Jacob Prasch – Twisting Scripture the Midrash Way
Shadows of the Beast: Jacob Prasch – Twisting Scripture the Midrash Way
So I bought the book, “Shadows of the Beast” by Jacob Prasch and didn’t really make it past the Prologue. I was kinda horrified at a number of things. I will begin to list them in this article. To start off with, Jacob Prasch is anti Pre-Tribulational rapture and bases his whole ‘idea‘ on the premise that Jesus won’t come back and Rapture the church until the anti-Christ makes himself known in the middle of the Tribulation. He uses this verse as his only backup: (2 Thessalonians 2:3) “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”
The problem is, Jacob is not telling us the truth, because if you go and read from the beginning of the chapter you find out that Paul is speaking to the Thessalonians, not about the Rapture, but about ‘the day of the Lord’.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 1 Now regarding the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be easily shaken from your composure or disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.Talking of pre-tribulationists, Jacob Prasch says, “They must also fail to draw due distinction between the Great Tribulation and “the Day of the Lord” which are distinct time periods.” [pg. 17] Well I beg to differ.
What exactly is “the day of the Lord'”? The day of the Lord is The Tribulation made up of two parts; The Tribulation being first 3.5 years and the Great Tribulation being last 3.5 years, totaling 7 years from start to finish plus Jesus’ Second Coming!
So what 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is saying is this: The Tribulation aka “the day of the Lord” will not start until the apostasy comes first, and Jesus’ Second Coming (when He sets foot on earth) will not take place until after the anti-Christ has been reveal.
Another way to look at it is that, the Antichrist will be revealed before ‘the day of the Lord’ (or Tribulation stars) but can only be revealed right after the time of the Rapture.
Jacob Prasch says, “The Rapture and Resurrection cannot happen until the “man of lawlessness” is revealed. [pg. 22] Then he quotes (2 Thessalonians 2:3) “Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come unless the apostasy come first, and the man of lawlessness, the son of destruction.” He is saying that the word, “it” is the Rapture and Resurrection only. This is FALSE. As shown above, ‘it‘ is “the Day of the Lord” which encompasses The Tribulation and Jesus’ Second Coming.
Regarding the Rapture
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 1 Now on the topic of times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night. 3 Now when they are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would. 5 For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. 6 So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.Paul says: (1 Thessalonians 5:1)“But of the times and seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.” The word time here in Greek means chronos (khron’-os) in which we get the English word chronology. So, of the general chronology, of this particular time Paul says that no one needs write about it because they have ALREADY been instructed: 1) concerning the general time when Jesus said He would come and 2) concerning the particular time. So the general time CAN be known, but not the actual time. And this is a FANTASTIC message.
In (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3) Paul says: “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”
Time of Jacob’s trouble
It is IMPORTANT to note that the whole 7 year Tribulation period (also known as “Time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7) is considered a time of JUDGEMENT from God, not just the last 3.5 years which some seem to think. Judgments will be poured out on earth as the seven-sealed scrolls are opened consecutively by the Lamb. Judgments of the Seals, Trumpets and plagues GROWS IN INTENSITY, until you reach 2nd half of the tribulation, namely the Great Tribulation which lasts for another 3.5 years, where God’s Wrath is finally poured out IN FULL on mankind. If Jacob Prasch thinks that the first half of The Tribulation is not part of God’s wrath on earth, then I do not know what bible he is reading. Maybe he should stop reading extra-biblical books like the Midrash and pay attention to the Word of God alone to get a clue.
So how does the Rapture of the church relate to “the Day of the Lord” which happens before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ by 7 years? We know that “the Day of the Lord” will come suddenly and unexpectedly like a thief in the night, in other words, The Tribulation starts suddenly and unexpectedly. And the Rapture of the church MARKS the end of ‘the day of Grace’ and simultaneously MARKS the beginning of the ‘the day of the Lord’. As soon as the church is removed, the Antichrist is revealed and the trials and tribulations of this world begin in all earnest, the birth pangs are over, the birth begins, and no one can escape it.
1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 5 For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. 6 So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.Paul tells the born again believers to be alert and sober, to watch for Jesus!
Looking for Satan
We are not to look for Satan as Jacob Prasch want us too, we do not have to identify the him and his False Prophet! Jacob deliberately writes a book twisting scripture trying to cheat saints out of the Blessed Hope. The Bible tells us we are look towards Jesus Christ only and comfort one another with the message that He will return. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-18) “15 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.“
1 Thessalonians 4:1-18
1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.Jacob Prasch mentions many ideas and mis-conceptions in his book that make it sound like Pre-tribulationsists are a bunch of false teachers that need to be dealt with urgently. I am going to list them and answer them:
1) He makes the statement that “The patriarch of Pre-Tibulationism, Dr. John Walvoord of Dallas Theological Seminary admitted there is no stated biblical passage overtly teaching a Pre-Tribulational position. Walvoord states, that “the Rapture is between the lines”. [pg. 16] So because Dr John Walvoord changes his view now we must all fall down and beg for forgiveness because a so called patriach of Pre-Tribulationism says so? I think not. Walvoord can change his mind, but the Word of God stays the same.
2) Jacob states that Pre-Tribulationists are against identifying the anti-Christ and this is a BIG problem. This is news to me, I had no idea that we were against identifying the anti-Christ because the bible tells us that (1 Thessalonians 5:6) “we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.” However the bible also does tell us not to focus our attentions on evil things, but to focus our attentions on Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:1-4
1 If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.
3) Jacob states; “The Greek term for “tribulation” (thelipsis) and the eschatological testing in Rev. 3:10 are precise synonyms despite linguistic evidence to the contrary. Jesus in fact informed Christians that they would have tribulation in the world.” [ pg 17] Oh boy, talk about trying to fool us, do you think we are of low intelligence? Of course Christians will have ‘tribulation’ in this world, but if we look at Revelation 3:10 it talks about “the hour of temptation“ which refers to THE Tribulation. (Revelation 3:10) “10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.“ Jacob, should know, being the self proclaimed guru of all guru’s that an ‘hour’ in the Bible, denotes a period of time. Having “trials and tribulations” is very different from THE Tribulation, a set period of time where God pours out His judgement on the earth for a full 7 years.
Revelation 3:7, 10 7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open: 10 Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.The promise of verse 10, like all the promises to these different churches, is for every true child of God: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.“ This is the Lord’s own pledge to those who love His Name and seek to keep His Word – they will not be left down here to pass through the appalling tribulation that is just ahead of those who “dwell upon the earth.” This expression is found frequently in the book of Revelation. It does not simply mean those who live in the world. A careful reading of the various passages in which this peculiar term is found will make it clear that “the earth-dwellers” are in contrast to those whose citizenship is in Heaven. They are persons who, while professing to be Christians, refuse the heavenly calling. They prove by their earthly-mindedness and worldly ways that they really belong to this world. All their hopes and their treasures are here. The Lord has said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” [Emphasis added] — Dr Henry Ironside
4) Jacob states that Pre-Tribulationsists flounder because “they equate the removal of the Holy Spirit with the removal of the church. This is a mistaken eschatology resulting from a mistaken pneumatology; they misunderstand the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, which results in a further miscomprehension of 2 Thessalonians.” [pg. 17] We misunderstand the doctrine of the Holy Spirit now do we? No Jacob. We understand it fine. It’s Jacob who is making up stories here to fill pages in his book. Jacob believes that when we say that the Holy Spirit removes the church during the Rapture, he actually thinks we mean the Holy Spirit goes forever, good-bye, and the rest of the people on earth have to make do without Him. Nope, we know that the Holy Spirit is then poured out as God once again shifts His attention back to the salvation of Israel during the 7 year Tribulation period.
Acts 2:17
17 ‘And in the last days it will be,’ God says, ‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.5) He states 2 dangers to the Pre-Tribulationist view:
a) That we will not be prepared for the reality of the Tribulation. “Forewarned is forearmed” Jacob Prasch says [pg 19] . Really? What does he plan to do to hide away in a bunker in his garden from God’s judgments during the first 3.5 years of the THE Tribulation?
b) His second concern is that we (Pre-Tribulationists) won’t know who the anti-Christ and False Prophet will be, and this according to Jacob Prasch is a huge problem. This is ridiculous because as born again Christians we will have an inkling to who it could be because the bible tells us to keep watch for the signs of the times, as it means Jesus’ return is getting closer and closer, but there is no need for us know identify him because we will be raptures right before He makes himself known to the world and the Tribulation stars.
1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 5 For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. 6 So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.6) Jacob then calls Pre-Tribulationsists false christs/prophets, deceiving the Elect.
a) “Jesus Himself warned us of false Christs and false prophets in the Olivet Discourse, yet just as Preterists falsely teach it not longer applies to Christians because it has all (instead of partially) transpired in the events surrounding A.D. 70, Pre-Tribulationsists are left agreeing with them that it does not apply to us because we have already been raptured before the Antichrist and False Prophet become and issue.” [pg. 20]
b) Jacob says we are not the Elect, we are false Christians, false prophets; “The rapture and resurrestion cannot and shall not take place until the faithful believers can identify the ultimate two beasts of Revelation Chapter 13. The popular myth asserting the contrary as if it were an exegetical fact is a dangerous myth with must be debunked as a deception perpetrated against the Elect [pg. 21]
False Christ/False Prophet, deception perpetrated against the Elect; this is tantamount to calling us Heretics = a dissenter from established religious teaching.
7) Jacob says more and more people are fortunately turning away from the “erroneous nature of Pre-Tribulationalism and the need understand how to properly identify the final Antichrist and False Prophet – the beast of Revelation 13.” [pg. 20] Yes more people are apostacising and turning away from Jesus Christ and focusing their attention on Satan instead. You are helping fulfill 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “…. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes …”
8) Jacob says, “If only those who have wisdom will understand how to calculate the number of the beast (Rev. 13:18), and if it requires the true believers (whose wisdom is Christ), then who will be here with the wisdom to do the calculation? These cannot be the tribulation saints because if they had the wisdom they would not be here either.” [pg. 19]
Revelation 13:18
18 This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the beast’s number, for it is man’s number, and his number is 666.The bible does not say we have to know, it says, let the one who has insight calculate the number. By the time THE Tribulation starts and the Holy Spirit is poured out on the earth, people will have the wisdom to calculate the number of the beast and know who it is for sure. Or is Jacob contradicting himself and saying that the Holy Spirit won’t be on earth during THE Tribulation? Contradictions, galore in this book.
9) This is a classic: Jacob accuses Pre-tribulationists of saying that the apostasy is actually the Rapture. He says, “Some even venture so far as to identify the apostasy (apostasia) as the Rapture, not, as the context dictates, the departure from the truth when a delusional judgment comes upon those rejecting the truth they once professed. (2 Thes 2:10-11) [pg. 20] I have never heard of this before, Jacob must have dug deep to find this nonsense to add to his book to paint us with a tarred brush. If one looks at how Jacob Prasch has twisted the truth, one would think he is under a strong delusion. (2 Thes 2:10-11)
10) Jacob Prasch says “that a very good translation of Laodicea is as a compound Greek term lao-dikaomai meaning “people’s rights” or “people’s opinions”. Pre-tribulationists may have a right to their opinion, but they have no right to expect others to believe it when they themselves admit they cannot prove it with a single verse or passage by an inductive exegetical means” [pg. 21] Jacob, Pre-Tribulationists have never denied that they cannot prove their position. If you have found someone who has changed their eschatological view, it’s only because if you look deeper you will find that more than likely their entire doctrine is suspect. If we look at you with a magnifying glass, we find that you twist scripture, fellowship with men who follow doctrines of demons, insist that Christians spend their time identifying Satan, and use extra biblical manuscripts called the Midrash to interpret the bible thereby completely negating the Holy Spirit – see below:
Jacob Prasch was asked by Richard Engstrom this question:
“Can a group of sincere, literate, English speaking people in isolation from the rest of the world, come to a COMPLETE understanding of ALL that God deeds to us through the Bible, if all they have in their possession is a KJV without notes (without Midrash, without Eidersheim, without Josephus)?”
Jacob’s answer was complicated, high-handed – but his basic reply was “NO!”
Engstrom comments:
“No matter how you slice it, his answer was NO! He denies that YOU, dear reader, can come to a COMPLETE understanding of ALL that God deeds to us through the Bible, if all you have in your possession is a KJV without notes (Midrash, without Eidersheim, without Josephus). You be the judge. Did I misrepresent his answer or not?”
Jacob’s full answer is now given:
“The Word of God was given in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic – not Elizabethan English. I accept the infallibility of the original manuscripts in the original languages, and not the infallibility of any translation, be it KJV or otherwise. Literacy in English is not a major factor, scripture demonstrates the importance of bringing out the original meaning in the original languages (e.g. Neh. 8:8 where after the captivity most people no longer knew Hebrew so the original Hebrew meaning had to be explained ). Hence, because I believe in the priority of the original languages (I have more faith in the bible than I do in translations of it ) MY ANSWER To YOUR FIRST QUESTION IS NO.” —http://www.apostasynow.com/articles/midrash.html
Please read this article: MIDRASH: THE CAMEL’S NOSE
We only need Jesus Christ to understand the Bible:
Revelation 3:7-8
7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open:
8 ‘I know your deeds. (Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut.) I know that you have little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name.
The Lord spoke of Himself as “…the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open” (3:7). This verse is clearly a reference to Isaiah 22:22. In that Isaiah passage he who had the key of David was the treasurer of David’s house. There it is said of Eliakim, “The key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.” The remainder of the passage shows that Eliakim was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, the one on whom should be hung all the glory of His Father’s house. He, by His Spirit, opens the great treasure-house of divine truth, and none can shut it. On the other hand where there is perversity of spirit and an unwillingness to walk in the truth, He shuts and none can open. So He has said elsewhere, “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness” (Matthew 6:23).
It is blessed to realize that, while Christ is said to have the key of David, there is another sense in which we see that He is the key. By the presentation of Himself to the souls of His people He opens up the treasures of His Word. Thus Christ is the key to the Holy Scriptures, and no other is needed. To understand the Bible you need only to know Christ. [Emphasis added] — Dr Henry Ironside
The Bible is clear, no Midrash, no other extra biblical manuscripts or tools, just Jesus Christ is needed. Jacob Prasch does not tell us the truth when he tells us that we need other tools to understand the Bible.
What is Midrash?
If we go and read about Midrash here on Moriel’s website, we can clearly see that something is very very wrong.
The Midrash definition is extremely vague, so much so that Jacob Prasch says,
“Unless someone has been educated in Judaism, Hebrew, or theology, it is easier to demonstrate midrash than to explain it.”
How peculiar, why can’t he explain it, are we not smart enough?
Strangely enough Wickipedia can explain it.
Midrash (Hebrew plural midrashim, lit. “to investigate” or “study”) is a homiletic method of biblical exegesis. The term also refers to the whole compilation of homiletic teachings on the Bible.
Midrash is a way of interpreting biblical stories that goes beyond simple distillation of religious, legal or moral teachings. It fills in many gaps left in the biblical narrative regarding events and personalities that are only hinted at. [1]
So it helps you “go beyond” teachings and “fill in the gaps” of the Bible; that is very interesting – basically you are adding “extra biblical revelation” to the bible. Jewish websites and others will admit Midrash is a collection of stories, allegory, history, scientific observations and legend. Jacob claims the word Midrash is supposedly mentioned in the bible, as he claims here in this article: What does the Word of God Actually Say About Midrash?. But then we need to ask ourselves so is Enoch mentioned in the Bible, this does not mean we now can read the Book of Enoch as something inspired.
I went to go and look through the bible for the word “Midrash” and I can’t find it, but then after reading Jacob Prasch’s articles, the word “Midrash” does actually appear, as the word “story” – this is what Jacob deems to be “Midrash” in the Bible.
Strong’s Number H4097 matches the Hebrew (midrash), which occurs 2 times in 2 verses in the Hebrew concordance of the KJV (2Ch 13:22; 2Ch 24:27)
1) study, exposition, midrash, record, story a) writings of a didactic nature b) midrash – transliteration of the Hebrew wordRoot Word (Etymology): Hebrew (darash) – Strong’s Number H1875
meaning to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require, search be it of God or of heathen Gods.
Hmmmm. Really? I think someone is a trying to make the Bible fit the Midrash. Just because the word ‘story’ means Midrash, and the root of it means to ‘seek’, it does not mean we can use stories and fables or ancient methods of study to investigate the bible.
Prasch states:
“You will never understand the Book of Revelation with the kind of limited approach to biblical interpretation that is taught in Protestant seminaries. Midrash is like a quadratic equation or a very complex second order differential equation, a thirteen or fourteen step equation. Some people take the first step of grammatical-historical exegesis and think the equation is solved” [Emphasis added]“The problem with the Reformers is that they only went so far. They made rules governing the application of their grammatical-historical system in order to refute medieval Roman Catholicism, and many of those rules are still taught in theological seminaries today. [Emphasis added]
Jacob Prasch claims that you need to be well educated in Greek, Hebrew and a whole host of other rabbinical teachings to “truly understand scripture“. This sounds very much like Roman Catholicism who only speak in Latin (so that you don’t understand) and tell their converts that they will never be smart enough to understand the bible; so you need to rely on specialist experts in all forms of theological studies to give you the message instead.
As I mentioned above, scripture is clear, you only need the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be able to understand scripture and Christians through-out the centuries have done fantastically fine without Jacob Prasch and his Midrash. Judging by the way Jacob has handled such simple scriptures as those mentioned at the very beginning of the article, I would say that a Reformer from a few hundreds of years ago could run circles around him and teach him a thing or two on CORRECT BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION.
But according to Prasch, it is just so terrible to think that the Reformers only went so far in their faith and could go no further without the Midrash. It would seem Jacob Prasch is trying to take us back to the dark ages where the little people have to listen to the big people with regards to what the Bible says. See (Galatians 4:2-12) This is unbiblical.
Midrash and Kabbalah
And now we come to the FACT that there is a connection between Midrash and Kabbalah. Surprise!! Now, they say that the earlier Midrash differs from the later Medieval versions, but I mean who is pulling the wool over who’s eyes here? These Jewish manuscripts, writings and studies are not OT Biblically inspired – this is where some of the Apocrypha (Magisterium, Canon Law, Sirach, Maccabees, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Susanna) comes from.
Let’s go back to the Wickipedia definition of Midrash:
“Midrash (Hebrew plural midrashim, lit. “to investigate” or “study”) is a Hebrew term referring to the not exact, but comparative (homiletic) method of exegesis (hermeneutic) of Biblical texts, which is one of four methods cumulatively called Pardes. The term midrash can also refer to a compilation of homiletic teachings (commentaries) on the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), in the form of legal and ritual (Halakhah) and legendary, moralizing, folkloristic, and anecdotal (Aggadah) parts.”
What is Pardes?
“The term, sometimes also spelled PaRDeS, is an acronym formed from the name initials of these four approaches, which are:
eshat – “plain” (simple) or the direct meaning.
Remez – “hints” or the deep (allegoric) meaning beyond just the literal sense.
Derash – from Hebrew darash: “inquire” (seek) – the comparative (midrashic) meaning, as given through similar occurrences.
Sod (pronounced with a long O as in gold) – “secret” (mystery) or the mystical meaning, as given through inspiration or revelation.
Really? “Secret, mystery, mystical meaning, as given through inspiration or revelation.”
It would seem that mysticism is denounced when it comes to other preachers who delve into it and even Jacob and his ministry are quick to label them as false teachers, but it is biblical when it comes to Midrash? How is this possible? What stories has he spun over the eyes of those following him, that they have swallowed up the lie? The Midrash is nothing but a very sly and sneaky way of getting believers involved in mysticism.
Multiple meanings for the Bible?
“Midrash makes heavy use of allegory and typology to illustrate and illuminate doctrine, but never as a basis for doctrine. It sees multiple meanings in Bible texts found in strata,” [Emphasis added] — http://www.moriel.org/articles/sermons/midrash.htm
- Using Midrash to search through the Bible to illustrate and illuminate the doctrine – instead of the Holy Spirit who illuminates.
- You need a Jewish Rabbi to explain Midrash to you before you can have the “secret key” that will open the door to understanding.
- Use Midrash to searching for “secret knowledge“
- Using Midrash to finding “multiple meanings” in the Bible. Apparently the only way to find God’s proper truth is if you have multiple meanings.
Gnosticism teachers that the Bible cannot be understood as it is, you need to have a “secret key” which unlocks the “hidden mysteries” in the texts. This is EXACTLY what Jacob Prasch presents to us under the banner of Christianity.
The Bible says…
John 14:26: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
You do not need to understand Hebrew or Greek, or have a degree to understand the Bible, all you need is the Holy Spirit abiding in you. Anyone who tells you that you need to look outside of scripture in order to understand it is not telling you the truth.
John MacArthur
a) Jacob Prasch says that Dr John Walvoord is a good man, excellent preacher and author like John MacArthur. [pg 16]
Who is John MacArthur? A Calvinist who preaches that Jesus did not die for the whole world but for the Elect only. He preaches that you are not saved, you are CHOSEN by God before birth and that if you are Elect your children will be Elect. John MacArthur denies the Blood of Jesus Christ and says it’s ‘just liquid’. John MacArthur believes in a works based Salvation, called Lordship Salvation.
b) Jacob says, “Among these bretheren are some of my closest personal friends who seek to uphold biblical truth in an age of apostasy where it is being eroded. Among these are Dave Hunt, Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum, Dr David Hocking, Pastor Chuck Smith, Dr Thomas Ice, Dr Randolph Price…” [pg. 16]
I’m only going to focus on Chuck Smith. Chuck Smith is the founder of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa and the Jesus Movement in the 70’s that Jacob Prasch says he belonged too in the hippie days. See Shadows of the Beast [pg.19]
Chuck Smith close and personal friends with Jacob Prasch
Who is Chuck Smith:
Lonnie Frisbee
Chuck Smith
“Actually “the Calvary Chapel Movement was essentially spawned by Lonnie Frisbee, not Chuck Smith. It was Chuck’s embracing of Frisbee that drew the massive crowds of young hippies during the Jesus Movement…who then grew up and were Institutionalized by the opportunistic and shrewd Businessman, Chuck Smith.
Can a healthy Spirit-Led Movement of God be founded upon a man, Lonnie Frisbee, who was doing LSD and having homosexual relations with other men on Saturday…and then preaching the “real” Jesus Christ and Gospel on Sunday?
Lonnie Frisbee’s life and struggles with drugs and homosexuality is well documented. He died of AIDS as a result of his homosexual lifestyle. A very sad end I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
Kathryn Kuhlman, another Calvary Chapel and Chuck Smith partner that was instrumental in the genesis of the Movement is hailed as the major influence in Benny Hinn’s life. The hyper-Charismatic “faith healer”,
Kathryn Kuhlman
Kuhlman, was very close to Smith and very much a part of the early days of CC.
Chuck Smith intervened with a Church Discipline Process with regards to David Hawking’s Adultery and sex scandal, circumventing another Church’s Scripturally motivated disciplinary process.
The list of scandals and cover-ups in Camp Calvary Chapel, Chuck Smith’s Progeny, is astounding. This site documents the tip
Chuck Smith and Rick Warren apostacising together
of the Ice Burg (but we’ll get to many others in time, and the list keeps growing as more people contact me with information).
A defense I’ve heard from some in the Online Discernment community, the supposed “Watch People” of “Sound Doctrine” and “Apostasy” etc. is, “Well, Chuck Smith is a gifted bible teacher”…and that excuses the Scandals and lack of following Scripture in dealing with sin in the Camp.
Well, what happens if Chuck Smith is preaching Heresy with regards to a Core Doctrine of the Faith? Can Chuck Smith be “wrong” and have a “wrong interpretation of Scripture” on a foundational issue like the Resurrection? Personhood? (Who the “real me” is).
I submit that Chuck Smith cannot be wrong on the Doctrine of Resurrection and be trusted as a true Prophet of God. The issue of Resurrection is key to our Faith. If one is “wrong” on the Resurrection…then others (Gnostics, Emergents, RCC, Mormons, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, you name it) can be “wrong”, too, and it shouldn’t rise to the level of calling out the different “interpretation”…if we can just ignore something as serious as a Heretical View of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and of the Saints.”
“What does Chuck Smith say about who “we” are as “the Real Me”? What is Chuck Smith’s teaching regarding the Doctrine of Resurrection?
Chuck Smith teaches that (in his own words, see video) that “the REAL ME is spirit“…classic Gnosticism.
Chuck Smith goes on to teach a Doctrine of Resurrection of both Jesus Christ and the Saints where “your spirit LEAVES your body” and “goes into a NEW body” after you die. Classic Jehovah’s Witness Theology.
He goes on to explain that Jesus Christ had a “similar but different” body when He Resurrected. It is not the “same” Physical Body that has been Glorified, but rather the “spirit” of Jesus (and our “spirit” who is the “real me“) LEAVES our “old bodies” and then migrates to a “new body“…some Quasi-Spirit Body. This is Heresy.
I call on Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel to repent of their Heresy regarding the Doctrine of Resurrection. They cannot be “wrong” on this Core Foundational issue as the Gnostics and Jehovah’s Witnesses are. If we compromise the integrity of this Foundational Truth…then we are on a Slippery Slope and we are preaching a “different Jesus”.
There is no “old body” in the Tomb that Jesus arose from. Jesus Christ has “one” Literal Physical Earthly Body that was Glorified. We have one Literal Physical Earthly Body that is “the real us” that is Glorified. Jesus’s “spirit” and our “spirit” does not “leave our old body” and migrate to some “new body” that is a Quasi-Spirit Body. That is JW and Gnostic and off the Reservation of Christian orthodoxy.” [Emphasis added] — http://calvarychapelabuse.com/wordpress/?p=998
2 Corinthians 6:14-15
14 Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness?
15 And what concord has Christ with Belial? or what part has he that believes with an infidel?
Ephesians 5:11
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
NEWS FLASH! Someone ain’t telling us the WHOLE TRUTH! [Edited: This has been resolved! Please read comments, Thank you!]
This is strange, Jacob Prasch says,
“Neither I or Moriel have had any association with Lausanne in over 15 years in part due to the ecumenical issue.
> Earlier this year I signed a statement opposing its ecumenical direction.”
If you go onto Moriels website you have the following:
“Moriel endorses Church’s Ministry Among the Jews, Jews For Jesus, the Messianic Testimony, Chosen People Ministries, Ariel, the Lausanne Consultation On Jewish Evangelism, the Danish and Norwegian Missions To Israel, and Christian Witness To Israel, but warn against such deceptions as Bridges For Peace, Wings Of Eagles, the Ebenezer Fund, Christian Action For Israel, and above all the International Christian Embassy.” —http://www.moriel.org/pfp/sermons/seduction_of_the_hebrew_root_movement.htm
“Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism is a Special Interest Committee of the Lausanne Movement.” — http://www.lcje.net and this site links DIRECTLY with a big LAUSANNE MOVEMENT LOGO to: http://www.lausanne.org/en/
Jacob Prasch says he signed a petition, asking the Ecumenical movement he endorses ON THE SIDE to not be ecumenical? How funny is that. (Petition:
What a waste of time, wasn’t it.
See snapshots here: http://www.discerningtheworld.com/images/wpi/JacobPrasch-LausanneConsultationOnJewishEvangelism.pdf
Well…some good came out of this discussion…the true colours certainly were exposed…whatever credibility JP had left has now been flushed down the drain.
I could not believe that one who claims to be a true christian believer can behave like this…JP needs to repent for this and ask for forgiveness from John. The thing is, will he?
Thank you William for your comments.
Intelligence is a wonderful gift, but it can so easily turn to pride and arrogance. The Bible is quite clear how God feels about pride.
If one has a short fuse it is a sign of lack of self-control. Self-control is a quality of good leaders and a sign they are walking in the Spirit and not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.
Chris by his own admission says that he was expected Mr. Prasch would respond in the ungodly way he did. Does that not make him a party to Mr. Prasch’s sin of condemning a brother in Christ?
It is beyond me how someone can respect a leader who conducts himself in such a way and apparently not express any concern about it.
It has happened over and over. Christian teachers build for themselves huge world-wide ministries and don’t have to be held accountable to the Body of Christ. They insulate themselves and surround themselves with people who will not challenge them, but will in fact deflect even legitimate constructive criticism.
Yes, the nutcases have to be screened, but when honest questions are asked they deserve honest answers.
This is not how the Body of Christ is supposed to operate. But this has become the norm with megachurches and megaministries and thereby leaven and error have been allowed to multiply.
Often good works serve as window dressing that covers the errors.
Hi Debs
Great research!!!
By the way, here is a better link showing Jacob’s signature and comments. This is what I meant when I said it was a weak gesture and said nothing. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/lcje/signatures
Joe, facts – isn’t that exactly what John Chingford did? There is no comparison with the comments made by Mr. Chingford and those made by Mr. Prasch. Mr. Chingford did not insult Mr. Prasch and hurl insults at him.
I don’t follow your reasoning at all. Please explain.
On the Lausanne issue, I knew little to nothing about it before the posts here. It is well and good to sign a petition, but don’t actions speak louder than words? What was the outcome of the petition? Did it accomplish anything? If it did, well and good. If it did not, actions must follow words and one must come out and be separate and make a statement about it, otherwise it means nothing.
Joe
John supplied FACTS, John did not insult Jacob Prasch.
It has been proved that John’s suspicions were SPOT on, and that Jacob is covering up.
I don’t know how you can say that John is at fault.
Thanks Guys for all your words and responding. Especially thanks for all the kind, sympathetic things you said. IT IS appreciated.
Actually, I found the words of Jacob so ludicrous that it made me laugh rather than cry. I had read those sort of words from Jacob before and now find him addressing them to me. It just had me in stitches. Please pray for him. He needs the conviction from the Holy Spirit to break his pride and bring him to humility. If he is willing to apologise to me personally, it would be a wonderful first step in the path of humility. Of course I will accept his apology, but it would still be nice to hear it.
I actually have and still care about the man. It is of extreme sadness to see him fall away in the way he has. As an example of my compassion for him please see these two articles on my blog 2 years ago in November 2010:
[removed]
[removed]
Also see this:
[removed] in Oct 2010
Oh my, how terrible is this, no wonder Jesus said to keep our eyes on Him and not on any man.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, having quickly skimmed through the many comments here I recognise many factual errors and accusations of the kind you are attributing to Jacob Prasch – a man who is much more gracious, even to heretics such as the sadly deluded Billy Graham (and family), than the picture being painted here.
He has, for example, spoken approvingly of Smith Wigglesworth (hardly the most orthodox orator or writer) and even gave credit to the often heretical, divisive and plain nasty, Jerome (‘who translated the Bible into Latin to give people the Vulgate … took the Old Testament from the Hebrew instead of from the Septuagint … pointed out from Romans that the Old Testament canon was given to the Jews. This was much to his credit’ – ref. The Dilemma of Laodicea, p86-87).
If he can give credit to Jerome, Augustine etc. who are revered by the ignorant as ‘Church Fathers’ while pointing out some of their more obvious errors, then we can expect that he might do the same with contemporary leaders who may exhibit many good, orthodox points in their ministries that far outstrip their errors (e.g David Wilkerson). This does not ever mean that he, and we, should not still warn of the errors in a ministry when they may adversely affect believers.
By his own admission he should be a better Christian than he is and has at times allowed a sense of humour that is out of place in Christian meetings to come to the fore. I have personally heard his teaching on many occasions and over many years, listened to his tapes/CDs, and read many of his articles and books (e.g Grain for the Famine; More Grain for the Famine; The Final Words of Jesus and Satan’s Lies Today; The Dilemma of Laodicea; Shadows of the Beast).
I have also asked him questions on various subjects and never found him to be disingenuous. He has always answered honestly and openly and stated on many occasions that ‘he does not know everything’ and fully recommends and supports the Scriptural admonition to check everything (the Word and the Spirit) out carefully, i.e. be a Berean (Acts 17v11) and ‘prove all things’ (1 Thessalonians 5v19-22). When I read accusations, such as – ‘John Wesley (like Jacob Prasch) believed in a works salvation. This means that they had to use “methods” to obtain God’s favour’ – I would ask the writer to prove this extensively (try and find it in the Prasch books I have quoted here, for example – saved by ‘grace alone’ is emphatically taught by him).
Note: I understand that Moriel have employed visually impaired staff for many years and, for whatever reason, errors occur occasionally in his books because of obvious misunderstandings by those entrusted with transcription (a better proof-reading system would also help). When there are so many lost people trapped in false religions and blatant cults it is surprising and disappointing to find so much time wasted on making unfounded allegations against one of the most orthodox contemporary teachers – especially over difficult and relatively unessential doctrines. Please carefully check his teaching on utterly essential doctrines, e.g. salvation, before going too far in your estimations and conclusions.
Dear David
>> having quickly skimmed through the many comments
That was your first mistake, you should have READ them.
Did you read the article?
>> I recognise many factual errors
There are no factual errors. Only facts. If they are errors he must come back and tell us why they are errors regarding the Lausanne Consultation On Jewish Evangelism
>> He has, for example, spoken approvingly of Smith Wigglesworth (hardly the most orthodox orator or writer) and even gave credit to the often heretical, divisive and plain nasty, Jerome (‘who translated the Bible into Latin to give people the Vulgate … took the Old Testament from the Hebrew instead of from the Septuagint … pointed out from Romans that the Old Testament canon was given to the Jews. This was much to his credit’ – ref. The Dilemma of Laodicea, p86-87).
So what?
>> If he can give credit to Jerome, Augustine etc. who are revered by the ignorant as ‘Church Fathers’ while pointing out some of their more obvious errors, then we can expect that he might do the same with contemporary leaders who may exhibit many good, orthodox points in their ministries that far outstrip their errors (e.g David Wilkerson). This does not ever mean that he, and we, should not still warn of the errors in a ministry when they may adversely affect believers.
I don’t see Paul in the bible or anyone for that matter giving any false teacher any CREDIT of any sort. They said, MARK them and STAY away from them. Don’t confuse the flock by one minute mentioning they preach certain things falsely and then another minute say they are great preachers.
>> I have also asked him questions on various subjects and never found him to be disingenuous.
Really, so why then was I told if I was to question him on a certain matter that he would reply in a not so nice way? And why then did he insult John the way he did, when he did not have to AT ALL. What is so special about you?
>> He has always answered honestly and openly and stated on many occasions that ‘he does not know everything’ and fully recommends and supports the Scriptural admonition to check everything (the Word and the Spirit) out carefully, i.e. be a Berean (Acts 17v11) and ‘prove all things’ (1 Thessalonians 5v19-22).
First) Ya, ya, and the Midrash. You forget you need to check the Midrash too. Secondly) why are you asking Jacob Prasch, why are you not going to the bible and searching the scriptures yourself with the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
>> I understand that Moriel have employed visually impaired staff for many years and, for whatever reason, errors occur occasionally in his books because of obvious misunderstandings by those entrusted with transcription
I would think that would be more on the lines on spelling errors surely? Not full blown twisting of scripture. Blame the visually impaired now? That is… hmmm…. I don’t have words for that.
>> When there are so many lost people trapped in false religions and blatant cults it is surprising and disappointing to find so much time wasted on making unfounded allegations against one of the most orthodox contemporary teachers
Ah but on the contrary dear David, it would appear that your Jacob is not teaching the whole truth and nothing but the truth and uses extra biblical sources to gain so called biblical knowledge. He has painted himself a picture to the public to be this highly intelligent man that is so knowledgeable on everything, and he sneaks in UNBIBLICAL messages like the (Nephilim into his 95% of his videos, which he gets from extra biblical writings – why does he keep repeating this??) He even mentions the Nephillim is the ‘Shadows of the Beast’ He says, “Hence when Jesus was transfigured (on the same mount where the demonic Nephilim came down in the days of Jarrod according to Jewish history) [Emphasis added] [pg. 15] and saying that Slain in the Spirit does happen today, and then getting Christians involved in the Midrash, which has been proven to an introduction to Kabbalah.)
On the outskirts Jacob Prasch dazzles with this high IQ, and yes he preaches a lot of truth, but of late I have been watching his ministry do an about turn for the worse, and things are but a changin’ and new doctrines are being preached to his now ‘many many many followers’ like for instance that Pre-trib is erroneous, which it is not. Jacob has to twist scripture to come to his conclusions. It would seem the trick of Satan is to start a minister off with the truth, and once he has built up a large ministry, then start doing an about turn on certain important things… and this is what is happening with Moriel.
>> it is surprising and disappointing to find so much time wasted on making unfounded allegations against one of the most orthodox contemporary teachers – especially over difficult and relatively unessential doctrines……Please carefully check his teaching on utterly essential doctrines
But you don’t find it surprising that Prasch could waste an entire chapter debunking Pre-trib and calling us false teachers and unbelievers attacking the Elect. It’s not an unessential doctrine to JP – why don’t you go and ask ask him why he wrote a whole chapter on such an unessential thing and insult most of the body of Christ!
Follow Jesus Christ David, not Jacop Prasch.
Hi David Melchiz
You asked me a specific question. Therefore I will reply.
Jacob and John Wesley BOTH follow Arminian theology. Arminianism is a work based theology because it states that you can lose your salvation.
I will explain why it is work based. They preach that AFTER being born again into God’s family you can STILL fall away. Therefore, it has to be work based because IF YOU DO NOT CONTINUE (I.e in your OWN strength and works) you can LOSE your salvation. This is heresy! Paul had some very strong words to say about such doctrine of works to maintain salvation:
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9
and in Galatians 3:2-3 “Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”
Hi Debs, Again an excellent reply by you and SPOT ON!
You know Prasch likes to brag that he is “brash” as he calls others idiots, liars, uneducated (if they don’t agree with his take on Midrash. As others pointed out, his very unsound speech towards John. It is always excused and explained away as his frustration, over these things, he need only do his best to have sound speech that cannot be condemned, or simply reply as he can, or since this is not the only place where his teaching on Midrash has been questioned, maybe a public response on his site?
But his own articles on midrash give him away. And after a similar conversation on a Facebook group a “friend” and also someone who claimed to work for Prasch, said they would be reaching him for comment. Instead, the entire site went down the very next day and stayed down for some sort of “move”. Possibly a strange coincidence.
In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. Tit 2:7-8
Deborah.
I have tried to phone you to have a civilised discussion regarding Moriel and Jacob Prasch to explain my situation to you ,as I do not see the point to continue the conflict in the open like this, but you did not answer.
With this I want to make something very clear:
There are presumptions that I agree in how Jacob and support Jacob’s way of communication which is not true. If I agreed I would have followed his example here as I am sure you would notice I have not.
I have looked into certain issues that were raised on this blog and need to respond appropriately.
Herewith I want to make it absolutely clear that if Jacob is guilty as charged and/or comes up with heresy that I will obviously distance myself from him – this is under investigation. And this is what I wanted to tell you over the phone.
I am sure that we may find old topics on the internet to really nail each other with, but are they still applicable?
I find it concerning that one site is quoted to show Jacob’s involvement with Lausanne, yet the other sites are not mentioned. I trust that this will be investigated as well.
There is also mention made that the word Midrash does not appear in the Bible yet I recall one of Jacobs’ teachings where he mentions the following Scriptures:
2Chronicles 13:22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.
If we look at the Hebrew wording we will find the following Hebrew word for “Story” that is “Midrash”
This we also find in: 2 Chronicles 24:27 2Ch 24:27 Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.
The word story here also is called “Midrash”
I will however look into the other issues regarding Jacob and will continue doing so as we are to be Bereans.
Chris
Sorry, my husband has my phone and he is away for a whole week working and only be back on Sunday. I didn’t ignore your call 🙂
>> here is also mention made that the word Midrash does not appear in the Bible yet I recall one of Jacobs’ teachings where he mentions the following Scriptures:
>> 2Chronicles 13:22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.
>> If we look at the Hebrew wording we will find the following Hebrew word for “Story” that is “Midrash”
>> This we also find in: 2 Chronicles 24:27 2Ch 24:27 Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.
>>The word story here also is called “Midrash”
Funny you should mention this, I realised this this morning and went to check for the Hebrew word Midrash and found the word ‘story’ I have updated the article. I apologize for my error and I have rectified my mistake.
Chris
Ok, we will see this as Jacob Prasch being vindicated regarding Laussane, he knows what organisations he belongs too and does not belong too – Jesus after all does see everything.
“Now I beseech you, BRETHREN, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my BRETHREN, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” 1 Cor 1:10 to 12.
Over the past while I’ve been following the many blogs on Jacob Prasch and I noticed an apparently increasing number of individuals joining in with what I could, if I were emotionally charged only, describe as “the hunting down and shredding to pieces” of our BROTHER Jacob Prasch. Take note, I call him OUR brother, for Jacob is someone who just like each of us, has openly admitted that he too, is but a scholar.., a student of Christ; someone who does not know it all; someone who also, just like each of us, makes mistakes and when this becomes known to him, corrects the said mistakes and humbly and obediently repents thereof, humbly apologizes and then carries on with the task of discipleship for which he was called – this is what each TRUE Christian has also been called for. Each of you who have blogged has also had to repent on various things and has had to apologize. In his moving on with his task, Jacob has put his past mistakes behind him and thinks of it no more.
My view on the blogs read is that some of Jacob’s past mistakes for which he has publicly apologized, is partially what is now still held against him. Is this right? Certainly not!
We all have something to say about the serious issues of false prophets and false teachers and false “Christians” and the false teachings all agents of Satan present wherever they go, and it is our God-ordained duty to speak out against these and any false issues of filth that has historically infiltrated and still is infiltrating the True Church. I do so at just about every opportunity I get to warn the audience against anything contrary to God’s Word and the teachings of Christ. I am certain that each person who comments on what they perceive or understand or believe to be false, does so out of real love for Christ and in defense of the Truth; in defense of the Faith.
The comments of defense on that which MUST be protected by each and every single True Christian, MUST however, be done in love and not for the sake of one’s own image building as I think perhaps and as apparently is the case with a few blogs posted in respect of Jacob Prasch.
Every now and then I too have discussions with some of my true BROTHERS or SISTERS on their understanding of Theology or Eschatology or other subjects of faith and it is often necessary to show some of them that from a Biblical perspective, their views are a-skewed and that these require to be corrected and brought in line with the Holy Writ. Often it happens that the discussions become heated due to the resistance-to-change factors always present during such discussions. Often it happens that we part company for a while, each one still occupying his decided position “from which I shall not be moved”.
And so we all sometimes sin and by for a while refusing to repent; out of arrogance and pride we refuse to repent and make up. We then fail to see how such positions usually make further discussions somewhat difficult and we refuse to consider that these said “positional bargaining” arguments do not contribute one single ounce toward a desired spirit of Biblical reconciliation which MUST be present in each and every TRUE Christian who MUST be motivated by Godly love for one another. If the desired result is not one of Biblical reconciliation on the subjects now differed from, and discussions take place, then only the self is served (sometimes unknowingly)as opposed to primarily giving God the glory and the honour. Such discussions are then guaranteed to eventually turn into one big massive uncalled-for mess that paves the way for Satan to contribute and before long, and eventually everything on the table causes God being mocked by those who usually can’t wait for True Christians to make a mistake so that such True Christians could be attacked for the world to see.
Thank God however, that it so often happens that someone, some True BROTHER or SISTER makes the obedient first move and makes contact with with the other party with the view of Biblical reconciliation so as not to do God’s Word or His work any more damage than that which has already been done amongst BROTHERS and SISTERS!
In the latest and current war-amongst-real-BROTHERS-and-SISTERS the damage caused has been great; in such a short time the damage has been greater than perhaps any of us may wish to acknowledge or admit! The question must today be asked of each one who contributed to the current ocean of Jacob Prasch blogs; Has everything you’ve blogged been Christ-centred, Holy Spirit driven, aimed at correcting in line with Scriptures, done in true love for one another? Are you sure?
We speak of how the land of Israel is currently under attack by Hamas and certain countries which oppose EVERYTHING that stands for God and His work, yet, we make time to publicly attack one another as opposed to HUMBLY, in line with the Holy Writ, correct and admonish one another… What truly motivates us as real Christian BROTHERS and SISTERS to attack as we do here and now, on this public platform, as opposed to dealing with it in what God’s Word says about how we should be dealing with issues of difference without doing His work damage?
Do we declare war and then attack before we follow God’s guidelines on issues of difference simply because we got no response from so-and-so on this-or-that-issue? Do we then (again, perhaps unknowingly, driven by pride and arrogance round up as many supporters for the cause of “self” and then fire the missiles so as to “teach so-and-so a lesson or two”?
I know that there comes a time when from a public platform each and every True Christian MUST warn the world including those who are from the True Church of the wrong and the false that takes place from within the Church. I support such public platform activities as much as I can (I even initiate such activities), but I do so ONLY once the other party refuses to stop spreading a false gospel or false issues of core Biblical subjects which could lead others astray.
I know in my heart that I can only speak from a public platform if the other party does not repent and by his own choice continues with spreading a false gospel. Yes, if this happens, then I stand very strongly on the public platform and I shout it out to the world and all and sundry so as to warn every one!
But when the other party repents and apologizes and shows this in his life, I do not when it seems “right” to me, recall his past mistakes so as to make my cause look better, and in this doing, I damage the work for which both the other party and I have been called and sent.
I would like the mess among BROTHERS and SISTERS to come to an end as soon as possible; right now if possible.
So, for this reason I wish to extent this invitation to each one who has contributed towards the mess upon which the world now looks, to stop any additional blogs on the issue currently under “judgment” and to go on to your knees as the next move and pray about that which you should blog next.
Let the Spirit of God lead you in that which you contribute next. If you should make contact with one another privately, then do so. Do so because it is your duty as a True Christian to first give the other party a chance to repent and then live the repentance seeked as and when and where such is called for. We must all be aware of the fact that not everyone who participates in these public platform blogs do so as a full-time occupation. Some of us have ordinary lives we live and work while others travel the world as they teach God’s Word on a full-time basis and as a result of travel schedules they cannot respond to each and every e-mail or blog received. Do not hold this against them…
My BROTHERS and my SISTERS, before you burst into print, first pray and ask God to lead you in what you may wish to say. Be reminded that you will one day be held accountable for what you speak and how you speak it.
And, finally, let the one who is truly Spirit driven and serious about defending the Faith in line with the Holy Writ, go ahead and state God’s case for all to see and discuss in the spirit of Biblical reconciliation, so that those who do not follow Christ can see the developments of this matter as an example of True Christianity and therefore want to serve Christ also!
Be blessed if you truly follow Christ. Being aware of issues of a false gospel does not mean we should shoot from the hip and only afterwards shout “..who goes there…?”
I hope and pray you receive this blog in the spirit in which I send it. Love in Christ, Dion
Chris, it was heartening to see your communication. And as you can see, Deborah has shown humility and the willingness to accept correction. All any of us want is the truth, and nothing but. The Lord expects nothing less.
In our time we have seen Bible teachers fall like dominoes choosing cronyism over truth, associations over sound doctrine, popularity over counting the cost. In exposing error in these last days the Lord is using the nondescript with no other agenda than being a faithful Berean.
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 1 Cor. 1:27
May the Lord grant you wisdom and discernment.
Dion
The Lausanne issue has been resolved, all the other issues remain.
1) Slain in the Spirit teaching – You can find it here as well: on page 6
2) Nephilim teaching
3) Midrash which is introduction to Kabbalah – MOST IMPORTANT!
4) On 2 occasions I have seen Moriel (Jacob Prasch and Dave Royle) mention John Wesley (who believed you can lose your salvation) – this is works based salvation and George Whiefield (who was a Calvinist)
Here Jacob Prasch says, “While John Wesley opposed the institution of slavery, even an otherwise outstanding figure like George Whitefield, because of the cursed Calvinism to which he foolishly subscribed owned Black slaves resulting in a shameful indictment on the memory of such a great man of God. –— [pg. 10/48]
Again we have Jacob speaking out of two mouths, for and against false doctrines. You can’t be a false teacher, believing in a false gospel AND be a man of God. He speaks against Calvinists but agrees and calls teachers of Calvinism men of God. Just like he says John MacArthur is a great preacher – how is this possible, if John MacArthur preaches a FALSE DOCTRINE leading people to hell! What is so great about that!
There are plenty places where John Wesley and George Whitefield are mentioned by Moriel, you don’t have to look hard to find them quoted, praised, upheld as great men of God. How is this possible.
Here on Moriel it says, “Read Charles Spurgeon, John Wesley, D.L. Moody, George Whitefield – the people whom God used to bring revival to Britain.” —
4a) Strange view on salvation:
From Dilemma of Laodicea [pg. 32]
You can find it here as well: on page 6 explained in more detail.
He is speaking about past, present and future, trying to explain: justification, sanctification and redemption. This is not correct! It sounds ok, but when you think about it and look at the verses he has quoted it’s not right at all.
5) Friendship with Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel – VERY IMPORTANT issue! I do not know how he can be friends with a man like that.
6) Distorted eschatological view – he anti Pre-Trib and calls those who believe in pre-trib false teachers and unbelievers deceiving the Elect.
I am sure if I actually read his books I would find so much more to be concerned with but this is more than enough.
I pray that you find these issues as concerning as I do, I pray that these things do not get swept under the carpet because of ‘unity’. There are thousands of people’s spiritual lives at stake here, not just one man.
I am struggling with my internet connection, if I disappear it’s because I’ve lost my connection – I will be back.
Jacob Prasch believes you can lose salvation. That alone makes him wrong. If he can’t even get the Gospel right, then that would be why he is so inconsistent on many other issues.
Dion (an obvious Jacob Prasch supporter) came to Jacob’s rescue by citing –
“…the hunting down and shredding to pieces” of our BROTHER Jacob Prasch…”
Who is SHREDDING WHOM when Jacob Prasch states about the Lord’s creation? –
We can all get mired in the “gray mud” of theology which is where Satan wants us to battle, where opinions are allowed.
But let’s look at the basic BLACK & WHITE fruit of Jacob Prasch. Jesus stated when referring to wolves that we would know them by their fruit.
Matthew 7:15 – “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
Matthew 7:16 – “Ye shall know them by their fruits…”
Matthew 7:20 – “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
Ephesians 5:9 – “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth”
Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 MEEKNESS, temperance: against such there is no law.”
MEEKNESS!!!
Where is the MEEKNESS of Jacob Prasch?
Here is Jacob Prasch’s OWN WORDS which have been typical of Jacob Prasch as long as I can remember –
Is the above MEEKNESS?
Let’s forget about all the opinionated theological stuff and focus on the basic fruit of Jacob Prasch which is what Jesus wants us to focus on.
This has been a lifelong trait with Jacob.
Wolves will be very educated, very theological, and talk up a great debate.
We can’t forget “Satan’s ministers of righteousness”.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 – “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
What did Jesus say to us as to how to detect these guys?
Matthew 7:17-20 – “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
Jacob Prasch has a bad fruit problem –
It’s BLATANTLY OBVIOUS, stop trying to cover for him and repent yourselves.
When Jacob Prasch humbles himself and decides to LOVE JESUS by OBEYING The Word Of God, the Lord will give Jacob the grace to obey.
Until then, avoid Jacob Prasch.
Romans 16:17 – “Now I beseech you, brethren, MARK THEM which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”
Chris
>> The Bible says “one who IS called a brother” vs what you say “who calls himself a brother” There is a huge difference here. Obviously one who is called a brother is a brother.
The Greek word for “called” is” Onomadzo” and means named, assigned etc. He was named and assigned a brother – he did not give himself the title.
You say the whole church of Corinth are genuine Christians living in sin. I say they are a mixed bag of genuine Christians and professing Christians.
“that is called” G3687 ὀνομάζω onomazo (on-om-ad’-zo) v.
1. to name, i.e. assign an appellation
2. (by extension) to utter, mention, profess
Root(s): G3686 “call, name” ὄνομα onoma (on’-om-ah) n.
1. a (authority, character)
{literally or figuratively}
“that is called” is uses in this case in a literal sense as “one who is a so-called brother” [lit. “one who bears the name brother]
I went and just had a look at some bible translation (good and bad) to see what they say of the same verse… and it’s very interesting:
1 Corinthians 5:11 KJV 1611
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat
1 Corinthians 5:11 Amplified Bible (AMP)
11 But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person.
1 Corinthians 5:11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
11 But [a]actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or (B)an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
1 Corinthians 5:11 King James Version (KJV)
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1 Corinthians 5:11 New Living Translation (NLT)
11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people
1 Corinthians 5:11 English Standard Version (ESV)
11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one
1 Corinthians 5:11 Common English Bible (CEB)
11 But now I’m writing to you not to associate with anyone who calls themselves “brother” or “sister” who is sexually immoral, greedy, someone who worships false gods, an abusive person, a drunk, or a swindler. Don’t even eat with anyone like this.
1 Corinthians 5:11 Good News Translation (GNT)
11 What I meant was that you should not associate with a person who calls himself a believer but is immoral or greedy or worships idols or is a slanderer or a drunkard or a thief. Don’t even sit down to eat with such a person.
“Paul continues his leaven illustration in 5:7-8, with this exhortation: “Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. Clean out the leaven so that you can start over unleavened bread, because that is what you are. In other words, Paul tells them to be who they are, to live like Christians. Who they are is revealed in what they do. What they do comes from who they are. Paul’s point is clear: Sin spreads in the church as leaven does in dough (cf. Gal 5:9; Mark 8:15). Sin always spreads and contaminates if left alone, just as poison, weeds, and cancer do. Eventually the whole moral fabric of the congregation would suffer if the believers did not expunge this sin. Thus, we must purge the church of sin for the church stands or falls together.
[Paul has warned us to refuse to tolerate rebellion in the church. But how should we live in this world with people who are rebellious and sinful? Should we judge them too? Paul answers these questions in the next five verses.]
Refuse to stop reaching out to the world (5:9-13). In this section, Paul informs us that church discipline is for believers. In 5:9-11, Paul writes, “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother [lit. “one who bears the name brother”] if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler– not even to eat with such a one.” It is widely accepted that Paul wrote four different letters to the church at Corinth. However, only 1-2 Corinthians have been included in the Bible. In one of his previous letters, the Corinthians apparently misunderstood Paul. They thought he didn’t want them to have any association with any immoral person. Paul clarifies and explains that this ban only pertained to Christians and so called Christians. When sinners sin, they are merely doing what they are supposed to do. Sin is a part of a sinner’s job description! The difference between a sinner and a saint is that a saint doesn’t have to sin anymore.
This means that our ministry is not to spend our time judging the world. That’s left to God. It’s none of our business. Too often we preach against the wrong sin. It’s easy to stand in the pulpit and talk about what’s going on in the world. But we are not to judge those. Don’t ever get mad at the world for acting like the world. What else are they going to do? We need to confront the sin that is within the walls of our churches, within the lives of our people. That is our ministry.”
So when Paul tells the Corinthians to kick these evil doers out of the church, some will repent and come back (because they were genuine brothers to begin with) and others won ever come back because they were the professing Christian. When Paul addresses his letters he addressed it to the ‘church’ as a whole, he didnt say, “Dear Corinthian Christians and those professing to be Christians” No, Paul did not know who is really saved and who is not. Just like today, in each church, you do not know who is saved and who isn’t. But based on their lifestyle and how they live it can become apparent very quickly as if something is wrong. So Paul said, excommunicate these sinners, don’t even eat with them, shame them. Those who are genuinely saved will repent and come back… and the ones who don’t come back well… you just gotta ask serious questions as to if they were ever saved in the first place. —http://bible.org/seriespage/how-handle-scandal-1-corinthians-51-13
You said it yourself in an earlier comment…
The problem with this comment is this, you said, “in the hope that the repent and return”…what happens if they don’t return ever? Hope that they return means that their is another option; that they don’t return – because they were not Christians.
This is how it works:
The Corinthian Church is made up of the body of Christ (believers only)
— Believers who had sin (and need to go away from the church and repent and come back)
— So called Believers who had sinned (and need to go away from the church to repent, wont repent, and wont come back to the church)
there is another option,
—-So called Believers who had sinned (and went away from the church, and repented, changed their ways, and came back to the church as believers)
I have known Jacov PRASCH PERSONALLY for YEARS now, and have double checked ALL of his teachings that’s available. Jacov is one of the MOST “Kosher Teachers” there is. My question is: Do YOU have a PERSONAL VENDETTA against Jacov PRASCH, because it seems to like it.
NOBODY needs to DEFEND Jacov PRASCH, just have a Berean Heart to SEE that you CANNOT fault Jacov in MOST his teachings.
We will ALL be standing before the LORD Himself to be judged to see IF we kept to His DOCTRINE.
Shalom
“Wolves in sheep’s clothing” are not sheep. They do not know and live by the Word of God or are led by the Spirit of God, for these are gifts for those who belong to the Lord, alone. When wolves are threatened (exposed) their “fangs” come out, they “growl” and they “attack”> This is what we have here. This is not a Christian having a bad day. This is JP’s LIFESTYLE! And as a “teacher” he ought to know better.
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;”(Eph.4:29-5:1)
Has Jacob EVER read and applied this Word to his life?
Therefore…in agreement with William;
Jesus taught: “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things\: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matt. 33-37)
Think on these things, and then take a good look at Jacob Prasch…he is not who many think he is! Jacob has shown us all unashamedly what is in his heart, and there is no excusing it. God would have his people be wise and discerning. There is no life or light in this man.
Have Moriel actually pulled out of LCJE membership?
As far as I can tell, all Jacob has done is make a token gesture by entering his name onto a wishy washy petition. That petition is simply a request for LCJE to stop being ecumenical. It doesn’t request that LCJE should pull out from Lausanne membership.
How can LCJE pull away from Lausanne? It is part and parcel of the Lausanne ecumenical movement giving unstoppable allegiance to the Vatican. They knew exactly what they were signing when they first joined the council. It is like asking the Vatican to stop being Catholic.
Most of these “so called” messianic Jewish fellowships who have joined to LCJE are STILL in membership. If they are opposed to ecumenism with Rome WHY WHY WHY are they still part of it? As I understand it, Moriel are STILL in membership. If they are opposed, why don’t they raise a much bigger voice and totally separate themselves from it???
All Jacob has done is make a weak token gesture that he is opposed but (as far as I am informed) has done nothing concrete about it. If anyone DOES HAVE concrete evidence that Moriel have withdrawn conclusively, please let me know. I will then apologise.
Here was Jacob’s entry on the petition. This is a direct link to his name (first line)
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/lcje/signatures#sub-8
Notice his comment (or lack of it) compared to many others who (in possible naivety) gave enthusiastic rebuttals against LCJE.
Elisheva
>> I have known Jacov PRASCH PERSONALLY for YEARS now
That’s what they say about Angus Buchan, they have known his for years and he is such a nice guy… so what?
>> Do YOU have a PERSONAL VENDETTA against Jacov PRASCH, because it seems to like it.
No we have no personal vendetta against him.
>> We will ALL be standing before the LORD Himself to be judged to see IF we kept to His DOCTRINE.
You almost sound like a Kobus van Rensburg fanatic telling me that we are not to judge the doctrine that people speak? That’s funny, because JP judges the doctrine that others speaks.
What I find amazing here is that if seems quite ok that JP can do the things he does, associate with the people he does, teach false doctrine, but we are the BAD ONES for pointing it out. LOL
>> NOBODY needs to DEFEND Jacov PRASCH
So what are you doing?
>> Jacov is one of the MOST “Kosher Teachers” there is.
And you are? And I must believe you why?
>> and have double checked ALL of his teachings that’s available
You have double checked all his teachings? LOL, I doubt that there is to much and some of it is changing.
>> just have a Berean Heart
We are being bereans, we are TESTING the Spirits and finding huge problems.
Elisheva, is this your real name? From what I remember is Elizabeth, are you really Jewish, or are you trying to be Jewish?
Andy said in his comment “…Ephesians says that out of the two (Jew and Gentile), God made one new man. Inevitably I have personally found that “Messainic” ended up going under the law, and that was why they insisted on being on their own. We’re not to be under the law. We’re to be under grace.”
Dion, apparently you missed that John Chingford tried to approach Moriel with his concerns, each time with no response. You also apparently missed Chris’s explanation for this that it is next to impossible for Moriel to answer. Jacob Prasch makes it clear that he does not want his direct e-mail to be published. Others I know, myself included have made attempts to contact various ministries IN A RESPECTFUL way with legitimate concerns to no avail. I recall one time when I heard back from a Bible teacher. who engaged me in dialog.
In the main, discerners have no recourse but to go to public blogs to alert the Church only to incur the wrath of the source (and their supporters) of the error. Applicable verses have been quoted here that justify the exposing of error. Going to someone in private only applies to the LOCAL church, not a large-scale public ministry. God is displeased when the flock is scattered and confused by false teaching. To be silent about this dishonors God. To expose it in the right way honors God and His truth.
Sadly, for the most part, big ministries and megachurches could care less about those they call “detractors” and God considers valuable members of the Body of Christ. Such an attitude smacks of pride and self-confidence rather than a humble Spirit.
When I was first reading Jacob’s explanation of Midrash, I had many, many questions. These things ARE to be handled in public as the error has been made and not been retracted publicly.
We are saddened at the lack of gentleness to all men, the lack of patience, the lack of meekness in instructing, the outbursts of wrath, the lack of the fruit of the Spirit, the lack of sound speech when Jacob is opposed by any who question His teachings with the Word. Shouldn’t they rather be commended? (Acts 17:11)
Maybe some could prayerfully consider these questions.
MY QUESTIONS REGARDING SOME OF JACOB’S STATEMENTS:
1. Didn’t the Holy Spirit author God’s Word by inspiration or do we see that it was “Midrash hermeneutics used in the writing of the NT”?
a. “While Moriel agrees with the conservative Evangelical scholars dating back to the Puritans, and the wide body of conservative Evangelical scholarly opinion based on Dead Sea Scrolls research that the New Testament writers used midrashic hermeneutics in the writing of the New Testament…”
2. Are all these things “scriptural fact” as Jacob says, or subjective opinion?
3. Where do we see in the scriptures that Midrash is taught as a hermeneutic? (method of interpretation). Chapter and verse?
4. Where do we see in scripture Midrash is used for prophetic interpretation of history? Can anyone supply a reference? (Yes, I am familiar with Jacob’s 2 references, but this is NOT a teaching of Midrash, but a MENTION)
5. Where do we see it being “taught” in God’s Word as the usage was just laid out by Jacob?
6. Am I truly “taking away from God’s Word” if I do not see it the same way Jacob does?
a. (Jacob said) “Likewise, anyone who suggests that Midrash is not found in God’s Words is also a liar or uneducated. God’s Word is true and if it says “Midrash” I believe and accept it. To reject one bit of God’s Word is to reject all of it.” —http://moriel.org/MorielArchive/index.php/discernment/midrash-and-jacob-prasch
7. If I reject Midrash as he states it is found in God’s Word (as a scriptural facts of a hermeneutic, literary genre, prophetic interpretation of history, taught in God’s Word.) am I indeed boasting against the branches? Am I really rejecting God’s Word?
8. I know the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. Do the Covenants and Scriptures still belong to Israel? Or are the Gentiles now included in the promise, (all the family’s of the earth) and are the scriptures not for us all (any man/woman of God)?
9. Is Midrash a TRUTH and an EXEGETICAL REALITY that God uses to illuminate and illustrate? If so, where do we find this in HIS WORD? Finding the usage of the word itself does not make it truth or a reality for a method of interpretation.
10. Do we see anything more in the Scripture than these words, “These things were written in the Midrash”?
11. Do we know that Matthew “thought” midrashically? Where in the Word do we find that? Does anyone but God know another’s “thoughts”? So we have to rely on Jacob for this statement? Or someone else who is schooled in Hebrew, Judaism and has a theological background?
12. If we do not have access to original languages can we then not understand His translated Word with the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
13. Was His Word preserved to each generation or not? Isn’t it God who preserves His Word?
14. Don’t we have the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth?
15. Is each believer equally able to understand the Word without knowing Hebrew, Judaism, theology, whether or not Midrash is demonstrated, are we or are we not able to understand God’s Word and be taught and given wisdom as His Word tells us?
16. Does God differentiate between the Jew and the Gentile in any way, shape or form, or do we all have the ability to understand His Word? (See Acts 15, Rom 3:9, Rom 10:12, Gal 3:28, I Cor 12:13; Col 3:11)
17. Does the Bible actually say that Midrash is a hermeneutic principle which Prasch also ascribed to Jesus and Paul? Do we see this mentioned, suggested, alluded to, hinted about in the Bible? Even if it was used in that day, weren’t most of the ways of the Pharisees, Saduccees and Jews distorted? Didn’t Jesus on more than one occasion say they made the Word of God of none effect through their traditions?
18. Should we say it IS a “Biblical method” and call anyone who says otherwise “uneducated” and a “liar”? (Sound speech that cannot be condemned by your opponent?)
19. Is the Midrash an “essential element” that was suppressed by Protestants? If so, then once again, Did God preserve His Word as He said He would? Or just part of it? Chapter and verse please?
20. Do we need it (necessary) to “correct our understanding of the Bible”? Who is it that gives us understanding :)? Pr 22:17-21
21. Has our understanding been “Flawed” all the years in that we can only understand the basics without the Midrash? So, people before did not have “complete understanding”, God’s Word didn’t endure forever? Wisdom wasn’t available to all who asked?
22. Where do we get our understanding? I know it’s by our cooperation with the Holy Spirit by applying ourselves to the Word, but must I know the original Hebrew and Greek, and all the historical methods of interpretation to be able to understand? Or can I simply come as a child and ask Him for wisdom in the trust He will give it if I apply myself to it? Can I trust the Holy Spirit to guide me into all truth, including the right teachers?
23. So can I not understand the Bible without either Jacob’s teaching or do I need decades of study and education in all these other teachings that may or may not be mentioned in His Word? (at least in the sense he explains it)
24. Should we continually separate hermeneutics into Protestant/vs. Midrash or Jewish? Are we not to distinguish between us, (prior verses cited) or does he feel that a Gentile believer may not attain the same wisdom without “ancient wisdom” of the first century. Again, did God not preserve His Word to and for all of us?
25. DID the Reformers borrow their Biblical interpretation from 16th century humanism? Just asking, everyone knows I am not “reformed”. Nor a “protestant”, Just a Christian as they were first called at Antioch.
26. We can assume Paul was a Rabbi, but after Jesus, we see no mention of Rabbi and in fact an admonition to not be called Rabbi (or Father), by Jesus, so what might that mean? Could it mean that once we come to Him, the eyes of our understanding are enlightened through His Word and by the Spirit? Does His Word not say that if we ask, we will receive, if we seek we will find, if we knock it will be opened unto us? Again, NOT saying any of this cannot be useful, my HUGE issue is with the NECESSITY or you CANNOT understand anything BUT the epistles… that is all he says.
27. The oracles of God were indeed entrusted to the Jews, but is the Bible a Jewish book, or was it written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic for a reason?
28. Do we have to have a “Hebraic mindset”, or did the Holy Spirit already know who His final audience was when He inspired the Word?
29. Is it the method of biblical interpretation we are taught that is our only hope to understand Revelation?
30. Midrash is mentioned in the Bible, so is Enoch, should we suggest people need the book of Enoch to understand the Bible?
31. How is this different from the Catholic church making claims that only its successors to the apostles, who are Latin trained can interpret scripture, with Prasch’s claim that only rabbinical Midrash folks [past and present] who are Greek and Hebrew trained are needed to fully understand the Bible?
32. Why would any Christian, suggest that another explore things that do not back up doctrine? This seems to be an equivocation of sorts, and an exploration for “secret knowledge” using the Bible itself as mentioned above. *
33. Isn’t this saying we need a certain “key” to understand God’s Word? Where is this found?
34. If I reject Midrash, I reject what God originally breathed? I’ll let this quote stand for itself: Jacob said: “Those with their anti-Semitic Jew-hating agenda who simultaneously and hypocritically claim to worship the God of the Jews and believe in the Jewish Messiah reject what God originally breathed by rejecting Midrash.” —http://moriel.org/MorielArchive/index.php/discernment/midrash-and-jacob-prasch
35. No other way to make scriptural or logical sense of what Paul says in Gal 4:21-31? As with the Matthean formula citations in the Nativity Narrative, there is no other way to make scriptural or logical sense of why he interprets Scripture as he does. It is pure Midrash. Doesn’t the Holy Spirit help us make scriptural/logical sense of Scripture?
Holly
That is a brilliant comment that I would love Jacob Prasch to answer – maybe someone will email it to him? 🙂