put on hold

An unhinged comment submitted regarding the Talmud and Rabbinic tradition:

“The Talmud is a Satanic piece of filth that says Jesus is the son of a harlot, and that he is burning in hell in a pile of excrament. Take your rabbinic tradition back to hell where it came from.”

My Response:

The Talmud is a 22 volume set of hundreds of pages per book, documenting tradition going back as far as Ezra as well as discussion regarding the interpretation of scripture. Thanks to the Talmud we know various details about Jewish culture, practice and belief during the time of Jesus. Its focus is on the minutia of the Torah. Among the sea of content in the Talmud, is a few mentions made of Jesus. Yes, they disparage Jesus. In our Christian history, found in the writings of the church fathers, we were just as disparaging of the Jewish people. Martin Luther was a raging anti-Semite if you read his writings. It is understandable why they would want to disparage what we hold sacred, since church history is filled with violence and hatred against the Jewish people. All that aside, it is useful academically as a historical source to supplement our understanding of that time period.

“the only thing the Talmud is good for is if I run out of toilet paper.”

My Response:

Common sense would dictate that since the gospels are Jewish, taking place in a Jewish culture, about a Jewish messiah – who fulfilled the Jewish scriptures, who collected Jewish followers, it might be profitable to be familiar with the conditions and religious climate of the time. I suspect ant-Semitism when people are this curiously closed minded.

These are the various comments posted on a Youtube channel as a result of the founder deciding to devote 100% of the profits of his book to fighting anti-Semitism:

“antisemitism cured my depression”

“Can’t have anti-semitism without the historical phenomena of semitism.”

“They call themselves “Gods Chosen” and accuse everyone else of racism.”

“This guy is what they call crypto Jew”

My Response:

It’s sad that Anti-Semitism is so rampant in the Church today, that when a Christian dares to stand against it as a principle antithetical to the faith (racism in general as antithetical to the faith should be irrefutable) the overwhelming reaction by the Church, as I can observe, is to ridicule that Christian. I see that someone in the comments has accused you of being a crypto-Jew. To assume that any association with the term “Jew” is inherently disparaging also proves the point. There are many Jewish Christians today who proudly observe their traditions without the need to do so in the shadows, and gentile Christians should have no problem with that. Nor should Christians want Jews or Messianic Jews to feel the need to hide their heritage. Also, to assume that if someone is a Jew, they must be untrustworthy and hiding an agenda, again, is a hateful assumption.

What scripture says about Anti-Semitism:

Paul writes that the national rejection of the gospel should not justify a Christian disposition of arrogance against the Jewish people (Romans 11:18). Paul issues a dire warning against it, by stating that if God did not spare the “original branches” (The Jews) God will certainly “not spare you.” Instead, gentile believers should soberly reflect on the kindness and stern nature of God. The believing gentiles were fortunate to come to faith in Jesus, when even his own kin rejected him. This is a revelation of the kindness God chose to bestow to the gentile world. Paul reminds his gentile audience that what has happened to the Jews, could just as easily happen to them if they are not careful (Romans 11:20-21).

Prophecy

The Woman the Serpent

“ And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” – Genesis 3:15

The ultimate “seed” is the messiah, and it is messiah who will come to bruise the head of the serpent. If the seed of the woman represents Israel and finally the Messiah who would emerge from Judah, then according to scripture who are the offspring of the serpent?

The Messiah crushes Moab, Edom, Seir, Seth and the Amalekites:

The thread carrying the theme of enmity weaves its way into scripture once again in Numbers chapter 24. We arrive at the story involving King Balak of Moab and the prophet Balaam. The two are standing from a high vantage point, looking down at Israel settled in an encampment below them. Israel had just left Egypt, and they are making their way into the promised land. Balak, out of concern that Israel may want to venture into his land, decides to enlist the service of Balaam to pronounce a curse on Israel. Yet instead, Balaam is taken over by the Holy Spirit announces this word of prophecy:

“And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days… I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of the cities!” Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said, “Amalek was the first among the nations, but its end is utter destruction.” – Numbers 24:14,17-20

The star and the scepter has long since been interpreted by the Jewish people as representing the Messiah. Expanding on Genesis 3:15, the Messiah is again said to crush the head of the seed of satan. In Numbers 24, however, the seed is clearly identified. The messiah crushes the heads of Moab, Edom, Seir, the sons of Sheth and the Amalekites.

When in the four gospels did Jesus ever accomplish this? This is still yet future.

The moabites and Edomites lived to the east of the modern state of Israel, known today as Jordan. Likewise, mount Seir was located within the territory of Moab. The Amalekites were a people group that lived throughout the region of the east of Israel. Ancient Jewish interpretation asserts that the “Sons of Sheth” is a reference to the “sons of the east”. 

Moab shall be trampled by the Messiah

The phrase “God will wipe away every tear…” is most known for its inclusion in the book of Revelation. However, it was actually borrowed from Isaiah chapter 25:

He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.9 It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” 10

Yet the passage keeps going. In addition to removing death and wiping away tears, he will trample Moab down:

For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trampled down in his place, as straw is trampled down in a dunghill.[a]11 And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim, but the Lord will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill[b] of his hands.12 And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down, lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust. – Isaiah 25:8-11

When did Jesus ever trample Moab down? This is still yet future.

What has Moab done to warrant such wrath? A prophecy from Zephaniah provides an answer:

“I have heard the taunts of Moab and the revilings of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and made boasts against their territory. Therefore, as I live,” declares the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Moab shall become like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a land possessed by nettles and salt pits, and a waste forever. The remnant of my people shall plunder them, and the survivors of my nation shall possess them… You also, O Cushites [Sudan], shall be slain by my sword. And he will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria [Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, and Iraq], and he will make Nineveh a desolation, a dry waste like the desert.” (Zephaniah 2:8–9, 12–13)

Moab is made a target God’s wrath as a result of how he treated the Jewish people. Again, we must stress, that this is still yet future. It hasn’t happened yet, but will be fulfilled during the second coming. If this is so, the conclusion that God still cares for Israel (even in the New Covenant era) is inescapable.

The Day of Vengeance

The day that God destroys Edom, is the “day of vengeance”:

For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; behold, it descends for judgment upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction. The LORD has a sword; it is sated with blood; it is gorged with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom … Their land shall drink its fill of blood, and their soil shall be gorged with fat. For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion. And the streams of Edom shall be turned into pitch, and her soil into sulfur; her land shall become burning pitch. (Isaiah 34:5–9)

Again it would be pertinent to ask, why Edom is the target of God’s wrath. What wrong have they committed for God to desire vengeance?

Will I not on that day, declares the Lord, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of Mount Esau? 9 And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman, so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter. Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. – Obadiah 1:8-9

“Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them.” – Ezekiel 25:12

In a vision, Isaiah catches a glimpse of a man approaching from afar. The man is coming from Edom, with his garments stained crimson red. Isaiah is curious as to why the man appears as if he had been stomping grapes in a winepress. The man responds that he trod them (the Edomites) in his anger:

Who is this who comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, he who is splendid in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.” Why is your apparel red, and your garments like his who treads in the winepress? “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and stained all my apparel. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come.” (Isaiah 63:1–4)

The book of Revelation reveals that this man is Jesus:

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Rev 11–16)

The Nations are gathered

At the battle of Armageddon, the nations will gather together for a slaughter. An angel cries out to the birds:

And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small.”19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. – Rev 19:17-19

The nations are gathered because they dared to attack his people and take his land:

For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it. – Joel 3:1-3

In light of this scripture how can so many Christians carry on with “Replacement Theology”? How can they turn a hard heart towards the people that God calls his “heritage”, isn’t it crystal clear that God only has wrath to those who wish to hurt the apple of his eye, or to those who treat them reproach? Even in their rebellion God loves the Jewish people. When the Jewish people are mistreated, or when the seed of the serpent dares to divide his land, scripture reveals that God takes personal offense. Yet, he holds back his seething anger for the right time; he waits for the “day of his vengeance”.