Judeo- Christianity In Panorama

[Ahbleza]

PART I :

Judeo- Christianity In Panorama

The following is one of THE MOST IMPORTANT Jewish Institutions :

The Hebrew Calendar is a Solar- Lunar Calendar. The length of year varies, but is brought into line with the seasons by referencing certain Holy Day markers with the Autumnal Equinox. The monthly aspect closely though not precisely follows the New Moon/ Full Moon cycles. The Holy Days reflect the character of the Calendar in that they are determined both by Solar Seasonal and Monthly occurrences and dates. It has the famous Seven Day Week feature of many Near Eastern Calendars. The Day itself begins at Sunset, with 6 PM sometimes adopted as a geographical or modern/ business adaptation. The Holy Rest Day is of course the Sabbath, a memorial of the Seventh Day of Creation, Friday evening to Saturday evening. Annual Holy Days begin and end likewise.

Today, the Hebrew Calendar is generally a predetermined institution established in advance by astronomical calculation. ( That Astronomical Calendar, when taken one year at a time, has a base structure of rules which can be learned without too much difficulty and with very minimal calculation; it is the extended calendar which, when accounting for solar seasonal drift, MUST be intricately calculated. ) However, it is believed that at some time in the past the Calendar was decided month by month by direct observation of the first faint crescent of the New Moon, giving an inherent one or two day monthly variation or discrepancy between observers. Thus, some of the more careful or strict Jewish sects allocate TWO DAYS for each of certain of the Holiest Days assuring certainty in the timing of that Holy Day Observance. Other devout Jews may choose only one of those two consecutive days on which to be observant. They take for granted these variations in one another’s traditions, generally.

Another MOST IMPORTANT Jewish Institution :

The Jewish People are known as “ The People of the Book “ for a very clear and important reason : Their entire culture today and their very existence as a DISTINCT NATION through time, it could be argued, can be traced to the careful preservation of THEIR ANCIENT WRITINGS !

It is conceivable that their earliest records started out as an ORAL TRADITION passed down from generation to generation. But, rather soon in their history, it is clear that several important editors of major influence emerged as keepers of knowledge and tradition in written form. I take it upon myself to state categorically that one of the earliest of these was Joseph, son of Jacob- Israel, Benevolent Overlord in Ancient Egypt. He had acquired and did have FULL ACCESS TO ALL ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE OF ANY AND ALL IMAGINABLE DESCRIPTION WHATSOEVER, REST ASSURED FULLY ! There was virtually no ancient field of knowledgeable endeavour outside of his direct or indirect grasp, or outside of his potential grasp, if the need arose. His wisdom is demonstrably tantamount to that of King Solomon of Israel's Descendents, about six hundred years hence. ( How a thing begins and how a foundation is laid IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ! )

He and his father's family transferred to Goshen within the Nile Delta were the national cultural seed first planted from which Israel took root in the increasingly worldly and the ultimately challenging adverse conditions in Egypt.

Moses is a well known editor and author and writer of the ancient Israelite records. It would appear that his own position in Egypt was somewhat lower than but similar to that of Joseph's, about four hundred years earlier. Moses came to experience some forty years of life in Egypt, and left for a time as Israel's conditions grew worse, only to return suddenly and synchronistically to Egypt in the midst of the most fantastic and fortuitous series of national and natural disasters ( at the massive detonation of the volcano Thera on the island of Santorini in the Eastern Mediterranean ). Israel and Moses JUMPED AT THIS UTTERLY UNBELIEVABLE, DIVINELY ORDAINED, ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO ESCAPE WHILE EGYPT WAS IN THIS NOW WEAKENED STATE !

This fact stands today as an absolutely proven certainty !

Joshua, a likely relay or writer and editor, began the long period of national evolution whose developments and advances paralleled that of all the contemporary tribal nations of Canaan. The fruits of this cultural evolution in the Near East resulted in the establishment of early Nation- States, the real beginnings of what we call Western or Indo- European Civilization.

Samuel the Prophet appears to have been the acknowledged keeper in this age of another transition : King Saul over Israel was that link between Israel's last tribal chieftain and her first real KING and political KINGDOM. The legendary Dynasty of King David Son of Jesse of Bethlehem of Judah begins with the personal and political collapse of Saul's Party. Saul unhappily was not a spiritually inclined individual : we can only pity him. But King David of Jesse used every opportunity to lay a stable foundation FOR REGIONAL EMPIRE, in faith, never wavering from belief that it could be brought into being ! His own son, Solomon of David, ABSOLUTELY DID SO !
So that, Solomon's Kingdom was the historically full and real fulfillment of the national promises of greatness for Abraham's descendants.

But company was coming : Empires grew and devoured one another only to reformulate in a repeating and usually predictable pattern in the regions adjacent to Israel : North Africa, Tigris- Euphrates Valley, Asia Minor, even the Eastern Mediterranean and East Africa and India. Her former STRENGTHS were turned against her AS WEAKNESSES by combined devouring, opportunistic enemy vultures. Economic, Political and Social Stressors impinged quickly and increasingly heavily upon Israel, which induced a polarization catalyzed by the death of Solomon, wherein the now overinstitutionalized Nation of Israel literally SPLIT IN TWO, each part, the North and the South obtaining a different destiny from that time to this. IT IS THE EXISTENCE OF THE PRESENTLY KNOWN IDENTITY OF WHO WE KNOW AS I S R A E L WHICH IS FULLY ACCOUNTED FOR BY THE SPIRITUAL AND REAL HISTORICAL CONNECTION MAINTAINED BY THEM AND THEIR SOUTHERN ANCESTORS, but which spiritual and real historical relationship and connection was entirely LOST to their Northern Brothers, who themselves are actually unknown to this day, as well !

Ezra the Scribe began the time of Semi- Independence for Israel as THE AGE OF VASSAL STATEHOOD for Israel commenced.
( Modern Israel itself continues that condition today as an established vassal of the United States of America and as a semi- vassal of the European Community of Nations and of Russia and of the United Nations. DO NOT BELIEVE OTHERWISE ! )
This period begins with Ezra and Nehemiah and King Cyrus of Persia around 500 B.C.E. and ENDS in 70 A.D. with the scattering of the power of this Holy People by ROME once and for all ( OR SO IT WAS THOUGHT ).
It is important at this point to state categorically THAT ONE MAN was actually responsible, one individual gets the credit for the miraculous DELAY of Israel's final scattering, DELAYED FOR EXACTLY ONE GENERATION, FORTY YEARS, FROM A.D. 30 TO A.D. 70 !
For Rome should have impatiently SMASHED Israel, Judea, Jerusalem and Galilee in the years between 25 and 33 A.D.
But political opportunists ON ALL SIDES in 30- 31 A.D. gleefully took advantage of a scapegoat fortuitously at hand !
They extracted the price IN FULL PAYMENT from the living flesh and blood of this scapegoat ! WHO COULD THAT BE ? His death at all hands in authority TEMPORARILY DEFUSED A MOUNTING SOCIO- POLITICO-MILITARY CRISIS ! I WONDER ! ?

One more clue : some of his purported followers historically have taught the exact opposite : that Rome ultimately DESTROYED ISRAEL AS A RESULT OF the coming and the events surrounding the presence of this man. Ironies never cease !

Ezra, all agree, did the final compilation, editing and transfer of all Canonized Hebrew Scripture. Prophets and seers working during the Israelite and Judean captivities, and during the Vassal Statehood Period all could see the way the world was going : Western Civilization was slowly evolving and even transferring itself geographically according to the Balance of Economic Centers, northwesterly from the Near and Middle East, to the Eastern Mediterranean, to Southeastern Europe, to South Central Europe, to Western and Central Europe, frankly simply following the balance of advancing economic- geographical- cultural- contact frontiers. These seers simply understood the way of all human social systems as do any Elders from whatever Tribe they may be Citizens in all of God's Earth ! For some Reason, it seems that this North- Westerly motion of Western Civilization has continued unabated on this planet for the past three thousand five hundred years ! To continue, its center moving for a time into the British Isles and then obviously into North America. Does anyone know what is the next North- Westerly Frontier we hunger for or do covet ?
Would that New Frontier BE OFF THE PLANET ? There MUST BE THAT FRONTIER, FOR THIS IS ISRAEL'S AND HUMANITY'S DESTINY !
For YHVH STILL REMEMBERS HIS FRIEND ABRAHAM, HE CAN NEVER FORGET ! HAS SUFFICIENT TIME AND SPACE PASSED OVER THE WATERFALLS OR BLOWN BY IN THE BREEZE ? HAVE THE GLACIERS CUT DOWN ENOUGH MOUNTAIN LANDS, AND HAVE VOLCANOES BUILT ENOUGH ISLANDS TO MAKE HIM FORGET ? IF YOU DO NOT KNOW, JUST ASK JOB !
Or better, ASK ABRAHAM, His Own Friend ! !
( CONTINUED )

[Ahbleza]

Part II :

Judeo- Christianity In Panorama

For the real roots of the Nation of Israel stem from the lifetime of their Patriarch Abraham, not in Moses. Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried in a cave location in HEBRON, just south of Jerusalem. THIS is the one who had the very special Friendship with the One called YHVH.
Abraham originated as a citizen of the Sumerian Kingdom of the Near East. His life and potential were greatly expanded when he followed the call to leave the institutionally oriented but controlling and constricting civilization of his youthful experiences. He was educated, as you might imagine. And it appears he was singled out as the One who is named YHVH took a special interest in him, though we might imagine that it was really a two- way street, their relationship, I mean. So that he was marked out for a very special reason, and his descendants stand today as a people marked out throughout time. It has every evidence of being the purpose and intent of this YHVH that THERE WOULD BE A MARKER LEFT BEHIND ON THIS PARTICULAR PLANET, Yahweh's own reference point given to human civilization evidencing His own continued and continuing involvement in human affairs. And I do not mean a particular BOOK; I do not mean even a particular human culture or a people PER SE. It is just that Abraham's own descendants DO EVIDENCE AND MEMORIALIZE THE EXISTENCE AND LIFE OF ABRAHAM HIMSELF ! ! SO, THEY REALLY OUGHT TO HONOR HIM AND LIVE AS HE LIVED ! What better purpose could this Abraham's memorial descendants be given ? I truly believe every evidence is that this One YHVH intended to designate ABRAHAM AS A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL.

MORE Important Jewish Institutions :

The Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the later Temples were similar structurally in pattern and layout and even more similar in function as ceremonial centers. The general pattern is one of increasing Holiness and Sanctity as one enters from East to West through well defined zones of attribute. But it would be more accurate to say that the East- West increase in Sanctity and nearness to the Divine would better be described as allegorically moving from EARTH TO HEAVEN ! From this Planet and Natural Realm to the Location Where God Lives or From Which He Rules. Cultural- Religious evolution of the ceremonial centers is faintly visible in the sweep of time and events which Hebrew Scriptures describe. The Tabernacle built by Moses and Aaron was a completely portable structure, composed of what would have to be the entire national wealth of a tribal nation of their time and economy. Many structural components of GOLD, SILVER AND COPPER OVERLAY, but especially the ceremonial items of SOLID GOLD, SILVER AND COPPER. And rare and large carat PRECIOUS STONES as vestment decoration, highest quality and expensive fabrics. Nearness to copper, silver and gold represented movement into increasingly Holy zones, respectively. And there were also Holy People, the descendants of the Tribal Head Levi ( one of Twelve/ Thirteen Tribes ), and yet more Holy, particular descendants of Levi who also happened to descend through the Line of Aaron, brother of Moses. The High Priest, the Highest Religious office, was ALWAYS and ONLY a Descendant of Aaron. All Levites were Priests in Israel's religious system, but individual responsibilities varied greatly.

King David of Jesse made preparations for his successor, his own son Solomon, to build the first permanent structure comprising the Ceremonial Center in Israel. It is not entirely clear just what became of the structural and ceremonial artifacts of the portable Tabernacle. One reasonably expects that many of its components were incorporated into the new ceremonial center : THE HOLY TEMPLE OF YHVH, THE GOD OF ISRAEL. This structure survived only about 300- 400 years and, amazingly, experienced phases of its existence which always closely paralleled the condition of Israel as a society in any given generation ! This First Temple and the Nation it Represented to the world suffered looting and destruction and eventually the surviving Southern Kingdom and Brothers, the Kingdom of Judah, was taken into a rather unique collective captivity in a massive and sudden physical deportation into the arms and lands of CENTRAL BABYLON, RIGHT ON THE TIGRIS- EUPHRATES ! Ah ! Father Abraham ! The parallels we could draw, weeping as we go ! But, providentially, and amazingly, the nation was actually found to be largely intact, after the initial shock ! I know these things sound completely unbelievable, but these are established facts, handed down from the ancients, for over two- thousand five- hundred years.

Jewish Princes even became LEADERS in the Government of Babylon over their own semi- autonomous people as their nation started to actually thrive while living in Babylon.....who would have thought ! ? But it was all because they maintained their spiritual connection to the Creator during and after all of this happened to them. Now, it would seem, there is only one logical conclusion to rectify their state at that time : THE RETURN TO THE LAND OF THEIR FATHERS ! So, those same living Jewish Princes who were ' cooperating ' with Babylon and its System DID THEMSELVES LIVE TO SEE BABYLON OVERTURNED BY THE PERSIAN EMPIRE- and the Persians were astute enough TO KNOW THESE JEWISH PRINCES WERE QUITE AGREEABLE AND AMENABLE TO SEE THIS OVERTURN OF EVENTS, and the Persians proceeded to keep them on as Princes ! But you haven't heard anything yet. The Persian King was presented a plan by one of these Jewish Princes proposing TO MOVE ISRAEL IN REESTABLISHING THEM AS A VASSAL STATE, NOW OF PERSIA, on Persia's Mediterranean Frontier ! Moreover, it was during this time of transition that political forces were debating in Persia about just what to do with the Jews.

Political conspirators on one side of the debate tried to induce another Persian King to eradicate Israel as opposed to putting them to good use as a cooperative vassal.
An early version of the not- so- original " FINAL SOLUTION " to the Jewish " PROBLEM ". Genocide was close at hand. But please, read the Book of Esther and observe Purim to get filled in on more of the details.

Or ask the descendant of a survivor !

So the Persian King sent Israel back to the Amorite Lands, the Lands their Fathers inherited from Jacob their Father. The PEOPLE THEMSELVES, livestock and other possessions, much national wealth and EVEN VALUABLE CEREMONIAL ARTIFACTS FROM THE FIRST TEMPLE were all returned, in stages, back to Jerusalem and the city's immediate environs. Now named after the Old Kingdom of Judah that fell, the People of the Jews began to emigrate back to Israel from North Africa, East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Eastern Mediterranean, Asia Minor, from throughout Persia and the frontiers of the Persian Empire, from as far away as South- Western Asia and the Indian Sub- continent.

The Second Temple was built during this period, and it took five decades to complete. It was a completely Israelite structure. But even that was only its first stage of construction.
One of the Herods, a Governor in Judea working for the Roman Empire, set about to enlarge and to embellish the original Second Temple, Hellenizing its architecture( making it after the typically favored Greek Culture ), combining Gentile and Israelite characteristics in its final form. It is this Temple that is most recent in the memory and history and closest to the hearts of the Jewish People. For there has never been an Israelite Temple of YHVH built since the terrible destruction of the City of Jerusalem, the Holy Temple and the Nation in A.D. 70 by the Gentile Romans.

But many have wondered : Will another Jewish Temple, the Holy Temple of YHVH, ever again be built ?

Authored by Kevin Puppos, Toledo, Ohio

[Cuddles]

look, if you're gonna post something like this, post a link to your source and a basic synopsis. it's really godawful annoying to read something like that out of context, unsourced, and in the format this website provides.

[Ahbleza]

Comrades,

My posted article, written about 10 years ago, summarizes my views I held shortly after my leaving Herbert Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God.

My views have modified since.

After posting here, I had asked myself whether Abraham himself was truly a Mono- Theist- the Scripture NOWHERE shows Abraham calling himself a Mono- Theist, nor does the Scripture show any of the Hebrew Patriarchs claiming Yahweh- YHVH as being the ONE- AND- ONLY- TRUEST God. The idea of the One- True- God must have been imposed upon the record of the Patriarch's by later Jews, as you possibly imply or suggest.

Still, there is a very faint outline of truth to the Biblical record- it is difficult even for ancient contemporaries to forge or fake history- their living contemporary countrymen can hardly be fooled that easily- cultural story is passed along several lines- not just one official line. Yet, cultural story also does evolve, so that, to be sure, there is not just ONE ' Truth ' to be had.

As time and centuries pass, some aspects of Story become more solidified, while other aspects become more vague and yet other aspects remain fluid.
The idea is that story serves as an integrator of all aspects of Culture, similarly to the function Religion serves- thus the confluence of Religion and Story into, of course, Religious Story ! But the record itself portrays their Religion as evolving.

I hope we can see that the issue is really not one of Pure UnFounded Fable or simple Lies, but certainly the picking and choosing of certain aspects of story to remember and emphasize serves well the agenda of certain classes of contemporaries, such as Priests and Kings holding social power. And opportunism of agendas changes with time and circumstance, as well.

I have to laugh when I hear people refer to the Jews as a ' Tribe '- when, if anything, the Jews' intimate connection to the founding and spread of Western Civilization, which is decidedly NOT a Tribal Culture, well, I consider the later Hebrews' Culture to be ANTI- Tribe at root. And, moreover, I consider the Zionists to be an Elitist minority sect of Jews who have allowed themselves to become infected with the Roman Imperial Cultural Virus.
Their own record portrays their own YHVH as being the very one to DISSOLVE their Political Nation for all time, never to be reconstituted by human hands or human will or power. The words of THEIR OWN PROPHETS.....

Then there is Jesus.

Jesus represents a sect of First Century Jews who come to see that their destiny can never be to succeed as a Political Power in a world controlled and owned by the Dominator Gentile Roman Culture. Christianity then grew up to accept that NO INDIVIDUAL can ever be fully immune from the effects of that Roman Imperial Cultural Virus destined to relentlessly spread, infecting the whole of humanity- as graphically portrayed by the Book of Revelation. Jesus seems to be offering that the only solution to the human dilemma is and remains a personal one- a NON- Institutional solution-

and there, I consider the American Evangelical Fundamentalists and their relationship to the US Government and American Culture to be parallel to the relationship held by the early Catholic Church to the succession of European Roman Empire revivals- TOO COZY an arrangement- that combining of Church and State-

yet the irony here is that ALL healthy cultures have integrated well together their Culture's Religion with their Culture's Ruling System- all Tribes manage it quite well- it is a natural and frankly desirable process- the problem for large scale hierarchical cultures of the West is that their societies are heavily stratified- power is not shared and spread equally downward- so their Institutional Religions become just as oppressive as the Imperial Governments and Economies they endorse and support : Hierarchical Cultural Religions serve to integrate only the POWER aspects of the society- whereas Tribal Religions serve to integrate together EVERYONE and all levels of society.

Kevin