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BCS Ephesians
Questions and Proposed Answers

Chapter 1.

1. a) If an apostle is a missionary, and therefore a missionary is an apostle, what are the Biblical requirements for a missionary/apostle?

This person must be equipped by the Spirit of Yehovah so that he (or she) can infallibly do the work. A missionary at times must be a pastor. At other times the missionary must be a prophet. This person must be able to counsel, to correct, to teach Truth, to do all these things exactly right (that is, without error). Any impropriety will destroy all the work of the missionary. When Yehovah sends, He always equips.

The missionary will necessarily have to prophesy on occasion, because he (or she) will have to know the direct Word of God regarding decisions and persons that pertain to this field and that are not covered in the Bible. The Bible gives the plan(s) of Yehovah for Israel and the world. It teaches about sin and righteousness, the character of God and the characters of man. It teaches about the Land of Israel and the importance of the Israelis and the Land. It is not designed for personal usage. Yehovah is not dead; He is perfectly capable of speech. A missionary must show the very Wisdom of God, else the missionary is merely a very good ‘used car saleman’.

Many claim that ‘God told me’ something. It is always up to the one hearing this claim to determine which god did the telling if any telling was actually done. If a God-sent apostle states that God said something, Yehovah will back up that statement with evidence so that the hearers can determine its veracity.

A miracle done by a missionary (or anyone claiming to hold a message from God or any god) is done to draw attention to the message. This miracle should never constitute proof of a message’s veracity. If a miracle doer claims the miracle as a proof, that person is not from the God of the Bible.

1. b) If Paul is an apostle of Messiah Yeshua, can someone else be an apostle of another god?

Yes. The term apostle must be modified with the god’s identity. The Bible refers to false apostles. They claim to be sent from the Biblical God, but are liars.

2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles: deceitful workers transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

1. c) Is Paul making a distinction between Messiah Yeshua and God by stating, “Paul, apostle of Messiah Yeshua by the will of God”?

No. Paul is not writing this from his own mind. He is writing by the Spirit of Yehovah. The Spirit of Yehovah is making the distinction, showing that Paul was sent by Messiah Yeshua, and Yehovah the Father willed this to occur. The Bible upholds the distinction between Messiah Yeshua (Who voluntarily became mortal in order to suffer death for sin) and Yehovah the Father (Whose Word He made flesh, Messiah Yeshua, in Whom is all the fullness of the Godhead). Their distinctions are for the sake of man; Yehovah the Father and Messiah the Son are One God.

1. d) If an apostle is one sent on an errand, what was Paul’s errand?

His errand included several assignments. He was sent to the Gentiles to bring the Gospel of Salvation, and the Gospel that the non-Jewish and Jewish Saints would be one body. He was sent to establish and confirm congregations. His letters were part of his errand. Paul was assigned to show the importance of Israel in the plan of God as well as to instruct that the teachings given to Israel to observe were for the benefit of all races, and were not assigned to any other races except Israel.

1. e) What does the oil with which one is Biblically anointed picture? Why use oil? Why not water or butter?

If I have been properly taught about the practices of some shepherds, oil was applied to sheep in some parts of the world to keep them from insect infestations in the wool around their heads. This (supposedly) kept the sheep from being driven to distraction or madness by pesky insects that would borough into their skin. Sheep do have lanolin that would protect much of their body; their heads might be an exception. If this picture is true, the oil is provided so that the anointed person will do his work without distractions. A person is not always anointed to do good; some have been anointed to do great evil.

1 Kings 19:15 And Yehovah said unto [Elijah], Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.

2 Kings 8:12 And Hazael said, “Why weepeth my lord?” And he answered, “Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel. Thou wilt set on fire their strong holds, and wilt slay their young men with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.” ¹³And Hazael said, “But what? Is thy servant a dog that he should do this great thing?” And Elisha answered, “Yehovah hath showed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.”

1. f) Is the act of anointing from Yehovah, or is it the act of a prophet whom He sent to do this?

One who anoints another Biblically must be prophesying when anointing, else the anointing is not from Yehovah. A prophet was sent to anoint. Anyone else anointing who is not established as a prophet of Yehovah is doing the work of a false prophet (a death penalty offense). Thus, the act of anointing is necessarily from Yehovah if it is a true anointing.

1. g) What are some of the many things that Israel’s Messiah will do?

He will bring the Godly dead back with Him when He returns to earth to reign, and they will be alive and in their immortal bodies. He will rule in Israel, where all Israelis will be born of God and will refuse to sin throughout Messiah’s 1,000-year reign. He will raise up Mount Zion, upon which Jerusalem will be located (the reverse of what is true today, in which Mount Zion is located in Jerusalem). He will gather all Israelis back to Mount Zion. He will judge all living members of all races. He will reign as a totalitarian dictator.

I could mention many more works of Messiah, and I could also give the reader texts to affirm each statement above. I would rather the interested reader find these things by carefully reading the entire Bible.

1. h) How can Yeshua be a Salvational sacrifice, and what is that?

A Salvational sacrifice is a blood sacrifice (one in which blood is shed, the one being sacrificed dying) in which Salvation (being saved) from sin to righteousness takes place. Only a God is valuable enough to cover the sins of all humans who have ever lived. Only a God who becomes mortal can die. Only Yeshua is God and voluntarily became mortal. Only a perfect sacrifice (one that has no taint of sin) can cover another for sin (thus paying the price for the sin so that the one covered is no longer held guilty of past sin). Only Yeshua was born without sin; He lived never sinning. He died for every human that will ever live. (Most will never have the advantage of sins covered, since each person must individually go to this God to acquire the Covering for sin.)

1. i) If God willed Paul to become a missionary, why doesn’t He will everyone to be saved?

The following text answers part of this:

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Yehovah’s will is for the salvation of all. He provided for the salvation of all by payment. Humans either hate or ignore His salvation. Should He overrule them, forcing them to do what they have hated or rejected? He has the power to do so; would that be appropriate? Paul became a willing missionary once He obtained the truth of Yeshua. How many do you know who are willing to obey the simplest aspects of the Word of God?

2. a) If Grace is as described (a fervent, burning zeal that motivates to action), what does “Grace to you” both mean and imply?

This expression is from the Spirit of Yehovah. Most readers of Paul’s writings are convinced that Paul expressed his own views in them. If they are Scriptures, however, they are infallible, and not the expressions of Paul. Yehovah is therefore expression a truth: “Grace to you,” indicating that they are recipients of His fervent, burning zeal.

2. b) What does the Hebrew word shalom mean?

While it does have the same meaning as the word peace, it also expresses the satisfactory completion of a transaction (like the sale of a house or of a book), what results when a debt is paid (like one’s paying off a credit card debt, or like a murder’s being put to death), a change in a relationship from tension or war to friendship and/or agreement, and what results when bad health has been replaced by good health (a person who is sick and the relatives of the person who is sick are not at peace during the sickness). Shalom is used as a greeting in Israel, said to mean hello and goodbye, but these usages mask its truer meanings (shalom on arrival and/or departure indicates that the relationship is good). When a stranger is greeted with shalom, the speaker is indicating that he means no harm and has nothing against the one being greeted.

2. c) Can a person have peace with the Biblical God without being born of God?

If Messiah Yeshua greeted anyone not born of God with “Shalom!” during His mortal life, the answer is yes. One can have peace with another of a different faith, and Yehovah can also temporarily have peace with that person. Not everyone in unbelief will remain that way. Yehovah can demonstrate peace toward anyone He chooses regardless of that person’s faith. No one in the Lake of Fire and Sulfur has peace with Yehovah, and Yehovah will have no peace with that person. Yet Yehovah is not at war with law-abiding, kind idolaters in the various races whose practices are not vile. He has no peace with the lover of evil.

Matthew 10:12 And when ye come into an house, salute it. ¹³And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place whither He Himself would come. ²Therefore He said unto them, “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth labourers into His harvest. ³Go your ways. Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. ⁴Carry neither purse nor scrip nor shoes. And salute no man by the way. ⁵And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ ⁶And if the son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon it. If not, it shall turn to you again.”

These are Messiah Yeshua’s orders. While peace with God refers to a permanent state, the Bible everywhere acknowledges temporary states. It does so for faith:

Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they who receive the word with joy when they hear. And these who believe for a while have no root, and in time of temptation fall away.

Ignoring temporary characteristics like peace and faith leads to unnecessarily ugly behaviour.

2. d) Why is grace toward the Ephesians and peace is from God (instead of grace being from God and peace being toward the Ephesians)?

The way translators split sentences with commas makes a great difference. Consider the following text:

1 Timothy 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

In the greetings “Grace to you and peace from God…” the reader may notice that the appropriate rearrangement would be “Grace and peace to you from God…” Both are to the folks being written, and both come from “God our Father” and Lord Messiah Yeshua.

2. e) What does the pronoun our (verse 2) establish?

Readers throughout the centuries have assumed that our refers to Christians in general, and that the Fatherhood of God is toward all who have faith in Him. Other texts that readers normally miss indicate otherwise. Verse 13 in this chapter takes the reader from the pronouns us, we and our to this phrase: “in whom also ye…” showing that ye (‘you’, plural) was not part of us, we or our. A careful observation of the texts leading up to verse 13 will establish who us, we and our are, and questions pertaining to this will be asked in this booklet.

3. a) How can Yehovah be Yeshua’s God if Yeshua is God?

This is an example of a text used by so-called ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’ and other groups refuting the deity of Christ. Yehovah calls mortals gods in one Psalm:

Psalm 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods.

Yehovah was not exaggerating when He said this. He speaks only the Truth. He also continued,

Psalm 82:7 But ye shall die like men.

If Yehovah the Father can refer to human mortals as gods, Yeshua can be God and recognize Yehovah the Father as God.

Yeshua put aside His reputation and His rank to take on the form of a servant, humbling Himself:

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus ⁶Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, ⁷but made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death—even the death of the cross.

He became a servant to Yehovah the Father, always doing His will:

John 8:29 I always do those things that please Him.

Thus, Yeshua sees Yehovah as God (because He is God) even while Yeshua is God (because He is God).

3. b) How can a reader tell from the pronouns that we, us and our refer to the Israelis based on verse 13 where the pronoun ye is combined with also, instead of them referring to Christians in general, with the addition of the Ephesian Saints being verse 13’s thrust?

Verses 3 through 12 describe Yehovah’s plans for the Israelis. Verses 13 and 14 show a pronoun switch again: “in Whom also, having believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise Who is the earnest of our inheritance to the redemption of the acquired possession.” The Spirit of Yehovah did not state, “Who is the earnest of your inheritance,” but of our. Verse 11 stated, “we obtained an inheritance.” If we and our referred to Christians in general, verse 14’s switch to our would be unnecessary. The Ephesians were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise—the same being the earnest of our (the Israelis’) inheritance. The pronoun distinctions found in this text would be unnecessary if all Christians were the thrust.

3. c) Blessings are normally considered good things that one wishes God would do to another, good things that one does for another, or good things that a higher power has done for a human. Do these Biblically describe blessings?

Wishing that God would do something beneficial for another is not a blessing, but a desire (wish) for a blessing. Some will say, “May God bless you.” This expresses a desire for God to act; it is not a blessing in itself. One human can bless another with items or learning, and Yehovah also can do good things for humans (thus blessing them). The Hebrew word goes further. A prophetic promise of a blessing (when a father lays hands on a child and states what will take place) is a blessing, since it is certain (if it is from Yehovah). Yet these blessings are more invocations, since Yehovah also prophesies bad things that will take place. Genesis 49 shows both aspects of ‘blessing’.

3. d) When is “our Lord Messiah Yeshua … blessed us with every Spiritual blessing” true?

It is true now, and has been true for the Israelis from the start. Yet the Israelis have not cared for these blessings any more than Esau cared for the spiritual blessings when he sold his birthright. They will begin to earnestly desire these during the Tribulation.

3. e) What is the relationship between spiritual and physical blessings?

Spiritual blessings are benefits useful in service to others and in gaining praise from God. Physical blessings are beneficial items or persons that can be seen.

Examples of spiritual blessings are given in this text:

• Being chosen in Messiah;

• Being chosen in order to be holy;

• Being chosen in order to be blameless;

• Being made an object of grace in the Beloved;

• Having redemption through Messiah’s blood;

• Having remission of offences;

• Being made known the mystery of Yehovah’s will;

• Obtaining an inheritance;

• Being predestinated to be to the praise of Yehovah’s glory.

Examples of physical blessings are given elsewhere, including inheritance of the physical Land of Israel, being given responsibilities according to faithfulness, etc.

3. f) How can one tell if Yehovah has given someone else spiritual blessings in our present time?

If Yehovah has given spiritual blessings, the holder of those blessings will be able to consistently benefit others with them, and the Truth (without error) will be openly demonstrated through the blessings. Folks who sometimes benefit others and sometimes say and do things that are unconstructive or harmful do not demonstrate Biblical Spiritual blessings in that area. Yehovah always gives all things along with the highest standards of acceptable usage.

Not all will benefit from Spiritual blessings Yehovah has given to a person. Messiah, being God, had every Spiritual attribute and blessing; yet many in His mortal-flesh days did not benefit because they didn’t understand or just refused. The one upon whom the blessings have been conferred, however, do not have the option of erring while using those benefits. Erring will bring great anger from Yehovah. Consider Samson who misused his spiritual benefits, and Yehovah temporarily withdrew them until he was ready to use them right.

3. g) What does “in the heavenlies” mean?

This describes the location: the heavenlies. Before the world’s foundation was established, Yehovah had already blessed the Israelis with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies.

4. a) Whom did the God and Father of Messiah Yeshua chose according to verse 4?

He chose us, referring to the Israelis.

4. b) What does “chose us in Him” mean?

Yehovah the Father picked the Israelis to be in faith in Yehovah the Father before the foundation of the world. He knew and determined that they would fulfill His purposes in every way.

4. c) Does this leave out other folks who are not Jewish?

No; it doesn’t discuss them, nor does it include folks born Jewish who are not in faith before this event is fulfilled. Yehovah’s choice was for a group (‘us’), and His choices for individuals are not mentioned in this text.

4. d) What does being holy and blameless before Him in love entail?

Holy means owned. It has nothing to do with purity. The Hebrew word is used of a homosexual prostitute, as well as for one who belongs to Yehovah, because the prostitute is the property of an idol’s temple. The Hebrew indicates that Judah sent a friend to find the ‘holy woman’ whom he had paid for sexual intercourse:

Genesis 38:21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot [literally, holy-woman] that was openly by the way side?” And they said, “There was no harlot [holy-woman] in this.”

Being blameless indicates innocence.

Love is seeking the highest, best interest in another without regard to one’s self.

When both are combined with “before Him in love”, they will recognize His ownership by only right behaviour directly in front of Him, seeking Yehovah’s highest best interest without regard to themselves. This will be when the Israelis have finally turned to righteousness and Salvation as a group.

The also will demonstrate love to one another:

John 15:12 This is my commandment—that ye love one another as I have loved you.

They will seek each other’s highest best interest without regard to themselves.

The following lengthy text addresses this love, and holds the right timing to be used with Ephesians 1:4:

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another. For love is of God, and every one who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love. ⁹The love of God was manifested toward us in this, because God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we would live through Him. ¹⁰In this is love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son the Covering for our sins. ¹¹Beloved, if God so loved us, we owe also to love one another. ¹²No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us. ¹³We know that we dwell in Him and He in us by this, because He has given us of His Spirit. ¹⁴And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son the Saviour of the world. ¹⁵Whosoever shall confess that Yeshua is the Son of God, God dwells in him and he in God. ¹⁶And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love, and he who dwells in love dwells in God and God in him. ¹⁷ Our love is made perfect in this, so that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment. For as He is, so are we in this world! ¹⁸There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear because fear has torment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. ¹⁹We love Him because He first loved us. ²⁰If a man say, “I love God!” and hates his brother, he is a liar. For how can he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen love God whom he hasn’t seen? ²¹And we have this commandment from Him that he who loves God also love his brother! ^5:1Whosoever believes that Yeshua is the Messiah is born of God. And every one who loves Him who begat also loves Him who is begotten by Him. ²We know that we love the children of God by this: when we love God and keep His commandments. ³For this is the love of God—that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not grievous. ⁴For whoever is born of God overcomes the world! And this is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith.

The above text refers to Jewish children. While the Ephesian Saints are mainly non-Jewish, the standards of God (including being blameless and loving) are the same.

5. a) If the Israelis are predestinated for ‘sonshipment’, does this mean they are predestinated for salvation? Does this show that Calvin was right by teaching that all who will be born of God are predestinated to salvation, and the rest are predestinated to damnation?

Predestination is used here referring to the establishment of a relationship (being made children of Yehovah), not Salvation (having to do with removing one from slavery and guilt of sin). The results are the same: those who become sons of God are also saved from sin and to righteousness by God, but the act is different. John explained this:

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, He gave power to them to become the sons of God, to them who believe on His Name ¹³who were not born of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Calvin was not right by teaching that all who will be born of God are predestinated to salvation since he used texts referring to Israelis to prove his points. He generalized the workings of God done toward the Israelis, claiming that they refer to His workings to all Christians. Calvin misread texts because he did not understand them and did not take them literally unless he wanted to do so. His theology that the rest are predestinated to damnation was only possible if he ignored other texts, like the following:

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Calvin considered these texts, but ignored them or their meanings when discussing his opposing theology.

Calvin’s writings are filled with misunderstandings because he replaced Israel with his view of ‘the Church’, a common error in Christianity for almost 2,000 years.

5. b) What does the coined word sonshipment mean?

The English language could not express the meaning of this word. It describes changing a person who is genetically not a son or daughter into one who genetically is! It is not the same as adoption, legally becoming the parent of a child whose birth parents are no longer legally responsible or present.

5. c) Who did this predestinating?

Yehovah the Father did this.

5. d) Why did He do this through Messiah Yeshua?

Only Messiah Yeshua could do the necessary steps including providing in Himself the sacrifice for sin, the means of redemption (rescue from a held state), etc.

5. e) What was the good pleasure of His will?

Yehovah was pleased and willed the Israelis to be changed into His children and property through Messiah Yeshua’s work.

5. f) Why aren’t the Israelis who are outside of faith and who have died still sons and daughters of Yehovah?

While they live, all Israelis can rightly call Yehovah Father:

Isaiah 64:8 But now, Yehovah, Thou art our father. We are the clay, and Thou our potter. And we all are the work of Thy hand.

Once an Israeli dies in unbelief, however, having been cut off the tree and stock of Israel because of unbelief, that dead branch is no longer part of the Life in Yehovah and cannot claim connection to Him.

Romans 11:20 Because of unbelief they were broken off.

Romans 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in. For God is able to graft them in again.

No dead branch, the work of pruning, is fit other than for burning:

John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away. And every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

This text (as nearly all Biblical texts) has a timing during which it will be fulfilled to the letter.

An Israeli, having died in unbelief, can no longer call Yehovah Father (with one exception shown in Ezekiel 37).

6. a) Who will do the praising in verse 6?

All humans will come to realize the importance (glory) of Yehovah’s fervent, burning zeal toward the Israelis. Evil folks who have considered Israel unimportant or needing to be destroyed, who have refused to aid Israelis during the Tribulation, will not commend this importance of Yehovah’s Grace, but will view it as loathsome. All Saints, all unfallen angels and all creation will rejoice and will commend Yehovah and the importance of His Grace on behalf of Israelis. All Israelis left alive will turn to Yehovah in faith, having been made sons and daughters of Yehovah.

6. b) Did Yehovah reluctantly benefit the Israelis with His Grace toward them just because of His Covenant with Avraham?

Verses 5 and 6 show that Yehovah benefited the Israelis with the good side of His Grace because of His will’s good pleasure. It will be His delight to do this.

6. c) Why are these texts in the past tense if they will be fulfilled in the future?

Paul was a prophet. Prophets speak future events as if they were in the past, because the Bible is a history book (among other things) written before the history takes place. They are certain to happen as Yehovah describes them, and are therefore shown in the past.

7. a) If redemption implies release from a held state, who or what is the holder of the Israelis?

Satan is not the holder. Sin is one holder and death is another:

Romans 6:6 Knowing this—that our old man is crucified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we shall not serve sin. ⁷For he who is dead is freed from sin. ⁸Now if we are dead with Messiah, we believe that we shall also live with Him ⁹knowing that Messiah dieth no more, being raised from the dead. Death hath no more dominion over Him.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, ye are his servants to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness? ¹⁷But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that was delivered you. ¹⁸Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

The redemption was also from the Torah’s curse promised to every Israeli who violates the Torah:

Galatians 3:13 Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us.

7. b) Why was blood necessary for this redemption?

This redemption was by payment. Only the shedding of equivalent (or greater in value) perfect blood can pay justice for the penalty of sin; only blood can redeem from death (by another taking the place of the death penalty); only blood can cover sin accrued against the Torah (Teaching) of Yehovah.

7. c) What are these offenses?

They are violations of the Torah, the Teaching of Yehovah:

Colossians 2:14 …blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us—that was contrary to us—and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.

7. d) What are the riches of His Grace?

His Grace (His fervent, burning zeal by which He acted for the Salvation and Redemption of the Israelis and the rest of the world) is great enough to supply every human with Salvation and Redemption; it is great enough to take action against every sinner spurning Him, His Grace and Israel; it is great enough to remove the stars from the heavens, send the earth out of orbit, slaughter a third of the fish in the sea, dry up a sea, place rivers where non existed before, tear down all cities, save Israeli children whom others determined to annihilate, split the ocean to make a pathway for Israelis to return, reverse the sinking of Mount Zion, and do many, many other things that will finally bring an end to Israel’s sins and transgression and an end to the strength of Israel’s enemies. His Grace’s riches will become famous during and after the Tribulation in ways it has never been known up to that time, making His work in Egypt to redeem the Israelis seem very small. All these demonstrations of great power due to His Grace are also used in His remitting the Israelis’ offenses.

8. a) What is wisdom?

It is skill in the art of living, demonstrated by careful consideration and beneficial decision-making. The wisdom of God goes beyond this, since Yehovah gives life, He never needs to consider as a man, always knowing what is right and beneficial, and He has the power to bring all things to pass according to His will. He is Wisdom Herself (see Wisdom in Proverbs, noting that Salvation is found through Her, a reference to Messiah described in the feminine Gender), and gives skill in the art of living, and decisions that are beneficial far beyond what is humanly possible.

8. b) If Yehovah caused the riches of His grace to abound toward the Israelis, this implies that these riches were not necessarily from Him, but were at least in part from other sources that would not normally have yielded these riches. Is this the case, and if so, what are these sources?

It is the case. Folks who do not know Yehovah and are ignorant therefore about Yeshua will aid Jews during the Tribulation for their own reasons, some having nothing to do with a kind heart toward Jews. Some, for example, will aid the Jews out of hatred for the Assyrian, the antichrist. Others will aid the Jews out of compassion. Others will fear God, and will be unwilling to offend Him by refusing to help Jews during the Tribulation. The reasons will be many, but the riches of Yehovah’s Grace will abound toward the Israelis. Yehovah’s Wisdom and His deliberation will be given to these other folks who will find it wise to help, and who will deliberate, determining to give them aid.

8. c) What is (are) the timing(s) of the fulfillment(s) of these verses?

These verses describe occurrences that have never happened. It is yet future. They are entirely prophetic future. Readers have not, are not and will not read them in this way (with rare exceptions), but if they are taken literally, it is not possible to fit every aspect of these verses into a present or historical frame.

9. a) What is this mystery?

Verse 10 gives the answer: “to head up all things in the Messiah” “in Whom also we obtained an inheritance”! Messiah will be the head, and the Israelis will obtain an inheritance! This makes no sense to the world, and certainly not to the modern ‘Christian’ world that has (with very rare exceptions) ousted the Jews (in their minds) from any inheritance or centrality in Yehovah’s plan.

9. b) Will Yehovah fulfill this mystery with sad reluctance, as if it is a secondary plan?

Verse 9 states that it will be done “according to His good pleasure”, and that “He purposed in Himself”. This will give Him great joy!

10. a) Exactly when will all parts of His plan come together, when He will administer the fullness of times?

It will come together during the Tribulation! Messiah will head up all things only after He has become Israel’s Head (by all living Israelis becoming members of His Body). Yehovah the Father has orchestrated all these details, and they will occur as He has described in many texts in His Word.

10. b) What is the administration of the fullness of times?

This is when Yehovah will directly administer (give, cause, put forth, make happen) His justice and righteousness to Israel and the world. The results will be lethal for many and Salvational for some. The fullness of times is when promised events that have been waiting to occur finally come together. For example,

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son made of a woman, made under the law ⁵to redeem them that were under the law so that we will receive ‘sonshipment’.

10. c) What all things are in view in this verse?

I don’t see anything not in view; Messiah will be the Head of all things that exist.

10. d) Of what is Messiah the head before the fullness of times?

He is the Head of His Body, the Church, that has as its main core and component the Israelis (whether in faith or out, since He will cleanse and sanctify her later).

10. e) Who brings about Messiah’s heading all things?

Yehovah the Father does this.

10. f) What ‘things’ are in the heavens?

The heavens are the location of Yehovah’s throne and Saints who have died. They are also the locations of angels (who are not on earth, chained or in the bottomless pit).

11. a) Exactly what is the inheritance the Israelis have obtained?

The down payment of the inheritance is the Holy Spirit of promise (verse 13). The full inheritance is the redemption of Israel, the “acquired possession”. Along with this inheritance comes dwelling on Jacob’s Land (Avraham’s also), the Land of Israel. Other aspects of this inheritance are the promises made to Israel. The Israelis will inherit the Kingdom of Yehovah. They haven’t yet obtained these things, but will in the Biblically described time.

11. b) How did the Israelis obtain this inheritance via Messiah?

Messiah secured this inheritance by two means: by being the only begotten of Yehovah the Father, and via His death.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. ¹⁷And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint-heirs with Messiah if so be that we suffer with Him that we may be also glorified together.

Glory and the inheritance are always connected, as in verse 12 of our text.

11. c) For what purpose are they predestinated?

They are predestinated to be to the praise of Messiah’s glory. Put in other words, they have been pre-determined to be to the commendation of Messiah’s importance. The whole world will know this importance, and it will be highly commended.

11. d) Who works all things according to the counsel of His will?

This describes Yehovah the Father.

11. e) Does His working all things according to the counsel of His will mean that He caused all things that occur?

No. The text might have meant this had the text stated “Who works all things according to the counsel of His will” without any text coming after. But it continues, “for us”: “Who works all things according to the counsel of His will for us.” Folks who believe that Yehovah causes all things that occur must be also stating that He causes sin. This is a very evil teaching if they are referring to the Biblical God.

11. f) Why did Yehovah state “Who works all things according to the counsel of His will” instead of “Who works all things according to His will”?

If Yehovah worked all things according to His will, He would be the causal agent. If He works all things according to the counsel of His will, He shows others what must be done, and some will follow His counsel. All things will occur as He planned. This way, others are glorified in the process.

12. a) Why is “fore-trusted” used?

This refers to the Jews who trusted in the Messiah in advance of all Israel trusting in Him. These are the firstfruits, describing them as if they are the first fruits to ripen on a tree before the mass of fruits ripen. When all Israel is saved, no Jewish person alive will be an unbeliever.

12. b) To what previous part of a sentence does “to be to the praise of His glory” connect?

It connects (I calculate) to “being predestinated”. If this is correct, an entire sentence can be the following: “We obtained an inheritance, being predestinated to be to the praise of His glory.”

12. c) Is His in “praise of His glory” Yehovah the Father, or is He Messiah the Son?

It goes back to “Him Who works all things according to the counsel of His will,” a reference to Yehovah the Father in this text. The Glory of Yehovah the Father will prove to be the Messiah in other texts!

12. d) How will the Israelis prove to be to the praise of Yehovah’s glory?

The Israelis would not even survive were it not for Yehovah and His counsel. The Israelis will survive, and all their enemies will be soundly defeated. The Israelis, who themselves were formerly unable to agree and be unified, who were mainly unbelievers, some being strong enemies of Yeshua, others also being enemies of Yehovah the Father, who could not possibly stand before the entire world, will finally be unified in righteousness (after the unbelievers among them are either changed or killed). The massive number of miracles that will occur for their sakes will continuously shock unbelievers, and the Saints and non-saints who will give their lives for them will shock them. Yehovah’s importance will be clearly seen via the Jews.

13. a) What does the twice use of also show?

It shows that the Ephesians, to whom this letter was written, were not being discussed in the previous verses. Verse 14 will switch back to the use of our; ye and your are being used in this verse. Our refers to what the Israelis possess; your refers to what the Ephesians possess.

13. b) What word of Truth did these Ephesians hear?

They heard the beneficial proclamation (‘gospel’) of their salvation. This text does not say what they heard beyond this.

13. c) The phrase, “in whom also ye,” seems to hang in mid-air. What is the rest of the sentence?

It is found later in this verse: “In whom also ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”

13. d) What is necessary for salvation according to this verse?

Hearing (better, hearkening) is first required. Next comes believing. Then comes being sealed.

13. e) What is significant about salvation being singular, word being singular, and “ye were sealed” being described in this manner?

Had the text referred to “words of the Truth”, “your salvations” and other terms that explain the sealing as if done to individuals, it would have been referring to each Ephesian person’s event. This terminology is strictly group-oriented as if the entire group heard the Word of Truth at one time, obtained one salvation for the group and were sealed as a group. The Bible demonstrates individual salvations, and it also shows group salvations that are very important. Singularity, plurality and group usages are vital distinctions normally ignored in the Word of God.

13. f) What is the purpose of being sealed?

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Revelation 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men who have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

This seal identifies one as being part of a group. The seal can be for protective and preserving purposes. It identifies to angels (fallen or not) those who belong to Yehovah.

13. g) What is the Holy Spirit of promise?

That is the Spirit of Yehovah the Holy One Who was promised to those who believe. He is also the One by Whom the promise of Israel’s Salvation will be fulfilled, as well as the resurrection of the dead Saints.

14. a) Explain Who and our in “Who is the earnest of our inheritance”:

Who refers to the Spirit of Yehovah. Our refers to the Israelis.

14. b) How can the Spirit of Yehovah be a down payment?

The Spirit of Yehovah seals and promises Israelis and non-Jewish Saints (who will believe before all Israel is saved), promising that the Israelis will obtain the inheritance and redemption. He has worked with these Saints since the beginning, giving them a fore-taste of what is to come, a down payment. The following text is an example:

Hebrews 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise, ⁴⁰God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

14. c) What does “to the redemption” mean?

The down payment if the inheritance is all that Yehovah will give until the time the Israelis (as a group) are redeemed (during the Tribulation). This will keep the Hope alive. Were Israelis who became Saints obtaining the fullness of the inheritance, the Hope would be unnecessary. Were the non-Jewish Saints obtaining a great inheritance, they would likely forget Israel. Modern Christianity has forgotten the centrality of Israel (a few who are truly born of God being exceptions), and is enjoying its ‘inheritance’ (which will all fade away, be moth-eaten or be taken over by adversaries).

14. d) Why is Israel called “the acquired possession”?

Messiah paid for the Israelis in His own blood.

Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come, and from the seven Spirits Who are before His throne ⁵and from Messiah Yeshua Who is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him Who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood ⁶and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever! Faith!

Yehovah took them out of Egypt to be His own property. The Israelis are the acquired possession of Yehovah.

14. e) “…to the praise of His glory” refers to whom?

If we read back to verse 12, we identified Him as Yehovah. Verse 14, the down payment is the Spirit of Yehovah. His seems to refer to the Spirit of Yehovah, but if one reads the entire text, it still refers to Yehovah the Father.

15. a) How did Paul hear of the faith among them?

Their faith was so startling that word of it reached wherever Paul was located.

15. b) What is faith?

It is a certainty one holds, and by which one lives, in something not provable (yet) based upon a command, a statement or a promise of one whom the holder of faith considers absolutely trustworthy. The faith is both in the promiser and that which has been promised (or commanded or stated).

15. c) Can one have faith in another’s word without knowing that word?

Folks commonly state they have faith in God or in Jesus. Few have read the Bible, and of the few who have, few have correctly understood its contents. Those who have not carefully read the Bible’s contents while claiming a strong and dedicated faith in the God of the Bible are self-deluded. One does not have to read the Bible from cover to cover to obtain Truth unto Salvation. That can be found in the first book of the Bible alone. One must read it carefully, and be given faith in it (faith is a gift of God). Such a person who holds a copy of the Bible would then voraciously devour the words of the rest of the book, taking great care to properly understand what it teaches. One proof that a person does not have the faith of God is the person’s little or no interest in pursuit of the knowledge of the Word of Truth. That person does not have the Hope, and will not stand when Biblical faith is challenged. Another who reads Genesis (for example) with care, and sees that it is Truth, and believes that Truth, and turns to Yehovah in fear of Him shows faith. If that faith lasts and is not temporary (Dr. Luke gives an example of temporary faith in the Parable of the Sower), and is accompanied by a fervency after Godliness and the Word of God, that gives credible evidence of a new creation.

15. d) What is indicated by the Ephesian folks to whom Paul wrote having faith among them?

They not only held a common ‘theoretical’ faith but a practical faith by which they worked together for benefit. This does not sound that difficult, but when persecution including tortures and death is added to the picture, their common valiance in faith greatly increased its significance.

15. e) How could the love of these Ephesian folks toward all Saints be demonstrated?

Many church groups exist today. Finding groups that show a unified love toward all Saints is quite rare for the following reasons:

Thus, the Ephesians’ love toward all the Saints was blatant and obvious to all who saw them work.

16. a) Why did Paul always give thanks for and mention these Ephesian folks in his prayers?

They were such an example of proper, rare faith and love. They demonstrated what could be done elsewhere, and how strong their example was in affecting others toward Truth. They were heroes and heroines, older and younger folks who were willing and glad to pay the deadly price to live love toward others.

17. a) Why did the Spirit of Yehovah through Paul designate this God as “the God of our Lord Messiah Yeshua the Father of glory”?

He was called “the God of our Lord Messiah Yeshua” because Messiah Yeshua referred to Yehovah as His God:

Matthew 19:17 And He said unto him, “Why callest thou me good? None is good but one: God! But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Matthew 22:31 “But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, ³² ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

He called Him “the Father of glory” because He fathered all importance in the universe. Messiah Yeshua is the Glory of God:

Isaiah 3:8 For Jerusalem is ruined and Judah is fallen because their tongue and their doings are against Yehovah to provoke the eyes of His glory.

Exodus 33:22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by. ²³And I will take away mine hand. And thou shalt see my after-one. And my faces shall not be seen.

17. b) What is the spirit of wisdom?

This is one of the seven Spirits of Yehovah:

Revelation 1:4 Grace and peace to you from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come, and from the seven Spirits Who are before His throne.

Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of Yehovah [1] shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom [2] and understanding [3], the spirit of counsel [4] and might [5], the spirit of knowledge [6] and of the fear of Yehovah [7].

If wisdom is skill in the art of living, the Spirit of Wisdom will give its holders Godly skill in the art of life on this earth, and skill in everlasting life.

17. c) What is the spirit of revelation in knowledge of Him?

I know of no specific Spirit of Yehovah that is the Spirit of Revelation. When Yehovah gives a ministerial gift, the Bible can word the event as the Spirit of Yehovah coming upon a person. If Yehovah gives might as a spiritual gift, the spirit of might comes on the person. In the same way, the spirit of Revelation is Yehovah’s Spirit coming upon the person so that the person will supernaturally receive and understand what Yehovah reveals, and will be able to explain this to others (every ministerial gift being for the benefit of others). This particular ministerial gift (in this verse) is directed to the “knowledge of Him” (Yehovah). These Ephesians will have exact and direct knowledge of Yehovah revealed to them. Some of the results of this are given in the next verse.

18. a) Why is the plural pronoun your used with the singular noun mind?

This is what readers normally ignore, including those who have been characterized as the ‘greatest’ theologians. Paul, by the Spirit of Yehovah, wrote to Saints at Ephesus; they are the your. Yet they, together, had one mind. The Bible as often refers to groups as does to individuals. Ignoring this will lead to errant theologies and understandings.

18. b) What are the eyes of the mind?

The mind is the tool of thinking; the eyes of seeing. The eyes of the mind are used to see (thoroughly understand) what the mind processes. Just because a person thinks well doesn’t mean the person thoroughly understands or has deep insight.

18. c) What results if the eyes of this group’s mind are enlightened?

This group will know:

These things will all be equal to the working of the might of Yehovah’s strength that He worked in the Messiah when He raised Him from among the dead. (Each of the above items will be explored in questions that follow.)

18. d) What is the hope of Yehovah’s calling?

Paul stated,

Acts 23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted in the council, “Men and brethren! I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee! Of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

Acts 28:20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

The above text was further explained in the following:

2 Corinthians 3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves, or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? ²Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men ³forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. ⁴And such trust have we through Christ toward God—⁵not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God ⁶Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament—not of the letter but of the spirit. For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. ⁷But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance, which glory was to be done away, ⁸how shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? ⁹For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. ¹⁰For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. ¹¹For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. ¹²Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech.

Colossians 1:27 …to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Messiah in you, the hope of glory.

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Messiah Yeshua according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledging of the truth that is after godliness ²in hope of eternal life that God, Who cannot lie, promised before the world began.

Titus 3:7 Being justified by His grace, we shall be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

These texts showing hope as resurrection or as glory are put together in the following text:

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Messiah Yeshua Who, according to His abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you ⁵who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time ⁶wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations ⁷that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are now sons of God. And it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that we shall be like Him when He shall appear, for we shall see Him as He is. ³And every man who hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as He is pure.

This hope encompasses the resurrection and glory (importance). Yehovah’s calling is unto glory and the resurrection of the dead. Whoever responds to this calling will receive these.

18. e) What are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the Saints?

Romans 9:23 He will make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy that he had afore prepared unto glory—²⁴even us whom He hath called—not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles!

Ephesians 3:16 …that He will grant you to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man according to the riches of His glory.

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:27 …to whom God will make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Messiah in you, the hope of glory.

These riches describe great abundance and value. The riches of glory shows the great abundance of importance that the faithful Saints will obtain in the eyes of Yehovah and in the eyes of all others.

18. f) What is this inheritance?

It is His inheritance, what He will inherit. Yehovah’s inheritance is Israel:

Psalms 74:2 Remember Thy congregation that Thou hast purchased of old, the tribe thine inheritance that Thou hast redeemed, this mount Zion in which Thou hast dwelt.

Jeremiah 10:16 The portion of Jacob is not like them, for He is the former of all things. And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance. Yehovah of hosts is His name!

Jeremiah 51:19 The portion of Jacob is not like them, for He is the former of all things. And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance. Yehovah of hosts is His name!

The wealth of the importance of Israel in the Saints will only be understood during the Tribulation. It seems that this is an unknown quantity before that time. Israel is considered both unimportant and not Yehovah’s inheritance, but these are not the cases. Mount Zion is also included in this inheritance, and the importance of Mount Zion will also not be understood until the Tribulation.

19. a) What is the surpassing greatness of His power toward the Israelis who believe?

If it is surpassing, it must be beyond former records, beating all that has come before. If it is great, it must be very large and strong, easily seen and unconquerable. If it is His power, it must be what He uses and demonstrates. Moving mountains at a verbal command is quite great, something Messiah Himself never did. If it is toward the Israelis who believe, He will be demonstrating this tremendous power on behalf of the believing Israelis.

19. b) What is the timing of the fulfillment of all these things?

These things will occur during the Tribulation.

19. c) Just how great will be Yehovah’s demonstration of power toward the Israelis who believe, according to these verses?

It will be on the order of magnitude used when He raised Messiah Yeshua from among the dead (among indicating that He was in Sheol where the dead were stationed).

20. a) When did Yehovah set Yeshua at His right hand in the heavenlies?

The next verse gives the timing by description: when Messiah will be “above every principality and authority and power and lordship and every name named—not only in this age, but also in the coming.” This has not yet happened.

20. b) Why did Yehovah need to raise Yeshua from among the dead, since Yeshua stated (John 10:17-18), “I lay down my life that I might take it again; no man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself; I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again”?

Yehovah didn’t need to do this (as if Yeshua were incapable), but rather He intentionally did this. While Yeshua had the power, Yehovah’s act of raising Him from among the dead gave Him importance:

1 Peter 1:21 God … raised Him up from the dead and gave Him glory.

If Yeshua had raised Himself from the dead without Yehovah’s participation, Jewish folks would not have seen the connection between Yeshua and Yehovah. The Assyrian (antichrist) will have an experience equivalent to being raised from the dead, but it won’t be by Yehovah’s raising him from among the dead.

20. c) Why did Yehovah work the might of His strength in Messiah instead of Messiah’s doing the mighty works directly?

This again makes the connection between Yehovah and Yeshua. One can do miracles through the power of occult forces, because Yehovah has given demons powers to do great things. They cannot work with the might of Yehovah’s strength, however. Thus, if they were to put forth a false messiah, they could not do what Yehovah does. Many Jewish individuals have viewed Yeshua as a false messiah. When Yehovah did His great works through Yeshua, this demonstrated that the power was not from occult sources. Thus, denying the works done through Yeshua became equivalent to denying the power of God:

Matthew 12:22 Then one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb was brought unto Him. And He healed him insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. ²³And all the people were amazed. And they said, “Is not this the son of David?” ²⁴But when the Pharisees heard, they said, “This doth not cast out devils but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils!” ²⁵And Yeshua knew their thoughts. And He said unto them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. ²⁶And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself! How shall then his kingdom stand? ²⁷And if I cast out devils by Beelzebub, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges! ²⁸But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

21. a) What is a principality?

It is a chief, a leader or a ruler. The word (in Greek) indicates the beginning of something, as if that beginning is preeminent. The Hebrew word would be r_sh, meaning head, also used in the Hebrew word braysheet, meaning in the beginning (at the head). Every principality is head of something. A later text will be more specific:

Ephesians 3:10 The principalities and powers in the heavenlies…

This refers at least to angels (and if to other creatures, I am unaware).

21. b) What is an authority?

This word has to do with jurisdiction. It is not referring to one’s ‘rights’, but rather the responsibility to oversee in a proper manner. Some angels are more powerful than others, but do not have as high an authority.

21. c) What is a power?

This has to do with physical strength and ability. Different angels have different physical abilities, being responsible for their areas of service.

21. d) What is a lordship?

It is the rank of being the possessor and disposer of a thing, as if one were the owner. It is also a title of honour expressive of respect. Thus, the angel Sheol is the possessor of the location called Sheol, and the angel maintains that place according to the responsibility given by Yehovah.

21. e) If Yehovah set Yeshua above every name named, what has occurred?

A name is more than an identification; it is also an indication of rank, often being combined with a title. Yehovah has placed Yeshua above everyone else’s name so that Yeshua’s rank will be the highest under Yehovah the Father’s rank. (Though they are One and equal, yet Yeshua became a servant. Yehovah then elevated Yeshua to the highest under Him.)

21. f) What are the two ages (this one, and the one to come)?

This present age is the Age of the Gentiles (when the Gentiles have domination over Jerusalem), and the age to come is the Day of Yehovah/Kingdom of God (when Yehovah will rule over Jerusalem, and Jerusalem will be a city of righteousness, the Israelis living in Israel and being themselves righteous).

Luke 21:24 Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

22. a) When did Yehovah put all things under Yeshua’s feet?

This has not yet occurred, as explained in another question above:

Hebrews 2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

This awaits the end of the Tribulation.

22. b) What does “He gave Him Head over all things” mean?

This expression can reflect two different meanings. Give in Hebrew is also used as place so that the expression could mean, “He placed Him Head over all things.” The grammar can also indicate (“He gave Him Head over all things to the assembly”) that He (Yehovah) gave Him (Messiah) to the assembly, and that Messiah Yeshua is Head over all things. In this case, a better way of writing it would be “He gave Him, Head over all things, to the assembly.” Both meanings are true!

22. c) Why would Yehovah need to give Yeshua to the assembly?

This assembly at its core is Israel! Yehovah gave Yeshua to Israel both as sacrifice and as Head (King). These texts view Yeshua as coming from the outside, being brought in by Yehovah; this is due to Israel’s historical rejection or lack of recognition of Yeshua. Since Yehovah the Father is the common link between Israel and Yeshua, Yehovah the Father brings Yeshua in, just as He brings Israel in (to Mount Zion, and to Yeshua). Force is not used in this introduction. The Tribulation is an act of force, but not regarding recognizing Yeshua as Yehovah’s Word, the Lamb of God. Yehovah is forcing all humans to observe His wrath and power. This does not lead to faith; it leads to terror (which can be used in opposing directions) and justice.

22. d) If all things are put under His feet, name one vital item under His feet that pertains to Israel:

This is given in the following text:

Psalm 110:1 Yehovah said unto my Lord, “Sit Thou at my right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. ²Yehovah shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion! Rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.

Yehovah is speaking to His Messiah, King David’s Lord. These enemies are Israelis who have spurned Yeshua, but who will turn to Him once they have seen that He is of Yehovah. They will become a footstool for Yeshua’s feet. (Footstools are always good in the Bible.) A footstool is under one’s foot, and thus this is one vital item that pertains to Israel and is under His foot.

23. a) Of what does His Body consist?

The verse before calls it the assembly of which He is the Head. Another text in this book further describes it:

Ephesians 5:25 Messiah … loved the church and gave Himself for her ²⁶that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷that He might present her to Himself a glorious church—not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she will be holy and perfect. … ³⁰For we are members of His Body, of His flesh and of his bones.

The Church is described as not yet being sanctified (owned) or cleansed (she is unclean), not yet glorified and having spots, wrinkles and the like (that are very bad). Since the heart of the Church is literal, physical Israel, and all Saints become part of this body (foreseeing that Israel will be perfect, sanctified, glorified, clean, etc. after Yehovah does His Work on Israel), no separation can be made between Israel and the Church. Yet they are as separated, since Israel knows no connections, and the so-called ‘Christian’ Church of today has no connections with Israel. Once the Body, with Israel as its core, is in every way right, Messiah as Head will come.

23. b) Can this body be pictured?

Yes:

http:www.sschotsprings.com/ephesians1.html