Articles in English

The rooster is not particularly remarkable in terms of size, but its behaviour is nonetheless very interesting and playful. Some of us may wonder whether it is biblical to observe nature or the rooster? Yet it is often through nature that the Lord imparts His teachings to us, so that through visible things we may understand invisible (spiritual) things. Examples of Elohim’s (God’s) teachings in nature:  Mishlei/Proverbs 6:6–8: YHWH commands the sluggard to go and observe the ant so that he may become wise.  1 Corinthians 11:14: Paul tells us that nature teaches us Qoheleth/Ecclesiastes 3:1: “To everything there is a season”. Having received wisdom and observed nature, Shelomoh (Solomon) tells us that there is a time for everything. This is something we forget when we face difficulties or fail to obtain what we desire! Having clarified this, we can now delve into the observation and (non-exhaustive) study of the rooster. We shall therefore discuss what we see and observe and then attempt to interpret it.  I) Biological profile The rooster (Gallus gallus domesticus), also known as the “farmyard rooster”, is a male domestic animal that was introduced to Europe from Asia Minor. It has colourful feathers and a red comb on top of its head. It also has a spur on its leg, which distinguishes it from the hen, its female counterpart. The rooster hatches from an egg and is initially a yellow chick. As it grows, it becomes a young rooster and subsequently an adult rooster.  Its diet consists mainly of insects, grains, grass, earthworms and, surprisingly, pebbles and sand. The rooster has a beak without teeth but is equipped with a highly muscular stomach (the gizzard). It therefore uses the pebbles to grind up the grains as its stomach contracts. When the rooster finds food, it alerts its companions so that they may come and eat.  Before evening or nightfall, the rooster returns to the henhouse or to his usual sleeping spot, thereby signalling to the others, who follow him, to prepare for sleep. The rooster is a feisty animal who is not intimidated by the size of his opponent. He does not hesitate to charge to defend his territory or his flock. A rooster can mate up to 30 times a day, and a male can fertilise 6 to 10 hens. The sperm deposited can be stored inside the hen, enabling it to fertilise subsequent eggs for up to four weeks.  But what really sets him apart is his crow – inimitable and incomparable, this call rings out whatever the season or circumstances, particularly at dawn whilst it is still dark, thereby heralding the sun’s impending victory and the certain arrival of light.  II) Analysis and interpretation according to the Word 1) Unmistakable? By its plumage, appearance and behaviour, a fully-grown rooster could never be mistaken for a hen. Unfortunately, these days it is very often difficult to tell the difference between those who call themselves Christians and the people of the world. Indeed, they dress (indecently), speak (using insults, coarse language and frivolity), act and behave in the same way, using the excuse that no one is perfect and that ELOHIM looks at the heart and not at outward appearance.  Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this age: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for you to examine what is Elohim’s good, and well pleasing, and perfect will”. 2) Feeding and growing The fact that the rooster has no teeth would normally mean it is destined to eat only light or soft foods (porridge, purée). Yet it manages to eat solid food (seeds) thanks to its muscular stomach and the pebbles it swallows.  Applied to Christians:  Hebrews 5:12 “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of Elohim, and you have become those having need of milk, and not of solid food”. A Christian who is still at the stage of milk because they lack the ability to understand, analyse or delve deeper into the Word should not remain in that state, but must seek the assistance of mature believers in the Word (pebbles, sand) to help them assimilate the Word and subsequently grow themselves. 3) Passing on nourishment rather than keeping it to oneself The rooster alerts the rest of the farmyard when he finds food. It must be said that many Christians do not share the things necessary for salvation and spiritual growth, for fear that others will surpass them, or for fear of no longer being indispensable. Mishlei/Proverbs 11:26 “He that withholds corn, the people will curse him (…)”. Acts 20:20 “How I drew back nothing that was profitable, not to announce to you, and have taught you publicly, and in the houses”.  2 Melakhim/2 Kings 7:8–9 “8 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it. 9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household”. We have received the Gospel freely; we must in turn pass it on freely, so that everyone may benefit from it and we may all be on the same level.  4) Being a living example In the morning, by being the first to leave the henhouse; in the heat of the day, by being the first to seek the shade; and in the evening, by giving the signal to go to bed, the rooster thus regulates life in the henhouse. The Christian, too, is the salt and light of the world.

The text describes Elohim’s (God’s) invitation to the “wedding feast of the Lamb” as a symbol of salvation and eternal life. It makes it clear that worldly things such as possessions, family, or comfort must not take precedence over this invitation. Believers are called upon to put Elohim first and to actively live out their faith. 1) Introduction The rapture of the bride of the Lamb, i.e. the Christians [1], is imminent, in order to celebrate the wedding feast in heaven. The entirety of believers is the „betrothed“ of Yehoshua Mashiah, and the wedding will take place in heaven after the rapture. 2) What is the wedding feast? The wedding feast of the Lamb is the gathering of the raptured believers in heaven, as described in the Book of Revelation, chapter 19, verses 6 to 9: “6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great crowd, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying: Hallelu-Yah! Because the Lord, the Elohim the Almighty reigned. 7 Rejoice and exult, and give him glory, for the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his Wife prepared herself. 8 And it was given to her to wear fine linen, pure and shining. For the fine linen is the righteous act of the saints. 9 And he says to me: Write: Blessed are those who are called to the wedding supper of the Lamb. And he says to me: These are the true words of Elohim” Those who participate in the wedding feast are those whose names are written in the book of life. There, one receives the reward for what he has done for the Lord on earth. Everyone will be held accountable according to the gifts of grace they have been given. According to the Holy Scriptures, there will be awards and crowns bestowed [2]. Every time the Bible tells us about an invitation or a shared meal, it reminds us of the ultimate banquet at the wedding of the Lamb and the Bride in heaven. For the Lord Yehoshua will not speak to us about anything that he himself did not experience on earth. 3) The parable of the banquet In Luke 14:15-24, we read about the great supper. Here, as in many other places, the Lord brings us closer to spiritual realities by confronting us with physical things and explaining them. „15 But one of those reclining with him, having heard these things, said to him: Blessed is he who will eat bread in the Kingdom of Elohim! 16 But he said to him: A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many people. 17 And at the hour of the supper, he sent his slave to say to the invited: Come, for all things are now ready. 18 But they all with one consent began to make excuses. The first said to him: I have bought a field, and I must go and see it, I beg of you, have me excused. 19 And another said: I have bought five pairs of oxen, and I am going to examine them, I beg of you, have me excused. 20 And another said: I have married a wife, therefore I cannot come. 21 And the slave, having come, reported these things to his lord. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his slave: Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor, the maimed, and the lame and the blind. 22 And the slave said: Lord, what you commanded has been done, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said to the slave: Go out into the roads and hedges, compel the people to come in, so that my house may be filled. 24 For I say to you that none of those men who have been invited will taste of my supper„. In these verses we read about various reasons that someone can give for not attending this banquet. a) The excuses In our parable, three people declined the invitation. „But they all with one consent began to make excuses“ it says in verse 18. b) The stomach The first person had to take care of his recently purchased field. The field grows plants, grains and fruits that feed us. It is a symbol of the things we eat. This first person could not serve, because food was so important to him. The second person, who had bought oxen (verse 19), also used his stomach as an excuse. These animals are a picture of the meat we eat. Everything we consume goes into the toilet and ultimately into the sewage treatment plant, no matter how good it tastes or how exquisite it may be, no matter how well-stocked the market or department store may be. Everything we buy on earth has no lasting value, no matter how excellent the quality is. It is of transient value, of transient work. Everything we work for on earth remains on earth, because it is only about the preservation of earthly things. It has no lasting merit for the kingdom of heaven. Earthly riches do not give us access to the wedding feast. Please note, so that there is no misunderstanding: The Lord agrees with earthly food because it sustains our bodies. But He places more value on the word of Elohim, which is food for the soul and spirit. c) The woman The third person who was uninterested in the invitation declined because of his wife. Marriage was more important to him than the Lord’s invitation. Elohim did say in His Word that it is not good for man to be alone. However, one must never place marriage above the Lord’s invitation! This man, however, refused salvation because of his wife. If the Lord loves you so much that he urgently wants to save you, he can also take your wife or husband away from you, if you do not

(Bible verses and names are taken of the english Version of the Bible of Yehoshua Mashiah) „But his disciples remembered that it is written: the zeal of your house has consumed me“ (John/Yohanan 2:17)  1) What is zeal? The dictionary defines zeal as  earnest endeavour, pursuit of a goal enthusiasm for a cause excited haste [1] The ancient Greek word for „zeal“ is zelos. This word originally meant caring so passionately about a cause or a person that it resulted in heated excitement, whether in a positive meaning as zeal or a negative meaning as jealousy. This heat or fervour in a positive sense is the enthusiasm and passion of the spirit, when fighting for something or someone. This can also be called enthusiasm. In another sense, zelos can also mean jealousy, either of people, but also Elohim’s (God’s) jealousy. „14 And he found in the temple the sellers of oxen and sheep and doves, and the money-changers sitting. 15 And having made a whip out of small cords, he cast them all out of the temple with the sheep, and the oxen. He poured out the small coin of the money-changers, and overturned the tables. 16 And he said to the sellers of doves: Take these things away! Do not make the house of my Father a house of merchandise. 17 But his disciples remembered that it is written: the zeal of your house has consumed me“ (John/Yohanan 2:14-17) 2) The consuming zeal The people at that time surely thought that this man who whipped the merchants out of the temple was mad. But it was zeal for the Lord, indeed, the zeal of the Lord. The concern that the temple was being defiled was too great! But where is this zeal to stand up for the Lord in us? Zeal must be like a fire that cannot be stopped. „26 For if we sin voluntarily after receiving the precise and correct knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain terrible expectation of judgement and a fierceness of fire, which is about to devour the adversaries„ (Hebrews 10:26-27) 3) Judgment The greek word zelos mentioned above is translated as „fierceness“ in this Bible passage. The zeal of the Lord is thus compared to an ember, a fiery flame that consumes everything that stands in its way. This was the same zeal that drove Yehoshua to cleanse the temple. This zeal judges the works of darkness. However, it must be clearly distinguished from the false zeal we read about in the following verses. „13 Who is a wise man and intelligent among you? Let him show out of a good behavior his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter zeal and partisanship spirit in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descends not from above: But is earthly, animal, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and partisanship spirit is, there is disorder and every evil work“ (James/Yaakov 3:13-16) 4) Bitter zeal There is a false, malicious zeal. This begins in the heart, because Mark, chapter 7, says that all things come from the heart. The person with bitter zeal has a problem in his heart; he is trapped and needs deliverance, but he doesn’t know it. Paulos, for example, also had zeal for the Torah, the Jewish law, even before his conversion to Christ. He was 100% zealous and had enormous passion for his cause, but in the wrong direction. There was no wisdom, no love to be found there.  „1 Brothers, indeed my heart’s desire and supplication to Elohim on behalf of Israel is, for salvation. 2 For I testify to them that they have a zeal for Elohim, but not according to precise and correct knowledge. 3 For, not knowing Elohim’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, did not submit themselves to the righteousness of Elohim“ (Romans 10:1-3) 5) Our own righteousness or Elohim’s righteousness? If we search our hearts carefully, we will discover whether we want to establish our own righteousness or Elohim’s righteousness. When we want to tell someone the truth, let us ask ourselves: Are we speaking to justify ourselves and to show off, or are we speaking to defend the Lord’s cause? If one has bitter zeal, one does not shy away from hurting others in order to defend the own cause, the own reputation, the own position. (Yes, it is true that several people will feel hurt in their feelings , even when someone tells them the truth. That’s not what we’re talking about here.) However, in order to distinguish true zeal from false zeal, one must examine whether it is about the Lord’s cause or the own ego. There are people who are zealous to expose others. They do what they do not out of love for the Lord, but only to show that they are right and the other person is wrong. This is precisely what is meant by „bitter zeal“. This kind of zeal causes division because it is a partisan spirit. Bitter zeal is also racist, for example. It presents itself as better. Let’s watch our hearts! „15 But if your brother sinned against you, go and convict him between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be established. 17 But if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly, and if he also refuses to listen to the assembly, let him be to you as a pagan and as a publican“ (Matthew/Mattithyah 18:15-17) 6) Winning back your brother These verses show us how to win your brother, that is, to win him back for Yehoshua and not for any other purpose. That is why it is so important that our hearts are

1) What is a christian The word ‘Christian’ actually appears only three times in the Bible, and it is mentioned by Luke twice in the Acts of the Apostles and by Petros in his first letter. Acts 11:26: „And having found him, they took him to Antioch. And it happened that they gathered together during the whole year with the Assembly and that they taught a fairly large crowd. And it is in Antioch that, for the first time, the disciples received the name of christians„. We see here that the actual term for those who followed Yehoshua was ‘disciples’ and that they were only called ‘Christians’ after they had received intensive teaching, that is, after the word had taken root in them. According to this, the ‘Christians’ are already taught disciples. From this we see that the term ‘Christian’ has a different meaning than the one attributed to it today. In our time, ‘Christian’ is used quite loosely and thoughtlessly for a part of humanity that belongs to churches and certain religious groups. On the other hand, the word ‘disciple’ appears over 260 times in the Bible. The question then arises: 2) What is a disciple? Yehoshua’s last words before his ascension were the well-known Great Commission: “But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Yehoshua had designated. […] Therefore, having gone, make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to keep all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you all the days to the end of the age. Amen!” (Matthew 28:16, 19-20) So, you become a disciple from the day of your conversion, when you come to believe in Yehoshua. We read here that a disciple is one who is in a training program, completing an apprenticeship. This is also evidenced by the Greek word for disciple, ‘mathetes’, which means ‘learner, student, disciple’. In the school of faith, you have to learn and be taught. Just as in normal life, there are diligent and lazy, quick and slow students in faith. Age is not relevant here. The prophet Yesha’yah in Isaiah 50:4-5 provides particular insight into discipleship: “Adonay YHWH has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. Adonay YHWH has opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back”.  Here we learn about two qualities of a disciple, or two processes of discipleship: –> hearing (which is further divided into receiving teaching, listening and learning) and –> passing it on. Let us look into this in more detail in the following. 3) The Disciple in the Old Covenant A disciple has a master. In the Old Covenant, the disciple was a servant of his master, another human being who was his lord and role model. The Hebrew word translated as ‘disciple’ in English is limmûwd. It means ‘taught, learned’, ‘instructed in discipleship’ and ‘accustomed to something’. The disciple does not just learn in theory but becomes accustomed to the lifestyle of his master to such an extent and for so long that he becomes like his Master. This is the goal of the discipleship. Some examples in the Bible are: Moshe (Moses) and Yehoshua (Joshua) Shemot/Exodus 24:13: “And Moses rose up, and his minister Yehoshua: and Moses went up into the mount of Elohim [1]”. As long as Moshe was on the mountain (for 40 days!), his servant Yehoshua (Joshua) had to wait for him. He did not leave the side of his master Moshe: “And YHWH spake to Moses face to face, as a man speaketh to his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Yehoshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle” (Exodus 33:11). Eliyah (Elijah) and Eliysha (Elisha) 1 Kings 19:19-21: “So he departed thence, and found Eliysha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Eliyah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. And he left the oxen, and ran after Eliyah, and said, Let me, I pray you, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you. And he said to him, Go back again: for what have I done to you? And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Eliyah, and ministered to him”. Yohanan (John) the Baptist and his disciples “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, as Yohanan also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). From this passage, we see that the disciples of John the Baptist – who can be called the last prophet before the New Covenant (see Matthew 11:11) – had even learned how to pray from their master. Thus, we understand that Yehoshua’s contemporary disciples understood exactly what it means to be a disciple of a master. 4) Discipleship in the transition period The transition period was the time of Yohanan the Baptist: “And this is the testimony of Yohanan, when the Jews sent from Yerushalaim the priests and the levites to question him: Who are you? He confessed and denied not, but confessed: I am not the Mashiah. And they asked him: What then? Are you Eliyah? And he says: I am not. Are you the prophet? And he answered: Num. Therefore they said to him: Who are you? That we may give a reply to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself? He said: I am