Hebrews, Chapter 1Prophets, Eons, and Hell
Lorraine Day, M.D
Who wrote the book of Hebrews?
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews does not identify himself though for 1,200 years (from A.D. 400-1600) the book was commonly called “The Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews.
But the book of Hebrews could not have been written by Paul because, 1) the specific emphases and writing style is markedly different from Paul’s other writings, 2) contrary to Paul’s usual practice, the author of Hebrews nowhere identifies himself in the letter, and 3) the statement “This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him” (Heb 12:3), indicates that the author had neither been with Jesus during His earthly ministry nor received special revelation directly fro the risen Lord, as had Paul (Gal 1:11-12).
“The earliest suggestion of authorship is found in Tertullian’s De Pudicinia, 20(c. 2000), in which he quotes from “an epistle to the Hebrews under the name of Barnabas.” From the letter itself it is clear that the writer must have had authority in the apostolic church and was an intellectual Hebrew Christian well versed in the Old Testament. Barnabas meets these requirements. He was an Israelite of the priestly tribe of Levi (Acts 4:36) who became a close friend of Paul after the latter’s conversion.
“The other leading candidate for authorship is Apollos, whose name was first suggested by Martin Luther and who is favored by many scholars today. Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, was also a Hebrew Christian with notable intellectual and oratorical abilities. Luke tells us that ‘he was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures’ (Acts 18:24). We also know that Apollos was associated with Paul in the early years of the believers in Corinth (1Cor 1:12;3:4-6,22).” NIV Study Bible
When was the book of Hebrews written?
Hebrews must have been written before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in A.D. 70 because, 1) had it been written after this date, the author surely would have mentioned the temple’s destruction; and 2) the author consistently uses the Greek present tense when speaking of the temple and the priestly activities connected with it. (see 5:1-3; 7:23,27, 8:3-5; etc.)
To whom was the book of Hebrews written?
The book of Hebrews was NOT written to the “Jews.”
Is the word Hebrews synonymous with the word Jews?
No, not at all. The word Hebrew literally means “to cross over.” Abraham “crossed over” the Euphrates River when he “went out, not knowing where he was going” – following God’s leading from Babylon to Canaan.
Also, Abraham “crossed over” by following the teachings of God, rather than following the pagan teachings of his country – Babylon.
In addition, the word Jew never appears in the Bible, either in the Old Testament that was written in Hebrew or the New Testament that was written in Greek. The word is always Judean. The translators have arbitrarily and incorrectly shortened the word Judean and made it into “Jew.”
The letter “J” was not part of the Greek alphabet until the 15th century. It was added to the English alphabet in the 16th or 17th century, according to the Encyclopedia. Prior to those times, the designated letter was “I” as in Iudea (Judean) or Iudean (Judea).
Jerusalem was located in the area of Judea. The temple, in which God’s presence dwelt, was in Jerusalem - - in Judea.
So, at the time the Bible was written (and still today) the word Iudean (Judean) referred to those people who either lived in Iudea (Judea) or who worshipped the God whose presence resided in the temple in Jerusalem in Judea. Virtually all the people who lived in Judea worshipped the God of the temple in Jerusalem.
The word Judean (originally Iudean) described the Believers in the true God – the Israelites - as opposed to the “nations” (the heathen - erroneously translated as “Gentiles”) who were Unbelievers. The nations (heathen) worshipped numerous pagan gods and did NOT worship the God of the temple in Jerusalem of Judea.
By changing the word Judean to the word Jew, the translators have erroneously – and probably purposely – tried to change the meaning of the word from that of a form of worship (of the true God) or a location (the are of Judea) into an ethnicity – a JEW. This may be one of the most blasphemous, tragic, and monumental ERRORS in translation in the whole Bible.
Again, it has taken a word that means a location or form of worship (of the true God in the temple in Jerusalem) and tried to “sell it” as an ethnicity.
There is no such thing as a “Jewish” ethnicity. There is no such thing as a Jew – genetically. “Jewishness” is both a culture and a religion – the religion of Judaism – and BOTH are governed by the Talmud and NOT the Old Testament.
The Old Testament Israelites were not “Jews.”
The religion of the Old Testament was NOT Judaism.
The Israelites were looking forward to Christ, the Messiah. Therefore, the religion of the Old Testament was Christianity.
The Israelites of the Old Testament were - - - Christians! They were NOT “Jews.”
Jesus said, “You search the scriptures, thinking that in them ye have eternal life (correct translation = eonian life – the life of Christ in you), but they (the Old Testament Scriptures) are they which testify of ME.” John 5:39
The religion of Judaism – better defined as Phariseeism - did not begin until 1) AFTER the Pharisees and their followers called for the execution of Jesus Christ by crucifixion, 2) the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, and 3) the Pharisees authored the Talmud – the written-down “traditions of men” that Jesus so strongly rebuked. As Jesus said:
“. . . making the word of God of none effect through your tradition. . .”
Mark 7:13“In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matt 15:9
In the Bible, there are only TWO groups of people mentioned: Believers (in the One True God) and Unbelievers. In the Old Testament the Believers are called Israelites and the Unbelievers are called the “nations.”
In the New Testament, the Believers are designated as Judeans, Israelites, or Christians and the Unbelievers are called the “nations” or heathen (often improperly translated as “Gentiles”).
The word Israelite does not refer to a “Jew.” Israel was the Spiritual name given to Jacob when he gave up his life of deceitfulness and became a true follower of God. Jacob’s NAME was changed to Israel. His genes did NOT change.
His progeny also worshiped the true God, so they were called Israel - - ites!
Neither Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob were “Jewish.”
“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many: but, as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” Galatians 3:16
“There is neither Jew (Judean) nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if ye be Christ’s, then ye are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:28,29
Those who are followers of Christ – true Christians – “are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.”
The word Hebrew means “to cross over” or “to pass over.” Abraham physically crossed over the river Euphrates when coming from Babylon to Canaan. Abraham spiritually “crossed over” when he left his pagan homeland and followed God’s leading to come to Canaan, which later became the “Promised Land.”
The word Hebrew does NOT mean “Jewish.”
Why was the book of Hebrews written?
The letter was addressed primarily to Hebrew converts who were familiar with the Old Testament and who were being tempted to revert to Phariseeism.
Hebrews, Chapter 1
- Are there Present-day Prophets who foretell the future, or are they all a Fraud?
- Did God make the Eons? What is an Eon?
- If Jesus exhibited the entire character of God, how can there be a Hell – when Jesus never hurt or killed anyone?
1 “God, who in many times and in many ways, spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Prophets:
Thousands of years ago, before any part of the Scriptures were written down, and before the masses of people could read, God spoke through prophets.
The word prophet does not necessarily mean one who “foretells the future.” In the biblical definition, a prophet is one who speaks for God – one who spreads God’s Word to others.
2 “Has in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all, through whom He also made the eons.
Finally Jesus comes to this earth – the Ultimate “Prophet.” Now God speaks through His Son.
In Revelation 19:10, we are told that the Testimony of Jesus IS the Spirit of Prophecy. The Life of Jesus on earth IS the Spirit of Prophecy.
The Old Testament (the First Testament) was written by God by inspiration through the Prophets. The New Testament (the Second Testament) contains the words and actions of Jesus (God) Himself, and the writings about Him and His earthly ministry.
The Book of Revelation was a vision given to John by Jesus Christ directly, telling of things to come in the End Times (the “day of the Lord”).
Is it possible that God, in His Word, is telling us that with the last of the Prophets – the ones clearly chosen by God, including John, the Revelator, that there would be NO MORE prophecy given? All prophecy – the foretelling of the future - would be right in God’s Word.
There would be those who spread the message of the Gospel and by so doing, “speak for God” (“your sons and daughters will prophesy – “speak for God” – Acts 2:17) but ALL the foretelling of events is already IN the Bible that we now have.
Eons:
“Through whom (Jesus) He (God) also made the eons" (incorrectly translated “worlds”). Heb 1:2
The Greek word eons is unfamiliar to the average Christian. The Bible translators have mistranslated it every time it appears in the Scriptures. They have translated it as worlds, forever, ever, eternity, and ages – the last of which is closer to the truth.
An Eon is a period of time, with a beginning and an end. God created Five eons of time and we are now living in the Third Eon which the Bible refers to as the present evil eon (Galatians 1:4 – incorrectly translated as present evil world). This eon will last until the Second Coming of Christ, which will be followed by the Fourth eon – the 1000 year millennial eon – after which we will enter the Fifth eon of time that begins with the Great White Throne Judgment.
(For more on the Eons, see “Does Forever Really Mean “Forever”? at www.goodnewsaboutgod.com)
3 Who being the brightness (effulgence) of His glory, and the express image (emblem) of His person, and upholding all by the word of His power; when He had by Himself cleansed our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
The word effulgence is an astronomical term that signifies that Christ is the same divine nature as God. Jesus was – and is – the “express Image” (emblem) of God. The English word emblem is the translation of the Greek word character. The character of Jesus is exactly the same as the Character of God, because Jesus IS God – in human form.
“And they shall call His name Emmanuel – meaning God with us.” Matthew 1:23 Jesus was – and is – God in human form.
It is only through God’s Emblem that He reveals Himself. Not only the creation, but the operation of the universe is in His hands. Jesus “cleansed our sins” by his death on the cross. It is evident that, in His grand design, sins are considered only as a temporary stain on God’s creation. The Sin of the world has already been disposed of in truth, as it will be eventually in fact.
What does it mean for Jesus to “sit down on the right hand of the Majesty on high – referring to God? God is Invisible (Col. 1:15). Jesus is the visible form of God – the form of God that does the work of saving the whole world from sin. The “right hand” does the work. Jesus IS the “right hand.”
“Fear not for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am Thy God. I will strengthen you. Yes I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10
4 “Being made so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name (character) than they.
In the Bible the word name means character. Many of the Old Testament names given to individuals described their character. Jacob was a deceiver. His name was changed to Israel when he changed his life of deception. The word Israel literally means upright-deity. Jacob became upright in God’s eyes when his life changed.
Israel was Jacob’s new Spiritual name. Jacob’s genes did not change. Jacob and Esau were the twin sons of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham and Sarah – two Babylonians. Jacob and Esau were NOT “Jews.” In fact, Esau was an Edomite, and was NEVER considered a “Jew. Yet his twin brother, Jacob, is incorrectly thought to be the father of the “Jews” because he was the grandson of the Babylonian Abraham.
The word Israelite referred to Jacob’s offspring who worshipped the same God as Jacob/Israel. It was a Spiritual name. It has nothing to do with ethnicity.
The word Israelite does NOT mean “Jew.” The word Israelite referred to the fact that Israel’s offspring worshipped the God of heaven, rather than pagan gods.
5 For unto whom of the angels said He at any time, ‘Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?’ And again, ‘And let all the angels of God worship Him.’
God has had many “sons”. When earth’s corner stone was laid, all the sons of God shouted for joy (Job 38:7). Adam was a son of God (Luke 3:38) The particular point in this passage is the introduction of His Son, not by creation, but by begettal. Jesus is His only begotten Son. Jesus is the Visible form of the Invisible God.
To be “begotten” means “to come out from.” Jesus came “out from” the Father. He was “begotten” of the Father, because Jesus is the Visible form of the Invisible God. Jesus IS God – in human form.
6 And again, when He bringeth in the Firstborn into the inhabited earth, He saith, ‘And let all the angels of God worship Him.’
7 And of the angels, He saith, ‘Who maketh His angels blasts (breath – pnoe in the Greek, from the Greek word pneuma) and His ministers a flame of fire.
The King James Version translates verse 7 this way:
“Who maketh His angels spirits. . .”
The angels are like the forces of nature – the wind – mere instruments to carry out His will (Psalm 104:4).
8 But unto the Son, He saith, ‘Thy throne, O God, is for the eon of the eon, (Forever and ever); a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Thy kingdom.
The “eon of the eon” refers to the millennial eon, just as the “eon of the eons” refers to the eon that comes after the millennium – before we enter into eternity. (Again, see www.goodnewsaboutgod.com for the Bible study, “Does Forever Really mean “Forever”?
9 Thou has loved righteousness, and hated injustice; therefore, Thou art anointed by God, Thy God, with the oil of exultation beyond Thy partners.
10 And Thou, originally Lord, dost found the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thy hands
11 They shall perish, yet Thou art continuing, and all as a cloak, shall be aged.
“The destruction of the earth and the heavens is but a crisis in their change, for they are not to be made non-existent but they are to be created anew. All things are in a state of flux until he consummation. Only the Son remains the same, and through Him all else attains permanence and perfection.” (Concordant Commentary, pg 338
12 And as if clothing, wilt Thou be rolling them up, as a cloak also shall they change. But Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.
13 Now to which of the angels has He declared at any time, ‘Sit at My right, till I should be placing Thine enemies for a footstool for Thy feet?’
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Nothing is said here of the great part that angels play in the Judgment, for judgment, in its last analysis, is but a prelude to salvation.
Chapter 2
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that we have heard, lest at any time we should drift away.
2 For if the word spoken by angels came to be confirmed, and every transgression and disobedience obtained a just recompense reward,
God does not punish us for sin. We reap what we have sown.
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him.
4 God also bearing them witness both with signs and miracles and by various powerful deeds and partings of God’s Breath of Holiness, according to His will?
5 For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, where of we speak.
6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man that thou visitest him (takes care of him)?
Man’s inferiority to angels is only temporary. In the resurrection they will no longer be greater in strength and power (2 Peter 2:11)
7 You made Him a little lower than the angels; you crowned Him with glory and honor, and did set Him over the work of Thy hands
8 Thou has put all in subjection under His feet. For in the subjection of all to Him, He leaves nothing unsubject to Him. Yet now we are not as yet seeing ALL subject to Him.
ALL will be in subjection to Christ. Nothing will be unsubject to Him, even though we haven’t seen that yet. It will happen in the last eon. God will save everyone – after they have reaped what they have sown. That is Universal Restoration. God will eventually restore ALL humanity to Himself.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for the sake of everyone.
Jesus tastes death for the sake of everyone – for the salvation of everyone. But that does not mean that Jesus “died in our place” so we don’t have to die. Many Christians will be martyred in this life. But no one will die permanently; all eventually will be resurrected - whether in the first or second resurrection.
10 For it became Him, because of Whom all is, and through Whom all is, in leading (the) many sons into glory, to perfect the Captain (Inaugurator) of their salvation through sufferings.
Jesus died for ALL. He will save ALL. He will not just save “many.” He will save “the” many – meaning He will save ALL.
“Behold the Lamb of God who TAKES AWAY the sin OF THE WORLD.” John 1:29
11 For both He, Who is hallowing and those who are being hallowed are all of One, for which cause He is not ashamed to be calling them brethren
12 Saying, I will declare they name unto my brethren, in the midst of the ecclesia shall I be singing hymns to Thee.
13 And again, I will put my trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children that God hath given me.
“For the Father loves the Son and has given ALL into His hand.” John 3:35
“And this is the Father’s WILL (Not “desire”) that of ALL which He has given Me, I should lose nothing.” John 6:39
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part in the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
“The last enemy that shall be abolished, is death. . . . and God will be ALL in ALL.” 1 Cor. 15:26, 28
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (slavery).
16 For assuredly it is not take hold of angels, but it is taking hold of the seed of Abraham.
Who is the “seed of Abraham”?
“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:16,29
The “seed of Abraham” are all those who are true followers of Christ. The “seed of Abraham” does NOT refer to the “Jews.”
17 When He ought, in all things, to be made like the brethren, that He may be becoming a merciful and faithful High Priest in that which is toward God, to make a reconciliation for the sins of the people.
“For the sins of ALL the people.”
18 For in that He Himself has suffered being tempted, He is able to help those who are being tried.