Selah! “Suspended”...Part 2

Selah! “Suspended”

Selah at the Hinom Valley

As Christ looked down from Golgotha, He did so from a mechanism of wood and iron, fixed with pins. He was suspended on high from a fixture familiar to both farmers and sailors, to soldiers and civilians. While in this suspended state, He suffered in agony and slow asphyxiation as long thin stakes (or “nails”) were protruding through His anklebones and into the bend of His wrists. These were driven mercilessly through His body, and into the wood of the Cross. His agony was intensified in that the Romans nailed His arms with one elbow up and one elbow down. This position is mimicked in modern times as a type of anti-climax stage-freeze jazz-dance pose (often with a hat in one hand). Its hidden meaning is to mock Christ at the Cross. If we invert the Hebrew letter Alef by 90 degrees onto its point, depending on the writing style, we will usually see the intent of the letter as “Christ crucified”. This position, which Messiah found Himself in, with one elbow up and one elbow down, forced His bones out of joint over the course of His six hours of suffering upon that Cross.

From this location, at Golgotha, Jesus would have looked to the right up the Kidron Valley, where He was in; but also He would have looked just a little off to His left and straight into the Hinom Valley as well. As He looked into the Hinom, at about his 10 o’clock visual position, 12 o’clock being due west, there Christ saw Judas the traitor, dead by his own hand in suicide. This tract of land is known as Haceldama or “the field of blood” to this day. Judas died, hanging on a tree limb over a small precipice on the southeast Hinom, by means of a rope about the neck; in full view of millions who packed the Kidron and Hinom Valleys, and just left him there. What is important to note, is the silent affirmation of the historical witness to these facts. Notice that there is never an accusation against Christ, of how that Judas sold Him out, and then could not bear to look upon the face of his master or “Raboni”. There is also never a refusal by the priesthood, to say that they did not buy Judas off for 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus. Had this occurred, we would have a Talmudic account, a reference in Josephus, or by the Roman historians: because the outcry would have been too great to not notice, and utilize to put the Christians down as fraudulent. Yet, no record exists, because Christians were called “Chrestians” by the Romans, which means “the gracious (and honest) ones”.

Now, at about Christ’s 2 o’clock field of view, He would have seen -- over the many hundreds of thousands of the multitudes who filled the Kidron Valley -- the irrigation conduit of the Pool of Siloam, which emptied out into the Kidron. As the masses moved, people ran to and from this conduit, collecting water for the thirsty in the Valleys below. From the Cross, Jesus was able to behold the processes of both death and life.



Selah in Gematriac context

In Gematria, Selah and Salah have a value of 95. This is the same value as Hinom
(הנמ). Hinom, of course, is one of the two valleys to which Christ was crucified, the valley of burnings. Here, every 8th feast Day of Tabernacles, the Jewish men of Israel burned their makeshift huts, and gave thanks to YHVeH, in recollection of Isaiah 66:24, which tells them that in the Kingdom, in the New Heavens and the New Earth,

"they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses
of the men that have transgressed against Me: [YHVeH]
for their worm shall not die,
neither shall their fire be quenched;
and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.” KJV

After the value of 95, the value of Selah and of Hinom: what is being told to us about this valley and juncture south of the Temple Mount? It is a place for one who is held in "contempt" or PUT (פוט). Both Jesus who was cast out and crucified here, and on the other side of the same valley, Judas Iscariot, who hanged himself on the tree while viewing Christ crucified. The tree-limb, on which the body of Judas hung, snapped. Judas was then plunged at least 30 feet or more below into the Valley of Hinom, onto some sharp rocks, and was disemboweled. That Valley depth or even greater has been covered since at least A.D. 70, when the Romans filled it during the siege of Jerusalem.
Whether of a right heart, as a disciple; or through a sinister intent, as a zealot or anti-Christian: we all "chase or follow after" Tseda (צדא) YHVeH Messiah.
The wicked cannot help but to "bubble up and froth over" Pachez (פחז) against YHVeH's anointed, and YHVeH Himself.
They would rather offer up drink offerings to some mythical "queen" Milkah/Malkah (Mem-Lamed-Kaf-He) of Heaven. King David sung it of Messiah’s rejection by the people in exchange for idols in this way:
“Sons of men, until when is My Glory? For a reproach (concerning this) will you love vanity and seek out a lie (instead)? Selah.”
(Psalm 4:2)

At some of the modern Passover Seder Celebrations in America, songs are sung also in reverence of “the queen of Heaven” in preference to YHVeH Messiah. Those cakes eaten to the “queen of Heaven” also bore the sign of the cross upon them. The custom of “dessert” still carries this form of indulgence for the “theoi”, “the disposers”, whose god is the belly. Therefore, the idolatry of Baal and the pouring forth of drink offerings to demons are not far from our lips and acts of recognition in our own day. Sadly, this has been embraced as part of the "Jewish ness" of the culture, much like some of the ancient cults engaged in by their Fathers which led to the taking of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon; and were rebuked by GOD, through His prophet, for it (re: Jeremiah 7:18; 44:15-30).

At the Hinom Valley, we have the choice between two sights: Jesus on the Cross, or Judas hung from a tree and then disemboweled upon the rocks below. We have, after the value of 95, the choice of being able "to watch and be observant" - Yiscah (יסכה);
or, to suffer "dishonor and shame", "to suffer disgrace and confusion" - Kelimmah (כלמה).

It is Ge-Hinom, which is called "gehenna" in the Greek: translated as "hell", the "place of burnings". Here, in the Plateia of the city, the outer darkness, is Naham (נהם): the "growls, snarls, and roars" which YHVeH Messiah says is the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (cf. Matthew 8:12, 13:42, 13:50, 22:13, 24:51, and 25:30).

Hinom is set in prophecy for a place in which Selah (סלה) is Manah (םנה): "ordained, set, appointed" as a measure or weight weighed out, carefully analyzed and considered. The Manah refers directly to YHVeH Messiah. In the Hebrew, the Bread from Heaven is called "manna"; and even though its spelling lacks the "H" (ה), being spelled as "man" (מן); yet after the Greek transliteration, we see it pronounced as though the "H" were present as "manna" (μαννα). The word manna, is taken to mean "bread" in the Greek description of it: for example, John 6:32-33. Literally, this Hebrew word of "manna" spelled as "M-N" means: "What's this?"

In the New Testament, we read how that "manna" to the First Century Hebrew, and to us, is the bread of Heaven. Jesus clearly tells us in John chapter 6, that He is the True Bread, the true "manna" from Heaven. Unfortunately, when many people look at Jesus and the Cross, they cannot help but gaze in a lack of understanding and also say "What's this?", without the comprehension of what they are saying. In effect, "What's this?" is a correct answer, because translated back into the Hebrew, their question becomes an affirmation of identity: "manna", which translated means "What's this?"

After the value of 95, we see that this "manna" which is the Bread come from
Heaven, is like the Chelbenah (Chet-Lamed-Beth-Nun-He): an "odorous gum that is comparable to fat".
On the Cross, Adayahu (Alef-Dalet-Yod-He-Vav) "YH has adorned" Him, in order to Miklah (Mem-Kaf-Lamed-He): "to make complete or whole" Fallen Man. The word Miklah also speaks of the formation of a pen or fold for sheep; and YHVeH Messiah talked about the building of His Church, and the restoring of lost sheep back into the fold of those who have been obedient to Him.

The purpose of the Cross, as we also see in the value of 95 and the other things we have gone over, is the revelation of the knowledge of Christ; and a right relationship with GOD. We see this with passages such as "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto Me.” (John 12:32). “Selah” Gematrically reveals the very identity of YHVeH Messiah, after the value of 95, as: HaMelek (He-Mem-Lamed-Kaf) - "the King", and Daniel (Dalet-Nun-Yod-Alef-Lamed): " the Judge of GOD."

When Luke wrote Paul's Gospel in ca. July of 57 A.D.,9 which over 100 years later was referred to as Hebrews, he wrote of how that we are called to enter into the rest that the LORD provides for His servants, saying,

"For we which have believed do enter into rest…
For he that is entered into rest, he has also ceased from his
own works, as GOD from His.
Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest…." (Hebrews 4:3a, 10-11a) KJV

That Sabbath rest is the Selah, it is a suspension of works and efforts directed at ourselves. This illustration can be seen in the very Hebrew words used for resting or ceasing on the Shabbat. In the Bible, the rabbis inform us how that GOD stops (Genesis 2:2), He rests (Exodus 20:11), and then the example is given us of what was on GOD’s mind at the making of the Sabbath. To which we are referred to I Samuel 25:9, where we see the example of King David’s “mouthpiece” / “logos” / “messenger” / “angel”, after having spoken what his king instructed him, he then has nothing more to say.

Therefore, the Sabbath rest of Selah is the activity of stopping, being refreshed, and no further need for words. It is as if words themselves, are become a form of "work". Thus, when we accept this, we can accept the Gematriac teaching in 2 Kings 14:7, that the word Selah is equated with Joktheel: which means "subdued by GOD". We are also admonished by this, that on the Sabbath, the activity of speaking more than what is necessary, is also a form of work. Therefore, if one is truly to keep the Sabbath as according to the Law of Moses, he had best keep his prayers short, true from the heart, and to the point. But according to the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2), which is free from the Law of Moses (a Law dealing with sin and death), prayer ceases to be like a slave addressing his King in a form of humility. Rather, prayer becomes more of a friend to the Prince relationship (John 15:13-15), who are gladly welcomed and honored as if family by the King, for the sake of His dear Son.


Thought upon Selah, the Suspension, and the Sabbath rest

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live….” (Galatians 6:20)

Selah! “Suspended”...Part 1

Selah

Selah (סלה). In the songs of David, SeLaH was an utterance where an entire world of musical noise, in the song, was called to a stop. “Selah” is a stillness, “as a silence that hangs in the air”, within a song. It holds an expectation of anticipation, energy, and power. It is a time set aside and apart from all words, as a Sabbath (a time of rest) of holy silence as though a vision is being played over in every mind. Whether the music was flowing in a smooth melodic tempo, or in a wild crescendo, when the word "Selah" is sung: all the worshippers, all the musicians, all noise, all activity, comes to an abrupt halt. "Selah" is a call to be still, and know that GOD is.

In Habakkuk 2:20, the idea of Selah is conveyed in the words,
"YHVeH is in the ‘Hushed and Silent Temple of His Holiness’,
(and) before Him, (is) all the Earth.” (Translation mine)

while in Zephaniah 1:7, the reason for Selah is revealed as:
"Be hushed and silent before the Lord YHVeH:
for drawing near to battle is the Day of YHVeH:
because YHVeH hath prepared and appointed a sacrifice,
He has consecrated those called and summoned by proclamation.” (Translation mine)

In aleitheia (the true reality), Selah is a call to stop, pause, and reflect on the 3 hours of light, and 3 hours of darkness in which Christ hung upon the Cross. It is the this theme that is to be reflected upon as the Church takes Communion. Selah is a time to reflect on what GOD has done for us, and upon the sacrifice, which YHVeH (not man) has prepared. This gives us pause upon the Two Sacrifices of Judaism:
1) the upright Passover sacrifice, of a crucified lamb, cooked upright in that state upon a spit, with its intestines wrapped about its head and called the "horned" or "crowned sacrifice"; and
2) the escape goat that is led into the wilderness with scarlet wool wrapped about its head, to take upon itself the sins of all Israel during Yom Kippur.

One occurs in the spring for the benefit of no less than a group of 13, the lawful size of a "Community" AND THE Gematriac equivalent of "Love" in the Hebrew is - הבהא "Ahavah": a value of 13. This size is reflected in YHVeH Messiah's choice of having 12 anointed Disciples, who with Him, were representatives of GOD’s love to the world. Again, we see “love,” (the value of 13), with the 12 tribes of Israel represented by the Priestly tribe, whose number is not de facto counted as 13, but whose inheritance is from the LORD. In other words, the 13th member takes on the attribute of the Heavenly, while the 12 take on the attribute of the earthly. The Alef א is the abbreviation for “GOD” in the Hebrew - Elohim.{1}


The Alef - Havah
Separated in the word Ahavah, or “love”, it forms the identification of two words: Alef - havah, which in Gematria means “GOD breathes into existence”. Therefore, the very act of GOD creating Adam, and breathing into his nostrils “the breath of life”(Genesis 2:7), was an act of love. The souls of men are thereby “GOD breathed”, and must be “GOD redeemed” with the same concept as the exhaling breath. The name YHVeH is the sound of our breath in our nostrils (Lamentations 4:20), and is the name of our Messiah. The inhalation is the masculine YH (represented in the GOD-head by the Father and the Son); while the exhale is the feminine VeH (represented in the GOD-head by the Holy Spirit). This tells us, that since man was created by the feminine exhale breath of GOD, so also must all eternal life be born of the Holy Spirit; and physical life be birthed through the females of the species.
The Origin of the living engine of the soul of man, which is left as a hollow hole in the unbelievers, is in reality the place where G-D is supposed to come and dwell within each one of us. It is a ready-made structural design, to be filled by the Spirit of GOD...and was and is still birthed to a filling by the breath (as it were), such as the power of the spoken word in faith and trust into Christ Jesus as LORD and Savior. The soul that has fallen away in a state of sin (e.g., unbelief), following this line of reasoning, then must be redeemed also by the spoken word as well. Because it was mistrust that caused man to fall, it is by obedient trust or “faith” to which man finds his way back to GOD. That route of return is limited to one lone and narrow cross that stands in the vast wilderness where all other ways lead to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). We must trust the spoken word, Christ our LOGOS (John 1:1), and step through the dimensions of time and space through the only portal that will save us: the Cross.

Between 9 am and 12 pm on March 23, A.D. 30, very probably only those of the small faction that caused Christ to be crucified did call out words against Him, and mocked Him. But when the sun was high, and noon came, the whole world changed, and fell into darkness.{2} The sun fell into the blackness of sackcloth, the stars withdrew their light, the Cross may have taken on the appearance of having begun to smoke, and the moon shone a blood red ambiance upon the land.{3} The majority of the Jewish nation, who watched on like silent lambs, now did so with great sadness. And this they did, not knowing or understanding, not perceiving with eye or the ear, what was truly going on and taking place. They, like we -- had we been there -- stood stunned, and in a daze as if it all were an actual, living dream. But it wasn’t a dream. It was a happening.

As Christ hung upon the Cross, suspended between Heaven and Earth, when darkness enveloped the earth at about 12 noon: the wind was silent, the sky was clear, and a holy hush lay upon all of Jerusalem and its hills. There Jesus, who had 4000 plus years before breathed into Adam the breath of life as YHVeH, now as a man, whipped to shreds and pieces that hung on His skeletal frame, breathed in and out after the manner of one being strangled to death. Literally, now Christ breathed in death, that by His breathing in the form of one dead -- though yet alive in the physical -- He might breathe forth again eternal life. Wherefore as GOD He gave life to man, as man He gave up the death-state of man as atonement to GOD the Father, that all men, dead in trespasses in sins in the living flesh, might breathe forth the spoken word of faith and trust, and be redeemed unto GOD, once and for all time -- and beyond time itself. And as Christ breathed out His last, and the earth quaked, and the veil of the Temple rent, and the wind roared forth in great fury, as an entire nation fell to the ground and fell prostrate. There is a claim in Jewish Tradition that every synagogue but one in Jerusalem fell in that moment. That is a number akin to 499 buildings falling to the ground. When those moments were over, the Roman centurion spoke in a loud voice for all to hear, in words to this effect: “Surely this Righteous One, was a son of the gods.”{4} In response, the people acknowledging the intent of the centurion’s message, that Christ was the “son of GOD”, then beat their chests in mourning and deep heartfelt lament, and returned home overcome with grief (Luke 23:48).


א (Alef) and the Revelation of the Trinity

The letter Alef א holds the value of 1, which is the Heavenly. This letter hangs and hovers over the 12 of the earthly, even as the Holy Spirit hovered, fluttered, and moved upon the face of the waters in Genesis 1:2. The letter Alef hangs, quivers, and flutters as the Eternal Life of us hanging over us.

This Alef is shown in its very concept to be Trinity by the rabbis, and the eternal affirmation of Trinity, even as GOD is Trinity. Alef is formed by a yod (י) in the upper right, and a yod (י) in the lower left, joined in the middle by a Vav (ו).{5} The upper Yod (י) holds a value of 10, and represents the abbreviation for the name of YHVeH, which we Gentiles translate as Jehovah or LORD. In the Alef, the upper right yod represents the Heavenly Father YHVeH. The lower Yod (י), which supports, represents YHVeH the Holy Spirit. The Vav represents Messiah, He who is both man and GOD, having both the Heavenly and earthly attributes in one form. He, as the Vav (ו), has come down as the eternal Life from Heaven, from YHVeH Father (the upper yod). He has lived life as a man -- the Vav (ו): which holds a value of 6. He has died, and entered into the lowest depths of death; but by the power of GOD, He has risen from the dead. His ministry of Messiah being designated to eternally be supported by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of GOD the Father. Together, as One, these three letters value a total of 26, the same as YHVeH יהוה- Jehovah, LORD.

Thus, the Sh’ma of Deuteronomy 6:4 -
“Hear, listen carefully, and obey, O Israel!
YHVeH your GOD, YHVeH is One united!” (Translation mine)

And how do we see YHVeH united as One? In the Alef. Turned 90 degrees it becomes to us as the Cross, in its appearance. Therefore, to behold Christ upon the Cross, is to behold the mystery of the Trinity of GOD; whom in remembrance of this Day, will ever after call His own Name as “One” (Zechariah 14:9). This very concept, for man, involves the intensity of silenced and hushed meditation. It takes a need for a concentrated grasping of the far-reaching ness. Thus, in both the Cross and the letter Alef, Selah is found to be a reflection of how Christ died for the Community, for you and me, and for the nation of Israel.



Thought upon Selah and the Cross from the Psalms:

“YHVeH is made known in the Judgment He has made and brought about:
in the work of the bend of His Hands [.i.e., in His wrists]
are the wicked ensnared (as in a noose). A Meditation. Selah!” (Psalm 9:16, translation mine)


Selah is the suspension of both Time and Space.
When Time and Space are intertwined in a moment of eternity, we see a synonym in "Talah" (תלה), the Hebrew verb that means, "to hang". In Isaiah 22:24, Talah is used to describe a "hanging like a peg" (perhaps 'on a wall' would be a best word picture illustration for us). In Psalm 137:2, Talah is descriptive of the "hanging" of a (traveling) musician's lyre upon a tree in a foreign land. In Job 26:7, when the earth is described as hanging upon nothing, while "talah" is used in this verse, "selah" is visualized. However, the relationship between Selah and Talah does not end there. In Esther 7:9, the Greek Version (LXX, or the Septuagint) uses the Greek word "stauroo" in translating "talah".{6} In other words, after Haman was hung by a rope, he was impaled up high on the instrument of death, like a peg some 50 cubits high, fixed as an example to all.

In Deuteronomy 21:22ff, after the offender 'worthy of death' is stoned dead, he is then impaled and "hung upright" as though a dead image. Yet, quite often, the neurological system is still somewhat active, as many corpses may still have the post mortem "quivers". This aspect is important, because TaLaH (as a root word) has a derivative in the Hebrew word "teli" (תלי), which literally means: "to quiver". The nails pierced the hands of Christ through the bone in the bend of the hands at the wrists, right through the major nerves. This will make the hands go limp, the thumbs to bend into the palms, and the arms to quiver. Add a mildly breezy cold day in March, and strip Messiah of all garments, and the whole body will shiver and shake. So it is at this point that the next passage of Deuteronomy strikes home between Jew and Gentile unbelievers alike, as the literal reading of Deuteronomy 28:66 (in light of this) tells them:
"And your LIFE shall be hanging and quivering before you,
and you shall tremble with fear, and dread night and day,
because you do not believe into your LIFE." (Translation Mine)

The LIFE that is talked about in Deuteronomy 28:66 is YHVeH Messiah, who is the way, and the truth, and the LIFE (John 14:6); who for us men and for our salvation, came down from Heaven, and offered Himself as a ransom/sacrifice for our sins. One of the disciples of John the Apostle, Ignatius, whom became bishop of Antioch of Syria, used the example of his "love name" as an illustration of "selah" for us. In either 107 or 116 A.D. (depending on which historical reference you accept), Ignatius spoke with Caesar Trajan in Antioch of Syria. At the time, Trajan may have been warring in the East and decided to visit Syria. Antioch of Syria was third after the capitol of Rome in Italy, and Alexandria of Egypt. Trajan addressed Ignatius of his knowledge that Ignatius was secretly called "Theophorus": 'he whom GOD lifts up.’ But Ignatius corrected the Emperor, before being banished to death by wild animals in the Coliseum of Rome, saying that "Theophorus" should actually be interpreted as 'he who has Christ within his breast.’ To Ignatius, every believer who has Christ, experiences "selah".{7} Every believer is to be GOD - breathed from within. We are given a new and eternal nature that lays sin dormant (Romans 6:2-12).


The Selah Instrument of Jesus Christ -- the Cross
Again, this following quote, which bears repeating: in part because its clarity and truth concerning the mechanics involved in the Crucifixion has been so neglected by scholars; and in part, because it so accurately word-pictures "Selah" and suspension for us:
In the Syriac of Ignatius' letter to the Ephesians, .9., Ignatius clarifies this to us, writing:
"And you are prepared for the building of GOD the Father,
and you are raised up on high by the instrument of Jesus Christ, which is the Cross,
and you are drawn by the rope, which is the Holy Spirit;
and your pulley, is your Faith;
and your Love [Heb. “ahavah” - your GOD - breathed trust] is that Way
[or Path] which leads up on high to GOD."

When Christ was crucified, He was nailed to a Cross, and suspended upon the Cross; the Cross being lifted up by means of a rope and pulley. So too, by the Holy Spirit and Faith, Christ is lifted up and suspended in the breast of every believer and our love of Christ is that Way, which we then follow up on high to GOD the Father, through Christ our LORD. Selah.

The drawing up of the Cross, by rope-and-pulley, was accomplished by means of metal stakes that were driven into the Cross; which was a more sophisticated task than most modern scholars and lay people comprehend. Tertullian, the renowned Carthaginian Christian lawyer who resided and practiced in Rome from ca. 190 - 210 A.D., furthers our understanding about the Cross upon which Christ was crucified, saying:
" 'His glory, is that of a bullock. His horns, are that of a unicorn; (and) with them, shall He push the nations to the very ends of the Earth.' He was not, of course, designated as a mere unicorn with its one horn, or a Minotaur with two; but Christ was indicated in him -- a bullock, in respect of both His characteristics -- to some, as a severe Judge; to others, as a gentle Savior; whose horns were the extremities of His Cross. For the antenna, which is part of the Cross, the ends are called horns; while the mid-way stake of the whole frame is the Unicorn. His Cross is then, by this virtue and in this manner, "horned". He is both now pushing all nations through Faith, bearing them away from Earth to Heaven; and will then push them through Judgment, casting them down from Heaven to Earth." (Tertullian, Against Marcion, Book 3, Chapter 18)

Here we see a long metal protrusive stake through the back of the Cross, which is called a "unicorn". We also see the inference to metal spike also in the extremities of the Cross, likened to those Passover strokes of Lamb's blood on the door posts and lintel, which are called "antenna". It was to these that perhaps only 3 slaves were required to winch up a Cross and set it, while the soldiers could do their job, and stand guard; ensuring that the execution is carried out without interruption. “Thou hast heard Me from the horns of the unicorns…”(Psalm 22:21 - KJV)

Again, in "An Answer to the Jews", Tertullian explains:
"For even in the ship's yard -- this is the name by which the extremities are called, which is a part of (the Cross), -- the central pole of a mast is (called) a ‘unicorn’. In fact, by this power and in and in this manner (is) the Cross ‘horned’." (Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews, .10)

Thus, the goal of the bull and unicorn in the symbolism of the Cross, is to teach us about the nature of GOD. The shipyard tells us that we are living in the midst of a Universe created around the Design of the Creator, which central theme or purpose is the Cross. GOD is a Judge to the rebellious, but gentle to those who are reverent of Him. In the shipyard, this was probably the same attitude taken up by taskmasters, carpenters, and the various workers -- be they slave or free. Respecting the treatment of those who act and obey faithfully, these are to be treated gently. So it is, Tertullian demonstrates that the mission of the Cross, seen on every ship and in every shipyard, points to the mission of one's life: to pass from the Judgment of GOD, and to enter GOD's gentleness and love: through Jesus, through the Cross.
Irenaeus likened the Cross, which is plated together with iron, after the parable of Matthew Chapter 13,{8} to being the “plough of GOD”, by which the Almighty “turns up the earth” (i.e., mankind):
“He has firmly displayed the plough, in that the wood has been joined on to the iron, and has thus cleansed His Land; because the WORD, having been firmly united to flesh, and in its mechanisms fixed with pins, has reclaimed the savage earth. In the beginning, He figured forth the pruning- hook by means of Abel, pointing out that there should be a gathering in of a race of Righteous men.” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies,, 4.34.4)

Selah also takes into account the Sacrifice of the escape-goat at Yom Kippur, in His reclaiming the savage earth. For Christ (being without guilt, without sin) takes upon Himself the sins of all Israel, and by implication the sins of all mankind. Whereas the people whip and spit on the escape goat from Temple to the Water Gate of the Kidron, Christ was beaten about the face and head by over 400 - 600 open hand blows from the Gentiles in the fortress (which represents Heaven), and whipped at The Pavement (which represents the Bema platform of Moses' seat, hence representing Earthly domains). For intestines or scarlet wool about the head, he was plaited with a crown of thorns that not only pricked, and were pressed down with violence, and bled Him; but made Him vomit so much that it must have felt as if every last bit of food and drink was just sucked out of His small intestines. This disgusting and vulgar detail, though prophesied, is left out of the Gospel accounts. Therefore, every hangover or sickness that involves the activity of nausea can now also be identified as a sin atoned for in the Crucifixion of Christ. From thence, from Gabbatha, He was dispatched out of the city by the same path as the escape-goat of Yom Kippur.

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1 Hebrew is read from right to left, in an order reverse to English. Greek is read right to left, just as in English. These two languages show the Cross, in the effect, that the beginning of time in the Bible, is read as if going back into the past to the Beginning, in reverse order. The Greek is read as if from the Cross, and to the right, into eternity future. That is, it is read in such a manner as to the end of time -- either as we know it, or as the Bible tells it. This teaches us that time is a finite entity set for a singular purpose: that we might focus on YHVeH Messiah and the Cross, the source and means of our eternal salvation, in and above and infinitely beyond time - and beyond even the very concept of time. Amen.

2 In Rome, ca. 198-217 A.D., a well noted Carthaginian lawyer with Roman citizenship, wrote a lengthy speech that was to be read before the Senate and Caesar Himself, at a time when Carthage was considered the second most important city in the Empire. The matter at hand, in the apologia, was to defend the Christians, who were malfeasantly persecuted by the Empire. One of the things worthy of note, is that to the Senate and to Caesar and to all of Rome's elite in the gallery who would listen, Quintus Septimus Florens Tertullianus wrote:
"And yet, nailed upon the cross, He [Christ] exhibited many notable signs, by which His death was distinguished from all others. … In the same hour, too, the light of day was withdrawn, when the sun at the very time was in his meridian blaze. Those who were not aware that this had been predicted about Christ, no doubt thought it an eclipse. You yourselves have the account of the world portent still in your archives.” (Tertullian, Apology .21)

3 Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44-45 The idea that is conveyed from Joel 2:30-31, is that all Israel at Jerusalem saw the fulfillment -- the signs in the sun, moon, and the pillar-vapors of smoke. The confusing aspect that is overlooked is the sign of the plural pillar-vapors of smoke that is evident to both Joel 2:30-31, and all those witnesses of Jerusalem who saw its fulfillment only weeks before, as Peter so accused them of seeing with their own eyes. I believe that even as the Passover was cooked upright, from noon until 3 pm, a pillar-column of vapor that smelled like smoke may have taken on the appearance of being emitted from the Cross, and have flown upwards from the Cross itself, as far as the eye could see. This would be after the manner of the burnt sacrifice of Manoah in Judges 13:19-20. However, this would isolate only one column of smoke, and we are told in Joel and in Acts of wonders of the plural “columns” of smoke. Where else they could have come from, who knows? In the Letters to Tiberius Caesar from Pontius Pilate (Roberts, “The Ante Nicene Fathers”, Vol. 8, pp. 459-463.), it is suggested that they came from the Valleys of Kidron and Hinom themselves, as they gave the very appearance of opening up, even as the earth did so to Korah and the followers of him (Numbers 26:10). In Numbers, we are told that Korah and his followers became a sign, being 250 in number. Korah’s children, we are told (in Numbers 26:11) did not perish with him. Therefore, the sign, as it relates to the coming Cross, is that only a grand total of 250 men actually mindfully and knowingly conspired against Messiah at His crucifixion.
We are to absorb this, in light of the 2,700,000 to 3,000,000 Israelites present in Jerusalem at the time. Let us ask ourselves, how many members of the 3 branches of government in the United States would it take to commit a great evil? A handful in the White House, a couple dozen very determined leaders of the House and Senate would suffice to order the military to launch a war, including a nuclear option, just because…with the true reason hidden. Even so, this nation’s 280,000,000 would be put in jeopardy for all the consequences of the actions of these few men. Even so, it was with Israel. Therefore, anti-Semitism, simply based on their fulfilling prophecy in killing their own King through their leader’s manipulation of Law, has no real basis. GOD has given Israel to mankind as a gift, and they are to be treated as equals, and even with greater respect, because the gifts and calling of GOD are upon them, without repentance. Any person or entity, seeking the destruction of Jews or Israel, is de facto, a hater of GOD and a blasphemer of Jesus Christ.

4 cf. the Semitic of Daniel 3:25. If the centurion was like the Righteous soldier from Galilee, and a friend of Israel, then the translation of intent is obvious to be “Surely this Righteous One was THE Son of GOD.” The particular argument here, is in what language did the centurion speak? Obviously, he would have been fluent in three required languages: Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Hebrew being his most recent acquisition, he then would have uttered in his most native tongue: Latin. At the ages of 12-15, boys are sent to a 5 year boot camp on the isle of Sardinia, and grilled and drilled into being the Roman fighting machine, whose battle readiness must be a minimum of 5 hours of intense combat endurance. Drilling day in and day out, then, using Latin and the trumpet by instinct and temperament -- this centurion spoke Latin, and the Gospel writers translated based on their knowledge of Latin at the time they heard the utterance.

5 cf. Benjamin Blech, “The Secrets of Hebrew Words”, Northvale, NJ: Aronson, 1990, p.23

6 cf. Harris, “The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament”, Chicago:Moody Press, 1980, pp. 970-971

7 In the mind of Trajan, Christians were still considered a Jewish sect; and it was the Jews of the “Near & Middle East”, who were derailing his plans of conquest. Therefore, the kindness and innocence of Ignatius was lost on the Emperor, because of the equating of all Israelites leaders as being saboteurs who preached and practiced sedition (whether openly or philosophically).

8 Matthew 13 shows first, the parable of the seed. Jesus carries His cross, and then the Apostles sow after Him (Matthew 13:11). The seed is scattered about, some making it properly into their fitches, and bearing much fruit. That seed, which makes it into the fitches, does so because Jesus guides the direction of that seed: which are defined as being the “sons of the (Heavenly) Kingdom” (Matthew 13:38). Therefore, the Cross brings forth that treasure which is both new and old for every believer. The cross is the plough, and we are the seeds. Therefore, water yourselves in the Word of the LORD: and grow, grow, grow.