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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”
Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.
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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.
When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:
“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Note: The heart refers to the mind.
It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:
“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”
It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”
A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:
If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.
Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.
The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:
Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:
Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.
The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:
Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.
Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:
However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.
Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.
Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:
The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.
Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”
Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. It is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur. The Feast of Trumpets was one of the seven feasts that the Israelites were supposed to celebrate each year under the regulations of the Mosaic Law. The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites. Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law. The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Mosaic Law, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.
While it is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur—which is referenced as a single day in Leviticus 23:24–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 and which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during the time period of October 10th, 2026, at 11:13 A.M. – October 14th, 2026, at 12:29 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur during a time other than the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur during the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah, one can be prepared for that time because of already being in the habit of being prepared. Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.
Whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah in 2026 would occur during October depends on whether barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib [ah-BEEB] (also known as aviv [ah-VEEV]) in April. Also, if barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib/aviv in February, then the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would have occurred during the time period of August 12th, 2026, at 12:25 P.M. – August 16th, 2026, at 1:49 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone, and if barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib/aviv in March, then the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would have occurred during the time period of September 10th, 2026, at 11:51 A.M. – September 14th, 2026, at 1:08 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone. On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would start depends on the time of the last sunset over Jerusalem before the first sliver of a crescent new moon after that sunset. The crescent new moon is the illumination of a sliver of the waxing moon. The moon is waxing when it is becoming more and more illuminated after what some people refer to as the astronomical new moon, the time when there is an absence of illumination of the moon—in other words, when there is an absence of reflection of light from the moon. On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would end depends on whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah lasts one day or two days and whether the time of day of the end of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah is at sunset, at the end of civil twilight, at the end of nautical twilight, or at the end of astronomical twilight.
Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic. In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.
1 Thessalonians 5:1–11
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
The verse of the day for October 9th is Deuteronomy 13:4. The book Deuteronomy was written by Moses, the leader of the Israelites in the Exodus from Egypt. Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Old Testament. Below is a list of the first five books of the Old Testament.
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
The first five books of the Old Testament are known collectively as the Torah [TOHR-uh or TAHR-uh or TOI-ruh or tah-RAH] and also as the Pentateuch [PEN-tuh-tuke or PEN-tuh-tyuke]. The English word Torah is derived from the Hebrew word תּוֹרָה [pronounced toh-RAH and can be transliterated as towrah, tôrâ, or tōrāh]. The Hebrew word towrah can be translated as “law” or “instruction.” The English word Pentateuch came from Middle English, which was the English language from circa A.D. 1150 to circa A.D. 1470. The word circa [SUHR-kuh] means “approximately”; circa is used before dates. Also, the abbreviation c. can be used for the word circa. The abbreviation A.D. means “Anno Domini.” The phrase Anno Domini is Latin for “in the year of the Lord.” The abbreviation A.D. should be placed before the numerals of a date but after the spelled-out words of a date. The Middle English word from which Pentateuch originated is Pentateuke. The Middle English word Pentateuke came from Late Latin, which was the Latin language from circa A.D. 200 to circa A.D. 600. The Late Latin word from which Pentateuke came is Pentateuchus. The Late Latin word Pentateuchus came from a Greek word transliterated as Pentateukhos. The Greek word Pentateukhos is derived from the combining of a Greek prefix and a Greek word. The Greek prefix can be transliterated as penta. The Greek prefix penta means “five.” The Greek word is teukhos. The Greek word teukhos can be translated as “implement,” “vessel,” “scroll case,” or “book.”
Regarding the name of the book Deuteronomy, it is useful to look at the content of Deuteronomy 1:1. In that regard, below is content related to that verse.
Deuteronomy 1:1
These are the words which Moses had spoken to all Israel across the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel and Laban and Hazeroth and Dizahab.
Note: The Hebrew name of the book Deuteronomy can be translated as “These are the Words.” That name is derived from the first two words and a suffix attached to the second word in Deuteronomy 1:1. Also, in that verse, there is an absence of a verb between the first word and the suffix and second word. Therefore, the verb are in the above translation is italicized. In Deuteronomy 1:1, the Hebrew phrase translated as “These are the words” is אֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים [pronounced AYL-leh hah-dah-vahr-EEM and can be transliterated as 'El-leh hadabariym or 'El-leh hadavariym]. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.)
The English name for the book Deuteronomy is a result of a mistranslation of Deuteronomy 17:18 by the translators of the Septuagint [SEP-too-uh-jint or SEP-tyoo-uh-jint or SEP-chew-uh-jint], which is a Greek translation of the Old Testament. The Septuagint translation was made before the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Septuagint translation of Deuteronomy 17:18 contains the Greek noun δευτερονόμιον [pronounced dyoo-teh-rah-NAH-mee-ahn and transliterated as deuteronomion]. That Greek noun is derived from two Greek words. The first of those two Greek words is the adjective δεύτερος [pronounced DYOO-teh-rahs and transliterated as deuteros], which means “second.” The second of those two Greek words is the noun νόμος [pronounced NAH-mahs and transliterated as nomos], which means “law.” The English noun Deuteronomy is derived from the Latin noun deuteronomium [dyoo-teh-rah-NAH-mee-oom], which is derived from the aforementioned Greek noun deuteronomion [dyoo-teh-rah-NAH-mee-ahn].
Because it is useful to study a verse in the context of the verses around it, below is content related to Deuteronomy 13.
Note: The punishments in Deuteronomy 13 were applicable to the Israelites before the Mosaic Law was fulfilled. The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites. Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law. The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Mosaic Law, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are under the regulations of the Mosaic Law. Therefore, people should refrain from doing the punishing described in Deuteronomy 13.
Deuteronomy 13:1
“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and has given you a sign or a wonder,
Deuteronomy 13:2
and the sign or the wonder has come true, concerning which he has spoken to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and serve them,’
Note: Inside square brackets below, the letters i.e. are used to represent the phrase that is. The two letters are an abbreviation for the Latin words id est, which mean “that is.” When one reads those two letters, one can either say, “eye ee” or “that is.” If one is reading out loud, and if any hearers of that reading are unaware of what the letters i.e. represent, it is best to say “that is.” Also, the letters i.e. need to be followed by a comma.
In this verse, the Hebrew noun that is translated as “gods” with a lowercase g is אֱלֹהִים [pronounced el-oh-HEEM and can be transliterated in this context as 'elohiym]. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.) That noun is an inflected form of the root word אֱלֹהִים [pronounced el-oh-HEEM and can be transliterated in this context as 'elohiym]. Depending on the context, אֱלֹהִים could refer to false gods, to angels, to human rulers or judges, or to the Godhead [i.e., the Trinity]. When referring to the Godhead, אֱלֹהִים is transliterated as 'Elohiym with a capital E. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. The context of the content of Deuteronomy 13:2 and the surrounding verses is such that אֱלֹהִים in Deuteronomy 13:2 refers to false gods.
Deuteronomy 13:3
you do not hear, listen to, and obey the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym [el-oh-HEEM] / Godhead is testing you to find out if you love Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym/Godhead with all your heart and with all your soul.
Note: The heart refers to the mind. The reference to a prophet in this verse is a reference to a false prophet. Likewise, the reference to a dreamer of dreams in this verse is a reference to a false dreamer of dreams—in other words, a person who claims to have dreams that have a message or messages from one or more Members of the Trinity when the dreams of that person do not have any messages from one or more Members of the Trinity.
The use of a present tense in the phrase you do not hear, listen to, and obey the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams involves a command to refrain from doing what the false prophet or the false dreamer of dreams says to do. Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense in order to give a command can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine the obeying of that command as though the reader or hearer is watching the obeying of that command as it occurs.
Deuteronomy 13:4
“You follow Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym/Godhead and yare' [yah-RAY] / fear / respect / reverence Him, and you keep His commandments. You hear, listen to, and obey His voice. You serve Him, and you cling to Him.
Note: The uses of a present tense in verbs of this verse involve commands. In that regard, Moses commanded the Israelites to have an attitude of reverential awe towards God the Father, to obey the Word of God, to pay attention to the teaching of the Word of God, to serve God the Father, and to be loyal to God the Father. Regarding obeying the Word of God, Moses twice commanded that in this verse.
The first instance of Moses commanding obeying the Word of God in this verse involves keeping the commandments of God the Father. The second instance of Moses commanding obeying the Word of God in this verse involves hearing, listening to, and obeying God the Fatherʼs voice, which is a metaphorical reference to paying attention to the teaching of and then obeying the Word of God. In that regard, the reference to a voice in this verse is an anthropomorphism [an-thruh-puh-MOR-fiz-uhm]. An anthropomorphism is a usage of terminology involving a physical characteristic to describe a characteristic of the Trinity. In this verse, the reference to a voice is a metaphorical reference that calls attention to the sovereignty [supreme authority] of God the Father.
The order of the commands given by Moses in this verse involves a chiastic [kigh-AS-tik] structure. A chiastic structure looks like the letter X [EKS] of the Latin alphabet, which is the alphabet used for the English language. That letter looks like the Greek letter Χ [pronounced KIGH and spelled out in English as chi]. A chiastic structure is a structure that can be referred to as a crisscross. In other words, a chiastic structure has a crosswise arrangement. In that regard, a chiastic structure is a structure that is reminiscent of a cross. Regarding the chiastic structure of the content of this verse, Moses does the below.
• Moses references a proper attitude that the Israelites should have (reverential awe towards God the Father).
• Moses references what the Israelites should do (obey the Word of God).
• Moses, while again referencing what the Israelites should do, references how the Israelites can know what to do and references why the Israelites should do what they should do (pay attention to the teaching of the Word of God and obey the Word of God because God the Father has sovereignty [supreme authority] over all of Creation).
• Moses references what the Israelites should do (serve God the Father).
• Moses references a proper attitude that the Israelites should have (loyalty to God the Father).
The first and last parts of that chiastic structure involve references to proper attitudes that the Israelites should have. The second and second-to-last parts of that chiastic structure involve references to what the Israelites should do. The central part of that chiastic structure also involves a reference to what the Israelites should do, and that central part involves how the Israelites can know what to do and why the Israelites should do what they should do. Learning the Word of God is the means by which to know how to obey the Word of God. The reason why a person should learn and obey the Word of God is because God the Father has sovereignty [supreme authority] over all of Creation. In that regard, Mosesʼs referencing of the sovereignty of God the Father in the central part of the chiastic structure in this verse focuses attention on why the rest of the content of that chiastic structure should be heeded—in other words, why people should pay attention to the rest of that content.
Deuteronomy 13:5
“That prophet or that dreamer of dreams is put to death because he has spoken apostasy against / turning aside from Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym/Godhead Who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slaves, to seduce you from the way in which Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym/Godhead has commanded you to walk. You have purged the evil from among you.
Note: The use of a present tense in the phrase is put to death involves a command. Also, the use of the perfect tense in the phrase have purged in this verse is for the purpose of giving a command. That use of the perfect tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, why would a verb in the perfect tense be used for the purpose of giving a command? Doing so can communicate that obeying that command is 100% expected by God the Father. In other words, the importance of obeying the command is emphasized.
Deuteronomy 13:6
“If your brother—your motherʼs son—or your son or daughter or the wife of your bosom or your friend who is as your own soul entice you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods’ (whom neither you nor your fathers have known,
Deuteronomy 13:7
of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end),
Notes: The phrase from one end of the earth to the other end is a metaphor that refers to anywhere on the earth.
Deuteronomy 13:8
you do not yield to him, nor do you hear, listen to, and obey him, nor does your eye pity him, nor do you spare him, nor do you conceal him.
Note: The uses of a present tense in verbs of this verse involve commands.
Deuteronomy 13:9
“You surely kill him; your hand is first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.
Note: The uses of a present tense in verbs of this verse involve commands. Also, the punishments in Deuteronomy 13 were applicable to the Israelites before the Mosaic Law was fulfilled. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has been judged for the sins of humanity, the Mosaic Law has been fulfilled; therefore, people should refrain from doing the punishing described in Deuteronomy 13.
Deuteronomy 13:10
“You have stoned him with stones so that he has died because he has sought to seduce you from Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym/Godhead Who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaves.
Note: In this verse, the use of the perfect tense in the phrase have stoned him with stones so that he has died is for the purpose of giving a command. As mentioned in the notes for verse 5, using the perfect tense for the purpose of giving a command can communicate that obeying that command is 100% expected by God the Father. In other words, the importance of obeying the command is emphasized. As mentioned in the notes for verse 9, the punishments in Deuteronomy 13 were applicable to the Israelites before the Mosaic Law was fulfilled. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has been judged for the sins of humanity, the Mosaic Law has been fulfilled; therefore, people should refrain from doing the punishing described in Deuteronomy 13.
Deuteronomy 13:11
“Then all Israel hears and is afraid and never again does such a wicked thing among you.
Note: The uses of a present tense in verbs of this verse are references to what will occur if Israelites were to do what the content of verse 10 indicates is supposed to be done. Such uses of a present tense have a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to what will occur if Israelites were to do what the content of verse 10 indicates is supposed to be done can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine what is done as though the reader or hearer is watching what is done as it occurs.
Deuteronomy 13:12
“If you hear in one of your cities, which Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym/Godhead is giving you to live in, anyone saying that
Deuteronomy 13:13
some worthless men have gone out from among you and seduce the inhabitants of their city, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods’ (whom you have not known),
Deuteronomy 13:14
then you have investigated and have sought out and have inquired thoroughly. If it is true and the matter established that this abomination has been done among you,
Note: The uses of the perfect tense in the phrase have investigated and have sought out and have inquired thoroughly in this verse are for the purpose of giving commands. As mentioned in the notes for verse 5, using the perfect tense for the purpose of giving a command can communicate that obeying that command is 100% expected by God the Father. In other words, the importance of obeying the command is emphasized.
Deuteronomy 13:15
you surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it / putting it under the ban and all that is in it and its livestock with the edge of the sword.
Note: The uses of a present tense in verbs of this verse involve commands. Also, the punishments in Deuteronomy 13 were applicable to the Israelites before the Mosaic Law was fulfilled. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has been judged for the sins of humanity, the Mosaic Law has been fulfilled; therefore, people should refrain from doing the punishing described in Deuteronomy 13.
Deuteronomy 13:16
“Then you gather all its booty into the middle of its open square and have burned the city and all its booty with fire as a whole burnt offering to Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym/Godhead, and it has been a heap of ruins forever. It is never rebuilt.
Note: The uses of a present tense in verbs of this verse involve commands. Also, the uses of the perfect tense tense in verbs of this verse are for the purpose of giving commands. As mentioned in the notes for verse 5, using the perfect tense for the purpose of giving a command can communicate that obeying that command is 100% expected by God the Father. In other words, the importance of obeying the command is emphasized. Also, the punishments in Deuteronomy 13 were applicable to the Israelites before the Mosaic Law was fulfilled. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has been judged for the sins of humanity, the Mosaic Law has been fulfilled; therefore, people should refrain from doing the punishing described in Deuteronomy 13.
Deuteronomy 13:17
“Nothing from that which is put under the ban clings to your hand, in order that Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One turns from His burning anger and has shown mercy to you and has had compassion on you and has made you increase, just as He has sworn to your fathers,
Note: The phrase burning anger in this verse is an anthropopathism [an-thruh-poh-PATH-iz-uhm]. An anthropopathism is a term that describes the Members of the Trinity using human characteristics in order to help understand the essence of the Trinity. The Members of the Trinity donʼt literally become angry; the usage of the phrase burning anger helps human beings understand the wrath of God the Father.
In this verse, the use of a present tense in the verb clings in the phrase Nothing from that which is put under the ban clings to your hand involves a command. In that regard, if anything had been put under the ban, the Israelites were supposed to refrain from taking that as booty. Also, the uses of the perfect tense in the phrase has shown mercy, the phrase has had compassion, and the phrase has made you increase in this verse are references to what will occur if Israelites were to do what the content at the beginning of the verse indicates is supposed to be done. Such uses of the perfect tense have a rhetorical effect. In that regard, why would verbs in the perfect tense be used to refer to what will occur if Israelites were to do what the content at the beginning of the verse indicates is supposed to be done? Doing so in reference to something being indicated can communicate that what will occur if Israelites were to do what the content at the beginning of the verse indicates is supposed to be done is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already.
Deuteronomy 13:18
when you hear, listen to, and obey the voice of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym/Godhead to keep all His commandments which I am commanding you today to do what is right in the sight of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One your 'Elohiym/Godhead.”
Note: As mentioned in the notes for verse 4, hearing, listening to, and obeying God the Fatherʼs voice is a metaphorical reference to paying attention to the teaching of and then obeying the Word of God. As with the content of verse 4, the reference to a voice in verse 18 is an anthropomorphism that calls attention to the sovereignty [supreme authority] of God the Father. The reference to doing what is right in the sight of God the Father calls attention to the omniscience [ahm-NISH-uhns] [all-knowingness] of God the Father.
Sincerely,
John