Gospel of the Firstfruits

Whenever I thought of the New Testament Pentecost, I would immediately jump to Acts 2:1

 Act 2:1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 

But in reading Acts recently, I was struck by  Acts 1:8, where Jesus talked to His disciples and set the stage for the Pentecost to come in a few days.

Act 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

I had always focused on the miraculous part of the day – tongues of fire and receiving the Holy Spirit. But 1:8 says two things, receive power AND witness. And that witness is to flow out from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

Let’s look at the first chapters of Acts to see how Acts 1:8 was fulfilled.         

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[Summarizing 2:1-13, familiar verses, full text below]

In Acts 2, those disciples keeping Pentecost received the Holy Spirit in miraculous fashion. “They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” - Berean Study Bible. The KJV says cloven or divided tongues, but commentaries agree that it was the fire was divided among the people, not the tongues that were divided. What did they do? They apparently left the house where they were meeting and started talking to people, because a crowd had gathered. They gathered because they had heard the “sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind” vs 2. Then they heard the disciples speaking in their own language. 

Tangent

• One translation said the tongues rested on their heads. Artist depictions all render it that way.
• Commentaries agree that all 120 (see 1:15) received a tongue.
• How long did the tongues of fire last? The crowd wouldn’t accuse them of being drunk if they had a flaming tongue on the top of their heads.
• How long did the ability to speak other languages last? Was it only that day, a while, or a lifetime?
• I would like to know what they said at this point- “declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues”. How does THAT conversation start?

/Tangent

Jerusalem and Judea

Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria

Peter takes charge and preaches to the crowd.

Act 2:14 But Peter, taking his stand with the other eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this, and pay attention to my words. 

 

This is how the church started. Notice how Peter’s first words echoed Jesus’ words days earlier.

1:8 ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea 

2:14 Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem  

Peter’s discourse ends with the familiar words “repent and be baptized” - Acts 2:38. And the fruits of this sermon? 3,000 were baptized. [Logistical question – how do you baptize 3000 people in Jerusalem? If only the twelve apostles laid on hands on them all, that's 250 per apostle.]

Which reminds me of the beginning of Jesus’ own ministry recorded in the book of Mark.

Mar 1:14  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 
Mar 1:15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 

Jesus began his ministry by preaching the gospel. The church began its ministry by preaching the gospel, a continuation of what Jesus started.

Jesus is the firstborn of many brethren (Rom 8:29), or you could say “First of the firstfruits”. The Jewish tradition is to call the Wave Sheaf Day Firstfruits – that is the day that Jesus was “waved” before God the Father. In our tradition, Pentecost is sometimes called Firstfruits. Both days are associated with Firstfruits in Lev 23:9,17 - The Omer - Make Mine A Double [1], so it is natural that the NT church would be doing the same thing that Jesus did, preaching the gospel.

Continuing in the book of Acts, cherry picking verses to show the progression out from Jerusalem.

Act 2:22  Ye men of Israel

Act 2:36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know

Act 3:12  And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel

Act 4:10  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel

Act 5:16  There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem

Act 5:42  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. 

Act 6:7  And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 

 

Samaria 

Samaria, north of Judea

In chapter 8, we see the word spread to Samaria.

Act 8:1  And Saul was consenting unto his [Stephen’s] death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 

Act 8:4  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 

Act 8:5  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 

Act 8:25  And they [Peter and John], when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. 

 

Ethiopia 

Ancient Ethiopia

Then, the gospel goes out of Israel altogether when Philip baptizes the Ethiopian eunuch.

Act 8:26  But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Get ready and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.)

Act 8:27  So he got ready and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,

Act 8:28  and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading Isaiah the prophet.

According to church tradition, this man was to become an evangelist among his own people. From the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches article on the Ethiopian church:

Ethiopia embraced Christianity and has maintained its doctrines from the era of the apostles to the present day. Acts 8:26-39 recounts the story of the Ethiopian eunuch who was baptized by St. Philip. This eunuch was a minister of Candace, Queen of Ethiopia. This story is the beginning of Ethiopian Church history. Eusebius speaks of this eunuch as the first fruits of the faith in the whole world. Irenaeus writes that he preached the Gospel to the Ethiopians. Tradition further records that the apostle Matthew preached the gospel to the Ethiopians and won a few converts to the new doctrine before leaving the country.   SCOOCH.org(Ethiopian_Church) [2]

Irenaeus gives his name as Simeon Bachos the Eunuch. In Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo tradition he was referred to as Bachos and in Eastern Orthodox tradition he is known as an Ethiopian Jew with the name Simeon also called the Black, the same name he is given in Acts 13:1.  Wikipedia(Ethiopian_eunuch) [3]

The only pre-colonial Christian church of Sub-Saharan Africa, the Ethiopian Church has a membership of between 40 and 45 million.  Wikipedia(Christianity in Ethiopia) [4]

To The World 

Journeys of Paul

 

In Acts 9, we read of the conversion of Paul. Here is what Jesus said about Paul.

Act 9:15  But the Lord said unto him,Go your way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 

As the final example from Acts, Peter has a vision, which culminates in the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit just like the original 120 disciples.

Act 10: 37 you yourselves know the thing that happened throughout Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed.

Act 10:42  And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 

Act 10: 43 All the prophets testify of Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.

Acts 10:45 All the Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been poured out on the Gentiles.

Acts 10:46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God.

I think we have all had the experience of reading a scripture many times, then one day seeing something new in it. This was one of those moments for me, realizing how Pentecost was also about spreading the gospel, not just receiving the Holy Spirit.

Summary

In Acts chapters 2-7, we see the church growing in Jerusalem, with people coming from the rest of Judea to Jerusalem just to hear the word.

In chapter 8, due to persecution, the church scatters to Judea and Samaria, preaching the word as they went.

In chapters 8-10, the gospel goes outside Judea, by the Ethiopian eunuch, by the apostle Paul, and after Peter’s vision, the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit like those keeping that first Pentecost after Christ’s resurrection.

What About Us?

What about today? We also know from

Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 

A gospel has been preached in (nearly) all the world, a gospel about Christ. But we believe it is not THE gospel OF Christ, that is, not the gospel He preached. People don’t want to hear the gospel OF Christ because it begins with the word repent. Which leads to the question, “repent of what?” Which leads to the 10 Commandments. And people don't want to hear a message about the 10 Commandments that starts with the word REPENT.

We also know that in the end of days, God will call a great multitude. It seems that every generation since Christ has thought that it was the final one before His return, but I certainly believe we are in the end time, that we ARE that generation.

Rev 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

Note this is right before the opening of the seventh seal Rev 8:1

Perhaps it is presumptuous  to think that we in the Churches of God will preach that witness to the world AND a great multitude will respond. Personally, I’ve had almost no success persuading  family and friends during my 40 years in the church. [I might have more success if I had a tongue of fire on my head.] But someone WILL preach the gospel of Christ. Maybe we will just pass the baton to those will preach the final warning, but I believe we are that generation. We shall see.

You may be thinking “How? What can I do?” Tell your story. Remember what happened when the early church suffered persecution.

Act 8:4  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 

Also remember, the apostles stayed in Jerusalem.

The early church received the Holy Spirit on that Pentecost to equip them to do the job of preaching the gospel. Jesus told them they were going to receive power from on high. In their case, it was “signs and wonders”. Maybe on some future Pentecost, we will receive special power to tell the mighty works of God like they did; and people will listen.

That is just speculation on my part. What is not speculation is that the Firstfruits (the church) will preach the same gospel as the First of the Firstfruits (Jesus).

 References

1. https://jlfreeman-1.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-omer-make-mine-double.html

2. http://www.scooch.org/member-churches/the-ethiopian-church/

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_eunuch

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Ethiopia

Acts 2:1-13  New American Standard Bible 

Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and a tongue rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out.

 5 Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? 9 Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty deeds of God.” 12 And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others were jeering and saying, “They are full of sweet wine!”

Is the COVID-19 Vaccine the Mark of the Beast?

Some have said that the COVID-19 vaccine is the Mark of the Beast. Is there any truth to that? Is that what the Bible says? The Mark of the Beast is mentioned in a few verses in the Book of Revelation. Among other things, it refers to preventing commerce to people without the Mark. Multiple sources are now discussing restricting travel and other activities without a "vaccine passport". So, does it follow that the COVID-19 then is the Mark of the Beast?

The assertion is based on this verse.

Rev 13:16 -17 It (the Beast) also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark,

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Kanye West [5]

I have been searching the Internet to find out who exactly is saying the COVID-19 vaccine is the Mark of the Beast. Many see it as a well known fact that Evangelical Christian leaders are saying it - Washington Post [1], but I only found a couple names, the most familiar being Kanye West, "It all started with Kanye West."- CrossTalk [2], ChristianPost [3]. However, I don't think Kanye came up with that by himself. A less familiar name is Louisiana Pastor Ronnie Hampton of New Vision Community Church  - Christianity Today [4]. Or pastor Guillermo Maldonado of Miami megachurch King Jesus International Ministry. Some blame a Youtube video (unavailable) by Lackey (no first name). Or Gab founder Andrew Torba - Washington Post [1].

It is difficult to search the Internet for things that happen on social media. Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instgram all have policies against misinformation. They can remove content they find offensive, leaving the trail of evidence impossible to follow. It's called Ephemeral Content [6]. The Washington Post [1]  article quoted above penetrates the social media fog better than I can.

But What Does The Bible Say?

Let's look more closely at what Revelation actually says about the Mark of the Beast

Revelation 13:15-18 11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who live on it worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the presence of people. 14 And he deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause all who do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

Mark on hand or forehead

Verse 16 says the mark, whatever it is, will be on a person's right hand or on their forehead. Vaccinations are given by injection in the upper arm. It just isn't given in the hand or the forehead.

Worship the First Beast

The Beast that  causes everyone to get said Mark is the second Beast. The first 10 verses of Revelation 13 describe this first Beast as being worshiped, having a deadly wound which healed, gets his power from the dragon, speaks blasphemies, has power 42 months, and makes war with the saints. The second Beast causes everyone to worship the first Beast, calls fire down from heaven, and is known by his number, 666. Many teach that the second Beast is a religious figure, probably the Pope. It is clear that these two Beasts are not in power now. I do believe we are in the end times, so they may be alive today, but until someone brings fire down from heaven, those Beasts are not on the scene yet.

Note that the first Beast is worshiped. This is reminiscent of emperor worship in the first century AD. Christians who would not give the sign of worship were thrown to the lions. I see emperor worship as a type of the Mark of the Beast.

Bust of Domitian

Under Domitian (81-96 AD) in the time of this letter, emperor worship was compulsory for every Roman citizen. The burning of the pinch of incense was rewarded by a certificate which had to be renewed annually. Failure to produce a certificate meant being branded as Christian and this opened the way, if the magistrates so decided, for the death penalty on the ground of treason. - attributed to James Allen “What the Bible Teaches – Revelation” - That Pinch Of Incense [7]

The Timing 

Many events must take place before the Beasts show up. God's judgment of man is pictured as seven seals, beginning in Revelation 6. The seventh seal is made up of seven trumpets. And the seventh trumpet is made up of seven bowls or vials of wrath. The pattern for the seals, trumpets, and bowls is that the first six are described without a break, then a pause, then the seventh. This is shown graphically in the chart below from Chuck Missler [8]. The Mark of the Beast occurs during a five chapter pause (Rev 10-14) between trumpet #6 and trumpet #7. The first four seals are also known as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, during which one quarter of mankind is killed. The fifth seal is large scale martyrdom, the sixth seal is signs in the heavens. The seventh seal is opened in Revelation 8, and the seven trumpets begin. After the sixth trumpet there is a pause, it is then that the Beasts rise to power.

The Book of Revelation [9]

Immunity Passport

While researching who said the vaccine was the Mark of the Beast, I found many who recognize the vaccine is not the Mark of the Beast, but who described it as conditioning for the Mark, a trial run to normalize it. Certainly many people have concerns about the vaccine itself, but also fear another trending development - the vaccination passport aka immunity passport, which reminds me of the emperor's certificate of loyalty. And with high tech manipulation, the immunity passport could indeed morph into the Mark of the Beast.

Jack Hibbs, a pastor, said in a sermon that he believes the COVID-19 vaccine is a social control tactic that is conditioning people to accept the mark of the beast. Belief Net [10]

Right-wing pastor Curt Landry posted a video on YouTube on Tuesday in which he told viewers never to accept any vaccine that is created to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus because the vaccine will be a precursor to the biblical Mark of the Beast. Right Wing Watch [11]

The global society has to be conditioned in such a way as to submit to the mark, the beast, and the false prophet, in person or in proxy for the MARK to be effected. Duncan Mango [12]

The objective of such rules is nothing to do with public health; they are intended to exasperate us all to the point where we yield to the indignity of vaccine passports when they are rolled out, just so we can live our lives and be left in peace. Out Of Mind [13]

Digital-format immunity passports would eventually likely normalize digital-format proof-of-status documents. 

Advocates of COVID passports visualize a world where we can’t pass through a door to a plane, workplace, school, or restaurant until the gatekeeper scans our credentials. In no time the public would be conditioned to submit to these demands. 

This digital system could easily be expanded to check not just a person’s immunity status, but any other bit of personal information a gatekeeper might deem relevant, such as banking information, age, pregnancy, HIV status, or criminal history; and all data – your data – could be accumulated into one database.  Clarion [14]

 

Without debate or democratic scrutiny, vaccine passports are quickly heading from unthinkable to unstoppable.

Vaccine identity cards could be demanded ‘in hospitality settings’ — in other words, in pubs.

As ever, in our new Orwellian world, the reverse language is used — restrictions will be lifted for those who comply. Spectator.co.uk [15]

 

No one knows exactly what the Mark of the Beast will be. But it seems likely to me to be a high tech version of the emperor's certificate because that certificate involved worship and commerce. I think China is leading the way on controlling commerce with its Social Credit System [16], a national reward and punishment system; plus China's efforts to create a digital currency - Wall Street Journal [17]. A Social Credit System and a digital currency would give China the power to control all its citizens buying or selling. 

The Mark Of The Lamb

Let's take the focus off the Beasts and put it on Jesus Christ where it belongs. God gave the Revelation to Jesus who gave it to John. Twice, Revelation refers to believers who have a seal on their foreheads, and this seal is the name of the Lamb's Father, that is God Himself. Decide for yourself if these two passages refer to the same 144,000.

Rev 7:3  “Do not harm the earth, or the sea, or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

Rev 14 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.

Ephesians 1:13 having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise

In the end of days, everyone chooses who to worship, everyone receives a mark. Will it be the Mark of the Lamb or the Mark of the Beast?

References

1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/02/16/covid-vaccine-misinformation-evangelical-mark-beast

2. https://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/ask-roger/is-the-covid-19-vaccine-the-mark-of-the-beast.html

3. https://www.christianpost.com/news/kanye-west-says-covid-19-vaccine-is-mark-of-the-beast-hank-hanegraaff-responds.html

4. https://www.christiantoday.com/article/pastor-dies-coronavirus-days-after-saying-my-faith-has-never-wavered/134595.htm

5. https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-says-he-had-covid-19-speaks-against-vaccines-2703611

6. https://items.ssrc.org/covid-19-and-the-social-sciences/mediated-crisis/when-video-vanishes-how-ephemeral-social-media-platforms-disappear-protest-journalism/

7. http://youngadults.ccphilly.org/4767-2

8. https://store.khouse.org/products/revelation-an-expositional-commentary

9. https://beyondthefundamentals.com/Document_Files/Revelation_Notes.pdf

10. https://www.beliefnet.com/wellness/is-the-covid-19-vaccine-the-mark-of-the-beast.aspx

11. https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/curt-landry-says-any-coronavirus-vaccine-is-from-the-pit-of-hell

12. https://duncanmango.wordpress.com/2021/02/26/is-the-covid-vaccine-the-mark-of-the-beast

13. https://www.oom2.com/t74778-why-we-all-must-reject-vaccine-passports

14. https://clarion.causeaction.com/2021/02/24/coming-covid-19-passports-mark-of-the-beast

15. https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/johnson-is-in-trouble-over-vaccine-passports-and-it-s-showing

16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Credit_System

17. https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-creates-its-own-digital-currency-a-first-for-major-economy-11617634118

The Other Kinsman Redeemer

Goel of Ruth

In the book of Ruth, we see an example of the kinsman redeemer, in this case Boaz redeemed Ruth, her mother in law Naomi, and their land. It is a love story complete with drama and a happy ending. And this short story also provides us with a picture (a type or foreshadowing) of Jesus Christ and the church. The phrase "kinsman redeemer" is translated from the Hebrew word "goel", but there is another use of the word goel which is obscured in English. Let's explore this other goel, and see what we can learn about it. 

First, let's review the more familiar goel, the kinsman redeemer that usually come to mind for Bible students. It is based on this verse from Leviticus.

Lev 25:23 The land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me. 24 Thus for every piece of your property, you are to provide for the redemption of the land. 25 'If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest kinsman (goel) is to come and buy back what his relative has sold.

In this scheme of things, a person could never lose their land permanently. But a kinsman had to redeem the land if a man had to sell. Not just anyone could redeem the person in distress, it had to be family. This is a type of Jesus coming in the flesh to be a family member to all mankind. He is our Redeemer, AND a kinsman. See The Kinman Redeemer [1] for a deeper discussion.

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However, the kinsman redeemer, the goel, had another job but English translations don't show it. The goel is also known as the avenger. Same word, possibly the same person, two functions. In the verse above,  goel is translated redeemer. In this verse, goel is translated avenger.

Num 35:12 The cities shall serve you as a refuge from the avenger (goel), so that the one who commits manslaughter does not die until he stands before the congregation for trial.

The role of the avenger is explained in later verses of Num 35, adding the qualifier "blood" which  is in the Hebrew.

Num 35:19 The blood avenger (goel ha'dam) himself shall put the murderer to death; he himself shall put him to death when he meets him.

To understand the goel ha'dam, we need to consider the justice system of the time. Unlike our world, there was no police force. For protection, men made blood oaths to protect and defend each other. Such a "blood brother" had your back no matter what. He would fight along side you, and avenge your death - The Life Is InThe Blood [2]. Having no police force meant there was no one to investigate crimes. However there were judges who did hear criminal and civil cases.

Justice for murder and accidental killing is spelled out in Numbers 35 (listed below). One who was responsible for an accidental killing had to flee to a city of refuge before the goel ha'dam found him. The goel ha'dam could avenge a death even if it was accidental. If the slayer made it to the city of refuge, the city elders would protect him from the avenger until trial. If the slayer was found guilty of murder, the city elders handed him over to the goel, who became his executioner. If the slayer left the city of refuge, and the avenger caught him, he could kill him. And the accidental slayer had to live in the city of refuge till the current High Priest died. If he left the city after that, the avenger couldn't touch him.

The hunting down of a murderer is no longer the business of the avenger, but of the state; accordingly, whether there is any relative or not, whether the relative lodges complaint or not, the state must prosecute the murderer - Jewish Encyclopedia [3].

Notice that intent was a big factor in determining accidental killing versus murder, just as it is today. We use the term manslaughter for an accidental death. Notice also how seriously God treats killing. 

Num 35:33 So you shall not defile the land in which you live; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.

This warning is not just for ancient Israel. God, who changes not, is still in charge, and His rules are still in effect. Ancient Israel sacrificed babies to the false god Molech. America has murdered 60 million unborn babies in the last 50 years, which has defiled the land. The estimate of abortions worldwide is 1.6 BILLION - Number of Abortions [4]. The whole earth is greatly defiled. He will not restrain His wrath forever, a reckoning is coming, and probably soon.

 

Typology

We have the book of Ruth as an example of the kinsman redeemer, but we do not have such a story about the avenger, but remember the two are probably the same person (next of kin). In spite of not having a story about the avenger, we can learn more by examining the typology of the goel ha'dam, the slayer, and the victim.

It is widely recognized that Boaz, the kinsman redeemer of the book of Ruth is a type of Jesus Christ, and Ruth is the church. Since goel can be redeemer or avenger, the goel ha'dam then also pictures Jesus Christ. The typology doesn't fit with His first coming as the Lamb of God, but it is more fitting for His second coming as King of Kings, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. 

The city of refuge also pictures Jesus Christ, where the accidental slayer can go for safety. Where better to hide than in Jesus Himself?  "You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word", Psalm 119:114. And the High Priest also pictures Jesus. Only He is a High Priest that never dies.

That leaves the slayer and victim. In a sense, they picture us as humans. It is perhaps easier to see ourselves as innocent victims, and indeed at some level we are; we need a rescuer. But sadly, we are also the slayers. We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God - Rom 6:23. We need to flee to Jesus, the city of refuge, and hide ourselves in Him. We are responsible for killing Him, yet from the cross, He said "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do". And we are like the audience of Peter's first sermon, where he said "And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers also did" - Act 3:17. Because mankind has acted in ignorance, we are guilty of manslaughter, not murder. We can flee to the city of refuge, and abide forever, because our High Priest will never die.

Redeemer AND Avenger

We are more comfortable thinking of Jesus Christ as a loving, forgiving figure. It's much easier to think of the story of Boaz and Ruth picturing Christ and the church than it is to think of Christ as THE Avenger. But many verses speak of the role of Avenger. The most familiar verse would be "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay" - Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19. It is not just an Old Testament thing. 

The Jewish view of the Avenger is that he is God's representative, not just of the victim's family, but to the whole community Jewish Encyclopedia [3]. This is in part to execute justice. Remember the land is defiled by the blood of the innocent, and can only be set right by the blood of the slayer. 

When Jesus Christ returns, He will combine the two roles of the goel. He has been redeeming His people, the church, for 2000 years, and views them as innocent. When He returns, He will avenge them. Look at the blood spilled by Christian martyrs. In my lifetime, in America, Christianity in its many forms has been the dominant religion in the country. But in the rest of the world, and throughout history, Christians have been targets of persecution. One estimate is that since the time Christ walked the earth, 70 million Christians have been murdered simply because they were Christians - Christianity Today [5]. 

Of the millions of Christians martyred in the 2000 years of the church’s history over half were killed in the twentieth century, and 80 percent of the cases of religious persecution in the world today are against Christians—and it’s getting worse - Crisis Magazine [6].

However counter-intuitive it may seem in light of popular stereotypes of Christianity as a powerful and sometimes oppressive social force, Christians today indisputably form the most persecuted religious body on the planet, and too often its new martyrs suffer in silence - Global War On Christians [7]. 

The Christian Martyrs’ Last Prayer, 1883, oil on canvas.
Painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme

The number of martyrs will only increase at the end time. After the ride of the infamous Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, which are the first of seven seals opened by Jesus Christ, the Fifth Seal warns of more martyrdom.

Rev 6:9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and AVENGING our blood on those who live on the earth?” 11 And a white robe was given to each of them; and they were told that they were to rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters who were to be killed even as they had been, was completed also.

 

Summary 

The Hebrew word goel is translated as redeemer or avenger, depending on context. Yet both of these roles of the goel picture roles of Jesus Christ - first as Redeemer of His church, and second as Avenger of those Redeemed, that is the innocent ones. Mankind is also pictured by the slayer, as one who has done manslaughter. As slayers, we must flee to the city of refuge to hide from vengeance. The whole earth is defiled with innocent blood. Jesus Christ the Goel has much redeeming and avenging to do. 

LORD, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth! - Psalm 94:1

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References

1. https://jlfreeman-1.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-kinsman-redeemer.html

2. https://jlfreeman-1.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-life-is-inthe-blood.html

3. http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2162-avenger-of-blood

4. http://www.numberofabortions.com/

5. https://www.christiantoday.com/article/70-million-christians-martyred-faith-since-jesus-walked-earth/38403.htm

6. https://www.crisismagazine.com/2013/the-global-war-on-christians

7. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/221008/the-global-war-on-christians-by-john-l-allen-jr/

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The Law Of Manslaughter

Num 35:9 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

10 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

11 then you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, so that the one who commits manslaughter by killing a person unintentionally may flee there.

12 The cities shall serve you as a refuge from the avenger, so that the one who commits manslaughter does not die until he stands before the congregation for trial.

13 So the cities which you are to provide shall be six cities of refuge for you.

14 You shall provide three cities across the Jordan, and three cities in the land of Canaan; they are to be cities of refuge.

15 These six cities shall be a refuge for the sons of Israel, for the stranger, and for the foreign resident among them; so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.

16 ‘But if he struck him with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.

17 And if he struck him with a stone in the hand, by which he would die, and as a result he did die, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.

18 Or if he struck him with a wooden object in the hand, by which he would die, and as a result he did die, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.

19 The blood avenger himself shall put the murderer to death; he himself shall put him to death when he meets him.

20 Now if he pushed him in hatred, or he threw something at him with malicious intent, and as a result he died,

21 or if he struck him with his hand with hostility, and as a result he died, the one who struck him must be put to death; he is a murderer. The blood avenger shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.

22 ‘But if he pushed him suddenly, without hostility, or threw any object at him without malicious intent,

23 or had any deadly stone, and without looking he dropped it on him so that he died, while he was not his enemy nor was he seeking to harm him,

24 then the congregation shall judge between the one who fatally struck the victim and the blood avenger in accordance with these ordinances.

25 And the congregation shall save the one who committed manslaughter from the hand of the blood avenger, and the congregation shall return him to his city of refuge to which he fled; and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.

26 But if at any time he goes beyond the border of his city of refuge to which he flees

27 and the blood avenger finds him outside the border of his city of refuge, and the blood avenger kills him, he will not be guilty of bloodshed,

28 because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the one who committed manslaughter may return to the land of his property.

29 ‘These things shall be a statutory ordinance for you throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.

30 ‘If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

31 Moreover, you shall not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who is condemned to death, but he must be put to death.

32 And you shall not accept a ransom for one who has fled to his city of refuge, so that he may return to live in the land before the death of the priest.

33 So you shall not defile the land in which you live; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.

34 So you shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the Lord am dwelling in the midst of the sons of Israel.’”

The Throne of David And The Daughters Of Zelophehad

King David

Here's a puzzle from the Bible. It says that Jesus will sit on the throne of King David. It also says that King Jeconiah, who is descended from David, will never have a descendant on the throne. So how can Jesus, apparently a descendant of Jeconiah, sit on the throne of David? First let's look at what the text says.

The Lord said to David on his deathbed.

2Sa 7:16  And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee:
thy throne shall be established for ever.

It says the Messiah will sit on David's throne forever. 

Isa 9:7  Of the increase of his (Messiah) government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. 

And that Jeconiah's descendants will not sit on that throne, (he is mentioned by name in Jer 22:28).

Jer 22:30 Thus says the LORD, 'Write this man (Jeconiah) down childless, A man who will not prosper in his days; For no man of his descendants will prosper Sitting on the throne of David Or ruling again in Judah.'

Chuck Missler sums up the problem this way.

This curse created a rather grim and perplexing paradox: the Messiah had to come from the royal line, yet now there was a"blood curse" on that very line of descent! Koinonia House [1]

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If you like this (or not), check out my other articles at the
Between The Ears BLOG INDEX, with titles and summaries.

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The Beginning of the Solution

The genealogy of Jesus given by Matthew shows Mary's husband Joseph to be a descendant of David, Solomon, and Jeconiah. Does this imply that Joseph was in line to be king of Judah? IDK. If you compare this genealogy to 1 Chronicles 3:15–16, you will note that some kings are actually skipped, basically for wickedness - Genealogy of Jesus [2]. Note also that Jeconiah is also called Jechonias, Coniah, and Jehoiachin. Verses skipped for brevity.

Mat 1:6  And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 

Mat 1:11  And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

Mat 1:16  And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

But the genealogy given by Luke lists the ancestors of Mary. Notice that Nathan, not Solomon is listed. This neatly avoids the blood curse on Jeconiah. Again, verses skipped for clarity.

Luk 3:23  And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, 

Luk 3:31  Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,  

In the Greek, Joseph is named without a definite article, meaning the genealogy is Mary's - ChristianityStackExchange [3]. The phrase "as was supposed" occurs in nearly all English translations; it is taken from enomizeto, meaning "by law", showing Jesus as the legal heir of Joseph - BibleOne [4]. Joseph is considered more of a son than a son-in-law in this case.

So, it took a virgin birth to get around the blood curse of Jeconiah. But does it place Him on the throne of David?

Enter the Daughters of Zelophehad

Five Daughters of Zelophehad

There is an exception to the law of inheritance. If a man has only daughters, inheritance could pass to them as long as they married within the tribe. The daughters of Zelophehad got a judgment from Moses, and set a precedent.

Num_27:7  The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.

Num 36:6  This is the thing which the LORD doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry. 

The Bible doesn't record it, but apparently Heli (Mary's father) had no sons, so Mary could actually pass on Heli's inheritance to Jesus - [1]. Note that Heli (really Eli since he was a Jew) means "My God" - Abarim Publications [5]. The only other Eli in the Bible is the High Priest of ancient Israel, whose sons Hophni and Phineas were not righteous men and were rejected by God. Eli raised Samuel as his own son. Samuel became a prophet and judge of Israel, but could not be High Priest because he was not of the line of Aaron - ChristianityStackExchange [6]. The point is that Heli's inheritance passed to Jesus - does that include the right to the throne of David? Having male heirs to pass on one's name was extremely important in that culture, it figures prominently in the story of Boaz and Ruth - The Kinsman Redeemer [7].

Enter The Critics

This paints a nice workaround to the inheritance puzzle created by Jeconiah's curse, but is it necessary? The Zelophehad theory was first presented by C.I. Scofield, circa 1910 in the Oxford NIV Scofield Study Bible [8], promoted by Chuck Missler [1], where I first heard it. But first-century Christians believed that Jesus fulfilled the messianic promises of the Old Testament, which included David's throne, without ever mentioning Zelophehad. In fact, the New Testament writers never acknowledge that there was such a problem to overcome - Jeconiah's Whammy [9]. On the other hand, they knew the inheritance laws from experience and didn't need them explained.

Solomon's Throne

The promise to David cited above is unconditional, and looks like God promised an unbroken dynasty from David to the Messiah. It is difficult for me to see it otherwise. It says David's throne would be "established forever". Yet in terms of Solomon's dynasty, Jeconiah was the end of the road. Some scholars insist that kingship can only be passed on through the male line, but not to adopted sons. By that reasoning, Joseph was the royal line, but couldn't pass it to an adopted son - Wikipedia(Davidic Dynasty) [10]. If you accept the Zelophehad theory, the scepter of kingship passed to Jesus Christ  through Mary, but not in a way that satisfies everyone. The Zelophehad theory assumes Mary had no brothers, which seems like a detail that should not be omitted from the record if inheritance, indeed the monarchy, depends on it. Since Nathan was never a king, are his descendants eligible to ascend to the throne of David? And if Nathan's line were selected over Solomon's, did it pass to Heli? An alternate explanation is that the scepter still came through Joseph, but ancestry came through Mary. Going back to David on his deathbed, it appears that the perpetual dynasty is to come through Solomon.

2Sa 7:13  He (Solomon) shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 

 

Coronation Chair
Stone of Scone

Some explain the unbroken succession of Solomon's line survived because the prophet Jeremiah took the daughters of King Zedekiah (Jeconiah's uncle) of Solomon's line, and brought them to Ireland. They married royalty there, and according to this theory, are the ancestors of the British throne, that is the British throne is David's throne. Adherents to this say when Christ returns, He will take over and sit down on an existing throne of David, here on earth - Church of the Eternal God [11]. They neglect the large gaps where an heir of David was not on the throne of England - Hope Of Israel [12]. They say the meaning of Luke 1:32 is that an heir will be sitting on David's throne at Christ's return, but does it really say the throne will exist on earth at the time of the end? With an heir of David on it?

  

Luk 1:32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 

Also, the Bible also says that Israel will be without a king.

Hos 3:4  For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: 

Some scholars say that when  David received the promise that his house, his kingdom, and his throne would be established forever (2Sa 7:16), it did not mean an unbroken monarchy.

God did not promise an unbroken monarchy but an unbroken line of descendants from David who would be qualified to sit on that throne when it was reestablished. David’s line would not fail before the righteous Branch came to claim His throne (cf. Luke 1:31-33). The genealogies of Matthew and Luke show that this promise was fulfilled as Christ was able to trace both His legal line through Joseph and His physical line through Mary back to David (Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-31) - Bible Knowledge Commentary [13].

Meaning, qualified descendants, not necessarily kings. Which brings us back to the daughters of Zelophehad. In the end, the exact meaning of God's promise to David is unclear to me, and beyond my scholarship. When Christ returns, He comes as King of Kings, and will sit of the throne of David. When and where He was or will be given the throne of David is not clear to me. 

I started writing this thinking I had a nice small topic, a lesser known nugget of Bible truth to share, inspired by the teaching of Chuck Missler. But like many things Biblical, I didn't find consensus. But I didn't want to waste all that research, so I tried to cover the different points of view - I still find it interesting, even if I don't have certainty. Until Jesus does return and set the record straight, the best I can say is to do your own research, and draw your own conclusions. And please, share your thoughts with me.

References

1. https://www.khouse.org/articles/1998/73/

2. http://www.biblestudymanuals.net/genealogy_of_Jesus.htm

3. https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/56826/how-could-jesus-be-descended-from-the-royal-line-of-david-if-he-was-born-of-the

4. http://www.bibleone.net/genealogy.htm

5. https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Eli.html#.X8Mx_PlTnIU

6. https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/42394/did-samuel-act-as-a-priest-on-top-of-being-a-prophet

7. https://jlfreeman-1.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-kinsman-redeemer.html

8.  https://www.christianbook.com/niv-scofield-leather-basketweave-burgundy-indexed/9780195280081/pd/280083

9. https://www.equip.org/article/jeconiahs-whammy

10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davidic_dynasty_in_Bible_prophecy

11. https://www.eternalgod.org/q-a-5307/

12. https://hope-of-israel.org/i000057a.htm

13. https://books.google.com/books?id=cndNDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT175&lpg=PT175