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ARTB Bible Blog 1.10.11 Pharaoh's triple cruelty

Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, "Cast any son born to the Nile, but save alive all the daughters." (Exodus 1:22, ARTB)
 
A note from A. Frances Werner:
 
I recently was reading Sugar Changed the World by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos (2010).  In it, I began to see the power of the notion of ABADDON (being lost forever in a watery grave) for other cultures as recently as the 1800's.  The authors describe that in British Guiana, the owners were contracting with Hindu people from India for a 5-year contract plus passage back: 
 
For a person from India, going overseas was not a simple matter.  Once you crossed the "black water" of the surrounding oceans, you were said to have "gone to tapu."  You no longer had any place in your village and could not be accepted back until you went through a special ceremony.  Leaving India truly meant giving up your home..."   
 
Outright fear of ABADDON has been non-existent for centuries in Christian cultures because of a knowledge of the saving power of God Almighty.  The cultures of northern Europe had reasonable fear crossing the ocean, but they were quick to leave the homeland for opportunity in the Americas.  But this has led me to underestimate the influence of ABADDON, and to be blind to it.
 
Now, when I examine passages like this in Exodus, I'm struck with the triple cruelty of the Pharaoh's actions.  Not only was he killing the sons of Israel, but by throwing them into the Nile, he was specifically taking away a proper burial, and was consigning them to ABADDON without an ABYDOS, a funeral boat.  Finally, the third cruelty is that they would VANISH forever, with no place of remembrance by having a gravesite. 
 
The midwives that ignored Pharaoh's order did a far bigger work than I have understood.  Selah.    

ARTB Bible Blog 1.7.11, Lost in ABADDON?

A king existed over them, the messenger of the abyss, of the Hebrew name ABADDON...(Revelation 9:11, ARTB Draft)
 
A note from A. Frances Werner:
 
This verse is the only place in the New Testament that the word ABADDON appears.  It is a great example of the challenges and insights putting together the Old and New Testament in the same language.  In the New Testament, it is listed as a Greek word, but is clearly a spelling of the Hebrew word (Strong's 11), which occurs 5 times in the OT.
 
Most bible versions use the word ABADDON in the New Testament, but use multiple words like word HELL, DESTRUCTION, and occasionally the word ABADDON in the OT.  The ARTB OT consistently utilized the word HELL since the word DESTRUCTION is assigned to a different Hebrew root. However, coming face-to-face with the name of the messenger of the abyss made me stop dead in my tracks:  Shouldn't the references to HELL be modified to ABADDON in the Old Testament?  What in the world does the word ABADDON really mean?  If it's a name important enough to be specifically cited, what is it? 
 
There are several great articles available.  They suggest to me that the word ABADDON predates the time of Moses, and is probably an Egyptian word.  The name ABYDOS is a town of the dead in Egypt.  Funerals for pharaohs included a funeral boat that I believe was to help them stay OUT of ABADDON.  The earliest ones were made of papyrus and pitch (exactly as that one described for infant Moses).
 
I am beginning to understand that ancient peoples feared ABADDON, because it represented the place where anyone whose body was lost and not properly buried was relegated for eternity.  People lost at sea, or in a natural disaster like a flood or tsunami were lost forever.  Today, we still have a great need to locate the bodies of soldiers missing in action. We cannot rest until we find family members who have been kidnapped, be they dead or alive.  ABADDON is not a place of rest, but of deep UNREST.  ABADDON is not a obscure concept of the ancient world, but a strong emotional reality today.  The world was NOT created for death, but life.  The places of death are managed by messengers of death, not Yahweh, and will be sealed forever.
  
This verse from Proverbs 15:11 will be modified to remove the word HELL, and replace it with ABADDON:
 
Even the hearts of the sons of Adam in Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh! ARTB
 
Thanks be to God Almighty that He has conquered Abaddon! Selah.
 
 
   

 

ARTB Bible Blog, 1.3.11, What about YOUR epiphany?

They fell and worshiped him, and they opened their treasures and offered offerings to him of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11, ARTB Draft)
 
A note from A. Frances Werner:
 
This time of Epiphany, celebrating the visit of the Magi is a wonderful time to ask yourself and your family members and friends to describe an epiphany in your/their life/lives.  As the sermon I heard this weekend pointed out, we have many times we can see and recognize Yahweh in our everyday lives, a mini-epiphany.  But I'm betting that since you are a strong follower of the ways of the Almighty, you have had a major epiphany in your life--a time that you recognized Yahweh's presence that completely changed who you were, or the direction of your life.
 
For some of you, it may be the moment that precipitated committing your life to God.  For many others, it may be a major point in your life. But here's an interesting twist: Be sure to examine WHAT you saw that created the epiphany.  Look at the precious baby a little more carefully and share the good-news! Selah. 
 



ARTB Bible Blog 12.23.10, Locked hearts

The fountains of the abyss and the vents of heaven locked and contained the showers from heaven. (Genesis 8:2, ARTB)
 
A note from A. Frances Werner:
 
Today's verse surely doesn't appear to have anything to do with the holy season of Hanukkah or Christmas!  But in fact, this reference from after the flood at the time of Noah has a connection to the last discussion about the KEYS of the Messiah.  
 
Any time there is a discussion about a KEY, it is logical to ask what and where the LOCKS really are.  During the write-up earlier this week, I learned many things.  First of all, I was aware that the gates of heaven were opened to us by the Messiah, and that that KEY was given to Peter.  But I frankly had not been aware or paying attention to the specific word KEY (Strong's 4668, and it's Aramaic equivalent) or LOCK (SKAR, same in Hebrew and Aramaic, Strong's 5534).
 
What knocked me awake was my study on the name associated with Judas (JUDAH in Aramaic), the word ISCARIOT.  The second name for Judas has always been a mystery.  Second names are either a description of your home town (used mostly in the Old Testament), or a nickname to separate similar names like Simon the Zealot vs. Simon Peter (STONE in ARTB Draft), or the name of your father (Andrew and James, sons of Zebedee).
 
If you look it up online at Wikipedia, you'll find that some think it is a Hebrew derivating of the name of his town, or that he was a member of an assasin group called SCARII.  Both of the arguments are plausible, but weak.  Why would the text name Judas' hometown, but none of the other apostles?  Other historians believe that the timetable on the scarii group is off by 20-30 years.
 
Aramaic provides a thrilling alternative.  There is no first letter "I" in Judas' last name in Aramaic.  Suddenly, it looks like a compound Aramaic word, like others in the New Testament, SKAR+WJA (pronounced OTA).  A potential solution crystallizes:  The word LOCK appears to be at the core of his name. The second half is not quite as clear, but could reasonably be a form of the Aramaic word REACH (Strong's 4201 MJA).  Judas, who spent years in the face of the Key of David, will forever be known as SKAROTA, the man who closed the door and REACHED for the LOCK.
 
This season, as I pray for members of my friends and family, I'm particularly led to pray for those that have previously opened their hearts to know the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but have since closed the door.  The key of David can open ANY lock in the universe, but those who REACH for the LOCK of their hearts when they close the door to Him need our continued nurturing prayer. Let us open wide the gates of our heart, that the King of Glory may come in!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

ARTB Bible Blog 12.20.10 Key of David

I will give the key of the house of David over his shoulder. He will open, and none will close; he will close, and none will open.  (Isaiah 22:22, ARTB)
 
A note from A. Frances Werner
 
This prophecy in Isaiah is often sung or spoken as part of the Advent season leading up to Christmas.  It is particularly used December 20th as one of seven prophesies, called ANTIPHONS, one for each day leading up to Christmas. It is used in all churches that utilize Liturgy of the Hours, to highlight different titles of the Messiah.  
 
What is interesting here is the word KEY (in Hebrew, maptah, Strongs 4669).  It is used only 3 times in the Old Testament, and it is a specific noun form of the word OPEN (ptah, Strong's 6605) which is also used in this passage.  The Aramaic word for KEY is spelled differently (qlyda), and which appears to be more closely tied to the Greek word (kleis, Strong's 2807), but there is no doubt as to the meaning, because this verse from Isaiah is quoted again in Revelation 3:7. 
 
In the New Testament, Peter was given the KEY of heaven (Matthew 6:19), which is where we get our common visualization about Peter standing at the pearly gates.  But there is also a KEY for hell and death which is referred to three times in Revelation (1:18, 9:1 and 20:1), and a reference to the KEY of knowledge (Luke 11:52).  
 
The Messiah carries the KEY of David. May he unlock the wealth of the kingdom for you and your families and friends this blessed season.  Come inside and celebrate! 
 
 
 
 
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