What means Edom

I had an interesting conversation with a Rabbi about the use of the name Edom in the Bible.

James the Apostle quotes the prophecy of Amos 9:12 in Acts 15. He (or the writer of acts) cites literally from the Septuaginta. This text has ‘mankind’ instead of Edom. So my question was why the translators of the Septuaginta used mankind. Or put simply, how do we have to read Edom throughout the bible.

James lived in Israel under the Roman empire. We can easily understand that they used Edom used for the nations, other than the Jews. Because ‘all’ nations were under the Roman empire that time. We only have to suppose that Edom was a term used to describe Rome. Then Edom means the nations, the Gentiles, mankind.

But what about the broader picture of the use of Edom in the Bible? Does it support reading ‘mankind’ for it? We can go back to the very first existence of ‘Edom’. That is in the womb of Rebecca. There it states that there are two nations. In fight with each other. (Esau is called Edom, Gen.25:30) This is in line with the explanation of James. James points to the Messianic era where peace will reign between those two rebelling nations. Thus does he explains Amos 9.

The word Edom means red. It relates to Adam. Here the two nations (Israel and the nations) sprung from Adam. It began from the creation of mankind from the dust of the earth. They parted into rebelling nations. But they will end together in the Messianic era.

Then it will be like James Amos 9:12 told the disciples: “After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things.” (Acts 15:16)

They saw the beginning. Hopefully, we will see the fulfilment.

The Pope is not the antichrist (anymore)

While I was written to a considerable extend at my Dutch blog that the Pope was the antichrist in the time of the Reformation, now I can proof that he personally is not an antichrist anymore as it was in those early days. Times are changed, fortunately. He says: “Anti-Semitism is a sin, and you cannot be a true Christian without recognizing your Jewish roots.” I wish that every Protestant pastor would say that too.

The Pope doesn’t have dominion over Europe and the world anymore. His empire has gone. His (theological) power has gone. This is all over, we clearly live in other times now. Protestants interpreted prophecy, especially from the book Revelation, in a manner which is called Historicism. Although, unto the 19e century. I wrote earlier about it here. They called the Pope the antichrist, what is understandable . Now our enemy is not the Pope, but the devil himself going around like a roaring lion. Misleading the nations. Hopefully Israel and its God will soon lead the nations.

I read this encouraging words in an article from the Israely newspaper Yediot Ahronot.

The Pope and the Vatican

Yediot Ahronot, November 28, 2014

For this six-page article, Henrike Zimmerman interviewed Pope Francis at the Vatican. This is the first personal interview the pope has given to an Israeli newspaper. Pope Francis described his battle to halt the Islamic caliphate, and how there are more Christian martyrs today than in the early centuries of the church. He spoke against the violence in Jerusalem and called on all sides to act for peace, saying, “Building peace is hard, but living without peace is a nightmare.”

When speaking of Jerusalem, the pope did not want to express a personal view, but said that the Vatican’s view is that Jerusalem should be “the city of peace and faith,” the capital of all three religions. He spoke of his good memories of his trip to Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority in May, and said that he “saw things he didn’t know existed.” He said, additionally, that it is important for Christians to visit Israel since “everything began there,” and that “anti-Semitism is a sin, and you cannot be a true Christian without recognizing your Jewish roots.”

Regarding the possible opening of the Vatican archives, Pope Francis said that a treaty between the Vatican and Italy from 1929 prevents the opening of the archives, but that personally he sees no reason they shouldn’t be opened as soon as the “legal and bureaucratic” issues are taken care of.

The article ends by quoting Francis on how he wants to be remembered: “I would be happy if they said, ‘He was a good man. He did the best he could. He wasn’t so terrible.’”

Courtesy to the Media Review letter of the Caspari Centre, www.caspari.com

Palestine

In my last post which was written in Dutch, I argued that we as Christians have a history of almost 2000 years dominated by antichristian powers according to the classic view of the puritans.

One of the worst and hardest thing to accept for us as Christians is the hate towards Jews years after the destruction of the temple in 70.

We became proud (against Paul’s warning, Ro.11:18) and we became an empire dominated by antichristian Roman powers. (As foresaid by John, 1Jo.2:18)

It was Rome who thought it was good to call the land of Israel after its old pagan enemy: Palestine.

Blogger Judah from Kineti L’Tziyon mentioned it here:

“Q. If they’re not related to the ancient Philistines, then why are they called “Palestinians”?
A. Because Rome once hated Jews almost as much as Hamas does.
Rome renamed Israel to Syria Palestina in an effort to suppress Jewish presence in Israel.  Having sacked Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD, and after a failed Jewish revolt against the Romans in 135 AD, the Roman Emperor Hadrian renamed Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina in honor of one of his Roman gods, to spite and dominate the disheartened Jewish rebels. Scholars believe it was around this time the Roman province of Judea was renamed to Syria Palestina, in honor of the Bronze Age enemy of ancient Israel.

OK, it was the pagan Roman empire who did not adopt Christianity yet. But after Constantine, Christians did not refuse antisemitism. Rather, they thought they were the chosen people of God, annihilating the Jewish people and their covenants. They did not even allow Jews to be Jews.

Is it not an idea for the Pope to revoke the renaming of Israel with Palestine? A good Christian doesn’t call Jerusalem Aelia Capitolina too, does he?

Don’t you feel here that we as Christians are also guilty? It are not only Muslims to look at when it comes to antisemitism. Historically Christians also have a great deal in it.

We have to reset the things in the right order. Conform the people of Israel “whose is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, and the promises.” (Ro.9:4)

Facebook

Facebook and other social media are often used to get down mighty powers and authorities. As we seen in the Arabic world, people who didn’t have a voice now get attention.

Are we aware of this also happens to religion? Beyond the borders of the church is a same revolution in the make. Many young people are asking questions and find their way on facebook with fellows who understand each other.

In this way the Messianic movement is growing (with gentiles) because of a lack of goodwill of the church to restore the Hebrew roots. In stead of this they are building fences and strengthen their doctrines. Are they afraid? Why such behaviour?

I always remember a saying of the Dutch Willem Bilderdijk: “Every human might must disappear, and then the Messiah comes.” From that time on, the French Revolution, it happens.

The 70 years prophecy

The 70 years prophecy is the foundation and the demarcation of the period of exile of the Jewish people. Not only that. It is advanced with a deeper dimension to Daniel. When Daniel saw that the 70 years of exile were fulfilled, right away he was shown that there were 70 weeks in it. The time of the Messiah wasn’t there yet. More tings had to be happen. This prophecy also was picked up by John. He clarified the period of the Christian church or better to say the “grafted in gentiles” dominated by the antichrist. The main subject of the revelation to John is the 2 millenia  Christianity with at the end the glorius state of the united nations under the reign of the Messiah.

The 70 years prophecy is a basic outline with several dimensions, I like to distinguish three.

The 1th dimension is a literally fulfilment of the prophecy of Jeremiah.

The 2th is a literal fulfilment of the 70 sevens (70 weeks, 490 years) by Daniel.

The 3rd dimension is a more in detail but also hidden prophecy about the time of the final end of the exile. This reaches until the time in which we live.

Why three dimensions? Because the Messiah didn’t come after 70 years. And he didn’t come after 70 weeks of years too. (as a glorious king) He is still waiting to reveal himself in glory to the world. That’s because of the sins of the people He loves most. According to Jewish custom the coming of the Messiah depends on the obedience of the Jewish people. If the people are not ready, He delays. Also abortus causes delaying said the chief rabbi of Israel. But after all, time is set and He would come definitely and scripture gives us all we need to keep the hope and faith alive.

1.) Literal fulfillment of 70 years prophecy of Jeremiah.

At the end of the Tenach it reads: “And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: to fulfil the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths: for as long as it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfil 70 years.” (2Chron.36:20-21) Exactly 70 years later the first return of the exiles happened conform the prophecy of Jeremiah. (25:12) But this was not the complete fulfilment because only the tribe of Judah came, the other 10 tribes didn’t come but remained scattered all over the world. Another important thing is that they didn’t get salvation yet as was promised by dozens of prophecies. Salvation wasn’t there yet. After Jeremiah spoke about the 70, he also gives further

information about a common judgement for the whole world. “he will enter into judgment with all flesh: as for the wicked, he will give them to the sword, saith Jehovah” (25:31) But after that time salvation will occur. “After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (אַחֲרִית וְתִקְוָה) And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.14 And I will be found of you, saith Jehovah, and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places wither I have driven you, saith Jehovah; and I will bring you again unto the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” (Jer.29:10-14)

And because all of these promises, Daniel was told that the 70 were not just a literal 70. To him the prophecy of the 70 was revealed to a more depth. When that happened he prayed one of the most profound prayers of scripture. (Dan.9)

The angel revealed him the 70 as 70 sevens/weeks, שָׁבֻעִים שִׁבְעִים. “Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sin, and to forgive iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal vision and prophet, and to anoint the most holy place.” (Dan.9:24)

After the first message to Jeremiah, a more in depth information was given to Daniel. Here is to distinguish a literal and a hidden part. The literal part is fulfilled in 490 years (70×7) from “the outgoing word” unto the “cutting off” of “an anointed one” which is Jesus.

2.) The literal part of the 70 weeks prophecy by Daniel.

This is a well known prophecy in Christianity which often begins with 457 BCE which with 69 weeks (483years) reaches year 27 CE, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, the day of the anointed one be cut off. However there are more interpretations, the common scholarly and Jewish one differs. They see Cyrus as the anointed one, the prince, after the first seven weeks, and Alexander Yannai (103-76 BC) the cut off anointed one after another 62 weeks. The 7 weeks unto the anointed prince separated is supported by the original Hebrew text which has an atnach punctuation mark, omitted in most translations. Isaac Newton also distinguish this. More on that below.

3.) The hidden part of the 70 weeks prophecy by Daniel and the apostle John.

The hidden part of the prophecy is quite more revealed to John as written in the book Revelations. The keyword there is 1260 days which are years, based on the year-for-a-day principle derived from Ezekiel 4:4-6. It correlates with 3,5 days or half a week. For this part I cling to the Puritan view of the Pope being the antichrist, based on the way Reformers looked at prophecy, called the Historicist method. They speak about a time of a Rise, a time of a Reign(1260years), and a time of a Fall of the antichrist. Each epoch of a rise corresponds with a 1260 later epoch of a fall, e.g. 538 (Papacy got supreme authority of religion) corresponds with 1798 (Papacy lost this authority). In that manner several people predicted the French Revolution. I highly regard sir Isaac Newton in his explanation of this prophecy. And more Puritans, like Robert Fleming (1660-1716), Moses Lowman, etc. And Joseph Philpot (1802-1869) who said that after the Fall the reign of the antichrist continues with liberal powers. And now I think we live in the time where the devil himself is on earth to wipe out the remnants of the faithful. Because he knows his time is ending. And the Protestant church is not better than the Roman: the same problems occur in it. It looks like the wound that is healed after the first fall of the Roman church, also concerns the Protestant church. Along with the Western power of the antichrist, there’s also seen an Eastern Power preventing the true believe called the false prophet, this is the Islam, began around 600 the same time the Pope got power.

What we see by the Fall is that the ruling power of the church and the world are ceasing. In 1789 the Enlightenment caused the power of the Pope to cease, at the end of the 19th century the power of the Ottoman empire (Islam) ceased, political power was making room for democracy, the Berlin wall felt down etc. and recently the great power of Money was began to fall by the fall of the Twin Towers. The time is here that the world is lacking a Ruler, a Person who knows what’s right and good for the world.

There’s a Messiah already, (In Jewish perspective he’s hidden because of the sins.) and now he’s about to come and to rule the world.

There’s much to say about this and I can’t drop it all in one post here, but I would like to share the following with you.

According to the historicists view it’s about this time we live, that the antichrist would have its definite fall and destruction. Moses Lowman (1680-1752) was already arguing about an important date (756) were the Pope got his dominion and became a ruler in the place of Christ. 1260 years later he wrote, in 2016, we can expect his definite fall.

I found a very interesting place in the scriptures of Isaac Newton where he exposes on the 70 years prophecy. Newton put a period between 7 weeks and 62 weeks in Dan.9:25. He saw the rebuild of Jerusalem also in the future and it must precede the Messiah the Prince 49 years.
“… so the seven weeks are the compass of a Jubilee, and begin and end with actions proper for a Jubilee, and of the highest nature for which a Jubilee can be kept: and that since the commandment to return and to build Jerusalem, precedes the Messiah the Prince 49 years; it may perhaps come forth not from the Jews themselves, but from some other kingdom friendly to them, and precede their return from captivity, and give occasion to it; and lastly, that this rebuilding of Jerusalem and the waste places of Judah is predicted in Micah vii. 11. Amos ix. 11, 14. Ezek. xxxvi. 33, 35, 36, 38. Isa. liv. 3, 11, 12. lv. 12. lxi. 4. lxv. 18, 21,22. and Tobit xiv. 5. and that the return from captivity and coming of the Messiah and his kingdom are described in Daniel vii. Rev. xix. Acts i. Mat. xxiv. Joel iii. Ezek. xxxvi. xxxvii. Isa. lx. lxii. lxiii. lxv. and lxvi. and many other places of scripture. The manner I know not. Let time be the Interpreter.”

Given that Jerusalem came under Jewish control in 1967 it gives that the Messiah could come after 2016 according to this calculation.

I won’t talk about specific years. I really don’t want to do that. Because it could be harmful for the weak and it can cause a stressed Messianic expectation and history shows that this is not healthy. Lets share something personal, I do not see much difference between the coming of the Messiah or to pass away and enter eternity. The dead for the righteous is a sleep for the body until the resurrection. Are you righteous and faithfull, that’s the question what must bother you most. Now, when you hear His voice, (Ps.95) this day is the most important. And after all, its so easy for us to be wrong. We simply don’t know until time is there.

In this broad picture the recent revolutions in the Arabic world fits perfectly. Tyrannical mights overthere have to make place for the only mighty God, the only authority, the by all people of the world recognized One God. Worldly powers disappear in preparation for the Messianic Age. However, the last one who is moving around in this world as an angry lion knowing that his time is up, is the devil, where we are dealing with right now.

I don’t know if there would come a Gog-and-Magog-birth-pain before the Messiah appears. Probably this would come, but I certainly don’t see any upcoming antichrist, in contrary to what many believe.

Isaac Newton

The University of Sussex is completing a project on the Rashi of the Christian gentile world: sir Isaac Newton. A Rashi, at least in his exposition on the prophet Daniel and the book Revelations. Read the news on the US here.

Newton considered his religious writings to be the most significant field of his research.

Most of his beautiful manuscripts however remain not by the gentiles, but at the heart of the world: Jerusalem. Revealed just a few years ago to the public in a exhibition called Newton’s Secrets.

It is all re-documented and free accessible meant for scholars and the general public too at The Newton Project.

I like his thoughts about the future and I agree with many, albeit many things are hidden for me. Here’s a nice text, according to the Newton project website “Perhaps Newton’s clearest account of his views on the Last Judgment and the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. Misunderstanding of the Biblical texts concerning these events, he argues, is the source of the false doctrine of Purgatory. Contrary to ‘received opinion’, Judgment Day will not follow the Millennium but begin with it.”

Here’s an Extract from Treatise on Revelation or you can look at this: Of the relation which the Apocalypse of John hath to the Book of the Law of Moses, and to the worship of God in the Temple.

Again a great man seems to be ignored in the past by the church due to his controversial view on certain topics. Hopefully here is a comeback. But often they (especially the church) will judge him rather than listen and to let themselves to be judged. A problematic topic in the church always is his opinion about the trinity. He was against the classic Trinitarians.

I never found such an impressing view on prophecies!

M.History p.II – Willem Bilderdijk

After the in the Netherlands so called Further or Second Reformation (Nadere Reformatie, beginning in 1606 with the ministry of the father of the Nadere Reformatie, Willem Teellinck, and terminating in 1784 with the death of Theodorus Vander Groe), there came quite a new period. Troubling through the French Revolution which made everything upside down, the early 19^th century brought an end to the well established Netherlands Reformed Church, also called the Netherlands Protestant Church. In 1834 the Secession began and faith ceased from the public more and more. Once so faithful, now we are the first country in the world legalizing abortion, gay-marriage and so on. Tears are in my eyes when I’m thinking of the past.

One person who saw very clear the developments of that time was Willem Bilderdijk (1756-1831). He was not a Jew, but I have to mention him. He is the spiritual father of the Jews Isaac Da Costa and Abraham Capadose. In his thinking he was quite a Jew. He is also called the father of the Reveil. And I would call him the last prophet of the Netherlands. And I think not only for the Netherlands, but also the broader community, the ecclesia of Christ. Hewas the one who alarmed the people of his time, from the aristocratic class to the common people for the systematic and rational thinking of the Enlightenment. But although a few heartily agree, many were against and raised hate to him. The age was changing and the spirit of unbelief perpetrated into all classes.

Bilderdijk was a genius. He was very clever and was the (yes I’ll say that) the greatest poet of the Netherlands. His spiritual son Isaac Da Costa is the second. They both called directly the Spirit of the Almighty and not the Greek Muses. I wish you could read Dutch, you would certainly agree.

A huge repository of him is to find online here. And here a biography of him written by Da Costa. (all in Dutch)

Bilderdijk was surely the greatest fighter in the world against the ideas of the Enlightenment. He wrote many poets on the subject.

Bilderdijk saw Judaism strongly connected to Christianity in contrary of his contemporaries.

He was a great thinker and it would be great to tell much about him, but that didn’t fit in a document of Messianic history. However I think it’s good to quote here some excerpts from the excellent book of Dr. L. Engelfriet: Bilderdijk en het Jodendom. It has an English summary in it at the end. Here are some quotes concerning Judaism to learn something about Bilderdijk. (It’s really just a bit about this very special person)

Quotes:

… In his view the insight into the Divine status of the Messiah is common to the Jews. Christ is in the centre of the prophets. Therefore Christianity is a specialization of Judaism, the Christian is an insider in the Old Testament writings.

… Bilderdijk, however, sees essential characteristics of classic Judaism in Jewish liturgy and prayers and in Jewish belief in the Messiah characteristics that may on no account be given up.

…Bilderdijk is certainly the most important sympathizer of the Jews in the early part of the nineteenth century. His point of view is religiously determined. On the basis of this view he has resisted Jewish assimilation. He highly esteemed the old and noble Jewish people because it has been chosen by God. It must never give up its Messianic hope. His rejection of the assimilation does not in the least aim at the continuation of the social discrimination of the Jews, as is the case with many of his patriotic contemporaries, but is concordant with the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies that announced the coming of the Messianic kingdom in direct connection with the return of the Jews to Palestine.

… The poems which Bilderdijk addressed to the Jews, sometimes speak of Jewish guilt, but this is not directly related to the crucifixion. In the few instances that Bilderdijk establishes this connection elsewhere, he relativizes the Jewish share by calling the greater number of his Christian contemporaries and philosophers who adhere to the principles of the Enlightenment, much more guilty. According to him the most important misconception in the Jewish view of Jesus results from their inability to see the suffering and reigning Messiah united in one person. But in this misunderstanding he also sees a Divine decree. The Jews are still expecting the Messiah ben David. Strictly speaking the Christians have rejected this Messiah through having placed highest authority in the Roman principle of power (Boldness by me, JW. This is a core in his thinking.) which is concealed behind ecclesiastical power. Besides the church has arrogated to itself the lawful succession of Israel. Jewish origin and promise, however, remain in force. Through having failed to recognize Jesus the Jews have temporarily given up their birthright, but this will certainly retum to them. The Messianic secret remains the core of the Jewish people. Bilderdijk has great respect for Jewish exilian suffering because Israel’s God has made this subservient to the salvation of the nations. He continually encourages his Jewish contemporaries to cling to their Jewish hope, but wams them against the ideals of enlightened Christianity. Instead the Jews should widen their knowledge of their own tradition and should let themselves be guided by Moses, the prophets and the rabbins.

… In the decline of the visible church Bilderdijk sees a favourable circumstance for the breakthrough of Jesus’ Messianic rule. In this respect the Netherlands could become the centre of the invisible church. In his opinion Jesus’ way and kingdom avoid human unions and separations, but is prepared in the spirit.

… The Divine unity rules Bilderdijk’s thinking. This unity is expressed in the trinity. This is a mystery which is derived from Judaism. Jesus has instituted baptism in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in conformity with the ideas which the right-minded Jews had about God. Jesus has respected the oral tradition, but has corrected what was misunderstood in this tradition. In the later Jewish tradition, which has been influenced by rationalistic views, Bilderdijk perceives resistance to the Christian thought of trinity, but in Jewish mysticism, in the Jewish prayers and in the liturgy he discovers this notion.

… Although Bilderdijk was friendly with several Jews as the enlightened lawyer J.D. Meijer, his contacts with Da Costa and Capadose are of decisive importance for the sounding of his view on Judaism. Just as Bilderdijk most Jews showed admiration for house of Orange and were opposed to assimilation. Bilderdijk has strengthened Capadose’s Jewish self-confidence. He thought that only the complete Jew can arrive at recognition of Jesus as Messiah. Messiah Jesus is the heart of the Jewish people. On the basis of the Old Testament prophecies Bilderdijk expected that the Jews would overcome the misunderstanding of the separation of Messiah ben Joseph and Messiah ben David. This recognition may lead to the Jews’ return to Palestine and the Messiah’s reign.

On the other hand Bilderdijk has drawn Da Costa’s attention by way of Jewish mysticism to the unity of Israel’s God and the Messiah. As a rule the rabbinical views are highly valued by Bilderdijk. This does not only apply to the old Jewish scholars but also to the later rabbins, though he sometimes differs from them in the application of prophetic pronouncements to Jesus as the Messiah. In his opinion the older Jews have recognized a plurality of persons in God’s inexpressible unity. Obviously Bilderdijk has not only spoken to Da Costa about the trinity according to the Christian tradition. He has especially attempted to trace back this artificial term to its original meaning. In doing this he draws attention to the Talmudic insight which speaks of three names to refer to God, consisting respectively of four, twelve and forty-two characters. This metaphysical connection between Judaism and christianity has made a deep impression on Da Costa. He thinks that the apostles have been acquainted with the cabbala, a Jewish form of metaphysics which contains an ‘infinity’ of Christian elements.

From a reference of Bilderdijk to the work of the rabbin Heydeck who had become a Catholic, it appears that he has at least wished to show Da Costa the truth of Christianity by way of the so-called Christian cabbala. Heydeck attempted to confirm Christian truth from Jewish sources. According to Bilderdijk true Christians are initiates in Judaism. (boldness by me) So Bilderdijk’s meeting with Da Costa is of a very special nature. It clearly differs from the pastoral contact between Da Costa and Egeling, who has guided him and Capadose to Christian baptism. Bilderdijk, who was not a communicant member of the Reformed Church, was very pleased at this. Bilderdi jk has honoured Da Costa as a kinsman of his Saviour and has impressed upon Da Costa the great weight of his descent from the old and noble people of Israel.

Together with Da Costa and Capadose he paid much attention to apocalyptical writings, to Daniel and the Revelation of John. In this connection also the mystical Jewish writings came up for consideration, especially the Zohar, and to a lesser extent, the Talmud. Egeling was not interested in this apocalyptical, mystical and eschatological way of thinking. Consequently his circle, according to Bilderdijk, was more limited. So Bilderdijk’s approach to his Jewish friends, properly speaking of Jews in general, clearly differs from the practice of the nineteenth century idea of mission.

Initially Capadose’s bond with Judaism is less strong. He is, to a greater degree than Da Costa, an advocate of mission to the Jews. However, Bilderdijk has not shown himself to be in favour of this mission and has made this clear to Capadose. He praises the courage of faith of Capadose’s ancestors, who were forced to secretly tum back to Judaism because of the iconolatry in Catholic Spain. Testifying to his great devotion to the ‘true’ Jews, Bilderdijk warned Capadose against breaking with his Jewish relations after his baptism. Bilderdijk has perhaps underestimated the resistance to baptism in Jewish circles, because in his view Jesus is the promised Messiah out of the Jews. At any rate Bilderdijk has fervently hoped for the unification of Jesus and the Jews. For David’s great Son has first of all come for Abraham’s descendants. With the Jewish believers he expected the coming of the Messiah, the assimilated Jews had been deceived by the Enlightenment and the French Revolution.

…[Bilderdijk sees] the ever returning manifestation of the ancient Roman principle, which resists the reign of the Messianic Deity. This principle reveals itself in various European powers and authorities. With this the Christian history of Europe completes Daniel’s prophecy. The repetition and the strengthening of the prophetic thinking shows itself also in this. Bilderdijk’s view is clearly theocratic in so far as he ascribes a prominent position in history to the Jewish people on account of God’s covenant with Abraham. In so far as the Jews are separated from Messiah Jesus, Bilderdijk has much regretted this, because the rise of the Messianic kingdom is dependent on this unity. But he has partly denied and put into perspective the separation between Jesus and the Jewish people, which in the history of the Christian church has been expressed and practised again and again, by pointing to his belief that most Christians are farther away from Jesus as Messiah than the believing Jews.

End Quotes

For me, Bilderdijk is an important person. He is my teacher. He taught me history, through him I learned the important age in which he lived. I saw the church, I saw the Jews, I saw the Moslims. I saw the beloved Person, the King of the world, the Messiah, His reign, His past and His future. And I saw myself. He gives me the building blocks of the age in which I live now. Without him, I probably couldn’t comprehend the age I live in.

His extremely high level of knowledge and understanding and yet his so minor feelings about himself and his confession to be the least before Gods face intrigues me. Bilderdijk gives the church of the Netherlands the ability to step out their sinful deviated way. But, too bad, nobody listened. In stead of, he was hatred. When he was born, a few hours later a brick was thrown through the glasses into his house. The world was against him. The truth was denied. That’s not exceptional: “they slew thy prophets” (Neh.9:26)

About the Messianic Movement

I am finishing a brief history of the Messianic movement. It was very interesting to do.

There was one thing I recognized more and more. The 20^th century is one of the greatest events in history. Obviously G-d is enrolling his master plan, his master purpose: redemption and eternal righteousness in the world with restored mankind. This is what the prophets spoke about: the restoration of Israel and the Gentiles.

From the ashes of the world, through such a terrible times never was before, through the loss of millions of the chosen people, through two world wars following the advances of the Western Roman/Christian world, through a deceiving of the good, a State of Israel raised up with a Control of  Yerushalayim by the remnants of the chosen ones.

Right through this century believing Jews in Yeshua took more and more distance not only from the synagogue but also from the church. Along with the establishment of the State of Israel a more independent movement was born, the Messianics. Nowadays they hang over to the synagogue. A lot of problems arise like who is a Jew, how far would we embrace Judaism etc.

But the 20^th century shows that it is not about Christianity and not about Judaism. Even not about Messianic achievements.  Its all about Israel and the Gentiles. That’s what we are facing. The great restoration has yet begun and now, what would it bring us? Now when we hear His voice… (He.3:7, Ps.95:7-8)

I would put this little study, a “messianic voice”, to my local church this Friday. I wonder how they will receive it. I’m sorry, its written in Dutch.

Exposition on Revelation, by Wilhelmus à Brakel

From his book “The Reasonable Service”

Wilhelmus a Brakel, died in 1711, wrote a big part on the Revelation in his by the reformed church of the Netherlands common known work “The Reasonable Service”. (De Redelijke Godsdienst) He was a Dutch pastor in Rotterdam

Wilhelmus à Brakel (1635-1711)

and one of his beauties is that he expected a national repentance and return of the Jews to their promised land Israel. While Palestine at that time still was a dessert under reign of the Ottomans, he just read Roman 11 as what it states. He was not alone, dr. M van Campen wrote an interesting (Dutch) dissertation on (positive) opinions on the Jews by reformed theologians of the 17^th and 18^th century: “Gans Israel” (whole Israel). And I can’t omit to say that at the same time many English Puritans had very good insights on the prophecies on Israel. I think they had it even more than the Dutch theologians. Sadly enough there wasn’t paid attention to it by the church. Millennianism wasn’t accepted by the mainstream. Even in this very day many (pastors) are afraid of being tagged as a millennialist. Brakel was a historical millennialist though. He was very clear in his expectation of a peaceful dynasty of the community of Christ, for a time of 1000 years. This was very diminished in the church. And how sadly is this: the english translator Bartel Elshout of The Reasonable Service has omitted this beautiful exposition of hundreds of pages on Revelation. So (I think) we have it only in Dutch. You can find a free copy of the missing section (Deel III) in two parts here and here.

I’ll give a few points of the last chapters of his book concerning the Revelation.

First he describes the common sights and events John saw.

Then he’s arguing that the 7 letters aren’t 7 eras and aren’t prophetical. The author is the Messiah and the purpose is to teach the communities.

After that, he comes to the part of the prophecy (the revelation of Yeshua) which describes the future. This main part exists of the three images which are: the seals, the trumpets and the bowls as three sequential periods:

1. The church (community of Christ) under the heathen Caesars +- until 325 CE.
2. The church under the antichrist (the Pope/might of Cath.church) for a period of 1260 years.
3. The church in its free state, first struggling under the 7 bowls and finally rules with Christ.

Interesting is his explanation of the 5^th and the 6^th bowl of the wrath of G-d.

– By the fifth he expected the fall of the beast i.e. the might of the (Catholic) church. This happened with the Enlightenment and the French Revolution.

– By the sixth he expected a fall of the great Ottoman empire. He said it has to happen for enabling the Jews to return to their promised land. And so it happened. In 1870 the Ottoman empire was drawn back to their current borders. And through very difficult times though, the state of Israel was established in 1948.

Brakel was very sure about the coming repentance of the Jews and the return to their land. He said: I don’t know what will happen first, repentance or returning. But both will happen. And it will cause, he said, repentance of “kings and people around Israel”. That would be the beginning of the time (millennium) of the what he called: “glorious state of the Church”. The Church written with a capital was meant to be the community of true believers at that time, the mystical body of God. (Ef.4) It would be a time when Yeshua is King, honored and obeyed by all the nations.

If you want to get more of this, I recommend to read The Rise and Fall of Papacy by Robert Fleming. For example, he predicted the decline of the influence of the Roman church about 100 year prior to the events. He stated it would start in 1794 which correlates with the French Revolution and it would be completed by around 1848 which was the year that the papacy was forced to leave Rome. And very interesting are the works of the great sir Isaac Newton. He spend most of his life not on physics, but on theology. Recently his manuscripts are available at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem under the name Newton’s secrets. And at The Newton Project, were you can find his “Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of St. John” e.g.

It aren’t the Jews

We have the lucky occasion that some beautiful words are coming to be well known more and more by Christian believers of the Netherlands. They are from the excellent poet Jacobus Revius. Best known words of him are these: (translated)

It aren’t the Jews, o Lord Yesu, who nailed you on the cross,
Neither they who treacherously brought you to the judge,
Neither they who spewed in your face,
Neither they who bind and knocked you with fists,

It aren’t the soldiers who with their fierce hands
The stick or hammer lifted up,
Or the cursed tree on Golgotha had placed,
Or casted lots about your coat:

It’s me, o Lord, it’s me, I did it unto you!
I am the heavy tree which overweighed you,
I am the strongly rope which bound you to,

The nail, the spear, the whip who slain you,
The bloody crone born by your head:
Because this all had happened, so sadly! through my sins.

The translation can be much better, but the purpose is clear: It aren’t the Jews, I did it.

It’s the poem “Hy droech onse smerten” from album “Over-Ysselsche sangen en dichten“.

In another poem he said about “His blood be on us, and on our children” (Mat.27:25):

This I also said to you, o saviour full of grace!
Thou blood be on me and on my family.
Thou blood be on me to take my sin away,
And on my children to clean their inborn evil,
And save their souls from pain.

Jacobus Revius (1586-1658)