Pursuit: Issue 37, Fall 2019 by Pursuit

Hungry Hearts Ministries

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Pastor Bill Shults

Evangelist Kelly McDonald, Jr.

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Inside This Issue From Pastor Bill by Bill Shults ............................................................................................. 4 A Life Well Lived by Bill Shults ............................................................................................. 5 Mystery of the Magi by Kelly McDonald, Jr. ............................................................................. 6 What Does the Azazel Goat Represent? By Kelly McDonald, Jr. ........................................................................... 12 Fall Roots by Sarah Raynor ...................................................................................... 13 Biblical Archeology Corner: Sepphoris by Joe Perry ............................................................................................. 17 Pursuit Magazine is published for FREE Distribution in the Public Interest. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission. All rights reserved. Publisher: Bill Shults

Editor: Evangelist Kelly McDonald, Jr.

Cover and Graphics Designer: Deaconess Michelle Loncar Contributors: Pastor Bill Shults, Evangelist Kelly McDonald, Jr., Elder Joe Perry, and Deaconess Sarah Raynor Printed at Allegra Print Imaging, Jackson, TN. Pursuit Magazine is published by Hungry Hearts Ministries. PO Box 10334 Jackson, TN 38308 (731) 736-1055 | hungryheartsmin@aol.com

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From Pastor Bill At Hungry Hearts Church we teach believers in Jesus Christ to live by the pattern of life found in the Holy Hebrew Bible. We honor and observe the seventh day Sabbath, the Jewish Holy Days, follow the dietary laws and practice Tithing. It is not so much different as it is holy. We honor the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins by living holy lives. Many people tell me that they just can’t do it. I’ve been doing it since the spring of 1986. Actually it has been a fabulous life. For me, God is not an abstraction. God is not afar off. God is near to me. God is my constant companion.

tithe and using it to celebrate on His Holy days. While tithing is not easy, it comes with the benefit of having a really good time on the Holy Days. It also comes with the added benefit of a place to go to church on the seventh day Sabbath and the Jewish Holy Days. But Pastor, I can’t lose the money. WWJD? He tithed all of His income and He kept back the second Tithe to use on the Holy Days. How do I know? He kept the Holy Days in Jerusalem; therefore, He needed tithes to do so.

First of all, honoring God on the seventh day Sabbath is easy. Take off of work and go to church. How easy is that? Jesus custom was to go to the Synagogue on the Sabbath. It still is. WWJD? What did Jesus do? He went to services on the Sabbath. But Pastor, I can’t do it? You can’t or you won’t?

I’ve lived this way since 1986. I’ve kept these things in good years and bad. My secular life has not always been easy, just like every one else. My Church life has been fabulous. My relationship with the Risen Jesus Christ has been the foundation of my life. I know the Lord, and not in a casual, acquaintance sort of way. But rather, in a very personal, intimate way. Jesus Christ is my constant companion. Why, because, I honor Him with my life. Do you want a closer walk with Jesus? Then you’ll have to do something differently than the way you’re living right now. Try keeping God’s Commandments. Try living that ancient pattern of life found in the Holy Hebrew Bible. Try walking like Jesus walked. Eating like Jesus ate. Celebrating what Jesus celebrated.

Second, honoring God by observing His Holy Days is easy. Take off of work and go to church. How easy is that? Those holy days lay out the plan of salvation for all mankind. They explain the process and power of the death and resurrection of the Son of God. They explain all of the many things that Jesus Christ did for every one of us. Do you know them? Do you honor Jesus Christ for all of His magnificence? WWJD? He kept all of these days from His youth even unto His death on the cross as the Passover Lamb. Do you think that maybe, just maybe, He will The way to make Jesus really real in your life as finish out the prophetic fulfillments as well? opposed to an abstraction is to live like He lived. That doesn’t mean giving up your automobile and Third, honoring God by following the dietary laws is walking everywhere. It means keeping Sabbath, Holy easy. Don’t eat animals that the Bible labels Days, eating “clean”, and tithing. You’ve tried “unclean.” How easy is that? It actually turns out that everything else, why not try this? WWJD? What did eating those animals the Bible calls “unclean” causes Jesus do? Jesus Christ, your Messiah and mine, kept health problems. Eating animals the Bible labels all of these things. We can keep them even in 2019. “clean” doesn’t cause health problems. How ‘bout This life worked way back then and it works right that? Obeying God comes with a tangible benefit. now. It will give you a new perspective on life. See But Pastor, I like eating “unclean.” Then don’t you on the Sabbath! complain when God is an abstraction for you. If you want God to be near to you, then you have to avoid God Bless. the unclean things (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). WWJD? He ate Biblically clean. He will also eat Biblically clean when He returns. If you eat Biblically clean you will begin to feel better in about two weeks. Bill Shults is the Pastor of Hungry Hearts Ministries. Fourth, we honor God by Tithing, first and second. He also oversees the churches in Jackson, Tithing is not as easy as the first three. We honor the Murfreesboro and Cookeville TN and Corinth MS. sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins on the cross by Bill has also written eleven books on how to have a giving Him ten percent of our income. This requires closer walk with Jesus Christ. an adjustment in our budget and lifestyle. This is a sacrifice. We also honor God by saving the second

Bill Shults

A Life Well Lived Pastor/ Elder Bill Shults

What brings you satisfaction? What is it that you need to accomplish, what is it that you need to own, which will make you happy and satisfied when your life is up? I am always amused when people talk about the various things that they want to do before they die. Sometimes I think that people are just “grabbing at straws” as to what will bring them happiness. I think one of the more important questions all of us should ask ourselves is: what is a life well lived? What is that thing or things which having lived will bring us happiness, or at least satisfaction.

Acquiring things, feats of daring, amassing wealth can be good, but they don’t bring happiness. So, how do we get a life well lived? By living well. The Bible patiently explains how to live well. The Bible lays out a framework for living life. Many substitute their own framework. Some people actually prove the veracity of the Bible by living contrary to it and suffering the consequences. Why don’t we try it God’s way and reap the benefit of happiness? God’s framework, or pattern of life, will lead you directly to Him. We weren’t meant to live alone. But, happiness with humans is fleeting at best. We were meant to live with Him. We were meant to lean on Some people want great feats of daring. Some people His guidance, walk in His ways and obtain power want to enjoy exotic delicacies. Some people want to from His Spirit. This is how to live a life well. roam the earth. Some people want to be surrounded by family. Others are driven to acquire great wealth. I have worked through devastating financial times. I Many of these people are unsatisfied when their life have owned homes and cars. I have at times made a is over. Why then after pursuing their “life’s dreams” little money. I have had great family times and great are they unhappy? They did not pursue the right family tragedies. Walking with God, talking with dream. When they obtained that for which they God, guidance with God is what made these things a strived, it brought neither happiness, nor satisfaction. life well lived. God is the missing component in the The “bucket list” concept is flawed right from the lives of many. God is the difference between a life start. We are not alive on planet earth merely for our and a life well lived. own enjoyment. Human beings are not on planet earth left to our own devices. There is a supreme We all start young, get married, set up a home, have deity, who created us, who helps us, who guides us children, then after they leave regroup our lives for a possible retirement. We all have the same 24 hours and who plainly told us how to have a happy life. in a day, the same 365 days in a year. A life well “Pastor Bill” surely you don’t expect me to believe lived is a life involved with God. A life instructed in a god?” No, I am asking you to look into your from His Bible. A life guided by His Spirit. A life Bible and believe the God. No human being can experienced through prayer. It seems simple enough achieve true happiness without first coming to meet and it is. It is as simple as seasoning your food with your Maker on this side of the grave. God is real. salt. Season your life with God. God is alive. God is near. God gave us the Holy Hebrew Bible. If that weren’t enough, He sends His At Hungry Hearts Ministries, we will walk you Spirit throughout this earth allowing us constant through the process of God’s framework for a happy contact. “That’s great Pastor Bill, God is spying on life. We’ll show you from the Holy Hebrew Bible me all day!” If you want to look at it that way. What how to live life well. We’ll show you how to have are you doing that requires God to “spy on you?” constant contact with the only One that truly counts. The best way to look at it is that God Almighty is always there to help you in your time of need. In the Holy Hebrew Bible God Almighty told us very plainly how to live life well. Many don’t want to read the Bible. I hope that you are not one of those. I hope that I can encourage you to become an avid Bible reader. Look at it this way: the Bible is the instruction book for how to win. It very plainly tells us how to win in life, how to win in business, how to win in accomplishment and how to win within your family. 5

Mystery of the Magi

Evangelist Kelly McDonald, Jr. The upcoming Fall Holy Day Season is the time for us to remember the incarnation. This is when the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. In John 1:14, we read, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (KJV). The Greek word translated as dwelt is skenoo. Its root word is skene; it can refer to the booths from Leviticus chapter 23. In other words, Christ came down and tabernacled with us. One reason we celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles is to remember the perfect life of Christ, who is the Word.

dwelt in the south. During Saul’s life, a distinction is made between them. “He numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand” (I Samuel 11:8, KLV). David is recorded as ruling over both. “In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah” (2 Samuel 5:5).

This united Kingdom continued into the reign of Solomon, David’s son. In I Kings 11, we are informed that Solomon turned away from God and fell into idolatry. As a result, the northern tribes of Among the mysteries surrounding Christ Israel were separated from Judah during the reign of tabernacling among men is that of the Magi. We read Rehoboam, Solomon’s son. The two groups – Judah about this event in Matthew chapter 2. and Israel – became known as two separate nations. “1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men [Greek: Magoi – literally translated as Magi] from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him” (Matthew 2:1-3).

“20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. There was no one who followed David’s house, except for the tribe of Judah only. 21 When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of In Western culture, we often think that there were Solomon” (I Kings 12:20-21). three Magi. However, the Bible does not say how many Magi there were; they brought three gifts The house of Judah was ruled from its capital of (Matthew 2:11). But there are important questions Jerusalem. Eventually, Israel developed its own regarding their appearance. How did they know that capital named Samaria. It was founded by Omri. the King of the Jews was being born? We know the star guided them, but how did they know such “23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, specifics about him? Why would they look to Omri began to reign over Israel for twelve years. He worship a Jewish king? Why was Herod and the city reigned six years in Tirzah. 24 He bought the hill of Jerusalem troubled at their appearance? The only Samaria of Shemer for two talents[a] of silver; and other individuals who knew about his royalty were he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the angels, Mary and Joseph (Luke 1:31-33). the owner of the hill” (I Kings 16:23-24). When the Magi came to worship Christ, He was in a house (not a manger – Matthew 2:11). This means Omri’s son was named Ahab. He is one of the more the Magi did not arrive at the time of Christ’s birth. well recognized people in the Bible because of his These individuals must have been very important wickedness. “In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of because they were warned in a dream not to go back Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over to Herod. Due to their visit, Herod wanted all the Israel. Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 Ahab the son of Omri children two and under to be put to death. did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight above To understand the identity of the Magi, we must go all that were before him” (1 Kings 16:29-30). back far in time. In the period leading up to King David’s reign, the tribes of Israel were divided Historical records from two different people groups between two groups. In the north dwelt Israel; Judah confirm that other nations identified the northern 6

tribes by the name Israel: the Moabites and Assyrians. The Moabite stone, which dates to around 830-840 BC, reads: “Now Om(r)i, King of Israel, he oppressed Moab many days, for Chemosh was angry with his l(a)nd. His son succeeded him, and he also said, I will oppress Moab. In my days he said, (Let us go)” (Records of the Past, vol. 11, p 165).

and the Sabbaths (I Kings 12:26-33). During the reign of Ahab and his wife Jezebel, God sent Elijah and Elisha to perform miracles so that the nation would turn back to God. Jehu, who reigned after them, had a chance to change the nation’s destiny. Unfortunately, they remained in disobedience (see 2 Kings 10:28-33); they eventually lost their identity. Jesus called them lost in His day (Matthew 10:1-6).

The Assyrians also discussed the Kingdom of Israel. The ruler Shalmaneser III listed several nations he defeated and the number of troops from each peoples. Among the kings mentioned is Ahab, the Israelite; his name in Hebrew is Achav.

In the 730s BC, the Assyrian King Tiglath Pileser III, fought wars with both Judah and Israel. One of his inscriptions mentioned both groups. The inscription is a little damaged, but we can still gain valuable insight from it.

“From the city of Argana I departed. To the city of Karkara I approached. The city of Karkara, the city of (His) Majesty, I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire. 1200 chariots, 1200 magazines, (and) 20,000 men of Rimmon’-hidri of Damascus, 700 chariots, 700 magazines, (and) 10,000 men of Irkhuleni of Hamath, 2000 chariots, (and) 10,000 men of Ahab (Akhabbu) of the country of the Israelites (Sir’ila-a-a)…” (ibid, vol. 3, p 99).

“2 ..... (in the) course of my expedition the tribute which 3 .... (AZARI)AH of the land of Judah like .... 4 .... Azariah of the land of Judah in .... 29 (I imposed upon them). The tribute of Kustaspi of the city of Kummuhai, of Razinu of the land of Damascus, of Minihimmi of the city Samirinai…” (ibid, vol 5, pp 45, 48) This inscription references both Azariah and Menahem from the Bible. “In the thirty ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel for ten years in Samaria” (2 Kings 15:17). Notice that even the Assyrians designated them as ruling over separate peoples. Fragments of the same ruler go on to describe the house of Israel again.

Omri and Ahab both are identified as Israelites (the Assyrian word for Israel in this text is Sir’ila-a-a). Not long after this, the appellation changed. In the 840s BC, Shalmanesser III erected an Obelisk, or erect stone monument. In it is engraved pictures from different peoples he conquered with inscriptions. The Obelisk is currently on display at the British Museum, so it can be viewed online. Among the kings depicted on this monument is Jehu (Hebrew name: YAHUA). On it, he is bowing down before the Assyrian king and paying tribute.

“…The land of Beth-Omri (Khumri).... the population .... the goods of its people (and the furniture to) the land of Assyria I sent PAKAHA (Pekah) their King they had slain . . . HUSIH “The tribute of Iaua (Jehu) son of Khumri (Omri): (Hoshea) to the kingdom over them I appointed . 10 silver, gold, bowls of gold, vessels of gold, goblets of talents of gold, 1000 of silver…I received from them gold, pitchers of gold, lead, sceptres for the King’s as their (tri)bute…” (ibid, p 52). hand, (and) staves: I received” (ibid, vol 5, p 41). This inscription indicates that the first deportation of During the reign of Jehu, there was a sudden change Israelites happened in the 730s BC. Tiglath also in how the same Assyrian King addressed the mentions Pekah and Hoshea, the last two kings of Israelites. Instead of using the term Sir’ila-a-a, he Israel. The Biblical records the same details. “In the called them the Khumri. Scholars agree that this days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath Pileser king of Assyrian word is a reference to Omri. He was the Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, King that founded Samaria. From the reign of Jehu Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the forward, the Assyrians labeled the northern tribes by land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to this name or the Samarians (after the name of their Assyria” (2 Kings 15:29). Hoshea killed Pekah (2 capital). Kings 15:30). There was a legitimate reason for this transition. The weekly and annual Sabbaths were revealed to remind us that God is our Creator and that He makes us holy (Exodus 31:12-17). There was even a special national application to this understanding. Starting with Jereboam, the northern tribes abandoned God

The Bible discusses the captivity of the northern tribes further. They were sent to various places, with the final captivity taking place between 721 and 718 BC. “In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of 7

Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes” (2 Kings While the northern tribes were first taken captive 17:6). decades before this event, they were eventually joined by a significant number of their brothers from The deportation locations mentioned in 2 Kings 17:6 the southern tribes. are somewhat debated. Some of these locations are closer to the capital of Nineveh (Halah and Gozan), There is one linguistic detail that is necessary for the while others such as the cities of the Medes, are study of this subject. Edward Lipinski, in his work farther away. Generally speaking, the locations of “Semitic Languages: Outline of a Comparative exile stretch from southeastern Turkey out towards Grammar”, notes the following: “In Neo-Assyrian eastern Iran. This captivity is discussed further by [g] and [k] seem to be positional variants of the same Inscriptions from Sargon II. phoneme. The voiced pronunciation is attested in intervocalic position by Aramaic and Hebrew “…I plundered the district of Samaria and the entire transcriptions, e.g. mngsr for Mannu-kihouse of Omri (Khoumri)… “My mighty hand sarri...” (page 145). reached from the town of Hasmar until the town of Simaspatti in Media the far one, which is situated at The well-known Assyrianologist Archibald Henry the rising sun, the lands of Namri and Ellip, Bet- Sayce said, “In Babylonian g commonly takes the Hamban, Parsua, Van, Armenia, Kaska (Colchis), place of kh (as also in later Assyrian)…” (Sayce, p Tabal, until the Moschians, I instituted my 48). Lieutenants as Governors over them and I imposed to them the prostration of the tributes like to the Thus, the kh sound in Assyrian is sometimes Assyrians…besieged, I occupied the town of Samaria interchanged with g in Assyrian or when one and I brought into captivity 27,280 persons; I took transliterates from Assyrian to Babylonian. The before all parts over them 50 chariots, the part of my sound kh in Khoumri is interchangeable with the g kingdom. I took them to Assyria…” (ibid, vol 7, pp sound. 26, 28). The Assyrian kings wrote letters during their The bull inscription of Khorsabad (722-721), also respective reigns. These letters reference a people constructed by Sargon II, discussed more about this group called the Gimiri or Gimiraa. This would event. “…he conquered the countries of an Karalla, correspond to the Israelites or Khoumri. For one Andia, Zikirtu, Kjsasi, Kharkhar, and placed Media example, I have included an excerpt from Letter and Ellip under the dominion of Assur….He swept 1237. away Samaria, and the whole house of Omri (bit- “Belushezib to King Esarhaddon:…Let the cavalry Khumri) and Kaska. He subdued the country of and the Dakku invade the Cimmerians (Gimiraa), Tubal, and the whole of Bet-Burutas, he overcame who have spoken saying, “The Mannai pertain to Egypt near the city of Raphia, and placed Hanun, you, we have not interfered.” Certainly this is a lie. King of Gaza, in slavery…” (ibid, vol 11, p 18). They are the offspring of outcasts, they recognize Sennacherib, a later Assyrian King, took a great neither the oath of a god nor a (human) agreement. number from the southern tribes into captivity during Let the chariots and baggage wagons take up a the reign of Hezekiah. This is a detail that is often position on either side of the pass; (then) with the overlooked in the research of this subject. Thus, a horses and the Dakku, let them enter and take the significant number of the tribe of Judah went into plunder of the plain of Mannai; and let them return at the pass let them bivouac once or twice they shall captivity – no mention of Israel is found. enter and…plundered and the Cimmerians (Gimiraa) “And Hezekiah King of Judah, who had not bowed …” (Waterman, pp 358-359). down at my feet Forty six of his strong cities, his castles, and the smaller towns…in their Notice that the translators reckon Gimiraa as the neighbourhood beyond number…with warlike Cimmerians. They are mentioned alongside a group engines…I attacked and captured. 200,150 people called the Mannai, who dwelt in modern-day small and great, male and female, horses, mares, southeastern Turkey/northeastern Iran. This is in the asses, camels, oxen and sheep beyond number, from same area that the northern tribes of Israel were sent! the midst of them I carried off and distributed them There are other records that shed light on the as a spoil. He himself, like a bird in a cage, inside Gimiraa; one of them is the Behistun Inscription. Jerusalem his royal city I shut him up…” (ibid, vol 1, In the early 500s BC, Darius the Persian had a p 38). massive inscription carved in rock. It is called the Behistun Inscription, and it is located in modern-day 8

Iran. It is the Rosetta Stone of ancient languages. On it, he proclaimed his victory over conquered peoples in three languages: Babylonian, Susan (or Elamite), and Persian.

According to Herodotus, the first Scythian Empire controlled all of Asia for a period of about 28 years (book 1, sections 104-106). They are mentioned with the Medes. Once again, we have a reference to the Medes and the Scythians within a reasonable time Each section begins with Darius proclaiming himself period of the captivity. king of kings and listing provinces he controlled. We have an excerpt from section VI in each of the three While Scythian dominance was temporary, they languages. would have another opportunity at greatness in the ancient world. The Roman geographer and historian Behistun Inscription Strabo (lived 63 BC to 24 AD) wrote about a revival Babylonian: “6. Ba-ah-tar (matu) Su-ug-du (matu) Pa of Scythian dominance. Recalling the time period -ar-u-pa-ra-e-sa-an-na (matu) Gi-mi-ri (matu) Sa-at- about 240 BC, he wrote: ta-gu-u…” “Afterwards Arsaces [Arsakes], a Scythian, (with the English translation: “VI. Bactria, Sogdiana, Parni, called nomads, a tribe of the Dahae, who live Paruparaesanna, the land of the Cimmerians, on the banks of the Ochus) invaded Parthia, and Sattagydia…” (Behistun Inscription, 161-162) made himself master of it. At first both Arsaces and Susan: 13. Paksisaiak (m)Suktas-pe aiak [(m) his successors were weakened by maintaining wars Parruparae]sana aiak 14. (m)Sakka-pe aiak…” with those who had been deprived of their territory. English translation: “Bactria, and Sogdiana, and Afterwards they became so powerful, in consequence of their successful warfare, continually depriving Parruparaesana, and Scythia…” (ibid, page 96) their neighbours of portions of their territory, that at Persian: “Bakhtris Sugjuda Ga(n)dara Saka...” last they possession of all the country within the English translation: “VI. Bactria, Sogdiana, Gandara, Euphrates…They now have an empire Scythia…” (ibid, page 4) comprehending so large an extent of country, and so many nations, that it almost rivals that of the Romans It is fascinating that the term Gimiri (translated as in magnitude. This is to be attributed to their mode of Cimmerians) was considered synonymous with the life and manners which have indeed much of the Sakka or Scythian peoples in other languages. Keep barbarous and Scythian character…” (Strabo, in mind that the translators from the Behistun 11.9.2). Inscription are different than those from the Assyrian Royal Correspondence we quoted earlier. The In about 240 BC, Arsakes and his Scythian peoples Gimiraa are described as the offspring of outcasts, conquered the area known as Parthia (eastern Iran). which is a description we would expect of the The Parthian Empire is reckoned from Arsakes’ reign northern tribes of Israel. forward. It was composed of Scythians and had their cultural influence. Arsakes is depicted on the coinage The Cimmerians are not mentioned in historical of Parthian kings from the 200s BC to the early documents until 714 BC; they are mentioned in as centuries AD (see figure one as a demonstration of dwelling in modern-day Southeastern Turkey (Aruz, this). He was so important that all future Parthian Farkas, and Fino, p 148). The Scythians are not kings retained his name as part of theirs. Strabo also mentioned as a separate group until the 670s, when records this. they were allied with the Medes (ibid, p 25). The first two mentions of these people groups are not long “Such also is the custom among the Parthians; for all after the captivity of the northern tribes. Even the have the name Arsacae, although each has his place the tribes were taken to (land of the Medes) is peculiar name of Orodes, Phraates, or some other mentioned. Scythian burial mounds, also called appellation” (15.1.36). Elsewhere Strabo tells us kurgans, date to the same time period (Kuz’mina, pp about other tribal names of the Scythians: Daae, 390-393; Bliss, pp 52-52-55). Massagetae and Sacae (11.8.2). This ScythianParthian Kingdom had a special class of individuals From these primary sources, we are able to link the who chose their kings. They were called the Magi. terms Khoumri and Gimiri in Assyrian and Babylonian with the ancient peoples of the “…We have enlarged on the subject of the Parthian Cimmerians, Sakka, and Scythians in the Susan and customs in the sixth book of historical commentaries, Persian languages. They are synonymous with each and in the second of those, which are a sequel to other. (Continued on page 15)

Pastor Bill Shults has written eleven books on how to have a closer walk with Jesus Christ. Written in an easy to read and follow style these books will be readily applicable to your Christian walk. All of these works are available on our website for a small donation. Check out our online bookstore today and delve into the Bible in a whole new and exciting way!

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Do You Know God? God created you for a very special, intimate, personal relationship with Him. He made you just the way you are, because He loves you. He is calling you today to return to Him, to enjoy that close relationship that comes from knowing Him. Learn how to walk in true holiness that will draw the manifest Presence of Jesus Christ. Learn how there is Freedom Under the Law of God. In the USA we consider our Freedoms to be guaranteed under our Constitution. God Almighty gave His law to the children of Israel to guarantee their freedom. Read the Law of God, or the Torah, with fresh eyes from the perspective of freedom. Next, continue your journey as you learn about Holy Time with God. God makes time to be with you on an intimate personal basis every seventh day of the week. He created the Sabbath on the seventh day of the creation week. It is sanctified for both you and He to enter into an intense relationship together. Sabbath observance has marked the true people of God from the creation until today. Learn how to enter into the rest of God by observing the Sabbath. Learn how to please the Living God by coming to Him on the seventh day Sabbath. The Rescue of the Saints from the oppression of the devil is very real. In Come Away with Me we learn about the Rescue of the Saints. God has delivered the obedient people of God in every terrible circumstance. He is still holding out His hands to anyone who will come to Him right now. Learn how to be accounted worthy to make the Rescue of the Saints. We stand right at the door of the Great Tribulation. If you hear His voice, turn to the Lord while there is still time.

Evangelist Kelly McDonald, Jr. has written twelve great books on Biblical Christianity. A prolific writer with deep spiritual insight and brilliant research abilities, Kelly’s books illuminate the Bible like never before. All of Kelly’s books are available at our online bookstore for a minimal donation. Kelly has also written FREE booklets available for PDF download on our Free Resource page. Check out Kelly’s materials today on our website and delve into the Bible in a whole new and exciting way!

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One of the first commandments given in the Bible was not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good & evil. Many people do not realize God cares what we eat. Clean & Unclean: A Guide to Living the Holy Life The dietary commandments in Leviticus 11 are a vital part of every Christian's walk. Jesus, Peter, & even Paul continued to teach this to the early church! Opening the Windows of Heaven: A Book on Tithing & Giving of the Holy Spirit As Christians, we tend to have a mindset of poverty. Too many times, we equate poverty with holiness or piety. This is not the Biblical view of money! When we honor God with our giving, we live the blessed life led by His Spirit. Restoring Spiritual Vision: A Guide to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit There has always been a holy fire burning in the hearts of God’s Holy people. It has subdued nations, prophesied world events, & saved lives. This fire is called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It sets us apart to God Almighty. This fire is still available today if we will simply receive it. Identity & Destiny Revealed: The United States & British Peoples In prophecy, God mentions smaller nations such as Libya and larger ones like Egypt, Russia, & China. What about the United States of America & the British Commonwealth of Nations? These people have been the most influential countries of the last days. We have helped end two world wars, opposed communism, provided a safe world for economic success, & help spread the gospel more than any other nations. God has blessed us tremendously, but we have turned completely away from Him. This work will help you understand the identity & destiny of the United States and British peoples!

What Does the Azazel Goat Represent? Evangelist Kelly McDonald, Jr.

The Feast of Atonement involves an intricate ceremony described in Leviticus chapter 16. Through this process, atonement was brought to the nation of Israel. It foreshadows our Atonement through Jesus Christ. While Christ has already atoned for our sins in His first coming, there is one aspect of this ceremony that has not prophetically been fulfilled. The high priest began this special ritual by washing with water and putting on sacred garments. He then sacrificed a bull for his own sin and that of his household. The blood of this bull was taken into the Tabernacle and sprinkled on the Ark of the Covenant and the Altar of Incense. The next step involved two goats. Lots were cast for them: the first goat was for the Lord and the second goat was called the scapegoat or azazel. The goat chosen for the Lord was taken to the door of the Tabernacle. The high priest would confess over it all the sins of the people. It was then slaughtered as a sin offering to make atonement for them. Its blood was applied in the same way as the bull.

delve into the deeper theological conceptions with animals in God’s Temple system. In the sacrificial system, animals died in the place of the person who brought it; this is called a substitution. Leviticus 17:11 reads: “…the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life.” In the New Covenant, Christ is our substitutionary sacrifice. We each deserve death because we have sinned (Rom. 3:23, Rom. 6:23). Christ took on Himself the sins of the world and died in our place (Romans 5:6-21). Any animal that had its blood shed was a foreshadowing of the ultimate blood to be shed – the perfect Son of God (see Hebrews 10:1-8). This would include the first goat from Atonement. After reviewing the concept of sacrifice, we can ask the question, we can better consider details of the second goat and any possible connection with Christ. The first two details of the azazel goat are very important. First, the azazel goat was dealt with after the Lord’s goat. Secondly, though sin was placed on the azazel goat, it did not pay the penalty for sins, which is death. These details present problems when trying to compare this goat to Christ.

The second goat was brought to the threshold of the Temple. The high priest would confess over it all the sins of the people. A man was chosen to chase this goat outside the camp and far away – to a place not inhabited by anyone else. This made the chosen man unclean. Once this was completed, he would return When in history did Christ take on the sins of the world a second time and remain alive? Christ is not to the camp, wash with water, and be clean again. returning a second time to bear sin; He did that in Christ is our High Priest. He came to earth and laid His first coming. “…but now he has appeared once down His life for our sins. Unlike the earthly high for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by priests of the Old Covenant, He did not have to the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as man is destined to sacrifice an animal for His own sins. He is perfect. die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ “…who doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for people; and he will appear a second time, not to the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, bear sin but to bring salvation to those who are when he offered up himself.” (Hebrews 7:27). After waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:26b-28, NIV, emphasis His resurrection, He took his own blood into Heaven mine). to atone for the sins of the world (Hebrews 9:11-14). Third, consider that the second goat was chased into His blood corresponds to the first goat. an uninhabited place by someone who was NOT the Since Christ’s first coming fulfilled the functions of high priest. While Christ died outside of the camp the high priest and the first goat, then it logically (Hebrews 13:12), he only did so in fulfilling an follows that the fulfillment of the second goat aspect of the first goat (Lev. 16:27). Since then, he happens after that event. There are some who has not been driven to an uninhabitable place. He propose that the second goat, called the azazel, currently dwells in Heaven, where God and a host of represents another aspect of Christ’s Atoning work. (Continued on page 16) To further understand this second goat, we must 12

Fall Roots

Deaconess Sarah Raynor My great-great-great-grandfather was Ebenezer Macgowan. His father was a friend of John Wesley in England, and he came to the United States as a Methodist missionary. Macgowan built the church that I attended as a child, and every generation of my family has belonged to that church. Keeping the Sabbath and living by Torah has been a huge departure from those spiritual beginnings.

us to study the Bible ourselves and ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the truth. There are at least four compelling reasons for us to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles today.

First, the Bible commands us to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. “You shall keep it as a feast to the LORD seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations. You shall keep it in the My mother is the church historian at that little seventh month” (Leviticus 23:41). Isn’t a forever country church I have known so well. Imagine my statute still relevant? surprise when she asked me if the Feast of Tabernacles was in the fall (after I had left the Second, the Bible warns us there is a punishment if church). I bewilderedly nodded and curiously asked we do not celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. “If the family of Egypt doesn’t go up, and doesn’t come, why. neither will it rain on them. This will be the plague Mom explained that years ago most of the churches with which the LORD will strike the nations that in middle Tennessee had campgrounds for various don’t go up to keep the feast of booths” (Zechariah camp meetings and revivals. In one of her books, she 14:18). Rain can be literal rain resulting in a physical had found a note about Overall’s Camp-ground being famine, or rain can be symbolic, resulting in a the site where they would celebrate the annual Feast spiritual drought. Can you afford to be separated of Tabernacles (McFerrin, 1871). Mom had skimmed from the Lord in your spiritual growth? over that reference until I had started sharing about Third, anytime a Biblical festival is commanded to the different Biblical feasts that I now celebrate. be celebrated, the main Hebrew word translated as The Feast of Tabernacles is first mentioned in the feast is moed. Moed means an appointed time. That Bible when the Lord established this celebration with means these Biblical feasts are special divine Moses. He explained that it is to be held on the appointments for us to meet the Lord and be in His fifteenth day of the seventh month; it lasts seven days presence. Do you want to miss your scheduled time (Leviticus 23:34). It starts with a Sabbath and lasts with Him? for seven days (Leviticus 23:35). Then there is another Sabbath on the eighth day (Leviticus 23:36). Fourth, as Christians, we want to be like Christ, and follow the example of Jesus. We often hear So what does this Old Testament teaching have to do WWJD—What Would Jesus Do? Jesus authored, with modern-day Christians? We are under the New taught, and kept Torah (the first five books of the Old Covenant, so these things in the Old Testament are Testament). From that, we can infer that Jesus kept no longer relevant, right? the feasts. But we do not have to infer; the Bible specifically tells us that Jesus kept the Feast of Throwing out the Old Testament is often taught, but Tabernacles (John 7:14). If we are Christ-followers, that teaching is not consistent with the words of the should we not do as Jesus did? New Testament. Jesus said, “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to These seem to be four compelling reasons to keep destroy, but to fulfill. For most certainly, I tell you, this Biblical feast, why my Methodist ancestors kept until heaven and earth pass away, not even one this festival, and why I keep my divine appointment smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way today. But what is the meaning behind the Feast of pass away from the law, until all things are Tabernacles? accomplished. Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, The Biblical feasts have at least two fulfillments and shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but some even three. There is a past fulfillment, there is whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great usually a fulfillment relating to Jesus’ first coming, and there is a future fulfillment when Jesus will come in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19). again. This is just one example of why it is so important for 13

The past fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles can be found in its Hebrew name, Sukkot. Sukkot is translated as Feast of Booths or Tabernacles. It commemorates when the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt and into the wilderness. During that time, the Israelites lived in temporary shelters and the Lord tabernacled or dwelt among them.

sisters in Christ. We also share gifts. This is a fun celebration, and the mood can be summarized by a single word—joy. The verse, “Don’t be grieved, for the joy of The LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10), is not just about joy; it is specifically about the joy the Israelites felt while celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles after they returned to their land and rebuilt the wall. It was a time of great rejoicing and The directions for the tabernacle that Moses was joy! commissioned to make while the Israelites were in the wilderness were very specific. It was supposed to You can enjoy that same rejoicing and joy at the next be a copy and shadow of what is in heaven (Hebrews Feast of Tabernacles. You have a divine 8:5). A cloud over the tabernacle indicated the Lord’s appointment. “The LORD’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether. They are more desired than presence (Numbers 9:15-10:11). gold, yes than much fine gold, sweeter also than A second time that the Lord dwelt among us was honey and the extract of the honeycomb. Moreover when Jesus lived on earth for approximately 33 your servant is warned by them. In keeping them years. Jesus’ life and earthly ministry is so significant there is great reward” (Psalms 19:9b-11) that it has been used to mark time for thousands of years by B.C., meaning before Christ, and A.D.,  Biblical roots keep us grounded when the Latin for Anno Domini, or the year of the Lord. storms come. We likely know the story of Jesus’ birth, ‘“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;’ which is, being interpreted, ‘God with us” (Matthew 1:23). A similar phrase is found in another Gospel, “The Word became flesh, and lived among us” (John 1:14a).

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Ancestral roots help us remember from where we came.

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Spiritual roots help us remember where we are going.

“I gave them my statutes, and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he will live in them. Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them” (Ezekiel 20:1112). —————————————————————

Meanwhile, our human bodies are temporary shelters in which we dwell with the Lord. “Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). However, our earthly bodies will someday die. Later, we will be given new, resurrected spirit bodies (Romans 8:23). B i b l io g r a p h y Finally, there is the future fulfillment for Jesus to be with us, and that is during the millennial reign of Christ. Some people will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4). These people will be the believers who were rescued prior to the Tribulation as well as those who were martyred during it.

All Bible verses are from Kingdom Life Version: Old and New Testaments with Text Notes and Words of Jesus in Red Letters, 1st Edition, Public Domain. McFerrin, DD, John B. History of Methodism in Tennessee (1805-1817). Southern Methodist Publishing House. Volume II. 15 June 1871. —————————————————————

The final Sabbath on the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles is called The Last Great Day, and that is when we celebrate the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11). This is when the rest of the dead will be resurrected and are “judged, each one according to his works” (Revelation 20:13). “If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). Every day we have an opportunity to choose Jesus and to choose eternal life. During the Feast of Tabernacles, we worship the Lord and enjoy fellowship with other brothers and 14

(Continued from page 9)

Polybius we shall omit what we said, in order to avoid repetition; adding this only, that Psedidonius affirms that the council of the Parthians is composed of two classes, one of relatives, (of the royal family) and another of wise men and magi, by both of which kings are chosen” (Strabo, 11.9.3).

Herod involved a siege against Jerusalem. Herod tried to kill all the babies under 2 years old.

The Parthian King in this time, Phraates IV, was getting older. He died approximately 2 BC (some sources say as early as 4 BC). The Magi were entrusted with the task of finding candidates for the throne of their Kingdom. I have a coin of Phraates IV (pictured in figure two). Perhaps not coincidentally, The Parthian ruling class was composed of two face is looking towards a star. It was a star that led groups. One were relatives of the royal family and the Magi to Jesus (Matthew 2:2). the other were wise men and Magi. The Kings of Parthia were chosen by these individuals. The The Parthians were descended from Israel through implications are that the Magi and wise men chose the Scythian/Khoumri lineage. There were also Jews who lived among them, as Assyrian kings took from the royal family of the Parthians. Judeans captive in the reign of Sennacerib. The The Parthians and Romans had a rocky history. appearance of the Magi can only mean that Jesus was Among the worst military disasters in Roman history considered a relative of the kingly line of these was the battle of Carrhae (southern Turkey). In 53 Scythians/Parthians. Phraates IV died before or near BC, the Parthians defeated over 40,000 Roman the time that the Magi arrived. They were looking for troops; most of them were either killed or taken the King of the Jews because these were the peoples captive. that ruled over them. In 40 BC, the Parthians conquered Judea and set Antigonus Matthatias over the King of the Jewish people. It is interesting that the Parthians set Antigonus, a Jewish man and Hasmonean descendant, to be the king and high priest of Judea. They could have established whomever they wanted to be their puppet ruler. Instead, they chose a native born.

They prostrated themselves before Him, which was an act of submission to a ruler. They brought Him gifts fitting royalty. What gifts will you bring when you worship your King this Fall Holy Day Season? A further resource for recommended reading: Parthian Coins and History by Fred Shore.

During this same time, a man named Herod, an Edomite by birth, sought to rule Judea and Jerusalem. He gained the support of the Romans; they recognized him as the legitimate king. After 3 years of fighting and a siege of Jerusalem, Herod prevailed. He had Antigonus put to death by the Romans. This was the first time the Romans put a king to death. Antigonus was the last of the Hasmonean rulers. Another clash between the two Empires occurred in ————————————————————— 36 BC. Marcus Antony tried to invade Parthian Bibliography territory and suffered a humiliating campaign. Tens Aruz, Farkas, and Fino, eds. The Golden Deer of of thousands of Roman troops died in this debacle. Eurasia. The Metropolitan Museum of Art We return to one of our original questions: Why were Symposia. New York, 2006. pp 25, 148. Herod and Jerusalem alarmed at the coming of the Magi? Herod was installed by Rome, who was a Behistun Inscription. Department of Egyptian and Antiquities. The Sculptures and bitter enemy of the Parthians. Herod overthrew Assyrian Inscriptions of Darius the Great on the Rock of Antigonus, the Parthian-chosen king of Judea. The Behistun in Persia. British Museum, London: 1907. Magi came from Parthia to honor a king – and Herod was likely concerned that this king would replace Bliss, Frank. Social and Economic Change in the him in Jerusalem. Pamirs. Nicola Pacult and Sonia Guss, trans. New York: Routledge, 2006. pp 52-55. The residents certainly did not want war or bloodshed. Recall that the Roman-supported coup of 15

Catholic Encyclopedia 1911: Captivities of the Israelites Encyclopedia Britannica 11th edition: Phraates (IV). Herodotus. The History. Greene, David, trans. The University of Chicago Press, 1987. pp 82-83. Jewish Encyclopedia 1905: Antigonus Mattathias; Ashkenaz Kuz’mina, Elena E. The Origin of the Indo-Iranians. Boston: Brill, 2007. pp 390-393. Lipinski, Edward. “Semitic Languages: Outline of a Comparative Grammar”. Sterling, 2001. p 145. Sayce, Archibald Henry. Lectures upon the Assyrian Language and Syllabary. Oxford, 1877. p 48). Strabo. H.C. Hamilton and W. Falconer, trans. The Geography. 1856: Vol 2, pp 250-251. 1857: Vol 3 p 97. The Society of Biblical Archeology. Records of the Past. Vols 1, 3, 5, 7, 11. London: Samuel Bagster and Sons, Late 1800s. (pages referenced above). Waterman, Leroy. Royal Correspondence of the Assyrian Empire. University of Michigan Press, 1930. pp 358-359. A further resource for recommended reading: Parthian Coins and History by Fred Shore. Bible verses from: King James Version. Public Domain; Kingdom Life Version: Old and New Testaments with Text Notes and Words of Jesus in Red Letters, 1st Edition, Public Domain. All language references come from Strong’s Concordance or The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. —————————————————————

2) It does not die; 3) It is handled by someone who is not a high priest; 4) It is placed in an uninhabited place; and 5) It causes uncleanness to others while alive. The very next chapter in Leviticus brings more clarity to this subject. In Leviticus 17:7, we learn that the Israelites were sacrificing to goat idols: “They shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat idols, after which they play the prostitute.” Some translations say “goat demons”. There is an obvious connection between the azazel and the goat idols (or goat demons). Interestingly enough, the worship of idols and satan are mentioned together in the Bible (Rev. 9:20; 13:1-18). While Christ took on the sins of the world, we must remember that the first sin by Adam and Eve was influenced by the serpent or satan. He is called the deceiver of all mankind (Rev. 12:9). Satan or the devil is called the father of all lies (John 8:44). The devil has sinned since the beginning (I John 3:8). This means every lie originates with his being. He is a partaker in the sins of other people. Since his sins cannot be atoned for or be taken away, they remain upon him forever. In fact, satan and his angels are eventually cast into the Lake of Fire where they will be tormented (Rev. 20:11-15). They are not allowed to die. They also impart uncleanness while they are alive. The term ‘unclean spirit’ is used as another name for satan and his minions (see Mark 5:1-13 as an example). At Christ’s return the land of Israel will be cleansed by removing the idols and unclean spirits (Zechariah 13:2). In Matthew 12:43, Jesus described unclean spirits as walking through wilderness places. Additionally, satan will be cast into an uninhabited place called the bottomless pit by an angel, who is not the high priest, just before the Millennium (Rev. 20:1-3). As long as he is bound, the nations are not deceived.

(Continued from page 12)

angels dwell (Heb. 12:22-24). Fourth, the azazel goat caused uncleanness to the one who chased it into the wilderness. If Christ still had the sins of the world on Him (which He does not), then he would defile everything around Him in the Heavenly Temple. He would be disqualified from serving as our high priest. No such implication is made in the Bible.

Satan is the only being that can meet all of the five qualifications for the azazel goat. This interpretation fits perfectly into the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. The fulfillment of Trumpets is revealed in Christ’s public return (Rev. 19:1-21). Satan is then placed in the uninhabitable bottomless pit (Rev. 20:1-3), representing the fulfillment of the Atonement azazel. The Millennium is described, which relates to Tabernacles (Rev. 20:4-6). The Great White Throne Judgment is then described, which relates to the Eighth Day or Last Great Day (Rev. 20:11-15).

Because Christ took upon Himself our sins and paid the price of death, it is impossible that He could in any way represent the second goat. Christ does not live forever in a state of sin–He lives forever in glorified perfection (Hebrews 7:28).

Christ laying down His life as the first goat ensured that the second goat would be condemned.

Who does this second goat represent? Consider the qualifications for it. 1) It takes on sin (permanently); 16

Biblical Archeology Corner: Sepphoris Elder Joe Perry

Three miles north of today’s Nazareth stand the archaeological ruins of the Greco-Roman styled city of Sepphoris. Although the area was occupied during the Persian and Hellenistic periods, few preRoman artifacts have been found. Josephus writes of the city being under Hasmonean rule. Burned during a Jewish revolt following the death of Herod the Great, the city was rebuilt during the reign of his son, Herod Antipas, the man who would later behead John the Baptist.

time and beyond. An examination of animal bones from the western area shows a near non-existence of pig bones, clear evidence that the population was adhering to Jewish dietary laws at least in the western part of the settlement. One hundred fourteen fragments of stone jars have also been uncovered from the residential area. While pottery vessels had to be destroyed, stone vessels were not subject to the impurity laws and could be used to store water for ritual washing. We also have the evidence of lamp fragments with menorahs depicted on them as well as mosaic fragments with Hebrew and Aramaic lettering. Coins minted at the time of the Jewish Revolt do not have images of Roman emperors or pagan gods.

From Yeshua’s early youth until the years following His death, the city served as the capital of Galilee and the nearby territory of Petra until about the year 20 A. D. After the failure of the Jewish revolt that resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem, the Sanhedrin relocated to Sepphoris. The Jewish Mishnah was first collected and edited in Sepphoris It is only after the Jewish revolt that a lot of Roman about the year 200 A. D. influence is seen in the archaeological remains of The city continued to flourish through Roman times, Sepphoris. Coins bearing the image of Emperor though the Roman army captured it during a Jewish Trajan (98-117) and Antoninus Pius (138-161) as revolt in 351 A. D. Destroyed by an earthquake in well as pagan gods were minted there. The city was 363, it remained a Jewish city until the 6th century renamed Diocaesarea; Dio being Latin for Zeus. when it acquired a Christian community and Lamps depicting Medusa show up. On an became the seat of a bishopric. It declined under inscription, a market official is named Justus. On the subsequent Arab and Crusader rule, but still existed floor of a Roman villa, a mosaic illustrates a drinking as a fortress into Ottoman times. match between Dionysius and Hercules. Archaeological excavations first began in the 1930’s though the main effort got underway in 1983 and continued for the next 20 years. Zeev Weiss, Eric Meyers and his daughter Carol Meyers are among the noted archaeologists who oversaw the excavations. During Yeshua’s time the city was a thriving metropolis of some 30,000 people. Excavations from this period have uncovered the remains of a building with two mikvahs. The city itself was architecturally enlightened; the streets were paved with colonnades along the sides. Water installations included a bathhouse and public water works. The bedrock contained cisterns. Multistory buildings existed along with major structures. Though the city housed a Roman garrison there was a considerable Jewish presence throughout the city in Yeshua’s

The new settlers were probably Jews migrating from Jerusalem, where they could no longer live, as well as a permanent Roman garrison established in 120 A.D. These refugees from Jerusalem tended to be more Hellenized than their northern counterparts. The reason for proving the Jewish influence on Sepphoris during the years of Yeshua’s life on earth is to show that Yeshua himself probably walked the streets of the city and worked there as well! Yeshua and father Joseph were both carpenters which actually meant that they worked in other mediums besides wood. With all the building projects going on at Sepphoris there would have been a need for skilled craftsmen. Nazareth, being a small town with a population of perhaps 400, would have provided only a limited amount of work. It is certainly reasonable to assume that Joseph and his son would 17

have been willing to work at the nearby city which The ruins of Sepphoris have much to teach us about after all was at most a one-hour walk away from life in Galilee in early first century A. D. and about where they lived. the life and ministry of the greatest Galilean of them all! While the Gospels do not record any visit by Yeshua to Sepphoris, they are only fragmentary accounts of ————————————————————— His ministry. He visited so many locales that are B i b l i o g r a p h y recorded it is difficult to believe He did not set foot Bates, Richard A. Sepphoris-An urban Portrait of in nearby Sepphoris. Jesus. Biblical Archaeology Review. May/June 1992. He certainly seems familiar with Antipas’ kingship. In Blue Letter Bible. NASB translation. Matthew chapter 11, alluding to John the Baptist, He asks the crowds what they had gone out to see Stern, Ephraim, ed. The New Encyclopedia of in the wilderness. “A man dressed in soft raiment?” Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land. New He then alludes to Antipas’ lifestyle: “Behold, those York, 1992 & 2008. who wear soft raiment live in Kings’ houses” (Matt ————————————————————— 11:8). It’s interesting that one of Yeshua’s followers was Joanna the wife of Antipas’ finance minister, Chuza. She could have told the Messiah all about life and luxury at the royal court. In Luke 14:31-32, Yeshua asks, “Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.” Interestingly enough, Antipas was at the same time preoccupied with his military strength. He built it up to such extent that eventually his brother in law, Herod Agrippa, would accuse him of sedition against the Roman Emperor which would lead to Antipas’ being exiled. One of the new constructions at Sepphoris was a theater. We ask the question, was Yeshua acquainted with stage actors? The Greek word hypocriteus, translated as hypocrite, means stage actor. It also means one who plays a part or acts a false role in public life. Hypocrisy can be viewed as a split in a person between outward show and inner reality. Interesting that Yeshua would use an acting term to characterize the Pharisees (see Matthew 6:5 for one example). From these examples, we can see that Yeshua was no village rustic. He was a cosmopolitan man familiar with the ways of city life, and he shared this knowledge when teaching the people. 18

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