Rabba, Song of Songs
The God rides the Great “Markava” (Chariot) , man the small. Hashem creates a “path” for the world to be in. Man is his small “Markava” can take the world to the left or right of this God given path. He has been given the power to draw down all kinds of Blessings for himself and the world. But he must learn how to work the “Markava’s” controls. How to direct the ship of the world. The sages say all blessings are contained in “peace”. Yet, it can be elusive it one thinks they have it when they do not. Or when one is not searching at all. It has a infinate quality, as “Shalom” is a Divine name. It can not be said in a unclean place. As we will see to have peace one must Love.
