Uncover the veiled mysteries of the ancient biblical monarchy in “Godforsaken: A King Like the Nations.” Journey with us as we delve into the labyrinth of time, challenging widely accepted narratives and uncovering hidden truths subtly inscribed by ancient scribes.
Traditionally, the monarchy of Israel has been viewed as the pinnacle, the golden age of biblical history. But is this narrative painted in the true hues of divinity or simply an illusion? As we traverse through the epoch that saw kings reign over Israel and Judah for approximately 440 years, from 1026 to 586 BCE, we’ll question the foundations of this belief.
Most of us recognize Saul as the first king of Israel. Yet, we’ll explore a narrative that diverges from the familiar path. This narrative intertwines the story of the actual first king with the first-ever parable spoken in Israel’s ancient history.
Beyond the surface of Deuteronomy 17:14-20 lies the Torah (instruction) of the King, purportedly written by Moses. But is there more than meets the eye?
Our exploration promises to ignite curiosity and raise questions that may challenge your long-held beliefs. Are your perceptions of the monarchy genuinely aligned with God’s? Do they resonate with the interpretations of biblical writers?
Prepare to unravel the obscured facets of ancient monarchy that may reshape your understanding of biblical history.
This video contains accurate English subtitles, but these have also been translated into Albanian, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Latin, Russian, and Spanish. Aside from the benefit of reaching a wider global audience, deaf and hard-of-hearing students of the Bible will find the Closed Captions beneficial.
Join me, Ross Nichols, for a deeply personal and engaging exploration of the life and teachings of Jesus in my video, “Following Jesus Out of Christianity.” I invite you to delve into my 50-year journey of understanding Jesus beyond the constraints of traditional Christianity.
In this transformative class, I recall my response to the call to follow Jesus as a six-year-old boy, my rededication in my 20s, and my relentless pursuit to unravel the authentic teachings of Jesus, as reflected in the biblical texts. The fruits of this quest led me to a surprising revelation – the Jesus I found in the gospels was not a Christian but a Jew.
Delving into the heart of the scriptures, I present a contrasting image of Jesus that significantly deviates from creedal interpretations. I unpack a more Hebraic Jesus who proclaimed the eternal validity of the Law, asserted the necessity of commandment observance for eternal life, and sought to lead others toward the Kingdom of God.
This renewed understanding challenges the conventional Christian notion of Jesus as God. Instead, the gospels illustrate that Jesus himself was a devout believer, with a God he prayed to, a God he taught about, and a kingdom he sought to realize on Earth.
This class is an opportunity to reexamine your understanding of Jesus and his teachings. Drawing from the essence of 1 John 2:6, I encourage you to consider the implications of truly walking as Jesus did. What does that mean for his followers today?
While my journey has led me to follow Jesus out of Christianity and into a more authentic faith, I believe this pathway is open to all those seeking to understand and follow Jesus more closely. It’s not about adhering to a faith ABOUT Jesus but rather embracing the faith OF Jesus.
My views may be controversial, but a detailed examination of biblical texts supports them. Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or searching, I invite you to join me in this illuminating discussion. Watch the video, consider the evidence, and decide for yourself – are you ready to embrace the faith of Jesus?
Let us journey together as we follow Jesus, out of Christianity and into a deeper understanding of his life and message. Your walk with Jesus may never be the same.
This is a song written and performed by my friend John Carlson. It was inspired by, and based upon the Shema. It is a great song and I think that many will enjoy it. Please feel free to share it far and wide.
John Carlson wrote the following about the song.
“Shema means “hear” or “listen” in Hebrew and it is traditionally the scripture read at the beginning of every Torah service. It consists of Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Deuteronomy 11:-21 and Numbers 15:37-41. The melody came to me one afternoon when I was messing around with my guitar and when I couldn’t make it work with any of the psalms I decided to try it with the Shema; it fit perfectly. It is obviously not a literal rendition of the full Shema but I believe it has captured it’s heart and substance and so I say it is based on these scriptures.”
Love the Lord your God with all your heart
Love the Lord your God with all your strength
These commands that I have given you
Shall be written on your hearts, Y’srael
(chorus)
Teach your children of my ways
Speak of them throughout your days
As you rest and when you rise
Seal them in your hearts, Y’srael
(chorus)
Bind them on your wrists and brow
On the frames of entry to your house
On the gates that lead into your lands
Deep into your hearts, Y’srael
(chorus)
Dive into our standalone season finale of ‘The World and Words of the Prophet Jeremiah’ as we undertake an intricate journey of disentanglement and reordering. This episode seeks to reveal the internal chronology of the book of Jeremiah, a task that scholars have puzzled over for centuries due to the apparent lack of chronological arrangement.
Our methodical approach begins with acknowledging the chaos, the tangled narrative threads spread across a 40-year period, from the 13th year of Josiah (627 BCE) to the 11th year, fifth month of Zedekiah (586 BCE). Guided by the subtle cues hidden in the texts, we embark on an ambitious journey to construct a more logically ordered narrative of Jeremiah’s prophetic messages.
We dissect the chronology, starting by attributing the chapters to their corresponding rulers: Josiah, Jehoahaz/Shallum, Eliakim/Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin/Jeconiah/Coniah, Zedekiah, Gedaliah, and events following Gedaliah’s assassination. Using an innovative visual guide crafted by our Creative Director Seth Nichols, we progressively slot each chapter under its respective king, thus setting the stage for a more refined ordering.
Our next stage involves meticulously rearranging these chapters based on additional textual cues and identifying the fact that many chapters incorporate events from different periods. The result? A comprehensive guide designed to present the Book of Jeremiah restored as closely as possible to chronological order.
While some chapters still remain unassigned (2, 4-21, 23, 30-31), rest assured that we are diligently exploring potential leads to appropriately place them within the revised Jeremiah narrative. This episode offers a sneak peek into our ongoing analysis of a few of these chapters.
Consider this class as your introduction to a groundbreaking project, a promising first step in producing a more detailed work. As we continue to decipher the cryptic narratives of Jeremiah, stay tuned for more insights in our upcoming comprehensive guide to the Prophet’s Tangled Texts.
In this episode of our series, “The World and Words of the Prophet Jeremiah,” we dive deeper into the prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel during the final days of the Kingdom of Judah. Amid the turbulence, these two prophets stand as beacon lights of divine revelation, their words paralleling and intersecting in extraordinary ways.
Witness the resilience of Jeremiah, navigating the tumult of a Babylonian siege and unjust imprisonment, yet still making a powerful testament of faith and hope in the future by purchasing land in his hometown of Anathot. Observe Ezekiel in Babylon, echoing Jeremiah’s prophecies of the end of the Kingdom of Judah and the coming restoration in actions and words of stunning accuracy.
Travel with us as we compare their prophecies, tracing their eerie exactness, right down to their shared prediction of the capture of Zedekiah. Watch Ezekiel act out the Judean king’s doomed escape and the subsequent traumatic capture, and compare this vivid enactment with our historical records. But amidst the collapse of the Kingdom, their prophecies also carry a promise of brighter days ahead, a promise delivered with a striking similarity in language and concept.
This penultimate class is deliberately shorter as we set the stage for our season finale. In the aftermath of Jerusalem’s ruin, our prophetic voices see a hopeful future that lies just over the horizon. Join us for “A Blinding Vision” as we explore how the prophets had eyes to see what Judah’s last king failed to perceive. Don’t miss out on the lead-up to the thrilling climax of our series!
The timeline of the 11-year reign of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, is shrouded in mystery, with a chronology that has long baffled scholars. But we have finally found the keys that unlock this enigma. Dive into our upcoming class, where we present a solution to this chronology conundrum, a set of clues hidden in the texts of ancient prophets and historians illuminating these tumultuous years in a new light.
Our quest for understanding takes us on an intricate journey from the royal court of Judah, rife with political power struggles and volatile alliances, to the distant shores of the Euphrates in Babylon, where the prophet Jeremiah dispatches a mysterious missive. We will also interpret a riddle issued in Babylon in our attempt to decode the opaque biblical texts to present a clear, chronological account of Zedekiah’s reign.
Using an innovative approach, we connect the dots between the contemporary reports, piecing together the events from multiple perspectives. This fresh insight allows us to see this defining period of biblical history as never before.
Don’t miss out on this exciting class! Get ready to delve into the layers of intrigue and mystery that mark Zedekiah’s reign. Follow us as we unravel a chronology that has puzzled generations, and unlock the secrets hidden in these ancient texts.
In the aftermath of Jeconiah’s deportation, Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar positioned the last king of David’s line on Jerusalem’s throne.
Watch as Jeremiah steps onto the international stage, boldly interrupting a council of envoys from neighboring nations gathered in Jerusalem to confront the Babylonian predicament.
Witness as Jeremiah sets the final phase of his divine prophetic mission in motion.
In this video, you’ll delve into the enigma of the last Davidic king and his puzzling pedigree, decipher the profound message within a letter to the exiles, and unravel the symbolism behind a vision of good and bad figs. Plus, prepare to confront the ancient world’s version of ‘fake news.’
Immerse yourself in the dramatic saga of King Jehoiakim, who brazenly defied God’s warnings, persecuted His prophets, and ultimately faced divine judgment. Witness the unraveling of a dynasty as we navigate the twists and turns of biblical accounts, illuminating the enigmatic fate of Jehoiakim, his son Jehoiachin, and the ascent of the last king of David’s line.
Don’t miss “The Burial of An Ass,” a tale of corrupt power, defiance, and divine retribution, in the newest episode in my series, The World and Words of the Prophet Jeremiah.
Travel back in time to a chilling winter night in 604 BCE when King Jehoiakim, fueled by rage, cut the original Jeremiah scroll to pieces and fed it to the flames. Discover the dire prophecy that enraged the king – a prophecy foretelling the arrival of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, who would lay waste to the land and exile its people.
Delve deeper into the context behind Jeremiah’s fateful prediction as I shed light on the source of Daniel’s famous Seventy weeks prophecy. Join me for this extraordinary Sabbath day Premiere of “Babylon’s 70 Years” at 10:30 a.m. on 29th April 2023. This captivating tale of prophecy, power, and the passage of time is one you won’t want to miss!
Join me for an exciting class on “Jeremiah’s New Covenant,” which builds upon the teachings of my recent class, Passover from Moses to Jeremiah.
Jeremiah recognized the importance of the covenant that God made with the Exodus generation. However, he also acknowledged that Israel had turned away from God and rejected that covenant. What Israel and Judah needed was a NEW covenant.
During this class, I will reveal the context and content of Jeremiah’s original New Covenant Scroll. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of this important teaching.
The biblical story of the Exodus is arguably the greatest story ever told. God acts against Egypt and its unnamed Pharaoh to deliver the children of Israel from slavery. According to sources that make up our Pentateuch, elements of this great deliverance were to be commemorated yearly in the Festivals of Pesach and Chag HaMatzot (Passover and Unleavened Bread). But, the biblical narratives reveal that despite the command to celebrate this great deliverance – it was rarely done. In statements reportedly from Jeremiah’s time, the people had not commemorated their deliverance since the time of the judges. Among the kings of Judah, only Hezekiah (per Chronicles but not mentioned in Kings) and Josiah led the nation in keeping these commanded festivals. What can we learn from a survey of the biblical texts about Passover from Moses to Jeremiah?
When Jeremiah was instructed to write his original scroll, God expressed that perhaps the House of Judah would repent when they heard all He intended to do to them. God then made an extraordinary promise. What was that promise, and does the phrasing of that promise provide a clue as to what was contained in the scroll?
This is a song written and performed by my friend John Carlson. It was inspired by, and based upon the Shema. It is a great song and I think that many will enjoy it. Please feel free to share it far and wide.
