Just a Thought - 06/08/2020

Namaste to all,

Despite the fact that there are twenty-two official languages and many more dialects than that in India, the Hindi word "namaste" is known and used by all. Literally, Namaste means "I, to you bow" and is the most popular greeting in the Indian culture. It replaces good morning, good evening , good night, hello, and good bye. This most respectful word is usually said with hands positioned in a prayer-like gesture and head bowed. Similar to the use of the Hebrew word "shalom", the recipient of this ancient greeting responds by also saying namaste. I was delighted and proud to use it two years ago in the land of my forefathers.

On May 20th, I referenced one of our previous studies of 1 Corinthians chapter 15, in which the apostle Paul gives a brief synopsis of the coming rapture of the church.

"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." 1st Corinthians 15: 51-52.

Within the above 2 verses, lies the thought-provoking phrase, "...at the last trumpet..."

Your assignment was to investigate the possible meaning of this phrase. I believe I received 2 or 3 responses at the most, but because a correct understanding of the phrase is critical to an appreciation of the timing of the rapture, I have decided to engage you in a most worthwhile study. For the next couple or three weeks, I will be sharing with you what I hope you will find to be a most interesting exploration of Jewish scripture and Jewish cultural history. Over the next 2 - 3 weeks, you will be receiving relevant study installments from me on Wednesdays as well as on Sundays. Please note that you will gain little or nothing from this study unless you follow my directions to read certain documents I will recommend. We will travel slowly through this journey to enable everyone to not only read but to study and digest the material. You will learn much as you gain an appreciation for the meaning of Paul's 4 words: "...at the last trumpet..." This Wednesday 08/10, we will begin and you will find my weekly updates on the same 08/10 publication. In other words, for the next few sessions, you will need to read the 08/10 message. It will be updated weekly. This makes it possible to provide for continuity an coherence and at the end of our study, you will have only one study document rather than a separate one for each week. I hope this makes sense,

Naturally, I would have preferred to teach this topic in person, but, in the absence of a person to person meeting at FHG, get ready to embark with me on a fun distance learning experience. As stated earlier, I will provide only small, bite-sized doses per lesson, so you can have the time to ponder the information and do your own daily/weekly research.

May the Lord bless and keep you all.

Until Wednesday,

Pastor Chandroo