Harmony Narrative
Introduction
The Harmony Area's main story line focuses on a key relationship that is often denied, missed, or glossed over. You may already have a pre-formed viewpoint on this. But read on, the idea is to embrace a holistic view based on perspectives appearing in the window.
The following narrative incorporates a Messianic and Jewish context to address issues relevant to both Jewish and Gentile visitors (i.e., religious and non-religious Jews, plus Gentiles including religious, non-religious, Christian, and non-Christian).
The Harmony Area is the last in a four part series of feature areas at WindowView. From here, concluding your time at the window, comes with a personal process of building an overarching paradigm (based on pulling together the themes from the other main feature areas presented within the WindowView, which you can access via the home page).
The Harmony Area's continuity joins absolutely everyone into one storyline. A scriptural view is built on a perspective that is often times misunderstood because we come from so many differing worldly vantage points. Yet, rejection of the larger 'window view' is similar to a narrowed, human-centered rejection of anything but, say, materialism. This cuts out anything spiritual. To do so is a rejection of a relationship with God.
Jews and Gentiles continually entertain Messianic themes in their religious observances. They are clearly relating to the spiritual side of being! This brings the God of Israel into view. But why a Messianic focus? This question turns out to be more than a curiosity — the answer is telling and tied to humanity's timeline. So, we'll illustrate a unity in a shared anticipation and consider how this is more than an exercise in mere wishful thinking.
Tekiah (see same in QuickTime)
View all songs at WindowView
We will look at the sources that identify the Jewish Messiah and illustrate how this personification of an unseen God is key to solving a multitude of problems throughout human history ... as well as understanding what lies ahead for our future.
In the end, the harmony ties back to the timeline in many ways. From Genesis and a beginning — where we enter from eternity past — to scaling time going forward ... we will see the future's momentum building all around us. This incorporates prophetic writings and reflects on how the Hebrews knew exactly when Messiah was to arrive two millennia ago. They knew when he was to arrive, yet, corporately, all humans rejected this Anointed One.
The timeline pulls Jew and Gentile together and indiscriminately weaves a fabric of time that reveals events leading to eternity future. No need to point fingers or divide up history, we are all on that timeline together.The present age will end according to the Scriptures, but for those who look, seek, and make a choice, there is a wonderful life beyond this age. This will conclude our look through the window. But as the shutters are closed tight, think about the personal conclusions, the paradigm, and a choice that only you can make concerning your future. Enter into the most important relationship ... indeed a Step Up To Life ... or be lost to all the details and the window's fading imagery in the waning twilight of this age.
SPECIAL FEATURE:
Lightfully Harmonious Video
(QuickTime Streaming video)"The Shortest Sermon
Ever Given"
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Presented by Burt Rosenberg!
on Harmony
The Window View initially opens with an exploration of origins (Science Area). We do this to open up your thinking. Why start this way? Simply put, once enough evidence is reviewed, there is a case to be made for something uniquely special about our existence. Chance alone does not explain our origin. Scientific evidence for intelligent design revealed in nature opens the way to seeing a Designer. Yet, the Hebrew Scriptures—at the very start of the Torah itself—declare that God created heavens and earth. Dr. Schroeder (in his book The Hidden Face of God; see reference in booklist) reminds us that the Hebrew text starts with: "In the beginning with wisdom ..." God created heavens and earth. Even physicist Schroeder sees the physics in this. The main idea is that wisdom is present in a daily context that itself is really not ordinary, not in the slightest!
In a nutshell, humanity's origin is found within the purposes of a creative God. Science, as considered in the Science Area, now lays a ground work by which this origin can be illuminated. Elsewhere, there is evidence that humanity has chosen to live on earth in a way that brings ominous global changes. These changes tell us the result of unchecked human-centered activity that now threatens our planet's life support systems. In an environmental sense, there is a type of corporate human sin inflicted upon the resources we share globally. This characterizes current events and highlights a need to further define our existence and if possible to clearly proclaim the purpose to our being here. Without this focus, humans will continue to wear down the earth and eventually deplete resources to the point of diminishing the diversity of species and degrade the quality of life on earth.
So, let's reflect on where we are falling short ... then explore entering into an intended harmony that opens to a relationship with the Creator. What relationship do we really have with Him? Does He exist just for one "chosen people" or for all peoples on the face of the globe? Keep these questions in mind as you read on!
One approach to a core story line starts with the very first 'Hebrew' person, Abram, then on to a people — Israel — that in turn leads to the common terms used to describe two distinct people groups — i.e., the Jewish and Gentile peoples. There is a wisdom behind having these two groups on earth. We actually think of the word 'Hebrew' in the context of when Abram 'came over' to God by faith. In reality this section could be entitled Hebrews and Gentiles. But we use the terms Jew and Gentile, because not all have faith ... not all have come over to a faith in the God of Israel.
In fact, because of Jewish people who have 'come over' (see John 4), many Gentiles have also come over to faith like Abraham. So, there is a continuity here for both peoples. The information in the Window View allows us to consider key evidence—based on science and Scripture—on which to build faith. Remember the root of our origin is associated with a design. Design implies purpose! In this context, relationship building with the Creator blends purpose into our existence.
Examination of the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible; the entire Hebrew text is the Tanach) reveals that through Abraham is established a separate people and a unique nation state — Israel — through which all nations (Gentiles, Goyim) can come to faith in the God of Israel. The Jewish people today can be viewed as both secular and religious ... so too, we can also view Gentiles in the same light. Here we focus on the relationship with the God of Israel (Creator, the Intelligence behind the design discussed in the Science Area) and all peoples.
Other apologetic resources can easily reveal how other belief systems outside that of the God of Israel fall short of a reasonable reality. [For related information see our second book list for titles related to apologetics].
Think about the titles we use to describe ourselves as people and note how this relates to faith. We have a conversational dialog that you can drop in on to consider this perspective: What is a Jew, a Gentile, and Why Together?
But there may be an even bigger surprise in store for Jews and Gentiles alike. Christianity has Jewish roots, in fact—dare we say it—Christianity has an essential companion synonym: 'Messianic Judaism.' Such a designation brings us to a continuity for all peoples—Jew and Gentile together. But follow the Hebrew Scriptures through time and see that there are two main covenants referred to in the text. Those two covenants contain a consistent message and they bridge all gaps in mind and time. The Old and New Covenants are rooted in Jewish thought and theology, but are intended for a witness to all peoples ... 'to the Jew first and also for the Greek' (also appears on our home page title block! Romans 1:16).
But if what is Jewish flows like a stream into the origins of Messianic congregations—in the first century, first in Israel—and that in turn flows into groups that later became inclusive of Gentiles and also generically known as the Church ... then the continuity becomes a bridge over the time between covenants. There exists a mental and historical block against seeing this ... but the block is fictional. This always seems to leave a gap between the last book of the Hebrew Bible and the first writings of what is called the New Covenant. First, by way of a dialog we address a Continuity in the Scriptures here for your reflection. We are speaking of Jewish roots and essentially addressing the fact that the gap is only a perception.
Second, keep in mind a Hebrew prophet, Jeremiah, actually foretold of a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31). That covenant adds to former covenant. When Jewish people encounter the New Testament, they may think of it as a Gentile book. In fact, the volume was penned in Greek words by Jewish hands.
There are perhaps a number of ways to illustrate the importance of God to both Jews and Gentiles. But what might surprise Jewish readers is a specific set of important Hebrew principles, from the Hebrew Bible itself, that speak to our human dilemma, the solution, and that this solution comes through the Jewish Messiah ... in terms that lead us to Jeremiah's cited B'rit Chadashah (i.e., New Covenant). How can we see this ... here is list of Principles You Should Know From The Hebrew Scriptures to address this very critical perspective.
The same principles apply to Gentiles as well as Jews! The harmony is set in a context not commonly perceived. This all stems from the Hebrew Scriptures, but anyone oriented to the Jewish New Covenant (< bookstore link) can identify the linkage and unity between covenants. There is here one promise that applies to all—Jew and Gentile together! Reflect on this and you will better understand God's promises.
Judaism and Christianity both focus on commandments and the Laws of God. But exactly what is all that ... and can't this be distilled into something a bit more simple? Well, take a moment to drop in on another conversational dialog to see if there is a good way to sum it all in simpler terms: Dave and Todd on Torah, Law, Teachings.
Later, further down this column, you will find evidence for the identity of the Messiah. Not just a focal point of Christianity, but the identity of the Messiah in Jewish terms that stem from the Hebrew Bible. Refer to Bonnie's Story later simply because Bonnie—as a Jew—asks what it means to be Jewish without Messiah. She also encountered the issue of continuity and has come to realize that exploration into Jeremiah's New Covenant is indeed very Jewish ... and that Gentiles who know the New Testament are enriched by and well advised to study the Hebrew rooted Scriptures in the Tanach (i.e., Old Testament). Once a bridge is built there is no gap and there is Harmony for Jew and Gentile together!
There are a number of examples in the Hebrew text (Tanach, a.k.a. Old Testament) that reveal an interaction and a harmony between Jewish and Gentile peoples. These are stories that relate to faith and in turn the God of Israel revealing His purposes for all peoples.
See the Harmony links below ... this mini-listing is for articles based on a set of events that reveal an interplay between Jewish and Gentile peoples in advance of the Messiah's appearance. This interaction puts all people on track for a potential relationship with the God of Israel. Our actions reveal an inner heart and potentially the roots to a faith that will lead us to a relationship with the Creator Himself.
- Introduction
- Ruth and Naomi
- Joseph and Pharaoh
- Moses and Reuel
- Elijah and the Widow
- Elisha and Na'Aman
- Daniel and the King
- Esther and the King of Persia
A series of persons, coming in turn, appearing on their walk through the historical accounts given in the Bible. In a rather poetic fashion, we offer two feature articles that recount these persons and some of what they did to leave their mark on biblical history. For some readers, this will be a review of the lineup of characters that in many cases are familiar, but lost to the greater context of the Bible's account. Both articles are entitled 'The Heart of God,' with the first one bearing the subtitle: Part I - Knowing His Presence. The second is Part II - Now Face to Face. In each case, we come to realize how God and humans are interlinked, for without the potential of entering a relationship with the God of Israel, man will find no purpose to creation.
Back to TOP of this column.
The Land, The People
a Historical OverviewA biblical overview starting with the beginning of the Hebrew Scriptures tells us several key things. First, it defines God's people and their identity. Further, we can clearly get a picture of the dimensions of the Land, that is, the full size of Israel, not just the partial territory given the national label today. Finally, we discover more evidence for the root of Messiah's origin as laid out in the Hebrew text. Read this overview here. You'll also find portions of this placed at appropriate points along WindowView's timeline.
What about starting with a number of quotes directly from the Hebrew Scriptures that relate to the identity of the Jewish Messiah! We have collected a few examples and put them together as a series of pop-up windows. Click here to review the Messiah Links. This also includes a link to Jeremiah's text that identifies the new covenant.
Incredible efforts have been made to preserve the Hebrew text. For centuries, scribes copied each letter of each column of each scroll. Words were checked, letters counted, and the exact replication verified. One mistake and an entire scroll was tossed. In fact, Jewish scribes would participate in what amounts to a funeral for the errant scroll. These documents were buried and forgotten all in the name of maintaining the integrity of the original text.
Would anyone then purposely delete segments of the Hebrew text? Doing this is potentially misleading and is an obvious attempt to hide something. In rare cases, Jewish readers may find copies of their original Hebrew or translations of the Hebrew that are in fact missing certain select passages. One individual who found a Psalm was missing later realized that a specific portion of Isaiah's text was deleted, too. Bonnie, as an orthodox Jew, tells a story that reflects her search for an understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures. What she found was more than missing passages, she found the identity of the Jewish Messiah. In Bonnie's case, Psalm 22 and Isaiah 52 and 53 did not appear in her Jewish Bible—both passages are clearly Messianic.
A highly recommended study of Messianic references in the Hebrew text is Dr. Arnold Fructenbaum's book: Messianic Christology (< bookstore link). Don't let the title throw you. What's in this book are columns of Hebrew and English Scripture (side-by-side) with explanations that speak volumes to Jewish heritage unfulfilled ... for a Jewish person who finds Messiah finds what is already theirs. And to the Gentile this is an equally wonderful study revealing how the Bible yields its inner meaning from the very start of the Scriptures. Yeshua (Jesus) appears in a biblical reference as early as the third chapter of Genesis!
Bonnie came to understand that Jews and Gentiles have both suffered miscommunications from what seemingly is a gap in time and scriptural truth. Once the gap is bridged, she finds that there is a harmony in purpose that embodies all peoples. But most of all, knowing now the identification is clearly made, Bonnie asks: "What does it mean to be Jewish without Messiah?"
Indeed, in light of the incredible scientific evidence for the origin of life (that it's not by chance!), what does it mean to be human, Jew or Gentile, and not know Yeshua's role? His arrival is an extension of a promise offered to everyone. The promise takes us beyond the time line's horizon ... into the distant future!
There is one significant timeline-related identification of Messiah found in the Book of Daniel. The Creator's Window includes a section (Chapter XV pdf file) that attempts to tease out the themes and timelines embodied within Daniel's text. Remarkably, there are two timeline segments described in the text. One identifies exactly when Messiah would arrive two millennia ago. The second timeline concerns the latter part of the present age. So, this second timeline is forward looking even today.
There are other ways to determine the identity of Messiah and these come in the form of Types and Shadows of Messiah in the Hebrew Scriptures. A type is a representation of the identity and a shadow is a forward looking reference to that identity. In both cases, the identity is Messianic. This provides a spectacular informational linkage between covenants. Types and foreshadows in the Tanach flow directly into events described in the New Covenant text.
If we put all this together, one can link the Scriptures to a Messiah's timeline. We offer a table format to reveal a parallel between the new and old covenant texts. This represents a study resource and we recommend using the New King James Version (NKJV) when reading the listed passages. The NKJV is often times very faithful to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek word meanings in the original texts.
Perhaps you think that Jewish scholars were without their own types and shadows. But even after the Second Temple was destroyed (in 70 C.E.) the Jews recorded Messianic evidences relating back to the time of Yeshua, see: Talmudic Evidence for the Messiah at 30 CE
If missed above in the Messiah links section: Yeshua is (in Hebrew) the name for the Messiah (a.k.a. Jesus).
Afikomen: a Greek Word in an all Hebrew Haggadah!
Here is something very intriguing. Gentiles and many Jews alike are not aware that the Passover Seder includes a tradition that seems an obvious link to Yeshua's role as the Passover lamb. In fact, many Christian pastors refer to Jesus as the 'Lamb of God.' But how often do we relate that back to the Exodus and the original lamb sacrifice! Read about Types and Shadows in the Bible including this brief explanation of Messiah in the Passover Seder. The parallel and tradition at the Passover table is striking. A single Greek word seems to stand out so distinctly in the all Hebrew text for this High Holy Day tradition. We suggest that Afikomen is a type for Messiah. The use of this word came long after the original exodus from Egypt. In fact, it appears that this new portion of the seder was added in the first century CE after Yeshua's time one earth.
(Also for relevant information see Creator's Window Chapter 16 pdf file)
And one added presentation offered here concerns Jewish Answers to Bible Questions. Herein we see answers in the Hebrew Bible (i.e. Tanach) addressing the Messiah's identity. The answers have been there for generations as the scribes faithfully reproduced the text from scroll to scroll.
Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter. Jewish observances follow a series of High Holy Days around the entire calendar year. And although Chanukah is not an original High Holy Day set aside by the Hebrew Bible, it's certainly important to Jewish celebrations by families and congregations world wide. But what if all these holidays, Jewish and Christian actually zip up along a time line that is sequenced to fit a Messianic cycle? Our timeline pages include a hint of how this works. Interestingly, the cycle starts with the Feast of Tabernacles, next to Chanukah, and working through Christmas; then Passover and Easter; to finally close a cycle with Yom Kippur. [click to see timeline]
It's even possible to look at all the holidays in a greater context and to see something important for a Gentile in a Jewish High Holy Day. An example of this is presented in: Why Would a Christian Consider the Jewish Holidays?
Now let's introduce a number of unique holiday messages. Each is presented by Scott Brown. His Jewish perspective is historical, Messianic, witty, sometimes funny, other times challenging us, and yet all are instructive. While you may find a Jewish spin on each message, be assured the audiences hearing the original delivery of each presentation included Jew and Gentile together. And if you read carefully, you will see that there is only one message for all peoples ... that's the continuity one can see within this window.
First, as noted above, we already presented evidence for Messiah in the Passover. Just after the Feast of Pesach comes the Feast of First Fruits. This is a holy day that is not perhaps unfamiliar to many Gentiles, but this IS the FORGOTTEN feast of Israel! Jewish believers gloss over this day. Why? Well, you can, right here, listen to a message that describes why!
Next, Scott addresses the Jewish new year (Rosh Hashanah) with a message entitled: Time of the Signs. If you looked at the Messianic parallels to the Jewish holidays, you'll notice that this day is actually near the end of the Messianic cycle. Some think of this as a future time when Messiah will come to retrieve all the faithful in advance of the last segment of the current timeline (a.k.a. the rapture).
There is an interesting way to combine the Jewishness of the Scripture, the older practice and stages to the Jewish wedding, and what this tells us in terms of a popular theme today in publications concerning an 'end time rapture.' Take a minute to consider where so many interpretations may have gone wrong on the rapture and at the same time see how it's best understood in a Jewish context. If correct, the rapture will come 'in step' with the next High Holy Day to be fulfilled with a Messianic event - at Rosh Hashanah.
The new year leads to a time of reflection, commonly called 'ten terrible days.' These days lead to a day of atonement (as we like to sometimes say, a.k.a. 'at-one-ment' with God). Yom Kippur is in a sense is a yearly reflection on a time of judgment that is yet to come ... at the end of this age. But as Scott notes, we can find in Yom Kippur An End to Terrible Days.
Well, what starts the Messianic cycle? Perhaps the appearance of Messiah on earth. The Christmas story is always of the birth of Jesus placed in the context of December. But another Jewish holiday, Succoth or Feast of Tabernacles, might truly represent Messiah's time of arrival. During this holiday Jewish families gather to live outside, for one week (actually 8 days), in booths. Think of this as a huge Jewish camp out! But also think of the symbolism, too. God arrives as a man, dressed in human flesh to live with humanity for a brief time. God's tabernacle (tent), for a short time, is made of flesh. So take a moment to consider: God's Glory in a Tent!
Okay, how about something that includes the Christian (a.k.a. traditional Gentile) holiday perspective. We can do that! So let's consider where Christmas came from in the first place ... and yes with a Jewish spin, but a bit of humor and sobering commentary, too: Christmas Trees Grown from Jewish Seed
Of all holiday seasons we must place Passover and Easter at the top. But if one examines the traditional Easter observances, we soon run right into: The Lamb of God in the Passover
All these messages seem to say that not only should the Jews be observing their High Holy Days, but Gentiles who are Christian should study a holistic view that draws in the meaning of the Jewish holidays atop the Christian observances. In fact all these holy days align to one purpose.
The Messiah also observed Chanukah, known as the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22), and one can argue that without the events associated with Chanukah, there would have been no operable Temple for Messiah to visit. In fact, without the survival of the Jewish people the Messiah would have never come to be! Yet, the Temple was recaptured by the Macabees in ca. 164 BCE and was functional at the turn of the millennium (all this is detailed in the study of the Book of Daniel as noted above). Without these events there would have never been a Christmas.
There are also close ties between the Passover and the resurrection themes that are so critical to understanding what Easter is all about. But most importantly, all the themes of Easter are built into Passover. The calendar of events is already completed, fulfilled, from the fall feats to midyear feasts. The end of the cycle—that is, as yet to be fulfilled—comes to prophetic meanings. In terms of the biblical time line, there is an order to what comes next, we just don't have the dates to fix events to specific points on the time line. Holidays at the end of the cycle point to events that are yet to take place. For now, these events are projected onto the latter part of WindowView's time line.
Read the Bible: KJV of Hebrew (Tanach) and Greek (Brit Chadeshah); plus other translations added as available.
If you have truly observed the full extent of what the window reveals, then you may be asking how one can come to a meaningful relationship with the Creator, the God of Israel, and Messiah. For our Jewish visitors we recommend a Step Up To Life. The format of this presentation has been tailored especially by the associates at WindowView. There is an alternate format to Step Up To Life, which you can access from the end of this series of pages. The latter format may be more traditionally familiar to our Gentile visitors. Either way you look at relationship building, the goals and result are very much the same. Take a look, this may be the most important series of steps you'll ever take!
Somehow you have got to be asking about the perspective presented here. If Jewish and Gentile peoples were always meant to share in the same message, then why has this not happened in a big way? The answer is sin, denial, humanity's vanity, and more. And yet, we are not inventing anything new here. We are pointing out what should be obvious—but we know it's not so obvious to everyone. Well, that's why we sit here and look out this window!
Now maybe you're going to say you are is a Gentile and so what about Jewish participation in this perspective? "Oh yeah, we saw you comin'" as our friend Burt Rosenberg would say. And if you like a bit of humor and reflection on why 'we is' or why there 'is an is,' then you have to read a Jewish Messianic perspective in: Spritzin' Joy with Burt's JoySeminars
Okay, so you want to hear Burt on 'is,' like on existence, well click the icon to listen!
History, Family, Beliefs: An Additional Audio or Written Testimony by Stan Telchin:
Was this a father betrayed? Listen to a personal encounter with the truth of the Jewish Messiah's identity, as given from the perspective of a successful Jewish business man who had it all. Or so he thought. How did he test the contradictory evidence and how did he respond ... you may find you have much in common with this person's personal story. Click here for access to a web source that will bring you this story in Stan Telchin's own words.
There are two final features we'll offer here. The first is a dialog with Scott Brown and Dr. Peterson, the Director of WindowView. Scott reveals a number of issues and goals that concern marriage, especially in the context of a mixed marriage with Jew and Gentile together. We'll call this 'In the Light of Abraham' and note that what you'll read here applies to all marriages, to all individuals, to Jewish and Gentile peoples, too!After you read the dialog above ... another perspective Scott shares on the same topic is brief and like a quick list of things for intermarried couples to keep in mind, which are: Six Strategies for Intermarried Couples
The final Feature Area of WindowView is both a summary and a place to consider building a working paradigm based on all you've seen through the window. Click here to conclude the WindowView narrative series and consider how you might build your personal PARADIGM.
There are two final elements to this narrative. First, all that is illustrated above comes down to one key promise. Read about the ultimate harmony, a key choice, on a special page simply entitled: The Promise.
Further, you may wonder about the faith that inspires this web site. Nest read a statement that defines that faith: WindowView's Statement of Faith
1 ) Harmony Introduction
A) Core Storyline & Jewish Roots
B) Who We Are
C) Evidence That Identifies the Jewish Messiah
D) Jewish Holidays Revolve around Messiah — Focus on both Jew and Gentile
E) Relationship building — Stepping Up To Life and looking ahead!
F) Some added perspectives to think about
G) Intermarriage: A Special Relation Beyond Marriage
Read the Bible: KJV of Hebrew (Tanach) and Greek (Brit Chadeshah); plus other translations added as available.
2006 © www.WindowView.org
(090109)
