St Thomas witnessing risen Christ

Resurrection on the third day as prophesied (photo credit : John Zehwyn, France)

Jesus responded and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “This temple has been built up over forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” Yet he was speaking about the Temple of his body. Therefore, when he had resurrected from the dead, his disciples were reminded that he had said this, and they believed in the Scriptures and in the word that Jesus had spoken.(John 2:19-22)

EASTER GREETINGS TO ALL!!

Key to unlock God’s Prophecy in history

The explanation given in Daniel 8:18-24 truly fits into 1 Maccabees 1:1-10. The time period of Daniel extends from BC 603 to BC 522. A crucial period where Babylonian Captivity started, fall of Babylonian empire to Persians who supported and ordered reconstruction of God’s temple at Jerusalem. God made Daniel in key positions in both Babylonian and Persian empires.

There are many prophecies in the book of Daniel.

• Dream of Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 2,
• four beasts and son of man in chapter 7,
• Ram and he-goat in chapter 8,
• Egypt and Syria in chapter 11

Purpose of the prophecy:

After the heart breaking offering, that Abraham was ready to make, God promised Abraham “And in your offspring, all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you obeyed my voice.” (Genesis 22:18)

Clarity was lacking regarding the time period for accomplishment of this promise, Hope was almost lost when the sons of Jacob became slaves in Egypt. But, the rise of Moses, with divine intervention changed history. It was just the first step towards the preparation for the final revelation as told in Deuteronomy 18:18, 19

• “I will raise up a prophet for them, from the midst of their brothers, similar to you. And I will place my words in his mouth, and he will speak to them all the things that I will instruct him. But against anyone who is not willing to listen to his words, which he will speak in my name, I will stand forth as the avenger.”

Years later, when Israelites started enjoying their life in the Promised Land under the king ship of David final accomplishment has not yet come as revealed through prophet Nathan, 2 Samuel 7:12-17

• I will raise up your offspring after you, who will go forth from your loins, and I will make firm his kingdom. He himself shall build a house to my name. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom, even forever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.…….And your house shall be faithful and your kingdom shall be before your face, for eternity, and your throne shall be secure continuously.”

Certainty regarding time was lacking, leading to confusion that Solomon has accomplished this prophecy. But, the destruction of the temple, gives utter hopelessness and despair, in spite of prophecies from Amos to Jeremiah.

Now God gives fixed outline towards the time of accomplishment of this prophecy, through Daniel.

Daniel 8:1-12(550 B.C),

In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king, a vision appeared to me. After that which I had seen in the beginning, I, Daniel, saw in my vision, that I was in the capital city of Susa, which is in the region of Elam, yet I saw in the vision that I was over the gate of Ulai.

• And I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, a single ram stood before the marsh, having two high horns, and one was higher than the other and growing higher still. After this, I saw the ram brandishing his horns against the West, and against the North, and against the Meridian, and all the beasts could not withstand him, nor be freed from his hand, and he did according to his own will, and he became great. And I understood, and behold,
• a he-goat among she-goats came from the West above the face of the entire earth, and he did not touch the ground. Furthermore, the he-goat had a preeminent horn between his eyes. And he went all the way to the ram that had the horns, which I had seen standing before the gate, and he ran towards him in the force of his strength. And when he approached near to the ram, he was enraged against him, and he struck the ram, and broke his two horns, and the ram could not withstand him, and when he had cast him down on the ground, he trampled him, and no one was able to free the ram from his hand. But the he-goat among she-goats became exceedingly great, and when he had prospered, the great horn was shattered, and
• four horns were rising up beneath it by means of the four winds of heaven. But from one of them came forth one little horn, and it became great against the Meridian, and against the East, and against the strength. And it was magnified even towards the strength of heaven, and it threw down those of the strength and of the stars, and it trampled them. And it was magnified, even to the leader of the strength, and it took away from him the continual sacrifice, and cast down the place of his sanctuary. And the advantage was given to him against the continual sacrifice, because of the sins, and truth will be struck

EXPLANATION:

Daniel 8:18-27(550 B.C),

I fell on my face, trembling, and he said to me, “Understand, son of man, for in the time of the end the vision will be fulfilled.” And when he spoke to me, I fell forward onto the ground, and so he touched me and stood me upright. And he said to me, “I will reveal to you what the future things are in the earlier tribulation, for the time has its end.

• The ram, which you saw to have horns, is the king of the Medes and Persians. Furthermore,
• the he-goat among she-goats is the king of the Greeks, and the great horn, which was between his eyes, is the same one, the first king. And since, having been shattered,
• there grew four in its place, four kings will rise up from his people, but not in his strength. And after their reign, when iniquities will be increased,
• there will arise a king of shameless face and understanding negotiations. And his advantage will be strengthened, but not by his kind of force, and other than what he will be able to trust, everything will be eradicated, and he will prosper, and he will act.
• And he will execute the successful and the people of the saints, according to his will, and treachery will be guided by his hand. And his heart will be inflated, and by the abundance of everything he will kill many, and he will rise up against the Lord of lords, and he will be knocked down without a hand.

1 Maccabees 1:1-10(332 B.C – 195B.C)

And it happened afterwards that

• Alexander, the son of Philip the Macedonian, who first reigned in Greece having come from the land of Kittim, struck
• Darius the king of the Persians and the Medes. He appointed many battles, and he took hold of all the fortifications, and he executed the kings of the earth. And he passed through even to the ends of the earth. And he received the spoils of many nations. And the earth was silenced in his sight. And he gathered together power, and an exceedingly strong army. And he was exalted, and his heart was lifted up. And he captured the regions of nations and of sovereign leaders, and they became tributaries to him. And after these things, he fell down on his bed, and he knew that he would die. And he called his servants, nobles who were raised with him from his youth.
• And he divided his kingdom to them, while he was still alive. And Alexander reigned twelve years, and then he died. And his servants obtained his kingdom, each one in his place. And they all put diadems on themselves after his death, and their sons after them, for many years; and evils were multiplied on the earth.

Babylonian period succeeded by Persians succeeded by Greek period and then Roman Empire and finally the prophecy materialized through Jesus Christ.

The prophecy of Daniel 8 occurs in the 3^rd year of reign of King Belshazzar (550 B.C), Maccabees 1:1-10 occurring 332 BC till 195 BC. This is a best historical link that expands on both sides to place our faith in the timeline of history.

Main Purpose of The Gospel

St John, the Apostle on Eternal LIfe

Immortality a reality

Jerusalem Temple and The Path of Eternal Life

King David, was disturbed to see the Tabernacle placed in the tent, while he was residing in the palace.  He tells Prophet Nathan about his will to build a house for God.

• 2 Samuel 7:1 “Do you not see that I live in a house of cedar, and that the ark of God has been placed in the midst of tent skins?”

 For which God replied through the Prophet

• 2 Samuel 7:2-17 “Thus says the Lord: Should you build a house for me as a dwelling place? For I have not lived in a house from the day that I led the sons of Israel away from the land of Egypt, even to this day. Instead, I have walked in a tabernacle, and in a tent. And in all the places that I have crossed through, with all the sons of Israel, did I ever speak a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I instructed to pasture my people Israel, saying: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’ ……… And the Lord foretells to you that the Lord himself will make a house for you. And when your days will have been fulfilled, and you will sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will go forth from your loins, and I will make firm his kingdom. He himself shall build a house to my name. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom, even forever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.…….And your house shall be faithful and your kingdom shall be before your face, for eternity, and your throne shall be secure continuously.’

 History of the Tabernacle

After calling Moses, through a private revelation, he was appointed by God to lead His people to the Promised Land. The first public appearance for the Children of Israel was at Mount Sinai – Exodus 19:11 “For on the third day, the Lord will descend, in the sight of all the people, over MountSinai.” That was frightful experience for them. However, God decides to reside with them and asks Moses to make a tabernacle or ark as a dwelling place for Him.

•  Exodus 25:8, 9 And they shall make a sanctuary for me, and I will live in their midst. According to exact likeness of the tabernacle, and all of the vessels for its rituals, that I will reveal to you, so shall you make it.”

 Bezalel was selected to construct the Tabernacle, as described by God to Moses, through the voluntary offerings of the Israelites. All the Israelites happily donated as there was no doubt regarding the public revelation they received at Mount Sinai.   

•  Exodus 35:29-33“All the sons of Israel dedicated voluntary offerings to the Lord. And Moses said to the sons of Israel: “Behold, the Lord has called by name Bezalel…….”

 The chapter of Exodus ends with the completion of Tabernacle and the Glory of God residing in it guiding the Israel to the Promised Land.

 

• Exodus 40:32-36 “After all these things were perfected, the cloud covered the tabernacle of the testimony, and the glory of the Lord filled it. Neither could Moses enter the covering of the covenant: the cloud was covering all things, and the majesty of the Lord was flashing. For the cloud had covered everything. Whenever the cloud departed from the tabernacle, the sons of Israel set out by their companies. But if it remained hanging over it, they remained in the same place. Certainly, the cloud of the Lord lay over the tabernacle by day, and the fire by night, being seen by all the people of Israel throughout all their resting places.”

 After the death of Moses, the Tabernacle was the source of power and guidance for the Israelites under the leader ship of Joshua and others.  

•  Joshua 3:13 “And when the priests who are carrying the ark of the Lord, the God of the entire earth, will have placed the steps of their feet in the waters of the Jordan, the waters that are lower will run down and pass away, and those that are approaching above will stand together in a mass.”

 King Solomon in charge of building the Temple.

 King David arranged all the materials needed to build the temple and Solomon was selected by God to complete the task.

•  1 chronicles 22: 6-19 “And he called for Solomon, his son. And he instructed him to build a house to the Lord, the God of Israel. And David said to Solomon: “My son, it was my will that I build a house to the name of the Lord my God. But the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘You have shed much blood, and you have battled in many wars. You are not able to build a house to my name, so great was the shedding of blood before me. ……….And I have prepared the timber and the stones for the entire project. Also, you have very many artisans: stoneworkers, and builders of walls, and craftsmen of wood, and those most prudent in doing the work of every art, with gold and silver, and with brass and iron, of which there is no number. Therefore, rise up and act. ……….and build a sanctuary to the Lord God, so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the vessels consecrated to the Lord, may be brought into the house that is built to the name of the Lord.”

 King Solomon started building the Temple in the year B.C 967 and completed it in year B.C 957. After completing, Solomon got the second revelation from God.

•  2 Kings 9: 2-9 And the Lord said to him: “I have heard your prayer and your petition, which you prayed before me. I have sanctified this house, which you have built, so that I may place my name there forever, and so that my eyes and my heart will be there for all days. Also, if you will walk before me, just as your father walked, in simplicity of heart and in equity, and you do all that I have instructed to you, and you keep my laws and my judgments, then I will set the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised your father David, saying: ‘A man from your stock shall not be taken away from the throne of Israel. But if you and your sons, wandering, will have turned away, not following me, and not keeping my commandments and my ceremonies, which I have proposed to you, but instead you go away, and you serve strange gods and adore them, then I will take away Israel from the face of the land, which I have given to them. And the temple, which I have sanctified to my name, I will cast out from my sight. And Israel will be a proverb and a parable among all the peoples. And this house will become an example: anyone who passes by it will be stupefied, and he will hiss and say, ‘Why has the Lord acted in this way to this land and to this house?’ And they will respond: ‘Because they abandoned the Lord their God, who led their fathers away from the land of Egypt, and they followed strange gods, and they adored them and served them. For this reason, the Lord led all this evil over them.”

The temple built by Solomon was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon in the year 586 B.C. The temple was desolate for 70 years and rebuilt in the year 515 B.C as prophesied by Jeremiah. It was again desecrated by the Greek king Anthiocus in 169 B.C

•  1 Maccabees 1:20-23 “in the one hundred and forty-third year, and he ascended against Israel . And he ascended to Jerusalem, with an oppressive Multitude. And he entered into the sanctuary with arrogance, and he took the golden altar, and the lamp stand of light, and all the vessels, and the table for the bread of the Presence, and the vessels of libation, and the vials, and the little mortars of gold, and the veil, and the crowns, and the golden ornament, which was at the face of the temple.”

The temple was rededicated under the leader ship of Judas Maccabees in 164 B.C (1 Maccabees 4:52)

 It was renovated by King Herod the Great from 20 B.C on wards. This was the Temple during the time of Jesus Christ. As prophesied by Jesus (Mathew 24:2, Mark 13:2, Luke 21:6) the Jerusalem temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.

Opponents and Followers of The Eternal Path – schism among Jews

Respecting the advice of Gamaliel, many Jews accepted Jesus as Christ – The promised Savior for which, the chosen people of God were prepared for over 1800 years from the time of Abraham till the time of Jesus. One of the prominent Jew, who was instrumental in spreading the message of Jesus Christ among the Greeks and Romans, was Paul.

Many unfortunate Jews couldn’t perceive this reality and continued to oppose this Divine eternal path. In spite of severe oppositions and persecutions from his Jewish brethren, Paul and others persevered in spreading the path of eternity. Let’s get some solid evidence from the book of Acts regarding this opposition and enmity.

•  Acts:13:50: “But the Jews stirred up religious and honourable women and the chief men of the city: and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas: and cast them out of their coasts.”

• Acts:14:19: “Now there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium: and, persuading the multitude and stoning Paul, drew him out of the city, thinking him to be dead.”

• Acts:17:5: “ But the Jews, moved with envy and taking unto them some wicked men of the vulgar sort and making a tumult, set the city in an uproar: and besetting Jason’s house, sought to bring them out unto the people.”

Thus the remaining Chosen people of God (Jews) of the first Century were split into two, both groups considering that they are implementing the will of God, one by spreading the Gospel and others by opposing it.  But what was the actual plan of God. From the book of Isiah, we can see

Isiah:66:1-6 says

1. “Thus saith the Lord: Heaven is my throne, and the earth my footstool: what is this house that you will build to me? and what is this place of my rest?
2. My hand made all these things, and all these things were made, saith the Lord. But to whom shall I have respect, but to him that is poor and little, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my words?
3. He that sacrificeth an ox, is as if he slew a man: he that killeth a sheep in sacrifice, as if he should brain a dog: he that offereth an oblation, as if he should offer swine’s blood; he that remembereth incense, as if he should bless an idol. All these things have they chosen in their ways, and their soul is delighted in their abominations.
4.  Wherefore I also will choose their mockeries, and will bring upon them the things they feared: because I called, and there was none that would answer; I have spoken, and they heard not; and they have done evil in my eyes, and have chosen the things that displease me.
5.   Hear the word of the Lord, you that tremble at his word: Your brethren that hate you, and cast you out for my name’s sake, have said: Let the Lord be glorified, and we shall see in your joy: but they shall be confounded.
6. A voice of the people from the city, a voice from the temple, the voice of the Lord that rendereth recompense to his enemies.”

After the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven to be seated at the right hand side of God, we can see that, The Jerusalem temple lost its Divinity.

• Mt:27:51: says “And behold the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top even to the bottom: and the earth quaked and the rocks were rent.”

Heb:9:11,12:

• 11     But Christ, being come an high Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hand, that is, not of this creation:

• 12       Neither by the blood of goats or of calves, but by his own blood, entered once into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption.

Rabbis claimed that about

40 years before the destruction of the temple, its enormous doors swung open by themselves and found that way in the morning (y. Yoma 6:43c; b. Yoma 39b), an event which was interpreted by the rabbis as predicting its ultimate Destruction

Other early Christians have followed Josephus and Jerome,72 particularly Tertullian (Adv. Iudaeus 13.15), who says of the rending of the veil  that the Holy Spirit which dwelt in the temple prior to Christ’s death departed afterwards: “He deserted the Temple [leaving it] desolate, rending the veil and taking away from it the holy spirit.

What followed later, in the next post….

Divine Eternal Path and Gamaliel, the Elder

When, the furious Jews decided to kill the Apostles, who were preaching the path to eternal life, accompanied by miraculous healing and evident signs, Gamaliel, the leader of the Sanhedrin interfered…..

Acts: 29- 42 says, “But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. ³¹ He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

³³ But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. ³⁶ For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.. …………. So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” ⁴⁰ They took his advice;”

Many Jews took his advice, accepting Jesus Christ and receiving Holy Spirit, became the foundation of Christianity. Till AD 35, only the Jews were converted to Christianity, and became the first fruits of Eternal life.

The Fixed Path to Eternal Life – A historical perspective

Till AD 35 (martyrdom of St. Stephen), the spread of eternal life was purely an internal affair, confined only to the Jews. Acts 11:19 – “Now they who had been dispersed by the persecution that arose on occasion of Stephen, went about as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none, but to the Jews only.”

Also in the Old Testament times, of all  the human race, undisputed Divine intervention can be credited only to the Israelite. They were the God’s chosen race, starting with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God revealed to Moses Ex:3:15 “ Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: The Lord God of your fathers the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob hath sent me to you; this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.”

The descendants of Jacob formed the 12 tribes of Israel. Their migration to Egypt, their suffering as slaves and their emancipation are all described in the book of Genesis and Exodus. The path of eternity became more concrete, as Moses and his generation were tempered to obey God’s revelations. Those historical events – 10 miracles before Pharaoh, crossing the Red Sea, 40 years of desert life, with no shortage of any thing were more than enough for the generation of Moses to understand their God. According to Exodus 17:14, 34:27 God wanted Moses to write down all the revelations to be transferred to the coming generations. From Adam to Abraham and till Moses, no one was selected to given a written account of Divine intervention. All that we know, has come down from God through Moses.

Under the leadership of Joshua, the 12 tribes received their promised land. The silent Hero of the events was undisputedly, the Tabernacle, which had God’s presence. Under the kingship of David and Solomon, the Kingdom of Israel was in the Zenith of its glory (1040-950 B.C). After the death of Solomon, the Kingdom was divided into Israel and Judah. 10 tribes (majority) which formed Israel, in spite of the warning given by the Prophets, continued their disobedience of God’s path. They were defeated and relocated by the Assyrians.(721 B.C)

The kingdom of Judah, however remained faithful for a while, but was also taken as captives by the Babylonians (586 B.C) and restored by the Persians (516 B.C). There were also severe persecutions during the Greek period (170 B.C).

To fulfill the plan of God, those who survived the final selection were the Jews. When Mother Mary abided by God’s will Jesus was born from the tribe of Judah. His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension became the final revelation towards the path to eternity. With the Baptism of Cornelius the Centurion, by St. Peter the Apostle, this path was opened to the whole human race.

Materialize your Eternity

“For God created man to be immortal, and made him to be an image of his own eternity.” (wisdom2:23). These words were written by a Jewish philosopher around 200 B.C in the book of Wisdom ( was part of the KJV till 1885 A.D). It speaks out clearly that all human beings are created in the image of God with a definite purpose – to be Immortal.

It might be difficult for the reasoning faculty of human mind to comprehend these facts. But St Paul says in. 1Cor:2:11,12 – “For what man knoweth the things of a man, but the spirit of a man that is in him? So the things also that are of God, no man knoweth, but the Spirit of God.  Now, we have received not the spirit of this world, but the Spirit that is of God: that we may know the things that are given us from God.”

Jesus Christ is a historical Person. The immortality of humans was just a concept before the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ in the first century (Testified by St.Stephen Acts 7:55,56). To be precise, JESUS CHRIST materialized eternity and God honored him rightly.

With the advent of Holy Spirit, as promised by Jesus Christ this fact was revealed to all who received Him. The culture of eternity spread like wild fire with evident signs. Nothing could stop its spread as it was from the Creator of the Universe, of the Earth, of all things that we see, and of you and me. All those persons who opposed the path of eternity vanished, but all those who stood for Immortality were dignified and have gained much popularity over the ages. They became much popular than the prominent fellow beings of their time. God honors every body, who receives Holy Spirit and honors His plans. Yearn for Holy Spirit – materialize your eternity.

Real dimension of man and woman

Jawaharlal Nehru has once said ‘Who indeed could afford to ignore science today? At every turn we have to seek its aid. ….The future belongs to science and those who make friends with science.’ That was one of the solutions suggested by the first prime minister of India for the multitude of problems faced by free India. It is true that science provide specific solutions for all our problems. It is stunningly effective in a universal manner and accepted by every culture globally. This doesn’t mean that it can replace the role of traditional belief system in a culture.

In Bible, the book of Sirah 18: 9,10  says ‘If a person lives a hundred years, he has lived an unusually long time, but compared with all eternity, those years are like a drop of water in the ocean or like a single grain of sand.’

The focus of science is mainly on the visible 100 years of life on this earth. The objective mind of science readily accepts this reality, since there is undisputed proof for its existence. Making this visible life ‘heavenly’ for the welfare of humanity has been the main aim of science. There was a recent advertisement of the Taj Group of Hotels – ‘If Kerala Is God’s Own Country Then Welcome to Heaven’ showing the facilities provided there.  The only requirement for achieving this ‘scientific heaven’ is money.

The main focus of Christianity is a secure eternal life. When compared to eternal life, visible life over here is like a drop of water in an ocean or like a grain of sand in the desert. Such a vast dimension of our life, if it is real, should not be ignored out rightly by the scientific mind. The statutes for attaining eternity is presented in Mathew: 25: 35 -40

‘For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in:  Naked, and you covered me:

Sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me…… Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.’

This solution for humanity’s woes, where human virtues are given priority ensures cooperation among human beings. It considers everyone to be members of the same global family.

Science provides technological solutions to help humanity in making their life easier. Cooperation among individuals is mostly limited to the success of the technology. Then the interaction comes with the media and the market. Scientific man without the concept of eternity has lost the meaning and purpose of life. Human values of love and mercy are gradually being lost.

Understanding the new friend (science) of humans and defining its arena in determining our life is important. The religious dimension incorporates the visible as well as the spiritual aspect of man. Religion understands man as a whole and gives direction, meaning and purpose to our lives. Science comprehends only the objective nature of life. Science adopts a neutral attitude regarding the human virtues and when it is allowed to continue unchecked, it is spiritually corrosive burning away ancient traditions and culture. The power of discretion is with the user.