ToraChrist

Tag: biblical truth

  • 11. Is Sunday the Day of Resurrection?

    To answer this question, we must first understand the special context of the crucifixion.
    The Gospels give us a wealth of detail surrounding this time.
    It begins with the Passover meal:

    “And the day of unleavened bread came, on which the passover must be sacrificed.”
    (Luke 22:7, Elberfelder 1905)

    From this verse we gain two crucial insights:

    • (a) It concerns the Passover
    • (b) The lamb had to be slaughtered

    This shows us that it is about one of the festivals of the LORD, as described in Leviticus 23:

    “These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons:
    In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, is the LORD’s passover.
    And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD:
    seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
    In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
    But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days:
    in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
    And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
    Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them,
    When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof,
    then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
    And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you:
    on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.”
    (Leviticus 23:4–11, Elberfelder 1905)

    The Passover lamb was to be sacrificed on the 14th of Abib, in the evening.
    From the context, we also learn that the firstfruits offering was to take place after the Sabbath, i.e., on the 16th of Abib.
    The entire period from the 15th to the 21st of Abib is the Feast of the LORD, later known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

    So, if our Redeemer ate the Passover with His disciples, then it was the 14th of Abib.
    The events described in the Bible—His interrogation by the Sanhedrin, sentencing by Pontius Pilate, and scourging—clearly point to the crucifixion taking place on a Friday.

    The Scripture states unequivocally that it was the Preparation Day:

    “The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day (for that sabbath day was an high day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.”
    (John 19:31, Elberfelder 1905)

    Now, to understand the biblical day reckoning: a new day begins at sunset—not at midnight.
    This may seem strange to us, since we count the new day by the clock (24:00 or 0:00).
    But in biblical terms, the event defines the beginning of the day:
    when the sun sets, the new day begins.

    Jesus had already foretold:

    “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
    For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly,
    so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
    (Matthew 12:39–40, Elberfelder 1905)

    We also know from Scripture the precise time of death:

    “And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
    And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,
    Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?
    which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
    (Mark 15:33–34, Elberfelder 1905)

    The ninth hour corresponds roughly to 3 p.m. in modern time.

    Even if we disregard the precise date, we know that God’s Son, Jesus Christ, died on a Friday around 3 p.m.,
    and was then laid in the tomb.
    At sunset, according to biblical reckoning, the first night in the grave had begun.

    In biblical thinking, it was not necessary for both day and night to be fully completed in order to count as fulfilled—
    it was sufficient that the night or day had begun.

    Reckoning the three days and three nights:

    • Friday evening (after sunset):
      → First night / no day
    • Saturday (evening included):
      → Two nights / one day
    • Sunday evening:
      → Three nights / two days
    • Monday morning (sunrise):
      → Three nights / three days

    According to the Scriptures, this shows very clearly:
    The resurrection could not have taken place on Sunday.

    So when modern Bible translations refer to the “first day of the week,”
    they mean the first day according to church tradition.
    Because the Church redefined Sunday as the last day,
    the first day of the week became Monday.

    Only the Luther 1545 translation gets it exactly right:

    “And they came unto the sepulchre very early in the morning on one of the sabbaths, as the sun was rising.”
    (Mark 16:2, Luther 1545)

    This translation is what first caught my attention and prompted me to look more closely at what actually happened.
    It is fully consistent with the Textus Receptus, the foundational Greek text—
    because it speaks of “sabbaton” (Greek: σαββάτων, Strong G4521).
    And because this was the festival week of the LORD,
    Scripture refers to it in the plural: Sabbaths.

  • 8. Did Jesus Die for All People?

    8. Did Jesus Die for All People?

    It is often claimed that God loves all people and, therefore, the crucifixion of our Redeemer applies universally to all mankind.
    But this interpretation is complete nonsense.
    If that were true, then there would be no Final Judgment at the end of days.

    Jesus died only for His people, and His people are the smallest on earth:

    “The LORD did not set his love upon you nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people.”
    (Deuteronomy 7:7, Luther 1545)

    So when we read today that there are over 2 billion Christians, it should give us serious pause.
    That would mean roughly one in four people on earth is a true follower of Christ.
    This clearly contradicts the Holy Scriptures.

    Our Redeemer Himself also said:

    “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
    (Matthew 7:23, Luther 1545)

    If our Redeemer did not die for all people, then how are we to understand His crucifixion and resurrection?

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    God’s people consist primarily of one single family:

    The descendants of Jacob, who was later renamed Israel.

    And just like with any earthly family, anyone can become a member—either through marriage or adoption.

    To become part of God’s people, one must accept God’s Son, Jesus Christ, as King and Redeemer.

    This was already demonstrated during the Exodus from Egypt.
    Back then, not only Israelites left Egypt—some Egyptians joined them as well.

    This is specifically noted in Scripture, and after that, there is no longer any distinction made between the Israelites and the Egyptians:

    “And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
    And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.”
    (Exodus 12:37–38, Luther 1545)

    Even the Ten Commandments emphasize that the laws also apply to the strangers living among the people.

    Likewise, the story of Ruth shows us that whoever accepts God, His Son, and His statutes becomes part of His people.

    Only after we confess Christ as our Redeemer and accept His commandments, does the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ become effective for us.

  • 3. How Biblical Are Churches?

    3. How Biblical Are Churches?

    Churches are entirely unbiblical.
    Churches today survive by convincing their members that without the interpretation of their theologians, all would be lost.

    To my dismay, I eventually had to realise: Theology is not theology.
    Although we have only one Bible, we have many different theologies.
    Some practise infant baptism, others believe they must be immersed seven times to be truly baptised.
    Still others claim to be the end-time church—and many other differences.
    Yet according to the measure of the Bible, all churches are unbiblical.
    For whoever transgresses even one commandment has broken them all.

    Additionally, in the end times, the faithful are called out of the (still) future Babylon.
    This Babylon consists of economy, politics, and religions.
    Furthermore, most religions strive for official recognition by the state.
    But when the state recognises something, religious groups are not allowed to deviate too far from state mandates.

    For example: if the state promotes same-sex relationships, then a state-recognised religious group is not allowed to publicly uphold the biblical prohibition of homosexual relationships.
    This shows clearly: No state-recognised religious group can be biblically justified.

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    The first congregation, as described in the book of Acts, was not a religious group.
    They were people who lived together voluntarily and shared their small possessions with one another.
    Of course, we also read about problems and the like—but strictly speaking, it was never a religion.

    In the beginning, the believers were one large family.
    The twelve patriarchs were brothers and had one father.
    This small family simply grew into a very large one.

    Only over time did elements emerge that make up what we now call a religion:

    “(usually accepted by a larger community) a certain belief, defined by teaching and statutes, along with its confession.”
    (Duden online, https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Religion, retrieved 2023-03-18 22:06)

    The Duden explains quite simply that a religion is defined by teaching and statutes—that is, by human rules.

    That is why Jesus also said:

    “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye build the tombs of the prophets and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
    Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
    Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city.”
    (Matthew 23:29–34, Elberfelder 1905)

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    And on another occasion, Jesus said to the theologians of His time:

    “Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
    Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word.
    Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
    When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
    And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.”
    (John 8:42–45, Elberfelder 1905)

    As soon as man introduces his own rules and makes faith dependent on anything, it becomes a religion.
    And when it becomes a religion, it is an unbiblical grouping.

    But if a person has the Holy Scripture as his foundation and believes sincerely, then it is a blessing when other believers gather, and they live together.
    Such a group is biblically grounded and does not require external signs.

  • 1. Are Jews and Christians Different?

    1. Are Jews and Christians Different?

    From a general point of view, Christians and Jews are regarded as similar but not the same. I often find that most people are unaware that “the Jew” as a single identity does not truly exist. Within Judaism, there are many different denominations. There are even Messianic Jews who have also accepted our Saviour. However, all of these belief systems are entirely man-made and not in harmony with the Bible.

    The Holy Scriptures consistently distinguish between two groups: God’s people (faithful followers) and idolaters (all others). Whether we call ourselves Orthodox Jews, Messianic Jews, Catholic Christians, Protestant Christians, or anything else, it does not matter to God or His Son. Our Saviour does not care in which group we feel most at home—so long as we sincerely follow Him.

    In the Holy Scriptures, God’s people are, after King Solomon’s reign, divided into two camps: ten tribes in the northern kingdom (House of Israel) and two tribes in the southern kingdom (House of Judah). Over time, only the southern kingdom remained as a recognisable group. Their brothers from the northern kingdom intermingled with other peoples and thus became lost.

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    Jesus was born in the southern kingdom and first taught them. But when they did not accept Him, He said:

    “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”
    (John 10:16, Luther 1545)

    When Jesus speaks of sheep not of this fold, He refers to the lost northern kingdom. We also find confirmation of this in Scripture:

    “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
    (Matthew 24:31, Luther 1545)

    “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.”
    (Revelation 7:9, Luther 1545)

    From a biblical standpoint, there is no fundamental difference between Jew and Christian. Already in the books of the minor prophets it is foretold that both houses will be reunited into one people.

    Historically, too, there is no distinction between Jews and Christians. As mentioned, our Saviour was born into the tribe of Judah. His disciples—including more than just the well-known twelve—were Jews as well. Jesus and later the apostles preached in Jewish synagogues. Their lifestyle was what we would today label as “typically Jewish.”

    In the early Christian community of the first century A.D., those who chose to follow Jesus effectively chose a denomination within Judaism. Because this group taught certain distinct doctrines, they were referred to as a sect. Today, the word “sect” carries a negative connotation, but originally it simply meant:

    “A smaller religious community that split off from a larger religious group because it emphasised different positions than the original community.”
    (Duden Online, accessed 18 March 2023, 21:46)

    If you watch a documentary or read an entry in a Bible lexicon, you’ll find that there is no debate on this point: the first Christians were Jews. In this sense, there is no essential difference between Jews and Christians. Strictly speaking, there is only one people of God, among whom no distinction is made based on ancestry.

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