בס"ד
Prepare the Way of Hashem
Articles by Hanoch Ben Keshet וידבר ה' אלי לאמר: אתה חִצִּי הברור, החבוי באשפתי, ויריתיך ביום פקודה.
יוחנן המטהר -- Yohanan the Purifier
This article, in Hebrew, reviews many reasons as to why the most reasonable understanding of Yohanan's service to Israel
was inaugurating Israel's national purification just prior to the Kingdom, promised in Ezekiel 36:24-28.
2022
Hidden From Their Eyes:
Christian Civilization’s Failure to Recognize Ezekiel 36:25–27 as Vital to the New Covenant
This lengthy article compiles evidence showing that Messiah Yeshua never commanded a new water ritual for all of his followers
from all nations. Instead, Yeshua publicly endorsed Yohanan and his eschatological washing for Israel, and also promised that
all of his followers, whether Jew or from any nation, are offered the opportunity to be powerfully transformed by being "clothed
with power from on high." Christian Civilization has failed to humbly understand basic and obvious teachings of the New Testament,
and instead, many denominations have devised flawed explanations that hide the truth from humble, repentant people who want
to serve Messiah Yeshua.
2023
Ezekiel, Yohanan Ben Zechariah and Messiah Yeshua: Partners in Israel's Kingdom Purification?
This brief article provides a concise introduction
to the more in-depth studies at the following three links.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 as the Besorah for Israel: Evidence and Implications
This article explores the likelihood that Eze 36:25-27
was knowingly inaugurated by Yohanan Ben Zechariah and Messiah Yeshua.
Appeared in Kesher, a Journal of Messianic Judaism.
Issue 25, summer 2011
Yohanan Ben Zechariah and Ezekiel 36:25: Evidence for the Origin of the Messianic Water Rite
Examines in greater detail three main topics:
First commonwealth purification practices from which Eze 36:25 was derived;
Jewish usage of the Greek word baptizo (βαπτίζω) in the LXX, Philo and Josephus;
and Yohanan's activity as an eschatological prophet to Israel.
2013
Reviews Paul's concept of the circumcision's evangelion vis-à-vis the uncircumcision's evangelion which was entrusted to his apostolic oversight.
The conclusion is that Paul never diminished or dismissed the distinctiveness between Israel and the nations,
though both have access to Heaven's Holy of Holies via trust in Messiah Yeshua.
2013
Testing the Waters: A Reevaluation of Yeshua's Five Sayings on βάπτισμα
Explores five sayings of Yeshua in the synoptic gospels and Acts that make direct use of baptizō (βαπτίζω) and baptisma (βάπτισμα).
The first two sayings reveal a more widely divergent range of meaning for baptizō and baptisma in the NT than many assume.
The last three sayings, examined in context, challenge assumptions about Christian baptism for the ekklesia,
and illuminate the subordination of Yohanan's national rite for Israel to Yeshua's spiritually-transformative, universal outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
This article argues that the inner transformational activity promised Israel by Yohanan and performed by Messiah Yeshua is based directly on Ezekiel 36:26-27.
2015
1 Corinthians 15:29 and Taharat Hamet: Purification of the Dead as Proof of Resurrection?
Proposes that Shaul's enigmatic verse in 1 Corinthians is directed to Jewish disciples of Yeshua,
and that it refers to Jewish burial customs performed out of the hope of resurrection.
2017
Reconsidering Mark 10:38–39: Drinking the Cup and Becoming Drunk?
Proposes that Yeshua challenged the brothers with Semitic terminology for impending disaster, drinking the cup and becoming drunk,
which was rendered by Mark in Greek with informal use of baptizo for drunkenness.
2018
Rethinking Mark 3:17: Did Jesus give both Boanērges and Huioi Brontēs as Apostolic Names?
Proposes that Yeshua gave both the Semitic apostolic name and the Greek apostolic names to James and John.
Proposes that Boanērges is the transliteration of bōḥănê regeš (בֹּחֲנֵי רֶגֶשׁ) or bōḥănê rōgez (בֹּחֲנֵי רֹגֶז).
2017
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Essays on Water Baptism and Spirit Baptism,
Ezekiel 36:25-27, Joel 2:28-32, and Jewish Expectations of the First Century.
Copyright © 2006
Does Messianic Judaism Have a Part in Rebuilding the Temple?
A three part exploration of the responsibilities of Yeshua-believing Jews toward the Temple in Jerusalem.
Israel's Obligation to the Makom
Hebrews and the Third Temple
Messiah Yeshua and Rebuilding the Temple
Appeared in Kesher, a Journal of Messianic Judaism.
Issue 27, 2015
Thirty-three foundational points of the Besorah that provide tikkunim (corrections)
to properly clarify crucial issues that the Church misconstrued.
2016
A New Hebrew Translation
This new Hebrew translation of the Greek New Testament documents renders passages that contain baptizō and baptisma in accord
with the findings of the above articles linked to this page. For example, Yohanan is called, “hazorek maim tahorim” (who splashes pure water)
and not “hamatbil”. The traditional and critical Greek texts were reviewed, as well as a number of existing Hebrew translations
and several modern English translations.
2018
2020