The next Bible lesson from Leviticus was released today entitled Feasts of the Lord for Christians. Here is an excerpt from the article with passover and easter compared:

The word in Greek translated to "Easter" in the New Testament is pascha (PAS-khah), and occurs only once in Acts chapter 12. The person being put in prison in that verse is Peter, the Apostle.

Pascha in Greek originated from pesach (PEH-sakh) in Chaldee, one of the original languages of the Old Testament manuscripts which were written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Chaldee. Passover appears in the Old Testament 45 times and the meaning is literally the "passover feast" in each. Of 27 instances of pascha in the New Testament, it is always translated passover except the one tranlation as Easter in Acts 12:4.

The 45 translations of pesach in the Old Testament, and 26 of 27 instances of pascha in the New Testament, with the one exception being "Easter" in Acts 12:4, is an example of KJV mistranslations covered in this new article.

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The next Bible study from Leviticus entitled Understanding the Bible Meaning of Scapegoat was just released, and the translation of Hebrew words clarifies the definition of scapegoat. Repentence means that God forgives and forgets sin, and Christians can enjoy peace and joy knowing when they repent they should not feel guilt or dwell on past transgressions.

The article concludes making points about Judgment Day, and why true Christians should anticipate that day with joy, not fear of condemnation. Repent and God will forget your sins forever never to be mentioned again. Do the same for yourself and fellow mankind. Forgive and forget and then enjoy the inner peace and confidence of salvation and eternal life.

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Another article and Bible study of the book of Exodus continues with the journey of Israel into the wilderness after the parting of the Red Sea. Despite miracles shown to the people of Israel in Egypt, leaders Moses and Aaron are faced with stiffnecked people to the point of mutiny.

The lesson for Christians in the article Israel Murmuring Against Moses and Aaron is to recognize the tiny miracles and thank God for what you do have instead of worrying about what you lack.

Hebrew words including place names as used in Exodus that were not translated to English, are explained for clearer meaning of some verses. One in particular is interesting. Manna, food from heaven, literally means "What is that?".

Complaints to the point of mutiny are unnecessary for Christians. God will never leave you or forsake you. In times of trouble when all seems hopeless, He may be forming some aspect of your character in preparation for eternal life, yet He promises that there will always be a way out. Be patient and have faith by putting full trust in Jesus Christ.

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The next Bible study article covering Exodus was released entitled Exodus and Parting of the Red Sea, and documents the first week of Exodus day by day from the departure, journey, and the freedom of Israel from bondage in Egypt with the parting of the Red Sea.

As a young man I waterskied and swam in the Red Sea on the western coast of what is now Eritrea. A group of us snorkled from shore to an island 3 miles out, also, and although this site is 100's of miles south of the place where the children of Israel passed over on dry land, the experience helps put the miracle in perspective.

The entire first week of Exodus article is here, and concludes with an analogy comparing crossing the Red Sea and Christian baptism.

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A new article on the main site of Ultimate Riddles explores Bible references to Jesus in Genesis, beginning with the very first verse of the Bible in Genesis 1:1. From personal experience hearing comments from others, some Christians focus less on the Old Testament or entirely in the New Testament because it documents the birth and life of Jesus in human form. Here's an excerpt:

God spoke and things were created. There was no action or work that compares to our human creativity which we physically work and struggle over. "And God said..." means by spoken word alone He created everything in the heavens, the earth, and the sea. Continue to the New Testament for evidence that this reference to God refers to Jesus Christ, also called the Word.

Read the full article Finding Jesus in the Old Testament here, with Scripture verses about creation, and learn why these references to God in the Old Testament literally refer to Jesus Christ.

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The next Bible study article covering Exodus was released entitled Tenth Devastating Plague in Egypt here, and discusses the pass over or death of all firstborn in Egypt. In addition, it compares Passover and Easter with the following excerpt about Easter:

The Greek word translated to Easter is pascha (PAS-khah) which is of Chaldee origin, and it means "passover" to include the meal, day, and festival. In the original Greek manuscripts of the New Testament the word "pascha" occurs in 27 verses 29 times. In each instance it is translated to English as "passover" except for the single occurence of "Easter" in Acts 12:4.

The earliest Christians only had the original manuscripts in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Chaldee for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament. Easter was introduced in the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible long before the first English translation or later King James Authorized Version (KJV) in 1611.

Easter was a pagan holiday introduced in part to the church to attract unbelievers to Christianity, and it became tradition. The King James authors used the Latin Vulgate which is how the word pascha was mistranslated as Easter in Acts 12:4. By knowing the difference now, it makes sense for Christians to celebrate Passover, yet keep in mind that our true Passover sacrifice is now Christ. Be wary of the traditions of mankind, and keep in His Word to understand that some Old Testament traditions were nailed to the cross, and today communion is the Passover celebration for Christians.

Bible translations in English contain errors, yet by going back to the original manuscript languages Bible students gain clearer understanding of truth in God's Holy Word. Read the full Bible study article on Passover and Easter here.

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The next Bible study from Exodus was released earlier. Read the full article First Nine of Ten Plagues in Egypt on the main site.

This study provides lessons from Exodus for Christians today, and reviews the actions of Aaron and Moses in 1491 B.C. when demanding that the Pharaoh of Egypt "let my people go" from bondage. The first 9 plagues are explained from a historical perspective with insights as to their structure and significance.

The origin and meaning of certain Hebrew words and phrases translated to English is presented, as well. As one example, the recurring concept in Exodus that God "hardened" Pharaoh's heart comes from three different words in Hebrew, each with slightly different yet similar meanings.

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Another article on the main site was just released entitled Fifteen Bible Verses for Understanding Christ, and is intended for persons who have doubts about Christ as the Messiah, or who want to share their Christian faith with non-believers.

The article has headings followed by Scripture covering His purpose, sin and salvation, Jesus as God, Christ's return and judgment, and eternal destiny. After reading the article I invite readers to share this by bookmarking the page or emailing the link to people who may not understand the divine nature and purpose of Jesus Christ.

The sense of peace and joy knowing the truth as revealed in the Bible is something that God wants us all to learn.

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The next Bible study and first article covering the book of Exodus was just published, so follow this link to read the article Patriarch Deaths and Israel in Bondage on the main site.

Besides details and historical dates, the article documents the growth of the family of Jacob from 70 persons entering Egypt as honored guests, and eventually slavery, to nearly 2 million when they left.

The sons of Jacob, who was renamed Israel by God, were the 12 patriarchs and all died in Egypt.

The article concludes with a comment stating "Covenants made and broken by ancient people in relationship to God are a common theme throughout the Old Testament", and helps put the New Testament into perspective.

It's interesting to note that the word "testament" was a poor translation to English in 1611 by the KJV team and was taken from a Latin root. More accurate titles of the two major divisions of the Christian Bible would be Old Covenant and New Covenant.

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A new article on the main site of Ultimate Riddles provides details of the faith unto death of the early Christian church leaders. A list is presented of 15 apostles and disciples of Christ who held their faith to the ultimate sacrifice as martyrs. The list begins with this opening introduction.

From historical records, here's how the Christian apostles and other disciples died. Each person is listed in alphabetical order with the method of execution, plus the date of their death and place, if known.

Additional information about Paul the apostle is given. He was known as Saul before conversion to Christianity, and by his own admission a zealous prosecutor of the early Christian church. Paul happens to be one of my favorite teachers in the New Testament, and anywhere you view the words secret or mystery in his writings, new revelations hidden from the foundation of the world usually follow.

Persons of faith may be shocked that all but one of the 12 apostles was executed for their belief in Christ. The level of persecution faced by most Christians today is not as extreme as in the article about the deaths of the early apostles and disciples of Christ. Please share your faith and witness to those you meet every day, and let them know about the peace and joy that you have found knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

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A new article on the main site of Ultimate Riddles explains your Spiritual Life History in the Three Earth Ages. The article provides an outline of eons of history taken from a Bible study perspective for a snapshot of your past, present, and future.

The Ultimate Riddles website is one person's spiritual journey of Bible study for others to follow as they draw their own conclusions. Is Hell a physical place where sinners are tormented eternally? I don't believe it as shown in event 16.a of the article outline. This, and other answers, will take years to document, so be patient.

Famous theologians disagree on the definition of some truths such as "Where are the dead?" as just one example.

As it is written, the spirit of those humans who have died, and those presently alive who die before the millenium, instantly returns to heaven as stated in Ecclesiastes 12:7 referring to death.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7 (KJV)

Heaven is divided by a space separating those saved from those who did not believe that it was necessary to establish a personal relationship with God. For the living, our purpose is having that relationship while we continue to grow spiritually through Bible study and understanding God's expectations.

This latest article about spiritual existence in the three earth ages provides a simple outline of eternal history for Christian believers and those interested in learning more about Jesus Christ and spirituality.

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The next article from our Bible study of the book of Genesis was released earlier, and explores the relationships from Abraham to the 12 patriarchs including the 14 generations from Abraham to King David. Intermarriage between the families of brothers Abraham, Nahor, and Haran is examined including the significance in future Bible history.

One aspect of this study is family bitterness over the second born sons of Abraham and Isaac having preeminence over their older siblings, Ishmael and Esau, and the impact to look for in later studies of the Old Testament.

Finally, the 12 patriarchal male children of Jacob by his two wives and their two handmaids is documented showing the 12 names, plus one sister, by birth mother. To help put this period of ancient Bible history in perspective, mention of the paternal line of Moses as descended from Jacob is included, also.

This completes the first pass through Genesis in my personal spiritual journey, and we will begin exploring Exodus next. Readers are encouraged to read Genesis and the entire Bible from cover to cover, and then form their spiritual and personal theology as the Holy Spirit guides them.

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Usability for Bible students and other visitors to the Ultimate Riddles main site was enhanced today with a makeover to improve navigation of Bible study articles. Previously in an attempt to save space, article links were two digits with no text to indicate the topic of each lesson. Adding an article directory for each book of the Bible will make navigating the website more convenient.

The new navigation includes a main Directory of Links to Bible Study and General Information separated by Old Testament and New Testament, and each book of the Bible will have a listing of articles by subject and topic beginning with an article directory for Genesis study lessons.

In addition, the main directory will have a section on General Information to cover related subjects about Christianity beginning with My Personal Christian Beliefs and Statement of Faith.

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Here is advice for those readers moved by the Holy Spirit and wondering what formal steps are necessary to be saved and born again in accepting Christ as your Savior. You can be alone. No formal ceremony is necessary.

If you believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and want Him in your life as your Lord and Savior, state a prayer from your heart, and in your own words, similar to the one below to join other Christians in the Body of Christ. In praying, simply admit you are a sinner in need of forgiveness, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and acknowledge His sacrifice, death, and resurrection.

If it makes you more comfortable, first believing and then reading the following prayer example is fine, too.

Lord God, I am a sinner asking forgiveness, and accept Jesus Christ today as my Lord and Savior. I confess that Jesus is God, Who as the Son of God came in the flesh for the remission of sin, that He was crucified and died for me, was raised on the third day, and sits at the right hand of God waiting to return. I believe through faith and the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ that I am saved, and now take my place in the Body of Christ. Thank you for this moment and the promise of eternal life. This I pray in Jesus' precious name, Amen.

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The next article and lesson of Bible study was released earlier on the main Ultimate Riddles site, and is entitled "Races on Ark During Flood of Genesis 7". Individual words from the original Hebrew of the Old Testament, and Greek in the New Testament, are sometimees translated to English as a single word when a phrase or paragraph is needed for clearer understanding. This review of the occupants of Noah's ark during the flood is another example.

Were all the races on Noah's ark? This study reviews Scripture in Genesis 7, Genesis 8, and one reference to the ark and Noah in the New Testament to show evidence that only 8 people were on the ark. The races did survive. Read the full article to learn about Bible Evidence to Dispute Races Aboard Noah's Ark, and then a further explanation of today's wonderful and diverse racial mix of God's children, and why we are not all descendants of Noah.

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Our next Bible study topic continues in the book of Genesis with secrets found within Bible genealogy that help us date the life of Adam, follow the paternal line to Jesus Christ, plus some interesting surprises. Read the full article on the main site which is entitled Generations of Adam in Genesis 5.

Reading the language of the original Bible manuscripts allows students to go beyond words that truly require phrases to fully understand. Reading long lists of paternal lines of begat or begot may tempt some readers to skip a chapter. Hopefully, this lesson will encourage Christians and those interested in our beliefs to take a closer look at each word in God's Word.

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Some students of Bible study have concluded that Satan was the father of Cain, the son of Eve in the Garden of Eden, and not Adam. This is shocking compared to what I learned in Sunday School, and later as an adult. Was Cain's daddy the devil? Read the full article on the main site which is entitled The Paternity of Cain in Genesis 3.

Certain words and phrases from the original Bible manuscripts in Hebrew or Greek, as taken from the Old Testament and New Testament respectively, cannot be translated to a single word in English without losing some of the meaning. This study presents Scripture that could be interpreted to prove Satan as the father of Cain. Read the article and then you decide, or try searching for further evidence.

The point behind sharing this journey of Ultimate Riddles is to encourage readers to study the Bible on a regular basis, and develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. God knows us including the number of hairs on our head and how many steps we've taken in this world. He wants us to get to know Him on a personal level, and taking a little time each day for Bible study is the perfect means.

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The newest Bible study article on the main Ultimate Riddles website explains the Hebrew word for "man" found in Genesis chapters 1 and 2 of the Bible, and the different meanings based on "man" being used as a single word or in a phrase.

Certainly the original languages of the Bible include individual words that cannot be simply translated to a single word in English without losing some of the meaning. The man named Adam of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2 who was formed after the 6 day creation of Genesis 1 is assumed by some to be the same "man" in both chapters.

God rested on the seventh day after the six day creation in chapter 1, and then Adam and Eve are presented in chapter 2. The plural use of "man" in Genesis 1 and the word "them" referring specifically to male and female being created, not formed, presents a whole new light on human genealogy.

You may read the full article here about Defining "Man" in the Bible Comparing 'Adam in Hebrew, and return here to comment. Keep in mind this Bible study presents my opinion of truth based on taking the English verses back to the ancient languages of the original manuscripts for a deeper understanding of God's Word.

Readers are encouraged to follow this spiritual journey, and even if you disagree, my hope is you will look for answers by studying the Bible daily.

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Riddles can be fun, yet some of the most complex and difficult puzzles to solve remain a mystery. The ultimate riddle is the age old question of life after death, and we need to solve this while we are still alive. This blog introduces study topics documented on the main site that explore the King James Version of the Bible compared to the ancient and original manuscripts as translated by expert linguist EW Bullinger.

Some Christian teachers take a single verse out of context, and justify condemning a person based on the traditions of mankind instead of the truth. This Bible study site is for Christian believers and non-Christians interested or curious about discovering deeper meaning about spiritual and human existence. Fortunately, language scholar EW Bullinger provided an extraordinary guide more than 100 years ago with his Companion Bible.

Just as a word in any language is better understood by reading a full definition in a dictionary, some words in the Bible require a paragraph to precisely define some words or phrases. Unless you are able to understand the Bible in the original languages of Hebrew, Chaldee, and Aramaic for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament, the chance for error is inevitable.

Furthermore, truth becomes lost in the traditions of mankind, and applying human values complicates what God teaches in very simple terms. Until I understood that the Bible is not entirely literal, the metaphors, figures of speech, and types were overlooked. By studying the translation and going back to the original ancient languages, vague verses become crystal clear.

Join my spiritual journey as I document my conclusions, and then form your opinions towards understanding your spirit and personal spiritual growth. Jesus will return. Knowing what to expect and being prepared will be the best decision you ever make in this life. You may want to begin with the Introduction to the Earth Ages of Genesis or the Introduction and Overview of Spiritual Study.

Special Note: Each Bible study lesson on the main site is available for republication in print or online subject to keeping the author and links information intact according to the Creative Commons License at the bottom of each article page.

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