Bible Study Seattle

“For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”  Matthew 12:8

“ Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”  Daniel 9:26-27

Daniel’s prophecy has multiple fulfillments, but it is implied that Messiah will be cut off in the middle of the week.  Jesus most likely rose before dawn on the Sabbath, not Sunday.  He was crucified and died 3pm Wednesday, the middle of the week.  He was dead part of a day Wednesday, a full day Thursday and Friday, Thursday night, Friday night, and at least part of Sabbath night.  This satisfies the prophecy of Jonah.  We don’t know exactly when Jesus rose.  This is probably for our benefit.  Since resurrecting will happen for at least 500 years, that covers a long part of that ‘Day’.  But the firstborn will rise first.  There is more than one resurrection:

“Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection.”  Hebrews 11:35

We know that there will be a heavenly resurrection and an earthly one.  Heaven is the better resurrection.

March 29, 2015 was Palm Sunday.  Friday is celebrated as the execution day, and Sunday April 5 is celebrated as the resurrection.  Scripture demands that Jesus be crucified Nisan 14.  The lambs were to be chosen Nisan 10.  If Friday was the crucifixion day, then it would’ve had to have been Palm Monday.  Furthermore Jesus said he would fulfill the sign of Jonah: three days and nights in the heart of the earth.  Even if we allow for partial days or nights, that still requires at least 2.1 days in the grave.  Scripture is clear that Jesus died about 3pm.  That means he couldn’t have risen till after 3pm Sunday!  Nobody proposes that Jesus rose that late.  Therefore the traditional Friday to Sunday scenario is impossible.  Scripture doesn’t explicitly state when Jesus rose.  Some propose that he rose with the earthquake of the angel rolling away the stone.  We can’t know.

“And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulcher, and lo, there came a great earthquake, for a messenger of the Lord, having come down out of heaven, having come, did roll away the stone from the door, and was sitting upon it, and his countenance was as lightning, and his clothing white as snow, and from the fear of him did the keepers shake, and they became as dead men.”  Matthew 28:1-4

It seems that the earthquake and appearances like lightning were to scare away the guards so the angels could talk to the women without interference.  (Although it seems the angels could of made fast work of the guards if they chose to fight.)  There is some controversy what day this was, although the traditional understanding is Sunday morning.  To get 2.1 days from Sunday morning requires Jesus to have died Thursday at 3pm.  That would make Nisan 10 a Sunday.  But Jesus could’ve rose on the Sabbath.  Then the crucifixion was Wednesday and Nisan 10 was also a Sabbath.

Some will say, “Who cares!”  But it matters for typology.  If we want to see how and when our resurrection might be, we need to know as many details as we can about Jesus resurrection.

“You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.

“ For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.  Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.  Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.  We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.  Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.”  1 John 3:11-15

This shows that’s impossible for sinful people to have eternal life.  The eternal life must wait till the next life because everyone has a least a minute trace of hate in them.

“O people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you.  Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher.  Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.”  Isaiah 30:19-21

Many people of faith would love to hear a direct word from God.  Few do.  But at the resurrection people will hear the voice of the Teacher Jesus.  Can you imagine?  How many people will deny the existence of God then?

Some people are in the habit of ‘changing their mind’.  That’s ok as long as it doesn’t break a promise.  Some of them will counter that they did not promise anything, they just said something.  But if the other person agrees, they have indeed promised.  If a person says, “We can go tomorrow to pick out your birthday present,” and then tomorrow says, “I’m too tired,” it will certainly hurt the other person’s feelings, unless they agree that they also don’t want to go.

The most galling aspect is people who routinely break promises but expect others to keep theirs.  The golden rule applies: treat others as you would be treated.  Those who do not keep promises are arrogant and selfish.  Jesus himself said, “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.”. Matthew 5:37

He could’ve said, “Let your 5 o’clock be 5 o’clock.”  I’ve heard people say that Jesus’ statement doesn’t apply to being on time!  Such is the attitude of Pharisees: always splitting hairs in arguments.

The key is always seeing if harm is done to a relationship or a person.

Living with an unrepentant spouse is difficult.  Even if it’s not at the level of adultery.  They could be lying to you about something that’s important and refuse to have an honest discussion.  They refuse to take an honest look at both sides of the issue.  Maybe just to save face.  No humility.  Sometimes this is our cross.

“You shall not give any of your offspring to offer them to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God; I am the Lord.”  Leviticus 18:21

All verses of chapter 18 prior to this are immoral heterosexual relations.  All verses after verse 21 are immoral non heterosexual relations.  Today when there is an unwanted child, abortion is often chosen.  Thousands of years ago child sacrifice was often chosen.  God hates both.

The story of Jacob finding a wife seems prophetic.  Leah seems to represent Israel, to which Jacob was first tricked into marrying.  Then he gets to marry Rachel (the church).  Then after Joseph is born, he works at leaving Laban his deceitful uncle (Satan?).  Through shrewd mating, he separates the sheep and the goats(?).  He gets three days separation.  (Three thousand years?).  An interesting discussion of this:   http://www.patheos.com/blogs/kermitzarleyblog/2013/06/jacob-a-type-of-jesus-two-advents/