As it was mentioned before: Let us now discover who "the man who is close to me:" "
It's been established in the previous article that the foreigner is NOT Erano at all. Let's move on.
"Strike the Shepherd
"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
against the man who is close to me!"
declares the LORD Almighty.
"Strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered,
and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
Zechariah 13:7 (NIV)
Why is it mentioned "the man who is close to me?"
Maestro Evangelista explains, the "man" that is mentioned is the one to be sent by God as it is prophesied in:
So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this,
"Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
Genesis 3:14 (NIV)
After the Temptation in the Garden, God did not allow the serpent to go unpunished, but one question comes to mind when it was said to the serpent - "You will crawl on your belly" - meaning, the serpent had feet before! So the deceiver was able to tempt Eve because it came to her in the form of the serpent hiding its true identity. If the serpent will deceive Eve in its true form, will Eve be deceived by it?
It's a given that Genesis 3:15 is a reference to Satan's further destruction at the hands of Jesus. and of course the subject of Zechariah 13:7 has been covered here: http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/an-examination-of-prophecy-of-good_28.html
Eve was already deceived the moment she even listened to the serpent and thus had fallen into his snare.
The reason why we are also deceived in the course of history is that we never knew the forms "the Deceiver" has taken.
What is the true identity of “the deceiver” or the serpent in the Holy Bible?
Maestro Eraño M. Evangelista says, let us read about it:
The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan,
who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Revelation 12:9 (NIV)
Now for the first time, the serpent has been exposed as the dragon, the Devil and Satan. The last revelation will be the identity of the "angels of Satan". This is one of the revelations that Maestro will give us as we go along in this reading:
And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel."
Genesis 3:15 (NIV)
The struggle between the serpent and the woman is not yet over. Since Adam and Eve lost their place in the Garden of Eden, God gives their offspring the chance to regain it, by defeating the Serpent and its angels; to be able to return to the Garden of Eden.
But the serpent will try to defeat her offspring. This is the mission: “the foreigner” will be the "offspring of the woman" prophesied to defeat or “crush” the head of the serpent and to prepare the way again to the Garden of Eden. Is it true?"
There is no foreigner from the Philippines who will destroy Satan what so ever and only Christ was able to deal a fatal blow to Satan. No man has the ability to even strive against Satan unless Christ has granted that grace to them. The Angels of Satan are those angels who, well you already know they follow Satan, they wouldn't of been called such if they didn't follow Satan.
"The next revelation: Who is the "offspring of the Serpent" and the "offspring of the woman?"
Let us return to:
"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!"
declares the LORD Almighty. "Strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered,
and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
Zechariah 13:7 (NIV)
Why "the man who is close to me?" - Because this "man" was prophesied by God to fulfill a mission.
"shepherd" - the man, Jesus.
"sheep" - the apostles
"little ones" - the religions who have followed the teachings of the apostles and Jesus!
What will happen to them?
In the whole land," declares the LORD,
"two-thirds will be struck down and perish;
yet one-third will be left in it.
Zechariah 13:8 (NIV)
Who will remain?
This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold. They will call on my name
and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,'
and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.' "
Zechariah 13:9 (NIV)
It is now clear that the new people are no longer the descendants of the "woman" – from the "second creation."
The houses of Judah and Israel are the people of God before. Now as it is prophesied, (also in Jeremiah 31:26-28), all are invited to be God's people, provided they will recognize God, call on His Name and return to Him. "
In the original context of Zechariah 13, many Israelites have been subject to God's judgement and as a result have perished by different means, with a rightous remnant remaining. In light of a Messianic context, Jesus is crushed as fortold by Isaiah 53 and Daniel 9, but it is not for himself, but is actually on others behalf and he bares their sins. The rightous remnant of Israel survive and come to faith in the Messiah and are refined and made the people of God through the cleansing of their sins. As for this nonsense of first and second creation that Erano keeps spouting, feel free to re-read my previous articles. and also Zechariah 13 is already covered here: http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/an-examination-of-prophecy-of-good_28.html
Even if the disciples are judged for a time and repent, this wouldn't prove Erano's assertion that "the religions" as he calls them will lead the whole world astray.
"How was Jesus considered as the "man close" to God?
Maestro Evangelista says, Jesus was sent by God to continue and show to his people the way to salvation by introducing them the Name of God, which can be found written in the house built by Solomon. In turn his people can call on the Name of God, and God will answer them and will show God's Salvation to the people.
Let us again read the prophecy regarding the coming of Jesus...
Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to
try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also?
Isaiah 7:13 (NIV)
The promise given in the Garden concerning the coming of an offspring of a woman was being fulfilled by God to His people.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be
with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)
Jesus is the man that is tasked to introduce the Name of God to his people. The name "Immanuel" means "God is with us" , in other words, God is already known by the people.
But as God sends his servants, the blessing and curse are given due to "free will".
He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough
to reject the wrong and choose the right.
Isaiah 7:15 (NIV)
"honey" - sweet, meaning he will be instructed by God with the true teaching...
"knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right" - because God knows that he comes from a people who are rebellious; and thus, a condition was given.
As it was also said, that if he is successful he will be called by his people as "son of God" and he will be given the privilege to call God as "Father," the prophecy is in II Samuel 7:14.
Why will he only be called as "son of God?"
Maestro Evangelista says, we all know in reality, God cannot have a son and it is also true with “the serpent” or Satan, he cannot have a son.
What were the prophecy and the mission of Jesus?
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins."
Matthew 1:21 (NIV)
If Jesus was successful in his mission, he will be called the name "Immanuel", meaning "God is with us". His people may return to the Garden of Eden, a life full of blessings from God.
Jesus was indeed successful, his mission was to pay the price for our sin that we couldn't pay and bring us into reconciliation with God and only through him we are able to go to heaven. Also, for Erano to say that "God cannot have a son" is rather a disturbing statement. Let me be clear however that God doesn't have sex with humans to have a son, that is blasphemy even to Christians, not just to Jews. God has SPIRITUAL sons, for example Israel is called God's firstborn son (Exodus 4:22) and Jesus himself is affirmed as the Son of God by his own disciples, especially Peter in Matthew 16. Jesus is also called God's ONLY UNIQUE Son in John 3:16.
Also, considering that Jesus' mission in the verse Erano quoted is to save his people from their sins, this refutes his notion that Jesus death was a result of his failure. Considering that Jesus was faithful to the end, he is worthy of having the coronation of the Messianic Kingdom in 2 Samuel 7:14.
To be successful, does he know that it is his mission?
He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
Matthew 15:24 (NIV)
Yes, he knew his specific mission, to save only his own people, not the people of the world. He was not sent by God to the people of the world.
Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but he wasn't ONLY sent to them. For that matter in the context, he was contrasting the Pharisee's attitude to the Gentiles WITH HIS attitude to them. Jesus' statement in verse 24 is his demonstration of the PHARISEE'S attitude to Gentiles, NOT HIS OWN.
"Matthew 15:21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment."
The fact he later COMMENDS the Gentile woman for her faith demonstrates that Jesus genuinely cared for Gentiles and desired their salvation as well as the salvation of his own people.
Let us read if he had succeeded in his mission?
The chief priests and our rulers handed him over
to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;
Luke 24:20 (NIV)
He was crucified, but was he able to save his people?
but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.
And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.
Luke 24:21 (NIV)
He failed in his mission. What were the events that made him fail in his mission?"
Let's actually QUOTE the context. Note carefully what I have highlighted:
"13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”"
Notice in the context, the people believed that the Messiah was NEVER to die, however, Jesus corrects their notion and points out the men that the Messiah HAD to suffer, die and be raised to life. Rather than fail in his mission, Jesus points out that his death is in fact PART AND PARCEL of his mission and he enlightens the men. Thus Erano's argument is not supported by the Biblical text.
He then goes onto Luke 4 to actually try to misuse the text to attack Jesus, which is a point he makes in another article which I have already addressed here: http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-true-authority-and-true-glory-of.html.
More arguments shall be addressed in another article.
Answering Judaism.
No comments:
Post a Comment