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Salvation and the Second Coming A Biblical Word Study Exposing the Non-Scriptural Traditions of Modern Church Teaching
By Pastor Eli James
“None of the wicked shall understand, but only the wise shall understand.” – Daniel, 12:10. Consider this fairly common assessment of what it means to be “saved”: “The Crucifixion, however, had forever repudiated the sacrifices of the temple and the Jewish ambition of world conquest. The Jewish dream of divine special favor over all mankind had no part in the doctrines of Christianity. The Cross dispelled that narrow, selfish myth. Salvation was for all: God’s mercy and love encompassed everyone, everywhere; poor, rich, the slave and the prince. No one was excluded. All one had to do was believe: to accept.” Olivia Marie O’Grady, The Beasts of the Apocalypse, pp. 131-132. We will find that O’Grady’s assessment is both simplistic and naïve, as she falsely equates the Jews with the Israelites of the Old Testament and has not studied the Scriptural concept of salvation. She is relying on a traditional view of salvation, which does not jive with Scripture. In the Bible, the concept of salvation is exclusive to Israel. There is nothing selfish about True Israel getting the inheritance that was promised only to us, because, as you will see, we have to EARN IT. Unfortunately, modern Christianity has routinely departed from the Scriptural meanings of words. The essence of accurate translation is to first properly understand the meanings of the words in the original language. Words, such as ekklesia (congregation or assembly) and ethnos (race, nation), have been horribly translated to have meanings that are utterly foreign to the intent of the original Hebrew and Greek writings. Ekklesia means “congregation,” NOT church. It is an exclusive reference to Israelites gathered together for either worship or for official business. The presence of a denominational priest is not required for any such meeting. In fact, this type clerical priesthood is even condemned in Scripture (the Nicolaitanes). The word ‘Gentile’ has been distorted even more horribly, having been given the connotation of “non-Jewish,” even though it has never had any such meaning in either Hebrew (goy) or the Greek (ethnos). The word ‘salvation’ has undergone a somewhat less glaring transformation in meaning, but it is nevertheless, in modern usage, quite different in meaning from the Biblical usage. Though more subtle, the word has, however, undergone a very broad expansion in context and a great spiritualization of meaning. The false translation of these words has led to the Replacement Theology of today, which declares that Yahweh’s promises to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob must now be applied to all peoples. The modern, Church Greek, connotation of salvation usually involves something like “going to heaven after you die.” This is, of course, quite simplistic. We often hear the expression, “Accept Jesus into your heart, and you will be saved.” What does such “acceptance” amount to? Can it be qualified? Can it be quantified? Is it real? Would that salvation were so easy!!!! This linked article provides a very scholarly look at the concept of salvation. Nevertheless, it is also infected by some false assumptions about what the Bible actually teaches. The fact is that the word ‘salvation’ has ceased to be used in a Scriptural sense. In the Bible, almost every instance of the word applies to the physical preservation of the people, Israel. This is true in both Testaments. The spiritualization of the concept can only be justified by the specific context; and the context rarely deviates from the preservation of flesh-and-blood Israel. Salvation in the Old Testament
In the Hebrew, the word for salvation is YESHUWA (#3444), meaning “deliverance…aid, victory, prosperity, health, help, salvation, save, saving (health), welfare.” By checking the verses in which this word is used, we find that, in the Hebrew, there is not one instance in which this word has a spiritual connotation. It ALWAYS refers to the physical welfare and preservation of the people of Israel. In a majority of cases, the meaning is that Israel will be rescued from our national and personal enemies. In this sense, it is closer to the English word, ‘salvaged,’ as in salvaging a remnant. Two important facts must be noted in these Hebrew passages: 1.) ‘yeshuwa’ is never spiritualized; 2.) ‘yeshuwa’ is never applied to any other entity than the collective people of Israel and/or to individual Israelites. Some examples are: I Sam. 14:44-45. And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. II Sam 23:3-5. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. (Here, physical salvation linked to the Covenants.) . Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people [meaning when Yahweh ends the captivity of Israel], Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. . I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. It is obvious that the Old Testament is primarily concerned with the physical preservation of the Israelite people, if only because our Race was destined to bring forth the Messiah. But His First Advent does not end the necessity of preserving our Race. The fact is that the Divine Covenants apply to us as a physical people forever. The dispensationalists have made a liar out of Yahweh! . But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. Psalm 25: Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness\’ sake, O LORD. Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. (In this excerpt, salvation is something that occurs within the person’s lifetime and it is linked to obeying Yahweh’s commandments.) Psalm 74:12 describes salvation as an ongoing process, working in the here and now, right on the earth. By reading the various OT verses that deal with the concept of salvation, we see that it is hardly ever spiritualized beyond the physical health and preservation of our bodies and nation, nor is it generalized beyond Israel to other nations. Nor is it ever linked to any circumstances of the afterlife. It IS, however, linked to the Day of Judgment. In the words of Peter, the Estranged Elect (Dispersed) of Israel are destined “to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled…unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (I Peter 1:1-5.) Salvation is Exclusive to Israel
Psalm 14:7. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow. He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD. All of these physical blessings are part of our salvation, here and now, in our homes and in our communities. He wants us to be happy and prosperous, whenever, wherever; and the people that Yahweh is concerned with is Israel…not any church, not any other races, not a motley collection of “believers,” not a “spiritual” Israel. Instead, the physical preservation of Israel is of paramount importance because we are the People destined to rule with Him after the Day of Judgment. In the meantime, how we observe our Covenant relationship with Yahweh determines the direction of world affairs. It might be stated: “As Israel goes, so the world goes.” (Of course, the impostor Jews are trying to replace us in this matter! Esau is trying to supplant his brother, Jacob.) When we prosper by obeying His Commandments, the world also prospers. When we decline by disobedience and rebellion, the rest of the world also suffers. It has always been so, since Sinai. This is why Yahshua tells us, “Ye are the light of the world,” the City on the Hill. (Matt. 5:14.) The Law Covenant was only one of many Covenants that our Father, Yahweh, has made with us through our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. When Yahweh said to Abraham, “I will establish my Covenant between Me and thee and thy seed [zerah = offspring] after thee [direct descendants only] in their generations [dor = circle of family] for an EVERLASTING COVENANT,” He meant exactly what He said. (Gen. 17:7.) Yahweh has always delivered on His promises, to the letter. These promises were made to a physical people and they are to last forever. These people can only be the direct descendants, the kindred of Abraham, through Isaac and Jacob; and no priest can change this fact by spiritualizing or universalizing the context of Biblical doctrine. Paul recognizes the Israelites of Corinth as an anointed people at I Cor. 1:21; and he confirms the exclusivity of the Covenants at Romans 15:8, saying, “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers.” Since the covenants, promises and inheritance were never promised to anyone but Israel, they cannot be delivered to any other entity. Gal. 3:16: “Now to Abraham and his seed [SPERMA = children, offspring, progeny] were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds [that is, to many or diverse sperma, as of many, different kinds of sperma]; but as of one [kind of sperma], which is anointed.” Most KJV translations have the proper name, Christ, instead of the correct word ‘anointed,’ meaning His anointed people, Israel. The KJV is dead wrong here, for it is patently obvious that the promises were NOT MADE TO CHRIST. The promises were made to Abraham’s direct descendants. This is exactly the fact that Paul is affirming. Indeed, Christ is the ONE WHO WAS PROMISED, not the one to whom the promises were made. Since He was sinless, He didn’t need any salvation. He IS our salvation. The KJV translation simply butchers the Greek, in an attempt to universalize the promises, which Paul, in verse 15, says very plainly CANNOT BE ANNULLED. Nor does any human interpreter have the power or authority to change Yahweh’s Covenants. Yet, the Judeo Churches are working overtime, trying to universalize the very specific and exclusive language of the Covenants! Furthermore, I can assure you that there is no such thing as “spiritual sperm.” There is no magical transubstantiation of race that takes place, such that a non-Israelite transmutes into a “descendant of Abraham” by becoming a “believer.” Those who believe falsehood are not true believers, are they? The uniqueness of the Israel people is nowhere better summarized than by Peter at I Peter 2:9- 10: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, which in time past were not a people [because we were cast out, even “divorced” by Yahweh for our rebellion against Him], but now are the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Peter is here affirming all of the exclusive language of the Old Testament towards Israel. Rather than becoming more inclusive, the New Testament continues the story of the exclusiveness of Israel and that, even within the nation of Israel, there is to be an even more exclusive refining of the remnant: those who are willing to repent and chose righteousness over unrighteousness. The message of the Bible is that Yahweh has a specific purpose for a specific people; and no earthly power can change His Mind. Salvation in the New Testament
Contrary to prevailing notions that all races can be “saved,” the New Testament uses this word only with reference to Israel. Other peoples and races get blessed or cursed, according to Gen. 12:1-3. But the word, salvation, is never applied to any other species. Of course, it must be understood that the word ‘Gentile’ has been falsely translated to mean “non-Jew,” thus creating a false dichotomy between Israelites and non-Israelites. This false definition has fooled all Judeo-Christians into believing that Paul was the “apostle to the non-Israelites.” The Latin word ‘gentilis’ is the source word for “Gentile.” Gentilis means “of the same tribe, race or nation.” If that is the case, how did this word come to have the EXACT OPPOSITE connotation? Simple: that’s how the Jews choose to define it. Why do we accept Jewish definitions of Latin words? Because we’re gullible, that’s why! Also, Judeo-Christian theologians would lose their jobs and status if they didn’t kowtow to the rabbis. They’d get thrown out of the Divinity schools, too! The fact is that all of the New Testament is addressed exclusively to the only two groups of Israelites then in existence: The Judahites and Benjamites of Judea (House of Judah, the “circumcision”) and the tribes of the Dispersion (House of Israel, the “uncircumcision”). The Epistle of James is addressed to the Twelve Tribes of the Dispersion at James 1:1. Open your Bible and read it for yourself. Now you understand the TRUE DICHOTOMY of peoples in the New Testament: The House of Judah in Judea versus the House of Israel in the Dispersion. Since no other group had any expectation of a Messiah, only Israel is being addressed in any of the Gospels. In fact Yahshua goes out of his way to stress that there are those to whom the “good news” is NOT to be preached!!! (Matt. 13:34-43.) The Bible keeps excluding people from the Covenants, yet the churches keep trying to give our inheritance away by bringing strangers in! The Great Commission states: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. – Matt. 10:6. He does not instruct the Apostles to preach to all nations. Rather, He instructs the Apostles to go into all nations to seek out the Lost Sheep. Speaking to the Canaanite woman, who asked for her daughter to be healed, But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. – Matt. 15:24. He gave her crumbs, but the inheritance is only for Israel!!! Furthermore, He tells us, For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. – Matt. 18:11. The word lost in all three cases comes from the Greek word appolumi, which means “put away in punishment.” The best one word translation of appolumi into English is “exiled.” No other group of people on the planet had been put away in punishment (for refusing to obey Yahweh’s laws), so only Israel was ever appolumi, “lost.” Only the Two Houses of Isaac fit this description. Therefore, these verses apply only to the Twelve Tribes, most of whom were in the exile of the Dispersion at this time. Yahweh has chastised us many times for disobedience; and He is doing so again today. Few Christians understand that all twelve tribes had already been dispersed throughout the Greco-Roman world. This Dispersion began under Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, in the year 745 BC, with the ten northern tribes. It was completed under Sennacherib, who took all of the fenced cities of Benjamin and Judah. Only the people of the City of Jerusalem remained uncaptured. The scribes and Pharisees understood that the Dispersion was already in existence in the days of Christ! Observe: John 7:34-35. Ye shall seek Me and shall not find Me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. [Yahshua was telling these Jews that they will never enter into the Kingdom! Now, pay close attention to their response:] Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will He go, that we shall not find him? Will he go unto THE DISPERSED AMONG THE NATIONS, and teach the nations? John 11:49-53. And one them named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us [we Edomite Judeans (Jews), the scribes and Pharisees] that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation [meaning that Jesus must die in order that the Herodian (Edomite) usurpation of Judah could continue!!!! Now, listen and understand:] And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one THE CHILDREN OF GOD THAT WERE SCATTERED ABROAD. In other words, the Pharisees had to murder Yahshua before He could regather the Twelve Tribes unto Himself!!! Their little Jewish hegemony would die on the vine, if Jesus were allowed to live. These two verses from John prove conclusively that the Edomite Jews fully understood that Israel was scattered throughout the Greco-Roman world. What happened to them? Who are they? If you are a Caucasian, you are a descendant of these Greco-Roman-Judean Israelites. Today’s Christians only know about the Jewish “Diaspora,” which was actually accomplished by Yahweh, to prevent these Edomites from offering any more sacrifices in Israel’s Temple. Yahshua NEVER offered “salvation” to these Edomite Jews. He offered it only to the “lost” sheep of Judea and the Dispersion. To these impostor Edomites, He offered only damnation!!!! (Matt. 23:32-33.) The Greek word for “salvation” is soteria, meaning, “safety, soundness.” Again, there is little spiritual significance to this word. Any spiritual connotation must be derived from the context, and there are very few such verses. If anything, the spiritual preservation of Israel cannot be divorced from the physical preservation of Israel, as I will show later. The following verses prove that the Israelites of Yahshua’s time understood that He was coming for them and to no other people. Luke 1:69-77: And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David [this is Israel exclusively!]; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets [Israelites and Adamites, exclusively], which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us [We Israelites are to be saved from OUR enemies!!!! Those that hate us get destroyed, not saved!]; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers [Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!!!], and to remember his holy covenant [to WHOM were the Covenants made?]; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham [Since both Ishmael and Esau were cast out of the Covenant, so that only Isaac’s descendants could inherit the promises, who else could possibly be included?], That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him [not in “grace” and false beliefs!!!], all the days of our life. [Here, Zacharias is speaking for himself, as long as he lives, and for Israel, as long as we exist as a people…which is forever, by the way.] And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins.” Now, again, Class, WHO ARE HIS PEOPLE? Luke 2:30 – And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles [people of the same race, tribe or nation], and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; Luke 19:9 – And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was [Note: Past tense: WAS, not IS] lost. [They have to be found before they can be salvaged.] And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. John 4:22 – Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. [I threw this one in as a trick question. Ioudaios = a citizen or resident of Judea. Judea had two distinct ethnic groups living within its boundaries: Judahites and Edomites. Class quiz: Are we talking about the House of Judah, or are we talking about the Edomites of Judea, who call themselves “Jews” today? Is salvation of Judah or of Edom? If you get this one wrong, you fail. See also Rev. 2:9, 3:9 and 12:9. The Jews would have us believe that the strife in Judea was between factions of Judah. This is not true. The strife was between the Herodian Edomites and True Judah. But many of True Judah were fooled by the Herodian scribes and Pharisees, believing their lies about their Judahite ancestry! Today’s Christians are still fooled! ] Acts 13:26 – Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.; Rom. 11:11 – I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles [Dispersion], for to provoke them to jealousy. OK, Class. Do you remember who the “Gentiles” really are? It is evident, even from the New Testament, that the physical preservation of True Israel is an integral part of the meaning of the word, salvation. By redefining the word Gentile, the Jews have tricked us into thinking that Paul was seeking out non-Israelites. Deceptive language causes us to stumble and fall. Salvation Is Conditional
Again, contrary to prevailing notions of the meaning of salvation, the New Testament stresses the fact that PERSONAL salvation is something that is a work in progress. First of all, we must not confuse the concepts of REDEMPTION and SALVATION. Redemption is redeeming that which was lost, stolen or sold. Salvation concerns the PRESERVATION of that which was redeemed. We were REDEEMED at the Cross. Yahshua redeemed us with the price of His Blood, thus wiping out our past sin debt. (Romans 3:25; 2 Peter 1:9. The antinomians NEVER quote these two passages, which refer specifically to our past sins!) Only those offenses leading up to His sacrifice were forgiven. Future sins shall be punished! Paul clearly explains, since we no longer have the sacrifices to atone for our sins, we will be held accountable at the Judgment Day!!!!! For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no sacrifice for sins [Gulp!], but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries…” (Hebrews 10:26-31.) By denying the Law, the antinomians have become the adversaries of Yahweh. Little do they understand that a complete record of all of their transgressions is being kept for their judgment!!! Matt. 5:25-26. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily, I say unto thee, Thou shalt be no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. You WILL pay for all of your transgressions, guaranteed! 2 Cor 1:5-10 – For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; A careful reading of the text shows that salvation is an ongoing process, which must be implemented by overcoming affliction through righteousness. Nowhere in Scripture is salvation treated as a one-time event, pinpointed at the Cross. The Cross has become the Crutch of the Judeo-Christians. It means so much to them that they ignore the whole of their lives, making their own life experiences meaningless. Having been “saved at the Cross,” they are just twiddling their thumbs, waiting to be raptured!!! But, there is not one passage of Scripture that states that our “salvation” was “guaranteed at the Cross.” This is all mythological interpretation! On the contrary, we must EARN our reward by obeying Yahweh’s Commandments. The modern “Gospel of Personal Salvation” has superceded the Gospel of the Kingdom by a twofold process of denying Scripture: First, by denying the necessity of the continuing physcial existence of Israel; and second, by emphasizing “personal salvation” over national salvation. For these two distortions of Scripture, the Gospel of Personal Salvation is an abomination of the first rank. It may come as a shock to many that the Cross was not even a symbol of Christianity until around 700 AD. The early Christians did not identify with the Cross at all. The earliest symbol for Christianity was actually the fish, or Ichthys. The New World Encyclopedia tells us, Among the symbols employed by the early Christians, that of the fish seems to have ranked first in importance. Ichthus (ΙΧΘΥΣ, Greek for fish) is an , a word formed from the first letters of several words. It compiles to “Jesus Christ God’s Son Saviour,” in ancient Greek “Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ”
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