The End Has Begun

 

The End Has Begun

 

For nearly 2000 years, since Christ Jesus ascended into heaven, Christian followers have been in expectation of His Second Coming. The early church, led by the apostles of Jesus, awoke each day in anticipation of Jesus’ return and every evening they went to sleep waiting for the next day in preparation for His return. Unfortunately, over the past centuries, Christians have become relaxed and complacent with regards to End Times prophesies which concludes with the church reuniting with Jesus in eternity. Lives were not being led as if each day would be their last day. One day turned into the next with many generations passing with no definitive presentation or expectation of Biblical prophesy.

 

However, that all changed on May 14, 1948, when David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel and U.S. President Harry S. Truman also recognized the new nation on the same day.

 

My interpretation of Biblical scripture translates May 14, 1948 as the first indisputable sign of “End Times” prophesy being fulfilled - Isaiah 66:7-8 “Before the birth pains even begin, Jerusalem gives birth to a son. Who has ever seen anything as strange as this? Who ever heard of such a thing? Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment? But by the time Jerusalem’s birth pains begin, her children will be born.”

 

Did you notice the claim that a nation will be born in a single day? May 14, 1948 was the single day when Isaiah 66:7-8 was fulfilled. One must remember that God gave that vision to Isaiah 740 years before the birth of Jesus. Did Isaiah realize what “… a nation born in a single day….” meant? Probably no, not any more than did this or previous generations understand until it happened. Even today, many Christians do not comprehend the magnitude of this one event has in fulfilling Biblical prophecy - all other End Times prophesy hinge upon this singular event.

 

Look at Jeremiah 16:14-15, “However, look, the days are coming” the Lord’s declaration “when it will no longer be said, ‘As the Lord lives who brought the Israelites from the land of Egypt,’ but rather, ‘As the Lord lives who brought the Israelites from the land of the north and from all the other lands where he had banished them. For I will return them to their land that I gave to their ancestors.”

 

Also Hosea 3:4-5, “For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or household idols. Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come with awe to the Lord and to his goodness in the last days.”

 

Since Rome destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70, Jews have been displaced all over the world. Israel was no longer their land; they had no temple to perform sacrifices, no place to call home.

 

But as important as it was for Israel to be recognized as an independent nation, another prophesy had to be sequenced into the order of End Times events. You see, in 1948 the United Nations returned only a small portion of what historically had been Israel’s land; it did not include the city of Jerusalem nor the Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights, Gaza Strip, or the West Bank. Without Jerusalem, the nation of Israel was still incomplete and the remaining End Time prophesies could not proceed.

But when Israel was attacked in 1967 by the enemies surrounding them, Israel overcame all military odds and at the end of the Six Day War, Israel reclaimed Jerusalem along with the other territories - and thus another prophesy among many fulfilled.

 

Zechariah 8:7-8 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: You can be sure that I will rescue my people from the east and from the west. I will bring them home again to live safely in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be faithful and just toward them as their God.”

 

Note: Remember that Israel has never occupied all of the land God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That, however, will soon come to pass following Jesus’ return.

 

So what remains to be fulfilled before the return of Christ Jesus? What about the Rapture? What about the signs regarding the seven year Tribulation period? What do I need to know? Most importantly…

 

What must I do before it’s too late?

 

(stay tuned)

Introduction to Biblical Healing

Biblical Healing – Introduction

(Part One in a series of Biblical Healing teachings)

First and foremost, I am humbled to be presenting God’s Word in a manner that I have known yet did not previously carry it out to fruition.

Please note that the information presented within is NOT of my opinion but from numerous sources - too many to list. However, I will try to let you know when I offer an opinion. 

Disclaimer (I borrowed from the Internet):

The following information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content is for general information purposes only. I make no representation and assume no responsibility for the accuracy of information contained in or available through this article, and such information is subject to change without notice. You are encouraged to confirm any information obtained from or through this web site with other sources and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician. NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION.  

The fun part is that some of the information you may disagree with, which is OK, but I ask only one consideration – if you disagree with any of the information then do the research and prove what is presented to be wrong. What I mean about research is not an opinion piece (webMD) that supports your argument, but true scientific data collaborated across all communities.

You see, everyone has an opinion and as allegedly quoted by Adolph Hitler:

“If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.”

As you will learn later, I was led into learning the truth about health because I believed the lie that was big enough and told frequently enough that I, along with most of the world, believed it.

Again, welcome. The first question that I have for you is “Why are we here” OK, think Biblically and eternally, why did God put us here?

The answer lies in Matthew 28:19, 20:

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

For that reason, we must start here to establish motivation and purpose before the proceeding with the follow-on presentation. You see, what I really want to discuss won’t fit in one presentation effectively, but we can start here.

Let us first establish some basic truisms / proverbs:

•         What does not strengthen our immune systems weakens it

•         There is not one prescription drug that heals*

•         God design our bodies to be self-regulating and self-healing

•         The medical industry does not profit from healthy people

•         The FDA was not created to protect us citizens

•         The Hippocratic Oath “Do No Harm” is no longer a requirement

•         General Practitioners are taught today to “manage disease” not “cure”

•         Medical Schools teach only one course in Nutrition

•          "Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food." – Hippocrates

•         Inflammation is the root cause of all diseases

•         National Institute of Health is comprised of 98+ pharmaceutical companies

•         Being Healthy is our natural state

•         God’s Word is Truth

*Antibiotics appropriately prescribed and appropriately applied may be an exception but with negative side effects)

Professional writers suggest one to focus on a maximum of three points, but I have this problem – I tend to deviate and go off on tangents so who knows where we travel but I must meet these three goals:

First: As Christians, why is our health so important since I have salvation?

Second: Why do I need the Bible when I have doctors, health insurance, and prescription drugs galore?

Third: Does the Bible really prescribe health guidance AND healing remedies?

OK, so let’s return to my opening question and recall your answers to – Why did God put us here by remember what the apostle Paul say about a believer’s body?

“Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So, you must honor God with your body.” (1 Cor 6:19 NLT)

So, how can we honor God with our bodies?

Do you realize that being healthy is our natural state? Being healthy is what God intended for us.

Besides, how can we be effective disciples if we are not in the best of health?

Yes, many of us have personally witnessed individuals within our church family being Christ-like while suffering through personal tribulations, some terminal - so I am not suggesting that God cannot use us if we are not perfectly well. Quite the opposite.

Then, what is our motivation to follow a path of health and healing?

 Well, let’s pose that question a bit differently. If our health as Christians is not important to us, or to God, then why did God give us plants for our medications (Ezekiel 47:12 and Revelation 22:2)?

“The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing. (NLT)”

“The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. (NLT)”

Then why did God provide specific foods as in Genesis 1:29: 

“Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. (NLT)”

Then why was healing part of Jesus’s ministry? (Jeremiah 30:17)

“I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,” says the LORD. (NLT)

Also in Luke 9:1:

“One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. (NLT)”

Obviously, we can cite instances in Scripture all night but one observation I find interesting is that almost every time Jesus healed spiritually, He also healed physically.

In consideration of those references, if physical health was important to Jesus, then should it not be important to us!

Also, as we will learn later in this discussion, as we segue from this introduction; there are (approximately)1,031 references in Scripture pertaining to “healing/anointing” oils - oil producing plants and their healing applications.  (Healing Oils of the Bible by David Stewart, Ph.D.)

To personalize this, the question for me, and perhaps all other Christians is:

“Why do I not consult the Holy Bible first for health and wellness direction instead of first running to the doctor’s office?”

Well, speaking for myself that is for something I need to continually pray about.

Then the question should be, who is responsible for our health? In comparison, could we ask who is responsible for our salvation?

Pastor?
Church?

Family member?

Spouse?

Friend?

Third Party

Nope, I alone am responsible for my health and my salvation.

But then, what role does the medical profession have to do with my health?

As of this writing, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ 2014):  

• The United States spends more on health care as a percentage of GDP than other developed countries, but Americans are less healthy.
• America spent more than 22% of its gross domestic product on medical care and drugs in 2022, yet our life expectancy at birth was only 78.8 years according to the latest data available--lower than most developed countries. In 2021, the U.S. spent 17.8% of gross domestic product (GDP) on health care, nearly twice as much as the average OECD country.
• The World Health Organization’s Ranking of the World’s Health Systems ranked the USA 37th, just two above Cuba. Why are we not #1?
• It's a chilling reality – one often overlooked in annual mortality statistics: Preventable medical errors persist as the No. 3 killer in the U.S. – third only to heart disease and cancer – claiming the lives of some 400,000 people each year.
• Nearly 100,000 Americans die every year from adverse reactions to FDA-approved prescription drugs. That's twenty-five times the number of people killed by H1N1 swine flu (even if you believe the CDC's numbers). So where's the big warning about the dangers of prescription drugs? Why isn't the CDC warning Americans about an "epidemic of dangerous drugs" that poses a far greater threat to your health? (Natural News)
• The Mayo Clinic lists acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) as one of the major causes of acute liver failure—and the most common cause of liver failure in the US. Within days of taking a very large dose of Tylenol, acute liver failure can develop. 
• Tylenol overdose may overwhelm the liver's defenses and cause liver damage or even liver failure. Liver failure can be fatal; the only known cure for acute liver failure is a liver transplant.  
• It is estimated that acetaminophen poisoning calls exceed 100,000 per year. Studies indicate that acetaminophen overdose results in over 56,000 injuries, 2,500 hospitalizations, and an estimated 450 deaths per year. (For more information on Acetaminophen poisoning visit eMedicalHealth.)

OK, Healthcare in America is deadly and Tylenol leads the list, but what about our individual habits? Are we making ourselves sick? Unfortunately, the answer is YES!

According to The Makers Diet by Jordan S. Rubin, our everyday habits and practices just may be leading us down the path to dis-ease! And you can be sure that this list is just a sampling.

 

Warning: You may get offended! This may step on some toes, but you may question any one of these points.

•  Staying out of the sun
• Going to bed after midnight
• Never letting them see you sweat
• Anti-perspirant (benzene, aluminum, parabens, phthalates, triclosan, Propylene glycol) vs. Deodorant
• Taking Megavitamins
• Consuming Fluoride (toothpaste, mouthwash, drinking water)
• Sugar or artificial sweeteners
• Seed Oils (corn, cotton seed, grapeseed, soybean, sunflower, rice bran, peanut, canola, safflower)
• Showering every day
• Body soap, shampoo or conditioner, skin or suntan lotions, etc.
• Perfume, after shave lotion, all "fragrances" highly toxic
• Chlorinated pools (drinking, swimming, bathing)
• Not breast-feeding babies (artificial breast milk)
• Pasteurized cow's milk vs. raw cow's milk
•  Getting tattoos
•  Getting all of your immunization shots (add COVID vaccine / booster shots)
• Traveling in airplanes frequently; Electric vehicles.
• Exposure to EMF (cell phones, microwave ovens, computer, tablet, and TV monitors; smart watches, smart utility meters) Rabbit hole: 5G is not for cell phones.
• Using commercial hygiene and antibacterial products
• Taking lots of medications
• Getting cavities filled with mercury or root canals (cavities can be healed (Xylitol))
• Over-doing aerobic exercises
• Wearing contact lenses / receiving implants / sunglasses
• Living in a toxic home
• Wearing synthetic (polyester) fabrics (rabbit hole - fiber frequencies)
• Breathing with shallow breaths / face masks
• Not fully chewing food
• Plastic food storage products, plastic wrap, aluminum foil
• Eating non-organic foods
• Wearing tight clothing
• Electing surgery to remove “unnecessary body parts”
• Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• Mammograms or other biopsies  
• Visiting your doctor often

(I suggest that you read the referenced book to learn the validity behind each of these points.)

Next, we are going to learn about Essential Oils (EO's) as related to Anointing oils. As an introduction to these oils, a quick comparison between EO’s and pharmaceutical drugs is in order.

The information below derived from Health Impact News, 2019, comparing Essential Oils to pharmaceutical drugs.

• Drugs and oils work in opposite ways. Drugs toxify; Oils detoxify.
• Drugs clog and confuse receptor sites. Oils clean receptor sites.
• Drugs depress the immune system. Oils strengthen the immune system.
• Pharmaceutical Antibiotics attack bacteria indiscriminately, killing both the good and the bad. Antibiotic oils attack only the harmful bacteria, allowing our body’s friendly flora to flourish.
• Drugs are one-dimensional, programmed like robots to carry out certain actions in the body, whether the body can benefit from them or not. When body conditions change, drugs keep on doing what they were doing, even when their actions are no longer beneficial.
•  Essential oils are multi-dimensional, filled with homeostatic intelligence to restore the body to a state of healthy balance. When body conditions change, oils adapt, raising or lowering blood pressure as needed, stimulating or repressing enzyme activity as needed, energizing or relaxing as needed. 
•  Oils are smart. Drugs are dumb.
• Drugs are designed to send misinformation to cells or block certain receptor sites in order to trick the body into giving up symptoms. But drugs never deal with the actual causes of disease. They aren’t designed for that purpose. While they may give prompt relief for certain uncomfortable symptoms, because of their strange, unnatural design, they will always disrupt certain other bodily functions. Thus, you always have some side effects.
• Oil molecules send information to cells and cleanse receptor sites so that they bring your body back to natural function. Oils are balancing to the body. Drugs are unbalancing to the body.
•  Oils address the causes of disease at a cellular level by deleting misinformation and reprogramming correct information so that cells function properly and in harmony with one another.
• With drugs, misinformation is fed into the cells so that some temporary relief may be obtained, but there is never any true healing. 
• Drugs only trade one kind of disease for another.
•  Because essential oils properly applied always work toward the restoration of proper bodily function, they do not cause undesirable side effects. They are feeding the body with truth. 
•  Drugs feed the body with lies. While no amount of truth can contradict itself, it doesn’t take many lies before contradictions occur and the body suffers ill effects.

Are you getting to see the difference between God's plan compared to the world's plan for your health and wellness? From the above comparison would you opt for God's anointing oils or man's pharmaceutical drugs?

Again, the purpose of this discussion was to establish motivation for you to continue on your quest of reaching optimum health; and purpose by disclosing that only you are responsible for your health. The “Biblical Healing” series should help influence you on your path to freedom from dis-ease! Always discuss your medical concerns with your medical physician but remember something very important - they were all trained by the pharmaceutical industry.

Biblical Healing II - Commentary

“Biblical Healing”
(Part Two in a series of Biblical Healing teachings)

Yes, I wanted to obey God’s commands and to obey His Word through obedience and prayer but I had not realized that I had segregated God by putting Him into a box where He ruled apart from another box where the world ruled, and the two boxes could not coexist, especially when it came to physical matters. You see, I knew God could perform miracle healing through faith and prayer but I defaulted the aches, pains and diseases to the every day world.

Do you do that too? Apart from prayer and anointing, did I rely upon God’s Word to lead me to Biblical Healing? Did I ever ask the Holy Spirit to lead me to His Word regarding health and medicinal issues? Did I just scan over those Bible passages that spoke of healing properties in God’s masterful design? Did I even realize that God’s ENTIRE creation was purposefully designed to self-regulate and self-heal, especially notable in all living matter. You will hear more later how our bodies are self regulating and self healing – something that our medical professionals are taught initially but then are taught to disregard. Same was true for me, and perhaps for you, taught that our bodies are self regulating and self healing, nonetheless understanding what that really means!

Quoting from the book Divine Healing by Andrew Murray the author reminds us that "Jesus came to deliver men from sin and sickness that He might make known the love of the Father. In His actions, in His teachings to the disciples, in the work of the apostles, pardon and healing are always to be found together. Either the one or the other may doubtless appear more in relief, according to he development or faith of those to whom they spoke”. End quote. 

There is that word - FAITH. Matthew 17:20: …"I say to you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

Could that proverbial mountain be one of bodily pain and physical suffering, perhaps as common as a cold or complex as cancer?

Again from Divine Healing: “We see, by the accounts given in the Gospels, that it was more difficult for the Jews at that time to believe in the pardon of their sins than in divine healing. (Unfortunately) Now it is just the contrary.”

It is at this point I must separate this discussion from Divine Intervention - that being a matter of one’s individual faith – separate from God’s material provisions for man’s natural healing.

Little did I know that the Holy Bible is also a shopping list complete with healing prescriptions and recipes for what is ailing me now or perhaps preventing future dis-ease. 

Think of all the illnesses, diseases, or medical conditions that you have endured or a currently suffering through. Now think of all the medications that you have taken of are currently exposed to along with their detrimental side effects.

So, what if, now, what if … pure speculation … what if you could substitute man’s chemicals with God’s creation and experience real healing?

Do you believe?

Christmas Greetings 2017

Christmas Greetings!

It does not seem like three years have passed since our last “Christmas Greetings” newsletter but here we are on the verge of the year 2018! The challenge now is to recall some of the events that may interest you and considering that the memory is the second thing to go as one ages this should prove to be fun! We could review all the fun and activities we experience living here in The Villages (TV) but someone near and dear does not want to hear about TV so I will try to avoid that subject - yeah sure. 

The sad part of life is losing a family member long before expected and last December we said good bye to my younger brother Tommy. Of the seven siblings he was number 5 and as children we used to rib Tommy about being the only “southpaw” and then later in life how much he resembled the “old man”! Of course now we take credit for instilling in him a great sense of humor and a loving, caring disposition.  Semper Fi Tommy!

What has become a much anticipated event is the annual Tracey Family reunion of which, thankfully, continued this year! Typically we opt for a location different from the previous year yet near one of the family member’s home so they can host the gathering, but it was held here again because of the range of activities and attractions around the Orlando area and especially here in The Villages (oops, I mentioned TV again)! Something to do for all the age groups even if one wants to do nothing but enjoy time with the grandkids. Now that our oldest grandchild is preparing to enter the college world in 2018, future family reunions may pose a greater challenge to amass the troops at the same time in the same place for the same reason!

                                  

Another annual event that Patty & I look forward to is the Military Ball hosted by the Retired Military Family Group. It’s a great evening of pomp and circumstance, with food, fun and dancing, shared by those that served our country in any of the U.S. military branches. There was no one kneeling in protest at this grand patriotic gathering. Although not required, it’s great to don the uniform again, especially without alterations to make it fit (ha)!

Home is where our church is and for us we found our place at Calvary Chapel Villages (CCV). This past year CCV separated itself from Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale and became a planted church, totally dependent upon God’s grace for its existence and purpose. Patty and I both answered callings to

serve with Patty singing in the choir and greeting attendees while I am enjoying my role as a Deacon. 2017 found us in a new facility with ample room for fellowship, ministries, and of course the popular “breaking of bread” pot luck dinners. Although today our facility is outside The Villages (oops again) property line, soon enough there will be a multimodal bridge built adjacent to us which will allow Villagers to drive golf carts here to church! How cool is that?

Oh yeah, then there was Hurricane Irma which, for us, was more worry than wind, thank God!

Looking forward to 2018, our desire is to continue traveling to visit family and friends which includes a trip(s) to CT to visit with MomT as she approaches her 95^th year. Of course staying healthy and fit is our new lifestyle because the alternative is not conducive to our plans. Our humble abode is always open to visitors so if you find yourself near The Villages (last time I will mention TV), be sure to stop in and visit for awhile.

In closing we wish you a

 

Blessed Christmas

 and a happy, healthy 2018!

http://allenmichaelsblog.blogspot.com/

Matthew 2:11 (Biblical Healing III)

Matthew 2:11
(Part Three in a series of Biblical Healing teachings)



“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him:

 gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

Before we investigate the Biblical healing properties contained within this verse of Matthew’s, I must vent some and my attention is directed to anyone that professes to hold Biblical truth yet perpetuates the myth that there were three wise men and that they were present at the birth of Jesus.  

 Let’s look at a typical Christmas Nativity scene:

As the question goes, what is wrong with this picture, and as always, we must trust God’s holy word to provide the answer. 

 Matthew 2:1. “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,”

 Key word “after” not “when”; and one must also consider when and from where the wise men started their journey:

 Matthew 2:2.saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

 Important here is that the wise men first saw the star and then traveled afterwards from the East. Considering that travel on ELAL airlines would have been difficult back then, camels could not have made that journey in a few hours, or days, or weeks, or months, but perhaps years taking into consideration travel preparation, shopping lines at Wal-Mart, and finally a courtesy visit to King Herod before completing their trek to Bethlehem.”

 Matthew 2:7-8. “Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared, and he sent them to Bethlehem….”  

 Finally the wise men reach their destination:

 Matthew 2:11. “And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

Another key word being “young”, not infant. Some speculate that Jesus was around two years of age but again, speculation is not necessarily truth.

So, according to God’s Word, the wise men should not be included in a nativity scene nor should there be an assumption of “three” wise men, Yes, Matt 2:11 alludes to three gifts presented but no reference to the number of wise men present. Three is a logical deduction, maybe, but not Biblically supported! 

OK, I am done venting for now!  Thanks for being patient with me; it’s just a “bug-a-boo” of mine! (there is actually a definition for bug-a-boo)

Now let’s look at what we came here for:

“gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

(Because this article is the second of an anticipated series of articles, I recommend that you refer back to “Biblical Healing I” and read the clarifications presented on essential oils, inflammation, Gas Chromatography, and my most important (legal) disclaimer. To further clarify, I am not a medical doctor, nor do I hold any type of licensed nutritionist degree or certification, but I have slept at a Holiday Inn! Else, I am just an ordinary soul seeking truth and capitalizing on the knowledge of those that are most qualified in the fields of nutrition, health, and in God’s Word.)

When I read the accounts in Matthew 2 pertaining to the gifts from the Magi, I questioned the significance of gold, frankincense, and myrrh in relation to their recipient, Jesus, the Messiah. Why these elements and why recorded in scripture for us to know centuries later?

Nothing in the Holy Bible addresses the purpose of the three gifts from the Magi, but historical and traditional accounts offer a few suggestions. For example, according to the Biblical Archaeology Society, these valuable items were standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world: gold as a precious metal, frankincense as perfume or incense, and myrrh as anointing oil.

On a more symbolic nature, scholars think that these three elements were chosen for their special spiritual symbolism about Jesus himself—gold representing his kingship, frankincense a symbol of his priestly role, and myrrh a prefiguring of his death and embalming. (Ref: Biblical History Daily)

Yet another interpretation suggests that these gifts were of a healing nature whereas frankincense greatly inhibits inflammation (there is that word again); Myrrh used for antiseptic / antibiotic. Gold, you ask? How does gold fit into healing remedies? Well, I have my own (yes, I can think independently) thought on gold pertaining to Matt 2:11! Just be patient.

As an interesting side note, we know that Jesus fulfilled 351 Old Testament Prophecies.  In the Book of Isaiah, when describing Jerusalem’s restoration, Isaiah tells of nations and kings who will come and “bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:6).

Not in the order presented above let’s start with:

Frankincense:

Mentioned 23 times in the Holy Bible (NIV):

Applications for Frankincense E.O. (ref: my.draxe.com/essential-oils)

 

• Stress Relieving Bath Soak
• Natural Household Cleaner
• Natural Hygiene Product
• Anti-Aging; Wrinkle Fighter
• Relieves symptoms of Indigestion
• Scar, Wound, Stretch Mark, or Acne Remedy
• Natural Cold or Flu Medicine
• Anti-Cancer Applications
• Relieves Inflammation and Pain

(As a reminder from my Biblical Healing I blog post, “Basically everything from a cough to cancer finds its origins from inflammation”.)

Myrrh:

Mentioned 18 times in the Holy Bible (NIV):

Applications for Myrrh E.O. (ref: my.draxe.com/essential-oils)

• Potent anti-oxidant
• Anti-cancer benefits
• Anti-bacterial
• Anti-fungal
• Anti-parasitic
• Skin health
• Relaxation agents

(Note to reader: Different Bible translations may disagree on the number of times an “oil” is mentioned, probably due to the similarities of the plant extracts and/or their duplicity in application. That is my guess and I am sticking with that!)

Now we come to “gold” and this is where the fun starts. As mentioned above, according to the Biblical Archaeology Society, gold was a precious metal and symbolically, gold represented kingship. However, as one would surmise, gold possesses no healing properties. Right?

Well, maybe not right!

(I enjoy studying the Holy Bible using the “Inductive” study methodology through inductive reasoning - the attempt to use information about a specific situation to draw a conclusion. Simply, the Inductive steps are: observation (what does it say?), interpretation (what does it mean as defined?), and application (how does it pertain back then and perhaps today?). In today’s vernacular, it (God’s Word) is what it is and nothing else. If a word or thought cannot be defined then it is left at that, undefined. Inductive keeps guess-work out of interpretation.)

So here is my thought process: Like most people I accepted the assumption that the gold mentioned in Matthew 2:11 was the precious metal that we call gold. However, as my journey led me more into the world of Biblical / Natural healing the fact that gold, being a metal, while Frankincense and Myrrh, being plant-based, did not balance with me, so I did some “inductive” research. I found that the Hebrew word for gold is Mikhreh zahav, and the Greek word for gold is χρυσός/chrysós. Unique with the Hebrew and Greek languages is that that rarely do these languages have words with more than one meaning, unlike the English language. Further investigation revealed that regardless of gold metal or gold color, the Hebrew and Greek words are the same, that is, there are not different words distinguishing gold (metal) from gold (color). This finding was significant to me because it meant that perhaps the gold could be a precious plant-based item which would compliment the other two plant-based items, Frankincense and Myrrh.

Yes, I already had something in mind as I pursued into this discovery and that something was turmeric, or its derivative curcumin. Why Turmeric? Well, there is the correlation that it is golden in color which translates to either Mikhreh zahav or χρυσός/chrysós, but that alone is a weak argument by itself, so let’s look at the health applications for turmeric. You could Google this yourself but I did the work for you and according to “dailynaturalremedies.com”, the major benefits of turmeric (or curcumin) are:

• It’s an anti-inflammatory (there is that word again)
• It’s a powerful antioxidant
• It improves brain function
• It can help depression
• Eases arthritis
• It can be used to treat cancer
• It reduces the risk of heart disease
• Slows the process of aging
• Helps manage insulin levels
• It’s easy to incorporate into your diet (unlike Frankincense and Myrrh)

So, what is my point?

Well, what my point is not is that I am not trying to convince you that the word “gold” in Matthew 2:11 is actually a plant and not a precious metal. As I described about the inductive study method “If a word or thought cannot be defined then it is left at that, undefined.” Therefore, all we are left with an interesting quandary.

However, what my point, or pursuit of this lengthy dialogue is… if young Jesus was presented with “golden” Turmeric, Frankincense and Myrrh, then He would presumably be gifted with the three elements that could prevent, or cure, any sickness or disease known to mankind. Because of that possibility, for me, turmeric is more the logical gift over gold because good health is priceless!

As with most Bible studies, one is incomplete unless we can try to wean what was learned from scripture and apply it to the here and now. The same holds for this “Bible study” as I offer you this application.

Think of all the illnesses, diseases, or medical conditions that you have endured or are currently suffering through. Now think of all the medications that you have taken of are currently exposed to with their detrimental side effects. What if, now, what if … pure speculation … you could substitute man’s chemicals with God’s creation and experience real healing?

Do you believe?

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