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Bible Study-44 (Deuteronomy 12-17)

From the time that God made a covenant with Israel, He began to indicate that He would eventually designate a specific place where He would establish His name. This would become the unique place of worship for Israel, His people. This site would also designate the future seat of God’s Kingdom on earth. The Bible section that we are considering today repeats that declaration again and again. We know that spot would ultimately be the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. But at this point in the revelation, the exact location that the Lord had in mind had not been established. Israel moved about led by the “cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night” which dwelled over the Tent of Meeting in their midst.

We can begin to appreciate the importance of the specific place that God would designate by the number of times that He repeats His command. Without quoting the specific verses, I will simply list them here. They include: Deuteronomy 12:5, 12:11, 12:14, 12:18, 12:21, 12:26, 14:23, 14:24, 14:25,15:20, 16:2, 16:6,16:7, 16:11,16:15, and16:16.

By my count, this is sixteen references to “the place which the Lord will choose”. Someone has said that if the Lord states something once, it is important. If it is repeated twice than it is sure to be fulfilled. What should we conclude if a statement is repeated 16 times in four short chapters? There must be a very special meaning involved.

When Israel entered the land, the Tent of Meeting was located at the base camp near Jericho at Gilgal. Later, after the conquest, it was relocated in the highlands at Shiloh. It remained there for something like 300 years. The location seems to become somewhat obscure after that. We know that in the time of King David, it was located at Gibeon (I Chronicles 16:39).

God judged David because he acted presumptuously by numbering the people contrary to the commandment of the Lord. In the interaction that followed, David realized that the “threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite” was the “altar of burnt offering for Israel (I Chronicles 22:1)”. David bought the site which was to become the location of the Temple in Jerusalem. Later, Solomon built the Temple there and the Lord announced that this was the site that He had been speaking of for hundreds of years. God declared, “Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually (II Chronicles 7:15-16)”. Two points need to be emphasized in this statement. Firstly, God’s eyes and ears would be uniquely attentive at this place. Therefore, we conclude that God’s chose to establish His presence at this place in a special way unlike any other. Secondly, this situation is perpetual or eternal. It is as true today as it was 3000 years ago.

This site, the Temple Mount, is truly the only site for national Israel to worship. As a Christian, I understand that we may worship anywhere in the world. When worship is conducted in a Biblical manner, we are often blessed with an awesome sense of God’s presence. People get saved, delivered, healed and receive Godly direction on such occasions. But worship at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is unlike anywhere else in the world. In spite of the false claims of Islam concerning this site, true believers from Israel and the whole world must demand that Israel exercise dominion over this site and consecrate it to the Name of the Lord. Nothing that I can imagine will sanctify the Name of the God of Israel more than this.

Many of my Israeli friends believe that consecrating the Temple Mount especially by building the Third Temple is the final step in preparing the way for the Messiah and completion of the “Redemption Process”. Others believe that the Messiah will build the Third Temple. These are points dealing with Jewish theology of which I do not have expert knowledge. What I do know is that such consecration of the Temple Mount will have an awesome impact on Christian believers. Before Israel became a visible nation in 1948, a popular Christian theological position was “God is dead”. As Israel became a visible nation, there was a great revival in Christianity. Evangelists like Billy Graham and Oral Roberts appeared with nationwide, if not international, ministries. Millions either came to faith or renewed their faith. In 1967, with the awesome victory of Israel in the Six-Day War, the modern “Charismatic Revival” swept across the Church. Many millions more experienced a deeply spiritual renewal. Since that time Evangelical Christians have become a strong supporter of Israel. Now Christianity awaits the next move of God in Israel. That move will be, I believe, the consecration of the Temple Mount leading ultimately to the building of the Third Temple.

Today I read of more and more calls in Israel to recognize the importance of the Temple Mount to Israel. Islamic dominance of the site is becoming more and more odious to many Israelis. Eventually, this voice will be heard and actions will be taken to return this site to its Biblical significance. I whole-heartedly join my Israeli friends in looking with great expectancy for such an advance in the “Redemption Process”.

At the beginning of the recent war in Gaza, I hoped and prayed that Israel would take the step of establishing their absolute authority over the Temple Mount. I understand the political reasons why this has not happened, however, I believe this is so near the heart of God that He will bless and protect Israel when they become bold enough to take this step. It is easy for me to encourage Israel to be bold in this regard since I live 8000 miles away. Still I am reminded of the action taken by King David 3000 years ago. Israel had been at war with the Philistines (centered in Gaza) for five generations. In spite of the long war with the Philistines, David’s first action after being made king of all Israel was to capture and secure Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the final site to be taken in the conquest of the land initiated by Joshua ben Nun almost 400 years earlier. After securing Jerusalem, David defeated the Philistines and brought peace to Israel. I pray that we will see this same thing in our own day.

Please see my book “Israel – God’s Interdimensional Portal” available at Amazon for a discussion of the importance of the Temple Mount, Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and modern Israel in general.

By Ken Garrison, B.S., M.S., Th.M.

Bible Study-43 (Deuteronomy 7-11)

The Bible section for this week contains some interesting revelations about God, His people and His land. I will start with His land.

If we return to the book of Genesis and with God’s interactions with Abraham, it is evident that God chose the Land before He chose the people, i.e., Abraham. He commanded Abraham to go where He would show him. God brought Abraham to the area that we know today as Israel. Therefore, we conclude that the Land itself has special significance to God and to His plan of redemption. God described the Land as:

“a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year.” (Deuteronomy 11:12)

The word translated as “cares” means: to go to a place, to frequent it, to trample with the feet. So we might say that God walks about in the land of Israel. When you have the privilege to visit Israel you will most probably note this if you are a discerning person.

Moses declared that if Israel would keep the commandments and the statutes and the judgments that God would “love you and bless you and multiply you”. (Deuteronomy 7:13a). We might say today that this would define a “biblical” lifestyle. Our Israeli friends would, I suppose, call it a “Torah” lifestyle. At any rate it is a lifestyle whose fruit is produced over a lifetime, i.e., not instantaneously. Such a lifestyle produces fulfillment, contentment, success and the feeling of accomplishment. In contrast to this is a “worldly” or a “sinful” lifestyle. The “worldly” lifestyle produces instant fun and is exhilarating but eventually produces death in one form or another. The lifetime result of such a lifestyle is death. Hollywood always portrays the exhilaration of sin but seldom portrays the death that follows.

God warned Israel to destroy all of the false gods of the Canaanites as they took possession of the Land. (Deuteronomy 7:25-26) The Holy One of Israel was in the midst of Israel revealing His nature not only to Israel but to the whole world. Idols represent man’s concept of god and therefore are wholly inadequate representations of the true God. Therefore they are to be destroyed. In the Biblical era, idols were made of such things as stone, wood, silver and gold. They were material objects. Today, idols are philosophical or intellectually devised and are therefore more difficult to discern. Our challenge today is to discard intellectually devised gods and experience or know the name of the one true God. The Hebrew verb translated as “know” is Yadah and it means much more than an intellectual knowledge. It means to experience firsthand. Everyone who experiences the true God in this manner is transformed. Frequently, in the Biblical era, a person’s name was changed as a result of such an encounter with God.

Finally, from time to time as we study the Bible, we discover a summarization of God’s commandments. One such summary is recorded here:

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13) And, “Circumcise then your heart, and stiffen your neck no more.” (Deuteronomy 10:16)

This reminds us of Psalms 15, Micah 6:8 and Mark 12:28-31. In contrast to many exhortations heard today, Moses later emphasized that these things were not too difficult for us to do (please see Deuteronomy 30:11-14).

After the original settlement in the land, the people of Israel remained for about 800 years. In this period of time, God acted through the Hebrew prophets to reveal His plan of redemption. As a result of the failure of the people to follow the commandments of the Lord, the people of Israel were separated from the land of Israel. However, the promise of the ingathering of the people to the land was repeated by virtually every prophet. That fulfillment has been happening during our lifetime.

From the late 1800’s the Jewish people have returned to the land of Israel and established settlements there. This is one of the most important fulfillments of Bible prophecy in the modern era. The land was formerly dominated by Islam and Moslems has struggled to retard Jewish immigration and to eliminate those already living in the land. Traditionally the U.S. has been supportive of Israel or, at least, neutral in this struggle. Today, that policy has changed. The present nuclear deal with Iran insures that Iran obtains nuclear capability. They have repeatedly vowed to destroy Israel. The U.S. has become complicit in an effort to destroy Israel.

In order to understand this struggle, please see my recent book entitled “Israel: God’s Interdimensional Portal” available at Amazon. Note, in particular, chapter 3 entitled “The Oldest War”.

By Ken Garrison, B.S., M.S., Th.M.

Bible Study-42 (Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11)

In this Torah section, Moses rehearses the encounter between God and Israel at Mt. Sinai. Here we learn about the intent of God concerning the commandments. If Israel obeyed His commandments it would make them “wise”. They would prosper and live long lives in the land that He was giving to them.

God declared,

“You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that) you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2)

It appears to me that both Israel and the Church have ignored this commandment. In Israel, the Oral Tradition evolved as an interpretative body of work of the commandments. This was eventually written in the form of the Mishnah. Commentaries were added to the Mishnah to form the Talmud. For all practical purposes, these added to the commandments by being more restrictive than the original commandments.

In Christianity, it is acceptable to simply ignore any commandment which does not fit into Christian theology. One of the best examples of this is Shabbat. The Shabbat as well as others of the Lord’s festivals (Leviticus 23:37) are ignored and new festivals have been developed in their place.

The commandments define a lifestyle which is pleasing to the Lord. We might call it a “Biblical Lifestyle”. In Israel this would be seen as a “Torah Lifestyle”. Christianity denies the use of the word “Torah”, so it would be called a “Biblical Lifestyle”. God declared that this is wisdom.

“So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’” (Deuteronomy 4:6)

In the animal kingdom, the creatures act for their own survival and well-being. This is classified as instinct. I believe what we call instinct is God speaking directly to animals. This process is confused in mankind due to the confusion introduced at the time of the fall. This confusing communication comes from the evil one who challenges every commandment given by God. The Torah becomes our “instinct”. As we live lives in the pattern of Torah, we appear to be wise because we are following the pattern defined by God consistent with His original design for human existence. There is a multiplication of knowledge today, but wisdom is a rare commodity.

At Mt. Sinai, Israel was fearful due to the awesome presence of the Lord on the mountain. Each heard God speak what we call the “ten commandments”. I believe that they each experienced the same phenomena later experienced by Elijah at this same place – the small, silent voice of the Lord. As a result, they feared for their survival and asked Moses to interact directly with the Lord on their behalf. Moses assumed the position of Messiah, effectively interacting with God on behalf of the people. He was a Messiah.

“All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die.’” (Exodus 20:18-19)

God heard their request and declared that they had done well.

“The Lord heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me, ‘I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken.” (Deuteronomy 5:28)

Finally, one of my favorite activities is to speculate about the nature of heaven.

“And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the very heart of the heavens; darkness, cloud and thick gloom. Then the Lord spoke to you from the midst of the fire; you heard the sound of words, but you saw no form – only a voice.” (Deuteronomy 4:11-12)

“Out of the heavens He let you hear His voice to discipline you; and on earth He let you see His great fire, and you heard His words from the midst of the fire.” (Deuteronomy 4:36)

If we think of heaven as a multi-dimensional universe distinct from the space-time continuum, then this event reveals a coupling of these two universes at Mt. Sinai. Note the term, “to the very heart of heaven”. This means something like “deep within the region of heaven”. Israel experienced this at Mt. Sinai and recorded it. Please see my book “Israel – God’s Interdimensional Portal” (available at Amazon) for more development of this subject.

By Ken Garrison, B.S., M.S., Th.M.

Bible Study-41 (Deuteronomy 1:1-7:11)

I will continue my discussion of the books of Moses this week. Included in this section is some revelation concerning the connection between heaven and earth. I have developed this theme in my book “Israel – God’s Interdimensional Portal“ available at Amazon.

The Book of Deuteronomy (Hebrew “Devarim”) was recited to Israel on Mt. Nebo just before Israel entered the land. Moses’ work in this age has been completed. Joshua would lead Israel into the Promised Land. Since the specific date was given, the 1st day of the 11th month of the 40th year, it would be only 70 days before Israel crossed the Jordan River and began the conquest.

God commanded Israel to “go in and possess” the land. To do this they would have to dispossess the Canaanites who were already there. Moses declared,

“Do not fear them, for the Lord your God is the one fighting for you.”

God would do this by,

“This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples everywhere under the heavens, who, when they hear of you, shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.” (Deuteronomy 2:25)

God would also harden their hearts as He had done to Sihon, king of Heshbon (Deuteronomy 2:30). Finally, we know from the book of Joshua that God entered the battle directly as needed. I believe that these commands are as applicable today as they were when Moses spoke them.

God declared,

“You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2)

The commandments define a lifestyle which is pleasing to the Lord. We might call it a “Biblical Lifestyle”. In Israel this would be seen as a “Torah Lifestyle”. Christianity denies the use of the word “Torah” so it would be called a “Biblical Lifestyle”. God declared that this is wisdom.

“So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’” (Deuteronomy 4:6)

In the animal kingdom, the creatures act for their own survival and well-being. This is classified as instinct. I believe what we call instinct is God speaking directly to animals. This process is confused in mankind due to the confusion introduced at the time of the fall. This is really communication from the evil one who challenges every commandment given by God. The Torah becomes our “instinct”. As we live lives in the pattern of Torah, we appear to be wise because we are following the pattern defined by God consistent with His original design for human existence.

Finally, one of my favorite activities is to speculate about the nature of heaven.

“And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the very heart of the heavens; darkness, cloud and thick gloom. Then the Lord spoke to you from the midst of the fire; you heard the sound of words, but you saw no form – only a voice.” (Deuteronomy 4:11-12)

If we think of heaven as a multi-dimensional universe distinct from the space-time continuum, than this event reveals a coupling of these two universes at Mt. Sinai. Note the term, “to the very heart of heaven”. This means something like “deep within the region of heaven”. Israel experienced this at Mt. Sinai and it is recorded. Please see “Israel – God’s Interdimensional Portal” for more discussion on this subject.

We could add discussions about the beginning of the office of Messiah (Deuteronomy 5:22-28), the Shema and following commandment quoted by Jesus (Mark 12:29-30) and the origin of the use of “Tifillim”. But I will save that for another day.

By Ken Garrison, B.S., M.S., Th.M.

Bible Study-40 (Numbers 30-36)

At the close of the account given in Numbers, Israel has spent 38 ½ years wandering about in the wilderness. This resulted from their unbelief in response to the majority report brought by the spies which had entered the land. That generation had died off and a new generation was prepared to enter the Promised Land. Moses was nearing the end of his ministry and gave his parting exhortation in what we know as the book of Deuteronomy.

As Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, God instructed Moses saying,

“Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, When you cross over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten images and demolish all their high places;…” (Numbers 33:51-52)

And,

“But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come about that those whom you let remain of them will become as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land in which you live. And it shall come about that as I plan to do to them, so I will do to you.” (Numbers 33:55-56)

Of course, Israel failed in this commandment and God’s judgment fell upon them. This dominated Israel’s history for about 800 years during the First Kingdom Era (~ 1447 – 586 BC/BCE). Do you suppose that this could still be a problem in Israel?

Representatives of the tribes of Reuben and Gad (and evidently a portion of the tribe of Manasseh) sought Moses and requested to receive their inheritance on the East Bank of the Jordan River. Moses interpreted their petition as rebellion in the likeness of that of the spies that had brought an evil report earlier in the journey. It appears that Moses reluctantly agreed to their request with the provision that the armed men from these tribes cross over the river with the others and participate in the battle to conquer the land.

The conduct of these tribes demonstrates an important truth that we need to comprehend. Reuben, Gad and portions of the tribe of Manasseh saw what they wanted and went for it. They obviously were not seeing themselves in terms of God’s greater plan. They could find everything that they thought they needed on the East Bank of the Jordan but God’s plan was for all the tribes to conquer and inhabit the land between the Jordan and the western sea. This was the land that God had chosen for His redemptive purposes and was first identified as such to Abraham some 600 years earlier. (Note! Please see my new book – “Israel: God’s Interdimensional Portal” for a discussion of why this area is so important to God’s plan – available at Amazon.) Israel, at least these tribes, had little understanding of a greater plan or they simply didn’t care.

Many believers today have done the same thing. Sometimes they are referred to as “carnal Christians”. I don’t believe this is a Biblical concept; nevertheless, I hear the expression used today. I believe that God has a specific plan for each believer who confesses that Jesus is Lord and for each local congregation that makes the same confession. Unfortunately, many are grazing their cattle on the hills of Gilead rather than living a bold, fruitful life on the mountains of Israel. They can see God’s will from a distance but are not really entering into it. This is also true of many of our Jewish brethren. The settlements of Reuben, Gad and portions of the tribe of Manasseh are in America today. Israel can be seen at a distance through Arutz Sheva or the Jerusalem Post, yet most are not fully engaged in the redemption process that is taking place in the land of Israel.

Over hundreds of years, the tribes who received their inheritance on the East Bank of the Jordan appear to have become less and less significant in terms of Biblical revelation. The main prophetic, priestly and royal lines would come through their brethren to the West specifically from the tribes of Judah and Levi. In other words, Reuben, Gad and portions of the tribe of Manasseh had an opportunity to be participants in the most important events in human history but settled for something far less significant.

Are we doing the same thing today? Are we just looking for plush pastures for our cattle or are we seeking to understand and do God’s will? A famous rabbi once said,

“My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish his work.” (John 4:34b).

Bible Study-44 (Deuteronomy 12-17)

Bible Study-43 (Deuteronomy 7-11)

Bible Study-42 (Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11)

Bible Study-41 (Deuteronomy 1:1-7:11)

Bible Study-40 (Numbers 30-36)

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