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The first time the name “Hebrew” is used in the Bible is in Genesis 14:13: “And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.” According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, Hebrews is word #5680 and originates from the name Eber (sometimes shown as Heber). “Hebrews” is patronymic, meaning “a component of a personal name based on the given name of one’s father, grandfather, or an earlier male ancestor” (Wikipedia). For example, the Amalekites were descendants of Amalek. The Hebrews were descendants of Eber. The Brown-Driver-Brigg’s Definition of the word is “one from beyond.” It can also mean a “region beyond” from Hebrew “avár/?????” = to pass/to cross. There are five men named Eber in the Bible. The first was the son of Shem, who was the son of Noah (Genesis 10:1, 11:11-26), and therefore likely the originating Eber.

Will Israel Survive this War and the End Times? Does God Have a Purpose for Israel? In the last few days, the world’s attention has been drawn to the Middle East. Early Saturday morning, Israelis awoke to the sounds of air raid sirens, rockets, and explosions across their land. Hamas terrorists broke through border walls, kidnapping and killing Israelis in the unprecedented attack. Israel has declared war on Hamas, and once again, tensions in the Middle East are beyond the flashpoint. Will Israel survive this war and the end times? When will war, terrorism, and killing in the Middle East end?   Israel is spoken of as God’s “chosen” nation in the Bible, but can such a small country overcome the constant hatred and attacks from its enemies and survive? Does God have a purpose for Israel? If so, What has Israel been “chosen” for? Why does God permit Israel to be so hated and persecuted by other nations? Why does the Bible predict further trouble for Israel? The Bible beautifully outlines the events that have to transpire before God Himself will “fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.” (Zechariah 14:3) The result of these battles will bring the end of war and ultimately, world peace and prosperity for all.   We read that in the future earthly kingdom, “ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew” (Zechariah 8:23) and “the law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:2). What does this mean and how close are we to seeing this kingdom of peace?

Here are some steps to consider as you rededicate your life to the Lord by renewing your relationship with God and Christ. Remember that growth is a process. Ephesians 4:15: “But we shall lovingly hold to the truth and shall in all respects GROW UP into union with him who is our head, even Christ.” An important first step in going forward is to confess our sins and be willing to surrender to the process of cleansing. 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Developing an attitude of prayer, and making time for prayer is important 1 Thessalonians 5:16: “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  The role of seeking godly counsel and fellowship Having fellowship with those strong in faith can result in godly guidance in the challenges faced in everyday life. The process of true repentance and change in the process of spiritual healing of our sinful tendencies can be greatly helped by the prayers of other Christians. James 5:16: “Therefore make it your habit to confess your sins to one another and to pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” “Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” This principle in Proverbs 11:14 suggests we should search for good advice from people who can give wise guidance and contribute to our spiritual well-being. Hebrews 10:24-25: “…let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.” It is important to avoid the company and influence of those who would not support righteous standards in how they talk and in what they do. Proverbs 4:14-15: “Don’t take the path of the wicked; don’t follow those who do evil. Stay away from that path; don’t even go near it. Turn around and go another way.” Consistent study of the word of God is important and is a vital source of the wise guidance and counsel. We are sanctified or made holy through the word of truth. John 17:17: “Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth.” It is the main source to help us to understand the character of God and Christ and to understand and to live their standards. The word of God can guide our thinking and our actions. Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword…as it judges (and helps us discern and perceive) the desires and thoughts of the heart.” 2 Timothy 2:15: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” We need to guard against discouragement in this process of growth. It is important to continue going forward, learning from the mistakes of the past, never giving up. Proverbs 24:16: “A just man falls seven times, but rises up again…”   2 Corinthians 7:10: “For godly sorrow produces a repentance not to be regretted…” This verse helps us be aware that GODLY SORROW leads to change. ‘Beating ourselves up’ about past or present mistakes is not godly sorrow. It does not lead to sincere change; it leads to discouragement and getting stuck in discouragement. So, our goal needs to be to be more careful to not exaggerate our sins and mistakes, and yet to take the sins and mistakes seriously, and really open our heart to the lesson and progress the Lord has for us. Rededication of spiritual commitment could lead to symbolizing this commitment again through baptism. Being a faithful Christian requires acceptance of Christ and living a life of full commitment and devotion to the will of God. This commitment includes the confession “I am a sinner,” the recognition and acceptance that “Jesus is my personal Savior” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15) and the complete dedication of our lives to God and Christ ‘I present my body—all of my life and all that I am, as a living sacrifice.’ (based on making Romans 12:1 a personal statement.)

The book of Job is often credited with being the finest piece of literature in the Hebrew language. It is a poem, and scholars admit that no translation yet given does it justice. We are not told who God used as the author, but many assume it was Job himself. Some have assumed that the book of Job is merely allegorical, and that Job himself is an imaginary character. However, in Ezekiel 14:14 and James 5:11 Job is classed with other holy men, which would not be the case were this narrative merely a parable. The fact that Job lived 140 years after his adversities, or probably over 200 years in all, together with the fact that neither he nor his friends make any allusion to Israel or Moses or the Law, nor to Abraham and God’s Covenant made with him, seem to indicate that he lived about the same time as Abraham and Melchisedek. His home was evidently in Arabia, probably not far from Israel. The spiritual references and the information referred to with regard to science and astronomy could only have been inspired by God, which gives verification that the entire Bible is true. Only God Himself could have known the many facts brought out by this book.

We do not always know when our service is misused by another. There are times when we can judge by the results we see, as in Matthew 7:16, “You shall know them by their fruits,” but we cannot judge the heart. For example, Saul of Tarsus certainly misused the gift of the Law, but his encounter on the road to Damascus changed the direction of his life and he wholeheartedly devoted himself to Christ (Acts 9:1-19). We can prayerfully ask, is the service provided empowering the person or enabling them? This means looking at the effects of the service rendered. Do we see gratitude for the service, any signs of spiritual growth, taking personal responsibility? According to psychcentral.com, “When you empower someone, you’re giving them the tools they need to overcome or move beyond the challenges they face.” The Apostle Paul gives us a wonderful example of receiving the service and gifts of his fellow Christians as a source of empowerment, using all that was given him for the ministry and the glory of God. Philippians 4:10-11,15-19: “How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.” Practicing the principles set forth in Scripture can provide some proactive safeguards in our service to the Lord. We suggest several proactive spiritual guidelines and principles regarding our opportunities to serve: In order to serve the Lord, we need to pray about the opportunities that arise, and what to do about them. We can pray, as Paul did, for continued spiritual growth, including the knowledge of His will. Colossians 1:9–10: “…we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…” We can pray for direction to know if our service should be continued, or if we should change our focus. We can request prayer for guidance from our fellow Christians. James 5:16: “Powerful is the heartfelt supplication of a righteous man.” Ephesians 6:18: “With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.” We must strive to practice wisdom. Matthew 10:16 directs us to “be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” We are encouraged to be wise – thoughtful, discreet and cautious, yet harmless – innocent – gentle and not provoking or stirring up problems. Ephesians 5:15-17 instructs us to “walk circumspectly”- accurately, diligently. We need to pray to thoroughly understand situations and needs, how to respond, and the spiritual ramifications and effects of our service. We would not want to continue a service which would be enabling. Paul shows an important principle of wisdom toward those outside the faith: Colossians 4:5 “Behave wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of your time.” We are counseled to be loving in times when we are not treated fairly. (The following verses from Luke 6:28-32 are quoted from John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible) “When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person.” Jesus stresses to be patient and not to exact private revenge. Luke 6:29-30: “If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.” The lesson of love is restated: Luke 6:31-32: “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that.” And even if our service is not appreciated, the Lord appreciates the intention of our hearts. Hebrews 6:10: “For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.”

This phrase and its meaning comes from Galatians 5:16-25: 16 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” The Christians in Galatia were struggling with worldly influences coming in among them from several sources. First, there were Christians who came from a Jewish background and believed that all Christians were bound to follow the Jewish Law. Then there were the Christians who came from blatantly Pagan backgrounds. They had to be taught how to live up to Christian standards while flatly rejecting their old ways of life. Christian discipleship has no room for any of this. In chapter 5 verse 16 of his letter to the Galatians, Paul takes a deep dive into these issues. He begins with a simple statement, “Walk by the spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” He then goes on to list the “deeds of the flesh.” This was no simple list, as it consisted of 15 different internal and external behaviors for Christians to avoid. Looking closely at this list, we see it is broken down into five basic categories of fleshly deeds. We might expect that such a comprehensive list of the deeds of the flesh would begin with making sure God is always first. Though idolatry seems to be the most widely pointed out sin in the Bible, it is not at the top of Paul’s list. He chose instead to begin with sins of human desire. His first three fleshly deeds to avoid were immorality, impurity and sensuality. When we step back and look at how human nature works, we can really begin to grasp why Paul begins with these difficult aspects of life. Paul followed up this list of what not to do with the beautiful list of the fruit of the Spirit.

The Book of Revelation is filled with symbolic references that depict wonderful things. Chapter 21 begins by describing a “new heaven” and a “new earth.” And yet Ecclesiastes 1:4 says, “…the earth abideth for ever.” These more literal statements tell us to look for the symbolism when studying Revelation. A new earth means a new social structure governing mankind in God’s kingdom. A new heaven points to the spiritual influence that will come from God and His new arrangement for the world. Chapter 21 continues by describing the Lamb’s bride as the New Jerusalem coming down from God. The Lamb’s bride will be comprised of those who faithfully followed Christ in this present life. Their role will be to work with Christ in helping the world return to God in the earthly kingdom. Verse 23 describes the Lamb as the light of the city. The work of Christ and his true church will enlighten the world and lead to verse 24. “And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.” Continuing into chapter 22, we see a river of water that brings eternal life. This, again, is not literal. Water is a symbol of truth. When Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman, he asked for a drink of water. She was surprised he would speak to her since Samaritans were not held in high regard by the Jews. After some discussion he said, “…Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). Jesus then spent two days in Samaria and the people there said, “…we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world” (verse 42).  The water he gave them was the message of salvation, that faith in him would result in eternal life. We take that same principle to the river of water of life and see it is a picture of the time in God’s kingdom when the same message of salvation becomes available for all the world. Describing the river “as clear as crystal” depicts the purity of this message. There will be no corrupting errors or false promises associated with the truth then made known. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9). Revelation then says that on either side of the river are the trees of life. This recalls a literal tree of life that was planted in the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve sinned, they were cast out of the garden, lest they eat of the tree and live (Genesis 3:22). Now in Revelation, the trees of life return and “are for the healing of the nations.” It will be the truth of Christ’s ransom price that will redeem those who accept it and believe. It is a similar picture to eating the Passover lamb. The Lamb represents Jesus. Eating of that Lamb represents accepting his sacrifice on one’s behalf (See 1 Corinthians 5:7). So, the river of life and the trees of life are far more meaningful than drinking literal water or eating literal fruit. It points to the time Jesus mentioned in his model prayer, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let him that heareth say, ‘Come.’ And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).

The answer lies in the context of Matthew 24. Jesus begins speaking to his disciples about the coming age. He warned about many coming in his name and deceiving many (verse 5). Then would follow wars, but these would not mean the end of the age had arrived. He said, “these are the beginning of sorrows” (verse 8). He went on to say that his disciples would be hated and persecuted. And finally, the abomination of desolation spoken by Daniel would be set up (verse 15). These are historical events we can identify. The end of the age would see great tribulation such as the world has never experienced (verses 21, 22). There would again be claims of Jesus being in one place or another. In verses 27 and 28 Jesus gave signs to indicate his presence. He said, “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming (Greek parousia – presence) of the son of man be. For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.” The imagery Jesus used is of the sunrise. Light represents truth (See John 3:21). This means his return would be accompanied by a great flood of truth. This is supported by an angel‘s words to the prophet Daniel. “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4).  The time of the end mentioned here is the same period as the end of the age discussed by Jesus. The signs given by the angel are (1) the unsealing of the prophecies in Daniel, (2) a dramatic increase of world knowledge and (3) many running to and fro. We now understand the meaning of all the prophecies in Daniel. We are currently experiencing the increase of knowledge. “Running to and fro” describes people traveling and moving all over the world. In Daniel 12:1, the angel added that the Lord would stand for Daniel’s people, Israel. This is also current as we have seen the rebirth of Israel, now a powerful nation. These signs clearly point to the Lord’s presence. When Jesus said no one would know the day or the hour, he meant that before his return this information would be hidden. In verse 43, he gives one reason his secret return was necessary. “But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through.” In this picture, the master of the house is Satan and the thief pictures Jesus. The purpose in hiding the time of Jesus’ return is so he could “spoil” Satan’s goods. Keeping it secret prevented Satan from being prepared to defend his kingdom. We cannot know how he could have done this, but this is the reason Jesus gave. Keeping the time of his return secret allowed Jesus to begin the process of removing Satan unimpeded. The process of taking over the world and removing Satan from power continues today, which is why there us so much trouble in the world. Satan is struggling against the Lord. But the end is assured: Satan will be bound for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:2) and finally destroyed (Revelation 20:10). Those who understand the Lord is present and working to establish his kingdom can take great comfort even as the world seems to be crumbling. “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (Daniel 2:44).

2 Corinthians 10:17: (King James Version) But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. The word for “glory” here in the Greek is Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #2744, kauchaomai. It is a verb meaning “boast, glory, joy, rejoice.” The same verse in New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition: But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord. The same verse in the New Living Translation: As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” This ties back to Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NASB1995): 23 Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord. The Apostle Paul quoted this Jeremiah text in his letter to the Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 1:27-31: 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, (quoting Jeremiah) “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” The Apostle Paul in Galatians 6:14:  But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. We don’t want to pridefully boast or brag about our own accomplishments, riches or talents, as they all come from the Lord and made possible through the sacrifice of His son, Jesus. Our lives are to reflect God and Jesus in all things, so any and all of the credit and appreciation should be directed accordingly.

The Bible confirms that all people go to the grave, to wait as though they are sleeping until the resurrection. Speaking about Jesus, Paul says in Acts 3:21, NLT “For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.” God has promised a restoration of all things. Referring to Jesus, Luke says, “…for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10, NKJ) What was lost? When Adam sinned and had to leave the Garden, he lost an earthly home as a human. Jesus gave his life in order to restore that earthly home and existence to humankind. When Adam died, he went into the grave and returned to the dust from which he was made (Genesis 3:19). Just like Adam, all humans go to the same place when they die: the grave. God never promised that humans would turn into angels when they died or that all would receive a reward in heaven, but he DID promise He would bless humankind with exactly what Adam originally had: life with a perfect mind and body and authority over the animals and a perfect earth (see Acts 3:21, Isaiah 35:1). When we think that the dead are simply dead, it can seem harsh. But that is not true. Being raised is the very next thing a person will know after they die, because there is no consciousness when we are dead, like being in dreamless sleep. Faithful, spirit begotten Christians will awaken to a heavenly spiritual reward. Everyone else who has ever lived will awaken to a promised resurrection on a perfect earth.