Bashan Ministries Preparing the way

Welcome!
I realize that a great amount of material on these matters prepared by learned scholars exists and you may well wonder why yet another discourse on this topic. When asked why I prepared these studies, I answered that it was laid upon my heart to do so. When conducting a ministry tour of the United States in the year 2000, I discovered something that I had suspected for most of my life, but could never get answers that truly satisfied me. I have Jewish descendants. I was raised in a loving Christian family environment and have many fond memories. My parents were Anglicans and I doubt if they really knew much about their Jewish descent as our forefathers migrated to Australia in the convict era as free settlers. Dad was a prominent leader in the local parish and diocese, functioning both as rector’s (the priest) warden and people’s warden. Some of our friends were priests. One man lived in our home temporarily until taking up residence in the rectory and marrying, before moving to become a Bishop. I was the Priest’s protégé and did all the things that tradition told me, but something was always lacking.
Whenever I looked at the series of pictures called the Stations of the Cross on the wall of the church, I often wept. When I watched the movie starring Charlton Heston as Moses in the film The Ten Commandments, I wept openly during many scenes, especially the one in which God wrote the Ten Commandments. There are many other accounts I could share, but I want you to know that God placed something in my heart, before I was even conceived.

In that tour of the United States, I received confirmation of my ancestry. It matters not how this happened, but you may perhaps understand why I am what I am when it comes to the things of God. Jews are my brothers. Muslims are my brothers. Christians are my brothers. I wish that we would all get on with each other, but that is another story.
Our Jewish Heritage is perhaps a story of my personal discovery and I wish to talk about the Feasts of Israel as much as I can in the space I have with revelation knowledge in mind. I hope to present God’s wonderful plan of salvation the revelation of the cross of Christ and Jesus Himself to you in our studies.
Robert

Introduction

Revelation

There is a vast wealth of information on these matters, ranging from the Jewish perspective, through a wide gamut of denomination, traditional, orthodox Christian viewpoints. From a purely religious perspective, many places where Jesus may have walked have become shrines. Church edifices have been erected on sites where certain things were supposed to have occurred attracting the attention of pilgrims of many persuasions. I am not commenting on the respective merits or otherwise on these things.

Jesus is no longer on a cross and the tomb is empty. Time may have eroded bricks and stones, but the truth of what God did though Jesus to restore us to Himself is always and forever fresh, yet it was all part of the plan of the ages that God had in His heart, before the planet was created. Jesus was, according to Revelation 13:8, the sacrificial lamb, who shed His blood as a one-and-for-all-time offering for sin.
We are prone to forget these matters in the hype and tradition of the day, when tourism and souvenirs are foremost in the minds of religious people. I have my souvenirs too, but the may gather dust on my mantle, but the sheer enormity of what God did for me is forever burning in my heart.
Jesus is revealed in scripture. I like to consider it as if He is both revealed and hidden in the pages of the book, from the table of contents to the book of maps. It is said about Him that He came to fulfil the will of God. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Hebrews 10:7; Psalm 40:7.
The bible is full of illustrations like types and shadows, parables and allegories and the most astounding revelation of the plan of salvation is to be found in Jewry. The Tabernacle—the Temple and its worship—the feasts of Israel all contain hidden imagery of our Saviour and His Cross.
It is impossible for me to depict all things on this web site. The material is too complex and God continually sheds more light on the matter. John said something interesting. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. John 21:25. Please never look for things that are not real, but always be prepared t accept the fact that there is much more to it than meets the eye.
In the pages of this topic, I hope to share a few of the things that I have seen as an exercise designed to bless you and enhance your relationship with the Lord

A Plan From The Beginning

God had a plan from the beginning when He planted a garden in the area now known as modern day Iraq.
Somewhere in this region, He created man. I guess we could say that He wanted a family. Unfortunately this man Adam sinned and he was expelled from the garden. Man’s fallen nature continues to rebel against God a but God’s plan has always been the same and Noah came after the flood. Not long afterwards, God called a man by the name of Abram.
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. Genesis 12:1-5.
God called him to come out of and away from the idolatry found in a place called Ur, of the Chaldees (the area of present day Iraq).
There were no Jews. Neither were there any Gentiles, Arabs, Palestinians, Hamas, Muslims or Christians. There was no West Bank, Occupied Territories or similar sources of contention. They just didn’t exist as we understand things today, so this is another reason why I am amazed at the strife that prevails! From the outset, God clearly revealed His plans.
They always included clearly defined territory. Israel has never stolen or occupied any land at all. If something is yours...it is yours!
Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I'm going to give this land to your descendants.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. Genesis 12:7.
Please take special note that God said He would bless anyone who would bless Abraham (and his descendants) and that anyone who touched (or cursed) Abraham (and his descendants) would invoke the judgement of God upon them.
In the modern day vernacular… anyone who treats Israel fairly will be blessed and anyone to harms Israel had better watch out! Whoever touches them, touches the apple of His eye!
God said a third time that He was going to bless Abraham and his descendants with what we now call Israel.
After Lot left, the LORD said to Abram, “Look north, south, east, and west of where you are. I will give all the land you see to you and to your descendants for an indefinite period of time. I will also give you as many descendants as the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust of the earth, then he could also count your descendants. Go! Walk back and forth across the entire land because I will give it to you.” So Abram moved his tents and went to live by the oak trees belonging to Mamre at Hebron. There he built an altar for the LORD. Genesis 13:14-18.
Later on God repeated this promise. He is serious about it!
Later the LORD spoke his word to Abram in a vision. He said, “Abram, don't be afraid. I am your shield. Your reward will be very great.” Abram asked, “Almighty LORD, what will you give me? Since I'm going to die without children, Eliezer of Damascus will inherit my household. You have given me no children, so this member of my household will be my heir.” Suddenly, the LORD spoke his word to Abram again. He said, “This man will not be your heir. Your own son will be your heir.” He took Abram outside and said, “Now look up at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He also said to him, “That's how many descendants you will have!” Then Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD regarded that faith to be his approval of Abram. Then the LORD said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land so that you will take possession of it.” Genesis 15:1-7.
It could not be clearer than that. God promised a son to Abram and Sarah… not Abram and another woman.
When the fulfillment of the promise seemed to be taking too long, Abram and Hagar… not Abram and Sarah had a son who was named Ishmael. See Genesis chapters 16 and 21.
The lesson here is that the works of the flesh produce troubles. Ishmael did not come by faith, but as a product of the flesh and he has been trouble since. His descendants were basically nomadic, not usually associated with any geographic area, but settled primarily in northern Arabia ranging from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates. Tradition links them with Arab peoples. They were regarded in Psalm 83:6 as hostile neighbors of Israel, with the Edomites, Moabites, Hagarites, and Amalekites, competing for land and grazing rights, but such striving was not unknown even among tribes within Israel. Ishmaelites held high office in David’s army, including Amasa who served as commander-in-chief (2 Samuel 17:25) and another Ishmaelite named Obil was the superintendent of David’s camels (1 Chronicles 27:30).
The Qur˒an describes Mohammed as an Arab prophet who was a descendant of the Ishmaelites through someone known as ˓Adan.
Mohammed’s intention was to return Arabs to the undefiled religion of their forefather Abraham. Despite the misunderstanding and the reported hostility today between Muslims and Christians, there is a common link, that is... our father Abraham.
Christians believe that we are descendants and as such, heirs according to the promise... through the promised seed of Abraham... Messiah.
Musilms and Jews alike relate much to Father Abraham. I do not wish to offend anyone, but it amazes me that there can be such hatred and, quite frankly staggers imagination. My personal opinion is that this hatred is satanic in origin, but things can change....

The Middle East Situation

It would be remiss of me not to comment on the Middle East situation, mindful of the fact that this is a sensitive area in more ways than one. God loves everyone and does not want a single person to perish. The Lord isn't slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn't want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act. 2 Peter 3:9.
Nationality, colour of skin, the language spoken, whether you are rich or poor makes no difference. It matters not whether you are a Roman Catholic or a Protestant, a Jew or a Muslim, a Buddhist or a Hindu... every single one of us will one day stand before almighty God, who is looking to see if you are covered with blood... the blood of Christ or not... if your name is in the Lamb's Book of Life. If not, there is absolutely no covenant relationship with Almighty God and Heaven is not your destiny. See Matthew 7:21-23; 1 John 5:10-13; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12; 20:15; 21:27; 22:19
Bible prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes, but the truth has been clouded by many issues. It really is not a matter of sovereignty or possession of land, but a concerted effort by the devil and his cohorts to exterminate a people in covenant relationship with God. They can't win of course.
Without doubt, Israel is the land God promised to Abraham and his descendants, but much world opinion denies their right not just to live in their own home land which never was sovereign soil of Palestine, but their right to live!

Modern Israel is only 62 years old and has only 1/1000th (one, one thousandth of the world's population). It has almost no natural resources and is surrounded by her enemies. Despite this...

Israel has won more Nobel Prices per capita than any other country.
Israel is the only country in human history which has revived a dead language – Hebrew
Israel leads has the most scientists, physicians, lawyers and engineers per capita worldwide
Israel is ranked third in the world for her scientific research institutions and second in space science
Almost all Israeli homes use solar energy for hot water, the highest percentage in the world.
Israel is set to be the first country to have a network for electric cars.
Israel has the world’s largest desalination plant and is at the forefront of this clean water technology.
Israel is credited with inventing the drip irrigation system which has allowed third world countries to maintain their crops,
Israel is at the forefront of medical science and technology where most of Intel’s chips have been designed and are built. Outside of silicon valley Israel has more technology startups than anywhere in the world and has the most companies outside of the U.S. listed on the NASAQ stock exchange.

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