“I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land” (Isaiah 6:8-12, emphasis added).
This was God’s message to Isaiah upon his commission to become the prophet to the two Hebrew kingdoms in the generation when Assyria successfully conquered Israel and unsuccessfully attempted to conquer Judah. These two kingdoms, rooted in two separate houses (Leah’s and Rachel’s: Ruth 4:11) emerged at the very beginning of the 12-tribe people-group called the Hebrews. At the time of the above Isaiah passage, the two houses/kingdoms were at war with each other – during which crisis the Judeans were called “Jews” for the very first time, specifically to distinguish them from the Israelites (2 Kings 16:6).
There would be a near-term “partial fulfillment” of the Isaiah 6:8-12 prophecy (perhaps better characterized as an “iteration of the desolation-of-Jerusalem Biblical pattern”) in the Babylonian conquest of Judah a century and a half later, and another partial fulfillment by the Romans in A.D. 70 following the earthly ministry of Our Lord, and then a final and complete fulfillment in A.D. 135 when the Romans expelled ALL Jews from the Holy Land “forever” and renamed it Syriac Palestine following the Simon bar Kokhbar revolt. That desolation of the land ended formally only in 1917 when the British Empire (at the height of the influence of Christian and Jewish Millennialists and the doctrine of British Israelism) liberated the Holy Land (by military conquest) from the Ottoman Turks and essentially gifted it to the Jews per the Balfour Declaration.
When Jesus began His ministry in Galilee of the Gentiles, the former territory of the Kingdom of Israel, He made it very clear that He “was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24), which was a prophetically important restatement of the limitation He imposed when He sent out “The Twelve” (Matthew 10:5-6). The number of that first group of envoys was 12 because both Hebrew houses by this time included members of all 12 tribes, but the distinction between the two houses remained because the House of Israel had been “divorced” by God and went fully pagan, while the House of Judah had not (Jeremiah 3, especially verse 8, Hosea 1-3).
Having fulfilled various key prophecies by giving the genetic descendants of the House of Israel “first dibs” on salvation in His name, Jesus then broadened the franchise to “all the families of the earth” (Genesis 12:3), by sending out “The Seventy” (numerologically representative of the Table of Nations of Genesis 10: the 70 patriarchs descended from Noah). ALL who accept salvation in Christ from that day to this become a part of the “Bride of Christ” awaiting reunification with God through the Wedding Feast of the Lamb – fulfilling the promise of God to nullify the divorce by He Himself (the husband) dying on the cross to release the wife to remarry without violating the unbreakable law of Jeremiah 3:1.
Regarding salvation, the Jews were a special case, however, because authentic Torah-based Judaism implicitly assumed that the House of Judah would recognize its Messiah when He came: All the biblical writings and rituals had been designed to prepare them for that. But Judaism had been severely corrupted in the years immediately preceding His first coming: The Jewish political world had been hijacked by the Edomite false-Jew Herod the Great (who, with Roman backing, had slaughtered the entire Hasmonean royal family, the descendants of the righteous Judah Maccabee who had overthrown the Antichrist figure Antiochus IV Epiphanes of Daniel 11). And internally, the cult of hyper-legalism called Phariseeism dominated Judaism. But because the House of Judah never ended and remains “married to God” to this day under the Old Covenant, there remains hope for the collective salvation of the Jews until the Second Coming – a doctrine that is detailed and reaffirmed by Paul in Romans 11.
All of this is enormously important in understanding why Jesus invoked Isaiah 6:9-10 in Mark 4:11-12, saying:
“The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables, so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’”
“Those on the outside” were (and are) those who, because of lack of cultural familiarity and/or spiritual discernment, could not recognize the teachings of the Tanach (Old Testament), which His parables conveyed in the form of symbols, metaphors and textual landmarks. Most Herodians, Pharisees and Non-Hebrews did not understand the hidden deeper meaning of the parables, even if they understood the surface meaning.
The best modern example of “seeing without perceiving” in Christendom is the parable that most closely fits the theme of “sibling rivalry” in Isaiah 6:8-12: the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
The surface meaning of the Prodigal Son parable happens to be one of the most profound truths of Christianity: that God welcomes back repentant sinners no matter how far they have fallen away from Him. The very clarity of this powerful message of God’s grace and mercy makes it the perfect cover for a deeper meaning that only Christ’s disciples and Torah-faithful Hebrews would have understood. But importantly, the surface meaning is not in the slightest degree diminished by the deeper message, a fact that is critical to remember when grappling with the revelation highlighted below.
Before I reveal it let me remind you that many Bible truths do not fit the Hellenic linear, two-dimensional perspective on Bible verses/passages that insists “either this/or that must be true exclusively.” In contrast, the Hebrew multi-dimensional perspective correctly recognizes “both this/and that can be simultaneously true.”
So, what is the deeper message hidden in plain sight in the Parable of the Prodigal Son?
“Very simply, the father in the parable is God. The older son is Judah, and the younger (prodigal) son is Joseph. These are the two actual sons of Jacob’s wives Leah and Rachel, respectively, the human roots of the two houses and later two kingdoms of Judah and Israel. Joseph, who is represented by his son Ephraim among the 12 tribes (as the symbolic head of the House of Israel per Jeremiah 31:9), led his house into idolatrous rebellion against God so egregiously that God “divorced” the House of Israel and sent him/them away to live among the Gentiles. God then made a way for Israel to be restored that simultaneously opened the door to salvation for the Gentiles.
To allay any doubt of His intended meaning (to the alert Hebrew listeners), Jesus designed the parable to directly connect the metaphorical redemption/restoration of the specially favored “Prodigal Son” in the parable with the historical restoration/restoration of the actual specially favored son of Jacob: Joseph (the patriarch of the House of Israel) by the Egyptian pharaoh in Genesis 41. Note especially the symbolic significance of the robe (royal authority) and ring (lawmaking power) in the Genesis account, and of the sandals (ownership of land) in Ruth 4:7.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is in actuality a summary of the two house prophecy of the reunification of the two Hebrew houses in the Millennial Kingdom. That doctrinal theme not only dominates several of the Bible’s prophetic books and is heavily interwoven throughout entire Old Testament, it is also subtly referenced in numerous books of the New Testament. Only those whose spiritual eyes have been opened to the historical and prophetic significance of the two house teaching will recognize it, but once the blinders of unfamiliarity are removed the truth about the two house doctrine is impossible to “un-see.” There is obviously much more to the doctrine than this brief article can relate, but it is likely that you, reader, will now begin recognizing two house passages whenever you read your Bible and be amazed that you never previously realized they were there or how central they are to Christianity.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
