In a few days time it will be 2020 years ago that the Messiah was born

Lord Krishna displays his Vishvarupa (Universal Form) to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In a few days time it will be 2020 years ago that the Messiah was born.

Since the appearance of the Messiah 2 millennia ago for man's attitude not so much has been changed. Still man wants to go his own way, without God. Still many people think they can be their own god and/or play for god, playing with nature.

Since the death of the master teacher lost of new teachings found light.There have been given some changes to scriptural meanings, and additional doctrines have been taught by man.
Throughout the ages several people looked at the book of books, the Bible, and found that they could bring some more money in their publishing company by editing this best seller.
The early, and later translators of the Bible into English and other languages, took license with their work, and did some editing on their own. In many languages we can see that publishers where not afraid to take away the name of God.James Gerke reminds us that they changed the Sanctified and made Holy, the Hebrew names of the Creator to God. It is a Germanic, Indo European name, meaning “Invoked one" This form is also used in ancient Hindu Sanskrit.

 “Much invoked, to call forth by incantations” (Magic spells).

Readers Digest word finder, Pg. 351 (1975) The majority of demonic deities are referred to, as God. Moon God, Sun God, Fish God, etc.
 
When looking at the Older Hebrew Scriptures the Divine Creator God clearly told mankind they should have no other God than He Who is. The Creator Deity of everything also let the people know his Name and tells them that it should be a set-apart or Holy Name. His Holy Name is mentioned over 3 thousand times and the Old Testament also gives so many more titles of this Divine Superior Being.

Bible translators sought ways to bring God's Name but also not going into the establishment or ruling class, which made that at certain times they found it not appropriate to print the real name of god and substituted it with a title or names as Elohim Yehowah and Yahweh were changed to the 'name' God, which is a non descriptive name, that has no title or meaning consistent with the Bible.

The Jewish National name for our Creator is Yehovah (Jehovah in modern spelling), it is listed in the Bible over 7000 times. The translators changed it to Lord, which is also the title of several Hindu deities such as Lord Krishna, Lord Vishnu and others like Lord Budda.

It can well be that the adversaries of God or 'Satan' put it into the minds of the translators, to insert generic names "God" or "Lord" so that both the wrong gods and our Creator would be known by them or be taken to be one and the same, like many today take Jesus as their god and confuse him with the God, giving him equal status by name.

It is blasphemy, irreverent, and disgusting to use these pagan names for our Creator.

Psalms 113:1-4 The Scriptures 1998+  (1)  Praise Yah! Praise, O servants of יהוה {Jehovah}, Praise the Name of יהוה {Jehovah}!  (2)  Blessed be the Name of יהוה {Jehovah}, Now and forever!  (3)  From the rising of the sun to its going down, The Name of יהוה {Jehovah} is praised.  (4)  יהוה {Jehovah} is high above all nations, His esteem above the heavens.

The man who was born 2020 years ago knew very well this Most High divine Creator God and wanted only to do His Will. Jesus was able to put his own will aside to do the Will of God and demands also from his followers to come to do that what God wants from mankind.

Jesus also taught a prayer wherein we express our aim to look at that set-apart Name and to declare

"Holy is They Name"

Blessed be the Name of the Most High, from this time forward and for evermore. From the rising of the sun to going down, we should praise the Name of The One Who declared that Jesus was His only begotten beloved son. It was that son of the Only One True God, who showed how we should come closer to the One  God Who makes the rules and should know that preachers, or anyone else, don't make the rules.

Having this year a special year, in the way that it is 2020 years ago that the son of man who came to declare God and to show mankind the way to God, we should take this master teacher his lessons at heart and remind all those around us who Jesus really is and how we should accept him as the Way to God, and not make him to be our god, but to come closer to the God of Jesus, the God of Abraham. and God of gods.



The man born in Bethlehem 2020 years ago was to be that long awaited Messiah, the Christ Himself who set his face to Jerusalem, and resolved to go the full length of God’s will. He gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey.

He was, and forever will be the Unflappable Champion. And we have been called to follow in his steps.

Coming closer to the day of his return there is more talk these days of vision. But vision is much more than a good idea that stirs the soul to temporary endeavours. Vision is the ability to see it, the faith to believe it, the courage to do it, and the hope to endure until it happens.
Take any of these components away and vision fails. Each is vital, and indispensable.

Those who call themselves Christian should follow the teachings and vision of Christ who has a way of summoning our hearts to rise to the calling God has placed on our lives. Our vision, our look onto Christ, also supplies us with the grace to pace ourselves to go the full distance, regardless of the difficulties that await us. Courage is the mental and moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear or difficulty.

The journey we have undertaken as followers of Christ demands all the courage we possess. It requires of us a steely, unwavering resolve to meet whatever seeks to delay us, defeat us, detour us, or deny us  –  to meet such things with a faith that says, “Nevertheless!” Courage is one of the distinguishing marks of true faith.

Man's fall, whatever else it may have been, resulted in a complete change of the centre of his being. Being made in the likeness of God, Who is absolutely selfless, man thought more about his own self. God's will and purpose was the one rule of man's existence until the moment came when our first parents substituted the gratification of self for the will and law of God. From that hour the self-life became the dominant principle of mankind, and the world is what it is because the essence of life is the service of self.

In this world full of envy, jealousy, strife, and murder, we should follow the example of Christ Jesus, the son of God, who was willing to give his life for us. Though he warned us that the gate to the Kingdom of God may be small and that we should be prepared for his return which might come like a thief in the night.

In this life we come to learn that a straw may throw us, and a pebble can wound us, mere children tremblingly taking our first steps in the walk of faith, our heavenly Father holding us by the arms, Jesus making us able to keep us from falling.

With a deep sense of our utter weakness, we may cherish a firm belief in our perfect safety, and say, with joyful confidence,

“Against me earth and hell combine, But on my side is power divine; Jesus is all, and he is mine!”

This simple proclamation of living by faith is so profound that it is repeated in three strategic epistles in the New Testament.
The first mention is in Romans in connection with the gospel of grace.

 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."

Paul was not embarrassed by the good news of the grace of God that was available in Jesus Christ. He knew that it was God's powerful truth that would save the soul of anyone (Jew or Gentile) who would believe in Christ.
That message of grace offered God's righteousness to all who would believe.

 "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith."

The same righteousness that the law demanded, the gospel of grace provided.

"But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe" (Romans_3:21-22).

The righteousness that people need (both for a standing in heaven and for a walk on earth) comes by grace through faith. Yes, initially and continually,

 "The just shall live by faith."

Having faith in Jesus Christ, the son of God, we should others get to know this sent one from God, who is our saviour and the best one to hope for.

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Please do find to read:

1. Looking for a primary cause and a goal that can not offer philosophers existing beliefs
2. The true light in recorded words
3. 2020 years since
4. The Right One to follow and to worship
5. A season for truth and peace
6. Looking for a spiritual new life
7. Going deep into cultures to reach lost people
8. Authority given to him To give eternal life
9. 2020 jaar geleden werd de weg geopend
10. Na 2020 jaar 

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Elohim, Mar-Yah laat Zijn wonderwerken zien

Er kunnen veel mensen zijn die niet geïnteresseerd zijn in God of die niet in God geloven.
Hoewel allen geschapen zijn naar het evenbeeld van God, hebben ook allen een bepaald gevoel voor de Goddelijke Schepper in hen. Ook als we om ons heen kijken kunnen we vele wonderen van de natuur zien, krijgen wij speciale tekens in ons leven en in het leven van anderen te zien.

De God der goden onderwijst de mensen van alle naties. Hij geeft ze tekenen en heeft Zijn Woord gegeven aan alle mensen, zodat ze Zijn stem kunnen horen. De Elohim, Mar-Yah wil dat Zijn volk Zijn geboden onderhouden. God liet de wereld zien wat Hij kan doen en gaf de mensen vele dingen waarmee ze het werk konden zien van de handen van de Allerhoogste Die hen ook inzettingen en rechten leerde. Voor onze wijsheid en ons begrip heeft God Zijn Woord gegeven en tekenen en wonderen geproduceerd. Al zijn Meesterwerken werden gemaakt in de ogen van de volkeren, die al deze inzettingen zullen horen. (Deuteronomium 4: 6)

Het is God Die Zijn Stem laat horen aan hen die bereid zijn om Hem te willen horen. Als men zich wil openstellen voor God is Hij bereid om leven te geven.

We zouden de stem van woorden moeten horen en de tekenen en wonderen in deze wereld zien. Mar-Yah onze God horen wij te zoeken, en als we onze ogen en hart open stellen voor Hem zullen we Hem vinden, als we Hem met heel ons hart en ziel zoeken. God zal degenen die met een oprecht hart op zoek zijn naar Hem niet teleurstellen, noch hen vernietigen, noch het verbond van hun vaderen, dat Hij met hen gezworen heeft, vergeten . (Deuteronomium 4: 29,31)

“32 Vraag slechts naar de vorige dagen, die voor u geweest zijn, van den dag af, dat God den mensch op de aarde schiep, en van het eene einde des hemels tot het andere; of ooit zulke dingen zijn geschied, en of ooit vernomen is, 33 dat een volk eene stem Gods hoort, sprekende uit het vuur, en levend bleef, zooals gij? 34 Of dat ooit een God het heeft ondernomen, neder te dalen, om door plagen, teekenen en wonderen, en door strijd, met sterke hand en uitgestrekten arm en door groote verschrikkingen, uit het midden der volkeren, een volk tot zich te nemen, zooals de HEER uw God in Egypte met u heeft gedaan? 35 Aan u is dat getoond, opdat gij weten zoudt, dat de HEERE GOD is, en niemand buiten hem. 36 Van uit den hemel deed hij u zijne stem hooren, om u te onderwijzen; en op aarde liet hij u zijn groot vuur zien, waaruit gij zijn woord vernaamt.” (Deuteronomium 4:32-36 Obbink)

 “opdat gij erkennen zoudt, dat de HEER uw God GOD is; de getrouwe God, die het verbond en de barmhartigheid houdt, tot in duizend geslachten, aan degenen, die hem liefhebben en zijne geboden onderhouden;” (Deuteronomium 7:9 Obbink)

  “noch in dtoote daden en geweldige werken, als door Mozes gedaan zijn voor de oogen van gansch Israël.” (Deuteronomium 34:12 Obbink)

 “Daarom zal ik mijne hand uitstrekken en Egypte slaan met al mijne wonderdaden, die ik in hun midden zal doen: dan zal hij u laten trekken.” (Exodus 3:20 Obbink)

 “Maar ik zal Farao’s hart verharden, en ik ik zal mijne teekenen en wonderen in Egypte talrijk maken.” (Exodus 7:3 Obbink)

 “Wanneer Farao tot u zal zeggen: doe voor mij een wonderteeken! dan zult gij tot Aaron zeggen: neem uw staf en werp hem neder voor Farao’s aangezicht; en hij zal worden tot eene slang.” (Exodus 7:9 Obbink)

 “19 De HEER zeide verder tot Mozes: Beveel Aaron dat hij zijne hand uitstrekke over de wateren van Egypte, over zijne stroomen en kanalen en vijvers en al hun waterbakken, opdat zij tot bloed worden. Overal in Egypte zal bloed zijn tot in de houten en steenen vaten toe. 20 En Mozes en Aaron deden gelijk de HEER geboden had; en hij hief den staf op en sloeg het water van den Nijl, voor de oogen van Farao en zijne hovelingen. En al het water van den Nijl werd veranderd in bloed, 21 en de visch der rivier stierf, en de Nijl werd vuil, zoodat de Egyptenaren het water niet konden drinken en er was bloed in gansch Egypteland.” (Exodus 7:19-21 Obbink)

 “2 Beveel nu het volk, dat iedere man en iedere vrouw van hun naaste zilveren en gouden sieraden vragen. 3 En de HEER gaf het volk genade in de oogen der Egyptenaren; en ook voor Mozes hadden Farao’s hovelingen en het volk zeer veel ontzag. 4  En Mozes zeide: Zoo spreekt de HEER: omtrent middernacht zal ik uitgaan door Egypte;” (Exodus 11:2-4 Obbink)

 “En de HEER zeide tot Mozes: Hoelang zal dit volk mij verwerpen, en mij niet vertrouwen, ondanks al de teekenen, die ik in hun midden heb gedaan?” (Numeri 14:11 Obbink)

 “Ik stond te dier tijde tusschen den HEER en u, om u des HEEREN woord te kennen te geven, omdat gij vreesdet voor het vuur, en den berg niet kondet bestijgen. Toen zeide hij:” (Deuteronomium 5:5 Obbink)

 “10 En gij hebt teekenen en wonderen gedaan aan Farao en aan al zijn dienaren en aan al het volk van zijn land, want gij wist dat zij hooghartig tegen hen handelden; zoo hebt gij u een naam gemaakt, gelijk het heden is. 11 En gij hebt de zee voor hen gekliefd, zoodat zij op een drogen weg gingen midden door de zee; en hun vervolgers hebt gij in de diepte geworpen, als een steen in geweldige wateren.” (Nehemia 9:10-11 Obbink)

 “hebt gij hen in uw groote barmhartigheid nochtans in de woestijn niet verlaten; de wolkkolom die hen des daags leidde, en de vuurkolom die hun des nachts lichtte, week niet van hen op den weg dien zij gingen.” (Nehemia 9:19 Obbink)

 “de zuilen des hemels wankelden, zij sidderden voor zijn dreigende stem,” (Job 26:11 Obbink)

 “3 De stem des HEEREN dreunt over de wateren, de God der eere dondert, de HEER dondert over wijde wateren…. 4 machtig is de stem des HEEREN, geweldig is de stem des HEEREN!” (Psalmen 29:3-4 Obbink)

 “Ten aanschouwen hunner vaderen deed hij wonderen, in het land van Egypte, in de velden van Soan:” (Psalmen 78:12 Obbink)

 “dat hij in Egypte zijne teekenen verrichtte, zijn wonderen in de velden van Soan:” (Psalmen 78:43 Obbink)

 “48 hij gaf hun vee over aan de pest, hunne kudden aan den koortsgloed; 49 hij liet zijn brandenden toorn tegen hen los—verbolgenheid, gramschap en benauwdheid, eene schare van verderfengelen; 50 hij liet zijn toorn vrijen loop, beschermde hen niet tegen den dood maar gaf hen over aan de pest; 51 hij sloeg alle eerstgeborenen in Egypte, de eerstelingen hunner kracht in de tenten van Cham. 52 Zijn volk liet hij optrekken als schapen, leidde hen in de woestijn als een kudde; 53 hij voerde hen veilig, zoodat zij niets te vreezen hadden, daar de zee hunne vijanden bedekte;” (Psalmen 78:48-53 Obbink)

 “hij deed onder hen zijne teekenen, zijne wonderdaden in het land van Cham.” (Psalmen 105:27 Obbink)

 “wonderen in het land van Cham, geduchte daden bij de Schelfzee.” (Psalmen 106:22 Obbink)

 “6 Tenzelfden dage zwoer ik hun, dat ik hen uit Egypteland zou uitvoeren naar een land dat ik hun gegeven had, overvloeiende van melk en honig, een sieraad onder alle landen. 7 En ik zeide tot hen: Een iegelijk werpe de gruwelen waaraan hij hangt, weg; verontreinigt u niet met de afgoden van Egypte: ik ben de HEER uw God. 8 Maar zij waren weerspannig tegen mij en wilden niet naar mij hooren; de gruwelen waaraan zij hingen, wierpen zij niet weg, de afgoden van Egypte lieten zij niet los. Toen wilde ik mijne gramschap over hen uitgieten en mijn toorn aan hen laten uitwoeden in het midden van Egypteland. 9 Maar ik handelde om mijns naams wil, opdat deze niet ontwijd werd in de oogen der volkeren, in wier midden zij woonden, ten wier aanschouwen ik mij had bekend gemaakt, door hen uit Egypteland uit te voeren.” (Ezechiël 20:6-9 Obbink)

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Vervolg: God die Zijn stem laat horen en Zijn wonderwerken laat zien

Engelse versie / English version: Elohim, Mar-Yah showing His wonders + See God's wonderworks and hear His Voice

The chosen ones to fear or not to fear

Jas 2:5 The Scriptures 1998+  (5)  Listen, my beloved brothers: Has Elohim not chosen the poor of this world, rich in belief and heirs of the reign which He promised to those who love Him?

Isa 29:19 The Scriptures 1998+  (19)  And the meek ones shall increase their joy in יהוה {Jehovah} and the poor among men rejoice in the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl.

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The apostles did not have it easy, having the Judaic people looking cautious at them and some hating those followers of Christ. 

Peter found also that all things were continuing as they were from the beginning of creation, by which he meant 'not well'. Man had taken opposition to God and as adversaries they made their voices stronger by the years.

At the time of the apostles most people also deliberately ignored the records of God's actions in the past, discounting them as fiction. They laughed at those who wanted to believe the scrolls which were read at the synagogues. And about Jesus we can imagine how they laughed at this king who never got his kingdom, though he said he could destroy the temple and raise it up again in three days.

James let those who wondered question if God had not chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith? But who then would be able to become a partaker of that kingdom of which that man who died told so lively?

Psalm 46 tells us we have a very present help in trouble and therefore we shall not have to fear, though the earth do change.

Psa 46:1-2 The Scriptures 1998+  (1)  Elohim is our refuge and strength, A help in distress, soon found.  (2)  Therefore we do not fear, Though the earth reels And mountains topple into the heart of the seas.

Those who live according the words of Jeshua, Jesus Christ the son of God, who clarified many Words of God, must be feeling God coming near to them.

Nations may rage, the kingdoms being moved, but those who are willing to hear the voice of God shall see that Yahweh-tzvaot is with them and that the God of Jacob shall be their refuge. 

Even when Jehovah God would have made desolations in the earth, full of  wars to cease unto the end of the earth; it is Him Who breaks the bow, and cuts the weapons in sunder so that all people may come to know Him Who is the Only One God, Father of Christ Jesus.

Hear what God says:

Psa 46:10 The Scriptures 1998+  (10)  Be still, and know that I am Elohim; I am exalted among nations, I am exalted in the earth!

Put your strength out of Him and His offering, His son, and proclaim the Good News of His Kingdom, looking forward to the return of Christ, when after the Big Battle with the most terrible pains shall come peace and tranquillity.

Mat 5:3-11 The Scriptures 1998+  (3)  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the reign of the heavens.  (4)  “Blessed are those who mourn, because they shall be comforted.  (5)  “Blessed are the meek, because they shall inherit the earth.1 Footnote: 1Ps. 37:9, 11, 22, 29, 34.  (6)  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,1 because they shall be filled. Footnote: 1Isa. 55:1-2, Mt. 4:4, John 6:48-51.  (7)  “Blessed are the compassionate, because they shall obtain compassion.  (8)  “Blessed are the clean in heart,1 because they shall see Elohim. Footnote: 1Ps. 24:3-4.  (9)  “Blessed are the peacemakers, because they shall be called sons of Elohim.  (10)  “Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness’1 sake, because theirs is the reign of the heavens. Footnote: 11Pet. 3:14.  (11)  “Blessed are you when they reproach and persecute you, and falsely say every wicked word against you, for My sake.

Psa 1:1-2 The Scriptures 1998+  (1)  Blessed is the man who shall not walk in the counsel of the wrong, And shall not stand in the path of sinners, And shall not sit in the seat of scoffers,  (2)  But his delight is in the Torah of יהוה {Jehovah}, And he meditates in His Torah day and night.

Mat 25:34 The Scriptures 1998+  (34)  “Then the Sovereign shall say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the reign prepared for you from the foundation of the world 

Jos 1:8 The Scriptures 1998+  (8)  “Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you guard to do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and act wisely.
Jos 1:7 The Scriptures 1998+  (7)  “Only be strong and very courageous, to guard to do according to all the Torah which Mosheh My servant commanded you. Do not turn from it right or left, so that you act wisely wherever you go.

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Additional reading:

"Our Refuge And Strength" Thoughts from today's Bible Readings - Jan 26th

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Malaysia requires sole use of God's title for Muslims

In June Malaysia authorities ruled that non-Muslims cannot refer to God as 'Allah'.

Allah in Arabic (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Muslim-majority country, many Malays believe that the national conscience must be firmly rooted in Islam, therefore they are happy that Putrajaya’s persistence in refusing non-Muslim Malaysians the right to use the word “Allah” so that their faith can be honoured by having the only right to use that title.

The Malaysian people and government forget that God belongs to the whole world. I would have thought the court ruling will soon be made unfinished, but it did not. Holding strong to this court ruling it is not only tantamount to the systematic destruction of the language and culture of the Bumiputera community in Sabah and Sarawak,but also does damage to all other languages where they use "Allah" as title for the the Divine Creator.

Archbishop Datuk Bolly Lapok said the word “Allah” has been part and parcel of the community’s language for generations and has become “embedded” in every aspect of their culture, including for the Bumiputera Christians, who make up the majority of Malaysia’s Christian population.

The government’s prohibition and the Federal Court’s denial for the Catholic Church to appeal for the right to publish the “Allah” in its weekly newspaper, had made the Bumiputera Christians feel they had been wronged, said the Sarawakian senior clergyman.

“We feel there has been a miscarriage of justice. It is insidious. It is tantamount to an act of language and culture genocide,” said Bolly, who also chairs the Association of Churches in Sarawak.

Malaysia’s Bumiputera Christians are accustomed to praying in their native tongues and the national language, Bahasa Malaysia. Their bibles, scriptures and hymns too have been translated into their respective indigenous languages, many of which contain the controversial “Allah” word as reference to God.
In its landmark ruling on June 23, a seven-judge panel at the top court had in a majority decision dismissed the Catholic Church’s bid to overturn the Court of Appeal’s decision last year, which held that the word of Arabic origin was not “integral” to the religious practice of Malaysia’s Christians.
The Federal Court has however noted that the “integral” comment in the Court of Appeal was non-binding on other cases as it was just a remark made in passing.

The Catholic Church recently applied for a review of the Federal Court’s June decision while a Sabah evangelical church, Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB), succeeded in clearing the first hurdle for its “Allah” challenge to be retried at the High Court, providing a glimmer of hope for Malaysia’s native Christians.

Those people should know that all people who speak Arabic or do have words in their language which came from Arabic, will have "Allah" for the title of "God", be it atheists, Hindus, Jews, Christians or Muslims. It is not a word which Muslims can claim only for themselves. In case such a thing happens all sorts of groups could claim singular words in any language claim for their own use, and forbidding others to use it in their own daily language.

Syed Putra Jamalull writes:

This whole problem can be traced to the home ministry directive way back in 1986 prohibiting non muslims from using certain arabic terms that snowballed malay intolerance. Who was the home minister then? It could either be Musa Hitam or Dr M. Just like books and ideas, words should never be prohibited from being used as its the foundation.

Mark Beaumont, senior lecturer in Islam and mission at the London School of Theology, says that while there is controversy regarding the way that God and Allah are referred in Malaysia, in other parts of the world it's considered far less of a contentious issue.

"In the Arab speaking world there's no difficulty in calling God 'Allah' – they've been doing it in the Christian church and in the Bible for hundreds of years,"

he explains. Which is logical, because it is a word like any other word in the Arabic language and is in that language also used to indicate other gods that the Most High Divine Creator of heaven and earth form the Abrahamic faiths. In the early days of Egypt Pharao was also called Allah.

Muslims also should be aware that in many countries is spoken about "Allah" in respect, presenting the Divine Supreme Being, Whose Name was also given to His People, the Israelites and should come to be known all over the world as Jehovah.

In several churches not always is used the Name, but more often the title of the Elohim, as such

"In the Coptic Church in Egypt, the church in Syria, Jordan, Iraq and even Iran, it's always been the practice to call God 'Allah' using the Arabic form. Although the Arabic Bible wasn't translated fully before Islam came, it's obvious that people were reading the Gospels using 'Allah' before the rise of Islam.

Whatever people want to believe about creation and all that, accepting or not believing in a Divine Creator, they should know that in the ancient history of the Middle East, 'Allah' was the equivalent of 'Elohim', the Hebrew word for the Most High God.

While it may be mostly Malaysian Muslims who are offended by the Christian use of the word 'Allah', many Christian believers the last decennials also have been reluctant to use the Name of God (Jehovah) as well as His title "Allah". With the growing of non-trinitarian Christians and with the growing of the Islamic faith more Christians find the use of "Allah" to be controversial.

in Arabic language. The book was written by the end of 16th century (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lots of Christians and Muslims do think they have a different God. This makes that people wonder if it  is really possible to reconcile the name 'Allah' with the God of the Bible?

"Anything is possible! You just have to think about the person who is saying 'I believe in Allah,'"

Beaumont insists.

"When I lived in Morocco, there was a Christian man who was being interrogated by the police. He had grown up as a Muslim but came to know Christ and became a Christian. He was told to confess his faith, and he said:

 'There is no God but God, and Jesus Christ is my saviour and Lord'. He confessed it in Arabic, using the word 'Allah', and so he was quite happy to use the Muslim testimony of faith as a Christian because of course we also believe there is no God but God! He was able to affirm the basic statement of faith for Muslims – There is no God but Allah – but wasn't able to affirm Mohammed as God's prophet, which is the second part of it.

Normally Jews, Christians and Muslims should have one and the same God, but I do agree with Jews and Muslims, in case certain Christians take Jesus to be the God of gods, than I as a Christian would also dare to question those trinitarian Christians if they have the same God as me.
An other difficulty by Muslims is that they do get more and more a distorted image of Christians and cannot come to see that a person can really embrace a genuine faith in Christ Jesus, accepting this rabbi and prophet as their Messiah, but still believing in the Only One True God.

Beaumont also says:

"It's usually not that big a difficulty using the word 'Allah' and filling it with a Christian meaning. There are of course people in the West who worry about that – it makes some Christian missionaries feel uncomfortable, and I can understand that – but it's not my personal position."

Beaumont contends that it is not only just possible to use Islamic terminology while offering a Christian meaning, but it is, in fact, a vital part of helping Muslims to understand the message of Christ.

"I favour beginning where Muslims are, with what they understand, and trying to draw them into another way of thinking," he explains.

According to him

"The word 'God' came when the Bible was translated into Anglo-Saxon, and comes from a pagan name for a deity – it's a northern European understanding.

and as such in our regions it is also used regularly for indicating higher or in the picture standing figures, like fashion queens, film-stars, sports-favourites, etc.

So when Christians have strict view on using the word 'Allah' but are very happy to use the King James translation of the Bible, or even more recent, I smile to myself,"

Beaumont says.

"Language can take a word and change it – you can fill an old word with a new meaning, and that's what's going on here. Some people feel uncomfortable with that – they say 'you can't fill an old wineskin with new wine' but nobody says you can't use the Anglo-Saxon word for God.

"There's also a parallel with William Carey, who translated the Bible into Bengali and used the word 'Ishvara' – 'Ishvara created the heavens and the earth' – and that's the word Christians in India still use today.

"Ishvara is the God Hindus believe created the earth, and so Carey thought it would be best word for the Biblical creator – it's interesting to see how different translations use local deities to help explain the Bible, rather than 'Elohim'."

Read more about it:

1. For Bumiputera Christians, ‘Allah’ ban akin to cultural ‘genocide’, says archbishop
2. Continues Syrian conflict needing not only dialogue
3. Islamic State forcing the West to provide means for Kurdistan
4. Migrants to the West #5
5. Migrants to the West #10 Religious freedom
6. An Ex-Muslim’s Open Letter
7. Muslims should also Fear God
8. Patriarch Abraham, Muslims, Christians and the son of God
9. Prophets making excuses
10. Jesus begotten Son of God #12 Son of God
11. Pluralis Majestatis in the Holy Scriptures
12. Quran versus older Holy Writings of Divine Creator
13. Being Religious and Spiritual 1 Immateriality and Spiritual experience
14. Are Christians prepared to Rejoice in the Lord
15. Sharing a common security and a common set of values
16. Not true or True Catholicism and True Islam
17. Why is it that Christians don’t understand Muslims and Muslims do not understand Christians?
18. Al-Fatiha [The Opening/De Opening] Süra 1:1-3 In the name of Allah the Merciful Lord Of The Creation
19. The Immeasurable Grace bestowed on humanity

In Dutch:

1. Sharia een kwaad voor Islam
2. Rellen en Oude Geschriften
3. Koran tegenover veel oudere Heilige Geschriften
4. Onze God ook deze van de moslims

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Related articles

• For bumiputera Christians, 'Allah' ban akin to cultural 'genocide', says archbishop (yahoonewsdigest-intl.tumblr.com)
  

  It is in our language and culture DNA. We feel that the judgment was made without taking into due consideration of what the word means to us.
  Archbishop Datuk Bolly Lapok

• Dr. Reza Azlan's Argument on the 'Kalimah Allah' (aimanamani.wordpress.com)
  Dr. Aslan mocked the Court of Appeals for unanimously ruling against allowing the Catholic Church to use the word “Allah” as the Malay translation for the Christian god in its weekly publication the Herald for which Justice Datuk Seri Mohamed Apandi Ali said:
  

  “It is our common finding that the usage of the name ‘Allah’ is not an integral part of the faith and practice of Christianity. From such finding, we find no reason why the respondent is so adamant to use the name ‘Allah’ in their weekly publication. Such usage, if allowed, will inevitably cause confusion within the community.”

  The Malaysian Insider reported that Dr. Aslan said,
  

  “We Are Laughing At You”.
  “Allah is constuction of the the word al-Ilah. That’s what the word is,” he explained. “Al-Ilah means ‘The God’. Allah is not the name of God.”

• Arabic Bibles has been falsified to please Muslim converts (ivarfjeld.com)
  Most of the Christian media have been silent in regards to new “Muslim-friendly Bibles”. But one American media has sounded the alarm about the corrupt modern “bible translations”.
  This is what has been reported:
  It includes the controversial development is the removal of any references to God as “Father,” to Jesus as the “Son” or “the Son of God.” One example of such a change can be seen in an Arabic version of the Gospel of Matthew produced and promoted by Frontiers and SIL. It changes Matthew 28:19 from this:
  “baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”
  to this:
  
  “cleanse them by water in the name of Allah, his Messiah and his Holy Spirit.”
  A large number of such Muslim-sensitive translations already are published and well-circulated in several Muslim-majority nations such as Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia.
  According to Joshua Lingel of i2 Ministries,
  “Even more dramatic a change is the Arabic and Bangla (Bangladesh) translations. In Arabic, Bible translations err by translating ‘Father’ as ‘Lord.’ ‘Guardian.’ ‘Most High’ and ‘God.” In Bangla, ‘Son of God’ is mistranslated ‘Messiah of God’ consistent with the Quran’s Isa al-Masih (Jesus the Messiah), which references the merely human Jesus.”
  
• For Bumiputera Christians, 'Allah' ban akin to cultural 'genocide', says archbishop (sg.news.yahoo.com)
  Bolly had cited the “Allah” prohibition as an example of the challenges that Charles Kumar Samuel — who was yesterday installed as the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia’s new assistant bishop — would face as the country experiences growing “irrational racial and religious polarisation”.
  The archbishop added that the churches would be “irresponsible” if they were to stay silent in the face of injustice to the Bumiputera Christians, most of who hail from Sarawak and Sabah but also include the Orang Asli in the peninsula.
  “They can’t understand why certain people take offence and go ballistic when all they do is simply live and pray the way they have been [doing] for generations,” Bolly said, and vowed to “use the word till kingdom come”.
  Despite the Federal Court ruling, the “Allah” dispute is far from over as Malaysia’s churches step up to defend their constitutional rights.
  
• Five Questions With a Former Muslim Who Converted to Christianity (theaquilareport.com)
  Nabeel Qureshi was raised in a Pakistani-American family and grew up a devout Muslim. While he was in medical school, he read the Bible for research in his debate against a Christian friend, and this began a journey that eventually led to his becoming a Christian. He shared his conversion story in his book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, and he also works with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries telling his story and providing encouragement to those who seek to share their faith with a changing world.
  
  In light of the fact that the Muslim world is front and center in the international press right now, we thought it would be particularly helpful to talk with Qureshi. He began by sharing his insights into some common misconceptions about Muslims.
  +
  Misconception #1: “Muslims are violent people.” Of the thousands of Muslims I grew up with and knew as a child, not a single one promoted violence. Without commenting on whether historical Islam teaches violence, I can unequivocally say the vast majority of Muslims in the West are truly peaceful people.
  Misconception #2: “Muslims are all the same.” From Sufis to Salafis, Arabs to Bosnians, nominals to zealots, that could not be further from the truth.
  Misconception #3: “Muslims are godless.” Devout Muslims live their lives in constant remembrance of Allah, trying to follow their creator in prayers, fasts, scripture memorization, sacrificial alms, adherence to tradition, and Sabbath congregations.
  
  
  
• Secularism and a more honest Islam (limkitsiang.com)
  Secularism and liberalism are not unfamiliar terms in this country, although how Malaysians understand them is a different matter altogether.
  In the halcyon post-Merdeka days, our founding fathers would proudly proclaim such ideals to be their philosophical bedrock, so much so that the word liberal actually appears in the preamble to the Rukunegara (national principles). To be secular and liberal was to be constitutional and inclusive.
  Things have changed much since then. Today, the very same terms are used deleteriously as a mark of shame, such that it has become the proverbial scarlet letter of the Malay-Muslim society. To be secular and liberal is to be ungodly and aberrant.
  +
  Far from threatening Islam, a secular state based on democratic ideals would actually emancipate the religion from the vested interests of the state. This would in fact further the cause of Islamic thought and discourse.
  +
  it is suggested that secularism and liberalism are philosophical ideals that would strengthen and embolden Islam. A truly Islamic society is one that is free in thought and conscience, where Islam is practised honestly and where rituals are performed out of firm belief and not out of fear or pressure.
  
• Malaysia: Muslims confiscate Bibles, police threaten arrests if non-Muslims use word "allah" (creepingsharia.wordpress.com)
  

  I write to alert you to the latest development in Malaysia whereby the religious authorities of Selangor (a state closest to the capital) raided the Bible Society and confiscated 300 bibles in Malay and Iban (an indigenous language). Allah is used in Malay and other Malaysian indigenous languages – it has been used for over 100 years, even before Malaysia was formed as a country. This might be due to Arab influence on the local languages when traders came to the Malayan peninsula in the 1300s.
  In this country, Allah has been used to refer to God, whereas Tuhan, which the ruling party wants Catholics/Christians to use, is a generic term which is non specific, hence the refusal by the Malay/indigenous language speaking Catholics and Christians to budge.

  
  +
  Today’s raid comes after the editor of Catholic weekly, Herald, Rev Father Lawrence Andrew said that Catholic churches in Selangor would continue to use the word “Allah” in their weekend services in Bahasa Malaysia, which are primarily attended by Sabah and Sarawak folk.
  +
  
  Police will take action over the “Allah” word  issue in Selangor if its Islamic Religious Department (Jais) requests police to intervene in enforcing the ruling on the issue.
  Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) said this was because Islamic religious matters were under the jurisdiction of the state government,  and police respected its jurisdiction over the issue.
  “All quarters should stop playing up this sensitive issue… those involved should adhere to the decree by the Sultan of Selangor (Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah) and the court order for (non-Muslims) not to use the ‘kalimah Allah’ (in their scriptures),” he told reporters today.
• Islamic Authorities Seize Bibles Because Christians Use the Word 'Allah' (frstephensmuts.wordpress.com)
  Islamic authorities in Malaysia on Thursday seized 321 Bibles from a Christian group because they used the word Allah to refer to God, signaling growing intolerance that may inflame ethnic and religious tension in the Southeast Asian country.
  The raid comes after a Malaysian court in October ruled that the Arabic word was exclusive to Muslims, most of whom are ethnic Malays, the largest ethnic group in the country alongside sizeable Christian, Hindu and Buddhist minorities.
  
• Will you people stop irritating Muslims? Gaaaah! (iowntheworld.com)
  
  Why irritate Muslims by using allah? Why irritate Muslims by not converting? Why irritate Muslims by breathing?
  +
  Against a backdrop of Selangor religious authorities preparing to clamp down on non-Muslims’ use of “Allah”, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today questioned Christian motives for “annoying others” with their insistence on using the Arabic word to refer to God.The country’s longest-serving prime minister said the Arabic term for God was only a common usage among Christians in Sabah and Sarawak.
  “All this while, we have never quarrelled about this because they (Christians in the peninsula) never use the word, so why irritate other people, it won’t hurt them not to use the word Allah.
  “They have never used it before. Those who use it are in Sabah and Sarawak, there is no objection. But here in the peninsula, why do we want to find a cause to quarrel,” he told reporters at the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) New Year open house today.
  
• GE13: Political Religion in Malaysian Politics (dinmerican.wordpress.com)
  
  Between 2004 and 2008, Malaysia witnessed, for the first time, the rise of politicised Hindusim in the form of the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) movement. Its appeal was specifically to the Hindus of the country rather than to Malaysians of Indian or South Asian origin. Then, in the general election of 2008, it was evident that some Christian leaders were also involved in mobilising their fellow Christians, and that trend seems to have continued and even sharpened today.
  These developments indicate that Muslims are not the only ones who are now politically active in Malaysia, but other religious communities too. There is every reason to believe that religion in general, and Islam in particular, will be a key variable that impacts the voting process.
  +
  Malaysia’s complex electorate seems to be guided by theological, as well as ideological, concerns.

Ember and light the ransomed of Jehovah

We have come in those days when many cry out to Allah, God against their oppressors, and He shall send them a Saviour to defend and to get them out of the slavery of this world. In Scriptures it is indicated that there shall come a time when religion shall set up against religion and children against their parents. Everywhere in the world we can see severe discussions going on between youngsters and their elders. Young people also protest against the situations around them and are faced with different religious groups which pull them from one site to the other. Men and women have absolutely no regard, or fear, for the Word of God any-more.

In certain Christian faithgroups today they call Ember Saturday in Advent. It is a day of Fast and Partial Abstinence as they prepare for one week from today the coming of the Lord. Today they find themselves at a Major Feria, not Privileged Station at St. Peter‘s.

In most of the Christian faithgroups they soon remember the birth of Christ Jesus (born 17 October 4 bCE) on the birthday of the goddess of light. They seem to find it appropriate to celebrate Jesus his birthday on that pagan day because they consider Jesus as the light of the world. And he was and must be our light. He should be the one who pulls us from the dark and lightens our path making clear all the signs which direct to the One and Only One God, God of gods, the Father of Jesus Christ, Jeshua, the son of Mary (Miriam/Maria) and Joseph,  from the tribe of king David.

Heavy-laden under the yoke of sin humanity went astray, and many lost the Magnetic North. In Jesus god has given the world the most accurate magnet.

The days are filled with pictures from Syria and the desert in Jordan with in the camps thousands of people fighting to have something to eat and hoping to find something to warm themselves. They do not like the water in the Unicef camps and are thirsty in the desert crying out to let the wilderness rejoice, and flower as the lily. They also should learn as a lot of people in the West that  the desert places of the Jordan shall blossom and rejoice; the glory of Lebanon has been given to it, and the honour of Carmel; and God's people shall see the glory of the Almighty God.

Let the wilderness and the dry place be glad for them, and let the desert rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It blossoms much and rejoices, even with joy and singing. The esteem of Lebshall be given to it, the excellence of Karmel and Sharon. They shall see the esteem of יהוה {Jehovah}, the excellency of our Elohim. (Isaiah 35:1-2 The Scriptures 1998+)

The time has come that those who have faith and believe in the creator of all things, have to say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you."

Jesus was placed on this world by his Father, Jehovah God, on a miraculous way, and to bring what you call a miracle as well, namely the offering of a peace which shall endure for ever.

The Jew from Nazareth, born in Bethlehem, was to open the eyes of the blind shall and to unstop the ears of the deaf. As prophesied he did many miracles in the name of his Father.The lame man came to leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute to sing for joy. And he gave hope to all who were willing to listen. He was the man who was prepared to give his blood and his body as a Lamb of God to bring the most acceptable offer to God so that no other offering would be necessary.

In the night he was born a great falling star also showed the way to shepherds and magi, wise man who crossed the waters in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; to see that the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, and that where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Holy Most High shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Say to those with anxious heart, “Be strong, do not fear! See, your Elohim comes with vengeance, with the recompense of Elohim. He is coming to save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf be opened. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing, because waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water – in the home for jackals, where each lay, grass with reeds and rushes. And there shall be a highway, and a way, and it shall be called “The Way of Set-apartness {1}.” The unclean does not pass over it, but it is for those who walk the way, and no fools wander on it. {Footnote: 1See Ps. 77:13.} No lion is there, nor any ravenous beast go up on it, it is not found there. But the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of יהוה  {Jehovah} shall return and enter Tsiyon with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:4-10 The Scriptures 1998+)

We may live in a time of crisis where disappointments abound but with the birth of Jeshua, Jesus Christ, we have received a Saviour, the Messiah.For us he must be the most magnificent present, the brightest light-spot in these dark times. Out of all the noise of ongoing shooting these days we should hear a loud voice in heaven saying that time has come for the deliverance and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ.

And I heard a loud voice saying in the heaven, “Now have come the deliverance and the power and the reign of our Elohim,{1} and the authority of His Messiah, for the accuser of our brothers, who accused them before our Elohim day and night, has been thrown down. {Footnote: 1See 11:15. }
(Revelation 12:10 The Scriptures 1998+)

The most important day we all should remember is the day God liberated His People from slavery and let the exodus begin to come to the Holy Land, plus the day that Jesus remembered that and installed the New Covenant and afterwards was killed to accomplish the promise of his Father. For the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before God day and night, is now cast down by that simple man, who was a magnificent teacher.
With him light came into the world to darken the greyness of the death and to bring it into oblivion. And they have conquered the accuser by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they did not spare themselves even unto death.

“And they overcame him because of the Blood of the Lamb, and because of the Word of their witness, and they did not love their lives to the death. “Because of this rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has little time.”
(Revelation 12:11-12 The Scriptures 1998+)

We are aware that the earth which shall not be destroyed did not end to exist on the 21st of December 2012, like some thought it would. Had they had read the Bible they should have known better.
The world has to see first the enragement and those who want to make war with the remnant of the seed of the woman, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus. A third world war is inevitable. Inescapable shall be the last and greatest tribulation the world has to face. When the time has come to that point people should have found their place, either on the site of God or on the site of the world.

These dark and short days, make time to think about the light and the real most precious present you can receive and have for a life in eternity.

The nation of Israel gave birth to the Immanuel, the God with us by the Messiah, who gave his life for all mankind. Jesus, the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world, won the victory over sin and death.

+

Following on: A season of gifts

Note:

Did you know that Dec 25th is the 2600 year old birthday of the Greek sungod "Sus" (as in Ie-Sus, meaning "hail Sus?" The Greek mythological father-god and mother-goddess of Sus was Janis (January) and Easter! They would cut down evergreen trees in worship to him on his birthday! El YAH commands us "have no foreign elohim (gods) before your face" (first Covenant Commandment, Ex 20).
 

Please do read:

1. Jesus begotten Son of God #1 Christmas and Christians
2. Jesus begotten Son of God #2 Christmas and pagan rites
3. Jesus begotten Son of God #3 Messiah or Anointed one
4. Jesus begotten Son of God #14 Beloved Preminent Son and Mediator originating in Mary
5. Religious Practices around the world
6. Not bounded by labels but liberated in Christ
7. Zeus een heerser van hemel en aarde + Heil tot de gezondene van God of Zeus
   
   
    

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Find also:

1. The Song of The Lamb #1 Visions, symbols and suggested meanings
2. The Song of The Lamb #2 Sevens
3. The Song of The Lamb #3 Daniel and Revelation
4. The Song of The Lamb #4 Methods of Interpretation
5. The Song of The Lamb #5 Revelation 5
6. The Song of The Lamb #6 Revelation 14
7. An unblemished and spotless lamb foreknown
8. 144 000 following the Lamb
9. Kingdom Visions of a Man, Throne and Great crowd
10. Kingdom Visions of Rainbowed angel, Lamb in Mount Zion
11. Kingdom Visions of God’s judgements and Marriage of the Lamb
12. Seals, a flying scroll, a statue and blessings

 Of interest:

1. The Importance Of Scripture
2. The importance of Reading the Scriptures
3. Liberal and evangelical Christians
4. The great ideal of this age
5. A promise given in the Garden of Eden
6. Clean Flesh #2 Purity of Jesus
7. Jesus spitting image of his father
8. Jesus begotten Son of God #10 Coming down spirit or flesh seed of Eve
9. Christ having glory
10. Jesus begotten Son of God #20 Before and After
11. How The Seed Of The Woman Was Bruised On The Heel How Christ Fulfilled The Promise.

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Other faithgroups websites:

Do You Want To Know Your Future?
Do you ever think about your future, both near and far? Do you ever ask yourself, what this life is about and why am I here. Does your life hear have any real, genuine meaning? Why does this world seem like each generation gets worst and worst. Why are there more and more and earthquakes and natural disasters each year? What is this world coming to or should I say what is coming to this world? These are all very valid and significant questions to ask, especially when you have tragedies like children being massacred in schools and on the streets of our inner cities every year. If you’ve asked these questions, maybe I have your answers. It’s All been written out for us in the Book of Truth. This book is made of a total of 66 books

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• Carissimi: Today's Mass: Ember Saturday in Advent
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• Christ, the Same Today and Forever!
• Light and Life to All He Brings...
• Advent Iii: Rejoice! God Is With Us
• Day 18 Celebrating Immanuel
• What's the meaning of "Oh Lord Jesus"?
• Ember Days: What They Are And Where They Went
• Christmas a Season of Peace
• "To bear witness of the light."