Ken Heidebrecht lives in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is a land of historic lighthouses, vibrant music, and wine. How fitting for a man whose mission in life is spreading the good news of the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Ken shepherds two ministry efforts — Hanging On His Words and Mountains Into The Sea — both of which can be found on YouTube. It is my belief that Ken is part of a younger generation of men who our Messiah has raised up to challenge false doctrine. When you survey his online catalogue of teaching videos, and listen to his music, several things become crystal clear:
He is not afraid to tackle contentious religious topics
He has a gift for making the complex understandable
He loves Scripture
He loves people
Although we have yet to meet face-to-face, I feel as if I know him. (Yah has a way of bringing believers together that way.) We connected via email over a year ago when he reached out after reading a copy of our book The Gospel Worth Dying For. Our purpose behind writing the book was to pull together all the pieces of the Gospel of the Kingdom message in one place. Ken’s endorsement served as a witness that what we had written was cohesive, comprehensive, and honored our Father in Heaven.
Ken Heidebrecht
Who Is Ken Heidebrecht?
When you visit Ken’s ministry channels, subscriber comments echo my impression of this remarkable brother in the faith. Here are just a few of the reactions he gets from followers and supporters from all over the world:
As one of thousands who has been profoundly impacted by Ken’s ministry, I was curious to know more about him — his background, challenges, and outlook on life through the lens of the Gospel. He graciously responded to my request for an interview.
Brenda: We are told that the Word of Yah is a mirror, reflecting the true condition of our soul. When you gaze into that mirror, who do you see?
Ken: When I gaze into that mirror I see two things. I see a man who continues to age through the frailty of mortality (which is why I need Jesus to resurrect me), but also a man whose appearance slowly reflects the character of God’s Son each time he approaches the mirror. I try to approach the mirror in light of how James constructs his teaching in the first chapter of his brief epistle. When I keep practicing the commandments of God (which is what doing the Word means in his letter), I can leave the washroom after looking at myself in the mirror and remember what it is that I looked like in that reflection. If I don’t actually do the good works of the Law, then I will leave the washroom forgetting who it is that I had just seen in the mirror — and worse, others around me won’t recognize who I am either. My life goal is to reflect the light of Christ through my faith AND works, so that the world around me can see the purity of that light and glorify our Father in heaven.
Brenda: Most believers can point to a specific day or experience that convinced them the Bible was true and Messiah real. When did that happen for you?
Ken: I don’t recall ever having a definitive moment where I knew that the Scriptures were true. I grew up reading the Bible and always held a belief in the God of the Bible (though my walk would definitely not reflect that at intermittent stages of my life). There was, however, one particular moment in my life where my faith in Yahweh and His Word was cemented — and that occurred after I reached a very low point in 2012. I cried out to the Father in desperation to know Him more and begged Him to reveal the truth of what life is all about in a tangible and coherent way. Shortly after that prayer, I “stumbled” across certain online ministries that helped open my eyes to truth in Scripture that I had never seen or considered before.
Brenda: You have such a gift for teaching. What led you to start your YouTube ministry Hanging On His Words?
Ken: After Yahweh responded to my prayer in 2012, I began to study His Word more fervently. I craved it like a person who craves a particular food. That passion led to me scouring the internet in an attempt to find others like myself who were studying the Scriptures with fervency, who weren’t afraid to ask good questions, and who could test doctrines without being judgmental and condemning. Over time I met Sean Griffin (Kingdom in Context) on a Facebook chat thread. He noticed my passion and interest in discussion and reached out to me to see if I would be interested in joining a study group that he was a part of. I accepted his invitation, which led to us spending years of studying the Scriptures together. We put to practice the method of iron sharpening iron. Sean decided to start a YouTube channel called Kingdom in Context in 2018 for the purpose of preaching concepts in Scripture that we had both never heard of growing up, but felt were extremely important for the body of Christ to understand. He wanted to reach the masses with the gospel message of the literal Kingdom of God — and I did too. About eight months later, Sean suggested that I also consider starting a channel as he considered me well-versed in the knowledge of God’s Word. I don’t like the spotlight and I don’t like talking on camera. However, I decided that it would be character building for me to try something new and took a step out of my comfort zone. I released my first video in September of 2018 and almost four and a half years later, I can say that I am so thankful that I did. It has been a blessing to hear various testimonies from people saying how the content I have created has blessed, encouraged or helped them. All for the glory of the Father!
Brenda: Your other passion is music. I am amazed at how your lyrics and compositions differ from so-called contemporary Christian and Torah inspired music. Can you elaborate on your process and approach to songwriting?
Ken: When I came into this particular faith walk which involved keeping the covenant commandments of God, comprehending the literal promises of His Kingdom to come, understanding the first resurrection and its timing, acknowledging who the Son of God is and appreciating the various roles that he plays, and the importance of grasping Yahweh’s creation model with all of the intricacies that are interconnected with that — I felt I had to express these ideas through a medium of music.
Ken in his recording studio
Music has been a huge passion of mine ever since I picked up my mother’s brush and pretended it was a guitar at age 6. I quickly recognized that our faith community lacked the type of music that touched on all of the aforementioned concepts in their lyrical content and decided to fill that void by writing and recording new music. I was in bands throughout my teen years, and even produced my own secular music as a hobby when I was in college, so my love for music has always been a part of my life.
When I write a song, I start with a guitar part. Then I take that guitar part and come up with a drum beat. Bass and synthesizer/piano pieces follow that process. Then I think about a topic that I would like to communicate lyrically and begin searching for a melody that can accompany the lyrics. Both melody and lyrics fuse together as I listen to the other parts of the song. That’s typically how I write music.
Brenda: The times in which we live seem to be shrouded in doom, gloom, and negativity. However, as believers we are admonished to stay hopeful. In your opinion, how do we do this?
Ken: Reminding myself about the covenant promises of God is what usually helps me snap out of any periods of fear and depressiveness that I’m in. Meditating on the Scriptures that allude to those promises helps a lot. Knowing what the message that God has tried to communicate to mankind is, is imperative if we are going to navigate the dark barriers of this world. When you know Scripture and what the overarching contextual message is, you can possess the type of confidence that the apostles had even in their time of persecution. Believing that Yahweh and His Son are bringing a massive home down through the sky so that we can all live in it forever as resurrected immortals is a great message to hold onto as the days grow shorter and the darkness increases.
Brenda: As a man of faith, what gives you the greatest joy? What are your most profound challenges?
Ken: What gives me the greatest joy is my comprehension of God’s message to us and how that message has effected the lives of others who also believe it. In John 8:31-32, Jesus told those who had believed the message that the Father had given him that, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” As a humbled disciple of God’s Son, I have come to know the truth that he asserted I would receive if I remain in his word as a disciple. I have seen this come true in my life. I feel liberated. Nothing has given me more joy than to understand and believe what my Messiah taught while he walked the earth in mortal flesh. However, my most profound challenge would be the “abiding” part in that text. I can abide now (though I stumble and fall at times), but when faced with intense adversity and persecution, will I go down defending my faith and the authority of my Messiah as Peter attempted to in Gethsemane the night that Jesus was betrayed, or will I succumb to the pressures of Babylon and deny him as Peter also did hours later when Jesus was being held in a mock trial? I’m preparing my mind and my heart to abide for the long run.
Brenda: What is your recipe for perseverance?
Ken: Remaining steadfastly glued to the Word of God and being in some sort of a community with others who also love God is my current recipe for perseverance. We all need fellowship with others who share the same love for the Scriptures, and the God of those Scriptures. We need to be encouraged by our scattered body of fellow believers. We need to lay the infighting aside, and work on edification and lifting each other up. The Adversary wants to divide and conquer. He wants us isolated and fearing everyone and everything. The way that we combat that and persevere will be through the power of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of those who can love God and love their fellow brothers and sisters too.
Brenda: What is the best advice you can give someone new to Torah?
Ken: The best advice I can give is — don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. Enjoy the journey. The Father opened your eyes and He will guide you along the way. I have been trying my best to keep the instructions of God (Torah) for over 10 years now and I still have a lot to learn. Yahweh knows your heart and knows your desire is to please Him and to love Him the way that He receives love, so don’t be too hard on yourself or others around you who haven’t been awoken to the beauty of His liberating Law. Also, refrain from seeking the council of those within Judaism. I have personally seen people get sucked into that religion of man-made tradition and it defeats the original purpose of trying to keeping Yahweh’s commandments through faith and love.
Brenda: Anything else you would like to share?
Ken: In closing, I would just like to encourage you. You can know the Word that our heavenly Father communicated to His prophets of old. You can comprehend the message that He so desperately wants us all to clue into. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t allow the Enemy to fluster you and kick you while you are down (you will have down times – that’s where Jesus helps us as our High Priest in the tabernacle above). Disciple after the ways of your Messiah and seek a community of believers who share the same passion and love for the Creator as you do. You can do this! It’s God’s will for you to do this! It’s why we were all created in the first place.
I am profoundly grateful for young men like Ken Heidebrecht who encourage brothers and sisters in the faith. It is through their painstaking research, which involves testing Bible canon against ancient books banned by religious gatekeepers, that believers in Messiah have been motivated to test the scriptures for themselves. In doing so we are finally able to see and hear what the Spirit is saying. I believe that when the Gospel of the Kingdom is fully understood and embraced, it will stiffen our resolve to live courageously, righteously, and faithfully.
If you haven’t already, please take time to check out Hanging On His Words and Mountains Into The Sea. Ministries like these deserve our prayers and support. You can support Ken’s efforts financially by clicking on the links below.
The instructions of Yah are perfect, reviving the soul; The degrees of Yah are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Psalms 19:7
I am a simple person, so I guess this is why I love simple things.
Needless to say, simplicity played a huge role in the structure and design of this year’s appointed times calendar.
My goal was to produce an easy-to-understand, “no frills” calendar that tracks well with the Gregorian calendar. Brothers and sisters like me who are not particularly “tech-savvy” will find it easy to download and print.
This short format works great for those of us who like posting our calendar on the refrigerator door rather than hanging it on a wall.
Here are a few other features I hope you too will love about the GWDF 2023/2024 Zadok Priestly Calendar:
A Page for Every Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter seasons have their own dedicated pages. This “no-frills” format allows you to see the current date, day of the week, and feast days at-a-glance.
Scripture Cross References for Appointed Times
In addition to Bible canon scripture references, there are also verses included from 1 Enoch, the Book of Jubilees, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
First Fruits Memorial Days
Barley, Wheat, Wine, and Oil First Fruits memorial days are highlighted, with keys for tracking each.
Oil and Wood Offering Memorial Days (DSS)
The First Fruits of New Oil festival occurs on day 22 of the sixth month.
The week-long Festival of Wood Offerings ceremony begins the day after the Festival of New Oil. It occurs in the 6th month on days 23-28 and historically involved the (paired) tribes of Levi & Judah, Benjamin & Joseph (his sons), Reuben & Simeon, Issachar & Zebulon, Gad & Asher, and Dan & Naphtali.
Truth Nuggets & Other Scriptural Witnesses
Home-schooling moms and dads who may want to help their children dive deeper into the Word will find these very useful. Extra-biblical books that have been removed from our western bibles still contain valuable truth nuggets. The GWDF calendar cites a few of these writings on the Winter page (months 10-12) to help you do a “deep dive” into the lives of the 12 Patriarchs and Prophets like Baruch, Enoch, and Ezra. Other breadcrumbs listed from Jubilees and the Brenton Septuagint (LXX) will hopefully inspire you in these last days.
New Year. New Beginnings.
Spring Bluebonnets in bloom in Texas
Spring is one of my favorite seasons of the year. In Texas (where I live), the leaves appear and the birds sing songs as they build their nests. The days get longer as plants grow and flowers bloom. It is a time of new beginnings for all of us.
This year, New Year’s Day will begin on March 22nd. During these three months of Spring, we will celebrate the Passover and Unleavened Bread, Shavuot, and Feast of Weeks memorials.
If you will indulge me, I would like to share how I have traditionally celebrated these appointed times with friends.
Month 1 Day 14(beginning in the evening) is Passover (Pesach) when I usually roast lamb chops with friends and enjoy a meal together while remembering all that Yeshua (Jesus), our Melchizedek High Priest, has done for us. Knowing that He is performing all his priestly duties in heaven right now, brings me so much joy and peace.
Month 1 Days 15-21is the seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread. My friends and I eat unleavened bread for the duration of this feast. The first and last day (of this week) are Holy Sabbath days of rest. Since the fourth day of Unleavened Bread falls on the weekly Sabbath, we get an extra day of rest – three in all!
Leaven is a metaphor for the sins that separate us from our Heavenly Father. During this time we examine ourselves and ask Yahuah for forgiveness in Yeshua’s name by confessing our transgressions. (1 John 3:4)
Month 1 Day 26 marks the First Fruits of Barley and the start of the seven week (49 days) count to Month 3 Day 15 (the 50th day) known as the Shavuot/Pentecost/Feast of Weeks memorial. Shavuot is a multi-faceted feast – a time for renewing our covenant with the Most High. I use this time to grow deeper in my relationship with Yah and Yeshua. It is a daily struggle in this earthly body, but the effort is worth it.
I don’t have a place to grow barley, wheat, or oil, but I can renew the covenant with our Heavenly Father in my heart through study, confession, and prayer.
Final Thoughts
Yahuah has blessed us with several memorial feasts to look forward to this Spring. These are days you and I can celebrate with friends and family alike. Yah is a loving Father who desires to spend time with us. With this in mind, I pray this short, sweet, and simple appointed times calendar will enrich your life and help you draw closer to Yahuah and His son, our High Priest, Yeshua. Amein.
When you get to the end of the book of Acts you may notice something peculiar. Unlike most of the other epistles included in the New Testament (other than James and 3 John) Acts does not end with the customary “amen.” Chapter 28’s rather abrupt conclusion to the story of the beginnings of the early church has led to speculation that the book of Acts is missing a final chapter. This is an important observation since Paul was chosen by Yeshua to be the Apostle to the nations (Gentiles).
But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. ‘I will deliver you from the people, as well as the nations, to whom I send you, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to Elohim, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Acts 26:16-18
Although Paul immediately answered the call to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom, he was constantly being thwarted in his efforts by a certain sect of the Pharisees. The religious leaders who crucified the Messiah were determined to kill him.
“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and to the nations, that they should repent, turn to Elohim, and do works befitting repentance. For these reasons the Yahudiym seized me in the Temple and tried to kill me.”
Acts 26:19-21
Many of us were led to believe that Acts 28 was the beginning of the end for Paul while under Roman house arrest. We were left with the impression that Paul was immediately beheaded in Rome. But was this the case? According to Dr. Ralph F. Wilson:
Presumably Paul would have had a hearing before Caesar (Acts 27:24) at the end of this period. The possible results might be: (1) conviction and execution, (2) conviction and much stricter confinement, (3) exile from Rome, or (4) Paul’s accusers don’t appear and his case is dismissed. Perhaps the significance of the “two years” of Acts 28:30 is that it is the statutory time that Paul’s accusers have to bring their case before the emperor before the case is dismissed. We’re not sure. At any rate, there seems to be a firm Christian tradition that Paul was released for a time before his final execution.
Dr. Ralph F. Wilson, Doctor of Ministry & Master of Divinity, Fuller Theological Seminary
As usual, do your own research. I have posted the text of Acts 29, better known as the “Long Lost Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles” for your convenience. It picks up where Acts 28:31 ends. Or, you can watch the video which features a voiceover narration with images.
Acts 29
1 And Paul, full of the blessings of Christ, and abounding in the spirit, departed out of Rome, determined to go into Spain, for he had a long time proposed to journey thither ward, and was minded also to go from thence to Britain.
2 For he had heard in Phoenicia that certain of the children of Israel, about the time of the Assyrian captivity, had escaped by sea to “The Isles afar off” as spoken by the Prophet Esdras, and called by the Romans – Britain.
3 And the Lord commanded the gospel to be preached far hence to the Gentiles, and to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.
4 And no man hindered Paul; for he testified boldly of Jesus before the tribunes and among the people; and he took with him certain of the brethren which abode with him at Rome, and they took shipping at Ostrium and having the winds fair, were brought safely into a haven of Spain.
5 And many people were gathered together from the towns and villages, and the hill country; for they had heard of the conversion to the Apostles, and the many miracles which he had wrought.
6 And Paul preached mightily in Spain, and great multitudes believed and were converted, for they perceived he was an apostle sent from God.
7 And they departed out of Spain, and Paul and his company finding a ship in Armorica sailing unto Britain, they were therein, and passing along the south Coast, they reached a port called Raphinus.
8 Now when it was voiced abroad that the Apostle had landed on their coast, great multitudes of the inhabitants met him, and they treated Paul courteously and he entered in at the east gate of their city, and lodged in the house of an Hebrew and one of his own nation.
9 And on the morrow he came and stood upon Mount Lud and the people thronged at the gate, and assembled in the Broadway, and he preached Christ unto them, and they believed the Word and the testimony of Jesus.
10 And at even the Holy Ghost fell upon Paul, and he prophesied, saying, Behold in the last days the God of Peace shall dwell in the cities, and the inhabitants thereof shall be numbered: and in the seventh numbering of the people, their eyes shall be opened, and the glory of their inheritance shine forth before them. The nations shall come up to worship on the mount the testifieth of the patience and long suffering of a servant of the Lord.
11 And in the latter days new tidings of the Gospel shall issue forth out of Jerusalem, and the hearts of the people shall rejoice, and behold, fountains shall be opened, and there shall be no more plague.
12 In those days there shall be wars and rumors of war; and a king shall rise up, and his sword, shall be for the healing of the nations, and his peacemaking shall abide, and the glory of his kingdom a wonder among princes.
13 And it came to pass that certain of the Druids came unto Paul privately, and showed by their rites and ceremonies they were descended from the Jews which escaped from bondage in the land of Egypt, and the apostle believed these things, and he gave them the kiss of peace.
14 And Paul abode in his lodgings three months confirming in the faith and preaching Christ continually.
15 And after these things Paul and his brethren departed from Raphinus and sailed unto Atium in Gaul.
16 And Paul preached in the Roman garrison and among the people, exhorting all men to repent and confess their sins.
17 And there came to him certain of the Belgae to inquire of him of the new doctrine, and of the man Jesus; And Paul opened his heart unto them and told them all things that had befallen him, howbeit, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; and they departed pondering among themselves upon the things which they had heard.
18 And after much preaching and toil, Paul and his fellow laborers passed into Helvetia, and came to Mount Pontius Pilate, where he who condemned the Lord Jesus dashed himself down headlong, and so miserably perished.
19 Immediately a torrent gushed out of the mountain and washed his body, broken in pieces, into a lake.
20 And Paul stretched forth his hands upon the water, and prayed unto the Lord, saying O Lord God, give a sign unto all nations that here Pontius Pilate, who condemned thine only-begotten son, plunged down headlong into the pit.
21 And while Paul was yet speaking, behold, there came a great earthquake, and the face of the waters was changed, and the form of the lake like unto the Son of Man hanging in an agony upon the Cross.
22 And a voice came out of heaven saying, Even Pilate hath escaped the wrath to come for he washed his hands before the multitude at the blood-shedding of the Lord Jesus
23 When, therefore, Paul and those that were with him saw the earthquake, and heard the voice of the angel, they glorified God, they were mightily strengthened in the spirit.
24 And they journeyed and came to Mount Julius where stood two pillars, one on the right hand and one on the left hand, erected by Caesar Augustus.
25 And Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, stood up between the two pillars, saying, Men and brethren these stones which ye see this day shall testify of my journey hence; and verily I say, they shall remain until the outpouring of the spirit upon all nations, neither shall the way be hindered throughout all generations.
26 And they went forth and came unto Illtricum, intending to go by Macedonia into Asia, and grace was found in all the churches, and they prospered and had peace. Amen.1
FOOTNOTE
1 This version of Acts 29 was reproduced from a work known as the “Long Lost Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.” Also referred to as the Sonnini Manuscript, it is named for C. S. Sonnini, who translated the document from the original Greek manuscript found in the archives at Constantinople (presented to him by the Sultan Abdoul Achmet). You will have to do your own research and draw your own conclusions as to the authenticity of this chapter addition to the Book of Acts. Here are links to two articles for your convenience: The Sonnini Manuscript (from The Saxon Messenger) and The Lost Chapter of Acts of the Apostles (from Torah Truth Seeker).
~ It is widely believed that 2 Timothy was Paul’s final letter written prior to his execution while held in Mamertine Prison in Rome. Tradition holds that Paul was beheaded by Nero.
The Gospel of the Kingdom that Yeshua proclaimed is more comprehensive than his death, burial, and resurrection. Yes, hIs crucifixion and resurrection fulfilled prophecy and ordained him as our heavenly High Priest (Hebrews 5:6) and mediator. However, this was just the tip of the Kingdom of heaven iceberg.
When you examine the gospel record of Yeshua’s ministry you will find that he rarely mentioned his impending death. He focused on behaviors that were necessary to enter the Kingdom and pointed the way to salvation through repentance and obedience. On at least three occasions1 his disciples were given a head’s up regarding his death and resurrection, but they did not understand what he was saying. Moreover, Yeshua did not share this information with the general public until the eve of his death. Following his triumphal entry into Jerusalem “certain Greeks” and “the people who stood by” were told:
“The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”
John 12:23,24 New King James Version
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all to myself.” This he said, signifying by what death he would die. The people answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can you say, “The Son of Man must be lifted up”? Who is this Son of Man?”
John 12:32-34 New King James Version
Yeshua’s crucifixion and resurrection fulfilled the covenant promise of a coming Redeemer — the hallmark message of the Law and the Prophets. His promise to draw all men to himself after he was lifted up would be fulfilled via the authority given to him by the Father to resurrect believers. He was that door through which the redeemed sheep could enter into the Kingdom.
Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:7-9 New King James Version
Our Messiah spent the bulk of his ministry correcting the bad doctrine taught by the religious leaders, stressing the importance of obedience to Torah. He never preached a doctrine of “once saved always saved” because he knew it was a subtle way of giving license to sin. Salvation is conditional and is predicated on our obedience.
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
Philippians 2:12 New American Standard
Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence— if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,
Colossians 1:21-23 New American Standard
The Kingdom of Heaven: Literal and Tangible
It has been said that the word gospel can mean either the good news about Yeshua, or the good news preached by Yeshua. If you limit the gospel to information about Yeshua (as many churches do) your understanding of the nature and function of the Kingdom will remain veiled.
Unfortunately for some, Yah’s Kingdom has become a kind of esoteric and substance-less existence promoted by gnosticism and Catholicism.
The catechism of the Catholic Church defines heaven thus: “Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness. (1024)
Terms like “deepest human longings” and “happiness” are subjective. Sadly, many Protestant churches have adopted these teachings, relegating heaven to an ethereal place devoid of materiality and tangibility. They have completely ignored what the Law (Torah) and Prophets had to say. Remember, the New Testament did not exist during the time of Yeshua’s ministry. He often quoted from the Old Testament to explain matters pertaining to the Kingdom.
The Scriptures tell us that Yah’s Kingdom exists now above our heads and is a tangible place where animals, spirit beings, rivers, fruit, mountains, and trees can be found. It is a literal, material place. It is real, bruh.
And they shall come, and shall rejoice in the mount of Zion, and shall come to the good things of God, to a land of corn, and wine, and fruits, and cattle and sheep…
Jeremiah 38:12
The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding: and they were not willing to come. Again he sent out other servants, saying, “Tell those who are invited, ‘See, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatted cattle are killed and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.'”
Matthew 22:2-4
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations.
Revelation 22:1,2
And he answered saying: “This high mountain which thou has seen, whose summit is like the throne of God, is His throne, where the Holy Great One, the Lord of Glory, the Eternal King, will sit, when He shall come down to visit the earth with goodness. And as for this fragrant tree no mortal is permitted to touch it till the great judgment, when He shall take vengeance on all and bring everything to its consummation for ever. It shall then be given to the righteous and holy. Its fruit shall be food for the elect;
1 Enoch 25:3-5The Book of Enoch by R.I. Burns
Yeshua wants us to cling to a hope that surpasses understanding. He wants us to grasp the magnitude of a Kingdom so glorious and precious that we would sacrifice everything in this life to get there. This was the depth of the commitment that martyrs throughout history have willingly made because they considered death a small price to pay. For these brave saints the Kingdom was good news for all who embraced it and longed to be there.
Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 Berean Study Bible
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
James 1:12 Berean Study Bible
Kingdom Fundamentals
Those who heard the call to repent that John the Immerser (Baptist)2 and Yeshua preached had to enlarge their understanding of what biblical salvation meant. They had to cast aside the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees3 which was hypocrisy and doctrine which placed religious tradition4 above obedience to Torah.
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Matthew 4:15-17 Berean Study Bible
If you are reading this article you probably identify with those early believers in Messiah who sincerely desired to walk in his footsteps and embrace his Kingdom promises. You may have thought, “Ok, I have repented and believed in Yeshua to save me and usher me into the Kingdom of Heaven by resurrection. Now what?”
Proleptically born-again believers are expected to practice Kingdom behavior. This means we have to make a concerted effort to overcome our fleshly nature and deliberately choose to handle people and situations according to Messiah’s instructions. Our walk is to emulate his. The expression “What would Jesus do?” must be contemplated in every situation because his behavior was/is Kingdom behavior and complies with Torah.
For example, when someone hurts you do you try to reconcile, or do you refuse to speak to them? Do you choose to forgive others or slander them? Do you listen to the voices of unclean spirits, or handle situations based on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit as outlined in the Scriptures?
Yes, these are hard choices. Obeying the Spirit means we must reject “fleshly” behaviors that include lying, gossiping, seeking revenge, adultery, cheating and stealing. When Messiah paid our sin debt, he did not give us license to ignore the commandments. Our lives are being measured against Yah’s moral and ethical standards. (Exodus 20:1-17; Leviticus 18 & 19;Deuteronomy 5:6-21)
Before we move on, there are a few foundational matters to consider:
Repentance Precedes Redemption
Obedience to Torah Leads to Righteousness
Love and Forgiveness are Kingdom Behaviors
Kingdom Citizenship is Selective
Repentance Precedes Redemption
From the time he began his Galilean ministry until his death, Yeshua’s command to repent was required of anyone seeking admission into the Kingdom.
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17 New King James Version
Repentance is not something to be taken lightly. Godly sorrow that is in agreement with Yah’s willproduces a change in the inner man which brings us to salvation. However, the hopeless sorrow of those who do not believe will bring death. Being sorry that you got caught doing something is not repentance.
For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
2 Corinthians 7:10 New Living Translation
In the strictest sense, repentance requires abandoning thoughts and actions which do not agree with the Father’s rules concerning righteous behavior.
So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin];
Matthew 3:8 Amplified Bible
Anyone who sincerely repents of sin and stays on the narrow path for the rest of their life will be grafted into covenant Israel. (Romans 11) They will be invited to the wedding banquet.
But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
Exodus 20:6 New Living Translation
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
Deuteronomy 5:10 King James Version
Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.
John 14:21 Berean Study Bible
Obedience to Torah Leads to Righteousness
Without realizing it, many Christians have been indoctrinated into dispensationalism5 and antinomianism. Believers in Messiah are taught that “grace” has set them free from the necessity of obeying Torah. Obedience is equated with a rigid, inflexible legalism. They are told that Christ’s righteousness has been “imputed” to them so they bear no responsibility in working out their own salvation. If the notion of imputed righteousness is true, then Yeshua wasted his time preaching the importance of faith and works relative to salvation.
Jesus said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? Only God is good. If you want to have eternal life, you must obey his commandments
Matthew 19:17 Contemporary English Version
So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ].
2 Philipians 2:12 Amplified Bible
Love and Forgiveness are Kingdom Behaviors
Both Father and Son are living examples of love and forgiveness. Unfortunately our modern culture has distorted the meaning of both. Biblical love is tied to commitment, not feelings. Forgiveness does not weigh transgressions in the balance to determine if a person is worthy to receive it. Yeshua was clear and unequivocal:
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
John 13:34 Berean Study Bible
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:12 Berean Study Bible
Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 13:10 Berean Study Bible
We don’t get to decide who is worthy of forgiveness. As we have been forgiven of sin, we are expected to extend forgiveness to others.
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 18: 21,22 Berean Study Bible
Then Kaypha approached him, and he said, “My Lord, if my brother commits an offense against me, how many times shall I forgive him? Seven times?” and Yeshua said to him, “I do not say to you until seven times, but until seventy times seven each.”
Matthew 18:21,22 Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Kingdom Citizenship is Selective
The Kingdom will not open its doors to everyone. Yeshua was clear — “Not every one who says to me, ‘Master, Master,’ will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens, but only those who are obedient to my Father who is in Heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) Only those who continue to do the will of the Father throughout their lifetime will be worthy of citizenship.
I used to believe the “once saved always saved” dogma. However, as I have grown in my understanding of the Scriptures, I know that this statement is not true. How can it be? As a child grows and is weaned from milk to meat, we as believers in Messiah are likewise expected to grow and mature. We grow and mature by feeding daily on Yah’s word. Yeshua says we must continue to abide in him and remain faithful until we die.
If “once saved always saved” then I can live a life of reckless abandon and still expect to enter the Kingdom — right? Once saved always saved is a license to sin. It cheapens the price that was paid by Yeshua on the tree. It degrades the notion of spiritual fidelity. If “once saved always saved” then why did Yeshua consistently warn people whom he had healed or rescued to go and sin no more?
But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.
Matthew 12: 36,37 Berean Study Bible
Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.
2 Peter 3:17,18 Berean Study Bible
We guard ourselves from being carried away by the error of bad doctrine by taking the time to read the Gospel message, which begins in Genesis and ends in Revelation. Bible canon is an integrated, cohesive message. When you remove the Old Testament/New Testament barriers, the Gospel of the Kingdom narrative is easily understood. The Gospel message expands beyond the death, burial, and resurrection of Yeshua.
What Is the Gospel of the Kingdom?
Simply put, the Gospel of the Kingdom is the good news of a tangible and real heaven coming down to earth. It is the blessed hope and culmination of the promise made in Genesis of a coming Redeemer. The descent of New Jerusalem, routing of the wicked from the earth, and the resurrection of the righteous from Sheol, are key events associated with the Day of the Lord.
Our High Priest Yeshua, in concert with the angels, is busy right now interceding on behalf of all believers destined to inherit this Kingdom.
But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
Hebrews 9:11-15 Berean Study Bible
For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.
Romans 10:4 Berean Study Bible
The Greek word for end is telos, which is defined as the principal end, aim or purpose of something or someone. It is part of the English word telescope. Skopos (scope) means a target for shooting at, as in hitting the mark. In other words, Yeshua is the goal that we aim at to become more like him. Like a telescope zooming in on something you look at, we observe Yeshua’s obedience to the law and strive to be like him.
Messiah being the goal of the law does not mean his righteousness was imputed, or transferred, to my (sin debt) account. This absolves the believer of his or her responsibility to obey the law; and sin is transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4)
Just as the “law” has been said to apply only to the “Jews” by the church, so has the word Torah. Torah is simply directions or instructions in righteousness given to us by the Most High. These laws are moral guidelines for us to follow in order to commune with the Father and have a blessed and fruitful life. Torah is not something exclusive to the “Jews” that some branches of Christianity oftentimes make it out to be. When we are taught to dismiss Torah, we place ourselves in spiritual/legal jeopardy.
Yeshua, Our High Priest
The Gospel of the Kingdom was known, taught and understood by Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the Prophets, and Apostles. They knew that all of humanity was tied to a covenant of blood until a Redeemer would come. He would pour out his blood on an earthly altar order to initiate a New Covenant with mankind where the shedding of blood would no longer be necessary. This New Covenant is not in force now but will be after the Day of the Lord resurrection event. (Hebrews 9:15-28)
Yeshua’s death was not “sacrificial” in the sense that he was taken against his will and killed in an effort to appease an angry god. He voluntarily laid down his life as a freewill offering in obedience to the Father. The Prophets and Patriarchs understood that the sacrificial rituals they performed are in essence pointing to a Redeemer. The offering of Messiah’s blood was not poured out on an altar in heaven. It was poured out on the alter of the earth.6 (Exodus 20:24; Exodus 23:18,19 LXX; Leviticus 17:11)
Yeshua’s blood secured our redemption by being pure and undefiled. This qualified him to become our sinless High Priest who acts as our mediator with the Father, and will ultimately resurrect us to eternal life. Hallelujah!
The way to the Kingdom is through the door of death. We get there by enduring to the end.
FOOTNOTES
1 Matthew 16: 21-23; Matthew 17:22,23; Matthew 20:17-19
2 Matthew 3:1-3; 11
3 Matthew 16:6,11&12; Luke 13:21
4 Matthew 15:3; Mark 7:8,9 &13
5 Yeshua never taught dispensationalism. It was a belief system introduced in the 1830s by John Nelson Darby. Dispensationalists split the church and Israel into two different factions. It exempts the church from having to obey Torah and teaches that the promises made to Israel (the “Jews”) are different from the ones made to Christians. Dispensationalists teach that the Church will be raptured before the Tribulation and do not have to obey Torah (which Judaism refers to as the Law of Moses).
6 This makes more sense if you understand the biblical creation model. See The Gospel Worth Dying For, “Biblical Cosmography”, Chapter 7
Seeds of the Gospel of the Kingdom were planted in the Genesis accounts of the creation, and Adam’s genealogy.a Just as the Father had infused nature with the ability to procreate, his instructions to the first couple mandated that they “be fruitful and multiply.” The act of procreation would create the “after their own kind” template which they had observed in nature.
However, what began with so much optimism and joy ended in shame. Because of their sin, Adam and his wife were evicted from Paradise. They were guilty of transgressing Yah’s commandment not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This punishment would impact their progeny and creation itself.
Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground— because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.
Genesis 3:18,19 (Berean Study Bible)
For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
Romans 8:20,21 (Berean Study Bible)
Although we know that the heavens and earth do not literally procreate, in Genesis it is metaphorically pointing to the events that will take place following the creation of “heaven and earth.”
These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
Genesis 2:4 (KJV)
Adam is the beginning of humanity. As his offspring, we are carriers of his genetic material — both physically and spiritually. The impact of Adam’s sin nature would ripple through thousands of generations.1
Yet, by the end of the fifth chapter of Genesis, hope begins to shine through the darkness. While pronouncing judgment on the couple and their adversary, our Heavenly Father also demonstrates His mercy. Yes, the man and his wife would be punished, but redemption was in their future. From the woman would eventually come a man known as the last Adam who would redeem humankind.
Yes, they would die. But they were also given the chance to live; through the coming of Yeshua (Jesus) as their savior and High Priest. This was evident during the arraignment proceedings involving the serpent, the man, and the woman. The verse outlining the serpent’s punishment may help us understand how “seed” is connected to the genetic history which can stem from either a person or event.
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed. He shall bruise2 your head, and you shall bruise his heel.
Genesis 3:15 (KJV)
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed, he shall watch3 against thy head, and thou shalt watch against his heel.
Genesis 3:16 (LXX)
And I will put hatred between you and between the woman; and between your seed and between her seed. He will give heed to your head, and you will give heed to his heel.4
Genesis 3:15 (Apostolic Bible Polyglot)
Hostility would now define the relationship between the woman and Satan. More importantly, the enemy would target her righteous offspring, culminating in the crucifixion of the coming Messiah.
When you break out the Hebrew words for bruise, heed, and heel you get fascinating insights into what is going on here. You could conceivably paraphrase it to read:
And I will put hostility between you (the serpent) and the woman, and between your progeny (the coming anti-messiah and/or including the unrighteous) and her Seed (Yeshua). He (Yeshua) shall observe and keep an eye on you and you (the serpent) will track him from the rear, watching and following his steps.
Adam’s Genealogy Spawns Generational Curses
The early years of marriage for Adam and Chavah (Eve) were filled with heartache. Envy led to fratricide with the murder of Abel at the hand of his brother Cain. Cain’s jealousy got the best of him and what was in his heart spilled out as rage and the first murderous act.
“Cain and Abel” by Palma il Giovane (1603)
“The other night I ate at a really nice family restaurant. Every table had an argument going.”
George Carlin
Before we examine Adam’s genealogy, we should set the stage by focusing on the Hebrew word tôldôt. It can be defined as “an account of men and their descendants.” 5 Tôldôt (H8435) is the “story” or genetic line that is propagated from a person or event. When you understand how tôldôt works in the Genesis narrative, you will see how the Gospel of the Kingdom prophecy unfolds throughout multiple generations. It is the narrowing and expanding of Adam’s family tree which will ultimately make good on Yah’s promise of a coming Deliverer and a literal heavenly Kingdom on earth.
The genealogies mentioned in Genesis include those of:
The heavens and earth
Adam
Cain
Noah and his sons: Shem, Ham, Japheth
The nations descended from Noah (his sons)
Abram/Abraham (Isaac and Jacob) and his descendants through Hagar and Keturah
Lot
Esau
Although the temptation is strong to skip these patriarchal family trees, you should read and study them. They contain scriptural nuggets of information that will help you understand the entirety of the Bible narrative.
Hebrew Names Mean Something
Names carry deep meanings in the Hebrew language. This is evident through out the Biblical canon. We cannot give a conclusive answer as to how baby names were chosen. However, based on various Scripture accounts taken in context, circumstances at birth no doubt played a part.
In the Bible, many names said just what they meant. Names were more than just labels. To ancient Hebrews and Babylonians, nothing existed until it had a name. Its name expressed its character.
Professor David Noel Freedman, University of California at San Diego
Here are examples of different types of ancient Hebrew naming nomenclature categories:
Honoring the Almighty
Expressions of character or mission
Name change designed to reflect a person’s new disposition
The personal name of the Eternal One, the Tetragrammaton YHWH, occurs 5,321 times in the biblical canon of 66 books. Since Hebrew does not contain vowels, there is much controversy surrounding the correct spelling and pronunciation of The Name. Some say the Almighty’s name is Yahweh, others prefer Yahuah. We will leave this to you to research and draw your own conclusions.6
However, since Yah’s name identifies his nature, a mention of His name is equivalent to identifying His character. Here are a few name-based meanings of Yah’s name:
to be
I am [is] what I am
I cause to be
I create
faithful presence
the Existing One
Eternal
In the Scriptures you can see many examples of people whose names are appended with “El” or “Yah” — Hebrew words for God (Most High Elohim).
When naming their offspring, many Hebrew parents chose names that would define the character or mission of the child. Sometimes angels would appear on behalf of Yah (God) with a name that had been chosen by the Father. This happened with Sarah (Genesis 17:19) in the naming of Isaac, Zacharias (Luke 1:13) in the naming of John the Immerser (Baptist), and Joseph the husband of Mary (Matthew 1:20,21) in the naming of Yeshua.
Isaac’s name means “laughter”, which is what this child brought to his mother and Father Abraham after a lengthy period of barrenness. John is Yochanan or Ioannes (Greek). It means “Yah is a gracious giver” or “Yah has graced.” How fitting for Zacharias and Elizabeth who had also been unable to conceive for many years.
But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
Genesis 17:19 Berean Study Bible7 (BSB)
But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.
Luke 1:13 New Living Translation (NLT)
The most profound example of “mission” is in the pronouncement of the birth of Yeshua (Jesus), whose name means salvation.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:20,21 New International Version (NIV)
Name Change Designed to Reflect a Person’s New Disposition
The first instance of a person having their name changed was Hoshea. Moses decided to change Hoshea’s name to Joshua before he was sent on a mission to spy out the land of Canaan — the Promised land. How fitting since this is the land where New Jerusalem will set down following the Day of the Lord.
These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua
Numbers 13:16 (KJV)
Whereas Hosea means “salvation”, Joshua means “Jehovah (Yehovab) is salvation.”
Abram and Sarai were given the names Abraham and Sarah. So Abram went from being known as “exalted father” (Genesis 11:26,27) to “father of a multitude.” Sarai, the wife of Abram, would become Sarah, the “princess.”8
Simon becomes Peter “the rock” and Jacob “the supplanter” is renamed Israel, meaning “governed by Yah” or “he will rule as Yah.”9
Acting As An Agent
When you say you are acting “in the name” of someone, it means that you are that person’s legal and authoritative representative. You are authorized to act on their behalf. This is the role of an agent — a person through which power is exerted or an end achieved.
When we end our prayers with the words “in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name, we are invoking the power and authority of his name as granted to him by Yah. We are making our petition in the name of Yeshua on the authority granted to him by the Father. Agency in action is seen in the burning bush episode witnessed by Moses (Exodus 3:2), the encounter with the angel and Samson’s parents (Judges 13:3-6), and the fiery furnace experience of the three Hebrew men. (Daniel 3:20)10
Prophetic Implications
The prophets acted as agents of the Most High. By saying something “in the name of God” they were in effect saying that they were His agents and spoke on His behalf. The Prophet Hosea, on at least three occasions, named his children based on orders he received from the Almighty. Their names were living, breathing icons of what was to come for rebellious Israel.
So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. Then the LORD said to him: “Call his name Jezreel, for in a little while I will avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu, and bring an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.
Hosea 1:3,4 (NKJV)
And she conceived again and bore a daughter. Then God said to him: “Call her name Lo-Ruhamah,” for I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away.
Hosea 1:6 (NKJV)
Now when she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son. Then God said: “Call his name L0-Ammi, for you are not My people, and I will not be your God.”
Hosea 1:8,9 (NKJV)
Adam’s Genealogy in Genesis
The late Chuck Missler is often quoted as saying “God always rewards the diligent student.” When you take the time to study Adam’s genealogy up to Noah, you will be rewarded.
The great discovery is that the Bible is a message system: it’s not simply 66 books penned by 40 authors over thousands of years. The Bible is an integrated whole which bears evidence of supernatural engineering in every detail.
Chuck Missler
Adam’s family line up to Noah (Genesis 5)
Let’s take a closer look at the meaning of each of Adam’s righteous offspring and see what they reveal that is not explicitly stated in the Genesis 5 narrative. However, you must keep in mind that proper names are often difficult to translate precisely since most lexicons and concordances tend to render superficial meanings. There is also much contention and controversy amongst academics regarding the true meanings of the original roots of the words being examined. Nevertheless, let’s take a stab at it and see what we can uncover.
Person
Strong’s Number
Meaning of Name
Adam
H121
man
Seth
H8352
substituted or appointed
Enosh/Enos
H583
mortal, frail, mankind
Kenan
H7018
sorrow, dirge or elegy
Mahalalel
H4111/H410
blessed, mighty one
Jared
H3382
to go or come down
Enoch
H2585
train up or teach
Methuselah
H4968
his death sends
Lamech
H3929
low, to be low, lament
Noah
H5146
rest, comfort
The Gospel in Genesis
Now that we have built the proper foundation, let’s string these meanings together.
Man is appointed mortal sorrow but the blessed mighty one shall come down to teach. His death will bring the lamenting rest.
As we said, the Father rewards the diligent student who is willing to dig deeper than most when studying the Scriptures. Before we continue, here are a few things to consider:
Hebrew was originally written with symbols called pictographs. When Judah was taken captive and sent to Babylon they adopted the Aramaic language/writing of their captors and used it to write Hebrew. So, what we call Hebrew in our day is actually Aramaic in origin.
Example of ancient Paleo Hebrew
The ancient Hebrew language is rooted in a connection to the five senses — it is “concrete” and not “abstract.” The Greek mind filters information according to its appearance. The Hebraic mind evaluates reality in ways that can be discerned through our five senses. In order to do proper research of Hebrew words in your Bible study, you have to shut down the Greek part of your brain and adopt an ancient Hebrew mindset. When doing your research, remember this:
All existing Hebrew Lexicons of the Bible convert the vocabulary of the ancient Hebrews into a vocabulary compatible to our modern western language. The greatest problem with this is that it promotes western thought when reading the Biblical text.
Jeff A. Benner, The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible, 2005
Unpacking The Genealogy of Adam
Here is how this genealogy was sussed out.11
Adam
Adam: ארם [aleph-dahlet-mem]:
Red: to be red as a color or through the shedding of blood.
Man: from the reddish skin; ruddy, man, Adam, person.
Seth
Seth/Sheth: שח [sheen,seen-khet]:
Compensation (BDB) From H7896: to put, that is substituted; Sheth, third son of Adam: Seth, Sheth. The idea of compensation is clear in Genesis 4:24. You will find that the notion of compensation is rendered as “appointed” in the following Bible translations: KJV, NKJV, NAS, NASB 1995/1997, the ASV and the JPS Tanakh 1917.
In the Scriptures, when someone was appointed they were placed in a position or office for an intended purpose or complete a task. Seth was the man who was raised up to continue the line from which our Messiah would come. He was “compensation” for the death of Abel. (Genesis 30:28, Genesis 41:34, Numbers 1:50, Esther 2:3, Jeremiah 51:27)
And Adam knew his wife again; and she bore a son, and called his name Seth: ‘for God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel; for Cain slew him.’JPS Tanakh 1917
And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.NKJV
And Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Seth, saying, For God has raised up to me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.LXX
And Adam had sexual relations again with Eve, his wife, and she conceived, and she bore a son, and she called his name Shayth, because God gives to me another seed for the sake of Habyl, whom Qayn killed. Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Enosh/Enos
Enoch/Enos: אנוש [aleph-nun-vav-sheen]:
Man, son of Seth is the standard translation of Enos. However, when you dig deeper the name yields other fascinating tidbits from Enos’ name. The Hebrew letter vav (ו) means to add, secure, bind (nailed to) and to covenant. Nun (נ) means offspring, descendant, son or continue. Sheen (ש ) can mean repeat, two, both or second.
In Alfred Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names, Enosh is translated to mean “man, frail and miserable.” The NOBSE Study Bible Name List defines it as “mortal.”
Kenan
Kenan: קינן [koof-yod-nun-nun sohfeet]:
Some study aides and Bible translations erroneously equate Cainan with Kenan. The Strong’s definition is weak, defining the name Kenan as “a descendant of Seth.” Duh. This is not productive.
Kenan may even be thought to originate from the verb קונן (qonen), which means to chant a dirge,12 or from the noun קינה (qina), meaning lamentation or a sorrowful song. 13 Taken this way Kenan can mean “lamenter.” Sorrow and lamentation are comparable in that to be sorrowful means unhappiness or woe. Lament is an expression of grief, suffering, or sadness. Why is sorrow or lamentation connected to Kenan? Genesis 4:26 may provide a clue.
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. KJV
The most prominent usage here has to do with calling on the name of God. Usually, the context has to do with a critical or chronic need (e.g. after Cain killed Abel, man realized the full effects of the curse and began to call on God’s name–Gen 4:26) The godly recognize the presence of original sin by their continual calling on God. God responds to all who thus call on him. Indeed, the covenant people (including the stranger, I Kings 8:43) are admonished to so pray and are assured that God will reverse the curse. Not to so call on God is to deserve and justly received God’s wrath.14
R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer & Bruce K. Walke, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, p. 810
Praise of God, shining one of El, blessed El, or blessed Mighty One. The noun מהלל (mahalel), means praise, from the root הלל (halal), which means to shine or praise. Mahalalel comes from mahalal which can mean blessed; and El (capitalized) is the title (not name) of the Most High.
Jared
Jared: ירד [yod-resh-dahlet]:
To descend or come down. From the verb yarad. It was during Jared’s life that the Watcher angels “came down” from heaven and mated with mortal women to produce the Nephilim (fallen ones) offspring mentioned in Genesis 6.
Enoch
Enoch: חנון[khet-nun-vahv-nun sohfeet]:
There are actually 3 Enochs mentioned in the Genesis narrative. The first was a son of Cain. The second is a town that was built in the land of Nod. The third is the prophet Enoch, son of Jared in Seth’s line, in the seventh generation from Adam. His name means to teach, train, to initiate or be dedicated. The etymology of his name stems from the root חנך (hanak).
Contrary to what most Protestant churches teach, Enoch was not taken to heaven at age 365. He was taken to Paradise, or Eden (which was still on earth at the time prior to the flood of Noah). The verse (Genesis 5:24) that says “God took him” simply means he was taken from one place and transported to another place. No one, including Elijah, would have been taken to heaven above before Yeshua, the first fruits of the resurrection.15
And I also will give you commandment, my sons, as Enoch commanded his son in the first Jubilees: while still living, the seventh in his generation, he commanded and testified to his son and to his sons’ sons until the day of his death.
Jubilees 7:39, R.H. Charles translation
Methuselah
Methuselah: מתושח[mem-tav-vahv-sheen-khet]:
Strong’s Concordance defines Methuselah to mean “man of the dart”– telling us that the root for metu is mat (#4962) which means man and shelach (#7973) meaning weapon or missile; therefore, “dart.”
But wait. There’s more.
Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads מות (mut) for the first part and translates the whole name as “when he is dead it shall be sent.”
Here is another way to look at Methuselah’s name:
But there is another possible meaning for this name. The word metu may be derived from the word mot meaning death and the “u” is a suffix that means “their” – “their death.” There is no way to know for certain if the final vowel in metu was an “o” or a “u” as the vowel pointings that make that distinction are of fairly recent origin. If it was originally an “o” then the suffix would change to “his” – “his death.” The word shelach (missile or weapon) is the noun form of the verb shalach meaning “to send” (a missile or weapon that is sent). Shelach has the more literal meaning of “to send something.” We now have the possible meaning of “their death sends” or “his death sends.”
Jeff A. Benner
What would Methuselah’s death send? The flood!
Lamech
Lamech: למד [lamed-mem-dahlet]:
Adam’s family tree produced two Lamech’s in the Genesis account. One was the son of Cain. The other was the father of Noah and son of Methuselah. The name is hard to translate because למד is not found anywhere in the texts of Scripture, so a definitive meaning is hard to pinpoint with accuracy. However, a plausible interpretation of Lamech’s name it tied to the veep mok (Strong’s #4134) and means “low” or “to be low” when ל is the prefix. It is echoed in the English word lament or lamentation and suggests a condition of despairing.
Noah
Noah: נֹחַ [nun-khet]:
The name Noah (Strong’s H5146) simply means “rest.”
Noah is an illustration of an ancient and proverbial righteous man. The etymology of the name is uncertain. In Genesis 5:29 it is associated probably as a word play wit the verb nāham (comfort, bring relief), but appears to be more directly related to nûah which…connotes rest and salvation.
Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, p. 563
Genealogies Matter
Photo Credit: Sebastian Pichler
When you encounter a section of the Bible that lists a rather lengthy genealogy do you put it in the TL;DR (too long, didn’t read) category of your mind? Then you are missing out on important revelations that anchor Scripture to history and Yahuah’s plan of redemption of mankind.
Every word, jot, and tittle is important. Why? Because the Eternal One, through His Ruach, wanted it to be recorded as a historical record.
Here are the top 5 reasons why genealogies matter:
They anchor us to secular and religious history
They prove that the Bible is a book about real people whose actions and choices matter
They remind us of Yah’s sovereign plans that lead to the coming Kingdom
They display Yah’s perfect timing in world events
They point to the Messiah and High Priest first alluded to in Genesis 3
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16, ESV
FOOTNOTES
1 1 Corinthians 15:21,22(BSB ): “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
2 The Hebrew word for bruise used here is suph. (Strong’s #H7779) Brown Driver Briggs (BSB)defines is as “to crush, overwhelm, or gape upon; to snap at; figuratively to overwhelm: break, bruise, cover.”
3 The Hebrew word for heed or watch is tereo. (Strong’s #H5083) It can mean to “guard (from loss or injury), properly by keeping the eye upon. Thayer defines it to mean “to attend to carefully, take care of, to guard, to observe, to reserve: to undergo something.
4 Heel in Hebrew is also the word aqeb. (Strong’s #6119) BDB defines it as “hinder part, rear” (Strong) a heel (as protuberant); hence a track; figuratively the rear (of an army).
5 Definition from The Outline of Biblical Usage by Larry Pierce, creator of the Online Bible.
6 For more information consult the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, by R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 1980, pp. 210-212
7 An angel came in the agency of the Father. The words he spoke were taken as if they came from the lips of the Most High himself. See The Gospel Worth Dying For, Chapter 9, “Agency and Prolepsis”
8 Genesis 17: 3, Genesis 17:15
9 Genesis 32:28
10 For more information on what happened inside Nebuchadnezzar’s oven, read the Prayer of Azariah which was once included in the King James 1611 Bible.
11 Resources used for this section includes James Strong, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Updated), Hendrickson Publishers, 2017; Jeff A. Benner, Virtualbookworm.com, 2005, Ancient Hebrew Lexicon; R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Jr., Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Volumes 1 and 2, The Moody Bible Institute, 1980; and Francis Brown, Samuel Rolles Driver, Charles Augustus Briggs (editors), A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, 1906 (Based on the Hebrew-German lexicon of Wilhelm Gesenius).
12 Ezekiel 27:32, 1 Samuel 1:17
13 Jeremiah 7:19, Ezekiel 2:10
14 Another interpretation adopted by Jewish expositors is that men at the time profanely called on God’s name, insinuating that this was the birth of idolatry. The in which Enos lived could have marked a profound split in the behaviors of the righteous and unrighteous.
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