The Big Picture (of Scripture)
People sometimes wonder why life is such a struggle. “What is the meaning of life? If there is a Creator, why is life so hard? Why is there war, famine, and death? And why would the Creator grant some people favor, but not others?” These are all great questions.
The Bible shows us that the purpose of life is to give us an opportunity to prove ourselves before our Creator, Yahweh (sometimes called “Jehovah”). Yahweh knew who the prophet Jeremiah was before he was even in his mother’s womb. And not only that, but Yahweh also knew that Jeremiah would be a prophet to the nations, for He had ordained him as such.
Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 1:4-5
4 Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying:
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
Yahweh also has a plan for each and every one of us. While we may not always know what His plan for us is (or at least not very far in advance), Yahweh knows. Yahweh sits outside of time, and from His eternal vantage point He knows each and every choice we will ever make, long before we make it.
Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 46:9-10
9 Remember the former things of old, for I am Elohim, and there is no other; I am Elohim, and there is none like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and all My pleasure I will do….’
We explain this concept in more detail in the study, About Predestination. However, what matters here is that just as Yahweh had a plan for Jeremiah, He also has a plan for each and every one of us; and typically it does not involve serving ourselves, but serving Him.
Think about it: if a man starts a company, doesn’t he expect to get something out of it? And as loving and good and benevolent and kind as our Creator is, why would He go to all of the trouble of making a universe and putting man in it, if He did not want something out of it as well?
But what would the Creator of the universe want? We will have to give the details in another location, but many scholars theorize that the Creator first made an immortal being named Lucifer, who was to serve as His spiritual companion. However, rather than be a faithful companion, Lucifer rose up and led a rebellion against Yahweh, trying to take over in heaven.
Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 14:12-15
12 "How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
'I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of Elohim;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.'
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol (i.e., “Hell”), to the lowest depths of the Pit.”
Lucifer’s symbol is the dragon, and many scholars believe Lucifer led a third of the messengers (angels) to rebel against Yahweh. These fallen messengers are called “demons”, and they are likely what the “stars” in this symbolic passage represent.
Hitgalut (Revelation) 12:3-5
3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.
4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
Perhaps the reason Yahweh bothers with us is that He still wants a bride. However, rather than risk another rebellion by conferring immortality on anyone who has not yet proven his loyalty, He created the earth as a place where we can prove our loyalty to Him. He brings us into adversity and trials in proportion to our spiritual strength. These trials are all carefully measured and controlled), in that Yahweh’s purpose is not to cause us to fail, or overwhelm us, but to help us learn how to overcome trials with His help. This builds “character.”
While Salvation is by His favor (grace), and not by works, at the end of earth’s history Yahweh will judge all that we did for Him. Those who have pleased Him, He will grant eternal life.
Hitgalut (Revelation) 20:11-12
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before Elohim, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
It is important to realize that it is not possible to please the Spirit by overcoming trials on our own, for no matter how well we might overcome any given, what He really wants is for us to submit to Him, and to remain in constant communication with Him. We were offered this kind of constant spiritual communion in the Garden of Eden, but because Adam and Havvah (often called “Eve”) did not yet have enough spiritual discipline, they were not worthy, and had to be removed from the Garden of Eden.
For many years after man’s removal from the Garden of Eden the Spirit was only given to a specially chosen few, who were usually called “prophets.” Then the Messiah Yeshua (often called “Jesus Christ”) came to restore communication with the Spirit. When we accept His sacrifice for our sins (and for our straying from submission to Yahweh), then we can ask for His Spirit to come back and dwell inside of us.
Mattityahu (Matthew) 7:7-12
7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Torah (the Law of Moses) and the Prophets!”
When we accept Yeshua as our personal Savior and King, and His Spirit dwells within us, and we follow it, then we are back in communion with the Spirit. It is important that we let it lead us in all things. Scripture speaks of this with many metaphors. “Seek His face”, “Hear His voice”, “Keep our eyes on Him”, and “Abide in the Vine” are all metaphors mean essentially the same thing: that we need to be in constant communion with Him, letting His Spirit lead us in everything we do.
Yochanan (John) 15:4-8
4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
“Abiding in Him” means we are always listening for His will for us, whether He communicates that through signs, wonders, or “a little birdie” in our ear. This kind of listening is essential, for unless we are listening for His voice (in order to obey it), then how can there be any real communion with the Spirit?
The reason life is difficult is just so that Yahweh can know who is truly committed to serving Him (and who is not). If serving Him was easy, then almost everyone would do it; but then how would He know who is really committed to serving Him, even when the going gets tough? When we are devoted to serving Yahweh even in the face of hardships and great trials, then He can see the proof of our love, which He promises to reward.
Kepha Aleph (1st Peter) 4:12-13
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Messiah’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
Another reason to dedicate ourselves to serving Him even in the face of trials and hardship is that it is good for us. Scripture likens our trials to the purification of silver and gold. To refine gold and silver one puts it under such great heat that it literally melts. The slag and the impurities then rise to the surface, where they are scraped off. This speaks to how we sometimes break down emotionally under the stresses and strains of life. This “breaking down” reveals our character flaws to us, so that we can then vow to do better, and strive to improve. This makes us more pleasing to Him.
Kepha Aleph (1st Peter) 1:6-9
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ),
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls.
It is a common misunderstanding that life is supposed to get easier once we come into relationship with Him. The truth is that life gets infinitely harder. The flesh and the Spirit lead us in completely opposite directions, and we have to learn to overcome our carnal nature, and develop a spiritual one, even as we live in a material world. This challenge to grow spiritually affects us all.
Ivrim (Hebrews) 12:3-11
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
"My son, do not despise the chastening of Yahweh, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom Yahweh loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives."
7 If you endure chastening, Elohim deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His set apartness (holiness).
11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
No one is exempt from the requirement to undergo these kinds of trials. Even Yeshua had to undergo this kind of testing, so He could overcome the temptations of the flesh.
Mattityahu (Matthew) 4:8-11
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."
10 Then Yeshua said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship Yahweh your Elohim, and Him only you shall serve.'"
11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Anyone with a fleshly body will be constantly tempted by the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the innate human desire to feel proud of oneself.
Yochanan Aleph (1st John) 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world.
17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of Elohim abides forever.
But why should men feel pride? Scripture tells us that we were formed from the dust.
B’reisheet (Genesis) 2:7
7 And Yahweh Elohim formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Why should a bag of dust feel proud? Yet as long as we live in these bodies of flesh, the temptation to feel proud is always there. Yet Yahweh is faithful. He provides us with many opportunities to be humbled, not because He likes to see us suffer but because He knows it is good for us to feel humble before Him.
One of the many blessings of serving Yahweh is that His purpose is not to see us fail, but to help us grow. He is like a loving Father to all those who submit to His rule. Sometimes He gives us trials that are so great, we are not sure we can bear them. However, in those times when the trial seems too great for us, if we will but cry out unto Him, He will provide a means of escape so we can rest up, and face the trial again later (hopefully with success the next time).
Qorintim Aleph (1st Corinthians) 10:12-13
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but Elohim (God) is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
The basic concept is that we are here to learn and grow, and develop our character with His help. We are here to prove that we are worthy to be taken as His bride, in that we love Him enough to serve Him even when the going gets tough. And yet, there is also more to the story. In the pages of Scripture there also unfolds a great divine drama more exciting than any novel, or any movie that ever came to the silver screen from Hollywood. This drama is made all the more exciting because you and I are a part of it. Once you learn how to read Scripture for the living book that it is, then you can see where you and I are to be found, in the “script.”
In the pages that follow we will talk about many hidden mysteries of Bible prophecy, and how they are being revealed in today’s time (and why). We will also talk about the original first century “Jewish-Christian” faith, and why it differs both from Judaism and Christianity. We will try to make our points from Scripture (rather than from man’s opinions), but we will also bring in some historical references from the writings of both Christianity and Judaism, so you can see how man’s words often contradict the Creator’s.
This is the fourth edition of Nazarene Israel. We have been presenting on this topic for more than a decade, and while we are very confident that what we have written here is true, we ask that you do not accept what we have written here as the truth, simply because we wrote it. Rather, we want you will pick up your own Bible, and check these things out for yourself. Test everything, and see for yourself if the things we have written here are so.
Thessaloniqim (1st Thessalonians) 5:21
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
As we already saw (above), Scripture tells us that we will all stand before the great white throne of judgment someday, and that we will have to answer for all that we did (and did not do). If Yahweh likes what He sees, then He will take us in marriage.
The Bible is a historical record, but it is also a living book. Each of us has a part to play in a grand historical drama that is preparing to come to a climax. Yahweh will be greatly pleased by those who choose to do what they can, to bring about the things He foretold many thousands of years ago. Events of “biblical proportion” are about to take place in our day. Wouldn’t it be nice to understand the reasons our Creator is bringing these things about, so that we can know how to please Him?