22-23 – Professing to be wise, they became foolish and CHANGED the glory of the incorruptible Elohim into the likeness of an image of a corruptible man,….

25: Who changed the truth of Elohim into a lie …

Romans 1:22-23, 25 (HRB)

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In this and all Food for Thoughts I recommend you read the Scripture(s) provided and the entire chapter they are from to obtain more insight.

Who’s changing the TRUTH Now?

Aramaic or Greek

Before we move on to Part 3 of the Truth or Illusion series, let’s get one more understanding of the New Testament scripture translation. That understanding is the mindset of the Yahsha’el (Israelites) in that era and their feelings and customs toward Greeks and possibly Romans.

Let me introduce Flavius Josephus, also known as Yosef Ben Mattityahu, and his firsthand account of how the Yahudim (Jews) and Yahshar’el dealt with Greek and other languages they considered pagan. Josephus was a Yahudim historian in Israel in A.D. 37. He was the most productive writer in Israel’s history, and his work is widely accepted and used as a primary source by many scholars worldwide. Some say Josephus was a Pharisee born of a priestly line, although this is speculative. He was a highly educated scholar and advocate in Israel’s affairs, later leading the Yahudim army against Roman attacks in Galilee. However, Flavius Josephus ultimately defected to the Roman side and was granted Roman citizenship.

Flavius Josephus’s firsthand account of the Greek language

In this writing, we learned that Josephus, a highly educated scholar known for his vast knowledge and intellect, openly acknowledged his limited proficiency in the Greek language. He admitted that he did not know Greek well enough to speak it fluently and emphasized that he knew only a few individuals who had mastered it. This serves as a testament to the fact that Greek was not widely spoken in Israel and was not prevalent as a secondary language. Learning Greek required deliberate study and was not a casual pursuit in first-century Israel. Moreover, going beyond a simple Greek fluency of what was necessary to get by was not encouraged and looked on as common, pointing back to his lack of knowing many who mastered Greek. Conversely, in the cultural context of that time, wisdom was attributed to individuals who deeply understood Torah law and accurately interpreted its meanings.

Definition of Fluent:

• The measurement of the ability one has to speak smoothly and freely without the need to pause and think about the grammar, vocabulary or pronunciation one needs to communicate.
• Capable of using a language easily and accurately
• Having or showing mastery of a subject or skill

Definition of Literate:

• The ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, and compute using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts
• Able to read and write
• Having knowledge or competence
• Having or showing knowledge of literature, writing, etc.; literary; well-read.

If you think about it, you can see similar commonalities in our American society today. Many non-native English speakers (immigrants, asylum seekers, refugees, visa workers, etc,.) are moving here from around the world. Many of them, if not most, are not trying to master the English language. Their goal, more or less, is to learn enough to get by (get a job, earn money, communicate, and be somewhat sociable). I can’t be entirely certain, but it seems unlikely that their aim is to become a scholar in the English language, much less an English book writer. It’s worth noting that many Americans, despite being exposed to English from a young age and studying it in school, are in a similar position, knowing just enough to get by.

According to The National Literacy Institute

“In 2024, the literacy rate in the United States is 79% for adults, which means that 21% of adults are illiterate. This is based on the following literacy statistics:”

• 54% of adults have a literacy level below 6th grade
• 20% of adults have a literacy level below 5th grade
• 34% of adults who lack literacy proficiency were born outside the US

Are we to believe that Yahshua, His Yahudim disciples, and most of the people in Israel were fluent and literate in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek? No, they likely spoke a small amount of Greek, the language of trade and business, to earn money and be sociable. Hebrew was probably spoken fluently, but literacy was low, whereas Aramaic was spoken fluently, and literacy was high.

Is it not interesting that Hebrew and Aramaic hold a sense of Holiness in many Hebrew circles today, and Greek is not to be found among them and is still considered pagan? With that said, Aramaic is not without its faults either, as the language was forced upon Yahshar’el during the Babylonian captivity. Aramaic was a slave language for Yahshar’el, just like English is a slave language for the Yahshar’el in America, taken in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Therefore, it is not a Heavenly language, as many think. However, it is the language that Yahshua spoke, making it Qodesh (holy), or at least His words and the Aramaic words of others in the New Testament are Qodesh.

Conclusion

Yahshua and most other Yahudim were fluent and literate in the Aramaic language (Luke 4:16-21, 2:39-52). According to Matthew 15:24, Yahshua’s mission was to reach “the sheep which went astray from the house of Yahshar’el,.” So, it was essential for him to convey 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄’s message in a way that the people of Yahshar’el could understand. Since they were not fluent in Greek, He communicated in Aramaic to ensure they could comprehend His teachings and possibly some Hebrew.

The Apostle Shaul (Paul) was slightly different from Yahshua in that he was a Roman Citizen and spoke Greek. However, his message was always to the Yahudim first and then to the gentile, which means he would have communicated via Aramaic. Shaul’s ministry pattern is mentioned an impressive nine times in the book of Acts. (Acts 13:14, 14:1, 17:1-2, 17:10, 17:16-17, 18:4, 18:19, 19:8, 28:17). Paul was in line with Flavius Josephus, who wrote in Aramaic First to the Yahudim and later translated his works into Greek.

• Imagine that your husband, whom you deeply loved, had passed away, and his heartfelt love letters to you had been translated into Chinese. Which would hold a greater sentimental or emotional connection for you – the original letters or the translations?

• If someone took the originals and left you with the Chinese translations, wouldn’t you insist on getting the originals back?

Let’s say you could not get the originals back and have the Chinese letters translated back into your native English. Well, now you have a translation of a translation. Much of the original power and meaning were lost through translation from English to Chinese, languages that are quite alien to each other. But then, the translation from Chinese back to English at least doubles the dilemma, adding to the complexity.

Do you see the dilemma with all the translation confusion? I submit that the Peshitta is a collection of lost or stolen love letters of the good news in Yahshua’s native tongue, Aramaic. It is the love letters and story of your lover and it is the original or straight original, as the word Peshitta means straight. We should be using it as our primary source, not Greek.

Your Bible is probably a translation, of a translation, of a translation. The process is perhaps as follows: Hebrew or Aramaic to Greek, from Greek to Latin, and from Latin to English. Since we have read only translations and translations of translations, do you think anything has been lost?

Subtle changes here and there have the ability to alter the meaning of things and cause massive illusions and confusion that ultimately turn into delusion. Most people will say their Bible is good enough or in a translation they can understand. However, I challenge you to reach for a deeper understanding, led by the Ruach HaKodesh and motivated by critical thinking that will alter your perspective on Bible translations and force you to look for a direct word-for-word translation of the original text.

By: David Edwards – HalleluYAH – Praise YAH – Praise 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄

The post Missing Scriptures – Through Translation appeared first on Journal Thy Journey.

22. Professing to be wise, they became foolish. 

23. And changed the glory of the INCORRUPTIBLE Elohim into the likeness of an image of a corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things. 

24. Because of this, Elohim gave them up to filthy lusts of their hearts, and their bodies to be dishonored among themselves, 

25. who changed the truth of Elohim into the lie, and worshiped and served the created thing more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Romans: 1:22-25 (HRB)

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In this and all Food for Thoughts I recommend you read the Scripture(s) provided and the entire chapter they are from to obtain more insight.

The Devils Idea(s)

The devil, known as the deceiver in Revelation 12:9 and the father of lies in John 8:44, along with his children, are skilled at implanting ideas in people’s minds. It is often through suggestions, subtle influence, mental manipulation, belief systems, and false religions that the devil and his children manipulate and influence the thoughts and beliefs of others. This means that they can skillfully plant ideas in your mind by nudging your thoughts in a particular direction, all with the intention of leading you astray from the truth and further away from YAH 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 or יהוה.

The ability to deceive and manipulate is a powerful tool, and it is something that Bible Believing Believers should be aware of when trying to discern what is true and what is not. To protect ourselves from the schemes of the devil and his followers, we must become true disciples of YAH 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄. This involves the discipline of studying the word of YAH 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 daily, praying to Him daily, worshiping Him in spirit and truth daily, and allowing the Ruach to lead everyday. By doing so, we become more vigilant and discerning, which helps us avoid falling prey to the devil and his followers, especially the “Tares“- those planted by the devil in the body of Yahshua, as mentioned in Matthew 13:24-43.

Polytheistic Deception

Definition of Polytheism:

• The belief in multiple deities, which are usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own religious sects and rituals.The state of being whole and undivided

Definition of Monotheism:

• The belief that there is only one El, an all-supreme being that is universally referred to incorrectly as God (Gawd or modernized as Gad), see Strong’s Concordance number H1409).

The devil is responsible for drawing the world into the web of polytheistic deception, lulling many to sleep with this poison, causing them to serve and believe in his many-god, any-god, any god other than YAH יהוה theology. This very deception is how Satan will cause the inhabitants of the world to worship him under a one-world religion. It’s worth noting that the One World Religion Headquarters has already been constructed in Abu Dhabi and is supported by three of the world’s five major religions, namely Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. However, let’s not get ahead of ourselves and start from the beginning with the creator of Polytheism. It all started millenniums ago with Cush, the oldest son of Ham and grandson to Noah. So we will start there and then move on to Nimrod(1, 2, 3), Semiramis, and Tammuz, the creators of the mystery Religion(s) in Babylon” thousands of years ago.

The Beginning of Polytheism

Cush married Semiramis, and together, they had several children, but one of their most notable offspring was Nimrod, whose name means we will rebel. Nimrod was a skilled hunter and a mighty hero in the land before YAH יהוה (Genesis 10:8-12). He also was the same Nimrod who arrogantly and rebelliously built the Tower of Babilu, better known as Babel. Interestingly, Babilu means the gate of god, but it can also mean son of Bel. It is possible that Nimrod named the city after himself, as he was the son of Bel (Cush), which you will see in a moment.

Exaltation and Deification

Definition of Deification:

• to make a god of

According to some historical records and writings, Cush exalted and deified himself as the pagan god Baal, Bel, and sun god Ra (father god). Semiramis deified herself as Ashtoreth, the Queen of Heaven (mother god). Cush would later be disgraced, and his wife Semiramis left him and married her son Nimrod. Nimrod took on the role of Baal (father god), usurping his father, either in addition to or instead of. Nimrod was later killed by his Uncle Shem for lifting himself up as a god and leading people into false worship. In an effort to remain Queen and maintain power, Semiramis somehow becomes pregnant with Tammuz and convinces the kingdom that she conceived Tammuz divinely by Nimrod-Baal and Tammuz is Baal Reborn (son of god). These deities held significant importance in the ancient world and were worshipped by many.

Mentioned in Scripture

Although Semiramis is never mentioned in the Bible, her deified name, Ashtoreth, Asherah, and Queen of Heaven, are mentioned several times throughout scripture. Cush and Nimrod are not mentioned many times; however, just like Semiramis, their deified names, Baal and Bel, are mentioned a considerable amount. Tammuz, also known as Dumuzid, is mentioned in Ezekiel 8:14.

Satan’s Transition Throughout the Ages

Cush, Nimrod, Semiramis, and Tammuz, the Founders of Polytheism (FOP), were all under the influence of Satan and his idea that man could be like YAH. Remember, it was Satan who told Eve in Genesis 3:5 that she and Adam could be like the Most High. Satan also expressed that he wanted to exalt himself above YAH in Isaiah 14:12–16. The FOP’s game plan was near-sided as they did not see the long game that satan was playing. FOP exalted and deified themselves to be gods for the short term to exert and maintain power and control, to be worshiped, and to be remembered in history. Satan’s plan was and still is to deceive the entire world through every dispensation. Look at the charts below, and you will see how Satan has transitioned throughout time using FOP as well as changing his name throughout cultures.

It is important to note that false deities created by man and Satan often share similar storylines. This can make it difficult to distinguish between them and to know what is true. In reality, there is no truth in any of it. All worship of these deities and other idols is worship of Satan. For example, there are stories about Sammaramis, also known as Ishtar (pronounced “Easter”), who supposedly became pregnant from the sun god Baal’s sun rays and gave birth to Tammuz from an egg. Similarly, Mirtha was also said to have been born from an egg.

Additionally, both Tammuz and Mirtha are said to have been born on December 25, along with other pagan gods and goddesses like Nimrod (Tammuz’s father), Horus, Dionysus, Osiris, Attis, and the Roman Catholic Jesus (birth by the Roman Catholic Virgin Mary also known as the Queen of Heaven). These are all reimaginations of old pagan gods and goddesses. This is why YAH commanded the people of Yahsharel not to engage in idolatry and reminded them repeatedly that he never changes, unlike ever-changing false gods. This was true then and is still true today; we should not engage in idolatry, no matter how innocent it may seem or how long we may have kept an idolatrous tradition. We must worship in spirit and in truth only (John 4:24).

Satan’s Goal

Satan’s goal has always been to kill, steal, and destroy, and he will never change (John 10:10). Satan’s purpose with this deception and all of his deceptions is to get humanity to worship him by any means necessary, no matter the form. The polytheistic deception works well as it manipulates the human psyche by giving us the illusion of control through the liberty to worship whomever or whatever we choose. The idea of selecting a god that fits one’s needs is appealing to people as it also provides a sense of control over their religious practices.

Polytheism says there are multiple gods; select one that aligns with your personal beliefs or choose whichever god serves your specific needs. Unfortunately, people treat YAH the same way as if there is an El of the Old Testament and an El of the New Testament, and they need to pick one. One half chooses to follow the New Testament only and dismiss the Torah and Old Testament, calling it bondage when the truth is the New Testament quotes the Old Testament repeatedly. The other half only follows the Old Testament and misses out on Salvation through Yahshua. The polytheistic deception encourages people to choose a god based on their desires rather than seeking a deeper understanding of the Truth, and that truth is יהוה.

The Truth about Created Things

The actual truth is that there is only one EL, and His name is 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (יהוה) (see scriptures at the bottom). Serving, worshiping, and obeying anything other than YAH is giving glory to Satan.

• Doctrine Example
  • The Romans created the polytheistic doctrine of the Trinity. Yes, it is polytheism, and Yes, it’s a created doctrine, as the Bible never mentions the Trinity. The doctrine is a fundamental belief of most Christians. Yet, many struggle to provide a clear and concise explanation if asked. The reason is because it is complex, confusing, and not biblical. Please remember that Rome was saturated with paganism, and through syncretism, new beliefs were created and added to Christianity. The truth is YAH יהוה is EL, and His only begotten son is Yahshua; they are not one physically; they are echad like a husband and wife are echad, not as one being, but one in agreement, action, and thought. Yahshua points out the separation between Him and His Father when He proclaims in Mark 10:18, “No one is good except One, YAH יהוה.” Yahshua also clarified this in Luke 22:42 when He talked to His Father (not Himself) and said, “not My will, but thine, be done.” Indicating that He has His own will and the Father has His own will. People, we do not serve an El with dissociative identity disorder with three different personalities or entities in one (god the Father, god the Son, and god the Holy Spirit as a godhead). Consider Revelation 3:1 and Revelation 4:5, which both say YAH has seven spirits. Also, consider Isaiah 11:2, which names those seven spirits. Does this mean that the godhead is enneadnity (a word I made up like they made trinity), nine in one (Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Spirit of wisdom, Spirit of understanding, Spirit of counsel, Spirit of power, Spirit of knowledge, and Spirit of the fear of the Lord)? Of course not. These are separate individual spirits. For example, you can read about the separate spirit of wisdom in Proverbs 8:22-31. It gives us the history of the spirit of wisdom before and during creation.
• Idol Example
  • “All three major religions worship paganism in some form through stone and wood. Christians have the wooden cross, Muslims have the (Kaaba or black stone) in Mecca, and Judaism bows daily to the stone wall (Wailing Wall) in Jerusalem, which is the remains of the Roman Fort Antonia.” (Don Esposito Study Note HRB – Deut 4:28) It is not enough to say, be careful not to idolize “the cross” when the simple truth is that it has no place at all in our worship of YAH יהוה. We were never told to make a cross, bow down to it, make jewelry, or sing songs about it. This is a very dangerous thing that Christianity has created.

Some of the Other Religions in the World.

• Hinduism – There are differing beliefs on the number of gods, with estimates ranging from six to thirty-three million and each god being unique. Some believe it’s 33 types of gods.
• Buddhists worship and show reverence to Buddha by offering fresh flowers, lights, and lamps or burning fragrant incense at shrines with images of the Buddha. Some followers maintain personal shrines at home for private worship, aspiring to emulate Buddha. Although they claim Buddha is not a god but an enlightened being who has achieved freedom from the cycle of life and death, they create Buddha idols and worship them. Therefore, Buddha is their god, as their devotion is directed towards him.
• New Age – Bows down to self, believing there is no one true way to pursue spirituality. These individuals choose to explore their spirituality without adhering to any specific set of beliefs or traditions. These people often follow their own intuition and inner guidance, seeking personal growth and self-discovery. On the other hand, there are those who hold a deep conviction that they are divine beings with complete control over their lives and destinies. They see themselves as sovereign entities, possessing an inherent power and wisdom transcending human limitations. (Proverbs 14:12)

Conclusion

Satan has created multiple roads that lead directly to him, but most of humanity is deceived, blinded, and unaware of it. Satan and his tares have changed the truth of Elohim into a lie. The great news is that you don’t have to be. Our Father has provided us with His Torah and Holy Scriptures for direction, His only begotten son for salvation, and His Ruach to guide us in our faith. We don’t have to be fooled by the devil and subjected to this world. However, if you spend all your time being entertained by this world and the things of it versus in the Word of YAH and things of YAH, you will be deceived and probably already are. I employ you to come out of (her, them, or the world) and be ye separate. (2 Corinthians 6:17, Romans 12:2, Revelation 18:4).

Isaiah 44:6, Deuteronomy 4:35, Deuteronomy 6:4, Deuteronomy 32:39, 1 Samuel 2:2, 2 Samuel 7:22, 2 Kings 5:15, 1 Kings 8:60, ,1 Chronicles 17:20, Psalm 18:31, Isaiah 37:16, Isaiah43:10-11, Isaiah44:6,8, Isaiah 45:21, Hosea 13:4, Joel 2:27, Malachi 2:10, Mark 12:28–29, 1 Corinthians 8:4, Ephesians 4:4–6, 1 Timothy 2:5, Galatians 3:20, John 17:3, James 2:19

By: David Edwards – HalleluYAH – Praise YAH – Praise יהוה

The post Whose Idea Was That? appeared first on Journal Thy Journey.