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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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•^odiii <strong>the</strong> Talmudic tractate on Idolatry.® At <strong>the</strong><br />

beginning <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> coming era <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Kingdom, Gk)d<br />

is represented as openmg ihe Torah, <strong>and</strong> inviting<br />

iJl who had busied <strong>the</strong>mselves wit^ it to come for<br />

tkeir reward. On this, nation by nation appears—<br />

first, <strong>the</strong> Bomans, insisting tiiat all <strong>the</strong> great things<br />

<strong>the</strong>y had done were only done for <strong>the</strong> s^e <strong>of</strong> Israel,<br />

in order that <strong>the</strong>y might <strong>the</strong> better busy <strong>the</strong>mselves<br />

with tke Torah. Being harshly repulsed, <strong>the</strong><br />

Persians next come forward vriHk similar claims,<br />

encoun^ed by <strong>the</strong> fact that, unlike <strong>the</strong> Bomans, <strong>the</strong>y<br />

had not destroyed <strong>the</strong> Temple. But <strong>the</strong>y also are in<br />

turn replied. <strong>The</strong>n all <strong>the</strong> Gentile nations urge that<br />

<strong>the</strong> Law had not been <strong>of</strong>fered to <strong>the</strong>m, which is<br />

proved to be a vain contention, since God had<br />

actually <strong>of</strong>ibred it to <strong>the</strong>m, but only Israel had<br />

accepted it. On this <strong>the</strong> nations reply by a peculiar<br />

Babbinic explanation <strong>of</strong> Exod. xix. 17, according<br />

to which God is actually represented as having<br />

lifted Mount Sinai like e cask, <strong>and</strong> threatened to<br />

put it over Israel unless <strong>the</strong>y accepted <strong>the</strong> Law.<br />

Israel's obedience, <strong>the</strong>refore, was not willing, but<br />

enforced. On tihis <strong>the</strong> Almighty proposes to judge

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