Ted Walther's Private Diary

Which one will you invite to Passover?

Today is the tenth day of the first month. Pick out your male lamb and separate him from the flock! Passover is in just four more days!

The Bible says Adam lived to be more than nine hundred years old. But God said to Adam and Eve, "In the day you eat from the tree, you will die." Which was it? I believe Adam and Eve did both die in the very same day and ALSO died nine hundred years later.

Take the humble chicken. You chop off its head, and it runs around for a while before falling over dead. The chicken is dead as soon as its head leaves its body. But it seems alive. I believe God did kill Adam and Eve that very day. From that point on, they, and of course us, their descendants, have been walking dead. That is why we look forward in faith to God to resurrect us.

Take homeopathy. Homeopathy is where you mix a little bit of medicine in water, then dilute it over and over again. The water somehow "remembers" the medicine, and drinking the diluted water is as good as taking the medicine. Homeopathy is effective enough that the Queen of England practices it.

Take Kirlian photography. When a leaf was put on a glass plate and cut in half, its electrical aura stayed the same. But when the glass plate was changed, the aura changed to reflect the new shape of the leaf. The leaf remembered its true form, but as soon as it was disturbed, it had to re-examine its surroundings, and discovered that it was indeed half of what it was.

Kirlian proposed and promoted the idea that the resulting images of living objects were a physical proof of the life force or aura which allegedly surrounds all living beings. This claim was said to be supported by experiments by the Kirlians that involved cutting part of a leaf off -the Kirlian images of such leaves, it was said, still showed the leaves as whole, as though the cutting had never happened.

Researchers at Drexel University, however, have claimed that they were unable to reproduce the effect when the glass used to capture the original leaf was replaced with new glass before the freshly cut leaf was photographed, leading them to conclude that the "cut leaf" phenomenon was caused by microscopic etching in the surface of the glass which occurred during preparing the images of the uncut leaf. They also reported on a number of demonstrable causes such as surface moisture and pressure which can account for much of the variations in color, shape, and size of the resulting image.

— quote from the Wikipedia article on Kirlian photography

You and I are dead, and have been from the moment we were conceived. But one day we shall be alive, if we have faith, and show our true son-ship by obedience to the Father. We know this is true, because there is one who was already raised up into life everlasting, and he waits even now to welcome us into his fold.

Because our first parents were once alive, we retain their memory of being alive, and even act and behave as if we were alive. But this is an illusion, just as the illusions of life enumerated above.

Thank you to Jeff Lemanski for a link to some kosher socks. You can buy 100% cotton socks, without elastic or any mixed thread, from a company in the United States. And, unlike the expensive socks I've found before, these are only $2 per pair. The pure wool and pure cotton socks I located before were $45. To get your fix of kosher socks at great prices, here is the link: The Railroad Sock — non-elastic kosher work socks

In a pinch, you can get 100% nylon socks for $1 per pair at a chain called Payless Shoe Source. I don't see anything in Scripture against wearing synthetic fibers. Payless was the only place where I found socks made of unmixed synthetic fibers. Human beings emit electric fields. Some people call them "auras". You can view a persons electric field with Kirlian photography. The healthier a person is, the larger their electric field. People who wear lots of natural fibers tend to have big electric fields. People wearing mostly synthetic fibers have almost no electric field. That isn't hard or scientific, but it is good enough for me. I'll avoid synthetic fibers where possible.

A few days ago Marilyn contacted me with a question about Passover (Pesach). It was a good meaty question, dealing with the nature of good and evil. I'll share our correspondance here:

From: Marilyn Gang
To: Ted Walther
Subject: A question for you after reading your blog

Hi there, Ted —

I came across your site — it was the 5th entry — http://reactor-core.org/~djw/myblog/archives/2006/11/

while googling for: zechariah sitchin, passover

and then just started looking thru it because its so interesting. You are a thinker, a quester, a connector and int'd in areas that I am interested in — xcept you do write a lot more… :)

I'm emailing you because I have a question that has not — yet — been answered satisfactorily and I thought with your intelligence knowledge and curiousity you just might be interested in answering this — I sent the following question to my colleagues yesterday, 3/20:

"Happy Spring! The Vernal (in the Northern Hemisphere) Equinox (Equal Night) begins at 8:07 P.M. EDT tonight.

The first day of spring also marks the beginning of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. The celebration lasts 13 days and is rooted in the 3,000-year-old tradition of Zorastrianism. Interesting that although observances around Christianity do their best to ignore their paganistic roots and the fact that the most profound holyday of the Christian year occurs because of its lunar cycle, Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. This year, Easter falls on April 8th.

It is also probably no coincidence that early Egyptians built the Great Sphinx so that it points directly toward the rising Sun on the day of the vernal equinox.

Passover — one of the most profound Jewish holy times — the first night is celebrated beginning sundown April 2. I have participated in a Passover Seder every single year and even prepared a few. About 4 or 5 years ago I woke up to a question that I have been asking ever since and has remained unanswered: Passover celebrates the freedom of the Jews, the exodus from Egypt where they were slaves. okay, lets say that this did happen.

The reason that the Jews got their freedom, according to legend/Bible/story — is that Moses brought down 10 plagues. With each of the first 9 plagues Pharoah said go and each time he changed his mind — until the last, 10th plague where he sent around the Angel of Death to kill the first born of the Egyptians — even their animals. Pharoh got scared and let them leave. So they skedaddled really fast and spent the next 40 years wandering around in the desert. The year is now 5767. The year this took place was 2448. So for the last 3319 years, this story has been repeated, every year, by every family.

The question is: Are we really expected to believe in, respect, "worship", admire, obey??? etc… — a God — who sends an ANGEL — to KILL people? and animals? yes, times were different and each time has a different social context, customs, etc., but I find this one really hard to accept. This question that I'm asking seems naive but its bugging me, I've been asking and not getting a response, the people I know personally to ask just get mad when I start asking these kinds of questions so I'm hoping someone may have an answer and not be mad or fed up or anything. I want to know so much that I'm willing to risk you thinking I'm a dummy or something.

So what's the story here? what's the symbology, profundity, analogy, deeper meaning here — whatever? What really took place? And how did the Angel know that was lamb's blood on the door of the Jews as he/she/it passed over? What if it were goat's blood? Could the angel detect DNA? Why did they have to kill a lamb to do this?

When William Henry spoke to us he spoke to us about Moses' Rod — when he struck the rock — and Pharoh's staff — as instruments to bring forth water. Is this meant as actual drinking water? or to bring us out of the unconscious (water represents the unconscious) or what?

Guess I'm just a religiously disreputable character. One of my very good friends got kicked out of Catholic school because he kept asking the nuns if they could eat whale meat on Fridays. They punished him telling him of course he could eat whale meat as the whale is a fish and he kept saying its a mammal…"

So that's pretty much the question.
I received 4 responses so far.
If you like, I'll send those to you, too.

The reasons I was googling Sitchin is I was wondering if he had anything to say about it and if so, if I could find it this way, i.e., on line.

If this topic eventually ends up on your blog — I don't mind — but if you consider putting my name on it, I'd like to see it first. sometimes when I reread what I write — stuff that goes public — I cringe in that I had not editted things properly — I don't mind the content, just sometimes some of the wording I used…

And if you don't respond — for whatever reason — I do not want to impose on you — thank you for a most interesting blog.

warm regards,
- Marilyn -
Marilyn Gang, Toronto
(now of Toronto, formerly of NYC & Vermont)

From: Ted Walther
To: Marilyn Gang
Subject: Re: A question for you after reading your blog

Hi Marilyn. I've copied a few people in this reply, because they may wish to weigh in with their thoughts as well. Those of you new to this discussion, you can read Marilyn's original question at the bottom of this email.

You've raised quite a profound question, one that King Job, the grandson of Esau, also was bothered by.

God told Isaiah: "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9)

A child does not understand everything that their parents do. The ant does not understand the actions of the ox. So it is with us and God.

Job chapters 38 and 39 enumerate many acts of God that man today still does not understand. Man today thinks he understands many of them, but he doesn't.

Thus saith YHWH; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith YHWH. (Jeremiah 31:37)

We can't even dig a hole deeper than 8 miles into the earth. It is highly doubtful that we have sent space probes farther than 10,000 miles into the sky. We have no recorded history older than 6,000 years. And yet the priests of our State God presume to preach evolution and big bangism from their ivory league cathedrals of manly wisdom?

God created us, he can kill us. God is good, so he won't do so without good reason. You will note, the firstborn of Egypt were only killed after nine powerful warnings. This shows us how important liberty and love are to our Creator. He does not tolerate oppression and forced slavery for long.

You asked if we are expected to worship and obey a God that would kill people. I ask you, since God kills people, what do you think he will do to people who make his Name valueless? Will he honor and praise them? Will he raise them up and make them his equals?

You asked some other questions, much more interesting.

• How did the Angel know that was lamb's blood on the door of the Jews as he/she/it passed over?

The Bible doesn't give us enough information to answer this question.

• What if it were goat's blood?

For Pesach purposes, a sheep or goat was considered equivalent. A male goat was counted the same as a male sheep.

• Could the angel detect DNA?

Probably.

• Why did they have to kill a lamb to do this?

By killing the lamb, the Israelites were showing their ultimate loyalty. The Egyptians would not allow them to stay in the land after killing a sheep. The Egyptians found animal sacrifices of the Israelite sort very offensive. Rather like the Christian churches today. Egyptian religion and Hinduism have a lot in common, if that helps you to understand.

The killing of the lamb on Pesach eve was Israel's Rubicon. They were severing their ties with Egypt once for all. They showed they were willing to worship YHWH God even when surrounded by unbelievers wanting to kill them. Later, the three Hebrew lads followed the example set at Pesach, were thrown into an oven, rescued by Divine Providence, and later made kings and rulers of Babylon for their faith.

The moral lesson of Pesach is: Be good to each other! There is One in heaven who sees everything, and his Name is Love.

As much as Jews hate me saying this, God even kills Jews when they oppress others; look at the case of King Saul and the Gibeonites. All Israel was plagued until the oppression of the Gibeonites was stopped by the blood sacrifice of all of King Sauls living sons. (2 Samuel 21:1-9)

Interestingly enough, the sacrifice of King Saul's sons also happened at Pesach, "at the beginning of the barley harvest". Pesach is thus a festival of liberty and justice for the oppressed Canaanites as well. Israel was not able to celebrate Pesach until they had atoned for their own oppressive actions.

The sword of God gives liberty to all. (cf. Major Barbara, by George Bernard Shaw)

Ted

PS: In case you want to change your original email (which I thought was well written) I'll wait a day or two before posting this to my blog.

PPS: is your mother Jewish?

From: Marilyn Gang
To: Ted Walther
Subject: Re: A question for you after reading your blog

Hi Ted !

wow. thank you. was just about to turn in when I got this message…

a couple comments I want to make but am too tired now, hope i remember to reply when I get up…

and yes, both parents are Jewish.

best,
- Marilyn -

Nothing important gets lost. It just gets a new name, a new disguise, a new face, and hides in obscurity until it is needed again.

Most Sabbath keepers today follow the Jewish tradition. Jewish tradition says that day begins at evening time, at the same time the night starts. Latins believe that day starts at midnight. Untutored children thoughtlessly think thank day begins at daybreak.

Jonathan Sjordal's site links to a good article on the topic, A case for the 12 hour Sabbath, by Neil Gardner. Neil makes a comprehensive and detailed case from the scriptures. Perhaps most interesting are the traditions of the Jewish women. The Jewish women observed the Sabbath from sunrise to sunrise, sunrise on Saturday to sunrise on Sunday. By no means could the Rabbi's stop the women from doing this. Finally the Rabbi's convinced the Jewish women to start observing the Sabbath on Friday night. But the women continued to observe Sabbath on Saturday night too, until Sunday morning. Like childrens games and songs, this practice of the Jewish women was likely of great antiquity.

Neil Gardner's article is well written and informative, but also long and involved. Troy Miller just put up an article along the same lines, that is much more streamlined. Troy makes his case quickly and easily, like a pro. His article is here: When Does Scripture Say a Day Begins?

After reading Neil Gardner's article I thought: "He makes a good case, I should study this matter again." After reading Troy's article I thought: "This at least is the truth; day begins at day break, when you can no longer see at least three stars in the sky."

Like the Saturday sabbath, the daytime starting in the evening has a long history. Like the Saturday sabbath, it cannot be found in Scripture. If anyone disagrees, let him write in with his counter-arguments. I'll post the best ones.

Cross-breeding animals is forbidden in scripture. Mixing horses with asses, and sheep with goats to produce hybrids called "chymeras" is an act of adulteration, also called "adultery" or "corruption". This is forbidden by the seventh commandment.

Leviticus 19:19 Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.

Drew Thompson of Sandpoint, Idaho had an illuminating take on the command against letting thy bull gender with a diverse kind. Last night Drew said that he does not let his horses and cows stay in the same pasture. He puts them in separate pastures. A wordly neighbor came by and mocked him saying, "they can't breed with each other, why worry?" Drew told me he wasn't going to take any chances.

Brothers, Drew was right. I reflected on that word gender and realized something most of us have missed. Today, gender refers to sex, male or female. To "gender" something has come to mean "breed", involving penis, vagina, semen, sperm, and egg. But the English word gender comes from the Latin root "gens", from which we get the word "gene" and "genetic". The word gens meant "nation" or "tribe". In King James English, to "gender", was to become one, as a nation is one. If you herd sheep and goats together, even though they don't have sex, you are "gendering" them together. Drew must have been led by the Holy Spirit to this understanding, I don't believe he knows any Latin.

A few years ago I concluded that the practice of putting llamas out to pasture with sheep and goats was worthless. I concluded this on practical grounds; the llama is not as good a guard animal as was advertised. The llama's value as a companion animal is also debatable. Thanks to Drew and the Holy Spirit, I now can give Scriptural reason for not pasturing a llama with a herd of goats or flock of sheep.

A year or two ago there was a big stink because a white woman had a baby in the hospital. She requested that there be no black people in the room while she gave birth. The media were outraged that the hospital had respected the mothers wish not to "gender with a diverse kind".

With regards to humans, what does diverse mean? Certainly apes and monkeys are "diverse" from each other and from humans. Today's brainwashed say that humans can't be diverse from each other because we all have common ancestry. This shows ignorance of Torah. If you follow up the consequences of the Zelophehad ruling, you find that even the twelve tribes of Israel are "diverse" from each other. The tribes of Israel were far more closely related to each other than they are to anyone else. If they can be diverse from each other, we can certainly be diverse from other human beings who are more distantly related to us. In English, the word "diverse" is fairly neutral. It can refer to any difference. Due to consonant shift in the English language, the word differ and diverse are the same word, pronounced differently. People with different religions are "diverse" in their opinions; and noone seriously contests that the happiest marriages are between members of the same religion. That is, between people who are not "diverse".

RATS AND MICE look similar, but they are not able to interbreed. Things that seem very similar on the surface can be very different underneath. This supports God's wisdom in separating the seventy races of man.

Rats and mice are not that closely related. Under normal circumstances, rats and mice are not attracted to each other and will not mate. Even if the sperm of one and the eggs of the other are mixed together artificially, fertilization will not occur: the eggs of one do not allow entry of the other's sperm.

These natural barriers can be overcome in a laboratory, at least at first. Such attempts typically result in a hybrid embryo which dies after a few cell divisions.

For example, the egg's protective covering can be stripped off, allowing the sperm of the other species access to the egg. Sperm can also be injected directly into the egg. When this is done, fertilization occurs. The resulting hybrid embryo is not viable, however. It typically goes through one cell division, resulting in a two-cell embryo, then it degenerates.

Another technique involves removing the nucleus (which contains most of the DNA) from a mouse egg and replacing it with a rat's nucleus. The resulting embryo has 100% rat nuclear DNA, enclosed in a mouse egg with mouse cell contents (cytoplasm). These nuclear transplant hybrids sometimes live to the 2-cell stage, but then they degenerate. The rat nucleus and the mouse cytoplasm are fundamentally incompatible.

Early stage embryos can also be merged, creating chimeras. Early stage embryos are just tiny clusters of a few undifferentiated cells. Chimeras are typically created by combining two early-stage embryos, producing a single merged embryo. The resulting individual is made up of two populations of cells, each descended from one of two fertilized ova. Chimeras have been attempted between species, including rats and mice. These were created by merging early stage rat and mouse embryos. The resulting chimeras developed normally in vitro, but when they were inserted into a hormonally primed host they were lost during or shortly after implantation.

In one case, however, using a different technique, a few of the chimeric rat-mouse embryos implanted successfully. They developed normally in vivo for about a week, before being removed and examined. The researchers found that the mouse cells gained the advantage: the mouse cells came to dominate the embryo and rat cells became rare.

— excerpt from the webpage Are rat-mouse hybrids possible?

Can you read the above quote and not weep for the abominations that are being carried out in the name of science? Did you note the extraordinary lengths the scientists went to to interbreed rats with mice? Do you doubt that they are using the same vile techniques on other life-forms, every moment of every day?

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Genesis 6:12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

All these genetic experiments are going to bring down the wrath of the Almighty Jehovah upon us might soon if we don't repent and stop funding the wicked multinationals and big corporations and universities that are funding this "research".

DINOSAURS were the product of pre-flood genetic experiments. That is why they didn't survive the Great Flood; they were not God's creation. When you see dinosaurs roaming the earth again, and six-fingered giants, know that our judgement is nigh.

Many Torah keepers are using the equinox in combination with the lunar calendar to determine when the New Year begins. The Bible does not any say explicitly how to do this. Troy is a keen observer and experimenter. This year Troy Miller of Creation Calendar fame, was testing the claim of some that the astrologers equinox is different by four days from what we think of as the equinox.

The astronomical/astrologer equinox is defined as when the ecliptic (the path the sun traces across the sky) is directly above the earths equator. The normal equinox is defined as the time when day and night are of equal length. I do not see how the astronomical equinox and the normal equinox could be different, but official sources, such as the US Naval Observatory, are reporting a four day difference! Troy Miller decided to get to the bottom of this confusion, because it is effecting our Passover (Pesach) observance.

From: Troy Miller
To: Ted and undisclosed recipients
Subject: My shadow: How to determine equinox at home, in the key of F

Hello all,

Gary wrote:

Good morning everyone,

I looked at my East and West line, and the shadow was definitely on the North side of the line, how about yours?

For those not in the know, some of us are driving stakes in order to ascertain when is equinox (so we don't have to rely upon the powers that be to tell us when it is).

There were no shadows cast yesterday (3-17-07) here. Had a quarter inch of snow.

However, the shadow was still on the north side today, 3-18. I took Clare's advice and went to a local airport to find a compass row. They did not have one, but they let me in their helicopter to get a reading off their wet compass. The reason for this is if your compass is off, even two degrees, your shadow won't cross when it should. My compass was 1.5 degrees off true north, so gentlemen, if you did not correct for your compass, you will probably not get the reading you want, when you want it.

I do not regret going through this at all, even if the shadows cross to the south on a different day for each of us, which it will if no one corrected for their compass. But what I see us all learning is that this is not how Israel discovered the top of the year. The reason is in the pudding. Each of us wants to do this right. Each of us DOES NOT want to keep the feast at the wrong time, yet if our compasses are not perfectly accurate, the experiment we are doing is going to fail to produce the answers we want.

Why? Because we are leaning on the arm of flesh. We each trusted the manufacturer of our compass to sell us a perfect instrument. Mine wasn't, and I'm sure yours are not either, so we are going to get 5 different answers probably, or at least two different answers. One answer for a compass that is off to the east of north, the other for the compasses that are a little off to the west.

Gentlemen, this has not been a fruitless effort. We have not done this in vain. Now what we need to do is figure how to determine the seasons by the lights in the heavens alone because man has not determined how to foul that up (yet).

Joey, I know you are going to chaffe at this, but I'm going to say it anyway.

Barley and Pasach moon.

The barley is in Scripture regarding this feast and the new moons are as well (even if not specifically legislated). When YHWH said that THIS is the first month of the year to you (KJV) he said this is the first MOON of the year to you. He was probably pointing to it as He spoke. Now how is this moon different from all the other moons that would undoubtedly be seen all year long?

Gentlemen, Pasach moon.

Watch your western horizon tomorrow night (mon night). The moon will set directly over the sun if this is the first month of the year. Last month it was a little tipped (the moon set just to the south of the sun on the western horizon). In the spring of the year, it sets where the sun did, following the path of the sun, making a U shaped or bowl shaped first visible crescent. Josephus made mention of this phenomena. It is a perfectly level bowl as seen from the equator, but it will be tipped ever so slightly for us here. If next new moon (the one in April) is NOT the Pasach moon, it will be more noticeably tipped then.

Fellas, we have all figured that the new month begins after conjunction, not at the first visible crescent--all without a direct, Thus saith YHWH. We used logic, wisdom and other evidence to come to this conclusion. Why are we now trying to prove something that cannot be proved--why are we saying that the first new moon after the equinox is the beginning of the first month when Scripture does not say this? If fact is says nothing of the sort.

I can accept that the shadow crossing from the north side of the stick to the south would give a definite "turn" of the year--it would complete one revolution, come full circle. But we have no evidence that this was what Israel meant by Tequphah (H8622), and if we are going to get a few different answers even though we are all doing the same test, Why do we think Israel put sticks in the sand? How did they tell a perfect east and west line 4000 years ago when we can't do that (without correcting for our man made, leaning-on-the-arm-of-flesh devices) today?

How did they determine true east and west then? Did they have man-made devices? I thought that was what we were trying to get away from? The longer this experiment goes on the more I am dissatisfied. I have no agenda. I really don't care if Passover is in Apr or May. My schedule is in Yah's hands. But I'm afraid the more we try to prove the turn of the year with man-made tests and devices, the further we are getting from the truth.

I think we spend too much time looking down at our own calculations, at an almanac or computer program, and shadows in the sand and not enough time outside looking up at YHWH's clock. If we all did that, we could stop guessing and calculating and start KNOWING.

Even after correcting for my compass, I don't think the line will cross even on 3-20-07. Why, the compass on the helicotper was not accurate, and they had their "corrections" listed right there on a pad so they could make in flight adjustments. Their wet compass was a known two degrees off. I took that into consideration and added my 1.5 degrees that mine differed from theirs, did the math and drove my stakes. I am also making provision for true north vs. magnetic north. Unless we have all jumped through the same hoops and all have the identical compasses and identical compass inaccurasies to correct for, we are all going to have different answers.

Friends this is confusion. This is not how ancient Israel did it. You can't determine equinox (meaning when the center of the sun crosses the equator) without already having a perfect east west line. You cannot determine a perfect east-west line without already knowing when equinox is. So, which came first, the chicken or the egg. Obviously, someone figured out how to determine a true east west line, but it is not explained how it was done in Torah or the prophets, neither is equinox mentioned or legislated. So, how'd the ancients determine the turn of the year? I think they looked up.

Blessings,

Troy

When a man or woman is honestly mistaken and they hear the truth, they will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest.

Troy's observation of a Pesach Moon is exciting; it may be the final missing clue to correctly determing the New Year. We have all heard of the Harvest Moon; the harvest moon is at the opposite end of the year, at the beginning of Autumn. Pesach marks the beginning of Spring. May we come to know the Pesach Moon as well as the ancient Israelites did, so there can be no doubt when God's year starts.

Bill Klimek of Spokane shared some more jewels of wisdom with me this week. Sunset is not a reliable way to tell when night starts. Do you count night when the sun touches the horizon? When it is no longer visible on the horizon? Or when you no longer see any sunlight on the horizon?

Bill pointed out that in Scripture, everything important is established at the mouth of two or three witnesses.

Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

1 Timothy 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

Can the sun testify to itself? Is the testimony of the sun sufficient to determine day and night? The moon appears happily during day and night. So it cannot be used as a witness. The sheet of daylight which circles the earth is not the same as sunlight. Even when the sun is no longer visible, the sky can be quite light. This is because daylight and sunlight are two completely different things. Daylight is a sheet of fluorescent air, air that is electro-magnetically turned into plasma. Daylight circles the earth dayly. Daylight is ruled by the sun, but does not come from the sun. That is why, even when the sun is on the horizon, the opposite horizon will be bright baby blue, even though the sky directly overhead is a deep dark blue. Because of the properties of daylight, the sun cannot be used to determine the start and end of the day.

This leads us to the two or three witnesses rule. Bill Klimek says that nighttime begins when you can see three stars. The sun may still be visible, but if it is dark enough to see three distinct stars with the naked eye, then it is night time. Conversely, the sun may have gone down, but if it is still too light for stars to appear, then it is still daytime. Stars rule the night. It is by the witness of two or three stars that you can tell when night begins and ends.

Thank you Bill Klimek.

Psalm 136:2,5,9O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
…
To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
…
The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

The book of Enoch talks a lot about the "Watchers", angels who God appointed to watch over the earth. Later Jewish myths and legends also deal with the Watchers, the fallen angels, and such. Is it possible that the Jews got these ideas from Babylon? Selah:

They are considered an old race who have gone past the need for physical bodies. Some claim they are light. There are legends that say they came from the stars. They are the ones known as the Watchers. It is claimed that each of the four Watchers reigns over one of the four directions of the circle.

There were star cults in Mesopotamia around 3000 bce. One of the beliefs of these cults was that there were four major stars, each ruling over one of the four cardinal points. These stars where known as "Lords" or "Watchers."

The Watcher of the East was the star Aldebaran.This star marked the time of the Vernal Equinox. The Watcher of the South was Regulus, marking the time of the Summer Solstice. Marking the Autumnal Equinox was Antares, Watcher of the West. The North Watcher was the marker of Winter Solstice, Foralhaut.

Actual towers, called Ziggurats (cosmic mountains) were built as a form of worship. Each tower bore the symbols of the Watchers. During ritual celebrations the symbols were traced in the air with torch flames or wands, and the Watchers names were called.

The Watchers were thought of as gods that guarded the heavens and earth. Lunar and Solar cults eventually replaced the Star cults.

The Watchers became the gods of the four winds to the Greeks. The Christians took them over as "guardian angels."

The Hebrews taught that all angels, known to them as Watchers, were ruled by four "higher" angels. They became the "Archangels" to the Cabalists.

— excerpt from this webpage: The Watchers and the Watchtowers.

Just because the Babylonians believed something doesn't mean it is false. Some of the earliest records we have of the Lunar Sabbath are found in Babylon. The Babylonian account of creation, the flood, and fall of man is exactly the opposite of the Bible account, like a mirror image, detail for detail. Caution is needed. I hope the information quoted above is edifying; I can't vouch for its accuracy.

Precession of the Equinoxes:

Precession causes the cycle of seasons (tropical year) to be about 20.4 minutes less than the period for the earth to return to the same position with respect to the stars as one year previously (sidereal year). This results in a slow change (one day per 71 calendar years) in the position of the sun with respect to the stars at an equinox. It is significant for calendars and their leap year rules.

— excerpt from Precession of the Equinoxes

Years before Sir Arthur Keith wrote his massive book on human evolution, Evolution and Ethics, Thomas Huxley wrote a shorter essay, also titled Evolution and Ethics. Thomas deals with the similarities and developement of the main world religions from an evolutionary standpoint. It is a fascinating read. Thomas goes into the philosophical aspects of the religions, why they had to come to the conclusions they did in order to survive and spread.

Thomas Huxley ends his essay with a note on the final, most enlightened progress of religion, the new religion of evolution. This statement shows clearly it is not a Christian, but an atheist concept to struggle against nature "red in tooth and claw", to "fight" nature, to "combat" it instead of working with it and within it.

Let us understand, once for all, that the ethical progress of society depends, not on imitating the cosmic process, still less in running away from it, but in combating it. It may seem an audacious proposal thus to pit the microcosm against the macrocosm and to set man to subdue nature to his higher ends; but I venture to think that the great intellectual difference between the ancient times with which we have been occupied and our day, lies in the solid foundation we have acquired for the hope that such an enterprise may meet with a certain measure of success.

— excerpt from Evolution and Ethics by Thomas Huxley.

It is that time of year again. Spring has arrived in Vancouver. Down miles and miles of shady lanes, old Victorian houses, the cherries show their pink petals to all who come by. The ladies feel the sex in the air, and smile at all the men who pass them by.

I hereby declare spring to have begun two days ago, on Day 25 of Month 12, when I first sighted the cherry blossoms.

At long last, the promised commentary on Jake's blog. Jake wrote so many interesting things I needed a month to digest them. Here goes:

2787-10-14 Jake is using Hillel II for determining the New Moon dates because that is what his assembly is using. I approve of this decision. Since I am not under the authority of an assembly, I feel free to determine the New Moon by the conjunction, which I feel is required for certain verses in the Psalms to be true and correct.

Good point about the Jews calling the months by pagan names, but not using the name of Jehovah. The Jews are in as much error as the Christians. I get frustrated by Messianics who leave Christianity then go ga-ga and hang on every word coming from the Rabbi's as if it were more profound than the writings of Saint Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. Some even put up mezuzah on their doors and wear tefillin. For the record, I feel both Augustine and Thomas were brilliant teachers of false doctrine.

2787-10-17 Bad association spoils useful habits, but one can't pass judgement without hearing both parties out. When a plant is young and tender, it must be shielded, but a mature oak tree can stand up to some rough weather. So it is good to see you at a point where you can read Christian literature again, confident that God will separate for you the jewels from the junk. Noone today has the complete picture; we can find diamonds of information in the most unlikely place. Even in Christian writings!

2787-10-19 The Narnia novels by Christian writer C.S. Lewis are great. I especially liked the scene at the end of the last book, where everyone was being taken up to the next, better world. The dwarves were so bitter at having been deceived that they would not let it happen again. They hid from the end of the world in a stable. They were given fine clothes and sumptuous food, and they only saw rags and dung. There was beautiful singing, but they only heard animals braying and growling. They were shown a doorway to a bright, happy world, but they only saw a dark cave full of red eyes waiting to eat them. It is the nature of the human mind to see what you expect to see. Pray we don't miss the things God wants us to see. If we expect him to be good, we will see the good things he has provided. If there is badness, it will pass.

2787-10-20 You have a good insight that Torah is meant to be lived out in a community. In my area, a heresy has spread like wildfire; cleanshaven men are hiding their tzitzis by tucking them inside their garment. They insist that the tzitzit are for themselves, not for the people around them. But the Hebrew text is fairly clear; the tzitzis are for YOU plural; all of us.

2787-10-24 I concur with you about the sad state of astronomy at our universities. They are so busy teaching the myths of Big Bang and billions of light years that they don't teach you the simple things like how to observe Mars, Mercury, Venus, or the phases of the moon. They forget to mention that it is impossible to calculate even four years ahead where the planets will be located, or even a month ahead where the new moon will be sighted. People assume that our astronomers know a lot more than they do. Ancient astronomers didn't calculate; they observed and recorded.

Good article on Ritual Uncleanness.

2787-11-05 Good thoughts on the continuing validity of sacrifice. I disagree with Avraham Yehoshua on the Trinity, but he wrote two articles on the sacrificial system which are simply astounding. They really clarified it for me, and show how it was never done away with. In private email however I found out that he doesn't kill a Pesach lamb. How can he write such words of truth and not realize it? Here are the articles: The Mosaic Sacrifices and the Blood of Jesus and Sacrifice in the New Testament. Our main points of agreement are that the sacrifice of Jesus was of an altogether different type from the sin offerings that were done in the temple, and that the apostles and disciples happily continued to offer blood sacrifices even after Jesus was resurrected and ascended to heaven.

2787-11-10 Good commentary on the Line of Seth versus the Fallen Angels interpretation of the Nephilim in Genesis. I especially liked your links, which I'll reproduce here: Mischievous Angels or Sethites?, by Chuck Missler. Actual skulls of Nephilim match Egyptian paintings in uncanny ways. Museum shows bones of a fourteen foot tall giant Nephilim. On the topic of Nephilim (the product of genetic engineering) the mass deaths of honeybees has been traced to genetically modified corn crops. The altered genes are getting into bacteria that in turn kill the bees.

2787-11-11 I was going to write an admonition to you about relying on the book of Jasher, but instead I found this webpage. It honestly discusses the issues with the book of Jasher, but also concludes that the book of Jasher is genuine. I will finish reading the pro-Jasher arguments on the Jasher website before commenting further.

2787-11-14 Good commentary. Enjoyable read.

2787-11-24 Good commentary on applying the scientific method to our religious observance. If we have faith and salvation, we can expect certain results. If we don't see the results, honesty compels to admit we don't have what we thought we had. Most Christians instead blind themselves and pretend they have what they are told they should have. It is aweful to be fooled into thinking you have the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the authority and blessing and leading of God when you really don't.

2787-11-27 Thank you for exposing Dr. Wallach and his micro-nutrient business. Torah teacher George Gordon is a big fan of his. If we eat kosher, organic foods and get a lot of physical exercise, we should be in good shape. Too many sedentary people look to diet to solve problems which are caused by their idleness. Did you know that anal fissures are caused by weak stomach muscles? Bleeding crap isn't fun, but it is one of the penalties for sloth.

2787-11-30 Congratulations on getting back to using the conjunction! VERY GOOD question about "where has the power gone"? Pentecostal preachers starting with John G. Lake 120 years ago, down to Benny Hinn today, claim lots of miraculous healings. But they all have detractors who say that the healings were faked, unverifiable, or otherwise problematic. Marjoe made a documentary movie explaining how the Pentecostal preachers did their magic show. Could it be that the power is now diffused over a population of billions? Both Christiand AND Jews are so blind, is it possible we aren't pure enough to see the full flowing power of the Separated (Holy) Spirit? I grieve for those former Church of God members I see careening out of Christianity, hanging onto the Messiah, but hanging onto every Jewish tradition and custom as if it was some sort of great wisdom from an angel.

Thats all for now; good luck with your new job Jake.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Bill Klimek mentioned a couple weeks ago the correct meaning of "dividing the word of truth". In ancient Hebrew and Greek, therewerenospacesbetweenthewords. Also, they did not have small letters and capital letters. ALL LETTERS WERE CAPITAL LETTERS. SOTHETEXTLOOKEDLIKETHIS. Most of the time you could "divide" the words accurately, but sometimes it would be hard. That is where training came in. Sometimes you could divide the words in different places and still get a result that made sense. The key was knowing which was the right sense of the word.

We today rely on the division of words made by Jewish Rabbi's and Catholic theologians. Can we trust them? I trust God to lead us into correct understanding. Maybe he wants us to learn Hebrew and Greek. Then we can begin to divide the words of Scripture, and even divide them correctly.

Of course, the traditional understanding of the verse is also correct; to rightly divide the word of truth means to understand the words correctly.

From the book Facing Mt. Kenya by Jomo Kenyatta:

"After a man has had the first wife, "nyakiambi", a year or so generally passes, and then HIS WIFE starts to question him about getting a second wife, especially if she is expecting a child or immediately after she has had one. "My husband, don't you think it is wise for you to get me a companion (moiru)? Look at our position now. I am sure you will realize how God has been good to us to give us a nice and healthy baby. For the first few days I must devote all my attention to nursing our baby. I am weak...I can't go to the river to bring water nor to the field to bring some food, nor to weed our gardens. You have no one to cook for you. When strangers come you have no one to entertain them. I have no doubt that you realize the seriousness of the matter. What do you think of the daughter of So-and-SO? She is beautiful and industrious and people speak highly about her and her family. DO NOT FAIL ME, my husband. Try to win her love. I have spoken to her and found that she is very interested in our homestead. In anything that I can do to help you I am at your service, my husband. Even if we have not enough sheep and goats for the dowry, our relatives and friends will help you so that you can get her into our family. You are young and healthy and this is the best time for us to have healthy children and so enlarge our family group, thereby perpetuate our family name after you and I have gone. My husband, please act quickly as you know the Kikuyu saying: "Mae megotherrera mondo onyotie" (The flowing water of the river does not wait for a thirsty man")

Randy sent these letters from Doyle Millington. I found them refreshing and edifying, as I find almost everything Doyle writes.

To: Randy
From: Doyle Millington
Subject: Purim

Ran the Man:

Interesting you should mention Purim:

I saw a DVD about Purim, and the Holy Ghost showed me some parallels in the story of Esther.

Imagine the characters as such:

The King of Persia:

Represents how some of us view YHWH and in some ways how YHWH really is.

Vishti:

She represents backslidden Israel who refused to honor and obey YHWH, and went whoring after other gods. Because she refused to be loyal to her King, she was banned or exiled from the King's presence...as our fathers were exiled to Syria (Assyria) and Iraq (Babylon.)

Haman:

He represents backslidden Christianity. He was given authority by the King, and immediately abused that authority to force all men to bow to himSELF and his ministry! He couldn't care less what the King wanted; only that SELF was exalted and honored. He wanted everyone to know what a big shot he was; he wanted everyone to submit to "his authority" - that was his true goal! You might even say he wanted to be the counterfeit King...which is the spirit of Anti-Christ!

He was a traitor and usurper to the King...all the while mouthing great lying deceptive words about how he was about the King's business! But it was all just a big phony show, it was all about SELF and SELF exaltation!

Like these big TV ministers who drive $300,000.00 limousines, wear $5,000.00 suits, $1,500.00 shoes, $50,000.00 watches, $100,000.00 real gold rings with real diamonds all the while preaching real Christian women shouldn't wear makeup or nice dresses because that's the sin of vanity!

Everything Haman did was about exalting self, seeking his OWN glory, seeking his OWN power!

He was outraged by and viciously attacked anyone that remained loyal to the King over his own wicked self...just as these ministers nowadays beat on the sheep to follow their ministry and viciously attack anyone that walks by the leading of the Ruach Kodesh (Holy Ghost.) They hate anyone that is loyal to God, demanding in place of service to God that all men be loyal to "their ministry!" This is the spirit of Anti-Christ!

I believe this is the Great Delusion of the last days. Worship and loyalty to ministries that are NOT serving God...now matter how loudly they proclaim they are! This is the spirit of Anti-Christ, the spirit of Haman, THIS is the real spirit of Korah, who rebelled against Moses! Bowing down to ministries of men, instead of seeking YHWH! Such are Haman's loyal followers! Woe unto them on the Day of Wrath!

Do you follow what the Bible says...of just blindly follow your pastor and your church?

One the Day of Judgment Haman was horrified to learn that those he viciously hated and persecuted his whole life were the ones loyal to and favored by the King...and endured the King's Wrath. The King was NOT fooled! Yet Haman "didn't have a clue" until it was too late.

Depart from me you accursed...for when those I called Mine were suffering and in need YOU IGNORED THEIR PLIGHT!

If you offend any of these little ones I CALL MINE it would be better if a great millstone were tied to your neck and you were cast into the sea.

The day will come when those who seek to kill you will believe they are doing God a favor.

And Pontius understood the Pharisees delivered Yeshua up out of envy (jealousy)...because His ministry was alive, and theirs was dead.

And they said to themselves...here comes the heir of the vineyard. Let's kill Him and keep the harvest to ourSELVEs.

For all the Pharisees do they do to be SEEN (admired) before men. Truthfully, that's all the reward they will ever have.

Esther: Represents the True Christian

She was close to God's heart. She was intimate with the King.

She laid down her life FOR OTHERS in great compassion - even though she didn't have to. Though she was safe, she placed herself in great danger to assist others! At great cost and risk, she HELPED those the King called His!

She listened to the Law and the Prophets, and loved the faithful Jewish people (Mordechai) and had great compassion on their plight...risking all to help them! She did not distance herself from Mordechai recoiling in horror against "all that Jewish stuff" but listened to and accepted the heritage Mordechai received from YHWH through Moses!

She was NOT about SELF or exalting her own name or ministry! She was about serving the King's LOYAL subjects! She also recognized Haman for the backstabbing lying betrayer to the King Haman really was AND HAD THE COURAGE TO EXPOSE Haman!

Mordechai: represents the True and Faithful Jew.

Though it seemed YHWH was far away and had abandoned him, he faithfully fasted, prayed, and remained loyal to the King...despite all hardships. He was not looking for reward...he did what was right despite all the terrors he had to endure. Remember, he discovered a plot to assassinate the King, and saved the King's life - Mordechai was faithful to the TRUE KING! He CAN recognize who is truly loyal to the King...AND who ISN'T! He can spot a phony minister! And Mordechai REFUSED to bow down to the counterfeit pretender represented by Haman who (to me) is backslid Christianity!

Mordechai realized Haman was in fact an ENEMY of the King...in part because he saw Haman enact HIS OWN LAWS usurping and perverting the authority given him by the King. (Dare I bring up the Christian heresy that because we are under Grace, the Law of Moses has passed away and that Christians should avoid all that "bondage and terrible Jewish stuff" like the plague?)

Christians wonder why so many faithful Jews refuse to have anything to do with mainstream Catholicism/Christianity...they see mainstream Catholicism and her Christian daughters for the anti-Christ fraudulent pagan occultic SELF exalting orgy of worldliness and witchcraft that it truly is.

And the more I study Moses' Laws and the Satanic cult origins of many "Christian" observances like Xmas and Easter...the more I come to the same conclusion. Modern mainstream Catholicism/Christianity is a God-hating pagan occultic orgy of worldliness and witchcraft! I fully imagine when the Anti-Christ comes, all of Christianity will rush to declare him the "True Messiah!" The churches will persecute anyone that dares stand up and say...no, this man is NOT of God!

I see the attacks by Haman's loyal subjects in that light...a foreshadow of the great persecution the backslid churches will launch against TRUE BELIEVERS as they dotingly demand all worship the Anti-Christ as "a great man of God."

When trouble arose, Mordechai fasted and prayed to YHWH and sought Him with all his heart...AND GOD ANSWERED HIS PRAYERS!

Despite that fact that the decree went out that the Jews could defend themselves...many of Haman's followers refused to leave the Jews alone and attacked them anyway.

In the end, Ezra took the Jews back to Jerusalem, which to me represents the end of the age of Man, and the re-gathering of the lost tribes by YHWH to Israel.

And the King revealed his wrath against the traitors, and took Esther to be his one beloved bride.

My conclusion: there are many who pretend to be loyal to the King...but few who really are. Those who only pretend HATE and PERSECUTE those that are truly loyal...but in the end...it will come out:

JESUS WASN'T FOOLED ONE BIT!

The message to each Believer is:

How have YOU been living your life? Like Visthi and/or Haman? Or like Esther and Mordechai?

"Depart from Me, you wicked, for I tell you the Truth...I never knew you. For when these I called Mine were in need...you ignored their plight. Be cast into the Lake of Fire prepared for Satan and his servants."

For what it's worth.

Blessings in the Name of Yeshua HaMashiach ben YHWH.

Bud Millington aka "Moe."

PS. I've not made a big deal about the Pre- and Mid- Tribulation heresies for I wondered how it mattered. But recently, I read an article by Michael Rood that made me realize how dangerous these heresies are.

Consider this: Since most Christians have been taught the lie that there is a secret, pre-tribulation rapture that will whisk them away before anything bad happens...imagine they position they are in when all the bad stuff happens and they are still here?

Satan could then convince them, "Well you missed the Rapture and are in the Tribulation. And since the Rapture was secret and invisible, you will just have to take my word for it. And since the Bible says that the Messiah comes and sits in Jerusalem and delivers Earth out of all this distress AFTER the Tribulation...that man sitting I the Temple claiming to be God must be the Messiah!"

This doctrine plays perfectly into persuading people that the Anti-Christ must be the real Messiah! Now I know why Satan has pushed this heresy so very hard...he had an end-game strategy all along (he usually does.)

This is EXACTLY why Yeshua said that when the day comes that they say to you that the Messiah is here our there and you have to go to meet Him, DON'T DO IT! For when He comes His Coming will be VISIBLE TO ALL MANKIND as His angels will come and bring His loyal subjects to meet Him in the air!

If it doesn't happen exactly like that, it ain't the real Messiah! Jesus said Matthew 24:

1. Visible to all the Earth
2. The angels come to gather you to Him in the Air; you will NOT have to go here or there to meet Him! Hint: you will have to go up to Jerusalem if you want a physical audience with the Anti-Christ!
3. Takes place AFTER the Tribulation of those days! What part of "AFTER" does the Christian church not understand? Honestly!

So there it is...and if you pay attention to the news (read Herbert L. Peters [1]www.fulfilledprophecy.com,) it's obvious to those that study the Bible, the 7 Years' Covenant has ALREADY begun! (There is no "Daniel's 70th Week mentioned anywhere in the Bible; that's a title Christianity made up. The Bible calls it the 7 Years' Covenant with Many!)

I look for the "Abomination that makes desolate" around the time frame of June 2010.

Therefore if the Rapture is Pre-Trib...and the "Tribulation" is the whole seven years as Christianity claims...why are we still here? I do have some Christian friends who see the 7 Years' Covenant has begun...and I've chuckled as I've seen them scramble to change their "Pre-Trib" doctrine to "Mid-Trib."

Mainstream Caholicism/Christianity is dead wrong about Xmas, Easter, tithing, the Torah, the Gifts of the Spirit...I've learned by reading the Scripture just about everything they preach is exactly the opposite of what the Bible says.

So why listen to them about the Tribulation and Rapture? Why even listen to them about something as important as your Salvation?

Get in the Bible and think for yourselves.

Honestly.

Blessings in the Name of Yeshua HaMashiach ben YHWH.

Bud Millington aka "Moe."

To: Randy and Ted
From: Doyle Millington
Subject: Posting the previous email onto the Internet

Ran the Man & Ted the Warrior:

I only ask you don't change the words (except for obvious typos.) I've had some post my writings and change key words here and there and made it look like I was saying the exact opposite of what I said or that I supported doctrines I've spent years preaching against. Editorialize all you want, criticize all you want...call me a false prophet if you want. But don't post my writings if you change the words.

More thoughts have come to me: Esther and Mordechai (the True Christian and True Jew) WORKED TOGETHER, and fasted and prayed for each other's deliverance. They were cousins, and acted as family, as one. As I see the animosity, bigotry, hatred and stand offishness both Jews and Christians have towards one another...I wonder who they are serving. I believe in times of trouble (perhaps in THE time of trouble?) true Jews and Christians...who truly serve Him...WILL come together and give up all for each other.

There is no record that either Esther or Mordechai were aware of the danger they were in until it came full upon them. They sought YHWH with fasting and diligence after the trouble had come. Is this a shadow of both the complacency that often afflicts us AND a shadow of the trials which are about to come upon the whole Earth? Yes, they filled their lamps with oil...but almost too late.

Esther is a Babylonian name; was this to hide the fact she was Jewish? This makes me consider how the Christian church rejected their Jewish heritage and instead choose to keep the rites and rituals of pagan Babylon and re-packaged Babylonian Sun worship as Catholicism/Christianity. In other words, they were trying to forget and deny their adopted "Jewishness" for lack of a better way of saying it.

The more I think of the outline I received, the more persuaded it truly is of YHWH. It just makes too much sense. I'm not that smart.

I've been so blessed by this revelation of Purim...see why I think it crazy for Christians to teach that the Law and Prophets are "Jewish bondage Christ set us free from" meant to be avoided at all costs? Yet this revelation points me to the TRUE Christ...the one of the Bible, not tradition.

And what True Believer doesn't want to learn about Him?

For what it's worth...

Blessings in the Name of Yeshua HaMashiach ben YHWH.

Bud Millington aka "Moe."

I've noticed that Jews who leave their religion almost never become Christians. They usually become atheists, or Buddhists. Buddhism is understandable. It resonates with many Jewish people. The original Buddha was an Israelite of the Dispersion, a blue-eyed Saxon. He rejected, not Hinduism so much, but the teachings of the rabbi's and priests. Like Karl Marx, Buddha came up with a religion that rejected Torah, but still carried a lot of Torah in it. That is why Communism and Buddhism took off and became such popular religions, because they are based on the one true religion.

I thought this article by James B. Whisker was interesting:

Karl Marx was not only Jewish, he was descended from an established rabbinical family. His father had abandoned the practice of Judaism in order to function more freely in and with the newly established Prussian state, and in order to attract more clients to his law practice. Biographers do agree that age-old Jewish traditions continued to run deep in Herschel Marx's family long after he had ceased attending the synagogue. Karl Marx probably had no formal ties with Judaism, but he was acutely aware of its theology and its traditions. Lack of formal practice cannot here be equated with ignorance. Indeed, Karl Marx apparently had studied the bases of all Western religions throughout his life.

As a "Young Hegelian," commonly known as the Hegelians of the Left, Marx had been exposed to the often bizarre interpretations of organized religion. Among the earliest of his publications was The Holy Family, little more than a plagiarism of the leftist Hegelian leader Ludwig Feuerbach's Essence of Christianity. It was in the juvenile Holy Family that Marx coined the oft-quoted phrase "Religion is the opiate of the people." The idea was hardly original with him. It was a reasonably cogent summation of one of the principal of Feuerbach's ideas, which was that man is alienated from himself by virtue of his dependence on God. By concentrating on God and by assuring himself that God will right all wrongs and reward all sufferings in the next world, man is said to fail to realize that he can correct injustice and prevent the evils of the world in this world by and through his own efforts. Religion has a narcotic effect by soothing us so that we do not mind that we are miserable. All our sufferings, trials and tribulations, sorrows and despair are part of a divine plan wherewith we work out our salvation; thus they are to be accepted and cherished, not defeated or circumvented or prevented.

The Holy Family was an attack on all religion, without prejudice against any one specific variety. There was no real attempt in it to separate Christianity from Judaism. Inasmuch as many of the Young Hegelians were apostate Jews, some had shown especial concern for the status of Judaism, but not prejudice against Jews for religious reasons. Hence, in a sense, freedom from religion was really a form of release for Jews. These leftist followers of George William Frederick Hegel assumed that without any religion in the new state there would be no point of separation between Jews and Gentiles, ex-Christians and ex-Jews. The onus of "Christ killer" would no longer be meaningful, any more than accusations leveled against any other group for killing any other individual or group of individuals. Indeed, Christ as a rejected symbol of false hope would be killed for a second time, and at least this second death would be the cause of liberation, rejoicing and new hope for the suffering masses. With most of this Marx could wholeheartedly agree. Christ had to die a second time, and this time there would be no resurrection. Marx agreed that without religion there could and would be no religious persecutions and prejudices. This was a sound example of an analytic logic in which he had great faith.

…

Read the full article here: Karl Marx: Anti-Semite, by James B. Whisker

I have some thoughts on this, and also on other topics. Hopefully I get back to this entry, unlike the article on protest nudity which I outlined and never fleshed in.

Kim, I haven't forgotten your question.

Jake, I still have some reviewing of your stuff to do.

Also need to do a review of the television series "Big Love".

Also an etymology of kulning and keening.

John 20:15-18 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni! Which is to say, Beloved Husband. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

Why did Jesus wait 40 days to Ascend to Heaven?

A related question: Why did Jesus tell Mary, "do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to heaven"?

In the verses quoted above the King James version deceptively puts "the LORD", as if the original Greek had put the tetragrammaton for Jehovah in that place. They felt this was necessary, because these verses are so strongly anti-Trinitarian. Jesus was going to ascend to "his God, and Mary's God". That doesn't sound "co-equal" to me!

The Bible is clear; Jesus did not go to heaven until 40 days after his death. Also, he didn't allow Mary to touch him. Why was this? Think, Yeshua was dead, and now alive. The dead are unclean. One cannot touch a dead body without being unclean for seven days. Even if one touches a grave that held a dead person, one becomes unclean. Jesus was in a grave. This made him unclean. He needed to be purified from contact with death. There is another aspect. Jesus came to life. What happens when a male baby is born? The mother is secluded for fourty days, and then presents the son to his father. Jesus waited forty days before ascending to his Father. This was the period of time it took for a newborn infant to become clean from the quickening process! Jesus really was born again, literally. And we too will be born again in the Resurrection.

John 20:22-29 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

After eight days, Jesus allowed Doubting Thomas Didymus to touch him, to prove who he was. This was sufficient time for the red heifer cleansing. There is no evidence that Yeshua touched anyone before that time.

If Jesus was God, why would he need a 40 day period of cleansing? Rather, he was the Son of God, going up to heaven to stand before his Father's throne, and then to sit in that same throne with his Father, as the double portion due to a firstborn son.

At the end of forty days, the mother had to bring an offering to the temple. Until then, she could not enter the temple sactuary without defiling it. Who was the mother in Jesus resurrection? What offering did she bring, and where did she bring it? To the earthly temple? I think not; to the tabernacle in heaven, wherein the Father resides?

To answer these questions, look deeper. What was the forfeit if the mother did not bring an offering to the temple? The male son himself was the forfeit, becoming the property of the Temple. And what do we see? Yeshua rose to his Father to sit at his right hand, and to stand before his mercy seat. The book of Revelation paints the heavenly temple as grander and greater than the earthly temple, but on similar lines. Yeshua rose to heaven to offer himself, being without a mother to make an offering for his redemption.

Why was the vail in the Temple rent? The vail covered the presence of God, separating God from everyone, the ultimate holiness. The ripping of the vail was the grief of a Father; God ripped his garment in agony when Yeshua died on the tree.

Ted's 50 States Results

How many of the fifty states forming the United States of America can you remember in ten minutes? I forgot a few; you can see the ones I forgot colored white. The others are colored red. Perhaps the ones in white are particularly boring.

Take the quiz yourself here: 50 States in 10 Minutes.

Leviticus 19:19 Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.

According to the Wikipedia article on sheep/goat hybrids, wild horses have 66 chromosones and domesticated horses have 64. That being the case, is it unlawful to interbreed the two? Are they really distinct "kinds"? Lots of other interesting stuff in the article too. Lends credence to the angels mating with women story of Genesis.

I added more material to my last diary entry on the topic of the sheep and goats: More Differences Between Sheep and Goats. Enjoy.

Summary: I observe the new moon, sabbath, and other feasts on local time for the same reason that I observe day and night locally. It just doesn't make sense to tie the world to Jerusalem time when God himself never said any such thing. Imagine keeping day and night by Jerusalem time; day would be dark and night would be bright. The stars were put in the heavens for signs and festivals. They wouldn't be doing their job if they only worked when visible from Jerusalem.

My great-great-grandfather, a freethinking Amish man, recognized some problems with the planetary sabbath. He said what would happen if you travelled around the earth? You would lose or gain a day. When you arrived where you started from, you would be practicing the sabbath a different day than everyone that had stayed home. If you went around the world a second time in the same direction, you would be two days off. He was talking about the planetary sabbath.

With the Lunar Sabbath, this problem never comes up. You just keep synchronized to the moon, and no matter where you are, you will always be keeping the sabbath correctly.

Among Lunar Sabbatarians, and New Moon keepers in general, there is a deep division over how we are to calculate the beginning of the month. Half the conflicts over how to caculate the beginning of the year are really conflicts over the beginning of the month.

Many today like to go by Jerusalem time. That is, they wait until someone in Jerusalem sights the first sliver of the moon before officially starting a new moon. This goes against the entire spirit of the lunar sabbath, which was to be observed locally, at home. The people keeping the Jerusalem sabbath have a modern notion of time involving clocks, international datelines, and other such fiddle-faddle. Why? Because they read it in the traditions of the Jews, called the Talmud.

Deuteronomy 30:1-3 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

Do you see there? God promised that if the Israelites were in captivity, they would still be able to keep his commandments. And when they did, he would end their captivity and return them home.

Think historically. Israel was taken into captivity almost 3000 years ago. They were taken all the way to Afghanistan. Back in those days, there was no way that they could start their month at the same time as the people in Jerusalem. First, they were captives in exile. They were not ALLOWED to go running off to Jerusalem to check the calendar every month. Second, the system of lighting giant watch fires at 50 mile intervals was limited. It wouldn't have sufficed for carrying the message from Jerusalem all the way to Afghanistan in sufficient time for believers to observe the correct New Moon. Third, Afghanistan is a long way from Jerusalem. They didn't have trains, planes, television or telephone in those days.

We are left with two facts; information couldn't be brought from Jerusalem to the place of Exile in a timely fashion. Also, God told Israel that they had everything they needed to keep his commands even though in captivity. My conclusion is that they observed the new moon and all related celebrations, like the sabbath, shavuot, yom teruah, and so on, based on local time.

The very idea that we are to observe the Lunar Sabbath by Jerusalem time is a product of our modern era. It is an anachronism; it has no support from God's word, the Bible. Using Jerusalem time leads to confusion. Using local time keeps people together. Locally, that is. Telephones and the internet are actually driving people apart, alienating and isolating them from each other.

Jerusalem sabbatarians argue that because we do have telephones, we need to use a 24 hour clock and all keep sabbath and new moon on the same day so that we can all telephone each other or get on airplanes without fear of breaking the Sabbath. I find these arguments specious and unconvincing. If you step on an airplane, you should find out ahead of time when the sabbath is at your destination. This takes a bit of work, but it is doable. In ancient times, fifty miles per day was the top speed a person could reasonably travel. You would never have a problem with differing sabbaths. The moon is the synchronizer. At each stop along the way, you would keep sabbath with the people locally.