Did You Know?

The phrases "G-d the Father" and "G-d our Father" are not mentioned in the Tanakh (what is commonly but mistakenly called the "Old Testament").

We know that the Word of G-d was responsible for creating all of Creation (John 1:1-3) and that Messiah is the Word of G-d made flesh (John 1:14).

Who is the Creator?  That was Messiah, the Son.

I can imagine the email I'm going to get already...

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY'RE NOT JEWISH?"

"THEY'RE THE PATRIARCHS OF THE JEWISH FAITH!"

"HOW CAN THEY NOT BE JEWISH?"

It all depends on how you define "Jewish."

What is "Jewish"?  What does that word mean?

Although the story of the nativity (the birth of Messiah Yeshua) is recorded in the book of Luke and other details are given in the other Gospels, the word "Christmas" is never found in Scripture.

Christmas (originally Christ's Mass) was an invention of the Catholic church in the fourth century, which integrated a handful of popular celebrations around the end of the year (e.g., winter solstice, Saturnalia, and Yule).

Here are some other Christmas traditions that are not mentioned in Scripture:

Easter is only mentioned once in only one common translation: the King James Version.

Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. (Acts 12:1-4 KJV)

What about the hundreds of other English translations (including the New King James) and other non-English translations? Why are they all Easterless?

Here we go again.  I can imagine the conversation in homes all over will start something like this...

"Honey!  Come look at what those heretics are spouting off this time!"

It's true, though.

Everyone does go to heaven.

We can prove it together from Scripture.  So let's start from the beginning with a question that every child should be able to answer:

Although it may surprise many Christians, it is true.

G-d does not love everyone.

There are some He hates.

I can hear the arguments already:

What about "For G-d so loved the world"!?  (John 3:16)

And what about "G-d doesn't wish for any to perish"!?  (2 Peter 3:9)

Those are true.  So are these other passages of Scripture:

Yes, it's true.

Good Friday? 

Completely missing.

Not present.

Although it may come as a shock and surprise to most Christians, Christ did not declare all foods clean.

Some may point to various translations of Mark 7:19 and claim that He did.

But before coming to any conclusion, we should consider these points:

No, this is not "The Da Vinci Code," part two.  Yeshua really did have more than twelve disciples.  Luke 6:13-16 records the list of the Twelve disciples:

1. Simon (Peter)
2. Andrew
3. James
4. John
5. Philip
6. Bartholomew
7. ...

Scripture records several individuals other than Messiah Yeshua who rose from the dead: 

• Elijah raises a widow's son from the dead. (1 Kings 17:17-24)
• Elisha raises the Shunammite woman's son from the dead. (2 Kings 4:19-20)
• A man is raised from the dead when his body touches Elisha's bones. (2 Kings 13:20-21)
• Several people rose from the dead when Messiah was crucified and died. (Matthew 27:50-53)

Things have been quiet for a while, so I thought I might stir things up a bit with a new "Did You Know" article.  Once again, I anticipate that a resounding call will ring through homes:

"Honey!  Come look at what this heretic is blathering about this time!"

As startling and disturbing as the idea may be to some believers, the claim that every knee will bow and every tongue confess the name of Jesus Christ is false.

Although some may claim otherwise, the apostle Paul never stopped keeping the Law of Moses after encountering the risen Messiah in Acts chapter 9.

Wait, what...?

Wasn't Paul "all things to all men," as he said in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23?

Yes, he was, but that does not mean that he followed the customs of the Gentiles or forsook the Law of Moses to do so.

Many people believe they are going to heaven when they die, but the Bible describes three heavens, not just one.

The critical question for them: "To which heaven are you going?"

One of the heavens mentioned in Scripture is the sky: the abode of birds, kites, and airplanes.  Genesis 1:20, Job 12:7, and Psalm 8:8 (among many other verses) speak of this heaven.

The authors and contributors at Psalm11918.org have scoured Scripture and documented the complete list of everything a person must do to become saved.

The complete list is provided below.

This edition of "Did You Know?" is a three-for-one special! 

Number One

Scripture never mentions "The Ten Commandments".  Oh, sure, the commandments themselves are in the Bible, true.  But the phrase "the ten commandments" is never found.

"Aha!" some of you will say.  "I have finally found something those heretics can't back out of!"

Oh, ye of little faith... :)