(Last Revised 10/4/24)
Concerning the Creator
- First and foremost, there is an Intelligent Designer and Creator / Maker of the natural world & its natural inhabitants and a Life Source from which all breath & spirit comes. I accept the notion that these are comprised in one entity, and I refer to this Being as the Creator and my Heavenly Father.
- This Creator set in place both natural & spiritual laws and established an order to it all, employing a natural consequence system, and thereby created a universal Justice System.
Concerning the Bible
- The Bible is a compilation of texts written by a series of men over the course of many generations.
- The Bible presents the Creator as God, and more specifically, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who desires fellowship with mankind. And it explains how that fellowship comes to be over the course of its many parts (various texts).
- The Bible is not the inerrant Word of God, but it contains wisdom and valuable instructions & lessons for life from which we all may benefit.
The Old Testament
Concerning the Torah (or Pentateuch), a.k.a. the Law
- The story of Creation found in Genesis 1 is not meant to be an accurate explanation of how the world we inhabit came into being. Rather, it is put forth to lay a foundation of knowledge & understanding for the rest of the book.
- The stories of Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel, Noah & the Flood, and the Tower of Babel are not meant to be accurate depictions of historical figures and events. These early stories are also designed & purposed to lay a foundation of knowledge & understanding for the rest of the book.
- The stories of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob are not necessarily accurate depictions of the actions and events described therein. Rather, they were written to form a particular back story for the biological household of Jacob, also known as “the twelve tribes of Israel”.
These stories present particular insight & hope for the physical descendants of Jacob. And they provide information to utilize in understanding events that would unfold throughout the book. - The teachings & instructions found in Exodus through Deuteronomy, were specifically for those covenanted with the Creator as their God who had been delivered out of Egypt & for their offspring who would eventually be brought into the Promised Land to keep/guard/obey. (Any beneficial lessons people can glean from those teachings & instructions today are a blessing.)
Concerning the Remainder, a.k.a. the Prophets & the Writings
- The remaining content of the Old Testament largely tells the story of the descendants of Jacob, commonly referred to as “Israel”, who lived from the time of their entrance into the Promised Land up until several centuries prior to the common era.
(Please note: This is not the same Israel as the nation state by the same name currently situated in the Middle East today.) - In these latter stories promises are made by God to reunite Israel, establish a new covenant with the whole house of Israel, and anoint a particular Seed of David to sit on David’s throne, whose kingdom would endure.
The New Testament
Concerning the Gospels
- The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John primarily feature Jesus (Yeshua), who is identified as a biological descendant of King David (from the tribe of Judah, of the house of Israel) by way of his parents, Joseph & Mary, living in the first century CE.
- Jesus/Yeshua is the Prophet like unto Moses and the anticipated Messiah/Christ (an anointed Man over men by his Maker), about whom was prophesied in the Old Testament.
- Jesus/Yeshua prophesied the destruction of the temple standing at that time and the fall of Jerusalem would take place in that generation. And these two events did — in 70 AD.
- When Jesus/Yeshua said the Son of Man, referring to himself, would be coming in the clouds of heaven with power & great glory and there would be the gathering of the elect from the four winds, it was a carrot of hope for the future of those living in that day.
Concerning the Acts of the Apostles & the Various Letters
- The book of Acts and the various letters contained in the New Testament were all penned between the time of Jesus’/Yeshua’s death and the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. They were written to specific audiences that lived in that day. They were not written to us in the modern age.
- References made in these texts to “the last days“ were referring to the time period in which they were written up until the fall of Jerusalem: between 33-70 AD.
Concerning the Book of Revelation
- The book of Revelation was written prior to 70 AD and largely pointed towards the events that led up to and transpired in 70 AD.
- John’s vision of the Son of Man coming in the clouds & the gathering of the elect and a new heaven and a new earth, was referencing back to the words of Jesus/Yeshua and essentially indicates, “and they live happily ever after“.
Again, this was written for those living in the first century to prepare them for the hard times that were coming in & around Jerusalem and to encourage them to keep the commandments of their God & to keep the faith in the testimony of their Messiah.
Concerning the Current Age
- The Heaven & the Earth, which we currently inhabit, is the Creator’s Kingdom, and He, being the Supreme Being is the King of it all (the Universe).
- Mankind who abides by the Spirit of our Creator are considered to be His children, figuratively speaking. We have been given dominion upon this earth, and we are empowered & equipped by His Spirit to rule ourselves on it.
- There are Powers-That-Shouldn’t-Be in this world who aim to bring harm upon the earth & upon its inhabitants, particularly upon mankind.
- We, who abide by the Spirit of our Creator are the Powers-That-Should-Be, and the future of what takes place on this earth is in our hands.
If any of these points intrigues or resonates with you, please read some of my recent blog posts and check out my recent Bible Study newsletters and consider subscribing to read more going forward.
And/or if you’d like to talk with me, please send an email to Carrie-at-Messyanic-dot-com.
