Tag: Realms

Entering His Gates?

I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart

I will enter His courts with praise

I will say this is the day that the Lord has made

I will rejoice for He has made me glad.

This is an old chorus based on the Psalm 100:4

It’s a very familiar verse to everyone who is part of an assembly of believers in Jesus Christ/Yeshua haMashiach. 

Most of us will identify the action of entering His gates, with going through the doors of the building where the meetings are held; and His courts with praise’ as moving into the sanctuary of the building.  That’s what most of us have been taught for years and we would probably not think it meant anything else.  

At the time this verse was written, there was only the Temple in Jerusalem/Yerushalayim. It was not considered the ‘church building’ of its day, although many people do think of it in that way. The Temple was the very dwelling place of our Heavenly Father however, as we know, He no longer dwells in a building. According to 1Cor. 6:19, The Temple containing the Holy Spirit of the Living God is now our bodies. The inner sanctuary, the Holy of Holies was where Gods presence dwelt and the sanctuary/holy of holies was inside the whole structure called the Temple. The innermost part of us, is the sanctuary for His Holy Spirit. He is residing in our born again from above spirit. Wherever a true believer is, that’s where the sanctuary of God’s presence is also.  

We also have to remember that the church or ecclesia is not a building. Ecclesia, the called apart, or called out ones, are the people. They the individuals that make up the body of Messiah in the earth. We are the living stones that make up His habitation on earth.

1Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

So if these gates are not the physical ‘church building’ or ‘gates to the temple’ what are they? 

Gates, as entrances and exits, have long captured our imagination. Many traditions are rich with gates and ours is no exception. Among others are:

Gates of Salvation,

Gates of Repentance,

Gates of Prayer,

Gates of Righteousness,

Gates of introspection and reflection,

Gates of Hell,

Gates of Glory,

Heavens gates.

In Hebrew the word gate is sha’ar.

שַׁ֫עַר

This word has many different meanings.  

As well as gate, sha’ar can mean, 

hair, a storm or tempest, a decision, to calculate,

a determination, a remnant or something horrible. 

The Hebrew word for gate, sha’ar and its variations, appears more than 350 times in scripture. In Hebrew culture the imagery of gates covers both historical and spiritual meanings, being symbolic on many levels.

 

Most commentators on scripture believe that the first time a word is mentioned in the Torah is significant and tells of its deepest meaning.

For example:

The first mention of sha’ar

is immediately after the binding of Isaac.

This is when Abraham is blessed and God promises him that “your descendants will inherit the gate of their enemies” Genesis 22:17.

The next mention of sha’ar is in Genesis 24:60 when Rebecca leaves her family to marry Isaac, she receives a similar blessing: “May your offspring take possession of the gate of those who hate them”.

Gates, then, are points of protection and power. To possess the gate of our enemies is to control the forces that want to harm us. In ancient Israel, gates were the stronghold protecting daily life within the safety of city walls and gates; and so much of that life took place at the gates of the city, where the elders would gather and prophets would speak.

An interesting point is that the word sha’ar comes from the same Hebrew root as shiur (measure). In one interpretation of the verse “Her husband is known in the gates” The Hebrew sages teach that the husband is a metaphor for God, whose understanding is only known in measures. Our Heavenly Father makes Himself known to each individual according to the measure of the understanding of his or her heart. 

It seems very strange that one word can mean so many different things and yet at the same time, be related?   

If we look at the word in the context of a doorway, especially a doorway to our Heavenly Father, these words are all related.

For a long time, Gates have been a symbol of a point of communication between worlds and realms. In Genesis 28:17 following Jacobs dream of the ladder, he says, “This is no other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven”.

The spiritual significance of gates became increasingly more emphasized after the gates of Jerusalem were broken down and the Holy Temple was destroyed, Hebrew sages teach that the gate of heaven is the place to which prayers ascend.

As we often do with Hebrew words lets break down to the individual letters which we know from previous studies that they all have their own meanings and are pictures telling a story in themselves. The word sha’ar is made up of the letters sh = shin a = ayin and r = resh.

שַׁ֫עַר

For example in the first letter of the word for gate and that is a

שַׁ֫

Shin by which we get the idea of a storm or tempest which is expressed as or represents the passionate love of Heavenly Father for His children. It is telling us that when we go through this gate we enter the stormy passionate love of God.

עַ

Ayin is the next letter which represents deep spiritual insight. It gives us a picture that when we pass through this gate/sha’ar into the presence of God you are immersed into deep spiritual insight and understanding where we discover something horrible!

What could it be that is horrible? That is our sinful nature and the darkness hidden in the deep recesses of our hearts, remnants of the old man, the carnal nature.

In studying the Hebrew scriptures and beginning to appreciate the Israelite culture and way of life, we see how they lived and what their customs were.

In those days before there were wooden doors in a home, hair from animals was woven together to make a kind of doorway covering the entrance.

This door was to keep the wind from blowing dust etc. into the house it was not meant to keep out strangers.

Many times it was the wool from a lamb which was used to make this doorway. 

We should not think this so strange because we know of course that it is the Lamb of God who cleanses us from our sin. He provides the doorway/gate to relationship with our Heavenly Father and He is able to protect us from spiritual contamination from the outside world, yet gives us a WAY to reach others and invite them into ‘His home.’

Furthermore we must make a decision as to whether or not to accept this gift of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God and to enter in through that provision.

ר

Resh is the final letter for the word door or gate/sha’ar and that is the letter r or Resh which represents repentance/teshuvah.

This could inspire a picture showing us that when we come together with other believers in Messiah, whether it is in a building we call a church or in a home; then together we find out the precious jewels to be unearthed in God’s Word. We will enter His gates where we will find deep insight into our sinful natures, leading us to repent of our sins and through the shed blood of the Lamb of God be cleansed so you can enter into the fiery, passionate and stormy love of God.

It would automatically follow that having been cleansed of our sin and having had the privilege of experiencing the

שַׁ֫ shin/ stormy passionate love of God, our heart will be filled with thankfulness towards Him.

 

In Hebrew thankfulness is the word todah, and its spelled

T for Taw D for Daleth and H for Hei/Hay.

todah: thanksgiving:8426

Original Word: תּוֹדָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: todah
Phonetic Spelling: (to-daw’)
Definition: thanksgiving

Word Origin
from yadah

תּ Taw gives the picture of expressing praise and thanksgiving,

דָ Daleth which is a door or portal to the last letter,

the ה Hei which speaks of  the presence of God. 

We learn that the behavior and lifestyle of the people in the assembly of Laodicea mentioned in Revelation 3:14-22 was not acceptable to the Lord. This made them neither hot nor cold in their relationship towards Him and this caused Him to say that He was ready to spew them out of His mouth. 

What were they doing that made our Heavenly Father say that? 

In verse 20 

Behold, I stand at the door and knock.”

Here is an answer, in order to fully comprehend what it means, we must take a look at the Hebraic use of language in that day. This expression is one that a Jewish person of that time would quickly understand. To them it was an indication that Messiah was seeking to make His presence known, so He was knocking at the todah /praise and thanksgiving which is the doorway to His presence. 

  If an individual opens that dalet/doorway, that gate, with praise and thanksgiving Messiah will enter and His presence will fill the sanctuary, which as we have seen in scripture is our bodies, and He will not only dine with us, He will abide with us.

Another interesting point that we miss in our western culture is that in Middle Eastern, Oriental or Semitic culture of that day, and incidentally it still is today, when someone wants to reconcile with an enemy they will have dinner together and discuss their differences. This explains why in Psalms 23:5 David writes that God prepares a table before him in the presence of his enemies. With an emphasis on cultural etiquette David is saying is that God lays the foundation or prepares the ground work for reconciliation with his enemies.  When we read Revelation 3:20 we know that the Blood of the Lamb cleanses us from our sin, however it is our thanksgiving and praise that ultimately brings reconciliation us to the loving, stormy filled passion and the presence of our heavenly Father.

It is also of interest to note that all we have to do is open the dalet/door and Messiah Yeshua passes through, it is not us that passes through. This is the big change in the order of things, the protocol of how to approach a Holy God has changed from the directions given to Moses. Whereas it used to be that the people passed through the gates of the temple to enter the place of God’s presence, and then only the priests could enter the holy place; and only the High Priest could go into the holy of holies once a year on Yom Kippur. All the rest of the people had to stay in the outer court. Today it is up to us to ask and invite Messiah into the sanctuary, our bodies, to bring His presence into us. In praise and thanksgiving, we are inviting Messiah to enter our sanctuary and let it become His holy of holies.

“Open for me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter and thank God. This is the gateway to the Lord; the righteous shall enter it” Psalm 118:19.

All are thresholds of revelation where His divine presence reaches into our human realm.

In Hebrew the Jewish synagogue service tells us that:

Every morning God is said to open the gates of the east and break open the windows of the heavens, bestowing light to the world and its inhabitants (Shabbat morning prayer).

Sunrise over Jerusalem from the Mt of Olives

 As the first light breaks through the darkness, it calls to us to wake up to the reality of His steadfast love and endless grace and mercy.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22/3

Every day is a new beginning.

Ezekiel contains several references to a gate that faces east. In Ezekiel 10:18–19, the prophet sees the glory of the Lord leave the temple through 

the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house”;

the glory then moves east of the city to the Mount of Olives

Ezekiel 11:23 

Later, Ezekiel sees the glory of the Lord return to the temple via

“the gate facing east” Ezekiel 43:1–5.

Gates open and gates close, but, we are told, there is one gate that is never closed. In Matthew 7:13-14  In this context Matthew is discussing the narrow gate leading to salvation, eternal life & the broad gate which leads to destruction. Yeshua/Jesus made it clear, the path to eternal life is open to everyone who asks. However, the gate to heaven is “narrow” in the sense of having a particular requirement for entrance—faith faith in Jesus Christ/Yeshua haMashiach. Salvation is found only in the Person of Jesus Christ/ Yeshua haMashiach. The Bible tells us that He is the only Way John 14:6. The “wide” gate is non-exclusive; it allows for human effort and all other of the world’s religions.

God offers salvation to everyone who accepts it John 1:12; 3:16-18; Romans 10:9; 1 John 2:2. But it is on His terms. We must come the way He has provided. We cannot create our own paths or come to a holy God based on our own efforts. They choose temporary, earthly pleasure over the self-sacrifice required in following Jesus/Yeshua. Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; Matthew 10:37. The narrow gate is ignored. Most people would rather create their own religions and design their own gods. So it was with sorrow, not as a discrimination, that Messiah declared that the road to eternal life is

“narrow, and only a few find it.“

When faced with the choice between a narrow, bumpy road and a wide, paved highway, most of us choose the easier road. Human nature gravitates toward comfort and pleasure. When faced with the reality of denying themselves to follow Jesus/Yeshua, most people turn away. John 6:66. Messiah never sugar-coated the truth, and the truth is that not many people are willing to pay the price to follow Him.

We are to choose which gates we will enter into, let’s make sure the sha’ar we choose are the ones that take us into the passionate love of our Heavenly Fathers presence.

Shalom mishpachah/family

and cheverim/friends!

It’s all about Life and Relationship,

NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE?

YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

What Exactly Did Sarai Hear?

This week is a postscript to

‘Are we listening’

and how we hear the voice – kol/qol  קול .

https://www.minimannamoments.com/are-we-listening/

We learned that Yarah can mean

both physical seeing and spiritual seeing.  

Many times what we read in scripture is telling us of both types of seeing, and both types of hearing.

So with this in mind,

what exactly did Sarai hear?

Let the reader decide.

In Genesis 18:10

we read about Abram and Sarai

and the visit of the 3 ‘men’.

When sitting, about mid-day, in the grove of Mamre, in front of his tent, Abram אַבְרָם looked up and unexpectedly saw three men standing at some distance from him (עליו above him, looking down upon him as he sat), viz., Jehovah (Genesis 18:13) and two angels (Genesis 19:1); all three in human form.

Perceiving at once that one of them was the Lord (אדני, i.e., God), he prostrated himself reverentially before them, and entreated them not to pass him by, but to suffer him to entertain them as his guests:

“Let a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and recline yourselves (השּׁען( sevle to recline, leaning upon the arm) under the tree.”

Comfort your hearts:” literally: “strengthen the heart,“

i.e., refresh yourselves by eating and drinking.

(Judges 19:5; 1 Kings 21:7).

For therefore (sc., to give me an opportunity to entertain you hospitably) have ye come over to your servant:”

כּן על כּי does not stand for כּי כּן על (Ges. thes. p. 682),

but means “because for this purpose” (vid., Ewald, 353).

During the meal, at which Abraham stood, and waited upon them as the host, they asked for Sarai, for whom the visit was chiefly intended.

On being told that she was in the tent, where she could hear all that passed under the tree in front of the tent.  The one whom Abram addressed as Adonai (my Lord), and who is called Jehovah in Genesis 18:13, said,

“I will return to thee (חיּה כּעת) at this time, when it lives again”

(חיּה, reviviscens, without the article, Gesinius. 111, 2b), i.e.,

at this time next year; “and, behold, Sarai, thy wife, will (then) have a son.”

Sarai heard this at the door of the tent; “and it was behind Him” (Jehovah), so that she could not be seen by Him as she stood at the door. But as the fulfillment of this promise seemed impossible to her, on account of Abraham’s extreme age, and the fact that her own womb had lost the ability of conception; she laughed within herself, thinking that she was not observed. But in order that she might know that the promise was made by the omniscient and omnipotent Heavenly Father, He reproved her for laughing, saying;

“Is anything too wonderful (i.e., impossible) for Jehovah? at the time appointed I will return unto thee,”

 and when her natural understanding led her to deny it, He convicted her of her heart attitude.

Abraham had also laughed at this promise, but he was not reprimanded..

Genesis 17:17

Why?

His laughing was the joy-filled outburst of astonishment and wonder; on the contrary Sarai’s was the result of doubt and unbelief, which had to be exposed by reproof, and, as the result showed, it really was by the fact that she conceived and gave birth to a son, one whom she could only have conceived in faith. Hebrews 11:11.

As the angel was speaking of the son that Sarai was to have she had positioned herself at the tent door to hear the conversation.

Several references and versions cited below.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he said to him, “Returning, I shall return to you at this time when she is living, and Sara your wife shall have a son”, and Sara heard at the door of the tent and it was behind him.

Literal Standard Version
and He says, “Returning I return to you, about the time of life, and behold, to Sarah your wife a son.” And Sarah is listening at the opening of the tent, which is behind him;

Amplified Bible
He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him.

King James Bible
And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

Both Abram and Sarai’s names were changed:

In verse 10: According to the time of life.

In Hebrew it reads: according to the living time.

It is clear from Genesis 18:14, and 2Kings 4:16-17, that these words mean some fixed period of time, but the exact rendering has differences of opinions among scholars.

When the season revives means: next spring, is entirely separate from Middle East thinking, and one rendering of it: at the living time is a poetic but meaningless one.

I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life. 

Literally, at the time reviving; i.e. when the year shall have been renewed, in the next year, or rather spring (vide Ewald, ‘Hebrews Synt.,’ § 337; Rosenmüller, Drusius, Keil, Kalisch, Lange, Ainsworth, ‘Speaker’s Commentary’); although other interpretations of the phrase have been suggested, as, e.g., “according to the time of that which is born,” i.e. at the end of nine months (Willet, Calvin, Bush, Murphy). 

The more correct rendering is probably a year hence, as when the year is over it dies, and a new year lives in its place. Hebrraic/Jewish tradition is strongly in favor of this view, translating it as: according to this time next year, and interestingly adding that the season was the Passover/Peasch. The only other possible rendering is in course of time.

Which was behind him.

The LXX. has a preferable reading,

and she was behind it.

What is the LXX?

The Septuagint (pronounced sep-TOO-uh-jint) is a Greek translation of the Jewish/Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament. It was completed sometime between 300 to 200 BC. With the rise of Alexander the Great (336 to 323 B.C.), the Greek language became the common language. Hebrew fell out of use among the Jews, so to read the scriptures in a relevant language, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the son of Alexander the Great’s Macedonian-Greek general Ptolemy I Soter, commissioned the translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek. Seventy scholars (Some sources say 72) undertook this feat, which resulted in the Septuagint translation. The word Septuagint is abbreviated and known as the LXX, which is the Roman numeral for 70. The Septuagint (LXX) was the version of the Bible used by the authors of the New Testament. Therefore, the authors sometimes quote the Septuagint rather than the Masoretic (Hebrew) text.

The door, in the physical natural realm, was an opening made by looping back the curtain, which would effectually conceal Sarai.

Verse 10. – And HE said 

(the Principal Guest, as above, Who, by the very nature and terms of His announcement, identifies Himself with God/Jehoveh. If it were not Jehoveh/YHVH, and all the 3 were His angels, they would have told Abram not to bow in worship to them.) 

And, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. i.e. at the time specified. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. 

In the tent door which was behind him, 

i.e. at the back of the One that spoke with him;

this is added here to show that He knew her laughter and inner attitude of unbelief and denial,

not by the sight of His eyes, but

by His all-seeing knowledge!

and Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him; or, “and it was behind him”; that is,

the tent door was at the back of the person speaking;

Sarai, hearing her name mentioned, got to the tent door to listen to what else might be said; and the place where she was, was behind the speaker, who stood between her and Abram, with whom he was conversing; Abram was before Him, and Sarai behind Him, so that He could not see her when she laughed, and yet He knew she did.

Then the LORD said,
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb – Qal – Consecutive imperfect – third person masculine singular
Strong’s 559: To utter, say

“I will surely
שׁ֣וֹב (šō·wḇ)
Verb – Qal – Infinitive absolute
Strong’s 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

return
אָשׁ֤וּב (’ā·šūḇ)
Verb – Qal – Imperfect – first person common singular
Strong’s 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

to you
אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ (’ê·le·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong’s 413: Near, with, among, to

at this time next year,
כָּעֵ֣ת (kā·‘êṯ)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun – common singular construct
Strong’s 6256: Time, now, when

and your wife
אִשְׁתֶּ֑ךָ (’iš·te·ḵā)
Noun – feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong’s 802: Woman, wife, female

Sarah
לְשָׂרָ֣ה (lə·śā·rāh)
Preposition-l | Noun – proper – feminine singular
Strong’s 8283: Sarah — ‘princess’, a wife of Abraham

will have a son!”
בֵ֖ן (ḇên)
Noun – masculine singular
Strong’s 1121: A son

Now Sarah
וְשָׂרָ֥ה (wə·śā·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun – proper – feminine singular
Strong’s 8283: Sarah — ‘princess’, a wife of Abraham

was behind him,
אַחֲרָֽיו׃ (’a·ḥă·rāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong’s 310: The hind or following part

listening
שֹׁמַ֛עַת (šō·ma·‘aṯ)
Verb – Qal – Participle – feminine singular
Strong’s 8085: To hear intelligently

at the entrance
פֶּ֥תַח (pe·ṯaḥ)
Noun – masculine singular construct
Strong’s 6607: An opening, door, entrance way

to the tent.
הָאֹ֖הֶל (hā·’ō·hel)
Article | Noun – masculine singular
Strong’s 168: A tent

In one Hebrew/Jewish commentary,

in the original text there is no preposition,

IN, written before the words

the tent door

So the translation would read:

Sarai HEARD the opening of the tent,

or

Heard the tent open

In Hebrew:sham’ah patach ha’ahal

Spelled with the letters:

Shin mem ayin taw pei taw cheth hei aleph hei lamed

And Sarai heard it (in) the tent door which was behind him.

The Hebrew for tent is AHAL

a word that means: dwelling place

and isn’t the normal word used for dwelling place.

It’s spelled aleph hei lamed; and used to indicate that this is:

a special dwelling place where one may receive special revelation from Adonai.

The Hebrew scholars suggest that:

what Sarai heard was not the opening of the tent flap,

but that she heard the shekinah,

the Glory of the presence of Adonai,

the opening of the divine realm of the spirit;

or we might say

heard The Fathers voice- kol/qol speaking.

However it suggests something further, like that of

an opening into heaven – a door – a portal.

This is not a new or strange concept, as we are familiar with the events at Yeshua/Jesus’ immersion. Here both He and John saw the heavens open and heard the voice of the Father; as they saw His shekinah descend upon Messiah bodily, like or, as a dove gently settling /landing. Those with spiritual ears to hear heard the voice/kol. Yet some said it thundered when the Fathers voice was heard. This was a very special moment when Father, Son and their Spirit of Holiness were present all at the same time; the Transfiguration of Messiah on the Mount was another.

In Mark 1:10 He saw heaven torn open:

The word translated here as torn open from the Greek verb: schizo; is a dramatic word that appears only in Mark’s account, hinting at the beginning B’resheet – Genesis– when the heavens and the earth were created from nothing by the Word of God; where again Father, Son and Spirit of Holiness were recorded as being together.

Likewise, the image of Holy Spirit descending and a Voice speaking from heaven suggests the creation account.

Another occasion which we are familiar with is Acts 2:2 .

There came a sound from heaven…

The text translated literally from the Greek reads as: suddenly there came a sound from heaven as being borne along by a violent wind.

The word SOUND in Greek is echos.

Another easily recognizable word from our own language! It basically means: a sound or noise, possibly a roaring noise like the wind blowing violently, howling as in a very severe storm..

In Aramaic the word that is used here for

SOUND is QALA which means a VOICE.

Giving or creating a picture or image of:

the heavens opening and a voice coming out through this opening like a doorway or portal, a connecting point between realms.

There are multiple examples throughout the Bible of spiritual eyes and ears being opened so that the invisible becomes visible. This is the faith we are to have, that even when we don’t see it we are to believe and know it is still there.Our reminder is in Hebrews 11:1; Faith is the substance of things hoped for…. Recall Elisha and the chariots in 2kings 6:17.

For שָׂרָי Saray Sarai, it was a message she found hard to accept even though she had walked with YHVH/God for 90 years, seen many miracles and known His presence.

It is said that a Divine Cloud “was attached” to the tent of Sarai and maybe this was the moment it came and remained?

In Exodus 33:7 we read of the Glory cloud at the entrance to Moses tent:

7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses.

In Luke 1 there is another example of what seems impossible in human terms: Zacharias a man who faithfully served Adonai, he and his wife had prayed for a child for years. Then Gabriel appeared to him while he was alone in the temple. Zacharias was afraid and didn’t believe the message that their prayers were to be answered and was struck dumb for his unbelief. It seemed impossible for both Sarai and Zacharias when they were told something was about to happen, even though it was a long awaited desire that was to be fulfilled; it was one that for them that seemed impossible..

Why?

because they were focused on this natural realm with natural understanding of what they could physically see. They did not allow their minds to go beyond this natural earthly realm/ dimension, so it seemed impossible to them.

For with God nothing is impossible.

Genesis 18:14.

Jesus/Yeshua said it in Matthew 19:26

And looking upon them Jesus said to them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

With God nothing is impossible and this is where that well known quote comes from. They both could only have shown, or have revealed to them, what was reflected in their own minds. We ourselves are often a barrier to things our Heavenly Father’s Spirit is trying to reveal to us, and unless we allow our minds to move beyond this physical world/realm; we cannot be shown the true wonders that He can perform and neither can He reveal to us the greater works that we are to do! John 14:12. Those that He plans to accomplish in and through us. We must begin to believe our Heavenly Father for what to us seems to be the impossible in the natural. Begin to believe for the supernatural, the impossible, because we serve the supernatural God of gods Lord of lords and King of kings. We limit Him by our mindset, our thinking and our view of what we see as reality.

This is why we like Paul, Ephesians 1:8, must request that the eyes of our understanding be enlightened, opened to see….. and as Messiah challenges us to have our ears opened to hear what the spirit is saying to the churches/ecclesia.. Revelation 2:29.

We must position ourselves like Sarai, to see and hear heaven opened to us.

Ephesians 4:1. This means we must walk in a manner worthy of the calling, of being the vessel that is infilled with His Shekinah Glory…

Would the Spirit of Holiness settle gently on us today?

Have we prepared a home worthy for Him to dwell in?

If Sarai did

Yarah,

hear a heavenly portal open, and if she saw into the realm of the spirit and experienced the Shekinah Glory… maybe she did perceive that with Jehoveh/YHVH/God

nothing is impossible!

Our faith, trust and belief in the impossible becoming reality, needs to develop, increase and mature; because the days that lie ahead are going to test the very foundation of all that we say we believe! We MUST be firmly rooted and grounded in His Word and in our unshakeable relationship with our Heavenly Father, Messiah and their Spirit of Holiness.

Phil.3:10, Know Him and the power of His resurrection as our truth, as our personal reality. 

We MUST be certain that nothing, absolutely nothing will cause us to waver or stumble; whatever we hear or see in this natural realm.

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם‎,

Shalom aleikhem

chaverim and mishpachah!

Peace to friends and family.

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are very precious in His sight.

Not sure ..you can be…

SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,

SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.

Where’s Home?

Heaven is our home and we’re in Seventh Heaven?!

Shamayim: heaven, sky יִםשָׁמַ֫  

Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-mah’-yim)

יִםהַשָּׁמַ֖  haš-šā-ma-yim   the heavens.

This is the word used in the expression, the heavens and the earth, or the upper and lower regions. Genesis 1:1

The usual Hebrew word for heavens is shamayim, a plural form meaning heights, elevations (Gen. 1:1; 2:1).

The Hebrew word marom is also used (Ps. 68:18; 93:4; 102:19, etc.) as equivalent to shamayim, high places, heights.   Used for heaven in (Psalms 18:16; Isaiah 24:18; Jeremiah 25:30). Properly speaking it means a mountain, as in (Psalms 102:19; Ezekiel 17:23)Heb. galgal, literally a wheel, is rendered heaven in Ps. 77:18 (R.V., whirlwind). like a spiral galaxy?Heb. shahak, rendered sky (Deut. 33:26; Job 37:18; Ps. 18:11), plural clouds (Job 35:5; 36:28; Ps. 68:34, marg. heavens),  probably means the firmament.

In the last post we looked at the universe and our place in it.We saw some of the amazing images sent back by Hubble.

The night skies have always fascinated mankind, who has always been searching for a way to get a closer look at those twinkling points of light in the heavens above.History records many who invented and built telescopes for that very purpose; including a 17th century Christian, German astronomer, Johannes Kepler. (1571-1630). He used mathematics to calculate the path of the planets and discovered three laws of planetary motion, amongst other discoveries.Johannes had a friend who denied the existence of God and maintained the universe came into existence by itself.

This troubled Johannes, so he construct a model of the solar system. When he showed it to his friend, the friend exclaimed how beautiful it was and wanted to know Who had made it?

Cryptically Kepler replied that no one had, it had made itself! ‘Nonsense’ replied his friend ‘just tell me who made it’. Kepler proceeded to say to his friend that if he believed the model could not have made itself, which was but a simple imitation of the great universe, how could he believe the universe could make itself!It seems to be a silly statement, in light of what we know today. Johannes Kepler’s model could no more have made itself than a car could manufacture itself.

However according to many scientists, the universe came into existence by accident and so did human life!!!

Rest assured that your life was not an accident and God has a purpose for you.

You’re here because of Him and there is hope and a future.  I know the plans I have for you plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you the future and hope.  Jeremiah 29:11You are created from the high purposes of God.

Heaven is our home and one day we will be there with Him.

How to translate bikeseh hashimayim in Deut.30:4 which most English translations render as the outermost parts of heaven.

Are we talking about space travel here? Or is it just a metaphor?

Remember, nothing is placed in the Bible by accident.

Every note and detail has a reason for it being placed there. So there must be a reason why God is speaking of gathering the nation of Israel from the outermost parts of heaven. Bikeseh comes from the root kesah and has the proposition Beth (in or on) in front of it and literally means “in the end or extremity.”

 The following word “hashimayhim” is from the root shama’ which means heaven.

The word has a definite article Hei at the beginning and a plural ending and we would render that as the heavens. So we are not referring to our final resting place and the celestial city but most likely it is used to describe the sky or outer space. If the writer wanted to depict God gathering the Jews from the ends of the earth he would have said kesevi eres. So why does the writer say the heavens or sky? Here is where opinion comes into play. We creating an opinion that makes sense and we are left with just a metaphor, a poetic expression and a wonderful one at that. God will not only search out every corner to restore the ones He loves, but He will even look in the most unlikeliest places and if necessary in outer space.

 God cares for and is mindful of everything in His creation.

Taken from a study on the sparrow falling. In the Aramaic language, you say that God is aware of everytime a sparrow lands. He is not only aware when a sparrow dies, He is aware when a sparrow lands and they do a lot of landing. Again another verse to show how aware God is of every individual He created and how He longs to draw them to Him. He knows every corner and every rock on earth; and every place in the sky and the universe, we just cannot escape His noticeIsaiah 66:1 Heaven is my throne and the earth my foot stool.
Heaven is ‘as the chair’, to God.Because that’s where He dwells and the stool is the earth.

 By nature He doesn’t dwell there but He does touch it with the ‘feet of His presence’ as part of His footstool. It is therefore under ‘His feet’ and under His control and His perfect will and plans and purposes.

According to Ephesians 1:22, all things are under Messiah’s feet and under ours too!

The constellation in the picture above is called the hand of God.

When we have a friend we spend time in each other’s company, we have the same interests and talk about them together. So we should be the same with God. His home is in heaven as well as in our hearts; and we are already invited for a future event where He lives.

The marriage supper of the Lamb.

Home is where our hearts are fixed and focused.

Meanwhile we have His spirit with us and He never leaves us or forsakes us. Hebrews 13:5. Jesus told us,  I am with you always. Matt. 28:20

However our human curiosity wants to know what heaven is really like.
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:2, he thought it was the third heaven.
Just how many are there?The Hebrew language gives seven words for heaven and the ancient model in the form of drawings illustrates what Genesis describes; and the meaning of the seven Hebrew words; and how they saw everything fitting together.This is the root of where we get our idiom to be in the seventh heaven.The word in Genesis, in the beginning God created the heavens and earth. The word heavens is plural; it is not singular, meaning, that there is more than one heaven.

God is the God of the Heavens El HaShamayim’

שָׁמַ֫יִם = heavens

2 Corinthians 12:2   (2 Cor. 12:7)

The phrase “heaven and earth” is used to indicate the whole universe (Gen. 1:1; Jer. 23:24; Acts 17:24).

According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens,

Shechakim  “expanses,” with reference to the extent of heaven. (33:26; Job 35:5) Pauls’ expression “third heaven,” 2 Cor. 12:2, had led to much conjecture. Grotius said that the Jews divided the heaven into three parts:

1) The First Heaven: Earth & Man. The air or atmosphere, where clouds gather. The firmament, as “fowls of the heaven” (Gen 1:26 2:19; 7:3, 23; Ps. 8:8 etc.), “the eagles of heaven” (Lam. 4:19)

2) The Second Heaven: Space and Stars* The firmament, in which the sun, moon and stars are fixed;The starry heavens (Deut. 17:3; Jer. 8:2; Matt. 24:29).

(Isaiah 13:10)…(Isaiah 14:13)

Astronomy is the scientific study of the individual celestial bodies (excluding the earth) and of the universe as a whole.

Astrology is the study that assumes and attempts to interpret the influence of the heavenly bodies on human affairs. (a form of prophecy but is false prophecy, false predictions, demonic, a diversion away from God’s truth).

3) The Third Heaven: God and Glory The upper heaven, the abode of God and his angels, the invisible realm of holiness and happiness the home of the children of God. “The heaven of heavens,” or “the third heaven” (Deut. 10:14; 1 Kings 8:27; Ps. 115:16; 148:4; 2 Cor. 12:2, 

The Bible speaks of three heavens, the third heaven is the heaven of heavens, the dwelling place of God, where His throne has always been. Seven Hebrew Words translated into the word “Heaven” – (please note you will have difficulty in locating these words without extensive study. You will not find them in the Strong’s Concordance since the Majority Text utilizes only the Hebrew Word ùÑîä ùÑîéí shâmayim ).

The word for Heaven is always plural in Hebrew. Here are the seven levels noted in Scripture. The names are:

Dok 

Rakia

Shechakim

Maon

Machon

Aravot

The meanings are noted below for information, as the Hebrew words describe:

DOK

Pronounced like Coke, is the word used in Isaiah 40:22. In the Hebrew commentary they use another synonym. Vilon

Vilon or SHAMEH – Isa 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: H8064 ùÑîä ùÑîéí shâmayim shâmeh

Vilon (“curtain”): a curtain which is rolled over the earth at nighttime to block the sun (Isaiah 40:22); contains the atmosphere, minor stars, snow and dew; abode of Adam and Eve; governed by Gabriel; called curtain or veil because it veils or hides the other six levels; represented by the moon – Word describing the hand of God stretching out like a tent or curtain separating the heavensDok retires in the morning and comes out in the evening and renews the work of creation daily. Dok is the entire universe, going beyond what we can see with telescopes.

ḵad-dōq       כַדֹּק֙ as a curtain 1852 [e] strongs

Rakia

– Genesis 1:17 – Word describing the physical and visible heavens of the stars, moon and sun.

Heb. rakia is closely connected and is rendered “firmamentum” in the Vulgate, whence our “firmament” (Gen. 1:6; Deut. 33:26, etc.), regarded as a solid expanse.

Rakia is where God set them in the firmament (Rakia) and spread them out like a tent to dwell in. Genesis 1:17Raqi’a/Raki’a (“expanse,” “canopy”): possibly refers to the frozen canopy over the earth before the Flood (Genesis 1:7-8; Deuteronomy 11:11); Did Moses visit Paradise here to receive the Ten Commandments? Fallen angels are imprisoned here for marrying human women (Genesis 6:4); dwelling place of souls awaiting judgment including “men of renown,” apostates, tyrants; called expanse because it’s where the sun and planets dwell (Genesis 1:14, 17); represented by Mercury.

 It’s a reference to the stars, Sun, Moon, and planets: it refers to outer space where the various heavenly bodies move in their prescribed orbits and or maintain relationships in constellations, solar systems galaxies etc. Rakia is the part of the heavens that can be seen with the naked eye both in the day and at night.

bir-qî-a‘     יעַבִּרְקִ֣     in the firmament 

SHECHAKIM

Psalm 78:23 – Word describing atmosphere/air

Shechakim is from the Psalms 78:23, 24. though He had commanded the skies (Shechakim) from above and opened the doors of heaven, and had rained down manna on them to eat and had given them the grain of heaven.

This is where it is believed the millstones are located that grind manna for the righteous.

His word is still miraculously feeding us.

Shechakim is the atmosphere.

wə-ḏal-ṯê יוְדַלְתֵ֖ and the doors

šā-ma-yim   יִםשָׁמַ֣ of heaven

Meaning of term. Isa. 14:13, 14; “doors of heaven” (Ps. 78:23); heaven “shut” (1 Kings 8:35); “opened” (Ezek. 1:1). (See 1 Chr. 21:16.)

Spiritual meaning. The place of the everlasting blessedness of the righteous; the abode of departed spirits.

Shehaquim/Shehaqim/Shehakim (“clouds”): Eden and Tree of Life, also includes paradise and hell/hades (Psalm 78:23-24); represented by Venus.

ZEBUL/ZEVUL

Zebul or Zevul – Isaiah 63:15 – Word describing where God’s glory exists as in a Heavenly City.

Zevul is the location for 1Kings 8:13 for I have surely build you a house of habitation (Zevul) a place for you to dwell in for ever. This is said to be the location of celestial Jerusalem and the Temple with the heavenly altar. How do we know that Zevul may be this place? Because Isaiah 63:15 tells us look down from heaven and behold from the habitation (Zevul) of your holiness and your glory.

zə-ḇul   לזְבֻ֖   to dwell in

Zebul (“habitation”): stratosphere, sun, moon, and “four great stars,” including celestial mechanics; dwelling of the winds; called habitation because it’s where the New Jerusalem is located with its temple (Isaiah 63:15); and is represented by the sun.

MAON

Maon – Psalm 42:8 – Word describing where angels reside which comes from songs

Maon is where the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime and in the night His song will be with me, according to Psalm 42:9. This is where He is ministering and it is said where angels stay. We know that this could be heaven because of Deuteronomy 26:15 looked down from your holy habitation (Maon) from heaven.

מָעוֹן Phonetic Spelling: (maw-ohn’) habitation, strongs 4584

Ma’on (“refuge”): apparently home to “Grigori” — fallen angels who mourn for their brothers in Raqi’a; hell/Gehenna; Michael possibly presides; filled with ministering angels who sing by night; called refuge because it’s where most of the angels reside; represented by Mars.

MACHON

Machon – Deuteronomy 26:15 – Word describing the location of God’s storehouses of treasures of rain and snow, rain, hail, whirlwinds, storms etc. for the earth.

The Lord will open unto you his good treasure. Deuteronomy 28:12. We know that this is heaven because the same word is used in 1Kings 8:39 then here in heaven your dwelling place (Machon).

מָכוֹן Phonetic Spelling: (maw-kone’)

1 Kings 8:39 
HEB: תִּשְׁמַ֨ע הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם מְכ֤וֹן שִׁבְתֶּ֙ךָ֙ וְסָלַחְתָּ֣ 
NAS: Your dwelling place, and forgive
 KJV: thy dwelling place, and forgive,
 INT: hear heaven place your dwelling and forgive.

Makhon/Machon/Makon (“city,” “established place”): home for angels in charge of nature’s cycles and good governing systems of the world; angels who write men’s actions in books; (Deuteronomy 28:12); It is called city, because it is said here is the City of Angels; represented by Jupiter.

ARABOT/ AVAVOT

Arabot or Aravot – Psalm 6:4 – Word describing the storehouse of righteousness and peace, where angels also reside and it is thought by some scholars this is where souls of those not yet born are waiting. 

Aravot is that in which are, righteousness, judgement and charity. The storehouses of life, of peace and blessing, the spirits of the righteous, with which the Lord will hereafter revive the dead. Those living here, include the Ophannim, Seraphim, Holy Chayyot, the ministering angels, the throne of glory and the King of the universe; according to Psalm 68:5, extol Him who rides upon the clouds (Aravot) by His Name, Yahweh. YHWH

The storehouse of life contains the force of life for all those yet to be born because it is said that when God finished creation in Genesis 2:1; He had made everything that would ever be – including our descendants. It is also thought that here, the spirits of the righteous dead are sleeping with their fathers. An interesting concept!Araboth/Aravot (“deserts”): also known as the 10th heaven; The throne of Glory and God dwell here, as well as Seraphim, Cherubim, justice, righteousness, souls of the righteous, and ineffable light (Psalm 68:5); called desert because it has no moisture and no air; God also said to be above the seventh heaven; represented by Saturn.

It’s possible that Judaism’s belief in multiple heavens could have been influenced by their exile in Babylon.. In fact, the word “paradise,” one of many words used to reflect heaven, comes from the Persian for “enclosed park or garden.”

Also note here that the first three represent the universe, the visible night sky and sun, and the atmosphere. These are natural physical things even when beyond the range of telescopes.

Each of the other four levels is both physical and spiritual. Three levels are translated habitation. Three levels are said to be populated: Zevul Maon and Aravot with various heavenly beings, the throne, and the spirits of the Saints. That is probably the level Paul referred to, the third of the populated levels as the dwelling place of the Most High, the third heaven, is the highest heaven. (2 Cor. 12:2)

One thing is certain, whether 3, or 7, or how ever many heavens, levels, realms and dimensions there are…Heaven is our final home and the ‘heaven’ of it will simply be dwelling in His presence. Shalom!