In this missive I would like to differentiate the Historical (flesh/blood) Yeshua/Jesus with the Glorified Yeshua/Jesus (after his ascension). Few thinkers do this differentiation and this leads to much confusion and misunderstanding IMO. We need to think of this Jew as a real person who lived (historically) from around 4 B.C. to 33 A.D. (as a Torah believing Jew with a gospel message) and then also about his later role as a Glorified spirit person (who the Father glorified) and who many view as being alive in the spirit world today (right NOW). Many view this glorified person as residing at the right-hand side of his Father (per Revelation 5).
Let me give us some context on this issue with the following assumptions.
1. The assumptions derived during his flesh/blood days as he lived on our planet say from 4 B.C. to 33 A.D. I call this Yeshua's earthly ministry.
2. The assumptions we generally derive about this glorified person (being) after his physical death (at Golgotha) and his ascension to the realm of the Father (say in the 3rd heaven above).
Let's start with the historical person (Jew) who lived and walked on planet earth for some 37 years:
The precise image of Yeshua is unknown to us as we do not have any real photos of this Jew during his lifetime. No camera's were available at this time in our history. We must assume that he looked much like any other Aramaic Jew that lived during this time period (4 B.C. to 33 A.D.). Today, pictures (images) of a blue eyed Caucasian is what I was shown during much of my church history in Minnesota. Later, I was given a more scientific image which science had devised based on a typical Jewish person from this time period. Above are two images which you can envision.
This Jew was obviously born to real parents (let's assume Mary and Joseph) and he then was given his Aramaic name (Yeshua) at his circumcision ceremony when he was 8 days old (at the Temple facility in Jerusalem). Much later his name became Jesus (when scholars wrote about this person in the English language). His name evolved from an Aramaic name to a Greek name to a Latin name and then to our English name. Today, many have forgotten that his real name at birth was in the Aramaic language (i.e., Yeshua). Yeshua was the 'name' given to him on day 8 after his birth.
This flesh/blood Jew grew up mostly in a small village called Nazareth (some 100 miles north of Jerusalem). This small village was mostly a farming community (say 1,500 people) at the time of Yeshua. Today, this village is a city of some 78,000 people. Yeshua was born a Jew from the tribe of Judah and his parents dedicated him to the God of Israel during his childhood (some 40 days after his birth). This dedication was done at the Temple facility in Jerusalem. The God of Israel was the Torah God of Moses (also called Yahweh or the I AM God). In English we call this God by the name Father (some say Jehovah and some say Yahweh). This God is given some details when I read the words in Revelation 4.
Yeshua's God was the vocal point of Yeshua's belief system (so I assume). He learned about this Torah God at the Temple in Jerusalem from his peers. He studied about this God as he grew up in Nazareth. At the age of 12 he was likely given his bar mitzvah (this event was given to recognize a Jew who was now viewed as an adult in his mentality). Yeshua's history is sparse but we can assume that this Jew did get baptised (by his cousin, John) some time around 29 A.D. After this baptism event we can assume that Yeshua was part of John's ministry until John was beheaded by Herod Antipas (say in 29 or 30 A.D.).
After the death of his cousin, John, I assume that Yeshua started his own ministry. According to Mark this ministry centered on preaching the Kingdom of his God (Yahweh). This gospel or message was the cornerstone of Yeshua's ministry. He assumed that the Kingdom of Yahweh was arriving for planet Earth during his lifetime. He gathered some 70 disciples to help him with this ministry of promoting the coming Kingdom of God (Yahweh). All went according to his plan until he went to Jerusalem around 33 A.D. to confront his Jewish peers at the Sanhedrin. His peers were mostly the Scribes, Sadducees, and teachers of the Law who held particular authority over the teachings of Judaism.
When Yeshua confronted these authorities (in Jerusalem) his gospel/message was distorted and confused (so it seems) as these authorities thought Yeshua wanted to play God (Yahweh) and this idea was viewed as Blasphemy to these authorities. Yeshua tried to explain his ministry as a messenger of Yahweh (also called Messiah of God)...but this concept was interpreted (so it seems) as Yeshua wanting to call himself God (the God of Israel and the God of Moses). This was obviously NOT his real intent as he never claimed to be God while he ministered to his followers. He claimed to be SENT by God to give his message of the Kingdom of his God. God, to Yeshua, was the God of Israel!
Confusion, however, emerged among many of the elites and regular Jews...and the High Priest, apparently, thought that Yeshua was claiming to be God (the Jewish God who they viewed as their transcendent God). In reality, however, Yeshua was claiming to be Messiah of their God. Messiah means the 'anointed' one of God (not God). Confusion, however, was the scene at his trial.
This confusion over his beliefs led to him being turned over to the Romans for sedition (wanting to be the new KING of Israel in the flesh). This was anathema to the Romans (who did not want any new King/Authority) and this led to his Roman trial and eventual crucifixion at Golgotha. The END of Yeshua's ministry happened quickly when he went to Jerusalem to explain his beliefs to the Jewish authorities. But was this the END of his ministry and life experiences? What happened at the point of his physical death at Golgotha? This is what eventually created a new religion!
The second life of Yeshua (as a glorified person) who ascended to his God (Yahweh) in the heavens after his physical death at Golgotha is crucial to comprehend:
The story of Yeshua did not end with his physical death at Golgotha. What apparently happened is that this Jew was 'glorified' (made into a virtual being) at the point of his death at Golgotha. His God (the Father) chose to 'glorify' this Messiah (Christ) person. This virtual Yeshua then could 'appear' to select believers (mentally) and this led to the idea that this Jew was still ALIVE after his physical death experience. Select believers SAW (in their consciousness) some type of image of this dead (virtual) person. This led to believers thinking that this Jew was divine in some form and that he was given a new role next to his God (Yahweh/Father) in the third heaven. A virtual space which we can experience within our consciousness.
The select few who had visions and inner virtual images of this prior flesh/blood Jew grew (in number) over time into a Church community of new believers. The big change occurred when this Jew, called Saul of Tarsus, had his vision experience (some 2-3 years after the death of the flesh/blood Yeshua). This vision experience (seeing) of Saul (he changed his name to Paul later) created a new group of believers (mostly Gentiles) who then grew into a huge Church community by the time of Constantine (say 325 A.D.). Constantine (a Roman Emperor) desired to convert to Christianity (this new belief system started by Paul) as he was given his own mental images that led to his various military accomplishments. Amazing that these virtual (mental) experiences were so powerful!
Constantine then held a conference called the Nicene Council in 325 A.D. which led to Yeshua (now glorified in a virtual heaven) as being part of a Divine Godhead. Yeshua (now glorified in heaven) was exalted to God Almighty...an equal with Yahweh (the God of Israel). This later was concocted into a doctrine called the Trinity (three god persons). By 451 A.D. this Jew from Nazareth (now living in a virtual heaven) was given the reality of being both God and Man (simultaneously...while living on Earth) under the concept called the Hypostatic Union (two natures). Yeshua was assumed to have two natures while living on Earth in the flesh. This doctrine was developed retroactively.
Today, we live with a Church Age that has existed for nearly 2,000 years and which is now in apostate status. The glorified Yeshua/Jesus (after Golgotha) has resulted in the creation of some 3,000 (or more) denominations (belief systems) within this religion called Christianity. Today, many think that this Church Age of Christianity is scheduled to end with a BANG. A coming tribulation period is prophesied to happen (soon) as this Church Age ends on planet Earth. Many assume that this 'glorified' Jew (now in heaven) will return to planet Earth (in a physical form) and then set up his Kingdom on planet Earth. His assistants will be those who get raptured and then return at Armageddon to administer governance over planet Earth.
Believers (in the millions) are now expecting (first) a bodily rapture into the clouds above and then a return to Earth (some seven years later) with this 'glorified' Yeshua/Jesus so they can RULE this planet under the auspices of their Lord/God (namely Jesus of Nazareth). All those who do not get this rapture experience will be killed and/or will suffer greatly during the coming Great Tribulation (also called Jacobs Trouble). The end of the Church Age happens simultaneously with this rapture event. Is any of this valid philosophy?
The coming CBDC (digital currency) will create this 'mark of the beast' economy (so say many) and this will eventually create more war and destruction on this planet. A world leader will eventually arise who will attempt to solve all these political and economic problems. This will fail (eventually) and then the end will arrive with the return of this 'glorified' King (Jesus) who will land on planet Earth (near Mount Zion) and set up his Millennial rule (with his prior raptured saints assisting him with governing the planet). He is expected to arrive in the EAST via the clouds of heaven and with the Trump of God Almighty!
The second coming is what prophesy experts are touting. The glorified Yeshua will arrive on planet Earth (use your imagination) and then set up a new Kingdom Age for his believers. That seems to be the scenario that many are presenting on today's internet. Is any of this reality or is it fantasy? Think for yourself! Prophesy preachers are convinced that this scenario (or similar) is valid and real!
A new Kingdom Age will arrive on planet Earth and a new Messiah will announce that 'all swords will be hammered into plow shares and all spears will be hammered into pruning hooks...and mankind will learn war no more. Permanent peace will arrive for a period of 1,000 years (called the Millennium). The mindset of thinkers (scholars) is not consistent on all these coming events. We have many 'interpretations' and preaching scenarios on all these speculations. But some type of change is coming (so it seems) and it may be wise for everyone to start thinking about what type of change is coming. Are we at the END of an AGE? What is coming after the BIG change (now emerging)?
My sense is that some BIG change will happen eventually. Details are unknown. All I can do is speculate and watch as events happen. Having a narrative does help with my thinking. I can alter this scenario as I watch events happen in real-time. Have a great day! Times are interesting!
Think on this as you do your own research. I must do likewise. I am: donaldswenson.blogspot.com.
http://kingdomecon.wordpress.com
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